33 | Realization
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She walked out of the bathroom, still stressed, Avantika sat back on the bed slowly. Her breath was uneven, her mind still tangled in too many thoughts at once.
She looked down at her hand. The bracelet was gone. Her fingers instinctively searched her wrist again, as if it might magically reappear. But it didn't.
A small realization hit her-she was almost sure now. The bracelet must've fallen somewhere in the house... maybe on the bed... maybe in the bathroom.
But instead of searching for it, she just stared at her empty wrist. Because in her mind, the bracelet wasn't the priority anymore.
It was just an excuse.
An excuse to reach Ruhi... and somehow find out about Avyukt.
Her thumb hesitated for a second... then she finally called.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then Ruhi picked up.
"Ruhi..." Avantika's voice tried to stay normal, but it wasn't. "My bracelet... I think it fell somewhere on the terrace. Can you check once?"
Silence.
No immediate reply.
Avantika frowned slightly.
"Ruhi... can you check the bracelet?"
A pause stretched on the other side.
Then Ruhi finally spoke-but her voice was different. Low. Tight. "When you don't even want bhaiya in your life anymore... then what will you do with his bracelet?"
A sharp silence followed.
Avantika froze.
Ruhi continued, her words heavier now. "Just leave it. Let it go... let it be lost."
For a split second, there was a faint sound on Ruhi's side-like something slipped from her hand... or like she tried to say something but stopped herself mid-way.
And then- The call cut.
Beep.
Avantika stayed still, staring at her phone screen.
No movement.
No blink.
Just silence... as the weight of Ruhi's words slowly sank in. For a moment , Avantika just sat there completely frozen... Ruhi's words echoing in her mind like a warning she didn't understand yet.
"When you don't even want bhaiya in your life anymore... then what will you do with his bracelet?"
Her heartbeat suddenly picked up. Not from confusion anymore-but from panic.
Why did he give me this bracelet...?
And why is it the exact same design...?
A sharp thought hit her.
Why didn't Ruhi tell me earlier... that it was from Avyukt?
Her breathing turned uneven.."No... no, this doesn't make sense..." she whispered to herself.
And suddenly she stood up. Like something inside her had snapped. She started searching the room frantically.
The bed.
The floor.
Under the pillow.
Around the bedsheet.
Nothing.
She rushed to the bathroom, checking every corner where she had been standing, sitting-every possible place. Her movements were restless now, almost panicked.
Siya just stood there for a moment, confused watching her.
"Avantika di... what are you doing?" she asked softly, but there was no response.
Avantika didn't even hear her properly. Her mind was running faster than logic.
Why is everything connected to him suddenly feeling so important?
Why is this bracelet affecting me like this?
She came back into the room and searched the bed again-more desperately this time.
And then- She saw it.
The bracelet.
Fallen right behind the side of the bed, almost hidden.
Her breath stopped.
"Here..." she whispered.
Her fingers shook as she picked it up.
She simply just stared at it. Then slowly... she pulled it close to her chest.
Right over her heart. And something inside her shifted. A realization she didn't want to admit.
Everything related to Avyukt... even the smallest things... matter to me more than I thought.
Her grip tightened slightly. But almost instantly, another thought pushed in.
Then why did Ruhi stop herself from saying more?
Her eyes narrowed a little. Something wasn't right. Her emotions were tangled now-relief, fear, confusion... all mixing together.
She held the bracelet tighter.
"What's going on...?" she whispered to herself.
And now, it didn't feel like just a misunderstanding anymore.
It felt like there was something hidden... something no one was telling her.
________
The living room was unusually silent.
Ruhi, and Avyukt's parents were all sitting there-but no one was really at peace. Everyone was waiting, yet no one knew what exactly they were waiting for.
Renuka sat quietly on the sofa, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Her face looked tired... distant... like her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Avyukt's father noticed it first.
He frowned slightly. "Renuka... your health isn't fine. Go upstairs and rest."
She didn't respond at first.
He stood up a little. "I said go and rest."
There was a firmness in his voice now, but also concern.
Renuka slowly shook her head. But her thoughts weren't in the room anymore.
Everything... everything is my fault.
I ruined their lives... my children's lives...
The thoughts kept looping again and again in her mind, louder than any voice around her.
She slowly stood up.
"Don't worry... I'm fine..." she whispered, but her voice was hollow.
She took a step toward the stairs.
Another step.
But her vision blurred slightly.
Her hand instinctively reached for the railing.
And then-
Her body gave up.
She stumbled.
" mam!" someone shouted.
Before anyone could react, she lost consciousness and fell down the stairs.
A loud gasp filled the house.
Everything turned chaotic in seconds.
"Call the ambulance!"
"Quick!"
"Renuka!"
Blood appeared as she lay unconscious, and panic spread like fire.
Without wasting a second, they rushed her to the hospital.
---
The hospital corridors were cold and heavy. Renuka was taken inside immediately.
ICU doors shut.
Outside, everyone was sitting in shock... completely frozen.
Ruhi was crying uncontrollably, her hands shaking as she dialed Avyukt's number.
When he picked up, her voice broke instantly.
"Bhaiya... Mom-she-"
But before she could continue, Avyukt's voice cut through sharply from the other side, urgent and controlled.
"Ruhi, don't say anything on call. I'm coming."
And the call ended.
---
Back at the hospital,
silence returned-but this time it was heavier.
The ICU light stayed on. Everyone waited outside... helpless.
Then Ruhi's phone rang again. Avantika's name flashed on the screen.
Her fingers trembled as she looked at it.
She hesitated... then slowly picked up.
"..." Avantika's voice came from the other side.
Ruhi opened her mouth to speak- But then she stopped. Her eyes lifted toward the ICU door. And slowly, she remembered Avyukt's words.
She swallowed hard. And without saying a single thing... She stayed silent.