59| Nightmare.
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Tara's eyelids tremble, slowly as they begin to part. She struggles to focus with the slight hazy vision, then finds herself laying in a cottage's room.
Dim lights.
Unwelcoming silence.
Her body stirs, slowly she pushes herself up with a soft groan escaping her lips.
A sudden chill runs through her spine as her eyes land on something disturbing.
In the corner, a silhouette has been tied in a chair- Kia.
Tara's breath hitches, her voice barely a whisper "Kia..."
She quickly moves to scramble to her feet when another voice fills the space.
"Don't worry, she's alive."
Tara's eyes shift to Aashika who has just entered the room. "I'm not in the habit of killing innocents."
Her face is sadistically calm, eyes cold and unwavering. No softness, no affection.
Unblinking, Tara stares at her.
Trying to process her strange demeanor when aashika murmurs "I had no idea you were this curious about my mother, our past." Her steps are slow as she approaches Kia "You even hired an agent?"
"Impressive." Aashika sits on the other chair, near Kia. Her eyes slowly shifting to Tara "But you know Tara, sometimes digging into others' past ruins your own present."
Tara's breath hitches when aashika pulls up a boot knife... stained with fresh blood.
"So-" Aashika's eyes are now pinned to the blade's sharpness-and the blood on it "You wanted to know about my mother? Why there's no clue of her anywhere?" She pauses "Who killed her?"
With the coming words, a small, sadistic smile curls her lips "I killed her."
Tara's eyes widened, her mind struggling to believe what she's witnessing.
"What... d-did you say?" She manages to question, cold sweat drops beading on her temple.
"I-KILLED-MY-MOTHER."
"What do you want from me?" The words slip past Tara's tongue before she can even realise.
"Wrong question" Aashika interjects, sliding her thumb against the blade's sharpness "I don't want anything from you, I'm here to give you what you were looking for?-The Truth about aaina oberoi."
Her vision tunnels as she unfolds the pages of the past, re-living somewhere in them with the words.
"She's my wife, and now my children's mother too" Aaryan Oberoi snaps in a low, venomous voice "I can't leave her."
"Oh, right" Anika who stands before him, eyes burning as she shoots back "Then who am I? Your mistress?"
He runs a palm through his face, running low on patience.
"You assured me, once she gives an heir to the family-you'll leave her?-I agreed.
" She spills, moisture gleaming in her eyes "You had children with her, asked me to wait until they grew up, I did.
And now, suddenly you're backing off just because your children need their mother.
Have you ever thought about me? How much my heart burns whenever I see Aaina with you? "
"She's my sister, Aaryan. I know she can handle her life without you or your family's name too. And about aashi-ansh? I'm here for them-"
"Just cut the crap," He growls through gritted teeth, his voice low so no one can hear "I'm not leaving aaina, and why are you making this an issue, Hm? Just marry some other man and settle your life."
Unblinking, Anika stares at him with a devastated face.
"You think you'll get away with this?" She spits, a heartburn lacing her tone "Not when I tell Aaina how you, your family and her own father made her sign that contract alongside the marriage certificate, Deceived her... all just to have her bear your so-called
Heir."
"Anika-"
A reflection from the side of the door makes him freeze, his head snaps toward it, and there stands... aaina.
Watching them with disgust, pain and a heartache too deep to bear.
----
Silences stretch into the hall, the air suffocating. Hriday singh rajvansh-Aaina Anika's father-Ayushman Oberoi?-aaryan's father... everyone's present here.
Aaina stands before them, her eyes dry but firm when her father's heavy voice cracks "Why are you trying to destroy your own home, Aaina?
" His tone filled with guilt "We didn't hide the truth from you by choice.
.. your sister, she tried to end her life twice.
We had no other way to convince her that she'd get married to Aaryan once you give the family its heir. But now-"
Ayushman Oberoi-sitting on the sofa-his eyes darted to the ground, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
"Divorce," Aaina places a file on the table, her eyes betray the immense pain of being betrayed by those she once called family. "And my kids... aashi ansh will live with me."
"And where will you go, Hm?" Aaryan's voice snaps louder.
Aaina meets eyes with him, words calm "That's-not-your-concern, I earn enough to feed my children and give them a good upbringing."
"Your children?" He questions, voice louder "Just?-"
"Voice down?!" She cuts him off, "I'm not the woman you can crush beneath your feet."
Dazed, he stares at her with wide eyes. The first time aaina has raised her voice in front of everyone, in front of him.
"Why are you dragging this aaina?" Anika jumps in, tone sharp "You signed the contract yourself, so clearly Aaryan has the custody of Aashi and Ansh-even after divorcing you and marrying me."
Aaina stares at her, disgust burning in her eyes, unable to believe this is her own sister, her own father helped ruin her life.
"I will-" She breathes out her final words "Never hand my children to this family, even if I have to fight my whole life for them."
Everyone present here freezes, their jaws dropping.
"Oh really?" Anika grumbles, "Alight, if you're so keen to waste your life in endless court hearings."
"Enough."
Hriday rajvansh, their father interrupts- "Aaina, you're the honour of both families, you can't risk our reputation like this."
"Reputation?" Aaina mocks, holding back the burn of tears.
Between, a voice cracks heavy- "She's right at her place.
" Ayushman Oberoi. He stands, his eyes clouded with guilt as he faces aaina "None of us will stop you, Beta.
But..." He exhales, "Just let this matter rest until Aayansh's birthday, seven more days.
Let the family have peace on my grandson's occasion. "
Aaina stirs, no mother would ever want her child dragged into a mess like this... least of all on the day meant to celebrate him.
She agrees.
Unaware in these seven days, she would bleed tears, living through hell with every passing moment...till her last breath.
NEXT DAY| Aaina's Hospital
Aaina pulls her gloves tighter, gaze steady as she enters the emergency ward.
"Vitals?" She asks briskly.
"Ninety-five over sixty, pulse dropping," Assistant doctor answers.
Before she can continue, a voice from the door enters like an alarm "Dr. Aaina?" Her head snaps to the direction where a senior doctor stands, his expression severe "Come with me."
A frown of confusion tugs her face, she removes her coat and gloves and follows him along.
"Dr. Singhania, will you please tell me what's the issue?" She questions, noticing the gaze of the staff, colleague doctors, patients sticking to her with disgust and disbelief.
?? Breaking News:
In a shocking revelation, Dr. Aaina Oberoi?-A reputed public figure-has been accused of running an alleged sex racket under the guise of healing therapies.
According to preliminary reports, authorities claim that the well-known doctor misused her medical practice to lure and exploit individuals. Investigations are currently underway, and officials state that more details will follow as evidence is verified.
The hospital management has yet to release an official statement, while the news has sparked outrage among patients and the public alike.
The words from a patient's IPad leaves her numb at her place.
Minutes later, Aaina's on the way to Oberoi Palace. Her legal team is handling the police, media and press making the things worse.
Her hands trembling, mind has gone numb. Eyes brimming with tears, only she knows the storm tearing her apart with each passing minute.
She pulls out her phone, opens the official profile from her hospital and the letters, accusations, curses, abuses beneath her name makes her soul tremble.
Slut.
Whore.
How much does she cost herself?
Must have slept with countless men, cheap bedwarmers.
She sells her body in the name of healing.
Prostitute.
A stain on womanhood.
All her strength breaks into this one moment, she throws the phone aside, uncontrollable sobs tearing her throat. The woman who has always lived with dignity, now feels stripped of every ounce of respect she ever earned.
Finally, when she arrives at the palace. Everyone's here, their faces drained of colors. Silence swallowing the surroundings.
Aaina's eyes find her father, she clings to him, hissing like a lost child "I didn't do anything like this papa, I didn't. It's all a lie, I-" unhinged tears soaking her face as she tries to prove her innocence.
"We'll get you out of this mess, very soon, Hm?" He assures, holding himself together.
Aaryan Anika stands blank. Ayushman Oberoi? something's going in his head.
A while after, Aayansh aashika returns from the school. Their grandfather, father, uncle, a police commissioner and a few more men sit in the hall. All silent.
"What's happening, aunty?" Aashika asks, scanning everyone around with curiosity as the head maid takes their bags.
"Cari?o, please go and freshen up" The maid pleads, her voice low and convincing.
While Aayansh ignores everything and everyone as he questions the maid "Where's mom?"
The maid hesitates, then says "She's in her room."
Handing the bag to her, he rushes straight to Aaina's floor, halts before her room.
The door is locked, he bangs his hand over it "Mom?"
No answer.
"Mom, open the door" He demands with impatience.
"Go to your room and-change" She tries hard to sound normal, but Aayansh catches the heaviness in her voice.
He doesn't argue, stays still, letting her think he has left.
After a moment, her muffled sobs reached his ears. He hears them, fists clenched.
T W O—D A Y S —L A T E R
Aaina lies curled up in bed, swollen eyes red from sleepless nights, her face pale and wordless, as if silence itself has consumed her.
Then out of nowhere, those curses begin echoing in her mind, circling her like shadows she can't escape.
Slut?-whore-bedwarmer.
Her fingers clutch at the bedsheet, trembling. The room around her starts spinning, walls closing in. She gasps, no breath feels enough.
Her vision blurs, a choking sob escapes her throat. She presses her palm hard to chest, as though she can force her heart to slow down, but the pounding just goes harsh, loud, unbearable.
Seventh panic attack in two days.
All she can hear is curses, the world collapsing in on her.
She feels like she's bleeding from inside, slow and painful. As if someone is killing her bit by bit.
"No-I didn't-No" She chokes on her breath, fingers fumbling across the nightstand until they close around a pill bottle.
Somehow, a few pills clamp into her hand and she stuffs them in her mouth, swallowing without a pause as the pain in her goes unbearable.
Unaware, these pills aren't here to soothe her panic attacks, but to trigger her mental health... end her brain's ability to think.
Seconds later, her mind starts numbing and she falls back on the mattress.
The same night, Aayansh aashika stirs in sleep, Aashika's tiny fingers curled tight against the pillow when a faint sound drifts into Aayansh's dreams, soft-muffled sobs, as if someone is trying hard not to be heard.
His lashes flutter open as he sits up, rubbing his eyes, he finds aaina who was laying beside them, isn't here.
He scrambles to his feet, the sound comes again, he follows silently.
Aayansh's steps freeze near the balcony, the sight ahead makes his little heart beat faster.
Aaina sits at the corner, legs folded to chest, face buried in the knees. She can hide the pain from the world, from her little ones, but not from her own self.
At this moment, she looks devastated.
"Mom?" Aayansh's voice stiffens her, she swipes at her cheeks, forcing her trembling lips into something resembling a smile.
He rushes near her, staring at her crimson face carefully "You're crying..."
"No, my boy" She murmurs, making him sit in her lap "Why would I cry?"
His voice doesn't waver. "You say lying is a bad habit."
He turns to glance into her eyes, she stays quiet for a moment. Then, lets herself break before her little son. Maybe, it's too much for her to bear... so she lets herself sob like a child in front of her child.
"Who made you cry?" He takes her face in his small palms, wiping each tear away "I won't spare them."
"Your Mom...is just tired of this world" She answers, voice heavy as she kisses his palms.
"No" He interjects, wrapping his arms around her frame like securing her from the pain she never deserved "No world has the right to make you cry" He detaches a little, taking her face in his hands as he says "You're not weak, Mom."
She doesn't voice any words, just goes silent.
N E X T D A Y—
"Rule is clear," Aashika is stating the hide seek rule to Aayansh, "If you get caught anyhow, you'll have to accept yourself as a loser... No matter what."
"Now go hide" Her palms clamp tight over her eyes, so he can hide.
Certain aashika's not cheating, aayansh tip toes away. His small feet carry him down the hallway, past the echo of silence in the palace, until he slips inside his grandfather's study.
He lets his gaze wander over the empty space looming in silence, his eyes linger at the tall corner cabinet. He pulls the creaky door open and squeezes inside, shutting it just enough to get the glimpse of outside.
Aayansh presses his lips together, avoiding making any sound. He waits, knees tucked to chest, eyes curious, senses active as he observes each sound.
In a little while, some footsteps muffle in his ears.
Then comes words.
"Your daughter in law's dignity was the price to save your family's honour, Mr. Oberoi. She was too reputed, winning against her in court was nearly impossible. But now?" A chuckle, cruel and mocking "The game is simple, no court trials, no arguments."
"The last card to win your grandchildren's custody-claim her unstable, unfit-A mental patient. Her character has already been torn apart, and after the divorce, the world will lay every blame on her. Not your son. Not your family, your honour remains spotless."
Vidyut Dhanrajgir, the lawyer, the Lie brought to play this dirty game.
And the one who orchestrated this ruin?- Ayushman Oberoi.
"Hm vidyut," Ayushman's voice is flat, dismissive. "The amount will be transferred to your account, you may leave."
Silence.
Inside the cabinet, Aayansh sits calm, each word he'd just overheard etches deep into his little heart. His mind may still be too young to grasp it all, one truth settles clear. The reason behind his mother's suffering is his grandfather, that's enough for him.
He pushes the door open and heads out, unhurried as he walks in front of Ayushman. No rush, but the darkness in his eyes doesn't belong to his age, it's unusual.
"Aayansh-" Ayushman calls out softly, realising his presence "How long have you been hiding there, son?"
Aayansh settles into the chair opposite him, his eyes glued to Ayushman's face who's now absorbed in the file before him, turning the pages.
"Have you finished your homework?"
| Background: ANIMAL Theme |
Aayansh's gaze drops to the gun resting at the corner of the table, his grandfather's gun. And being a mafia heir, this is not a new thing for him.
"Dadu?" His hand inches toward the gun, dragging it closer.
"Hm.. boliye?" Ayushman responds, gaze unmoving from the pages before him.
"What do you do with this?" He lifts the gun, the cold metal weight fitting into his small palms as it belonged there. His eyes unmoving from Ayushman's face, dark and determined.
Ayushman gives a slight glance to the gun in aayansh's hands as he answers softly "I punish people with this."
What could those small hands, an eight year old kid really do with something as lethal as a gun?
"Punish the ones who did something wrong, right?" Aayansh's fingers tightens around the barrel, his actions, unhurried and precise.
"Right, little lion." He chuckles, lifting eyes to aayansh? when-
Two gunshots.
The next sight? Ayushman's body slumps lifeless in the chair, blood soaking through his black blazer, chest torn with bullets. His eyes remain wide, fixed on the ceiling.
Because of the silencer, the gunshouts rang out muted, never loud.
In the opposite chair, Aayansh sits the same way, staring at his grandfather's dead silhouette with a sadistic satisfaction. No guilt, No fear, No hesitation. His legs swinging in the air, hands clutching the gun.
He had seen Ayushman using the gun two times before, so he knew exactly where he's supposed to press the fingers, how to hold it and when to target.
The tragedy- his grandfather was always an ideal for him, and now?
I wasn't wrong when I said this villain was never made, he was born as a villain.
Aayansh watches Ayushman's body until he realises he's playing hide and seek with aashika, the rule 'If you get caught anyhow, you'll have to accept yourself as a loser... No Matter What.'
He gets off the chair, clutching the gun as he goes back to hide in the same cabinet...
As the days pass, things take a darker turn.
Aaina has stopped smiling, talking to anyone, she remains confined to her room.
Her doctor's licence has been revoked, which means she can no longer practice. Her reputation? Gone.
Things have grown so grim that she has started blaming herself-for her own ruin, her children's suffering, and the family's grieving silence.
Aaryan is planning to send Aashika Aayansh to boarding school until the family environment stabilises. Anika has begun living in the palace, no one questions her about the same.
A A Y A N S H’S E I G H T H B I R T H D A Y
The day wears a brightness it doesn't own, a cruel disguise as for beneath, it waits for the Nightmare ready to ruin the Oberois'.
After days of suffocation, aaina has left her room. Why wouldn't she? It's her son's birthday. Afterall, a mother's love outweighs all the sorrows, every ache just to see a smile on her child's face.
Meera and her two-year-old daughters Riva-Rhea have been staying at her mother's place since Ayushman's death.
Aaryan, after arguing with Aaina about sending Aayansh aashika to boarding school, had left for the office with his brother.
And Aaina has intentionally sent Aayansh to the football practice, so she can get the little surprise ready for him.
The palace's environment is more of mourning after the family head's death. And just to see a smile on her son's face, she's baking his favorite chocolate cake in the kitchen.
Adorned in a red saree, a faint smile tugging at her lips as the conversation with aayansh just a while ago echoes in her mind.
"Not more than me, no one can love you like me in this whole world."
"Of course, no one can love me like my ansh does."
"Today's my ansh's birthday, tell me what my boy wants from me?"
"I want to see you in that red saree."
"I promise, this birthday will be the most special and memorable birthday of my ansh, okay?"
Aashika, busy making a birthday card for her brother, suddenly jumps up from the dining table and rushes to the kitchen to show it to aaina.
"Mom, see! Isn't it so pretty, say yes." She blurts out, pushing her saree's edge until she turns her head.
A small smile curls aaina's lips as she sees the drawing- a pumpkin with big dark blue eyes, the wish- Happy 8th Birthday to the boy who just deserves a tight punch on his face, angry mad oberoi, you're so lucky! The aashi oberoi is wishing you, you already got heaven on earth.
"So pretty," Aaina pinches on her nose, "Now go wait outside, while I finish the cake for your angry mad oberoi."
Aashika nods and heads off the kitchen.
A notification ring from her phone catches her attention.
Minutes later, when aashika returns to see if the cake is ready, she pauses at the kitchen's threshold. Aaina isn't there. The decorated cake sitting neatly on the slab, its creamy surface covered under a glass lid.
The stillness feels unusual, too quiet.
Aashika's eyes darted around "Mom?"
Searching for her mother, "Mom, where are you?"
Her steps head away from the kitchen, eyes find the servants in the hall as she asks "Has anyone seen mom?"
"No, cari?o."
Within minutes, she searches aaina's room, her floor, and several other rooms where possibly she can be. But nowhere.
As she drifts along, her steps slow, stopping near the basement where she hears some unusual sounds. The basement is the place where Aayansh and Aashika play most of the time, so she thought Aaina must be here.
Some cruel words reach Aashika's ears.
“Oberois' personal slut, now she'll entertain us.”
A scream follows, another, painful, familiar.
"Mom..." a slow whisper leaves aashika's mouth as she peaks her head over the glass door, with that, her eyes widened with terror, tears filling them like a storm unleashed.
Her body freezes, mind numbs.
"Mom... No! No no no, leave her" She screams, banging her little hands on the glass door "Dad?? Please. Chachu... mom?"
"Let- let me go" Tara murmurs, panic surging as her chest heaves with anxiety. Maybe... This was too much for her to hear, even though she hasn't faced the real terror.
But right now- she's scared of Aashika?-who's staring at her with a blunt face.
Silence swallows in the chamber, scary, chilling.
Then, out of nowhere, aashika says "Go..." Her eyes pinned to the knife in her hand.
Confusion flicks through Tara's gaze, but she doesn't pause, just gets off the bed and heads out with faltering steps. Her face drenched in sweat, panic taking over her mind as her eyes find one of the Oberois' cars parked outside.
There's no moment to think or for suspicion.
Her hands shiver as she opens the driving seat's door, climbs in and bangs the door shut behind her.
A moment pause, then she realises something.
The car has got auto-locked, windows and doors sealed shut.
Her breath dries, palms slam against the window, frantic and unrelenting as she chokes out "Open- the door, please."
"I can't b-breath, pl-please open the door," Her voice dying before even leaving her throat "He-help... I'm claustrophobic.. aa- Aayan.. sh."
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