Chapter 61
It was only the morning but the day already took a toll over Advait. It was a Sunday, the day of fun. But for him it was always the most hectic day when he had to be on his toes every second to ensure that his kids don't break someone's head.
He just took a sigh of relief when the other trouble entered the house with long strides. His face was contorted in anger and his eyes were questioning.
"Tu yahan shaanti se baitha hua hai?" Reyansh asked incredulously, the usual hint of mischief in his tone was not there.
Abhishek was also present there, his lips curved into a smile but after sensing the anger in Reyansh's tone, the smile faded.
"To kya naachu?" Advait asked, raising his brow, finding his question absurd.
"Advait." Reyansh gritted out.
Advait stood up immediately, sensing the seriousness in his voice, "Kya hua?" He asked, his voice was serious.
"Tu mujhse puch raha hai kya hua tujhe nahi pata?" Reyansh said.
"Mujhe kaise pata hoga, Rey. Kya hua batayega?" Advait asked frustrated.
"Tune apna phone nahi dekha?" Reyansh asked.
Advait pulled out his phone from his pocket, "Nahi... Mai busy tha." He said, his voice was confused.
"Aaj ki breaking news dekh." Reyansh ordered.
Advait opened his phone and a ton of notifications pulled down on the screen. He ignored all of it and opened the news, the moment his eyes read the headlines of today's news. His grip on his phone tightened, his jaw clenched so tightly that the twitch on it was clearly visible.
Abhishek looked at him and then at Reyansh silently asked him about the situation through his eyes. But Reyansh gestured for him to go upstairs, Abhishek shook his head in return but one hard glare from Reyansh made him scurried away from there.
"What the hell is this?" Advait thundered throwing the phone on the floor in anger.
"Wahi to mai tujhse puch raha hoon ye kya bakwas kar rahe hain media wale?" Reyansh asked equally in anger.
Advait was inhaling through his nostrils, his face was red with anger. His chest was heaving up and down because it was not about him. It was about his loved ones. His family. His Shreya.
A local clicked their pictures on the beach and forwarded it to the media.
The media got the spice about the most influential personality of the city and now they were spreading the rumors.
The fake news and rumors were not affecting Advait.
It never does. But the names she was using for Shreya were building rage inside him.
The headlines were like.
"Phone de." Advait asked for Reyansh's phone and he handed it to him without wasting any moment.
Advait called Tia, she picked up the call on second ring, "Hey!" She said from the other side thinking it would be Reyansh.
"Listen to me carefully, Tia." Advait said coldly.
"Advait? I was just about to call you. I just saw the news. What's all this?" She asked.
"Handle the media. You know what I mean." He replied, his tone was dangerously icy cold just enough to send the shiver run down spine.
"Think it's done." She replied crisply.
Advait hung up the call without any further response and dialled Shreya, his fingers hovered over a contact before touching the screen.
The number you are calling is not reachable.
Advait tried again.
The number you...
He raked his hand through his hair in frustration.
"Kya hua?" Reyansh asked.
"Not reachable." He replied, his one hand was resting on his waist while the other was weaving through his hair in anger. He was concerned about her.
Advait started walking from there with long strides. His jaw was clenched and posture was stiff, the heat of buried anger was radiating from his body. Reyansh followed him without asking anything, he had the idea where his friend was heading to.
On the other hand, A lady was throwing Shreya's stuff outside on the road. Shreya was pleading to her, her eyes were begging her to stop but the lady was not even looking at her, let alone paying attention to her pleadings.
"Aunty, please ruk jaiye. Mai kahan jaungi?" She said holding her hand to stop her.
The lady stopped abruptly and looked at her with disgust, "Apne aashiq ke ghar jao. Tumhare jaisi ladki ko mai apna ghar ganda nahi karne dungi." She said with bitterness.
"Aa-Aap galat samajh rahi hai aisa kuch nahi hai please mera yakeen kijiye." She said tightening her hold on her hand.
"Door hato mujhse, tumhare jaisi ladkiyon ka saaya tak ganda hai. Samaaj me gandagi faila rahi ho." She said and jerked away her hand.
The passerby stopped to see the drama unfolding in front of them. Shreya looked around herself for help but she could only see the disgust for her in everyone's eyes. Her eyes were burning with unshed tears and humiliation.
A car stopped erupting the fiasco, a woman and a man stepped down from it with an old woman. Their faces were set in anger, Shreya's eyes lit up with hope after looking at them.
She swiftly stepped forward to them and hugged the old woman, "Nani... Nani accha hua aap aa gayi aunty ko samajhaiye na ye mujhe ghar se bahar nikaal rahi hai hain please unhe rokiye na." She mumbled hugging her tight as if trying to shield herself in her embrace.
But the old woman, her grandmother jerked her away from herself and slapped on right across her cheek making her froze in place.
The other woman and the man looked at her venomously. Her grandmother stepped forward, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her harshly, "Yahi sab karne ke liye paida kiya tha teri maa ne tujhe."
She yelled.
"Peso ke liye itna gir gayi ki ek aadmi ki rakhel banne ko raazi ho gayi." She shouted.
Shreya looked at her unbelievably, her eyes were wide with protest but no words came out of her mouth. She wasn't able to believe that her grandmother just said these words to her.
"Poore samaaj me izzat uchaal di humari. Arey agar tujhe pese chahiye the to humse maangti humare paas aati, itna neeche girne ki kya jarurat thi." She thundered while breathing heavily because of her old age.
"Maa shaant ho jaiye aap mujhe to pehle se hi pata tha ye kaisi ladki hai." The women said, scoffing at Shreya.
"Iske baap ko bachpan me hi pata chala gaya hoga ki ye kaisi hai tabhi chord kar chala gaya." She added scoffing at her.
A lone tear escaped from Shreya's eyes, her heart was aching from the betrayal. Her family, her own family was saying such horrible words to her.
"Tune humein kahin muh dikhane layak nahi chora, aaj teri maa ki aatma bhi ro rahi hogi." She said.
Shreya broke into sobs at the mention of her mother. She gripped her grandmother's hand tightly in hers, "Nani, please mera yakeen karein maine aisa kuch bhi nahi kiya. Maine sach me kuch nahi kiya." Her voice was begging for their trust.
The lady owner of the house mocked her from behind, "Haan bas ek tum hi sacchhi ho baaki media wale to sab jhoot bol rahe hai."
"Apni ye gandagi ab kahin aur jaa kar failao mere ghar me mai ab tumhe ek minute bhi bardaasht nahi karungi." She said and pushed her hard making her stumble but a strong pair of arms grabbed her securely at the right time before she could fall on the ground.
Her chest was heaving up and down, eyes were closed anticipating the blow but it never came.
She slowly opened her eyes sensing the familiar presence, she looked up and there was standing Advait, protectively tucking her in his arms. His eyes were softened as it met hers but the moment he looked up, the fury in his eyes returned.
But she hugged him tightly, clutching his shirt in her hand, her hands were trembling from the sobs.
Her family's words had cut deep inside her fragile heart.
Advait wrapped his arms around her silently, his embrace was a shield for her.
She was not scared anymore, because she knew he wouldn't let anyone touch her.
"Ohh welcome Mr. Malhotra." The landlady scoffed.
Advait looked up, Shreya parted away from the hug and looked back at her. His eyes were burning and teeth were grinding. The veins on his forehead were clearly visible. The lady stepped back, her previous demeanor changed quickly into fear, she pressed her lips tight shutting her mouth closed.
Tia also reached there after completing her work. She managed to remove all the rumors from the media just by a phone call. She stood beside Reyansh and looked at the scene erupting in front of her.
"To tum hi wo jiski wajah se ye ladki itna gir gayi." Her grandmother said.
"Mr. Malhotra aap to bade aadmi hai aapko in sab baaton se koi farak nahi padta magar humari izzat ka kya aapki wajah se hum kisi ko muh dikhane layak nahi rahe." The woman, Shreya's maternal aunt spoke up.
"Kitne paise diye aapne isko apna bistar garam karne ke liye." The man seethed in anger.
But before his body could leave the hum of his words, a punch landed on his face making him stumble on the ground. Advait gripped him by his lapels and again punched him hard on his jaw. Reyansh and the wife of the man tried to parted him away but it was futile.
"Itni ghatiya baat tere muh se nikli bhi kaise." He punched his jaw, the sound of breaking bones heard out loud. The blood started oozing out from the man's mouth. The man gripped his jaw in pain, the blood was not stopping.
Her grandmother panicked, Shreya took a minute to comprehend the situation, she hurriedly stepped ahead and gripped Advait's shoulder who was beating her uncle mercilessly.
"Advait please chhor dijiye please." She pleaded.
But Advait was not in the mood of listening, the anger took over him. His eyes were red, hair was disheveled making him look more scary.
Tia smirked from a distance, "He deserves it." She said, her arms were crossing over her chest.
"Advait please leave him please mere liye." She said loudly while crying, his hand stopped mid-motion. He was breathing through his nostrils and slowly put down his hand leaving the man lying on the ground in the pool of the blood.
Her wife was crying, trying to stop the blood with her saree.
"Abhi to sirf muh toda hai aainda tune apne muh se Shreya ke liye gandagi nikali na to jaan nikalunga." He seethed furiously.
"Kya galat bola inhone bilkul sahi kaha, ye ladki hai hi aisi gandi..." Her wife said but before she could complete her sentence, her face jerked away on other side.
"Apne pati ki halat dekh kar bhi kuch nahi seekha?" Tia asked mockingly, dusting off her hands as if her touch was dirty.
Reyansh smirked, "My kitten." He muttered.
Reyansh's gaze swept over the clothes lying on the ground, he furrowed his brows asking, "Ye samaan aise bahar kyun pada hai?"
Shreya looked down at her clothes and other items, most of them broken because they were thrown on the ground.
"Inhone isey ghar se nikaal diya aisi harkate karne ke baad kon rakhna chahega aisi ladki ko apne ghar me." Her grandmother said referring to the landlady who was peeking out from behind a pillar hiding herself, her eyes were wide in fear.
Advait looked at her, she quickly peeked in her head hiding her huge body behind a thin pillar. Her sides were properly visible, her eyes were shutting and she was chanting something under her breath.
"Don't worry, dariye mat aap humein bilkul dikhai nahi de rahi." Reyansh said sarcastically.
Advait cupped Shreya's face, his eyes again hardened when his gaze landed on the red fingerprints on her cheeks.
"Who did this?" He gritted out.
She shrink, "It's nothing." She whispered.
"I asked you something." He said sternly making her flinched by his voice.
She looked down.
"Maine maara hai batao kya karoge tum? Maaroge mujhe?" Her grandmother stepped ahead.
Advait balled his hands angrily, only he knew what would have been he did if she was not the woman.
"Trust me agar aap ek aurat nahi hoti to mere aage abhi apne pero par khadi nahi hoti." He blazed out angrily.
"Waah kya tameez hai. Tumhare jaise logo se aur ummeed bhi kya kar sakte hain jo dusro ki betiyon ko peso se khareedte hain unka istemaal karte hain." Her voice was sharp.
"Sharam aati hai mujhe aap jaisi aurton par jo apni hi beti ke baare me aisa keh sakti hain wo dusro ke saath kya karti hongi." He replied, his tone was calm... dangerously calm.
He turned towards Shreya and took her hand in his, "Chaliye aap yahan se." He said and started taking her from there leaving a bloodied half dead man, a mess woman and a scared puppy behind him.
But before they could reach the car, her grandmother stopped them.
"Kis rishte se le jaa rahe ho isey yaha se?" She asked.
"Kya farak padta hai aapko, aapne to wo maan liya hai jo aapko manna tha." Shreya replied.
"Matlab sach me iski rakhel bankar rehne jaa rahi ho tum." She gritted out.
Advait exhaled sharply, his fist met with the glass window of the car and the glass broke shattering into the pieces on the ground.
The red liquid started oozing out from his hand pooling blood on the ground beneath him.
Shreya gasped and clutched his hand tightly, Reyansh and Tia panicked coming up to him.
"Ye kya kiya aapne... kitna khoon beh raha hai." Shreya panicked looking at his bleeding hand.
The clear ground turned into a red canvas, Reyansh slipped out his handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed it on the wound.
"Dimag kharab ho gaya hai tera ye kya kiya?" Tia said.
But Advait's mind was ringing with the absurd words he had heard about Shreya. He was feeling like burning the whole world, the storm was brewing inside him that could disheveled everyone.
"Shreya yahan se kahi nahi jayegi." Her grandmother spoke up.
"Agar ab ek lafz aur aapne Shreya ke baare me kaha to mai bhool jaunga ki aap ek aurat hain aur umar me mujhse badi hain." He thundered flinching everyone.
Reyansh rubbed his back, "Leave her, let's go home." He said.
"Chalo Shreya." Tia said.
"Maine kaha na wo kahi nahi jayegi." Her grandmother said firmly.
"Wo jayegi aur apni marzi se jayegi." Reyansh replied.
"Mai apne pariwaar ki aur badnaami nahi hone dungi ye mere saath chalegi." She replied, her face was set in determination.
"Mujhe aapke saath kahin nahi jaana jo log mere baare me itna ghatiya sochte hain mai unke saath ek chath ke neeche kabhi nahi reh sakti." Shreya replied, her voice was shaken.
Her grandmother glared at her furiously, "Ye to tere baare me bohot accha sochta hai tujhe apne ghar le kar jaa raha hai kis naate se?
Arey tu bhale hi kitni bhi sahi ho par aise bina kisi rishte ke ek aadmi ke saath rehne wali ladkiyon ko ye samaaj gande naamo se hi bulata hai.
" She said throwing her hands in the air.
Shreya looked down, hesitating. She closed her eyes and a tear slipped down off her eye on her hand which was holding Advait's hand. He turned at her sensing the drop of a tear on his hand.
He cupped her cheeks, she looked up at him with teary eyes.
"Mai aapke saath nahi aa sakti." She whispered.
Advait grip remained firm yet gentle on her face, he brushed away her tears with his thumb, "Aap in sab baaton par dhyan mat dijiye. Mai aapke saath hoon aur humesha rahunga." He said earnestly.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, "I'm sorry Mr. Malhotra." She said, "Nani sahi keh rahi hain mera aapke sath aapke ghar rehna theek nahi hai. Log kya kahenge."
"Koi kuch nahi kahega aur kehta hai to kehne dijiye. I don't care about them." He replied gritting out his teeth.
"Par mujhe padta hai." She looked up straight in his eyes.
"Mujhe farak padta hai... sab mere upar mere character ke upar sawaal utha rahe hain. Mai ek ladki hoon mere liye sabse badi meri izzat hai ye media..." She broke down into sobs.
"Media kuch nahi kahega, koi kuch nahi kahega. I made them removed all the fucking rumors about you. They will never dare to say anything abusrd about you from now on." He said making her understand.
Her muscles relaxed a little bit at the information, but the sting of humiliation was still visible on her face.
"Thankyou for this, magar ab mai kisi ko bhi apne baare me galat sochne ka moka nahi dena chahti." She said while slipping out her hand from his hold.
"Shreya." Advait said but Shreya cut him off softly, "Please jaiye yahan se, Mr. Malhotra." She said, even her voice was not supporting her. Her heart was screaming at her to stop him and hide herself in his arms but the reality was harsh.
Tia and Reyansh exchanged glances unsure of what should have they do to make her understand.
Advait raked his fingers through his hair thinking intently.
He turned to Shreya's side who was about to stepped away from him but he stopped her holding her hand. She turned back at him, looking in his eyes.
She froze.
The world had stopped around her.
Her heartbeat quickened at the sudden proposal. Her crush, her love at first sight was proposing her for marriage. She should have been happy but the situation...It made her feel empty.
She blinked her eyes.
Advait was looking at her, waiting for her answer. But she said nothing and again started walking away.
"I'm waiting for your answer, Shreya." Advait said.
"Aapko mujhpe taras khane ki jarurat nahi hai, Mr. Malhotra." She replied in a barely audible voice, thinking Advait was proposing her because her reputation has ruined and he was pitying her.
He turned her towards himself, "Taras nahi kha raha hoon mai. Sach me poore dil se puch raha hoon." He said.
Her breath hitched in her throat and eyes turned teary, "You're lying." She whispered, unable to believe it.
"I'm not. I love you Shreya. I really do. Kab kahan kaise I don't know par pyar karne laga hoon aapse. Bohot pyar karta hoon." He said, his voice was sincere and filled with honesty.
Tia and Reyansh smiled beaming in joy on their places, they didn't interfere and let them live their moment.
"Meri khud ki life bohot complicated hai aur mai apni complications me aapko nahi uljhana chahta tha islie kabhi aapse kaha nahi, but I really love you... a lot." He added and a small smile played on her lips.
"Aapki nani janna chahti hain na ki mai kis rishte se aapko apne saath le jaa raha hoon to jod lete hain rishta. Shaadi kar ke aapko poore haq ke saath le jaunga."
"Kahiye... Karengi aap mujhse shaadi?"
He asked, his heart was beating loudly. The stretching silence was panicking him, he was dreading for her rejection but she lunged forward throwing her arms around him.
She started crying, her only love of her life was also in love with her.
She was over the moon, she tightened his hold on him and nodded her head in his chest.
Advait sighed, his grip instinctively tightened on her. He pressed his lips on top of her head, Reyansh and Tia grinned widely. But her grandmother's face remained stoic.
They parted away from the hug looking in each other's eyes, drowning at them but a throat cleaning voice interrupted them. Reyansh hugged Advait and Tia did the same with Shreya.
"Hmm hmm new couple in the town." Tia teased.
Shreya blushed. Advait smiled a little, the words were still ringing in his ears but he ignored them for the moment.
"Ab to le jaa sakta hai na humara Advait apni dulhaniya ko?" Tia asked the old lady.
She thought for a moment before nodding, "Shaadi kare aur le kar jaaye mujhe koi pareshani nahi hai." She said.
Tia and Reyansh groaned loudly, "Ye buddhiya satak gayi hai." Reyansh mumbled and Tia nodded her head.
"Pehle hi bohot kuch ho chuka hai jo nahi hona chahiye tha, Sabka muh band karane ke liye tumhe abhi shaadi karni padegi." The grandmother said.
"Sabka muh already band hai siwaaye aapke, shaadi koi khel nahi hai jo ek din me ho jayegi." Advait said in irritation.
"Mai bhi jaanti hoon, mujhe mat sikhao tum sab se jyada duniya dekhi hai maine. Shaadi hogi to aaj hi hogi tum logo ko baad me jo rasme karni hai karo magar shaadi to aaj hi hogi." She replied.
"Agar mai ek murder kar doon to tum mujhe jail jaane se bacha loge?" Tia asked Reyansh.
Reyansh nodded seriously, "Of course, baby."
Advait was looking at Shreya, waiting for her to say something but she didn't.
"Kya soch rahi hain aap?" He asked.
"Mujhe abhi shaadi karni hai." She blurted out.
Advait sighed softly, "Shreya itni jaldi shaadi kaise ho sakti.
.." He said but she cut him off in between, "Ho sakti hai mujhe waise bhi humesha se simple tarah se shaadi karni thi aur phir aaj jo kuch bhi hua uske baad mai aur intezar nahi kar sakti mujhe abhi shaadi karni hai please Advait.
" She said, her character was already assassinated and she was fearing to face the people.
That was the reason she wanted to marry as soon as possible.
Advait looked at Reyansh for help, he stepped forward to Shreya, "Shreya baat ko samjho aaj itni jaldi shaadi nahi ho sakti." He said.
Tia grabbed Advait's arm and took him to a distance leaving Reyansh and Shreya confused.
Advait raised his brow.
"Aaj shaadi karne me kya problem hai?" She asked directly.
"Tu to samajh yaar mai aaj shaadi nahi kar sakta mujhe pehle bacchon se baat karni padegi unhe samjhana padega. They're not ready for all this." He replied.
"Aur Shreya ka kya? Tu uski jagah reh kar soch Advait wo ek ladki hai, aaj har jagah log uske character par sawaal utha rahe hain.
Tere saath galat tarah se uska naam jod rahe hain, wo dar gayi hai usey logo ko face karne me dar lag raha hai bina kisi rishte ke wo tere saath ek minute bhi nahi rahegi.
Wo jald se jald shaadi kar ke khud ko logo ke saamne prove karna chahti hai.
Maine ek ladki ka point of view tujhe samjha diya hai baaki decision tera hai.
" She replied, her voice was smooth but filled with concern for her both friends.
Advait started thinking looking ahead, he glanced at Shreya's face and pressed his hands on his face. He inhaled a deep breath and nodded making Tia smile.
He headed to Shreya's side, "I'm ready." He said.
Shreya's features relaxed, she hugged him tightly, "Thankyou." She whispered.
Advait caressed her hair but his gaze was distant.
He never thought of proposing his love to her like this, but things don't always turned out the way we think.
His mind was a mess, he was anticipating his brother's reaction after they got to know about his marriage.
But at that moment taking his love in his arms all other worries of the world had faded away.
~________________________________________~