Chapter 84
Roohanika was sitting on the couch, her face was blank without any emotions and eyes were fixed on the wall in front of her. She was sitting there but her mind was elsewhere. Her chain of thoughts broke when a lousy laugh echoed in the room.
"Uss Malhotra ka muh to dekhne layak hoga?" Vikram asked viciously grinning to himself.
Randheer smirked, "Abhi kahan Vikram asli maza to tab aayega jab usey pata chalega ki uska bhai humari Roohi ke piche kitna pagal hai." He laughed and Vikram laughed with him like maniacs.
Randheer was sitting on the couch leaning back, crossing his one leg over the other. A whiskey glass was hanging in his hand. His face was contorted in pure hatred.
"Sab ke saamne meri bezzati ki thi na usne ab mai usey bataunga ki bezzati hoti kya hai." Vikram gritted out.
Randheer remembered the day when Advait showed him his place, pressing his shoe on Randheer's hand.
"Usne mujhe meri jagah dikhayi thi na ab mai uska chehra dekhunga jab uska khud ka bhai uske muh par thappad maar kar usey uski aukaat dikhayega." He hissed in vengeance, his eyes glinting in hatred.
"Barbaad kar dunga mai un Malhotras ko." He oathed.
Roohanika snapped her head at him, "Aap logo ko un Malhotras ke saath jo karna hai kariye magar mere Abhi ko in sabse door rakhna agar usey kuch bhi hua na to accha nahi hoga." She said, her voice was low yet dangerous.
Vikram and Randheer exchanged a look, "Pyar me pagal mat ho, Roohi." Vikram said, "Dushman hai wo humara."
"Pyar hai wo mera." She raised her voice, "Aap logo ke badle ke liye mai pehle hi apne pyar ko khatre me daal chuki hoon." She said.
"Agar Advait Malhotra ne mere Abhi ko mujhse door karne ki koshish ki na to mai usey aur aap dono ko barbaad kar dungi." She declared, her eyes were dark with something beyond love.
She stomped away from the room.
"Pyar me pagal ho gayi hai ye ladki." Randheer said, "Dhyan do ispe Vikram iski bewkoofi ki wajah se humara plan barbaad na ho jaye." Vikram nodded.
~________________________________________~
The room was silent and cold. Advait was piercing holes in Abhishek's soul through his glare. Shreya was also standing there at a distance and pleading Abhishek through her eyes to told the truth.
"Kya lagti hai wo ladki teri?" Advait asked breaking the icy cold silence.
Abhishek glanced at Shreya and then at Advait before looking down, "Friend hai, bhaiya." His voice was just above a whisper.
"Aise log hi mile the tujhe dosti karne ke liye?" He snapped.
Abhishek and Shreya looked confused.
"Aap aise kyun bol rahe hain?" He asked.
Shreya spoke up, "Advait ye kya bol rahe hain aap? Roohanika bohot acchi ladki hai."
Advait turned to look at her, "Oh?" He acted surprised, "Aur kab se jaanti hain aap usey?" He asked.
She didn't reply.
Advait turned his gaze towards Abhishek, "Ye jo bhi dosti haina isey khatam karo aainda uss ladki ke saath nazar mat aana mujhe." He ordered.
Abhishek's face turned pale at Advait's order. It seemed like his worst nightmare came true. He looked at Shreya for help who was also as confused as him.
Abhishek composed himself, "Magar kyun, bhaiya?"
"Kitne time se jaanta hai usey?" He asked.
Abhishek thought before replying, "Since two years."
Advait fisted his hands.
"Phir to bohot acche se jante honge uski family ko?" He mocked.
Abhishek didn't say anything as he didn't know anything about her family. She had always told him that she studied in a hostel and not very close to her family.
"Answer me." Advait said sharply.
"I don't know anything about her family, bhaiya. But I know her, she is...
Advait cut him off, "Usey ghar le kar aaye ho to jarur bohot acchi dost hogi."
"Teri dost ne tujhe ye bataya ki uska baap aur bhai kitne saal jail me kaat kar aaye hain?" He asked pocketing his hands.
The shock morphed on Abhishek's face. Shreya mirrored his reaction. They were shocked with the information.
"Nahi bataya?" Advait raised his brow asking mockingly.
"Phir ye to jarur bataya hoga ki unhe jail bhejne wala tera bhai tha." He informed.
Shreya looked at Abhishek who was on the verge of breaking.
"Aa-Aapne... kyun?" He whispered.
"Her brother, Vikram Raichand had molested Tia." He gritted out in anger.
Shreya gasped audibly.
Abhishek's eyes widened in shock and bewildered. His heart stopped beating for a moment. He was shocked, it would be an understatement.
"Ye baat batayi usne tujhe?" He asked stepping forward.
Abhishek shook his head slowly.
"Bhaiya uski family aisi hogi par wo bohot acchi hai mai jaanta hoon usey... I am sure usko iske baare me kuch pata nahi hoga warna wo kabhi mujhse itni badi baat nahi chupati." Abhishek replied.
"The way she looked into my eyes. I'm damn sure she knows every-fucking-thing." Advait said, his voice was low but clear.
"Bhaiya, Rooh aisi nahi hai." He protested.
Advait's gaze snapped at him at the loving nickname, "Rooh?" He asked incredulously.
"Rooh-anika... wo aisi nahi hai." He corrected.
Advait looked at Shreya and then at him. He was no fool to understand what was going on but he chose to stay silent.
He slowly stepped forward and stopped just before him towering over him with an extra inch.
"Sirf dost hi haina?" He asked cautiously.
Abhishek's heart pounding loudly but he managed a nod. He could not tell him the truth not when he was consumed in anger.
"Aainda wo ladki iss ghar me nahi aani chahiye." He declared, "Aur naa hi tum usse koi dosti rakhoge."
Abhishek's heart dropped to his stomach. He fight back the urge to told him the truth but he couldn't. Not now, when he himself had so many things to ask to Roohanika.
"Am I clear, Abhishek?" He asked.
Abhishek blinked. His heart was crumbling in pieces but he somehow held himself together.
"Ji." His voice was hoarse.
He walked away from there, his legs were wobbling from inside.
Advait looked at Shreya who was staring at the door from where Abhishek had walked away. Her face was contorted in concern.
He pocketed out his phone, dialling a number and walked in balcony.
"Roohanika Raichand." He spoke up on the call, "I want each and every information about her." He ordered.
"Especially about her love affairs." He added glaring at something on a distance.
"Okay boss." A man replied from the other side and Advait hung up the call without any further conversation.
~________________________________________~
Aditya was chewing on his nails in fear. His bhaiya had asked him to wait for him in his room and now he was sitting in his own room waiting to be beaten up his ass.
Arush peeked in the room precautiously, "Maar pad gayi?" He asked from there.
Aditya threw a pillow at him but it never landed on his face. A hand grabbed the pillow making Aditya gulped. It was Advait, he marched towards him and whacked his head continuously with the pillow three times.
"Oww!" He yelped.
Arush covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing and sneakingly disappeared from there.
"Kahan se seekha hai tu itni ladaiyaan karna huh?" He asked with an another whack.
"Oww!" He rubbed his arm, "Aapne hi to sikhaya hai." He replied.
Advait gripped his ear harshly and twisted it, "Maine sikhaya hai?" He asked sharply.
"I mean aa-aapne hi to boxing sikhayi haiiioww." He squealed when Advait gave an another twist to his ear.
"Maine boxing self defense ke liye sikhayi thi dusro ki naak todne ke liye nahi." He replied and left his ear landing a slap behind his ear.
He tried to rub the sting but Advait slapped away his hand.
"Itna maar kyun rahe hain?" He made a crying face, "Mai to help hi kar raha tha dusro ki."
"Bohot accha tareeka tha help karne ka... very good." He taunted.
Aditya smiled, "Thank you." He said earning himself an another whack on his back.
He pouted.
"Kya kaha tha usne aisa?" Advait asked remembering that girl's words.
Aditya's jaw clenched as his previous playfulness disappeared in the thin air.
"Nothing." He muttered.
"Aditya." Advait pressed.
"Maine kaha na kuch nahi bhaiya aur maine uske saath deal kar liya jaise wo deserve karta tha." He replied, the anger was evident in his voice.
"Accha bohot bada ho gaya?" Advait said sharply.
Aditya looked away.
"Bata kya bola tha usne?" Advait repeated.
"That motherfucker involved you in between." His jaw ticked.
"Language." Advait snapped.
He looked down gulping his anger.
"Log to bolte hi rehte hain to kya sabki naak todta rahega?" Advait scolded.
"Tod dunga." He muttered.
Advait whacked his neck, "Karke dikhana teri taange tod dunga." He threatened.
Aditya bit back the reply and kept looking at the floor.
"You're grounded until my further order." He ordered.
Aditya still didn't say anything.
Advait sighed, "Ye sab ladai jhagde band kar de, Adi. Aaj ke baad koi complain nahi aani chahiye college se." He warned firmly.
He nodded.
"Verbal answer." He said.
"Nahi aayegi, bhaiya." He whispered wrapping his arms around Advait. It was his way to apologize without any words.
Advait ruffled his hair, "It's okay!" He said softly.
~________________________________________~
The dinner was set on the table. Advait was checking his phone from time to time for any information about Roohanika. His mind was consumed in apprehension since he got to know about his brother having connection with Raichands.
Shreya was glancing at him. He hadn't spoken to her since evening.
Abhishek was sitting silently. He tried to call Roohanika but she didn't response to his any calls. He was feeling uneasy, he needed answers to prove his brother that Roohanika was innocent.
Arush noticed everyone and whispered to Aditya who was sitting beside him, "Bhai?"
"Hmm?"
"Aapne kuch kiya hai kya?" He asked in whisper.
Aditya had to thought for a minute before replying, "Abhi tak to kuch nahi."
"To bhaiya itne gussa me kyun lag rahe hain?" He asked earning a glare from Aditya.
"Jaa puch kar aa." Aditya whacked his head.
"Adi." Advait said pointedly.
Aditya sat up straight, "Bhaiya wo ye aapse kuch puchna chahta hai." He pointed at Arush.
Advait looked at Arush questioningly. Arush shook his head ear to ear.
"Arey puch le na, bhaiya kuch nahi kahenge." Aditya teased.
Abhishek also looked up at them. Arush glared at Aditya who passed him a tight lipped smile in return.
"Koi baat nahi mai puch leta hoon." He said to him. Arush sighed.
He turned to Advait, "Bhaiya, Aru bol raha hai ki isko ek aur tattoo banwana hai to kya wo banwa le?" Aditya said smirking at Arush who turned pale.
Advait fixed him with a hard stare, "Agar pehle wala tattoo banwane ke baad jo hua tha wo dubara experience karna ho to jarur banwalo." He said sarcastically.
Arush gulped down and Aditya snickered.
"Na-Nahi bhaiya mujhe nahi karwana koi tattoo." He stuttered.
"Par abhi to tune bola tha...
"Bhai please." Arush cut Aditya off with puppy eyes.
They silently ate their dinner and headed to their rooms.
Advait was standing in the balcony when his phone ringed. He quickly picked up the call.
"Boss, I have mailed you all the information about Roohanika Raichand." The person spoke up.
Advait hung the call and checked his mail.
He opened the file and read every detail about her.
His eyes were sharply reading each word.
He swiped the screen and the moment stopped.
His grip on his phone got tightened and his thumb hovered over the screen.
He felt a blow in his chest as if someone has punched him in his gut.
He felt a surge of anger bubbling inside him but behind that anger the hurt was hidden.
Advait kept reading those words again and again in the hope that he might have made a mistake in reading it.
He dialled a number and the call got picked in the first ring.
"Are you sure that all this information is true?" He asked in a dead calm voice.
"Yes boss, Information bilkul sahi hai maine Roohanika Raichand ke office employees se bhi baat ki hai aur bilkul sure hone ke baad hi aapko file mail ki." He said confidently.
Advait's last hope shattered and he threw the phone on the floor in rage breaking it into pieces. Shreya entered the room and flinched at the scene. She quickly went to Advait entering balcony.
"Advait kya hua aap itne gusse me kyun hain?" She asked, her voice was shaking with anticipation.
He swiftly gripped her forearm and pressed her again the railing making her flinched. The cold metal was touching her bare waist making her shivered. He leaned down to her eye level and looked furiously in her eyes.
"Kya aapko pata tha Roohanika Raichand, Abhishek ki girlfriend hai?" He asked, his voice was calm... too calm for her liking.
Shreya's eyes widened slightly, he was hovering over her pressing her more against the cold railing. Her heart was beating loudly as she fought between to tell him the truth or to keep her loyalty with Abhishek's secret. After all, it was not her right to tell him the truth.
"Ad-vait... wo mu..." Her voice was shaky.
"Haa ya naa, Shreya?" He punched the iron railing beside her, caging her between his arms.
She shivered looking down.
"Haan." She whispered.
His grip loosened as her words registered in his mind. He pulled back slowly. He tried to mask the hurt but his eyes betrayed him. A lone tear escaped from Shreya's eyes looking at his hurt filled eyes.
"Advait!" She whispered.
He looked away slowly, his face was blank.
"Advait, I'm sorry." She clutched his arm.
"Kab se pata tha?" He asked, gently brushing away her tear.
She looked down, "Shuru se."
"Aur kitni baatein chupayi hain?" He asked, his voice was soft but the disappointment in his tone clenched her heart.
"Advait...
"Shh.." He hushed her.
"Bohot shok hai na aapko baatein chupane ka." He said caressing her cheek. His tone was clipped but contrary to his voice, his touch was too gentle.
"Mujhe ye baat pata hai ye Abhishek ko pata nahi chalna chahiye." He declared.
"Mai bhi dekhta hoon ki wo aur kitne din tak mujhse jhooth bolta hai." He said.
She nodded slowly.
He turned away and started heading out of the room. Shreya glanced at the wall clock and it was 11:30 at night.
"Advait, iss waqt kahan jaa rahe hain?" She asked from behind.
"Marne." He said in anger and left the room, loudly banging the door behind him.
She closed her eyes. The tears started slipping from her eyes and she settled down on the chair in the balcony. Her eyes were fixed on the closed door from where he had left in anger.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek was calling Roohanika continuously but she was still ignoring him. He clutched his hair in frustration. He must have made at least a hundred calls to her but she didn't answer even one. He again tried to call her crumbling his self respect under his own shoe.
But to his own surprise, the call got picked.
"Why the hell are you ignoring my calls?" He asked the moment the call got picked.
"Because I don't want to talk with you." Her tone laced in anger.
He frowned, "Kyun kya kiya maine?"
"Tumne apne bhaiya ko ye kyun kaha ki mai tumhari friend hoon?" She asked irritated.
He closed his eyes momentarily, "I am sorry for that but abhi mujhe tumse ek important baat karni hai." He said with urgency.
"Par mujhe tumse koi baat nahi karni." She answered.
"Roohanika, it is serious." He said taking her full name to show her the seriousness of the matter.
She paused, her heart beating with the anticipation, "What's the matter?" She asked carefully.
"Meet me tomorrow." He said and hung up the call.
Roohanika lit up a cigarette and lazily inhaled a puff staring at the blank wall in front of her.
~________________________________________~