Chapter 89
The Malhotra's were having their breakfast silently. The atmosphere was tense and silent. Advait's eyes were travelling to the stairs every second. He was waiting for Abhishek but he was nowhere to be seen. After a few moments of silence, the footsteps echoed in the hall.
Abhishek stepped down the stairs but he didn't stop at the dining table. He kept walking ahead towards the exit.
"Abhi, kahan jaa rahe ho breakfast to kar ke jao." Shreya called for him.
He stopped barely turning around, "Urgent work hai bhabhi, breakfast bahar kar lunga." He replied.
"Kya urgent kaam hai?" Advait spoke up.
"Hai kuch." He muttered walking away.
Advait stood up, "Ruk."
Abhishek stopped on his track.
"Kahan jaa raha hai?" Advait walked to him.
"Hai koi kaam bhaiya har baat batana jaruri hai kya?" Abhishek asked frustratingly.
Shreya narrowed her eyes at his behavior.
"Theek hai mat bata par tu uss ladki se milne nahi jayega." Advait said firmly.
"Kya wo ladki wo ladki laga rakha hai, bhaiya?" He yelled, "Roohanika naam hai uska." He said but there was not any real anger on his face. His behavior was looking forced.
Aditya stood up pushing back his chair and marched towards Abhishek glaring at his soul, "Watch your tone, bhai." He gritted out.
Abhishek closed the distance between them towering over him by an inch, "Nahi to kya karega?" He asked sharply.
Arush looked at both of them in fear and hurt. He was the one who was suffering the most between his brother's fights.
Aditya fisted his hand and about to open his mouth when Advait pulled him back.
"Aru ko le kar apne room me jaa." Advait said.
"Par bhaiya...
"Adi." Advait gestured towards Arush who was looking at all of this with teary eyes.
Aditya sighed and took him upstairs, "Chal."
Advait sighed and looked at Abhishek, "Mai tera bura nahi chahta, baccha. Meri baat maan jaa please, chorde uss ladki ko." He said gently.
"Aaj tak maine tere liye koi galat faisla liya hai?" He asked.
"Exactly bhaiya aaj tak to aap hi to meri life ke faisle lete huye aaye hain please iss baar mujhe mere liye faisla lene dijiye." Abhishek replied.
"Wo ladki sahi nahi hai, Abhi." Advait said for the nth time.
"Aap itna controlling kyun behave kar rahe hain?" Abhishek said in exasperation.
Advait blinked his eyes unsure, "Tujhe lagta hai mai controlling hoon?" He asked masking his hurt.
Shreya shot Abhishek a look, "Abhi, ye kya kuch bhi bole jaa raha hai. Kal se dekh rahi hoon ye kaise baat kar raha hai tu apne bhaiya se." She scolded.
"Sahi to keh raha hoon bhabhi bachpan se hi ye mat karo wo mat karo humesha se control hi kiya hai inhone humein maine humesha se inki har baat maani aur aaj jab mai inse apni bas ek khushi maang raha hoon ye wo bhi mujhe nahi de sakte." Abhishek said, averting the eye contact.
Shreya looked at Advait who was just blankly staring at Abhishek.
"Agar aise hi har cheez me aap mujhe control karte rahe na to ek din bhaag jaunga ghar se." He said angrily.
Shreya gasped.
This statement touched the nerve in Advait. The past memories came flooded back in front of his vision.
"Ghar se bhaag jayega?" He asked dangerously, stepping forward.
He grabbed him by his arm and dragged him out to the mansion. His unyielding gaze blazing with fire. Shreya followed behind running after them.
"Advait kya kar rahe hain aap choriye usey." She said.
Advait stopped in the lawn and left his hand, "Bhaag jayega na? Nikal yahan se." Advait said.
Abhishek widened his eyes and looked at him. Shreya clutched Advait's arm, "Kya bol rahe hain aap ye baccha hai wo." She shook him.
"Sahi bol raha hoon apne baap ki tarah letter likh kar bhaage isse pehle abhi nikal jaa." Advait said angrily pointing at the main gate.
Abhishek gulped the hurt of being compared with his father, "Don't compare me with him." He said.
"Kyun?" Advait asked incredulously.
"Wo bhi to bhaag gaya tha na apni selfishness ke liye bina iski fikar kare ki unke baad unki family mare ya jiye." Advait said, his eyes burning with unshed tears, "Aur ab tu jana chahta hai."
"Naa mai unhe rok paya tha aur naa tujhe rok paunga. You're free to go." His voice was hoarse.
A lone tear slipped down from Abhishek's eyes after noticing the hurt in Advait's eyes.
Abhishek turned around to left when Shreya gripped his hand stopping him. He looked back at her.
"Kahin nahi jayega tu." She said in a stubborn tone.
Abhishek glanced at Advait before gently freeing his hand from her hold, "Sorry, bhabhi." He mumbled.
He walked away from there leaving Advait behind. Shreya harshly turned Advait towards him.
"Ye kya kiya aapne apne bacchon ke saath aise karta hai koi?" Her eyes were pouring out her emotions, "Rokiye usey, Advait." She yelled at him.
Advait wiped off her tears before pulling her to his chest.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek and Roohanika were sitting in a garden.
He was controlling his tears, no matter whatever the decision he made his heart was bound to break.
His head was throbbing badly from the stress.
Roohanika was looking at him concerningly but her heart was beating loudly as he didn't say a word till now.
"Tell me. What happened?" She asked.
His voice broke out, "Bhaiya ne mujhe ghar se nikaal diya." He said quietly.
Roohanika narrowed her eyes, "What?" She said in shock, "Wo aisa kaise kar sakte hain wo ghar jitna unka hai utna tumhara bhi hai." She said.
"Tumhe nahi lagta wo tumhari life kuch jyada hi control karte hain?" She said with a scoff.
Abhishek fixed her with a glare, "Soch samajh kar bolo kiske baare me baat kar rahi ho." He said with a warning edge in his voice.
She got offended, "Galat kya bol rahi hoon mai jo sach hai wahi to kaha."
"Rooh, Enough." He said sharply, "If you can't respect my brother then I have to rethink about our relationship."
Her eyes widened but she kept her mouth shut. She could do anything but couldn't risk her relationship with him.
"Hum shaadi kab rahe hain?" She asked after a few moments of silence.
"Jab bhaiya maan jayenge." He replied as a matter of fact.
She breathed heavily, "Unhone tumhe ghar se nikaal diya hai ab kya farak padta hai tum kisi se bhi shaadi karo." She said.
"Listen to me very clearly, Roohanika." He turned towards her with seriousness in his eyes.
Roohanika gritted her teeth listening to her full name coming out of his mouth.
"Mai chahe bhaiya se kitna bhi jhagad loon wo chahe mujhe ghar se nikaal dein magar sach yahi hai ki mai unki marzi ke bina shaadi kabhi nahi karunga." He stated firmly.
She felt a blow in her chest, "Aur tumne mujhse jo waade kiye hain unka kya?" She asked whisperingly.
"Maine tumse kabhi nahi kaha ki mai apne bhaiya ke khilaaf jaa kar tumse shaadi karunga." He replied.
"Par tumne kaha tha wo maan jayenge, tumne kaha tha tum unhe manaoge." She stood up shouting, grabbing passer by's attention.
"Aur mai abhi bhi keh raha hoon mai unhe manaunga, jab tak lad sakta hoon apne pyar ke liye ladunga. Par agar tum soch rahi ho ki mai unhe hurt kar ke tumhare saath nayi zindagi shuru karunga...to aisa kabhi nahi hoga." He said leaving her shattered.
He left from there. She slumped down on the bench with a thud, her eyes were shimmering but she didn't let herself cry because crying for a man didn't match with her standards.
~________________________________________~
It was evening, Abhishek entered Khurana's Mansion. Reyansh was already sitting in the living room as if he was waiting for someone. When Abhishek entered the house, he welcomed him with a smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Majnu." He commented standing up from his place.
Abhishek looked away.
"Mai aapka hi intezaar kar raha tha." Reyansh said in sarcasm.
Abhishek looked at him confusingly, "Tere bhaiya ka phone aaya tha." Reyansh cleared out his confusion.
"Wo kya haina tere bhaiya tujhe jarurat se jyada acche se jaante hain tere yahan aane se pehle hi usey pata tha tu yahan aane wala hai." He taunted.
"Taunt maarna band karenge aap?" Abhishek asked in a low voice.
Reyansh rolled his eyes, "Arey don't worry taunt maarna to door ki baat mai tujhse baat karne me bhi interested nahi hoon." He replied.
He walked away from there, "First floor, third room." He said behind himself.
Abhishek sighed loudly and went straight to the directed room.
Vanya came out from behind the pillar. Her eyes were wide with the new information. She was eavesdropping. She quickly ran to her room and shut the door behind herself.
She picked up her phone from the bed and dialled a number.
"Hi, Vanu." An excited voice came from the other side.
"Hi-Vi chord aur ye bata Abhi bhai aur bhaiya ke beech me kya hua hai?" She asked.
He furrowed his brows, "Tujhe kaise pata bhaiya aur bhai ke jhagde ke baare me?" He asked.
"Kaise pata kya? Abhi bhai yahan ghar par rehne aaye hain." She said.
"Wahan rehne aaye hain...matlab?" He asked.
"Arey bhaiya ne bhai ko ghar se nikaal diya na islie wo yahan rehne aaye hain." She cleared.
"What?" His bewilderment was evident in his voice.
"Kya kuch bhi bol rahi hai tu, Vanu?" He said.
"Sach bol rahi hoon maine khud suna bhai ko Abhi bhai se baat karte huye. Bhaiya ne unhe ghar se nikaal diya hai." She said in a hush voice.
He hung the call and went towards Advait's room. Shreya was sitting there quietly, her cheeks were sticky with dried tears. Aditya entered the room as the door was already opened.
Shreya stood up looking at his panicking face, "Kya hua?" She asked.
"Bhaiya ne Abhi bhai ko ghar se nikaal diya?" He asked, dreading for her answer.
She looked down without replying.
"Boliye bhabhi." He pressed.
She nodded slowly.
His expression turned shocking with her response, "Par kyun?" He whispered.
She told him the whole story, the words brothers had exchanged in anger. She told him everything.
Aditya balled his hands, "Bhai bhaiya se aisa bol bhi kaise sakte hain?" He muttered angrily.
"Tum to shaant ho jao, Adi. Pata nahi kya ho gaya hai iss ghar ko sab kuch itna accha chal raha tha aur ab achanak se..." Her voice broke down and she couldn't complete the sentence.
"Ye sab un Raichands ki wajah se ho raha hai. Abhi tak wo Miss Raichand iss ghar me aayi nahi hai aur sab ke beech jhagde hone lag gaye jab wo aa jayegi to pata nahi kya hoga." He said.
Shreya cupped his cheeks gently, "Tum in sab cheezo me mat pado, Adi." She said, "Pehle se hi Advait aur Abhi ke beech me itni darare pad gayi hain mai nahi chahti tum in sab me involve ho kar Abhi se apne rishte kharab karo."
"Jab bhai ne kuch bhi bolne se pehle ek baar bhi nahi socha to mai kyun sochun?" He replied clenching his jaw.
Shreya's fear was palpable on her face. She would never want the brothers to fight but her heart was pounding loudly as she could imagine the dynamics were about to change.
~________________________________________~
It was the dinner time. Reyansh sent a househelper to call Abhishek for dinner. But he refused to come out. He was about to stood up from his place to call him but Sia entered the home.
Reyansh smiled looking at her. Tia cursed herself in mind as she was the one who called her in the morning and forced her to come and stay with her for a day.
She wasn't aware of Abhishek's presence and when she got to knew she forget to told Sia not to come today.
She didn't want Sia to meet Abhishek and to escalate her feelings for him.
Reyansh took Sia in a hug, "Kaisi hai?" He asked, ruffling her hair gently.
"Theek hoon, jiju. Aap kaise hain?" She asked, her tone was neutral.
Reyansh noticed her expression and voice before saying, "Kya hua tujhe?" He asked.
"Kuch bhi nahi, jiju." She replied while hugging Tia and Vanya.
"To phir meri Siyu ki wo badi si smile kahan gayab hai?" He asked, lightly pinching her cheeks.
She smiled a little, "Doctors ke paas hasne tak ki fursat nahi hoti hai, jiju. Bohot thak gayi hoon." She made an excuse.
"Bhai dinner start karte haina bohot bhook lag rahi hai." Vanya whined.
Reyansh chuckled, "Tum log start karo mai Abhi ko bula kar laata hoon." He said and walked away.
But Sia stopped mid-step, her heart skipped a beat listening to his name.
She was indulging herself in work and extra shifts so that she could ignore the pain of her heart but now the person whom she was trying to forget was under the same roof as hers.
She masked her emotions and settled down on the chair.
"Abhi yahan kya kar raha hai, Di?" She asked, keeping her tone casual.
"Bhaiya ne Abhi bhai ko ghar se nikaal diya." Vanya replied before Tia could spoke up.
"Vani shh..." Tia hushed her.
Sia's face turned shocking mixed with concern, "Ghar se nikaal diya...kyun?" She asked.
"Tu dinner kar le mai tujhe baad me sab batati hoon." Tia said. She wanted to talk to her calmly in privacy.
"Sia di puch rahi hain to abhi bata do na, bhabhi." Vanya said.
"Di, mai aapko batati hoon." Vanya said with thrill and suspense.
"Vanya." Tia said firmly making her pout.
"Batane dijiye na, Di." Sia said. She wanted to know the reason behind this undigestable news.
"Sia, mai baad me batati hoon na tujhe." Tia said convincingly.
Vanya whispered in Sia's ear as she was sitting just beside her, "Abhi bhai ek ladki se pyar karte hain." She said.
Sia felt a pang. She already knew about this but her heart breaks every time she remembered that scene where the love of her life was kissing someone else.
"Wo ladki shayad bhaiya ko pasand nahi hai par Abhi bhai jabardasti usse shaadi karne ke peeche pade huye hain islie bhaiya ne gusse me bhai ko ghar se nikaal diya." She told her like she was telling her a movie script.
Tia shook her head at Vanya. The girl could never listen to anyone.
Sia was bewildered with the news. She wasn't knew that Abhishek was also suffering for his love like her. She didn't know how to react to that.
On the other side, Reyansh entered the room in which Abhishek was staying. He was sitting up on the bed scrolling in his phone. Reyansh sighed and walked to him. He whacked the back of his head.
"Itni der se dinner ke liye bula raha hoon ek baar me samajh me nahi aata hai tujhe." He chided.
"Mann nahi kar raha, bhai." He replied.
"Lunch kiya tha?" Reyansh asked.
He shook his head.
"Breakfast?" He asked more firmly.
Abhishek slowly shook his head again.
"Behosh hona hai?" He asked sharply.
"Uth aur chal dinner kar." He pulled him up.
"Bhaiya ne bhi nahi khaya hoga." Abhishek mumbled.
"Oh to bhaiya se farak padta hai tujhe?" Reyansh mocked.
"Aise mat bolo, bhai. Sab kuch hain wo mere liye unki har ek cheez har ek baat se farak padta hai." He said, his voice was filled with guilt.
"Phir subah kya bakwas kar ke aaya hai uske saamne?" Reyansh glared at him.
"Aap nahi samjhoge." Abhishek said looking away.
Reyansh looked at him for a moment before saying, "Dinner kar chal kar Advait bhi kha lega bol dunga mai usey khush." He said dragging him away.
"Mera naam mat lena." He muttered and let himself dragged by him.
They reached the dining table and Abhishek's face lit up with a smile looking at Sia.
"Nerdy." He whispered, taking her in a side hug making her heartbeat stop for a moment.
"I was missing you so much. I'm really sorry for that day yaar." He apologized.
Sia smiled in return, "That's fine." She replied.
"I gotta share many things to you. Everything's messed up. I need my best friend." He whispered in her ear, sitting down beside her.
"We'll talk after dinner." She replied, blinking her eyes reassuringly.
Reyansh and Tia noticed the exchange between them but the emptiness in Sia's eyes didn't go unnoticed by any one of them.
~________________________________________~
On the other side, Advait was shuffling on the bed, changing his sides again and again.
His mind was occupied in Abhishek's worry.
He knew that Abhishek was staying with Khurana's and he would be safe there but still his child was not in front of his eyes and that was enough reason to worry about him.
He hadn't eaten a morsel since morning. Shreya tried to force him to eat but he made her and the kids eat but didn't eat himself.
Shreya slowly opened her eyes and looked at the distressing face of her husband.
"Itni fikar ho rahi hai to call kar lijiye na." She said.
Advait was snapped out of his thoughts listening to her voice. He looked down at her and tried to sound ignorant.
"Mujhe kisi ki koi fikar nahi ho rahi." He told her, "Sleep." He said eyeing her.
She rolled her eyes. She was angry at him for letting Abhishek go. She rolled back to the other side and closed her eyes.
Advait waited for a good fifteen minutes and then decided to call Reyansh to ask about Abhishek. He stood up and went in the balcony, dialling his number.
Reyansh was working on his laptop as he had to look after everything in office by himself because his father was not in the country. He picked up the call in the first ring and left the room so that Tia's sleep won't get disturbed.
"Tune mujhe kya apni girlfriend samjha hua hai jo raat ke 1 baje call kar raha hai." Reyansh said the first thing when he picked up the call.
Advait rolled his eyes at his friend's remark, "Abhi kahan hai?" He asked ignoring his comment.
"Tune ye puchne ke liye call kiya?" Reyansh asked in exasperation.
"Rey dimaag mat kharab kar kahan hain wo kaisa hai aur dinner kiya tha usne?" Advait asked his questions.
"If having two spoons of rice is called dinner then yes he had dinner." He replied.
Advait worried, "Tujhe jabardasti khilana chahiye tha na." He said.
"Tu uske saath jabardasti kar paa raha hai?" Reyansh taunted.
"Baccha nahi hai ab wo bada ho gaya hai aur jarurat se jyada hi samjhdaar ho gaya hai." He added.
Advait sighed.
"Tune kuch khaya ya tera bhi karwachouth chal raha hai?" He asked.
"Phone rakh yaar tu." Advait said irritatingly.
Reyansh quickly said, "Stop throwing tantrums, darling." He said teasingly to divert his mood.
"Stop calling me that." Advait grumbled.
"Fineeee!" He sang.
"Accha sun, ye jo bhi chal raha hai isey jaldi solve kar. Abhi bohot ziddi hai wo itni aasani se nahi maanega koi permanent solution dundhna padega." Reyansh said.
Advait sighed, "I know, mera baccha mere saath hi game khel kar chala gaya aur mai uski game me fas gaya par ab waqt aa gaya usey yaad dilane ka ki mai uska baap hoon." He said thoughtfully.
"Matlab?" Reyansh frowned.
"Kal pata chal jayega." He replied and disconnected the call.
~________________________________________~
It was dark but the soft moonlight was radiating its glow on the terrace.
Abhishek and Sia were seated on the swing next to each other in a respectful distance.
Their gazes fixed up at the moon in the sky.
The cold air was brushing past their faces, relieving the storms inside their hearts. The silence was peaceful.
"Tumhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha, Abhi." Sia said.
Abhishek sighed. His gaze dropped down, "I know, yaar."
"Par mai kya karta agar mai wo sab nahi bolta to bhaiya mujhe kabhi ghar se nahi nikalte." He said.
Sia turned towards him, "Tumne bas apne plan me successful hone ke liye unhe kitna hurt kar diya." She said disapprovingly.
"Agar mai ghar nahi chordta to wo meri shaadi Rooh se karane ke liye kabhi nahi maanege." He said.
"Aur tumhe kya lagta hai wo aise maan jayenge?" She asked crossly.
He smirked, "Jarur maan jayenge. Wo mere bina ek din bhi nahi reh sakte." He said confidently, "Wo kal hi mujhe ghar bula lenge but mai nahi jaunga... jab tak wo meri shart nahi maanege mai ghar nahi jaunga."
"Jyada se jyada kitne din tak reh lenge...2 din? 4 din? 1 hafta?" He asked rhetorically, "But last me unhe meri baat manni hi padegi." He said.
Sia shook her head, "Apne pyar ke liye apne pariwaar ko hurt kar rahe ho tum."
"Mai maafi maang lunga bhaiya se. Bhagwaan jante hain ki mera irada galat nahi tha mai bas wo hi kar raha hoon jo har insaan apne pyar ke liye karta hai." He said.
Sia looked into his love filled eyes. The love for his Rooh.
"Jab tumhe kisi se pyar hoga tab tumhe samajh aayega maine jo kiya wo galat nahi tha." He said.
She chuckled dryly, "Right." She muttered.
They sat there in silence providing the warmth of each other's presence to their aching hearts.
"Bohot raat ho gayi hai neeche chalein?" She spoke up.
"Thodi der baad chalte hain." He replied.
"You're really my best friend, nerdy." He said sincerely after looking at her thoughtfully, "I'm feeling so good after pouring out my emotions to you."
Best Friend. She chuckled. Yes, she was his best friend and would always remain only that. She smiled softly that didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes were empty.
"Bas dar lagta hai tum bhaiya se chugli na kar do." He said teasingly. She let out a low chuckle.
"Ek baat kahoon, Abhi?" She said, looking at him.
"Hmm?" He asked gazing up at the moon.
"Mai nahi jaanti ki tumhari Rooh kaisi hai par bhaiya ne kabhi tumhara galat nahi chaha hai...apni zindagi ki nayi shuruaat karne se pehle purani kadwahate door kar lena." She said in a low voice.
He nodded.
"Aur dusri baat, jab baari tumhari khushiyon ki aayegi na to tumhari ye dost tumhe sab se aage khadi nazar aayegi." She whispered, her eyes glistening. A smile was glued on her lips despite of her aching heart.
He smiled and snaked his arm around her shoulder.
~________________________________________~