Chapter 100
Advait stepped forward glancing between Abhishek and Roohanika. Abhishek looked down unable to meet his gaze after breaking the promise he had made to him. Advait stopped right in front of him and pocketed his hands.
"How are you now?" He asked Roohanika, surprising both Abhishek and her.
She briefly glanced at Abhishek before responding, "Better." Her tone was soft but forced.
Advait nodded with the mock seriousness and looked at Abhishek, "Kya baat hai Abhi, tere peeche to log mare jaa rahe hain." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"Bhaiya." Abhishek said weakly in protest.
Advait raised his brow, "What bhaiya? Sach hi to keh raha hoon."
Abhishek glanced at the floor and asked, "Aap yahan kaise aaye?"
As if on cue, Sia slowly entered the room and stood beside Advait.
Abhishek shook his head at her behavior.
She had messaged Advait as she hadn't wanted Abhishek to suffer in the future.
From what she heard from the others she got to know that Roohanika could never be a right girl for him and for his family.
"Mil liya?" Advait asked directly looking at Abhishek.
Abhishek didn't reply.
"Let's go home." Advait said.
Abhishek instantly looked up at that, "Bhaiya, Rooh-anika abhi theek nahi huyi hai." He said.
"To tu doctor hai jo yahan ruk kar usey theek karega?" Advait asked.
Abhishek shook his head slowly.
Abhishek was about to took a step forward when Roohanika held his hand from behind stopping his movement.
He looked back at her and she shook her head with pleading eyes, "Mat jao, Abhi." She whispered.
But before Abhishek could reply anything Advait spoke up, "Where are your useless father and brother?" He asked.
Roohanika controlled her urge to hissed at Advait and replied, "They're out of station."
"Unhe call kar ke bula lo. I can't be here with you." Abhishek said making Roohanika's grip tightened around his hand.
"T-Tum mujhe phir se chord kar nahi jaa sakte." She stuttered.
Sia looked at their joining hands and hesitantly moved away her gaze.
Abhishek gulped down a lump formed in his throat, "We can't be together." His voice was breaking but he said.
Roohanika vigorously shook his head, "Nahi tum mujhe chord kar nahi jaa sakte tumhe meri family se problem hai na mai unhe chord dungi koi rishta nahi rakhungi unse bas tum mere saath raho mai apna sab kuch chordne ke liye ready hoon." She said desperately. Her eyes were wide in panic.
Abhishek kept standing there without any movement. Roohanika turned to Advait before closing her eyes.
"Please, Abhi ko mujhse door mat kariye. Mai meri family ko chordne ke liye taiyar hoon unse saare rishte khatam karne ke liye bhi taiyar hoon." She told him.
Sia looked at Advait waiting for his response.
"Abhi, ghar chal." Advait said, looking at Roohanika.
"N-Nahi Abhi kahi nahi jayega." She replied.
"Agar tum yahan se gaye to mai phir se suicide attempt kar lungi." She threatened him.
"I hope you will be successful this time." Advait said dryly.
Abhishek snapped his head at him, "Bhaiya, ye kya bol rahe hain aap?" He asked. His voice was heavy with the emotions. He was suffering the most between his brother and love.
Advait ignored him and stepped forward towards Roohanika's bed, "Leave his hand." He hissed.
She shook her head glaring at Advait, "Never." She whispered back.
They both were daggering holes in each other's souls. Their eyes were blazing with fire.
Sia sensed the tension in the room and stepped forward, "Abhi, tum ghar jao. Mai aur baaki doctors hai na yahan par hum dhyan rakhenge Roohanika ka." She assured him.
Abhishek glanced at each of them before saying, "Bhaiya, mujhe bas 5 minute de dijiye. Mujhe Roohanika se kuch baat karni hai uske baad mai aapke saath chalunga." He requested sincerely.
Roohanika sighed in relief. Advait noticed Abhishek's tensed features and nodded. He exited the cabin and Sia followed him behind.
Advait turned to Sia when they reached out of the room, "Tu theek hai?" He asked.
She nodded her head with a smile that didn't reach to her eyes.
"Aap Abhi ki shaadi kara dijiye na Roohanika se, wo usse bohot pyar karta hai." She said.
"Tu bhi to usse bohot pyar karti hai." He replied, glaring at her.
She looked away at that.
"Par wo mujhse pyar nahi karta wo Roohanika se pyar karta hai." She made a statement. Her words were bitter but true.
"Karega. Wo tujhse pyar karega jab Roohanika ke pyar ki patti uske aankhon se hategi tab usey logo ke asli chehre samajh aayenge." He replied, staring at something in the distance.
"Bas ek proof mil jaye uss ladki ke khilaaf aur uska ye pyar ka natak mai khud khatam kar dunga." He added, clenching his jaw.
Sia's face morphed into concern, "Aap Abhi ko khud se door kar lenge."
Advait fisted his hands exhaling sharply.
Inside the room, Abhishek leaned forward to Roohanika and pressed his lips on her forehead. His touch was gentle and assured.
"Rooh, I love you so much." He whispered.
She smiled.
"Maine jitna pyar tumse kiya hai kabhi kisi ko nahi kar paunga." He said, "Par mai bhaiya ke khilaaf nahi jaa sakta." He added making her smile disappeared.
"Abhi, mai keh rahi hoon na tum mujhse shaadi kar lo mai sab chordne ko taiyar hoon, apni family tak. Please mujhse door mat jao." She begged making an innocent face.
He sighed staring at her helplessly, "Mujhe abhi jana hoga. I'll call you." He said.
She shook her head, "Please Abhi." She joined her hand with him.
"I'll call you, Rooh. Sab theek ho jayega." He said, cupping her cheeks.
She tried to hold his hand but he went away from there slipping back his hand from her hold and closed the door behind him without looking back at her.
"Chalein?" Advait asked.
He nodded, "Ji bhaiya."
They both left the hospital and reached the parking lot when Abhishek stopped Advait who was silently walking.
"Bhaiya?" He asked.
Advait turned towards him, "Hmm?"
"Aap mujhse naraaz to nahi hai na?" He asked in fear of his disappointment.
Advait shook his head with a smile, "Abhi tak to nahi." He replied, reading his eyes.
Abhishek hugged him tightly, Advait returned the hug. Abhishek needed that comfort after this scary incident. His heart was finally at peace in the arms of his brother.
~_______________________________________~
Shreya was in the library. She was reading a book while sitting near a glass window.
She loved to read with a beautiful view.
It was her favorite hobby, that was why Advait had gifted her a library with all genres of books in it.
It was the best gift she had ever received from anyone.
Advait had personally decorated everything in the library making it more special for Shreya.
She was silently reading the book when the door of the library bursted open and a scared Arush entered the room.
"Bhabhi." He made a crying face.
Shreya stood up in concern.
"Bhabhi, please bachalo bhaiya maar dalenge mujhe." He begged.
Shreya looked at him firmly, "Kya kiya tune?" She asked.
"Mujhse bohot badi galti ho gayi bhabhi par please mujhe bachalo bhaiya bohot maarenge." He pleaded making a puppy face. His fear was clearly visible in his eyes.
Shreya remembered Sadhwi's words and shot him a stern look, "Ek baat mujhe sach sach bata, Arush."
Arush taken a back by her stern tone. It was very rare when she used this tone with him or the other two. It was always reserved for their bhaiya.
"Tune Sadhwi ki ragging ki thi?" She asked, catching him off guard.
His eyes widened like a fish without the water. His gaze dropped to the floor in shame.
"Bata Arush?" She pressed.
"Sorry bhabhi." He whispered.
The hurt flashed across her eyes at his words.
"Tujhe sharam nahi aayi, Arush?" She snapped.
"Ye sikhaya hai humne tujhe? Ladkiyon se badtameezi karna?" She asked raising her voice. Her voice was filled with hurt.
Arush looked at her with tear filled eyes, "Sorry bhabhi." He apologized.
"Tujhe pata hai jab Sadhwi ne mujhe ye baat batayi to maine uss bechari bacchi ko daant diya ki nahi mera Arush aisa nahi kar sakta." She scolded harshly, "Par tune aisa kiya tune mera bharosa toda." She accused.
He shook his head vigorously and threw himself in her arms, "I'm sorry, bhabhi maa. Mujhse galti ho gayi." He cried, hugging her tightly.
She didn't hug him back, gulping down her tears. He only called her bhabhi maa when he was really vulnerable and feeling guilty of his actions.
"Door hat mujhse." She said, pushing him away lightly.
Arush glanced at him with tears flowing down of his eyes, "Please naraaz mat hoiye na." He sobbed.
"Mujhe tujhse koi baat nahi karni, jaa yahan se." She said, turning away her face.
Arush remained standing there, his cheeks were soaked with tears.
"Jaa yahan se, Arush." She said sharply.
He hiccupped and went away from there in shame and guilt.
Shreya closed her eyes in hurt and disappointment. A lone tear slipped down off her eyes.
~________________________________________~
Arush was in his room sobbing profusely. His face was twisted in hurt, hurt of disappointing his bhabhi. He knew if Advait would get to know then he would not talk to him and it was the most painful punishment for him. He could bear anything but his silence.
A knock interrupted him, he wiped off his tears and allowed the person to enter the room.
A househelper entered the room and bowed down slightly, "Bade Sir ne aapko unke room me bulaya hai." He informed him.
Arush sucked a sharp breath. He took a few deep breaths to gather the courage to face Advait.
He headed towards his room with wobbly legs.
He didn't want to confront Advait as his every question would bring up a new humiliation for Arush.
His answers would disappoint Advait to the core that he might not be his favorite kid anymore.
All these thoughts were eating him from inside.
Arush lightly knocked the door. Advait's cold tone came from the inside. Arush slowly pushed opened the door and entered inside. Advait was sitting on the couch already glaring at the Arush like a predator.
"Close the door." Advait ordered.
Arush closed the door with trembling hands. His heartbeats were loudly echoing in the room. There was a pin drop silence in the room. The kind of silence which scared the hell out of a person.
Advait leaned back, glaring at him, "I'm already thin on my patience islie jo bolna sach bolna." He warned.
Arush was standing with his head bowed, hands clutching together behind his back. He nodded meekly.
"Paiso ki jarurat hai tujhe?" He asked.
Arush shook his head at once.
"Muh me jubaan nahi hai?" Advait shouted, banging the table loudly making him flinched.
"So-Sorry." He stuttered.
"You'll be and I'll make sure of it." Advait said dangerously.
"Tune bet lagayi tu bet haara ye sab teri galtiyaan hai jo mujhe pata hai." Advait said, "Mujhe wo janna hai jo mujhe nahi pata." He added.
Advait kept the money on the table, "Ye paise kahan se aaye tere paas?" He asked the question Arush was fearing the most.
Arush glanced up at him with puppy eyes to melt him but only received his stern gaze in return.
"Mere p-paas thirty-five thousand the, bhaiya." He said, his voice was just above a whisper.
"Kahan se aaye?" Advait asked without missing a beat.
"Maine saving ki thi apni pocket money se." He replied honestly.
Advait studied his face to catch any lie but found none and further asked, "Baaki ke sixty-five thousand kahan se aaye?"
Arush shivered in anticipation. He tried to thought of an excuse. He didn't want to put Vanya into a trouble with himself.
"Mere ek fr-friend ne diye the." He lied.
Advait pulled out his phone from his pocket and stood up, "Friend ka name and number." He said, forwarding the phone towards Arush.
Arush didn't move.
Advait waited for a minute before shouting, "Sunai nahi diya?"
Arush flinched out of his skin, stepping back in fear.
"Friend ka name aur number de. Mujhe bhi janna hai konsa daanveer dost hai tera." He said in sarcasm.
Arush's shoulders started shaking with the sobs.
"Stop crying before I give you the real reason to cry." He warned sharply.
"Number de dost ka." Advait repeated.
Arush had accepted he was doomed now. There was no way he could fool Advait, he would gonna get to know anyhow. It would be better if he told him himself.
"Bhaiya." He hiccupped.
"Vani di ne diye the paise." He told him.
Advait narrowed his eyes in shock, "Vani ne?" He asked again.
He nodded in fear.
"Let me call her." He said, dialling the number in his phone.
Arush panicked and held his hand to stop him, receiving a death glare from Advait. He quickly pulled back his hands.
"Sorry bhaiya please Vani di ko call mat kariye." He said.
"Kyun? Paise Vani ne diye hai na mai bhi usse puchta hoon uske paas itne paise kahan se aaye?" He said.
Arush looked down with a sniffle, "Bhaiya, please I am sorry aaj ke baad nahi karunga." He cried. He didn't want to tell him that he had stolen the money.
"Paise kahan se aaye, Arush?" Advait pressed each word in warning. His tone was clearly indicating his thin patience.
Arush cried more in fear, "Forty thousand Vani di ne diye the." He replied.
"Aur?" Advait digged.
"Aap-Aapki study me se nikaale the." His voice was just above a whisper.
Advait clenched his jaw. A harsh slap landed on Arush's face jerking his face to the side. Arush froze on his face, his palm was tightly pressed against his cheek. His tears had stopped flowing down in shock and fear. It was the first time ever Advait had slapped him.
"Chori ki tune?" Advait asked, gritting his teeth in anger.
Arush remained stiff and frozen on his place. Advait back handed him this time on his right cheek making him fell down on the floor. He started crying loudly like a child looking up at Advait with teary eyes. Advait balled his hands at the sight of his kid crying in pain and fear.
Advait jerked him up from the floor, "Kisne sikhaya tujhe ye?" He asked.
"Chori karna kisne sikhaya, Arush?" He shouted on top of his lungs.
Arush shivered, his whole body was trembling with the sobs. But Advait's next words broke him down completely.
"Bata kisne sikhaya tujhe chori karna?" He asked, "Mujhe acche se pata hai ye tere dimaag ka idea nahi ho sakta." He stated. Arush closed his eyes in shame witnessing the trust Advait had in him.
"Bol?" He shook him vigorously.
"Vani di ne." He hiccupped.
Advait fisted his hands and picked up his phone. He dialled Vanya's number in anger but she didn't pick up the call. He called her again and again but received no response. He exhaled sharply and dialled Reyansh's number. He picked up the call on the second ring.
"Hi...
"Vanya kahan hai?" Advait asked firmly.
Reyansh caught off guard by his tone.
"Kya hua, Advi?" He asked cautiously.
"Vanya kahan hai?" Advait repeated.
Reyansh hesitated, "Apne room me hogi." He replied.
"She is ignoring my calls. Usko bol 15 minute me yahan ghar aaye. If I had to come there then she won't like me." His warning was clear and sharp.
"Par hua kya hai tu itna gusse me kyun hai?" Reyansh asked in confusion as Advait had never called Vanya by her name let alone being angry with her.
"Ask her." He replied curtly and hung up the call.
He looked at Arush who was breathing loudly with the hiccups. His hand was pressed against his cheek to reduced the sting of the slap. His face was burning with the impact of the slap but it was not the end.
Advait deliberately stepped forward, "Sadhwi ki ragging kisne ki tu jaanta hai?" He asked calmly.
Arush's breath hitched in his throat. He slowly looked up at Advait.
"Uska kehna hai tune uski ragging ki thi." He said, "Mujhe tujhse janna hai kya ye sach hai?" He asked, already anticipating his answer looking at his scared expression but he wanted to hear from Arush.
"Tune uski ragging ki thi?" Advait asked, his tone was cold.
There was not an option of lying so Arush nodded his head slowly, expecting an another slap. But it never came, he slowly looked up in his eyes and Advait was standing there staring blankly at him.
"You should be ashamed of yourself." Advait seethed breaking Arush's heart.
Arush hold his ears looking at him pleadingly, "Galti ho gayi, bhaiya." He sniffled.
"Betting, chori, ragging... ye sab galtiyaan nahi hai Arush. These are all crimes." He said harshly.
"Chota hai chota hai soch kar bohot dheel de di tujhe ye sab usi ka nateeja hai." Advait muttered and marched towards the cupboard. He slid off a leather belt and came back to him.
Arush sucked a sharp breath looking at the belt in his hands. He took several steps back, shaking his head slowly.
"I-I am sorry, bhaiya." He stuttered.
Advait's jaw ticked in anger. His body was radiating with anger. He looped the belt around his palm and landed it on Arush's thigh making him scream loudly.
"Ahhh bhaiya." He let out a loud scream.
Advait again landed a lash on his another leg, "Ye bohot pehle hi kar dena chahiye tha mujhe." He said in a tone that sting more than the belt.
"Sor... Sorry bhaiya." He breathed loudly with his trembling form.
"Mai to tujhe humesha baccha hi samajhta raha mujhe pata hi nahi chala mera baccha kab itna bada ho gaya ki chori karna seekh gaya." He said, landing a sharp lash on his calves, "Ragging karna seekh gaya." Another lash. "Ladkiyon se badtameezi karna seekh gaya." Another sharp lash.
Arush's crying and screaming was echoing in the mansion. But no one entered the room to save him as they knew he was at fault.
"Bohot lag rahi hai, bhaiya." His face was red and soaked in tears. His tears were not stopping from flowing down off his eyes but Advait remianed firm.
Advait furrowed his brows, "Kya kaha tha tune Sadhwi se?" He asked.
Arush continued crying. He was feeling so humiliated to even stand in front of Advait.
"Kya kaha tha?" Advait snapped, "Dance karne ke liye huh?" He asked, tugging at his ear.
Arush closed his eyes in shame. He wasn't able to look into his eyes because of his own actions.
Advait left his ear and went to the walk-in-closet. Advait came out of it, Arush was anticipating the worst but not this. Advait came back with Shreya's heels in his hand and threw them in front of Arush.
"Pehen isey." He ordered him.
Arush's eyes widened. His heart dropped to his stomach. His face turned cherry red in embarrassment. His bewilderment screaming the protest.
"Ab se nahi karunga, bhaiya. Please ye mat kijiye. Please bhaiya." He joined his hands.
"Sunai nahi diya kya kaha maine?" He asked coldly, ignoring his pleading.
Arush didn't move so Advait again picked up the belt. Arush shook his head and quickly wore the heels. He carefully stood on it as the size was so small for his feet. He clumsily fitted them in his feet. His head was buried between his shoulders in humiliation.
"Dance kar ab." Advait said and Arush cried out in shame.
His sobbing was filled in the room but this time Advait showed no mercy to him.
"Dance kar." He said sharply.
Arush meekly shook his head.
"Bohot embarrassment ho rahi hai, bhaiya. Please maaf kar dijiye." His voice was shaking.
"Kyun?" Advait asked, "Embarrassment bas tujhe hoti hai? Jinki tu ragging karta hai unhe embarrassment nahi hoti? Unhe bohot maja aata hai apna mazak banwane me?" He asked and reprimanded him in a clipped tone.
Arush was crying hysterically. He understood what Advait was trying to teach him. He was feeling so guilty of each and every action. The weight of guilt was heavy on his chest making him feel vulnerable.
"Go and stand in the garden like this." Advait commanded.
Arush shook his head continuously. His eyes wide in anticipation, "Bhaiya, please mai ab se aisa nahi karunga, mujhe meri galti samajh aa gayi hai. Please garden me mat bhejiye wahan sab honge." He ranted. He was fearing the humiliation.
"I said GO." Advait gritted out, controlling his own emotions.
~________________________________________~