Chapter 107
Aditya was driving the car and Vanya was sitting in the passenger seat. They both were talking about random things. The light music was humming in the background as Vanya loved to listen to music in the car.
"Vanu, tu ghar chal naa movie dekhenge." Aditya said.
"Nahi, mujhe ghar jana hai baby ka dhyan rakhne ke liye." She said.
Aditya stopped the car with a jerk and snapped his head towards her, "Who's baby?" He asked in horror.
Vanya clutched her chest looking at him weirdly, "Bhai aur bhabhi ka hone wala baby, mera little munchkin." She replied.
Aditya let out a breath he hadn't aware he was holding. His heart jumped in his mouth for a moment. He sighed in relief.
"Vanu, wo baby abhi iss duniya me aaya bhi nahi hai. Jo baby tere saamne baitha hai thodi si uski bhi fikar kar le." He told her and started the car.
She rolled her eyes, "Shut up."
"Mujhe baby ki care karni hai agar usey kuch chahiye hua to?" She said.
Aditya slapped his own forehead, "Aise nahi hota, Vanu. Bhabhi abhi sirf one month pregnant hai abhi baby ko kuch nahi chahiye." He said.
"Tujhe kaise pata?" She asked.
"Basic common sense." He replied.
"Matlab tu kehna chahta hai mere andar common sense nahi hai?" She said, narrowing her eyes.
Aditya widened his eyes, "Maine aisa kab kaha?"
"Abhi to kaha." She glared.
"I am sorry." He pouted.
"Hmm fine." She replied.
"To tu chal rahi hai na ghar? Waise bhi ghar par koi nahi hai mai akele bore ho jaunga." He said.
"Kyun bhabhi aur Aru kahan gaye?" She asked.
"Aru concert me gaya hai aur bhabhi NGO gayi hain." He replied while driving the car.
"Theek hai. Chalte hain." She said and Aditya grinned widely.
They reached the Malhotra Mansion and entered the living room. Aditya and Vanya slumped down on the couch with a tired sigh.
"Rajeev bhaiya, paani le aayein please." Aditya called loudly.
The househelper, Rajeev came with a tray of two glasses of water and forwarded it towards Aditya.
"Thank you." Aditya smiled while taking the glass and gulped down the water.
Rajeev left the place before passing the glass to Vanya. Aditya looked at Vanya before saying, "Tu jaa kar movie decide kar. I'm coming."
Vanya stood up and ran towards the TV room in a hurry.
Aditya went to the kitchen to ask the chefs to make snacks for them.
He exited the kitchen and about to entered the TV room when his gaze landed on Advait who was entering the living room.
His face was sweating profusely and chest was heaving up and down.
His face was red and legs were wobbling. He was barely holding himself together.
Aditya quickly made his way to his side and hold him, "Bhaiya, kya hua aapko?" He asked in panic.
"Nothing, I-I'm fine." Advait replied with heavy breaths.
"You're clearly not fine, bhaiya. Aap-Aap baithiye yahan." Aditya said and made him sat down on the couch.
"Rajeev bhaiya pani laiye jaldi." He shouted.
Rajeev quickly came with a glass of water and handed to Aditya. Vanya came out of the room listening to his voice and looked at Advait's condition.
"Bhaiya, kya hua aapko?" She asked, sitting beside him. Her face was scrunched up in fear and worry.
Aditya made Advait drink water without his will. Advait drank a few sips but stopped looking at Aditya's tensed face.
"Maine k-kaha na mai theek hoon, Adu." Advait whispered.
But Aditya hadn't listened to him and ran upstairs to Advait's room. He swiftly opened all the drawers to search for Advait's pills. He got the bottle and hurried downstairs.
Vanya was rubbing the back of Advait's hand, "Bhaiya, aapka face red ho raha hai aapko kya ho raha hai?" She asked in fear.
Aditya came to them and took out a pill. He handed the pill to Advait and made him gulped it down.
"He's getting a panic attack, Vanu. Call Sia di." He told Vanya.
Vanya widened her eyes and quickly made a call to Sia.
"Mai theek hoon, kisi ko call karne ki jarurat nahi hai." He said with uneven breathing.
"Dikh raha hai kitne theek hain aap." Aditya said while undoing Advait's coat buttons.
He took off the coat from his body before opening his shoes. His movements were quick, his hands were trembling but he was trying his best to not to show his panic and fear. Vanya wiped off the sweat from Advait's face with her scarf.
The pill had started working, Advait relaxed a bit but not fully.
The Roohanika's words were constantly ringing in his ears.
The image of his mother hanging off the fan was flashing in front of his eyes and much to his dismay he was imagining Abhishek in her place.
The sight was heart wrenching for him, he couldn't imagine the child he had raised in this state.
He would die before letting something like this happened to his kid.
In some time, Sia entered the Malhotra Mansion with a worried look on her face. Aditya had made Advait laid down in his room. Sia went upstairs to his room and Aditya and Vanya were also present there. Sia looked at Advait who was glaring at everyone.
"Sia di." Vanya said and stood up from Advait's side to gave Sia space.
Sia settled down beside Advait without a word and looked at Aditya who was glaring back at Advait.
"Stop glaring at me, Adi." Advait said firmly.
"Then you should stop behaving like nothing had happened." Aditya replied in the same tone.
Advait looked away taking a deep breath.
"Di, aap please check kariye." Vanya said to dismissed the tension.
Sia checked Advait's blood pressure and it was higher than normal. She glared at him and showed him his blood pressure.
"BP dekh rahe hain aap apna." Sia scolded.
"Ab tu bhi shuru mat ho, Sia." Advait chided.
"To aap ye faltu stress lena band kar dein, bhaiya. Kitni baar kaha hai aap se ki aise panic attacks aana normal nahi hai par aap sunte hai kabhi kisi ki." She said while checking his pulse.
Aditya scoffed.
Advait sighed heavily and took all the scoldings but in reality his mind was somewhere else. Sia noticed his tensed features and looked at Aditya and Vanya.
"Adi, Vani tum dono bahar jao. Mujhe bhaiya se kuch baat karni hai." She said.
"Mai kahi nahi jaunga." Aditya replied.
Sia gestured to Vanya to take him out and Vanya understood the gesture. She went to Aditya and requested him to went out with her. They both left the room.
Sia turned towards Advait before asking, "Kya hua, bhaiya? Kyun itna pareshaan hain aap?" Her voice was gentle.
"I'm fine, Sia. Par tum logo ko samajh me hi nahi aata hai." He replied.
"Mere saamne ye natak mat kariye, bhaiya. Aap samajh kyun nahi rahe itna stress aapki health ke liye accha nahi hai." She made him understand.
"Please mujhe bataiye kya baat pareshaan kar rahi hai aapko?" She asked.
Advait took a deep breath before telling her the whole story. She gasped when she got to know about Roohanika's real colors.
"Wo ladki itni giri huyi hai. Attempt to murder seriously?" She said.
"Aap theek haina, bhaiya?" She asked, checking him for any injury.
"Hmm." He hummed in response.
"Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha mai kya karun? Agar Abhi ne sacch me koi galat kadam utha liya to mai mar jaunga." He said, his voice was heavy with emotions.
Sia reassuringly held his hand, "Aisa kuch nahi hoga, bhaiya.
Abhi itna kamjor nahi hai aap usey sab sacch bata dijiye.
Roohanika jaisi ladki ke saath rehna safe nahi hai aaj usne Abhi ko paane ke liye aapka murder karne ki koshish ki to wo kal ko isse bhi bada kuch kar sakti hai.
We shouldn't take risk." She said in understanding.
"Pata nahi kya sahi aur kya galat par mai itna bada risk nahi le sakta. Mai uss ladki ko mere Abhi ko barbaad nahi karne dunga par mai Abhi ko sacch bhi nahi bata sakta." He said.
"Agar bina sacch bataye aap Abhi ko Roohanika se alag karenge to wo aapko galat samajhega." She said in concern.
"Samajhne de usey jo samajhna hai mai Abhi ko kuch nahi bataunga." He said with finality.
"Par mai bataunga." Aditya's voice boomed in the room.
Advait and Sia snapped their heads towards the door and Aditya was standing there. His body was burning with the anger and fury. He stepped towards Advait and glared at him furiously.
"Aapne mujhe ye sab kyun nahi bataya, bhaiya?" He asked.
"Adi, tu in sab se bahar reh." Advait warned.
"Uss Raichand ne aapka murder karne ki koshish ki aur aap chahte hain mai in sabse bahar rahun?" He asked in anger.
"Adi, tu..
"Bhaiya, aap meri suniye wo Raichand to fail ho gayi apne plan me par ab mai apne hathon se uski jaan lunga and I won't fail." He gritted out and hurried away from the room in anger.
Advait and Sia panicked. Advait quickly stood up from the bed and ran after him to catch him.
"Adi, ruk jaa." Advait said from behind but Aditya kept walking in anger.
Advait was stepping down the stairs, "Adi." He yelled.
"Tujhe meri kasam hai, Adi. Wahi ruk jaa." Advait said out loud stopping Aditya's movement.
Aditya clenched his hands at his sides and turned away angrily. Vanya came out from the washroom, she was walking to Aditya's side but flinched back looking at his face. His eyes had turned red in anger.
"Aap bohot galat kar rahe hain, bhaiya." He gritted out.
Advait stepped forward and whispered, "Tu kuch nahi karega, Adi aur naa Abhi ko kuch batayega. Tujhe meri kasam hai." He deliberately said this in a low tone because Vanya was standing there and if she would get to know about this then it would become the breaking news.
~________________________________________~
Next day, Abhishek was sitting on the floor resting his head on Shreya's lap who was sitting on the couch. She was gently stroking his hair and he was silently looking at something at a distance. His eyes were empty and there was a distressed look on his face.
"Pata nahi bhaiya kab maanege, bhabhi." He said slowly.
Shreya sighed, "Advait kuch kar rahe hain to wo tumhare bhale ke liye hi hoga, baccha." She replied.
"I love her, bhabhi." He looked up from her lap with yearning in his eyes.
Shreya felt a pang in her heart, "Wo ladki tere liye acchi nahi hai, beta." She said.
"Wo bohot acchi hai, bhabhi. Please aap to mujhe samajhiye." He pleaded.
"Mai usse bohot pyar karta hoon mar jaunga uske bina." He said through tears.
"Kya bol raha hai, Abhi?" Shreya scolded.
"Sacch bol raha hoon, bhabhi. I love her so much. Mai usse bohot pyar karta hoon aur wo bhi mujhse utna hi pyar karti hai mai nahi reh paunga uske bina." A lone tear fell down to his cheek.
"Aur agar wo tujhe dhokha de rahi hogi to?" She asked.
"Wo mujhe dhokha nahi de sakti, bhabhi. Apni jaan se jyada bharosa hai mujhe uspe. Mai mar jaunga agar aisa kuch bhi hua, nahi reh paunga mai." He said.
"Ye kya baar baar marne ki baatein kar raha hai. Ek thappad lagaungi tujhe." Shreya said firmly but his own heart was shattering for him.
Advait was coming to met with Abhishek and he heard their conversation. He had confirmed that he would never tell Abhishek about Roohanika's real face. Even if it meant becoming wrong in Abhishek's eyes.
He entered the room with a smile on his face. Abhishek looked at him but turned his head to the other side which was resting on Shreya's lap. Shreya made a helpless face looking at Advait.
"Abhi." Advait called.
"Hmm?" Abhishek hummed without looking at him.
"Naraaz hai mujhse, baccha?" He asked gently.
"Nahi." Abhishek replied curtly.
Advait sighed, he was about to say something when his phone started ringing and he left the room.
"Apne bhaiya se naraaz mat ho, Abhi. Wo tujhse bohot pyar karte hain." Shreya said when Advait had left the room.
"I know." Abhishek mumbled, looking at something on the floor.
~________________________________________~
Everyone was sitting on the dining table. The dining room was silent. Abhishek was barely eating and Aditya was not talking to Advait since their yesterday's conversation. Arush was excited to tell them about the concert but he stopped looking at their faces.
Shreya noticed the silence and asked Arush, "Aru, concert kaisa tha?" She asked.
"Bohot mast tha, bhabhi." He slightly jumped at his seat as if he was waiting for someone to ask him this question.
"Bohot maja aaya and you know what. Sadhwi ko bhi music bohot pasand hai hum dono ne bohot enjoy kiya." He said excitedly.
"Arey wah." Shreya replied with a smile.
Advait, Abhishek and Aditya hadn't said anything. They were busy with their thoughts, there was a thin gap between them but it was there. Advait was noticing that Aditya was ignoring him from yesterday so he thought to break the silence.
"Adi, tujhe trip par jana tha na? You can go. I'll sign the form." Advait said softly.
"Mera mann nahi hai, bhaiya." Aditya replied because no matter how angry he was he could never ignore Advait when he was talking to him.
"Kyun? Us din to bohot mann tha tera." Advait said.
"Ab nahi hai." He replied curtly, his tone was cold.
"You are going. I'll sign the form." Advait said.
"I don't want to." Aditya replied.
Shreya and Abhishek noticed the unspoken tension between them. They noticed Aditya's cold tone which he only used when he was really angry or frustrated with something.
"Maine pucha nahi, Adi. I said you are going to the trip." Advait said as he wanted him to go somewhere for a few days away from this mess. He wanted him to be relaxed.
Aditya hadn't replied anything at that moment but the moment everyone finished their dinner and went to their rooms. He stepped in front of Advait looking at him.
"Mujhe kahi nahi jana, bhaiya." He said.
"Chala jaa, baccha. Tujhe in sab baaton ka stress lene ki jarurat nahi hai teri age enjoy karne ki hai." Advait replied.
"Aapki age bhi enjoy karne ki hi thi, bhaiya. Par aap bhi iss age me sambhaal rahe the na teen teen bacche." He said with a cold look.
"Meri baat alag thi, baccha...
"Kyun? Superman hain aap? Thakte nahi hai aap ye sab karte karte?" He asked, his anger bubbled up again.
"Kal hi panic attack aaya hai aapko aur aapne mujhe kisi ko batane bhi nahi diya. Mai aapko yahan akela chord kar kahin nahi jaunga and that's final." Aditya cleared out, his voice was firm with the finality.
~________________________________________~
Advait made his way towards Abhishek's room and he pushed open the door Abhishek was sitting on the bed. Advait took a deep breath and gathered the courage before revealing the truth to Abhishek. He pocketed out his phone and played the recording of him and Roohanika's conversation.
Abhishek's face went pale. He had stopped breathing and got froze on his place.
The world had slipped from under his feet.
The girl he had trusted the most was using him for her revenge.
He was feeling like someone was daggering a knife in his heart.
Abhishek ran away from there and Advait followed him behind in the hallway.
But Abhishek entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Advait was banging the door loudly but Abhishek was not opening the door, "Abhi, darwaja khol." He yelled.
"Abhi, darwaja khol baccha kya kar raha hai. Bhaiya ki baat maan le gate khol de baccha mujhe bohot dar lag raha hai." Advait was pleading.
Advait kicked the door and it pushed open.
He swiftly made his way inside and froze at his place.
His world had shattered, he fall down on his knees with a defeated look.
His eyes were hollow and empty. His gaze was fixed at Abhishek's body which was hanging off the fan with a rope.
His hands were limped at his sides and his face had turned white.
"Abhi!!!" Advait shouted on top of his lungs and jerked up from the nightmare.
Shreya panicked and dragged out of her slumber. She looked at Advait's panicked face in worry and fear.
"Advait, kya hua aapko?" She asked, patting his cheeks softly.
He was breathing loudly, "Abhi... Abhi." He was whispering his name.
Shreya's mind had stopped working but somehow she thought and quickly pulled out his pills from the bedside drawer and made him gulped down it. Shreya hugged him tightly but he was no where near to be calm down.
He stood up from the bed and went outside.
Shreya followed him behind in concern and he made his way towards Abhishek's room.
He pushed open the door and Abhishek was sleeping peacefully closing his eyes.
A relief washed over Advait's face at the sight of him.
He walked to his side and reached out to touch his face with his trembling hands.
He let out a long exhale the moment he had touched him as if he was dreading that he would never get to touch his child again.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss on his face and sat beside him.
Shreya was watching all of this from the doorway.
She understood that something had happened which had triggered Advait's trauma.
Advait kept sitting there so she silently went back to their room as she knew at this moment he needed his kid more than anyone else.
Advait rested his head against the headrest and stroked Abhishek's hair.
He slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
~________________________________________~