Chapter 110
Roohanika was throwing things here and there in anger. Her whole body was trembling with rage. Her mother was trying to stop her but she was furious. Randheer and Vikram were silently looking at her. Their faces were twisted in defeat. A scowl was glued to Randheer's face.
"Aaj tumhari wajah se humari haar huyi hai, Roohanika." Randheer seethed.
"Ek kaam tha tumhare paas... Abhishek ko apne pyar ke jaal me fasana par tumse to wo bhi dhang se nahi hua. Uss ladke ne tumhare upar apne bhai ko chuna." He said bitterly.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP." Roohanika yelled, clutching her hair in her claws like a maniac.
"Abhishek Malhotra ye tumne accha nahi kiya." She gritted out.
"Agar tum mere nahi ho sakte to mai tumhe kisi aur ka bhi nahi hone dungi." She said to herself in determination. Her eyes were mirroring her twisted possession.
Vikram's phone pinged up with a notification and a vile smile crept on his lips. He ignored everything and quickly opened the television with an excited face. The news anchor's voice had started echoing in the living room.
Randheer and Vikram exchanged a slow glance before bursting into a loud laughter.
They were celebrating like as if they had won a lottery but Roohanika.
.. her expression remained the same. There was an relief on her face but she wasn't happy like her father or brother because her main motive was marrying Abhishek.
Destroying the Malhotras was only the part of her plan but for her brother and father it was their only plan and they got succeeded in it.
"Bechara Malhotra." Vikram tsked in a mock worried tone.
"Bhagwaan iski aatma ko shaanti de." Radheer said with a laugh.
"Abhi to wo jinda hai, dad. Thoda wait kariye." Vikram said in a causal tone with mockery.
"Wait hi to nahi ho raha." Randheer said in desperation.
Roohanika's mother was seeing all this while standing on the farthest corner. She was feeling disgusted with herself to live under the same roof as them.
Randheer looked at her and was about to say something but before that the door swung opened and the Abhishek entered the house.
Roohanika's lips broke into a smile and she ran to him hugging him tightly, "Mujhe pata tha tum jarur aaoge, Abhi." She said, "Tum apni Rooh ke bina reh hi nahi sakte." She said clinging to him tightly.
Abhishek remained still, he kept standing without hugging her back. His face was blank without any emotions. Roohanika glanced up at him and pulled away from his embrace. Randheer and Vikram scoffed at him.
"Kya hua, Abhi?" She asked cautiously.
Abhishek looked at her with empty eyes, "Mujhe sacch janna hai." He said. His voice was too calm for her liking.
Roohanika's face had turned pale at that. The nervousness clawed at her body like a second skin. She looked at him in fear and anxiousness.
"Ka-Kaun sa sacch, Abhi?" She asked stuttering. The way Abhishek was looking at her was scaring her to the core.
"Tumne bhaiya ka accident karaaya tha?" He asked making Roohanika's eyes widened in bewilderment.
The sweat beads had started forming on her face. Randheer and Vikram shifted uncomfortably on their places as their truth was about to revealed.
"Ye-Ye tum kya bol rahe ho, Abhi? Mai aisa kyun karungi.
Mai to tumse pyar karti hoon. Ye jaante huye ki tum apne bhaiya se kitna pyar karte ho mai tumhare bhaiya ko chot pohchane ke baare me soch bhi nahi sakti.
" She said in exasperation. Her voice was filled with panic but she tried to mask it behind the facade.
Abhishek was looking at her without blinking his eyes. Roohanika cupped his cheeks in her hands and made him look straight in her eyes.
"Meri aankhon me dekho, Abhi. Kya tumhe lagta hai tumhari Rooh aisa kuch kar sakti hai?" She said in a most innocent voice, trying to sound like a victim.
Roohanika was staring at him with teary eyes so that he would believe on her but the next moment her face jerked up to the side.
Abhishek had landed a slap on her cheek making her face turned to the side.
The silence erupted in the room, Roohanika was shocked it would be an understatement.
She was beyond shocked, she slowly glanced up at Abhishek who was already glaring at her soul with the clenched jaw.
Roohanika's mother gasped loudly and ran to her side.
"How dare you?" He roared, shaking the house.
"Himmat kaise huyi tumhari mere bhaiya ko maarne ki koshish karne ki?" He asked in a flinching tone.
Roohanika shook her head slowly, the tears were flowing out of her eyes. Her father and brother had stepped back the moment Abhishek raised his hand on her.
"Tum galat samajh rahe ho, Abhi." She whispered.
"Galat to mai aaj tak samajhta aaya tha." He shouted.
He grabbed her by her neck and pressed her against the near by wall.
"Kya bigada tha maine tumhara? Bolo kya bigada tha?" He screamed in pain, "Maine to bas pyar kiya tha na... To phir kis baat ki itni badi saza di tumne mujhe?" His voice was filled with the unbearable pain.
Roohanika was having difficulty in breathing. Abhishek was choking her, she clutched his wrist and tried to freed his hand but his grip was tightened. Her face had turned red and eyes went wide. She was struggling in his hold, kicking her hands in the air to get free.
Her mother had tried to pull Abhishek back but he was stronger. His grip only grew tightened, his body was shaking with the rage and with the weight of the betrayal.
"Chordo meri beti ko." Her mother screamed.
Her father and brother were standing there without doing anything. Her mother looked at them and shouted in disgust, "Kaise baap hain aap? Kuch kijiye mar jayegi aapki beti."
Randheer gulped down in fear. He had once experienced the Malhotra brother's rage and was in no mood to get another dose of it. Vikram was the same, in fact he had turned away his face as if he hadn't related to Roohanika anyhow.
Roohanika was about to die, her face had turned pale with the pressure.
Her hands went limped on her sides. She had stopped struggling but her mother had kept pleading.
But Abhishek had pulled back his hand the moment she was about took her last breath.
He couldn't take the life of the person he loved the most. Roohanika fell down on the floor the moment he had loosened his grip.
She was taking heavy breaths with difficulty.
Her eyes were half lid opened, she was barely keeping herself together.
"I won't ask you tumne ye kyun kiya." Abhishek said and crouched down in front of her, "But just tell me...meri kya galti thi?" He broke down into sobs.
Roohanika's heart clenched at the sight of him in tears, "Abhi.. " She whispered.
"Tumhe pata hai, Rooh?" He said innocently, "Tumne mere saath jo kuch bhi kiya na mai iske baad bhi sab kuch bhool kar tumhe maaf kar deta. Par tumne mere bhaiya ke saath jo kiya hai iske liye mai kabhi tumhe maaf nahi kar sakta." He told her.
"Tumne mere bhaiya ko beech me laa kar bohot badi galti ki hai, Roohanika Raichand." He said sharply, "Aur ye Abhishek Advait Malhotra tumhe tumhare gunaahon ki saza dilwa kar rahega." He declared firmly before standing up on his feets.
The moment he said those words, Police officers had entered the house. Roohanika's eyes widened looking at them. She panicked and looked between the officers and Abhishek.
"Abhi, tum mere saath aisa nahi kar sakte. Tum apni Rooh ke saath aisa nahi kar sakte." She said frantically, shaking her head.
Randheer and Vikram had tried to run away but the Police officers caught them on time. Abhishek smirked bitterly at that and looked at Roohanika with tear filled eyes.
"Dekha? Jin logo ke liye tumne ye sab kiya un logo ko ek second bhi nahi laga tumhe yaha chord kar akela bhaagne me." He said with a bitter chuckle.
"Par tum jeet gayi, Roohanika. Tum humein barbaad karna chahti thi na?" He said and pointed at himself with a heart clenching smile on his lips, "Dekho tum jeet gayi. Barbaad ho gaya mai. Tumne apne haathon se apne Abhi ki jaan le li." His voice was breaking with the every word.
The tears were spilling out of Roohanika's eyes. She was shaking her head, her soul was tearing apart looking at him in this condition.
"I hate you, Roohanika Raichand." He gritted out and a lone tear spilled out of his eye.
"Le jaiye isey." He stepped back and told the Police officers.
The lady constable had started cuffing her and dragging her away. Roohanika was screaming in protest. Her mother had tried to plead Abhishek but all was going to deaf ears. Abhishek was witnessing all this, there was not any emotions on his face. He was just standing and staring blankly.
"Abhi, tum aisa nahi kar sakte. I love you Abhi. Tum pyar karte ho mujhse... Mujhse galti ho gayi please mujhe khud se door mat karo mai mar jaungi tumhare bina. Abhi....." She screamed while the lady constable was dragging her away.
Roohanika had taken away from there but she took a part of his heart with her. She took an innocent Abhishek with herself, the Abhishek who could never be the same. She had gone away stepping down on the corpse of an innocent soul.
The Police had also arrested Randheer and Vikram for planning to murder Advait. Randheer's wife ran behind them in helplessness but she was aware that they had deserved it.
~________________________________________~
It was 3 in the morning, Advait was still in the ICU.
He hadn't regained consciousness. He was still lying flat on the hospital's bed.
Abhishek had returned back to the hospital and was sitting on the bench.
His gaze was fixed at the floor. Reyansh kept sitting beside him placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder to ground him.
Arush was lying in the other room, Sia had given him the medicine.
He was denying to move from outside of the ICU but Aditya had forcefully made him rest. Sadhwi was there for him, silently sitting beside his bed on the stool.
Sia had emerged out of the ICU making everyone stand on their places.
She smiled, "Bhaiya ko hosh aa gaya hai." She informed them, making everyone sighed in relief.
"Ab hum unse mil sakte hain?" Aditya asked desperately.
"Thodi der baad mil sakte ho." Sia replied.
"Par please aap me se koi bhi bhaiya se aisi baate mat kehna jisse unhe stress ho. Thoda sa bhi stress unki health ke liye bohot bada saabit ho sakta hai." She made them understand.
"Mai Aru ko le kar aati hoon." Vanya said and went away from there.
After twenty minutes, Sia had allowed everyone to met Advait. Arush was the first one to ran inside, Shreya followed him behind. Abhishek was about to entered the room when Aditya stopped him on his way.
"Kahan jaa rahe hain?" He asked.
"Bhaiya se milne." Abhishek replied, his voice was hoarse.
"Kyun aur kuch bolna abhi baaki reh gaya hai?" He asked sharply.
"Adi...
"Aap bhaiya se nahi milenge." Aditya declared.
"And who are you to decide that?" Reyansh asked from behind.
Aditya stopped and Abhishek looked back at Reyansh.
"Advait bhai hai uska. Poora hak hai uska Advait se milne ka." Reyansh said firmly.
"Maine kaha na ye bhaiya se nahi milenge." Aditya said stepping forward.
Abhishek stepped back.
"Adi tu...
"Adi sahi keh raha hai, bhai. I deserve it." Abhishek mumbled and went away from there.
Aditya stared at Reyansh for a moment before going inside the room.
Advait was lying, his eyes were lazily opened and Arush was crying clinging to him like a child.
Vanya was hugging him from the other side, her sobs were filled in the room.
Advait's arms were draped around both of them but they were no where near to be stopped.
Aditya entered inside and rubbed Arush's back to calm him down.
A lone tear escaped off Aditya's eyes the moment his eyes met wih Advait's.
Advait opened his arm for him and he crashed against his chest. His tears had spilled down, he was controlling his emotions since so long but finally in his brother's embrace his dam got broke down.
Advait kept lying there wrapping them in his arms after a long five minutes, there sobs had reduced and they pulled back but Arush was still crying.
Advait gently wiped off his tears but the moment his fingers had touched his skin, Advait's eyes widened in concern, "Aru, tujhe to fever ho raha hai baccha." His voice was panicked.
Arush hugged him wrapping his arms around his neck, "Mai-Mai bohot dar gaya tha, bhaiya." He hicupped.
"Phir kabhi aise mat karna mai mar jaunga." He sobbed.
Advait's chest tightened at his words. He couldn't say anything to him when he was this vulnerable.
He looked up at Sia, "Sia, isey bohot tej fever hai check kar." He said, rubbing Arush's back.
"Worry about yourself. Usne medicine kha li hai." Sia replied sharply.
Advait shot her a look before shaking his head. He wiped off Vanya's tears with his other hand.
"Bas Princess, itna kyun ro rahi hai?" He said softly.
"To kya dance kare?" Reyansh asked in a sharp tone.
"Tum sab mujhe kyun suna rahe ho?" Advait asked in irritation.
Shreya was glaring at him from the corner of her eyes. Advait gestured her to come forward but she shot him a hard glare making him shut down his mouth.
"Tere kaam sunne wale hain." Tia snapped.
Arush had stopped crying and wiped off his tears with the back of his hand. His nose had turned red with his puffy cheeks.
"Rona nahi ab hm." Advait whispered, pecking his forehead.
Arush bobbed his head but kept clinging to his side.
He was staring blankly on his lap but his grip was tightened on Advait's hand as if he was afraid that Advait would disappear if he loosened the grip.
Aditya was also standing beside them, Advait kept glancing at him from time to time assuring that he was fine.
Shreya was crying but kept standing at a distance.
Advait swept over his gaze in the room before asking, "Abhi kahan hai?"
Everyone was silent. There was no response. Reyansh shot a look at Aditya but he refused to look at him.
"Wo medicines lene gaya hai." Sia lied.
Advait nodded his head but his sharp eyes had noticed everything.
The way the room fell into a silence on the mention of Abhishek's name or the way Aditya's jaw ticked when Abhishek's name slipped out of his mouth.
He noticed everything, Shreya was avoiding eye contact with him and it was enough to tell him that something must have happened.
~_______________________________________~
Abhishek was sitting on the bench outside the hospital.
His eyes were fixed at the moon up in the sky.
He was emotionlessly staring at the moon without even blinking.
He deserved it, he deserved everything that was happening to him.
The pain he was feeling inside himself couldn't be describe in the words.
In just a day, his whole world had shattered down into the pieces.
"Kya soch rahe hain?" A sweet voice reached to his ears dragging him out of his turmoil.
Sadhwi was sitting beside him. He was so lost in his pain that he hadn't noticed her approaching and sitting beside him.
She again asked, "Kya soch rahe hain, bhai?"
He shook his head without any verbal response.
"To phir andar chaliye sir se miliye. Wo aapke baare me puch rahe the." She informed him.
Abhishek snapped his head towards her, "Bhaiya mere baare me puch rahe the?" He asked slowly, not believing at her words.
She nodded her head.
"Chaliye." She said.
He quickly stood up but stopped remembering the words he had said to Advait. His steps froze mid movement and he sat down with a slump while shaking his head in denial.
"Nahi jaa sakta." He whispered.
"Kyun?" Sadhwi asked.
"Himmat nahi hai mujhme. Maine unhe bohot dukh pohchaya hai." He said slowly.
"To aap unse maafi maang lena." She said innocently as if it was the solution of everything.
Abhishek chuckled bitterly, "Maafi galti ki hoti hai, beta. Maine gunaah kiya hai. Mere liye koi maafi nahi hai bas saza hai." His voice was plain without any subtle emotion except for an undeniable pain.
"To saza hi maang lena par chaliye to sahi." Sadhwi said stubbornly.
"Meri liye sabse badi saza yahi hai ki mai kabhi unhe apna chehra na dikhaun." Abhishek replied.
"Aur ye decide karne wale aap kaun hote hain? Aapne jinhe dukh pohchaya hai wo decide karenge na aapko kya saza milni chahiye." She said.
Abhishek glanced at her before sighing.
"Mai bhaiya se nazrein nahi mila paunga." His emotions bubbled up again.
Sadhwi reassuringly placed her hand on his hand before saying, "Aap ek baar maafi maang kar to dekhiye koi bhi maa baap apne bacchon se jyada der tak naraaz nahi reh sakte." Her voice was assuring and gentle.
Abhishek's eyes welled up with tears, "Mujhse mera sab kuch door ho gaya." He broke down.
"Magar jo cheez door ho gayi wo aapki kaise ho sakti hai?" Sadhwi asked making him stopped for a moment.
Abhishek turned at her with the eyes full of pain. His brows were furrowed in a subtle confusion. Sadhwi smiled softly at him.
"Jo aapka hai wo kabhi door nahi hoga aur jo door ho gaya wo kabhi aapka tha hi nahi." She explained.
Abhishek blinked his eyes, her only words had worked as a balm to his aching heart.
"Maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki mujhe uss insaan se dhokha milega." He said quietly waiting for her answer so that his heart could find some peace in her words.
Sadhwi chuckled slowly, "Dhokhe aur pyar ki yahi to khaas baat hoti hai. Humein jinse umeed nahi hoti humesha unhi se milta hai." She said.
"Agar wo insaan aapka saccha pyar hota to aap kabhi uski wajah se ro nahi rahe hote. Pyar to insaan ke muskurane ki wajah hota hai unhe rulane ki nahi." She explained him.
"Tum nahi samjhogi." Abhishek said quietly.
"Hmm." Sadhwi hummed before saying, "Magar aap jarur samjhenge jis din aapko saccha pyar hoga na us din aapko pyar ka asal matlab samajh me aayega." She said.
Abhishek looked away because as per him he could never love someone again.
"Neende udane wala pyar, pyar nahi hota.
Pyar to wo hota hai jisse baat kar ke humein sukoon ki neend aaye.
Jo har waqt, har musibat me humare saath saaya ban ke khada rahe bina kuch jataye.
Jis ke saath hone se hi sab behtar lagne lage.
" She explained, her voice was soft and mature, "Kya aapko ye sab kabhi uss insaan ke saath mehsoos hua tha? " She asked.
Abhishek hadn't replied to anything and looked down at the ground because the answer was no.
He had never felt something like this with Roohanika.
He had never felt at peace with her, it was always chaos and a high energy which connected them.
Their opposite personalities attracted both of them towards each other.
Abhishek kept silent but his silence gave the answer to Sadhwi.
"Iska matlab aapko kabhi saccha pyar hua hi nahi." Sadhwi said making him froze.
His nails were digging on the edge of the bench. He was gripping the edge of the bench so tightly that it had started hurting. The truth was harsh but it was there and he had refused to accept it.
~_______________________________________~