Chapter 111
The new morning came with the old wounds and pain.
No one had returned back home, everyone stayed up all night.
Now, everyone was sitting in the waiting room.
Arush hadn't left Advait's side even for a second.
Advait had shifted from the ICU to the normal room and he was feeling better than before but his heart was not at peace as Abhishek still hadn't come to meet him.
Shreya noticed the Arush and Sadhwi and said, "Aru, tu aur Sadhwi ghar jaa kar rest karo. Advait ki tabiyat ab theek hai unhe shaam tak discharge mil jayega."
Arush shook his head stubbornly, "Mai bhaiya ko chord kar nahi jaunga." He said.
"Tujhe fever hai na rest ki jarurat hai, baccha. Tu khud beemar hoga to apne bhaiya ka dhyan kaise rakhega?" Shreya said.
"Par mujhe bhaiya ke paas hi rukna hai, bhabhi." He whined.
Vanya sighed and sat down beside him, "Ek kaam kar tu ghar jaa kar thoda rest kar phir wapas aa jana." She suggested.
"Par...
"Please." Vanya blinked her eyes innocently.
Arush reluctantly nodded his head and left from there with Sadhwi following behind. Arush headed towards Advait's room to meet him and he was sleeping.
Arush went to his side and kissed his forehead, "Mai abhi thodi me wapas aa jaunga, bhaiya." He whispered slowly.
"I love you." He said and quietly left the room careful not to disturbed his sleep.
Arush and Sadhwi went outside the hospital.
Arush was walking in a hurry as he wanted to come back as soon as possible.
In his hurry, he collided with a man. The man was about to fall down on the ground but Arush caught him by his arm and steadied him.
The man's eyes met with Arush's and the man got froze on his place.
Arush looked into his eyes. The light brown orbs same as his bhaiya and Adi bhai.
But the man was not his brother, he was an elderly man in his fiftees.
His eyes were reminding Arush of his brothers and an inadvertent smile came upto his lips.
Arush felt a strange feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before but he wasn't able to pinpoint.
A strong feeling was attracting him towards that man, maybe because he had share the same eyes as his brother.
"Aap theek hain?" Arush asked.
The man came back into his senses and nodded his head while looking here and there nervously. Arush frowned at his behavior.
"Aap kisi ko dundh rahe hain?" Arush asked.
The man shook his head frantically and went away from there in panic avoiding the eye contact. Arush was looking at his retreating figure with the sense of confusion and familiarity. Sadhwi nudged him and he came out his thoughts.
"Kya hua?" She asked.
"He was...strange." Arush mumbled.
"Just like you." Sadhwi teased.
Arush shot her a look and she clicked her tongue as she said out loud. He went away from there leaving her behind.
"Aalu ka chilka." Sadhwi muttered and ran behind him.
They both hopped up on the bullet before heading towards the Malhotra Mansion.
~________________________________________~
Shreya was sitting with Advait and tossing apple slices in his mouth. She hadn't uttered a single word till now. Advait was silently letting her feed him without saying anything but he needed answers. He needed to talk with her.
"Shreya, kya hua aap mujhse baat kyun nahi kar rahi?" He asked softly.
"Kya baat karni hai?" She snapped.
Advait kept quiet.
"Kahiye kya baat karni hai? Aapne mujhe samajh kya rakha hai Advait?" She said in anger.
"Meri biwi." He replied innocently.
She shot him a hard glare, "Don't you dare Advait Malhotra." She warned, "Aap humesha yahi karte aaye hain, har baar flirt karke meri baaton ko ghuma dete hain. Biwi hoon mai aapki kya mera itna bhi hak nahi banta janne ka ki mere pati ke saath kya ho raha hai kya nahi?" She asked with tears.
Advait sighed and pulled her in a hug. She tried to wriggle out of his hold but he held her protectively in his arms.
"I'm sorry. Mai aapko pareshaan nahi karna chahta tha, Shreya. Please stop crying." He whispered.
Shreya had stopped crying when she remembered Sia's words. She couldn't give him the stress, she pulled back from the hug and looked at him.
"I love you, Advait. Aapko aisi haalat me dekh kar jaan nikal gayi thi meri." She sobbed.
Advait cupped her face and gently brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb.
"Mujhe meri biwi hasti huyi acchi lagti hai so please stop crying, love." He said softly making her smile.
He kissed her on the corner of her lips making her blush.
"Pati yahan hospital me leta hua hai aur aap blush kar rahi hain huh?" He teased to lightened up her mood.
She swatted his arm with the mock angry face.
"Abhi kahan hai, Shreya? Wo mujhse milne kyun nahi aaya?" He asked, disappearing the smile off her face.
"Uh-wo aap... aap aaram kar rahe the na islie nahi aaya mai abhi usko bhej deti hoon." She said avoiding eye contact.
"Ab aap bhi to mujhse baatein chupa hi rahi hain, Mrs. Malhotra." He said.
She looked down on her lap, "Mai kuch nahi chupa rahi, Advait aur aap please in sab baaton par dhyan mat dijiye. Rest kariye." She said and stood up.
But before she could leave the room, the door bursted open and a lady with an old man came inside.
"Kya hua mere pote ko?" Kalyani's concerned voice echoed in the room.
Advait internally slapped his forehead. Now he was regretted having a heart attack. Shreya slowly glanced at Advait who was mirroring her expression.
Shreya stepped forward and bent down to touch Amrinder's feet, "Pairi pauna, dadu." She said.
"Khush reh, putt." Amrinder blessed.
Shreya stepped towards Kalyani to touch her feet but she waved her hand in the air stopping her movements, "Haan haan theek hai." She muttered.
"Ab kaise ho beta?" Amrinder asked Advait and took him in a side hug. Advait was about to touch his feet but he stopped him in between and patted his back.
"Ab theek hoon, dadu. Aap log faltu me pareshaan huye." He replied.
"Arey mere pote ko heart attack aaya hai ye koi choti baat nahi hai." Kalyani exaggerated.
Advait looked tiredly at Amrinder before rolling his eyes.
Kalyani scoffed, "Tune mere pair nahi chuye?" She asked Advait raising her brow.
"Pehle meri biwi ko aashirvaad dijiye uske baad mujhe dijiyega." Advait replied with a subtle smile.
"Advait." Shreya whispered shaking her head slowly.
Kalyani scoffed.
"Mere pote ko gulaam bana kar rakh diya hai." Kalyani muttered under his breath but Advait heard her.
"Gulaam mai, biwi meri, aapko kya pareshaani hai?" Advait asked.
"Kalyani tum yahan khabar puchne aayi ho ya lene aayi ho?" Amrinder chided.
Kalyani looked away with a huffed face.
"Ye sab kaise hua, beta?" Amrinder asked, his voice was concerned.
Advait and Shreya exchanged a glance before Advait saying, "Kaam ka thoda jyada stress le liya tha, dadu."
Kalyani slapped her forehead, "Haye haye tu kyun itna stress leta hai, puttar. Un teeno nikammo ko bhi kuch sikha wo karenge ye sab." She said.
"Dadi!" Shreya spoke up before Advait could say anything.
"Kya dadi?" Kalyani turned towards her asking sharply.
"Jaise aap bua ji ke khilaaf nahi sun sakti waise hi mai bhi apne bacchon ke khilaaf nahi sun sakti islie unke baare me soch samajh kar boliye." She said firmly with a protective edge to her voice.
Kalyani rolled her eyes.
"Waise hi kam stress tha aur stress badhane aa gayi." Shreya mumbled and went away from there.
She directly went to the waiting room where everyone was sitting except Tia, they all had forced her to return back home as she was pregnant and the hospital environment was not good for her and the baby.
Abhishek was also present there, sitting on the couch.
Shreya walked to him and hugged him tightly catching him off guard.
Abhishek tightened his hold around her but kept quiet. Reyansh sighed in relief as she finally started to melt down. Aditya was looking at both of them and looked away gulping down his own tears.
"Tu bhi maaf kar de na bhai ko." Vanya whispered to him.
He didn't reply and kept standing quietly.
Abhishek was not ready to leave Shreya, it was the warmth he had needed the most. His emotions were pouring out of his eyes as well as Shreya's.
"Advait tujhe bula rahe hain, baccha." She whispered softly.
Abhishek finally parted away from the hug, "Mai bhaiya se kaise milunga, bhabhi. Mujhe khud par bohot sharam aa rahi hai, mai unse nazrein nahi mila paunga." He said in guilt.
"Teri koi galti nahi thi, Abhi aur jo galti tune ki wahi galti maine bhi to ki.
Tune gusse me apne bhaiya ko hurt kiya aur maine gusse me apne bete ko hurt kiya.
Mujhe maaf kar de baccha... jis waqt mujhe tere saath dena chahiye tha tujhe sambhaalna chahiye tha uss waqt mai tujh par tere bhaiya ki aisi haalat ka ilzaam daal rahi thi. " She cried.
"Advait ko aisi haalat me dekh kar toot gayi thi mai. Bohot badi galti ho gayi mujhse baccha." She joined her hands.
Abhishek quickly held her hands in his, "Aise mat kahiye, bhabhi. Aapne jo kaha wo sahi tha bhaiya meri wajah se hi aisi haalat me hai naa mai unse kuch kehta aur na unhe kabhi itna gehra sadma lagta." His voice was painful.
"Kya kaha tune Advait se?" Kalyani's voice echoed in the room.
"Arey yaar ek heart attack inhe kyun nahi aata?" Aditya mumbled looking at her.
Everyone stood up from their places. Kalyani stood in front of Abhishek, glaring at him angrily, "Kya kaha tune Advait se?" She asked sharply.
Abhishek looked down at the floor in guilt and shame.
Reyansh stepped between them, "Dadi, aap kab aaye?" He asked to divert her mind.
"Mai tujhe acche se bataungi mai kab aur kaise aayi par pehle mujhe isse baat karne de." Kalyani replied.
"Jawab de, Abhishek." She repeated.
"Aap kaun hoti hain bhai se sawaal karne wali?" Vanya spoke up.
"Tum bhi iss ladke ke saath reh kar badtameez hoti jaa rahi ho." Kalyani scoffed referring to Aditya who ignored her royally.
She turned towards Abhishek, "Bata Abhishek, mere Advait ki aisi haalat ka jimmedaar tu hai?" She raised her voice.
"Awaaz neeche kar ke baat kariye mere bhai se." Aditya said in the same tone.
Abhishek looked up at him but Aditya was busy glaring at Kalyani. He could feel Abhishek's gaze on him but he didn't look at him.
"Wahi to mai sochun abhi tak tum bole kaise nahi. Har baat ke beech me bolne ki aadat jo hai tumhari." Kalyani said.
"I take after my grandmother." Aditya replied making her seethed in anger.
Reyansh and Vanya stiffled their laughter at that. Shreya gestured Abhishek to left the room and went to Advait. He nodded his head and went away from there.
Reyansh looked at Aditya who turned away his face, crossing his arms over his chest with a stubborn face.
"Adi, bahar aa." He ordered Aditya amd went out of the room.
Aditya sighed and went outside behind him. The moment they reached to the farthest corner of the corridor, Reyansh grabbed his ear and twisted it firmly.
"Oww kya kar rahe hain bhai?" Aditya squealed.
A few nurses and doctors had stopped looking at the scene in front of them. Aditya looked down in embarrassment making Reyansh left his ear.
"Kya laga rakha hai tune ye?" Reyansh asked sharply.
"Maine kya kiya, bhai?" Aditya asked.
"Tune kal Abhi se jaise bhi baat ki lekin tu gusse me tha Advait ko le kar emotional tha ye soch kar maine kuch nahi kaha par ab to sab theek ho gaya hai na to phir kis baat ka gussa dikha raha hai tu Abhi ko?" He scolded him.
Aditya looked away.
"Bada bhai hai wo tera, Adi. Tameez karna seekh le warna mujhe seekhane me der nahi lagegi." Reyansh warned.
"Aur unhone bhaiya se bohot tameez se baat ki?" Aditya asked in anger.
"Tone down." Reyansh glared at him making him look down.
"Sorry." Aditya mumbled.
"Say sorry to Abhishek." Reyansh said.
"I won't." Aditya muttered.
"Adi." Reyansh sighed and placed his hands on his shoulder, "Kis baat ki saza de raha hai tu Abhi ko?
Uss bechare ko to sacch bhi nahi pata tha.
Usey nahi pata tha Roohanika ke asli chehre ke baare me.
Jo galti usne gusse me ki wahi tune bhi ki to phir saza sirf usko hi kyun mil rahi hai? " Reyansh made him understand gently.
Aditya blinked his eyes to controlled his tears and looked away avoiding the eye contact.
"Abhi ko apne bhaiyon ki jarurat hai, Adi. Usey aise akela mat kar. Please baccha." Reyansh's voice was soft like a feather.
Aditya couldn't control anymore and threw himself in Reyansh's arms. He started crying, burying his face in his shoulder.
"Mai bhaiya ko aise dekh kar bohot dar gaya tha, bhai." He cried.
Reyansh rubbed his back, "I know." He mumbled.
Aditya pulled back, wiping off his tears and looked at Reyansh, "Mai Abhi bhai se maafi maang lunga." He said, making Reyansh smile, "Par mai unhe kabhi maaf nahi karunga." He made a statement.
Reyansh closed his eyes in exasperation. He didn't say anything as he knew it would take some time. Everything couldn't get right only in a day. They all needed some time to understand each other's emotions and their own feelings.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek was standing in the corridor outside the room in which Advait was admitted.
He hadn't had the courage to face him, he had wanted to hug his bhaiya and ask for his forgiveness.
He wanted to complain about everyone to him but he couldn't. Maybe he had lose this right over him.
He was busy in his thoughts when the door opened and Sia came out of it.
She looked at Abhishek and their eyes met with each other.
"Tum bhaiya se mil sakte ho. Wo abhi so rahe hain." She said.
Abhishek smiled and slowly went inside. Sia stayed behind, giving him the space he had needed.
Abhishek entered the room and his face relaxed in an unknown comfort looking at Advait's face but his heart clenched looking at the sight of him lying on the hospital's bed.
A lone tear slipped out of his eyes. He slowly walked to his side and settled down beside him on the bed.
"I'm sorry, bhaiya." He whispered.
Advait's eyes were closed, he was sleeping peacefully after taking his medicines.
"Mai aapko hurt nahi karna chahta tha. Kabhi nahi." He whispered, letting out a shaky breath.
He held his hand and pressed against his own cheek. He cried cradling his face in Advait's hands. He was drowned in his pain when a reassuring hand placed on his shoulder. He slowly glanced up and Sia was standing there looking at him with concerned filled eyes.
"Abhi, tumhari tabiyat kharab ho jayegi. Kal se bas ro hi rahe ho tum." She said.
"To aur kya karun Sia? Mere paas rone ke alawa aur kuch nahi bacha mera sab kuch mujhse door ho gaya." He said with tears.
"Meri wajah se mere bhaiya aaj aisi haalat me hain." He spoke up but Sia cut him off firmly.
"Bilkul nahi." She said firmly, "Bhaiya ki iss haalat ke jimmedaar tum nahi ho." She said, her voice was gentle yet firm.
She sighed and made him stood up from his place. She dragged him outside of the room and made him sit down on the bench before settling down beside him.
"Tumhari koi galti nahi hai, Abhi aur ye guilt apne dimaag se nikaal do." She said looking straight in his eyes.
"Saari galti meri hi hai." Abhishek said.
Sia cupped his cheeks and gently wiped off his tears, "Tumhe nahi pata tha Roohanika tumhare pyar ka faida utha rahi hai. Tumne to bas saccha pyar kiya tha. Pyar karna galti nahi hoti." She told him.
"Siyu yaar.... Maine to bas pyar kiya tha. Phir mere saath aisa kyun hua?" He pulled her in a hug, breaking into sobs.
Sia's heart was bleeding listening to his sobs and heart clenching words.
She was feeling like someone was stabbing her in her chest. But she controlled herself for Abhishek.
She had to console him, she had to keep him collected.
Her heart was aching, her love was crying in her arms for someone else.
"Pyar karna galti nahi hai, Abhi. Galat insaan se pyar karna galti hai." She said, her voice was merely above a whisper.
They both kept hugging each other until the storm inside their hearts calmed down. Their hearts were not at peace but in each other's arms they were feeling like everything would become better.
~________________________________________~