Chapter 125
The Malhotra Mansion was unusually silent. Vanya was standing in the middle of the living room, her eyes were fixed on the floor. Advait and Abhishek were standing in front of her looking at her sharply. Aditya was standing at a distance but not even glancing at her.
"Answer me, Vanya Khurana." Abhishek said sharply.
Vanya didn't reply.
"Tu club gayi hai ye baat Rey bhai ko pata hai? Haa ya naa?" He asked again.
Vanya slowly shook her head.
Advait sucked a sharp breath and Aditya looked away in anger.
"Let me call him here." Abhishek muttered and pocketed out his phone.
Vanya panicked and held his hand to stop him, "Please bhai ko call mat kariye." She pleaded with puppy eyes, "Wo bohot gussa karenge please bhai."
"Jhooth bolte waqt ye sab baatein yaad nahi aayi?" He asked firmly.
Abhishek ignored her and called Reyansh. He picked up the call.
"Bhai, Aap please ghar aa jayein, jaruri hai." Abhishek said.
"Sab theek hai, Abhi?" Reyansh asked.
"Aap ghar aa jaiye phir baat karte hain." Abhishek replied.
Reyansh hung up the call before walking out of the house.
Vanya walked to Advait and looked up at him with teary eyes, "Bhaiya, please bacha lo na. Mujhe meri galti ka realisation hai mai phir kabhi jhooth nahi bolungi please bhaiya." She requested.
"Mujhe tujhse koi baat nahi karni, Vanya." Advait said clearly.
"Bhaiya, I'm sorry na." She repeated.
"Sorry? Seriously Vanya? Tujhe realisation bhi hai ki agar kal Adi time par nahi pohchta to kya ho jata?" Advait raised his voice in anger.
Vanya flinched back.
"Ek baat ka sach sach jawab de mujhe, Vanya." He said before asking, "Tune drink apni marzi se ki thi?" He asked in a firm tone.
Vanya looked down in guilt and shame. Aditya clenched his hands at her silence.
Advait's eyes hardened at that, "I don't have any words for you." He said in disappointment.
She glanced at Aditya who was already glaring at her but looked away when their eyes met.
After fifteen minutes, Reyansh had arrived the mansion. He entered the living room and got surprised finding Vanya there.
"Vani, tu yahan?" He asked, "Tu toh apni friend ke ghar stay karne gayi thi na." He said.
Vanya didn't say anything. Her heart was beating loudly in fear.
"Bhai kuch puch rahe hain, Vanya." Abhishek said.
Reyansh looked at all of them in confusion, "Hua kya hai koi batayega?" He asked, reading the room.
"Vanya batayegi." Advait said.
Vanya looked at him pleadingly but he ignored her.
Reyansh stepped towards her, "Kya hua, Vani?" He asked.
"Bhai." She whispered, "Maine aap logo se jhooth bola tha mai Janvi ke ghar night stay karne nahi gayi thi." She said.
Reyansh's eyes turned stern, "To kahan gayi thi?" He asked.
"Cl-ub." She whispered.
She told him the whole story from entering the club to exiting the club in Aditya's arms. Reyansh's eyes were blazed in fury and he landed a tight slap on her face making her face jerked to the side. The hot tears streamed down on her face.
"Bhai." Aditya shouted and ran to Vanya's side.
Advait and Abhishek looked away as they had expected this reaction from Reyansh. Vanya buried her face in Aditya's chest and he looked down at her in hurt. She was crying miserably not because of the sting but because of the fact that Reyansh had raised his hand on her for the first time.
Reyansh grabbed her by her arm and pulled her in front of him, "Sharam aati hai tujhe?" He asked angrily.
"Bhai please." Aditya stepped forward in front of Vanya shielding her. She was tightly clutching Aditya's T-shirt in her hand.
"Move aside, Adi." Reyansh ordered him.
But Aditya didn't budge off from his place. Reyansh angrily looked at Advait who sighed before saying, "Peeche hat, Adi."
Aditya looked at Advait in anger but moved back.
"Tujhe andaza bhi hai tere saath kya ho sakta tha?" Reyansh shouted at her making her flinch.
Arush and Sadhwi came out of the kitchen listening to the shouting. Shreya also came out of the Angad's room. Amrinder and Kalyani were not at home, they had gone to the temple.
"Aaj tune mera bharosa tod diya, Vanya." He said, breaking her heart, "Mujhe lagta tha meri behen thodi bigdi huyi hai par bewkuf nahi hai.
Lekin aaj tune teri iss harkat ke baad mujhe feel karaaya hai ki saari galti hum logo ki hi hai bohot jyada sir par chadha kar rakha tha humne tujhe.
Ye sab usi ka nateeja hai." He rebuked her harshly.
She was sobbing profusely, "Aise mat bolo, bhai." She said in a shaking voice.
"Nahi hoon mai tera bhai." He said in anger.
She had started crying bitterly listening to his words. Aditya gently wiped off her tears before pulling her in a hug. She cried in his embrace.
"Usne mujhe thappad maara, bhai." She hiccupped.
Reyansh furrowed his brows. Advait, Abhishek and Aditya were mirroring the same expression.
Reyansh turned her towards him, "Kisne maara?" He asked in a bone chilling voice.
"Vi-Vicky ne." She hiccupped.
Advait gritted out his teeth and Reyansh's eyes teared up listening to her sister's pain. He pulled her in a protective hug.
"I'm sorry, bhai." She cried in his warmth, "Mujhse galti ho gayi." She said.
"Mai un dono ladkon ki jaan le lunga." Reyansh oathed. He was furious it would be an understatement.
"Wo dono kahan hai?" Reyansh asked Aditya.
"Behind the bars." Aditya replied quietly.
Reyansh nodded his head.
"Bhai." Vanya said in a low voice. But Reyansh didn't glance at her.
~________________________________________~
Aditya was sitting in his room. Vanya's tears were pricking in his eyes. Her sobbing was ringing in his ears. His body was radiating anger and heart was aching. He looked up when the door opening sound reached to his ears. Vanya was standing there, her eyes were red because of crying continuously.
"Mai ghar jaa rahi hoon." She said but Aditya didn't glance up at her.
She stepped forward slightly, "Baat bhi nahi karega?" She asked in a small voice.
He was still silent.
"Mujhse galti ho ga...
"Galti." He snapped at her before she could complete her sentence.
She flinched back.
"Galti Vanya?" He repeated sharply standing up, "Tujhe pata hai maine kya feel kiya hai? Pata hai tujhe?" He raised his voice.
"Jab tu mil nahi rahi thi na jaan atak gayi thi meri." He said, controlling his emotions, "Aur jab maine tujhe aisi haalat me dekha tab tujhe pata hai mujh par kya beeti hogi? Soch sakti hai tu?" He shouted.
Vanya's tears were flowing down freely.
"Nahi samajh sakti. Pata hai kyun?" He asked calmly, "Kyunki Vanya Khurana ko uske aage koi dikhta hi nahi hai. Usey bas khud se farak padta hai."
"Rooh kaanp gayi thi meri tujhe uss haalat me dekh kar. Abhi tak jaan jaa rahi hai meri ye soch kar ki agar mai wahan nahi pohchta to tere saath kya ho sakta tha." A tear slipped out of his eye but he quickly wiped it off.
Vanya choked on his tears, "Sorry."
"Don't say sorry to me. Say sorry to yourself. Tune khud ko dhokha diya hai." He told her.
"Un dono ne mere saath aise kiya isme meri kya galti hai." She cried.
Aditya snapped his head at her, "Don't you dare go there, Vanya." He said firmly, "No one is blaming you for this." He cleared.
He took a deep breath before gently cupping her cheeks, "Listen to me very clearly, Vanya." His voice was too calm for his own liking, "Aaj ke baad kabhi mujhse baat mat karna. Teri meri dosti khatam." He declared.
A lone tear fell down off Vanya's eye, "Adi." She whispered in a broken voice.
"Mujhe pata hai tu bohot gussa hai, hurt bhi hai par iska matlab ye to nahi naa ki tu kuch bhi bolega." She said, tightly holding his hands in hers.
Aditya composed himself and gently guided her out of the room before closing the door on her face.
"Adi." She banged the door.
"Adi, please open the door." Her condition was miserable.
Aditya pressed his back against the door. His eyes were closed and tears were flowing down on his face. Her pleading were ringing in his ears but he ignored all of that. This time she really needed a lesson otherwise she would have never learnt.
~________________________________________~
A day has passed, Reyansh informed their parents about Vanya's lie and they were disheartened listening to what had happened with their daughter.
They had forgave her but Reyansh was still not talking to her.
She tried to apologize to him but he ignored her.
She met Aditya in the college but he also ignored her.
Even after her so many attempts, he wasn't talking to her.
It was the dinner time, Advait was cooking dinner in the kitchen as Arush wanted him to cook his favorite food. Advait was focused on the cooking and Arush was sitting on the kitchen platform, dangling his legs.
"Bhaiya, jaldi banao na. Bhook lagi hai." Arush said.
"Bas ban gaya, beta." Advait replied while rolling the roti.
"Aaj mai aapke haathon se khaunga." Arush said.
Advait rolled his eyes, "Bada ho gaya hai ab tu." He said.
Arush pouted, "Aap khud hi to bolte ho mai abhi baccha hoon." He complained, "Aur ab bol rahe ho bada ho gaya hoon. Pehle aap khud decide kar lo mai baccha hoon ya bada ho gaya hoon." He said.
"Bas bas notanki, kitna drama karta hai." Advait said.
"To aap khilaoge na?" He asked with a pout.
"Of course khilaunga, mera baccha." Advait said in a soft voice, "Dinner ready hai, sabko bula kar laa." Advait ordered him.
Arush quickly hopped down off the counter and went to call everyone for the dinner.
Everyone was sitting on the dinner table except Aditya. Shreya glanced at the table before looking at Arush.
"Adi, kahan hai?" She asked.
"Bhai ne kaha unhe bhookh nahi hai." Arush replied.
Advait furrowed his brows in concern, "Tabiyat to theek hai na uski?" He asked.
"Pata nahi, bhaiya. Mujhe bhookh lagi hai pehle mujhe khilao phir unse puch lena." Arush said quickly.
Advait ignored him and stood up from his place, "Mai Adi ko bula kar laata hoon." He said.
"Tab tak tu kha." He said to Arush but he pouted in response, "Mai nahi khaunga. Aap jaldi aao." He replied.
Advait went upstairs to Aditya's room. He gently pushed open the door and Aditya was lying down covering himself with the blanket. Advait made his way to his side and he looked at his swollen and red eyes.
"Bhaiya." Aditya mumbled.
"Kya hua, baccha?" He asked softly.
"Sir dard ho raha hai." Aditya replied weakly.
Without waiting for a moment, Advait slipped his hand under his hair strands to touch his forehead. Advait's eyes widened in concern the moment his hand came in the contact with his burning skin.
"You're burning up." Advait mumbled.
He quickly pulled out the thermometer from the box which was placed in the bed side drawer. He gently slipped the thermometer under his armpit. Aditya shuddered at his cold touch but closed his eyes as he hadn't had the strength to open his eyes.
"Tune mujhe bataya kyun nahi, bachha?" Advait was caressing his hair, "Fever kaise aa gaya? Kuch thanda khaya tha?" He asked in a gentle tone.
Aditya weakly shook his head.
The thermometer beeped up and Advait gently pulled out the thermometer before checking his body temperature. The shown degree made Advait concerned.
"Fever to bohot tej hai. Thoda sa khana kha le phir medicine kha kar so jana." Advait said, caressing his hair.
"Mann nahi hai, bhaiya." Aditya whispered in protest.
"Medicine lene ke liye bas thoda sa kha lena, baccha." He replied.
Aditya shook his head and buried his face in his lap, "Nahi khana, bhaiya." He stubbornly said.
"Theek hai mat kha, mai soup banwa deta hoon, wo pee lena." Advait said.
"Kuch mann nahi hai." Aditya mumbled.
The door opened and the sulking Arush entered the room, "Bhaiya, itna time kaun lagata hai." He complained.
"Aru, Adi ko fever hai beta." Advait informed him.
Arush made a worried face and walked to his side, "Bhai ko fever kaise aa gaya?" He asked.
Aditya was feeling irritated because of his severe headache. He wrapped his arms around Advait ignoring Arush. Arush made a jealous face looking at it but didn't say anything.
"Bhaiya, aap bhai ko medicine dedo aur mujhe khana khilao chal kar." He said deliberately with a pout.
"Aaj khud khana kha le baccha aur Rajeev ko bolna soup bana kar de jaaye." Advait told him.
"Mai bol dunga par aap mere saath chalo, mujhe khilao. Adi bhai ko rest karne do." Arush said.
"Aru, maine jo bola hai wo karo jaa kar." Advait said firmly.
"Aap jab tak nahi khilaoge mai nahi khaunga." Arush said stubbornly.
Advait's temper flared up, he was already concerned for Aditya and on top of that Arush was testing his patience.
"Mat khana." He snapped at him.
Arush's eyes teared up at the harsh rebuke.
"Bhaiya, dard ho raha hai." Aditya mumbled.
Advait looked down at Aditya, "Abhi theek ho jayega, baccha. Medicine le kar so jana." He said, smoothing back his hair.
Arush looked at Aditya with jealousy when he noticed the change of tone in Advait's voice when he talked to Aditya. He turned away on his heels before leaving the room in hurt. Arush made his way towards his room and slumped down on the bed.
In Aditya's room, Advait was gently feeding him soup. Aditya reluctant had the soup then Advait gave him the medicine and gently tucked him in the bed. Advait stayed there caressing his hair till he dozed off in sleep.
~________________________________________~
Next day, Advait woke up and looked down at Aditya who was clinging to him.
His face was scrunched up in a soft pout.
He was looking so peaceful and serene in his sleep just opposite to his personality.
Advait touched his forehead to check the temperature and to his relief, the temperature was normal but just to be sure he pulled out the thermometer and checked his temperature.
After checking the temperature, he was finally at peace. He leaned down and pecked his temple.
It was the breakfast time, everyone was downstairs and Aditya was in his room. Shreya entered the room with a plate.
"Ab tabiyat kaisi hai, mini malhotra?" She asked.
He chuckled lightly, "Theek hoon, bhabhi." He replied.
She set down the plate on the bedside table before sitting beside him.
"Fever kaise aa gaya tha mere bacche ko?" She asked softly.
"Pata nahi, bhabhi." He replied.
She narrowed her eyes at him before shaking her head, "Koi baat nahi, ab jaldi se breakfast karo aur apni tabiyat sahi karo." She said and picked up the plate.
She took a spoonful of poha before forwarding it towards his mouth. He opened his mouth and had the poha. She continued gently feeding him.
A knock on the door disturbed them and they looked in the direction. Vanya was standing there. Aditya quickly looked away but Vanya slowly made her way to his side.
"Ab tabiyat kaisi hai, Adi?" She asked. Her voice was low.
Aditya kept silent.
"Adi, Vani kuch puch rahi hai." Shreya said.
But Aditya still didn't reply.
Shreya sighed and stood up from the bed, "Mujhe kuch kaam hai." She excused herself before blinking assuringly at Vanya.
The moment Shreya left the room, Vanya threw herself in Aditya's arms catching him off guard but Aditya hadn't wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, Adi. Please mujhe ignore mat kar.
Mujhe bohot bura lag raha hai. Mera tera alawa koi dost bhi nahi hai agar tu mujhse baat nahi karega to kaun karega.
" She sobbed, "Mujhe pata hai maine tujhe bohot dara diya tha par trust me maine kuch bhi intentionally nahi kiya agar mujhe khud pata hota Rocky aisa kuch karne wala hai to mai kabhi party me nahi jaati.
" She said with the tears flowing down on her face.
Aditya melted down listening to her broken voice and finally wrapped his arms around her, holding her protectively in his embrace. He let her in his arms until she pulled back on her own. He brushed off her tears with the pad of his thumbs.
"Tu mujhse baat karega na?" She asked innocently.
He nodded his head.
"Please phir se kabhi aisa mat karna. Meri jaan nikal gayi thi, Vanu." He requested.
"Promise." She mumbled.
"Ek baat kehni thi." She said.
Aditya nodded his head to encourage her.
"Aise nahi, pehle tu khada ho." She said and made him stand.
He stood up and she stood in front of him but his breath caught in his throat when she kneeled down in front of him on her one knee. She was looking up at him with soft and admiring eyes and his heart was beating loudly in the anticipation.
Aditya sucked a breath, his mind got blank. He was waiting for this moment since their childhood. He had practiced it so many times but when the time came, he was speechless. He couldn't able to let out a single word from his mouth. His heart had stopped beating for a few moments.
She shook his hand, dragging him out of the shock, "Adi, jawab de na." She pouted, "Tu mujhse pyar nahi karta?" She asked, fearing his answer.
He shook his head and kneeled down in front of her before pulling her in a bone crashing hug, "I-I love you too, Vanu. I love you so much." He whispered in disbelief.
His eyes were shimmering with tears and he tightened his hold around her. She kissed on his ear turning it red in shyness. He buried his face in her shoulder to hide the blush coating his cheeks and held her in a tight grip as if she would disappear if he loosened the grip.
~________________________________________~