Chapter 132
Everyone was waiting for Tia and Abhishek on the dining table. The room was fell into a heavy silence, the unspoken tension was hanging in the air. Everyone sat up attentively when Tia and Abhishek entered the room. They all were looking at both of them expectantly.
"Mujhe iss rishte se koi problem nahi hai." Tia spoke up.
A wave of relaxation washed over the room and everyone's faces lighted up in happiness. Sia and Abhishek glanced at each other and smiled a little.
"To phir shaadi ki taiyaariyan shuru karein?" Shreya asked in excitement.
"Neki aur puch puch." Tripti replied, "Mai to humesha se chahti thi meri Sia ki shaadi iss ghar me ho."
"Hum kal hi pandit ji se subh muhuurat nikalwate hain." Amrit said.
Everyone agreed to it.
"Congratulations bhai and hone wali bhabhi." Aditya teased making Sia blush.
Everyone cheered and happily had their dinner while talking about the arrangements. After dinner, The elders went back to their home and the youngsters were still there talking, enjoying and teasing the new couple.
Advait was on the phone call when Sia came to his side.
"I'll call you back in a while." Advait said on the call, looking at Sia and hung up the call.
Advait smiled, "Tu khush haina, baccha?" He asked.
Sia nodded her head and threw herself in Advait's arms for a tight hug, "Abhi ne mujhe khud shaadi ke liye propose kiya, bhaiya." She squealed in joy.
Advait ruffled her hair before pecking on her head, "Usne kaha ki wo mujhe pyar ke waade to nahi kar sakta par wo mujhe sab kuch dega jo mai uski patni hone ke naate deserve karti hoon.
" She told him happily, "Rahi baat pyar ki to mai karti hoon na usse pyar.
Mera pyar kaafi hai hum dono ke liye." She was blabbering like old times and Advait was only listening to her as he had used to before.
"Ek baar humari shaadi ho gayi na bhaiya phir sab theek ho jayega." She said with positivity in her voice.
Advait was looking at her smile, the smile which he had witnessed a long time before.
She was blabbering like this after a long time.
He was seeing the glimpse of the little Sia after so long and it made his heart swelled but an unknown fear had clawed at his heart looking at the unspoken dreams in her eyes.
"Kya hua, bhaiya?" Sia shook him slightly, dragging him out of his thoughts.
"Tu sach me khush haina, Sia?" Advait again asked.
Sia waved it off, "Aap kyun tension le rahe hain, bhaiya. Mai sach me bohot jyada khush hoon, aakhir mere pyaar se meri shaadi hone wali hai." She said with a wide smile on her face.
The tension from Advait's body had eased out a little but his eyes was still showing concern for Abhishek and Sia. He was going against his best friend for this alliance and if anything had gone wrong he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for the condition of his little sister.
They both made their ways to the Hall where everyone was sitting and talking.
"Kya baat hai Adi, Abhi se jyada khush to tu nazar aa raha hai." Reyansh commented.
"Abhi bhai ki shaadi ke baad hi to mera number aayega." Aditya said and blushed earning himself a death glare from Reyansh.
"Aur uske baad mera." Arush chirped up with a smile.
"Itni khushi kabhi padhai karne ke liye to nahi huyi?" Advait said sternly, glaring at both of them.
"Ye bhi koi khush hone wali baat hai?" Aditya muttered under his breath and Reyansh whacked his head.
"Bhai." Vanya said protectively, taking Aditya to her side making Reyansh gasped.
~________________________________________~
Next day, in the college Aditya and Vanya were sitting together in the canteen.
They both were scrolling reels in Aditya's phone.
Vanya's head was rested on his shoulder and their gazes were fixed at the screen.
A fun night out reel of a friend group showed up on his feed and Aditya's eyes sparkled up with mischief.
He slowly glanced at Vanya who already shook her head knowing what he was about to say.
"Vanu, please na." He pleaded.
"Adi, NO." Vanya firmly denied.
"Please na Vanu ek baar night out karte haina, yahi to age hai humari fun karne ki." Aditya said.
"Mujhe nahi karna koi fun already us party me bohot fun kar liya maine." She said in a mocking tone.
Aditya remembered the incident and sighed, "That was the different thing, Vanu. Us waqt tu akeli thi. Is baar hum dono chalenge na saath me aur hum club nahi jayenge. Bike ride par chalenge bohot maza aayega trust me." He told her the plan.
Vanya thought but she was about to say something when Arush and Sadhwi walked to their side.
"Hey guys!" Arush greeted.
Aditya and Vanya looked up and smiled at them. Sadhwi and Arush sat down on the adjacent chairs.
"Hum nahi chal sakte, Adi." Vanya said.
"Kahan chalne ki baat ho rahi hai?" Arush asked.
"Night out." Aditya replied.
"In your dreams." Arush retorted.
Aditya looked at him offensively and Vanya giggled.
"Kaun allow kar raha hai aapko night out ke liye?" Arush asked in a playful tone.
"Aditya Advait Malhotra ko kisi ki permission ki jarurat nahi hai." Aditya replied with a smug look.
Vanya rolled her eyes, "Phir kya sneak out karega tu?" She asked.
"Obviously." He shrugged in response.
"Aapke andar maar khane ka koi keeda hai kya, bhai?" Arush asked in a serious tone.
Aditya whacked the back of his head making him pout.
"Yahan meri ek reputation hai bhai atleast yahan to mat maaro." Arush pouted.
"Chal chal." Aditya dismissed him.
"Jo jo mere saath night out par chalna chahta hai, haath uthao." Aditya said.
No one raised their hands making Aditya sulked. He passed them a betraying look.
He looked at Vanya, "Vanu, please chal naa bohot maza aayega." He requested.
"Bohot maza nahi aayega, bohot maar padegi." She replied with a tight lipped smile.
"Mai teri har baat maanta hoon na, tu mere liye itna nahi kar sakti?" He asked, giving her the puppy eyes.
She looked away.
"Please, Vanu." He again said.
Vanya looked at him and melted. She reluctantly nodded her head.
"Dono pitoge." Arush mumbled.
"Tu chup rehna." Aditya again whacked him.
Aditya looked at Sadhwi who was silently sitting there, "Tum chalo, tumhe to adventures pasand haina. Bohot maza aayega." He said.
"Haan Sadhwi, utna hi maza aayega jitna maza dadi bhagao mission me pakde jaane ke baad aaya tha." Arush taunted and Sadhwi gulped down remembering the incident.
"Tu chup rehna, kyun usey dara raha hai?" Aditya again whacked him and shifted his attention on Sadhwi, "Aisa kuch nahi hoga, hum log chupke se ghar se niklenge aur poori raat masti karenge. Subah sabke uthne se pehle ghar aa jayenge kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega." He tried to convince her.
Sadhwi had started thinking about Aditya's plan but Arush spoke up in denial, "Sadhwi, No." He said firmly.
"Chalte haina, Arush. Jab Aditya sir bol rahe hain kuch nahi hoga to don't worry." She replied.
"Pehle to tum mujhe ye sir-sir bulana band karo. Bhai bola karo." Aditya chided her gently.
Sadhwi smiled, "Okay, bhai."
"Mai ready hoon." Sadhwi said.
"So done, tum, mai aur Vanu aaj night out par chalenge." Aditya said excitedly, "Kuch log bechare fun miss kar denge par kya kar sakte hain." He said feigning a sad voice.
"Bhai." Arush whined, "Jab aap sab jaa rahe ho to mai akele kya karunga. Mai bhi chalunga aapke saath." He said.
Everyone cheered up and clapped their hands together in the excitement of the new thrilling adventure.
~________________________________________~
Advait was sitting in the living room, his laptop was placed over his lap and a steaming mug was in his hand.
He was typing from his one hand while sipping coffee in between.
He was engrossed in his work when Angad entered the room.
Advait looked up and the moment his gaze locked into Angad he closed his eyes to gulp down the bubbling anger inside him.
Angad wheeled himself to Advait's side and stopped in front of him.
"Beta...
"Kitni baar kaha hai aapse mujhe beta nahi bola karein." Advait gritted out.
Angad exhaled a breath before forwarding a letter in front of him. Advait looked between him and the letter before raising his brow.
"Ye letter kyun? Phir se bhaag rahe hain kya?" Advait asked in a sarcasm but the biting in his tone was real.
Angad looked down feeling guilty, "Iss letter me wo sab kuch likha hai jo mai tumhe batana chahta hoon. Agar kabhi moka mile to jarur padh lena." He said in a low voice.
Advait took the letter from him and teared it from between in front of his eyes, "Kahiye, kya kehna hai. Mai sun raha hoon." He said patiently.
Angad looked at him with a relived smile on his face as Advait gave him the chance to speak for him, "Tum sach me sunoge?" He asked.
"Mere paas jyada waqt nahi hai zaya karne ke liye. Jaldi kahiye jo kehna hai." Advait said not so gently.
Angad took a deep breath before speaking, "Meri aur tumhari mom ki love marriage huyi thi.
Hum dono ek dusre se bohot pyar karte the.
Bohot khush the hum dono apni life me par ek din sab badal gaya.
Swati aur Priya bachpan ke dost the, shaadi se pehle hum teeno aksar saath me hi mila karte the.
Par mujhe Swati ka behavior humesha ajeeb laga, uska mujhse baat karne ke ravaiya alag tha.
Wo kayi baar aise mazak bhi kiya karti thi jo mujhe pasand nahi aate the.
Maine ye baat Priya se bhi ki par usne iss baat ko Swati ka friendly nature hai ye bol kar mazak me taal diya.
Maine bhi dheere dheere Swati ke mazakon ki aadat daal li, sab kuch sahi chal raha tha.
Humari life me tum aaye aur Priya ki khushi ka thikana hi nahi tha.
Swati bhi tumse bohot pyar karti thi. Tumhare saath waqt bitane ke liye usne roz ghar me aana jana shuru kar diya.
Aadhe se jyada din wo humare ghar me hi guzaar deti thi par phir ek din.
..." Angad was telling him everything, his eyes were misted remembering the happy memories of him with his wife.
"Ek din Swati aur Priya party kar ke ghar wapas aa rahe the.
Dono ne drink ki huyi thi, Priya car drive kar rahi thi.
Wo khud hosh me nahi thi. Swati uski aur Priya ki video record kar rahi thi tabhi achanak se ek aadmi uski gaadi ke aage aa gaya.
Priya break nahi laga paayi aur us aadmi ki wahi par maut ho gayi.
Priya aur Swati bohot dar gaye, wo dono wahan se bhaag kar ghar aa gaye.
" Angad told him. Advait's eyes were widened at the new information.
"Mai business ke silsile se bahar tha, tum bohot chote the. Jaise hi mujhe in sab ke baare me pata chala mai sab kuch chord kar ghar aa gaya. Tumhari maa bohot dari huyi thi, ro rahi thi. Wo apna gunaah kaboolne ke liye ready thi par maine usey rok liya.....
The room was echoing with the sobbing of Priya.
The word guilty would be so small for how she was feeling.
She had taken away a life, because of her own carelessness.
She was driving when she wasn't in her senses.
Angad was rubbing her shoulder to calm her down.
She was leaning against his chest. Swati was standing there at a distance.
Her face was blank without any emotions.
"Mai-Maine ek jaan li hai. Mai jail jana deserve karti hoon. Mai police se sab kuch jaa kar confess kar lungi." She stuttered. She was scared but it was the only way to get rid of the guilt she was feeling inside her chest.
"Have you gone mad, Priya?" Angad asked incredulously, "Tum aisa kuch nahi karogi aur kuch nahi hoga tumhe. Mai hoon na, mai kuch nahi hone dunga." He said reassuringly despite of his throbbing heartbeat.
"Kaise kuch nahi hoga? Sab ko pata chal jayega. Kal tak to police mujhe khud yahan lene aa jayegi. Isse pehle ki wo log aaye mai khud jaa kar apna crime confess kar lungi." Priya said, wiping off her tears with the back of her hand.
Angad cupped her cheeks, "Kuch nahi hoga, relax. Hum wait karte hain kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega aur agar pata chala to mai abhi zinda hoon. Mere rehte huye mai tumhe jail nahi jane dunga, mai jail chala jaunga." He promised, looking into her eyes.
She vigorously shook her head but he caressed her hair soothingly, "Kuch nahi hoga. Shaant ho jao tum." He reassured her.
The days had passed and nothing had happened.
The police had never came and the case wasn't even on the newspaper but the guilt was still clawing at Priya's body like a second skin.
After a month, Swati had came to Malhotra Mansion when she knew Priya wasn't at home but Angad was.
She entered their room and Angad was there with the little Advait on his lap.
Advait's gaze landed on Swati who was standing on the doorway. He ran to her side with his little feet, "Maasiiii!" He squealed in happiness.
"Aye maasi ki jaan." Swati said, pecking his chubby cheeks and picking him up in her arms.
Angad stood up, "Tum yahan? Priya ghar par nahi hai, usne tumhe bataya nahi?" He asked.
"Bataya tha. Par mujhe aapse kaam hai." Swati replied politely.
Angad frowned, "Kaho?" He asked.
Swati looked at the little Advait in her arms and gently placed him down on the floor, "Baby, aap jaa kar khelo. Maasi abhi aa rahi hai." She said in a babyish voice.
"I want to play with you, maasi." Advait said in a glibberish way.
"Maasi will play with you baby par baad me abhi aap jaa kar khelo." She coaxed him to outside.
Angad was looking at her in curiosity and confusion. Swati stood up straight and looked straight into Angad's eyes.
"Kaho kya kehna hai?" He asked.
She stepped forward, "Aapko wo road accident to yaad hi hoga na?" She asked in a sweet voice.
Angad nodded his head.
"Bechari Priya... kitna dar gayi thi. Ab jail jaane se kaun nahi darta." She said in a dramatic voice, "Par agar mai kahun ki wo abhi bhi jail jaa sakti hai to?" She asked.
"Kya bolna chahti ho, saaf saaf bolo." Angad said clearly.
"Mere paas ek video hai jisme saaf saaf dikh raha hai Priya ne gaadi se ek aadmi ko uda diya aur wo gaadi Priya chala rahi thi." She revealed.
Angad looked at her in confusion, "Tumhare paas video kahan se aaya?"
"Jis waqt accident hua tha mai apni video record kar rahi thi aur camera on reh gaya... par accha haina mera fayda hua." She poured out.
"Tumhara fayda?" Angad asked with a frown.
"Mera fayda." Swati repeated, "Mai soch rahi hoon kyun na wo video jaa kar police ko dedu." She said, tapping her chin in a thoughtful way.
Angad widened his eyes, "Kya kuch bhi bol rahi ho tum? Priya dost hai tumhari, apni dost ke saath aisa karogi tum?" He asked.
"Nahi karna chahti." Swati replied, "Magar karna padega agar mujhe wo nahi mila jo mai chahti hoon." She stated.
"Kya chahti ho tum?" He asked.
"Aapko." She winked at him.
Angad made a disgusted face looking at her, "Ye kaisi baatein kar rahi ho tum? Dimaag to thikane par haina?" He raised his voice.
"Awaaz neeche kar ke baat kariye." Swati corrected, "Agar mujhe gussa aa gaya to aapke liye accha nahi hoga."
Angad was only looking at her in anger. His fists were balled at his sides and jaw was clenched in fury.
"Agar aap chahte hain ki mai wo proof police ko naa du to bas mere saath ek raat gujariye." She demanded.
"Kitni ghatiya aurat ho tum, Swati. Mujhe to sharam aati hai tum par.... Priya tumhe apni behen se badh kar maanti hai aur tum usi ka ghar barbaad karna chahti ho." He said, his voice was loathed with anger and disgust.
"Nahi karna chahti islie to aap se pyar se ek cheez maang rahi hoon. Agar aap iss baare me Priya ko batate hain to mai usi waqt ye proof police ko de dungi. Agar Priya ko jail jaata hua nahi dekhna chahte to maan lijiye jo mai keh rahi hoon." She said, her words were bitter but voice was soft.
"Ek din ka waqt hai aapke paas sochne ke liye. Jaldi faisla lijiyega warna aisa na ho aapki deri ki wajah se meri dost ko apni aadhi zindagi jail me gujarni pade." She said smoothly and turned on her heels leaving Angad standing there with a blank look on his face.
Angad had tried to think of everything that he could do to get out of this mess without risking Priya's life but nothing had worked.
After two days, he had reluctantly agreed on Swati's demand and spent a night with her.
He hadn't even seen her face after that night but his heart was gripped with the guilt of cheating on his wife.
But the destiny was not in his favor and Swati become pregnant.
Angad had asked her to abort the child but she had refused so Angad had to shifted her somewhere else far from everyone's sight.
Swati had told Priya that she was moving to the London with her boyfriend but in reality she was living in the same city.
Angad had to take care of Swati's every need and after nine months, Swati gave birth to Abhishek.
After that, Angad only came to visit her to meet with his son but Swati used to blackmail him with Abhishek like she would tell Priya that Abhishek was her husband's blood.
Angad couldn't do anything, he knew the moment Priya would know about this, she would taken away her life and it really had happened.
"Mujhe pata tha jis din tumhari maa ko pata chalega mere dhokhe ke baare me wo us din apni jaan de degi." A lone tear fell down on his face.
"Mai khud bhi majboor tha, beta. Mai tumhari maa ko jail jaate huye nahi dekh sakta tha aur naa usko dhokha dena chahta tha.
Haan, mujhse galti huyi hai aur meri galati ye hai ki mai tum sab ko chord kar tumse door chala gaya.
Priya mera sab kuch thi aur jis din maine usey pankhe se latka hua dekha us din mai mar gaya.
Ghutan hone lagi thi mujhe khud se, tum bacchon ka chehra dekh kar mujhe yaad aata tha ki maine tumse tumhari saari khushiyaan cheen li hain.
Tumhara baap khud bhi halaat ka maara tha agar ho sake to isey maaf kar dena, beta.
" Angad said, his face was soaked with tears and he joined his hands while crying bitterly.
Advait was only staring at him, it was very difficult for him to digest all this at the same time. He was trying to comprehend the situation and trying to understand the other perspective but he needed time.
~________________________________________~