Chapter 156
The darkness had faded below the horizon and the sun rays entered the room through the window falling on Sia's face.
She was still sitting, resting her back against the wall.
Her face crinkled into annoyance when the light fall on her face.
She slowly opened her eyes and a pain shot through her body when she started stirring.
A low hiss escaped off her lips and her gaze landed beside her where Abhishek was laying down.
The moment her gaze landed on him, the last night event flooded back in front of her eyes.
She was feeling as if someone was piercing iron nails in her soul, slowly, deliberately.
She stood up on wobbly legs and made her way to the bathroom.
Sia was walking in the hall, holding her handbag when Aditya bumped into her, "Bhabhi, itni jaldi me kahan jaa rahi hain aap?" He asked.
"Hospital, aaj ek important surgery hai." She replied.
"Par breakfast to kar ke jaiye." Aditya said.
"Hospital me kar lungi, abhi mujhe bohot late ho raha hai." She replied, "Tum aur Aru breakfast kar ke hi college jana." She added.
"Wait..." Aditya said while running away from there. Sia was standing there with a blank look. She was going early because she didn't want to face Abhishek.
Aditya came back with an apple in his hand and gave it to her, "Raste me kha lena." He murmured.
Sia gave him a small smile before ruffling his hair. She started walking ahead from there when Aditya's voice stopped her, "Bhabhi, bhai kahan hain?" He asked.
"He is sleeping." Sia replied without turning back and walked away from there.
After an hour Aditya and Arush settled in the dining room for breakfast and waited for Abhishek to arrive but when he didn't, they both headed towards his room.
They panicked a bit when their gaze landed on Abhishek who was laying on the floor.
They both tried to wake him up but he was deep in his sleep.
Aditya sprinkled a few drops of water on his face making him stirred in his sleep.
Abhishek lazily opened his eyes and blinked a few times to adjust with the lights.
He looked around himself and furrowed his brows finding Aditya and Arush there.
"Tum dono yahan kya kar rahe ho?" He asked in a groggy voice, lazily sitting up.
Aditya raised his brow, "Pehele aap humein bataiye, aap yahan aise floor par kya kar rahe hain?" He asked.
Abhishek looked down realizing he was sleeping on the floor. He briefly closed his eyes to remember but his head started spinning. He pressed his fingers on his forehead and a low groan escaped off his mouth.
"Mera sir-Mera sir bohot dard kar raha hai." He said, his face scrunching up in pain.
"Kal raat me jo bewdapan kiya hai aapne uske baad sir to dard karega hi na." Arush replied bluntly.
"Matlab?" Abhishek started getting up from the floor.
"Aapko kuch yaad nahi?" Aditya asked him, raising his brow.
"Nahi." Abhishek whispered, still pressing his hand against head.
Aditya went out of the room leaving both of them alone, "Aap kal raat me drink kar ke ghar aaye the aur cigarette bhi pee rahe the." Arush told him.
Abhishek snapped his head at Arush. He slowly started remembering everything.
After Roohanika's call, he exited the office in hurry.
He went to the sunset point and sat there alone, he was having difficulty in breathing.
A mere phone call from his ex was affecting him so much.
He wasn't in love with Roohanika anymore but her betrayal was still fresh in his mind.
Sia's presence covered that wound but Roohanika's call again opened the fresh wounds, stinging his heart.
He had never drunk in his life but to escape from the reality of pain, he had alcohol for the first time and hadn't remembered anything after that.
"Aap cigarette peete ho, bhai?" Arush asked the question about which he was the most curious.
"N-No." Abhishek hesitated.
Aditya entered the room with a glass of lemonade in his hand, "Drink it, you'll feel better." He said, giving it to him.
Abhishek held the glass in his hand and took a few sips before looking around in the room, "Sia kahan hain?" He asked.
"Wo to hospital chali gayin." Aditya replied.
"Itni jaldi?" He asked after glancing at the wall clock.
"Haan koi surgery thi islie, aap ye bataiye aapko kya hua hai? Aap to drink nahi karte na to phir kal kya hua?" Aditya digged.
"Ya phir roz drink karte ho bas pakde kal gaye?" Arush added and Aditya whacked him.
Abhishek hesitated looking here and there before composing himself, "Wo apne dosto se milne gaya tha to unhone jabardasti pila di." He lied.
Abhishek looked up when he didn't receive any reply only to find both of his brothers were staring at him with raised brows.
"Mai sacch keh raha hoon." Abhishek said weakly, "Ab jao yahan se mera sir fat raha hai."
"Mai massage kar deta hoon." Aditya offered and started massaging his head when Arush again spoke up, "Bhaiya ko pata hai aap drink karte ho?"
Abhishek glared at him, "Maine kaha na mai drink nahi karta, dosto ne jabardasti pila di thi.
" He snapped at him, "Aur bhaiya ko ye baat pata chali na to mai tera wo haal karunga jo tune kabhi socha bhi nahi hoga.
" He warned him dangerously. Arush bobbed his head before making his way out of the room.
Aditya was slowly massaging his head, giving firm pressure on some points to make him relief, "Adi, tu bhi bhaiya ko mat batana...please." Abhishek murmured as he knew threat wouldn't work on him.
"Ek condition par...agar aap mujhe sacch batayenge to?" Aditya put the condition.
Abhishek stiffened for a moment before composing himself, "Mai sacch hi keh raha hoon." He said.
"You have two options, bhai. Ya to aap mujhe sacch bataiye ya to yahi sacch aap bhaiya ko batana." Aditya said in a low tone but the warning was clear.
Abhishek took a deep breath before confessing, "Roohanika ka jail se call aaya tha." He said, "She was forcing me to meet her once."
"Aap usse milne gaye?" Aditya asked quickly, pausing the massage.
"Nahi, Adi." Abhishek firmly denied, "I don't want to see her face. I despise her." His words were loathed with hatred.
"To phir kal aap aise kyun...
Aditya's question didn't complete properly when Abhishek spoke up, "The moment I heard her voice, everything came flooded back in my mind.
Uska dhokha, mere seene me chubhta hai, Adi.
Maine kya galati ki? Usse pyar kiya, ye meri galati hai?
Mujhe ek galati ki itni badi saza mili. That pain was too much to bear, mujhse nahi bardaasht hua aur maine uss dard se bachne ke liye drink kar li.
" Abhishek said, his hands were clenched at his sides.
Aditya was listening to him carefully, his each word was filled with the undeniable pain and pierced through his heart, "Do-you Do you still love her?" He asked cautiously.
"I hate her." Abhishek said through gritted teeth, "But her existence affects me, na chahakar bhi mujhe usse farak padta hai.
Uski awaaz, uski wo hasi, mujhe uski har cheez se nafrat hai par wo har cheez mujhe affect karti hai aur mujhe lagta hai that.
..that I'm cheating on Sia." He said in a low voice, his voice was filled with the guilt, "She doesn't deserve any of this.
Ye guilt mujhe jeene nahi deta hai, Adi.
Kal mai toot gaya tha, mere saamne sirf Sia ka chehra aur Roohanika ka dhokha aa raha tha.
Mujhe nahi samajh aa raha tha mai kya karun.
" His eyes were showing his pain and hurt.
Aditya caressed his back, he didn't know what to say but he was sitting beside him, grounding him amidst the chaos, "Bhai, aapne Sia bhabhi se kuch kaha to nahi?" He asked.
Abhishek looked at him in confusion, "I mean aap kal bohot rude behave kar rahe the...You abused Mr. Malhotra and scolded me without any reason." He informed him, "Aapne Sia bhabhi se to dhang se baat ki thi na?" He asked.
"Mujhe peene ke baad ka kuch bhi yaad nahi aa raha hai, Adi." Abhishek replied.
Aditya sighed softly, his hand was still resting on Abhishek's back in a comforting manner.
~________________________________________~
Arush was sitting on his bike outside the mansion, waiting for Sadhwi to arrive to go to college. After a few minutes, she arrived but moved past by him. Arush scrunched his face in a frown and started the bike.
"Oye kahan jaa rahi ho? Baitho." He said from behind.
"College jaa rahi hoon." She replied, ignoring him.
"To mujhe chord kar kyun jaa rahi ho? Hum to college saath me jaate haina." He said, slowing riding beside her.
She kept walking without any reply.
"Maine kuch galati ki hai kya?" He asked with a pout, "Tum naraaz ho mujhse?" He further asked when he didn't receive any reply.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, Arush. Tum jao mai auto se chali jaungi." She said.
"Par mere hote huye auto se kyun jaogi?" He asked, glancing between her and the road ahead.
Sadhwi ignored him again.
Arush stopped his bike in front of her, blocking her path, "Mai bhi tumhare saath auto se chalunga." He said, hopping down off the bike.
"Arush." She said firmly, "Mujhe akele jana hai please tum jao bike se, mai chali jaungi." She replied in irritation.
Arush pouted when she moved past by him, he started following her on his feet, "Sadhwi hua kya hai ye to batao?" He asked again but she kept walking.
Sadhwi looked down feeling shy and special. Arush kept kneeling in the middle of the road and she was staring at him with the blush coated on her cheeks.
"I don't know tumhe kis baat ka bura laga hai but I'm sorry." He said sincerely.
Sadhwi gently pulled him up, "Tumne kuch nahi kiya hai, Arush par..." She stopped hesitantly.
"Par?" He tilted his neck to look into her eyes, searching for an answer.
She sighed in defeat, "Kuch nahi, college chalte hain." She said and they both made their ways towards the bike before hopping onto it. The bike drove on the road disappearing in the lane.
~________________________________________~
It was night, the brothers were home but Sia was yet to arrived.
Abhishek called her but she ignored his calls and texts.
Abhishek finally decided to pick her up from the hospital.
He drove to the hospital before walking to her cabin.
He pushed open the door and there she was sitting on the chair, doing nothing just staring at something particular in a distance.
She was looking like as if she was in a deep thinking.
Even her eyes were not speaking, they were blank without any blend of emotions.
Abhishek walked to her and touched her shoulder making her jolt with a sudden touch, "Shh it's me." Abhishek said in a low voice.
Sia stood up quickly, looking straight in his eyes for any ounce of guilt but she found none.
She was expecting that he would be guilty of his actions but he wasn't. He was normally standing in front of her as if nothing had happened, nothing had changed.
But for her everything had changed in just a blink of an eye.
His presence was suffocating her, his touch was burning her soul.
She inadvertently took two steps back and started collecting her stuff without any word.
Abhishek didn't say anything either, they silently made their ways outside the hospital to the car and sit down inside.
Abhishek kept glancing at her from time to time, the person who hadn't kept her mouth shut for a moment was now silently sitting without uttering a word.
He had started fearing, anticipating the worse.
He was fearing that he had said something which he shouldn't in his drunken state.
They reached the mansion and quietly entered inside.
"Bhabhi, hum kab se aapka wait kar rahe the. Jaldi se fresh ho kar aaiye phir dinner karte hain. Mujhe bohot bhook lagi hain." Arush said quickly when Sia and Abhishek entered the living room.
Sia glanced between Aditya and Arush before saying, "Sorry Aru par mai dinner kar ke aayi hoon. Tum log khalo." She said with an apologetic look before heading upstairs without any word.
Aditya glanced at Abhishek who was looking at her retreating figure, "Sab theek hai, bhai?" He asked, "Bhabhi theek nahi lag rahi thi." He said.
"I don't know." Abhishek replied in confusion mixed with the fear.
"Tum dono dinner karo, mai Sia se baat karne ke baad kha lunga." Abhishek said.
"Hum aapka wait karte haina, aap baat karlo phir sab saath me khayenge." Arush replied.
Abhishek nodded and went upstairs behind Sia.
He opened the door of their room but Sia wasn't there.
The sound of running water made him realize that she was in the lavatory.
He kept standing in the middle of the room waiting for her.
She stepped out after a few minutes and walked to the cupboard, completely ignoring his presence.
"Sia." Abhishek said in a barely audible voice but because of the silence, his voice echoed in the room.
She turned back normally, "Hmm?" She asked.
"Kuch hua hai? Tum mujhe ignore kar rahi ho." He said out loud his thoughts.
"Tumhe nahi yaad kya hua hai?" She asked him, staring deep in his soul.
His gaze roamed here and there, trying to remember something...anything but he couldn't, "Mujhe kuch yaad nahi hai." He replied honestly.
Sia chuckled dryly, "Kaash mere saath bhi aisa hota.
I wish, mujhe bhi jo hua wo yaad na hota.
" She said stepping in front of him, "Pata hai kyun?
" She asked him in a whispering voice, "Kyunki yahan bohot dard ho raha hai, Abhi.
" She said, digging her nail against her heart, "Bohot jyada dard, itna jyada ki ya to ye dard khatam ho jaye ya mai.
" She said and finally a tear fell out of her eye.
"Sia, maine ka-kal nashe me kuch galat...
His words died down in the throat when she spoke up, "Kuch galat nahi kaha tumne, bas mere muh par sacchai ka thappad maara.
Mai to tumhari shukarguzaar hoon ki tumne mere aankhon par lagi huyi pyar ki patti ko nikaal kar phek diya.
" She said with trembling voice, her whole body was shaking with the hurt she was feeling inside her heart, "Tumne kal mujhe meri jagah dikhayi, Abhi.
Hum-Humare rishte me meri jagah kahan hai tumne mujhe ye bataya.
" She said. Abhishek was only standing there, anticipating the worst.
Her lower lip was wobbling with the uncontrollable emotions.
She cupped his cheeks and said, "Tumhe pata hai, Abhi mai humesha se chahti thi.
Tum-Mera pyar mujhe chuye...mujhe pyar se gale lagaye, mujhe.
.." She said and a choking sob left out of her mouth, "Mujhe kiss kare aur aur aur tumne kiya bhi.
Tumne mujhe kal kiss kiya, Abhi." She revealed making Abhishek froze on his place, her chest was heaving up and down with the build up emotions inside her, "Tumne mujhe kal kiss kiya and do you know what you said?
" She asked with a terrible smile, her hands were firmly pressed against his cheeks, "You said, I love you.
...Rooh." She revealed and Abhishek stepped back in shock.
She was standing there, trembling with pain and hurt, "You said I love you Rooh." She raised her voice, crying hysterically.
Abhishek was too stunned to say anything. He was not believing that he could say something like this. He couldn't even imagine on which level he had hurted his wife.
"Tumne mujhse kaha tum mujhe pyar nahi de paoge mai pagal uske liye bhi maan gayi.
" She said, looking at him with the tear streaked face, her hands were limped on her sides, "Par tumne to kaha tha na ki tumhari patni hone ke naate jo respect me deserve karti hoon wo tum mujhe doge.
" She reminded him, "Tumne to meri izzat ki dhazziyan uda di, Abhi. " She whispered.
"Mai nahi aayi thi tumhare paas." She yelled in a crying voice, "Tum aaye the, tumne mujhse jhoothe waade kiye. Tumne mujhse kaha ab tum Rooh se pyar nahi karte." She shouted on top of her lungs, her legs wobbled making her fell down on her knees.
Abhishek quickly held her in his arms but she jerked out of his hold as if his touch would burn her, "Don't touch me. Mujhe ghinn aa rahi hai...tumse, khud se." She said loudly pointing at him then at herself.
"Sia, ma-maine janbuz ke...
"Janbuz ke?" She whispered, holding his collars, "Janbuz ke?" She repeated, "Tumne mujhe zindagi bhar ka dar de diya aur uske baad tum kehte ho tumne janbuz ke nahi kiya." She said and broke down.
She kept crying and Abhishek was standing there with tears in his eyes. He was hating himself for breaking her from inside. He knew any explanation could never justify his deed. The room fell into the silence except for Sia's broken sobs.
She wiped away her tears before looking up at him with determination, "Aaj se tumhara aur mera koi rishta nahi hai." She announced, "Mai Sia Kapoor tumse apne saare rishte todti hoon. Na to aaj se hum pati-patni hain aur na hi dost." Her voice echoed in room like a verdict.
Abhishek's face went pale, he quickly panicked, "Sia, ye kya bol rahi ho. I know mujhse bohot bohot badi galati huyi hai par please ye mat karo. Just give me a chance mai sab theek kar dunga. Bas ek chance....
He ranted out but she stopped him, "Bhaiya-bhabhi ke wapas aane ke baad mai Mom-Dad ke ghar chali jaungi.
" She said, "Sab ko yahi lagna chahiye ki humare beech sab kuch normal hai.
Bhaiya ko iss baat ka kuch pata nahi chalna chahiye, wo bardaasht nahi kar payenge.
" She said in a quiet voice, "Unhe already ek heart attack aa chuka hai, thoda sa bhi stress unke liye bohot bada saabit ho sakta hai. " She said and left the room.
Abhishek fell down on his knees, looking at the floor, "Why always me?
" He whispered in a bitter tone. He was cursing himself in his mind.
Everything was going well but he himself destroyed his happy life.
He had hurted the pure soul, the person who had done everything possible for him.
The shattered pieces of his happy life was laying in front of him on the floor and he was left with nothing but guilt and pain.
~________________________________________~