"You were right, Dhwani. You enjoy hurting my feelings."
His words were fresh in her mind, and so was the hurt that crossed his face.
Did she really hurt him? Amid her distress for Uttara, was she blinded in her judgment? Did her accusations for Anirudh were baseless, discouraging, and hurtful?
Dhwani couldn't stop thinking.
The questions kept pouring into her head, making her thoughts ruffled and unsettled. They were attacking her conscious like a blizzard of sharp snowfall that burned and froze one's blood. They were harsh on her and she could feel an empty pit deepening in her abdomen.
The same one she had felt inside her for the initial days of this marriage.
She had blamed him the same way he had once. It was true how experiencing hurt changes an individual. It has changed her into a person she wasn't. Teaching lessons none could. She could no longer recognize her reflection in the mirror. She had stopped sharing too much, trusting too much, comparing all under one lens, and not allowing them to have control over her emotions.
Dhwani was no longer the same person yet for him, she was letting her old side back. She had been trying but somehow, somewhere, she was still the girl who was insulted on her very day of marriage, accused of being a gold digger, and isolated for 2 long years.
She wasn't supposed to live in the past, she had closed that chapter months back and started fresh but how was she to undermine her fears and let them go?
They were deeply engraved in her heart, ready to heal but far from fading.
Her fears had overpowered her senses and the morning was one such incident where this Dhwani was replaced by her bitter selfâthe insecure, acerbic, scared, and distorted.
She could never enjoy hurting another person, definitely not Anirudh but she did.
She had done the worst she could and it was only viable that she make it up to him.
"Everything seems fine to me."
She snapped out of her staring spree, the geometric patterns of the tiled floor had kept her hooked for the time until the doctor checked Manna. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, the position of the baby is a bit concerning because of the accident. Rest the mother and child are absolutely healthy and kicking." The OB-GYN she requested from Vidyut's hospital nodded in confirmation.
"Any special measures to be taken?" She glanced at Manna who sat recoiled on the edge of the bed, eyes oscillating between the ladies and back to Dhwani, for she was the only person she recognized in the room.
"It is nothing a good rest and healthy diet cannot change. Although, I can suggest some exercises for the time being."
Dhwani nodded, listening to the instructions and then the video playing on the Doctor's screen. She explained to them the exercise routine.
"Thank you for your time." She shook hands with the doctor.
"Pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Chauhan." The doctor bid farewell to her and the help escorted her outside the orphanage building.
Dhwani took a seat next to Manna who sat deep in thinking.
"Are you excited to see the garden outside?" She playfully bumped her shoulder in hers.
Manna looked up with a small smile, nodding timidly.
"Come." Dhwani helped her stand, holding her shoulders and guiding her through the doors. A span of a few hours had subsided the effects of trauma on her and made her accept of changes. She was willing to walk outside the door for the instance.
"Didi." A little voice hollered behind them grabbing Dhwani's attention, she waved at the kids matching their excitement.
"I want you little minions to get back to your classes, hurry!" She jutted her chin towards the gate where there teacher stood with drooping shoulders. She smiled at her encouragingly and the kids followed her words like a prayer, running back inside to complete their classes for the day.
They were being home tutored because of the increase in bullying cases in the local schools. Dhwani had to refrain a lot many times from giving a piece of her mind to the parents of their bullies because it wasn't the young kids but the environment they were growing up in that made them prudent and act like a bully. Those kids were being taught the wrong way, something could end up destroying their bright futures.
"How many kids are here?" Manna asked nervously.
"67 in totality." Dhwani smiled at her curiosity. "17 kids are in high school and rest till class 8th get homeschooled here. Did you see that girl? She is Ishani, their teacher and there are 3 more who teach them. Ishani is the youngest of them and the most tortured soul. The poor girl is having a hard time managing a class of 50 little kids who could never sit back to learn mathematics."
That earned a genuine smile from Manna while Dhwani laughed forgetting her worries.
They entered the back garden, a small space with a canopy of trees and goalposts situated at both ends of the ground.
"This is their playing area." She filled her "The kids play here from afternoon 3 to 6 in the evening. For the morning walks, you can have this place for yourself."
She nodded, her eyes taking in the entire place. Manna watched the place like a deer, analyzing any possible threats to her.
"You will be safe here. No outsiders are allowed inside the campus." Dhwani's lips tugged into a pensive smile.
"And others?" She interrogated without missing a beat.
"Others?" She blinked in confusion.
"I mean staff members." Manna lowered her eyes bashfully. "How many are there?"
"You have met most of them." She didn't mind her questions. She heard how much this girl had suffered in the past few days and she would do anything to assure her. "Prakash Ji, the manager is the oldest here. Savitri Didi and Yamuna Kaki are matrons. There is one cook and the rest are the teachers. We take up internships and volunteers but there aren't any active programs these months. So be assured, you are safe here, Manna."
"What about the kids?" Manna voiced "Are they safe?"
"Of course, they are safe." Dhwani frowned at the question. The girl who looked timid suddenly looked different. "Why would they not be? It is their safe-haven."
She glanced at the girl and assessed her to note any detail she had missed. Her papers were delivered to Dhwani that morning but she was yet to go through them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Manna nodded apologetically, the fear crossing back on her face and shoulders drooping in the same stance as before. "This is a new place so I was a little apprehensive."
"You didn't. I don't mind it." Dhwani nodded in understanding, turning as loud shrieks tore the silence between them. The kids were playing in the classroom and the window did its job letting their happiness flow into the open environment. "It is my job to protect them. To keep them safe."
"Can you help me walk back? I feel tired." Manna requested and Dhwani was quick to follow it. She guided her back inside the room and helped her settle back. "Thank you."
"Mention not." Dhwani smiled at her. "Take rest and get back to health. I heard from Savita Didi that you are good at painting. I was wondering if you could engage kids in their art and crafts classes once you are back to health?"
"I would love to." Shooting her a small smile, Manna waved at her as Dhwani closed the gate behind her.
She sighed and frowned thinking back to the small interaction. She glanced at her watch and realized the time. She planned to drop by Chauhan Incorporation's office to have lunch with Anirudh. She had to start looking for ways to apologize to him and lunch together could be of help.
Shuffling through her documents, she left the orphanage and reached the office within 40 minutes.
She greeted the staff and kept moving towards Anirudh's temporary cabin. Harshvardhan had still occupied his cabin and planned to not leave it until the announcement of his promotion as Chairman.
She looked for Dishant who sat behind his desk working profusely.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Chauhan." He greeted her with a short glance and got back to his more important work. Dishant disliked her and she still was unaware of his reasons.
Not that she cared.
"Good afternoon, Is Anirudh inside?" She asked politely.
"No, he is not." He piped without looking up.
"Where is he?" She inquired.
"I can't tell you."
This man hated her.
"Okay. When will he be back?" She was still patient. Dishant should feel lucky today.
"Not sure. You can wait for him." He gestured towards the door, discarding her presence as if she was nothing infront of him.
"Thank you." She piped sarcastically and entered his cabin. Sitting on the chair adjacent to her, she rubbed her temple and dialed his number.
The call was busy and later diverted to voice mail.
She rubbed her temples and leaned back. It was still some time for the lunch break and she could wait for a reply from him.
Dhwani: Will you come for lunch? I am in the office.
He never replied and she could feel the frustration gnawing her along with the guilt of hurting him. She kept waiting in his cabin for the better part of her day, working and checking on the files she had brought in with her.
He never came to office.
At around 3, her last file was completed and she had no other file to focus on to ignore her growling stomach. She packed her things and stepped out of his cabin, much to her relief, Dishant was not in his place or his mocking gaze would have burned holes in her fragile self-respect.
She dropped her things and walked towards the cafeteria. Ordering a sandwich and a lemonade, she sat at the corner table looking out in the bustling streets of Mumbai. She tapped on his name again, the call dropping into Voicemail.
"I am sorry for the morning." She bit her gums to avoid stuttering. She felt ashamed and, at the same time punished for her worry about Uttara. "Where are you, Anirudh? You can remain angry with me but don't miss your lunch. I am having mine now in the cafeteria. You should eat something too. Please."
Was being worried about her friend a crime? Or was reading between the lines of what Anirudh claimed was a sin? Did he mean what he said? He said he would never leave her but what about days where he was capable of making her feel worse than that? Or what about the hurt she could inflict on him?
She did not know anymore.
She felt like sharp shreds of glass, the one who touched her to help got bruised.
She ate the sandwich without another thought, she had to take her medicine and then get back to work. Nursing her lemonade, she scrolled through her phone and dialed Uttara which went unanswered.
Shaking her head and blinking hard to remove any traces of moisture in her eyes, she came back to her cabin and dived into the list of arrangements for his birthday party.
She met the planners and went through the updates. It may be short notice but being the top business conglomerate brought in several benefits, and planning an event this huge in 5 days was one of them.
Reaching home, she freshened up and entered the kitchen to find Rashi talking to the cook.
"Good evening, Mom." She greeted her mother-in-law who smiled at her.
"Do you have a preference for dinner?" She asked and Dhwani glanced around the assorted ingredients.
"Do we have mushrooms?" She asked the cook who nodded at once. She turned towards Rashi. "Can I make cook today?"
"You should. Anirudh loves them." Rashi nodded knowingly making her avoid eye contact. She instructed the chef to cook other dishes and left.
Dhwani sorted the required ingredients to make an apology dinner for her husband. Would a dinner would suffice? She had no clue but she had to make sure it did.
The aroma of food filled her and she smiled thinking how his anger would melt within seconds after he would eat this. As an addition, she baked some chocolate muffins and left the chef to decorate them for her while she changed out of her clothes for dinner.
Dhwani came down to find her family talking at the dining table. Her eyes stayed hooked on the door, waiting for him.
"When is Anirudh and Vidyut coming back?" Rashi voiced out, smiling encouragingly towards Dhwani.
"Vidyut is pulling an all-nighter in the hospital. Some urgent cases." Rakshit informed everyone, grimacing at Rashi's fallen face. "And, Bhai well he said he will take time."
Dhwani's smile faltered so as her urge to eat. She played around in her plate, not taking a morsel to her lips. One by one the family members left the dining table and she took the chance to help the chef wrap up the leftovers and store them.
"Dhwani."
She halted hearing Rashi standing near the door frame. "Yes, Mom."
"Don't skip dinner." She fakes a glare towards her daughter-in-law. "If Anirudh gets to know you did, he will cause a ruckus in the house."
Dhwani nodded wordlessly, staring at the floor. Would he even come back tonight to know that?
Rashi walked towards her and cupped her face. "I know you are waiting for him. Once he comes back, don't forget to eat with him. Okay?"
"Yes, Mom." Dhwani felt her vision blur at the observation. "I will eat with him. He must have come up with something very important. He will be back soon."
"You both are really stubborn, you know that? Backing each other at worst timings possible." She shook her head in mock disappointment but smiled patting her cheeks. "Meant to be each other's. Stay blessed."
Dhwani: Will you not come back home?
It was past midnight and yet Dhwani kept staring at the door, waiting for him to return. She placed the muffins and his plate inside the refrigerator. Heating a small portion of food, she gulped the bites as if she were forced into eating them. Completing her food and swallowing the last dose of the day, she clutched onto her comforter along with his. She was cold and there was no warmth around her, like in past weeks.
This time she waited for sleep along with his warmth. She needed that timeout to stop thinking, stop blaming herself, and stop feeling the shame crawling up her skin.
She only wanted to sleep now.
She was tired of calling him, texting him, and waiting for him.
For a long period of time, she was convinced that everyone was a nice person. Spending hours trying to make them happy, every single one of them 'liked' her, and now, she wished she could get each hour she spent on them back, the time she wasted to make all happy when she couldn't stay happy herself.
Her 'we' shouldn't include all but herself, and him if he still wanted to be a part of it. It should not extend to all, not the world, her friends, her colleagues, or even his family. He could think about them but she shouldn't, for, she was tired of thinking about everything and losing her happiness.
She wished if she could go back in time and stay mute, in his arms and happy.
But what if she had destroyed everything he had built between them?
Destroyed what she had dreamed of building together?
The first tear rolled down her eyes, the rest did not follow.
She couldn't let them, not when she should stop thinking.
She kept reminding herself not to stay awake, to close her eyes and let the fatigue take over until the first alarm of her day made her snap her eyes open.
She glanced at the balcony door, they were left open and curtains parted as the first rays of sun announced their existence and she abhorred them.
They weren't at fault yet they were. She shouldn't have stepped outside and watched the sun yesterday. So much would have not happened if she hadn't made that mistake.
Today, she pulled the curtains close, stepped into hot shower and spent time choosing what to wear. How she organized and planned her a night before? Why her plans had deserted her today?
She felt unorganized. Lost. Distorted.
Dhwani pulled up a smile back, she greeted the chef and started on his coffee in hopes of him coming back home. How many hours could he avoid her? Or was he actually avoiding her?
She was overthinking again. Fisting her fingers, she shook her head to stop thinking and poured his cup of coffee.
"What I wouldn't give to have this elixir for life?" Rakshit piped leaning against the doorframe, grinning towards her.
"Good morning to you too." She clenched her jaw to practice a smile.
"Aapki haath ki coffee mil gayi, isse zyada good kuch ho sakta hai kya?" He forwarded his hand towards Anirudh's mug but scowled as she swatted his hand away. (You are making coffee for me, what better start would my day have?)
"It is for your brother." She mocked a glare at him and then back at the pan, she had made the brew equal to 3 mugs as always. She poured two more mugs and passed one to him.
"Not to upset you" Rakshit started with the playfulness toned down from his face. "Did bhai not tell you he is going to Pune?"
"Pune?" She tasted the word. Upset? What was that? "Did he call?"
"His call woke me up." Rakshit snorted grumbling. "He said he will only be able to come till late night today. I thought he would have informed you before me. Did he not call you before leaving?"
"He did." She lied through her teeth, glancing at her device that was silent as sea for the entirety of night except those alarms. "But did not mention Pune."
"Must be because you will keep worrying for him." Rakshit mused in understanding.
She blinked harshly, turning to place the empty pan in the sink. "Can you give Papa his mug?"
"Sure." He left.
"Worry? Yeah, I would like I care about everyone. I shouldn't." She mumbled glaring. "I should better stop thinking. About anything. Not even him."
Nodding to herself she left kitchen, home, and then office as a day turned in two, then three, and finally 5 days neared its end. He had extended his stay and not once informed her of his whereabouts. Not even a reply to countless texts she had left until 24 hours back. For past 4 days, she had waited for him at the dining table, sleeping only after she had forced herself to stop thinking about that one fateful morning.
This time she called none, thought about none. Her mind stopped running, stopped thinking, stopped telling her what to do and what not to do.
It was silent, leaving a numbing ache to it.
Tomorrow was his birthday.
Would he come back? She doubted Harshvardhan Chauhan wouldn't force him to return back, for a party for the announcement of the next Chauhan heir was scheduled in the evening.
Dhwani placed the neatly wrapped gift box in her tote bag. Dropping on her chair behind the desk, staring outside the window in the small office in this orphanage she wrapped her shawl around her. It was eerily cold that night too.
A knock resonated and she fisted her hands to not send the disturbance away. "Come in."
Prakash, the manager entered with a grimacing smile. "Are you not leaving, mam?"
"Are you in a hurry to wade me off, Prakash ji?" Dhwani smirked to herself, the lost sleep acting as a poison in her tone.
"No. Of course not, Ma'am. I was just asking." The man shuffled on his feet and she felt guilty for using that tone with him. He was older than her and an old member of this orphanage.
"I am sorry." She apologized. "I am leaving in exactly 5 minutes."
"It's okay." He nodded and stepped out.
She packed her things but the strength to stand and walk towards the gate to find a cab back home was nowhere to be found. Of all days, she had ditched her designated driver today in the haze of self-loathing she was carrying in her head.
She sat back and tried regaining her will to go back home, to not find him there again.
It was 9 at night, and in 3 hours, Anirudh would turn 33 and she wouldn't be the first person to wish him the same way like she hadn't wished him for the past two years. In the first year of their marriage, she got to know of his birthday on the very day when she was asked to get ready for the family dinner.
Next year, she had dropped a gift box similar to this one on their dining table and left for her work, only to find him gone for a business trip till she came back.
This year, she again would not see him exactly at midnight.
But he would get a gift from her. She had prepared a little something for him. Something she thought he would like.
Unblinking as the lights flickered. She didn't flinch as the darkness overpowered. It was soothing, like an ice pack for her eyes and temple, relieving her of the pounding ache in her head.
She placed her arms on the desk and crossed them to make a pillow, she placed her head on it to let her eyes close for a bit.
The door opened but she never looked up. She felt exhausted.
"Is she gone?" A voice wondered and later answered his question. "She must have."
The door was shut and she heard the lock yet she never bothered to announce her presence. She couldn't speak.
For, she was tired.
â â â â
Has someone seen insanity?
Insanity at its bloom, insanity at its rise, or even a glimpse of it.
A sense so powerful that it could destroy anyone who came in its contact.
Insanity wasn't like wishing for rain while living in the desert. It is almost as if one is trying to revive a rotten dead coffin as if it has created a fire it can't even put out. It's kind of like climbing up a steep mountain to only fall down the cliff which lies on the other side. No water, no ocean, nothing at all to safeguard the fall. The body comes in contact with cold and harsh ground that holds the power to make a powder out of the bones, muscles burst and blood flows out like an unclosed tap.
What's worse is that there is no saving, the one who is fallen, or pushed in most cases, ends up dying.
That's what insanity feels like.
The insanity of not flinching when you see life pouring out of a body, or watching the dead walk back to life. None of the summersaults are scary enough, for, humanity dies and what is left behind is darkness.
"Is my daughter-in....awake?"
Uttara felt harsh slaps on her face while a sweet voice spoke near her. She felt the sickly-sweet smile make bile rush to her throat. She so much wanted to open her eyes and watch the insanity in its real form yet her brain was fogged. She couldn't move, blink, or even speak.
An invisible string of latches controls her movements, making it difficult for her to stay conscious for a longer period of time.
"How much did....drug her, you...?" The female hissed, sending chills down Uttara's spine.
"Double her...weight in mg." Someone answered. "And, another injection after....woke up some....backs."
"You...should have told me when she was awake."
The splash of water on her face cleared some found but did not smooth her movements.
Avantika Sahay. She could hear her high-pitched screeches.
She was talking to someone.
Unclear, Uttara forced her eyelids to part and take in the blinding beams of light. She silently whimpered as her arms slacked, they were stiff against the hard, yet warm surface. A noise reverberated in her ears but never made it to her captors.
Her arms were free but she felt her hindered movements. She did not feel any external object holding her back but her inner self. She left lightheaded, her vision was blurry, and her voice was unheard for.
"Is she moving?" This woman who claimed to be her husband's birth mother mused, walking towards her and clogging out Uttara's sense of smell with her nauseating perfume. This time, she patted her cheeks a little gently, still she felt her fingers slapping her skin. "Are you awake? Do you hear me?"
The woman was crowding the little vision she had.
Uttara tried nodding, her tongue licking her dry lips as her throat felt like she had gulped sandpaper. Scratchy and painful.
"She you are." She concluded. Her nails extensions digging in Uttara's jaw. "You, get some water for this queen and Farhan, get the papers for me. I will see how she won't sign them."
What papers?
Uttara wanted to enquire but two hands pulled her up and made her sit upright, against what felt like a couch headrest.
A glass was placed on her lips and like a man thirsty for years, she latched in to sipping large sips of water, coughing on the third gulp.
No hand patted her.
The fit passed and she blinked, crying slowly as she moved her shoulders.
Everything ached.
Another glass of water was forwarded to her, she could have drink it whole if it wasn't splashed on her face to which she lost her breaths.
She blinked to adjust to the bright light, thanks to the water assault. She could see the place now. She was sitting in an average looking living room, bright yellow lights illuminating the place and another wooden frame couch was placed on the other side of the center table where now lay the empty glasses. She was sitting on a similar 3 seats couch, the wooden armrest bruising her arm as she supported her weight against it to keep sitting.
"Where is this man?" She took in Avantika standing on the other side of the room pacing. She called someone and yelled when it went unanswered. "Farhan, you fool. Answer the phone."
Farhan, the man who caught her before she experienced that dizzy fit. He was the one who injected her with something that made her feel lighter and blank out within seconds that followed. She didn't remember what followed, or where she was. Or how many hours had she been passed out for?
"You!" Avantika pointed to someone behind her. "Go look for him and come back with those papers before the Chauhans get the wind of these places. Go."
'Where were they?'
Her voice betrayed her but it seemed her questions were loud as a daylight on her face.
"I have made sure you are never found again." Avantika boasted, passing a smirk she deemed to be evil. She was insane to think it was scary, better come to Bollywood and check out the brilliant actors who do it.
Was snorting possible? She didn't know nor she tried.
It bloody hurt breathing. What did she give her again?
"Aren't you curious to know?" She came and sat infront of her, killing some time. "I made Farhan give you a paralyzing drug but that idiot messed up with the amount and you went unconscious. Do you know how long it has been?"
How long had it been? She blinked. Only less painful action.
"48 hours that you have gone missing." She acclaimed proudly. "Two whole days and still no one was able to find you. Weren't you declaring how Chauhan's will come for me? See, they don't even know where you are."
She was so proud of her achievement. This old geezer.
"Your husband is busy nursing his heartbreak with Alcohol for records. I knew he would break once I snatch you out of his life. He will have to come to me if he ever, ever wants to see you alive." She snorted in victory. "But he will never be able to see you. You will sign divorce papers, I will again inject a dose and you will be shipped off somewhere far away. You will never return here and I will take Vidyut with me. My child will need his real mother when he receives divorce papers from his wife."
This is what insanity looked like.
A mortal considers herself as the decider of fate. One who claimed to change the world on their whim. Acting like the lord of humans forgetting her own human existence.
"The papers are coming. Can you manage to sign or do I need to bring a handwriting specialist who would copy your signatures and I will kill you as you wouldn't be of anything to me? Decide quick. Should I kill you?"
Uttara should shake her head, act vulnerable, and gather some strength to break the glass on this crazy woman's head.
"You are getting on my nerves now." She was exasperated and scrolled through her phone a ping of notification resonated and Uttara could see the color fading from her face.
In the movies, they used makeup to show pale, ashen faces but for the first time in her 10 years of career, she had seen a face lose its color.
"That man!" She screamed like a wounded animal and her guard came rushing inside. She came stomping towards Uttara and slapped her hard. Luckily, the numbness reduced the sting. "They destroyed Rocky. He is arrested and all over the news. It is them. Those bloody Chauhans."
How nice grinning would feel now?
"How could he? That pig blurted the truth about those pictures." She was a mad woman. Yelling and cursing.
"We are reporting the biggest scandal of the year. Rocky Makhija, one the biggest names in the film industry was arrested from his house under the charges of black money and drugs. A bag full of Heroine was caught from his quadruplet apartments along with a wad of fake currency." The report hollered from her phone screen. "He was arrested on the grounds of many other charges like harassment, casting couch, and defamation of Uttara Rai Chauhan. The advocate of Chauhan Corporations, Chaitanya Rathore was seen talking to the DSP. Although we couldn't get his views on this arrest, his presence was proof enough that Chauhan would not easily let go of this scandal. Stay tuned with News Nation to get timely updates on this case."
Avantika could have slammed her phone against the wall if not for one of her guards to rush hurrying towards her.
He whispered to her which the limited hearing ability of Uttara failed to catch.
It was a piece of bad news, her glares proved it.
Uttara felt ecstatic. A low sound of amusement somehow fell past her lips and Avantika heard her.
"You are laughing at me, you bitch?" This insane woman hurled the glass at her.
Cutting open her temple, the glass fell bursting into small pieces deteriorating her vision further.
"What are you looking at me?" She screamed "Go find that pig. Bring him to me and ask the man to get me another set of Divorce papers. She will sign them today."
The man ran out of her sight, leaving her pacing the lengths of the room. She reached near Uttara and clutched her chin, digging nails into her face.
"You. You wench." She yanked her face and picked up the syringe. "You should be punished. You should die then there will be no need for a divorce."
She stabbed the needle in her arm, injecting whatever liquid it was in her blood.
"That fool. Where the hell did he go with the papers?" This woman was loud, so damn loud.
"To my version of hell."
The voice, was so familiar. Uttara blinked and focused on the blurry figure.
"The same place waiting for you, Avantika Sahay." The gritted words brought tears to Uttara's eyes.
He was here.
Her husband, her...
"Vidyut." She said her first word, doubtful if her voice was loud enough to reach him or it was another of the echoes in her brain.
"You should have never touched. You made a big fucking mistake." He did not hear her, if he had, he would have rushed to her immediately or she never said it. Was she hallucinating?
As the drug effect kept rising every minute, she could feel no more. Her ears were no longer hearing with clarity, her vision was cloudy, and she couldn't feel the throbbing ache in her head anymore. She knew there was blood dripping down the side of her face, the sting on her cheek, and now the fist that clutched her hair, pulling at the roots. She was losing her senses again.
"I did it for you, Vidyut." Avantika was using Uttara as her shield.
"Let my wife go. Stop touching her and I will go gentle on you." Vidyut stood closer to her, his gaze swept her face and eyes clouded with pure, unadulterated rage towards his birth mother. "I said let her go."
Uttara whimpered feeling a harsh tug, her body was still under the effect. Paralyzed.
"I love you, Vidyut. I am your mother. I wanted you to come home with me but she was keeping you away from me. She had to go from your life. She had to go."
"Shut the fuck up." Vidyut Chauhan hardly cursed, but when he did, there was no good coming. "Leave her while I am still being nice to you. Leave her now."
"I am your mother."
"You are not." He charged at her and Avantika Chauhan threw Uttara's limp form towards him. Her body couldn't balance and she would have hit the table if not for Vidyut. His arms pulled her towards him, crushing down along with her. "Tara, what is wrong with you?"
How was she to tell what his mother did to her? Her lips parted but no voice escaped her.
"What did you do to her?" He pulled her closer to his chest, fingers holding her pulse and his breath stuck. "Why is her pulse this low? What the fuck did you do to her?"
"They drugged her."
It was Anirudh. Rushing towards the scene, his eyes did a once over of the couple, and relief washed over him.
"I told you not to come here." He chastised a frantic Vidyut who was patting her, checking her eyes and then her heart rate again. He timidly touched her temple, his touch was soothing, so gentle that Uttara could relax in his arms forever.
He was here.
Near here, and held her like he was his world. He was frantic as if his world was on the edge of collapsing but she felt better. So much relaxed that she could give in to the desire to close her eyes.
"She...she is...Bhai, Uttara...She..."
Why the words are so damned hard to interpret?
"We...take...out..."
She was better not hearing them. She should sit back and sleep.
Let them handle the chaos around.
There was no need for her worry. Her husband was here.
She was smiling at him or was she in reality?
Why should she bother?
She should enjoy the peace.
No pain, only lightness.
This was so good.
So much better.
Another update. You see, I am not thattt bad.
I am looking forward to hear from you all and do vote. It helps me write faster.
Also, repeating the question again.
What do you think Dhwani is gifting him?
And, do you think Anirudh is right at his stance? Is he again hurting her?
Spoiler: You will be seeing a cameo from my past books. Keep guessing who will be that. ð