Chapter 04

Arnav

I knocked on the closed door of Di's bedroom. "Di?" I called out carefully. Because I didn't know how she was feeling or what state of mind she is in currently. "Can you open the door for me, please?"

Silence.

If I'm honest, I'm scared. I'm scared for Di because she isn't letting me in. Or anyone in. It's already been a day since the Gupta family visited and revealed the truth of Shyam. And I feel helpless. I have never felt this helpless in my entire life, and it's bugging me hard. I should be protecting Di. I should be protecting the whole family. I should've done a better job. But I have failed and have been fooled for years.

I took a calming breath before calling out again.

"Di?"

Silence. Complete pin-drop silence.

"Chote?" Nani's voice came from behind.

I turned around and saw her standing behind with a plate of food. She looked worn out. Stressed and tired.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned, but I didn't show it on my face. Because emotions were a liability. A liability we didn't need at the moment.

Nani sighed. Her shoulders slumped down as she walked towards me. "I'm fine." A pause. "I know you are worried about Anjali Bitiya, but I think we should give her some space. Getting cheated on takes a lot more toll on a person than one can imagine until it falls on them."

I didn't speak for a little moment before voicing the question that has been bugging me for some time since the morning now. "Do you think Di will," I pause briefly. "Might try to harm herself?"

Nani stilled for a moment before a flash of more worry took hold on her wrinkled face and eyes. The corners of her mouth were downturned before she spoke gravely, "Let's pray for the best."

* * *

"I'm not going to let him go, Akash. He was married to Di and lied to her and to us at every step of his life. He even tried to get married again when he was already married." I said, standing on the threshold of my room and poolside with clenched jaws and slightly shaking my head in disgust and disbelief as I kept my gaze fixed on the night sky reflecting on the water.

Akash's voice came from somewhere behind me in my room.

"I can't believe he did this." A pause. "He didn't care about the family; he could have thought of Di, at least. He could've thought about the years they spent together. He could have thought of the relationship they had at least." Akash's voice was laced in disbelief. "I went to Dadi before coming here, and... she told me that Shyam was stalking Khushi even after the Gupta's called off their engagement. In fact, the day before my and Payal's Sangeet, Bua Ji had caught him peeking inside their house, sneaking around Laxmi Nagar, and looking at Khushi and their house."

My fingers curled into fists on my sides as I felt my anger course through my veins. He's stalking her. While being married. To Di. My Di.

I took a calming breath through my nose and changed the topic slightly, because if I didn't, I would do something reckless. I asked, "Did you go to Di?"

"She's still in her room. She hasn't let anyone in for a long time now, but I think it's understandable. Given the circumstances." Akash answered.

I didn't respond. Because there was nothing left to say anymore. So, instead, I just nodded. Because Di is not going to come out of her room and Shyam hasn't yet returned home, which means he somehow knows what happened in this house. So, it's high time now that I start neutralizing the problem.

* I apologise for the late update.