50.

Few months later

Ryan wakes up due to knocking on the door.. He looks at the clock on the wall and frowns, seeing it's 3: 35 am. His eyes went beside him to see Aaruhi sleeping.

Again there is a knock. He got out of bed and went to open the door. As he opens the door, Siya comes into his view.

“Ma..," She smiled at him.

"Good morning, Ryan..” she wished him.

“Good morning, Ma…You here?” He greeted her lovingly before asking her.

“Yes, I am here to wake both of you. Today is Karwa Chauth. Wake up Aaru and after freshen both of you quickly come downstairs for Sargi," She informs him and walks away to look after the arrangement for Sargi.

Closing the door as Siya walked away, Ryan walks to bed to wake his wife.

“Ruhi…Wake up. We have to go downstairs for Sargi. Ruhi, love…come on," he softly tapped her cheek making her open her eyes.

She rubs her eyes and looks at him with sleepy eyes.

“Get up, Jaan…Ma is calling us for Sargi," her sleepy eyes widened and sat up.

"How can I forget?!!" She said and hurriedly got down from the bed and rushed into the bathroom.

“Ryan, please, take out my clothes!!" She shouted from inside the bathroom.

He shook his with a smile and walked into the closet to take out clothes.

“Ryan, I am going downstairs to help Ma and Chachi. Come quickly, okay," she told him while adjusting her dupatta on her shoulder.

“Hmm…” he hum dries his hair as he is yet to get ready.

She walked out of the room to help arrange the Sargi.

As she reached down, she saw everyone including men were present in the living room while Siya and Kritika were in the kitchen. Well except twins as they won't be fasting.

She walks to them and takes blessings from the elders.

“Be happy, Meri Jaan…" Pallavi blesses her and kisses her forehead while Raghav places his hand on her head and smiles at her.

“My daughter is looking beautiful today,..." she grins when Ruhaan hugs her from the side and caresses her head.

"Keep smiling like this dear," Vivaan softly said, patting her head, making her smile wide.

“Aaru sit bachche…" Kritika and Siya come there holding big plates in their hands.

Aaruhi sat on the sofa beside Pallavi.

“Where is Ryan??" Kritika asked her and before she could answer her Ryan came there.

He touched the elders' feet, taking their blessings and sat with his father and uncle. He saw Aaruhi sitting in front of him on the other sofa and smiled sweetly at her.

“Siya…" Pallavi said to which Siya nodded and came in front of Aaruhi to give her Sargi.

Aaruhi placed her dupatta on her head and took the big plate which was filled with dry fruits, sweets, bangles, sindoor, and other things of Sringar. And a beautiful gold necklace.

She bent down to touch Siya's feet to take her blessings. Siya held her before she could touch her feet and hugged her gently.

“You don't have to, bachcha. You are my daughter. And my blessings are always with you and Ryan. Be happy and together forever, " Aaruhi closes her eyes as she gently kisses her head.

After Siya, Kritika also gives her Sargi from her side and kisses her forehead.

“May God protect my beautiful children from evil eyes," she said softly, smiling down at Aaruhi.

After this everyone settled at the dining table to eat Sargi.

Aaruhi smiles when Ryan feeds her first then he himself eats as they are eating in one plate like everyone.

“Happy first Karwa Chauth, Mrs," he whispered to her, making her grin.

"You too…Husband,” she whispered back, making him chuckle softly.

Everyone has their Sargi then goes back to their room to rest as it's 5 in the morning.

“Are you going to the office?" Ryan asks her, seeing her in her formals.

She nodded and tied her hair in a high ponytail.

“You should take a leave for today. You are fasting," he said, sounding a little concerned, giving her her wrist watch.

Aaruhi smile at him and said,

“So are you, husband but you are also going to the office," he sighs and correct her shirt collar.

“I am just…” she stops him, placing her finger on his lips and smiling.

“I know, Ryan. Don't worry I will be fine. And I won't overwork, okay…" she assured him to which he nodded reluctantly and kiss her head.

"Don't exert yourself too much and try to come back early if possible. And don't run around too much. And if you don't feel good, just have something. Fast is not more important than your health,” he instructed her, making her frown when he said the last sentence.

“I will be fine, Ryan. And you also take care of yourself, hmm…" he nodded at her.

"Shall we go?…” she asked, taking her bag. He nodded and took his car keys before they left for their respective work.

Coming out of the building, Ryan made his way towards his car. He checks the time and fastens his steps as it's already 7: 25 pm. He got late due to a meeting.

“Ryan…" he stopped before he could open the car door and turn swiftly.

His calm face darken in anger seeing the person standing in front of him.

Trisha smiles weakly with tears staring at me.

“You?..How come you are here?" She smiles and takes a few steps near him.

Tightly holding the shawl around her, she stood in front of him.

“You are looking happy…" she whispers and then chuckles softly.

"Who let you out of the Jail?” he angrily said, fisting his hand on the side.

"I have come to meet you for the last time. I really love you Ryan,” she whispers in a low voice before smiling again and looking at him with strange emotion.

"Shut up!!" He grit out and took out his phone to call someone.

She panicked seeing him calling someone and snatched his phone from his hand.

“What the-" he shouted but suddenly took back when she hugged him tightly.

“I am sorry, Ryan…" she whispered as a tear rolled down from her eyes.

Ryan pushes her away, making her stumble back.

“How dare you!! Don't force me to kill you right here!!" He growled at her.

She didn't react, just stared at him with tears in her eyes.

Suddenly his phone started ringing which she was holding. She looked down and let out a chuckle.

“Ruhi…" she whispered the name written on the screen and chuckled as her blank eyes turned dark.

She received the call and put it on speaker.

“Ryan, where are you? And why were you not picking my call, huh? I was so worried. Also the Moon is about to come…hello, Ryan?" Her soft voice comes from the other side.

Ryan about to take his phone but Trisha took a step back and laugh,

“I am sorry, Aaruhi. Your husband won't be coming home. He is no more…say goodbye to your Ryan," saying this she pulls out a gun from under the shawl and points at Ryan.

Ryan went still to his place but his attention was on the panic shout coming from his phone.

“Hello!!! RYANNN! NOOO!!"

His heart clenched as Aaruhi's low shout and cry filled the silence around them.

And then the whole parking lot echoed with the loud gunshot followed by the heart shattering scream from the phone.

“RYAAANNNN!!!"

Roy Mansion

Adoring her hairline with Sindoor, Aaruhi smiles. Then put a maroon Bindi between her eyebrows as she remembers how her husband melted seeing her in bindi. A giggle escapes from her lips as she imagines his dramatic reaction at her look.

She wore a beautiful and heavily embroidered pink Saree. It’s her first Karwa Chauth so she put extra effort to get ready for today. She looks at the time and sighs softly as it's 7 pm.

She took her phone and about to call Ryan but stopped hearing a knock.

“Bhabhi! Mumm and Badi Ma are calling you downstairs," Kris shouted from the other side of the room and went away.

Taking her phone, she went downstairs.

“Aaru, beta arrange your Pooja thal…" she nodded and started arranging things on her plate as Siya and Kritika helped her.

Then everyone went to the terrace where everything was arranged for the pooja.

Kritika and Siya started arranging everything before finally starting the ritual. Aaruhi looked at her phone.

“Aaru, where is Ryan??" Ruhaan ask her to which she looks at him tensed.

"He isn't back from the office, Dad,” Siya sighs and shakes her head at his son.

"This boy… Call him Aaru. Didn't he know his wife is fasting for him and hungry since morning? Let him come today. I am going to give him an earful,” She mutters in anger at her son's habits.

“Relax, Siya. He must be in his way…" Siya huff and sigh.

Aaruhi smiles at her and walks in the corner dialing his number. She frowns as his phone is unreachable.

She tried a few more times but got the same answer.

“Aaru, what happened??" Siya asked, coming to her.

"His phone is out of reach…” she told her worriedly.

Seeing her tense face, Siya hide her worry and smile at her and said,

“He may be on his way. Let's complete the Pooja first,” Aaruhi nodded and sat down to hear karwa chauth katha.

After completing the pooja, everyone waits for the moon to show up while Aaruhi is waiting for Ryan, suddenly feeling restless.

She again call him and smile when the call get received,

“Ryan, where are you? And why were you not picking my call, huh? I was so worried. Also the Moon is about to come…hello, Ryan?” She frowned, not getting any answer from his side.

“I am sorry, Aaruhi. Your husband won't be coming home. He is not more…say goodbye to you Ryan” suddenly a familiar female comes from the other side making her heart stop and drop in her stomach in fear.

‘Trisha…’ she thought as suddenly anxiety arises in her heart.

Her eyes widened when she finally grasped her words and shook her head as she lost her voice in fear.

“Hello!!! RYANNN!! NOOO!!!" Suddenly she shouted as her body started shaking in fear.

Everyone turn to Aaruhi hearing her cry and run to her seeing her stumbling back with shaking steps

“Aaru? What happened? Bachcha, why are you crying?? Aaru!!"  Siya asked, trying to hold her but she shook her head and cried silently, crowding back from everyone as her attention on the phone.

Ruhaan took the phone from her and put it on speaker and the very moment they heard a gunshot from the other side.

Aaruhi lost strength and fell on the ground, crying loudly Ryan's name and breaking down badly. While everyone froze in shock and their hearts stopped.

“RYAANNNN!!" She let out a scream making everyone's heart clench.

Siya wiped her tears and sat in front of Aaruhi.

“Aaru…" She cupped her face and shook her head seeing her crying as she lost everything.

Everyone cries silently while Ruhaan walks away from there when the call disconnects.

“Ma..Ryan.n,..." She tries to say something but turns breathless.

“Bachcha, hold yourself…He-" even Siya's voice breaks. She looks away and closes her eyes.

This makes Aaruhi cry even more. Suddenly her cry stopped but she hiccups badly and started rubbing her chest feeling suffocated.

She tried to breathe but couldn't. Her whole face turned red and sweat started forming on her face and neck.

“I..I " everyone panicked seeing her trembling and breathing furiously but choking in between.

"Aaru!!!” Kritika shouted, making Siya look at her and her eyes widened seeing Aaruhi struggling to breath.

“Bhabhi!!" Kris and Kabir cried and sat on her side.

“Vivaan, call the doctor!!"  Pallavi hurriedly to her son while rubbing Aaruhi's back.

“Aaruhi, don't do this, beta. Try to breathe…please," Siya pleaded, feeling helpless as a mother.

Everything turns painful. Aaruhi felt her heart stop beating. Her lungs stopped working. So is her brain. It hurts her. She stopped struggling for breath and gave up.

Her eyes rolled back and her head fell to the side but Kritika quickly grabbed her neck and leaned her head on her shoulder.

The door suddenly slammed open making everyone’s head turn back. Siya stood up and ran to her son. She cries in relief and cups his face looking at him hurriedly to check if he is fine or not.

“I am okay, Ma. Please don't cry…see I am here and all okay," he assured her and hugged her. She closed her eyes and her heart finally felt relieved.

She pulled back and looked at him.

“Ruhi?…" he asked worriedly.

She steps aside to let him see her.

His heart broke into million as his eyes fell on his bed, where his wife was lying unconscious with a IV drip attached on the back of her hand which is adored with deep maroon henna design.

She is bare of any jewelry and accessories except her nuptial chain, bindi and two bangles on her left wrist. But she is still in her heavy Saree.

“She experiences extreme anxiety and stress. Now she is fine but the doctor has to put her on sleeping medication to calm her down from anxiety," He heard his mother and closed his eyes, feeling them burning.

“She will wake up as soon as the medicine's effects wear off," He nodded slowly and walked near their bed.

Everyone left from there leaving Ryan with Aaruhi. Siya patted his head feeling pain in his eyes after seeing Aaruhi like this.

She also left from there and closed the door after her.

“I am so sorry, love…" he whispered to her and gently held the fingers of her hand.

Kissing her head, he let his lips stay there for a moment before pulling back and looking at her face.

“Why does God love to trouble my little fragile girl?” he sweetly said looking at her innocent and tear stricken face.

His thumb is softly stroking her knuckles.

He sighs heavily seeing her so peaceful.

He kept sitting there, patiently waiting for her to open her eyes. After half an hour, Siya came there holding Aaruhi's Pooja thali.

He look at his mother who forward the thali and said,

“Ryan, complete the Karwa chauth Pooja on her behalf…"

“Ma…”

"Beta, it's not good to leave ritual undone. Also you too keep a fast so you can do this. Come with me. It will hardly take a minute,” she softly said.

He nodded and leaving Aaruhi's hand, he stood up and walked to their room balcony with his mother.

Giving him thali, she instructs him while he performs the ritual. Siya smiles seeing him doing everything with so much dedication.

“Now, when Aaruhi wakes up, make her drink the water and feed her something. And you also drink water if you want,"

“I will wait till she wakes up,” he told her.

She smiles at her son and kisses his forehead lovingly.

“You both are so blessed to have each other…Perfect for each other," she said, making Ryan smile lightly.

"Just stay like this forever…” She smiled and then after a while left from their room.

Ryan sat on the chair beside the bed and stare at Aaruhi when suddenly his eyes darken recalling the incident happened few hours ago which lead his wife in this condition.

______________________________________

(Her looks)

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