8

Jise hum dil se chahte hain, aksar wohi dil tod dete hain. Waqt badal jaata hai, jazbaat nahi; dil todne wale badalte hain, mohabbat nahi

Ranvijay entered the room and noticed his mom's expression. "What happened, Mom? Why do you look so worried? What's the matter?"

Ranvijay's Mom dramatically rushed towards him, hugged him and acted like she's crying. "Kahani... Kahani is trying to kill me!"

Ranvijay taken aback, clearly confused.

"What? Mom, what are you saying? Why would Kahani try to kill you?"

"Ranvijay, this is all a lie! I'm telling you the truth, I didn't do anything like that!" Kahani tried to defend herself.

Ranvijay's Mom sobbed even more. "No! You don't care about me anymore! Now she's even threatening to kill me! Think, ranvijay,she wants to kill your mother!"

Ranvijay tried to make sense of the situation, looked between his mom and Kahani. "Kahani, what is all this? Why is Mom saying all this?"

"Jay, I'm telling the truth, your mom is lying! I could never do something like this. This is all a misunderstanding!"

Ranvijay's Mom playing the victim, clinged to her son. "See! She's still calling me a liar! She threatened me, and now she's turning the whole story around!"

Then arohi stepped in between.

"Ranvijay, you deserve to know the truth. It's time you hear everything."

Ranvijay, now grew more confused and anxious, turned to Arohi. "Kya sach, bhabhi? Aap kya kehna chahti ho?"

(What truth, sister-in-law? What do you want to say?)

Ranvijay's mom wiped her tears and started speaking in a low, manipulative tone. "You didn't know this until now, but Kahani is deceiving you. She's only after money. Did you know she was married to Randhir, a few years ago?"

Ranvijay, shocked, took a step back.

"What? How is that possible?"

His mom continued, twisting the story.

"After spending some time with him, she got bored of Randhir. She divorced him and left. Then she came back, only for money."

"No... this can't be true. Kahani isn't that kind of woman." Ranvijay said.

Arohi walked out of the room and returned with an photo. She handed it to ranvijay. "Maybe you should see this, Ranvijay."

Ranvijay took the photo and looked at it. His heart sank. The photo of Kahani and Randhir together on their wedding day.

"Kahani, what is all this?" He asked.

His mom, still playing the victim, wiped her eyes dramatically. "Now you're learning the truth. She left your brother, and now she was trying to fool you as well."

Kahani stood frozen, her heart pounding as she listened to the lies.

Meanwhile, Ranvijay felt something wasn't right. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He walked slowly toward his brother, who sat in the wheelchair.

"Randhir bhai, is this true? Is... is what Mom is saying all right?"

Randhir, avoiding eye contact, slowly nodded his head. Ranvijay's heart shattered into pieces. He turned back to look at Kahani, his eyes filled with tears.

He walked toward Kahani, who looked back at him, her eyes pleading for him to listen.

Ranvijay's tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Kahani... why did you do all this? Why did you betray me?"

"Ranvijay, no! This is all a lie! I didn't do anything, I didn't betray you!"

Ranvijay's mom, standing nearby, interrupted. "Your brother has spoken the truth, Ranvijay. We are all telling you the truth."

Ranvijay, walked closer to Kahani, tears still streaming down his face. He took her hands in his and spoke. "Kahani, tell me the truth... why did you do this? Why did you marry Randhir bhai? Then why did you leave everything behind?"

Kahani's eyes filled with tears, she shook her head and whispered.

"I'm not lying to you. Yes, I did marry Randhir, but you have to hear the whole truth."

Ranvijay's eyes widened in shock, his grip tightening on her hands. "No! You don't need to say anything more! You said yes, and that's enough for me. You hid such a big truth from me, and now you expect me to believe your side of the story?"

Kahani, tried to explain, but Ranvijay stepped back. She watched him, knowing he was slipping away from her.

Ranvijay, stood there with a broken expression, looked at Kahani with deep hurt in his eyes.

"I've always hated being around people, but you... you made me believe in goodness again. You turned me into a better person. And now... now you've destroyed me. You've betrayed me, Kahani. You've left me dead inside."

Every word felt like a knife stabbing to Kahani's heart. She could barely breathe, the pain too much to bear. Ranvijay, without waiting for her response, turned around and walked toward his room. Kahani rushed after him.

"Ranvijay, please, listen to me! You need to hear the truth! Ranvijay, stop!"

But Ranvijay reached his room and slammed the door shut. Kahani stood outside, her hands trembling as she knocked on the door.

"Jay, open the door! Please, give me a chance to explain."

Inside the room, Ranvijay stood still for a moment, his heart torn apart. But the anger and betrayal inside him wouldn't let him open the door.

After few minutes, the door finally opened, but Ranvijay had a bag in his hand. He walked past Kahani, not even looking at her, and headed downstairs.

Kahani, followed him, trying to stop him from leaving.

"Ranvijay, don't do this! Please, stop! You don't understand, just listen to me for once!"

"No. Everyone leaves me eventually, and now it's my turn to leave. I'm done with all of this."

He turned to his family. "I'm leaving. I don't need anyone."

Her heart broke, quickly stepped in between, stopping him before he could walk out the door.

"No, Ranvijay. You won't go anywhere. I know how much you love your family. I... I'll leave. I'll go because I don't want to break this family apart. You stay."

Ranvijay's mother, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward with a cruel look in her eyes. "Then go, Kahani. Leave this house. You have no place here anymore."

Kahani's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ranvijay one last time. Her heart shattered as he stood there, silent, not saying a word. With tears streaming down her face, Kahani slowly turned and walked out the door. Ranvijay watched her leave, his heart aching, but he stayed silent, too broken to stop her.

Kahani stumbled out of the house, her vision blurred by the heavy stream of tears. She could barely see the road ahead as her heart ached from the pain of betrayal. The house was near a jungle, she walked toward it, her sobs uncontrollable. After walking a few steps, she collapsed onto the road, crying her heart out, unable to bear the burden of everything that had happened.

■

Ranvijay was standing still. He wanted to run after her, to stop her from leaving, but something held him back, his confusion, his pain. His family, on the other hand, seemed relieved that the problem had finally been solved.

Ranvijay's mom, pretended to care, put a hand on his shoulder and spoke in a fake soothing tone. "Beta, stop thinking about her. You did the right thing. Everything is fine now."

Ranvijay, still lost in his thoughts, nodded and walked out into the garden. He needed some air, some space to think. But as he stood there, trying to make sense of the chaos in his mind, the housemaid approached him hesitantly.

Maid her voice low but urgent.

"Ranvijay sir, I need to talk to you. It's about Kahani madam."

Ranvijay turned to look at the maid, his brows furrowed. "What is it?"

The maid tool a deep breath and said.

"Sir, you don't know the full story. Randhir sir married Kahani madam but when he found out that she couldn't conceive, he forced her. And when she didn't get pregnant, he left her and married Arohi."

Ranvijay stood there as he listened to the maid's words. He felt like the ground was slipping from under him.

Maid continued. "But Kahani was pregnant, and when she told Randhir the truth, your family attacked her. They beat her mercilessly and killed her baby."

Ranvijay's heart sank. His chest tightened as the horrifying truth began to unfold before him.

Maid reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone. "It was all recorded, sir. On camera. I want to show you."

She handed the phone to Ranvijay, who hesitated for a moment, his hands trembling. Then, with a deep breath, he pressed play. The video showed his family brutally attacking Kahani. The sound of her screams, the sight of his family's cruelty, it all felt like a nightmare.

Ranvijay's eyes widened in horror as he watched the scene unfold. His heart raced, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. How could his family do something so monstrous?

The video ended, and Ranvijay stood there, completely broken. Tears welled up in his eyes as the realization hit him, this wasn't Kahani's fault. It was his family that had destroyed her life.

Ranvijay voice barely above a whisper, filled with regret and fear. "Is this true? My family did this to her?"

The maid nodded."Yes, sir. This is all your family's fault, not Kahani's."

Ranvijay's world crumbled as he realized the extent of his family's deceit and cruelty. He had blamed the wrong person all along. The weight of his guilt crashed down on him, and he stood there, completely shattered, unable to believe what he had just seen.

He stood frozen for a few moments after watching the video. His mind was racing, heart pounding with guilt and regret. He couldn't believe what his family had done to Kahani. Without wasting another second, he rushed out of the mansion, desperately searching for her. He knew the direction she had taken, the path toward the jungle.

As he ran down the road, his eyes scanned the area, and then he saw her. Kahani had collapsed on the road, her body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. She looked so small, so fragile, crying like a helpless child who had lost everything.

Without thinking, Ranvijay rushed toward her. His heart ached as he got closer, seeing the woman he loved in so much pain.

Ranvijay reached her, his voice trembling. "Kahani... Kahani, I'm so sorry!"

He dropped to his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. His voice cracked as he repeated the words over and over again."I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry... I didn't know... I didn't know what they did to you... Please forgive me."

Kahani stayed silent in his hug, her body stiff and frozen. Her heart was still aching, and the flood of memories rushed back to her as Ranvijay's words hung in the air.

Ranvijay slowly placed his hands on her belly, his touch gentle, filled with remorse. "I'm sorry for what my family did... to you... to your baby... I can never forgive myself for this."

Kahani's eyes widened as she felt his hands on her stomach. The memories of that terrible day, the way she was beaten, the way her child was taken from her, it all replayed in her mind.

She couldn't hold back anymore. She turned to Ranvijay and buried her face in his chest. "They hit me... They beat me so badly... I begged them to stop, but they didn't... They killed my baby... They took everything from me..."

Ranvijay held her even tighter, his heart breaking with every word she spoke. "I swear, Kahani... I'll make this right. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. I'll protect you... I'm so sorry for everything."

Kahani, still trembling in Ranvijay's arms, finally gathered the strength to speak. She pulled away slightly, just enough to look him in the eyes, her face stained with tears. "They... they didn't just hit me, Ranvijay. They beat me like I was nothing... Your mother, your brother... everyone was there. Randhir... he was the worst."

Ranvijay's eyes widened as he listened, horror dawning on him as Kahani continued to speak.

"He kicked me... in my belly... over and over again. I begged him to stop, but he didn't care. He wanted me gone. When he found out I was pregnant, he was furious."

Kahani continued. "He made me sign the divorce papers... Forced me to... He said I had no place in his life, and after I signed, he threw me out of the house like I was trash... And I had nothing, no one..."

Ranvijay's throat tightened. He felt rage over Randhir, at his family, and at himself for not knowing the truth sooner.

Ranvijay eyes filled with tears. "How could they... How could Randhir do this to you? How could my family stand by and let this happen?"

Kahani's tears continued to fall, but her anger burned through her sorrow as she looked into Ranvijay's eyes. "They didn't care about me... or my baby... They only cared about their reputation, about money. I was just a tool to them. And when I wasn't useful anymore, they discarded me."

"I'm so sorry, Kahani... I should have known... I should have protected you. I can't even imagine the pain you went through."

Kahani sobbed into his chest, her hands clutching his shirt as she finally let it all out, the pain, the betrayal, the heartbreak. "I loved him once, Ranvijay... I trusted him... but he destroyed everything. And your family... they stood by and watched.

Ranvijay whisperd, holding her tightly.

"They'll pay for this, Kahani. I promise you... I'll never let them hurt you again. I'm with you now... always."

After holding her in his arms for a while, Ranvijay gently pulled away and looked into Kahani's eyes. He needed to know what she wanted, how she wanted to move forward.

Ranvijay softly but seriously. "Kahani... tell me... What do you want to do now?"

Kahani wiped away her tears. But now, beneath that pain, there was something else, a burning fire of anger. "I want revenge. I want them to feel the same pain they caused me... I want them to know what it feels like to lose everything."

Ranvijay's expression hardened, hearing this. He knew this wasn't just about her pain anymore, it was about justice. He reached for her hand, grabbing it firmly.

"

Then I'll help you, Kahani. We'll do this together."

Kahani looked at him, surprised for a moment. He wasn't just saying it, he meant it. He was ready to stand by her side. "You would do that for me? After everything?"

Ranvijay nodded, his grip on her hand tightened. "Yes. I'll help you take them down. I won't let them get away with what they did to you... to your child. They deserve to face the consequences."

Without another word, Ranvijay stood up, pulling Kahani to her feet with him. He held her hand firmly, and they walked together towards their house.

"This is your fight, Kahani, but I'll be with you every step of the way. They'll regret what they did. I'll make sure of it."

Kahani nodded knowing she wasn't alone.

Ranvijay walked inside calling out for Randhir and his family.

"Randhir! Everyone, come out!"

Randhir, along with his mother and family members, came from the living room, looking confused. Their faces changed to surprise when they saw Ranvijay standing there with Kahani beside him.

Ranvijay walked toward them, like a lion ready to roar. He pointed finger at Randhir, with anger. "How could you play with a girl's life like that? How could you hurt her so badly? You're supposed to be family, yet you treated her like she was nothing!"

Ranvijay's mother tried to cover up their actions, but Ranvijay cut her off. "I've seen the video! I know the truth about what you all did to Kahani!"

Ranvijay stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Randhir.

Ranvijay tool a deep breath. "You used to be my inspiration, Randhir bhai. I looked up to you. I wanted to be like you. But now... you've become a monster. A monster who killed his own child and forced his wife to suffer!"

The accusation hit Randhir like a punch to the gut.

Ranvijay continued. "You chose power and pride over your family. You hurt her, Randhir! You hurt Kahani and made her life a living hell!"

Kahani stepped forward. "And it's time for all of you to face the truth! You can't hide from what you've done. I won't let you!"

Randhir looked from Kahani to Ranvijay.

Arohi voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you want from us?"

"I want you to take responsibility for all of your actions. I want you to understand the pain you caused and to face the consequences." Ranvijay said.

Kahani took a deep breath and turned to Randhir. "You need to understand what you've done, Randhir. You can't just walk away from this. You have to make things right."

Ranvijay's expression softened slightly, realizing that even in his anger, he still cared for his brother. But he also knew the truth had to be confronted.

Ranvijay spoke. "This is about more than just revenge. It's about justice and healing. It's time for you to own up to what you've done. I am with kahani in this and I am ready to go against you all for her, for the love of my family."

To be continued