69. Not anymore

2000+...

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Daksh’s heart raced as he rushed through the hospital corridors, cradling Divya in his arms.

Her body felt limp and fragile, and his grip tightened around her, his mind frantically praying that she’d be okay. He had never felt such desperation in his life.

“Doctor! Please!” Daksh’s voice broke as he approached the nurse at the entrance of the emergency room.

He didn’t even wait for a response as he rushed past her and into the room.

The doctor, a calm and composed woman, immediately took charge. She waved her hands, signaling the nurses to prepare the stretcher.

“Put her down here,” the doctor instructed firmly, and within seconds, Divya was transferred from Daksh’s arms to the stretcher.

The nurses surrounded her, tending to her injuries with practiced care. Daksh stood helplessly by the side, his hands clenched into fists as he watched.

“Everything will be fine,” the doctor reassured him as she gave orders to the nurses.

But Daksh wasn’t listening. His eyes were glued to Divya, her battered form lying there, and his mind kept replaying the nightmare of what had happened.

He could barely breathe. She looked so fragile, so broken.

He stood at the door, unable to move, until Aarush appeared beside him.

Without saying a word, Aarush laid a hand on Daksh’s shoulder. “Give me permission,” he said, his voice low but filled with anger and a dangerous determination.

Daksh looked at Aarush, his red eyes bloodshot, "You can do whatever you want. Just don’t kill him yet,” he said, his voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Aarush’s expression darkened, and he gave Daksh a tight nod. Without another word, he stormed out of the hospital, his footsteps echoing as he made his way toward the people who had caused Divya so much pain.

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The doctor came back into the room after what felt like an eternity, her face soft with relief. “She’s fine now. You can come in.”

Daksh’s heart pounded in his chest, and he followed her quickly into the room.

There, on the hospital bed, Divya lay, her body bandaged and her bruises treated, though the damage was clear on her face.

The doctor smiled reassuringly at her, and Daksh’s heart ached even more.

“She’s stable,” the doctor explained, turning to Daksh.

“She has some bruises, and there was a glass shard lodged in her leg. It caused some strain, which worsened the wound, but it's treated now. We’ve fixed it, but she should avoid walking for a few days to let the wound heal properly.”

Daksh nodded, barely hearing the doctor’s words as he let his gaze fall on Divya. The doctor left the room, giving the couple privacy.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and concern. “Daksh ji…” she whispered, her voice weak.

Before she could say anything more, Daksh moved to her side and enveloped her in a gentle but tight hug.

“I’m here. I’m here,” he whispered over and over, pressing his cheek to her hair, his own tears spilling without his permission.

He could feel her body trembling against his, and that only made his heart shatter even more.

She had been through so much, and now that she was safe, he just couldn’t stop the tears.

Divya hesitated for a moment before slowly wrapping her arms around him.

She could feel the wetness on her shirt and instinctively placed a hand on his hair, trying to comfort him.

“Daksh ji… are you crying?” she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

“I was so scared, Divya. I was terrified.” he said, his voice cracking. His grip tightened on her, as if trying to hold on to the person he loved most in the world.

“I’m okay now,” she replied, though the ache in her heart was evident. “I’m here with you.”

But Daksh didn’t pull back immediately. He just held her, trying to calm himself, but his heart was in pieces.

Slowly, he pulled back and looked at her, his teary eyes filled with raw emotion. “Tell me, Honeypie. Tell me everything that happened. I need to know. Please.”

Divya’s resolve broke at his words. The tears that she had been holding back poured freely down her cheeks.

Her body shook with emotion as she tried to speak, but the words stuck in her throat.

She hugged him tighter, the pain and suffering she had endured flooding back all at once.

The words spilled from her lips between sobs, everything she had been too afraid to say, everything she had endured at the hands of her family.

She told him everything, crying as she confessed the horrifying truth.

"I fought Daksh ji... I tried very hard" she cried

Daksh’s face twisted with fury as he listened. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides. His heart ached for her, and as the last of her words escaped, he could feel the rage building up inside him.

“I know Honeypie. I know you did. And I will make sure they all pay for this,” he vowed, his voice low, deadly, and full of promise.

He held her close again, his hand caressing her hair as he gently laid her back on the bed.

He crawled in beside her, pulling the covers around her and settling her against his chest. “Sleep, Honeypie. Everything is going to be alright,” he murmured.

She cried softly against him, her sobs quieter now, as Daksh ran his fingers through her hair, offering whatever comfort he could.

His heart was torn apart, but he knew that he would never let anyone hurt her again.

He would fight for her, protect her, and make sure that the people who had caused her this pain would never escape his wrath.

For now, though, all he could do was hold her, and he did so with everything he had.

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Daksh ji... Divya whispered again after a while, her voice soft, almost fragile.

"Hmm?" Daksh hummed, not moving from where he sat beside her, gently stroking her hair.

His body ached from the tension and fear that had been building inside him all day, but he was trying to focus on Divya and give her the comfort she needed.

"I'm hungry... I haven't eaten anything since yesterday," she said, her voice faint but clear.

She shifted slightly, her head resting more comfortably against his chest, and Daksh could feel her every breath, her soft vulnerability pulling at his heartstrings.

"I’ll prepare some juice for you," he said softly, getting up from the bed with a determined look on his face.

He moved over to the table, where fresh oranges were kept, their vibrant color a contrast to the heaviness of the situation.

He picked up a knife and began to slice them, trying to keep his mind occupied as he focused on the task at hand.

By the time Daksh was finished preparing the juice, the soft shuffle of footsteps could be heard at the door.

The entire family had gathered outside the room, their expressions a mix of concern and anticipation.

However, no one had yet told the elders about the incident; everyone was still processing the horror of what had happened.

Mahima stood at the door, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She didn’t want to burden Divya with her emotions just yet, but the sight of her friend lying in bed, bruised and broken, made it impossible to hold back.

Divya's eyes met hers, and a small, tentative smile played at the corners of her lips.

She extended her arms to her friend, and without a second thought, Mahima rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around Divya in a tight, desperate hug.

"I’m okay, Mahi," Divya murmured, her voice still weak. "Where are the others?"

Mahima pulled back slightly, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. "They’re outside. Holding back Ritu..."

Divya furrowed her brows in confusion, the mention of Amrita sparking a sense of dread in her. "Huh?" she asked, her voice soft, still not fully understanding the gravity of the situation.

Mahima sighed, taking Divya’s hand in hers as she spoke. "As soon as Ritu heard about what happened, she went into a rage. She looked like she was ready to tear through the world, and we knew—if she saw you like this... it would be deadly."

Divya let out a small chuckle, and Mahima chuckled with her, though there was little humor in the sound. The tension between them felt like a thin thread, ready to snap at any moment.

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Meanwhile, outside the room, a very different scene was unfolding.

Amrita was pinned to the wall, her eyes dark with fury, as Ishika stood to one side of her and Ananya to the other, both trying to keep her calm.

"Ritu, please—calm down," Ishika begged, her voice tense but trying to keep the situation under control.

But Amrita didn’t move. She was still, like a storm waiting to break, her gaze deadly and focused on the ground.

The men—Aaryansh, Rudraksh, Rishi, and Aditya—stood in the background, their eyes wide with confusion, but the look in Amrita’s eyes sent a chill down their spines.

There was a ferocity there, an intensity they hadn’t seen before.

Amrita turned her gaze to Ishika, her fists clenched tightly. Her anger was palpable, but there was something else—something deeper—swirling behind her eyes.

She stepped forward, grabbing Ishika’s hand and pulling her into a quiet corner, away from the others.

"What is it, Ritu?" Ishika asked, her voice gentle but wary, sensing the shift in Amrita’s demeanor.

Amrita didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes studied Ishika for a moment, and then the words burst out of her, fierce and full of accusation.

"Why did you lie Mayya? You said they didn’t hurt you." Her voice was filled with betrayal, her hands shaking slightly as she pointed to Ishika's shoulder. "What is this then?"

Ishika froze, her eyes wide as she looked down at the burn on her shoulder, which was faintly visible under her sleeve.

She remained silent, unable to respond, her chest tightening with pain and sadness.

"Does it hurt?" Amrita’s voice was softer now, but the underlying pain was still evident. Her eyes softened just slightly as she asked, her anger giving way to concern.

"I’m fine, Ritu," Ishika replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, but it lacked conviction.

She didn’t want to cause more trouble, but she also didn’t want to face Amrita’s judgment.

Amrita's eyes searched Ishika’s face, her emotions warring with one another.

"Did it hurt when I hugged you, too?" she asked, her voice breaking, a vulnerability in her tone that she rarely allowed anyone to hear.

Ishika gently cupped Amrita's face, her eyes full of understanding. "Oh, Ritu..." she whispered, her voice full of tenderness, but it wasn’t enough to erase the pain in her heart.

Amrita shook her head, stepping back. She took Ishika’s hand and led her back to the room where Divya was resting, though her pace slowed when she saw Rudraksh standing in the doorway.

His expression was a mixture of anger and concern, and Amrita couldn’t help but feel her temper flare too.

Ishika’s eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of Rudraksh. He looked at her, his gaze intense but unreadable.

Amrita continued walking, taking Ishika with her, her resolve hardening as she entered the room.

Inside, Ananya and Mahima were talking to Divya, who was sipping on the juice that Daksh had made for her.

It was a small comfort, but at least it meant that Divya was starting to recover, bit by bit.

Amrita’s gaze immediately turned to the bed, and her anger returned in full force when she saw Divya in such a vulnerable state.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t stop the surge of protective fury that coursed through her veins.

"Divi ma," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as she walked toward the bed.

Seeing her like this—so broken and fragile—made something inside Amrita snap. She couldn’t keep it together anymore.

Amrita’s eyes hardened as she stared at Divya and Ishika, her voice unyielding as she broke the silence. “Promise me something. Both of you.”

Divya and Ishika exchanged uncertain glances before looking at her, their voices chiming together. “What?”

Amrita's gaze burned with intensity. “You won’t cry for them,” she said, her voice dark and dripping with a quiet fury.

Daksh, standing nearby, frowned in confusion. It wasn’t clear to him who she was referring to, but the subtle change in Divya and Ishika’s expressions made it clear—they knew exactly what Amrita meant.

A tense silence hung in the room like a storm waiting to erupt.

Divya broke the quiet first, her voice low, almost a whisper. “I won’t.” Her head dropped slightly, her fists tightening on the sheets of the hospital bed.

Amrita turned her sharp gaze to Divya, waiting.

Divya lifted her chin, her voice steadier now. “I won’t cry for her. I’ve cried enough. I bore it all these years, but not anymore.”

Her words carried a venomous determination, her resolve carving its way into the atmosphere.

Amrita nodded, her attention shifting to Ishika.

Ishika’s lips pressed together in a tight line. Her voice trembled for only a moment before solidifying with resolve.

“I won’t cry either. They’re cruel. They don’t deserve it. They don’t deserve me, my tears, or my mercy.” Her voice grew colder, and she looked at Amrita with steely determination. “They should not get to live.”

Amrita’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile—a dangerous, approving smile. She nodded, satisfied with their answers.

Mahima and Ananya, standing by her side, exchanged a glance of mutual understanding before stepping forward, their movements purposeful.

Amrita turned to leave with them, her movements deliberate, every step filled with quiet rage.

But as they reached the door, Divya’s voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks.

“Ritu.”

Amrita paused mid-step, her back to Divya. She tilted her head slightly but didn’t turn around.

“I want to see it,” Divya said, her tone sharp and cold, devoid of hesitation.

Amrita slowly turned her head, her expression unreadable.

“So record it... or maybe invite me,” Divya continued, her cold, unwavering gaze meeting Amrita’s.

“I want to see it happen. I want to watch it with my own eyes. And…” She hesitated, but only for a brief second, her voice growing darker. “I want to be the one to end it.”

A ripple of silence followed her words, the weight of her determination filling the room.

Amrita’s lips twitched, a dark smile forming. “You will,” she said softly, her voice carrying a promise that sent chills down Daksh’s spine.

Ishika, who had been quiet, raised her chin. “I want to end it too,” she added, her tone sharper now.

A smirk played at her lips, a twisted sense of satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. “And I have just the perfect end for them.”

Amrita turned fully to face them, her smile widening into something proud and sinister.

It wasn’t often she let herself express approval so openly, but in this moment, she did.

“Good,” Amrita said, her voice firm. “They don’t deserve any less.”

She nodded once, signaling to Mahima and Ananya, who followed her to the door.

Before leaving, Amrita cast one last glance at Divya and Ishika, her smirk unwavering. “Rest now. Gather your strength. When the time comes, we’ll end it together.”

With that, she strode out of the room, leaving behind an air of dark determination.

Daksh, who had stood silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke as the door clicked shut behind the three women. “What... just happened?” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Divya leaned back against the pillows, her lips tugging into a small, exhausted smile. “You'll see, Daksh ji,” she said softly.

Ishika let out a low chuckle, her smirk widening. “And you would be shocked for sure”

Daksh glanced between them, still perplexed but aware that something had shifted within both women—a strength, a fire, and a resolve that hadn’t been there before.

The room fell into a charged silence once more, but this time, it was filled with something new: hope, vengeance, and an unshakable determination to fight back.

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Next chapter soon...

Vengeance finally rose...🌑