20. Guilty Shivaay

Ishaan, sensing the tension in the room, gestured for Ivaan to come closer. His sharp look was enough to make Ivaan shuffle his feet nervously as he stepped forward, his head hanging low.

He glanced at Ishaan for reassurance before slowly bending down to touch Niharika’s feet. “Bhabhi,” he said softly, his voice laced with genuine remorse, “I’m so sorry. I did all of this just for fun. I didn’t mean for things to get this bad. I didn’t think…” His voice trailed off, unable to meet her eyes.

Niharika’s tear-streaked face softened at his words. She blinked back the tears threatening to spill again and gently pulled him into a side hug, her kindness radiating through her touch. “It’s okay, Ivaan,” she said, her voice calm despite the hurt in her heart. “You didn’t mean to hurt me. Sometimes things go too far without us realizing. But I forgive you.”

Her words were sincere, but the ache in her voice didn’t escape Ivaan. He hugged her tightly, his guilt still gnawing at him. “I promise this won’t happen again, Bhabhi. I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

Ishaan, who had been watching silently, nodded in approval. “Good,” he said, his tone firm but supportive. “Now let’s focus on fixing this. We can’t let misunderstandings like these tear us apart.”

Riya, who had been sitting beside Niharika, squeezed her hand reassuringly. “You’re too nice, Bhabhi,” she said with a faint smile. “But that’s why we love you.”

Niharika managed a small smile in return, but her mind couldn’t help but wander to Shivaay and the storm of emotions she saw in his eyes.

Outside, Shivaay sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. The cold night air seeped into the vehicle as he rolled the windows down slightly. He lit a cigarette with trembling fingers, inhaling deeply, trying to calm the storm raging inside him.

The nicotine did little to soothe his frustration. Every drag only reminded him of Niharika’s tear-filled eyes and the guilt that had gnawed at him ever since he walked out of the mansion. He exhaled sharply, watching the smoke curl into the darkness.

His mind replayed the image of her, sitting on the bed, refusing to give in to his unjust demand, her strength shining through even in her tears. It made his chest tighten. She wasn’t like anyone he had ever known—there was something about her resilience that both infuriated and intrigued him.

“Damn it!” he muttered under his breath, slamming a fist against the dashboard. The cigarette hung loosely between his lips as he closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat. For a fleeting moment, guilt flickered in his mind, but he quickly pushed it away, masking it with anger.

He couldn’t figure out why her pain affected him so deeply. Why does she get to me like this? he thought, taking another puff, the smoke burning his throat. No one else ever had. No one else dared to.

The sound of his phone buzzing in the cupholder snapped him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen—Riya’s name flashed on it. Ignoring the call, he threw the phone back, starting the engine.

He needed more than a drive to escape the chaos brewing inside him.

Shivaay was driving aimlessly through the empty roads, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The cool night breeze rushed in through the half-open windows, but it did little to calm the turmoil inside him. His sharp gaze focused ahead, though his thoughts were miles away.

The rhythmic hum of the engine filled the silence around him, but inside his head, it was anything but quiet. Niharika’s tear-streaked face haunted his mind, a constant reminder of the scene he had caused. His jaw clenched as he pressed the accelerator, the car speeding down the dark road.

He didn’t know where he was going. He didn’t care. He just needed to drive, to keep moving, as if the motion would somehow outrun the emotions threatening to consume him.

Downstairs, Ivaan and Ishaan rushed into the living room, their faces pale with concern. "Where is Bhai?" Ivaan asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Shweta, seated on the couch with a stern expression, replied, "He went somewhere. No one knows. He just took the car and left."

Ivaan and Ishaan exchanged worried glances. Indra, who was sitting silently, sighed heavily. "He needs time to cool down. Don’t push him right now," he said, his tone firm yet laced with concern.

"But Bauji, what if something happens? He looked...disturbed," Ivaan said hesitantly.

"He’s Shivaay," Indra replied confidently. "He’s not the kind of man to lose himself. Let him be."

Despite Indra's assurance, an uneasy silence settled over the room, the tension palpable as everyone wondered where Shivaay might have gone.

Shivaay, gripping the steering wheel tightly, pressed the phone to his ear, his expression still stormy. Ivaan's voice came through, urgent and apologetic.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Bhai?" Ivaan began, his frustration evident.

Shivaay's voice was cold, biting. "No, Ivaan. What the hell is wrong with you? Do you even realize—"

Before Shivaay could finish, Ivaan interrupted, "No, Bhai! Listen to me first. I'm sorry! I shared that photo of Bhabhi in the dress. It was my fault! But you need to hear the truth."

Shivaay’s jaw clenched, his silence signaling for Ivaan to continue.

"I and Riya pleaded with her to wear that dress. We took her shopping and made her try on all kinds of delicate, expensive traditional dresses, but she didn't buy a single thing. Not for herself. She didn’t even want to step into the mall in the first place!"

Shivaay's grip on the wheel loosened slightly, his anger faltering.

Ivaan’s voice cracked with guilt as he added, "Then we saw that dress and convinced her to try it on. She only agreed because we begged her. Bhai, she didn’t buy anything extravagant, just a simple pair of earrings—worth only 99 rupees. That’s it. Everything she did, she did for us."

Shivaay's heart sank. The weight of Ivaan's words started to press against his own anger, replacing it with a pang of guilt.

Ivaan concluded, "I didn’t think it through, Bhai. It was all just fun for us, but now I realize how much I hurt her. And you...you punished her for something that was entirely my fault. I’m sorry, Bhai. Really sorry."

Shivaay closed his eyes briefly, his breath heavy as Ivaan’s words echoed in his mind. For the first time since he had stormed out of the mansion, he felt a flicker of regret creep into his chest.

Ivaan’s voice grew firm, tinged with disappointment. “And one more thing, Bhai. Your behavior with Bhabhi is not okay. She’s done nothing to deserve the way you’ve treated her. She respects this family and tries her best. You’re just pushing her away for no reason.”

Before Shivaay could respond, Ivaan hung up.

Shivaay stared at the phone in his hand, his mind swirling. A deep silence settled in the car as Ivaan’s words echoed in his ears. He clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as his chest heaved with conflicting emotions.

He didn’t want to admit it, not even to himself, but the sting of guilt was undeniable. For a fleeting moment, the image of Niharika’s tear-filled eyes flashed before him. Her quiet strength, her resilience in the face of his anger—it was starting to gnaw at him.

He muttered under his breath, his voice laced with frustration and confusion, “What are you, Niharika? Why do you make me feel this way?”

He leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair as he looked out into the dark night. The chaos inside him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

The night dragged on, heavy with tension in the Ranawat mansion. Ishaan, Ivaan, Riya, and the rest of the family sat at the dining table, trying to make the atmosphere lighter. Ishaan cracked a few jokes, Riya joined in with her usual bubbly energy, and even Ivaan forced a small smile for their sake. But the air felt incomplete.

Niharika didn’t join them.

She had quietly retreated to her room, shutting herself away from the world. The sound of laughter and chatter from downstairs barely reached her ears as she sat by the window, staring out into the starless sky. Her stomach churned with hunger, but the weight in her chest was far heavier than any physical need.

Shweta noticed the empty chair at the table and sighed. “I’m worried about her,” she said softly, glancing at Indra, who only nodded gravely.

Ivaan pushed his plate away, the guilt of the day’s events still fresh in his heart. Ishaan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, whispering, “She’ll be okay. Bhabhi’s stronger than we think.”

But even Ishaan’s words didn’t erase the heaviness that lingered among them.

Upstairs, Niharika’s mind raced with memories of Shivaay’s harsh words and actions. Her heart ached with a mix of anger, hurt, and confusion. She wondered if her presence in this house was even worth it—was she just enduring pain in a place where she was supposed to find happiness?

She pulled her shawl closer, determined not to let tears fall again. "I have to be strong," she whispered to herself, even though her resolve felt like it was crumbling.