23. Shanaya..?

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Author's POV

Today marks the third day since Sahil vanished without a word. The house feels eerily quiet without him, but inside me, there's a storm raging. My patience is wearing thin. I need him here-now-so I can finally talk about the favor my uncle so desperately wants from him. Speaking of which, Uncle's relentless calls are driving me insane. Day and night, his name flashes on my screen, like a curse I can't escape. "Did you talk to Sahil?" "When will you talk to Sahil?" His questions echo in my head even when the phone isn't ringing.

I'm torn between screaming and throwing my phone out the window. Aah! These two-Sahil and Uncle-have made my life a living nightmare. I swear, if one more person demands something from me, I might just pack a bag and disappear into the Himalayas. I can almost picture it: crisp mountain air, complete solitude, no buzzing phones or nagging voices. Bliss.

But then...his face appears in my mind. My brother. His lopsided smile. His silent strength. The thought of leaving him behind pulls me back to reality like a cruel leash. I can't do that to him. He needs me, and no matter how suffocating life feels, I can't abandon him.

Buzz. Not again. My uncle's name flashes on my phone, mocking me. My vision blurs with frustration as tears sting my eyes. I press my lips together, swallowing a scream.

"I can't do this," I whisper to no one in particular. With trembling hands, I silence the phone, flipping it to Do Not Disturb like it's a final act of rebellion. For now, the world can wait. I need a moment to breathe.

I head downstairs, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me with every step. The house is dark, the kind of quiet that feels too loud. My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I need to have my dinner.

*****

Ishika paced nervously in her room, her hands trembling as she debated whether to call Sahil. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest. Uncle was unpredictable, and if he showed up unannounced, the consequences would be disastrous. Sahil's temper would flare, and his stubbornness wouldn't allow him to listen to anyone and in the end, she would be the one paying the price.

I can't let that happen. She whispered to herself.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally pressed the call button. The phone rang once. Twice. No answer.

"Come on, Sahil... pick up," she muttered, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. She dialed again. This time, the call connected.

"Hello?" Ishika's voice was strained, her breath hitching as she waited for a response. But instead of Sahil's familiar tone, a soft, unfamiliar female voice greeted her.

"Mrs. Malhotra?"

Ishika's breath caught. A woman. Who was she? Her mind scrambled for an explanation.

"Yes," Ishika managed, though her voice trembled. "I... I need to speak with Sahil."

"I'm afraid he's busy right now," the woman said, her tone too calm, too composed, like she had every right to be there.

Before Ishika could respond, a voice in the background interrupted, casual yet cutting.

"Who's on the call, Shanaya?"

The name hit her like a slap. Shanaya. Her vision blurred, her world tilting on its axis. Shanaya? The pieces clicked into place with a sickening thud.

So, all this time... he's with her. The realization clawed at her, threatening to tear her apart. A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her lips. Who am I kidding? Of course, he's spending time with his perfect little family.

Her grip on the phone tightened as a wave of fury surged through her. Without thinking, she ended the call, the silence that followed was deafening. Her mind raced with one question: Why did he marry me when he already had her-the love of his life?

But then, a bitter smile tugged at her lips. No worries, she thought. We're already divorced.

For the first time, she felt a sense of relief. She had made the right decision. Leaving him, divorcing him-it was the one choice she didn't regret.

After some time, Ishika walked to her cupboard, her eyes drawn to a worn-out diary tucked beneath layers of neatly folded clothes. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she gently pulled it out, closed the cupboard, and sank into the soft cushions of the sofa. Her fingers traced the cover, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. It had been months since she last opened it.

This diary had been her sanctuary, her confidant. Ever since she was a child, she had poured her heart into its pages-every joy, every sorrow, every thought she couldn't voice aloud. The habit was a gift from her father, who had been an avid writer himself. After her parents passed away, the diary became her lifeline, the only place where she felt truly heard. Her feelings, her rants, her jokes-it all lived here, between these fragile sheets.

She flipped through the pages, the familiar scent of old paper calming her frayed nerves. A particular entry caught her eye, and she sighed deeply as she read it:

"I'm so happy today. I can't believe I'm getting married to Sahil. It feels like a dream."

Her smile faded as she turned to the next page. The tone had shifted, the handwriting more hurried, desperate.

"He didn't come home today. Maybe he didn't want to see me."

"I feel invisible. He ignores me, and I don't know how to make him like me."

"It's his birthday, but he's so distant. I wanted to make it special, but he barely noticed."

"He's leaving again for another business trip. He never stays longer than a week. I think he hates being around me. He'd rather be anywhere but here."

Ishika's chest tightened, her breath hitching as she read those words. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the ink on the page. Now, the truth hit her with crushing clarity-he wasn't avoiding her because of work. He had been with Shanaya, living a life far removed from their hollow marriage.

With a trembling hand, she closed the diary with a thud, the sound echoing in the silent room. She sat there for a moment, staring blankly ahead, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. Finally, she rose and placed the diary back in its hidden spot, as if burying a part of herself along with it.

Ishika paced the room, her thoughts spiraling into the darkest corners of her life. The air felt suffocating, heavy with the weight of memories she wished she could escape. If only her parents were still alive... They would have protected her, shielded her from the cruelty that had become her existence. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as the pain brought her back to reality.

Her mind flashed back to the day everything changed. After her parents' death, her uncle's demeanor shifted from caring to calculating. The man who once promised to look after her became a predator, using her vulnerability as leverage. After her parents passed away, her uncle became the CEO of the company with the support of the board members, as Ishika and her brother were too young to understand business matters.

As she was still in her teens, he became the guardian of her and her brother. To him, she was nothing but a pawn, a tool to be married off to the highest bidder-a young woman reduced to a bargaining chip.

When Sahil came into the picture, she thought he was her escape. At least he's young. Handsome, she had reasoned. More importantly, she loved him-blindly, foolishly. She had believed, with all her heart, that their marriage would be different. That love would conquer all. But love, as it turned out, was not enough.

She had bent over backward to please him. Cooking, cleaning, enduring his indifference and cold remarks, all in a desperate bid to keep her place in his life. Anything was better than going back to her uncle's house-a house that had become a prison. But even marriage to Sahil hadn't freed her. Her uncle's demands kept coming, each one more shameless than the last. Every time, she would beg Sahil to comply, and every time, she saw the disgust in his eyes. To him, she was a gold digger, a manipulative woman using him for wealth and status.

The memory of that one fateful night was still raw. She had mustered the courage to confront Sahil, her voice trembling but resolute. "I want a divorce," she had said, expecting relief but finding only emptiness. Hours later, her uncle had another favor to ask of Sahil, and he asked her to make the request on his behalf. Reluctantly, she approached Sahil that night to convey the favor. However, the look of disdain Sahil gave her was unbearable-he looked at her as though she were nothing more than a parasite. That moment felt like the final nail in the coffin of her dignity.

Two years of torment. Two years trapped in a loveless marriage, where affection had withered and resentment had taken root. Now, here she was again, on the brink of divorce, yet shackled by her uncle's threats. If she refused to help him, Abhinav would pay the price. Her brother was all she had left. She couldn't let him suffer.

How much more will I have to sacrifice? How much longer must I endure this cruel game? she thought, letting out a deep sigh.

Next Day,

Ishika walked out of the school gate alongside Aditi, the two of them in conversation about their weekend plans. The air was warm, filled with the distant hum of traffic. Despite the lively atmosphere, Ishika's thoughts were elsewhere. She nodded absentmindedly at Aditi's suggestions about which movie to watch but barely registered the details. Her mind was preoccupied with the conversation she'd had with her uncle last night-about convincing Sahil to do a favor. The thought of it had been nagging at her all day, leaving her restless and distracted.

Aditi's voice broke through her reverie. "Hey, what happened? What are you thinking about?" she asked, shaking Ishika gently by the shoulder.

Ishika blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yes... I... I'm sorry. I wasn't listening," she admitted, her voice tinged with guilt.

Aditi frowned, concern flickering in her eyes. "What's the matter? Is everything okay?" she asked softly, studying Ishika's face for clues. Before Ishika could respond, her phone buzzed, drawing her attention. She glanced down at the screen, her brow knitting in confusion as an unfamiliar number lit up. For a moment, she hesitated, her thumb hovering just above the screen, debating whether to answer. Without thinking further, she swiped to answer.

"Hello?" she said hesitantly.

A deep voice from the other end spoke, laced with urgency. "Is this Abhinav Singh's sister?"

Ishika's heart stopped. For a moment, everything around her faded into a blur. She barely managed to whisper, "Yes... it's me."

The voice continued, calm but grave. "Your brother has been in an accident. He's been admitted to RM Hospital. Please come immediately."

The words hit her like a punch to the chest. Her knees buckled, and she stumbled backward. The phone slipped from her hand.

Aditi, alarmed, grabbed Ishika's arm to steady her. "Ishika! What happened? Who was that?"

Ishika's lips trembled as she looked at her friend, her eyes wide with shock and brimming with tears. "It's... Abhi. He-he had an accident. He's in the hospital." Her voice broke, the words barely audible.

Aditi gasped, her face draining of color. "Oh my God. We have to go. Now." She quickly picked up Ishika's phone from where it had fallen.

Ishika nodded weakly, unable to think or speak. Aditi tightened her grip on Ishika's arm and guided her towards her car, practically dragging her as Ishika moved in a daze.

The drive to the hospital was tense and silent, except for the occasional sniffle from Ishika, who was fighting to hold herself together. Every second felt like an eternity. The city streets blurred past them, but all Ishika could see was her brother's face, laughing, teasing her like he always did. The thought of him hurt, alone, terrified her.

Aditi reached over, squeezing Ishika's hand. "He'll be okay," she whispered, though her own voice was shaking.

Ishika didn't respond, only staring ahead, silently praying for her brother's safety.

_________________________________

End of the chapter.

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