Chapter 85: chapter 85

  The study is dimly lit with soft lamplight. Books line the walls. Aditya sits in silence behind his desk, phone in hand. The message from Amar flashes It’s handled. Before it could surface." Aditya leans back, exhales- long and slow. He removes his glasses and closes his eyes for a second, absorbing the weight of what almost happened. A voice is heard from the doorway of his study  saying " You don’t usually sit in the dark unless the nation is burning or your daughter is crying". He opens his eyes. SMITHA TANWAR, his wife, stands at the door in her night robe, arms folded, concern behind her sarcasm.Aditya answers smoothly without expressing anything in his face. Neither of those things is happening, fortunately. Smitha" Walked in to ask if you wanted turmeric milk. Found you staring at your phone like you were preparing for a funeral. She paused for a while and continued Tell me, Aditya. What storm passed that you won’t let me see?Adi stands, straightening his kurta, walking toward her slowly. Calm but measured. Adi knew she caught hold of something and says Sometimes the storms don’t hit, he pauses for a while checking her reaction and says because someone saw the clouds early enough and… redirected the winds. Smitha curiously asks is it Amar??Adi looks at her, gives a small, rare smile.That boy doesn’t just protect Rhea. He protects the walls that hold this house up. He starts Praising Amar. Smitha heart softens hearing it still there was a thought lingering within her. With such thoughts she asks but why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me? Adi walks past her, gently places a hand on her shoulder.Because even the strongest women deserve a night of peace. And because tomorrow, I may not be able to give you one. Now go. And if I’m lucky, I’ll still get that turmeric milk. He pulls her legs, to ease away her doubts. Smitha just say Okay... I'll get you then. Adi " Hmm... I'll wait then saying he retreats to the balcony. Smitha watches him walk toward the balcony, where the night stretches into unknowns. Her eyes narrow, but she walks away  trusting, for now. Kajal wakes up only to see a hand wrapped around her neck. She didn't feel heavy but couldn't recognise who it might be. She gets up slowly only to see Amar sleeping on the couch with his hands tied. Kajal looks confused and turns to see Rhea sleeping next to her. Kajal " did these two have flights again? Why are they sleeping in my room". Thinking Kajal enters bathroom. Her head was paining heavily as she wept all day. She splashes some water and comes out to have some water. Even after drinking water, it didn't help much. It's when Amar woke up. Kajal stares at him and asks had a fight and sent her to my room? Amar pretend to be scared says Didi, she was determined to sleep with you. Why would I let her sleep with you? He says putting a pity face. Kajal " enough.. enough saying she holds her head". Amar quite tensed gets closer to her and asks didi are you alright? Kajal " yep am alright but just a mild headache". Amar rushes downstairs and comes up with a cup of hot tea. Shikha watches Amar running up and down. She panicks and gets into the first floor thinking something happened to Rhea. But the moment she finds her children and her daughter In law in the same room, she feels bit relieved. Kajal feels quite better after having the ginger tea. Kajal looks at Shikha and asks Mom why these love birds are in my room. Shikha something happened to Rhea yesterday and no one is saying a word of it to me. There was a worry in her voice when she said it. Amar tries to reason out but Kajal stops him and asks Mom what are you saying? Yes Kajal she fainted in the hospital Yesterday. She even got scared looking at us that she didn't reveal a word to us.   As they were engaged in the conversation, Their whispers meant something to sleeping Rhea that she remembered the incident that she heard and saw at the hospital. She sits in the bed with the eyes closed. And start to shout Kajal didi... Kajal didi... Immediately all the three rushes to her whereas Amar is tensed that she will reveal anything and hugs her. Rhea struggles in his arms and keeps shouting Kajal name.     Shikha " even yesterday she did the same Kajal. But am clueless why would she bring up your name. Kajal " maybe she had a bad dream like something bad happening to me".  Shikha" if that's so, why did she do it in the hospital in the day time". Both women are in deep thoughts and Amar is clueless like whom should be handled first. A Revenge...