RANJISH

23. Reality checks (Part-I)

Abhi ayu Mihi - Bhaiii../ Armaan!!!!!

Aru’s head snapped sideways from the force. He stumbled back a step, his cheek instantly blooming bright red. The sunglasses he was holding clattered onto the marble floor.

Ayu let out a horrified, strangled gasp...

The sound of the slap seemed to hang in the air for a terrible, suspended moment.
Abhi and Mihi, who had heard the raised voices and the sickening sound from the dining room, rushed into the foyer. They were met with the horrific sight: Armaan trembling with fury, and Aru standing dazed, his hand clamped to his red, stinging cheek.

Abhi: (Shouting, pure shock and disbelief in his voice) Bhaiii!!!!!  What the hell did you do?!

Ayu, who was still froze by shock, instantly reacted to Aru’s pain. He rushed to Aru’s side, gently holding his arm and turning his terrified gaze on Armaan..

Ayu: (His voice choked, utterly devastated) Bhai... What the hell!

Armaan, however, was beyond reason. He was fueled by the shame of the physical act, the panic about the security report,

Armaan: (Blasting, his chest heaving) JUST SHUT UP! SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU! Itne dinon se tum logon ki saari bakwaas maine suni! har waqt tum logon ne is ladke ko defend kiya!

He pointed a shaking finger at Aru, his eyes blazing with self-justified anger..

Armaan: But yeh ladka wahi hai jo maine ise pehle din samjha tha! Nihaayati badtameez aur IRRESPONSIBLE...!!!

He turned to Ayu and Abhi, trying to use the fear of their safety to validate his action.

Armaan: Just ask him how recklessly he drove today! BOTH OF TGEM  could have been lost there life!!!! Uss Lamborghini mein! Woh meri security se bhaag raha tha!

Armaan angrily - Just tell me once agar tum control loose karte who would have taken that responsibility agar tumhe ya  ayu ko kuch hojata kia karte tum!!!And this is not it! Ayu ke college mein jaake bhi tamasha karke aaya hai! He used violence on campus!.

He stared at Aru, demanding a reaction that would confirm his guilt.

Armaan: Come on! Speak up! Tell them how you got into a brawl with college students!

Armaan was shaking, his rage mutating into a fierce, desperate self-defense. He had to be right; he had to justify the slap...

Armaan: (His voice cracking with cold anger) My instinct was always right about you! Mujhe tumhe apni family se door rakhna chahiye tha! You... you're just not worth it! Arre, tumhare liye Ayu ki koi value nahi hai jo tumhe itna pyaar karta hai aur tum bakio ki kia he ....

Aru, who had been quietly absorbing the pain and betrayal of the slap, finally reacted to the attack on his bond with Ayu. He lowered the hand covering his cheek.

Aru His voice cutting across Armaan's, sharp and controlled despite the visible pain

Aransh - Enough, Mr. Raisinghaniya... enough! Mujhe jo bolna hai aap boliye, par mere aur Ayu ke rishte par aap sawaal na he uthaaiye to behtar hoga..

Armaan: (His eyes blazing with possessiveness and fury) Voh bhai hai mera! Tumhe uski safety se koi matlab nahi hai!

Aru Matching Armaan's intensity, the pain in his eyes hardening into defiance

Aru - Mera bhi!

Armaan froze. That single word Mera bhi spoke volumes, challenging not just his authority but his memory...