RANJISH

23. Reality checks (Part-I)

Abhi: (His voice firm, devoid of his usual deference) Aaj tak humne itne saalon mein aapke kisi decision par sawaal nahi kiya, kisi judgement par sawaal nahi kiya, lekin ab karna pad raha hai, Bhai. Kyunki aap Aransh ko unnecessarily corner kar rahe ho. Aisa lag raha hai jaise aapko bas wajah chahiye usko blame karne ki, usko ghar se nikalne ki!

Mihi nodded silently in agreement, her eyes pleading with Armaan to see the truth.

Armaan snapped out of his shock, the accusation hitting him hard. He couldn't deny the subconscious urge to blame Aru, but he couldn't accept the reason Abhi implied that he was seeking to hurt Aru. He needed a reason for his internal chaos.

Armaan: (Shouting, the sound raw with frustration) Aur tum logon ko wajah chahiye usko defend karne ki! WHYYY! Tum teenon... Mihi, Abhi, Ayu... tum teenon har waqt uske saamne meri baat kaat-te ho! Uske har galat kaam ko justify karte ho! Tum logon ko usmein itna kya dikhta hai jo mujhe nahi dikhta? Kyun ho tum sab uski team mein?!

He wasn't just angry at Aru anymore he was desperately confused and hurt by his family’s unified front against him...

Mihi: (Stepping forward, calmly) Hum unki team mein isliye hain, Armaan, kyunki woh sach bol raha hai aur hum use jaante hain. Jab hum aapko defend karte hain, toh aapke upar woh gussa nahi aata. Par jab hum Aru ko defend karte hain, toh aapka gussa uss point par chala jaata hai jahan aap haath utha dete hain... kis haq se apne uspe hath utha dia armaan? vo mehmaan h na is ghar ka ... itna haq kese jama lia apne uspar!! ki uspar hath utha dia?

Armaan was shocked and visibly confused

Mihi gestured towards Aru's swollen cheek.

Mihi: Armaan, aapki becheni ka jawaab woh nahin hai, woh aapke andar hai. Aapko is ladke se itni nafrat kyun hai, jabki isne aapke bhai ki jaan bachaayi?

Armaan stared at Mihi, his mind cycling between the damning security report and the tearful defense of his family. The core question Why are you all on his team? was the one he desperately needed answered, but the reason was locked in his own memory.

Abhi - bataiye bhai jawab dijiye.... ap use hae wakt bahar wala bolte rehte ho aur uspe aj hath utha dia apne!!!

Armaan - kyuki.. kyuki voh galat hai Usne kabhi Ayu ko harm karne ki koshish nahi ki. He genuinely cares.

Armaan look away

Abhi - aur rahi baat mere book launch ki...

Abhi: ...toh agar he tried to destroy it once, then he has rectified his mistake also..

Aru jolted, his eyes snapping to Abhi in genuine shock. He had gone to great lengths to ensure no one knew he had orchestrated the international publishing deal to compensate for his initial sabotage.

Aru: (A quiet, disbelieving whisper) bhaiyu.....

Abhi Ignoring Aru’s protest, speaking directly to Armaan

Abhi - You remember that international collaboration ka offer? Woh aise hi nahi aaya tha, Bhai. Aru has used his Rushan fame to get me that project. Usne meri book ki value International market mein set kar di.

Abhi took a deep breath, the sincerity clear in his voice..

Abhi: Mujhe yeh baat kal hi pata chali jab Mr. Mehta book finalisation pe aaye. He told me Rushan personally called the publishing house and ensured the deal went through. He didn't ask for credit, Bhai. He never told us. apne use kitna kuch sunaya tab bhi is ladke ne muh nhi khola apne apko defend ni kia ... vo chahta to apko chup kara sakta tha but he didnt he owed up to his mistake.... kia ye kafi nhi h ye dekhne k liye ki iska dil kitna bara h... use koi zarurat ni thi bhai mere liye ye sab karne ki but still he did....  aur aj uski wajah se apka bhai international market me vohi response paa ra hai....