*" Aryan..." The faint whisper grabbed their attention as the family was busy finding ways to accuse their new daughter-in-law.
"Ishani....." Aryan ran towards his sister, "...Tum thik toh ho na.." he asked brushing the little bangs on her forehead.
"Ishani beta..." Chanchal chachi in her same sharp shrill voice, asked towering on her daughter, "....Kya hua tha tujhe?" She ran her palm through her hairs, while the stones on her bangles getting lightly entangled with locks giving a sharp pull. Ishani slightly screeched in pain
"....Tu kisi se mat darr..." Chanchal chachi continued, eyeing Riddhima,"...Apni chachi ko bata.."
"Riddhima ne kuch nhi kiya...." She answered removing her Aunt's hand from her head.
The look on Aryan's face went blank, while Granny gave a short assuring smile to Riddhima who had the same blank expression as Aryan's. While Anupriya just stood their looking uninterested.
"Dekha..." Chanchal chachi shrieked out, "....Yeh bhi keh rahi hai ki Tune kuch nhi kiya...." She suddenly lashed out at Riddhima receiving confused gazes from her family, which confused her too..
"....Haa!! Riddhima ne kuch nhi kiya?!?!" She asked confirming the heard words.
"Nhi..." Ishani replied nonchalantly, "...Infact usne meri jaan bachayi..." she added pressing her lips in thin line.
"Thank you" and this time was the turn of each and every member to give a blank expression.
"Ho gya sabko yakeen...?" Asked Granny pulling the rest out of trance, ".... Par gayi kaleje ko thandak?" She inquired firmly looking at Chanchal chachi who immediately averted her gaze from Riddhima.
"....Ab jao. Ishani ko aaram karne do.." She shooed out the members while herself walking up to her grand-daughter, "Ishani beta... Tu aaram kar.." Granny patted Ishani's head softly.
"Dadi..?" Ishani called looking up at her.
"Haa beta. Koi dikkat hai..?" responded Granny with utmost care.
"Mere pair..." She answered glancing at her legs, "... kabhi kabhi bhari lag rahe hai..." Ishani put forward her worry.
Smiling at her beautiful grand-daughter, Granny replied, "....Yeh pregnancy mein hota hai... Koi nhi. Main maalish kar deti hoon" she stated and Ishani nodded her head like a little child.
"Aap rehne dijiye Dadi...." Riddhima stepped forward, "...Main kar deti hoon" she asked for it giving a short smile.
"Aacha thik hai, Tu hi kar de.." Granny permitted her grand daughter-in-law smiling.
"Nhi!!" Ishani immediately opposed, "....Koi zaroorat nhi hai...." Her eyes went wide with rage, while an eyebrow raised up, "....Isse maalish lene se aacha, main dard hi sahu.." she commented.
"Thik hai..." Riddhima agreed taking few steps towards Ishani, "....mujhse mat lo. Par ek physiotherapist se toh le sakti ho na..?" Asked Riddhima making Ishani look at her with astonishment.
"Haa... Maanja.." suggested Granny chuckling at her grand daughter-in-law's smartness.
"Sirf Dadi keh rahi hai... Isiliye.." Ishani finally accepted, not before rolling her eyes.....
The little smile didn't leave her profile, as Riddhima walked towards the kitchen to heat up some oil.
Though half-heartedly but somewhere Ishani's approach towards Riddhima did soften. The hatred which she could feel miles away, was unusually absent today.
Switching off the stove, Riddhima placed the hot oil on the tray and moved back towards Ishani's room, while the satisfied look not leaving her countenance anytime soon.
As she moved towards her sister-in-law's room, her path crosses with Aangre.
"Aangre kahi jaa rahe ho?" Asked Riddhima stopping him in tracks who had royally ignored her first.
"Office mein kuch kaam hai.." Aangre replied shortly not caring to even look back at his Boss's lady.
"Kya hua?" Asked Riddhima moving towards his side, ".... Thode pareshaan lag rahe ho.."
"Kuch nhi" Aangre replied in the same strict tone, still not even glancing at Riddhima.
"Kuch toh hua hai Aangre...." Riddhima spoke out adamantly, ".....Maine tumhe aise kabhi nhi dekha" she stated, still looking at him intently hoping for the fact that it might make him glance at her once.
"Aur maine kabhi nhi socha..." He blurted out while his figure getting tensed up, "....ki aap aisa kuch kar sakti hai" he completed looking directly into her eyes
"Maine kya-" Riddhima was about to ask but Aangre left the place even faster than a thunderbolt.
*Yeh Aangre kya bol gya. Maine kya kiya?* Riddhima thought to herself while her eyebrows knit closely.
***********
"Kahi uske jaal mein phas to nhi gyi Ishani..?" Asked Aryan leaning against the wall. His grey eyes scanning his sister's appearance.
"Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho Aryan?" Screeched out Ishani while rolling her eyes.
"Bakwaas?" Aryan jolted out of his position, "...Jis tareeke se tumne uski side li..." He spoke out taking few steps towards his sister who was nonchalantly flipping the pages of the magazine.
"Maine koi side nhi li..." she barked out cutting Aryan in mid-sentence, "....Bas sach kaha.." Ishani stated.
"Ow!!" scratching his beard, Aryan mocked, "..Sach.. tum kabse sach ki murat bann gyi?" He asked smirking.
"Look Aryan..." Ishani who now looked really pissed, slammed the magazine on her soft bed, "....Mujhe tab bhi woh pasand nhi thi... Aaj bhi nhi hai.." she stood up from her place, "....Pehle bhi main ussey family member nhi maanti thi.. aur aaj bhi nhi nanti hoon... But kal aur aaj mein bahut farq hai" she stated looking away.
"Oh I see...." Aryan spoke out again in his as usual made up surprised tone, "....Waise kya farq hai..?" He asked. "...uske standards to utne hi hai..."
Ishani gave a loud chuckle, "uske standard humesha down market hi rahenge" she smirked having a smug look on her face and then continued, "....par mujhe usse nafrat isiliye thi kyunki woh humari zindagi mein bina permission ke aayi thi, zabardasti meri shaadi Aangre se karwa di....." she stated raising an eyebrow while the smug expression was replaced by loath.
She continued, ".....aur ab baat alag hai...." she said contradicting her own previously spoken words, "...I.. I understand her pain. Maine bhi Sunny ko khoya hai. Haa woh mujhpe cheat kar raha tha, par maine toh usse pyaar kiya tha...." She added when a genuine innocent expression covered her face.
*Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai ki yeh meri behen hai hi nhi. Kahi iske dimaag mein koi khichdi toh nhi pakk rahi..?* Aryan closely thought of the possibilities.
"Lekin sochne ki baat hai na....." He blurted out suddenly, "......Ki exact time pe Riddhima waha kaise pahuch gyi?" Putting up his question, Aryan made Ishani roam in the cerebellum region of her brain.
"Main keh raha hoon na... Isi ne tumhe giraya hai aur phir bachane ka dhong kiya.." he added in an accusing manner, while Ishani looked at him in inquisition.
"Sabki soch tumhari jaisi choti nhi hai Aryan.." both snapped their heads towards the voice owner who broke them out of their deep thoughts.
"Tum jasoosi kar rahi thi humari?" Aryan growled taking a step towards Riddhima.
"Nhi..." Riddhima denied confidently, "....Ishani ke liye yeh tel le kar aa rahi thi. Tabhi tumhari yeh bakwas suni.."
She added giving a disgusted to Aryan.
"Bakwas?" Aryan bellowed out, "...Bakwas main kar raha hoon ya aap kar rahi thi..Bhabhi ji" he added giving a dirty smirk to which Riddhima simply rolled her eyes, "Tumhari behen ko bachana bakwas tha..?" She asked, ridiculing him while Aryan gritted his teeth.
"Zaban sambhal k Riddhima!!" Shouted out Ishani.
"Pehle apne bhai ko kaho ki apni baaton mein kuch logic laaye.." Riddhima immediately retorted back.
"Logic chahiye..?" He took another step towards Riddhima when she raised her hand to stop him whilst raising her eyebrows.
".....Property" He reasoned out making Riddhima scrunch her face whereas Ishani looked at her suspiciously. "....Property ke liye yeh sab kar rahi ho tum. Dadi ka dil jeet kar, puri property apne naam karna chahti ho.." added Aryan and Riddhima's hand automatically went on her forehead, "How foolish!!" She muttered under her breath.
Riddhima gave out a loud sigh and looked at her blankly as if his foolish words didn't even deserve her expressions.
"Wahi property na..." Riddhima said crossing her arms across her chest, "...Jiske baare mein tum Kabir se baat kar rahe the..?" Aryan's eyes went wide in perplex.
"Aryan.." Ishani looked at him unbelievably.
"Yeh.." Aryan parted his lips to turn the table, but his conversation with Kabir would spill out in such an unexpected way, failed to budge his tongue, "...tum-tum meri jasoosi kar rahi thi..?" He fumbled out, looking between the two ladies. One looked astonished while the other was simply enjoying the view.
"Nhi.." answered Riddhima nonchalantly, "....Bas apni aankhein aur kaan khuli rakh rahi hoon.."
"Talk to you later Ishani" muttering, Aryan shot out of the room, even before Ishani could process the things and reply.
"Just because ki maine tumhe maalish karne ki permission di... Iska matlab yeh nhi ki tum mere bhai se aise baat karogi.." Ishani spoke out in defence of her brother.
Though she is sure that Aryan did scoop out of his place like a wild dog and no doubt she is going to give him the necessary medicine, but the fact that Aryan looses from Riddhima was something very unacceptable for her, "....Agar Ishani Rai Singhania sar pe chadha sakti hai na, Toh utaar bhi sakti hai.." she completed but the deadly calm expression on Riddhima's face didn't go shaky a bit.
"Tumhari permission ki mujhe kisi cheez mein zaroorat nhi hai Ishani" Riddhima said apathetically, "...Jinki hai.. unki maine le li.." Ishani did look astounded at such concealment.
Riddhima continued, "...Sabse zyada important abhi tumhari health hai..." She made Ishani sit on the bed, ".....Aur uske liye agar mujhe tumhara gussa thodi si bardasht karni pare, toh thik hai.." saying Riddhima lifted her feet on the bed.
"Vansh nhi hai abhi khayal rakhne k liye.." adding she massaged the warm oil on sole of Ishani's foot.
"Har baar yeh yaad dilane ki zaroorat nhi hai" Ishani muttered looking down when Riddhima felt her heart sank down, "Kaash main jhoot bol rahi hoti" she mumbled to herself but was loud enough to reach Ishani's auditory canal.
"Waise..." Riddhima spoke out loudly in a wish to snap Ishani out of her thought pool.
"...Main woh dawai dekh sakti hoon, jise khake tum behosh ho gyi..?" She asked.
"Kyun investigation karogi..?" Ishani asked back raising an eyebrow.
Pressing her lips in thing line, Riddhima answered, "Nhi. Physiotherapist hoon na... Toh dawaiyon ki jaankari hai mujhe.." she added when Ishani's shot up eyebrow immediately went back to it's original position.
She slightly shifted and then bent down to open the first drawer of the side table. She took out the strip and threw to it Riddhima, whilst giving an uninterested look.
Getting hold of the thin strip, Riddhima examined it properly ignoring every forced sigh of her sister-in-law, "Yeh toh expired hai" she asserted.
"What?" Ishani barked out in shock.
*Kabir ne hi rakha hoga..* Riddhima affirmed with confidence, *Ishani ke paas har waqt nhi reh sakungi. Ussey Kabir k baare mein alert karna bahut zaroori hai..*
Deciding she looked at Ishani who in turn looked as if she was ready to erupt out, "....Aangre mere liye expired dawai le kar aaya...?" She did as expected.
"Aangre itna careless nhi ho sakta.." Riddhima simply cut her sharp loud words.
"Really?" Ishani asked in disbelief.
God damn she is holding the strip in her hand, *How is she so confident about him?* Ishani eyed Riddhima who looked as if was busy calculating.
"Tum khud socho na..." Riddhima said, "....Jab woh tumhe har baar dawai deta hai toh kya karta hai..?"
*She is even sure that he gives me medicine!" Strangely Ishani felt her inner self growling like a hurt tigress.
"Woh..." Ishani replied when got slightly nudged by Riddhima, "...Strip ko aache se dekhta hai...har baar" she added.
"Main toh irritate ho jaati hoon" completing Ishani pursed out her lips in annoyance.
"Toh jo insaan itna careful rehta hai, woh itni badi galti nhi kar sakta.." Riddhima affirmed.
*Tumhe humare bacche ki fikr ho ya na ho.. mujhe hai*
"Woh toh hai.." Ishani simply agreed making Riddhima look at her wide-eyed. This was really a blow, a moment which Riddhima never believed to knock on the door of her life. Ishani agreeing to Riddhima at once!!
Pushing away the overwhelming thoughts, Riddhima continued her investigation, "Kya koi aur aas pass tha, jab Aangre ne tumhe yeh dawai di?" She asked.
"Umm...." Ishani picturized the previous day when she was handed over the medicine by her husband, "...Kabir! Kabir tha..." She exclaimed.
The excited pregnant women immediately felt her blood boiling when the whole draft scenario formed connecting every dot, "Usne yeh sab!!"
She almost sprang up her place.
"Nhi nhi Ishani...." Riddhima held the excited being and made her come back to normal shell, "....Hyper mat ho.."
"Hyper mat ho!!" Contradictory this raised up the heat, ".... Usne almost mere bacche ki jaan le li thi" Ishani shouted out loud when Riddhima pressed her mouth with her hands, "Humare paas koi proof nhi hai" she hissed.
"Meri baatein hi proof hai!!" Jerking off Riddhima's hand, Ishani stated.
"Nhi Ishani..." Said Riddhima hastily, "...Woh bahut shatir hai. Woh twist kar dega baaton ko.."
"Original strip...." Ishani exclaimed out again ignoring her widow sister-in-law's effort to control her, ".... Agar uske paas se original strip mill jaaye... Toh yahi proof ho jayega ki usi ne yeh sab kuch kiya hai.."
"Par mujhe nhi lagta ki woh original strip apne paas rakhega...." Riddhima grunted, "...Itni badi galti woh nhi karega. Ab tak usne phek bhi diya hoga" she added confidently.
"Ab?" Asked Ishani lightly pressing her index finger in-between her two sets teeth.
"Tum bas aage cautious rehna. Please.." Riddhima put forward her request.
"Okay" Ishani again agreed at once, which didn't fail to astound Riddhima once more, which she soon shrugged off. Ishani is going to be a mother, and for a mother, her child is the most important asset.
"...But, agar iss Kabir ke against" Ishani threatened out loudly, "... mujhe kuch bhi mila na... I swear main issey zinda jala dungi.." she decided.
"... Aur uske liye mashaal main tayiyaar karungi.." Riddhima confidently inserted her determined words.
So next chapter is up. Hope you all like it.
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