I was already shocked with this new information when Vaishu said something shocking us to the core.
Vaishu : No no..don't...don't talk about this....kuch nhi hua tha...Abhi we..we will not investigate further. Mujhe...mujhe nhi krna apne aap ko innocent prove. Don't do this Abhi.
I saw her hands... suddenly she hide something on her left arm from her right hand in fear. I held her right arm and saw red marks on her left arm as if someone held her right arm tightly with hard grip. My blood boiled in anger...so did everyone's else present there
Abhi : What is this Vaishu...who did this to you?
I said trying to be calm..but anger was obvious in my voice. She was still hanging her head low. Sidd came and sat on his knees in front of her.
Sidd : Navi tell me na baccha...who did this to you?
Still no reply. Now its out of the limit.
Abhi : Vaishu meine pucha KISNE KIA YE SAB? WHO THE HELL TRIED TO HARM YOU? KABSE DEKH RHA HOON TUMHARA BEHAVIOR..KYA CHUPA RHI HO...
Vaishu : I SAID NA DON'T ASK ME ABHI...PLEASE LEAVE THIS TOPIC ..I DON'T WANT TO PROVE MYSELF INNOCENT. Bss kro...please...manne do logon ko mujhe criminal..I don't care..please...I beg you Abhi...I can't afford to loose my family because of me
She broke down..loose my family? because of me? ...mtlb kya h iska
Abhi : Me or vaishu abhi aaye..tum log yhi ruko
I said and in a cold voice... took her hand and dragged her to the living room where mammi and smita aunty were talking.
ABHI'S POV ENDS
Smita : But phir bhi..abhi bhi bhot log meri beti ko criminal maante hain.
Sandhya : Prr mujhe poora bharosa hai Sidd or Abhi mil kr use bacha lenge.
Smita : Haan mujhe bhi lagta hai...bacha lenge vo log. Mujhe bass meri beti pehle jaisi cahie...jo har waqt khush rehti thi dil se...kisi ko dikhane ke lie nhi jo vo ab kr rhi hai.
Sandhya : Han ...vaishu jab pehli baar mili thi mujhe..aaj bhi yaad hai..bhot apnapan sa hua tha use dekh kr...maane jaise meri hi beti ho...aajkal vo khushi nhi dikhti uske chehre par. Hope Abhi jldi use innocent prove krde.
Vaishu listened everything trying to control her sobs. Abhi took her back to the room.
Abhi : Dekha tumne?...hamare parents umeed laga kr bethe hain ki hum kuch bhi krke tumhe innocent prove karenge...but yahan to tum kuch bata hi nhi rhi ho..hua kya. Jis family ko khone ke darr se tum apne aap ko innocent prove nhi krna chahti. vahi log tumhe khule aam pehle jaise jeete hue dekhna chahte hain. Nhi bataogi to hum help kaise karenge Vaishu?...Please for god sake tell me kya chupa rhi ho.
He pleaded at the end joining his hands.
Vaishu : T..today when I was coming to the hospital...
FLASHBACK
Vaishu : Aaj finally Abhi ko chutti mil jayegi hospital se. Phir bhi bhot care krni paregi hume... ek to itna bada ho kr bhi bacchon wali harkatein krta hai..medicines nhi lena chahta..bacchon wali harkatein krta hai. Pagal
She was busy in her thoughts when someone grabbed her left arm forcefully dragging her to a barren room. She struggled to free herself but the grip was unbearable. She tried to shout but that person tied a cloth on her eyes and mouth.... still grabbing her left arm from behind her and twisting her right arm.
Person : Tujhe kya laga Ms. Rao...tum log mujhe dhundne ki koshish kroge or me chupp bethunga? bhot badi galatfehmi hai. Ek baar nateeja nhi dekha jo dobara chale the vahi galati krne. Tumhe to uss prosecutor ne bacha lia but uss prosecutor ko uska anjaam sehna pada. Sahi smjh rhi ho tum...meine hi karaya tha vo accident uska. Vo song...vo ek warning thi...meri nazar humesha tum pr he. mere kaam ke beech me mat aao to hi tumhari bhalai hogi..varna teri ek ek family member swarg me jayega mere hathon. Or sabse pehla number hoga tere uss prosecutor ka..pyar krti hai na usse bhot?...sabse pehle vahi marega. Bhalai isi me hai ki mera peecha karna chor do.
The person left her arms and went away before she could open her eyes. She quickly took off the cloth from her mouth and eyes and saw here and there but no-one was visible. Finally she decided not to bother him now and went to hospital trying to be as normal as she could
Vaishu told them everything happened apart from that line in which he said that she loves Abhi
FLASHBACK ENDS
ABHI'S POV
I was still trying to process everything which she told me. She is a crying mess now... totally broken...sitting on her knees on the floor...but apni jaan ke khatre se darr kr me vaishu ko galat sabit nhi rehne de sakta. I have to make her understand.
I went towards her..made her stand up and sit on the bed
Vaishu : I'm sorry Abhi..but drr gyi mein jab apno par khatra aaya...vo accident meri wajah se hi hua...na mein tumhe force krti mujhe help krne ko or hi tum khatre me aate. I'm really sorry Abhi... please chor do iss case ko ab..or vaise bhi... I...I know ab tum ye sab sunn kr vaise bhi chor hi doge ye case...
Till now I was listening because I knew she is scared...but the last line was out of the limits and I bursted out.
Abhi : Ho gya? Ya Abhi or bolna bacha hai? Dost nhi maanti to pehle hi kyun nhi bol dia? Kyun befaltu ka trust dikhaya vaishu? Kyun mujhse dosti kari? Kyun trust krne ka dikhawa kia jab tum baatein chupana chahti thi? Tumhe kya lagta hai...mere upper khatra ayega to mein apne doston ko marne dunga?...sorry but mein aisa insaan nhi hoon jaisa tum soch rhi ho. Meine pehle bhi apni loyalty prove ki hai court me tumhe half innocent prove karke apni job chori...tab bhi bharosa nhi hua? kaise Vaishu..kaise. Kaise soch lia ki mein ye sunne ke baad tumhari help krne se mana kr dunga? I never expected this from you.
Vaishu : A...Abhi
I went away from there fuming in anger.
ABHI'S POV ENDS
VAISHU'S POV
Shitt...kya bol dia meine...Ek baar bhi dimaag se nhi socha... he was right...I should have trusted him.
Aarth came to me and cupped my face making me calm.
Sidd : Navi baccha you did wrong...I know tu dari hui hai...but u should have full trust in him after whatever he did for you... right?
Vaishu : Haan aarth..I know...I...I should apologise
Sidd : Firstly calm down... don't panic. Pool side hoga vo...gusse me vahin jata hai har baar.
Vaishu : Ok..bye
I went to the pool side. He was sitting outside the pool dripping his legs in water. His face is showing clear emotions of anger and hurt. I went and sat beside him dripping my legs in water just like him.
Abhi : Vaishu go away...I don't want to lash out on you anymore.
I held my ears making a cute innocent face.
Vaishu : Sorry Abhi...I know I did wrong.. please na don't be angry with me...Me...me uss waqt sochne samajhne ki haalat me nhi thi yrrr...jo mann me aa rha tha bole jaa rhi thi. Me kuch bhi seh skti hoon but tumhara mujhse gussa hona bilkul nhi.
He saw me and his anger melted away. Yayy innocent face technique kaam kr gyi.
Abhi : Ok fine...maaf kia...but vaishu You literally broke my heart...bss itna hi trust tha tumhe apne dost pr?
Trust to khudse bhi jyada hai tum par Abhi...but tumhe khatre me nhi dekh sakti mein. I...I can't afford to loose you Abhi.
Vaishu : I'm really sorry
Abhi : Tum or gussa karne wale kaam kr rhi ho
Vaishu : Maltlab?
Abhi : Sorry?
He said wiggling his eyebrows. I clicked my tongue..
Vaishu : Oopss
Abhi chuckled..finallyyy..hash mann gaya.
Vaishu : But Abhi I... I'm scared...vo killer... tumhare saath phir kuch ho gaya to?
Abhi : Vaishu...listen... nothing will happen to me..okay?....I promise mujhe kuch nhi hoga. Hume tumhe innocent prove Krna hi hoga kaise bhi karke. Abhi andar mammi or aunty ki baatein suni na?...unhe poori umeed hai humse...mere lie na sahi to unki khushi ke liye to please try to understand...or rhi baat bakiyon pr khatre ki..to usne saaf saaf bola hai ki sabse pehle target me hoon...to saara khatra hoga mere upper...baaki sab safe honge..and I promise me apne aap ko bhi kuch nhi hone dunga.
Vaishu : But Abhi me itni selfish nhi hoon ki tumhari jaan risk me rakh kr apne aap ko innocent prove kru
Abhi : Or me itna selfish nhi hoon ki apni jaan ke khatre se darr kr tumhe aisi ghutan bhari zindagi jeene doon. Vaishu...I know Hume mile bhot hi kam time hua hai...but inte kam time me you are the first one jisse me itna close ho paya after Ashu. Tum sirf meri dost nhi ho..Meri family ban chuki ho tum...or me apni family ko aise ghutan me jeete hue bilkul nhi dekh sakta.
Vaishu : Tum itne selfless kyun ho Abhi. Kabhi apne baare me kyun nhi sochte
Abhi : Because mere liye mujhse badh kr meri family hai..or tum sabke lie to khushi khushi meri jaan bhi haazir...
Before he could complete I put my hand on his mouth
Vaishu : I'm warning you Abhi.... don't ever say this again.... agar kabhi mere liye sacrifice kia na to mujhse bura koi nhi hoga dekh lena.
VAISHU'S POV ENDS
ABHI'S POV
I was just stating the fact...ise kya hua ekdm se. I saw deep in her eyes..I can see pure love, care and affection in her eyes. She is such a true friend anyone can ever have.
Vaishu : Ab chupp kyun ho gye...bolo na...ya saanp sungh gaya
Ye ladki bhi na....kaise bolun yrr... apna haath to hata nhi rhi..itni jor se muh pakda hua hai as if haath nhi glue ho.. muh chipka dia mera huhh..I indicated her towards her hands.
Vaishu : Oopssss...my mistake
Abhi : haath hain ya glue?. itna kas ke kon pakadta hai madam?
Vaishu : Ab tum bakwas karoge to yahi hoga na.
Abhi : Ok Whatever
Vaishu : WHATEVER
Abhi : Hey.. that's my word
Vaishu : It's mine... You stole it..huhh.
We started fighting like Tom and Jerry. After a moment we calmed down and sat there in silence. She kept her head on my shoulder... comeon it's common in friends... right? Abhi kya haii...khud se question kyu kr rha hai.. obviously friends me common hai.
Vaishu : Abhi I promise aage se me kabhi tumhari loyalty pr shakk nhi karungi.
Abhi : I know vaishu...now leave this
She was still keeping her head on my shoulder..such a peace it is. Dil ko sukoon sa mil rha hai pata nhi kyun. Being in that peaceful moments I remembered everything happened from the starting we met. How she misunderstood me...then Our fights...nok jhok...mera usko apni girlfriend bolna in front of her ex boyfriend..then court me uski help karna..uski care Krna.... everything. i still wonder why I helped her that time..that time we were not even this much close with each other. At first...It was wierd that why I want to help her...after that when the judge was saying the closing statement I got worried... Then Sidd's word started ringing in my head and I just wanted to protect her from everything...and ended up helping her risking my precious job. And now when I come to think of it...I guess I did absolutely right.
I was taken out of my thoughts when Vaishu suddenly screamed in excitement
Vaishu : Abhi abhi abhi..sunoooo
Abhi : Are shaant..hua kya ye batao
Vaishu : I remembered somethingg
Abhi : Kaho na phir...wiat kiska kr rhi ho
Vaishu : Bhaad me jao..ab suno...I remembered something all of a sudden. Uss din...I mean jab Ruhan ka murder hua tha tab I saw the killer on cycle right?
Abhi : Kuch naya batao
I said in a bored tone. she glared me
Vaishu : Sunn lo pehle...to I saw him going towards the cafe....Chulbul ka cafe
My bored expression turned into shock.
Abhi : You mean Mocha Mania?
Vaishu : To or kya name hai uske ke cafe ka.
She said glaring me. But soon our expressions changed into fear when something striked our mind. I guess she too had the same thought what I'm thinking.
Abhinavi : NO WAYY
TO BE CONTINUED
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Here's the next chapter of this mystery. Hope you guys liked it. Do vote and give your honest reviews in the comment section. See yaa in the next chapter. Till then bbye take care💜