Naina's Pov
"I don't know what is happening. Your mom was also reported with false allegations in her school," dad said suddenly and I looked at her.
"What?" I asked, horrified.
"What happened, mom? Why didn't you tell us before?" Avi asked, equally shocked as me.
"Yeah, tell us clearly, mom," Ajay also asked.
"Two days back, one parent came to school claiming I hit her 8-year-old son and has been harassing kids. It was reported to the school board, and they suspended me until I clear my name," mom said.
"But I never hit him or any other kids," she explained and my heart ached looking at her helpless cries.
I know my mom would never do that. She actually loves kids a lot. That's why she chose to be a primary school teacher even though she got an opportunity to teach maths for 10th and 12th grade students.
"Mom, we know you never do such a thing," I held her shivering hands.
Ajay looked at me, and I looked at both Ajay and Avi. I think they also think the same.
"Mom, Dad, you go take a rest. We will talk about this tomorrow," Avi said and stood up.
We three walked out to the garden after sending them to their room. It was dark outside, like the moon was hiding behind the clouds.
"You think the same," I muttered as we three sat down in the garden.
"Yeah, I think someone is doing this intentionally," Ajay responded, and Avi nodded.
"Who could it be?" Avi mumbled.
And the only name I thought of was Mahindra Singhania. He already threatened me but I didn't listen to him... looks like he started his plan. That's why he sent Arnav away from me first, because if Arnav was there, he can't let anything happen.
Now everything is making sense... Why did the client only demand Arnav there? Why did they disagree when Arnav said he will send Ajay? Why was my dad only taken to the police station after Arnav's flight took off.
"We have to gather evidence to prove dad is innocent in two days," Ajay mumbled, bringing me back to reality.
"Yeah, we have to talk to dad's colleagues and his boss once," Avi agreed.
"Nain, you go and sleep. We will deal with this," Avi said, and Ajay nodded, asking me to go and take a rest.
"Ok," I muttered and came back to my room after checking dad and mom once.
I can't sleep thinking it was all happening because of me.
While I was lost in my thoughts, Arnav called me. I panicked to pick up the call, but I have to, as I promised him I will pick his call up whenever he calls me.
"Hello, Arnav," I said, acting as cheerful as ever, controlling my sobs.
"Butterfly, what happened?" he asked immediately.
He recognized my sad voice even though I managed.
"Nothing, Arnav," I said, acting actively.
"Your voice doesn't seem to be ok," he replied.
"Oh, that... I ate a lot of ice-cream today and took a cold shower in the evening so I got cold," I lied.
I now understand why people lie when they are in love.
"Accept the video call, butterfly," he said.
If he sees me, then he can easily find I was crying and he can recognize I am with my parents. What can I do?
"I am sleeping, Hero. I don't have the strength to talk to you now," I whined in a sleepy voice.
"Just accept and you sleep... you don't have to talk to me. I will just see you," he remarked, making me cry more.
"Let me sleep, Arnav," I acted like I was dozed off.
"Butterfly," he called, but I didn't give him any reply.
"Did you fall asleep?" he asked, but still I didn't give any reply.
"This girl," he muttered and disconnected the call.
He might call Pooja or Payal. I texted both of them to tell him the same lies I told him and got an ok from them.
After a few minutes, my phone beeped with a new message.
'Arnav called me and I told him the same thing you said. He asked me to show you on a video call. I told him that you are sleeping with your room locked'--- the text says which came from Pooja.
Thank God.
.
.
.
Two days passed and today is the day they are producing dad in the court.
Ajay stayed in our house for two days, helping Avi to get evidence, but all the doors were closed. We didn't get any evidence in our favor and his colleagues were also not ready to testify for him.
When we were about to go to the court, Avi's phone rang.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"My boss," Avi replied and picked up the call.
"What? No, sir, how can I do that?" Avi exclaimed. Panic can be heard in his voice.
"But I am in my hometown," he remarked in displeasure.
"But, sir--- hello, hello," he commented and looked at the phone and it was already disconnected.
"What happened, Avi?" Ajay, and I asked.
"He said the project we completed last week was crushed. He accused me that I stole the software and sold it," Avi said frustratingly.
"What?"
"And now he is demanding my presence there as the client is also asking me," Avi explained.
"How can I go now?" Avi mumbled.
"Wait, Avi, I will talk with your boss," Ajay remarked and called someone and talked with the person.
"I talked with him, but the client is demanding your presence there," Ajay remarked, and Avi panicked, not knowing what to do.
"How can I leave my family here and go there?" Avi muttered helplessly.
I had never seen Avi this helpless.
"Avi, you go there. I will be here with mom and dad," Ajay stated.
"But, Ajay--,"
"It's ok, Avi. If you trust me, leave them with me. I will take care of them," Ajay patted Avi's shoulder. I nodded when Avi looked at me.
"Ok, then I will leave now," Avi patted my head and nodded at Ajay and left.
Ajay and I went to court along with Mom and dad. My heart ached looking at dad standing in the witness stand and being accused of what he didn't do.
Ajay arranged a best lawyer for dad. Even though we don't have any evidence to prove dad's innocence, our lawyer didn't let them succeed in accusing my dad.
Our lawyer asked for 1 week time to collect evidence and the judge also permitted it. Now, our time limit has been extended to one week, but the thing is, can we do it?
We sent mom and dad home and talked with the lawyer. He told us the possibilities to free dad from the case and assured us it will be alright.
Then we also went home. Ajay bought food on the way home as none of us were in the mood for cooking or eating.
Ajay forced mom and dad to eat something as they needed strength to fight for their innocence.
.
.
I sat in the garden thinking about how this all happened in one night.
In a blink of an eye, everything changed. Just before yesterday, I was laughing and now I am crying, so is my family.
"Don't worry, Naina. Everything will be alright," Ajay said as he sat beside me.
"Thank you, Ajay, for everything," I mumbled and more tears slipped down my eyes and I wiped them. I don't know what I would have done if it's not for Ajay. He was there with us for two days and trying his best to settle our problems.
"It's ok, dude. I am not a stranger, though. I am your brother's best friend and your best friend's boyfriend, and importantly your boyfriend's secret lover," he chuckled, and I laughed a little.
"You have to laugh like that, buddy."
"You can always rely on me," he said, wrapping his hand around my shoulder and I put my head on his shoulder, feeling somewhat better.
.
.
The next morning, when I was having coffee sitting in the living room, immersed in my thoughts, Ajay came.
"I talked with the lawyer and will come on the trial day as I have to leave now. They need my presence in the company, as Arnav is also not there," he explained.
"It's ok, Ajay. you can go," I commented.
"Avi will come here till afternoon, so don't worry," he remarked.
"Ok," I responded.
After telling mom and dad, he went off leaving us all alone.
In the evening, Avi came home.
"What's happening, Avi?" I asked him.
"Don't worry, Nain. Everything will be alright," he said, but I can sense something is off.
"How is it at the office?" I asked.
"Don't try to hide anything from me," I warned.
"They are accusing and said they will sue me for selling software but I didn't do anything," he remarked.
"And I think something is wrong with Payal, too. She sounded like she was crying and when I asked her, she said she was just worried about us," he explained.
That's it. I understood it's because of me. Why does everyone have to suffer because of me?
I nodded and came back to my room. This all solves only when Arnav arrives. If I tell Arnav, he will come here immediately, but is it ok for me to disturb him when he went there for work?
A part of me is saying it's ok and tell him everything as my heart needs him now and more of that my family needs him, but a part of me is telling don't be selfish and make him cancel the business trip.
But how will he react when he finds that I am lying all this time, telling him I am fine when I was not? How will he react for not telling him how much I am going through? Did he get mad at me for not telling?
Let's imagine him in my place and if I was in his place... I would definitely get mad. If I was him, I would be so mad if he didn't tell me that he is suffering when I am thinking he is just fine, hell this is so sick.
I don't know what to do...
Can I tell him? Can I not?
***
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