(Continuation Of Same Day)
At a busy café, the tension between two people was palpable as they engaged in a heated conversation.
"What are you saying? Do you have any idea?" the man spoke with simmering rage.
"I mean it. Everything I'm saying right now, at this moment," the woman replied, refusing to back down.
"This was your golden opportunity, and you're coming up empty-handed," the man said, his voice tinged with anger as he pointed his finger aggressively.
"I'm sorry, but I tried to search everywhere. I couldn't find them," she explained, her voice faltering slightly.
"Sorry?" The man's disbelief was evident as he clenched his jaw hard, his bones twisting with frustration. "Just sorry—"
He paused, closing his eyes momentarily to regain his composure. "I need those fucking auction papers," he said, his impatience evident as he got up, breaking a coffee cup in frustration.
Rubbing his face furiously with his hands, the man contemplated deeply, while the woman stood up and apologized to everyone with a forced smile, signaling to the part-timer that she would pay for the cup.
Placing one hand on his hip, the man thumped the table, his frustration evident in his voice. "You know, it was the golden opportunity you could ever have. I hoped you'd be smarter, not so stupid as to come back with disappointment. You had four whole days to find those confidential papers. He wasn't at home for freaking four whole days—neither his father nor his uncle. You could have found out if you had been a little more sincere or faithful to our plan. But it seems like it's time to split up, and you go back to your orphanage while I work this out myself."
"No! Actually, listen to me—" she started, moving towards his chair.
"Stop touching me!" he snapped, pushing her away, garnering attention from the other patrons once more.
His gaze fall on the person who had been staring, he delivered his words with a rude edge. "Are we talking about your daughter, you uncle? Absolutely fucking not," he spat out sharply.
Then, turning his attention to the others, his eyes widened in frustration. " And What so with you, boiled sperm? just fucking focusing on your morning coffee, you morons?"
He looked back at the woman "I put my fucking faith in you," he reminded her bitterly.
"And I precisely, in a very strict manner, searched every room and their studies too. There wasn't even a single clue. I know it was our golden chance, and I did everything in my power," she defended herself.
"Power? You call that power? You just needed to handle those stupid women, and you could have manipulated them at any time. There wasn't a single man of wisdom present, unless..." he trailed off.
"Are you telling me you were scared of getting caught by that old retired brat who stopped using his brain long ago?" he retorted.
"No, but I'm pretty sure that Prithvi isn't stupid; he's cunning enough. He must have put the Auction papers somewhere else, not in his home," she suggested.
"Okay, but where could it be if it's not in the office or his home or—"he pondered.
"His secretary! That Amar, he was here in Rajasthan the whole time. Maybe he took those papers home with him," she suggested eagerly.
"No, no, he didn't have to," he countered. "There was no CCTV footage of him carrying any papers or something. Also, the house cleaner who came for regular cleaning found nothing like important papers in his apartment."
"Then what? It's not like he would carry or roam around with something big like that on a normal day," she reasoned.
"Let me think—" he began, but the woman's phone rang, interrupting their conversation.
"I need to go, it's about time for those old freaks' medicine," she said, collecting her things.
"Try to find again. Let's meet again only after some results. I'm getting impatient with no outcomes," he urged her.
"I will try," she promised.
"No, come with results. I need those papers and a piece of information to take the next step," he insisted.
With a nod, the woman walked away, while the man mysteriously disappeared into the crowd, putting his money on the menu.
***
At the dining table in the quiet of the night, the entire family gathered, but there was a noticeable absence. Prithvi, for reasons known only to him, chose not to join them. Perhaps he wanted to avoid facing her, as it seemed she had been avoiding him all day. Niharika had been actively dodging him, changing directions whenever she spotted him approaching, and he sensed her deliberate efforts to keep her distance. He decided not to push the matter further and let things unfold without troubling the rest of the family with their conflicts.
A heavy silence hung in the air, weighing down the atmosphere in the dining room. Each member of the family ate their meal without exchanging a word, the tension palpable. Niharika stood near the dining table, her expression stoic and robotic, as if she were merely going through the motions. She didn't particularly want to be there, but she felt obligated to obey Suman's directive to attend the meal, leaving her with no real choice or options to make decisions of her own.
"Too much silence for our liking," Suhani muttered, breaking the oppressive quiet as she set her cutlery aside.
"This is exactly why we can't stand... you people are like emotionless machines straight off the assembly line," Suhani remarked, her words cutting through the stillness.
No one dared to utter a word.
Then, leaning in with both elbows on the table, Suhani directed her gaze towards Yashwardhan. "Bhai sa," she began eagerly.
"Yes," Yashwardhan responded, continuing to eat.
"Can we share a joke?" she asked with excitement in her voice.
'If we recall Vanshi's recent claim that not even a family member could utter a word or crack a joke in front of Yashwardhan (Bade Malik), it begs the question: How is it that this situation is unfolding differently? Exceptional circumstances always exist, and here we have Suhani.'
"No, Suhani beta," he declined, not in mood but still weighed down by guilt from the morning's events.
"Arrey bas, ek joke hi toh tha, baba sa. Aap suniye,chodiye inn sab ko" Suhani pleaded, disregarding the collective sighs of the table, all silently begging her to spare them from another round of her lame jokes. Ignoring Yashwardhan's request, it seemed she didn't care; now she would speak her mind.
Excitedly, she began, "Ek baar poori se kisi ne question kiya!" prompting Vinay to bury his head in disbelief, but not to mention Suhani paid no mind to his reaction, she chose to ignore.
"Why are you so adhuri?" Suhani asked, catching Samrat's (dada sa) interest.
"To which she replied, 'Main kyu adhuri rahu, main toh puri hu,' She chuckled proudly, earning bewildered looks from everyone at the table.
"Okay, one more!" she declared, undeterred.
"No, no, next time, mami sa. Haha , why don't you save it for later," Vashali interjected, attempting to prevent another round of Suhani's jokes, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Vinay, worn out by her behavior, looked utterly defeated, silently lamenting his choice of seating. As if he doesn't recognize the lady beside him.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group exchanged knowing glances, resigned to enduring Suhani's jokes for the sake of her happiness.
"Why don't eggs tell jokes?" she asked, launching into her next joke.
"Because they'd crack each other up," she quipped, completing her latest attempt at levity.
A dead silence followed, and one by one, everyone started to get up as if they were done. They all seemed to know that Suhani had no plans to stop anytime soon. But then, Niharika burst into laughter, her giggles echoing through the hall like a melancholic melody. All eyes turned to her, starting with Vashali, who had excused herself for an important call but quickly resumed her seat upon hearing Niharika's laughter. Rajmata and Yashwardhan followed suit, Everyone looked at Niharika as if she were an alien,settling back into their seats,watching Niharika with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. except for Dadi Sa and Dada Sa, they exchanged knowing smiles as they watched her.
It was the first time they had seen her laugh so wholeheartedly after everything she had been
In the palace, she had always maintained a reserved demeanor, rarely indulging in laughter or behaving in a carefree manner like a child. Her usual demeanor was one of quiet reserve, but in this moment, her laughter seemed to break through the barriers she had carefully erected around herself, revealing a side of her that few had seen before. It was as if, for a brief moment, she allowed herself to let go of the weight of her burdens and simply enjoy the joy of the moment.
Then, realizing herself, niharika tried to compose herself, pressing her lips together and apologizing, "So...sorry,"
Yashwardhan's gaze fell on his wife, Rachita. He looked quite surprised as he caught his wife secretly smiling, only to see her quickly conceal her true emotions later, as if pretending not to care, and no one else seemed to notice.
Yashwardhan muttered as he took his seat again, "Suhani beta joke was actually—— could be pass..." He trailed off
"Sacchi," Suhani exclaimed, her eyes shining with warmth, and everyone joined in laughter, easing the tension and helping Niharika feel less embarrassed.
Another voice chimed in agreement, "Yes, mami sa, I agree, good shot," Vaishali stated, adding to the encouragement.
Turning towards Niharika, Suhani asked, "Apka naam kya tha?" It was their first meeting, and Suhani seemed genuinely interested.
Niharika looked at her like a curious cat, as if she had heard about Suhani before, but meeting her was a completely different experience.
She swallowed hard. Under the spotlight brought upon her by her laughter, she swallowed hard before attempting to speak.
Before Niharika could respond, Dada Sa interjected, "NIHARIKA," and Dadi Sa added, "Be silent with your little excitement, old men. Let her speak."
"Okay, so Niharika, good name indeed," Suhani remarked, trying to lighten the mood.
"What good name, huh!" Bua Sa couldn't help but make a comment under her breath, catching the attention of everyone in the room. When she met Yashwardhan's blank stare filled with anger, she looked down, and Suhani continued speaking.
"You didn't realize, but you couldn't imagine how happy you just made us( me)," Suhani said warmly.
"H..Happy? A.n.nd I? And y.ou?" Niharika questioned, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, and not only us, but everyone present here," Suhani replied, glancing at the other family members who suddenly seemed engrossed in their own things.
With a weary sigh, Suhani continued, "You smile beautifully, with a sparkle in your eyes and a youthful spirit that has the power to bring a smile to everyone's face—"
"—EVERYONE," Suhani interrupted herself, mocking the others. "Ignore these old folks," she added playfully.
"Mind my lines, but I'm not old right here, mami sa," Vashali commented with a hint of amusement.
"Oh, so you could hear us all this time?" Suhani retorted sarcastically, fixing her gaze on Vashali. "I thought everyone present here had deaf ears; nothing seems to fall on them."
Her husband choked on his food at her remark.
"Relax, Mr. Chauhan. Take it slow, have some water. No one is running away with your food," Suhani said, offering him a glass of water.
Niharika observed Suhani with admiration. She was just as Vanshi had described—fearless, self-sufficient, and confident. It seemed that no one took her words too seriously: rather, they admired her for her boldness.
"Wait, you deserve to be rewarded...," Suhani said, beginning to remove the subtle jewelry she was wearing.
All eyes turned towards them with interest. "It's our first meeting, so this might do for now," Suhani added, and Dadi Sa and Dada Sa looked at her proudly.
"Take it," Suhani insisted.
Niharika protested, shaking her head and gesturing no, but before she could speak, Vaishali interjected.
"Mind me again, mami sa," she began.
"Yes, absolutely we should now! You've interrupted us for the second time," Suhani responded, nodding in agreement.
"I'm just being a curious bird or nosy, but isn't that your late mother's very affectionate piece of your family? So many memories are attached, and it meant so much to you. And you decide, in your first meeting with her, to give her something you're so fond of," Vaishali continued.
"Yes, and—" Suhani started.
But in that moment, Niharika's face turned pale, as if she were reliving the morning's confessions and confrontations. As Suhani turned to address her, Niharika nervously looked down, her hands fidgeting with her dupatta. With an almost cracked and dry voice, she muttered, "So... sorry... I ca..n't ta..ke it," before swiftly walking away, almost running from the scene.
As Niharika abruptly departed, a heavy silence descended upon the room, leaving everyone stunned and bewildered. The air was thick with a mixture of horror and confusion as they tried to process what had just unfolded before their eyes.
With that Suhani exchanged a glance with Vaishali, who spoke up, "Pardon me, I didn't realize my reckless comment could have such an effect on her. I was just curious, and it came out—" She trailed off, her shoulders shrugging with regret.
Standing up from her chair, Vaishali declared, "We'll go and apologize to her right away."
"Sit back," her mother, Ashwini, interjected. "Why should you be sorry? You didn't say anything wrong. You were just asking something. It's not your fault if this girl couldn't behave maturely and be grateful to her elders. She didn't need to—" Ashwini's voice took on a harsh tone.
"Stop, Mom," Vaishali cut her off, urgency evident in her voice. "Stop always being like that. Mami sa, I'll go now," she said, turning towards Suhani.
"No, sit back. It's okay. Have your food. We'll check on her after," Suhani reassured her, rising from her seat to go after Niharika.
***
As Niharika made her way towards Their room, escaping the shocked faces in the hall, she halted in her tracks as she reached the balcony adjacent to their quarters. There, she spotted Prithvi, lost in his thoughts, his appearance betraying a sense of disarray- His shirt was rumpled, carelessly tucked , not in his usual impeccable manner, and his sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, revealing his wristwatch glinted in the moonlight.
Leaning against a pillar, his back turned towards her, Prithvi appeared lost in his own world. He impatiently tapped his shoes and then pulled out a fresh cigarette from his pack, lighting it up with a cylindrical lighter before slipping it back into his pocket. With a deep inhale, he closed his eyes as if desperately seeking solace in the smoke. Leaning further against the pillar, he rested his head, lost in the turmoil of his own thoughts.
'Niharika observed him silently, her heart heavy with her own thoughts and emotions. It was a moment of quiet reflection amidst the chaos of the evening, '
she finally noticed Prithvi and his distressed state, her eyes followed his hand movements, then trailed to the floor, where multiple discarded cigarette pieces lay scattered. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, as if gathering the fragments of courage within herself, preparing to confront him after avoiding him the entire day following the morning's events.
Slowly, she moved towards him, her footsteps echoing softly on the balcony. Unaware of her presence, Prithvi raised his hand again, bringing the cigarette close to his lips. In one swift motion, Niharika snatched the cigarette from his hand and crushed it beneath her foot.
He Startled!
Opening his eyes in surprise, Prithvi met Niharika's gaze as she spoke, her voice laced with concern. "Y...o..ou're not s..supp..osed to sm..oke. It's not g..good for y..o.our he..alth," she admonished gently.
For a moment, Prithvi was taken aback by her sudden intervention and her concern. He gazed down at the crumpled cigarette, then back up at her concerned eyes, a mix of surprise and confusion crossing his features.
'"Why the concern now? When just not long ago, they didn't even acknowledge my presence,"he couldn't help but wonder aloud, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness.'
She searched for the right words to express her concern, meeting his intense gaze as she spoke. "S..m.moking will a.affect your hea...a.lth and d..disrupt your pe..ace. U..s..sing it as an e.e.escape to justify an..y t..ension wo..n..n't solve an..n.ything."
Growing impatient, Prithvi grabbed her by the shoulder, dragging her and pinning her against the same pillar he had been leaning on.
His frustration was evident in every movement, and it was clear he hadn't even realized they were no longer in their room.
"Is your behavior any better?" he demanded, his voice low and filled with frustration.
"Perhaps! For my health! Acting as if you're unaffected and avoiding me, pretending you didn't hear when I said you were just here for a deal, huh?"
As she met his intense gaze, she felt a sense of startlement at the sudden turn of events, unsure of how to respond.
He gently shook her by the shoulders, his desperation evident. "I thought you would be angry, that you would take out your frustration on me, but no you didn't!" he exclaimed.
Prithvi continued to look down into her brown gaze, his expression a mix of anger and desperation.
His demeanor shifted, revealing a vulnerability she hadn't seen before. "It frustrates me," he admitted, his voice tinged with defeat. "Why can't I ever understand your expressions, your face? I've tried so hard, but I always fail," he confessed, now desperation reflect through his eyes.
With a shaky voice, she finally spoke, barely audible above a whisper that only he could hear. "B..u..ut I ju..s..st as..ked y..o.ou to stop sm..m.oking—" she began,
"What are you doing here? Are you by any chance eavesdropping on Yuvraj and Yuvrani's private conversation?" Vanshi chimed in, raising an eyebrow as she confronted her coworker who was standing there, observing the couple.
"No, I was just passing by—" the coworker replied, startled, gesturing with her hands to deny any wrongdoing.
"No, you were listening, right? I saw you. I was passing by from there, " Vanshi asserted, placing her hand on her hip with a serious expression.
The girl looked at her, trying to formulate an excuse, but after being caught off guard, she confessed, "No, I was—sorry—I WAS!"
"Yes, you were! Exactly! Go before I tell Suman kaki sa," Vanshi said firmly, prompting the girl to quickly flee from the scene without hesitation.
"No, tell me, why are you keeping everything to yourself?" he demanded, frustration evident in his voice. She looked down, unable to meet his gaze. He gently placed his hand around her neck, lifting her chin to meet his eyes.
"I just wanted to see your disappointment. Here I am, growing impatient. Why don't you voice your complaints? What are you trying to show me by holding back? What message are you trying to convey, that my actions, my words don't affect you?" His words were filled with a mixture of frustration and confusion. "Your silence is making me uncomfortable. I'm not used to this, nor do I have to be, or nor I'm planning to get used to it , in any near future. " he stated firmly, his hand still wrapping around her neck, forcing her to look into his eyes.
He leaned in closer, settling down to her level, his eyes searching hers intensely. "Huh! Say something. Whatever you want, I'm ready," he urged, hoping for a response.
But once again, she remained silent, and frustration escaped from his desperate, dry lips. "No? What, you still don't want to?" he asked, his tone tinged with disappointment.
She looked at him, nodding her head in a small 'yes'.
"Then what do I do?" he muttered, taking her hand and pulling her closer to him.
"What do I do?" he repeated to himself, his voice filled with confusion. He released her hand, feeling overwhelmed.
"No, no, oh God, I thought it would be simple, but you are messing with my mind, with my—" he muttered to himself, his frustration growing.
Then, in a sudden surge of emotion, he pinned her against the wall once more, and a look of terror crossed her face.
"My brain, give me back my sanity," he pleaded, his voice strained with desperation.
"W..hat?" she exclaimed, taken aback by his sudden confession.
"You're the one who took it, so you'll be the one giving me back," he stated firmly, his words heavy with emotion.
"I'm dying gradually inside," he confessed, his vulnerability laid bare.
"I do..o..n't kn..n..ow w..w.here y...o..ou're taking this co...n..nversation. I was j..j.ust tryi...n..ng to sto..p..p y..ou from sm..o..oking," she replied, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Suddenly, the look in his eyes darkened as he uttered his next words. "And who the hell are you to stop me?" he retorted, his tone icy and cold.
"No, I...i...i..i d...didn't mean—" she began to protest, but he cut her off.
"Yes, you heard correctly, there in the study room," he continued, his emotional façade slipping, instilling fear in her.
"You mean nothing to me," he declared, his words sending a chill down her spine. "You're just my slave, not a wife, and I purchased you," he stated coldly, his words cutting like a knife.
"But—" she tried to interject, only to be cut off once again.
"So now, stop acting like my wife," he commanded, his voice devoid of any warmth or compassion.
'There were numerous questions clouding Niharika's mind, questions she wanted to ask him. But she stopped herself, realizing that she couldn't pose them to the person now standing in front of her. He had just announced for the second time that she wasn't his wife, stripping her of any rights she once held over him.'
'What faith could she have in the very same husband who had encouraged her to assert her rights over him, only to declare moments later that she had none? His words invalidated any rights she thought she had, rendering them meaningless.'
With a heavy heart, Niharika simply pressed her eyes closed and uttered a resigned "o..okay!"
He left her standing there, walking away without a backward glance. She watched from the balcony as his car drove off, feeling a profound sense of emptiness and confusion settling over her.
Umm..yeah we are back alive...guys do comments and waits part 2 of this chapter will upload tonight till then vote and comment down, anyway prithvi kinda looks despo, hot mess. And yes suhani kaki sa sarcasm, in this chapter.
Also, guys his family isn't that bad lmao! meet you tonight...haha only if target complete, and yes stop spamming, in others comments vote request it looks like i paid 😭😭 u to do that.
One more thing I clear not all husband's elder brother's is always strict they do consider, their brother spouse like their own child, like ex: my bade papa call, my mom beta. Here don't be confused by Yashvardhan calling suhani beta,
bye for now.