Update demanded by? Almost every reader of this story 😁😁😁
"Shyam-ji" Khushi's whisper almost startled the two men out of their reveries
"He killed her Arnav.. Arvind Mallik killed my sister" Shyam broke down giving free reign to his tears.
Arnav got up from the bed, sitting next to Shyam he gently touched his shoulder. There was more to the story of this man than what meets the eye and it was totally unfair on their part to judge him unfairly when he hadn't given them any reasons to doubt him for more than two months now.
"Jija-ji" The word rolled out of his mouth before he could check himself causing Shyam to look up at him in surprise.
"I.." Shyam hesitated, Arnav's hand fell back next to his body on instict
"We can.. stop the questions for a while if you'd like. It's not easy to relive your worst memories" Khushi said softly
Shyam smiled "I'm fine Khushi-ji, I think we should get over with this once and for all.. I have much explaining to do." He said
Khushi forwarded a glass of water to Shyam and gestured him to drink the contents, Shyam took a deep breath before resuming his story
"Arvind Mallik was an important part of our lives for years, My father already adored him for his 'Honesty' He always treated him more than a son, Trusted him with everything from office to home, His files, His accounts, His.. Daughter! Arvind had been patient with Jiji, It was as if he was truly in love with her. He never tried to force himself on Jiji, He waited and waited for her to trust him and knowing the kind of person that Jiji was it took a hell lot of patience, But then it finally happened. He was thirty Seven then, Jiji was head over heels in love with him, He was enjoying using my sister to the fullest in the name of love." Shyam licked his lips to moisten them
"It went on this way, for two years." Shyam said after a long period of silence "but the truth was bound to come out one day"
Arnav and Khushi were almost stunned into silence, Their hands entwined together as they heard the tale of the horrid man who was unfortunately related to them. Arnav snapped his eyes shut, Khushi's grip on his tightened on instinct as they both foresaw what was about to happen next
"A few days prior to the day of Anjali's Roka Ceremony, Jiji saw your family in the market, Mrs. Mallik, I mean your grandmother, Your mother and Anjali was out for shopping and for some reason, Arvind Mallik was accompanying them too. Jiji was in a hurry and thus decided that she will confront Arvind about it later that day when they were planning to meet for dinner."
Diksha was waiting for Arvind on the terrace of the of the most luxurious restaurant of Lucknow. Arvind had made special arrangements for the dinner-date and thus the whole terrace was booked on his name just for the two of them, It was nothing new, as each of their outings were done in a similar fashion. Diksha was skimming through the menu when Arvind entered the terrace.
"Hey love"
"Hey there" Diksha replied lost in thought.
"What happened? You look like you're not here" Arvind asked settling in front of her on the table and taking her hands in his own.
"Umm.. Nothing important, Just the office getting on my nerves now a days and added to that you seem to be busier than ever." Diksha complained.
"It's tough managing between the family and work at times, There's this new project coming up and I was preparing for it for more than a week now and.. Well Baba isn't keeping too well either" Arvind lied effortlessly
"Mm.. I saw you in the market earlier today, You were with ladies, What were you doing?" Diksha asked "I mean.. You aren't much interested in shopping are you?"
Arnav was flasbaggered for a minute before replying "You're spying on me?" Arvind asked with a fake hurt tone.
"You know I'd never do that. Tell me na, Who were you shopping with?" Diksha insisted
"They were my family friends diksha, Their daughter is getting married soon. I was just accompanying them as all thanks to you my fashion sense has been on an all time high and I succeeded in getting them a big discount!"
Diksha chuckled, Arvind sighed in relief thinking she believed him.
"She ended up telling Papa about the conversation and Although he also trusted Arvind Mallik more than his life, He decided to ask Arvind who the 'Family friends' were. Jiji had already asked the questions once and when Papa repeated the questions, Arvind Panicked Sach toh sach hi hota hai Arnav, Sach ko yaad rakhne ki zaroorat nahi hoti, Par jhooth yaad rakhna padta hai, Ek na ek dinn jhooth saamne aa hi jaata hai, Uss din Arvind Mallik ka aa gaya. (A truth is always the truth and thus needs not be remembered, But that's not the case with a lie, It needs to be remembered and it doesn't stay hidden for too long, One day or the other it comes to light and that day Arvind Mallik's lie came out in open)" Shyam said grimly
"How?" Arnav and Khushi asked in unison
"When Papa repeated the same questions, He wasn't prepared with the same answers he gave to Jiji, He made up a new lie and that was his doom. Papa took it upon himself to find the entire truth and he appointed detectives and PIs" Shyam told the couple.
"What did your sister react like when she got to know what a low-life she was in love with?" Arnav asked, dreading the response already.
"She committed.. She committed suicide, She.. hanged herself. She couldn't believe that the person.. The man who had 'Loved her like crazy' could be doing that just for his own pleasures. She cried.. she went hysteric just kept saying repeatedly that her Arvind could never do something like that."
"Dheeraj.. Baba is under a misunderstanding, It's just a misunderstanding please tell him na, You.. You already know how good a person Arvind is right?" Diksha pleaded with her brother.
"Jiji.. Listen to me. Please try to understand jiji he is not the person you think he is.. He is married, He has a son and daughter. His daughter is almost my age Jiji." Dheeraj tried to explain to his sister.
"It's all a mistake.. Something might've gone wrong. It's not what it looks like. He's a good man Dheeraj. You know him!!" Diksha defended him hysterically. Dheeraj hugged her tightly and rubbed her back until her tremors began to subside.
"Jiji, I can't understand what you're going through. I can only assure you that I will never leave your side, no matter what the situation is. You just have to trust me and.. accept the reality of your life. He is not the person you deserve and you know that." Dheeraj explained trying to calm her down.
"But she never paid heed to any of my words, The next morning she locked herself in her room, withdrew herself from the world. That night, When I got out of bed to fetch a glass of water I saw a silhouette in the garden of our mansion.. When.. When I.. went there to see for myself.. It was her. She had hung herself from one of the trees of our garden. She was.. a corpse." Shyam completed shakily.
Khushi's breath hitched in her throat, Tears tumbled down all the three faces.
"I'm so.. sorry jiji." Shyam broke down, His face buried in his palms.
"It wasn't your fault" Arnav comforted him.
"Arnav.. she didn't think about me.. she's just left me alone to deal with everything. All alone." Shyam sobbed uncontrollably.
"Shyam-ji.. Please calm down, Everything will be fine." Khushi said soothingly.
After what felt like eternity, Shyam took a deep shaky breath.
"You know what the best part was? She was pregnant. Three weeks not yet perceptive but her autopsy and postmortem results told us that. I strongly believe that she knew she was pregnant but.." Shyam trailed off.
"What happened next?" Arnav asked
"Papa's life resided in her, but more than heartbroken, He was angry at himself for trusting Arvind, For letting him enter thier lives and control them. He decided to confront him." Shyam said
"Di's wedding day" Khushi whispered.
Shyam nodded. "We didn't know there was a wedding going on. I was accompanying my father and uncles in there. Arvind and Ratna Mumma were in that room already-" Shyam was cut off by Arnav
"Why did you.. do this to mumma? What had she done to deserve death?" Arnav struggled to speak as the memory of his mother's death swam in front of his eyes.
Um... How's it??
Rain works wonders at times you know!! 😀😀 College cancelled and update drafted so yup here it is.
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