“I loved you truly, Riddhima. But you broke my trust…and my heart, too.”, he smiled weakly.
“Tch! Tch! Tch! Mr. Raisinghania. But…I never loved you. Heartless people can never be loved, and you are one of those.”, she snapped at him and went away.
Riddhima tightened her grip on his blazer and let the tears pour down.
“Do you know how much I miss you? No, you don’t. I know you hate me, but I promised that I would…I would shower so much love upon you that you would forget the hatred. Then, why did you leave me, huh? You left me so miserable, so broken, that I cannot gather the courage to rise even if I want to…”, her words dissolved into sobs, and she clutched it close to her heart, trying to feel his warmth.
“Tum mujhse badla lena chahte ho na? To mujhe sazaa do, main mana nhi karungi. Par yoon apni khamoshi se mujhe tadpao mat. Kitni mannaten magi maine uss bhagwaan se, jisse maine apna sab kuch maana. Par ab pata chala, ki uss sang-e-marmar ki bani murti ka dil to patthar ka hai.
Dum ghut ta hai mera tumhare bina, sab jagah andhera sa lagta hai.
Aisi zindagi se to maut achchi hai na? Saath mein jee to na paye, par markar to hum ek ho hi sakte hain…“, she smiled painfully and pulled out the knife from the fruit bowl.
She was about to slit her wrist when she heard someone shout.
“Riddhima!”, a voice boomed in the corridor and she lifted her head, only to see Aryan running towards her.
“Dimaag to theek hai tumhara? Abhi bhai ki asthiyaan bhi thandi nhi hui hain, aur tum ye kadam uthane jaa rhi thi.“, he snatched the knife from her hand and threw it away. Then checked her wrists for any injuries.
“To kya karoon Aryan? Murdon jaise jeene se achcha to ye hi hai na. Aur usske jaane ke baad ab mera hai hi kaun yahan? Ussne vaada kiya tha mujhe ki jab tak vo zinda hai, mujhe kuch nhi hone dega. Par usski maut mere haathon hi ho gyi.“
“Shh…Calm down. It wasn’t your fault. Everything will be fine.”, he rubbed her back consolably.
“I’ll send Mom. Trust me, you can talk to her and ask for anything you need, she has…changed.”, giving her a last look of concern, he walked towards the door.
“Aryan…” she called out, and he stopped in his tracks.
“I always thought that you were selfish and money-minded. But, you proved me wrong. You handled everything after he…”
“No, it’s ok. We’re a family, aren’t we?”
She nodded while he gave her a tight-lipped smile.
“Uhhh… Bhabhi?“
“You can call me Riddhima. I’m ok with that. I don’t deserve this respect.”, she looked away, wiping her tears.
“Main hamesha bhai se jalte raha, unka bura socha. In fact, aaj-tak unse theek se baat tak nhi ki. Vo sabka khayaal rakhte the. Par badle mein unhe kuch nhi mila, dhoke ke siva.
But you know what? Jabse aap unki zindagi mein aye, vo Vansh Raisinghania se Vansh ban gaye the. Jiss bande ne saalon se smile nhi ki thi, vo aapke PJs pe hassta tha. Kuch to khaas hoga hi na aap mein. Aur isiliye, itni respect to banti hai.
Mujhe nhi pata ki aap-logon ke beech mein kya hua, jo unhone itna bada kadam utha liya, aur na hi main jaanna chahta hoon. Bass, aapse ye kehna chahta hoon, ki bhai loved you a lot. Aur aaj vo zinda hote, to aapki ye haalat dekhkar zaroor gussa hote, aapko daanthte, yahan tak ki sazza bhi dete.
Honestly bataun to, anyone of us cannot see you like this. You were bhai’s strength and now, you have to be yours too. Aur, dobara khudkushi karne ka khayaal bhi aya, to bhul jaana ki Aryan naam ka apka koi devar tha.“
He gave her a grumpy look while she chuckled and nodded slightly.
Giving her a warm smile, he went outside.
“Waah bhai, aapne acting kab start ki?”
“Inn chizon mein to main bachpan se maahir hoon, Ishani. Ab maa-baap itne makkar hain, to…ye to hona hi tha.”, he winked at her.
“What are you planning?”, she raised her brows at him suspiciously.
“Well, well, well. Let’s welcome bha-bhi to hell.”, he smirked devilishly.
…….
Mera dil
Jis dil pe fidaa hai…
The man caressed a knife with his fingers and threw it at the picture of a woman.
‎
Vo bewafaa hai
Ek bewafaa hai…
His face wasn’t visible because of the dim light, except for a few rays that managed to penetrate throught the dark-hued curtains, highlighting the smirk plastered on his face.
“Tch! Tch! Tch! Mrs. Riddhima Vansh Raisinghania, dikhne mein kitni masoom ho tum, aur karnaamen…dil dehla dene wale. Kya acting karti ho yaar! Jab tumse mulakat hogi na, to, I swear, main tumhe Oscar zaroor dunga.”