Me (shout): I COULD DO ANYTHING
I saw them flinch back afraid
Me: Now Riddhima is the sole owner of the property and you all dared to insult her with your vile words so now it’s time for some payback and you’d do that by vacating your dream houses. And coming to intimation, (smirk) I can create a backdated intimation letter and accuse you all of not vacating the house even after intimating. Isliye am giving you a week’s time to search for another house or do whatever you want but you aren’t allowed to live here after a week. And if I find any then trust me…. am not kidding, I’ll take proper action with the lawsuit to drag you all out.
Me: Angre…. 1 week… 1 week is the time period am giving to you to make sure they all vacate by hook or crook.
I was about to go when an angelic voice which I have been craving to listen to broke my reverie and stopped me in my tracks,
: Va…nsh!!!!
I turned to find that person standing with the help of dadi. Listening to my name after 2 whole weeks or precisely after years in her voice was something which my heart craved for a long. Though that voice now had pain more than any angelic sense, it still is the same for me. My Riddhima’s angelic voice which soothes my pondering heart. I saw her walking with difficulty without support, I saw her stumbling and I rushed to give her support by lending my hand but she composed herself and stood straight with improper balance. Did I ever tell you how stubborn she is!!! Uff!! I accept whatever happened with her shouldn’t have happened but that doesn’t make her hate all the men and distance herself from them. She has to break that fear and extend her hand to find a few heartful men who are ready to accept her that single hand and would protect her with all of them. But she being she, she still doesn’t let any third person except dadi come near her. Acha forget it…. I saw her standing some feet away from me and turn around to find the residents cursing me or in fact, some are cursing her too. I rolled my eyes and stood in front of her to avoid their mean glares.
Riddhima: Va..nsh!!!
I turned to see her stumbling without the support and holding her head, I was damn sure that all this is affecting her health. I gestured Angre to get the chair and as he got it in a split second, I moved a few inches towards her before breaking the silence,
Me: Riddhima, please sit, you aren’t well, and constantly standing when you are feeling dizzy will affect your health.
Riddhima: I… I want to… talk to you
This girl, who told her that she can’t speak while sitting
Me: Riddhima, you can speak after sitting, Angre… get some water
She sat and Angre handed her water which she gulped steadily and seeing me standing she had difficulty lifting her head to face me, chuckling over this petite form in front of me, I knelt down in front of her to her level to give her access to my face as she speaks. Seeing me do so she was amazed and staring here and there she started speaking
Riddhima: Vansh … don’t throw them out
Listening to which I clenched my fist, how can she say this, after all, that happened. Does she still have a soft corner for who hurt her? For who pointed at her character? Who doesn’t deserve her goodness?
Me: But Riddhima…. they deserve this to hurt you
Riddhima: But … they did what they felt true
Me: Exactly.. they assumed theories and pointed at your character. You don’t deserve all that bad-mouthing
Riddhima: They hurt me so will ….. (Taking breath) will we also do the same?
Me (concerned): Riddhima, you aren’t well. Please don’t stress yourself. And coming to hurting them then karma is a b*t*h Riddhima, it returns with double and triple speed and they deserve this
Riddhima: We don’t…… have the right….. to decide who deserves what! Who are we…… to decide their…… karma?
Me: I don’t know Riddhima, but one thing what I know and am aware of is I won’t let anyone point a finger at you and they dared to do, so they’d go for punishment too and that’d be decided by me.
Riddhima: You …. You got this property on my name …….because they hurt me right….
Me (nodding): Yes
Riddhima: Then…. (Taking long breaths) when this property is mine, then the decisions related to this should also ….. also be mine right
Me (understanding her stand): Riddhima
Riddhima: Vansh!!! Please …. The…y won’t go anywhere. They…. They have many memories connected to ….. the…ir houses. They are their homes Vansh!!! Dream Hom…es!!!
Me (taking a long breath): Okay!!! As you wish
I had no choice than giving to her. She was stressing herself and that might lead to her health deteriorating. I can’t risk that so accepted her request, vaise bhi after many years she spoke to me for this long and this was her first request to me and how can I ignore.
Me (to the residents): This is the last warning to everyone here, if at all I hear back b*t*hing of Riddhima once again, then trust me even she can’t save you all from me.
Saying so, without waiting for their response I left towards the exit followed by Aryan who was back with our luggage and Angre was ready with the car. Dumping the bags behind, Aryan opened the door for the ladies to sit. And we all headed to VR Mansion.
Siya welcomed us and even helped Riddhima to take her towards her room and arrange everything. It was dinner time and Siya bought Riddhima to the dining table. We were having dinner together after a long time and this family now included Riddhima too which increased my reason for happiness. Everything was going smooth until Aryan shout broke our happy moment
Aryan: Yuuuckkkk!!!! (Making faces)
Me: Aryan what happened?
Aryan: Bhai, this dal has lots of salt with oregano and ketchup
Dadi: How can that happen!!!
Angre: Wait let me check
Angre took a spoon of dal from the bowl and as soon as he tasted it, he spit it unable to bear the disgusting taste.
Angre: Yuu!!! Indeed, dadi the dal is disgusting
Me: Mrs. D’Souza
She came running while Aryan was keenly observing something
Mrs. D’Souza: Yes Sir
Me: Didn’t you taste the dal before serving? How can you be so careless!! And who the hell adds oregano and ketchup to the dal? You know right Riddhima is unwell, what would have happened if she ate it instead of Aryan!!!
Mrs. D’Souza (afraid and confused): Sir, but I tasted it and the dal was perfect
Angre: Are we lying?
Mrs. D’Souza: No sir I didn’t mean it (afraid)
Aryan: D’Souza, I understood what you meant and Angre, she is not lying but someone else is enjoying this fiasco definitely (eying Siya)
Understanding his glares, we all turned to Siya to see her trying to hold her laughter, and seeing all our glares on her she burst into laughter. Now we got to know how a weird combo came into the dal. I facepalmed myself while Aryan was giving death glares to Siya who was still laughing hard
Aryan: Like seriously Siya!!!!
Siya: What? Isn’t it funny to see you all having something weird
Aryan: Who adds oregano and ketchup to dal…. Yuck
Siya (laughing): That’s what a prank is called Aryan bhai and it has Soya sauce too…. (laugh) Maybe you couldn’t identify
Aryan: I was so hungry and your this prank spoiled my mood now am not going to leave you
And thus started the chase of cat and mouse. Aryan was running behind Siya while she was jumping around throwing whatever she got in her hold making the whole mansion a mess. I don’t understand when will they grow up, ok Siya is still a kid but Aryan…. He is grown up and still behaves no less than a teenager. Breaking my thoughts, I saw Siya behind my chair while Aryan was in front trying to get hold of the mouse…. oops its Siya
Siya: Vansh bhai, save me from this monster
Aryan (shock): Me and Monster!!! Now tho am not going to leave you Siya
They started running here and there abusing each other while I and dadi were rolling our eyes I saw Riddhima smiling, after a whole month her lips carved into a smile and that was what meant to me. For the first time these idiots baseless fights led to something good. Suddenly I heard Aryan’s voice which broke my trance and turned to see him drenched in water and a jug in Siya’s hand. Seeing his state, I and Angre laughed hard while dadi chuckled and Riddhima gave a heartful small giggle.
Aryan: Siya!!!!!!
Siya: Oh, c’mon bhai after long our house looks home. Look how lively the environment has turned too and for the first time, Riddhima di is in our house so proper welcome toh banti hai na.
Aryan: Welcome Riddhima ki karni hai na toh why did you spoil the food and now drenched me
Angre: Maybe she wanted a clown to assist her and there isn’t a perfect person than you in this house (chuckles)
Siya and Angre hi-fived each other leaving Aryan fuming and muttering curses to the duo while I and dadi were chuckling on their antics and Riddhima was giggling. Of all this that was something that lit me up. In that fiasco, none seemed to have noticed the smile on her face.
Dadi: Siya!!! Enough now, come let’s have dinner. Aryan, go and change
Aryan: Yes dadi (stomping and leaving)
Siya showed him her tongue teasing him leaving him much angrier while we all chuckled and she came back to the dining while Aryan left to change
Angre: Siya, what if Riddhima had that dal!!
Siya: Oh, C’mon Angre, am not that dumb …..
Aryan (who just came back): Oh, so you accept that you are dumb to a certain extent
Siya (anger): DADI!!!!
Dadi: Aryan!!!
Aryan: Okay!! Okay!!!
Angre: Ha Siya you were saying something
Siya: Yes, I meant I was making sure that only Aryan bhai consumes it and if at all Riddhima di was about to have it, then I’d have stopped her at the very moment. But as I saw Aryan bhai eating it I didn’t object (chuckling)
Siya: Mrs. D’ Souza am sorry (holding her ears)
Mrs. D’ Souza (smiling): It’s ok Siya ma’am
Siya: D’ Souza can you bring the other bowl which is on the island there which has the perfect dal!
D’Souza nodded and bought the bowl soon and we all continued our dinner with some funny banter between Siya and Aryan. After dinner, we all retired to our last-minute works before retiring for the day. Dadi and Riddhima went to her room, after giving her medicines dadi made sure she slept and then came back to her room. I was in my study with Angre discussing the case details as the first hearing was after 2 days. Aryan and Siya were in her room as she needed some help with her project and he was helping her. And suddenly we hear a loud shriek and realized it was from Riddhima’s room and I and Angre rushed to see the lights off and when Angre turned them on, I saw her in the corner of the bed holding herself to her chest and shouting. I rushed to her and held her but she jerked me and started shouting at a high pitch,
Me (concerned): Angre, call dadi or Siya
Siya: Bhai am here… Bhai!!!! Bhai what happened to di?
Me: Siya I don’t know, just help her
Siya and Aryan who too heard her shriek ran to her room and she nodded when I asked her to help her. Siya rushed to Riddhima and held her, she hugged her soon and was continuously crying. It was almost after 2 hours that she slept in Siya’s lap, meanwhile, even dadi came to see her, and seeing her comfortable with Siya I asked her to go and take a rest. Siya slept in the same uncomfortable position as when I tried to help Riddhima sleep normally she jerked in the sleep and Siya asked me not to disturb her and so she adjusted herself and dozed off while I stayed awake all the night seeing my love who was still going through the trauma and her first psychiatrist appointment is tomorrow and my little sister who seems to be matured enough to help her sister.
The next morning, I left the room before Riddhima woke as I didn’t want her to freak seeing me in the room. After my routine, I came to dining to see everyone was present except dadi and Riddhima. After a while, they too descended the stairs and joined us. There was routine banter among Aryan and Siya when Riddhima spoke
Riddhima: Siya…..
Siya turned to her to see
Siya: Ha di
Riddhima: Am…. A…m sorry
Siya: Di but for what?
Riddhima: Because of me last….. night you had trouble
Siya: NO!!! I mean c’mon di, you are my sister and you needed me and how can I not be there for you!
Riddhima: You faced …. uff!!! (Taking long breaths) you had difficulty in s…leeping
Siya: Di, first of all, I didn’t have any difficulty as being used to that as this idiot bhai of mine (hitting Aryan) always sleeps on my lap whenever he feels low so am used to it
Riddhima (smiling): Thank you
Siya: Di, which sister thanks to her sister?
Angre: Siya people who have good manners say so (chuckling)
Siya: Hawww!!! Then this idiot bhai never told me all these years
Siya: Aryan bhai now tell me thanks for all these years
Aryan (shock): What the heck!!! I don’t even remember the number of times I slept in your lap
Siya: Dadi, that’s not fair…..
Dadi (smiling): Riddhima, there won’t be any thanks and sorry in a family and we all are your family. A family stands by you at all your ups and downs and last night you needed Siya and she gave you her support to you. So, no need to thank her.
Riddhima had tears in her eyes and I was confused if it were because of pain, happiness or if dadi said something which hurt her. I wanted to ask her but before that, she wiped them off and continued to have her breakfast.
Me: Riddhima
She lifts her head up to see me
Me: Today we have an appointment with the psychiatrist
Riddhima flinched back and with nervousness overpowering her occupied with fear, she started fidgeting her fingers. I understood her fear of talking about all that with an unknown person in a room all alone is something that’s freaking her. Standing from my chair, I walked towards her chair and bending to her level, I spoke
Me: Riddhima, I know you are afraid and am aware of the reason also. But trust me that’s needed, you need to be strong enough to fight for yourself. Day after tomorrow we have our first hearing and for that, you need to be strong enough to give your statement in front of the Judge. Don’t you want to fight back? This psychiatrist appointment is to bring the old Riddhima back off this trauma that is eating you thoroughly. You have many dreams to achieve and one among isn’t the punishment to those culprits? And to fight them you need much strength as this is going to go long way and for that, you need to be strong enough to face. And you need not worry as I’d be with you
Riddhima (lifting her head off her fingers): For the … psychiatrist appoint…ment?
Me (smiling): FOREVER!!! Till my last breath
That moment I didn’t think of anything else, I meant to stay by her side forever, and when she innocently questioned me if I meant to stay with her for her sessions my immediate answer was to indirectly tell her my willingness to stay by her side forever. At that moment I didn’t know if she understood the depth of my feelings but she agreed and asked if dadi could accompany her and dadi instantly agreed. Aryan left for office to attend an important meeting while Siya to her college and Angre drove us to the hospital for Riddhima’s appointment.
Riddhima was all the while nervous and when finally, her time was out she was scared to go in but after much persuasion, she entered the cabin while me, dadi, and Angre were waiting for her. I was hell afraid of how she’d cope and how she was doing. After around 45mins the door of the cabin opened and I saw Riddhima rushing out and hugging dadi was literally crying freaking me. I was having many negative thoughts of what might have happened behind that closed door. That’s when a voice broke my thoughts, that was the assistant of the doc
Assistant: Excuse me…
Angre: Yes
Assistant: The doctor is calling family members of the patient
Me: First of all, she isn’t patient!!! (Stormed the person) Her name is Riddhima and you better refer her so.
Angre: Boss calm down. We need to meet doc (to assistant) Am sorry on his behalf.
We entered the doc cabin to see a female doc and seeing that I calmed down varna I had many negative thoughts running in my mind seeing Riddhima’s state
Doc: You related to Ms. Riddhima?
Angre: Yes doc
Doc: Please take your seat
I and Angre settled and then I noticed her name – Dr. Sakshi Sengupta
Me: So, Dr. Sengupta you wanted to talk to us about Riddhima….
Dr. Sakshi Sengupta: First of all, I’d prefer to be referred to as Sakshi and coming to Riddhima, I think she needs many appointments as today she didn’t even speak anything. I was just going through her medical reports and her case history. And I understood that she is clinically depressed and that trauma has affected her a lot and as per her behavior I feel that there is much more to the story.
Me (confused): What do you mean?
Sakshi: I have seen many cases where the victim is traumatized and there it’s just the rape which breaks them but here there is something else too. The trauma of being raped and there is something else too is working as an added pain to her. Can I ask you something if you don’t mind!!
Angre: Yes doc… I mean Sakshi
Sakshi: How is she related to you?
I and Angre stiffened a bit and glaring at each other, turned to see a confused Sakshi
Me: Actually, we aren’t related in any way as in like family. We are her friend whom she met after 12 years
Sakshi: Met after 12 years in the sense? (confused) don’t mind but may I know how?
Me: I found her on the road half-dead, wounded, nude in the middle of the night (closed my eyes)
Sakshi: Am… am so sorry!!! Can I ask you if she lets anyone near her?
Me: In this one month after that incident, she was in comatose for 2 weeks and after that, she didn’t allow anyone to even come near her except females and we trio brothers tried hard to help her but she always resisted and she is free with dadi and Siya
Sakshi: Trio brothers? (confused)
Me: It’s me, Angre (pointing towards Angre), and my brother Aryan
Sakshi: Acha okay and dadi and Siya?
Me: My dadi and my sister Siya
Sakshi: So, she speaks and gets close to only your dadi and sister. Is she speaking or reacting to you trio boys?
Me: Not exactly!!! I mean in the beginning, she didn’t even react and later on, she started blinking her eyes as a gesture, and yesterday she spoke to me for the first time and even today morning. And to be precise, it was for a few minutes yesterday and a single statement today.