Chapter 20

Rishi and Grandpa saw Vimal hold Aadhi’s wrist and stopping her following Manjari and his parents. Grand and Rishi shared a look and ambled to the brother and sister. Vimal was so worried to see the plaster on Aadhi’s head and tried to touch but Aadhi backed off with a gentle smile.

Vimal: Kiddo, what happened to you ? How did you get injured ? Did someone hurt you ?

Aadhi: Bro, I m fine, its just a minor injury. Lets go inside.

Vimal: Aadhi, how did this happen ?

Grandpa: Vimal, she wanted to buy some stationery and met with an accident yesterday. I was there at their home yesterday.

Vimal: Why did you go out ? If you needed something then you should have call me Aadhi.

Aadhi: Bro, calm down. Its not like I live alone without anyone to care for me. I have my husband and he would buy anything for me. I wanted to go for a walk and left on my own, I even stopped Rishi from accompanying me so relax and lets get inside, its time for pooja.

Grandpa got seated before the priest and did the pooja for his wife. Vimal and Manjari sat next to each other while Rishi and Raghavan sat next to each other. Aadhi and Vani stood watching the pooja and Rishi was looking at Aadhi every now and then as she made herself busy in helping the priest and Vani in the pooja. At the end of the pooja, priest called the couples to get blessings and Raghavan, Vani were the first to take blessings from grandpa and the priest. Vimal and Manjari were next in line and grandpa looked at Aadhi who faked a smile and stood next to Rishi. Together they touched grandpa’s feet and after a long while Rishi turned his face and saw Aadhi in a close proximity, his nostrils were filled with the fragance of vanilla and rose after a long time.

Aadhi felt a pain when she bent and hissed. Rishi immediately held her shoulder and helped her to sit on the couch. Vimal sat next to Aadhi and held her hand.

Rishi: I will call the doctor or lets go to hospital and check once again.

Rishi turned to get his car keys but Aadhi held his wrist and smiled at him. Rishi couldn’t avert his gaze from her smile and his heart started beating eratically feeling the cold touch of her palm on his wrist. Slowly he cast his eyes to her hand and tears brimmed in his eyes but Aadhi retracted her hand quickly.

Aadhi: I m completely fine Rishi.

Rishi bobed his head and sat opposite to her stealing glances at her every now and then to check if she was doing fine. Later they all got seated to have food and Aadhi helped Vani to serve everyone.

Grandpa: Aadhi, you are not well so sit down to have your food. Let Manjari help Vani.

Manjari: Grand pa, I m very hungry and can’t wait any longer.

Aadhi: I m absolutely fine grandpa. I will give company to Vani aunty.

Manjari: Aadhi, get me some pickle.

Aadhi entered the kitchen and returned with pickle for her.

Manjari: Aadhi, if you don’t mind can I have some hot water.

Aadhi smiled and got some hot water for her. Once again Manjari called Aadhi to ask for something but Rishi stopped her before she asked for anything.

Rishi: Manjari, she is not well and is yet to have her food. We have maids to help if you need something.

Vimal held Manjari’s hand below the table and glared at her as a warning. Once they all had their food, Vani and Aadhira had their food serving each other. When they arrived in the living Aadhi stood next to Rishi since she didn’t wanted Vimal to get any idea of anything happening in her life.

Vani: Manjari, go to your room and rest for a while. Aadhi help Manjari to her room.

Aadhi for the first time thanked her mother in law in her mind and held Manjari’s hand to support her. Once they were in the room, Aadhi decided to clear everything that was eating her up.

Aadhi: Manjari, why do you hate me ?

Manjari: You called me Manjari ? Did you forget that I m your sister in law ?

Aadhi: Then let me remind you that I m your brother’s wife and my husband is elder than my brother so nothing wrong if I call you Manjari. Now answer my question. I know very well how much my brother love you so why did you lie to Rishi that my brother doesn’t care for you ? Why did you lie to him that I m taking away my brother’s time ? I never called bro until that day and again I called him because I needed his help in my subjects. If you had a problem with me talking to my brother then should have spoke to me.

Manjari: Vimal is the best husband and ofcourse he takes care of me. He loves me so much but I don’t think you could say the same. Now tell me what happened, did my brother lash out on you ? And about your question ofcourse I hate you. We both grew up in same sort of family background but I never got to live my life to my wish, I never shared a bond with my brother like you and Vimal. I hate the way you shared a bond with Vimal. I wanted him all to myself so I lied to my parents about you when they questioned me about your character.

Aadhi: You lied to your parents ?

Manjaari: Ofcourse, they wanted to know about you to convince my brother so I lied them that you would be the perfect girl for him. My brother is a man who can never love anyone in his life. He never cares for anyone and has lot of rules in his life so I wanted you to marry him and leave Vimal all alone. We both married on the same day but you got live a life independantly with your husband, whereas I still live the same life, the one I lived before marriage. You wear disgusting clothes yet no one question you even my brother never questioned you for anything.

Aadhi: What made you think that I will suffer living with your brother ?

Manjari: I m not a dumbass. I know he knew the real you even before the marraige. Let me tell you something interesting. Do you remember the pink saree he chose during our wedding shopping ? My brother chose the pink saree for me because pink is my favourite color and once I said that I will buy a pink saree for my wedding but my grandpa covered it up to give you a little happiness. And it was Vimal who paid your exam fee not your husband.

Aadhi: I feel so sorry for you Manjari. If you knew that he chose the saree for you then you should also have realized how much he loves you. That man was so happy when you came home and revealed that you are pregnant. You are the only person he thinks of but here you are so selfish and tried to ruin his home ? But sorry to burst your bubble, nothing happened like you expected. I m happy with my husband and you were so blinded in your inferiority complex that you couldn’t see the beautiful life you are blessed with. You have a family who love you so much. Despite being an orthodox family they never opposed your love, you got married to the man you were in love, your brother loves you so much but you are the one who couldn’t see his care for you. And I m happy in my life because I see happiness in every thing, I see the positivity out of everything that happens around me, I don’t sulk or feel jealous over what others have in their life or for what I don’t have in life. I only love everyone around me and try to give love and happiness to them or the least if I stay away from them rather than ruining their life. I will never be an obstacle in your life because I love my brother so much and I will do anything for his happiness even if that is to stay away from him.

Aadhi turned to leave but stopped by the threshold and once again turned to Manjari.

Aadhi: You still have time Manjari. Grow up and be matured before the baby is born because with your brain working at this rate sure you will feel your baby as your competitor and your jealousy won’t be healthy for you as well as the baby but I trust in my brother. You should rest now.

Aadhi walked out and descended the stairs failing to noice Rishi who was standing beside the wall to Manjari’s room. He entered his room and sat on the couch with his elbows proped on his knees.

Rishi: What the fuck did I hear ? Manjari thinks so low of me ? She thinks I don’t care for her ? She provoked me because she was jealous of Aadhira ? Aadhira….Aadhira..

He felt goosebumps on mumbling Aadhi’s name for the firs time.

Rishi Mv: This is the first time I took her name. How could she have felt when I never called her even once by her name whereas she screamed Rishu atleast 50 times in the few hours I was at home ? She could have informed Vimal or her parents about what I did to her but she never spoke a word against me at any chance. She could have spoke to Vimal about Manjari but she never did that. I called her immature and brat in every single chance but she has been the most mature person among all of us. How disgusting I have been behaving with her ? My own sister was thinking that I couldn’t be a normal person and live with a partner wherease she endured everything I did to her but I only killed her true self. How do I bring her back ? Grandpa is right, I ruined her because of my insecurities, my inferiority complex and my jealousy.

Rishi wiped the tears from his eyes and walked out of his room in search of Aadhi and saw her in the lawn scrolling through her mobile. Before he could go to her, he saw Vimal approaching her so he stopped to give space to the siblings.

Vimal: Aadhi, why are you avoiding me ? Do you even know when was the last time you spoke to me for more than 5 second ?

Rishi who turned to leave stopped on hearing Vimal words and noticed Aadhi’s gaze on him for a second before she looked at her brother.

Vimal: Aadhi, is something bothering you ? Kiddo, you could say anything to me.

Aadhi: Bro, I m not a kid and you are worrying out of nothing. Do you even realize that I m married too and I think its normal to spend more time with my husband. Please stop worrying about me and take care of your wife. She is pregnant and needs all your attention and you will be a father in few months so prepare yourself for that. I have my husband to take care of me. Am I right Rishi ?

Rishi was shocked and nodded his head looking at Vimal who had tears in his eyes.

Vimal: Ofcourse I would have believed your words if you had called him Rishu instead of Rishi. Whatever might be the reason you are trying to avoid me but remember I m just a call away from you.

Vimal hugged her and walked away leaving Rishi and Aadhi

Rishi: You could have revealed everything to him. He has been the best brother and best friend to you.

Aadhi: Is there any custom in your family on how I should talk to my brother ?

Her lips were wobbling and tears rolled down her cheeks which she quickly wiped with the back of her palm and turnd away from him.

Rishi: Lets leave, I will inform mom and dad.

Aadhi: I m sorry.

Rishi: I think it should be the other way around. I m the reason you are suffering so please forgive me.

Aadhi: I don’t think so. I know you hate me and my presence around you but I had to talk to you and once I held your hand only to avoid any suspects on us so I m sorry for making you uncomfortable.

” I did not feel uncomforatable” he wanted to say but couldn’t and stood watching her disappearing figure. He followed her to the living and when they were about to step inside Aadhi triped on her saree on was about to hit the ground but Rishi held her quickly holding her abdomen from behind.

Rishi: Are you ok ?

Aadhi: I m sorry for being clumsy.

Aadhi craned her neck to look at him and then his hand which was still on her abdomen beneath her saree. Rishi gulped feeling the softness and warmth of her skin. He slowly pulled her to stand straight and removed his hand slowly.

Rishi: I m sorry, I only wanted to save you. I had no intentions of doing anything wrong to you.

They heard someone clear throat and saw grandpa looking at the ceiling. Rishi informed everyone about leaving and Vani was not happy about his decision. Manjari who was next to Vani moved close to Rishi who stood rigid.

Manajri: Bro, please stay back for a while. Let us spend some time together or watch a movie. We shall leave after dinner, please bro.

Rishi: No, Aadhira is not well and she needs rest now. Also she has her exams and she needs to prepare for it. I don’t want her to to be exhausted anymore staying here.

Manjari was shocked on seeing the kind words of care for Aadhi from Rishi but Aadhi was the one more shocked and surprised on hearing him say her name for the first time.

Rishi ignored all the glances at him and tilt his head on seeing Aadhi, a simple gesture to take leave. Together they walked out and drove back to penthouse.