Chapter 30

A week later, on a Sunday Aadhi was in the living when Vimal and Manjari arrived as a surprise visit. Aadhi was so surprised and shocked on seeing the couple and invited them to the living.

Manjari: Aadhi, where is my brother ? Did he decide to work on sunday too ?

Aadhi: No Manjari, he is home. I will call him.

” Rishiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, come to the living ” she screamed and smiled at Vimal.

Aadhi: How are you bro ?

Vimal: We are fine Aadhi, its been a while I saw you and Manjari missed Rishi too so we planned this surprise visit.

Manjari saw the lot of flowers everywhere in the living and the  chocolates boxes on the teapoy. Rishi who heard Aadhi call him rushed to her, scared that she might have been hurt. He crouched before Aadhi and started checking her hands and legs.

Rishi: Aadhu, what happened ? Where did you get hurt ? You better stop doing anything and I will take care of everything.

Vimal smiled on seeing Aadhi and Rishi but that couldn’t be said to Manjari.

Aadhi: Rishi, I m fine. Look who is here.

Only then Rishi noticed Vimal and Manjari. He quickly mumbled a sorry and touched Manjari’s head.

Rishi: Manjari, how are you ? What a pleasant surprise ?

Vimal: She met her friends yesterday and I don’t know what happened she started missing you. She wouldn’t wait to have lunch so we are here in the morning to join you both for breakfast.

Rishi: Manjari, what happened ? Is everything ok ? You could have called me and I would have come to visit you immediately.

Manjari: Its ok bro, even Vimal missed Aadhi so we planned to visit you both. How are you ?

Rishi smiled at her words since that was the first time Manjari asked about him. He bobed his head and side hugged her. Aadhi decided to prepare breakfast leaving them to chat.

Manjari: Bro, why does Aadhi look upset ? I think she is not happy with our sudden visit.

Rishi: Manjari, she is fine and really happy. I can see the happiness in her face.

Manjari: Why did she leave then ?

Rishi: I know her very well. Right now she would be excited and pulling out the ingredients to give you a feast as soon as possible.

Vimal: Manjari, stop over thinking everything. Why would she not be happy ?

Manjari: How do I know but I can see that she is upset. I m a girl and I can see the difference very well but since you both are sure then I won’t talk about it.

Rishi wanted to help Aadhi but on seeing Manjari’s reaction and after hearing her words he didn’t want to leave her alone and let her over think anything. An hour later they watched Aadhi place the casseroles on the table and call them to have breakfast.

Manjari: You all carry on and I will be back after using the washroom.

Rishi: I will help you to the guest room.

Manjari: I m not a child so please go help Aadhi and I will be back soon.

Rishi and Vimal got seated and they waited for Manjari. 5 minutes later Vimal decided to check on her but Aadhi stopped him.

Aadhi: I will go check on her bro, she will be fine so relax.

Vimal smiled at her words and saw her leave to look for Manjari. Within a minute they heard Manjari scream and saw her rolling down the stairs. Rishi and Vimal rushed to her and saw her crying holding her baby bump. They saw Aadhi standing at the top of the stairs in a shocked state.

Rishi: Aadhu get the car key..

Aadhi came out of trance and got him the car key. Vimal carried her to the elevator followed by Rishi and Aadhi. Rishi shed tears on seeing Manjari scream in pain whereas Aadhi was still in state of shock. Rishi got in the driver seat with Aadhi in the passenger seat and Vimal had Manjari in the back seat. All the way they prayed for Manjari and the baby.

As soon as they reached the hospital Vimal carried her out with Rishi running ahead screaming for help. Manjari was taken to the emergency ward for treatment and in the meanwhile Rishi informed both their parents about the situation. Rishi sat on a chair and Aadhi watched his hands trembling in fear for his sister and her baby. She placed her hand over his shoulder and he caught her palm seeking strength from her. Both the family arrived at the hospital and Aadhi watched Kavitha and Vani cry for Manjari and the baby. Hari and Raghav looked worried too.

Vani: How did she trip from the stairs and what were you all doing leaving her alone to climb the stairs ?

Aadhi: I was with her aunty but ..

Vani: You were with her and yet she fell from the stairs ? What were you doing rather than taking care of her ?

Rishi: Mom, calm down. Manjari will be ok and it was an accident.

The doctor walked out and everyone rushed before him to know about Manjari.

Doctor: I m sorry, we couldn’t save the baby. She must have fell on her bump so nothing happened to her. Her husband has to sign the consent form to carry out the procedure.

Everyone gasped in shock and Aadhi, Kavitha, Vani broke down on hearing the loss of the baby. Aadhi hugged Vimal to console him but he stood numb from reacting anything. He signed the form and within an hour the procedure was done and Manjari was shifted to the private ward. Everyone was waiting for her to gain conscious.

Aadhi squeezed Rishi’s palm and sat next to Vimal holding his hand. An hour later Manjari gained her conscious and immediately touched her abdomen to check for her baby. On seeing her flat tummy she started crying.

Manjari: What happened to my baby ?

Vimal rushed to her and held her against his chest. He tried to calm her but Manjari hit him on his arm and bawled her eyes out.

Rishi stood next to the couple and pat her head while he himself was unable to control his tears. Feeling a palm over her head Manjari raised her head from Vimal’s embrace and immediately swat Rishi’s hand which confused everyone.

Manjari: I made a mistake by visiting your home. Didn’t I say your wife didn’t seem to look happy with our presence but you ignored by words and I had to pay for it. I lost my baby no….no…no.. she killed my baby.

Rishi/Vimal: Manjariiiiiiiiii…

Manjari: Shut up both of you. She pushed me from the stairs.

Everyone gasped on hearing her words and Aadhi froze on hearing the blame on her. She immediately looked at the one person and saw Rishi givinng her an assuring nod. She closed her eyes momentarily that Rishi didn’t believe Manjari’s words.

Vani: Manjari, what are you saying ? How would Aadhi push you ? Why would she do that ?

Rishi: Mom, Manjari needs rest so lets not talk about anything now.

Manjari: Vimal, file a complaint against her that she killed our baby. She pushed me.

Kavitha: Manjari, we understand your loss but you can’t blame Aadhi for that.

Manjari: She pushed me because she was jealous of me. Her husband was not giving her any attention and they live as strangers in the penthouse. He tortured her so much that she envied me. She couldn’t stand seeing me pregnant while she was suffering in her life. When I walked out of the guest room she was waiting for me. I tried to console her that my brother will change and take care of her but she started cursing me.

Aadhi: Manjari, please stop accusing me. I never spoke a word to you.

Manjari: Stop lying, She said that I will never give birth to a healthy baby and she pushed me.

Vani rushed to Aadhi and was about to slap her but Rishi held her hand pushing Aadhi behind him.

Rishi: Mom, Aadhira will never do such thing. Manjari is not stable and lets give her time to relax.

Kavitha: Aadhi, is it true that you were suffering in your life ?

Rishi: Yes, I did hurt her but we are fine and happy in our life. Manjari has some serious misunderstanding.

Raghav: Why would Manjari lie or do you mean that she fell on her own and killed her baby ?

Rishi: Dad, no please.

Vani: I did a grave mistake by marrying her to my  son. How dare she tried to kill my daughter and infact she killed my grandchild.

Rishi: Mom, it was me, your son who hurt her and I repeat, Aadhira will never do such thing so stop accusing her. I will not hear a word against my wife.

Aadhi: Mom, dad, you know me. I will never do such thing. That was my Vimal bro’s baby. How would I snatch his happiness ?

Hari: I have always been proud of you but you let me down and I ashamed of you. How could you let your jealousy kill the heir of my family ? Get out of this place and don’t show your face ever again.

Aadhi wasn’t shocked on hearing her father’s words. She held Vimal’s hand and crouched before him.

Aadhi: Bro, I would never do such thing even in my dreams. Please tell me you don’t believe all this. Please tell them that your sister will never do such thing.

Vimal yanked his hand from her hold and Aadhi felt her heart was ripped away. Rishi pulled her out of the room and hugged her.

Rishi: Aadhu, stay strong. Whatever happens I m with you. I trust you.

Aadhi: I did not do that..

Rishi: shhhhhh, I know Aadhu. You can never think of hurting of someone even in your dreams. Lets go home and I will come later to check on Manjari.

Aadhi: You should stay with her.

Rishi: She has more people by her side. My Aadhu needs me now so lets go home and I will visit her later in the evening.

He held her hand and they left the hospital. All the way Aadhi was crying leaning on the window and Rishi squeezed her palm every now and then. As soon as they reached home he lead her to the couch in the living and Aadhi was crying non stop. Rishi gave her a glass of water and forced her to drink it.

Rishi: I trust you Aadhu and I m not saying this to console you but I really mean it.

Aadhi looked into his eyes and Rishi wiped the tears from her eyes shaking his head.

Rishi: I m not saying this to earn my chance with you Aadhu. Nothing will change between us and I will wait for it. Now relax and don’t worry about the words that were thrown at you. I will take care of everything and clear the misunderstanding.

They heard a different mobile ring tone and Rishi saw it was Manjari’s.

Rishi: I will return it to her when I will visit her in the evening.

Once again the mobile started ringing and this time he answered the call knowing it must be one of her friends.

Rishi: Hi I’m Rishi, Manjari’s brother.

Manjari’s friend: Hello bro, how is Manjari ? I have been trying to reach her for the past few hours. I was so worried about her health after she fell in the mall yesterday.

The voice was loud enough for Aadhi to hear and both were shocked on hearing her words. Rishi turned the call on speaker to let Aadhi hear the conversation.

Rishi: Actually she lost the baby. Right now she is in hospital. Would you clarify what happened yesterday ?

Manjari’s friend: We were strolling in the mall and Manjari saw an earring on display in a jewelry shop. She left us to buy the earring and it seems like the floor of the shop was being mopped. She fell over and we rushed to her. She cried in pain and we urged her to visit the doctor but she decided to return home. Today morning I sent a message to her to know about her and she replied that she was bleeding since early in the morning.

Rishi grit his teeth on knowing her sister’s play but Aadhi didn’t seem to be surprised or shocked on the revealations.

Rishi: Thank you for your call and I will let Manjari talk to you in the evening.

Rishi cut the call and looked at Aadhi who seem to be lost in thought. He held her chin to look at him.

Rishi: Didn’t I say that my Aadhu will never do such thing ? I will deal with Manjari but I wanted to know something else Aadhu. When Manjari fell down the stairs, me and Vimal were scared but you seemed to be in shock. What happened ? Don’t tell me it was nothing. I want to know the reason behind your reaction.

Aadhi: When she walked out of the guest room I saw blood stain on her top.

Rishi rose to his feet without a word and was about to leave but Aadhi stopped him.

Aadhi: No please, don’t let anyone know about this. My brother will be broken that his love betrayed him. He must be going through so much pain on the loss of his baby and even Manjari must have been scared of everyone’s reaction if they came to know that she fell during a shopping spree so ..

Rishi: So ? She cannot go around blaming others for her deeds. You don’t have to be in everyone’s good books Aadhu. You get nothing, you were so good to me but I broke you, you were so good to everyone in the family but none was ready to trust you. Put forth yourself and your happiness Aadhu. I will be back…

Rishi yanked his hand from Aadhi’s hold and stormed out holding Manjari’s mobile.