As the sun shone brightly over the Rajvansh mansion, the family was abuzz with excitement. The news of Dhruv's arrival had spread like wildfire, and everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of him.
In the midst of the chaos, Ektha had arrived to visit her family, accompanied by her son. Although they lived in Delhi, they made it a point to visit their loved ones whenever possible.
As the family members congregated in the living room, Depali suggested, "Why don't we go to Bhai's apartment and surprise him?" The others nodded in agreement, their faces lighting up with enthusiasm.
However, Shivam's eyes were fixed on his phone as he said, "But Anant Bhai and Isha Bhabhi have gone to the temple with Aunt." Dipali's face fell for a moment before she exclaimed, "It would be even better if we surprise him there as well, and then Bua will be there too!"
Just then, Aarun and his brother walked downstairs, and Aarun said with a sly grin, "This is even better. Durga is not here." Aarun's words were met with laughter from the others.
They prepared to leave, Nikhil said, "Let's go!" and the group set off towards Dhruv's apartment. Aarun, Dipali, Nikhil, and Shobha traveled in one car, while the younger members of the family followed in another.
They drove, Aarun asked his wife, Dipti, "Isha's sister will also be there, right?" Dipti nodded, adding, "But she'll be leaving for the hostel tomorrow."
Aarun noticed the sadness in Dipti's eyes and asked, "What's wrong? You look upset." Dipti's voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "I don't know, but since Isha's sister arrived, Anant and Isha , They were so happy before, but today they looked...different."
Shobha chimed in from the backseat, "And have you noticed how Shivam has been acting differently since he met her? He's actually talking to us in complete sentences!" The others chuckled at this, but Aarun's eyes remained fixed on his wife, his expression a mix of concern and reassurance.
He gently took her hand in his, Dipti smiled weakly, and Aarun's eyes seemed to say, "Everything will be alright." In that moment, words were unnecessary, and the love they shared spoke volumes.
*****
They arrived at the apartment building, they made their way to the lift, only to find it out of order due to a power outage. Nikhil quickly called out to the guards, who appeared in an instant.
"What happened to the lift?" Nikhil asked, his tone firm but controlled.
The guard, visibly nervous, replied, "Sir, there's a problem with the lighting in the building, but we're working to fix it."
Shivam's reaction was unexpected. His eyes blazed with anger and fear, and he shouted at the guard, "What?!" The guard cowered, lowering his head in submission.
The family exchanged confused glances, taken aback by Shivam's outburst. Aarun, his father, asked, "Shiv, what's wrong?" Shivam's eyes were a deep red, his anger palpable.
"Where are the stairs?" Shivam demanded, his voice cold and menacing. The guard pointed, still cowering, and Shivam took off towards the stairs, his family following close behind in shock and concern.
Aarun caught up to Shivam, grasping his arm to stop him. "What's going on, Shiv?" he asked, his voice firm but worried.
Shivam's response was barely above a whisper, but it sent a chill down their spines. "Dad, Vaani has nyctophobia." The words hung in the air, and the family's expressions turned from confusion to horror.
Shivam broke free from his father's grasp and continued up the stairs, his family close behind. The ladies, however, remained frozen in place, their faces etched with concern and fear.
They ascended the stairs, the darkness seemed to grow thicker, the air heavier with foreboding. Shivam's words had unleashed a sense of dread, and they couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
The men entered the apartment, Dipti's whispered prayer echoed in the air, "God, keep that girl safe."
Shivam rushed towards Vaani's room, but found it locked from the outside. Aarun's eyes narrowed, and he muttered under his breath as he opened the door.
The scene that greeted them was heart-wrenching. Vaani lay on the floor, her body limp and lifeless, in a room shrouded in darkness. The only light came from the faint sun rays peeking through the closed curtains. Aarun's face contorted in anguish as he rushed towards her, gathering her in his protective arms.
"Princess...," Aarun's voice cracked as he called out to her, gently patting her cheeks. Shivam brought a glass of water and sprinkled it on her face, but Vaani remained unresponsive. Nikhil hastily removed the curtains, flooding the room with light, but even that couldn't rouse her.
The three men stood frozen, their faces ashen, as they took in Vaani's condition. Aarun, however, quickly regained his composure, his expression hardening into a determined mask. He carefully lifted Vaani in his arms and began to make his way downstairs.
They reached the ground floor, Aarun shot a deadly glare at the guard, his eyes blazing with a fierce warning. The guard cowered, sensing the unspoken threat.
Sobhan, anxiously asked, "What happened to her?" as they reached the car. Aarun's face remained grim, and he didn't respond. Instead, he gently settled Vaani in the backseat, holding her tightly in his arms.
They drove away, Aarun's voice was low and steady, "To the mansion." His eyes never left Vaani's face, his expression a mix of concern and determination. The darkness that had threatened to consume Vaani seemed to have awakened a fierce protector in Aarun, and he would stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Dipti's gaze remained fixed on her husband.His face was etched with tension, and his eyes blazed with fierce anger. Dipti's heart sank, knowing that if Aarun's anger reached its boiling point, the consequences would be dire.
She gently placed a hand on his arm, attempting to calm him down. With her other hand, she carefully wiped the sweat from Vaani's forehead using the pallu of her saree. The tender gesture was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside Aarun.
The rest of the family members were equally shocked by Aarun's and Shivam's behavior. What had triggered this sudden outburst of anger in Aarun? The question hung in the air, unanswered.
The car came to a halt in front of the mansion, Aarun swiftly exited the vehicle, cradling Vaani in his arms. The family followed him, their faces filled with concern and curiosity.
Aarun entered the guest room, gently laying Vaani on the mattress. He began to rub her hands, his touch warm and soothing. Dipti sat at the foot of the bed, massaging Vaani's feet with a gentle touch.
Vaani, oblivious to the commotion she had caused, lay unconscious, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. The irony of the situation was not lost on – the king and queen of Malwa, renowned for their power and prestige, were now tending to this young girl with a devotion that bordered on reverence.
The family doctor arrived, Aarun and his family stepped out of the room, their faces etched with concern. Dipti's eyes locked onto her husband's, her voice soft as she asked, "What happened, Aarun?"
Aarun's voice was heavy with emotion as he replied, "I don't know, Dipti, but when I saw her eyes closing in front of me, I remembered those people..." His words trailed off, and Dipti's hand instinctively went to his arm, rubbing it gently to calm him down.
But Aarun's emotions were already simmering, and his eyes flashed with anger as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Whatever people were in that building, throw them all out and make sure they leave MP," he barked into the phone, his voice cold and menacing.
The doctor emerged from the room, and the family gathered around him, eager for news about Vaani's condition. "Mr. Rajwansh, she's okay, but knowing that she's scared of the dark, you should not leave her alone," the doctor began, his expression serious.
Aarun's eyes narrowed, his face set in a determined mask. The doctor continued, "Sir, she's unconscious due to fear. I've given her an injection, and she'll regain consciousness in some time. But keep in mind that leaving her alone will have to be done with her life, because according to her blood, the poison of fear has started forming. If you had taken more time, maybe she wouldn't be alive."
The room fell silent, the family's faces pale with shock. "Poison?" Aarun's voice was laced with confusion and alarm.
The doctor nodded grimly. "Yes, poison. When our fear crosses the limits, our body starts making poison and tries to kill itself." He paused, his eyes locked onto Aarun's. "And yes, when she regains consciousness, the person who is closest to her should be with her, otherwise she will harm herself while being conscious."
The doctor's words hung in the air, leaving the family reeling in shock. Aarun's face was set in a determined mask as he turned to Dipti. "Dipti ji, you stay with her until Anant and Isha come."
With that, Aarun turned and left, leaving Dipti to nod in agreement, her eyes filled with concern for the young girl lying unconscious in the room.
The family entered the room, one person remained hidden behind a pillar, listening intently to the doctor's words. His eyes were cast downward, his face etched with guilt and regret.
"Because of me, because of me she's in this condition," he thought to himself, his mind racing with self-reproach. "What did I do? I didn't want to do this. Why couldn't I control my anger?"
The weight of his actions bore down on him, threatening to crush him beneath its oppressive force. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of his own regret, unable to escape the suffocating grip of his own guilt.
He walked towards his room, his feet felt heavy, as if they were weighed down by the burden of his own conscience. He opened the door to his room, and his eyes fell upon the swimming pool, its calm waters beckoning him like a siren's call.
Without hesitation, he walked towards the pool, his feet carrying him towards the water's edge. He slipped into the pool, the cool water enveloping him like a shroud. He sank beneath the surface, the water closing over his head like a lid.
As he sat at the bottom of the pool, the water pressure pushing down on him, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The silence was almost deafening, a welcome respite from the cacophony of his own thoughts.
For a moment, he forgot about the guilt, the regret, and the self-loathing. He forgot about the weight of his actions, and the consequences that had followed. All he was left with was the quiet, peacefulness of the water, and the stillness of his own mind.
But even as he sat there, he knew that this peace was fleeting. The guilt would return, the regret would resurface, and the weight of his actions would once again threaten to crush him. But for now, at this moment, he was free.
Write a comment ...