22. Beyond Hate and Hurt

Charu’s fingers tightened around Abhir’s hand, her grip firm yet comforting. She didn’t speak for a long moment, allowing him the silence he needed. But when she finally did, her voice was softer than he had ever heard before—gentle, cautious, almost… caring.

“Abhir…” she whispered, her eyes searching his face. “Are you okay?”

He shut his eyes, inhaling deeply as if pulling himself together. When he opened them again, the storm within them had settled—at least on the surface. He nodded wordlessly.

Without another word, they both stood to leave, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

But fate had other plans.

“Abhi…”

The soft, longing call of his name made him freeze in his tracks.

His fingers twitched in Charu’s grasp, tightening impulsively as he slowly turned around. His face was void of emotion, his posture stiff.

Swarna stood there, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her expression a mix of relief and heartbreak. In a heartbeat, she closed the distance between them and cupped his face in her trembling hands, her voice shaking with emotion.

“Kaisa hai tu… Kya tu ab mujhse milna bhi nahi chahta, dekhna bhi nahi chahta?” she asked, her voice carrying years of longing. “Abhira se pata chalta hai humme tere zindagi ke baare mein… aur tu…”

Her words died in her throat as Abhir suddenly moved back—instantly, almost violently, as if her touch burned him.

Swarna’s hands fell to her sides, and hurt flickered across her face at his rejection.

But Abhir?

He looked like he had swallowed glass, like something inside him had just twisted unbearably tight.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The air between them felt suffocating.

Then Swarna’s gaze shifted downward—to where Abhir was still gripping Charu’s hand.

Her eyes softened at the sight, but there was also something else there… something Charu couldn’t quite place.

Charu swallowed, forcing herself to break the silence.

“Namaste, Aunty…” she greeted hesitantly, trying to ease the tension. She attempted to pull her hand away from Abhir’s, not wanting to add to the awkwardness, but his grip remained firm—restless, almost desperate.

Swarna’s eyes flickered back up to Abhir’s face, her longing gaze unwavering. “Tum dono yahan?” she asked, directing the question at Charu since Abhir was stubbornly looking anywhere but at her.

Charu hesitated, not sure what to say. She had never seen Abhir this unsettled before, never seen him not have a smart remark or a teasing grin to fall back on. It unnerved her.

Still, she cleared her throat and answered carefully. “We came for a meeting. My client is Abhir’s organizer, so…” she trailed off, not wanting to reveal more.

Swarna nodded slowly, her eyes still locked on Abhir as if trying to read him. As if searching for something—anything—that could tell her what was going on in his heart.

Before anyone could say another word, Manish Goenka approached. He looked surprised—shocked, even—to see Abhir standing there.

“Abhir…!” His voice held a mixture of regret and relief. “Tum yahan?”

Abhir’s jaw clenched. The storm inside him, which he had barely kept in check, began to rise.

Manish took a hesitant step forward, his expression soft. “Kaise ho beta?…”

That was all it took.

Something inside Abhir snapped.

“Beta? Kaunsa beta?” His voice was laced with venom, his laughter hollow.

Charu’s stomach twisted at the sheer bitterness in his tone.

“Kis muh se beta keh rahe hai mujhse aap? Aapko bhul gaye aap hi ne meri mumma se , mujhse saare rishte tod diye the. Aap ki wajah se itne saal mein apne maa se durt raha, unko last time dekh bhi nahi paya. "

Manish flinched at his words, guilt flashing in his eyes.

Swarna stepped forward, pleading softly. “Abhir”

But Abhir wasn’t listening. Years of resentment, buried wounds, and bottled-up emotions crashed over him like an unforgiving wave.

“Aap tab kuch nahi bol paayi tab apke pati ne meri mumma ke saath galat kiya toh aaj bhi chup hi rahiye” His voice trembled with suppressed rage.

“Abhir—” Manish raiser his voice and teared up .

“Mr.Manish Goenka!Aap dono se mera koi rishta nahi hai durr rahiye mujhse” He roared, drawing the attention of almost everyone in the restaurant.

Charu grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him back.

“Bas karo, Abhir. Let’s go,” she whispered urgently. But he was too far gone.

Manish’s eyes brimmed with tears. “please bache, mujhe maaf kar de bahut badi bhool hogayi mujhse uss din…”

Abhir let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Maaf? Maafi chahiye? Kis baat ki? Ki aapne meri mumma ko apnaya nahi jab unhe aapki sabse zyada zarurat thi? Ya is baat ki apne mujhse mera bachpan mera aaj mera wajood cheen liya hai? But itne saal toh aapko ko farak nahi padraha tha  main kaisa tha ya mumma kaise rahi hongi? aapko bas  apna guilt kam karna hai..that's it"

Swarna shook her head, her voice cracking. “Aisa mat bolo, Abhir. Humne kabhi tujhe bhoolne ki koshish nahi ki—”

“BAS!” Abhir snapped. His entire body trembled with rage

“Mujhe tum dono se koi farak nahi padta. Aap log mere liye mar chuke ho. Aur main aap dono ke liye sirf ek ajnabi hoon.”

With that, he turned sharply, gripping Charu’s hand to leave.

But then—

A sudden, sharp gasp echoed behind them.

Abhir’s steps faltered. He turned back instinctively.

Swarna’s horrified shriek shattered the air.

Manish Goenka clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.

His knees buckled, and before anyone could react—

He collapsed onto the floor.

--------

For a moment, everything froze.

Abhir’s breath hitched as he watched Manish collapse, his hands clutching his chest, his face twisted in sheer agony.

The rage surging through him disappeared in an instant, replaced by something cold and terrifying—panic.

"Nan—" Abhir stopped himself, his throat tightening.

Swarna dropped to the floor beside Manish, shaking him frantically. "Manish ji! Manish ji, aankhein kholo!" Her voice was shrill, desperate.

"Call an ambulance!" someone in the restaurant shouted.

But Abhir didn't wait.

Without thinking, he dropped to his knees and scooped Manish into his arms.

The man who had once been larger than life, the man who had been a symbol of everything Abhir had resented—now felt terrifyingly fragile in his hold.

" Inhe hospital le jaana hoga!" Swarna sobbed, clutching his arm.

Abhir snapped out of his daze and moved, his body running on pure instinct.

His feet felt weightless as he carried Manish out of the restaurant, Charu and Swarna following closely behind.

"Charu, gadi ke darwaza kholo!" Abhir barked.

Charu, despite her own shock, rushed ahead and yanked the car door open.

Abhir carefully placed Manish in the backseat, his hands shaking as he adjusted him.

Abhir slid into the driver’s seat. Charu quickly jumped into the passenger seat while Swarna got in the back, holding onto Manish.

"Abhir, jaldi!" Swarna urged, her voice cracking.

Abhir gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His heart was pounding against his ribs, his pulse loud in his ears. The moment the car roared to life, he pressed the accelerator and sped through the streets.

Charu stole a glance at him.

His face was set, his jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might snap. But his eyes—his eyes were haunted.

She had seen anger in Abhir before. She had seen mischief, arrogance, and even the rare moments of softness.

But this—this was different.

This was fear.

"Manish ji, aankhein kholo!" Swarna pleaded from the backseat. "Please… kuch toh bolo!"

Abhir’s grip on the wheel tightened. His breaths came in short, sharp bursts.

"Aunty aap tension  mat lijiye unhe kuch nahi hoga, bas hospital tak pohonchna hai," Charu said, trying to keep her own panic at bay.

The hospital loomed ahead.

As soon as they reached the entrance, Abhir slammed the brakes, jumped out, and threw the car door open.

Without hesitation, he lifted Manish into his arms once more and rushed inside.

"Emergency!" he shouted.

Doctors and nurses rushed forward, taking Manish from his arms.

A stretcher was brought in, and within seconds, Manish was wheeled away.

Abhir stood there, breathless, his hands still stretched out as if his body hadn't registered that Manish was no longer in them.

Swarna collapsed onto a chair, her sobs wracking through her body.

Charu went to her and consoled her assuring her he will be fine.

Abhir stood there, breathless, his hands on his hair trying to calm himself .

Charu placed a hesitant hand on Abhir’s arm. "Abhir…?"

He didn’t move. He didn’t even blink.

Charu saw the way his shoulders heaved, the way his chest rose and fell as if he was struggling to breathe.

His fingers twitched—his body was trembling.

Before she could say anything else, a nurse approached. "Mr. Sharma, the doctor wants to speak with you about your grandfather's condition."

Abhir straightened, nodding looking at Swarna who was weeping and praying to the lord.

Charu hesitated for a second before saying, "I'll stay here with her"

Abhir looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. Then, without a word, he turned and followed the nurse.

As she watched him walk away, Charu realized something.

For all his bravado, Abhir Sharma wasn't as unbreakable as he pretended to be.

And for reasons she didn't fully understand yet-she hated seeing him like this.