XXXVII. Black

"When a person leaves this world, they leave a huge load of responsibilities behind, and in them we find them alive and with us."

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As I said, happy moments are the bubbles that wrap us with happiness. I had fun with my family; I forgot the problems I am facing. However, that bubble of happiness burst with a single phone call.

Abhi and I were in the car, for the past 30 minutes he has been riding the car. We both were silent with many thoughts in our minds. He kept his gaze straight and unwavering; I kept glancing at him trying to find anything in his face. I wanted to ask him what the call was about, but was unable to utter those words.

I noticed that we moved to an abandoned road, I was seeing this road for the first time. There were no vehicles on this road, just some trees passing by. He increased the speed of the vehicle causing me to worry.

"Abhi slow down." I requested in a small voice, he increased the speed of the vehicle ignoring me. I don't understand why he was doing it, he may get us killed was the thought running in my mind.

I prayed for god that there would be no vehicle arriving in our path. But it didn't happen, a car approached opposite to us making my heart tremble in fear.

I looked in Abhi's direction hoping to catch his eye. Abhi was staring straight at the car but he was in a trance not looking at anything.

I looked at the car approaching us; the car was speeding in our way. "Abhi!" He steered the car to the side.

The force caused me to move sideways. My head collided with the glass window. I closed my eyes as I felt severe pain in my head.

"Avni are you okay?" I felt Abhi touch my hand. I jerked his hand away. I opened my eyes and observed my surroundings; the car was on the side of the road. I opened the car door and got out.

I took deep breaths trying to control my heart's erratic beats. I felt his presence behind me but I ignored him and concentrated on my surroundings. There were trees on both sides of the road, the moonlight glistening giving a beautiful look to the scenery. I would have loved to watch the scene, at a different time.

"Avni, are you fine?" He took my hand and turned me towards him. He placed his hand on my head, where I hit my head and rubbed it soothing the pain.

"Does it hurt?" The softness in his tone surprised me. He was drowning in his feelings and now he noticed me. I pushed his hand away, he sighed in reply to my action.

"Don't you dare, Abhi!" I took a deep breath and started pacing to collect my thoughts.

"Have you gone mad?" I shouted at him after a few minutes of pacing.

"We could've died from an accident. What got you so worried that you forgot that a person was seated next to you?" I stood in front of him and pointed a finger in his direction. "You know that I hate speed. Then why did you do it?"

He closed his eyes for a moment. "Avni, I am sorry for making you worry. It wasn't my intention. Please forgive me." He started messing with his hair. I took his hand in mine to calm him.

"It's ok. I just want to know what's this all about." He cast his eyes low unable to meet my eyes. I lifted his chin making him look into my eyes.

"Abhi, you can tell me anything." I urged him to tell me what was bothering him.

"Avni, uncle. Vinay uncle is no more."

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We were at our house now. After listening to the news about Abhi's uncle, I was unable to utter a single word. I met him some hours prior, and he told me things that were hard to believe and now he was dead. Abhi informed me that they found him in his car, near the city outskirts. After that, I kept quiet. We got into the car and Abhi drove the car at normal speed. Everyone was present in the living room, waiting for the police to arrive. Diya was sleeping upstairs; she doesn't know that her grandfather was no more.

Damini was crying, as Meera ma tried to console her. I would have believed her crocodile tears if I didn't know about her. I looked on another side unable to look at the fakeness. Rudra papa was sitting in the corner; I remember his facial expressions when Abhi gave them the news. He paled after hearing it; there was this defeated look in his eyes. He lost his brother, his own flesh and blood. Raghav uncle sat with him trying to help his friend.

I felt useless standing in one corner and observing others. I wanted to be helpful. I looked around for Akky, she has a special connection with her uncle and she took the news calmly. After listening to the news, she left the place quietly without a single emotion on her face. I squinted my eyes when I felt some movement near the window. I approached the window in small steps trying not to alert others. There in the backyard, Akky was sitting next to Nihal; her shoulders were moving as if she was crying. I felt terrible seeing my best friend like that; I have nothing to help her. Suddenly, Nihal hugged her and she hugged him back. My friend does not need me as she has another person in her life to help her. I smiled seeing the couple.

I observed some other movement from my peripheral, I moved to the next window. There at a distance from the couple, Abhi was walking with Aarav. Aarav, I don't need to think how that boy must be feeling. I know how painful that will be, and the incident happened after everyone accused his father. I remember uncle telling me to take care of his son. I vowed to him in my heart that I will be there to take care of Aarav. I came out of the house and walked towards them. I heard Abhi speaking to Aarav.

"I am here. Your brother is here with you. He will take care of anything." Abhi assured the silent Aarav.

"B-but bh-bhai, h-ow c-can h- he l-" Aarav was unable to complete the sentence as his voice shook with loud sobs. My heart cried listening to his sobs. Abhi pulled the younger one in his arms.

"Shh. I am here." Abhi patted his back and let Aarav cry. I felt like an intruder, spying on the emotional scene. I took a small step back hoping that they will not notice me. Abhi caught my eye just as I was about to turn.

I kept looking at him; the look in his eyes prohibited me from moving away. There was a lot of pain in his eyes. I knew that he needed me. I have two options in front of me, I can turn back and ignore him as if he did to me or I can go to him and help him in any possible way.

Even though if I wanted to take a step back, the love I have for him made my feet move forward. I slowly walked towards the brothers.

They broke the hug as I approached them. I hugged Aarav; he placed his hands on my back. "You need to pull yourself. Your dad wouldn't want this." I tried to lift his spirits. Instead, the boy moved out of my arms and started laughing.

"It's funny. My dad did that to you and here you are telling me that my dad will not want to be like this." He stopped laughing and tears were rolling down his cheeks at his last words.

"Aarav, do you believe that your father did this? Or anything related to me? Do you think that he can do anything bad to your brother?" I pressed him. Aarav shook his head in negative.

"There you have your answer. I will prove your father's innocence in it. I promise." The determination in my eyes might have satisfied him as he nodded his head.

"I will go inside. Mom needs me." I highly doubt that she might need anybody. I kept numb as Aarav left leaving me with Abhi.

"Do you really believe that he didn't do anything?" The vulnerability in the voice clutched my heart painfully. I turned towards him and found him looking at me with desperation in his eyes. He took my hands in his hold.

"Tell me, Avni. He didn't do anything, right?" I looked down unable to look at him.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before answering his question. "Yes. Yes Abhi, I do believe that your uncle didn't do anything." I thought for a moment before continuing. "I found something which may lead me to the real culprit." I looked at him and found guilty and resentment in his eyes, I ignored him and told him those words which I know will break his heart. "He didn't do any mistake, he was blackmailed." That was the last straw for him as he broke down in my arms.

I hugged him as his body shook with silent sobs. I let him cry, let out all the guilt he felt and resentment towards himself. I hugged him all the time; we didn't know how long we stayed like that. Abhi didn't leave me after his cries subdued, he didn't loosen his grip on me as if he was afraid that I will leave him.

"Bhai, they arrived." I felt Abhi stiffen we know who arrived and what they brought with them.

"Akky we will come. Give us few minutes." As I heard, her footsteps fade into the distance. I slowly pulled myself out of his hold.

His face was pale and his eyes were red with all the tears he shed. "Abhi, remember this. You are not responsible for your uncle's death. Don't feel guilty for it."

"No, I didn't believe him and doubted him. I should have known better, he is my uncle. He is the person who raised me, and this is how I repaid him by not believing in him." I was unable to control myself and took his face in my hands.

"Hey, look at me." His eyes lifted and met with mine. "Abhi, someone out there wanted you to suffer and they got your uncle. They are the reason behind this. You are also a victim for their actions." He kept looking at me without a single change in his face. "Will your uncle want this? Will he want you to suffer and blame yourself?" He closed his eyes as if accepting the fact.

I wiped the tear that fell from his eye. "Abhi, you should make the person suffer and when we are done with them there should be only tears in their life." His eyes held determination and promise. A promise for his uncle to bring him justice.

I took his hand and pulled him in the direction of the house. "Now, your family needs you. Be strong."

When we reached inside, we found the police on one side; others were sitting opposite to them. Abhi and I sat on a vacant couch as the officer explained about the accident.

"We found his car, it was rolled over. In our investigation, we found it because of brake failure. There was a fire in the car, and thankfully, we reached on time before the fire can reach the fuel tank. You will get the body in the morning, and as we can see that this is an accident we are closing this case." With that, the officer left us, giving us time to digest the information.

I don't know where, but I heard a similar thing somewhere. I looked up and found Seema in one corner she was staring at someone. I followed her gaze and found Damini looking back at her. It was as if they were communicating silently with their eyes.

I looked at them both for a moment before my eyes widened in disbelief. The way the accident happened was the same as my parents', which means Damini killed her husband. But for what, I didn't get it.

I felt a pain in my head, I didn't know from which. It has been one hour as I struggled with the information I found. All retired to their rooms for the day, it took a huge toll on us.

Now, I was alone in the kitchen waking my brain for some useful information. However, I was unable to get anything other than a headache. I pressed my hand to the side of my head and winced at the sharp pain that spread through my skull.

"Don't touch it!" I heard the voice say when I tried to place my hand over the same spot again. I watched as Abhi came and stood in front of me, he gently took my head and observed the side of my head. "It got swollen. Let me get ice for you." He moved towards the refrigerator, as I tried to place my hand on the same spot his voice stopped.

"For once in your life, listen to me." I immediately let my hand fall after hearing from him. He sighed and got back to searching in the fridge. I kept staring at his back. I was in an internal battle, I was thinking of telling me about my suspicions.

"Ow!" I felt a sudden coldness on my head. I looked up and found his arm; he pressed the ice pack to my head. He stood like that with me observing his hand, I observed him from my peripheral. He didn't move a single muscle, I turned towards him and found him lost in his thoughts.

"What are you thinking?" Hearing my voice, he came out of his thoughts. He shifted his hands and now held the ice pack with his left hand.

"It's nothing." He tried to shrug this thing off. I am letting this go as I want to know what's going on in his mind before I can tell him about his aunt.

"Tell me, I want to know what's on your mind." I pressed him. He sighed before giving in.

"I am just concerned about Damini aunty and Aarav." I should've seen it coming. "I am worried about how they will survive this. Up this moment, they had uncle to help them and now they are all alone." His eyes held helplessness. He was doing this to ease his guilt, he wanted to look after them and provide them comfort. I understood him perfectly, but that woman don't deserve this from Abhi. Even though I wanted to tell him everything now, I stopped myself by telling him that this is not the perfect time for it.

"I am removing this." His voice brought me back. He removed the ice pack from my head, placed it aside, and looked at my head. "The swelling got down. You may be numb over there for some time. If you get a headache, I kept medicine in your room." He informed me and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" My voice stopped him from moving further.

"I will be in the guest room." He replied to me without turning towards me and started leaving me there.

"Stay." He stopped in his steps listening to me. "Come to our room." The words came out of my mouth without a second thought. "We can sleep in the same room," I informed him and left for our room. I wanted to tell him something more but I was afraid that I might tell something and hurt him in the process.

I was lying on the bed when Abhi came to the room, I thought that he will not come here but he came. I pulled the blanket to my chin to hide the smile on my face. He took his clothes and went into the bathroom to freshen up.

After he left, I gave a pep talk to myself. Avni, this isn't your first time sleeping with him. Calm down, you have this. Keep your cool. Once, I felt confident and calm I pulled the blanket up and turned facing the wall.

I tried to sleep, but it was an impossible task. I don't know why I was acting like this. My emotions were all over the place. I heard a door open followed by a soft thud sound. The footsteps stopped, and next, I felt a dip beside me.

I tried to ignore him and tried to sleep but I found it difficult. I turned to the other side, he was facing the other side with his back towards me. From his uneven breathing, I knew he was not sleeping. I kept staring at his back lost in my thoughts.

I want to tell him everything I know, and I even want to protect him from the bitter truth. After listening to his worries about protecting his aunt and looking after her, I don't want to tell him about her at least not now. Abhi turned towards me, I stared at him he has his eyes closed but I knew he was not sleeping.

"Abhi," I called him softly. His eyes fluttered open listening to my voice. "I know about you. You will take good care of them and don't underestimate yourself. I believe in you, and so does your family. Just believe in yourself and be yourself it will be enough." He nodded his head agreeing with me.

Soon, we both fell asleep.

❤❤❤❤❤

Today is the funeral; I spent yesterday trying to help my family. I was also struggling to see Damini's face and not do anything violent to her. Anu and Kalyani dadi arrived and Anu was taking care of her.

Now we are on our way to the graveyard, where we were going to bury him. Abhi, Diya, and I were riding in the same vehicle. I didn't explain to Diya where we were going and I think this time was perfect for it.

"Princess." Diya who was looking in the window turned towards me when I called her. "Now we are going to give goodbyes to your Vinay grandpa." Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"Mama, where he going? And why we all wear black dwess?" She asked and I thought of the easiest way to make her understand.

"Your grandpa is going to heaven and we wore the black dress because we are sad that he is going to leave us." Diya let out a small gasp of a surprise listening to me. Her blue eyes filled with unshed tears.

"He never coming back, mama." She started sobbing softly. My heart broke seeing my daughter like that.

"No baby, don't cry," Abhi said making her attention shift towards him as her sobs reduced to hiccups. "He will be in heaven looking after you. Your grandpa gave your mama and me a big responsibility. You want to know it or not." Diya nodded her head agreeing to him.

"He told us that, if Diya ever cried then he was going to come and take all chocolates from me and your mama. He told us that he will even scold us." Diya looked at him with wide eyes as if not able to believe her father's words.

"Now baby, do you want your mama and me to get scolded?" Diya shook her head in negative.

"That's my baby." Diya smiled at her father's praise.

We reached the place where the burial will take place. In Hindu's culture some formalities are in place for burial. Aarav was doing all the formalities with Abhi helping him. After the formalities, he was dropped into the ground. Each person went and dropped soil on him.

I took a handful of soil and dropped it. I promise you, I will bring justice to you and I will look after your son. I promised internally.

After the burial we reached the house, all the people came to the house to give condolences to Damini and Aarav.

Diya and I were now laying on her bed. "Mana, when we go to our house?" Diya was missing her house, she was staying at her grandparents for past days.

"We will go soon." Diya drifted to sleep. After confirming that she was asleep I came downstairs. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The house was crowded, people were scattered in the living room.

I was drinking water when I felt a presence behind me. I looked back and found Seema standing there staring at me. There was no one in the kitchen other than us both.

"What do you want?" Annoyance was clear in my voice. She smiled listening to me.

"Oh, I don't need anything. You are the person who needs something. Do you need some tissues? You must be sad remembering your parents after all everything is same." I clenched my hand into a fist.

This woman was standing in front of me and taunting me. I wanted to slap her, punch her. I wanted to harm her but knowing that nothing well will come out of it. So, I ignored her and came out of the kitchen only to bump into another person.

I looked at the person to scold him but the words out of my mouth were different. "You?" I shrieked in shock.

Hello guys!

How was the chapter?

What is your favorite part?

I would love to know what song you thought about while reading it, I had many in mind while writing it.

How was your weekend guys?

I had a good one, we went to place where we had this zumba dance and I danced to all the songs. After that we had a concert. Damn! It was a nice evening. And the main reason for the reason in delay of the chapter.

I will try to update tomorrow if not tomorrow then you will have it next day.

See you guys.

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