XLIX. Truth

"When you try hard to hide the truth, they come back to haunt you."

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Abhi Goenka

I woke up as a nurse came and checked on me, she started telling me about how my family cared and informed me that I have a caring wife. Like, I did not know that about my family and wife. I opened my mouth to snap at her when the doctor entered with Rohan tagging behind him.

"About time you came to see me," I exclaimed seeing my best friend. He didn't show up yesterday and I am not going to blame him for not visiting me. I knew that he had his reasons for not coming to see me. Even though I was happy to see him, my eyes were waiting to see another person. I was eagerly waiting for her from the time she left yesterday.

I don't even know why I forced her to leave when she was not even ready to leave and I regretted sending her away when I wanted to have her near me. I didn't get any proper sleep yesterday thinking about her, I wanted to call her in the night but I refrained from doing so. I saw how tired she was, I wanted her to rest properly so that I can keep her near my side until I will be out of this hospital.

"Sorry, I was unable to come and see you yesterday." I came out of my thoughts as he spoke and I looked at him and nodded my head understanding him. He opened his mouth but closed it as he saw the annoying nurse beside me.

I saw the look in his eyes, he has some information to share with me and it was important if he was reluctant to share it with me in front of others. I waited anxiously as the doctor checked the charts.

"Everything seems good Mr. Goenka. You are doing well so far, we are going to run some tests and see the results before sending you home." The doctor smiled at me.

"When can I leave?" I asked him ignoring his words. He simply shook his head; he knew me very well and expected the same question. I hated hospitals and I prefer being at home to here.

"If the results are as expected then you will be discharged in ten days." He said and waited for my reply.

"One week," he looked gob smacked at my suggestion. Did he really expect that I will be staying in this room and have the hospital food for ten days? Heck no! If possible, I want to leave today, but I think the doctor will have a heart attack with my request. So, I suggested a week. It was too long for me but I can manage for that much time.

I can have Avni bring me food and Karthik can get my laptop so I can work here. I have to make some changes to the room so that Avni can sleep here with me. "Arrange a bed here for my wife, she will stay here with me for the nights from now on," I ordered the doctor who still stood in front of me. When I didn't hear any response, I looked up and found him standing there and gaping at me.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" How did he became a doctor? He can't even follow a single order. If Avni was here, she used to take care of everything with a simple smile on her face. I miss her, I looked at the watch it was eight in the morning. She must be getting ready to visit me, I can't wait to see her again. I didn't spend my time with her for the past few days and I want to cover the loss.

"Sir, I understand you want to hone early but there are some precautions and rules we must follow-" he stopped mid-sentence as I glared at him.

"Doctor, I will speak to you about it. Can you leave us alone?" Rohan asked knowing very well that I was going to explode.

"Ok," the doctor and the nurse left without uttering a single word. As the door closed behind their figures, I turned towards Rohan. "What did you find?"

Rohan sighed and sat on the chair. "I found the same things as Avni told others. I was a few hours late to uncover the truth. If I was fast she would be in jail long back." He shook his head.

"You tried your level best, the truth is out now. What other things did you find?" I didn't want him to feel bad, he tried his best to find about her. Yes, it was true that if he were fast Avni would be safe. But it was done and I am not going to blame him for her actions.

"Yes, I found the maid that worked for the Rajputs. She confessed the truth and revealed a place where Damini meets with her men." He stopped and looked into my eyes as he spoke the next sentence. "She has dozens of men working for her, Abhi. She has over fifty people on her team. They are experts in all the fields. Fighting, medicine, computer, you name it and she has them. She had backup plans, if I did catch them in time your family might be lying six feet under." As he explained to me, only one question ran in my mind.

"Why? She wanted to kill Avni because of Arjun Rajput. But why did she want to kill my family? She loved us all; at least she loved Diya, Akshaya, and me. Then what changed? Are we missing anything?" I voiced my thoughts aloud.

"I will check into it again." I nodded my head entrusting him with the task. I know about him and he can gather all the information for me.

There was a knock on the door stopping us from proceeding any further. "Come in," Aarav poked his head inside.

"Come here, Chotu." Rohan encouraged my brother as he stood near the door staring at the floor. Aarav came inside and stood beside my friend, he kept his head down not looking at us.

"You didn't come to see me yesterday," I knew that he was waiting out and left after knowing that I was safe.

"I was ashamed and I can't look in your eyes. I am even ashamed to stand in front of you."

"Come here," I patted the bed beside me. Aarav slowly came and sat beside me.

"So tell me why you are ashamed?" He was numb and kept looking down.

"Then tell me, did you plan my accident?" Aarav looked startled and looked at me for the first time. His brown eyes had tears in them.

"Tell me, were you behind my accident?" I stressed again, this time he shook his head in negative. "Then did you help your mother in her plans," he again shook his head.

"Then why are you ashamed? You are not the reason for anything your mother did, so stop blaming yourself." I patted his cheek.

"Sorry, that my mother caused you this trouble." He started weeping in his hands.

"Ok, stop crying now. Someone told me that crying is not men, but thinking of it, you are still a boy. You can cry all want, I won't stop you. "

"Bhai!" He whined like a little kid.

"Abhi, stop teasing the poor kid, he is a bit emotional let him be." Rohan joined me in teasing him. It was funny to see. "You guys chat, I will speak to the doctor. Be back in 5," saying that Rohan left us.

"Who came with you?" I asked wanting to direct the conversation in a different direction and I was also curious and wanted to meet her.

"Yes, I came with Avni di," I opened my mouth to ask where she was when he informed me. "She went to the doctor, she wanted the doctor to check on her wounds. She will be here in some time," he informed me with a look in his eyes.

"What?" I questioned him when he kept looking at me.

"Nothing, it seems to me that you are missing her!" I shrugged or tried to shrug one shoulder in reply.

"She is my wife and I didn't see her for a few hours. Obviously, I want to see her and not at your dumb face."

"Hey, my face is handsome." He shrieked and adjusted his hair. I scoffed at him. I opened my mouth to comment on him but stopped when the door opened. I looked at the person who entered and smiled when my eyes met a familiar pair of brown eyes.

She smiled and wished me and I reciprocated it. I asked her about what the doctor said. Aarav excused himself and left us alone giving us some privacy.

"Nothing, he said I was fine." She smiled reassuringly in my direction before taking the seat beside me.

"Did you have breakfast?" I asked concerned about her.

"Yes, I had your favorite today," She smirked in my direction knowing the taste of hospital food. "I had pancakes with honey on it," I growled at her, she was teasing me. If I was in a good position, I might have taught her a lesson about it.

"Don't tease me, Avni. You may not get your pancakes after I come home." I threatened her and she winked in my direction.

"Is that so? Who holds the rights to the kitchen? Me! So, you can't stop me from eating anything." She laughed as I glared in her direction. I can't cook and she is proving her authority.

"Enough already. Where is my baby?" I said trying to change the topic.

"We will discuss it later. Diya was sleeping and Ma told me that she will bring her when she comes to visit you," I sighed. Why do they all need to come and visit me? I am not a kid and don't need them pampering me.

"Why do they need to come and visit me? I am perfectly fine, just some scratches here and there." I sounded like a kid, but it didn't stop me though.

"Oh stop it. The wounds you got are not simple and they love you so let them show it to you. Stop whining." Did she just say that to me?

"I am not," I replied like a kid. She sighed after listening to my reply.

"Stop it. Let us speak about something else. What were you speaking to Nihal about?" She questioned me trying to change the topic.

The playfulness in my eyes vanished and they hardened as I remembered the look on his face. "Normal things, he wanted to clear some things, telling sorry and all."

"I told him not to do it, but he did it again. I will go and speak to him. Wait here." Avni said and stood up to find him.

She looked like she was about to murder someone. I opened my mouth to yell for her to stop. Avni opened the door and halted there. I heard muffled voices, thankfully whoever the person was stopped Avni from proceeding any further.

I tried to see who was on the other side of the door. She stood there speaking to him for some time. I slumped back on the bed when I was unable to see anyone and found myself staining. I waited for a few minutes.

"Who is at the door?" I asked when I was unable to control my curiosity. She turned towards me and spoke to me. "There is someone who wishes to see you," after speaking to me, she turned and spoke to the person and she came inside with the person I least expected on her back. Avni was staring at my face, it was blank devoid of any emotion as I kept looking at them. Avni made the introductions between us.

"He came to check how you were doing," Avni was the first one to break the silence, as Daksh came and stood beside the bed.

"I wish you a speedy recovery." Daksh wished me. I accepted it.

"Thank you, for coming here and also for being there with Avni yesterday. You helped her a lot and she is here alive because of you, I am indebted to you," it was true. I am grateful for him and I showed it on my face. I noticed the bag in Avni's hand.

"What are those?" Avni looked at the bag and the person beside her before answering my question.

"These are fruits and some juice Aj got, here take one." She placed the bag on the table and removed a juice bottle before offering it to me. She adjusted my position before giving the bottle, I took a few sips as I thought two things. She is calling him with a nickname and the second one is if he wanted to give me something then why make Avni the mediator.

"Avni, here. Drink it, you will feel better." Daksh offered her a bottle. I kept the bottle down when I heard him speak.

"What happened? Are you fine Avni?" Why didn't she tell me that she was not feeling well?

"Yes, I just was not eating enough. No big deal though." It was big deal, I want to scold her for not taking good care of herself.

"It is a big deal, Avni-" Daksh tried to say something but Avni stopped him from saying anything. Her mobile rang diverting us.

We both stared at her as she spoke to the person on the mobile.

"Yes, I will be there in five minutes." She cut the call and turned towards us.

"I need to step out for a moment. Aj can you stay here for a while, till I come back." She requested him and he nodded his head agreeing with her. I didn't want anyone to stay near me, I was not a kid. I wanted to argue with her but I kept quiet.

"Abhi, I will come back fast. Rest, ok." She informed them and left us in the room alone without any supervision. It was the worst.

After she left the room, silence filled. I broke the silence and asked him the question. "What were you telling about Avni?"

He stared at me before sighing. "I don't want to tell you about it, but you are her husband and you deserve to know about it. She was about to faint upstairs and the doctor conducted some tests on her and told her that it was because of low glucose in her blood. She probably didn't eat yesterday worried about you," he stopped speaking leaving me with many thoughts.

If she was not feeling well she could have told me, I should have taken good care of her if I was not lying on the bed. I am in this situation because of one text message that was from him. I didn't ask any explanation from Avni, knowing that there were no romantic relations involved between them.

"You could have avoided this situation if you took enough care of her. You are selfish and want her to concentrate only on you. In the process of taking care of you and your daughter she is ignoring her health, give her some space." He blabbed some non-sense. I know that I shouldn't care about him or the things he told me but they hit the spot.

"Leave!" I simply spoke and wanted him to leave before he can see the emotions I was feeling.

"You know what I said is true, you are simply selfish to focus on yourself forgetting about others. And I am not going to leave, I made a promise to Avni that I will look after you until she comes, I am not like you that breaks promises." That his home, if he doesn't leave now I am going to punch him.

"Leave now!" My voice sounded strange to my ears. "Leave now if you don't want your teeth knocked out." I threatened him, he kept looking at me without backing down. I kept glaring back at him, lucky for him before I can punch him the door opened.

"Abhi," Rohan called me softly but I didn't break my staring contest with him. Daksh looked at the door first and sighed when he saw Rohan.

"I will leave then, please do take good care of your wife. Till next time!" He left giving me a mock salute.

"Calm down!" I heard Rohan's voice from beside me. I closed my eyes trying to control my anger, when I heard the door close I opened my eyes.

"How dare he?" I shouted startling the two members in the room. "I am going to kill him," I threatened him, I will definitely kill him when I find him.

"Bhai, calm down." Aarav spoke from Rohan's side. He looked frightened and stood close to Rohan; my friend was calm knowing my temper.

"Rohan, I want information about him. I want to know everything about him." I pointed my finger in the direction of the door.

"Ok, I will get the information for you in a few days. But Abhi you need to calm down, Avni will be here in a moment and you need to be calm." Listening to Avni's name my anger started simmering down.

I closed my eyes and the words he spoke revolved in my mind. If he was telling the truth then she is stressed because of me and I need to stop it.

"Sir, where shall I place it?" I opened my eyes and saw two people with a mini-bed in their hands.

"No need of it, take it back," I ordered them ignoring two people's curious looks.

"Ok, sir." They left us.

"Abhi, the doctor told us that he will get you discharged in a week. Do you need anything?" Rohan asked me.

"Yes, ask Karthik to drop by with my clothes and laptop along with the files. I want to sleep so please leave. I don't want to be disturbed for some time." I closed my eyes ending the conversation.

"But-" Someone started speaking but I closed my eyes ignoring them. They left after some time leaving me to my thoughts.

I drifted off to my sleep, not knowing what awaited me.

I woke up from my nap when I heard some speaking near me. I opened my eyes slowly and found Karthik seated in the chair. He was on a call speaking hushed.

I cleared my throat gaining his attention. "Sir, how are you?" He cut the call and stood near me.

I grumbled and struggled to sit straight. "What happened with the deal?" Karthik immediately launched into the conversation and informed me about the problems he faced.

"Fix a meeting with them now, I am going to speak to them."

"Yes, sir." Karthik tried to leave the room when I stopped her.

"Did anyone come to see me when I was sleeping?" I questioned him, I wanted to know if Avni stayed behind.

"No sir, Avni ma'am left after staying here for an hour. She left with Mr. Agnihotri. I informed your family that you don't want to be disturbed so they didn't drop by." He left me giving me the information.

So, she left with him. I gave out a bitter laugh. "You are a hypocrite, Abhi. You don't want her near you and when leaves you feel bad. Your life is a mess."

I tried to forget about the issues in my life and focused on my work. It was the same for the past five days. I tried to avoid seeing others in the name of meetings. But they were stubborn and I allowed it, I spend more time with Diya and less time with Avni. She was never alone and that helped me to avoid her. Sometimes, I don't even know why I am avoiding her. Whenever I see her face, I see a conflict in her eyes. She looked as if she wanted to say something but she didn't say anything nor did I provide any time for her. I tried to keep Diya away from Avni the most not wanting to stress her and neither did anyone question me about it.

My hand has healed and there was a bandage around my head. The doctor was shocked after seeing the amount of work I was doing, but he was also shocked by the recovery I made. The determination on being less burden to others made me want to cure myself.

Tomorrow I am going home, I just need to survive this night. Diya is sleeping soundly beside me, the first thing I changed in the room was to replace the bed. The bed is big enough for two people and Diya spent her evening with me playing board games. She mentioned Avni when we started the game, she complained that her mother was not spending time with her. According to my daughter, Avni was always lost in her thoughts.

I tried to sleep but I was unable to. I sighed before getting down from the bed. I closed the door and got out. The hospital was quiet considering that it was midnight. I got into the lift and got down. The waiting area was empty as I sat there.

My mind is filled with many things, the main one is missing Avni. I didn't speak to her properly for five days and she didn't even attempt to do so. The less effort on her side put me under stress. I keep thinking about many things when a person came and sat beside me. I don't need to open my eyes to see who it was.

"What do you want now?" I gritted out with my teeth clenched.

"I didn't expect that you will take my suggestion seriously. I thought that if she spends less time with you then she can improve her health, but I was wrong." I whipped my head in his direction shocked by the words.

"What do you want now Daksh Agnihotri?"

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"Baby, are you ready to go home?" I asked Diya as I closed my laptop.

It was morning, and I was ready to go home. "Yes, dada. But where mama?"

I sighed at her question. "Baby, we will meet her, be patient."

"Ok, dada." I approached her pouting form and tilted her chin up.

"Why is my princess sad?" I heard her voice from the door. Diya skipped to her with a squeal. I closed my eyes and clenched my hand trying to control the rage.

I slowly turned around and looked at her, she was looking tired but that didn't stop me from the rage in my body.

"We need to speak," those words and my voice were enough for her to understand that we were not speaking anything good. She sent Diya out with an excuse and I pounced on her once Diya was out.

"How could you?" I roared and the windows shook with my voice. Avni shivered in fear but I ignored it and approached her.

"How could you hide the truth about Aarav?"

Hello people,

Another update and that to a long one. I am proud of myself.

So, from the end of this chapter we can understand that the downfall of the relationship starts here.

Any guesses on what Daksh was doing provoking the beast?

How did Abhi find the truth though? Did Daksh do it? Or someone else did?

Comment on how you felt about the chapter.

See ya guys in next chapter.

Love you all 💕💕

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