[26]

Bangalore...

Vidhan, Ved, and Vidhi were sitting at the dining table having breakfast when the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

"Itni subah kaun aaya h?" Ved asked, frowning in confusion.

"Main dekhta hoon," Vidhan said as he rose from his chair and walked toward the door.

When Vidhan opened the door, he was shocked to find Vaani standing there, dressed in a comfy lower and T-shirt. Her eyes were red and puffy, her face a mix of exhaustion and despair.

"Vaani," Vidhan said, his eyes wide in surprise as he stepped aside to let her in. But instead of entering, Vaani stepped forward and hugged him tightly, her arms wrapping around him like she was holding onto her last thread of comfort.

"Kya hua, Vaani?" Vidhan asked softly, hugging her back as he felt her body tremble. Tears streamed down her face, and her sobs were muffled against his chest.

"He doesn’t, bhai... he doesn’t," Vaani managed to say through her sobs, her voice trembling.

Vidhan tightened his grip on her, gently running his hand over her hair in an attempt to soothe her. "Don’t cry, baccha," he said softly, his voice filled with concern.

"But it hurts, bhai," Vaani whispered, her pain raw and unfiltered. Vidhan remained silent, comforting her with his presence and gentle touch.

Ved and Vidhi, who had been watching from the dining area, approached the scene with curiosity and concern.

"Kaun hai, bhai?" Ved asked, walking closer.

When they saw her face, both Ved and Vidhi exclaimed in unison, "Bhabhi/Didi!"

"Kya hua, bhabhi/Didi?" they asked as they approached her, their voices laced with worry.

Vaani, however, didn’t answer. She pulled away from Vidhan and ran toward the guest room.

"Vaani!" Vidhan called after her and followed her quickly. Vidhi and Ved shared a confused look and followed him.

When they reached the guest room, they found the door closed. Vidhan knocked gently. "Vaani, please open the door," he called, but there was no response.

Vidhi turned to Vidhan. "Kya hua, Vidhan?" she asked, her brows furrowed in concern.

Vidhan sighed deeply before answering. "Vaani ko Nandini ke baare mein pata chal gaya," he said.

Vidhi’s eyes widened in shock. "But kaise? Bhai ne bataya?"

"Nahi," Vidhan replied, shaking his head.

Ved, still puzzled, asked, "Aree, koi mujhe bhi toh batao. Ye Nandini hai kaun?"

Vidhan and Vidhi exchanged a glance before Vidhi explained everything to Ved—the story of Nandini Mathur, her place in Rishit’s life. Vidhan then shared what Vaani had told him earlier.

Ved’s jaw tightened as he processed the information. "Does your brother still love her, Vidhi?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Vidhi hesitated before answering. "Pata nahi, Ved. Par itna zaroor keh sakti hoon ki unki life mein Nandini Mathur ki jagah koi nahi le sakta," she said gently.

Ved’s expression darkened. "Toh iska matlab hai ki tumhare bhai ne meri behen ki zindagi barbaad kar di," he said, his voice laced with anger.

"Absolutely not, Ved," Vidhi countered firmly.

"Phir kaisa hai?" This time Vidha asked, his tone accusatory.

Vidhi took a deep breath and replied, "Unki life mein Nandini Mathur ki jagah koi nahi le sakti, par Vaani bhabhi ke liye ek nayi jagah toh ban sakti hai na, Vidhan."

Her voice was calm yet resolute as she continued, "Hum unhein blame nahi kar sakte, atleast unka point of view jaane bina toh bilkul bhi nahi."

Vidhan nodded, understanding her perspective. Vidhi added, "Hum bhabhi se baad mein baat karte hain. Let’s go for now."

The three of them walked back to the living area, each lost in their own thoughts.

******************

Once they settled in the living room on the couch, Vidhi took out her phone and quickly typed a message to Rishit:

"Bhai, bhabhi is in Bangalore."

She hit send and sighed, watching the screen for any immediate response.

Dehradun...

Rishit was asleep in his study, his head resting on a pile of papers. The morning sunlight filtering through the window woke him up. Groggy, he stretched and stood, heading straight to his bedroom.

When he entered, his brows furrowed in confusion as he noticed the empty bed. "Vaani kaha gayi?" he muttered to himself.

He checked the bathroom—empty. Then he went to the kitchen—still no sign of her.

"Room me nahi, kitchen me bhi nahi... toh phir kaha hai?" Rishit wondered aloud, now feeling a hint of panic. He began searching the entire mansion, but she was nowhere to be found.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was Vidhi’s message.

"Bhai, bhabhi is in Bangalore."

Rishit froze, staring at the screen for a moment, before letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank God she’s safe. But mujhe bataya kyun nahi ki woh Bangalore ja rahi hai? I should’ve gone with her," he said, shaking his head in frustration.

As he was mulling over the situation, his phone rang. It was Vidhi.

"Bhai, aap Bangalore kab aa rahe ho?" Vidhi’s voice came through, sounding urgent.

"Kyun?" Rishit asked, confused by her tone.

"Bhai, why are you so relaxed? Bhabhi aapse naaraz hoke Bangalore aayi hai!" Vidhi said, her frustration evident.

"What?" Rishit exclaimed, his eyes widening. "But why?"

Vidhi sighed. "Because unhe Nandini ke baare mein pata chal gaya hai."

"Whattt?" Rishit repeated, his shock deepening.

"What what kya kar rahe ho? Chup chap Bangalore aao aur bhabhi ko manao," Vidhi snapped, her irritation laced with concern.

Rishit nodded to himself. "Main abhi aata hoon. But... use pata kaise chala?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Pata nahi, bhai," Vidhi replied.

Rishit hummed thoughtfully and disconnected the call.

Rishit muttered under his breath, “Vaani ko pata kaise chala,” confusion clouding his thoughts. However, a sudden realization struck him like lightning. "Kahin us room se to nahi," he thought, his mind racing to connect the dots. Without wasting another moment, he hurriedly left for the parking lot, started his car, and sped toward the airport.

The journey felt interminable, each second stretching into an eternity as Rishit's thoughts spiraled. Finally, he landed at Bangalore Airport, his pulse quickening with urgency.

Grabbing a cab, he directed the driver toward the Ahuja Mansion. The weather mirrored his turmoil—clouds rumbled ominously, and within moments, the skies opened up, drenching the city in a torrential downpour.

As he reached the Ahuja Mansion, the rain had intensified, each drop soaking him to the bone. Yet, Rishit paid no heed to his drenched state as he dashed toward the grand entrance. Rainwater streamed off his hair and clothes, but his singular focus was Vaani.

The doorbell echoed through the mansion, and Vidhi opened the door, startled to find Rishit standing there, soaked and breathing heavily.

“Vaani kaha hai?” Rishit demanded, stepping into the living room without waiting for an invitation.

Vidhi opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Vidhan emerged, his expression as stormy as the weather outside. “You won’t meet her,” he declared, his voice low and laced with an unyielding menace.

Ignoring Vidhan’s words, Rishit turned to Vidhi once more, his desperation palpable. “Where is Vaani, Vidhi?” he pressed.

Vidhi hesitated, glancing nervously between the two men before whispering, “First floor, second room.”

Without hesitation, Rishit made for the stairs, but Vidhan swiftly stepped in his path. “Maine kaha na, you won’t meet her,” Vidhan reiterated, his voice steely and uncompromising.

“Vidhan, mujhe jaane do,” Rishit said, his tone calm yet resolute.

Vidhan’s eyes darkened as his anger flared. “Maine pehle hi kaha tha, Rishit,” he growled, “meri behen ki aankhon se ek bhi aansu nahi aana chahiye tha. But today, she’s crying—and it’s because of you.” His words were a knife, sharp and deliberate.

“Vidhan, tumhe mujhe jitna sunana hai, sab suna lena,” Rishit implored, his voice trembling with raw emotion. “Lekin abhi mujhe usse milne do.”

Vidhan remained unmoved. “I told you—I won’t let you,” he said, his voice rising, echoing through the room.

“She is my wife,” Rishit shot back, his voice matching Vidhan’s intensity.

“And she is my sister,” Vidhan countered, his protective fury unwavering.

Upstairs, Vaani stood at the edge of the staircase, silently observing the confrontation unfold. Her heart ached at the sight of the two men who meant the most to her clashing so violently. Without a word, she descended the stairs, her movements soft yet resolute.

Reaching the foyer, she opened a drawer, retrieved an umbrella, and began walking toward the door. Her quiet departure went unnoticed until Vidhi’s voice broke the tension. “Bhabhi!” she called, drawing everyone’s attention to Vaani.

Rishit’s head snapped toward her. “Vaani!” he exclaimed, rushing toward her with unrestrained urgency. Vidhan moved to intercept him, but this time Ved and Vidhi held him back.

“Please,” Vidhi said softly, her eyes pleading to let Rishit go.

“Tum bhi, Ved?” Vidhan asked, disbelief coloring his tone as he turned to his younger brother.

Ved’s voice was calm yet firm. “Give him a chance, Bhai,” he urged.

Vidhan sighed, his resistance visibly crumbling under the weight of their words. He sank onto the couch, his frustration evident. “Okay, fine,” he muttered, his voice tinged with reluctance.

Vidhi took a seat beside him, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. “Doesn’t he deserve a chance, Vidhan?” she asked softly.

Vidhan remained silent, his thoughts warring within him. After a long moment, he gave a curt nod, conceding to their collective plea.

********************

The rain poured relentlessly, a curtain of water blurring the world outside as Vaani walked away from the Ahuja Mansion, the umbrella shielding her from the deluge. Her steps were brisk, but her heart was heavy, emotions swirling inside her like the storm above.

Behind her, Rishit followed, his drenched figure cutting a forlorn silhouette against the rain. His clothes clung to his body, the water soaking him anew, but he didn’t care. His focus was solely on her.

“Vaani, wait! At least listen to me!” he called out, his voice hoarse, desperation evident in every word.

She didn’t stop, her grip tightening on the umbrella. “At least give me a chance to explain myself, to explain everything!” he pleaded, his words echoing through the downpour.

Tears brimmed in Vaani’s eyes as she halted abruptly, throwing the umbrella aside. The rain cascaded over her, but she didn’t flinch.

“Vaani, wait!” Rishit shouted, closing the distance between them. He sprinted forward, standing in front of her, blocking her path.

“Please, just listen to me,” he begged, his trembling hands reaching out to hold hers.

“Kya sunu main?” she yelled, yanking her hands free, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her cheeks. “That Nandini matters so much to you? That I mean nothing to you?”

Rishit’s jaw clenched at her words, his own tears threatening to spill. “It’s not like that, Vaani,” he said softly, his voice laced with anguish.

“Then kya hai? Tell me!” she cried, her voice breaking as the pain in her heart overflowed.

“You also matter to me, Vaani,” Rishit admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“That means she does too, right?” Vaani shot back, turning to walk away, but Rishit grabbed her hand, spinning her around and pulling her close.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her even closer until the space between them was almost nonexistent. “You matter to me, Vaani,” he said, his voice trembling.

Vaani opened her mouth to interrupt, but Rishit gently placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. “You matter to me a lot. Main nahi jaanta kyu aur kab se, but you do,” he confessed, his tears mingling with the rain on his face.

“I lost her, Vaani. I lost Nandini. But I don’t want to lose you,” he continued, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. “Yeh dil ek baar toot chuka hai, ab ismein phir se tootne ki himmat nahi hai.”

Vaani’s gaze softened, her tears mirroring his as she looked into his eyes. “Aap sach keh rahe ho? You love me?” she asked, her voice trembling with hope and disbelief.

Rishit nodded earnestly. “Haan, manzoor hai mujhe yeh ehsaas-e-mohabbat,” he declared, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Vaani clung to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as their tears mixed with the rain. “I love you, Rishit. I love you so much,” she whispered, her voice filled with happiness.

Rishit pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. “I love you too, Vaani,” he said, a soft smile breaking through his tears. The storm raged around them, but they were oblivious, lost in their own world.

“Rishit,” Vaani said softly, her voice tentative.

“Haan?” he replied, his eyes fixed on her.

“Can I kiss you?” she asked, her gaze locking with his, vulnerability shining in her eyes.

Rishit froze for a moment, his expression unreadable. The rain poured between them, each second stretching infinitely.

“It’s okay,” Vaani murmured, stepping back, hurt flashing across her face as she turned to leave.

But before she could take another step, Rishit caught her by the waist and pulled her back, the distance between them disappearing once again.

His intense gaze flickered between her eyes and her lips. “Yes, you can,” he whispered, and before she could respond, he closed the gap, his lips meeting hers in a passionate kiss.

As Rishit pulled Vaani closer, their breaths mingled in the cool, rain-soaked air. His hands rested firmly on her waist, grounding her in the moment, while her hands slid up to his chest, trembling slightly before settling around his neck. Their eyes locked for a brief, electrifying second, the storm around them mirroring the tempest of emotions surging between them.

When their lips finally met, it was soft yet fervent, a collision of longing and unspoken emotions. The rain cascaded down their faces, mixing with the salty taste of their tears, but neither noticed. Rishit’s lips moved gently against hers, pouring every ounce of his unvoiced affection into the kiss, as if trying to convince her of his love without words.

Vaani responded hesitantly at first, her heart fluttering wildly, but as his sincerity seeped through, she melted into him. Her fingers tangled in his damp hair, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened, slow and unhurried, as if time had stopped just for them.

The world around them faded—the heavy rain, the rumbling thunder, even their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies. All that existed was the warmth of their shared moment, the kiss conveying everything they had struggled to put into words. It was a promise, a confession, and a plea all wrapped into one—a kiss neither would ever forget.

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