[34]

The next morning, after freshening up, Rishit and Vaani made their way to the living room for breakfast. As they stepped in, their eyes fell upon Vidhan, who was seated on the couch. Opposite him, Meera and Yash sat attentively, their expressions calm yet inquisitive.

The moment Meera noticed Rishit and Vaani, a spark of curiosity lit up her eyes. "Aa gaye wo dono. Now tell us, kya baat karni thi?" she inquired, her tone edged with intrigue.

Vidhan inhaled deeply, as if bracing himself for the gravity of his words. Exhaling slowly, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a quiet determination. "I love Vidhi, and I want to marry her," he declared, his unwavering gaze locked onto Meera and Yash, sincerity etched across his face.

A brief silence settled in the room before Meera, ever composed yet firm, asked, "Does she love you?"

"She does, Aunty," Vidhan affirmed, his lips curving into a soft, assured smile.

As Meera’s eyes shifted towards Rishit and Vaani, she observed their contrasting reactions. Vaani appeared puzzled, her brows furrowed in confusion, while Rishit's expression was unreadable—his clenched fists, however, betrayed the storm brewing within him.

Breaking the thickening tension, Rishit finally spoke, his voice steady yet carrying an undercurrent of restraint. "Can I talk to you for a while?"

Vidhan nodded wordlessly, understanding the unspoken weight behind Rishit's words. Without another glance, Rishit turned on his heels, striding toward his room, with Vidhan following closely behind. Sensing the seriousness of the conversation, Vaani, too, trailed after them.

Inside the Room, the atmosphere was charged with palpable tension as Rishit and Vidhan stood face to face, their expressions hardened with determination.

Rishit, his posture rigid, spoke first, his voice dangerously low yet laced with unmistakable authority. "Maine kaha tha na that after completing her education, she will focus on her career, and then I will marry her off. Then why are you here?" His sharp gaze bore into Vidhan, demanding an answer.

Vidhan took a deep breath, his desperation barely concealed beneath his composed exterior. "She can focus on her career after our marriage, but please, Rishit. Let me marry her." His voice held a quiet plea, one that spoke of the depth of his emotions.

Rishit, however, remained unmoved. His next words were measured yet firm. "And can you give me a valid reason for it?"

For a moment, Vidhan hesitated. But then, gathering every ounce of vulnerability within him, he finally admitted, "Because I don’t want to lose her."

His voice trembled slightly, revealing the sheer fear of losing someone he cherished beyond words. The confession hung in the air, heavy and unshakable, forcing a shift in the charged silence that surrounded them.

Rishit's heart pounded violently against his ribcage as he processed Vidhan’s words. His brows knitted together, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What do you mean by you don’t want to lose her?" he demanded, his voice sharp, though laced with an unspoken fear.

Beside him, Vaani sat still, yet her heart mirrored Rishit's turmoil, beating faster with each passing second. Their gazes bore into Vidhan, searching for the truth in his eyes.

Vidhan said nothing. Instead, he silently handed Rishit an envelope. The weight of the envelope felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried an irreversible truth.

"I know she won’t marry me after knowing this. And I don’t want to lose her. We can’t live without each other," Vidhan confessed, his voice heavy with emotions. Then, as if unwilling to endure another moment of vulnerability, he turned away. But before stepping out, he paused at the door.

"Vidhi ko kuch bhi mat batana," he instructed in a firm yet soft tone before walking out, leaving Rishit and Vaani in stunned silence.

Descending the stairs, Vidhan entered the living room, his eyes scanning the familiar faces—Meera, Yash, and, most importantly, Vidhi. Their presence should have been comforting, yet his heart felt weighed down by an invisible burden. Without uttering a single word, he bent down, touching Meera and Yash’s feet in silent respect. As he straightened, his eyes met Vidhi’s, and despite the storm raging inside him, he offered her a small, reassuring smile.

Vidhi, oblivious to the turmoil, responded instinctively—her arms wrapping around him in a warm hug. He held onto that moment, knowing it might be one of the last before everything changed. Then, without another word, he stepped out of the Oberoi Mansion, carrying the weight of his silent agony with him.

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

Meanwhile, upstairs, Rishit and Vaani sat on the bed, the envelope resting ominously between them. Exchanging a glance laced with unease, they hesitated before opening it. The moment the contents were revealed, their breath hitched.

A medical report.

Rishit's fingers trembled as he pulled the document out, his eyes scanning the words with growing dread. With every passing second, his expression darkened. Then, as he fully comprehended the gravity of what he was reading, his heartbeat stilled for a brief, terrifying moment. His hands, once steady, began to shake uncontrollably.

"What happened, Rishit?" Vaani asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached out, intertwining their fingers in a silent attempt to ground him. But her heart knew—whatever was in that report was devastating.

When Rishit finally spoke, his voice was nothing but a ghost of its former self. He told her everything. Every horrifying detail written in that report.

As the truth unfolded, Vaani’s hands, too, began trembling. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Her breath came in short, uneven gasps, and for a moment, it felt as though the walls of the room were closing in on them.

"Vaani... in papers ko esi jagah rakh do, jaha se ye kisi ko bhi na mile," Rishit instructed, his voice raw with emotion. It was neither a request nor an order—just a desperate plea.

Wordlessly, Vaani nodded, wiping away her tears as she carefully placed the report in a safe spot, away from prying eyes.

The moment the report was secured, Rishit didn’t wait. He rose to his feet, his movements mechanical, his mind clouded with emotions he couldn’t even begin to process. Without another glance at Vaani, he walked out of the room.

As he descended the stairs and entered the living room, all eyes turned to him. The air was thick with unspoken tension, but Rishit paid no heed. His gaze was unwavering, his expression unreadable.

And then, in a voice that held no room for argument, he declared, "Ye shaadi ho jani chahiye, Maa."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a room filled with stunned silence, unanswered questions, and the weight of a decision that could change everything.

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

The night had settled over Oberoi Mansion, wrapping it in an eerie silence. In the living room, Meera, Yash, and Vaani sat with Vidhi, their expressions composed but minds restless. The air carried a weight of unspoken concerns, yet the conversation at hand was too important to be delayed.

Meera’s gaze softened as she looked at Vidhi, but her voice remained firm. "Do you love Vidhan, beta? Are you ready to marry him? More importantly, are you ready for marriage? It is not just a ritual, Vidhi—it’s a responsibility."

Vidhi met her eyes with quiet confidence, her voice unwavering yet brimming with love. "I love him, Maa, and I don’t have any issue in marrying him."

A moment of silence followed before Meera, Yash, and Vaani nodded in understanding. But just as they settled into the acceptance of Vidhi’s decision, another concern arose.

"Abhi tak Rishit nahi aaya?" Meera questioned, glancing at the clock.

"Nahi, Maa," Vaani replied, concern evident in her voice. "And he’s not even picking up my calls."

Meera’s lips pressed into a thin line. Something felt off. "Kartik ko call karke puchna, Vaani beta."

Vaani didn’t waste a second. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed Kartik’s number. The call rang for a few moments before finally connecting.

"Kya hua, Bhabhi?" Kartik’s voice carried an edge of worry.

"Rishit kahan hai?" Vaani asked, her fingers tightening around the phone.

A brief silence followed before Kartik answered, "Woh abhi tak ghar nahi aaya?"

Vaani’s heart sank further. "Nahi."

Kartik fell silent for a few moments, likely thinking of possible places Rishit could be. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke again. "Main ek address bhej raha hoon, Bhabhi. Aap wahan jaake dekho ek baar."

Without hesitation, Vaani nodded. The message notification chimed a few seconds later, and as soon as she read the address, she grabbed her keys and rushed out of the mansion.

The streets were quieter than usual, the city lights flickering as Vaani drove through the dark roads. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, a whirlwind of thoughts flooding her mind.

"Where are you, Rishit? And why aren’t you answering?"

A feeling of dread settled in her chest, but she forced herself to focus on the road ahead. Whatever awaited her at the address Kartik had sent, she needed to be prepared.

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

The Wei

.

Vaani pulled up outside the mansion, the engine humming softly before she switched it off. The silence that followed was almost deafening. With Kartik’s directions still fresh in her mind, she retrieved the spare key from its hidden spot and let herself inside. The air within the mansion was thick, almost suffocating, carrying a silence that felt unnatural.

With hurried yet careful steps, she began searching for Rishit, her heart hammering against her chest. Each empty room deepened her worry until she reached the first floor. As she opened one of the doors, her breath hitched.

Bathed in the silver glow of the moonlight stood Rishit, his silhouette stark against the darkness of the room. He stood motionless in the balcony, gazing up at the night sky, lost in thoughts too heavy to voice.

Vaani stepped inside slowly, the wooden floor creaking beneath her feet. Without a word, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back in a silent gesture of comfort.

Without looking at her, he spoke, his voice distant. "Aap yaha kaise?"

"Ab aap nahi aaye toh hum hi chale aaye," Vaani replied softly. She loosened her embrace and moved in front of him, her eyes searching his face. Worry etched into every corner of her features as she asked, "Kya hua aapko, Rishit? Are you worried about Vidhi? How will she react?"

Rishit gave a small nod, his jaw tightening as he held back emotions that threatened to spill over. "Woh toot jayegi, Vaani… jab usse yeh sab pata chalega," he murmured, his voice cracking under the weight of his fears. And then, as if a dam had broken, the tears he had been holding back for so long finally escaped.

Vaani's heart ached at the sight. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He buried his face in her shoulder, his whole body trembling as he cried.

His knees buckled under the weight of his grief, and as he collapsed to the ground, Vaani fell with him.

Slowly, she adjusted herself, sitting on the floor, and Rishit instinctively rested his head in her lap, his grip tightening around the fabric of her saree.

"Tumhe pata hai, Vaani… how much it hurts when it comes to children? When you find out that it’s not easy for you to conceive… or—" His voice broke as his grip tightened. Tears streamed down his face, soaking the fabric of her saree.

Vaani swallowed the lump in her throat and asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Or?"

Rishit took a shuddering breath before uttering the words that shattered her world.

"When your child dies in front of you."

Vaani stiffened, her entire body going numb. The room spun around her as her mind struggled to process his words.

With a trembling voice, she asked, fear clawing at her heart, "Have you… have you ever experienced it? Have you lost your child?"

Rishit didn’t answer with words. Instead, he simply nodded against her lap, and in that moment, Vaani felt her heart break into a million pieces.

She gazed down at the broken man in her arms, her vision blurred by tears. "Aapne Rishit ki life mein itna dukh kyun likha hai, Kanha?" she thought, her heart aching for him.

With overwhelming emotions, she hugged his trembling body tightly, as if trying to shield him from the pain that had already consumed him.

For the next half an hour, Rishit sobbed in her arms, his grief raw and unfiltered. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a troubled sleep, still resting in her lap.

Vaani ran her fingers through his hair, her own tears falling silently as she watched him. And soon, the weight of the night’s revelations pulled her into slumber as well, the two of them lost in a moment of shared sorrow.

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