Chapter 10: 7.

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙫

Advika sat by the window, staring out into the gloomy evening sky. It had been a week since she last heard from Vidyut, and the silence was gnawing at her. She regretted hurting him, wished she could take back her words, and longed for a chance to make things right.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She glanced at the screen and saw her brother's name. Her heart skipped a beat as she answered, "Hello?"

"Di, it's me. I'm back in town. Can we meet?" His voice was warm, bringing a wave of relief.

"Of course," she said quickly. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the house. Come over."

"I’ll be there in a few minutes."

Advika grabbed her things and rushed out. When she arrived at her childhood home, she found her brother waiting for her. They embraced tightly, the comfort of his presence soothing her troubled mind.

"It's good to see you," she said, pulling back to look at him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he replied, smiling. "But why didn't anyone tell me about your marriage to Vidyut jiju?"

Advika sighed, leading him inside. "They said you were busy. They didn't want to disturb you."

Her brother frowned. "I would have come. You know that."

"I know," she said softly, sitting down on the couch. "But that's not important now. Listen, I need you to leave this house. Come with me. We can start over somewhere else."

"Why?" he asked, confused. "What’s going on?"

Before she could answer, the front door slammed open, and their mother stormed in. "What are you doing here, Advika?" she demanded, her voice icy.

Advika stood up, her heart pounding. "I was talking to my brother."

"You shouldn’t be here," her mother snapped. "And you," she turned to her son, "why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"

"I wanted to surprise you," he said, his voice strained.

Advika stepped forward, her resolve hardening. "We need to leave this house. It’s not safe for us here."

"Leave?" their mother scoffed. "You’re not going anywhere."

"I mean it," Advika insisted. "We have to get out."

A sharp slap landed on her cheek, the sting bringing tears to her eyes. She stared at her mother in shock. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you’re trying to tear this family apart," her mother hissed.

"I'm also your daughter," Advika said, her voice shaking. "Why do you always treat me like this?"

"You're not my daughter," her mother spat. "My daughter died the day she went away with that boy, even when we said no. And she came back... in that state."

Advika felt a chill run through her. "What are you saying?"

"You heard me," her mother said coldly. "You’re just a bitch. You destroyed our family."

Suddenly, a voice cut through the tension. "One more word about my wife, and you'll face serious consequences, Mrs. Rajvanshi." Vidyut's presence filled the room, his tone cold and dangerous. Shivers ran down Advika's mother's spine.

Vidyut walked over to Advika, his eyes blazing with fury. He gently touched her cheek, examining the red mark. "How dare you lay a hand on her," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Advika's mother tried to speak, but Vidyut cut her off. "I don't care what your reasons are. Advika is my wife, and if you ever hurt her again, you'll regret it."

Advika's mother stood frozen, her face pale. Vidyut turned to Advika, his expression softening. "Let's go home."

Advika looked at her brother, her eyes pleading. "Please, come with us."

Her brother shook his head. "I know, Di. They haven't treated you well, but for me, they've been the best parents. They've done so much for me. I can't leave them."

Advika's heart broke. She had done everything for him, and now he was choosing them over her. She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and let Vidyut lead her out of the house.

In the car, she stared out the window, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. Vidyut reached over and took her hand, but she didn't respond, lost in her own pain and sorrow. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her, and she felt utterly alone.

Advika and Vidyut arrived at the house, the weight of the recent confrontation heavy on their shoulders. As they entered, the family rushed to them—Vidyut’s mother Vaishnavi, his father, his sister, and his brother.

"Advika, what happened?" Vaishnavi asked, her voice filled with concern. "Where have you been? Why didn't you tell us?"

Advika remained silent, her eyes downcast. Vaishnavi’s gaze shifted to the red mark on Advika’s cheek. "What is this? Who did this to you?"

Before Vidyut could respond, Advika turned and walked upstairs to their room, her expression blank. The family watched her go, worry etched on their faces.

"Vidyut, what happened?" his father demanded.

Vidyut sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Her parents... they slapped her. They called her names and hurt her deeply."

Vaishnavi’s eyes filled with tears. "How much more must my child suffer?" she whispered.

Determined to comfort Advika, Vaishnavi headed upstairs to their room. She found Advika sitting on the balcony, her back to the door, softly humming "Lukka Chuppi."

"Lukka chuppi bahut hui

Saamne aa ja na..."

Her voice was fragile, filled with a deep-seated sorrow. Vaishnavi's heart ached as she listened.

"kaha kaha dhundha tujhe..."

Advika's humming trailed off, her vulnerability evident as she struggled to keep her composure. She felt a lump in her throat, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Vaishnavi walked over and knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She began to sing, her voice soothing and tender.

"Aaja saanjh hui, mujhe teri fikar

Dhundhla gayi dekho meri nazar

Aaja na..."

Advika turned to look at her mother-in-law, her eyes filled with gratitude and pain. Vaishnavi continued, her voice a beacon of comfort in the darkness.

"Lukka chuppi bohot hui

Samne aa ja na

Kaha kaha dhundha tujhe

Thak gayi hai teri ma..."

She opened her arms to hug her, and Advika hugged her tightly, crying and sobbing hard.

Vaishnavi’s voice faltered, but she kept singing, drawing strength from the need to be strong for Advika.

"Aaja na..."

The song ended, and for a moment, there was only silence. Vaishnavi gently took Advika’s hand. "You’re not alone, Advika. You have us. We are your family now, and we will always stand by you."

Advika leaned into Vaishnavi, sobbing quietly " Why 𝘔𝘢𝘢 why they did this to me , har baar har baar ese karte hai like mein unki beti nahi hui hu bachpan se meri choices Mera apna kuch nahi sirf Bhai ka chota hai wo ladka hai wo sab kuch wo mera kya Maa mera kyaa kaha galti hui thi meri thi bhi nahi phir bhi muje saja mil rahi hai Maa what's my fault whats my fault jab choti thi to apna banaya nahi phir jab kuch esa hua jab meri galti nhi thi to apni apni karke paraya kar diya ke meri wajah se sab hua hai bina sune ki kya tha kyu tha m...maaa itni buri hu kya mein...m..maaa mene kya galti ki hai m..Ma kyaaa???"

("Why, Maa, why did they do this to me? Every time, every single time, they treat me like I'm not their daughter. Since childhood, my choices, my own desires, nothing matters—only Bhai's. He's younger, he's a boy, he gets everything. But what about me, Maa? What about me? Where did I go wrong? Even if I did something wrong, why am I still being punished, Maa? What's my fault, what's my fault? When I was little, they never truly made me their own, and later, when something happened that wasn't even my fault, they made me an outsider, blaming me for everything. Without even listening to what really happened, why it happened... M...Maa, am I really that bad? M...Maa, what did I do wrong? M...Maa, what?")

She screamed and crying holding her

Vaishnavi held her, whispering soothing words, offering the unconditional love and support that Advika so desperately needed she want Advika to let go everything which she is hiding behind her small smile which make everyone thinks she is so happy in her life but reality...

As they sat there, the night enveloping them, a newfound bond was forged between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, a promise of healing and hope amidst the scars of the past. Advika slept in her lap.

𝙑𝙞𝙙𝙮𝙪𝙩'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙫

The moment I lifted Advika from maa's lap and placed her on our bed, my heart shattered. Seeing the trails of tears on her face and the mark of the slap made my anger surge. I quietly sat beside her, looking at her face, and something unknown stirred within me.

I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Whenever I saw Advika in this condition, a strange restlessness filled my heart. Seeing her pain felt as if someone was tearing my heart apart. The sorrow and suffering were evident on her face, and I wanted to do anything to take away her pain.

"Advika," I whispered softly, "I never want to see you like this."

I gently stroked her hair and promised myself that I would protect her from every pain. My anger was now transforming into a resolve to keep her safe and happy.

As I looked at her peaceful face, memories of our time together started flooding my mind. I remembered the first time I saw her, how her smile had instantly drawn me in. She had a way of lighting up the room with her presence, and her laughter was like music to my ears. How did we end up here, in this moment of pain and anguish?

I couldn't help but think about how much she had endured. Her strength amazed me, and I felt an overwhelming need to be her shield, her protector. My thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—anger at her parents for hurting her, sadness for the pain she was in, and a growing realization of my feelings for her.

"Advika, you mean more to me than you know," I murmured, though I knew she couldn't hear me. "I will do everything in my power to make sure you're never hurt again."

The room was silent, except for the sound of her gentle breathing. I continued to sit by her side, unable to tear my eyes away from her face. The more I looked at her, the more I realized how deeply I cared for her. This wasn't just about duty or responsibility anymore; it was about love. A love that I was only just beginning to understand.

Advika shifted slightly in her sleep, and I could see the remnants of her tears glistening on her cheeks. My heart ached at the sight. I leaned in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I promise you, Advika, I will be your strength. I will stand by you through everything."

As I sat there, I realized that my anger wasn't just about what had happened today. It was about the realization that I had failed to protect her before, that I hadn't been there when she needed me the most. This guilt was something I needed to address, not just for her sake, but for mine as well.

The family had left us alone, giving us the space we needed. I appreciated their understanding, but right now, all I could focus on was the woman lying before me. I knew I needed to talk to her, to make her understand that she wasn't alone in this, but that conversation could wait until she was ready. For now, she needed rest, and I would ensure she got it.

I stayed by her side, my thoughts consumed by her. Her strength, her resilience, and her capacity to love despite everything she had been through humbled me. I knew that I had to rise to the occasion, to be the partner she deserved.

"Teri aankhon mein jo raaz chhupe hain,

Unse dil ko baandh liya hai humne.

Har nazar mein ik kahani hai,

Par un baaton ko chhupaya hai humne."

My treasure

With these thoughts, I lay down beside her, carefully wrapping my arm around her. As I held her close, a sense of peace washed over me. This was where I belonged—by her side, through every storm and every sunshine. Together, we would face whatever came our way.

And as I drifted into a restless sleep, I knew that my love for Advika would only grow stronger, guiding me to be the man she needed and deserved.

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙫:

Advika stirred from her sleep, slowly becoming aware of the warmth enveloping her. She opened her eyes to find herself in Vidyut's arms, his protective embrace offering a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. As the memories of the previous night flooded back, she remembered how she had treated him, the harsh words, the distance she had maintained. Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart heavy with regret.

Unable to hold back, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, her tears soaking his shirt. The sudden movement woke Vidyut. He opened his eyes, looking at her with a mix of surprise and tenderness.

"Khud ki marzi se pehla hug de rahi ho wo bhi rote rote, biwi yrrr..." he teased, a small smile playing on his lips.

("You're giving me your first hug by your own choice, and you're crying while doing it, wife yaar...")

Despite her tears, a chuckle escaped Advika. She realized he was awake and felt a wave of relief wash over her. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And thank you."

Vidyut's eyes softened. "Why are you thanking me?"

"For forcing me into this marriage," she said, her voice growing steadier. "I got the best family because of you. And I'm sorry for how I've behaved with you. I have my reasons, and I can't say them, but I am..."

He gently placed a finger on her lips, cutting her off. "Shhh, it's okay. I understand," he said softly. "You don't have to explain anything."

She looked into his eyes, feeling a connection she hadn't acknowledged before. They were close, their faces just inches apart. The air between them was charged with unspoken emotions. Just as they were about to close the gap, a loud, playful voice broke the moment.

"Bhaiiiiii bhabhiii!" someone sang from outside the door.

Vidyut's face twisted in annoyance, but Advika couldn't help but laugh. The sound of her laughter, even mixed with tears, was like music to his ears.

"Seems like our moment will have to wait," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

Advika wiped her tears and smiled at him. "Thank you, Vidyut. For everything."

He sighed, pulling her closer. "We'll have plenty of moments, don't worry," he promised.

The door burst open, and Vidyut's younger brother stormed in, grinning from ear to ear. "Good morning, lovebirds!" he announced cheerfully.

Advika couldn't stop laughing, and even Vidyut couldn't suppress a smile. The interruption, though untimely, reminded them both of the family they had and the love that surrounded them.

"Alright, alright," Vidyut said, ruffling his brother's hair. "We'll be out in a minute."

As his brother left, still humming happily, Vidyut turned back to Advika. "You really are stuck with a crazy family, you know."

She smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

He smile gently. "Neither would I, treasure. Neither would I."

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𝘽𝙮𝙚:)