Mahika was at the premiere with Avyaan.
The movie was amazing and they were at the after-party.
She checked her phone when she felt it vibrating but it was dead due to the low battery.
Mahika and her inner filmy Indian girl were on cloud nine seeing the celebrites and stars as Avyaan guided her through the crowd and people.
The paparazzi did ask them about their relationship to which both of them replied as friends but they both knew that tomorrow atleast a couple of news articles will be published by some tabloids about the secret relationship of the second Singhania Bahu and the upcoming director.
Not like they cared.
Many people complimented her on her sky blue lehenga, simple makeup and fancy hair do. All courtesy to their family stylist ofcourse.
Once they were seated and were alone Avyaan asked.
"So how's things with Dhruv?"
"Good. He's trying and thats what counts."
"Did you tell him about the moving to Delhi part? "
She nodded taking a sip from the mocktail in front of her.
"How did he react?"
"In a way that shocked me to the core."
"Is this the end then Mahi?"
"I hope so Avy. I really do. "Â She gave him a sad smile.
"Half the formalities are already over and there aren't any possessions to split. The only thing he had taken from me was my heart and I have taken it back rightfully. "
"I'm super proud of you. "
"Nope. Today is about you and you don't get to do that. Today I am proud of You not the other way around. "
When she thought about it , Dhruv and Mahi were together more often now. Some times intentionally but mostly out of coincidence.
The awkwardness had disappeared as the old familiarity replaced it. It felt good to have him like that. Mahi often thought how different things might have been if she had thought about this a bit earlier.
After the event Avyaan offered to drop her home but she didn't want to burden him more.
Once she reached home she plugged in her phone to the charger and waited. Once it had the minimum charge she switched it on to find about 20 missed calls from Dhruv.
Her heart screamed at her.
Something's not right.
Arya stormed into their room and slammed the door shut and proceeded to throw her bags on the bed.
"Someone's in a good mood " Rehan teased seeing her.
"Well everyone can't always be in a good mood now. " She replied angrily.
"Woah sweetheart what did I do now? Is it that Arnav again. "
Rehan asked going near her and sitting down on the bed.
"Why should my moods be related both of you? "
"Come here Mrs Singhania " with that he pulled her to him and made her sit in his lap.
"Now tell me. What is it?"
"Nothing. "
"Please don't lie sweetheart. Your eyes betray your emotions. "
"I'm fine Rehan really. These things happen. "
"What things?"
"It's okay. I'm fine " she said and tried to get up.
"I'm not going to let you go unless you tell me what happened. "
At his words , the tears she had bared so long came flowing out like a streak.
"Hey what happened? Are you okay? "
She was sobbing into his shoulders making a the fabric darken with her tears.
Arya snuggled more into Rehan hiding her face in the crook of his neck.
"Sweetheart? Arya? You okay?"
Arya didn't have the energy to reply.
She shook her head refusing to leave him.
"You are okay. I'm here" he repeatedly whispered into her ears rubbing her back.
Rehan waited for her to calm down. To compose her self.
She moved away after some time , her sobbs now mere sniffles.
One side of Rehan's shirt was soaking wet but his eyes were only on her.
"Sorry " she whispered
"It's okay. Now tell me. "
"You know Rehan everyone talks about how hard it is to become a doctor but they never talk about how hard it is to be a doctor. "
She could sense his gaze on her. He was listening to her giving her his complete attention.
"There was an emergency surgery today. It was a boy. A cute 11 year old boy. He had gotten into an accident and glass shards had pierced his chest. "
Arya's voice wavered and a fresh set of tears started to overflow.
"We tried Rehan. I tried. Still we couldn't save him. "
"You know the irony is if we save a person the family is well aware to praise the gods and thank them first. But at the same time if we couldn't save them the same family will blame us. Some will yell and some will curse. "
"I'm not saying to give up their believes. As doctors when we are in an operation theatre even we pray to the supreme power to help us."
"I'm so sorry for ruining your shirt and your mood. "
"You didn't do both. "
"According to traditions it is said that you take the saath phera to depict the seven lives you are going to spend together. Through happiness and sadness. Through hardships and prosperity. "
"I'll be there with you when we burn in hell. I'll be there with you when we enter heaven. "
"Now be a good girl and go freshen up. I'll make coffee for you. "
She gave him a grateful smile. As he was about to go his phone rang out.
As Arya was nearer to the phone she took it.
" It's Dhruv Bhai. "
"Put it on speaker. " He replied coming towards her.
The words that came out of Dhruv's mouth had both of them shakeb to the core.
" Rehan , Bhabhi is missing. "
"Mam there's a package for you." Natasha said coming into her cabin.
"Send them in. "
It was a bouquet of white lilies and roses. Dhwani was already stressed and angry about the work. This was the last toll on the bell.
She started going to Veer's cabin the flowers still in her hands.
"Veer I told you a hundred times. I'm not changing my descision. Please stop trying too hard. "
"I didn't ask you to. " He replied looking at her confused.
She noticed Dhruv siting opposite to him looking at a paper weight as if it was the most fascinating thing ever.
"Then why the hell have you been sending me flowers everyday that too white lilies and white roses.
I thougt I was clear with you on everything. What if people start noticing this and the media doesn't need that much time to spin a new rumor. "
"Love I don't have any idea what you are talking about " he replied genuinely confused.
She threw the bouquet in his face which he caught.
"Then what is this ?"
"I dont know. I swear on you love. This is not from me. "
"You didn't? "
"Yes. "
"Wait when did you start getting these?"
"From about a week. "
Veer started examining the bouquet closely.
"Hi Dhruv. " Dhwani said finally acknowledging his presence.
He gave her a sheepish smile.
"Hi bhabhi. "
"Look at this "
"And There's a camera in this thing. "
Veer said forwarding the bouquet to Dhruv who confirmed his suspicion.
"What do you mean there's a camera?"
"Bhabhi what did you do with the rest ? " Dhruv interuppted her.
"Most of them wilted away but there must be one or two in my office and some at my home. "
Veer quickly called for his assistant.
"There will be some flowers like this in ma'ams cabin. Bring them here yourself. "
"Yes sir " he replied.
A look was exchanged between the brothers and Veer nodded.
"Can you both talk using your voice so that I can understand too. "
"Yeah sorry. "
"Sorry "
Both of them replied together.
"By the way , Why did you keep them ? "
"Because I thought you..... "
Dhwani stopped abruptly before she said anything she might regret later.
"Can we focus on the current situation?"
"Yeah. Yep. Sure. "
Suddenly a wrinkled bit of paper stuck on the thorn of a rose caught her attention.
"Wait Dhruv give me that" she said taking the bouquet from him.
She took out the paper to find a message scrambled in it.
"You are mine babydoll"
The note slipped away from her hands in shock. Her breath was becoming laboured and she sensed a panic attack coming her way.
Even with the AC she started sweating profusely.
"Love are you okay?"
She nodded not looking at both of them.
"I need some fresh air " she said while stepping out of the cabin. She rushed back to her cabin and sat down taking deep breaths.
She drank a glass of water and was gaslighting herself to believe that it was not him.
She called Natasha into her cabin.
"Cancel everything on my schedule for today. "
"Okay ma'am. "
Natasha stooped at the door and asked.
"Ma'am are you okay. "
"I'm fine" she answered with a forced smile.
She took a few more deep breaths then proceeded to take the car keys, her bag and leave.
She wiped her sweaty hand in the pally of her red cotton saree and took of her blazer and held it in her hands.
The handwriting and the words in the note refused to leave her mind.
"You are mine babydoll. "
It was bringing back memories she never wanted to remember ever again.
She fastened her steps towards the parking lot. She could hear his voice in her head.
"You are mine babydoll. "
"It couldn't be him right? "
*
"Hey babydoll"
"How many time have I told you. Dont call me that. "
"Why? "
"Because I am not your babydoll"
"You are mine and I have the right to call you anything I want. "
"I am not yours. I am mine alone. I'm asking you politely. Leave. "
"Don't act so hard to get Baby "
He said grabbing my hand
"Go to hell"
She seethed pulling her hands away.
*
No one knew about him.
Not Veer. Not Papa. Not Rehan.
Except one person.
They say the enemy of your enemy will always be a friend and in her case it turned out to be the person she least expected it to be.
S. S. Her friend who she always wanted to remain a secret.
All of this , the memories, the trauna , him , was a life she had left behind in that wicked place.
All of her it started and ended 6 years ago.
IIT Kanpur. A place she had longed and worked hard to reach but once he entered her life it was hell. For the twenty year old Dhwani who had fire in her veins rebellion was like a drug. Being sassy, self reliant and calling out wrong when she saw ut made her quiet popular among her peers.
Popularity came with admirers and him.
He said he loved her. But she knew he was obsessed to a level that it made her terrified of him.
"Who gave you the right to talk to him?"
He asked as he forcefully pinned me to the wall.
"No one have to." She answered.
This made him more mad as he tightened his grip on her hands.
Her eyes started to water at the pain. Seeing that he let go and started caressing her hands.
"Babe you know that I love you right?
You love me right? Let's run away. Then no one will see you or talk to you. "
"You are mad. " She said with horror and pushed him away.
"You are mine. You understand? "
"I am not. " She snapped and walked away. Her attitude was one of confidence but inside Dhwani was a scared little girl who was alone.
He always knew where she was and what she was doing. He left her messages on notes wherever she went.
Dhwani became so lost in the Paranoia that she started seeing him where ever she went.
Atlast not able to live with the eternal fear Dhwani filed a police complaint and they issued a restraining order against him.
Still he refused to leave her. Until she found his secret and revealed everything to the world.
"I will find you bitch. And I will make you pay. "
The police tried to arrest him and he was shot during the encounter but they couldn't get him. He ran and was officially absconding.
That's when Dhwani had escaped from there. Had come back to Rajasthan , started a new life hoping that he will never find her again. Hoping that it was all behind.
Still some nights she would wake up from her nightmare and comfort herself. It was supposed to be a secret that she was ready to take to her grave.
No one was supposed to know.
Yet when she hear that name in public, her body shudders involuntarily.
Abhiram
She fastened her steps as she was reaching her car.
Suddenly some one covered her face with a funny smelling cloth and as Dhwani lost her conciousness only one word that repeated on her mind.
Veer.....
â
And that was our last Rehya scene.
I always wanted to add that point to my book.
Sorry not sorry for leaving you guys on a cliffhanger.
There's going to be 2 more chapters btw
Love you all
Aswa_Maya
"
And trauma had a way of burning memories deeper into the mind"