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He takes a sigh of relief before shifting his gaze to Dad. He knows his involvement today might not be welcomed, but he still seems to have taken appropriate actions from his side.
“I spoke to the Police Commissioner. The goons who kidnapped Meher have confessed that they were acting on Tripathi’s orders,” Aksh reveals. “They were instructed to retrieve the evidence Meher forced out from Raj regarding Tripathi’s bribe to reject the Mashaal Project. The one Raj had obtained from hacking Rima’s phone secretly, without our knowledge.”
Tripathi’s goons? Of course, the captor had told me they needed evidence against Aksh bhai regarding the bribery of Tripathi, which I had retrieved from Raj the day before. And the only person apart from Aksh bhai who would want those proofs to safeguard his reputation in politics is Tripathi. As the details of the abduction come to light, it becomes clear just how deeply Tripathi was involved.
Aksh’s voice grows firm. “I will not let Tripathi get away with this. I am going to the police station to file a case against him.”
“You don’t need to get into this anymore,” Dad argues.
“I know what I am doing, uncle,” he replies, turning back to me. “I’ve called the family doctor. Go back to your room and rest. She will be coming home to check on you.”
With that, he turns to leave, his determination evident in his stride. Vishnu and Dad share a glance as Aksh bhai exits the house.
“I never expected this from him,” I whisper, my voice filled with surprise and gratitude.
Dad nods, his eyes reflecting a tinge of softness and respect. “I had always taught him that no matter what, family loyalty runs deep, and we must stand united against those who threaten us. Maybe, Aksh is doing this out of obligation or guilt. But whatever it is, it’s not going to earn him forgiveness.”
He is right. I know the scars of his deceit are too fresh to be forgiven. We are a family torn apart, but perhaps in this battle, we can find strength in each other.
***************
Three days Later
Restless and unable to find peace, I toss and turn on the bed, desperately hoping to fall asleep. Yet, as I close my eyes, disturbing images flood my mind—the menacing faces of the captor and his henchmen, Ayaan’s fierce battle against them and the piercing sound of the gunshot reverberating in my ears. And then the confrontation that followed between Ayaan and me, where I declared an end to our relationship, or so I claimed.
It has been three days since the incident, but I can’t seem to forget what happened. Ayaan has called me innumerable times in the last three days, but I haven’t answered any of his calls. He might regret not trusting me earlier, but it is too late for remorse now, as his actions have caused me deep pain. I wish trust was a freebie that came with love. If it were, breakups due to a lack of trust would never happen.
I cuddle up with my pillow, tears streaming down my face as I remember the beautiful moments with Ayaan in Dalhousie. It all feels like a dream to me, too good to be true. Unable to sleep, I get off the bed and make my way to the terrace. It’s the only place where I can gaze at the night sky, see the stars and imagine my mom watching over me, hoping to find some clarity in my life.
A lot has happened in the past three days. Tripathi has been arrested, and Aksh bhai is tirelessly fighting to ensure he stays behind bars. The evidence linking Tripathi’s actions to my dad and Aksh bhai have created a new challenge for them as they are trying to hide their involvement in bribing Tripathi to oppose the Mashaal Project. Aksh bhai is trying to paint Tripathi’s actions as political revenge against the Walia family to avoid exposing the bribery scandal. Whatever it is, Aksh bhai’s attempts to punish Tripathi for coming after me are gaining a lot of respect in my eyes. However, Dad remains distant and hurt, maintaining his decision to expel Aksh bhai if he doesn’t resign voluntarily.
Devika bhabhi reached out to me after learning about the kidnapping incident. She wanted to come and support me, but I refused, telling her to take care of herself first. I know she needs space from Aksh bhai, and I hope they can find their way back to each other. Their love is strong, and I can see that Aksh bhai misses his wife deeply, even if he keeps his emotions hidden.
In the midst of everything that’s happening, there is an additional reason for my stress. The evidence I obtained from Raj confirms that both my dad and Aksh bhai have resorted to unethical methods to halt the Mashaal Project, which is Kailash uncle’s dream. Ayaan had always tried to make me see their true colours, but I wasn’t ready to believe him until I had concrete proof. Now that I possess this evidence, I’m at a loss as to what to do next. If I support Ayaan and hand over the evidence to him, I’ll lose my family and their trust forever. It will also have legal consequences for my dad and Aksh bhai, who are political bigwigs and have acted unethically. On the other hand, if I side with my family and bury the evidence, preventing it from reaching Ayaan’s hands, I’ll be complicit in this wrongdoing. It will not only compromise my morals and values but also shatter the love that still exists between Ayaan and me, despite declaring an end to our relationship.
I let out a disappointed sigh. Why am I the one who has to always make these decisions? My family or Ayaan? Right or wrong?
I am standing at the terrace railing, looking up at the dark sky, when I feel a presence behind me. I jolt in fear, but Vishnu’s protective arms steady me, preventing me from stumbling backwards.
“You scared me. What are you doing here?” I blurt out, relief washing over me as I recognise it’s him.
“Ever since the kidnapping incident, I’ve become more cautious about your safety. I noticed you leaving your bedroom at this odd time, so I decided to follow you here.”
I roll my eyes, unable to comprehend his faithful dedication towards his job.
“Do you ever sleep?” I ask curiously. “I appreciate your protectiveness, Vishnu, but you need to get a life for yourself.”
“This is my life. Protecting the Walias. And I don’t regret the kind of life I’m living,” he responds coldly, his voice unwavering.
I let out a frustrated sigh, unable to believe his single-minded focus. How can someone be so consumed by their duty?
“It’s just hard for me to grasp, Vishnu. I can’t understand how you don’t desire anything beyond this.”
Vishnu remains stoic. While I deeply value his unwavering loyalty, a part of me wishes he would have a meaningful life and family outside of his duty towards the Walia family. But as usual, I never get an answer from him to my query. Vishnu has never shared anything about his personal life with anyone. I don’t even know if his parents are alive, and if they are, then where are they? Does he have siblings? What was his life before he joined Dad as his protector? I don’t know anything.
“Why are you here?” he asks, diverting the topic.
“I guess I’m not sleepy, that’s why,” I shrug.
