'The Tea Trap' ✓

THE CONFRONTATION (PART-2)

 Adviti's POV:
         
             Nani, slowly lifted her right hand and with a shivering hand, she gently stoked my forehead saying, "it will be fine". She went to Niketan who was pacing in the living room desperately and said, " make sure to take good care of my gudiya", nani        warned Niketan, wiping off the tears before anyone else, apart from me could see the tiny tear droplets that were about to drown her cheeks. So yeah that's all, I concluded smiling slightly at VR.
               "I am soo sorry for your short term memory loss. I hope you have been taking meds properly on time," he said annoyingly putting on a suspicious face. What? He thinks I have memory loss? But why?I don't get what's wrong with you Varun. Like, I am perfectly fine. You are surely assuming stuffs. "Oh, hello madam, I guess I gotta remind you the question again, I was interested to know what was the reason behind your tears and not that aashiq's kahani. Waise bhi woh gadhero aashiq sounds sensible in no way to me, he muttered glaring at me in a single breath". "Well, oh...about that, I am sorry, I don't know how to say...but...my nani expired thirty days ago. I am soo sorry was his instant reply. So, yeah to say about the tears you were asking about, it's just uhmm...last week", I paused in between to look at him and say " I hope you don't judge Niketan when I say the reason"

Varun's POV:
         
           Finally she has opened up, she is even trying to explain me the reason behind her sadness, she is still being vulnerable in front of me which means she still trusts me enough, I guess. It was at the very next moment she took a pause and said I hope you don't judge Niketan. So, basically she still feels he is the right man? I mean, even after everything? Even after he made her cry? He is this horrendous human and nothing else. But, do you know him enough to say that? A voice echoed in my mind. No, I say to myself.
            "You...said something?" Adu's keen voice questioned. "No, I mean yes I won't judge" I reply to see her reciprocate to my response with a meek smile that had me on my toes, years ago. She continued with her eyes fixed on the dark tiled ground.

Adviti's POV:

             " It was my nani's funeral. I had this feeling lingering in my mind that that day couldn't have been any more darker with all those sobs and lifeless face of dear ones' of nani. Those were the faces that I had never seen during the days when my mumma was on her death bed with my little sibling in her womb, those were the faces that I had never seen when my nani took care of her son-in-law aka my father and took care of soo many errands while I struggled day and night to earn some pennies for our survival, those were the faces that I had never seen when we were going through the days where we could run out of roofs let alone be running out of the foods. Yet, them gathering together to see my nani for the one last time before she went to the land of angels, where she actually belonged, evoked in me, a sense of helplessness. I looked around petrified, that's when I sensed his presence besides me. He held my hands gently and courted me to our garden in the backyard. As I went closer to him..."Before I continue, further, had to take another pause, when I see Varun behaving in an uneasy manner. As I looked at him with a questioning look, he said,"Ahh...ahem... I don't need the  details Adu. You hugged him, that would be fine I guess, ok?" with a fake smile plastered.
         I sensed his feeling and continued, "so, yeah as I embraced him, he started gently stoking my hair, planting some soft kisses on my head. I suddenly pulled away with a jerk and blurted out, I...I don't feel...that th...this is the right time, which didn't go well with him. He pulled me closer vigorously, pushing me against a tree and pinned me there using his hands. I had no time to think of anything. As I suddenly chose to scream, he covered my mouth with his hands. But, he set me free, at once, when he heard some footsteps behind, I adjusted my duvet still in that insensate state of understanding what just happened. One of my farthest cousin, Jeevika stood there with anger reflecting on her face. Before Niketan could react anything, she spoke up, " how many lives will you destroy? Men like you don't deserve to be here. How dare you even think you could marry someone else and be at peace after cheating on my sister. You are a criminal and I know it. I will prove it dammit. Leave my Adviti. NOW! she screamed louder enough, for few passerby servants there to here. They all turned and stood there at a safe distance. Niketan held down his face. Jeevika leaned in and said in a voice, that only I could hear, he is a b**d* m**on stay away, because I have taken an oath to send him to jail very soon. He has murdered Dhanya. She went off, without turning back. Thanking her for saving my life in very literal sense, I too ran off from there and locked myself in my room. It's been a month almost after this incident. He calls me frequently, says that he has changed, says that he loves me genuinely, says that it's my nani's last wish that I should... that I should...marry him" I couldn't control my tears as I complete saying him the reason for my present plight.
           "Hey, hey wait... Please wait Adu, I know this is a lot to take in. But you are strong. I know my...I mean our Adu" he taps gently on my hand, this time on purpose, creating an assuring silence that brought some peace to my mind. Indeed, life would have been beautiful if it was him, I think for a second and regret it the very later one for making up scenerios. "It's ok Adu. It's ok." he continued, " look, I ain't a counsellor or something. But, I can honestly feel how messed up your mind is right now. But, all that I would like to say is, this marriage... isn't... just the, you know...uhmm...wise thing to do." He said with eyes staring right through my soul with love and concern." I know it isn't. But, don't you think my nani will be angered with me? I mean, he wasn't completely wrong when he said that it was my nani's last wish!"

Varun's POV:

              "No. This is where you were wrong. Your nani knew only that side of Niketan, that you knew before her funeral. Didn't she? I am sure, Adu your nani wouldn't want you to risk your life by getting wedded to a man as harmful as Niketan. I am saying this as your friend. Good friend." As the words escaped my mouth my mind prayed silently for her to take a right decision. "So, yeah you should not feel guilty for not choosing Niketan." I assured. " Yeah, I think...you are right?" she said in a soft voice. " But, what if I too had to face a death like Jeevika's sister Dhanya? I only knew she had a sister who stayed in London, she left us all before I could even see her. I feel that he is dangerous". "Don't worry, he cannot even touch you until I am here" I look at her and yes, her eyes brimmed with tears. We both had our eyes fixed and everything around us felt hopeful at that very moment.

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Thanks for choosing this story and giving it a read, hope this chapter was worth your time✨

Coming up with more twists and turns and also, yes we are just few chapters away from the exciting climax😌👀

Till we meet again, in the next  chapter, stay safe everyone💌