Part 3

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Two Days Ago

Adhrit's accusing tone cut through the silence as Purvi continued to massage his aching head. She could see the anger and confusion in his expression, and her heart felt heavy with guilt. She let her arms drop to her sides and refused to meet his gaze, avoiding his accusing stare. "You threw me under the bus, didn't you?" he asked, his voice filled with hurt and disappointment. Purvi couldn't bear to look at him as she struggled to find the right words to explain herself.

"The taunts aimed at pushing me towards another marriage were too much for me to bear, Kaddu! I'm just... just done with it," she said, scrunching the rich satin bed covers under her trembling fingers.

Adhrit's eyes fixated on the setting sun, its fiery hues of crimson, tangerine and golden yellow painting the sky in an ethereal glow. But amidst the beauty, he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that crept up his spine. The birds' symphony as they returned to their nests only served as a reminder of their own fleeting safety. Like the looming darkness waiting to swallow the sun, their own uncertain future hung over them, threatening to consume their peace and sanity at any moment. And yet, they scurried like prey, searching desperately for even a shred of respite in their once safe haven.

He rubbed his forehead and temples with his index and middle fingers, moving them in circular motions. "You could have refused her request, Di. That's a boundary you cannot cross when it comes to Dadi."

Purvi's lips curved into a bitter smile, followed by a dry laugh. "With your vast knowledge of your rights, Kaddu, I'm sure you'll make an informed decision after carefully considering all the options!"

Adhrit rolled his eyes as he heard the hint of sarcasm in his sister's tone. "Seriously, Di?"

Her once joyful expression morphed into pursed lips and strained eyes. "I feel the same way, Kaddu. I promise myself that I won't give in to her next demand, but she always reminds me of how much we owe her. If our grandparents hadn't filed for custody, he would have gotten us back with Mom in rehab."

Purvi sniffed and stared at the fake ceiling, determined not to let her tears fall. "We escaped from his drunken outbursts and the women he'd bring home, who treated us like trash because of them. Somewhere along the way, as I was drowning in a sea of gratitude, I lost my ability to say no to her."

Adhrit grasped his sister's hand and squeezed it gently. He moved quickly to her side, wrapping his arm around her as she shook and slumped. "Di," he said urgently, "we have to end this. We're trapped until she gets her way; she won't release us from her grip. I need you by my side, Di. Will you support me?"

Purvi's eyes welled up with tears, but she couldn't help but smile at Adhrit's response. "So, you've been hiding a secret love child all this time?" she playfully accused him.

A hint of a smile appeared on Adhrit's face as he shook his head in amusement. "Di, please."

"Okay, okay. I support you completely. Kaddu, your plan wasn't necessary. I promised to help convince Adhrit, even though I could have just pretended to try," she joked.

"You gave up your dream of becoming a pilot to take care of the family business and support me in chasing my own aspirations. But the stress, pressure, and criticism from running the business are taking a toll on you. It's my turn now to repay the debt." Purvi struggled with her feelings, torn between choosing her own happiness and her love for her brother, who had always been against marriage. In the end, she chose the easier path of remaining silent and accepting the chance for some much needed peace after years of turmoil.

****

Pushpa's hands clung to her head as the tears streamed down her cheeks without restraint. "It's all my fault. We should have never gone through with that surgery," she said, her voice fraught with guilt. Mitali embraced her foster mother tightly, trying to comfort her as she too shed tears. "Amma, don't blame yourself. Thanks to that surgery, we had eight more months with Bauji. It was worth it," she reassured her.

Pushpa forcefully pulled herself out of the embrace, shaking her head vigorously. She felt a wave of nausea in her stomach as she began to hiccup instead of crying. "Eight months, Mitali! Eight months of more suffering, and it plunged us into utter destitution. We wouldn't have had to endure this daily humiliation." Pushpa's voice trembled with emotion. "Your father would have rather died."

"Please, Amma," Mitali pleaded, trying to calm her down.

Pushpa struggled to catch her breath and hiccuped as she tried to speak. "If only we had more money, both you and Anurag wouldn't be stuck working in that call center. It's all my fault!" Her son silently handed her a glass of water. "There's no use dwelling on the past. Let's focus on the present."

Mitali assisted Pushpa as she tried to drink water between her hiccups. "Why did you promise to return the interest in just one week? How will we manage to gather that much money in such a short amount of time?" asked Anurag. Mitali glanced at her brother with anxious eyes, searching for the right words. "The lender seemed adamant about not giving us any more time, bhaiyya! I had no choice but to give a specific date..."

Anurag let out a sigh and rubbed his temples in frustration. "Mitali, he's going to use this against us. You made a promise in front of witnesses and left no room for excuses. We've already taken out a mortgage on our house, and our job positions make it difficult to get loans. How are we supposed to come up with that much money in such a short time? The principal is due in just one month - that's twenty-five lakhs!"

"Anurag! She was only trying to get us out of the situation! Let's not fight amongst ourselves and ruin whatever little peace we have left!" said Pushpa, caressing Mitali's pale cheeks.

Mitali's chest tightened with guilt, a blistering fire consuming her from within. Her brother's words pierced through her like arrows of truth, revealing her cowardice in the face of danger. As she looked at her foster father's picture on the wall, anger and regret churned inside of her, widening the void in her heart where he used to reside.

But she was determined to make things right. She would stop at nothing to fulfill her vow and restore her family's honor, even if it meant sacrificing everything she had left. The weight of responsibility bore down on her like a heavy cloak, but she refused to let it defeat her.

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Unfortunately, the regret expressed by Pushpa is not uncommon in general wards of government hospitals. The worst and the best traits of humans come out during the times of adversities, and there's nothing quite like losing your dear one to a slow killer like cancer. The choice of availing treatment or not is particularly tough in situations where finances don't run hand-in-hand with the wishes of the heart. I have personally seen people praying for an early death to avoid unimaginable suffering to themselves and avoid being a burden to their families, and it's that kind of helplessness and hopelessness that haunts you forever.

I hope you liked the update, and a further insight into their past and their characters. Please VOTE and COMMENT!

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