Beyond the Past

Brought to an End

Luthra House

Rishab was pacing around when Kritika entered the house. She noticed that Kareena and Bani dadi were tensed while Rishab was sighing from time to time. "Bhai? Kya Hua?" she asked.

However, no one answered her. Everyone was busy with their own thoughts. Just as she was about to ask again she noticed Mahesh, Rakhi, Sameer, and Isha enter the house; even their faces dripping with worry. "Rishab Ji," Isha called out.

"Karan?" Rishab asked. Isha shook her with a disappointed expression. "AHH!" Rishab shouted, "Maa, you should have beaten him in childhood, at least I wouldn't have to suffer."

"Rishab Hua kya hai? Why are you so hyper?" Mahesh asked.

"Then what should I do dad?" Rishab asked, "Every time, every time in my life I have had to take stress to fulfil my responsibilities for the family. However, none of you care!"

"Rishab, that's not t..." Kareen started.

"It's true!" Rishab said in anger, while Isha tried to calm him down; however, he shrugged her off. "I work hard for the business and no one cares about the hard work."

"We do," Kareena said genuinely, in tears.

"If you did, then you all would care about the company's image too!" he yelled, "You wouldn't let Karan leave a girl like that then insist on his second marriage! You wouldn't let him do all those things or cause all those dramas in each and every celebration. I have had enough. I have to handle work, business, and on top of that your drama."

"Rishab," Bani Dadi said sternly, "you can't talk to Kareena like this... she is elder than..."

"And she has used that against me each and every time," he said, "each time for my marriage. Whether it was with Sherlyn or Is..." Isha stopped struggling to calm him and the room fell silent. Isha backed away and looked down at her entangled hands. Realising what he said, Rishab turned to Isha and explained, "Isha Ji, I did...."

"Rishab Ji you were angry," Isha said after a deep breath, her neck tightening on his every word, "let this matter drop. Can you tell us why are you so tensed?"

Rishab looked at her, wanting to explain more but she turned her face around. "Rishab, puttar. Bata na," Mahesh said.

Rishab sighed and turned on the television, where the news of Kurrana industries was on a loop. Then without another word, he switched to another source and showed the file leaving the entire family in shock. "Yeh...Yeh.. Ri..."

"Exactly, Maa," Rishab said, "this is what they are going to reveal to the press tomorrow! About Karan's betrayal to Preeta Ji, the tortures, etc. And they have all the proof."

"How did they..." Sameer wondered out loud.

"That doesn't matter," Isha said, "what matters is how we are going to get out of this. Because if this is released then there will be domestic violence, fraud and manhandling cases on Karan. Even if we somehow get him out of all this, he won't be able to continue his career as a cricketer. And the Luthra industries..."

"The shares will start dropping, as investors wouldn't wanna get in this mess," Rishab completed causing Isha to look at him.

"Do...domestic violence?" Rakhi asked, "Why are you saying such things? Nothing will happen to my Karan, he...he will be fine." Mahesh supported her as she broke down.

"Isha!" Kareen scolded, "Why are you saying such things? Nothing..."

"Bua we can't live in a bubble," Isha said, "I am a practising lawyer, I am very well aware how this could..."