Beyond the Past

Fanning the Flames

At night, Luthra house

Karan strutted towards the dining area to find no one there. Frowning he asked one of the servants, "Where is everyone?"

"Sir, they are outside. In the living room," he replied. Nodding, Karan made his way to the living room.

"Mom, kya Hua?" he asked when he saw her pace around worriedly. However, she didn't answer him. "Dad?"

"What is it to you?" Mahesh questioned, "Tum karo appni man mani. We are here to handle all the problems. Whether caused by us or not. Isn't it?"

"Dad I was just..."

"Rishab," Rakhi exclaimed, "you are back. Did everything go well? Sab theek hogya na?"

Rishab sighed, his tired face dimming further after hearing her questions. Not bothering to answer her, he started to move towards the stairs. "Rishab mom is asking you about something," Karan said and tried to block him. Rishab kept on walking, not paying anyone any heed. "Rishab!" he yelled and held onto his hand.

"Leave," he said in a tired tone.

"Rishab kya hua?" Mahesh asked, "Are you alright?"

Turning around as he shrugged off Karan's hand, he gave Mahesh an exhausted smile, "Thanks dad, at least you asked me about me."

He once again turned to leave when Rakhi said, "Rishab puttar, meri baat..."

"Mom please," he exhaled, "I don't really wanna hear anything or talk about anything right now. Just let me... just let me be, please."

"Rishab Hua kya hai?" Bani Dadi asked, "Is everything okay? Did the Khurranas agree or not?"

"Maa please, he looks very tired right now. Rishab puttar, why don't you go and take a rest for a while?" Mahesh suggested him.

He chuckled, "It's okay dad, we apparently have much more important matters to handle. However, Dadi, is that the only drawback that our family suffered? There is nothing else wrong?"

"Rishab, speak clearly," Kareena said in irritation, "these twisted words are not going to get us anywhere?"

Rishab exhaled loudly, and with a tight jaw, he replied, "No, the Khurranas didn't agree. The mail we sent... Sorry, the mail I sent with Isha J... Isha's help has restrained them for now. However, they aren't willing to hand over the proofs." Hearing his words everyone fell in despair, there really was no way out. Karan's career and the Luthra family's pride all was at stake and they couldn't do anything. "Happy?" he asked, "Can I go now?"

"Ho kya gaya hai tujhe?" Karan asked, "I agree that you are tired but no need to be this ru..."

Rishab went near him, his muscles stiff as if restraining themselves from doing something rash. "You have no right to tell me how to behave because I wouldn't be running around trying to clean up your mess if you knew how to. I left Shimla for the past five days to clear up your mess," he gritted his teeth, "while I was supposed to clear things out with my wife. So please. Don't. Teach. Me."

"I know you are very upset about bhabhi leaving, even we a...." Karan tried to calm him down.

"No you are not," he shouted, "don't lie. Because if you were you would have tried to bring her back. Just like I am trying to sort out everything for you, you too would have tried to convince her. But no! None of you bothered."

"How can you blame us? she left the house on her own accord, that too when the family needed..." Kareena tried to scold him.

"And she doesn't need the family?" he questioned, "Why is that she should be here when we need her but never be there for her! Arre... Thik hai, man liya that she left on her own. So what? Shall I just leave her?"