THE BLOOMING OF LOVE BETWEEN FORCED MARRIAGE

29. Confrontation with Reality

          Over the week many attackers had tried to attack Rutuja and break into the house. But couldn't lay a finger on her or get into the house as Harshada, Rishika and Aniket were constantly alert about their Surrounding. They all came to know how it was to be in Rutuja's place in the same situation at the moment.

It was Saturday morning. Ashish and Rishikesh were finishing their work. When they were finally done it was 1 pm. They both returned to their hotel room and pack their stuff to leave. They both were worried about what was going on with Rutuja there. The only difference was Ashish knew about everything while Rishikesh didn't.

It was a day when Rishikesh would know about the truth. Ashish had asked others about what to do and they had all agreed to tell him after they come back. As it would be dangerous to tell him while they were still there in Pune. Rishikesh was done with packing and asked Ashish to come and sit beside him. Ashish went and sat beside Rishikesh.

He knew that Rishikesh wanted to know the truth now. Rishikesh said, "You were going to tell me about everything today". Ashish said, "Yes, I did say that but, first we need to go back there". We are going to Rutuja's house all of us will tell you about whatever had happened. He said, "Ok, let's go back now". They took their bags and checked out of the hotel. They got in the car and were on the way back home.

Both were silent the whole way home. A few hours later they finally reached the apartment parked the car and got in the elevator to reach there. Once they were in front of the Rutuja's flat Ashish rang the bell. Aniket came and opened the door then let Rishikesh and Ashish inside. Ashish and Rishikesh went and sat down in the living room. They also noticed that Aniket, Rishika as well as Harshada were looking extremely tired and had dark circles around their eyes.

Rishikesh asked them "Where is Rutuja?" Harshada said, "She is in her room, first we need to tell you the truth. Rishikesh sat straight and said, "Tell me about it then". Harshada and Rishika were too nervous to say anything. Ashish noticed that and said, "Harshada, me and Aniket will tell him you both are too nervous to speak". Harshada said, "Yes you should tell him".

Rishikesh was patiently waiting for them to speak. Ashish said, "Rishikesh you already know that you can be in danger from Rutuja don't you?" He said, "Yes I know. What about that?" Ashish said, "Rutuja didn't tell you that, you will always be in danger". He was shocked by what Ashish said at the moment. He asked Ashish "Why didn't she tell me about it?"

He said, "She didn't tell you as she didn't want you to be in the constant state of alertness and worry". She never wanted you to change because of her. Rishikesh got silent when he said this. You were being watched by them from the day you came back and Rutuja had arranged a safety camera and sensors all over your room and house to alert her. As well as there is a camera sensor in your ring that will alert me if you are in any kind of danger.

Rishikesh didn't speak anything about it and Ashish thought he might be shocked to know all this. He continued and told him the first attack was on your first dinner date with Rutuja. You finished dinner and were in parking she had saved you from the dart by acting like she was falling. Those people kept going on and when we had lunch at her lab that day they had gotten so bold to try attacking you in front of all of us but, Rutuja was quick to take a note of it.

He was thinking, why didn't I notice all this before? She was hurt because she saved me all the time. Aniket said, "Last Friday they had planned to kidnap both of you; she got kidnapped but, she managed to send an alert message to Ashish so we could take you home safely as their cars would be there trying to get you". We were worried about where she was but, she had managed to escape and come back.

Rishikesh said, "I am sorry but, I overheard your conversation that day". All of them were surprised to hear that he knew about kidnapping as he didn't ask anyone about it. Rishika asked her brother "Did you know about it?" He said, "Yes I know about it". Harshada said, "There is one more thing that we need to tell you about, just be calm when you hear that". Harshada couldn't talk more as she grew teary-eyed once again. Looking at Harshada, Rishika also got tears in her eyes.

He thought the thing that they are going to tell me must be painful if they are both crying and Ashish as well as Aniket are thinking about how to tell me about it. "What is it that is so hard to tell?" He clenched his hands into fists and took long deep breaths as he was about to lose control. Ashish could see him losing control but, he needed to tell him about Rutuja.

Ashish and Aniket calmed themselves enough to speak and said, "The day she told you she wanted to divorce you; she had forced herself to take that extreme step as she found out you were going to be attacked while you were doing the final checks of things". She had rushed to your room to find the person had already released the dart in your direction and got between you and the dart. She was about to collapse because of that dart.

She had to keep you safe anyhow as she won't be able to come with you there. The decision she took hurt you both deeply but, later she was glad that she took this step as they had ordered attackers not to attack you anymore instead she was going to be the target. Ashish got silent and couldn't speak about what happened next. Rishikesh was in control so far and asked "I know there is still more to it. Tell me I need to know about it".

He was preparing himself for what was about to come. His conscience was telling him it will be more hurtful than what he heard until a moment ago. Aniket decided to speak as it was hard for Ashish. Harshada and Rishika had tears streaming down their face and Ashish was looking at the floor. Aniket said, "When she left your house she come back to her house to check what medicine that dart had and found that she had to take a medical leave till Saturday as it would keep her.

Rishikesh said, "Tell me what happened to her". Aniket said, "The dart would keep her unconscious till Saturday". Harshada gave her a medical certificate to take leave but, she decided to work that day. On her way to the lab she was shot in the right hand as she wasn't paying attention. Good thing was that it just had grazed her hand. She had managed to rush to the lab in that condition. She was battling with herself to stay on her feet till she was here before she lost her consciousness.

She had been unconscious since then; this is the reason she was not able to speak with you. Ashish said, "The attackers knew about this and tried hard to get her but, while those three were here they didn't let any harm come to her. Rishikesh was completely silent he didn't speak anything. Ashish was getting tense by his behavior. He was too hurt inside to speak anything for a moment.

Tears had started forming in his eyes. Ashish said, "I am sorry I never wanted to keep this from you Rishikesh but, Rutuja had taken a promise from all of us. We couldn't break it". Rishikesh was hurting deep down when he said, "It's not your fault guys, you did it for me". "I can't blame anyone of you as you all did what you thought is the best for me". Rutuja was doing the same thing that is why she never looked at my eyes when she spoke to me.

Harshada said, "It was hard for her to not tell you about the things going around". As whenever she made eye contact with you she was close to revealing the truth to you". She had controlled herself from doing that several times now. When she finally wanted to tell you all this happened. She was always pretending to be fine when she wasn't. I hope you are not too angry at her for what she did. He said, "I am not angry at her just upset about the fact that she didn't want to tell me all this.

Harshada said, "I just wanted to tell you that the time she spent with you over the month was the happiest time she ever had since she started working". Rishikesh asked, "What do you mean by that?" Ashish said, "She hasn't seen her bestie this happy for over a year now". She spent time with us but, was never there. It always seemed that her mind was somewhere far away even though she would be with us. That changed when you came into her life she seemed happier.

She enjoyed being with you. The childish part of her which was lost came back to life again. We were happy to see that happen. She needs you in her life like a person who requires oxygen to breathe. He said, "I never knew about any of this". Harshada said, "You won't because she had asked us not to tell you about this". He said, "I want to meet Rutuja". Harshada said, "You can go and meet her. She is in her room even though she isn't conscious yet". She will be awake anytime now. He said, "I will go to her room now".