Better ✓

14. To let go

"But there are two things that you won't like, Umm..... Ishani.....she can never be a mother again. I mean her uterus have been damaged. She will have to undergo hysterectomy, where her uterus will be removed. The doctor told it needs to be done in few days, I have not told her anything yet. And the other thing is , there is no trace of Riddhima bhabi. I have checked nearby hotels and hospitals. I think she is ......." Vansh brought his hand up and smashed his phone with full force on the table. He ruffled his hairs and clenched his fists.

Riddhima and Sejal were in AC cabinet of their train. Their fellow passengers have not arrived yet. The train has left the station twenty minutes ago. Riddhima was looking intently outside the window. Sejal plugged out the earphones out of her ears. She initially decided to give Riddhima some space so that she can come to the terms of the past happenings of her life but now she couldn't control anymore. She snuggled closer to her and kept her hand gently on her shoulder. " Talk to me Riddhima. I don't want you to stuff that pain inside you forever. There is a lot to your life ahead. You are just twenty five now. Look , I am still wandering at the age of twenty eight. Either I am a lesbian and am in love with you or I am destined to date cheap bastards. " Riddhima smiled softly. She turned towards Sejal, "Before I called you that night, I almost had a panic attack. The thing was I found dadi whimpering , but I........I ", Riddhima fidgeted her fingers and looked at them in her lap. Sejal was looking at her with furrows on her forehead, she wanted to understand her. "I didn't do anything. I ignored it purposely. I hate her. I hate everyone there so I didn't help and later she suffered heart attack. I felt as if I couldn't breathe. " Sejal shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak something. "Don't try to assure me. Tell me I did a terrible thing" , said Riddhima.

"You are right. I was going to tell you some assuring words but now I am being honest with you. You didn't do a terrible thing. You didn't know that she will get to the verge of death. Anybody else in your condition would have done worse things. You have been tortured physically, mentally and emotionally. So, don't blame yourself. Look Riddhima, I have dated but I have not really fell in love so I don't know what heartbreak is. But people have constantly tried to push me out of the way, some have been successful too, you know that. I have learnt that negative feelings like hate and jealousy don't take you anywhere. The person for whom we harbour these feelings will have no effect, the loss will always be ours. People say we should forgive. There should be no hard feelings. I know Riddhima, it is near to impossible in your situation but , you can let go. Let it go. Don't care. Don't fight to end it. Accept it. Live with it. Don't try to find happiness in erasing it. Find an alternative for your heart to be happy. "

Riddhima huffed closing her eyes and nodded in response. "I will do my best. I feel light now. " "By the way, I got five lakhs out of that pendant. Well, that reminds me, do you know Kabir kidnapped Ishani? The whole mansion was in mess when I got there to get your things. By helping that Kabir, you could have ended yourself in trouble", said Sejal. Riddhima straightened up, "I hope she .......no....no....there is a child.....no negative feelings Riddhima." She mentally chided herself. "I heard from Aangre when we were in hospital," Sejal shrugged. "I didn't know and I don't want to know. Let's not talk about them. " "Yeah! " Sejal opened the packet of salty peanuts and offered them to Riddhima. "Did you know, you were pregnant?" "No, I missed my periods, Yes, but that was pretty normal, I thought it was stress. This possibility never crossed my mind. " "How do you feel?" "Nothing! I just want to leave everything behind". She closed her eyes again.

Dadi was extremely livid at the present condition of VR mansion. She called Aangre in her room for grilling him with her questions. Dhvani was holding Aangre's finger who was resting in Ishani's lap. Ishani's whole existence was glowing. She continued to play with Dhvani while Aangre left for dadi's room.

Aangre knocked at her door. "Kesi hain aap. You asked for me? " "Hmmm", dadi gave a single nod. "What happened yesterday Aangre? Where is Vansh?" "Boss is at his office on top floor. He is in an online meeting. There was a mild security breach yesterday. But we took care of it. The guests didn't notice anything. Everything went smoothly. "
"Do you take me as a fool Aangre? I want complete truth. This is not a mild security breach. " Aangre reluctantly told her about Kabir's intrusion ,Ishani's kidnapping and Kabir's death. Dadi flared up, " What? Do you realise what would have happened to our reputation if guests would have come to know that a cheap, illegitimate kid of the murderer of this home's bahu managed to get into VR mansion." Dadi scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Are you telling me everything? How did Vansh let this happen? How can he be so careless? " She furrowed her brows with a frown on her face. "Is Riddhima involved in Kabir's entry. I haven't seen her since morning. She must be, definitely! " "No dadi, she has left the mansion last night. " "That is why she did! Once a betrayer , always a betrayer. She must be punished hard. Give her the same fate that Kabir got. " "There is no need for that,"came a deep, husky voice. They looked at the door. "Aangre , you can go", stated Vansh calmly. "Have you taken your medicines?" Vansh sat beside her on the bed." Vansh, I get that you love her but you can't just jeopardize your family's safety and reputation everytime. " "I know, trust me, it's not what you think. Riddhima was at the hospital. She had a miscarriage. "
Dadi momentarily held her breath, when the reality of the words finally sinked in. "Vannnshhh, your child, we.....how?" "I don't want to talk about it now dadi. Take rest. " "Where is Riddhima now? " Vansh paused for a moment then left the room.

Vansh was playing his piano. He closed his eyes rewinding past events.
He was fixing the portrait containing their footnotes on the wall in his piano room. Riddhima tilted her head sideways, she was standing behind him. "You have a unique way of storing my memories", exclaimed Riddhima with a mocking smile. He turned around . "Also different. Won't you make my statue like Ragini." She chuckled. "I mean I am very much alive but I will be gone soon. You know , just as a memorial of yet another betrayal."
Vansh came out of his reverie.
"She will be found soon........