With the Help of Covid

Chapter 01

Silence.

No sound came at all, and even the winds seemed at rest. Maybe it hinted towards peace or maybe it hinted towards destruction. Though Prachi had a feeling that the latter was more likely, considering the ways things had been playing out right now. But she decided to let it go, and sighed as she recalled the events that had occurred earlier in the day.

Flashback

The Kohli mansion was full of guests and there were many activities planned for this party. The first one was a dance competition between the daughter-in-law's of the Kohli family. And, Pallavi, unaware of the events about to take place announced it with a smile enlightening her face. She was sure that the younger of the two twins wouldn't disappoint her. She had already made her decision to give the prize bangles to her.

Prachi and Riya started their dance, and panic arose in Riya's mind as she saw Prachi's graceful moves. Her mood changed completely when she was Ranbir admiring Prachi from afar, without thinking she started to break the bangles she was currently wearing. Riya spun around and pretended to do a move on the floor as she dropped the broken pieces of her bangles near Prachi's feet. She moved back up and smirked when she saw the disturbed expressions of almost all guests and family members, thinking that Prachi had began to muck up her dance.

Riya was about to mind her own business when a guest intervened, "Pallavi, won't you stop your daughter-in-law's from dancing?! One obviously cheated and the other one is hurt!"

Pallavi looked at the aunty in confusion and then noticed the blood on Prachi's feet. She instantly asked for the music to be stopped, and Prachi and Riya stopped dancing. Riya looked around and frowned on seeing the disapproving glares the guests were giving her. She turned to Ranbir in hope for some sort of reassuring expression but felt her blood boil when she saw him looking with concern at her sister. She clenched her fists, and tried to calm herself. She couldn't loose her cool, especially in front of all these guests.

"Prachi, I didn't expect this from you! You cheated?!" Pallavi had misinterpreted the words by the guests while Riya smirked.

Ranbir looked at Pallavi in disbelief and said, "Mom, Prachi wasn't the one who cheated! Didn't you see what we saw? Riya broke her bangles to hurt Prachi on purpose."

Pallavi was about to object when the guests started to agree one by one, and even Sid agreed with them causing Pallavi to finally give Riya a scolding.

"Riya, I definitely didn't expect this from you. I will give my bangles to Prachi, she danced gracefully and didn't cheat," Pallavi said, feeling disappointed. But when only Prachi and Riya could hear her she whispered, "Riya, you can take the bangles from Prachi right after the function ends. I know you didn't cheat and Prachi must've framed you, somehow."

Prachi looked at her mother-in-law in disbelief and didn't turn to Riya for defence. She know knew that Riya, was indeed the old Riya and had never ever truly reformed. Pallavi pretended to smile and give Prachi the bangles, but not before shooting her a warning glare. The function continued without many events occurring, and Riya didn't plot anything in fear of getting caught.

At last it was time for the guests to start leaving when a scream was heard.

"Rajeshwari ji tested positive for covid! We have to test and isolate for 14 days. Everyone please leave, and get tested." The guests started to panic and within minutes the whole house was empty.

Flashback Ends

Prachi was on the verge of tears, as she thought of her sister's betrayal. No, she wasn't that surprised but she was still hurt. But then again, it was her own fault for believing that Riya had changed. Prachi silently prayed that everyone's reports remained negative, even Riya's.