Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

Crime of falling in love

Inside the Edward mansion, Rehan's car stopped.
   "Love, let me take you to the doctor for once. I promise I will drop you home after that. It would not take much time,"Rehan was very worried about Azel's health. She looked so fragile…so weak. "I'm fine now, Re. And if I don't feel good, then I will surely go to the doctor,"Azel assured him…her voice was barely audible.
   Rehan hugged her more tightly…hiding her small frame in his chest,"Please get well soon. I cannot see you in this condition,"his voice was pleading…and helpless. She placed her hand on his right cheek…giving him a smile. The smile looked so frail…she seemed so tired. Rehan's heart clenched looking at her face…red rashes were visible on her face. Her hands were also having the same red marks. Even when she was wearing his t-shirt and the warmest hoodie…still he could feel her shivering body in his arms.
   "If I let you call the doctor…then we would have been late, Re. And I'm sure after returning from his office, the first person Daddy will search for me is me. And my presence here is very important right now. Moreover, I will be fine, Love…you have given me the medicines. Made me wear so much warm clothes..and you did not even let me sit on the seat. The whole ride I was sitting like this,"Azel showed him their current position. Azel was in Rehan's lap…her face was buried in his neck…while her one hand was inside Rehan's hoodie's pocket. And he was holding her other hand.
   "So, you cannot complain about those. If you didn't have to rush here…then you would have been in a deep slumber by now. Traveling in sickness is not good for your health. You need proper rest. And stop doing that,"Rehan gently slapped her hands away, which were pulling down the hood of the hoodie. Azel pouted,"Re, my ears and cheeks are burning hot. The hood is very warm. I don't want to put it anymore,"she whined for the umpteenth time regarding the same thing.
   "No, until we are inside the house…you cannot pull it down. It's so cold outside. What if you get more cold?"Rehan expressed his concern, making Azel facepalm herself. "Slowly, you will hurt your face. The rashes are still there,"immediately he chided her. "Ohho, my crazy boy…nothing will happen, okay? I'm absolutely fine. Don't worry so much,"she lightly pulled his cheeks…while giggling.
"You didn't even let me call the doctor at home to check up on you once. And now you are asking me to not worry about you? Don't you know it is impossible for me not to do that?"He pouted cutely…making her want to pull his cheeks more. "I'm really fine, Re. The rashes would vanish away soon,"she assured him once again.
   "But if we don't head inside now…Daddy will surely appear,"she joked, pulling his leg. "So what? I'm dropping my wife home. I'm sure my father-in-law would not mind me doing that. Rather he should be on cloud nine getting such a caring and loving son-in-law like me, don't you think so?"Rehan also joked…waggling his eyebrows at her. Azel could not help but laugh hearing him,"Yeah…yeah, he would be on cloud nine and you would be on Mars."
   "Mars? Why?"He was confused…not understanding her joke. "Because he will kick you so hard that you would reach Mars directly. Won't it be amazing? You would not even need a spaceship to travel,"she again started giggling, looking at his face.
   "Hihihi. Very funny,"he rolled his eyes…making various faces at her. His antics made her laugh even more,"Very much,"she showed her entire set of thirty two teeth to him.  "Such a mischievous girl you are,"he gave her a narrowed look. She grinned at him like a Cheshire cat,"Thank you for the compliment, husband,"Azel winked at him. Rehan shook his head,"Just get well first then I will teach you what real teasings feel like,"he said, smirking devilishly, roaming his hands in front of her eyes. "No, Re. That's…that's cheating. You cannot tickle me. It's..it's not how you tease others,"she started shaking her head at his cunning idea. This weapon of his in front of which she would always get defenseless.
   "No, my sweetheart. It's my way of teasing…you know?"He winked at her playfully. "Nooo, it's not fair. You don't even feel ticklish. Such a rhino you are,"Azel whined, making him laugh at her complaining. "How can someone not feel ticklish…not even a tiny little bit?"She pouted, throwing daggers at him with her eyes. As if it was his fault that tickles never affect him.
   "My grumpy cat, it's called special powers. And it takes a lot of worshiping and pursuit to attain such a spiritual ability. Not everyone can achieve it, you know?"He teased her this time. She looked at him with her scrutinizing gaze,"Ehh! Spiritual ability….Nenene,"she again made faces at him,"Why don't you say your skin is as thick as a rhino hence you don't feel tickles?" He would always have fun teasing her…and she would always murder him by her eyes in such situations. Hence, their silly bickerings continued, followed by Rehan's laughter, echoing inside the car.  
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At Azel's room,
Rehan placed Azel's weak body softly on the bed. "Take rest, my love. I will come here again later at night. Till then grab some sleep and…no walking around, okay? You already hurt your foot?"He instructed her while tucking her under the duvet.
   Azel looked at him with her half open eyes…she was feeling so drowsy since she took the medicine for her allergy. She gave him her breathtaking smile and nodded. "I love you,"she said so softly…just in a mere whisper. Rehan's already crazy heart went crazier at her confession,"I love you too, my Life,"without a second's delay, he replied to her. This time…it was her heart which went insane hearing him. Her smile only widened more.
   She spread her arms for him to give him a goodbye hug. Only if she knew that one hug was going to be the cause of a catastrophe in their lives?
He didn't delay another moment, before leaning towards her, pressing her soft body against his. But he was careful enough to not put any kind of pressure on the fragile girl in his arms. Both of them closed their eyes…losing themselves on the land of paradise…their own paradise. Where nobody could ever disturb their peace. At least that was what they thought.
    They were busy in their Loveland…when suddenly with a harsh pull, Rehan was pulled away from Azel. "How dare you touch her, you Bastard?"Andrew growled at Rehan…and before anyone could comprehend or understand anything, a harsh punch landed on his face. Rehan could not handle the sudden blow…as he fell down on the floor..hitting his forehead in the process. He let out a painful growl, still not able to gather himself up.
   Azel immediately sat up on her bed…a loud gasp escaped her lips when Andrew hit Rehan like that. Her eyes brimmed with tears ready to pour down anytime soon,"Re?"She screamed in horror…trying to run towards his direction. All her drowsiness…pain…everything remained forgotten. Her only focus was on Rehan..who was holding his head. It was aching so badly.
  Azel sat on the floor in front of Rehan, cupping his face in both of her hands. She lifted his face to have a clear look at him. Another gasp escaped her mouth looking at his busted lips…blood was coming out from the corner of his mouth and nose. The cut on his forehead was also bleeding a little. Azel's lips quivered…tears of anguish left her eyes,"R..Re…"she sobbed looking at his condition.
   "Shh, it's…it's okay. It's nothing. See, I'm alright,"Rehan gave her a wide smile…trying to act as if everything was normal. "Please don't cry like this. It pains me more than these wounds, you do know that, don't you?" He cooed her, trying to cup her cheeks.
  But alas! His hands could not even come in contact with her face…before that she was snatched away from him…just in front of his eyes. This time Andrew yanked Azel upwards…making her stand beside himself.
   "Daddy?"Azel looked at her father in disbelief. She never saw this side of her Dad..nor she ever thought of facing such a situation ever. Her father…her hero…her Daddy who was the most compassionate person in her eyes….today he looked no less than the most callous man she had ever seen. There Rehan was not in some better situation. He knew Andrew never liked him that much regarding the matter of Azel. And especially after today, things were going to be more complicated. He knew all these. But Rehan was unaware about such a ruthless side of that loving man.
   "Not a single word more,"Andrew gritted his teeth..glaring at Azel with his bloodshot red eyes. He pushed her a little before striding towards Rehan. Grabbing him by his collar, Andrew made him stand up with a jerk,"Today I will make sure that either your disgusting hands will stay intact with which you touched my daughter or your eyes which you laid on her."
   "Da…daddy, what are you saying? You..you are mistaking things. It's not what…"
   "SHUT UP…JUST SHUT UP, DAMN IT,"Andrew yelled at the top of his lungs..Azel flinched in her spot. "I asked you to stay away from all these. It means STAY AWAY, you foolish girl. I will deal with you later on…first let me deal with this piece of shit,"she could not believe her eyes or ears, hearing him shout at her like this. Was this her same father who never raises his voice at her…just because she would get scared? Was this her same father who would always listen to her side of the story before jumping into any kind of conclusion? Was this her same father for whom her happiness used to matter the most? She didn't know what changed suddenly for her father to change like this?
   "Azel, please don't interfere in between. Have faith in me, okay? Everything will be fine,"Rehan stated softly, looking at her shocked form. He could understand very well what she must be feeling with how everything transpired. But he could not let her get hurt in all these mess, neither mentally nor physically. This time Azel looked at Rehan…tears cascaded down her eyes like waterfalls. Helpless was dwelling in those beautiful pairs of oceanic blue. And it was killing Rehan each passing moment to see her like that.
   "Shut up, you shameless man. All these are happening just because of you. If not for you…my daughter would have never dared to go against me. I will not spare you,"with that, Andrew started dragging Rehan out of Azel's room. For once Rehan didn't say anything to him. He knew it was useless anyway. And he also knew very well that if now he opened his mouth then things would only get more messed up..than things already were. Because Andrew was certainly not in a position to hear any of them…nor he would believe anything they would say.
   "Please, Love. Go back and take a rest. You are already not well. I told you that I will handle things. Please don't come behind,"all Rehan did was pleading Azel to not come behind them. He didn't want to stress out the poor soul…not anymore. But Azel was not in any condition to hear him. How would she when he was getting treated like that…in front of her eyes. The bandage in her leg soon started turning red…with the stains of her blood. Her vision was blurring out from time to time. And her tears were doing no justice with her in this regard. The temperature in her body was rising…her whole body was in dire need of a proper rest. It was aching like hell. But that pain was nothing in front of the pain she was feeling in her heart right now.
  "Da…daddy, pl…please. You are getting it all wrong. Please…hear me out once. It's not what you are thinking it is,"she kept on pleading to her father…requesting him to listen to her once. But maybe her father was too blinded by his anger. That today the heart wrenching cries of his daughter also failed to reach his ears. Rehan closed his eyes, not able to see her in such a condition,"Uncle, please…for once just hear us out. I just came to drop her off. She is not feeling well…please her health might deteriorate. You..can do anything with me but please not here. Not in front of her…she would not be able to take it. Please for her sake,"and for the first time, Rehan requested Andrew…with a hope…a hope that Andrew will listen now at least. Rehan didn't do it for himself…but for the person he loves the most…the person who was suffering because he was in pain.
   But Andrew…being Andrew paid no heed to any of their beggings. He turned a deaf ear towards them. Coming downstairs, Andrew pushed Rehan with all his strength…making him stumble. He was about to fall down for the sudden force..but this time Azel was fast enough. She rushed towards him, holding him in her arms,"Are you okay?"Both asked in unison. Extremely worried for the other person.
   "Don't you understand my talks? Or, you have started loving defying me every single time?"Andrew hissed at Azel pulling her aside…separating them once again. His hold on her hand was so strong…that it started stinging badly. The rashes started bleeding due to excessive pressure. Azel bit her lower lip to contain the pain within herself,"Dad..daddy, please…it's not what you think it is. He…just came to drop me. I swear, we were not doing anything…anything wrong,"she felt ashamed even uttering such things in front of her father. How did she step so low in his eyes? Did he not know his daughter? How could he think that she would do something…out of her limits?
   "Azel, just keep your mouth shut. Otherwise I don't even know what I will do to you. I'm not a fool to not understand anything even after watching everything with my eyes,"Andrew growled in anger pressing her hands more. This time she could not control, as a whimper escaped her lips.
   All this while, Rehan who was lowering his head, lifted it up. His eyes turned dark when he noticed the blood dripping down her eyes. Rushing towards Andrew, he shook off Andrew's hands from Azel's,"You are hurting her,"this time Rehan matched Andrew's gaze. His tone was not harsh…nor rude, but it surely held the anger he was feeling inside. He could take anything…but till the time it was regarding him. No one ever had the right to hurt her..not even her own father. He would not let that happen…ever.
   Rehan's such audacity ignited fire in Andrew's whole body…the boy from yesterday had the guts to teach him how he would behave with his daughter? Andrew lunged over Rehan…pushing him against the nearby wall. He once again landed two punches over Rehan in a row,"Now will you teach me..how should I treat my daughter?"Andrew grabbed him by his collar. Rehan lifted up his bruised face which was turned downwards with the impact of the punch. He spit the blood coming out of his wounded lips,"If need be…then yes. Because she is my love as well. And I cannot see her in pain,"Rehan stated firmly..looking straight into Andrew's eyes. He was never scared for his life…not even for a moment.
   "You bastard? The nerve…."saying Andrew once again lifted his hand in the air, wanting to deliver another shot at Rehan. But someone stopped his hand in the middle.
   "Enough Daddy. You are not going to raise your hand on him once again,"this time Azel spoke relentlessly. Her voice was cold…so were her eyes. Andrew could not believe his own ears hearing his daughter talk back with him…in such a tone.
   "You are talking with me like this for…for this guy?"Andrew asked, he was in utter shock. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I never meant to disrespect you ever. But he is the person I love…and I expect you to respect him as well. I cannot see you hurting him..just because you misunderstood the whole situation,"Azel kept forward her point. She had enough of everything. She knew, opening her mouth like this would not resolve the situation…not anyhow. But keeping mum was not a solution anymore.
   "Azel, go inside please. Not now…not like this please,"Rehan pleaded to her…well aware of her temper. Just like him…she was totally protective of him as well. But at this point, being angry was not going to solve the problem. Moreover, Rehan didn't want Andrew to get more angry at Azel than he already was.
   Both Andrew and Azel looked towards Rehan. Azel was about to say something when Andrew beat her to it,"You must be very happy, right? After all…you have finally accomplished your mission. You have manipulated her so much that the girl who never talked back to me was standing against me today."
   "What?"Both Azel and Rehan could not understand what that man was speaking about. "Daddy, please don't be like this. It's nothing like you are thinking. Please calm down…let's have a talk. Please,"Azel held Andrew's hand trying to calm him down. But who was she kidding? That man had totally lost all his senses.
   "What the hell is there to talk more..huh? What do you want me to listen to? How much do you expect me to listen?"He barked at her…jerking her hands away from him. "Daddy please…"Azel could not hold back the sob that escaped her lips this time. Why did things turn out like this? How was she to make everything alright?
   "Just keep your mouth shut, Azel. Just stop. I'm tired…with all of your lies. All of you…each one of you whom I trusted so much…lied to me without an ounce of remorse. You always expect me to listen…but every time why is it me? Why should I listen to you…when you have done nothing except for betraying me days after days. You took advantage of my unwavering belief, my unfathomable love for you. Did you not feel guilty…not even for once before deceiving me like this?"Andrew asked Azel…making her frozen on her spot. Her eyes widened with each of the words Andrew spoke. What was he saying? Did he get to know everything? But how? Oh GOD! If what she was thinking was really correct then Rehan should not be here…not at any cost. What if her Daddy revealed something out of rage…which Rehan should not get to know ever? No..no..no.
  There Rehan was too confused not understanding which betrayal Andrew was speaking about? Why would Azel deceive her father? What the hell was going on?
   Andrew let out a humorless chuckle…pushing her in front of him a little,"And for whom you did all these? This guy? This…this Rehan…who came into your life just a few years ago? And he became so important to you that you threw away all my trust and love in the trash can?"He asked, aggrieved. For the first time in all these while…pain, sadness and helplessness was heard in his voice. Tears escaped his eyes as well…thinking how his delusions regarding his perfect family shattered into pieces.
   Azel shook her head,"N..no. Pl…please don't..don't say it like that, Daddy. Pl…ease,"she sobbed in between trying to convey her feelings to her father. "This…this boy snatched my whole family from me. I…I will kill this bastard today?"Andrew howled aggressively, suddenly kicking Rehan on his stomach. No one was ready for this type of psychotic behavior from Andrew. Rehan growled in pain…falling down on the floor while hitting his back with the sharp end of the rod stand of the lamp kept there. The lamp fell over his leg…before breaking into many pieces. The glass shade shattered…some piercing his leg as well. Blood splattered on the floor.
   But Andrew didn't even care for the poor guy who was badly injured…covered into uncomfortable bruises and deep wounds. "Re?"Azel was about to run towards him but before that Andrew held her hand…pulling her away from him,"Daddy…let me go. What the hell did you do?"She yelled at her father…crying miserably…not caring about her tone or anything else. She was trying to remove her hands from his death grip…but was not able to do anything. Her hand was also covered in her own blood. But all her struggles went in vain today…her yells, cries, beggings…nothing affected this stone hearted man today. We could easily hear the shattering sound of the inanimate objects. But what about the living beings who get shattered becoming the victim of someone's aggression?
    The sound that was not heard were of the innocent hearts that were broken in the process…without any fault. Because the hearts had committed a crime…a crime of falling in love.