FLAMES: Of Revenge And Love

46. CONFRONTATION

Author's POV

No one talked about what happened last day, everyone trying to pretend that nothing changed, well it hasn't. The only thing that changed was the depth of Aradhya's feelings for him and his family.

She had realised that they all knew her from way before she knew them and that was the reason for their goodness but at the end of the day, they just knew a name and they decided to love the person just because they wanted to.

She knew that the love she received wasn't just because of Abhimanyu, it was because they love her for herself. And there was nothing that could change that, so in turn nothing really changed.

After everyone had their breakfast, Abhimanyu and Aradhya left the house.
As they were about to reach, Aradhya's hand clenched onto her saree and Abhimanyu relieved it by holding her hand and she relaxed.

No later than forty minutes and they were at their destination, Shergill Mansion.

They entered the house holding each other, and even though she hadn't told him anything he knew whatever it was, it was difficult for her.

Viraj was surprised to see them so early at their house but his surprise soon gave way to happiness, " Aru, you're here. Why didn't you tell me you were coming, I could've prepared your favourite for breakfast. "

Aradhya remained silent, taking in the features of the old man who stepped towards her, the greys of his hair, the sharpness of his gaze honed by years of experience that couldn't be hidden no matter how he tried.

" Why did you do it? " She said and he stopped.
" Did what Aru? " He asked not understanding her words but knowing that her visit wasn't just to meet him.

" Who am I dadu? " Her question stunned him, this wasn't what he was expecting her to say but her next words snatched the ground beneath her feet.
" Or should I say nanu? "
[ Nanu: maternal grandfather. ]

He stumbled but Abhimanyu managed to catch him in time. Aradhya's hand that had been raised to support him backed off.
" Aru-" Viraj said but Aradhya interrupted him.
" Let's sit and talk. "

Abhimanyu helped him sit and handed him a glass of water before gulping down one himself.
He was shocked by Aradhya's words, he had never even considered something like this.

" Does she know? " Aradhya asked, she didn't have to emphasise for Viraj to know who she was talking about.
" Aru.. "
" Yes or no. "
" She does. " Viraj answered with a sigh.

" How long? " She questioned again and this time he couldn't respond, he felt a lump forming in his throat as he heard her tone.
" For how long dadu? "
" Two years ago. "
" Hah, and what did you do after it? "

" Aru. " He was pleading by now, pleading for her to stop, for her to not ask anything more. But she needed answers now, she had enough of being in the dark or not getting the answers she wanted or needed in fact. So she persisted, " What did you do? "
" I'm sorry. "

" It's not enough. It's wrong. You had no right to do that. You had no right to snatch me from myself, you had no right to snatch him from me, you did wrong. "

Her voice hardened the more she said, she was channelling the sadness to anger, fueling it with the memories she had forgotten.

Flashback

Four months, that's how long it took Aradhya to finally leave Manipur, the riots refused to settle down, increasing day by day and with her losing the sight of Arihant Raichand, she had been busy...

As for Abhimanyu, he had been following her around the whole time.
He had eventually managed to soften her edges a bit, well more than a bit but he had noticed her getting more tense as the days passed.