Burning Soul's

Chapter 38

Third PERSON POV

Adarsh stood frozen, his eyes filled with unshed tears as he looked at Yashi. His voice came out as a mere whisper, trembling with disbelief.

"You are lying, right?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Yashi let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head.

"That is the only thing you always think," she said mockingly. "Great Adarsh Oberoi's mother can never be wrong."

Adarsh's lips quivered as he struggled to find his words. "B-But Ruhi was with me," he whispered, looking into her eyes, seeking reassurance, seeking hope.

Yashi's expression turned cold. "Did you ever have the time to ask that woman which boarding school she sent Ruhi to?" she snapped. "Did you ever bother to visit her? To check on her even once in those months, Adarsh? No, right? Why?" Her voice rose with anger, her emotions spilling over. "Because Adarsh Oberoi blindly believed his mother like a fool!"

Her voice broke into a furious shout as she gripped his collar and shook him. "You failed completely in your duty as a brother, Adarsh! Did it never hurt you when you only heard ‘sir’ from your own sister’s lips? How can you be this heartless? HOW?!"

Adarsh could only stare at her, guilt consuming him from the inside. Yashi stepped back, her eyes burning with resolve.

"You need to see what you've broken," she declared and stormed out of the room.

A few moments later, she returned, her grip firm around Ruhi’s wrist. The young girl looked confused and hesitant, her wide eyes darting between Yashi and Adarsh.

"Mimi, what happened?" Ruhi asked, her voice laced with worry before her gaze landed on her brother. "B-Bhai?"

Yashi's expression hardened as she turned to Ruhi. "Tell him everything, Ruhi," she said, her voice unwavering. "Tell him what that woman did to you."

Ruhi’s breath hitched, and she shook her head, stepping back. "No, please, Mimi… let it be. Not right now," she whispered, her teary eyes pleading.

"RIGHT NOW!" Yashi’s voice rang with authority, making Ruhi flinch.

Regret flickered across Yashi’s face as she softened her tone. Gently, she cupped Ruhi’s cheek, her voice turning into a quiet plea. "Please, baccha. Do it for your Mimi."

Tears slipped down Ruhi’s face as she clenched her fists. Her lips trembled before she finally spoke.

"When Maa said she was sending me to a boarding school… it was a lie. The place she took me to was nothing less than hell. She… she sold me." Ruhi’s voice cracked into a whisper.

Adarsh felt his breath leave his body as he took a step forward, his hands shaking.

"They used to beat me a lot, Bhai," Ruhi sobbed. "They did… disgusting things. I hated it there. It was dirty. It was horrible." Her entire body trembled as she buried her face in her palms. "Maa used to come there… with Chachi. But she never met me. And if I made any mistake, their punishments were unbearable. I don’t want to go back there. Please, Bhai… never send me back!"

Yashi immediately pulled Ruhi into a protective hug, glaring at Adarsh over her head. His steps faltered as he tried to reach for his sister, but Yashi shook her head firmly, refusing him.

Pain, anger, guilt—his emotions churned into a storm. He could barely breathe, let alone speak.

"Why… why didn’t you tell me, Ruhi?" His voice cracked as fresh tears fell. "Did you not trust your Bhai even a little?"