Teri Sifarish

5. THE PAST IS HERE

Author's POV

Shivantika cried and hugged her knees, scratching herself. "Rey, Rey stop her." Manisha begged while holding Reyansh's arm.

Reyansh crouched to her level and asked the others to leave, despite their protests, Reyansh somehow managed to send them away. "Shivi, what happened?" His voice soft and gentle, trying to deal with her delicate situation.

"Bh-bhaiya he-," her hiccups between her tears didn't stop, making it difficult for her to form her sentences.

"You know what, let's go to your room." He got up and held his hand out for Shivantika but she kept shivering and staring at his hand.

Sighing, he hunched and picked her up, leading their way to her room. He gently made her side on her bed and sat on the floor, crisscrossing his legs.

"Yes now tell me." He asked, maintaining his calm demeanour. "H-he, after-after all the y-years."

Reyansh started to make it out who she was trying to point out but wasn't sure if it was him or him.

"Shivi, I'll only be able to help if you tell me right? If you don't how will I help you?" She shook her head and cover her mouth, her lips quivering.

"I-it's, it's. It's Kabir Ra-Raichand bhaiya." A chill ran down her spine when she uttered his name. As if taking his name itself would do something to her.

"Kabir? W-where did you meet him? Weren't you with Aadhira and Amaira the entire time?"

Breaths and silent sobs escape her mouth as she tries to form her words, "b-bhai-he, he-." He shushed Shivantika and wiped her tears.

"Let's try again, calm down, I'll ask Vishesh to bring water. Then you'll tell me everything." Before Shivantika could protest, Reyansh called Vishesh and he came running.

"Yes bhai?"
"Vishesh, please bring a glass of warm water for Shivi."

He left and quickly came back with water for her. Reyansh held the glass to her lips and she slowly drank in a sip or two.

Vishesh wiped her tears with his handkerchief and fondled her hair, "Now tell me what happened." Reyansh set aside the glass of water on her side table.

"I was coming back from Aadhira and Amaira's house. Aadhira offered to drop me but I didn't want her to get late for her office, she had a night shift, and Amaira is alone with Roohi so if she dropped me she would've gotten late. When I was walking back home I suddenly felt someone is following me and I didn't want to look scared so I didn't show any affect. But all of a sudden I heard his voice and I knew it was him. He warned me that it won't be long until all of this happiness is ruined. Bhai I am very sca-scared. What is he gonna do?"

Rage fills in Reyansh as he pinches the bridge of his nose to calm down his mind and the horses running in his head.

"How many times I've told you to not roam around alone? You know right it's unsafe and we can't do anything. We tried our best to hunt down Kabir and the Raichands but didn't find them and now he is all of sudden here. Do you realise what could've happened?" Reyansh asked as the concern flickered in his anger.

"Bhai." Vishesh held Reyansh's shoulder, indicating him to cool his mind because Shivantika is scared.

"Reyansh." Manisha came in along with Prerna and so did Mohit and Shravni come. "Arey meri bachi." [my dear child.] Manisha sobbed looking at her daughter's condition who looked pale and shocked.

She hugged her and Shivantika stuck to her. "What happened Reyansh?" Manisha asked, rubbing Shivantika's back while Shravni sat on the floor and rubbed Shivantika's feet which were a bit cold.