Uljhe Rishtey (Book-1 Khanna Sibling' Saga)

Chapter 5 - Shocking News!

As the after-party started, everyone was busy with their business talks. Rudra and Abhay were engaged with some of their business associates, along with Kabir and Abhinav. Ruhi, along with Kavin, Aarti, and the younger ones, were engrossed in their own conversations, away from the wealthy attendees.

On the other side, Prem was engrossed in a conversation with some of his lawyer friends when Rupali approached him along with Priya. He moved away from his friends and asked Rupali, "Kya hua maa?"

"Tumne kaha tha tum aaj announcement kroge?" asked Rupali.

Prem nodded, "Haa maa, bas abhi karne he wala hu. Mere secretary ko bola hai maine usse organizers se baat kar le hai. Bas 5 min aur..."

Priya looked at her husband concerned, "Ek baar Rudra se baat kar lijiye Raj. Usse bina puche itna bada faisala lena galat hoga."

"Koi zarurat nahi hai!" Rupali said firmly, "Agar Rudra se puchne gaye toh vo kabhi haan nahi khega. Ab bahut hua hume sab kuch sahi aur pehle jaisa chahiye."

"Par maa..."

"Tumhe lagta hai hum lagata hai Priya?" Rupali asked angrily.

"Usne aisa nahi kaha Maa," Prem intervened, "Aap usse galat samajh rahi ho... anyways, aap chinta mat kijiye, maine jo socha hai, woh hoke rahega aur aap jo chahti hai, woh bhi."

Rupali nodded, while Priya looked at her husband, worried. She knew things would take a wrong turn, but she didn't know what she should do. She looked at her children; both Abhay and Rudra were talking and laughing. The smile she saw on her elder son's face was something she had missed all these six years. She felt delighted seeing him happy like that. She looked to the other side, where Ruhi was standing along with her friends and Ayan. She didn't understand how easily her younger son was entangled with Ruhi. Shaking her thoughts, she looked back at her husband, who was moving towards the stage. She tried to talk sense into his mind, but he refused to listen. She tried talking to Ruhi, but she royally ignored her, as if she were some kind of stranger.

She knew only Ruhi or Abhay could stop her husband from what he was about to do, because within these six years she saw her elder son change. She saw him becoming a puppet in her husband's hands. He agreed to whatever Prem asked and always bowed down in front of him. The reason was yet unknown to her. She tried asking them both, but her husband closed her off, saying it was between his son and him, while Rudra was always cold to her. Even if she tried to ask, he walked away, ignoring her as usual.

Ruhi moved towards the drinks counter to have something. Her head was aching, and she wished to dash out of the party, but her Bhaiyu didn't let her do so, and the younger rabbit, Ayan, was clinging to her. She didn't wish to ruin his mood anyway. Within a few hours, she saw a different side of him that made her wonder how her Dada must have handled him. He was proving to be the biggest brat than her. Earlier, when she was young, she always taught him new ways of becoming a brat, as she had a PhD in that. Her Dada had a hard time taming her, and when he did, it left a much-needed impact. But with Ayan, things seemed too different.

Within a few hours, her heart urged her to live with her siblings, to spend some quality time with them, and to be the brat her Dada raised and trouble the hell out of Rudra Khanna. She shook her head and scolded herself for asking for something that was never possible, then looked at her Dada. After receiving the award, she didn't talk to him and maintained her distance.

When Rudra and her eyes met, she forced herself to look away. With one look from her Dada, those eyes filled with love and longing, all the joyful and hurtful memories played in front of her eyes. She was not the girl who should show her emotions just like that. For whom was she doing all this? For a brother for whom she felt nothing? For a brother whom she hurt? Or for a brother who left her and chose their younger brother over her?