𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓 | ✓

𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢

Bhavya stared at the bars of the cell, mind blank as she stared at the feet that passed by. She was still dressed in the dark green lehenga that her mother-in-law—— she scoffed, the woman didn't even deserved to be called such. Bhavya sighed, resting her head against the cold metal as she stared at the woman who had been pushed to sit inside the cell with her.

Roop Oberoi was quiet—— unlike when they had dragged her away alongside Bhavya.

"They'll get us out," Bhavya spoke up quietly.

Roop turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "You may be bailed, but I won't." At Bhavya's puzzled look, she replied. "I helped my brothers." Bhavya's eyes widened. "I helped my brothers kill Harsh and Sara. I helped them murder Raghav Kapoor and hide it." She stared at the ceiling, "I'm also the one who gave Annika the files, and the coordinates. The key and the cassette."

Bhavya could whisper only one word: "Why?"

"They promised me," Roop whispered.

"What?" Bhavya laughed out loud, disgust evident in her voice, "Riches? More shares?"

Roop scoffed. "God no. They promised me that they would bring back my son to me." She shook her head, "Bin biya maa banna apparently paap hota hain, lekin saari zindagi ayashi karna, money embezzle karna—— all these are fine." She shrugged.

"Your son?" Bhavya asked puzzled.

"Hmm," Roop looked at her. "I became a mother before I was married. My brothers separated me from my son. Tej Veerji ne jhoot bola tha, he had said that he had sent my son to a nice family. In reality he died the same night he was taken from me."

Bhavya stayed quiet. The longer she spent as an Oberoi bahu, the more disgusted she felt with each member of the family.

<>•<>

"Dadi?" Rudra turned to look at Kalyani with an accusing look.

"I- I-" Kalyani bowed her head. She whispered softly, "I did what I thought was good for the family."

Omkara looked exasperated as Shivaay stared at his grandmother in horror.

"Waah!" Annika clapped. "How impressive, Kalyani Singh Oberoi!"

"Annika?" Kalyani whispered shocked.

"Aapne ek baar bhi socha?" Annika was losing control of her sanity. "Bhavya did so much for this family and you still doubted her. Why? Because of your son?" She gestures towards Tej, "The same man who spent more time with his mistress than his own children? The same one who threw out the grandson who has always protected the family? Haath milaya tha woh Veer ke saath, to harm your Billu!"

"Annika, tameez se baat karo," Shakti snapped.

"Bhaar mein jaye aapki tameez," Annika glared at her father-in-law who seemed taken aback.

"Aap logo ne iss khandan ke bahu hone ke liye aise aise sharth rakkhi hain na," Gauri shook her head, with a sardonic laugh. "Thak gaye hain hum."

"Gauri?" Jahnvi frowned at her daughter-in-law.

"Maine toh kuch galat nahi kahan, Maa—— sorry, Mrs. Jahnvi Singh Oberoi," Gauri glared at her mother-in-law.

"You guys insulted Bhavya in front of strangers and the media," Annika rubbed her temple, eyes closed in frustration. "You had her arrested for something she didn't do, all so you could hide the fact that you all," she pointed at Tej, Jahnvi, Pinky and Shakti, "were responsible for setting fire to Kalyani Mills."