After six months, Naina and Reyansh's love remained pure and unwavering. Despite Radhika's repeated attempts to sabotage their relationship, their bond only grew stronger. Mansi, unwittingly caught in Radhika's schemes, had unwittingly played her part.
One evening, Radhika approached Reyansh and Naina after their return from the office. "Ansh, Naina," she said, "we need to go to our hometown near the mountains for a special pooja. You both should perform it."
Naina agreed, and that night, she changed into comfortable clothes and retired early. The next morning, she carefully selected her attire: a rich red saree adorned with intricate golden embroidery. Bangles adorned her left hand, and she wore her mangalsutra with pride. Her hair was neatly tied in a bun, and sindoor graced her forehead.
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Reyansh, too, got ready, and Naina asked, "Rey, can we take a picture now?" He nodded, pulled out his phone, and captured the moment. Naina made the photo her wallpaper, a silent reminder of their love.
The drive to the mountains was smooth, and they arrived at the picturesque location where the pooja was to take place. The pandit awaited them.
The lengthy pooja commenced. Mansi, puzzled by Radhika's intentions, approached her. "Chachi," she asked, "what are you up to? Are you trying to strengthen their bond further?"
Radhika smirked. "Mansi," she replied, "your chachi isn't naive. I've planned everything. Just wait and watch."
As the rituals continued, Neha observed, "Finally, Naina is finding happiness in her married life." Raman added, "I've never seen my brother so committed to a pooja. He used to attend only for Riya di, but now he's fully involved."
Riya, watching her chotte perform the pooja, wiped away happy tears. "Aakashji," she said, "Chotte has changed a lot since Naina entered his life, hasn't he?"
Aakash nodded, and they all continued to witness the ceremony. Meanwhile, Arjun and Arvind discussed the positive impact Naina had on Reyansh.
After the rituals, the pandit instructed, "Put the saree, bangles, and sindoor into the fire as a symbol of completing the pooja." Naina and Reyansh did so together.
As they stood amidst the mountains, Naina declared, "I love you, Rey."
He replied, "I love you too, Naina." But suddenly, Naina lost her balance and began to fall. Reyansh desperately grabbed her hand, shouting, "NAINA!"
Radhika, Arvind, Arjun, Aditi, Riya, Aakash, Neha, and Raman rushed to their aid. Despite Reyansh's efforts, Naina slipped from his grasp and screamed, "REY!"
Reyansh echoed, "NAINA!" He collapsed in shock. Riya and Raman tried to console him, while Aditi and Arjun stood stunned.
Mansi and Radhika exchanged triumphant glances—Radhika's plan had succeeded. Riya addressed Reyansh, "Chotte—"
He stammered, "N-no, d-di, s-she's not d-dead." Raman urged him to understand, and they helped him to the car. As they drove home, Reyansh clutched Naina's phone, tears streaming down his face. The photo of them together remained his only solace.
The house was enveloped in a heavy silence, punctuated only by the quiet sobs of those mourning the loss of Naina. The air was thick with grief, and even the walls seemed to weep for the joy that had been so cruelly snatched away. Radhika and Mansi, however, harbored a secret glee amidst the sorrow, their hearts cold with the success of their sinister plot.
Riya, her eyes brimming with tears, asked in a trembling voice, "Chachi, where is Chotte?" Radhika's response was curt, "He's in his room." But before Riya could rush to Reyansh's side, Aakash gently held her back, his voice a soft whisper of reason, "Riya, let him be alone for some time to gather his thoughts."
Riya, torn between her desire to comfort Reyansh and respecting his need for solitude, nodded reluctantly and settled on the couch, her mind adrift in memories of Reyansh and Naina's happier times.
Meanwhile, Reyansh stood on the balcony, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the setting sun. His voice was barely audible as he whispered to the heavens, "Why did you take my Naina, Ma? I was happy when she was with me. She changed me, Ma, a good change. You also left me, and now she also left. Why, Ma? Why?" The pain in his heart overflowed, and he crumbled to the floor, his body wracked with sobs.
Riya, sensing something amiss, approached him and found him unresponsive. Panic set in as she shook him, and his limp form gave way to unconsciousness. Her cry for help, "AAKASHJI!" echoed through the house, bringing everyone running to Reyansh's aid.
The doctor arrived swiftly, diagnosing Reyansh's fainting spell as a result of neglected medication and overwhelming emotional stress. "Mrs. Rathore, your brother is diabetic and has not taken his medicines, which caused him to faint. Please take care of him, or else he will slip into depression," the doctor warned before administering an injection and advising immediate nourishment upon Reyansh's awakening.
Riya, her hands trembling, caressed Reyansh's hair and kissed his forehead, a silent prayer escaping her lips as a single tear traced its way down Reyansh's cheek.
On the terrace, Radhika and Mansi reveled in their dark triumph. Mansi's embrace was one of admiration for Radhika's ruthlessness. "Chachi, you are amazing. You really killed that Naina? Wow!" she exclaimed.
Radhika's reply was chilling, "Whoever is a barricade in my road will be removed from my path, Mansi. Now you go and try to woo Reyansh."
As Mansi departed to enact the next phase of Radhika's plan, Radhika masked her malevolence with a facade of sorrow, ready to play the grieving relative once more.
Downstairs, Aditi's embrace was one of genuine pain, seeking solace in Radhika's feigned comfort. "Calm down, Adi, please. I know you are hurt," Radhika soothed, her words a bitter irony to her true feelings.
Riya emerged from Reyansh's room, her face etched with concern. "He is okay, aunty. I will give him something to eat," she assured Aditi, her resolve to care for her brother unwavering.
In the kitchen, Riya prepared khichdi with haste, her hands moving mechanically as her heart ached with sorrow. She returned to Reyansh's room, where Mansi had followed, hoping to find an opportunity in Reyansh's vulnerability.
Reyansh sat on the bed, his gaze fixed on a picture of him and Naina, a testament to a love that was now lost. His voice was hoarse with grief as he spoke to the image, "Everything was perfect among us. Why did you leave me, Naina? Why? You know every moment is killing me. It's so hard for me to live without you."
Riya's gentle voice broke through his reverie, "Chotte?" He opened his eyes, the pain evident in his gaze. She fed him, gave him his medicines, and reassured him of their relatives' presence. Yet, Reyansh's request was simple, "Di, please take Mansi with you. I want to be alone."
Riya hesitated but respected his wish, leading Mansi away. Alone once more, Reyansh whispered Naina's name, a cascade of memories flooding his mind—the playful Naina, the strong Naina, the caring Naina. Each memory a sharp reminder of what he had lost, each whisper a testament to the depth of his love and the abyss of his sorrow.
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