Rajas : Passion Unveiled

Chapter 23

Author's POV

The Ranawat family stared in shock as Laksh , Avyaan and Trilok recounted everything they saw. Laksh is sitting with his head down feeling ashamed about this whole ordeal. He couldn't shake off the look of disappointment on Ishani's face or the desperation in her voice.

Everyone turned to look at Laksh with varying expressions as they all sat in the drawing room of their mansion. The silence was soon broken.

"Kya galat kaha usne" Rajveer said " sahi hi toh kaha. Agar ise humari aur humare baton ki kadar hoti aur khudpe vishwas hota toh waha chup nahi baithta. Being silent to avoid stupid argument and being silent because you are accepting everything the other person is saying regardless of it being true or not are two very different types of silence. And today you chose the latter." He said. Laksh just kept staring down.

"Beta" Rajveer said, "we cannot reverse what happened to you" Laksh stiffens , the movement noticed by his elder brother  "but it is important that you do not let your past control your present. You need to see yourself for the person you are. When you will accept yourself completely then it won't matter what others say about you. You work speaks for you yes, but your confidence should shut the mouths of others. Unless you let go of the past and see yourself beyond what happened to you, you cannot be happy beta." Laksh nods as tears roll down his cheeks. Avyaan puts his hand around Laksh's shoulder, and tries to console him , unable to see his elder brother like this. But Laksh doesn't react.

"Is she alright?" Aradhana asks "her hand was bleeding a lot. And that stupid girl was saying sorry about the stain" she says shaking her head. "How did she even catch the knife like that?" Devika exclaims. She notices her daughter stiffen at the topic. "Yuvika? Are you alright bacche? You haven't said a thing" Devika says. Yuvika sighs , " I-I just didn't expect her to be like this. Like of course what she did for bhai I am grateful for it. But I just didn't think that-" she pauses not knowing what to say. "Its not like I don't like her anymore. I do. Its just that today what I saw, it made me respect her beyond her work. I think." she says slowly. Devika just smiles at her daughter understanding her mix of emotions.

Ardhana speaks up , " That brings me back to my question. Does anyone know whether her hand is alright?" she asks looking at everyone. She asks Laksh for his phone and dials her number but she doesn't pick up. "She must be sleeping maa" Avyaan says.

Ayansh who has been quiet until now speaks up. "I'll send our doctor to her place tomorrow don't worry." Aradhana looks surprised for a minute but nods. Ayansh turns to Laksh " Laksh go to your room and rest we will talk tomorrow" he says and Laksh nods and leaves.

"No one is going to say anything to him" Ayansh says looking at everyone. Yuvika and Avyaan nod while the elders except Rajveer look confused. "Especially you" Ayansh says looking at his parents.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Trilok questions. "The fact that you have to ask that question is an answer in itself" Ayansh scoffs and gets up to leave. But his father stops him. "No no tell me right now. What do you want to say because you clearly have something to say" Trilok says.

That was the last straw for Ayansh.

"Are you truly that blind?" he lashes out and everyone looks at him shocked. "Even Avyaan and Yuvika who are the youngest can see what you blatantly ignore" he continues. Everyone looks at the duo but they just look down trying to stay out of the argument.

"What do you mean?" Viren asks. Ayansh just laughs and rubs his temple. A headache had begun to form now.

" You ask him to believe in himself and to not pay attention to what people say when you , his own parents , are his biggest critics." He grits out.