"A collision of rough souls"

CHAPTER 16

*AT KASHYAP MANSION*

( Hrihaan pulls up in the driveway, and he and hiya step out of the car)

(Hrihaan leads hiya to the front door, his grip on her arm firm but not harsh. Hiya's face is pale, eyes red and puffy from crying. She looks exhausted and defeated. As they enter the house, the family members are gathered in the living room, they get shocked as they see hiya's state)

Hrihaan's Mom (brinda) : hrihaan, what is going on? What happened to her?

Hrihaan's Dad (aadesh) :hrihaan, explain yourself. Why is hiya here and in this condition?

Hrihaan (voice stern) : She’s my wife now. She'll be staying here.
I forced her to marry me.

(The room falls into a stunned silence, everyone processing hrihaan's words. Hiya stands silently, her eyes downcast, still not fully grasping the reality of the situation)

Hrihaan's uncle (mohan) : What do you mean, she's your wife? What have you done?

Hrihaan's aunt (neela) :hrihaan, this isn’t like you. How could you do something like this?

(Hrihaan's cousins, rudra and ruhi , exchange confused looks, unsure of what to say. Brinda steps forward, her face a mixture of anger and disbelief)

Brinda (slapping hrihaan across the face) : Have you lost your mind? What are you saying? How could you force a girl into marriage?

(Hrihaan's expression hardens, anger flashing in his eyes. He steps back, rubbing his cheek where his mom slapped him)

Hrihaan (roaring) : It’s my decision..I’m not answerable to anyone! This is how it is, and it’s not going to change..

(With that, hrihaan turns and storms out of the room, leaving everyone in shocked silence. Hiya remains standing in the middle of the room, feeling the weight of everyone’s stares. Brinda, her anger shifting to concern, approaches hiya)

Brinda : hiya, beta, are you okay? What has happened to you?

+Hiya finally looks up, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and helplessness)

Hiya (voice trembling) : I... I don’t know. Everything happened so fast.

Aadesh : We’ll sort this out. You don’t have to worry.

(The family members try to comfort hiya, but she remains lost...)

Brinda : hiya, come with me, beta. You need to rest.

(Hiya nods numbly, barely registering her surroundings as brinda gently leads her up the stairs to the guest room)

Brinda(softly) : We’ll get you settled in the guest room for now. You don’t have to worry about anything tonight.

(They reach the guest room. Brinda opens the door and guides hiya inside, turning on a bedside lamp..)

Brinda : You can stay here. I won’t send you to hrihaan right now. He’s... not himself tonight.

(Hiya sits on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at her hands. Brinda sits beside her, her expression filled with concern)

Brinda : I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I promise, we’ll figure this out. You don’t have to face him alone.

Hiya (voice breaking) : I just... I don’t understand any of this. Why is he doing this to me?

Brinda (sighing) : hrihaan has always been headstrong, but this... this is beyond anything I’ve seen. I’m going to talk to him, try to get some sense into him. But for now, you need to rest.