SS- The Aftermath

~2~

Armaan's heart sank as Rohith's words echoed in the silence. Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between the two brothers and Ruhi, who stood trembling, her face ashen. Rohith's piercing gaze turned to Ruhi. "So tell me, Biwi-ji," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Did you ever love me, or was I just a pawn in your grand plan to stay close to Armaan?"

Ruhi's eyes filled with tears, and she struggled to find her voice. "Rohith, it's not like that. I did care for you, but things were complicated... I was confused..."

"Confused?" Rohith's laugh was harsh. "Confused enough to marry me and then run back to Armaan at the first opportunity?"

Armaan finally found his voice, stepping forward, his expression pained. "Rohith, We never meant to hurt anyone. I thought... I thought I was doing the right thing by stepping aside for you, but I see now how wrong I was. I should have never let this happen. I was selfish and didn't consider the consequences."

Ruhi felt her mask slip by, her voice choked with emotion. "Rohith, I accepted you as my husband, but my heart always belonged to Armaan. I was torn between my duty to you and my feelings for him. I never wanted to hurt you " However she was cut short by Rohith himself. " Really Ruhi; seems like you were well-versed with your version of lies. Isn't it? I heard you talking with your beloved badi maa- that you married me just to stay close to Armaan. Now how would you justify that? And aren't you tired of playing this perfect daughter-in-law?" That left everyone dumbfounded. And it was news even for Armaan. Never in his life, he would have imagined that Ruhi could do that to Rohith. He genuinely thought she would move on and give Rohith a fair chance post there confrontation after Rohith-Ruhi's engagement.

Kaveri, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her voice steady but filled with sorrow. "Rohith, I thought I was doing the right thing by encouraging this marriage, thinking it would bring peace and stability to our family."

Rohith shook his head, his eyes blazing. "Peace? Stability? You've shattered whatever peace I had left. I trusted this family, and now I feel betrayed by every single one of you."

Vidya, unable to meet Rohith's gaze, finally spoke up. "Rohith, beta, we did what we thought was best. We never intended to hurt you."

"But you did," Rohith's voice was cold. "You all did. And now, I don't know if I can ever trust any of you again."

The tension in the room was palpable. Armaan stepped closer to his brother, his hand outstretched. "Rohith, please. Let's talk this through. We can make this right. We are still family."

Rohith stared at Armaan's outstretched hand, his expression a mix of disbelief and contempt. He took a step back, his eyes never leaving Armaan's face.

"Make this right?" Rohith scoffed. "How can you even suggest that, Armaan? You talk about family, but you betrayed not just me, but also Abhira. Have you forgotten about her, your own wife?"

Armaan's face paled at the mention of Abhira. The memories of their failed marriage resurfaced, filled with regret and guilt. "Rohith, Abhira, and I... it was complicated. She wasn't right for this family. Our marriage was just a deal of a year. You don't know many things that happened in your absence. We will talk this through. Please.."

Rohith's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with anger. "Complicated? Do you think that's an excuse? You betrayed her, just like you betrayed me. Her mother sacrificed her life for you and gave you the responsibility of her daughter who was alone in this world. You couldn't even fulfill that. "

Armaan shook his head, his voice filled with desperation. "No, Rohith, it wasn't like that. Abhira and I both knew it would be over after a year. We tried to make it happen without any negativity, but we couldn't. I never meant to hurt her, or you."

Kaveri, her face contorted with disdain, jumped in. "Abhira was never worth anything. She was a burden, a misfit in our family. We did what was necessary to maintain our family's honor. She didn't belong here."

Rohith felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath his feet. He stared at Kaveri, his heart pounding in his chest. "How can you say that, Dadisa? She was a human being, with feelings and dreams. She was your daughter-in-law. How could you treat her like she was disposable?"

Kaveri's eyes blazed with self-righteous anger. "I only did what was best for this family. Abhira was headstrong and didn't have any family values. She was never right enough to be a part of this family. We needed someone who could stand by us, not drag us down."

Rohith looked around the room, his eyes meeting those of each family member. He saw guilt, shame, and defensiveness. "Is this what this family has become? Heartless and cruel? I trusted all of you, and now I see how wrong I was. I came back in the hope of getting back with this family but I don't think I want to be a part of this family anymore. Abhira's mother entrusted her to us, and we failed her. We failed each other."

Armaan stepped forward, his eyes pleading. "Rohith, please, we can change. We can make things right."

Rohith's voice was cold, resolute. "How, Armaan? How can you make right what has been broken so deeply? You betrayed Abhira, you betrayed me, and you betrayed the very principles this family was supposed to stand for. "With that, Rohith turned and walked out of the room, leaving the family in stunned silence. As the door slammed shut behind him, everyone was left to grapple with the weight of his words.

Armaan stood frozen, his hand still outstretched, while Ruhi collapsed onto the nearest chair. Kaveri's face remained stern, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Vidya clutched her sari, her heart aching for her son. As the family tried to process the turmoil, Rohith's return was revealed.

Months earlier, when Rohith had disappeared from the house, he had been in deep distress. He had been contacted by Abhira, who had talked some sense into him. Feeling conflicted and seeking clarity, Rohith had decided to return to confront his family and make things right. However, fate had other plans. On his way back, Rohith met with a terrible accident in Mussoorie. The accident left him half paralyzed and confined to a hospital bed.

During his recovery, he learned from the locals about Abhira's mother, a kind-hearted woman who had once taken a bullet meant for Armaan. This sacrifice saved Armaan's life, and it deeply affected Rohith. Rohith spent months in the hospital, unable to move, reflecting on the events that had led to his current situation. He realized how misguided his actions had been when he ran away from home in his attempt to reconcile Armaan and Ruhi. In his solitude, he came to understand the gravity of the betrayal that had been inflicted upon Abhira and himself. He saw clearly that Armaan and Ruhi's actions were ethically wrong on many levels.

This revelation ignited a desire for justice and the need to confront his family about the deep-rooted issues that had caused so much pain. However, Rohith wasn't emotionally ready to confront them. After his recovery, he stayed back near Mussoorie but was moved when he saw Abhira there, broken. Unable to face her in guilt that he left her behind in the mess, he contacted a private investigator to get the details of what had been happening in Udaipur over the last 7-8 months. He was shocked to learn about the events that had transpired and decided he needed to return.

Back in the present, Rohith stood outside the house, his heart heavy with the weight of his past and the revelations he had uncovered. He took a deep breath, knowing that his return had stirred up old wounds, but the truth needed to come out. He hoped that, in time, his family would understand the depth of the pain they had caused and work towards true reconciliation.

Inside, the family struggled to comprehend the full extent of the damage. Armaan's mind raced, filled with memories of Abhira and the moments that led to their failed marriage. He realized that Rohith's anger was not just about Ruhi but about the broken promises and shattered trust that had permeated their family.

Kaveri, though trying to maintain her stern demeanor, felt the weight of her actions. Her attempts to control and manipulate the family dynamics had only led to greater suffering. She began to question if her pursuit of family honor had come at too high a price. But she didn't lose yet. She had to deal with Ruhi and Armaan. She had to bring back Rohith to the house and for that, she need to gain back his trust. That only meant making Armaan and Ruhi pay for their deceit.