Mere Piya

CHAPTER-SEVEN

A PROMISE OF REVENGE

The journey back to the Kashish estate was shrouded in silence, only punctuated by Aarohi's muffled sobs. The atmosphere in the car was suffocating, and each family member was lost in their thoughts. Aarohi, seated between Vedika and Priyu, felt the weight of her actions pressing down on her. She dared not look up. It felt like everything was finished, nothing else left to be done. She felt so lost and so alone.

As they arrived at the grand gates of the Kashish estate, the tension was palpable. The grandeur of the house, once a symbol of warmth and family, now felt like a cold fortress, ready to imprison Aarohi in her guilt and shame. The family silently disembarked from the cars and entered the house, where the household staff anxiously awaited their arrival. The staff exchanged uneasy glances, clearly sensing that something was amiss.

Taking the lead, Ashok walked into the main hall and gestured for everyone to sit. Vedant's parents, Pradeep and Awasthi, sat down, their faces stern and unreadable. Aarohi stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like an unwelcome intruder in what should have been her new home.

Ashok cleared his throat, breaking the oppressive silence.

"Aarohi," he began, his voice steady,

"Mujhe pata hain yeh sab apke liye bohat mushkil hain, lekin ab ap iss gharki bahu aur Vedant ki biwi ho."

"Lekin papa ji mein iss dhokebaz larki ko apne bete ki biwi nahi manti" Awasthi stated

"Mano ya mano, yehi sach hain Awasthi," Pradeep said, even though he was disappointed with the situation he had to be rational

"Lekin Pradeep-"

"Bhabhi, papa aur bhai sahab sahi keh rahe hain, mante hain ki Aarohi ki galati thi lekin jo hua use hum badal nahi satte-

Jhanvi cut her husband off, "Toh phir ap log kya chahte hain, ki jisse hamara Ved hi apni patni nahi manta uske sath sari jindegi ke liye hum use band de, is jabardasti ki rishte main"

"Ved Bhaiya shadi bhi nahi karna chahte the mummy. Lekin bari ma ke jid ki wajah sey woh razi huye. Aur agar Shivika bhag gayi mandap se, aur Pallavi auntie ne forcefully Aarohi ko betha diya mandap mein isme uska kya kasoor" asked Prakash, while Paresh agreed

For a moment, everyone thought about what Prakash said, Priyu was about to say against Aarohi, but hearing her younger brother, it also clicked to her that somewhere, Aarohi was the one who was trapped

"Mummy, Papa, Bare Papa, Bari Ma, mein Praku ke baat sey agree karta hoon, haan Aarohi ne galat kiya, lekin Shivika jo mandap sey bhag gayi woh baat Pallavi auntie chahti to hume keh satti thi lekin unhone kuch nahi bataya unhone apne khudke pati, Manish uncle sey bhi yeh baat nahi ki. Us hisaab sey dekha jaye to galati jitni Aarohi ki hain usse jyada galati unlogo ki hain"

Everybody became quiet because there was nothing to say, Ashok looked at Aarohi and said

"Aaj sey, yeh ghar tumhara hain aur, aur yeh ab tumhari jimmedari hain ki tum hum sabke dil mein apni jaga banao

Aarohi looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. "Jee Dadaji...Lekin mera yakeen kare, maine jaan bujhkar nahi kiya hain yeh sab, main toh sirf chachi ji ki batom ekaar yeh saab kiya

Awasthi's eyes flashed with anger. "Kyun, tumhe samhaj nahi tha, tumhari waja sey aj mera Ved, ghar taak nahi aya, tumhari wajah sey"

aarohi's eyes were continuously dropping tears. "Auntie, mein unko wapas laungi, chahe Mujhe iss ke liye jo bhi karna par jaye

After hearing that nobody said anything, Awasthi giving a final look went towards the lift to go to their floor. While Pradeep followed, Ashok also left along with Jhanvi and Prateek.