ISHQ IBAADAT 💗

14. REALISATION 💗

𖥸❃ 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓟𝓞𝓥 ❃𖥸

AFTER 2 DAYS…

“Bhai, aapne aisa kyun kiya?!”
Navya’s voice cracked the heavy silence like glass shattering against marble. Her eyes, filled with pain and confusion, stared at Agastya—no longer the brother she once blindly trusted. Her chest heaved with every breath, and despite her pale face and trembling hands, the fire in her tone was undeniable.

Agastya clenched his fists. His jaw tightened. But he met her eyes, cold yet conflicted.

“Navya, teri iss haalat ki zimmedar wo ladki hai…”
His voice came out low, almost like he was convincing himself, not her.

“Nahi bhai! Bilkul nahi!”
Navya snapped. Her eyes brimmed with tears, yet she refused to let them fall. She sat upright in bed, her voice rising in disbelief and defiance.

Agastya stepped closer, concern flashing briefly in his eyes. “Navya, tu zyada stress mat le… Tumhari condition abhi bhi weak hai…”
His voice softened, but it was too late. The damage had already begun to sink into the cracks of their bond.

“Bhai, aap aisa kaise kar sakte ho… kyu bhai?!”
Her voice broke at the end as tears finally spilled down her cheeks. She clutched her blanket tightly, as if trying to hold on to some last shred of control.

“There was no fault of Shona in that accident...”
Her tone was firm now — she needed him to understand, to really hear her. The truth was buried beneath layers of guilt and misunderstanding, and Navya was finally digging it out.

Agastya’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean, Navya… shopping unhe jaana tha na?”

“No, bhai…”
Navya's voice dropped, thick with regret. “Shopping par chalne ke liye maine Shona ko force kiya tha…”

Silence fell like a thunderclap in the room.

Agastya froze. The pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. His lips parted, but no words came out. His gaze dropped to the floor, guilt flooding his veins like poison.

“But why didn’t you take the driver with you, Navya?”
His voice was hoarse, desperate for a reason that could shift the weight off his chest.

Navya blinked away tears, shame washing over her like a tidal wave.
“Bhai… Shona ne bhi yahi kaha tha… ki hum driver ko sath lekar chalein… par maine… maine uski baat nahi maani…”
She took a shaky breath, her eyes distant as the memory resurfaced.
“Aur excitement mein car ki speed increase kar di… aur… ye sab ho gaya…”

Agastya staggered a step back. The guilt hit him like a punch to the gut.

“Bhai… please... bring my Shona back home... please bhai… please… please…”
Navya joined her hands, sobbing uncontrollably now. Her voice cracked with every plea, but Agastya stood still — broken.

His heart felt like it had been split in two.

And just then, another voice rang in the room.

“Ab jab tak meri bahu wapas nahi aayegi… main tumse baat nahi karungi, Agastya!”
Aaradhna’s eyes blazed with motherly rage as she walked in, standing firm like a mountain that refused to crumble.

Agastya turned slowly to look at her, and his face went pale.

“Humse bhi koi umeed mat rakhna, Agastya…”
The rest of the family echoed together, their voices cold and distant — like strangers.

They all walked away, leaving him alone, surrounded by silence, suffocated by guilt.

Agastya stood there, motionless, his breath shallow.