Wings Of Destiny

CHAPTER 22

The next day, as the sun rose, Rishi and his friends informed the police about Kanika's disappearance. They provided all the details and clues they had gathered, hoping for a swift resolution. Hours later, Rishi received a call that made his heart stop—the police had found Kanika in a hospital. She had been involved in a severe road accident.

Rishi and Kabir rushed to the hospital, their minds racing with worry. When they arrived, they were directed to the emergency room. Rishi's heart sank as he saw Kanika lying on the operation bed, her body covered in bandages and hooked up to various machines. He tried to stay calm and brave, but the sight of her in such a fragile state was almost too much to bear.

Later, when Rishi informed Aditi about Kanika's condition, the entire family gathered at the hospital. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow. Kanika's mother and grandmother were inconsolable, their cries echoing through the halls. Ayesha and Aditi were also in tears, while Kabir did his best to comfort them.

Suddenly, a loud slap broke through the sombre silence. Everyone turned to see Kanika's father standing in front of Rishi, his face red with anger. "How could you do this to her?" he shouted. "You can no longer marry my daughter after what you've done."

Rishi, stunned and heartbroken, dropped to his knees. "Please, sir, let me explain. I love Kanika more than anything. Please, just let me see her once."

But Kanika's father shook his head, his eyes filled with pain and disappointment. "No, Rishi. You've caused enough harm. Leave her alone."

Rishi's tears flowed freely as he begged for a chance to explain, but Kanika's father remained firm. The weight of the situation pressed down on Rishi, and he felt utterly helpless. All he could do now was hope and pray for Kanika's recovery, and that one day, she might understand the truth.

All week, Rishi wasn't allowed to see Kanika. He would come to the hospital at odd hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of her when no one else was around. He stayed at a hotel in Jaipur, far from his family in Bangalore, who were devastated by the news that the wedding had been called off. The days dragged on, filled with a painful longing and regret.

On the day Kanika finally regained consciousness, her entire family was gathered around her bed. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, her vision blurry. She saw her mother, grandmother, Aditi, and Kabir, but the one face she desperately searched for was missing.

Her father noticed her searching gaze and spoke softly but firmly, "He is not here, Kanika. And he never will be. Just forget about him. I will never let him meet you."

Kanika's heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes. She had hoped, deep down, that Rishi would be there when she woke up. During her coma, she had heard his voice every day, talking to her, pleading for her to come back. She had clung to that voice, believing it meant he still cared.

But now, faced with the harsh reality, she let the tears fall. She realized that if she was to heal and move forward, she had to let go of the past. She decided then and there to try to forget Rishi and start anew, even though it felt like a part of her heart was breaking all over again.

Rishi was at the police station, anxiously waiting for updates. The police had informed him that they had found the culprit behind Kanika's accident. As he sat there, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, and a desperate hope that Kanika would be okay.

The police officer approached Rishi with a serious expression. "Mr. Rishi, we have some important information. The driver involved in the accident has confessed. It turns out that the accident was not just a random event; it was a deliberate act."

Rishi's heart pounded in his chest. "What do you mean? Who would do such a thing?"

The officer continued, "The driver confessed that he was paid to cause the accident. It was all orchestrated by Harsh Oberoi and Priya. They were furious after losing the contract to you and wanted to exact revenge. They thought that by harming Kanika, they could break you and distract you from your business."

Rishi felt a surge of anger and disbelief. "They tried to kill Kanika because of a business deal?"

The officer nodded. "Yes. The driver admitted that he was paid a substantial amount to ensure the accident looked like a tragic mishap. He was instructed to target Kanika specifically."

Rishi's mind raced as he processed the information. The betrayal from Priya and Harsh was deeper than he had imagined. They had not only tried to ruin his relationship but had also endangered Kanika's life out of sheer spite.

With this new information, Rishi felt a renewed sense of determination. He had to make sure Kanika knew the truth and that justice was served. He thanked the officer and quickly called Kabir to share the news.

"We need to tell Kanika's family," Rishi said, his voice resolute. "They need to know what really happened."

Kabir agreed, and they both rushed to the hospital. When they arrived, they found Kanika's family gathered around her bed. Her mother and grandmother were still crying, and the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow.

Rishi approached Kanika's father, who looked at him with a mixture of anger and sadness. "What are you doing here, Rishi?"

"Sir, please, I need to tell you something important," Rishi said, his voice steady. "The accident was not an accident. It was a deliberate act orchestrated by Harsh Oberoi and Priya. They wanted to harm Kanika to get back at me for the business deal."

Kanika's father looked shocked. "What? How do you know this?"

Rishi explained everything he had learned from the police, including the driver's confession. As he spoke, the anger in Kanika's father's eyes slowly turned to understanding.

"Please, sir," Rishi pleaded. "I love Kanika more than anything. I would never hurt her. I just want to see her and make sure she's okay."

Kanika's father sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Alright, Rishi. You can see her. But know this—if you ever hurt her again, you'll have to answer to me."

When the room finally cleared and only Aditi remained, Rishi quietly entered. His heart ached as he saw Kanika lying there, a single tear rolling down her cheek. He remembered the promise he had made to never let a single tear fall from her eyes, and the guilt weighed heavily on him.

He approached her bed, gently taking her hand in his. "Kanika, I'm so sorry," he began, his voice choked with emotion. "I never meant for any of this to happen. Please, believe me. I love you more than anything."

Kanika remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Rishi's heart broke further with each passing second of her silence. Desperation filled his voice as he continued, "Kanika, please, look at me. Say something. Even if you want to slap me, just... please, don't shut me out."

After a long, painful pause, Kanika finally turned her head slightly, looking at Aditi. "Please tell him to never come back and just leave. I am not feeling well," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rishi felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. He looked at Aditi, who nodded sadly. "Rishi jiju, it's best if you go for now. She needs time."

With a heavy heart, Rishi stood up, his eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Kanika," he whispered one last time before leaving the room. As he walked away, he vowed to do whatever it took to make things right, even if it meant giving Kanika the space she needed to heal.