Endless Love[Completed]

TWENTY EIGHT

{Author's POV}

After the trip to the fair, Antara and Ranvijay came back home, where they met Neil and Maahi. Neil and Ranvijay discussed the situation before they thought they need another person, Paarth. So, currently all of them are in living room waiting, for him.

Just then the bell rang. Everyone look towards it and a servant opened the door to reveal a tired looking Paarth with bags under his eyes. Antara's heart clenched watching her older brother like that but she composed herself.

"Ranvijay. You called me?" Paarth said. "I did. Take a seat. I have an important matter to discuss with you." Ranvijay said and Paarth glanced at Antara for a moment before sitting down. "What is it?" Paarth asked.

"So, Paarth, I want you to tell me everything about your and Antara's mother's death. Though, my wife has already told me, I wish to know it from you." At Ranvijay's words, a look of surprise, pain and hurt passed through his eyes before he composed himself.

"What do you want to know?" Paarth asked. "Every single detail that happened that day." Ranvijay said. "Maa went to get the doll house. The weather wasn't good that day, while coming back she met with an accident but..we never found her body. But police declared her...dead."

As Paarth explained, Antara closed her eyes, remembering the day, Maahi hugged her from side to give comfort and support. Ranvijay noticed it too but he was focused on Paarth now. Even Paarth felt guilty and sad looking at her.

"That's all? Nothing else? Like kidnapping or anything?" Ranvijay asked and Paarth nodded. "Police thought with that angle when we couldn't find the body at first but then they brushed it off. But why are you asking all this now?" Paarth asked.

"Well, Paarth, your mother is certainly not dead." Paarth felt the floor beneath him just slide. "Wh-what?" "Yes. Your and Antara's mother isn't dead." Neil said and showed him some photos which they have gotten of their mother, roaming in the shops, scared and hiding her face.

"This...how...maa..." Paarth looked at the photos, his emotions ready to flow. "That's why we called you. Do you think someone would've done this to take revenge on your family? Any enemies you guys had or have?" Neil asked.

"Enemy...revenge..." Paarth started raking his mind to think of anything possible like that. Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to say anything, which can help. A look of realisation hit him. "Mama ji..." Both Paarth and Antara said together and then look at each other.

Ranvijay raised his eyebrows. "What about him?" "Abhay Rawal, maa and maasi's cousin brother. Maa had once put him behind the jail because he did some scam in our company. It had made him very furious. But if I remember, he was in the jail at that time then..." Paarth said.

"You never know, how people can have influences outside. Neil." Ranvijay said and nodding, Neil went to look in the case. There was a silence in the room. Paarth was processing the whole thing. His maa was alive. She never died and in all this, who got blamed and tortured? Antara.

Paarth's eyes met that of Antara's and she looked away. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore, especially when she knows now that it wasn't her fault. It never was. The poor girl had to go to everything on her own with no one by her side.

"Taru..." Paarth called her, his voice soft, but before that Antara walked away to her and Ranvijay's room. Paarth's face fell. He knew she wouldn't forgive him and he was fine with it. After all he let it happen. Ranvijay noticed this and sighed.

"Go. Talk to her." Paarth's eyes widen. "What?" "You know, one thing, Antara can't do is hate her brothers and father. You may have turn your backs to her but she never. I don't know about forgiveness but you should go talk to her, I guess. So..go." Ranvijay said and Paarth looked at him, thankfully.

"Thank you, Ranvijay." Ranvijay just nodded and Paarth went to where Antara was. He arrived in front of the room and hesitate a little before knocking. "Taru...can I come in?" He didn't got any reply. "I promise I'll just take five minutes..." He still didn't got any reply.

Sighing, he was about to leave when the door opened by a crying Antara. Her eyes red, and  filled with tears and hurt. "Ab kyu!? Ab kyu bhaiya!? Sachai jan ne ke bad ab kyu!?" She yelled, frustrated and hurt.

(Why now!? Why now, brother!? After knowing the truth why now!?)

"I know...I know this is so selfish of me, Taru. And I don't have any justification for that. You know this is the basic human nature, jab tak hume kuch pata nahi hota tab tak hum sahi ko galat bolte hai and when we get to know the truth, we regret and ask for forgiveness. " Paarth said.

"Mai tujhse abhi bhi nahi kahunga ki mujhe maaf kar de. Galti hui hai mujhse jiska mujhe zindagi bhar pachtava rahega. Lekin ek mauka de de, Taru. Yeh sab thik karne ke bas ek mauka. Tere bade bhai hone ka jo haq maine khoya hai, usse sudharna chahata hu. Please, Taru."

(I won't say to forgive me. I've made a mistake and I'll regret it all my life. But I want one chance, Taru. One chance to fix this. The right of being your older brother I have lost, I want to fix it. Please, Taru.)

Paarth said and joined his hands, Antara just stared at him, her tears still flowing. Her mind was in turmoil. She wanted to forgive him but at the same time she was scared. Scared that what if it happens again. She doesn't want to be hurt again.

"Kaise ek aur mauka de du bhaiya? Kis haq se du? Abhi bhi mauka dene ka sochti hu toh vo 6 saal ki chotti si Antara yaad aati hai jo bhagte bhagte aapne bhai ke pass gayi thi ki 'dekho bhaiya chachi mere saath kya kar rahi hai!' aur aapne mujhse muh fer liya tha. Abhi bhi yaad hai ki kaise raksha bandhan raat raat tak aapka aur Aarav ka intezar karti thi lekin na aap aate the aur na vo. Abhi bhi yaad hai ki mere hi samne mere aapne bhai Sarika di ko kaise pyaar karte the aur dusri taraf mujhe dekhte tak nahi the!"

(How should I give one chance, brother? From which right? Even when I think to give a chance, I remember that 6 year old Antara, who ran to her older brother that 'See brother what aunt is doing with me' and you just turn your face away. I still remember how I used to wait for you and Aarav at Raksha Bandhan and neither you used to come nor Aarav. I still remember how my own brothers used to love Sarika di in front of me and never even looked at me!)

Antara took her feelings out, crying and sobbing. Paarth listened to all with guilt, remorse and pain, pain for his sister. He stepped forward and took her hands in his.

"I know, Taru, I did so bad with you. I don't even deserve your forgiveness. Not me, not Aarav, not papa. We don't deserve your forgiveness nor your love and kindness but you still did so much for us. You're a gem of a person and I'm happy that you're finally getting the love you deserved. And I'll be ok with your decision if you don't ever want to see our face or don't want to forgive us..."

Antara looked at Paarth and he give a small sad smile. He then put a hand over head and caressed it before giving a small kiss to her forehead.

"You'll forever be my one and only sister. No one take your place, Taru. Stay happy, I'll leave." With that Paarth turn to leave, Antara stayed standing there. Paarth arrived downstairs and Ranvijay and Maahi looked at him. Paarth give a small smile and started leaving towards the door.

"Bhaiya!"

Paarth stopped and slowly turn around to see Antara standing near the stairs. Her eyes teary. Ranvijay and Maahi also look at her as she stepped towards Paarth and hugged him.

"I don't want to loose my bhaiya." She cried and Paarth felt tears of his own as he hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Taru. I'm so sorry. I'll be a better elder brother for you, I promise."