Connected By Heart❤❤

Chapter 52

"That’s enough."
Both of them stopped, startled. They turned toward the entrance, where an elderly couple stood in the doorway. The old man’s deep voice had stopped the argument. He stood tall, his hand crossed on his chest.  His wife, who looked on with a worried expression.

"What's going on here?" He asked with a voice which shut them all except manik. Manik looked at them with irritation, "Whatever is happening it's none of your business" he snapped. The old man glared at him. Manik flattered with the glare but hold his ground strong.

The old man turned his head towards sakshi, sakshi getting his glare immediately respond, "Dadu... yeh manik hn" the old man eyes remained cold but his wife eyes got softened.

The old lady looked at the boy and closed the distance between them, she caressed his face softly. Manik urges to push her hand away but the softness of her hand prevented him.

"Itna... bada hogaya... mera bacha" she said fighting back her tears, she gently cupped his face and plant a kiss on his forehead.

Manik closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the warmth of her touch. Sakshi noticed confusion in his eyes, cleared the fog, "Manik... yeh tumhare dada dadi hn... yeh Mr. Rawate aur yeh Mrs. Simran Rawate" she introduced. Manik head jerked toward her in surprised. Sakshi looking at his expressions and gave a nod.

Manik looked at them with wide eyes. Simran smile at his innocence, she looked at her husband and motioned him to come close.

Rawate looked at his grandson who is complete replica of his mother. He fist his knuckle. He walked towards them. Standing before him he lift his hand to caress manik face but someone grab his hand in the mid-air.

Everyone looked at the person who dares to stop Mr. Rawate, "Arjun!" They mumbled. Mr. Rawate glare at his elder grandson, "Arjun... !"  He said sternly, arjun looked at him being unfazed, he jerked old man hand harshly, "Don't!... apne gande (dirty) haaton ko mere bete se dur rakho" Arjun warned making him angry.

"Arjun... !" Mr. Rawate shout making everyone flinch in the room except arjun.

Arjun looked at sakshi. She nod, understanding his unsaid words. She gently grab rohit and manik hand and escort them out.

Once they left, Mr. Rawte walked towards his grandson and

THUD

A sharp slap landed on arjun cheek. Simran gasp, she rushed towards her husband and grab his arm, "Kya kar rahe hn app... jawan bache par haath utha rahe hoh" she said.

Mr. Rawate scoff, "Jab jawan bache mein itne himmat ajaye ke wo bekhauf  (fearless) bankar apke samne khara hojaye toh jawan bache ko line par rakne ke liye marna parta hn" he said angrily. Before Simran could say something, a sarcastic chuckle interrupt her. She looked at front and see arjun laughing.

Arjun wipe blood from corner of his lips, "Well, not bad Mr. Rawate, you could become a great script writer of indian cinema. Bright career... hm... I see!" Mr. Rawate clench his fist.

Mr. Rawate reached out to grab his nape, but Arjun took a bold step forward, seizing him by the collar. "Don’t…" he warned, his voice low yet unwavering. "Ek baar apka thappar bardash kar liya… har bar nahi," he spat, tightening his grip as he pulled Mr. Rawate closer. "Aur agle baar mujh par haath uthane se pehle 100 baar sochna… mein woh 17 saal ka bacha nahi, who would bear your hits." His gaze was fierce, his words cutting.

With a powerful shove, he pushed Mr. Rawate back. "I am Arjun Arnav Rawate… who could be anything but a victim." Arjun spun around, heading for the door, only to halt just at the threshold. He cast one last, penetrating glance back. "Aur haan… agle baar apne haath istamal karne se pehle sochna… warna I will forget you're the father of my father." And with that, he strode out, his words echoing in the silence left behind.