Revenge or Love

~Twenty-Seven~

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Aradhana's Pov

I stepped inside the house, my heart pounding with a sense of unease. I had no idea who the strange girl was sitting in our living room.

As I hesitated by the door, Rishabh appeared from behind me. "That's my sister," he said, his voice oddly detached.

"You have a sister?" I gasped. "I didn't know that."

A realization dawned on me—I knew nothing about my husband. His family, his past, it was all a mystery to me.

"Her name is Pallavi," Rishabh continued. "And I also have a brother, Abhay. Pallavi's twin."

I nodded, my mind reeling. I turned to Pallavi and smiled. "Hi, Pallavi."

She met my gaze briefly, but her expression was devoid of warmth. She didn't say anything.

Rishabh stepped forward. "Pallavi, this is Aradhana, your bhabhi."

To my surprise, Pallavi spoke. "Hello Bhabhi," she said, her voice soft and hesitant. A small, almost imperceptible smile graced her lips.

As she turned and walked towards her room, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Her demeanor was distant, almost mournful. Turning to Rishabh, I couldn't contain my question, "Does she... dislike me?"

"It's not like that, Arya," he said, taking my hand. "Let's go to our room. I'll tell you everything."

As we entered the room, Rishabh gently took my hand and guided me to sit on the bed. I could feel the weight of something unspoken in the air. He sat beside me, his grip on my hand tight as if he feared I might slip away. I could sense he was struggling with his thoughts, searching for the right words.

He exhaled deeply and began, "That night when we were together, I got a call. It was my PA. He told me Pallavi had called the office number." His voice was low, almost painful, as if each word hurt him to speak. "Pallavi and Abhay are my half siblings, but I love them, Aarya. I really do. No matter what problems I have with Mrs. Bhatia, I've always made sure those issues never came between us."

He paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "I know I should have told you. But at that moment, my mind was blank—except for Pallavi. I couldn't think about anything else. I just kept thinking she had to be okay. She had to be safe."

I could see the conflict in his face, the way his hands clenched as if reliving that moment. "When I got to the Taj Hotel and saw her... I can't describe how I felt. She looked so broken. So fragile."

He turned to me, his eyes filled with pain, and continued, "Pallavi had a panic attack, Aarya. When she regained consciousness, she kept saying Rajat's name over and over again. Then she fainted." His voice cracked, and he closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again. "The doctor... the doctor said someone sexually assaulted her."

The shock of his words hit me like a wave, leaving me speechless.

"And Manish found out..." Rishabh hesitated, clearly grappling with the weight of the truth. "He found out that Rajat—he was the one responsible."

I felt my stomach turn as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. 

Rishabh looked away, his guilt palpable. "My phone had broken when I bumped into someone that day, so I couldn't call you. Everything was happening so fast, and Pallavi's condition didn't give me time to think about anything else." His voice softened, his regret clear in every word. "I'm sorry, Aarya. I should have told you everything sooner. I know I hurt you. Please... please forgive me. I swear I'll never hurt you like this again."

His words weighed heavily on my heart. I understood now why he'd left so abruptly, but the hurt was still there. The silence lingered between us for a moment before I finally spoke.

"I will forgive you, Rishabh... but—"

His eyes locked on mine, searching for the rest of my sentence. "But?" he asked, almost pleadingly.

"But you will get a punishment for ignoring me." My voice trembled slightly as I spoke, my emotions tangled between understanding and frustration. "I understand that Pallavi needed you, but how could you forget me? After everything, after that kiss, you left without a word... I thought maybe you regretted it..."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I froze, realizing what I'd just said. My heart raced, and I wished I could take them back.

Rishabh's expression shifted, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. "So... should I kiss you again to prove that I don't regret it?"

I quickly turned away, flustered. "When did I say that?" I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"But it seems like that's what you were thinking," he teased, his smirk making me even more embarrassed.

"Shameless insan!" I shot back, standing up quickly and rushing to the bathroom, trying to hide my smile.

*******

After asking Rishabh about Pallavi's favorite food, I prepared dinner, hoping it would bring a little comfort to her. As we sat at the table, Pallavi ate quietly, barely saying a word. I tried my best to lighten the mood, cracking small jokes and offering stories, but all I got were a few faint smiles. She was clearly lost in her thoughts, and my heart ached for her. I knew she was hurting deeply, and I just wanted to see her smile again, truly smile.

After dinner, an idea came to me. "Rishabh, I feel like having ice cream," I said, glancing at Pallavi. "Let's go get some. Pallavi, you should come with us."

Pallavi looked up at me, her voice soft and distant. "Bhabhi, I don't feel like it."

I smiled gently and said, "That's okay. You don't have to eat it, but at least come with us. It'll feel nice to get out for a bit."

Rishabh chimed in, his voice tender, "Pallavi Baccha, please come with us. It'll be good for you."

There was a moment of hesitation before she finally nodded. She agreed to come, and I hoped that a change of scene would help lift her spirits, even if just a little.

The three of us reached the ice cream parlor. Rishabh went to get ice cream while I stayed with Pallavi, trying to distract her with funny stories. I made some silly jokes, and Rishabh joined in when he returned, adding his own brand of humor. I could see Pallavi start to relax, a faint laugh escaping her lips. For a brief moment, it felt like the dark cloud hovering over her had lifted, and she was letting herself enjoy the moment.

But then, in an instant, her smile faded. I saw her withdraw again, the shadows returning to her eyes as she remembered everything. It hurt to see her like this, retreating back into the pain that had consumed her.

We didn't push her further. We finished our ice creams quietly and headed home. As we stepped inside, I turned to Rishabh and gently placed my hand on his arm. "Don't worry too much," I said softly. "It'll take some time, but Pallavi will be okay. She just needs time to heal."

Rishabh nodded but didn't say anything. He took Pallavi to her room, staying with her until she fell asleep. I went to our room, changing into something more comfortable, trying to process everything.

A few minutes later, Rishabh came in. I asked him softly, "How is Pallavi?"

"She's okay," he replied, looking exhausted. "I gave her the medicine, and she fell asleep."

He headed to change into his clothes. When he came back, I was sitting on the bed, lost in thought. He walked over to me and, without saying a word, tried to wrap his arms around me.

But I stepped back, raising an eyebrow at him. "Hold on, patidev. Your punishment is still pending."

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