FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 11:FALLING APART

Piya winced as the morning sun hit her face. She got up slowly, feeling as if a thousand hammers were hitting her head. With a groan she buried her face in her hands.
"Take the medicine, it'll help" she heard her brother's voice say.
Her head snapped up, the sudden movement making her head wince with pain once more. Arjun walked into her room with a smile, setting down a glass of water and a pack of medicine on the bedside table.
"Head hurts badly?" he asked gently. "Don't worry, it happens when u go to parties sometimes. U end up getting more drunk than u intend to."
Hazy memories of last night came back to Piya. Abhay. Their dance. The insult. The drink. And then...and then...Piya flushed as she remembered. Did she almost throw herself on Abhay? Oh. God.
"Hey, relax, sis" said Arjun, putting a comforting hand on her shoulders. "I brought u home last night. U'd fallen asleep on one of the benches. I don't think anyone noticed. Our parents weren't home when we reached home, so they don't know either. Wash ur face have those medicines and the headache will go."
Piya managed to nod, her face still scarlet. "Thanks Bhai" she managed.
Arjun squeezed her shoulders comfortingly. "I gotta go now, kay? Have an important meeting. Will be back by lunch I guess."
As Arjun went out Piya glanced at the clock and gasped. "Oh no no no, Piya what have u done!!U tr supposed to go to work today!."She grabbed the glass of water and gulped down the medicine quickly. "Couldn't I get a hangover some other day?" she groaned as she managed to get out of bed. "Mish will be coming today as well. It's almost nine-thirty...I have half an hour to get ready.."

***************
Abhay scowled as he sat at his desk in his cabin, unable to concentrate on the file in front of him. Last night kept on replaying in his head. Piya. She was all he could think of right now. The feel of her, close to him, her lips on his, those beautiful vulnerable baby brown eyes he could not get out of his head. Her voice, her smell-
Damn it, yelled Abhay banging his fists on his desk in frustration. He did not know what was happening to him. He had made an agreement with himself that he would so longer make Piya his pawn in this ugly game of revenge. But he had also decided to stay away from her. This was proving harder. It shouldn't. Ever since his sister's death he had not allowed anyone to occupy his thoughts. It was damaging, allowing someone control over his time, over even a part of his life. But he couldn't keep Piya out. Through all the hatred, she had somehow crept into his personal space.
Abhay ran a hand over his face, leaning back in his chair. He needed to stop thinking about her. He hadn't told his father about his decision of keeping Piya out. Last night after the party, he had gone home witrh the thought that he would tell Chand that this was a battle between him and Arjun alone, but Chand was not at home when he had arrived. Abhay had waited for a long time before retiring for the night; he had had an early meeting today and hadn't had time to talk with Chand yet.
"When I go back today, I'll tell Dad" he decided.
*******************
Haseena smiled at the young boy who had agreed to deliver her thin wrapped diary. The boy was going to Dehradoon that evening and would deliver it to the required person.
"U remember the address, Mohan?" she asked him again.
"Yes the Raichand office, Dehradoon" said Mohan with an amiable smile. "I have to make sure it reaches Abhay Raichand's hand, Haseena aunty, right?"
Haseena touched his cheeks affectionately. "That's my boy. It should reach him and only him" she told him.
The boy nodded. "Yes, aunty" he said turning to go away.
Haseena watched him go, a feeling of anticipation mixed with sadness rising in her. She clutched the region of her heart, as she felt sudden pain shooting through the region. She had been having breathing problems recently and she didn't need the doctor to tell her that unless she had an operation done fast, she could die any moment. But that was the least of her concern. All she wanted was her son to know the truth. She hoped with all her heart, that it reached him quickly, before time ran out.
**********
Piya hurried down the stairs, swinging her handbag over her shoulders. She was already half-an-hour late. The headache was still there but better. She would grab a sandwich before going she thought, heading towards the dining room, trying to ignore the pounding in her head.
The room was unusually quiet when she entered.
"Morning, Papa, morning Mama" she said with a smile as she walked towards the table.
She never realized what happened next till after it had taken place. Madhu had walked up to her, and Piya barely had time to register the look of disgust in her eyes before Madhu raised her right hand and slapped Piya across her left cheek, the sound resounding through the silent kitchen.
Piya's eyes watered as she looked at Madhu, the smile sliding off her face as shock replaced it..."Mama-"
"Don't call me that" Madhu snarled, spitting firethrough her eyes. "All this years, I tried to accept u as my daughter, for Arnab's sake.....but now..."
"What-what r u saying Mama?" asked Piya confused...but Madhu's tone was making a fear bubble up in her stomach...of something she couldn't quite put a finger on...
Madhu walked over to Arnab, snatched the newspaper from his hands and walked back to Piya, thrusting the paper into her hands.
"All these years of raising u, and this is how u pay us back. By d
y disgracing us" she hissed.
Piya turned her eyes to the paper, the morning edition of the Dehradoon Chronicles, and read the caption slowly:
SCANDALS AT PARTY:BUSINESSMAN'S DAUGHTER'S SECRET AFFAIR..
Afeeling of unreality and dread sinking in, Piya turned her attention to the pictures that followed the caption. A picture of a boy and a girl dancing, close enough to generate gossip, a boy and a girl, in a deserted bench in the garden, kissing. The girl's face was visible, the boy's face had been carefully edited so as not to be clear or visible. But the girl's face was clear. Piya felt suddenly cold as she stared at the pictures, pictures of her, from last night's party. Somebody had taken those pictures, had them published, taking care to hide Abhay's face but taking equal care to show hers. She felt a strange ringing in her ears. She was aware of her hands trembling and sweating as they clutched the newspaper even tighter, aware of her vision blurring with the sudden tears in her eyes, aware that all this was happening, very much in reality, an end to her life, her ruin.
The air seemed suddenly to contain less oxygen as she stumbled back a little, herlegs hitting one of the chairs around the dining table.
"Noo-" she breathed out in a shaky voice.
"See Arnab, she doesn't even deny it" Madhu's voice rose with each word. "I told u, that day many years ago, that u r making a mistake...she turned out to be like her mother.."
Piya looked up, the words somehow registering beneath the haze..."M-my mother?" she whispered feebly.
Madhu looked at her, her eyes full of loathing. "Yes, u r not my daughter. Arnab should have allowed me to tell u this long ago. U r an illegitimate child, born out of wedlock. Ur mom died after u were born. I agreed to take u in, only because of Arnab. I shouldn't have. U r just like Sugandh, wearing her stupid pendant, getting involved in scandals.."
"W-what r u saying?" whispered Piya, one of her hands going to clutch her pendant.
"I'm saying the TRUTH" madhu shouted the last word, making Piya flinch. "I should've known, this should be no surprise, after all what can one expect from a girl like u? U've disgraced us...those pictures...of u...God, the scandal, theinsult...GET OUT" she snarled. "Get out of this house right now..."
Piya stared back at Madhu. Her world was shattering, her life was falling apart. What was Mama saying. She wasn't her child? She was-somebody named Sugandh was her mother? An illegitimate?
"Mama-don't please-" she sobbed; it hurt to breathe, the lump in her throat choked her. "I know u r saying all this because u r angry-the pictures-Mama-I can explain-please.."
"I don't lie, u shameless girl" hissed Madhu. "Get out now. AND NEVER COME BACK!"
"Papa, she's lying," Piya looked around to where her father sat quietly, his head lowered. "Mama's-"
"I am not ur mother! U r Sugandh Jaiswal's daughter!" Madhu snapped.
"Papa?" Piya looked as his form, sitting quiet and defeated. "Please say this is all a lie Papa. She's-she's sayng it because because-and the papers-I-I can explain-it's not what u think-u know I wouldn't"
She couldn't say any more, her throat choking, clutching the paper as though it was a lifeline.
Arnab merely stayed silent as Piya looked at him.
"What are u waiting for?" Madhu hissed. "GET. OUT. NOW."
Piya looked from Arnab to Madhu, and backed away slowly, her legs unsteady, tears falling from her eyes. Neither of them said anything more. Piya backed away towards the door, her eyes on Arnab. As she reached the door, Arnab looked up to meet her eyes, his own eyes sunken and agonized. "I'm sorry Piya" he murmured. "That S in ur pendant wasn't for sweetheart. It was for Sugandh."
AS the words reached her, Piya could feel a numbness, a coldness settle in her. She turned away and rushed out, a sense of deep betrayal and hurt burning her insides.


****************
Piya stormed into the Raichand offices, ignoring the receptionist, who tried to stop her as she stormed up the stairs towards Abhay Raichand's office. She banged open the door and entered , throwing the newspaper into directly at his face.
"What the-" Abhay snapped, standing up, looking shocked. It took him a moment to register that it was Piya who had stormed and thrown a newspaper at him. He took in her trembling form, as she gazed at him furious. "I hope u r happy now! Whatever u set out to do is finally done!" she shouted, tears rolling down her eyes .
Abhay looked at her momentarily stunned. "What do u mean?" he asked coldly.
Piya walked up to him, picking up the newspaper shoving it into his hands. "That's what I mean" she said, her voice choking as she gripped the table for support. "All along-u planned this-I can't believe-how could I think u have a heart-u r colder than ice-a stone-mean ruthless-"
Abhay lowered his eyes to the paper, trying to make sense of her words. His eyes widened in shock as he read the headlines on the front page and the pictures....the pictures from last night....
He slowly looked up to look at Piya, his heart suddenly twisting as he took in her trembling form, those eyes swollen with tears....
"U think I did this?" he asked her, his voice quiet but audible over her loud sobs.
Piya bit her lip, looking up at him, her face looking heartbroken. "I know u did this."she said, closing her eyes in pain. "U-u took advantage-u-u planned...."
"I didn't do it.." Abhay cut her short.
They stared at each other for a long time.. "I don't believe u" Piya croaked out. "U've never given me reason to."
Abhay took a step towards her, extending an arm out, but Piya immediately stumbled back. "Don't touch me" she whispered in a shaky voice.
Abhay lowered his arm slowly, his fingers curling into fists. "So this is what u think of me."
"I tried to believe otherwise Abhay" said Piya. She looked vulnerable and defeated, no longer alive and cheerful .Memories of their past encounters flashed in both their minds as they looked at each other."I foolishly tried to-I-my heart-" she took a deep trembling breath, "I hope u r happy now.."
"I didn't do this Piya" said Abhay, clenching his teeth.
Piya backed away from Abhay, shaking her head. "U've ruined me, Abhay, taken everything away" she whispered, tears rolling down her eyes. "I hope u can do me one last favour now. Stay the hell out of my life." She turned on her heels and ran out, not looking back once.
Abhay stood staring at the closed door through which she had gone, and then at the newspaper in his hands. A temper was rising in him, but more than the temper, it was the hurt he was feeling that bothered him. He crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor, gritting his teeth. Blood pounded in his ears as he thought of the pictures. Who had dared to publish this? "I will find out" he said his voice low and furious.
***********
Piya walked through the road, almost
blinded by the tears. She had wrapped her arms tightly around herself, as though it was helping in holding herself together. But the pain was burning, the agony cut through her whole being. The pictures swam to her mind, and she closed her eyes tighter. How would she look at herself in the mirror, let alone at other people?
And the identity of her real mother, the shattering of the world as she had known it added salt to her wounds. She touched the S-shaped pendant with trembling hands. All these years and she had never known, never guessed. She was an outcast, always a mark on society, and now people would find more reason to laugh at her, point their fingers.
She remembered the hatred in Madhu's eyes and a sob escaped her lips. She was a nobody, a nobody. Living in an illusion, a burden forall. And Abhay. Another raw wound in her heart. For however much she denied it, her treacherous heart still cared. Still loved the person who'd ruined her. And that was why it hurt more. It hurt to breathe. She sank to the footpath by the deserted road, no longer able to walk. Life had scarred her in these mere twenty-four years, taken away everything she'd had, a family she'd never truly belonged to, a love which was never meant to be. She'd only had her self-respect and Abhay had taken away that too. No love, no support, so dignity, no one to call her own. How would she go on in life. She clutched the pendant more tightly, suddenly angry at her mother, who'd left her alone, angry at her father for not telling her the truth, angry at herself for being weak and unwanted. She sat there, shaking uncontrollably with tears, hiding her face from the world. How would she ever raise her eyes and look around again?

She felt the world sway before her eyes, and the surroundings start to black out. She was dimly aware of a car stopping ner her and someone rushing towards her, catching her before her head hit the road. She heard someone say, "Piyu? Piya!! What-r u ok..?" and she barely managed to murmur. "Don't take me home, Mish" before she lost her senses.
**********
Abhay banged his fists on the table, fury, anger, hurt rising in him. How the hell had those pictures gotten published? And in such a convenient way? Hiding his face, showing only Piya's-it was clear that whoever had done it had preplanned all this and that person's main focus was Piya. But who....His own name swam to his mind, and he shut his eyes guiltily. He had once wanted this. But now that he was seeing these pictures, he felt rage for the person who had done this. And a fierce need to protect Piya, clear her name. He would make the person pay who had stooped so low, played with a woman's character....Could it be Chand, his own father...?
But no-Abhay leaned back in his chair, frowning. Chand had not even been present in the party...Then--?
A sudden memory came back to him-that waiter who had tried to force himself on Piya...could it be...could he give him a lead--?
Abhay jumped up and fished his phone out of his pocket and searched his phonebook, then clicked the call button for a number... A man picked up on the other end, "Hello...Delicious Caterers.."
"Hello" said Abhay, his voice heard. "Abhay Raichand speaking. I want to enquire about one of ur employees-"