My loveless marriage

Part 72

The sky outside was growing dark, but it couldn't ruffle the tall brooding man sat at his chair by the window, for he was already as disturbed as he possibly could be.

He wasn't usually one to get ruffled easily. But today, things were different. The one he loved was at stake today.

"What is the value of honor when there is no love in life?" The young man standing next to him hissed.

But it didn't fall into his ears. He was deep in contemplation - what could he do?!

"If you had reported Anand to police all those years ago, we wouldn't have been in this place now, would we?" Kunal hissed at his grandfather.

But old Mr. Raichand didn't have it in him to look up and meet the gaze of his grandson. He was in the wrong today, and he had no right to look up after what he'd done.

"Abi bhi waqt hai!! Take my words and come with me to report to the commissioner. Naina's husband supports this decision!! Izzat ka falooda isn't something to be worried about!! And how is it our fault here when our daughter here... My baby sister... Has been wronged?" Kunal choked.

{Translation - there's still time!! Come let's report Anand to the police. There's no time to think of humiliation, and it's not our fault because we are getting blackmailed... My baby sister!}

"It's our mistake that we didn't keep an eye on Naina, and see what she was upto!! Ashleel tasweerein uss ne bheji uss ladke ko!! Kisne kaha usse bhejne ko?? Ab bhugat hum rahe hai!!" The old man choked.

"Aap bhugat rahe ho? Dada ji... Do you have any idea of the emotional torture that your granddaughter had to endure for all these years?? Instead of looking after her, caring for her, you sent her away after thrashing that bastard, even without explaining anything to her!! Where were you when she wanted your love the most?? Ek baar bhi gaye uss ko milne? And now..." Kunal choked.

Tears pooled in old Mr. Raichand's eyes, but he sniffled and continued to gaze at his lap. He had done what he had thought to be the best for Naina.

The text message from Rohan had ruffled Kunal. He had been at his penthouse with Shruthi and a few of Rohan's personal bodyguards guarding the place when Rohan had texted them the extent of Anand's plan, and who was supporting him.

And as Shruthi had left to take matters into her hand, Kunal had come here to his dadaji, to confront the old man.

"I wanted to keep her safe...that's all" Dadaji choked.

"Keep her safe? By giving off your company shares to that bastard, you're keeping Naina safe? By staying silent now, you're keeping Naina safe? By hiding his dirty game, you're keeping her safe?? What kind of safe is this dadaji??" Kunal hissed bitterly.

"Anand knew... That she is Sushma's daughter..." Dadaji trailed off.

Kunal gazed at dadaji in shock - who was Sushma?

"Sushma was my daughter... She was barely 20 when she ran away from home with some classmate of her's... When we got to know that she had married that idiot, I disowned her. She was no more my daughter, and not a Raichand after that. Your father had to spend a lot of money to bury the matter, and for other damage control" dadaji paused, trying to get his thoughts right.

"Damage control?" Kunal's voice was hoarse. The fact that his sister was not adopted, but was actually his bua's daughter didn't ruffle him - his grandfather was capable of anything, and disowning his daughter who ran away with a guy was hardly an issue now, was it?

Besides, he loved Naina from the moment he'd held her to his heart! And he always thought she was adopted. But his love for her was beyond such mundane things... Blood related or not, Naina was his darling sister!