Malaal-Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

“Rashi!”, a panicked man walked through the corridors quickly towards Rashi’s room. Kokila, Hetal and Jigar(who was standing outside still) recognised him.

“Isn’t he the man from Rashi’s fashion show?”, Kokila asked Hetal and she nodded.

Harshad entered the room, and Hetal, Kokila and Ahem followed. Jigar managed to peep in through the door. A tear rolled down his face on seeing a bandaged Rashi sitting on the bed, clearly irritated by the presence of the Modis.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have done this.”, Jigar thought and panicked inside.

“Harshad.”, Rashi managed to say, as Harshad hugged her immediately.

“How did this happen Rashi? Oh my god.”, he managed to say amongst controlling his emotions. Rashi hugged her with one hand.

“Yesterday night, when I was going to the bar, a car suddenly rammed into me.”, she said, still not out of the hug.

Kokila and Hetal looked at each other. Jigar couldn’t help feel the urge to remove Harshad from her and hold her in his own arms instead.

“Don’t worry okay? Now I am here no, and I have called Ishan as well. He’ll return in some hours.”, he said.

Rashi seperated from the hug. “You shouldn’t have Harshad, it’s not a big deal.”, she said slowly.

“Not a big deal? This news almost killed me and you are saying-, uff Rashi, you would never change.”, he said as he put a hair strand behind her ear.

Rashi laughed a bit. “I should capture this expression of yours and circulate it in the office. No one would be afraid of you anymore then.”, Rashi said and laughed.

Harshad kept quiet. He looked at her silently, as if trying to induct her smiling face in his memories completely. He controlled his tears.

“Umm, Rashi, I think you should take some rest now.”, Kokila suggested to break the silence.

Rashi clenched her fists and Harshad looked at her questioningly.

“They are my ex-in laws. And like you, even I don’t know what business they have here.”, Rashi told Harshad. Harshad got up and walked to Ahem.

“Hello, I am Harshad Malhotra. CEO of Regal Hues, and you are?”, he asked.

“Ahem Modi, CEO of Modi Industries, and brother in law of Rashi.”, he replied calmly.

“Ex brother-in-law.”, Harshad said with a smile.

“Harshad, forget about them. Just confirm my discharge time please and take me to my home. Atleast I would have some some peace without unnecessary company.”, Rashi said as she gave the Modis a discouraging look.

“No Rashi, you won’t. We will accompany you.”, Kokila said. Harshad and Rashi looked at her in surprise.

“No. It’s my life and my house. And I decide who stays and who doesn’t. So please stop interfering in my life now.”, Rashi said out of frustration.

“It’s not only your house now Rashi. We are the owners of half of your house. You have signed on the agreement.”, Kokila said.

Rashi and Harshad looked at each other in shock.

It slowly dawned upon Rashi.

“Ma’am, these are the papers for your admission and treatment here. You need to sign them.”

And she had signed those without even reading them.

 “You-“, she couldn’t say another word as tears of anger rolled down her cheeks.

“What the hell do you want huh! I can’t believe that you could do such a thing! I know you have always hated me, but what wrong did I do to you now? Why!”, she cried while Harshad held her.

“What kind of people are you?”, Harshad stood up and asked, without waiting for an answer.

“Don’t think that she’s alone in this.”, he declared and looked Ahem in his eyes.

Jigar, hearing all from outside, sadly moved out of the hospital and contemplated whether he was hurting Rashi even more in a greed to win her back.

“I am sorry Rashi.”, he cried with himself.

Rashi steadied herself quickly, she would never let the Modis affect her.

“Harshad. Don’t indulge with such lowlife disgusting people who can interfere in someone’s life so shamelessly. And you Kokila Modi, let me tell you this: Your staying in MY house won’t do anything to me. Understand that. I am Rashi Shah, and I won’t let my life get affected by anyone.”, Rashi said, her eyes burning with rage.

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