Always Yours: The End Pg. 50 - Page 10

Originally posted by: apolloartemis

Hi everyone

A brief public service announcement: This chapter is dedicated to the brave girl who fought for so long but passed away today. My condolences to her family. I hope she gets the justice she deserves.

This fic can belight and fluffly, and passionate and intense but it does concern a topic that does not get as much attention as it should-honor killings. Since this is my fic, I can assure you it has a happy ending, but many girls out there do not get those. So please, keep them in mind and send a prayer for them when you read this.

Thank you for reading.

Chapter 4:

"Why are you in my room, Trishna?" Yuvraj grunted, sorting through the finances. "Shouldn't you be with your friends, giggling about your engagement? Now I just have to wait until the wedding and you'll be out of our lives forever."

Trishna stepped into the room, eyes glittering. "I saw something tonight." She began. "And I thought you should know about it."

"What?" Yuvraj asked bored. "Make it quick, I have to look at these offers for Madhu."
"Yes," Trishna's voice was bitter. "Madhu. Did you hate me so much because of her Yuvraj? What did I ever do to you?"

"You are not my mother's daughter." Was the callous reply. "And you are not my real sister. Madhu is. Why should I treat you well Trishna? You've never been a Chaudhary. You're a blight that I'm getting rid of."

"And Madhu is perfect, huh?" Trishna's voice wavered, then strengthened. "Well, I saw your perfect sister with RK at my engagement today! And let me tell you Yuvraj- she was kissing him!"

Yuvraj stilled, looking at his sister in disbelief. "What rubbish are you speaking?" He demanded.

Trishna laughed, tears falling from her eyes, her desire to hurt her half-brother clouding all judgment. "Your precious Madhu, your gem'she was kissing RK, Yuvraj- a man you did not choose for her! Not so perfect now, is she?" She sneered.

"You're lying." Yuvraj breathed. "You filthy, horrible liar! You've always been jealous of Madhu and me! Father was right! I should have shot you that day'I shouldn't have listened to Madhu! Father broke her arm because of you! Filth!"

"Yes you should have shot me!" Trishna yelled back. "At least that way I would not have had to endure what I did! You're the worst of our father! And you know what? I'm glad Madhu defied you! I'm glad she had the courage to do what I never-!"

Her words were cut off as Yuvraj stood, striding over to her, gripping Trishna's shoulders so tightly she knew there would be bruises in the morning. The look in his eyes was frightening. Trishna realized what she had done and felt the first stirrings of fear. Yuvraj would never hurt Madhu, would he? No. But he would hurt Trishna. The thought was confirmed as he backhanded her, wrenching her up by her hair.

"Liar!" He shouted shaking her, then dragging her out of the room towards the hall. Trishna shrieked as he pulled on her hair. She could see from the corner of her eye everyone gathering in the main hall. The guests had left already, but the servants and close family members were still around. They all stood silent as Yuvraj tossed her to the floor. Trishna groaned in pain as she felt Padmini kneeling by her side.

"What is wrong with you Raj!" Her mother yelled, shielding Trishna from any further blows. "What are you doing?!"

"Stop defending her!" Yuvraj bellowed. From the corner of her eye she could see Madhu staring at their brother in horror. Trishna wished she had the energy to tell Madhu to run, to get away from Yuvraj, but she was in too much pain to do so.

"Do you know what she told me? She said that Madhu had let that miserable man, that RK touch her lips! Trishna implied that Madhu had tarnished our family name! Get away from her Ma, I'm going to get rid of her!"

"Raj," Padmini's voice reflected her horror, "What are you saying?" Her voice was drowned out by Dadima.
"Enough of your theatrics, Yuvraj. Don't be foolish. Trishna is getting married soon'you will be rid of her then."

"No!" Yuvraj yelled. "She'll just keep spreading these rumors about Madhu even after she marries! She's always been jealous! Trishna will tarnish Madhu's reputation in the village. She'll tarnish our family reputation by her filthy lies! I'm not going to let that happen!"

So saying, he strode to one of the bodyguards, forcibly wrenching the gun from his hands. Madhu gasped and Padmini cried in horror, throwing herself on top of Trishna.

"Stop it Raj!" She pleaded. "Stop it!"

"Move!" Yuvraj commanded, aiming the gun at her. Trishna closed her eyes. Perhaps this was her punishment- she had always been jealous of Madhu, even when Madhu had done nothing to merit it'fitting that she would die to try to bring her down. Maybe Bappa would be nicer to her in her next life and make her a member of a simple family. She could hear Padmini's pleas and Yuvraj's bellows, the gun cocking. Trishna kept her eyes closed, shivering lightly. Everything seemed hazy.

Silence suddenly pervaded the hall. Trishna opened her eyes to see Madhu's back. Her sister was shielding her and their mother.

"Stop it Yuvraj." Madhu's voice was strong in the silence and she stood against their brother proudly. "This is your sister. Don't be foolish."

"Madhu," Yuvraj's voice was coaxing, honeyed. "Don't defend her. You know what she said."

"She your sister." Madhu repeated firmly.

"You're my sister. Don't you see'I'm doing this for you Madhu. She'll ruin you with her lies. No one will marry you."

"You're worried about our family reputation, brother, not me." Madhu's reply was quick and steady.

"Our family honor comes from the conduct of its girls. Trishna is a liar, Madhu, now move!" Yuvraj's sentence ended with a roar.

Madhu turned to look at her sister, and Trishna begged for forgiveness with her eyes. She could see the resolve in Madhu's profile as she turned to face Yuvraj. So could Daima. Trishna and Padmini saw the old woman slip away from the corner of their eyes, though everyone else was too engrossed in the spectacle unfolding to pay much attention to Madhu's old caretaker.

"She wasn't lying." Madhu's sweet voice rang through the halls. Trishna saw Yuvraj blanch and Dadima exhale in shock.

"W-what?" He stuttered.

"Trishna was not lying. I kissed him. I'm not ashamed of it."

"You're lying." Yuvraj's voice was desperate. "You're lying to protect her. Like that day'when Father broke you're arm'you always let yourself get hurt for her! Always!"

Madhu remained calm, eyes meeting Yuvraj's desperate ones steadily. "No. I have never lied to you. You know that. You can see the truth in my eyes. I kissed RK. If you're so concerned about the conduct of the family, then you should punish me'not Trishna."

"Madhu'"

"She's not lying Yuvraj."

The gun clattered to the floor as the brother and sister stared at each other. Silence reined through the hall, interrupted only by Padmini's sobs. Madhu remained standing in front of her sister. All were aware that she had just sealed her fate to save Trishna. Tradition would never allow Yuvraj to leave her alive, not when she had so brazenly admitted her misconduct.

XXX

Daima panted as she ran. Ram Singh had given her a lift when she had explained the situation. The man had a soft spot for his Madhu Malkin and he had immediately told Daima to get into the jeep when she told him what Madhu was going to do. Throughout the short drive he cursed RK for tempting his Choti Malkin, while Daima prayed desperately for the time they needed. She did not want to cremate the beautiful girl she had helped bring into the world and raise. She wanted to see Madhu married and happy. Getting the superstar to help would be the only way to save her.

Which is why she was on the way to the bungalow where he lived while he was shooting running through the corridors with Ram Singh right behind her, bellowing his name.

She screamed his name again as his bodyguards blocked her.

"What do you want?" The man in question shouted, coming down from his bedroom, looking at her disheveled. He was still in the clothes he had worn to the engagement, and looked like he had been getting ready to retire to bed.

"You have to help!"

"What rubbish are you speaking, old woman?" RK's voice was harsh. "I need to get rest if I have to talk to your mad master tomorrow. You're mistress might think she can escape from me, but mark my words, she'll be mine! I'll be damned if her brother does not give her to me in marriage!"

"He's going to kill her!" Was the desperate rejoinder. Both RK and Bittuji stared shocked at the old woman.

"What?" RK breathed.

"Trishna Malkin told Yuvraj Malik that she had seen Madhu and you kissing. He called her a liar and decided to kill her to save the family reputation! But I know Madhu'she'll take the blame. And then Yuvraj will kill her!" Daima frantically exclaimed. RK wasted no time and turned to his assistant before Daima had even finished the sentence.

"Get the car." RK yelled to Bittuji, who nodded anxiously and motioned for the bodyguards to follow him out.

"Yuvraj won't hurt Madhu." RK told Daima, trying the reassure himself, hurrying along with her and Ram Singh to the cars outside. "He loves her more than anything in the world."

"When those closest to us betray us, the hurt is the deepest." Ram Singh said somberly. "Yuvraj is his father's son. He will kill her in his anger, and regret it for the rest of his life. But he will kill her."

"All this over a kiss?!" RK shouted, getting in the car. Daima and Ram Singh followed quickly. RK floored the car, and Bittuji barely managed to get in.

"Chief'" The manager trailed off at his boss's murderous look, silently laying the gun he had gotten from the bodyguard near his boss's hand.

"It's not about the kiss, Sahib." Daima explained as the car tore through the road. "I told you that our worlds were different. It's about the family reputation. Yuvraj has to maintain it. And in his eyes Madhu has tainted it. I told you to leave her alone." She added reproachfully.

"That was never an option." Was the grim reply. "If Yuvraj harms one hair on Madhu's head, I'll'" RK trailed of, the thought of Madhu hurt bringing him too much pain. A small part of his mind was surprised that she had already so much influence of him, but the rest of him was too frantic for her safety.

"Hurry." Daima urged. "Hurry!"

XXX

"Oh Madhu." Dadima breathed, disappointment heavy in her tone. "Oh, Madhu why would you do this? I thought you had more sense. You were better than Trishna."

Yuvraj turned to her shocked. "You knew?" He whispered.

"I knew there was something there." Was the distracted reply. "I didn't think Madhu would give in."

"No'" But the denial was seeping out of Yuvraj's tone.

"Will he marry you?" Dadima asked quickly, trying to contain the damage, seeing the anger grow in Yuvraj's eyes.

"What rubbish are you speaking?" The sudden coldness in Yuvraj's tone sent chills down everyone's spines. Only Madhu met her brother's gaze without fear. "He's a superstar. He doesn't know our customs. He does not give a damn. She admitted her wrongdoing in front of everybody. There is only one solution."

Bending, Yuvraj picked the gun again, aiming at Madhu. Dadima moved to stop him, but was blocked by the guards. Padmini and Trishna both screamed and tried to get up, but more guards stopped them. Everyone else remained silent, staring in horror at the two siblings. Madhu remained silent, standing strong and steady. Yuvraj looked at his baby sister. The one he had always sworn to protect.

"Why?" He yelled. Though tears streamed down his face, his hold on the gun was steady. "Why would you betray me like this, Madhu? For a man who is worth nothing!"

"Nothing?" Madhu's eyes flashed, the temper she hid so often finally coming to the fore. "Nothing? You think I would risk everything for someone who meant nothing Yuvraj?"

"What was he then?!"
"He came into my life like a typhoon." Madhu told her brother. "RK made me question everything- who I was, who I wanted to be. He made me live Yuvraj. With him, my life unfolded. I felt alive. How was it a betrayal to be true to myself for the first time in my life?"

The gun trigger cocked. Madhu kept staring at Yuvraj. She was a Thakurain. A chaudrahin. A wolf, not a lamb. She would not cringe from her death.

"Do it then." Madhu taunted. "Be a man, Yuvraj. Kill your sister."

It was worth it. Madhu thought. RK. Rishab. My love, my life. You were worth it.

Yuvraj fired.