Little Red Flower -Thread Three- *Chapter 25 Page 135* NTL PG146* - Page 14

Shyam lay next to his sleeping wife as she murmured something incoherent in her sleep. He was tired of this..everyday routine of their life. But he has to do it..if he wanted some money. He sighed rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. His eyes looked at the wall clock and it was almost 6 in the evening. What an odd hour to catch sleep? He thought getting out of the bed then her one hand latched onto his wrist. He forced a smile on his lips and sat on the edge of the bed, letting her hold him.

"Rani Sahiba...aap uth gayi?"

He drawled cupping her left cheek and she yawned pulling him back onto the bed.

"Were you leaving without waking me up?"

She asked sitting up on the bed and he groaned inwardly. Anjali was clingy...period. But now a days she was too interested in his whereabouts. Should not he be warned of her this new habit of asking too many questions?

"I thought I would make some tea for us..before you wakes up.."

"Ohh..how sweet"

She said smiling. Her phone beeped with an incoming text and Shyam curiously looked at the screen. It was from NK and she hurriedly climbed out of the bed, checking the same.

"NK? Why is he texting you when he is in the same house..?"

He asked trying to snatch the phone away from her hands. She stepped away from him hiding the phone behind her while Shyam stalked closer his eyes spitting fire at her.

"Rani Sahiba..dont make me do anything stupid that I will regret later.."

He warned and Anjali reached for the doors. She twisted the door knob when Shyam pounced at her. She swayed back but someone caught her before she landed onto the floor. She squeezed shut her eyes sensing the person who had caught her.

"Chotey, you are back.."

She inhaled sharply while Arnav steadied her onto the ground.

"What is the rush Jija ji? We have got plenty of time to discuss this and dont worry we will clear everything to everyone...before.."

Anjali rushed downstairs where every other family member was seated. NK gestured towards the small box in the middle of the table and Anjali's heart pounded brutally against her ribcage. The truth is going to be ugly but she would face it this time. She have had enough. She is the one who controls her life..not her bas***d husband...

"Saale Sahab..what are you talking about? Is this some kind of joke?"

"Joke time is over, Hello Hi Bye Bye.."

Mami exclaimed smoothing her sari pleats. Shyam frowned and descended downstairs accompanied by Arnav.

***

"This is all bullshit. You dont have any proof that it was me..who switched Anjali's tablets. You are wasting my time as well as Police's.."

Shyam seethed in anger his eyes glaring at Anjali's fearless form .What has gotten into her? I should have been really careful with her. These Raizada siblings are going to pay for this humiliation I am facing. He groaned inwardly as another proof was slanted against the table making him scrunch is eyes.

"I dont believe all this..I trust Damad ji..he can never do such things to this family..He is a lovely human being.."

Dadi lashed out defending Shyam who had a winning smile on his lips..

"I think this is enough for you then.."

NK said through gritted teeth his eyes focusing on both Shyam and Dadi's pale face. Shyam's face went darkened with anger, at the vision. It was the tape he had long forgotten.

'How dare you? How dare you to touch my things and trespass my property. You are going to pay for this..big time.."

Shyam was already pouncing towards NK when Arnav caught him by his arms and pushed him off to the ground. He fell on his face and steadied himself on his foot.

"Why don't you just die? You pathetic excuse of a man?"

Shyam barked grabbing Arnav's collar and he stumbled backwards at the pressure. Arnav's anger increased ten folds, as he looked at the man in front of him, barking at him. His sister's husband, his family. He closed his eyes for a moment as if erasing all those memories of the past from his head and pushed his hands away from his collar. He smoothed his shirt and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You are a dirt you know that. I cant believe I let you live in this house all those years. Do you know why? Because of her.."

Arnav said pointing towards Anjali who had a blank expression on her face. She did not meet their gazes and remained silent as the war begun in front of her eyes.

"For her..and her happiness. Now, I have no such priorities..because she herself have asked me to throw you out of this house. Do you understand? Your golden days are over Shyam Manohar Jha...and there is a cell waiting for you to accomodate you for the rest of your ugly life.."

The police men came forward and played the tape. Everything came to light when Shyam's face appeared on the screen. He had dug his own grave by keeping all those tapes in his custody other than destroying it. Arnav could not believe his eyes as he watched the way he had planned Anjali's accident. It was him who made her trip on the stairs as well as switched her tablets. In between all this he never forgot to visit his sister...during his wedding with Khushi.

He ran a hand through his hair not able to digest the reality in front of his eyes.

"Cant believe, right? I did...everything under your nose...The great Arnav Singh Raizada..had no idea that I was ruining his life along with his sisters. I pity you...then I wont blame you either. Because you were in love..with the same girl I had once engaged to. But, what makes me happy is that she is not with you anymore. I did not get hold of her, neither did you.."

He laughed piercing the silence and before he could make anymore statement in front of the whole house...he was been dragged to one of the corner of the hall by Arnav.

"Damad ji..I thought we had a deal.."

Dadi reasoned wiping her sweaty forehead as everyone's eyes moved towards her.

"Just forget your f**king deal. I have endangered my own life for this and what did you do?"

Shyam said as Arnav's hands clutched onto his forearms.

Arnav did not wait for a second and punched his face black and blue.

"Dont ever talk rubbish about my family. Do you get it? And the girl you mentioned is my wife...You never take her name with your filthy mouth..."

He shoved hardly onto his chest and he fell onto the floor coughing blood.

The police officers came forward and clasped the handcuffs around his both wrists.

Arnav stood at the threshold his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes missing nothing. Dadi was sobbing hardly onto Nani's shoulders, the sound of her cries echoing inside the house.

"Mr. Jha..I hope we will never meet again. I am glad that you are out of this house and my life.."

Anjali said through gritted teeth her hands gripping the gold chain around her neck. Her mangalsutra.

"This means nothing to me...and you...can go die.."

She pulled the chain and it fell onto the floor breaking into small tiny pieces on the floor. As Shyam walked out of the house she ran towards the stairs, and disappeared inside her room.

***