Chapter 3
He sat by the desk staring at what he had picked up from her room. After leaving his house, he had gone to Sunny's house and settled there wordlessly. His friend knew what had transpired at the Chavan Niwas because he had got to know from Mohit but one look at Virat's face, he knew this wasn't the moment to tell that. Sunny understood that Virat just needed to be left alone at the moment and so he had given him the privacy he needed.
Staring at the small jhumka she had left behind, the only thing of hers he had, his mind recalled the happenings of the past few hours. Many questions stormed his mind but he had answers to none. The way his own family had behaved with him too hurt him a lot each time he recalled it again and again. And the overwhelming restlessness at her absence was just adding more to his miserable state.
Wiping the lone tear that had escaped out, he stood up and moved to the hall where Sunny was watching something on TV.
"Where is she Sunny?" he asked making Sunny turn to him immediately. He knew what Virat was asking. He also knew where she was currently because it was him and Mohit who had dropped her. But his promise to his Bhabhi bound him.
"Where is who?"he asked feigning ignorance and confusion.
"Keep this pretence with yourself! You very well know what I'm asking and about whom!"
"You know I can tell you what had happened at Chavan Niwas that led to them ousting you" Sunny replied sighing.
"I need answers for both my questions and you know that. You know me very well Sunny. You understood my need for silence and being left alone then surely you can understand what I'm going through now. It's very important for me to know the answers to both my questions and you very well know that!" Virat said firmly, trying to control the frustration budding within him.
Sunny sighed and started narrating how Pakhi's parents had called up and informed Chavan Niwas about his and Pakhi's past. They had learnt of Sai leaving Chavan Niwas through Patralekha who had called them up merrily, really happy her "arch rival" was leaving for good! Pakhi's parents were sensible enough to know this wasn't going to end up in a favourable result and so had intervened by revealing the truth. Patralekha had been sent to her mayka back and then the family decided to banish Virat because he was thought to be the reason behind Samrat's disappearance and Sai's exit from the house.
Virat sat on the sofa abruptly. Dint his family know him better than that? Dint they not see the boundaries he had maintained with Pakhi? He held his head in his hands. Too many thoughts and his head was throbbing with pain.
"But why did Sai leave? She knew the truth beforehand! And where did she go? Where is she now? How is she?" Virat fired questions one after another.
"Bhabhi left before this hungama Virat. She bagged the scholarship and left to another town to join the college and continue her education."
"Left to another town? Which town? Which college? And why?"
"I have no answers to that Virat. If you really want to find her, you can use your own ways and find her." Sunny said and moved out of the hall, leaving behind Virat who for the first time felt defeated.
**
Her screeches and screams echoed around even as she was pulled by 4 nurses and put into the ambulance. Vaishali's heart wrenched in agony but she couldn't do anything about it. Both she and Shailesh knew this step was very important for their daughter. This was for her betterment, for her future. Shame filled their beings at how they had supported her despite knowing it was wrong. Had they stopped her then, explained to her then, 4 lives wouldn't have been in this mess they were in today.
They kept looking till the ambulance disappeared completely from sight. And as it did, the dam broke too as Vaishali collapsed into her husband's arms and wept her heart out. All moments of their Pakhi from small till she met Virat flashed infront of their eyes. Just what had she become?
If only they had stopped her back then and explained things to her! If only they had spoken a no to this insanity! Atleast their daughter would have been in a better state today! If only!
A/N
I hope bringing in Pakhi's parents here to tell the truth was justified. According to me, they could have been very effective in redeeming Pakhi since they knew everything from the beginning.
Do share your views.
Love,
PSR