Chapter 12 - Defiant Emotions
Entering the room, she saw Maya making bed wearing her night dress. She felt bad on not being with her. She stood beside her.
"Are you fine?" Piya asked
She was worried for her and had so much wanted to come hostel with her but well Maya backed off last minute and pushed her to go with Kabir to have some time alone with him though later Danish and Panchi accompanied her due to Kabir's drunk state.
To her surprise, Maya looked away not facing her. There was surely something wrong.
"Am.. am fine" Maya answered nervously confirming Piya's doubts
"What's wrong, Maya?" She asked worried for her friend who was already going through a lot
"I.." Maya was hesitant but told her nevertheless "I cant.... He... He told me to stay away from you."
It was a shock for Piya. She didn't expect it. Neither she understood the reason. It pinched her heart thinking about Maya's state. How can be someone so cruel? First to leave her all helpless and broken then even took away the only shoulder she was able to cry on.
Disgust filled her thinking about the monster.
"Why?" She voiced her feelings wanting to know the reason
"He don't want me beside you. That's why I didn't come with you." Maya muffled a cry
Piya's heart goes for the poor girl. She could understand her feeling. How lonely and helpless she must be feeling at that point.
"But why suddenly..." Piya stopped realising its not suddenly. Her conversation with Abhay came in her mind and she realised it was the outcome of her threat.
But how can he do this? That monster....
"We must stay away. Else he will destroy everything." Saying so Maya walked to other side and laying on bed, hid herself under the sheets not leaving the chance for Piya to speak
"That...." Piya gritted and felt a familiar pain shooting in her heart
How can be Abhay so cruel?
Just then her phone rang distracting her from the misery. She looked at the screen and saw it was unknown. Frowning, she received the call.
"Hey, Piya... Its me, Kabir" Piya heard the cheerful voice of Kabir from other side
"Why did you call?" Piya asked, she was too much tired mentally and physically for any normal friendly conversation besides she didn't expect a friendly conversation with Kabir at least not after tonight
"I just wanted to ask if you are fine"
Piya frowned. Now this was surely too weird. Not liked by her either.
"We met a minute back. You dropped me at hostel, remember?" Piya said a bit icily
"Yeah... But still..."
Piya took a sharp breath and rolled her eyes.
"Am fine. I am tired and want to sleep. Will talk to you tomorrow. Bye!" Piya said in one go and quickly cut the call before Kabir could speak anything anymore to prolong the nonexistent conversation
"How did he get my number? Must be Misha work" she muttered and as if on a cue, her phone rang displaying Misha
She received the call at one ring.
"Don't tell me you give my number to Kabir?" Piya blasted immediately
"Woho, seems like guy was faster than I expected but tell me how did you manage to get over with him so fast? I mean I thought you'll guys talk for hours" Piya heard Misha laughing
"Misha..." Piya pressed her forehead and sat on bed "you know na..... I don't like this unnecessary attention"
"I know people overdo everything in relationship but well you should tell that to Kabir. I believe he'll understand." Piya heard Misha's calm voice
"You are right, I guess. I should clear everything beforehand." Piya agreed
"That's the spirit. Don't let this relationship dim you. Be yourself okay. And yeah if you find Kabir wrong anywhere, not that I believe he'll do, but tell me, I'll set his brain on track, okay?"
Piya smiled hearing Misha.
"I'll be fine." Piya said
"You better be... See ya!"
"Bye" Piya smiled and the line went dead
Piya placed her phone on table and looked at Maya covered in sheets without any movement. She sighed painfully as the sadness returned.
"Why am unable to believe that you are responsible, Abhay?" Piya thought resting her head on headboard
"Why do you effect me so much?" She whispered
.
Abhay was walking in corridor thinking about all that happened. He wasn't able to shook off the feeling disquiet. The sadness in Piya's eyes was haunting him.
His raised his head and saw her coming from opposite side with pain in her eyes. He slowed his steps as they walked towards each other with a strange feelings. He so much wished to take away that pain from her eyes but he was helpless. Too helpless to let his guard down.
He can't let her fall in love with him. Not at any cost he will let her heart break.
His steps halted and so does hers when suddenly Kabir came from their left and gave him one of his looks which he surely didn't like.
He felt a sudden urge to pull Kabir apart as the guy dared to put his hand around Piya's waist and the discomfort came on her face while Kabir passed the victorious smirk to him. He held himself from doing something that he might regret.
His eyes remained stuck on the duo as Kabir pulled Piya with him and passed by him. He turned around to watch their backs going. He wondered why didn't Piya push away his hand when she was so uncomfortable but then he saw her turning around looking directly at him and his breath got stuck in his throat realising how lost she looked.
Damn it what have I done? Why is it getting so difficult?
Abhay closed his eyes gulping the painful lump formed in his throat. But when he opened his eyes, they were filled with sheer determination. He was ready to do everything possible for her.
Determination oozed from him as he strode towards his destination and pulled out his iPhone from his pants pocket.
"Meet me at usual place right now." he ordered pressing his iPhone on his ears but released soon knowing he was putting too much strength
He waited under the shades of trees reminiscing her sorrow filled eyes and ashen face. He was the reason he knew but he could also feel that there was something deeper and somewhere he was understanding it. The loneliness that reflected in her eyes and her reality of being orphan was surely a key.
He wanted to set everything right in her life, took away her pain and filled her life with happiness but there was this strange fear in his heart that something wrong was happening or going to happen. He so wished to stop it but he felt like fate is cheating on him once again.
He was feeling so helpless all over suddenly that he felt like he would end up doing something worst.
"Calm down" he told himself in his mind over and over again
He watched her coming and changed his demeanor into full of attitude masking all of his emotions.
"Who is he?" He asked point blank. The question he so wished to know the answer of. The answer which could change the course of future.
"I.... I can't tell" Maya looked away with her usual scared and hesitant form
"Why not?" He said frustrated "am I not influential enough to handle him?"
"I... I don't know.... But... But he will destroy everything...." Maya sobbed with a feeling of helplessness
Abhay was taken aback. It wasn't usual. Maya never broke down in front of him. There was surely something which broke her a bit too much and Abhay understood it in an instant.
"What's the matter?" He calmed himself to get the truth out of her
"I'm... Scared..." She managed to say
It pricked Abhay. She was like a sister to him and he was unable to see her in such a state due to some scumbag. But he wasn't even able to do anything which was surely frustrating him now.
"What really happened?" He clenched his fist
"He told me to stay away from Piya" she told controlling her sobs
"What?" The shock and fear engulfed him as he registered the words somewhere fearing the bigger game behind all this.
"Why?" He said in painful whisper as lot of questions clustered in his head. Why her? Why everything has to come down to her? Why she seems to be in centre of dangers? Why?
Maya stifled a sob - "I told Piya about my pregnancy and... He heard it when I was telling everything to her yesterday night. Maybe that's why..."
"What difference will it make for him?" He growled thinking how it was going to effect Piya
"Piya wanted to know the name so to expose him. Maybe he got scared..." Maya looked away wiping her tears
Abhay pressed his forehead. It wasn't suppose to go that way. How is he doing to manage it now?
No he shouldn't take risk. He has to find the truth. Else not just Maya but Piya too will suffer.
"Who is he, Maya?" Abhay asked in rigid voice with fire burning in his eyes
"No" Maya shook her head not ready to share the name
"Maya you have to tell me today. Its not about you only. He is a... Psycho. And he can hurt Piya too. Think about her at least." Abhay tried to manipulate her to get the truth out but he knew he lost it when after a shudder she shook her head violently
"That's why I can't tell you. He can hurt anyone. The only way to protect everyone is my silence." Maya said with strength even when deep fear pooled her eyes
Abhay could sense her fear. It was too palpable to not notice. He desperately wanted to know the truth but he realised that guy had scared Maya enough to shut her mouth.
He could've known it easily by entering her mind but despite the deepest fear and sorrow, Maya had blocked out her mind and he couldn't enter without her dropping the guards around that name.
She was vulnerable enough to drop the walls around that name but it seemed her fear was too stronger to let her guards down. That's why she was hiding the name too strongly in her mind.
Abhay wondered what kind of threats she must've faced to fear someone so much?
He looked at Maya and reminisced his conversation with Piya. He sighed.
"Maya.... I told Piya that I'm the father. Don't tell her otherwise okay?" He said looking at her expectantly
He watched as shock registered on her face and her mouth opened in disbelief. He was expecting it.
"What?" She managed to ask after opening and closing her mouth for several times
"She saw us talking in locker room so she wanted to know if I'm somehow responsible or related to you. It is better for her to keep away from that man." Abhay explained his intentions
"But Abhay.... It can malign your reputation if Piya ends up telling anyone or if anything goes wrong." Maya said suddenly worried for a friend who was helping her in her misery
"Every action has consequences and we have to be ready to face them" Abhay said with a distant look as he ended with whisper "and I hope am the one to bear them not anyone else. Not Piya!"
"But....." Maya trailed off not knowing what to say
"There was no other way. You are not ready to tell name and I don't think she'll back off without fighting. We better prepare ourselves for the time to come." Abhay said with a painful sigh thinking about the future that he wasn't sure of, anymore
Abhay looked at Maya and saw her lost. He so wished she would either tell him the name or let her guards down for him to enter her brain but he knew nothing of that sort was happening.
He closed his eyes pushing everything in the back of his mind and made his way back to the college with his aura of attitude and indifference even if there was havoc in his mind.
.
Losing mother at a tender age with a heartbreak of father's betrayal and living a life as an orphan with a dark truth of being illegitimate child, she faced it all with tears in her eyes, pain in heart and determination in her actions but never before she imagined that she would live that nightmare once again. It was worst than anything in world to see your past right in front of your eyes in the present, repeating with different faces.
And it does hurt more than first time as your wounds are being scratched again digging deeper with a helplessness of not able to alter or stop it.
She didn't want to see another Piya growing in the womb of Maya and another Sugand Jaiswal begging her rights from another Arnab Dobriyal. She didn't want to see another such scenario but she wasn't able to alter it either and it was a kind of anguish which wouldn't let her sleep in nights or have a peace for a moment.
It was simply too painful and even painful wasn't the right word to describe it. In fact no word could describe what she was feeling at that moment on being too lonely and too helpless yet a silent spectator.
"Where lost?"
Piya snapped out of her sorrowful thoughts. She sat straight and composed herself. She couldn't let anyone know her turmoil.
Turning to Kabir's curious gaze, she gave him a forced smile with sideways nod.
"Well never mind if you don't want to tell but I have perfect plan to lit up this beautiful face" Kabir grinned at her
She gave him oh so curious gaze when she wasn't curious even a bit. In fact, she dreaded Kabir's plan. They never ended well for her. Neither the birthday celebration nor the proposal. None of it was welcoming.
But the poor guy was in his own lala land and she didn't wish to break his heart when all he was trying to be a nice and caring person for her even if he was worsening all instead of helping.
"There's this restaurant opening. An Italian restaurant. And the best thing is, its exclusive for couples so we are going there." Kabir showed the tickets as he spoke animatedly in an effort to add dramatic effect
Uh-oh!! Another party!! That means another trouble.
None of the three parties in Dehradun went without nasty event. There had been always trouble in party.
What's it with party and Kabir and Troubles? Or is it just her who is fated to be unlucky to attract problems wherever she go even if it is a happening celebration?
"Uh, Kabir..." She stopped seeing Kabir's face twisting understanding her refusal
"Not again, Piya. You promised to give us a chance. You ain't giving a chance if you are going to keep on denying me like this." Kabir whined in childish manner
Piya would've laughed at his reaction and horrible pouts if she wasn't in pit of darkness. She simply smiled faintly.
"Okay" she nodded with a genuine smile after so long
She shook her head with a smile as Kabir punched the air mouthing a yes.
Maybe she should actually concentrate on her surrounding and honestly try to give a chance to Kabir. Maybe she would be lot happier then.
"I'll parcel the dress by 5 and get you at sharp 7." Kabir said in one breath and quickly left before Piya could get a chance to deny or change her mind
Piya smiled watching him going.
It wasn't a bad idea. She should actually give it a chance.
But will she be able to?
.
Lost in the whirlpool of confusions and strategies, Abhay didn't notice when Tanushree stood in his way.
"Hey darling!" Her seductive voice was like an acid in his ears and he did flinch too
He glared at her with disinterest and danger as she made some seductive moves. After everything that was happening, he didn't want to handle this mess too.
"I was thinking if you are free tonight?" She asked much to his disgust
Getting a deathly glare and understanding her double meaning, she clarified soon enough.
"I mean there's a couple party so I thought.... you can be my date." T said
Surely the girl got some guts. Better he got over her sooner than she caused some problem.
"I think you have lost it with your alphabet name, T. You should see yourself before throwing yourself on someone like me." Abhay gritted in ever so sweet tone stamping her attempts
Her face surely lost its colour for a moment but she came up with comeback collecting her tarnished confidence.
"Well, I know how you look at that sweet little charity case. And my offer is your chance to make her feel jealous so she can come back to you. You see, she took away my boyfriend leaving you and if we both will work together I will get my boyfriend and you can get her. Its a win-win for both of us." T defended her actions by an explanation that was surely tempting for that tinge of feeling similar to jealousy growing in Abhay
But he was Abhay Raichand for nothing. He didn't fall for cheap tactics that too when he had to focus on much concerned situation growing dangerous.
"First of all, Miss Alphabet, her name is Piya so you better remember that next time before naming her anything else since its you who needs to be renamed. Secondly, as far as I remember, you left Kabir yourself then why is his moving on a problem for you?" Abhay said in a sugar coated voice and a smirk plastered on his face
"And lastly," his demeanor changed into utter coldness shouting danger "I don't need anyone's petty help in achieving my goals. What I want, I can get it. And what I don't like, I can Destroy it."
That did the trick. The last words took Tanushree off guard and she back off feeling the spite of the words directed towards her. Fame is all she wanted. Playing with fire isn't in her game plan.
A smirk of satisfaction played on his face as he watched her going.
Bloody humans!!
He shook his head and made his way for home.
If nothing else Tanushree surely diverted his mind, for a change. He didn't even think once about all the problems glaring at him and reached the home with calm mind.
Finding his parents, seated in Hall, he made his way towards them. Support from his parents made him do what he was doing and he always felt better between them. A place where he actually belonged. Where he didn't need to put up an act of indifference, coldness and human being.
"We were discussing if you will like to host the opening of our Italian restaurant. What have you to say?" Chand asked in calm voice
The atmosphere was much lighter than it had been ever before and Abhay wanted to keep it that way. He didn't know he wanted to be relax, for a moment, until now.
"Not a bad idea" Abhay shrugged and leaned his head on couch
Damn, he was too tired. Not physically of course. It was a mental strain he was bearing from quite a time now. And he wanted to relax not for a lot of time. A night would be enough. Or even if a moment. Since his fate wasn't too considerate of his desires.
"Impressive" Chand commented
Abhay knew that tone. They didn't expect him to agree. To be honest, neither did he. It was just a spur of moment and he wasn't regretting it. The idea was comforting him already even when he knew he had to put up a mask.
"So when?" Abhay questioned without looking, his mind wandering off the topic after topic
"Will start from half past six, you should be there before half an hour that means six in evening." Chand answered
Abhay hummed still in leaning positing.
"Abhay, what's the matter?" Haseena questioned seeing the change in his behaviour
"Don't know" Abhay muttered without looking at them. He wasn't upset. In fact, he was feeling lot lighter after showing the mirror to Tanushree.
Wait, is it related to her?
"Maybe, a little content on defending her and deflecting a jealous human?" Abhay whispered a loud without realising
In his thoughts, he failed to notice the exchange of glances between Haseena and Chand with a knowing smirk on their faces.
He was too surprised at his own thoughts to notice anything else. Somewhere he felt his reasons weren't that weird either.
Since the time he saw her, all he felt was danger around her and he wasn't helping her much but now after protecting her from a small problem, called Tanushree, he finally did something for her.
But that isn't enough. Soon bigger and dangerous steps shall be taken from him or else he'll lose her and no way he is ready to let that happen.
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