Chapter 15 - Retaining Truth
Suffocated was what she felt at that moment. Sitting in the dullness of police station with the old walls telling tales of cruelty and pain, she felt a weight on her own chest. Last time, this place had brought deepening wounds of betrayal of her own father but this time....
This time, this very place, was clearing the label of betrayal from another person, she trusted and regretted doing so.
The walls were taunting her for her stupidity. Explaining the stories of misunderstanding and illusion. Adding more haunting questions on her conscience.
She looked at inspector and thought about the breakdown of Maya, a moment back, on hearing the cruel news of the death of her unborn baby. He killed her baby, that's what Maya had chanted going all hysterical. She had felt for her and had vowed to pay this debt back to Abhay.
But everything changed so suddenly. The picture, she was seeing of the whole matter had another side which was hidden from her view and was still mystery. A mystery of the mystery she was seeing.
The question of inspector rang in her head laughing at her folly and mockering her decision.
"Try to remember Miss Jaiswal. We must know where Mr Raichand was at the time of incident." Inspector insisted
Piya hid her face in her palms. How should she answer that she remembered it as clear as a day that she was there with Abhay when the incident with Maya took place.
"Oh god, what have I done?" Piya thought. If Abhay was with her then it meant he wasn't responsible of Maya's state. She never saw him with Maya except for one damn occasion which pushed her to question Abhay about the whole matter and then his damn confession which suddenly seemed so untrue.
No, Piya decided. She wasn't going to lie or blame Abhay. Not without proof. Even if it meant she would be held accountable for her hasty testification.
"Fighting in boxing competition. After that in locker room and I did meet him too." Piya said looking down.
Doing this was a dangerous gamble. Her character could be question too. She could lose everything. But she wasn't ready to destroy someone else's life by her mistake.
"What are you..." Misha tried to speak but Inspector stopped her
"Are you sure? Or is there some pressure? You can trust us." Inspector said throwing a glance towards Abhay who himself sat dumbfounded
"Am sure. I saw him with Maya one day, so thought that he is the reason but this incident... He isn't responsible for this particular incident" Piya said and dared to look at Abhay from the corner of her eyes and the look she saw on his face told her that she was doing right.
That somehow Abhay was just linked, not responsible.
"Do you know it can go against you? You have wasted police time and tried to mislead that too by effecting the life of a reputed family." Inspector said in calm voice but his words rephrasing her fears which she no more cared.
"I'm sorry" Piya said not knowing what else to say. She had messed up big time. And only time would tell if her this decision of supporting Abhay was right or not.
"Look, your sor..." Inspector words were cut off by Abhay
"I have no issue." Abhay said calmly
Piya looked at him surprised. She didn't expect him to say something in anyone's favour, in her favour.
"But we do have issue" inspector snapped suddenly feeling as if he was trapped between two lovers who fought over something and dragged him to take revenge on each other
"Your issue should be the incident. Better focus on finding the culprit." Abhay said. His face showing danger as he stared Inspector.
"You may leave now, Miss Jaiswal." Inspector said staring down at Abhay with equal intensity as him.
Piya stood up and looked at Misha who was giving her incredulous looks. She hung her head and walked outside the police station.
"What is this, Piya?" Misha confronted her "what is going on between you and Abhay?"
"I did mistake, Misha. Abhay isn't responsible so I can't let him get punished, can I?" Piya said clearing her point with a hope that her sister would understand
"Can you elaborate?" Misha said raising her eyebrow not understanding what got into her friend
"Misha, I'll tell you everything when I'll figure out myself. For now, you go. I'll come later." Piya said holding her hand, she didn't want to repeat her mistake of telling tale filled with assumptions
Misha wanted to say something but stopped seeing Abhay walking out. She glared towards him which he replied with a lopsided smirk.
"Just be careful that you don't make a joke out of yourself." Misha said patting her shoulder
Piya smiled sadly. Her life had already became a joke. What was it that was right in her life. Nothing and nothing.
Misha gave her a pat on shoulder and walked off giving a glare to Abhay.
"She seems upset of your decision, yeah?" Abhay said standing beside her
Piya looked at him trying to understand the enigmatic man in her life. Whenever she thought, she got a bit of his character, he would flip and came out opposite to her thoughts.
"Why did you do it?" Piya asked looking at him with lost eyes
"Did what? Push Maya? Well that was fun" Abhay shrugged "about inside then it will work in my favour, you see. I acted all good and now no one will believe in future that I did anything wrong. Win win"
Piya shook her head gazing his smug face. She wasn't going to fall for his words this time because all he ever said to her was a lie. He was hiding himself from her and the world, in a little dark world of his own.
She might've doubted her decision to back off and him but he himself gave her the clue that he had been lying all along. Because if he could lie to her that he pushed Maya right after she became proof that he didn't then he was surely lying about everything else he uttered too.
Abhay had no idea whether he did right by planting the seed of doubt in her mind or not. But he preferred to see her confused over being lost. Besides, things weren't working on his planning anymore so what could go wrong by taking a few risks for the happiness of someone.
His body relaxed on seeing that little hope sparking in her eyes. She wasn't aware of it, he knew but it was a good sign to see her coming out of her lost state, to see the hope brewing in her, to see the tiny bits of pain fading away from her face, to see the life returning in her and to see the bit of calmness spreading on her face.
Her phone rang bringing both of them in reality and breaking their strange yet peaceful eye contact. He watched her calmly receiving the phone and immersing in the conversation.
"Really?? Thank you so much.. thank you!!" Piya breathed in happiness and a charming smile widening on her calm face
Abhay smiled lightly seeing her so happy. Besides the news she received was a breeze of peace too. But his smile vanished as he felt a tingling darkness surrounding them. He closed his eyes, sniffing the warnings and locating the source.
"Maya is conscious, much in senses and a whole lot better." Piya informed him the news in happiness without knowing that Abhay heard the news when it was being conveyed to her and right now he was far from feeling anything for this news as a new fear stabbed him.
She turned to him only to see his ashen face and closed eyes. She couldn't understand the reason. Why wasn't he happy? It was a good news and he ought to be happy until or unless he wanted otherwise...
Fear clutched her once again. Just now she had concluded that he wasn't responsible and just now only he flipped to show his another face, confusing her all over again.
"No he isn't responsible" Piya told herself with shaking strength and shook her head.
"What's the matter?" Piya questioned Abhay
Abhay opened his eyes and looked at her. His face turned blank hiding all of his emotions from her eyes in such way that Piya doubted her own mind if she hallucinated his reaction.
"Let me drop you wherever you want." Abhay said, his steps already moving to his destination but his conscience stuck at her making sure she was following him without any harm.
"I can go myself." Piya said not liking his attitude that he showed all the time without reason.
"Hell if I'll let you go alone." Abhay groaned, fear clutching him on the realization of powers working against Piya.
Piya stopped unable to understand what was bothering him. She never saw him so on edge as he looked at this moment. His concern was always cloaked in anger but today it was all naked and raw and she didn't understand from what he was protecting her. She wanted to question him but instead looked all around to find the supposed threat. She found nothing other than wilderness and wondered if it was the reason.
She jerked into reality, averting her gaze from the deep calm forest towards Abhay who held her hand and almost dragged her in his car.
As she sat in car, she gazed him with watchful eyes trying to unlock the mystery of him.
"Am fine" even before Piya knew, the words flew out of her mouth and the breeze took it to his ears halting his action
He looked at her and calmed a bit seeing her serene face.
"And I'll make sure you are fine" Abhay muttered in flow, clutching the steering wheel as car stopped working
The promise in his eyes finding its way to his voice was a pleasant surprise for Piya. It was an assurance she never got. A warmth, no one could give after her mother's death. A peace, she yearned her whole life.
And no way she was going to question his actions after this assurance. The moment, captured in the beautiful peace would be destroyed by her single word and no way she was going to let it happen.
A magical smile lightened her face after years. And when he turned to her only to be frozen by her smile, she wanted to tell him that she trust him but she knew at that moment that her face was giving away her every feeling and hence, no words were exchanged and the moment was sealed by stars.
Piya followed as Abhay stepped down the car and checked the car to detect the problem.
"Damn it" Abhay muttered with tension visible on his face as he closed the car bonnet
Piya watched in silence as he took out his iPhone and called someone to bring another car explaining the address. She admired the way he talked with authority and his words being always concise. The way emotions were flowing on his face was rare to see.
She knew she should be worried seeing all the tension on his face but it didn't effect her. His presence was enough to soothe her heart and keep the worries at bay that it didn't matter to her if he was worried for her due to some possible danger and neither she wanted to know. She was content on being with him.
"We can go by forest too." Piya suggested, already feeling giddiness imagining to walk with him through the deep beauty and spending a moment away from the world
"What is not safe in daylight, will be worse in twilight." Abhay said lost somewhere as he stood gazing the dangerous beauty of forest which lure lovingly only to devour the existence in the cruelest way possible.
"Oh..." Piya managed to say with a light feeling in her heart as she remembered the times he stopped her from crossing the forest with a mask of rudeness. She was right all along. He wasn't what he showed himself to be and he cared honestly for her.
When she had watched Maya in the pool of blood, she never thought that the end of day would turn out to be so beautiful and calming.
Finally, away from the haunting pain and feeling the silent love, she felt so calm and peaceful without any worry.
Piya looked at Abhay waiting intently for car and looked at the car. She wanted to be close to him. She wanted to see him as she cherished her moment of calmness. Sitting in car wasn't the best option considering her desires.
"Okay then let's wait for car" Piya said cheerfully and sat down on road leaning on car and crossing her legs, shocking Abhay to core.
"What are you doing?" Abhay said watching her with open mouth
"You can sit with me" Piya said patting the road beside her with a calm smile
"Are you..." Abhay tried to argue but Piya interrupted
"I'll feel safe" Piya said in whisper with the innocent dancing in her big eyes and calmness gracing her face
Abhay stopped, looking at her. He felt something, he couldn't understand. The calmness on her face was so different than he had ever witnessed and it was filling his veins with something, he had long forgotten.
He turned around unable to face her as a known yet unknown feeling stirred in him. He looked around trying to locate the power threatening Piya but his mind didn't stop making images of her serene face and all his concentration found its way down the drain.
The fear of her safety and a feeling to be with her, forced him to turn around to look at her and there she sat gazing him with amiable look and innocent eyes inciting something deep in him.
Wearing his attitude to hide his emotions, he sat down beside her in the same posture as her. He didn't turn his eyes to look at her but he did feel her smile calming the soft breeze around them.
He didn't dare to look at her, scared of a fluttering feeling, a feeling he forgot to feel long time back and suddenly too different than last time.
A soft weight on his shoulder made him turn his head towards her and the calm sleeping face of Piya glowed under his gaze, gripping his eyes from looking away the serenity. Everything forgotten and ceased to exist in that very moment for Abhay.
Strands of hair danced on her peaceful face. Very carefully, his fingertips played on her soft skin and caressed off the strands from her face.
Breeze of twilight cooling their moment with utmost peace.
The speeding of tyres against road, disturbed the peace in the wind and pulled Abhay out of the realm of calmness.
He turned his head away from her with a sudden awkwardness engulfing. Being conscience of them sitting on road with sleeping Piya resting her head on his shoulder, Abhay shifted cautiously wondering if he should wake her up.
Knowing well the only option, Abhay nudged her but instead of waking up she held his hand in sleep, startling Abhay by her act. He pressed his lips with sudden uncertainty and faltered intelligence. A feeling, product of their closeness, dominating his every senses.
"Piya, wake up" finally Abhay managed to say in low tone
Piya stirred and finally woke up after Abhay called her for the second time. With foggy mind, she didn't understand a thing at first until her gaze fell on her hand holding his. Widening her eyes in surprised, she threw a glance towards him and saw him looking away from her.
A crimson red hue found its way to her cheek and she left his hand immediately with her hair covering her shy smile and bowed head.
At first, she thought to apologize but when she didn't regret her action why should she apologize?
Thinking so, she stood up with him as the car stopped in front of them. She watched as Abhay ordered driver towards the broken car and himself sat inside the functioning car. She frowned at first thinking if Abhay forgot her but her thoughts vanished when he gestured her through the window.
She sat beside him in the car and turned to him.
"Abhay, I'll go to the hospital" Piya said feeling relaxed after the news, revelations and a peaceful sleep on his shoulder.
"Visiting hours are over." Abhay said without any emotions while looking straight at the road
"Visiting hours are over but that doesn't mean I'll let her sleep alone all night. She needs someone beside her and who else can be there other than me?" Piya explained smoothly and Abhay stole a glance towards her before giving a silent nod
On reaching the hospital, Piya rushed inside but not after waving a good bye to Abhay with a charming smile.
Abhay smiled slightly watching her disappearing out of her sight. Sighing, he started his car.
All her happiness and calmness flew out in the snowy night when she stepped at the threshold of Maya's ward. The accusing voice of Maya with a figure covered in black overcoat halted her heart for a moment.
No one was supposed to meet Maya at this hour so how come the guy entered unnoticed? Though she understood who it might be she didn't understand the way of his presence. If he was staying with Maya then Piya wouldn't have been allowed to stay for night.
Throwing away the thoughts, Piya decided to confront and find who actually the guy was playing with her mind, hurting Maya and the reason Abhay took the blame, he wasn't responsible of.
She had just stepped forward to confront when she thought to take the evidence too. Quickly taking out her phone from her hand bag, Piya captured picture of man from different angles. Her mind analysing as she worked in clicking pictures. She was sure now that Abhay wasn't as bad he was pretending to. Abhay just dropped him so he couldn't come to meet Maya besides neither he was wearing any such outfit nor his height or physique was as such.
Done and satisfied with her job, she was ready to unravel the face of mystery when a sudden crashing sound distracted her. Swirling around, she tried to find the source but the pin drop silence prevailed.
Confused and suddenly scared, Piya turned back towards ward only to gasp with further shock on finding the person gone. She couldn't understand what really happened. First the person entered without anyone's noticing, then the loud voice with no source and now the person had disappeared.
She rushed inside ignoring startled Maya. The cold wind moved in from the open window and Piya eyes remained stuck to it. So it was the entry and exit for that guy.
But who the hell is this guy?
Piya turned to Maya on being called by her. Forcing a smile, she sat beside her questioning about her health while her mind wondered about the veiled guy responsible for Maya condition. She had an eerily feeling about this fiasco that was instilling a strange fear in her.
.
Piya watched her reflection in the mirror feeling the nervousness of unknown origin. She was ready for the party and once again the fear of party eating her insides. Her self promise to never attend party laughed at her pretty face. She would've avoid it if not for her step sisters who managed to fill the big hole in her heart with a little sand of their love.
It was Panchi's engagement with Danish. Finally. After what happened with Maya, Danish and Panchi were shaken by the cruelty and understood how unpredictable time could be. Hence, they decided to get engaged as soon as possible with their marriage in the line too.
It was only after romeo juliet play, which she with Abhay excelled, winning the award for their team, that Danish announced his engagement with Panchi. Everyone was thrilled but the shock was engagement was scheduled eight hours after the announcement. After a bit of annoyance everyone had scattered to shop for themselves for the surprise engagement party.
Quite a day, if she thought over it. Maya was healing, Abhay came out clear, she had emotional yet beautiful time with Abhay during the play, they won the award and her sister was getting engaged to the love of her life.
She should be happy but the scary fear was shadowing her happiness. It was haunting her since yesterday night when she almost found out about the guy involved with Maya and now the party wasn't helping either.
Something was bound to happen, she was sure. Something drastic and life changing.
Her chest constricted with fear and tears found its way to her eyes without any reason. She was going mad with the feeling of fear for uncertain future.
Piya ran her fingers in her styled hair, spoiling them a bit. The distraught look not leaving her face. Her eyes wandered for hope and that's when she saw her phone sleeping on her bed.
The ray of light entered in her darkness and she lunged on the phone as if her life depended on it. Quickly dialling Abhay's number, that she had got courtesy to their play, she waited impatiently for Abhay to answer.
"Ab... Abhay will you please make sure to attend the party?" Piya said with fear and hope mingling inside her. She didn't know why she was doing it but she knew she would feel lot better if he would be present too. She doesn't expect anything else, just a silent support in the form of his distant presence would do.
"What happened?" His worried voice questioned. Of course he didn't expect Piya to almost beg him to attend the party with shaky voice and hence couldn't stop his worry from seeping inside in his voice.
"Just.... " Piya bit her lower lip not knowing how to explain him her fears "I just want to feel safe" she closed her eyes, her fears tied up in her one sentence.
There was a long pause but Piya held on the phone with hope knowing he was there listening to her uncontrollable heartbeats full of haunted fears.
"I'll be there..." The answer came finally and the line went dead
Her lips stretched into wide smile and the phone remained stuck to her ear even after knowing he wasn't on line anymore. She felt happy and that was enough to overpower her fears but momentarily.
.
With his eyes searching for the reason of his early arrival, Abhay entered in the party with no one beside him. He stood in corner observing tiny details. His instincts warning him and a cruel power growing closer.
Looking ethereal in a simple lehenga, she shambled inside with her most precious makeup, her charm, not on her face.
Something was wrong and he couldn't understand what was it. She was beyond than simple happy yesterday and fine in morning. It seemed something was sucking away her happiness and confidence slowly. Something was happening to her that she wasn't letting him know or maybe she herself was unaware of judging by her confused state.
He didn't expect his tries to make her feel better go down the drain the way they had. It was a sign fate was playing its own game in a twisted kind of way.
Abhay looked at her as she passed him a look of relief and only to sigh helplessly after it. He narrowed his eyes and wanted to question her but then something went wrong. She looked somewhere with a gasp and rushed out of his view despite the fact that somewhere she wanted to talk to him.
Abhay decided to follow her but was held back by Dobriyal who finally decided to show up late in their own party. No way he was going to be pleasant to them after their untimely disturbance at crucial time. His curt replies and arrogant attitude earned a lot of disappointed and displeased and hated looks but he cared less.
All he wanted was to escape the formal pleasantries to find out what was bothering Piya and somehow find the power trying to reach Piya before it was too late.
But maybe it was too late already.
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