FF: Rishtey (Completed) - Page 11

Pia repeated herself, "Aman, this isn't possible. Rudra can't be my brother. That would mean Dilsher and Mala are my parents! It doesn't make sense. They love me. Why would they give me up?"

"Pia there's more you need to know," Aman stated. "There was another match to your DNA. Mala is your mother, that's for sure. But Dilsher isn't your father."

"But if he's not then who-...no...it's not...I can't be-."

"Pia, you're the daughter of Mala and Param Singh Tejawat."

The weight of the truth came crashing down on her. Pia fell to the ground before Aman's feet, causing him to take a step back. The reports in her hand were now scattered on the floor around her. She still hadn't cried. It was building up, and Aman could seeing it as her eyes looked up at him, searching for answers. He was trying to remain strong, but he felt himself breaking with her. Aman got down on his knees so they were now at eye level. She remained silent, waiting for him to tell her everything.

So Aman began telling her, "After I saw the report, I thought it was wrong. I went to other analysts to confirm it, and they did. However, the DNA in your X chromosome, had no match with Rudra's Y chromosome. That's the gene that comes from your father. It means that you and Rudra don't share the same father. The only other man that was in Mala's life was Tejawat. I had his DNA compared to yours, and it was a match. I went and questioned him about it in jail. He didn't have anything else to lose, so he told the truth. He confirmed that he and Mala had a child, which they gave up. He hired a young couple to dispose of the child, so there wouldn't be any suspicion. Surprisingly, Tejawat gave me the current location of the couple. A few hours later, they were brought into the BSD and their official statements, along with Tejawat's, were taken on the accounts of that day. The copies of the statements were in the file I handed you, but you didn't get that far. I'm sorry Pia, but Tejawat and Mala are, in fact, your parents."

"Mala left Dilsher over 20 years ago," Pia said softly. "Does that mean she was pregnant with me when she left him?"

Aman nodded.

"She had an affair while she was with Dilsher? Did she leave because she was pregnant with me?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know why they didn't want me?"

Aman hesitated, but spoke, "...Tejawat said...they didn't want you...because they only wanted sons."

Pia's eyes widened, "They...only wanted sons?"

"Tejawat had ordered the couple to have you killed. They couldn't go through with it. That's why you were left at the temple."

"They...they didn't want me...because I'm a girl?"

The dam broke. Pia began to cry. She remembered all the great times she had with Mala, and how she treated her like a daughter. She had always been so kind and caring. Little did she know about the coldness in her heart. Pia was broken. Her parents didn't want her because she was a girl. They planned to have her killed off. Her only fault was that she was a girl. Aman tried to comfort her. The minute he pulled her into his chest, she fell apart. She clutched his shirt and sobbed. The agony she had been holding in finally came out. Aman wrapped his arms around Pia and pulled her closer. Her cries became muffled in his chest. With every tear that fell, he felt his insides constrict.

Pia's phone suddenly rang. Seeing her in no state to speak with anyone, Aman grabbed it from the desk and looked at the caller ID. It was Gaurav.

He answered it, "Hello? Gaurav?"

"Aman where is Pia?" Gaurav asked. "It's been an-...is that...is someone crying? Is Pia crying?"

"Yeah. I think you should-."

Pia grabbed the phone from Aman and put it to her ear, "Hello? Bhaiya?"

"Pia? Pia, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did something happen?"

"Bhaiya...I..." she sniffled. "I...Rudra..."

"What about Rudra? Where are you right now?"

"BSD."

"Stay there with Aman. I'm coming to get you."

Pia mustered all her strength to speak, "No. Don't. Tell Rudra to come, alone. I need to talk to him. Aman found something about my parents."

"Are you sure you want me to send Rudra? I can come get you."

"No. You have to send him. Please?"

"Okay. I'll tell him right now."

Pia hung up the phone. She sat on the ground with Aman, the tears had stopped. She was trying to figure out how she was going to tell Rudra about this. If he had known the truth, he would've told her. This meant that Aman kept the Major in the dark, and now she was going to have to tell him. Just like her, he deserved answers.

Rudra arrived at the BSD a little while later. He was still dressed in his sherwani. He walked in his cabin to find Pia picking up the scattered papers around her. She seemed so calm, but Rudra knew better. Gaurav had told him that Pia was crying and wanted him at the BSD. Now he was here and more confused than ever. Aman was standing by Pia, waiting for everything to unfold.

"What is going on?" Rudra asked hastily. "Everyone is worried about you. Why did I have to come here? Alone?"

"You and I need to talk," Pia said seriously. "Aman found my parents."

"And why didn't you inform me, Aman?"

"It's not his fault. He had a good reason not to tell you. Rudra, you need to see these reports."

Rudra took the papers from her. The first page was enough to shock him. It was the confirmation that he and Pia were related. He continued to flips through the pages. Each one brought him deeper into a black hole of confusion and shock. He read the reports about Pia's parents, staring back at her in shock. The tears streamed down her face, but she kept her composure. Rudra then read the official statements from the couple and Tejawat. He stood in silence, trying to let everything sink in. Aman took the chance to tell him everything he had told Pia. The Major listened, but his eyes went back and forth from Pia to the paper stating who her parents were. He couldn't believe this was happening. Once Aman finally updated him, he walked to Pia. Rudra's face was devoid of all emotions. However, the fists clenched at his sides were a clear indicator that he was angry. What he was angry at, Pia and Aman were still unsure of.

"Is this true?" Rudra asked her. "Are you their daughter?"

Pia looked up at him, her eyes were emotionless, "I don't want it to be, but it's written on the paper in your hands."

"They wanted you dead?"

"I guess so."

"It looks like we have another surprise for that woman."

Rudra was furious, but was trying to keep it bottled up. He couldn't believe that his mother would do such a thing, but the proof was right in front of him. She had told him that she and Tejawat never had children. She told that to Dilsher in front of him; she swore on him. It was a lie. He couldn't believe that Mala would stoop so low, but then again it was now confirmed that she had an affair while she was with his father. The proof was standing in front of him, in the form of Pia. Once again, Mala had hidden another life from him and Dilsher. This time the truth was out and she was going to have to admit it.

Pia watched as Rudra flipped through the reports again. Gone were the tears in her eyes. Gone were the sweet moments with Mala. The broken girl a few minutes ago was gone, only to be replaced by a woman who wanted answers. She needed to know why Mala would do such a thing, what possessed a woman to consent to killing her own child. Pia wiped the tear streaks from her face, sniffled a little, and looked at Rudra with a newfound sense of determination...and anger.

"Rudra," she said. "We need to go back."

"I couldn't agree more," he agreed harshly. "Aman, you're coming with us. Follow us in your car."

Aman nodded. Without uttering another word, the three of them drove back to the Ranawat Haveli. Pia held onto the file that contained her life tightly. The entire time she was thinking that she regretted coming to search for her parents. She wished she could cry to ease her pain, but her eyes remained dry. The truth left such deep wounds that time and forgiveness may not be able to heal them.

The doors to the haveli were slammed open. Pia, Aman, and Rudra walked in to find the family standing around a lit cake, waiting for Mala to blow out the candles. They were singing Happy Birthday' to her as she blew them out. The sound of the door startled them all, causing the singing to come to an abrupt halt. Gaurav was the first to walk up to Pia, inquiring about her wellbeing. It seemed that he had told Parvati what had happened because she was now by Pia's side as well.

"Pia," Gaurav said. "Are you okay? Why were you crying?"

"Pia are you okay? Is everything alright?" Paro looked at Rudra. "Major saab,

what happened?"

No one knew what had happened. So when Paro and Gaurav were asking about Pia, they were all instantly concerned. Despite everyone trying to get an answer, Pia's attention and eyes were focused only on Mala. Rudra, too, was staring at his mother. Little did Mala know, her world was about to turn upside down. The two of them took a few steps forward. Aman now stood in the background, waiting and watching.

Paro spoke, "Major saab, what's wrong? Why are you two so quiet? Is everything okay?"

Gaurav saw the file in Pia's hand and asked, "Pia, what's that in your hand?"

Pia looked at the file, then at her brother, and said in a false happiness, "Oh this? It's a birthday present. Isn't it Rudra?"

Rudra still hadn't smiled, but spoke in an intrigued voice, "Yes, it is."

"A present?" Mala asked as she walked up to them. "From who?"

"From me and Pia. Go ahead. Read it."

Pia handed her the file and said, "Happy Birthday Mala Ranawat."

"Pia why are you so formal?" she said with a laugh. "You can call me maa-sa."

"Really? You should read this."

Mala opened the file and began reading it. Rudra and Pia watched as she continued reading, looking back up at them in shock. Her eyes widened and filled with tears. Her face was now pale. She was breathing heavily, as evident from her heaving chest. The smile disappeared; her jaw dropped. She tried to speak, but her words failed her. Mala continued reading though. Each detail on each page was like a dagger to her heart. She was trying to speak, but only small incoherent sounds came out. The rest of the family members were now trying to figure out what was going on. They wanted to know what Rudra and Pia had given Mala to cause such a reaction from her. A gift was usually suppose to bring a person tears of joy, but the tears in Mala's eyes were of astonishment.

She finally tore her gaze from the last page to look at Rudra and Pia. Their expressions were mirror images. Their hands were fisted by their sides. Their jaws clenched. Feelings of pain and betrayal was visible in their eyes. She couldn't believe what she was reading. It wasn't possible. Yet, the truth was right in front of her.

Without a smile, Pia said, "You have lost the title of maa-sa in my eyes."

Gaurav was shocked to hear such words from Pia, "What are you saying, Pia? How could you even-."

"Read the papers, Gaurav. Go ahead."

"Read them out loud," Rudra ordered.

Gaurav carefully took the papers and read them. He stood stunned as he looked at Mala and said, "What is this? Is this true?"

Mala stood silently, tears continued to flow.

"What does it say Gaurav?" Paro asked.

He looked from Rudra to Pia and said, "It's results of a DNA test. Pia is the daughter of Mala and Param Singh Tejawat."

Gasps filled the air. No one had expected to hear such a thing. Everyone was unsure about the validity of the test. That was when Rudra called Aman forward. For the third time that night, he had to tell, in detail, all the information he found, confirming the results. Parvati immediately went to Dilsher, who froze like a statue after hearing everything. Dilsher had trusted Mala, given her a second chance. She had swore on their son that she didn't have any children with that Tejawat. Now he finds that she had a child, and wanted to have it killed off? She had been having an affair before she left the haveli. It was possible that she left because she was pregnant with Pia. This woman who he had taken back was no longer Mala. He didn't know who she was anymore. The secrets. The lies. The deception. She kept it all hidden, believing it would never come back to haunt her. Dilsher looked at Rudra. If he felt this way, then he couldn't imagine how betrayed Rudra felt.

The file had now been passed around, and finally landed in Mohini's hands. Pia had been more useful to her than she had realized. She didn't even have to get her hands dirty this time. She could've said so much, but it seemed that Rudra and Pia were going to twist the knife in Mala. So she sat back and watched in amusement.

"You must be surprised to know that your other child is still alive," Rudra said coldly.

"And that she's someone you were close to in Birpur," Pia added. "I never expected this from you."

"You told everyone that you didn't have any other children apart from me. But these reports don't lie. Who is she?"

Mala tried to speak, only to have Rudra raise his hand to her face, stopping her, "You were having an affair with Tejawat before you left bapu-sa, and it resulted in your pregnancy. Is this true?"

"Rudra please-," Mala pleaded.

Pia interrupted, "Yes or no?"

"Pia you-."

"We already know I'm yours and Tejawat's child, but was it while you were still in this haveli? Rudra deserves to know. Dilsher uncle deserves to know. I deserve to know."

"You have to understand-."

"Yes or no?"

"Pi-."

"Yes or no!"

"Yes!" Mala finally shouted. "Yes! It's true!"

Pia yelled, "You left because you were pregnant with me! Then when you found out I was girl, you and Tejawat tried to dispose of me because you only wanted a son! And you still think I would consider calling you maa-sa after all of this."

"You don't understand. It's true that I had a child with Tejawat, but I didn't know my child was still alive."

Rudra finally snapped, "What doesn't she understand? The truth is right in front of you! It's in front of us all! Now we all know why you left! You didn't want your own child! It doesn't surprise me because you walked away from your own son too! You tried to kill Pia when she was just a baby! You call Tejawat a monster, but you're nothing better! Your lies. Your secrets. They are what has torn this family apart yet again! You broke this family again!"

He then pointed to Pia and defended her, "You broke her! What has she ever done to deserve a mother and father who didn't love her! She came to Chandangarh in search of parents, in hopes that she could find out why they left her! But now she has to live with the fact that her parents actually wanted her dead!"

Mala pleaded, "Please Rudra. If I had known my child was still alive I-."

"You would've tried to have her killed off! So your precious secret wouldn't be revealed! Right? Why would you keep something like this hidden? Did you think this would never come out? Were you ashamed of it? You should be! I'm ashamed to call you my maa-sa." Rudra retorted.

Tears escaped Pia's eyes as she spoke softly, "The entire time I stayed here, I called Rudra my jeeju because I considered Paro by jija. But now I have to face the truth that Rudra is my brother, and he hates me because I have yours and Tejawat's blood running through my veins. You...you wanted too much. You sought for more than what destiny had in store for you. As a result, you've lost everything: a kind husband, a loving son, and a giving daughter. I hope you liked your gift."

"You truly deserved it," Rudra completed.

In unison, Pia and Rudra spoke the words that shattered their mother, "Happy Birthday, Mala Ranawat."

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That's it for this chapter! Pretty interesting? Let me know what you think by leaving your comments and feedback below!

Thanks for reading!