Chapter 11
No matter what, I am going to be there with you.
Even if no one is there with you I’ll stand by your side.
Fight your wars along with you side by side.
Everyone was gathered in the hall of the VR Mansion to bid goodbye to Kailash. Taking blessings from his mother, a hug to all men of the house along with Ishani and Sia, and a smile to Riddhima he was ready to leave.
Turning around and coming face to face with Anupriya his face hardened. Giving a tight smile to her and getting an awkward smile from Anupriya in return who felt a little uncomfortable.
Kailash Rai Singhania always had that effect on her. If she might dare say he was the only man and person in this family besides Vansh who can ignite some fear in her. Vansh she can still handle but this man was a different case altogether. He never meets her eye to eye, never bothers to give her, his time of the more than absolutely necessary, and is hardly tolerating her for the sake of it. Though he hardly spent much time here whatever time he did spend was enough to put her on edge and on her wits-end. Thank goodness he is living now thought Anupriya much to her relief but much to her dismay will be back soon and much more to her dread for good this time. Well at least till he doesn’t return she can live in peace no matter how long or short-lived it is.
Vansh noticed the tension between Kailash and Anupriya. It wasn’t the first time either. Kailash chachu was always somewhat cold with mom and much to say he never really liked her. Vansh didn’t know the reason and never bothered with asking both because it’s the matter between both of them and he can’t really interfere. He hoped whatever the issue is they sort it out someday.
Biding his final goodbye Kailash left.
********
“Boss, may I come in?”
asked Angre peeking from the door of Vansh’s home office.
“Yes, Angre and how many times do I need to tell you to call me Bhai and not the boss? You are a family officially now.”
Said Vansh giving him a pointed look.
With an embarrassed smile, Angre entered.
“Bhai, you asked to do a background check on Sejal right?”
said Angre forwarding a file towards Vansh.
“Yes, what did you find? Anything noteworthy?”
asked Vansh taking the file away.
“Yes, bhai apparently Riddhima bhabhi saved her Sejal’s life 15 years ago and that’s how they became friends.”
Informed Angre surprising Vansh and continued
“It’s since then they have been together and Sejal hasn’t left her side. Even though Sejal is, not an orphan and has her mother and elder brother with her and her own house too she often spent most of the time with Riddhima to the point that people think of her as another orphan kid from the orphanage. She often used to stay in the orphanage with bhabhi and hardly ever left her alone. Even the family treats bhabhi as their own but since they weren’t financially very strong back then considering Sejal’s father passed away not long back and the family was struggling to survive.
Sejal and her brother Suraj were young so they didn’t adopt bhabhi. Though they tried to support and be there in whatever way possible for the bhabhi. Sejal’s mother is a housewife and her brother is a manager in Shergill Hospital where bhabhi works as an assistant senior doctor though occasionally now. Sejal herself works for Mehta Event Management Company as an event planner. The rest of the details are in the file.”
Finished Angre.
“Bhai one more thing Sejal is quite protective of Riddhima bhabhi. Let’s say doesn’t spare anyone who as much as looked at bhabhi’s way with wrong intentions forget about hurting her and surviving.”
said Angre indicating to Vansh that what he was planning to do with Riddhima might earn him an enemy in the form of Sejal.
“Interesting very interesting”
said Vansh with a smirk.
“So Sejal is loyal and doesn't pose any threat. Good for her. Don’t worry Angre she won’t be able to do anything to me one she doesn’t have that stature that she can reach me once I am done with her dear friend and two she wouldn’t get time from gathering the broken pieces of Ridddhima to do anything else.”
Said Vansh with an evil glint in his eyes, satisfaction in his voice, and a smirk on his face making Angregive a smirk of his own in return.
*********
Next morning
The new day brought a new development in the lives of the residents of VR Mansion. Ragini, who has been lost for so long in her own personal hell of madness was coming back to the normal world slowly. Today for the first time in three years she had responded positively to the treatments and people around her slightly. Surprisingly to everyone it was Riddhima to whom she responded. And now is holding her hand somehow it seemed she has come to trust Riddhima in a very short time. Though it was only Vansh to whom she recognises slightly at the moment. Doctors were positive and hopefully, Ragini will recover soon now.
Vansh knew no bound of happiness at the news. He was controlling his emotions in presence of everyone but wasn't being very successful at it not in front of four people at least Riddhima who though was happy for Ragini but was getting hurt to see Vansh’s reaction which was the result of his love for Ragini more than anything else, Angre who was having mixed emotions happy for Ragini and Vansh yet not sure considering how Vansh is getting attached Riddhima subconsciously and complications that are going to arise in future owing Vansh’s own unconscious and conscious emotions, Sejal who was fuming inside at him knowing full well the feelings he holds for Ragini and dadi who was not liking the effect Ragini is having on Vansh.
Since that day Vansh had been spending the majority of the time with Ragini to the point that now even family had started to notice it but none bothered much since the doctor himself asked him to spend more time with Ragini considering Vansh was the only one she recognized. While everyone else didn’t care much Dadi, Sia and even Ishani didn’t like it much while Riddhima and Sejal were being silent observers for now and letting things take their own turn.
While dadi and Sia did not like the current situation for obvious reasons Ishani found herself in a bizarre situation, she wasn’t happy with her Vansh bhai getting close with Ragini not that she has suddenly started liking Riddhima, but she hated Ragini even more. Riddhima was someone who Ishani always doubted and who could possibly betray and harm her bhai in the future or not but Ragini already did that in the past. Also not to mention dadi was slowly losing her trust in bhai and had started doubting him and his intentions because of his attention towards Ragini which was coming at the cost of the negligence of Riddhima. If this continued bhai will definitely land in a huge mess and this time she won’t be able to blame Riddhima as well since it will be his own doing. Besides Ishani doesn’t trust this Ragini one bit; with Riddhima she will still take chances but with Ragini never ever again. Hopefully, bhai will come to his senses soon Ishani mumbled to herself thinking about it.
She was running it was dark. People were following her they were coming closer fear gripped her heart. She ran faster when suddenly a man came in front of her. She could not see his face it was dark. He was pointing a gun at her and pulled the trigger.
With a jerk, she woke up. Again the nightmare woke Riddhima up in a sweat.
“What are these dreams and why?” thought Riddhima laying on the bed
“I need to talk with someone but who? Sejal yeah I should talk with her.”
Deciding on it Riddhima went back to sleep for another restless night.
**********
Next morning in VR Mansion Garden
“Stretch a little more. Yes. Yes. Little more. Excellent, Sia”
said Riddhima cheering Sia.
“Thank you bhabhi.”
Said Sia with a smile.
It's been two months since Riddhima’s return and things have become quite interesting since then quite a lot has happened. For starters, Sia has started to respond to new treatment quite well. Hopefully, she will be able to walk on her legs soon. On that front, even Ragini is recovering fast and hopefully will be okay soon too. Ahh, Ragini, I didn’t know things would turn out like this, but they did, and they did for better that too without her doing much thought Riddhima with satisfaction.
Then Aryan and Chachi well let’s just say they are not in the best of conditions right now. Actually, that will be an understatement if we look at what Vansh and dadi did to them after it was revealed what they did with Sejal.
Flashback
One fine day both Aryan and Sejal had got into a huge argument and in heat of the moment, both blurted out and mentioned the incident. Aryan to threaten her and Sejal to well put him in his place revealed everything in front of dadi and the rest of the family.
Then boom knowing about their involvement in Ragini and that chip fiasco along with murder attempts at Riddhima. Ahhhh that day after what happened one and a half months ago on that beautiful fateful day (thought and remembered Riddhima fondly When Kabir came to arrest Vansh) Ahh still remembers how things played out one and a half months ago. Okay, maybe not what happened that day was their fault at least not entirely was their fault but they did start it and I decided to end it thought Riddhima with a shrug.
So Dadi, Vansh, and everyone were already miffed at both of them although they did gave them chance but didn’t really forgive them entirely not Vansh at least. But after getting to know what they did with Sejal well let’s say it didn’t go quite well for them.
Flashback end
“Bhabhi”
called Sia bringing Riddhima out of her thoughts.
“Nothing sorry Sia. Anyways you are doing very well. From tomorrow we are going to step up and will start some new and little tough exercises. Okay,”
said Riddhima to Sia with a smile.
“Ok bhabhi”
replied Sia with a smile.
*******
“So Vansh boy indeed did a background check on me. Don’t worry bro. I’ll keep that in mind and thank you for everything. Even though that’s your job and being your sister it’s my right to be a thankless brat and keep messing around and thanking you looks like a formality and I don’t like it between us. Still here you go I did it just for you.”
Said Sejal with solemn face while the line went dead in return on the other side.
Gapping at how her brother cut the phone on her face while she was giving her heartfelt speech to thank him for the situation with Vansh boy. “How rude,” said Sejal making face looking at her cell phone.
Huffing angrily at being dismissed like swatting away an annoying fly by her brother Sejal walked towards Riddhima and Sia seeing them in front.
“Hola peeps. Wassup?”
greeted Sejal with a broad smile.
“Hi, Sejal, bhabhi was just making me do my exercises. So how are you?”
asked Sia with a smile.
“I am cool. Did I disturb your session?”
asked Sejal.
“No, we were finished. We were about to go inside. What were you doing here though?”
Replied Riddhima gathering the things around.
“Ah nothing just thought to take a walk and bro called. So was talking with him just now.”
Replied Sejal.
“So Sia how did you turned so sweet and lovable while the rest of the junior Rai Singhania turned out to be soooo…...well themselves?”
asked Sejal with such genuine curious face that made Sia burst out in laughter and made Riddhima smile.
“Well, I guess I am the odd one out.”
Said Sia with a smile.
“Well don’t mind but besides you and dadi everyone else in the family are a piece of work. Especially your sister and that Aryan again don’t mind but can’t really help It.”
Said Sejal with wonder.
“It’s ok I don't mind. Ishani and Aryan hadn’t been really nice for you to like them and after what Aryan and Chachi did with you I don’t expect you to praise them either. I am really sorry once again on their behalf.”
Said Sia with embarrassed and ashamed on her sister, cousin and aunts behaviour with Sejal.
“Oh, cheer up sweet stuff. Why are you sorry for them? Just chill if the crossed me again they’ll feel sorry for themselves. Let me warn you not very nice with people who annoy me.”
Said Sejal with mischief evident on her face as much in her eyes making Sia smile at her and Riddhima shake her head at her friend knowing fully well what she said she is very much capable of doing it.
After chit-chatting a bit more and sharing a few jokes three of them left to go inside and after leaving Sia in her room both Sejal and Riddhima took their leave from there.
“Sejal wait need to talk to you about something but not here in the corridor but somewhere in private. Let’s go to your room. My room is anyway more of a park where anyone enters without thinking of a word called privacy.”
Said Riddhima stopping Sejal in her track who was about to leave.
“Cool anything serious though?”
asked Sejal alert
“I’ll tell you. Let’s go to your room first.”
Replied Riddhima.
*********
“So you have been getting these nightmares since when and is there any pattern to them?”
asked Sejal with a serious look on her face.
“It was after one week of Kailashchachu’s arrival that I got the nightmare for the first time and since then I running sleepless nights quite a few times. I don’t know but guess maybe on the days when I am stressed out or emotionally disturbed in some way or if I exert myself in certain ways is mostly when I get this terrible nightmare,”
answered Riddhima with a lost look on her face.
“And what do you think these nightmares are?”
asked Sejal
“I don’t know Sej. I don’t understand why I am getting such nightmares or what it means to have them. Maybe it’s some kind of intuition like something really bad is about to happen. I don’t know.”
Said Riddhima now roaming to and fro in the room little agitated.
“Ok for starters stop thinking about it too much. As you said you normally get these nightmares when you are stressed out or exerting yourself emotionally or mentally or physically. So try to avoid getting yourself in such situations. It must be stress. You have gone through a lot in the past few months. You might be strong but you haven’t dealt with it entirely or the impact it had on you emotionally and mentally.
Then you came back here to teach those losers a lesson. Your choice but maybe you were not entirely ready for the stress it brought. And if it's some intuition or indication as you think it might be we’ll deal it together whatever it might be and whenever it comes. For now, go and take rest and stop stressing around on everything and for everything and everyone all the time. Try to stay happy alright.”
Saying so Sejal made Riddhima go to her room and take rest. After Riddhima left Sejal took out her mobile and dialled a number once the person on the other end picked the call up she said with a serious voice
“Hello. It’s Riddhima.”
********
“I am fine. How are you? Did you have your lunch? You have a very bad habit of forgetting about food and everything else when you work.”
Said Riddhima's last statement with little annoyance in her voice. Vansh who just entered the room heard her and wondered who she was talking to. She had a beautiful smile on her face. Whoever the person may do hold certain importance in her life and much to his dislike as he can see looking at Riddhima a lot of importance at that.
Sensing Vansh there Riddhima said to the person on the phone
“Okay, I’ll call you later. Yeah, he is here. I am fine to stop worrying about me and take care of yourself.”
“Just remember. I am always there for you. All you have to do is just say the words and I’ll make it happen. No matter what it is. I’ll do it for you. I’ll do anything for you.”
Said the person on the other side making Riddhima smile.
“I know. Don’t worry I’ll tell you if I’ll need you. Bye, take care.”
saying so Riddhima cuts the call and turned around. With a tight forced smile, Vansh asked
“So who were you talking with? Someone special?”
said Vansh last part gritting his teeth and a forced smile simultaneously.
“Yes someone very special to me.”
Said Riddhima making Vansh raise his eyebrows then said
“Sejal’s brother. I was talking to him.”
Informed Riddhima to him.
Vansh did not like it one bit. “First that good for nothing Kabir and now this Sejal’s brother. What was his name? Right this Suraj guy. How more men are there? How many more are after her? How many more men are there in your life Riddhima?” thought Vansh with anger.
Written by: @BhataktiAtma
Contributed by: @Abhyudaya
Thank you so much for all who have shared their thoughts with us as comments. We will try to keep the same pace and reach expectations. Until next update Be safe, kind and courageous :)
Chapter 12 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5187277?pn=82#154962509
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