In Binsar

"Nisha Bhabhi was to send the driver to pick me up from the Airport but the car never turned up" Nikhil continued.

"I waited for some time outside the terminal for the driver, and then tried calling her. She sent me a message that the car was on its way and would reach soon. I continued waiting. The driver called me after a while mentioning that the car had broken down and that he would need some more time. I was tired and I wanted to reach home at the earliest. So I asked him to proceed with the repair works, and that I would hire a cab instead.

And as luck would have it, my phone died on me. I decided not to wait anymore but to catch hold of a cab from outside the Airport. There were already a lot of people around, waiting for cabs. At that moment, Ritesh turned up asking why I had not left for home yet. He then offered that I travel with them. They already had a cab and would anyway get off earlier. The cab driver also agreed.

The biggest mistake I ever made. I was somehow not thinking. I was already looking forward to meeting you, I had missed you so much God knows."

Rohini's breath caught in her throat as she tried to continue breathing.

"Once the cab had left Devanahalli ..." he stuttered "I have no idea what happened next"

His voice was now choked.

"I woke up after some time in a dimly lit room. I could not open my eyes clearly, and my vision was blurred. And then there was this splitting headache. I was positively nauseous and I could hardly move, though my hands and arms were not tied or anything. I struggled for some semblance but I could remember nothing. I could only hear laughter in the room ..."

His eyes were now focused at the serene mountain range in front of her.

"Of course I couldn't ... it was Rophynol ... the Doctor later confirmed ... I had drunk some water inside the cab ..."

Tears sprung up in Rohini's eyes, unknown to herself, as the words chased after her like a haunting.

"I woke up again after some time, there was some sort of ringing in the room - I could hear the sound. This time I could see Barkha though I didn't recognise her immediately. She seemed to have charged my phone but hadn't been able to unlock it.

Her voice seemed to float in from some other sphere as she mentioned that I was ill and that somebody from home was trying to connect. She needed me to unlock the phone. Little did I know it was you"

He laughed bitterly at the thought - "Not that I could have done anything at that moment either"

Nikhil avoided meeting Rohini's eyes - "I never spoke to you that day. Barkha and Ritesh did. I do have an idea though, but what did they tell you?"

The tears spilled down Rohini''s cheeks as she remembered that moment when her world had collapsed around her - she remembered Barkha laughing at her and telling her that Nikhil would never be hers. He had never been Rohini's to begin with. And then she had shown Rohini a photo of herself with him on the bed, both of them subsequently indecent. And when Rohini had protested, Barkha had simply turned on FaceTime. She had been in bed with Nikhil at that very point of time ...

Nikhil glimpsed at Rohini before he continued, much aware of the pain that she was going through

"Of course I don't remember much, except for a few moments here and there. It took me nearly 3-4 days to gain my sense and composure, thanks to the dosage of Rophynol, and something more. This time I was in a municipality hospital; somebody had apparently dumped me there. And that somebody had also informed Nisha Bhabhi.

The moment I saw Nisha Bhabhi there, I realised that she was a party to everything that had happened, but the jigsaw puzzle was not yet complete. Ajja immediately transferred me to a different Hospital ... but the harm had already been done. We did go to the Police after that but I couldn't remember anything, except for Barkha and Ritesh. Since the cab had also been booked by them, I had no way to trace the cab driver and find out the exact location.

And you were gone already. 

I didn't have in it me to go on any further, but I persevered only because of Poorvi. I would have otherwise been dead. And rightfully so.

Ajja didn't initially believe when I spoke about the possible involvement of Nisha Bhabhi ... everything had just been too convenient. He stayed away from me for a long time, worried about the fallout - the daughter in law of the family been caught up in such a mess.

Roshan also slipped away; he was way beyond angry with me for not turning up that evening. He believed I had been toying around with you and that I was failure. He was right though, I failed all of you, irrespective of who or what had been the catalyst."

He turned towards Rohini, his eyes dead - "Did you know then ...?"

Rohini nodded her head in negation, her hand automatically moving to her stomach.

Nikhil got up and started pacing across the room.

"You were gone Rohini ... there was nothing left behind for me. I wanted to die, though there is nothing chivalrous about the feeling"

Rohini could feel the tension in the room as she shivered. Her name on his lips ... so forlorn, so abandoned, yet so intimate. She shivered again - she could hardly feel anything anymore.

"However, I persevered. I wanted to loop all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together and find out the truth" Nikhil said as he sat down again. "And when I did, with help from Ajja, I felt like the world had ended. Everything had been the result of indiscriminate pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth ... all the seven deadly sins, in varying measures.

My sister-in-law had been involved in everything, because they wanted all that I had - the money, the penthouse, the bungalow, the corporate shares ... everything

She could have just asked me. Rather, she chose to wreak our lives, our happiness ...

Our love... "

His voice softened as he uttered the word 'love' of his own volition and he looked at Rohini wistfully.

"How did we know Nisha Bhabhi was involved? The Police did manage to nab Nisha and Ritesh who spilled the beans ... though unfortunately nobody believed her. Who would believe that the daughter in law of Sadashiv Shastri would be part of this heinous scheme? And for what?

She didn't want me to settle down and bring another daughter in law within the family.

And Barkha? She had just wanted to take revenge for spurning her later advances. The Police later found out that they had fallen into hard times - Barkha mentioned that Nisha Bhabhi had agreed to give her a handsome share out of the entire proceeds.

Barkha and Ritesh had used by phone only to click photos and FaceTime you. So the cyber cell could trace out the location and all.

My brother didn't and still doesn't believe in this truth. He doesn't believe that his wife is evil and manipulative.

And Ajja had been too stressed out since then. Even now.

But there is no concrete proof of Nisha Bhabhi's involvement, no.  According to my Brother and her, I have been hallucinating and hence making up everything for God's sake.

However, today I am here because of Ajja. Because of Madhukar Uncle.

I just wanted you to know ..." he sighed deeply.

He walked towards the balcony, his back to the room.

"What a selfish SOB I have been and I still am. I couldn't let myself sink without you knowing"

He didn't turn around to see her leaving.

...........

Rohini rushed up the stairs, blinded by her tears, and headed straight to the washroom. She threw up violently, her stomach retching as nausea hit her in full force. She managed to wash her face before limping back to her room. The heavy heart and the hurt that she had been nurturing for so long finally burst through and she cried uncontrollably, covering her face with her palms.

For love. For them. For him. For her. For their child ...

What could one do against such indiscrete hate and resentment!

The abhorrence that had destroyed so much in it's wake ...

She hated him so much ...

End of Part 53

Note : Hi guys. I have mentioned the use of Rophynol over here, which is a date rape drug. Though this is fiction, one needs to be very careful in parties and clubs. The spiked drinks don't taste or smell; so never leave your drink unaccompanied. 

This is just fiction, so please do not sue me anyone.