Free Palestine 🇵🇸

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At sharp five o'clock, Yuvraj was standing outside Devika's house, to take her to the hospital. Sanjana and Aniruddh were passing knowing smiles to each other, assuming that Yuvraj was taking Devika on a date. But the wordless interaction between Yuvraj and Devika told a different story. Both of them had dark circles beneath their eyes, a sign of their sleepless nights filled with gloomy thoughts. It's said that there's a fine line between love and hate. Both of them were standing on that very line and contemplating which side to choose.

The entire car ride was spent in an uncomfortable silence. If things were normal between them, Yuvraj would have asked her why she looks so thin. And Devika would have asked him why his skin looks paler than usual. But they were forced to sit in silence.

When the car stopped in front of the hospital, Devika quickly removed the seat belt and stepped out of the car as if she was escaping a torture room. She waited for Yuvraj to park the car and then followed him to Vini's ward which was a VIP room.

She sat down on a couch. Yuvraj decided sit on the stool near Vini's bed. An awkward silence followed after that. After long moments, Yuvraj decided to break this silence.

“We need to talk.”

Devika was left off-gaurd by his choice of words. “About what?” she asked.

“Anything is better than silence. Speak your mind. Whatever you are thinking,” he replied.

Devika sighed, “I'm thinking about what will happen to us.”

“Did you reach any conclusion?” Yuvraj asked, looking straight into her eyes.

“No. The one who can make us reach a conclusion is currently asleep.” And she looked at Vini.

“When Vini will wake up, mend things with her,”  He advised her. Because he still hoped that things could improve for better once his sister woke up.

“What if she passed away in her sleep?” Devika knew she shouldn't be asking this question, especially when Vini was showing signs of improvement. But she still asked, to know what was he going do to then.

“That will be the end of us. But I swear, I'll never let another man even come near your shadow.” His eyes turned red from controlling his tears. He hated her for asking that question so he gave her the reply she will hate him for.

“So my life is doomed nonetheless. If Vini died, you won't let me live peacefully. If she woke up, she will make my life hell.” Her expression hardened. And unlike him, she let her tears fall.

“She can hear you,” He warned her.

“Then tell her to act like a decent person when she wakes up,” Her words came out as a taunt.

“You don't have to make it so obvious that you despise her,” he told her angrily.

“You told me to speak my mind,” Devika replied with equal frustration.

Yuvraj let out a frustrated sigh. He stood up from his seat and ran a hand through his black hair. “Get up. We are leaving,” saying so he walked out the room.

Devika wiped her tears and then followed him outside. She wondered how long she will have to bear this torture of seeing him and his sister everyday.

✿ ✿ ✿

Mandira and Vidyut were laid down on their bed, trying to fall asleep. She had a her head resting on his arm.

“Vidyut, your mother is so cool,” Mandira told him all of a sudden.

“Don't take notes. You are already quite dangerous,” he replied, making her laugh out loud.

After some time, he heard her sighing. He looked at her and asked, “Why are you sighing? Something is bothering you?”

She shook her head, “No, nothing is bothering me. But I'm getting a bad feeling. Like something really bad is going to happen.”

Her words made Vidyut let out a sigh. He knew something, but it wasn't his place to tell her the truth.

“Then you should brace yourself and prepare for the worst,” and he caressed her cheek.

Mandira chuckled at his serious reaction, “Don't scare me. I think I have already seen the worst.”

“You should sleep. I also have a feeling that this will be your last peaceful sleep in a while.”

Mandira eyed him suspiciously, but then dismissed his words as a mere joke.

Who knew that his words held some truth.

✿ ✿ ✿

The next morning was a bit weird for Mandira. Because she received a phone call from Suraj first thing in the morning. He invited her and Vidyut for a brunch. But what bothered her was the sadness in his voice. Something must have happened and she needed to visit her family to find it out.

Around eleven o'clock, she drove to Thakur Haveli. Vidyut was sitting next to her on the passenger's seat silently, as if he already knew what happened at her parents' house.

When the car drove inside the estate, everything appeared dull and gloomy as if even the trees and grass knew something bad happened in the Haveli. And it became more apparent when she saw a cheek stamp on her mother's face.

“There's someone you should meet, Mandira,” her mother told her and headed upstairs.

Mandira felt Vidyut rub her arm as if telling her to stay strong. She was confused. What exactly happened to make everyone behave so weirdly? And why she is the only one who doesn't know about it?

She headed upstairs, Vidyut following after her, and reached the living room meant for private family conversations. When she pushed open the door, an unfamiliar face welcomed her with a confident smile. Mandira had never seen her before. The lady who was sipping tea while sitting on a posh sofa, wearing in a black dress that screamed revenge. Who was she?

Mandira looked around the room to see her parents and brother staring into oblivion in a hopeless manner.

“Why are you all acting so strange? And who is she?” Mandira asked in agitation.

Her parents remained quiet. It was Suraj who spoke up, “Your sister.”

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Ooh, now who is this sister? 🤔
Any guesses?

Are you excited for the next chapter?