Dhruv's point of view

Family...

Family is the one, you always want to go back after your tiring day. Where you get love and care and it brings smile on your face when everyone loves you and can do anything for you because you are the family to them. But some of the most poisonous people come disguised as friends and family.

The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It comes from friends and loved ones, especially when it comes from your family.

Aditi never know what is the meaning of being a part of family because her family never think her as one. I always see the craving in her eyes to get the love from her parents and her only brother. The girl I have known from my childhood who has the little crush on me is lost somewhere and the girl I have feelings for is now completely broken.

My car stopped in-front of a cottage along with my convoy. I don't want to bring my convoy here but I decided to directly visit this place after I get free from work. One of my guard open the door for me and I step down from the car.

This place is at the end of the city and from here forest start of Dehradun. I can see only few more cottage like this in neighbourhood. I rang the doorbell and around three year old little boy open the door for me while sucking his lollipop.

"Who are you?" He asked me while looking at me with his big doe eyes.

"Are your parents at home?" I asked him.

"My papa is still in office but my mom is at home." He said in his baby voice.

"Can you call her for me?" I asked looking down to him.

"It depends if she wants to come or not." He shrugged his shoulders and then keep sucking his lollipop. I would have smile to him if I have the normal day but I am not in mood to smile to any one not even a toddler after my encounter with Atul.

"Rudra, How many times I have told you not to open the door." Almost a nine month pregnant woman came, calling her toddler name. Her eyes fell on mine. She came forward pushing her toddler behind her while he keep looking at me with curiosity from behind her mom.

"How may I help you?" She asked me while keeping her one hand on door and another on her belly to protect her unborn baby.

"I am Atul's friend. He asked me to meet him at his house." I have to lie if I want to know what happened to my Aditi in her past that she broke her completely.

She knitting her eyebrows in confusion.

"But he didn't tell me anything." She asked me in confusion.

"We just made plans half an hour ago. He may forget to inform you." I don't know about my this hidden talent that I can lie fluently.

"Yeah.. Please come inside." She opens the door for me and let me in. As I entered the house, I introduced with the living room. It was all furnished with beautiful lights hanging on the ceiling. Atul's wife excused herself and went to a room which I guessed the kitchen till then I was looking to the accessories which was hanging on the wall.

Atul's company must be paying him well. Here he is living a luxurious life and there Aditi was living a shit life where she barely get food. My eyes roam around the living room exploring pictures of Aditi's parents and her brother. There are pictures of Atul's marriage and his first born. In those pictures everyone was present except her even the family was also present in the family picture with whom Aditi is living right now. That means all the time they know where is Aditi and must be aware of her condition but still they let her live with those monsters.

Suddenly my eyes fell on the small picture which was hanging on the wall. I walked closer to get the batter view but I regret at the same time when I saw Aditi's picture there with garland hanging around her photo frame. Tears brimmed into my eyes and I clenched my fist in a tight grip to control my anger.

How could someone do that to his own sister?

"She is my Bua ji but she doesn't live with us. She died few years ago." I looked down when Rudra gave mw the information. I wonder how a three year old toddler know this.

"Who told you this?" I asked keeping my voice low as I don't want to scare him but I was burning in anger from inside.

"Dadu..(Grandpaa..)"

Fucking basters.

She was his daughter. If they don't love her then no one give them a damn right to put garland around her photo frame when she is alive. Not just one but the whole family is same.

"What the hell are you doing here?" The main door of the house open and Atul entered in the house, his parents follow behind him.

His wife came out from the kitchen with the glass of water but after seeing her husband and parents-in-law she put the try on near table and walked to her husband, took his office bag from him.

"Atul, he is your friend." She tried to say.

"How many times I have told you not open the doors for strangers." He barked on his wife in anger forgetting the fact that she is nine months pregnant.

"Shouting on weak people is your old habit Atul." I said looking directly into his eyes with same ignition.

"Why are you here?" His father walked further and asked me.

"What happened with Aditi?" I asked directly looking at his father. I am not same 18 years old teenager who was helpless. Now I am a fucking IAS officer and can do anything.

"She is dead 8 years ago." His mother come forward and said with hate.

"At least have some shame by telling your living daughter to be dead." I said through my greeted teeth looking at his mother. I fisted my hand, trying to control my anger.

"She is dead for us 8 years ago. She doesn't deserve to be our family."  Atul said but I scoffed.

"Yes, you are right she doesn't deserve the shit people like you." I mocked to him in sarcasm.

"Watch your words. You are standing on my property." He pointed his finger to me.

I hold his finger and move it down.

"I have said one harsh word against you and you burnt like a fire think how did she feel when you and your parents don't leave a chance to make her feel worthless." I said.

"She is worthless and she always be. She was like a curse to us. What she had done to us she deserves to roat on road and should live like a street dogs but you should thank to us that we sent her to my sister's house. At least they are giving her roof and food." I could not believe to my ears when I heard such words coming out from father's mouth for her daughter.

"How could someone wish such things for his own daughter? She adored all of you. I was your neighbour but I saw how she craved for your love them how could you not see her pain. At some corner of your heart must feel something for her that's why you out her picture on wall." I said pointing towards the wall where her picture was hanging.

"I had told you not to put this picture on wall.", His mother took long strides towards the wall. She removed the picture and throw it on the floor. The pieces of glass were scattered everywhere on the floor. Atul's wife pulled her three years old toddler to her, saving her from the broken glass. Tears brimmed into my eyes seeing her picture on the floor. It was just nit the pieces of broken glass, they are pieces of Aditi's broken life.

"This picture is only for relatives. So they could ask us about her whereabouts. We don't have any sentiments attached to it. She destroyed our life." There were no hesitation in her voice. I can clearly see the hate for Aditi in her eyes.

I slowly walked near her picture on the floor with scattered glass. I squat down near her picture and pick her picture from the floor. In this picture she was barely 17 years old but looking all beautiful in her simple anarkali suite with all accessories but the smile on her face making this picture more beautiful. A drop of my tear fell on the picture when I was carefully picking out the pieces of broken glass. I got the cut too but it was nothing in front of the pain which she got from her family.

I stood up with her picture in my hand and looked all of them with fire in my eyes, "You know what, I am glad you throw her out. At least now she is aware of your true faces and hates al of you. I am happy that you open her eyes and about living with those monsters you called your sister's house, one day I will bring her out from that hell. I will make sure she give the well deserve punishment to all of you. I will make you regret for making her life horrible and this is the promise of Dhruv Malhotra." I finally wipes the lone tear which left from my right eye and walked outside the house with her picture in my hand. My body guards already waiting for me near my convoy, with guns in their hand.

There is no greater blessings than a family hand that lifts you from a fall but there is not lower curse than a family hand that strikes you when you are down. Sometimes the person you had take the bullets fir ends up being the one behind the gun.

These lines suits Aditi's family very well. I should stop calling them her family because a family never leave anyone behind and forgive the mistakes to the other family members but these people only hate her and my Aditi doesn't deserve them. They fucking don't deserve her.

"You know where she is?" I halt on my steps when I heard Atul's voice behind me. I turn and looked at me. His jaw was clenched and hands are fisted in anger. I walked to him and stood in front of him daring him through my eyes.

"I am glad that I do. She no more has to live in that place." I said matching his tone.

"Leave that craziness for her. She will ruin you like she ruined our lives."

"I want her to ruin me. But I'll make sure I just not ruin everything for you. I will destroy you. " I spatter in whispered calm yet in rage voice.

"You just don't threat me and my parents in my own house."

" I assure you it was just not the threat."

"If you do any harm to my family, I will do the same to that bitch I did to her at Diwali night. I am sure she won't forget that night." He hold my shirt's collar but before I could do anything he was already on the ground and all guns are pointed towards him. My guards tackle him down to the ground.

"Who the fuck you are?" He asked me in confusion raising his hands up in surrender.

I smirked looking down at him. I bent down to his level and said looking directly into his eyes, "An IAS officer."

I leaned down more and whispered in his ear, "Yes, you are right. I am crazy for your sister."

After saying this I lit the cigarette, and I leave from there leaving him in a shock. I could not forget the funny look on his face when he watched me leaving with my convoy.  Though I was confused and want to ask about Diwali night but I would find myself instead of asking him.

*****

Author's point of view

Dhruv came back to the guest house in which he is going to stay for the night and next morning he has to leave for Saharanpur to know about the dark past of her beautiful neighbour which broke her completely that her family abandoned her. Work here almost completed and left work he can do on phone. Whole ride he was keep thinking about Aditi. Today is the bad of her. He was regretting the decision to visit her family because it makes him feel pity for her.

He took the whiskey glass and took a long drag of his cigarette while looking at picture of Aditi in his hand with unshaded tears in his eyes. He did not have his dinner. How could he when he know something bad happened to his beautiful neighbour in past. He doesn't know how long he was gazing at her picture with unshaded tears but every time he looked at her picture he wants hug her and kiss her all day to tell her that he is not going to leave her like other people because he is dedicated to make special place in her heart whether she like him or not he is going shower her with all love she has missed in her life.

He desperately wants to know what happened to Aditi when he fainted on Diwali night after getting the panic attack. Little bit he knows that she didn't go to school for one month. Divya also didn't tell him when he asked her about Aditi's absence in school. Her window was closed after that night. At the end he decided it was batter if he go away to her because he thought that all problems come into her life because of him and he didn't want something happened to her because he care for her and what she wrote in her letter, it made him upset.

The letter he wrote for her, he didn't say much because he has another plans in his mind. He was missing her so much and he really want to be with her. He checked the time in his wrist watch it was 11:00 p.m. He picked his phone and dialled the number which was saved in his phone from the day he meet her first time.

Aditi came out from her college after giving her exam. She did well in her exam thanks to her internship and scholarship exam which always prepared her for her graduation exams. Aditi was missing Dhruv so much. No one has any idea how she spent these last few days without seeing her handsome neighbour. Not a single moment has passed when she didn't miss him. Many times she has wished that she could have cell phone with her so she could talk to him. She knows her last letter might upset Dhruv but it was necessary to know what she thinks and what was in her mind.

She was not expecting any letter from Dhruv because of her last letter but got shocked when she saw the same man of Dhruv with a white envelope in his hand and pan box in another, looking here and there searching for her. Her heart jumped in happiness because she wants to know about him. This is the only source she could know how he is doing.

She slowly walked to him and stood in front of him. That man handed her the letter and the pan box and leave from there without saying anything. He will come back tomorrow to take her letter.

Aditi's lips curled into a smile when she saw the pan box in her hand.

He remember that she ran out of pens so he send her the full pan box for her. She thinks.

Raghav came after sometime and pulling each others legs Raghav took her to his house for dinner. Raghav usually drop her to her house after dinner but when he know Dhruv's letter arive he deliberately make Aditi late so he could enjoy the eagerness in Aditi's eyes to read the letter. It was already dark when Aditi reached home and again there was no light. She wonder if her bua ji family cut the light connection so could not use the power and increase their electricity bills.

First Aditi light up the candles in whole living area. She bought the candles from left over money she made gift for Dhruv. Now days she sleeps on the couch. This is the only benefit she get when her family is away. She could sleep in one of room but they are locked and she doesn't want to bring any trouble to her when they come back so she chose the Livingroom which is less risky. Aditi bring the candle near the letter and open it slowly kike she was touching a delicate thing. She had smile on her face when she started reading the letter.

Dear Aditi,

I read your letter and it made me upset. I know you have your insecurities and I don't know how to remove them from your mind. I just want to tell you that I am not going to repeat the same mistake again. I am going to be with you forever. Everyone could leave you but I will be there standing beside you, holding your hand. You will find me with me when you think that no one is with you. You are not alone and get this into your mind.

Tears welled up in her eyes when she was reading his letter. Of course he is angry, she can feel it but she is the one who made her anger. She sniffled and started read again.

When this letter reach you I have known. I will call you sharp 11:00 p.m. on your landline on the same day you receive the letter. Don't miss it.

                                                  Dhruv.....

Aditi checked the time on wall, only 4 seconds left to be 11 and when the hit hit the sharp 11:00 the landline rings. Her heart beats get faster to know that the person who is calling is non other than Dhruv. If she picked the call, she going to talk to him on phone for the first time. It gave her Goosebumps and she feel overwhelmed. She pick the landline and hold it on her ear hearing his breathing. It's been more than week since she hear his voice and she desperately wants to hear him. She knows he is angry with her so it has to be her to initiate the talk between them.

"Hello..." She whispered timidly.

There was no reply from the other side. She can hear his breathing. She knows it's him.

"Kaisi ho?" (How are you?) His voice was hard and fill with emotions. Aditi heart starts beating faster and cheeks turn red when she heard his voice after a whole week.

"Jaisa aap chodker gaye the." (exactly the way you left me.) She said with smile in her face. Though she knows he is angry with her but she is happy that he called her.

Yes Dhruv was angry with her. He was looking at picture in his hand with hard gaze. He wanted to shout on her but he knows he knows his beautiful neighbour is deliciated and more than that he wants to took her in his arms and wanted to kiss her senselessly. He put her picture on near table and took a sip from his whisky. His eyes are still feeling with unshaded tears but he was holding them back for Aditi's sake.

When Aditi did not get any reply from him she understands he is angry with her.

"Naraj hai aap humse." (Are you angry with me?) She asked.

"Kaise na ho. Aapne humara dil jo dukhya hai." (Why don't I? You hurt me.) Dhruv repeated the same words she said when she was angry with her. Aditi's words hurt her.

How could she think he will leave her again. Leaving her means separating his soul from his body. He also never give a good reason to her to stay with him but he is going to soon give her that reason by confessing his feelings. He just want some time.

"I'm sorry.." She apologise but she still have some insecurities which only go by the time. She could not say anything for now. She just don't want her handsome neighbour to be angry with her. He is her love and he really matters to her.

"Don't say that. I just want you to leave the thought that I will leave you because that's not going to happen ever. You are stuck with me Miss Aditi." Dhruv mean every word he said. Aditi was glad that he did not take her surname because she hated that. It bring smile on her face that he took care of her that small thing.

"Okay.." She said while controlling her grin. She stood up from the couch and sit on the floor leaning to the table for support.

"Did you have your dinner?" He asked and nodded my head yes.

"Yes, Do you?" She asked. Dhruv sniffled and took a long drag of his cigarette.

"No, had a bad day." He said.

"Why? What happened?" Aditi asked in worry. She can feel something is off with him.

"Nothing, It was some office work." Dhruv end the topic because he doesn't want to tell Aditi that he meet her family today and what they think about her.

"Okay..." Aditi supressed her lips. She knows he was lying but she doesn't want to force him. She respects his privacy.

"Aditi, I wasn't like this always. I used to like other normal people but like you something bad happened in my past also and I did not share it with anyone, not Raghav, even my doctor don't know about this. Not just you I am also tainted." A lone tear escaped from Dhruv's eyes and again his eyes welled with tears wetting up his eyelashes.

His breath was shaky and Aditi knows he is vulnerable right now. Her eyes also brimmed with tears. He always talked about her pain, this is the first time he is showing his pain to her.

Dhruv sniffled controlling his tears and continue, "But you know what, what is the truth? It's not me and you who are tainted it's people who have perverted mind." She agreed with him but people with perverted mind leave the impact on the people like us which haunted us in our whole life.

"Dhruv what happened..?" She asked him finally. She wants him to share his pain with her.

Dhruv sniffled on his tears his grip get tight on his whisky glass. "What Atul and your parents did to you after I fainted at Diwali night?" He asked.

Fat tears escaped from Aditi's eyes and she keep looking at particular point with her wide and wet eyes. His question left her in a shock. She could not forget that night. It was one of her horrible night for her. She saw monster in her brother.

"Aditi please say something and please don't lie." Aditi's silence making Dhruv impatient. He was shaking in fear thinking about the possibility worst happened to his beautiful neighbour that night. He cursed him of being so weak and fainted that night. If he would in his senses he could have save Aditi.

The tears Aditi was holding now freely steaming down to her cheeks.

"After you fainted, My parents and At..." Aditi stopped when her voice cracked at the end. She took a deep breath hold her tears and then continue, "My parents and Atul bhiya took me to house after you fainted. I was calling you for help because I know what they would do to me in house."

"What did they do to you?" Dhruv was holding his breath.

"Mummy called me slut and Papa feel that much disgust of me that he showered in Ganga Jal after slapping me.  Atul bhiya crossed all his limits. He beats me straight two hours with his belt. His belt had my blood and I don't when I got fainted with pain but he didn't stop that night. When I woke up the next day, my dress was torn and could hardly move my body. There was all blood on the floor. I could not go to school for whole month. He turns into monster that night." She broke at the end after telling him the whole truth of that night.

Her body shake when she started weeping loudly. She put her hand on her mouth to suppress her sob but Dhruv hear it. It make Dhruv also cry. He also broke into tears. His body was also shaking when he was crying holding his phone. This much happened to her that night and he has no idea about this. 

"Why did you not tell me that time? I may take you with me." He asked between his tears.

"I don't want to burden on you." Aditi whispered while sniffling and sob.

"Why the life is so difficult to live. I have everything then why I feel I have nothing." Dhruv took a pause while controlling his tears but it was difficult to control them.

"Why we are alone?" He whispered the last part and they both broke into tears hold the phone to their ears. They could not say anything, but still they are talking through their pain.

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