Chapter 97 Trapped Between Sin and Suffering
Riya’s life has been lonely since childhood. After her parents’ death, all she ever knows is solitude. Yes, Drishti is her real sister, but she never embraces Riya the way a sister should. For Drishti, Riya is nothing more than a weapon an instrument to be used against the Rajputs for her own motives. But Riya… she has always seen Drishti as her sister. She never once doubts the little companionship she gets, never realizes even that is nothing but an illusion.
Since her childhood, Riya is deprived of love and happiness, which is why love feels like nectar to her something she only dreams of but never touches. And when her heart begins to beat for Karan, she can never let go of that feeling.
Whatever she does the lies, the betrayal, the conspiracy against the Rajputs it is all because of Drishti. But in her heart? In her heart, she belongs only to Karan. One by one, the moments she spends with him keep flashing in her mind the small smiles, the stolen glances, the silent moments that only the two of them understand.
The memories of Rajput Mansion haunt her day and night. Since she is forced away from there, not a single moment passes in peace. To her, those few days spent in the mansion with the Rajput family become the most precious days of her entire life.
Because in all her years, never does she receive such love and acceptance as she does from that family. And the thought breaks her heart that they embrace her, but she gives them nothing but betrayal in return.
That night, Riya wears a simple cotton suit with a plazo. Her hair falls loosely over her shoulders, a small bindi on her forehead, sindoor in her hairline, and a mangalsutra around her neck everything a symbol that she is now Karan’s wife. But inside, her soul screams wishing she had refused this marriage, wishing she had the courage to speak the truth.
Still, she can’t forget Karan’s love, his efforts, his care. Closing her eyes slowly, in a trembling, broken voice, she whispers, “I love you, Karan… no matter how much I try, you never leave my mind. I love you deeply. I know after what I’ve done, you won’t even want to see my face but today, I promise myself apart from you, I will never belong to anyone else. Even if I live my whole life in loneliness, the place you hold in my heart will never be given to anyone else.”
She takes a deep breath, lies down on the bed, and picks up her phone. Opening her gallery, one after another, pictures of her and Karan light up the screen. Each picture carries a story, a moment that belongs only to them. As she looks through them, tears stream down her face.
Some pictures make a faint smile appear on her lips, but even that smile is drowned in pain the very next moment. Her soul seems to whisper, “My greatest happiness and my deepest sorrow both carry the same name… Karan.”
Watching those pictures, with tears falling endlessly, her eyes slowly grow heavy. She drifts into sleep, still crying, without even realizing it.
Meanwhile, in Rajput Mansion, Karan walks through the grand hall and enters his room.
His face is weary, but there is not a trace of sleep in his eyes. He goes straight to the window and stops there. Outside, the moon shines bright, but even its glow cannot pierce the darkness consuming his heart.
Placing both hands on the railing, he takes deep breaths and stares at the moon. His eyes are bloodshot, as if he has been crying all night, or as if they are burning with rage. But the storm raging inside him is far more terrifying than what shows on his face.
His mind is filled only with Riya. Every moment, every memory he shares with her plays in his head. He loves Riya with all his heart, with a love perhaps greater than he ever gives himself. He opens every window of his soul for her happiness. But today… it all feels like nothing but betrayal.
His fists clench, and through gritted teeth comes a voice heavy with anger and pain. “How foolish I am… to love a deceitful, manipulative, vile woman!”
His heart burns with rage. Every memory turns into a dagger stabbing at him. Glaring at the moon, he spits out, “A girl who can belong to anyone for just a moment who can sell herself for revenge who even comes to my bed only to hide her schemes!”
His eyes burn redder, a bitter smirk twists his lips.
“God knows how many men she has been with before and maybe even now while I, the fool, think she is my everything!”
The love in his heart quickly turns into hatred. He feels disgusted with himself for ever giving his soul to a girl who is nothing but a betrayer.
Karan slams his hand hard against the windowpane, as if to crush the pain inside him. “I hate her! If she ever dares to come before me again I’ll give her a pain she’ll never forget. I’ll turn her life into such a hell, she’ll beg for death but never find peace!”
His words echo in the silence of the room. His breaths carry both agony and fury. And then, clenching his teeth, staring one last time at the moon, he whispers, “Riya… I hate you. You destroyed me, but now I will destroy you.”
Closing his eyes, there is not a trace of love left in him anymore only a fire of hatred, slowly turning his heart to ashes.
When Vihan enters the room, Rimjhim is nowhere to be seen. He knows very well that Rimjhim doesn’t even want to look at his face anymore. Silently, he sits down on the bed.
The evening in the garden is calm, a soft breeze flowing with the fragrance of flowers mixed into the air. In that peaceful atmosphere, Ruhi sits alone on an old wooden bench.
There is a strange tranquility on her face, as if she is lost deep in her own thoughts. With her phone in hand, she keeps scrolling reels absentmindedly sometimes a faint smile flickers across her lips, sometimes she just stares silently at the screen.
But she has no idea that only a few steps behind her, a pair of eyes is fixed on her. Eyes filled with anger, worry, and a concern even he can’t understand.
Those eyes belong to Rohit. He stands at a distance, glaring at Ruhi, his heart stirring with conflicting emotions hatred, care, and a strange unrest he can’t put into words.
Ruhi is still absorbed in her phone when it suddenly rings. Without much thought, she picks it up.
“Hello?”
From the other side comes a shaky, frightened voice. “Please help me. I’m standing outside… I need to meet SR, please.”
Ruhi immediately grows alert, but concern softens her face. “Alright… wait, I’m coming,” she says, ending the call.
She quickly rises from the bench and begins walking briskly toward the gate. As soon as she reaches there, the bodyguards block her way.
“What happened, ma’am?” one of them asks.
Ruhi, a bit nervous, replies, “I need to go outside someone is waiting for me. It’s important.”
“Sorry, ma’am, we can’t allow you to leave,” the guard answers firmly, Ruhi loses her patience.
“Let me go! I told you, it’s important!” she shouts, and in a rush of frustration, shoves the guard hard. He stumbles back, and Ruhi storms out through the gate.
The moment Rohit sees this, his blood runs cold. His voice thunders in anger, “Where is Ruhi?!”
One guard hesitates before admitting, “Sir… ma’am went outside.”
Rohit explodes, “Then what are you all doing here?! Why didn’t you follow her?!”
Without wasting another second, he bolts toward the gate. The guards quickly run after him.
Meanwhile, Ruhi reaches a little distance away from the gate. She looks around, confused, searching for the person who calls her but no one is there. Her face shows uneasiness, as if she realizes something isn’t right.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!