Chapter 99 The Sin He Called Love
I freeze, trembling. Tears well up in my eyes. Neeti steps in, “Why are you speaking like this? She’s your sister!”
But Shorya snaps, “And how else should I talk?! This girl never wants to see me happy! She always takes away my peace!”
I break down. Tears stream uncontrollably. Mr. Shekhawat’s anger explodes. “Shorya!!!”
But Shorya loses control today. He shouts back, “Dad, enough! You never let me speak against her that’s why I’ve kept quiet all these years!”
Samar, who remains silent till now, finally rises. His eyes burn as he strides toward Shorya. His voice cuts through the air like a blade. “Enough nonsense, Shorya! If God took your mother from you in childhood, don’t you dare blame my sweetheart for it!”
Shorya’s stubbornness only grows. “She was responsible! Because of her, my mother is no more!”
Samar’s teeth clench, his voice roars, “Shut up! Life and death aren’t decided by any human! Your mother died saving Ishani. She threw herself in front of that truck to protect her. It was an accident! And you you punished an innocent girl all her life for something she never did. A girl who loved you like her own brother you treated her like a criminal!”
Everyone freezes. I sob harder. My tears speak the truth I never could.
Shorya’s anger falters. He turns to Neeti desperately. “Neeti… am I a monster? Am I wrong?”
Neeti stays silent at first, then says softly, “Yes… the fault is yours, Shorya.”
The words strike him like a sword.
Vihan steps forward angrily. “At least have some shame, it’s Rakshabandhan today! And even today you spread poison in your sister’s life?!”
Mr. Shekhawat’s voice booms, “What does he know of Rakshabandhan? He’s never even let Ishani tie him a rakhi!”
The truth pierces Shorya. His head bows.
Everyone slowly leaves the garden. Samar holds my trembling hand and leads me inside.
As Neeti turns to leave, Shorya suddenly grabs her hand. “You too think I’m wrong? You too think I’m the sinner?”
Neeti yanks her hand free, “Yes! You’re the sinner… you can never be a good brother.”
She walks away, Shorya stands rooted, hollow.
Neeti remains silent at first, turning her face away. Then, in a low voice, she says, “I never said anything because I didn’t want to hurt you. But yes… the fault is yours, Shorya.”
Those words strike him like a sword. He stares at her, stunned.
Vihan steps forward angrily. “At least have some shame! It’s Rakshabandhan today! And even today you spread poison in your sister’s life?!”
Mr. Shekhawat’s voice booms again. “What does he know of Rakshabandhan? He’s never even let me tie him a rakhi!”
The truth hits Shorya like a dagger. His eyes waver, his head bows low.
Everyone slowly leaves the garden. Samar holds my trembling hand and leads me inside. One by one, the family disappears into the mansion.
But as Neeti turns to leave, Shorya suddenly grabs her hand from behind and pulls her toward him. Neeti stumbles, her heartbeat racing. His eyes lock into hers restless, and filled with pain.
His voice is heavy, trembling with hidden agony. “You too think… I’m wrong? You too think I’m the sinner?”
For a moment, the world stands still. Their eyes clash his desperate, hers conflicted. Inside, Neeti is torn apart, but she pushes down her emotions. She yanks her hand free, shoving him back as if his touch burns her skin.
Her eyes flare with anger and hurt as she says, her voice trembling yet sharp, “Yes! You’re the sinner. You wronged bhabhi. No matter how much you try to change, no matter how good you pretend to be you can never be a good brother.”
Shorya freezes, her words piercing deep into his chest. His face tightens in pain. Neeti’s voice rises, her tears now falling like screams. “Thank God my brothers are nothing like you. They forgive even my biggest mistakes. But you-you’re the kind of man who wounds his own blood. A sinner.”
She turns away, her steps heavy yet determined, and walks inside without looking back. The sound of her footsteps echoes in the silence, leaving only the trace of her unspoken cries behind.
And Shorya—he stands there, rooted to the ground. His eyes reflect a strange emptiness, like a man who has finally seen the weight of his own sins.
Later, Shorya also comes there, as usual with his silent and stern face. His eyes never like meeting anyone’s gaze. At the same moment, Neeti ties a rakhi on Vihan’s injured hand, then ties rakhi to Samar, Karan, and Rohit as well.
Now it is Ruhi’s turn. One by one, she ties rakhi to everyone. She doesn’t remember much yet; she only does what Neeti or Rohit tells her. But her innocence is still alive. The moment her eyes fall on Shorya, she simply picks up a rakhi and walks toward him with childlike purity. Without saying a word, she gestures for him to put his hand forward.
Everyone is shocked.
Shorya pauses for a moment, then slowly extends his hand. Ruhi ties the rakhi lovingly on his wrist and starts jokingly cursing him in a playful tone, like little sisters usually do.
Smiles spread across everyone’s faces. The exchange of gifts begins.
Then Karan looks at Rimjhim with a teasing smile. “Sister-In-Law, you should tie rakhi too!”
Rimjhim hesitates. “No… I shouldn’t.”
Vihan immediately teases, “Oh come on, tie it! These idiots are your brothers, not mine. That’s why one of my hands is broken already!”
Mrs. Shobha looks surprised. “What do you mean?!”
Samar quickly covers up, “Nothing, mom… he was playing a game with me and lost.”
Finally, Rimjhim also gives in and ties rakhi to all of them, even to Shorya.
Now it is my turn.
I tie rakhi to Rohit, then to Karan, then to Vihan. Everyone is happy. Just as I am about to leave, suddenly Shorya gathers courage and softly calls out, “Ishi…?”
I freeze.
My eyes well up. In childhood, he used to call me by this name, but after growing up he never even looked my way.
Everyone turns in surprise toward Shorya. He softly repeats, “Won’t you tie one for me?”
I hesitate and glance at Samar. He winks at me, as if to say, Go ahead.
Slowly, with lowered eyes, I walk toward Shorya. Just then Mr. Shekhawat pulls out his phone and starts recording.
Karan laughs. “Uncle, you like making videos too?”
Mr. Shekhawat smiles warmly. “No, son… I just want to keep this moment. After all, my useless son has done something good for the first time.”
Shorya freezes. “Dad…?”
He holds out his hand. I gently tie the rakhi on his wrist.
As I turn to leave, he stops me. “Wait…!”
Everyone pauses. Shorya slips a ring off his finger and places it onto mine.
I gasp. “This ring… it’s...”
“Yes,” he says softly. “It was mom’s. I snatched it from you. Today, I’m giving it back.”
A soft smile spreads across my face, though somewhere deep inside, a little fear of Shorya still remains.
As I turn away, he calls again, “Ishi…!”
I look back. He opens his arms wide.
For a moment, everyone holds their breath.
Then I slowly walk into his embrace.
Everyone cheers and whistles. Rohit pretends to wipe his eyes dramatically, “Oh, my eyes are tearing up… seeing this brother sister love!”
Laughter fills the room. Ruhi laughs too, her innocent giggles echoing happily.
Later, inside Samar’s study room, I stand arranging his files. With each file I place, a soft smile spreads across my face the kind of smile that comes from deep within, the kind that only Samar brings.
Suddenly, warm arms circle my waist. A gentle touch rests on my stomach.
I blush and smile. “You’re here…”
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!