Chapter 96 Guilt in Silence
I already know everything. Samar has told me everything, and Neeti too has been informed by Shorya. We both understand the depth of Rimjhim’s pain. That’s why we don’t ask any questions; we simply focus on supporting her.
We carefully help Rimjhim sit down on the sofa. She sits there silently, as still as a stone. Her face has lost all its color, all signs of life gone.
Neeti quickly brings a glass of water from the kitchen. Placing it gently in front of Rimjhim, she says softly, “Sister-In-Law… please drink some water.”
But Rimjhim doesn’t even look at the glass. As if nothing in this world matters to her anymore. As if her entire world has come to a stop.
I sit down beside her. I place my hand tenderly on Rimjhim’s back, stroking it gently. Pulling her into a side hug, I whisper, “Don’t cry… everything will be alright. I’m here with you.”
Those words break the dam of pain inside Rimjhim. She clings tightly to me and bursts into uncontrollable sobs. Her tears soak my shoulder as her soul screams silently through her words. In a broken voice, she cries out, “I am no longer worthy of showing my face to anyone… everything is over… my life is ruined!”
Neeti too can’t hold back her tears at those words. She keeps caressing Rimjhim’s head with love. I cup Rimjhim’s face in my hands and speak softly but firmly, “Silly girl… how is your life ruined? Yes, you are in pain, but this pain will heal with time. At least Vihan bhaiya didn’t end up trapped with Drishti. Yesterday, such a big mistake was prevented. You saved him… you should be happy about that. Now he belongs to you.”
Rimjhim lifts her tear-filled eyes toward us. Her voice is nothing but a fragile echo breaking into the silence of the room, “He… will never be mine. He doesn’t love me… he hates me.”
And saying this, she lowers her face again and cries harder. Neeti and I watch her, our own hearts shattering at her pain.
Holding back her own tears, Neeti clasps Rimjhim’s hand and says, “Enough, no more talking now. You need rest. Come, let’s go to the room. I’ll make something tasty for you.”
I gently help Rimjhim to her feet, placing a hand on her shoulder, and guide her upstairs slowly. Each step she takes feels like a burden, as though her legs have forgotten how to carry her.
But when we reach her bedroom door, Rimjhim suddenly stops. Her breathing quickens, her eyes fill up again. She holds my hand tightly and whispers, “I… I don’t want to go into this room. Please… take me to another room.”
I pause for a moment, look at her face, and understand her unspoken pain. Without asking anything further, I quietly lead her into another room the guest room right beside Vihan’s.
There, I help Rimjhim lie down on the bed. I pull the blanket gently over her, brush away the messy strands of hair from her face, and look deep into her eyes, saying softly, “You just rest… I’ll bring something for you.” And with that, I slowly walk out of the room.
Vihan sits silently on a chair inside Samar's secret chamber. The dim light of the room falls across his face, revealing both pain and remorse etched into his features. One of his hands is wrapped in a small bandage, and a white cloth is tied around his forehead. It is clear he has been beaten badly by Samar and Shorya punishment for his sins, for every wrong he has done that has broken Rimjhim apart.
The strange thing, however, is that Vihan could have stopped them. He has the power, the strength, the authority to overpower both of them with ease. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t raise his hand, doesn’t show his anger, doesn’t even try to resist. Because deep inside, his heart screams the truth yes, I am guilty… yes, I deserve this punishment.
For a moment, silence lingers heavily in the room. Then Samar’s voice, sharp with anger but laced with hurt, breaks it. “Vihan, it would be better if you now accept her with your heart. You have ruined her life. Don’t stay in her life as a burden or a forced bond. Start giving her her rights, her respect. This is your responsibility.”
Samar’s words pierce Vihan’s heart like a blade. His head drops lower, and his eyes remain fixed on the floor, as though the entire weight of the world presses down upon him. Inside, only one thought echoes yes, I hurt her. I stole her smile. I wounded her soul.
His silence only fuels Samar’s anger further, but then Shorya steps forward. His voice is cold, sharp, and bitter. “Listen, Vihan… if you dare do anything wrong again if you make her cry even once more I won’t hesitate to beat you again. What you saw today… this was only the beginning. Next time, it will be far worse.”
Shorya’s words strike like arrows to his chest. Yet still, Vihan remains silent. He offers no defense, no anger, no excuses. His face reflects only one truth whatever punishment I receive, I deserve it.
He sits there quietly, listening to their words without protest. His eyes hold no tears, but deep inside, rivers of guilt flow endlessly. He knows one thing for certain that a single wrong step of his has snatched away every ounce of happiness from Rimjhim’s life. And now, whether the world forgives him or not, he will never be able to forgive himself.
In one corner of Khanna House, Riya sits by the large window of her room. The moonlight pours in, reflecting in her tear-filled eyes. Yet, even in that silvery glow, her heart feels so heavy that breathing itself becomes a punishment.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!