Chapter 56

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I am back with another chapter

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words:- 2600+

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Divya didn’t follow him.

She stayed where she was.

Because for the first time, she understood something she had never meant to see—

Protection, when done blindly, can be just as dangerous as neglect.

Later That Night

Vani had already changed into her pajamas.

As she walked downstairs, her fingers brushed the railing instinctively—
a habit from childhood, as if the house itself still remembered her.

In the dining area, she saw her mother plating food.

“Mumma, kya bana hai?Aur papa kahan hain?”
(Mom, what did you make? And where’s Dad?)

Her mother looked up and smiled faintly.

Vani’s eyes automatically drifted toward the kitchen—
expecting her father to walk out holding something, like he always did.

“Woh…” her mother hesitated, disappointment slipping into her tone,

“tere papa ko bhookh nahi hai.
“Baad mein kha lenge. Tu aa, tu kha le.”

(He’s not hungry.He’ll eat later.You come eat.)

Vani frowned.

“Arey kyun? Kis khushi mein? Bappu hai kahan ? Main bula ke laati hoon.”

(Why? What happened? Where’s my dad?I’ll go call him.)

Her feet started moving on their own.

“Study mein hain?”

(Is he in the study?)

“Vani—” her mother tried to stop her.

Too late.

In The Study

Vani stopped in front of the study door, knocked once, then leaned in.

“Divya ji, mujhe bhookh nahi hai.”

(Divya, I’m not hungry.)

He didn’t even look up.

“Achha?” she said lightly, stepping inside.

“Par kyun?”

(But why?)

“Aisa kya kha liya aapne, bapu?”

(What did you eat that you’re not hungry?)

Ranvijay’s eyes snapped up.

He froze when he saw her.

Vani’s smile faded as she looked around.

The room was in chaos.

A decorative piece lay shattered on the floor.
Files and documents scattered.
Pens rolled everywhere.
A lamp lay broken, glass spread dangerously.

“Yeh kya kabada kiya hai, papa?”

(What is this mess, Dad?)

She looked around again.

“Bhukamp aaya tha kya?”

(Was there an earthquake?)

Ranvijay stood up immediately and guided her away from the broken glass, worry flashing across his face.

She let him.

But her eyes stayed on his.

Arms crossed.
Waiting.

“Bolo.”

(Speak.)

Ranvijay stared at her.

Then his voice broke.

“Pehle tu ek baat bata, gudiya…”

(First, tell me something, my child…)

“Tu itna sab kaise jhelti rahi akele?”

(How did you endure all of this alone?)

“Ek baar bhi nahi socha ki mujhe ya teri maa se baat kare?”

(Did you never think of talking to me or your mother?)

His breath shook.

“Tu bata kar toh dekhti, beta…”

(If you had just told me…)

“Uska sar laa kar tere kadmon mein rakh deta.”

(I would have placed his head at your feet.)

“Tune mujhe is kabil bhi nahi samjha?”

(You didn’t even think me capable?)

“Kaise seh liya itne saal, itna sab kuch?”

(How did you survive all of this for so many years?)

His voice cracked completely.

Vani hugged him tightly
burying her face against his chest, not wanting anyone to see either of them break.

“Papa…” she whispered.
“I know you are capable—more than capable.”

“But I thought he was finally gone from my life.”
“I thought he’d stay locked up forever.”
“And I just had to work on myself…”

Ranvijay stiffened.

“Locked up?” he asked sharply.
“What do you mean—locked up?”

Vani hesitated.

Just for a second.

But she knew that she had eventually had to tell him

“Actually…” she said quietly,
“I got him arrested in a fake drug case.”

Ranvijay’s eyes widened.

“Drug case?”

(A drug case?)

She nodded, sleepless honesty in her eyes.

“He was sentenced to life imprisonment.”

“I don’t know how he got out.”
“And I don’t want to talk about that bullshit anymore.”

She swallowed.

“I have my father now.”
“And as long as you’re here
even the shadow of bad things can’t reach me.”

Ranvijay pulled her closer.

He kissed her forehead gently.

“I promise you that, gudiya.”

(I promise you that, my child.)

“Ab khana kha le, bappu?
Meri maa thaari deek kar rahi hai,
par the ho ki jaan-bujh kar tadpo.”

Ranvijay chuckled at her sudden dramatics.

( Will you eat now, Dad? My mother is waiting for you, but you seem determined to torture her on purpose.)

“Chal,” he said finally, then paused.
“Par wait— mere sar ki kasam kha ke bol,
ki tu mujhse phir kuchh nahi chhupaayegi.”

( Alright,” he agreed, then added seriously, “but wait— swear on my life that you won’t hide anything from me again.)

“Papa!” Vani whined, clearly cornered.

( Dad!” Vani protested, dragging the word in frustration.)

“Varna main khana nahi khaunga,
aur yahin se hile bhi nahi.”

( Otherwise, I won’t eat—and I won’t move from here either,” he declared stubbornly.)

“Tabar ho?” Vani shot back sarcastically.
(Are you a child?)

Ranvijay shot her a mock glare.

“Main buddha hoon,
aur buddhe insaan tabar jaise hi hote hain.
Tu meri amma hai na?
Baat maan, chal.
Aur haan— main nahi hil raha.”

( I’m old,” he replied dramatically, “and old people behave exactly like children. You’re basically my mother now, so listen to me—and no, I’m not moving.)

Vani sighed deeply.

“Theek hai, baba.
Aage se main aapse kuchh bhi nahi chhupaungi.
I promise.
Ab chalo.”

( Fine, fine,” she gave in. “From now on, I won’t hide anything from you. I promise. Now come on.)

At the Dinner Table

As they sat down, Vani could smell the tension in the air.

She tried to lighten the mood
throwing in small jokes, teasing remarks, casual comments

but none of them worked

✧

At night

In her room, she sat on the bed with her phone resting between her fingers.

She kept turning it, staring at the screen, unlocking it, locking it again. Thoughts came and went—fear, doubt, hope—until finally, she made a decision and pressed call.

She told herself she was calm.
She wasn’t.
She just needed to hear his voice once.

I stared at the phone in my hand

” Vani”

Leaning against my car door I pick up the call

” Hello?”  I said

She didn’t speak nor did I Hurry. I waited. I didn’t need to check my phone to see if it’s get disconnected because I know it isn’t

Cold droplets kept poring over me, I looked above my phone still pressed against my ear

” Ho yahan?” she finally asked, her voice shaky, like she was holding back tears
(Are you here?)

” Tumse dur Ja sakta hun kya?”I replied quietly.

(Is it even possible for me to be away from you?)

She sniffed.

” But ho to dur hi Na, Na hospital mein milane Aaye , Na jab Main ja rahi thi tab, aur na ab!  kahan gaya tumhara pyar?” Always straight to the point

I turned my face to the side, blinking hard as memories refused to leave me.

” Kada diya tha na? Woh kya tha zimmedari Ho Bina malkiyat bane? Ab nahin hun?”she continued, her anger mixing with sobs

(Didn’t you say—responsibility without ownership? So I don’t even matter anymore?)

” Tumhen khona to zindagi khone ke barabar Hai Vani,” I said

(Losing you is the same as losing my life.)

” Jhooth bolate ho tum!” She snapped

( You lie always)

” Tsk Navver kabhi jhoot nahi bolta khaskar ki apni Vani se” I said looking above at the light source

( Nav never lies especially not to his Vani.)

” Achcha tu Kahan Ho Tum?  mere pass kyon nahin Ho ? jab Mujhe tumhari jarurat Thi To Tum Gayab kyon hue?” She said in one go

(Then tell me— Where are you? Why aren’t you with me? Why did you disappear when I needed you?)

” Kahan gayab hu vaani? pass mein to hun tumhare, bahut pass, bus fark itna hai ki aap hamen Abhi dekh nahin Pa Rahi”

( I am not disappeared vani, I’m right here.Very close. You just can’t see me yet.)

” Bakwas, sirf baten karva Lo”

(Nonsense. You’re just talking.)

” Khidki per Dekho.”

(Look at the window.)

” Hein, kya?” She confused

(What?)

” Zara bed se uthkar khidki per Aaye vani ji”
I said

( Get up from bed and get close to window)

She walked towards the window slowly phone still press to her ear

Her eyes got locked at me in front of her porch, fully drenched leaning against my car door

” Kaisi ho?” I asked quietly, calmly

(How are you?)

Her head hung Low as tears spilled freely.

” I thought you left me I thought you choose to walk away after knowing about myself I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”  She said inbetween her breaths

” Tum khwahish nahin ek pal ki, jarurat Ho zindagi Bhar ki, tumse dur Ho Gaye to khuda Ko Kya munh dikhaenge?  jindagi to narak banaa hi lenge,  aur jahannum mein bhi Na Ja payenge.” I said, my voice steady despite the rain,

(You are not a momentary desire. You’re a lifelong need. If I leave you, how will I face God? I’ll turn my own life into hell.And won’t even deserve hell.)

” Kitne bakait ho Tum.” she said, laughing through tears.

(You’re such a talker.)

I frowned.

” Woh Kya hota Hai?” I asked in curiousity

(What does that mean?)

Suddenly she hide behind her curtains and I narrow my eyes

” Are ab kya hua?” I said

(What happened now?)

” Tum batao beta ji kya hua?”

( You tell us son, what happened?)

I widened my eyes and look ahead

Her father and a person holding an umbrella over his head was looking at me

” Uncle aap yahan?”I asked

(Uncle, you’re here?)

He looked around suspiciously, then behind him.

” Vikram?” He said to the person beside him “kya Ham galat ghar mein rah rahe hain itne salon Se? Mujhe to lagaiye Mera Ghar Hai!”  he stressed the word ” Mera” while looking straight at me

(Have we been living in front of the wrong house all these years? I thought it is my house.”

” Nahin nahin sir Shayad yeh is bacche ka Ghar hoga , isliye yah humse poochh raha hai ki Ham yahan kaise?” Vikram replied

(No, sir. Maybe this is this boy’s house. That’s why he’s asking why we’re here.)

Vani laughs through the phone, I look that the phone in shock and then lower my arms still holding the phone and not disconnecting it ,

let her here the circus which is about to unfold if it means making her laugh

” Nahin nahin uncle woh ghabra Gaya tha Main Jara Sa aapko dekh ke.” I replied acting nervous

(No, no.I just got startled seeing you.)

” Mai kya daku hu?  Jo tumhen loot lunga!” He said and i almost chuckled,

Ranvijay singh daku

almost

(Am I a robber? That I’ll loot you?)

” Aur tu aur tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? to be precise mere Ghar ke samne itni barish mein? Chak doom doom khelne ka irada hai?”

(And what exactly are you doing here outside my house, in this rain Planning to dance here or what?)

P.s chak doom doom wala ganna yaad hai?

Haan apki beti ke sath agar woh mane to… My thoughts said….Shut the fuck up nav.. my mind replied to me

( Yes, with your daughter—if she agrees.
Shut up, Nav, my brain warned.)

” Woh…woh meri gaadi khrab hi gai thi.” I blabbered

( That.. my car got issues)

” Gaadi ni beta.. teri neeyat khrab hai … Aur Teri gadi Ko bhi mere Ghar ke samne hi kharab hona tha?” Uncle question me while being sceptical

( Not you car son, Your intentions are. And your car had to break down right in front of my house?)

” Gadi Hai uncle kahin bhi kharab ho sakti hai.” I reply being casual

(It’s a car.It can break down anywhere.)

” Vikram check kar” uncle sent  Vikram and Vikram went to the door side and turn the key which I left inside the engine roared, the car turned on.

( Check it)

Ranvijay uncle raised his eyebrows at me

” Abb?” He asked.

( Now what ?)

Yep..
He didn’t believe me for even a second.

“G-gaadi hai, uncle,” I said, words tripping over each other,

“kabhi bhi theek ho sakti hai.”

(It’s a car… it can start working anytime.)

He shook his head slowly, almost amused.

“Yeh khel jawaani mein humne bhi bahut khele hain, beta.”

(I’ve played these games myself in my youth, son.)

“Aap bhi… jawaan the?”

(You were young too?)

The words slipped out before my brain could stop them.

Instant regret.

The look he gave me—
like he was about to slice me open with a butter knife.

“Sorry, sorry… mazaak tha.”

(Sorry, it was a joke.)

I blabbered.

He took a deep breath, clearly deciding whether to kill me or tolerate me.

“Andar aana hai,” he said calmly,
“ya yahin se jaana hai?”

(Do you want to come inside, or leave from here?)

I disconnected the call with my thumb in one smooth motion.

Not because I was scared
but because I didn’t want Vani to hear this part.

Didn’t want her overthinking.
Didn’t want her heart racing again.

“Use chhod nahi sakta, uncle,” Usse door rehna mushkil hai.” I said finally

(I can’t leave her. Staying away from her is difficult.)

I didn’t dress it up.
Didn’t joke.

Just said it.

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then

“Maine kab kaha tha tumhe usse door rehna chahiye?”

(When did I ever say you should stay away from her?)

I frowned slightly, suddenly alert.

He watched my reaction carefully before continuing.

” I said that I am taking her back, if she stay here she will act tough, she needs home,”

His voice softened

“but I never restricted you nav, do you think I was unaware of whatever was going on?”

Something in my chest eased.

I smiled, slow, relieved.

Saasure ji ko galat samajh liya maine.
(I misunderstood him.)

” Aur aapko kya Laga, I was unaware that you are keeping tab on us?”  I said and uncle smirked

(You thought I didn’t know you were keeping an eye on us?)

“Bevkoof nahi ho tum.”
(Good thing you’re not an idiot.)

My eyes widened in genuine shock.

“Yeh… praise hai, Mr. Rathore?”
(Is that a compliment?)
“Mere liye?”

“jada ghore pai maat sawar ho.”  uncle said immediately, crushing my tiny moment of happiness.
(Don’t get too full of yourself.)

Then his eyes travelled over me soaked clothes, dripping hair.

“Yeh Kapde badal le,” he added flatly,
“Yeh kapde badal le, nahi to hospital mai hoga koch der mai”
(Change your clothes, or you’ll land in the hospital soon.)

I grinned despite myself.

“Care?” I said lightly.
“I like it.”

He scoffed, turning his face away like he absolutely did not.

“Kahan rehne ka irada hai?” he asked next.
(Where are you planning to stay?)

I cleared my throat, trying to sound casual.

“Arey nayi, property mein invest kiya hai maine,” I said.
“Uske rates bhi badh sakte hain.”

(I invested in new property. Rates might increase, you know.)

His eyebrows shot up.

I didn’t stop.

“Yahi,” I added, pointing ahead,
“aapke saamne wala plot.”

(Right here. The house opposite yours.)

For a second, he stared at me.

Then he scoffed, and laughed.

“Kamina hai tu bhi.”
(You’re a sly one.)

“‘Property investment,’” he repeated, mimicking my tone.

I smiled to myself.

While my hone wale sasur ji (future father-in-law) seemed almost relaxed now, Vikram still hadn’t taken his eyes off me.

That man was guarding like a hawk.

Didn’t matter.

Vani se dur… Naah… Not in this lifetime….

(Stay away from Vani? Nah.
Not in this lifetime.)

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Koi andza, ki kya hone wala hai???
Aur koi specific scene chihe?? Jo man mai ho? Bol do, sharmao maat…