The Wilted Rose: Chapter 9

Writer's Comment

I think this update is very cruel. It leaves you wanting to cry. Please do not judge, it is just a story. I am sure you all are aware that this happens in India. Well I hope you all are strong enough to handle it.

Love,

Mishty

Chapter 9

After 30 minutes, there was a knock on the hospital door. Aman walked through with 3-4 bags in his hand. Arnav signaled him to leave the bags on the couch.

“Sir, Are you okay?” asked Aman, “I mean you haven’t come to the office sir! Many clients are asking for you!”

“I will come tomorrow!” stated Arnav. Aman took that a signal to leave. Soon as Aman left, Khushi walked out from the bathroom. Arnav passed the bags to her.

“Here are your clothes!” he said.

Khushi took them from his hand. She took them out of the bag. It was a red saree with a designer red blouse. Tears came out her eyes. Arnav looked in confusion at her.

“Khushi, what’s wrong?” asked Arnav.

“I can’t wear this Arnav!” said Khushi.

“Why?” asked Arnav.

“Jab Suhag hi nahi hain then how can I wear this? I am a widow! I can only wear the colour white!” said Khushi. Arnav turned to her and brought her close, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Nahi Khushi, I thought you were going to move on? You were married for a couple of hours. No-one expects you to follow the same traditions that a widow follows!” explained Arnav carefully.

“Society will judge you! A couple of hours, it still doesn't change the fact that I was once married!” said Khushi.

“No it doesn't but you need to move on, think about the future! Your husband would want you to move on too!” said Arnav.

“Your right!” said Khushi, “I will move on for Rohan!”

They soon left the hospital and drove straight to the ETF office. They stepped outside the car, and looked at the massive office with glass windows. It was almost as big as “AR” thought Arnav.

They both stepped inside and were greeted by a lady, who took them to ETF main office. The office was simple, with a touch of modern design. Inside, they were met up with the team.

“Oh you are here!” said Arjun.

“Yes!” replied Arnav, “You called us!”

“Yes, we wanted you to be present, when Rajan wakes up!” said Arjun.

“He is here? I thought he was in the hospital!” said Arnav.

“He only had minor injuries, he was put under sedation for an hour! We brought him back with us!” said Arjun, “Shree – he should be awake by now! Go and check!”

“Okay!” Shree soon left them.

Riya came to Khushi and greeted her happily with a big grin on her face.

“Hi, Khushi, it will be all over soon!” said Riya.

“I know!” said Khushi. The wait was prolonged. It built up tension, anxiety and other feelings that Khushi never wanted to feel again. She looked over to Arnav. Yes, Riya was right. It would be all over soon.

But did she want it to be over?

After this case, she realized she would never see Arnav like she was seeing him now. Yes, they had made the promise together about keeping contact, but it was more in the moment. She didn't think that they would still be like this after this case was over. She would get the justice required, but would she be happy?

It had seemed that Rajan was now awake and was in the interrogation room. Arnav and Khushi were standing outside with Riya, Chotu and Shree, while Rathod and Arjun were inside the interrogation room with Rajan. The people outside, could see everything and hear everything, but the people inside could neither see outside nor hear anything outside.

Arjun picked up his gun and walked towards Rajan in a predatory manner and sat down by the table.

“Where were you, when Rohan was murdered?” asked Rathod.

There was no response.

“I will ask you again, Where were you when Rohan was murdered?” asked Rathod.

There was silence. He refused to open his mouth. Arjun looked at him sceptically.

“Rathod, yeh aisa nahi manega! When we lay his body on table made of Ice, then he will speak! Do you know the punishment of murder in this country? You get hanged! So I would start speaking before I get charges put on you for murder!” said Arjun.

Rajan looked at the floor while Arjun was speaking to him.

“Why don’t you speak dammit?” shouted Rathod, banging the table, making Rajan flinch.

“If I tell you they will kill her!” said Rajan. There was a moment of silence. Rathod and Arjun looked at each other in surprise. They were expecting him to defend himself, but his statement brought surprise.

“Kill who?” asked Arjun.

“Kill Priya!” replied Rajan.

“Who is Priya?” asked Rathod.

“My fiancé!” said Rajan.

“Tell us from the beginning! We will know if you lie. We will help you find Priya, if you help us with the case!” said Arjun.

“3 months ago, we found out from my mum that Khushi and Bhai were going to get married. We were really happy, me and Priya. I loved Priya and we got engaged without the family, in London itself. Although, bhai and I had our differences in the past, which were mainly about business, we decided to finally end all the arguments between us. Bhai convinced me to come back to India, and he said that he will listen to my suggestions as well, when it comes to business. I did not tell my family that Priya was coming with me.

“Priya was happy as well. We loved each other. She had never met my family, so she was excited. I had thought that after Bhai and Khushi’s wedding, I will reveal to my family that Priya is the one for me. We will happily settle in India as well. We were supposed to attend all the functions from engagement to the actual wedding. However, due to some weather conditions, all flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick were cancelled. The only flight that was available was 2 days before the wedding.

“Bhai knew about the weather conditions but we didn't tell him about the flight. He thought that we were coming on the wedding day itself. We wanted to surprise him and our family, so we decided to not tell them, which was one of our biggest mistakes that we made. We flew from London Heathrow, two days before the wedding. However there were some problems with our immigration when we landed in Delhi airport. So we got take away by guards. We were being taken away, when we felt some chloroform on our face faces” said Rajan.

“So you were kidnapped?” asked Arjun. Rajan nodded in positive.

“When I woke up, the room that I was in was dark. My hands and legs were tied to the chair! The whole room smelt of petrol. My eyes were hazy. Soon I heard screams from another room. They were Priya’s screams. I shouted her name a couple of times, but my screams were echoed back. I tried to untie my hands or legs, but I couldn’t do anything.

Soon the door opened, and someone entered. I couldn’t see his face. He was tall and well built up. He said that his men were enjoying her. I felt disgusted that I couldn’t protect the woman I love,” said Rajan.

“Oh my God, Priya was raped!” said Rathod.

When Rajan was speaking about Priya, Khushi had tears in his eyes. She felt helpless. Riya also felt sad to listen to a woman getting raped. Only love could give you so much pain. Arnav looked at Khushi and told her through his eyes to be strong. That's why she could see the pain in his eyes, when he tried to kill her. He was regretting his decision.

They had to be strong.

They had to be strong for everything else to come.

Someone was behind their life, and they had to be caught.