"Why?"
The single question hung heavily in the air.
It pressed against the room so hard that even breathing felt wrong.
We are humans.
We do make mistakes.
But never think about consequences.
And so did Ayesha.
"I..." She opened her mouth to speak but paused. A tear trailed down her right eye, her lips stilled with a terrified exhale as if she was herself ashamed to accept her actions.
"Speak Ayesha." He repeated. Same heavy tone. But this time, a glare directed to her.
"Vivaan..." Kruthi looked at him in disbelief and whispered to him, holding his arm gently. "Look at her once atleast. She is guilty. And what makes you think she did..."
"Shut your damn mouth Kruthi, for a moment." Vivaan turned to her His words were harsh enough to pierce through Kruthi's heart.
She left his arm, took a step back and instead went to his desk. After filling a glass of water, she handed it to Ayesha and gently said to her. "We should not be afraid if the fault isn't ours, and also, if we hide something, it's either very personal or wrong."
Calm words.
A hint of comfort.
And the gentle push Ayesha needed.
Vivaan just looked at them dangerously. More angrily at Kruthi, but somehow, he felt she did right.
"I... I'll tell everything, but please. D... don't hate me, I had my reasons..." Ayesha whispered softly after finally having a gulp. Her voice trembling slightly, but determined to explain herself, to not be a villain in eyes of another person when she herself wasn't at fault.
"Since the day of our wedding, Rushaan and me haven't got along."
A sigh left her mouth, as she recalled about their failed marriage.
"Firstly, because this was an arranged marriage and secondly because of the revelation of the type of man he was. And then you married Kruthi, the woman who stood up and got the scandal. But what was my fault in that?" She asked placing her hand over her heart with tear-streaked face. Her lips quivered while she spoke.
"I told my family not to marry me here, to Rushaan. But alas, (chuckles sadly) 400 crore deal is more important to them. This isn't marriage anymore Vivaan ji, it's a constant competition, one I don't want to participate in, but I have to for survival. Once I tell you what your cousin has done, you yourself will know the extent of my worry, my... dignity."
Kruthi rubbed Ayesha's back gently, soothingly.
She knew too well the feeling of being made to compete with each other, even when you don't want to.
That's what she herself has felt ever since she got in the house. The family.
A constant competition between her and Ayesha, one she never wanted but couldn't escape too.
She glanced at Vivaan.
The tension in Vivaan's jaw eased.
But his earlier anger was replaced by a sense of curiosity. Even though they knew each other from childhood, but Vivaan clearly remembered that Ayesha was not the one to be messed with. A silent girl who would stay nonchalant even if you mocked her in front of everyone, but never giving a damn about that person ever in life. But right now, seeing her cry... it was something he never expected to see. Well, not in this life at least.
"Y... you think I did this because I wanted to? right?" Ayesha said in a dry voice, as if her throat was aching due to crying.
"I cannot do anything. I just cannot (She shook her head tearfully). "Life is uncertain Ayesha, not yours. You are my wife, but atleast you have to come handy for me." That's what he said. Your brother Rushaan."
She spat the last words in disgust, like a curse falling from her lips.
"He has files from my father's company. I didn't even know they existed. Malpractices. Murders. Corruption. Everything." (She sobbed) I myself want my father to be jailed. But the problem? I have a sister Vivaan Malhotra and then there'll be no one to ensure her safety. My... sister Vani. And Rushaan threatened me, too bad t..that I can't even start to comprehend." She collapsed on the desk, holding her head while crying silently.
Bringing herself together for one last time she said-
"Yes, I helped him get your Gurugram property, not because I wanted, but because I couldn't allow my sister to be seen as a property."
Vivaan was still calm.
Silence embraced the room once more.
He sighed.
Took a step closer to her.
Then another.
"I knew you were not the mastermind but a pawn." He stated finally, coldly.
He hated this.
Vulnerability.
For saving others, who didn't deserve it.
Emotional sensitivity.
He hated seeing Ayesha like that.
She glanced at him.
Her eyes widened slightly. She opened her mouth to speak something but paused.
There was nothing to speak.
Her eyes were teary.
Her lips twitched. Relieved.
But the other moment, she lowered her eyes, ashamed of herself.
"Look in my eyes Ayesha. Right now, I don't see the fiery woman I have known." He said as a command.
She looked up slowly. Tearfully.
"Is the fault yours?" He asked her in the same tone.
She shook her head softly. Rushaan was indeed not blackmailing her by her actions or something.
"Words." He said sharply making her flinch.
"N-No" She whispered.
"Are you accountable for your father or your husband's cruelty?"
"No"
"Then don't lower this head ever."
Her eyes widened in pride. The tears holding less power now.
And she felt-
Vivaan was right.
For the first time, it struck her—when had she started carrying everyone else's sins like they were her own?
"Next time onwards, inform me or Kruthi if Rushaan says anything. You won't be troubled; you have my word on this. You just need to inform, rest I'll manage." With that he turned his heel and walked out of the room
Kruthi finally sensing relief in Ayesha's soul, stepped closer to her and hugged her gently.
Ayesha hesitated for a moment.
This was new to her.
Care.
Affection.
Understanding.
With shaking hands she hugged Kruthi back.
"You are strong bhabhi." Kruthi said softly, finally feeling Ayesha's hands on her back.
"W-what do you think Vivaan will do now?" Ayesha asked her. Her eyes were in fear now.
"Nothing to you. His actions speak more than his words. Trust him"
"T... Trust? him? How...You do?"
Kruthi exhaled deeply looking at the ceiling of the study room, and then at the wall, which was having a full frame portrait of him, covering the entire wall.
She stared at it for a moment.
"I do."
A pause
"More than myself."