Recap: In the previous chapter, we learned how Riddhima learned about Zareena's brother and decided to ask about it. Now next -
The next day, Riddhima met Zareena and finally asked her, "Didi, who is this Armaan guy?"
Zareena was in utter shock, but she smiled, "Don't tell me he came in your dreams last night!"
"Didi, you know I am serious about this, right?"
Zareena sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I know, babe. You never joke. And perhaps you wanted to ask me about this yesterday. Am I right?"
Riddhima nodded. "Who is he?"
A solid one-minute silence.
Zareena thought a little and replied, "He is my brother."
Riddhima was stunned.
This means her classmates were right. Didi befriended her only for his brother. But how could she ask Zareena if that was why she met her?
They walked together till they reached their college. Before Zareena could enter her classroom, she called out to Riddhima, "Meet me in the garden during the break. I will tell you everything."
During the break, with a pounding heart, Riddhima entered the rose-filled garden and found Zareena waiting for her. Zareena complained, "Mice are playing ring-a-roses in my stomach and see who is finally here!" Riddhima squeaked, "Sorry, Di, you eat. I am not hungry."
Zareena pushed the plate with a pile of food towards Riddhima. "You not hungry, or are you afraid of what I'm gonna say? Don't be scared, my brave girl. I am not going to say anything that scares you."
Riddhima silently put a morsel of food into her mouth. Zareena gazed out at the open field in front of them for a moment, then spoke up, "First, I want to ask you a question. Tell me, in our society, why does a doctor's child become a doctor and an engineer's child an engineer or someone successful? And why does a thief's or a dacoit's child end up doing the same thing?"
Lost in thought, Riddhima replied, "Maybe it's because of their upbringing. A good person's child turns out good, and a bad person's... bad."
Zareena shook her head in disagreement.
"No, you didn't understand my question at all," Zareena said. "I wasn't talking about being a good person; I was talking about holding a status in this society. Look at how our society works; it judges every person by their family lineage and prestige. That is why a poor man's son remains poor, and the child of someone who does bad deeds is branded bad, no matter how much good he tries to do."
Riddhima was confused, unable to grasp what Zareena was trying to drive at.
Seeing her reaction, Zareena chuckled softly and said, "You won't get it. Let me tell you a story instead. It happened about twenty years ago. Actually, it's not just a story; it's the truth. When this place was slowly beginning to develop, and people started settling down here, promoters and real estate builders began seizing control of these lands and selling them at extortionate prices. Because of this, conflicts and violent clashes began to rise. To maintain their dominance and secure these lands, wealthy men began backing gangs. They hired goons to help them snatch land from the poor, while also protecting themselves from rival thugs. Zakar's father was one of those builders, and he had the most powerful gang in the entire area at his disposal-the Raman Gang, also known as the Chain Gang. People were terrified of them."
"The gang was led by a man named Raman Malik. One day, Raman Malik brought a fair, blue-eyed, handsome, and innocent little boy to our school. He got him admitted by claiming the boy was his son. Our principal didn't want to accept him, but out of sheer fear, he granted the admission anyway. Still, no one at school liked the child. Everyone kept their distance because he was Raman Malik's son.
"One day, he was sitting in a quiet corner of the school playground, crying all by himself. Zakar noticed him and reached out to become his friend. The boy was so happy. Later, Zakar introduced him to me and told him, 'I am your brother Zakar, and this is your Didi.' The three of us became inseparable friends. As time passed, we all excelled and passed our exams with great marks. But when that boy was in his tenth grade, his father passed away. A rival gang murdered him."
"I was in the twelfth grade back then, and Zakar was in college. As soon as his father died, he was expelled from school. The very people who used to stay in fear of his father started treating him with utter hatred and disgust. They began mocking him constantly. He couldn't wrap his head around what he had done wrong. He didn't even know for sure whether he was truly Raman Malik's biological son or not. He was driven nearly mad with grief and confusion... That was when Zakar's father took him in and sheltered him."
Riddhima, who had been listening in quiet silence until now, suddenly interjected, "Then Zakar's father must be a truly good man, right?"
Zareena twisted her face in disgust and sneered, "Good man? Far from it! He is a shrewd politician. He knew Armaan Malik would come in handy for him, which is why he offered him a place to stay. Now Armaan is his right-hand man. He does all his dirty work. Whether it's killing someone, forcing people off their property, or taking care of any illegal task, Armaan handles it all."
Light dawns on Riddhima as she realises why those boys were terrified yesterday on the road. She asked softly, "Doesn't it make you feel terrible? Why don't you stop him from doing all this?"
Zareena let out a bitter, mocking laugh. "Hahaha! Why? Stop him on what authority? What right do I have? I wasn't able to offer him any shelter back then either. Yes, I did bring it up once, but Armaan simply said, 'This is the only way the world wants to see me. That's why they have cast me out of society. So be it. If the world has no love to give me, let them fear me instead. I can never truly escape the identity my father left behind.'"
Riddhima remained silent.
Zareena continued, "But we have a plan. After our wedding, Zakar and I are moving to Canada. We'll take Armaan with us. If he hesitates, I'll force him by giving him my oath. There, he will start a new life and go into business together with Zakar."
Riddhima's phone rang. It was Rani asking if she was coming home with them, since classes had been cancelled. Riddhima replied, "You guys go; I'll head back with Didi."
As soon as Riddhima hung up, Zareena smiled warmly and asked, "So, have you forgiven me for hiding the truth?"
"What truth?"
Zareena laughed softly and said, "You came here to ask if I was spying on behalf of Armaan, didn't you? Or if I was staying around you on his 'orders'."
Riddhima nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, that is what I came to ask. But being around you makes me feel safe. As for that brother of yours... There is no comparison between us; please let him know that."
Zareena replied, "He isn't asking anything of you. He just likes you and noticed the fear on your face, which is why he asked me to stay by your side. Trust me, he will never even cross your path."
In a voice heavy with helplessness, Riddhima spoke, "You know my father's condition. Before he even hears about a relationship like this, he would give his own life. I just wanna finish my studies somehow, take my father far away from here... back to our home, back to our city... and care for him by getting a job."
Zareena could see how terrified Riddhima truly was. She took Riddhima's hand in hers and said soothingly, "Trust me, Riddhima. He will never add his name to yours. Anyone else in his place would have confronted you by now to confess his feelings, but Armaan isn't like them. He knows his boundaries. He knows... you are like the glowing moon smiling up in the sky, a sight that brings him peace just to behold. He will never reach out his hand to pull you down. Besides, the three of us will leave this place in a few years anyway, Riddhi Ji! Whether you choose to remember us after that or not, it's your wish!"
Riddhima realised that Zareena Didi's feelings had been hurt by her words. Wiping away her tears, she blurted out, "You and Zakar Jiju are a part of my life, Didi! Don't you dare talk about staying away from me!"
Zareena laughed, gently patting her cheek. "Hmph, you crazy girl! Come on, let's head home-we're already late!"
A month had passed since that incident. Riddhima was incredibly busy as her exams were drawing near, leaving her no time to dwell on anything else. Besides, Zareena Didi hadn't brought up that topic again, and Riddhima didn't want to hear about it anyway. She just wanted the days to fly by so she could finish her studies and leave this place for good.
Yet, on her way to the university, her eyes would sometimes stray toward that shop where the stranger with the striking blue eyes used to stand silently. But these days, he was nowhere to be seen. A strange, sharp pang of longing would ripple through her heart. Sometimes she felt tempted to ask Zareena if that boy was her brother, since his eyes were blue, too... but she couldn't bring it up. She didn't want Didi to know she actually wanted to meet Armaan.
One evening, it was pouring heavily outside. Riddhima's aunt was quite unwell and resting in her room. Sonu and Riddhima were studying. Riddhima prepared some soup for her aunt, fed her father, and then ate dinner with Sonu before heading into their room. Her aunt had strictly instructed Riddhima to always eat dinner early and go back to her room with Sonu every night. Her uncle returned home dead drunk every single night, and the look in that vile man's eyes terrified Riddhima. Her aunt, too, was desperate to protect Riddhima from that monster's gaze at all costs.
Tonight, however, Riddhima couldn't focus on her studies; her aunt's condition was deteriorating, and someone needed to be by her side. Since she couldn't stay the whole night, she decided to sit with her aunt until her uncle returned.
When she walked into the room, she found her aunt writhing in restlessness, struggling to breathe. Holding her gently, Riddhima panicked, "You should have called for me, Masi..."
With a faint, weak smile, her aunt murmured, "You have your exams, my child..."
Riddhima chided her gently, "My exams are not more important than you, Masi! You were supposed to take your medicine now... let me get it for you."
She went to fetch warm milk, but when she checked the medicine box, her eyes widened in shock. The pills were completely gone. "Your medicines are finished, Masi! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I would have bought them earlier."
Her aunt remained silent. Riddhima immediately understood that she didn't have the money.
Seeing her worried look, her aunt whispered, "Riddhima, I'll be fine. Just give me the warm milk and pass me the inhaler. I'll manage."
But even after using the inhaler, her distress didn't ease. Instead, her breathing grew heavier, and the pain only began to worsen.
Read in the next chapter: Who does Riddhima end up running into outside the pharmacy...