____
And far away, Riya sat alone in her room, removing her bangles one by one.
She stared at her reflection — perfect, poised, and invisible.
Riya's thoughts:
I won't forget this. I won't forgive. They all think I'll move on quietly. That I'll fade into the background. But if she can take what was meant for me… why can't I take something of hers in return?why they blame me for taking Avinash from her? They weren't engaged yet, a guy as perfect as him should only be mine.
She smiled faintly, a trace of venom beneath the sweetness.
She took her phone and throw it on the floor.
Smiling she bent down to pick it up seeing it's broken screen she smiled with satisfaction.
Thinking which phone Avinash will buy for her after seeing phone in this condition.
—
Next day morning around 11, At Nalina's house
Sumitra standing at the gate, walking back and forth, turning to look at the society gate again and again probably waiting for someone with stress covering her face.
From the the house opposite Ashutosh walks out with Rekha following behind with too tifin in her hands saying, "Don't just go there to sit whole day, do help your father with work, he getting old day by day and can't handle everything alone."
Ashutosh smile and nodded, " Yes maa, I know, don't worry about him."
He took tiffins and place then on to passenger sit.
After Ashutosh moved aside from her sight ,she turned sight fall onto Sumitra,
"Are Sumitra, Namste."
Ashutosh too turned to her, "Namaste aunty."
"Ahh, Namaste ." Sumitra looked at them smiling.
"Sumitra, it's so hot today, what are you doing outside?"
"Ohh nothing I was just waiting for Nalina's father to return."
" But he usually comes around 4, why so early today?, Everything's okay?"
"Nothing serious, it's just Nalina got fever so I called him back to take her to the hospital."
"Are, what happened?she was fine yesterday, and why didn't you tell us earlier?, come Ashutosh is here we'll take her to the hospital, don't call Raghunath Bhai."Rekha answered worriedly and at mention of Nalina Ashutosh also stopped.
"No, No he is going to work,why disturbe him?,"
Sumitra quickly replied not want to disturbe them for a small matter.
But Rekha insisted, " come on sister, he was just going to deliver tiffin not to work and Even if it's work, it's not that important compared to Nalina." "yes, auntie I'm not busy and I will deliver tiffin aftersome time, you call uncle to not to come,we will take her to hospital."
With both of them insisting so much, And Nalina's condition was not good Sumitra agreed, "Okay, you guys wait I will take her out."
Rekha agreed saying, "Okay ,bring her out till then I'll lock the house."
Sumitra goes upstairs, She Nalina to was her face and tie her hair, Nalina being so weak could barely sit, " I can't sit for long maa."her voice barely audible, eyes so tired that could barely open.
"I know beta, don't worry the doctor will give you medicine and you'll be fine."
"Where's papa?"
Behind them Rekha came in saying, "why disturbe your father beta?,we are here we will take you to the hospital."
With their help Nalina came down sit in backseat in middle of Sumitra and Rekha. Ashutosh took in her pitiful appearance, it made his heart ache to see her like this, without wasting time he quickly drove off.
At hospital, after check up doctor prescribed some medicine and said,
"Nothing serious, just complete this course and your high fever will come down in no time after I give you an injection."
Nalina who could barely sit and have take her mother's support shook her head looking up with fear in her eye, "No, no , No injection."
Nalina looked up at Sumitra, But she didn't agree with her saying, " Don't be like this beta, it won't hurt and your fever will go down."
Tacking Sumitra's que doctor prepared the syringe, " Don't worry it won't hurt at all."
Terrified Nalina was still shacking her head but with Sumitra and Rekha grabbing her hands she can't escape this.
Having no other way but to submit as the doctor hand come closer her heart was skipping a beat, Ashutosh who watching her from a long time couldn't take it anymore so he came and cover her eyes with his hand and making her turn a little saying,
"Don't look there ,if you are scared ."
Shocked Nalina started to resist again, "No, no ,where is papa?, Where is he?, Call hi…."
But before she could continue she felt the needle entering her skin, she shut her eyes tightly to stopped her breath, too scared to say anything.
____
At Nalina's house, at dinner time Nalina came down feeling much better, she came and sit beside Raghunath, starting her complaints before she even reached there, whining now and then,
"PAPA ,why didn't you come when I call you?"
Raghunath looked up at her healthy and complaining form , happily joined the conversation.
"You know what happened today?,"
"What?,"
"That doctor gave me an injection and maa didn't even stopped him."
"Ahh, I see…that's why your mother called me saying not to come."
"Huh, how could she do this, it's so unfair, papa you must save me in future."
"Absolutely, beta."
Sumitra preparing dinner in kitchen heard them complaining about her, she sighed shacking her head, "Both Father and daughter are same, so dramatic."
____
At Ashutosh's House
Receiving the news from his mother that she fine , Ashutosh finally sit in relief, remembering her acting like a child because of an injection he laughed a Little things of her expression,
"Silly girl." he thought and smiled looking at her photo.
Thinking that having someone to love in life can be so awesome, Thinking of her day and night, Thinking the way she talks, the way she look at him, her cut expression when she thinks of something makes his heart flutter in such a good way. Maybe this is what love feels like.