Chapter 28: Chapter 28

"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is it's current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."

Two years passed by with nothing but just intensified agony and heartbreaks. Everything had fallen apart, from relations to hearts, from love to hate and heartbreaks, everything.

The Rajput family was in a heart-wrenching condition. Neither they knew where their son was, nor they knew where their daughter-in-law was along with their grandchildren. No one knew where they went.

Whereas, Chandani's father was rejoicing every day that his dream was accomplished. The Rajput family was destroyed, broken, the way he had always wanted. Chandani was now handling the prostitution business of her father, trafficking girls from one place to another. Even being a girl herself, her heart never stopped her from doing the heinous and sinful crime of selling a girl's dignity and her virtue. After all, she was enjoying the luxurious life as this dirty business was earning her a lot, giving her every luxury that she had ever wanted. Her brother was still under the cover as he had a much bigger motive behind. Something big, something drastic.

Whereas, bestowed with a celestial natural beauty of the mighty Himalayas, roaring rivers, pristine waterfalls, and plush meadows, was the beautiful Mussoorie where lived Ayushi now along with her two-year-old babies, Agastya and Aranya, whose names suited their personality very much. Agastya was a very calm yet brilliant child like the saint on whose name his name was kept before Aranya who was as pure as a dense forest, untouched by any impurity, she was a very naughty yet intelligent baby. While Agastya resembled his mother and Aranya resembled her father, which was why Ayushi had always missed Dhruv, knowingly or unknowingly.

Today was their birthday, yes, finally they are two years old now. These two years had been very tough for Ayushi to handle her twins and that too alone. She had been through thick and thin, but eventually, she had got a very good friend, Alka, who too was like her, abused, broken, and assaulted by her husband but she had no kids. She loved the babies, cared for them as a mother did. Ayushi was thankful to God for this life where there was no Dhruv, no Veer as she had eventually maintained a safe distance from every male, a very bad image had been already inculcated in her mind against men.

She had joined a multinational company in Mussoorie, even Alka used to work there with her. The office, fortunately, had a baby care room too, where Ayushi used to leave her kids in the care of the kind and generous babysitters.

Finally, the sky turned to a light, dusky purple colour, littered with tiny silver stars, the time for their birthday celebration had finally arrived which the babies had been waiting from the morning only, they even didn't know the meaning of birthday but they were excited as hell, seeing their mother and their Masi (Aunt) doing many preparations. Kids from the neighbourhood as well as the children of Ayushi's colleagues were invited cordially. Ayushi had dressed her son into a cute three-piece suit and Aranya was looking beautiful in a baby pink coloured frock, they both were looking adorable.

"Mamma, mamma am I looting lite a printer? ( Mamma, mamma, am I looking like a princess?)' Aranya asked her mother in her cute baby voice, playing with her favourite teddy bear. She was fond of princesses and fairies, and behind it was her sweet Masi, Alka.

"Yes, sweetheart, you're looking like a princess," Ayushi kissed Aranya's cheeks and took her in her arms, she had taken too much time in getting ready as Aranya had thrown away three of the frocks which Ayushi had selected for her birthday. She was too choosy and picky, and even in this small age, she was a fashionista. Ayushi sighed, thinking about the future, how she would handle her stubborn daughter.

Agastya was already ready in his three-piece suit and was currently playing with the neighbours' kids. He was a very calm and intelligent kid, never had he ever whined for anything, unlike his sister who was so stubborn yet adorable.

"Agastya, come here baby," Ayushi grabbed both of her kids in her arms and brought them near the table where two cakes were kept, one Doraemon cake for her baby Agastya and another princess' cake for her Aranya.

Their cake cutting ceremony was over and all the kids were busy playing with each other with the toys they had found in Ayushi's house while Ayushi and Alka were busy serving the dinner to the guests, who had come to take their kids back to their homes.

"Ayushi, your husband didn't come this year too? Isn't he so busy that he cannot even come to celebrate his own children's birthday?" a woman obnoxiously taunted Ayushi, making her too numb to even react.

"Priya Ji, her husband is busy in making money for the good future of his children, that's why he didn't come unlike your husband who just lives on his father's money," Alka replied to that woman in a sharp tone, making the woman tongue-tied. She hadn't any words to reply, and the whole night she was too quiet which was so unlike her.

"Ayushi Di, I know for the security as well as for the dignity, we've hidden the fact that we both have left our husbands, but don't let anyone's words hurt you, because its society, a bitch and they can never stop barking," Alka hugged Ayushi when she saw that even she too had turned very gloomy and depressed after that comment had been thrown at her. The party was already over and Agastya and Aranya were busy playing with the new toys that had been gifted to them today and Ayushi and Alka were now busy cleaning the kitchen, while also keeping their eyes on the kids, playing in the living room.

"I'm not sad about that, Alka, I'm just sad thinking that now my babies are growing up, that day is not too far away when they'll ask for their father, what will I do then?" Ayushi spoke out in a sad tone.

"What will I say to them? Moreover, sometimes I feel too evil to snatch them away from their father, their family. It's too gloomy and depressing Alka, I feel so depressed nowadays," Ayushi was crying by now, sitting on the dining chair, putting her hands on her face. She still felt so wicked and vile for what she did with Dhruv two years back. She still remembered that night, when she had cried for Dhruv for doing something so sinful and demonic in her eyes.

****

It is not the bruises on the body that hurts. It is the wounds of the heart and the scars on the mind that hurts.

"Start the car already," Ayushi snapped at Dhruv who was busy gawking at her like she had grown two horns on her head. He was shocked that how did she get ready to come with him this easily, she had turned so unpredictable, he deduced. She was already sitting inside the car with her two babies in her arms, placed securely on her lap.

"Yeah," Dhruv stuttered and rushed towards the driver's side and started the engine.

"I need to buy some personal pieces of stuff from the market," Ayushi spoke out after a few minutes in a solemn tone while looking outside the window, giving Dhruv a cold shoulder.

"What things?" he inquired, trying to start a conversation. He was driving the car at a very slow pace, as his babies were still sleeping, he didn't want to disturb their siesta.

"Some personal things," she replied in a monotone and Dhruv understood what she meant by that. He didn't speak anything further, as he knew she was not ready to talk with him at all.

They reached the local market and Ayushi handed the twins to him, warning him to be careful & cautious. Dhruv didn't doubt her as he knew that she loved her babies too much to leave them like this, so he just nodded his head and let her go. Meanwhile, he started taking pictures and selfies with his cute babies as he needed to inform his family too about the good news, he had a lot of news to share with his family.

Whereas, Ayushi moved towards the local market and got inside the medical store and bought some sanitary napkins and few post-pregnancy medicines which had been exhausted today only. She got inside the ATM too to take out some cash that she had saved from the past few years.

After buying some more important kinds of stuff, she finally got back inside the car, carrying many carry bags in her hands. She moved towards the car and Dhruv was shocked when he saw these many carry bags in her hands. But he didn't say anything to her.

She placed the bags, on the back seat, and finally, after taking babies from Dhruv, she sat comfortably on the passenger seat.

"Actually, for the staff I've brought some sweets, they might be waiting for it, isn't it? Their boss is finally a father," Ayushi explained the reason behind the carry bags that she had carried, and Dhruv smiled at her brightly, thinking that she cared.

"But they are not here at my house. Only two watchmen and not even Uday Singh is with me, as I was not Dhruv Singh Rajput from the past few months, as that would've unnecessarily gained attention and doubts on me, so, to not to complicate things, I hadn't allowed them to come here in my house," Dhruv reasoned out while staring at his wife's beautiful face and she just nodded her head and looked ahead, trying not to look at his eyes.

"Can I please take a selfie with you and babies? I had to post them to Papa and Maa, informing them about your whereabouts," Dhruv pleaded to her and Ayushi couldn't deny him, so she just nodded her head, and looked at the front camera, and smiled slightly.

"Perfect family," Dhruv whispered to himself and forwarded all the photos to his father, mistakenly he had forwarded that to Ayushi too. All the photos were cute and very adorable.

Finally, after reaching the house, Ayushi got inside the bedroom and removed her uncomfortable salwar suit and wore a much comfortable top and track pants, she had to feed her babies too. All the time Dhruv was playing with the babies, trying to make them laugh, but he didn't know that babies don't even smile until they are of a certain age.

"You both are so adorable," he kissed on their forehead and was going to take them in his arms when his phone rang.

His father was calling him now.

"Pranaam Papa," Dhruv greeted his father.

"You found them?" His father was infinitely delighted after seeing his daughter and his grandchildren, after many months he was content and joyful so, he asked the question to reconfirm, finally, his family would be complete.

"I'm so much happy Dhruv, I can't even express my happiness, please come back soon to Bhopal, I can't wait to hold my grandchildren and hug my daughter," Pratibha had snatched away the phone from her husband's hands. After seeing the photos of her son and his wife along with his babies, she was shouting in joy and happiness. After many days, their happiness had finally returned.

"Wait, I'm video-calling you," Dhruv cut the phone call and video-called his family. They all were looking so happy, their faces were shining because of the happiness that could be seen on their faces.

"Bhaiya, show me the babies, please please please," Payal snatched away the phone from her mother's hand and pleaded to see her nephew and niece.

"Yeah, yeah, see," Dhruv moved the camera towards them, and finally they all could see the adorable twins, who were staring at the camera with so much amazement, literally the kids of this generation are so techy.

"Oh God, they are so adorable, Bhai please come to Bhopal as soon as possible, I can't wait to play with them please," Payal chided in.

"Yeah, I will try to come tomorrow," Dhruv replied in a happy tone.

"They are so adorable, my great-grandchildren," this was Dhruv's Dadi this time who spoke out in a rejoiced tone.

"Pranaam Dadi Maa," he greeted his grandmother, who just nodded her head, she was still angry at him for what he had done.

"Where is Ayushi?" his father asked him in a solemn tone, he was not in talking terms with his son.

"Here, she came," at that time only, Ayushi came outside from the washroom and when Dhruv gave her the phone to talk, tears started flowing from her eyes, when she saw her father-in-law who was looking like he'd cry at any moment.

"Pranaam Papa," she greeted him with a teary voice, her throat was paining now, after seeing them after so many months had made her too emotional.

"Never do that again Ayushi, we all had been in the worst state when you were not around," Dhiraj was weeping by now, trying not to break down in front of his family. Ayushi cried more, seeing how badly her father was trying to hold back his tears.

"We all have missed you so much beta, come back soon to Bhopal," Dadi cried too, after seeing her great-granddaughter after so many months.

"Pranaam Dadi Maa, Pranaam Maa," Ayushi greeted them with tears flowing freely down her eyes.

"Come back soon beta," after some more emotional talks, finally they cut the call and Ayushi moved towards the window, trying to control her tears which were just so stubborn to not to stop.

"Ayushi, we're leaving for Bhopal tomorrow, I hope you don't have any problem," Dhruv spoke out while standing at some distance from her.

Ayushi just shook her head and turned towards him.

"I'm going to prepare the dinner, please take care of them," she glanced at her babies and moved towards the kitchen. As she had already visited this house many times, she was aware of the kitchen's location.

Dhruv again started to play with his babies, trying to create as many memories with them as possible.

After feeding her babies, Ayushi was busy singing lullabies for them, when she noticed how deeply her husband was sleeping. He was snoring. She sighed and moved towards the window, noticing that the two watchmen too had slept.

Finally, it was time to execute her plan. The plan which had been on her mind since morning, to go away from Dhruv and his life. She recalled how tough it was to add those sleeping pills inside his food, her hands had been shivering when she was adding those. Her eyes were full of tears, with her heart filled with remorse and guilt but still, she was determined to leave this place. The bodyguards too had been fed those sweets which had sleeping pills powder sprinkled on them in good amounts, along with the buttermilk that she had provided them. She had felt so horrible and sinful doing all this, but for her babies, she had to do it.

She immediately took out the baby carrier and made her babies comfortable on her back and front. One was in front of her and the other on her back.

"I'm so sorry Dhruv for doing this to you, but I'm not going to live with a person like you who had hurt me so much, who had never even trusted me, I can't be in this toxic relationship anymore," she cried out while seeing the face of her husband for the last time who was looking so innocent and child-like while sleeping.

"I'm so sorry," she started going outside her room when she realized that she had not covered her face. She covered herself and her babies inside a shawl as the weather too was chilly outside.

She immediately rushed outside the house, locking it from outside just in case and rushed towards the main gate, where a taxi was waiting for her. She had already booked the taxi when she was in the market.

"Bhaiya, please take me to the nearby bus stand," she whispered in a scared tone, she was fearing what would happen if Dhruv would get up but it never happened.

The driver took her to the nearby bus stand and from there she booked a ticket to Chandigarh. When she reached Chandigarh, it was already morning. She immediately took the bus to Mussoorie from Chandigarh and from there she never looked back. Finally, she was out from the reaches of her cruel husband, very far away from him. But she was guilty too.

****

Ayushi sighed gloomily, remembering that night when she had left Dhruv. From the past two years, never had she heard anything about Dhruv, just nothing like he had died already. Just some important deals of Rajputs would be here and there but not any news about Dhruv.

"Don't worry Di, I know you can handle this too," Alka tried to sympathise Ayushi but she just nodded her head absent-mindedly.

"See our last photos together, how happy he was, but I've snatched away his babies from him. I'm so brutal," Ayushi wept in remorse.

"No.." Alka's voice got interrupted when they heard a shriek.

"Mamma," Aranya's cry made Ayushi stop, she immediately rushed towards the living room and what she just saw shocked her to the core.

Aranya had fought with Agastya and when Agastya had tried to stop her, she shouted out loudly for her mother and now was busy punching her brother.

"No baby, don't hit your brother. Aranya, I said stop," she grabbed Aranya in her arms and finally she calmed down. She was very impulsive.

"She hit me phursty, Maa ( She hit me firstly, Maa)," Agastya spoke out in his baby voice.

"You both are poles apart. Come, it's your Ninni (sleeping) time now," Ayushi carried Aranya in her arms and went away towards her room while holding Agastya's small hand in hers.

"I just wish everything is fine soon, Di," Alka whispered to herself and retracted back to her room.

Main rahoon ya na rahoon

Tum mujh mein kahin baaki rehna

Some more days passed, when one fine day, it was drizzling cats and dogs. Ayushi had just opened her door for going to the market as they were running out of milk which her kids loved a lot when she saw a beggar who was resembling much like her husband, sleeping just outside her house, on the bench with torn clothes, shabby beard, dirty face, and a stinking smell was coming from him. She was devastated, traumatized seeing her husband in that state where he was not even aware of his surroundings, where he was sleeping under the open sky when it was raining so heavily.

"Dhruv," she whispered in a wrecked tone when she noticed the same wedding ring on his finger which she had made him wear on their engagement ceremony.

~**•**~

Please don't forget to leave your comment and voting is your birthright!