Aarohi locked herself in her room after returning, not caring about her still unreturned brother and her sister-in-law. Everything she witnessed, never taking the name of leaving her thoughts!
After a successful meet with her client, when she was returning, she had accidentally noticed Deep walking in the cramped streets which wondered her of why! With no thoughts, she followed him, even calling his name out twice, trying to stop him, thinking of a talk, but he seemed to have lost his senses! He couldn't even hear her! She, finally giving up, thought of giving him a ring, however, what she witnessed stopped her to do so!
She didn't know how to react when someone had pulled Deep harshly into one of those empty streets, which halted her at first before her alarmed soul commanded her to follow him! She was almost about to confront the one who did that to him but the scene which happened restrained her to do so.
Everything she saw and heard, leaving her confused, frightened, and worried!
She took minutes to gather herself from what had happened, and had to force herself to move from there!
"You seem lost!" a sudden, soft voice forced her to look back from where she stood, finding Soumya leaning against the door.
"I might be, then!" Aarohi said, a sigh escaping her as she fell on her bed, leaving her liking spot, the window view.
"What happened?" Soumya tried to know, pulling herself up, reaching her, taking a seat beside the laid her.
Aarohi sighed again, rolling onto her stomach, "What do you think happened?"
Soumya stared her, giving her a glance with a raised brow, before shrugging, "I see, you aren't that well at disclosing things!"
"But no disease can hide within, for too long!!" she snorted raising up, letting her feel the mattress raise as well, "Your brother informed that he couldn't make it up for tonight! He's yet to meet a client!"
Aarohi nodded, "Is he travelling far again?"
"Not much far, I guess! Could you join the dinner?" Soumya winked.
She just gave a smile, heading out of her room, trying to remain as calm as she could be. Yet, she couldn't help but worry about Deep and..... Tara! She wasn't sure of how and why but one thing was sure, he was being blackmailed!
"Focus on what you are doing, Aru!!" Soumya almost warned her when she was about to pour water in the already water filled glass, absentmindedly.
Aarohi who realised it, just sighed, "I apologise!" her voice was a low whisper.
Soumya obviously became worried about her but pressing much on the issue would only irritate her, which wouldn't be her motive!
And they both had their dinner in silence.
***************
Deep though drove to home, the entire time, he was lost!
Guided to his own home, he was still lost!
Tara was poisoned, her uncle and aunt were never dead!
And her whole family, is now in danger! One wrong step, and he might lose his sister, and also....the hope of getting his uncle and aunt back!
He absentmindedly got into the house, not caring if his father returned yet or not!
Deep down, he knew, the man wouldn't, not sooner atleast!
Not realising the presence of his mother, he ascended the stairs, getting into his room!
Rhys who was actually waiting for him to return, couldn't understand this behaviour of her son!
He never ignored her, nor did he ever seem lost!
Not knowing what's wrong with him, she just went ahead to his room, carrying the meal he seemed to have needed now!
Knocking, she didn't get any response, which was strange again!
The door creaked open, and Rhys could see her son standing, almost leaning over the railing of the small terrace his room had!
Placing the plate on the nearest table gently, she leaned against the wall, "You better don't ignore the food now!!"
Deep had to turn back to look at his mother, whose visit he didn't expect!
And his gaze soon settled over the cutlery, "I have no appetite!"
"But I do!!"
Deep just stared her for a moment and accepted defeat, as he sat down! After so many years, his mother and him ate together separately, remembering him his childhood!
Every spatula of rice his mother fed him, felt like a gentle, soft, warm stroke against his worried, tensed and almost numb soul!
Deep just embraced his mother once she was about to leave, surprising her!
Rhys remained still for a moment, the conversation her son and husband had that night, echoing,
Her hands gently reached up, stroking his back. "It's okay, Deep!"
"Everything will be alright!" she with a last soft stroke, pushed him gently, having a closer look. "Darkest days might be long, but the end would be one of those brightest ones!!"
Her hand effortlessly stroked his hair as well, her fingers parting ways through the strands!
"I want you to know one thing, Deep!!"
In the presence of silence hidden within him, he found himself, staring his mother.
"That, you don't always have to be strong to face everything! All you sometimes need is to be smart enough to create a way out, the harmless one!!"
Deep's gaze lingered, paused for a moment, before a faint smile took over his face, "And sometimes, all you need is, someone beside!!"
Rhys caressed his hair with a soft smile playing on her face, leaning and kissing her son's forehead.
"Have a good sleep and make yourself relieved, so your sister wouldn't find you tired tomorrow!!"
Deep's eyes lit up just by that statement, "Will she be.....coming back?"
Rhys nodded, his excitement widening her smile, "Your father informed me. They will be coming back!!"
Fear and worry took over him. Holding his mother's hand gently, surprising her, he questioned the very worrying thing, very bothering one!! "Is she.... how's she?!"
Rhys's head slightly tilted as she tried to understand her son, "Know yourself when the time comes!!" she said, easing him with a gentle pat on his head, before raising up! With no request, she switched off the lights, darkness surrounding them! "Goodnight!!" She left him with the wish she hoped he could gain!
As the door creaked shut, Deep was left alone, silence pulling him back!
Tara would return tomorrow!
Overwhelming thoughts buried him, suffocating.
Should he reveal her the truths?!
His gaze went distant, his throat dry again, knowing he's being watched now, he could only avoid the thought of letting her know the truths!
Being blackmailed kept aside, she needs to know the truth that her parents are alive, the depressed child in her craved for motherly and fatherly care, love, and affection!
But then, if she gets to know the truth, it would only make her stand in the harm's way!
He couldn't let that happen with his own sister!
He leaned against the bedpost, the goodnight sleep his mother wished him for, never in his reach!
****************
Tara shifted in her seat, feeling the discomfort of being seated for too long, in every inch of her merely found sleep, to the depths!
It took her no longer to bid farewell to her sleep, the resting composure of her uncle being captured by her emerald eyes.
She with an unheard yawn, leaned forward, stretching her aching body, and her uncle soon became her concern!
Tara carefully and patiently observed her uncle, whose breath was steady and in rhythm, his composure calm and peaceful.
Not wanting to disturb him, she left the room in silence, realising it was nightfall already. She slept too long, yet she felt tired, her body still aching, which was odd!
As she made her way to the kitchen, to get herself some water and quench her already dry throat, Tara took a brief note of what was cooked! Her gaze instantly began to search for Aryan, whom she found asleep in the living room!
Reaching him slowly, she found herself kneeled infront of him, taking in his asleep look, his calm breathing unrecognisably forcing her take a deep breath, her lips parting!
'Am I nothing for you?'
'What we went through..... doesn't that....matter to you?'
Her hand reached for him, her fingers caressing the soft skin of his, her touch gentle so she wouldn't be disturbing his sleep!
'Does it hurt you? Leaving me hurts you Aryan? Then know, living with you, staying with you, hurts ME!!' her own words forced her take in a sharp breath, unmistakably understanding the pain she made him go through!
'Don't you love me? Atleast the half of a penny?'
'I don't'
A tear slipped out of her, "I'm sorry!!" her voice a whisper.
'Do not ever....do this to me Tara!!' his plea echoed, making her shed another tear!
"I won't! I... promise!!" her hand reached up, her fingers now tracing their own way through his hair!
"You are not 'nothing' Aryan, you are.... everything!!" Tara found herself gently stroking his hair continuously, "You....matter! Everything between us....matters!!"
Her confession though was unknown, stirred his sleep, making him shift as though he was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
Within seconds, his eyes were stirred open, his droopy gaze settled right after her, slightly widened before his focus was all her!
Aryan just stared her while she returned his gaze!
'I can't be an orphan while you stay! Don't abandon me!' his words echoed, a tear again making its path down her cheek.
'I can only realise how much you love me, to let me go!!' his words again, made her take a deep breath, some unknown yet familiar feeling embracing her, pulling her in into something she unrecognisably longed for!
Aryan, his gaze never leaving her, leaned forward, gently reaching for her face while her hand unknowingly retreated, his thumb finger softly wiping away the tears she wept, concern taking over him!
"What....happened?"
His voice a mixed hoarse and soft, noticeably containing the worry and concern which she was reserved for a whole life!
Tara just stared him in silence which they both owned, and their relation began with, the one which never made them feel alone or detached but only to drown willingly!
Her hand swiftly came up, reaching his! Planting a soft kiss on his palm, she looked up, "I was just waiting for you to wake up!"
Aryan paused for a moment, her emerald eyes communicating something he felt he needed to know and understand, "I am now!!" his voice was more soft now, feeling like a gentle caress over her soul.
A soft smile playing on both of their faces, until a sudden presence grabbed thei attention, as Arshad cleared his voice!
Tara and Aryan had to take in his look! Raising up, reaching him, Tara gave a quick side hug to the man which he returned along with a gentle kiss on her forehead!
"I assume you had a better sleep!" Aryan was the first one to speak up, that soft smile still evident on his face!
Arshad gave him a gentle nod and a smile, "I see and do appreciate the effort you put in for us!" he marked with a subtle jerk of his head at the dining table!
While Aryan just gave out a smile, Tara's words grabbed back his attention, "He cooks really good, you need to try it!!"
Arshad couldn't help but smile at her, his hand reaching up caressing her hair before gently adjusting them, "I should definitely do then!!"
Three of them had a nice, silent dinner, and no one spoke up until they had to wish each one a goodnight sleep!
While Arshad excused himself first, Tara helped Aryan wash and clean the kitchen, settling everything back to normal, as they would be leaving tomorrow!
The time and memories they gained by coming here, suddenly casting it's shadow over her, pausing her briefly before she began to gather herself, not being able to believe they would be leaving here this quick!!
"Time flies away really fast!!" Aryan sighed as he shut the cupboard, turning to look at her, "I couldn't believe we really are leaving!!"
Tara sighed, "To acknowledge the value of settling down, we ought to move sometimes!!", a faint smile taking over her!