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14.

Author

Adwait's mental condition is getting worse day by day.

The nightmares are increasing with each passing night.

He has been avoiding Devisha, making her worry, but she is too caught up in her own mess to even call him once a week.

Adwait has started therapy, but it is not helping him at all.

He is constantly stressed about the sudden arrival of his mother three months ago.

He is even monitoring her actions, but he gets nothing out of them.

Akriti is living with Aayush like a normal couple in a slum area in Mumbai. Adwait thinks maybe it's money they want from him, as he is successful and could help them get out of the slum.

Akriti has not made a single appearance after that day, but that doesn’t mean nothing is brewing in her mind. She is actually a very cunning woman who seems innocent and naive. She pretends to sacrifice everything for her family, but is that the truth? Definitely not.

Akriti was also involved with other people sexually before Adwait was born. She is hungry for money and power.

Adwait was sitting in his cabin when suddenly his phone buzzed on the desk, cutting through the heavy silence of the room. He stared at it for a moment, his jaw tightening when he saw Devisha's name flash on the screen. With a reluctant sigh, he picked up.

“Hello?” His voice was flat, almost distant.

“Adwait?” Devisha's tone was soft, laced with concern. “What’s going on? You’ve been so off lately. Did something happen?”

Adwait ran a hand through his hair, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “Nothing happened, Devisha. Why do you keep asking?”

“Because you’re not yourself,” she replied, her voice growing firmer. “You barely talk to me anymore. I just want to help—”

“Help?” he interrupted, his tone sharp now. “You think asking the same questions over and over is helping? Just stop, Devisha. I’m fine.”

Her silence on the other end was deafening. He could almost feel the weight of her hurt, but he couldn’t bring himself to care in that moment.

“Adwait...” she began again, her voice softer now, almost pleading.

“Enough, Devisha!” he snapped, louder this time. “I said I’m fine. Just leave me alone for once, okay?”

The line went quiet. For a moment,but then her voice came through, low and steady.

“Fine, Adwait. If that’s what you want.”

The call ended, leaving him alone in the oppressive silence of his room, the weight of his own anger suffocating him.

"Agh" Adwait shouts on the top of his voice he didn't mean to snap out on her like this but he had to.

He didn't have the guts to face devisha and explain her everything that's happening.

"I am sorry, Devi, but I promise I will make it up to you," he says quietly, vowing to fix things between them once this mess is cleared.

Adwait

I am now sitting in my room with my therapist, Mr. Singhania. He is one of the most reputable therapists in India.

"So, Adwait, what's actually bothering you?" Mr. Singhania asks.

Now, what should I say to him? These things are all bothering me. I can't understand a single thing that's happening, but I can't let myself fall weak, because if that happens, my so-called parents would take advantage of it.

Sighing deeply, I start, "Everything that has happened in my life in the last three months is bothering me, sir."

"Adwait, I know everything that has happened, but I need to know what is going on in your mind about everything that has happened," Mr. Singhania says with patience.

"Sir, everything is complicated. I was living a normal life with my parents and working, but then one day, I found out it was all fake. Now, I can't even give myself time to pity over these things because if I lose my strength, it would give those people a chance to hurt me," I say, trying to keep my composure.

"Adwait, see, it's okay to pity yourself sometimes because everything that has happened to you is not something you would ignore and live a normal life," Mr. Singhania says with a smile, to which I nod my head.

"Okay, now let's go cycling," Mr. Singhania announces enthusiastically, standing up from his place.

I have been attending therapy for two weeks now, and this is my third session. In the first session, we had a small talk like today, then we went swimming. In the next session, we did meditation for about two hours, and today, it's cycling.

But it works because the days I attend these sessions, I feel at peace. The rest of the days, though, are the same.

I am trying my best to keep up with everything, but it feels like everything is falling apart.

Every day I enter my cabin, I see that lady's face right in front of my eyes, questioning my existence.

I know that now she cannot harm me like she used to when I was a kid, but still, I feel like she can hurt me. There is this fear I can’t describe, but it’s there. No matter how much I try to act normal, I still feel scared.

I stand up from my bed, and we both make our way outside for cycling.

___________________________________________

Meanwhile

Akriti enters her house. Aayush, who was watching TV, turns it off and looks at her.

"Akriti, tum kuch karne wali ho ya ab humme apni puri zindagi iss jhopadpatti mein bitani padegi?" Aayush asks, irritated because Akriti hasn’t made a single move towards their plan in the last three months.
(Akriti, are you going to do something or will we have to spend our entire life in this slum?)

"Fir se shuru mat ho jaa aur mere liye chai bana ke la," Akriti orders.
(Don't start again, and make tea for me.)

"Main tera naukar nahi hoon, khud se le le," Aayush refuses.
(I’m not your servant, take it yourself.)

"Thik hai, mat karo. Phir jab plan successful ho jayega toh mujhse kuch mat maangna," Akriti says, shrugging her shoulders.
(Fine, don't do it. But when the plan is successful, don’t ask me for anything.)

"Tumhara plan iss janam mein toh successful hota dikh bhi nahi raha mujhe," Aayush replies, rolling his eyes.
(I don’t see your plan succeeding in this life.)

"Arre, tumhe kya, yeh bachon wali baat lag rahi hai? Itna aasan nahi hai yeh sab. Aur main aaj hi ek insaan se milke aayi hoon, kuch Vansh Ahuja karke. Iss bakre ke kandhe par bandook rakhke chalni hai mujhe, isliye itna time lag raha tha. Yeh Vansh koi normal insaan nahi hai, jisse kaam karwana aasan ho. Bhot bada naam hai yeh. Aur haan, mujhe yeh bhi pata chala hai ki yeh Vansh uss Devisha ka bhai hai, jisse Adwait pyaar karta hai," Akriti replies, smirking at her husband, who himself smirks.
(What’s wrong with you? Does this sound like childish talk? It's not that simple. I met someone today, a guy named Vansh Ahuja. I need to put a gun to this fool's shoulder and make things happen. That's why it took me so long. This Vansh is no ordinary person, and he’s not easy to manipulate. He’s very well known. Oh, and I also found out that this Vansh is Devisha’s brother, the girl Adwait loves.)

"Wah, tum mein itna dimag hai, mujhe nahi pata tha," Aayush replies, shaking his head, and gets up to prepare tea for Akriti.
(Wow, you have so much brain, I didn’t know that.)

___________________________________________

Adwait and Mr. Singhania were cycling when suddenly Adwait's phone starts ringing.

Adwait immediately picks up the call, seeing his PA calling him.

"Sir, woh Akriti aaj Vansh Ahuja se milne gayi thi," Adwait’s PA speaks as soon as the call connects.
(Sir, Akriti went to meet Vansh Ahuja today.)

"Vansh Ahuja… Ye naam suna hua lag raha hai, par yaad nahi aa raha," Adwait thinks to himself.
(Vansh Ahuja… that name seems familiar, but I can’t remember where from.)

"Mujhe unki meeting ki saari details chahiye," Adwait replies and cuts the call.
(I need all the details of their meeting.)


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