Happy Holi!

Started Typing On - 21/03/2019

Chapter 85- 'They Are Coming'

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Author's Pov:

It was the silence before the storm. Every single eye was on Juhi. Some looking with hatred-actually, most of them while her kids just stood there, trying to process everything properly inside their heads. They've lived with her for twenty-four years but not once did they except her to be like this.

"N-no, t-this is my house." Even after everything she had the guts, or the stupidity to say this. Her head shook violently, looking not guilty at all. Jaanvi slid her hand down onto her fathers, locking her fingers into his tightly to show him she was there for him. It's not that she's not mad. She still is, but once we've analysed the situation for some time we often understand that we may not be right. He had lost a lot more than her in the end.

Jaanvi squeezed her father's hand, making his stiff body calm a little, his muscles relaxing a little. She looked straight at Juhi, peering into her eyes with fire grazing her voice and over taking her face. "Wasn't killing my Ma enough that you tortured me?" Everyone's heads, expect Kiaan snapped towards Jaanvi. She had held it all inside her for years, kept quiet with everything Juhi had done to her but now she couldn't. She felt the need to, the strong urge to let it all out. And she knew Kiaan wanted the same because he tightened his hold on her shoulder, pressing onto it, encouraging her to speak up.

'Don't hold it in.' He use to advise her, and she's doing exactly that.

"Why did you lock me in that store room, every time I jumped in my bed or papa's bed? Couldn't I jump in my own house? I only jumped, your kids use to run around the whole house with their toys on the floor. That was ok? But if I jumped I was a manner-less girl with no mother?" Hurt dripping through her words. Rashi lowered her eyes, remembering how her mother did yell and scolded Jaanvi a lot during their childhood. Being afraid of her mother she never tried to help her cousin.

"You knew I couldn't sleep alone in the dark, you knew papa usually let the lights on so I wouldn't get scared yet you locked me up in that dark room for hours, w-with that clown dummy that papa brought for your son!" For the first time Ansh felt the need to question himself, have I failed as a father? My daughter was getting punished behind my back and I wasn't aware?

"For all these years I've hated clowns, I've feared them. So much that even clown movies scared the hell out of me. You heard me crying for hours Juhi! You heard me knocking the door hard, pleading and begging you to let me out but you didn't! You never punished your children then why me? Did you hate me so much? Was it because I'm Ishaani and Ansh's daughter? Or because I was the first grandchild to this family? Or because I got better grades then your children? Or be--"

"I hate your face! I-it reminds me of your mum! She was like this! She was like you, you're just a bit fair in skin unlike her. You talk like her-she wasn't bitter though, you are! She was educated, so are you! She was always praised for her kindness and so are you! 'Jaanvi fed this poor man today, Jaanvi gave Rashi this, she did that and that and that!' always JAANVI!" She screamed, anger and extreme hatred towards Ansh and Jaanvi shocked everyone.

"And you wanted to live with them." She muttered under her breath, loud enough for both Kiaan and Ansh to hear. Ansh gulped his own saliva, licking his dry and trembling lips in sadness and guilt. Never in his life did he imagine his kindness would rip away his happiness. Take away his wife and break his daughter. And leaving him all damaged and hopeless. "Your children always had birthday parties! I did not. Your children got gifts every birthday, I did not. Your kids went to school trips, I did not. Your kids weren't told-sorry, reminded every single day that they don't have a mother! I was! Every mother's day it was me crying while others made cards! I felt abnormal, your kids didn't! I did not want to get married, but I had to. Your kids aren't forced unlike I was! Your kids have got the love of your parents, I did not! Your kids had someone to encourage them when they were down, I had only papa. Your kids didn't stand outside the house, waiting with an umbrella for my or their father, I did. Your kids didn't know was pain was. What being alone was. What crying was. Or what that hopeless, trap feeling was but I did! I grew up at a young age, they didn't!"

By now her eyes were dead. Her eyes were reflecting the colour of dark charcoal clouds if they existed. Just dark. No emotions. Blank. Her body was so over counting, reminding and feeling all those feelings she buried inside her for over years. But right now, she was facing all of those anger at the same time. On one person. No matter what others say, do or try to influence her, she won't look away from Juhi. She wouldn't.

She never wanted something so badly. She never wished to torture someone so badly. She never prayed for someone's tears so much. She never wished, prayed, begged god to ruin someone's life as much as she wants to ruin the twins. 'Childhood is special.' She remembers what Aditi use to say to her. Unlike her best friend, she don't think her childhood was special but she's happy. Happy and satisfied with her journey, she grew from it. She learn how to be patient around filthy mouths, blaming her for her mother's death.

She learnt that no matter what, we've all got someone written in our fate for us. From one man who she loved, her father, she moved on to another man who loves her as much as her father. She realised there are people who love her.

Her best friend, always there for her. Since fifteen till now. Her brother-in-law, Dhruv. The quiet, shy guy who hardly spoke was frank enough around her to tease her at the dining table. Not even tease, bring up her sexual life which doesn't make him look like a quiet boy next door. He must have felt something towards Jaanvi, he must have liked something about Jaanvi which is why he could communicate with her without any shame even though they met after ten years-without any contact.

Her sister-in-law, Kajal. Kajal didn't like her, Jaanvi was aware of it. She did accuse her of stealing, not directly but her detective and accusing eyes were enough to pass the message. Maybe she felt bad? Finally realised Jaanvi was the best-the right girl for her brother. Maybe that's why she cried seeing Jaanvi like this. Perhaps that's why her heart broke seeing Jaanvi like this, that's why she pleaded her to calm down.

Her Parent-in-law's. They didn't say much but the way Raj, her father-in-law was trying to help her father made her realise she's not alone. Even in such a tense atmosphere he was there, trying to look after her father. Her mother-in-law, Roshni, was hurt with Jaanvi's direct outburst at her for yesterday's event but she understood what her daughter-in-law must be going through. Instead of getting annoyed, or fighting she remained silent, taking her ill grandma inside to look after her.

Her husband. Google defines 'Husband,' as 'a married man considered in relation to his spouse' but it wasn't really about her physical relation with him. If she goes all the way back, they had more of a verbal relationship with each other. Emotionally attached even though he came from a better, improved and powerful background unlike her. He had both his parents, loving siblings, his father earned enough yet he felt connected to the average girl. He was definitely in a relationship with her but a soulmate one. Jaanvi now thought she doesn't need her voice. She could spend her life with him without uttering a single word. Maybe that's what her mother felt with Ansh.

And the one person who was always with her. Her father. From learning how to plait her hair from his mother, to learning how to sacrifice his sleep for his little baby. Jaanvi didn't always trouble him while being a teen but since childhood. The poor man use to get only four hours of sleep at night. He didn't need alarm, her crying voice was his forever alarm system.

"F-Forgive her." Rashi choked, holding onto Jaanvi's hand. The truth was as open as a big window, still, still they were-the twins-ready to utter such shameful words. No self-respect? Dhruv thought. Is she gone mad? Aditi thought, who was walking towards Jaanvi. Jaanvi better not do anything stupid or forgive them. Her husband thought. Rashi smartly unwrapped Kiaan's finger from Jaanvi, replacing hers with his on Jaanvi's right hand. "Please forgive her."

Are you fucken kidding me? Kiaan was furious. Behind those dark turning eyes in anger was something more intense than normal thoughts and his two-days-stubble jaw clenched wasn't a good sign for anything. Hearing his knuckle make a cracking noise as he fisted them, Rashi gulped.

"Get out." Kiaan yelled, making Juhi's family flinch. Juhi always wished Rashi would become Kiaan's wife but her dreamed died down pretty fast. It's not that she wasn't sad, she was, but happier knowing Jaanv's marrying someone she isn't very fond of.

His eyes were like a knife to Rashi's ribs, the sharp point digging deeper and deeper inside her, twisting it several times before he moved his red painful eyes to Juhi. The eyes which once ad love was now empty but not in any vulnerable sense now.

"Leave my house before I do something stupid." Kiaan's voice was calm but the building anger and frustration was still evident.

"Y-your house?" Jay asked. There was some kind of disbelief in his expression. The boy-man but acted more like an immature boy didn't seem to care about Ishaani's death. Either he was great at keeping a blank face but was angry inside with his mother or he seriously doesn't give a damn about any of this. He scoffed, walking closer to Kiaan. Standing right in from of his cousin-Jija (Brother-In-law) he said, "This is our house." His voice was clearly stating how he doesn't give a fuck.

"Don't you have a heart? Or what? Can't you see your mother is a murderer! Yet you care about a fucken house?!" Aditi yelled, pushing his chest making him move back a little. "You're heartless!" she screamed.

He shot her a look, coming closer to push her back to intimidate her with his smirk but Dhruv came in between. "Don't you dare." Dhruv's voice was far away from sounding balanced or causal.

"Or what?" He challenged.

"Or we--" Dhruv was cut off by Jaanvi. The slap was as loud as a clap given during after an amazing dance performance, and Juhi's face stung from the tight palms of Jaanvi's connecting with her face. It had been an open-handed smack, smack of hate and just hate. It left an ugly red mark on her wrinkly skin. Just below her eyes was a small yet noticeable cut where the ring had caught her face. Juhi staggered backwards, clutching her stinging face and her eyes watery. She felt ashamed. Humiliated. And disgusted at Jaanvi.

"For taking away someone's daughter." Jaanvi reasoned, moving closer to Juhi. Rashi and Jay who were coming to help their mother, and stop Jaanvi were held by Dhruv and Aditi. Aditi held Rashi's hands behind her back, gripping onto her hands sharply making her hiss. Sanjay just stood there, with too many emotions, guilt was the empowering one.

Juhi moved back, but Jaanvi kept moving forward with emotionless eyes, her face all covered in tears. Her cheeks gone red from all the crying, her hands felt numb every time she moved them, and her feet-they felt dead. Maybe it was the anger which was still helping her stand straight and walk otherwise her mind had already given up. Her hand cracked across Juhi's face, snapping it back with such a force which blew her head to sickening as it slams onto the wall behind her. Close to the door.

"For taking away someone's wife." She hissed. Holding onto Juhi's trembling face, her hand held her jaw tightly, squeezing it so tightly that she wished it'll crack quickly.

"Do-don't p-please!" Rashi screamed, her sobs heard by everyone. "Don't do it."

Jaanvi snapped her head back, glaring at Rashi with so much hatred. "My mum must have repeated the same words. 'Please. S-save me.' but she died right? Because of your mum's orders. I'm selfish nah? Now see how selfish I can get!" She gripped Juhi's hair, pulling her harshly as she pushed her old body on the floor. Her face touched the floor making a thud, she lifted her face to see blood coming out of her nose and her lips cut sharply.

Sanjay looked away, ignoring his wife's pleading eyes. Ansh who never liked fights was just staring at Juhi, watching everything his daughter was doing without feeling bad. -He already lost all his sweetness after finding the truth. Jaanvi bent down to Juhi's level, "Because of jealousy you stooped so low? How could you!"

When black dots quit covering Juhi's vision, Jaanvi slapped her once more, losing control. If she wished, she'd kill Juhi. She wants to, that's what she wants right now. To hold Juhi's blood for taking an innocent life away; but something was stopping her.

That something was someone. She couldn't do anything which would distance her and Kiaan. Jaanvi couldn't afford to stay away from him, she did she says a damaged soul but she knows he's strong enough to handle a damaged-a broken soul. She knew she needed only him. And her father needed her.

With the last slap she said, "For taking a mother away from her child." She held her arms tightly behind Juhi's back, the pain from Jaanvi's hold caused Rashi's mum to let out a startled little gasp in pain.

Jaanvi maintained eye contact with her father but spoke to Kiaan. "Call the police." The main reason why she looked at her father was to see if he agrees with her decision. To get a hint from him whether this suggestion sits right with him or not, after all, his opinion matters the most. Her father diverted his eyes from Jaanvi, walking away to the stairs to go inside his room. His daughter still doesn't understand how he could stay silent even now. Was one slap enough for what she did? "-tell them we've got a murderer. For the murder of Ishaani Ahuja on October 25th 1993." She said it with such an icy voice with left no room for anyone to even whisper.

"Please." Rashi begged, falling on her knees. "We-we-we can move on from this phase."

Dhruv shot her a disgusted look as she cried. "I've never considered myself unlucky but today I do because you're the first girl who sent me her proposal. I feel like crap for being like by someone like you. Someone so heartless who's asking another women to forgive and forget her mother's killer? Shame on you Rashi. You are exactly like your mother, always jealous." He snapped, holding Jay tightly in his hold so he can't escape.

Kiaan gives one look to Jaanvi before sliding his hand under his jeans pocket. Unlocking his phone he dialled 100. Speaking back to the police with a flat voice he shut his phone, "They are coming."

They are coming. She repeated in her head, trying to slower her heartrates. Trying to erase her anger and keep it in bay so she doesn't end up murdering Juhi or Rashi. They are coming. They are coming. Few minutes. She gripped onto Juhi's hand, not giving her any chance to slip away.