Another Half Of Me - Chapter 48

Roshni looked at Siddha just as James was dragging the injured Vishal Manchanda towards the door. She was so relieved that nothing had happened to him. Getting up from the chair, she started to walk towards him but Siddha turned towards Sid and started to speak with him. He hadn’t even looked at her once other than the time when Vishal had held the knife at her throat.

Now also he ignored her completely and kept on speaking to Sid and Tania. She could understand his anger but why was he ignoring her? Since the time she had attacked him, he hadn’t come to meet her once let alone speak to her. Today also, he had not spoken to her once.

It felt as if Siddha was just doing his duty towards her.

But was pointing a gun to his heart part of his duty?

Confused and exhausted, Roshni went and sat down on the bed. It was the same bed they had shared so many times before but today it felt strange and alien. She got up from the bed not able to bear it and went outside in the balcony.

The police cars had already left with Vishal Manchanda. Shaking her head, she tried to block out the memories of how he had nabbed all 3 of them one by one.

First, he had picked up Tania from the hospital, drugging her as she had sat down in the car to drive back home. Then, posing as Tania, he had sent a message from her phone to Sid telling him she was not okay. He was clearly aware that if Tania failed to answer her phone, Sid would come looking for her. When Roshni had seen Sid and Tania with Vishal, she had not thought twice before surrendering to his evil intentions.

Clutching the rods of the balcony, she felt pain and anger thinking about how he had convinced Siddha to kill himself.

What would have happened if he had pulled the trigger?

Not able to think anymore, she turned and walked towards the drawing room. She wanted to see Siddha: wanted to see his face and believe that everything was okay.

But, she found only Sid sitting on the couch bandaging Tania’s forehead.

Hearing her footsteps, Sid turned and looked at her with a smile.

“Everything is okay now, Roshni Bhabhi. You can relax.”

She wanted to ask Sid where Siddha was but something stopped her.

Was it hesitation or a cold realisation that it was not her business to ask about Siddha anymore?

Roshni bit her lip trying to stop the tears of regret from falling. Before she could get up, Tania said in a gloomy tone, “Bhaiyya has gone to the police station.”

Nodding, Roshni got up from the chair and went inside the bedroom.

Why was he avoiding her? Didn’t he want her back?

Or was she a constant reminder of what had happened all those years ago?

Or did he hate the way she looked now?

Turning towards the mirror, she looked at herself.

Although the grafting process had almost made the scars non-existent but still she did not look the way she used to look before.

Heartbroken, Roshni sat down on the bed.

I am sorry, Siddha. I just couldn’t stay the way I used to be.

*****************

Siddha waited in the car outside the police station as James tried to extract a confession from Vishal. His mind was exhausted with all that had happened since morning. Thank god, nothing had happened to Roshni.

He smiled to himself thinking about the way she had stabbed Vishal. He remembered her plea and an overwhelming feeling of love engulfed him. Sighing, Siddha closed his eyes and thought about his decision of going away.

Was he doing the right thing?

Yes, you are doing the right thing, his heart replied. This was the only way of keeping her safe. You are the reason for all the pain she has suffered till now. She deserves a beautiful life not a one, which is full of trauma and unhappiness.

His mind kept on thinking about all these things till Rudy came and sat down in the car.

“Vishal has confessed,” he said looking at Siddha expectantly for his next move.

“Has he named Manchanda?”

Rudy nodded knowing too well what was going in his mind. “I have told James to get an arrest warrant for both of them.”

Siddha’s eyes shone with purpose as he heard Rudy. It was time for you to pay, Manchanda.

**************

It was almost 1 hour Siddha had been waiting near Manchanda’s home for the warrant.

Just as he was about to ask Rudy about it, he heard a tap on the window. Lowering it he saw James standing there waving a piece of paper.

The arrest warrant!

His jaw hardened as he looked at it. Now, it’s my turn Manchanda.

Siddha got out of the car and was about to start walking when he was stopped by Amit.

“Siddha, the place is full of media. It would be best if you waited in the car. Let the police handle this.”

Siddha looked at Amit sternly and picked up his pace towards the house. Even if entire world’s media was there, he cared less.

The media persons thronged around him as Rudy and some constables tried to make way for him through the crowd. Everyone was buzzing with questions but nothing penetrated Siddha’s mind other than the thought of revenge.

Harichand Manchanda was sitting near the bar with a glass in his hand when he saw Siddha enter through the main door. He was about to get up and order somebody to throw him out when Siddha flicked his menacing gaze, gesturing him to sit down.

Sliding in the bar stool next to him, Siddha looked at a person who had lost the battle but the war was still on for him.

He watched as James handed Manchanda the arrest warrant. There was not a single shred of regret in his eyes.

“So you are finally giving me up to the law?” Manchanda asked him smirking knowing too well that he and his son will get out in a matter of days.

Siddha shook his head and leaned forward.

“If you think I’ll let you go so easily then you are mistaken. For once, you will feel pain in living. You will be begging for your death but I’ll make sure it is as slow as possible. You will see it walking towards you but you won’t be able to stop it.”

Turning away from him, he started to walk away just as Manchanda shouted behind him, “I will kill you and her the day I come out and I will come out.”

Siddha's muscles clenched hard as he heard him. He turned and looked at him with eyes burning with hostility. He clutched Manchanda’s hand holding the glass and pressed as hard he could. As the pressure increased he could feel the glass cracking.

“You lay one finger on her and I’ll tear you apart. And, yes I will be waiting for you to come out,” Siddha said in a threatening tone just as the glass shredded into pieces.   

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