The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 57

The world around Aparna whirled suddenly as she heard Meera Naik. She turned and looked at them tears filling her eyes clouding her vision.

Madhu tried to pull her off and get her away from there but she did not budge.

“You are still standing here?” Rushali said to her grabbing her arm tightly.

Meera and Naresh Naik turned and looked at her filthily.

“God, do we have to call security to throw her out of here?” Meera Naik said.

“She won’t leave, Aunty,” Rushali said looking up and down.

Aparna was shaking with everything being said. She wanted to move away but her body and mind were glued to the spot.

Rushali came near her and looked straight into her eyes, and smiled.

“You got your own daughter kidnapped to extort money from Nishant. But your fool of a husband forgot to ask for money. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Harish said coming in between Rushali and Aparna.

“I am talking perfect sense. She knows well what I am talking about.”

She turned towards the Naiks and said authoritatively, “This is the main reason why she entered Naik builders.”

“You and your ex-husband planned this kidnapping just to lure Nishant in a trap.”

“She has done nothing of that sort,” Madhu said defensively.

“Well, then tell me something. How did Kavin Malik know where the parlour was located? Nobody other than her knew about your parlour visit.”

Aparna was so shell-shocked with all of this that she could only stare at them. Every little word, every sentence bored a hole inside her.

“Why did your ex-husband kidnap his own daughter?” Rushali continued.

“Yes, Aparna, tell me why would a father kidnap his own daughter? Meera Naik asked looking at her with disdain.

Not able to take it anymore, Dhruv came and stood next to Aparna.

“Please just stop it.”

“You shut up! Why are you so concerned? Tell me Dhruv, why are you suddenly so concerned about her?” Rushali asked looking straight into his eyes.

“Because, she is my friend.”

“Friend? Or more than a friend? As far as I remember I saw you flirting with her openly in Siddha Singh Rajput's reception.”

Dhruv gritted his teeth and looked away.

Aparna still could not react. It was as if her whole being had got stuck at this place. Madhu and Harish tried their best to drag her away but she still did not budge.

“You know what? My son is better off without you because, with you, he can never be a part of this society. You have done nothing but ruin his name.”

“Oh no, Aunty, she has done more than that. She used her filthy body to lure Nishant and then used his name to extract money through her daughter. Come on, Aparna, tell us the truth. Why would a father kidnap his own daughter?”

“Aparna, let’s go,” Madhu implored with her.

But she still did not move.

“Or is she really Kavin Malik’s daughter? Maybe that is the reason why he gave you a divorce.”

Saying this, Rushali grabbed Aparna’s arm and came near her, and then said slowly, “Maybe that is the reason why he used to beat you around. You know you deserved every hit of his.”

Aparna’s eyes widened as the memories of the past whirled in her mind. One by one 6 years of her life flashed in front of her and every emotion in her inner core burned and turned into ash.

Her tears dried out and she brushed away Harish’s and Madhu’s hand, turning away from Rushali. Picking up her feet forcibly, she almost impelled her legs to start moving towards her daughter’s room.

Aparna sat down next to Prakriti and closed her eyes, blocking every emotion and feeling for Nishant.

Dhruv turned away from everyone and walked outside. He needed to breathe.

Siraj was about to follow him when Rushali stopped him.

“Where do you think you are going? Stay here.”

He looked at the place where her hand was holding his arm and slowly moved her hand away.

“I don’t answer to you, Ma’am.”

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

Aparna stood near the window and looked out. The night was as dead as she was inside. The hardened shackles settled around her heart once again caging it in their confines, squeezing every feeling out. She came and sat down next to Prakriti, who was sleeping peacefully.

Taking her small hand in hers, she buried her face in it.

“Aparna?” Harish called out from near the door.

“Could you ask the doctor when can we take her home and can she travel?”

He nodded and left.

Madhu looked at Aparna and sighed. Her friend had suddenly turned into that Aparna she had known 3 years ago. But the only difference was her steely eyes and hardened jaw.

The next morning Harish watched Aparna as she amiably told a story to Prakriti trying to make her eat the breakfast the hospital staff had given. Looking at her everything seemed normal but he knew there was a storm brewing inside her. Nobody from the Naik family had bothered again. Even Dhruv and Siraj had also not come to meet them.

They hadn’t received any news of Nishant.

Madhu came inside the room and walked up to the bed.

“The doctor should be here in another hour or so. Once he has checked Prakriti, we can get the discharge done.”

Aparna nodded and continued to talk with her daughter.

Shaking her head, Madhu came and stood next to Harish.

“I met Siraj outside. Nishant Sir is out of danger now.”

“Do you think she cares?” Harish asked irritably.

“Nope. She doesn’t and I am thankful for that.”

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

Nishant tried his best to hold on to Prakriti’s hand but it kept on slipping.

Oh, god. He has to save her. Come on, Nishant. Don’t let go.

But eventually, the hand slipped and everything shook violently as his body hit the ground hard.

He tried to lift his hand to save Prakriti but couldn’t. He tried to open his eyes but just couldn’t. Every muscle of his body was paralysed. Slowly a feeling of indignation started to build up.

As his body twisted with pain and anger, Dhruv and Vikrant tried their best to calm him down, and Siraj rushed out to call the doctor.

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

The discharge papers were signed and they were ready to go. Aparna picked up Prakriti in her arms and walked along the corridor towards the exit followed by Harish and Madhu. She passed Nishant’s room without a glance.

As Dhruv watched her go, he was not at all surprised to see the finality in her step. If only she had listened to him. He looked at Siraj and saw him thinking the same thing.

The war was yet to begin.

Aparna sat inside the car and settled Prakriti on her lap. As Harish started the car and it slowly moved forward, the resolve in her mind became concrete.

She will not stay here.

She will leave Delhi.

She will leave everything related to this city.

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

Nishant couldn’t take it anymore.

Why was her touch missing from his soul?

Why wasn’t her scent around him?

Why couldn’t he feel her existence inside him?

Why was he feeling empty all of a sudden?

Wasn’t she there?

Desperation started to boil inside him as suddenly all these questions zipped through and the thought of Aparna not being there registered in his subconscious mind. His hands clutched the bed sheet with effort as his body and mind convulsed with pain, and his heart cried out with torment.

“Aparna!” 

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