Page 58 of ARIDHI: His Never-Ending Desire

Everything felt distanced as I groggily opened my eyes, the harsh lights piercing through my brain like a thousand knives.

I winced, my head throbbing with a dull ache that seemed to reverberate through every cell of my body.

I tried to lift my hand to rub my temples, but it felt heavy, as if it was weighed down by an anchor.

Glancing down, I saw my hand being attached to a plethora of machines, their beeping and whirring a cacophony of sound that made my head spin.

Wae am I here?

The thought echoed through my mind like a mantra, but I had no answer.

I looked around, taking in the sterile surroundings of the hospital room.

The white walls, the beeping machines, the antiseptic smell that hung in the air like a miasma. It was all so familiar, yet so alien.

I tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over me, forcing me back onto the pillow.

Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths as I tried to calm the storm raging inside my head.

What happened to me?

How did I end up here?

"Ruvit," A voice called out, piercing through the fog of my mind.

As I opened my eyes, I saw my grandmother standing beside my bed, a look of concern etched on her face.

"Beta, are you fine?" She asked, her voice low and soothing.

I tried to speak, but my voice felt barren, as if I was forcing myself to speak through a throat that was stuck.

"Grandma," I managed to croak, my voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled, a faint, worried smile, and placed her palm on my forehead.

"I'm glad you woke up," She said, her voice filled with relief, "How are you feeling now?" She asked, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for answers.

Due to the lack of any words coming out of my mouth, I just nodded, still trying to process what was happening.

But I was still confused, still lost in a sea of uncertainty.

What happened to me?

How did I end up here?

And why couldn't I remember anything?

My grandmother's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if she could see the questions swirling in my mind.

She squeezed my forehead gently, a reassuring smile on her face, "Don't worry and just rest. Let the doctors take care of you."

But I couldn't rest, not yet.

I had to know what happened to me. I had to remember. Of course.

"Wae I'm here?" I managed to ask.

Her lips twitched and her expression faltered before she composed herself, "Just a minor accident."

Minor?

But the level of pain in my shoulders and chest are screaming a different story.

Closing my eyes shut, I focused on the memories that lingered just out of my reach.

But they remained elusive, shrouded in a fog that refused to lift.

______

I stood before my grandmother, my eyes locked onto hers as I demanded answers.

"At that time, you said it was a minor accident. Then why are those memories haunting me so badly, grandma!?"

My voice became firm but controlled as I pressed my words, "I want damn answers from you."

The anger simmering beneath the surface threatened to boil over, but I kept it in check.

"Why are you asking me about that accident now? You never cared about it in these five years." Her nervousness was palpable.

"And I told you it was nothing." She stammered, her voice barely audible but I called her out on her lie, my tone firm.

"Don't insult my intelligence, Grandma. You fooled me into thinking it was nothing but I know you are hiding something."

Even though I have already regained that piece of memory, I just want her to admit it on her own.

I just want to hear her side of the story before I do something but she shook her head, still attempting to deny the truth.

But her sweating and avoiding my gaze was a clear indication of her guilt.

"I really don't know." She protested, but her trembling hands and shivering body betrayed her.

I was on the verge of snapping, my anger and frustration boiling over, when I saw her legs give way beneath her.

She collapsed to the floor, her eyes welling up with tears, "I did everything just to protect you."

Her voice cracked, "Trust me, Ruvit, I didn't mean to hurt anyone." She mumbled.

I stood over her, my eyes blazing with intensity, "Protect me?" I repeated, my voice laced with skepticism, "From what?"

Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of tears, "If you want to know, then fine. I will explain everything to you."

The sudden flood of that 'everything' she is talking about had hit me like a ton of bricks once again during a meeting.

And that's wae, I rushed back home, determined to confront her and expose her secrets.

I nodded, my jaw clenched, "The truth. The better."

She hesitated, her eyes darting around the room before settling on mine,

"Before I do, you must promise me one thing." She requested, her tone laced with a hint of desperation.

I raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"

"Aridhi," She whispered, her eyes turning red, "Promise me Aridhi won't go against you, against us."

"What does Aridhi have to do with that accident?" I pretended as if her plea struck me in confusion.

Ever since I learnt all the memories I thought were vanished, this was the first thing I realised.

Aridhi's grandfather was the victim of that accident and he was a renowned personality with a very strong background.

Grandma was terrified of being involved in his matter.

She knew that if people figured out he died in an accident because of me, her reputation and our family's name had been tarnished.

"The person you killed in that accident was Aridhi's grandfather, War!" Her voice raised, and the word she used pierced through my heart.

"You don't have any idea from what I have saved you. I protected you and this family from facing downfall."

Yes, I appreciate her for that. I am grateful to her. She didn't let our family's name go in vain. Because of me.

But at what cost? She hid the truth from me. She hid the truth from the world.

And most importantly, she hid the truth of his death from Aridhi who was so desperate to find out the truth about that accident.

"So, you think if Aridhi finds out that I was the reason for her grandfather's death, she will go against us and that will cause a huge problem for our family."

I kept my expression neutral while summarising everything.

Even though after knowing about that accident, Aridhi never went against us because she didn't want to misunderstand the situation.

She trusted me.

"Yes, that's all. I was worried and I am worried, for you and our family." She nodded, not a hint of guilt on her face.

"I know it was wrong, but I didn't know what else to do." Her tone felt as if she didn't have any regrets which disgusted me.

I shook my head, "Grandma, if you hadn't meddled, I would have proven guilty anyway. Because it was just an accident."

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought she was rather disappointed with me for saying this.

But then, her expression smoothed out, and she shouted.

"It didn't look like a damn accident. And proven guilty or not, our family's name would have still tarnished if I hadn't meddled."

I chuckled, the sound dripping with sarcasm and darkness, "Were you really worried about me? Or you only cared about our family's name?"

She looked up at me, the corner of her eyes twitching, "Of course, I was worried about you. But our family's name was equally important too."

"No, grandma," I accused, my eyes fixed on her.

"You were more concerned about your own name. You thought how can your own blood do such an act? You shifted me to a private hospital, diverting the media's attention. And that's enough to prove that you believed I was really a murderer when it was just an accident."

Her mouth hung open as a shocked expression covered her face, "How..how did you know I shifted you to a private hospital?"

I sighed, smiling faintly, "Because I remember everything. I was even conscious during that accident. But after the operation, I suddenly forgot everything."

She gulped while roaming her eyes here and there as if I exposed half of her truth.

"You were the one who told doctors to give me that injection, right? You made me forget those memories." Tilting my head, I glared at her.

Her lips trembled, but before she could say anything, I interrupted, "I want to know wae you did so. And I want all the details of that day."

She nodded gradually, now being helpless as she took a deep breath before beginning her story.

"That day, I was on my way to attend a business party in your honor, celebrating your success as the Business King." She began and I listened carefully.

"But the rain was so heavy and the roads were full of traffic. Then I stumbled upon an accident and its crash was severe."

Her low voice echoed around her room. She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing.

"I saw the bodies... and they felt familiar. At first, I was hesitant to approach, but then, I spotted the unique nameplate on the wreckage, the one that only you could possess."

Her voice cracked as she struggled to hold back her tears.

"Then as if my worst fears were confirmed, it was indeed you and War. And as I said earlier, I feared that you would be accused of being responsible for his death because it looked exactly like that."

She pressed on her last sentence though I ignored it.

"So, I created a diversion to draw the attention of the onlookers away from you. And it was quite easy due to the extreme weather conditions and the traffic. No one bothered to check the case thoroughly and before anyone could, I had you transferred to a private hospital."

She took a deep breath, her eyes pleading for understanding.

"I told doctors to give you that injection because I wanted to bury the past in the past. I didn't want to live those memories again. But my intentions were pure. I only wanted to keep our family's reputation intact, nothing else."

As she finished her explanation, she looked at me expectantly, awaiting my response.

But I remained silent, my emotions swirling in a mix of shock, anger, and sadness.

She slowly stood up, her eyes never leaving mine, and took a step closer.

"Ruvit, I had no idea that War would be Aridhi's grandfather." She admitted, her voice laced with a hint of apology.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me, "Aridhi used to think that he was targeted intentionally all these years."

I began, my voice calm but laced with a hint of pain, "She tried her best to find out the truth about that accident. It traumatized her to a point where she developed panic attacks whenever it rained."

My grandmother's eyes widened, and she looked down, her shoulders slumping in defeat, "I am sorry." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Shaking my head, I took another deep breath before dropping the bombshell, "Aridhi already knows about all this." I informed her.

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock, "What?" She exclaimed, her voice trembling.

I nodded, a sense of calm on my face, "Someone sent her a video of the accident, and she confronted me about it. We've talked about it, and she knows everything. She even forgave me."

I told her everything about that day. Everything that happened between us. The talks, I mean.

My grandmother's face paled, and she looked like she had been punched in the gut.

She stumbled backward, her eyes never leaving mine, and collapsed onto the couch behind her.

I watched her, my emotions still in turmoil, "Grandma," I called out, my voice firm but controlled.

She flinched, her eyes snapping up to meet mine, "Yes?" She whispered.

"You started treating Aridhi well after knowing about her grandfather." I accused, my voice laced with a hint of anger.

She looked down, guilt washing over her, "As I said, I was scared about what if she went against us." She admitted.

I took a step closer, my eyes blazing with intensity, "You still don't accept her as she is, do you?" I asked, my voice firm.

She remained silent, her eyes cast downward. But her silence was enough to answer my question.

She still didn't accept Aridhi, and now saw her as a threat to our family's reputation.

However, Aridhi won't go against anyone.

She forgave me. Though I'm not sure if she would be able to forgive grandmother.

Yes, they didn't know each other at that moment but still hiding the truth was wrong.

"Grandma, you need to understand that Aridhi is not just anyone. She's the love of my life, and I will do everything in my power to protect her, even if I have to go against the world."

I confessed, my words sincere.

My grandmother's eyes snapped up, a hint of fear lurking in their depths.

But I just smiled, "I love her since the time I didn't even know the accurate meaning of love. She is the first and the last woman I fell in love with."

She stared at me for a beat, "You said she forgave you. Does that mean she does not hold any personal grudges against us, against you?"

I shook my head, trying to find the right words to answer her.

"I don't have any say in that. But yes, she forgave me. I don't think she will hold personal grudges against us, but what you did with her, from the day of that accident to today's date, she has a right to be upset with you."

Her eyes drifted around the room as she mumbled, "I will try to ask her forgiveness. Not for my family's name but for me. As me."

Okay, this is solved.

But still there is question left unanswered without a damn hint.

Who sent that video to Aridhi?

Besides grandma, who knew the truth about that accident?

What was the actual motive of that person?

As my mind swirled around all the possibilities, one question hit me which I seemed to forget about.

"Ah, yes." I called out, "We didn't get the chance to complete the conversation we left in Jaipur." Raising my eyebrows, I directed my words.

The conversation had reached a boiling point, with my grandmother's reluctance to acknowledge the truth hanging in the air like a challenge.

"There's nothing left to discuss something about it." She replied bluntly, her tone a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil that had preceded it.

I couldn't help but chuckle, a sarcastic edge to my voice, "You wouldn't want me to employ alternative methods, I presume?"

Her eyes narrowed, her teeth gritted in a futile attempt to intimidate me.

But before the conversation could escalate further, she asked, "You want to know what I was doing in Jaipur?"

Her tone was laced with a hint of belligerence, but I merely nodded, my curiosity piqued.

"You seem to have forgotten that Manya accused you of something before she was thrown out." I reminded her, my tone measured.

Her eyes widened, her face a picture of feigned innocence, "No, no, that was a lie." She protested.

But I merely shrugged, my expression skeptical, "As if that would work."

Her demeanor shifted, her eyes glinting with a malevolent light.

"Have you sworn to expose me completely today?" She asked, her voice dripping with malice.

But I remained resolute, my tone unwavering, "I just want the truth."

"Let me tell the truth on her behalf." The familiar voice which never fails to tempt me reached my ears, earning my attention in a second.

"Baby," I mumbled as Aridhi walked inside the room and stood beside me, her presence a welcome respite from the tension.

Grandma's face went pale, her eyes fixed at Aridhi.

"Manya was indeed speaking the truth that day," She began, "You sneaked into my office and stole my confidential documents, a truly impressive feat."

Her tone was laced with sarcasm, but I couldn't help but admire her composure.

Is it okay to admire her even if she is talking about something serious?

My grandmother's eyes darted between us, her face ashen as Aridhi didn't stop there.

"You knew I was abroad before coming to Delhi. And that's why I don't have proper surveillance setup in my office yet. You took advantage of that situation. So, first of all, I would like to know what was going on in your brain when you pulled out this stunt?"

Grandma trembled, while looking down as she started slowly, "It was after your engagement."

Her voice was barely above a whisper but since it were only the three of us, it was audible enough.

"I wanted to find something that could ruin your career. That's why I sneaked inside your office to find something I could use against you. And then I found those confidential documents which worked as a jackpot."

A low whistle escaped my lips, a testament to my grandmother's cunning.

But Aridhi's glare stifled my amusement, and I stood there obediently while putting a finger on my lips.

"And then you gave those documents to Manya, thinking that I would have no proof to refute the allegations."

Aridhi continued, her tone measured, "You thought that ruining my special day would lead to my insecurity and ultimately damage my career."

My grandmother remained silent, her eyes fixed on Aridhi with a mixture of admiration due to Aridhi's smartness.

A smile formed on my lips as it's fucking attractive how gracefully and intelligently she uses her brain.

Aridhi's voice remained unwavering, "I already suspected you, and therefore I started an investigation."

Then Aridhi produced a tape recorder from her purse, showing it to grandma.

"Don't think I'm bluffing, I have solid proof. And you know I can sue you for that." Aridhi sassily asserted.

Grandma's eyes widened in alarm, "No, no, Aridhi. I'm really sorry. I apologize for everything I've done." Her was voice laced with desperation.

A playful shock passed my face when I saw grandma falling in Aridhi's feet.

It was then I thought to intervene, "Uhm, that makes sense. That's why she was there in Jaipur and still tried to play the victim card."

I sighed, "Poor Manya was schemed all alone. It will be fair only if you join her too." I wiggled my brows, looking at Aridhi for her suggestion.

She considered my opinion before telling grandma to stand up, whose face was literally covered with a fearful expression.

Aww, my baby seems to have a big heart.

"I don't hold any personal animosity against you. But you care about your name and reputation too much. You forced Ritu aunty to leave her career, even Rishika has to become the victim of your conservatism mindset, then you decided the same fate for Ridhima as much as I got to hear about it. And then schemed so much against me for the same motive? Is your reputation and authority so important that you're willing to sacrifice others well-being?"

Aridhi's words were a poignant indictment, her logic unassailable as her expression remained stern.

This might be the first time in this mansion that someone dominated grandma with just witty words.

My grandmother looked up at Aridhi, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.

But Aridhi just stared at her, wondering god knows what.

I just want to worship her, right now.