Prerna looked at Aryan with tears in her eyes.
"Bhai, I—"
"Don't call me bhai," Aryan said angrily.
Prerna lowered her head.
"Do you even realize what you've done today?" Aryan continued.
"You left your wedding to go meet your boyfriend."
"but bhai, We broke up," Prerna said weakly.
Aryan let out a bitter laugh.
"A few minutes ago you said you like him. And now you're saying you already broke up with him?" he shot back.
"Do you even have clarity about what you're saying, Prerna?"
Prerna fell silent.
Aanya watched nervously.
"We asked you clearly, didn't we?" Aryan continued.
"Do you want to marry or not? If you didn't want to, you should have said so. But you said yes. And now you go to meet that person?"
Prerna cried harder.
"Bhai… he drank poison."
"He did it because I broke up with him."
Aanya, Devika, and Nandini were shocked.
"And I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me," Prerna added through tears.
"Then you're wrong," Aryan cut her off sharply.
"Because today, you didn't hurt one or two people — you hurt both families.
Prerna sobbed.
"You have absolutely done wrong," Aryan said firmly.
He paused, then looked at her sharply.
"And why the hell did you ask Aanya for help?"
Prerna looked at Aanya.
"You told her everything… but you couldn't tell your own brother?" Aryan said bitterly.
"No, bhai… I didn't want—"
"You know what she did, right?" Aryan continued angrily.
"You know how stupid that was?"
Aanya looked at him in guilt.
"She didn't tell anyone you weren't there. Instead of speaking the truth, she dressed up like the bride.
Prerna cried silently.
"If I hadn't recognized her, maybe she would have actually ended up marrying Dev!" Aryan added harshly.
"Mr. Aryan, I was just—" Aanya tried to explain.
"You don't talk," Aryan snapped.
Aanya fell silent.
"Bhai, there is no fault of Aanya," Prerna said quickly.
"I told her to do it."
Devika looked hurt.
Nandini turned her face away.
Aryan looked at Prerna coldly.
"From today onwards, don't call me bhai."
Prerna froze. Aanya was equally shocked.
"I don't even want to see your face," Aryan continued.
"Do whatever you want. Forget that you even have a brother."
"No, bhai!" Prerna cried.
Aryan walked out.
"Bhai, wait! Please don't say that… bhai, please!" she sobbed.
Aanya looked at Prerna sadly.
"Mom… please tell bhai," Prerna cried.
Devika looked at her, eyes filled with pain.
"I'm ashamed to call you my daughter," she said quietly.
Prerna froze.
"M-Mom…?" she whispered in shock.
But Devika had already turned away and walked towards her room.
Prerna then turned to Nandini.
"Aunt, please… you try to understand me."
"It's too late, Prerna," Nandini said coldly.
"If you had told me earlier, I could have done something."
She glanced at Aanya.
"But you chose to tell someone else. And because of them, all this happened."
Aanya looked at her in confusion.
Nandini gave her a serious look and walked away.
Prerna broke down.
Aanya felt pity and went closer to her.
Prerna hugged her tightly.
"Aanya… I never wanted all this to happen," she cried.
"I know," Aanya said softly.
Prerna wiped her tears but continued crying.
"I know why all this is happening. It's because I did wrong to Aahil. I shouldn't have treated him like that. I should have thought about his feelings. But I became selfish… I only thought about my family and what they would think."
Aanya gently held her shoulders, trying to calm her.
"Prerna, calm down. Everything will be fine, okay?"
After a pause, Aanya asked softly,
"By the way… how is Aahil? Is he alright now?"
Prerna sniffed and nodded.
"He regained consciousness. He's better now."
"That's good," Aanya said with relief.
"You should take some rest. Come, I'll take you to your room."
"It's okay, Aanya. I'll go myself," Prerna replied sadly.
"Because of me, everyone scolded you. I hurt you too."
"It's okay," Aanya said gently.
"Don't think about all that now. Just go to your room and rest."
Meanwhile — At the Hospital
Aahil slowly opened his eyes.
"Prerna…" he murmured weakly from the bed.
Just then, Ahad walked into the room.
"Ahad bhai jaan… where is Prerna?" Aahil asked immediately.
Ahad fell silent.
"Bhai jaan… where is Prerna?" Aahil asked again, panic rising in his voice.
"She… left," Ahad said softly.
Aahil's eyes widened.
"What? She left? How could she?"
"Aahil, calm down—"
"No! She can't leave me, bhai jaan!" Aahil cried.
In desperation, he pulled the saline tube from his hand and tried to get up.
"Aahil! What are you doing?" Ahad rushed toward him.
"Let me go, bhai jaan!" Aahil said emotionally.
"You're still weak!" Ahad said firmly.
"No… she can't leave me," Aahil cried again.
Ahad hugged him tightly.
"Calm down first. You need rest."
"No!" Aahil resisted.
"Aahil, please," Ahad said, trying to reason with him.
"Think about Ammi… think about Asma. Just a while ago, they were happy that you regained consciousness. Do you want to make them suffer again?"
Aahil went silent.
"They haven't eaten anything since morning," Ahad continued.
"I forced them to go home and rest. I told them I would take care of you. If you disappear now and if they call me and ask about you… what am I supposed to tell them?"
Aahil lowered his head, overwhelmed.
"Please, Aahil. Take rest," Ahad said gently.
After a long pause, Aahil nodded slightly.
"Wait," Ahad said. "Let me call the nurse to fix the IV."
He stepped out of the room.
Aahil lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to control his tears and emotions.
That night, during dinner time, Aanya came to the dining table to eat, but no one was there.
She looked around in confusion.
She then walked toward Devika's room and knocked gently before entering.
"Aunty, don't you want to eat? It's already 9:30," Aanya said softly.
"I'm not hungry," Devika replied weakly. "You go and eat."
Aanya nodded and stepped out.
She walked toward Nandini's room but stopped midway.
Nandini aunty doesn't like me… If I go and ask, she might get angry, she thought.
So she turned away and walked to Prerna's room instead.
She knocked lightly and opened the door.
Prerna was fast asleep.
With a heavy heart, she went back to the dining table and sat alone. She served herself and started eating silently.
After finishing dinner, she didn't go to her room. Instead, she sat in the hall, waiting for Aryan.
After some time, she saw Aryan entering the house.
"Mr. Aryan… don't you want to eat dinner?" she asked gently.
Aryan didn't respond. He simply walked past her.
She followed him.
"Mr. Aryan… Mr. Aryan…"
He entered his room and shut the door.
Aanya stood outside, feeling hurt.
"Mr. Aryan… I know you're angry with me. I know you don't want to talk to me or even listen to my words.
And I'm sorry for what I did. I should have told you the truth instead of hiding it from you. I feel very guilty about it. I know my apology means nothing compared to what has happened.
But please… don't show your anger on food. I know you're upset… but please eat something."
Inside the room, Aryan heard every word.
Aanya stood there for a few minutes, hoping he would open the door.
But he didn't.
"Looks like Mr. Aryan won't come," she whispered to herself sadly.
Slowly, she walked away.
After some time, Aryan opened his door quietly.
He looked around to see if Aanya was still there.
She wasn't.
He walked toward the dining table.
He noticed a plate covered neatly with a lid.
He lifted it.
Everything had already been served properly for him.
He paused.
"How did she know I would come?" he murmured to himself.
He sat down and slowly started eating.
From a distance, Aanya peeked from the corner of the hallway.
When she saw him eating, a small smile appeared on her face.
She felt relieved.
The Next Morning
Devika was busy in the kitchen.
Prerna slowly came downstairs and saw her mother working.
She gathered some courage and walked toward her.
"Mom… let me help you," Prerna said softly.
Without even looking at her, Devika replied coldly, "No need."
Prerna's heart broke.
"Mom, I—" she tried to speak.
But Devika walked away before she could finish.
Prerna stood there for a few seconds, her eyes filling with tears. Feeling unwanted, she quietly went back to her room.
After some time, Aanya came downstairs.
"Aanya, I've packed your lunch box," Devika said gently.
Aanya smiled. "Thank you, aunty."
She sat at the dining table and started eating.
After some time, Aanya came downstairs.
"Aanya, I've packed your lunch box," Devika said gently.
Aanya smiled. "Thank you, aunty."
She sat at the dining table and started eating.
Just then, Aryan came and sat down as well.
Devika looked at him and said, "You came late last night… and you didn't eat, right?"
Aryan paused and glanced at Aanya.
Aanya also looked at him nervously.
"Eat properly now," Devika continued.
"Mom… I ate last night," Aryan replied calmly.
"Oh really? Okay. I thought you hadn't," Devika said.
Aanya quietly looked at Aryan, surprised.
At College
During break, Aanya sat with her friends.
Nisha said, "Aanya, you shouldn't have done that."
"Yeah," Tara agreed.
"I know, guys," Aanya sighed. "I did wrong. And now I'm really feeling guilty. I wish I hadn't done it. Even Mr. Aryan is so angry with me."
"He has to be," Meera said honestly. "You broke his trust."
"Did I?" Aanya asked softly.
"Of course," Tara replied. "You should have told him earlier."
Aanya looked down sadly.
After a pause, she took a deep breath.
"I have to apologize to Mr. Aryan properly."
To be continued...
---
End Of Chapter 58.