RADHE RADHE READER'S.
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The ride back from the hospital...
Was silent.
Painfully silent.
No one looked at Abhimanyu.
No one spoke to him.
He sat in the last seat of the car.
His cheek was still red from Vikram's slap.
His eyes were swollen from crying.
Every few minutes...
He whispered to himself.
"Papa ko sach pata chal jayega..."
"Sab maan jayenge..."
"Main jhootha nahi hoon..."
But with every passing minute...
Hope faded.
---
The Oberoi Mansion...
For the first time...
It didn't feel like home.
As soon as everyone entered...
Vikram spoke in a cold voice.
"Sab living room mein."
No one argued.
The entire family gathered.
Abhimanyu stood in the middle of the room.
Like a criminal waiting for his punishment.
His hands trembled.
His eyes searched every familiar face.
Not one of them smiled at him.
---
Vikram's voice echoed through the hall.
"I trusted you."
"I defended you every single time."
"But today..."
"You broke that trust."
Abhimanyu shook his head desperately.
"Papa... please..."
"Maine Rahul ko dhakka nahi diya."
"I was trying to save him."
"Please meri baat sun lijiye..."
Vikram looked away.
"I don't want to hear another lie."
Those words pierced Abhimanyu's heart.
---
Meera stepped forward.
Tears streamed down her face.
Her voice shook with heartbreak.
"Abhimanyu..."
"I raised you to protect people."
"To stand beside your family."
"If what everyone believes happened is true..."
"I don't even recognize the boy standing in front of me."
Abhimanyu's breathing became uneven.
"Mumma..."
"I didn't—"
Meera closed her eyes.
"Enough."
"I never imagined I would have to lower my head because of my own son."
"I am deeply hurt today."
Those words shattered him.
"Mumma..."
"Please..."
"Ek baar meri aankhon mein dekh kar bolo..."
"Kya aapko sach mein lagta hai maine aisa kiya?"
Mira couldn't answer.
She turned away.
That silence hurt more than any reply.
---
Savitri spoke next.
"Humne tumhe hamesha pyaar diya."
"Lekin tumne humein sirf dard diya."
Rajendra lowered his head.
"I never thought I would see this day."
---
Abhimanyu slowly looked toward his siblings.
His voice was barely audible.
"Aarav Bhai..."
His older brother looked at him.
His eyes were wet.
But anger filled them.
"I trusted you, Abhi."
"I always defended you."
"But after everything..."
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
Abhimanyu's lips trembled.
"Bhai..."
"I swear..."
"I didn't do it."
Aarav looked away.
"I wish I could believe you."
---
Abhimanyu turned toward Aanya.
She wiped away her tears.
"I used to tell everyone..."
"That my brother was the best."
"Today..."
"I don't even know what to say."
"It hurts."
"So much."
Abhimanyu felt something inside him break.
"Aanya.di.."
"I'm still the same Abhi."
She closed her eyes.
"I hope that's true."
---
Vivaan stood silently.
Disappointment was written across his face.
Anu couldn't bear it anymore.
She stepped in front of Abhimanyu.
"Bas!"
Everyone looked at her.
"I don't believe him."
Then she corrected herself immediately.
"I don't believe the accusation."
"My Abhi cannot do this."
Vikram frowned.
"Anu."
She stood her ground.
"I know him."
"If he says he's innocent..."
"I believe him."
"He has never looked at us with hatred."
"He would never wish death on anyone."
She held Abhimanyu's trembling hand.
"I am with him."
No matter what anyone says."
Abhimanyu broke down.
Fresh tears rolled down his face.
He couldn't even say thank you.
He simply held Anu's hand tightly.
As if she was the only thing stopping him from falling apart.
---
Rahul watched everything from the staircase.
Hidden from everyone's sight.
Every disappointed look.
Every harsh word.
Every tear.
A small smile appeared on his face.
No one noticed it.
No one except...
A pair of observant eyes watching quietly from the hallway.
Someone had seen Rahul smile.
And for the first time...
A tiny seed of doubt was planted.
Maybe...
The truth wasn't what it seemed after all.
To be continued...
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