Two days to the wedding, Aditi was taking a stroll in the garden when Zorawar walked toward her with Abdul in tow. Aditi's face brightened. Abdul looked happy and carried a box of sweets which meant he had good news.

"Congratulations!" Aditi beamed as Abdul came forward. Grinning from ear to ear, he opened the box to offer her a sweet.

"Thank you, Aditi Di. It's a baby girl. We have named her after you."

Aditi felt embarrassed but was too overjoyed to object. She signaled Zorawar to send for some refreshments and motioned Abdul to a nearby gazebo.

"So I take it the mother and baby are doing good? How is Sameena?"

"They both are fine Aditi Di. The baby arrived yesterday. It was all your help that made this possible. We are both so grateful." Abdul smiled as he took a seat. His eyes swept around over the bustle of workers decorating the gardens. A big white marquee was being set up. Electricians, landscapers, and decorators were swarming around getting everything ready for the festivities starting the next day.

Abdul turned to her. "And congratulations on your wedding, Aditi Di. It's such a pleasant surprise. Looks like the baby arrived just in time to see you off."

"Thank you," Aditi replied with a smile. For the past few days, since the news of the wedding was out, people were making a beeline to see her. Everyone brought something or else as a token of their love, but Abdul's news was the best gift she'd received so far. She made a mental note of sending the new mother and baby some gifts later that day when Abdul suddenly cleared his throat. He looked a little worried. Aditi smiled. The man probably needed more help and was reluctant to ask.

"Is there anything else, Abdul? You can continue to stay in Rajpur until Sameena recovers. If they can't spare a bed at the hospital, I can arrange for another accommodation. And let me know if you need anything else. I'll transfer more money to your account and when you want to return, let Zorawar know. He'll arrange a vehicle for you."

"No no, Aditi Di. It's not that," the man's face flamed with embarrassment, yet Aditi saw relief in his eyes. He cast his eyes around surreptitiously, then gave her a hesitant look.

"Actually, there's something else I want to talk about."

"Yes? What is it?"

"It's about Jeevan Bathla's accident, Aditi Di."

"About the accident?" Aditi frowned. "What about it? That case is closed already, the police concluded the Raisinghs were behind the accident, right?"

Moreover, Vivaan himself had as good as confessed it to her. He had threatened her and then caused the accident to get what he wanted. She would have almost given in if her Dadaji hadn't put his foot down. A cold shiver ran down her spine. She had escaped just in time, or her fate could have been completely different today.

"Yes, Aditi Di. I thought so too but I had my doubts." Abdul swallowed uneasily, then sat up straight. "You see, that day when you were in hospital after Jeevan Bathla's accident, I heard a man talking about it. I was in the hospital pharmacy buying some injections for Sameena. The doctor had asked to get them urgently. I was waiting for the medicines when I saw a man a few feet away talking on his phone. He sounded angry. He said he had only asked for a small incident, not to break every bone in Jeevan's body. He then told the man to disappear from Palampur and that he'd get his money soon."

Aditi pondered as an unease crept into her heart. It must be one of Vivaan's stooges that he used to do his dirty work. But then why would he care about Jeevan Chacha's injuries?

"Did you see his face? Do you know who he was?" She asked trying to keep her voice level.

Abdul shook his head in disappointment. "No Aditi Di. He was facing away. I only saw his back. And by the time I paid for the injections he had already left. But I remember his voice - it was quite deep with a posh accent. He wore black jeans and a white polo shirt. And he was a tall man, very tall and strongly built."

With that, he stopped talking as a server approached with refreshments. Half an hour later when he left Aditi had built up a blinding headache.

*****

White polo shirt, black jeans, tall and strong with a deep voice. There was only one man with that description she remembered from that day. He was the one who had found Jeevan Chacha in the early hours of the morning and admitted him to the hospital.

But it was impossible; it could not be him. There could be many others with that description in and around that hospital, it could definitely not be Darsh.

Or could he? She did not know what to believe anymore. She wanted to ask him, but how could she ask such a thing without offending him?

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The day began to fade, the workers left leaving behind a part-erected marquee and an eerie silence. It looked more like an aftermath of a terrible storm than preparation for a celebration.

She sat alone rubbing her aching temples, thinking back to the day of the accident, going over it again and again. Each minute event, interaction, and expression was fresh in her memory to the last detail. Yet everything felt muddied. The surface was shiny but something more sinister lurked underneath just out of sight. She wanted to find it but it remained stubbornly elusive - either her brain wasn't functioning or her heart did not want her to believe what her brain already knew.

Her throat felt raw as her eyes began to sting. How odd it was, one little speck of suspicion was enough to shake all her certainty. Like a black dot on a perfectly pristine landscape, it was a nagging presence that commanded all her attention and made everything else irrelevant.

*****

By the time she walked back into the house, it was well past dinnertime. She could hear merry voices emanating from the dining room. The servers bustled about carrying trays of food and drink. The house was packed, many of Dadaji's friends, her relatives from her mother's side, and her father's friends too had arrived early.

It was best to avoid them. She didn't feel like she could face anyone just yet.

She sneaked into a service corridor skirting the kitchen that would take her towards the staircase at the back when she was halted by Nehal's scathing voice.

"Di, where were you? Do you know what time it is? Dadaji has been asking for you for so long."

Aditi turned to face Nehal. She looked dead tired. She had been on her feet the entire day overseeing the kitchens and the servers. Maybe it was her first time in days after Vivaan's last visit. A surge of shame washed over her. The girl was probably still pining for Vivaan. What if he was innocent? What if she had punished him for someone else's crime?

"I'm sorry. I was just in the garden." She gave a strained smile but her apology probably made Nehal even more irritated. " And thank you for helping with the preparations, Nehal. You know you don't have to overstress..."

"Oh, give it a break, Di," Nehal snapped. "We both know I'm not doing it out of love for you. I am just so happy to see you finally gone, it's just a matter of a couple of days anyway."

Aditi looked stunned, not knowing what to say. But Nehal hadn't finished.

"And cheer up, Di. What's up with that long face? Everything is happening for your happiness, everyone is running around for you. I think it should be reason enough for you to smile. Now buck up and smile or you'll give Dadaji another heart attack."

Throwing her another withering look, Nehal marched away. Aditi swallowed a lump and turned to the stairs.

A few minutes later when Aditi entered Balwant's room, she was composed and smiling. However rudely delivered, Nehal's reminder was helpful. Everything was happening for her happiness. She'd better keep up appearances at least for her Dadaji's sake.

*****

"Ah! There you are!" Balwant chirped as Aditi entered, her face shining with a gentle smile. As usual, her presence filled the room with warmth. Balwant felt his heart swell with pride. The girl had been the light of his life since the day she was born. Although she would be gone soon and then he would have only himself for company. Exhaling a shaky breath, he patted the empty space next to him. Aditi sat near him to hold his hand.

"How are you feeling Dadaji?"

"I am good now that I've seen you. Where were you?"

"Just in the garden," her face clouded but the smile reappeared in an instant. "Nehal said you wanted to see me?"

"Ah, yes. I wanted to talk to you about...things." Balwant paused, wondering how to proceed. Ideally, it was Meera or Susheel who would have had this conversation but in their absence, the task had fallen to him.

"Whatever happened that night with those four boys...," Balwant faltered, then pursed his lips. "Are you fully recovered?"

The girl looked at him askance as her face became as crimson with shame. Pulling her hand back, she hunched her shoulders as if retreating into a shell.

"Yes, Dadaji." Her voice came in a bare whisper. Balwant sighed. The girl had been very brave to survive the incident without any help. But he did not want her to be alone anymore, and neither did he not her to be in such a situation again.

"Good. It was an unfortunate incident, but I want you to put it back and look ahead. Remember life is long Aditi. You cannot cling to the past when moving to your future."

"Yes, Dadaji." She looked solemn, she had already started acting on that advice. She was sensible enough yet he needed to tell her, drive home his point.

"You need to learn to forget, forgive and move on, Aditi. You have been very brave but we both know you can be very impulsive."

Her head snapped up. "I don't understand Dadaji."

"We both know what I am talking about Aditi." Balwant's voice was stiff. "Vivaan's incident was unnecessary. You acted rashly. Promise me you won't do such a thing again. I do not want you to jeopardize your safety ever again."

He looked at her pointedly waiting for her response. Aditi looked cornered but she was in no position to argue.

"I promise, Dadaji."

"Good." Balwant looked relieved but he was not done yet. "A marriage comes with responsibilities, Aditi," he continued as his eyes flicked to his wife's picture that hung on the side wall. "It's not a bed of roses, even for moneyed people like us. Each of us comes with our own share of burdens, some more than others. And god knows, you have enough of yours."

Aditi looked at him puzzled, her innocent eyes watching him with surprise. Balwant felt his heart lurch. Innocence was a dangerous virtue. People loved it so much that they were always ready to rob it. He wanted her safe. And if her safety came at the price of her freedom, so be it.

"I want another promise Aditi, that you'll stay with Darsh come what may," he outstretched his hand and she had to give in hers as a promise. He was cunning that way, he knew what he wanted and how to get it. At this moment, his health, his position, the situation, everything worked in his favor and he was going to use it to secure her future.

"I know this wedding is rushed. You didn't get enough time to know each other well. There might be things later that would surprise you. But know this: Darsh is a good man - hardworking, ambitious, maybe a little cunning but he has to be to survive in this world. I know he'll take care of you, Aditi. So trust him and trust your instinct and everything would be fine."

An hour later when Aditi left the room, Balwant was deep in sleep.

For some reason she too was sleepy. The storm in her heart had vanished and in its place was a quiet calm. The Past was gone; her future beckoned. Whether this was the end or a new beginning, she was ready for it.

***** *****