[Everyone who thought the video concern Rhea and Aliya are right 😁]

The Kohlis and the Mehras were stunned to realize that it was the same room in which Ranbir was found unconscious and in an inebriated state on that fateful day of Lohri celebration. The video showed exactly what happened that day right from Maya spiking the juice and giving it to Ranbir to Maya arranging everything, especially her and an unconscious Ranbir's appearance, to make it appear as if the crime she had accused Ranbir of actually happened. Dushyant Choubey closed his eyes in frustration as their reputation had been destroyed with utter certainty, never to be revived again. However, it was towards the end that the Kohlis and Abhishek, along with Pranbir and Arhana, received the shock of their lives. They stared, stupefied, as Rhea and Aaliya entered the picture and revealed how it was their plan to frame Ranbir to separate Prachi and Ranbir.

Stunned at the evilness of the two persons he had known since childhood and regarded as his own family, Ranbir turned to stare at Rhea and Aaliya. He had absolutely no idea that they can stoop to this level to separate Prachi from him. But then, considering what they did with Prachi, he shouldn't have been so shocked after all. They are those vipers who could inject their venom in anyone and everyone. Ranbir's features hardened into a mask of utmost abhorrence and repugnance.

Vikram and Daljeet gaped at Rhea and Aaliya in utter disbelief as they were still finding it difficult to belief that the people they had always considered to be family could actually frame their son in a fake molestation case while Pallavi was looking at Rhea with so much revulsion.

However, it was Abhishek's reaction that scared the life out of Rhea and Aaliya. He was still as a statue and was not looking at them at all. He was still staring unblinkingly at the now blank screen of the laptop, as if he has lost himself somewhere. Seeing his state, Ranbir and Prachi walked down the steps and reached him with quick steps. She placed a hand tentatively on his arm.

"Chief" Ranbir called out tentatively.

However, Abhishek didn't display either through word or action that he had even heard him.

"Sir." Prachi called him softly.

The soft voice finally penetrated the thick haze of disillusionment and repugnance around Abhishek and reached out to him as a much needed lifeline.

"Why is she my daughter, Prachi?  What did I do to deserve this? Am I such a bad father?" Abhishek asked Prachi brokenly.

"No, Sir. You are a wonderful father. It will be any daughter's good fortune to have you as their father. In fact, I would have thanked my stars had you been my father." Prachi replied in a tear clogged voice.

"Yes, Chief. Prachi is right. You are an amazing father and father figure. I feel lucky to have a father figure like you. It is Rhea and Aliya bua who are the devils here. It's not your fault, Chief." Ranbir tried to console the distraught man.

"Both Ranbir and Prachi are right, Abhi. You are not at fault. I still can't believe Rhea and Aliya can do something like this." Vikram shook his head in disbelief.

"And to think we have always considered you to be our own. What wrong have we done to you for to do something this hideous to us?" Daljeet shook her head in revulsion.

Pallavi, who had been silently fuming till that moment, strode across the hall towards a sobbing Rhea and grabbing her arm, turned her around forcibly. Before anyone could understand anything a hard slap landed on Rhea's cheek, making her stagger backwards with the sheer force of it. 

"How dare you? How dare you do that to my son? How could you do that, Rhea? I feel like such a fool. I trusted the one person who framed my son and got him into this mess and turned against the person who has stepped into our lives as a saviour. I feel so ashamed of myself. I had mistaken a glass piece as a diamond and thrown away the real and rare diamond. You know something, Rhea? You are a curse. A curse to us and a curse to your father and a curse to every single person you come across. Whereas, Prachi is a blessing to us and everyone she comes across. And trust me Rhea, I will make sure that this blessing always stays with my son and he stays away from this curse." Pallavi's every word hit Rhea with the accuracy of sharp darts.

Rhea began sobbing bitterly. Aaliya came to her rescue.

"Pallavi! What are you doing? You are believing this Prachi over us? Come on, Pallavi. Think about it. Why will we do something like this to Ranbir? This Prachi is playing games with us. She and this Maya are in cahoots. This video is also doctored. They are trying to frame me and Rhea as we are the only one to not trust Prachi's innocent face." Aaliya tried to manipulate Pallavi.

"I can always prove that the video is real through an expert, Mrs. Aaliya Khanna. And as for the rest I couldn't have doctored the video even if I had tried to do it. Why? let the owner of this cell phone tell you." Prachi turned towards the entrance.

A lady sauntered into the hall and came to a halt in front of the Kohli family.

"This is Mrs.Singh. She is our family friend since so many years. So, this mobile belongs to Mrs.Singh?" Abhishek looked questioningly at Prachi.

"Yes, Mehra Sir. and now she will tell how the video got recorded." Prachi nodded to Mrs.Singh.

"Actually, that day I had to use the restroom. So, fortunately, I went to that particular room to use its restroom. After using the rest room, when I was about to leave the room, my sister called me and asked me to record a birthday wish for our brother. So, I had just switched on the video recorder and was about to record the birthday wish video when I heard my daughter wailing and my husband calling out to me. So, I left in a hurry and found that my daughter had injured her knee as she fell down while playing with other kids. Both I and my husband became busy in taking care of her and consoling her and I forgot about my mobile. It was not until we were leaving for our home that I remembered about my mobile and went to check in that room and thankfully, found it there untouched. The video recorder was still on." Mrs.Singh concluded her narration of the event.

"And whatever happened that night in that room was captured in that video as you all have seen. I was hunting for some small clue that will help me to prove Ranbir's innocence and save him from Maya's clutches but I couldn't come up with a plan that ultimately succeeded. However, the day before yesterday I went to that hotel and during my investigations, I found out that a lady had been in that particular room just before Ranbir and Maya went to that room and later the same lady returned as she had left her mobile. They had to check if she was indeed in the guest list and hence they could give me her name, phone no and address. I went to that address but the lady was out of town. Hence, I contacted her and after describing our pight, she agreed to help us. I asked her to give me as many details as she remembered of that night and since she left her mobile there, if it was possible that something could have been recorded in it. She, thankfully, recalled her incomplete video recording and that the recorder had been left on when she hurried out of the room. I instinctively knew that this was the proof we needed. I asked her if she could check if there was any recorded video that wasn't recorded by her or her family and she did. She informed be about it and I asked her to come to the venue with the video. I knew if I asked her to just send me the video and shown it the people associated with it would have cried "Doctored video". I wanted as many witnesses as I could gather. Also I have managed to find the waiter who served Ranbir and maya drinks that day and he confirmed that he had served only juice and no alcohol in that room. And the bar tenders in that party too who affirmed that Ranbir didn't touch alcohol at all. All of these people have given their accounts to the police. (As Alia opened her mouth, Prachi cut across) And I don't have so much money to pay every person to speak in my favour, in case you are wondering. Now it's Saloni's turn to speak. Why did you go away Saloni when you had promised to help me and Ranbir?" Prachi turned to Saloni after concluding the account of her investigation and disclosing her findings.

"A girl came to give me money because I had said, as per Prachi's plan, that I was the one who was molested and not Maya. That girl came to shut me up by giving me money. However, I recognized that girl. I was going to tell Prachi about the girl but the girl told me that Prachi snatched away her boyfriend just like Maya snatched my boyfriend away from me. And that she was only trying to get her boyfriend back. So, she asked me to help her by going away. She manipulated me and I got manipulated and went away, leaving the actual innocent people in trouble. It's very recently that Prachi tracked me down through social media and made me see my mistake." Saloni concluded her account.

"And who was this girl?" Abhishek asked, already knowing the answer.

"Rhea Mehra." Saloni pointed her index finger towards Rhea.

Abhishek turned to look at Rhea with bloodshot eyes and shook his head in revulsion. Rhea was shedding tears, her features were contorted in fear and despair.

"Rahul, what do you have to say?" Prachi turned to Rahul.

"Maya is my girlfriend or atleast I used to think she is. She told me that she is marrying Ranbir to secure our future. She will marry Ranbir, get divorce from him along with a hefty amount as alimony and then we will marry and live together happily. I never thought that she was just stringing me along. "Rahul poured out his grudge.

Maya's parents and uncle gave her a murderous glare while she lowered her eyes, scared to meet their death glares.

"Also, as per my instructions, Aryan has recorded the video where you were forcing Ranbir to marry at gun point and coercing someone to get married is a crime. So, officer, please arrest Maya for fake case and her father and uncle for coercing Ranbir to get married to Maya." Prachi turned to look at the entrance as the police filed in.

The police marched towards Choubey family and fastened handcuffs around their wrists.

"Yes, I have done all that. But it was Rhea Mehra and Aliya Khanna who had given me money to do this. If I am guilty then they are no less. Abhishek Mehra, let's see if you are fair after all and if you can actually punish your sister and daughter too." Maya challenged hysterically.

Abhishek strode over to Rhea and before she could get a word out, slapped her, hard.

"How could you do this? When have you turned into such a monster that you can frame your childhood friend in a fake molestation case because of your obsession with him and his inability to reciprocate that obsession? Yes, obsession. Because people like you won't recognize love, let alone, feeling them for someone, even if it pokes them in the eye. You are such shameless creature. I am so ashamed to even acknowledge that I have blood relation with you, let alone acknowledging you as my daughter. You are such an abominable person who only deserves hatred all her life. I wish I hadn't let your mother go. Probably then you would have been a better person as you would have been away from vicious influences." Abhishek reprimanded Rhea harshly.

"Mother? Which mother are you talking about, dad? The mother who left us to go away with another man? She would have given me good upbringing? I don't think so." Rhea vent out the hidden anguish that had always tormented her.

"What is this new nonsense you are talking about now?" Abhishek was baffled at the allegations which were nowhere near the truth.

"Not nonsense, dad. I am speaking the truth. I know the truth. Buji told me. My mother is the worst kind of woman. She was a ..." Rhea's sentence remained incomplete as another slap landed on her cheek.

"Not a word against your mother. How dare you say anything against your mother? And your buji is the biggest lier of all. Your mother never left us for any other man. We were separated because of the death of our eldest daughter, Kiara. Your mother wanted to take you with her too. I didn't let her do that. However, now I regret my decisions bitterly. I sould never have stopped her from taking you along. Maybe then you would have been as good a person as Prachi. No scratch that. I should never have let your mother go. Then my love and both of my daughters would have been with me today." Abhi finally revealed the truth of the past to Rhea.

"My mom didn't leave us for someone else. She wanted to take me too. Buji! Buji lied to me all along." Rhea staggered back as the slap of the truth was way more powerful than the physical ones she had received.

"Bhai, what are you..." Rest of Aaliya's words remained unsaid as the second slap landed on her cheek.

"You! You are the reason Rhea is the way she is today. Such a vicious person. You have made her like this. It is your upbringing that made her an exact replica of you, Aaliya. You know something, Aaliya? You are the biggest curse of my life. Earlier you used to trouble my wife, my love. And now you have trained Rhea in such a way that she is troubling others. You have injected your venom in my daughter. You are the one to teach her how to snatch away someone else's love, just because he is her obsession and yet he dared to love someone else. It is clearly visible how much Ranbir loves Prachi. He won't ever be able to love anyone else. You wanted Rhea's married life to be loveless and hollow, without any real affection and reciprocatiion of emotions?" Abhishek blurt out the biggest truth of Aaliya's life in his fury.

"Bhai!" Aaliya whispered, terribly hurt as tears pricked the back of her eyes.

"What? Truth hurts, doesn't it? Rhea's and your truth also hurt me very much. So, now I won't care for your hurt at all." Abhishek vent out the fury bubbling within him.

"However, this time I am not going to forgive and forget. You will receive the punishment for your offence. Officers, arrest these two." Abhishek looked at the police bleakly.

"Abhi, let it go. If you get them arrested, our reputation will sustain more damage." Vikram tried to change Abhishek's mind.

"Isn't our reputation already in tatters? What more damage can happen to it? No, Vikram I have made my mind up. These two are going to suffer the punishment for their crime. Enough is just that, enough! From now on I will think that I have only one daughter and she is Prachi. Though I don't share blood relation with her but still from now on she will be my only daughter." Abhishek stated his decision clearly.

His words poved to be the final straw.

"Yes, it is Prachi always. Prachi comes first with every single person. Prachi is the only daughter for you, dad. Prachi is the only girl for Ranbir. Prachi is the only messiah for the Kohli family. Prachi is the only perfect daughter for the mehra family. Prachi, Prachi, Prachi. Now, you see why I hate her so much. Because she has taken away every person whom I love. I wish Prachi hadn't ever stepped into our lives. I wish Prachi hadn't been born. And I wish that Prachi dies." Rhea poured out the venom in her heart in the open.

Someone grabbed her arm and whirled Rhea around. Before Rhea could make sense of anything, a hard slap landed on her cheek. Caught offguard, she stumbled but someone straightened her with a jerk and then another slap landed on her other cheek, sending her staggering back a few feets.

Ab yeh kaun hai? Socho socho 😁😁

And guys, I am confused if the lohri happened at a hotel or in their home. So, ignore that detail if I am wrong as I wrote hotel. 😁😁

Hope you all like it.