STAY AWAY FROM HER

"What I mean will be clear Aunty.... Miss. Rhea Mehra, would you like to enlighten everyone or should I do the honors?" Aarav asked, turning his head sideways to look at the girl standing behind him, from the corner of his eyes. His face set in a controlled expression.

"Wha- What did I do?" Rhea asked, panicking slightly.

"Oh! The water must've cleared your memory, Right?" Aarav questioned, turning completely to face the scared girl. Everyone shared a confused look and Abhi asked. "State clearly Aarav, what do you want to say?"

"You don't want to tell? Okay then, I will." Aarav all but spat at Rhea and went to his room to bring something. Clearly ignoring Abhi.

Silence hung in the air, every single person stared at the direction he went, while glancing now and then to a pale looking Rhea. How she wished she knew what Aarav was talking about, just so she could cook up some story or excuse in her defense. And much more she wished for her aunt to be here, so she could help her get out of this mess.

"What was he talking about Rhea?" Abhi couldn't help but ask, unable to deal with the suspense anymore.

"Wha- nothing dad, I did nothing. He's just overprotective of Prachi that's why he is making things up." Rhea rushed to get her father to support her.

"But I never, even once, mentioned Prachi." Aarav replied, coming back from his room.

Everyone looked at him as he took the center of the group. Mitali narrowed her eyes at his hands, biting her nails as they were empty.

What God ji? I thought he went to bring something that will cause some drama, but he returned just as empty handed as he left. What is this, I was hoping some entertainment. Mitali thought, looking genuinely disappointed.

"Don't worry, as much as I have come to know this family, they don't need a 'thing' to cause drama." Piyush whispered to her, leaning to side a bit, squeezing his eyes closed a bit while giving a small nod, and she realized she had thought that out loud.

But not to Mitali's disappointment, Aarav retrieved a black object from his pocket. "You have lived a luxurious life, must be accustomed to digital and large picture right?" Aarav asked, more like stated, while moving to the LED screen mounted on the wall.

Everyone followed his every move with their eyes as he connected the screen to the black object, that was his mobile, grasped the remote in his hand and turned back to face everyone.

"How much do you know and love your daughter Mr. Mehra?" Aarav asked Abhi and the latter frowned but still replied.

"I love my daughter very much, she is my life. And I know Rhea very well." Abhi replied and Pragya gave a little squeeze too his hand.

Aarav just shook his head a little giving a blank look and looked over to Ranbir and Shahana as they just joined them. Everyone looked expectantly at Shahana and she filled them with the answer of their unspoken question.

"Prachi is okay now, she is sleeping." She said, looking more to her four best-friends and they nodded.

"She can not be okay as long as she is with her other twin." Aarav said, clear for everyone to hear.

"How can you say that?" Abhi asked, anger edging his voice. 

"I have proof Mr. Mehra." Aarav lazily replied.

"There should be some mistake, Rhea can never hurt anyone. I know her."

"You know Rhea really well? Then I guess you should have a really good explanation for this." Aarav said through gritted teeth and turned the TV on.

The video he had recorded of the same day, of everyone play fighting with water, started playing. It was where Piyush had just dropped juice on Shahana. He fast forwarded it to when they all were engrossed in playing. Shahana and Aryan throwing water on each other, Piyush chasing Aarav, Rhea standing to a side and Ranbir following a laughing Prachi. Aarav had placed his mobile near the window sill, sideways, to such an angle that the entire garden was visible. From the elders, sitting at one side on the tables, to the pool where Prachi had stumbled.

Ranbir was blank seeing how happy he was with Prachi. How his face was lit with wide grin so effortlessly whereas he had to plaster a fake smile every morning for his family. Almost in awe he stared at Prachi, laughing brightly and he felt so proud of himself being the reason of it. Pride swelled in his chest as she turned around to look at him catching up in the video and squeals of happiness leaving her lips. She was running in a straight line, turning back again and again to keep a tab on him. He saw himself slow every now and then, out of habit, whenever he almost caught up on her.

That's when it happened. The evitable. Prachi falling into the pool, as the recorded, startled scream again eco'ed in the silent hall. But what played before the scream was what shocked the viewers. Just before falling, Prachi was running, in a direction that she would have crossed the pool from it's edge. But she didn't as she fall into the pool.

But what happened before her falling was the inevitable. Rhea had made her stumble by putting her feet before Prachi's. She, deliberately, 100% knowingly, as clear as a daylight, put her feet in way to make Prachi fall into the water.

Aarav turned the TV off, and turned to come face to face with people. Each visage had a different set of emotion.

Pragya, Abhi, Vikram, Dida, Dasi, Piyush and Mitali looked like they've seen a ghost.

Aryan and Shahana looked somewhere in-between Angry and Disgusted, more angry though. Purab had a raged expression, but it didn't seemed to be directed at the culprit here, rather it was on someone other, that was far now, but was surely equal guilty.

Ranbir looked absolutely livid. His jaw was set with a death force. Fists clenched tightly and his eyes ablaze as, if he could set Rhea on fire, he would have. He was seeing red. He almost wanted to ask Shahana about her murder plan she had mentioned and he was sure she would happily help her execute it.

Pallavi had the most unique expression. It was a mixture of shock and something else, she almost looked like she was about to run to hide her face face somewhere. Out of shame maybe. But she didn't had a hit of anger, and that's what irked Aarav.

"So, what would you like to say about this kind act of yours miss Mehra?" Aarav asked, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"What was this Rhea?" Vikram asked, thoroughly shook that a girl he had seen grow in front of his eyes, along side his son, had deliberately pushed her own sister into the pool.

"Rhea, why did you do that?" Purab asked and Arhana and Ranbir already knew the answer of the question. Because she was insecure, she was jealous and she is evil.

"Arey, everyone were playing with water, so what if she did, why are you making a huge deal out of it." Pallavi sided Rhea, hoping to get her out of trouble. Rhea on the other was in a total daze. How could she forget about the camera?

"Rhea, what was that, why did you do it?" Abhi finally asked, not paying any attention to Pallavi's rubbish reason.

"I just wanted to" Rhea started meekly, cleared her throat and tried again, " I- I just wanted to bond, just like you and Mom wants us to. I was just playing like everyone else." She lied and Pallavi smiled at everyone else.

"See, I told you, Rhea can never even think of hurting someone. It's just that she didn't know that Prachi can not swim. It was nothing but an accident. Aarav you are just streching the matter like a rubber-band." Pallavi supported Rhea while Arhana scoffed at her first statement.

"Just three days ago, Prachi told us that she don't know how to swim." Aarav supplied, catching Rhea right in the trap, "Rhea was right there, infact we all were. Any new excuse you would like to come up with?" That, shut Pallavi up.

"I- I forgot." Rhea said, in a small voice, digging her grave deeper.

"You pushed Prachi, in the pool, and you are saying that you forgot she can't swim?" Aarav shouted, finally having enough.

"I- I didn't mean to..." Rhea tried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Then why did you? If you didn't wanted to, then why did you made her fall?" Aryan asked, still shocked to see this side of the girl, that is his cousion. 

"It was an ac- accident."

"It was an Attempt to murder." Aarav declared. "It isn't just me, any official would say the same."

"I- I'm sorry. I'm really sorry dad, please forgive me. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry." Rhea pleaded, like she do whenever her crime is brought under light.

"She is your sister Rhea." Pragya said, speaking for the first time since the video was played.

"Really Massi?" Shahana asked, "I'm sorry, I should not speak in your family matter, it is your daughter, but the girl she tried to kill is my Sister. And sisters don't try to kill their sister."

"How can you do this to your own sister Rhea?" Aryan asked, raising his voice slightly, taking a step forward.

"When she is saying that it was an accident, why is no one believing her?" Abhi asked, unable to see tears in his daughter's eyes. "The end of discussion. Rhea will apologize to Prachi, and that is it."

"No Mr. Mehra, now it isn't just about that your Rhea tried to kill Prachi, it is that how can you just let it go?" Aarav asked, his anger no more suppressed.

"You just believed it when someone said that Rhea attempted suicide because of Prachi, but you don't believe a bloody video that clearly showed her devilius act. Yes, I am full aware of anything and everything that happen in Prachi and Shahana's life, you see, I may be far away from them, but I never fail to keep a tab on if they are okay. And by the amount of bad that had happened to them since she had came Delhi, it wasn't cool to let them by their own. You know Mr. Mehra, we don't let go of our close ones just like that." Abhi flinched as Aarav's words hit the weak spot. 

"What else am I supposed to do?" Rhea screeched, "Everyone, every single person is all about Prachi this, Prachi that, Prachi, Prachi, Prachi.... I am fed up."

"So you decided to take this step to get rid of her?" Abhi said in disbelief, "Why can't you understand that you both are equally important to us. Me and your mom love the two of you the same."

"No, mister Mehra. You don't love your daughters equally." Aarav contradicted. 

"What do you mean? Of course we love our both daughter's equally." Pragya insisted.

"Then will you tell me, why, when I just asked you how much do you love and understand your daughter, how did you already presumed that I was talking about Rhea?" Aarav asked and everyone was at a loss of words at it. 

"You said she is your life, and not even once mentioned your other daughter, who had a near death experience mere minutes ago." He continued and Piyush and Shahana nodded in agreement.

"I am not blaming you Aunty, though you too are at fault, but we understand that you just met your daughter and wants to spend most of your time with her, but don't you think that the same efforts should be put for Prachi too? But you too have been ignoring Prachi, and that can't be denied.

Mr. Mehra, to be honest, I still can't believe that Prachi had agreed to stay with you" Aarav said and Abhi was shocked to core at that. His head that had bent in shame, snapped up.

Aarav continued, not fazed at all, "I am dead sure she is doing this just for her mother. No, she don't hate you, unlike your other daughter. Pragya aunty never let her hate you. But she was hell bent angry with you. She wanted to find you, only to question you on leaving her at the age of only days. She wanted to know why, despite being rich, her mother had to work different shifts to make ends meet. She wanted to ask why she had to suffer the insults thrown at her way since childhood.

I am sure Rhea must have dealt with teasing for being a mother less child, but believe me, they were far innocent than the taunts a fatherless girl have to hear on daily basis, that too, in an area filled with people who have their thinking as low as the dirt on earth.

Prachi never told Pragya aunty about any of that, but we, being her friends, knew every single glare thrown at her. 

She might have forgiven you, but that hurt is still deep within. And you Mr. Mehra, are not even trying to bring it out. 

Only today did you said that you wanted to know Prachi, I'm sorry but since we have arrived, I have not seen you making any effort to know her. If you are thinking to take another twenty years to know her, with all due respect, that is stupid." 

No one had any word to contradict anything the young boy just said. Everyone looked like they had been slapped across the face, and they had been, just not physically.

"As per your daughter, I don't care what namesake relation she share with Prachi, She will not come within ten feet of her." Aarav said in an authoritative tone, took his mobile and left, leaving behind everyone in guilt and shame.

"Dad--" Rhea tried but failed.

"What? DAD WHAT RHEA? WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO COVER YOUR CRIME? WHAT REASON WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO HARM YOUR OWN SISTER?" Abhi shouted, though his eyes were clouded with guilt tears, they still did not fail to show his anger.

"Reason, what could be the reason other than the insecurity, jealousy and hatred she feel for Prachi. Haven't you caused her enough misery that you wants to kill her too." Shahana couldn't control herself anymore, the anger she had bottled up inside herself was too strong and this hideous act had just opened the lid.

"Haven't you made her suffer enough, to stoop so low? Good news for you, she was leaving as soon as you got married. I wasn't supposed to say this to anyone, but for her own safety I had to. I had to tell you, so please, control your dark heart for some countable days. Till now I have been trying to persuade her to not to leave but not anymore, if Prachi wants to leave, I will be right next to her, helping her pack." Shahana heaved and left towards Prachi's room.

Slowly everyone left, dejected to see one branch of their next generation turning dark. Silent tears flowed down Rhea's cheek. She stumbled into her room and sat on he bed. A startling sound broke her trance and she looked around to see it just to be her mobile ringing.

 She picked up the mobile and put it next to her ear. Not paying any attention to the caller Id. 

"Hello." She croaked.

'Hello, Rhea, sweetheart how are you?' came the voice of her aunt she had been wishing for to be here, by her side today.

A sob broke past Rhea's lips and then another. She started sobbing hysterically and started blabbering nonsense. 

'Rhea, Rhea, baby what is it? What happened? Why are you crying? Is something wrong? Tell me please.'

"Every thing is lost buji, Everyone will hate me now. Everything is finished." Rhea sobbed, continuous tears leaving her eyes.

'Nothing will happen dear, it's all right, just tell me what happened, tell me why are you saying so, and believe me I'll make everything right.'

Rhea narrated the entire incident to Aliya and went on sobbing some more.

'That's it? Don't cry baby, Trust me, I'll fix everything.'

Aliya consoled Rhea and tried her best to make her stop crying. It didn't went in vain as after some more promises to get everything straight, Rhea finally hushed down.

"You'll fix everything buji?" Rhea asked again to confirm.

'Of course sweetheart, I've been fixing everything for you since childhood, why won't I now? Look, amidst all this I forgot to tell you the reason I called you in the first place. I just wanted to inform you that I am coming back and will be there by tomorrow noon. I promise I'll get everything right.'

Rhea had just disconnected the call, wiping her tears, when her room's door opened with a loud bang.

She jumped in surprise and looked up to see a Ranbir standing in her doorway.

Ranbir was fuming in anger. His face set like stone and eyes ablaze. He had his fists clenched tightly and burrowed in his jeans pocket, as per not to loose control and smack something, or rather someone, out of his rage.

Rhea, overtook by the happiness that Ranbir had came to her room, missed his anger to a large margin and smiled sweetly at him.

"Ranbir.. Why are you standing there? Come inside." Rhea invited him, much excitedly.

Ranbir walked in the room and closed the door behind him. He was already angry and Rhea's sickly sweet antics were making him repulsed.

"How come you decided to visit me out of blue?" Rhea asked, a wide toothy smile on her face. The smile would have made boys swoon, but Ranbir's heart was already captured by another soul and he was filled with way too much disgust to even think that way.

"You don't know why I am here?" Ranbir asked through gritted teeth.

His tone made Rhea loose her smile and her face conjured up in a confused expression.

"What happened Ranbir? Why are you so angry?" Rhea asked, though she knew the reason for his vexation.

"You really wants to play innocent card do you? You very well know why I am here. What the hell was what you did? You pushed Prachi into the pool. You tried to kill her. Don't you have a single ounce of shame in yourself? How can you do this to your own sister?" Ranbir bellowed.

"She is NOT my sister. She can never be my sister." Rhea screamed.

"Even though, how can you do this to anyone?" Ranbir asked, he would have been more happy if they really were not sisters.

"What else was I supposed to do? That girl was stealing you from me. Do you want me to just watch that happen?" Rhea replied, hatred filled in her voice.

"Stealing? Really? I am NOT yours that she will steal me. What do think I am? One of your expensive jewelry piece?" Ranbir asked, hating that she referred to him as an object.

"No, but you are mine, Only mine." Rhea bellowed.

"No, I am not, and the sooner you drill this in your thick skull, the better. And as far as harming Prachi, you lay a finger on her and you'll be begging mercy on your knees.

STAY AWAY FROM HER." he literally threatened her, a fire burning in his eyes that reflected the feelings going through his head and heart. 

He turned around an left the room, banging the door with a force that made the frame tremble and Rhea jump in fear.

A tense environment engulfed the open room. His words ringing in the air. Not even the clock in the room dare make any noise, fearing the rage of a lover.

A/N:- Hey honey bunches, how are you all? How was the first day of your week? Hope it went well. If there was something missing, I try to fill it with the new chapter. As Promised here tis the chapter with Reality check. 

Sorry, but all of you guessed it wrong. It was Abhi's turn to face something harsh, out of his wife's love bubble. But don't be disappointed, Pragya will get one too, after all I love insulting worthless characters.

Do tell how you think of the chapter. If you liked Aarav's accusations and Ranbir's anger, make sure to vote and comment.

Lots of Love,

Simran