“Mr Hundia? Aditi's father?”

“Of Course Shub, do you not trust me? I can pro—”

“Dii you know na I trust you the most in this world. You told me about him, that's enough proof. I believe in you. But how did you get to know about him?”

“He sent me a message.”

“What message dii? Show me.”

Shahneel took out her phone and showed the message to Shubman.

“That fucker! How dare he?!” Shubman scowled glaring at the screen. He then looked at his sister clasping his hands with her.

“Dii you don't have to worry about him. I promise he won't be able to touch you ever.”

“I know Shub, you won't let anything happen to me.” Shahneel hummed giving a reassuring smile to Shubman. Shubman slowly petted his sister's head pushing back the bangs on her face revealing a big scar. He leaned up pressing a soft kiss against the scar.

“I will make sure he pays back for all the problems he made you go through. Nobody will be able to save him now.” Shubman muttered only for her sister to squeeze his hand.

“No shub, you will also not go to him. Just make sure he stays away from us and don't come back again.”

“But dii-”

“Shub please, I don't want any more trouble for us. Promise me you won't do anything to him.”

“I am sorry, I can't promise you that dii. That man doesn't deserve your forgiveness at all. You already forced me to not go after him once but I won't hold back again.”

“Why can't you let it go again? Let's not complicate things. Just move on.”

“Last time I listened to you and see not only that bastard came back but he took Ishan away from me too.”

“He didn't took Ishan away from you. Those were the consequences of your own actions Shub.”

“I know I made a big mistake but I didn't told Naman Pratik and Advik to bully Ishan. I did not called Ishan and told him to just die because he is a disappointment for his parents. Mr Hundia lied about all those things to Ishan, what do you think I should do? Just move on so that he could do something much more bigger than this?”

“You want to take revenge because of Ishan?”

“Of course not dii, I want to make sure he would learn his lesson and won't try to hurt you or anyone close to me.”

“He won't! Shub, he would never come again. There is nothing left for him to do now. If we will warn him then he will back off because he also knows what the consequences will be.”

“Let him get a taste of those consequences then? I am sure he will not dare to try anything ever again.”

“Why do you have to be so difficult? Just listen to me once.”

“I would listen to any request you have dii except this one. I don't want to spare that bastard again and that's final. I am sorry but I just can't let him go.”

“Fine! Do whatever you want to.” She huffed before storming out of the room.

It was the first time Shahneel had been so angry at Shubman. But it wasn't his fault that he wanted to take revenge from him.

He will reconcile with her after this.

—

The sudden doorbell had Shubman frowning in confusion. Nobody was supposed to be here at this time.

He was sure there weren't any meetings or anything today. Before he could go and check his sister was already walking out of her room.

The guard opened the door and led the people inside. Shubman furrowed his eyebrows when he saw Mr and Mrs Sharma coming to the hallway.

“Uncle…Aunty? What happened? Is everything okay?” Shubman asked getting up and walking towards them.

“Neel called us.” Mrs Sharma replied.

“And I told them everything as well.” Shahneel replied standing beside them.

“What? Why?” Shubman looked at her.

“So that they could stop you. Because you aren't listening to me.”

“Dii I am doing this for us. He still dared to message you when when I let him go once…if we won't do something he would try to come again.”

“But that's not the way! See uncle I called you for this only. Please tell him to not do this.”

“Shahneel beta is right Shub,”

“But u—”

“No buts! You need to understand what your sister is saying. You know what? Come with me, I need to have a serious talk with you.” Mr Sharma said, dragging Shubman upstairs.

Shahneel looked at Shubman grinning knowing she finally had an upper hand on the situation now.

—

“Do you really want to trigger those memories and hurt Neel?” Mr Sharma scowled when he closed the room of Shubman’s door.

“It's not that Uncle…you also know what all the things that bastard has done. How can I let him go so easily? If you were at my place would you let him go?”

“If I was in your place I would have made his life a living hell by now but I would have also listened to my sister.”

“Huh?”

“Why are you so dumb? There is such an easy way to save all the trouble for Shahneel but you are willingly trying to get back all her bad memories. She might look strong but in the end she is a human too. She had to go through so many things in the past and now you want to scratch all those wounds again and make her suffer.”

“I don't want to do that…but I don't have any other way.”

“Who said there isn't? You had Ishan kidnapped for such a long time without Shahneel knowing. You need to do something similar but with a different way so Neel won't find out about it ever and would never feel bad for it.”

“I don't know… whatever I do she always finds out in the end so it's inevitable to even try anymore. There is nothing she hasn't found out about.”

“Then do it in front of her but for a different reason so she wouldn't be guilty at least. Shahneel might not be the only person who Mr Hundia has done that…find about all other girls whose life he destroyed. Put him under arrest. Shahneel wouldn't mind that.” Mr Sharma said and Shubman nodded his head.

Why didn't Shubman think of that before?

“But do you think he deserves to be in jail only? He has done dii so wrong, and after that he caused all this fiasco. Do you think that a few years in jail would be enough?”

“Use your brain sometimes beta,” Mr Sharma scoffed. Shubman scowled at his sarcastic smile.

“After he is in jail Neel won't suspect anything to whatever happens to him in jail. Get a few connections and give him what he deserves. Simple. Nobody would be affected.” Mr Sharma said and Shubman hummed.

“How can you think of such a cool plan?”

“Kya karu jab dono bete akal ke andhe ho toh kisi ke pass toh dimag hona chahiye naa.”

[What should I do when both my sons are so dumb, someone should at least have some sense]

Shubman pouted, making Mr Sharma chuckle.

“It's the truth, if you both had brains then you guys wouldn't be in so much trouble. If it was me instead of you guys I would have already wooed my love.”

“Uncle, are you here to help me or roast me?” Shubman huffed, making Mr Sharma laugh.

“Acha kake ruk gaya main. Kuch nahi bolunga khush?”

[Okay I won't say anything now. Happy?]

Shubman nodded his head, still pouting.

“Chal ab neeche chalte hai, Neel beta wait kar rahi hogi.”

[Now let's go back, Neel Beta will be waiting]

—

“Uncle aapne isse samjha diya na?”

“Beta don't worry, I have explained it to him very clearly. He won't cause any trouble now.”

“Yeah I will only do what Uncle told me.” Shubman grinned.

“Chalo akal thikane aa gayi hai iske, khayal rakha kar Neel ka,” Mr Sharma smiled.

[Now his brain is working again, take care of Neel]

“Sachi mein! Humari phool jesi bachi ko murjha ke rakh diya hai pura iss gadhe ne.” Mrs Sharma scoffed.

[You are right, this donkey has completely withered our flower-like daughter.]

“You guys can't gang up against me. I also deserve some love,” Shubman huffed.

“Of Course you do…it's me who doesn't deserve any of this.” Shahneel muttered under her breath.

They all looked at her and she bit her lip in guilt.

“I am sorry…I didn't mean to say that aloud.” She winced.

“Beta,” Mrs Sharma pulled her into a hug.

“No…I am fine, I am all okay. Sorry.”

“Don't say sorry bacha, it's okay. You don't have to be strong every time. Is there anything you want to tell us?” She hummed and Shahneel shook her head.

“I am fine, I am so sorry for spoiling your guys mood. I don't know why I said that aloud.”

“Dii…please,”

“Neel beta, you know naa you can tell us anything. Why did that thought come to your mind? Do you think we don't love you?”

“No…of course not…it's just- just that my own parents never loved me, I don't know why you all treat me like a family. I am sorry but I just think sometimes that I don't deserve all this.”

“They are not your parents. Aree jo maa baap apni khudki bachi ko noch khaajaye unhe parents kehlane ka koi haq nahi hai.” Mrs Sharma said as Mr Sharma also pulled them both into a tight hug.

[Parents who have deliberately done that to their own daughter have no right to be called parents.]

“We are your parents. You both are our children just like Abhishek. You guys don't need those sorry excuses of human beings to feel that you deserve love. We are enough for you. Okay?” Mr Sharma said, pecking her forehead.

Shahneel sighed hugging them both for a few seconds before pulling away.

“Can you guys stay here for a few days?” She looked at them.

“Ofcourse beta, we can do anythi–”

“Mayank is not well…we can't leave him with Abhishek.” Mr Sharma muttered.

“You should stay with him…he needs you guys.” Shahneel hummed.

“And who said you don't? Neel we won't leave you. You are gonna come with us and stay till whenever you want to. We are not going to leave you alone with Shubman.”

“What's wrong with me?” Shubman looked at them feeling betrayed.

“Everything, Ishan mila nahi ki apni khud ki behen ko bhul gaya tu.” Mr Sharma scoffed.

[You forgot your own sister the moment you found Ishan]

“It's not like that–”

“Bss bss rehne de tu. Neel is coming with us and that's final. Chal Neel beta,”
[Yaa yaa stop it]

“At Least take her tomorrow,”

“Mayank needs his medicines and he won't take it without me. I won't let Neel be alone for one more night. She is already insecure enough.”

“It's not like that—”

“Chup kar tu, itni hasti khelti thi jab nayi nayi mumbai mein aayi thi humare neighbourhood mein.”

[Shut up, you used to be so cheerful when you came to Mumbai in our neighbourhood.]

“I was 18 then…now I am 32”

“Doesn't matter. We still want our cheery Neel.” Mrs Sharma huffed, dragging her out.

“At least stay for a few minutes.” Shubman said.

“Nope, jaldi jaldi ghar jaakar saare kaam khatam karne hai phir girls night ki bhi taiyyari karni hai. Neel aur main same pyjamas pehenkar vo pink food khayenge and eo saari cheeze karenge jo maine reel mein dekhi thi.”

“We don't have all that stuff in our house right now. Should I go to the market first?” Mr Sharma said.

“Naah I will tell Abhishek to blinkit everything. Let's go home first, there is so much work.” Mrs Sharma replied ignoring both the siblings while taking Shahneel into their car.

---