Bengal, Chatterjee House

Subhankar stared at Indranil, bewildered with a disgusted look on his face as he clapped his hands, "Really, Subhankar....really? How much low can you stoop?!"

He was so unbelievable.

"Stop it Indranil--" Anirban gritted his teeth, glaring at him.

"Why? Ask your friend Subhankar! His plans!" Indranil trailed his gaze devilishly from everyone to Subhankar who furrowed his brows tightly. Tripti pressed her lips, gawking at him and then at Indranil. What the heck is he talking about?

"This is what you had planned right? This is what, isn't it?"

"TO NOT LET MY MARRIAGE HAPPEN WITH TRIPTI?!" Indranil growled, his jaws clenching. An instant commotion fell around as everyone's jaws dropped; Subhankar angled his head, his teeth gritting with each other, as he felt like thrashing Indranil's head against the wall with a single jerk, "What nonsense are you talking Indranil...."

Anirban looked flabbergasted at Subhankar and then at Indranil.

Tripti froze in her spot. What? 

WHAT?!

Her hands turned cold, as a thin line of sweat covered her forehead—No—No way—

"NONSENSE?!" Indranil barked, and laughed a bit, "DO YOU THINK I AM BLOODY BLIND SUBHANKAR? DO YOU THINK I AM BLOODY BLIND?!"

Somnath looked horrified, as he walked towards Subhankar and Indranil, "What the heck are you talking about my son, Indranil?!"

"Your son, uncle? Ask your damned son what he does with Tripti throughout the day!"

"INDRANIL!" Manikant and Anirban barked, as Tripti widened her eyes. Saudamini and Meghmaala walked towards her, with astonished and perplexed glances. 

"Indranil, I warn you to control your tongue—"

"Else what? What are you going to do, you damned swine?! DAY AND NIGHT YOU KEEP STICKING TO TRIPTI LIKE HER LOVER!" 

Subhankar widened his eyes, shaking his head out of anger. His fists tightened, as he breathed hard. 

"HAVEN'T I SEEN YOU? HAVEN'T I SEEN YOU BOTH?! MANIKANT UNCLE YOUR DAUGHTER IS ALREADY OUT OF YOUR HANDS!" 

"INDRANIL DAMN IT!" Anirban growled, "ONE MORE WORD AND I WILL BURY YOU ALIVE, RIGHT HERE!"

"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IT SHAN'T CHANGE THE TRUTH ANIRBAN! ASK YOU SISTER HOW SHE WAS CLINGING TO YOUR SO CALLED BEST FRIEND THIS AFTERNOON!"

And Tripti fell like the entire roof had crashed over her that very moment. Manikant blinked, his lips parting as he glanced at his daughter, who had turned paler than ice at that moment, almost shivering lightly. Tripti's lips quivered, as she let out short pants, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Meghmaala caught her arm, pulling her close, "Indranil! Just stop it!" 

"ARREY ASK YOUR SISTER HOW SHE WAS HUGGING THIS MAN SECRETLY! ASK HER!" 

"SHUT UP INDRANIL!" Subhankar let out a watery groan, his eyes moistening as he held his collar with a jerk, but he just chuckled lightly in his grip, "I had thought of forgiving this girl for once, Subhankar. But your heinous act ruined it all! Honestly Tripti tell me, you both had planned it right?"

"TO DEFAME ME LIKE THIS SO THAT YOU BOTH CAN BE TOGETHER?"

"I THOUGHT OF GIVING ONE CHANCE TO THIS WOMAN, ONE MORE CHANCE!" Indranil growled, staring at Tripti, "I FORGAVE YOU FOR EVERYTHING! YET, YET YOU CHOSE TO STOOP SO LOW WITH SUBHANKAR IN THIS ACT!"

"HONESTLY ANSWER TRIPTI, HOW MANY NIGHTS HAVE YOU SPENT IN THIS MAN'S ARMS?!" 

"INDRANIL!" Tripti cried, tears spilling from her eyes.

And one more slap landed over Indranil's cheek.

Anirban stood fuming, his teeth gritting as he shivered in anger, "ENOUGH!"

"TRUTH CAN'T BE HANDLED BY YOU ISN'T MR. ANIRBAN CHATTERJEE? THEN ASK YOUR BEST FRIEND, ASK YOUR DAMNED SISTER THEN! ASK!" 

"Subhankar, what is this man talking about?" Anirban and Somnath held Subhankar's shoulder lightly, "Say that this is all false!"

"INDRANIL, I DARE YOU SPEAK ONE MORE LIE I WILL BREAK YOUR JAW!" Subhankar ignored them and jerked Indranil by his collar, "LIE SUBHANKAR? THEN TELL ME, WHAT WAS TRIPTI DOING WITH YOU BEHIND THE PILLAR, HUGGING YOU? I HAVE SEEN YOU BOTH WITH MY OWN EYES AND SO DID MY FRIENDS HERE!"

Subhankar's jaws dropped slightly, as he slightly released his collar. 

Afternoon—he—he saw that? 

"Yes! We have seen them, Miss Tripti was  indeed hugging Subhankar! I told Indranil to speak to her so—" One of his friends out spoke, breathing. Indranil shook his head, with a sinister smile on his lips, "You trapped this innocent girl in your charms, didn't you? And now you want my share of property too which I was supposed to get after our marriage, right?" 

The way Indranil flicked the cards— Subhankar shivered with anger, as he glared hard at him. Somnath kept looking at Subhankar, while Damini had paled out. 

"STOP IT INDRANIL!" Manikant came forward, gritting his teeth.

"WHY SHOULD I?! YOUR DAUGHTER IS SHAMELESS WOMAN, WHY SHOULD I SUFFER?! ASK YOUR DAUGHTER HER DEEDS IF YOU HAVE SO MUCH AUDACITY TO LOWER THE BHOUMIKS!"

"SHUT UP INDRANIL!"

"WHY ARE YOU STOPPING US? YOU CHOSE TO DEFAME US, WHY SHOULD WE STOP?!"

Suddenly, the chamber was alarmed with the arrival of a few armed British police officers, leading to Indranil and his father gasping. Subhankar's lips kicked off into a smirk. 

"Subho, what the hell is happening?" Somnath strode towards him, grabbing his arm but he inhaled a deep breath, asking him to wait.

"Mr. Subhankar Das?" One of the officers called out.

"Yes Sir, that's me!" Subhankar replied, walking up towards them.

"Have you called us up to file charges against Mr. Indranil Bhoumik regarding sexual assault?" 

"Yes Sir," 

Indranil's face paled down, as he clenched his jaws, folding his fists. The British officers marched towards Indranil, one with the fetters in their hand.

"STOP! HE'S LYING OFFICER!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING! HE'S LYING!" Indranil gritted his teeth, trying to protest, but in vain. Anirban kept on gazing at Subhankar in shock and surprise so did Manikant and Somnath, as Indranil tried to battle himself with them. He was soon clutched in fetters, to be tried by the law.

"Mr. Subhankar Das, please follow!"

"MY SON IS INNOCENT! LEAVE HIM!" Indranil's father grumbled amidst the chaos as Indranil was taken away from there. Whispers and gossips surged up as everyone started to talk about it. Shock would be an understatement that they felt. 

Tripti felt like everything was dazing in front of her eyes, unable to grasp what had just conspired, and she was just used as a pawn amidst the chaos. She felt like her head would explode, it began to throb so hard, the entire commotion falling deaf into her ears. 

Her knees wobbled, as black dost began to appear in front of her eyes as she sucked in a breath.

She suddenly felt that he earth was slipping underneath her feet, and there was no control over her body, and within a few moments, she dimmed her lashes, tumbling into the couch.

"Tripti?!" Saudamini cried, rushing towards her immediately as all the attention got diverted towards her.

"TRIPTI DEAR?!"

"Hey! Someone get water asap!"

"GOSH, DID SHE FAINT?!"

"FAST! GET WATER! ASAP!"

.

.

.

.

Tripti flinched her eyelids, feeling the light falling over her face.

It was a nightmare. A nightmare. And now it had come to an end.

She heard a few voices around, talking in whispers. She angled her head, closing her eyes more, feeling the bed. 

"Tripti?"

Tripti fluttered open her lashes widely, taking in a deep breath as her hand shot open to massage her forehead lightly, "Uh...." Meghmaala and Saudamini sauntered towards her along with Shaanti, "Tripti, have water, have water," Saudamini instantly poured a glass of water from the jug while Meghmaala helped her sit up properly. Her forehead was throbbing, for not eating a morsel of food since the morning due to the fast for her engagement. It took her a few moments before fully grasping the reality. 

Subhankar slapping Indranil--him defaming them--Indranil getting arrested---

What was about to happen and what happened-

Tripti breathed in for a while, the series of events swirling in her head again.

"How are you feeling?" Saudamini whispered, making her sister-in-law sip upon the water.

"My head is paining," She arched her brows and then clutched her forehead, "Whe-where is everyone?" She mumbled, looking around. 

"That Subho and Ani along with Manikant and Somnath uncle have g-gone to the police station," Meghmaala softly uttered, "And everyone else have left."

Before Tripti could utter something, her gaze swept towards the door of her chamber which was greeted with fleeting steps of Shaanti and Kadambari. Shaanti's glance flicked from Meghmaala to Tripti for a moment, a frown etching on her forehead, a sigh falling from her as she strode towards her niece.

"Maa?" Meghmaala stood up, raising her brows.

"You both, you both go out for a while," Kadambari mumbled, lowering her eyes, "We need to speak to Tripti for a moment." 

Meghmaala and Saudamini looked at each other, and with a nod, they stepped out of the room. 

"Maashi? Is, is everything alright?" Tripti's voice almost came out in a squeaky manner, her heart thudding, fearing the unknown as her gaze swept over to both her aunts. Shaanti looked around for a while, and sat beside her, pursing her lips together. She pressed her hand over her palm and squeezed it a bit, "Tripti dear....just tell, tell the me truth."

"You did not-"

"I mean, you and Subho did not....right?"

And the latter's eyes fluttered wide almost instantly. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Tension hi tension 😩🔥

Signing off for today!

Nushkie