Little Hearts❤❤❤

8. Disappointment

Ram composed himself then knocked on the door.
Ram: Can I come in?
Priya and Brinda looked at him.
Priya: Yeah sure.
He entered inside and locked the room.
Ram: So I need to clear something out between you too as you two are gonna stay together for some days. And I know Priya won't say this to you Brinda. And I don't want a riot happening there.
Priya looked at him, confused.
Brinda: What are you talking about Ram?
Ram: Ummmm...I'm sorry Priya but I have to clear this out. So it was not Priya who accidentally pushed Shivi that day.
Priya was beyond shocked. She couldn't utter a word. She looked pale suddenly.
Brinda: Whatttt? What the fuck are you talking about? Priya didn't! Then who did?
Ram: I can't tell you now. I'm sorry. Just know that she didn't. She just took the blame. And please Brinda it is my humble request please don't tell anyone about this! I mean anyone! Not even Adi. Please. Can you do that for me?
Brinda: Yes yes of course. I won't tell anyone.
Ram: I promise I'll tell everyone when the time is right. Now I want to talk to Priya alone.
Brinda nodded and left.

Ram: Priya can I lock the door? Are you comfortable with that?
Priya looked at him teary-eyed and nodded. He locked the door, came near her, picked the chair that was kept in a corner and sat in front of her.
Priya's tears were falling from her eyes again. Ram waited for her to calm down.
Priya(with a broken voice still sniffling): You know?
Ram: Yes I know.
Priya: Krish told you?
Ram: No didn't. He didn't break your trust Priya. He told me to find out as it is really easy. So after some trial and error I solved the mystery of Shivi's untimely death. Ishaan! Right?
Priya did not answer nor nodded.
Ram(calmly): Priya I'm asking something? Don't you think I deserve to know whose fault it is?
Priya slightly nodded.
Priya: Hm.
Ram: Hmm.
They stayed silent for some moments. Then,
Priya: Are you angry?
Ram(calmly): Yes I'm angry with Ishaan very very angry with him. But not with you.
Priya(looking at him): You are not angry with me?
Ram(with pain in his voice): No. I'm very very disappointed in you Priya.

She immediately looked down at her hands, guilt was overwhelming her.
Ram: I know Ishaan did it. But I don't know exactly what happened and why it even happened? Yes I heard Shubham's plan with Shivi but what really happened Priya? That day? Will you tell me?
Priya slightly nodded. She knew it's time she speak up. Ram deserved to know what happened.
Priya: That day when I went home after MS and Varun got arrested, Shivina was telling Ishaan that Varun is a murderer and of course Ishaan got angry and told Shivi, I'll kill you. I was trying to pacify the situation but Ishaan went to his room and locked the door. And my mother the great Meera Sood went to bang on the door that's when I confronted her and she....she tried to manipulate me by saying 'bohot kuch ho raha hai abhi iss baat ko chod ab'. I couldn't believe she just said that. She knew how much pain you had to go through because of da...your dad's death, she called you her son yet she chose to hide the truth to protect that murderer. Then Shivi started telling you on the phone that we torture her and we behave normally in front of you. Please believe we've never tortured her in any form. She was lying and of course today we came to know why she did what she did. So then she started dragging her suitcase towards the staircase and I was telling her not to go home and we can sort this out. So in anger Shivi pushed me and I fell on the floor then Ishaan got angry and.......
She couldn't finish and started wailing profusely.
Ram couldn't hold himself anymore so he hugged her tightly. Tears were falling from his eyes too. He caressed her back in order to calm her down. 5 mins passed, 10 mins passed. After 15 mins Ram felt her breath getting heavier. Krish was banging on the door. He broke the hug immediately,
Ram: Priya! Priya! Look at me. Look at me. Okay. Breath in! Breath out! Try with me. Please. Priya. For me. Please. Breath in! Breath out!
Ram(almost shouting): Krish I'm here. I can take care of her. Stop banging on the door.
Krish stopped knowing Ram was being protective and he doesn't want him there.
After 5 mins of doing the breathing exercise Priya's breath started getting normal.
Ram: Are you feeling a little okay now?
Priya nodded. Tears still flowing from her eyes.
Ram took her to the washroom and made her wash her face. Then he made her sit on the bed and gave her a glass of water to drink. Priya drank that. Then she faced him.
Ram: I didn't wanna cause you any distress. I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked you all this knowing your condition. I'm sorry. I really am.
He was teary. He stood up to go when Priya held his hand, he turned towards her,
Priya: Sit.
Ram again sat down.
Priya: Don't be sorry. You've been kept out of the truth for 5 long years. You deserve to know. Shivi was not your sister, she was your daughter. You raised her Mr. Kapoor. I know it's not believable but I understand your feelings and you need to ask me these questions. Ask me anything I'll answer. I promise I'll try to be as calm as possible. Please ask. Don't hold yourself.
Ram: Are you sure?
Priya nodded.
Ram took a deep breath.
Ram: Why did you take Ishaan's blame?
Priya: Mr. Kapoor Ishaan was just a kid. His future would've been ruined if he had to go to jail. Uski zindagi barbaad ho jati. I....I didn't want that so....
Ram: You decided to take the blame. You didn't think about me about us! No second thoughts Priya?
Priya: I'm sorry Mr. Kapoor tab mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaya. Ishaan ka kia hota!
Ram: First of all, usko jail nahi hota. He would've been sent to a correctional facility where he would get education and psychological counseling which was fucking needed for him Priya. You tell me how can a child be this angry that he pushed someone down the stairs and that person dies! He needed a psychiatric evaluation for his future for which you're very very concerned about. Priya he accidentally killed someone! Do you even understand the depth of it! Priya Varun who is a murderer, raised Ishaan! So by Environmental effects and Varun's parenting, he became impulsive, angry, viorent, manipulative! You remember when I first met him how it was! He was manipulating the whole family that if we shold send him back to Delhi he would jump off the building. He would've never jumped Priya! He was manipulating all of us so that we give into his wishes. He had always been very very very rude to Shivi, think about it. Priya these should not be a child's behavioral patterns. Are you understanding what I'm trying to say?