Forever Yours

Chapter Seventy Five

It was a long day. The veneration, the drama, the outburst, and later, Ridhi storming out of the temple premises, completely humiliated.

The veneration ended on a much calmer note. The drama that had preceded made everyone present there appreciate the peace even more.

Reaching home, Neetu and Aarav called for their daughter. Preeti and Rajveer entered alongside the couple. Kushal stood in the entryway just because. Everyone who had ever spent even a day with Samyukta knew that the girl would never disrespect another person for no reason and thus her outburst from the pooja had been raising too many questions in all of their minds.

They knew something was wrong. It had to be.

"Do you want to tell us what caused you to burst?" Her mother asked, looking down at the younger version of her with mild curiosity.

"I don't like her." Samyukta responded quietly.

"We know that. You've kept your dislike to yourself for long enough. What happened today?" Neetu asked.

Samyukta sighed. "I know you must be so upset with me."

"No. Surprisingly, we're not. We know you, Samyukta. All the people in this room know you, and they understand you. You defended shehnaaz out there. No one is going to be upset with you for being there for your family. But we don't know what the problem is, right. We need to know. We need to be in on this." Aarav said softly.

"She's not a good person, Dad. I tried so hard to remain respectful of the woman. I don't like her, but I've always managed to get over myself because she's older to me, but she just doesn't stop. I know that she's mausa-ji's sister, but so is Maami, isn't she?" Samyukta asked rhetorically.

"Of course she is, Samyukta." Rajveer jumped in to assure the younger girl.

"I'm sorry, mausa-ji. I know woh aapki behen hai. I know mene shaayad bahut bure tareeqey se baat ki usse and I take full responsibility. Maami kitni acchi hai, hamaari family ko, nani ko, maama ko, sab ko itna pyaar deti hai, izzat deti hai. Unke bina hamaari family kaise complete ho sakti hai? Phir bhi woh Ridhi baar baar maami ko family nahi hone ka taana deti hai. Mujhe nahi accha lagta. Family bhi Kabhi-kabhi utna nahi kar paati jitna maami karti hai, hum sab ke liye. Aur unko baar-baar.. aise bolna, how is that fair?" Samyukta asked.

"It's not fair. Not at all." Rajveer assured her. "Do you want to tell me the whole story?"

Samyukta nodded.

***

Siddharth walked out of his room to see Rajveer, Preeti, Neetu, and Aarav sitting in the living area. Samyukta stood near her parents, next to Kushal.

Shehnaaz entered the living area right behind Siddharth and looked at her fiance confused. Siddharth shrugged.

"Aap sab log?" Shehnaaz looked at them, slightly confused. "Sab theek hai na?"

"I was about to come, Raj jiju."

Rajveer frowned, "You were? What for?"

Siddharth walked over to them and sat on the single-seat couch. "I shouldn't have talked to Ridhi like that. She's your sister and what I said - I never meant to disrespect you or your family, but she just caught a nerve, I guess. Shehnaaz will be my wife in ten days. I couldn't hold myself back when I heard Ridhi say things that she did."

Rajveer smiled sadly. "You have no reason to apologize to me, Siddharth. Ridhi is my sister, but she is also the one who is at fault in this scenario. Tumne mujhe ya mere parents ko disrespect nahi kiya hai balki, I should be the one apologizing to you - to Shehnaaz because my sister ruined your function It was Ridhi's fault."