MEANT TO BE YOURS

chapter 18

Rishi drove back to Oberoi mansion with shalu  and  Lakshmi.

Neelam: Rishi, Lakshmi you both are back. Shalu welcome beta.. U did good that you came here. Lakshmi misses you here. Now that u have came here Please stay for some days.

Rishi: mom she will stay here with us forever.

Virendra: is everything okay beta?

Rishi: Lakshmi take shalu to her room. I will tell them everything.

The sisters went. And Rishi told his parents everything. They appreciated Rishi for his decision. Later Rishi was sitting on his bed thinking about Lakshmi. He was disturbed by her tears again. Soon Lakshmi entered the room.

Rishi: is shalu okay now?

Lakshmi nodded: yes she slept finally.

Rishi nodded.

Lakshmi: Mr. Oberoi..

Rishi: yes butterfly..
Rishi turned back and saw Lakshmi had joined her hands and she had tears. He immediately stood up and went to her. She fell on her knees..

Rishi knelt down to wipe her tears and he hugged her. She was shivering. He caressed her hair .
Rishi: why are you crying again?

Lakshmi: .. T-thanks... And a-nd I am really sorry for the scene  chachi and chachu created there.

Rishi: it's okay butterfly.. I didn't mind them.

Lakshmi: They way you stood for me and my sister today nobody else did after Dad left us.

Rishi's heart broke. He made Lakshmi sit on the bed and made her drink water and he wiped her tears.

Rishi: I will always protect you and your sister is my sister too so I had to. now please don't cry..

Lakshmi: Rishi I am really sorry for being a trouble in your life I promise I will leave your life soon and.. And I will pay your money back too.

Rishi: oh my god... Is there something like mine and yours between us? You are my wife everything is ourss.

Lakshmi: but.. I don't want to be like a gold digger.

Rishi: Hahahaha I don't know about gold digger but u are cute sometimes. Accha okay return my money whenever you want.

Lakshmi nodded..

Rishi: Butterfly I had a question

Lakshmi :hmm

Rishi: do they always behave like that with you? And if they did why you didn't tell me before? Or.. Anyone else before?

Lakshmi did not speak.

Rishi got up: it's ok if you don't want to tell me. I know you are still not that comfortable with me.

Lakshmi held his hand and gestured him to sit next to her. Rishi sat next to her.

Lakshmi: after the accident Dad's property went to charity and half of the estate is still under dispute. Our eldest uncle is fighting for it. Chachu and chachi took us with them because  they wanted dad's possessions but after knowing that we have no right on them till now they felt betrayed. Chachu left his job in greed of dad's money and soon he became a drunkard and started torturing us and one day shalu broke his alcohol bottle so he was about to beat her so I came in between and then it was a daily job chachu and chachi used to beat me to get rid of their frustrations.

She kept her head on rishi's shoulder. And tears overflowed.
Rishi kept his hand on Lakshmi's shoulder to console her.

Rishi: my butterfly bear all of this alone . You are the strongest. And I respect you .