17. His Trauma

Ishqi's POV

It was late, the room bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. Abhimaan lay beside me, his sleeping form enveloped in the warmth of our shared embrace. My mind was running thinking about what Aasim said.

His words about that someone from the Thakur family was also a part of that bomb blast. But who could it be?I don't know if I should take help from Abhimaan or not.

But as the night wore on, a sense of unease settled over me.

When suddenly I felt his grip on the bedsheets tighten suddenly, his breathing growing labored and erratic. Panic surged through me as I shook him gently, calling out his name in a desperate attempt to rouse him from whatever troubled sleep gripped his subconscious.

"Abhimaan, Abhimaan," I whispered urgently, my voice tinged with worry. "Wake up, please."

But despite my efforts, he remained trapped in the depths of his restless slumber, his features contorted in silent anguish. The fear clawed at my heart as I struggled to reach him, to pull him back from the brink of whatever nightmare held him captive.

"Abhimaan, it's me, Ishqi," I pleaded, my voice trembling with concern. "You're safe, you're with me. Please, wake up."

Yet, as the moments stretched on, his grip only seemed to tighten, his distress palpable even in the stillness of the night. Helplessness washed over me, a wave of frustration and fear threatening to engulf me entirely.

He opened his eyes and then looked at me.

" Maa," he said while looking into my eyes. I was confused with his words.

" What happened, Abhimaan? Tell me?" I urged, my heart aching with concern as I reached out to cup his cheeks in my hands.

But before he could respond, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me as if seeking solace and reassurance in the warmth of our connection. I held him close, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest, a silent promise of safety and comfort.

"Shh, it's okay," I murmured softly, my voice a soothing balm against the turmoil raging within him. "I'm here, Abhimaan. You're safe with me."

" Now tell me what is the problem?" I asked while rubbing his head that was kept on my lap. He held my hands.

" Ishqi. I dreamt about my mother. I dreamt about how she was killed. " he said. I was confused about what he was saying.

He sat on the bed and then looked at me, straight into my eyes.

" I remember that I was just 8 years old when my mother was killed. I still remember that when I came home that day from school. I was happy as I got a award. I won the first position in my school in a race. I ran inside and saw that Maa and Papa were fighting as usual. It was very usual for me. I slowed down and started to walk towards them. Suddenly Papa slapped Maa and she fell down the stairs. Her head hit the edge of the stairs. Her head started to bleed and she lay in front of me. I started to cry and shake her but Papa held me and then locked me in a room. He said that men don't cry, they are not weak. After that Maasi opened the door and told me that maa is no more. I cried a lot. "

I felt the words that came out of the mouth of Abhimaan. I also felt the same pain that he felt. I was just 9 when I lost my mother.

My mother had cancer. Papa had sold everything that he had. My dadi was also doing and supporting us. But my Bade Papa took everything that was for me and Mannat di.

Bade Papa threw us out of the house and then we struggled a lot to make the ends meet and in this we lost our mother. For weeks, I wasn't even told that my mother had passed away.

It was because I was too small at that time. I didn't even remember must about her own. Because Didi and Baba never let me feel that she is no more in this world.

As he shared the harrowing memory of that fateful day, I found myself transported back to my own childhood, to the day when I had lost my mother to cancer.

The memories flooded back with startling clarity, each recollection tinged with the same sense of helplessness and grief that Abhimaan described.

I moved my hand on his forehead while caressing his head. The only thing I wanted was to make him get out of the grief.

" What ... What can I do for you that can get you our of this grief?" I asked making sure that he doesn't get hurt.

" No Ishqi, whenever I see that Uday Singh Thakur happy that is the biggest problem that I can't kill him because I can't see Maa sad. Whatever it is, she loves him and her love has stopped me from killing that man. Do you know how it feels to see your mother's killer everyday in front og you, laughing, smiling. I hate him." He said.

As the night stretched on, we found solace in each other's presence, drawing strength from the bond that bound us together. In that moment, amidst the shadows of our shared grief, we found a glimmer of hope, a beacon of light to guide us through the storm.

Sleep was now far away from my eyes. I was crying thinking about the same faith that me and Abhimaan faced because of the selfishness of our own relatives. Losing someone very dear to you, especially your mother isn't easy.

With each passing moment, the reality of our shared pain became all too apparent, a silent reminder of the cruel hand fate had dealt us both. Yet, amidst the darkness that threatened to consume us, a flicker of determination ignited within me, a resolve to confront the demons of our pasts and emerge stronger, together.

While being in all these thought, I didn't realize when my sleep overpowered me and I slept.

The sunlight fell straight on my face, waking me up. I looked around and saw that I was alone in the room. I stretched myself and then walked towards the washroom.

After a shower, I came down and saw Baba, Preeti and Ishaan along with Aasma ready to leave for Banaras. I hugged Baba.

" Take care of yourself, " I said and he passed me a smile.

I know Baba wished for a great grand wedding for me but that is not going to happen now. But he was happy for me. He knew that what so ever, Abhimaan would not let anything happen to me.

With this I bit farwell to Baba, Preeti, Ishaan and Aasma. Preeti was going to drive the car back home. I just wanted Aasma to be safe. But she looked happy.

I know that Armaan wasn't a good husband to her but still he was her husband. I also didn't like Abhimaan but the news of his death had shocked me too.

And she saw the death of her husband in front of her and still she didn't keep any hatred for me in her heart.

Maybe she knew that Armaan Siddiqui deserved to die. There are many things that she told me that broke my heart. How can a man treat his wife like this just like an animal.

When suddenly someone hugged me from behind and I knew who it was.

" Abhimaan are fine? " I asked. He rubbed his nose on my neck.

" Abhimaan, do you feel that I did the wrong thing killing Armaan Siddiqui? " I asked.

He turned me towards himself.

" Ishqi, if I would have been in your place then I would have done the same thing but the thing I fear is that if Aasim starts communal rights then it might be a problem for us. Because of our enmity, innocent people will die. "

His voice was concerning and worried. I know I have started to feel guilty for killing Armaan. What if the communal rights break out? What if my father gets affected because of it?

Shit, I killed Armaan in anger but didn't think of the consequences of this killing.

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One more week passed and nothing had happened. It has been almost 20 days since Armaan was killed. Raghav had kept an eye on Aasim but there was nothing.

Aasim was planning to go to Lahore, Pakistan to his hometown for a month as Raghav told us.

Everyone was a little calm except me. I felt that he will do something that will effect the whole family very badly.

On my request, Abhimaan sent some personal bodyguards for Baba and Aasma.

Those bodyguards stayed near Baba and Aasma and they didn't know about it. I used to call them every two hours to know if they were safe or not.

Aasma usee to visit the doctor every week along with Preeti. Aasma had a healthy child and she used to hear its voice in every section.

The thing that I felt odd in these 20 days was Bade Thakur. He used to leave the haveli late at night hiding from everyone.

He might have succeeded in fooling our guards but not my eyes. What if Bade Thakur is the man who was involved in the bomb blast with Armaan?

No, what so ever Bade Thakur will not hurt his own family especially his dearest sons. He will not do anything to hurt them.

" Jaan, Jaan. "

I heard Abhimaan's words and then turned towards him. He came inside and kissed my lips.

" Jaan, tomorrow is a grand party in which we have to go. It is important for my political career. "

He said and I smiled. I knew that Abhimaan wanted to win the seat because he wanted some changes in the whole state.

" Sure Patidev, we will go there. " I replied to him while hugging him.

Author's POV

Aasim was standing outside his chartered plane that was ready to fly towards Lahore. He looked at Uday.

" Uday, remember that I will surely kill your daughter-in-law for killing my husband and making that bitch Aasma against us. First I will kill that Aasma only after she gives birth to my grandchild. " he said.

Uday looked down. " Aasim Siddiqui, that would not be possible. Because that Abhimaan has sent many guards to protect that Shrikant and Aasma. "

A voice came behind Uday. Aasim and Uday looked back and saw Raghav coming forward. Uday and Aasim smiled.

" Very good Abdul that you won the trust of those Thakur brothers. " Aasim said. Abdul aka Raghav smiled. " Yeah, it took me long. " Abdul said.

" Now, you have to act like you are leaving for Lahore in fact you are not. " Abdul said. Aasim smiled. He went in and then the plane ran on the runway.

Abdul and Uday left from there. In the plane, Aasim looked at his bodyguard. " Hamza, I want them to do as I told them to do. " Aasim said.

Hamza shook his head and then started to type something on this laptop. " Abhimaan, Ishqi, be as happy as you want to be. Soon I will put a full stop on this happiness. "