Chapter -13 Disown

At the hospital, Rishika was staring the wall. She still can't believe that Sanjay shot her. She hardly cared about it. But when Rishi still didn't come to meet her at the hospital was bugging her.

She broke down. She was cursing herself. Deep down in her heart, she knew that everything was finished. She lost the battle.

Am I really that bad? Do they really abandon me? What I'm gonna do now. I'm so stupid.

She was somewhat relieved that no one came to see her from her family. She doesn't want to meet them. But somehow she was reluctant to accept that they will never come. They chose Avantika over her.

Fine, I'll say sorry I'll beg for their forgiveness. For the whole 2 weeks, she was preparing herself about how she is going to apologize.

Except for doctors, no one was there to take care of her. She was all alone. She was reading the newspaper where she again saw the advertisement of England scholarship. She decided to apply for that. There is nothing for her here, or no one for her. I'll apologize and leave for England. Maybe then, they'll love me. They need time to accept me again.

Jay came to meet her. When Jay entered her ward, he saw she was sleeping. He kept the flowers on her bedside table. He noticed the dry tears on her cheeks. He felt guilty for what he did. He said to unconscious Rishika, "I'm sorry. I never realized your pain. I never wanted to hurt you. Get well soon. From now onwards, you are my friend. I won't let anyone hurt you. I have messed up your life. Now, I'll reveal everything to your family and everything will be ok". He gave one last glance to her and then left from there.

Rishika who listened to his confession didn't care now. It's over from her side. Deep down, she thanked him as because of him she got closure. She knew now that even if she died for her family, they will always choose Avantika over her. But she can't live without Rishi. She has made up her mind that no matter what she is going to convince him to forgive her for the crime she didn't even commit.

After a week Rishika was discharged. But the compounder gave her the packet. She opened it and there was a new phone in it for her. She didn't understand. But when that phone rang, the caller ID showed Rishi calling.

She immediately picked it up, "Bhai, where are you?" There was silence on another side.

But soon she heard Rishi's voice," Rishika, there is a cab waiting for you outside. The cab will bring you to me. "

Rishika frown that Rishi didn't even talk with her nicely. His voice was emotionless. But ignoring all this, she went outside and sit in the cab.

The cab took her to her favorite restaurant. She smiled, thinking that Rishi wants to give her a surprise.

She immediately went inside the restaurant. But it was empty. Only smooth music can be heard.

Soon she noticed Rishi, who was looking at her with an unknown expression. She went to him and sat beside him. She was about to ask him but was interrupted by the waiter, who kept all her favorite dishes on the table.

She looked at Rishi, "Eat. You must be hungry". She knew something was off. She lost her appetite. When she didn't touch the food.

Rishi gave her the file to read. After reading the file, she was shaking. This was not what she was expecting. But soon she composed herself, and in a very strict tone, she said," I won't sign it."

Rishi knew this was how she was going to react but he was well prepared. "It doesn't need your sign. It's already done. You are officially taken out of the family register. You are just Rishika, not Mehra."

"How could you let it happen? Why didn't you stopped this?" Yelled Rishika.

"Why would I do that? When I'm the one who suggested this. Dad has literally become a murderer because of you. Look at you, you have become toxic for all of us."

"You didn't mean that. You can not do this to me." Whispered Rishika.

"If you have not tried to kill Avantika, I could have," before he could continue, Rishika screamed, "Avantika, Avantika, Avantika! I feel suffocated with this name. It's like someone is choking me. Bhai, please ask her to leave. I'll promise I'll be a good girl. The way you want. Can't you see what she has done? She has replaced me."

"Maybe you are very easily replaceable. Things that can be easily replaced hold no value. Same with you. You mean nothing to us or to me."

Rishika very desperately held Rishi's hand, "How could you forget it was me who called you Bhai the first time. Not that Avantika. I'm the one who gave you the right to be a brother. Have mercy on me. Don't do this. I can't live without you. I love you. Remember, you promised me to never leave me." Rishika was sobbing.

"I really wish that it was Avantika, who has called me Bhai first. I regret all the moments I spent with you. I wish it was Avantika in all those moments" with this Rishi released his hand from her grip.

Rishi took out the cheque of 3crores and gave it to her. "This is the price I can give you for being a Mehra. All shares on your name have been transferred into Avantika's name. You don't have any right on any property. Never show your filthy and disgusted face to us ever."

Rishika flinched at the words he used for her.

"You know what Rishika, even prostitutes are better than you. At least they are loyal. They pleasured man for money. But you? You are ready to spread your legs for attention. I wish you were never born. You're not capable of being called a daughter, sister, or even a human being. People like you don't deserve to be happy. I curse you to get pain, and humiliation wherever you go. So, you could get what we are feeling right now. I curse you. That your nightmares become your reality. You ask for death but death will be a fantasy to you."

With this Rishi tried to leave the restaurant when Rishika immediately held his legs begging him to not leave her alone.

"Don't do this, okay? I don't want anything. Consider me as extra furniture in your home. If you want I'll say sorry to everyone. I'll pay you the rent for staying in your house. Don't leave me. I'm scared. I can't live without you. Treat me as a maid. But please don't kick me out of your life. Have mercy. I'm your sister. "

Rishi can sense how desperate she sounds. He asked her to leave him. When she didn't. He shouted, "Enough, Rishika. If you ever love me, then leave me. You always claimed to love me more than your pathetic life. Fine then, let me test it. You will never try to contact me ever again. No trickery Rishika. If you did by any means, I'll give you my word, I'll kill myself."

Rishika immediately left him. Tears were sliding down. She doesn't know how to react. But soon she hugged Rishi, "Wait one last time. Let me hug you. I won't contact you ever. But I'll wait for you to reach me. I'll always wait. Yes, that's what I'll do wait. Remember I love you. Please try not to forgive me. I know you will come back. You will find me. But Bhai just an answer this what if I'm dying still you want me not to contact you again." Rishika very innocently asked this.

Rishi became stiff, "if I ever came to find you, then maybe because I came to laugh at you on your pathetic life."

He looked at Rishika who was nodding her head at this statement while hugging him. Then out of the blue Rishika asked for his personal phone, which he gladly gave her. Rishika kept the phone in her bag.

Rishika looked at him and explained to him, "Bhai, listen very carefully, I'm never going to change my number. Whenever you need me, just contact me. I can not contact you on my own. But you can. I'm just one call away." Rishika was explaining this to Rishi like a child.

Rishi came out of her embrace, "It's Mr. Mehra to you." With this, Rishi left. Rishika looked at him disappearing in the wind.

She soon took out her mobile and dialed the number that she took from Rishi. She can listen, Rishi's voicemail in which he is asking him to contact him later.

She was repeating this process again. She took his phone because Rishi has set his voice as a tune. Which was enough for her.

She doesn't know what to do now. She has been kicked out. In the evening, she went to the restaurant where she saw how people were having dinner with their family or loved ones. And here she was all alone. Then she noticed a small kid asking the manager that when her mother's shift will end. She noticed the kid doesn't look well. She called the manager and asked him about the boy.

She came to know that a boy's mother was a single parent. They were struggling financially. He has heart disease. She asked the manager to send that single mother to her. Soon very timid girl came back to serve her.

Rishika took her account details and transferred 50 lakhs to her account. When the waitress asked her the reason for this generosity, she replied with a heavy heart, "I lost my family today. No one should lose their family. "

With this Rishika went from there. Rishika decided to go to England to complete her studies. She remembers Rishan has already applied for the scholarship test and is in England now.

Without wasting time she booked her tickets for England.

While sitting on the plane, she was scared and tensed. She immediately fills the online scholarship form for England University. She doesn't know what the future holds for her. All she wishes that in the future Rishi will also be there. She was a scared, lonely 17 yrs old girl. She knew one familiar face will be there in England with her i.e. Rishan.

All Rishika has to do is contact him again and ask for his help.

Present-day

Rishi came out of his deep slumber when the flight attendant shook him. He didn't realize that he slept on the whole journey. When he came out of the airport, he booked a cab and left for the hotel. All Rishi knew that Rishika left for England after their last encounter, for which he already cursing himself. He regretted everything he had said to Rishika. He recalled how desperate she was that she ready to say sorry to Avantika. He was chugging down his whiskey and recalled their last encounter. He felt his eyes heavy and whispered, "Where are you, Rishika?" With this, he went into a deep slumber.

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