No response.
Silence.
The eyes which were confused at Vivaan's sudden summoning, turned surprised at his statement. The centre of attention was Rushaan's father now. No one spoke in mid until the cold air stretched between both of them.
"Answer." Vivaan commanded, with no hint of pity or patience in his tone.
No answer.
But enough evidence.
Rushaan's father turned pale at the reminder of the question. Perhaps, this wasn't the situation he could escape. He looked around him. At every family member before settling his eyes to Vivaan.
"I...I am being framed." He spoke suddenly.
A shuddering exhale left him.
"Who is framing you, then?" Vivaan asked again.
Rushaan's father's breath hitched.
Another question directed at him.
Another round of stares on him.
"H-how can I possibly know?"
Vivaan stared at him calmly. The silence which made the old man feel goosebumps. His eyes moved to the face, then the hands before finally settling on the eyes.
"Why are you stuttering?"
"I am not stuttering Vivaan. I am your uncle for God's sake."
"That doesn't matter. Right now, I am investigating the person who made my wife uncomfortable in my absence."
"You are accusing me?" Rushaan's father asked in a strict tone, his tone raised slightly.
"No."
"Your words seem like that."
A pause.
"Your actions seem fair to my vision."
Rushaan's father glared at him before fixing his blazer.
"I didn't do anything."
"Then who did?"
"How would I know, Vivaan?"
"Because you are the only person except me at present who knows about that room."
Vivaan glanced at his grandmother for a moment. She nodded in approval. She knew too well, that her husband, Vivaan's grandfather talked about that secret room to all three of their sons. She was present at that time. She was the first to make that suggestion.
"Or perhaps, you want me to ask your son, Mr. Dhar Amogh?"
The sudden tension in the room escalated.
Dhar Amogh.
No one, not even Rushaan's mother used the full name of her husband.
But Dhar Amogh was calm.
His shoulders relaxed suddenly.
"Why not? besides, Rushaan holds a grudge against Kruthi."
Vivaan's jaw tightened for a moment. That was the point he knew already who was wrong and who wasn't.
He looked at Kruthi, who was sitting weakly with Naina and Ayesha. He noticed her tired gaze and opened his mouth to speak something. But silenced it suddenly.
No.
She has to witness everything, because...
it includes her.
Then his eyes went to Rushaan, who was glaring at his father. His fists tightened, eyes slightly moistened. Vivaan knew that expression too well.
And more than that... he remembered how tense Rushaan got when Kruthi was in danger.
A person who is determined to harm, has no intention to protect the victim.
But Vivaan stepped towards Rushaan and asked him coldly.
"Was it you Rushaan?"
Rushaan's gaze snapped back at Vivaan. He spoke precisely, but his eyes spoke otherwise.
"No. It wasn't me. I know you are suspecting me but hear me once, please. I am everything but not a killer. Not someone who takes advantage of vulnerability. Yes, once I tried to...do inappropriate with Kruthi and you warned me clearly with physical means. But instead of hatred I realised that... It was a death in another form, more painful than death itself. Since then, no, never harmed Kruthi, not physically, mentally, or socially."
Vivaan stared at him for few moments.
Indeed, Rushaan's actions were questionable but a voice inside him spoke, that this time, Rushaan was innocent. He didn't do that.
"Five days."
Vivaan turned to Rushaan's father.
"Five days I give you. Bring the culprit to me. Any evidence."
With that Vivaan turned around and took Kruthi up in his arms.
He paused for a moment and glanced at Dhar Amogh from his shoulder.
"And stop using your son for defending your deeds."
With that he went upstairs to their shared room and placed Kruthi on the bed.
Kruthi covered herself with the duvet and didn't speak anything until Vivaan had a glass of water and was settled on the plush chair.
"You didn't have to..."
Vivaan looked at her suddenly.
His gaze was cold, too cold which made Kruthi silence herself.
She swallowed her words and kept finger on her lips obediently.
Vivaan didn't say anything.
But for a moment, his eyes softened.
He saw people continue their brag or bow in fear.
But never someone who... kept finger on their lips as if scolded by a tutor.
"You deliberately act like this, or you are naturally this immature?"
"I...I am not immature." Kruthi said in low voice defending herself.
Vivaan didn't speak anything.
He shifted his gaze somewhere else, but the twitch on his lips was disturbing enough for the facade he was trying to maintain.
"Suniye..."
Vivaan's head shot to her immediately. The word sounded so...intimate without having such intention.
"Woh..." She continued. "You are sure that it was Rushaan's father? I mean...he is like my father-in-law..."
Vivaan's face darkened slightly.
"How?"
"He is your father's brother na. So indirectly he's my father-in-law..."
Vivaan stared at her for a moment before speaking.
"Don't make relations where they never mattered."
"But how can't they matter? I mean..."
"Because they don't." He sighed. "Do me a favour. Don't make relations in this family except Dadi, Badi Dadi, Ayesha and Naina."
Kruthi frowned slightly.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that, you are implying terms at the place where everything are conditions."
"Why shouldn't I... It's family na..." Kruthi said with a confused pout.
Vivaan's eyes caught that again.
There.
Those exact immature habits
"It's not. Named a family, but bond... like strangers."
"Why?"
"You want me to answer?"
Kruthi nodded innocently.
Vivaan held his chin with an exhale. This woman really doesn't take hints.
"Because when my father died... I saw everyone fighting over his wealth, not his cremation. I didn't see a brother who grieved at the loss of his brother. I didn't see a sister who was crying over her brother and sister in law's demise. I only saw a grandmother, a great grandmother who broke their glass bangles while crying. I saw the old woman who grieved at the loss of her son, soon after her husband. I saw the silent little girl, who had no connection that close, but her silent tears slapped at the behaviour of adults, that girl is presently your bhabhi...Rushaan's wife. And lastly, I saw an infant, who cried, without even knowing what was happening, And her young brother who..."
He paused for a moment.
"Who forgot he was too young to understand it all in one go."
He poked his inner cheek and stood up suddenly walking towards the window, looking outside at the bustling city.
Kruthi didn't speak anything.
But the silence was suffocating. This was the first time someone asked him, first time he answered.
"That's not a family." Kruthi admitted, lowering her head.
Vivaan nodded.
"What about the young boy?"
Vivaan's focus broke suddenly. His eyes frowned slightly, fists clenched.
He turned around and looked at her.
"He is in front of you."
"That toh... I know. I want to know what he felt?"
His jaw clenched.
"I don't remember."
Silence.
Kruthi peeked from her eyelashes and spoke suddenly.
"Can I have a glass of water?"
Vivaan nodded and poured the water in the glass handing it to her.
"Suniye..."
That word. AGAIN.
Vivaan shut his eyes and turned around looking at her with a 'what' look.
Kruthi tapped over her side on the bed.
He sighed and sat there.
"You know... you didn't give me enough water."
Vivaan looked at her confused but nodded. He held up the jug and filled the glass more.
"Fill it more."
Vivaan sighed and filled it up to brim.
"Happy now?"
"No. Fill it more."
"Where's more in that?"
Kruthi took a sip from the glass and eyed at it. He shook his head lightly and filled it till brim again.
"Now see. This is just a glass. It cannot take unlimited water in it, until you reduce some. How can you allow yourself to face new problems when you are still stuck in the past?"
Vivaan's eyes widened lightly.
He kept the jug aside.
"I am not stuck in past."
"Then why did the past memory hurt so bad? why don't you know the little Vivaan?"
"Because..." He paused for a moment, thinking of a reason, or excuse. Meanwhile she looked at him as if she already knew the answer.
"Don't tell me. It's okay. Just give yourself time, give yourself the credit you deserve. Understand, analyse, think. And I am sure you'll win this deal too."
He stared at her for a moment. No explanation needed. No demands of answer. No force, no pressure.
He exhaled lightly and a flicker of softness passed his expression.
"You know..." He spoke suddenly while standing up.
"I was wrong. You aren't immature."