...It was Aryan.
Neha's own jeth. Vijay's elder cousin brother. The one who had put his hand on her head during vidaai and said...
"Don't worry beti, this house is yours now. We will keep you like a flower."
The phone slipped from Neha's numb fingers and fell on the white hospital sheet. The video kept playing on loop, Aryan. Black hoodie,Wire cutter,Vijay's car.
"No," Neha choked out. The word tasted like poison...
"No, it cannot be him. Why? Why would Aryan bhaiya..."
Her voice broke. She looked at Ishani, begging her to say it was a lie, a mistake.
Ishani's face was stone. "I checked it three times, Bhabhi. It's him. I found this video from the society parking CCTV. He thought no one would check because it was the wedding day. Everyone was busy."
The nurse standing with the DNR form cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ma'am, I... I should give you privacy. About the form... you can decide and tell us at the counter." She quickly left, closing the door with a soft click.
Now it was just Neha, a comatose Vijay, and a truth that was worse than death.
Neha's legs gave up. She collapsed on the chair beside the bed, her head in her hands. The weight of her new bangles felt like chains. "But why?" she sobbed. "Vijay did nothing. We just got married. What did he want?"
Ishani sat beside her and held her hand. For the first time, her voice softened. "Property, Bhabhi. Dadaji's will. Dadaji changed the will last month. He gave 50% of everything to Vijay because he said Vijay is the most honest. Aryan bhaiya found out on wedding day."
Vijay's heart monitor was the only sound for a full minute.
Neha looked at Vijay's peaceful, pale face. Three days ago this man had applied sindoor in her hair line, his hands shaking. He had promised, "I will always protect you, Neha."
And now she had to protect him. From his own family.
She slowly stood up. Wiped her tears with the back of her hand, smearing her kajal. The scared, new bride was gone. Something else took its place in her eyes. Something cold. Something dangerous.
She picked up the phone from the bed. Stopped the video. Looked at Ishani.
"Does anyone else know about this video?" Neha's voice was not shaking anymore. It was flat and dead.
"Only you and me,"
" Ishani whispered."
"I came straight to you. "
"I didn't even tell Papa. I was scared."
Neha put the phone in the pocket of her salwar kameez. She walked to the glass window of the emergency room and looked outside. The corridor was empty.
Then she turned back, her mehendi-stained hand resting on Vijay's cold hand.
"Aryan thinks Vijay will die and he will get everything,"
Neha said softly. Each word was like a stone dropping in water.
"He doesn't know that Vijay's wife is still alive."
She looked at Ishani, and for the first time since the accident, a small, terrifying smile touched her lips. It didn't reach her eyes.
"Delete the video from your phone, Ishani. Right now. Before someone sees.
" Neha's eyes went to the DNR form lying on the bed.
"And we are not signing any papers. My husband is not dying today."
Outside the ICU glass window, a shadow moved away quickly. Someone had been listening.
😊THE END😊
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