CHAPTER 31
She was standing in dark tunnel.Darkness engulfed her totally.She was feeling alone and scared.She felt someone touch her shoulder and she turned sharply to see a familiar warm face smiling at her – Guddu's "Guddu" she almost shouted with joy and hugged him and felt the darkness around her melting
"Guddu" Rhunjhun muttered in her sleep.She slowly opened her face to find herself in darkness once more.Tears flowed down her beautiful face.
"Never should these come out when I am with you" Rhunjhun remembered her husbands words
"Stop these tears from falling Guddu,come back please ,come back and tell me the truth"
Guddu was sitting silently in a corner of the jail.His eyes were shut and he was remembering the last site of his wifes face.She had looked shocked.He had tried convincing her with his eyes.She read them well.His heart clenched at the thought of her misunderstanding him.He knew that Mahadevi and the rest of his family would ,maybe his father too,all that wouldn't hurt him much
But Rhunjhun her mistrust will kill me.
Guddu opened his eyes to look at the drab prison wall.He knew he had done the right thing.Afterall it was an accident.Diamond was pushed from behind.Only he,Diamond ,the head goon and the guy who had pushed Diamond had witnessed it.
He didn't want his brother in laws life spoiled like his.He hadn't been able to complete college due to his troubles in last year.Diamond hadn't even began his studies and a mureder case would tarnish his future completely.He knew that this would put a blemish on Mahadevi's life too.Too many lives were at stake and he did what his heart told was right.
The head goon saw it as an opportunity to finish his old grudges against Guddu.Guddu had been the gangs main foe in his goon days.He was taking his revenge in this manner.Besides he could save his gang member too by lying.Two birds in one shot.
Mahadevi enterd the police station with Diamond.She had left Rhunjhun in Amma's care and headed to the station while Rhujhun was still unconscoious.She wanted the truth from her brother in law.But when he came into her view words got stuck in her mouth.He looked tired and out of life.Nothing of the man who had been with her yesterday
"How is Rhunjhun?" Guddu asked to them
Concern was evident in his voice
"How do you expect her to be?"Maha asked back
Guddu remained silent
"Jeeju did you really do it?" Maha asked in a small voice
Guddu could sense that she too was hurt.He looked at Diamond who was pleading with his eyes to allow him to tell the truth.He replied no with his eyes
"Yes Mahadevi I did mureder the goon"Guddu said with a finality that made Mahadevi stare at him disbelief
"Jeeju how could you…you didn't remember Di or your family when you did that"
"I am a thug, a heartless beast ,I don't care for anybody.Now go from my site before I asy something worse" saying this Guddu turned his face away from them.A single tear dropped from his eyes
Mahadevi turned and strode out tears threatening to fall out of her eyes.Diamond gave his Jeeju's back one last look and walked out
Mahadevi on her way out collided with Rohan who was walking in.She looked and murmered a sorry .
" Mahadevi whats the matter? Anything I can help with?" Rohan asked concerned
"Its none of your business Mr.Arora.let me go,you are blocking my way" Mahadevi answered through gritted teeth
"Mahadevi I am not flirting with you or anything,I am private investigator if its that kind of help you need then I can help you" Rohan said matter of factly
"Just let me go" Mahadevi went past him.
When Mahadevi entered her sisters room,she found her sister in previous nights state staring at the wall
Maha placed the food tray down and sat besides her sister
"Di please have this food,you look weak" Maha said
"Am not hungry"Rhunjhun answered in a lifeless voice
"Beti now its not just the matter of your life but that of the one inside you too" Amma said to her in a choking voice
Amma hadn't found the courage to break the news to her as soon as she woke up
Rhunjhun looked confused at first then comprehension dawned on her and her hand moved to her stomach.Tears started forming in her eyes and when Maha touched her she leaned into her sister and cried her heartout
Diamond decided to break his promise.He couldn't see his Badi Di suffering anymore,nor his Jeeju's image being tarnished.Past few days his sister was as lifeless as possible.He couldn't take it anymore
He went to his Badi Di's room and stood by the door nervously twisting his fingers
Maha saw her brother standing there.She had noticed the change in him.Her naughty,funny brother was lost somewhere these days
"Diamond kya hua,itne pareshaan kyun ho" Maha asked
"Diamond jerked his head up and looked at his sisters.Rhunjhun was looking at him but seemed as if she wasn't seeing him
"Badi Di,I have something to tell you"He said
Rhunjhun looked up at her brother
"Badi di he didn't do it" Diamond said in a small voice
Mahadevi squeezed Diamonds hand gently "It's okay Diamond we all want to believe that but.."
"No Chotti Di,that is the truth I saw it "
He narrated the whole incident which left both his sisters staring at him in shock
After a long pause he said "I am sorry Di..i ought to
Rhunjhun felt the weight in her heart lifting slightly.
I knew it..my love could never ever do that.
Tears of relief flowed from her eyes.But it was immediately replaced by despair.How could they save him
"Di I am really sorry"Diamond said
"It's okay Diamond..you were keeping your promise.But we need to save Guddu"
"Yes Di we need to do that….and I think I have a way" Mahadevi said
Rhunjhun,Mahadevi and Diamond explained their situation to Rohan in his office the next day.Rohan listened attentively.He said it was a difficult case to crack as Guddu had himself agreed to the crime,but he promised them to try
Guddu's first hearing had not gone well.But the court had postponed the case for another date.Rhunjhun and Guddu had briefly met each othrs eyes at the court corridor.Guddu saw a new light in his wifes eye
When Rhunjhun and her siblings returned home they found the Pandeys celebrating something
"Eb tum asli vakeel bane Vishnu Pandey"Kalsanwali shouted out
"Aye hai Kalsanwali.ab toh Guddua gaya kaam se"Mittho was nearly dancing with joy
"It's a lucky thing that Guddu himself agreed to his crime and no one really knows what happened…else I wouldn't have been able to give such a strong argument" Vishnu croaked
"Gunda Guddua ka raamkatha eb khatham" Kalsanwali chimed in
"Nothing will hapeen to my husband as long as I am alive" Rhunjhun's determined voice answered from the door
"Aye hai Bhojarani..ab bhi apne khooni pati ka saath diyo hain..wah isse kehthe hain pathivrata"Mittho said scathingly
"My husband is not a murderer and soon the truth will come out badi mami and until it does I'll stand by him"Rhunjhun shot back
Mahadevi wanted to shout the truth at her mother but Rj silenced her with her eyes
"Tou Rhunjhun..you don't care about justice or this houses reputation..you only care about that murdere husband of yours"Billo said
"For me my husbands reputation matters the most and I'll fight for it"Rhunjhun answered
"So will we"Mahadevi added