You are mine only (Sequel)

5. Reinvestigate

Shabd turned his head and noticed a woman standing alone in the lobby. Her frail figure and constant tears caught his attention. She stood, her eyes fixed upon the iron gate of the villa, refusing to sit down.

Shabd's gaze then shifted to a child playing in the garden with Miss Morrison, his heart sinking for the little one. He turned back to look at Rahi's delicate back.

Kriti placed her hand on Shabd's shoulder, her eyes brimming with tears as she observed Rahi's state.

"I can't bear to see her in pain. She keeps waiting for brother in law. I've tried talking to her, but it seems like our words don't reach her. I'm worried... about how she will cope, especially with her child," Kriti whispered, her voice choked and low. She could see the pain in Shabd's eyes, fully aware of the precious bond between him and Anant.

Shabd turned around, holding Kriti's face gently in his cold palms, wiping away her tears

"She will be fine. Don't worry," he reassured her, holding her tightly in his arms. He then glanced at Raghav Williams, who sat on the couch, smoking, his intense gaze fixed on Rahi.

"I'll take both of them to India. I can't let her suffer here," Shabd declared.

Just then, Raghav turned his head and locked eyes with Shabd, who was gazing at his wife with a determined look.

Kriti nodded, "I'll go and see Ansh."

Shabd nodded, and as Kriti left, he shifted his gaze to Raghav, his eyes red and troubled. Raghav approached him slowly, lighting another cigarette.

"Have you informed Mr. Mathur and the family?" Raghav asked casually.

Shabd turned away briefly, his gaze on Rahi.

"I don't want to worry Uncle. He's a heart patient. I'll talk to Setu after handling things here carefully," Shabd replied. Raghav raised an eyebrow, suspicious of Shabd's intentions. Shabd was determined to uncover the truth behind the accident and Anant's unexpected demise. He insisted on reinvestigating to find Anant and his car, no matter the cost. Raghav understood Shabd's resolve and nodded, aware of Shabd's lineage as Virat's son.

Shabd walked over to Rahi and stood beside her, his eyes fixed on the iron gate where she had been staring all day.

"You should rest," he suggested.

Rahi remained unresponsive. Shabd checked if she was in a normal state or not. He turned his head and observed Rahi's pale face. Tears continued to stream down her eyes, yet she stood there calmly without blinking. Shabd sighed, his forehead creasing with worry. It was not a good sign of her being in a normal state, and it deeply troubled him. He had to wait for the investigation's results to console her, but he couldn't bear the pain of the incident in the meantime. He knew it might be futile to wait for the reports of the reinvestigation, but he still wanted to try.

"Sister..."

Rahi remained motionless, her red and swollen eyes unblinking.

"Rahi... listen to me," he tried again, but failed. Suddenly, she turned her head weakly and looked at him.

"Shabu... Why is he late? Doesn't he know I'm waiting for him here? Call him and tell him his wife and son miss him," she spoke with a trembling voice that melted his heart. He couldn't fathom that she would ask such a question. Rahi was clearly not in a normal state.

Ignoring his own panic, Shabd tightly held her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"I will definitely call and scold him. But first, come with me and have something to eat," he coaxed her as if trying to coax a child. Rahi shook her head, her lips trembling.

"I'll eat after seeing him. I won't go anywhere. I want him right in front of me before I move from here," she stubbornly insisted.

Just then, Kriti entered the room, her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at Rahi.

"Didn't I say I'll talk to him soon? He's probably at work. You should eat something, and then we can go and talk to him. If you don't eat, he'll be mad.” Shabd said.

Rahi glanced at Shabd, her eyes pleading, but she couldn't respond. Kriti slowly approached Shabd, her focus still on Rahi.

Shabd turned his head and looked at Kriti, silently urging her to take Rahi to the dining hall. Kriti nodded slowly and walked towards Rahi.

"Come on, sister. The children are waiting for you," Kriti gently held Rahi's shoulders and guided her to the dining hall. Shabd let out a deep sigh and shook his head anxiously. Just then, his mobile phone rang.

"Yeah, Vinay. Have you found anything?"

"I'm sorry, sir. The team didn't find anything," Vinay's hesitant voice came through. Shabd clenched his teeth in anger and pounded his fist against the glass wall.

"The team discovered some car traces, but the chasm is too deep and treacherous.

It's dangerous, so they suspect his death. They couldn't retrieve the body," Vinay explained cautiously.

Shabd tightly closed his eyes and lowered his arm. He didn't want to hear those words, but fate... He walked towards the dining hall and paused at the entrance, gazing at his sister and Ansh. His heart ached as he searched for an excuse to give his sister about her husband. How could he answer? How could he break the news?