HWGA Chapter 33: So Cliche

Thank you everyone who commented and liked the last chapter. Sorry it's late and short, I was ill and I'd been busy with Christmas. I'll try and update soon. Enjoy :)

Chapter 33: So Cliché

Arnav lead Anjili to his study. Once she was inside, he shut the door behind her and came to stand in front of her. Anjili waited quietly for Arnav to begin.

Arnav rubbed a hand over his face. “Di, you know I love you right?”

“Yes Chote.” She replied quietly.

“And that is why I hate myself.” Anjili’s eyes snapped up and met his. They held eye contact for a second before she lowered her eyes again. “Do you know what I was told when I got off the phone with NK?” Anjili remained silent. “I was told that Amba has been kidnapped by Shyam.” A gasp escaped Anjili and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Now Di, please tell me, I beg you, that Shyam hasn’t been in contact with you at all.”

Anjili shook her head vigorously. “I haven’t talked to him since that night with Neha.”

“Di this is serious!” he shouted. As soon as he had realised what he had done, he tried calmed down. “I don’t want you to lie to me. I won’t be mad that you talked to him but if you have I need to know now.”

“Chote please trust me.” She begged as she met his eyes again. “I haven’t talked to him in over 20 years.”

Arnav searched her eyes to make sure one last time. When he was satisfied that she wasn’t lying, he sighed. “Alright, you may go but don’t tell anyone else about this. We don’t want unnecessary harm to come to Amba by publishing this.”

“What are you going to do Chote?”

“I’m going to clean up your mess!” he snapped. She flinched but he continued, he had to release all the pent up emotions. “If only you hadn’t been blinded by love. If only you believed the evidence that we supplied you with, Di, none of this would’ve happened. Khushi would still be with me, she never would’ve gone away, she never would’ve gotten raped. And now because of your childishness, her daughter’s been kidnapped by the madman who claimed to love you but really only wanted you because of your money. Khushi’s nightmare hasn’t ended even though it’s been over 20 years, your mistake keeps haunting her. And nothing has happened to you. I would never wish you ill, Di, because I love you. But I can’t help but wonder if this is fair. She suffers while you get to live happily ever after-”

“Chote.” Anjili said in a broken voice.

“No Di! You need to hear some hard truths. We’ve always protected you because we thought you to be fragile but it’s time for you to grow up and face reality. Your actions had grave consequences and they continue to produce these consequences.” He wanted to yell at her more but he noticed that she had tears in her eyes. Despite everything, she was still his sister and he loved her. He paused to gather himself. “Just go Di.”

She all but ran out of the room with tears streaking down her face. Though Arnav’s words cut her, she knew he was right. She was a burden, a constant reminder of what Arnav lost and how Khushi suffered.

A revelation hit her. She wiped her tears and stood tall. She walked towards the roof with a purpose.

When Amba finally woke up, she didn’t know where she was. She realised that she was tied to a chair, she struggled against her bonds to see how tightly wrapped they were. They wouldn’t budge but she deduced that she was still too weak to actually struggle properly. She had a slight headache, her mouth was dry and her muscles sore. A door opened somewhere in the room that she was in. She closed her eyes and groaned. She knew exactly who it was and she really couldn’t be bothered with this right now.

“Miss Amba Gupta, we meet again.” Said the bodiless voice.

So cliché. She thought. “Evil villain much?” she croaked out.

“Last time we met, I gave you something. Do you still have it?” He said with glee.

Amba clenched her jaw. Even though she couldn’t see him, she could just picture the smirk on his face and she wanted to smack it off his face with a fish.

She yawned. “Do we really have to do this? This isn’t a stupid movie, ok? So just get on with it.”

He came in front of her and twisted his face into a sneer. “No, we’ll do this my way!”

Amba rolled her eyes at him. “Well if you’re going to do a monologue then do you mind if I go to sleep? I have a headache and I just came back from a really long flight.”

As soon as she finished her sentence, she was punched hard across the face.

“You will listen to me!” he screamed in her face.

She laughed. “Yure weugh lysteeen tooo meugh!!” she mimicked.

She was punched again. This time she could feel that her lower lip was split. She spit out the blood gathering in her mouth.

“You’re as insolent as your mother.” He spat out at her.

“Thank you.” She said as she gave him a bruised smile.

His eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

She smiled sweetly. “I’m taking it as one.”

“I should’ve killed you the first time around.” He seethed.

“I wish you had because I wouldn’t have to listen to your bullshit right now.” Amba said before she could stop herself. Unfortunately, this earned another punch.

“I should keep you gagged.” He said with distaste as he wiped the blood off his knuckles.

“If you think gagging me is going to help you, then you are delusional.”

“You’re right, I’ll just have to drug you.”

It seemed like he produced chloroform and a cloth out of nowhere. Amba didn’t struggle as he pressed the cloth over her mouth and nose. She just closed her eyes and let the darkness take its hold on her.