Shruti's POV
It has been one day since the surgery. Siddharth had come to see Tauji twice since then. My father really liked him and said that I was lucky to have a senior like that.
My father and I went to see the room where Tauji was to be shifted. After about 5 minutes, Nihal walked in, he had not come since the day he admitted tauji to the hospital.
My father was happy to see him. He was hopeful that things will be better between Nihal and Tauji but Nihal was here because he wanted my father to persuade Tauji to do what Nihal wanted.
Papa tried to put some sense into him but he was adamant that if tauji will not give him money, he will drag him to court as he wanted money and for that, he would go to any extent.
When Papa tried to make him understand Tauji's condition. He started shouting and misbehaving with my dad.
Nihal kept saying wrong things to Papa. I could not take it and tried to stop him but he slapped me.
" Nihal ! " My dad said.
" Please tell her not to interfere when men of the family are talking. She must learn that soon, after all, she has to get married one day. "
I looked at my dad and expected him to say something. Though he was shocked at what Nihal did, he remained quiet. I was much more hurt by his silence than by Nihal's slap.
My dad went out as his phone started ringing and it was an important business call.
I have already had enough of Nihal's attitude, I could not take any more of it. Some kind of frustration that had been pent up for years finally came out. So, I slapped him back.
He was shocked and glared at me as if he about to slap me again. I cringed at that and stepped back he raised his hand to hit me. I was scared and on reflex, my eyes got shut automatically.
I was anticipating an even harder slap than the last one but when I did not feel it. I opened my eyes and saw someone holding his hand. I turned to see, Siddharth holding his hand. His eyes were red and he twisted Nihal's hand.
Nihal was very strong but Siddharth was no less. It seemed that he had learnt a technique or two from his elder brother after all.
Parth was standing right behind him. He was looking angry too.
" What the hell ?? Who are you? " Nihal shouted.
" It does not matter... How dare you even think of hitting her?? "
" She is my sister, I don't need your permission to hit her.
" She is your younger sister, so you should protect her. But you hit her again and again, what kind of a brother are you. I can protect myself very well but my brother would kill anyone who will even look at me with an evil eye. " Siddharth said.
" Shut up !! It is our family matter. You have no right to say anything to me. I will do whatever I want. " Nihal said.
" I just consider her my younger sister and I will protect her forever. Try and touch her again, I will break your hand. " Dr Parth said.
" It is none of your business. I will do what I want with my sister. " Nihal said.
" I will kill you if you touch her," Siddharth said.
" She is getting out of control, I need to tame her. Who are you to stop me?? Are you her brother too? " Nihal said.
" I dare you to touch her and then I will show you what I am. Don't Worry, I will give you my introduction in detail one day very soon. " Siddharth Said.
" Sid, her cheek is swollen, I think he has already hit her once. " Dr parth said looking at me.
Siddharth came towards me and looked at my face. " Did he hit you, Shruti?? " I turned away my face. But he turned my face towards him and clenched his jaw.
" Tell me, did he hit you? " He asked again.
" Leave it, sir... " I said pleading with him. But he was panting. Nihal was glaring at both of them.
" I have seen you somewhere. Have we met before?? "
But instead of reminding him of anything, Siddharth punched him right at his arrogant nose and said, "It does not matter... Just stay away from her or next time I will rip your arms off your body. " Siddharth said as my father entered the room.
" What is going on ?? " Papa asked.
" This man here is trying to interfere in our family matter. " Nihal said to Papa.
" I am still here to solve the issues. It is our family matter. Stay away from it. " My father said at last.
" I beg your pardon sir, but you did not say anything when he hit your daughter. He has no right to hit her just because he happens to be a male member of your family. " Siddharth said.
" And just because you are my daughter's senior and helped us in calling Dr Vikram, you don't get the right to speak in the matters of my family. "
" I would not have spoken if you had stopped him. He has hit her earlier too... "
" Oh, yes!!! Now, I remember, where I saw you. You are the same man, who came to meet her and then made the story that you wanted her friend's number. Aren't you that man?" He asked.
" Indeed I am. " Sid replied calmly.
" What is going on?? " Papa asked.
" Ask him and Shruti... They are having an affair. " Nihal yelled.
" No, it not right. He is just my senior." I said. But just then Nihal took out something from his pocket and I was shocked to see my phone in his hands. I was shocked, I didn't want him to open and see Siddharth's pic. We had some recent pictures too with me locked in his arms.
I tried to snatch it, but he gave it to Papa.
" Tell her to unlock the phone... " Nihal said. I looked at Siddharth but before he could do anything, papa told me to open it.
" But ... " I said.
" Open it, Shruti!! I want to know the truth. I trusted you and sent you to study. And is that all you have been doing?? Shame on you... You took advantage of my trust. How dare you do that?? Open the phone immediately. " Papa shouted at me. I almost flinched and looked at Siddharth again.
Nothing was going according to the plan. He had told me that Maurvi's dad was going to propose this marriage alliance. But now I didn't know what was I going to do.
" There is no need to do that... Sir, I will tell you everything. I am a Dermatologist hence, I am well settled and belong to a very good family. My parents are bureaucrats. My elder brother is also a doctor and Maurvi is my sister-in-law now. Everyone is highly educated and we are quite well off. " Siddharth said.
" So?? Why are you telling me all that?? " Papa glared at him.
" Because I am in love with your daughter. I like her for the last 5 years... Though she does not love me back. I asked her many times, what was wrong with me but she never bothered to reply. " Siddharth said. What was he doing?? Papa was looking at him without any expression.
" Just a few days back, she finally told me that she can't reciprocate my feelings because she doesn't want to hurt her family. She said that her family trusted her and sent her to study so she can not betray you. But I really love her sir, and I want to marry her. Please allow me to get married to the only girl I have ever loved. Please, sir, I will always keep her happy. "
" Shruti, what is he saying?? If he asked you about marriage, why didn't you tell me or your mom?? "
" Sir, please don't scold her... maybe she didn't discuss it because she didn't take me seriously. But trust me I am very serious about her. I don't want to marry another girl even if she refuses. Sir, I want to get married to her, please give me your permission. "
" No way !!! You belong to another caste. She doesn't even like you. So don't you dare to come near her. "