Chapter 245 - Learning about the truth (8)

|Innaya|

"Karan was part of this?" I asked Arjun, ignoring two men who had their fists clenched and were in a battle mode. They could take their time to sort out their minds. That was not my preeminent concern at the moment.

Arjun nodded, his hand reached for his chin. His eyes, staring at the fuming men.

"I have to admit that she made a wise choice though," he said while raising his voice a little.

That caught the attention of others. The pair of father and son turned to us, more specifically to Arjun.

"What?"

"What?"

Eshan and his father glared Arjun murderously. If possible, they might end up charging at him, beating him without listening to his further explanation. I had to intervene before world war three started in our home.

"Why do you say so?"

"The other party kept tabs on everyone except him," Arjun answered, shrugging his shoulders. Murderous aura coming from the pair did not affect him. He ignored them smoothly as if he did not see their thunderous expressions.

Well, that explained then. If we were under surveillance, the situation would have turned into something else- perhaps more critical to handle. Why would anyone keep tabs on us? On me? Were we in some television series for people to go on such level for harming someone? 

If for not having seen everything with my eyes, I would not have believed that someone could stoop down to such a low level. Experiencing everything broadened my horizons. The lesson came with a heavy price, but in the end, every lesson was worth it. 

"Not many people know the relationship between Karan and Singhaniya family." Arjun crossed his legs, beckoning to Fortune to come over with his fingertips. Fortune obediently crawled to Arjun before pushing his head to Arjun's outstretched palm. Arjun lovingly rubbed Fortune's head, and Fortune responded by wagging his tail.

"Relationship?" My brows wrinkled in a surprise.

"Yup, relationship. Karan's mother is a distant relative of your mother-in-law. Growing up, they were like sisters. You can say, Karan, is the cousin of your husband."

"What?" I almost got a shock once Arjun revealed the relationship between Karan and Eshan? I never imagined that possibility. Eshan never mentioned that to me. 

How could Karan behave so roguishly then? Despite being so close to Eshan by relationship, how could he try and sow the seed of misunderstanding in-between us? 

Unconsciously my eyes went to Eshan. How could he hide such a significant point from me? 

Eshan's lips were drawn in a thin line. Once our eyes met, he looked away. 

"Why did he kidnap you? When did it happen? Why didn't you tell us?" Eshan's father held Eshan's shoulder and turned him in his direction.

"Umm… Karan said that was a misunderstanding. He did not mean to do that," Eshan's mother said from the sides.

Eshan's expression turned dark. "Yeah, hiring goons to abduct her from the crowded shopping mall holding me at gunpoint and then keeping her tied up for almost a day in a dark room was nothing but a misunderstanding… yeah, go on. Believe it," Eshan scoffed.

Eshan's father left Eshan and spun on his feet. "YOU-" He just pointed his finger at her, unable to say anything. His face turned red from the anger. His breathing turned heavy, and his tall frame shook with his attempt of holding back his rising anger.

"Uncle, calm down. It's not good for your health."

"Suhas!"

"Dad."

Eshan's father shrugged all the hands approaching to calm him down. His staggering figure collapsed beside me as he breathed heavily. 

"... All of you... stay back. I-I-" Eshan's father pointed his finger and warned others not to approach him.

My heart leaped in my throat, watching him struggle. Eshan's mother rummaged through her purse before she took out a small pump. 

"Take the pump. Suhas, please," Eshan's mother pleaded. Her face lost all the color, and fright took over her features. 

Eshan took the asthma inhaler from his mother's hand and threw it at me. I caught the inhaler for his father did not allow anyone to approach him. "Innaya. Please help him calm down. Here, give this pump and water to him."

Little worried about my father-in-law's condition, I dared not delay any more. Tentatively, I gave an inhaler to him after removing the cap and shaking it well. He took with shaking hands. We all watched as he put the mouthpiece in his mouth, and started using it.

Closing his eyes, he rested his head on the back of the sofa. Once regaining his normal breathing, he looked worn out. My heart softened for him. Grandma had asthma. So, I knew how scary and terrifying it could be. We had to rush grandma in the ICU four times. 

I felt an unexplainable sense of closeness to my father-in-law after watching how he was affected because he learned about the sufferings I went through. Until now, I thought about how he could know nothing about the matter? 

I understood everything after learning about his asthma. Perhaps because of this reason, he was kept in the dark. 

"Drink some water." I held a glass of water before him.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me tiredly. "Do you hate me?" he asked, his voice hoarse from his breathlessness.

I shook my head. Why would I hate him? He had done nothing to make me hate him. He had been good to me since we met. He showed care to me. He punished his son and wife because of me. How could I hate him when he was being sincere?

All the doubts regarding his stand flew out of the window when I realized everything he said and did was real. There wasn't an ounce of fakeness or pretense in it.

"I don't hate you," I said honestly. 

Eshan's father did not look convinced. His face still showed guilt.

"Drink this water. Don't agitate yourself. Everything is in the past. I'm fine," I said slowly, placing the glass in his hand after taking the inhaler. "Dad," I addressed him when I could not bear the uncertain look on his face. He had asked me to call him 'Dad' without any reservation. It sounded foreign to my ears, but not uncomfortable.

"Am I hearing things?" 

I shook my head. Was it that hard to accept? 

"Dad," I repeated again. It came naturally, perhaps it was because his aura felt too similar to that of grandpa.

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