Shadows Of Doubts - Chapter 4
Kavin stopped the bike. Parking it at the roadside, what Ishita revealed just now was something he didn't expect.
Ishita: Mein aur Rahul relationship mein nhi the... Mein grateful thi ki Rahul ne mujhe bachaya tha... Par mujhe uss se pyaar nhi tha...
Kavin: Tum... Tum Rahul se pyaar nahi karti? Par phir... Dushyant kyon maanta hain ki tum kisi aur se pyaar karti ho?
Ishita: Kyonki mene jhutt bola tha... Jab mujhe pata chala... Dushyant kisi aur se pyaar karte hain... Mein kya karti Kavin? Ek aise insaan ke sath rahu, jise mujhse pyaar nahi? Ek aise insaan se pyaar karu, jise mujhse pyaar nahi? Ek aise insaan ke sath ek kamre mein rahu, ye jante hue ki vo kisi aur se pyaar karta hain?
Kavin: Ek min- Ek min... Ye sab kya ho raha hain? Ishita... Par Dushyant toh tumse pyaar karta hain naa?
Ishita: Nahi, Kavin.
Ishita's words echoed in Kavin's mind, but before he could process them, her voice brought him back to a time she had been trying to forget.
FLASHBACK
It was Dushyant and Ishita's wedding night back in Delhi. Dushyant was talking to someone on the call when Ishita came out from the bathroom changing her clothes. She wore a simple cotton kurta pajama.
Dushyant: Nahi... Tum toh meri jaan ho. Tumhe kaise bhul sakta hu? Bas mujhe thoda sa time do. Mein aaunga tumse milne...
Ishita froze near the door. She didn't want to hear his conversation like that, but she couldn't help it.
Dushyant: I love you, Mere bache! Tum tension mat lo... Mein tumhe kabhi nahi bhulunga... Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye... Mein tumhare sath tha aur hamesha rahunga...
Her throat tightened, and her hands shook as she gripped the doorframe, unable to stop the tears that blurred her vision. Did he not love her? Had she married a man who loved someone else? Had she become a second choice again?
She took her steps back, closing the bathroom door as slowly as she could. A lump formed in her throat. Would she allow it? Would she allow herself to live with a man who doesn't love her—no, he isn't a man who doesn't love her... But a man who loves someone else but not her.
PRESENT
Kavin's eyes widened as he listened to Ishita's revelation. The cold evening breeze ruffled their hair as they stood beside the bike parked on the empty road. Ishita's voice was shaky, but her words were resolute, filled with the hurt she had carried for months.
Kavin: (softly, after a pause) Tumhe laga ki Dushyant kisi aur se pyaar karta hain… aur tumne apne dil pe woh bharosa karne ki himmat hi nahi ki?
Ishita glanced away, biting her lip to hold back the tears threatening to spill. The weight of her confession pressed heavy on her chest, but now that she had started, there was no turning back.
Ishita: (her voice trembling) Kya karti, Kavin? Us raat jo suna, uske baad kuch baaki nahi raha tha. Unhone khud kaha tha ki woh uss insaan se hamesha pyaar karenge, chahe kuch bhi ho jaye.
Kavin leaned against the bike, his brows furrowing in thought. The disbelief in his expression slowly gave way to an understanding of the pain Ishita had endured.
Kavin: (carefully choosing his words) Ishita… tumne Dushyant ki puri baat suni thi?
Ishita turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Ishita:
Mujhe aur kya sunna tha, Kavin? Unhone 'I love you' bola kisi aur ko. Yeh kehne ke baad kuch baaki reh jaata hain kya?
Kavin: (calmly, trying to reason) Lekin tumne kabhi directly poocha unse? Samjha ki baat kya thi?
Ishita fell silent, the memory of that night playing over and over in her head.
FLASHBACK CONTINUES
The muffled sounds of the world outside their room seemed to fade as Ishita stood behind the bathroom door. Her heart raced, each beat echoing painfully in her ears.
Dushyant: (over the phone, with warmth in his voice) Tum meri jaan ho… Tumhara khayal rakhne ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon.
Ishita clutched the doorframe tightly. Every word felt like a dagger, confirming what she feared the most. Dushyant's voice was soft, filled with affection—something he hadn't shown her.
Dushyant: (continuing) Main tumse milne aaunga, promise. Bas thoda sabar karo, theek hai? Main tumhare liye hamesha yahan hoon.
Her breath hitched as tears began streaming down her cheeks. It was unbearable. Her chest felt heavy as a sob threatened to escape, but she bit her lip, holding it in. She closed the bathroom door as quietly as she could, retreating into its safety.
Leaning against the door, she slid down to the floor, her knees drawn up to her chest. Her thoughts spiraled—what was she doing in this marriage? Had she made a mistake agreeing to it? The man she'd just married, her husband, didn't even belong to her. How could she share her life with him?
As the hours passed, Ishita convinced herself of one thing: she would not give herself to someone who already belonged to someone else.
PRESENT
Ishita's voice cracked as she recounted the memory.
Ishita: (barely above a whisper) Kavin, us raat ke baad kuch badal gaya tha. Maine apne dil ko samjha liya ki mujhe apni life alag jeeni padegi. Dushyant ke saath rahoongi, lekin sirf naam ka rishta.
Kavin sighed, shaking his head.
Kavin: (gently) Ishita, tum samajhti kyun nahi? Dushyant agar tumse pyaar nahi karta, toh woh yeh sab bardasht kyun karta? Tumhe ek baat bataunga, lekin tum mujhe galat mat samajhna…
Ishita raised her gaze, confusion clouding her expression.
Kavin: (leaning closer) Main Dushyant ko kaafi samay se jaanta hoon. Usne kabhi kisi aur ka naam nahi liya. Kabhi ek bhi hint nahi diya ki uske dil mein kisi aur ke liye jagah ho. Tumne kabhi yeh socha ki shayad tum galat samajh rahi thi?
The words hit Ishita like a wave. She blinked, the conviction she had held onto for so long suddenly wavering.
Ishita: (softly) Toh… toh tum keh rahe ho ki…
Kavin smiled faintly.
Kavin: Kya tumne usse kabhi seedha poocha? Kya uski baat puri suni thi?
Ishita looked away, unsure of herself for the first time. Could it really have been a misunderstanding?
Kavin: Shayad uski baat puri sunne ka samay aa gaya hain.
As they rode back through the quiet streets, the chill in the evening air carried a sense of unresolved tension. Ishita sat silently behind Kavin, her thoughts swirling with everything she had just shared. She had carried this burden for months, and while letting it out brought a strange relief, it also left her feeling raw and vulnerable.
Kavin, on the other hand, kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror. Her silence spoke volumes, and he could tell she was grappling with emotions she hadn't fully come to terms with yet. He didn't press her further; he knew she needed time.
The faint glow of streetlights lit their way as Kavin finally pulled up to the gated society where they both lived. Parking the bike in its usual spot, he stepped off and turned to Ishita, who was still seated, lost in thought.
Kavin (softly): Ishita, ghar aa gaya.
Ishita blinked, snapping out of her trance. She quickly got down from the bike, adjusting her clothes.
Ishita (murmuring): Hmm… Thanks, Kavin.
They walked toward the building in silence, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot the only sound between them. Once they reached the elevator, Ishita glanced at Kavin
Ishita(gently, almost like an elder sister): Kavin… ek baat suno.
Kavin turned to her, his eyebrows raised.
Kavin: Haan, bolo.
She crossed her arms, her tone suddenly taking on a scolding but caring edge.
Ishita: Tum apni health ka bilkul bhi dhyan nahi rakhte ho. Har waqt bas cases aur kaam mein lage rehte ho. Tumhare office ke log bhi kehte hain ki tum time par khana nahi khate.
Kavin let out a small laugh, scratching the back of his head.
Kavin: Arre, yrr Ishita , bas cases ki wajah se kabhi-kabhi miss ho jaata hain. Itna serious mat ho.
Ishita (raising an eyebrow): Serious toh hona padega, Kavin. Tumhara khayal rakhna ek jimmedari hi nahi, haq hain mera.
Kavin smirked but couldn't hide the slight blush of embarrassment.
Kavin: Tumhe bas mujhe daantne ka bahaana dhoond rahi ho.
Ishita(pretending to be stern): Tum jo marzi samjho, par meri baat sun lo. Time pe khana khao, thoda rest bhi karo. Aur raat ko late mat jaana bina kisi ko bataye.
Kavin chuckled, shaking his head.
Kavin: Ishita, tum toh full-on elder sister mode mein aa gayi ho. Lekin theek hain, promise karta hoon, tumhari saari baat sununga.
Ishita's expression softened into a smile.
Ishita(playfully): Woh toh tumhe karna hi padega. Aur haan, ek aur baat… bike thoda dheere chalana. Har waqt daredevil bane rehte ho.
Kavin (mock saluting her): Ji, ma'am. Ab permission hai andar jaane ki?
They both laughed as they stepped out of the elevator and headed toward their respective apartments. Just before Kavin entered his flat, Ishita called out to him one last time.
Ishita(gently, her tone serious now): Kavin… tumhari koi bhi problem ho, toh mujhe batana, samjhe?
Kavin turned back, giving her a small, genuine smile.
Kavin: Samjha.
With that, he disappeared into his apartment, leaving Ishita standing in the corridor. A faint smile lingered on her face as she turned toward her own door.
Though her heart still felt heavy with the memories of the past, the little moment with Kavin brought her a sense of warmth. Maybe, just maybe, she could start untangling the mess in her heart, one step at a time.
As Ishita enters her house, the silence hits her hard. She closes the door behind her and leans against it for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. The day's events—the revelation of Dushyant's secret, the fear of betrayal, and the growing tension, Kavin's leaving Kavin alone with the "maybe" imposter—leave her feeling lost.
Her mind races, but she keeps it all bottled up. She moves slowly toward the couch, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness of the room. The familiar hum of the city outside contrasts sharply with the storm in her heart.
Ishita: Is this what it feels like to live a lie? All these years, I thought I knew what love was... But I can't even trust the one person I've spent all my time with. I thought I understood love and the situation I was in, but now everything feels... uncertain. If only I could confront him right now. But the DNA test—it's my only chance to know the truth. What if it's too late by then? What if I'm already too far gone, unable to believe anything he says anymore?
She rests her head back on the couch, her eyes closed. A sense of frustration wells up inside her. She wants to know the truth, but she can't risk asking Dushyant directly yet. The DNA test will be the final key, but until then, she feels like she's walking a tightrope, unsure of which way to fall.
Meanwhile, Kavin enters his own house, which has been eerily quiet since the news broke. The moment he steps inside, he hears footsteps from the hallway. Dushyant—or rather, the impostor pretending to be Dushyant—appears at the door. His presence is unsettling, but Kavin masks any signs of discomfort behind a neutral expression.
Dushyant's voice is the first to break the silence. There's a hint of tension, but he's trying to play it cool, as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
Dushyant (smiling casually, though there's a subtle coldness to his eyes): Kavin, aa gye. Thak gye honge na?
Kavin steps in, locking the door behind him. His face betrays nothing, but his mind is alert. There's a strange, almost imperceptible difference in the way Dushyant carries himself now. The easy confidence that Kavin had always associated with his brother is gone. This man... he doesn't feel like the same person.
Kavin (keeping his tone light but measured, masking his suspicion): Har baar jaise hi bas... Or... Bhai, sorry... Vo Ishita ko galti se Mrs. Hemraj bula Diya...
Dushyant (nodding slowly, his gaze too intense for comfort): Koi baat nahi... Hath muh dho lo... Khana khate hain...
He seems to be probing, testing Kavin's reaction, but Kavin doesn't give him the satisfaction.
Kavin (smiling faintly, trying to read him): Aaj nahi, bhai. Aaj bahar se vo uncle ke hath ke Vada pav khakar aaya hu... Aapko toh pata hain... Uncle ke hath ke Vada pav matlab no khana at home.
Dushyant seemed to pause, his body tensing up.
Dushyant: Theek hain... Koi nahi...
He keeps his movements deliberate and slow, trying to observe without drawing attention to himself. Inside, he's analyzing every detail. The way the impostor's fingers tighten around the glass he's holding. The small shift in posture when Kavin mentions past—there's too much subtle tension.
Dushyant takes a sip of water, his posture relaxed, but Kavin can't shake off the feeling that this man is trying too hard to act normal. His brother, the real Dushyant, never acted this way. His smile would always be genuine, easygoing. This man's smile is just a little too perfect, a little too rehearsed.
Kavin (casually walking to the kitchen, trying to maintain the facade): Anything on your end? Just another quiet evening, I assume?
Dushyant (pauses for a beat, then responds too quickly): Yeah, quiet... just the usual.
Kavin nods, his mind working in overdrive. The man in front of him isn't Dushyant. He knows it now, deep down. But he has to be careful. He can't let on that he's figured it out. Not yet.
As he grabs a glass of water and turns back toward the living room, Kavin is reminded of the calm before a storm—like the silence of an ocean just before a wave crashes down.
Kavin's Internal Thoughts:
This is dangerous. He's not Dushyant, ye mere Bhai ho hi nahi sakte... but I can't make a move yet. I need to keep my guard up, pretend everything's fine. If he knows I'm suspicious, he'll slip up. I just have to wait. The test results will confirm everything, and then... then I'll expose him. But until then, I need to play along.
Back at Ishita's house, the urge to confront Dushyant becomes almost unbearable. But she knows it's too risky, especially without the test results. The uncertainty gnaws at her, making it hard to focus on anything else. She picks up her phone, staring at the screen for a few moments, but she doesn't dial the number. Not yet.
Ishita: I want to believe him. I want to believe that Dushyant is still the person I knew, the person I trusted. But the truth is, I can't ignore the doubt anymore. I need to know. And soon... because the longer this goes on, the more dangerous it becomes for all of us.
She places the phone down, her hand trembling slightly. Her feelings are a mix of betrayal, confusion, and anger, but she knows she must hold her ground until the DNA test reveals the truth. No matter how much it hurts, she has to wait.
As the evening drags on, both Ishita and Kavin find themselves caught in a web of uncertainty. Ishita, alone with her thoughts, feels the weight of her decisions pressing down on her.
Every moment feels like a countdown to the truth that she's so desperately trying to avoid yet needs so badly. She glances at the clock, then at her phone again, the need for answers almost unbearable.
But she stays still, waiting for the confirmation she can't deny. The silence in her house feels suffocating, the air thick with unresolved questions.
Kavin, on the other hand, senses that the game has just begun. Every word from the impostor Dushyant feels like a test, and he is playing along, knowing that it's only a matter of time before the truth comes crashing down. The calm exterior he puts up is a mask—his mind is constantly at work, piecing together every small detail, every inconsistency. He knows the impostor will slip sooner or later, but until then, he remains cautious, patient.
As Ishita lies awake in her bed, the moonlight casting a dim glow through her window, she wonders how much longer she can hold onto the fragile thread of trust that still binds her to Dushyant. The pain of doubt gnaws at her, but she knows that the truth, when it comes, will be a reckoning—one that will either shatter everything she thought she knew or rebuild the foundation of her relationship.
For now, she waits.