Existence in Emptiness Chapter: 17

Hearing this, I turned to look at Ryan Bhai and was startled.

Because he wasn't there. I quickly stood up. No, he was nowhere to be seen. Just a moment ago, I thought he was here, so where did he disappear to?

As I was about to leave, Tiyas said,

___"Maybe Ryan Bhai thought you'd forgive me or show me some mercy, so he left…"

I turned around with angry eyes and said sharply,

___"Hey, hey, shut up! Do you have a problem in your head? What kind of nonsense have you been spouting all this time? Is this the logic or words of a good person? And is this the only sin you've committed? You separated Nuzhat from Saad, you lied about me to Ryan Bhai, and you even told Nira Bhabi all this! Yes, I accept that your Little Papa died, but does that mean you have to do all this? At least living with hatred toward women would have been better! Where did you get this twisted logic of teaching the value of life by causing harm?"

Tiyas replied slowly,

___"I thought Ryan Bhai's love for you was weak, and if I said negative things about you, it would break. That's why I did all this to make you mine. But I've realized he loves you much more than I do, and his love has no flaws.

And I didn't provoke Saad or harm their marriage. Saad is bad, worse than me.

I just get involved in love and leave without prolonging it, but Saad doesn't. When Saad was with Nuzhat, he had another girlfriend. Poor Nuzhat couldn't accept it and went back to the village. I had no other way to make her understand. Otherwise, Nuzhat would have had no option but to commit suicide that day. And I deeply despise that. That's why I told Saad to continue his affairs even after marriage, but to accept Nuzhat now. I thought everything would be fine after marriage. But he didn't change. I admit I hang out with him, but I never told him to do such things. And I don't know why you're saying all this now! But believe me…"

I stepped away and said,

___"I don't believe you. You betrayed me once by gaining my trust, and now you're spouting nonsense to gain it again. Everything you say seems baseless to me.

I thought everything would be resolved, that I'd find out everything, but no, you've only confused me more. Stay away from me…"

Tiyas stared blankly. I went to the main road and took a car. Then I kept trying to call Ryan Bhai. But his phone was switched off. Did he really misunderstand? Why did he leave without hearing everything?

When I got home, I called Mom and told her everything Tiyas had said. Mom was stunned. Even Dad couldn't understand what kind of twisted logic this could be. My mind was in complete chaos. On the other hand, I couldn't find Ryan Bhai anywhere, and I didn't even know his home address.

The next day, I filed a complaint against Tiyas at the police station. I didn't know what would happen, but it was necessary to report it! All this time, I thought I'd hear everything from him and then make a decision. But now I know he did everything impulsively, and none of it makes sense.

A few days passed!

I was returning after giving a job exam. Even if I got this job, it wasn't permanent. I planned to leave it once I found a better job, as I wanted to bring my family to the city as soon as possible.

On the way back, I suddenly ran into Tiyas's mom at a street corner. I tried to avoid her, but she stopped me. She adjusted her glasses and stood still. I asked impatiently,

___"Aunty, do you want to say something?"

She said in a serious tone,

___"Lia, Tiyas told you everything, right? Maybe you didn't believe him. Who would? Who takes a madman's words seriously?"

I was shocked and asked,

___"Mad?"

Aunty said slowly,

___"Yes, he's mentally unstable. He'll never recover. Even after telling you all this, he deceived another girl. I mean, just in these few days. I don't know if my son will ever be normal, but as a mother, I can't take it anymore."

___"Why haven't you taken him to specialists?"

___"We've been to many places, but nothing worked. He's still stuck in the trauma of his Little Papa. There's a desire for revenge in him, and specialists say he'll keep doing this to some extent. You know, he was the first to see Little Papa's horrifying body, and he fainted. The doctors said he could lose his balance completely. But by Allah's mercy, that didn't happen, but hasn't it been bad enough? Since then, we've been giving in to his demands. His father is terrified he might do something like Little Papa! But we didn't know all this about him until we proposed to you. On the other hand, Tiyas is still in Chittagong, searching for the girl who pushed Little Papa to his death. He heard she got married in Chittagong, but he hasn't found her yet.

Tiyas's only weakness is that he can't accept people taking their own lives. Since childhood, whenever he hears about suicide, he cries as if it happened to him. His only goal is to make everyone understand the value of life and live beautifully! But he uses twisted logic for that. He refuses to accept that what he's doing is wrong. No one can argue with him about this. Tiyas has no other issues—just this one. He believes his twisted thoughts are right! Specialists say he does this out of revenge, but then he convinces himself that the person he deceived will turn their life around, love life, and never depend on others so much that they'd consider suicide! But no one has been able to make him understand that this might work for one or two people, but not everyone, and not everyone can rise again!

Since then, he's grown up with a strange mindset toward women, often treating them badly, as he did with you. But he deceives women by being extremely kind to them, so kind that some might think he's an angel! But lately, we've realized his deep love for Little Papa has completely unbalanced him.

We've slowly learned all this, and complaints have been coming home. We've only told you all this today. And there's one more thing I need to tell you—I've been looking for you for a long time to say something important. I don't know how you'll take it as a mother!"

I asked anxiously,

___"What is it?"

She wiped her tears and said,

___"Tiyas might have gotten better if he could punish the girl who drove Little Papa to suicide. But finding her is impossible, and after so many years, it's not feasible. That's why I'm telling you to hand Tiyas over to the law. He's committed crimes and will continue to do so. But if no one protests, it'll lead to a more dangerous situation. Many legal notices have come against him, but nothing serious—he keeps getting away with it. I want you to prove him guilty and ensure he's punished. Maybe even this will help him reform. In prison, alone, he'll understand that it's not just the loneliness of love but all loneliness that makes one realize every person is valuable. It's very hard to erase someone you've loved from your heart. May his misconceptions be resolved soon! Until now, he's never suffered for anything, and we've never let him! Only that death is slowly destroying him. It breaks my heart to say this, but I want him punished. He needs to understand reality! How long can this go on? It's been so many years! He deserves punishment! Until then, let other girls be safe from him! I can't take this pain anymore!"

She kept wiping her tears with her scarf. I was speechless, just staring. The boy who wants to make everyone understand that even if one person leaves, there are many others to live for, is so consumed by his Little Papa's memory and guilt?

I placed a hand on Aunty's shoulder to reassure her. Then I said,

___"I'll make sure he's punished for his actions. No matter how much pain or desire for revenge he has inside, why should innocent people suffer? He definitely deserves punishment!"

She kept crying, her lips trembling. I called a rickshaw and helped her in. Then I walked toward my home. It felt like a huge mountain was pressing down on my head! I couldn't carry it. The thought kept swirling in my mind—how much pain must a mother be in to demand punishment for her own son! Perhaps, in her desperate desire to see her son normal, she's been forced to make such a tough decision. She wants to see her son healthy and normal at any cost! But who knows if even this will make him understand reality!

The next day, I was getting ready to go out when Nuzhat called. As soon as I answered, I heard Nuzhat say,

___"The police have taken Saad. And I've withdrawn all charges against Tiyas. Saad confessed that he implicated Tiyas to lessen his own guilt. He's admitted his mistakes and said he doesn't want Tiyas to know because he's afraid Tiyas will expose his lies further. Now he's begging for forgiveness, saying he won't do it again. He wants me to take him back, saying he'll never look at another woman. What should I do, Lia?"

I sat down, stunned. Then, with a deep sigh, I replied,

___"Well, is there nothing in this world but betrayal, revenge, fights, murder, and evil? I'm so tired! What advice can I give you? These days, I can't even feel my own existence."

I don't know if Nuzhat understood me. But without giving her a chance to ask more questions, I hung up. On one hand, there's Tiyas's condition; on the other, Ryan Bhai is missing, and now Nuzhat's marriage is falling apart! Somehow, I'm entangled in all this without even trying to be. Why?

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T/N: If you like it please vote with power stone please. More stones equals faster release.

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