Kanhaiya and Rana spun around quickly, startled, but it was Aishwarya who was shocked to the core to find Aryan standing at the doorway, cool as a Cucumber.
As Rana and Kanhaiya's hands moved unobtrusively towards their pockets, Aryan took a gun out of his pocket with such fast hands, that it made Kanhaiya glare at him.
"Relax Kanhaiya... I am just here on a social visit... to talk to my ex Mother In Law, mother of my Ex-wife! But you see, she hates me so much that I had to bring DSP Siddharth along, for protection. He is just outside, waiting for me to come back!" Aryan's innocent expressions were in stark contrast to his menacing tone, as he stressed on every syllable he spoke. One of the goons went to the window and checked out Aryan's statement and confirmed it back to Rana.
Rana and Kanhaiya put their weapon
Aryan walked quickly back to the waiting police Van and hopped in much to the relief of DSP Siddharth. "Abe Gadhe!! (You Idiot ) why did you take so much time? I was getting so tense here." Sid hissed at his friend as he started the Van and began to drive. 'I was testing my acting skills out there Bro! Oh God! Now, even I am speaking like that Drama Queen!" Aryan cursed himself and broke into a guffaw as Sid shook his head mockingly. "Yaar I am so happy for you. I haven't seen you this carefree and happy for so long. Miku is such a lovable brother. And his mannerisms are bound to rub on you, don't worry!" Sid's sincere reply calmed Aryan and brought a lingering smile on his lips. "
Till she heard Nargis Chachi's frantic rap on the door, Chandni was lost in her own happy world. Apologizing profusely, she hurried and got ready in a few minutes, taking special care with her Sindhoor and wore some bangles too, after a long time. She made sure that Raj Uncle had multiple serves of all the dishes before she started eating. Along with Nargis Chachi and Rashid Chacha, they all had a happy meal together, still sorely missing VikramJi among them. "VikramJi is coming tomorrow." Chandni informed Raj Singh when he inquired after him. Turning to her Chacha, she added, "He called me in the morning while I was at the office." Rashid smiled happily. Afterwards, they settled down in front of TV as Atharv forced Raj Singh t
Aryan, Miku and his friends along with Avinash and Smitha Thakur, Satpal Singh and DSP Siddharth were all seated at a large table in the Army guest house as Aryan explained the plan of action for the next day. Avinash and Satpal listened to the whole thing attentively. "Is that all?" Avinash asked. Aryan looked at him, taken back. "Yes, don't you like it?" He asked, slightly hesitant. "It's brilliant. But how come Me and Satpal are not part of it?" Avinash demanded. "Oh!" Aryan smiled in relief. "Well you are my backup plan Avinash ji. I didn't know that you would be part of the scheme till just a few days ago. I mean even Miku
Next day morning dawned nice and bright, contrary to the gloom and anxiety that filled Shankar's heart. Shankar knew that today was a make or break day for him as far as his survival in Allahabad was concerned. Rana and his gang were sure to target his gang now that they come out in the open for the first time, since his arrest almost a year ago. He ordered his men to lie low, not to aggravate or get in a clash with any of Rana's men, and they did it, quite reluctantly. His right-hand man Giridhar, who joined him once he split up with Rana, was clever to understand that their numbers were far less than Rana's gang and it was prudent to lie low and wait for their leader Shankar's return before they attempt anything. Giridhar had come to visit him just two days ago and explained all the precautions they were taking, so that Shankar could safely be transported back to their home. Two identical Sumo vans woul
Naini Central Jail. Rana's first son Manish, who was doing his time in Naini Central Jail, was mad as hell with his father. How could his father not arrange for his early release, even though he had the full support of that influential woman Aishwarya Malhothra, while a normal Public prosecutor could do it for Shankar?? As he sat in his cell, seething with fury, he too heard all the commotion when Rana was being taken out of his cell for his release formalities and felt a deep pang of envy. To add insult to the injury, Shankar looked at him and gave a broad smile on his way out. But Manish knew that Shankar's days were numbered. His father promised him that the day Shankar got released from jail would be his last day on earth, which was his only solace. He missed being with his father as much as his gang of men, who were almost like a family to him. He knew that their whole gang w
In that calm atmosphere, the sharp ring of the mobile reverberated in the air. Rana looked at the incoming number doubtfully and hesitated whether to answer it or not. The mobile continued to ring. "Who is it Rana Bhai? Put it on speaker!!" Kanhaiya suggested. Rana followed his suggestion and the moment he answered the call and put it on speaker, his son Manish's frantic and panic ridden voice from the speaker echoed all around them. "BABA!!! BABA!!! ARE YOU THERE? PLEASE PLEASE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO SHANKAR OR ARYAN!! THEY WILL KILL ME HERE IF YOU DO!! BABA ANSWER ME!!" Rana just stared at the mobile, too stunned to answer, panic written all over his face. "BABA!!" Manish's voice sounded desperate.
Naini Central Jail Manish looked up at the ceiling. He couldn't see anything in the pitch-dark room. Was he going mad or imagining things? If he recalled every bizarre thing that happened to him in the past few hours, anyone in his place would go mad. It all started with the Prison Sentry informing him that he had visitors. Instead of the normal common hall where prisoners met their visitors, he was taken to a small room on the way. The Sentry opened the door and let him in. First Manish was blinded by the blazing lights pointed towards the door. As he covered his eyes, and yelled "What is this? What the hell is going on?", the Sentry explained "these guys want to interview you. DSP Saheb gave the clearance. I am right outside, just yell if you need help." Saying that he banged the door to a close.
Aryan's heart was in turmoil. After listening to everything Shankar revealed, he almost felt dumbfounded. He thought nothing else could shock him about the events of that fateful night from 16 years ago, but he was mistaken. But In a way, now everything made perfect sense. What happened that night as well as what happened later in Goa. His heart burst with relief and joy with that tiny hope all was still not lost. There is still humanity in this world and it might show in the strangest of places. But ultimately it reaffirmed his belief that whatever happened to him and Miku, it was purely because of the goodness and kindness of his parents. How else can he explain these new revelations that he heard today?He will never forget this day. And that was purely thanks to Shankar, who finally confirmed that he will stand as a police witness and give evidence against his former mentor Rana and his partner in crim
For the first time the confident smile on Dev's face faltered. "Hmm Yes I think so Mrs. Bharadwaj. But if there is anything he does that you don't like, and you are too shy to tell him directly, maybe I can help you?" He looked hopefully at her. The waiter hovered around them, hoping they would order. "It's your choice!!" Dev handed over the menu to her. Chandni didn't bother to open it. She looked sweetly at the waiter and asked, "What are your signature dishes for entrees and mains here?" The waiter went through a long list of delectable dishes, which as per his recommendation were most sought after. Chandni randomly picked a few and asked them to be served as quickly as p
"Everything is about you is it? What you want to do, what you don't want to do? What If I am not in the mood to talk right now? What if I am finding my husband too..."? She didn't finish her sentence and Dev grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. "Your command is my wish... my majesty." He smiled in relief. "This is what I want sweetheart!! That you tell me everything openly. I didn't tell you how you look in this dress because I was afraid I will get too carried away even without...forget it!! When I saw this dress in a catalogue, I knew you would look damn good in this, but when the time comes, I was hoping I could do this too...." His ran his fingers lazily in a feathery touch along her open back, making her shudder involuntarily and wrap her arms around him. She nuzzled his neck, kissing him slowly al
It was almost Seven pm and Dev had booked their dinner at Eight. Chandni opened the suitcase that Dev brought along with him, which was supposed to have all her clothes that she packed in Mumbai. But to her horror, it was practically empty except for some new underwear and casual clothes. As she made a thorough search to see if any of her clothes were in other suitcases, She recalled all the events of the afternoon After dumping their luggage at the hotel, they had a leisurely lunch, and strolled around the streets of shopping markets. Dev insisted on going back to the same shop where she bought the shorts she wore to the airport, and buy every combination of shorts and casual tops there, as he said "it made you look like a local and the 18-year-old I married." But Chandni suspected otherwise, the way his hungry
A war-like atmosphere had descended upon the marble island counter in the kitchen, which also served as Dining table in the Bharadwaj household. "I want to come to Goa too.. I have never been there! Mummy! Mummy!! Tell Daddy I want to come too.. I don't want to go and stay with Miku Chacha!! I am not going to eat this breakfast anymore till you agree to take me along." Atharv crossed his arms and looked at his parents furiously, after making sure that he finished all but a few spoons of the huge second serve of his favorite Kheer! "Hey Buddy!! Why are you saying you don't want to come and stay with me? I am hurt... deeply hurt! We are friends, remember!! Goa is seriously boring! All you do is sit in front of the beach and stare at waves! And trust me, there too your Mum and Dad would be telling you don't do this, don't do that.... But you and me, we are going
A few months later. -------------------------- "Atharv... tell your mummy to hurry up otherwise we both are going to the function without her!" Aryan said in irritation, as he looked at his watch for the umpteenth time. "Daddy you can tell her whatever you want in person, because she is right behind you. Haha" Atharv pointed to his father with a jerk of his head, and went back to playing the video game on his phone. "Don't you start anything now!! As it is, I am in such a bad mood for spending so much time wearing this saree." Chandni didn't even let her husband open his mouth. Aryan groaned loudly. "Well, who asked you to wear this? And if you knew
A flushed and pained Vikram slowly made his way out of the washroom towards his bed and sat down exhausted. He should have gone to the living room and joined others at Breakfast but he felt totally drained. Maybe he could rest for a few more moments. He sat upright against the propped up soft pillows on the head board and took some deep breaths. Just then he heard soft footsteps followed by a knock and his face broke into a smile. "Come in!" Chandni and Aryan entered with breakfast tray. "Aaah!! Mr. and Mrs. Bharadwaj! And with breakfast for me! I should thank my lucky stars huh!!" He cheered them jovially. Chandni gave the juice to Vikram with a smile and sat next to him on the bed. Vikram scooted over and tapped on the other side of the bed, inviting Ar
Her heart rejoiced at the thought itself, even though she was still depressed thinking about her Didi and the drastic step she took. Committing suicide is such a stupid cowardly thing. It is not a solution to any problem. In fact, you leave so much trauma and grief for all the people you leave behind, who loved you all your life, and they get sometimes permanently scarred from it. Vikram ji had been through so much trauma after Didi died. If only she knew how much he loved her!! He went out of the way to help everyone from his wife's family and fulfilled the last wish of his wife. She and everyone in the family was sure that if only Didi had reached out to her Daddy, Vikram would have been so happy to meet them all in normal circumstances, and they would have been one big happy family! Now she understood the meaning behind each and every word Vikram ji said to her at the top of that hill cliff after he saved her..... Her thoughts wandered to that fate
"Chandni, after I saw your father at Renu's Anniversary, I went through her things and found this letter addressed to me. And everything that I did afterwards was because of this. Please read it, it is nothing personal. And I have read it so many times that I know the contents of that letter by heart now." Chandni took the letter with trembling hands and began to read. ============================ Hi Vikram, By the time you read this letter, I am probably gone from your life, and this world. I know what I am going to do is a cowardly act, and something I will just add to the list of regrets that I now have in my life. I wish I was as brave as my mother who loved my father wholeheartedly and fought a
"I know Sanjayji, what wonders women can do, to turn our family life into a bliss. But I also knew what kind of people my relatives were, Renu didn't!” Vikram rubbed his eyes and sighed. “ They would pass snide remarks about her to my father and other relatives or bring up the topic of her family just to unsettle her. Her nervousness only made things worse, as it made all of us suspect that she was hiding something from us. She began to have trouble sleeping and I took her to the doctors who ordered her to do some lifestyle changes, exercises and also prescribed some sleeping pills, but requested her to use them as a last resort. She became fidgety and moody as time went on. I asked her plainly one day, was there anything I needed to know? She flatly denied that she was hiding anything from me but was hurt that I am not trusting her word. She accused me that I was trying to spy on her, which made me