Betrayal 3 Mahesh Bajaj

Thank you all for the lovely feedback on the last chapter and following me here - a few of you have pointed out that it might be good to post this in the ff section, some off my ffs are already there, when this moves I’ll let you know.

Hope you enjoy this and apologies for taking ages and ages to post this.  

Betrayal 3 : Mahesh Bajaj

“Kuki, Kuki ! Wake up ..” wake up” mumbled Sneha who was wide awake in her baby blue pyjamas sprinkled with yellow ducklings. Shaking kuki cutely.

 After a little bit of convincing Kuki opened her eyes to Snehas adorable baby eyes, rosey cheeks and Curley locks. 

“Da!” reminded Sneha and Kuki realised 

“Yes mom said he’ll be awake today..!Let’s go” she replied excitedly and Sneha got even more excited. “Let’s go, lets go..” she mumbled getting better at her words now.

The girls first port of call was the breakfast able, that’s where their father would normally be in the morning. However all Sneha could see from her little height was signs off  all others but her da. Kuki however knew where to look.

They put their head around the door of Rishabhs office but it was vacant. Then the home gym but he wasn’t there either. 

At last they concluded He had to be in his chair!

...

Elsewhere Mahesh Bajaj walked his brothers home quietly. He was a tall dark, handsome character with a similar physique to his brother. Suited and smart as you’d expect a advocate to be. Coming across what he knew was likely to be his brothers chair he couldn’t help but be curious. Curious as what it would feel like to be Rishabh Bajaj. 

He walked over, taking a good look at the chair he turned to take a seat. Resting his arms on chair he sat back as if to trying to connect with what made his brother the man he was. After a moment of two of thinking about their childhood he feels a set of little arms and legs climb up his leg and Sneha pop her face in his.

“Da!” She cheered before making a funny face when realising this wasn’t him.

“Not da I’m afraid but I  might know where he is” said her uncle with a raised eyebrow.

...

Prerna who had been sleeping on the sofa for the last couple of nights stirred at the feeling of sunrays on her skin. Used to waking up in his arms she comforted herself by looking  out towards Rishabh who looked no different then he did the day before. Still unconscious but comfortable. The number of messages she had from close ones on her phone  reminded her of the possibly of seeing him better today.

“How’s Rishabh ? Is he awake yet“.. asked her mother checking up concerned about them.

Another message from Rishabhs doctor 

“His latest test looks hopeful Mrs Bajaj”

And yet there seemed those that hated him. One thing it did make Prerna think  is when he did open his eyes she didn’t want him to see her like this.

..

As she’d decided earlier Prerna dressed in traditional red after her shower. It was a colour  Rishabh liked to see her in. The way he complimented her every time she wore this particular saari bought on nostalgia and a smile.

 The last couple of days had been fear, anguish and anger but today she wanted to rejoice in the idea that he would be awake anytime now.

Walking to his bedside from the dresser Prerna, hovered over Rishabh who lay a rest and whispered ‘Good morning.. stopping herself from defaulting to “Mr Bajaj”..she replaced it with ‘Rishabh ..’ Spoken intentionally to entice a reaction but also give in to her husbands most adamant of demands of her. 

If there was ever a personal dialogue between a couple this was it. 

Disturbed by a knock at the door, meant Prerna had to part from him and see to the guests. 

To her surprise stood at the entrance of their room was Mahesh in between Sneha and Kuki.

“The girls mistook me for Rishabh, they were looking for him” he said when Prerna looked surprised to see them together at the doorstep. 

The girls looking up at their mom until Prerna lowered herself to squat. 

“Is he awake?” Asked Kuki whilst Sneha tried to bob her head up to see beyond their mother but couldn’t see much.

“Not yet” answered Prerna feeling regretful but in as much anticipation as the girls were.

Both Sneha and Kuki looked sad. Kuki intelligent enough to point out how long it had been. “That’s a long time to be sleeping.” Prerna nodded caressing Kukis cheek and passing her hand through Sneha wispy hair.

“it’s still early, why don’t  you both join him.”  She suggested

"Sleep over..?" Said Kuki

‘Sleep over’, smiled Prerna watching Kukis eyes light up “just be careful..” She reminded them as she watched the girls rush over past her and climb Rishabhs bedside.

Prerna & Mahesh watching from afar saw Sneha kiss one of Rishabhs cheeks whilst Kuki the other. It was the most adorable thing they’d seen in some time. 

‘Thank you’, said Prerna for the way Mahesh had bought them here trying to make conversation where there wasn't much "I can see why they might mistake you for him, you have more in common then you think.."  She said to her brother inlaw who took it with a pinch of salt and left quietly, leaving Prerna to think back.

...

Prernas Flashback

In the middle of evening dinner, around the table was Mr Bajaj at the head, Prerna by his side, Tanvi and also Masi.

Mahesh had arrived that afternoon and from the outset the tension between the brothers was apparent to Prerna. Rishabh was a stern and aloof older brother whilst Mahesh was playful, a wealthy Jack the lad. 

Whilst the family  start their meal Rishabh gets a call regarding some legal work.

“Why don’t you let me look ?” Suggests Mahesh.

“Mehra’s, made a start thank you” replies Rishabh in his tone of voice 

“Trusting an outsider over your family not what our mother would have wanted.” Comments Mahesh to be picked up by all on the dinner table.

“Quotes the one who failed her..” Throws back Rishabh without any I contact

..“If you can fail her you can fail me.. “ he adds this time looking at him.

Prerna looks on at Mr Bajaj trying to understand this brotherly feud?

“I’m a better lawyer than he is” - responded Mahesh.

‘Hes loyal and you’re not.” Accused Rishabh sharply feeling Prerna’s eyes trying to calm him and then her hand on his lap under the table, but Rishabh Bajaj as many knew was a force not to feud with. All eyes on Prerna now expect for the brothers who’s challenging eye lock continued.

"Anurag, fetch the table some water pease" - called out Prerna trying to divert the conversation only the waiters name was Avinash.

“That’s loyal Is it..? “ commented Mahesh taking advantage of Prernas slip of the tongue.

Prerna only realised her mishap once it had been made, Rishabhs stone cold eyes moved from Mahesh to Prerna and then into oblivion before slamming his plate off across  the  table to up and leave in a temper.

"GEORGE HAVE MY MEAL SENT UPSTAIRS!, he commanded, and remind others who’s home  they're in whilst you're at it."

Prerna apologised and  excused herself from the table trying not to let on her own distress. 

What a mess she thought as she poured herself water under the the tap in the kitchen , his anger towards her had never been this violent, she felt  jittery. 

She closed her eyes to recall the promise she’d made to him  on their wedding night. His one and only  ask from her

..’Loyalty’,  Loyalty of the mind, of the body and the soul. 

What happened out there felt like a breach of her oath but in the most exposing and embarrassing of circumstances.

....

A little later she found  him smoking  in balcony as she bought up his meal herself. 

She put the tray down at the table in porch she couldn’t deny being on edge around his temper.

“ Im sorry .. galti se ..she said her words broken ..It was a mistake.. “ she said to his back hoping he’d listen.

He didn’t move, nor reply she assumed he was too mad.

Dipping her eyes regretfully she was just about to walk away when the feeling of  being held by the wrist was apparent.

Turning to her after putting out his cigar, disappointed but trying to think beyond his anger. He looked at hi wife  who struggled to look up into his eyes.

“Mrs Bajaj , you know I will always forgive honest mistake”  His words sounded like he was stating a fact rather than trying to console her. His eyes when she looked up into them is what did the consoling. Told her he was listening to whatever she wished to say and he'd control his anger for her.

“I know its important to you... loyalty ..but you’re lenient on me.. can’t you be on your brother?  She asked, Rishabh could see she feared his  reaction, a sign he needed to revise his ways. A sigh passed through him at the thought of how reckless he’d been. He silently took a seat and stared into oblivion as he explained.

“When we were younger.. Ma took Mahesh in, she adopted him.

I worked on cars all hours of the day to earn and he sneaked out at night and raced around ..he’d damage a car and my father would take his anger out on me and that was fine I didn't have a problem taking a beating on his behalf”

Hearing Rishabhs weighty words helped Prerna understand the past. She listened at what she knew was something he’d kept to himself for years.

“As we grew older it continued, he began to steal from the earnings..again I overlooked it..”

“But the last straw ..he said pausing to look at his wife now .

"To become the successful  lawyer he is today he stole from my mother ..that I can’t forgive or forget, her life savings everything, she was dead by the time he returned it” 

“He’s ambitious , smart, but he’s not loyal and loyalty is everything” he said his eyes looking into hers the way Rishabh Bajaj did when lay his rules. Rules that were not to be broken.

End of Flashback 

As Prerna looked on at the girls with Rishabh as much as she wished to see him conscious she worried for the fate of the person that had betrayed him.  Rishabh Bajaj wasn't one to forgive and forget.

Next moment:  Sleeping Lion?   

“George find out what these are please” asks  Prerna in confidence handing over the pills that had fallen out of Tanvis pocket.

...

Prerna could feel  her saari trapped at Rishabhs bedside only to to turn and see it caught in Mr Bajajs grip. She watched him crease his eyes into consciousness and couldn’t believe her eyes. 

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