Shashi woke up from his comatose state, as he opened his eyes he found Soumya along with Adish standing right next to him. He then rose to sit up in an upright position confused over why he was admitted in the hospital.
"What happened? Why am I here in the hospital?" He asked them
Soumya then turns to Adish wondering what's wrong who nods at her assuring that everything's fine and then looks back at Shashi, "Don't you remember anything?" She asked her husband to which he shook his head and answered, "No I don't, what happened? Would you do me a favor and please tell me?"
Shipra then narrated the events that occurred post him getting attacked and fatally injured including Anvay's arrest and the fact that Kamalraj's accident a year back was actually a conspiracy to kill him and that the reason he actually was in a critical state beyond any hope was because he was poisoned.
"Poisoned? By whom? Shashi asked
"A Naagin, and not just any serpent but a venomous and illusive icchaadhaari naagin" Adish answered
"Who is he?" Shashi asked his wife Soumya who then introduced Adish as the healer that restored him back to full health.
The doctors then came to examine Shashi amazed by his recovery who then inform Soumya that he would be kept under observation for a day before getting discharged.
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The Sangeet event had already begun as the stage was occupied by the performers. The guests as well as the client's family were all dancing to celebrate the evening as Mahima managed the event while Lakshya observed the same from a distance admiring the work done. The host for the evening then called upon the bride and the groom up on the stage to dance who then went up and took their positions. The song tere sang yaara played and they began dancing as they gazed into each other's eyes.
(The above video is a representation of the dance choreography)
Lakshya who was watching everything from afar slips into a trance whereby he daydreams of himself along with Mahima on the same stage dancing in place of the bride and groom. Once the song ended he snapped out of his reverie and then began to question himself over the same unable to comprehend what came over him at that moment. He then decides to walk away and leave, heading straight towards the exit. However while doing so he came across the witness who was with Anvay the other day just walk past him. Surprised yet elated at the same time he then approached the front office desk, "Any idea over what brings Mr. Sinha here tonight?" to which the desk informed him that he was invited by the clients who booked the banquet hall for the evening.
He then heads back inside to look for Mr. Sinha who was with groom's parents and approached them, "I hope you're having a great evening, how did you like the arrangements made?" He asked to which they applauded him and the staff that organised the entire event. Once they were done with the small talk and the groom's family excused themselves to attend to their guests. Lakshya then requests to speak to Mr. Sinha in private who agrees and then they go to a secluded corner of the hall.
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Chetan was in the club one level above where he was hosting his friend's party.
"I thought you were going to get us the banquet hall for the night" his friend asked to which he apologized and blamed Lakshya for being adamant over the hotel's policy.
"I get that but the arrangements seem pretty mediocre for a place such as this" his friend pointed in annoyance.
"I'm really sorry about that" Chetan apologised once again and then asked one of the staff members to call for Mahima who then goes to the banquet hall where she was overseeing the event. The staff member informs her that Chetan had called her up in the club room and insisted that she heads up there immediately to which she complied.
As she appeared before Chetan he began to complain about the arrangements made by her for the evening to which she explained that this was the best she could do given the fact that the request from his end was made at the last minute.
"Even if that's the case, you're still supposed to make arrangements that match the level of this place" he told
"What do you mean by match the level of this place? We've done everything possible to help you host the event given we had limited time, what else do you want?" Mahima argued
"Except for arranging the performers" he pointed, "they're not here yet!" He yelled at her in front of everyone present there. Mahima then calls up the performers to check what took them so long who then inform her that it would take them around an hour to get there.
"They'll reach here in an hour" Mahima told him however he wasn't very pleased to hear that, "and what are we supposed to do till then?" He asked clearly vexed by the delay.
"If the performers are going to take a while to arrive then how about she entertain us in their place?" Chetan's friend suggested who seemed to like the idea.
"Actually you're right, since she is in charge of everything, she must take responsibility for the mess she's caused as well" Chetan commented in agreement, "you'll perform in their place till they get here"
Mahima was shocked by the fact that they even thought of making that suggestion. "I will not be doing anything as such!" she refused to their give into their demand and turns around to walk away however Chetan tugs on to her wrist preventing her from leaving.
"Let go of my hand!" Mahima demanded as she tried to free her hand from his grip, "Not before you do as we say" Chetan told her and then drags her further inside before she pulls away and is free from his grip, "What is this nonsense? What sort of behaviour is? I clearly said I won't do any of it" she yelled at him. As she turns around to walk away once again Chetan attempted to stop her in the same manner as earlier by trying to grab on to her wrist however this time it earned him a slap from Mahima who pulled her wrist away from his grip, "If you try that again, I swear it won't end with just a slap alone, so stay within your limits" she warned him and then storms out of the club.
Chetan's friends were stunned by the fact that Mahima actually dared to slap him let alone refuse him in front of them. "Wow she just insulted you without giving it much thought, I guess the staff here doesn't really take you seriously as opposed to that Lakshya, why else would she have dared to slap you like this" one of his friends taunted
"I agree, that pretty much also explains why she isn't very bothered to care about my party" Chetan's best friend who was also his client remarked.
Infuriated by their remarks he then picked up and threw a whisky glass on the floor causing it to shatter. "Who the hell does she think she? Limits? Is she going to set my limits?" He snarled and fumed for a while before he calmed down. "That b*tch needs to be taught a lesson" he spoke out as he let out a smirk to which his friends agreed.
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Vikram was in the interrogation room where he was questioning Anvay.
"Why did you attack your brother, was it because of the inheritance? Who else is involved with you?" Vikram asked demanding an answer
"I did not attack my brother, asking me the same question won't get you a different answer" Anvay denied all the charges
"Then how do you explain that video where you were clearly seen jumping out of the window and the surveillance footage?" Vikram pointed
"I don't know!" Anvay told him, the interrogation went on with Vikram grilling Anvay for answers until his phone starts buzzing. He takes it out of his pocket to receive the call.
"Yes tell me" Vikram answered, the caller informed him about something that had Vikram worried "What?! I'll be right there" he told the caller and leaves the interrogation room.
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Shipra was in the prayer room while at home. She was very disturbed by the revelation made by Chandrika regarding Anvay's previous marriage and the fact that she was kept in the dark for many years. Shipra hoped to ease her mind by meditating over the goddess by mentally chanting the her beej mantra.
Abhay watched his mother from across the living room and thought of joining her in the prayer room. He walks towards the prayer room and enters the same following which he sits beside his mother, it was then that he noticed tears rolling down her cheeks. His heart sank on seeing that, "Mom, what's wrong?" He asked her. Shipra snapped out her from her meditative state of mind and was surprised to find Abhay right next to her.
He then wiped the tears off her face and asked her again, "What's the matter mom? Is it because of dad?" she was stunned by his words which seemingly gave the impression that he too knew about what she just learnt but then realised he was referring to Anvay's arrest and imprisonment. She then looked away avoiding his gaze, Shipra did not want to tell her son about what she learnt as she was unsure of how he would react to it. "Please don't cry mom, dad will come out soon" he consoled her
"I know! It's just that a lot has happened lately and I'm afraid of what may come" she told him to which he responds "Let go of your fears mom, as long as we're together we will overcome it all"
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Lakshya was with Mr. Sinha and had discussed the matter regarding Anvay's case and that he needed his testimony to help get Anvay released. "So will you help me?" He asked Mr Sinha
"Of course I will, in fact why didn't you visit me earlier regarding this?" Mr. Sinha asked Lakshya
"Actually I tried to reach you earlier today at your office but missed you since you had left early" Lakshya explained
"Oh, I see" he then assured Lakshya that he would show up at the police station to support the evidence he gathered.
"I love the how this function has been organised, everything here is breathtaking. By the way, you too are getting married right? So I assume you'll be hosting all the ceremonies here as well" Mr. Sinha asked Lakshya to which he gave him a rather half hearted, "I guess so"
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Srishti was in her room browsing through the internet using her laptop to gather information on Manasgadh. As she was going through the images of the village, she found the place oddly familiar even though she couldn't recall ever visiting it. Once she was done gathering the relevant information she closes the browser and then opens the folder from the desktop which contained her engagement pictures. She admires every shot and reminisced the event quite fondly.
Shreya had just entered the room however Srishti didn't notice that given she was engrossed in admiring the images on her screen much to Shreya's surprise who then sneaks on Srishti startling her.
"What's wrong with you?" Srishti scolded her sister.
"You tell me, I entered the room and you didn't even notice me do so, I guess you're very excited about your marriage and can't wait to leave" Shreya commented
"Don't be such a drama queen" Srishti told her sister and then shut her laptop close. "And since when did you start snooping around?"
"I don't snoop around" Shreya denied and then they began to bicker for a while drawing the attention of their mother who then enters their room to pacify them.
"Stop this right now!" Smitha ordered her daughters who follow the same prompting Shreya to go back to her room. Smitha then asks Srishti to shower and rest early before exiting her room.
Srishti then locks her room before shedding her clothes and entering the bathroom. She takes off her engagement ring along with her bracelet and places it on the wash basin counter top before stepping into the shower.
(This is what the bracelet looks like)
For some reason the lights went out while she was in the middle of it, as a result of which she was now engulfed by the darkness in her bathroom causing a slight panic, however to her relief the moonlight which illuminated the night sky outside managed to spill inside through the window making it possible for her to see in the otherwise dark room, once Srishti was done showering she steps out and wraps herself in a towel.
(I wish I could add audio clips directly to the passage ðŸ˜, but yeah you can imagine this playing in the background)
As she picked the other towel near the window to dry her hair the moonlight touched her face causing it to slightly turn scaly and eyes glow which stopped the minute she stepped away from the light. She then walks out the bathroom and hops into her night wear after which she goes back inside to collect her ring. She first picks up the bracelet to wear it around her right wrist and then the ring which she slides down her ring finger on the left hand which she admired in the moonlight, the diamond embedded seemed to sparkle and emit its own light. Once Srishti was done she turns around to walk out however she slips and falls down midway injuring her wrist and elbow. She then gets up and steps out into her room to look for her smartphone which was left at her study table earlier. Srishti picks it up and turns on the inbuilt flashlight to illuminate her dark room and make it easier for her to assess her injuries. As she directed the flash light on her left wrist which had turned red and was slightly inflamed, she noticed that there was something off about her ring. The diamond which she had admired just a moment ago seemed to be loose and appeared to have been slightly cracked getting her worried and anxious over it.
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The buffet counter had run out rotis (flatbreads) and the staff incharge of the catering were taking quite a while to deliver the next batch prompting Mahima to personally go and check what caused the delay. She steps out of the hall and heads towards the kitchen which was responsible for the sangeet function. While on her way there she couldn't help but feel as if she were being watched and then she heard some footsteps. She stopped in her tracks and turned around but found no one there and dismissed it as her imagination. As she was about to enter the kitchen she felt a pair of hands grab her from the back covering her mouth which muffled her screams. Chetan and his group of friends then carried her away as she struggled to free herself, they took the emergency staircase and led themselves back to the club where they were earlier. The group then let her down and pushed her further inside causing her to fall on her face as they surrounded her. She then looked up and tried to get back on her feet. "What is the meaning of this?" Mahima stood up glaring at Chetan and his friends.
"It seems as if you don't know your place so we're here to show you" one of his friend answered
"You really thought you could slap me in front of everyone and get away with it? You're going to pay for your insolence and I'll make sure of it" Chetan told her
"Cut the crap!" She yelled following which Chetan gestured his minions to grab her hands who followed the same.
"Let go of me or else—" Mahima was cut off before she could warn them, "Or else what?" Chetan asked in a mocking tone
"OR ELSE YOU'll END UP IN THE HOSPITAL!" A voice yelled out from outside.
Everyone one turns around to find a fuming Lakshya at the door who then charges towards Chetan and held him up by the collar. "How dare you! Aren't you ashamed of yourself for stooping this low? Who said you could do as you please with our female workers?"
Apparently one of the staff members saw Chetan and his group forcefully take Mahima away who then quickly informed Lakshya about the same.
"Why? Do I need your permission to do as I please?" Chetan retorted
Triggered by his response Lakshya then punches him in the face which then ensued into a brawl between the two.
The staff members who watched tried to separate them but found it difficult to do so until they heard a gunshot sound outside drawing everyone's attention away from Lakshya and Chetan.
Vikram stood at the entrance with his handgun pointed upwards. The bullet had hit the ceiling and ricocheted to the floor barely missing a person. Lakshya let go of Chetan the moment he saw Vikram who then entered inside and landed a blow on Chetan's face before grabbing him by the collar, "who the hell do you think you are?" He roared
"What are you doing here?" Lakshya asked surprised to find Vikram at the club hall however he paid no heed and began thrashing Chetan again until Mahima ran to him and tried to pull him back. "Please Stop!" She begged him and when he paid no heed she clung to him hoping it would hold him back. He then stopped and pushed Chetan away turning back to face Mahima.
"Are you okay?" He asked her to which she gave him a nod, Lakshya although confused by Vikram's sudden appearance it was his closeness to Mahima that bothered him even more.
Vikram then turned his attention back to both Chetan and Lakshya glaring at them, "Is this how you ensure your female workers safety? By letting people like him do as they please?" He asked Lakshya and then walked towards Chetan and gripped onto his shoulders holding him in his place while glaring at him directly in the eye, " If you ever try to lay a hand on my fiancé again, be rest assured to join your uncle where he is right now" An infuriated Vikram warned Chetan
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Hello Friends,
This is the end of chapter 8, since it took me a while to update the same I decided to write the entire thing at once.
Don't forget to vote, share and let me know how you found this chapter.
Thanks :)
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