Lakshya was laid on his bed where the doctor began to examine his condition who then injected some medicine into his right arm as Shipra, Anvay and his younger brother along with the rest of the family watched them anxiously.
"There's no need to worry, he must have passed out due to exhaustion" the doctor assured allowing them to heave a sigh of relief.
"Just allow him to rest and he should be feeling better soon" the doctor instructed them
"Sure doctor" Shipra assured the doctor.
Ashlesha began to fume internally as she learnt about Lakshya's doing fine but at the same time it made her wonder why and began to doubt whether Vikram had done his job right.
"Thank God! Lakshya is okay. For a moment I thought those serpents had something to do with him fainting earlier" Soumya remarked
"Same here" Shipra heaved a sigh of relief
As the doctor gets ready to leave Anvay requests everyone else to leave as well and allow his son to rest for the night.
Once everyone walked out Ashlesha stepped out from the corner she stood by avoiding everyone's eyes and began to communicate with Vikram through telepathy.
"I thought you were supposed to poison the haldi" Ashlesha asked him in an accusing tone.
"I did" Vikram answered her
"If you did then why isn't Lakshya dead yet?" A vexed Ashlesha asked
"I don't know.... perhaps he may have taken the antidote" Vikram suggested
"What do you mean?" Ashlesha asked him
"You know what I mean. You asked me to mix the antidote in the drinks being served remember? It's possible that he may have consumed the same" Vikram explained who then found his phone ring up.
"Mr. Arvind's calling" Vikram excused himself
"Sure, go ahead" Ashlesha told him as he then went ahead and received the call.
"Yes Papa, tell me"
Arvind informed him about Mahima's condition, "What?! Don't panic, I'll be there soon" Vikram then ends the call and immediately heads outside.
........................................................................................................................................................
Mahima was unconscious in her room as Arvind tried his best to bring her back. He tried to warm Mahima's palms and feet but couldn't help notice her temperature drop down even further as helplessly watched her turn colder.
A while later Vikram arrived and entered her room right away.
"What happened and how is she now?" a worried Vikram asked as he approached Mahima's bed
"Not good, she's turned cold and isn't waking up" Arvind began to panic, Vikram then bent on his knees right next to Mahima and placed his hand on her forehead in a bid to assess her temperature. At this point she was ice cold prompting Arvind to pull out his phone and dial 102.
"What are you doing?" Vikram asked
"Calling the ambulance" Arvind answered
Vikram quickly snatched the phone away and tapped on the red disconnect call icon confusing Arvind.
"Why did you do that?" Arvind looked at Vikram as he waited for an answer.
"We don't need an ambulance. Mahima's fine, I guess her BP must have gotten low, I'll go make something to bring it back up" Vikram explained as he then headed to the kitchen and filled a glass with water. He then pulled out the bottle containing the antidote which Ashlesha had given him earlier and added the same to the glass of water along with a teaspoon of salt and sugar having realised that she had been exposed to the poison. Vikram picked up the solution and headed straight back into Mahima's room. He then spoon fed her the antidote in her unconscious state hoping it would get injested and neutralise the poison inside her system.
A few minutes later Mahima's temperature began to normalise indicating that the antidote was working as she then regained consciousness a while later.
"How are you feeling?" Vikram asked his fiancé concerned about her wellbeing
"I'm okay. What exactly happened?" Mahima asked still dazed by the effects of the poison.
"Your BP must have dropped quite low, that's probably why you passed out." Vikram lied
"Really?" Mahima asked
"Yes, but drink this and you should feel better in no time" Vikram handed her the glass with the rest of the drink which she then gulped down following which he asks her to rest.
"Please don't worry, she'll be fine by tomorrow" Vikram assured Arvind before he walked out of the house and entered his Jeep. Before he drove back home he called out to Ashlesha via telepathy.
"What is it?" She asked him
"Mahima got poisoned, your plan could have gotten her killed" he lashed out
"What do you mean? How did that happen?" Ashlesha asked him
"You know what I mean very well. Next time we keep her out of this" Vikram made himself clear
"Okay fine" Ashlesha agreed following which he starts the engine and hits the accelarator to drive back home.
........................................................................................................................................................
The next day
It was past 11 am in the morning and Lakshya was still laid asleep in his bed. The door to his room opened up allowing his younger brother Abhay to come inside and check on him who on seeing that Lakshya hadn't woke up yet sat down on his side of the bed and began to wake him up. Abhay took out his phone and set the alarm to ring at the highest volume.
Lakshya on hearing the same hit the alarm placed on his bedside table in his half asleep state attempting to turn it off unaware of the fact that it was actually Abhay's phone which had been ringing since the past five minutes till he was finally awake and back to his senses.
"Good morning" Abhay greeted his brother right after he turned off the alarm function on his phone.
Lakshya greeted him back and turned to check his bedside clock. "What the heck?! It's 11:30 already"
"Yes it is, how are you feeling now?" Abhay asked out of concern
"I don't know... just a bit tired" Lakshya answered in a drudgy manner.
"Okay don't exert yourself, if you're still not feeling well then I guess it's better you stay in bed, I'll ask mom send your breakfast here" Abhay then got up headed towards the door.
"No wait! I'm fine, just a little tired. I'll come down in a while" Lakshya got up from his bed.
"Are you sure?" Abhay watched Lakshya as he stood up and walk towards the bathroom
"Yes I am" Lakshya told him following which Abhay stepped out of the room and headed downstairs to join the rest of the family for breakfast.
A moment later the doorbell rings which gets answered by one of the house staff who find Adish at the doorstep.
"Who is it?" Shipra asked the house staff who then responded "I'm not sure, but it's a young man"
On hearing that Shipra stood up and walked right towards the entrance and got relieved upon finding Adish before her.
"Thank God you're here" She walked right towards him and gave Adish a warm welcome.
"What's he doing here?" Abhay asked baffled by Adish's presence in the house
Shipra then goes ahead to explain that he'd be staying over with them till they manage to overcome the threat they faced from the serpents.
Lakshya too had just come down and took his spot at the dining table. Shipra then invited Adish to join them for the same to which he complied.
Just as Ashlesha showed up at the dining room to collect her stuff. Adish being the intuitive person he is felt there was something odd about her but didn't make a mention of it though he continued to observe her every move making Ashlesha raise her guard further as she was aware about the attention she was receiving at that point.
Once they were done with the breakfast, Adish hands each of them an amulet with the instruction to wear it at all times if they wished to stay safe. It was a red and black string along with an om symbol pendant which was to be tied around their wrist following which they disperse.
Ashlesha once she is back inside her room assumes her serpent form and slithers outside with the intention of visiting the temple. As she reached her destination Ashlesha reverts back to her human form right outside and begins to beckon Vikram through telepathy who shows up there a while later.
"What is it this time?" He asked seemingly irked by her sudden demand to meet him.
"We have another problem" Ashlesha goes on to warn him about about Adish's involvement which would likely pose a threat and prove to be a hurdle for their plan ahead.
"Indeed, it is a problem. But I guess we'll find a way around it" Vikram expressed his resolve, "till our plan gets executed we'll just need to evade him somehow" Vikram then calls for Mr. Kailash the priest who then walks in a while later.
Vikram explained the issue at hand hoping the priest could help them out who then suggests that Ashlesha use her special ability to evade the healer's psychic radar.
"You mean that?" Ashlesha asked still unsure if they were on the same page.
"Yes exactly" The priest confirmed
"Very well then" Ashlesha agreed.
........................................................................................................................................................
Abhay entered the surveillance control room and requested the manager manager to play the footage from the previous day.
As he went through the same he observed something unusual at the entrance.
Vikram was recorded entering the premises but was no where to be found inside during the haldi ceremony which seemed quite suspicious to begin with making him wonder if Lakshya's claim about the former were valid and continued to look further.
Once he was done he stepped out and headed back to the hall which was being prepared for the Mehendi function in the evening.
Shipra approached him and asked him to get ready on time following which he then heads back upstairs to look for Lakshya however he was nowhere to be found.
He then goes back downstairs and asks his mother about his brother's whereabouts.
"He should be around, why isn't he upstairs" She asked him
"No he isn't" Abhay told her
"That's strange, but what's the matter?"
Shipra noticed that Abhay seemed bothered for some reason
"Nothing, just wanted to discuss something with him" Abhay told her and then walked out of the house for a bit.
........................................................................................................................................................
Mahima who was asleep just woke up and got out of her bed.
She turned to her bedside table and checked her phone.
"Oh my goodness" Mahima couldn't believe that it was past 1pm in the afternoon
She then steps out of her room in a bid to get ready and leave for work however Arvind opposed her and urged her to stay back owing to the state of her health.
"You shouldn't be heading off to work in this state" Arvind reasoned
"I'm fine Papa" Mahima insisted however he still didn't seem to agree with her regarding the same.
A while later they heard the gateway to their house open and assumed it was Vikram outside.
"I think you shouldn't be working today, I already informed your assistant about the same and they will take care of everything" Arvind tried his best to convince her
"That's true, but organising that function is my responsibility. So I can't just sit back and rest. I have to go"
"I think you should listen to your dad, if you aren't feeling well then just stay home" a familiar voice told her gaining her attention as it surprised her. Lakshya stood right at their doorstep and neither of them expected him to pay them a visit.
"What are you doing here?" Mahima asked Lakshya as he walked inside and requested to speak to her in private.
Arvind excused them as the two stepped outside for a while.
"If you've come all the way here I guess it must be something important, but how did you know my exact address?" Mahima looked at him as she waited for him to speak up.
"I came to apologise about yesterday, I guess I got carried away-" Lakshya was interrupted by Mahima
"Carried away by what exactly?"
"My suspicions" Lakshya told her and explained how he was sure about Vikram's involvement in the mishaps that have been occurring around his family.
"What do you mean by his involvement? What are you even trying to suggest?" Mahima asked in a defensive tone.
"I mean he is the one conspiring against my family" Lakshya answered
"Okay listen, I know he was the one who arrested your father, but that was just a part of his job. Why on earth would he conspire against your family" Mahima tried to reason with him
"I don't know why but I'm definitely sure he is and that's why I assumed that -"
"That I'm his accomplice?" Mahima cut him off once again
"Yes, and I'm sorry about that" Lakshya told her
"And what made you change your opinion all of sudden?" Mahima frowned
"Before I answer that can I ask you something?" Lakshya asked though he seemed a bit hesistant.
"Go ahead" Mahima gave him the nod
as she waited for his question.
"How long has it been since you've known Vikram? As in when was the first time you've met him?" Lakshya asked
'It's been approximately 2 years" she replied
"Have you noticed or observed anything unusual about him?" Lakshya continued with his spree of questions
"Not that I can think of but yeah he disappears at times as in he goes missing unexpectedly, but why do you ask?" Mahima looked at him as she tried to figure the reason behind his prying questions.
"Vikram isn't a good person, in fact he isn't even human to begin with" Lakshya's response rattled Mahima who immediately took offense to the remark made by him.
"Excuse me? What do you mean? I get it you don't like him but don't you think you're being a bit too harsh here?"
"I mean exactly what I said, he isn't human but rather a shapeshifting serpent with a hidden agenda, therefore you shouldn't marry him" Mahima was stupefied by his claim.
"What the heck is wrong with you? A shapeshifting serpent? Like you really expect me to believe your ridiculous and bizarre claim? I expected better from you but this?" Mahima snapped at him
"I'm telling you the truth, he really isn't human. I know it's hard to believe this but I can prove it" Lakshya tried to convince her
"Prove what? And why do you even care? I know you hate him but that doesn't mean you can turn everyone against him, not me at the least" Mahima shot back
"I care because you don't deserve this moreover I owe you my life so I can't just sit back and watch you ruin your life" Lakshya told her.
"If it's about what happened at the cliff that day, then please don't, I would have done the same for anyone so you needn't feel indebted to me at all" Mahima made herself clear
"Even if you say that, I still oppose your relationship with him" Lakshya contended
"And what gives you the right to do so? It's my life and I can decide for myself, so keep your nose out of it" She asserted herself
"And is this why you had me held up yesterday when those snake charmers arrived? It was right! You assumed I was a serpent too and thought I'd get exposed as one of them didn't you?" Mahima glared at him
"Yes I did and I'm really sorry about that, but believe me, Vikram isn't a good person and he is deceiving you" Lakshya sighed
"That's enough! If you've got nothing else to say other than accuse my fiancé then please leave. I've heard enough of your nonsense and I'm in no mood to listen to it anymore" Mahima shot back as she turned back to go inside.
"I saw him turn with my own two eyes and I will prove it to you soon" Lakshya swore to her as she stopped in track.
"Whatever you may have seen, or whatever you may try to prove, I trust Vikram" Mahima then stepped back inside as Lakshya watched her to do so in a dejected manner following which he heads back home.
........................................................................................................................................................
The mehendi function had commenced at the Singh mansion.
Srishti's friends who were present at the scene were applying the henna paste on her palm forming a design along with Lakshya's initial's on it while everyone else were busy dancing on the floor in a celebratory mood.
Srishti who was dressed in a beautiful green lehenga admired the design drawn on her palms while Mahima who was dressed in a green salwar approached the group to collect the plate with the unused leftover henna cones.
As she picked up the plate, "Why dont you apply some too?" Srishti suggested
"No it's okay" Mahima told her
"I insist, you're a bride to be as well aren't you? I feel really bad about you missing out on the same because of me" Srishti got up as she then began to flaunt her Mehendi design.
"What do you think of it?" Srishti asked her
"It's beautiful" Mahima answered her as Srishti then approached the former to invite her for the Mehendi application however she accidentally steps on her lehenga and nearly trips forward and falls on her face until Mahima grabbed her hand in a bid to prevent the same but in the process the henna design on Srishti's palm gets ruined while at the same time gets transferred on Mahima's palm.
A disheartened Srishti stared at the smudged henna design on her palm along with Mahima who did the same out of distress.
"What happened?" Shipra walked in on them after noticing the commotion around them
"Her Mehendi got ruined" One of Srishti's friends answered
"Show me" Shipra took a look at the ruined design as she noticed the dispirited expression on her face.
"It's okay my child, it hasn't dried yet so we can fix it, please don't worry" Shipra consoled her as she requested the person in charge of applying the henna to fix the design as Mahima walked away from them and immediately headed to the restroom to wash off the henna that got on her palm accidentally however her palms had been stained by then already making her rub the same off her palms vigorously to get rid of the it but wasn't successful in doing so.
"Why isn't this getting erased??" Mahima wondered and panicked. Once she gave up she walks out still upset about the same and tries to distract herself by diverting her attention back to work.
Srishti who managed to fix her Mehendi still seemed upset with what happened earlier and began to wonder around the hall far from anyone's attention.
As she walked around Abhay spots her from a distance who just happened to pass by and call out her name. She turned around to face him with a dejected expression on her face.
Abhay however seemed bedazzled by her traditional avatar and couldn't believe how different she appeared at that moment before taking note of her the sad look on her face.
"What's the matter?" Abhay asked her to which she raised her palms to show him the altered henna design.
"It doesn't look good at all, I'm worried that this may be a bad omen" Srishti told him
"It looks fine and don't tell me you actually believe in that crap" Abhay tried to console her
"Can I ask you something and I hope you'd be honest about it" Srishti seemed pretty disturbed as she looked at Abhay waiting for him to respond.
"Go ahead" he told her
"Is Lakshya really happy with this alliance?" Srishti asked him
"Why do you ask?"
"Lakshya's my fiance but he's never around when I need him the most, why is it so?" Srishti pointed
"Well he's a busy guy what did you expect?" Abhay explained
"Even then it's still a bit unnerving" Srishti responded
"You're overthinking, please relax" Abhay consoled her
"Where is he right now?" Srishti asked
"He must be around" Abhay answered
"I don't see him though" Srishti pointed
"You will" Abhay told her
Lakshya on the other hand was done with the Mehendi ceremony and was walking through the hall on his way to meet Adish to discuss regarding Vikram where he encountered Mahima who was busy carrying out her work and did his best to ignore her. As they cross paths and he walks past her he heard a thud right behind him. Lakshya immediately turned around to find Mahima lying on the floor and immediately rushed to her side.
He then called out for help but no one showed up followed which he tried to wake her up but then noticed that she was burning up with a fever prompting him to immediately carry her up and take her to an empty guest room where he placed her on the bed where he sat right next to her for a moment.
"This is why I told her not to come today, why doesn't ever listen?" He thought out loud to himself and then pulled out his smartphone to call the doctor however the line turned out to be busy at that moment and the call couldn't get through. Just as he was about to get up from the bed Abhay walked in along with Srishti.
"What are you doing in here?" Abhay asked his brother
Srishti felt her stomach turn as she saw Lakshya right next to Mahima although she knew it was probably nothing but still found it hard to ignore what she saw.
"Exactly, why are you here?" Srishti asked him as well hoping he'd give them a reasonable explanation.
"She fainted midway across the hall tjat I happened to pass by and it turns out she has a fever as well. I tried to call for help but no one was around at that moment so I brought her here" Lakshya told them
"Have you called the doctor?" Abhay asked out of concern
"I tried but their number seems to be engaged at the moment" Lakshya answered
"Get some cold water along with a clean cloth" Srishti instructed Abhay who left to arrange for the same.
"In the meanwhile, why don't you call Vikram and ask him to come pick her up" Srishti suggested.
Shipra and Anvay too walked in and grew concerned as they saw Mahima unconscious in the guest room.
"What happened to her?" Anvay asked
"She collapsed due to fatigue and poor health, we found her unconscious midway across the hall and brought her here" Srishti told them
"Oh I hope she is okay" Shipra told them as she walked out a while later along with Anvay.
"Why did you make it seem as if you were there with me when I found her and brought her here?" A baffled Lakshya asked Srishti.
"Why else do you think I could have done it?" Srishti stared at him
"How do you think it would've looked if I said you found and brought her just by yourself?"
Before Lakshya could respond Abhay walked in along with the cold water bowl and cloth which he placed on the bedside table.
"Why do you guys seem really tensed?" Abhay looked at them as he sensed the atmosphere around them. Srishti then picked up the cloth and dipped it in the cold water before placing the same on Mahima's forehead.
"Nothing really, it's just been a long day" Srishti sighed
Lakshya then contacted Vikram and informed him about Mahima's condition reluctantly requesting him to pick her up as he looked back at her growing concerned about her well-being.
Vikram arrived at the scene an hour later and approached the bed where Mahima was still unconscious and tried to bring her back to her senses
"Mahima please wake up" a moment later she opened her eyes and immediately rose up in an upright position.
"What am I doing here?" Mahima asked
"Turns out you fainted again, let's leave for now" Vikram told her as he helped her get up and they left together as Lakshya watched them much to Srishti's displeasure.
Abhay watched and observed Vikram very closely, he then stepped out of the guest room and followed the former without informing anyone as he got into his vehicle and began tailing them till they first reached Mahima's home where Vikram helps her get inside as Abhay observed them from a distance.
Once Vikram stepped out and got into his vehicle he drives away as Abhay begins tailing the former once again till they arrive at a desolate area which led right to the temple which Vikram usually visits.
Once vikram reached the outside the hidden temple Abhay stopped his car and got off the same and hid behind a tree to get a better view.
Vikram transformed into a serpent as Abhay watched confirming his own suspicions and the claims made by Lakshya as well, when the former was no where to be seen Abhay stepped out from behind the tree in a bid to find Vikram who was no where to be seen at that moment until he heard a voice from behind,
"Looking for me?" Abhay turned around and found Vikram right behind him.
........................................................................................................................................................
To be continued.
A widow, Gauri met her long lost friend Omkara in a family function, who still ...
Life Journey of two people poles apart in career, status and style. One is the ...
Drabbles for Shrimad Ramayana Contest
Comments (2)
View all
Bloodmoon @Bloodmoon
+ 2
2 years ago
You nailed it 💓Sorry for the late response I've been really busy.