Chapter 4

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

This one is a short update, but I wanted to get this going, since I had left it pending for quite sometime. Will try to share another update at the earliest. Not tagging anyone to this, as I’m not sure who all are still active who had followed this story. Will start tagging from the next update. Apologies

Chapter - 3

Power - The most lethal addiction

I aim for the moon, to attain the stars. But are the stars attainable, that I even dare to dream of the moon.
I NEED air to breathe, I NEED water to quench my thirst, I NEED food to suppress my hunger, And I SURVIVE

I NEED love to satisfy my emotional cravings, I NEED family for my legacy, I NEED money to sustain all my NEEDS.

And I LIVE

And then I WANT 

I crave for love and I conquer, I desire more money and I destroy, I dream to live in a forever dream and I IN-TOXIC-ATE. 

I WANT everything and more. And I’m unstoppable. And I demand POWER.

Nagesh Chavan entered CN holding his Devyani tightly beside him. His resolve to fight for her, her happiness evident in every step, every gesture, every expression that played across his face as he marched into the battle field. Yes! A Battlefield. The moment he saw Bhavani he knew it was warfare. He smoothed his features to nonchalance and mentally prepped up for the confrontation. This was going to be tougher than any of his previous encounters. 

Bhavani - Where have you been? How could you just vanish without my daughter and not even bother to respond to any of my phone calls? She is my daughter and I take the decisions in her life. You cannot take away my rights. I will not allow it. 

Nagesh (Maintaing the calmness in his sternness while he was raging with anger within) - And I never did. It was always you who denied it to me. I had clearly mentioned about my plans before leaving.

Bhavani - But you can't just disappear like this with Devyani. She is not well and we can't have the world talking about it. I have suffered so much to maintain the reputation of our family. You can't just throw all my efforts out of the window

Nagesh - Family reputation (he repeated mockingly, sensing how distasteful and superficial the word felt in his mouth). You sacrificed our daughter, our only daughter's life, her happiness in the name of reputation. Are you even listening to yourself? Are you not even ashamed of calling yourself a mother? 

Nagesh was losing his cool over the insensitivity of his wife. He had seen and ignored things for a long time and he regretted every moment he stayed mute infront of this monarchy. 

Patience seemed to be thinning out on both sides, while the entire family stood around mute, none dared to interrupt. This was a rarest confrontation the family had ever witnessed, but with the eldest of the family at loggerheads no one could gather the courage to speak up. Hence, they stood silently, watching the war of words between the senior couple for the right over their daughter.

Bhavani – I have run this house in your absence, and I will not let you walk over me now after all these years like I never existed. I deserve and demand absolute control over this family and house.

Nagesh – So that is what this all about? Your authority. I challenged your authority in my own house over my own daughter. And you can’t take that. So, this is what all this boils down to? Power? Control? Is that all that you have Bhavani? I can’t believe it took me 30 years of marriage to realise your true face. Who you really are! That’s all that you wanted. For you me and this marriage hold no prominence.

He looked at Bhavani who was fuming, without an ounce of regret for the words she had spoken and of what they implied. Without agreeing in words, she had accepted everything Nagesh accused her of. And she was not apologetic for any of her statements.

Nagesh – If that’s the case be it. But my daughter is not a commodity that you own and neither is she your slave who can be chained and ordered around to play to your tunes. I will fight for her against you till my last breath.

Bhavani – Do you think you are really capable of taking away my daughter from me and defy me? Look around, the family you call your own. No one will dare to go against me. I run this house, and that is the absolute truth

Samrat – No badi mami. You don’t rule over us. We listen to you out of respect. But we also respect Bade mama. And here he is right, and I will stand by him

Bhavani was stunned to see the first voice of rebel; she was too confident of her influence. She looked sideways at Patralekha, who like a robot being instructed, walked up to Samrat.

Patralekha – This matter does not concern us Samrat. We should not interfere in this. And Badi mami is elder to you, so you have to respect her.

Samrat looked at his wife. He knew that she was loved by her badi mami, and he took pride that is wife had jelled up so well in the family. But today he realised, that she had become a minion of Bhavani.

Samrat – No Patralekha. This is our family issue, and we have a right to speak and take stand.

Bhavani – Which family are you talking about? You are a Salunke. We gave you and your mother shelter when you needed us and today you have the audacity to stand against me?

Samrat couldn’t believe the words spoken by Bhavani. He had always considered this his home and this family as his. But today his belief had been shattered, as he was made to realise that he was nothing more than a charity case.

Patralekha grabbed onto Samrat’s hand who was still trying to process Bhavani’s retort and apologised to Bhavani on behalf of Samrat.

Virat – How can you say such things to Jeeva Kaku. He is family. He is my brother and that’s a fact no one can deny. He is as much a part of this family as I’m and so is Devi Tai. I respect you, but I will not stand by and watch you insult and humiliate Jeeva. And I will support Bade Kaka in giving Devi Tai a better life.

Ninad – Shut Up Virat. You people don’t need to interfere in these matters. The elders are still alive to resolve the issues and take decisions. And since when have you started to be so disrespectful.

Bhavani looked at Nagesh with a smirk, hinting at her absolute rein in CN.

Bhavani – Sonali, go and lock Devyani in her room, and hand over the keys to me. We will go back to our old ways. Everything returns to the same routine as before.

Sonali – Ho Vahini

Nagesh – No! I will not allow you to lock up my daughter Bhavani. You will not go anywhere Sonali.

Omkaar – Sonali, do as you are asked to do by Vahini.

Nagesh felt like a stranger in his own house, isolated by the family he believed to be his own. He was trying to gather the courage to face Bhavani alone again, but just then there an excruciating pain that screeched up and he collapsed. Samrat and Virat rushed up to hold him before he hit the floor.

Things from here took a turn for the worse. Nagesh suffered a second attack and was advised bed rest and care. Though everyone appeared to be more gentle and more considerate towards his health condition, Bhavani’s briefings were being followed like a rule book. With Nagesh restricted to his room, his only solace were the visits from Samrat & Virat. But they too seemed to have fallen short in their stand against Bhavani. Devyani was mostly locked up in her room. Nagesh felt frustrated at his helplessness and Virat & Samrat felt guilty in their inability to support Nagesh. But in all this Nagesh missed Sai. The girl gave him strength, a different perspective, a new zeal to live and look ahead, the courage to stand up again and fight. He felt his life slipping away, but he was anxious about Devyani, worried what would happen to her if he died. Sai had left for a college camp right after their trip and Nagesh was unable to visit the beach due to his health.

Sai on her return was informed that Nagesh had not visited the orphanage or met anyone post their trip. That had got Sai worried. But she had no means to reach him. That is when she realised, that while she knew so much about him, yet she barely knew him. Two days and she started to feel more concerned for Nagesh and his well-being. However, she was unable to figure out a way to reach him.

It had been a few days, and Sai was playing inside the orphanage with the kids. Nagesh constantly lingered in her thoughts, and she chided herself for not taking his contact details, all the while praying for his safety. Though it was getting late, Sai was forced to stay back due to heavy down pour. Sai was still contemplating of calling her Aaba to pick her up when the bell rang. She opened the door to find an abandoned baby, drenched in rain, with barely any movement. They caretaker looked around but couldn’t find anyone due the darkness and heavy rainfall. Sai quickly picked up the baby wrapping it up in her dupatta, holding it close to her chest, passing on the warmth. Everyone including the kids were getting worried for the baby, trying to revive a stable breathing. After many efforts, suddenly they heard the baby wail again, a steadier and louder one this time.

And as a heart started to beat again, another lost its breath!

Chapter 4 - Twisted tales of life.. destiny

[MEMBERSONLY]