Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Mandar had turned to Pallavi as soon as they were seated in the rickshaw, on their way to the Aqua Legacy restaurant for their lunch date. "Malā Vikarabad-madhe śodhūna kāḍhalyāpāsūna tujhyā manāta praśna ālā asela kī mī rugṇālayātūna tithaparyanta kasā poçalo." Ever since you discovered me in Vikarabad, you must be wondering how I reached there from the hospital.

"Ho, paṇa tumhālā jyā prasaṅgāñcī āṭhavaṇa nāhī, tyāṃçā ūhāpoha karaṇyāādhī tumhālā āpalyā māṇasāṃta punhā ruḷāyalā veḷa dyāvā, ase malā vāṭale." Yes, but before analyzing events that you don't remember, I wanted to give you time to settle in with our family again, Pallavi had replied, taking Mandar's hand in hers.

Mandar liked Pallavi's considerate nature. She deserved to know all about the events that had taken her husband from her, and she had pressed the police for answers for over two years, but now, when she had the chance to ask him about every detail, she was being patient, allowing him to adjust to the upheavals in his old life before pursuing her curiosity. Pallavi's remarriage against her will, Bābā's health issues and self-mortification, Ājī's death, Nikhil's risky choices, Amruta's disrepute and Manasi's lost love  ... so much was different now! He was lucky to have a wife who put his needs before her own.

"Kāla Farhad-ne malā tyā rugṇālayāta punhā nele jithe Raghav-ne mājhyāvara upacāra karavūna ghetale hote." Yesterday Farhad took me back to that hospital where Raghav had gotten treatment for me. "Malā tyā Dr. Janaki bheṭalyā, jyāṃnī mājhī smṛti naṣṭa zhālyāçe oḷakhūna malā guṅgīçe auṣadha dilyāvara ekā vyaktīkaḍūna lāça gheūna māzhe apaharaṇa karaṇyāta madata kelī hotī." I met that Dr. Janaki, who had diagnosed my memory loss, given me a sedative, taken a bribe and helped a certain someone to abduct me. "Dr. Janaki-īṃnī he sagaḷe kabūla kele, āṇi Farhad-ne tyā rātrīçe CCTV dṛśya āṇi phone-varacī mudrita saṃbhāṣaṇe ase sagaḷe purāve goḷā kele." Dr. Janaki admitted it all, and Farhad gathered all the proof like that night's CCTV video and recorded phone conversations.

"Tumaçe apaharaṇa karaṇāryā vyaktīçe nāṃva sāṅgitale kyā tyāṃnī?" Did she tell you the name of the person who abducted you? Pallavi's voice had been unsteady and she had begun to tremble. The thought of Mandar having an enemy disturbed her; even if Sunny Ahuja didn't go to prison for the hit-and-run, whoever had deliberately taken Mandar from his family - from her - had to pay!

"Te tara malā ādhīça māhīta hote." Well, I already knew that. "Sulochana Kākūne malā taxi-īta basavūna Ammacyā davākhānyāparyanta āṇale hote." Sulochana Kākū had brought me to Amma's clinic in a taxi. "Tyā avastheta malā tilā oḷakhatā āle navhate, paṇa Vikarabad-hūna malā gharī āṇatānā jevhāṃ tū malā tiçā photo dākhavalāsa tyāça kṣaṇī malā kaḷale kī Sulochana Kākūne tumhā sarvāṃpāsūna malā dūra ṭhevaṇyāsāṭhī Vikarabad-madhe malā lapavale hote." In my condition at the time, I hadn't been able to recognize her, but when you were bringing me home from Vikarabad and you showed me her photo, I instantly knew that Sulochana Kākū had hidden me in Vikarabad to keep me far away from all of you. "Mī jīvanta asalyāçe māhīta asūna suddhā tine tuzhā vidhavā mhaṇūna chaḷa kelā." She knew that I was alive and still she tormented you as a widow. "Ātā āpalyākaḍe tine raçalelyā kaṭāçe purāve āheta, sākṣīdāra āheta, paṇa mī tulā vicāra karāyalā veḷa dilyāvaraça āpaṇa doghe police-āṃkaḍe takrāra karaṇyāçā nirṇaya gheū." Now we have proofs of her plot, we have witnesses, but only after I give you time to think, the two of us will make a decision about making a complaint to the police.

Pallavi had absorbed the shock of Mandar's revelation, and she had not needed even a moment to think. "Manasi-çā, Amruta-çā, Kākāṃçā vicāra karūna mī āzavara nehamī Sulochana Kākūṃnā samazūna gheṇyāçā prayatna kelā, paṇa tyāṃnī tumaçe apaharaṇa karūna tumhālā āṇi Āī-Bābāṃnā itake duḥkha satata dile, maga he aikūna malā paṭale āhe kī tyāñcyā itara aparādhāṃnā māpha karāve aśī tyāñcī kadhīça lāyakī navhatī." Thinking of Manasi, Amruta, and Kākā, until today I've always made an effort to tolerate Sulochana Kākū, but after hearing that she abducted you and gave you and Āī-Bābā so much constant pain, I'm convinced that she was never worthy of forgiveness for any of her other offences. "Tumacyāsāṭhī nyāya miḷavaṇe heça māzhe prathama kartavya āhe." Winning justice for you - that's my one and only priority. "Āpaṇa Kākāṃśī bolūna tyāṃnā samazāvū kī Sulochana Kākūṃnā śikṣā kelyāśivāya soḍaṇe ātā aśakya zhāle āhe." We'll talk to Kākā and explain to him that letting Sulochana Kākū go unpunished has become impossible now. "Koṇa koṇa sākṣīdāra āheta?" Who are all the witnesses?

Feeling excited that Pallavi was so committed to him, Mandar had answered, "Mī svataḥ, Amma, Dr. Janaki, āṇi Vishnu - tyāne Kākūlā phone-vara Dr. Janaki-īṃnā bajāvatānā aikale." I myself, Amma, Dr. Janaki, and Vishnu - he heard Kākū on the phone, warning Dr. Janaki. "Śivāya ekā māṇasācī sākṣa azūna ghyāyacī āhe - Vipul Kadam nāṃvāçā eka watchman, jyāne Ved Pillai-pāsūna māzhe nāṃva aikūna Kākūṃnā māzhā apaghāta ghaḍalyāçe kaḷavale hote." Besides, one person's testimony remains to be taken - a watchman named Vipul Kadam, who had heard my name from Ved Pillai and informed Kākū when my accident happened.

Pallavi's eyes had widened as she heard the watchman's name. "Mandar, tumhālā māhīta nasela, paṇa hyāça watchman-kaḍe mī tyā rātrībaddala vicārāyalā gele hote." Mandar, you may not know, but I had gone to this same watchman to ask about that night. "Tevhāṃ dahā lākha rupayāñcī lāça miḷālyāśivāya te malā kāhī sāṅgāyalā tayāra navhate." He wasn't willing to tell me anything until he got a bribe of Rs. 10 lakh. "Tyāñcī āṇi Sulochana Kākūñcī oḷakha asalyāçe malā āzavara māhīta navhate." Until today, I didn't know that he was acquainted with Sulochana Kākū.

"Ho, kāla Farhad-ne malā sāṅgitale kī Raghav-ne svataḥcyā gāḍīne māzhā apaghāta kelā hotā ase tulā sāṅgaṇyāsāṭhī Raghav-ne tyā watchman-lā paise dile hote." Yes, yesterday Farhad told me that Raghav had paid that watchman to tell you that Raghav had caused my accident with his own car. "Hotel Crosto-çā watchman tithe rāhaṇāryā śrīmantāñcī māhitī Sulochana Kākūlā puravāyaçā, āṇi mhaṇūna Raghav malā rugṇālayāta neta āhe ase sāṅgāyalā tyāne tilā phone kelā hotā, ase Dr. Janaki-īṃnī āmhālā sāṅgitalyāvara Farhad-lā samazale kī to watchman mhaṇaje Vipul Kadam asaṇāra." When Dr. Janaki told us that the Hotel Crosto's watchman used to provide Sulochana Kākū with reports of rich people staying there, and that's why he had phoned her to say that Raghav was taking me to the hospital, Farhad realized that that watchman had to be Vipul Kadam.

"Mandar, mājhyākaḍe tyā watchman-çā pattā āhe, āpaṇa lunch kelyāvara tithe zāu śakato." Mandar, I have that watchman's address with me; we can go there after we have lunch. "Te ekā çāḷīta rāhatāta, paṇa tyāñcyā gharātalyā table-khuracyā-kapāṭaṃ vagaire vastū navyā āṇi mahāgaḍyā āheta ase malā zāṇavale." He lives in a chawl, but I noticed that the tables, chairs, cabinets and such furniture in his home are new and expensive. "Āṇi he Raghav-ne tyāṃnā paise deṇyāādhīçe sāṅgateya." And I mean, this was before Raghav paid him.

Pallavi's face had lit up with excitement as she remembered, and Mandar, understanding exactly what she was deducing, had said it aloud.

"Vipul Kadam-lā gappa ṭhevaṇyāsāṭhī Sulochana Kākūne tyālā tyā mahāgaḍyā vastū vikata gheūna dilyā asaṇāra." Sulochana Kākū must have bought that expensive furniture for Vipul Kadam to keep him quiet. "Samazā tyāne police-āṃnā kiṃvā tulā āṇi Āī-Bābā-Kākāṃnā sāṅgitale asate kī tyāne māzhā apaghāta Outer Ring Road-vara ghaḍatānā pāhilā hotā, tara kuṇālāhī saṃśaya ālā asatā kī National Highway 65-vara sāṃpaḍalele preta māzhe nasela." Suppose he had told the police, or you, Āī, Bābā, and Kākā, that he saw my accident when it happened on Outer Ring Road, then anyone would have suspected that the corpse found on National Highway 65 wasn't mine. "Āṇi zara tyāne ase sāṅgitale asate kī Raghav-ne malā rugṇālayāta nelyāçe tyāne Sulochana Kākūlā kaḷavale hote, tara Kākūcī ulaṭatapāsaṇī zhālī asatī āṇi çaukaśī Raghav-kaḍūna Dr. Janaki-īṃparyanta poçalī asatī." And if he had said that he informed Sulochana Kākū about Raghav taking me to the hospital, then Kākū would have been cross-examined and the investigation would have reached Dr. Janaki through Raghav. "Vipul Kadam hā Kākūçā hera āhe, āṇi tū tyācyā gharī yeūna praśna vicāralyāçe suddhā tyāne Kākūlā nakkī sāṅgitale asaṇāra." Vipul Kadam is Kākū's spy, and for sure, he must have told Kākū even about you coming to his home to ask him questions.

"Mandar, malā eka goṣṭa sāṅgā - tumacyāsamora Dr. Janaki-īṃnī Kākūṃsāṭhī kelele gunhe kase kabūla kele? Mandar, tell me one thing - how did Dr. Janaki admit to you that she committed crimes for Kākū? "Kāhī divasāṃpūrvī Raghav tyāṃnā tumacyā viṣayī vicārāyalā gelā hotā, āṇi Raghav-lā suddhā tyāṃnī kāhīça sāṅgitale navhate." Some days ago, Raghav had gone to ask her about you, and she didn't tell anything even to Raghav.

"Farhad-ne malā sāṅgitalyāpramāṇe te agadī khare nāhī." According to what Farhad told me, that's not exactly true. "Dr. Janaki-īṃnī Raghav-lā sāṅgitale hote kī mī māzhe nāṃva Parijat Padhye ase sāṅgūna Suhasini Joshi nāṃvācyā mājhyā bahiṇībarobara gharī gelo hoto." Dr. Janaki had told Raghav that I gave my name as Parijat Padhye and went home with my sister named Suhasini Joshi. "Asalī khoṭī māhitī puravalyāmuḷe Farhad-ne Dr. Janaki-īṃnā Dr. Kanika-āṃçe udāharaṇa dākhavūna dhamakāvale." Since Dr. Janaki had provided false information, Farhad showed her Dr. Kanika's example to threaten her.

Pallavi's excitement had faded, hearing this. Raghav lied to me about Dr. Janaki telling him nothing! Even when he finally admitted that he saw Kirti in the driver's seat at Mandar's hit-and-run, why did Raghav deny me this clue? And Farhad threatened Dr. Janaki with Dr. Kanika's example - what does that mean? Raghav must have done something horrible to Dr. Kanika for lying about the abortion! I thought, he bribed her before, he would have bribed her again to get the truth. I should have expected violence from Raghav, but it's too much, I don't want to know whatever he did!

Pallavi had lifted Mandar's hand and held it to her chest for comfort. He had smiled at her reassuringly. Realizing that the rickshaw driver who didn't understand a word of their Marathi conversation could now see that they were holding hands, Pallavi had quickly let go.

Now, as they sat across from each other at a table in the Aqua Legacy restaurant, Pallavi wondered if Mandar knew how she felt about him, or she should find the words to tell him. Mandar, I'm ready to fight for you. ... I can't lose you again. ... When you hold me, I can forget about bigamy and whatever else Raghav did. ... I want to fall in love with you, Mandar, and live every day with you, raise a family with you, and never feel alone. ... Do you feel for me what I feel when I look at you?

Pallavi's thoughts were interrupted when the waiter brought them two menus, a basket of tortilla chips, and dipping bowls of salsa picante, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Pallavi lowered her eyes to her menu, trying to read it as intently as she had been checking out Mandar. This is just our first date, Pallavi told herself. Relax and make it fun for Mandar, and the rest will follow.

Mandar didn't even look at his menu; he loaded a chip with pico de gallo and held it out to Pallavi. She reached out with her right hand to take it, but he shook his head. "Toṇḍa ughaḍa!" Open your mouth! Pallavi leaned forward and let Mandar feed her. The juicy taste of onion, tomato, lime, and cilantro ... Pallavi liked that Mandar had chosen a light and refreshing first bite for her. He dipped another chip in the pico de gallo and ate it himself. He was enjoying Pallavi's company, actually feeling more relaxed than when his heartbeat had raced in the car next to Farhad yesterday evening. He could be romantic with Pallavi in a public place, and as Amma said, getting into the habit would make behaviour modification second nature for him, even in private.

"Tumhī kāya gheṇāra te tarī ādhī ṭharavā, āṇi maga nivāntapaṇe malā ghāsa bharavā." At least decide what you'll have first, and then feed me a bite at leisure, Pallavi admonished Mandar with a smile.

"Are vā!" Wow! "Bolaṇyāta yamaka zuḷavalesa, paṇa nāṃva ghetalyāśivāya tyāçā ukhāṇā hota nāhī." You spoke in rhyme, but unless you say my name, it's not an ukhāṇā, Mandar joked. "Ātā mājhī pāḷī." Now my turn. "Patnīcī hausa mhaṇaje patīçā paramārtha; Sau. Pallavi zo nivaḍatīla toça khāīna padārtha." The wife's whim is the husband's paramount goal; whatever Sau. Pallavi chooses is the dish that I'll eat.

Pallavi softly clapped to applaud Mandar's rhyme. He fed her a chip with salsa picante, and then ate one himself. Pallavi finished reading the menu and suggested, "Kāndyā-baṭāṭyācyā enchiladas, tyāṃvara hiravā rassā; Mandar-rāvāṃçaṃ nāṃva ghete, tṛpta hoto ghasā!" Onion-potato enchiladas, topped with salsa verde; I invoke Mandar-rāva's name, and my throat is satiated!

Mandar burst out in giggles and laughed until tears came to his eyes. Pallavi laughed with him. "Utkṛṣṭa!" Superlative! "Ukhāṇā ghyāvā tara asā!" Now that's an ukhāṇā! Mandar cheered.

They gave their order to the waiter, and then Pallavi piled guacamole on a chip and fed Mandar.

"Vipul Kadam-āñcī sākṣa āvaśyaka āhe kā?" Is Vipul Kadam's testimony necessary? Pallavi asked after a moment. "Phukaṭāta kāhī te sākṣa deta nāhīta, āṇi lāça gheūna suddhā khoṭī sākṣa dyāyalā māgepuḍhe pahāta nāhīta." He doesn't ever testify for free, and even after taking a bribe, he doesn't think twice about giving false testimony. "Śivāya tyāñcī āṇi Kākūñcī zunī oḷakha āhe." Besides, he and Kākū are old acquaintances. "Āpaṇa zara tyāṃnā apaghāta lapavaṇyāsāṭhī Kākūṃnī dilelyā mahāgaḍyā vastūṃbaddala vicārāyalā gelo tara āpalyā toṇḍāvara dāra banda karūna te Kākūṃnāça sāvadha karatīla." If we try to ask him about the expensive furniture that Kākū gave him for hiding the accident, he'll shut the door in our faces and just alert Kākū.

"Tū mhaṇatesa te mī nākārata nāhī, paṇa malā eka vicāra suçalā āhe - tyā mahāgaḍyā vastū Kākūne Jagadish Annañcyā dukānātūna tara vikata ghetalyā nasatīla?" I'm not denying what you say, but I had a thought - would Kākū have bought that expensive furniture from Jagadish Anna's shop, by any chance? Mandar asked.

"Tī śakyatā tarī āhe." It's a possibility at least.

"Khātrī karūna gheūyā." Let's make sure, Mandar said, and called Farhad to explain his plan.

"Excuse me, Pallavi Deshmukh?" It was a woman about forty years old, accompanied by a man of similar age. "My name is Aparna Mehra. I apologize for intruding on your lunch. Could I make an appointment with you to discuss sarees for a special occasion?"

Mandar excused himself so that what he had to say to Farhad wouldn't be overheard, and Pallavi agreed to meet Aparna after lunch.

As he stepped out of the restaurant, Mandar was unaware that in the very spot where he was talking to Farhad about how they should approach Vipul Kadam to expose Sulochana Kākū, just a few minutes before, Dhananjay had exposed his secret to Raghav.

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