Chapter- Two hearts, one distance

Chapter - Two hearts, one distance

The police jeep rolled to a halt beside them, its rugged tires crunching gravel as the engine settled into silence. With a soft click , the driver's door swung open. A senior officer stepped out,the sunlight glinting off his black sunglasses. As he removed them , his gaze swept over the people standing nearby the road. His gaze flickered towards the junior officer Mayuri's, a hint of annoyance etched into her features.

“Miss Bansal,” he asked her calmly,yet authoritative “what is going on here?”

Mayuri straightened her posture instantly. Her right hand flew up on her forehead, to give a salute, a mere gesture of showing respect to the senior officer.

“ Sir, we have a no-entry violation..and,” she hesitated and took a breath, her jaw tightening in frustration as she added, “ misbehaviour with a one duty police officer.”

The officer’s brows arched in surprise, and he absorbed the situation with a scrutinizing look. His gaze abruptly shifted to the man , who stood there nonchalantly , as if he were attending an election meeting rather than an arrest.

“What kind of Misbehaviour, exactly?” He inquired.

Mayuri opened her mouth, but no words came out. Heat flushed in her cheeks,and her ear turned red.

The lady constable's gaze drifted away, suppressing a chuckle. While Vicky bit his chew, clearly on the verge of laughter.

Mayuri cleared her throat stiffly, managed to regain her professional composure.“ He…was making inappropriate comments, Sir,” she said, an awkwardness evident in her tone.

Rudra shook his head, brooding an innocent face. “ Sir, I was just establishing communication. Public-police relations should be strong. “ He grinned, politely.

“Police jatna honke jab ek, tabhi toh aage badega yeh desh ” He replied, earnestly, as if he got the responsibility to take charges of the entire nation.

Mayuri shot him a lethal glare, her irritation piquing.

She muttered low , so only Rudra could hear .“ Come to jail. I'll improve your communication skills there.”

Rudraksh's grin vanished. He looked at her, surprisingly interested.

The senior officer studied Rudra more closely, his expression suddenly shifting. With a calm authority, he stepped closer , his eyes narrowed slightly.

“ Remove the handcuffs.”

Mayuri’s heart jumped, her eyes widened surprisingly. “ Sir…but—”

“ I said remove them,” henpressed on, his voice was firm yet measured.

After a moment’s hesitation, she agreed. Her fingers unblocked the cuffs reluctantly. Her chest burned with embarrassment and humiliation.

The officer turned to her , as he spoke his voice dropped gently yet firmly. “ Officer, Bansal, I appreciate your sincerity …but do you know who he is ?”

Mayuri felt a surge of pride swell within her. “ Kiske honge,Sir..? Koi Ameer baap ke bigda hua beta,” she retorted, dismissing Rudraskh with a wave of her hands.

Rudraksh surprisingly smiled at her words.

Vicky leaned, whispered in his ear , “ Bhai…tujhe pehle ei din ache se pehchan gayi.” (Bhai… she understood your character on the first day itself.”) He held his laughter back.

“The officer sighed,his shoulders dropping slightly. “You are Rudraksh Bajaj, son of Mr. Rajeev Bajaj , am I right?

“ Yes , Sir.” Rudraksh nodded his head, his face radiating as he had achieved ownership of ruling the world.

Mayuri's expression remained impassive, but her heart was pounding at the revelation.

The officer lowered his voice , leaned in slightly. “ His family has significant influence. If this issue escalated, a complaint could reach the higher authorities very quickly. A rural transfer order can be issued overnight…and I may not be able to prevent it.”

A heavy silence stretched amidst them , the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Mayuri's fingers clenched at her sides helplessly. Her jaw was tightening further. She avoided Rudraksh's gaze, swallowing the lump of not powerful enough to give an appropriate treatment to Rudraksh's freaking comments.

“Understood, sir,” she said quietly, eyes dropped on the pavement , a small escape to his her jaw dropped expression.

The officer nodded, and then turned on his heel to leave. The jeep drove away, its departure accentuating the silence that hung in the air.

For a moment, no one dared to speak.

Vicky exhaled loudly, putting his hand over his chest , and said breaking the tension. “Bach gaye…”

Rudraksh nodded silently.

Mayuri stepped aside, forcing control yet still refusing to acknowledge Rudraskh's high status background.

“ Leave!” She hissed, her tone was cold and professional.

Rudraskh curious eyes regarded her for a moment, his expression had shifted as he stepped closer, just enough that only she could hear.

His voice dropped low, a conspiratorial tone threading through his words. “ Aap ko lag raha hoga power ki wajah se arrest hone se bach gaye…”

She didn't turn, her resolve was unwavering.

He leaned slightly, the scent of his cologne drifting towards her. “ Galat socha. Main toh wapas aane wala tha waise bhi.”

Her brow furrowed at his words, scepticism got her better.” Why?” She asked curiously

“Challan bharne ke liye nahi.…aapse phir Milne ke liye,” he answered innocently, his eyes shining with a calm certainty.

Mayuri’s eyes snapped toward him, surprise evident on her face.

A genuine smile formed in his lips, devoid of mockery. “ Transfer se phele…coffe pe mil lijiye, officer. Unless , I’ll need to keep breaking traffic rules in your jurisdiction daily.”

“Bas kar bhai,” Vicky whispered nearby ,“let's go before she arrests you again.”

Rudraskh, however, ignored his friend's warning.

Mayuri’s anger resurfaced instantly“ Get lost.”

Rudraskh began to walk backwards towards his car, still maintaining eye contact. “ Ji, officer. But next time , I'll come wearing a helmet…”

Mayuri frowned, confusion mingling with her irritation. “Why helmet?”

His playful demeanor returned as he opened his car door . “Aapki nazron se bachne ke liye,” he quipped while a teasing glint danced in his eye.

With that, he climbed in, and drove off, leaving Mayuri standing there—still seething with anger and yet unable to erase the thoughts of him swirling in her mind.

The Lamborghini disappeared into the thick traffic. The road noise returned, the rally slogans echoed again in the distance.

But Mayuri heard none of it . She stood still on the pavement , fingers clutched around the cold metal of the handcuffs she had just unlocked.

Her jaw tightened. Resentment appeared on her features as she muttered under breath. Badtameez…Insane…Irresponsible…

She exhaled sharply and turned away, trying to focus on the traffic cones.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Prithvi and Sanyogita made their way to the Singhaniya house. The atmosphere around me felt heavier than usual.The stark beige colour of the private lobby echoed with an unsettling silence, and it was then they spotted Pranali standing there . Her brow was furrowed, and there was a hunt of apprehension in her features, almost as if she were strangled in the midst of a troubling thought.

She let out a sharp breath, when her gaze landed on her son, but her expression shifted from concern to disquiet as her eyes zeroed in on the bloodstain that married his shirt, a wave of instinctive maternal fear cocooned her . Her hand instinctively covered her mouth when she noticed Sanyogita's forehead wrapped in a white bandage.

Worry etched across the features,she quickly rushed to them . Pranali put her hand on Sanyogita's shoulder as she leaned in closer . “Prithvi,....this bandage—how did this happen?”she asked , her voice trembling slightly with concern.

Prithvi's throat went dry;words caught in his there. Apprehending him at his uneasy response, Sanyogita quickly interjected. “ Mom,...I fainted and fell . Really, it's just a minor cut—nothing to worry about!”

Pranali's expression morphed into a mixture of worry and terror, her brows knitted tightly as she scrutinized them both.“ How do you evasively say that …it's just a minor cut, there's a bandage wrapped around your forehead? And Sanyogita, why would you faint? Are you not eating properly?” Her eyes started between them, concern felt from her words.

“ Okay ,come inside.” She urged, authoritatively. “We will talk there. By the way, have you two eaten anything or don't you?

Sanyogita searched for the Prithvi expression, he nodded and answered carefully “ Yes, Mom. We had tea and a little breakfast on the way.”

Pranali’s lips curled into a smirk, though the underlying worry shimmered in her eyes. “I know, I know how much you both enjoy eating out .”

She said in a playful tone.“ Don't try to be oversmart with yours ,Mom.”

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Just as they stepped into the opulent bedroom, a heavy silence enveloped them.Sanyogita settled over the plush couch, the soft cushion pressed beneath her weight .

Prithvi moved into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, focusing into a flash of water on face as he tried to fade the scene of their recent conversations.

Neither of them spoke, since she had laid bare her truth on the road, words had become a fragile thread dangling between them, too feeble to grasp.

The familiar bedroom suddenly appeared, oddly suffocating . The vibrant hues of the wall, the large painting that once sparkled joy , now seemed to feel dull and empty.

Sanyogita's eyes suddenly fell over the oversized wedding photo frame hanging above the headboard of the king-size bed. A hollow ache filled her chest as she stared at the image,although it captured a happy moment , yet she could see it for what it truly was a facade.

She had lost half of her portion on the wedding day, but today, a deep sorrow mingled with the remnants of her hope . She suddenly had a desire if she could disappear, feeling a weight in her chest , something so heavy she could barely decipher.

Her gaze lingered on Prithvi’s image in the photo, and her vision blurred. Her eyes dropped, as if she couldn't face him for longer . She had hoped he would understand her, but he chose to accuse her instead. To him, it seemed like she had taken advantage of their marriage. She closed her eyes, trying to block the painful memories, but they stuck with her.

Her eyes shut , trying to block the scene, but they clung stubbornly to her thoughts and to her heart.

As he stood frozen, before the mirror, his reflection on it seemed to be laughing at the man who'd been trapped in a labyrinth, didn't know how to come out of it.

His jaw clenched at the sight of him so tightly that it spread pain through his muscles. He caught sight of blood streaks on his shirt, his fist tightened involuntarily.The horrific events of the previous night replayed in his mind like a reel, with each scene haunting than the last .

It was then that he gazed at the brushes on his knuckles, a reminder of the night before, when he had jagged the window glass to unlock the door.

Her terrified eyes flashed again, making him feel filthy, and her trembling voice when she shoved him and ran away. The car accident and her stay in the hospital. It all felt like a ghastly dream too real to escape .

Yet it was her words from this morning that pierced through him more lethally than any sharp weapon .

Because the weapon could cut him physically, but what she revealed today, had killed something deep within him that made it hard to breathe.Her words echoed in his mind like a terrible mantra, each repetition chopping away at his composure.

“Hum koi cheez nahi hai.”

Her voice haunted him like a ghost.

“Viraj…I agree that this marriage wasn't because I had no choice.”

“I thought it would be an escape . A freedom I had been craving so long ”

His fist slammed into the marble wall . He didn't flinch back.

“If our marriage doesn't work we …we will part ways.”

A surge of anger coursed through him, burning his skin.He slammed his fist into the marble wall, not flinching.

“Damn it…” he muttered, feeling a crushing sense of betrayal mixed with the weight of his own expectations.“You….you already decided everything, didn’t you?” He asked, as if expecting an answer from the silent room.

“How dare she walk into my life and dare to think she can pursue my emotions as a mere transaction?” He seethed, his thoughts spiralling into a tempest of hurt and confusion.

He dragged his hand through his hair. The mocking tone of her words echoed clamorously in his mind, challenging his fragile ego.

“Lekin , hum jo bhi karte hai, dil se karte hain. kisiko maddat karke mahan baniye ke liye nahi .”

He stood there still, chest heaving unevenly, staring deeply into his reflection, as if searching for the answers that evaded him.

“Aaj ke baad, hum aapne sapne apne dum pe banaenge.”

“Hume aapki kisi madat ki zarurat nahi.”

Her voice taunted him , a reminder of his future he felt slipping from his grasp. He raised his fist, this time shattering the mirror .The shards scattered across the counter like fragments of his own heart.

He stood there, exhausted, his shoulders dropping in defeat. He squeezed his eyes shut against the flood of emotions. Tears traced a path down his cheek, mingling with the crimson stains pooling beneath his bloodied hand. He felt torn between pride and longing.

“You really think I would do all that for… obligation?”

Something whispered amidst his chaotic mind.

*************

Pranali stood in the kitchen like a field Marshal commanding a battlefield , but here except the soldiers were cooks and the weapons were ladles, and humorously the enemy was hungry. Hunger for breakfast.

“Gopal! Pour the tea properly into the kettle.” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “These aren't bath water—reduce the quantity!”

The entire kitchen staff moved at 10x speed.

Amidst them,Vishakha—The head maid who had been part of the Singhaniya household for over a decade.She leaned closer and whispered loudly enough for the entire kitchen to hear:

“Where is the chutney? Why is the toast pale? Toast should look confident, not scared!” she ordered, inspecting a plate like a strict school principal.

As she approached Pranali , slowly her eyes widened, occupied with curiosity and concern of seriousness of someone carrying the national news.

“ Badi Malkin,” Vishakha said, her tone laced with worry, “I heard Bahurani fainted and had an injury on her forehead?”

Pranali turned to the head maid who had earned her trust over the years . “Yes, Vishakha.” Pranali replied , a hint of apprehension in her voice. “She slipped in the morning.”

Vishakha rolled parathas like a culinary magician, her demeanor transitioned slightly. She gasped, her eyes widened surprisingly as if Pranali had announced an earthquake. Then she lowered her voice dramatically.

“ Malkin,....have you considered that Bahurani might soon become a mother?”

Pranali blinked, looking utterly bewildered. “WHAT?!”

“ Absolutely!” Vishakha said, momentarily pausing from her potato-stuffed creations. “Bahurani and Prithvi Baba have been married for three months and it's scientifically proven.

Pranali stared at her confused , “Scientifically…?”

Vishakha nodded her head in such a way as if she had graduated from Bollywood medical University.

“I’ve seen it in those romantic serials and movies, first comes the wedding then fainting, then the doctor shows up with the news :Khush khabri… aap dadi banne wali hai!”

Pranali stared at Vishakha for a moment, then began laughing in disbelief. “ Vishakha tu bhi na. “ She nodded her head sideways.

“ Why not ?” Vishakha countered,her conviction unabated. “Prithvi Baba looks like a lovesick puppy around his wife. Just notice how he supports her during music practice. Earlier he lived as if he’d have only worked in his life . But now, he's becoming extra careful with Bahurani…often watching her like she is the last rasgulla on earth.”

Pranali tried not to smile.

“And a few days ago ” Vishakha continued, now unstoppable, “He took Bahurani’s food with himself and didn't even let anyone come inside their bedroom. Huh! A possessive husband, indeed! “ Her lips curled into a chuckle.

Vishakha's words dropped earnestly “ And I saw him holding her elbow, trust me Malkin, men don't hold women's elbows without any reason.”

Pranali finally laughed. “You are impossible.”

However, her mind pondered through the matter. Perhaps Vishakha had a point. Prithvi had changed his behaviour since his marriage, and it suited him well. But then, a thought struck her hard :

“Can Sanyogita really be pregnant ?” Pranali thought in her mind.

The idea filled her with bubbling excitement at the thought of her future grandchildren.

She’d have to ask Sanyogita about it soon.

**************

Sanyogita lay sprawled on the bed, blissfully enveloped in sleep. When she turned, her hand met cold sheets instead of warmth . Her eyes widened as became fully awake. The other side of the bed was empty.

She sat on the bed, feeling an unsettling emptiness as she scanned the room. She half-expected him to suddenly appear from somewhere, behind the curtains, or maybe near the wardrobe…or even from the bathroom.

But, Prithvi was nowhere to be found. Last night the silence was heavy . But this one…felt empty.

The wall clock depicted it was past nine-thirty, a realisation Prithvi’d already left for his office. She must have dozed off for a long time because of the sedative, and woke up straight into the next morning.

Their usual banter was now a distant echo. First, there had been the mess in the studio, then the night she found him at his worst, revelation of his heart-wrenching past . Now, there was his abrupt ignorance.

A heavy ache settled in her chest, and Sanyogita smirked unknowingly.

“Wonderful.“ She muttered , “ Now , Mr Kharate Singhaniya’s vanished. A brave act ... .huh!”

With a swift motion,she pushed the blanket aside, and set her foot dropped on the cold marble floor.

“ Why am I suddenly feeling disappointed ?” Her brow furrowed with irritation, and a sarcastic voice to her mind teased her for her curiosity.

“ I'm not disappointed,” she answered firmly. “ I'm simply…trying to remove his misunderstanding.”

Feeling bold ,she decided to venture to the balcony, a place where the stunning sky bridges of the Singhaniya towers offered more than just a picturesque view . A perfect spot to savor a moment of peace with her favourite coffee and the Ocean’s breezes.

Clad in a comfy night T-shirt and trousers, she stepped out of the bedroom and headed for the balcony. Just as a gentle breeze whispered against her skin, a sense of serenity washed over her . Her hair floated loosely in the wind and then she sunk into the inviting embrace of a plush chair . Her eyes shifted outside, and a cocoon of serenity enveloped her .

Just then, a maid arrived pushing a food trolley . She had a playful glint in her eyes as she put a steaming cup of coffee, along with a platter of fruits before Sanyogita. However, instead of leaving,she stood still, smiling shyly.

Sanyogita sensed something was off. Her eyes widened in surprise. “ Are you serving breakfast….or do you plan to admit me to the ICU?”

The worker shrugged , and a chuckle formed on her lips . “Madam , Malkin insisted on being extra careful with you.Khaiye Madam, is halat mein khana sehat ke liye achaa hota hai !” With a wink, she departed, leaving Sanyogita in a whirlwind of confusion.

Sanyogita frowned, “Is halat mein kya matlab ?” Suddenly , her thoughts revolved around her injury and she rolled her eyes at her mother-in-law's incessant overprotectiveness.

“ Yeh, Mom bhi na!” She chuckled slightly, shaking her head in disbelief . The sharp pain resurfaced. Immediate and short. She stopped nodding.

“It’s just a cut…nothing to worry about. I'm pretty lucky to have such a caring Sasuma…”

Then, her adorable smile radiated across her cheeks as an idea struck her. “ Maybe I should marry Mom, instead of Viraj, then I wouldn't have to tolerate his drama.”

She picked up the coffee mug in her hands and began to sip it “One minute !”

She paused.

“Why did Mom suggest that I consult Dr. Parima Mathur?” Sanyogita pondered, recollecting the neurologist's advice they'd recently sought.

As she mused aloud, the realisation hit her like a thunderclap.

“ Oh, my God!” Her hand swept over her chest feeling the quickened rhythm there . “ I remember who she is ! I met her at our reception party. And…and …she’s a gynecologist!”

Her eyes narrowed, and she took another sip of the coffee. “But why would Mom think I need to meet her ?”

Sanyogita's cheeks turned a vivid shade of pink. “ No way, …” She gasped, feeling pity for her fate . “ Mom just can't be thinking like……Oh God !” Her hands flung upwards in disbelief , then dropped back on her either side.

“First, it was marriage, and…now she's imagining me with a baby?” She groaned, she was almost choking, and the coffee slipped from her mouth. “What next then? …School admission forms for imaginary kids?”

In her mind, Prithvi's smiling face surged, quickening her heartbeat. Suddenly, the memory of a few days ago flashed back, and her cheeks flamed pink. She recalled his playful teasing when he stepped out of the bathroom, freshly showered.

“ Oh! God, why don't I have a memory short-circuit .”She muttered to herself as she grabbed the coffee mug and took a quick sip.

“Vira!" she whispered angrily to the empty air, “ This is all your fault. Entirely your fault for leaving me in this mess. Even the staff has started daydreaming our family planning.

She grabbed her phone, looking for a message. But her disappointment grew as there was nothing.

“No message.”

“Mr.Khaddos Singhaniya, who only knows how to threaten others and snore at night… now acting like Mr.hurt husband.”

She let out a dramatic sigh, her frustration boiling over, looking up at the sky, but her mind was entangled in a maelstrom of Chaos.

“ You carried me into the hospital , even took care of my wound, and now you're behaving like I committed a national crime. “ She stared at his contact on her mobile's recent call history but didn't press the call .

“I know I lied to you,” she said quietly. “and I acknowledged my faults . It will never mean to hurt you.”

A breeze brushed her hair across her face , she didn't flinch though.

Sanyogita pulled her legs into the chair, hugging her knees while the coffee mug stayed lazily in her right hand.

Okay, Fine.” She muttered under her breath. “ Don't talk to me. I won't talk either.”

Her expression shifted gloomily. “ You don't even bother to check whether I've taken my medicine or not.”

“Like…I'm invisible.”She bit her nail, A pang of bitterness clogged in her throat.

“ I wanted to tell you everything, even… even about Y-Yash! But you frame me as the accused, so I will stop telling you about him.“

She paused to check the phone again. “...Just one message would also have been acceptable.”

Then she groaned and buried her face in her knees. “Why do I keep remembering his casual jibes? Even …him without a shirt?” Brain, behave yourself.”

She looked upwards suddenly, hoping to find a way to escape her deep thoughts.

“Now I won't talk to you, until you do ..””

Sanyogita's chin rested on her folded elbow, which lay over her knees.

Her eyes grew watery, making it harder to breathe. She was confused as to why his ignorance bothered her so much.