Chandni stirred from her fitful slumber... The night had left her restless and perturbed...desperately waiting for Dev to return... to have Dev around her... with her!...
Her world reeled...her heart ached... her breath stopped... she couldn't focus... just couldn't... a state of complete lassitude and then suddenly, she saw Dev, in bed next to her.
"Dev, you have come back!"
She screamed in ecstatic joy...reluctant to dismiss the sight in front of her as a mere imagination...her inner desire materializing into a lucid dream...
The same loving eyes..so soft, so tender...the faint rays of early morning sun reflecting off his smoky brown irises rimmed with dark chocolate ...as dark as his possessive morning desire!
The same absurdly sensual smile...drenched in his hot blooded wickedness...yet tender with love...and filled with a promise...a promise that made her mind go in directions it definitely, definitely shouldn't...
She knew, in a moment, he would draw her close, flush against his hard contours... until she could feel every hot and hard inch of him...
And then the unhurried, languorous almost- kisses would start to tease her... His mouth so warm and persuasive...
And playful indulgent whispered words of love to seal the spell...and electricity crackling in the air...
And then the inevitable!... kissing her senseless...his taste so good, so warm, so familiar...Chandni could feel it...
Yet not feel it...because nothing happened, no response came ... A faraway mirage turning into a soul soaking elixir... She clutched her chest, her eyes squeezed shut in unbearable anguish.
But then, the morning wind carried his voice... Suddenly pulling her heart to him ...He touched her with that voice...in trance, she stood up to his level...to his calling...
He hugged her close to his bosom...like the most precious gem in his life's treasure...with tender smile...with open heart... his breath so warm so near putting her breath in a tremble... all fights, all accusations forgotten in that moment...
Just him and her and an active absolute feeling called love!...
This delirium was life! "Dev" She whispered her call... in this one dream, all her hope, her entire life, her reality!
Advay had mesmerized people of his village. A poor man, Sukhiya, came forward...a smiling courage on his face encouraged by Advay's speech.
"Mahantji, we are the poor community here. We will feel grateful if you would have food with us."
Sarpanch chastised immediately trying to stop him, "Arre! How can the great Mahantji eat your rukhi sukhi daal roti (minimal food)?"
"I will!" Advay declared, "I'll have lunch with you, if it's not too much trouble for your wife."
A warm kind smile on his face...his voice gentle with humility. The faces of the poor community lighted up with Advay's acceptance of them.
"Beta, these are really poor people. Will you have food with them? Mamaji intervened with genuine concern.
Advay shrugged lightly, as though it was nothing really out of the ordinary.
"Mamaji, Raamji went to Shabari and had her ber(fruits); you and I are mere mortals. Why should we keep ego?"
Advay smiled. This was his shrewd leadership style. He knew these people from poor community roamed to every house in the village asking for alms or for work. He could tap their potential to help him someday find the man with the golden tooth, the man with the axe and then man with the keychain, his targets!
Encouraged by his words, another very old woman came forward. "Beta, my home is mortgaged to the Gangaram sunaar(Goldsmith). My entire life and my son's life went in paying the interest on the loan. Soon we will lose our home. Could you help us, beta?"
At the mention of the goldsmith name, Advay's brain smoked with hatred... The memory of him putting the false blame of cheating on his father burning his soul.
The Goldsmith walked towards him with hands folded and face composed into humble contrition.
"Namashkaar Mahantji! Don't pay much heed to this old lady. She has been taking loan from me for every occasion in her family. Naturally, the interest goes on. What can I do?"
Advay's face remained cold with majestic contempt...Eyes formidable beneath the impressively creased brow...
"You know what you can do. I am sure you will do that."
"My dues must get paid." Gangaram insisted.
Eyes trained on the older man, not a muscle on his face moving, Advay came close deliberately and leaned toward the older man, towering over him,
"I will pay each due. Be sure of that!"
Ganagaram's eyes sparkled with greed. He did not realize which dues Advay was speaking about. "You'll pay?"
Advay shot him a sardonic look, "My company will have your records audited and then whatever is due from the old lady, my company will pay."
Gangaram's face fell with bated trepidation. He knew all his records were manipulated. If official audit happened he would not just lose all his claims but also go to jail. He didn't want to give in yet.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Advay singh Raizada does not threaten, he announces!"
Advay's growl matched the scowl on his rugged face. His arrogance and his hatred for the man all wrapped in him, he gave the final blow with superb economy of words and action.
Gangaram realized it was a lost battle for him in this case. He wanted to avoid the audit at all costs.
"I'll check how much is due. The records are old. Maybe I have forgotten now. It's possible that her dues are paid and she can take the house back. I will do best possible from my end."
With shrewdness of successful businessman, Advay had made the deal favorable for old lady. He straightened up with a satisfied air, wore his shades in one smooth movement and walked away. People followed in flocks behind him.
Meghna stood alone silent in a far corner getting an eyeful of Advay's interaction with the villagers. He is the man who alone can make these people accept me with my baby', she discerned. She had witnessed his integrity before when he had brought her Jiji safely back from the pub. Now she saw the power in his persona. My baby is most important to me. I have to trust him completely, abide by his words and he will bring me the baby, he will bring me my respect in the world.'
Chandni hesitated at Naani's door. Through the whole night and then through the morning, she had been listless and wistful... waiting for Dev's call...waiting for any news of him. She knew naani had been angry with her and it was right, too. She also knew that Dev would ensure to update Naani about his whereabouts. She conjured up courage and called out, "Naani..."
"Oh, Chandni! Come inside. Could you get any sleep, child?"
"Naani, I am sorry, I did wrong. But believe me, naani. I did it in good faith... Just so that Dev finds his inner peace." Chandni was earnest.
"I don't doubt you, Chandni!... I know you can only have best intentions about Chiku. But beta, you fail to understand one point.
Inner peace is not a commodity, child! Had it been so, it could be bought off! Can it be?...No!...It's a journey...a very long voyage...life churns out entirely and somewhere near the end, one suddenly realizes someday that there has been an equilibrium and somewhere, inner peace has found you.
It will happen for Chiku, also. But not just with a readymade baby as you believed..."
"But Naani, he's awake so many nights crying alone...in his silent tears, the screaming suffocation of his tormented heart! "
She had been witness to his stifling turmoil with memories swirling in his heart...the pain, the injustice...all part of her now...because she was a part of his, his ardhangini...
She sobbed, finally giving in to the overwhelming guilt that's been looming deep inside of her for days.
"I wish things had been different that day in Allahabad. I should not have said what I had seen...it's all because of me!"
"No Chandni. It's not you. You were just the media...It's destiny ...Destiny that formulates events... from uncountable centuries in the entirety of universe...and then, it's this love between the two of you...so potent that at times, poisonous! ...The dark, brutal magic of that fatal love...it pushes you to behave erratically and unreasonably, both of you!... This love shapes your destiny...Unfortunately, toxic and lethal!...time and again!"
Chandni remembered that night when she had innocently told him she saw his mother flying...he left without any explanation, any discussion, any counseling of her naivety...it was because she loved him so very much that she trusted him with all her thoughts and it was because he loved her beyond limits that he could not bear to hear such thought from her...their love had pushed them apart then and it was love pushing them apart again!
Mamaji took Advay a little aside from the crowd following him. There was awe and pride in his smile.
"Beta, you have won the hearts of these people. They literally worship you now.
Advay's return smile was bitter, laced with whispers from his past.
"Mamaji, that's actually the worry. People worship everything but value nothing. These same people had once worshipped my father and you are aware of what happened."
Advay closed his eyes to contain the riling emotion within.
Yes! Mamaji was well aware that many of these villagers had not valued Advay's father enough to stand up against that angry mob who had killed both his parents. He could see the storm in Advay's whole being. In a moment, Mamaji determined, He would stand with this man, be his soldier!
"What do you want me to do now?"
Advay's eyes opened, and Mamaji saw a strange and dangerous calmness, an almost opaque shutdown in their brown depths... deep and still with something lurking right inside...you could feel their sear. Here was the dragon in his den. And his enemies were unarmed.
"Mamaji, Gangaram started it first with the public blame of cheating on my father. He'll be my first target."
"He is easy to manage. As you said, one audit of his manipulated records and he'll be wiped out."
"No mamaji! Too easy for him!"
Advay paused. He wanted Gangaram to burn in living hell. He would pay back double of what his father had suffered with the public defamation...his name becoming a gaali (swearword)...
Mamaji couldn't discern the plans going on in Advay's head. Advay's pause had the patience of a hunter, the quiet stillness of a man in control of his body and his emotions.
"Mamaji, these temple ritual priests... Is anyone close or regular with Gangaram?"
"Yes! Pandeyji... the man who came to give you the Mahant Shawl... he visits him sometimes... he has four daughters, in the wedding of two, he has taken huge loan from Gangaram."
"That's it, Mamaji! We'll satisfy the financial needs of Pandeyji and then make him get us all inside information on Gangaram and be our first rook when the game starts."
"But why Pandeyji for that? I can get you all the information. I will be your rook." Mamaji was charged.
"No Mamaji, you are my Vazeer! (vizier), You must counsel me on my master plan...and sometimes be my hatchet man."
Advay held the shoulders of Mamaji like a king holding his knight, "I won't waste you on this task. And also, your connection with me is well known to everybody. Gangaram is cunning enough to know that you are my man and be cautious. I want him unguarded like how my father was."
Advay's teeth clenched in his deadly wrath...his lips a tight line... the fire from the dragon in his hissing voice , "He will not know what hit him!"
Mamaji listened agape...The fire creating a fear in him to speak.
"Mamaji, the sun is getting hotter. Please, go ahead to the haveli and have your lunch. I'll be having lunch with Sukhiya and then meeting up some other people. I also need to go to my guest house. I'll be late perhaps in the evening. Don't wait up for me."
For a moment, Advay couldn't fathom why he wanted to go to the guest house... as if, Chandni was going to be there under the bed!...her memory never lagging behind in his heart... bringing a throb in his body, a wistful desire in his mind...I wish she was there, I would pull her out and then hold her close!...she's the solace to my heart!
Mamaji reached haveli. Meghna had served his lunch and was waiting for him.
"Mamaji, Jijaji must have spoken to you after meeting Prathamji yesterday. Did he say anything?
"Meghna beta, I am not sure why; but he doesn't want you to meet PP till he decides further.
Meghna's face fell immediately her heart sinking...she had banked on that first meeting between the two going right...everything else would have fallen in place then...
She steeled herself. If, now Jijaji had decided so, she would abide by it. After all, he was family.
"ok mamaji. Whatever Jijaji says.
Before the duo finished their meal, there was knock on the door. Mamaji opened the door to a hopeful yet worried PP. Seeing him, Meghna went inside... Very uncharacteristic of her usual self...PP noticed immediately.
"Arre, Pratahm beta, you?" Sudden dilemma gripped Mamaji as to how to send him away. The lad had proved good at heart all these days but now, Advay's verdict had gone against him.
"Yes Mamaji! Actually, I came to meet Meghna."
"Sorry beta! But she won't meet you. Her jijaji has instructed so. You'll need to wait for some days."
In a moment, PP got agitated, "But why so? I did not do anything. He just got angry by his own yesterday. And how can he stop me and Meghna from meeting? Does Meghna agree to that."
"Yes Prataham beta, it's now her decision, too! You will just have to be patient... things will sort out soon...maybe he is testing something in you." Mamaji tried pacifying PP but in vain.
After his lunch and meetings, Advay's feet turned towards the guest house...
how she reacted to all his mess...always! Out of their own volition, his lips curled in a lopsided smile. "Katto!" His heart whispered to her.
Their childhood picture was there in the drawer. He just couldn't resist seeing it... touching her innocent face...he wanted to do right by her, he just wasn't sure what was right!... The dilemma in his heart giving a sense of abandonment... He clutched his guitar...his escape instrument...taking him to his known trusted space...hell!
His heart cried out
Tu jo nazron ke saamne kal
hoga nahi
tujhko dekhe bin main
mar na jaaun kaheen
now that you'll not be there
in front of me tomorrow
I hope I don't die
without seeing you...
tujhko bhool jaaun kaise
maanein na, manaaun kaise?
tu bata...
roke na ruke naina
teri ore hai inhe to rehna
roke na ruke naina...
how do I forget you,
heart don't listen to me, how do I make it listen?
tell me.
My eyes won't just stop, they want to stay towards you, they won't listen to me.
haathon ki lakeerein do
milti jahaan hain
jisko pata hai bata de
jagah wo kahaan hai
where two lines of the palm (defining the fate) meet
whoever knows, tell me where that place is.
ishq mein jaane kaisi
ye bebasi hai
dhaRkano se milkar bhi
dil tanha hai
what kind of powerlessness
is this, in love...
even after meeting the heartbeats,
the heart is lonely.
doori main miTaaun kaise?
maane na, manaaun kaise?
tu bata...
how do I end this distance,
these eyes don't listen to me,
how do I make them listen, tell me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advay and chandni just can't live without each other. But as Naani wisely said, their love is so potent that it's almost toxic. Had Advay ever imagined, that Chandni would take him to hell?
Same as Naani let us stay hopeful that both will meet together very soon. Their love is their heaven.
PPghna are at odd standstill with Meghna standing with Advay's decision.
What happens with Gangaram, the culprit goldsmith, with Advay's game plan?
The revenge was such an integral part of the original story...our dark hero was here for revenge... somehow with the show getting closed, the story was left untold...
Do share your thoughts, your comments, your suggestions on how should the revenge go on real culprits!
And yes! Please do hit like button when you read this chapter.
The promo was a perfect prompt for me to write something in my ishtyle! ...
Amidst the tumultuous storm of a high-stakes trial, Anushka Raisinghani, a ...
Comments (363)
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AnnDan @AnnDan
4 years ago
Thanks for links. Shivani is very cool
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
Adni fans, same like me, create beautiful edits even todayEdit of Sesi
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
The pain that comes in his eyes, how could people go away from the show? I just can't understand
AnnDan @AnnDan
4 years ago
I will always love his Advay
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
4 years ago
I miss this guy!... Would he be missing the show in his heart? I wonder at times... he's the guy to move foRwards always; yet this show was his choice to relate back with his old fans... so naturally, it lingers in my mind!
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
5 years ago
If love is forever, then where are my sweet buddies, who truly loved me and my writing? Missing you, girls! Genuinely missing you!
Neha @Loving2Missing2
+ 2
5 years ago
[QUOTE=jyoti06]Reopened on request
[/QUOTE]
Thanks a Million, Gargi! You are a gem! I can't put it in words, how grateful I am!
2filmy @2filmy
5 years ago
Neha Dihope you are enjoying your vacation
vijayfan10 @vijayfan10 5 years ago Please update soon as possible
2filmy @2filmy
6 years ago
Wow Prachi Jithat is great