Ep 98 Ch 28 Call of the loving heart... Revenge Drama Actual.... Shikha stressed

"Mamaji, is Dev there? How is he?" Chandni's nerves were all in jitters,having tried in vain to reach Dev as well as Mamaji multiple times during the day. 

"Yes, Chandni beta! What's the matter? Why are you so tensed? Haven't you two spoken?"

There was silence on the other side as Chandni tried stifling a sob...not for a moment could she forget the mayhem that transpired last with Dev... Her heart felt the aftershocks even now...not a single word was exchanged after that.

Mamaji sensed her grief and tried consoling. "Beta, don't cry. He'll come back. Didn't you wait for sixteen years? Now, what?"

"Mamaji ,Chandni's whisper caught on an involuntary sob, and she raised her voice. 

"You count in number of years; but I count in number of my bated breaths...I have waited through eons, through ages...not any more, Maamaji! I just can't!"

"Beta, he's busy here... He's been having meetings, he has met villagers...now I suppose he has some task in his guest house...He said he'll be late..."

"Has he not left to return back?" Chandni was aghast.

"No beta,naturally not! It's late already. He'll stay the night...may even stay tomorrow... I am not sure!"

Mamaji paused for a breath... Not sure whether he should speak but it was vital. "Beta,I overheard him speaking on the phone early morning... Something about moving back to London...what's this? Do you both have some plans?"

A creeping sense of dread spread over her and the phone fell from her hands. Such step wasn't surprising considering their history...

His last words came screaming back at her, swirling in her mind with condemnation, "You have hurt me. This is not a mistake, this is crime!..."

Yes! She had done a crime by asking him to go to someone else...He was now going somewhere else...somewhere very far from her...back to London!

This sudden clarity sent her into a panic attack. She lost control of all her emotions, crying hard painful, aching, heavy tears. His hurt somehow infiltrated to her heart making her feel like a real coldhearted bitch to push him to such drastic decision. 

'Oh God! What shall I do now? How will I get him to stop doing such craziness?

What's the matter with you, Chandu? Why are you panicking?'

Chandni snorted trying to pull herself together,  "Who does he think he is?...

 If he can act anger crazy, so can I!...Hadn't I given him back with those magnetic chappals , a taste of his own medicine? ...If he brought pigeon poop,I brought chicken shit!...If he's angry, so am I...I'll go catch his collar and bring him back! After all I have Chandu ka Swag!

Don't panic,bhole ke sainik!'

A wild crazy thought took root in Chandni's heart and gave her strength.

She smiled through her tears, In reality, we are probably level pegging in the crazy department,or maybe I have overtaken him. I certainly feel crazy. What I'm planning definitely qualifies me as crazy. And if he finds out what his crazy wife is planning, then I've no doubt I will see him tip over the edge of craziness.'

"Devvv!" She dashed to the main door.

"Jiji!"called out Shikha.

Shikha had been piqued the whole day. She was being molded in the life she would lead soon. Everybody did it with lots of love and friendly persuasion...and yes, a lot of patience!

But she had an ill feeling around the whole thing. She had tried expressing her anger to Veer. When he responded with patient tolerance, she had totally lost the plot.

Hostility was simmering inside her... against family, against herself, against the circumstances...she knew, she had agreed to such circumstances, but what she had not realized then was that she was not ready for it...The worst part was that everybody else realized this fact and were trying their best to help her get ready...

She had been an outspoken girl, one who could give it back to the whole outside world...Somehow, here in this family, she felt tongue tied because of the love she got...Worst part being that love had entered her life first; the clarity about prospective change in lifestyle later...

Her current mood was mad enough to kill.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" She screeched.

"Dev!... Dev!" Chandni couldn't hear anybody. Just the call of her heart!

Shikha shook her angrily. "Jiji! There's no Jijaji here. He's gone... Don't you remember? What state have you made yourself?"

 "Shikha, Shikha... He's gone away!... I have to bring him back...otherwise he will leave for London." Chandni was in panic. Heart wrenching sobs coming from her.

"Jiji, what are you talking? Jijaji is gone to Allahabad. We were supposed to go to Europe and then to London...My god! What state he has made of you!"

"I don't have time Shikha. I have to rush. Please tell Naani and everybody else, I am going to bring Dev back."

Shikha was ready to blow her top now. She could have busted Advay Jijaji for his atrocious behaviour towards her sis.

"What the hell! That man has abandoned you every time...right the next day immediately after marriage...then again, when Meghna had to herself come and tell him about the baby...again when Aadi was lost...he yells at you all the time...Now, he has left without saying a word...And you want to go alone to bring him back?...what's the matter with you?"

"Don't you dare say a word against your Jijaji!" Chandni thundered, "You are immature Shikha. You have always misunderstood him!"

Lover had flared up in defence of love. Though there was so much umbrage in it. Such are the riveting ways of love!

"I am not like you, Shikha. I am going! And for you to know...His manners may not be sweet, but his heart is pure gold... I am not bothered by the cover, I want the gold!"

Chandni rushed out calling out to her trusted driver"Mohan Kaka...Mohan kaka... Come, we have to leave for Allahabad immediately."

"Allahabad? That's a very long drive! E Bansi, come here fast. Join with me. We have to go to Allahabad." Mohan called the spare driver to assist him.

Shikha was flabbergasted at the way her Jiji had accused her and sided with her own husband... That same Jiji who always saved her from her mother's wrath... That same Jiji who would do anything in this world for her sisters..'.Is this what marriage does to a woman? '

Shikha turned back pondering over the question in her mind and saw Pooja standing behind.

Pooja had just come there and seen the last part of altercation between the sisters...Shikha's words against Bhaiyya had really hit at her heart. She felt genuinely sad because those words were true...She had been so struck by those words that she had herself forgotten to stop Chandni.

"Shikha, I understand how you feel about Bhaiyya's behavior to Chandni. But perhaps, now was not the time to point it out. Instead, you could convince her to take someone along. Now please go and inform Miku about this. I'll go and inform Naani." Pooja was terse in her response.

"I am sorry, Pooja di. I didn't mean to say those things about Jiju." 

Shikha chided herself in her mind. 'How could she point out wrong things about Advay Jijaji in his own house? After all this was his family.'

"It's not about your saying those things, Shikha. It's about the timing. Life's wrongs happen mostly because timing is wrong. Remember that in life, girl!"

Pooja had mellowed down and was counselling like the elderly guardian sister.

"Whattt? Barked Veer, "Bhabhi has left alone for Allahabad? Why did you not call me then itself?"

Veer was totally taken aback with the news of Chandni leaving. Bhai had left him the responsibility of all family and especially the safety of Chandni. This couldn't have been happening!

 "Lo kar lo baat! (Look who's talking).Everybody is accusing me! As if, it's my fault that she left like that suddenly. I tried stopping her. She did not listen. And now you are yelling at me." Shikha was raving mad.

"Oh Shikha! I am not yelling at you, Love! Please forgive my tone. I am just hell worried about her. I'll go after her in another car."

Miku went to Naani to inform her.

"No need, Miku! Don't go. Those two are being ...such absolute wankers! Nani was raging mad with exasperation. "She won't listen to you even if you catch up with her. Rather you stay here and do your duties here, beta!"

There was no point in everybody in the house running after one another like kid's train.

"Naani, Should I go? At least, she won't be alone." Pooja intervened with concern.

"But then you'll be alone and we shall worry about you.I know what I am saying. Let none of us follow Chandni. Chiku will bring her back and then I'll speak with both of them. Matters are gone beyond tolerable limits, now! You take care of Aadi. The kid is getting hugely affected by this tense atmosphere."

"Ok Naani."

Both Miku and Pooja left with a heavy heart. Naani was right. Both of them had been trying their best to support the duo in every fight of theirs but matters were crossing limits. The entire family was tense.Both couldn't even give up on the lovers' duo. Unease lied heavily on their heart with the concern for siblings.  There wouldn't be any peace till both returned home! That too, together, safe and happy... a big 'If' loaded on everybody's heart.

Mamaji sat on the verandah anxiously waiting for Advay to return. He was beside himself with angst after call with Chandni. Footsteps sounded behind him and he turned back hoping for Advay but it was Pandeyji.

'Good, in a way...' Mamaji took a grip on himself. 'It's better this way to get the information than me approaching him.'

Aloud he said, "Welcome Pandeyji, please come inside.What brings you here today?" Mamaji hugged Pandeyji with a wide smile.

"Just thought of meeting with you with the advent of Advay Mahantji in Allahabad. It's caused a huge ripple between the public."

"Yes, that's true!" Mamaji was nonchalant.

"Will his brother Veer be coming to Allahabad soon? Actually be here like how their father was?"

"Yes! That's the current plan. Let's see when he actually arrives and settles. He might have to visit Mumbai frequently."

"Oh! That should not be a problem at all. We can very well take over the temple responsibilities in his absence." Pandeyji smiled,his smile a bit too wide leaning towards buttering up.

"Oh Yes Of course! You have already done it all these days...rather you must guide and support Veer Mahantji once he arrives."

"Yes Of course! I was just wondering..." Pandeyji hesitated.

"What is it Pandeyji? Please feel free to speak." Mamaji encouraged.

"Well! Today, the way Advayji managed the loan stuff with Gangaram Sunaar (goldsmith), everybody was impressed. That man is a cheat."

My exact wanted topic has come so easily. Is there a catch? Mamaji wondered. "Everybody knows that. But why do you mention it specific? I suppose you have taken loan from him, too."

"Yes! And I am worried I am going to need further loan before I can pay off the earlier... That's worrying me...I don't know how to manage." Pandeyji was hopeful of support from Mamaji and in turn from Advay.

"That Gangaram is such a cheat... I wish we had something against him... Then it would be easy to catch his neck and relieve everybody from their loans." Mamaji snared Pandeyji.

"Forget about everybody else... But I will tell you inside secret about him...save me from loan." Pandeyji was pleading.

"Yes of course! I will ask Advayji to take care of your loan... But what's the secret about Gangaram?"

"Come here."

Pandeyji made sure nobody was around and whispered in Mamaji's ears. Mamaji was shocked first but then smiled. The game was to start now!

 Just then Advay arrived...his face sallow with exhaustion and misery...Mamaji quickly gestured Pandeyji to leave silently. Pandeyji greeted Advay with a smile and a bow while leaving. Advay greeted back exchanging a look with Mamaji. His smile told Advay that his game plan was on.

As soon as Pandeyji exited from the door, Mamaji fired his question at Advay, "Beta, you haven't called Chandni since you left... The poor girl is out of her mind with misery and anxiety."

Advay looked up sharply at the mention of Chandni but his eyes were hooded. "Nothing mamaji...you know I had switched off the mobile... That's all."

Mamaji sensed the change of ruthless Advay to a very vulnerable Dev. The conviction in his words as seen just this morning was totally missing. Yet, Mamaji knew that this man would never openly admit to any questions.

"Regarding what you said about PP yesterday...Your anger is not about PP, right?" Mamaji coaxed but Advay remained silent.

"There's something altogether different...something connected with you and Chandni." Mamaji commented with a long sigh.

Advay was taken aback. It was disconcerting how well Mamaji could read him or had Chandni mentioned something to him?

"Beta, I do not know what's happened between you two. But just remember one thing! She's the girl who had affair of heart and mind with you through those letters she wrote everyday for sixteen long years...She survived only because of that stone of yours she kept with herself...now that you two are married, an inanimate stone can't keep her alive. You deny her yourself and that will be the end of her."

" Mamaji?" Advay gasped in horror. He couldn't  bear to listen to such thought. He darted to the solitude of his room his head spinning again with Chandni's thoughts.

'What was Mamaji saying? I came off here at the spur of the moment, but will Chandni take it as me denying her?' He remembered her words in her sleep every time...'Even unconscious , she only worried about what he thought of her...always! Didn't she know? She was the love of his life... She was his life!

Maybe she didn't realize that! Would she go out again like last two times she left? She could put herself in risk...'the thought made Advay bolt to main door.

"I am leaving Mamaji... I am going to Chandni." He called out to Mamaji still hanging in the doorway.

"Are beta,how will you go at this late hour?" Mamaji tried stopping him but his words were unheard.

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When families are connected so tight, one link getting disturbed can affect the entire family...That's what Chandni and Advay are doing to their families. 

And when relations are very close, a smallest thing hurts very deep and can cut you apart... That's what's happening between Shikha and Chandni.

What will be Gangaram's fate in Advay's game plan?

The lovers have rushed out...as thought by Miku and Pooja, will they be safe, happy and together?

Do hit like button after reading. Looking forward to your claps/raps comments. 

Loving2Missing22019-08-18 02:17:54