Part 7
Credit: Neha
Ranjeet came into his room and bolted it..He fished out the key from his pocket and opened a little drawer from the side of his bed..That was his secret drawer..his world where he was himself..where the mask slipped from his place and he was transported back to time..To the time he so cherished..As was his ritual he carefully placed the box from the drawer on to the bed. His fingers played with the delicate design around the lid..Slowly he pried open the box and his eyes were met with a familiar picture. He cautiously touched the picture as to avoid any finger marks on it..
The picture smiled back at him as it had done everytime he had looked at it..Those radiant eyes which held a lot of promise in them..He struggled as his mind went back to the events many years ago..it almost seemed like another birth...
Ranjeet had fallen in love with Sharda at first sight..Sharda had been the perfect life partner for him..beautiful, educated just as he wanted..He remembered how they had made promises of love to each other..promises that were to be realized in the form of marriage..He still remembered the night as if it had happened yesterday...The servants coming in with the news of his brother's death..Amarjeet had always been the black sheep..the wild child..Their family had fixed his marriage with Amita but the docile Amita was no match for Amar's vagabond nature...Even though his marraige was fixed he kept on having his affairs..which his father overlooked in the hope that once he was married he would leave all that. It was in his wild days that Amar had been first introduced to the red light area..Earlier it was just fun on the side for him but that fool had fallen in love..in love with one of those prostitutes..
Ranjeet's face turned a bitter shape when he remembered Revati..that stupid arrogant girl...She had trapped Amar...she was beautiful no doubt and she had Amar wrapped around her little finger..In an inebriated state Amar had declared that he wanted to marry her..To bring her into the family ..This decision had changed his life..his as well as Ranjeet's..When his father had tried to give money to Revati she had refused point blank..but his father was a shrewd man..he took advantage of the situation and told Amar that she had accepted the money..Amar in a fit of rage and had gone to that place and demanded an answer from Revati..He was so drunk that he could barely stand ..while having the so called confrontation he had slipped and lost his balance and his life as well..Amar's death pulled the plug on Ranjeet's dream. Their family discovered to their horror that Amita was pregnant with Amar's child..Amar had led her to believie that since they were getting married there was no harm in having a physical relationship...
And then his father had looked at him..the proverbial son..the son that would wipe off the tarnished image of both the families..Before he could protest he had been sacrificed at the altar..married to Amita..and all his hopes..his dreams remained just that...
Sharda had never shown her face to him after that..she had vanished from his life forever without giving him a chance to explain...and the spineless man that he was..he could do nothing about it..he had surrendered himself to his father's wishes..doing exactly what his father demanded from him..Ranjeet sighed and took out the mouth organ carefully kept in the box..There was a time when he used to play it all day long..now he only played it on certain occasions..He toyed the mouth organ in his hands before finally putting his lips to it and playing out the familiar tune...He always felt Sharda was close to him when he played it...
Despite everything he loved Kaustubh...he adored the boy..He had never let Kaustubh know that he was not his real father..What luck ..Kaustubh unknowingly had connected him to the same place where it had all began...The moment he had known about this film he was keen that Kaustubh does it. He had even invested his money in this..A little investigation had given him all the information on Revati..urf Amma..and he planned revenge..He would snatch away every ounce of happiness from her...Priya was the key to that..
Today destiny had laid out a deck of cards for him in which there was only one result..win..nothing else..
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Priya stood quietly in a corner watching the scene been shot..She had tried to talk to Ram but he was too busy..As Rohan called for a break she made her way to Ram..
Ram: Hii..where were you? Did you see that scene..first take ok...
Priya: Yaa..its was good..Ram..i need to speak with you..
Ram: Ram took 2 tea glasses from the spot boy and turned to Priya.
Ram: Yaa say..
Priya: I can't come to the party..
Ram handed one cup to her..
Ram: Can't come? But why? Did Amma say something to you?
Priya: No..Amma did not say anything..its just that
Ram: Then?
Priya: Ram..you know my background..i don't think Kaustubh ji knows who i am. He is just thinking i work ...it won't be good if i go..
Ram: Priya..whats the connection between the two? How does it matter what your background is? And forget about Kaustubh..everyone is allowed one date..come with me..
Priya looked at Ram..did he just say date? Before she could think anything else Ram again spoke to her..
Ram: Priya..come on yaar..you know i want to make this 15 days memorable for you..you will be away from all this..it will be fun...
Priya: I don't know..it doesn't feel right..
Ram: Priya...if you are not comfortable we will not go..
Priya: But Ram..you should go..i mean why cancel because of me..
Ram: Because you are my friend Priya..special friend...
Priya: Ram...i ll come if you can solve one problem of mine...
Ram bowed a little: At your service madam..
Priya: I don't have anything good to wear...
Ram looked at his watch..the film parties never start on time but he had to get back Priya before 11 so he had to make sure they reached on time..Considering that Rohan would be wrapping out the shoot for today leaving him with no time to take Priya out and buy her something..He scratched his forehead a little and looked around..Suddenly an idea struck him..
Ram: Priya..i ll meet you in half an hour and don't worry about the dress..leave that to me..
Priya; But Ram..
Ram: Trust me...Ram finished the last sip to tea and dashed off leaving a bewildered but smiling Priya..
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How do you expect me to wear this? What if someone knows?
Priya looked on helplessly at Ram and at the dress that he had brought..It was a Salwar Suit only but intricately designed and beautiful vibrant colours..
Ram: Priya..no one will know about this..This is anyways an extra costume and not required in the film.
Priya : But everyone from the film are coming..
Ram: Priya yaar..do as i say ..go and change..we don't have much time..i have to get you back before 11..
Reluctantly Priya went in her room to change..Ram had arranged for the dress and the accessories. In his enthusiasm he had overdone it..Priya was sure that one look at her and everyone would understand where the dress came from..She put on the dress hesitantly..the smooth fabric feeling heavenly against her skin..
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Ram sat fiddling with his phone..He stopped as he saw someone standing near him. He looked up to see Santosh..Ram gave a smile but Santosh's face remained impassive..
Santosh: Why are you doing this?
Ram: i was just playing games on my mobile..is that a problem?
Santosh: i was speaking about Priya..Stay away from her..
Ram: She is my friend Santosh..
Santosh: No..no one makes us our friends..you just come have a little time pass and then go
Ram: Santosh, why do you all have the same mindset..Some people can be exception..
Santosh: Exception? What exception? Priya is innocent..she does not know the harsh reality of the world..
Ram: World is not always cruel Santosh..
Santosh: Your world has never been kind to me..to any one of us...Look at Amma...look at the others..look at Priya even..people can't let her live peacefully..always looking at her with lust..
Ram: Santosh..the world had not been nice to me either..but we have a life we need to live it..just cursing it won't do us any good..its upto you to get yourself and Priya out of this..
Ram kept a hand on Santosh's shoulder as he said that..Santosh jerked off his hand angrily..
Santosh: Don't you ever tell me what to do...Amma has given you the permission..take her and get her back safely..remember anything happens to her and i will kill you..Don't assume this to be a threat..i will do it..
Ram gulped as he saw Santosh walking away..He was still thinking about what Santosh had said when he heard the door open and Priya walk out..
For a few moments Ram completely forgot what he was thinking..he just kept on looking at Priya..She looked completely different..The dress fitted her to the T as if made only for her..Simple yet elegant was the best that he could describe..
Priya looked at him with questioning eyes..
Ram: You look beautiful Priya..just amazing..
Priya looked at Ram once she could see he was saying the truth..
Priya: Ram, are you sure this
Ram: sshhh..not another word Priya..for once let go of your fears..your inhibitions..you are as beautiful as a girl can be..and i am as lucky as anyone else can be to have a friend like you..This is one of the many moments priya..they will stay with you forever..Forget everything ..just go with the flow..
Ram held out his hand for her...Hearing Ram's words had instilled a sense of confidence in Priya..she put her hand in Ram's. Ram had requested Rohan to lend one of his cars and he guided her towards it. Like a gentleman he opened the door for Priya making sure that she was seated comfortably. He moved on to the other side and got behind the wheel.
Amma watched from her window as the car sped off. She had been on the edge right from the start..the moment she had heard that Kaustubh Mehra was associated with the film..She feared about her past..not for herself but for Priya..She just wished that this 15 days go by quickly and the marriage happens. Once that is done her responsibility was over..It was unlikely that Kaustubh ever knew the connection his family had with her..but that was a past she intended to take to her grave..
She looked above at the frame of God on the wall above the window..Please god ..please..let her child not come under any harm..
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Priya rolled the window down..feeling the air as the car went past her lane..She could literally feel her nostrils take in the fresh air..She sat like a small child enchanted by the surroundings..Even the tall buildings captured her attention.The party venue was at Kaustubh's house which was at worli sea face..Ram deliberately took the longer route so that he could cover the Bandra Worli sea link..Priya watched in awe as the car passed the bridge..she put her hand outside the window..to feel the air..
Ram watched her out of the corner of his eye and he could not help smiling..Seeing her happy gave him a different kind of satisfaction..He felt good about himself in a way he had not felt since his mother passed away..
Ram brought the car to a smooth halt in front of a huge mansion. The valets were already all over the place taking car keys and parking them for the guests..Ram got out from his side and stepped over to Priya's side. He opened the door for her as Priya stepped out and just kept looking at the beautiful mansion in front of her..Ram closed the door and handed the key to the valet..
Priya looked at Ram and then again at the house. The mammoth house dazzled in resplendent white..Her entire lane would fit into this space..The party had not started yet..there were very few people around.. Priya came a little closer to Ram and whispered
Priya: Ram..i think we should go back..i cannot do this
Ram: Priya..relax you have nothing to do..just be with me..thats all
Priya: But Ram...
Ram: Priya..trust me...you never have to worry about anything when i am there by your side..
Priya looked at Ram..the way he said it gave her a lot of confidence..She took a deep breath as Ram guided her inside...A few people from the unit were already there and Ram and Priya went and stood besides them..
Ranjeet watched from his window ..he had recognized Priya the moment she had walked in..
Dad, you called me? He turned around to find Kaustubh calling him..
Ranjeet: I heard you managed to change the script?
Kaustubh: Ohh that...that was some luck..one assistant of Rohan suggested it..
Ranjeet was still looking at Priya when kaustubh came near him..He looked at Priya too..
Kaustubh: There..that's the one..she suggested it..
Ranjeet looked at Kaustubh in surprise..this was indeed his lucky day..
Ranjeet: Then you should thank her..go look after her..treat her as a special guest..
Kaustubh: Sure dad ..i did not know this film means so much to you..
Ranjeet: It means a lot..go now..attend to her..
He watched as Kaustubh walked away...
Ranjeet: It means a lot to me kaustubh...a lot..and you will help me in this..
Ranjeet thought as he smiled to himself.
To be Continued
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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