PART 14
Ram and Priya landed in Mumbai. The morning after the news and the journey was a quite affair. Ram thought of ways to make Priya smile while she was sad thinking about Peehu.
Peehu was her life. How could she think of being away from her? How could she not meet Peehu whenever she liked? The kid was like a daughter to her. She cared for like a mother.
Ever since Priya came to know about Peehu's adoption, she had been restless. She hadn't slept the entire night. She didn't even sleep in the plane. She was preoccupied with the thought of not being able to meet Peehu often.
No matter how much Ram convinced her that they would meet Peehu when ever she wanted to, Priya knew it wasn't possible. What if the parents don't allow me to meet her? She thought to herself.
It was early morning when their flight landed. Vikram and Neha had come to pick them up and take them home. They were very excited, desperate to know if Ram and Priya had finally confessed.
"Hey Ram!", Vikram said hugging Ram. Ram hugged him back managing a forced smile. "He buddy!"
Neha saw a very dull looking Priya. She didnt even look up to greet them. She was only walking machanically. Neha clicked her fingers in front of her eyes. "Priya!! Hi!", she said. Priya looked up and said a teary hi.
Vikram and Neha looked at each other. They could see very evidently that something was wrong. They silently walked back to the car. Vikram took the wheels, Ram sat next to him. The ladies settled themselves at the rear. Kapoor Mansion being on the outskirts of the city, it was a good one hour drive.
Everyone was silent for sometime. Then, soft, silent sobs could be heard. Neha couldnt take it anymore. "Fatty, what has happened? What did you tell Priya? Why is she crying? Did you hurt her? Priya you tell me, if this fatty has done anything wrong, I'll kill him.", she went on and on.
"Neha, let Ram answer at least. Im sure he has not done anything.", Vikram put in. "You stop supporting your best friend. You men dont know how to behave with women. She loves you Ram. You cant do this to her.", Neha continued. "I havent done anything.", Ram tried to defend himself, when Neha cut him. "I dont want to talk to you. Priya you tell me.", she said.
"Vikram, stop the car. And Neha, come ahead and sit with Vikram. I want to be near Priya.", Ram said. "Why? So that you can dominate her?", Neha scolded yet again. "Neha i haven't done anything, for Gods sake. Just come ahead and sit. I can take care of her.",Ram tried again.
"I've seen how much you can take care.", Neha said. "Neha, please. He hasn't done anything. Let him come behind. I need him.", Priya said. Neha looked at her in disbelief. She nodded her head in negative and went to sit beside Vikram. Ram came and sat next to Priya.
Slowly moving close, he put his arms around Priya. She gave up and started crying hugging him. He ran his hands through her back, calming her down. "Ram can we go to the NGO now?", she asked between her tears.
"Priya, its too early in the morning. The kids must be sleeping and Peehu is not there anyways. We can go later during the day. Lets go home and freshen up first.", he explained. Priya nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Okay, enough of suspense. What's happening? Where is Peehu?", Vikram asked. Ram explained to him what had happened. "Don't worry Priya, Peehu is getting a new life.", Neha said.
"Neha, you think im crying because Peehu is getting adopted? I am the happiest person on earth if something good happens to her. I pray day in and day out for Peehu. The thing is, since the time i have known this news, there are these negative thoughts creeping up. I can feel that there is something wrong. And i tried to set those those thoughts aside, but i cant. I just cant.", she said.
"Calm down Priya. Lets go home, meet maa and then come to the NGO alright. You need some to rest. Sleep till we reach home.", he said patting her head. She closed her eyes still resting her head on his shoulder. He rested his head on hers and slept off too.
"Vikram, do you think they confessed?", Neha asked vikram. Glancing at them from the rest view mirror, he smiled. "Looks like it. The way hes holding her and the way she is calm in his arms, it definitely does look like they are deeply in love.", Vikram replied.
Ram and Priya were at the NGO as soon as they could manage. They reached home to be welcomed by all the Sharma's along with Krishna Kapoor. Though they were happy to see everyone, Priya's mind kept going back to Peehu. She knew her Princess wasn't gonna be okay. She knew something bad was coming.
As they reached the NGO, the kids ran upto them. They spent sometime with them. The NGO felt different without Peehu. It felt weird that the familiar smiling bubbly little kid wasn't there to jump into their arms. It felt weird that Peehu wasnt there.
Ram and Priya went to the NGOs office. "Hi Annie.", Priya greeted. "Hi to you guys. How was the trip?", she asked with a warm smile. "It was great. Annie, we came to talk about Peehu's adoption.", Ram said.
As they spoke to Annie, they realised that Peehu was adopted by some Anita and Varun Khurana. As soon as Ram heard the name, his face changed colour. Blood shot into his eyes and he was very very angry.
"Ram, whats wrong? What happened to you?", Priya asked looking at him. "Annie, are you sure?", he asked choosing to not answer Priya at the moment. "Of course Ram.", Annie said, "Any problem?"
Ram took Priyas hand in his and asked her to come with him. She had no clue why he was so angry, so pissed off. As they sat in the car, Priya tried talking to him. "Priya, you have read everything about me right? Havent you read about him?", he asked her. Thats when she recollected having read somewhere of some Varun Khurana who had tried to commit some fraud in Kapoor Group of Industries.
"Isnt he the guy who tried to commit some fraud in Kapoor group of Industries?", she asked him. He nodded in positive and kept driving, rather, racing the car. "Ram, drive slow. Please. We'll see what we can do to get Peehu out of there. Dont stress yourself. It isnt good for your health.", she tried pacifying him.
He, however, was in no mood to listen. She was seeing this side of her Ram for the first time. The ever so loving, caring and sweet Ram could be a raging bull at times. She kept her hand over his, on the gear, as he turned to look at her.
Entwining her hand with his, he took it up to his lips and gave a soft kiss on the back of her hand as if to let her know he was okay with her around him. "Priya, you are my strength. Im always fine when im with you. And dont worry, i'll make sure Peehu is out of their reach very soon."
Ram pulled his car into the Khurana driveway and called out for Varun. He was a talk man with a muscular body. Dressed in a formal suit, he came out to see who was causing the commotion. Behind him came his wife Anita. She looked more like a rich mans doll, all decked up.
"Oh you! What are you doing here?", Varun asked as Ram stood at the giant hall of Khurana House, holding Priyas hand. "Where is Peehu?", Ram asked through his gritted teeth.
"How does it bother you? Shes legally adopted and shes ours now.", Varun replied nastily. "Look Mr. 6 feet 2 inches, im really not interested in a conversation with you. Just let us meet Peehu.", Ram said.
"Look at the elephants audacity,Anita. Stannding in my house, commanding me what to do.", Varun guffawed. "Hello, who,do you think you are? Who are you to call him an elephant? Its not the looks that matter, its the heart and my husband has a heart of gold, unlike you who can fall so low that you ditch your best friend. Whatever you are is beacuse of him. Had he handed you over to the cops, you would have been rotting in prison. Its his good nature and the good memories he had of your friendship that he let you go. So dont you dare talk shit about him.", Priya raised her voice. "Oh hello!",Anita tried to cut her, but Priya showed her hand as if to stop her from talking further.
"Just tell us where Peehu is.", she demanded. Varun was unable to take the insult any longer and moved ahead to harm Priya when Ram stood in between them. "Dont you dare go near her. I'll kill you with my bare hands.", Ram warned him,"And dont think its over yet. I'll make sure Peehu is out of here and you are punished."
Ram and Priya were back at Kapoor Mansion. Priya was sitting on the bed with the pic of her, Ram and Peehu that she had in her diary. Ram walked in to see Priya all lost. "Priya!", he called out to her to bring her back.
She hugged him with all ger might as drops of years fell on his hand. "Priya, dont cry. We'll get Peehu out of there.", Ram whislered in her ears. "I promise Priya."
"Ram, I know you will get her back. I know you. Just that im worried for you. Varun was your best friend and I know you havent seen him since the fiasco. Seeing him all over again after years that too in such a situation, what you must have been through.", she said to him.
"How do you know all this Priya? How do you know so much about me?", he wondered aloud. "Ram, ive been in love with you since ages, since I was very you,g actually. Ive been following all your activities and your business style. You were my mentor, my guru when I was doing my MBA.", she said. "oh really!! And you his this for so long?", Ram faked his anger.
"I never had the guts. I never in my dreams thought I would find my life in you Ram. I love you.", she said proudly. He came ahead smiling and kissed her forehead.
Later that night, Priya woke up with a start. "Peehu!", she screamed, which woke up Ram as well. He switched on the lights to see Priya completely white, sweating hard in the cold AC room. He put her head on his chest trying to soothe her. "Priya, calm down. Its just a dream.", he said. "No Ram, its not. Im sure Peehu is not fine. Im sure something is wrong." Ram could see fear written all over her face. "I need to see her now, Ram. Shes not okay. She needs us Ram."
He nooded and got out clothes for both of them from the closet. They changed and were again at the Khurana house in sometime.
CID
