The Imperfect Situation
She felt miserable! She looked around at the happy and relieved faces of her family. Finally! It had been a rough path getting up to this point. She thought back to everything that had happened in the last 72 hours.
She had been stabbed by a man who seemed to recognize her just outside the dhaba where she had been working for most past of Monday night and Tuesday morning. She was hurt, and the stab had been a hard one, but her will to bring the truth in front of everyone and her sheer determination to ensure that the bad people get punished without causing further damage to the society had ensured that she got back on her feet soon. She had to get a few stitches at a local hospital, but she had lost no time in calling the Inspector to report her suspicions. She had also called Paddy to make sure she had someone to drive her to the location. She had been unsure if she should call Adarsh. She knew he was upset that she had questioned his dad in public, and he did not completely believe her theories. And now, if he knew of her injury, he would make sure she remained indoor's against her will. She could not take that chance. If Ifthikaar escaped, then she would loose this battle that she was fighting for her brothers.
Her intuition had paid off. The car was found near an abandoned go-down, and the cops who searched the property were able to nab Major Ifthikaar who was trying to escape, while his aide and her attacker Bilal had been killed. Cracking Ifthikaar had been a challenge. He had refused to cooperate with the authorities and had kept mum. But playing it smartly, the authorities released a false report to the media claiming Ifthikaar's acceptance of his role. They had also reported that he had confessed of the involvement of a lot of others in the system had had to play. This trick ensures that Lt Yash Bundela accepted his crime and disclosed the entire truth of Asad's innocence. Ifthikaar also had eventually relented and cleared Haider maamu's name.
Jai bhaiya and dad had accepted their part in the entire drama. Dad had claimed that he had been compelled to go along with the minister simply because he had threatened to put all blame on him otherwise. Although Jai bhaiya had not opposed dad's claim, Adarsh and mom had not been convinced. Eventually Simmi had asked them to let it go and have dad's name cleared so they could have their family back. Abhay would have wanted it that way, and as corrupt and unethical as it was, dad's major role had been in the money laundering aspect. Unwillingly, mom had worked towards having dad's name cleared. Maamu had been released from prison. They were yet to go back home, and had decided to spend a few nights at a hotel till the house could be cleaned and made habitable again, and she had decided to stay with them and support them till they got settled into a life with some sense of normalcy again.
Her entire family had come this morning to apologize to maamu and maami for their behavior. Of-course, maamu and maami understood their position and forgave them immediately. And as for her, she had never held any grudge against her family and had totally understood their position all along. She had been relived that everything was getting back to normal, but alas! From the time that they had come this morning, she noticed that Adarsh was not meeting her eyes. He had apologized to maamu and maami, and it had been emotionally overwhelming. The sudden loss of Abhay and Asad seemed profound, but the news of them being recognized for their contribution brought some solace. But Adarsh had not said a word to her since morning. She had tried, tried talking to him many times. But he had only responded in monosyllables, and had been avoiding her since morning.
And here she was, on a day when there finally was reason to feel happiness, feeling miserable. Her dearest husband was avoiding her.
She had been totally distracted and oblivious to all the conversations around her. She had been staring at her husband, willing for him to look at her once, but that insufferable man had other plans. Forget looking at her, he had been avoiding her direction in general. He had been quiet and withdrawn. Why? It had all ended well. She had to do something to find out what was wrong. In her restlessness, she stood up with a start only to realize that he sudden action had all eyes in the room turned towards her. They seemed to be silently questioning her about her misplaced action, and she had no response. Not able to think of a good excuse, she pretended to be tired and suggested that she wanted to get some rest. Fortunately that did the trick. Adarsh looked at her with concern. Unfortunately, along with concern, there was also guilt in his eyes. A guilt that Swadheenta was suddenly able to comprehend. Adarsh Sinha has been feeling guilty for not having been by my side? That is why he is avoiding me now? Out of guilt? This insufferable man! In his guilt, he is making me more miserable. He needs to be taught a lesson. I know exactly how to make him come to me. As she started walking towards the door of her maamu maami's room, she pretended to a little light-headed and swayed a little hoping that Adarsh had noticed. Pillayarappa, I don;t want to fall and hurt myself. Please make him come and hold me! Just as she was about to fall, she felt a pair of strong arms around her, holding her. Awww, perfect!
Cricket
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
