Bedroom, Abheer's House .
His deep , calculating green eyes running over an old yellow paper with some astral charts and writing in Sanskrit. His mouth was still smudged with the blood of a woman he had slept with and then given her a killer bite. The woman's dead body was still lying at his feet. Abheer , bare chest, dressed in cool white muslin pajamas and licking the last drop of blood off his lip was scanning the scroll again and again. He had been at tenterhooks and a monstrous unrest ever since he had seen Abhay's dual face – Abhay talking about his 666th birthday and then , doing a complete 360 degree , he said what 666th birthday? Abheer hated to be clueless and not-in-control. So, he had first steadied his mind by sleeping with a woman , enjoyed the feed and now, he was all set to work.
Abheer had Abhay's astral chart in front of him. The one that was made by Abheer , the very day Abheer's blood was used to turn Abhay into a vampire . Abheer had known that Abhay was to become the all powerful supernatural creature because he had been turned during a solar eclipse. The text in Sanskrit told what powers Abhay would have and what his future would be. Abheer read it- he re-read it.
Abheer ( straining his mind )- Come on, Abhay. Tell me. Why did you behave like that? And why the hell are you not aware of it. Its not some mental illness or any kind of amnesia… I have never seen this behavior before. What was it? Does it have something to do with your approaching birthday? …..( gets up and almost trips over the woman in his feet )… ugh! Damn… ( picks up the intercom )…. Mangar , can you please come in and get this corpse out of my room? And yeah, change the bed sheets as well. FAST!
Abheer pours himself a glass of cognac and goes and stands at the window – looking up at the moon and the clouds passing by. Mangar comes in quietly and first he changes the bloodied and torn bed sheets , replacing them with fresh white silk sheets and a primrose patterned bed cover. He drags the woman's body out , coolly , as though it his usual business . The room is clean and Mangar leaves spraying the room with fresh wood scent. Just the way, Abheer likes it – a clean job.
Abheer is looking at the sky , the moonlight reflecting in his gorgeous green eyes and bathing his masculine frame in divine beauty. His eye brows are furrowed because he can't seem to find the answer to Abhay's confusing behavior. And that was one thing Abheer couldn't afford to be in his plan – confused! NAH! Come on. Abheer's job was to confuse people. Not the other way round.
Abheer ( tapping the glass in slow frustration on the window pane )- How can I not know Abhay that why you were the way you were… tell me!
Just then, he looks up at the sky again as he takes the cognac in. He looks at the moon and the dark clouds pass over it ,hiding the moon , momentarily . Then, the clouds leave and the moon comes back shining bright. Suddenly, Abheer looks struck . DAMN! THAT IS THE FREAKIN'S REASON! …..
Abheer rushes back and looks at the scroll, an evil cute grin spreading over his handsome features. Ah,how Abheer loved answers finding way to him than him making an effort.
Abheer ( laughs and falls back in his bed , holding the scroll )- Brother , oh brother! Abhay, do you even know how much you are changing and at the speed of a rocket launcher! …( grins )…. Dual Abhay! Good Abhay and bad Abhay. Whoa! You are gonna be so screwed , my baby…. The turning of Abhay into a vampire was completed the moment the 'diamond ring ' of the Solar Eclipse was formed. Dark overpowering light during the shift…. So, my baby , you have a schism in your existence , Abhay. You are not one man…. You are two people! The other Abhay is showing up in bits and pieces – the dark , evil Abhay who knows everything that my innocent baby Abhay doesn't know…..your life is running like a Solar Eclipse. The dark eclipsing the light. Whoa! This is gonna be fun … especially when the evil Abhay pushes the good Abhay to find the ring…. Sigh! Moon at 4.30am.The way answers find me, I tell you!
Just then, his happy evil reverie is broken by the shrill ring of his intercom. He rolls his eyes, rolls to the other side of the king sized bed and picks up the receiver , his eyes twinkling and a brilliant smile on his devilishly handsome face.
Abheer ( looking at the scroll )- Bark…..(listens and his expressions turn surprised )… what? This time?... Hmm.. okay, let her in. Wait! Escort her safely to my room and just see that no animal goes pouncing at her like last time.
Abheer puts the receiver down and sits up straight , putting the scroll in a drawer. What is she doing here ?
There is a soft knock on the door.
Abheer ( putting his hands in the pockets of his pajamas )-Open the doors and run into my arms, Junior Dobriyaal.
The door swings open and a furious looking Misha walks in . Mangar , who has escorted her in , quietly leaves , closing the door with almost no sound. Abheer leans on the wall and grinning , he raises his eyebrows at her.
Abheer ( looking at her denims and pink T )- Vo Vo! You are way too over dressed for the moment , lamb… ( opening his arms )… look at me. Am all set.
Misha ( angrily )- Shut up, Abheer! Where is Tanzie? What has Sambhav done to her? You are responsible for all this mess and I wish Abhay just broke your face instead of that mere jaw!
Abheer looks at the fuming Misha and how she is literally shivering with anger – her cheeks flaming red , her cherub lips pouting in fury and her doe eyes looking like those of a tigress ! Sigh! How he loved feisty women – or rather feisty young virgins when they dropped into his house at these odd hours that kept him in a carnal mood. Abheer walks upto Misha and leans over , putting his cheek close to her face , making her take a few steps back.
Abheer ( wickedly )- Break my face , then. Abhay is not here , so you can do it… ( puts his face closer )… come on! And let's see if beating me to pulp is going to undo the Sambhav-T episode. Hmm?
Misha pushes Abheer away with an angry grunt and he steps back laughing.
Misha ( seething )- This is not funny, Abheer! T is missing and in the captivity of some loser supernatural force. Can't you see that am worried sick? I just want to know where she is. Is she even alive? … everybody is giving up and … Sambhav is behaving like a jerk. I should have gone home but… I can't. I need to know about Tanzie. I need to see her fine with my own eyes.
Abheer sees that Misha has started crying and she really looks broken. Abheer rolls his eyes ( eww, tears! Somebody needs to make an universal announcement that women lose half of their skin suppleness because of crying and straining their hormonal activity ) … he gently holds Misha's hand and draws her close to himself.
Abheer ( wiping her tears tenderly )- Shusshhh! Don't cry. You are a brave girl, hmm? Chill…. ( his hand caressing her cheeks and the other hand sliding around her waist )…. There is nothing that you can do about Sambhav or Tanushree. You should listen to what Abhay said. Leave everyone to their fates 'coz you are not Lord Almighty and not everybody's business is your business. Get on with your life , little lamb.
Misha doesn't even realize that Abheer has his one arm around her shoulder , the fingertips reaching the side of her bosom swell and the other on her butt. His face is on her shoulder and he is whispering all these pseudo-pacifying words into her ears in a seducing whisper. Misha's eyes are closed and her chin is on his bare shoulder – her nose pressed behind his ear. She looks both comforted and seduced. She doesn't even realize that her arms rise and she hugs Abheer back – her delicate palms slowly pressing his bare back harder. No, T's blood couldn't do much. Its job is to fight off Abheer's magic , not to fight off what Misha feels herself. And this time, Abheer had not even done much except taking her in his arms.
Abheer smiles as he feels the girl giving in without much effort on his part. He hugs Misha tighter and then, kisses her neck. As soon as Misha feels his warm mouth on her neck, she comes to her senses and her doe eyes fly open in shock. MISHA! What are you doing , you freak? Abheer! You are in Abheer's arms. Get away from him before he does something to you. Misha pushes him off and gets away from him , taking a deep breath and clenching her fists to normalize her heartbeat. Abheer just rolls his eyes and goes and sits casually on his bed, eyeing her.
Misha ( angrily )- Are you like , always this hormonally charged , Abheer? I came here to you for help. To ask you if you knew where T was? But you… you…
Abheer ( laughs )- Woman, are you serious? Expecting help from me? ME?...At 4.30am , you are all alone with me in my bedroom with me clothed in name only . So, naturally I would do what I just did to you….( winks at her )… look at the brighter side. I was trying to comfort you…..by seducing you.
Misha ( gathering herself up )- In your dreams, Abheer Raichand!
Abheer ( raising an eye brow)-No. You responded , so its not like I am romancing a block of ice. Me not sleeping with you is MY CHOICE, not your decision…..seducing is fun. And now, since you are in a mood to fight , I am off to sleep and you can leave.
Misha , disgusted with him and dejected over her inability to trace T's whereabouts, turns to go. Abheer looks at her slumped shoulders and…then, with a twinkle in his eyes , he comfortably props the pillows , pulls over his blankets and clicks his fingers. She stops.
Abheer ( naughtily )- Listen, junior Dobriyaal… ( she turns and looks at him )…for that one kiss, I can at least tell you something that will stop you from visiting houses of demons in the search of that beautiful Bolsh. …..( dramatic pause)…. She is alive. Don't worry.
Misha ( relieved and letting her tears run)- Are you… are you telling the truth? T is.. T is alive? Sam did not hurt her, right?
Abheer ( switching off the lamps )- I never said that Sam did not do anything, lamb. I just said that T is alive… and I don't deem it necessary to tell you anything more than that. Now, unless you want to sleep with me …..LEAVE.
Misha , relieved at this much comfort that Tanushree was alive , wipes her tears and releases her stuck breath. It doesn't even once strike Misha that Abheer could be lying. He was resident evil and absolutely diabolical. Somehow, Misha knows that she can believe him. Believe him. Not trust him.
Misha slowly walks out of Abheer's room , her mind hoping against hope that Sambhav has not hurt T. But then, that was not the case. Hadn't Abheer just hinted the same?
Living Room. Raichand Mansion.
Stirring his black coffee , rhythmically , Abhay, his eye brows narrowed , his ice blues concentrating and his jaw tightened was reading a beautifully designed black cartridge card with gold writing and floral prints. Haseena and Chaand were just observing him calmly , waiting for him to react.
Chaand ( taking a sip of his coffee )- Daksh is not going to jump out of that card, son and neither is his family. Stop looking at it over and over because it is a done thing. We are going to the party.
Abhay ( stops stirring the coffee )- Dad , I know that and I get your point. I know it since past 48 hours that we are attending this so –called housewarming party ….inspite of knowing now that Daksh is a slayer and the folks who are going to warm his house are going to be slayers as well…. But… ( tosses the invite aside )… my point is that WHY? They are slayers , then, why this drama? Just come out and slay us.
Haseena ( sits with him with her arm around his shoulder )- Abhay , we have the exact question in our mind but unless we meet them , we won't know their game plan. They are not here to just declare war and slay us …its something else.
Abhay ( worriedly )- And what if they try to harm us during the party?
Chaand ( nods )- Chances are there but we have to take the risk. If we don't go , we will not know what is playing on Daksh and his folks' minds . Slayers are coming together, Abhay. We face it. Head on. Hmm? ….
Abhay nods .
Chaand ( getting up )- 9pm, sharp. Vasundhara Mansion.
Chaand leaves the living room and Abhay puts his head on the head rest of the sofa and looks at the fire in the fireplace. Haseena sees that something is bothering Abhay and she keeps her hand on his head , running her fingers through his hair as though trying to pep up a sulking child. Abhay's ice blue eyes seem to melt in the reflection of fire in them – his face looks pensive as well.
Haseena ( scanning his expressions )- Its not Daksh's party – its something else, right?
Abhay turns his face to his mother's divine face and looks at her. What will he tell her? Abheer, Sambhav, Tanzie, Misha – everything and everyone was either trying to create mess or was in a mess…. And then, his own life? Maithli-Piya . Piya –Maithli. … no… Maithli was fading. It was just Piya….Piya….
Haseena ( looking at his face )- You want to invite Maithli to the party? You want to bring her along? …You… ( forces a smile )… you can bring her, son. Not a problem.
Abhay( immediately )- NO! Who said I wanted to bring Maithli along?... ( realizes the intensity of his reaction)…. I mean, why would I get her to a party where she is not needed and that too party of the enemy camp. Besides…..i…. ( suddenly holds his mother's hands )… Mom, tell me frankly. I know you are not a human being , neither am I . But we were once upon a time. Feel back. Is there anything known as falling-out-of-love?
Haseena ( smiles )- No, there is nothing known as falling-out-of-love. If you fall out of love , it means there was that one 'REAL' thing missing from your relationship. That one 'real' thing that stopped your love from being true and forever.
Abhay – And what is it?
Haseena – Soul. Think about it.
Haseena leaves Abhay alone and he thinks about his mother's words . Soul! Is that what he saw in Piya and not in Maithli? Was it his soul that sought Piya and refused to embrace Maithli? Was it possible that his 'connection' with a 17 year old teenager had overruled his much idealized love with Maithli? But then… why hadn't he lived through that experience ? Why did he feel that he could not trace the journey of his heart from Maithli to Piya? …DAYUMN! He needed answers and he needed them fast. Piya….
Just then, his cellphone rang and broke his disturbed reverie of thoughts. He looked at the screen. It was Piya's number flashing. Darn! I was just thinking about her and here she comes. Abhay thinks for second or two , changes his mood and takes the call.
Abhay ( calmly)- Hey Piya. Morning.
Piya ( tired and timid )- Fine morning, Abhay. Actually… I had called you up just to tell you that… Tanushree is alive.
Abhay ( almost jumping out of the couch )- WHAT? Where have you been loitering to dig up T ? Don't you understand Piya that you need to lay off the supernatural arcs? I had categorically told you and Misha that….
Piya ( calming him )- Abhay, Abhay , Abhay. Listen. Just listen. Sit down and stop stamping feet on the carpet , okay? …. ( Abhay is stunned that Piya could actually read his actions? HOW? )…..I did not go anywhere , Abhay. Misha found out , somehow. She is not telling me how or from where … but yeah, Tanushree is alive.
Abhay ( sits down )- Misha has been upto something , hasn't she? ….( sighs )…. Some relief this if T is still living. I hope we get to SEE her in flesh and blood to confirm it…. ( pause)… thanks for calling and… ( rubs his eyes to normalize himself )… am sorry for losing my temper on you.
Piya ( softly )- Nothing new. You often react first and listen later.
Abhay ( narrowing his eye brows )- Often? And you? Are you any less feisty and aggressive? When you answer back , I have this urge to chain you and tuck you somewhere so that you stop hammering on my head.
Piya ( laughs )- Abhay , you have behaved like that before , a zillion times.
Abhay ( looking at the fire )- Strange. I have those 'many befores' missing from my memory…. ( Piya goes silent )… Piya, are you sure you don't want to tell me something that I should know?
Piya ( her breath caught in her throat )- Abhay , not again. It seems like you are threatening me, rather than asking questions. I am not lying to you about anything. Trust me.
Abhay ( sensing the quiver in her voice )- Do you often get breathless talking to me, Piya?... or is it only when… ( pause)… fine. I trust you. …( immediately changing the topic )… are you coming to Daksh's party?
Piya ( meekly )- Yes. From the side of Dobriyaals. Arnab uncle and Misha are insisting that I should come with them.
Abhay ( dismissively )- See you, then. In the evening…. Bye, Piya…. And…( in a sarcastic calculative manner )…..i trust you.
Piya ( her heart literally dropping to her feet )- See you, Abhay….
TO BE CONTINUED….
... and i m sure that is gonna be really exiting ... update soon poco , i m dying to read the next update... love ur ff and update soon🤗..
CID
