At the party lawns, Daksh Mansion.
The party is in full swing now with the guests eating and drinking away to glory . Arnab and Madhu are busy talking to Kabir's father , while Kabir who is being forced to stand there and listen to talks of tenders and contracts along with additional references to how great Daksh's party is – he is looking around as though something is wrong.
Kabir ( not drinking his bubbly and a tad worriedly to himself )- Something awry seems to have happened and I can just sense it…. There is no sign of Abhay , Piya or even Misha. Its almost like something is wrong in the air. Maybe I shouldn't have come here in the first place …. Knowing who Daksh is and what I am.
Kabir tries to smile and join the conversation with the elders but he can feel his heart sinking everytime the belly dancers drop to the ground while swaying to the music.
Abheer , just kissed on the cheek by a drunk female guest and fingering the lovely paper lamps comes to Haseena and Chaand who are standing in a corner , drinking less if Bourbon and more of worry.
Haseena ( in a low tone )- Chaand, there is no sign of Abhay since last 20 minutes and I can't even sense him. I have tried calling him but his phone is off.
Chaand ( smiling at passing guests who nod at them)- Something is up with him, Haseena. I don't see Piya around , either. But the problem is that we can't just get up and leave the party. We have come here for a purpose and the purpose is to see what Daksh is upto and what his plan is.
Just then, Abheer taps Chaand on his shoulder from behind and even without turning back Chaand knows who it is.
Chaand ( calmly )- Abheer , I think I made it clear to you a good 100 years ago that am so not interested in seeing your filthy face. Just get the hell out of here .
Haseena ( giving a tight harsh smile to Abheer )- Hello , Bloody Abheer. Not so happy to see you again.
Abheer ( smirks )- Is your hatred for me directly proportional to your fear that am going to snatch away your precious Abhay from you?
Chaand ( darkly )- You have tried to get Abhay for centuries , Abheer. I don't understand what makes you think that you can succeed now.
Haseena ( narrowing her eyes)- Abhay's tolerance for you lasts for less than 5 miliseconds and I thought you knew that.
Abheer ( shaking his head to the music and picking up an apple tart to pop into his mouth from a waiter )- Darling , nothing is forever ….( a spark of fire in his brilliant green eyes making Haseena's skin crawl)….Abhay is my blood brother because it was my blood that turned him into a vampire. Blood runs deep.And if you think that I cannot claim Abhay , you still don't know me.
Chaand ( getting bad feelers )- You have done something, Abheer , haven't you?
Abheer ( winks at him as he lifts his beer to his lips eyeing a girl who is checking him out )- Played my cards right , Chaand.
Just then, the music stops and everyone's attention turns to centerstage as the whole place goes dark with the spotlight only on the centerstage. Everything goes pin drop silent as Daksh, looking like a Greek sculpture in the moonlight of the spotlight –with his tall broad frame and his sharp features takes the mic .
Abheer ( whispering to Chaand and Haseena )- Showtime, baby.
Daksh ( on the mic )- Am so sorry , guys. I guess the sight of those sexy belly dancers was much hotter than me and I took away the pleasures …..( everyone laughs except the Raichands and Kabir of course )… okay, I had to put in this small break to thank all of you for turning up at my party and making me feel like a part of the Dehradun family. Thank my lovely, lovely manager Pancchi….( the spotlight extends to her and she seems to glow in his love as she blushes and nods much to the worry of Arnab and Madhu) ….and above all, I will like to introduce my family to everyone here.
As they all look on , a tall , thin, regal looking lady in her mid fifties , dressed in a green sari and glittering diamonds , a pretty young woman with flawless skin contrasting against her black dress and a young man , dressed in a suit and a very serious but attractive face comes on stage.
Kabir ( shaking his head )- Welcome to Dehradun…. SLAYERS…..
Abheer ( rolling his eyes )- Oopsie-Doopsie. More slayers . Dayumn! Are we vampires so bloody attractive that these scavengers have to follow us everywhere? They are like this unwanted cellphone network coverage….. wherever we go , their irritating network follows.
Haseena ( glaring at centerstage )- As much as I detest you, Abheer. I agree. Now, I know what it is…
Chaand ( calmly )- A war declaration.
Daksh ( his eyes settled at the Raichands and Abheer)- My mother Nandita ….( the lady gives tight smile to everyone )…. My sister Damini ….( she has an arrogant grin on her face ) and my brother ….( looks lovingly at him)… my dearest brother Bikram.
Everyone claps and gives them a warm welcome and they all smile . The lights come back and Daksh bows out.
Daksh( winking at everyone )- Back to the wine and women, guys! Sorry for the language ladies.
Everyone laughs at this and the party goes back to its old swing. Daksh goes to Pancchi and sliding an arm around her waist , kisses her hair and whispers in her ears.
Daksh ( softly )- 9PM.
Pancchi nods , looking at him besotted . Kabir looks at them and he hears alarm bells ringing at the back of his head as Arnab and Madhu look worriedly at Pancchi and Daksh.
Arnab ( angrily )- What is going on between Pancchi and Daksh? I hate the way she is sticking by his side , embarrassing all of us and…. Just look at him, Madhu. He has Pancchi wrapped around his little finger!
Madhu ( calming him)- Arnab, there is no point in getting hyper here. I and Misha have tried talking to Pancchi about Daksh , but , she goes livid the moment we utter even the 'D' of Daksh. Its almost like she can't hear a single word against him…( feeling bad for her daughter )… Danish's betrayal and then, his untimely death seem to have affected her deeply.
Arnab ( gritting his teeth )- I don't care ! I will not have my daughter behaving like a cheap floozie in public – falling all over her boss. This is not how daughters of good families conduct themselves , Madhu. Wait till we get home . I have a very serious conversation to hold with Pancchi.
With this Arnab walks off in a huff and Madhu is left flustered. On the other hand, as Nandita, Damini and Bikram get down from the dais and the party resumes , Haseena's eyes are narrowed at Nandita as Nandita bows slightly to her before mingling with a small crowd that Daksh is introducing to her.
Haseena ( feeling a shot of pain in the back of her head )- She is not Nandita, Chaand…….
Chaand ( suspiciously )- As in?
Haseena ( trying to recognize her )- Her face and that smile…. I know her , Chaand I really do but why can't I place her from my memory.
Abheer ( rolling his brilliant greens )- Try eating almonds and going on a Memory Plus medication, Haseena. I mean it's a memory of more than 800 years – maybe you are developing gaps. EEKS! Age is catching up with you even though your skin is only getting younger.
Haseena ( glaring at him)- Shut up , Abheer. This is serious!
Abheer ( his eyes turning dark and cloudy)- The only thing serious right now is that we – all three of us and your precious Abhay included – are in the line of fire. …( pointing to Sambhav and gang)…. Werewolves at one side and…. ( pointing to Daksh and his clan ) … slayers on the other , I don't think the picture is very rosy. And am way too hot to die so soon.
Chaand ( nods )- Point. We need to be careful.
At that moment, Zeenia , looking resplendent in an off shoulder yellow dress and yellow roses in her brown hair , she is asking everyone if they have seen Piya around. There is an obvious worry and panic on her face because she can't find Piya anywhere and she is not taking her phone either.
Zeenia ( to Kabir )- Kabir , have you seen Piya around? Or Abhay?
Kabir ( surprised by her worried expression)- No. Not now, I mean to say. I didn't spot Abhay anywhere and I think I had seen Piya more than half an hour ago. Why? Is everything okay, Anushka? You look worried and Anushka-like after almost a lifetime.
Zeenia( tense )- There is a small…. A big problem, Kabir.
Kabir ( reading the tension in her brandy eyes )- Piya and Abhay! Its about them, isn't it?
Zeenia ( taking Kabir's arm and bringing him to a side )- Piya has done a blunder, Kabir. She… ( bites her lower lip in anxiety )….she has ended up blurting it out to Abhay that Abhay's memory was tampered with and that he loved her and only her.And now, he is after her life to get the whole story!
Kabir ( his glass actually dropping from his hand as people look on and his jaw dropping )- WHAT? Hell no! We have got to find them!
Tanushree's House.
Tanushree is sitting by the window , propped up on her pink silk cushions and looking out at the town, glittering with lights . Dressed in a red vest and khaki shorts , her hair tied in a pony and her sleek glasses resting on her nose, she is looking at the sketch of a werewolf that she has made with pencil and charcoal on a cartridge sheet. It looks alive – and can be safely called the work of a skilled artist as its eyes seem to lurch out of the paper. Every muscle, every bone. Every detail makes it look less like an animal and more like a monster. T is wiping her hands on a towel as she adds finishing details to the sketch – her black coffee waiting to reach her lips.
Flash : Sambhav ripping her honour to shreds and her screams echoing in that cottage .
Tanushree ( almost screams )- NO!
She shudders at hits the mug of black coffee and its falls off the table. Her servant comes running hearing the scream and the crash.
Servant ( rushing in to the living hall)- Madam! Are you okay?
Tanushree ( taking a deep breath and calming herself )- No… I mean, nothing. I just hit this mug… sorry , it broke. Just clean it up, now.
The servant nods and goes in to get a mop. Just then, the doorbell rings and putting her trauma on the backburner , Tanushree goes to open the door. As she opens the door, she finds a pair of almond amber eyes looking at her as though she had committed the greatest crime by not telling her something that she should have told her. Tanushree's heart sinks to the bottom of her feet and her lips quiver as she steps back to let Misha in.
Tanushree ( her own voice trembling )- Misha……
Misha comes in and looks at Tanushree – she lifts her hands and touches her arms , her shoulders . her face … trembling and tears rising to her eyes – unable to say anything – but just taking the feel that her friend was okay. Tanushree understands that Misha knows….all her strength gives away and tears welling up in her eyes and holding Misha's hands in hers , she slowly shakes her head…..
Misha impulsively hugs Tanushree , rather possessively and bursts into tears. Tanushree, resting her chin on Misha's shoulder and her shoulders slumping , closes her eyes and lets the tears of her shamed womanhood and shredded heart slowly roll down her cheeks.
TO BE CONTINUED….
