MG FF:Mystery of CryingCastle Epilogue 2/11 - Page 5

Chapter 4: Old Faces

Arjun Singhania was in Delhi. He had rather wanted Maan to come to Mumbai but then he changed his mind. He didn't want him to be anywhere near his office or home. Better he stayed in Delhi. He arrived at his apartment which he had gotten during college time. Many memories were connected to this place.

"Arjun bhai" someone came running and crashed into him.

"Kaisi ho, Rajji? (How are you Rajji?)" Rajeshwari let go of him and smiled brightly.

"Aap ko dekh liya, bas. Ab sab kuch theek hi jaega. (I saw your face, now everything is going to go well for me.)" Arjun kissed her forehead and freshened up. Rajeshwari now occupied this apartment when ever she was not in hostel. Arjun complained that she should visit Mumbai more often but she wanted to be close to college even on her time off. Another reason was that she had a surprise planned for Arjun of which he was totally oblivious.

"When is your meeting?" Rajeshwari asked later on.

"I have to meet the client tomorrow and hopefully be done by the evening. A lot of work is pending in Mumbai and I can't keep the office under Adi's and Arohi's supervision for too long. This girl will get me ruined one day by her 'brilliant' ideas." Rajeshwari laughed. She had met Arohi a couple of times and had found her to be very lovable. She guessed that Arjun didn't like her that much because she didn't follow his orders like everyone else in office.

"So you are staying at home tonight for sure?" she asked, hoping that he didn't hear her despeartion.

"Yeah, I am too tired to go somewhere."

The evening went quick and Rajeshwari excused herself early. Arjun watched a little TV and dosed off after some time.

"Hello?"

"…"

"Sure, he is sleeping in the living room"

"…"

"Ok, I will do that. The door is unlocked."

Rajeshwari came out of her room and kept her phone on the table. She brought out her gift and put it right next to the cake and juice. Then, she opened the front door and saw Geet with Arohi. They gave each other a silent hug and all came in. Geet made a gesture and counted till three.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" Arjun got such a shock that he litrally fell from the couch, right onto his but. The lights went on he saw the place decorated with ballons and a banner saying: 'Happy Birthday Arjun (bhai)'. Arjun was first confused, then shocked, then angry.

"Geet, Arohi what are you two doing here?" Their faces fell when Arjun reacted like this.

"Wo, we thought of surprising you…" Arohi fell silent.

"How did you come here? By train I guess. I told you not to leave Mumbai without me. Arohi, how can you be so irresponsible?" Arohi looked down. Geet had tears in her eyes.

"Now I can't even travel a few miles to wish my brother for his birthday." Geet burried her face in her hands and within a second Arjun had embraced her.

"I didn't mean that Gudiya. You are still weak and the doctor has given you strict instructions to take rest."

"I came by plane and Arohi made sure that I take plenty of rest in between." Arjun relaxed and gave Arohi a look of appreciation. He could critizise her work no matter how much but he knew that Arohi would never do a mistake when it came to Geet.

"So you planned this all along?" Arjun asked and wiped Geet's tears.

"Since Arohi told us that you are coming here. I even told Rajji to stay back here to arrange for the cake and everything." Arjun signaled Rajji to join the hug. Arohi watched the three in each others' embrace. She had often thought of Arjun being a heartless man but since she met Geet and Rajji, she knew how much Arjun cared for both of them. Even when he is away for business, he makes sure that both his sisters are well taken care off.

The small party went well. Arjun cut his cake and received a new watch, phone and laptop form all three. Geet insited on Arohi staying back for the night and Arjun grunted. He so didn't want her to stay. Little did his opinion count because Geet had decided and her decision was final. Arohi promised that she will be on her way back to Mumbai with Geet the next morning so he didn't have to worry. But Arjun did worry. He always worried when it came to Geet.

Arjun left for the meeting quite early the next morning. His staff would join him there itself.

Tension filled Khurana Constructions. Maan had set a special meeting and made it very clear that even the slightest mistake on the side of his employees in front of Arjun is going to cost the responsible person their job.

Arjun arrived on time and strode into office with the same pride as Maan. Maan stood in the corridor to receive Arjun. Both men exchanged a brief nod and shook hands. No welcome or other words were said as they knew it was pointless. Formalities had no place between them.

Annie was already in the conference room. Maan, Sasha, Dev and Pinky sat on one side of her and Arjun, Suresh and Ravi on the other side. The meeting was about to start, when the door opened and Arohi entered.

"What are you doing here? You were supposed to go back to Mumbai with Geet." Arjun spoke in a low but angry tone.

"I know and I will leave after this meeting. Geet said that I should assist you since this is an important deal." Arjun closed his eyes. He loved his sister and knew how much she supported him. But he wished she would at least once think about herself first.

The meeting began and Annie expained about the castle. Maan, Sasha, Dev, Pinky and Arjun were shocked when they realised which building they were supposed to work on. They had all heard of the cursed place, at least, and were unsure about working there.

"Maan sir, yeh bangla to bhoot mahal hain. Kya aap sach mein yaha kaam karenge?" Pinky spoke up. She purposely voiced her concern in Hindi, since Annie only knew English.

"Kya baqwaas karrahi ho Pinky. Chup raho. (What nonesense are you talking Pinky. Keep quiet.)"

"Bro please." Dev said to his brother. Maan looked to Arjun, expecting him to laugh or atleast smile but Arjun's face was completely expressionless.

"The north wing needs repairing and the west wing burnt down many years ago. It isn't livable anymore and that is why I want it to be torn down and rebuilt." Arjun and Maan nodded. Arohi made a few notes just like Sasha.

"Ma'am, what style do you want the rebuilt place to be?"

"I want it to be just like the older bit of the castel. I have made a list of features I want incorporated." Sasha scanned the sheet and kept it in her folder.

Maan and Arjun agreed on visiting the castel before continuing their meeting. Maan had kept the entire day free and so there was no rush.

"So strange they actually agree on something. I thought world war 3 would break out the minute both would stand in front of each other." Sasha nodded and chuckled at Arohi's comment.

The drive was short as the drivers were told to drive in top most speed. Annie sat in Maan's car on the way to the site.

Maan and Arjun inspected the places they were supposed to work on.

"I still think we shouldn't work here. This place is haunted for sure."

"What do you mean?" Sasha asked Pinky, when she was sure Maan couldn't hear them.

"A few years ago, a bunch of college students came here to shoot a video for their assignment. The girl survived because she was outside but the three boy were all found dead." Pinky told Sasha in detail about what she had read in the papers and also about the interview the girl gave.

"Where is this girl now?"

"She turned crazy after the incident. She reported seeing ghosts everywhere she went and couldn't take it anymore. I think she hanged herself or something similar."

"Dev, look at this" Dev walked to his brother. They stood at the foot of the stairs that split halfway through."

"Beautiful bro. I have never seen such a thing." Even Maan was impressed by the architecture of the house. They walked up and found the right corridor blocked. Dev and Maan started taking away the furniture to open up the way.

"I wonder why someone blocked it?" Dev asked aloud. Behind the blockage lay a corrior. Again, both men admired the work work and headed to the end of the corridor, when they heard a scream.

Arjun and Arohi were walking along the burnt bit to inspect the damage it had down to the adjasent walls. Then, they went in. Arjun stood in the hall way and Arohi walked into the west wing. She took a few photographs here and there, when a stong gust of wind hit a lose wooden log and it came crashing down. Arohi jumped away just in time but was scared to death and screamed.

"What happened?" Maan and Dev reached the scene. Arohi was shedding silent tears. She wasn't hurt but shocked.

"The log came crashing down. This place isn't safe to stand in, let's go from here." Sasha, Annie and Pinky took Arohi away.

"You should take more care of your staff." Maan commented.

"Don't remind me of my responsibilities, Khurana. I can give you a list of yours, too." Maan gritted his teeth. He hadn't meant it as an accusation. He was just concered. Dev came between both men and they left the place. Annie sat with Arohi this time, who had gotten herself back together.

Once they reached KC, Maan arranged for lunch but Arjun kindly refused. He took his staff out to a restaurant and said he will join back later.

"Arohi, go back home. You don't have to stay here." Arjun spoke in a soft tone. Arohi shook her head.

"No sir, I am ok. I want to stay and finish with this meeting."

"And Geet? Do you want to let her go alone back home?" Arjun asked.

"I have called her and told her to stay with Rajji. We will leave tonight." Arjun sighed. He looked at his watch and called home. He inquired how both sisters were and if Geet was taking enough rest or not. He was about to cut the call when he remembered something.

"Arohi, do you have my blue file with you?"

"No sir, but I saw it at your apartment yesterday. Shall I get it?" Arjun thought for a minute.

"The file is important but we have to be back in KC. I'll just try to do the work like this."

They finished off and left for KC.

LOOK BELOW FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER

Chapter 5: Concern

"You guys saw my Jaanu?" Ducky asked a bunch of college students. They shook their head and supressed a laugh. She walked along and looked into every class room for her love. He met her every morning without fail, then where was he now? Had something happened to him? Was he ill?

"Suno, mere Jaanu ko kahin dekha hain (Listen, did you see my Jaanu somewhere) ?" she stopped a boy who was getting off his bike. He had curly and unruly hair and wore a leather jacket and jeans.

"No, I just came. Happy Birthday, by the way."

"Thank you. I am looking for him since morning you see. I wonder where he is. Maybe he is arranging a surprise for me." The boy walked along side her.

"What if he forgot?" he suggested. Ducky giggled.

"He wouldn't forget my birthday, after all I am his girlfriend. But then he is so hopeless sometimes." She sighed and made a dreamy face. Both seperated out and the girl searched on. The boy in the leather jacket went towards the one place he knew she would never look.

"She was asking for you" he said and sat down with all his other friends. The boy he talked to ignored what his friend had said and made plans for tonight.

The meeting went on and Annie was tired. She could feel the tension between the two men and pondered if she had done right to make them work together. Arjun and Maan had started to critise each other. The others sat in their chair, not sure how to tame their bosses. Arohi thought about trying her trick with Geet but this time she knew Arjun would blow. An hour later, there was a comotion outside the conference room which made both Maan and Arjun stop their bickering.

"What is going on outside?" Maan roared. Pinky quickly got up and checked.

"Sir, Naintara ma'am is here to see you. I think she got into a fight with someone." Maan cursed his stars for making Naintara enter at such an unsuitable time.

"I'll check." Maan went out.

Naintara's voice could be heard through the corridor and it was clear that the fight was very much one sided. She was talking to a petit figure who was wearig a blue salwaar kameez and had braided hair. He couldn't see her face but she was clutching tighly onto something and her head was low. Her entire body was shaking.

"Naintara, why are you making such a fuss?" Naintara looked digustingly at the figure and said:

"I didn't know that even this sort of down market people are allowed into KC, Maan. I want her to get out." She pulled the figure by her arm and made her stumble forward. Maan took a step and caught her before she fell.

"NAINTARA, behave! Go now, I will meet you later." Naintara went, even if reluctantly, seeign Maan getting angry.

Maan felt the light weight and saw that he girl had fainted. Maan tapped her face a couple of times and she opened her eyes. He stopped in his tracks. The word beautiful didn't do her justice and even aphroditi would have bowed her head in front of this girl. Her eyes were a dark amber colour and were sparkling so much. He lifted her head a little so that he could see her face more clearly. She had heart shaped face and a cute button like nose. Her lips were full and rosy and quiwerring. She said something but no voice came out of her mouth.

"I didn't hear you." Maan said to her. Geet tried to push Maan away and stand on her feet but Maan held her tightly in his arms.

"I think you should sit down, I'll call Sasha to take care of you." He called Sasha and told her to come to his cabin.

"Shall I come, too?" Arohi asked and Arjun rolled his eyes. Sasha nodded. When they reached Maan's cabin, they saw Maan on the couch, holding Geet and supporting her.

"ARJUN" Arohi yelled and Arjun came running. His blood boiled when he saw Geet with Maan.

"TAKE YOUR DIRTY FINGURES OFF HER" Arjun pushed Maan away and got hold of Geet. Geet clutched tightly onto Arjun and started to cry.

"Kya hua tumhe? (What happened to you?)" Arjun looked at Maan.

"Kisi ne koi battameezi ki kya? (Did someone misbehave with you?)" Maan got up enraged that Arjun asked her that about him. He didn't feel nice seeing the girl in Arjun's arms. Out of everyone, why ARJUN?

"File…aapki file…" Arjun spotted his blue file on the glass table next to the sofa.

"Tum yaha kyun aae? (Why did you come here?)"

"Aap Rajji se baat karrhe the to apne Arohi ko file ke bare mein poocha. Wo important file hain, isiliye. (You were talking to Rajji, when you asked Arohi about the file. It was important that is why.)" Arjun sighed.

"How often did I tell you not to care so much. You shouldn't have come alone." He kissed her forehead and turned to Maan.

"What on earth were you doing with her, Khurana?" Arjun didn't hide his accusation.

"Not what you were thinking, I was just helping her."

"Really?" Arjun asked sarcastically.

"With what?"

"She fainted and I just brought her in to…"

"Fainted?" Arjun asked concerend. He checked Geet's forehead and her face.

"Kya hua tumhe? Bolo. (What happened to you? Tell me.)" he asked strictly.

"Mujhe file deni thi…ek ladki aae aur…(I wanted to give the file...then a girl came...)" Geet started to cry again.

"Mujhe…" Arjun gave Maan a dangerous look.

"Who was she?" he asked slowly. Arohi started to get frightened. Arjun wouldn't spare the person, no matter who she was. Maan didn't answer so Arjun grabbed one of the by standers by his troat.

"Tell me. NOW"

"Sir…she was Naintara ma'am, Maan sir's fiance" he choked.

"What did she say?" The man spoke hesitanly but truly.

Arjun dropped the man and looked at Maan.

"For your own sake, keep away from my family, Khurana. And make sure you hide that fiance of yours well because if I get her in my fingures, you won't find her in once piece again." Arjun lifted Geet and carried her to the exit. Arohi followed and so did Suresh and Ravi. All three were glad that the matter ended realtivly peaceful. They hadn't forgotten what Arjun had done to the boy who had harrassed Geet once, not so long ago. He still wasn't out of coma.

Vicky's leave was over and after his brothers' engagement, he was in a fabulous mood. He took the first bus back to college and couldn't wait to meet his darling and tell her all about his time back home. Even though Vicky could afford his own private coach, he prefered to travel with everyone else. His other friends were from middle class and could not afford private transport. And going with the crowd was surely more fun.

He went to Excell College in Jaipur. The choice of college was strange because Delhi and Mumbai for sure had much better reputations but he liked it here. He had actually come to this college to drop off his friends' sister, Pooja, who was starting new and felt nervous to go alone to the hostel. Vicky, the Pooja's brother and a few other boys accompanied her to her hostel and made sure that she was fine. That was when he first met with Raj. His decision to study in this college was instantanious and surprised all his friends. Vicky didn't hide the reason from them and he got full support.

And he didn't regret his choice. Jaipur brought out his true nature and he opted for a career in fashion designing. His work was well liked by his teachers and his friends could guess who he designed all his dresses for.

"Saab, hostel agaya. (Sir, we arrived at the hostel.)" The driver knew Vicky well by now. Every time after returning to college he paid a visit to his girlfriend first.

"Ok guys, see you later."

Vicky climed down and headed to the girls hostel.

"Hey girls, can you call Raj for me please" Vicky had stopepd a bunch of girls. They looked up and giggled.

"Of course we can." A few minutes later they returned.

"She went home with special permission and is still not back. The warden said she is expected back a little late this time."

"Why? Is she ill?" Vicky sounded concerned.

"Don't know."

"Oh, ok thanks." Once Vicky was gone, one of the girls said:

"Kash mera boyfriend bhi mujhe itna chahta. (I wish my boyfriend would love me just as much.)"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New characters will be added on page one, plz check out. I will be busy with prep for my upcoming test but plz leave commetns and I will reply to all of you once I have more time.