Part 32
Rj cudn't believe Pallavi was literally pushing him out of her apartment…& she had to as Rj was neither letting her talk with Dev…leave alone talking he wasn't even allowing Dev to enter…
Pallavi –Rj atleast move aside & let him enter….
Rj (still angry)–he wont until he confesses…& apologise….Infact confess karne ke liye kuch bacha kaha hai….I cant believe you Bhai….How cud u even….
Pallavi (interrupted)—Rj stop being melodramatic….bahar tamasha karne ki zarut nahi hai…. So, just stop it…. Andar toh aane do… (She wasn't interested in fighting on the hallway of her building)
Rj—tamasha karne ke liye koi kasar baki hai… he never thought twice before cheating …
Pallavi—Rj…just move aside & let him in… (Seeing him not relenting Pallavi went to Dev ….& brought him in holding his hand) Mr.khanna aap….
Rj (angry)—Pallavi how can u …I mean… you are trusting him (he was almost yelling)….Party mein jo kuch hua… tum thi waha par….still …
Pallavi (interrupted)—still what Rj!!! I am surprised!!! Its You who is not trusting him…infact mujhse zyada tumhe yakeen hona chaiye….even if you have doubts let him explain…let him clear them out…
Rj (asked Dev)—kya explain karengeBhai??...there is nothing to explain….Pallavi, I trusted him…but…after happened today…& even when he went to Sameer's wedding also….yeh Maya ke saath the…. Phir bhi tum mujhe samjha rahi ho…You are ruining your life…
Pallavi cudn't believe ….Rj knows abt Maya's presence at wedding…she didn't realized he & whole family must have known abt it…
Pallavi (patience was running low now)—enough Rj !! & I am not ruining my life… You Idiot!!! 😡 & whatever happened at the party…I am sure its not true…aur agar sach mein Maya pregnant bhi hai…toh surely Dev is not the father….(Rj opened his mouth to say something but saw the determination and the confidence in her eyes) as for you… now OUT Rj…😡😡 jab tak tum yaha ho you will not let me talk in peace…
Rj—par main…
Pallavi—tum ja rahe ho….aur you want me to kick you out!! 😡😡
Rj helplessly left leaving Dev-Pallavi alone to talk…
****
Pallavi handed him glass of water…
Pallavi (guiltily)—I am sorry!!!... I left like that….sab kuch aise achanak hua…couldn't even think straight. I'm sorry….
Dev (hugging her)—You do believe me right!! (he asked more to comfort himself then her….he cud face anything & everything as long she believes & trusts him)
Pallavi (nodded in yes)—you have doubts (gave a sad smile) Maya ne kuch kaha??
Dev(somberly)—nahi, guess she was too shocked to react she is four months pregnant…. Can make out from her reaction she didn't knew herself…. The guest who came went in with us…she was a doctor …. She did a home pregnancy test when Maya came around after she fainted….she knew Maya is my wife…so she just assumed I am the father…(sighed) before I cud stop her she came out & announced it …Main toh usse wapis bulane aaye tha…but after that everything happened so fast I could not stop it…
Pallavi (confused)—par Maya aise I mean…(she still couldn't believe till last week Maya blamed her for snatching her husband & she claimed that she loved Dev…she will have him back at any cost….& know this) now what??
Dev(without any emotion)—Will start the procedures tomorrow...I will ask Mr.Verma to bring out the divorce papers…& he will file them first thing in the morning….& I will talk with everyone at home…. I have to clear up this mess…. Its enough now!!!
Pallavi (shocked)—Divorcee Mr.khanna….I mean…aap is waqt divorcee file karenge …toh sabko pata chal jayega ki …Maya ne kisi aur ke saath …..
Dev (angry)—dats not my problem to solve!!! Who kaise handle karegi…what she will do…its her problem…(in cold voice) is sabke baare mein usse pregnant hone se pehle sochna tha…. mujhe sirf itna pata hai….dat now its enough… I care a damn what she does ... I care a hoot….(sighed)… I cant handle this anymore…everytime….har baar….I cant suffer on her behalf...
Pallavi –par!!
Dev (turned around held her hands)—is baar koi par nahi!!! …this time I don't want to think anything else… (made her sit on the sofa) this time for once I want to be selfish….selfish for myself, humare liye…humare pyaar ke liye…. I want to be selfish this time…No promise, no commitment… just us (sighed) par main yeh bhi janta hoon…I wont be able to do it alone… . I will need you next to me….as my strength & support… jab tak tum mere saath ho…I can face everything…
Pallavi (smiled)—kehne ki zarut hai… (leaned in to kiss him)
****
Dev reached for his ringing mobile…cursing the caller this early in the morning…answered with a sleepy voice….it was Kabir…
Dev(in sleepy voice)--bhai…itni subah…sab theek toh hai?? …
Kabir (in a panicky voice)—I guess not….there is a problem ….did you read today's paper…
Dev (in between yawns)—not yet!! Par baat kya hai?? What's the matter (he kept his voice low trying not to disturb Pallavi who was sleeping… he cud already feel her stirring in sleep) bhai…hua kya hai??
Kabir (took a deep breath)—who !!! actually there is something published about you….(sighed) guess unhone humari baatein sunli… I mean hum log aapas mein baat kar rahe the…we were angry on you toh… they just twisted it & apni ek kahani bana li…now the press is hovering around here…. Unhe lagta hai tum yaha ho…& you will talk to them…
Dev—now wasn't that expected after Maya's stint in the party… this publishing was bound to happen…I was expecting media to having time of their lives…
Kabir (reluctant to disclose the actual matter…He wasn't sure if he would like to be the one to break the news)—actually report is not abt Maya….!!! Its abt you & Pallavi
Dev(all his sleep vanishing)—what the hell?? (he remembered Pallavi still sleeping he lowered down his voice again) how do they know anything….
Kabir—Dev, You can take a look for yourself in the paper …. They are suggesting you had a number of affairs and yesterday you were with your latest catch instead of at the party…instead being with your expecting wife… Luckily they don't know any names…Now you just be careful… they might follow you to get a name & identity…
Dev(sighed)—fine….main dekhta hoon…I will take care …Thanx for informing…
Kabir (sheepishly)—waise Sorry…I shouted on you y'day…I shud have known better….
Dev—That was your expected reaction…& be assured I am not the father…
Kabir –I know ….take care of yourself & Pallavi…Bye!!!
****
Dev got lost in thoughts ….thinking about what he would do next…. It wud surely be not safe to go out now, knowing that people want to follow him….He had to take care of the journalist who wrote all these things….
He was tired of people prying into his life again and again…. He even feared Pallavi's reaction abt the news…… What if, the journalist knew more then they published this time? He just looked beside watched her sleeping peacefully…. He put his hand around her waist, pulling her closer…. He could feel her get comfortable in his arms…. It made him smile….It made him feel good, about himself, about their relationship ….He still remembered how she just trusted him y'day…when for once even his family was angry on him… The way she stood by him it made him feel good….Good abt their lives together…. Before she came into his life Dev never knew a simple gesture could make your life worth living…. A simple word of affection had the power to encourage you to the best human being you could be, for the person you loved….
Dev promised himself to protect her come what may…. Today he would make all the necessary arrangements…. Nothing else would matter now with her beside he is sure he will handle everything, every question, every hardship….
****
Later in the day …as Pallavi got busy with getting ready ….they had decided they will go to khanna house & will explain everything to family…& Dev will also inform them about divorce…Dev asked Pallavi to reach Khanna house by herself he will join her later after meeting the lawyer…Pallavi agreed she will drop in directly to khanna house after her appointment with doctor…she was still under medication after her accident…
Pallavi made sure Dev had breakfast before leaving to excited to eat breakfast he just gulped down a glass of juice…. leaved as fast as he could heading for his advocate's office….the divorce was the only thing on his mind right now…. But before that he first decided to sort out the editor of magazine who published the report… he had already checked the article "Famous industrials Dev Khanna two-timing!" he thanked the stars that it wasn't as bad as he had expected. There were no names mentioned except his and looking at the article most of the things mentioned were guessed or made up on the basis of his absence in the party…. Dev had briefly mentioned abt it to Pallavi & said he will take care of it….
By the time he exited the editor's office … he was flooded with calls and messages from different journalists asking to confirm Maya's pregnancy and/ or his alleged affairs. Dev just refused to answer the questions and referred to the next issue of the magazine they got their information from…
From editor's office he left for his own office where his lawyer was waiting…Dev had already asked him to prepare the first draft of the divorce papers…. Even though it wasn't necessary still Dev asked for a settlement for Maya, a onetime amount to be transferred in her account…& also transfer of all rights & ownership to Maya. Mr.Verma assured papers wud be filed the next day ...Mr.Verma assured divorce in almost a week ...😊😊😊
As he reached khanna house he was surprised to see the Press mob still around…he sighed to himself & decided to get clear for once & for all….. as he got out of the car when all kinds of questions were fired at him…..
Dev (in a calm voice)—if only u guys will listen to me for once (he silenced all) I think you guys shud ask all these questions who printed all the information about me….. It seems like they know more about me than I would know about myself….
Press--sir is it true your wife is pregnant
Dev—Don't you think you shud ask this to my wife…she will be better person to answer…
Press--& abt your affairs??
Dev (coolly)—what affairs…have you seen me with someone…who said it??
Press—it was published…
Dev (smiled) —there u go!!! Question will be best answered by the publication… Maybe they could inform me what I was doing last night…..they seem to know more about me than I do. (putting his best charming smile) Now if you would kindly get back to your already busy lives…. although I don't mind all the pretty ladies waiting for me to show up…(added with a wink)….Please
He excused himself to go back….the press dispersed one by one …before he cud go inside he received the call listening to which his face changed colour…
****
Dev rushed to the place from where he received the call… he cud see pregnant woman with their smiling or petrified husbands were walking on and off…
Dev (to receptionist)—I am looking for Maya Mathur…(seeing Receptionist giving him confused look & refusing no patient by that name…he corrected himself) Sorry… (Flinched slightly) I mean Mrs. Maya Dev Khanna… (Receptionist gave him direction to the room)
Entering room he didn't found Maya around…but found a doctor glaring at him…as if he had done some serious crime…
Doctor—Welcome Mr.Dev Khanna, finally you are here (Dev gave a confused look…surprised on doctor's reaction on seeing him) How dare you can allow all this…are you out of your minds…
Dev (confused)—excuse me!!! I am not getting you… I just got a call &
Doctor—it was me who called….shakal se aap padhe likhe lagte hai & seem to be from a good family…never expected this from you… (after a pause) Aap apni patni ka abortion karwaana chaahte hai? Aapko pata bhi hai what you are doing….bache nahi chaiye the…you shud have been careful…. now wats the point in risking your wife's life in her sixteenth week…. Doing an abortion now is dangerous for her….specially after previous one…
If he was angry on hearing doctor's accusations he was more than angry & bewildered on hearing Maya was here for abortion…
Dev (shocked)—Maya is here for abortion??? Where is she??
Doctor led him to next room separated by a door from the office they were in… Doctor's accusations were still running in his ears…Hearing the door open Maya stood up from the chair she was sitting ….looking at Dev she cud easily make out Dev was more than angry & hurt… she cud see his eyes spitting fire…
Dev (keeping his temper asked doctor but still staring at Maya) –Can I have a word with my "WIFE" in private… (he stressed on wife)
As soon as doctor left ….Dev banged the door shut & next thing Maya felt was a tight slap on her left cheek… For a moment there was a thickening silence in the room which Maya didn't even dared to break…Dev was shooting draggers at her…
Maya(in a low voice)—Dev I can…. (before she can continue she received another one…)
Dev (abt to raise his hand again)—I never thought Maya 😡😡😡 … never in my life i thot that standing in the same room with you would be this disgusting…😡😡😡 kabhi nahi socha tha I will ever hit a woman…infact after everything you put me through…I never had a heart to raise my hand at you….😡😡everytime something in me stopped me 😡😡 par aaj…you really went too far Maya…😡😡 (he turned around to leave)
Maya (in a low voice)-- I didn't mean to get you involved….Dev….Trust me…main…
Dev (walked upto her with anger)--Really!! You didn't !!! 😡😡 you didn't wanted to me be involved… tum mere saath aisa kuch nahi karna chahti thi… (almost pushed her to the wall behind) What else did you not mean to do?...😡😡😡 Come on Tell me… You did not mean to say to the world that I am the father?? 😡😡😡 You didn't mean to be pregnant…you didn't mean to make my life miserable…all these years you didn't mean to do anything…😡😡😡 right….(he let her go with a force but still cornered her to the wall….putting his hands on both sides moved closer & directly stared at her….scaring her more & more) You made the world believe that you are pregnant with my child….. What am I supposed to do now?? 😡😡😡 (Maya looked down with tears trickling down…. but Dev forcefully made her look at him) The doctor out there thinks of me I am some ruthless inhuman person who wants to kill his own child…. & sends his oh so- innocent wife to abort the baby!!! 😡😡 (sacarstic) when you had your last abortion…or Is this a habit of yours…first get pregnant & then conveniently go for abortion…. ??? aur ilzaam lagane ke liye main hoon na😡😡😡
Maya was silent for a while not being in the right state of mind to answer Dev's questions, but his vigorous & almost violent shaking brought her back….
Maya (stammered)-- it was more than two years ago (Looking at Dev she knew what he was thinking…she added in a low voice) "It wasn' t yours."
Dev—you think that makes you a less criminal…just saying child wasn't mine tumhara gunah kam ho jaayega 😡😡😡 ….. (he turned around) You repulse me Maya…😡😡 . Tumhe sharam bhi nahi aati ….disgusting…wasn't it last week you wanted to be the oh-so good wife… 😡😡😡 (he cudn't help but being sarcastic) who's the father may I know…hope u know dat atleast….considering you had so many affairs…(in a cold voice) mazzze kar liye, aur ab zimmedaari ka waqt aaya toh bacche ko maarna chaahti ho woh bhi mera naam lekar….how convenient of you😡😡😡I will make sure you dont kill the child ... & most importantlywith my name... 😡😡😡galti tum karo...aur naam mera 😡😡😡
Maya—Devvv !!! Don't you dare lecture me!!! Tum mujhe affairs aur zimmedaari ke baare me samjha rahe ho!... (her anger replaced by anger now) If you remember correctly you are the one who is having an affair right now!! And by the way this is my child… tumko kya…apne bache ke saath kya karungi yeh meri marzi hogi….. You don't have anything to do with it. I am the mother and YOU are not the father…. (she tried to push Dev but it was futile)
Dev (angry)-- I know I am not the father but I am a human being….😡😡 and don't you dare compare my relationship with the few encounters you had with god knows who… .😡😡😡 As for you, Tum to maa banne ke layak nahin ho…. You are in the position to raise a child… Paise, status sab hai tumhare paas…. Koi tumse yeh bhi nahin poochega ki bacche ka baap kaun hai? they all think it's me…. (in emotionless voice) but just because this child will close your doors to reach me, … tum isse maarna chahti ho…😡😡 You are really disgusting…. & I won't let you do this!... tumhari marzi ho na ho...you will have to take responsibility of the child...tumhe bhi toh pata chale majboori ke rishte jab nibhane padte hai toh how u feel... aur waise tumhari galtiyon ki saza yeh bacha kyun bhugte... 😡😡
He almost dragged her out of the room seeing the crowd around staring at them he casually kept his arm around her…
That was the moment Pallavi had come out after her appointment with doctor & saw Dev along with Maya… for a moment they seemed like a perfect couple a husband-wife coming out of hospital…
Somewhere the sight really made her uncomfortable…she remembered her unexpected meeting with khushi who had came to meet her after Dev left & Pallavi was leaving for hospital….
Khushi—You still trust him di…(Pallavi was abt to say something but khushi stopped her) I know di, Rj ne mujhe bata diya that you are gonna stand with Mr.khanna…Di, insaan par vishwaas karna alag baat hoti hai par kisi pe andha vishwaas karna bewkoofi…after everything aap abhi bhi…Dekhna di, Mr.khanna apni biwi ke paas chale jayenge…& it will be you all alone….afterall this gonna be a perfect opportunity for both of them to patch up… & be together…
Pallavi tried to justify but khushi was not ready to listen…. & now seeing all this infront of her…her uncomfortable feeling was back…The restlessness feeling was not leaving her…instead of going to khanna house she went to her apartment … somewhere she felt bad Dev didn't even told her he wud be with Maya…she had thought he was at the lawyer…
****
As he reached Mathur house… he made few calls …& infront of her only he called Mr.Verma asking him to fasten the process of divorce ...
Maya was shocked hearing about the divorce case….she was surprised to know Dev had already discussed it with his lawyer… Her chain of thought broke when she heard Dev ending the call
Dev—as for you Maya Mathur, 😡😡 You are not setting one foot outside this house till you sign the divorce papers …Mr.Verma will bring them in 2-3 days & till then I will keep an eye on you 24*7 😡 ... aur ab Agar tumne bache ko kuch bhi kiya you will find yourself in jail…😡😡😡 & Mind you, divorce papers tum chup chapsign karogi…😡 😡 unless you want me to go in public how my wife cheated me 😡😡
Maya—you cant force me Dev!!! Tum aisa nahi kar sakte… 😡 You cant do this… you are not the father!!
Dev(sternly)—I can & I will 😡😡 …coz I can't let you kill an innocent life 😡😡😡 … atleast till I am being your so-called husband & father of the child I have full right to stop my so called wife from abortion…😡😡😡😡 I even have an copy of the entry in the hospital...mujhe do min lagenge to prove what you were doing there 😡😡😡 after the divorce tumhari marzi what you want to do with the child 😡😡
Maya knew she was check mated….Now she was to lose all….Dev, the property & if she did not abide by him she would even lose her reputation…she knew if Dev decides to destroy her ... she will be nowhere
****
A while later Dev sat in study & called Kabir informing what all had happened…He explained everything in detail…Kabir agreed that he will explain it to everyone at home….when Dev asked him to pass on call to pallavi he was surprised when Kabir said she isn't here a while earlier she had called she is at the apartment…
Dev tried calling Pallavi but her cell was switched off… he decided to meet her he needed to tell her everything…before he left he specially instructed the servants & guard to keep an eye on Maya & not to let her go anywhere…
**************
Hope part was OK...
Book Talk
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
54