THE GODFATHER- Part2...Index/ pg1 - Page 3

PART 56

Godfather was in his Office-room with Mittal, going over the Accounts of his recent Hotel and Casino Sales, when he heard sounds of childish laughter and yelling, accompanied by a deep, male voice giving instructions. He hurried to the terrace adjoining the room, eager to see what was going on. He watched Angad playing soccer with Prateek….. a wistful smile curved his somber mouth.….it was the first time his villa was resounding with sounds of a child's voice and play . It had been just a luxurious Villa, now it was finally a Home!

Godfather watched his family with delightful pride, enjoying the rowdy game between father and son. He gazed with longing at Kripa, sitting in a shady spot, looking so fresh and pretty in a yellow Salwar as she laughed and cheered on the players. His heart yearned to go and embrace her and call her "Beti". He wished he could interact with her as Angad was bonding with his child. But for the sake of her safety, he would have to hide his feelings and suppress his paternal affection. He stood there for a long time, his lonely heart soothed by the sight and sounds of his newfound family.

At dinnertime, he watched Kripa carefully again, trying to find similarities with his wife and himself.: "Aankhein toh Maa jaisi hai, naak shayad mujhpar gaya hai, muskaan bhi Maa jaisi, lekin kad (height) mein thodi chhoti (short) hai. Shayad meri Maa per gayi hai….apney Dadi per. (he smiled affectionately)

He was amused to observe that Angad managed to grab the seat next to Kripa at the dinner-table .
Angad kept on stealing pieces of food from her plate, feeding her tidbits from his plate, touching her hands, her elbows, nudging her with his arm. They exchanged warm glances, secret smiles, fleeting touches.

Godfather averted his eyes with a hidden grin. He remembered the days of his youth, that wonderful year when he and Anu had been newlyweds, when they hadnt been able to keep their hands off each other. Those days and nights of bliss….those memories had been his only companion for the last 24 years. Now it was time to make new memories with his daughter's family. He suddenly wanted to live……20-30 more years, watch his grandchildren grow up, (he was sure Angad-Kripa would have more kids). He didn't have a death-wish anymore. He wanted to survive, to live freely, to watch his family prosper, thrive and flourish.

Kripa turned to Prateek dawdling with his food on her other side: Sunny Beta, theek se lo na….chalo mooh kholo, main khilati hoon"

Nahin Mama, mujhey bhookh nahin hai……. neend aa rahi hai…..a tired and sleepy Prateek whined and shook his head.

Angad urged him: C'mon Prateek, khana nahin khaogey toh kal game practice kaisey karogey?…..Yeh lo, Chicken Cutlet khaakar dekho" As he extended his hand out to Prateek, his arm brushed Kripa's front. She bit her lips, sharply drawing in her breath…. she reddened and glared at Angad.

Kalyani Aunty hurried over: Lao Beti, main Prateek ko khilati hoon……tum apna khana khaa lo"

Nahin, Maasi Jee, aap dinner keejiye, main isey dekhti hoon"

Arey Lao na Beti, wo merey paas zaroor khayega, hai na Beta? Apni Nani-Masi ke paas aa jao, main tumhey phir se Rajkumar ki kahani sunaaoongi" ……Prateek went over at once, as he liked to be pampered by Kalyani.

She took him near the windows overlooking the sea and fed him while telling him fairy-tales. Kripa sighed in content…..Maasi Jee filled the role of the grandmother Prateek never had.

She whispered to Angad: Achha hua, Prateek ko Nani bhi mil gayi….buss iski kamee thi…

Bahut jaldi Bhai-Behen bhi mil jayengey…..Angad whispered back….she pinched his arm, stifling her laughter.

Soon, Kripa started blushing….. unseen by the others, Angad was playing footsies with her under the table, rubbing her thigh with his hand, tickling her toes with his foot. She hit him with her elbow and glared when he overdid it……he grinned shamelessly.
The others pretended not to notice what was going on between the hopelessly besotted couple.

******************************************************

It was the middle of the night, the whole household was fast asleep. Angad crept to Kripa's bedside and waited patiently for Prateek to move away from her arms. As soon as he turned away, Angad scooped Kripa up in his arms. She woke up with a startled gasp, opening her mouth to scream. He sealed her lips with his, pressing down between the soft petals till she quieted down and circled her arms around his neck, surrendering to his midnight raid. He carried her to his room with their lips still joined together. He lowered her on his bed, and pulled off his T-shirt and Pajamas. Then he was lying down beside her, leaning over her. Cupping her face in his palms, he gazed into her eyes in the semi-darkness, his brandy eyes gleaming like a predator's and chuckled:.
Ab yeh titli jaal mein phans hi gayi……he licked her cheek and bit it.

Kripa giggled softly, her heart racing with excitement at the look in his eyes.

Thanks ananya, sapphire, abhilasha, Chocolateluver, Faiza, Madiha, desiqt, jdsean, Shalini, sweetie, sana, iqbals4ever, sidra, nameless, deeya, terisusan, mita!

PART 57

NAHIN…..YEH NAHIN HO SAKTA…..she gasped with shock….with heaving breaths…..YEH MEREY PITAA NAHIN HAIN…..NO….HE CAN'T BE MY DAD! EK KHOONI…..EK DON… MEREY DAD NAHIN HO SAKTEY!

She pushed Angad away with all her force, turned around and ran from the room….tears gushing from her eyes, tears of shock, of pain…of realizing who she was, where she came from…….that the man she hated was actually her father!

Kripa ran into her room and closed the door, leaning against the door, drawing deep breaths, devastated, shocked out of her wits. All this time, she had wished and hoped to find her birth-father someday….find him with the help of her mother's photograph….that single name inscribed there: Rishi. Never had she imagined that it would come to this! That her father would turn out to be a Mobster, a Don! Perhaps that's why her mother had left him. She hated him now…..he was a criminal….he had made Angad a criminal like him….and now Angad's life was in danger…he was the target of both the Law and the Mumbai gang…all because of ….Godfather. NOOO….she could not tolerate that…..her father was a Underworld Don. That Prateek's grandfather was a Gangster! NO….THERE HAD BEEN SOME TERRIBLE MISTAKE. THIS MAN COULDN'T BE HER FATHER!
She cried at the cruel game Destiny had played with her!

Angad banged hard on the door: KRIPAAA, DARWAZA KHOLO…..BAAT KARO MUJHSEY. PLEASE…..KRIPAAAAA….

She opened the door slowly, wiping her eyes and walked away. Angad entered looking worried, he went after her and turned her around. Clasping her cold hands in his, he looked earnestly at her: Kripa, meri baat suno…..I know this is a shock for you….lekin poora sach jaaney baghair tum kaisey faisla le sakti ho?

Her head jerked up: POORA SACH? TUM KABSEY JAANTEY HO? .

Angad looked guilty: Mujhey do din pehley pata chala…..main batana chahta tha….lekin….

Tumhey pata chala aur tumney MUJHEY nahin bataya? Merey jeevan ka itna bada sach? Kya hamarey rishtey mein sachchai ke liye koi jagah nahin? Why do you keep secrets from me? She accused him angrily

Godfather's voice intervened: Kripa Beti, ismein Angad ka koi dosh nahin…..mainey hi usey manaa kiya tha…..wo toh tumhey tabhi batana chahta tha lekin mainey usey kasam dilayi…..

Kripa glanced behind Angad, looking angrily at the man who was supposed to be her birth-father. She didn't want to talk to him….she turned her face away from him, feeling hurt, betrayed, confused and angry.

She turned around and walked out to the terrace through the French doors. Angad stalled Godfather from following her: Uncle, main usey samjha doonga. Mujhey thoda waqt deejiye.

Godfather nodded, a deep hurt and longing in his eyes, pained at the rejection from his daughter, yet he understood her feelings. How could she tolerate her father being a Mob Boss? He left the room.

Angad followed her to the terrace…..she was staring out at the brilliant midday sea with unseeing eyes….brooding on the absurdity of life. She was married to an assassin, daughter of a Don, her husband who wasn't really her husband was murdered by gangsters! What else could go wrong?

Kripa, please samajhney ki koshish karo…Uncle tumharey Dad hain…wo tumhey bahut chahtey hain"
.Angad touched her shoulder, she spun around furiously : Don't try to take his side! Just because hes your BOSS! Har baar unki tarafdaari mat karo!

Angad looked hurt: Really Kripa! Tumhey pata nahin tum gussey mein kya keh rahi ho! Im not defending your Dad. I understand what hes going through because I AM A DAD TOO! Main bhi apney betey ke pyaar ke liye taras raha hoon! Uncle kya mehsoos kar rahey hain main achhi tarah samajhta hoon! Wo tumhara pyaar paaney ke liye taras rahey hain….ek baar tumharey zubaan se "Papa " sunney ko betaab hain"

Betaab MY FOOT! ….Kripa bristled like a prickly pear: Kahan the wo itney saal? Kabhie meri khabar kyun nahin lee? Kabhie dhoondney ki koshish kyun nahin kiya? Meri Mummy ko uss haalat mein akela kyun chhod diya? Jab Mama paani mein doob gayi thi uss waqt wo kahan the? Mama ke saath kyun nahin the…jab main paida huyi? Itney saalon mein kabhie mujhey dhoondney ki koshish nahin kee ….ab badey aaye pyaar jataney! Wo hargiz merey pitaa nahin….merey pitaa toh Papa hain….Suryabhan Sharma, jinhoney meri parvarish kee….iss aadmi ko main nahin jaanti aur naa hi jaan-na chahti hoon"

Angad smiled sadly : Yehi sawaal Prateek bhi mujhsey ek din karega. When he was born, I wasn't with you two! Janam se lekar aaj tak wo sirf Josh ko hi apna Papa maanta aaya hai…he knows only Josh as his Dad. Kal wo bhi mujhsey kahega main uskaa koi nahin lagta…kuchh bhi rishta nahin hai merey saath…..
Angad's voice broke and trailed off in dejection.

Kripa looked into his tearful eyes and relented : Angad, tumhari baat alag thi……tumhey kuchh yaad nahin tha…..you lost your memory…..tumney jaan bujhkar mujhey toh nahin chhoda tha. Sab Kismet ka khel tha….

KISMAT? Angad laughed out mockingly: Kismat nahin, Kripa……yeh sab uss Haiwaan ka kaam tha ……..jin logon ne merey ghar ko jalakar mujhey tumsey alag kiya tha….unhi logon ki Vajeh se Uncle ko Jurm ka raasta apnana pada. Because of them, he lost you and his wife! Tum unhey apna kissa sunaney ka mauka toh do……

Waah-waah, kya excuse hai…Kripa scoffed with a cynical laugh: .Damodar ki vajeh se unhey apney biwi-bachchey ko chhodna pada?

Nahin Kripa…..Damodar ke khooni nazron se bachaney ke liye Uncle ne tumhari Mummy ko Mussorie bheja….aur tumharey baarey mein Doctors ne unsey jhooth kaha….ke unka bachcha zinda nahin hai….he didn't know his child was alive, he didn't know you were alive, Kripa, nahin toh wo tumhey kahin se bhi dhoond nikaltey!

Kripa was silent for a while, gazing at the sea…..her mind in turmoil. Her conscience urged her to give Godfather a chance to explain why he was missing from her life for so many years….but her heart and mind rebelled against the thought of forgiving him.

Angad held her stiff shoulders from behind: Kripaa. Main jaanta hoon tumhey bahut bada sadma laga….but I know you are a fair person….you will give him a chance. Tumney mujhey maaf kar diya….apney Dad ko bhi ek mauka do….apna haal bayaan karney ka…Just listen to him ONCE!

Kripa turned around slowly: Theek hai…..Main sunney ko tayyar hoon…..lekin mujhsey kuchh expect mat karna.

That's my girl! Angad smiled and brushed her cheeks tenderly. Ab chalo merey saath" he took her hand and led her to the Study.

Prateek came running up to them : Mamaaa….Nani ki tasveer mil gayi….yeh dekho… ( he triumphantly handed over the framed photo to Kripa)

She bent and kissed his cheeks: Thanks, Beta, you are the BEST!….lekin tumhey kahan se mili?

Nanu ne diya…(he pointed towards Godfather who was standing near the Study door, smiling tenderly at the little boy)

Nanu? …..Kripa paled a little, realizing Prateek was calling him Grandpa.

Haan, wo toh merey Nanu hain…..Nani Masi ne bataya …..

Ohhh! Kripa realized Prateek didn't know the truth……he was just calling Godfather Nanu because of his age.

Okay, Beta…Angad lifted up Prateek in his arms......tum jaakar Nani Maasi ke saath khelo…..hum abhi aatey hain…

Angad carried him into the kitchen, asking Kalyani Aunty to look after him for some time, while they discussed the past.

Kripa walked towards Godfather…..they looked at each other silently for a long time. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time…..because now she was perceiving him as her birth-father. The father that she had tried so hard to find….the father who had probably deserted her mother when she was pregnant!
His eyes were moist with suppressed affection. He longed to embrace her….call her name, address her as "daughter" but he could see the hostility and anger in her eyes! He hoped that after hearing his account of the past, she would understand and forgive him!

Godfather indicated the door silently with his hand…..Kripa walked in and stared for a long time at her mother's portrait on the wall. Mama was so pretty, so full of life…..but her life was cut off short so rudely, so horribly! She wished her mother were alive today….that she could see her daughter, her grandson. Kripa wiped her eyes silently and sat down on an armchair, expecting Godfather to start his explanations. Angad entered the room and shut the door, he pulled up a chair next to Kripa….but Godfather remained standing, looking up at his wife's painting as he commenced with his story….the whole turbulent saga of how he became Rishabh Bajaj from Rishi Aggarwal….



25 years ago

Rishi Aggarwal, a tall, handsome young man, freshly graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management, stepped into the elevator of Hotel Majestic in West Borivli, with a spring in his step. He was grinning from ear to ear..….he had just got his first job. It was a 4-star Hotel but good enough for a start! The owner of the Hotel, Hyder Ali, had interviewed him….alongwith the Manager and Head of Housekeeping. Rishi had applied for the job of Assistant-Manager….and he GOT IT! Mr. Ali had been very impressed by Rishi's academic qualifications, his zeal and enthusiasm and smart, witty replies.

You are HIRED! He announced, beaming at the young man approvingly. You can join right from tomorrow! Welcome to the Majestic team, Mr. Aggarwal!
Thank You, Sir! Thank You! Rishi grinned, shaking his hand….

Mr. Ali was a middle aged man in his early 60s, tall, thin, gaunt, slightly frail-looking. He had bought the Hotel 15 years ago and made it prosper under his ownership. But lately he hadnt been keeping well due to various ailments. He needed extra people to run the Hotel smoothly so he hired an Assistant Manager. He had also called his nephew from Dubai to help him run the Hotel.

My nephew will be joining us tomorrow…wo Dubai se aaya hai…yahan Hotel Management ka kaam seekhney aur meri madad karney ke liye. Mera bhanja hai…..Mr. Ali informed all in the Conference room.
Mr. Aggarwal, aap khud kaam sambhalney ke saath saath merey bhanjey ka bhi madad karna. He is still learning the ropes. Be his Guide and Tutor!

Of course Sir! It will be my pleasure! Rishi was all smiles….he couldn't wait to rush back home and give the great news to his retired father.

He took the bus back to his little house in Shivaji Nagar. Mr. Somesh Aggarwal, his father, was a retired College Professor . His wife had passed away 5 years ago, Rishi was his only child and the center of all his hopes and aspirations. And he hadnt been disappointed, Rishi had graduated with flying colors. And now he had his first job…..Rishi walked into his house with a box of sweets and touched his father's feet, giving him the good news! Somesh was overjoyed: Jeetey raho Beta! Jug Jug jiyo…..mujhey tumsey yahi ummeed thi! He blessed his son happily.
Bhagwan ki kripa se tumhey ab naukri bhi mil gayi! Ab tumhari shadi karva doon toh mera kaam samapt hoga"

Pitaajee…..abhi se shadi ki baat mat keejiye……abhi abhi toh naukri lagi hai…mujhey aur bhi tarakki karna hai….aur ooncha uthna hai…phir shadi ke baarey mein sochoonga"

Jaisi tumhari marzi, Beta! Lekin sach poochho toh mera mann karta hai bahu ke haath ka khana naseeb mein ho….yeh Shanta Bai ke pakaan kha khakar toh peit mein rog ho gaya hai" Both father and son laughed….
Shanta Bai was their cook and housekeeper. She was a terrible cook and a loud-mouthed woman. They only tolerated her because Rishi's mother had hired her and left the two men in her care. Shanta Bai thought she owned the house and ran it like a dictator!

Don't worry, Papa, main shadi zaroor karoonga….lekin itni jaldi nahin! Rishi laughed and went up to his room.

The next day he left for work by the early bus, looking well-groomed and sophisticated in a grey suit and tie, all ready to report for duty. The Manager, Mr.Awasthi, showed him around, acquainting him with the rest of the Staff, giving him a tour of the ten-storied Hotel. It was built in a fabulous location with great views of the Arabian Sea from the top-floor windows. The Hotel was rapidly becoming popular amongst foreign and domestic tourists because of its proximity to the Resorts near the Creek. It was reasonably-priced, yet desirably located.

Rishi was soon engrossed in his work, supervising, managing Hotel Staff, reservations, catering, looking after Guests' needs. He ran around all day, upstairs, downstairs, zipping up and down in the lift. In the afternoon, he was taking some papers up to Mr. Ali's Office to sign when he bumped into a tall figure stepping out of the Office. He looked up, apologizing swiftly. A tall, fair, very good-looking young man was standing in front of him, smiling in a friendly fashion. He had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a charming smile.

Hello there! I am Zaib! Zaib Akhtar! And you must be Rishi Aggarwal, our New AM …welcome aboard! Mamu ne mujhey sab bataa diya hai….aap merey Guide hain, Guru hain…rafeek hain!

Zaib held out his hand…..Rishi shook it in his strong grip, smiling broadly ….the two men liked each other on sight….a rapport was formed right away!

Mr. Ali summoned them into his Office and introduced them formally….Zaib grinned: Youre too late, Mamu….hamari jaan pehchaan toh ho chuki….kyun Rishi? Can I call you Rishi ?

Of course! Rishi grinned…..although Zaib was several years younger than him, he didn't mind being called by first name.

Ali was very pleased that the two men had struck up a rapport right away: Zaib beta….tum Rishi se sab kuchh seekh lo. Aagey jaakar tumhey yeh Hotel sambhalna hai, Hotel Management course ke saath saath practical kaam karna bhi seekh jaogey.

Jee, Mamu….isiliye toh yahan aaya hoon…..Kaam seekhney aur phir….suna hai Hindustan ki ladkiyan bahut khubsoorat hoti hain……Zaib chuckled wickedly.

Ali Uncle shook his head and laughed: Dekho Zaib, yahan kuchh ulta seedha mat karna….yaad rakhna, yahan ke sab employees merey bachchon jaisey hain.

Mamu aap pareshan mat hona….main toh mazaak kar raha tha….jo kuchh bhi karna hai Hotel ke baahar hi karoonga"

Ali shook his head again and sighed: Tu kabhie nahin sudhrega….zyada gadbad kee toh terey Ammi ko phone per bataa doonga"

Please Mamu, aisa mat karna…gazab ho jayega…Ammi uss Naaz ke saath mera nikaah kar dengi…phir main kahin ka nahin rahoonga….Zaib shook in fake fear! Abhi toh merey khelney koodney ke din hain!

Rishi was enjoying the funny argument between uncle and nephew, grinning, laughing.

Zaib was the son of Hyder Ali's sister…..he was 21 years old, studying Hotel Management in Dubai. He had come to India for a few months' training under his Uncle to learn the ropes of managing a Hotel, with hands-on experience.
His father owned vast ancestral properties in and around Dubai. Zaib had dreams of building Hotels and Restaurants on these properties, hence he was pursuing Hotel Management Studies. He dreamt of owning and operating a chain of Hotels all around the world, including India. His Hyder Mamu had never married as he devoted his life to his Hotel…he didn't have any kids so he was going to bequeath the Majestic to his beloved nephew.

Rishi and Zaib worked together everyday, sometimes serious, sometimes jovial, laughing, sharing jokes about pretty ladies, in short being two young men in their early twenties with their whole lives and future ahead of them!

Zaib flirted quite a lot with the front-desk Receptionist Rupa whenever he got a chance…….Rishi teased him about it! Zaib teased Rishi about Mrs. Chopra in Housekeeping…….she had a major crush on Rishi and always tried to get close to him.

Their camarederie grew each day…..Rishi enjoyed work even more with his newfound friend/student. Zaib flourished and learned under Rishi's tutelage!
Mr. Ali was a great employer…..kind, compassionate, forthright, honest! He never allowed any illegal activities in his Hotel, had a strict moral code and implemented his principles in his establishment.

Three months later, it was time for Zaib to go home. He was quite sad leaving his new friend, his Mamu and the Hotel. But he was glad too that he would see his parents again: I hope Ammi iss baar mera nikaah na karvaa de……bahut dinon se koshish kar rahi hai"

Parents ka kaam hi hota hai, Yaar, shadi shadi karkey bachchon ke peechhey padey rehtey hain…..Rishi laughed….Merey Pitajee bhi insist kar rahey hain unkey kisi dost ki beti se shadi kar loon.

Toh harj kya hai Yaar? Chal, sooli per chadh jaa…..Zaib slapped his back.
They were out for a late night stroll after work.

Pagal hai, Yaar? Tu bhi na……abhi main shadi nahin karoonga….not so soon….Rishi protested.

Okay….lekin agar shadi kee toh mujhey zaroor bulana…..nahin toh main tujhey dekh loonga" Zaib threatened with his finger.

Suddenly, they heard a woman screaming: CHHOD DO MUJHEY….BACHAO….KOI HAI? PLEASE BACHAO…..

Both men ran around the corner…..3 hoodlums were trying to molest a woman returning late from work. They had pulled off her sari and were trying to push her down on the pavement. Rishi and Zaib both ran there without a single thought for their own safety. One of the goons had a knife, the other had a metal rod. But Zaib and Rishi jumped on them and beat them up. Both were strong young men….full of life and vigor…Rishi managed to knock the iron rod from the goonda's hand….Zaib was trained in Karate, he knocked down the knife from the other's hand with a chop of his wrist. The 3 hoodlums ran away when they saw their battle skills….Rishi picked up the sari and handed it to the sobbing woman: Aap kahan rehti hain? she cried and pointed in the direction of her house.

Chaliye, hum aapko ghar pahuncha detey hain"
The woman was extremely grateful: Bhaiyya, Thank you so much, aapney mujhey bacha liya…nahin toh aajkal koi bhi kisiki madad nahin karta….Thank you! Bahut bahut shukriya!

Yeh toh hamara farz tha, Behen…..Zaib quietly told her…..they chaperoned the woman home…..leaving her at the door.

They never asked her name…..she didn't ask theirs. It was just strangers helping a stranger….a human connection!

The 3 gangsters returned to their Boss and reported the two young men who had dared to oppose them in their territory.

The Boss fumed : Un saalon ki yeh majaal? Chalo Bhai, hum bhi dekhtey hain kaisa hain yeh do pehelwaan?

He sent two men to find out the identity of the two men who had dared to rescue a woman and beat up his men….in his locality!

Next day, Zaib hugged Rishi goodbye and left, promising to return after six months during his winter break.

Two days later, Ali summoned Rishi to his Office: Mussorie mein ek Hotelier's Conference honay wali hai. I want you to attend that and bring me all the information and updates. Be ready to leave tomorrow….the Conference is 2 days later….it will go on for 4 days….tum wahin per rehna….in Residency Hotel….tumhari booking sab karvaa diya hai. Your flight leaves at 7 pm tomorrow.

Rishi was thrilled....it was a great chance for further training: Alright, Sir! Thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to attend the Conference.

Ali smiled slightly: Ismein Thanks kis baat ki…..tum aur Zaib hi toh ho jo aagey chalkar iss Hotel ko sambhalengey….meri sehat bhi theek nahin, Awasthi bhi agley saal retire karega. I want you to be ready to take over as Manager then……..
Rishi grinned, delighted that his dreams of promotion were going to be fulfilled so soon.
Of course, Sir! I appreciate your faith in me!

Rishi Aggarwal boarded the flight for Mussorie the next evening with a cheerful heart. Things were going exactly according to his plans of success at a young age!

[Rishi's story to be continued]

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pallavi

PART 59

Anuradha settled in her new home, taking care of her father-in-law, husband, charming everyone with her sweet mannerisms . Soon even the shrewish Shanta Bai was singing her praises all over the neighbourhood! Rishi and Anu's love grew deeper and stronger with each passing day. With just a look or a touch, they could communicate their feelings. Rishi was living on cloud 9, marital bliss at home, success at work, soon to be made Assistant Manager when Awasthi retired next year.

He expressed his wish to hold a Reception party for his friends and family. Mr. Ali at once insisted that he should have the party at the Majestic's Banquet Hall which accommodated more than a hundred guests. Rishi gratefully accepted his employer's generous offer to host the Reception at the Hotel.

Anuradha, dressed in a gorgeous red silk sari and Rishi, looking dapper in a dark suit, greeted their friends, family and well-wishers in the Banquet Hall. Zaib sent his greetings and a humongous bouquet of flowers since he couldn't attend it. Mr. Ali himself, in a cream sherwani, greeted guests as a host. Somesh's joy knew no bounds at his son's success and prosperity.

There was a live band, performing songs from the 60s and 70s. At one point, Rishi took the mic and thanked all his guests: . "Anuradha and I want to thank everybody for coming here and your wishes and blessings for our new life! Anu ko music ka bahut shauk hai, wo khud ek talented singer bhi hai. Aaj ki shaam main yeh gaana uskey liye dedicate karna chahta hoon! Anu, may I have the pleasure of this dance? "
He took Anu's hand in his……they waltzed to this song, performed by the band…….

[YOUTUBE] </><" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></><'>http://www.youtube.com/v/ukom-8QPwr0&rel=1"></para m><param [/YOUTUBE]

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas Tum Rehti Ho
Jeevan Meethi Pyaas Yeh Kehti Ho
Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas Tum Rehti Ho

Har Shyam Aankhon Par
Tera Aanchal Lehraye
Har Raat Yaadon Ki Baarat Le Aaye
Maein Saans Leta Hoon
Teri Khushboo Aati Hai
Ek Mehka Mehka Sa Paigham Laati Hai
Meri Dil Ki Dhadkan Bhi Tere Geet Gaati Hai
Pal Pal ...

Tum Sochogi Kyon Itna
Maein Tumse Pyaar Karoon
Tum Samjhogi Deewana
Maein Bhi Iqraar Karoon
Dewaanon Ki Yeh Baatein
Deewane Jaante Hain
Jalne Mei Kya Mazaa Hai
Parwanr Jaante Hain
Tum Yunhi Jalate Rehna
Aa Aakar Khwabon Mein
Pa L Pal ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukom-8QPwr0 (Watch this romantic video mix on Bajaj-Prerna (Rishi-Anu in this story)


It was the most beautiful night of their lives as they danced together in the company of their guests and friends! Rishi cherished those memories for the rest of his life.

A month had passed….Anu tried for jobs at local schools as a teacher….but she didn't have a teacher's certification for Mumbai schools which followed guidelines more strictly. She enrolled in a teacher's training program and started attending college nearby. Rishi and Somesh both encouraged her endeavours.

But a month later, she fainted on the road on her way back from the bus-stop. She was carried home, the family doctor checked her and proclaimed the good news!
Anuradha was pregnant!
There was joy and celebration all around. Rishi was overjoyed, Somesh was eager to play with his grandchild. The doctor advised her bed-rest due to weakness, so she had to quit college. Rishi consoled her saying she could continue after their baby was a little grown. She smiled, caressing his cheek : Merey liye tum aur hamarey bachchey se zyada aur kuchh bhi important nahin…..zaroorat padey toh main ghar per hi tuition doongi"

Rishi got busier at work, motivated even more by the imminent addition to their family, his child! He worked late hours, helping Mr. Ali, whose health was rapidly deteriorating due to lung problems. He bought a second-hand car from a friend….which helped him commute faster between home and work!

A disturbing trend had started in the Hotel recently…..Hotel items were disappearing mysteriously, expensive ornaments and guests' luggage were getting stolen. Some nights, Rishi caught call-girls sneaking in or out of Hotel rooms. When interrogated, they refused to divulge the name of the person who had helped them get in. Mr. Ali was very upset and worried…..he deplored such criminal activities in his esteemed establishment and asked Rishi to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible and catch the culprits. Rishi dedicated his hours investigating the thefts and break-ins, the call-girl connection.

Just opposite to the Hotel, there was an empty store …..it suddenly opened up as a "daru ka adda", selling cheap liquor and attracting all kinds of local scumbags and drunks. Hotel guests got disgusted by such activities nearby and started leaving or cancelling reservations. The reputation of Majestic Hotel was going downhill. Mr. Ali and Rishi went to the local Police Thana to complain about the liquor store.

The police told them the shop had a valid liquor licence so they couldn't do anything about it. Gradually the liquor store expanded within a few months to include a gambling-den….. a juaa ka adda for satta and other illegal gambling.

Rishi complained again to the Police, they turned a deaf ear……denying knowledge of any gambling that went on there. Rishi was sure the cops' palms had been greased. He enquired about the owner of the crime-den. He was shocked and worried to learn that it belonged to the local ganglord, Damodar Pandey.
Damodar and his brother Madho Pandey ruled over the locality by muscle power, ran all kinds of illegal rackets including gambling, satta, prostitution and were involved in crimes such as kidnappings, rapes, murders and contract killings. In short, they were the scum of Borivli, the terror of common people. Unfortunately, the local MLA used them as muscle during Elections, hence they had political clout. The cops were in their pay, the politician protected them.

Rishi and Mr.Ali both came to the conclusion that it was useless to oppose or report those criminals to the Police. So they turned a blind eye and deaf ear to whatever went on in the liquor store/gambling den across the street . Instead they tightened Security at the Hotel, hired a private detective to find out who was the culprit inside the Hotel. The detective reported back to them a few weeks later, they were shocked at the discovery : IT WAS MR. AWASTHI , the Manager of the Hotel for 10 years!!!

Mr. Ali called him to his Office, and confronted him with evidence collected by the detective. It was Awasthi who was letting the call-girls in, who was allowing Damodar's hoodlums to sneak into the Hotel to steal guests' belongings. Awasthi broke down and confessed that he had been paid a large sum of money by D-gang to help them in criminal activities inside the Hotel. He said Damodar's eyes were on the Hotel because of its great location and proximity to luxury resorts . Ali and Rishi were both very disturbed and worried to hear that.

Awasthi was handed over to the Police but soon got out on bail pending inquiry into the matter. It was Damodar's doing again…..the cops said they didn't have sufficient evidence to convict Awasthi. Rishi and Mr. Ali were frustrated and angry, but they could do nothing about it.

With Awasthi's arrest, Rishi was promoted to Manager's post right away. Ali depended heavily on Rishi and trusted him with everything because of his failing health. Rishi was practically running the Hotel single-handed.

In those troubled times, it was Anuradha's love and their child growing inside her that kept Rishi grounded and positive. He even thought about quitting his job and moving to Bangalore for a Hotel job there. But he couldn't leave his Boss Mr. Ali in the lurch. He decided to wait till Zaib's post-college visit in autumn. He would hand over his responsibilities to Zaib and quit his job. He wanted to give Anu and his child a stable life in a safe environment.

The months flew by, Anu grew bigger with the baby, waddling around happily, as she tutored neighbourhood kids at home. Shanta Bai and Somesh took good care of her while Rishi worked long hours at the Hotel. Every night, Rishi brought home flowers, delicacies, or little gifts for his pregnant wife and indulged and pampered her as much as he could. Anu had developed a taste for Parsi food so they went to the local Parsi Restaurant every weekend for Patra Machi and Dhansak.

Zaib finally arrived at the end of September. His course was complete, he was ready to take charge of his Uncle's Hotel. His plan was to run that Hotel for a few years, then build his own Hotels in Dubai with experience and clientele he built up in Mumbai.

As soon as he arrived, he dragged Rishi to his home: Mujhey abhi issi waqt Bhabhi se milna hai"

Rishi laughed and protested: Shaam tak toh wait kar….Anu se keh doonga tu dinner per aa raha hai!

Nahin, No way! I want to meet her right now! Shaam ko phir se chaloonga, dinner ke liye"

Rishi chuckled at his youthfully impatient friend and brought him home.
Zaib was mightily impressed with Anuradha: Salaam Bhabhi! Aapsey milney ki tamanna kabsey thi, ….he turned to Rishi: Bhabhi toh kamaal ki hai…lekin inhonay TUJHEY kaisey pasand kiya ?

Rishi slapped his back: Zyada maska mat lagaa…..apni Bhabhi ko! Main bhi kuchh kam nahin….poochh le insey! He winked at her, she blushed and smiled.

Zaib took out a big jewelry box from his briefcase. He gifted Anu with an expensive gold set from Dubai. Anu accepted it with a smile: Thanks, Zaib Bhaiyya!

Rishi protested when he saw the set: Yaar, yeh toh bahut keemti lagti hai….itni keemti cheez ki kya zaroorat thi?

Zaib rebuked him sternly: Tu apna zubaan band rakh….yeh Ammi ne bheji hai apni doosri bahu ke liye……waisey bhi wo merey nikaah ki shopping……(Zaib stopped, looking sheepish)

Rishi pounced on him at once: Kya kaha? Kya kaha? Tera Nikaah? Iska matlab tu bhi shadi kar raha hai (he thumped Zaib's back so hard, he started coughing) SHABASSHHH! Itney dinon mujhsey chhupa raha tha? Kuchh kaha kyun nahin? Kab hogi, kissey hogi?

Zaib had been caught…he scratched his flushing neck and smiled bashfully: Abhi abhi toh baat pakki huyi hai…..mera semester khatam hotay hi Ammi ne rishta fix kar diya.

Lekin kissey…yeh toh bataa? Rishi gripped his shoulders, laughing.
Wo….wahi….Naaz hai na?….mainey tujhey bataya tha….uskey walid merey Abbu ke dost hain….main usey bachpan se jaanta hoon…..Zaib's ears were quite red.
Dikha….dikha, tasveer dikha! Rishi and Anu both urged him to show pics. Zaib took out a snapshot of a pretty young girl wearing a dark blue loose salwar and head scarf.

Yeh toh bahut khubsoorat hai, Zaib Bhai….Anu grinned delightedly….phir aap shadi ko manaa kyun kar rahey the?

Bhabhiii….mainey manaa kab kiya…..buss thoda wait karna chahta tha….ab toh padhai bhi khatam ho gayi….kaam shuru kar doonga….agley saal shadi kar loonga.

Anu and Rishi teased Zaib constantly about Naaz and his impending wedding , he teased them about their whirlwind romance and lightning wedding! The 3 of them went out to dinner….Zaib wouldn't dream of making his Bhabhi cook for him in her condition. They had a wonderful time….Zaib made both of them laugh with his funny comments and crazy antics.

Anu told Rishi later: Sach mein bahut jaanbaaz aur pyaara ladka hai!
Rishi grinned: Haan, mera Bhai hai wo……agar mera koi Bhai hota toh uskey jaisa hi hota, Im sure.

A few more weeks went by, with Zaib taking over some of the Hotel responsibilities from Rishi. Anu's due date was approaching ….Zaib urged Rishi to spend more time with his wife. "Kaam toh aata jaata rahega….lekin yeh din kabhie lautkar nahin aayengey. Yeh yaadein hamesha saath rahengey…..make memories, my Friend!
Rishi took his advice and spent more time with Anu.

Zaib told him about his ambitions of building Hotels in Dubai after he had gained experience in how to run a Hotel.
"Wahan hamarey khandaan ki kuchh zameen hai samundar ke paas…..wahan ek Resort banaoonga aur Dubai sheher mein ek Hotel" …..

Zaib had come to know about the criminal gang operating across the street. He shrugged it off: Duniya mein burayi aur neki dono ek saath rehtey hain….if they don't bother us, hum kyun apna dimaag kharaab karein?

The Hotel had been sealed off to outsiders, only guests and employees were allowed inside. There was 24 hour security with new guards hired.

And then danger knocked on their door!

One morning, a lawyer arrived in Mr. Ali's Office, asking him to sell his Hotel to his client.
Mr. Ali was indignant and furious!
My Hotel is NOT for sale! Yeh aapsey kisney kaha main Hotel bech raha hoon?

Soch leejiye…..the ratty-looking lawyer said: Hum aapko mooh-maanga daam dengey….aapki Retirement bahut aaraam se kategi"

NAHIN….HARGIZ NAHIN! THIS HOTEL IS NOT FOR SALE! Isey mainey apney khoon-pasiney se seencha hai, bahut mehnat se khada kiya hai. Main isey NAHIN bechoonga" Ali was adamant!

Dekhiye, Ali Saab….merey Client iss ilaakey ke bahut badey aadmi hain! Damodar Pandey ka naam toh aapney suna hi hoga? The lawyer gave him a sneaky, cunning look.

That name infuriated Hyder Ali even more. Now he knew Damodar wanted to buy his Hotel and turn it into a den of sin, of immorality, of crimes.

Ali shook his finger furiously : Damodar ho ya MLA Kelkar, main kisiko apna Hotel nahin bechoonga.

The lawyer insinuated: Lekin suna hai aapka koi waaris (heir) bhi nahin….toh Hotel bechney mein harj hi kya hai?

Ali shook with a cold fury: Kisney kaha mera waaris nahin hai? Mera bhanja hai…..wo merey baad mera Hotel sambhalega. Yeh Hotel mainey usikey naam kar diya hai.

Phir se sochiye, Ali Sahab! Paani mein rehkar magarmachh se bair theek nahin! Pandey Jee jo offer de rahey hain wo aapko kahin nahin milega!

Ali sneered at him: Paani mein keedey makaudey bhi rehtey hain…..Jaaiye, aur ayinda aisey deals lekar iss darwazey per mat aana!

The lawyer left after some more veiled threats! Ali fumed and fretted but thought it advisable not to tell Rishi or Zaib! They were hot-blooded young men and might lose their temper when they heard about the Mafia-style arm-twisting offer!

Two days later, Rishi had just left for home when he remembered he had forgotten an important file that he needed Mr. Ali to sign for clearing a major order for Hotel supplies. He drove back to the Hotel and took the lift up to Ali's Office on the 10th floor. Sounds of angry voices, low menacing threats came through the closed door! Rishi was startled…..he opened the door a chink and peeped in, hesitant to enter in case it was Ali's private matter.

The scene inside HORRIFIED HIM! Zaib was tied to a chair with two goons standing in front of him! Mr. Ali was sitting at his desk, pale as death….wheezing, coughing, looking sick to the bone….a short, stocky, ugly gangster stood behind him, pointing a gun to his head. Rishi automatically started opening the door to go in! Zaib felt his friend's presence…..his head turned to the door….he shook his head vigorously at Rishi…..unseen by the 3 goons. He mouthed: NOOOO….andar….mat …aana….bhabhi….bachcha….

Rishi saw his lip movements and knew Zaib was warning him not to come in!. Their lives were in terrible danger and Zaib didn't want him to risk his life because of Anu and the baby! Rishi shook with hateful fury and closed his eyes….Anu's face floated in front of his eyes….he stepped back, observing the terrible happenings in the room through the chink in the door.

The gangster standing behind Mr. Ali banged him on the head with the butt of his gun: CHAL, ANGOOTHA LAGA, BUDDHEY! YEH HOTEL AB HAMRA HAI! CHAL, SOCHTA KYA HAI? AUR EK JHAAPAD DOON KYA? He hit the frail old man again with the gun. Mr. Ali groaned in pain….but didn't sign, looking stoic and determined.

SEEDHI BAAT BHEJEY MEIN NAHIN JAATA KYA, BUDDHEY? SIGN KAR KAAGAZ PER….ABHI ISSI TIME….He hit Ali again and again!

Finally Ali croaked out: Nahin….main nahin karoonga….tumhey jo karna hai kar lo.

ACHHA, TOH YEH BAAT HAI! The ugly gangster smiled viciously: Tu apni jaan ki parwah nahin karta? Lekin iss chhokrey ki Jaan ka toh tension hai tujhey?

He went over to Zaib's chair and pointed the gun on his head: AB SIGN KAR, NAHIN TOH TEREY ISS BHANJEY KI KHOPDI UDAA DOONGA! SIGN KAR!

Ali shook with terror, at the sight of his beloved nephew under attack, being threatened by death: NAHIN….RUK JAAO…MAIN SIGN KARTA HOON!

Zaib shouted: MAMU, SIGN MAT KARNA ! YEH LOG WAISEY BHI HUMEIN NAHIN CHHODENGEY!

As soon as he had been overpowered by the hoodlums when he stepped into Mamu's office that evening, Zaib knew his time WAS UP ! They werent going to leave any witnesses once the Hotel papers had been signed, they would kill both Uncle and nephew. That's why he had signalled Rishi not to enter the room.

The gang leader pistol-whipped Zaib in the face, making his mouth bleed: KYUN BEY SAALEY ? BAHUT GARMI HAI TEREY KHOON MEIN? BAHUT JOSH HAI KAA? SAALA TU HI TOH THA JISNEY USS RAAT HUMEIN ROKA THA…USS CHHAMIYA KI IZZAT BACHANEY CHALA THA….he hit Zaib again….hard on the face with his gun! Zaib grunted with pain, his head slumping! KYA SAMAJHTA HAI APNEY AAPKO? SUPERMAN KA BACHHUA ? SAALA!

He lifted Zaib's face by his hair and punched him hard on the nose! Rishi gripped the door, seeing red, his head reeling with fury…yet helpless to go in and fight the hoodlums. He was unarmed, the gangsters had guns!……..EYY BUDDHEY…HOTEL KE KAAGAZ PER SIGN LAGAA…NAHIN TOH ABHI TEREY BHANJEY KI WAAT LAGEGI…..KAR, SIGN KAR!

Ali couldn't take it anymore….he grabbed his pen from the desk and quickly scribbled his signature on the papers.

HAAAAN.... BUDDHA….AB LINE PER AAYA….BAHUT KHOOB!!……the goonda checked the Hotel papers, stuffing them into his front pocket in a rough manner. !!

He laughed in a maniacal way…
YAAD RAKH…..MADHO PANDEY NAAM HAI MERA….KYA NAAM? BOL.... MADHO PANDEY KI JAI HO!

SUDDENLY HE PICKED UP THE FRAIL OLD MAN AND CARRIED HIM OUT TO THE BALCONY….AND THREW HIM OVER THE RAILING! With a terrifying scream, Mr. Ali fell to his death!

Rishi rushed in with a thundering yell of RAGE! He rushed at Madho Pandey who was still on the balcony…..he ducked the bullets fired reflexively by Madho, dived, gripped his legs and flipped him over the railings in a single motion. Madho Pandey followed his victim down to the concrete 10 stories below, yelling in a reverberating scream!

The 2 goondas guarding Zaib rushed at Rishi….he snatched up a heavy paperweight from Ali's table and threw it at one of them….…..the goon fell with a grunt, his head bleeding! The other goon looked terrified and ran out the Office door, ran for his life ! The Hotel guy had killed Boss's brother! Damodar wont spare anyone now!

Rishi turned to Zaib tied to the chair and gasped with shock! Zaib's chest was bleeding! He had been shot…..hit by the bullets aimed at Rishi by Madho Pandey !

He had been the sitting duck! He didn't get a chance to move as he was tied!

Rishi ran to Zaib and untied him, his eyes streaming with tears: ZAIB! TUJHEY KUCHH NAHIN HOGA, HANG ON! IM TAKING YOU TO A HOSPITAL!

Zaib lifted his head with difficulty and wheezed….he had been hit in the lungs! Two bullets…one in the right lung, one in the stomach!

Rishi picked him up in his arms and ran out the door to the Lift…..his arms and clothes soaked with Zaib's blood! Fortunately the lift was fast….in the Hotel lobby, onlookers gasped and screamed with shock as Rishi carried Zaib out of the door!

The gateman was missing, he noticed even in that state….probably been bribed or killed by the gangsters before they went upstairs to do their deed.

Rishi just barked out at the Receptionist while passing : CALL THE POLICE…..TWO BODIES IN THE PARKING LOT! MR. ALI DEAD, KILLED BY DAMODAR'S MEN….CALL AT ONCE! She nodded, pale-faced, shaking with fear!

Rishi carried him to his car and drove like a maniac to the nearest Hospital which was about 15 minutes away! Zaib was wheezing, gasping in the backseat. Rishi turned to him from time to time, begging him to hold on: HOLD ON, MEREY BHAI! HUM ABHI HASPATAL PAHUNCH JAYENGEY! TUJHEY KUCHH NAHIN HOGA…..U WILL BE ALRIGHT! GOLI ZYADA ANDAR NAHIN GAYI!

Zaib tried to laugh: Kyun jhooth ….bol raha….hai, Yaar? Mera waqt ….ab khatam!

NAHIN……I SWEAR, TU THEEK HO JAYEGA! Rishi repeated it more to himself than to Zaib….his eyes were blurred with tears, he drove at breakneck speed through late night traffic.

At the hospital, Zaib was placed on the gurney, waiting for the OR to be set up! The hospital wanted Rishi to file a report with the Police first as it was a gunshot case. But Rishi's bloodshot eyes and burning rage soon convinced them to wheel in Zaib for surgery.

While waiting, Zaib opened his eyes and called Rishi in a feeble voice as he wheezed out:
Yaar…..vaada kar….mujhey apney…. watan le jayega….mujhey…. apney watan….. mein dafan karega…..vaada kar!

Rishi wiped his streaming eyes and clasped Zaib's hands : Dafan ki baat mat kar….tujhey kuchh nahin hoga….kuchh nahin hoga….
He was crying heavily, tortured to see the life blood seep out of his friend who was so full of life, so jovial, so lovable!

Zaib gave a wan smile: Ammi-Abbu se kehna….main unhey ….bahut chahta hoon….afsos ….betey ka farz…adaa nahin….. kar sakaa….unsey kehna….

Rishi gruffly said: Tu khud unsey sab keh dena…..Im telling you ….you will be alright….buss operation honay de….

Zaib shook his head, then gasped out urgently: Tu, Bhabhi…..aur Uncle…yahan se bhaag jaa….jaan ko khatra…hai….bahut khatra….bhaaagg….jaaa……

He closed his eyes, fainting from the effort of so much talking. They wheeled him into the OR….Zaib died soon after….he died on the Operating table…he had lost too much blood and his lung was badly punctured!

Rishi drove home slowly , his eyes red, dazed, disbelieving, in a state of shocked horror at the deaths of his dearest friend, his soul-brother….and his kind, fatherly employer! Horrified at the events of the night….the murder that he had committed! He knew Zaib was right! Terrible retribution would follow….he had killed Madho Pandey…everybody in North Mumbai knew Madho Pandey was the brother of notorious ganglord Damodar! Rishi knew he was a marked man! He had to protect Anu and his father at all costs ! He would send Anu to Mussorie….people knew and loved her there….they would guard her from Mumbai Mafia!


------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------

pallavi

PART 61

Conclusion of Godfather's flashback:

Rishi's Uncle had a neighbour/friend named Rishabh Bajaj. He was a middle-aged widower, childless, who lived all alone. He had died of a heart attack a few months before, leaving all his belongings to Rishi's Chachu.

This was the opportunity Rishi was looking for……he stole the identity of Mr. Bajaj…with his Uncle's permission of course! He took the dead man's passport, ration-card…..and made a fake passport with his own photo, adding a little grey to his hair. This was the only way he could get out of the country and go to Dubai, since the police were after him.

Zaib's body had been preserved in ice……it was shipped to Delhi. Rishi took leave from his Chachu….an emotional farewell, since there was very little chance of meeting him again. Then he took the flight to Delhi, from where he boarded the International flight to Dubai. He passed all inspections without any hassles or suspicions aroused. Zaib's coffin accompanied him in luggage…..Rishi declared he was taking his deceased colleague's body to Dubai for burial. Nobody suspected or questioned anything.

After arriving in Dubai, he went straight to the Akhtar residence. Zaib's parents were very affluent and owned a palatial bungalow in the city. Rishi went ahead first and broke the news of Zaib's death very gently to them! They were absolutely devastated! Nobody had informed them about Zaib and Mr. Ali's deaths and they had been worried why Zaib or Ali hadnt called them for several weeks.

Zaib's Ammi took to her bed in shock….her only child was dead…so was her brother! It was too much for her to bear! She became bedridden after suffering a stroke. Zaib's father bore it stoically……broken inside but unable to express his heartbreak! He thanked Rishabh profusely for bringing home the coffin.

Zaib was buried on their seaside property…..the plot of land he had intended to turn into a Resort for tourists. Mr. Akhtar made a small marble mausoleum in memory of his son….which enclosed the grave. That mausoleum now graced the South-West corner of the estate that Godfather now called Home!

Rishabh requested Mr. Akhtar for permission to fulfil Zaib's wishes…his dream of building a Hotel and Resort in Dubai. Zaib's Abbu agreed at once….he also wanted his son's dreams to come true! In fact, it gave him something positive to do in face of such great tragedy of losing his son. He laid the foundation for the first Hotel on one of his vacant properties.

Rishabh was entrusted with building supervision and establishing the Hotel. He worked very hard and within 2 years the 10-storied building was ready for inauguration! Rishabh named it Regency Hotel according to Zaib's wishes. Guests started arriving soon and the Hotel business started flourishing within 3 more years.

Rishabh plunged himself in a heavy work schedule to keep his mind off the tragic events in his life…..to keep the painful memories at bay. But an inferno raged in his heart. The fires of revenge simmered in his soul….he was waiting for the day when he would be rich and powerful enough to attack Damodar on his own turf.

One thing simple middle-class guy Rishi had realized when he became Rishabh was……Money and Power was everything! To cut steel, u had to become steel! Lohey ko loha hi kaat sakta hai! He would have to become invincible, so powerful that neither Damodar nor the cops could touch him!

With the success of his first Hotel, Rishabh started expanding his business. He went to Singapore which was developing very rapidly in those days….he bought an old Hotel and converted it into the modern Regency Hotel after many renovations and updates! Regency Hotel, Singapore, was a big success!

Meanwhile, Zaib's Ammi passed away after a bout of prolonged illness. Her son's death had literally killed her! His fiancee Naaz grieved for him for a few years, then married a boy of her father's choice like a dutiful daughter! Zaib's father lingered on, eager to see his son's dreams being turned into reality by his friend, Rishabh.

Hotel Regency opened branches in Rio, Brazil….in Hongkong,….. in Sydney, Australia. When Rishabh suggested turning the seaside property outside Dubai into a Resort…..Mr. Akhtar refused, saying: Nahin, Beta….uss zameen per mera Zaib dafan hai…main usey logon ki bheed mein shaamil nahin karna chahta….wo zameen tum rakh lo….wahan tumhara apna makaan banana. Tum Zaib ke jigri dost ho….Main chahta hoon tum wahan raho! Phir mujhey lagega khud Zaib wahan per maujood hai"

Rishabh gratefully accepted! He made a huge villa on it….interspersed with smaller cottages, servants' quarters. It became a self-enclosed community of people who worked for Rishabh Bajaj…..later on a safe haven for people who had suffered D-gang's inhuman cruelties.

Ten years had passed! Zaib's father also passed away……bequeathing all his land, Hotels and properties to Rishi.

Rishabh decided it was time for revenge! He was now rich, powerful, with International contacts, properties all over the world. He flew to Mumbai, checked into the most expensive Hotel. Through his lawyer, he made a lucrative offer for Majestic Hotel….and bought it from Damodar's company. He promptly disbanded the Hotel and remodelled it into a condominium for NRIs, selling each flat at a very high price. Damodar was furious, gnashing his teeth why he didn't think of that option himself.

Next, Rishabh opened a sports Bar in North Mumbai….and placed his own guy in charge of it. As gambling is/was illegal in India, there were secret, after-hours sports betting and casino-gambling at this Club. It soon became a big hit amongst sports betters and gamblers. Damodar's low grade gambling operations began suffering in face of such sophisticated, high-end clubs. He was furious, desperate to find out who exactly was this Rishabh Bajaj who was encroaching on his turf?

Thanks abhilasha, jdsean, mita, sahr, sana, sidra, ananya, Chocolate, Shalini, Faiza, rima, Hinna, sweetangle, sweetie, deeya, desiqt, sapphire9.

Im sorry, I just didnt have the heart to make Kripa tell Prateek about Josh's death.....hes only 4 years old and the shock can severely damage his pysche!

PART 62

Wedding preparations were on in full swing at the Villa. Godfather himself called the best decorators in Dubai for the wedding and his Hotel Regency would cater all the food and drinks. Invitations were sent out to a few close friends and acquaintances as well as local big-wigs like Government Officials and Police Chief of Dubai.

Mr. Bajaj was a powerful and influential man in Dubai. The invitations all read: Mr. Rishabh Bajaj requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of his Godson, Angad Khanna to Kripa Sharma, daughter of his friend, the Late Suryabhan Sharma.

Yes, Godfather acknowledged Suryabhan as Kripa's father…..he would never put her life at risk by announcing his blood relations. It was to be a simple wedding ceremony conducted by a priest flying in from India. Kalyani Aunty was very excited…..it was like she was reliving her own daughter's wedding again. She had grown very fond of Kripa and Prateek within a few days….they were just too endearing. Kripa always gave her the respect of an Aunt and let her decide everything in Godfather's household and kitchen.

Kalyani Aunty and Kripa went shopping for the wedding, both covered with Burkhas, accompanied by Kartik and Javed as bodygaurds. The two ladies bought saris, jewelry, and cosmetics for Kripa…. Sherwani sets for Angad. Kripa's bridal dress was a red and green lehenga set…with heavy brocade and stone-work. Angad's wedding Sherwani was midnight blue with silver brocade embroidery. Kripa chose a Sherwani for her Dad, a silver grey that would suit his dignified looks. She bought a maroon set for Prateek. They also bought formal dresses for Kartik, Mr. Mittal and others in the household. Kripa chose a dark blue sari for Kalyani but she protested….she never wore bright colors ever since……Kripa knew what she meant….she returned the blue sari and bought a cream colored brocade sari for Aunty Jee instead.

They returned from shopping with a car-load of bags. Godfather was delighted with their purchases. He had secretly ordered a diamond set for his daughter and a diamond –studded watch for Angad. Those would be his surprise gifts on wedding day.

Meanwhile, Angad looked after Prateek, spending more time with his son each day. They played soccer, baseball, tag. He even started giving Prateek tennis lessons on the tennis court inside the compound. After checking with the Security room that there wasn't a boat or yacht within 2 miles….Angad sneaked out with Prateek to the little strip of beach adjoining Godfather's property. They splashed around in the waves, played beach volleyball and had a rollicking time.

As they were returning to the Villa, Prateek sitting on Angad's neck, his sandy legs dangling by Angad's face, holding his head tightly, he declared: Angad Uncle, you are my best Uncle! I love you!

Angad grinned and kissed a sandy foot: I love you too, my son! Kya tum mujhey Dad kehkar bulaogey? I will like that!

Prateek was silent for a few moments: Lekin merey Dad toh Josh Papa hain…..

I know that, Beta. Josh tumharey Papa hain…..lekin kya tum mujhey Dad kahogey? Mujhey bhi tumharey jaisa Beta chahiye. We will be buddies, Okay?

Okay……Prateek agreed after some careful thinking…..he was sure Papa wouldn't mind if he called Angad Uncle Dad.
Okay, DAD ! Prateek finally replied.

Angad was ecstatic ! He leaped up in the air, with a whoop of joy! Prateek giggled loudly, clutching Angad's windswept hair tightly in his fists. Angad ran with his kid on his shoulders…..he ran in circles, made figure 8s….generally goofing off on the lawns in front of the Villa. Prateek laughed and screamed in excitement, hanging on for dear life….this was as good as a Rollercoaster ride.

Godfather heard sounds of excited laughter and came out to the terrace to watch them play. He grinned affectionately, his heart filled with warmth at the sight of his son-in-law and grandson. He was delighted that father and son were bonding so well. He blessed them silently in his heart: Shabash Angad! Main jaanta hoon tum Prateek ka dil zaroor jeet logay. He knew Angad had that endearing quality in him….he could win over anyone's heart with his affections.

Angad ran around for some time, then finally, he became a Train and chugged and tooted his way into the Villa, straight to the Kitchen. Kripa was helping Kalyani make lunch….both ladies laughed at the rambunctious duo!

Kripa shook her head, giggling : Kya bachpana hai, Angad! Arey dekho sambhalkey…..wahan daal rakha hai….abhi tum kaali daal ban jaogey" …

Angad chugged his way to Kripa, quickly bent his head to her ears and whispered: Agar tum saath dogi toh main daal makhani bhi ban sakta hoon"
Kripa blushed a beetroot red and hit him hard on the back with her fist.

Prateek was indignant: Mama, Dad ko kyun maara ? He is my Buddy !

Kripa's jaw hung open: DAAADD? She couldn't believe her ears……Prateek called Angad DAD????!!! OH MY GOD! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

Angad saw her dumbfounded expression and winked, then grinned triumphantly at his achievement.

He asked Prateek: Okay, Buddy, do u want ice-cream?

YES! YESSSS! Prateek was delighted….what a treat!

Kripa protested: Lekin Angad….abhi adhey ghantey mein Lunch tayyar ho jayega….abhi ice-cream mat khilao"

Koi baat nahin….hum ice-cream bhi khayengey….aur phir Lunch bhi….hum bahut bhookhey hain! We are building up our muscles, Right, Buddy?

Right, Dad! Prateek was his echo…..Mama, Main ice cream bhi khaoonga aur Lunch bhi…I am Batman….mujhey muscles banani hai!

Kripa rolled her eyes and sighed hopelessly. Angad ran to the fridge and opened the freezer, taking out two frozen cones from a ready-made packet.
You like Chocolate, Beta ?

Haan.... Dad! Give me chocolate!

Angad handed over the chocolate cone to Prateek above his head…..he took a vanilla cone for himself and both began slurping at their cones.

Kripa shook her head and laughed at the picture……Prateek sitting on Angad's neck, licking at the cone, Angad licking the cone below….both were wearing muscle Tees and shorts, Angad looking very buff and muscular, Prateek his miniature version. They looked very similar…like big and mini sizes .

Then she noticed Prateek's sandy legs: Of—fffo….Beta, tumharey pairon per reth laga hai, aao saaf kar doon…chalo neechey uthro.

But the kid wouldn't get down: Nahiiin….mujhey yahin baithna hai….Dad ke kandhon per"

Angad gave Kripa a devilish look and winked again. She would have to come near him to wipe off Prateek's legs. Kripa looked at him with narrowed eyes, then wet a kitchen towel and wiped Prateek's dangling legs, grumbling: Achha tareeka nikala hai, bachchey ko pataaney ka….rishwat dekar!

Angad laughed naughtily..….he checked quickly, Kalyani Aunty was busy stirring the pot. He grabbed Kripa's waist and kissed her cheek: Mummy ko itni asani se pataa liya toh betey ko kyun nahin?

He rubbed his ice-cream cone on Kripa's nose…..and quickly licked it off. Prateek didn't notice what was going on below….he was too busy licking his cone.

Kripa glared at Angad and turned away, muttering: Besharam! Badmaash!

Angad quickly grabbed her departing backside and squeezed it! Kripa gasped, looking back angrily to see him grinning shamelessly. She reached out and pinched his bare arm really hard.

UFFFF! Angad winced loudly.
Kalyani Aunty turned around with a jerk: Kya hua, Angad Beta? Tumhey chot lagi kya ?

Haan, Aunty! Angad smiled….Zyada kuchh nahin……buss apney zubaan ko kaat liya tha (bit my tongue)

He sauntered out of the kitchen with his boy on his shoulders, whistling:
Dilbar merey kab tak mujhey aisey hi tadpaogi
Main aag dil mein laga doonga wo ke pal mein pighal jaaogi"

*************************************************

Kripa had been keeping him at arm's length ever since their wedding date was fixed.

When he went to her bedroom that night…she refused to go to his room, pleading : Please Angad….kuchh din aur wait karo…..shadi se pehley dulha-dulhan ka milna apshagun manaa jaata hai"

He was indignant: Lekin Jaaneman, hum toh already miya-biwi hain….phir kaisi yeh dooriyan?

Zamaney ke nazron mein nahin….aur phir merey Papa ke vicharon ka bhi lihaaz karo…wo chahtey hain hum dono phir se shadi ke pavitra bandhan mein bandhey…..she held and caressed his cheeks, trying to reason with him: Yeh intezaar hamarey liye ek intehaa hogi…..aur shadi ki raat hamari sabsey khubsoorat raat hogi. I will make it up to you, Darling! I promise!

Sach keh rahi ho? He looked into her eyes, still pouting peevishly like a little kid deprived of his candy.

God Promise! She squeezed his cheeks lovingly, ab jaakar so jaao….Goodnight!

Kam se kam ek goodnight kiss toh de do….he whispered (they were talking near the terrace door to avoid waking up Prateek)

She reached up, her arms circling his neck, and kissed his lips softly….he grabbed her waist, yanked her closer and deepened the kiss at once, exploring her mouth thoroughly, showering his love and desire on her with his smooches.

Finally she moaned , pulling away breathlessly: "Aisey kiss karogey toh main bhi apney aapko rok nahin paaoongi"

That was my plan! He chuckled, knowing well the effect of his kisses upon her.

Suddenly Kripa said: Waisey Angad, Thank you!….(kissing his cheeks)….Tumney meri bahut badi pareshani door kar dee…..Prateek ko tumney Dad kehna sikha diya….ab mujhey aur tension nahin hogi….kaisey usey samjhaoon….kya kahoon usey tumharey baarey mein?…..Sab kuchh sulajh gaya.

Angad looked gravely at her: Yeh toh mera farz tha…aur mera haq bhi….Prateek ke zubaan se Dad sunna merey liye sabsey bada tohfa hai. Bachchon ko pyaar se samjhaya jaata hai, zabardasti se nahin……..waisey wo abhi bahut hi chhota hai…..usey poori sachchai bataney ki koi zaroorat nahin. Wo mujhey Dad kehkar bulaye isimein main khush rahoonga. Bhaley hi wo Josh ko apna Papa samjhey…..Josh ne uski parvarish kee hai itney saal, yeh Josh ka haq bantaa hai….main kabhie ussey wo haq nahin chheenunga. Haan, Prateek jab bada ho jaye…when he can understand the difference between biological father and adoptive father, toh hum usey bata dengey. Ab yeh raaz usey bataney ki koi zaroorat nahin. Hes too young to understand.

Kripa was moved to tears: Haan, Angad…..Prateek abhi bachcha hai….tumney theek kaha……usey wo sab batana nahin chahiye. Lekin Josh ke maut ke baarey mein usey batana kya theek hoga?

Nahin….bilkul nahin! Usey bahut bada sadma lagega…..let it be. Usey kehna Josh abhi kaam mein busy hai….yahan aa nahin sakta. Dheerey dheerey wo bhi bhool jayega. He will accept that Josh wont come back to him. Kuchh saal baad hum sachchai bataa dengey….Jab wo thoda aur bada hoga…..

Kripa nodded, relieved that she wont have to break the painful news to Prateek yet! She was dreading the very thought of telling him that Josh was dead.

Yes, you are right…..main bhi toh apney asliyat se anjaan thi 20 saal tak…..bachchey bahut jaldi haalaat ko accept kar letey hain. shadi ke baad jab hum dono ek saath rahengey tab Prateek bhi dheerey dheerey samajh jayega ke tum hamarey jeevan ka hissa ho. Bhagwan karey wo hamarey rishtey ko bhi kabool kar le.

Haan, Kripa, aisa hi hoga. I know he will accept me as part of his family.

They hugged each other and stood silently for a few minutes, brooding about the future, hopeful about Prateek's reaction to their wedding.

Then Angad kissed her forehead, gently said "Goodnight" and left her room.
But he ran into Godfather in the passage again, who didn't look very pleased to see Angad coming out of his daughter's room 2 days before the wedding.

Angad quickly gave his excuses : Main Goodnight kehney gaya tha, Papa.

Godfather smiled at his calling him Papa. Angad certainly knew how to melt hearts!

Angad, mujhey tumsey ek zaroori baat kehni thi…..can you come to my Study?
Angad nodded: Sure, Papa ! Chaliye!

They closed the door after them…..Godfather wanted to discuss some Security measures he had taken for the wedding when guests would be coming into his compound for the first time. Angad went over the details and agreed it was a foolproof arrangement.

Then Godfather suddenly said: Beta, ek baat kahoon? Bura mat maan-na…..jab tum Zaib the…tab wo saari ladkiyan…..???

Angad blushed a deep red in embarassment! What a false position for him….his father-in-law knew about all his peccadillos as Zaib!

NO, NO, Papa! Wo sab mera ateet hain…..tab mujhey Kripa ke baarey mein kuchh yaad nahin tha. Wo main nahin…koi aur hi tha, samajh leejiye. Aapki beti hi merey liye sab kuchh hai….shes MY LIFE! SHES EVERYTHING TO ME!

Good! Mujhey tumsey yahi ummeed thi" GF smiled approvingly…Lekin Beta, dhyaan rahey…Kripa ko un sabkey baarey mein pata na chaley. She will be very upset!

Of course, Papa! …..Angad quickly mumbled Goodnight and escaped from the Study. He was horribly flustered and sweating bullets: . " Yeh Baap-Beti dono khatarnaak hain….very dangerous!" he grumbled as he escaped to his room. But he knew in his heart he couldn't have had a better family.

**********************************************************

The decorators set up a huge colorful tent near the wall, overlooking the sea. Inside the tent, a makeshift Mandap was erected, with 4 pillars and flowers, leaves and painted urns.

Trucks carrying flowers and catered food from GF's hotel also came at the gates and were checked thoroughly before they were given passage inside.The Priest had arrived from India and staying at the Hotel.

A short Mehendi Ceremony was held the day before…..as female representatives, only Kalyani and the Housekeeper were there. A mehendi artist arrived from Dubai and applied henna on Kripa's hands and feet . Angad watched from afar…..Kripa looked up and smiled tremulously at him…..both remembered their makeshift wedding 5 years ago, when Kripa had applied mehendi on her own hands from ready to use tubes. It had been so simple, yet such a memorable day for them, before Fate cruelly snatched away their happiness.

Prateek came running into the tent and saw his mother's hands being painted. He was most surprised: Mama, yeh aapkey haath per painting kyun kar rahi hai?

Kripa laughed: Painting nahin, Beta, yeh mehendi hai…..haath per lagatey hain….
Mujhey bhi lagana hai……he held out his hands.

Angad quickly came and lifted Prateek in his arms: Ladkey mehendi nahin lagatey, Buddy. Chalo, hum mard log yahan se bhaagtey hain….nahin toh yeh humein bhi mehendi laga dengey.

Prateek happily left with Dad, wondering why Mama was getting all dolled up. But grown-ups were weird anyways, they dressed strangely all the time. Maybe this was a fancy dress party too!

The wedding day dawned bright and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. The marriage ceremony was scheduled for early evening….Guests started arriving from the afternoon. Mr. Bajaj received them at the entrance of the Tent himself….most of them were his friends and acquaintances.

Godfather looked handsome and distinguished in the silver grey Sherwani bought by Kripa. He was every inch the proud father…..although he wouldn't declare that in public.

Kartik, Mr. Mittal helped him in greeting the guests and supervising their refreshments and welcome. All the guests were sprayed with attar-water (perfumed water) and given rose corsages. Soft strains of shehnai played on the speaker system.

Kripa was led out to the tent by Kalyani. She looked gorgeous in the red and green lehenga, red and green bangles on her hand, a jewelled teeka swinging on her flushed forehead, heavy gold and kundan sets adorning her neck and ears.

Thanks abhilasha, jdsean, Hinna, sweetangle, mita, ananya, iqbals4ever, rima, sidra, sana, Faiza, sweetie, Shalini, Chocolateluver, iqra, sapphire, Madiha, desiqt, deeya, Babygirl, nameless, sweetchick!

PART 63

Kripa smiled shyly, pulled her bridal veil on her head and went to Angad on the terrace . He gave her a slow, heart-melting smile, picked her up in his arms and went down the steps leading from the elevated terrace. He walked towards the building planned as their wedding chamber that night. Kripa didn't even look up, her arms looped around his strong neck, hiding her face in his chest, listening to his deep, loud heartbeats as he carried her to the bridal cottage.

Kripa looked up finally when he carried her over the threshold of the cottage. Angad smiled down at her, his eyes glinting with mirth : Beghum Sahiba, ab toh dekhiye hamara Honeymoon cottage!

She turned her head and gasped. They were in a bedroom , dimly lit with a soft, glowing light. There was an oblong bed in the center, decorated with long strands of flowers, hanging down from the ceiling in a round pattern. Rose petals were scattered all over the pink satin bed-sheets, jasmine garlands decorated the head-board and footboard. The whole room was perfumed with the scent of flowers.

She turned towards him: Hum Honeymoon bhi kya yahin manayengey?

He chuckled, rubbing his nose on her cheeks: Haan, suhaag raat bhi yahan….honeymoon bhi yahan!

He let her down from his hold, she slid down his body, shivering slightly at the contact.

She looked around curiously…..draped on a chair by the bed were two night-dresses, one red, one black. She walked up to them and fingered the red nightie….it was a diaphonous negligee, almost transparent, with a matching cover, equally flimsy.

Yeh kyaa……..she looked up startled at Angad with questions in her eyes.

The heated look in his eyes made her knees weak. He bent low and whispered in her ears: Ab apna vaada poora karo, Sweetheart!

She blushed and nodded, looking down….if she looked at him, her knees would give away. She was all melting inside, anticipating a wild night ahead.

She moved to the dresser and slowly undid her elaborate hairstyle, her arms lifting with sinuous grace to take off her teeka and heavy ear-rings. Her eyes met Angad's in the mirror…..his eyes fixated on her arms and neck movements. She felt herself flush with heat, her breathing labored. She lifted the heavy mass of silken hair from her nape …her eyes met his in the mirror….silently asking him to open the choli strings. He advanced eagerly…..his hands shaking as they undid the choli strings one by one. Their eyes met again in the looking glass……bold and shy, lover and beloved. His broad palm splayed on the bare skin revealed by the open choli strings. He bent and placed his lips on her bare back, scattering soft kisses slowly, all over…..she shivered with sensations and moaned, currents running down her back at his seductive kisses.

He kissed every time as he opened the strings till all were undone…..he slid the choli off her shoulders. Kripa covered her chest with her arms…..smiling softly : Main bathroom mein change karkey aati hoon"

Angad grinned, letting her escape with the nightgown to the bathroom. He quickly stripped off his heavily embroidered Sherwani and put on the black silk pajama set. He gazed eagerly at the bathroom door, waiting for Kripa to come out. Finally she emerged, with the covering gown pulled around her.

She looked this way and that, avoiding his heated looks. He went forward boldly and placed a finger under her chin, lifting up her face to meet his eyes: Kripa, tum jab itni sharmati ho….tab mujhey hamari pehli raat yaad aa jaati hai….ab mujhsey kaisa sharam ? Apna jalwa dikha do, Jaaneman….main kabsey pyaasa hoon!

Her lips trembled: Angad, mainey pehley kabhie aisa dress nahin pehna……

I know that, Jaan! This is only for us….hamari khaas raat ke liye. Apna vaada poora karogi na?

She nodded shyly and slid off the flimsy robe. Angad's breath stuck in his throat. Her creamy skin glowed like porcelain through the transparent nylon. Her full, rounded curves accelerated his heartbeats and quickened his breaths. He moved forward, and pulled her towards him by her waist. "Now kiss me!" he whispered on her fragrant tresses.

She stood up on her tiptoes and pulled his head down, holding his cheeks, she looked deeply into his passionate eyes: I love you, Angad!
I love you, Sweetheart ! His lips met hers halfway…..sealing their love with the first kiss of their new life together. He kissed her passionately, she returned his kisses with equal fervour. His hands cupped her behind, he raised her to his level and carried her to the bed, each step making them more aware of the desire pounding through their eager bodies.

She twisted and writhed against him……moaning loudly under his mouth. Her fingers pulled at the buttons of his silk shirt, snapping them open……her hands hungrily explored his bare skin….the corded muscles of his neck, shoulders and chest. He let go of her mouth, allowing her access to his bare chest….she rained wild kisses on his smooth skin, her hands snaking around his waist…..holding him so close to her, she could feel every muscle, every sinew of his buff body.

He closed his eyes, groaning with pleasure , enjoying every touch, every caress of her soft hands and lips. Then it was his turn….he laid her on the bed and kissed every curve, every indentation through the diaphonous material…..lingering on her chest and belly. His hands and fingers explored every part of her trembling form….till she was a quivering mass of coiled desire. Finally he ripped off the nightgown from her creamy flesh, stripped off his own pajamas! With a deep groan in his throat, he joined with her, possessing her as his wife!
The crushed rose petals and jasmine buds released their sweet fragrance into the night, alongwith their passionate moans and cries of delight.

ma: (phir chhidi raat, baat phoolon ki
fa: raat hai ya baaraat phoolon ki) –2

fa: phool ke hain phool ke gajre –2
shaam phoolon ki, raat phoolon ki

ma: aapka saath-saath phoolon ka –2
aapki baat baat phoolon ki

fa: phool khilte rahenge duniya mein –2
roz niklegi baat phoolon ki
ma: nazrein milti hain jaam milte hain –2
mil rahi hai hayaat phoolon ki

ma/fa: ye mahakati hui gazal ka jaadu -2 jaise sahara mein raat phoolon ki

An hour later, Kripa woke up and shifted restlessly, she wanted to use the bathroom. Angad's heavy arm curved across her belly, pinning her down, his warm breaths heated her neck as he snored softly.

Angad…..she nudged him with her elbow….An-gadd! Utho na….mujhey bathroom jaana hai"

Ummmm….kyun? he muttered in his sleep.
She giggled: What do u mean Kyun? I have to GO…..ab chhodo mujhey.

He groaned heavily and rolled away, mumbling : Jaldi wapas aana….

She laughed softly, getting up, picked up the robe lying on the floor and wrapped it around her. Then she walked gingerly to the bathroom.

When she emerged, she saw Angad sprawled across the bed, snoring still……she smiled affectionately and covered him with the blanket. Then she walked to the large window facing the sea…....through which shards of moonlight bathed the dark room with a silver glow.

She gazed pensively at the moonlit sea…..sparkling like silver from afar. It was such a beautiful night…serene, peaceful, romantic…..she felt complete! All her dreams had come true….she had Angad, Prateek and had found her father too! She had a complete family at last. What more could she want?

She felt a movement behind her, and smiled. A pair of hefty arms coiled around her waist, Angad rested his sharp chin on her shoulder and kissed her neck: Kya dekh rahi ho?

Kitni sundar raat hai na? Kripa leaned back on his bare torso, enjoying his closeness. ......"Zara dekho toh.....…wo chaand, wo samundar, sab kitney shaant aur sundar hain….maano koi doosri duniya ho…jahan koi dard nahin, koi darr nahin, sirf sukh-chain aur shanti hai"

Hmmmm, he rubbed his cheek against hers: Lagta hai Beghum Sahiba ko aaj Shayari aa rahi hai….Aur kyun na ho?….Rut bhi hai, fursat bhi hai….saath bhi pyaara hai. Toh ho jaye ek gaana……. Kripa, bahut dinon se tumhari meethi awaaz ka madhur geet nahin suna. Aaj raat ek sunaogi?

Haan….zaroor sunaungi….she smiled back at him….samaa bhi hai, dastoor bhi hai…lekin ek shart hai….tumhey bhi merey saath gaana padega"

Of course! Ab toh har kaam saath saath karna hai, kyun Sweetheart? He winked lasciviously. She pinched his arm again, laughing.

She moved away closer the window….stood facing him with a loving look:

Watch this sizzling vdo by ShellyB (Selina) with A-K and this song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDISdTbfCO8&feature=user

(Movie: Manzil Manzil )

[YOUTUBE]</><" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></><'> http://www.youtube.com/v/GDISdTbfCO8&rel=1"></para m><param [/YOUTUBE]


O Meri Jaan…O meri Jaan
o meri jaan, o meri jaan
ab nahin rahanaa tere binaa

Kripa held out her arms towards him….he stepped towards her slowly….their eyes locked in the converse of love.

Kripa: haari main tujhase, munh pher ke
aankhein khuli par, zaraa der se
koi meraa, tujhasaa kahaan
ab nahin rahanaa tere binaa

He took her in his arms…..and rocked her gently ……they swayed to the rhythm of the song…… to the melody of the sea and stars, witnesses to their night of love.

tuu hai to thokar, khaa lungi main
kaanton mein jivan, bitaa luungi main
le chal mujhe, chaahe jahaan
ab nahin rahanaa tere binaa

He cupped her face in his hands, gazing intensely into her eyes, conveying his feelings with the song…….

Angad: jis din se dekhaa, yaaraa tujhe
manzil manzil pukaaraa tujhe
tere sivaa, jaanaa kahaan
ab nahin rahanaa tere binaa

o meri jaan, o meri jaan
ab nahin rahanaa tere binaa

Angad and Kripa were lost in each other's eyes, moving slowly together……to some silent music playing in their hearts. It was the melody of their souls, of love fulfilled!

Suddenly, the peace and serenity of the romantic night was shattered…….
BOOOOOMMMMMMMM! BOOOMMMMMMMM!!!

Two huge explosions tore through the brightly lit-up outhouse, shattering, blowing it to smithereens! Every door-window blew out from the force of the bombs…..the entire outhouse burst into flames and smoke.

Kripa screamed in terror, pulling out of his arms……….running to the door of the Honeymoon cottage….she yanked it open and looked out fearfully, terrified the explosions were at the Villa, where Prateek and her Dad were sleeping. She was astounded to see the brightly lit outhouse on the other side of the lawn, burning, smoking from the explosion.

She looked back at Angad with shocked questions in her eyes. She had the idea he had taken her to that building……then where were they? They were in another cottage……several yards east of the burning building.

Angad wrapped his shirt over his pajamas and nodded : Haan Kripa……wo sajaavat ek dhokha tha. Hum D-gang ke aankhon mein dhool jhonkna chahtey the. Hamara shaq sahi nikla……iska matlab humarey beech ek gaddaar hai….jo Damodar ke isharon per kaam kar raha hai. Uncle ko pehley se hi shaq tha…….isiliye unhoney shadi ke liye do makaan ready kiye. Ek baahar se sajaa hua……wahan bhi ek phoolon se saji sej aur suhaag raat ki saari tayyariyan kee gayi thi…..…..aur ek yeh cottage, jo baahar se andher, lekin andar se hamari asli Honeymoon cottage.

Godfather had planned an elaborate deception, anticipating Damodar's attack. It was like a chess game between the two antagonists , each trying to guess the other's next move and foil it or counter it!

The brightly lit-up outhouse was a red herring…….a false front with wedding decorations outside and inside……..to fool the bomber into believing that was to be the bridal chamber.

Actually the second cottage was prepared for the real suhaag raat……dark and unlit from outside but chock-full of flowers inside.

They stared with horrified wonder at the blazing building before them. If they had spent their suhaag raat there, they would be blown to bits by now!!

Kripa suddenly exclaimed: PRATEEK! WO ZAROOR BOMB KE DHAMAKEY SE UTH GAYA HOGA! MUJHEY ABHI WAHAN JAANA HAI!!"

She turned and ran to get dressed, struggling to pull on her bridal lehenga again.

Angad stopped her: Just a minute, Kripa! Don't bother with that! Yeh lo…..yeh pehen lo……..

He reached into a bag in the corner and pulled out a red salwar set, handing it to her. Kripa glanced gratefully, realizing he had also done some shopping for her. It was so thoughtful of him to have extra set of clothes for her. She quickly put on the salwar-kurta, Angad pulled on a pair of jeans and T-shirt. They ran back to the Villa, which was all lighted up, everybody was awake of course.

Godfather, Kartik, Mr. Mittal were all standing on the lawn, staring at the burning outhouse, discussing seriously amongst themselves! Servants crowded the villa steps, frightened and cowering at the explosion. Javed and the Gatehouse guards were making useless efforts to put out the fire with large extinguishers!

Godfather called out as she ran towards him: Beti, achha hua tum aa gayi…..Prateek uth gaya hai, bahut darr gaya hai, cheeekh-chilla raha hai….. ab tum hi usey sambhal sakti ho"

Papa, Thank God aap sab theek hain"….. Kripa panted out anxiously. Then she realized she had called him Papa in front of others.

Kartik and Mittal jerked around at her words, staring at her in surprise.
Godfather quickly improvised, explaining to them : Mainey uska kanyadaan kiya, toh aaj se wo meri beti hai"

Kripa smiled appeasingly at them and ran inside, Angad following her closely.

As she neared her room she could hear Prateek screaming his lungs out: MAMAAAAA…..MUJHEY MAMAAA KE PAAS JAANA HAI! KAHAN HAI MAMAAA….KYUN CHALI GAYI? …..MEREY PAAPA, KAHAN HAI? PAPAAAA…..

She rushed inside, Kalyani Auntie was struggling to hold a screaming and thrashing Prateek in her arms, helped by the housekeeper. She spotted Kripa and cried out: Kripa, issey jaldi lo…..kuchh karo, bahut darr gaya hai"

Kripa grabbed him in her arms, rocking him gently: Beta, main aa gayi hoon! Sunnyy, Sunny, main yahan hoon, Baby! PRATEEK! Main aa gayi hoon, ab tumhey darney ki koi zaroorat nahin.

MAMAAA……he clung to her, sobbing: Aap mujhey chhodkar kahan chali gayi thi? Gandey logon ne bomb phenka……bahut zor se BOOMMM hua! MAMA, MUJHEY CHHODKAR MAT JAANA………..he was sobbing, shaking, uncontrallably, badly traumatized! He was remembering the trauma of his own kidnapping!

He was quite hysterical…….Kripa rocked and soothed him but he was inconsolable! MUJHEY PAPA KE PAAS JAANA HAI! PAPA KE PAAS BANDOOK HAIN! WO GANDEY LOGON KO MAAR DENGEY! MEREY PAPA KAHAN HAI? MUJHEY UNKEY PAAS LE CHALO NA MAMA!

Tears came to Kripa's eyes, how could she tell this innocent child that those bad people had killed his father too? Then he would completely lose his spirit, his faith in mankind. He would be one terrified child!

Angad suddenly went forward and tapped Prateek's shoulder: Beta, Papa yahan nahin hai lekin main toh hoon…..merey paas bhi guns hain! Tum dekhna chahtey ho!

That halted his sobs at once…..Prateek raised his tear-stained face from Kripa's shoulder and looked wondrously at Angad: Sachmuch ? Aapkey paas guns hain?
Arey haan Betey! Zaroor hain! Ek nahin, do nahin, paanch-paanch guns hain! Tum dekhna chahtey ho? Toh chalo!

Prateek jumped at once into his arms, hiccuping back his tears. Yes, Dad! Mujhey guns dekhna hai!

Angad carried him into his room, opened a wall cupboard with a key……there was quite a collection of guns hanging on racks inside…..a Howitzer, a semi-automatic assault weapon, a handgun, a pistol, and a long-range rifle like the one he used to kill his targets before.

Dekho, yeh sab merey guns hain! Tumhey darney ki koi zaroorat nahin….wo burey log hamara kuchh nahin bigaad saktey" Angad built up courage in the little boy's heart, soothing his fears!

Kripa, who had followed them, looked with horror at Angad's gun collection. But she wasn't as shocked as before, she was getting quite used to all the violence around them. And also she knew self-protection was important when they were under fire from their enemies.

Prateek was staring at all the guns in awed fascination, his jaw hung open: Dad! Yeh sab aapkey hain? Papa ke paas toh sirf ek revolver tha……aapkey paas itney saarey kyun hain?

Main Superman hoon na….isiliye. And you are Batman, right Buddy? Chalo, hum dono milkar badmaash logon ki ittni pitayi karengey ke wo sab bhaag jayengey. We have to save the world, kya khayal hai? "

Prateek nodded enthusiastically, already forgetting all his terror and anxiety! He felt safe and secure in the presence of so much fire power and Dad, the Superman!

Kripa sighed with relief, thanking Angad with her eyes for pacifying the kid. Angad nodded and smiled, then locked the gun-cabinet carefully and hid away the key………

Kripa held out her hand to Prateek: Chalo Beta, ab so jaao! Bahut raat ho chuki…..

NAHIIN…….MAIN DAD KE PAAS SONA CHAHTA HOON! he clung to Angad's neck possessively.

Angad shrugged and winked at Kripa. Prateek's fear had solved their problem of sharing the same room after marriage.

Angad paced around the room with Prateek in his arms, patting him, crooning to him till he fell asleep. Kripa looked on with tremulous emotions and moist eyes…….Angad was so good with his child! He had completely won Prateek over with his understanding and affection.

Kripa sat down on the bed with a sigh……tired, worried, tense yet happy in a strange way! When Prateek had fallen asleep, Angad handed him over to Kripa on the bed: Beghum! He whispered in her ears…..Aaj se yeh kamra hamara hai……ab aapko doosrey kamrey mein sonay ki koi zaroorat nahin!

She nodded and smiled in acknowledgement of his mission accomplished!
Main abhi aaya……tum Prateek ko lekar so jaao……..

She lay down on the bed with the boy…….then suddenly grabbed his forearm as he was about to leave: Angad, please, mujhey iss tarah se nahin jeena. Chalo, hum sab yahan se kahin bhaag nikaltey hain…….tum, Papa, Prateek, main, Uncle-Aunty, Kartik Bhaiyya, sab yahan se door kahin safe jageh per chaley jaatey hain"

He kneeled down next to the bed and held her worried face tenderly: Kripa, bhaagna itna aasan nahin……jab tak Damodar zinda rahega tab tak wo humein dhoond hi lega. Hum kab tak bhaagengey, Bolo? Zulm ka saamna datkar kiya jaata hai, bhaagkar nahin! Jo darkar bhaagta hai wo har pal marta hai…….khauf ki zindagi jeeta hai….…..kya tum wahi chahti ho?

She shook her head slowly…..
Angad quickly kissed her cheeks: Good! Tum ek aisey bahadur fighter ki beti ho jisney saari zindagi zulm ke khilaaf jung ladaa……tum itni aasani se haar nahin maan sakti….Okay?
she nodded silently. He kissed her lips: Ab so jaao….don't worry, we have everything under control. This attack was expected. Ab hamari baari hai……..we will work something out!

He left a slightly pacified Kripa lying on the bed and went to the lawn, where everybody else was still watching the flames being put out by guards and servants.

Javed walked up to them, wiping his brows. Godfather turned to him sharply and asked: Javed! Raghu kahan hai? Dikhayi nahin de raha………

Javed was perplexed : Haan Sir! Aapney theek kaha……shaam ke baad wo dikhayi nahin diya….mainey socha tha wo shadi mein kahin guard-duty kar raha hai…….lekin ab toh kahin bhi nazar nahin aa raha" …..he looked around the semi-dark lawns in puzzlement!

Angad concurred: Haan Uncle! Mainey bhi shaam se usey nahin dekha…..

Toh mera shaq sahi nikla…….Godfather looked and sounded grave. Humarey aadmiyon mein se kisiney bomb lagaya tha…..aur wo hai Bomb-expert Raghu!

SIR! YEH AAP KYA KEH RAHEY HAIN? Javed was shocked to his core! Raghu merey Bhai jaisa hai, wo aapka wafaadar hai….wo kabhie aisi harqat nahin karega"

Tumhey Raghu per itna bharosa hai? GF mocked him slightly…..toh usey call kyun nahin kartey? Dekho tumhara call leta hai ke nahin?

Javed took out his mobile and dialled Raghu's number……twice, thrice, seven times……nobody was picking up the phone. A recorded voice just said: Nobody is picking up ur call, please try again later!

Javed was shattered! He had to admit the harsh truth to himself that his close friend and co-worker was a traitor, a gaddaar! Godfather gravely asked everybody to join him for discussion in the living-room.

They all silently filed into the Villa after him, gathering in the parlor….Angad, Mittal, Kartik and Javed, all looked shocked and tensed!

Godfather began his explanations: Ek haftey pehley Mumbai se merey khabree (informer) ne mujhey bataya……Damodar phir se hamlaa karney ka plan kar raha hai aur iskey liye usney Dubai mein hamarey kisi aadmi ko contact kiya hai. Mera shaq turant Raghu per gaya kyunki…..wo iss organization ka ek hi aadmi hai jiska parivaar aaj bhi Mumbai mein rehta hai. I think Damodar ne uskey parivaar-waalon ko kidnap kar liya hai…….nahin toh Raghu jaisa wafaadar aadmi kabhie aisa kaam nahin karta.

Javed interrupted: Sir! Merey paas Raghu ke Mumbai ka number hai…..main try karoon?

Yes, try that! Main daavey ke saath keh sakta hoon….wahan kuchh gadbad hai….

Javed called Raghu's home in Mumbai…….a young man picked up the phone….sounding upset: Javed Chachu? Haaan, Chachu abhi tak ghar nahin pahunchey….unsey kehna jaldi aaye……un logon ne Dadi ko maarney ki dhamki dee hai….please Chachu!

Javed's face paled as he realized Raghu's mother had been kidnapped. Raghu had no wife or kids…..so that devil Damodar had kidnapped his closest relative, his aged mother!

Tch-tch-tch! Godfather shook his head sadly…..agar Raghu apni Problem lekar merey paas aata toh shayad main uski madad kar paata….uski Maa ko bacha sakta. But now its too late, he followed Damodar's orders, planted the bomb, lekin apney mission mein na-kaamyab raha. Ab Damodar usey aur uski Maa ko zinda nahin chhodega! ........He sighed tiredly.

Javed cried out: Lekin Sir, usney aapsey madad kyun nahin maanga? Gaddaari kyun kee? Agar aapney pehley se cottage badal nahin diya hota toh aaj Angad Bhai aur Kripa Bhabhi …….

Godfather smiled sadly: Shayad usey mujhpar itna bharosa nahin tha ke main uski Maa ko bacha sakoonga. Khair, usney bahut bura kaam kiya…..gaddaari ki sazaa maut hoti hai……aur afsos yeh maut usey Damodar ke haathon milegi! Ek fighter ki nahin….ek gaddar ki maut marega!

Suddenly he became all business-like: Khair, jo ho gaya so ho gaya! Water under the bridge! Hum bahut khush hain ke Angad aur Kripa ki jaan bach gayi….aur humney Damodar ke plan ka naash kar diya. Now back to business! Ab humein kuchh faisla lena hoga! Kuchh sakht kadam uthaney padengey!
KARTIK! Summon Shabbir from Rio……wahan ka kaam ab tak ho gaya hoga. Tell him to proceed to Mumbai AT ONCE!
ANGAD! Tum Kripa aur Prateek ke safety ka dhyaan rakho……don't let them out of your sight….and stay at the Villa, no more outings!
JAVED…..you follow Ragu's footsteps, call his home every two hours…….let me know as soon as u have any news!
MR. MITTAL…….I will need you to draw up some property transfer papers.

Sir, jaley huey building ka kya hoga? Kartik asked.

Usey ek khandahar rehney do……iss raat ka yaadgaar tohfa……jo humein apnon ki gaddaari ki yaad dilati rahegi…..

Uncle, aap Shabbir ko Mumbai kyun bhej rahey hain?…..Angad asked in surprise….. Agar usney Damodar se haath mila liya toh? Wo toh shuru se hi gaddaar hai…..usey toh Hongkong mein hi maar dena chahiye tha……Shabbir was Angad's enemy, he didn't understand why GF hadnt eliminated him yet.

Godfather smiled gently: Main Shabbir ko Damodar ke paas bhej raha hoon……meeting ke liye. As our lawyer, he will invite Damodar to Dubai. Main ussey samjhauta karna chahta hoon…..thak gaya hoon main iss khoon kharabey se. I want peace. I am willing to negotiate with Damodar……he can have my property as blood money! In exchange for safety for all my people here!

Angad, Kartik, Javed, Mittal……all stared at Godfather, dumbfounded! They were stunned, shocked out of their minds! Godfather was accepting defeat from that fiend? That Monster? He must have lost his mind!
But they were too respectful to voice their views……just looked on in disbelief as his eyes twinkled at them with a glint of devilry in their depths!

------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------

pallavi

Thanks iqra, ananya, rima, jdsean, sapphire, Hinna, desiqt, Faiza, sweetie, deeya, Babygirl, Shalini, nameless, sana, mita, sweetangle, Chocolate, sameira and madz!

Sorry for the late update but this past weekend was too busy and hectic for me.

PART 64

Two weeks flew by in a flurry of activities: meetings, discussions, arguments and urgent phone calls!

The others tried to dissuade Godfather from surrendering all his properties and Hotel in Dubai to Damodar, in return for peace and end to violence.
But he was adamant!

I don't understand, Boss! Kartik argued: How can you trust a devil like that? Kya guarantee hai ke wo deal ke baad apna vaada nibhayega? Phir se humpar hamlaa nahin karega?

GF looked sharply at Kartik: We will add that as a clause in the contract ! If Damodar attacks us AFTER the property transfer, the Dubai courts will seize everything and give it to the Local Government!

Lekin Uncle! How can you surrender to a gansgter like Damodar? Uskey jaisey shaitaan ko aap kaisey Zaib aur aapka jaydaad de saktey hain?….Angad was indignant and shocked!

Godfather smiled at him sadly: Beta, meri umr ab badh rahi hai…..Thak gaya hoon main ab iss Jurm ki zindagi se…..Tang aa chuka hoon iss khoon kharabey se. I want some peace and quiet….some relaxation in my aging years ! Property se zyada mujhey tum sabki jaan pyaari hai. Tum sabki suraksha ke liye main aisey hazaar jaagirein qurbaan kar sakta hoon! Main yeh tum sabkey liye kar raha hoon…..I want all of you to be safe and out of Damodar's target-range!

Angad looked doubtfully at Godfather……he wasn't at all convinced by the tired old man act. Bajaj Uncle still looked and thought like a spry young man! He wasn't one to give up so easily! He could bet Uncle was planning something major but unwilling to tell at such an early stage. No matter….he would wait till Uncle divulged the plan to him.

Kartik also smelled something fishy and kept quiet after the first few protests.
Mr. Mittal was non-committal. He was the only one who didn't question Bajaj's decision. He had implicit faith in Godfather to the point of worship…..that he would always do what was best for all of them!

Kartik said doubtfully in the end: Boss, kya wo shaitaan aapkey saath meeting karney ke liye raazi hoga? Wo humpar bharosa kyun karega?

Godfather knew his lifelong adversary very well…..what made him tick: Kartik, main usey achhi tarah se jaanta hoon. Usmein ek haiwaan ki saari khaamiyan(faults) maujood hain. Damodar bahut laalchi (greedy) hai. Wo kabhie aisa mauka haath se nahin jaaney dega…..Dubai mein Hotel aur yeh jaydaad ka maalik banna….usney sapney mein bhi nahin socha hoga" Godfather mocked his enemy with a knowing sneer:. Don't worry Kartik! He will agree to the meeting.

********************************************************


Shabbir flew from Rio to Mumbai. He had been cooling his heels there in a secluded, guarded Bungalow .

According to GF's instructions, he called Damodar Pandey's Main Office in Borivli and suggested a meeting in Dubai between the two Bosses!
He said that his Boss, Mr. Bajaj wanted to meet Pandey.

Abey Eyy Vakeel ke Bachchey…....... Tera dimaag toh kharab nahin hua ? Jaanta hai tu kissey baat kar raha hai? Damodar Pandey se! Main uss ********** Bajaj ke saath kyun meeting karoonga? Mera Bheja kya gul ho gaya? Jaa, apney Boss se keh de…..ab toh uskey laash se hi meeting karoonga. HAHAHAHA!

Damodar was still an uncouth, brutal man, who only understood the language of Violence. But he had all the vices of a devil, including greed... and GF knew that!

Shabbir dropped the bait: Pandey Jee, aap meri poori baat toh suniye! Boss ne aapkey liye ek offer bheja hai….jismein aap bahut hi Faidey-mand (profitable ) hongay. Aap suniye toh sahi offer kya hai?

Kya Offer? Kaun sa Offer? Damodar was suspicious.

Mr. Bajaj ab aman-shaanti chahtey hain….jiskey badley mein wo apney Dubai ki saari jaydaad aur Hotel aapkey hawaley kar dengey. He wants a ceasefire! Samajh leejiye yeh unki taraf se aapkey liye ek safed jhanda (white flag of peace) hai. Ab kahiye aapka kya faisla hai?

Damodar was astounded, shocked, struck dumb for a few minutes, then he found his voice: Mujhey apney Dubai ki saari jaydaad de dega? Yeh Bajaj kya sathiya gaya hai budhapey mein? Pagla gaya hai kya tera Boss? Nahin, zaroor ismein uski koi chaal hogi"

Nahin Pandey Jee, ismein koi chaal nahin…..sab poorey kanooni taur se kiya jayega. Baat yeh hai ke ab merey Boss iss Khoon-Kharabey ka ant chahtey hain. Iskey liye wo apney Dubai ka jaydaad aapko de rahey hain…..Simple len-den hai yeh! Koi chalaaki nahin, koi chaal nahin! Ab aap toh jaantey hongey uss Property aur Hotel ka value kya hai? Karodon mein hai…..KARODON MEIN! Ab aap faisla karkey humein bata deejiye. Mujhey iss number per call karkey bataa dena aapney kya decide kiya. Meeting do haftey mein hogi. 15 October ko. Jai Raam Jee ki, Pandey Saab!

The bait had been dropped. Shabbir signed off without waiting for Damodar's response. That was the best way of inciting Damu's greed and curiousity.

Damodar paced restlessly in his Office room which looked more like a Raddiwala's den with satta papers and bets all over the place, half-empty liquor bottles and tea-cups, cigarette-stubs, photos of future "suparis" (contract murders) he had undertaken and other relics of crime and debauchery.

He mumbled to himself, trying to figure out why his arch-enemy would offer his best Hotel and sea-side mansion to him, in exchange for ceasefire????

He weighed the pros and cons…..ek taraf wo shaandaar makaan aur Hotel….doosri taraf us ******* Bajaj ki maut, Angad ki maut……unkey poorey gang ki maut.

Definitely the Hotel and Property seemed more attractive! What would he get out of killing his enemies except vicious pleasure and revenge? But that Hotel and Villa could make him a millionaire in Dubai, earn him prestige in International Crime Circles!
Greed won over prudence! Damodar called Shabbir back within an hour!

Dhyaan se sun, Vakeel ke bachchey! Terey Boss ko bol…..main meeting mein aaoonga. Lekin kya guarantee hai ke wo mujhey wahan maar nahin dega? Kya bharosa ke yeh ek Plan nahin hai…..mujhey tapkaney ka?

Uski aap chinta mat keejiye. Boss ne kaha hai ke aap apney teen khaas aadmiyon ko le aayiye, yahan Boss bhi apney teen khaas admiyon ko layengey. Mulaqat aamney saamney hogi. Aap meeting ki jageh khud chun saktey hain. Us jagah ki poori jaanch karvaa saktey hain. aur yahan bhi Don Aziz ke aadmi aapkey suraksha ka bandobast karengey. Wo neutral party hongay iss deal mein!

The offer was too good to pass! Damodar agreed to meet Bajaj on October 15 in Dubai….in a meeting place/site chosen by him. He agreed to bring his 3 closest men as Bodyguards.

Damodar was actually very excited. This meant Bajaj had finally conceded to him! Accepted defeat! He had won! He threw a party that night at his favorite brothel, inviting all his gang members for a special celebration of his Victory over Godfather!

Shabbir gave Godfather the good news. Then he called another special number and gave them the news of the meeting between the two Crime- Bosses in Dubai on October 15. He rubbed his hands in glee…..anticipating a BIG reward for his information!

************************************ *************


Kripa and Prateek moved into Angad's room the day after the wedding! Angad was delighted of course! His problem of sharing a bed with his dear wife was solved.

Every night, Angad would make Prateek brush his teeth (as Josh used to do), tell him a bedtime story about some mythical fighter or superhero, pat him to sleep.
Prateek was getting very attached to Dad…Angad! He had always been attached to Josh, now he transferred that affection to Angad! He hero-worshipped Angad……all boys need a father-figure to look upto and he had found his again.

But he hadnt forgotten Josh by any means. He often asked Kripa: Mama, …Papa kab aa rahey hain? Wo yahan kyun nahin aatey hamarey paas?

Kripa would make all kinds of excuses: Beta, Papa bahut busy hain….unka bahut important project chal raha hai. Tumhey toh pata hai na wo sabki suraksha kartey hain….kabhie kaam khatam kiye bina ghar nahin laut saktey. Unka kaam ab bhi baaki hai, isiliye nahin aa saktey!

Ohh….a disappointed Prateek would go and play soccer or tennis with Dad. Their closeness grew everyday, Angad cherished the affections of his son, he rejoiced when Prateek called him DAD!

Prateek found a substitute father in Angad…..children can adapt faster and easier than adults. Their minds and hearts are still pure and fluid, they can take the shape of any container they are poured into.

Every night, after Angad had patted and crooned Prateek to sleep, Kripa would join him in bed. Angad would be in the middle, with Prateek on one side, Kripa on the other. As soon as Kripa lay down beside him, he would turn towards her and kiss her, his hands and lips exploring her urgently . Then they would roll down the bed onto the floor (they even placed a plush Persian Carpet there for that purpose) and make love as silently as possible.
Sometimes, Angad lifted her in his arms and carried her to the terrace…or to the bathroom. If you look for them, there are a dozen places where you can enjoy some private moments even in a full house, with kids!

A week after they moved into Angad's room, Kripa was re-arranging her and Prateek's clothing and belongings. Godfather had arranged for all her old mementos to be brought from Josh Kapoor's house in Delhi. She was amazed how he had accomplished that feat??? It wasn't easy to get stuff out of a murdered CBI Officers' house, but GF had his ways…and his contacts!

Kripa came to know from her Papa that Josh's body had been brought back to Delhi from Hongkong and he had been cremated with full honors by the CBI and Indian Government. According to Official sources, his widow and son had been kidnapped, were missing for a month, presumed dead!

Kripa opened her old suitcase, full of memories of her childhood, of her adoptive parents Gayatri and Surya, photos of herself and Angad in Goa, in college, at the Music Festival where they had won Awards.

She called Angad to see the mementos of their golden days of youth, pictures of friends, classmates, everything that sentimental Kripa had collected over the years. They pored over the pictures, laughed and reminisced, becoming nostalgic!

Itna sab samaan main kahan rakhoon? She wondered aloud.

Koi pareshani nahin, Beghum! Kal hi aapkey liye ek naya cupboard aa jayega! I will order it right away. Dubai mein meri pehchaan ki furniture shop hai, unka online catalog bhi hai, aaj order dein toh kal hi deliver kar dengey….aao tum apna wardrobe choose kar lo" he pulled her by the arm to his laptop.

They went online and ordered a beautiful cherry-wood wardrobe for her belongings. And a teak wood one for Prateek.

The wardrobes arrived the day after as Angad had assured.
Kripa was all excited, feeling very domesticated as she arranged her and Prateek's clothes in the 2 wardobes.

Suddenly, she thought why not place some of her own clothes with Angad's?? Somebody had once told her that when a husband and wife share the same wardrobe, their love gets deeper and stronger. Not that she had doubts about their love…..but she just wanted to …..just for the thrill of it!

She took an armful of her clothes and opened Angad's wardrobe. It was quite neatly arranged ….he was quite organized for a man! She smiled and pushed Angad's clothes to one side, making place for her saris and salwars.

As she was shoving some clothing to the back of the shelf….something touched her hand. She pulled it out….it was a little black book….a diary of some sort. Curious and surprised, she opened the diary and started reading.

She was shocked, horrified, repelled! It was a list of dozens of phone numbers….of GIRLS/WOMEN all over the world: Michelle and Lara in Singapore, Su Lin and Simone in Hongkong, Gina, Rosita and Evangelina in Rio…..there were more…in Australia, Bangkok, Taiwaan….all over the globe.

THESE WERE ALL ANGAD'S GIRLFRIENDS? She stared in utter shock and disbelief at the pages, which soon blurred before her eyes in a torrent of tears.

She suddenly felt nauseous…..holding her mouth in her hand, she ran into the bathroom, retching heavily over the sink. She heaved out all her breakfast, retching, throwing up, feeling drained and sick, horribly sick, in her heart, mind and body!

Her Angad was a SERIAL DATER! A CASANOVA ! It was so hard to accept that as Zaib, he had been with all those girls!
Although she couldn't blame him totally….he had no memory whatsover about her. Still she couldn't digest the fact that he had…..he had……she felt sick again, holding her aching stomach. But nothing came out this time.

She staggered out of the bathroom, all pale and sickly….when Angad suddenly bounded into the room, yelling jovially: HEY WOWW! DEKHO TUMHARA WARDROBE AA GAYA, KRIPA! LOOKS GOOD ….Tumhey pasand toh aaya na?

Kripaaaa…….his voice faded as he saw her….crying, looking sick, a weird shade of pale green…..and then his eyes fell upon the little black book, his sin diary, lying on the floor.

He groaned inwardly, turning pale, then red, then pale again, settling on a midway orange : OH S**T! DA**! She FOUND IT! SHE SAW THAT DIARY! DA**! I SHOULD HAVE BURNED IT A LONG TIME AGO! WHY DID I KEEP IT? OH DA**! THIS IS GOING TO BE BAAAD! VERYYYY BAD!

He cursed himself, realizing he had just forgotten about it all this time, so busy was he with Kripa and Prateek!

Kripaaa…..he went towards her hesitantly, fearfully: Kripa….tum theek toh ho na?

She looked up at him, felt nauseous again….and ran into the bathroom, retching again….Angad followed her, anxiously concerned: Kripaaa…..kya hua tumhey? Are you alright? He touched her arm tentatively.

DON'T TOUCH ME! She jerked back, flinging off his hand and looked furiously at him.
Tum itney neech ho? HEY BHAGWAN! How could you, Angad? Itni saari ladkiyan? HOW COULD YOU?

Please, Kripa, samajhney ki koshish karo, tab main Zaib tha….aur meri yaad…..

CHUP RAHO! ZAIB UNCLE EK SHAREEF INSAAN THE…..PAPA NE BATAYA HAI…..UNHONEY KABHIE AISI HARKAT NAHIN KEE……SIRF HANSI MAZAAK KARTEY THE LADKIYON KE BAAREY MEIN! Lekin tumney…..tumney toh hadd hi kar dee…..SHAME ON YOU, ANGAD!

She ran out of his room, back to her old room, which had now become Prateek's playroom.
Prateek was on the lawn, strolling with Kartik and Godfather…..Kripa collapsed on the bed and sobbed her heart out! She felt very betrayed….as if Angad had broken their marriage vows from the first wedding .

A tiny voice inside reminded her: Tumney bhi toh Josh ke saath…….her mind rebelled against the voice: Wo toh shadi ka pavitra bandhan tha….mainey Josh se bakaida shadi kee thi…wo merey pati the….koi one night stand nahin….Lekin Angad…..usney toh darjanon(dozens) ladkiyon ko apni baahon mein liya hai.

She controlled her rising bile, trying to be reasonable under the circumstances, but still couldn't forgive him for his adultery!

Angad collapsed on his own bed with a groan, holding his throbbing head in his hands: GOD! WHAT HAD HE DONE? HE SHOULD HAVE THROWN AWAY THAT LITTLE BLACK BOOK A LONG TIME AGO! It wasn't as if he needed it! He should have taken Godfather's advice from that night and fixed that problem permanently.

Kripa must be so hurt and devastated!
His heart ached for Kripa: Jaan, Im sorry….meri vajeh se tumharey dil ko kitni chot pahunchi…..mujhey maaf kar do please…..he apologized silently…..inside!

But he didn't go after her immediately….he knew she was hurting too much right now….he knew she needed time to accept the bitter truth…..to come to terms with his past….just as he had accepted her interim years, when she had married Josh and moved on in her life!


------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------

pallavi

PART 66

Kripa regained consciousness at the Hospital. She looked around, her head still felt light, she was disoriented for a few moments, mumbling: Angad? Prateek? turning her head around to look for them!

Then she realized she was in a Hospital since a blue-uniformed Nurse was attaching some gadget to her bare stomach. An Arab lady doctor wearing a head-scarf was gently prodding her belly with a stethescope.

The doctor smiled at her: Salaam! I am Dr. Afreen! Apkey liye khushkhabri hai….aap Maa banney wali hain.

Ohhhh! Kripa was quite stunned! Her life had been in such turmoil for the last 2 months that she hadnt even suspected her recent bouts of nausea, dizziness and weakness to be the result of pregnancy.

She touched her bare stomach and smiled slowly……Angad….he would be so happy and excited…and so would Prateek. He would have a sibling and playmate.

Dr. Afreen asked her the date of her last monthly…..she tried to remember….so much had happened in the last few weeks, she had to think really hard. Then she remembered! The last time had been in Delhi, a few days before they left for Hongkong.

She told the doctor….who nodded and said: Hum abhi aapka Sonogram karengey. Phir bachchey ka status aur pregnancy ki duration ka sahi andaza hoga.

The nurse finished attaching the little suction-pads to her stomach….and hooked it to the Ultrasound machine. The doctor applied a jelly-like cream on her stomach, then monitored the fetus with the ultrasonic probe.

Hmmm, Bachcha toh durust hai lagta hai, aur size ke hisaab se kareeban dedh (1 ) se do mahiney ka hoga. Kam se kam chhai haftey (6 weeks) ka toh hai"

Kripa blanched…..her heart leaped suddenly...... DO MAHINEY…..iska matlab…..iska matlab….JOSH? Nahin….yeh nahin ho sakta…..lekin kyun nahin ho sakta? Sydney se lautney ke baad Josh ne mujhey ek raat ke liye bhi akela nahin chhoda tha. Aur…..Hongkong mein bhi toh…..uss raat jab main Zaib ko lekar pareshan thi….tab bhi main Josh ko rok nahi payi thi. Hey Bhagwan! Ab kya hoga? Main kaisey Angad ko bataaoon ke yeh bachcha Josh ka hai….lekin yeh Angad ka bhi toh ho sakta hai. Yacht mein hum jab phir se miley…..uskey baad 6 haftey guzar gaye. Lekin uskey 5-6 din pehley hi Josh ne bhi toh……

She was so confused…..so disturbed! She didn't know who the father of her baby was….it could be Josh, it could be Angad! How will she find out? Should she ask the doctor? No, that would be too embarassing! Maybe they could do a DNA test on the baby even before its birth. She had read somewhere it could be done!

Dr. Afreen noticed her distress: Kya hua, Mrs. Khanna. Aapko koi taqleef hai kya?
Kripa signalled with her eyes she wanted privacy to talk to the doctor.

Afreen asked the nurse to wait outside, when the Nurse left the exam room., she turned to Kripa: Haan, ab batayiye aapki pareshani kya hai?

Kripa didn't know how to say it, she began hesitantly: Doctor, dedh mahiney pehley merey pati guzar gaye, uskey baad mainey Angad se shadi kee….kya aisa koi tareeka hai jissey mujhey pata chaley yeh bachcha merey marhoom pati ka hai ya Angad ka?

Dr. Afreen looked thoughtful for a few moments: Dekhiye, Prenatal DNA testing se bachchey ko khatra ho sakta hai, aapko bhi, miscarriage ka chance hai, so we don't recommend that. Lekin agar jaanna bahut zaroori ho toh paanchvey mahiney mein hum sample nikalkar test karva saktey hain. Lekin usmein bhi kaafi khatra hai. Bachchey ke birth ke baad aap asani se DNA testing karvaa sakti hain. Ab faisla aapkey haath mein hai….kya aap yeh risk lena chahti hain?

Nahin……Kripa shuddered and closed her eyes at the mention of miscarriage….Nahin ….main koi risk nahin lena chahti.

Toh theek hai…..Dr. Afreen smiled and wiped the jelly, detaching the probes ….phir aap intezaar keejiye, delivery ke baad hi test karva lena. Lekin meri salaah hai ….aap pareshani door rakhiye….iss haalat mein aapko khushhaal rehna chahiye.

Kripa nodded and smiled wanly, her face pale and tensed.
Dr. Afreen said: Main aapkey shohar ko thodi der mein andar bhejti hoon. Aaj ka din aapkey baby ko monitor karney ke liye yahan rehna padega. Kal subah tak sab theek raha toh aapko discharge kar dengey, Okay?

Kripa nodded again: Shukriya, Doctor!

The Nurse came in and cleaned her up properly, helping her put on the hospital gown. As soon as the Nurse left, Kripa could not hold back her tears . What should she do now? She HAS to tell Angad! She couldn't let him go on believing this was his child! There was a strong possibility it was Josh's …..she HAS to be brave and honest with him.

Why did Fate play such cruel games with her? When she had Angad's child, Josh was with her and Angad supposedly dead. And now Josh was dead and shes with Angad…..but the child could be Josh's.

She plumbed her heart and found she had mixed feelings about Josh's kid……disappointed that it may not be Angad's ….yet in a corner of her heart, she felt Josh was still with them….perhaps in the form of his child.

Angad walked in, almost floating on air…..grinning from ear to ear! He was clearly in a celebratory mood.

He stopped in his tracks, stunned! Kripa was sitting up in bed, crying softly. she looked very distressed!

Kya hua? Jaan? Why are you crying? Arent you happy?

Kripa looked up at him with overflowing eyes: Angad? Doctor ne kaha…..

He grabbed her hands and kissed them rapidly: Haan Jaan, doctor ne kaha hum phir se Mummy Daddy banney waley hain….Prateek ka bhai ya behen aaneywala/wali hai! Tum khush nahin? He asked in surprise.

She looked at his infectious excitement and smiled through her tears: Haan…..lekin doctor ne….kaha….main do mahiney se….pregnant hoon…..Yeh bachcha….Angad…yeh bachcha…Josh ka bhi ho sakta hai"

Angad's face paled, he blinked…..and flinched instinctively….her words echoing in his mind: Bachcha Josh ka ho sakta hai….bachcha Josh ka ho sakta hai"

He looked at her incredulously…..shocked! He was quiet for a few moments. Then he saw her tear-stained cheeks, her pale face, her nervous fingers twisting on her lap……she looked so lost, so weak, so distressed!……

His heart melted with protective love. Kripa was as shocked as he was! He would have to be strong for her sake. He strengthened his heart, pushed away the feeling of shock and hurt assailing it….at the thought of it being Josh's kid.

He sat down next to Kripa and drew her cold, knotting fingers in his hands…..massaging them slowly, warming them in his large palms.
Kripa….meri taraf dekho……he gently urged her to look up.

She looked into his eyes, shining with tender love and warmth : Kripa…..please tum tension mat karo! Yeh bachcha Josh ka ho ya mera…..kuchh farak nahin padta. Yeh janam lega toh hamarey paas hi na ? Yeh hamara bachcha hai….tumhara aur mera. Yeh Angad aur Kripa Khanna ka baby hai….its our child! ….he stroked her cheeks, wiping her tears with his hands.

Ab aansoo ponchh lo……aur muskuraa do….kitni khushi ki baat hai aur tum ro rahi ho? Jaantey ho…Papa aur Aunty sab kitney khush hain? Aur Prateek ko jab hum batayengey toh wo kitna excited hoga…..uska bhai ya behen….uska saathi jo aa raha hai. Abhi dekho… Hum teen se chaar ho jayengey….aur phir chaar se paanch….aur paanch se chhai….phir chhai se saat…….Angad started counting off his dozen kids.

Kripa started laughing through her tears. She lunged from the bed, punching Angad's chest with her fists: BUSS BUSS! Poora army bana dogey kya? Bachchon ka paltan?

Kyun nahin, Jaan? His eyes danced with mischief: The more the merrier! Zyada bachchein ho toh ghar hara- bhara sa rahega!

Haan-haan…..main bachchey paida kartey kartey Mumtaz Mahal ki tarah marr jaoongi….toh tum doosri shadi kar lena…apney kisi girlfriend ke saath " she joked with laughter.

Sshhhhh!…He turned serious at once, covering her mouth with his hand: Marney ki baat bilkul nahin….. Lekin......waisey idea bura nahin…..he looked wicked again, his topaz eyes gleaming with mirth: Yess, that's the plan then…. main tumharey liye Taj Mahal banvaa doonga aur phir wo jala hua diary dhoondna padega….shayad koi number mil jaaye"

YOUUU! Kripa glared at him, punched his arms and boxed his ears: KHABARDAAR JO KISI AUR KO DEKHA TOH…..MAAR DALOONGI MAIN….BHOOTNI HOKAR AAOONGI! Humph! Badey aaye number dhoondney!"

Angad laughed loudly and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her lips hard with a smack: Yeh huyi na baat? Ab tum meri Kripa lag rahi ho…..meri Hunterwali ! Zyada roney lagti ho toh lagta hai Kripa nahin, Meena Kumari hai"

Angad……she sighed, grinning….and pulled his cheeks: Tum Hindi movies bahut zyada dekhtey ho….

Isiliye toh itna romantic hoon" he said huskily in his deep voice, winking at her.

She giggled and snuggled in his arms on the Hospital bed. They cuddled lovingly when…
Ahem-ahem…cough-cough….Kya hum andar aa saktey hain? Kalyani Aunty's voice floated in through the door.

Angad sprang apart from her and jumped up from the bed, straightening his shirt. Kripa giggled, then called out: Maasi Jee aap sab aa jayiye.

They all came in then……Godfather, Prateek, Kalyani, Kartik, Javed….all piled into the room with huge grins on their faces. Kripa smiled shyly at them….

Prateek bounded up to her and jumped up on the bed: Mera Bhai kahan hai?

Nani Maasi had already told him he was getting a brother….he expected to see his bro right away in Kripa's arm. He looked around, peeped under the bed: Mama….mera Bhai kahan hai? Yahan toh nahin….

Kripa laughed loudly…..everybody joined in. She pulled Prateek into her arms and kissed his cheeks: Beta, Bhai toh abhi Mama ke peit mein hai….Yahan….she patted her stomach gently.

Prateek stared at her almost flat stomach with fascination….he couldn't imagine how his brother would fit in there. Oh well! The grown-ups were always strange. God knows how Mama was hiding his brother in her stomach!

He got down from the bed, losing interest in the no-show of little brother….and started touching tubes, machines and gadgets in the room. Angad ran after him to keep him in check.

Godfather approached Kripa's bed….she looked up into his emotional face, his tearful eyes. She knew how he was feeling but couldn't express his joy about his grandchild in front of others.

Kripa Beti….Badhai ho. Main bahut khush hoon…..he smiled tremulously…..Aaj main bahut hi khush hoon……he kissed her forehead and blessed her: Sada suhaagan raho aur sehatmand raho aur tumhara bachcha tandrust ho.

Kripa smiled and held his hand for a few moments, conveying her happiness to him. they looked at each other silently for a few moments.

Then Kalyani Aunty came forward, grinning: Beti…..badhai ho…..hum sab bahut khush hain. mujhey toh pehley hi shaq tha…lekin tumsey poochh nahin saki……Lekin sab theek toh hai na? Ab tum kaisi feel kar rahi ho? Doctor ne kya kaha?

Kripa told them the baby was fine, but doctor wanted to keep her there overnight for observation. Godfather looked concerned….she quickly reassured him that everything was alright.…..that was just a precaution as she had fallen to the ground.

Kartik and Javed happily congratulated both Angad and Kripa, who looked every bit the proud prospective parents. All Kripa's doubts seemed to have dissolved with Angad's loving acceptance of their child.

Angad and Godfather spoke to the Doctor and took her medical update. The doc said the fall hadnt harmed the baby….its vitals were normal, heartbeats strong.

She told them it was Kripas' second month…..Godfather glanced at Angad quickly but didn't say anything. He knew Kripa and Angad had met in Hongkong and knowing Angad, anything was possible. GF didn't suspect it could be Josh's child.

Kripa stayed overnight at the Hospital, Kartik, Angad and Javed guarded her like hawks. They forcibly sent GF and Kalyani home , Prateek needed his rest so did the elders.

Prateek was whining a bit for Mama but Nani Masi promised him 2 stories of Rajkumar and Pari and he agreed at once to sleep with her.

The next morning, Kripa was discharged and went back to the Villa with Angad and Kartik. Kalyani fussed over her like a mother-hen, feeding her all sorts of healthy food. Beti, tujhey jo cheez khaaney ki khwaish ho, mujhey batana. Main banakar khilaoongi"

Kripa smiled tremulously and hugged Aunty: Maasi, ab aap hi toh meri Maa hain….aap mera kitna khayal rakhti hain"

Kalyani hugged her back silently….she had found her lost daughter in Kripa. It was her joy to look after her and Prateek.

Chal ab yeh doodh pee le…..she forced Kripa to drink a big glass of milk.

Kripa scrunched her nose: Itna sara doodh? Mujey doodh peena achha nahin lagta….Maasi, main dahi khaa loongi.

Prateek laughed and clapped his hands: Hahaha.... Mama ko doodh peena padega….HAHAHA!

He found it hilarious that Nani Maasi was forcing Mama to drink milk. He quickly gulped down his own milk and wiped his milk mustache: I'M FIRST! MAMA LAST! HAHAHA….I WIN, MAMA!

Kripa laughed: Very good Beta! My GOOD BOY!
Ab aap bhi peeyo….he demanded, hands on his waist.

Theek hai….she sighed, held her nose in her fingers and gulped down half the milk, then almost puked….

NO MAMA, NO CHEATING! POORA PIYO….

Okay Baba! Thoda waqt toh do na…..she controlled her nausea and drank the rest of the milk somehow!

Angad clapped from the door: SHABASH! GOOD GIRL! Ab apni moochh saaf kar lo….he laughed.

She grinned and got up from the chair, walked to him and wiped her milk mustache on his sleeve.

Yeh kya? Angad protested.
Dad honay ke kuchh toh duties nibhao…she giggled and tweaked his hard, male cheeks….poora taqleef main akeli uthaoon kya?

Toh bolo na kya seva karoon? He leaned and whispered in her ears: Bedroom mein chalo, main tumharey pair dabaa deta hoon!

Pair ya aur kuchh dabaogey…Badmaash! She whispered back, pinching him. "Jaao, zyada masti nahin…doctor ne manaa kiya hai…no exercise till 5th month!...... She winked at him and laughed, passing him into the hallway.

He followed her, sighing: Main exercise ki baat kab kar raha tha? Main toh seva karna chahta hoon….apni Biwi ka.

She laughed and showed him her thumb (thenga) and went to the terrace, where she settled down with a fashion magazine in a chair, enjoying the warm sun of October.

Angad called Prateek and they went down to the lawn to play a rowdy game of soccer while Kripa watched them from the terrace.

*****************************************************

That night, they stood in a close embrace on the moonlit terrace after Prateek had gone to bed.

Kripa looked at the waning moon, suddenly assailed with doubts. What would happen to her family? The shadow of Damodar's violence always hung upon their heads. What kind of life would they give their children? Always watching their backs? Travelling with high security?

Angad, kya hum yahan se bahut door nahin jaa saktey? Mujehy apney bachchon ke liye bahut fikr ho rahi hai….wo Damodar….

Ssshhh…uss manhoos ka naam mat lo ….ab toh tumhey har waqt khushi ki baatein sochna chahiye. He stroked her hair strands, comforting her…..Don't worry, Sweetheart! Papa hain na….he will take care of everything! Papa ke rehtey huey koi hamara ya hamarey bachchon ka baal bhi banka nahin kar sakta. Trust me on this one! Tumhey apney Papa per bharosa hai na?

She nodded, looking up into his luminous eyes: Haan, Papa per bhi aur tum per bhi. Poora bharosa hai mujhey! Thanks Angad!

Thanks kis baat ki? He kissed her nose….laughing softly.

[YOUTUBE] </><" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></><'>http://www.youtube.com/v/neKoK87Fkwk"></param><p aram[/YOUTUBE]

****************** ******************************************

The next morning, Godfather came to Kripa with a little box.
Beti, yeh tumhari khushkhabri ke liye meri taraf se ek tohfa….tumharey honay waley bachchey ke liye.

She opened the box….it was a gold chain with a Ganesh pendant.

She looked at her father with surprise: Lekin Papa, abhi toh delivery ko bahut der hai….yeh aap khud usey pehna deejiyega , jab wo janam lega toh…..

Nahin, Beti….tum isey apney paas rakh lo…..main shayad bhool jaaoonga baad mein…..umr dhal rahi hai, sab kuchh yaad nahin rehta"

She turned suspicious, he must be hiding something from her. She held his arm, stopping him from leaving: Papa , mujhey sach sach batayiye…..aap aisa kyun kar rahey hain? Kya aapko lagta hai aap baby ke janam tak yahan nahin rahengey? Hamarey saath?

He averted his eyes, looking guilty. How could he tell her he was going to play THE biggest gamble….with his life? His last stand against Damodar……his last meeting with his lifelong enemy, his Nemesis? It could go off as planned….or everything could go wrong! How could he tell her in this condition?

He quickly turned to her and held her arms : Beti, mujhey kuchh nahin hoga, main kahin nahin jaa raha..…..main toh buss yeh tohfa apney navasey ke liye laya hoon…..I cant wait for him or her to come. He laughed forcibly: Jab log budhey hotay hain toh bahut besabr ho jaatey hain… mera bhi wahi haal hai"

Kripa wasn't convinced totally but she smiled and touched his feet: Thanks Papa! Aapka ashirwaad aur pyaar hi hamarey liye sabsey badi gifts hain. Main issey sambhalkar rakhoongi aur bachchey ko Hospital mein hi pehna doongi.

She touched the Ganesh statue reverently : Siddhi-Vinayak Jee merey bachchey ki suraksha karengey!

****************** ************************************

Nishant Saxena called his crack team to a special meeting. CBI Officers Dhruv, Shanti, Daksh and Neeraj. He gave them special orders, charting the plan of action.

"12 tareekh ko hum Dubai jaa rahey hain….humein khabar mili hai wahan Bajaj aur Pandey ka ek bahut hi zabardast meeting honay wala hai. Yeh ek aitihaasic (historic ) meeting hoga …kuchh bhi ho sakta hai! We have to be ready to catch them red-handed. Un dono ne aaj tak na jaaney kitney jurm kiye hain…..ab unhey kanoon ko jawaab dena padega. Come on team! I want the best action, the best results! Pata karo, Pandey wahan per kahan thehra hai….kahan meeting hogi un dono ki. We have to get all the information beforehand. No last-minute surprises, GOT IT?

All the officers chanted together: YES SIR!
GOOD! Now u can all go and start on the case.

After his officers left, Nishant sighed silently: Josh, merey dost, terey maut ka badla lena ab bhi baaki hai….uss Damodar Pandey ke aadmiyon ne tujhey bahut berehmi se maara tha…..I wont let him go! I will finish him. And that Bajaj….aaj tak humein jhansa deta aaya hai…ab uski khair nahin….hum usey rangein haathon pakad lengey….meeting with a notorious Don from Mumbai. Do do Mob Boss ek saath……what a CATCH!
Nishant rubbed his hands gleefully. He was looking forward to this assignment!


*********************************************************

Javed finally got news from Raghu's house in Mumbai……
Raghu's elder brother told him: Maa toh wapas aa gayi …..un gundon ne unhey chhod diya….lekin Raghu ka koi pata nahin…..humney Police mein report likhaya hai….wo aaj dus din se lapata hai"

Godfather shook his head sadly when he heard it. He knew Raghu was "sleeping with the fishes" somewhere in the narrow creeks of Borivli. He had got his punishment from Damodar for failing to kill Angad on his wedding night! At least Damu had spared the mother….it seemed Damu was getting softer with age. Earlier he would have killed the old mother too. Godfather thought that was a good sign for his plan!

Javed shed tears for his dead friend and vowed to destroy Damodar and his gang. GF consoled him, assuring him that utter evil like that can never go unpunished!

****************************************************

Damodar and his group of 3 men arrived in Dubai on October 11th and checked into the most expensive Hotel. He had to show off his wealth to Godfather, so he spared no expenses for the meeting. His nephew Mahesh, his right hand man Jaggu and his gun and ammo expert Rocky were with him. They splurged like crazy on alcohol, threw their weight around and generally were a nuisance for their 3 day stay before the meeting.

Don Aziz, the most powerful Don of Dubai and Godfather's personal friend, received Damodar's party and promised to be the neutral party who would select and check the meeting place.

But Damodar wasn't convinced……he wanted Rocky to check the place out too!Aziz was displeased but didn't protest. Godfather had already told him what kind of a man Damodar was….not a human, more like an uncouth, violent beast!

There was a Clubhouse on the city outskirts, by the Ocean. It was surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens….it had many rooms, card-rooms, Billiards-room, a large indoor swimming pool, changing rooms, meeting rooms, Library, Kitchen and Dining-Hall.

That Club was chosen as the meeting ground for the two Mob Bosses. The day before the meeting, 12 men provided by Aziz checked out the grounds, the rooms of the Clubhouse thoroughly with metal detectors, bomb sniffing dogs, they checked out everything possible. Then Rocky and Jaggu went in with their indigenous methods and checked the peripheries for any guns, explosives or other killing instruments. Godfather declined to send a search team. He said he had complete faith in Don Aziz and his capabilities.

*********************************************************

The evening before the meeting, 8 P.M.:

After an early dinner, Kripa and Prateek had gone to bed…..Kripa felt tired and listless most of the time now. Godfather signalled Angad and Kartik to follow him outside. He walked to Zaib's mausoleum and faced the sea. There, in the dark confines of the mausoleum, he outlined his plan to them. Kartik and Angad listened intently, nodding and agreeing. Only a thin sliver of moon witnessed their secret consultations.

***************************************************

Later that night:

Dark clouds had enveloped the thin sliver of moon. In the darkness of the night, two shadowy figures crept up the manicured lawns of the Dubai Clubhouse, hiding behind trees and bushes intermittently. They slipped inside the Clubhouse…..there was utter silence, occasionally broken by the screeching of night owls. Half an hour later, the two shadowy figures slipped out again, unnoticed by the Security Guard snoring in the vestibule of the Club. Unnoticed by two of Don Aziz's men guarding the entrance and exit doors respectively. They had climbed in and out through an open window!

____________________________________________________________ ___________

pallavi

Sorry for the very late update becuz of health reasons!

Thanks to all your comments! 😳

PART 67

The day dawned dark, gloomy and overcast! It was going down today…..the business deal that would supposedly guarantee ceasefire and lifelong safety for Godfather and his associates. That would ensure peace between the two gangs.
The two diehard enemies would meet for the first time that day…..face to face instead of targetting each other from afar.

Kripa had no idea about all this……she was kept in the dark. Her father and Angad didn't want her to be stressed out in that condition!

After breakfast, she asked Angad if they could go to town for some shopping, she needed some clothes for Prateek and medicines for herself.

A visibly tensed Angad almost blew a fuse : Nahin, Kripa! Aaj nahin….aaj humara sheher mein jaana namumkin hai.

Damodar and his men were in town, he couldn't dream of taking Kripa and Prateek to town in those circumstances.

Kripa was suspicious: Kyun? Aaj kyun nahin? Aaj mein kya khaas baat hai?

Godfather quickly intervened…he didn't want her to suspect anything: Beti…..aaj humein Hotel ke kaam se Dubai jaana hai. Ek important meeting hai….isiliye aaj nahin…tum kal chali jaana"

Kripa smiled and nodded: Theek hai…..phir hum kal hi jayengey"

Godfather suggested: Kuchh zaroori ho toh driver ko apna list de do, wo le aayega"

Nahin, main khud jaana chahti hoon…..Kripa insisted….koi baat nahin, hum kal chalengey"

Godfather and Angad exchanged glances…..kal kisney dekha hai? Who knew where and how they would be the next day……..

****************** ****************************************

Nishant and his men had arrived in Dubai 3 days ago…..they were staying incognito at a secret location and were in constant contact with Dubai Crime Branch. That morning, their contact informed them that the meeting between the two Crime Bosses had been fixed for 4 p.m. at the Clubhouse, just outside the city.

The meeting had been scheduled for late afternoon…..4 P.M.
Godfather, Angad, Kartik and Shabbir..…..that was Godfather's group supposed to meet Damodar and his group in the Clubhouse.
Four against four….that was the equation.
Shabbir was the lawyer from Godfather's side; Damodar's nephew Mahesh was the lawyer from the other side.
The transaction was all ready to be completed.

Shabbir arrived in Dubai 2 days before, but he wasn't staying at the Villa He knew he was still persona-non-grata with Godfather so he was keeping his distance, especially from Angad, whom he had betrayed to the CBI.

2 P.M.

Godfather, Angad and Kartik closeted themselves in the Study after lunch, going over the fine details of their plan.
At 3 P.M. they emerged, all ready to proceed to the final destination, which will decide their fate and future existence.

Kripa and Prateek were taking afternoon naps in the main bedroom.
Godfather went in first to bid them goodbye….he stood near the door, gazing at his daughter and grandson with tears in his eyes: Beti, Bhagwan naa karey yeh hamari aakhri mulaqat ho. Tum dono ka pyaar mujhey phir se tumharey paas kheench layega. Aur agar main naa laut sakoon toh mera aashirwaad tumharey saath hamesha rahega. Khush raho beti…..Angad ka aur apney bachchon ka khayal rakhna. I love you, my child! Alvida!….. Nahin alvida nahin…..I will return to you, I promise you that!

He slipped out as silently as he had come in, brushing the tears from his eyes, strengthening his heart with resolve to survive for the sake of his family.

Angad sneaked in after him and gazed for some time at his wife and child. He prayed to God to keep them safe, to make their mission successful so he could return safely to his family. Finally, he tiptoed to the bed, slipped a letter under Kripa's pillow. He bent to place a tender kiss on Prateek's head, then kissed Kripa's lips.

Her eyes opened a chink….she peered sleepily: Tum jaa rahey ho?

Haan, meeting ke liye Dubai jaa raha hoon. Shaam tak ghar wapas aa jaoonga (he lied with a comforting smile) Don't get up! Tum aaram karo, Prateek uth jayega! He whispered and kissed her again.

She smiled sleepily at him and stroked his cheek : Jaldi aana! ….he left the room, she drifted back to sleep.


Their car left the Villa compound and proceeded to Dubai city. Mr. Mittal and Kalyani watched them leave from the window with worried faces. They knew about the transaction taking place that day and were extremely worried about their safety.

Kalyani had assured Godfather that she would take care of Kripa and her kids, no matter what happened! Javed and 2 Bodyguards guarded the Villa.

*******************************************************

4 P.M. The Clubhouse.
A stretch limo pulled up in front of the Clubhouse. Damodar, Mahesh, Rocky and Jaggu got down, looking incongruous in expensive suits. They puffed up their chests, stuffed their hands in coat pockets, trying to look business-like.
Don Aziz was the facilitator for the meeting. His men greeted Damodar's group at the Clubhouse door.

Aayiye….Janaab! Idhar tashreef rakhiye! Humein aapki talashi leni padegi, iskey liye maafi chahtey hain!

Damodar rolled his bloodshot eyes at the courteous guy: Bajaj aa gaya kya?
Nahin, Mr. Bajaj abhi tak nahin aaye…..lekin jaldi aa jayengey"

As they were speaking, the Lincoln Navigator pulled up at the Clubhouse steps.
Godfather, and his group descended, similarly dressed in dark business suits but looking a lot more distinguished and polished in comparison.

Damodar turned his face away, he didn't want to greet his enemy first.
Godfather went up the steps, shook hands warmly with Don Aziz and thanked him profusely for his cooperation.

Aziz smiled and patted his hand : Yeh hamarey liye khushi ki baat hai jo hum aapkey kaam aa sakey….ab ayiye, hum meeting shuru kartey hain….lekin ussey pehley sabki talaashi leni padegi"

Don Aziz's men frisked all the 8 men for guns, knives or other weapons, then checked them thoroughly with metal detectors. Nothing metallic was found on them except keychains, watches and rings.

The Clubhouse was searched swiftly once more for any possible bombs or weapons.

Finally Aziz declared it safe to start the transactions.
The meeting had been arranged in the Main Parlor of the Club, adjoining the Dining-room and Kitchen.
The two groups proceeded to the Parlor, accompanied by Don Aziz and 2 of his men.

A long Conference table had been set up in advance, with crystal wine glasses, dinner plates, and flower arrangements. It looked more like a dinner party than a business meeting. Damodar curled his lip at all the fancy arrangements. He belonged to a different class of gangsters and didn't appreciate such finery for a business deal.

FINALLY! The two antagonists stood face to face at the table!
Aziz introduced them formally. They sized each other up. The taller Bajaj looked down upon the shorter and scruffy Damodar with a slight sneer.

They didn't shake hands….just looked at each other with a quarter century of virulent hatred, bitter enmity and untamed violence simmering between them!
Eventually, Godfather tilted his head and greeted his enemy: Hello, Pandey!
Damodar glared up at him: Bajaj!
If looks could kill, both would be dead!

To lighten up the charged atmosphere, Don Aziz butted in: Kyun na hum meeting shuru karein?

They sat down on opposite sides of the table, Aziz at the head.
Both groups of men looked poisonously at each other, especially Rocky and Jaggu cast murderous looks at Angad and Kartik. They wanted to avenge the deaths of their mates.

Shabbir passed the transaction papers silently to Mahesh….who took a look at them and whispered in his uncle's ears.
"Bajaj ne apna Hotel, apna makaan aur ek Health-Club….sab aapkey naam kar diya….badley mein hum unhey ya unkey saathiyon ko future mein kabhie attack nahin kar saktey"

Damodar nodded in satisfaction. This Bajaj was such a fool…..did he think he would honor that vow….that contract?. As soon as the deal was done, he would send his men to kill Bajaj and his adopted family of riffraff.

Damodar looked virulently at Angad and Kartik…..those two had killed many of his men….at the first chance, he was going to off them: Pehley toh un dono ku**on ko khatam karna hai…..phir baaki sabko. Aur phir Angad ki biwi ko…….he smiled lecherously…..paanch saal pehley sa*li haath se nikal gayi thi…..abki baar usey jaaney nahin doonga"

Shabbir spoke up : Deal sign karney se pehley 2nd page ki shart ko padh leejiye. Agar wo shart poori nahin kee gayi toh…..yeh contract radd (cancelled) ho jayega

Damodar shrugged his bushy eyebrows at his nephew: Bachhua, yeh kya keh raha hai? Kaun sa shart? Kaisa shart?

Mahesh pulled the contract towards him and turned to the 2nd page, reading carefully. Then he spoke to Damu in a low voice: Chachajee, yahan likha hai agar aapney iss deal ke baad Bajaj ya uskey kisi bhi saathi per hamla kiya toh yeh deal radd ho jayega. Aur Dubai sheher ki Council wo saari property zabt (seize) kar legi.

Damodar looked very disappointed. On the one hand was the property, on the other hand, revenge and gratituitous violence! He relinquished all future plans of slaughter and rape. He frowned, looking uglier than ever: Theek hai, humein manzoor hai! Bol, kahan sign karna hai?

Mahesh pointed out the spaces, Damodar quickly scribbled his signatures. Then the contract was passed on to Godfather, who signed it with nonchalant grace.
3 copies of the contract were signed by both the Bosses. One copy was passed on to Aziz for safekeeping. The other 2 copies were taken by Shabbir and Mahesh.
Damodar grinned suddenly. He finally believed that he was the owner of Hotel Regency, Dubai and Godfather's lavish seaside Villa.

Wo makaan humein kab milega? He asked with a greedy gleam in his beady eyes.

Godfather smirked: Contract ka waqt shuru hoga ek haftey baad. Tab tak hum makaan khali kar dengey.

Damodar's smile widened, he felt like a victorious King! He owned properties abroad, like an International Crime Boss!! He puffed up with importance, with pride. Best of all, those properties had been ceded to him by Bajaj....who had accepted defeat and surrendered his wealth to him in exchange for safety!

He was in a jovial mood, so when Aziz suggested they should have refreshments to complete the deal, he didn't demur.

Just as tea, coffee, wine and appetizers were being served, Don Aziz got a phone call. It seemed urgent because he suddenly got up and announced : Excuse me, Gentlemen! Mujhey ab jaana padega! Ek zaroori baat aa gayi hai! You all continue!

While passing Godfather's chair on his way out, he quickly bent down and whispered: Bajaj, get out of here! CBI ka team yahan aa raha hai!!

Godfather just nodded, he didn't move an inch!
As soon as Aziz and his men left the room, Damodar pounced on Godfather: Usney kya bola? Bataa…..kahin tu humein double-cross toh nahin kar raha? His suspicions were aroused at once by the Don's abrupt departure.

Godfather looked haughtily at Damodar: Main kahin nahin jaa raha, aap bhi chupchap baithiye! Aziz Bhai ko kahin jaana tha. Unhoney mujhey wahi bataya. Aap kyun itna pareshan ho rahey hain? Deal is DONE! Mera Dubai ka saara jaidaad ab apka hai. Phir bhi aap itna shaq kyun kar rahey hain?

Damodar sat down again, slightly placated. The two groups silently sipped on their beverages and snacks, eyeing each other warily. Suddenly they heard a sound in the Kitchen.

Angad sprang up: Uncle! Main dekhkar aata hoon.
He ran out before Damodar or his men could stop him. Jaggu said: Boss, main bhi dekhkar aaoon?

Damodar suspected something fishy was going on. What if Angad was waiting in the Kitchen to pounce on Jaggu?

Nahin, tu yahan baith….koi darkaar nahin jaaney ki.
Suddenly there were sounds of a helicopter whirring over the Clubhouse, and LOUD police sirens.

Damodar and Godfather both sprang up from their chairs and ran to the window.

The CBI team had arrived …..Nishant got down from the Dubai Crime Branch Van and took a bullhorn : ATTENTION! MR. PANDEY AND MR. BAJAJ! AAP DONO APNEY SAAREY ADMIYON KE SAATH ISSI WAQT BAAHAR AA JAYIYE! HUMNEY AAPKO CHARON TARAF SE GHER LIYA HAI! BACHNEY KA KOI RAASTA NAHIN. APNEY HAATH UPAR KARKEY CLUB SE BAAHAR NIKAL AAYIYE! WE PROMISE WE WONT SHOOT IF YOU ARE UNARMED!

Damodar jumped at Godfather's throat: SA**A, KA***NA, K**TA! TUNEY POLICE KO BULA LIYA? YEH HAI TERI CHAAL? MAIN TUJHEY NAHIN CHHODUNGA! He tried to strangle the taller Bajaj, while hanging from his neck.

Godfather flung him away like a piece of trash, harshly grinding out with clenched teeth: PANDEY, HOSH MEIN AAO……MAIN KYUN CBI KO BULAOONGA? WO HUM DONO KE LIYE AAYE HAIN! HUM DONO KE GANG MEIN SE KISINEY HUMEIN DOUBLE-CROSS KIYA HAI.

KISNEY? MAIN USKA KHOON PEE JAOONGA! Damodar's bloodshot eyes rolled around the room. Shabbir, the rat, sensing trouble, tried to sidle out of the room.

Godfather pointed at him: Hum mein se kewal Shabbir hi India gaya tha. Usney shayad…..

Jaggu and Rocky ran after Shabbir and caught him near the door, bundling him in their arms and dragged him back to Damodar.

KYUN BEY! TUNEY CBI KO BATAYA? BOL…….Damu slapped Shabbir really hard with his huge, slabby hands!

Shabbir's nose started bleeding…..he looked terrified: NAHIN, PANDEY JEE, MAINEY NAHIN BATAYA! BAJAJ JHOOTH BOL RAHA HAI! MAINEY KUCHH NAHIN BATAYA!

Bajaj sneered at him: Main jhooth bol raha hoon? Hongkong mein bhi toh tum CBI ke contact mein the…..tab humney tumhey maaf kar diya tha wo hamari galti thi. Tum ek namak-haraam ho"

Kyun bey Saaley! CBI ki dalaali karta hai? Jaggu and Rocky started beating up Shabbir!



Nishant was getting impatient outside: BAJAJ! PANDEY! AAP DONO ABHI CLUBHOUSE SE BAAHAR NIKLIYE! NAHIN TOH HUM ANDAR AA RAHEY HAIN! AAP BHAAG NAHIN SAKTEY…..KOI FAAYDA NAHIN…..HELICOPTER SE AAPKO MONITOR KIYA JAYEGA! Nishant repeated his warnings on the bullhorn.

Suddenly there were loud sounds of gunshots! Bajaj, Damodar and their men looked stunned. Who was firing guns? They didn't carry any weapons! Then who was……???

The sound seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Damodar howled with rage: ANGADD! AAJ MAIN TUJHEY DEKH LOONGA! JAGGU, JAA MAAR USEY!

Jaggu and Rocky ran towards the kitchen. Damodar lunged at Bajaj again with his bare fists : DHOKHEYBAAZ! APNEY AADMI SE HUMPAR GOLIYAN CHALATA HAI?

Godfather side-stepped him and gave a neat Karate chop on his neck, knocking him out cold!

Mahesh tried to run out the door……Kartik caught and flung him against the wall, knocking him out too! Now there were only two left.

Jaggu and Rocky ran out of the kitchen: BOSS! ANGAD TOH WAHAN NAHIN….KAHIN BHAAG GAYA….AUR KOI GUN BHI NAHIN WAHAN !

They stopped short at the door, staring with horror at Damodar and Mahesh lying on the floor, unconscious. They didn't notice Kartik and Godfather standing behind the door with two heavy chairs raised to hit them!

BAMMMM! They brought down the chairs on their heads…..Jaggu and Rocky dropped to the floor unconscious!

Godfather and Kartik brushed off their hands with satisfied smiles…..they looked at the 5 unconscious men on the floor, including Shabbir!
The first part of their plan was complete!

Nishant kept on blaring over the loudspeaker but there was no effect. It had been 15 minutes, yet nobody appeared at the door.
He announced: BAJAJ! PANDEY! NOW YOUR TIME IS UP! WE ARE COMING IN! DON'T TRY TO SHOOT! WE HAVE 30 MEN WITH US! YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED!

BOOOMMMMMM! BOOOMMMMM!!! BOOOMMMMMM!

Three gigantic explosions tore through the Clubhouse! Nishant and the CBI Officers sprang back, looking horrified as the whole building burst into a ball of fire! Doors and windows flew out with the impact of the bombs! CBI and Dubai Police ran for cover!

The building burned down within half an hour!
When the fire engines arrived, it was already half gone!
The Dubai fire Brigade managed to extinguish the fires after 2 hours.
The CBI team went inside at last. They found 8 bodies, charred beyond recognition. Some of them were missing limbs and faces!
The bodies were taken away for post-mortem and identification by DNA testing!

****************** ***********************************

Meanwhile Kripa had awakened from her nap to find Prateek quietly playing with his video games in the bedroom.

She got up quickly: Sunny Beta, tumney mujhey jagaya kyun nahin? Kitney baj gaye? She looked at the bedside clock: Hey Raam! Chhai baj gaye? Angad aur Papa abhi tak wapas nahin aaye?

Her eyes fell upon the letter stuck near her pillow: Yeh kya hai?
She opened the letter and froze….it was Angad's handwriting:

Kripa,
Jaaneman, Sweetheart! BE STRONG! Yeh chitthi padhney se pehley apney dil ko mazboot kar lo! I don't want anything happening to you or our baby!

Ab dhyaan se padho! Main aur Papa aaj hum sabkey Bhavishya ka faisla karney jaa rahey hain! Please don't be afraid! Darney ki koi baat nahin…..main tumharey paas jaldi wapas aaoonga. Whatever you hear, don't believe it! Main zinda hoon, aur zinda rahoonga. Tumhara pyaar mujhey zinda rakhega! I'm not DEAD! Lekin duniya ki nazron mein mujhey phir se marna padega. Main pehley bhi wapas aaya tha, iss baar bhi tumharey paas wapas aaoonga!

Wait for my signal!
Raat ke theek dus bajey….samundar ki ore dekhna…..merey pyaar ki nishani aasmaan mein hogi. Samajh lena main bilkul theek hoon!
Yeh chitthi padhney ke baad isey turant jalakar raakh kar dena. Ek bhi tukda bachna nahin chahiye
I love you, Jaan! Mera Intezaar karna!

Tumhara Angad!



Kripa's hands shook violently, the letter fell from her hands. She quickly picked it up and followed Angad's instructions. She burned the letter to ashes, making sure not a single speck remained.

She was shaking inside, calm on the outside. She took deep breaths to calm her terrified anxiety. She didn't want to harm her baby!

Prateek came running up to her: Mama, Dad abhi tak kyun nahin aaye?
She forced a smile to her lips: Abhi aa jayengey, Beta! Chalo, hum dinner kar letey hain!

She went to the Dining-room…..Kalyani served dinner, looking equally tensed and worried. The two women exchanged glances…..Kalyani bent near her ears and whispered: Beti, tu chinta mat kar! Bhagwan sab theek hi karengey! Angad zaroor wapas aayega. Bhaisaab ko bhi kuchh nahin hoga"

Mr. Mittal looked 10 years older in his worry. But they all had dinner in silence and retired to bed.

Exactly at ten, Kripa was waiting on the terrace for Angad's signal. Prateek was sleeping…..she paced restlessly on the terrace in the semi-darkness under the moonless sky.

The clock struck ten! She looked towards the sea…..her eyes searching for her beloved's sign. Suddenly a red flare shot up in the sky above the sea! Then another one followed…..2 red flares! Did that mean both Angad and Papa were safe?

She sobbed out with relief: Angad! Papa!
The flares were quite far off….at least 2 miles offshore! She wondered where they were? Were they in the yacht? In the speedboat?
Wherever they were, she fervently hoped they were safe and would return soon to her.

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Next: Last Part!

pallavi

LAST PART

"Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya
Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha,
Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya
Tadatmanam Srijami Aham'.
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV-7)

NO!….he couldn't do that to Sunny! He was the apple of Josh's eye…..Josh would never rest in peace if his Sunny was unhappy! And Kripa's baby?….he/she needed a father too….Josh's child would be fatherless if Angad was caught! NO…..he would not hunt for Angad anymore. His search was over!

For Kripa and her unborn child, for Prateek's sake…..from today Angad was officially dead!!

His mind made up, Nishant entered the kitchen, clearing his throat loudly.
Thanks Bhabhi! Humari talashi khatam ho gayi. I am very sorry to disturb you all! Angad ke maut ka mujhey bahut khed hai….please accept my condolences.

Kripa was having tea and dry toast….she stared at Nishant in surprise, then remembered she was the bereaved widow and made a tragic face.

Nishant continued: Bhabhi aap chinta mat keejiye, we will take care of everything. Funerals ka intezaam buss aap logon ko karna hoga.

Kripa looked down and nodded….she couldn't meet his eyes. Funeral….she shuddered at the word. Hey Raam! Angad aur Papa ke baarey mein wo shabd sunkar bhi mera kaleja kaanp uthta hai. Kartik Bhaiyaa ka kya hua? Wo bhi zaroor surakshit hongay!.... She prayed silently for the safety of all three.

Kalyani assured Nishant : Hum zaroor Antim Sanskar ka sab intezaam kar lengey. Bhaisaab ki aakhri icchha thi ke unka daah- sanskar (cremation) yahin per kiya jaye, samundar ke kinarey.

Nishant nodded, then extended his hand to Kripa: Bhabhi, apna khayal rakhna…..kabhi koi zaroorat padey toh mujhey zaroor yaad karna. I wish you all the best…..with your family.

Kripa looked up with a jerk….her eyes met Nishant's….she knew then that he knew….that Angad was alive, that she was pretending to be his widow.

Nishant silently conveyed with his eyes that she and Angad were safe now….he wouldn't pursue the matter anymore. They could lead normal lives…..the CBI wont pursue Angad any longer. She thanked him silently with her eyes. She was surprised at his change of heart but didn't probe too deeply.

Thank you, Nishant! She took his hand and pressed it with gratitude. Nishant nodded and pressed her hands in assurance.

Nishant let Angad go scot-free…..but he wasn't going to let Bajaj escape so easily. He would try his best to prove that the charred body wasn't Bajaj's. If only he had found some skin or hair samples of Godfather. Little did Nishant know that Godfather's daughter was sitting right in front of him!

The CBI team left the Villa after refusing Kalyani's kind offer of lunch. Nishant was tired yet exuberant that his late friend and collegue was going to be a father.

The 4 bodies from Godfather's team were sent for post mortem and DNA testing.
Shabbir was positively identified and declared dead. The other 3 bodies seemed to be in advanced stages of rigor mortis and were suspected to have died from head and body wounds.

BUT….their DNA matched identically with the blood samples collected from Dubai Hospital. They were Mr. Bajaj, Angad and Kartik. Only Nishant knew the truth and he wasn't telling! It was surmised that Godfather and his men had an altercation with Pandey's men in the Clubhouse. ….after Aziz and his men had left. They must have hit each other, inflicted wounds on each other, even killed each other before the bombs exploded.


BUT the Million Dollar Question was : WHO HAD PLANTED THE BOMBS? AND HOW?


*****************************************************

GODFATHER'S PLAN: What really happened that evening in the Clubhouse and how it was all planned: .

Long before Kripa entered his life as his daughter, Godfather had felt restless….he wanted out…out from the life of crime, from the vicious cycle of violence and vengeance with Damodar. He wanted peace and tranquillity. He also felt guilty about dragging such good young men as Angad and Kartik into the business, he wanted to give them normal lives too. That was when he started planning the whole thing!

Then he found out Kripa was his daughter and his plans accelerated. He couldn't let Kripa, Angad and their children live in fear of violence, terrified of attacks all their lives.

He knew in order to end the circle of vengeance, he would have to eliminate Damodar altogether. He also knew Damodar was extremely greedy and wanted a finger in the pie of International Business.
Pandey had remained a small time Mobster of Mumbai and would jump at the offer of expanding his kingdom of Crime.

Godfather dropped the bait through Shabbir….whom he had kept at bay in Rio, till it was time to bring him into the picture. He knew Shabbir would betray them again….he was almost sure Shabbir would inform CBI. Just in case Shabbir didn't, he had his trusted guy in Mumbai lined up to place an anonymous call to CBI.
The CBI's presence was a crucial part of his plan!

But Shabbir didn't disappoint him…..he called CBI and informed Nishant about the deal going down betweeen Bajaj and Pandey in Dubai…on Oct. 15th
Shabbir did it for revenge, and also for the reward money offered by the Police for Pandey and Bajaj being caught red-handed, while fighting.

Damodar took the bait as GF had expected!
Godfather asked his old friend, Don Aziz to help him with the negotiations with Pandey. Aziz happily agreed. GF had helped him during his gang wars with a rival Don of Sharjah….now he wanted to return the favor.

It was Godfather who suggested the Clubhouse indirectly to Aziz…..so cleverly that Aziz thought it was his idea. The Clubhouse was suitable for the meeting and also for GF's plan. It was in Dubai's outskirts, it was right next to the Sea…..ideal for the PLAN!

Aziz and his men searched the premises and building thoroughly for Bombs, knives, guns, etc. As mentioned before, the Clubhouse had a big Kitchen, a full sized indoor Swimming Pool and changing rooms.

Already hidden in the Changing room lockers in large plastic bodybags ….were 3 deadbodies ….of 3 men killed in accidents/murders during the previous week. Godfather had them brought in from Sharjah…..to deflect suspicions. Luckily, the 3 men were quite tall and hefty, with the same stature as GF, Angad and Kartik. Their blood samples had been taken and sent to Dubai Hospital where GF had many contacts…and he was a major Donor too!
Those samples were stored under the names of Bajaj, Angad and Kartik.

And now for the Bomb. The only type of bombs that cant be detected by bomb detectors are plastic explosives: RDX or C4. Godfather obtained some high quality C4 from a nearby country. Aziz's men had used bomb detectors throughout the place that day…and found nothing. That's because they were plastic explosives hidden in the KITCHEN!

Very late that night, explosives expert Javed and Kartik sneaked into the Clubhouse through a window. Javed fitted the three bombs to the microwave, to the Stove and the gas cylinder. The Microwave and Stove timers would work as detonators alongwith explosion of the gas cylinders. A few firecrackers were also hidden in the Kitchen for Angad's games.

The stage was set for the whole deception. For smoke and mirrors….for the biggest illusion since Houdini's act. Godfather had always admired magicians, now he wanted to do his own disappearing act.

Damodar's gang arrived, so did GF and his men. The Clubhouse was searched again but as usual the RDX escaped detection. And nobody even thought of going through all the changing room lockers one by one.

The meeting convened with Aziz as Moderator. Javed called Aziz from outside phone and informed him about CBI and Dubai Police approaching.

Aziz left in a hurry after warning GF about approaching cops. A timed cuckoo clock in the Kitchen started up soon afterwards. Angad jumped up on cue and ran to the kitchen, pretending to investigate the sound. He lit the firecrackers and escaped through a backdoor to the Changing rooms.

The firecrackers bursting in the Kitchen sounded like guns….Damodar sent Jaggu and Rocky to look for Angad and finish him off. Meanwhile Godfather and Kartik took care of Mahesh and Damu. Jaggu and Rocky didn't find Angad in the kitchen …..they emerged and got hit on their heads by GF and Kartik.
There were 5 unconscious men on the floor, Shabbir was already half-dead from Jaggu's beatings.

Godfather, Kartik and Angad dragged out one corpse each from the lockers and laid them in the Dining room with the other 5 men. Now there were 8 bodies.
Kartik went to the kitchen and set the timers on the microwave, the stove….and joined the link to the gas cylinder tubes. The bombs were ready…to go off in 15 minutes!

The 3 men ran to the changing rooms, opened a locker…where 3 wetsuits, diving gear and oxygen tanks were hidden. They put them on with lightning speed….and dived into the swimming pool.

3 minutes later, the bombs went off……exploding with terrible violence, destroying all solid objects in their vicinity, killing Damodar, Mahesh, Jaggu, Rocky and Shabbir.

Next: Epilogues A and B

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pallavi