FF: -Chandni- by Jalebi Jane EPISODE 1-14 Rest at JalebiJane.com - Page 14

the encounter in the hotel suite puzzled chandini .and his "why ?why?" keep riinging in her ears...

Loved part 9👏

EPISODE 10: ADOPTED-ABDUCTED

ADVAY WAS SPEAKING WITH HIS FATHER, Arnav Singh Raizada, on the telephone when Veer entered Starbeans. It was not yet eight am; the young man was early. A promising sign. Moreso, once Veer became aware that Advay was on the phone, he showed the grace to wait a distance from the table to afford him privacy. Another good indicator and not lost upon Advay.

Arnav was saying on the other end of the phone, "---So your mother is now aware you are in Allahabad. And your reason for being there."

This was not the best news. But Advay received it with some relief.

It had been immensely difficult for Advay to embark on this plan without Khushi's full blessing. Not only because they enjoyed a beautiful, trusting relationship---but because Khushi was in habit of calling/texting all her children several times a day. None of them---him, Aadarsh, Anika---could keep secrets from her for long.

But more significantly---coming to Allahabad to reclaim the Mahantship was something that would not have been possible without Khushi's foresight. You see, Sisters, once Khushi had become aware of Advay's origins, she had ensured that sacred study formed a part of his education. She had routinely invited scholars to Sheesh Mahal so Advay could learn from them. It had become a family joke that all school holidays included at least one stop at a pilgrimage site.

Khushi had ensured that once the Mahantship returned to Kayeshta hands, Advay would be equipped for it. And worthy of it.

"Is she upset?" Advay asked, cautiously.

"She is concerned, naturally," Arnav replied. "But she is more apprehensive of what the Vashishths are capable of." And after a pause added, "Look, Son, I suggest you keep her informed of your activities daily. Otherwise my life will be hell."

Advay smiled. The relationship between Amma and Papa was an exhilarating blend of deeply loving and passionately combative. But however formidable Arnav appeared to the world, all the Raizadas knew that Khushi held immense soft power. Arnav Singh Raizada may not say so very often, but his wife was the sine qua non of his existence.

"I will," promised Advay. And then lowering his tone, he said, "Papa, I have a meeting to attend to---may I call you back in an hour?"

"No," Arnav laughed. "Don't call me. Call your mother!"

"I'll do better than that---" said Advay, on an impulse, "---I'll come home for a day or two next week."

"Excellent," Arnav rejoiced. "I'm just going down for breakfast. I'll tell her. It'll make her very happy. But before you go---tell me, is everything progressing well? You sound tired."

"I had a bad night," Advay admitted.

His father's tone shifted to concern. "I know you want to do this on your own, but surely there is something that I can do to assist---?" Then adding, almost as though he were speaking to himself, "Sometimes I wonder if I have succeeded or failed at fatherhood. You. Aadarsh. Both of you are so bloody stubborn and independent. You leave nothing for me to do."

It was Advay's turn to laugh. "I'd call that a success."

But his father was not convinced. "As you wish. But know that I am always here for you. Bye for now."

Advay ended the call, wistfully. The desire to immediately get behind the wheel and speed home to Sheesh Mahal rose in his chest. But that was a temptation he could not indulge. There was much to do today.

Veer approached the table. He brought with him two mugs of coffee. Black and strong. Placing one mug opposite Advay, he teased, "Good party last night?" At Advay's questioning frown, he expanded, "Forgive me, Professor. But you look wrecked."

Advay had enough personal vanity to look sheepish. It was true that he was long overdue a haircut. Add to that a shortage of sleep. And neglecting to shave the last couple of days, he did look rather rough. He rubbed a hand over his jaw and retorted, "Better to be unkempt and manly, than pretty like you."

This brought a guffaw from Veer. "What can I say?" he said, self-deprecatingly, "Ammijaan wanted a son; Abbu wanted a daughter---so they settled for the most beautiful boy at the orphanage."

"You're adopted?"

"Yup," replied Veer, with pride. Adding, "Like yourself."

Advay was just bringing the coffee mug to his lip but Veer's comment gave him pause. "You've clearly researched me well, Veerlock," he complimented the younger man.

Veer said, "I did. However, this was more a question of simple math."

"Math?"

Veer explained himself: "If you are twenty-eight, then your mother would have been fourteen years old when you were born. So I flagged that. And then I came across an old newspaper article in which your father spoke about adoption. By the way, I was really impressed by his words."

"He's an impressive man," Advay agreed, solemnly. Then asked, "But which article are you referring to? Which newspaper?"

Advay was surprised. Arnav was staunchly private. Moreover, he was notoriously anti-media. He rarely gave interviews---not even business interviews---and certainly would never speak of family matters to a reporter. Indeed, Advay couldn't recollect a time when Arnav had even used the adjective 'adopted' to refer to him.

Veer removed a file folder from his messenger bag and pulled out a printout from amongst a sheaf of papers.

Veerlock had a file on him!

Advay was not sure whether to be anxious or amused. He looked askance at Veer as he took the article from his hand. "Am I interesting enough to deserve a dedicated file folder?"

"Not yet. This is my miscellaneous folder," Veer flashed a charming smile. "But I printed this article because I like how your father shut down that idiotic reporter."

Advay was not surprised to hear this. Many a media person had been famously skewered by Arnav Singh Raizada. He dropped his eyes to scan the article. It was from a fundraiser more than a dozen years ago. Hosted by a charitable organization founded by Papa's sister---their beloved Buaji---Anjali Raizada Malhotra. That explained why his father had agreed to the interview. But the reporter had made the grievous error of speaking of adoption as a charitable act. She had tried to praise the family by stating that Arnav and Anjali had each adopted a child.

Arnav had replied, "Yes, there are six children in our family. Two are adopted. I forget which two."*

Advay couldn't help but smile. It was classic ASR. He returned the article to Veer. Something about this young man stimulated his interest. And curiosity. He asked, "How old were you when you were adopted?"

"About four or five. Nobody knows for sure." Veer gave a casual shrug, though his reply pointed to the fact that his early life had clearly contained a dark period.

Yet there was absolutely nothing dark about Veer. He was ambitious but he carried it lightly. He was spirited but not trivial. And possessed a contagious joie de vivre.

He was also loquacious!

In the space of a few minutes Veer narrated to Advay his entire life-so-far. As much of it as he could remember. How he had been found by a farmer in a village not far from Kanpur, who then brought him to an orphanage there. How his parents had come to the orphanage that same day for a girl-child but left with him instead. How they were devout Muslims, but as it was obvious that he had been born to Hindu parents, they had left him to discover his own faith. How Abbu was the most famous halwai in the city. How Ammijaan taught English at the college. They had shifted from Kanpur to Allahabad six years ago when Veer was fourteen-fifteen.

He concluded his history with: "I intend to become one of the best investigative reporters our nation has ever seen."

Advay asked, "What are you investigating at the moment?"

Veer hesitated. But just for a moment. Then he lowered his voice to an intimate level and said, "An local unsolved case. A woman was abducted last year. Her abductor is still at large." As he said these words, he leaned forward, his eyes bright with interest. "Imagine this: She was taken from her own home by knifepoint. In the middle of the night. And held captive for three weeks in a cage---"

"A cage? Barbaric!" Advay exclaimed.

"---Yes, a cage!---For three weeks. Less than a mile from her home."

Advay found himself asking, "How was she rescued?"

Veer shook his head, and gave a wide smile. "By her own wits. She rescued herself. She convinced him to set her free."

"Incredible," Advay said.

"She is incredible," Veer confirmed.

But Advay continued, "Too incredible to be true. Are you sure that she didn't run away from home? Then regretful---she manufactured this horrific tale of abduction---so she would meet with sympathy upon her return."

At Advay's words, Veer slapped the tabletop, and said, "And this, Professor Raizada, is what everybody in Allahabad believes. That she ran away with her lover. Things soured. She returned home."

"That sounds reasonable."

"Very reasonable. To a small mind."

"Excuse me?!" Advay lifted a brow.

Veer protested, "No-no-no. I don't mean that you have a small mind---"

Advay interrupted, "---You mean that people will dismiss what is remarkable not based on evidence but because it is remarkable."

"Precisely!"

"But what evidence do you have besides the woman's testimony? Are there any witnesses? Who can corroborate her version? What about physical evidence? What was her state when she returned home? Was she examined by doctors?" The questions tripped off Advay's tongue. He couldn't understand why this story intrigued him so---especially at a time when he had his own pending agenda. Yet he found himself agitated beyond explanation.

"I have nothing," sighed Veer, crossing his arms. "Not even her blessing. She doesn't know I'm investigating her story. Her sister asked me to look into the matter. But it must be kept hush-hush. Her mother wants the incident forgot. Shikha says her sister would be open to investigation but she is abiding by their mother's wish---"

"Shikha? Vashishth?"

"Yes," Veer confirmed. "Shikha Vashishth, the Mahantniji's daughter."

"The woman you are speaking of---the victim---was Shikha Vashishth?"

"No, Shikha's sister was the victim. It was Chandni Vashishth who was abducted."

^{*Adapted from Bob Constantine.}

he now knows the chandinis abduction...he would definitely soften now and think back on his previous plan of coercion ...would wait to sees how he would approach chandini now...

Now here comes a plot twist. Amazing one I must say..👏 Can't wait for next update..❤️

Amazing update.. Waiting for the next post...

Amazing update,, loved it.
Continue soon please.
Wish advay and interact more in show actually.

Loved part 10👏

OMG he knows now of Chandni abduction
Shikha is in contact with Veer then
I like this update
This gives a better insight into Arshi and Advay relation
It also has the first good conversation Aday Veer had
Extraordinary update