Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, girls. Hope I've covered as many loops as possible in this chapter.
Will update again on Friday. Sorry if this chapter doesn't meet your expectations.
Thank you all loads for your love and encouragement, without which this fic wouldn't have been possible.
Love y'all!🤗
Wishing you and your families a very happy, prosperous and safe Deepavali! See you all on Friday! Muah!!❤️
Chapter 12
"Shhh...Shhh...Meghana. Things will be alright; Chandini will be alright, I assure you. Arjun comforted Meghna, rubbing her back soothingly.
"She had been through so much and I didn't have a clue! Meghna cried further unable to stop herself, heaving every once in a while to manage her breath.
"Let's get out of here first. He steered her towards his bike. They mounted it and sped away to a cafeteria on the other side of town where they wouldn't be disturbed.
They found a table in a secluded corner and she grabbed a tissue and did her best to wipe her face, but the tears seemed to continue to pour. They placed their order and waited for it quietly, Arjun placing an arm across her shoulder in show of support.
"Today has been quite an emotional roller coaster ride, right? he expressed getting only a silent nod in response. He knew that she wasn't composed enough to talk yet, so he went on, "Imagine our shocking surprise when we went to give her ours; about our impending engagement.
He was still trying to wrap his mind around the new found revelation...Radhika was actually Chandini!!!!! The same Chandini Meghna couldn't stop talking about; the same Chandini whom she had been searching, for the past two years.
They sat in the same position for what felt like hours, each lost in the way they met six months ago and discussed Chandini and Radhika during the course of their relationship.
Their meeting was purely accidental or fate as many would call it. Arjun went to Varanasi to give his first lecture in BHU in a seminar organised by them. She was a post grad student in History and was so very fascinated by his lecture that she sought out to meet him to learn more on the topic. They hit it off on the word GO and conversed on diverse topics in relation to the History of India and the world. The immense knowledge he possessed in his field of expertise didn't make him arrogant. His humility and down-to-earth personality is what attracted him to her.
They didn't realise when they moved on to become friends. They exchanged emails and spoke with each other over phone; and occasionally met each other whenever Arjun was on tour to Varanasi as a guest lecturer. From friends they soon became good friends; it was during one such meet a few months later that Arjun spoke about his good friend, Radhika; about her being a fellow professor pursuing PhD in Sanskrit and that she volunteered in an organisation for mentally challenged during her spare time. It was evident from his expression that he admired her.
What was unexpected but nice, was that Meghna too opened up regarding her family and her past.She expressed the reason behind her being wary of men; the way she was jilted by a person whom she trusted and foolishly believed to have loved; the resulting pregnancy and having a baby out of wedlock. Arjun couldn't help but admire her honesty.
Thinking about it retrospectively, it was probably the moment he fell in love with her.
The topic of Chandini made its way into their discussion every now and then. Her admiration for her sister, her zeal for life, the manner in which she conducted herself, the will power to overcome any and all obstacles; and the sacrifices she made for the family, anything for the family she would say; to the extent of marrying a person whom her mom chose; her mysterious reasons for agreeing to marry Advay later on and choosing to bear the insults and humiliations to protect her secret. How she chose to go and live with him in Mumbai if it meant her family would not be put under the society's microscope.
As the days flew by, their conversations became deep, profound and personal. They shared mutual understanding and affection. Very soon it blossomed into love. Arjun took the courage to profess his love for her first and was pleasantly surprised when she reciprocated; it was undoubtedly the happiest day of his life and he was on cloud 9.
"I want to shout at the top of my voice and announce to the world that you are mine! He exclaimed, his happiness knowing no bounds, eliciting curious glances from people around them.
She blushed and hid her face between her palms, shyness taking over. He removed the barrier her hands presented and held them lightly in his, saying, "There is one special person to whom I want to introduce you personally, before our engagement and that is Radhika. And I will do that once I'm back from Mumbai. He assured her, excited about the prospect.
"Wish I could do the same with jiji She replied wistfully.
Listening to her speak so highly of her sister on multiple occasions, Arjun was very curious to meet her only to realise that Meghna had no clue as to where her sister was.
"What do you mean, you don't know how she is. You mentioned that she moved to Mumbai! he enquired
"My maa's order was that no one was to contact her or vice versa. She changed our numbers so that jiji couldn't contact us either; the only person who resisted her was our mama. She recollected tearfully. "That was the time I was terrified of my mom's anger and so was Shikha; I couldn't speak to her, to plead my jiji's case. We didn't want to rock the boat and waited for things to settle down.
"So you had absolutely no clue how she was doing, is it? It must have been such a worrying time for you, right? he shared his query.
"Yes, anxiety for my sister was killing us, me and Shikha; all we could do was pray for her safety and well-being, we still do. We would wait with bated breath for my mama to call, since he was the only one still in contact with jiji; anticipating that he would share a few titbits with us.
"So, how was your sister in Mumbai? It couldn't have been easy for her assuming her husband's hatred for her. he asked, worry in his voice mirroring that of meghna's.
"All mama would ever reveal was that jiji was fine. When goaded all he would say was that jiji admitted to being fine and that's all their conversation normally was, his voice etched with worry every time. But mama would ensure he called her every week to enquire after her though the conversation was minimal. she spoke sadly.
"Then what happened? he probed, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Mama used to visit us once or twice in a month. He didn't get along well with maa since jiji's marriage and rebelled against her and her decisions. The last he visited was 6 months after jiji moved to Mumbai. He went to meet maa that day and came back an enraged human being. He left without conversing, god knows where. The next I met him was when he brought Police officials a few days later to get her arrested for Dev's parents' murder conspiracy. She stated without emotion.
"What? he asked shocked.
"Yes, my maa, both maasis and chacha were taken into custody and have been sentenced to death for the same. She announced no pity evident in her voice. "Shikha and I moved to Varanasi along with baba. We live in our Mama's house; and you know the rest. She sighed.
"What about Chandini? How did your mama know the conspiracy behind Dev's parents' murder? he mounted the questions one on top of the other.
"Mama came to know about it directly through the horse's mouth...my maa. He overheard her conversation with my maasi. She paused a bit and continued, registering his shocked expression, "He was furious at her beyond words and wondered how to put her behind bars. He recorded their conversation discreetly to present it as evidence to court. His task though got sidetracked when an additional worry cropped up; that day jiji didn't respond to his regular weekly call. He kept trying her number only for it to be not reachable. He tried again the next day and the day after. When there was no response, he travelled all the way to Mumbai, anxiety eating away at him; at all of us. She sniffled to keep her tears at bay, "A lot happened in Mumbai that I'm still unaware of. But all mama told me was that jiji left Mumbai too, signing her divorce papers and could not be found for reasons unknown to him, that he confronted Advay about it. The fact that Dev was alive and was avenging his parents' death was accidentally blurted out by Advay in the heat of the moment. She relayed without taking a break.
"How...how did Advay know about Dev's whereabouts? he asked puzzled, trying to keep up.
"Yes, Dev was alive and well and...you know what?...He was none other than Advay. She announced, rather angrily.
"What? he asked reeling in shock.
"Yes, he apparently married my sister to exact his revenge for the destruction of his family for which he held my jiji responsible. She growled disgust and fury making her body tremble. "My mama reasoned with him and showed him proof of jiji's innocence. And together they solved the mystery behind the horrific incident and got the culprits arrested; all of which shikha and I came to know later through mama. But what was the use? My jiji left anyway, heartbroken and alone; left to pick up pieces. And there hasn't been a day since where I haven't wished that I had the willpower to admit my mistake in front of all. I could have spared my sister of the pain and humiliation. She added dejectedly.
He admired Meghna's love and support for her jiji and vowed that he would help and that together they will find her.
Meghna's weeping shook her body that day and he embraced her sideways, just like how he did now.
He hugged her tighter as the sobs seemed to subside and she spoke softly bringing them back to the present.
"Jiji had a very tough life; having to face my mother's awful treatment along with her scathing remarks, her kidnapping and PTSD but she never let it show. Even though she did a good job of covering it up, I could always sense that there was this acute inner sadness she hid very well from others. And it didn't help matters that our baba could never recollect memories of his eldest daughter. I tried to speak to her about it many a times, but she would always dodge the topic. She paused to catch her breath, "I always hoped and prayed that she would be released from this hell and that she would find a loving and understanding husband who would take away her pain and would fill her life with unlimited happiness and love. But she was only transported from one hell to another. Her voice filled with empathy for her sibling. She just wanted to get up, go and find her sister and crush her into a tight hug at that moment.
"How very unfortunate for her, right? he echoed her thoughts.
"I still cannot wrap my mind around the fact that Advay treated her with that amount of loathing. I hated it then, however much he expressed his regret later on to mama, he still does in fact; and I hate it even more now, after listening to jiji share it all with you. I would never forgive him for what he put my jiji through, whatever are his reasons! She exclaimed passionately, straightening her spine, fury pulsing through her.
After a few moments of shared silence and her anger subsiding, she continued, "I cannot thank God enough for bringing me to my Jiji through you Arjun, although it was totally the last thing either of us anticipated. She expressed her joy at having found her jiji in the most unplanned and unexpected way. "I am happy and relieved that she had your support for the past two years. God knows what would have happened had she landed somewhere else. She extended her gratitude to god and her Arjun.
"Rad...Chandini is a tough girl, Megha. He stated lost deep in thought, doubt creeping into his mind contradicting his observation.
"When you mentioned that your friend's name was Radhika and that she was pursuing PhD in Sanskrit, and that she moved 2 years ago, I really didn't pay attention to the details. Had I connected the dots, I would have located her a little earlier.
"I didn't get you, sorry. He apologised trying to pay attention to her words but getting distracted by the memory of his first meeting with Chandini. Never in his dreams did he think that the girl he befriended was his Megha's sister and that she was broken on the inside.
"Meaning, my sister's middle name is Radhika, named after our grandmother and she had completed her masters in Sanskrit. She explained. She looked at him sideways when he didn't respond and instantly observed his eyes clouded with uneasiness.
She pulled away and turned towards him; she turned his face towards her using her fingers and enquired worriedly, "What happened, Arjun? Is everything alright?
"No I don't think it is, Megha...not for Chandini. He answered honestly acknowledging his worry to Megha; the concern and pain for his dear friend evident in his tone.
"What do you mean, Arjun? She asked frantically as her heart started to pound loudly in her chest.
"I never shared how and where I met your sister the first time, since I thought it wasn't my secret to share, it was Radhika's. Whatever happened in Mumbai has shattered Chandini beyond repair, Megha. I wonder if she will ever get past it. He paused inhaling deeply and looked for the right words to go forward.
"Don't keep me waiting anymore, Arjun! Just spill it out already; you are scaring me! she shrieked, fear for her sister building in her system.
"Our first encounter was in a hospital room. She was waiting for her D&C procedure, as she suffered a miscarriage. He disclosed sadly, eliciting a pain-filled gasp from a shell-shocked Meghna.
"No...No...No...even God can't be this cruel! She exclaimed; her fingers covering her trembling lips and her head shaking sideways at the injustice life dealt her sister with.
TBC
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
