FF:Felonious chapter 35A-28/3/2019 - Page 31

Originally posted by: radhika007

nice

Chapter 31

A big thank you for all the readers who are still there with me in this. I Know I was away without a note but what to do was struck up with work so badly, I just got today sometime to draft and I drafted as much I could, I know it will not be sufficient with the way I kept it on hold for such a long period but can't help more than this.

I'm letting you know guys beforehand that I may not be able to give regular updates till mid-December as I have my exams coming up. So please bear with me, whenever I find any time I will surely try to give an update.

"What do you mean by really? I'm his son and what is there to fool in this and why would I?"

"Because she is dead long back in an accident and her husband and son were declared dead along with her."

Now it was time for both Arnav and Khushi to look dumbfounded.

"What? Dead?" it took Arnav a few minutes to even react.

"How sure are you that the accident which you are speaking about is of my mother?" the man for sure cannot remember details of a person and an incident which took place years ago.

"Because I loved her, she was my first love and I kept tabs on her life even after she got married," he said in a low tone.

"Now, I'm for sure you are lying about this whole knowing about her and the accident, see, I don't know why you want to test me but I'm not in for this," Arnav stood up, here he was living a life full of confusions and the man wants to make it his entertainment.

"Is Akash your father?" the man too stood up looking confidently at the boy in front of him to deny.

"Yes, he is but..."

"How would I know about him if I don't know about your mother?"

"This sounds illogical, only because you are able to guess my father's name doesn't mean you knew about them?"

"if you can sit for a few minutes and listen to everything I say maybe you would find the logic behind everything"

"What is the guarantee that you are not lying?" he still was not sure if continuing the talk with this man would bear anything fruitful to them.

"Arnav, let's listen to him first, later we can analyze it for it's bonafide. We may find some information which can be of help to us, as it is we are standing at a point where there is no way for us to get to the root of this, let us not lose anything which came our way. And what would he get lying about it now?" seeing the man get up to get a coffee for himself Khushi spoke turning towards Arnav.

"If I say that I was a student of this same school maybe then you can start trusting me a bit and when I say that I was senior to her by one year maybe then you will know how I know about her so closely. You can as well verify my records too here if you are still suspicious about my intentions," he said looking at the unsure faces of the couple.

"It's not that, it's just everything at the moment is very confusing for us so... please tell us." Khushi took the lead as Arnav was blankly looking at the coffee mug which was pushed towards him without blinking.

"Anjali was a very silent person, minding her own business, never the one to give a chance to mentors to complain, but everything changed with the entry of Akash in her life, she started skipping her classes, her grades fell, her behavior can be easily differentiated everything blew out of proportion when I and Akash had a fight, there were rumors spreading on her love life with Akash and to some extent everyone started to believe that she was keeping me hooked too as an option and that is the reason I fought with Akash."

"That is not true, my mom is not like that" Arnav started defending as if it is happening in front of him and his certifying the facts would change the situations.

"Yes, she is not like that, she never knew I had a feeling for her, she considered me just as her senior, her guide nothing more, I was the one who built dreams of our togetherness, and it shattered bitterly for me when I understood she started falling for Akash, the guy who is the last person any parent would want to give their daughter's hand in marriage. I couldn't see her wasting away her life for someone like him, so one day I finally decided to end this matter by dealing with Akash rather than warning Anjali, as I couldn't reason with her about my extra caringness towards her life. I don't want to lose her by expressing my love, just in case she decides to end our friendship but finally, life has its own way to deal with us, the inevitable has happened"

"Being a person who never supported such fights in school when I got into a fight with Akash the matter spread like a fire, as Anjali was already involved with Akash before that and she was also a good friend of mine stories were made up linking us three. I was not able to deny the fact that I had fight for her sake but it was misunderstood by everyone including her. She stopped meeting me, the smile which used to come my way whenever we crossed our paths in the campus was turned to hateful looks. Seeing my life falling apart my parents decided to send me away to a different city, I had no choice but to accept to their terms, but I was not able to forget her so whenever I visited my family here I secretly kept a tab on her too, once I came to know she was married to Akash I had no strength left in me to see the girl I love with someone I despise so I stopped further secret visits to her place. Few years down the line I woke up to a news which stated Anjali dead along with her family, I was not sure if she is the one but got it confirmed. I always wished for her happiness even if she was not with me but never dreamt of her life getting ended this way."

There was a dead pause for five minutes where neither of the occupants spoke, all were reeling in the past, Khushi looked up to see Arnav still in the same position, the only thing which is indicating that he heard the whole conversation were his eyes, which now has turned into blood red and tears which were kept under control with a great difficulty from flowing free as he heard about the hardships his mother has to face. She turned towards the man who spoke till now, his hand holding the untouched coffee mug to not show his trembling hands but which are denying his orders, his eyes downcast with a trace of tears on the eyelashes, his shoulders slumped.

"why did you fight with him? On what basis have you decided that my father was not the one for my mom?" he spoke once he gained a control over his senses. there needs to be no doubt kept in dark.

"Love. Love makes us do all the things which on any sane day we would never dream of doing, just like Anjali started changing due to love even I changed. He ..."

"Only because he was an orphan you decided he is not capable of looking after my mother?" Arnav didn't give a chance for the man to answer his insides burning with rage, due to one wrong step this man had taken his mother had to face the wrath, he escaped too when he got a chance but his mother, she burned for his mistakes.

"No, I didn't judge him because he was an orphan but I... wait what do you mean by Orphan? I saw a lady with him many times when they used to go for grocery shopping, I don't know much about their relationship but she was his guardian as she was the one who used to come on his family's behalf whenever a need arisen."

Arnav sat with clutching his head, now who is this lady? Why is it getting deeper and deeper? But for now, he has no stamina left in him to listen to any more new revelations.

"Do you know where they used to stay?" it was Khushi this time, seeing Arnav it was clear he will not be able to continue this conversation anymore without getting emotionally drained further. They need to find clues which are related to the current situation, as it is getting shadier the more they try to solve the puzzle, it would be better to handle one at a time.

"About Anjali, I can say for sure as I used to follow her after school without her knowledge but about Akash, I'm not sure, I just saw them a few times in the grocery shop, but still I can give you those details"

"She is no more right? I don't know why you are here after so many years trying to get the details, I'm no one to question you for that matter. But I wish if the reason you mentioned was true." the man though knew that what he wished for can never happen still a part of him wanted the boy's answer to be yes that his mother was indeed there somewhere in the city alive waiting for a birthday surprise, just like the boy who was declared dead was in front of him after so many years, he wants the same to happen with his first love, so that he gets just one chance to let her know what he felt back then.

"I wish I was here for the same" with that the couple in front of him was gone.

...

"Arnav, we don't even know in which colony he used to stay how many doors are we going to knock asking for someone who used to stay here two decades ago?"

"I have no other choice Khushi, If you want I can drop you at HOME"

"No, it is not what I mean, we are together in this, I will come with you" the last she wants between them is a misunderstanding, with all that is going on, she for sure, can't sit relaxed in her room while he runs from door to door trying to solve the mystery which started due to her.

The whole day passed with no positive result not that they were hoping to find any but still a small unsure part wished for everything to fall in place without much trouble.

...

Next day as promised Mr. Dilip the man who met them the day before in school has called.

"The address in Delhi is the same as the one I gave you, but there is Lucknow address mentioned as a permanent address, may you get lucky there, I'm forwarding you the address."

Maybe Lucknow has all the answers to his current dilemma.

...

"Lucknow? But why alone? I will accompany you." Khushi doesn't want to leave him alone, god forbid what he would get to hear there.

"No Khushi, I don't know how many days it would take me to find out and I don't want to drag you into this, as it is you are burdened."

"Arnav, are you still angry with me? whatever I said I didn't mean that I'm burdened with all this, please let me come along with you"

"no, Khushi it's better if you are here, keep in touch with La, she would be there just in case of an emergency, I will call you to give an update on the situation, take care." he was gone before he breaks his decision himself asking her to accompany him by looking at her tearful requesting eyes. He was not angry with her but with a lot already on her plate, he doesn't want to drag her further into his mess.

...

Khushi and Lavanya were sitting in La's cabin looking at the pre-wedding shoot of Lavanya and Rohan. Khushi was amused at the pictures as they have different backgrounds which are not in Delhi and which La and Rohan never visited. Along with the shoot photos were some of their selfies which were photoshopped in a funny way.

"This, it is so cute, you guys are looking so adorable together Lavanya, and what is this?"

"Thank you, You can edit the images Khushi, that why we have wings and all other stuff on us in this," she said smiling explaining Khushi how to do it.

"We can do it even now?"

"Yes, come let us click a selfie first, let us give you a complete makeover at least in the pics." saying so she showed Khushi how to pose and added a yellow color bobbed cut hairstyle to her.

"Hahaha, this is seriously fun, show me some more options please"

Both of them sat editing the photos when Khushi wanted to try different looks on Arnav to see how he would look.

"La, call Arnav once and ask him to send his picture," Khushi suddenly became serious in the middle of their fun session of giving Arnav different looks.

"a picture along with his father" she added as an afterthought.

"OKAY" she didn't know what is that which is brewing between Arnav and Khushi, there will always be an unusual mysterious aura surrounding them, the way they behave with weird requests at weird places, she chose to ignore it for time being and placed a call to Arnav requesting him what Khushi has asked for.

"See, here it is, what is it you want to do with this now?" she asked showing the image which Arnav sent.

"Edit it as I say please" Khushi started giving instructions on what look she wants to see.

Khushi sat paralyzed when she got to see the final look. Arnav's father, the man whom she felt she has seen before, he was none other the man who came to leave NK in the orphanage. She can never forget the man, as she always was thankful to him as because of him she got NK, but wait as far as she remembers on that day he was perfectly fine, and Arnav mentioned to her that he was handicapped in the accident he lost his mother, then how is it possible for him to be normal while enrolling NK?

Is there anyone else who looks like him?

Is she mistaken?

Did she forget the face of the man?

"Because she is dead long back in an accident and her husband and son were declared dead along with her."

"she started falling for Akash, the guy who is the last person any parent would want to give their daughter's hand in marriage."

"what do you mean by Orphan? I saw a lady with him many times when they used to go for grocery shopping, I don't know much about their relationship but she was his guardian as she was the one who used to come on his family's behalf whenever a need arisen."

Is Akash really what he is showing to the world?

Is Akash really handicapped?

Should she share her doubts with Arnav? What if she is proved wrong? With whatever happening currently should she drag him to this new confusion?

It would be better if she confirms it beforehand before revealing it to Arnav, but where to start the search from?

...

He wished if Khushi was there beside him to tell him that everything would be fine, he reached Lucknow the next day morning but seems like his patience levels are been checked a lot these days. No one has an idea of where could be his mother's family or what happened to them after her accident. After a lot of efforts, he came to know a friend of his grandfather who right now was on a pilgrimage visit who might know their whereabouts as he was quite close to them. He saved the old man's mobile number and tried calling him at different times but every time he was regarded with a voice mail message. As there is no use waiting further for the old man to return when he is not aware of the man's travel schedule he returned back to Delhi after 2 days. Maybe, for the time being, he can only keep an eye on both his father and Shyam hoping that they would do something which would lead him to find the answers.

...

"Hello...Hello, Aman...?" she tried to start the conversation but the phone was snatched before the person on the other side can respond.

"What the hell were you trying to do now, Payal? Have you gone mad? Why are contacting him? What if he tracks us here and takes you back?" he changed his voice to a fearful one to the end.

"So, how does it matter to you anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"You tell me Shyam, what does all this mean? Why are you postponing the wedding ceremony for a infinite time? Why are you keeping me locked up in this house when you don't spend time with me? Why did you get me here in the first place when you are in no idea of getting married to me? I'm tired waiting for you to decide further on this, what is stopping you now? Tell me, SPEAK UP"

"SPEAK UP, PLEASE" as much as she tries to look indifferent and strong she was not able to control her tears when he was standing unwaveringly in front of her when she is speaking so delicate topic.

"I know, what I'm doing, you better not repeat this, now freshen up, I don't like to see your face drenched up in tears, see I have bought a gift for you," he said handing her a little box.

"I don't want any of these please tell me what is that you have decided?"

"Be ready in five minutes, let me also see how my selection would look on you" with that he was gone.

"Shyam, SHYAM, SHYAAM..." she called him back but he was long gone, she looked at the box which was thrust in to her hands, it looks like a little jewelry box, she opened it just in case it has what she is looking for, she was disappointed to see earrings and threw it away.

PRECAP-Khushi gets a call and is shocked

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Any resemblance of the storyline or dialogues to other is just a coincidence and please do let me know if any such thing is noticed.