Chapter 1. Let's Meet Everyone.
"You may see me struggling but you will never see me quitting."
| AUSTRALIA |
Navya completed her call and was surprised to see Nandani nowhere in the room.
"Nandu!", she shouted to confirm if she was in the washroom. But No reply. Then where was she? She came out of the room and searched for her in the whole mansion where they both were living since last six years but Nandani wasn't anywhere.
"Oh God! Yeh phir terrace pe chali gyi kya..", Navya said to herself and went upstairs to the terrace.
"Yaar yeh itne bade bade ghar kyu bnate hai yeh log? Upar chadte chadte hi bande ka weight Ada hojaye..", Navya blabbered. Finally she reached at the terrace only to find Nandani sitting on the bench comfortably gazing at the stars. Navya sighed, "Tu yahan araam se bethi hai aur me tujhe pta hai kbse dhund rhi hun..", she said running towards the bench and sat beside Nandani.
Nandani didn't move or said anything just kept stairing at those twinkling objects in the sky. Navya was aware of her friend's inner turmoil so didn't intrude further and relaxed herself and she too started gazing at the stars.
"Kal me finally Raigarh ja rhi hun Navya.. After long wait of six years..", Nandani finally spoke tearing the silence, "Pta hai Raigarh aur yahan agar kuch common hai toh vo kya hai?", she continued never shifting her eyes from the stars.
"Kya?", Navya asked.
Nandani finally looked at Navya with a smile, "Yeh stars!", she pointed towards the sky, "Yeh Raigarh se bhi vese hi dikhte the jese yahan se dikhte hai.."
"I know you since last six years Nandani.. Tu aise stars ko dekhne tbhi ati hai when you are disturbed or feeling low.. But today you should be happy naah? You are going back!! To your home.. To your family.. To your friends.. Toh aaj kya Hua?"
Nandani chuckled, "True. Aj Vo din aagya hai jiska I was waiting since six years.. Finally RaniMaa ne meri Raigarh Ki ticket karadi.. But jitni Jane Ki Khushi hai, utna hi dar bhi lag rha hai Navya..", Nandani confessed looking at her only true friend since last six years.
"You are strong. I know you will handle everything.", Navya boosted her friend by keeping her hand on Nandani's shoulder, "Aur vese bhi ab toh me bhi aarhi hun tere sath..", she reminded her excitedly.
"Han.. Am so happy about it!! Itne Dino se mana rhi thi.. Finally you agreed to come with me.", Nandani exclaimed.
"Hmm.. It will be fun!"
"And pata h..", Nandani was about to say something but her phone started ringing.
"Is time kon h?", Navya asked. Nandani looked at the screen and sighed, "Gulati!"
"Yeh kbhi shanti se nhi jeene dengi Hume..", Navya too cursed her.
Nandani picked up the phone and put it on the speaker.
"Where are you Ms. Nandani?", Ms. Gulati asked.
"We are upstairs Ms. Gulati.", Nandani replied.
"Then come downstairs.. The dinner is ready.."
"Par Abhi Hume bhuk nhi h..", Nandani replied as she wanted to stay there for some more time.
"It's very essential for a princess to eat on time and then sleep on time.. How many times I have told you.. Am waiting for you.. Come downstairs..", Ms. Gulati said and cut the call.
"Am not coming.. Do whatever you want to do..", Nandani said looking at her mobile.
"Chal le Nandani.. Kyu bechari ko jate jate pareshaan kar rhi h.. Aaj hum chalte hai na time pe dinner krne.. Kya pata shock se mar jaye vo?", Navya said the last part excitedly. Nandani chuckled, "Chal. Mujhe use marne me bahut Khushi hogi.."
Both the friends came downstairs and saw Ms. Gulati ordering the servants to lay down the dinner properly.
"Dhang se khana garam krlo.. Araam se.. Vo dono itni jldi nhi ayenge..", they heard her saying to the servants. Nandani coughed to gain her attention. Ms. Gulati saw them and gasped, "Nandani.. Aap dono.. Itni jaldi?", he exclaimed horrified.
"Aise kyu bol rhi h aap.. Ap bulaye aur me na au aisa kbhi hosakta h kya..", Nandani said dramatically and sat on the dining table with Navya. Ms. Gulati forcefully smiled at Nandani's nautanki.
"Ap bethiye khana abhi aarha h bas..", Ms. Gulati informed them.
The food got served in a while and Nandani and Navya looked at each other mischievously. They understood each other and immediately picked up all the food and rushed towards their room before Ms. Gulati could understand anything. She just kept shouting at them, "Nandani.. Rukiye.. Navya wait.. Ms. Nandani you should dine on a table itself like a princess not on that messy bed of yours and aise bhagna toh bilkul bhi nhi chahiye ek Royal ladki ko..". But everything was in vain. Her shouts were landing on deaf ears.
She thrown herself on the chair holding her head. Ms. Gulati was a middle aged Woman who was appointed by RaniMaa to take care of Nandani and make her start behaving like a elite Royal Princess not a messy rebel tomboy that she is. But Ms. Gulati has failed.. Failed terribly. She is fed up with these two girls who have become a constant head ache to her. She tried, tried a lot but changing Nandani Chaudhary is not just difficult but an impossible task. She has invested her six years on her and there is not even a single change in Nandani and top of that tomorrow she's going back to Raigarh. She does not even want to imagine what trouble will Nandani bring there? And how will RaniMaa sew her? She's scared of that old lady so much. Coldness and power defines her. And how can she forget that Nandani is her grand daughter only.. Same stubbornness. Same aura. How could she change or teach her anything?
Nandani and Navya came into their room. Yes, they have been sharing a room since six years though living in such a huge mansion with so many rooms. Nandani was devastated when she came here and then she found Navya. She immediately connected to her. They become best of friends. Nandani didn't knew that she will become such a friend of someone other than Fab-5. She find someone to love her and stay with when she was totally alone in this country. Navya was an orphan so Nandani forced her to live with her instead of hostel and then onwards their friendship never looked back. They had their dinner and then decided to sleep as they were having an early morning flight the next day.
'RaniMaa you forcefully sent me here in the name of my studies.. You controlled my life till now.. But now am coming back.. And I will get each and every thing I deserve and have longed for..', Nandani thought with a determination before going to bed.
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| AMEERKOT, India. |
"It's their problem.. Not mine! And its for the benefit of Ameerkot only.. What's there to think so much? Yeh dam toh bnega.. It's a very profitable project..", Kuber Malhotra stated in front of the board members.
"Exactly.. It's very profitable.. And that's what you care about..", Manik Malhotra who was listening to the conversation silently all this while finally spoke arrogantly, "Agar yeh dam ban gya toh jante hai kitne logon Ki zindagi kharab hogi? (He throws a file towards his so called Dad) Yeh dekhiye.. This file contains all the details of the families that are living there jahan par aap apna dam bnana chahte h.. There are almost 100 poor families living there.. Unka kya hoga.. Ekbaar bhi socha apne?"
Kuber Malhotra didn't even gave a second glance to that file, "Unke resettlement Ki preparations almost hogyi h.. You need not to worry.."
"Resettlement? Kya vahan par unki Vo nadi (River) hogi.. Jis se unki rozi roti chalti h.."
"We need that damn river Manik... At any cost!", Kuber Malhotra was loosing his cool now.
"Vo river un logon Ki hai Mr. Malhotra that too sadiyon se.. Unki zindagi vahin se shuru hoti h aur vahin pe khatam.. You can't take from them their everything just for your profit."
Kuber Malhotra went silent. He can't afford to ruin his image in front of the board members. Though he ruled Ameerkot but a company has its own rules and all the board members of Malhotra Constructions were already on Manik's side.
Manik kept his idea of building their dam on another river which though was a smaller one but not many people are living there and thus they can easily be resettled. Most of the board members gave their vote to Manik's project And as majority always wins, Manik this time too won from Kuber Malhotra. He walked out of the conference room confidently not even glancing once at his dad.
Manik was passing by Dhruv's Cabin and Dhruv immediately came out seeing him.
"How was the meeting? Kya Hua?", Dhruv asked. He was trying to hide his impatience but how could he hide his emotions in front of his brother?
"Vhi Jo hmesha hota h..", Manik stated casually. Dhruv understood that his elder brother and father again had an argument in front of the board members.
"Wanna join me for a coffee?", Dhruv asked hopefully.
"Fine..", Manik replied after a pause. He didn't wanted to spoil his younger brother's mood and top of that what's better than having a cup of hot coffee after such a tiring day?
Both the brothers were about to go to cafeteria but a peon came towards Dhruv, "Dhruv Sir.. Kuber Sir apko apne cabin me bula rhe hai..". Dhruv looked apologetically at Manik as he had to go that too after he had invited him for a coffee.
"That's okay.. Vese bhi kafi late hogaya h.. Ab seedha ghar par hi milte h..", Manik stated. Dhruv nodded and Manik went away. Dhruv looked at his brother going. A lot has been changed between them but Dhruv is that one understanding brother who knows what Manik has gone through and what had made him like this. He just prays everyday that he get his old prankster fun- loving brother back.
Manik reached home and was going upstairs towards his room.
"Manik beta.. Dinner toh karlo..", he heard his Mom's voice and sighed. He looked towards her, "Am not hungry..", he stated dryly and again started going upstairs.
"Manik wait..", Neyonika Malhotra shouted but Manik didn't stop this time. She came in front of him, "Just stop it Manik.. Kitna bhagoge hum sab se? We are your family god damnit!! Just look at yourself.. Kbhi socha hai ki tum kya ban gye ho in 6 saalon me? Hua kya hai?", His mother let her pain out in front of her son.
"Jin logon ne meri zindagi kharab karne me koi kasar nhi chodi.. Vahi ake puch rhe h mujhse Ki hua kya hai? Isn't it great?", Manik said venomously looking straight into her mother's eyes and immediately went towards his room. Neyonika heard a loud noise when Manik banged the door of his room angrily. Tears started making their way from her eyes. She looked at the direction of her son's room, "Am sorry beta.. But trust me.. Mene Jo Kia hai ajtak aur Jo kar rhi hun.. Vo sab tumhare bhale ke liye.. Aur koi reason nhi h..", she said.
Manik reached his room and threw his blazer on the bed and opened the buttons of his shirt's cuffs and folded them up, switched on the TV and started expressing his frustration on the life less punching bag.
He was punching the bag hard while news reader was reading out the latest news in background.
"Aur is waqt Ki sabse badi khabar.. Nandani Chaudhary pure 6 saal ke baad Raigarh vapis aarhi h vobhi kal subah..", the news reporter said. Manik stopped punching hearing her name but didn't looked once in TV's direction.
"Veh in 6 saalon me social media se bhi door thi.. Sutron se pata chala h veh keval Chaudhary aur Singhania family ke sampark me thi.. Aur Kisi ke bhi nhi.."
Manik was out of breath after punching for So long but there was something more on his face which could easily be seen- Hatred, Anger and disappointment.
"Pure Hindustan ko besabri se intezaar hai unki vapsi ka.. The most beautiful princess Nandani Chaudhary kal 6 salon ke baad dobara sabko dikhengi.. Toh dil thaam ke bethiye.."
Manik chuckled sarcastically, "Dil thaam ke Bethe uske liye jise dil ka matlab bhi nhi pta..". He switched off the TV harshly and went towards the balcony banging the glass door. There was so much going inside his head as if his mind will explode any moment. He took a long breath in the cool air of night, "I won't let you control my life.. I won't let you control my emotions.. I don't care tum aa rhi ho ya jaa rhi ho.. I just don't give a damn!", Manik shouted as if telling the world that he doesn't care but more than that he wanted those words to sink into him so that his heart too understand that it does not have to care for HER.
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| RAIGARH, India |
"Bhabi ekbaar ap dekh lijiye.. Kuch reh toh nhi gya..", Shanno Chaudhary asked her sister in law to check the preparations of home coming of their daughter.
"Kesi batein karrhi ho Shanno.. Nandani ke mamle me mujhse phir bhi kuch reh sakta h.. Par tumse nhi..", Sarika Chaudhary replied.
"Aisi koi baat nhi h Bhabi.. Nandani ka intezaar hum sabne kiya hai itne saalon tak..", Shanno Said coming close to her. Sarika held Shanno's hand, "Mujhe toh yakin hi ni horha Ki hmari Nandu vapis aarhi hai.."
"Bilkul thk kaha Bhabi.. Pure 6 saal baad hum apni Nandu ko apni akhon ke saamne dekhenge..", Shanno's eyes got wet And Sarika's situation was also no less.
"Agar aplog abhi itne asoon bahadenge.. Toh kal jab Nandu ayegi.. Toh kya karoge?", they heard Kapil Chaudhary's voice. He was standing at the door of the kitchen seeing his wife and Bhabhi crying in each other's embrace.
"Kya kre Kapil? Yeh asoon ab Nandu ko dekhe bina toh nhi rukenge..", Sarika exclaimed.
"Bas yeh raat jaldi se beet jaye.. Mujhse toh subah tak ka intezaar nhi horha..", Shanno said childishly.
"Sone Ki koshish karoge toh raat bhi beet jayegi..", Everyone present in the kitchen heard a cold voice. Everyone looked at its direction and found Niharika Chaudhary standing at the gate.
"Ab raat bhar yahan khade hokar baatein karne ka iraada hai? Jayie sab apne apne kamron me.. Aur sojaiye..", Niharika ordered.
"Kya apko Nandu ke ane Ki Khushi Nhi hai?", Sarika asked her mother in law.
"Jinhone khud hmari bachi ko hmse itna time door rkha.. Unhe kya Khushi hogi uske ane ki..", Shanno muttered.
"Sai kahan tumne.. Humne hi Nandani ko Raigarh se itne saalon se door rkha.. Kyuki Vo yahan rehne ke layak nhi thi.. Ek achi rajkumari ka usme ek bhi gun nhi hai.. Aur in 6 saalon me bhi kuch khaas difference nhi Aya hai.. Par ab bahut hogya.. Hum khud use sudharenge.. Khud uspe nigraani rakhenge.. She has to do whatever she is meant to..", RaniMaa said with determination and went towards her room.
"Aur kitni nigraani rkhengi meri bachi par? Vahan Australia mebhi use chain se saans kahan lene di hai use..", Shanno cried.
"Ab tak toh yeh ladai door reh kar chal rhi thi.. Ek India me thi.. Ek Australia me.. Par dar toh is baat ka hai.. Ki jab dono aamne saamne ayenge.. Toh kesa toofan ayega Raigarh me..", Sarika said in a trance.
"Bhabi ap chinta mat kijiye.. Ab Raigarh me vhi hoga Jo sabke liye Sai hi hoga..", Kapil said and both the women nodded hopefully.
-----
| RAIGANJH, India |
Harshvardhan Singhania was going towards his room from the library but heard some noise from somewhere. He moved his legs towards that direction and he was not very surprised to stop at his nalayak grandson's room. He saw him doing push ups with a very loud music playing in background.
"Madhyam Singhania!", he called his grandson rudely but it went in vain as the loud music was not letting his voice to reach his ears. He again called him but the response was same. He then entered into the room and switched off the music system which suddenly caught Madhyam's attention. He stood up and looked in the direction where the music system was placed and found his Hitler Grand Pa standing there folding his hands across his chest glaring at him furiously.
"Yeh konsa waqt hai kasrat karne ka Madhyam vobhi itni tez gaane bjakar.. Is ghar me tumhare ilawa aur bhi log rehte hai shayd..", Harshvardan scolded Madhyam not missing the sarcasm.
"Vo dadaji actually me bas..", Madhyam tried to make an excuse but Harshvardhan cut him off, "Rehno do.. Mujhe tumhare silly excuses sun ne ka koi shauk nhi h.. If you are forgetting kal tumhe Nandani beti Ki flight land hone se phele airport pahunchna hai.. Tumhe is waqt tak so Jana chahiye tha but am not at all surprised.. You are always this careless..", Harshvardhan moved towards his grandson, "Tumhari fiance pure 6 saal baad vapis aarhi hai.. Ab toh thode responsible ban jao..", Harshvardhan said but got a boring sigh from Madhyam as a response.
"Am I clear?", Harshvardhan raised his voice a bit and Madhyam nodded reluctantly.
"Subah se shaam bas ise ek hi cheez ati hai.. Mujhe Bashan Dena!!", Madhyam muttered as soon as Harshvardhan took an exit from his room.
Madhyam was about to go to the bathroom and take a shower before sleeping but he saw his phone beeping. It was a message from his sweet sister Alya.
"Bhai.. You slept?", the message read.
"Naah.. But almost going to Aalu.. Tu bhi soja vrna Hitler ake tujhe bhi sunayega..", Madhyam replied.
"1. Sone se phele papa se baat krlena.. (Unhone kafi der phele apko bulane ke liye kaha tha but I forgot :p)
2. Don't you dare call me Aloo again.
3. Aur Hitler ne apko isliye sunaya because Nandani Ki kal early morning flight hai and you have to pick her up. (So, mujhe mat darao.)", was the reply he got from Aliya. Madhyam sighed after reading the message and muttered, "Puri family hi bhashan dene wali mili hai yar.."
He decided to meet his dad before taking shower and as expected he found him in his study.
"Aao Madhyam.. Bahut jaldi aagye..", Siddhant Singhania welcomed his only son inside his study sarcastically. Madhyam rolled his eyes and sat opposite to his father, "Vo Aliya ne abhi bataya.."
Madhyam's father nodded, "So kal Nandani vapis aarhi h.."
"Yeah.."
"It's better if I come straight to the point..", Siddhant Singhania said and got up from his chair and moved towards the window, "Kuch bhi ho jaye Madhyam.. Nandani hmare hath se nhi jaani chahiye.."
"Don't worry Dad.. I will handle her..", Madhyam replied casually.
"Vhi toh problem hai..", Madhyam's dad faced him again, "Nandani ko handle karna.. It's not that easy..". Madhyam too got up, "Ap chinta mat kijiye Dad.. Nandani ke pas aur koi option nhi hai.. She has to marry me.. At any cost.."
"Vo toh hai.. But still I don't want you to take Nandani casually.. I want her as your bride.. Be it by hook or crook.."
Madhyam smirked, "Yah dad.. Nandani ko kese control me rakhna hai I know.. Aap chinta mat kijiye aur so jaiye.."
"Fine. Good night.", Siddhant replied and Madhyam went towards his room.
"Ekbar bas sabkuch hmare plan ke according ho jaye Madhyam.. We will become the most powerful..", Siddhant whispered to himself with a smirk.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Well, there are still some important characters left to be introduced. I just couldn't include them in this chapter. I am planning to post a character sketch for this story next, what's say?
I know there must be many confusions, mystery and curiosity. But everything will be unfold dheere dheere.. Till then keep giving me your love through comments and inspire me to write even more jaldi! 😉
