Part 12-Anurag's Nemo
As Nivedita headed towards her room she thought about tonight's events-the cancelled announcement, meeting Mr.Bajaj,interacting with him,Prerna leaving.She halted her steps as the last thought came to her mind.Of all the things that occurred tonight, this was the most bizarre of all.Over the last three months, Nivedita's opinion of Prerna had completely transformed.To Nivi, Prerna was no longer a gold digger,who had trapped her innocent brother with her sob story.On the contrary, she had come to respect her sister-in-law.Nivi now,saw her as a smart and resilient woman who saved them from a crazy murderer.Like Mohini,Anurag's reaction to Prerna's staged death had forced Nivedita to open her eyes to his feelings.And what Nivi saw had shocked her.She had always known that when her brother would fall in love,he would be dedicated,but she had never expected him to completely lose himself to another woman.Even now,Nivi is having a hard time believing that her practical and pragmatic brother sacrificed his love,his entire future and knowingly married a psychopath to save Prerna's house,her happiness,her future.Aur Prerna aise pati ko chhor rahi hai,Nivi thought ruefully,What is wrong with her?Abhi sab kuch kitna achcha chal raha hai uske liye.Baba wapas aa gaye hai,hum sab ne uss ko accept kar liya hai,Onu uss se kitna pyaar karta, bohot jald unka ek baby bhi aanewala hai.Kitna bright future hai uska,aur woh yeh sab kuch chhor ke jaa rahi hai?Kyun?Shayad Ma sahi kehti hai,jitna pyaar Onu Prerna se karta hai utna pyaar who usse nahi karti.Bechara,uske jaane se kitna upset huwa hoga.Let me go and check on him.When Nivedita reached Anurag's room,she saw her brother quietly sipping on a glass of milk,as their mother sat next to him,her expression thoughtful,as if she was hard at planning something.Nivi joined them at the coffee table,where she saw Prerna's picture lying on the table next to a plate of chocolate chip cookies.A tell-all sign of her brother's upset mood.Changing the topic,Nivi said,"I think aaj ki party Basu Publications ke liye bohot faidemand sabit hogi".This caught Mohini and Anurag's attention.Anurag responded,"Yes,Mr.Bajaj bhi kaafi khush lag rahe the.I think yeh deal kaafi smoothly jayegi". Hearing this Mohini added,"I hope so.Mujhe to darr tha ki kahi yeh humare scandal ke baare mein sunn ke yeh humari company ke saath deal sign karne se inkaar na karde.".Nivi rolled her eyes at that and said,"Please Ma, now you are overreacting". Mohini opened her mouth to speak when Nivi beat her to it,"Humne Usse jail bheja,Humne usko expose Kiya to yeh humara scandal kaise huwa?In fact, I think as a publication this gives us more credibility ki hum kissi bhi tarah ka injustice tolerate nahi karte even in our personal lives!". Mohini took a deep breath and talked to Nivi as if she was speaking to a child,"I get that Nivedita,lekin Komolika aur Onu ki shaadi sabne dekhi hai.Humare jitne bhi friends aur acquiantances hai sab jaante hai hum Komolika kitna support karte the.Main nahi chahti ki uss ladki ke saath saath log humare naam pe bhi kichar uchhaale.Main nahi chahti ki log ab uske naam ko bhi humare saath jore.Iss liye maine Moloy se kaha tha ki Anurag aur Prerna ki shaadi ki announcement karde aaj hi karde par...".Anurag put his hand on hers reassuringly and said,"Ma,please don't worry.Nivi Di sahi keh rahi hai,humne usse uski galti ki sazaa dilayi hai toh hum galat kaise ho sakte hai?Aur ek baar Komolika court mein guilty prove ho gayi to uska chapter bhi hamesha hamesha ke liye close ho jaayega.Phir uski identity sirf ek criminal ki hogi koi usse humare saath nahi jorega.And right now what matters most is that Mr.Bajaj humari company mein invest karna chahte hai, irrespective of Komolika's scandal.". This calmed Mohini a little.Anurag looked at Nivedita, looking concerned,"Lekin mujhe bas ek hi baat sataa rahi hai Nivi Di,agar Mr.Bajaj ko mortgage waali baat pataa chal jaaye toh?".
Nivi replied impatiently,"Onu,humare lawyers uspe kaam Kar rahe hai na?I am sure woh jald se jald koi na koi loophole zaroor dhundenge.Right now Mr.Bajaj ka investment hi humari company ko bacha sakta hai,we cannot afford to lose it!Aur unhe kaise pata chalega mortgage ke baare mein jab mahinon se mujhe, yani ki company ki MD ko iss ke baare mein nahi pata chala?!".She still couldn't get over the fact that so much had been happening in her house,in her company and she had been oblivious to all of it for so long!Anurag looked at her guiltily,"I am sorry,Nivi Di,aap jaanti hai naa ke mere paas aur koi...".
Nivi said,"Yeah,I know Onu you had no option.I get it.I understand you were in love with Prerna". Realizing that she can no longer ignore this topic Nivi said,"Waise ab tum log kya karne wale ho? Prerna aur tum?". Anurag fell back on the sofa, giving a long sigh.Mohini scolded Nivi,"Seriously Nivi!Yeh pehle se itna upset tha aur tum isse aur dukhi kar rahi ho.".
Nivi defended herself,"Come on Ma,Maine aisa kya pooch liya?Prerna ne sab ke saamne baba ko Shaadi ka announcement karne se roka aur ab woh ghar chhor ke chali gayi.I mean people are going to ask questions right?".
Anurag replied,"Nivi Di is right,Ma.Prerna divorce ke liye file karne wali hai Nivi Di."
Nivi was shocked at this,"What?!Kyu?Aur tum usse aisa karne doge?". Mohini and Anurag exchanged a look,before Anurag replied,"Main usse rokne ki Puri koshish karunga,Nivi Di."
"Good!",Nivi said impatiently,"Kyuki, abhi hum already bohot se controversies ko face kar rahe.Ek aur controversy humari company ke liye bilkul bhi achcha nahi hai.Please,try and make her understand this.Aur tumne uske dost se maafi maangi?".Anurag bowed his head down and quietly said,"Nahi.". Mohini bristled at this,"Mera Onu Kyu maafi maangega uss ladke se?Galti uski hai!".
Nivi asked,"Achcha Kya galti hai uski?Apne client ke orders ko follow karne ko galti nahi kehte Ma.".
Anurag answered frustratedly,"Nivi Di, Prerna bas uski client nahi,uski bachpan ki dost bhi hai,aur woh pregnant hai.Lekin phir bhi,Ved ne uski jaan khatre mein daali pehle toh mere peet peechhe yeh khatarnaak plan banaaya aur phir Komolika ko usse zinda dafna ne diya".A look of horror crossed his face as he imagined the worst,"Kya hota agar Prerna ko wakayi goli lag jaati ya phir uss kabar se nikalne se pehli hi woh dum tod deti?T-tab main Kya karta?",Anurag finished,his voice cracking as his eyes glistened with unshed tears.He buried his in his hands so that his mother and sister dont notice his tears.He never shared this with anyone,not even Prerna.But ever since he saw that video footage, he's been having recurring nightmares of Prerna's death, just the way he had thought she died in the video clip.Even now,with Komolika in jail he cannot sleep easy.While investigating Komolika,Ved had spoken to some of her past victims and the things he had learnt shocked them all, including Mishka.Her first ever victim was her ex best friend,who had dared to become more popular than her and paid the price with her life.Komolika had leaked her intimate pictures online, forcing the girl to commit suicide.After that,it was the leader of the student union of her college who had openly questioned Mr.Chaubey's credibility so she accused him of sexual harrassment.He and his family had to flee Meerut overnight,after Mr.Chaubey's party workers threatened to torch his house.And her list of crimes kept getting longer and more heinous over the years.The fear she had instilled in her victims,along with her dad's increasing power truly made her believe that she was invincible.Until,Prerna had shattered that faith.Who knows what she must be planning now?She must be planning to get back at all of them, especially Prerna!Until Komolika is convicted of all her crimes he cannot let his guard down.He cannot afford to be careless with Prerna and his family's safety.He needs to take precautions!His mother's voice broke into his thoughts.Taking his hands in hers, Mohini said reassuringly,"Lekin aisa kuchh nahi hua naa.Prerna aur tera bachcha dono theek hai.Komolika jail mein hai.Mr.Chaubey ab nahi rahe,uski help karne Wala aur koi nahi hai.Toh tu darr kyu Raha hai?"
Wiping his tears,"Ma main apne liye nahi,Prerna aur aap logo ke liye darr raha Hoon.Aap nahi jaanti Komolika ne aaj tak kitne logo ki zindagi barbaad ki hai, woh kuch bhi Kar sakti hai Ma!Uske trial ko abhi bhi do hafte baaki hai.Aur inn do hafto mein pata nahi woh kya karde?"Anurag said panicking."Onu-", Mohini tried to calm him down,but Anurag was having none of it.He cut her off saying,"Ma,main ab aur koi risk nahi Lena chahta.Please,aap baba se kehke sabke security ki arrangement kara dijiye.Koi bhi bina ID proof ke humare ghar ke andar nahi aana chahiye.".Realising this was the only way to calm him down, Mohini nodded.Nivi asked,"Aur Prerna aur Sharma family ka kya?".Mohini said,"Main kal hi Veena se baat karti hoon.Main usse keh dungi ki jab tak Komolika ko sazaa nahi milti tab tak woh sab humare ghar aakar rahe. Agar Prerna iss ghar mein rahegi toh Onu ko tension kam hogi,aur iss tarah main uske diet pe dhyaan rakh paungi.". Nivedita couldn't help rolling her eyes at the last bit.Ever since,Mohini had realised Prerna's worth in Anurag's life she had started looking after her,with a fanatic zeal.At first,when she had heard of Prerna's pregnancy,she had snubbed it,of course.Although even then,she saw to it that Prerna ate well and slept enough.That was the extent of her care.But now,Mohini had appointed herself to be Prerna's dietician,stylist and life coach.What she ate,what she wore,what she said had to be approved by Mohini first.At first,when Nivi noticed this,she was a little jealous.After all,Mohini never cared this much even for her owm daughters.But,after seeing Prerna's passive aggressive reaction to this,Nivi had decided to sit back and enjoy the show rather than pity herself.Strangely enough,her mother's care towards Prerna reminded her of Anurag's Finding Nemo episode.It was Anurag's sixth birthday,and as a birthday gift he had asked for a real Nemo.So instead of trying to make her son understand that a clownfish cannot be kept as pet, Mohini Basu had pulled some strings and gotten her son a clownfish along with it's expensive 6-feet salt water tank.While he was in school,she would personally take care of it.She wouldn't let anyone else,apart from Anurag and herself,feed the clownfish.However,inspite of all their care,Nemo the Clownfish died.Anurag had been inconsolable for weeks.To cheer him up,their parents had gotten him new toys,new books.Mohini was even about to get him another clownfish.But Anurag refused.He swore that no other pet would replace his Nemo!And he remained true to his words,Nemo had been his first and last pet.Pretty much like Prerna now, Nivi thought smiling.Her eyes fell on the emerald and diamond necklace lying at the dressing table.Mohini had selected this necklace for Prerna to wear to tonight's party.But she, instead went for pearls.Nivi said,"Ma,I guess Kal aapko Sharma's ke yaha jaane ki zaroorat nahi.". Surprised at this Mohini asked,"Kyun?".
Nivi replied looking towards the necklace,"Haan, kyunki Prerna apna necklace yaha bhool gayi hai.Uss ko wapas lene to woh aayegi hi.".
"Nahi,Nivi Di.Woh apne saath Jo bhi laayi thi sab kuch leke chali gayi.",Anurag said with a sad smile.He took out the keys Prerna had given him and said,"Ma,yeh cupboard ki chaabi.Apne usse jo bhi kapre aur jewelry diye the, sab usme hai.".
Mohini quietly took the keys from him.She picked up the empty glass of milk and platter of cookies and said,"Onu,ab tum araam kar lo.Nivi aur main chalte hai.And don't worry main kal hi Sharma Niwas jaungi.Good night baby.".She kissed him goodnight,and walked out of the room,followed by Nivi.As Mohini and Nivedita were climbing down the stairs Nivi said,"Ma,woh usse abhi divorce nahi de sakti.Ye Onu ke liye aur humare business ke liye bilkul bhi achcha nahi hai.Already,log humare baare main bohot kuch bol rahe hai"
Mohini was a little surprised at this,"Kyun?Upar toh tum hi keh rahi thi na ki Komolika ke scandal se hume nuksaan nahi faida hoga.". Nivi replied,"Haan Ma,agar press aur media walon ke saamne hum khud ko as a united family present kare toh Komolika ka scandal actually humare kaam aa sakta hai.Lekin agar news mein ab Anurag-Prerna ke divorce ki khabar aayi it will be a PR disaster!Did you know kuch log Prerna aur Komolika ke beech shart laga rahe the ke kaunsi biwi rahegi aur kaunsi biwi jaayegi?-"
Stunned, Mohini protested,"What rubbish?!Nivedita!Agar aisa kuch hota toh mujhe zaroor-"
"Yeh sab London mein ho Raha tha Ma.And you will be surprised to know ki humare kuch close friends aur associates ne bohot se paise haare hai.So the bottom line is, log already humare ghar ke problems ko tv serial ke plotlines ki tarah enjoy kar rahe hai.We have to stop this!We cannot let this go on,Ma.Iss liye yeh divorce rokna bohot zaroori hai!". Mohini replied,"I understand Nivi.Wait?Mr.Bajaj bhi toh London se hai.Do you think Mr.Bajaj ko iss bet ke baare mein pata hai?". Mohini was mortified at the thought of their new investor and a complete stranger, thinking of their family to be anything less than perfect.Nivi smiled reassuringly at this,"Agar unhe pata bhi hai,I don't think ki unhe koi farak padhta hai.And don't worry Ma,as a company we are perfect for him.Humari personal lives chahe jaisi bhi ho,humara record spotless hai.And that's what matters to him.Besides,maine iska bhi solution nikala hai.Maine apne kuch employees ko kehke market mein ek rumor start karaya hai." Mohini asked puzzled,"Kaisi afwaa?".
Nivi replied,"Yahi ki,Mr.Chaubey ke against press walon ko proof,humare inner circle mein se kissi ne di hai."
"Lekin Nivi-"Mohini was about to speak. "Ma,please trust me,main Jo Kar rahi hu,humari company ke bhalaayi ke liye Kar rahi hu.Ye afwaa jab Mr.Bajaj ke paas pohochegi,plus the fact ki humne Komolika ko arrest karwaya hai,toh unhe bhi humare credibility pe bharosa hoga.Phir chahe log humare personal life ke baare kuch bhi gossip kare,woh apne investment se peechhe nahi hatenge. And as a news publication,yahi humari sabse badi USP hai.Dekhiye Ma,hume Mr.Chaubey aur Komolika ki asliyaat ke baare mein nahi pata tha,yeh baat sirf hum jaante hai.Lekin humare competitor's Komolika ke scandal ko use kar sakte hai humari credibility ko question karne ke liye.Maine unhe yeh mauka nahi dena chahti iss liye maine yeh rumor start karaya tha.Aur please Ma,iss ke baare aap baba aur Onu se kuchh mat kehna,woh log isko kabhi support nahi karenge.". Mohini looked at her daughter for a while,then said,"Theek hai,Nivi.But I hope that you know what you are doing.".Nivi nodded and said,"Aap bas Prerna ko sambhaalena.Unka divorce nahi hona chahiye.Especially ab jab hum itni badi deal sign karne ja rahe hai."
"Tum uski chinta mat karo.Prerna mere Onu ko chhorke kahi nahi jayegi.", Mohini said determined. She walked to the kitchen, leaving a confused Nivedita behind.
Precap:"Mishka,tum mujhse kal jail mein Milne aa rahi ho,warna yeh tumhare aur tumhare uss sadakchhap boyfriend ke liye bilkul bhi achcha nahi hoga!Do you get that?!", Komolika yelled at the phone.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
