Chapter 8
One week had passed since Pragya had left Abhi's life. With her she took, all the colour, joy and reason from his world. In those seven days the entire household saw how much of a shadow of his former self, Abhi had become. For the first two days he had hibernated in his bedroom. He had sat there for most part of it beating himself up about the situation. How could he have been such a fool? Abhi new now he had just have acted earlier. He should have seen all the signs. He was so wrapped up in his own useless mind, that he had failed to really notice all the warning signs. She had warned him she would speak to dadi. He should have made it clear to her then he wanted to explore their feelings towards one another, because somewhere along the way she had become a habit for him too and she was one habit he never ever wanted to break. After that though, Abhi had transformed himself. He took extra care of dadi, who didn't push him about anything, deep down he knew they were dancing around the idea of talking about it, but abhi wasn't ready and dadi knew this. He worked solidly. Day and night. He hardly spent anytime at home, but instead he immersed himself in the only thing he knew. Music. He hardly spoke with anyone expect when it was necessary, he kept everybody at arms length, letting the days blur into one. For he merely existed now. He did not live.
One evening he had come home after recording some tracks of his new album. It was late all Abhi could think of was sleep. It was dark when he entered his hall way apart from a few lamps that shone across the landing the house was quiet. He walked over to the dining table. Every night he came home and imagined Pragya would be waiting to serve him dinner, scolding him for coming home to late and making her wait to eat. He pulled out a chair and sat down on it, placing his elbows on the table and resting his face and eyes in his hands. He looked back up again and pulled out the piece of paper from his left breast jacket pocket, that had her note written on it. He had read the letter everyday. He often sat and looked at her handwriting, immersing himself in the pain she felt while she wrote it. He kept it on him at all times, as a constant reminder of the pain he put her through. It reminded him that he didn't deserve her. He felt someone put there hand on his shoulders
"Beta, kab tak esa chale ga?" His grandma was looking down at him with a sad expression. Abhi quickly stood up, putting the letter back, trying to mask his true emotion.
(Son, how long will this do?)
"Kya Hua dadi, me theek hoon, me to bas..." He tried to argue his case but dadi cut him off
( what's up dadi, I'm fine, I was just...)
"Jhoot mat Bol beta, beth jao"
(Dont lie son, sit down)
Abhi complied and sat down. His grandma walked away, appearing again after a few moments. She walked back over to the dining table and set down a plate. She began to feed Abhi with her hands,
"Dadi yeh app kya kar rahe hai, muje bhuk nahi hai..."
(Dadi what are you doing? I'm not hungry)
Dadi heard non of it, she kept looking at his face and held the morsel to his mouth and waited from his protest to be over and for him to agree to eat. Finally Abhi opened his mouth and accepted the food. Dadi smiled gently. It pained her greatly to see her grandson like this, she had hoped after a few days he would realise he loved Pragya and go and bring her back, but nothing of the sort had happened. If anything she was more convinced than ever of his love for her, but couldn't understand what was stopping him. This other "love" she thought. She decided she needed to press him, and seeing as she hadn't had much luck in the last week due to his evasive behaviour,she seized the opportunity, but too precaution to speak with tact and delicacy.
"Muje apki bohat chinta hai Abhi, bataye na, ap kyu ye dukh sehente ho beta? Tumhari ankhe saaf saaf kehte hai, app Pragya se kit na pyaar karte hai, to phir kyu unko ghar nahi layate hai"
(I'm very worried for you Abhi, tell me why you are putting yourself through this pain. Your eyes clearly say how much you love Pragya, so why don't you go and bring her home)
She held another mouthful up to Abhi's lips. He was shocked at his grandmas words at first. But slowly he reacted.
"Koi fayda nahi hai Abhi dadi, me ne us ko koh chuka hu" he looked down in guilt.
(There's no use now dadi, I've lost her)
How could he tell his grandma. He was not worthy of her, how would he explain to her what a monster her grandson had been, how he had made his own wife feel like the outsider in his marriage. How he had planned everyday to get rid of her and marry Tanu and now she was gone, he couldn't bear to go on with his own life. Dadis mind pricked up however, why had he lost her? She calmly continued,
"Muje batao na beta, esi kya baat hai? Jaha me khari hoon, ap unse pyaar karte hai, aur vo apse, to phir bat kya hai?"
(Tell me some, what has happened? From where I'm stood, you love her and she loves you, so what's the problem)
She pressed him further. He looked like he was battling with himself, he took a deep breath,
"Dadi me ap se nahi bata sakta hoon, me ne bohat bura kiye hai unke saath, me apko bata diya, to apka dil toot jaye ga, aur me ye nahi Sahan kar sakta hoon."
(Dadi I can't tell you, I've done really bad things to her, if I tell you ill break your heart and I can't deal with that)
He had started to cry again now, and dadi with her clean hand wiped away his tears.
"Dekho beta, esa nahi kiya jaye, tum mere Jaan ho Abhi, aur apki galti se mera dil nahi tootenga, mera dil tab tootenga, jab ap apni galti ko sudhar ne ki koy koshish nah ki hai, aur app muje bata de to me apki madad kar sakti hoon beta"
(Look Abhi, this isn't done, you are my life Abhi, your mistakes won't break my heart, it will only break when you don't do anything to rectify your mistakes, and if you tell me I might be able to help you)
Abhi broke down again. He hugged his grandma fiercely. She wrapped both her arms around him carefully keeping her spoiled hand away from him. She was the only person in his life that cared for him. Her and Pragya, and now that one of them had gone he needed dadi more than ever. He stayed like that for a few moments with her contemplating everything she had said. She knew not to push him any further, she wanted her children to know that she was the parent and sometimes it was okay to ask her for help still. Abhi would come to her in his own time, but for now there was one thing she did need to tell him. She pulled away from him stroking his cheek.
" Me ne, Sarla Ji se baat hui hai, Pragya ne unka parivaar ko apka rishta ne bare me bata diye hai"
(I have spoken to Sarla, Pragya she has told her family about your relationship)
Abhi looked up again at her again slighly taken back.
"Ghabraiye mat, me ne unse baat ki hai"
(Dont worry I have explained to her)
"Kya kaha apko unse? Naraz hai mujse?"
(What did she say? Is she angry at me?)
Abhi wanted to know everything, if there was anyone he loved equal to his dadi, it was his wife's family. They were incredible to him and he hated that fact that there was a good chance they would hate him. In the back of his mind he knew Pragya would have to eventually tell them, but nothing was ever going to prepare him for when he had to face them. Casually dadi replied,
"Ha Naraz to hai, lekin ho enge na beta?"
(Yes they're mad, but then they are going to be aren't they?)
His heart sank further. Dadi seemed quite cool about the situation. She continued to feed him his food, and speak
"Dekho, ap ki zindagi me ese loge, jo apse Sacha pyaar karte hai, bar bar nahi Milte hai, pyaar karte hai, to vo Naraz ho sakte na? Me janti hoon ap mujse poori baath nahi ki hai, aur me yeh bi janti hoon Pragya kuch chupa rahi thi, lekin pyaar me mushkil waqt to Honga, un ka samne kar na hai, himmat kar ke apko larna hoga, Bhagwan na Kare Abhi bohat der na ho jaye, aur phir ap akele Rehe jao ge. Me janti hoon apne kissi aur ko rishta ka vadha kiya hai, lekin vo galat hai beta, tum unse pyaar nahi karte to unko kaise khushi rakh pao ga?"
(Look in life you don't find people that truly love you easily. They can only be mad at you if they love you. I know you haven't told me everything and I know Pragya was also hiding something but in love there are difficult times. You have to face them and be brave and fight. I pray to god Abhi it doesn't become too late and you end up alone, I know you have promised a relationship to someone, but that's wrong son, if you don't love them how will you keep them happy?)
Abhi was stunned at his grandmas words. He was beginning to understand the women in his life understood him better than himself. She put down the plate and washed her hands using a glass of water channeling the water into the plate. She dried her hands and set the plate further into the table as if cleaning up. Abhi watched her as she did it. She stood up, stroked his head and turned to walk up towards her bedroom. Abhi sat there in silence for a while watching his dadi as she walked up the stairs. She was right. How would he keep Tanu happy if All he could think about was Pragya?
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The next day, the atmosphere had become slightly lighter. Though Abhi was his solemn reserved self, life in the Mehra mansion had started to learn to go on without Pragya. She had quietly been a large character in this home, and her absence felt like an elephant in every room. One room that would never miss her presence though. Aliyah's. It had been over one week since she had run into that corporator and every second she wished she had ripped his eyes out there and then and been done with this drama. He had not once contacted her and she was thinking all kinds of things. What was he planning? Why had he not contacted her, surely he needed her to stay out of jail. Unless he had found another way to do this without her? No she thought, there was no way he would be smart enough to out wit he. She paced up and down her room constantly checking her phone. She was a woman gone crazy. She was paranoid anytime anybody mentioned anything to do with the kidnapping. Thankfully this last week it had become less and less of a discussed topic in the household. Aliyah had to hand it to her bhabhi, her timing couldn't be better. The house was at a loss for her and this had proven to be very useful for aliyah, nobody was looking into the kidnapping. The commissioner had still not found Neil Thakkur, so for now she was safe. Over the last week, she had spent every moment of every day trying to find him. The problem was she knew nothing about him. She had resorted to checking out run down areas in Mumbai in the hope that she might catch him. But with no success. She didn't know where to turn. Tanu was beginning to irritate her. All she could think about was Abhi and as much as Tanu loved her brother she needed him to stay oblivious until she had sorted out this mess. Another day was slipping away and she was no closer to getting a lid on all of this. She had run out of ideas.
It had been a rare occurrence that Abhi had been in the house through the day. In the morning dadi had asked him to take her to the Mandir. He never normally liked to attend anything religious, but somehow going to the Mandir made him think of Pragya, and these days Abhi did everything he could to feel even a shred of how he felt when he was with her. He had silently attended and took part in the aarti, surprising even his dadi at how much he had changed and evolved. She had initially asked her to attend with him because she was tired of him running himself into the ground, she hoped they would talk further after their conversation last night. Dadi wanted to get Abhi alone and give him the opportunity to open up to her. She knew now whatever Abhi had done, was holding him back from making up with Pragya. It was clearly evident that he was remorseful over something but it wasn't yet clear as to what it was he was regretting. After they had finished at the Mandir, dadi had suggested they go to the park, like they had done when Abhi was a boy. In her struggle to bring them up it was one of the only things she could afford to do with her grandchildren. The thought made her sad. She faced hardships all her life in the hope that one day her children would go on to be fully successful in life. Though Abhi had conquered the material world and she couldn't have been prouder of him, he had failed to connect to the real world and somewhere along the way she had failed to teach Abhi the meaning and values of relationships. He was learning now though, and late was always better than never. They arrived at the park, and did all the things they used to. Abhi at first had protested. He didn't want to go, he had lost interest in so many things in life it pained his grandma to see it. But slowly he had come around. The park itself was a huge attraction. There were scenic walks, wildlife reserves, and fun fair and various other activities. A first they had walked around talking idle chatter and observing the passing public going about their daily lives. After sometime Abhi had begun to relax, for the first time in what felt like forever he smiled at his dadis attempts to lighten his mood. She had bought him a balloon, and had insisted they go and eat ice cream.
"Lekin dadi, ap ko to pata hai, doctor ne apko thandi cheezo se mana kiya hai"
(But dadi you know the doctor doctor has forbidden you to eat cold things)
Abhi had protested, as much as he enjoyed his grandma acting in the carefree manner she was he was not about to let it affect her health.
"Nahi, me kuch nahi suno gi, akhir hum Roz Roz thodi na ince cream Khate hai"
(No! I'm not listening, after all we don't eat it every day)
She was behaving like a petulant child. It was endearing to watch really, Abhi loved his grandma and he knew everything she was doing was to try and bring a smile to his face. He knew she must have been suffering too, after all she loved Pragya more than she loved him and if he was suffering she must have been to. After careful consideration he gave in to his grandmas tantrums over ice cream, and off they walked linked arm in arm to the nearest ice cream vendor. After Abhi went to buy two mango flavoured ice cream and two chocolate bars, just like when they had been younger. abhi went to join dadi who was sat on a bench near a large pond and settled down to enjoy their afternoon snack. Dadi beamed with excitement at the chocolate and ice cream, and thought of the fond times she had shared with her Grandchildren. The both reminisced about their earlier days. dadi managed to make abhi laugh, which filled her heart. She had longed to hear his mischievous laugh again. They sat there for sometime.
"Dadi me ap se kuch pooch sakta hoon?"
Abhi looked at his grandma who was was mindlessly licking her ice cream, she stopped and turned to look at him.
"Ha beta zaroor"
"Ap ne Pragya ko roka kyu nahi?"
Dadi could see the turmoil in his eyes when he asked her. She felt horrible. She knew his thoughts were never far away from her. Abhi knew as well as she did if dadi had have asked her, Pragya would not have left. She set down her ice cream and sighed,
" ap muje bataye puttar, me un se kya vajase rok sakthi thi, vo apse pyaar karte hai, ha mere liya Rok be ja sakti, lekin us bechari ko kya halat hongi, unke Maan me app kissi aur se pyaar karte hai, aur me janti hoon vo ladki kissi par bojh nahi ban sakti."
(You tell me son, what reason can I ask her to stay? She loves YOU, yes she may have stayed back for me, but what would become of that poor girl? In her mind you love someone else and she would never want to be a burden on anyone)
Abhi knew she was not exaggerating, why would she stay if she thought he didn't love her. Perhaps that was what was best, he had messed her around enough already and he wanted her to be free and happy. Dadi continued,
"Aur me apko kuch pooch sakthi hoon?"
(Can I ask you something)
She waited for a moment before asking, she did not want Abhi to close up on her again.
" kaun hai, jo ap aur Pragya ke beech me aa gayi?"
(Who is it that has come between you and Pragya?)
Abhi's smile vanished. He wasn't ready to bring Tanu into the equation just yet, after all he had not decided how he would tell her about breaking up. Something that had been playing on his mind since yesterday. That again was the stark difference between his wife and his girlfriend. One failed to hear even if he was screaming, the other would hear even if he didn't say anything. Abhi shook off the question and stood up.
"Chalte hai dadi, bohat der ho chuke hai, aur muje thodi der me commissioner Sab ke saath baat bi karni hai"
(Come on dadi let's go, it's quite late and I have to speak to the commissioner later)
Dadi didn't protest. She stood up, and discarded her tissues that held her ice cream in the bin. She turned to Abhi, and using her shawl, wiped Abhi's face. This made Abhi chuckle,
"Dadi ap Bhi na" he said giggling as his grandmother battled with his stubble to get rid of the ice cream around his face.
"Bade ho to kya? Me Abhi bi apki dadi hoon, aur tum Abhi bi mere chore bache hai" she teased.
It lit up her heart to see him laugh again. Together they walked with dadi linking arms with Abhi back to the car.
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Abhi hadn't realised it, but he thoroughly enjoyed his day out with dadi. Though they had talked about Pragya for a considerable part of it, he felt his heart lighten every time he spoke to dadi about the situation, he really wanted to tell her everything but held back. He was ashamed and didn't want his grandma to look at him disappointed the way she did when Pragya left. He would tell her eventually but right now wasn't the best time. After they had got back dadi had settled down with daasi to watch a serial and He had gone up to his room to relax. He wandered across the hall way when he heard what seemed like shouting coming from Aliyah's room. He Re directed his path to go to her room.
"Yeh app kya ke rahi hai Tanu, tum pagal hoga ye kya? Bhai kitne pareshaan ho us behenji ke vajase"
( what are you doing Tanu have you gone mad? My brother is already so tensed because of that behenji)
He could hear Aliyah's voice vaguely. What is Tanu planning now he thought?
Aliyah and Tanu had been sat in her room. It was a great mystery how these two had ever managed to become good friends. Though both were as evil and cunning as the devil himself, they were both so self absorbed, it was a wonder that either of them noticed the other was even there. Aliyah was growing ever more panicky at the thought of the corporator and he had still not called her.
Tanu on the other hand was speaking of something quite different. She had suggested that she was going to get her parents to come and talk to dadi regarding their marriage. For she knew that dadi knew Abhi had another lady in his life, what she didn't know that it was non other than Tanu. Aliyah had barely been listening when Tanus words had registered.
"Ap janti ho dadi kitni Naraz Hon gi"
(Do you even know how angry dadi will be?)
No sooner had she finished speaking, she turned her head towards the door and saw Abhi standing there looking bewildered.
"Kya Hua? Dadi kyu Naraz hon gi"
(What's up? Why will dadi be angry?)
Aliyah looked at her brother in disbelief and Tanu gulped loudly.
"To?? Kya Hua, tum batao ge ya nahi?"
(Well? Will you tell me or not?)
Aliyah looked at Tanu and then back at Abhi,
"Bhai vo me..."
(Bhai I was...)
She started stammering her words, even she had noticed that Abhi was not himself. She did not want to do anything that may upset her brother further. She began to speak again when Tanu interrupted.
"Kuch nahi Abhi, me Aliyah ko bata Rehe thi ke kal mere mom, dad Delhi se phir ayenge aur dadi ke saath hamari shaadi ke bare me bat karni hai"
(Nothing abhi I was telling Aliyah that tomorrow my mum and dad are coming from Delhi again, and they will speak to dadi about our wedding)
She had been fearful at first but then decided she had enough. He wasn't doing anything to take control of the situation so she would. She also knew that if she didn't, Abhi would not either, and right now she was taking no chances. Abhi on the other hand was seeing red. He never realised the audacity Tanu had. In this entire situation she had only ever thought of herself. Abhi had realised right then that he was tired of it.
"Me ne apse kitni bar kaha hai, Abhi waqt ache nahi hai, ghar me kitni tension hai, dadi kitni tension me hai, aur apne unke bare me ek bar nahi Socha?"
(How many time have I told you right now is not the best time, there's so much tension in the house, dadi is so stressed, and you haven't thought about her once)
"Abhi apki dadi ko pata hai ke tum Pragya ko nahi, kissi aur se pyaar karte hai, to muje samaj nahi ate hai, apko Hua kya hai?"
(Abhi your dadi knows you don't love Pragya and that you love someone else, so I understand what Is wrong with you?)
Abhi couldn't handle this, he turned straight back around and walked away from her back to his room. She was following him though hot on his heels.
"Aj tum ko baat karni hogi Abhi, esa nahi chale ga, muje kal hamari shaadi ki date naki chaiye that's it"
(Today you have to speak abhi, this won't do tomorrow I want our wedding date finalised)
Abhi was not listening to her, she was still trying to force him to set their wedding date, he was beginning to realise this girl knew no bounds. He was about to shut the door on her when she strategically placed her arm in the door way so that he could not. He gritted his teeth and spat out in a cold voice
"Tanu jao yaha se, varna..."
(Tanu leave, or
"Varna kya Abhi? Tum muje Dhamki de rahe ho? Mat bhoolna me us Pragya nahi hoon, jo chup chap har bat sunthi Rehe th"
(Or what abhi? Are you threatening me? Don't forget I'm not that Pragya, o won't sit and listen quietly)
Abhi was splitting fire now. He could not believe he had actually once dreamt of spending his life with someone so suffocating.
"Dekho Tanu me tumse akhri bar kehe raha hoon, jao yaha se"
(Look Tanu I'll tell you one last time, go away.)
She was not giving in though. Anybody could see that the more she pestered the further she was pushing him away. She was so desperate at this point she would do anything. She softened her voice and tried to touch his face. He pulled right out of her reach and felt repulsed by her behaviour
"Ap chate kya ho Abhi? Ap muje pyaar nahi karte ho?"
(What do you want abhi? Do you not love me?)
She had managed to swill fake tears in her eyes hoping the vulnerability card would soften him towards her. But she had no such luck, just as he was about to answer, his phone rang.
It was in his hand and they could both see it was the commissioner that was calling. Abhi was grateful to have been saved by the bell. He hastily answered his phone and walked into his room completely forgetting about Tanu for a moment.
"Ha boliye commissioner ji, kuch pata chala"
(Yes, commissioner, have you found anything?)
Tanu had stopped her crying. The commissioner was calling Abhi. What was going on? Had they found a lead on the corporator. Tanu never really considered how serious she had tangled her self up in this situation regarding the kidnapping. She walked into Abhi's room and stood a few feet behind him, hoping to gain more of an insight to their conversation.
"That's great news" said Abhi
"ha me sari cheez check karke apko phone karta hoon"
( yes I will check everything and phone you)
He put the phone down. And turned around. Tanu was stood directly behind him.
"Kya Hua? Kya kaha commissioner ne? Mila Neil?
(What happened? What did he say? Have they found Neil?)
Abhi looked at her for a moment. And sighed.
"Nahi, abi kuch pata nahi chala, lekin commissioner kehe Te hai zyada waqt nahi lage ga, un hone court se junction mila hai, vo corporator ka bank accounts, assets Sab kuch freeze hui hai, aur kehte hai ab vo lok unki poori Tara ki talashi le sakte ho"
(No nothing yet, but he said it won't take long, he's got a court junction to freeze all the corporater's assets, bank accounts everything. Now they. An investigate him fully)
Suddenly a icy feeling settled in Tanus stomach. She did well to hide it from abhi,
"Vo to bohat Achi baat hai, commissioner Sab ne kaha kitne der honge unse pakad ne ke liye?"
(That's great news, did they say when they might catch him)
She asked trying to appear less interested than she was.
"Nahi, vo nahi kaha"
(No he did say)
Abhi had noticed she had called the corporator "Neil" and this had been the first bit of attention she had paid to anything other than her wedding to Abhi. He shook of the feeling as soon as it came. He hadn't forgotten how angry at her he was still. Tanu needed to tell Aliyah what she had just found out. Without giving Abhi second thought she excused herself
"Me Abhi atti hoon, muje mom se baat karni hai"
(I'll be back I need to speak to my mum)
She quickly left the room. Abhi watched her for a second and then turned to sit on his bed. He thought about his conversation with the commissioner. He had told him that they had seized all of the corporators assets and now had a sanction to check his bank account, transactions and everything. The police were slowly cutting him off and very soon he would need to re surface if he wanted to survive. The commissioner had also told Abhi to thoroughly check things from his side, somewhere there was a clue as to who the mastermind behind the corporator's games was. Abhi decided that enough was enough. He was going to find out who had planned to have his wife kidnapped. Right now the blame lay with purvi. Abhi knew in his heart she was innocent. It did not require a rocket scientist to work out she was not capable of such malice. Whoever had helped the corporator wasn't a novice, it seemed this was child's play to them and that thought scared Abhi. Someone in his home was out to get him and he needed to know who. If not for himself then for Pragya, she had suffered enough. He wasn't about to let her loose her sister too.
Tanu was marching back across to Aliyah's room when she bumped into dadi.
She was not looking where she was going and was so preoccupied by what she had heard she turned to dadi.
"App dekh se nahi chal sakthi kya?" She shouted at dadi and turned away.
(Do you not look when you walk)
"Ey ladki, mat bhoolna yeh mera ghar hai, aur tum kya karti thi? Abhi ke Kamre me"
(Oi girl, don't forget thus is my house, and what were you doing in Abhi's room?)
The last thing she needed was to make a further enemy out if dadi, Abhi was already slipping away from her, and one word from dadi would seal her fate for good.
"I'm sorry dadi, me thoda sa jaldi me tha, aur apko nahi dekha, me aur Aliyah picture dekhne ja Rehe hai, humne socha Abhi ko bi le chaiye, unka mind fresh hojaye" she blatantly lied.
( sorry dadi I was in a rush, I didn't see you, me and Aliyah are going to see a film and I thought we should take abhi, his mind will be refreshed.)
She smiled her most sickly smile at dadi. All dadi could manage was a grunt. She disliked that girl greatly, and wished she was not around to influence her grand children so much. Dadi didn't have time for her she walked away from Tanu, who had already started to walk again back to Aliyah. She shut the door and locked it behind her
Aliyah was sat flitting through a magazine not really paying any attention to it when Tanu came in the room and locked the door. She stood up immediately
"Kya Hua Tanu?" She questioned
(Whats up Tanu)
Tanu turned around looked around her and walked up to her in distress.
"Aliyah, Abhi commissioner Saab ne Abhi ko phone kiya hai, vo corporator ka Sab kuch cheene liye hai. Unke bank accounts Sab kuch. Zyada waqt nahi lage ga, unko doond ne ke"
(Aliyah abhi just spoke to the commissioner, they've taken everything from the corporator, his bank accounts everything! It won't take long to find him now)
Aliyah looked and felt as though someone had just slapped her.
"Kya?!? Wo Sab kab Hua?"
(What? When did that happen)
"Pata nahi, lekin hum ne kuch na kuch kar na hoga, varna hum dono ka to The end hoga"
(I don't know but we've got to do something . Otherwise it will be the end for us)
Tanu looked as though she was about to cry. If they were caught it was all over and that was becoming an increasing certainty for the duo.
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Abhi had been sat in his studio for quite some time now. For the first time in ages his head thought of something other than Pragya. Right now he was sat with pen and pad in hand writing down all the facts that he knew. He sat on his desk with his pen in his mouth, thinking back along the chain of events that had occurred some weeks ago now. The corporator had wanted Bulbul, that part was stark clear. They had been playing a game when Pragya and Purvi had hidden Bulbul from Purab, and it was at that stage Pragya had been kidnapped instead. The commissioner had told Abhi something that had also raised more questions in his mind. The corporator had received a large sum of 50 lakh rupees, into his bank account in cash, three days before the kidnapping had happened. Abhi couldn't fathom how on earth Anybody could get together that kind of money. And that too in cash. If he was not certain before Purvi was not the culprit, he definitely was now. He threw his pen on the table, in frustration he thought,
"I can't prove her innocent on a gut feeling and an anonymous cash deposit"
He needed to gather more evidence. He knew he had already checked this before, but for one last time he went to check the security camera footage to see if it could shed any light on the situation. He got up and walked out of his room, careful to lock his notepad in the top drawer of his desk. He made his way up the hall along the back of the house, until he got to the security room, which housed all of the tapes and monitors for the security cameras around the house. He opened the locked door and made his way into the small closet like room. He started searching for the recordings from that night. It wasn't difficult as his security manager was very organised. All the DVDs were neatly arranged in boxes labelled in 6 monthly intervals. He picked up the most recent box and fingered through for the one of that night. Once located he pulled up the chair by the monitors and put the cd into the laptop sitting on the desk. He fast forwarded through the entire tape until he got to the point where he thought Pragya may have been taken. There he saw her, his Fuggy walking along trying to catch Bulbul. They had both gone into the room together. Abhi reached his hand across the laptop screen as if caressing Pragyas face. Every memory of her was still so raw and painful. He rewound back to when Pragyas face is still visible and she's about to go into the room again and paused the video. Abhi had tears in his eyes. He stopped and remembered what he was supposed to be doing. If only she was there to help him he thought. He continued to stare at her. He allowed his fingers to press play again all the while not taking his eyes off the screen. He started for a few seconds longer and then he noticed something he did not see before. He would never have noticed it if he was not staring so intently at where Pragya had been before she entered the room. As it so happened, after she entered the room, the image shifted every so slightly. He rewound the video back again and looked closer this time just to make sure he had not been seeing things. The camera had been angled so that it was across and adjacent to the door of the room, and next to the door there was a table, with a photo hung above it and a small clock sat upon the table. Abhi noticed that two or three seconds after Pragya is seen going into the room, the photo moves a few millimetre or so to the left. He rewound the video back again and again. The more he watched it the more he could not believe he had missed it in the first place. The video had been tampered with. What he was seeing was either an added piece of footage, or it was two parts that had been joined together after a part of it had been removed. Abhi wanted to be extra sure. He took out his mobile from his pocket, shaking with nerves and unknown and dialled the number for his security manager. Within a couple of minutes the door to the room had been opened and Raj, Abhi's head of security came in.
"Kya Hua sir?" He looked a little surprised, his boss never came in here and only did so when it was urgent.
(What's up sir)
"Betho app" Abhi gestured for him to sit down on the stool next to the small desk.
(Sit)
"Raj tumne mere liye bohat barso se kam kiya hai, aur me apko bohat izzat karta hoon, lekin Meri biwi mera ghar se, Meir security ka nak ke niche, kidnap hui thi, aur kissi ne vo log ka Madat ki hai"
(Raj you have worked for me for many years, I respect you a lot, but my wife, was kidnapped under the nose of my security and from my house, and someone has helped them)
Raj did not flinch at Abhi's words. He had known exactly what had happened that day and he was ashamed at himself for letting such a thing happen.
"Me janta hoon, Abhi Bhai, me ne bohat koshish kiye hai, kuch surag ko doond ne ke liye, lekin me nahi kar paya, maf ki jiye bhai,ye Sab meri galati hai, aur me Roz pachtata hu ap ki safety meri zimadaari hai
(I know I have tried to find a clue, but I couldn't, forgive me, it's my fault and I regret it, your safety is my responsibility)
Raj looked defeated and above all sorry. Abhi felt for him, in all these years Raj had worked for him he had never given Abhi any reason to distrust him, and he had yet to do so,.
"Me janta hoon, ke tum kitna sorry ho, aur me apko inzam lagva nahi apse yaha poocha, muje apki madad chaiye, is video ko dekho"
(I know how sorry you are, and I have not called you here to accuse you, I need your help look at this)
Abhi showed raj the video, explaining what he thought he could see. Raj himself did not see it.
"Sir yeh to ho sakta hai, kabhi kabhi jab memory khatam ho jata hai, recording alag USB pe record hota hai, jab hum unko disc pe copy karte hai, tab esa ho jata hai"
(Sir this happens when the memory becomes full,on one memory still. It starts to record on another, when we copy the security footage this can happen)
Abhi looked deflated again. Great. The only lead he though he had which wasn't even a lead, turned out to be rubbish.
"Lekin sir, yeh dekho"
(But look at this)
Raj maximised the screen and was able to zoom in somehow several times more than usual. He focused the screen on the clock that was also present. At normal view the clock hands could not be seen, but when enlarged. Well this showed a different story altogether. Raj rewound the video back again and abhi was about to press play when raj stopped him. He furiously tapped away at something on the keyboard first and then signalled Abhi to press play. The video played but this time in slow motion. Raj rewound the video back again and again. They watched intently not moving. Raj paused the video . They both sat there in silence completely perplexed by what they just saw.Though the image was very pixelated from being enlarged, it was very clear to see that in less than a single second, the clock hand had moved from 5:15 to 5:45. A continuos recording should have shown the hand gradually so how suddenly had it moved half an hour forward? Raj was the first one to speak.
"Is ka matlab hai, kissi nai iss video se 30 minute ka footage delete kiya hai?"
(That means someone has deleted 30 minutes of footage off the tape)
Abhi was dumbstruck. Thirty whole minutes of footage had been deleted off this video and nobody had even noticed. The police had looked at it over and over again and not once picked up on this. It seemed strange that pragya went into the room, but then never to came out again. And there is no action for ages, until purab and bulbul go up to the room to search for Pragya. At first it had been put down to an unfortunate luck the footage didn't show anything and put this down to technical faults. Abhi knew now that was not so. Someone in this house who knew the ins and outs of it and had craftily edited the security footage to look as though it was seamless. Abhi thanked what ever god Pragya believed in for this stroke of luck. He had found a clue, and one clue always lead to another. He knew he would never have spotted that in a million years if he had not been staring a hole into the laptop screen.
"Ha, lagta to esa hi hai"
(Yes it seems that way)
Abhi didn't know what to say. One thing was for sure. This was not Purvi. Someone clever enough to have done this, would have no problem framing someone as kind and pure hearted as Purvi.
"Raj, tum ko sochna pade ga, us din, un dino ke pehle aur bad me koi aya tha yaha? Koi is kamre me aya tha?"
(Raj you have to think on that day or before or after it did anyone come here in this room)
"Nahi Bhai, sirf, me app, aur commissioner saab" he sat with his head in his hands and tried to think of anyone else that had come into the room.
(No brother, just me, you and the commissioner)
"Lekin us din, jab hamne pehli baar yeh video dekhne aye tha, tab bi vo iss footage tha, it ne waqt me kaun esa karsakte hai"
(but when we came that first day to watch the vide, it was the same one we are watching now, who could have done all this in that time)
Raj's question was not unjustified. It would have taken quite some skills to have broken into the security room, removed, edited the footage and put the new DVD back. Abhi's head was swimming with questions. Somebody very close to him indeed had done this, that much was certain. If not by gut, then by alarming evidence, due to the fact that only two people in this house that possessed a key to the security room were Abhi himself and Raj.
"Raj tumne tumahari chaviya, kaha rakha tha, break me, yane ka galati me?"
(Raj did you leave your key anywhere in your break or by mistake)
Abhi stood up from his chair now rubbing his hand over his mouth in disbelieve. He knew it could never be Raj. He had just helped him to uncover a piece of this jigsaw.
"Nahi Bhai, meri chaviya, mere Sab chaviya ke saath rakhi hui hai yaha mere belt pe, aur jab me ghar jata hoon, tab me vo chaviya safe me dalta hoon, aur mere khud ki ghar ki chaviya bahar leta hoon"
(No, I keep all the keys together, on my belt, and when I go home I put them in the safe and I take my own keys out of the safe)
Raj looked distressed.
Thorough. If there was ever a word to describe him, it was that. Abhi knew Raj well and he was not sloppy. He remembered back, once long ago when his grandma had helped appoint him, Abhi had asked Raj why he kept all of his keys bunched together and unorganised? To which raj had replied, this was yet another method of security, for only he knew which key was for what lock, and if ever anyone wanted to steal one of him he would always notice, because they would never find the key without having to relief him of the whole bunch first. A weight like that can be felt once it is not there. Since that day Abhi had never regretted appointing him. The keys were always safe, and at night he would never forget to put them in the safe, because he wouldn't be able to get into his own house if he did. Thorough. That meant if Raj's key had not been the one to be used then that left only Abhi's.
"Shayad..." Raj spoke again after several moments looking as though he had an epiphany
(maybe)
"Shayad kya...?"
(Maybe what?)
Raj paused again wondering whether or not to say anything. But Abhi had been good to him, and he hoped that he would know he would never have anything to gain from causing trouble.
" kidnapping ka kuch dino pehle, Aliyah ayi mere paas, aur kaha unko footage dekhni tha, unhone raat me kuch suna tha bahar, dekhna chaati ti kuch footage me aya ka nahi, aur meri chaviya mangi thi. Muje ajib laga, kyu ki vo puri Tara se janti hai, ke me yeh koi se nahi de sakta hoon, me ne us ko kaha app se poochiye, phir bas, baat khatam, me ne kuch galat nahi socha pehle lekin..."
(A couple of days before the kidnapping, Aliyah came to me, and dadi she wanted to watch something. She heard something outside in the night and she wanted to look if the camera had caught anything, and she asked me for the key. I found it strange because she knows I'm not allowed to give the key to anyone, and told her to ask you, then that was it, I didn't think anything of it)
He stopped. Judging from Abhi's face something had just clicked into place. Perhaps he was remembering something but he was not paying attention to raj
"Bhai, suna ap ne?"
(Bhai did you hear me?)
Oh he heard, and he should have heard it sooner. Abhi recalled a very specific moment during the time he was kidnapped. The corporator had Pragya and him at the very ,top of a construction site that looked like it may be a block of flats or offices, because of the expanse of open air sounds travelled. Abhi remebered how the corporator was on the verge of killing him, when he recieved a phone call. During the time he had gone he thought he heard Aliyah's voice, more so as soon as the corporator returned, just like that had decided he was going to let Abhi live. Abhi snapped out of his day dream.
"Ha suna me ne... Aliyah yaha ayi thi, raj ap kissi se ye baat mat bolna aur yeh DVD abhi ke abhi safe me dal do,"
(yes I heard, Aliyah had come, raj don't say anything about this matter to anyone and put this DVD in the safe)
Raj nodded and abhi placed his hand on his shoulder as a sign of thanks before he walked out of the security room. He needed to walk.
--------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile upstairs locked away in Aliyah's safe haven, hell was bursting out. They had both spent hours pacing up and down going through every thing they could think off to try and contact the corporator. If he got caught before they had chance to talk to him, there would be no way to ensure their names would be safe. Tanu had sat down.
"Hum kya Kare Aliyah... Commissioner saab se phone karke un ko poochiye kya kya hai,"
(What shall we do Aliyah. Shall we phone the commissioner and ask him)
"Don't be stupid Tanu, abh Bhai agaye hai, vo sirf un se baat Karne ke tyar hai, aur me un se phone ki, to un ko shaak lage ga"
(Dont be stupid Tanu, know that Bhai is back he will on,y speak to him, if I phone him he may become suspicious)
Tanu knew Aliyah was right. They did not need to draw attention to themselves. They had tried to work out what the corporators plan would be, now that his assets and money had been cut off soon he would need cash. He would need to leave Mumbai if he wanted any chance of getting away. She knew he had to call eventually now he needs something from her. Money. Tanu was frantic.
"To phir kya, hum ko unke bare me kuch nahi jante hai, kaha Rehe Te the, unki family kaun hai kuch nahi, kaha se doond ye us bloody corporator ko... Dekhne jab me unse Milti hoon me..."
Tanu was very emotional and angry now.
(Then what? We don't know anything about him, where he lived, his family, where shall we even begin to look for him... Wait till we find him I will...)
She was cut off by the sharp trill of a mobile phone
aliyah pounced towards her phone on the bed side table. The number was an unknown number. Tanu raced over to her
"Kaun hai...?"
(Who is it?)
"Shhh..." She answered her phone . Tanu looked at her face the whole time she spoke.
"Kya? App pagal hoga ye kya?"
(What are you crazy)
"Theek hai, tab Milte hai"
(Fine, see you then)
******
Abhi had been walking for sometime now. He walked around his neighbourhood, along a stream, through a park and looped about again. He never ever just left to do this. Being a rock star he got mobbed and paparazzi-ed every where he ever went. But today he walked with a cap and his collars pulled up high so nobody could notice him. He didn't know what to think. It was only a suspicion, but one that had grown from like ripple on still water. He could not shy away from his gut, but at the moment he had no facts. He didn't want to believe this could be his sister. Even she wouldn't do something so extreme would she? But why? She had re built her character, she was a changed person, wasn't she? Abhi's head hurt. It was too much to deal with right now. He just needed to look from another angle. But what if that led the same way? He continued to walk for a bit longer, before he decided to head back home. It was getting very dark and late. He wondered up his road back up to his house he was just getting to the front gate when he heard voices.
Abhi stopped. It looked as though it was coming from the illuminated pathway down the side of the gates by his house. As he drew closer the voices had become louder now
"To kya Karu, tum logo ne meri zindagi ka sakoon chin liya hai..."
(What do I do, you lot have stolen the piece from my life)
There he stood. The corporater. How dare he stand next to his house, threatening somebody. A girl by the sounds of things. Abhi was concealed around the curvature of the pathway hidden behind one of the large bushes that graced the walkway. He was about to step out and grab him when he stopped dead in his tracks.
" aur tumne Hamara kya kiya hai?"
(And look what have you done to us!!)
Tanu?!? What was she doing here with the corporator. Abhi's heart was wildly beating against his rib cage. He could not believe what he was hearing. he could not get a closer look at Tanu, she out not in his eye line, but he would know that voice anywhere. But then another one addressed Tanu and the Corporator.
"Relax Tanu, abhi emotional hone se time nahi hai, kya chaiye tum ko?"
(Relax Tanu, it's not the time to get emotional, what do you what?
For what was probably the fifteenth time that evening Abhi felt like he had been hit in the stomach. But this time it wasn't a mere hit, it was more a sledge hammer to his whole body. His own sister was stood talking to the corporator. He was stood fairly close so he could hear exactly what was being said. They were speakimg quietly though, He focused his mind. He wanted clue didn't he? well here it was. The biggest piece of the jigsaw had just appeared in front of Abhi.
"ek crore rupiye chaiye muje, aur vo Bhi panch dino ke andar" he was stood facing the two ladies.
(I want 1 crore rupees, and that too in 5days)
"App saach me pagal ho Gaye he! Me itne pesse kaha se laungi?" Aliyah was shouting in a hushed town!
(You've definitely gone crazy, where will I get that kind of money)
"Tum rock star ki Bain ho na" the corporator said mockingly and laughing at
her,
(Your the rock stars sister aren't you..?)
"Aur tum, tum to world class super model ho na? Kya kiya itne paiso se?"
(And you, you're a world class super model, what have you done with all that money)
"Tum chup karo, me ne apse pehle Bhi kitne paise diye Te, us Pragya ki Jaan le ne ke liye, aur tum vo Bhi nahi kar sakte the, tum us ko mar Dalo, aur phir me khud apse ek crore doon gi"
(Shut up, I've already given you so much money, to kill Pragya, and you couldn't even do that, if you kill her then I will come and give you the money myself)
she mocked him back, but in her tone she was not joking.
"Tanu please, jup karo!! Aur tum, kya guarantee hai ke paise dene ki bad ap hum ko police se de donge"
(Tanu shut up, and you! what's the guarantee you won't give us up once we give you the money)
"Are Aliyah ji, app muje vo crore de ne ki baad, police muje pakad sakte to me un logo ko apka nam doom na?"
(Oh Aliyah, after you give me the money, the police would have to catch me first before I could give you up?!)
He reached out and took Aliyah's hand in his, Aliyah looked at him with disgust as did Tanu, but before he could say anything he shoved a piece of paper into her hand,
"Lo mera number, chovvis ghante hai soch ne ke liye, aur yaad rakhna, hum jail jaye ge, to tum do no chudailo ko saath me loonga"
(Here is my number, you have 24 hours to think about it, and remember if I go to jail I'm taking you two with me)
with that he walked off. Abhi hid himself further into the bush as quietly as he could. Aliyah and Tanu had gone back down the path and entered the house through the side entrance. Abhi waited until the coast was clear. he stepped out of the shadows, not knowing what to think. He walked back to his house, and up his drive way. He got into his car and drove away. He didn't know where he was going all he knew, was that he could not stay there.
Cricket
CID
36