Bella was sitting on her bed with a stunned expression on her face. She couldn't understand what was going one. Just a few nights ago she was sleeping in Mahir's arms, content that finally her life was back to normal. It was only a few nights ago that she was dreaming of handing over the crown to Juhi and leading a happy life with Mahir. But now? Now everything had been destroyed. That idiot Vyom had managed t convince her idiotic sister and had gotten her to to betray Bella. While saving the Naaglok and her gullible sister, Mahir had found out the whole truth about Bella being a Naagin. Now that the cat was out of the bag, Bella had been prepared to face Mahir's disappointment in her, she was ready to convince Mahir that she lied to him because she feared losing him. But what she was not prepared was to face the fact that her Sumi Ma was the mastermind behind everything.
Even more astonishing, she had never known the real Sumi ma at all. Sumitra Sehgal was long dead and the one impersonating her was none other than her would-have-been-MIL-had-she-married-Vikrant', Vikrant's mother. Now this Sumi ma, she had to refer her as Sumi ma, as she did not know what that lady's real name was. So this Sumi ma had made Mahir lose his memory and turned her once caring, loving and rational husband into a complete mindless, senseless, mother worshipping zombie. Now Mahir had always loved his mother but then prior to memory loss he had also possessed a brain that made him think. Now it seemed as though his brain had been sucked out, only to replaced by rotten tomatoes. So Mahir had lost his ability to think and ask rational question.
Bella felt as though her super natural life had suddenly turned into saas-bahu saga. Where one day she was being a glorious queen, protecting her people from the Giddhs and saving the Naagmani and now suddenly she was fighting her evil MIL for a space in her own husband's bed. Like really? Sumi ma had suddenly declared that she will not let Bella and Mahir become one. She had also begun to sow seeds of suspicion in Mahir's mind that Bella was responsible for half of their family friends being missing. Well that was technically true, but the reason was a valid one. She had told Mahir everything mere hours before Sumi ma went and sucked out his brains. Mahir was also convinced that YUvi was indeed capable of molesting someone but he was pissed off at her for hiding things from him.
Now this version of Mahir was blindly following what his mother was saying and had become suspicious of her. And then Vikrant had gone and killed RJ effectively making her look like a culprit. Now Mahir had thrown her out of their room and had warned her that he hated her and was not even able to bear her presence around him. So she was sitting in one of the innumerous guest rooms in the Sehgal House with her luggage. Sumitra had demanded that Bella be kept locked in her room so that Kuhu would not suffer from constant trauma of having her husband's murderer in front of her eyes. She had placed a bunch of Bel Patra at the door of the room to effectively keep Bella inside. So Bella was not aware of what was happening within the house. Sumitra would bring her food and water and would talk in cryptic sentences.
And then one day biggest shock came when Sumitra gleefully declared that Mahir and Vish were getting married. Bella did not know why and how. As far as she knew, Mahir thought of Vish as Yuvi's wife. And oh yeah Yuvi was very much alive and kicking as being Sumitra's biological son, Vish's venom had not affected him in anyway. So yeah with Yuvi being alive and Vish being supposedly pregnant' with his child, why was Mahir suddenly marrying his younger brother's wife? She was puzzled at this disgusting act that Mahir was about to commit.
That day was the wedding. Sumitra would take her out of the room for the wedding functions and then drop her back again. Bella thought that it was best to keep a low profile and pretend that Mahir's marriage had broken her completely and she had lost the will to fight. So she meekly went out, cried buckets at the wedding functions like a typical bahu giving Sumitra a chance to give an evil smile like a daily soap saas and would come back to her room. No one would speak with her. So she had no way to find out what was happening. But a plan had been formulating in her mind. On the day of Mahir's wedding to Vish she refused to go out of the room. She clung to Mahir and cried and threatened to sue them all for getting her husband married a second time. Tired of her drama Sumitra had left her locked up in the room.
Now Bella paced around the room waiting for Aghori Baba to arrive. Suddenly someone cleared his throat behind her and she turned to find standing behind her.
Bella: Baba, can you get rid of the Bell Patra so that I can go out?
Aghori Baba: Yes Naagrani, Juhi is right outside the room. She will take your place once you escape.
Aghori Baba went to the door and Juhi unlocked it from the other side. He picked up the bunch of Bell Patra and Juhi came inside and hugged Bella. Once they both parted there were two Bellas standing there. Juhi went and sat on the bed and Bella went out and transformed herself into one of the servers. She locked the room from outside and hurried towards Mahir's room to see him sitting there looking around blankly. She locked the door from inside and went up to him. Seeing a server approaching him, Mahir was shocked. He was about to shout out when Bella placed a hand on his head and he immediately fell asleep.
She transformed into her half naagin form and picked Mahir up in her tail and went to the window. She saw that her mother was waiting downstairs for her, but to her dismay Sumitra was chatting with someone nearby. She couldn't escape via that route. She messaged her mother to join her in Mahir's room. N-Mom went to the other side of the house and transformed into a snake and joined her daughter.
N-Mom: Bella what do we do?
Bella: Only one way ma, we fly away with him. We turn into Giddhs and fly him out of the Sehgal house.
They went to the other window that opened to a relatively deserted section of the lawn and turned into Giddhs and picked up Mahir in their claws and flew out as fast as possible before anyone saw two giant birds flying about with a man in their claws. They quickly reached a deserted alley and landed. They turned into snakes and Bella quickly slithered towards the Haveli with N-Mom. The Haveli was heavily guarded that night by Sheesh vansh warriors for their Naagrani. One of them approached her now
Naag: Naagrani, we have a suggestion for you. Why don't you take him to the cave where Naagmani is kept? If the Naagmani is safe there then even you will be safe.
N-Mom: I have already made arrangement for you there. Go we will all stay here and keep Sumitra at bay. She will not come here for sure but if at all she manages then..
Bella: Ma, what have you done?
N-Mom: I have quietly kept Bell Patra along with Shivji's Bhasma on every window and door of the Sehgal House. No naag or naagin will be able to leave that house. Go my dear.
Bella took Mahir to the cave to find it beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. She smiled as she set Mahir down on the bed that was placed there. She made him sit and tied up his hands and legs so he would not be able to escape her. She woke up Mahir and he looked around puzzled.
Mahir: Where am I?
Bella: Mahir, listen to me very carefully. You will strain your mind and try to remember our wedding, our moments otherwise..
Mahir: What will you do? Will you kill me?
Bella: No I won't kill you but trust me you won't like what I will do to you.
Mahir: What?
Bella: Well..
She casually approached him and he stared back at her diffidently. His hands and feet were tied and so he couldn't move at all. Bella went and roughly pushed him onto his back and got on top of him. She bent down and began kissing him furiously. At first he was stunned but after a moment he began to struggle and she moved back.
Mahir: What the hell was that for?
His face was smeared with Bella's lipstick and his hair was tousled, his kurta all crumpled from the struggle.
Bella: This my dear husband is what I am going to do till you remember everything. And be warned I am very much capable of doing this for a long time... So tell me did you remember anything?
Mahir continued to stare at her.
Mahir: I will sue you for this. You are a murderer already and now I will ensure that you are put in jail for molesting me.
Bella: My dear hubby... I am your wife. That gives me the legal, moral, ethical right to kiss you. I can also tear your clothes if I want to. But I won't do that. Because I know you will co-operate with me. So tell did you remember anything?
She went and helped sit up. As she moved back, was careful to bend down and brush her lips against his shoulder making him shiver.
Mahir: Why are you doing this? See I am supposed to marry Vish today...
Bella: No you are not. You know why I am doing this. You just have to remember that's all. Come one Mahir remember everything and this will end.
She was sitting beside him tracing circles on the exposed skin of his collar bone. She suddenly leaned in a gave a him small peck on his cheek. She made him lie down once again and laid down beside him. She slowly began to unbutton his kurti watching him carefully. Soon his kurti was fully unbuttoned and her fingers began to trace circles on his stomach. He squirmed under her touch. She saw to her satisfaction that he was turning red. She pressed herself closer to him and began kissing him again. She could feel him loosen up and begin to respond to her kiss. She then moved back suddenly and Mahir looked at her in disappointment.
Bella: So tell me Mahir, remember anything?
Mahir: No...
Bella: Well..
Bella began kissing him again, this time a little more forcefully. Mahir once again tried to resist but couldn't and soon even he was kissing her. She stopped as abruptly as she had stared. And moved back as Mahir frantically tried to reach out to her a hungry look in his eyes. She went and stood a safe distance away from him and watched him struggle to get to her. He soon stooped struggling and fell back exhausted.
Bella: Try Mahir... Try... With each new thing you remember, I will let you come closer to me. Each new memory will bring you closer to me. I know you want me. You still love me. So strain yourself.
Mahir nodded his head. He would try to remember everything if that meant the he could touch her again. The memory of her touch, her kiss was driving him crazy. She stood just out of reach, watching him carefully. Suddenly Mahir head snapped up and he told about the time she had forgotten to take her towel inside the bathroom on the very next day of their wedding and come out wrapped in a turmeric yellow saree. She smiled and went forward to kiss him tenderly. All too soon she ended the kiss and moved back. He looked at her disappointed and she smiled encouragingly.
Soon Mahir was spouting multiple such memories. He remembered being jealous of her and Rehan, the way he had almost confessed his love to her that night, their first kiss, her first rasoi, the first time they shared a bed, all the times she had walked in on him changing his clothes... Soon Bella grew very suspicious of Mahir. He was remembering only those memories where she was close to him. He was remembering their intimate moments only. She had spoken with her mom regarding what to expect when Mahir remembered everything. Her mom had told her that Mahir would remember things that had shocked him the most. Ones that had emotionally hurt him. She had warned her that maybe Mahir would get violent when he remembered her betrayal and her truth.
But here Mahir was only speaking about their intimate, very intimate moments. She told him to stop.
Bella: Mahir, you are lying to me. You never lost your memory did you?
Mahir: Whatever are you talking about? Of course I have just remembered everything.
Bella: Don't lie to me Mahir. Ma told me about the kind of venom that was injected in you. This is not what I was expecting...
Mahir: Maybe ma is wrong..
Bella: NO! You are lying to me. You never lost your memory at all. That is why when I was trying to get you to remember stuff, you did not push me away when I was being all touchy-feely with you. The Mahir I knew would not let any random girl touch him, not even if she claimed to be his wife. You had this really goofy smile on your face and that I hate you was more like you trying to force yourself to say something that was exactly opposite of what you wanted to say. You have lied to me Mahir Sehgal.
Mahir: No I didn't..
Bella: Now I will not let you go till you confess the whole thing to me...
Mahir had a very mischievous smile on his face which faded quickly when Bella began kissing his neck, chest, hands... He wanted her to continue but she abruptly stopped and moved back leaving him very disappointed. She was feeling very pissed off and she planned to tease him till he confessed the whole thing. She was not able to figure out anything but one thing was very clear. Since Mahir had allowed her to kiss him, he had somehow forgiven her for her mistakes. That was enough for the moment.
Mahir was giving her a challenging look and she narrowed her eyes. Is this how this is going to be huh? Fine. Two can play at a game. She turned her back to him and slowly unpinned her pallu from her shoulder and let if fall slightly. Mahir's eyes widened in shock as he saw understood what she intended to do. She turned to face him with her pallu barely covering her. She went to him and let her palu trail all over him.
Mahir: (His voice husky) Bella don't do this... I am not lying. Once I am free, nothing will stop from taking advantage of you right here, right now.
Bella: Mr. Mahir Sehgal, I am your wife. You can take advantage of me whenever and wherever you want.
She let the pallu fall from her shoulder completely... She then slowly began to loosen her saree and Mahir turned his head away. He was finding it difficult to stop the flow of words that were threatening to escape from him mouth. Bella did not leave his line of vision at all and he could not bring himself to shut his eyes to such a mesmerising sight. Soon her saree was on the floor and she was sashaying towards him. He struggled against his bonds but couldn't untie them. Finally unable to take it anymore he said.
Mahir: Yes, I never lost my memory. I remembered that purple snake biting me. I became unconscious for a while. When I came to my senses I could hear your voice and Sumi ma's voice, arguing. I opened my eyes and heard Sumi ma demand Naagmani from you and you refused. She threatened to kill me. I was shocked beyond words. I clearly remembered your betrayal but then Sumi ma's real face shocked me even more. I decided to play along for the time being. I wanted to tell you this sooner but she kept you imprisoned and did not allow me to come to you. Kuhu was devastated by RJ's death and so I had to look after the baby. I know you did not kill RJ. I heard Ma and Vikrant speaking with each other. It was ma who set up the molestation for you. Vish helped her then. I was trying to figure of ways of tell you this and stop the wedding but...
Bella: I kidnapped you. But why are you marrying Vish in first place?
Mahir: Well, I have no idea why ma set this up. But Vish tried to stab the baby. When we questioned her she did not say anything. Ma took her away and when she came back, she declared our wedding. I had to follow her. But we will figure it all out Bella. I know that. Now will you please untie me?
Bella: Yes.
She went and untied him, as soon as he was free, he grabbed her by her waist and pulled on the bed. Soon he had pinned her and was on top of her.
Mahir: So Bella Mahir Sehgal, you have tortured me enough for one day. Now it's my turn.
Bella: Mahir I...
Her words were cut off as he kissed her urgently. Bella did not resist him that day. Soon Bella's clothes and Mahir's kurti were lying on the floor and they were in the middle of a full blown make out session. Mahir was hesitant to move forward but Bella encouraged him and soon they were rocking in rhyme with each other.
After some time, as they lay in each other's arms Mahir turned to Bella.
Mahir: Let's go back and pretend as though nothing has happened. I will marry Vish and try to find out what is happening. That it the only way forward.
Bella: But..
Mahir: No listen to me. You can shift shapes right? So why can't you sit in the mandap as the panddit and chant some truly bogus mantras so the marriage is not valid once we figure out everything? Can't your mom or Juhi impersonate you for the time being?
Bella: Juhi is already in the Sehgal House, impersonating me. Your plan will work. Let's go...
They both hurriedly put on their clothes and went out hand in hand.
THE END
Arjun
Cricket
