Vani FF// The Phoenix (Thread 2 Link in Pg 1) - Page 8

Chapter 19

Bani was thinking about Veer the whole time. Jay’s constant blabbering about how he didn’t think that she was doing anything right by going around with Veer. Vanshika came out of the bathroom after washing her hair.

“Mujhe samajh nahi aata hai ki itne raat ko yeh baal se nahane ka kya scene hai. Like look at the time, Vanshika. It is 12 at night.”

“Pata hai, baby, but mujhe waise bhi 3 baje tak neend nahi aati. Toh socha thoda sa self-care ho jaaye. The best thing is that you’re here.”

The towel over her hair. She was in her night shorts and shirt. Bani smiled.

“Thank you ki tumne mujhe yahan rehne ko offer kiya.”Bani thanked.

“Baby, apna hi ghar samjho. We’re sisters. Tum boho thi zyada formality karti ho. Tumhare wardrobe mein saree ke alawa kuch hai hi nahi so I guess we need some different kind of addition in your closet.”

“I like sarees.”

“Haan pata hai, babe, but kabhi jeans, shirt, ya phir apne pati ki shirt hi pehen liya karo. Rest assured, Veer ko koi problem nahi hogi.”

Vanshika took Bani to the attached store room to her room which she converted into a walk in closet. On both sides of the wall were shelves. Dresses hanging in line according to their colour. The lowest one having shoes filled. No two pairs were similar. They had differences of their own. Each pair of clothes had a matching pair of shoes. The adjacent wall at the end had accessories. There were a few photoframes in the closet. Photographs of her with her friends. Bani noticed a photograph from a theatre play. Quite definitely it was a Shakespeare play.

“You did a play with Samrat?” Bani asked surprised.

“Kya kya dekh leti ho. Yes. As You Like It.” Vanshika answered. The picture showed Vanshika and Samrat on the stage as Orlando goes on being a lover lost in love and as Rosalind in disguise looks at him. Bani chuckled. She saw a few more pictures. Some pictures of her in student council. First as a house captain along with Samrat. Then as the head girl with some other guy. When she was the house captain, she saw that Veer was in the same photograph as the head boy.

“Veer was the head boy?” Bani asked. Vanshika chuckled.

“He was the head boy because he was good at charming people into voting for him. The teachers and the students would together vote for the head boy and then they would be selected. All the students naturally voted for Veer. Sam and Daksh managed to get the teachers impressed.”

“So basically, they cheated to get teachers to vote for him.”

“Sort of but everyone liked him anyway. He is butter smooth when wants to be. Sirf tum pehli baar mein nahi phisli.”

“Actually, maine notice kiya ki almost everywhere you’re with Samrat. Who’s this guy?”

“Mera bad luck tha. Tabhi toh main kehti hun ki meri school life mein nightmares bharne wala insaan hai yeh Samrat Singhania. That guy there is Chris Joseph. He was really amazing. Just by a mark he won over Samrat. Sabko yahi laga ki Samrat hi head boy banega but I realized that when I voted for Chris, that’s when one vote was more in his favour. Main itni khush hui thi ki kya batau.”

“Samrat itna bhi bura nahi hai. Aur mujhe kuch keh raha tha ki you both had something…”

“Babe, that something was imaginary. Use lagta hai ki duniya ki saari ladkiyon ko woh charm kar sakta hai. He can sense stuff coming aur woh use ladkiyon ko impress karne mein definitely lagata hai. Mujhe itna pareshaan kiya hai ki main bata nahi sakti.”

She picked out the old bottles of wine that she hid in her closet.

“Tumhe pata hai ki mujhe jaldi chad jaati hai.”

“Kon dekh raha hai?”

“Nahi. You know how the situation it. Wahan Chandrakala baithi hai aur agar kabhi emergency hua toh I’d like to be in my senses.”

“Okay.”

She put pizza before them.

“Abh apne baare mein kuch batao. Itna time hua haitumhe milke but abhi tak mujhe tumhare baare zyaada nahi pata hai.”

Bani was interested in knowing Vanshika. Vanshika was very different than Meera. She was a little wild child. Her dressing sense matched a bit with Mayuri but what was different was that she was smarter than Mayuri and didn’t hurt anyone for no reason. Vanshika took a sip from the bottle of wine and smiled.

“My mom, Aishwarya Kashyap is a doctor. Something nani is super proud of. Tumhare dad bhi doctor the. My mom tells me that he was areally good surgeon. Almost sabh unhe jaante the. She always tells that when she just became an intern in the hospital, she used to be super embarrassed when he went around telling people that she was his sister. Mom finished her surgery school after I was born. So, I have super respect for her being a mom and a surgery intern at the same time. She’s an amazing mother. She was alwaysmore like my friend than my mother but when I cross the line she’s quick to remind me that she is the woman who gave birth to me.”

“Matlab abh kya kahun. Intelligent people hai meri family aur main yahan B.com student.” Bani laughed. Vanshika laughed.

“Well… they’re all much more into academic half. Aditi mami is an archaeologist. So she was the infamous bed-time story teller. She has a history blog. But I guess what you study isn’t much important in the family, they’re rather happy to see us live our life well.”

“Hmmm… toh yeh batao aisa kya hua tha ki tumhe naaglok se bahar kar diya?”

“Trust me. Naagrani Bela is an amazing person. She’s tolerated quite a bit of my stuff. I don’t know the family tree well but she’s like some sixth or seventh cousin or something like that. I don’t know but she’s far related cousin. She’s close to nani so that’s why I’ve been excused with a lot. Just like human society, Naaglok mein bhi kuch orthodoxy hai. Like they’re not so open with people who drink a lot of alcohol or eat non-veg. They have a certain kind of way of dressing in their human form. They’re not the most party people aur mujhe dekho, I’m like odd one out among all of them. Wild child. Those aunties keep reminding me of how junglee I am. That I should gather up my act.”

“Usmein kya problem hai? You’re doing anything evil.”

“Mujhe yeh baat pata hai, kuch aur logo ko yeh baat pata hai but still there are so many people who can’t accept that. I’ve studied Law in Bangalore and then came to Mumbai to practice. I enjoy being a Lawyer. Majorly a corporate lawyer but I know trial law. I’ve taken up cases. I think majorly I like it because it stuns most people to see a woman so damn confident in her voice and being badass. Or maybe because I’m a wild child.”

“So, now I know who to go to when I need a lawyer.”

Vanshika flipped her hair, winked at her and gave a flying kiss.

“Anything for you, babe.”

The two broke into laughter. The bond Bani shared with Meera was very different. The two were almost similar to each other. Only Meera was a little more meek than Bani but Vanshika was so different than her. That made Bani attach herself to it. They both shared the quick temper and quick irritability.

“About your dad?” Bani asked.

“My dad and I don’t have the best relationship. He’s like the old school disciplinarian who had severe orthodoxy in his mind. He’s from Vrishik vansh. They’re all orthodox like him and have weird initiations. They have a belief that we’re first snakes and then we’re human. So, they’ll turn every single child born in their family into a regular snake and have them brave the wild on their own for three years. I was six years old when that happened to me.”

“Are they insane or what? You were way too young.”

“You know how they say that snakes are born independent from the moment they’re hatched. They are ready predators of the wild from the moment they’re born, its something like that. They believe we’re snakes first and then human. So, the human part of them is quite less tuned.They’re all like that. They assume that if the child doesn’t survive the wild then they’re not worthy to live. Like they strongly believe in law of the jungle. ‘Survival of the fittest’.”

“This is crazy. What kind of people do that to their own children?”

“They’re not evil or anything like that but they have a twisted sort of parenting beliefs. They don’t let themselves become human intheir emotions. My dad wanted to have a son so badly. But I am a girl. So, he keeps wondering how amazing it would to have a son who would be with him.”

“I can’t believe people still think that.”

“His people don’t support their kind venturing into human world. They are like the strongest opposers of Naagins marrying and making a human their ‘joda’. So does my dad. He condems me having this human like life. Like being a lawyer and living among humans. He doesn’t approve of my lifestyle and I don’t approve of his parenting methods. Its an odd equation.”

Bani smiled.

“I’m surprise, you know. Anyone in your place would be broken emotionally with that kind of early years.”

“I had my family who cared for me, Bani. The kind of harshness of the parenting style of my father’s family had brought me closer to my faith. I used to believe in the lord before but never had such strong faith. But having to brave the wild on my own, I learnt why faith is so important. I was scared senseless at not being able to be the way I was before. I then found a really old Vishnu Temple. Nothing felt more comforting than being coiled uparound the idol. Sometimes, it felt like he was actually there looking out for me. I never left the temple for a long time out of fear. After a while, dad came and had me removed from the temple. Dad had an odd kind of parenting but he wasn’t evil. He just brought me up the way he knew parenting. That’s how he was brought up. Like some odd kind of rite of passage. I have that bitterness but I’ve learnt not keep that all over me.”

“You went to school with Singhanias after that.”

Vanshika took another sip from the wine as Bani ate her pizza.

“Trust me, school was difficult. Once dad turned meback into human after he thought that I had survived the wild, mom went crazy angry. I almost thought she was going to murder him. That sort of ruined any chances of them ever coming together again. I was good friends with Veer but Samrat and I were in the same class. I think majorly my dislike for him started because dad always would say how amazing he was and wished I would be like him. He wasn’t quite happy with the girly kind of child he had. I mean, come on, dude. He gave me that X chromosome why complain about something he messed upon? Anyway, he was obsessed with how Samrat was. ‘Look at Samrat, Kitna athletic bacha hai. The way he is so social and confident. I wish you could be like that too’ ” Bani broke into laughter at how Vanshika mocked the way herfather would speak about Samrat.

“Does he even know that he’s a cheel?”

“He does. He just liked how in tune Samrat is with his inner shape shifter. They’re different than us. While we all have a certain age at which we develop the ability to change our forms, they get that ability early on. I was 13 when I first gained the ability to be a naagin. Craziest day of my life. Trust me.”

Vanshika ate her pizza slice and drank another sip of wine.

“I had really wished I had a regular childhood. Mine was different. Papa, my foster father, took me home with me after the plane crash killed my mother. Chachi was not really fond of me. Several times she urged papa to leave me at an orphanage but he didn’t budge and treated me like his own daughter. Meera di got close to me. She cared for me almost all the time like papa did. Chachi hated having me and thought of me as a burden. It made me feel really bad but Meera di and papa’s love always made up for it. I wished that Mehek and Dehek would have the same bond with me but they neverdid. They were more like Chachi. Meera di is more like papa.”

“About Meera di. I really think that there’s something between both of them. Her and Tapish. Like I’ve seen that they talk to each other on the phone. I mean yes, she starts off talking about you but they also have other kind of conversations. I’ve seen her smile with him. And no matter how cliched it is but agar ladki hasi toh ladki phasi.”

“Aisa kuch nahi hai kyuki agar aisa kuch hota toh Meera di mujhse zaroor kehti.”

Bani wasn’t ready to admit that Meera wouldn’t talk to her if she was developing feelings for Tapish.

“Abhi abhi pyaar ki hawa lagi hai, babe. Thodi aanch lagegi tabh toh pata chalega unse ki pyaar hua hai. If she’s actually callingto check up on you then why can’t she directly call you?”

“Unhe lagta hai ki main unhe tension nahi dena chahtiisilye bohot kuch nahi bataungi unhe.”

“Haan but uska matlab toh hai na ki she trusts Tapish to tell her.”

“Acha, let us assume that she has feelings for Tapish bhai then you know him. Is he like his brothers?”

“Tapish? Oh god, no. I don’t know how come he’s blood related to Singhanias. Haan yeh toh baat hai ki Tapish chupa rustom hai. He pretends to not know anything but he knows almost everything. Considering the boys never had a mother’s influence for long, Tapish had majorly brought them up. I really think that if they have even 2% goodness in them, it is because of Tapish. He’s a sweetheart. Pata nahi woh Balwant Singhania ka beta kaise nikla but kudrat ka karishma hua aur woh Singhania ban gaye.” Vanshika laughed.

“Woh Meera di ko hurt nahi karenge na? I mean Meera di waise bhi bohot confident nahi hai. Chachi unhe bolti rehti hai ki unka skin colour kitna daba hua hai and all that. As if that is her fault.”

“That’s because Meera di khud hi itni under confidenthai. Every girl is beautiful, babe. Saari ladkiyan khoobsurat hoti hai. Fark hai toh sirf ek nazariye ki. She is quite pretty. Just that she doesn’t hone on that because of her under confidence. Waise imagine agar kabhi Meera di aurTapish ka set ho gaya then she’ll be your jethani.”

Bani smiled. She chuckled. That was a good thought in her mind.

“It’s a good thought, though. Matlab, main toh bohot khush ho jaaungi. Meri Meera di mere hi saath rahengi.”

“Acha, back to you. Ek bata, Bani. See I have no right to question Adi-Naagin but just as a sister I want to ask you. Exactly kya chal raha hai tere aur Veer ke beech? What do you wish to do with this relationship when we’re done with our mission? Chandrakala aur Markaat ko harane ke baad tum kya karna chahti ho, Bani? Main yeh isiliye puch rahi hun kyuki Veer tujhse bohot pyaar karta hai. Yeh baat tujhse bhi chupi nahi hai. Mujhe dekhne mein yeh lagta hai ki tujhe bhi Veer se pyaar hai but then you also say that Jay is close to you. I’m not accusing you or anything but ek clarity hona important hai, Bani.”

Bani sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.

“Sach batau toh mujhe nahi pata ki main kya karun, Vanshika. Veer ke saath hone ki feeling hi alag hai. I can’t explain how it feels. Jaise ki sabh kuch alag hai uske saath. Uska zindagi ko dekhne ka tareekahi alag. Darr sa lagta, V. Uski intensity hi alag hai. Jitni mera gussa tha uske liye, usse zyaada pyaar hai uska and trust me I was drowning in my anger towards him. Itna gussa tha uske liye ki mujhe kisi aur cheez ki sudh budh nahi rehti thi. Par baar baar main yeh sochti hun ki hum dono ek saath reh kaise paayenge. Kya yeh possible bhi hai ki ek cheel aur ek naagin ek saath ho? Hume ek doosre ke liye bane hai yeh main kaise soch lun? Yeh toh tumhe bhi pata hai humare rules kaise hote hai. Abhi abhi toh kuch waqt pehle Naaglok mein ek Naagin aur ek insaan ko saath mein accept karna shuru kiya hai aur main seedha yeh kaise soch lun ki Veer aur main ek ho sakte hai?"

"I know I’m attracted to him. How do you forever ignore someone who loves you that intensely that it is almostimpossible to be ignorant of it? Veer ke feelings ko main ignore kar hi nahi sakti. It is that intense and comes off strongly. Veer, exactly like his inner cheel, is a free bird. Jahan dil kiya waha chala gaya. Boundaries exist hi nahi karti uske liye. Aasmaan mein kya hi boundaries bana sakte hai? Boundaries zameen ke hote hai but aasmaan ke panchi thodi na yeh puchte hai ki zameen kiski hai. Behisaab udne ki aadat hai Veer ko. He doesn’t care for rules or tradition or societal norms. Use fark hi nahi padta hai. Uske hisaab se, kyuki woh sabse zyaada takatwar hai, use jo karna hai woh kar dega. Seconds thoughts don’t exist in his mind. Jo pehli cheez zehen mein aayi woh kar di. Darr lagta hai ki agar Veer se dhoka mila toh shayad toot hi jaaungi. Jis tarah se Veer apni feelings ko khul ke jeeta hai waise main nahi kar paati. Jitna maine Veer pe bharosa kiya hai utna shayad Jay pe bhi nahi kiya hai. Veer ke saath everything is wild and uncontrolled. Jay ke saath everything is well measured. I don't feel powerless against Jay but with Veer it is being powerless and defenseless. Use khone ki soch se bhi darr lagta hai.”

Vanshika just looked at Bani. The way she spoke about Veer. It was almost like she wished she could be like him for once.

“Tum usse pyaar karti ho.” She pointed out.

“Pyaar…” Bani chuckled, “Uski aankhon mein apne liye itna pyaar dekhne ki aadat hai ki kabhi darr lagta hai ki agar woh pyaar kho gaya toh? Mujhe nahi pata yeh kya hai. Pyaar mein darr kahan hota hai? Pyaar mein we’re just happy to be in love with the person. Saccha pyaar ho toh bas itne mein hi khushi mil jaati hai ki woh khush hai. Par nahi samajhti kyu hai yeh feeling ki main uski aankhon mein apne liye pyaar ke alawa kuch aur nahi dekh sakti. I know how shallow it sounds but main honestly jo feel karti hun wahi bata rahi hun. Adi-Naagin banu ya phir Bani samajh nahi aata. Bani hun toh humesha yeh dil karta hai ki Veer ke saath hi rahun. Then yaad aata hai ki Adi-Naagin bhi hun. Toh kya ek Adi-Naagin ka aise cheel ke pyaar mein deewana hona sahi hai?”

“Bani, all of the restrictions aside. Ek baar yeh socho ki tum dil se kya feel karti ho?”

“Vanshika, ek baath batata hun tumhe. Jo aaj tak khud se kehne ki bhi himmat nahi hui.” Bani showed her a certain birthmark on her arm. There was a patch of skin differently coloured on her arm. Just a tone darker than her general skin tone. Bani covers it with a skin toner. Vanshika was surprised. She was scared to open that part of her truth but she knew if she didn’t say it now, it will forever eat her away, “Jab pehli baar Aakesh mere saamne aaya tha, tabh use dekh ke pata nahi kyu aisa laga, bas ek pal ke liye, ki uska mujhse koi toh naata hai. Koi toh cheez hai jo mujhe uske paas kheech rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein ek pal ke liye kho gayi thi. Bas that one moment shook me top to bottom when I realized I felt that strong connection that I never felt with anyone. I have never felt guilty about anything as much as I did about feeling that connection to someone who was supposedly the enemy. Mujhe yeh laga ki mujhse galati hui hai. Aisi galti jiski saza kaatna mere liye zaroori tha. Jab tak us aag ne us soch nahi jala diya tabh tak mera haath usi diya ke aag ke upar tha.”

“Yeh…” Vanshika was shocked. She wouldn't have imagined something like that.

“Nageshwari ne Hriday ko apna saathi maan liya tha phir kyu Aakesh ke liye aisa kuch bhi feel kiya? Yeh baat ka jawab kabhi nahi mila mujhe. Gussa aaya tha khud pe ki galti hui hogi but galti se bhi Hriday ke alawa kisi ko bhi apni soch mein jagah diya tha. Darr gayi thi ki yeh galti ek baar hui hai toh dusri baar bhi ho gayi toh? Isiliye maine decide kar liya ki Hriday se shaadi kar lungi. Uske baad toh sawaal hi nahi uthega kisi aur ke baare mein sochne ki. Saanpo ke liye shaadi ka kya matlab hai? Shaadi insaano ke liye hai. Toh wahan Pandit ji kehte the ki jab do log shaadi karte hai toh humesha ke liye ek dusre ke ban jaate hai. Toh mujhe laga sach mein aisa hi hota hoga. Toh main agar Hriday se shaadi kar lun toh Aakesh mere khyalon mein bhi nahi aayega. But usse pehle hi teeno mar gaye. Nishaan is janam mein bhi reh gaya hai.”

Vanshika ran her thumb over that small patch. She had always heard stories about Aakesh, Nageshwari and Hriday. The story was infamous in Naaglok. Aakesh was the infamous lover. The most dangerous cheel that could have existed. He was infamous for his power. It was almost like he was unstoppable. No one was able to hunt him down but Nageshwari killed him. He let Nageshwari kill him. There was a general thing about all Naag-Naagin having enmity with all the cheels but no one could deny the madness that Aakesh came with. None of them could deny that Aakesh was completely lost in love and would cross any boundary for his love. A notch higher than any Romeo. Just like how the trend was among human youngsters to think about such intense love, it was the same in Naaglok. No one could match the intensity of Aakesh. Hriday's love never matched the intensity of Aakesh's obsessive love.

Everyone in Naaglok would say that Aakesh was madly in love with Nageshwari and had the title for being the most infamous lover. She remembered someone saying 'Pyaar karne waale bohot hai par jaisa pyaar Aakesh ne kiya hai waisa kisi ne nahi kiya hai'.

Vanshika couldn’t understand earlier at all as to how did it even happen that Bani got married to Veer instead of Jay. Now, when Bani confessed this truth to her, Vanshika was beginning to believe that maybe, just maybe, Aakesh and Nageshwari were fated to be together but it ended rather badly. That’s why they took birth. Bani assumes she was born for Jay but it is the undeniable truth that Bani’s own intensity of whatever she felt for Veer was around 10,000 times stronger than any small feeling for Jay.

“Bani, we can’t choose who we fall in love with. It just happens. We cannot control who we feel attracted to or who we fall in love with. It isn’t a conscious choice. To want to be with them or not is a conscious choice.”

“Veer ne bhi exactly yahi kaha tha.” Bani answered. "Honestly kahun toh bas ek wish hai meri. Bas ek din, at least ek din ke liye, Veer ki tarah behisaab ud saku. Not having anything weighing you down. To let go off my fears and embrace the feelings which I'm too scared to admit to him. Kahin main kamzoor na pad jaau, yeh darr lagta hai."

"Bani, pyaar sirf logo ko takat deta hai. You were on the verge of breaking down when you heard Jay's confession about his betrayal but moment he said Veer, it was like you knew you could be stronger."

"Mujhe kabhi udne ki itni iccha nahi hui jitna us moment mein hui jab maine use udte hue dekha. You know when we watch birds, we all wish we could fly like that, exactly same thing but main sirf uske saath udna chahti thi."

"Congratulation, Bani Sharma. You're in love."

Bani laughed.

Chapter 20

They heard sound of clinking. The boys turned around to see who it was. Ponky’s eyes widened at the sight of Chandni. Chandni wore a white short dress with white heels. The clinking sound came from her bag. She walked in towards the boys. She first stopped near Meera. Giving a distasteful look. Her arm over Tapish’s shoulder. Meera for a moment felt jealous who was sitting next to Tapish. Tapish just gave a confused look to Meera like telling her that he didn’t know why she had a hand on his shoulder. She moved ahead towards Veer who was sitting on Tapish’s other side. She sat up on the table between Tapish and Veer.

“Abh jaake mile ho.” She spoke to Veer. Sam patted on Ponky’s shoulder.

“Bhul jaa, chote. Ek baar jo Veer pe fida ho gaya woh tujhpe kabhi fida nahi ho sakti.” Daksh laughed.

“Hain?” Veer asked confused.

“Yaad nahi?” She pouted and then gave a bright smile.“Koi nahi. Yaad aa jaayega. ‘Pariyon ke sheher mein meri khwaabon ki duniya banayi gayi hai, tumhe dekh ke bas yehi yaad aaya hai ki taaron ke sheher mein basera ho humara…”

“Jo tum Raat ho toh main andhera. Jo tum chaand ho toh main Chandni.” Veer finished and laughed. She giggled.

“Mujhe pata tha. Tum bhuloge nahi.”

“Haan but aap zara yeh batayengi kia ap yahan kya kar rahi hai?”

“Tumse milne aayi hun. Kyu nahi aa sakti?” She leaned on towards Veer. Her eyes raking in his features. She touched his beard.

“Ahm… Ahmm…” The boys cleared their throats together. Chandni didn’t bother to look at them. Veer looked at them. She put her hand on his face and made him look at her.

“Chandni, baby…” Veer took off her hand from him softly, “Of course aa sakti ho. Sabse mil lo. Ponky, Daksh, Sam aur Tapish bhai.” He pointed at them.

“Chaand saamne ho toh koi kisi aur ko kyu dekhe.” Shegiggled.

“Aur Chaand ka taara koi aur hai.” Tapish teased. She gave an innocent confused look. Veer held up his hand and showed her his wedding ring.

“Badi muskilon ke baad aayi hai yeh waqt ki main bhi uska aur woh bhi meri.” Veer answered.

“Chaand ka pyaar sirf Chandni ho sakta hai, jaan.” She pointed out.

“Jaan? Veer bhai ki jaan toh bas Bani Bhabhi mein atki hai.” Ponky teased.

“Yeh toh galat baat hai, Veer. Mujhe laga ki tum aur main ek hi hai. Tum chaand aur main Chandni.” She tried to act sad.

“Unfortunately, main chaand nahi cheel hun.”

The boys laughed. He got up from the dining table. He had decided that he gave Bani enough time to wonder about her answer. He was impatient to know his answer. He called up Bani.

“Hello.” She answered.

“Mujhe wahin tumhare Naag mandir ke aage jo pahadi hai wahan abhi milo.”

“Haan, main theek hun. Sun ke accha laga ki tum bhi theek ho.”

“Soch lo, Gharwali. Mujhe mere sawaal ka jawaab chahiye.”

“Main nahi doongi.”

“Nahi. Mujhe toh chahiye. Tum bas jaldi aao.”

“Veeranshu…”

“Haan haan… jitna chahe mera naam jap lo but jawaab toh dena padenga, sweetheart. Mujhe na aaj jaanna hi hai.”

He cut the call with that. Veer took off quickly, flying off. When he reached there, he saw Bani and Jay both coming out of the naag mandir.

“Chale, Bani?” Jay asked.

“Tum jaao, Jay, main baad mein aa jaaungi. Veeranshu mujhse milna chahta hai toh yahan aane waala hai.” Bani told him.

“Kuch zyaada hi nahi mil rahi usse?” Jay asked.

“Jay, abh kya kahu usse? Ki mujhse milna na aaye? Abh pati hai woh mera. I can’t just ask him to go away because you’re in no mood to entertain him. Tumhe zabardasti baat karne ko nahi keh rahi usse. Nahi banti tumhari usse, toh baat mat karo.”

“Bani, ek baat batao, tum aur main ek hone wale thena? Yahin isi Naag Mandir mein tumne mere saath tandav kiya aur kaha ki hum dono ek honge un cheelon ko khatam karke.”

“Socha toh maine bhi yahi tha ki tum mere apne ho, Jay. Tumne mujhe pehle hi chod diya tha.”

Veer just stood there and watched the two talking to each other. Jay held Bani’s hand.

“Maanta hun, Bani, mujhe takat ki chah thi but aisa nahi tha ki main tumhe apna janam janam ka saathi nahi manta tha. Bas kuch waqt ke liye takat ko tumse zyaada chaha hai.”

Veer felt a burn in his chest when he saw Jay holding her hand and she didn’t let go off of it. He couldn’t understand Bani’s mixed signals. A while ago, she got so close to him that he actually felt like theywere slowly getting together.

“Jay, in sabh baton se tum kehna kya chahte ho?”

“Tum aur main ek dusre ke liye bane the na? Satyug ke saathi. Abh mujhe pata hai mujhe kya karna hai, Bani. Tumhare saath rehte hue bhi main apne maqsat mein kaamyaab ho sakta hun. Hum dono ne ek dusre ke liye janam liya tha. Yaad hai? Tumhari aur meri shaadi hone waali thi. Satyug mein bhi woh cheel beech mein aaya aur is baar bhi. Kyu tum meri nahi ho rahi, Bani? Kya difference hai mere pyaar mein aur uske pyaar mein? Bas itna ki woh zor zor se apni feelings ka ailan karta hai aur main abhi apni galti ki bharpayi kar raha hun? Mujhe pata hai jo maine kiya usko main sorry se sahi nahi kar sakta isiliye koshish kar raha hun apni galti sudharne ki? Agar tum us Veeranshu-Aakesh ko dusra mauka de sakti ho toh mujhe kyu nahi. Tumne kaha ki tum mere liye janam logi. Mere saath ek banne ke liye. Main toh aaya tumhare liye phir tum kyu nahi aa rahi mere saath?”

“Jay, aisa nahi hai ki main tumhe kisi baat ki saza de rahi hun. I’m sorry ki is baar cheezein us tarah se nahi ho rahi jaisa humne socha tha but Veer mere liye koi khilauna nahi hai ki use kahin rakh ke tumhare saath chali aau. Usne mujhse shaadi ki hai. Woh mere liye utna hi important hai jitna tum ho. Woh mera pati hai. Mera koi intention nahi hai use dhoka dene ka.”

“Bani, hum dono ne ek dusre ke liye janam liya tha. Naag-Naagin ka joda hai humara. Toh yeh cheel kyu hai beech mein?”

“Jay, please, I don’t want to speak about it. Tume samjha hi nahi sakti ki Veer aur mere beech kya hai. Tum nahi samjhoge.”

Veer walked ahead. Bani saw him and smile but Veer’s smile didn’t reach her. Jay walked away from there.

“Lagta hai kuch important baat kar rahe the, tum dono.”

“Nahi. Aisa kuch nahi hai.” She was wearing a yellow printed saree with ruffles. “Kya baat hai? Aise rukhe rukhe se lag rahe ho?”

“Bani, mujhe na mera jawaab chahiye. Ab bata hi do ki tumhare aur mere beech hai kya?” Veer questioned her.

“Hmm… main soch rahi hun ki thoda pareshaan karun tumhe.”

“Mujhe seedhe jawab chahiye, Bani.”

Bani chuckled. She presumed he was acting to be really serious she tells him straight away. Veer was generally always joking and playing around so it didn’t click to her that this time he was actuallyserious. He was always playfully open to teasing but this time the insecurity and jealousy was kicking in.

Tumne kaha ki tum mere liye janam logi. Mere saath ek banne ke liye. Main toh aaya tumhare liye phir tum kyu nahi aa rahi mere saath?

The words kept ringing in his mind. Bani seemed to be close to him but then even knowing that Jay wasn’t having the same friendly feelings, she still went around him. Calling him just as important as Jay.

“Nahi dena.” She crossed her arms.

“Bani, mujhe mazak nahi karna hai. Seedhe seedhe batado.”

He was growing impatient over it. To him it seemed like he had finally got what he wanted for so long right in his hand but was slipping away like sand. It made him uneasy and insecure. He hated losing what he wanted. Veer had always gotten what he wanted. He had never learnt to let go off of something he wanted. There was nothing he had wanted as much as he had wanted Bani. He wanted to know that Bani was his just as much as he was hers. He never even thought of ever giving anyone any commitment but he was ready to give her the commitment of every life. Even 7 lives seemed short to him. Hefelt uneasy and shaky on the inside not to have her exactly tell him what she felt for him.

“Nahi dena.” She tried to play.

“Jo karna hai woh karo phir.”

He got a bit angry.

“Theek hai. Toh main jaa rahi hun.” Bani assumed that he would stop her and he would get back to being playful. Veer simply took off as a cheel and flew away. Bani looked at the sound of wings and saw Veer fly away. It confused her. “Yeh kya baat hai? Main sirf mazak kar rahi thi.”

She returned to the flat. His behavior confused her. She called him up.

“Kya hai?” He answered irritatedly.

“Gussa ho gaye kya? Main toh sirf mazak kar rahi thi.” She said softly.

“Tumhe jawab nahi dena hai toh mujhe sunna nahi hai. Rakho apne paas.”

“Veer, tumhare puchne se pehle hi maine tumse kaha tha. Main tumhe kho nahi sakti.”

“Bas.” Veer gave a dry laughter. “Yahin reh gaya hai. Tum mere liye kitni important ho yeh main cheekh cheekh keh sakta hun but main sirf itna hi reh gaya ki tum mujhe khona nahi chahti.”

“Veer, tumne bohot pee li hai. Jab hosh mein aa jaao toh wapas phone kar lena.”

“Abh nahi karunga.” He said and cut the call. Bani got a bit sad. He never spoke to her that way. After a while, Ponky called her up.

“Haan, bolo.” Bani answered.

“Bhabhi, koi baat hui hai kya? Veer bhai toh apna aapa kho chuke hai.” Ponky asked her. In the background she heard loud noise.

“Yeh kya tha?” Bani asked.

“Veer bhai ne table tod diya hai.”

“Veer, pagal ho gaya hai kya?” Bani heard Balwant.

“Haan. Pagal ho gaya hun, dad. Aapko table chahiye toh dusra mangwalo.” She heard Veer. Bani stood up.

“Yeh itna react kyu kar raha hai? Main sirf mazak kar rahi thi.” Bani told him.

“Bhabhi, aapne exactly kya kaha Veer bhai ko?” Ponkyasked.

“Usne mujhe bas puch tha ki mere liye who kitna important hai aur maine mazak mein bas itna kaha hi mujhe nahi batana. Is tarah se react kyu kar raha hai?” Bani got worried.

“Bhabhi, rewind karo aur acche se socho. Aapne kuch aur toh nahi kaha Veer bhai se.” Ponky asked her again.

“Nahi, Ponky.” Bani stressed.

“Phir aisa kya ho gaya?” Ponky wondered.

“Veer, bas kar. Pura ghar todne ka irada hai kya?” Tapish asked Veer.

Bani cut the call and decided to go see him.

Tapish stopped Veer from breaking stuff and took him to his own room.

“Yeh sabh ho kya raha hai, Veer. Is tarah se tu kabhi react nahi karta.” Tapish pointed out. “Bas abhi abhi kuch waqt pehle phone pe bhi tu Bani se bohot gussa ho gaya tha. Kya ho raha hai? Tum dono ke beech phirse ladai hui hai kya.”

Veer injured his fingers while going berserk. Chandni walked in.

“Veeranshu…” She quickly took his hand and was about to put the bandage around it when Tapish stopped her.

“Chandni, tum please bahar jaaogi? Mujhe mere bhai se kuch akele mein baat karni hai.” Tapish said.

“Mujhe bas fikar ho rahi hai Veer ki. Bani ko aisa nahi karna chahiye tha. Ek taraf woh Veer ke saath bhi aise behave karti hai ki uske dil mein koi feelings hai Veer ke liye but dusri taraf wahi behavior Jay ke saath bhi hai.” Chandni tried to provoke Veer. Chandni’s magic worked in the moment when Veer felt the most vulnerable, evoking an extreme reaction out of him. Chandni felt that it was difficult to get a grasp on Veer’s mind. Veer’s will-power and determination have always been strong. His mental ability was almost perfected. He was well balanced even with his craziness and sarphira-pan.

“Chandni, please jaao. Yeh Veer ka personal matter hai. Tum uski bachpan ki dost ho but Bani uski biwi hai. I presume ki tumhe undono ke beech comment nahi karna chahiye. I’m not trying to offend you but I hope you understand.” Tapish said and took her out politely and closed the door. Chandni clenched her fists. Tapish had blocked her magic with his balanced words.

Tapish took a band-aid and put it around Veer’s fingers. “Tu gussa hai samajh aata hai, Veer, par yeh koi tareeka nahi hai problems solve karne ka. Tu toh mera Veer hai, humesha se hi tareeka dhundh leta thaproblems solve karne ki. Jhagde toh Bani ke saath pehle bhi hote the but abhi aise kyu react kar raha hai?”

“Tapish bhai, samajh nahi aa raha. Kya karun main? Aisa lag raha hai ki Bani meri hai phir bhi us Jay ki ho rahi hai.” Veer explained. Even with the few amount of words Veer spoke, Tapish realized that Veer felt insecure. Tapish sat next to Veer and gave him some water.

“Pehle paani pe.” Veer took the water and drank it slowly. “Veer, kuch cheezein samjhana bohot aasaan nahi hota hai. Sabh teri tarah nahi hai ki dil apni hatheli mein leke chal sake. Dil tootne ka darr hota hai sabhko. Tu toh hai hi azaad parinda. Par Bani teri tarah nahi hai. Itne waqt se tujhse nafrat karne mein laga diya, abh pyaar hua bhi hai toh use kehne mein waqt toh lagega na.”

“Mujhse milne se pehle woh Jay se baat kar rahi thi. Jay usse keh raha tha ki usne Jay ke liye janam liya but woh uski nahi ban rahi. I felt as if Bani ko bhi lagta hai ki main uske aur Jay ke beech aa raha hun.”

Tapish had no idea how to deal with this part. He had never been in this situation before. Veer was never one to break down like that. He had always been the crazy, cheery and sarphira bhai. The five of brothers were always idiotic at best. A character in their own way. He had never known any of them to be insecure or broken this way. They were all broken in their own ways, thanks to their fathers and their rather destructive parenting but they always got by with having each other as coping mechanisms. Singhanias didn’t have the concept of letting out their pain and agony with tears.

Tapish wanted to cry at his mother’s death. The seven brothers all stoodnear the burning ground as Tapish did the last rites. There was an unusual silence. Teer broke down that night. The reminder of the scene of their mother’s death was the final blow to his already weak mental stability. After that he was never normal. Even for a cheel he was abnormal. Teer no longer had any control over his two halves. That prompted Balwant to lock him inside a room so he doesn’t hurt his own brothers. Teer almost ran up towards the burning pile. Veer held him back. Tapish wanted to cry out the pain that his mother’s death caused him. The woman who had given him her unconditional love was gone. His father had always been rather obsessed with Veer and his Cheel Rajkumar part and Veer being Aakesh. Watching Teer, Tapish gathered himself. He couldn’t cry because his brothers had no one else. The situation only got worse when his chachi left. Tapish knew halfway it was his own chachu’s fault that she left. He wanted to cry and stop her from leaving but for the sake of his brothers he held himself from breaking down. He knew he had to take care of them because none of their fathers had an emotional capability to care for children and their temperaments. Tapish had to calm down Teer ever night and more often than not it resulted in scratches and injuries that he hid. Tapish never complained about them. Teer would whisk away in the corner the next day out of fear that he would hurt Tapish again. All Teer wished for was to be free for once.

Veer took over the part and grabbed the part of freedom that Teer would have wished for and went all on his own. Never paying heed to anything or anything. He had come back in a plaster one day after his bike race but that didn’t stop him from flying out again. Veer caught on to the fear that maybe even he would be cramped up like Teer was. Hence, he ended up being the uncontrolled wild child who gave zero damns about anything before his heart’s wish. He went rattling crazy when he didn’t get what he wanted. He did what he wanted and didn't give a damn as to what the other person felt about it.

When Veer realized his brother’s worry, he changed apattern. He found different ways to do what he wanted without pouring headache on Tapish’s head. He developed a habit of finding ways to get where he wanted. After a while, Tapish had stopped trying to control Veer and let him be.

All the brothers depended on each other. The concept of crying for a loved one’s dead was absent as they grew up. Death was the reality of life. Early childhood taught them that lesson early enough. If someone wants to leave, they’re no one to stop them. Daksh bore his own bitterness for his mother leaving them behind. Tapish never got to explain that it wasn’t her fault but rather chachu’s fault. Tapish could see the same thing repeating itself again. Their own fathers’ relationships had reflected on the relationships the brothers had. Each of them was fiercely loyal to each other. All it took was asking and they’d cross any boundary for each other. When things got too much, everyone had their own coping mechanisms. Veer would go crazier than before and do something rash. Daksh buried himself into books and locked himself in his room, not leaving until necessary. Sam ran away from home and wouldn't return for long. Ponky and Monil coped up by acting up like teenagers, partying all night, drinking too much and flirting with every girl they could see.

After several years, when Bani walked into their lives, Tapish saw a strange difference in them. If he asked Daksh and Ponky,they’d refused to admit but they were good enough protective about Bani. Tapishknew that. The proof was that Daksh volunteered to accompany Sam and Bani tothe most dangerous place. It finally seemed that his brothers were growing some amount of emotional quotient.

“Veer, sabh pyaar ek tarah se nahi dikhate. Itna waqt intezaar kiya hai. Use pehle khud ko samajhne de. She is supposed to deal with several things at the same time.” Tapish tried to tell him.

“Pata nahi kya ho raha hai, Tapish bhai. Itna gussa kyu hai, main khud nahi samajh paa raha hun. Aisa lag raha hai ki main jaan lelunga kisi ki. Itna uncontrolled kabhi feel nahi kiya hai.” Veer confessed. Veer’s eyes went red. It reminded him of the way Sam had looked when they reached the yacht. He looked too vulnerable in that moment. Like he was breaking out into something. Veer was crazy. No one but he himself could predict how he would react. Sometimes he gets angry really soon and goes crazy, sometimes he shows the controlled calm.

“Veer, tu thoda aaraam kar. Bohot hi pareshaan hai. Thanda shower le, kuch kha aur so jaa.” Tapish suggested. Veer nodded.

Just as Veer left his room, Tapish got a call fromBani.

“Haan, Bani.”

“Tapish bhai, aap zara Veer ko neeche bhej doge. Wohmera phone nahi utha raha hai.” Bani asked.

“Bani, mujhe galat mat samjho but this is a bad time.Veer bohot zyaada thaka hua hai. So raha hai.”

“Tapish bhai, agar baat abhi nahi sambhali toh pata nahi kaise theek hoga. It is better to resolve whatever is bothering him.”

Tapish signalled Ponky and Sam to take care of Veer and leave some food in his room. He pointed to Daksh to make sure no one came into his room and disturbed him. The three nodded. Tapish jogged down and went to see Bani.

She looked worried herself.

“Bani…”

“Tapish bhai, aap nahi samajh rahe hai. Uthaiye use. Abhi baat nahi khatam karenge toh phir pata nahi baat aage badh jaayegi.”

“Bani, meri baat suno. Veer ko main bachpan se jaanta hun. Tum jo bhi kahogi, abhi uske dimag mein register nahi hoga. Bohot chidahua hai tumse. Tum agar logical baat bhi kahogi toh use bhi bakwaas kehke nikal jaayega. He’s quite disturbed right now. Apne aape mein nahi hai. Tumhe hurt bhi kar sakta hai.”

Bani sat on the swing and sighed.

“Pata nahi achanak se itna gussa kyu ho gaya woh. Mainsirf mazak kar rahi thi.”

“Bani, usne tumhe aur Jay ko saath dekha tha. Baspaara chadh gaya uska.”

“Tapish bhai, koi problem thi toh mujhse puchta na.”

“Veer pagal hai, Bani. Kya hi samjha dogi. Tum Jay ke saath reh rahi ho. Uske saath mandir gayi thi, tumse itna zyaada baat kartahai. Veer ko chidh hoti hai is baat se. I know that it is quite stupid to say ki tum baat karna band kardo Jay se. Tumhare liye dost hai but Veer kiinsecurity bhi hai. Aur relationship mein insecurity hai toh logical cheez bhi nahi dikhti. Veer toh waise bhi sarphira hai. Paara kaise aur kabh chadta hai uska koi predict nahi kar sakta.”

“Tapish bhai, ek baat ko leke itna react karna bohothi bachpana hai.”

“Bachpana nahi, Bani. Bohot waqt se andar dabayi hui cheezein hai. Jabse tumhari uske saath shaadi hui hai, tabse se leke abh tak tumhare aur Jay ko saath mein sunke use irritation hota hai. 3 mahino se dabake baitha hai. Abhi sabh ek saath bahar nikal raha hai.”

He looked at Bani. The two were an odd couple.

“Bani, bas give up mat karna.” Tapish said. Bani lookedup confused.

“Why would I give up, Tapish bhai? Itna bada bhi issuenahi hai. I’m sure we’ll get over it. Ek baar woh thanda ho jaaye toh baat karke sort out kar lenge.”

Awesome interesting.. Way Bani told to vanshika and tapish explained to veer. Too good

This conversation was much needed to understand Bani's feelings for veer ,this waa so intense so deep ,u portrayed Bani's feelings for Veer so beautifully ❤️ ,I was transported tnosome other world reading that.

Superb update as always

But aap bhi alag mat karwado please

Amazing update...

Continue soon...

Chapter 21

Chandni walked into Veer’s room. He was sleeping. He seemed to be deep in sleep. His hair was still slightly wet from the shower. The empty plate still on the coffee table. She climbed the bed, sitting next to Veer.

“Kya karu, Veer. Tum meri zid ho. Aise nahi chod sakti tumhe. Bachpan se hi mujhe zid hai tumhara sabh kuch banne ki.” She said as she played with his hair. She looked at the dressing table. There were stuffs kept there. Veer’s cologne left there. Bani’s eye shadow palette was kept there. Some of her earrings. A few nail-polishes. Veer’s watch, his other rings and afew other stuffs. Chandni took Bani’s things from the table and threw it out ofthe window.

“Veer ke zindagi mein sirf ek hi ladki ho sakti hai aur woh main hun.” She said. She opened the cupboard and saw Bani’s clothes.The surge of jealousy poured into her. She took out all of them and threw them outside. There was Bani’s bridal dress that she wore when Bani and Veer married. She took that and put it over her, checking herself in the mirror. She walked into the bathroom and wore the dress.

She admired herself in the bright red and gold dress in the mirror. She smiled and admired herself in the mirror.

"Dekho, main kitni acchi lag rahi hun. Tum aur main perfect honge, Veer. I can bet ki main Bani toh kaafi zyaada is jode mein acchi lag rahi hun."

The door opened up. Sam walked inside to put some medicines when he saw Chandni there. He saw her wearing Bani’s outfit. He wasn't aware that it was the wedding dress but he had noted that it must be Bani's.

“Excuse me?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Acchi lag rahi hun na?” She asked him with a smile.

“Is that bhabhi’s clothes?” He asked. His eyes fell on the deep in sleep Veer. “Do put it back where you took it out from. It isn’t polite to take people’s things like this.”

“Main sirf dekh rahi thi ki mujhpe kaisi lagegi.” She answered.

Sam put the medicines on the table. His expression was clear. He wasn’t amused by her antics.

“I suggest you stop taking whatever belongs to Bhabhi.” He made it clear. His tone was serious and clear. He started walking out. “That also extends to Veer bhai. He is my bhabhi’s husband. It isn’t right to try and force yourself between a married couple. Stay out of their way. It would be good for you to remember that.”

Chandni twirled around in the outfit.

“Veer mera tha. Yeh Bani beech mein aayi thi.” She declared. She walked towards Veer. She kissed his forehead. “Tum sirf mere ho sakte ho, Veer.”

“Sweetheart…” Veer muttered in his sleep. Chandni blushed at that thinking he was calling her sweetheart. A smile emerging on his lips. “Bani…” Veer was muttering in his sleeping, dreaming about the love of his life.

Chandni stood up. It stung her to hear Bani’s name.

Sam walked into Tapish’s room. Tapish was lying on his bed talking to Meera on the phone. A smile on his face. He got up and straightened himself when he saw Sam.

“Sam?” Tapish asked.

“Tapish bhai, woh Chandni bhai ke room mein kyu thi?”

“Hum sabh busy ho gaye the toh chali gayi hogi.”

“Usne Bhabhi ka koi red aur golden lehenga pehen rakha tha. Guest hai toh kya hum use kuch bhi karne dein? Maltab hadd hai.”

“Bani ka shaadi ka lehenga bhi toh usi colour mein tha.” Meera pointed out on the phone.

“I think Bani ke shaadi ka joda tha.” Tapish repeated for Sam. Tapish felt really odd thinking that.

“Why is she wearing Bhabhi’s wedding clothes? Tapish bhai, mujhe buri feeling aa rahi hai ki yeh ladki kuch toh bawaal karne wali hai.”

“Usne Bani ke shaadi ka joda pehna hai?” Meera asked surprised.

“Sam toh yahi bol raha hai.” Tapish told her.

“Main Veer bhai ke kamre mein dawai rakhne gaya tha toh mirror ke saamne khadi thi Bhabhi ka lehenga pehen ke.”

Even earlier she had tried to provoke Veer against Bani. Tapish sighed. Just when things were beginning to settle, things were getting worse. Tapish felt that it was far more necessary now to get Bani back into the mansion.

“Tapish bhai, yeh ladki toh kuch zyaada hi tez nikli. Bani Bhabhi ke shaadi ka joda pehnke pure ghar mein ghoom rahi hai.” Ponky declared poking his head through the door.

Meera knew that if this was to reach Bani that some girl is going around wearing her wedding clothes, she was going to be really mad.

“Bhabhi ko bataye? Baat hi khatam ho jaayegi. Bhabhi use maar hi degi.” Daksh chuckled.

“Chup. Ek toh waise hi bohot problems hai upar se tum dono aise stupid suggestions de rahe ho.” Tapish said.

“Ek baat batao, tum sabh pagal ho gaye ho kya? Pehle Veer ne table tod diya, aur vase tod diye abh Bani ke kuch kapde aur uski cheezein bahar phek diye hai. Yeh chal kya raha hai ghar mein? Sabh apna mental balance kho chuke hai kya? Woh ladki shaadi ka joda pehen ke ghoom rahi hai ghar mein.” Pawan asked. The boys looked away.

“Kuch nahi, dad. Relax karo. Daro mat. So jaao.” Sam patted his shoulder. Pawan shook his head.

The three boys looked at Tapish.

“Kya dekh rahe ho. Bani ke cheezein le aao wapas.”Tapish told them. The three walked out. They were gathering stuff.

“Daksh bhai, ek baat bolni thi. Although this is funny but don’t you think she’s crossing a line? Matlab Bhabhi ki cheezein phek dena aur phir unki shaadi ka joda pehne. Soche toh aisa lag raha hai ki woh Bhabhi ki jagah lena chahti hai.” Ponky said as he picked up Bani’s earring. The eyeshadow palette was already broken. Daksh and Sam looked at each other. Ponky looked at the palette and tried to see if it had a smell.

“Pehli baar dimag ki baat ki.” Sam pointed out.

“Jo bhi hai, hum use Bhabhi ki jagah nahi lene de sakte.”

“Kya baat hai, Daksh. Acceptance of Naagin Sharma.”

“Kyuki mujhe pata hai ki Veer bhai unke deewane hai. Unke saath Veer bhai khush hai toh main bhi khush hun. Aur waise bhi, I guess I have to get used to them. Tera toh waise bhi bohot pehle se hi chal raha hai Vanshika ke saath.”

“Woh tho kuch nahi hai. But I agree we can’t let her take Bhabhi’s place.”

“Veer, baat sun. Karna kya chahta hai tu?” They heard Veer as they started to go back into the house.

“Just shut up, dad. Nahi sunna aapki baat.” Veer commented. The three got confused. Veer had been a spoiled brat since a child but he wouldn’t outright be that rude to Balwant. He’s been a brat to him several times but to outright ask his father to shut up was a bit odd.

“Badtameezi nahi, Veer. Tu nahi jaayega matlab nahi jaayega. Halat dekh apni.”

“Aaj tak aapse puch ke kuch kiya hai, dad, jo aaj karlun? Mujhe bahar jaana hai aur thoda enjoy karna hai toh ismein problem kya? Abhi toh din bhi nahi hai, raat hai.” Veer argued.

“Daddyji, jaane dijiye use. Waise bhi Bani ke wajah se bohot pareshaan hai. Thoda bahar jaake aayega toh better feel karega.” Chandni pointed out. She was wearing one of Bani’s white saree. Everyone noticed it butVeer.

“Veer bhai, thake se lag rahe ho. Isiliye rest karlo.” Ponky insisted.

“Tu mat bata ki kya karna hai mujhe.” Veer shut him up.

“Kuch toh gadbad hai. Veer bhai bohot odd behave kar rahe hai. Bade papa, jaane do.” Sam stopped Balwant. “Didn’t you notice his outburst earlier?”

“Jo karna hai kar. Aaj kal toh meri baat sunna toh tune band hi kar diya hai.” Balwant commented angrily. Veer walked out and Chandni followed him.

“Bade papa, point 1. Chahe Veer bhai kitna bhi gusse mein ho, itni buri tarah react nahi karte. He’s more of a calculated person. Out of control jaane wale nahi. He gets angry, he plans what he wants and then reacts. Point 2, badtameezi hum sabh karte hai but phir bhi limit hota hai. Veer bhai aise toh baat nahi karte aapse. Point 3, Chandni ne Bhabhi ki saree pehni hai. Hum sabhne notice kiya but Veer bhai ne nahi. You think it is normal that Veer bhai wouldn’t notice someone else wearing his wife’s clothes? Kuch toh chal raha hai. He’s kind of out of his mind right now. Hum teeno Veer bhai ke peeche hi rahenge. In case anything goes wrong, inform kar denge.”

Daksh, Ponky and Sam flew out in their cheel formquickly.

“Yeh sabh pagal ho gaye hai.” Pawan commented. Balwant looked at his brother. The two always related to each other. Both of them had one really troublemaking child and other who would often volunteer into their nonsense to keep them out of getting into some serious danger. If Veer had Tapish then Sam had Daksh.

“Humare bete hume pagal karke hi chodenge. Sabh ek naagin ke peeche pagal ho gaye hai.” Balwant agreed. Pawan sighed and decided to indulge himself into drinks and reading the files related to business.

“Balwant saab, main abhi keh raha hun. Yeh acche aasaar nahi hai. Saare ladke uske saath hote jaa rahe hai. Pata nahi kabh woh unhe humare khilaaf kar de.” Shukla pointed out. Balwant looked at Tapish who came down while talking on the phone. Balwant wouldn’t admit but Tapish had considerably made the handling of the boys relatively easy. He always did all the difficult tasks like making sure they were clean and didn’t go out of control. Daksh made sure that they kept up their academics. Veer was in charge of making sure his brothers had fun and kept them all entertained. Sam was incharge of keeping them majorly out of any dangerous trouble. Ponky and Monil were in charge of making sure their parties were all done well. They all handled each other. If they boys were out of jail even in craziest situations, it would be because they had each other’s backs. It was because Tapish was quick to clear their mess.

Balwant had learnt quickly that when the boys together were in unity about an opinion, it was impossible to shake them. They were a team and worked like one. If they would decide to side with her, it would impossible to cut them down because Balwant would still be able to handle them alone but together, they’re just a little too for him to handle. That was a worrisome thought to her.

When the boys returned, Veer seemed really drunk. Sam and Ponky were handling him.

“Like she literally had no right to do that to me.” Veer muttered laughing. It was a familiar laughter. A hint that it wasn’t the laughter that came in a good sense. It was the sign that Veer was going to do something crazy.

“Kitni pe hai, Veer?” Balwant asked.

“I’m not bloody answerable to you. Main… Main Cheelon ka Rajkumar hun, dad. I do what I want. If I want to be drunk, I will be. Stop bugging me about everything.” Veer answered and pushed Balwant away. A small push and Balwant went flying off, toppling over the sofa. Veer broke into laughter.

“Veer, yeh kya harkat hai. Baap hun main tera.” Balwant scolded.

“Hell… Yeh kya hua?” Veer gave a drunk chuckle and looked at his hands. “Aise kaise udd gaye dad?”

Daksh helped Balwant up. Chandrakala stood over the corridor above and chuckled over the scene.

“Abh aaya na Veer mere kaabu mein.” She said to herself with a grin. Balwant stood up and walked over to Veer.

“Badtameezi nahi, Veer. Yeh kya harkat hai? Dimag toh theek hai na tera?” He was angry and grabbed Veer by his collar.

“Bade papa…” Everyone pushed them away from each other. In that moment, Balwant saw Veer’s eyes change. His hazel eyes changing into golden but a hint of red in them. Violence dancing in those eyes. Balwant couldn’t understand that. Veer’s eyes always reminded him of Ishana but for the first time, it looked drastically different. Neither Aakesh nor Veer had that kind of look in his eyes. It was downright murderous. Like if they weren’t holding back Veer, he would actually kill Balwant. Ponky scattered away from Veer with the way he looked. Ponky was generally quite a scardy cat but he was quite confident while around Veer and the family. He didn’t worry about anything much. Bani’s Naagin side scares him but he’s learnt to come around.

Sam and Tapish took him up.

“What the hell was that about? Veer bhai never would look so murderous.” Ponky pointed out.

Veer up in his room. He punched the mirror breaking it into pieces and injuring himself. A loud scream erupted and everyone rushed to his room. Veer seemed to breaking out into a fit. He toppled over the coffee table.

“Veer, kar kya raha hai?” Tapish pushed him against wall before he could do any more damage. His eyes were hazel again, Balwant noted. In a second, it changed back to those reddish golden. He pushed Tapish away and he went flying off against a wall.

“Tapish bhai…” Ponky and Daksh helped. Sam stood before Veer. He grabbed Veer’s throat.

“Sambhalo khud ko, Veer bhai. Pagal ho gaye ho kya?” Sam asked. The outrage that Veer felt reflected in his eyes. Veer grabbed Sam’s throat. Sam pushed away Veer and punched him.

“Samrat…” Pawan pulled him away from Veer.

“Tere liye accha hai, bacche. Tu beech mein mat aa.” Veer growled.

“Kya karenge? Sabko marne nikle hai? Tapish bhai aapko rok rahe the, aapne unhe maara. Toh aa jaao, aap aur main bhi ladh lete hai. Thandak mil jaayegi? Apne jale dil ke wajah se sabko pagal kar rahe hai.” Sam taunted. Veer punched Sam. That started a whole brawl. Clearly, Veer had the upper hand. He was the strongest of all the cheel.

“Dono ka hi dimaag kharab ho gaya hai kya? Ek durse se kutto ki tarah ladh rahe ho.” Bani, who had just entered the scene, shouted at them.

“Oh. Devi ji aayi hai apne baache ko bachane?” Veer taunted. Bani raised an eyebrow at Veer’s tone.

“Mind your tone, Veeranshu. Yeh pagal kutto ki tarah tum ladh rahe ho aur mujhe bol rahe ho?” Bani commented.

“Haan, abh toh tum yahi kahogi, Nageshwari. Tum aur tumhara Hriday. Dono ek hi jaise hai na?” Veer retorted. Bani felt confused. He never called her that. Veer always addressed her as Bani. Only a few people addressed her as that. “Tum Naagino ko aadat hai khud ko sabse bada samajhne ki.”

“Veeranshu, ya toh tumne bohot zyaada pe rakhi hai ya abhi apne aape mein nahi ho. So, I rather suggest you shut up then say something you’re going to regret.” Bani commented. She wasn’t the kind to sit down and let someone walk over her. Bani helped up Sam. Veer angrily kicked the sofa. Bani jumped in surprise at that. Bani had a short fuse herself. She wasn’t used to Veer breaking out into a fit like that. She had never seen him like that. His eyes were the way it looked in his cheel form. She poured a glass of water and handed it to Veer. “Bohot sharab pe li hai, Veer, abh zara paani piyo. Bacche nahi ho abhi. Stop throwing a tantrum. Dimag ko thoda thanda karo.”

“I’m throwing a tantrum? Jo tum kar rahi ho, uska kya?” Veer shouted. “Tum aur yeh Jay ek saath hath mein hath pakad ke romance kar rahi thi woh tumhe sahi lagta hai, right?”

“Shut up.” Bani’s temper flared in that moment. Her eyes turned into her Naagin eyes. Bani closed her eyes and took a deep breathto calm herself down. “Veeranshu, tum abhi apne hosh mein nahi ho. Please calm down. We’ll deal with this in the morning. It is 2 at night.”

“Mujhe jo bhi karna hai woh main karunga. I don’t need to ask you.”

Bani gave a look to him. A mix between confused and irritated.

“Baat toh aisa kar rahe ho jaise aaj tak maine jo bhi kaha woh tumne kiya hai…” She commented. “I’m just saying. Whatever it is, deal with it in the morning. Its too late for this nonsense right now.”

“Right, tumhe toh nonsense hi lagega. You just want to go back to your ‘janam-janam’ ka saathi.” Veer taunted her.

“Yeh kya Jay-Jay laga rakha hai, Veeranshu? Maine aisa kab kaha ki woh mera aashiq ya phir main uske liye jaana chahti hun? Matlab, jo muh mein aaya bole jaaoge? Think before you speak.”

Her quick temper was a part of her naagin behavior. She ran her hands through her hair. She can't just get angry at Veer like that. She had to calm down. He looked really angry. Sam pushed her a little away from Veer, worried that he might hurt her.

"Bhabhi, thoda dur raho. He's attacking everyone on a roll. Pata nahi aapko kya karenge." Sam told her.

"Tujhe bohot hero banna hai. Bani ke aage peeche aaj kal bohot ghum raha hai." Veer commented. Sam turned and punched Veer on the face. Veer hadn't expected it so fell down. Daksh instantly pulled back Sam. Veer was outraged and almost walked over to fight him but Bani stopped him. Balwant would himself not do that when he look so angry. She pushed him back.

"Veeranshu, kar kya rahe ho?" Bani asked. This time it was softly sans of any sign of temper. She was just genuinely worried. She made him sit. Veer's knuckled were bleeding with all that wreckage. She checked if was stuck inside the injured. She healed him, blowing over it softly. Veer just stared at her. A soft hint of pain in her eyes as she saw the injury on his hand. "Ek toh khud ko chot pohocha rahe ho aur phir sabh par gussa nikal rahe ho. Mujhse gussa ho toh mujhse kaho. Baaki sabh ko kyu maar rahe ho."

Veer was really angry. The temper was breaking out badly. He felt like he had no control on the reaction he gave anymore. The connection that controlled the outer reaction of his seemed to be malfunctioning.

Bani felt that he was reacting badly to stuff when the other person also met with temper. So, she choose to give a rather calm reaction. Usually, it was her breaking into temper and Veer calming her down. She just felt that something was wrong. He never reacted like that. Veeranshu Singhania and control weren't very different. He was crazy but he controlled his crazy well.

Chapter 22

Chandrakala knew Bani wasn’t going away so easily. No. To her Bani was pest she wasn’t being able to get rid of. She paced in the cave.

“Yeh Adi-Naagin bhi kya cheez hai? Ghar se bahar nikal diya phir bhi kuch nahi ho raha.” Chandrakala angrily exclaimed. Inside the statue made in the cave was a whole secret room itself. There was a large throne, several books on magic and many more magical stuffs that Markaat had stolen from people. Markaat was someone highly intelligent. Chandrakala knew that. She knew that if Markaat hadn’t reacted till now, he was either dead already or letting her take his place. Chandrakala liked to assume that Markaat felt she could be a worthy Markaat and hence let her take the place and the throne. She sat on the throne. Gold, red and black throne. There were skulls sculpted on the arms and base of the throne, two large gold wings extending.The gold wings almost resembled Garud’s golden wings. There were several weapons set there. The throne room was Markaat’s personal space. He would often be there. Like his headquarters. Only those he allows could go inside it and meet him.Chandrakala got her powers which allowed her to enter without Markaat’s permission.

“Kya karun main is Adi-Naagin ka? Raaste ka kaanta bangayi hai. Ab toh Jay bhi uske peeche lag gaya hai. Bewakoof hai dono. Acche se Chandni se Veer par jaadu kiya tha ki har cheez ka reaction extreme hoga. Woh bhi usne control kar liya.” She said out loud.

“Bewakoof woh nahi, tum ho.” A crow commented. The crow sharpened its claws against a stone and checked if it was sharp enough.

“Tum kon ho?”

“Kakot.”

“Tum yahan kaise aaye?”

Chandrakala didn’t like how this bird just entered the place.

“Markaat ne mujhe shakti di ki mein yahan aane aur jaane ki.”

“Aisi kya khaas baat hai tum mein?”

“Koi khaas baat nahi hai. Main icchadhari cheel tha par Markaat ko mujhpe ek din gussa aaya aur mujhe aisa kauwa bana diya. Insaan nahi ban sakta par apni awaaz suna sakta hun logo ko.”

“Aur tum mujhe bewakoof kehte ho. Kauwa ho khud. Tume bohot akal hai…”

“Bewakoof ho tum kyuki dekh nahi rahi ho. Matlab abh main kya kahun? Tumne Bani ke baare mein puri jaankari nikal li. Woh kya karti hai, kahan padhayi ki hai, uske dost kon kon hai, uski shaktiyan kya hai, sabh kuch par ek jagah nazar nahi ki. Uski kamzoori. Aakesh huzoor.”

“Woh Aakesh nahi hai, Veeranshu hai.” Chandrakalacorrected.

“Baat toh ek hi hai. Aakesh bolo ya Veeranshu. Humare huzoor sabse zyaada takatwar hai. Konsi naagin tik jaayegi unke saamne. Suparno ki khair nahi hoti hai unke saamne, naagin kya cheez hai?”

“Veeranshu kabhi Bani ko kuch nahi karega ulta uski raksha kar raha hai. Kaabu mein bhi usne us Adi-Naagin ko kuch nahi kiya…”

“Abh Ishana ka beta hai. Uski aadatein toh aayengi.”

“Woh mera beta hai.”

“Paglor, bas apna thoda sa khoon use diya hai. Usse tera beta nahi ban jaayega. Tumne 10,000 divya varsh tak intezaar kiya Aakesh ko apna beta banane ke liye par maaya dekho. Use badi chalaki se Ishana ka beta bana diya. Phir tumne apna jaadu khela aur aisa kiya ki Ishana sharirik tarah se Aakesh ko apne kok mein bacha nahi paa rahi thi. Toh tumne madad ke bahane use apni thodi si shakti di. Par usse woh tumhara beta nahi hua. Par sach mein toh bas Ishana uski maa hai.”

“Chup raho.” Chandrakala shouted. She tried throw stones at the crow but he skillfully dodged it.

“Paglor. Abhi batti nahi jalayi tumne. Main nahi kehta tha Markaat huzoor se ki Aakesh huzoor ko hi apna uttaradhikari bana de. Tum beech mein aa gayi.”

“Bakwaas ban karo. Tumhari kaw kaw nahi sunni hai mujhe. Kuch bata sakte ho toh batao warna chalte bano. Mere vash mein aake bhi woh theek se mere haath nahi aa raha.”

“Galati tumhari hai. Aakesh huzoor ki kundali mein likha tha ki woh roshni unhe apni or kheechgi. Jo sammohan pyaar mein hota hai, woh aur kis mein ho sakta hai? Itna asaan nahi hoga unhe kaabu karna.”

"Tumhari kaw kaw bohot ho gayi."

Chandrakala left hurriedly without waiting for Kakot to add anything.

“Paglor, pehle puri baat toh sun leti. Itna asaan bhi nahi hai Aakesh huzoor ko apne vash mein karna. Woh Aakesh huzoor hai. Koi gaay ka bacha nahi. Phir thokar khaegi.”

Kakot had known Aakesh really well. Kakot was cursed to live as a crow. The kind of crows that don’t die on their own. They can only be killed deliberately by murdering them. He had been around Aakesh for a long time. There was no match for Aakesh. Nageshwari only won against Aakesh because he let himself be defeated by his love. “Thugi toh bohot ki hai maine par pehli baar thuga gaya hun. Bas ek hi nazar mein mujhse mera dil chura liya. Main apna itna nahi raha jitna main uska ho gaya hun. Sar khud hi uske saamne jhukta hai kyuki mera dil uske aage jhuk chuka hai. Dil ke aage toh main humesha hi majboor raha hun.” Kakot repeated what Aakesh told him when he first returned after seeing Nageshwari.

“Pyaar mein deewane toh bohot hai par Aakesh ki deewangi waqt se saath parwaan chadi hai. Uske deewanepan mein pagalpan hai. Jisne khud ko apne aap ko pyaar ke hawale kar diya ho, use kitna vash mein kar logi, Chandrakala. Muhki khaogi. Theek se sun leti toh theek se samajhti ki kaise kare yeh kaam. Aur sabse badi galti karogi tum yeh sochke ki tumhare vash mein aake bhi unka pyaar khatam ho jaayega Nageshwari ke liye. Andhera chahe kitna bhi ghanghor ho, roshni ki ek kiran bhi use cheer kar nikal jaati hai.”

Kakot looked up at the sky. The moon shining brightly. Aakesh was always linked as the moon. Beautiful, vain, always high on his heart’s wishes, uncontrolled like the sky, he changed the way moon waxed and waned, he had his own spots, the King of the night, the sky’s unchallenged jewel and the greatest lover kind. Kakot had seen Nageshwari. She had no comparison for her beauty. Bani was nothing less than what Nageshwari was. Things had changed since Satyug. Nageshwari wasn’t prepared to accept the storm that Aakesh brought but Bani was different. She had fallen in love with her Aakesh this time around. Nageshwari was made Adi-Naagin because she had courage and will-power to be the strongest naagin. She was one of the most determined people that Kakot had ever seen. If Aakesh was powerful, Nageshwari wasn't anything less either. She was a force of her own. Fierce and determined.

Kakot flew off following Chandrakala to see what she was going to cook up. Chandrakala assumed that she was the one who laid this plan to control Veer. Chandni thought she was going to be able to get her Veer now. Chandni and Chandrakala together picked on Veer’s insecurity. Chandni constantly provoking him with saying how wrong Bani was doing to him. Kakot knew better. To get to Veer, they have to lower his defences and put him in a vulnerable state. Then take over him. Manipulating him wasn't like manipulating a child into drinking milk. He had the mental capacity to hold off possession of himself entirely. If Veer started fighting against Chandrakala's magic, it wouldn't work on him at all anymore. Only one who could manage that would be Markaat. The original Markaat. He had waited 2,000 years for Aakesh to be born. 2,000 years to perfect his controlling skills before Aakesh was born and now 10,000 years after Aakesh died. Veer was stronger but so was Markaat. Kakot doubted if even Markaat would be able to completely gain control of Veer.

“Ek toh kehti hai ki tumhari biwi hai but dusri or us Jay ke saath bhi ghoomti hai. Quite a woman she is. Ek cheez decide nahi kar paa rahi hai.” Chandni commented.

“Tumhe agar yahi bakwaas karni hai then get lost, Chandni. Tumhare saath apne aur apni biwi ke beech ki baat discuss karna is not important for me.” Veer spoke to her rather rudely. He slammed the door to his room.

Veer couldn’t understand this extreme reaction. He felt out of control in that moment. His anger blowing out of proportion.

“Aaarghhhh…. Veer, kya kar raha hai? Pagal ho gaya hai kya?” He reprimanded himself. He did realize that it was a point far that he had taken with Bani. He knew she was joking about not wanting to tell him what she felt. She was simply playing around but it was coming out wrongly. He hadn't slept a wink all night, trying to gather his control again.

He sighed and called up Bani in the morning. Quite early but he was hoping she'd pick up his calls.

“Oh, kya baat hai? Mr Veeranshu Singhania, the high and mighty, has decided to call up.” Bani commented dryly. Veer sighed. Her tone was still a bit sleepy.

“I know it had crossed the line a bit. I didn’t mean to offend you. Pata nahi kya ho gaya tha. Apna aapa kho diya tha. Itni bhi zyaada nahi pe thi but pata nahi kya hua.” He spoke to her.

“It just takes one magical word. Its not very difficult to say that.”

“I just don’t like the word sorry. I hate that word. Make a mistake, say sorry and move on. Woh quick fix jaisa ki bas aage badh jaao. Yeh jo sorry hai woh logo ki feelings ko bilkul zero kar deta hai. I believe in making up. Toh tum bata do. What do you want?”

“As an apology?”

“Haan.”

“Main jo bhi kahun woh tum karoge?”

“Haan, sweetheart.”

Veer heard a soft thud. She must had landed on the bed.

“Theek hai. I’ll see you in the evening.”

“Done.”

He knew he had to make up to Sam and Tapish too. The fight had escalated quite a bit yesterday. Veer walked into the kitchen early. The servants were there.

“Veer sir, Aap yahan. Abhi aapka breakfast laga dete hai.” They assured.

“Actually, main soch raha hun ki tum meri help kar do. Tapish bhai toh subeh bread khate hai aur Sam omelette khata hai. So, bas yeh dono banane mein help kardo. Last thing I need to do is mess up the breakfast.” Veer told them. They were quite confused but didn’t question. They helped him and made sure it was done properly.

He took the coffee and sandwich up to Tapish’s room and knocked on the door. Tapish opened the door. He just seemed to be getting ready. He was surprised to find Veer with his breakfast.

“Good morning.” Veer greeted with a smile.

“Lagta hai utar gayi hai.” Tapish teased and let him in.

“Aapka breakfast.” Veer put it on the coffee table. Tapish laughed at the silly face on the sandwich. Tapish remembered the first sandwich ever Veer made with that. He was around 11 years old. Tapish had his math exam that day and hence spent the whole night and morning studying which led to him forgetting making lunch for his brothers and himself. So, Veer took the liberty to make lunch. He made sandwiches for everyone with silly faces on it. His exam wasn’t really great because he had messed up algebra but the silly sandwich made it a little better.

“Abhi waise hi sandwich banata hai. 17 saal mein bhi nahi seekha.” Tapish teased. Veer chuckled.

“Zaroorat nahi padti. Aaj laga ki shayad I should make an effort. Matlab pata nahi kya hua kal. Everything seemed to be out of place.”

“Veer, dekh bas itna keh raha hun. Bani ko bas thoda sa waqt de. Let her gather herself. Abhi toh itni saari cheezein ek saath ho rahi hai uske saath. Par agar tu sach mein usse pyaar karta hai toh bas yeh mat bhul ki itne paas aake dur mat chale jana ki wapas yaha na aa paaye.”

“Yaad rakhunga, Tapish bhai. Main try karta hun ki mujhe woh jealousy affect na kare. Aur aapko pata hai. Mujhe kabhi kisi se fark nahi pada hai but when it comes Bani, everything is messy. Wahan us pinjare mein almost mar raha tha toh bas ek hi cheez yaad aati rahi. Bani. Like a point reminding me ki use dekhe bina hi mar jaaunga. Phir jab bahar nikla toh Bani ko dekha. That was a moment when we were back together, I actually felt ki shayad Bani bhi mere liye kuch feel karti hai. Kuch toh hai hum dono ke beech. Jitna main usse pyaar karta hun, kisi ne nahi kiya hoga. Puri tarah pagal hun, bhai. Bas ek baar keh degi toh phir se jaan de dun, utna pagalpan hai. Agar uske saath rehne ka matlab hai suraj ki aag mein jalna toh mujhe who bhi manzoor hai. Bani ko kisi ne itna pyaar nahi kiya jitna maine kiya hai. Pehle fark nahi padta tha ki woh mujhse pyaar karti hai ya nahi but us raat jab yeh feel hua ki shayad woh bhi mere liye kuch feel karti hai, mujhe yeh zid hui ki woh bhi mujhse hi pyaar kare.”

“Tu aur tera pagalpan. Bohot zyaada confident nahi hai ki tujhse zyaada kisi ne usse pyaar nahi kiya hai?”

Veer laughed.

"Mera confidence nahi, Tapish bhai, mera ghamand hai. Mujhe pata hai ki mujhse zyaada na hi kisi ne usse pyaar kiya hai, na hi koi kar paayega. Bani ke liye pyaar ke alawa aur kuch feel hi nahi kar sakta. Meri jaan hai woh. Apni jaan ke baare mein mujhse zyaada kise pata hoga."

Tapish’s phone rang and it was some business partner. Veer walked out with that.

When he entered Sam’s room, Sam was meditating. When he saw the band-aids on him, Veer felt a bit guilty. One was put on his forehead, a bandage wrapped around his arm, another one around his shoulder and a few bruises. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt, track pant and a locket. His tattoos showed on his arm. He was breathing in and out.

“Lagta hai sadhu ban hi gaya hai.” Veer teased.

“Sadhu bana gaya hota toh fark nahi padta mujhe ki kon danger mein. Ghar wapas hi nahi aata. Na hi breakfast mein omelette khata.” He answered not even opening his eyes. Veer could tell from his tone that he was still upset.

“Abhi gussa hai?”

“Aapko fark nahi padta hai. I also don’t care.”

“Toh gussa hai.” Veer sighed. Sam opened his eyes and gave him a look.

“Meri shakal dekh ke aapko lagta hai ki main gussa hun?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mujhe meri shakal dekh ke lagta hai ki main bas ladai karke aaya hun. Gussa nahi dikh raha.”

“Tere liye breakfast banaya hai. Kha le.”

“Zeher hi khila dete. Itni mehnat kyu?”

Veer sighed. Sam was going to do a lot of drama. Tapish is still quite relaxed but Veer was prepared that Sam was going to throw tantrums. Sam went back to his meditation. His eyes closed.

“Zeher mila nahi na.”

“Bhabhi se keh dete. Le aati apne naag ka zeher.”

“Don’t go there.”

“Kal jab bol rahe the tabh toh yaad nahi aaya.”

“Tu mujhe kis baat pe tana maar raha hai. Ki maine Bani se aise baat ki ya phir tere saath ladai ki is baat ki.”

“No damns given. Baat jo bhi. Koi fark nahi padta hai. Aap toh hai Cheelon ke Rajkumar. Humari kya majal ki aapse kuch keh dein.”

“Tujhe pata hai ki tu mere liye kya hai. Mera bhai hai, yaar. Abh bhaiyon mein ladai hoti rehti hai.”

“Ji, bhul gaya. Aapka order aaya hai ki main bhul jaau toh done. Bhul gaya. In the end toh main hoon cheel. Aapka order kaat dun, itni majal meri?” He gave a dry chuckle.

“Drama mat kar.”

He opened his eye and looked at Veer.

“Waah. Aap meri shakal bigaad sakte hai. Teen haddi tod sakte hai but main drama nahi kar sakta. Aapko dekho. Kharoch bhi aayi hai? Nahi… Par main drama nahi karun.”

“Theek hai, bhai. Toh tu bhi maar de zor se. Bas baat khatam.”

“Sorry maang rahe hai ya daya kar rahe hai mujhpe?”

Veer laughed at his expression. Sam stood up and wore his running shoes. He wore his hoodie and walked out with the breakfast plate.He rolled the omelette and started eating it like a roll and finished his juice. Picking up his bottle, he took off for a morning run. Ponky and Daksh had just joined them. Veer joined in with them. They warmed up a bit together. Flying out together towards the hill where they went for a morning run. They started their run. It was an everyday exercise to take a lapse through the hill after they did their morning personal routine. Tapish joined soon. The human life didn’t give the right kind of hunting exercise and so to make sure they didn’t fall back on their speed, they had a lapse run and then a flying exercise. Flying was more of an instinctive thing which they can’t forget but to keep up with it, they did a regular exercise.

“Abhi gussa chod bhi de, Sam.” Tapish told him.

“Na. Mood nahi hai. Kal bhai ka nahi tha, aaj mera nahi hai. Kyu? Gussa karne ka haq sirf unko hai?”

“Acha theek hai, yeh bata de ki main kya karun?” Veerasked him.

“Kuch bhi nahi.”

“Itna bhav mat kha.”

“Aaj toh mujhse kuch expect mat karna.”

That started a running race between both of them. They ran really fast. Tapish smiled. Kishore kaka used to say that no matter how old boys grow up, they always remain boys. Childish and immature at times. The two were really fast. Out of everyone, the two were really close to each other.They used to fight the most with each other. Whether about whose Beyblade it was that hit the target or who cheated in video games. They loved to challenge each other.

“Let’s see. If you manage to win the race, I’ll let it slip by.” Sam challenged. That set off Veer into his competitive streak. Jumping over the fallen branches and they ran towards the cliffs. Mid-way through the run, Sam shifted into his eagle form, flying off quickly ahead. They had no rules as to how to win. The path was already decided and there was no deterring from the path to the cliff. Rest all had no rules. Veer shifted and flew behind him. Rest of them huffed, trying to keep up with their speed and competitiveness.

“Ek toh use chot lagi hai par phir bhi yeh bachpana nahi gaya.” Tapish shook his head.

“Tapish bhai, yeh dono kabse bohot mature the ki suddenly badal jaayenge. Hai toh abhi Veeranshu Singhania aur Samrat Singhania." Daksh pointed out. It was still slightly dark. The sunrise hadn’t occurred yet. Balwant didn’t let them out during the day much. Especially not for anything this idiotic. Tapish watched them flying. They stupid acrobatics while flying. Gliding through the air, they flew back towards the Singhania Mansion.

“Jo bhi pehle bade papa tak pahucha, who jeeta.” Sam declared when the two changed into human right before the boundary gate of the mansion. Veer jumped over the gate. Sam overtook quickly. Balwant was standing with his morning drink in hand.

“Dad…” Tapish shouted to warn him of the incoming trouble but was a bit late. The thing was to reach him but rather ended up crashing against him. Balwant fell down with Sam and Veer falling right over him. The glass crashed right against Pawan’s feet. He jumped up right in time before it hit him.

“Yeh kya harkat hai!!!” Balwant shouted. The two stood up and panted for air.

“Lag raha hai aane wale kuch time mein aap bohot girne waale hai, bhaisaab. Jab dekho gir hi rahe hai. Kabhi sidhi par se gir jaate hai. Kabhi chalte chalte gir jaate hai. Kabhi Veer dhakka maar deta hai toh kabhi yeh dono gira dete hai. Bas aap gir hi rahe hai.” Pawan laughed.

“Chup reh.” Balwant growled.

“Main jeeta. Aap baad mein aaye.”

“Chal rehne de. Sabko pata hai main tum sabse teez hun.”

Sam and Veer argued.

“Chup raho, tum dono.” Balwant scolded them.

“Dad, aap hi batao kon pehle aaya? Main ya Sam?”

“Kon pehle aaya yeh toh nahi pata but sabse pehleb haisaab gire. Phir tum dono unpar gire.” Pawan answered. Daksh, Ponky and Tapish laughed at that. Balwant glared at his brother. Pawan shrugged his shoulders.

“Tum dono ka dimag kharab ho gaya hai? Kal ek durse se maar-pit kar rahe the. Abh yeh kar rahe ho.” Balwant scolded them. “Aur time dekha hai? Suraj nikalne wala hai aur tum dono masti kar rahe ho. Din mein hum sabh yahi ghar mein rehte hai.”

“Ballu ka fuse uda.” Veer mumbled to Sam.

“Sun rahe ho meri baat?” Balwant asked.

“Yes, sir.” The two answered together, giving a fake captain salute. Balwant rubbed his temple.

“Aadhe pagal to tum dono ho hi. Mujhe pura pagal banaoge.” He exclaimed at the antics. Veer never took anything seriously but with Sam, it went a notch higher. The two together would cook up the craziest trouble. One way, there was Veer who was crazy on his own right. On the other hand, there was Sam who was already a wild one. It didn’t help that both Ponky and Daksh encouraged Veer.

So good loved the way veer handled his emotions. I hope Bani talks to veer before he goes into control. N tell him her feelings. So good.

Update soon

Super amazing update...

Continue soon...