Part 15
In a room, Viraj, Ramesh, Lakshmi and Dadaji were discussing what to do.
Viraj: I just asked Kabir to inform the Commissioner of Police. They are trying to trace those calls and that MMS. I have also told them about that bouquet. The Commissioner promised me that he would have a few of his men in plainclothes stationed outside Gangwal House.
Ramesh: And Nishu's shooting practice and her duties at LA?
Viraj: I asked Saurav and Kabir to look after Nisha's duties and my duties at LA. They will take care about shopping for the shooting gear, the presentation and also the investors meeting. Her shooting practice is very important but I think it can wait for a day or two until this issue is sorted out. I too will remain with her till then.
Lakshmi: Does your family know about this Viraj?
Viraj: Except Kabir, Ma and Dadaji don't know anything about this. I thought it better not to tell them as they would worry unnecessarily.
Ramesh: I think we should tell Nisha about this now. We cannot keep her in the dark anymore.
Dadaji: No, Ramesh. You know how sensitive Nisha is. Only now she has started dreaming about her life and career. She would again retreat into her shell. That would not be correct for her. I surely think Shekar will be caught by the police and we don't have to tell anything about this to Nisha.
Ramesh: As if we will tell Nisha to stay at home and she will listen to us?
Dadaji: You don't worry about that; I'll find a solution to that. Nisha will not go out of the house today.
In another room all the cousins except Nisha were in close conference with each other.
Kirti: Hey, guys we have such an opportunity before us. We really need to do something about it.
Dolly: You means two love birds in a house full of Kabab main Haddis.
Suku: But what's the plan?
Aman: Vimla Ma's Panditji!
All of them: Yes! Panditji, of course!
After one hour, Dadaji calls everyone to the hall.
Dadaji: I just got a call from the Panditji. He had tallied Viraj's and Nisha's Kundali just now. He told me that there were some important pujas which had to be performed immediately. Except Nisha and Viraj both the families have to participate in them. So all of you get ready soon. And Viraj and Nisha, until all these pujas are over, you two will remain at home.
Nisha and Viraj: Ok, Dadaji.
Aman in an aside to Suku: So you spoke to Panditji, right!
Suku to Aman: No. Perhaps Umesh or Dolly Di must have spoken.
Ramesh in an aside to Lakshmi: So this was Babuji's solution to keep Viraj and Nisha at home. Interesting!
Dadaji thinking to himself: So Ramesh asked Panditji to tell all that so that Nisha would stay at home. My son is cleverer than I thought!
In another dark room, a hooded person was talking to somebody on phone. He turned back revealing the evil face of Shekar.
Shekar: Thank you, Panditji. You will receive your Dakshina. Thank you for agreeing to perform all those pujas for my dear friend Viraj and Nisha.
Panditji: Yes! I actually compared their Kundalis after you suggested it to me. Nemichandji just asked me to fix a suitable date for marriage and the other functions. Testing times are really ahead of them. These pujas will really help in alleviating their problems to some extent. With God's grace, the support of their family and their love and faith in one another, they will overcome these problems too.
After the phone got disconnected,
Shekar in solitude: Yes, they would have overcome these problems if not for me! Get ready for some action Viraj Singh Rathore! You will never know when I will pull the carpet beneath your feet. Ha! Ha! Ha! (He started rubbing his hands vigorously in anticipation).
Viraj and Nisha were curled up on the sofa in the living room watching the India-Pakistan Cricket Match on TV and eating Lays and Popcorn from a bowl in between them. Everyone had left for the puja.
Viraj and Nisha dipped into the bowl to pick up chips when their finger tips brushed against each other. They hastily withdrew their hands smiling shyly at each other. It was not as if it was the first time they had touched each other. But everything seemed very different now. Their whole world and dreams revolved round each other. They kept looking at each other without batting even an eyelid. Dhoni's winning six broke them from their reverie and Nisha hugged Viraj in her happiness at India winning the match. Nisha exclaimed, "We have won ! Yes! We did it! We did it!"
Viraj too hugged her back and both of them remained like that losing all track of time and place. Nisha suddenly snapped her fingers in front of his eyes and said, "Mr. Viraj Singh Rathore to tell you the truth, I could remain lost in your eyes for the rest of my life. But I'm starving at the moment. So can we continue the staring match after we have our dinner?"
Viraj was suddenly stuck by an idea, "Just give me ten minutes, Nisha! And before that, let me tie this blindfold to your eyes. You will not open it until I tell you." Viraj was taking Nisha somewhere. He cautioned her, "Be careful, we're near the steps." So he was taking her to the terrace, but why? Nisha tried to peek through one corner of her blindfold when she received a small whack on her head. Viraj warned her, "I told you no opening you eyes until I tell you."
Viraj took off the blindfold and the sight which met her eyes took her breath away. He had decorated the terrace and the big swing on the terrace so beautifully with flowers and lights that she stood astonished for a moment. He had made arrangements for a beautiful candle-light dinner amidst the cool and enchanting breeze and the lilting moonlight.
He escorted her to the table and placed a crown of flowers on her head saying, "For the most beautiful princess in the world! A crown as beautiful as herself!" Nisha was unable to take her eyes away from him. There was something magical in the whole ambience of the place. Was this the same terrace on which she and her cousins had spent many nights together? Was this the same terrace where she had taken the blame for her sister Dolly? His presence had transformed everything for her.
Viraj and Nisha completed their dinner and spent more time on the terrace. They were so close to each other that her soft hair was brushing against his face. Suddenly he came down upon his knees and said, "Nisha, will you be mine for life? Not just this life, but in every life and existence after this?"
Nisha smiled through her tears of happiness and nodded, "Yes! I will! I will! I'm yours and only yours!"
Viraj placed an exquisite diamond ring on her fingers. Both of them spent such ethereal moments together rocking on the swing back and forth. This joy had no name. It was theirs for a lifetime of togetherness. Even their silences had a meaning of their own. How they wished this night would never end! Viraj and Nisha had never been so happy in life. They were inscrutably tied down to each other in the bonds of love which were invisible but at the same time unbreakable.
The landline phone was ringing. Viraj somehow started feeling uneasy again. Nisha quipped, "I'll see who it is and be back in a moment."
Viraj said trying hard to not display his rising apprehensions to Nisha, "No. Let's go downstairs together."
Nisha picked up the phone and stood rooted to the spot. After she put down the receiver, she blabbered, "Vasundhara aunty has had an accident. It was a call from the hospital. Come let's go there..."
Viraj didn't sound convinced, "Ma and all the Gangwals are at the temple for the puja. This accident doesn't sound convincing at all! If at all anything was the matter, Kabir or anybody from your family must have called, but..."
Nisha scolded him, "Here I'm telling you Ma has had an accident and you keep wasting time like that. Come on let's go!"
Viraj tried to argue, "But Dadaji asked both of us to remain at home until everyone returns. What will we tell him?"
Nisha said, "His words were for a normal situation, not for an emergency like this. At least you go now. I'll stay back at the house and come and join you as soon as the others return home."
Viraj persisted, "I don't feel right leaving you all alone after what happened in the morning. I'll call Kabir and tell him to be with Ma..."
Nisha snatched his phone and said, "What's your problem Viraj? I am telling you Ma's life is in danger and you keep procrastinating time. What happened today morning was just a practical joke! If this is the way you care for your mother, then I know how your attitude will be towards me a few years after our marriage!"
Viraj was getting more and more disturbed. There was no way he could convince her except actually going to the hospital. She was questioning his actions with his love for her and that was really unbearable. He remembered about the Commissioner's words that a few plainclothes men would always be stationed outside Gangwal House for Nisha's protection. She would be safe as long as she remained in the house. He said, "All right! I'll go now if you insist so much. But you must not go out of the house at any cost. Got it! I'll go only if you promise me this!"
Viraj left for the hospital looking back at the Gangwal House again and again. He could not exactly describe why he was feeling so. It was just a hunch. But it reminded him of the same feeling he had just before that press conference which had caused that terrible misunderstanding between him and her. But Nisha had left him with no option but to leave her all alone in the house.
Edited by shailusri1983 - 10 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
