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Chapter 42
Looking at the picture, she fondly caresses Kalpi over the glass, saying, "I came back when I read about your death. I could not believe it. A car accident!" Laughing slightly, Pakhi continues, tears welling up, "I got to know of your marriage and death together."
Lost in her conversation with Kalpi and Kamla, Pakhi picks up her phone and answers, "... At home..." "... Talking to Kalpi and Kamla Maa..." And disconnects.
Maya smiles politely at the housekeeper, asking as she walks in, "where is Pakhi?" The housekeeper replies, "in her room, ma'am." Taking two steps at a time, Maya races up the stairs and barges into pakhi's bedroom.
Ignoring her phone that was ringing insistently, Pakhi wipes her tears as she stares at Kalpi and kamla's picture. Crying she calls out, "Kamla Maa where are you? I need you." Voicing her fears as she hugs the picture frame, she asks aloud, "did dad and mum plot to kill both of you too? Just like Mr singhania..."
Looking at the picture, she fondly caresses Kalpi over the glass, saying, "I came back when I read about your death. I could not believe it. A car accident!" Laughing slightly, Pakhi continues, tears welling up, "I got to know of your marriage and death together."
Lost in her conversation with Kalpi and Kamla, Pakhi picks up her phone and answers, "... At home..." "... Talking to Kalpi and Kamla Maa..." And disconnects.
Maya stares at her phone, thinking, "what the hell? What she mean? Shit..." Ragav, Avni forgotten, Maya Races towards the car park with only one thought occupying her, "I need to get to Kapoor mansion asap."
Maya smiles politely at the housekeeper, asking as she walks in, "where is Pakhi?" The housekeeper replies, "in her room, ma'am." Taking two steps at a time, Maya races up the stairs and barges into pakhi's bedroom.
Startled, Pakhi drops the photo frame. There is broken glass all over the floor. "I am sorry," Maya says as she walks in, "I should have knocked. I did not mean to startle you." Pakhi gives her a reassuring smiles, saying, "it is okay Maya ma'am. Come in." Bends to pick up the fallen photo frame.
Clearing her throat, Maya says, "umm. I came. Umm. You mentioned you were talking to Kalpi and Kamla Maa... Where? How?" Momentarily confused by Maya's questioning, Pakhi points to the photo frame is holding. "Ah!" Maya exclaims, "makes sense," she adds in a small voice, more to herself than to Pakhi. Not knowing what to say and feeling foolish, she asks, "were you close to them?" Smiling, Pakhi replies, "yes. They were... Are.. Were family."
Picking up on pakhi's slight hesitation and change in last and present tense, Maya asks, "were... Are... Were... What do you mean? Why the confusion?"
Pacing to and fro as she tries to gather her thoughts, earlier, she had raced to Maya to tell her what she had found out, now she had time to think and everything was a jumble in her head. Taking a deep breath, Pakhi says, "I don't know how to begin. I.." Sensing her desperation, anxiety, confusion, Maya smiles and says, "come let's sit on the bed... Make ourselves comfortable and then you can start from the beginning. No rush. Take your sweet time."
Feeling calmer, her thoughts organised, Pakhi begins, "I came to india when I read an obituary in the newspaper, announcing Kalpi's death. It came as a shock. I was not able to get through to Kamla Maa and mum and dad were of no help. I didnt know that Kalpi was married." "Neither did she," Maya thinks sadly, but wisely remains silent. Instead she nods for Pakhi to continue. "I missed the funeral," Pakhi says softly. Taking a deep breath, she adds, "then Ragav, Mr Singhania was shot two days later, the day I arrived. I tried to look for Kamla Maa. I went to the hospital, hoping that I would meet her. She never came."
Wiping her tears, she says, "I am sorry. I am a mess." Feeling sorry, Maya says reassuringly, "a lot has happened. You are allowed to be a mess... Feeling better." Pakhi nods and continues. "I stayed back. Refused to go back to London. I couldn't leave without meeting Kamla Maa. At first I was very angry with you and Sammy sir for filing charges against my parents... Then I found out the truth... That my parents were in fact guilty of all the crimes... Stealing Mr. Singhania's wealth systematically, his inheritance, defaming his father... I also got to know the reason why Kamla Maa left me... Why she never came back here... Worst of all... That my father tried to kill Mr singhania."
Giving a watery smile, Pakhi adds, "lucky for dad his aim was bad. Otherwise he would be in jail for life instead of the 15 years."
Taking pakhi's hand into hers, Maya says, "you were very brave to stand with truth... With what is right. If not for you, the case would have gone on for years. The evidence you handed over helped convict your parents." She adds, "Pakhi, may I ask you a question." "Sure," Pakhi replies.
"How did you have the courage, the strength to stand up against your parents? It must have been difficult." Maya asks. "It was difficult, but not impossible. I did it for Kamla Maa, who always taught me to stand for what is right. I did it for Kalpi, she must have loved Mr Singhania very much. She married him," Pakhi replies.
Pausing for several seconds as she gathers her thoughts, Pakhi continues, "last night, my boyfriend and I were sifting through the some papers. Early this morning I found some medical reports and hospital bills for Kalpana Singhania. We thought it odd... Knowing the history between our families."
Maya sits up surprised, thinking, "omg... What the..." She forces herself to remain silent, not wanting to interrupt Pakhi.
Oblivious to Maya's reaction, Pakhi continues, " Ayaan decided to study the medical reports. He is a doctor. He said... He said..." Impatient, Maya interrupts, "what did he say?" "He said that Kalpi was alive when she left the hospital. That she was discharged," Pakhi says, tears falling she whispers out her fears, "I think my parents killed Kalpi and Kamla Maa. It would explain why I can't find Kamla Maa." Chocking, Pakhi continues, "my parents killed the two people I love the most... They killed..."
Maya pulls her into a hug, rocks her gently, saying, "no. No. Don't think that. Kamla Maa was there for Kalpi's funeral. Let's think this through slowly." Silently thinking, "there is so much you don't know Pakhi. What if your parents helped Kamla Maa... What if... Oh gosh Kalpi is alive... Where could she be... Oh Ragav!"
Patting Pakhi, Maya says, "come on. We need to continue going through papers... There must be a clue where Kamla Maa and Kalpi are... I know they are alive... I refuse to believe other wise."
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