Another Parud FF - Clear blue skies I(upto Chapter 50) - Page 81

He realised how it looked to her and decided to tease her. "What does it look like Paro? I'm seeing you after so... long," he said dropping the garment on a chair. She jumped out of her chair like a frightened rabbit. He walked towards her and cornered her against the wall. "It was just 48 hours. This is not the place for this," she said. He held her wrists above her head and traced the contours of her face with his free hand. "Think about it Paro, if you want those dreams of sons to come true. We have to practise," he whispered. She shut her eyes. How could she think of anything when he was standing so close? He blew gently on her petal-like eyelids and she opened them. "This is where I work. You should keep your distance" she whispered. He laughed letting go of her hands, "You know if you showed up in my office to surprise me, I wouldn't keep you away." Her arms slipped down to his chest. She shoved him gently trying hard to regain her composure. "Rudra, what will my colleagues think? I won't be able to look them in the eye if you carry on like this?" she said sternly. He thought for a minute stepping away.

Paro thanked Bholenath for making him see sense finally. "But Paro, after the kiss in the parking lot, they won't judge you badly for what happens in your office," he said in a matter of fact tone. Paro was mortified. It was all his fault coming here instead of going home and waiting for her. She was angry now. How could he let her get carried away? Even if her mind wasn't functioning properly, what was his excuse? He should have realised how she would feel afterwards. He observed the various emotions fleet across her face. He edged closer placing his hands on either side of her. She immediately placed her hands on his chest to hold him back, "Rudra, you need to put on that shirt." He shook his head. She shut her eyes tight. He whispered in her ears, "I hate to disappoint you. You have no idea how much. But that's not the shirt I need to wear now."

Her eyes shot open to watch her husband coolly walk towards the bag he had brought. "I'm supposed to be dressed in military formals for the court proceedings. I thought since Shatabdi is not here. I might as well change here. It's okay isn't it," he said casually as he took a crisp white shirt out. Paro turned red with embarrassment. He chuckled. "I'll inform Bapusa that I will be home late," she said rushing out with her phone.

At the Ranavat haveli, the family was gathered around the dining table. "Samrat, did you see Bhaisa anywhere?" Danveer asked as he took his place. His son replied that he was on the phone with someone and should be joining them soon. "Tsk tsk... You should have hurried him, you know that your father can't eat without his Ramji by his side, as he is the Lakshman in this family," Mohini said as she served rice on her granddaughter's plate. Her husband frowned as her son laughed. Mala at the other end of the table fumed, everyone was waiting for Dilsher. She was their guest, even the mousy Maithili was keeping away from her. It was 1 pm. Rudra should be home by know. Maybe Paro was delaying him somehow. She might have asked him to pick her up or maybe even take out for lunch.

"Shall I serve your lunch Thausa?" asked Maithili with a smile as he sat down. He patted her head affectionately, "Yes, child. Looks like your sister won't be joining us." His words didn't help Mala's mood. He should have told her first not this girl pretending to be Paro's sister. She had been waiting for days for a glimpse of her Rudra. They had so much to talk about. So many plans to make. "Rudra has to appear in court and Paro wanted to go along with him," Dilsher continued. Mohini flexed her fingers as she asked with a saccharine smile, "And you gave her permission." He was confused, what was wrong in that. The girl was out with her husband. "The beendini of this house wasn't asking for permission to go to the matine with her husband. Has anybody from this family ever gone to the court or police station till now? What will everyone say?" Mala scolded.

Dilsher glared at her, nobody had a right to scold his children. He was about to chew his former wife's head off when Mohini stepped up. "Thakurainsa, ours is a respectable family where we never needed the assistance of the local authorities. Even when Kuwarsa's mother ran away, bhaisa decided to let her go rather than use the police help to hunt her down," she said in an oily tone. Danveer shook his head in warning. He didn't want that part of his brother's life discussed in such a casual manner over a meal. He knew how much he was affected by it. Mala felt like she had been slapped. Mohini smirked at the effect her words had caused. "But this is different. Rudra's beendini is going to support her husband. Surely you know about it, your husband is the accused in today's case," she pointed out.

Mala's blood turned cold. The hearing was today. Her Thakursa had accepted the BSD's accusations just for her to get away and meet her son. And she had planned to coax Rudra into intervene and have the charges dropped. Wasn't he like a father to him? Won't he be kind to the man who stood by his mother for so long? But she had to discuss this with Paro and together address Rudra. Paro owed them for all the things they had done for her. She got up deciding to go to court herself. She was already running late to save her husband. "Where are you going?" Dilsher asked. She cursed his timing. "Parvati mentioned that you needed plenty of rest. Why don't you relax in your room someone will bring your meal there. We seem to have family matter to discuss," he dismissed her cutting off all arguments.

"Don't goad her into going to see Tejawat, Mohini. I want that crook's wife here till my Rudradev decides what has to be done with her," Dilsher told his sister-in-law sternly. She was disappointed. She enjoyed putting her sister in place. Her words were nothing compared to the barbs they had to endure from their society when the fool ran away from home. But she knew better than to annoy Dilsher. Their improving relations were worth more than such childish thrills.

"Fine, Bhaisa. I will leave her alone as long she stays away from the children's lives. I can't hold my tongue when she scolds Paro or Maithili. She doesn't have the right to raise her voice against them," she said sternly. Danveer smiled at how protective his wife was being. "Fine. But I have the right to permit them to go out as they please," his brother replied. She shook her head, "Bhaisa, you made a big mistake by letting her go there. This case is very important to Rudra because of the way it has affected his wife. Her whole world changed because of that man. You think she will be alright to hear people question his actions. She even told us yesterday how much she has lost because of Mala and her traitor husband. Why make her sit through it again?" The brothers exchanged a look with each other. They hadn't really thought of all this. "Mohini, she was the one who wanted to go. May be she has made peace with her past," Danveer suggested. His wife tugged her pallu and scoffed. "Maithili, tell your Bapusa how Paro feels about what is going on," she said and looked around for the young woman. They noticed she wasn't in the aangan with them. "Maybe Shanti needed something," Danveer suggested.

Minutes later, Maithili rushed to them, "Maajisa, it's alright. I spoke to her aunt. She just reached the court premises. She will stay with Paro." They were revealed. They knew that Paro's Maasisa will watch out for her.

Meanwhile at the court, Rudra was being cross-examined by Tejawat's lawyer. "Major Ranavat, the BSD has earned an ill-reputation along the border villages, am I correct?" the lawyer asked. Rudra replied, "People didn't understand what we did so didn't trust us initially. Now things have been clarified." The lawyer moved closer to the audience and recognised Paro. Geethanjali held her hands comfortingly. "Their opinion changed after a press conference last year, is it not?" he asked. Rudra replied coolly, "Yes, they realised that we had concerns about their leader but had nothing against the rest of them." He smiled at Tejawat mockingly. After all these years, his tricks had lost its charm. He could no longer fool people. He had finally lost their loyalty. Nobody stood by him now.

"Major Ranavat, this is the public testimony of Ms. Paro regarding Thakur Param Singh Tejawat's activities is it not?" the lawyer asked handing him a sheet of paper. Copies were handed to the judge and the BSD lawyer. Rudra affirmed that this was Paro's statement to the press. "This was after she left you at the mantap on Shivratri isn't it?" was the next question. Paro looked away. She hated that she had hit him and run off with Thakursa. He gave her a small sign. He had forgiven for that a long time back. If she hadn't run away, she wouldn't have known Tejawat's true nature. Their lives would be so different. In spite of all the drama, he liked the way things were now.

"Yes, she trusted Tejawat at that point and thought he had come to take her home," he replied. The lawyer grinned widely, "That must have hurt." Rudra scowled and Aman prodded the BSD lawyer. "Objection, your honour there is no need to discuss Major Ranavat's personal life here," he said. His rival countered that this case and the Major's marriage are closely interwoven at this point. The judge asked him to focus on the case. He continued with his questions, "Why did she run away? Did you force her to marry you?"

The general's head fell in despair. He knew this would come up. He wished he hadn't backed Rudra in a corner then. He wished Paro wasn't sitting in the audience watching this.

Aman's hand moved towards their lawyer to object but the man shook his head. If they avert the question, Rudra will look guilty and their case would weaken.

Tejawat smiled. He knew he would lose this case eventually But he wanted Rudra to suffer too, for what he was put through. He can't sit there and pretend this was all BSD business. He chased after him for Paro, his wife. That was personal. And he had surrendered for his wife, Mala. That was also personal. If Rudra doesn't accept his mother back, he would lose everything. This was just the trailer of things to come.

Paro tried hardest no to cry. Her heart went out to him. He couldn't say the truth about the marriage threat. He would lose his job. And he couldn't lie after being sworn to tell the truth. She wanted to be strong for him. But she couldn't help but worry. It was all her fault for not trusting him. Will she ever be free from the sins of her past? Was this price for trusting the wrong man?