Hello, guys! First of all, I'm sorry for the late update. Things have been a mess last few days with the spoilers about the show which affected the update terribly. And, yes, in case someone finds this chapter boring or you know what I mean kindly blame the spoilers.
Chapter 40
As they separated, Ranveer looked at Ishani. Her face showed now showed no signs of worries, sadness or pain anymore. He could stare at her for the rest of the night had she not insisted him to leave. Ranveer could not deny how his heart felt empty, devoid of any emotion that he had been presented with all of a sudden in last few minutes. Life was strange, very strange, he thought, for what it meant to have something getting easily he knew not, and often something having by his side he had only seen in his distant dreams that he never expected to come true felt as unreal as pretty fairy tales. But he had her, his Ishani, by his side who was not less than an unreal, unattainable fairy to him.
"Where are you lost?" Ishani snapped her fingers in front him as he continued to look at her.
"Nothing," Ranveer replied. "I mean I'm not lost anywhere. It seems to be unbelievable even now that we're here, Ishani. I never thought of this."
"Nor did I," Ishani answered, and Ranveer could see with each moment passing her face grew more jovial, just like the fairy he had imagined her to be, radiant, glowing with happiness and love. "But, we're here. So much has happened since I last met you. I never thought I could have you back or see the same flicker in your eyes like before. You don't know how better I feel." Ishani looped her arm around Ranveer as they both turned towards the idol of Christ.
"So, my wish has been fulfilled," Ishani said, quietly enough but Ranveer heard her.
"Wish?"
"Yes," Ishani answered. "Wish to have you, my friend Ranveer, back in my life." Ranveer felt Ishani wanted to add something more but kept it to her and he did not persuade her either. Rather he felt her words coming to him as if in a dream, floating quietly, and seeping in his heart like the first ray of the dawn breaking into the darkest corner of an abandoned world since forever.
"What happened again?" Ishani asked him as he realized he had forgotten to answer her.
"Uh, well, so that was your wish!"
"Yes," Ishani said, taking his hand into hers, "I missed you so much, Ranveer."
So did I, he wanted to say but could not add anything and smiled in return. There still remained a veil between them that Ranveer hated. Hated truly, just like the feeling of staying away from her. He wished he could wrap his arms around her and have her closer so that she would never leave him again. And at the same time he hated himself for having such a desire. She wasn't his. She loved Chirag: the ring gleaming in the golden radiance of the church hall presented this bitter truth only, and she had wanted him back as her friend only. How he wished a miracle could make her fall in love with him, however selfish he found himself in that moment. Ranveer slowly moved out of her reach while she looked at him, puzzled. Ranveer did not react, instead passed a smile and turned to leave.
"Let's go," he said, "it's late already."
Ishani nodded and walked beside him. There was no one in the church right now but the place did not look empty despite only two people being there, he and Ishani. Ranveer thanked God in his heart, for he had found his life back once again. Ishani was with him and now nothing could go wrong.
"I'll drop you home. You can call your driver for your car," Ranveer said.
"Oh, it's alright," Ishani returned. "I'll go back on my own."
"Oh, hello," Ranveer said, immediately, "it's late night and you are not supposed to go alone."
"Oh, hello," Ishani replied, "I'm not a kid not to be able to help me."
"Don't be so stubborn, Ishani. It's not safe at night to..."
"Oh, God! Ranveer," Ishani ejaculated, but before she could speak any further, Ranveer felt a different look in her eyes as she smiled and added, "Well, let's go."
"Are you sure?"
"Am I not supposed to?"
"I'm sure there is always a direct and better way to answer the questions?"
"And I'm also sure there is always a way not to ask so many questions when you are feeling asleep," Ishani said, louder.
"Ugh! This girl, I tell you," Ranveer said, looking sideways.
"What this girl, huh?" Ishani said, turning him towards her grasping his shoulder.
"Someone was feeling asleep few minutes back. I suppose we should be going," Ranveer retorted, whilst Ishani, he could see, embarrassed made her way towards his car.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean anything to say...to be rude," Ishani said.
"No, it's alright." Ranveer sighed. "I thought you were too stubborn."
No words were spoken from either side for the next few minutes as Ranveer drove across and Ishani simply stared out of the window. The night felt slightly colder as stars above shone brightly in the hazy sky while the moon felt lighter than its usual shade.
"Ranveer," Ishani spoke after a few minutes while Ranveer looked at her. Ishani continued, "I want to meet Zaveri uncle."
"Ishani?" Ranveer said, amazed at her demand.
"Yes, I want to talk to him."
"Are you sure?"
Ishani nodded, as Ranveer saw her eyes going misty.
"I will tell you when we can visit him and I hope it's done sooner."
About 1 and half hours later Ranveer's car halted at the road beside Ishani's house, with the darkness hovering over it.
"It's dark," Ranveer said.
"Yes, I will switch on the lights once I go in," Ishani smiled.
"Alright, then. I must leave now for home."
"Don't you want to come in? You've never been in here," Ishani said.
"Not today, Ishani. You are tired and need rest. I can visit you any time later."
"Good night, Ranveer," Ishani smiled.
Ranveer smiled back as he left, taking a last look at her. He drove further, and could see from the mirror that Ishani still stood where he had dropped her, waving her hand in his direction. For a moment he wished to go back to her but the moon rising high indicated it was not the right time. He could see her the next day and wished the night passed soon.
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When the view of Ranveer's dark grey car had faded from her sight Ishani turned back with a broad smile on her face. She walked further into her house with the scent of the fresh air reaching her in a genial way, and a new feeling fragmented in her heart. She threw her red jacket on the bed and lay down herself, her face staring upwards the ceiling. Ishani closed her eyes and the memories of the last 2 hours flashed back in her mind. They were back! She touched her cheeks where few hours ago were but tears. Nothing had changed, she felt, ever since they last had separated and she could have those last two years back once again. Ishani could have shouted, screamed, jumped and danced had it not all appeared to be a dream till now. And all she could do was let her heart soar in the white clouds of the happiness it had found after long years of misery and loneliness.
Two years filled of void and miseries came to end, she thought, and now she would never let Ranveer go anywhere. She had known in these years what it felt like to be without him, wandering in an unknown barren land with no destination to reach at the end. However, she hated how reluctant he seemed at times and tried to keep himself away from her; she wished she knew the cause and could tell him but the thought made her blush vehemently as she flipped over and buried her face in the feather pillow, smiling to herself.
"Ugh! I wish I knew what is wrong with me!" she whispered to herself as she fell asleep slowly, dreaming of a new life that awaited her ahead.
______________
Ranveer tiptoed quietly into his room, fearing his parents to wake up, for they could sense his most silent of the steps, as he entered his dark room. Getting in he switched on the lights and placed his phone aside on the table and jacket on the bed itself. He slowly walked upto the cupboard and drew a file and with the first page opening down dropped a very old photograph. Ranveer's eyes fell on it as he picked it up carefully and his lips curved in a soft smile. A young Ishani in the photograph stood by but not in a merry mood, for her eyes had tears and her lips twitched downwards in a state to cry, while he stood by her side with a mischievous smile on his face, his right hand curled over on her left shoulder. He could not keep himself from laughing aloud as the memory renewed itself in his mind once again. Like various times before this incident the event was his and Ishani's arguments over who his Mota Babuji loved the most. Ishani cried he was her father so he loved her the most while Ranveer argued he was his Mota Babuji so he loved him the most. As the part of the solution they were told they were loved equally while Ranveer, to Ishani's disappointments, had again mentioned she was not told the truth and it was he who was loved by his Mota Babuji the most because he preferred to keep Ranveer in his company more. Suddenly Sharman had come with his new camera which he was to take on the trip with his friends and taken a snap of Ranveer and Ishani where Ranveer had been smiling which Ishani believed to be wicked and mean and Ishani had her eyes filled with unnecessary tears (as Ranveer afterwards told her explaining he was joking and Mota Babuji truly loved her the most but she had not understood the joke until very late).
Ranveer drew a sigh as he held the photo close to him and went to bed to sleep although felt robbed of it since last few days, but tonight it was not because of any pain he felt, but happiness felt too good to be true; and the moments passed by, too beautiful to be real. He could not help but smile still like a child as long as his eyes did not feel weary and lowered quietly down driving him into a peaceful slumber.
The morning sun spread its golden rays widely on the town as the mild breeze swirled over chasing away the remains of the harsh winter that had lingered behind. The scent of the flowers filled the air as the morning smiled brightly in the early daylight. Ranveer woke up, rubbing his eyes and stretched his arms sideways, yawning softly. The clock placed nearby struck 6.30 in the morning which made Ranveer open his eyes wide surprise and spring out of the bed.
"Oh, no!" he shrieked. "I cannot delay today. I should inform Ishani already."
Rishi had fixed a visit of Ishani and Ranveer to Mr. Zaveri after Ranveer had informed him of the matter late at night while his journey home. It was not tough but had taken certain amount of hardship in getting it done since Mr. Zaveri was to be transferred to HM Wandsworth prison the same day. However, the matter was solved and the old man could be visited for 30 minutes post 11AM. Ranveer and Ishani had to arrive at straight 11.30. He informed Ishani about the trip who initially seemed slightly afraid but at Ranveer's insistence she had made her mind to take her one final visit.
Ranveer picked up Ishani at 10 while she remained nervous wondering how could she even talk to him since she did not truly know what she felt: hatred, pity, regret or what.
"It's not to you to feel like that, Ishani," Ranveer answered, "it's him who should be unable to look into your eyes. Do meet him and say what you have to say. You don't have to feel any regret personally in order to talk to him. Just go and say whatever you want to."
Ishani nodded her head, though feeling awful, while Ranveer continuously remarked she was not to feel anything bad regarding the matter.
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1 hour later Ishani walked along the passage of the cell of Belmarsh prison in which Mr. Zaveri was kept. Policemen guarded the whole path from the entrance till the end. Ishani felt awkward with each step for Ranveer had refused to accompany her saying he would not be needed and she could talk to Mr. Zaveri the way she wished to. Perhaps he sensed her awkwardness himself because she felt uncomfortable with the thought already, and it was good he was not with her. Ishani was accompanied by one of the officers from the force who led her in a dark room where the presence of the light looked nigh, only the light shafts of the clambering sun managed to make their way in, though it was dimly lit with yellow light. It was cold and deserted and the feeling made her more uncomfortable as she was left alone for a few seconds before Mr. Zaveri was brought in. He looked simple with none of the accessories that he often carried with him. The brightness of his face had dimmed and he looked now much older than she last saw him.
For a moment she wished to face him in the cruel manner that she had imagined ever since his arrest but the moment her eyes fell upon him they were filled with uncontrollable pity, though she kept herself too far from uttering anything she felt, instead her cold voice, broken voice said.
"Why?"
Mr. Zaveri seemed to understand her question as he without further explanation answered on his own.
"I have told RV everything and there is no more to add," Mr. Zaveri answered.
"Didn't you even for once think what my Papa did for you? How could one be so heartless as you?"
Mr. Zaveri withdrew his eyes from her and did not speak.
"Zaveri uncle, we were like family all these years, weren't we? It didn't hurt me to know what happened to our company or me, but the thought that you were not loyal to my father was painful."
"You are too young to understand what I had felt, Ishani," Mr. Zaveri said. "Love. Love is the answer of your questions."
"That wasn't love. That was hatred, treachery. What you did," Ishani said, tears welling up in her eyes. "When you love someone you know what it is to love, to lose, to have everything in form their happiness and joys and their tears sting you, hurt you. You do not just feel so for your own people, instead in your eyes it applies to everyone; because if something happening to your loved one is harming them you'd know this is how others will feel if they were in your place. But all you thought was your own revenge. Did you think how would Papa feel if he found out about this when he was alive? He trusted you so much," Ishani said breathlessly but was interrupted by Mr. Zaveri.
"Wrong. He trusted Ranveer, his servant, the most," he said spitefully.
Ishani laughed, tears in her eyes. "People like you would never understand him," she said. "What enmity did you have with Ranveer? Why damage him so much?"
"I gave you my answers, Ishani."
"Oh, yes," Ishani said. "You clearly have nothing more to say." The more Ishani talked to the old man the less pitiable he felt. He was cruel and evil. "You don't feel anything? No guilt, nothing?" she added, resentfully, although feeling sure she wouldn't be getting any desired answers.
"Not at all. All I feel is failure. I failed in my sole mission to destroy the man who destroyed my life years ago. You and your father owe your life and company to RV, Ishani. Many years ago he saved your father from my clutches and now he has saved you. I swear the day I come back I will destroy him and you completely."
"Then I will make sure you are punished for all your crimes dearly, uncle. Many more evidences against you are being found and people have realized you were never the man you professed yourself to be. Let the law do their work," Ishani said, and could see Mr. Zaveri had a streak of fear over his face now but he seemed too timid to say anything which could back her out. At her signal, the guard who had brought Mr. Zaveri escorted him back to his cell while Ishani saw the men leaving, her eyes again being filled with tears.
Ishani turned back to leave, her heart beating irregularly as Mr. Zaveri's each word rang in her mind again and again. He could never harm Ranveer or her anymore, she thought. He was trying to frighten her and it was clear when she saw him afraid himself. It would take him years to get out and there could never be any danger from him anymore. Ishani, however disappointed, felt better now. Mr. Zaveri's betrayal not only gave her an experience but also returned her lost friend, Ranveer. Ishani saw Ranveer standing beside his car, staring towards her direction, and he smiled as he saw her approaching to him.
"Well, I'm back," Ishani said, smiling.
Edited by Elvish_Hobbit - 9 years ago
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