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Chapter 10
Rahul was lingering around maanvi all day. She thought maybe he wants to talk about last night, but she wanted to avoid that topic. The thought from that nightmare still ran chills down her spine. Every time rahul approached her when she was alone, she would make excuse and run off, whether they were in dining hall or any other room.
She used any excuse that came into her mind... "mommy ji bula rahi hain, main ek minute me aati hoon... dadi ji ki medicines ka time hua hai, main pooch ke aati hoon ki unhone apni medicines li ki nahi... dada ji ko chai chahiye hogi, main unke chai de ke aati hoon... Nikhil ne mujh se kuch help maangi thi, main uske paas hoke aati hoon... mujhe kitchen me kuch kaam hai, thodi der se baat karte hain..."
Rahul kept his patience till noon but he knew maanvi is trying to avoid him very hard. He came down in the kitchen and found maanvi preparing for lunch. She was on the other side of the kitchen chopping onions for a dish. He pointed all servants to leave quietly and give these two some privacy. All servants stopped their work and left to check on work in other rooms.
Maanvi unaware "Chotu, zaraa hara dhaniya pass karna..." she was teary due to onions.
Rahul picked up parsley and passed it to maanvi which she took from him without knowing that its rahul who is standing behind her. He took a step closer which distracted her and she accidently cut her finger on the knife. Rahul caught her hand that instant "maanvi, sambhal kar..."
Their eyes met, and maanvi forgot her injury. Rahul took out his handkerchief and placed it gently on her wound. They must have stood there like that for good ten minutes when Nikhil entered. He came in to grab a soft-drink and saw the two of them frozen.
Nikhil~ "Ahem... ab to aap do no ko Do Not Disturb' ka sign board le kar ghumna chahiye. Wo kya hai na, ghar ke baki members ke liye easy hoga..."
Rahul maanvi blushed as they pulled their hands away. Maanvi couldn't even look back due to her embarrassment of being caught like that with rahul.
Rahul~ "Oye! Tera kal class test hain na, to tu yahan kya kar raha hai?"
Nikhil~ "Acha. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki aapko meri itni chinta hai. Waise class test hai nahi... tha. Mera class test kal tha. Aur ab apko bhabhi se romance hi karna hai to apne kamre mein karo na. Iss ghar mein aur log bhi rehte hain. Kuch to sharam karo..." he said in full on teasing mode.
Rahul picked up a kitchen towel and threw at Nikhil "Zyada lecture mat de. Tu jo lene aaya tha, le kar bhag yahan se. Nahi to maar kayega ab, yadi zyada bakar bakar ki to."
Nikhil went to the refrigerator, took out a soft-drink and glanced back at the two of them as he left smiling. Finding herself alone with rahul again, maanvi tried to leave. Rahul caught her hand and pulled her in his arms.
"Phir se avoid kar rahi ho mujhe maanvi?..." as he placed his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
Maanvi gasped for air as he firmed his grips on her waist "Rahul... nahi... wo... main... mujhe...mujhe janaa hai..." she could barely speak or even think anything.
Rahul pulled her closer to make her look him in the eyes. "Mujhe maloom hai ki tum bhi mere liye feel karti ho maanvi. Jitna chahe inkaar kar lo. Par yahi sach hai."
Maanvi tried to escape but to no use, he pulled her even closer "Bhag rahi ho?... mujhe se, ya khud se? Tum mujhe se bhag sakti ho. Par apne aap se, apni feelings se kaise bhag paogi maanvi? Main tumhe force nahi kar raha hoon. Par main chahoonga ki apni feelings ko samajh ne mein, tum mujhe bhi apne saath shamil karo. Main tumhare saath, tumhare har pal ka hissa banana chahta hoon maanvi..."
He slowly let go of her and went back to their room. Maanvi trailed him as he left her alone in the kitchen, thinking about what he said. His words will echo for long time before she could really figure out what she would do with her feelings.
Raj has been working on a story to give to the ACP as he headed for the police station. Last night ACP had called to talk about Rahul's case. Wondering what did he found out this time, raj was feeling anxious. But he took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. If ACP sensed his anxiousness, he will think that something is up and then raj will never hear the end of it.
He reached police station. ACP was eagerly waiting for him.
ACP~ "Aiye Mr. sabarwal. Take a seat. Main aapka hi intezar kar raha tha."
Raj~ "Kahiye inspector sahab, kis liye yaad kiya mujhko?"
ACP~ "Ji mujhe rahul ke case ke silsile mein baat karni hai. Iss se pehle main kuch puchoon, kya aisa kuch hai jo aap mujhe batana chahenge?"
Raj~ "Main samjha nahi? Aap jo bhi puchna chahte hain saaf saaf puchiye."
ACP smiled at raj's all so innocent act as he paced around him "Aap to jante honge ki insaan bhi ek jaanwar se kam nahi hota hai. Hain na Mr. sabarwal? Sab kehte hain; human is a social animal. Ab agar koi aadmi sahi me jaanwar ban raha ho to?"
Raj face turns red with anger. He stood up and spoke in his furious tone "A inspector, tu jaanta bhi hai tu kya bakwas kar raha hai? Aur ye kya aadmi jaanwar laga rakha hai? Tu kahega bhi na to teri iss baat par kabhi koi vishwaas nahi karega. Main sab samajhta hoon. Tum apni power ka galat istemaal kar ke, mere bete ko badnaam karna chahte ho. Mere kisi dusman ne paise diye hai na tumko, mere bete ki reputation ko kharab karne ke liye. Bol kisne diye tujko paise?"
ACP~ "Awaaz neeche. Ye mera office hai. Aur apni awaaz uchi karne se aap sach nahi badal sakte. I know everything Mr. Sabarwal. Ab aap aisa kuch nahi keh sakte jis se mujhe ye lage ki jo mujhe pata hai wo jhoot hai."
Raj shocked, he was speechless for a moment before he spoke again "Inspector sahab, aapko zaroor kuch dhoka hua hoga. Ye sab mere bete ko barbaad karne ki saazish hai. Agar aapne kuch bhi bahar kaha to logo ke saamne rahul ka naam, uski image, reputation... sab mitti mein mil jayega. Aur waise bhi aapke pass kya sabot hai ki jo aapko kisi ne bataya wo sab sach hai?"
ACP~ "Saboot aur gawah ki chinta aap mar kariye. Saboot aur gawah kharidne ka bahut sauk hai na aapko? To aapko yeh jaan kar khushi hogi ki iss baar, sabot aur gawah dono main hoon."
Raj didn't understood what ACP was implying but it certainly was enough to shake the earth below his feet. He felt like he just got hit by thunderbolt.
ACP continued "Aapko nahi pata na, ki aapke bete ko kisne aur kaise bachaya? Par aapko yeh to pata hai ki aapke bete ki yeh halat ke zimmedar aap khud hain. Sab kuch jaan ne ke bawajood aapne apne bete ko bachane ki koshish nahi ki Mr Sabarwal. Apne bete ki fikar karne ka dawa karte hain aap, par uso bachane ke liye aapne kuch nahi kiya. Abhi bhi, sirf uski image aur reputation ki baat karte rahe aap. Ek baar bhi aapne apne bet eke baare mein nahi baat ki. Aap yahi soch rahe hain na, ki mujhe sab kaise maloom? Because I was there Mr. Sabarwal, jab maanvi ji aapke bete ko, apne pati ko bacha ne ke liye efforts kar rahi thi. I know everything. Aur ab, maine aapko yahan par yeh batane ke liye bulaya tha, ki main asli gunehgar ko, sazaa dilwakar rahoonga. I know this was not Rahul's fault, but yours."
Raj stood there with his eyes open. He just took a massive blow from ACP as he just gave him open threat.
ACP~ "And this request came from your son rahul, Mr. Sabarwal. He asked me to make sure you and that guru ji, pay for all of your crimes. Yes, rahul knows everything and he personally asked me to make sure none of you gets away with what you did and caused so much pain and troubles to rahul and maanvi."
Raj's face must have turned pale as he didn't think that rahul would have found out about everything. But from what ACP just told, it was clear that rahul knows.
Raj looked at ACP.
ACP~ "I'm coming after you and your guru ji next, not because of any other reason but because I believe that justice must be served. Now you may leave." as he pointed the way out to raj.
Raj left his office without another word. His concern was not ACP's threat at this moment. Raj was more concerned that rahul hasn't mentioned anything about it yet. How will this affect his relationship with rahul?
It was obvious that whatever may be, rahul would never look up to him the same way he used to before. But he will have to talk to him and find out anyway.
Rahul was pacing back and forth in his room. It is true that he wants maanvi to figure out what she feels for him. And it is also true that if possible, he would very much like to be there for her all the way when she tries to figure them out.
"Kuch to hai maanvi, jis wajah se tum khud ko rok rahi ho. Apni feelings ko aage nahi aane de rahi ho. Maine tumhari aankoon mein dekha hain maanvi. Bar bar unki gehraiyoon mein ajeeb si kashmakash dekhi hai maine. Jaise tum apne hi aap se lad rahi ho. Par kyun? Kya wajah Hai?..."
He couldn't figure out what maybe the reason that is stopping maanvi from exploring her feelings for him but he decided that he will not give up on that thought. If it takes time, then be it.
He picked his guitar and started to work on his tune he was humming last night when maanvi was in his arms. That tune was a welcome comfort that has helped maanvi to forget her worries and her bad dreams and fall asleep.
The tune was melodious and touched heart in ways that he never thought was possible. But it lacked words, lyrics... that would truly make this song complete. Maanvi entered room to call rahul for lunch. The tune touched her heart instantly. She thought I have never heard this song but why does it still sound familiar? Then she realized
"It's the tune from last night when I had that nightmare and rahul rushed to me. It's the same tune rahul was humming last night as he tried to console scared me and helped me get back to sleep."
Looking at rahul playing his tune, maanvi forgot again why she had come here.
"Maanvi!... Rahul!..." Sonali was calling from downstairs "Lunch ke liye aa jao..."
"Aaye mommy ji!" maanvi replied then looked at rahul "khana lag gaya hai. Sab tumhara wait kar rahe hain."
Rahul picked his guitar and placed it back on the wall case. Then they both came down to join at the dining table. Everyone else was present except raj.
Dada ji~ "Sonali beta, Raj kahan hai? Dikhai nahi de raha."
Sonali~ "Papa ji, raj ko kuch zaroori kaam yaad aa gaya tha isliye bahar gaye hain. Keh gaye hain ki der hogi to sab log unke bina hi khana kha le."
Rahul~ "Family se zyada to unke liye humesha unka kaam hi zyada important hota hai. Dusroon ki kadar hoti to itni galtiyaan nahi karte." His tone clearly indicated that he was not happy with the way raj has prioritized his life and people in it.
Sonali, Nisha and Shaleen were surprised with this attitude of rahul towards raj. Nikhil, Dada ji and Dadi ji were clueless as well.
Rahul knew that by now raj has found out through ACP that rahul knows everything about his doing. Rahul wanted to hate his dad for everything he has ever done to hurt other people but maanvi convinced him otherwise. That's why rahul spoke with ACP and asked him to talk to raj, so raj can have one last chance to accept and hopefully try to reflect on his actions.
How will raj react to this will make it clear that whether raj ever had a heart or he had always been a two faced guy who never cared about feelings of other people.
Bigg Boss 19
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