Bitter Kisses (PriVeer FF) [Ch 14 Updated Pg 34]

Shivay Singh Oberoi's wedding reception was in full swing. Amidst the laughter and gossip, not many people noticed the tall sinewy man standing by himself near an open window. But those who were unfortunate enough to lay their eyes on his scowling countenance, were quick to move on. His presence was unsettling and he stuck out like a sore thumb in that crowd of polished gregarious souls. ACP Randhawa hardly noticed the nervous looks directed his way as he darkly studied the strings of fairy light and colourful garlands strewn across the green lawn.

His mind replayed the conversation between the Chief Commissioner of Police and Mr. Tej Singh Oberoi that he had, only a moment ago, been forced to be an unwilling witness and silent participant of. His bile rose at the way in which an uniformed officer had stooped to such cowardly flattery before the arrogant industrialist. What hope did he, a junior officer, have of ever getting justice when his enemy seemed to have the entire police department in his pocket? Wasn't his very presence here, at this wedding reception, a testament to the fact that the Oberois had such a powerful hold over the police?

When he had first received the gold embossed monstrosity of an invitation card, 'requesting' his attendance at this event, Ranveer's first reaction had been to chuck the damned thing in the bin. But then he had received a string of calls from senior officers advising him to attend what was sure to be the year's grandest social event. After all he had been the rookie officer who had dared to challenge the scion of the Oberoi group of industries of having a hand in one Gayatri Tambe's murder. The department was keen to make amends on his behalf and his presence here was to be the first of many such peace offerings.

Despite his scowls, the calm that he Ranveer wore outside hid the rage that swirled within. His presence here was a defeat for him. But the Oberois were mistaken if they thought they could bulldoze him down. He had to recoup and strike back. But for that he needed a very different kind of strategy. Where open warfare failed, one needed to carry out covert strikes. And Ranveer Singh Randhawa, standing here in the belly of the beast, mulled over his next move.

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Priyanka absent-mindedly fingered the gifts arranged on the table. She had been told to keep an eye on the staff as they brought in the wedding gifts in order to be viewed by the family later. A superfluous task but one that happily allowed her to hide away from the crowd. The events over the last couple of days were bad enough to make her wish to be as far away as possible from the Mansion, the wedding and her family.

She thought back to the sheer delight that she had felt on the day of her elder brother's wedding. She had forgotten everything else. Her past, her sins, her guilt, her nightmares. Everything had been swept away by this torrent of joy at the thought that at least one of her siblings was on the path to the true happiness that marriage could bring. Priyanka felt like slapping herself now. She had been blind to the horrors that had taken place in the life of a dear friend even as she, Priyanka Singh Oberoi, had been busy dancing the night away. An idiot! A fool! That was what she was. She had failed her friend just as she had failed her brother before.

The memory of Anika's face as the family argued over Shivay Bhaiya'a decision to marry her rose before her like a spectre. Everyone had thrown around insults and accusations as if Anika wasn't even there before them, as if the poor girl didn't even have a voice, or an opinion or a life! And what had she, Anika's so-called 'friend' done? She had stood there, too horrified, too frightened of the consequences of this marriage to even open her mouth! She had failed her friend yet again. Will her crimes never cease?

And now with Tia in the house, Daadi forcing Anika to stay here and Shivay Bhaiya threatening to divorce Anika, Priyanka felt even more helpless. Despite her will to not cry, a stream of tears rolled down her cheeks. Priyanka rubbed her eyes angrily even though the hot tears refused to stop.

She moved towards the open balcony. As the cool breeze dried up her tears, she watched the strings of fairy light swaying in the breeze. Below her, on the lawn, glittering groups of guests moved around the magical wonderland that Anika had, so painstakingly, planned and designed.

Priyanka clutched at the dupatta clinging to her neck. She felt as if the cloth was choking her. Flashes from her past raked over her troubled spirit. In her mind, the writhing body of the woman lying in a pool of blood merged with Anika's devastated face as the family debated the farce of a marriage that had been forced upon her. Priyanka leaned her face forward to let the wind soothe the tears that simply would not stop flowing.

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Ranveer Singh Randhawa's eyes surveyed the crowd milling around the room. Perfumed ladies strolled arm in arm while men in tuxedos stood in groups chatting and chugging down champagne. At the end of the lawn was the buffet. There he caught sight of the Commissioner of Police. The elderly man caught his eye and nodded to him. Before he could be signalled to come over and join the senior officer for a bite, Ranveer smiled and looked away. He would be damned if he would stoop to eat at a dinner organised by the Oberois.

His eyes next fell on a woman who looked very familiar. As his eyes studied her drawn expression, he remembered with a jolt. It was that woman, Anika! She had been the one to provide an alibi for Shivay Singh Oberoi for the night of Gayatri's murder. No wonder she looked miserable. Shivay Singh Oberoi had now married and she was destined to be the mistress. So much for her sacrifice of her reputation to save his skin.

Following his line of thought, his eyes next turned to the man in question who stood talking to a small group of elegantly dressed men and women. His rich, socialite wife, Tia Singh Oberoi, was hanging from his arm. Randhawa's eyes went back to Anika but she appeared to have left. His eyes searched for her through the crowd. He felt a desire to speak to her. Perhaps,in her current state of mind, Miss Anika might be in a more amenable state of mind to talk.

Randhawa moved through the crowd, raking his eyes over the sparkling array of ladies. All of a sudden, he saw Anika walk up a flight of stairs. Casting his eyes around to see if anyone was watching, Randhawa made his way towards the stairs. The people milling around him provided the perfect cover and ACP Randhawa soon climbed up the winding flight of stairs and reached the next floor in search of his target.

As he ascended the stairs, the noise reduced until he found himself in a relatively quiet and brightly lit corridor that stretched out in both directions. Unfortunately, it also lay completely empty. There was no Anika to be found anywhere. As Randhawa stood there trying to decide which way he should go next, a door few steps to his right opened and a grey uniform clad member of the house staff emerged. The officer in him saw an opportunity and he walked up to the girl.

"Where is Miss-"

Before he could finish, the girl pointed towards the room she had just stepped out of. Leaving her behind, Randhawa pushed the heavy door open and stepped into the room.

The first thing that hit him was the smell of roses. His eyes were met with hundreds of bouquets arranged on tables, shelves, against the wall, on the floor. The air was heavy with the sweet cloying smell. A quick survey showed that the room was empty. He would have turned around and left had not a billowing curtain caught his eye. Through the diaphanous material,he saw a woman standing on a balcony that the room opened out into. With a few quick strides, he had crossed the room and almost reached the door leading out to the balcony. However, a few steps away from the balcony door, he was forced to break into a run because the lady in question had leaned forward and by all appearance, was about to fall off the balcony. Holding her by her wrist, he jerked her forward to himself. As she crashed into his chest, her hair flying wildly, he knew it wasn't Miss Anika who was preparing to leap off the balcony. It was Miss Priyanka Singh Oberoi!

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One moment,Priyanka was leaning forward to let the evening breeze cool her hot cheeks, and the next moment, she was being pulled back by her wrist to land up flush against someone's chest. At first, she was too shocked and disoriented to even gather herself and look up to see who it was. But when she finally looked up, her face paled at the sight of the police officer who had become a part of her nightmares. What was ACP Randhawa doing here?!

Ranveer Randhawa wasn't sure what his next course of action should be. He was itching to let her go but he didn't want to lose balance and end up toppling over the railing along with the woman in his arms. The only thing to do was to draw away from the railing. So he pulled her closer to himself as he inched backwards towards the french window. A gasp came from her as she stared at him with increasing wonder in her eyes and forgot to struggle in her amazement. His eyes didn't fail to notice the tear streaked face and he didn't hesitate to pull her into the room. Once inside, he released her with a jerk and turned to fasten the door to the balcony.

Breathing heavily, Priyanka stared at the impassive face of the man, too stunned to say anything. But as he opened his mouth to speak, Priyanka found her bearing and rounded on the officer.

"What do you think you are doing?!"

ACP Randhawa wasn't far behind in demanding to know why she wanted to jump off a balcony on a day when her family was in the midst of a celebration.

As a very confused discussion ensued between the two, neither of them noticed the flash of a camera going off from somewhere near the edge of the lawn.

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