Thread 2-Celebration of Fates:RagNa FF, Part-44,Page-100, 21/02 - Page 61

PART-44

Raghav paced like an angry lion in the Jadhav drawing room. He didn't know which emotion he felt more, or more appropriately allowed himself to feel more. He couldn't break down, not now when his "honeybee" needed him the most. Even if all he wanted to do was run to Singhania mansion, lock himself in the bedroom and cry his heart out like a baby; cry until he hopefully learns to live with this feeling of pain, desperation, guilt and helplessness. He did not think he could ever get rid of the said feelings though. No, if he would; it would mean his love for "his honeybee" was not true and he would be a letdown to his Kalpi, his would be Mrs.Raghav Singhania.

Somewhere hopefully in this big city only, Raghav hoped, Kalpi would keep that flame of trust and hope alive, that he would find her. He had to find her; else Raghav himself would burn his life, along with lost Kalpi's. He'd burn till he stops caring, for himself and anyone else. "But right now, is the time to burn them. They will burn till I make them beg for their life; or maybe till they beg me to give them death" Raghav resolved internally. So focused was he in the thoughts to destroy Kalpi's kidnapers that even the sounds of Kamal and Gauri's cries weren't reaching his ears. The two women, sat arm in arm, weeping for their daughter, worried sick. Pakhya, also angry yet the only person in senses apart from Raghav; was trying his best to keep everything in check; and to give some consolation to the ladies of the home. Akanksha was already on her way; so were Sammy and Sapna.

Raghav's chest rose and fell, in severe anger. His hands were clutched in a tight fist when the ringtone of his mobile broke Raghav's angry concentration. He checked the name of the caller; it was DGP Mr.Parikar himself calling.

"Hello" he responded in a dry tone. "Mr.Singhania, I heard what happened. I assure you...".

Stopping himself from gritting his teeth, Raghav interjected the DGP. "You better find her and soon" he said and cut the call, leaving Sammy & Sapna who had just arrived startled. Raghav looked up and saw the newcomers, but his only reaction was to throw off the mobile in frustration with a force. Sammy sighed, shook his head and picked up the fortunate cell phone from the carpet where the mobile had fallen.

Still huffing in anger, Raghav brought out another cell phone from his pocket, Kalpi's; only to stare at it unblinkingly. He'd retrieved it from outside, where it had slipped from Kalpi's hand in the struggle with her kidnappers. Raghav remembered the last message he had received that morning from his honeybee's cell phone, saying that she was ready to tell their mothers this latest problem. He was still lost in thoughts, to emotional to say anything when Sammy's hand on his shoulder brought Raghav out of his trance. Sammy handed over his mobile to Raghav, saying, "Raghav, do not lose yourself. Not yet, we will find Kalpana. Whoever abducted her, messed with the wrong person. Please Raghav, all of us are depending on you, including Kalpi. I will always be here for you to share your pain. But for now you will have to gather yourself" Sammy said and Raghav nodded in agreement.

"I know Sammy. But I cannot bear this...this guilt that I could have done something more to prevent this; to protect her. She is...my everything Sammy. If I fail to protect her, or fail to find her; I don't know what I will do then" Raghav finished pinching his nose then turned to an inconsolable Kamla, with a weeping Gauri holding her. Sitting on his knees in front of Kamla, Raghav held her hands in his. With downcast eyes he started, "Kamla Maa, I am guilty of not being able to protect your daughter. Please punish me Kamla Maa, please punish me. Maybe then this burden of guilt which I am bearing will become lighter. I am sorry Kamla Maa for not telling about this to you sooner. She...she did not wish to worry you; and I, I am guilty that I agreed to her repeated requests. Just this morning, we had agreed to not hide anything from you. We had decided to tell you everything. But then, they...they..." Raghav attempted to complete his thoughts but overcome with grief, pain, the tears in his eyes and heavy throat did not allow him to.

He felt a motherly hand, caressing his head. Looking up he saw Kamla gave him a small smile and said- "You do not need to explain to me anything Raghav Baba. I know how much you love my Kalpi. Yes, I am upset that both of you hid such a big thing from me. But I know you did whatever you could. Just that, had I known, I would have stopped her from crossing the boundary of this house alone. I would have stopped her and told her to wait for you. But she did not share anything with me. This morning, before leaving she just hugged me and said, I want to tell you something Aai. But I will share everything only at night. I don't want to leave you worried all day."

"I was left wondering what she wished to tell me. I didn't know that I would get to know about it so soon and in this way. Yes, I am upset with you Raghav Baba but I know if anyone can bring my Kalpi, I back it is only you. And I also know Raghav Baba, if my Kalpi is not found, I will lose not one but two children. This mother cannot take this much heartache Raghav Baba. For my daughter's happiness and safety, for your own self you will have to find my Kalpi Raghav Baba. You will have to" Kamla almost pleaded, her voice quivering though understanding.

Hearing words from his Kamla Maa, Raghav allowed himself to break down a little. Hiding his face in Kamla's lap, with her hands on his head he cried muttering, "They just took her away from me in front of my eyes Kamla Maa; and I could not do anything about it. They just took her away."

Battling her own tears, Kamla tried consoling Raghav. "Don't cry Raghav Baba; and tell me from start. When did all this started? Tell me every detail, the letters, everything."

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By the time Raghav had finished the narration of how and when all this had started, Kamla was ashen-faced. Her hands trembled; she pressed one of her hands to her forehead. "Wh, what did you say Raghav Baba? Wh...white roses? Kalpi continued to receive white roses and note? Did she remember anything on seeing those flowers? Did she tell you anything? What did the notes say Raghav baba? Where these notes, what did..." Kamla blabbered and asked too many questions at once from Raghav.

Raghav noticed hint of panic in Kamla's demeanor and voice. His heartbeat had turned slower with each panicked word leaving Kamla's mouth. Yet in a weird way, also have him some hope and relief; that maybe now that can have some clue about who abducted his honeybee. He turned his attention completely on Kamla, taking her name first softly and then loudly, with a shake of her shoulders, "Kamla maa...Kamla Maa." He called out, making Kamla stop. She turned her gaze up towards Raghav and almost whispered, "I think he is back Raghav Baba; he is back and I don't think I will get back my Kalp now. I thought, maybe I will never hear his name again in this birth. But his selfish attitude proved me wring. Please bring my daughter back Raghav Baba, please bring my daughter back" saying so Kamla broke down into crying more. But Raghav's wits were at ends of his patience now, he asked Kamla in a form but lkoud voice, "Who is back Kamla Maa? Give me his name please...tell me who is back?"

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Kalpi's heart was in her mouth as she heard footsteps outside the bedroom of this mysterious villa or home she was caged in. Her breaths became ragged; her heartbeats were like loudspeakers inside her chest. Lost for a solution what to do in these helpless circumstances, she was not in the least interested in knowing the identity of her kidnapper. Fear had crept in right till her soul and Kalpi was hyperventilating right then. Even the thought of facing her kidnapper was scaring her no end, she did not know who was behind her abduction. She did not know either his face or name; all Kalpi knew was that she was blindfolded until she'd found herself in this bedroom. Her abductors had been surprisingly not too violent with her; using force just enough so she does not run away.

Apparently, from what Kalpi had gathered from conversations of the men in the vehicle, that their boss would "burn them alive if even a scratch comes on Kalpana Jadhav's skin". These words had been only a small solace for Kalpi, "At least I am safe for now" she'd thought. But now, the approaching footsteps outside the lavish bedroom Kalpi was in, warned her that the said "boss" would be face to face with her sooner than she liked. Panicking and not finding any solution, Kalpi had run and locked herself into the bathroom as soon as she heard the lock of the bedroom being opened.

Her back to the bathroom door, Kalpi took in long breaths of relief. She was sure it was only a temporary relief, but just to live a little more to see her Raghav again, to keep herself safe a little longer Kalpi was ready to do anything. Now that her flower, her strength, her support, her protector, her guide, her Raghav was not with her Kalpi was even more afraid. She knew that she is a strong woman, yet somehow, Raghav's presence was always the engine of her mind and body. The energy of Raghav's love was both a weakness and strength for Kalpi. Even now, whatever she would do, it would be for Raghav; "If I get out of here, it will be for Raghav" Kalpi resolved.

A few tears ran on to her cheeks when she remembered the worry in Raghav's eyes for her. When she remembered how worried he was for her, how he wanted to protect her at all cost. How he had even suggested her all means from keeping a pistol, to keeping guards, to telling Kamla the truth, everything. She felt a deep regret for not listening to Raghav, especially when his fear stricken, desperate, face came in front of her eyes; how afraid he was while running for his life, to save her life when Kalpi was abducted. Now, the footsteps which were approaching the bathroom door fast, in an attempt to find her were making Kalpi lose all hopes.

The said footsteps reached the bathroom door and knocked thrice, "Kalpi...Kalpi" a manly voice called, surprisingly which seemed vaguely familiar to Kalpi. The voice called out for her again, and Kalpi listened to the man more carefully now. "I know you are there Angel" the voice said and Kalpi was confused. "You need not fear me Kalpi. Come outside Angel; come outside my Angel-Rajkumari'..."

The voice said "Angel-Rajkumari" and Kalpi almost stopped breathing. This weird, peculiar name...if she still remembered correctly, only one person used to call her Angel-Rajkumari'. Only one person who was capable of hurting her like this and even worse; only one person who Kalpi's heart had refused to forget completely; but whom she had erased completely from her mind. As realization dawned on Kalpi, she gasped. She turned and slowly opened the bathroom door just a little, to confirm her fears, suspicions; and surely she was right.

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"Vitthal!" Kamla yelled. "Vitthal Jadhav is back; my husband and Kalpi's father" she screamed, as tears completely soaked Kamla's face.

"What?" Raghav's voice was almost a whisper, unable to believe. For a few seconds, everyone was stunned. It was Pakhya who broke the silence, shaking Kamla by shoulders. "What are you saying Aai...Baba? How can Baba be back after so many years? Hadn't he left us, hadn't he left never to return...hadn't he...died? How can he be back?" an upset Pakhya asked.
Kamla dropped her son's hands from her shoulder. "Sahi keh rahi hoon main Pakhya. Ye Vitthal Jadhav hi hai; aur wo apni rajkumari ko apne saath le gaya" (I am saying right Pakhya. That man is none other than Vitthal Jadhav only and he took away his Princess/Rajkumari with him) Kamla said and cried some more.

"Are you sure? If Kalpi's father has returned, why did he send message only for Kalpi; and not for Pakhya?" Raghav asked and Kamla replied while nodding her head.

"This is the only possible explanation I have. These words..." Kamla stopped uncertainly, examining the threat note received by Kalpi which Raghav had just handed them over. "These words - angel; Vitthal used to call by a similar name- Angel-rajkumari. Every evening when he returned from office he'd bring a white rose for his daughter and some chocolates. Both his princess's favourite. He was a good father before, everything changed; even him. He showered all his love on Pakhya. He would buy a new book for Pakhya every day. Books of stories; practice books in- English, Mathematics, kids' encyclopedia, everything he knew Pakhya would love. Angel was the short for Angel-rajkumari, a name which was as frequently used by him for Kalpi as Angel-rajkumari. Raghav Baba, there is only one way to confirm my suspicions; please tell this to police Raghav Baba. They will know how to find Vitthal if he has returned. I am sure he will try to contact Pakhya also soon. But Kalpi, she was apple of his eyes, and his weakness. Maybe he thought it is easier to get hold on his weakness first."

Saying so Kamla grabbed her throbbing head, shaking it half in anger, half in desperation, confusion and grief. Unable to process a single coherent thought; if she should be somewhat relieved that Kalpi might be with her father and thus he cannot harm her physically or sexually. Or if she should be scared that Kalpi is still a prisoner; with someone who will never care for her like he should. Whose love may just be a farce, an ego boost for his self-worth; and because of whom she might not be able to see her daughter ever again. "I want my daughter back Raghav baba. I want my daughter back here with me. I still fear for Kalpi's safety even if she is with Vitthal."

Hearing Kamla, Raghav felt an upward rise of his anger. "Then, if it is true. This will be the last time you will see him Kamla Maa, I promise" Raghav promised Kamla, who nodded her head in approval and hope.

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Kalpi jerked the door open and stumbled back in shock, unable to believe. Standing before her was a man whom she had considered dead, or as good as dead long ago. He was a man who had left his family when they needed him the most. Who could not pass the test of time; whose role even as a child, Raghav had fulfilled, by being with her at every step. It was her father, Vitthal Jadhav.

He was looking at her with stern yet tear filled eyes, with half raised arms, ready to hug her. But Kalpi who could not help but feel unrealized anger towards her so-called father, could manage to acknowledge him only by one word which came out more like a statement then a question.

"Baba" Kalpi let out a steely whisper.

PRECAP POSSIBILITY: Kalpi-Vitthal encounter and questions about Pakhya.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show "Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on "Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show. The legal procedure described has no resemblance with reality.

P.S.: I really wanted to re-write last chapter but better words and sub-track simply did not come out. I will try to make up in future updates though.