Lingering Moments... The untold Saga...Chapter 40
Advay was having a very busy day as he directed his sharp intellect to his business and his battle both. He had been a brilliant tactician all through his grown up life; but the battles he had now taken up required a different kind of strategic genius.
The battle was not started by Advay, it was started by treason. His father had been so very selfless all through his life! Had Yashnarayan Vasishth asked him for the Mahant position, he would have given it to him without a single question. But what the great Mahant had been handed over was treachery by his most trusted subordinate.
More than physical death, the defamation had killed his father while still breathing. And then the sordidly planned attack on his life, robbing him of a chance to prove his truth!
As if this itself was not enough for Advay to make revenge his mission of life, destiny had handed over another injustice. Advay's love had had an attack on life. Advay could allow anything for himself but this was simply unforgivable! Advay had sensed an immediate call from within, a directive from the universe to take on the battle to punish the wrongdoers.
With the mere thought, an angry rage fired in his veins, as always, from that deep mysterious igneous core of his. It was only his own rationality that had saved them from having their necks throttled with his bare hands. Blood roared in his heavily corded fists as he clenched them; his face tightened, growing pinched. He was stunned by his own anger. He fought the adrenaline pumping in him from overpowering him. But his cold rationality made him even more dangerous.
The wrongdoers had all been winning till date, but the time for the righteous had now come. The tide of the battle would have to swing now! Advay was committed to action and work, to take on and tackle life as it came. The path Advay had chosen would surely lead to a deadly guerilla war; making all his loved ones vulnerable. Yet he refused to let any fear into his thoughts and just steeled himself to get things done.
Advay connected with each of his comrade combatant ensuring that his attrition based warfare was on track and that there had been no counterblow yet.
His secretary had informed him that a bevy of photographers and news reporters were waiting for his reaction to their questions after the press release. Advay relented to their request by sacrificing his lunch hour which had as such been shrunk to just fifteen minutes with his overflowing meetings and calls with different business dignitaries. He answered all their questions with his shrewd business aptitude and his professional smiling face masking all turmoil within him.
Miku had proceeded home after the press release. When he reached home, Shikha had already left for college. Miku called her up.
"Hi Shikha! You are returning home, right? I'll be leaving in a few hours."
"Veer, I wish I could, but my Professor wants me to work on this assignment with him. It's important for that scholarship, you know!"
"Yes Shikha, it's your dream. Ok, bye then!" Miku's pranks were one thing, but one thing Veer had imbibed deep in his core was to allow freedom to women and respect their decision.
"Come soon, Veer! I'll miss you." Shikha felt guilty suddenly at his immediate cooperation.
"Will you?"
Chandni entered exactly at that moment gesturing a question as to who was on the call. Veer mouthed 'Shikha' and she requested to speak to her.
"Shikha?" Chandni's voice was loud with a censure in it, " Why haven't you left yet? You left for college without informing anybody. We all thought you must have gone for some submission or something. It's been so long. It will soon be time for Miku to leave. Just drop everything and come over."
"How can I, Jiji? I have not just come away for fun. It's important work for me."
"How can college work be more important than Miku's leaving? I don't understand."
"You won't, Jiji! I know that! It's me and I am different than you. I want to work for my dream, stand on my own. I don't want to be bogged down with your conservative expectations."
"You are talking all gibberish and now is not the time to discuss all that. Just come over."
The discussion had become heated as the two sisters countered each other.
"No I won't Jiji. I have told Veer already. Bye!" Shikha disconnected the phone.
Chandni looked at the gadget as if it was some monster but then she masked her disappointment and smiled bright.
"Miku! Oh brother of mine! Don't you worry for even a minute! I shall do all your packing. That sister of mine, she's always been the tomboy of the family. But she's a baby...she'll change. Don't worry, I'll tell her. She won't disregard me." Chandni had gone in her badbad mode.
"Bhabhi! I am not worrying. I trust you, I trust her and more than anybody I trust myself." His voice had an assertive confidence which pleased Chandni.
"And Bhabhi, you don't have to pack for me, I can do it myself." He took his bag out.
"Shut up! Would you say that to your Ammi or would you let her pack everything for you?"
"Bhabhi! You won't listen, Fine, you do it. I'll just meet Naani and come."
When Miku returned, all his packing was done and Chandni was just closing the bag.
"Bhabhi, does Bhai have any ailment or something?"
His tone was nonchalant but Chandni was immediately alarmed. "No Miku, why do you ask me that?"
"Bhabhi, Bhai suddenly collapsed during the jog today. He was OK later but he had me worried for a minute."
Chandni had been bending over the bag, but she instantly stood erect. Dev had not mentioned anything to her after coming from jog or before leaving for office. Collapsing meant that he had had an attack again.
Chandni was sad about Dev, and at the same time angry with herself. Her behavior had caused Dev to do incessant driving which had taken a toll on his body.
"Miku, please tell Naani and Di that I am gone to your Bhai's office." Chandni disappeared without looking back.
"Bhai is gone now and he will kill me!" Miku shook his head behind her.
Advay was busy in an important standing meet in his cabin when all eyes suddenly turned to the door behind him. Who dared to disturb my meeting? Inadvertently, Advay took an angry and arrogant turn behind, but the moment he did, all his anger vanished and a happy content love filled in his eyes.
"Chandu!" Happy content escaped his lips in a whisper.
Chandni avoided his eyes and nodded curtly to the remaining members. Everybody nodded their greetings and left the room silently. Chandni closed the door behind her.
"Chandu, how come you are here? How did you come? Everything Ok at home?"
Chandni went behind his desk and started shutting his laptop down.
"I am here to take you home." She glared an 'End of' look at him and then smoothly proceeded to pack his stuff.
"Mohan kaka drove me here. Everything is fine at home except that your brother is waiting for your blessing. It's his first step for his chosen life."
Behind his desk, she looked like a sexy gamin. Desire stirred in Advay's veins. How would it be to teach her new position, bent over his desk? Yes, she would give him an icy response back, especially, this being an office, too public for her senses!
'But how I would love taking a shot at melting ice?' Advay's lips curled upwards with his wicked fantasies. 'Come on, mind! I don't want another battle with my body wants now!'
He pulled his thoughts back to Miku. Chandni was right! Miku was proceeding on his life's first important mission. And further, he would be the foremost warrior in the battle of their life. Yes! He wanted to wish his younger brother the very best luck in person. And also alert him to his role in the warfare game of attrition.
Bless Chandni for reminding him of that! But, Wait! She doesn't know anything about this. Has she come just for Miku's sake? She could have just called. For a moment, Advay's mind was befuddled with different reasons flowing through his mind. Is there something deeper? Maybe physical, like the way he was feeling at the moment? The thought strengthened his wicked ideas from a moment before.
Clearly gauging his thoughts, Chandni took a large step back as he prowled towards her, hungry desire formulating his next actions in his eyes.
"Let us leave, please! We agreed on having all our discussions in the privacy of our bedroom walls."
So there was something else apart from Miku's departure that brought her here. He would have pried on possible reasons with her otherwise; but the steely resolve in her eyes brooked no confrontation at the moment. Advay quietly followed Chandni out, instructing Sonia on his way to postpone further meetings or telecons which were not too pressing at the moment.
Mohan kaka stood out near the driver's seat, respectfully holding the key as Advay preferred driving himself when Chandni was with him.
"Kaka, you drive please. We will sit behind."
Chandni softly requested the driver as Advay extended his hand for the key. He gave her a questioning look but then restrained himself with the angry glare coming back at him.
'Ok! Looks like 'no argument tolerated' day for me!' Mentally, Advay raised his white flag for the time being till her reasons were known.
They sat quietly in the backseat with Chandni resolutely looking out from the window prohibiting any casual talk between them. Fine! He would deal with it, when she came out with her reasons.
His mind inadvertently got pulled into the earlier call with his friend. Some how, he had sounded like he had lost a soul mate. Whom could it be? Surely, he means about me...I lost contact with him interim. If there had been a woman in his life, I would have surely known about it. Couldn't be! But when I meet him, I need to check why his heart is so forlorn.
Anyways, first thing to do after meeting him is to connect with those key people. Advay had complete trust that his friend would help him in his mission in every possible way. Together they would wipe out the opponents. He had been biding away time till now; but now having found the increased strength with his friend joining him, Advay was encouraged to formulate and expedite his next action plan.
Perhaps because Advay was so engrossed in his thoughts, he did not sense Chandni angrily rubbing at her eyes with the back of her palm. The mental horror image of him collapsing in the middle of the road had brought back all the memories of her last witnessed collapse.
The fear congealed in her heart making her resolve to take him for a checkup before they went abroad. Once in an unknown foreign country with foreign languages, all controls would be taken away from her.
'Maybe today itself, after Miku leaves. I'll just tell Naani and Pooja that two of us are going for some outing and take him to hospital.'
There was a tense silence between the two as they stepped down from the car; each one resolutely and fervently planning their own next actions in their own individual minds.
Advay made a quick call to office ensuring that things were all going alright after his leaving. He gave quick instruction for the progress reports and meeting outcomes to be mailed to him. He expected himself to be back in office very soon, of course, but still!
Miku was sprawled lazily over the sofa chewing an apple, relaxing as if the entire universe was at complete peace. Advay was surprised seeing him lazing like that as he entered down the steps in his usual quick stride.
"Miku? You have to leave, right? All your preparations done?" Advay was anxious as he rapid fired his queries at Miku.
"When Bhabhi is there, I don't have to worry about anything." Miku answered patiently rising from his position.
Advay gave Chandni an appreciating look but she chose to ignore it and proceeded to pooja room. Advay took the chance to give his final instructions to Miku putting an arm around him in a comforting squeeze.
"Miku, my brother, I have complete trust in you. Yet, remember that we both carry the great legacy from our father. As you had first suggested, restoring their fame again in people's minds is one approach in our mission. Every step, every word of yours tomorrow will make a difference in that direction. You are going to be the acting Mahant there and this will be your first introduction to people there. Win their hearts elaborating all main points from your consolidated report of progress done till now."
He brought his voice lower to almost a whisper, "PP will be present at the helipad to join you. Remember what I told you about him. After the temple meeting, I will apprise you of our next steps. Remember! In spite of whatever we say or do regarding peace and prosperity in the village; we are at war with persons who have wronged our father. The foremost art of war for you to imbibe, as the first warrior in our battle, is to calm your own mind into focus and discern the inner minds of others."
Miku suddenly remembered the moment when he and Bhai had together pulled the Shiva idol in place. That had been a mammoth task completed successfully and this now would be another.
Advay concluded his conspiracy talk as he saw Chandni coming with Pooja thaal to do Miku's tila; Naani, Pooja and maasi close in step behind her. Both brothers stood up smiling at the loving family.
"Where's Pooja?" Advay immediately noticed her absence.
"Bhai, she's gone to college. She has some important assignment going on."
Miku's smile was extra wide as if he was covering something against his brother's query. Advay sensed it immediately; but chose not to speak any further on the topic as of now.
"After all, my sister is a feisty tigress. She doesn't tame easily." Chandni shook her head smiling at Miku.
"That's true. But perhaps she needs to learn a little." Naani was serious as she spoke.
"Oh Naani! It doesn't matter. We are all there to say bye to Miku. Don't worry!" Pooja hugged Naani with a bright assuring smile.
Miku touched everybody's feet and they blessed him. Chandni lovingly did his tilak and blessed him wholeheartedly.
"May you always remain incapable of being over-mastered by foes! Vijayi Bhav!"
Miku smiled happily and touched her and Bhai's feet jointly as they stood together. For him, these two were the idols, his Ram-Seeta and he their Laxman.
Everybody dispersed after seeing him to the door.
"Ok Chandu. I left my office work and came. I shall go back to office now."
"No Dev. You are going to rest it out at home today. You had an attack today morning and collapsed on the road."
Advay immediately pulled her to a side shushing her.
"Shhh! Don't speak loudly. Someone might hear. Miku must have told you. Rogue that he is! I told him not to tell anybody."
"And you yourself chose not to tell me either." Angry tears sprung back again in Chandni's eyes.
Advay cupped her cheeks immediately wiping away gently her tears with his thumb, "No Chandu! It's not like that."
Now he knew the reason for all her anger in office and way back. Poor girl! She worries unnecessarily. He smiled in his heart.
"Look Chandu! It was just momentary, a fleeting pain, that's all. Nothing else had happened and I was not unconscious or anything. Miku must have exaggerated to you. I just sat down to rest a little. If there had been anything serious, I would have surely shared with you. But believe me, there's nothing!"
"Let the doctors decide that!" Chandni was firm in her decision.
"What will doctors do? I told you it was nothing." Advay's brows were knitted in alarm. He held her by her arms ready to lead this particular battle in his own way. "I know what cures me, what's my source of life blood."
Chandni was alarmed. Not that, she was not used to Advay's tactility. The man liked to touch her. All the time! She was absolutely alright with it as long as it was within the privacy of their bedroom.
And further, as such, Advay was not an overly affectionate person himself to make such public display. Yes! But he also was very much capable to not really ask her whether she wanted to be hauled into his arms every five seconds.
She knew he was using this to distract her and do things his way. Well! Both could play the game. And hadn't they done that always? If he could formulate action plan fast in his mind, so could she!
Advay and Chandni are so very like Shiva and Shakti. Both argue yet love each other beyond limits. Both are truly caught up in the vicissitudes of life as served to them by destiny. Once united they will conquer over destiny as well!
Shikha and Veer...each walking their own life path... how will things proceed now that Advay has sensed something amiss?
There's nothing actually about Advay's health that can remain hidden from Chandu. Now, the two are battling their own side, so who'll win? Will Advay go to office and resume work or will Chandni succeed in giving him the required rest and medical check up?
What might be happening in background in Allahabad as Advay is now in full action?
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