Hi Dear..Originally posted by: MANSHITA
Hi dear.
When you give us new update. Sunday was gone before two days but as per your promise update ?????????
I know I had promised. But there were few emergencies in family,hence had to delay.Updating it tomorrow.Stay tuned.
With love
Minu
Hello my dear friends-readers..
I am back with another update.Sorry for the unwanted delay.And thank you all for the responses and love.You all have been amazing supporters.🤗
This update is dedicated to Muskan (AMereWanderer) and Pooja (doublecross).They have been wonderful additions to my life and this is just a small gift for their birthdays.
Without much bak bak,here is the update.
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Part-37
Maine hothon se lagayi to
Hungama ho gaya
Hungaama…Ho gaya..
Pandit struggled as a tipsy Preeti bellowed the song at top of voice. Muttering sorry to the taxi driver he pulled her out ,fumbling and tumbling. “Jara sa jhum lun mein…Aa tujhe chum lun mein..” Preeti pulled Panditin imitation of Simran from DDLJ. “Preeti! Kya kar rahi ho? Arey yaar!Kahan phas gaya.” Pandit mumbled,thinking hard where to proceed now.Her quarters orhis quarters?
Holding her wrist in one hand, Pandit opened the key of his door.He held her as she mumbled away some more songs in slurred voice.He switched on the lights and looked at her face.Her hair was dripping wet.The water droplets from her hair dripped and percolated in the fabric of her shirt.Droplets of water travelled down from her nape to collar,moving further south..Pandit averted his gaze. “Waise mat dekh usse Ponga..Wo teri Bhabhi ki behen hai.Kuch to maryada rakh.” His mind voice blared from within. “Maryada!” From when did he use such heavy rhetoric language? Perk of sitting with Hindi Dramatic Society students on weekends.
Preeti stirred in his arms, pulling him to reality.Her shirt correction his shirt which she was wearing now was also sodden due to the droplets dripping from her hair.He made her sit on the chair and rushed inside. Picking a towel and quickly stirring a cup of hot instant coffee,he reached near her.She looked at him and smiled.A bright true, amiable smile.He felt a satiated tenderness arouse inside him,seeing her smile in the moment instead of focusing of how far she has completed the plans on the planner.
He returned her a smile and tried drying her hair with the towel. “Tum bahut cute ho..” Preeti uttered,flashing her brightening smile,like a sunlight glistening on dew drops.“Yeh coffee pi lo. Bed pe naya bedsheet daal diya hai.So jana.” Pandit said as he decided to go out to make his mind clear.So much has happened since the evening.As he tried going out,he felt a pull. “Yeh haath humko dede PT.” Great!She has successfully gone from DDLJ to Sholay now.He freed his hand from her clutch and cupped her face. “Preeti Devi!Yeh haath ab de diya to kal hosh ane ke baad zinda na bachunga.”After much battle between mind and heart,he picked her up and laid on the bed.She protested and mumbled something incoherently. He adjusted the pillow and switched off the bed side lamp. “So jao”,he said and quickly moved out of the room.
In the dark expanse of night,he tried shedding light on pestering thoughts of his mind.At first,several years ago,she was only his class fellow,though of a different section.She had been a fierce protector and fighter for her sister whom the world had wronged,the world that included him.He had last seen her carry messages to some boy on some girl’s behalf.That was last he had caught sight of her until the fateful meeting in FTII campus.Why has she suddenly felt much more than a class mate from yester years and just a colleague sharing same hometown? Much to his amaze,he remembered how shehad teared up on her sister’s plight,how she had given a cold shoulder to his apologies and how after years she had hugged him infront of entire college fraternity.What has happened in these years which has taken away that inherent chirpiness of her and has pushed her into a world of distrust and irritability?
Pandit returned to his bedroom only to realise Preeti occupying the bed.Her face half-dented into the pillow.The laughter lines appearing around her closed eyes. He chose to sleep on the sofa in the dining.In the middle of midnight hour,Pandit woke up to sound of steel clang to the floor.As he woke from a deep sleep,trying to make sense of the source of sound,he heard a loud thud.Fearing the extreme he rushed to the bedroom.His fears were accurately true.Preeti had fallen off the bed.Adding to it,she was still not conscious.The steel glass still rolled on the floor. “Preeti! Jaag jao.Yahin zameen pe sona hai kya raat bhar?” Pandit shook her and in flick of moment,she grabbed his t-shirt. “Umm!Naina! Dekh na koun pareshan kar raha hai.Abhi Shahrukh ke saath kiss ho jata.Pahad se gir hi rahe the hum..”
“Pahad se nahin bed se gir gayi ho.Utho ab.” Pandit picked her up seeing her no way conscious to make sense about herself.Her lavender scent filling his senses along with her alcohol breath.He made her lie down and not wanting to to see her fall down down again ,he decided to sleep by her side.She was vulnerable and he had to be a good friend for night,for the little trust she entrusted him with.
A ray of warm sunlight crept through the window panes of the quarter.The rays flooded the room with light ,taking into focus the bed in middle of the room.Pandit took in the shooting rays of Sunday morning sun and tossed on bed for a better angle.
“PANDIT!PAAAN..DIT!” Pandit woke up to the constant call of his name from the dining of his humble quarter. He closed his ears hoping that the one shouting at top of voice would stop,eventually feeling tired.“Pandit!Main yahan kaise aayi? Kab aayi?” Pandit rubbed and opened his eyes to see three things…The fading red colours of morning cloud, the wall clock ticking to strike 8 A.M and an angry Preeti ready to sue him. “Kaise aayi matlab? Chalke aayi nahin dagmagake aayi meri saath.Talli thi kal raat na.”Pandit said before returning to complete his sweet slumber of Sunday.
Few moments later,he felt his blanket pulled away and cool sprinkles of water covering his face.He would have mistaken it for some romantic sequence of rain going in his dream,if the water droplets had not been accompanied by another round of bellowing his name by Preeti.
“Kya hua?Tumhari dikhat kya hai? Uth gayi na? Extra brush basin stand pe hai,bathroom idhar left ki kone main hai aur dudh fridge mein.Sab kaam khatam karlo and chai pike so jao ya ghar jao.Ab mujhe sone do.”Pandit mumbled in half sleep and yawned before preparing for second round of sleep.
“Pandit! Uth jao ab.Warna ab mein garam paani daal dungi.Mere kapde kahan hain?” Preeti shook him and finally Pandit decided to let go off his sleep.There was lot of explaining to do and he knew it. Stifling a yawn he asked her to let him complete the chores and till then she can complete her chores too.Preeti though was finding it extremely odd to be draped in his shirt ,yet she could not deny the feeling of companionship in the air around her. She had been shocked to wake up on a bed other than her,and more surprised to see him sleeping by her.She could not waver away the scene of him putting an arm around her and she adored for a flick of second how he held onto her.However the faint remembrance of previous night burst her happy,being at home feeling. Damn! What was she doing on his bed while she last remembered arguing with him in the hotel.
Pandit came out of his shower like casual routine. His eyesfell on Preeti,her hair open and messed in tangles.Her hands moving around collecting stuffs from kitchen cabinets to cook up something.Her eyes moving around in search and confusion.Her fingers pressed against her temple.Perhaps to keep away the nagging headache. In years after the boring college campus,suddenly his own little quarter seemed the most happening place.
“Ab batao,kal raat kya hua tha?” Preeti asked as she served bread-butter and cups of tea on the breakfast table.Pandit took a sip and inched towards her. “Tumhein sach mein yaad nahin kal raat kya hua tha?” Preeti heard the words, a sharp tingle of fear and anxiety running down her veins. She didn’t exactly remember what had transpired after they fought over Samar.“Pandit! Mujhe pata hai koi filmy galti nahin hui hai.Par mujhe jan na hai kya hua hai.Main kaise aayi aur tum ..tum mere pass kyun so gaye the?” Preetiscowled, with a conviction in tone to learn it all. “Acha Preeti Devi!Batatahun.Lagta hai billi thi pichle janam mein.Baat baat pe nochne ,taiyar rehti hai” Pandit mumbled as he started.
Flashback
“Preeti! Aaj sham ko free ho?” Pandit asked as they wrapped up for the day.Preeti pulled out her daily planner.Quickly scanning she nodded.“Free to hun.Kyun?Kuch aur kaam tha?” Pandit fidgeted for a while,impatience getting better of Preeti. “Batao bhi.Kya baat hai?” Pandit stammered as hebegan, “Wo..Wo Ahmedabad se ek dost hai.Uska ek naya hotel bana hai ShivajiNagar mein.Uska invitation hai.Tum chalogi mere saath?” He asked and looked at her in apprehension. “Bas itni si baat? Invitation bekar kyun jaane dein? Kitne baje aana hai?” Preeti asked and Pandit visibly relaxed. “ Umm..7.30 baje.Tum pakka aaogi na?” He asked and Preeti walked out giving an assuring nod.
In the dulled light of hotel, which created an ambience of utter sophistication Pandit awaited for Preeti. 7.55 PM already on wall clock yet there was no sign of her.The waiter had returned placing two starter drinks.He could not muster the courage to ask for further orders seeing the red flash of anger and betrayal on Pandit’s face;that was impossible to miss.
Ending the wait of one and half an hour ,Preeti rushed inside the hotel room.Her eyes quickly moved around tables only to find Pandit sitting at a farthest corner ,his head propped in his palms. “Sorry!Wo tho dalate ho gaya.Samar achanak bimar pad gaya.Hospital leke jana pada.Isliye..” Herwords remained incomplete as Pandit’s words interrupted. “Wo bimar tha to uske gharwale use le jaate.Tum hi kyun? Tum mana kar deti.” Preeti looked at him.She was right.He always had been a cold,heartless fellow.Only caring about his own needs and aspirations.
“Tum mein dil hai? Mujhe nahin lagta.Wo bechara bol nahin paata,infection se kitna tez bukhar hai usse,aur tumhein yeh hotel ki fancy invitation ki padi hai?” Preeti frowned,expressing a sharp disapproval. “Ek minute.Agar tumhara boyfriend ko itna hi tumhari zaroorat thi to ek call karlete.Dusron ki time barbad karne ka koi haq nahin hai tumhein.” Pandit counter alleged.Preeti looked at him in confusion.
Boyfriend? Who?
“Mujhe samajh mein nahin aa raha tumhein kis chiz se problem hai.Late aayi hun manti hun lekin tum baat ki batangad kyun bana rahe ho? Aur yeh boyfriend koun hai mera jo mujhe nahin pata ?” Preeti demanded a firm answer.Why was he even over reacting?Her throat felt parched.Quickly grabbing the bottle placed on table she took sips.It was sweet and nutty flavoured drink.The drink no doubt brought a lull of calmness inside her.
“Samar hi hai na boyfriend.Arey usike saath raat kaat leti.Bechara bimar tha na.Yahan aane ka kasht kyun uthayi?” Pandit ended with a mocking tone. Preeti could not decide if she should laugh at this elephant sized misunderstanding or she should slap him for being this impulsive and quick to pass judgement since school times.And was he jealous at mention of Samar? Why was it even affecting him that she chose someone else above his invitation.
“Tumhein jalan hai Samar se? Kyun?” Preeti crossed her arms and asked.Pandit looked at her in quite a surprise.Minutes before she was going all fiery and suddenly her demeanour was as cool as ice.He remembered seeing her emptying the bottle of sherry.She had not realized it to be wine and had mistaken it for sweet fruit juice.The wine surely was showing its aftereffects,Pandit thought. “Batao na kyun jalan hai? Mujhse pyar karte ho ?Nahin dekh sakte mujhe kisi aur ke saath?” That was direct like a shot arrow from the quiver.The question felt like those questions he felt came out of syllabus.He was unprepared with counter answers.And he failed badly at fibbing.“Preeti!Mujhe fikr hai tumhari. Samar se mujhe koi problem nahin.Lekin tum meri colleague aur dost bhi to ho.Toh dosti ki naate..” Pandit halted seeing Preeti break into fits of laughter.Why was she laughing?Was it the drink or his plight.Her hysteric laughs proved that the Sherry served was indeed of great quality.
“Samar mera boyfriend nahin meri dost ki pet dog hai.”Preeti revealed giggling at the mammoth misunderstanding Pandit had developed.“KYA? Samar ek kutta ka naam hai? Matlab ek kutta ka naam Samar hai?” Pandit asked raising his eyebrows.From all names for dogs in world,the owners found this name for the dog and confuse him big time. “Ek sawal hazar tarike se puchne se jawab badal nahin jaayenge.Ab agar tumhari confusion aur allegation khatam ho gayi ho to khana khaye?” Preeti asked as she occupied the chair,tired of all rushing hither-thither. Pandit felt a soothe to his heartburn as the information sunk in.He quickly summoned the waiter for orders.
The waiter took the orders and was about to leave when Preeti’s call stopped him. “Excuse me!Wo kuch time pehle jo drink serve kithi,get me one more bottle.Thanks.” Pandit looked at her in surprise.One more bottle? Was she sad?Was she depressed? Why on the earth did she want to get drunk?Already she has finished more than half of the previous bottle.“Preeti!Wo fruit drink nahin Spanish Wine hai.Nasha ho jayega.Order cancel kardo.” Preeti looked up from the menu card, and gingerly put the menu card on table. “Kyun cancel kar dun? Main pay karungi.Aur mujhe jo acha laga wo main orderkarungi.Wine ho ya zeher;tumhein kyun fark pad raha hai ?” She asked cockingher eyebrows.He wanted to ask the questions brewing in his mind,wanted to shut her up from talking nonsense yet he could not.He didn’t know answers to her questions.May be he didn’t want to acknowledge what the answers were.
Filling her stomach not with food but with the wine,Preetidipped her head and rested on the table. “Preeti!Bill pay kar liya maine.Ghar chalte hein.” Pandit said as he came from the counter paying the bill. “Mujhe nahin.. janaa.Tum jao.” Her voice croaked. “Mana kar raha tha na itna matpio.Chad gayi na.Utho ab.” Pandit fretted before pulling her out. “Mujhe yeh shor pasand hai…Nahin rehna mujhe akele..Ek aur bottle..” Her tongue slurred.“Bilkul nahin.Chalo ab.”Pandit held her hand in tight grip and escorted her out of the dining area.
“Preeti!Yahin ruko.Main thoda bathroom se ata hun.Baith jao yahan.” Pandit made Preeti sit on a chair, and asked a waiter to keep an eye on her. Pandit came out few minutes later only to see Preeti dancing joining a group of young girls.Breaking into hysterical giggles,it felt she won’t stop.He wanted to catch her,scoop her off the feet and carry her to the quarters.But he didn’t have the heart seeing her dancing,laughing to her heart’s content.He decided to wait for her and called his taxi driver.
SPLASH!
Pandit looked at the direction and was shocked.Preeti has jumped into the pool. This girl has seriously lost her brains.He regretted letting her empty the wine bottles.He rushed and reached near the pool.“Preeti!Bahar aao.” Pandit said in a stern voice. “Nahin.Tum andar aao.Kitna mazaa aa raha hai.” Preeti held his hand and tried bringing him inside the pool.Pandit resisted her pull and instead pulled her out.He held her in a tight captive, as she was soaking wet.Her Prussian blue dress turned a darker shade with the soaking water of pool.He guided her with a slow pace to a private corner,all the while she was smiling as if she had no regard that she was dripping wet. He summoned a waiter, asked for a towel and a lady assistant to come over there. The towel soaked some of the droplets as Pandit rubbed and tied her black locks,that sometime before sat wet on her bare white shoulders.He noticed how slender and graceful she was.
Inside him,something surged twisting like a knot,pummeling his heart,to save her from every prying eyes,every downpour of problems and every cubicle of loneliness.He saw a girl of their age appear in uniform, wholater introduced her as the receptionist. “Sir!Madam ke koi spare kapde nahin hai? Kapda bilkul gila ho gaya hai.Thand lag jaayegi unhein.” That was a double trouble.He had to think quick and immediate. “Ek kaam karo,mera shirt pehna do.” He unbuttoned his shirt quickly and passed on. “Sir!Lekin aap ghar kaise jayenge?Aise vest mein?” The receptionist asked and Pandit realised he was standing only in vest. “Umm..Main manage kar lunga.Aap please ..” The receptionist nodded understanding the implication and took Preeti insides.Quickly he called his taxi driver to get one spare T shirt for him. The matter seemed to be in control for the time being.
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Sameer served a quick breakfast of bread and jam along with cups of hot tea.Avik had quickly arranged the supplies. Naina was still asleep and he didn’t have the heart to wake her up.He watched her stretch out on the bed,a tranquil set on her face,her black hair spread over the pillow,her thin hands and feet in state of quietude.She looked so beautiful when she was asleep. Sameer wished to never let the conspiracies of the world disturb the tranquil innocence of hers.
As he watched,he felt a tightening knot around his heart.A sudden panic that he might lose her.Everyone everything he had loved dearly had been snatched away from him.Though there was no logic,yet he could not keep away the coincidences in past.By the time he could realise,the thing would have gone on lost trail. From the Tawain Imported Flomo pencil box to smelly rubbers in school,from the seat of Dean of Music Institute to Naina and Nisha;his universe has always been in target .He could not save the pencil box and rubbers from getting stolen,and he very well knew the Dean seat might not last long due to internal staff politics but he can’t lose Naina and Nisha.The last thing he wanted to fail was as a husband and father.
“Mujhe jagaya nahin?” Naina asked,as she opened her eyes to see the breakfast neatly laid on table.Her eyes quickly found Sameer lost in deep thoughts.His eyes closed and forehead wrinkled with clear lines of worry.Sameer opened her eyes and before anything,they stole a kiss.Their love was the only strength that could obliterate the hate of world.
Sameer nibbled the sandwich while Naina polished them soon.Sameer looked at her with a lopsided smile. “Kya?Bhukh bahut thi.” Naina said in justification as she inched for the tea cup.She knew she looked like a ravenous animal,finishing 3 sets of sandwich. “Ab bhukh mit gayi?” Sameerasked,gobbling the sandwich. She understood the mischief in his tone.She decided to play along. “Shayad” She teased and soon he pulled her to him. He put his hand to her cheek and kissed her closed eyes.He gently took her face in his hands and touched her lips with his;eager to steal a kiss in the solitude of quarters.Intoxicated, as their lips fumbled ; the ringtone of Sameer’s mobile resonated loud in the room.
Sameer grumbled and yet grabbed to see Munna’s numberflashing. Sameer moved away to answer the call while Naina made the bed neat before deciding to take the shower. “Bhai! Blue Door Café, Khan Market.10.30baje mil. Bhabhi ko saath le ana.” Munna hung up real quick and Sameer knew it was something damn serious.
Naina wanted to spend some more time in the quarters.She wanted to sit on the wet grass in the garden.The rain had left everything wet,fresh and coloured.Just like their lives.The sky looked a darker shade of blue,the branches of the night jasmine tree seemed to have tilted,might be the effect of strong winds.The leaves no longer looked dry or colourless.Even the yellow senescing leaves of autumn had a glazing shine to them.The green leaves looked greener now.She wanted to delay her departure back to the palatialmansion.It seemed she had developed an unknown connection with the modest,cosy dwelling.Yet she could not succumb to her wishes.They had big decisions,bigger commitments to bow down to.
Sameer locked the front gate and soon they drove out into the unruly streets of Delhi.The street lights still glowed eerily in the morning. The streets saw jumble of cars,cyclists and pedestrians though being the early hour of Sunday morning.Newspaper vendors on bicycle tossing papers into people’s balconies and gates;while occasional milk vendors rushing through the traffic with cans dangling from handle bars.The Lodhi Gardens saw walkers doing their rounds,enveloping themselves in shawls as the morning had a chill to it.
Soon Naina,Munna and Sameer were seated around a table inthe neat and amiable ambience of the café.Munna had already ordered a light breakfast just for sake. Naina felt herself in a state of phobia seeing the piled files on table.Her experience with files have never been utterly pleasant.Sameer saw Naina staring at the files, with distrust and uncertainty .He took her hand and held it,held it tight,giving and seeking assurance.
Just then a man entered the café among several others, to whom Munna gave a recognizing nod.The man had a note book and a well identified Parker pen,clutched tightly in hands.He looked gentle,polite and slightly unsure. “Sameer!Yeh Piyush Goyal ji hein.Wo publication agency ki papers ke silsile mein inhi se baat kiya tha.Goyal ji!Yeh hai Sameer aur yeh Naina.Nisha inki beti hai.” Munna introduced and after a while of casual introduction they began to talk on the matter.Goyal talked how he was not interested at first inthe case dismissing it as a normal property case.But on Munna’s constant persuasion he looked into it to find the case different and intensely legally conflicting.
“Sameer ji! Maine suna ki aapki family ko threat bhi mil chuki hai.I want to ask kya yeh aapki family member hein?” Goyal asked,opening his notebook for details. “Nahin.Family member tha” Naina said with a disgust etched on her face.Goyal looked a bit unsettled with the coldness in her tone.“Phir to main kahunga ki he is a fool.Itni litigations ki zameen ke liye threats? Main to use bhi advice dena chahunga ki yeh zameen na hi kharide.Scam hai yeh matter.” Everyone looked surprised. “Kaisa scam? Sharad Bhaiya ne saare debts clear kiye hein,aur tab bhi vakil consultation kiye the. Kayde se sabkuch perfect hona chahiye.” Naina almost protested. “Naina shaant ho jao.Pehle sun to lo.” Sameer said, asking her to be patient.
“Dekhiye Madam!Jitna maine iss case ko study kiya ,Nisha ki benefactor ke hisab se it would be wise to let go off the property.Pehle to yeh cultivation ki zameen hai aur ispe commercial business ke liye iski original land holder permission nahin li hai.Upar se Sharad Goswami ko transfer kiya hai.Sharad Goswami ne iski jaanch partal bina kiye agency khada kiye.Ab Sharad ji ne phir se kisi landowner ko hand over kiya hai.Aisa wo karna galat tha,main kahun to bade bholepan ka kaam kiya hai. Yeh zameen kisi ek landowner ka nahin hai records ke hisab se.Jo asli owner heiniss zameen ki; unki death ho chuki hai.Kisi dusre family member ne yeh forgery kiya hai. Aam logon ki bhasa mein bolun to yeh zameen agar government holdings ke andar aa gaya na aap ko police aur court kacheri ka chakkar lagana padega.Kyun faltu ke lafda mein padna.Koi ek kagaz sahi nahin hai.” Goyal clarified and Naina looked betrayed.Sharad had been conned by so many,she could not believe.More tragically,Nisha and her Nikita Didi were pulled into this mess.At the end of the day, for all the vicious plannings and scheming, a child of barely one year and few months was left parentless. How more cruel the destiny could get?
“Iska matlab yeh papers Sudip ko bhi nahin dena chahiye.Wo bhi phas jaayega.” Sameer asked as he filtered his thoughts. “Ab to yeh papers kisiko nahin dena chahiye. Lekin Sameer ji! Maine Manoj ji se jab kisse sune to mujhe laga ki ab do hi chiz sahi rahega.Pehla ki aap yeh property jaane dijiye Sudip Mitra ko.Jo ki pehle bhi main Manoj ji ko bataya tha aapko batane ke liye.Dusra yeh ki ab Sudip Mitra aur unke koi legal advisor ko iss case se dealkarne chod dijiye. Ab jo kuch hoga let him handle.Aap pe to koi aaphat na aayega.Apke well wisher ke hisab se mera to yahi kehna hai.Baaki aap soch lijiye.” Goyal urged and gathered all the files. Munna quickly ordered a drink for Goyal and him as Sameer and Naina shifted to a far away table to discuss.
“Ab to mujhe lagta hai yeh mamla yahin khatam kar lete hein.” Sameer voiced,a sense of final decision prominent in his tone.“Sameer!Hum kuch galat to nahin kar rahein?” Naina asked,suddenly fearful of the imaginary ills that can plague them.She never had a habit of thinking ill of others.It was a moral dilemma.While others have made a decision,she has to decide as a mother,sister of departed souls, a wife also as a morally correct human.
“Naina!Itna kya soch rahi ho? Jo bit gaya uske bare meinsochogi to aage nahin badh paogi.Sudip koi saga nahin humara.Mujhe nahin pata tumhari dil mein uske liye kyun humdardi hai,lekin mujhe bas itna pata hai ki agar meri Nisha hospital mein thi usi ke wajah se,agar Nisha kidnapped hoti to usike wajah se..Tum shayad acha bura dharm karm ke chalte compromise kar sakti ho,lekin main nahin.Usne mujhe chain se jeene na diya to main bhi use jeene na dunga.Baat khatam.” Sameer ended and Naina looked at him.That was the difference between them.He thought real quick of the conclusions. Did quick judgements about everything.While she contemplated enough long.She felt torn between several options.She cast a glance at Goyal and Munna.They were busy talking over something and yet were surely waiting for her final voice.The dying eyes of Nikita,the cries of Nisha,the burglary attempts,physical tortures,almost lifeless Nisha lying in hospital,the supposed kidnapping … what did she gain by being morally right? What did Sudip and Vikram lose by being morally corrupt? Her mind was finally made.
Sudip began his evening alone in abode. A hot shower,followed by an elaborate and celebratory supper of crab soup and French omelettes.The new cook from Goa was doing a fine job. Pork Vindaloo in dinner menu and the call from Naina had brought him a happy mood. The fine and warm dressing gown ,a glass of premium Scotch and an enveloping silence.He had much to ruminate over.
Years ago, he had met Sharad Goswami at ISBT,Delhi.A young,handsome ,tall guy with a cross dangling from neck with a pale looking girl of almost same age,asking desperately some address. Though he had not been a resident of Delhi,his student life had made him more than acquainted with the lanes and walls of Delhi.With the turn of events,they had ended up as acquaintances sharing common problem of house hunting. Several refuses and bargains finally came to an end when they were finally offered a singular flat.The rent seemed considerably high for one and hence they both decide to take the flat and partition into two.Though Nikita felt it odd to share the flat with an unknown bachelor; Sharad was already sick of refusals and depressed. Some landlords questioned,eyed and tried investigating their married life.No body would offer a flat to a run away couple.Some had problems with religion and many had issues of rent.Nikita was finally convinced and she didn’t want to trouble Sharad more.The sooner they settle,the sooner they can begin to join at respective jobs.
Sudip remembered how he met the couple only at tea time.Nikita called him for tea sometimes which later became a frequent affair.His freelancing writer’s life somewhat made it more easy to bond.The friendship seemed growing into deeper roots.There had been numerous evenings of them sitting in the balcony and sharing pakodas,tea and ideas.
He could never forget the days when they set up the ‘Two Eagles Publication Agency’. The publication agency aimed at giving freelancers and budding writers a chance. A dream venture it was. They struggled in beginning,yet stuck to the ambition of flying high like eagles.The wish to soar against the winds.While everything was getting stacked up right,he had to leave for New York. The two months internship programme was too valuable to be lost.
Smiles turned into frowns, friends seemed strangers as he returned from New York. He had felt cheated ,betrayed.Sharad had let go off publication to only settle for book selling.That was a knock to his dreams of making it big in publication world. He had hated Sharad from that moment.The hatred had turned into an inferno of revenge. Vikram had joined the firm as legal advisor and seemed a man of acute sense.He had devised ways of legally occupying whole of the agency only to realise that Sharad had willed 30% share in Nisha’s name.It had angered him,almost driving into a fury.He had tried to warn Sharad just with a hit.But the hit turned fatal as the drunk truck driver rammed over the friends he knew,the couple he loved as his own.He vividly remembered the loathful, accusing eyes of Naina at the funeral and following occasions.He had never wanted Sharad to be wiped out ,he just wanted him to be tamed.
The guilt and several ruminations over them had left him in a bitter taste.It was Vikram who showed him the positive consequences.It was he who made him realise it was not much his fault to dream big,to eliminate people who posed hurdles. The counselling which now was motto of his life.No doubt Two Eagles has flourished well yet that property never left him in peace.It was his also.And now in entirety.
Sameer’s call about possibilities of handing over him the property entirely felt like hoax.He knew Lekhika Naina Agarwal.The girl with git,determination and strength.She would not trade the property for anything in this world.Yet Naina too has finally succumbed.Why she has relented,he didn’t feel the need to know.He has finally won.
After a long time,Sudip got back onto the club circuit.He once enjoyed these clubs,these places that set the moods of young boys to make it high.Everything has to be labelled. Be it the Scotch of Gold Riband or Chivas Regal or wines of vintage French and Spanish.Be it Russian Vodka or English liqueours.Extra care was taken over preparing menus and waiters acted well civilised wearing uniforms and white gloves.He had chosen this place forgetting back the papers.Few years ago,the exact place where he had brooded overloss of all his dreams.
Sameer found assaulted by the ceaseless blowing of horns and the harsh glare of yellow lights and people yelling at each other in traffic.Each one wanted to rush early to find a closure or start a new. Naina seemed far from the madding crowd,concentrating upon her reminiscent of first encounter details with Sudip. Sameer rode through the jostled crowd and finally to the parking of the designated club house.It was going to end forever,finally.
“Aaiye Lekhika ji aur Sameer Maheshwari.Mujhe atyant khusi hui aapse milke.Waiter!” Sudip called the waiter and glanced at Naina.Naina looked up from the files and their eyes met.There was still that intense hate and also something else.Sudip could not name the emotion. “Eye-witness?” Sameer asked,keeping it all short and to the point.Sudip got up and walked to a table,and soon was accompanied by a middle aged rich looking man.The sophistications were profound. “He is Mr. Satish Khambata, entrepreneur and celebrity restaurateur.Aur aaj ki witness.Thik hai na Lekhika ji?” Sudip asked and Naina saw a shadow of doubtful eternity pass across his face.She could not assert if it was just the lights that suddenly changed angles or it was their dimensions.
Sameer hastened the process of signing ;for he saw the emotions of unease playing across Naina’s face. A lone tear escaped her eyes as Sudip took away the file,putting his signature on all those papers,she had guarded all these years.What was she safe guarding? Why was she even battling?A soft music flowed gently in the club, as the orchestra played a chamber music.The music did made her feel healed and Sameer soon escorted her out.
Inside the car,Naina sat as the reality of giving it all away sank inside her.She knew the reality yet it felt heavy to part away with. Sameer sat beside her.While he held her hand,he kept an eye on her.Tears welled up in Naina’s eyes.She put her head on his chest and started sobbing.Sameer let her cry for sometime.She needed to let it out all.Sometime later,he ran his fingers through her long hair and said very gently, “Naina!Bas.Chup ho jao.” He wiped away her tears and gently held her face. “Bhul jao yeh sab.Ab sab sahi hoga.”He assured her.Both took each other in a tight embrace, an assurance they both seeked.
Vikram rested himself in the grand hotel of Le Meridien.The waiter served him a bottle of Champagne and placed two wine glasses.He brought out some other platters,both of Italian and Indian variations. “We’ll help ourselves.” Vikram ordered.The waiter understood that the two guests wanted to be left alone for private meeting.
Vikram helped himself with a second glass of champagne and took out a white envelope.Quietly he pressed it to Raju’s hands. “Pocket mein rakh.Pure 30 hazar hein.”,Vikram stressed. “Bhau! Deal ki hisab se to 50 ki baat hui thi.” Raju protested though. “Yeh abhi ke liye rakh.Baaki kaam ke baad.”, Vikram replied,adding “Headlines bata.”
“Deal ban gaya unka.Sudip Bhau ke pass saare kagaz aagaye.Aai shapath! Khabar pakki hai.” Raju swore.Vikram went from pleasant looking to crudely annoyed.He emptied the glass and made his mind.Instead of falling dead and accepting the destiny,he believed more in creating his own destiny.He would plunder the three lives,that signed the deal.There is no more letting go,no more forgiving and only pure bloodshed.His silence was mistaken as weakness while it was beginning of his revenge.
(To be continued)
P.S.: Thank you for reading.Would love to read all your comments.😳
You have taken really great efforts to maintain the perfect storyline....Keep it up..Good Work❤
Res...
Unres!!😃
Minu di,you present the twists and turns with such ease!!! Applause to you!!👏🤗
Firstly,the preedit... their scene sooths the mind !!! The talli preeti and gentleman pandit, aha I love..!! And that misunderstanding with that SAMAR...😆!!
Wo paper hand over ho gaya to maine socha ab problem thoda kam ho gayi!! Lekin ye vikram to...😕😡, he is the real villain! Samaina will surely overcome from it, by hook or crook,for them,for nisha!! Update again ends in such cliffhanger... eagerly waiting for the next one...!!
For this update,a big hug to you,di🤗!!
With love,Suparna
Pandit bechara! Preedit moments were hilarious yet romantic😳New twist! Wondering what will happen next. Sudip will leave nisha?! And vikram must be thinking of new plan. Samaina moments were really cute.
Hey minu
Fab update....waited for sooo long finally awesome chapter....
Loved preeti and pandit scenes DDLJ ki simran yaad agayi...and finally naina ne property sudip ko dedi i hope ye sam ka sahi decision ho.... but end me tumne phir se vikram ka revenge lene ka dhikha kar mujhe daara diya....hope sam will protect his family....
Plz update next part ASAP
Love
Khushi
It was such a good update.👍🏼 Really vikram is such a villain 😠😠
Yaar ek villain kam hota hai to dusra aa jaata hai . Pata nahi ab yeh kya karega. Just hope that Sameer aur Naina ka decision sahi ho . 😥😥
Update soon di and thanks for the pm 🤗🤗🤗
Yours Laalchi reader😃
Kristy ❤️
Very nice and good story. Interesting update.
Lovely update dear ur making the story more n more interesting eagerly waiting for next update .one of my favorite FF thanku so much dear
Srilatha
Wow..... Loved the update as usual beautiful update... Preeti aur pandit ... 😘😘 Such a cute couple...
Finally aisa lga ki sab thik ho gya... Lekin uss vikram ne firse gadbd krdi...
Waiting for next
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