Chapter 7: The 8-Year-Anger
Rishabh sat in the perfectly mowed lawn with his two beautiful daughters. Kolkata was generally hot this time of the year but today there was a cool breeze. The winds had changed direction he felt. He looked at the smile pasted on the lips of both his daughters. He couldn't help but smile too. He suddenly wished Prerna would be here too, it would be complete. But he controlled himself and decided to focus on his two daughters today.
Sneha read through the menu happily. Kukki looked at Rishabh. She couldn't remember the last time she had gone out for a meal with her father. This change was only possible because of one person, Prerna. She wished she could convince Rishabh to forgive Prerna but she couldn't say anything with Sneha in front.
Rishabh didn't know what to say. Prerna was usually the one who did the talking in the family. He was generally the observer. He wondered what to say when Sneha kept the menu down and said, "Mujhe alfredo pasta khana hai," with a big grin.
"Toh aapko cheese pasand hai?" Rishabh asked.
"Haan papa! Cheese pasta meri favourite hai!"
"Kukki ko bhi cheese pasta pasand hai na?" he asked looking at her.
Kukki nodded. "Aapko yaad hai?"
Rishabh smiled slowly. They placed their order.
"Acha mujhe aap dono se kuch baat karni hai." Rishabh said.
Both of them looked at Rishabh with their full attention.
"Main parso kuch dino ke liye London ja raha hu. Aap dono mujhse promise kariye ki mere wapas aane tak aap dono apna aur mumma ka khayal rakhenge?" He said extending both his hands towards his daughters.
"Par ku papa, aapko ku jana hoga?" Sneha asked.
"Haan dad! Abhi jana zaruri hai?" Kukki said grumpily. She wanted to make things right between Rishabh and Prerna and him leaving suddenly would not give her any time to do it.
Rishabh nodded. "Kaam zaruri hai," he stated not giving any other explanation. "Chalo, promise me." He said still holding his hands out in front of the two. Both Sneha and Kukki nodded and placed their hands on his hands. "Great!" he said.
"Aur ab aap dono bata sakti hai ki London se kya chahiye aapko?" Rishabh said ready to take note of their demands.
Kukki suddenly had a huge smile. "Bicester Village se Gucci Tote, Prada Sunglasses, Louis Vuitton ki belt and--"Kukki!" Rishabh stopped. "Itna time nahi milega mujhe." he said.
"Dad!" She retorted, "Bas kuch ghante lagenge. Pleasee, main aapko saare product codes bhej dungi jo mujhe chahiye. Yaha Kolkata mein nahi milta warna I would have bought them here. One day please!" She requested.
Rishabh rolled her eyes. Why did he even ask? He should have just kept quiet. "Fine." he sighed.
"So belt ho gaya, and MK ke shoes. And ek Burberry ki jacket. Bas." she said.
"Bas?" Rishabh asked sarcastically.
Kukki narrowed her eyes. "Come on dad! 4-5 chize hi toh bol rahi hu."
"Okay okay, aur Sneha aapko kya kya chahiye?" he asked.
"Ek teddy bear." She said cutely. Sneha didn't know or need any of the things Kukki said.
Rishabh grinned. "Aapke liye sabse bada wala teddy bear launga pakka!" he said and then turned to Kukki next and added, "Dekho Sneha ko, sikho usse kuch."
Kukki laughed, "Just wait dad, let her grow up, mujhse zyada demanding hogi yeh! Mr. Rishabh Bajaj ko office chodke lunch pe le aayi. Iske demands mujhse zyada definitely honge. Haina Sneha?" she said taunting Rishabh playfully. She lifted her hand for a hi-5 and Sneha happily gave her a 5. They both laughed. Rishabh, who was just realizing that Kukki might actually make sense, gave a helpless look to both his daughters. "Sneha! Mujhe toh laga tha aap Papa ke team mein ho!" Rishabh said playfully looking sad.
"Aww Dad!" Kukki said before Sneha could say anything, "Sneha bhi apni kukki didi ki hi side legi."
"Nahi," Sneha said, “Main papa ki team mein hoon!" holding her tiny hand up for a hi-5. Rishabh smiled and gave her a 5.
"Now I miss Prerna!" Kukki said grumpily folding her hands on her chest.
"Oh haan!" Sneha said, "Hum mumma ko bulana bhul gaye."
Rishabh cleared his throat. He was about to make an excuse when the waiter got their food. Sneha's eyes lit up. And Kukki was glad that the conversation ended. She had noticed Rishabh stiffen at the mention of Prerna's name.
"Thank you dad!" Kukki said at the end of their meal, "For getting us out!"
"Thank you papa!" Sneha added.
"You're most welcome my bachas." Rishabh smiled. "Anything for you guys." he added.
***
Anurag couldn't get over Mr. Bajaj's words. They were really bothering him. He couldn't imagine his daughter growing up without knowing him nor could he imagine her believing that he could ever try to kill his mother or try to harm her. He despised himself. Why is this happening with me? he asked himself. All these years I've spent suffocated in my own life, without love, without interest, just for my family & Prerna. And today I feel like I want to break free for Sneha. I have a daughter, a part of me, and I can't even tell her I'm her father? What life is this? He cursed. He wondered whether he made the right decisions all those years back. He recalled everything and replayed all the scenarios in his head. If he would have let Komolika do whatever she wanted could he have saved Prerna from arrest? He could never be sure whether he could. He could never visualize whether he would have been able to protect her or not and just that reason was enough to make him sure that what he did all those years back was right. But today he would do anything to save his daughter from the wicked Komolika. He promised that he would protect Sneha. He has to. I can't live like this anymore. We have to figure out a solution. Komolika will never let Sneha live in peace. The fact that she knows that Sneha is with Prerna is enough for her to try and harm them both. I need to protect them. And this time I'm going to end this chapter of Komolika for good. Maybe I faltered last time and gave up Prerna to save her but I can't let Komolika harm Sneha. Never.
Anurag was losing his mind. Finding out that Sneha was actually his daughter had triggered so many emotions within him that now he felt all the insecurities of a father who would do anything to save his daughter's life. Prerna would understand why I had to do what I did. She would forgive me. She is my Prerna. She will have to understand. Woh khud bhi meri jagah reh chuki hai. She did marry Mr. Bajaj the first time for me. She gave me up for my good and I forgave her. Ofourse she will understand why I did all this. She will forgive me. He told himself.
He requested the receptionist to meet Prerna. When the receptionist said that Prerna was busy in an important meeting Anurag made her call Prerna again and said that it was about her daughter's life. Prerna immediately asked to send Anurag in. He took a deep breath before entering her cabin. He had a lot of explaining to do.
Prerna sat in her cabin sitting in her chair as cold as ice. Anurag almost couldn't recognise the person she had become. He wished he would have taken steps sooner to protect his whole family. He wished he knew back then what Komolika had planned for his daughter. She had tricked him and he had lost not only Prerna but his daughter as well and his daughter had lost both her parents. It was all his fault. He cursed himself.
"Good afternoon Mr. Basu." Prerna said coldly. "Kya main jaan sakti hu ki esi kya baat hai jiske liye you couldn't wait?"
"Prerna--"Mrs. Bajaj." She corrected him.
"I know I've hurt you in the past and you hate me. But this isn't about us. I'm worried Komolika is going to try and harm Sneha." he said still unable to call her Mrs. Bajaj. How could he? He still loved her so much.
Prerna's eyes widened. "Ku? Kya chahti hai woh mujhse? You two are happy in your life, why can't she just leave my child alone!" Prerna said irritated. "If this is about the business rivalry between us, toh maine decide kar liya hai, mujhe nahi chahiye woh land, mujhe nahi chahiye 6% shares. I don't want anything to do with you or your family. I'm ready to give her all that and never bother her again. Bas, uske badle mein, please mujhse aur meri family se dur raho!" she was trying to make her intentions clear.
She was already upset about Mr. Bajaj not talking to her and on top of that Komolika was trying to harm Sneha? She didn't want revenge she just wanted peace now. She knew that the fact that Anurag would be away from his daughter all his life would be revenge enough for her. Now that he knows she is his daughter it would kill him to not even be able to come near her and once they were in London, they could all be happy, like a family.
"Mujhe nahi lagta ki Komolika yeh sab se maanegi." Anurag said tensed. He was lost in his own worries.
Prerna looked confused. Didn't Anurag love Komolika? Why was he saying these things to her suddenly? What were these two playing at. "I know tum confused ho. But I can explain." he said reading her expressions.
Anurag started from the beginning and explained how Komolika had a video of Prerna, how she manipulated him to push Prerna out, how he had no idea where Sneha was, everything to the last detail he told Prerna. Prerna sat there shocked to her core listening to his words. Tears flowed down Anurag's eyes as he admitted how horrible his life had been since then, how he had to tolerate all of Komolika's shenanigans and watch her berate his family. Prerna listened, unmoved, unstirred. Her tears were all over after last night's conversation with Mr. Bajaj but this had hit hard. She could not believe what he was saying. Her jaw dropped.
Anurag wiped his tears and looked at her with hope. "I hope tum samajh sakogi ki yeh sab maine ku kiya. We have to protect our daughter. Sneha ko main kuch nahi hone dunga, I promise. I have always only loved you. Mera dil sirf ek insaan ke liye dhadakta hai aur woh ho tum. Tum jaanti nahi ki--"Bas." Prerna said stopping him.
She needed time to process everything. She had heard enough. One thing which she could see clearly, which she had never seen in all the years she had known Anurag was so clear now, and she wasn't afraid to say it.
"Aaj jo bhi tumne sab kaha, usse ek baat saaf ho gayi" She said in a calm but emotional voice. He knew she was hurting. He could see it in her eyes. He wanted to take her in his arms. How he craved that feeling of her being in his arms. He missed it so much. "Tum ek kamzor insaan ho Anurag Basu." She said through her gritted teeth. Fury burning in her eyes.
Anurag's eyes widened and he stared back at her in shock. How could she say such a thing?
"Tum 8 saal pehle bhi kamzor the. Tum aaj bhi kamzor ho aur aage bhi kamzor hi rahoge. Tum kya protect karoge meri beti ko! Yes, MERI beti hai woh. Don't you dare try and call her your own. Tumhe kya laga? Tum mujhe aakar yeh sab bataoge and main pighal jaungi? Mera pyaar jaag uthega?" She said anger oozing out of her every word. "How can you be so stupid?" She spat.
She couldn't believe that this was the Anurag she loved? This man who could so easily be manipulated. "Komolika ne tumhe dhamkaya and tum kuch ni kar paaye? Aur agar tum tab kuch nahi kar paaye toh ab kya karoge?" She questioned.
Anurag looked at her in shock. He had made such a big sacrifice for her and she called him weak? "I did everything for you, to protect you, and I would do whatever it takes to protect my daughter!" he said determined.
"You tried to kill me!" She exclaimed banging her hand on her table. "Chahe tumne divers bheje ho ya nahi. Arre tumhare bheje hue divers toh pahuche bhi nahi! Mr. Bajaj ne bachaya mujhe!" She shouted. Anurag was taken aback. "Kya?" he gasped.
"And yeh tha tumhara solution? To push me out of your life? Anurag Basu, you're a genius!" Prerna clapped sarcastically. "You just assumed ki main aake Sneha ko le gayi? Or did you believe Komolika when she said that? Which was it? Tum toh kamzor ke saath saath bewakoof bhi nikle!" She insulted him. "How do you live with yourself?"
He silently heard her words. Each word piercing his heart. Each word burning his insides. "Mere paas aur koi choice nahi thi." He pleaded in front of her for forgiveness. "I thought I was giving you a better life. I wanted to protect you." he said his eyes fixed on the floor. He couldn't believe that Prerna was being so brutal with him.
Prerna laughed. "You know what is funny? Abtak I was thinking ki Anurag ne jo kiya paiso ke liye kiya. Komolika ke liye kiya. Mujhe laga main stupid thi, main kamzor thi ki maine usse apna sabkuch mana. Mujhe laga tum smart the ki itni safai se mujhe apne life se hata diya but but but.." she said gritting her teeth again. "Yaha toh kuch aur hi chal raha tha. You're such a fool. Tumne meri life destroy karke mujhe protect karne ki koshish ki?" She was going mad listening to this. She got up from her chair and walked up beside him. "It's like someone ripping your heart out and then, in consolation, putting you on a ventilator and saying - I am trying to save you." She laughed in his face.
"Prerna!" Anurag said unable to listen to her hurtful words anymore, "Stop it! Humme kuch bhi karke Sneha ko bachana hoga! Yeh sab bakwas uske baad sunn lunga main" He said getting up and raising his voice.
"Tum kya bachaoge usse?" Prerna still mocked him. "Acha, batao mujhe, kya karoge?" She said sarcastically leaning on the table next to him. "What's your plan?"
Anurag couldn't believe the Prerna he was looking at. She had actually changed. He recalled Mr. Bajaj's words at the party, "Yeh aapki Prerna nahi hai Mr. Basu, Yeh Meri Prerna hai." Mr. Bajaj's words were ringing in his head. He was right. Anurag could see it now. This Prerna had power, she wasn't afraid, she wasn't crumbling down hearing that someone was attempting to harm her daughter. She was calling him a loser instead. Anurag had never felt like a loser until today. He felt like a complete loser looking into her eyes. Was Prerna right? He had given in to Komolika's threats just like Prerna had done with Mr. Bajaj the first timeso now why wasn't she being able to understand?
"Mr. Basu," Prerna said still sarcastic, "I'm waiting, bataiye please, what's your plan?"
Her tone was clearly mocking Anurag and it was hurting him. "Maine jo kuch kiya tumhare liye kiya. Yeh sochke ki you would understand because bohot saal pehle tumne bhi kuch esa hi kiya tha mere liye remember?" He couldn't tolerate this any longer. He had to say what was on his mind.
"You're absolutely right!" She said faking astonishment for a moment.
"I did the same thing all those years back because I was weak. Mujhe khud par bharosa nahi tha ki main tumhe chuda sakti hu. Mujhe uss waqt sirf tumpar bharosa tha and tumhe jail mein dekhke main tut chuki thi." She said looking directly into his eyes.
"Woh tumhara pyaar tha. Aur yeh mera pyaar tha!" He clarified.
"Nahi Anurag, woh pyar nahi tha. Woh meri kamzori thi. I was desperate. But now, I'm powerful. Mujhe khud par bharosa hai. Agar dobara mujhe woh mauka milta toh kabhi nahi maanti Mr. Bajaj ki baat. I would have fought and I would have found another way!" she said looking at him. "Par mujhe kabhi nahi lagta tha ki tum kamzor ho, itne kamzor ki apni beti ke liye bhi kuch nahi kar paaye." She said admitting that Sneha is Anurag's daughter. "Prerna main kuch bhi--" Anurag tried to explain but she cut his word again.
"Kuch nahi kar sakte tum!" Prerna shouted letting her anger release. "Agar tum kuch karne ke layak hote toh uss din kiya hota jab Komolika ne tumhe threaten kiya tha! Uss waqt bhi toh tum maante the ki Sneha tumhari beti hai? Toh fir uss din ku nahi protect kar paaye usse?" Prerna demeaned him. She was throwing accusations at him left right & centre.
She smirked. "Just look at you. Abhi bhi you're just standing with your eyes glued to the floor. Kuch nahi keh paa rahe mujhe.. Aur meri beti ko protect karoge?" She said disgusted.
"You know what? I'm glad you pushed me out of your life. Ku ki aaj poora sach sunne ke baad mujhe realise hua ki agar main tumhare saath rehti toh hamesha kamzor rehti. Har second mujhe kaki ma ke taane sunne padte. Kaki ma feeds on weak people, toh unke saath jo ho raha hai serves her right! Har baar tumhari family mujhe galat samajhti rehti, shayad meri beti ko bhi apni poori life yeh prove karna padta ki woh Mr. Bajaj ki nahi tumhari beti hai. So thank you Anurag for sparing mine and my daughter's life." Prerna hissed.
She didn't regret a word she was saying and as she said all that she also realized how Mr. Bajaj had always empowered her. How he had always made her feel strong and powerful. Anurag had always made her feel weak and helpless. She was always targeted by Mohini and she would never be able to stand up to her. She couldn't even imagine her life like that anymore. These 8 years had transformed her into a strong woman, who couldn't let anyone belittle her. These were the things she had learnt from Mr. Bajaj. How to face every challenge head on. How to find opportunity in every situation. How to win a losing battle. Mr. Bajaj had always gone against all odds to win and Anurag, she couldn't even look at him anymore. She had lost all respect that she once had for him and all she saw now was a weak helpless man, troubled by his wife. Even as she thought about Mr. Bajaj she felt stronger, more confident.
Anurag's heart was shattered. He had never thought, even in a million years, that his sacrifice would be seen as an act of weakness by Prerna. He had never even once considered that she would say these things to him. She was a complete stranger to him now. He didn't recognize this woman. She was definitely not his Prerna. He had heard enough.
"Mrs. Bajaj," he said, calling her that for the first time. Prerna was surprised too. "I came here to warn you and I have done that. Please Sneha ka dhyaan rakhna. As for me, mujhe jo karna hoga main kar lunga. Thank you for your time." he said turning around to leave. This wasn't his Prerna. This was a stranger.
Prerna gulped. "Anurag," she said wondering whether she should or shouldn't say this. "You don't need to do anything. I'm going to take Sneha and leave the country. Just fix your life because Komolika can't harm me. Save yourself before it's too late." she added.
She knew she had hurt Anurag but the things he had said were just awfully painful. He had purposely filled her life with hatred and anger. He had purposely let Komolika win all those years back. He lost his love as collateral and Prerna lost 8 years of her daughter's life and herself. She remembered how much she had loved Anurag but she wouldn't have ever gone to the extent to risk Sneha's life like that. She had been furious at Anurag. All the anger pent up for 8 years had burst out at Anurag. She had been brutally honest and insulting. She felt the anger towards Anurag flow out of her body getting replaced with pity. Tears rolled down her eyes as she realized how one act of his had changed all their lives.
But right now she wanted to talk to Mr. Bajaj. She had realized that she owed him much more than she gave him credit for. She could see her old self in Anurag. Their love was never meant to be because love empowers, love doesn't make a person desperate and weak. Today she understood that love stemmed from mutual respect. And today she felt nothing but pity for Anurag. She hated how she had always neglected her husband, who had always silently supported her. He had always respected her choices and she knew that it was he, who had always let her make her choices, it was he, who had made her so strong that she could fight her own battles and now it would be she, who would burn Komolika's life if she touched her daughter.
***
Hello guys! I am very nervous about posting this part because I really wanted to do justice to the truth scene. I really really hope I haven't let you guys down. PreRish ke sapne zarur poore honge! ❤️
I have always believed that love strengthens, love shines, love empowers. It's not love if it makes someone weak. So do leave your comments and feedback behind!
Regards,
Manjari
Edited by MrsRishabhBajaj - 5 years ago
Cricket
CID
