Thanks all for waiting on this
The culprit
The medication you asked me to check out, they’re just painkillers Mrs Bajaj said George who watched Prerna sat by Rishabhs side.
Once George left Prerna shared a conversation with unconscious Rishabh. Its not Tanvi then she said with a sigh of relief. You taught me a lot Mr Bajaj just not what do do when your won attack you.. she said quietly. Moving to leave his side Prerna could feel her saari caught behind her only to look over her shoulder to find it in Rishabhs grip.
….
“Blood pressure?” Asked Rishabh
“Amongst other things but you’re on track now. Explained the doctor as he scribbled out a list of meds. Keep rested and keep me posted.” Instructed the doctor peering over the top of his glasses with a doctor like smile.
“Thank you ..” replied Bajaj with a look of the eyes but before the doctor could leave he had one more ask.
“Doctor a copy of my medical report please.” He called out to the back of the doctor who shared a worried eye look with Prerna.
“Sure” replied the doctor trying to look casual about the report he hands to Prerna.
Prerna wanting to keep the truth to herself for a little long puts the report in bedside drawer under Rishabhs watch nervously.
In privacy now Rishabh who props himself up towards the headboard a little more is helped by Prerna who straightens the cushions behind his back.
“Are you okay?” He asks in a silky RB manner only his eyes were incredibly intent on checking on his wife.
“Ji” Prerna replied her eyes trying a little too hard to keep up the act.
Before Rishabh could call her out George entered the room with a meal.
“George seen as Mrs Bajaj won’t be honest about how she’s feeling would you mind telling me how she’s got on ..” He asked very tactfully whilst George served his food in bed, and Prerna prepared his meds. His traits a comfort to Prerna who could feel his eyes on her.
“Er well she’s been worried, sleepless and missed a meal too many,” Explained George.
Rishabh looked for Prernas eyes wanting to comfort her but she avoided his gaze.
“Bring her meal up too, She’ll eat under my watch” he pretty much commanded getting her attention.
“Mr Bajaj,” She tired to protest but couldn’t withstand the look of affection and adamancy he passed her.
..
“I missed you ..” she confessed with heavy eyes after a little while of them both eating as much of the food they could.
Rishabh put down his napkin, reached out to brush a way a speckle of food from the corner of Prernas mouth whilst she held his hand to her face a little longer.
Rishabhs eyes tried to make out what the matter was.
“I need to clean up” said Prerna looking down at their plates.
As she headed for the washroom Rishabh watching her leave his bedside reached into the side table for the doctors report.
“The girls will be happy to see you..”
Prerna said from in the washroom whilst he hands ran under the noise of running water.
Rishabh on the other hand had read the medical record and had it open in front of him by the time she’d walked back into the room.
“A Conspiracy I see” he said looking up from the file at her. Prerna naturally felt worried. She wanted Mr Bajaj to rest even if he looked much better now, he was still on the mend.
“It’s already been looked into..” she reassured him.
“By who?” He asked From under his reading glasses he was very intense on the matter.
“I’m looking into it .. with help from Mr Mehra”
“Prerna you” ...- he began and she jumped in knowing what he was about to say.
“Shouldn’t trust anyone I know.”
Reminding him she would always bare in in mind everything he’d taught her.
“Im a man with many enemies Prerna this wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried to kill me” he said in a very Bajaj like way.
“Kya mila” (What did you find?) he asked keen to punish the culprit.
Prerna held her breath as she walked back to his bedside and perched on the side.
“Possibly someone close.. Family” she said quietly. Rishabhs eyes began to get more serious, the look of thought pulled over them. “Bring me the whisky in the porch” he asked.
“Aap .. this is no time for alcohol” Prerna resisted.
“”Just” do as I say ‘he stressed.
Watching Prerna walk out of the room into porch and back again. Rishabh thinking back to the night this had occurred turns the cap of the liquor and pours a little into left overs on his plate.
Both Rishabh and Prerna watch the food burn and discolour. “You know who did this?” Asked Prerna shocked.
Rishabh who took a glance towards her and now stared into oblivion answered “a business acquaintance “not telling her anymore.
..
Prerna couldn’t sleep that night and understandably so. Even with the increased security and the culprit known to Mr Bajaj she was uncomfortable.
Why wouldn’t he give her a name?
When rest was unachievable she decided she decided to give her mind the peace it needed. Walking out quietly leaving Rishabh asleep Prerna walked into the CCTV room with the goal of watching back exactly what happened that night herself.
Around 8:45pm Mr Bajaj was seen leaving the house and then returning at 9pm with that bottle of Whisky to hand a gift it seemed.
Whoever it had met that time was the culprit thought Prerna. Returning to their room, something she knew was wrong but she had to do Prerna picked up Mr Bajaj’s phone and looked through his call log that night. The initials of the perpetrator leaving Prerna speechless with a single tear drawing down her eye.
..
The next morning as Rishabh looked more himself now he’d had breakfast at the table with the girls and was dressed in a way that was signature to him. Comforting for her dad the girls. Wanting to talk to him in privacy about what she now new she found him in conversion with Mahesh near his chair. Mr Bajaj fixed the sleeves of his shirt whilst Mahesh sprawled on his chair with what looked like one of Kukis lollipops from the sweets jar.
“There’s something I need you to accompany me on” said Rishabh
“‘Me ?” Asked his brother surprised after all their arguments
“Okay but you just got better can’t it wait” he asked sounding that tad bit worried too
“Confronting the person who tried to kill me can’t wait.” Mahesh putting the pieces things together quickly knew this was serious.
“I want confront them legally and if that doesn’t work then we”ll rethink” spoke Rishabh in a monotone voice.
“Let me go in your place” Prernas voice sounded from a distance. Rishabh looked over towards her.
Not wanting her to be dragged into this anymore he looked unconvinced until she spoke again.
“I know who it was Mr Bajaj” she said her eyes telling him it was too late to shield her from the truth now.
“Okay” he said knowing there was some substance in the suggestion. “Look after her” he said looking to his brother.
“Make sure they know there won’t be a next time.” He said leaving the room.
...
“Stay here, said Mahesh to Prerna who was sat in the passenger seat next to him. Prerna nodded in agreement rolling down the tinted glass window to watch from here
Watching Mahesh walk out towards a figure in the distance.
“Mr Basu”.. said Mahesh get Anurags attention
I have a message from Rishabh Bajaj attempt to murder charge, Said Mahesh with fiery eyes slamming Anurag with the legals.
Anurag looked on at at Mahesh blankly and then past him at the car to see Prerna.
Yes it was him, when Rishabh refused him access to Sneha this was his revenge.
He didn’t pretend otherwise, he looked smug.
“Withdrawn on one condition..”
You and your family have nothing to do with Sneha going forward
Is that what she wants?
Said Anurag looking out Prerna, staring at her the way he would have done at one time but she looked on with cold eyes.
“She wants more, claps back Mahesh whilst his phone rings, a call from Prerna within the car for Anurag ‘If it was up to me I’d want to see you in dead for what you did to my husband but I unlike you have morals but don’t mistake my morals for weakness Anurag.”
..
Back in the car the car as the driver pulls away Mahesh looks to his side at a silent Prerna, “you love/ or loved him a lot didnt you?”.. Prerna was silent for a second. “Yet you’re still so fierce on the matter” Prerna gave her heart and mind a second to settle.
“I’m in love with your brother and more importantly my loyalties lie with him.” She said most powerfully, determined.
“And you? She looked on his brother in law ..”you put aside everything to stand by the brother you don’t get on with,
“guess I have my loyalty to prove” he says silently both looking at one and other in understanding.
Edited by jagrutid - 5 years ago
Jodha Akbar
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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