Chapter 20 Heartbreak
Yash was sitting in his study with book in one hand and glass of whisky in another. He was trying hard to concentrate on book but all he could think of was his conversation with Neil. How blatantly Neil had refused to marry Isha and declared his love for Mini. He can foresee his alliance with Mehras getting broken and that million dollars deal with them going in dustbin. “MINI...that good for nothing girl of that looser Hanuman Singh.” He thought as he gulped down remaining whiskey.
Neil's words kept ringing in his ears, "I LOVE MINI AND I WILL ONLY MARRY HER." Yash didn't realize when his hold on the glass become so tight that it broke down into pieces hurting him. He groaned as he felt the pain and looked at his blood covered hand. He closed his hand making a fist, wincing in pain and with utmost hatred remembered Mini and Hanuman Singh’s face. He took a deep breath as if he had decided something.
He dialed his lawyer's number on his phone, "yes, you heard me right. I want to meet Gupta in the jail...make arrangements and tell him I will clear his name out of Corporate scandal if he agrees not to mention my name in it...yes I know Cops have a whiff of someone else’s involvement in the scandal...I have a name to give them...and proof against him."
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A very worried Mini was pacing up in the corridor of her house. Hanuman didn't come yet. He was also not picking up his phone. She was hell worried for her dad. All she could think of was, "what happened to her dad? Why it is taking so long? Whats going on in their company?" On one hand possibility of Arya having some serious health problem and on other hand this scandal...all this is too much to take in...suddenly what storm has come into their peaceful life. She looked up and saw Hanuman walking towards her. He seemed tired and tensed. She ran towards him and asked him about the whole situation, "what happen dad?" Hanuman sat on sofa, loosening his tie, "Cops were questioning me...they think someone from the Directors is also involved with Mr.Gupta."
Mini was tensed, "but how this is possible dad...we were working there and we never got to know that so much was happening in the company...it means whoever he is...he must have kept us in dark...he must have cheated with us also."Hanuman placed a hand on her shoulder, "don't worry...we will deal with it. But right now I m worried about Arya. Tomorrow we will get the result of the tests...hope my baby is fine.
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Next day Hanuman and Mini were getting ready to go the hospital to collect the reports of Arya when Mini's phone rang. She was surprised to see Yash's number was flashing on the screen. She thought for a while why would Yash calling her early in the morning then she thought it must be something relating to the company. She picked up the phone, “hello, Yash uncle...before she could have said anything else Yash said, "I want to meet you...now. Come to my house and don't tell Hanuman or Neil about this." he hang up the call before Mini could ask anything else. She was confused now. Why Yash wants to meet her and that too without anybody knowing. There was a kinda warning in his tone. She wanted to go with Hanuman to the hospital but something in her heart told her to go to meet Yash once...it could be something important. She told Hanuman that she has to go somewhere urgently and will come to the hospital directly.
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Neil was waiting for Mini on the beach. She had called him saying she wants to meet him right now. Its been three days and she was not even taking his phone calls neither replying to the messages. He was worried. More than once he planned to meet her but due to the frequent meetings with the producers and channel, media about their competition win and their upcoming album, he couldnt spare time. Today also he was on his way for the promotion meeting with the producers. Neil had asked her to meet after this meeting but she had said it was urgent. Fearing that it could be something related to Arya, he had decided to skip the meeting and meet Mini.
Neil had been waiting for some two hours now and there was no sign of Mini. Her phone was switched off. None of their common friends knew about her. He was thinking of going to her house when finally she showed up. Neil expected that she will share some bad news and hence she will need emotional support but she looked all decked up as if coming from some party.
“Mini, what happened? You call me here. I was waiting since two hours.” Neil said as he ran to her.
“Now you have to keep waiting for me for your whole life.” Mini said with emotionless voice and Neil looked at her in shock.
“What are you saying Mini?” Neil asked as he held by her shoulders.
“Don’t touch me you looser. You don’t have any right on me now. I do not belong to you anymore.” Mini said in same emotionless cold voice.
For once Neil shivered in fear then composing himself back he asked her, “Mini, tell me clearly. What happened? Why are you saying this and why are you so decked up as if coming from a party. I am so confused right now. Please explain.”
“Yes,I am coming from a party. It was my engagement party. I got engaged to my childhood friend Jay…Dr. Jay Sinha.” Mini told him directly looking in his eyes.
The seriousness with which she said those words made Neil step back from her.He felt as if ground was slipping under his feet. He stood there stupefied not knowing what to say how to breathe as he was feeling suffocated suddenly. Then he remembered how once she pulled a sick joke about ditching him. She must be pulling his leg this time also.
“You…I know it very well. Its one of your silly jokes. I am not going to fall for it again.” Neil stammered gathering up his courage.
“This is not any joke. This is a reality. What part of it you didn’t get it you emotional fool? If you still have doubt then see, I have pictures. I am just coming from our engagement ceremony.” Mini pierced his heart as she showed him some pictures of her and some guy exchanging the ring.
Neil fell down on his knees as he had no strength left in his body. “WHY? Why you did this Mini? WHY?” He screamed at the top of his voice as he almost pulled his hair in frustration.
“I had to do it. You left me with no other option. Your dad called me few days ago and he told me that he has decided to disown you from the family and properties. Without the Oberoi surname behind you, without the rich family background, without a single penny in your pocket…tum mere kis kaam ke ho Neil? Mini explained the reason and this left Neil in shock all the more.
“What are you saying Mini? You were with me just because of my money? My love doesnt matter to you? I thought you understood my passion for music and my dreams and you did support me during the competition.” Neil asked as he tried to understand what happened to Mini suddenly. As far as he knew Mini, she was not someone who would run behind money. She was the only person who understood his dreams then why she is suddenly behaving so out of character and who this guy Jay Sinha?
“Neil Oberoi, the only heir of Oberoi group of industries. Kaun ladki tumhe date nahi karna chahegi? In fact that whole welcome party of yours. Kya tha wo sab? Tumhe kya lagta hai sab log apni young unmarried ladkiyo ko kyu lekar aaye the waha….obviously tumse milwane. I had also come with the same intention with my father. But see my luck. Tum to mujhpe pehle se hi fidaa the. Phir tumse baat karte hi mujhe pata chal gaya kit um dusre ladko ki tarah nahi ho. You are those old school types jo pyar ishq mohabbat mein yakeen karte hain, apne sapne mein jeene wale emotional fool. I knew tumhe directly approach karungi to tum haath nahi lagoge. Isliye all that destiny drama, I played hard to get and you fell right in my arms, in my love. Tumhe kya lagta hai kyu main tumse naraaz ho jati thi jab bhi tum apne dad se jhagda karte the. Kyu tumhe hamesha patch up karne ke liye bolti rehti thi? Kyunki mujhe darr tha kahi yash uncle tumse jyada naraaz na ho jaye….after all he was the owner of Oberoi industries.” Mini explained her dual character and Neil was shocked was an understatement. He stood motionlessly and his heart was bleeding. He still didn’t want to believe what all Mini was saying.
Mini continued her monologue, “You were never a practical man Neil. I knew it but I thought once you win that stupid competition, you will get over it and move on but no…tumhara pagalpan toh badhta hi ja raha hai. You must have told everything about me to your dad and jiska darr tha wahi hua he disowned you from everything. Ab jab tum wo Neil Oberoi ho hi nahi jiski mujhe chahat thi, jiske paiso aur rutbe ki mujhe jarurat thi toh phir kyu jhelu main tumhe? Ab bacha kya hai tumhare pass? Aukaat kya hai tumhari? Ek music competition jeeta hai…aise winners roz aate aur roz jaate hain. Kuch dino baad unhe koi nahi puchhta. Tum sadak par aa chuke ho. Ab aisa kuch nahi hai jiske liye main tumhare sath rahu.” Mini gave him some more wounds.
“You must be wondering who is this Jay Sinha? Well, he was my classmate. Since then he had crush on me. He is a famous doctor now, very rich. I met him during one of my visit to hospital regarding Arya’s treatment. As we kept meeting, he confessed that he still loves me and was never involved in any serious relationship. I flirted with him casually but then when I got to know that you have come on road, I said yes to him and we got engaged. Aaj maine tumhe yaha yahi batane ke liye bulaya tha ki we are over. Mujhe bhul jao. Ab hamare beech mein kuch nahi bacha. Aur waise bhi sach kahu to tum mujhe kabhi itne pasand bhi nahi the. Tumhari soch, tumhari aadatein, life ko lekar tumhara nazariya….sab kuch boring hai Neil…out of date, so of 90’s time.” Mini again mercilessly crushed his heart.
Neil felt that he is so wounded that he will not be able to make it out of here alive once Mini leaves. His mind had become numb, his senses were not working anymore, he was slowly slipping into despair and darkness. He saw Mini was moving her mouth but he could not hear any of it now. He suddenly saw she was moving backwards, she turned around to go. Neil didn’t know from where he got a sudden surge of energy within him. He gathered himself up with all the strength and caught her elbow.
“Mini…please don’t leave me. I…I cant live without you…you know it….I will die…please…don’t go.I know…this is all a bad dream….a very bad dream and you must be in some kind of problem to behave like this. Please tell me whatever it is. Did my dad force you for this? You parents? Or there is something else? Please tell me. I promise I will make everything right. But please don’t do this to me.” He begged to save his love.
He saw for few seconds there were emotions in Mini’s eyes giving him the glimpse of his old Mini but soon they were gone and the cold hearted, almost alien Mini was back. “Stop it Neil, don’t embarrass me or yourself. Break up happens all the time. Its not anything new. Deal with it.”
“Mini, give me a chance please. At least trust my love. I promise everything will be fine. Aur aise kaise itni asaani se sab kuch khatam kar diya tumne? Hamare beech jo kuch bhi tha…wo jhoot nahi ho sakta. I know you love me Mini…I just know…”Mini tried to get free from his hold but he pulled her closer and before she could have stopped him, he kissed her, kissed her with all his love, desperately trying to prove his love, to convince her to stay.
Mini felt her the façade of gold digger mean girl that she pulled up, slipping down, melting under the warmth of his love. If he continued to kiss her like that she wont be able to stop herself from responding and he will know that she is just lying. She gathered all the courage that was left in her and pushed him away with heavy heart. She turned around to avoid eye contact but couldn’t stop the tears from falling down. She tried to wipe them furiously but failed. Her strength crumbled down and she was about to give up the pretense when she remembered her dad’s and Arya’s faces. Right now, she had to break his heart. There was no other way. And as if God showed her some mercy, it started raining. She looked up and her face was wet, her tears were masked behind the rain droplets.
She turned around to face him and said the words which killed her from inside, “I hate you Neil Oberoi. You are good for nothing. I don’t love you. I never loved you. Don’t ever try to stop me. You will never have me in your life.”
The hatred in her voice killed whatever life was left in Neil. He stopped breathing. At that moment he looked like a zombie, dead from inside,emotionless, just statue of muscles and bones. Mini ran away as she couldn’t see him in that state.
“I am sorry Neil. I am very sorry. I had no other option. I had to do it for dad, for Arya. I promise I will make everything right. Just a matter of few days Neil. Please hold on for me for few days. Then I will clear everything. Please for few days. Please hold on…for the sake of our love.” Mini kept muttering repeatedly to herself.
Little did she knew that these few days will change everything and turn their life upside down. Nothing will be same from now on.
Mini was running far far away from him. After few seconds she heard his screams, his blood curdling screams. screams which would now probably haunt her whole life. Never did she ever in her life experienced darkness consuming one's soul but she got to feel it right now as Neil was screaming for his lost love. She reached her car somehow and started it. she put on the radio in full volume to to avoid hearing his voice. The song started which was conveying the incomplete story of two lovers exactly mirroring their angst and longing.
Bheegi bheegi si hain raaten
Bheegi bheegi yaaden
Bheegi bheegi baaten
Bheegi bheegi aankhon
Mein kaisi nami hain
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha
Sapnon ka saya palkon pe aya
Pal mein hasaya pal mein rulaya
Phir bhi yeh kaisi kami hain
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha
Na jaane koi kaisi hain
Yeh zindagaani zindgaani
Kahaani adhuri kahaani
Na jaane koi kaisi hain
Yeh zindagaani zindgaani
Hamari adhuri kahaani
Aadhi aadhi jaagi
Aadhi aadhi soyi
Aankhen yeh teri
Toh lagta hai royi
Lekar ke naam hamara
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha
Rutha rutha rab
Chhuta chhuta sab
Toota toota dil tere bina ab
Kaise ho jeena ganwara
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha aa ha
Aa ha ha ha
Na jaane koi kaisi hain
Yeh zindagaani zindgaani
Kahaani adhuri kahaani
Na jaane koi kaisi hain
Yeh zindagaani zindgaani
Hamari adhuri kahaani
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to be continued....
precap- story will take leap. what exactly happened will be revealed in flashback.
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