Part 3
As Bawri lost consciousness. Vir grabbed her and carried her out of the pool. He needed to make sure she was ok. Why did she faint seeing me? She must have been shocked to see me after so long. Vir had her in his arms and was contemplating where to take her when a voice called out.
D: Dhwani! Oh my God. What happened to her?
Vir: Dhwani? Vir was confused, why was Daksh calling her Dhwani?
D: Dhwani are you okay? Give her to me. I'll carry her inside
Daksh took Bawri from Vir's arms and carried her inside. He was shocked. How could someone else take away his right from him? With what authority did he ask for Bawri to be handed over to him? Vir followed Daksh and Bawri inside. He watched Daksh place Dhwani on the bed and worry over her. Vir was worried too but he was confused by the way Daksh was behaving around HIS wife. Surely Bawri would have told Daksh about her being married. Daksh proceeded to use a towel to dry her as much as he could. Then sprinkled some water on her face. Bawri awoke and slowly opened her eyes.
D: Thank God you are okay. I was so worried.
Dh: I'm fine. All thanks to that man over there. (Dhwani points to Vir)
Daksh walked over to Vir and hugged him, thanking him for saving Dhwani. Vir was still standing in shock. He was expecting Bawri to say something to him, shout at him but she acted as if she didn't know him.
D: Dhwani, this Mukhi Virendra Pratap Singh from Revari.
Vir: She already knows who I am.
Dh: Thank you Mukhiji, for saving my life. You see, I can't swim.
Vir: You're welcome.
D: Okay, Dhwani. Didi will come and give you some clothes to wear. They'll probably be a bit big on you but better than staying in wet clothes. Let's go back to the party Mukhiji.
Vir and Daksh walked away but Vir kept staring at Dhwani. Dhwani could feel his eyes on her and turned around to see that he was actually staring. She looked away and so did Vir. As both Daksh and Mukhiji walked out, Dhwani looked again at the back of Mukhiji. As they left, Chandni walked in with a change of clothes for her.
Dh: What a weird man
C: Who? Daksh?
Dh: No, that Mukhi.
C: Don't say anything against my Chand.
Dh: Chand?
C: Yes, Chandni's Chand. The man of my dreams, my future husband, your future Jijaji.
Dh: Okay sorry, sorry(with her hands up front). I just meant that he kept staring at me. I feel like he was following me too before I fell in the pool.
C: I'm following him and he's started following Dhwani. If only he followed me. She muttered.
Dh: Huh?
C: Nothing. Anyways you change your clothes and come back down when you can. After all, it's not just a birthday party. You also got engaged today!
Chandni left Dhwani to change. Whilst Dhwani changed she kept thinking of how that Mukhiji kept looking at her. Like as if he was staring into her soul. She got a shiver as she remembered looking at him. Why did I faint seeing him? I keep seeing stuff but why is nothing clear?
She moved on from those thoughts as she looked at the diamond ring on her finger. She said yes to Daksh today but only because she had no reason to say no. There was no one out there looking for her, otherwise they would have come by now. Especially seeing those adverts. It was time to move on from the past. Delving and crying over a past that she doesn't remember would just hurt more. How was she to know that a ghost from her past had already turned up.
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Downstairs at the party
Vir sat down on the sofa. Daksh walked away as he had more guests to attend to, leaving Vir sat by himself to maul over what had just happened.
No one could imagine what was going through his head. His Bawri was alive. She was in front of his eyes. She looked different, yes but the important thing was that she was alive. I can finally face Juhi and Manas. Can take their Haathi back to them. They'll finally stop hating me.
Vir had mourned his Bawri for 6 months. He thought her dead whilst she was out here living a new life with a new name. This thought made him angry. No, I can't be angry at her. My anger led to her running away in the first place. I need to stay calm and apologise to her. But why did she change her name to Dhwani? That's when he remembered what Daksh had said before. He was engaged to a woman named Dhwani. All the puzzles started piecing together. Bawri was engaged to this Daksh. How dare she? She was still married to him. Unless she changed her identity so she wouldn't need a divorce. After all Purvi Virendra Pratap Singh is dead to the world. There was no point in getting angry. He needed to speak to her in private.
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Vir was going to make his way upstairs to where Bawri was when Chandni came and blocked him.
Ch: Helloji
Vir: Oh not this woman again.(Vir rolled his eyes) Hello.
Ch: I just wanted to thank you for saving Dhwani.
Vir: Her name is Purvi. You’re welcome. If you don’t mind I have an important call to make.
Vir got his phone out and pretended to make a phone call. Chandni snatched the phone out of his hand and proceeded to enter her mobile number, dialled it so she got his number and saved her contact down on his mobile phone. Thankfully she didn't notice his phone wallpaper of Bawri.
Ch: I've saved my number on your phone, so if you ever need your Chandni. I'll be there for you.
Vir: Can I please have my phone back? I need to make a call.
Chandni returned the phone but continued to hover around Vir as he started walking away, thinking how to get upstairs without anyone noticing. This woman is a leech. How do I get rid of her?
Vir: Chandniji. Can you please get me a glass of juice. I’m very thirsty. He asked sweetly.
Ch: Yes, sure. Waiter! Juice please.
Vir: No Chandniji. Can you get it for me yourself, with your own hands?
Ch: Yes, of course.
Chandni went to get juice and Vir found his chance to get away. First he ran and hid behind a pillar so when Chandni came back, she wouldn’t find him. When she finally went away. He made his way up the stairs to where he knew Bawri would be.
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Upstairs bedroom
Dhwani had gotten changed into a dress of Chandni's. She was adjusting the dress with safety pins as it was quite big on her. She noticed someone outside the room from the corner of her eye.
Dh: Daksh?
Vir: No, it's me.
Dh: Oh Mukhiji. What are you doing here? She asked nervously.
Vir: I wanted to speak to you.
Dhwani was very confused. About what? He came forward towards her and she started moving backwards, until her back hit the mirror and she couldn't go any further backwards.
Vir: I've missed you so much. You don't know how I've lived these past few months. I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't mean it.
Dh: I don't know what you're talking about.
Now Vir was confused, why was she acting aloof. He just couldn't believe she was here in front of him. His happiness knew no bounds and he just hugged her so tightly as if to never let go. Vir kept apologising whilst hugging her.
Dhwani pushed him off of her.
Dh: How dare you touch me?
Vir: Look I know you're angry but listen to me. Give me a chance to explain.
Dh: No! You listen to me. I don't know who you think you are but don't ever touch me again. I'm engaged!(showing her hand with the ring on)
Vir didn't know how to react. He was still in shock when Daksh came into the room.
D: Dhwani what happened?
Dh: This man tried to touch me.
D: What? (He looked at Vir with anger)How dare you Mukhiji. How dare you touch my fianceè? I thought you must be a good person, being the village chief but here, you're preying on a young woman.
Vir: No, please let me explain.
Vir wanted to explain that he was her husband and that he was trying to convince his wife, when he heard Bawri say:
Dh: Daksh. Please, just tell him to leave.
Vir was left heartbroken. His Bawri didn’t even bother to explain to Daksh who he was. He was shocked that she would let someone make a false assumption about him when previously, for her. His respect was her respect. Vir got the hint, he wasn’t wanted here.
Vir: I'm going. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I mistook you for someone else. I thought it was someone I once knew. Again, I apologise.
Vir left the room. As he left, Dhwani kept staring at his back thinking of what he said.
Vir went downstairs in a daze and left the party. Chandni came and said something to him but he wasn't paying attention. All he could hear was ringing in his ears, blocking out everything else. Other than Bawri's voice, asking him to leave.
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Upstairs bedroom
D: Dhwani are you okay?
Dh: Yes, I'm fine. A little shaken, but fine.
D: I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I invited Mukhiji to the party. I didn't think such a highly respected man could act like this.
Dh: Now that I think back. I may have overreacted.
D: What do you mean?
Dh: He hugged me as if he knew me and I knew him. He hugged me as if he'd never let go of me and he kept saying sorry.
D: Before he left, he did say that he thought you were someone else. It could have been a genuine mistake. You tell me, do you believe him?
Dh: He did sound genuine. You should have seen the pain in his eyes when I pushed him off me. Maybe he did think I was someone else or do you think he knew me? Maybe he recognised me from my past? She said hopefully.
D: That can't be.
Dh: How do you know?
D: Because I pointed you out to him before the waiter spilled the juice on you. If he knew you from before, he would have said it then.
Dh: Oh okay. I'm sorry. I just got a bit of my hopes up.
D: No, it's natural for you to question this. Don't worry. We will find your family one day and you can introduce me as your husband then.
Dh: Unless I already have a husband. She joked.
D: Please don't even joke about that. (He grabbed her)
Daksh tried to kiss Dhwani but Dhwani put her hand up to stop him.
Dh: After marriage, okay.
D: Okay(disappointed)
Dhwani proceeded to give him a quick peck on the cheek however.
D: Now that's more like it.
Daksh and Dhwani hugged. Dhwani thought about Mukhiji when he hugged her and the familiarity in that hug. Her body seemed to accept it at first before she realised what was happening and pushed him off.
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On the road somewhere in Delhi
Vir was lost in his thoughts and walking on the road. How could she refuse to acknowledge me? Has she changed so much in these 6 months? Has Daksh' love made her forget mine? Such thoughts kept going through Vir's mind. He kept walking and walking until he reached a dhaba serving tea and snacks. He sat down on a table, ordered tea and some pakoras. It had been a while since he last ate and he didn't want his sugar levels dropping.
Soon enough his tea and pakora came. As he started eating and drinking, he realised it was getting late and he needed to head back to the hotel. He paid the bill and got up to leave. As he did so, a picture caught his eye. On the table in front of him, where the crumbs of the pakoras were left, was a newspaper advert. An advert with Bawri's picture. He picked it up and read the advert clearly. It stated:
'If you know this woman, please contact Daksh Singh Shekhawat on 091 5386487647.'
Vir didn't understand. Why would Bawri's picture be in a newspaper? He checked the date on the paper and it was from a week ago. The article stated to contact Daksh, but how could he do so after the situation he just left from. It would arouse suspicion. Vir didn't know what to do. That's when an idea came to him and he got his phone out.
He looked for Chandni's phone number on his phone. For once he was glad she gave him her number. She would be of use to help her to get information on Bawri. He dialled the number and Chandni picked up.
Ch: I knew you would call me eventually.
Vir rolled his eyes.
Vir: Yes, how could I not?
Ch: How did you remember your Chandni?
Vir: I just needed a bit of help. I don't know if you heard but there was a misunderstanding. I hugged your brother's fiance thinking she was someone else. It was a mistake and I wanted to apologise.
Ch: Oh yes. Dhwani told me but she did say she felt bad for speaking to you like that.
Vir: She did? (Vir became hopeful)
Ch: Yes. She felt like she overreacted and it was probably a mistake.
Vir: Yes well I wanted to apologise. Also, I noticed something when I was out and I didn't know what to make of it.
Ch: What?
Vir: I noticed a newspaper article with... Dhwaniji's picture on it. I don't understand why.
Ch: Oh that. That's something we've been doing for 6 months.
Vir: Why?
Ch: Oh Dhwani met with an accident. Daksh saved her but after she woke up, she didn't remember anything about her past. So we named her Dhwani and now we're her family.
Vir was stunned. Chandni kept speaking and he heard a bit about 'looking for her family' and 'no one's come for her'. Bawri has lost her memory. She doesn't remember me. That explained everything about her reaction to him. He expected anger but not the way she reacted. Like he didn't exist for her.
Ch: Chandji?
Vir: Ah yes?
Ch: You said something about an apology?
Vir: Oh yes. That's why I called. I wanted to apologise to her. Erm... Would I be able to get her address so I can apologise in person.
Ch: Oh sure. I'll text you her address in a moment. So when will you be coming to meet me next?
Vir: Okay goodnight Chandniji.
Ch: You called me, how can I not have a good night.
Vir quickly disconnected the call. He couldn't deal with that Chandni but he also knew he would have to keep her sweet to get close to Bawri. The text message arrived with Bawri's address. Now he needed to make amends but first he needed a good nights rest. So Vir made his way back to the hotel.
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Hotel room
Vir sat in his room staring at the newspaper article. He couldn't believe what had happened but it all made sense now. Why else would Bawri not make any contact at all. If she had her memory, she would have definitely contacted the kids. He had loads of questions, like how did Bawri's suitcase end up on that bus and that woman with her clothes? Bawri may have planned to get on the bus but the clothes? Even Bawri could not answer these questions now. Well, that didn't matter anymore. The most important part was that his wife was alive. He needed to take her home. He needed to make a place in her heart for himself again. She could not marry another as she was his and he, hers. First of all however, he needed to apologise for his actions at the party. She must think him weird. He needed to become friends with her and gradually worm his way into her heart.
For the first time in 6 months, Vir had hope and he was happy. He had a smile on his face as he recalled seeing his Bawri after 6 months. He realised he needed to rest and went to bed, dreaming of meeting his Bawri. Very soon he would turn that dream into reality.
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Mangal Lakshmi
