Chapter 10
Tandon house - (continued)
“Sushma aunty ko phone dijiye.” Pragya said.
“Unse tum baat nahi kar sakti” Abhi said,
“Kya?” she asked and continued, “dekhiye unke medicines ka time hua hai.. lunch bhi ready hai … aap jald hi wapas aajayiye.”
“Nahi aaya to?” he said.
She felt that creepy sensation again crawling up her spine, “Yani?” She asked.
“Yani tum mujhe kuch bhi karo mein woh bas dekhte jaavoon aur mein kuch na karoon?” he said.
She felt scared and hesitated as she asked “kya… kya matlab hai aapka”.
“Matlab” he said, “Matlab to tum hamesha dhoondti thi na. Jo tumhare fayde ka hai woh karogi. Baaki sab ko jo hona hai use hone do. Hai na?”
“kya?” she asked and continued, “dekhiye, woh sab choddiye Sushmaji kahan hai?”
“Ab to woh mere paas hai” he said, “par bohot jald woh wahan pahunchengi jahan tumhe jaana chahiye tha – do saal pehle.”
“Kya?” she asked.
“Sushmaji ne tumhe bachaya tha na?” he said, “unke saath milkar hi tumne mujhe aur mere parivaar ko barbaad karne ki koshish ki thi na? Unke wajah se hi tum meri Alia aur meri Tanu ko pareshaan karti rahi ho na. Unhe iski sazaa milni chahiye”.
“Aapki … Aapki Tanu!!!” she said with a shock.
‘God I was right. He tried to kill me!’ she thought.
“Haan meri Tanu. Woh hi meri biwi hai, meri family hai… aur tum … tum usey barbaad karne dekh rahi ho” he said, “Mein aisa kabhi nahi hone doonga.”
“Dekhiye isme… isme Sushmaji ne kuch nahi kiya” she said, her voice trembling “Jo bhi kiya hai na… woh sab maine kiya hai… aap please mujhe bata dijiye aap kahan hai … mein aa jaati hoon”.
“Ma’am aap please neeche chaliye” Shagun said.
“Shagun… inhone… inhone Sushma aunty ko kidnap kiya hai” Pragya said.
“Ma’am please… neeche chaliye aap” Shagun said.
“Suniye… please bata dijiye aap kahan hai” Pragya said, “Please” and started crying.
“Tumhare ghar ke bahar” Abhi said.
“Okay… Okay… please” she said, as she wiped her tears, “Dekhiye… mein aati hoon… aap… aap Sushmaji ko kuch mat kijiye”.
She rushed outside the room, and ran down the stairs and was shocked to see Abhi holding a knife at Sushma’s neck who was sitting on the chair.
Pragya stopped and her phone slipped out of her hand and fell onto the carpet.
“Please” she shouted as she knelt down on the floor and folded her hands, “Please aap inhe kuch mat kijiye.” and started to cry.
She looked at Abhi and he smiled at her viciously, nodding a no.
“Please… please” she said as she continued to cry and bowed her head on the floor.
“You are too late Pragya” she heard Abhi say…
… but something about it felt really odd. Abhi was in front of her but the voice came from behind.
“You are too late” she heard again and looked behind in fright. It was someone else, which confused her. She stood up, her palms closing her mouth.
“I am sorry” said the man in Abhi’s voice. “I’m Sanjay, Abhi’s friend” he said.
Switching back to his own voice Sanjay said, “Purab called me here and asked me to do this… I am sorry to make you go through this.”
She looked at Abhi who had come near her along with Sushma. Purab and Prashant too joined in and so did Shagun.
“I am sorry ma’am… Mujhe bhi ye pata tha” Shagun said, “Isi liye mein aapko neeche aane keh rahi thi”.
Pragya started crying again as she realised what had happened. Her knees gave away and she knelt down crying. Abhi sat down in front of her, comforting her.
He cupped her face and said “I’m sorry… I am sorry us din jo jo hua, uske liye I am sorry”.
She held his hand and continued to cry for a few moments. She hugged him, “I am sorry” she said and continued to cry.
“Jaise tumhare saath hua hai na...” Abhi said, “Waise mere saath bhi hua hai… so no apaologies. Bus… ho gaya… and we have to move on from it.”
A few moments later
“Di” Purab said, “Woh Pradeep tha”.
Pragya cringed when she heard it and looked at Abhi sitting besides her on the sofa.
She teared up as she said “I am sorry”.
Abhi smiled and wiped her tears. He kissed her forehead and said “it’s ok”.
He looked at Purab and asked “Par tujhe pata kaise chala?”
“Subah di se baat kerne ke baad maine Commisioner ko phone kiya tha. Commissioner ka pehchaan wala nikla udhar ka jailer.” Purab said, “Unhone hi jailer ko phone karke poocha… aur jailer ne bataya ki Pradeep ne koi cultural event me thode celebrities ke aawaaz imitate kiye they… including yours. Toh… aur kya proof chahiye.”
Abhi looked at Pragya, “But I cant accept you now” Abhi said, “Bhale hi jo tumne kiya us se Alia ka nuksaan hua hai par kiya to tumne mere khilaaf tha na?”
Pragya was shocked to hear this, and so were Sushma, Purab, and Prashant.
Pragya nodded in agreement, and said “All I can say is I am sorry. Baaki… its up to you.”
Abhi said, “I cant accept you now”.
Pragya nodded in agreement, “I understand”.
“No you dont” Abhi said, “I cant accept you until I have made sure you are safe. Safe from your… our past. Sushmaji ne mujhse kaha tha and I will do it. I don’t want her to have any fears around you. Aur Prashant… isko bhi maine kaha tha … Rani mili hai, cover nahi… to ab… cover nikalna hai.”
“Cover?” Pragya asked.
“Carrom.” Abhi said.
“Oh.” Pragya said, “But… what do you have in mind?”
He looked at Purab and said, “Purab… woh teri Di ka khabri hai na… Anish… usko bula… bol bohot bada kaam karna hai.”
Pragya looked at him, and asked “Why?”
“Like I said, cover nikalna baki hai” Abhi said, “I want to make sure you are safe.” and looked at Sushma and asked, “You agree with it?”
Sushma smiled and nodded.
Mehra mansion Next morning.
Abhi entered the Hall of Mehra Mansion. He saw Alia and Mitali sitting on the sofa and Taiji on the chair by the dining table.
“What’s up Gaanv-vaaloo?” Abhi said with a smile and they stared at him.
Mithali got up and asked “Abhi Tum?”
“Nahi… ye to mera khabar hai” Abhi said, “Mein to baadme aavunga”.
He looked at Taiji and said “Arey Taiji… achcha kiya aap bhi yahin hein… nahi to aapko to dhoondke mein gaanv aane wala tha.”
Taiji got up from the chair and walked towards the sofa.
“Aur kaun kaun hein? Woh… Tanu kahan hai?” he asked and called out mockingly “Tanu… Tanu darling… Bahar aa jao… dekho kaun aaya hai”.
He looked towards the door and said “Arey… Yeh log kahan reh gaye” and shouted “Purab”.
Purab walked in with Sushma as Tanu walked down the stairs.
“Aur koi hai yahan?” Abhi asked, “Rhea?”
“Rhea toh Kaneda me hai” Mithali said.
“Achcha hua.” Abhi said, “Usko udhar jaake milta hoon, ek vacation bhi ho jayega”.
“Oh sorry” Abhi said looking at Sushma, “Aap khadi kyu hein… aayiye baith jayiye… aaphi ka ghar hai”.
Sushma came and sat on the sofa. Purab came and stood besides Abhi.
“Toh Sushmaji” Abhi said, “Woh hai Tanu, Ye Alia, Mitali, aur last but not the least Taiji” as he pointed each of them.
“Aur Gaanv-valoon” he continued, “Ye hein … meri sasumaa”.
Alia was surprised to hear that.
“Sasuma bula sakta hoon na?” Abhi asked Sushma, and she nodded, “Kyun ki aapki beti se technically meri shadi ho chuki hain… isn’t it?”
Sushma agreed.
“Ab… Mithali aur Taiji” he said, “Aapko ek bumper offer hai… Offer achcha lage ya na lage… aapko lena padega”.
Mithali and Taiji looked at him.
Abhi looked at Purab and asked “All set?”
Purab nodded a yes.
“Haan...” Abhi said, “Aapko mein aaj yahin par 10 lakh rupya deta hoon… 10-10 lakh rupees… cash… aap donon ko. Leke… bahar ek gaadi khadi hai… usme baithke aapke ghar jaaye.”
“Par Abhi humara ghar toh yahin hai” Mithali said.
“Nahi Mithali” Abhi said mockingly, “Aapka ghar to yahan nahi hai… woh to wahan hai na jahan Raj bhaiyya hein… Gaanv me… kheti baadi mein.”
“Par Abhi” Mithali said.
Abhi interrupted, “Dekho jaana to tum donon ko hai hi… ab 10 lakh rupay lekar ya phir khali haath. Woh tum decide kar lo.”
“Par Abhi” Mithali said.
Abhi interrupted again “Mein bus teen tak ginoonga… ek… do…teen”.
“Theek hai Abhi hum jaate hein. Hume pasie dedo” Mithali said.
“Too bad ladies… too bad… teen tak mein gin chuka” Abhi said “Ab yahan se tum log jaavoge… khaali haath”.
“par Abhi… thoda hi to late hua na?” Mithali said.
“Kya bolta hai Purab… Ye to nainsaafi hogi na?” Abhi said looking at Purab. Purab nodded.
“Theek hai” Abhi said, “Taxi ka bhada kitna hota hai?”
No one spoke… he looked at Purab and said, “Purab pata kar aur inhe woh dede… aur ek ek rupya jyada de… kharcha paani ke liye”.
He looked at them and said “Ab… aap log jaake apna bag pack kar lo”.
“Par Abhi” Mithali said.
“Nikal jaao yahan se” Abhi shouted.
Mithali and Taiji walked up the stairs and into their rooms.
He looked at Purab and asked “pata lagaya?”
“4000” Purab said.
As Mithali and Taiji came down with their bags, Abhi said “Purab… dede unko… aur ek ek rupya bhi de.”
They looked at him angrily as they walked out, “Baayee” he said to them mockingly, “Purab… taxi tak choddke aa unko… I’ll wait for you”.
Abhi looked at Tanu as she came and sat near Alia.
Purab came in and Abhi asked “Ho gaya?”
Purab nodded a yes.
“Baaki sab ready hai?” Abhi asked.
Purab nodded a yes.
“Toh… Sasumaa..”Abhi said, “Yeh woh do mahaan hastiyaan hai, jinhone aapki beti ko maar dalne ki koshish ki thi. Aapko inke saath jo karna hai who kar sakte ho.”
“Ek minute” Tanu said, “Inki beti?”
“Woh tumhe sochne ke liye bohot time milega… don’t worry” Abhi said.
“Sasumaa” he said looking at Sushma.
“Inke saath jo bhi karna hai, meri beti kar chuki hai” Sushma said, “and I am sure, baaki jo bacha hai woh… tum kar loge”.
Abhi looked at Sushma and asked “Sure… kuch nahi karna hai aapko?”
Sushma nodded a yes.
“Theek hai… achcha hai… inhe kuch karke aapke haath gande nahi honge”. He said.
“Purab” he said, looking at him, “bula de”.
Purab made a call… and Anish along with some police officers came in.
“Sir, yeh hi hein who donon” Anish said, “Inhe hi kal maine dekha tha”.
Anish looked at Abhi and said, “Thanks Abhi, humein inke baare me information dene ke liye” as two lady constables came and handcuffed Aliya and Tanu.
Aliya objected “Kya ho raha hai? Kyu?”
Abhi said “Woh tum jeep me baithke figure out karna”.
Anish said “inke rooms check kar lo… drugs wahin rakhe hein.”
“Drugs?” Alia asked.
Two constables walked up the stairs led by Purab.
They came down with four boxes.
“Ye humare nahi hein” Aliya said.
“Haan… Pata hai…” Anish said, “tumlog to ab wahi bolenge”.
The police took Alia and Tanu outside.
“Tum dharo mat Tanu” Alia said, “I’ll do something”
“Yewah...” Tanu said, “Pradeep pe to karrodo kharch karke bhi kuch nahi hua tha”
“ye ghar hai, Sainik farms wala bungla hai kis din ke liye rakha hai maine?” Alia said as she walked into the police jeep.
Pragya looked at them from a distance, from inside her car, as the jeep started to move and took a turn onto the main road. She walked out of the car and entered the gate of Mehra Mansion.
She had wanted them to know she was alive, but it was Abhi who said she shouldn’t. He had said that he wanted them to think they can get out by paying off with their properties, and didn’t want them to miss their shock when they realise its not theirs. Plus he hoped, they would wonder who Sushma’s daughter was. ‘It is better they don’t know you are alive.’ he had said.
Abhi looked at Sushma and asked, “Sasuma… kya mein aapki beti se shadi kar sakta hoon?” as Pragya walked towards them.
Sushma smiled and agreed.
Abhi hugged Pragya as she came nearby and Pragya returned the hug.
“All safe now” Abhi asked.
Pragya nodded and said “Thank you.”
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Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Sensational South
Bigg Boss 19
621