Chapter-18
It was the grandest party Aurangabad had seen. Atharv was polishing every guest's shoe in the gate itself and Sampada was serving snacks. When Rane family came and Malhar saw Atharv was going to polish his shoe, Malhar said, "Rehne do. Tumhari to ghatiya shakal bhi mujhe nahi dekhni."
And Malhar went forward without getting his shoes polished.
"Gande Wale uncle, mere bhi shoes polish karo na," Moksh said to Atharv.
"Moksh," Malhar called out, "Aao yahaan."
"Nahi Baba dekho mere shoes kitne dirty hain," Moksh said.
"Moksh dekho bahut ho gaya. Koi dirty virty nahi h tumhare shoes. Maine khud ek ghante pehle shoelace baandhe the tumhare."
Moksh pouted but ultimately had to go. Malhar didn't want Moksh to be in front of Atharv. He fully knew the depth of evils Atharv could descend. He just wanted to Kalyani give her statement so that Atharv and Sampada could be arrested and punished by law. By now, he knew that Agni was behind Ahir's condition and it made him shudder what his innocent Kalyani had become because of those monsters. He wanted to see his innocent, caring, naive Kalyani again, not the cunning, vengeful, ruthless Agni.
When Agni descended down the stairs wearing a mauve gown, Malhar was stupefied by her beauty. Moksh went running towards her.
"Aai!" Agni lifted Moksh up in her arms without caring for her dress.
Moksh said, "Baba ne bola aap meri Aai ho. To main aapko Aai to bula sakta hoon na?"
"Haan, mera Baccha," and Agni vehemently kissed Moksh on his cheeks and hair.
"Chalo accha hai, is manhoos ki shakal ab hame nahi dekhni hogi," Asawari taunted.
"Zabaan sambhalkar Asawari," Agni growled, "Mere bete ke baare me ek aur shabd kaha na to tumhare bete Ahir ko koi hospital admit nahi karega."
"Ye kya bol rahi ho aai ko?" Malhar said.
"Mr. Rane, agar aapko beech me bolne ka itna hi shauk hai to jab aapke bete ko raat raat bhar neend nahi aati thi inke bithaye dar ki vajah se, jab vo rota tha inki ghatiya baatein sunkar, tabhi beech me bolna tha na aapko. Jab aap tab chup rahe, to abhi bhi chup rahiye na."
Madhav raised a hand on Agni but Agni stopped him, "Aapki umr ka lihaj kar rahi thi isliye aapko kucch kaha nahi. Magar ye galti bhool kar bhi dobara nahi kariyega."
Seeing the atmosphere becoming tensed, Moksh got down from Kalyani's arms and said, "Aai. chalo kitna accha song baj raha h. chalo dance karte hai na."
Then Moksh brought Malhar on the dance floor. Unwillingly, not to hurt Moksh's feelings, Agni and Malhar began dancing with each other.
https://youtu.be/Sb2CP0IHQno
Malhar held Agni by her waist and Agni put her hand on Malhar's shoulder. it felt as if time had stopped for both of them.
Suddenly someone screamed.
Sampada was screaming at Atharv, "Tumne 75 crore invest kiye the aur vo company doob gayi. Tumne to kahaa tha ki Agni ne us company me invest Kiya h. Fir kaise saare paise doob gaye?"
"Mujhe nahi pata Sampu?" Atharv was crying, "Maine khud Agni ke phone me Email padha tha..."
Malhar didn't know what exactly was happening but he knew whatever it was, Agni was behind it. And despite his ideals, he couldn't help but admire how cunningly Agni had brought the two monsters to this situation.
Sampada started breaking food plates and attacked Agni saying, "Tune hi kiya hai na ye sab? Main kehti rahi tu koi aur nahi Kalyani h. Tere bete ko hamne maara usi ka badla le rahi hai na tu?"
It took minimal effort for Agni to brush Sampada's hands off her dress like brushing an insect.
Suddenly Inspector Pawar entered asking, "Agni ma'am kon yahaan bakheda khada kar raha h?"
Sampada caught Pawar's collar and said, "Kalyani. Tum police bhi ban gayi?"
Pawar staggered, "Are ma'am. Main Pawar hoon. Mujhe Kalyani kyon keh rahi ho aap?"
Sampada ran from one person to other like a mad woman calling everyone Kalyani. Finally the chemical that doctor made Sampada intake was showing its impact.
"I think inhe mental asylum le jaana hoga," Pawaar said and took Sampada to asylum.
Finally after a week, Sampada was inside mental asylum and the effect of chemicals has subsided.
"Hi Sampada!" Agni said,. entering the asylum, "Tumhari acche se khaatirdaari to ho rahi h na." Half of Sampada's hair were tore apart by other aggressive asylum inmates.
"Kalyani please mujhe maaf kar do," Sampada groveled.
"Theek hai," Agni said, "Kar doongi main tumhe maaf. Bas mere bacche ko mujhe vaapis lauta do. Uska to main naam bhi nahi rakh payi thi. ab jab tak tum yahaan kaid rehkar khud apna naam nahi bhool jati tab tak tumhe main kaise baahar aane du? Are zara dost vost banao yahaan. Full enjoy Karo life ko yahaan kaid me aur time mile to sochna ki tumne Kalyani aur uske bacche ke saath kya kia tha."
Sampada kept calling out to Agni but Agni had left and gotten into her car. She told driver the address they had to go.
A guy was lying in the basement. There were knife cuts on his face and bodies.
"Tch...tch...tch...ye kya haal bana rakha h tumne apna Atharv?" Agni said in a mocking tone.
"Un loan sharks ko main kahaan hoon ye tune hi bataya tha na Kalyani?" Atharv was having trouble to speak with his broken teeth.
"Are Kalyani to mar chuki h na. tum hi logon ne to maara tha use 5 saal pehle bhool gaye kya?" Agni was relishing each moment of this. She kicked Atharv sharply on his belly.
"Kya karne vali h tu mere saath?" Atharv smiled, "Sampu ki tarah mujhe bhi paagalkhaane bhijwaegi. magar main fir vaapis aaunga? Sampu jitna bewakoof nahi hoon main."
Suddenly a loud noise of dogs started coming from somewhere in the basement.
"Picchle 5 din se bhookhe hain ye shikaari dogs," Agni whispered, "Chalo marte marte ek yahi accha kaam kar jao ki inka hi pet bhar jaye."
"Kalyani nahi. Tum Aisa nahi kar sakti," Atharv held Agni's feet but Agni kicked him away.
She came out the basement locking the only door from outside and phoned someone, "Chhorr do unhe basement me."
Agni didn't left the room above basement until Atharv's screams subsided after two hours. After seeing Atharv's body mangled body, finally a tear rolled out Agni's eyes.
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After six months
Malhar and Agni were on a coffee date.
"Abhi bhi Atharv ki body dhoodh rahe hain aap?" Agni took a sip.
"Murderer ne koi clue bhi to nahi chhorra." Malhar said.
"Aapko kaise pata ki ye murder tha?"
Malhar said seriously, "At least please koi to hint do uski dead body kahaan h. Uska antim sanskar to at least..."
"Itni police team h aapke saath, khud hi dhoodh lijiye. Vaise aapne yahaan mujhe ye sab discuss karne ke liye bulaya h?"
Malhar was sheepish, "Moksh ki maa to tum pehle se hi ho, ek baar fir meri patni banogi, Kalyani?"
Agni became serious, "Nahi Mr. Rane. Ab dobara main Kalyani to nahi ban sakti. magar Moksh apne aai baba dono se door na ho iske liye ham shaadi kar sakte hain. Magar main aapke ghar nahi, aapko mere ghar Mumbai me settle hona hoga."
"Fair enough," Malhar said. He knew she was no more the same Kalyani. But he had fallen in love with this avatar of hers too. And maybe one day, Agni too will fall in love with Kalyani's Malhar.
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Finally the FF ends. I hope you too have enjoyed reading this FF as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please tell your honest thoughts about this FF.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
