The Veil between Us
Part 1
Mannat took a deep breath and checked her wrist watch. It was quarter to ten. The front door of Mezbaani was ajar. She slightly pushed it open. The lobby and the corridor to the dining area were fully lit. Clutching the mobile phone she cautiously stepped in. It was almost half an hour ago she received a cryptic text from Puneet, asking her to meet him at Mezbaani. He only specified in the text that it’s urgent. The last time she followed Puneet’s texts, she ended up in a freezer. She knew that she should have notified Gagan before leaving for Mezbaani. But for some reason she didn’t. Already a whirlwind was brewing inside her. She has to confront Aishwarya Raisingh later that night. Her Shruti maa doesn’t have much time left. She needs the answers from Aishwarya Raisingh that night by hook or crook. If the otherwise aloof Puneet Saluja put forward a foot, there would be something substantial.
As Mannat walked to the pool area, flashes of Bobby Saluja’s evil smile flashed into her mind. A stroke of fire coursed through her gut. A part of her was scared and the other was curious. She clearly has a herculean task on her calendar later that night. Still, something prompted her to follow Puneet’s texts. Across a couple of seconds, her feet froze on the path as she walked into the unexpected sight. Vikrant was sitting there on one of the chairs beside the pool. Mannat was puzzled. Vikrant stood up from the chair the moment he spotted her. Mannat gulped down the uneasiness that rose up her throat as their eyes met. He was the last person she wanted to come across that night. The high pitched ‘leave’ he spat on her that morning reverberated in her ears. Without a second thought, she turned to leave but then stopped as she saw Puneet walking out of the kitchen with two bottles of water.
Puneet calmly walked up to Mannat and held out a bottle of water to her. Though confused at his gait, Mannat took it from him. Guiding her to the two-seater table alongside the pool, Punnet threw the other bottle of water at Vikrant which the latter swiftly caught. Seeing Vikrant not budging from his spot, Puneet gently dragged him to the table and made him sit on the chair across Mannat.
“What’s going on Puneet?” Vikrant frowned.
“I’ll tell you,” Puneet drew a chair from the nearby table, placed it in front of them and sat down. “First, have some water. Both of you.”
Ignoring Puneet, Vikrant turned to Mannat, worry etched on his face.
“Where were you Ms Mannat? I’ve been looking for you since noon. You neither picked my calls nor replied to my texts. I was worried about you.”
Since noon, Vikrant has been literally walking on fire. He knew that he messed up during the chooda ceremony. He shouldn’t have yelled at her. His mother was in a vulnerable situation and she was constantly blaming Mannat. On the other side, Mannat was negating the allegations. He was in a tough spot then. Neither could he choose Mannat over his mother nor could he neglect Mannat over his mother. Considering the deteriorating health of his mother, he couldn’t have asked her to shut up.
The only way he could have controlled the matter from blowing over proportion was by asking Mannat to keep quiet. But in the gravity of the situation, his attempt to alleviate the matter back fired. Thereafter when he went to the outhouse to meet her to apologise for his insensitivity, he was met with disappointment. None of her belongings were there in the outhouse. She has left. But there was this letter she left for him; wishing him and Mallika a happy married life! The moment he went through it, he realised how much he pushed her away.
“Puneet sir. Why did you call me here?” Mannat asked looking straight at Puneet. She was acutely aware of Vikrant’s gaze on her.
“Why did you call Ms Mannat here, Puneet?” Though curiosity laced his voice, Vikrant couldn’t hide the hurt clouded on his face.
“Didn’t you hear her Vikrant? She has already asked that question.” The faint curve on Puneet’s face remained intact as he continued. “She can speak for herself. And she is.”
Vikrant held back the sudden gush of displeasure that rose up his nerves. He paid a quick glance at Mannat. Though she held her head high, her gaze was lowered; fixed on the marble slab of the table.
“Fine. Let me get to the point. I called you two here. I wanted to tell you guys something. Actually… wanted to ask you guys something,” Puneet leaned back on the chair. “What’s the matter with you two?”
“What are you talking about?” Vikrant frowned.
“Whatever that has been going on in our home… in the Saluja Mansion for the past few days…and is still going on… as a spectator, I was curious. That’s why,” Puneet said and turned to Mannat. “What’s going on in the Saluja Mansion, Mannat?”
Mannat hesitated a bit at the sudden question. But soon she found her voice.
“Wedding ceremonies, Puneet sir,” Neither her face nor her voice betrayed her. They remained stiff. “Vikrant sir and Mallika are getting married.”
“Exactly. Vikrant sir and Mallika are getting married.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice as he continued. “It’s funny. You know what I see as the type-casted bystander in hour home?” Puneet quoted the ‘type-casted bystander’ in the air. “The wedding ceremonies are on full swing. At every ceremony, something bad happens and… coincidentally why does the needle of suspicion lands at you Mannat? Their chunri ceremony, cocktail party, mehndi and today in the chooda ceremony too. Ever wondered why?” Letting the question linger on Mannat for a few seconds, Puneet turned to Vikrant. “You Vikrant. Ever wondered why? Don’t you see any pattern? It feels like somebody is purposefully trapping Mannat in these situations. So that she gets compelled… maybe to do something or to say something whatever it is which she wouldn’t have done or said otherwise. Don’t you think so Vikrant?”
“What are you trying to say Puneet?”
“Honestly, I don’t wish to say anything on the matters concerning the two of you. But the situation is such that I had to step in. Okay, just… let’s keep it aside. Have a look at this,” Puneet took out some papers from the inner pocket of his blazer and placed it onto the table, towards Vikrant. “Just go through them and tell me what they mean.”
Vikrant with an air of scepticism took the papers. As he skimmed through them he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“This… who did… What’s…” Vikrant was short at words.
“Property papers, Vikrant. According to them, the entire Saluja properties including the business shares… everything is transferred to your name. There’s Ronnie taya ji’s signature on them as well.”
“Puneet… This is not… I’m sure there’s some…”
“I know,” Puneet cut him short. “There’s certainly some misunderstanding. That’s what you were about to say, weren’t you?”
Vikrant nodded at Puneet as a flock of clouds huddled over his head. But Puneet was not done yet.
“I would have thought the same if I hadn’t overheard Aishwarya aunty and tayi ji.”
The moment Neetu got mentioned, something snapped in Vikrant and the frown on his face turned deeper. Taking a deep breath as he was about to speak up, Puneet interjected.
“Hold on Vikrant. I’m not Mannat that your mother’s name would roll out of my mouth and you would blast at me the next moment. I’m your family. And your mother is my tayi ji. Yesterday I overheard Aishwarya aunty and tayi ji talking. Actually… they were not talking. Aishwarya aunty was practically blackmailing tayi ji.”
“Blackmail? But Aishwarya aunty and mom… Why would she blackmail mom?”
At that point Vikrant wasn’t sure if he was hearing Puneet right. Aishwarya Raisingh has been a part of his family as long as he can remember. She shared a good bond with his mother. Then why in the world this blackmail!
“You won’t get all the information served in front of you on silver platter every time Vikrant. There are certain things that you’ve to find out yourself. Even I don’t know what Aishwarya aunty has on tayi ji. For getting you and Malla married, Aishwarya aunty’s condition is to make you the sole owner of the Saluja properties. Your dowry by the way.”
“This is absurd!”
“You think so? Tayi ji was petrified. It is absurd that tayi ji is doing everything as Aishwarya aunty asks her to do. Everyone knows why tayi ji is in a hurry to get you married to Malla,” Punnet tilted his head towards Mannat. “Tayi ji is afraid of you Mannat. She’s afraid that you’ll separate Vikrant from her. Such an image of yours is circulating in our home,” Punnet said and noticed the hurt clawing her. He turned back to Vikrant, “I don’t understand why tayi ji is taking this risk just to keep you away from Mannat. There’s definitely more to it. Tayi ji knows that mom and Ronnie taya ji won’t sit back if at all they get to know about this property thing.”
“Puneet…Have you… Have you talked to dad… about this?”
“No Vikrant. I didn’t even share it with my mom. I have stolen these papers from tayi ji. Tomorrow these papers are supposed to go to the lawyer before the wedding. Do you know why I brought these papers straight to you two? Do you know why Mannat?”
Mannat hesitantly nodded in no. Every time she tries to draw a line to the list of wrongdoings of Aishwarya Raisingh, something new, something unexpected surfaces. This time it’s Neetu Saluja and indirectly the whole Salujas under Aishwarya Raisingh’s claws. Mannat couldn’t shake off the thought whether it’s Aishwarya Raisingh who is making Neetu give those pills to Vikrant. Probably Aishwarya Raisingh has got something momentous on Neetu. Why else would a mother drug her own child, knowing that it’s killing him cell by cell?
“Because all these things which are rolling on behind our backs in our home… the root cause of all those are you two. Or say, you two are the kill switches for all those problems. Since the first day Aishwarya aunty had the target set on Mannat and now Vikrant, you too are her target. Her motive behind blackmailing tayi ji and getting you married to Malla can’t be clearer. You understand that right Vikrant?”
Vikrant was too stunned to speak. Puneet shifted his gaze between Vikrant and Mannat.
“Where are you lost Mannat?” Puneet asked snapping Mannat out of her reverie. “Are you wondering why am I laying all these in front of you guys? I know I’m not a good guy. I’m proud, full of myself. I’ve personal issues with you Vikrant. And with you too Mannat. You’ve always had upper hand in everything from the family to the business, Vikrant. I’ve always had problem with that. I still have problem with that. I’m selfish and I’m not ashamed of accepting that. You know why? Because in this world if one is not selfish enough, their fate will be like you two. Actually I don’t even have to quote you Vikrant. Just look at Mannat. What has she earned by being selfless? Insults on a daily basis?”
Puneet’s words struck Vikrant like an arrow. Hurt, shame, embarrassment and everything agonising shrouded him all at once.
“I’m not being anyone’s advocate here,” Puneet continued. “I’m saying all these for my own selfish reasons. To secure my family. For my mom and sister. During the court proceedings mom did get hyper once. Had a word spat with taya ji. You know what taya ji told my mom then? He threatened my mom to throw us out of the Saluja Mansion. Even then I didn’t drag my feet to you Vikrant. Never interfered in any of your matters; be it personal or professional. Now tayi ji has transferred all the properties to your name. Anu’s marriage is already fixed. Dad never thought of us. As Anu’s elder brother, I need to fulfil my duties. Get her married to the man she loves, the way she wants. I’ve to secure her future. I’ve to secure my mom and my future too. I don’t wish to pull any sort of fight with you Vikrant. I’m not greedy. We… Anu and I… we just want what we legally deserve in the Saluja property. I don’t want us to get split from our family Vikrant. I want everything to remain the same like before. I want the Salujas to be together. I want your guarantee that everything will remain the same like before… and this time be fair on the both ends.”
“Puneet, I will never snatch anything that belongs to you or Anu. I never considered you, Anu or Raveena chachi different from my mom and dad. You know me. Saluja Mansion is our home Puneet. You all… our family… our family is more important to me than any wealth. This… All these… Come with me,” Vikrant got up and made Puneet get up from his chair. “Let’s go home right now. This needs to be talked in front of everyone in the Saluja Mansion. And I’ll make sure…”
“Wait Vikrant,” Puneet interjected. “This needs to be talked in front of everyone in the Saluja Mansion. You’re right. But before that, let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? There are certain things to be cleared. I didn’t call Mannat here to be the silent spectator of our conversation,” Puneet glanced at Mannat before continuing, “I told you na all of these plotting going on in our home are one or the other way related to the two of you. Aishwarya aunty was pressurising tayi ji for your and Malla’s marriage and on the other side... out of nowhere, you happily proposed Malla. Malla, you and I... we grew up together. And… I'm aware what is in that heart and mind of yours. So… I could say with full conviction that this proposal thing and the wedding jingles from you and Malla… there’s something fishy in it. Am I right?”
Vikrant stood there tongue-tied as the question hung over his head.
“Vikrant… I am saying this to you in front of Mannat. There are so many things going on in our home which you are unaware of. I was there in your and Malla’s cocktail party. I’m sure none of you guys would have noticed me,” Puneet turned to Mannat. “What do you think Mannat? That night, how do you think you and Vikrant have reached Saluja Mansion before Aishwarya aunty?”
As if on cue Mannat stood up from the chair.
“I’ve seen Vikrant following you. I too was there at the Swapna Sadan chawl that night. But I got lost in those cramped alleys. Then when I spotted you, you were dragging a dizzy Vikrant. I was about to come help you both. But then I saw Aishwarya aunty there and you both were hiding from her. You guys reached the outhouse before Aishwarya aunty because I tampered with her car to buy you guys some time.”
Mannat was staggered from within. The last person she thought would end up on the sidewalks of this cat and mouse game with Aishwarya Raisingh was Puneet Saluja. Though he said that he just saw her and Vikrant hiding from Aishwarya Raisingh, a part of Mannat was apprehensive if Puneet spotted Shalini there or even worse, saw them tying up Aishwarya Raisingh. After Gagan, Mannat didn’t want anyone else to be caught in this quicksand of Aishwarya Raisingh. Certainly not any member of the Saluja Mansion.
On the other end, whatever Puneet said came down on Vikrant like a ton of bricks. The last thing he remembers of that cocktail party night was having the juice from his mom and then hitting the bed. Even when Malla told him that he was nowhere to be found in the Saluja Mansion post the party, he was sceptic and brushed it under the carpet even though it did make him restless. No matter how much he tried he couldn’t recall any of the events of that night post the party. He does realise that his head feels heavy every now and then. He doesn’t remember any of the events Puneet said had happened that night. Not following Mannat, not being at the chawl, not being carried by Mannat, not hiding from Aishwarya Raisingh and certainly not being in the outhouse with Mannat at some point of that night. It was as if someone has wiped clean a strip of that night from his brain.
“You don’t remember a thing, do you?” Vikrant looked up startled as Puneet posed that question at him. “I figured it with the way you talked to Malla the next morning. And you’re not wondering why there’s this black window in your memory lane? That’s so unlike you, Vikrant.”
Picking up the papers from the table, Puneet tucked them inside his blazer. He trained his eyes on Mannat but not before passing a sweeping glance at Vikrant.
“Mannat, did you tell anyone that you were coming to Mezbaani?”
“No sir.”
“Not even to that aunty of yours?”
“No sir.”
“Are you stupid Mannat? Next time… IF… there’s a next time, it doesn’t matter if it’s me or Vikrant, be it anyone… if you go anywhere at such odd hours, alone, do inform someone you could count on before you gear up. Hear that?”
Mannat nodded hesitantly.
“Save it in that overworking brain of yours.”
Puneet scoffed at Mannat, patted on Vikrant’s arm and walked towards the corridor. Across a couple of seconds, he paused on his feet and turned back to face the duo. They haven’t moved an inch since he turned his back and walked away from them. Both Mannat and Vikrant were still standing across each other, gazing at Puneet. The duo clearly needs footnotes now! He took a deep breath and rolled his eyes.
“You two are idiots. Absolute idiots! That’s why this thing escalated to the wedding… which is by the way scheduled for tomorrow if you guys failed to register that yet. Especially you Vikrant. God!” Puneet threw his hands up in the air. Exasperation oozed out of his eyes and ears. “Vikrant, Mannat...There’s a clear cut boundary between ignorance and stupidity. It’s because of this stupidity Aishwarya aunty has her claws on you two. I won’t elaborate much. You two are capable of putting the two and two together. Compare the notes. For the love of God, please don’t mess up.”
After a long glance at them, Puneet walked out of the dining area, leaving Mannat and Vikrant face to face. The howling of the wind outside Mezbaani jostled the soul of the silence hovered between them. A storm was brewing somewhere outside. Somewhere within.
~ to be continued...
Part 2 : Page 4
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Sports
Hollywood
30