A SCANDAL IN THE MAKING-KZK2 FANFICTION - Page 2

Why should a woman know her place? And what is that anyways?

Mrs Bose was insulting the ladies. But that slap might have big repercussions.

I like the way you are trying to explore the various backstories of the Basu family. Loved the part where Anurag has to portray himself as gay.

Chapter 4-Sociopath?

Prerna watched the chaos unfolding in front of her in horror.Mrs.Bose looked lividly at her mother and raised her hand to slap her back,only to find it blocked.

"How dare you,Veena?"seethed Mrs.Bose,wincing as the older woman tightened her grip.

"Will both of you just stop it?Veena,let go of her arm!" thundered Mohini Basu.

Veena reluctantly dropped the hand,casting a seething glance at the other woman,who seemed to be gloating.

"Mohini,you should honestly come up with a punishment stronger than a simple reprimand." complained Mrs.Bose.

Mohini sighed,pinching her nose in frustration."Lata,I believe I saw your husband waiting for you by the pandal."

"But Mohini....." started Mrs.Bose,her words trailing at the glare directed towards her.Gulping,she scurried off towards the pandal.

Mohini turns towards them.

"Veena ,I'm going to have to ask you to shut down your stall."

"You can't do that!" Veena spluttered.

"As the organizer I am within my rights to do so,especially when you have slapped one of my guests.I understand that you have opened this stall to supplement your income.Rest assured,that will be taken care off.I have purchased each and every doll.You will find the money deposited in your account within an hour.Kindly go to the Pandal.Moloy has specifically requested your family to join us for the aarti."said Mohini coldly,leaving in a rustle of silk.

Prerna let go of the breath she was holding and rushed over to her mother,who stared at the men taking apart the stall,tears in her eyes.She glanced around at the crowd surrounding them and sighed.Taking her mother's hand,she pulled her mother towards the pandal,swearing to get back at Mohini Basu.

The Basus had spared no expense when it came to organizing the Durga pujo festivities.The Durga statue itself was over ten feet tall,resplendent in robes of pure silk,the shade as scarlet as fresh blood.If one noticed carefully,they could make out the real gold thread used to embroider the chunri.Rumour had it that the Basu matriarch had specially had the chunri made for Anurag.

"Why is aunty looking so glum?"

Prerna started and found herself flanked by Anurag and Tapur.She haltingly explained the happenings at the stall.The siblings winced and glanced at their mother who was busy praying.

"I would like to apologize to you and aunty." said Anurag.

Tapur nodded fervently."Me too.Maa is well....complicated." unwilling to chastise her mother.

Prerna rolled her eyes."Face it Tapur.Your mother is both royalty and a businesswoman.And she embodies the worst qualities of both classes."

Anurag looked rather uncomfortable. "Aren't you perhaps judging her too harshly?"

"I can't believe this!One of her guests insulted my mother ,yet we are the ones who have to pay the price!We were insulted in front of everyone."

Anu fell silent and turned to the idol,his hands folded in prayer.Tapur too followed suit.Soon,the aarti began and everyone took turns in pairs.Moloy and Mohini Basu went first;Prerna couldn't help but notice them holding hands as they withdrew, making way for Nivedita and Anupam.

Before long,it was her turn,and to her surprise,Anurag stepped forward with her and the two of them performed the veneration together.She glanced at him as their hands brushed.He smiled faintly before turning to face the idol.She smiled to herself as she felt the gazes of the rest of the family burn into the back of her head.A quick glance showed the thunderous look on Mohini's face and she simply smirked to herself.

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Nivedita watched her brother shove Prerna playfully,the disdain clear on her face.

"What's wrong baby?"

To her abject annoyance,it was Anupam,her husband.

"What would it take for you to leave me alone?" she snapped.

He simply smiled at her.

"A year ago,I would have asked 50 crores,but now,all I want is a chance to woo you."

"You lost that chance a long time ago.Whatever regard I had for you died that night.I will give you the money.Will you accept the divorce?"

"Spoken like Mohini Basu's daughter.But no amount of money will ever make me leave your side. YOU- ARE- STUCK- WITH- ME." he emphasised each word with a finger,his expression hardening.

She whirled around in rage,raising her hand to slap him,before stopping.Taking deep breaths to collect herself,she regained her voice,"Just get lost,Anupam!" and she walked away.

"Jiju!" a voice called."Is everything alright?"

Anupam smiled at a clearly shaken Tapur in an effort to comfort her.

" I'm ok." he said." Trust me,"he added,looking at the disbelief on her face.

" Your di needs time to forgive me.And I'm willing to wait."

" But she nearly slapped you."

" She stopped when she saw me flinch. Nivi is not a bad person. She is considerate,even towards those who don't deserve it."

"But what if she had hit you?"

"She wouldn't.I know her really well."

Tapur simply scoffed at his statement.

"You sound disturbingly like baba.I have no idea what you both see in your wives." She said with a shudder.

"You do realize you're talking about your mother and sister right?" he asked with a laugh.

"They're sociopaths."

"Sociopaths who love you a lot and would burn down the world for you.I'd rather have sociopaths who love me than a mother willing to sell me off."

Tapur looked at her brother-in-law,aghast.

"What is that supposed to mean,jiju?" She said slowly,the blood rushing into her head as the noise from the pandal grew louder,almost deafening her.

"I...." Before he could continue,a bolt of thunder made them jump.Looking around in panic,it didn't take them long to realize that the pandal was on fire.

" Tapur,stick with me and do exactly as I say."

Without waiting for a reply,he grabbed her hand and broke into a run,zeroing on his wife's position.To his abject horror,she had collapsed beneath a pile of rubble,which had fallen from the ceiling.

" Nivi..."he whispered,his heart breaking at the sight of her still form.Without wasting a minute, he started clearing away the pile,mindless of the blisters forming on his hands.

"Tapur,what are you doing?Help!" He barked.

She snapped out of her trance and dove in.Before long,they had managed to free her.With a grunt,he managed to hoist Nivedita on one shoulder and the three of them stumbled out of the pandal,coughing and spluttering.Anupam rushed his wife to an ambulance which had showed up,leaving behind a lost looking Tapur.She felt someone embrace her.

"Baba...." And she started crying even as her father gently stroked her hair.

"It's ok baby," he whispered,"you're safe and so is Nivi."

She sobbed harder,burying her face,deeper into his coat.His weight suddenly shifted.She looked up and to her delight,Nivi had joined them,her face tear-stricken and soot streaked.The three of them clung to each other while Anupam looked on awkwardly.Tapur detached herself and threw herself at him.

"Thank you,you big oaf!You saved our lives.Di and I shall forever be grateful."

He chuckled nervously as he looked on at her di,who was studiously avoiding meeting his eyes.She smiled broadly,when a sudden realization came upon her.Her father was not alright.He was still frantically scanning the crowds,searching for someone.

Shit!Maa and Anu bhaiyya!she thought.The two of them were nowhere to be seen.Nivi di too had come to the same conclusion and was incessantly attempting to call Maa.

"She is not picking up!"

"Try Anu bhaiyya!"

"Signal not found."

Tapur suddenly felt her skin dampen.She looked to the sky and blinked as the rain drops splattered on her face.The shower turned into a veritable downpour, effectively dousing the flames.They heaved a collective sigh of relief as they watched two rather bedraggled figures stagger out looking worse for wear,the taller of the two,clutching Durga maa's chunri.