FF: Solid Soul Part XXI / PG 66 - Page 8

Chapter VIII

Shantivan, New Delhi

ASR paced up and down his room. He had not been able to focus after his return from Sadhrana. He tried calling CM and left voice messages at the end of CM's obnoxious greeting. He had half a mind to call Digi and tell him to use his good offices to open the lines of communications between him and CM. But he had decided against it as Sonia was sick. But he could not control himself. It was driving him nuts, he was almost sure that CM had found her and it was not just a twinge, Khushi had been around Sadhrana vicinity this afternoon. The suspense was killing him and he was running short of alternatives. He dialed Digi's number'''''''''''''''''''''.and he was promptly directed to voicemail. He called CM again unsuccessfully. He shot a bunch of emails but nothing yielded the desired result. Every avenue, he tried today was proving to be a dead end and he needed options. He dialed Aman's number and the ever efficient picked up on the second ring. He demanded that a list of best investigative agencies in town be faxed to him at the earliest. Well one CM is not going to deter ASR from getting what he wants. And he wanted his wife found and he was willing to pay the price.

Meanwhile, a floor below, in the Jha room, Shyam Jijaji was also pacing the floor. When ASR ran out of the meeting, he knew ASR was up to something. A call to Om Puri had divulged that there was no emergency, so he could not figure out why ASR had lied to him. This was a new phenomenon and he was going to nip this habit in the bud. When it was other peoples' life, the open-book policy worked best. No surprises to deal with. Chalo dekhte hain saalesaab kya khichadi paka rahe hain. A trek up one floor, and Shyam Jha boldly stood outside ASR's room to hear ASR's conversation with Aman. He knew what Saalesaab was upto. Well Shyambituwa, aur paisse aitne ka tarika mil gaya. You are going to be the new investigator and you will feed information that will poison his mind forever for Khushi. He knew how to feed information to Aman so that ASR did exactly what he wanted him to. As he sauntered down Shyam Jha knew that getting ASR to exactly what he wanted would be the easier part, but the slightly difficult part would be to find out who the other investigator was.

Maheshwari Residence

Paschim Vihar

CM brooded over the turn of the day's events. If Dr. Nalini Singh Maheshwari had not seen him, he would have successfully completed the case today. His brain said yes, yes and yes. But his heart kept negating the brain's assertion. Only a day into the case, and he found the elusive Mrs. Raizada. This would have been some case to unravel. He leaned back and just shut his eyes and relaxed. His introspection was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. He had been expecting her, he knew she would come, but so soon.

"Chanakya"

CM: Haan Nalini, Office main hoon, aa jaao

Dr. Singh said from the doorway: Chod do is case ko Chanakya please. Us bechari ko chhod do. Mat karo usse apne client ke hawaale please.

CM: Teek hai, ek shart par

Nalini: Koi sharten nahin, I don't want you to work on this case. This is the first time I have asked something from you. Meri Khaatir'''.please.

CM looked at his wife of six years. 14 months ago, she had left home on a account of a trivial fight. He had not realized that by letting pride stand in his way, he had lost the best thing that had happened to him. By the time he realized that his pride was not worth anything if she was not there beside him, she had not been so accommodating. May be if he bent a just a little ''''..he could get her to be a little less hostile and then maybe start working on eliminating his vanvaas. For now he was not going to tell her that he had dumped ASR.

"Teek hai, chod doonga bina koi sharton par. Baito, kaissi ho."

Nalini: Thanks, no thanks, Nikalna hai, Khushi''

CM: Baito. Panditji, madam ki gaadi main baiti hui aurat ko andar lana

Nalini: Stop looking so smug. Zaroorat se zyada hoshiyaar ho tum. Well kuch to credit do, isse safe jagah uske liye aur kahan hogi. Bolo?

CM just shrugged and looked up the door. Anklets, he could hear anklets.

Nalini: Meri madat karoge?

CM knew exactly what she wanted. Maybe this is the best thing to make his wife come back to him.

"Thode dino ke liye tum usse yahin rehno do. Lekin tumhe bhi yahan rehna padega mere saath, otherwise no deal. Doosri baath, I need to know her side of the story."

Nalini: Kya dialogue fenk rahe ho, tumhare saath rehne mein mujhe kabse problem hone lagi. Anyway poori story boloongi. Par pehle khana aur phir Khushi ko settle karke, phir kamre mein chalkar baath kartein hain.

"Aao Khushi, inhe to tum mil chuki, yeh mere pati hain"

Khushi: Lekin ''''

CM: Haan nikal fenka tumhare samne.

Khushi: Aap par koi mushkil to nahi aayegi, humari wajah se.

Nalini: Uski chinta mat karo Khushi. Come lets get dinner, then your medication and get a good nights sleep. You have to rest and be healthy to carry full term.

The 3 occupants of the dining room, retired for the night, but for the Maheshwaris, the night turned out to be a long one. At 11.30 pm, Nalini was at Khushi's bedside trying to soothe an emotionally agitated Khushi. CM watched from the doorway as his wife administered a tranquilizer to knock out Mrs. Raizada. He was so glad that he had not solved the case today. CM knew his wife was going to stay awake by her patient. He walked to the kitchen for reinforcements. 10 minutes later, he brought 2 beakers of steaming hot tea into the patient's room and handed his wife a beaker.

As promised, Nalini enumerated Khushi's story, at least parts that she knew as her physician. CM absorbed all the details. He questioned her about the suicide attempt, the kind of injuries. But the story had major holes and inconsistencies. He had a massive dossier on Mrs. Raizada now, some more personal details from her family and in-laws would be helpful to see what he was dealing with. But at the current juncture, Mrs. Raizada needed to lay low and regain her strength. Both he and his wife will be her rock, till she would be able to fend for herself.

At 3.00 am, Nalini administered another mild sedative to her patient. CM observed that the day and nights activity had taken its toll on her. Despite protests, he lifted his wife in a fireman's lift and took her to their bedroom two doors down the corridor. He dropped his wife on the bed,

"Go to sleep, I am awake & I will promise to wake you."

He reached for the security system panel below the light switches and activated the alarms set for the night mode.

first to comment 😊

love ur story keep updating...

Loved ur story...Finally got a chance to read this...👏

fabulous update!!

Wow!!!Took me back to my college days when mystery and romantic novels were my best buddies at night.CM and his wife are cool characters , ASR deaf and dumb as ever where his family is concerned,but u caught me off guard with that pervert's characterization dear,he is evil we all know that,but evil with loads of brain is definitely a combustible combination.God save Khushi and also ASR.But thoroughly enjoyed ur chapter as well as the flow of the story.

omgee, that was a fab FF, PM me whenever u update!

love you plot. it's a new and interesting take on their lives. Can't wait for the net update! please add me to your PM list :)

awesome...soon they will move ur wrk to the fanfictions..so i need a pm!:)..plz add me to ur pm list!