Finding The Light (VirMan) PART 40 FINISHED! - Page 42

So, I had requests to update quickly. (Cough COUGH. Aishu Virman!) Seeing as I've written ahead I decided to post. So yes. Here it is!

Chapter Thirty One – Hello, Delhi!

"Because you what, Viraat?" Maanvi said looking into Viraat's teary eyes.

He quickly consoled himself and wiped the tears away, he looked at her realising that he still hasn't answered her question.

"Because you're my friend." He said swiftly before getting up and zipping up his bag. Maanvi got up, thinking quite hard. She replied with an 'okay' before sighing and walking to him.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know. But whatever we do, the reality is still there right? I have to go home one day." She said. Viraat took a deep breath and smiled.

"Don't worry about me!" He said in a strange happiness. "We have until we find the truth right?" Maanvi nodded, "Then after that we'll have to keep in touch okay?"

"Of course Viraat! I'll never let you go that easily."

"Why? Will you miss me?"

Maanvi looked into his eyes, "Yes. Because we're friends." Viraat noticed that slight apprehension in her voice before putting on a slight smile and replying, "friends."

An hour later, everyone was waving as they sat inside the car. Maanvi sat in the back with Jeevika whilst Viraat sat in the driver's seat and Viren in the passenger's. Jeevika squealed happily and engrossed Maanvi into a conversation about her childhood. In her innocent, Jeevika asked about Maanvi's parents and she, automatically looked at Viraat through the driver's mirror. He looked back and gave her a slight smile which told her to keep faith.

"I had the best childhood. My parents were amazing, the best parents you could ask for.." Maanvi said telling stories which she had told Viraat before. She tried her best not to say anything that told Jeevika or Viren that she was finding her parents.

After alternating between Viren and Viraat driving, they all arrived in Delhi and at Jeevika's parents house.

"Ma!" Jeevika said hugging Padmini. Siddarth, Jeevika's father gave his blessings to Viren and then to Jeevika. Padmini noticed Maanvi and pulled her into a hug.

Once inside, Padmini made Jeevika sit on the sofa. Maanvi looked around the house, noticing it's homely feeling: on one side of the living room was books and on the other side was a sewing machine and some fabric which she was sure was Padmini's.

"How are you feeling beta? You must have a long journey." Padmini asked Jeevika giving her a glass of water whilst Laxmi, the maid served the others refreshments and snacks.

Siddarth sat besides Jeevika, "I can't believe that Jeevika is going to be a mother and me a granddad!" he chuckled.

"Really, this is such great news!" Padmini said, not missing the chance to pull her daughter into another hug.

"Seriously aunty! For the first time, I'm going to be an aunt and for the first time since Jeevika di, a baby will be born, right?" Maanvi said screeching before placing herself next to Jeevika.

The two friends-cum-sisters engrossed in a conversation before Jeevika took Maanvi to her room with the Vadhera brothers following.

Whilst the children were upstairs, Siddarth looked into his wife's eyes and gave her a smile. Padmini gave an uneasy look, preferring to look at the ground. Siddarth sighed and told her, "Let's not think about the past, what's happened had happened. Hm?"

Padmini nodded and slowly took a deep breath before heading off to the kitchen. Siddarth sat down in his usual chair, reminiscing about something before taking his thoughts out of his mind by reading a newspaper.

"And this is my room!" Jeevika said showing Maanvi her pink wall papered room.

"It's so pink." Maanvi stated. She looked around and noticed the cream carpet and the wooden dressing table. She sat herself on the bed, trying to get comfortable.

"It's my favourite colour so obviously!" Jeevika said, sitting besides Maanvi.

"You know Maanvi, Jeevika loves this colour so much that she always tells me to buy her dresses in pink." Viren said taking a seat besides Maanvi.

"Really? I didn't know that." Maanvi faced Jeevika, "You love this colour that much?" Jeevika nodded.

"Papa always used to give me clothes that were this colour and the habit came from there." She said gleefully.

Maanvi faced Viren, who was on her right, "And till now I am keeping up with this habit." Viren said laughing.

"By the way, Maanvi. What's your favourite colour?" Jeevika asked.

Straight away Maanvi replied, "blue."

"Wow, that's Viraat's favourite colour too." Viren said looking up at his brother who was still standing near the door.

"Really?" Maanvi said, glancing at Viraat.

"Yes, it's my favourite colour. You see, I like the outsides, the sky, the atmosphere. And the sky is blue so my favourite colour is blue." Viraat said walking towards Maanvi.

"The blue sky." Maanvi said proudly, "That's my favourite too."

"Looks like both of your choices are the same," Viren said looking up at Maanvi and then at Viraat.

Maanvi nodded, "Then that's sorted. Viraat." Viraat looked at her. "You buy me something with blue and I'll buy you something with you. We'll keep Jeevika's tradition okay, sorted?" She smiled.

"Hm, and what do you want?" Viraat asked.

Maanvi thought for a bit, "Hm, anything. But don't give me anything before I give you. I mean, we'll give it together. Okay?"

"Okay. So shall we go shopping tomorrow?" Viraat asked.

"Shopping? Tomorrow? Come on Maanvi, it'll be fun! I'll show you the whole Delhi!" Jeevika said getting a bit too excited.

Viren stopped Jeevika from getting over-hyper, "Areh, Jeevika. At least rest for two days, let Viraat take Maanvi tomorrow otherwise you'll be tired. And then what will happen to the baby?" Viren scolded.

Jeevika gave him a sorry but holding her ears, Viren couldn't help but smile at his wife's innocent behaviour and pull her into a hug. "I'm so happy that I can't even think." He said to her. "I love you so much."

"COUGH. COUGH. COUGH!" Maanvi and Viraat said at the same time. Viren and Jeevika pulled away embarrassed.

"Looks like we're not wanted anymore," Maanvi said getting off the bed. She pulled Viraat's arm, "Let's go Viraat. I'm hungry."

"Hm. Let's leave the love birds in their next shall we?" Viraat said smirking at his brother.

"You two are just…" Viren said as Maanvi and Viraat walked away, her still holding his arm. Viren faced Jeevika again and blushed like a young school boy.

"My wife…" He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ears and looked into her deep brown eyes. "Thank you for giving me this happiness."

Jeevika looked into his eyes and blushed, she hugged him, keeping her head onto his chest. "You too gave me this happiness." She said softly.

Viren put his arms around her waist and back and hugged her being careful not to hurt her or the baby by pulling too tight.

Now, it's getting a bit dark themed here. So those who don't like it, sorry! But this is quite essential for the future plot! (Without saying much)

Chapter Thirty Two: Priya

The next day, Maanvi woke up bright and early excited to spend the day in Delhi. She rushed down to find Padmini laying out the breakfast table.

"Aunty, may I help?" Maanvi asked politely. Padmini passed her some plates, "Beta can you place these plates there, please."

Maanvi nodded and did as she was told. "I still can't believe I'm here. I mean, with you guys…it's strange…" Padmini smiled.

"I'm very happy that you are here Maanvi, Vanshikaji told me that you had some work here in Delhi, if you don't mind, what was it that you need to come here for? I mean, if I am any help…" Padmini rambled on.

"Actually," Dare she tell? "I'm here to find someone. A friend of my mother's." Padmini nodded in response, "I think she lives here, well I have an address."

"Okay beta, if you need anything please ask me. I'll help you find your mother's friend."

Once everything was placed, the Vadhera's and Siddarth came downstairs and sat down to have breakfast.

"Areh, vaah! What aroma is coming out from this food!" Siddarth exclaimed and sat at the head of the table. Besides him was Padmini and Jeevika opposite. Viren sat near Jeevika whilst Maanvi sat opposite, with Viraat on her side.

They had light conversation before Padmini pulled Jeevika away to take about how to take care during pregnancy. Viren had left with Siddarth whilst Viraat took Maanvi to do shopping.

Jeevika and Padmini sat on the bed of her room, the mother admiring the fact that she was going to be a grandmother. "I can't believe that my daughter is so big now that my baby is going to have a baby."

Jeevika smiled, "I can't believe it too." Jeevika stopped. "Actually ma, I want to tell you something, actually more like ask."

"Tell me beta."

"Actually, I talked to Virenji about this and he said to ask you…"

"Hm?"

"The thing is…If it's a girl…I want to name her Priya." Jeevika said quietly.

Padmini sat in shock. "…Priya?" She whispered. A tear formed in her eyes which gradually fell down her face. Jeevika at once, wiped the tear from her mother's face.

"I'm sorry. Ma, if you don't want to then…" Jeevika started to hesitate. She didn't want to hurt her mother.

"No, no. It's fine." Padmini looked at her daughter, "Are you okay with this?"

"Yes ma. I know what happened wasn't your fault. Papa-" Jeevika stopped. "I mean, everything that he did wasn't your fault. And he's gone now right? He won't ever hurt us again. And my baby sister that was taken away from us, maybe she'll come back as my own daughter. Hm? That's why I want to call her Priya." Padmini couldn't help but cry. Jeevika once again wiped the tears from her mother's eyes, assuring her that everything was fine.

"Ma, you were telling me what to eat and what not to eat." Jeevika said trying to make the conversation lighter.

"Well…"Padmini started to smile as they talked.

Meanwhile, over in the shopping mall, Maanvi was excited to do shopping. "I'm going to buy the whole shop!" She exclaimed.

"Seriously? You'll buy everything?"

"Of course! After all, my husband is buying right?" Maanvi grinned.

"You girls are all the same, before marriage you get money from your father and after marriage you get money from your husbands." Viraat said without thinking.

Maanvi stopped him, "But we're not married. Not really, so who am I getting money from?"

They stood outside the shop, eye locking. Maanvi looked at him, wanting him to say something.

"You? Mm…you're getting money from your friend. Yaar, I don't know." He walked away nervous.

Maanvi looked down and sighed. Then watching Viraat walk away she scolded herself, Why am I thinking like this? Why do I feel like this? Why do I want him to say something other than that? Am I….no…? I can't. Pyaar? No way. It's Viraat. And what do I know about love? I'm crazy, and I'm even crazy talking to my self. She thought.

She rolled her eyes at herself and ran up to catch up with him. She looked around, it was swarmed with people but no Viraat. Her heart started racing, where was he? She started to run but to no success. She didn't know anything about Delhi, nor where she was. She was lost. She wanted to cry out. Scream for Viraat. In that instant moment, she missed him. Her heart yearned for him. She ran outside, hoping that he was near there. She remembered the place he parked the car but he wasn't there.

She decided to call him and looked into her purse. She searched frantically but remembered that she had left her phone at home. Where are you, Viraat? She said out loud.

Just then, a few guys came over. They were all rowdy men possibly in their late 20's. Maanvi felt scared. She needed Viraat. But he wasn't there.

"Hello darling. Need any help?" One of them said, his voice sounding like sharp ice contrasting Viraat's soft soothing voice.

"I'm fine." Maanvi spat out. She really didn't want this, not right now. Her mind was all over the place, all she could think of was Viraat. She tried to get away but was stopped.

"Looks like she's fresh meat." One of them muttered to the other. They started to circle her, making it impossible for her to get out. No one was around, the car park was empty of people, as usual. She started to hesitate, breathing really fast.

"Let me go." Maanvi shouted.

"Why? Didn't you know? We're your hero." The first one said winking at her. She felt uneasy, it wasn't anything like how Viraat winked. His one was funny, and sort of loving but this guy? He made it seem dirty and unclean.

"Look, let me go. Or!" The man stopped her talking.

"Or what? Slap Me?" They started laughing at her and the man pushed his cheek towards her indicating her to slap him.

"Oh please, I don't want STD's." She said blatantly. Everyone stopped laughing and the man became embarrassed.

"Look girl…" he started to speak but was silenced by a new voice.

Maanvi looked out and saw Viraat, without thinking she pushed her way out and ran up to him, hugging him tight.

"Why did you leave me?" She cried out. "I missed you so much! Why!"

Viraat held her shoulders, and looked into her eyes, "I'm sorry. I didn't think. I thought you were there and when you weren't, you don't know how I felt." He whispered, she smiled at his voice, her favourite voice.

"Look man, this is our girl. We found her first." The man said walking up to Viraat with his friends.

"She is mine." Viraat spat out, hardening each word.

"Really? We saw her first! Who is she to you?" The man said eyeing Maanvi like she was a toy.

Maanvi looked up at Viraat and begged him to save her, he protected her by pushing her behind him and facing up to the men. "My wife." He said out loud.

The men looked at each other, and then at Viraat. "She's wasted." One of them muttered. Maanvi hesitated at the way they were talking about her virtue. She held onto Viraat's back, hiding herself.

The frontman looked at Maanvi again, with an annoyed look. "Oh really? Your wife. Where's her sindoor and mangalsutra?" The man laughed followed by her friends.

"You do not need these things if you consider someone your wife." Viraat stated, piercing each and every word. "I love her, and she's mine."

The men started to get uneasy noticing Viraat's upcoming anger. Being the cowards that they were, only wanting a woman's virtue, they walked back. "Have her. We don't want someone who's had her way with others." He gave Maanvi a look and they all ran out leaving Maanvi to find her perfect place, in Viraat's arm.

"Viraat." She whispered.

"Maanvi, I'm sorry."

She looked up at him, "Thank you." She breathed out. Looking at her, he didn't notice when he kissed her forehead, his soft lips touching her skin. She shivered before asking him, "Please take me home." He nodded, not taking her out of his sight.

And the final one that I've written down so far...here it is! Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty Three: Confessions

"Maanvi? Is everything alright?" Padmini said worrying as Viraat held Maanvi in his arms. In her fright, she didn't realise when she had cried herself to sleep and took her home. Viren and Siddarth were still out, and Padmini and Jeevika rushed to help Maanvi.

Viraat didn't answer Padmini, simply putting Maanvi into her bed and protecting her with blankets. "She was nearly stolen from these men." Viraat spat out. He wanted to hurt them, but most of all he wanted to protect Maanvi. He was scared if something happened to him, they might snatch Maanvi away from him.

"What?" Padmini whispered out in shock. She started to hyperventilate, flashbacks of her past coming to light. Jeevika noticed this.

"Ma!" She screamed out.

Padmini confused about what was happening, regained herself and sat herself down near Maanvi. She caressed her hair and cried.

"Viraat, what happened?" Jeevika asked frantically as she gave Padmini some water to drink.

"We separated for a while accidently, and when I found her these goons were eyeing her. It was as if she was just an object bhabhi," He started to cry. "If I wasn't there, I can't even imagine what they could have done to her."

"Did they go?" Jeevika asked.

Viraat sniffed. "I told them that I was Maanvi's husband. And you know what they did? They walked away like cowards, calling her used and wasted. Can you believe that? They were thinking of doing unthinkable things with her but left her as soon as they find out she's been with someone else. I mean, in their thoughts." He corrected himself.

Jeevika wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged Viraat. "Thank you." She said. "Not just for helping Maanvi, but for protecting her, but showing that there is someone out there for protection." She looked at her mother, "If only that person was always there."

"Hm?" Viraat said confused. Jeevika didn't answer him but simply said that she'll make tea. She took Padmini with her leaving Viraat with Maanvi.

"I'm never leave you Maanvi. Never." He whispered to her.

Over in the kitchen, Jeevika twirled the spoon to make tea. She was in her own world, trying to keep strong for Viraat but most importantly her mother. This had bought a trauma back to her, something that she wanted to forget.

"Ma…" Jeevika whispered. "Are you okay?"

Padmini didn't reply for a while, "I can't believe that what happened to me nearly happened to Maanvi."

Jeevika left everything to console her mother, "Ma..."

"I thank God that Viraat was there. I wish your father was this considerate." She sniffed.

"That man was never considerate. He used you, ma. He sold you off to them. Everything was his fault. Never yours." Jeevika said to her mother.

Padmini thought about the past, her close encounter with a rapist.

*Flashback*

"Please don't do this!" A younger Padmini begged her husband.

"Shut up." He spat out. "What did you think? That I loved you? Never. You were just a toy. And now I'm selling you off. Did you know that man is paying me lots of money for a night with you?"

"No!" Padmini begged harder.

Her husband snatched her neck and started squeezing it with his hand. "Shut up. If you don't do this for me, then I'll…I'll sell your daughter off." Padmini's eyes widened. "No!" She started to get restless, she was suffocating in his hands.

"How would you like it if Jeevika was…"

"NO!" She screamed and pushed him off her. "I'll do it. I'll do anything. Just don't touch her."

The man smiled. "Now that's like my beautiful wife. Go on and dress yourself up. Wear that red saree but remember no sindoor or mangalsutra, you're his for the tonight."

Padmini whimpered as she was forced to dress up. She kissed her two year old daughter on her forehead. Jeevika was sleeping, unknowing what was going to happen to her mother.

She entered the room where a man waited for her, her night of terror had just started…

*Flashback ends*

"We're home!" Siddarth shouted out to Padmini and Jeevika. Viren came inside and noticed his wife with tears in her eyes.

"Jeevika, what happened?" Viren asked, Jeevika ran towards her husband and cried.

Padmini cried out and Siddarth was confused. "Padmini? Kya hua?" She started to cry.

"Maanvi…" Padmini spoke out.

Jeevika narrated everything that had happened with Maanvi, whilst Siddarth looked at his wife and gave her assurance. He told her quietly that everything that happened was the past and Maanvi will be okay. Padmini nodded and looked to her husband for strength. He chastely kissed her forehead and they all went to Maanvi's room where Viraat was looking over the sleeping Maanvi.

"Bhai…"Viraat called out with sticky eyes due to crying.

"Everything will be alright, you remember what they look like right?" Viren asked. Viraat thought for a bit before nodding. He could never forget those faces. Viren told him to write down everything he remembers. Being a criminal lawyer, Viren was used to these scenarios but as Maanvi was close to the family, he wanted to punish them.

Viraat kissed Maanvi's forehead and told her that he'll come soon. Everyone left the room leaving Maanvi alone.

In her slumber, she started speaking. "Viraat." She groggily said. "I love you."

Originally posted by: Aishu_VirMan

OMG! RES! *edited*

OK, I want more! 😆

Just kidding! I've already troubled you so much, I don't want to do anymore!

I love this! She confessed! Wonder if Virat heard! 😉 OMG, I am just so addicted to this FF as if it was like one soap itself! 😃

Thanks a TON Zahara! And I feel guilty for the trouble I caused you! I am so sorry, please forgive me!

This is what Anxiety does to a person! 😛