Wheels Of Fortune Thread #2 Chap 11 Updated pg 47 - Page 15

Chapter 9

Way to My Real Self

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Manyata hated to be at office .But then she had important things to do .Most important was that she had to resign . The paparazzi had taken toll on her. She did not want o work with the boss she was so falsely being related to.

'How can u be so dumb Manya ', came a cold reply from her conniving boss 'read the contract of your service my little dumb head ,u just cant leave us until this project is over or before one year whichever comes sooner'.

'Fine', Mnaya fumed but then dare not spread rumors regarding our relationship Mr Vikramjeet Singh .I promise u will repent ur any further action in that direction'.

'O really sweetheart', smirked Vikramjeet .He pushed back his chair and stood up making Mnaya cautious of her position . Before Mnaya could realize he had already stridden to be by her side .He rolled her chair to make Mnaya face himself. Manya sunk in her chair trying to distance from his hovering stature.

'U know, my little dumb head , for the first time I feel Yuvraaj Udayveer Singh is absolutely right in saying that u are Yuvrani Manayata .U know why ?

Manya looked at Vikram curiously who had just paused before he made some interesting revelation .

Vikram smiled to see her curiosity .He moved back leaving Manya to take a deep breath . She coughed while she inhaled as the air had suddenly become too contaminated to breath in because of a man like Vikram hovering over her like a scavenger .

' Because u are as fool and dumb head as his wife Mnayata who was too simple and foolishly innocent to discern her friends and foes .and fell to an enemy who feigned to be her friend'.

Vikrams revelations stunned Mnaya .How does he know so much about Yuvrani Mnayta and her friends and enemies ! Was he involved in her disappearance? Does he know the person behind her disapperence. Several questions banged her brain at once.

Yuvrani Mnayata was a mystery for her, a mystery whose links were related to her very own identity crisis. Today for the first time she heard somebody talk about her enemies. Tiil now Manyata was either referred as loved wife of Yuvraaj Udayveer or she herself. Yuvrani Mnayata did had enemies ,that too in form of her friend was something new for her.

'U seem to know so much about Yuvrani Manyata ,wife of your sworn enemy .Should I confer that u have a great role to play in her disappearance too' MnaYA's words were cleaverly spoken targated to dig some more truth about the lady whose mystry was so much like her own mind Unsolved !

Mnayas word took Vikram off guard Damn it ! he spoke a bit too much

'Well your allegations may prove baseless till u have a proof', His words were equally well composed with least hint to the tornado going on in his mind. But something in his tone intrigued Manaya

Sure he knows much more and she needed to know what more he knew .It was high time ,the mystery of Yuvraani Mnayatas disappearance need to be solved and she had got her first clue to it ,sure her solved mystry would be an answer to her very own existence.

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The Ranas caffe was always most crowded place in the evening .It was the cheapest cafe in in pricy colaba. The weary employees often took halt at Rana after their hectic day at office to volley off their frustration and laugh at their boss .It was the favorite cafe of Manya and her friends , it was here the three friends always met even though now they did not work together.

'So whats up', asked Anya casually as she sipped her coffee trying to fit her long legs beneath the little table.

'U said u have something important to tell '.

'Yes, but then u had something important too Mnaya'.

'OK fine me first ,well I think my boss knows something about Yuvrani Manyatas disappearance' Mnaya reflected blandly

Anya smiled as though she already knew it .Her expressions made Manya uneasy.

'Now why is that smile for Anya' Mnaya was impatient now

'I smiled coz u spoke just another side of fact I wanted to tell u'

Manya was attentive now her brows knitted .Suddenly she could see and hear nothing of the dingy noise of the caffe but Anya and her words.

'What do u mean ?'

'U remember the new year night' Anya winked as she looked at Aman and then at Manya

'How can any of us forget it Anya we have a big reason to remember it forever' . Anya could hear the irritation in Mnaya's voice as she understood the reason quit well

'Yes we have a big reason to remember it ,but wont u like to know who drugged us or say u '

'Drugged me !' Mnaya was surprised by the fact that anybody other then yuvraj Udayeveer would ever drug her

'Yes somebody drugged u Mnaya . I and |Aman got drugged just caz we were with u'

'But , Why and who. I always thought it was Udayveer but now I know he didn't' and suddenly her conversation with Rakesh sweeped in her mind and then came the memories of moments she had been fighting to resist all day long.But soon her trance was broken by yet another shocking revelation by Anya.

'It was Yurani Minakshi who drugged us Mnaya and now I clearly know why

'Minakshi ! ', Mnaya was stunned to hear her name .Yuvrani Minakshi tried to drug her ! Now Mnaya wanted the whole truth .She drank her whole coffee in one gulp just to free herself from task of sipping it again and again

'Yes , Minakshi and she did it coz she does not like any women so near to Udayveer and U were the nearest Mnaya ! She wanted to have a scene out of u , and then get u '' Anya stopped to find suitable words to explain Minakshi's heinous plans

'Get me what Anya?'

'U know it very well ', Anya sighed and Manaya knew instantly what she meant. Obviously she would have had ended up with some guy and in some disrespectful way. Udayveer had already lectured her on her stupidity. But whatever her intentions were she certainly ended up bringing her closest to Udayveer .

'How do u know ? ' , was the obvious question Manay could ask trying her best to suppress the sudden emotional turmoil that had reverberated by the very thought of that fateful new year night .

'I had seen the woman ordering our drink but did not remember much, but suddenly I realized I knew her when I saw Yuvrani Minakshi today being so coochy coo with our boss Udayveer'.

'But how come my boss's knowledge regarding Yuvrani Manyata and Yurani Minakshi fit together ', asked Mnaya still confused about the real intentions of Yurani Minakshi and her boss Vikramjeet Singh

'They are cousins Manya and very good friends and Minakshi has more then forty five percent shares in most of Vikramjeet ventures'

Mnaya could see the pieces falling in place now .Yurani Minakshi had been considered good friend of Yuvrani Manayta who was wife of Yuvraaj Udayveer. Yuvrani Minakshi always loved Udayveer and Yuvrani Mnayata was in her way , just the way she herself is now. May be Vikramjeet was referring to Minakshi herself when he said that Yuvrani Mnayata was cheated by her own friend .Now she understood her job at VJS was not a coincidence at all she had been tactfully hired by the company just to put down Yuvraaj Udayveer as she was his priced employee and more than that so very near to his heart. Her pictures with Vikramjeet kissing and her tarnished reputation has all been so tactfully planned by these cousins just to hurt Yuvraaj Udayveer who seemed to believe her to be his wife !

'They are using me to hurt Udayveer just coz I look like Yuvrani Mnayata ! ', Manya's word seemed to come out of deep hollow.

'Or may be u r Yuvrani Mnayta and they are using ur Amnesia as tool against u urself and ur may be husband Yuvraaj Udayveer' said Anya trying to sound logical enough for confused Manya

'Now how do I know who I am ?', Manya had lost it . She seemed to break. The confusion was killing her.

'There is only one way to know the truth Manya ,just find out what happened to Yuvraani Mnayta and how did she disappear, may u get all answers while finding her truth', added Aman who had been silently listening to the duo.

Mnaya exhale a deep breath .She did understand the connection. The connection between Vikramjeet Singh and Minakshi and why press and media was so hell bent to paint her tainted picture. It was because Yuvraani Minakshi wanted it.She wanted her to be out her way just the way she made Yuvrani Mnayata lost in holy mountains of Haridwar. Yuvraani Mnayata was a legal wife of Yuvraaj Udayveer Singh and a widely held personality among people so she chose a silent way ,the way where suddenly Yuvraani Manayta gets lost in jungle and is never found, nobody knows where she is gone nobody saw her .

Slowly people forgot her except her lovelorn husband and family .And now when somehow she had made her place in Yuvraaj Udayveers business and heart she had been challenged again .This time by somebody who looked like Yuvraani Mnayata somebody whom Yuvraaj Udayveer believed to be his lost wife. At the end it was all about Yuvraaj Udayeveer and his lost wife Mnayata and she was sure connected to them be it by her looks or destiny itself.

Manya waved Anya good bye and headed for the auto rikshaw. Her mind still whirling around with mystery of Yuvrani Mnayata .She knew what she needed to do and for that she needed a plan.

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'It's a business conference. I want u to make the presentation regarding our latest success Mnaya. I want my competitors know how well we are doing these days.' Vikramjeet knew Mnaya was the best tool to be used at latest economic meet organized by federation of Indian chamber of commerce and industry FICCI. His biggest competitors would be there to attend and so will be Yuvraaj Udayveer too.

Manya understood the intentions of Vikramjeet Singh and smiled to herself. She knew all his plans of making Yuvraaj Udayveer insecure would sure fail as the weapon he was using to do so would have no effect on Yuvraaj Udayveer. She still remembered his eyes and hatred he had in them for her. No love, no compassion could thwart that rage he had for her. Sure Yuvraaj Udayveer must be ready with some solid plan to counter attack Vikramjeet Singh with some hateful taunts and gibes for her

'Yes Sir', Mnaya replied in a feigned to be attentive tone and left.

Manya had been feeling unwell since a week but today she felt she needed to rest or may sure blackout. She asked Raman to make presentation while she would have the final look. Her nausea was killing her plus the tension of presentation worsened her situation. She had already spewed twice since morning and knew not how many times more she would repeat it. Sure she was not fit for presentation.

She tried to explain her situation but to Vikramjeet it was nothing but a lame excuse to save herself from facing Udayveer.

'Sir cant u see I am sick', Manya exasperated .

'Don't I know that Miss Mnaya ,U women are good actors and I am in no mood of entertainment, when I said u will ,then u will have to ' snapped Vikramjeet

.

He saw her walk out of his room frail and exhausted. Something in him complained. May be it was his heart or just a humane conscience. Whatever it was ,it made him feel uneasy ,he was not the one who cared much for his employees. He paid them good and that was enough of his responsibly. Manya has never been just an employee for him ,she had always been his weapon against udayveer ,he used her skillfully to get his work done. But today he felt he used her too much .She looked pale, still he had barged at her callously .Whats wrong with me ,thought Vikramjeet to himself. I have never been so inhumane. What is in this girl that takes on my nerves.

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Manaya rang the door bell .The daily office routine suddenly seemed so strenuous to her. Manav opened the door babbling with joy. He had been gifted his favorite x box gaming by Udayeveer .THE boy had been pestering his sister to get it but his strict didi would never give in for some online gaming. So he decided to get it from his mentor Yuvraaj Udayveer with a promise to get first grade in exams.

'So at last u got it ,that too from Yuvraaj Udayeveer ,fine my little bro now I am going to tell him about ur poor grades and it will sure be taken away from u ' said Mnaya who was not so happy to see her brother get such costly gifts from his mentor that spoilt him too.

'Didi pls don't do that promise this time will get first grade for sure' Manav pleaded while he touched his throat in a real promise gesture.

' Ok I belive u manava , work hard this time ', she muttered and plopped in the sofa and rested her head .

Manav looked at her flustered face and realized his didi was not feeling good .He knew how to make her feel good, he rushed to the kitchen and prepared his didi's favorite adrak wali chai.

'Thanks my little bro ,u just know how to make ur didi happy ' Manya smiled taking a sip of her little brothers well mastered hot drink.

'But please didi see the doctor u r not well since two week', replied Mnanav his voice concerned

'I will Manav just one presentation tomorrow and I will take long leave'.

Hope so di u always say but never take' complained Mnanav .

Manya smiled faintly at her little brother who was no more little ,he was going to be fourteen next month, a fast growing adolescent, so concerned so mature, he made her feel secure. Strange , she smiled to herself , there were times when he searched for love and protection in her lap now he was growing big enough to make her didi feel secure because of him.

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Manya was awed to see the hall filled with reputed dignitaries and top brasses of multinationals. Vikramjeet had told her it was an important meeting but she never expected such a big gathering. It was an international level business meet and her boss chose her to represent his company Strange !

Mnaya had taken medication but she was not sure if should survive the whole meeting.Her head had already started going dizzy now .She had prepared raman for backup .

She was impressed by the spokespersons of various companies and marveled if she could really match them. Her eyes searched for Udayveer ,her heart fluttered as she spotted him in his impressive armani busy speaking to high bigwigs .

Thankfully her presentation went great with claps and appreciation .she had transiently looked at udayveer for his response but his unflustered face and well composed temperament revealed nothing .

But she did see her boss's face turn grim listening to Udayveers latest project regarding pipelines which was to be done through Tista. Manya smiled to herself. My poor great boss !

Manya quietly took her leave as the meeting was dispersed for a lunch break .She desperately needed a washroom. Sure sometthing wrong was going on inside her. She had never felt so terrible all time uneasiness. Manav was right she needed a doctor but before that a washroom .She asked the reception and criss crossed across unknown corridors of the huge hotel in search of washroom. Her mind reeled .

'Fine do the hell with washroom, why do they keep it so hidden', cursed Manya and banged in one of the rooms .Sure the rooms have bathroom attached and she needed it in any case. Thankfully she got one and collapsed in .

She washed her face , thankfully it was not so bad but her empty stomach did try to throw up something she did not have.

'I think u need rest 'came the voice from somewhere outside .

Manaya was surprised to hear it, she peered out of the bathroom door but then tightly closed her eyes in a fearful disgust Yuvraaj Udayveer ! Manya darling why the hell u always choose his room in ur most comatose condition.

'I need a doctor ', squealed Manya as she curled in to sit down holding her knees .

Okey I am calling the doctor ,now come out ,I don't think u want doctor to treat u in bathroom,'

Manya opened the bathroom door and slowly walked to the bed .She saw Udaveer by the mirror .He was dressing for the evening get together. She collapsed in the bed like a spineless doll, still holding the towel by her mouth .

'Doctor wil be here in few minutes, till then have this ', Udayveer handed her a glass of water.

Manya was too exhausted to look into his face and decipher his feelings and thoughts. What she knew was that the man in front was always there by her side whenever she was in a crossed situation and having him was now her habit which she did not want to give up at any cost.

Manaya tried her best to gulp in the water but her mouth seemed too reluctant to have anything inside and threw it out without concerning the target which was none other than her ex boss's well selected evening dress .

Udayveer did not know how to react. He had a girl in his arms who had just spoiled his dress and mood for evening party and fainted out of excessive exertion may be. She was the same girl he had wowed to hate about some weeks ago but still ended up sleeping a day before. He knew not his real feelings for her .Was it love , was it anger or was it just a temporary hatred , as hating her for long seemed all so unnatural

He laid her gently on the bed .The lady doctor was already in. After her examination she looked at Udayveer thoughtfully.

'Are u her boyfriend ?'

'No', quipped Udayveer while he buttoned his sleeves all ready leave for the party

'Well then I would like to meet her family members ', said the doctor as she collected her things in her bag

'I am her family u can tell me ,'replied Udayveer but his casual and disinterested attitude made the doctor apprehensive about his statement .Her evident reluctance forced him to add ' I am her husband ' his last word was just a whisper. Though this time there was a concern in his voice, the doctor could feel it but she realized the couple sure had problems as the man in front did not seem very happy for calling himself husband to the lady .

'Well Mr'.' the doctors voice trailed away trying to remember his name.

'Udayveer ,Yuvraaj Udayveer,' he informed.

'Mr. Udayveer ur wife is pregnant and right now needs lot of rest '.

'What ? ', Udayveer was stunned, he knew Mnaya's medical history and doctors grim face did alarm him, he did expect a serious problem but pregnancy was something he least expected .

'Yes and that too I think for more than fifteen weeks ,any doctor can tell that'.

The doctor quietly took her leave. She did not want to fall into any more discussions. She had already many more patients to see. For udayveer it was second most shocking news since he had met this new form of his lost wife. Was not an amnesic wife terrible enough that now I have her pregnant too. He knew Manya wont give in so easily she will have her own arrogant ways to deal with her child. But what for him ,the child was equally his .

He sank in the bed by her side nailing his head scratching hard to find some better way out of his life's worst fix .

Manya at last regained energy enough to wake .

'How long was I asleep', she asked trying to sit in extra spongy bed .

'An hour' answered Udayveer while he helped her and tugged pillows by her back to support her which Mnaya accepted thankfully.

'The doctor '', Mnaya tried to ask but was cut in by a quick answer.

'She is gone'

'May I have her number', Mnaya asked as she wanted to know the reason behind her awful condition.

'U can get it from reception'., said Udayveer roughly .'Why did not u tell me ? asked Udayveer angrily

His sudden roughness appalled Mnaya. Till now he had been so caring but suddenly he was the same udayveer she was always scared of.

'What ?', Mnaya asked out of confusion

'Now don't be so ignorant Mnaya , u r four months pregnant and u never told me'

'Pregnant! ', the word banged her head ' but how can I be '.' Her voice trailed away .She never thought on that track.

'Come on Mnaya , u are a woman are not u ,cant u know ,its four months !' exclaimed Udayveer surprised at her dumbness.

'Udayveer please ,stop blaming me', yelled Mnaya. How could I ever know how far I went with u in that drugged condition. Yes I do remember every single moment of night we spent two days before . But I cannot be pregnant in two days!

'O really do u', taunted Udayveer

'Yes I do everything yYuvraj udayveer , be it ur lustful desire to have me or those hatred filled eyes, everything'

'That's what I expect from u Great! u remember my hatred ,my desires but Sigh ! u don't remember my '' Udayveer stopped. Obviously he was in no mood of baring his heart to an obstinate woman anymore. He had enough of her ignorance and if her mind opted to remember his worst side then so be it .

Manya's heart jumped out in anticipation as she heard his last words, it eagerly expected few magic words which never came .She craved to hear them ,few words of love and consolence, words to make her deplorable condition a bit acceptable

'I think its getting late now ,I need to go', spoke Mnaya trying to break the ice which had suddenly formed due to Udayveers chilling pause.

'U are going nowhere , doctor said u need lot of rest and care ', added Udayvver bluntly looking aside.

'I can take care of myself', replied Mnaya and staggered out of the room. But a forceful jerk took her off balance and soon her frail body landed in arms which appeared to be all so befitting for it since eternity .

'When I said no it means no Ms. Manya Shastri', Udayveer crushed his jaws as he took her not so real name. But ironically it was the only name she seemed to consider most real.

Mnaya could feel the harshness of his tone .By no means she was ready to accept yet another humiliation from the man who seemed to be an unavoidable event in her life.

'U just cant force urself on me Yuvraaj Udayveer ,not even if I were ur estranged wife ' Mnaya grunted as she tried to free herslf from his hold.

'O really ,oH yes', exclaimed Udayveer rolling his eyes while his jaws twitched at corners 'how could I forget ,that our Miss Mnaya has latest crush on her new boss. So are u planning to mother his child next after mine.'

The sheer despite in his words offended her .What on earth this man think of her and why should she care for it.it was obvious he never loved her .If ever he spent any close moments with her ,was either coz she forced herself on him or he held her out of some fleeting lustful desire. She loathed herself for being in love with a man who had no respect for her . 'How dare I be so weak ,no way!'. Manya assured herself. The new year night was indeed a blunder of her life and its repetition was surely a foolishness she had committed just a night before and now she was with a child. But by no means she was going to let this reckless arrogant man go away with it.It was her child and Yuvraaj Udayveer had no right to claim it specially then when he was incapable of respecting its mother.

'By the way how can u be so sure ,its your child the great Yuvraaj Udayveer Singh', retorted Mnaya folding her arms by her chest bearing reproachful smirk at her pale face. She wanted her words to be equally aching as were his and by seeing Udayveer's appaled speechlessness she knew she succeeded pretty well. She ramped out of the door being careful enough not to trip .She knew, now on she needed to be more careful not for herself but for the child she had been unknowingly carrying since past four months.

Udayveer had no answer. Sure it was real Mnayata speaking he had gone a bit too far in his mindless allegations and so was its reply Mindless !

He needed some other way to get Manaya home and he needed it quick . He was not at all ready to let his child go , just coz its mother was an amnesic freak with hyper self-esteem and anger at her nose tip.

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The morning sun gently lightened up her little bedroom .It was a good morning after so many days. Manya had managed to get leave for full one week after her hectic one month without leave. Suddenly her boss had mellowed down and decided to grant her leave application which had been pendingsince two months and decided to grant the leave with full intrest. Manav was out for school and in the evening they had planned an outing with little Adya who was happiest to have her Mamma so much with her.

Manaya sat sunk in her sofa sipping her morning tea expecting little Adya anytime. Her peaceful calm was broken by her disturbing little cell phone. She cursed the caller before picking it up.

'Yes ', she answered disinterested

'Its me Anya', came the voice.

'Anya !,' she exclaimed ,' how come u remember me that too in morning at work '.

'Well its coz I have a surprising grape wine gossip my dear 'quipped Anya,

'Sure u found something new about Minakshi ', guessed Mnaya

'Yes its about Minakshi and her success at last in her Great Expectations '.

Anya's last words alarmed Mnaya as she feared of hearing something she knew she wont like .

'Yuvraaj Udayveer and Yuvraani Minakshi are getting engaged ',

There was nothing good about the morning it was worst morning ever, she hated the sunlight and the tea tasted worst.

She had been having nightmares lately ,her doctor told her that it often happens in pregnancy. She had been advised to be with her near ones ,Anya for whom her pregnancy was no surprise but a mere result of sex without sense had advised her to be with badi maa saa as she was the only lady she felt was her nearest one .But going to Badi Maa saa was going to Yuvraaj Udayveer which her proud self would never agree .

Her nightmares were all the same as they had been years back. Same deep waters and the very same lady laughing at her and pushing her down. To her surprise lately she saw her face and it was none other than Minakshi. Mnaya tried her best to pacify herself as the reason for seeing Minakshi was may be because of her discussions with Anya regarding Minakshi. Surely Minakshi did not like her nearness with Yuvraaj Udayveer. It was well proved too that she had drugged her and now she had come to belive that she was behind her recent defamation too .Her cousin Vikramjeet though now a mellowed down boss had by every means tried to use all opportunities to use her against Yuvraaj Udayveer .And now she was being engaged to Yuvraaj Udayveer.

Mnaya did not know why she disliked the news, was it because she was jealous or was it because she wanted her answers from Minakshi for her cheap connives or was it something else. Something more then what it seemed to be, something related to her nightmares. Whatever it was she wanted some answers from Minakshi and a peaceful solace for herself which she knew lay in the gentle and caring protection of Badi Maa saa and love of little Adya and Manav .