CHAPTER : 7
Clink! , came the sound of 2 champagne glasses hitting against each other. Cheers! , toasted the 2 men ; with a hearty laugh. Dad - you're great! , complimented Yuvraaj Aditya to his father Maharaj Joginder Singh. No my son ... it's u , that's great. You turned a little problem in Devgarh - into a major disaster area. No stopping us now , son; DEVGARH WILL BE OURS!!!
*************************************
Veer woke up with a smile , as he remembered the fun time, he spent with Manyata ; last night. He made his way to the breakfast table , to find Manyata already seated there ; but she was so deep in thought ... that she didnt notice him. After greeting both woman , he enquired about his mother's where-abouts in the early morning hours ; but she gave a vague reply.
After Roopa Aunty left for her work as a nurse in the local clinic , Manyata and Veer got talking ... this time about a very serious matter. Veer - what's your take on what's happening in Devgarh? Well Angel - I know very little about it but from what I do know ... it seems like this illness - does not see age or gender. It's affecting anyone. Hmmm ... in the news that I watched ; they said it was some sort of virus. I highly doubt it ... which virus is that fast-acting? Maybe a chemically-formulated virus ... but that would mean , we have a MAD SCIENTIST around ,Veer joked.
Oh Veer ... you're a genius! , Manyata screeched in excitement and hugged him. Veer was flabbergasted at Manyata's sudden joy and gave a "what did I say" expression. Manyata started to explain : U said "chemical" ... since we don't have any chemical plants or labs in Devgarh ... it can only mean chemical waste. And that would come from an industry and the only major industry we have is SP/BR Mining Plant. Something in that mine ... is causing the people to get sick & die.
Veer was in awe of the way Manyata spoke , with so much of intelligence. She really is a BEAUTY WITH BRAINS ,he thought. Veer ... hey ... Hello , she waved her hand in front of him disturbing his thoughts. Huh! ya ... oh , ya , he blabbered. VEER - I NEED YOUR INPUT HERE!, Manyata scolded. Ummm ... ya ... this virus is water-borne! Why do you say that? Because if it were air-borne , all the neighbouring districts would've been evacuated. Oh! That means the health-department is aware of it. Yep ... they know. But I bet they dont know the source of the problem.
Veer - is there any way I can get into Devgarh? He shook his head in a "NO" . Can't u talk to your soldier friends and maybe get me 1 of those " PROTECTIVE SUITS" ? I can wear that , then I won't be in any danger of contracting anything. I just need to get a water sample from the dam and 1 from the mine's seepage & then I can send that for testing. No Angel ... why are you putting yourself in danger. The health officials are conducting their investigation. Let them do their job. No Veer ... Devgarh is MY RIYASAT. I neglected my duty for a long time , NOW it's time I did something for MY PEOPLE. But Angel ... Please Veer! He got up in anger : Tum itna ziddi kyun ho? She suppressed a smile as she remembered all the times Uday asked her that very same question.
********************************
But who are you? , asked Rekha Shravan ; 1 of the heath inspectors that's investigating the cause of the deaths in Devgargh. Anonymous , came the gruff reply. Okay , Mr Anonymous ... how do u know that the mines seepage is not going into a drainage-ditch but being diverted to the town's dam? And how do you know that , THAT'S the source of the contamination? I just do ... NOW GO & CHECK FOR YOURSELF , he said before abruptly disconnecting the call.
*****************************
Caught you Roopa Behen! , giggled 1 of Roopa Aunty's colleagues as she caught her yawning. Roopa smiled nervously. What happened Behen ... rough night? Roopa started to recall where she was in the early part of the morning. Tears began to brim in her eyes. She excused herself and ran to the washroom; where she cried her heart out. Veer ... my son! Beta - I miss u so much!!!
*****************************
Hi Princess! , Manyata greeted her daughter over the phone. Little Megha was so overjoyed to hear her mother's voice that she hopped continually in Unnati's lap. Mamma misses you ... I'll be back real soon. Always remember , Mamma loves you lots & lots & lots. The baby jumped more in excitement.
Bhabhisa'- you know what today is? Unnati asked. Ya Unnati ... it's a year ... a year since your brother left us , Manyata spoke with her voice breaking up. I think it's time to accept it now Bhabhisa' ... HE'S NOT COMING BACK! Manyata didn't say anything. Her mind was on Veer. Bhabhisa'- are you still there? What have u decided about baby? U said that if Dada didn't return in a years time ... you'll tell everyone about his child.
Yeah Unnati ... it's time to tell Baba , that he has a grand-daughter ... THAT JAIGARH HAS A HEIR! Unnati was surprised that Manyata only spoke of Giriraj & not her own family. Was she still angry with them ... after all this while? , Unnati wondered.
Bhabhisa'- there's something you must know. I tried to tell u before but you never listened. I hope you will hear me out now. DS is very ill. We are not sure what exactly is wrong with her. Perhaps Dad knows ... but all I know is that she's in a very bad way. Currently , she's receiving treatment in Europe. I think you better tell her about Megha before something happens to her.
There was no response from Manyata. Hello , Bhabhisa' ... Hello. Still nothing. Manyata never heard a word of what Unnati said as the signal died. Shit! Stupid phone ... I wonder what she wanted to tell me ? , Manyata muttered to herself.
Manyata was still waiting for Veer to return. She was eager to know if he was successful in getting his soldier friends , to sneak her in to Devgarh. However , before Veer ... Roopa Aunty came home. Manyata decided that it was time to have a serious chat with her.
M : Aunty , can I please ask you something?
RA: Sure! It's about Veer isn't it?
M : Hmmm ... Veer looks like Uday, MY HUSBAND. Is there a possibility...
RA: Princess Manyata, Veer is my son! U want proof ... I'll give you proof.
She took Manyata to her room. From her drawer , she pulled out a file. In it , contained many medical reports. She took out a photo and showed it to Manyata. The picture was of a badly burnt guy. None of his features could be seen , just layers of burnt skin on his face & neck. Veer was burnt when a limpit mine exploded. This is how he looked after the explosion. Manyata flinched at that sight. Next , a 'computer-made sketch' was shown. That picture looked exactly like Uday. Before his reconstructive surgery was done ... the doctors gave me this sketch. They said that this is how Veer will look from now onwards. Manyata stared at all the paperwork. There was NO WAY that it was fake. It had all the relevant signatures and hospital stamps. Manyata's world came crashing once more as all her hopes of Veer being Uday got dashed.
***************************************
Hey Dad , greeted a very chirpy Unnati. Haan Beta , spoke a very solemn Giriraj. O Dad ... you're not crying again ... ARE YOU? , she scolded. He took a while to answer as he composed himself. Unnati ... I thought , HOPED IN FACT ; that Uday will be back with us by now! But it was NOT MEANT TO BE! I was thinking of doing a prayer for him ... A YEARLY CEREMONY. I should talk to Manyata about it; as soon as this Devgarh crisis is over.
Before Unnati could say anything , Megha squeaked in her own baby language. Beta ... ye bacche ki awaaz? Unnati , kahan ho tum? Dad - I'm at Manyata's. Again , the baby made 1 of her sounds. Ye kiska baccha he, Unnati? , Giriraj asked , but already suspected the answer. Dad ... ye Dada ki beti hain! He closed his eyes and tears of happiness dripped out. Uday's child. Uday's baby girl. I'm a grand-father ... Unnati , I'm a grand-father ; I have a grand-child!!! , he spoke with so much of excitement.
Dad , I'm so proud of you today. You didn't say : "I HAVE AN HEIR" , which is what I expected you to say ... instead you said that you have a grand-child. Ya , Unnati ... that's the biggest mistake I made with Uday. Instead of loving him, getting to know him , spending time with him ... I WAS BUSY PUSHING HIM INTO THE WORLD OF POLITICS.
I'm NOT making the same mistake twice. This little girl , will remain just that ... she'll only join politics when her mother says so. Dad - u really made me happy today! , she said with pride. I want to see her Unnati. Dad - I can't bring her to India ... you will have to come here. Unnati ... I can't wait for that ... switch on the web-cam. Unnati hit on her head , for not thinking of that in the first place.
While Megha stared at the man in the computer in confusion , Giriraj was admiring his grand-daughter. She looks exactly .. Yeah Dad - we know! Megha held out her hand to touch the screen & Giriraj did the same on his side. It was as if he could really feel her. Beta ... I'm your DaadaSahib!
OMG ... did she just - YES SHE DID!!! Unnati laughed at the father. Dad - she does EVERYTHING Dada does ... even SMIRK! She is too beautiful! I need to talk to Manyata ... I must thank her for this wonderful gift. Dad - Bhabhisa' is in Chittorgarh. They're not allowing her to enter Devgarh. Unnati gave her father Manyata's new number. He immediately called her.
Manyata was watching something on her laptop. It was a press-conferrence, held by the Devgarh Royals ; regarding the quarantine. But because of bad network ... she was unable to hear anything. What struck her was ... why was Brijraj & Komal addressing the media instead of DS? Her phone rang. She was surprised to hear Giriraj's voice.
Beta - today was a very sad day for all of us , but at this moment; I cannot stop smiling ... and that is thanks to you! Manyata realised what he meant. She's adorable Bahu , thanks Beta. Nahi Baba , thanks kyun? Uday is gone ... but he left behind a part of himself. I thank him everyday , for giving me Megha. That's a very pretty name Beta , but I would've thought that you'd have her name starting with a "U" . Manyata smiled to herself. Her name does start with a "U" , she said in her mind.
Beta - your Daadisa' is very sick. She's in Europe right now, undergoing surgery. WHAT!!! Wh - what happened to her Baba? She has a .. The line went dead. Giriraj called back after a few minutes. Beta - as soon as Raj Maata comes back to India ... please tell her about Megha. Let her know that Devgarh has an heir. Ji Baba , when will she be back? I'll let u know!
Manyata tried calling the Devgarh Palace ... but there was no answer. Even the servants were not around to take the call. In anger she flung the phone ... only to be caught by Veer. Angel - itna gussa! She didn't answer him . Kya hua? This stupid cell is dying ... my laptop is dying. How am I supposed to find out what's happening in the world? AND ... YOU'LL DON'T EVEN HAVE A TV HERE! Everybody has a TV ... WHY DON'T YOU'LL HAVE 1? , she asked angrily.
Veer had often asked his mother that also, but he never got a good explanation. Manyata was still waiting for his answer. Angel ... not only TV , we also don't buy newspaper ... YOU SEE ; my mother is allergic to CURRENT AFFAIRS! , he chuckled. Manyata's anger vanished , to be replaced by laughter.
*********************************
Phew ... after 3 UNSUCCESSFUL attempts of posting this , IT'S FINALLY DONE!
Thanks for reading ,
please "LIKE" & Comment before you go😉!
😊😊😊NAVINA😊😊😊
Cricket
Jhanak
Hindi TV Shows
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
