Hamaari Prem Kahaani... #3 - Page 86

KHURANA MANSION

The main door opened and Dad entered in quietly, he was walking towards the stairs when I switched on the lights startling him. Before he could question me or change the topic, wasting no time I came straight to the point.

"Dad aap itni raat gaye Rhea Mehra se milne kyun gaye the?"

"Tum mera peecha kar rahe the?" He stiffened at my sudden question, irked by my behavior he questioned me sternly.

"HAAN!" I confessed.

"MAAN..." Dad snapped at me. I knew he was hurt but still the curiosity was getting better of me.

"I am sorry Dad! I didn't mean to hurt you but I was worried for you. Aap shaam se pareshaan lag rahe the aur phir itni raat ko bina bataye aap akele kahin jaa rahe the issiliye main aap ke peeche aaya tha. I wasn't spying on you was just concerned about you." I cleared my stand.

"Maan main koi baccha nahi hoon apna khayaal rakh sakta hoon tumhe meri fikar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi." He tried to change the topic but I was not letting this go.

My gut feeling said Rhea Mehra is somewhere connected to all this but how and why?

"Dad aap Rhea Mehra se milne kyun gaye?" I questioned stressing on each word making it clear that I wanted my answers.

"Yeh jaan na tumhare liye zaroori nahi hain..."

"Zaroori hain...meri liye yeh jaanna bahot zaroori hain ke mere Dad ek parayi ladki ke liye itne pareshan kyun hain...kyun woh itni raat gaye bina kisi ko bataye usse milne gaye...kya rishta hain aap ka usse...kya chupa rahe aap hum sab se?" I lost all control over myself and harshly questioned Dad.

"MAAN...yeh kya tarika hain apne Dad se baat karne ka? Aur agar woh kuch chupa bhi rahe hain toh uski koi toh wajah hogi. Tum..." Mom was clearly disappointed by my behavior.

"Mom please koi bhi jung jeetne ke liye khud se jude saare pehloon ke baare mein pata hona chahiye aur aap maane ya na maane lekin Rhea Mehra ab inn sab mein involve ho gayi hain aur mere liye yeh jaanna bahot zaroori hain ke aisa kyun hain? Dad kyun uske liye itne pareshan hain?" I asserted sternly

"Kyun ke main nahi chahta ke Khurana parivaar phir se Mehra's ki barbaadi ki wajah bane!" Dad declared putting to rest all the arguments.

"Khurana parivaar?" I muttered but loud enough to be heard by both.

"Haan Khurana parivaar!" A guilty look settled on Dad's face as he narrated some shocking facts to me.

[RAJIV'S POV]

Rhea's father, Mr Ashwin Mehra was the head of the accounts department in KC, a very trustworthy and loyal employee. This was during that time when Handa's were a part of KC. Papa (Ranjit Singh Khurana), Shergill and I had to leave urgently for London to attend an important conference. I had just dropped in the office to complete some formalities when Ashwin had barged into my cabin, he looked worried and wanted to draw my attention towards some important issue. Running out of time and trusting Daarji to do the needful I told him to discuss the issue with him.

And that was my biggest mistake!

When we returned to India only to be informed that Ashwin was fired as he was found guilty of manipulating Company accounts. Papa, Shergill and I couldn't believe that Ashwin can indulge in any kind of fraud but didn't voice it out openly as they had to get to the root of the matter.

Next day I got to know that Ashwin was hospitalized and a shock awaited us when Shergill and I went to meet Ashwin to see him lying lifeless on the hospital bed. Mr Mehra's wife refused to let me in, clearly accusing Khurana's to be responsible for all their miseries. Mr Mehra's little ones crying in the corner of the room seeing the chaos around. Shergill intervened so that we could genuinely help them out of all this mess.

The sight tore my heart, I myself felt guilty for their plight. Ashwin gave me defeated look, tears brimmed down his eyes at his helplessness as his full body was paralyzed. His wife told us how he was fired from KC by framing him in false charges. He couldn't bear this humiliation and was in a state of shock and one such day he met with an accident.

I was shattered with the turn in events only if I had heard him out that day things would have been different. How was I going to prove his innocence...how do I reach to the truth? Ashwin was not in a state to help me in any way. Dejected and defeated Shergill and I reached office it was quite late all the staff had left. We hunted for any clue or proof which could lead us to the actual culprit but to no success.

Suddenly a thought struck me about the locker in Papa's cabin which was jointly operated by Ashwin and us. The Handa's had no clue about it as it was used for extremely confidential documents. In all this chaos it just slipped off my mind we just barged towards it hoping Ashwin must have left some clues or proofs in the locker and there Papa was seated with all the documents scattered around him.

He looked so lost and hurt, looking up he forwarded us the papers which snatched the ground beneath us. Ashwin had discovered that Handa's were actually betraying us under the farce of friendship and partnership. Fearing that their truth would be out they had inturn trapped Ashwin in false charges and fired him in our absence and also destroyed the proofs he had collected.

But Ashwin was too smart for them and had already safeguarded all the original documents in this locker as a proof against them as he was sure that once the truth surfaces out We Will Support Him!

"Ashwin ne hi Handa's ki dhoke ka parda farsh (expose) kiya tha! Hume kaafi din se Rajinder ke iraade theek nahi lag rahe the. Papa ne socha tha wapas aake Daarji se baat karenge par jo documents hume mile usse saaf zaahir ho gaya tha ke, Daarji khud uske saath mile hue the."

"Apne jazbaaton par kaabu kar ke, main Ashwin ki innocence saabit karne mein lag gaya aur Papa aur Shergill, Handa's ko Khurana Constructions se bahar phekne mein!"

"Ashwin ki poori treatment humne best hospitals mein karwayi, usse abroad bhi bheja further treatment ke liye aur woh jaldi recover bhi hone laga tha. Finally uski right side poori tarah se recover ho gayi aur woh phir se KC mein izzat se wapas aaya. Saalon baad jab Rhea ne jab kaam karna shuru kiya tab Ashwin ne resign kar diya, kyun ki Rhea chahti thi ke ab woh rest kare. Hume dukh toh hua par khushi bhi thi Rhea ko itne successful dekh ke."

"Ashwin ka bahot ehsaan hain hum par Maan. Agar woh sahi waqt par hume Handa's ke baare mein nahi batata toh pata nahi woh log dosti aur rishtey ki aadh mein hume aur KC ko kitna nuksaan pohuchate. Ek baar humaari galati ki wajah se uska parivaar barbaad hote hote reh gaya. Main nahin chahta dobara aisa kuch bhi ho." Dad concluded.

"Maan Rhea ek reporter hain, yeh uska kaam hain yeh main bhi samajhti hoon lekin phir bhi jo kuch bhi woh aaj kar rahi hain uske peeche hamaara haath hain. This is a fact! Agar usse kuch bhi ho gaya toh iske zimmedaar (responsible) sirf hum honge jo tumhaare Papa nahi chahte aur issiliye woh Rhea se milne gaye the, usse kehne ke woh iss case se hatt jaaye (leaves this case) aur woh maan bhi gayi. Rhea hamaari beti jaisi hain, hamaari zimmedaari hain aur bahot jald uski shaadi bhi honewali hain issiliye hum dono nahi chahte ke woh iss case ko cover kare." Mom stated making her stand very clear.

"Maan mujhe Rhea ki kaabiliyat par koi shaque nahi par kahin na kahin mujhe lag raha hain, professional ke jagah ab yeh case woh personally le rahi hain, jo bahot risky hain aur main iss baar koi chance nahin lena chahta."

"Ek galti ka bojh kitna zyaada hota hain, yeh humse behtar koi nahin jaanta aur main dobara koi galti nahi karna chahta!" Dad exclaimed dejectedly. I knew he clearly meant the reason, our family broke apart.

"I'm sorry!" Not having anything else to say I made my way towards our room. I was regretting my behavior and was ashamed of myself to have confronted them like this. I climbed the stairs and halted seeing Geet standing by the pillar looking down and then slowly turning to me, her look stated she had heard it all. I just walked passed her to our room and headed straight to the washroom. I needed sometime to assemble myself.

I walked out of the washroom masking a calm and collected look to my otherwise restless self and saw Geet was already in the bed. I sighed as I didn't want her to get worried about the whole chaos. I laid beside her and immediately she settled in her rightful place, my arms with her head resting near my heart. I could have put up an appearance but my uneven heartbeats gave away my side of the story and this was my Geet who not only could read my eyes but understood my unspoken words too.

"Maan sab theek ho jaayega aap fikar mat kijiye." She assured me.

"Geet aaj zindagi mein pehli baar mujhe darr lag raha hain!"

"MAAN!" She looked up at me bewildered.

"Haan Geet...darr lag raha ke kahin maine koi galti toh nahi kar di, mere ek faisle ne kai zindagi daav pe laga di hain, agar meri wajah se kisiko bhi kuch ho gaya toh main apne aap ko kabhi maaf nahi karpaaunga. Dad sahi hain, ISS EK GALTI KA BOJH MERI ZINDAGI PAR BHAARI PAD JAAYEGA!" I confided in her my darkest fear.

"Maan yeh aap keh rahe hain...mujhe vishwas nahi ho raha hain...aap toh namumkin ko bhi mumkin karne ki shakti rakhte hain, woh aaj itna kamzor kaise ho gaya...yeh mera Maan nahi bol raha. Mera Maan kabhi galat ho hi nahi sakta." She affirmed.

"Itna bhi bharosa mat karo Geet mujhpar ke main usse sambhaal na paau."

"Dadaji ka...iss pure Khurana parivaar ka guroor hain aap Maan...khud se zyaada vishwas hum sab ko hain aap par, ke aap kuch galat kar hi nahi sakte aur ab baat meri, aap ki ya iss parivaar ki nahi hain."

"Sach kahan aap ne bahot zindagiyaan daav pe lagi hain aur usse daav pe lagaya hain unn logon ne. Apne swaarth mein na jaane kitne parivaar ko barbaad kiya hain...ghinn aati hain mujhe apne aap par ke main kabhi unke parivaar ka hissa thi...na jaane kitne begunaah logon ki siskiyaan dabi hain uss buland Handa Haveli ki buniyaad mein. Unhe apne kiye gunaah ki sazaa milni hi chahiye ab aap peeche nahi hatt sakte Maan."

"Agar aaj aap kamzor pad gaye toh neki (good) ki haar aur baddi (evil) ki jeet ho jaayegi. Aur main jaanti hoon ke aap kabhi aisa nahi hone denge. Hain na?" She looked at me with anticipation and I smiled nodding my head in affirmation.

Settling herself again in her reserved place and cuddling more into me she spoke again and this time her statement left me appalled.

"Maan kal subah main Papa se khud baat karungi ke woh Rhea ko iss case se peeche hatt ne se rok le." I got up and tried to comprehend her words, like understanding my confusion she nodded and continued.

"Haan Maan main nahi chahti ke Rhea ko hamaari wajah se roka jaaye, yeh uska profession hain, sapna hain, saalon ki mehnat se woh aaj iss mukaam pe pohuchi hain, toh kisi Brij ki wajah se woh kyun peeche hatt jaaye agar woh apne parivaar ke saath hue injustice ka jawaab bhi dena chahe toh yeh uska haque hain. Agar ek beta apne parivaar ke liye khada ho sakta hain toh ek beti kyun nahi!"

"Yeh tum keh rahi ho?" I asked her totally floored by her declaration.

"Yeh Maan ki Geet bol rahi hain, jise uske Maan ne taiyaar kiya hain, vishwas dilaya hain ke woh bhi apni choices kar sakti hain, jo bina kisi darr ke apne khayal ya baat sab ko bol sakti hain, jo sapne dekh sakti hain aur azaadi se jee sakti hain!" She proclaimed and I was so proud of her today. Today I saw her in a different light no longer was she a repressed, sacred or under-confident girl but stood up for a right of another girl whom she didn't even know.

I just hugged her tight and kissing her forehead I promised her that Rhea will be safe and Handa's will get what they deserve.

'With her by my side I can win the world!'

"Pari kya tum kal apni Mom se milne gayi thi?"

"Haan."

"Aur tumne mujhe batana zaroori nahi samjha, hain na."

"Vicky tum itna overeact kyun kar rahe ho, apni Mom se hi milne gayi thi woh mujhse milna chahti thi bas."

"Saaf saaf kyun nahi kehti unhe paison ki zaroorat thi aur tum wohi deni gayi thi."

"Vicky woh meri family hain main unhe mushkil mein aise kaise chod doon. Unke paas bilkul paise nahin hain agar maine thodi madad kar bhi di toh kya galat kar diya." She stated with tears brimming in her eyes. I felt bad to have yelled on her but I couldn't let that woman take advantage of Pari's emotions.

"Tumhaare diye gaye saare paise kal hi tumhaari Mom ne kitty party mein cards khel ne mein kharch kar diye!" I disclosed her the actual facts but her next statement shocked me.

"Iska matlab hain Mom sahi keh rahi thi ke, tum log unpe spy kar rahe ho, hain na."

"Pari...haan hum unpar sirf nazar rakh rahe hain, taake ab woh kuch bhi galat na kar sake. But you know what aaj mujhe tum apni Pari kam aur Mrs Ayesha Khanna ki beti zyaada lag rahi ho!" I burst out on her not able to control anymore and she started crying before I could console her.

"Vicky behave yourself!" Annie barged in the room hugging Pari who was sobbing now.

"Annie you stay out of this, its between both of us." I asserted sternly.

"No its not! tum iss tarah se kaise behave kar sakte ho Pari ke saath, maana ke uski family ne galat kiya lekin iska yeh matlab nahi ke Pari unhe mil bhi nahi sakti. Vicky har relationship mein space dena zaroori hota! Iss waqt I suggest you leave. Hum baad mein baat karenge." She stated caressing the weeping Pari and I abided as this was not the time to argue.

Pari had calmed down after sometime I suggested het to speak to Dadaji, Dad and Maan Bhai on this matter and I was sure they would understand her point of view. She too agreed and decided to put forward her point on the breakfast table today. While we were talking Geet too joined in, she had come to call us for breakfast.

I hadn't been able to meet Geet in person since yesterday after the morning fiasco where Bhai had tricked her. Seeing her in good mood I decided to confess.

"Geet...woh...hotel mein uss din jo kuch bhi hua tha na woh sab maine hi plan kiya tha...woh...Alana ko bhi maine hi wahan bulaya tha. Main Bhai se hisaab barabar karna chahti thi, isme Bhai ki koi galti nahi thi. Please tum unhe galat mat samajh na. Its all my fault. I'm truly sorry!" I owned up my doings and she smiled and hugged me.

"Annie main jaanti hoon ke Maan ki zindagi mein meri jagah koi aur nahi le sakta aur waise bhi thode bahot jhagde, roothna, manana aur drama toh hone hi chahiye, hain na." She winked.

"Geet Bhabhi, I am really sorry!...mere family ne aap ke saath jo kuch bhi kiya, khaas kar Dev Bro ne jo..." Pari too lowered her eyes and apologized to Geet but Geet too pulled her in the hug and spoke.

"Pari mera yakeen karo aaj mere dil mein Dev ke liye na nafrat , na gussa, na koi shikayat, kuch bhi nahi hain. Tumhe shayad ajeeb lagega lekin kahin na kahin main uski shukraguzaar hoon agar woh mujhe uss anchahe bandhan se azaad nahi karta, toh aaj main apne Maan ke saath nahi hoti." She cleared the air relieving Pari of her guilt but still Pari was not satisfied as what the Khanna's had done was way beyond repair.

"Bhabhi aap bahot acchi hain aur aap ka dil bahot saaf hain issiliye aap ne itni asaani se unhe maaf kar diya lekin phir bhi Bro ne paison ke liye aap se..." Geet didn't let her complete and asserted.

"Pari agar Dev nahi hota toh koi aur hota, mera parivaar kisi se bhi meri shaadi karwa hi deta aur phir main hamesha ke liye Maan se door ho jaati. Main toh yahin maanti hoon ke Babaji ne Dev ko issiliye meri zindagi mein bheja taake woh mujhe Maan tak pohucha sake."

"Aur ek sach main aaj tumhe batana chahti hoon ke Dev ne mere saath jo kuch bhi galat kiya hain woh hamesha sharaab ke nashe mein kiya hain, warna normally woh hamesha mujhse door door rehta. Main uss ghar mein bhi hamesha Maan ki amaanat ban ke safe rahi. Aur iss baat ke liye main hamesha Dev ki ehsaanmandh (grateful) rahungi!" Pari gave a contended smile at Geet's declaration.

"Pari...Dev ko gumrah kiya gaya hain lekin kahin na kahin aaj bhi usme Aman ki parvarish (upbringing) ki jhalak nazar aati hain ab dekhna yeh hain ke kya woh apni parvarish ki kasauti (test) pe khara utrega!" Mom exclaimed her stand and also hinting Pari that now she has to decide her course of action.

PRECAP - SETTING UP THE STAGE FOR THE FACE OFF