here's the link to Chapter 3
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3391040
Pratigya drove the Innova into the porch of Defense Minister's house ……………. Inside the house , Renuka hurried towards the door, hearing the voice , a welcome thaali in her hands, her face lit up in a smile , as though she had forgot how to smile n was just giving it a try………………….Shailendra looked up , stopping midway through his frantic pacing along the hall n barked at her …………….. 'get ur precious daughter quickly inside , I have visitors …………..coming in any minute ……………….' He looked tensely at Bakshi …………….Renuka , nodded ,emotionless , n went to the door……………….'U take care ramu chacha, I will come in a jiffy n tie up ur wounds …………….just need to see ma first ………'Pratigya said to ramu as she climbed out of the car …………..
'Beti…..'Renuka gushed , tears in her eyes …………..Pratigya almost ran to her , hugging her , tears brimming in her eyes ………………'ma …..' she called , feeling happy ……………'what…what happened…?' Renuka asked alarmed as she saw ramu injured a bit ………….'ma, we …' Pratigya began ……………but ramu said 'no , nothing mam, I fell down………….tripped………old age…..'…………….Pratigya looked at him ………….surprised………….but she didn't say anything ………….
Renuka performed the aarati n pulled Pratigya in ……………..ramu looked at them , happy tears in his eyes as he limbed towards the driver's seat to park the car away in the shed……………..Pratigya entered her house , holding her mother's hand , trying to assure her in unspoken words that everything will be alright now that she is home…………….her face clouded in hatred n anger as she saw Shailendra …………………. She ignored him as she almost dragged her mother towards the stairs ……………. Shailendra eyed his daughter in a way no father would look at his daughter , sizing her up ……………Pratigya felt like vomiting , her grip on her mother's hand tightening ……………….'hmmm, seems like u have grown up a lot in these 3 years ………enough to dwindle the mind of a sage ……..bit of a sleep breaker for the boys there , I presume ?' Shailendra said , laughing foolishly …………
Pratigya closed her eyes, contempt n anger flowing across her veins ………. 'I want to talk to u , later……….'shailendra said , as pratigya n Renuka climbed the stairs …………'n u woman! ' he barked at renuka ….'I want u to make her understand her priorities in life ……………..' Renuka gulped , fearful as Pratigya raised an eyebrow at her , questions in her eyes ……………… Renuka nodded frantically at Shailendra , pulling pratigya with her as she climbed the stairs urgently …………………
Chandu came through the big gates , into the defense minister's porch , just as ramu got inside the shed …………………Chandu killed the engine of his Benz , looking up at the house …………………. He was an average looking guy , average height n people always tend to under estimate him………………… that was his greatest strength …………….. People never could guess that this person can be intimidating , let alone , could kill someone else……………..Shailendra , ran to the door, his body bend in over respect n humbleness ……………'Welcome ,Chote Thakur , Welcome………to my humble house …………' Bakshi cleared his throat ………..'Welcome , Chandu ji…….'Chandu , regarding both men in a mocking glance , entered inside the house, looking around ………………
'What would u like to have , chote Thakur? Tea , coffee?' Shailendra asked , still bend awkwardly , which looked almost comical , given his 6 foot size.…………. Chandu held him in his glance , his tone dead serious , but his eyes mocking as he said 'No , nothing , Minister………..Bauji has asked me not to drink or eat anything from his enemy's house ……….' Whatever color was left in Shailendra's face drained off………….'Enemy…..?' he spluttered ……… Chandu smirked , looking at Bakshi ………..'Haven't u told minister that we happen to have know about ur little secret , Mr . Bakshi? He seems most surprised that we have come to regard him as our enemy……'
Bakshi gulped 'I….I informed Sir about the circumstances …………..' Shailendra cut in 'see chote thakur ……………..pls try n see from my POV …………..I am a politician n I want to win the elections at any cost…………….we play all kinds of games to get to the position of power …………..I ….'Chandu held up a hand n Shailendra immediately fell silent …………….'I know that Minister……………n we don't care what games u r playing or whom even u r killing …………….. its about being honest with us………….we were led to believe that the riots were started by one section of the society n we helped u in suppressing it , even killing 3 innocent men in the process…………..'
'U kill people everyday ………..what's the difference in…?' Shailendra mumbled ……………..Chandu stood up from the sofa , his face hard………'we don't kill innocents , Minister …………….that's my bauji's policy ……………. Yes, we r criminals, but we never does anything that is not right , by our standards……………I remember u were briefed of our policies before u accepted money from bauji ………..?'……………….. Shailendra nodded , fearful ……………'I don't have much time to waste on a worm like u ,Minister so I am coming straight to the point ……….'Chandu said , walking up to him n standing infront of him………….'bauji has given u one week time to repay ur debt …………..'shailendra inhaled , shocked …………..'One….One week…?...but that's….pls could u ask ur bauji to extend……'
Chandu held Shailendra in his gaze , which was neither mocking nor threatening ………just plain gaze…….'I won't ask bauji to change his decisions ………….It's usually done by Gayatri Deviji, who has success fully changed his mind to get back the money n leave u alone rather than kill u n hang u in front of ur office' Shailendra stepped back, recoiling ………….'So where was I ? Yes, U would repay the money in one week or else u won't contest in the elections ……….' Chandu said , walking towards the exit ……………'u have to be alive for contesting in the elections , don't u?...so, one week………Minister……… ' he added before going out ………………… Shailendra watched , shocked , as Chandu drove away …………………..Chandu never saw the Innova parked inside the shed , nor did he see Ramu sitting next to a small cottage in the garden………………
'Oh, God Bakshi ……………What am I to do now?...One week ….One week …………!!!! ………….to repay all that huge amount?'………………Shailendra sat down on the sofa , dejected n worried …………………..'It's a good thing that Gayatri Deviji has influenced Sajjan ji to let us live , Sir………….n given us atleast one week…………….' 'One week……..! this one week seems to be good for u , Bakshi.?' Shailendra yelled , pulling at his own hair……………….. 'Yes , sir ……."Bakshi said his voice low…………'It's good thing that Thakur sahab's hot headed son is out of town these days ……….I have heard that he is a Devil……… he kills first n then ask for explanations……………' ……..
'But Bakshi..one….' Shailendra stopped midway through his rant, confused …………'What did u say ? Son………? Thakur Sahab's son?...He has another son too……..?' …………'No Sir ………..' Bakshi said , just as confused ………'Just one ………he is out of town for the past 3 months ……actually in Bombay ……..a big deal ….gold , I think…….u must have read in today's newspaper …………the other party in the deal got killed in Mumbai last night …a big shot in mumbai……ofcourse nobody knows what exactly happened……or who was behind it...……but Gayatri Devi told me……apparently that man tried to cheat the thakurs…,…n he killed him …….it was...'He shuddered...grimmacing ...' ruthless ……that's why I insisted that we pay back the money as soon as possible ……………. ….' Shailendra looked at Bakshi , n asked 'then who……who is this Chandu ?'………………….