Chandu entered Krishna's room to find him sipping coffee , fresh from his bath, a towel around his waist , water droplets glistening all over his body , shimmering on his hair, both on head n chest , leading a trail to his abdomen……………. 'What's ur plan for today?' ………….. asked Chandu, as he sat down on a couch , his mind still out of focus …………… 'just a long walk in the garden, as of now' krishna said , drying his hair…………..'Anything of importance today?' Krishna enquired ………………'oh….I……nothing particular…………… the dealers will arrive at the estate at noon…………..angad will be coming here now n Ma sahib n bauji will go with him after lunch ………….. n oh …….I forgot ………. There is some issue regarding one Mr. Sharma ………..u know, the man who told us about that Shailendra's real face………….Shailendra's men n durjjan may attempt to harm him to secure the evidence against them…………….so bauji has agreed to protect Sharma ……………..I need to send our men to his house ………………. That's all …………oh I forgot about that one, I had better make the arrangements……….. ' Chandu answered, suddenly remembering…………
krishna noticed Chandu's distracted behavior n looked at him curiously………………….But he didn't pursue it…… Chandu got up , taking out his phone n walked towards the door……………he halted at the door n said'oh bauji is waiting for u downstairs………………breakfast………..' 'I am not hungry' krishna said automatically as he reached for a shirt in his cupboard…………………… 'Krishna, pls ….both of u will feel better……………..' Chandu implored………………….. Krishna looked at Chandu , through his mirror , his gaze piercing n emotionless…………………. Chandu held the gaze , his heart in his throat…………….. Krishna nodded , his jaw set…………………..
****************************************************
Pratigya came out of the bathroom, drying her long hair…………….. she was wearing a loose salwaar , not exactly enhancing her features , even though damp……………. Her tea was served near the bed side table n she smiled , exasperated ………………….. she put her hair down her front n resumed drying it………manu who was spying from outside , licked his lips as his leacherous eyes wandered over her wet back, whatever was visible……. Suddenly she felt insects crawling on her back n she jerked , standing straight, n turned around to see manu's face peeking from outside , through the crack of the door………………….. she turned red , in anger………….. manu, trying to pass off the moment as a joke , entered , giggling foolishly ……………….'oh , hi, babhi…………. Just out of bathroom , I guess….. which soap r u using ? u smell really good……' he chuckled slyly , trying to sniff her , coming closer to her……………. Pratigya , her face twisted in disgust n contempt , stepped back, pushing a chair between them……………….'What do u want? Who gave u the permission to enter here? Get out……………!'
'hey hey, what r u saying babhi, I am ur devar……………. Would I need permission to enter ur room………………or enter anywhere where I want….' He sneered leacherously , his eyes crawling over her body…………………. Pratigya shouted 'out ! get out immeditely ………….' N she quickly walked the other way to come n stand outside the room, holding the door open…………'relax………….relax babhi………….what's the matter? Why r so …..hot ?' manu came out of the room, trying to grip her hand , which held the door handle……………. Pratigya shouted, snatching her hand away 'out u shameless creature or else I will………………..' 'any problem manu? Isn't ur babhi behaving accordingly?' Shailendra came n stood in the corridor………….Pratigya , her body shaking in disgust n anger , fisted her hands , not trusting herself to look at the man, she might just kill him…………. 'hey nothing uncle……….' Manu sais chortling ………….'just asked what soap she is using …u know , she smells awfully good……………… '
Pratigya , counted to 20 as Shailendra laughed ….'what….. such a simple question!...why don't u answer him , beti?' he asked her , his voice mocking n dangerous…………………..Pratigya's head snapped up , bile rising in her throat ……………her eyes were red in anger ……………. 'oh no uncle……………. What's the fun if she tells ….. finding out would be more fun………………' sneered manu……………n shailendra laughed ……….. Pratigya made to go inside her room, unable to stand , her body shaking in revulsion………….. 'hey babhi, I am free during evening …………….wanna come with me to Royal?' 'No!' Pratigya snarled , trying to close the door…………….Shailendra , put his foot against it…………..' how many times I have to tell u to 'behave' dear….will ur mother's dead body be an eye opener for u? ' He wishpered dangerously…………. .Pratigya , trying to talk properly n to sound genuine , said 'I am going to temple today evening ……………… u wanted me to do the pooja for my future husband na, forgot it?' ……………….. 'oh ,' Shailendra said , winking at manu…………..'bad luck manu…….. better luck next time….. or tomorrow' 'Ok babhi…..see u tomorrow …………. Be ready……for me' manu smirked , winking at her…….
Pratigya closed the door , with a snap n leaned against it, her body breaking down in spasms of white hot anger……………………. Tears spilled down her cheeks , angry, humiliated, repulsed……………. It's a good thing she remembered about that stupid pooja………………. Atleast she could escape his hell hole for 2 hours………………….. she thought bitterly…………………. So far no luck with that house or apartment in mumbai……………… n she has to go to the temple alone, Shailendra won't allow her to take Renuka with her………………..for fear that she might ran away with her mother…………well, not alone actually, there will be a body guard , ofcourse…..to prevent her from bolting n to report that she is performing the rituals accordingly……….. Pratigya thought miserably………… she will never leave this house without her mother……………she dabbed her tears , telling her mind not to be weak……………….she has to find a way to escape from here………… forever….
***************************************
Krishna , sajjan,gayatri n Pratap ate together……………………sajjan was particularly cheerful………………….. just as they entered the hall , for another round of tea , angad entered the house………………. He came straight to Sajjan n gayatri, ignoring Pratap completely …………….. Angad reverently touched Sajjan's feet 'mamaji……………how r u?' 'fine beta…………… u ate?' sajjan asked good natured………………… 'yes mamaji….its already noon now…..' angad said his eyes on krishna n chandu, who were walking towards the front door, not even acknowledging his presence…………. 'u can come a bit more earlier to the estate mamaji' angad said , his body bowed … 'the new spice garden is thriving'………………… Sajjan smiled as pratap eyed his son mockingly………………… 'Angad, ' called gayatri , reprimandingly…………… 'ur mamaji has his plate full…………… that estate is ur responsibility n u take care of it……………. Really , I was going to tell u Sajjan, Angad takes good care of that estate, may be we could give him tha responsibility of our estate at Kolkatha……. Poor chandu has too much to handle………………..so if angad could…..' Gayatri trailed off………Pratap looked exasperated…… Sajjan nodded 'Yeah, chandu has much to handle …………… u r right…… let me think about it……' Angad tried hard to supress his glee……….'oh, so sweet of u mama…ur blessings is all I need………………' Sajjan smiled n walked to the window, his eyes following his son as krishna walked with Chandu in the garden…………………..
Gayatri pulled angad through a side door, pratap watched on , shaking his head……………………….. 'what ma?' angad hissed ………..'shhh…..have u made all arrangements at the estate?……Is everything OK there?…………look this is ur biggest oppurtunity……………….. don't let it go from ur hands……………….try n impress ur mamaji as much as possible……………' gayatri whispered to him…………….. 'I have been doing it all the time, but he only sees that krishna n Chandu….! ' angad gritted his teeth………….. 'OK , I have a good news for u, cheer up my son' gayatri said , smiling ………'good news?' scoffed angad……………. 'yeah, u can have meera , all for urself from now on' Gayatri said , ruffling his hair……………….. Angad looked taken aback, n he smiled a bit , but then his face filled with anger ……………'oh! What happened? He don't want her anymore…………! So u thought u could throw his left over to me…………..as usual…………….' He seethed, wrenging his hand from hers…………….. 'no….no….. that wasn't what I……Ok if u don't want her , I could send her away…..' gayatri said , exasperated ………………..'No….. I will take her ……………… I have always wanted her………' his eyes glinted in lust……………… Gayatri smiled 'that's my boy……... ' 'so, That means he is going to get a new, fresh one?' Angad asked , feeling jealous …………….. 'yes, I need to find one quickly……' gayatri said , thoughtfully ……………… 'Ma, this time , let me have her first ………….' Angad , said , his voice greedy , hankering………………. 'let me find one!' gaytri hissed , rolling her eyes at him……………………….. 'now I will call meera….she will come with u to the estate, today, happy?' she said , smiling at angad………………. Angad nodded , a sly smile on his lips……………
**************************
Sharma , washing his hands n face after the lunch, called out to his daughter ……. 'bring the kheer beta , what's the delay?' 'we will tell u what's the delay' said sakthi emerging from the kitchen , his one hand gripping around the hair of Sharma's daughter, leela………n other holding a knife at her throat …………… Lakhan n their men followed , Sharma shouted , panicking 'no…leave her …what do u want?'……………. sakthi sneered evilly at Sharma, sniffing the girl , who was fighting in his grip 'hmmm….some girl u have got here……… we r taking her………. If u want her to be returned to u, untouched, u know what I mean, give us the docs u have about the riots………' ' I will not , u bas***ds !! I will not commit treachery against my brothers n nation …………. Those who were responsible for the riots will be prosecuted ……tell him whoever send u here……… ……kill me………. What has my daughter done to u…………kill me!……' Sharma shouted , as he struggled in Sakthi's men's grip……….
sakthi laughed as lakhan boomed……. 'u r such a fool ……… why would we kill u when u r the only person who knows where the files r? besides wife n daughters r strictly for this purpose only ……………who will we use as a bait for fools like u , then? ……so u won't relent ….Ok…. once we have finished with her, u could look for her in some of brothels in slums………!' …'no!!!...!' Sharma lunged at lakhan , but sakthi kicked him on his stomach ……….Sharma fell down……'u will be responsible for ur daughter's fate …………. think with that stupid gandhian skull of yours n decide if u want ur daughter or ur so called brothers n nation!' 'No….!!!' no….. not my daughter …….no ………. I will do anything ……..anything ………….. pls………… pls leave her ……I will…………I will give u what u want ………. I will give …………. Pls leave my daughter……………..' Lakhan n sakthi looked at each other , suppressing their glee ……….. they smirked , as lakhan said ' then give the files ……….. fast ………' Sharma gulped , pleading , as he fell down on sakthi's feet …….'I don't have them here …………its in locker …………I have to speak with the party secretary……….. he has the other key…………… pls .pls……….. …….i will come with u ………… n u can get that files from the locker………………. ……..' sakthi stamped on him 'who do u think we r? ur servants?!... u get that file for us …………n until then ur daughter will be , 'safe' , with us……… ' he threw the struggling n crying girl to lakhan ……………….. 'if there's any delay , u will be solely be responsible if she adorns our bed …………….' They left him , spluttering n stammering n crying as he ran behind their vehicle
It was close to evening n sajjan singh came back , happy that the deal had gone smoothly…………… Chandu stood up , as sajjan entered ……………….Chandu n krishna were playing chess……………. Sumitra , looked at them from behind the curtains, not alerting them of her presence……………. Suddenly the M.P came, running into the hall…………………….'sajjanji, help us……………. A bad thing occurred………………. ' 'What happened ?' Sajjan asked as krishna looked up……………. 'that Shailendra n Durjjan acted faster than we were anticipating……………… me n ur men, when we went to Sharma's house , found out that Durjjan sons came there n kidnapped his daughter………………n threatened him to give them the evidence or else they would ruin his daughter …………. Sharma is beyond grief ……..…Sharma wants the other key of his locker to take out the docs……………..he is ready to give it to them, for fear of anything happening to his daughter…………….'
Sajjan looked at Chandu, his face hardening a bit…….. Chandu looked shocked n guilty ……….Sajjan said soothingly…. 'they were quick n we were unaware that Sharma was in mortal danger , till this morning………we couldn't have prevented whatever happened ………so don't u start blaming urself ' ……….Chandu nodded , ashen faced……….. ……… He turned to the M.P ………'bring Sharma here………..tell him I want to talk to him……………n then I want to see that dog durjjan……..'sajjan said , gritting his teeth…. 'No bauji' Krishna interrupted, standing up…………. 'U just came back from the estate………… u take rest……….. as of now , they don't know that we r involved………………. I am going straight to that worm Sakthi's house ………………n get the girl back, if he hasn't moved her anywhere else, that is…………looks like he is begging to receive what he deserves ………….. enough of his nautanki's……….n while we r at it, I think I would like to visit our defense minister too……………Come Chandu………………..'Krishna said , smirking………….. Sajjan looked at Krishna , nodding 'don't be late for dinner'……………he said smiling ………………. Krishna smiled back……………….
Chandu sat, still tensed n feeling guilty as Krishna sped his Rover down a winding road…………'if only I had deployed our men a bit earlier….!! ' Chandu sighed, trailing off…………. Krishna kept his eyes on the road, trying not to roll his eyes……………... 'hey …………… leave it………….its not ur fault…………… nothing has gone wrong ……the evidence is still with us………. Chill……can't wait to play with that rat n u r spoiling my mood …….' Krishna said , sounding cross , but concerned ………….. 'n its not about the evidence I am talking ………..' Chandu began , realizing that Krishna just doesn't care about the girl involved but was relishing the new opportunity to humiliate Sakthi……. Just then Pratigya's Innova passed them in the opposite direction n he exclaimed , involuntarily 'hey that's her …………. Defense minister's daughter………..in that car…….' 'Who?' Krishna said , suddenly breaking his Rover……….n he looked back at the car …'u know , I saw her on the card' Chandu said smiling ………krishna turned his head to look at Chandu a sly smile on his lips……….. Chandu who was enthusiastically beginning to explain his first meeting with her , when he noticed krishna's smile ………….. he pursed his lips , his heart sinking …………Krishna said , reversing his Rover ……'Change of plan…………. ' he said , his smile widening ……………..Chandu , looked , feeling uneasy at Krishna as Krishna turned the Rover n sped up behind the Innova………….. 'have u heard about killing 2 dogs with one stone?' Krishna said , chuckling …………….. Chandu nodded , absently
