I tried my best to edit quickly, but please excuse any errors. 😛
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Chapter 45:
Gayatri sat on the couch and lazily sipped some wine, her third glass, from an oversized goblet. Meanwhile, Prakash stood leaning against a wall in the far corner of the room, thinking about all that Karan had said to him a few hours earlier. The painfully honest words that his son had lashed out at him echoed in his head.
You have a choice now. At this moment in time, you're willingly choosing to go away from us. I've felt the pain of losing you for all these years papa, but Kabir bhaiyya? He lost a part of himself 13 years ago with the news of your death. You have the choice now to return your son's life to him and you're choosing to keep him dead instead. Your revenge from Gayatri is worth more to you today than your son's life Mr. Tripathi?
The last of these sentences was the most profound accusation, one that forced Prakash to seriously reconsider all of his past actions.
Did Kabir really take it that hard? But everything that Pathak told me indicated otherwise; it sounded like he had managed to pull himself together and move past it. I guess it was either something that Pathak overlooked or perhaps more the fact that I chose to hear and believe only what I wanted to. How ironic that my attempt at saving his life did more harm than good. Did I really become so engrossed in extracting my revenge that I used and manipulated my own children?
Prakash recalled the multitude of times in the past few years that Pathak had advised him to reveal himself to his children and how he had so thoughtlessly dismissed the lawyer's advices.
I should have reached out to them earlier. Why did I become so engrossed in my plans? What was I planning to do anyway? How could they have possibly figured out on their own what Gayatri had done so many years ago? How would that have helped the situation anyways? Neither of them would ever have imagined in their wildest dreams that I could still be alive. If it wasn't for that letter, Karan wouldn't have found me today and I would still be living cooped up in that nursing home trying to figure out what clue to throw out to them next. Seriously, what the hell was I trying to do? I've been so stupid for all these years.
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Kabir stopped the car with a screeching halt and ran up the outer stairs to the main entrance with Rachna following closely behind him. Their steps echoed through the spacious hall as soon as they stepped onto the marble floors of the house's interior. Rachna observed multiple servants milling around the hall, each absorbed in their individual tasks. A middle-aged woman, Radha according to her name tag, greeted Kabir with folded hands.
"Namaste Kabir sir. Madam ji is waiting for you in the den."
Kabir took hold of Rachna's hand and led her to the back of the house, pausing before he entered the den with her. He gave her hand a squeeze and pecked her forehead to reassure her. Kabir and Rachna walked into the room together. They immediately spotted Gayatri seated comfortably on the couch. Karan stood on one side of the room, right by the door, with Pathak. They spotted another man standing on the far side of the room, his back facing the room's entrance, making his identity indistinguishable. Karan rushed to Kabir and Rachna's side as they entered the den.
"Karan? Baccha you're okay right? What happened? How did you end up here?"
Kabir's worried voice sounded in Prakash's ears, breaking the ominous silence that had pervaded the room and interrupting the continuity of his thoughts. He remained rooted to his spot, not wanting to turn around and face his elder son. Instead, he listened closely to the verbal duel that ensued between Kabir and Gayatri.
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Gayatri clapped slowly as she stood up. "Welcome my son. Arrey, you should have waited at the door. It's the first time you're coming home with my daughter-in-law. I would have greeted you with all the proper rituals."
Kabir looked at Gayatri with irritation. "What do you want? Why have you called us here?"
Gayatri smiled pleasantly standing in front of Rachna and Kabir, as she observed Rachna from head to toe with a menacing stare. She grabbed Rachna's hand in a sudden movement and jerked her forward. Kabir strengthened his hold on Rachna's other hand and pulled her back towards himself. Rachna stood between Gayatri and Kabir, each holding one of her hands and refusing to let go. Gayatri twisted Rachna's hand suddenly, causing her to yell out in pain.
"Let go or she'll face the consequences of your stubbornness."
Kabir reluctantly released Rachna's hand from his, as she looked at him with tears in her eyes and a scared expression on her face. He nodded slightly and blinked once to reassure her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Gayatri pulled Rachna into the middle of the room, having her stand right underneath the chandelier, and walked around her slowly to examine her from every angle.
"You're pretty, though I've seen more beautiful. Figure is okay, height is average. Not exactly the fairest in this land, a kind of what they call wheatish complexion to be polite. What is it then that made my son fall for you? To become obsessed with you? I could have lined up miles of better looking girls for him."
Gayatri stopped in front of Rachna again and looked towards Kabir, ushering him to come stand next to his wife. He obliged to her demands only for out of concern for Rachna.
"Chalo, now won't you like to see what Karan managed to discover at that address?"
Kabir gave Gayatri a suspicious look, as she walked to the opposite side of the room, where Prakash was standing, still facing the wall. He pushed away Gayatri's hand from his shoulder when she tried to turn him around and lead him towards Kabir.
"My my, I see where you get your attitude and stubbornness Kabir. You've inherited it from him after all."
Kabir watched Gayatri's every move, becoming confused by the actions of the stranger standing in the corner and even more perplexed by Gayatri's statement. Gayatri grabbed a file from the wall of bookshelves as she walked back to the center of the room. Kabir glared into Gayatri's eyes with clenched teeth, as she spoke to him casually and held out the file in front of him.
"Don't even think about tearing up the papers. Just sign them and get Mayank out of jail."
Kabir took the file dismissively. Without even opening it, he threw the file on the table that stood just a few feet away from him. Gayatri frowned and threw him a look of daggers that was good enough to kill.
"What could possibly possess you think that I would do something so stupid?"
"Because she would face the repercussions of your actions if you don't." Gayatri gave Kabir a look of confidence before setting her eyes on Rachna and emphasizing the word 'she.'
Kabir stiffened instinctively as he strengthened his hold on Rachna, keeping a look of indifference on his face. "Why do you want him out of jail? Who is he to you anyways?"
"Her son. Mayank is her son." Prakash spoke out before Gayatri could answer, leaving Karan, Kabir, and Rachna stunned by the information. He finally moved from his spot and turned around to face his elder son and daughter-in-law.
Kabir's eyes became wide with shock as he saw his father standing in front of him after so many years. He took a step backwards as he shook his head, unable to process what was going on. Rachna confusedly looked at Kabir for an explanation, unable to recognize the man standing in front of her. Prakash had his eyes only on Kabir, tearing up at seeing his elder son after all these years.
Kabir stared back at his father, in disbelief of what he was seeing, clueless of anything else that was going on around him. He stumbled backwards another step as "papa" came out of his mouth in a hushed tone. Rachna steadied Kabir by firmly holding his waist and heard the word that he had whispered, quickly coming to the realization that the man standing in front of her was her father-in-law. Tears involuntarily fell from Kabir's eyes, rolling down his cheeks in a steady stream. Finding out that his father was alive had been a shock, but to see the man that he had believed to be dead for 13 years standing in front of him was incomprehensible. Kabir blinked rapidly, trying unsuccessfully to clear his vision. Prakash held out a hand towards his son, only to be stopped short by Gayatri, as Kabir stumbled back another step.
Gayatri snapped her fingers in front of Kabir's eyes loudly, but he was in his own world of darkness, ignorant of all of his surroundings. He could feel himself removing Rachna's hands from his waist, as Gayatri's snaps echoed distantly in his ears. He could feel his legs buckling under him and his knees hitting the hard marble floor with a thump, causing a shooting pain to travel up his leg. He heard Rachna call out his name with worry and felt her hands on his left arm and across his chest. He sensed Karan rushing to his side and shaking his shoulders. He could perceive the flurry of activity going on around him, but his brain was numb with shock to do anything or respond to anyone.
It was only the sound of Rachna's loud scream a few moments later and the pressure of her hands trying to retain a firm hold on his arm as she was being dragged away that brought Kabir back to reality. He immediately stood up and saw Gayatri's evil look as she held a glinting knife poised directly above Rachna's wrist; the sharp blade nearly in contact with his wife's skin. Kabir took a quick step forward, earning a nod of disapproval from Gayatri, who tightened her hold on Rachna's arm. Everyone else in the room stood shocked by the adverse turn of events, as Rachna pleadingly looked at Kabir and shook reflexively out of fear.
"Don't even think about taking another step. Now that your little family reunion is over; let's get onto business. Sign the papers."
Gayatri used her eyes to signal towards the table, where Kabir had earlier thrown the file, and ordered him to sign. Kabir bent down to pick up the file and opened it to examine the documents. Prakash grabbed the file from Kabir's grasp before he could sign it and reached out to place his hand lovingly on Kabir's head.
"Kabir. Beta, I know it must be a shock for you to see me like this, but please let me explain. Don't sign those papers. She's using the same trick with you today that she used with me all those years ago."
A whimper escaped Rachna's lips as the tip of the knife touched her wrist, threatening to break open her skin with the slightest addition of pressure. Kabir took a step backwards, avoiding his father, and jerked the file from Prakash's hands. He glanced up at Rachna once again before he forcefully signed the papers that would withdraw all legal complaints against Mayank and free him from jail.
"I signed them, now let Rachna go."
Gayatri smirked as she laughed. "Emotional fool you are, just like your father. Did you seriously think that I would let your precious wife go if you just signed the papers? Why would I care about one golden egg if I have access to the hen that lays them? Take a seat. In fact all of you take a seat. I don't want anyone falling and hurting themselves when you see what I'm about to show you."
Pathak obliged easily to Gayatri's instructions and pulled Prakash to the couch with him, while Karan and Kabir remained standing in their spots. Kabir stared at Gayatri furiously, anger spewing out of his eyes.
"Sit." Gayatri called out loudly, her voice echoing in the expansive room.
Karan placed his hands on Kabir's shoulders, trying to lead him back to the couch, but Kabir shook his brother off forcefully. Karan took a seat next to his father reluctantly, as Kabir stayed in his spot, not considering for a moment at any cost to move even one inch father away from Rachna than he already was.
"Like I said, stubbornness is a trait that you seem to have inherited. But stupidity seems to be another one. You fell for the same trick that your father did all those years ago. Would you like to hear what actually happened that day while we wait for my special guest?"
Kabir tried hard to fight back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He swallowed to get rid of the lump of sadness that was building in his throat. Gayatri laughed maniacally seeing Kabir beginning to deteriorate right in front of her eyes.
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"Gayatri? What happened? Why did you interrupt my meeting like that and call me home so suddenly?"
"Prakash. It's...it..." A sob erupted from Gayatri's throat as she turned her face away from her husband and locked the door of the bedroom in which they stood.
"What happened Gayatri? Is everything okay?"
"It will be once you sign the papers." Gayatri turned around and smiled sinisterly, as she wiped away the fake tears from her face.
"What papers?" Prakash gave a look of uncertainty, as he watched Gayatri remove a file from her purse and hand it over to him. Accepting the file from her hesitantly, Prakash was about to open the file when she stopped him.
"Before you read the documents, I think you might want to take a look at this." Gayatri handed over a phone.
Prakash recognized the picture on the screen as the hostel room of his elder son. "This is Kabir's room at the hostel. Why are you showing me this?"
"Very good that you recognized it. I feared that your memory might be waning with age, but it seems that you're still as sharp as a tack. Now take a closer look at the top-right of the screen and you'll clearly see a black figure poised directly in front of the room's window. See him?"
Prakash looked back at the phone, realizing that the screen was displaying a live feed video of Kabir's hostel room, not a still image. Focusing on the spot that Gayatri had described, Prakash noticed that there was indeed a man standing outside the window of the room. Just as he was about to look away from the phone, a movement on the screen caught his eye; Kabir walked into the room with Karan, laughing at some joke that they had just shared. Prakash watched as Kabir threw his books on the desk and took a seat on the bed.
"Why are you showing me this? And what are these papers?"
"The first page in the file is the power of attorney for Tripathi Textiles Inc. You will sign it and hand off all decision-making power to me. Sign the next page and every acre of property that you own is mine, along with every Rupee in your bank account."
The confused expression on Prakash's face morphed into one of anger and disgust.
"Why the hell would you even consider the possibility that I would sign these documents?"
Prakash angrily threw the file on the floor and began to storm out of the room, only to be stopped cold in his tracks when he heard the next sentence come out of Gayatri's mouth.
"If you don't sign the papers, both your sons will be shot dead in a matter of minutes. In fact, you can even watch them die in front of your very eyes through the camera feed."
Prakash turned to face Gayatri, throwing her a threatening scowl. "You wouldn't dare."
Gayatri smiled coolly as she picked up the file off the ground, dusted it off, and handed it back to Prakash with a pen. "Sign the papers and you won't have to find out."
Prakash's heart stopped as he painfully looked at the image of both his son's laughing away, carefree and unaware of the enormous danger that they were in at that very moment. Tears filled his eyes and dropped like pearls as he stroked the image of both Karan and Kabir. He steadied himself and wiped away the tears, as he grabbed the pen from Gayatri and signed off on the papers with a heavy hand and heart.
As soon as Prakash finished signing, Gayatri pulled the file away from his grasp with a flourish and stabbed a needle of lethal poison into his arm, sending him into a coma almost instantaneously. Looking down at the limp body of her husband, she smirked as she unlocked the door and called out for the hired man to take away the body and bury it in some deserted place.
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"Honestly though Prakash, how did you survive? The suspense is nearly killing me."
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❤️ Nivi
Edited by nividances - 10 years ago
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