Thakur Haveli…..
Avdesh was gazing at the moon. A habit he developed since being with Arpita. She loved the moon and he started loving it like he. A part of nature to which he had never given much thought became dear to him. Likewise there were many things which Arpita had inculcated in him. Except one thing- how to live without her.
Every day since her kidnapping and then the eventful retrieving from Siddarth he had lived in this one fear. His life had always gone in a flow . Never had thought that a gentle wave called Arpita would give birth a tidal wave of emotions in him. Emotions he could do well without. For the most part of his life anger and revenge was the main emotions that ruled him. He did love his family and friends. But beyond that he had never cared for anyone. But Arpita changed all that. She taught him a different kind of love which was potent in itself. A love with highly destructive force.
He sighed moving to his bed. Lying back with his hands cushioning his head he closed his eyes to catch some much needed sleep. Peace and rest had been eluding him for a while now. All such pleasant feelings are after all related with love and love to him right now caused pain of various intensities.
Pain from wanting to take away her tears, pain from wanting to engulf her in hug and pain of her absence from his site. Avdesh knew not how to judge the intensities of these pains or to say which was more profound. Warm tear ran down his handsome face, mark of the grief that was consuming him inside.
Anu's words came back to his mind. Tomorrow she would be here, bringing with her his sunshine, his life, his love, his Arpita. He badly wanted to see all three of them but he knew that the need was all the more prominent for Arpita. Just beholding her site was a small relief to his bleeding wounds.
"I love you Arpita" he whispered into the moonlight filtered darkness of his room, wishing the wind to carry the message across the city.
Anu's house……
Arpita sighed and turned away from her friends bickering over Ananya's recent antic. Her friend was too impulsive for her own good. She always managed to place herself in precarious positions.
Not that she regretted going to Thakur Haveli. Because deny as she may, she knew that her heart and her whole being craved for a glimpse of her beloved. The night he had dropped Anu back she had waited for long at the door gazing at the spot where he had been standing talking to RV. Every day she had spent away from him was torture for her and now it was all the more. On one side her morals and righteous upbringing told her that she could never accept a goon like Avdesh Singh Thakur and on the other hand her heart still beat for her Avdesh.
This dilemma was giving her a constant head and heartache, not to mention the nagging fear of facing Siddarth's retributions. She feared more for Avdesh than for herself. The tiniest hurt to him she knew she wouldn't be able to bear. After all she still loved him deeply.
"Arpi….Arpi….there you are chalo hum" Anu came shouting into the room and stopped abruptly on seeing her friend's bereaved look, tears streaming down her eyes. Anu sat beside her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Arpi" she squeezed Arpita gently to get her attention "You do trust me right"
Arpi nodded gently remembering Anu's and RV' promise.
"Then hold on to that and get ready…we are going to Thakur Haveli tomorrow morning first thing" Anu said gently but with a determination.
Far away in Thakur Haveli another person was awake restlessly scheming away, to get rid of the obstacles that stand between her and her love.
Morning dawns on Lallanpur…..
"Seriously Anu if anything at all goes wrong I will have you as dinner" RV threatened scowling while concentrating on driving.
"Sure….I will dress myself and serve myself in a plate" Anu replied back rolling her eyes.
"Kuch bhi hon ulta jawaab dhiyen bina nahin reh sakthi na" RV asked glaring at her.
"Tum saaf saaf kyun nahin keh dethe ki tumhein darr lag raha hain" Anu purposefully
"Excuse I am not afraid of anyone….I might not react like your brother but that doesn't mean I can't react at all…..get that straight Miss. Thakur" RV retorted, his ego hurt.
"Then relax RV…..you know you can protect us right and it's not like we will run after trouble….and beside it's not really a risk….violence is connected to the home but not in that Haveli….so relax" Anu said placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Arpita watched the interaction in silence and smiled at her friend's optimism. Ananya was truly Avdesh's sister when it comes to facing danger.
Na aage dekhthi hain na peeche bas khudh jaathi hain Arpitha thought shaking her head.
Arpitha had a hard time convincing her family to let her go. Jagath and Simple were dead set against the idea. Arpitha spoke from her heart to her mother and convinced her, however reluctantly, to let her join her friends.
"Ek baar humein koshish karne dho Mumma….ek baar humaare pyaar ke liye ladne dho….kahi na kahin humein lagtha hain ki Avdesh mein achayi hain…..aur uss achayi ko hum bahar lana chahthe hain" Arpitha remembered her words to her mother.
She sighed, closed her eyes and rested her head on the seat.
Her only hope was to trust in her love - it should be strong enough to wage any war.
Thakur Haveli……..
"Sukanya…..arey oh Sukanya….kaha mar gayi re thu" Bauji shouted coming down the stairs.
A hassled looking young girl came running out of the kitchen.
"Ji bauji aapne bulaya" she asked between panting.
"Haan behri tujhe hi bulaya tha…..kamra tayyar hain Ananya aur unke dostho ke liye" Bauji asked looking at the maid sternly.
"Ji bauji…..Ananya's room is at the end of the corridor close to Ammaji's room…..aur who dhoosri ladki ka kamra aapke ke kamre ke bagal mein…..aur uss londe ka" Sukanya recited.
"Bas bas….kam ho gaya na….ab khade khade humaare mooh math dekho jao aur khaana pakao….who log aathe hi honge" Bauji ordered . Sukanya turned her back to Bauji and muttered under her breath, her brows knitting together in irritation.
Dekhath hain hum Arpitha ji ki aap cheez ka hain Bauji thought with a smirk.
RV drove the car into the Thakur Haveli and parked it beside Avdesh's Scorpio. He let out a low whistle as his took in the humongous mansion. Guards manned the main entrance and the entrance to the house and they were now avidly watching them.
They looked menacing physically but RV knew better than to judge a person by physique.
We have come so far and I am not about to disappoint Anu RV thought determinedly.
"Let's go guys" he said turning his gaze back to Arpitha and Anu.
Arpitha got out first and looked at the imposing Haveli. She felt a squeeze on her shoulder and patted the hand gently. Her eyes were roaming through the windows when one of them caught her attention.
Avdesh was standing utterly still gazing at Arpitha drinking in her site. Separation had sweetened this meeting. She looked as beautiful as ever. But there was a tinge of sadness about her face which squeezed at Avi' s heart.
Only if I could take away her grief he thought clamping his hands tight on the window sill.
comment:
p_commentcount