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Part 2 of 15
The nerve of Preeti to
take such a step, how dare she! and that too stealing 5 lakh, stealing from
home!!". He raced down the stairs once again went into his office and shut the
door. Dadi got up from the sofa worried for her grandson.. she knocked on the
door. "papu what's wrong?"
"nothing dadi" he got up
from his chair. "Nothing you need to worry about" he said in a gentle tone,
last thing he wanted to do was worry her. Knowing he is in a problem will
surely do that. "don't worry everything is fine no need for you to worry" he
smiled reassuringly. "but I heard.."
"nothing I can't fix dadi,
you just relax I have everything under control.. just then his phone buzzed. "I
will just take this I won't be a minute.
She nodded.. "ok beta I will go check on Siya" and she left him to it. "Yes Champak I will be there shortly" he
ended the call and slipped the phone in
his pocket. "Dadi I need to attend the
office I'll be back shortly". He called as he was heading for the front door.
"ok papu drive safe!" Krishna got to the office and got out some money he
quickly dropped by to Champak. Bhai. He drove reaching home again, he was not in a
good state, and his mind was on Preeti he slammed his office door shut.
*
. Both girls were going
up the stairs "thanks for helping me" she replied Pratigya was carrying her
suitcase. "of course yaar" Gauri followed behind with some hand bags. "I hope
its nice" she said as they reached the top.. "hmm" Pratigya replied in an unsure
tone knowing Gauri will think its down market. "well it's just for 2 nights" she
said turning the key the door opened. She placed the suitcase down. "my first
home?" how is it?" she turned around clearly reading Gauri's face. "you want
the truth or shall I lie to you?" "
Lie" Gauri
laughed. "in that case it's a palace" Pratigya smiled. "haha very funny, I know
its not perfect but the other place is much better and I will be there in 2 days this is
temporarily"
"that's true" she picked up the suitcase and placed it on
the bed. "now help me unpack" Gauri
nodded, opening the handbags taking out the toiletries.
Two days he tried to call her but she wasn't
answering. the nerve of her stealing from home, right under my nose how
could I be so stupid' he cursed banging the table. Luckily he was loaded and money wasn't an
issue but that wasn't the point. The phone rang. "Preeti what the hell!" she
laughed from the other end. "it was easy and the code on your safe, anyone
would know that its your late.."
"where the hell are you, you better put every
single rupee back that you..! The phone cut off ... "damn it!" he threw the phone to the ground. He didn't really have the tendency of getting
angry but this is the heights. keep
calm you don't want to worry dadi, but i...'
just then he was receiving an incoming call. "Hello and what do you want..listen she is...
the both of you?!
*
Pratigya comes to the
door, "Hi Ramu chacha" she said as he
opened the door. "Hello beta Siya is upstairs" said Ramu the servant.. Pratigya
nodded she looked around where is everybody the hall looked empty. Pratigya
stop snooping you're here to look after Siya bas don't get involved in anything
else, keep out' Her minded reflected. She listened to it and went straight
upstairs to attend to Siya. "Hello Siya baby you awake?" she said lifting her
out of the crib. "chalo its your bathtime" she said grabbing her towel and a few
other things and made her way to the bathroom.
Whilst giving the little one a bath Pratigya reflected on things, 2 days
ago she had moved into her new place, and it was great she enjoyed her own
space, and she felt indepent she could see the future and the most important
thing she could herself smiling. Unfortunetly she hadn't seen her father since..
and she wasn't allowed to see her brothers, but her mind was being positive that
everything will work itself out. Time
flew she hadn't seen Krishna or Preeti the whole day. "bye beta we will see you
tomorrow" she said to Pratigya, she was on her way to a friend's house with
Siya. "yes dadi I will see you tomorrow"
Dadi left and Pratigya was about to
too. Krishna must be so busy with work load but she fel the need to
thank him for all his help especially with the new accomedation arrangements.
"Sir has been so kind
to me I should thank him properly" she
goes to the office but its closed. He must be out.. she remembered she left her
handbag in Siya's room she goes to get it, "my phone?.. oh yah left it on the
sofa. She makes her way to the hall.
"Hi Pratigya darling..?" she turned around and
saw Krishna sir.
"J-join me for a drink.. hmm?" he slurred getting
up from the opposite sofa,.. coming unsteadily towards her. oh god he's drunk!' she felt him pulling her by the hand. what's wrong why he is a drunken state?' she
questioned as he pulled her along "how has your d-day been hmm have a seat?" he
said as he made her sit next to him.
"sir your..?"
"hmm.. I am indeed..
hmm, hmm" he cholted to himself taking a
sip from his glass.He is always in suits or, shirt and trouser, She hadn't seen him ever like this, in a vest,
wearing sports wear sitting lazily with
one foot flat on the sofa and the other resting on the floor and that too in a
pair of snickers. "you want some?" he said pushing the glass to her.. "no
thanks" she replied moving away from him. "so how is the new place.. 2- days..
"sir don't you think
you should stop" she said holding the glass..
he turns towards her taking the glass back and ignoring her. "so..
Preeti left me" he said casually taking another sip.
"What?" she's gone?"
"hmm, I don't care
she can go to hell." He said waves his free hand around But you know" he sat
straight.. "she-she stole from me.. that bitch stole from me"
"sir stop please if
not for me then for your Siya, imagine how she will feel seeing her papa.."
"papa.. kaun papa?"
he said holding the glass but not drinking it just stirring the glass gently ... "what daughter, I don't
have any kids" he said looking at the drink bubbling in the glass as he kept
doing that. What is he saying now he is
too drunk to think straight.' he slammed
the glass down on the table in front and
then turned towards her litereally making her jump from his sudden movement,
she hugged her knees taking up from the ground in a natural instinct. . "Tell
me?.. I am a bad person right.. everyone l-leaves me.." he said like a vulnerable
child. "Sir- I think.." she said shifting alittle away from him. "What?" he
said moving towards her. "its true, is that why all this h-happens with me"
Pratigya didn't know what to say, his hand resting on the side of her on the
sofa, she shifted back trying to get away at the same time she was feeling
really bad for him.. "Tell me" he gripped both his hands against her sides
locking her on the sofa. oh god sir what are you doing, your not thinking
straight, her heart was beating so fast, but she didn't feel scared as such,
just nervous and worried. She felt his
weight shift on her. "Tell me Pratigya.." she didn't know when his face was
close to hers.. "please.." he pleaded in a a soft vulnerable tone, She gripped
at her salvar, now she was feeling worried push him off and run' she thought.
"you know you're the only one w-who.." his left hand's 4 fingers began to trace down the right side
of her face. "w-who, can understand".. his
fingers came to a hault, his thumb on the side of her chin ... "losing-
s-someone close and I . I did.." he bent
his head down and rested his forehead towards her.. oh my god what is happening, how did I get caught up in this.. her face felt wet, sir oh my.. he's crying? What
happened that he.. he sniffed and
lifted his head up from hers. Then looked down at her, his hand again traced
her face. She looked deep into his eyes, he isn't harmful to her, she couldn't
deny the fact that she was in love with him and has been for a long time but
why is he so upset.. her thoughts got
distracted when she found his finger trace her lower lip. "you understand me
like no one else and I .." he couldn't
stop staring she looked beautiful in her fusia pink salvar, thoese expressive
eyes, those lip soft inviting lips.
Stop him Pratigya
he's not in the right state, he doesn't know what he is doing' screamed her mind... she felt his finger
move out of the way and he lowered his head towards her, him he was now on top
of her, stretched out on her, her legs
felt like jelly, she couldn't move. the man she loved.. but this was wrong!'
"dadi will come home with Siya soon and "you don't want her to see her papa.."
Krishna got off her.. "papa.papa.. he
said taking the glass again.
"why are you saying
such things I don't understand" she got off the sofa, and took the glass from
him. "because its true, Siya isn't my daughter" he said lying down lazily stretching
out "very funny then who is she?" she
said placing the glass away from him. "My
brother.. late brother's Keshav's daughter.. not mine, all ruined me, just
imagine graduate then pulled out of- videsh,
married on the spot" Pratigya brows knitted as he spoke. He looked at
her as he adjusted his head on the edge of th sofa,
"Can you imagine one
minute in US then next minute I am a husband, and a ins- instant flipping papa she,
Siya they all ruined my life" he commented
"all ruined". Wow what a change
he had to go through and Siya is not his
daughter then Preeti is the mum or what? She walked back to him, he had gone to sleep,
here I thought he was perfect, but he
has been through a tough time too poor guy she really felt sorry for him. her
hand lifted to caresses his temple she stopped as her thoughts and actions were
interrupted by the door it was Sangam Dadi will
be back and seeing him like
this..how will that feel.. Sangam saw Pratigya come towards her. "Pratigya you
can go now beta"
"Sangam aunty sir isn't in the right state, he
is drunk... she turned indicating the sofa.
"oh no.. where is
badi malkin?"
"She has gone to
visit somewhere with Siya"
"that's good she
shouldn't have see him like this... what shall we do?" she said looking to
Pratigya for a solution..
"I.. she said and saw Ramu chacha join them.
"Ramu chacha help me
get sir up the stairs he's not in a good state"
"yes of course.." all
three mananged to get him on his feet, and he rested his full weight almost on
Pratigya the three of them managed to get him into his bed. Once that was done Pratigya grabbed her phone left
from there.
*
The next day was
Saturday Pratigya was ready to go meet Gauri she grabbed her phone and finds an
sms.. I know its your day off but can
you please meet me today at home I would say somewhere else but I have a few video conferences today..ok let
me know' she replied back to his
sms.. he was running untill his phone beeped.. stopping midway of his jog he
checked it..
*
"Thank you very much
Mr Chopra" he saw Pratigya waiting outside his office, she saw him in smart
wear again, looking ever so handsome in a shirt and blazer, this was normal sir
he must be over his issue. finishing his
conversation he hanged up. He got up from his seat and opened the door.
"Let's go to the
garden and talk there.." she nodded. As
they walked he asked "how is your new place do you like it?"
"yeah its great sir,
you should come see when you have a chance.."
she replied..
"yeah I just might
take you up on that.". They came into the
garden, it was huge, a lot of flowers surrounding it, and this was just one side of it.
also a a cute little fountain
and a cosy swing, which is where he led her to come and have a seat.
"take a
seat" she sat down with her hands in her lap, he sat next to her, his feet apart
and his hands by his side gripping the material of the swing.
"Um.. yesterday my
behaviour was unacceptable, this whole Preeti thing and then I lost out to
another tender because personal issues
were messing with me" I'm quite
embarrassed actually" he couldn't meet her eyes he kept talking and looking
ahead.
"Sir don't apologise
please its.." he turned to her, she was making excuses for him and she should
never have been put in that position in the first place.
"no Pratigya, I.. I have
to otherwise I just.. please" he held her hands.. "forgive me?"
"of course" she
replied..
"thank you" he
replied letting go.. "so I want to share something with you its about my past,
as you know Siya isn't my biological daughter, and um..." he was struggling talking about his
feelings.. "ok I'm going to get up its easier for me to get my thoughts out.."
he got up from the swing.. Pratigya wanted to tell him its fine he doesn't have
to re-live everything again its not her business to know.. but a part of her wanted to know his troubles and
thoughts and she couldn't believe that he was sharing this with her finally.
She kept quiet and listened as he spoke. "I graduated from Harvard after doing
my mba, it was a great night I was with my girlfriend Elena nothing serious
really I wasn't in love with her or anything but my life in US was fab you know
I'm in my mid 20's having fun" he turned around facing her again she was
listening intently . "Ahem anyway everything was perfect, then I got a call from
my Girdhar chacha to come to India immediately and I did I was excited to see
bhai and bhabhi and little Siya, that time
I had only seen her in photos" He sat down again next to her " I came
back and saw they were no more, and that my shaadi had been fixed with Preeti..
you see Girdhar chacha and Preeti's dad
are fast friends and once I landed off
the plane I was told about my wedding
and brother's new all at th same time, not only that I was told about Preeti,
she was all prepared to be a mother to Siya. Pratigya looked as he went on..
he is not much elder than me and he was forced to grow up so quickly' she
sighed feeling his pain. "Preeti I knew her I had met her a few times i was
actually fond of her, so to marry her I was not hesistant she had a sweet
nature and she was great with Siya. Anyway it was on my wedding night I found
out her true colours, I found her talking on the phone to Sanjay, its who she
has gone of with now, She was only with me for the money.! Dadi came to meet me
and let's just say Girdhar chacha and
dadi don't have a relationship anymore.. he sold out to Preeti and her father
that's how she has 20 % share in my company. Slowly slowly I realised that she
needed to be out.. but oh no you know Preeti everyone loves her, and because
I'm a father to see Siya I am that much more respected in the businesses and
this ideal family is a respected status that has come out of this.. if anyone
found out that this is all a sham and I
don't even have a kid, I will lose a lot of business.. you know last year we
even did a photoshoot and an article came in the newspaper praising our
personal and professional lives.. so its complicated even if I want to tell the
world the truth I can't..There now you know everything, my past. He shifted on
the chair "You know till this day I can not believe my chacha betrayed us like
this.. after such betrayal I decided that the only thing that matters in the
world is money, that's why day and night
I keep to my business" He sighed..
"sir I'm so sorry I
thought I had a bad life, but you have been through such tough times" this time
she places her hand on his.. he turned to her. "It's ok.. well after all this talking
I sure need a drink you?"
"um.. ok" he got up
and called to Raghu their gardener "tell Girja to bring 2 fruit juices outside!"
he yelled.
"Yes malik" said the
gardener. He walked back to Pratigya and
sat down again.
"Sir money is good
but, people you can't put a price on it.. life is too short, enjoy it to the
fullest" Grija came and placed the plate of juices on the table in front of
them.
" enjoy it to the
fullest I can't remember the last time I
did that" he handed her a glass, also taking a sip from his own.
"you should sir, give
your self a break you are still young and I think worries are unnessary"
"wow check you out, a
few days back you were all against that and
now..
"Life's very importanted..
you taught me that" she looked at him then took a sip of her juice.
"your right, actually
after meeting you I realise money isn't everything people are far more
priceless" he said taking a final sip and placing the glass back on the plate. He turned to her and they
exchanged a mutual smile of understanding. "finished?" he asked, she nodded, he
placed her glass on the plate. "come" they walked back to the house.
"but now Preeti is gone so its good right?"
"hmm.. he chuckled " I
wish I could believe that but she will be back once she runs out of money, and
she is 20% shareholder she will back with her drama it's a pattern with her." He went ahead and she followed. Both were
greeted by dadi and Siya.
*
Krishna sat in his
office, he was just having a good think, "enjoy life to the fullest, people are
priceless" Pratigya's words kept ringing in his ears.. "she's right" He got up
from his office and close the door, "Mona I'm heading home" he said to his pa. "Listen cancel all my meetings for the next 2
months..
"2 months! sir are
you feeling alright?" she couldn't believe workaholic Krishna was saying this!
"Yes I'm taking leave
for a bit, obviously I will want an update but I won't be doing any meetings
re-schedule them all for 2 months later.
"Sir that is a huge
risk are you"
" Maybe it is, and
money is money, but you can't put a price on people." He smiled and left from
there.
tbc π
same as previous pre-cap
Edited by Khushi96 - 9 years ago
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