The
Circle of Life
Part
20
Priya
looked out from her window. It was evening time and the sun was slowly losing
its blaze. Her mind went back to the events of last night. Why was Kaustubh
interested in her? She liked Kaustubh alright but only as an actor. But she
loved Ram and here Ram was the one who was setting her up for Kaustubh? What
was that day when he spoke to Amma about her? Her mind recalled that Ram had
got the deal with Ranjeet Mehra, was that the reason he was setting her with
Kaustubh? Did she not mean anything to Ram? Priya recalled her conversation
with Ram when they had discussed betrayals. Can you hate the person for
betrayal? But to think of it Ram had never told her he loved her, but then she
had loved him with all her heart. Was that wrong? Or was Amma's prediction of a
cursed destiny coming true? Priya was lost in her thoughts when Amma walked in.
Amma:
Priya?
Priya
turned around to face Amma.
Amma:
Priya I think you should meet Ram once, clear this confusion.
Priya:
Amma, to tell you the truth, I have no strength to face him. After yesterday, I
feel like ...Priya paused unable to put words to her feelings.
Amma:
Priya, I understand how you feel but I think there is some confusion.
Priya:
Amma, can I ask you something?
Amma:
Yes
Priya:
Is it necessary that love should be from both sides?
Amma
hesitated before answering. She could not make out what Priya's question meant.
Amma:
To be honest Priya, love is love. When it is from both sides, it definitely enriches
our lives. Having said that, I think that you should be practical enough. You
afterall have to live your life and life does not stop for anyone. Let me share
Priya, when I lost my love it was all over for me. I too felt that it was the
end of the road for me, but as time passed I gathered myself.
Priya:
I am confused Amma, Ram said all those things to you and he wanted me and
Kaustubh to be together? Why? I do not have the slightest interest in Kaustubh.
Amma
knew now that Kaustubh coming into Priya's life was not co-incidence but
planned by Ranjeet. Priya was purely suffering because of her.
Amma:
Priya, the only way to tackle this is to talk to Ram. I am confused myself but
only he can answer all our questions.
Priya:
I need time Amma, I cannot face him.
Amma:
That's ok Priya, but with time you have to gather the strength to speak to him.
Priya looked on at the train tracks as a train passed
by, she knew Amma was right, but what she did not want was Ram to actually say
that he never loved her.
Police
Inspector : So Mr. Jagdish, can we know who are you and why were you in the
room?
Jagdish:
I am a tour guide sir, I often frequent hotels to scout for foreign travellers
to show them around. I just ventured into the room sir and saw the two men
fighting. I don't know why I got shot.
PI:
Do you know anyone of them?
Jagdish:
No, only later I came to know that he is that famous actor, Kaustubh Mehra.
PI:
We found a weapon on you, how did you have it?
Jagdish:
Sir, the foreign tourists have very strange requests. Sometimes they want to
visit Red Light areas, drug areas and I have to be sure that I am protected at
all times.
PI:
Why did you draw your weapon, the fight was completely beween two strangers for
you.
Jagdish:
Sir, they were fighting but they also had a gun, I just thought that I will too
secure myself.
PI:
We will require to question you further, once you are discharged, we will take
you into custody for further enquiries.
Jagdish:
Sure Sir, I have no problem in co-operating.
Ranjeet listened to every word Jagdish said. He found
it somehow hard to believe. Unknown to anyone, he quickly clicked a snap of
Jagdish and sent it to his contact. He will have information on this Jagdish
soon.
Ram
paced up and down. No matter what he tried, he could not stop thinking about
Priya. What had he done? How could he misread Kaustubh's intentions? Ram
recalled the clip he had seen at the premiere. Priya had confessed her love and
he had been foolish enough to not recognize how she felt for him. He remembered
their talks, her innocence, her way of dealing with life. His chain of thoughts
was interrupted when the police announced another visitor. Ram walked to the
visitor room expecting it to be Priya instead Mangal was standing there.
Ram:
You here? Is Priya here too?
Mangal:
Why would she be here? So that you can again use her?
Ram:
No, I was not aware that Kaustubh...i mean the circumstances were such
Mangal:
Circumstances? Great! You men always have circumstances isn't it? For a change
Ram, Priya was happy. She was happy that you were her friend, she was happy you
valued her, she was happy you loved her. What happened all of a sudden?
Ram:
She is still my friend Mangal, its just that I got tricked. Ranjeet Mehra told
me that Kaustubh loved Priya and
Mangal:
Kaustubh? Ram even for one second did you not realize that Priya loves you? Are
you so nave that you cannot make out? Her day started with you, ended with
you. You know what she told me? She said that even if once you had confided in
her that Kaustubh could get you a movie, she would have happily gone to
Kaustubh. Do you know what that means? She was ready to trade for you Ram, she
could give up herself for you and you say you were tricked?
Ram
hung his head stung by the enormity of it all. This was what Priya thought of
him, that he used her to get his movie deal with Kaustubh. Now that he was
thinking of it, it was not entirely wrong.
Mangal stormed off without another word.
Sir,
there is a lady who wants to see you, Ranjeet's secretary broke the silence.
Ranjeet had a fair idea who the lady was. Its time to face the demons thought
Ranjeet. He motioned his secretary to let her in.
Amma
barged in and stood facing Ranjeet. The person responsible for Priya's problem
was right in front of her.
Amma:
You don't have any shame do you? Getting innocent people involved? You have a
problem with me, then face me directly, why are you creating trouble for
others, what have they done? I cannot believe you can sacrifice your own son in
the bargain..I always respected you, I thought you had done something very
great in marrying your to be sister in law and saving her from disgrace. But
plotting revenge, after all these years?
Ranjeet
listened calmly to what Amma was saying. Uncharacteristically he forwarded the
glass of water kept in front of him.
Ranjeet:
I am sorry. Ranjeet never thought he would be saying this to Ravati, but here he
was saying sorry to her not only saying, he meant every word.
Amma
was a little taken aback by the change of tone. She looked at him with suspicion.
Ranjeet:
I know what you are thinking, but I am genuinely sorry. I was so consumed by
the idea of revenge that I gave little thought to the consequences. Believe me,
I never wanted to intentionally harm your daughter. It just wanted to hurt you,
for taking away my love, for twisting my life.
Amma:
Twisting your life? Have you ever thought of mine? Your brother ditched me at
the last moment, shattered all my dreams. You know I have never felt so used in
my entire life than I did on that fateful night when he did not show up.
Ranjeet:
Did not show up? You were the one who gave him the access to drugs.
Amma:
I may be trading my body to earn a living but I have principles Ranjeet. I have
never in my life used or taken drugs. Why the hell will I give it to Amar, I loved
him Ranjeet, I loved him from all my heart. And when we were about to embark on
a beautiful life together, why will I ruin it by drugging him?
Ranjeet:
You mean to say you had no hand in his death?
Amma:
Why would I kill him? What will I gain? Don't you think if I had any ulterior
motive then keeping him alive was going to be more profitable than killing him?
What use was a dead Amarjeet Mehra for me? Do you even know when Amar did not
turn up that night, he not only left me in lurch he ruined an innocent young
life. A life who could have had the opportunity to be a part of the respected
world. Who for no fault of hers is living where she does not belong.
Ranjeet
sat down in his chair as he absorbed every word what Amma was saying. All these
years he had never thought on these lines. Indeed Amar's death would not have
benefitted Revati. There was some confusion somewhere, something missing in
this jigsaw puzzle.
Ranjeet:
Can I ask you something?
Amma:
What?
Ranjeet:
Your child?
Amma:
I gave birth to a still born child.
Ranjeet:
Do you remember Amar's blood group?
Amma:
A +, why are you asking all these questions? Ranjeet, I have not come to
discuss medical details, I want an answer as to why are you after Priya?
Ranjeet
gave a sigh.
Ranjeet:
I am not after her Revati, I simply and simply wanted revenge. To let you know
how it feels to lose your loved one. Amar's involvement with you totally
changed my life. I lost my love, I had to get into a marriage I never wanted.
Amma:
Ranjeet, do you think I have been happy. I have only and only lived my life for
Priya. She is innocent, getting her image tarnished, using Kaustubh, for what?
A stupid revenge?
Ranjeet:
I now realize that I am wrong but I just could not help myself. Revati, I promise
you, I will not let any harm come to Priya.
Amma
looked at Ranjeet surprised. However he may have behaved in the past, his voice
carried a strange sincerity. Despite her experience she wanted to believe him. Amma
just nodded her head and turned to go.
Ranjeet:
One last question Revati...
Amma
turned once again to face Ranjeet.
Ranjeet:
What is your blood group?
Amma:
B positive
Ranjeet
looked on stunned at Amma, a big piece of the jigsaw puzzle had just presented
itself. If what she said was indeed true then it changed a lot of things. He
watched as Amma walked out without another word.
To
be continued
comment:
p_commentcount