The icy January wind herded towards the apartment . He hurried his way to the pharmaceutical meeting he had to attend . Anurag Basu was a good looking man with a lean athletic body.
Prerna Sharma lived in a palatial bungalow, the kind of villas you only get to read in story books. While growing up,she had the best toys and the most expensive dresses. But it was her father who was the most important person in her life as she had lost her mother at a tender age. He adored her and she worshipped him.
Anurag was feeling bored at the meeting . He saw many new faces but nothing interested him. And then he saw her. She looked radiant with a petite figure, oval shaped face and warm brown eyes. At twenty-six, Prerna was a pretty woman .The gaze in her eyes marked the innocence of a newborn baby looking for its mother. She looked very innocent and vulnerable, but at the same time there was a strange determination and optimism in her. And this combination was irresistible. She looked fragile and was the kind of lady whom any man would immediately want to protect. The expression on her face changed when she saw him staring at her. He was her Onu, her best friend, with whom she had spent her childhood giggling and laughing together. She had never told him that she loved him and few years later he had disappeared. And suddenly after all these years he was there in front of her. She knew he didn't recognise her and she preferred it this way.
She had married Bajaj against her father's wishes. Six months into her marraige and she was one of the happiest people alive. There were many red flags in their relationship but she was just too happy to realise that the so called perfect married life was a facade. One day, suddenly on her twenty sixth birthday, everything came to an end. She had never known such pain. It was unbearable.
It began innocuously enough. Mr. Anupam, the police inspector came to the villa. "Excuse me sir", the inspector said , "This is just a formality that I have to undergo . Actually there is some illegal activity going on and your name has been dragged into it. Please accompany me to the police station and I will see to it that you reach home by evening."
Rajesh never came back home again. Bail was denied. He was aghast when he learned that the inspector was Bajaj's friend and had plotted and trapped him with false evidences to save Bajaj's illegal business. Trial began. Prerna was also in the courtroom everyday listening to her husband slowly and gradually destroying her father. When the trial finally ended, Rajesh was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. Unable to bear the humiliation, he committed suicide.It was a nightmare beyond imagination . "Dad, you shall have your vengeance" , she vowed to herself.
A sharp knife slammed into Bajaj's skull and his body plunged towards the unforgiving nine stories below. His body is covered with cockroaches and he is drowning. Bajaj's body exploded into flames and his screams awakened Prerna. Again the same dream. She was frantic. It was always a different dream, yet always the same. Outwardly she seemed fine but was a mess inside.
Two weeks after her father died, Prerna went to Anupam's home with a burning desire for revenge. He opened the door and stared at her in surprise.
" Prerna! What are you doing here? "
" I have come to thank you Anupam", she timidly answered.
He studied her suspiciously and she looked deep into his eyes and continued "For saving my husband. I know you did this to save Bajaj "
He stood there uncertainly. "Come in and have some tea. I am really sorry for framing your dad, but it was Bajaj's plan and I only supported him"
When they were seated in the living room, He noticed what a beautiful young lady Prerna was and wished he could get her for a night. She was wearing a simple white dress that revealed the outlines of her petite body. He made tea and brought in with some cookies.
"Let me. Shall I pour ", she asked sweetly. Her voice was warm. He nodded and watched as she walked over and carefully poured out tea for both of them. He took a sip and grimaced. It tasted bitter. He couldn't finish his tea as he was seized by a sudden spasm.
Prerna sat there , calmly sipping her tea, watching him stumble to the floor. "That's one, Daddy", She smiled. Since past few days she had researched quite a lot about this medicine which she had added to his cup of tea.
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