Chapter-2
Kalyani returns home and calls out of habit, "Aai. Dekh main aa gayi." But there's no reply. Kalyani looks around disoriented, almost stumbling over a couch in the dark. She flops down on the floor and taking out her cellphone, dials a number and after her inability to connect the call, leaves a voice message, "It's been six months you left us, Atharv. You don't miss me, I can understand, but don't you ever miss your son too? Moksh is your own flesh and blood. You know, today's his birthday and I looked at him, hiding behind a tree like a thief, in the orphanage playground. He's one year old now. I just wish that at least on this day, he could hear his Aai Baba singing: Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to dear Pillu..." Kalyani's voice breaks with this...
Meanwhile in Malhar's house...
"Gucci Sunglasses hmm...and this expensive jacket. Malhar, are you suffering from the same disorder Ambi suffered in the movie Aparichit?" Saarthak said in a thoughtful tone.
"I got all these on rent from Chorbaazar," Malhar said, snatching the sunglasses and filling it in a bag, "I don't get a fat pay package like famous lawyers to afford these. I'll have to return them as their charge is on hourly basis."
Saarthak chuckled, "So the dutiful, honest ACP Malhar Rane buys things from ChorBazaar? Irony died a thousand deaths."
"To catch criminals, one has to think like them to beat them in their own game," Malhar said, measuring milk in cup to make tea for Saarthak and himself.
"That girl," Saarthak hesitated, "Her photo was in your room."
"Her name is Kalyani," Malhar said, adding tea leaves to the boiling water, "What about her?"
"Do you really think that she...that she's involved in a heinous crime like drug trafficking. I mean she doesn't look like that."
"No criminal looks like a criminal, Kaka. It was you only who taught me that. Her husband is one of the key players in the drug cartel."
"But you told me that he left her for another woman..."
"Yet she calls him everyday in the hope that he'll return to her and their son. Look, even I want that finally we are proved wrong, but Pawar himself saw her selling heroin to one of her students. I can't let her destroy the future of these students and the hope of her parents."
....
She saw a boat rocking through the furious waves of Sindhu. Sindhu, during the month of Aashadh is always merciless. A prayer escaped from her lips for the safety of the travelers. The rain became more opaque and it was almost difficult to see even two hands away from her eyes. But she kept standing on the balcony and listening to the love song exchanged between the sky and the earth in the form of rains.
When Kalyani woke up, she was slightly surprised by the commotion outside her luxurious house. Her father was the chief architect in the court of Darius lll who came from far off lands and invaded their Janapada. Her father used to be the chief architect of the previous king too who was mercilessly murdered by Darius with the help of some traitors in his own kingdom. Kalyani hated her father working for such a murderer but her father always shut her up by saying Gold Mudras do not make any distinction between a lawful, paternal monarch and a lecherous, murderous invader.
A tall, dark man was surrounded by people, looking around with confusion.
"But how can I tell where I came from when I don't even remember my name?" He said with frustration, "I only remember the river would've killed me and when I woke up at the shore, I thought I've reached heaven."
"I only had this in my hand when I woke up," he said producing a scroll in front of everyone. It was addressed to Maanchand, Kalyani's father.
"How would I know what's that scroll addressed to me doing in his hands," Maanchand was not used to stand in the sunlight for long, "I only know that there's no way I could have such a beggar like customer. Look at his tattered clothes."
"But what will I do now," the man said with great sadness, "I don't remember who I am." Kalyani realized he was quite handsome with his deep set eyes and beard.
"Listen Maanchand ji," A respected old man said, "He is utterly helpless right now and he does have scroll addressed to your name with him. Keeping with our tradition, it's your duty to give him a shelter until he remembers about his home and able to return there."
"But..."
"Pitaji, he needs our help," Kalyani came out, "Maa never taught me to leave a helpless person on his own."
"You and your naive maa," Maanchand muttered, "That's why she died so early. Fine, he can live with us."
The man fell on Maanchand's feet and the mud from his hands got over Maanchand's feet and Dhoti.
"Get away, you dirty beggar," Maanchand kicked him away and went inside the house.
"So..." Kalyani said without looking at the man.
"So what?"
"Since you don't remember your name, what should I call you?" Kalyani said scratching her head.
"Since you are my savior, it's your right to decide that," the man said smilingly.
"So, I would call you..."Kalyani pretended to think hard, "I'll call you Malhar." Kalyani's favourite season was rains and being a trained singer, she loved to sing in Raag Malhar.
"As you wish," the man whom Kalyani named as Malhar said bowing down.
So this is the second chapter. Please batana zaroor kaisa laga ye chapter.
https://youtu.be/asw-wTDzGUQ
Edited by Autumn09 - 3 years ago