Chapter-5
Malhar was getting ready in the evening to go somewhere.
"Malharji, aap samajhte kyon nahi? Aapko Atharva ki party me nahi jaana chahiye. Last week aapne uske aadmiyon ko avaidh khanan ke aarop me pakda tha, usko vo itni aasani se nahi bhoolega," Kalyani ne Malhar ko samjhate hue kaha.
"Tum kya chahti ho Kalyani? Ki sab ye kahein ki ACP Malhar Rane ek criminal se dar gaya? Kiye honge us Atharv ne Kai gairkanooni kaam magar Aurangabad me police ki naak ke neeche vo ye sab kaale dhandhe nahi kar sakta. Ho sakta hai party me uske khilaaf mujhe koi saboot mil jaye."
"Aap jaante nahi Atharv kitna khatarnak h," Kalyani said softly. Malhar had attracted Atharva's ire by arresting three of his minions. Moreover, by now the news of Kalyani's marriage to Malhar must have reached Atharva. Atharva was a womanizer himself but he was highly possessive when it came to things he owned, one of which was Kalyani. Kalyani was sure Atharva wouldn't let Malhar go easily.
When Malhar started his Jeep, it didn't start. After checking, Malhar realised the tyres were puncture.
Malhar took out his motorbike next but it had no petrol. Then Kalyani's car stopped in front of him. The driver opened the gate for Malhar.
"Kya hua ACP Rane? Any issues?" Kalyani asked.
"No ma'am," Malhar said grinding his teeth.
"Vo main 15 minutes se aapko bike ke saamne yoon aise hi khada dekh rahi hoon, to maine socha aapse pooch loon. Vaise bhi aaj autorickshaw ki strike hai to apke kisi friend ko kahin bahar jaana ho to use inform kar dijiyega. Mujhe to Atharva Bapat ki party ke liye invitation aaya tha to agar aapke friend ka ghar raste me parega to use bhi pickup kar loongi."
Malhar got inside the car and said, "Tumhare paas bhi invitation aaya tha?"
Kalyani nodded. When the invitation came, Kalyani tore it as she knew Atharva had only invited her to humiliate. But she couldn't let Malhar near Atharva alone. Malhar had no idea how ruthless Atharva could be. If her humiliation was the price for Malhar to be safe, then be it.
Why had Atharva invited Kalyani? Malhar thought. If Kalyani was harmed just because she was Malhar's wife, Malhar could never forgive himself. Malhar hated Kalyani but if Atharva wanted any revenge, it should be against Malhar himself. How dare he think of harming his wife?
When they finally reached the venue, Kalyani's eyes were dazzled by the grandeur of Atharva's mansion. When she was married to him, Atharva drifted from job to job at very low salaries. How did he become so rich in such less time?
"Aaiye aaiye Mr. and Mrs. Rane," Atharva welcomed Malhar and Kalyani, holding Kalyani's hand a little longer than necessary.
"Chalo Kalyani, mujhe tumhe kisise milaana hai," Malhar broke Atharva's hold over Kalyani and held her hand tightly pulling her away from Atharva.
"Dimaag hai tumhare paas ya nahi?" Malhar was breathless, "Vo Atharva tumhe aise choo raha tha aur tum bina kucch kahe yoon hi khadi huyi thi. Mera Mann to kar raha tha uske daant Tod doon. Magar tumhe khud bhi to self defence aani chahiye."
"Attention, attention," Everyone at the party turned towards Atharva who stood on a raised platform, "Maine party organize ki aur aap sab mere invitation par aaye. Acchi baat hai. Magar maine ye party kyon organize ki ye to kisine poocha hi nahi...chaliye main hi bataa deta hoon. Maine shaadi kar li hai aur ye party maine apni wife ke swagat me rakhi h. Sweetheart...zara in sabko apna chehra to dikhaao."
A beautiful woman, wearing a shimmering silver dress, descended down the stairs. Malhar was rendered speechless on seeing her face.
"Sampada," Kalyani whispered, and held Malhar's arm to support her. How much Malhar wanted to run towards Sampada? He wanted to ask where she was in two months after his marriage? But he couldn't. He was married to Kalyani now, and Sampada to Atharva.
Malhar quietly left the venue by foot. Kalyani ran behind him. After some distance, Malhar collapsed on the ground, and screamed till his lungs gave up. It was then the horror of what she had done to be with her baby dawned on Kalyani. She has destroyed the man in front of her and she could never absolve herself of this sin.
Malhar was screaming and his voice had become hoarse.
"Bas kijiye Malharji," Kalyani's face was streaked with tears.
"Sab tumhari vajah se hua h," Malhar pushed Kalyani far from him, "Mil gaya sukoon tumhe meri barbaadi dekhkar? Kya bigada tha maine tumhara? Kyon Kiya tumne mere saath aisa "
"Mujhe maaf kar dijiye Malharji," Kalyani pleaded.
Malhar took out the gun he had brought with him to scare Atharva in case Atharva tried to do something. He gave it to Kalyani and said, "Maar do mujhe. Vaise hi zinda kahaan bacha hoon main. Yahi to chahti ho na tum. Chalao goli aur maar do mujhe."
"Ye aap kya keh rahe hain Malharji?" Kalyani said.
"Accha...accha...to tumhe ye dar hai ki tumne mujhe maar diya to tum arrest ho jaogi," Malhar wiped the revolver with his handkerchief, "Lo dekho tumhare fingerprints maine mitaa diye. Main khud hi ye kaam kar leta hoon." And Malhar pointed the gun to his temple.
As he was going to pull the trigger, Kalyani snatched the revolver from him and pointing it above, shot nine times.
"Agar aapne ya kisi aur ne aapko nuksaan pahunchane ki koshish ki na," Kalyani said, "To Aai shapath, jaan le loongi main uski."
https://youtu.be/FIu4lel3S_o
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