For those of you who have missed the 5th chapter, here is the link :
In the Name of Love (Ishq Mein Marjawan) – Chapter 5
“It has been more than a month since Papa’s disappearance and still you have got no clues,” cried Riddhima in agony. “God only knows where he is. I don’t even know if he’s even alive or not for crying out loud!”
“We are doing our best to look for him,” said the ACP. “I’ve even informed the police stations of other states as well and they are also on his lookout.”
“And what about Mumma? Did you find out her culprit?”
“I don’t need to find that out, because I already know who it is. Don’t you remember me telling you that your dad most probably is the one who is behind all this?” said the ACP.
At this Riddhima lost her temper. “I remember it very well. But I will not believe these baseless allegations. Last time I could not say anything because I was badly struck with shock, but now I cannot keep quiet. Why on earth would Papa do this? Let me tell you that theirs was a love marriage and they had been together for the past twenty two years. My dad…he loved her, he loved us. And for that matter of fact I can even vouch that he wouldn’t even harm an enemy!”
ACP Lakshya gritted his teeth in anger. This girl was getting on his nerves and it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to handle her. But he had to maintain his calm at any cost. He had already been alleged for mistreating a junior lady cop. If another accusation came his way, the Women’s Rights Commission wouldn’t spare him this time. “Sushant was the last one to be seen with Sunidhi. And now he has conveniently disappeared. Plus, he was seeing a lawyer to seek divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, but I don’t believe that reason a bit.”
Riddhima’s eyes widened in shock. “What? A divorce? This cannot be possible. Why, I haven’t even seen them argue ever!”
“Calm down, Miss,” said the ACP passing over a glass of water to her. “I know how you’re feeling, but this is the truth. I think Sushant wanted a divorce and Sunidhi didn’t. So he must have pushed her from the terrace of the building. This way he was able to get rid of her, and also didn’t have to pay any alimony either.”
“Why are you so hell bent in proving my dad as a cold blooded murderer? What wrong did he do to you that you all are behind him? What if he is being framed? What if he is in some kind of trouble? You need to change your direction of investigation!”
Now it was the ACP’s turn to lose his temper. “What do you think of yourself, huh? So now you’ll teach an ACP how to investigate…..”
“No, that was not I meant,” said Riddhima realising that she had not been speaking to him in a good tone. “I just wanted to ask you that why aren’t you suspecting other people?”
“Who exactly are you talking about?”
“My dad’s family,” said Riddhima. “Few years back they had by fraud taken Papa’s signatures on a set of papers and had got our mansion transferred to their names. After a major showdown all ties between them were broken, until a few days prior to Papa’s birthday when they apologized and tried to patch up. Even though I had my doubts on him, I still wanted to give them the benefit of doubt and started thinking that perhaps they had changed for the good. But when I was staying with them I came to know that they didn’t want to give Papa his share from a supposed ancestral land, and wanted it all to themselves. Plus they showed no remorse for all the mishaps that occurred with us.” She paused to stifle a sob.
“So why didn’t you tell me this before?” asked the ACP. “They do have a strong motive. I need to question them again. But a gentle reminder for you, Miss. Just because you said something in your father’s favour, doesn’t clear him for me. He will still remain our prime suspect.”
“I am willing to believe that he wanted a divorce. But I refuse to believe that he could be guilty of committing such a heinous crime. I trust him too much for that.” Saying this Riddhima left the police station while on the other hand the ACP asked one of his constables to summon Dinesh and Tripti for further interrogation.
Riddhima hurriedly mounted her scooty and tried to rush past the heavy traffic. She was getting really late for her college. Yes, she had managed to clear the entrance test with amazing scores, and that is how she was able to enter the prestigious JC Medical College. Even though, only a week had passed since the college began, but she was already finding it immensely difficult to juggle between college, work and home. “They would have been so proud of me,” she said sadly as she remembered her parents. When she finally reached the college, she had to literally run past everyone so that she could give her biometric attendance on time. “Thank God, I didn’t miss today’s attendance like yesterday,” she heaved a sigh of relief.
“Ashima! Ashima! I need to leave or Amar Uncle will get really angry again, You need to give my proxy attendance for all classes today also,” said Riddhima.
“Don’t worry Riddhu,” said Ashima. She was Riddhima’s best friend since high school, who luckily had got into the same college as her. “I’ll give your proxy in all classes. But today’s anatomy lecture will be taken by the HOD himself, and it seems he’s very strict. But I’ll try in his class as well.”
“Thank you Ashima,” said Riddhima squeezing her friend into a hug. “I am so lucky to have you as a friend.”
“It’s ok. That’s what friends are for, right,” said Ashima smiling.
“She is doing much better than before,” said the doctor after examining Gayatri. “But make sure she undergoes physiotherapy sessions regularly and takes her medicines on time. And most importantly, try to keep the environment around her happy.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Don’t worry about, we’ll take good care of her,” said Vansh. “Angre, why don’t you see the doctor to the door?”
“Look now even the doctor has given a clean chit to me. I am fine now. So everyone of you just stop worrying for me now,” said Gayatri.
“Ohh, it seems you have heard only half of what the doctor said. He has also asked us to continue to look after you well,” said Vansh.
“Alright, alright. Can anyone ever win an argument against you?” asked Gayatri.
“Never,” smiled Vansh.
“Maa, I was thinking of keeping a small pooja at home to thank God for your speedy recovery,” said Anupriya.
“My goodness Anupriya, when did you become so godly?” asked Gayatri.
Anupriya sat beside Gayatri and pulled her into a hug. “You know Maa, how much I love you. When you weren’t keeping well after your surgery, I had taken an oath. And now it’s time to fulfill it.”
“Ok. But I also want you to invite Sunidhi and her family for the pooja. I had invited them for Vansh’s success part as well, but they couldn’t make it due to prior commitments,” Gayatri said.
Everyone suddenly grew quiet and stole glances at each other at the mention of Sunidhi’s name.
“What happened? Why have your faces turned white?” asked Gayatri.
“Maa, Sunidhi can’t come,” said Anupriya softly.
“Why?” asked Gayatri.
“Because she is dead,” Chanchal blurted out.
Anupriya and the girls gasped while Aryan and Rudra facepalmed. Vansh glared at Chanchal angrily making her scared. “Chachi!”
She said, “Oh my God! I’m so sorry. It was a slip of the tongue.”
“What? What are you even saying?” asked Gayatri restlessly. Anupriya took her hand in hers and calmly explained the entire situation to her.
“Ohh no! This cannot happen. Sunidhi….she was like my daughter, and now she’s no more. I couldn’t even attend her funeral, couldn’t say goodbye to her for the last time. Why didn’t anyone tell me this? Why?”
“Vansh had ordered us to do this,” said Chanchal.
Vansh glared at her for the second time. “I can’t believe I’m keeping a bunch of cartoons in my house,” he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough to be heard by Aryan and Chanchal who stood close by.
“Dadi, let me explain everything,” said Vansh. “Remember you had undergone a knee replacement surgery just one week after the party? After the surgery, you were not doing very well and most of your reports were on the abnormal side. After thorough discussion with the doctors, I decided to hide this news from you and not give you undue stress. And don’t worry, Dadi, I personally went to attend the funeral and even paid condolences on behalf of the whole family to the daughter.”
“What about Sushant? Is there no news about him yet?” asked Gayatri.
“No,” replied Vansh.
“Vansh, just paying condolences is not enough. I need to meet her children. This is the least I should do. I couldn’t meet her, couldn’t do anything for her. Please Vansh, take me to the children. Let me see them once,” requested Gayatri.
“Fine, Dadi. I’ll take you there,” said Vansh.
Riddhima worked as a salesgirl in a local cosmetics shop owned by an elderly man named Amar. Her job required her to be present there at sharp 10am. Since this clashed with her college, she had to bunk almost all classes and therefore depended upon her bestie to give her proxy attendance. Usually she was on time, but today she also had to meet the ACP, that is why she was very late today.
“Next time I see you coming late, I won’t shout at you nor cut your salary. I would right away fire you, understand?”
Riddhima wanted to say so much more in return, but instead she kept her mouth shut and head down. Even though she earned a meagre 8000 Rs per month, that amount was huge for her and so she couldn’t afford to lose the job. She hated her work here, but hardships made a person to accept any feeling of contempt with open arms.
Even though she had a hectic day, she had no free time to speare. As soon as she returned home, she hurried into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring. “Who could it be at this time?” she muttered to herself. Through the peephole, she saw Vansh Raisinghania standing at her door. She grew weary. What was he doing at her house? And most importantly, how did he come to know exactly where her house was? She remembered how he had even given his card to her and had asked her to call him whenever she needed. She started to doubt his intentions. Ishaan was also not there in the house as he had gone to the market to bring in some groceries. Taking a knife in one hand and holding her breath, she opened the door.
“Riddhima Beta, how are you?” asked Gayatri coming in front. Riddhima felt relieved on seeing her. Vansh was so enormously tall, that Gayatri couldn’t be seen at all when she was standing right behind him.
“I’m fine Nani,” said Riddhima trying to hide the knife in her hand.
But unfortunately for her, Vansh had already seen it. “Interesting, very interesting. A knife in the hand, but why?” he thought to himself.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea about Sunidhi’s demise. Everyone in the house had hidden this news from me fearing my health. But if I would have known, I would have surely come,” said Gayatri.
“It’s ok Nani. Why don’t you come inside?”
As Vansh tried to follow Gayatri into the house, Riddhima stopped him. “I’m sorry, I can’t allow you to enter inside.”
Vansh was taken aback. First she had a knife in her hand, and now she wasn’t letting him enter the house. What the hell was going on in this girl’s mind?
“Riddhima, this is Vansh, my grandson,” said Gayatri.
“Yes, Nani, I know,” said Riddhima. “I’m really sorry, I might appear really rude and arrogant right now, but please try to understand my predicament. I cannot allow any random stranger to get into my house. Ishaan is also not there in the house right now. I am allowing only Nani to enter inside keeping her old age in mind.”
Vansh was visibly amused. “This is not our first meeting. Neither our second. Yet you call me a ‘random stranger’.”
“Sometimes, even a thousand meetings are not enough to know a person completely. So yes, in that case you are a random stranger for me,” said Riddhima.
“What do you exactly think I’ll try to do with you?” asked Vansh in his dangerous and intimidating tone. “Do you think I’ll try to rob this place of yours? Or,” he said looking straight into her eyes. “Do you think I’ll try to force myself upon you? Do you really think I even NEED to do all this?”
“Most of the time, its not about needs but rather about habits. And since I don’t know you at all, I know nothing about your habits as well. When your own relatives can betray you, how can you trust upon an unknown person whose only call that happens to be is that he is someone’s grandson?”
“Vansh Beta…..”
“It’s ok, Dadi,” said Vansh. “You carry on your conversation with her, I’ll be waiting down in the car. Once you’re done, I’ll come up again to pick you.”
Riddhima said, “Once Ishaan comes back, I’ll ask him to bring you back to our house……”
“No need for that,” snapped Vansh leaving from there.
Precap : Gayatri gets worried about Riddhima and Ishaan. She wants them to stay at VR mansion.
That is it for today guys. Hope you like it. Don’t forget to comment. Question for you all :
Do you think that Vansh would allow Riddhima to stay in his house after his argument with her?