CHAPTER 51: Love or family?
“You have been lying to me”
“You are not worthy of my love”
“You are a liar and I will never marry you”
“I should have never fallen in love with you”
He freed his hand from her hold and walked away…. She fell down on the floor as tears flowed from her eyes…. She shouted his names begging him to stop but he did not even turn to look at her once and walked away into the darkness that surrounded her….
Pankhuri got up shouting Arjun’s name…. He could not leave her…. She was breathing heavily…. Her heart beating at a faster rate…. She was sweating badly…. She looked aside and found herself sitting on her bed…. She took the glass of water kept on the side table and drank it in one go…. She held her head between her hands as she took deep breathes…. What if this nightmare became true…. What if Arjun denied marrying her…. What if he left her and walked out of her life…. No…. She could not let that happen…. She loves him a lot and no matter what happens she cannot lose him…. She will not let Arjun go out of her life….
She took her phone and caressed his photo…. “Love comes to those who are lucky and stays with those who are luckier”…. She would not lose her love…. No matter what happens in the future losing Arjun will never be her option…. Even if it means standing against her family…. She loves her brothers a lot but her love for Arjun is stronger….
*****
Gauri was sitting with Pankhuri in the living room of Malhotra Mansion…. She had come to discuss about Pankhuri’s likes and dislikes and what kind of wedding was she looking forward to…. Gauri was showing her some designs….
However Pankhuri’s mind was lost in her own world…. She was still thinking about her bad dream and the consequences of what she was doing…. She knew it from the very beginning that whatever she was doing was wrong and that it will never lead her to happiness and satisfaction…. She had protested and questioned her brothers many a times but every time they assured her that nothing would go wrong and that they will make everything fine…. She was assured in the beginning but now as the time was running out of her hands like the grains of sand and she was not able to hold onto anything, she was filled with fear and worry…. Gauri’s loud voice brought her out of her thoughts and she looked at her not knowing what she was supposed to say….
Gauri: Ma’am, are you fine? I have been calling you for a few minutes but you did not respond.
Pankhuri: Yeah, I am fine and please call me Pankhuri, ma’am and all sounds too formal.
Gauri: Sure.
Pankhuri: Gauri, may I ask you something, I hope you would not mind?
Gauri: Of course, nothing to mind about.
Pankhuri: Have you ever fallen in love?
Gauri who had not expected this question looked at Pankhuri surprised….
Love….
She had never thought about love and relationships…. Sure she had many crushes during her college times but she had never thought about a serious relationship…. And love was a heavy word…. After her college she channeled all her mind, heart and soul into building her company that she never really got the chance to think about love…. The love she had experienced was of her parents and some close friends…. Being the only child, her parents did not leave any chance to pamper her and pour in their love…. More than parents they had become Gauri’s best friends…. She remembered the times when her mom and dad would tease her saying that she was boring to not have a love life…. Seeing her parents love for each other, she too wished to fall in love but then she never actually looked for love…. She knew at the right time love will come looking for her…. She smiled and looked at Pankhuri….
Gauri: Well, I have never fallen in love but I know at the right time it will happen.
Pankhuri: I am sure that you too will get your deserved love.
Gauri: But why did you ask me about love suddenly?
Pankhuri: Kuch nahi, actually I am so happy that I am getting married to someone I love and who loves me so much, all this feels like a dream. So, just asked you like that.
Gauri: I am sure Arjun Sir and you are going to have a wonderful life ahead.
Hearing Gauri’s words Pankhuri thought about her future…. Did she even have a future with Arjun…. Were they going to have a wonderful life….
Pankhuri: Gauri, ek baat hamesha yaad rakhna, jab bhi kisise pyaar karogi naa toh uska bharosa mat todna. Trust is an essential part of love.
Gauri looked at her confused…. Gauri just nodded her head not knowing what she was supposed to do….
Pankhuri: Gauri, you stay here. I’ll be back in a while.
Saying so Pankhuri hurriedly walked towards the staircase…. Gauri was surprised by her behavior…. She wondered what had happened to her suddenly…. Pankhuri was definitely behaving differently today….
*****
Pankhuri was pacing around in her room dialing Arjun’s number…. She was get worried as he was not picking up her calls…. Maybe he was busy with some work but still she kept on calling him…. For some reason she wanted to calm down herself and she knew only Arjun and his voice could give her some peace…. She was about to dial his number again when someone held her hand and turned her around…. She was shocked by the sudden pull but she was more surprised seeing Adhvik there….
Pankhuri: Bhai, aap….
Adhvik: What are you doing?
He said in voice loud enough to scare her…. She shivered hearing his loud voice…. She did not understand what she had done that Adhvik was talking to her like this…. He tightened his grip on her hand and she winced in pain….
Pankhuri: Bhai, it is hurting….
Adhvik: It should and if you don’t stop with your stupid behavior, it’ll hurt even more.
Pankhuri: What did I do Bhai?
She managed to ask him controlling her tears…. He left her harshly and she stumbled a little…. She took the support of the nearby table to steady herself…. Adhvik looked at her with fury filled eyes….
Adhvik: What were you talking to Gauri? She is here for my work not to get stupid love lessons from you. Get one thing clear in your mind Pankhuri, if she gets any doubt because of your behavior and if even one part of my plan fails, I’ll make sure you also don’t get what you want.
Pankhuri: Bhai….
Adhvik did not wait for her to complete her sentence and stormed out of the room…. Pankhuri sat on the bed as tears flowed from her eyes…. She was sure if Adhvik got angry because of the failed plans he will not let her live in peace…. He will never let her stay happy….
*****
Gauri had returned from Malhotra Mansion and was sitting in her office…. She was thinking about the events that had occurred there when the door of the cabin opened and Soumya walked along with Rudra…. She was surprised seeing them as they were supposed to be with Shivaay and others…. Looking at their faces she understood something had happened and it was something really important….
Gauri: What has happened, why do you both look so worried?
Soumya: Di….
And she narrated everything that Rudra told her…. The events that had occurred in Oberoi Mansion in the morning and that the police think that Tej and Shakti are the culprits behind both Mr. Kapoor and Tia’s death…. Gauri heard every word carefully….
Rudra: Arjun Bhaiya and Anika Didi arranged for the bail but still Dad and Chote Papa are under suspicion.
Gauri was lost in her thoughts…. She remembered the way Tej was behaving when they had found Tia’s dead body…. How he was not letting Om inform the police…. How he said that they should announce it as a natural death or an accident and not create unnecessary problems…. Was the police right…. Did Tej have something to do with Tia’s murder and also with her father’s death….
Gauri: Don’t worry Rudra, I am sure everything will get fine.
Rudra: Even I hope so Di.
Soumya: Don’t lose hope Rudra, we are working on it naa, I am sure we’ll find the truth soon and we all will be out of this problem.
Gauri: Soumya is right Rudra, don’t worry.
Rudra just nodded his head trying to make himself believe the assurance the girls were giving him…. Only if he could tell them what his family really was…. Although his dad had clearly dismissed the idea of him being related to the murders but still the look his mom and dad had shared made him doubtful…. Was he really supposed to believe his dad’s words or was he supposed to think about what he could see in his mom’s eyes…. The way Janhvi had asked Ranveer “But how can you say that Tej and Shakti are responsible for Mr. Kapoor’s accident” sounded more like how had they found the truth…. It was only because of lack of strong evidence and Arjun-Anika that Tej and Shakti were still free…. What if the police’s doubts were true….
*****
It was almost night and Gauri had finished her work for the day so she decided to go home a little earlier than her usual time…. She was packing her things when she was reminded of something…. She picked her phone and dialed a number…. The other person received the call in first few rings….
Gauri: Hello….
POC: Hello Gauri, are you fine? I mean I hope no one called or followed you today.
Gauri: No Bhaiya, I am fine and nothing unusual happened with me but….
POC: But what, what has happened?
Gauri: I think what we thought is right.
POC: Matlab?
Gauri: Pankhuri can be their weakness. Her behavior was different today and she seemed worried about something.
POC: Hmm…. Good, so now we know who can lead us to what we want.
Gauri: Haa Bhaiya, but do you really want to do this? What if someone finds out?
POC: No one will and this is really needed. I’ll talk to you later, you take care.
Gauri: Yes Bhaiya and you also take care.
Gauri disconnected the call and looked at the view outside lost in her thoughts…. How much life had changed in the past days….
*****
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the next chapter of the story, do share your views.
From here on important revelations will take place as the story is nearing towards the end, and I am telling you, Tia’s killer will be out soon, in the coming chapters, you’ll get the hints, let us see who guesses the right answer.
Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!