Chapter 35

Kamya and Avanti were at tenterhooks when even after an hour Keshav and Sahil failed to return and neither was answering their phone. Avanti even worried more because the intruder was still at large and though there were guards around and Keshav wouldn’t do anything impulsive, she didn’t really trust anyone. Just as she contemplated going downstairs to look for them, the front door clicked open with the tune of the disarming of the alarm, and even as Kamya and she looked on, both men walked in dripping with sweat, their clothes hanging in torn rags on their bruised bodies and it looked as if they had just rolled in mud or been run over by a mudslide… Avanti and Kamya didn’t move from their place and then the men shook hands before walking into their respective rooms.

What the hell just happened…? Avanti and Kamya as if jerked up from their reverie, they rushed behind their husbands. Avanti entered the bedroom to see Keshav locked in the bathroom and the shower was running. She made the bed ready to hit the sack and hoped Keshav would share what had transpired between Sahil and him. Finally the water stopped running and Keshav emerged from the bathroom with the white bath towel wrapped around his firm hips, water dripping from the crevices made by the deliciously toned abs. Avanti’s fatigue just disappeared as the roots of arousal fixed firmly in her belly the butterflies in her stomach threatening to violently flutter off even as she stared at the beautifully sculpted specimen before her and he was…hers… her dearest husband… She had worn a silky pyjama set and was glad for her choice and the pink colour brought out her skin tone highlighting her curves, if the molten look in Keshav’s eyes were to be believed. He also looked happy as a side smile played on his luscious lips and she wondered if he had settled the past with Sahil and if they had reconciled…

She sat up on her knees as he came closer hands on his hips. She wanted to fulfil a desire she had only dreamed about for a long time now and though she was a novice at expressing carnal desires she knew he would know it. She tentatively raised her hand and loosened the knot binding the ends of the towel and it slipped down his legs revealing the full mast salute of his member the shining tip inviting her. She touched his throbbing manhood even as he sucked in an audible breath and when she looked up at his face in the semi darkened room, she saw him staring at her with hooded eyes. His hands were fisted along his sides and she could see he was trying to stay in control… It thrilled her that she had that reaction from him and got bolder as she grasped him completely. He grunted and his hand drew the fingers through her hair holding her head even as she bent towards the waiting appendage. The fragrance of his body wash clouded her senses and she could feel her wetness pooling at her apex…she only hoped she could last that long. She moved further closer and licked the liquid pearl adorning the head indicating the red-carpet for her entry. She licked him from his tip to the base and then back up as she traced the hard rod waiting for her to take the next step… and ready she was!. She looked at him as she gradually took him into her mouth and almost gagged half way through. She saw the concern in his eyes but she wasn’t giving up. She adjusted her mouth…opening it wider and taking him in diagonally and then moved out dragging her tongue along and then as he gripped her hair pushing her back, she welcomed him again…the slow hesitant movements became faster with every try and her eyes watered even as she kept going. Her jaw ached and her scalp hurt where he inadvertently pulled at her hair. But the pleasure she derived from the act, from the way he struggled to rein in his passion- filled growls echoing in the room… she knew she would shatter anytime.

“Avanti…I …I am… it will be… soon…” He panted as he whispered and tried pulling her head away but she would have none of that and held his hips as she continued enhancing her tastebuds. Suddenly he stiffened inside her mouth and screamed her name reverberating through every object in the room as he sprayed out his release in her welcoming mouth…even as she swallowed some of it and the rest overflowed out of her mouth along its rims and on to her neck wetting her silky top… even a she hugged his hips her orgasm claiming her last ounce of sanity. She licked the still taut tip even as he slumped over the bed and dragged her along with him. They lay still for a while till she could feel his heart beats steady.

A little while later she freshened up and as they lay together in bed, fully clothed in comfortable cottons, Avanti stared at the ceiling fan and the patterns made on the ceiling by the lampshade. Keshav held her closer and said. “Avanti… every time I look at a shadow, I get this strange feeling…” He probably was watching the shadows playing on the ceiling just like her…

“…What is it Keshav…?”

“…Uh… it’s like… every time I face the light the shadow is right behind me… so is my past…”

Avanti moved up on her elbows. “…What happened tonight with Sahil…?”

“…Avanti…” he turned towards her and pulled her back into his arms and she looked up into his eyes. “…Avanti…I… Sahil told me everything… about… my…my father…” His voice choked up and she held him knowing he would need all the strength he could muster to let it all out. “…He… that man… he tried to… Oh God…Avanti… how could he do that…? To Sahil’s mom…Rama aunty…? To anybody…and what did… he do… to us…? What was our fault Avanti…?” She saw the wetness on his cheeks as he shed out his woes. “…Avanti… till date irrespective of the fact that…. He was an …absentee father…I didn’t really hate him… in fact after my diagnosis I pitied him… because at that phase of his life he was all alone… he died… a lonely death…and now… after knowing …. Oh God…I am hating him… I despise the man… how could he do that to us… Avanti… how could he…? I… I … struggled all my life because of his mistakes…” His grip around her tightened and she held his face, wiping away his tears. He was hurting badly but he needed to vent out. “…Avanti…that man destroyed everything good in my life…. My mother…my only friend… parental figures…my legacy, the family business and … even …my… my health… why did I have to take after…him… his rotten gene pool…? Avanti… I…feel disgusting for… the way I reacted… to Sahil every time he held out an olive branch…”

She brought his head closer and kissed him on his head even as he rested his forehead against hers. “…Keshav… stop hating your father… remember… we don’t choose our parents…and your father…whatever the kind of a person he was… he loved you and Kamya in his own way… he just couldn’t show…”

“…Avanti…?”

“…I am serious Keshav… what has happened in the past has shaped you to be the man you are… you are not your father Keshav… remember that. He was weak… because only the weak resort to stupid measures to show their might… you turned out the way you are…in spite of him. Keshav…my baba was proud of you for a reason… he knew your father too… yet he loved you enough to hand over his daughter…that says a lot about the kind of person you are…Look at how you handled Rohini… she called me all weeping and was so grateful Keshav… you should have heard her…” Keshav chuckled and she held his close as he dug his head in the crook of her neck. “… So, just let go Keshav and forgive your father… he is no more now and let him not affect you anymore… it’s us now, Keshav… you, me, Kamya and her family…Nirvi, Naman…we are all family…Keshav…and we are together…that’s what matters…”

Keshav nodded in her neck and she rubbed his back soon hearing his light snores vibrating along her neck. She smiled even as sleep took over… she was thrilled, Keshav finally had the closure he deserved.

The next morning Kamya and Sahil left for the airport after breakfast promising to comeback soon after her final round of interviews and thesis submission. Kamya was in tears as she hugged Avanti and Keshav but Avanti knew she was ecstatic too since the two men in her life were finally on talking terms. Sahil and Keshav shook hands and Avanti hoped the next time they met they would hug each other as old friends. She promised Kamya that once the dust settled over the ongoing project, she would bring Keshav to Delhi to talk to Sahil’s parents about the wedding. Finally, Keshav left for work too making her promise that she would look after herself and stay safe.

The next two days passed uneventfully and Keshav even extracted the blooms from the green house… and now they were being processed. The formula was almost ready and the pharmaceutical world awaited with bated breath for a supposed miracle drug that delayed the onset of degeneration in the brain. Today was the D-day for the mixing of the formula with the bloom extracts and Avanti couldn’t hold up her anxiety. She accompanied Keshav to Vedshastra and waited with him for the closed lab doors to open. Keshav seemed remarkably calm but she was all nerves. There was only one way she could relieve her stress and so on her insistence Keshav asked the driver to drop her in her music school promising an update to her as soon as he got the news.

Avanti couldn’t focus on the ongoing proceedings of the special workshop that had commenced in her music school. She walked along their corridors watching the innumerable pictures of all their alumni adorning the walls. At one time she wanted to feature there as well… but somehow in the last few years that ambition had weaned away and she wanted to continue teaching. She smiled looking at the pictures and right then her phone buzzed. She excitedly took the instrument out wondering of it was Keshav calling her to give her updates but unfortunately true-caller indicated it was from Silas multi-speciality hospital where Keshav was admitted when he had inhaled the gas… but why were they calling her…? She checked the time it was 3PM.

“…hello…?”

“…Is that Mrs. Keshav Goyal…?” a woman spoke at the other end.

“…Um…yes… who is this…?”

“…Well ma’am I am calling from Silas multi-speciality hospital and we were working up on the protocol for the upcoming clinical trial for Mr. Goyal staring next month…”

This was news to her. “…um…Ok… so what you want…?”

“…Ma’am, Mr. Goyal’s medical reports are incomplete and some of them are yet to be submitted… they are urgent so please arrange them to be delivered to the hospital before 4PM today after which the super specialist panel will disperse… it’s extremely important Mrs. Goyal…”

How could she do that in an hour…? Avanti spoke in a trembling voice. “…um… have you spoken with my Husband…?”

“…Ma’am his phone is unreachable… hence we called the next number listed here…”

“…um…ok… I will get it to the hospital…”

She disconnected and dialled Keshav’s number. But as told he was unreachable. Oh goodness…she remembered. Today he was to get his old phone instrument from Akshat after formatting and restoring data… Did Keshav forget to put in the SIM card…? Or was he in the Lab by any chance…? She tried calling Akshat but he wasn’t answering and she remembered he always kept the phone on silent mode whenever he was in Vedshastra meetings…

She waved to Rahul who had attended one of the workshops and asked him to accompany her home. She then texted Keshav that she was rushing home to deliver the reports to the hospital and that Rahul was accompanying her. She booked a cab and in the next ten minutes she was on her way. She tried constantly calling Keshav but he was still unreachable. Her phone buzzed with Rohini’s incoming call.

“Hey… Rohini…whats up…?”

“…Hey Kamya called…she gave me the good news…I am so thrilled Avanti… whatever it was that girl deserved happiness…thank you for everything…”

“…Oh Come on Rohini… we are family…By the way I hear traffic around you…where are you…?”

“…Oh…I am standing outside the optical store… it faces the highway…”

“…What happened all OK…?”

“…Oh yes yes… everything is just fine… actually my Parminder is a bit clumsy… he had a bad fall and broke his glasses… as you know he doesn’t fancy contact lenses and is using his spare pair of glasses. So… here I am getting this one replaced…”

“…oh …ok…” Something about that man didn’t sit right with Avanti. He was an athlete for crying out aloud …how could he be clumsy? But so far as Rohini was happy, she had to accept his presence too.

“…Ok…Avanti…?” Rohini’s voice got her out of her thoughts. “… I called you to invite you out for lunch… this time in a better restaurant with a better mood… what say… I have things to share…some good news actually…”

“…. Um Rohini… I am a bit caught up for the next few days… there is some pending work at office…I will call you one of these days to fix a time…”

“…Ok…fine then… I will be waiting for your call… remember my news is very important…” Rohini giggled and Avanti smiled as she disconnected. Parminder must have proposed to her and she must have accepted…

Finally, they reached the building compound and she was relieved to see the guards on duty outside the perimeter and a couple inside. She had updated Rahul about the series of events and he often called her from the time he had landed in Mumbai… she had a doubt Keshav had put him to the job of keeping tabs on her!!

She hurried into the elevator and Rahul realised he left his phone back in the waiting cab. He suggested she go ahead while he followed her immediately. She asked him to visit the D’Souzas on his way since Mrs. D’Souza had made pie and was waiting to hand it over to her. She didn’t know how long it would take for her to return from the hospital and it was better the pie rested in her fridge and make a good desert for tonight…hopefully to celebrate the successful making of the complete formula.

She exited the elevator on the fifth floor and saw the guard outside the house was missing. But his bag pack was still there which meant he had gone to relieve himself. She felt bad for the guy. It must have been so difficult to sit at a confined place for hours together…she didn’t want to wait more…it was nearing 4PM and she had to rush to the hospital. She cross checked the doors… nothing was out of place. Relieved, she pressed in the codes to deactivate the lock and the alarm and walked in closing the door behind her and putting in the codes. She knew Rahul would be here in another ten-fifteen minutes or so meanwhile she would get the reports ready.

She walked into the living room and froze immediately knowing she was not alone. What the hell was happening…? She looked down at the floor and saw a pair of legs jetting out from under the couch… she didn’t have to be a genius to know it was the outside guard. Oh God… was he dead…it would be on their conscience… She would never forgive herself.

She then heard the man before she saw him emerge from the shadows. “So…Avanti…” His familiar voice bellowed as he moved out but half his body was still in the shadow. Without a doubt it was her attacker form the other day. Her heart ran full throttle… what did he want from her? “…So, we finally meet…again…”. He emerged out of the shadows completely and she gasped as she recognised him the thick glasses perched up on his high nose with a bandage on his head and wrist… Parminder stood gleefully grinning as he veiled a knife. “…Its high time… we have this conversation… don’t you think so…dear would-be daughter-in-law…?”

 Was it dooms day for her…?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 34

The next morning Keshav left early for Vedshastra after double checking the alarms and only after Mrs. Sinha got in. He checked out with the men Akshat had appointed to guard the perimeters as well as the guy stationed right outside their house. Avanti felt bad for that man and in spite of her promising Keshav that she wouldn’t leave the house or answer the door without double checking he insisted on the man being there. As soon as he left Avanti and Mrs. Sharma got busy with preparations for the lunch to be sent for Keshav as well as basic works for the dinner. Kamya texted her that she was in the workshop and would be leaving by afternoon to catch the flight along with Sahil. Avanti was excited at the prospects of seeing Keshav and Sahil reconcile for Kamya’s sake. She also hoped Keshav would get the closure he deserved and a friend for life…

Just after Mrs. Sinha left the house Avanti locked up everything and went to her room to her Veena. Though the beauty wasn’t stringed to her satisfaction she couldn’t resist from playing her favourite song and singing… it soothed her soul and somehow today she felt closer to her baba than ever before. She remembered her last performance in Natrang a couple of years ago and her baba couldn’t make it… He never missed her performances and had been upset about it. She had recorded the entire performance for him and she often found him listening to the recording in the past year whenever she wasn’t around… How she wished she could turn back the clock and sing for him…even if it was for one last time… Emotionally charged, she tuned the Veena and began the aaroh avroh of the raaga Saraswati….

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Keshav was ecstatic today. As he relished the lunch of peas paneer, cabbage kofta and rotis along with raita, he remembered the conversations he had with Avanti a while ago. She had just finished her riyaaz and he knew it was mainly because she was remembering her father. Of course, after what they had gone through in the last twenty-four hours was enough for a lifetime….and then she had gently reminded him of Kamya and Sahil’s impending visit. Though he wasn’t too keen…being unsure if he was ready to face them as yet, but this time he wasn’t agitated and he knew the reason for his change of feelings was Avanti. He was always calm and composed with her around, irrespective of the challenges faced. Yesterday evening they were winding up the day’s work in the lab with a few creases needing ironing out but he was confident things would work out… he trusted Dnyaneshwar Rane. His original phone instrument had vital information which needed to be retrieved and Akshat’s IT guy was on it. Till then he had to make do with this one and it irritated him like anything…

And then all hell had broken loose… when his siren in the mobile app had buzzed… he had never thought it would be ever put to use but it was good presence of mind by his brilliant wife. She was truly Dnyaneshwar Rane’s daughter in every sense of the word. Though he had been scared out of his wits, he was also glad she was safely locked up. His heart had missed a beat when she didn’t open the door and finally when he saw he collapsed on the floor he thought he would die too… He couldn’t imagine a life without her and he just hoped he could lay his hands on the asshole who tried to harm her.

He remembered their love making in the wee hours of the morning. He got hard right then thinking about how Avanti had shattered in his arms, how she had felt as he had touched her all over and how she had tasted… Back in Hyderabad, unlike her he hadn’t been a virgin. He had had his share of one night stands once in a while before he had seen her for the first time.  But those were all meaningless encounters…however, with Avanti every single time right from Hyderabad, it was a spiritual union of two souls. As he packed the now empty tiffin box back into its bag, he saw the buzzing on his phone. It was the green house alert whenever the temperature parameters for the plants he had attached sensors to, changed.

He picked up his mobile and grinned looking at the numbers displayed. Just about two days more and the blooms would be ready. Here as well in Vedshastra, the glitches acquired yesterday had been sorted out and now the scientists were on their way to making the formula. They were now just a few steps away from making Ved-Adbhut and Novo-Supremo would immediately get their first batch of medicines out for the first phase of clinical trial. Gone were the days where they involved results on rodents or animals with genes like humans.  The media often misreported the results on rodents as hopes for humans but that was not to happen… it couldn’t happen like that. Now human trials made a lot of sense given the care they took to develop the medicines…

Once the FDA approved the drug, the paperwork for which was already completed when Dnyaneshwar Rane had lived and now was set into motion the trials would begin. He was already signed up along with twelve others suffering from various stages of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease who were not being benefitted by existing treatment protocols. They were all the experimental group which consisted of the affected population while twenty-five randomly selected healthy individuals were also signed up to be the control group. Once they successfully crossed the phase III of trials then he would actually know how the drug worked… i.e test for side effects or disease progression. It would take few months but he was sure it would…it had to.

When he was initially diagnosed, he had been upset and shed tears even for a few days but had bounced back to his routine as if nothing had happened. Even when he had the initial symptoms it hadn’t shaken him up… and when Dnyaneshwar Rane had proposed to find a better alternative to aid the existing medical prescriptions he had been touched by the man’s gesture and had worked hard hoping to get the product see the light of the day. But now… he was dead serious…he wanted more time with his senses intact, without getting into the vegetative stage. He wanted time with Avanti… a lifetime full of love and mutual respect…she was his confidant… his anchor. He wanted children with her and hopefully the new medicine would halt the transfer of the mutant gene to the next generation. A picture of Avanti carrying his child filled his mind with surreal joy. Would it ever be real…? Given his lousy relationship with happiness would this ever happen to him…?

Nonetheless there were loopholes he still needed to fill in. It was 2PM and the scientists were furiously at work… He was seated in his cabin but restless. He knew what he had to do… the closure had to now begin. He picked up his phone and dialled a number he never thought he would. “…Yeah…it’s me… why don’t we have that meeting today… you think you can come in an hour…? I am in Vedshastra…” He smiled as he disconnected. He wasn’t his father to leave things messy and undone. He was someone to bind everyone together and Avanti had taught him the importance of family and relationship. The biggest proof was he was to talk to Sahil after so many years…He was lost in thought and even chatted a bit with Avanti. He loved hearing her beautiful voice… his wife was blessed with talent and he promised himself, that if she desired, he would move mountains to see that she got the well-deserved recognition in music. He had a feeling she loved music but not commercialisation and he was happy to develop a studio for her if she wanted a place for practising in solitude.

Suddenly his intercom buzzed and the security informed him about his visitor and whether the person was to be allowed. He gave the needed permission and waited outside his cabin. Soon the visitor entered the waiting room and he stood up. “…long time no see Rohini… please come and have a seat…we have to talk.”

Rohini looked at him as if he had grown two horns. The woman had been persuasive like hell and had been trying to get an appointment with him every single day for last couple of months. She had stopped off-late so probably must have been surprised when he called her.

“…look Rohini…let me get straight to the point. Whom you are seeing or not seeing… its none of my business unless it causes harm to my family and work….”

“…no NO…Keshav, Parminder is…” Rohini tried to speak but he held up his hand.

“…Let me finish Rohini… I think I have been too bitter and grudge bearing when it came to you after what had happened with that guy five years ago… but I feel… it’s time to let bygones be bygones… my family is happy and that’s what matters.”

“…Oh…really Keshav…?” Rohini looked at him wide-eyed.

“…I will let you go Rohini… you are free to lead your life the way you want to… no more Goyal shackles for you…”

Rohini wiped her tears. “…but Naman and Nirvi… they aren’t I mean… not your half- siblings…I mean…” She looked at her clasped hands on her lap.

“…The twins have been my siblings… right from the time…they accepted me whole heartedly as their older brother… they are just like Kamya to me… don’t worry… they will always be Goyal and will eventually receive their share of everything… their trust is in place to be available to then once they turn twenty-five…till then and even later whenever they need me I will always be there for them… so you may feel free of their responsibilities…and yes… here is something for you as well… thank you for the years you gave this family…” He placed the envelope on the table between them and stood with his hands in his pockets. Suddenly a strange kind of satiation settled in the depth of his heart.

Rohini wiped her eyes not concerned about her smudged make up for a change. She opened the envelope he just gave her and looked wide eyed as her hands trembled. He had transferred the Hissar property which he had taken over after clearing the loan. There was also a receipt for five crores credited into her account. “…Keshav… I don’t know what to say… but thank you… thank you so much for everything…I… Oh My God…” She began to sob.

“…Rohini… its ok…you may… leave now…” She was making him uncomfortable.

“…Keshav…” She said wiping her tears. “…I have to say… marriage has indeed done you good… its actually Avanti…she has had such a positive effect on you…you are a changed man… treat her well and may you two always be together in love…” She walked out of the room and Keshav couldn’t wait to give the news to Avanti.

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Avanti put the final touches to the Russian salad which as Sahil’s favourite. She looked at the spread before her. Mrs. Sinha had been kind enough to drop in again in the evening and she had parcelled some of the food for the D’Souza couple as well. She had finally used the walkie talkie to test it and speak with Mr. D’Souza and the senior man was thrilled to hear her. She promised to visit them soon. She was also happy because she got to speak with Rahul who was in Srinagar where Anuj was currently visiting for their troupe performance. Their long-distance relationship was developing cracks and Avanti was saddened to see her close friend being heartbroken. As it is it was tough for gays given the social stigma… the agony of heart-break was a top up too much. However today Rahul was thrilled and it looked like their relationship was back on track. He was all set to return back the next day and promised to catch up with her. It was 8 PM. Keshav had also left Vedshastra and was expected in another hour max while Kamya and Sahil were on their way from the airport and had crossed Sion…

Avanti freshened up and just arrived out in to the living room when the doorbell rang. The video camera showed Kaamya and Sahil and she excitedly opened the door to welcome them in. She showed them to the guest bedroom and while they freshened up, she heated up some tomato soup to refresh them and also to act as starters while they waited for Keshav. As they chatted up finishing the soup Avanti explained how they found her father’s book and how Ved Adbhut was taking shape. She also shared his dealing with Rohini today afternoon. Kamya was in tears as she hugged her. “Avanti… actually Bhaiyya’s disease progression has not yet started… in fact we will only know in the next couple of years or so if it actually would progress…because the gene is different from our father’s… but then… the mental factor holds a lot of value here… and that is beyond medical science Avanti… that’s your power of love for my brother… just… thank you for coming into his life…you have changed him for good… ”

Even as Avanti wiped her tears the door alarm was disengaged and Keshav walked in. Sahil stood up and they both had a staring match. Keshav moved first and walked into the bedroom and soon emerged in his track suit. Avanti suggested they all eat first and led them to the dining table. After a quiet dinner where tension was quite palpable, she looked up at Keshav who kept staring at Sahil expressionlessly. She was starting to get worried when he spoke. “So… why don’t we take a walk Sahil… we have a beautiful lawn downstairs.” Keshav strode towards their door and Sahil chuckled and followed him even before Avanti could say something.

As the door shut with the alarm getting auto engaged, Kamya looked at Avanti with worry filling her pretty eyes. “What…what do you think Avanti…why did they go out like that…?”

“…Well… I guess we will only know when they get back…” Avanti sighed. Her gut feeling told her Keshav was all set to bury the hatchet…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 33

Avanti typed in the access code at their home… she was all excited with the happenings of the day. In the enthusiastic fervour she failed to notice the inner door already ajar a bit… she walked in through the door and placed down the heavy bag full of vegetables and other groceries she had purchased for today’s dinner and also in advance for Kamya and Sahil who were to visit them tomorrow. Just as she entered the house and was about to set back the alarm, her phone rang. It was Keshav and she smiled as she answered it.

“…Hey all OK… did you have lunch on time…?”

“…yes Avanti… why did you leave alone for home…? You could have come back to Vedshastra…” he seemed anxious which was understood given the break-ins they had.

“…Its alright dear… I am home already and staring dinner…”

“…Ok… I will be late… there is some…glitch…”

That deflated her spirits. “…Oh no…what’s wrong Keshav…? Did the black-book not contain what was needed…?”

“…No…no… its great… but it’s taking longer than expected and I have to be here till we take a break… Akshat is here with me too…I will be late so take care of yourself ok…?”

“…yes Keshav… I am good… you just take care of things there…alright…? And text me when you are leaving for home… I will be waiting for you…”

Avanti disconnected the call and walked towards the drawing room, placing the bags one at a time on the dining table. She sighed looking at her purchases. She was going to take a while to put them away but now that Keshav was taking time… she didn’t have to hurry. It was almost dark now and she moved to switch on the lights but right then her eyes fell on the water jar and she realised she was parched. As she was about to pour water in the glass, she saw a shadow and a black reflection in the glass almost simultaneously. She dropped the glass shattering it into pieces and tried turning around but before that the intruder held her mouth shut from the back. She saw the jar right in front and without thinking she raised it and hit the man behind her. He stumbled behind in pain and she immediately seized the moment to run from the side ways. But he was quick too and blocked the entrance. She couldn’t see him clearly and only his silhouette in the dark corner of the room as he stood with his hands spread wide blocking her exit… she was trapped. He was covered in black overalls and the head had something like a bulge near the forehead. What the hell was he wearing…?

 “…Who…who are you…? What do…do you want…?” she tried asking him gathering every ounce of courage she could gather. The day long trails had tired her to the core and she was too worn-out to try anything…not that she could match the man’s strength. Her jaw still throbbed where he had held her moments ago.

But the man didn’t speak anything he just began to move slowly towards her. As he got close, she moved backwards deeper into the darkened drawing room shadows. She wasn’t aware of how much he knew the layout but she was very familiar. But what could she do besides not tumble down on the floor…? she had to think fast… She looked around and her eyes fell on the mirror reflecting the little light coming in from the crevices in the curtain. She had seen the mirror today morning as well and it had given her the crucial clue… because she had seen the gym… yes…. Gym… she now knew what she had to do.  In the next moment she moved close to the gym and opening the door she got inside quickly and shut the door locking it immediately. She heard the man rush towards her as he banged against the couch and the centre table… with her heart thudding she heard him mumble what she thought were curses and finally as he reached the door, he started to bang on it. She rushed to the cupboard placed up right in front and pressed the code 147823… she was glad she could remember it in spite of her nervousness. Keshav had made her memorise the number quite a few times and though she had jested all those times about his so-called paranoia she as more than glad now. Her fingers trembled as she put in the numbers and waited for the cupboard to click open. It took forever and her heart kept skipping a beat every time the deranged intruder tried hitting the door or kicking it and at one instance, she heard him try something which appeared to be picking the lock and her heart stopped. Thankfully he couldn’t do anything and the cupboard door creaked open. She quickly picked the receiver of that phone and dialled 900 as Keshav had instructed. In the next minute or so, she heard alarms blare outside and the door banging ceased. She placed the phone back on the receiver and shut her ears as she slipped down against the cupboard and crouched on the floor holding her legs close to her body.

The adrenaline must have done a number on her, she felt bile rise up her throat and soon it was black everywhere.

She ran through the forest even as the man in black followed her, gravel and dried leaves crunching heavily amidst the sounds of hooting coming in from a distance… the man was sure to catch up on her but she had to get to the fire…still at a distance. Her baba needed her… she had to talk to him as well… Oh God… Suddenly there was a blast and the ball of fire rose up to the sky… ‘Baba….no…baba….’

‘Avanti…Avanti…. open the door…’ Why was Keshav in the forest… oh God the door … the plane had blown up already what door and how could she reach… she was suddenly standing still fixed to the ground unable to move. She tried to scream but voice froze in her throat. What could she do now…? ‘Avanti…Avanti darling…?’

The banging intensified and Avanti jerked up awake.  “Avanti…please open the door…are you alright…?” Keshav was yelling. Though she was now awake she had frozen on the floor in the gym. She was disoriented and suddenly the door opened with a thud. She looked up in a daze to see Keshav and Akshat along with a couple of men yielding guns. They all moved away and only Keshav rushed in. “…Avanti…oh God…sweetheart… are you hurt…?” He came close to her and as he touched her shoulders, all hell broke lose and she sprang into his arms holding him tight as she circled her arms around him. She sobbed into his neck as he held her close and rubbed her back. They were there together on the floor for a long time. And finally, as she composed herself, he helped her stand and they moved out into the living room.

The others had gone but Akshat was still present and offered then a hot cup of tea. She gratefully accepted it as she sipped, it helped calm her down and also rationalise her thoughts. Keshav was thank fully right next to her. Avanti placed the cup on the table and looked up at Akshat. He was ready with his laptop. He explained that the man had jammed the signals but it was limited to a particular duration. This time they had caught the guy on camera but because it was dark, they couldn’t make out anything besides his silhouette. But one thing was for sure she had hit him hard to cause him to be disoriented badly… his balance was affected bigtime. Did she really hit him that hard…?

“Keshav…Akshat… something isn’t right still…I didn’t hit him hard enough to cause so much of issues … he looks sick to me… like kind of drunk…but he wasn’t…I didn’t smell anything when he held…”

They looked at the footage once again and then Avanti realised what had happened. “…look here… I hit him…it missed his head but I am sure I actually hit something hard…. He moved backwards as if in pain… no idea what hurt or broke or whatever… there was something on his head… what must have been hit…?” She looked up at Akshat who was still staring at the footage that she had paused, while Keshav was fuming in rage. It was as if he wanted to lash out and if he could reach the guy through the screen, he would have done just that. They called it a day and Akshat ordered men to be posted right outside their compound perimeter on all sides. They didn’t know how the intruder came in but he left through the exit door. The terrace door was still locked and there was no sign of tampering…it would have triggered the alarm… Akshat promised to look into the footage again and rechecked the alarms all over before he left. It was close to 11PM now. Avanti stood up and waited as Keshav came back after walking Akshat to the door. He moved towards her and pulled her close to him kissing her on the head.

She was exhausted and didn’t even have an appetite but Keshav made quick omelettes for them and buttered toast, which they wolfed down with a glass of hot milk. He held her hand as she walked in auto pilot into their bedroom and lay in his arms. She had thought she would sleep instantly but it wasn’t to be… “Keshav…”

“…Yea…?” he whispered into her ear as she felt his warm breath on her ear and neck.

“…How did you come…I mean… I dialled the number you had told me…” Avanti explained what had happened as well.

“…Avanti I was just getting out of the lab to come home when my mobile buzzed indicating the signal for the siren. Akshat was there as well and he got it too. He was in touch with the commandos he had put on stand-by who rushed in here… by the time they used the code and got into the house the intruder as gone… but Avanti…” He held her closer from behind and dug his head in her hair. “…I couldn’t breathe till I reached home and found you safe…it was like…I don’t know… I just felt I should call that man and give away everything to him… my treatment be damned…I can’t lose you Avanti…”

She turned into his arms and held his face wiping the silent tears that escaped the corner of his eyes even as he had tried to blink them away. “Keshav…look at me…” She raised her chin and kissed his forehead. “…Keshav I know you have faced hard times all your life…which makes you…insecure…but then those hardest of times also gave you greatest moments of your life …didn’t they…?” He didn’t reply just shut his eyes to prevent the onslaught of tears. She continued to rub a stray tear away and said. “…Keshav for me…you are my Phoenix who has risen from ashes…you are a warrior… and you have made me strong as well… I wasn’t that very scared today… because I trust you and your abilities…”

 He crushed his lips on hers and this time he didn’t take his time to explore gently but he was ravaging her mouth… it was as if a long time of pent up molten emotions yearned for eruption… he poured it all as he devoured her. He was soon on top of her crushing her into the soft bed as he held her hands above her head… his favourite anchoring with her as well as hers beneath him. He released her swollen mouth as he rose up and stared into her eyes, panting after he had barely been breathing. “Avanti…” he whispered. “…Avanti…I …I want you right now… I want to feel you… you are really here with me…”

She knew what he meant and she needed the release too. “…Keshav…” she said, barely able to hear her own voice. “…Keshav …just…take me already…”

That was all he wanted to hear and in the next minute their clothes were off…she even tore of a button of her Kurta in her zealous urge to get rid of it…to feel his taut muscles. He moved towards her legs even as she moaned in complaint… and lifted her legs spreading them wide as he moved closer to her apex. She looked with hooded eyes to see his member rock solid jutting out sparkling with that drop of precum… He was all ready and she lifted her torso holding the back-rest board for support above her. He looked into her eyes and while she tried to fathom the expression in those beautiful browns he moved a little more and slammed into her pushing her body all the way upwards by almost a foot… She was filled to the brim and the sense of completion of her being overwhelmed her to the core. So much so that she could feel the rivulets of passion spasming upwards from her abdomen right then. He emerged out and she could see the sheen of sweat on his brow and chest shining as a collective layer in the glow of the soft candescent night lamp placed at a distance.  His face was contorted and she could see him struggle to rein in his control.

“…Keshav…” She panted his name. “…Darling… just let go…”

He grunted as he moved his to and fro motion rocking her world in everyway just like he had ever since she had first met him. She tried to hold back her release but couldn’t and shattered the next moment screaming out his name while he followed her in the next couple of strokes grunting her name aloud as he spilled his warm seed inside her… He fell on the bed besides her and held her close. Avanti knew it wasn’t the last that night… they both needed each other more than ever. Intimacy was more than just physical union, it was an assurance that they were alive and had fought through the test of time and the challenges together, emerging victorious.

They slept almost immediately wrapped in each other’s arms, their legs intertwined. A couple of hours later Avanti woke up in the dark with only the ticklish feel of his chest against her soft skin. She couldn’t see well but she knew he was awake. He held her and pulled her above him in a shot and she giggled at the sudden movement. She could feel the prodding near her lower abdomen and didn’t need any more signals. She positioned herself on him as the entire length of him fit right inside her as if her deepest hollows were tailor made for his stalk. He held her hips and she moved up and down rhythmically placing her hands on his chest. She even pinched his pebbled tits eliciting a throaty moan that melted her insides. Very soon she ran out of breath and he put her right down as he continued the rocking missionary movement. In the next two-three strokes they came together as he belted out his release warming her core, even as her walls spasmed around him milking him dry.

They both made it to the attached bathroom where he ran a hot water bath for them. They stood below the shower as he lathered up soap on the fluff and rubbed her all over not missing any tiny nook or corner of her body. She repeated the same and it didn’t need much for her to realise how aroused Keshav was. She circled his neck and kissed him, the rough wet beard brushing her now sensitively swollen lips, even as the hot water cascaded around them. He lifted her up against the tiled wall and as her legs circled his hips for support, he slammed into her. They continued to kiss as she dug her fingers in his wet hair while he kept on with his constant movement in and out of her now sore apex. But this was a pain accompanied by immense pleasure and she came crying into his mouth the very next moment, followed by him closely after. After washing each other, Keshav patted her dry and covered her with a bath robe before covering his hips with another bath towel and together they walked back into the bedroom for their much-awaited sleep.

Avanti was all in smiles as sleep now totally claimed her. She was in the arms of the man she loved more than life itself and irrespective of what transpired today evening, tomorrow promised a new beginning…. Especially for Keshav, both at work and personally as she awaited Kamya and Sahil to join them that night…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 32

Keshav and Avanti rode in silence lost in their own stream of thoughts as they neared Chembur in their rented cab. Avanti kept looking at Keshav intermittently and though he tried to keep up a strong front she knew he was writhing in turmoil from within. He must have been extremely anxious having waited for so long. She just hoped and prayed to Lord Subramaniam… everything would fall in place. He had barely eaten much of their rushed breakfast and she had insisted on the glass of milk. She hoped he didn’t ruin his health in the zeal for research… however important it was.

Once they reached the bank, she looked up at the old building. She didn’t recall seeing it during her earlier visits to Natrang. Probably because the bank consisted of the ground floor and the first floor whereas the upper three floors were residential and nothing was striking about the bank, at least aesthetically. She walked into the bank and was welcomed by the step one customer service. She showed her ID, and the bank passbook the which only contained one entry that of the deposit made for the safe deposit vault… of a whooping two lakhs. She wondered which bank in these days had such a high locker deposit.  Nonetheless, the executive gave them a top down and a form to fill in her details while she went to speak with the manager.

In about fifteen minutes each of which passed at an excruciatingly slow pace, the manager arrived personally to greet her. The man whose ID card mentioned Balaram Tyagi, was a middle-aged man, who was extremely cordial and directed them to the thick door at the back corner. Avanti wondered where he was taking them and gripped Keshav’s sweaty palm. The huge door moved with great difficulty and once they entered, he shut it again behind him. They were in another tiny room with biometric access and after typing in a number series Mr. Tyagi clicked open the lock and the door opened to a fleet of stairs. As they descended, he kept switching on the lights and a continuous stream of bright LEDs brightened up what looked like a cellar from an old fable. He walked towards the large boxes and stopped in front of one of them in the deep corner. He typed in a code on the attached number keyboard and turned towards them. “here…I have now unlocked it from our side. All you need to do is put in your code and the vault will open. I am sure you may be surprised but this section is different from our regular lockers upstairs and is safeguarded even from fire hazards, floods and blasts… hence the high security deposit. I will now leave you two here. Once you shut back the door of the vault it locks itself and you won’t be able to open it for next two days…it’s a superior security feature. So be careful. You have maximum twenty minutes after which the security team will cordon the area to escort you outside. So, make it quick…I just entered your time….” He turned back and left and as his footsteps faded Avanti gripped Keshav’s hand tightly.

“Avanti… darling… go ahead and put in the code… we don’t have much time…” Keshav spoke softly and she nodded, moving ahead and typing in the code with trembling hands. The lock opened with a buzzing sound and Avanti further opened the door. Keshav immediately shone his mobile light and Avanti finally could see and tears sprang a she saw a little black bound book, the only possession of the huge locker. She removed it and looked around but there as nothing else except a little piece of paper.  She removed it and opened the fold. On it was her baba’s meticulous handwriting:

Dearest Avu…

You ‘ve done it… I will now rest in peace…

Lots of blessings to you and Keshav for a long marital innings…

-Baba

She blinked back tears and moved back shutting the door and immediately pocketed the little book in her handbag as Keshav held her hand and gently pulled her with him. They walked out and the manager greeted them again.  “Uh… Ms. Avanti Rane…there is something I wanted to share with you. Please accompany me to the cabin…”

A surprised Avanti and Keshav followed Mr. Tyagi to his room and were further bewildered when he shut the door behind them and pulled the drapes too. He sat on his revolving chair and sighed. “Ms. Rane, I am sure you are wondering what all this is about… but I personally knew your father…Mr. Dnyaneshwar Rane. He was like an older brother to me… he was instrumental in me getting this job twenty years ago and we had remained friends ever since… When the vault was being built, I had mentioned to him in passing but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would one day come up with a strange request…”

Avanti blinked back her tears and tried to speak in a chocked voice. “…What… what request and when…?”

The manager rubbed a hand over his tired face and inhaled deeply. “I was surprised he had opened an account in this branch which was so far away from his work place and residence… but he had insisted… He also wanted you to be a joint holder instead of his wife… and then the account was dormant for over a year…I let it be on my risk…and would have continued till the time I was the manager here, but then a few months ago he suddenly arrived here…” He looked up at them and continued. “…He looked harried and tired… the Dnyaneshwar Rane I knew never did anything without reason and was extremely farsighted… so when he asked for the vault I didn’t question him at all and he specifically said that in the unfortunate event of his passing, his younger daughter and the joint holder of the account would come to access it and that I was to help out in every possible manner…I am sorry Avanti… that he is no more and I hope that you have received what you had come looking for…”

“…um…Did he say anything else…?” Avanti asked hopefully.

Mr. Tyagi looked around. “…I don’t know much but after a lot of prodding he got talking that day and I passing he did say his life was in danger or so he thought… because of something he was developing…he spoke something about the black sheep of some family who was an asshole out to destroy anything in his way…”

“…Did…he…” Keshav asked tentatively. “…Did he give any names…any hints…?”

“…No… he barely said that much… Dnyaneshwar Rane wasn’t someone who bothered others with his troubles…Avanti… I hope you protect his legacy…its something he gave up his life protecting”

Avanti sniffled tears and nodded and soon walked out, with Keshav holding her sideways close to him. She was thankful for that else she would have collapsed under the burden of emotions bombarding her from all sides. She shed silent tears all through their journey while Keshav held her close. They got back into the waiting rental and directly arrived in Vedshastra. Keshav didn’t want to waste any moment and had already called the core R and D team to be ready while they arrived. Avanti was on autopilot and gripped Keshav’s hand tightly even as the reality of the situation started to sink in. Her baba had planned everything to the t and she hoped they were now on the right track. Would Keshav get the drug made…?

Once they reached Vedshastra the core team comprising of their two main scientists who were with them right from the time her father had started the company, along with two scientists from Novo-supremo whom Keshav trusted the most, got together in their conference room and Keshav showed them the black book. Avanti could see the scientists look at the content of the book as if in a trance… The scientist whom she knew to be close to her father looked up at her and nodded with a smile and she knew they had hit the jackpot. All four of the scientists moved to the lab with the black book and Keshav locked the door from outside. Akshat had arranged for specially trained guards to keep watch at the door and Keshav and Avanti went back to his cabin.

“Avanti…the more this mystery unfolds the more I am in awe of your father… he knew the contents n the black book were important…classified and what a way to hide it and get you to find it… Avanti you are no less than a genius yourself….” He leaned back on his chair and looked at her, admiration shining in his beautiful browns.

Avanti blushed. “Keshav, its we together…as a team who could figure it out… now…what’s the next step…?”

Keshav opened a special app in his mobile and called her close. She was surprised to see the interior of the green house on their home terrace. “Avanti…” He pointed at a row of flower pots. “…these flowers will be in full bloom now in the upcoming two to three days… the timing couldn’t have bee more perfect…” He smiled looking up at her and at that moment he was a far cry from the successful entrepreneur that he was. He was a child who was proudly showing off his first ever trophy and waited for appreciation. She held his shoulder and bent over placing a kiss on his forehead. Before she could move away, he held her by her hips and pulled her close so she sat on his lap… oh how she had missed her favourite seat in the whole wide world! He held her close and with his free hand he pushed her unruly locks behind her ear. “…Avanti…  I had never ever bothered much about this disease and its repercussions… I was ok with whatever it…gave me…I had prepared myself to face it… but then… you happened to me and then…I wanted to… overcome this…I became selfish Avanti… I wanted to spend a lifetime with you and not just few pathetic years…” Avanti fought back tears and held his face in her palms as he continued. “…Avanti…I …. I love you so much and… not being with you… the thought itself is terrifying in itself… I… I just… can’t believe that something good is happening now…”

Avanti kissed him before he could complete what he wanted to say. She didn’t care that they were in his cabin where any staff member could just walk in… but all that mattered to her at that moment was they needed each other…like a lamp and a wick. She poured her heart out into the kiss giving him all her support and love, mainly to assure him that he was the most important person in her life. He pulled her head closer as his tongue entered her soft concave and explored every little inch…their tongues met and tried to entwine into each other giving her a shudder passing throughout her body even as the initial tremors of an orgasm started to inflame right down between her legs…the moisture pooling there making her slick in hunger… hunger for him…all of him. He moved away and rested her forehead on his, rubbing her hair. “Avanti…” he whispered panting. “…as much as I long to take this ahead… I have to check on the lab…I have to check if the formula that your father had developed is now doable without his guidance…”

They chuckled as they moved away breathing heavily as they tried to compose themselves. She looked back at the app and said. “…Keshav…I always wondered how did these flowers feature in the larger frame of things in this formula…?”

“…Avanti…your father was a great believer in nature’s healing process… he always felt illnesses took place when something went against the rule of nature and the treatment too rested in the bed of nature… so when he first heard of my disease, he made me research the plants… here let me show you…” Keshav opened up his laptop and after a few clicks he opened a folder with some plant pictures on it. “…actually, Avanti plants continuously evolve as species and adapt to their surroundings at a faster rate than us…they have numerous symbiotic associations… for instance there is this variety of tree in the African jungles which gets easily infested by an organism just like termites which eats up the wood resulting in the tree to die. Eventually these trees started to release sap from their barks that attracted wild ants which feasted on those parasitic organisms. As a result those tress have now survived over the years… just to make things simple for you some of these plants in the process of  surviving have developed certain enzymes in them which is in par with the allopathic medicinal properties and they are huge immune boosters….so…I had begun my research in them years ago…according to your father, these enzymes when added to that formula will be able to create the magical compound and hence he called it Ved-Adbhut…”

“…Wow… I didn’t know that…” Avanti was amazed.

“…the only issue in this was…these plants took a long time to evolve… so I tried the green house method to speed the process… fortunately years of my research has shown results and the flowers will be in full bloom any time now…”

Avanti hugged him tightly and then moved away. As she stood straightening her clothes she said. “… Keshav…I will leave it to you and as you said…Akshat will be soon arriving to take a look around and will be staying back… so I will get going now. I want to visit my music school and catch up on some data…”

“…ok Avanti… and let me know when you are done…I will send the driver… to take you home and you know the alarm codes right…?” When she nodded he said. “…ok don’t forget to set them back…”

Soon Avanti visited her music school and in the excitement of meeting with her teachers and other students of her group she lost track of time. It was 5PM already when she left and called Keshav on his cell phone… However, there was no answer and no one answered the cabin landline phone either. The lab phone was disconnected recently due to confidentiality issues and by now the regular employees would have left the office. She decided to take a cab back home and start the dinner preparations. She wanted to cook something special to celebrate the special occasion today. She texted Keshav that she was off to their home and would meet him there. As she sat in the cab, she called Kamya and excitedly told her about finding the formula for her brother. Kamya squealed in joy and decided to take the flight next morning after a morning workshop, back to Mumbai along with Sahil. She promised to join them for dinner tomorrow.

Well, that was fixed and Avanti happily looked forward to fitting every piece of the puzzle… somehow, she seemed to get the pieces correctly this time into the right slot. She couldn’t wait to get home to start dinner preparations. What a fruitful day it was and finally after months of holding back Avanti smiled happily to her hearts content…

******************************************************************

Something was up in Vedshastra today… his mole had told him. there was some buzz about the lab being totally cordoned off after the arrival of Keshav and Avanti. And the security was tight. He was right…Keshav had finally got hold of the formula he was sure…but then how could he lay his hands on it…? He had been wondering about it when his contact informed him that Avanti had left Vedshastra, all alone. Since then he had hurried and got into the house here. Piece of cake…those morons thought sweeping the place for bugs and placing cameras and round the clock guards outside the building would hinder him…? those morons stood right down while he had made his royal entry five floors above. Picking locks was like a child’s play for him…he had good practise with his father’s safe right from childhood. Stealth was his second name… how else could he loot the women he slept with. They wouldn’t know if a few bundles of notes would go missing from their cupboards and what would they tell their husbands…? That the guy they were sleeping behind their husbands’ backs stole money from them…? HE laughed at the irony of their situation. Those betraying bitches deserved it. Well those experiences had proved to be a blessing these few weeks here… he was no longer young and his agility was getting compromised every single day.

He scratched away the bead of sweat as it trickled down his chest and caused the itching along its path. It was so humid today and he had been waiting in the dark for hours now. Where the hell was Avanti…? Was she returning with Keshav…? Then it would get risky… no… the last he heard Keshav was still in the lab. Avanti had to know something… and he as going to extract the information from her today at any cost… He looked at the glowing clock handles…it was 6PM already… Where on earth was, she…? He would wait for a while and then go back before it got risky and before it got further dark. The outside camera was replaced and he couldn’t take a chance there… his signal jammer too wouldn’t last more than an hour now. And he had to leave before the cameras came live again.

He tried calling his insider eye in Vedshastra… but the bastard disconnected. The old man was getting slacker day by day, he thought. That contact wouldn’t hold much now…he had started to talk back. The man’s bargaining chip wasn’t entirely fool proof…. In fact, it never had much value anyway. He scratched his chest yet again but this time he chuckled. It wouldn’t be long before his mole found out that his sorry excuse of a nephew Prantik was long dead…

And right then…the front door clicked open…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 31

It was 3AM when they reached their complex gates and Avanti ad Keshav wasted no time in rushing to their penthouse. Avanti ran to her room and opened the cupboard to bring out the Veena case. Keshav hurried to the terrace to prepare the location where the sunrays would first fall. He later got back to Avanti and helped her carry the case up to the terrace and they held hands as they waited for the new dawn… both for the day and for the rest of their lives.

Avanti had already removed the Veena from the casing and held it in the direction Keshav had told her the first rays of the sun would land. “…You know Avanti…? I have spent umpteen days and moments waiting for the dawn right here… after anxiety ridden sleepless nights…that I have lost count. But the beauty of the first morning rays surpassed everything…. It always gave me hope… like your father said, the universal power… it gave me energy as well…to face the next day or whatever curveball life threw at me… I am hoping Avanti… that today as well we…we will get that energy…I ….” He rubbed his face and Avanti realised he was chocking as he spoke. As the breeze ruffled her hair, she held his hands in hers and looked into his eyes, shining with unshed tears even as he furiously tried to blink them away.

“…Keshav…I trust my baba… he was always a man of his word. Today I am sure there is a positive outcome form all this…And whatever it is…just remember, no matter where you land up…no matter what you decide, when you look back you will always find me waiting for you… to come back to me. I will always be holding you hand…” tears flew down her cheeks as she felt the chill on them with the breeze drying it.

Right then Keshav looked up. “…its… its…time Avanti… get ready…”

Avanti rushed to the Veena and held the stone studded front of it towards where Keshav pointed, for the sunrays to first fall. And slowly as the dawn broke, the surrounding filling with the cacophony of the birds competing with each other to call out and replace the solitude, the dark sky gave way to the crimson morning. The Sunrays penetrated through the skies around them and as Avanti looked spellbound, the Veena dazzled in all its divinity shining radiantly in its divine splendor. No wonder her father had mentioned connecting with the soul… the sparkling beauty of the instrument touched her soul like never before. She soon got out of reverie… she had a task at hand. Keshav had kept the recorder focussed on them but still Avanti kept looking at the Veena turning it around… she couldn’t make out anything… was she missing something…? She opened up her father’s letter and went back to the fourth verse.

Feel the need to open out your soul

To the universal power at the crack of dawn

Keep marching till you reach your goal

Look into your soul for the mosaic making you fawn…

Avanti re read the third line… she kept turning the Veena. She barely had few minutes before the sunrise would complete and the dawn break would end. Heart thudding, she asked Keshav to hold the Veena and moved back from it, from there, she then began walking slowly towards the instrument and squinted her eyes as the flash of the stones reflecting the sunlight hit her hard. She shut her eyes and opened them and stood still in her place… narrowing and widening her eyes even as a puzzled Keshav looked on.

“…oh…my God… Keshav….” She held her cheeks, excitement surging through her veins as the pattern began to unfold before her eyes. Right before her on the Veena was highlighted a glowing form of Lord Muruga seated on his Vahana…the Peacock. Her father was a staunch devotee of the Lord… Oh God this was sheer bliss to watch. She quickly took a couple of clicks and by then the sun rose further even as the illuminating brilliance disappeared.

Avanti ran to Keshav and hugged him as the adrenaline-rush she felt moments before subsided. She stared at the instrument wiping happy tears as she celebrated her father for the detailed incandescent display she just witnessed.

“uh… Avanti… care to explain…?” Keshav asked her softly.

Avanti nodded and they packed the Veena back in the case and went downstairs to the living room. Avanti spread her father’s letter and her notepad on the centre table and an eager Keshav joined her on the couch.

“…Look Keshav…” Avanti showed him a blurred picture she managed to click just before the display disappeared. “…This is the image of Lord Muruga…My father was a devotee of His and if you remember there is a gold studded tiny deity in the inner office in Vedshastra as well…”

“…oh ok… wow… this is something surreal… but then Avanti… how is linked to our…I mean…solution…?”

“…Wait a minute Keshav now let’s get back to the letter… The fourth line of that verse was true… the mosaic did make me fawn… so what was baba trying to tell me…?”

Avanti paced the living room for the next ten minutes but drew a blank.

“Avanti… I think we have to read and follow the next verse as well now…”

Avanti nodded and got back on the couch next to him, gripping his hand for every ounce of energy she could derive from him. She read the fifth verse…

Stick to your zealous conviction

Bring about the ploy in motion

All world is a performance stage

Go across to the mirror image

She had to bring the ploy in motion, that was fine but how and where…? In fact, she still didn’t understand what her father meant so far. her heart fell as she wondered about the huge disappointment; she was to Keshav…just because she couldn’t fathom the cryptic clues. Keshav must have read her face. “Hey Avanti… don’t sweat over it OK…? You did well so far… now let’s take a break and get back later…Lets rest for a while before Mrs. Sinha comes….” He held her hand and pulled her along as she went reluctantly. Avanti wondered how she could sleep with the chaos in her mind but the moment she her head hit the pillow she was a goner.

She woke up a while later to see Keshav staring outside the bedroom window lost to the world. She walked behind him and hugged him tightly. “…Don’t worry Keshav…we will figure it out… together…” She felt his taut muscles relax beneath her hands as he turned towards her.

He held her face in his hands. “Avanti… was there any specific place your father visited…for prayers…I mean there has to be some temple or such a place which he would visit considering…there is nothing in the office so…”

“…the Subramanium temple in Chembur… he frequented the place…I have been there too…many times…” Avanti said excitedly. And then as if she was hit by a stun gun, she stared at him wide eyed. “…oh God… why couldn’t I think of this before… Keshav come with me…”

They rushed to the drawing room which was now filled with the aroma of parathas prepared by Mrs. Sinha in their kitchen as they heard the gentle clanging of the utensils. Avanti showed him the fifth verse. “…Keshav…world…a performing stage means…auditorium…a special one… My father visited this temple and…and very close to it is The Natrang Fine Arts society….I…I have performed there so many times…oh God how could I forget… baba often quoted Shakespeare’s famous line…all world is a stage… whenever we were there…”

Keshav made a note of whatever she said. “…ok So Natrang Fine Arts society… the next line…? What about…the mirror image…? What does that mean…?”

Avanti stood up and started pacing again… the adrenaline rush too high now for her to be seated. She turned around and her eyes fell onto the decorative mirror on the showcase which showed her the image of the gym door right opposite to it…and then bingo…

“…Keshav …. I… I got it… please check with Google images… what is bang opposite Natrang Fine Arts society…? Is there any specific landmark…? It isn’t striking me now…”

Keshav scrolled on his cell phone. “…Ok…it says…State bank of Travancore…. That’s it… nothing else…it’s a residential area…Oh My God… the bank…?” He looked up at Avanti. For a few moments they both stared at each other while the world faded away, Mrs. Sinha gave up calling them for breakfast and left shaking her head… but nothing mattered… they were so close to solving the puzzle that had eluded them for long.

Avanti’s eyes filled. So, her baba had kept the black book probably in the bank locker and he had gone through so much to hide the location details. He knew how precious it was for Keshav and her. She took out the letter again and saw the last verse. “Keshav… this has to be the information on the locker details…” She sniffled her tears away and tried to figure out the last bit of the clue.

The finale to the cringing grind

Is the day I was happiest in life

I pray you handle the find

May happiness befall you in abundance rife…

“Keshav… finale… it means the last part here… and the happiest day for my baba as he always said was the day, I was born… my birthday… oh God that’s the locker code… 3^rd February 1996…i.e. 321996…looks like it…that bank must be having digital locker codes…Keshav we need to check it out…”

“…Avanti…that’s amazing…really but why will they allow us access to a locker which doesn’t have your name on it…?”

“…Now that I remember…it does Keshav…I am a joint holder with baba… he had opened the account somewhere over a year ago…I remember signing the papers and…Keshav…I had actually objected to his clause of choosing Either /Survivor option for operating the locker… Baba had just smiled and I had found it strange then… even Aai wasn’t aware of what he was doing and he had forbidden me to tell her…Keshav…I think it’s the same account…”

“Oh…ok then its sorted Avanti… get the account number details, passbook or whatever it is you find…and I will arrange to visit there today morning… you think you can do it….?”

“…Yes…I have a couple of my folders here which include my bank information and I have this one too…” Avanti smiled as Keshav pulled her to a hug.

Finally, they had decrypted her father’s clues and though there still was the unknown enemy they had to tackle, she hoped what they had discovered were indeed the answers. Above all that, at the end of their ordeal, she just hoped the questions didn’t change…

************************************************************************

He smiled looking at his cracked reflection in the wall mounted mirror that he had broken just a couple of days ago in a fit of rage. Just like he had glued the pieces together, his life too was now nothing but a perpetual piecing together of broken bits. He had been shattered very often but he had always stood up and made his comeback. Now too he would be back. This time his plan was good and doable.

The problem with the Avanti and Keshav and Dnyaneshwar Rane was they were the good people who thought twice if they had to take an alternate path towards achieving their goal… but he… He was an asshole of the highest order who didn’t refrain at all from taking any course to chart his path. One such course now was going to make him reach his destination. He mentally apologised to Avanti. ‘no hard feelings dear… nothing very personal…you are a good girl but I love money and power over everything… and your late father’s formula is going to give me just that….so sorry’

He was with a war against himself unfortunately she had to be the collateral damage here…there was another collateral damage too but that idiot deserved it for trusting him. He loved desperate and rich women…they were easy targets. Even in his younger days, he was a hunk and these women ate at his fingers. He had his own share of older wealthy and bored women. Just a round of fun filled sex making them feel desirable was enough to charge them a bomb… His immediate older brother once caught him and ratted him out calling him a gigolo…his furious father disowned him right at that instant. He had punished that brother… his racing bike had been hit by a mini van the very next day and he was grievously injured.

The man chuckled…his few pennies could only arrange a mini van and not a truck…the work would have been done completely. But nonetheless, the brag got his lesson. If not then he was making a grand comeback soon to complete the job.

All those women in his past needed, was a shoulder to cry and they emptied their pockets but this one now was a tough cookie and she clung to him like second skin…not that he didn’t have fun but it was time to pull up his pant literally. She was used to being treated like crap anyway… Keshav was way too cautious and smarter than he though he was.

He laughed out loud even as the sound of his laughter boomed withing the confines of his home… he would soon move to his family owned house… his own room twice this size. His brothers will have to concede given the revenue he would get and the shareholders would agree as well…Afterall money talked. He would soon be the CEO of his family owned company… and it would be solely owned by him eventually…

He forgave rarely and almost never forgot. He didn’t forgive Dnyaneshwar Rane and made him pay dearly. He would make that Keshav Goyal pay as well. He wasn’t someone who stumbled by being forgetful. Vengeful…that he was for sure. He would make his brothers beg for every penny…just like they had done him. It was time for pay-back, with the interest.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 30

Avanti entered the penthouse with Keshav in tow and he held her hand taking her to the drawing room. She was a nervous wreck as she looked at him with tear-filled eyes, clutching the envelope to her chest. He made her sit on the couch and got two cups of tea from the installed machine. Though it tasted like dirt, it helped to calm her nerves.

“Avanti… read it…I will be right here in the other room…just holler if you need me…” Keshav stood up to leave.

Avanti grabbed his hand as if grasping at straws. “…no…no… please Keshav… don’t go anywhere… though it’s my name on it…I am sure baba wanted both of us to read it… So sit…sit here with me please…” Keshav nodded and sat next to her holding her close to him by her shoulder as she opened the envelope with trembling hands.

Her baba loved to write rather than type, even now she was chocked with emotions just to see his beautiful handwriting blurring every time her eyes filled.

Dear Avanti

If you are reading this … it means I am no longer with you in person… but I am sure my other favourite child Keshav is there by your side to hold your hand as you face various turmoil thrown at you. I know you like each other and have seen to it that you come together… I have complete faith in that boy!!!

I also know that…you getting this letter also means the formula is not obtained as yet. Due to the security risks I can’t tell you the exact location of the black bound book… so shall we go back to your school days and play treasure hunt…? One last time…?

When in despair, my girl

Don’t you dare scare…

While I watch over you from up there

All isn’t a straight affair…

Life has thrown a curveball mean

Its time to wipe the forehead sheen

Pull up your socks and get into the groove

For you know that’s what I approve…

I know you need a sign tell-tale

My girl…dare I let you fail…

You know my words behind the veil,

Listen with your heart what will now prevail…

Feel the need to open out your soul

To the universal power at the crack of dawn

Keep marching till you reach your goal

Look into your soul for the mosaic making you fawn…

Stick to your zealous conviction

Bring about the ploy in motion

All world is a performance stage

Go across to the mirror image

The finale to the cringing grind

Is the day I was happiest in life

I pray you handle the find

May happiness befall you in abundance rife…

-with love and blessings

Baba…

Avanti wailed even before she read the last line and Keshav held her close as she sobbed into his chest. How she missed her father… Keshav took the letter out of her hands and spread it on the table even as he held her rubbing her back. Avanti cried for the next few minutes remembering many wonderful moments with her father… what she wouldn’t do to have a little more time with him. He would have known the solution for all the troubles plaguing all of them. But she knew her father definitely planned everything he did and now it was her duty as a daughter and wife to fathom the letter… for now she had to put a lid on her emotions.

She sat erect and wiped her eyes, inhaling deeply. “Keshav…?” she looked at her waiting husband. He had been so patient with her all this while and she knew he was desperate to get to the crux of the riddle in the letter. “…can you get a paper and pen…lets…lets solve this…”

“…solve…? You mean there really is something in here…?” Keshav looked bewildered.

“…Yes, Keshav I am sure there is… lets go through it again calmly… baba tried to tell us something… mostly about that black book and its location…”

Keshav rushed to their bedroom and was back immediately with a notepad and a pen. They both sat together spreading the letter on the centre table beside them as they tried to analyse what was hidden behind the verses.

“Keshav… let me read it aloud… maybe it would be clearer…” Avanti offered and Keshav nodded in agreement. “…here the first verse…it says… he is blessing us from up there…” She chocked again on her words but Keshav held her hand as she continued. “…in the second verse he is en…encouraging me to face the odds…” She gripped Keshav’s hand and said. “…in the third, he says…he is giving me the signs… the clues…” She looked into Keshav’s eyes. “…that was our favourite game in my childhood… he loved to give me practical riddles and I loved solving them…”

“…Avanti… your father was a brilliant man… and now there is no doubt about it…” Keshav nudged her to move ahead.

“…Ok… now… here it is…in the fourth verse he has highlighted the word soul… now I wonder what he meant…”

“…Avanti… is it some kind of a metaphor… did he intend to call something by this… this name…?”

“…Wait… according to my baba… he always called a Veena… as containing a soul…he loved the veena melody and had even bought me a specially commissioned one… did…did he mean anything by that…?”

“…Wait… Avanti… a specially commissioned Veena…? When did he get it…?”

Avanti told him about her father’s trip to Germany and the stone studded instrument he had got back for her…Keshav immediately sat upright. “…Avanti… that was the same time he was deeply in works for the formula… in fact his visit to Germany was also for the sole purpose… have you checked that veena…did it have any chamber or something…?”

“…I have checked that Veena entirely…it’s at our home in my room now…I wanted to string it completely so had looked at each and every nook and crevice… there is no hidden box or anything of the kind…” her heart broke to see his excited face fall. “…Let’s see the next line…Universal power…? What is it…?”

Keshav suddenly stood up. “…Avanti in our field…those of us inclined towards nature like your father and me, believe that the Sun is the universal power…so… dawn means the Sunrays at dawn… what do you think…?”

“…Oh…ok it means something now…” Avanti made a note on the paper. “…now the third line says to keep moving …but where…? And the next line says look into the soul…does it mean look into the veena…? And the mosaic… means there is…there is a puzzle of some sort…?” She looked at Keshav who was lost in thought. “…Keshav…does it make sense…?”

“Avanti… your father loved puzzles isn’t it…that means to solve them you have to join the dots…why don’t we connect the two… look into the veena…in the sunlight…? Wait… you said the Veena is stone studded… do think… there is puzzle means…there is…”

“…A pattern…?” she completed his statement. “…which can be seen in the early morning sunlight… that means the clue is not in the Veena it is…”

“…ON it…” Keshav said and she was thrilled to see his face brighten up. “…Avanti, we have to rush back home now… and hopefully by dawn tomorrow…”

“…we can check the Veena… come on Keshav lets rush…we can figure out the rest of the poem later…”

In the next half an hour they were on their way back to Mumbai on a private cab and as Avanti lay her head on Keshav’s chest on the passenger seat, he pulled her close to him. She could feel his heart thundering aloud announcing the impending arrival of good news. She hoped and prayed tomorrow’s dawn brought with it a new beginning for both of them…

************************************************************************

The man threw the steel box against the wall with all his might and it crashed open strewing his instruments all over the floor. He was agitated. He felt duped and humiliated… yet again by that son of a bitch, Keshav. He had been so careful during his numerous trips in and out of that house… and it had been so dangerous but he had managed to lay his hands on the folder but that turned out to be crap. The biochemist from Italy whom he had paid through his nose for consultation, with a promise in the cut for the breakthrough drug, laughed aloud on the conference call and said it wasn’t any kind of formula at all… it was just some crappy derivations… the idiot had broken the partnership agreement as well. Did the westerners think they were superior…? Not at all…he would show them…

He was at the end of his tethers… That senile Dnyaneshwar Rane had to have documented his formula somewhere. But then Keshav too hadn’t got hold of it…else he wouldn’t have made such cheap duplicates. He now needed time to formulate a new plan all over and that needed money. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much remaining and his new relationship too wasn’t yielding results. He had watered that stupid human plant but there was no yield from it. He tried some old contacts from the media to sway Dnyaneshwar Rane’s stupid older daughter… but it was just a shot in the dark. The woman was an idiot…only beauty and no brains. No wonder Dnyaneshwar Rane didn’t trust her with decisions. His younger daughter was smart and intelligent… he would have admired her if not for his situation. So, did he hit the dead end…?

No…NO… he couldn’t afford that… his life was done with… He couldn’t go back to prison to that hellhole… and last time it was only espionage this time it was bloody murder. No…he couldn’t… afford anymore errors or the slightest of distractions. But what could he do now… A sense of desperation engulfed him as he collapsed on the cold tiled floor of his abode. His knees which at one time were his pride, screamed in agony as they hit the hard ground. He hunched his back and roared in rage… “…KESHAV…. I AM NOT DONE… I AM NOT…DONE…”

He had to do something… and right then he had the brainwave and he chuckled. No wonder he was the smartest of the four brothers. His father never recognised his special talent…what was his mistake…? All he wanted was to make a quick buck for the family owned company and …. himself. His father had discarded him totally like a piece of thrash when all hell had broken lose. His father chose his friendship with Dnyaneshwar Rane over his youngest son… How dare he…? The old fart died a couple of years ago when he was still behind bars and those good for nothing brothers of his were now ruling the business. No… no longer…he was going to get his rightful due. This wonder drug would be the key to unlock his fortunes.

 But then he needed someone to make a little sacrifice… and Avanti Rane-Goyal was just that, a pawn in his larger frame of things. He smiled and stood on shaky legs…. He needed a couple of days to recover form his low sugar bout he had this morning and the knee pain, he had to be in his best physical form for what he had planned. He now had to play his final card… he had been on the defense so far… and now it was the time to attack….

And dear Keshav… you will now have no choice but to hand over the true findings…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 29

“…how could you do this to me Avu…? Why do you still want to stay with that man after what he has done…” her mother asked as they sat in her room where Keshav left them alone before going back to his. Avanti knew he was disturbed by the sudden unannounced arrival of her family but she had to sort it out before talking to him. Fortunately, he promised to have lunch on time before she shut the door to her room. She looked at her sister who looked around the room snickering at her choice of decorations and arrangements. But then Arpita and she were poles apart when it came down to choices. While she loved pastel shades and simplicity in everything, Arpita was all for flamboyance.

“…Aai… I am not leaving my husband and that is final…in fact we have baba’s blessing too…”

Her mother and Arpita both looked stunned. “…What…what do you mean baba’s blessings…Avanti…?” Arpita spoke in an angry tone. “…baba wasn’t even around when you got…married…”

Avanti then told her about the letter Keshav had received. Her mother stood up from the rocking chair and walked towards her. “…Avu bala… I don’t know what your father saw in that…Keshav. All I know is…ever since your baba…got acquainted with that man and his father before that… nothing has been going good for us… and then…”

“…Avanti…?” Arpita interrupted. “…why on earth didn’t baba speak to me directly and put me through the humiliation…?” She paced the room back and forth as she continued. “… I never liked Keshav in the first place…it was just… I wanted to do something for baba for once and so… I went through that engagement and torturous courtship…” Arpita then walked close to her mother and put her arm around her shoulder. “…thank God Aai had her senses intact and she saved me from tying the knot that day…”

“…What are you saying…?” that Avanti was shocked was an understatement.

“…Aai… well… actually Keshav had already told me about his condition the day before the mehandi… and had forbidden me from revealing it to you… he was all set to go for a contract marriage agreement and I was to give in…because you Avanti…YOU convinced me it was for the best… but then I couldn’t help it and told everything to Aai…and she made me run away…”

Avanti sat on the bed with a thud. What was going on here… why was only she in the dark… everyone seemed to know everything around her…

Her mother came to her and patted her head. “…Avu bala… by the time you decided to get married to him that day it was too late for me to do anything… and you were determined… but now…Now we can overcome everything… in fact Arpita has found a buyer for Vedshastra… he is an acquaintance of a director friend of hers… So… we can sell that headache and you will be free too… just…”

“…ENOUGH…PLEASE…ENOUGH… both of you…” Avanti screamed. “…first of all…I am in this marriage for good…it may have begun with a contract but now we are legally married forever…so my question of leaving Keshav doesn’t arise….” Both her mother and sister stared at her. This was probably the first time she had raised her voice. “…Second point… Vedshastra is our legacy and baba’s dream…I will not allow its sale…no matter what. And as you know I have the majority power at the moment and so I -will- not -allow -it…” She was panting and just at that moment Keshav knocked at the door.

“Avanti…” he called out. “…Are you alright…?” She opened the door and hugged him tightly to compose herself. She then turned to face her mother and sister, while he held her by the shoulder.

“…both of you please go home… my decision stands unchanged…both about my husband and Vedshastra…”

“Avanti you made a huge mistake marrying this guy…” Arpita reprimanded her. “…someone who had only lied…”

“…what about YOU tai…? What about the lies you have been feeding us for years…?” Avanti asked even as Keshav hold on her shoulder tightened.

“…Wha…what are you talking about…?” Arpita appeared hassled and their mother only looked on.

“…I know you were a very disciplined professional and frugal with money and money management… I am aware of your various investments and honestly… tai… I was proud of you… baba would have been proud too… why did you have to project a different image at home…?”

“…that’s because Avanti I was tired of being the goody two shoes girl that baba always wanted… and by the time you came along and took up that role… being a rebel was the only way I got his attention… you won’t understand all that Avanti… you are too selfish and cruel… you got everything served on a platter… baba’s love and affection… freedom to pursue any crap career…a husband…money… You are just too self-absorbed…”

“…that’s enough Arpita…” Keshav spoke in his lethally soft voice. “…not a word more against my wife…”

“…you can keep your wife Keshav…” Arpita huffed. “…but Vedshastra also belongs to me… and I want it to be sold and my…my share of the money…”

“…in case of Vedshastra at the moment…I am the major shareholder and decision maker… so I go with my wife’s wishes… As for money…if you need something…”

“…Oh please…Keshav…keep that charity act for yourself and that dimwit sister of mine… I know how shrewd you are…somethings up with Vedshastra and you want all the profits isn’t it…?”

Avanti wanted to speak but Keshav pressed her shoulder and spoke instead. “…What is your plan Arpita…? Why do you want it sold… you know nothing about the business so why the sudden interest in Vedshastra…?”

Arpita folded her hands and the look on her face was so menacing Avanti wondered if she ever knew her sister. “…look Keshav…” Arpita continued. “…I am getting married next month to this wonderful man… who also happens to be the director of my next series…where I play the main lead… He has a friend who is in the same industry as yours and has showed interest in buying out Vedshastra…after I had shared how worried I was about it…” She sighed. “…So it’s better to sell it to him and he is offering us way more than the market value for that piece of crap…”

“…NO…NO MEANS NO…” Avanti screamed again and Keshav had to restrain her as she shook with annoyance and shock all at the same time. Tears rolled feely down her cheeks… who was this woman before her and what had she done to her sister…?

“…Arpita…Aunty…” Keshav spoke softly. “…I think it’s better we have this discussion on another day… as you see…my wife is upset… Arpita, text me the details of the buyer and I will check him out… I will get back on that… I promise… but for now…please…”

Arpita left the room in a huff, her gown irritatingly swishing around with the rushed movements followed immediately by her annoyed mother. Avanti couldn’t hold it anymore and her legs gave away… fatigue was setting in given the events of the yesterday and today combined and she almost collapsed in Keshav’s arms.

A little later she woke up in their room and felt a cool cloth of her face. She opened her eyes to see a worried Keshav wiping her brow. “…hey… you OK Avanti…?”

She nodded tearing up. “…I really don’t understand Keshav… what had come over Arpita…?”

“…And I thought only I had a problem with my family…” he chuckled and said. “…Look Avanti… give her sometime… Something tells me this Kolhapur visit is going to be important…”

“…Keshav… can Vedshastra sustain itself… I mean…”

“…Avanti…” Keshav sighed. “…I won’t lie to you… things are tough…we are in a tight position because of the delay… in fact I have only one shot at making this formula… my flowers…they are coming in full bloom very soon… if the formula isn’t ready then they will wither away and years of my…. hard work will go down the drain…”

She sat up with his help on their bed and held his hand in hers. “…Keshav…I have a good feeling about Kolhapur too…about meeting baba’s mentor… but whatever happens Keshav…I leave the decision about Vedshastra to you… and I will always stand by you, Huntington or not…”.

Keshav hugged her tightly and they sat in the room for a long time each lost in their own stream of thought but united in their concern for each other and finding the needed solace and calm in each other’s arms.

A day later they reached Kolhapur late evening. The award ceremony was to be held the next morning after which Avanti had secured an appointment to see her father’s mentor, Dr. Pradhan. Keshav had surprised her by booking a penthouse in the heart of the city. As she looked around the chic but warm interiors, Keshav hugged her from the back and kissed her neck. “Avanti…” He whispered into her ears, his baritone along with his warm breath on her ears caused the fluttering in her tummy, making her forget all her worries momentarily. “…Sweetheart…” he continued even as her heart made the somersaults. “…we couldn’t go for our honeymoon… so… uh… though it doesn’t compensate… it just a little… I mean…”

She turned around and crushed her lips to his even as she circled his neck and he pulled her hips close grinding his arousal to her abdomen and she was a goner. He lifted her and dropped her on the soft bed which was strewn with rose petals. Her favourite flower heightened her sensitive senses… even as he ravaged her lips his hands feeling her body all over igniting the embers of passion pushed deep within by the worries holding her to ransom these past couple of days.  He kissed her like there was no tomorrow, not that she was complaining… the orgasmic waves already finding roots in her lower abdomen. She couldn’t wait any more as he showered her with kisses all over…whispering sweet nothings… that made her eyes fill. She didn’t even know when he took off her clothes and his too…joining her on the bed and pulling her close to him.  For a few seconds they lay facing each other and like a flash of lightening he moved on top of her devouring her mouth and moving slowly down her neck, upper chest and as he fondled her full globes, he looked at her and she shuddered anticipating his next move. He took one inviting peak into his warm mouth and she was almost undone… He pinched the other counterpart even as she moaned under him. He sucked and gently bit the tiny nub and she raised her torso further pushing the traitorously erect nub into his waiting mouth. His tongue continued its onslaught and in the next instant she screamed his name as the waves of passion rocked her body making her fly out of control… He showed no mercy and continued his torrential display as he moved lower kissing and sucking her abdomen… She was writhing under his ruthless unleashing of ecstasy. He moved down to her core and blew over her mound and she shivered with the cold feeling over her wetness… his mouth continued its storming as it latched on to her delicate nub and his tongue moving in and out of her secret place wet with her fresh release, driving her to the edge of yet another cliff. He sucked her most intimate part and replaced his tongue with his fingers…his pinched her clit and in the next instant she had her headlong descent from the tallest cliff in the world as her body rocked with the spasms of her orgasm… she had barely settled when he plunged into her depths, his rock hard member sheathing itself completely in her womb. He moved on top of her covering her completely with his taut body and held her hands above her head as he rocked into her body… she heard the slick sounds of their union clash with the AC humming… and withing two strokes her body spasmed around him yet again milking every ounce of his release as he screamed her name and fell besides her holding her close to him…

They lay joined to each other for a while as he kept kissing her head and she scribbled on his firm chest with her fingers. “Avanti… you continue that… and we will have to skip dinner…” he chuckled and held her close. She didn’t want to let go of him… how she had longed for moments like these where he would be carefree and relaxed. She just hoped for the sake of his health… their visit to Kolhapur would yield results. And there was an important topic that needed his attention too.

They dressed and had a quick dinner ordered from a nearby restaurant and though it had gone cold she loved the small talk with Keshav as they ate. Later as they lay next to each other, she resting her head in the nook of his arm as he played with her hair she decided to speak up on the issue that was pushed to corners of oblivion every time. It only resulted in Keshav hurting more. “Keshav…?”

“…Yeah…” he drawled on lazily.

“…can I ask you something… for both of us…?”

He stopped what he was doing and rose on his elbows facing her with a frown on his handsome face. “…What is it Avanti…? You know you can tell me anything…”

“…Keshav don’t be angry please… this is about Kamya…”

Keshav’s face contorted and she could feel the change in the air in the room. He laid back on the bed on his back covering his eyes with his hand and ignored her.

“…Keshav…please don’t do this… she is your only family… and you have to listen to the entire story before…”

“…Avanti…please…I don’t want to talk about them… Kamya is no longer related to me after what she did…”

“…Keshav… now you are being unreasonable… Kamya and Sahil want to reconcile…”

“…So, they sent you…? Are you their lawyer…?” He spoke, his voice sparkling with anger, but face still covered.

“…Keshav please listen once to what Sahil has to say and then decide whatever it is…I will always be on your side…”

Keshav abruptly stood and started to pace the room. After what seemed like ages he spoke. “Avanti… my heart is thoroughly worn out and bruised beyond repair…” he said softly and it broke her heart to see him so heartbroken. “… I …I was a walking corpse for years without any emotions or feelings…just doing my duty and working hard for my family… but there were times when things went beyond my endurance levels and I almost gave up. But…at that time my father had just died and the only legacy he had left us was debt… I didn’t even have the luxury to end my life…”

“…Keshav…” She rushed to him and held him. “…don’t you ever think like that…”

He moved her apart and held her shoulders. “…Avanti let me come clean…there were three instances when I had almost given up. First… when my father died and I was totally clueless… second when I … I newly got diagnosed and very recently when your mother refused to send you with me from the hospital…”

“…Keshav…”

“…but you know what, Avanti…? First… it was your father who gave me hope and helped me to stand on my feet… when I got diagnosed…again it was your father and Kamya who were there for me and by the time the third instance came along…I was seasoned to face heartbreaks…but still… had you not arrived when you did…” He rubbed his face and she saw moisture pool in those beautiful browns.

“…Keshav… I know its painful…but facing the nightmare of your past gives you the power to build a magical future… please Keshav…” she held his hands. “…please let’s do it together… for your closure… otherwise it will only trouble you more…there is a lot you don’t know…”

“…Avanti… I can’t… “

“…You are not alone Keshav… I am with you…every step of the way… just…just once Keshav… just hear him out…please… for Kamya’s sake… she will soon be moving away… you have been there for her… you faced so much but never gave up… because of her Keshav…so would you be happy if you let her go with things left unsaid…?” Keshav stood limply and she held him tightly and spoke into his chest. “…Keshav I promise you… you won’t regret this…” He didn’t speak anything but she knew she had managed to penetrate the hard exterior he had built around him.

The next morning, they reached the university auditorium by 11 AM. The place was tastefully decorated with floral arrangements at the entrance and there was a huge poster adorning the wall detailing her father’s contribution to the field and the university. Avanti’s eyes filled remembering her beloved father as she saw his file photograph printed on the poster. She remembered having selected his suit for him for the photoshoot he had reluctantly agreed for. Her baba hated showbiz for the superficial attitudes and everything that came along with it. He had been heartbroken when Arpita had chosen the same field which he had detested from the start. Suddenly Keshav’s warm arm hugged her from the side towards him and she was broken out of her reverie. “Don’t…don’t cry Avanti… you should be proud of your father and celebrate his life… he was a great man… his goodness and legacy is carried forward by his younger daughter…don’t you forget…” He pressed her arm and she wiped her tears smiling. He had barely spoken after their faceoff last night and she was glad he hadn’t completely blocked her off. She texted Kamya to join them for dinner after her return from Delhi and as expected Kamya was over the moon. She promised to call Avanti on her return with Sahil and visit them.

The award was presented to Dnyaneshwar Rane and Avanti accepted it on his behalf to a thunderous applause from the crowd. She was touched by the respect and love showered upon her baba and choked while giving her prior prepared thank you speech. But every time she faltered, her eyes found her husband and his encouraging smile gave her the much-needed impetus to face the moment on the dias. Soon after the award ceremony there were photo ops and after the quick lunch, they visited Prof Pradhan at his residence.

Dr. Pradhan was a frail old man who could barely walk without help and his son helped him to join them. But the drawback was only in his physical condition. Mentally he was sharp as a tack…just like Avanti had heard. He congratulated Avanti on her marriage and reminisced the ‘good old days’ of the times when her father was his student. Avanti though she loved hearing about her baba… she was also running out of patience for the important purpose of her visit.

“…Um… Dr. Pradhan… there is something I want to talk to you about… um… my baba’s last project… we need your help to figure out…” She said even as Keshav took out the folder he had duplicated again after the first copy was stolen. But as she passed it on to Dr. Pradhan he held up his trembling wrinkled hand.

“…my child… I am in no position to help out… my mind isn’t what it used to be at one time… but there is something I have to give you…”

Avanti tried to hide her disappointment as she and Keshav exchanged looks. Dr. Pradhan gestured to his son who nodded and he went inside and came out immediately with an envelope. Dr. Pradhan handed over the envelope to her and said. “…Avanti… your father was extremely well prepared for any kind of adversity… a few days before his… uh…passing… he had couriered this letter to me…to hand it over to you in case of his untimely death…” Avanti gasped and gripped Keshav’s hand as she eyed the letter with her name writer on it in her father’s beautiful handwriting. “…Avanti…” Dr. Pradhan coughed a bit before he continued. “…I am sorry this took so long… but I wasn’t aware of the accident until a couple of months ago and my health didn’t permit me any excitement… so I told my son here and he went ahead…Avanti I wish you all the best…”

Avanti and Keshav left Dr. Pradhan’s house each of them silent on their way back to their penthouse. Avanti kept staring at the envelope… her name blurring every time as fresh tears continued their foray… Her father was a man of his word and she knew he had kept it… for Keshav’s sake she hoped he really did…as she clutched the envelope to her chest she wondered; did it have the whereabouts of the black book…?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 28

The next day as they had a quick breakfast Avanti saw Keshav looking well rested and enjoying her special kanda poha. She was glad to see him back to his formal cheery self and probably even more relaxed than she had ever seen him. She hadn’t slept a wink last night and had got out of bed earlier on to prepare breakfast for him. Mrs. Sinha was unwell and was not coming over today, so she decided to go ahead and prepare something to uplift Keshav’s mood. Akshat was due to arrive in an hour and Keshav decided to finish his workout while she finished preparations for lunch… Given the situation Keshav had declined to go out leaving her alone at home today till he found any viable solution. Avanti too felt humiliated on encroachment of their privacy by that unknown intruder.  

Later as they sat in the living room waiting for Akshat to show up with the PI, Avanti suddenly turned to Keshav. “…Keshav…what about the twins…?”

“…What about…them…?”

“…No… I mean were they tested as well… given the risk…”

“…It wasn’t necessary Avanti…” Keshav said softly and sighed.

“…Why…?”

“…Because they… actually my father didn’t sire them…”

Avanti sat up suddenly. “…you…you knew this all the while…?”

“…yes… My father was heavily medicated when he met Rohini Jaiswal and… the side effect of those medications combined with his alcoholism was… infertility… Also the womanizer, that he was along with being a businessman … he had got his vasectomy done years ago… But that wasn’t something he liked to advertise… I had seen his reports once when he had carelessly thrown them around… but thank God for that…I knew Rohini was lying through her teeth passing the twins as my half siblings…”

“…So then…. Keshav…”

“…It wasn’t the twins’ fault that they had parents who didn’t really want them and like I said it was a give and take relationship with Rohini… And Avanti… after all these years, I already love them like my own siblings… so this point doesn’t make sense anymore…does it…?”

“…Do they know the truth…?”

He nodded. “…Yes…five years ago when things fell apart with Rohini… I had to tell them… Surprisingly they chose to stay back with me… And I was touched Avanti…” He chuckled. “…relations don’t have to be blood ones, do they…? The twins are mature enough… and I am proud of them for what they have made of themselves so far…” Avanti smiled at the pride in his voice. “…And they know that I am always available for them… come what may…” Avanti patted his hand and he placed his palm over hers, turning towards her and smiling. “…Avanti…thank you for coming back….and for being there for me…”

They were soon joined by Akshat and his PI who first swept the entire house for bugs but found none. They also checked for cameras other than their own, making Avanti cringe thinking of someone watching her private moments, but fortunately there were none. They all then sat in the study each putting forward his/her findings. Avanti began and gave a detailed account of everything that transpired in Shamsunder Valmiki’s place. She could see Keshav face contorting with anger but she continued her narrative. She told them about the rotten food, the ransacked house, the diary and whatever details she could remember and Akshat made a note of it. She finally ended with her remembrance of the phone number.

Akshat thought for a while and spoke. “…Well we will get the call details but it will take time unless we get the cops involved but it may also alert the person behind all this… Mrs. Goyal…ma’am I have to applaud you for this information which otherwise would have been destroyed in the fire without us knowing about it…. But… Keshav sir, are you sure nothing is missing from this house…? Here…I have the footage. Let’s see it together…as usual its inconclusive though…”

For the next few minutes, they went through their home security footage but there was nothing except for Keshav and Avanti and Mrs. Sinha going about her chores and the cleaning maid working under Mrs. Sinha’s supervision. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Akshat was about to shut the laptop when Avanti’s eyes fell on something. “…Wait Akshat…stop…just take a look at this…” when they all came closer to the TV where the footage was being played, she pointed out to something near the French window. “…it looks like a shadow of someone standing there… take a look…” Akshat zoomed as much as possible but it wasn’t clear. And then there was a gust of wind and the curtain blew hard which was visible better in the close- up. The intruder must have opened the windows. And then they saw the silhouette of a man who touched his face and stumbled a bit and then moved to an area where the camera didn’t cover and banged against the showcase before he escaped probably from the main door… they quickly checked the camera at the entrance but it wasn’t working and instead of what they thought earlier was a technical glitch, they found the wire snapped precisely…Akshat and the PI looked around the entrance and elevator for any clues while Avanti rushed back inside the house,  to the window with Keshav in tow and they tried to look around the area for some clues. They moved cautiously without disturbing the scene there and even as they gave up not finding anything, Avanti bent and picked up something. It was a shrivelled contact lens…? Must have fallen off the intruder’s eyes because of the wind… Akshat gathered it in his evidence pouch he always carried on him. Avanti shuddered at the thought… the man had come in yesterday before Keshav and she had returned back. What if Keshav had confronted him accidentally…?

The PI left with the evidence and as they sat on the living room couch Akshat began to share his findings… most of which was what Avanti already knew. “a day after ma’am visited that place…” he began. “… and it was burnt down, it was cordoned off totally by the police. However, when they dug up the area, they found a half burnt dead body buried in the backyard of where the house stood…” Avanti gasped…. It was exactly where she had been too. Keshav who was sitting beside her held her hand as Akshat continued. “… a couple of days earlier I got to know from my friend in the local police that they confirmed the dead body belonged to Shamsunder Valmiki. He was shot dead at point blank range and the person who killed him must have tried to dispose off his body by burning it. The post mortem estimated the time of death at least a couple of days before ma’am visited the place. The climate these days in that place had been volatile and, on that day, as well there was heavy downpour so the body didn’t burn well enough…. The perp must have buried the body and fled but returned to destroy any remaining evidence connecting him to Shamsunder and burnt the house down….”

“…What about Prantik…?” Keshav asked

“…He has disappeared without a trace for long now and the phone is shut as well… his uncle says he had a fight last month and left the house in a fit of anger… no one knows his whereabouts as of now… but given the history with Shamsunder…we are fearing him dead as well…” Akshat revealed as Avanti felt the chill seeping into her.

Suddenly she sat up. “…Keshav…Akshat there is something you have to see…” She led them to the terrace and pointed to the stairs. The mud patch behind the green house had footprints larger than Keshav’s and of spiked shoes. So, the intruder must have entered the house from the terrace… the door locks were picked easily. He must have been a master of camouflage to escape into the shadows to avoid being caught in the CCTV. Keshav was fuming and Avanti had a tough time controlling him. Even before they checked the building CCTV cameras, they knew they weren’t functional. The building wasn’t occupied to full capacity as yet and Avanti had a mammoth task preventing Keshav from lashing out at the gate security. Akshat and Keshav mutually decided against going to the cops at the moment and returned back home. Keshav’s frustration was palpable and Avanti didn’t want him to stress more. He was to accompany her to Kolhapur for the award function the day after tomorrow and she hoped the change would do him good as well.

Akshat promised to reinstate the private eyes on the building entrance on a 24/7 vigil. Keshav was relieved but something troubled Avanti. “…Keshav…?”

“…Yeah…” he sounded weary.

“…Why do you think the intruder came in… quite a few times and took nothing valuable…then what did he want…?” Keshav looked at her questioningly but she knew he was thinking along the similar lines. He abruptly stood up and rushed to his study even as Akshat and she ran after him. He unlocked his top drawer and shuffled through his files.

“…Its missing Avanti..” He whispered.

“…What…what is missing…?” She asked even as Akshat looked on bewildered.

“…The folder… it had the copy of my personal research based on your father’s work-up to derive the formula… I had got a copy home to take it with me to Kolhapur… I was to go anyway…to talk to your father’s mentor if he could help with the missing pieces of the formula… but it’s gone form here…the folder…is gone…” Keshav rubbed his eyes.

“…Keshav sir…how dangerous can it be….?” Akshat asked.

“That’s the problem Akshat…” Keshav started pacing the study like a wounded lion. “…the formula is incomplete or maybe even completely wrong. If the intruder was after the formula then he… will be even more lethal now… angered even since it’s not what he wanted…”

Akshat removed his pocket book. “Keshav sir here are the three companies I zeroed in based on the information you gave me… Karvy Chemicals, Benzolite pharma and Narendranath and sons Pvt ltd. These were in touch with Vedshastra at one time and the deals had gone sour… Of that Narendranath and sons Pvt Ltd had been on friendly terms with Vedshastra relatively but their fourth brother was banished by the family and jailed for seven years for corporate espionage and Mr. Dnyaneshwar Rane and You sir, had been instrumental in doing so. He is serving a jail term as of now…with two more years to go. I will check on that nonetheless. Even the other companies have shown nothing suspicious. In fact, Benzolite has recently declared bankruptcy… So, we are back to square one on that end. I shall keep digging though…”

“…Any…any news about the source of that gas…?” Keshav asked

“…It’s a complex compound with definite presence of Ethylene Oxide…” Akshat referred to his notes as he said. “…we got the analysis report yesterday….and sir… it’s the same one…”

Keshav nodded. “…I know… the office accident…”

“….Ganga dye-chem…” Avanti suddenly exclaimed. As Keshav and Akshat looked startled at her she continued. “…Keshav do you remember I told you last night about Ganga…? They had the official permits to store this chemical…”

Akshat made a quick not of it and left promising to check everything on the front. Keshav reluctantly went back to continue a conference call, the office work couldn’t be left unattended.

Avanti went to the kitchen to sort her thoughts as she finished the lunch preparations. It all seemed like a nightmare, one she wanted to desperately get out of…the perpetrator was far more dangerous that she had thought. He seemed to go to any extent to get the formula and to cover his tracks. Probably Keshav had sensed it earlier so had kept an eye on her…but what about her mother…? She shuddered thinking of her mother being alone at home… should she call…? She was to call Rahul later anyway and decided to request him to stay with her mother. She was sure, after the stunt she had pulled by going against her mother wouldn’t have gone down well with her. Suddenly she was worried about Arpita…where on earth was her sister? Why didn’t she call her after that day… the number too was switched off and she had given it to Rahul to check it out. There was a time her mother would always be worried sick about Arpita especially if she had a late-night shoot. But it irked Avanti that in spite of all that had happened, her mother never once mentioned Arpita neither was she visibly worried about her whereabouts. Why was her mother so casual about Arpita this time and why was she so against Keshav that she had come all guns blazing to the hospital and had been unreasonable…? How did she know all details…did Arpita tell her everything…? Arpita never was close to their parents and was a perennial rebel… then why did she share so much with their mother instead of talking to Avanti first as she usually did…? Avanti was finding it difficult to assimilate the facts…. why did she get the feeling that something wasn’t right…? She realised she had to work towards explaining things out to her mother. Unfortunately, if her mother didn’t abide by her decision then there wasn’t much, she could do… but the only constant in the sea of uncertainties was, she was not leaving Keshav. Not now…not in future.

She knew, just like her, Keshav would have lost his appetite after all that had happened today but he had to eat out of necessity and she would give him company. As she finished the final touches to a simple khichdi, the doorbell rang jarring her out of her thoughts. She reached the door at the same time that Keshav did and after looking through the video monitor, they stared at each other before Keshav opened the door. He mother stood at the other end and if looks could kill her mother’s piercing glare could have just blazed them both to a cinder right then…

“…Aai…” Avanti tried to speak, amidst the continuous beep of the elevator door demanding to be shut. Why had her mother kept the doors open and how…?

“…How dare you lie to me Avanti…?” He mother spoke in a lethal tone. And right then the from the elevator emerged a lady wearing a long black frilled silky gown her stilettoes making an echoing sound on the floor as each step pierced Avanti’s heart instead of the elation she should have otherwise felt. The woman stood before them hatred written all over her face as she stared at Keshav.

She then turned her attention towards a stunned Avanti and said with a snide smile. “…hello Avu…long time no see…my dear little sister…”

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 27

Avanti stared wide eyed at an equally shocked Keshav… their own house landline number was used to make the calls. They rushed to all the rooms and checked for valuables. Nothing was out of place or stolen. Even the deity worshipped daily by Avanti was made of pure gold and it was left untouched. It was well past midnight and neither of them could sleep in spite of having a very tiring day. The revelations were sapping up their energies…it looked like. What on earth was happening…? Avanti realised if she had to understand the reason for the perpetrator to go to this extend then she had to know the entire story.

They lay in bed next to each other each lost in his own line of thoughts.

“Keshav…?”

“…yeah…”

“…How did my mother come to know about me being in the hospital…?”

“…Uh…Actually Avanti that night I was going insane since we hadn’t got any news about your whereabouts …so I… uh…I  called your mother to check if you had gone to her place or called…or anything…that’s how then…I had to tell her everything…” Avanti could feel him rub his face in the darkness of the room.

“So…Keshav… we now know that baba’s accident was actually a sabotage… now what do we do next…?”

Keshav moved closer and she turned and moved into his arms…where she longed to be. “…Oh God Avanti…the very thought of that place gives me the chills after what happened there… just promise me…you will never play detective ever again…” He tightened the hold as she contemplated her answer. “…Promise me Avanti…please darling…” He whispered the last words and that did it for her.

She looked up into the silhouette of his face in the moon light coming in through the cracks in the blinds adorning the window above the bed. “…I promise you Keshav… I will never do it again… honestly even the vision of that burning house gives me the shudder now that I also know it’s the same person… who has gone to such lengths to cover up his misdeeds…”

They lay quiet for a few minutes the chiming of the clock the only sound in the quiet night. Suddenly she felt Keshav chuckle. “…what…what is it hubby dearest…? What’s so funny…?”

“…Avanti… I don’t believe you lied to your mother… you can’t lie to save your life… how did you achieve this feat…?”

She had told him a little earlier about how she had conspired with her school friend and Rahul to come to see him and stay back if needed. She interlocked her fingers with his on his chest. “…Keshav… when it comes down to choices, I choose you…always…and when it’s a matter of your well-being, I will go to any extent…lie even…” before she could complete her sentence, he turned her on her back and moved on top of her kissing her hard. Her heart stopped beating even as he raised her hands above her head and held them there, their fingers interlocking, his legs on either side of her body sunk into the soft mattress. He sucked and pulled her lips even as she gasped with pleasure. He suddenly moved up and looked at her in the dark…starring at her as if she was the only star in the dark and again brought down his panting lips on hers as if she was the air that filled his lungs. She floated mid-air and didn’t want to land back on earth… Within seconds their clothes were on the floor and he balanced his arms on either of her sides boring into her eyes as if asking her permission to be a part of her…She pulled him closed and circled her legs around his him as she kissed him and the very next moment, he filled her insides to the brim… She peaked almost instantly, the subdued embers of passion suddenly amplifying in their intensity. He began his moves in and out of her softness even as she tried to match him stroke to stroke raising her hips… she barely lasted for a few seconds before she got thrown down the precipice, her arousal breaking all barriers and she saw stars before her eyes… her screams muffled into his mouth and  in the next couple of strokes he followed right behind freeing her mouth and screaming out her name as his warm release gushed inside her womb. He fell all exhausted next to her dragging her close to him.

Moments later Avanti stared at the sheen of sweat on his chest sparkling in the moonlight hues and smiled even as the last remnants of her arousal coursed through her body… She finally felt complete and satiated today after being away from Keshav and though it were just five days they were apart…it seemed like eons ago. Sleep was miles away and as he played with her hair, she decided to address the elephant in the room…in their lives. “…Keshav…?”

“…Yeah…” He sighed. 

“…I …um… I have been reading about Huntington’s disease…”

He stiffened and started to move away his grip on her shoulder loosening. But she turned completely towards him and held his torso placing her head on his chest. She could hear his heart racing…but she couldn’t let the moment go. “…Please Keshav let me in darling… I won’t judge you…I promise…I just want to be with you in this journey…let me in…Keshav…let me in please…”

“…Av… Avanti… this journey that you’re talking about is one without a destination in sight…. it’s just… just a black-hole…waiting to swallow me… and trust me Avanti…I…I love you so much it hurts…and…and… if not for your father’s… last wish… I would never have dragged you into this marriage…

She jerked up on her elbows. “…what did you say…?” looked like it was a never-ending night with a lot many skeletons yet to get out of the cupboard.

Keshav rubbed his face. “…Avanti…your father was an intuitive man… he had an amazing foresight and I always trusted his decisions blindly. Although he had proposed Arpita’s hand in marriage to me… he probably had known that…I  I was interested in you…I …I had held back always… because of my condition… not wanting to punish you…”

“…Keshav…?” Avanti whispered not able believe what she was just hearing.

Keshav sighed. “… yes Avanti… Your father was the closest I had for a father… he was always there for me in the worst upheavals of my life… he knew me so well…understood my mental state even before me having to tell him…I didn’t want to let him down either. A few days before the wedding I got his letter…I don’t know why but it was arranged to be delivered at that period… it was… it was the  same day I found you in the study looking for that black bound book and collapsed…”

Avanti remembered the day like yesterday. “…what…what did the letter say…?”

“…He…your father said…he knew I liked you and not Arpita and that I shouldn’t marry her… he also said…you were a better match for me in all regards and that I had his blessings…”

“…Really…? Baba said that…?”

“…Yes…that’s why I saw to it that Arpita was too scared to go ahead with the marriage… I couldn’t come up with any other way to call off the marriage with her and… propose to you… without causing a storm…You would have refused outrightly…not because you didn’t feel for me but because you…wouldn’t betray your sister… But in the end, it would have been disastrous for the companies and the investors…”

Avanti’s head was reeling. “…Oh…” her voice broke. “…Keshav… you could have just told me…”

“…Avanti… I was… I was scared and selfish…” He looked at her in the dark and she realised he was choking up as well. “…I wanted to be with you and at the same time… I wondered what if you…reject me…and …”

“…I would never have … Keshav… I always loved you… and I think baba knew it too…”

“…Avanti trust me I never wanted to pull you down with me…”

She saw him rub his face, the moisture twinkling in his eyes. “… Keshav… do you think I would have agreed to go ahead with this marriage if I didn’t love you…? I trust you sweetheart… and the decision to get on this bandwagon of whatever the disease is, alongside you…is mine and mine alone… so… let’s do it together… now that I know I have baba’s blessings I am more confident than ever that we can beat this…” She looked at him eagerly, hoping that though he couldn’t see her face in the dark he could gauge her feelings by her tone. She thought he nodded and moved upwards holding his face in her palms. She wiped away the tears with her thumbs and continued. “… why don’t we start then…? Why don’t you tell me about…when did you first get to know about this disease…?”

After a poignant pause, Keshav sighed again and held her close turning towards her as they faced each other in the dark, their bodies touching each other skin to skin…but this time instead of arousing her it gave her the needed warmth to listen to what was coming up. She knew this was a long night from what was left of it and none of them could sleep.

“Avanti… as you must be aware Huntington’s disease is an Autosomal dominant disease…each of us children had fifty percent chance of inheriting the mutated gene to develop the condition… my grandfather died very young at thirty five… and my father an only child,  apparently got it from his father…Those days genetic reports were not something one would think of… but my grandmother had mentioned the symptoms in passing to my father and our family physician Dr. Shetty who was my father’s friend and also a geneticist by passion… Dr. Shetty took upon himself to find out facts about after my father started showing symptoms himself… he was just… thirty three…” Keshav halted and Avanti touched his cheek encouraging him to continue. “… my father… was a chronic alcoholic so it was increasingly difficult to differentiate the symptoms, but Dr. Shetty tested him thoroughly and he was found to have the gene and alcohol only sped up the symptoms…” Keshav sighed and she felt his warm breath on her face.

“…Keshav…if you are not OK talking about it, we can do it tomorrow…”

“…No…no Avanti… I don’t think I can carry this burden alone anymore…i…”

“…Keshav I am right here… go on…”. She ran a hand through his hair and he turned his face to kiss her wrist, holding it in his palm as he interlocked their fingers.

“…my…my father deteriorated rapidly in his early 40s especially his cognitive abilities… you see…Avanti…in spite of everything, all his vices, my father was a shrewd businessman but in his last years he was a far from it. I still remember… the only outing we had with him…he once took Kamya and me to the National park on a picnic… Kamya was so thrilled to be with him while I was happy because she was happy… and she was around 7 years old… But he suddenly forgot where we were and we kept wandering going further deep inside… Those days there were no mobile phones and we continued walking aimlessly…. Finally, a security guard found us…but Avanti…it was a nightmarish to see Kamya crying in the dark and my father totally disoriented… for a few hours he couldn’t even remember who we were or why we were there…I… I even remember him some days walking out in his pyjamas and getting into the car at midnight or at dawn, to go to office…his gait faltering…but then he drank a lot too…” Keshav stopped again and this time she felt him shudder.

 She put her hand around his mid and held him tightly close to her. She felt him cry silently and moved backward opening her other arm and pulling him closer. He willingly came to her digging his head in her neck as tears flew unabashedly. She was glad it was dark otherwise Keshav would have hesitated… finally he could let go. She wondered how many times he would have cried as a kid with no one to hold him… he had been all alone throughout his life trying to look out for his family. It was indeed a wonder that he had turned out into the wonderful human being that he was… He was that piece of charcoal who had handled everything life had thrown his way and now shone like a diamond… her precious diamond. But still she didn’t want to tax him more. “…Keshav my love… if it’s too painful… we can do it some other day…”

“…No Avanti…” he spoke into her neck and then turned his head towards the ceiling, gripping her hand tightly as he continued. “…I have never spoken it out before and I have to face the demon tormenting me for years now…

She nodded and nudged him to continue.

“…Dr. Shetty suspected either Kamya or me… so we all got tested and Kamya tested negative…I… I tested positive but the mutation in my case was different form that in my father. In fact, Kamya’s interest in neurology had stemmed from this condition…However, Dr. Shetty wasn’t sure if my kind of mutation was good or bad news…. So, for last several years I have been regularly doing my annual scans and following a healthy fitness and dietary regime and of course preventive medications which are just proteins to be honest…” He chuckled and she rubbed his wrist with her thumb as he tightened the grip and she knew something was coming up. It was just the lull before the storm. “…Avanti…uh… about a couple of years ago I started to forget things…initially it didn’t register but after a couple of months I realised it was getting frequent…my PET scan revealed miniscule changes in the brain… It isn’t alarming though and I have never had those episodes again… maybe I was extremely stressed at work those days… Dr. Shetty and the other neurologists in the team still don’t find any gross abnormalities in the brain…its till the same as it was 2 years ago. But then…” He turned towards her again and held her palms close to his bare chest. “…Avanti…in these two years I have become extremely temperamental with lots of mood swings… I forget things very often…even that morning after in Hyderabad I was totally disoriented for a while wondering where I was…it was only when I saw you next to me I was aware… I suddenly can’t remember what I had for breakfast…or lunch… I forget to eat at times in spite of hunger pangs and my glucose levels drop down alarmingly… as you have seen…”

“…Keshav… did baba know about all this…?” She remembered her mother’s accusations in the hospital.

“…yes Avanti… he found out accidentally… he found me in a lousy mood in one of our meeting two years ago…that was the day I had got my PET scan results… he coaxed me till I had to tell him the truth… your father was extremely persuasive…” She saw Keshav grin and she smiled too. Her baba was always like that…. Never letting go. Keshav kissed her hands and continued. “…he took it upon himself to develop the compound which would slower the progression of the disease and reduce the symptom severity in those whom it had already progressed…Avanti… this was the last project he as working on…”

“…um…Was that why he got those threats…?”

Keshav stared at her surprised. “…how did you know about those…?”

“…Rahul found out actually… recently and he blamed you for a while as well…”

“…Oh…that’s why he was so worked up on the day we were married…”

Avanti nodded. “…but why the threats…it was just a compound…”

“…it wasn’t any ordinary compound Avanti… it’s a special formula based on the existing medications along with some added compounds both chemical as well as natural. It stops the mutation by interfering in the protein complex, specifically for my kind of problem and delays the faulty interaction between them…This compound can also help those with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s in very early stages and halt their progression. And if these cleared clinical trials and if your baba’s theory is to be believed, then it’s possible to even prevent the next generation from getting the faulty gene… That’s the most important finding Avanti… your father was a genius…” He hugged her and kissed her head. “…unfortunately, there was only the black bound little book where he had made a note of the final derivations for the formula and Novo Supremo had invested in the study and more and acquired the sole rights to make the medicine for the first round of clinical trials…I am registered as a participant as well…”

“…the threats still don’t make sense Keshav…”

“…Avanti…if this fell in wrong hands… it can result in biological warfare… the market price for this compound even when the buzz was created then, was in millions of dollars… Similarly, there are some rogue pharmaceutical companies who want to induce malfunctioning in the grey cells and then treat the same patients with their patented drugs derived from this formula. Your father wanted to hand over the patent to the government of India… he was a great man Avanti…”

“So…Keshav…who do you think is Sirji…”

“…Avanti…I have no clue here…it may be someone I know or may be not… there are many suspects at the same time… and without evidence there is no one… Lets talk to Akshat tomorrow and take it from there…” She found his voice fading and realised that the adrenaline rush had passed and he was probably sleeping already…

She decided to let him, he need it to be alert… She was lost in thought wondering who would have hated her father so much to kill him for a mere formula… Well she had heard money turned man into monsters…  However, she smiled. Irrespective of everything, she was back home… back to her real life… where everything had happened by chance, giving her the love of her life… her Accidental Husband!

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