Epilogue

Avanti threw up for the nth time that evening and as she emerged from the bathroom she was sapped of all energy. Consoling Rohini had emotionally drained her and she was yet to recover from the upheavals from yesterday. But Keshav had been mighty excited about todays dinner date and she didn’t want to disappoint him… he rarely asked her anything till date. She dressed in her favourite attire…a complete black evening gown not very tight and the material extremely comfortable and smooth for her tired skin. It wasn’t too flashy nor was it too simple and it brought out her complexion. She left her hair loose to fall over her shoulders and applied minimal make-up before moving out. Keshav had sent a car to pick her up and he was to meet her directly at the venue. She had returned home early from Vedshastra and he had stayed back to complete paperwork. She smiled to see the similarities between her baba and Keshav. Both were workaholics to the core but when it came to giving time to family, they always put everything aside.

As she straightened her dress, she remembered how Keshav had rushed to Hyderabad… he had confessed his love to her. The memories of the moment still gave her butterflies in her stomach… her heart fluttered every time she remembered his face as he had hesitated to speak out his feelings. A shrewd corporate honcho he was timidity personified. He had come a long way and now easily opened up to her. His MRI was due tomorrow as a part of the pre-trial test battery. She was nervous occasionally as the reality started to actually sink in… he would be away for days at a stretch during the trial phases as they would be monitoring him in the hospital along with the others registered for the trials. They would be apparently allowed video calls once a day but she wondered if it would be enough. Her eyes filled thinking about how much she would miss him. Nonetheless she knew he was doing it more for her and their unborn child, than for himself… and above all she trusted her father. Everyone said she was brave but it was actually Keshav who was the brave heart to register for the trial…just for her.

She walked out of the house and reached the gates of the compound where the driver waited for her. The journey was quite a bit and in about fifteen minutes she could feel her lemon juice threatening to push its way out of her throat. Somehow it subsided as she reached the destination. The driver came around her side to open the door but as she got out, she looked around for the restaurant. Where was this place…? It looked like a busy market area with many major showrooms… She stood before Kalyan Jewellers.

The driver walked upto her and gave her a letter. She smiled as she opened it.

walk straight inside shop no.40 right in front of you…

K

Shop no.40 was the Kalyan Jewellers showroom. Really…? What was going on …? She walked in and a uniformed attendant directed her to a dark room and made her stand. Everything was pitch dark around her and she began to worry when suddenly there was light music played and the lights came on one at a time finally lighting up the beautiful interiors of the storeroom. She looked around to see the storeroom filled with rings… and uniformed attendants smiling sheepishly standing with flowers in their hand. Oh goodness…it was exactly like her favourite movie scene from Sweet Home Alabama… Oh Keshav. Her eyes filled and as she wiped the moisture away, she saw him…her dear husband with a bouquet of red roses walk towards her and hand it to her. He went on one knee before her, holding her hand even as she sobbed…

“Dear Avanti… I never got an opportunity to officially propose to you… but here I am now… better late than never isn’t it…?” She laughed wiping her tears as he continued. “…Avanti…thank you for being my wife and now the mother of our unborn princess… yes…yes…I know you can’t know the gender…blah… blah… but I have a gut feeling it’s going to be a girl as beautiful as her mother…So Avanti… stay by my side forever…?”

She nodded. “Yes Keshav… always…” he whistled as everyone around clapped their hands and he took her around to chose a ring for her. After about an hour or so after both of them settled on an intricately patterned diamond ring they left to have dinner. But Avanti wasn’t able to tolerate the smells and they had to leave early from the restaurant and Avanti was dead to the world as they got home and Keshav had to literally drag her home!

The next day Keshav had his MRI… Kamya was constantly on call with her as well as the doctors. DR. Shetty was personally supervising the proceedings and later in the evening he met them up in his chamber. Kamya had joined on the call as well.

“Look Keshav and Avanti… as of now there is no shrinking in any part of the brain which we should have observed had there been progression of the disease… it is status quo. So, given the age of onset, it’s all good. Also, the good news is there have been no symptoms of any kind for a while now and the stray ones that you have had could also be a case of hypoglycemia or lowering of sugar levels…. You now just a co-incidence… For all you know the mutation of the gene may have been for good. You haven’t manifested symptoms at all. So all’s well…”

Avanti heaved a sigh of relief and that evening they celebrated with the D’Souzas who had insisted on them joining the senior couple for dinner. Avanti was glad she had them as she relished the cinnamon pie… it was heavenly after she apologetically had thrown up her dinner a while ago.

That night as she went to sleep, she sighed… Life had come a full circle. Rahul had decided to move to Chandigarh where Anuj wanted to settle down and though she was sceptical about his decision she stood by him. She would be there for her friend if he ever needed anything. She had spoken with Arpita today morning even as she had waited for the MRI to get done with and her tai had stood rock solid behind her. She was glad to get her sister back. It may have been the circumstances that played a role but Arpita had sobered down and actured matured. Her mother was all set to return to their village and come back whenever Keshav went for the trial. Avanti had told Arpita today morning all about the letter and solving the puzzle… the black book in the locker, baba’s murder…and as expected Arpita had been shocked. She would have definitely shared the information with their mother. She knew aai would take a while to recover from whatever she got to know…

Avanti had barely known Keshav… but had met him accidentally, had fallen in love with him accidentally and then married him… He was the man of her dreams and had given her everything including the little life growing inside her. She was proud of him… he had faced terrible adversities in life but had finally emerged victorious. He was indeed the Phoenix rising from ashes. He was an honourable and a courageous man… he was her accidental husband!

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 37

“Um…if you promise to let us go… I will hand over the formula to you right now…” Avanti declared her heart galloping at a pace she felt it would jump out any moment.

He stopped eating and looked up at her. “you… you have the formula…?”

She nodded. “Yes… we have it hidden the original copy of my father’s work and that could fetch you real money…”

“…Look Avanti I want the black book… and don’t look surprised…Mukherjee had told me about it long ago… I may not look like it …  but I am an intelligent man and if you think…”

“…Its on the terrace… near the green house…” She blurted out loudly enough hoping the listeners at the other end of the walkie talkie heard her. That meant they could enter the house using the code and she hoped Keshav was there to share it.

“…Ok then… you lead the way and I will follow… Ladies first!” he smirked.

Avanti walked with her spine straight hoping she could unsettle him psychologically. She hoped she could have some advantage over him…this was her house and she knew every corner of it especially the terrace where she had spent hours whenever she was lonely in the initial days of marriage or waiting for Keshav to arrive from work. She began to think about the places around the place that she could use in some way. She unlocked the doors and walked in the open and as the early evening breeze hit her bringing with it the faint noise of Pune bound traffic on Sion -Trombay road and the highway. She looked around the place, her sanctum whenever she was upset, it now helped her calm down.

“…now you better don’t jest with me… where is it…?”

“…um…It’s the black bound little notebook in which my father had written the formula derivation in detail…. I have hidden it here to prevent it from being stolen…” She had to stall him a little while more till it started to get dark…his visual acuity would reduce further by then and put him at a disadvantage.

“…Avanti… get going quickly and no playing games… you know I wouldn’t hesitate to slash your throat…”

“…its here… wait… let me search a bit…” she made the motions of going along the perimeter of the terrace area and tapped the soil around the edges. The aroma of earth was loved by Keshav and her as well and as she touched the wet soil kept moist by specialised intermittent water drips, she got a brainwave. She pretended to count the steps and walked towards the green house and close on her heels was Premnath. There was a tap right next to it and she knew it. Fortunately, the hose was connected to it and at around this time the municipal water came in full force.  She showed him a point in the soil a little away from the tap and said. “…the book… is hidden inside here… you can dig it out…”

“…you will do it… right now…” She could see he was running out of patience and that was what she wanted. As she moved towards the soil in the corner of her eyes, she saw movement. Pretending to rub her brow she saw Keshav and Akshat crouch in the corner of the terrace. Premnath must not have seen them because of poor peripheral vision. Thank God for mercies… Keshav nodded to her and she got a sudden infusion of courage. She bent to dig in with her fingers and removed a couple of layers of soil and with the corner of her eye she saw Premnath had moved to a side to watch her such that he could see the entrance of the terrace. So as of now Keshav or Akshat couldn’t make a move. She sat on her haunches panting as if she was tired and began to breathe heavily.

Then everything happened in a flash…she turned around and with all her might pushed Premanth away even as is knife blade sliced her arm… but pain not withstanding she switched on the green house blower specially installed for temperature regulation but now since the blooms were removed the lids had been opened up and the hot air blew with full force. Avanti moved right in time but Premnath was disoriented. She rushed to the tap and switched it on full throttle. Before Premnath could compose himself, she picked up the hose and sprayed the jet of water on his face. His glasses fell off and he stumbled behind swearing loudly… When he moved to one side the blower’s blast of hot air hit him hard and when he swayed a little to the other side Avanti’s jet spray from the hose was aimed at him. This was the instant Keshav and Akshat were waiting. They rushed towards him and held him from both sides. She kept spraying him with water… the knife had fallen down long ago and he was at their mercy as he struggled to breathe. Akshat removed his belt and tied up Premnath’s hands and she didn’t let him move because of the water spray. Keshav rushed to the little corner shed which housed the gardening equipment and brought out a huge rope. Rahul joined them as well along with a terse looking Mr. D’Souza right behind waiting in a corner. Together the three of them tied Premnath even as he groaned almost giving up the fight.

Avanti finally looked up from what she was doing as the water flow stopped… Keshav had shut the tap and held her hand to check the injury. He was speaking to her but somehow, she couldn’t hear anything amidst the cacophony of chaotic thoughts in her head. The adrenaline now washed away; reality sank in… she had escaped an almost death. Her hand throbbed where she had been hurt and the world turned around her as bile rose in her throat. She swayed dropping the hose and even as Keshav held her close she swayed further towards him. She heard the footsteps of the arriving cops as they took Premnath into custody. But everything was a blur as she collapsed into the waiting arms of her husband and darkness claimed her.

Avanti felt the cold cloth on her head. Where was she…? She opened her heavy eyes with great difficulty even as she felt Keshav’s warm hand holding her cold ones.

“…Av…Avanti… sweetheart… are you OK…?” She heard Keshav frantically calling her out.

Finally, she looked around still feeling the nausea and attempted to sit up with Keshav’s help. Her mother sat at the foot of her bed wiping her worried eyes while Arpita stood beside her in an apologetic look. “…Premmm…Premnath…?” She asked her throat dry.

“He is arrested Avanti… and thanks to you we have all the evidence against him to put him away for good…” He held her as she sipped water from a cup.

“…He was out on… parole…” She retorted anxiously.

“…Yes, and he violated all the rules too…so he will be gone for a lifetime… I will see to it…” Keshav said firmly and the bedroom door opened as Akshat entered followed by a woman.

“Keshav Sir, Ma’am, this is Dr. Raji Sreedharan from the nearby nursing home here…” Akshat announced as the woman came towards the bed and Keshav moved to let her examine Avanti.

“…I will have to examine her properly so I would appreciate if one of you stays behind while the rest leave the room.”

Her mother stayed back with her and the others left the room.

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Keshav paced the complete length of the drawing room his anxiety touching the skies. Mrs. Sinha had been called and she was helping put up dinner, grumbling all along she should have been more vigilant. The D’Souza couple refused to leave till they actually saw Avanti hale and hearty. Rahul too was a silent spectator and Keshav knew he was worried about Avanti as well. Earlier he had called Avanti’s mother… come what may, they deserved to know about her health and the duo had rushed to their house. However, unlike their last visit they were not at all hostile. Even now Arpita stood staring outside the drawing room window and he actually felt sorry for her… dressed in simple cotton outfit with unmade hair and minus the war paint she was a far cry from her usual flamboyant self. She was lured with false promises and he only hoped she could cope up with the heart break. He knew Avanti was fine but probably shocked at what had happened… his brave wife. She had put up with so much and yet not lost her presence of mind… She deserved a bravery award for taking down that monster almost single handedly.

He had been on his way with Akshat when he had received a call from Rahul. He was at the D’Souza’s and had apparently been hearing the conversation between Avanti and the lunatic Premnath. On Rahul’s advice he had gone straight to the D’Souza’s home and waited along with the senior couple for the right time. Those were the worst moments of his life where he almost died every second but he knew any action from his side could have proven detrimental for Avanti. Also, he knew she was baiting Premnath in her own subtle way and the guy actually landed up playing into her hands. His heart almost stopped when she led Premnath to the terrace and he could not hear her voice anymore…but that had been their clue and the cops were ready as well…. having cordoned the perimeter of the building. Keshav and Akshat had rushed upstairs and had slowly entered the house… He had lost it when he had found the guard lying on the floor in the drawing room but Akshat held him from rushing upstairs and declared the guard was only unconscious after checking for a pulse. Rahul soon came after them and arranged for an ambulance. Akshat and he had crouched their way to the terrace and he had thought he would kill the man with his bare hands as he saw Avanti bending towards the soil while Premnath stood in a stance ready to pounce on her with his knife. He moved into the shadows on the right while Akshat moved to the left and it was then he realised, his Avanti… his darling wife had seen him. She was suddenly a tigress personified as she valiantly fought with Premnath catching him unawares.

She was hurt and that worried him but why did she collapse…? He had started to actually breathe only when she regained consciousness after a complete hour. Thankfully they had found a doctor nearby. What a day it had been…they had super success with Ved-Adbhut and tomorrow he had a press conference scheduled along with the FDA where every step of drug development and tests as well as clinical trials would be made public except for the identity of the participants of the clinical trials. But nothing meant anything to him now till he heard about Avanti and that she was not hurt anywhere else…

As they all waited anxiously, the doctor emerged from the room smiling. “Congratulations Mr. Goyal… your wife is pregnant… Here’s a list of investigations which you will need to do as a part of the protocol…”

“…Is she fine…? but… wait… what did you say…?” Keshav couldn’t believe his ears.

“…She is absolutely fine… just facing the normally seen nausea in early pregnancy…called morning sickness… don’t worry…see a gynaecologist for regular check-ups now on…” the doctor smiled and nodded as she moved towards the entrance and Akshat followed her.

A stunned Keshav walked into their room following Arpita was eager to see her sister. Avanti sat up on their bed with pillows propped up and her mother was helping her take a sip of water. Her mother saw him and nodded and holding Arpita’s hand dragged her away from the room. Rahul wished them so did the D’Souzas who were in tears. Mrs. D’Souza hugged her and promised her cinnamon pies which would be good for her stomach and she wouldn’t throw up either. Keshav thanked his stars for the super senior couple who had held the fort for him. They exited the room shutting the door behind them and he moved towards Avanti. He sat next to her facing her as tears which he had held back for hours now flew freely down his face.

“hey… Keshav…come here…” Avanti opened up her arms and he went closer pulling her, crushed her to him. He cried out his anguish, his fears as he dug his head in her hair taking in the fragrance of her shampoo, his hands feeling her body. “…Keshav… its ok… its over now… everything is fine… right…?” He moved away wiping his tears and nodded.

“…Avanti… I was scared… I was never so… sca..scared ever before in my life… oh God…I almost killed him today…”

“…Keshav… all’s well that ends well… right…? And see, we have so much to celebrate…”

Keshav nodded and touched her now flat belly lightly rubbing it, but suddenly a thought crossed his mind and his hands stilled.

“What is it Keshav…?” Avanti asked with a cute frown between her brows. “…you want the baby, don’t you…?”

 “…of course, Avanti… it’s like my dreams are all coming true… but I am still scared about the baby… what if…” He was cursed with a legacy and no matter what kind of medical miracle he was hoping for, there was a chance that his progeny could have the mutant gene.

“Keshav look here…” Avanti spoke softly as he looked into her reassuring eyes. “…Keshav… life is totally unpredictable… one may be walking on the road and meet with an accident and either die or be disabled for life… we have heard of healthy people go out for a jog and collapse with a cardiac arrest, haven’t we…? we know so many such cases…” He nodded as she continued. “…take my baba for instance one moment he was with us and the next he was no more… but you know, Keshav…? I have learnt something very important… we should value our present … just do our duty and leave the rest to the Almighty… just let’s live in the present Keshav…lets be grateful for the happiness we have… lets look forward for a lifetime of togetherness…why bother about an unknown future entity…?”

Keshav chuckled at the lucidity of her words… they were deep and penetrated his heart. He wasn’t scared anymore because she was with him…she believed in him. He helped her get out of the room and they all sat together for dinner. Keshav requested Avanti’s mother to move here to stay with her when he would be away for the first phase of his clinical trial next month and both, her mom and Arpita readily agreed. Well, that was a huge relief. Avanti didn’t need any more stress. Akshat had joined them too and after dinner they all sat together as Akshat gave them the updates. Though it was close to 11 PM everyone was eager to know the details.

Akshat told them how they had zeroed in on Premnath and the best part was, his cronies, a couple of druggies who lived in the shanties near his house were caught and they spilled the beans. Though Premnath had been cautious, they were overcome with their craving for their next fix and had come looking for Premnath and had been caught. The police sealed Premnath’s home and found many documents linking him to various crimes. He had almost killed his brother years ago and then after he was out of jail, he had killed Dnyaneshwar Rane, followed by Prantik and Shamsunder Valmiki. Prantik had helped him obtain the chemical used in the burning of the house as well as that found in the crash site. It was the same chemical he had forced Mr. Mukherjee to leak out to hurt Keshav hoping to scare Avanti and pull him out of Vedshastra…so Premnath could push its sale. Today Mr Mukherjee didn’t go home but went to his native to get away from the mess. Based on what Premnath spoke, Rahul had conveyed information to the police who had gone with a bomb squad to the Mukherjee residence but had found nothing. The insane man had just thrown the false news probably to confuse Avanti and scare her further. Even as the showdown happened here the police had raided Premnath’s house. They confiscated the special rifle hidden inside the closet and were now going to get the ballistics done to check if the bullet used for murdering Shamsunder Valmiki and Prantik were from the same rifle. They also found passbooks with dubious transactions from Italy and some from Middle East. All in all, besides these evidences his self-confession which was auto recorded in both the walkie talkies now in police custody was enough to seal Premnath’s fate.

As they went to bed that night, Keshav held Avanti sleeping peacefully in his arms and smiled at his good fortune. He was just going to grab it with both his hands…

The next day they had a successful press conference where the who’s who of the media world came up to take a few bytes. Avanti sat in the audience and that boosted his morale multifold. After the reporters dispersed, he came back to Vedshastra with Avanti and officially announced a bonus to all the employees to their utmost delight and everyone in their own way conveyed their pledge to work hard to achieve more such success. Kamya and Sahil were to come down for a week in a couple of days to spent time with them and he looked forward to some quality family time before the clinical trial began. Sahil’s parents were coming along as well and he had already planned to visit them to talk things out. Nothing pleased him more than re connecting with Rama aunty who had been there at a few crucial moments in his life before his father had blown it away.

They walked into his cabin only to see a completely defeated Rohini waiting for them. Avanti went forwards and hugged the woman as the latter cried her heart out. For the first time Keshav felt bad for her… whatever it was she didn’t deserve to be treated like the way Premnath did. He ordered tea for them as they sat and Avanti held the woman’s hands trying to console her.

“…Avanti…Keshav… I am sorry…so so…sorry… I didn’t know Parminder…or Premath… or whoever he was… I just didn’t know… you were hurt because of me…. So sorry…” Rohini wailed.

“…No Rohini… that man took everyone for a ride… he fooled all of us… he was a rotten man to the core… he was cruel Rohini… just try to forget him…ok…? We are all with you…?” Avanti spoke softly.

“…Rohini… Avanti is right… we don’t blame you…” He spoke as well, hoping to reassure her.

Rohini nodded and opened her purse to take out an envelope and handed it over to Keshav. “here… I don’t think I need it anymore Keshav… I have been unreasonably greedy… I will transfer the money as well tomorrow…”

“… Rohini…” He stood up as he spoke. “…I didn’t give this to you because you were getting married… I gave it because you deserved it… for giving the precious years of your life to our family…I shudder to think of what would have happened to Kamya had you not been there for her those days… so… rest assured its all yours and you are and always will be a part of the family…”

Two pairs of wet eyes looked at him. One filled with gratitude and the other… well… he couldn’t read Avanti this time… nonetheless he was pleased to see her reaction and hoped to fine a lone moment with her for the surprise he had planed for her later in the day. She was busy consoling Rohini but that’s was his Avanti… full of love and always giving.

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 36

Keshav emerged out of the laboratory ecstatic at the success of the special creation… he was so overwhelmed when the lead scientist declared the final results, that he almost cried. He conveyed a mental thank you to Dnyaneshwar Rane and immediately walked towards his cabin to take out his cell phone to call Avanti with the good news. He knew she would be on tenterhooks as well… and had taken refuge in music. That was his Avanti… beneath that tough veneer there was this nervous as hell soft woman, but he read her like an open book just like she did him. She knew exactly what he wanted just like that last night rendezvous in bed. She had shed her demure inhibitions and in its place was his greedy vixen who sucked him dry… he chuckled as he grew hard and immediately looked around hoping no one saw the sudden tightening of his trousers right there… he had to rein it in. He was acting like a teenager getting hard at the sight of nude women on some stashed away adult book covers or after watching porn in secret. He rubbed his face and used his key to open the drawer to remove his cell phone. But it wasn’t lighting up… what the fuck… did the battery die…? He immediately placed it for charging but of no avail… did the instrument decide to conk off at this crucial juncture…? No…

Right then Akshat walked in. “hello Keshav sir… I got your original phone… you can put back the SIM card in it and start using…My guy has restored all the saved documents. And there is something I have to tell you…”

As Akshat helped him change the SIM he continued… “…Uh…Keshav sir… I dug deeper into Narendranath’s fourth son. Everything else points towards him… He had the motive and the need to make it big to go against his family. I even found he had made an attempt on his brother’s life years ago just because the guy had ratted him out to their father and he was thrown out of the share in business…” He handed over the phone to Keshav which now buzzed with message alerts. He saw three messaged from Avanti… she must be definitely checking out the status. He looked up as he missed what Akshat just said.

“…I beg your pardon… what did you just say…?”

“…Sir… that fourth son is the one whom you and Rane sir had put behind bars with the complete support of his family… he is out on parole now after five years. He had apparently changed his appearance so that no one from his past recognised him…”

“…So, you mean he is around us… committing all these crimes…?” His blood boiled to think of that slime. The bastard killed Dnyaneshwar Rane and attempted to do so the same to Avanti…? “…what’s his name…? Prem something… Narendranath Sisodia’s fourth son…” He tried hard to recall the name.

“…Its Premnath Sisodia, Sir…and I caught hold of one of his two-bit cronies… the man now goes by the name…Parminder…”

Wait… where had he heard the name…? Oh yes… Rohini’s boyfriend… He was there at Kamya’s roka too but at that time he had been furious and his vision had clouded by anger… He immediately checked Avanti’s texts with trembling hands.

‘Hey… I hope all’s fine… I got a call from Silas hospital…they want some of your reports for the upcoming clinical trials. Their team of doctors got specially for the purpose are going away… I need to give them the reports before 4PM…’

What on earth…? Silas hospital…? Since when were they involved in anything…? He dialled Avanti but she didn’t answer.

“…FUCK…FUCK…FUCK…” he yelled, startling Akshat. “…Akshat something is wrong… call Dr. Mehta from Silas… he knows me. Just check whether someone from their hospital called Avanti today afternoon… about a couple of hours ago…”

Akshat nodded and went ahead with the call while he called Avanti again in vain. His heart in his throat now, he then checked the other messages.

‘I am on my way home in the cab and don’t worry dear… Rahul is with me…I will drop the reports and call you… hope your phone will be reachable by then.’

He rubbed his face… something was terribly wrong but there was a bit of solace since Rahul was with her.  Why the hell was his phone not working? He looked at the drawer and saw the chipped wood near the lock… he asked Akshat to check the security footage and was shocked to see Mr. Mukherjee exit the cabin in a hurry… what the fuck…? Akshat immediately called his man on standby to catch hold of the old man. Keshav was blank and just called Rahul but his phone was switched off… His heart fell now and he had never known fear could take such magnitude of proportions, as his hands trembled after months. He was angry at himself… how could he be so careless… he shouldn’t have let her go out of sight. He knew what the bastard wanted and he would give it to him willingly if he would get Avanti back safe and sound. He took out a folder from the locker and the black book as well. Akshat knew what was happening as realisation dawned on him and Keshav devised a plan. No matter what, he had to get back Avanti safe… that’s all mattered now.

Akshat got off the call from Dr. Mehta who had reverted. “Keshav sir… there was no call made from Silas hospital… that means…”

Akshat didn’t have to say anything more. Keshav already knew it. “…Akshat… call the cops and inform your guys in the building to be ready but no one should take matters into their hands… got it…?”

“…Fine Keshav sir… I have already texted the head of security… and he is making the arrangements… but are you sure about this…?” Akshat pointed at the folder and black book.

“…Yes… yes I am… there is no time to waste… what’s the GPS status…?” He was glad Avanti’s phone had the GPS tracker recently linked to his phone and Akshat could keep track of both their locations. He had made this arrangement till the intruder was caught.

“…Sir…she is right in the house…”

“…then let’s hurry before that lunatic goes overboard…”

They travelled at full throttle breaking all traffic norms, a car journey had never been more arduous. He blinked back tears as he thought of possible outcomes…his rational mind not at all functional. He couldn’t afford to lose Avanti…couldn’t afford to lose her smile, the sight of her beautiful kohl rimmed eyes, the priceless camaraderie that he had with no one else, couldn’t afford to lose his soul mate who loved him unconditionally, Huntington’s or not…he just couldn’t lose it all. She meant just everything in his life…

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“Par…Parminder…?” Avanti whispered, heart thudding overtime. “…how did you…? Silas hospital…?”

“…oh it was easy to find a willing patient to make that call… just cost me a thousand bucks you see…made it authentic…” He chuckled

Avanti gasped as the shock penetrated her her body gripping her chest tight. “…Parminder…” She could only take his name.

“…well…its Premnath… Premnath Sisodia… ring a bell…dear Avanti Dnyaneshwar Rane…?”

Why did the name sound familiar…? She tried racking her brains clouded with anxiety. And then it struck her like lightening. Her father had been furious about a buyout offer from an old friends’ son years ago. He had investigated the man and found him to be a crook of the greatest order and the worst was this man had tried to sabotage his own family business. Her father and Keshav had caught him on time and that had opened a pandora’s box with more skeletons falling from his closet. Many witnesses came forward with their complaints as to how he had fleeced them of their fortunes. He was eventually arrested and was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment since his family totally disowned him. But not before her father had almost fallen sick with the mental turmoil the investigation had caused. She had overheard the name umpteen times whenever her father spoke over phone in his study. She shuddered… Did he now want revenge…?

“looks like father’s little princess does remember after all… your father… and that bloody husband… they ruined my life…” He started to walk closer and she moved backwards. There was no way she could run without being stabbed or shot, if he had a gun. she had to keep him talking.

“…but what did Keshav do…? And Baba is no more…” she wailed.

She looked around the room subtly as the man chuckled lightly. Her eyes fell on the walkie-talkie behind the row of books. She had kept it for charging and had forgotten to keep it in her cupboard after disconnecting the wire. God was great indeed… And she moved towards that wall gradually. Since it wasn’t the exit he didn’t care as he continued in his forlorn tone. She halted as she stood before the instrument and pretended to hold the showcase stand for support while he looked at the exit for a moment, she gently pressed the button of the walkie-talkie.  “…Wait… you… you killed my baba…?” She knew the answer but she had to get it out the horse’s mouth. She was sure he didn’t see her subtle movements given his visual deficit else he would have caught her by now.

His maniacal laughter filled the room. “…oh my… the princess took so long to figure it out, did she…? It was payback time… five years Avanti… five bloody years in that hell hole… do you even know what it’s like…?”

“…but it was your faulty as well… wasn’t it…?” she had heard the faint crackling of the walkie-talkie and knew Mr. D’Souza was hearing her and hopefully Rahul wouldn’t do anything rash. “…and my husband…he only aided my father… but your family was the one who did you in…” She stressed on the word hoping the listeners at the other end would get an idea.

“…My family will soon be paying… there will be retribution on their part as well… but before that I need my trump card… I have worked hard to get here and I am not letting it go down the drain…”

“…what about Rohini… what was her fault in all this…?” She remembered Rohini telling her about the glasses to be replaced which meant she had hit him and broken his glasses the other day and that’s why he had stumbled.

“…oh, that dimwit woman… it was so easy to lure her into my web… I am the arachnid whom you can’t escape, you see…” he chuckled again, the sound piercing her heart as she tried to calm herself down. She hoped her plan worked.

“…How…did you know I would be here… or even the other day…We have checked there are no bugs around to record our conversations…” She stressed on the word and sincerely hoped the message got conveyed across.

He laughed again and she realised, stroking his ego would definitely stall the megalomaniac before her. “oh, my dear Avanti… you like Rohini are indeed so dumb… how do the shrewd Goyal men fall for the likes of you…? Do you think I would place bugs here when I know Keshav got the place swiped regularly…? I had a better plan you see…I had an informant right in your camp…”

Now that made sense… the timing was almost perfect and she was alone too. “Who… who gave you the information…? Were you there near Kune falls the other day…? Did you shoot at me…?”

“…Oh, ho ho…. So many questions dear… well I am glad to answer. We have time to kill anyway till that husband of yours comes in with what I want…” He started coming closer and she was scared he would see the instrument behind her. She had to divert his attention away. She walked towards the nearby couch and straightened the cover even as the guard’s legs from beneath stared at her.

Suddenly it struck her… Prantik was feared dead…and given the people who knew her whereabouts in Vedshastra there was only one other person besides Rahul and Keshav so it meant… “…Wait… Mukherjee uncle…? Did he pass on the information…?”

“…oh, you aren’t an idiot after all. Yes it was him… it as easy to manipulate the old man using his nephew as bait…the moronic nephew whom I disposed of almost a month ago but you know  what Avanti…? Senior Mukherjee too was becoming a liability to me… so today was his last bit of information…In fact he even told me Keshav’s phone isn’t working today…He set it up… so you see fortune has favoured me all the way… The oldie will reach home for a wild surprise…he will open the door and then boom…” he gestured to simulate an explosion and Avanti’s heart caught in her throat.

“…you killed Prantik…?” she couldn’t even look at the man in the eye as fear gripped her throat.

“…not just Prantik… that stupid man Shamsunder Valmiki too… both pieces of crap and nothing more. One a druggie who lived off his uncle and the other a bit too greedy… I could leave them right…? I like to clean up after me but then…that day in Kune… you turned up…”

“…So, you shot at me…I could have died that day… wasn’t killing my baba enough…?” she squeaked, her voice barely audible.

“… hold on Avanti… if you remember Rohini had mentioned I am an athlete… well I am a pro at rifle ranges… I couldn’t pursue it as a career because it didn’t generate money… but I am very good…If I wanted to kill you that day I could have but then it wouldn’t have been of any use to me… I just scared you off…but then you know now, I can go to any lengths…” his soft chuckle gave her the goosebumps.

“…what is it you want now…? Do you want to ki…kill me as well…?”

“…oh, give me a break Avanti…I am not a mass murderer… even that man lying down there is just unconscious… and he knows not to act smart with me…even if he wakes up soon…”

“…so, what is it…then…? what are you after…?”

“…Of course, the formula…from your father’s prised black book… I tried my level best to extract it by various means… do you even know the amount I have spent looking for it…? That foolish Shamsunder was to retrieve it for me before your father died… but the bloody fool didn’t… I then had to even humour that stupid sister of yours who thinks the director is going to tie the knot with her… He is an acquaintance who was using her to pry information from you and I had convinced her to sell Vedshastra to my buyer… this would have been good then… all this wouldn’t have happened… but you my dear…had to refuse… just because of your husband…”

“…You arm-twisted Arpita…? No wonder she was suddenly interested in selling Vedshastra…” Avanti was furious.

“…stop the melodrama Avanti… I am now all set to claim my due from my wretched family… I need the formula for that and you… my dear… you are my hostage now…and we wait for that husband of yours to make his entry… I know by now he must have realised what has happened…”

“…how… how did you manage to escape the security…?”

“…oh God…don’t insult my abilities Avanti… who would stop an old frail delivery man trying to work in his geriatric state…?” He laughed ending in a continuous flow of cough and she could hear him wheeze… She had to keep him engaged.

“…Why do you need the formula… you aren’t any scientist or bio-chemist…?”

“…I am going to sell it to the highest bidder…the pharmaceutical world is a vast ocean and all I need is a jug of water from that… that’s it… it will set me for life as I take the ownership of my family owned company which is loss making anyway… I have it all well planned… that stupid Rohini has pledged a couple of crores for my investment… at least she is useful in some way…”

“…you are pathetic Mr. Sisodia… crime will never bring you success…”

“…enough of the righteous crap Avanti and while there is still time for your saviour to make his way so why don’t you serve me some lunch…the least you can do for all the trouble caused…”

What? Was he insane…? But in a way it was buying her time. She knew he needed the formula and while he ate, she could think of something. She had to save Keshav and since Rahul hadn’t made an appearance as yet meant he was definitely with the D’Souzas.

She served him the lunch prepared by Mrs. Sinha while he still had the knife blazing out. She sat as he wolfed down the food and while he ate, she suddenly knew what she had to do. She had to take him away from the room so that help could arrive. No matter what, the formula couldn’t get into wrong hands.

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 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.

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

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.