5.

DHARA

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Daarji and my siblings had forced me to take a break from work. Pooja was also very particular that I'm supposed to enjoy my wedding but knowing Pooja's father Mr.Bose, I didn't want to give him a chance to throw random taunts at both Pooja and myself. Last time when Daarji was unwell, I requested a week off to take care of him yet the man created a huge ruckus out of it. I wanted to continue working, the reason although I was in Dhaulpur, I was working remotely.

My wedding was fifteen days away. The Chakraborty family wanted all the rituals happening in their mansion as per Shayantani aun- I mean...Dida. We were extremely skeptical about all of this because I had a vast family. I had 93 siblings, out of which 47 of them were attending the wedding. The rest of them were unable to make it due to various reasons including my favourite Tillu who was down with herpes zoster and was barred from travelling by the doctor. I desperately wanted to push forward the wedding but it would be unfair with the rest of my siblings who booked their tickets and planned their leaves all the way for this function.

Anika has also arrived for helping Daarji with the wedding preparations along with my Roshni although her second one was not keeping well, and Jiju decided to stay back to take care of her. However I was happy that Anika would be there with me all the time. Although Chakraborties had arranged a stay for all my siblings for the next fifteen days, Daarji felt it's not right for us to take such a big favour from them in spite of Arindam Unc...I mean Daadu insisting upon the same again and again. The reason why I would be traveling to Kolkata tomorrow along with Pooja while Anika and Daarji would join us for my Mehndi ceremony just before the wedding.

Although I am going to be married into the Chakraborty family, it didn't feel right staying at their place when I had my small apartment where I'd put up for years. I kept denying Daadu but he still seems to be adamant and wanted me to stay along with the family at the mansion. Honestly speaking it wasn't just about manners but also the fact that I was trying to get that little me time. I love this home in Dhaulpur which had my childhood and growing up years but that little 1bhk apartment in Kolkata was my home now. Also somehow I feared being a part of the Chakraborties, I don't know why. It felt too fast.

'But why? You would any way be staying with us after 2 weeks Dhara? Everyone at home will also get to know you Beta!!!' he said and I bit my lower lip and hesitantly denied saying 'Daadu please...I just...I need some time...it's just that I... I...I don't know... please Daadu...a little more time please' I almost whispered when he said 'We are a family now Dhara!' and I smiled saying 'I know and I'm glad, but please...I need some time...some space' I insisted when he finally agreed but upon a condition that I'd spend some time everyday with them all and they'd drop me home later and I was fine with it. I was happy until I had to sleep alone in that guest bedroom of theirs. I hadn't fully recovered from that nightmare yet. That's when I suddenly remembered about the Ghungroo bead that pricked my foot. I had completely forgotten to enquire about it.

'Ummm Arindam Unc...I mean Daadu!!! Can I ask you something?' I hesitantly asked while he happily sipped onto the tea saying 'Ofcourse Dhara! I maybe your grandfather in law now, but I'm still the same Arindam Uncle who brought you chocolates. You can ask me anything!' he said with a smile and I nodded and hesitantly asked 'Daadu... the other day I heard sound of anklets...I mean Ghungroo coming from upstairs of the mansion. And then I heard someone playing Tabla too. I mean I just felt like somebody was danc-' but to my surprise he immediately and very much abruptly interrupted me saying 'Hahaha Dance!!! No one knows to dance in our household. I mean we are fond of good books and music but dancing, Chakraborties aren't good at performing arts! Probably someone must have played classical music. You know Nibi loves to listen to classical music' he chuckled and continued sipping onto his te.

Although he tried explaining it to me with logical reasoning he clearly looked uncomfortable with that question. He was one of Kolkata's finest lawyers once upon a time and then he retired as a judge too. He was good at masking emotions too but I've known him since our childhood days, somehow his body language was giving away very clearly that he's hiding something. But why?

'Uncle there was someone in that room. I heard someone jumping and also a Ghungroo bead had pricked me the other day and I had hurt myself. If no one performs in your household then who does the Ghungroo belong to?' I asked and he gulped but immediately masked it with a smile saying 'Ohhh that... that must be Pihu's!!! That kid is so adamant I tell you, the other day she saw someone dancing in a movie and wanted us to buy it for her. She's a very naughty kid I tell you. She must have already broken it. So sorry Beta. I'll ask Nibi to be more careful with Pihu next time' he said and I didn't have anything to say. Although it clearly did not satisfy my doubts as I was extremely sure there was someone there but then I had taken medicines the previous night. What if it was my hallucinations? Nope!!! I can't let that happen. I can't go back to it again. I need to visit Dr.Jag before I go back to Kolkata. Yes I must do it.

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'Congratulations Dhara!!! I am happy to see you visit me and also invite me for your wedding but no invitation. That's sad!!!' said Dr Jag with his casual tone leaning back onto his business chair and I smiled saying 'Sorry Doctor. Actually my would-be husband is quite a high profile politician, due to which they don't want the media to know anything much about the wedding or about me. The invites would be printed just a week before the wedding and I promise I'll post you one. But you are the person because of whom I'm doing ok today and I want you to be a part of my big day' I told him as he smiled.

'That's very sweet of you Dhara. But I can't promise to be there although my love and blessings would always be with you.' he said with a sweet smile. The man was in his early forties yet had that killer smile enough to wet panties. If I knew he wasn't married and was single, trust me, the 16 years age gap wouldn't be a big deal.

'Well well well!!! Now let's come to the real point. You could have invited me via phone but you have chosen to come here personally means... there's something more to it. Go on..Go on!!!' he broke my bubble like a true psychiatrist and I cleared my throat saying 'I think it's started again Doctor' I whispered slowly when he simply raised an eyebrow asking 'Any repeat incidents?' this time he pulled out his pen and a writing pad. I nodded saying 'At my in-laws place. It's a huge mansion back in Kolkata at my in-laws place and I was scared. I couldn't sleep so I took the pill and then there was a nightmare. Followed by a hallucination in broad daylight. I mean I don't know if it really was one. It felt so real Doctor. I...I couldn't just point a finger to it. I heard someone dancing upstairs. I even found a Ghungroo...I...I don't know if it's...I just...I am getting married ...Doctor and I don't want them to think that I'm ma-'

Before I could complete that line Dr.Jag said 'Stop!!! I have told you in the past as well. You are not mad so stop thinking on those lines. I don't find you depressed or disturbed Dhara. You are scared which happens when you shift to a newer place. It's all about the vibe. Every place carries its own vibe. This...this mansion must be a whole new vibe to your mind and you must have correlated some stories you heard or a movie you saw. Tell me this time again did you see your ex fiance or someone related to them in your dreams?' he asked and I nodded.

'See... It's your past fears as well which added onto it. Dhara listen...just because once someone broke your trust doesn't mean there's someone again going to do that to you. No sweetheart. You need to have faith in yourself. You are a great woman. You work, you earn your bread, you cook your meal, you take care of yourself in an unknown city all by yourself. You are brave! You are much more than these Sharath kinda... pardon my language...Assholes!!!' he said making me chuckle and he smiled flashing his deep dimples. This man knows to comfort me even during my worst. How does he do it? What would I have done without him.

'But doctor does that medicine have side effects? Does that medicine make you hallucinate? I mean I...I really really heard someone dance beyond those doors and then look...look at this scar. A Ghungroo literally bled me but my grandfather in law blamed it all on his 5 year old grand daughter. I...I...don't know...I am...sc... scared!!!' I said when Dr.Jag narrowed his eyebrows saying

'Look Dhara. I have known you for 3 big years now and I've always treated you with minimal medicines possible. Infact even the medicine I prescribed you right now is extremely low dosage. It can only help you sleep in distress. It shouldn't do anything beyond that. Absolutely nothing. I don't know about this Ghungroo or your grandfather in law's 5 year old great granddaughter's love for a

Ghungroo but I can certainly vouch upon my patient who is definitely normal and doesn't seem to be suffering from any such disorders.' he said confidently and I sat absorbing his words.

Looking at my worried face he asked 'Dhara!!! If you don't mind, can I ask you something... personal?' he asked when I smiled saying 'You are my doctor Dr.Jag. You know my life like an open book. Please...go ahead' when he smiled and nodded but asked with a serious face 'I hope Balraj Uncle and you...have done your background checks well this time right? I mean I don't mean to interfere in your personal stuff but-'

'Its Arindam Uncle's grandson whom I'm going to marry Dr.Jag. Arindam Uncle aka Daadu now has been a constant since our childhood days. He's that uncle of ours who always got us chocolates and had stories to tell. He's made our childhood the best one ever. He's a great person Dr.Jag.' I said when he smirked saying

'Sweet!!! But you aren't marrying Arindam Uncle dear!!! You are marrying his grandson. You are going to stay in his mansion with his family. How much do you know about them?' he counter questioned when my throat dried. He was right but a sudden urge to protect my abrupt decision made me say

'I...I have spoken to Aniruddh and also met the Chakraborties!!!' when he smirked asking

'Aniruddh? As in Aniruddh Chakraborty? That famous politician?' he asked and I nodded when he chuckled saying 'Woah!!! Someone's got a handsome catch!!!' and I don't know why but my cheeks went pink. I felt heat radiating off my cheeks and tongue tied. For the first time I didn't have an answer.

'Well as much as I have heard they are extremely private people but did you try to Google about them?' he asked and I narrowed my eyebrows asking 'Google??? Why I mean...I know about Aniruddh but I mean I...I' I wasn't understanding what he was saying when he smiled saying

'Dhara!!! Big mansions hide bigger secrets. You are not crazy but these secret doors can make you go insane. I mean I'm not saying these people are hiding anything from you but what you explained some minutes ago doesn't seem like your hallucinations and your grandfather in law's detailed explanations seems like he's trying to avoid some secrets. Well...I may be going all CID mode on right now but definitely 'Kuch to Gadbad he Dhara' he said making me roll my eyes when he simply walked towards me and circled his arm around my shoulder saying 'I know sounds filmy but what's the harm in checking. These are big shots and you are getting married into this household, you have every right to get a background check done!'

Although what he said was a little too over the top. Dr.Jag was more a friend and less a doctor now but still this felt creepy. I mean why would I google about Chakraborties when I know Arindam Uncle personally. But Dr.Jag was already on his phone as he asked me

'So whom have you met in this family so far.' His eyes were still on his smartphone and his fingers tapping something on it while I said 'Well almost everyone except the groom himself' when his eyes darted at me asking 'You kidding me right? How did you agree? I mean duh he's good looking but then come on you could have gone for his other sibling! Darnnn he popular!!!' he said and I burst out of laughing saying 'O don't want to be murdered by my bestie Doctor. Pooja not just fangirls Krissh, she worships him. I mean even I was shocked knowing he's a Chakraborty. Honestly immense respect too because he doesn't use the surname. But he's too quiet. A little weird too. He practically avoided me like I didn't exist there's I said recalling how he just asked for his dinner to be served in his room and I never saw him post that.

But what Dr.Jag replied next left me confused. He simply smirked while still looking at his phone and said 'Well even the elder one prefers to not use his surname. Although isn't as popular as Krissh probably because in a country like India, rock and western music is celebrated like great talent although Indian classical hasn't still got its due credit!!!'

I didn't understand what he meant. I looked at him narrowing my eyebrows with a confused expression saying 'What do you mean?' and Dr.Jag smiled still looking at his phone saying 'The eldest grandchild of your Arindam uncle seems to be extremely talented and probably also the owner of the Ghungroo you thought you were hallucinating about!!!' and I looked at Dr. Jag as I said

'But Aniruddh is the eldest!!!' when Dr.Jag smirked shaking his head left to right as he bent towards me placing his smartphone infront of me as he said

'Told you bigger mansions have big big secrets!!! Here...their secret -

Aniruddh isnt the eldest. They are three brothers.

Youngest...Krissh Chakraborty - the rockstar.

Then... Aniruddh Chakraborty - the politician and business tycoon

And the eldest and the least popular...

Parth Chakraborty!!! The owner of the Ghungroo you found as he runs the biggest dance academy in Kolkata probably the one you found yet their family was hiding.'

And I was left speechless.

They are three brothers?

If so why was it hidden from me?

Why did they call Aniruddh the eldest?

What's happening???