chapter 4

Vikrant stepped out of his car and made his way to the mansion before him. After leaving the brothel he first went to his home, attended the office and now in the evening he has come to meet his large family. It is such a large family that he does not feel even an inch of his own identity.Servants greeted him and he found members of his family walking here and there. Nobody chose to greet him and ask about his well-being. He shook his head and went to the living room.Smile cast on his lips seeing his grandmother. She squealed seeing him. She's the only one with whom he loves spending time after his mother.He touched her feet." Come. Sit here."The grandmother patted beside herself on the couch. Vikrant sat down." How are you, Viku?"" Dadi, don't call me that," he said.The grandmother giggled and patted his cheek." I haven't seen you for a few days," she said emotionally." Dadi, I work. I do not have much time-"" Still when you come back tomorrow, instead of coming here, you went to meet that bitch," a feminine voice interrupted their conversation.He closed his eyes and gulped down his anger before looking behind at his tai-ji. They all know about him going to meet a girl in the brothel. Don't know how but they did find out through their sources. They hate her immensely." Mind your language, Sugandha," the grandmother scolded her.She scoffed, " He has not slowed down his activities so why should I not speak? He brought disrepute to our family the day he entered the infamous street."" He comes home after months and you start scolding him. Let him rest."Sugandha rolled her eyes at her mother-in-law. Vikrant looked at her, " how's maa?"" Same as before," the grandmother replied with a sad expression." Vikrant?"His expression stiffened hearing the voice of his father. Angad Agnihotri. The man whom he hates to the core. He stood up and faced him." So you finally got time to meet your family?"Angad taunted. The rest of the family members gathered as well." When did you reach India by the way?"Angad sat on the couch and asked his son." Yesterday evening."" And came this evening? Why?"Vikrant clicked his tongue, " how are you?"Everybody knows that the question was forced. Angad would be the last person on the earth whose well being Vikrant would like to know." Fantastic. Sit down please. We need to talk."Vikrant sat down beside his grandmother." As you know, the owner of Agnihotri Group of Companies has not been selected yet. I am also of age and you are the only one left who is not married. Your two younger brothers also got married last year."The same topic again.Angad continued, " we have selected a girl for you-"" I do not want to-"" She is not the same as before. She is different. She is bold, out-spoken and confident. A perfect match for you."Vikrant frowned. They never leave a chance to close every door for him." Angad is right, Vikrant. You should meet her. She deserves to be a part of our family."His grandmother supported Angad's statement." Did y'all ask maa?"Angad chuckled, " her opinion is not so important-"" It is. My mother's opinion is important in every decision taken for me."" You can ask her then. It's not like she'll refuse," Angad said." The girl's family is coming tomorrow. Make sure you are on time."He neither nodded nor disagreed, just stood up and went to the room nearby to meet his mother.He opened the door and smiled seeing her sitting on the bed and singing a song to herself and knitting a sweater. It was a lullaby she used to sing for her.He walked inside and she stopped singing. A wide smile spread on her lips as she jumped down from the bed, putting the half done sweater aside with the rest of the things." You came?"She grabbed his shoulders and hugged him." I missed you," tears collected in her eyes. She broke the hug then pulled him towards the bed." Why did you take so much time?"" I had work."She shook her head, " did you go to meet that girl again?"She would be the only person in this house who never cursed Pari. Still, she hates him for going there. He hummed, chose not to lie and sat down in front of her.He grabbed her hands, " how are you? Your fever? Dadi said it's the same as before."His mother, Akansha sighed heavily and grabbed his hand then made him touch her forehead." I am alright. Maa gets worried easily."He smiled then lay down and put his head on her lap." I have to come here for you. Why don't you live with me at my house?"She smiled and caressed his hair." We have a family. Where will I leave my husband?"" The husband who doesn't even acknowledge your opinion."" That's a different matter," Akansha said." Not a different matter actually. He doesn't care about us. All he cares about is money. Now he's after me for marriage."" So what's wrong? You are 28. Get married now."He sighed heavily, " I don't want to marry the girl they want."" Do you have a girlfriend?"She teased him." No, maa.."He whined. Akansha chuckled, " then what's the problem? You should get settled in your life now. It's not like I'll live longer-"" Shut up, maa."She smiled, " you cannot run away from the truth, son. We have tried but no doctors suggested ways to help us. I have no cure for the disease."" Don't be disheartened. There must be a doctor in this world who can cure you-"" In the US? England? Any Western countries you know where your father did not try."He gulped." Get married, son. I want to see you settled in life before I die."" Maa, please.."He tossed and turned and lay to the left side. She continued caressing his hair." When you get married, you will stop going to the brothel. I feel very sad to hear that you are going there."He stayed silent and she continued." By the way, tell me what do you even find in that girl? There's no doubt she must be beautiful but.. it doesn't seem good when you go there. Your father-"" Don't talk about him," he irked." Why do you hate him so much?"Vikrant frowned, " tell me why don't you hate him? He cheated on you. He abused you both physically and mentally. Then why? We could have settled somewhere else but couldn't go because of your stubbornness."She smiled, " your grandfather stopped me. Your future did not allow me to go anywhere. Your grandfather was a great man, son. He was tired of his children's actions. He did not want the empire he had built with so much hard work and dedication to fall into the hands of a fool. He wanted only you to be the successor."He said, " do you think they will let me be the only successor?"" They will. Just marry once."" You are innocent, maa. Tai-ji, Kaki aur rest of them will try every possible way to remove me."She cupped his cheeks, " your grandfather has left 60% shares in your favour. If not the whole, at least 60% will be yours. Just get married once. Because it is written in the agreement that 60% will come to you only after you get married."He moved his hands down, " Everyone will say that I got it as a freebie. I have 2 companies of my own. I will expand my business."" And your life? With whom you'll share your happiness and sorrow? There should be someone to look after you, to take care of you. Don't tell me, you are planning to be with that girl for life."" No maa," he said frustratedly." Then agree for the marriage, son. Let me see you with someone whom I can trust."" Did you see the girl?"She nodded, " she seemed nice. I think she'll be a good match to you."" Maa?"" Hmm."He took a pause of a few seconds before asking, " if I love... someone else, will you support me?"" Of course, I will but make sure you do not ruin your life. The girl should be nice."He smiled and nodded. They had a good time before he returned to his home, after telling his father that he's ready to meet the girl.Pari entered the room of the girl and found her crying hysterically in the corner- just the same way she used to. She lifted her eyelashes and curled in fear seeing Pari.She passed a comforting smile to her, " don't worry. I am not here to hurt you."She walked closer to her and somehow she sensed comfort from her. Pari sat down in front of her and put the plate aside." What is your name? And how old are you?"" Palak. I am 18."Pari grabbed her pallu and wiped her tears." How did you come here?"Tears collected in Palak's eyes as she parted her mouth to say, " job opportunity.. They tricked me. He sold me here saying he is going to help me with my job. My.. parents. They must be looking for me. I want to go. Wil.. will you help me?"How badly she wanted to say yes. Receiving silence from her, Palak burst into sobs." I.. don't want..want to be here."" Neither do I want to," Pari said and wiped her tears again." I understand your pain-"" Then why don't you help me!"She ended up screaming due to immense pain and frustration. Pari smiled." I will. But.. you have to support me."She blinked her wet eyelashes, "w.. what do I have to do?"" Just..Never accept the dark reality of this place and never give up."" How..will you help me?"Palak asked. Pari had not a relevant answer. All she could say was, " I don't know but I will."" When..did you come here?"Pari brought the food in front, " it's been a year. My family sold me."Palak was disheartened seeing her smile even in this situation." It's been a year and you couldn't go. How will you save me?"" I will," Pari replied and made a morsel then forwarded it to her mouth. Palak glanced at it before quietly eating it." They are powerful."" Everyone is," Pari replied." What if they catch us?"Pari shrugged her shoulders, " we will try again."Palak gulped down the food and asked, " are.. I mean, did you spend nights with men?"No hesitation and nervousness was seen in her actions. She fed her another morsel." No," and she gave the answer she has never told anyone." How?"Palak asked with bewilderment because it's impossible here." Long story. Will tell some other day," Pari replied.Palak sighed heavily and looked down, " I want to go back to my parents. My siblings must be crying for me."She is lucky to have such a family because her family did not even shed tears at her departure." Pari?"Both looked at the door from where a girl came." Yes?"" Come. I have work."Pari nodded and handed the plate to Palak." Don't be scared, hmm? I will take care of you. You can come to me."Palak trusted her and nodded her head. Pari smiled then stood up to leave.Four days passed like this. Vikrant did not come to meet her in these 4 days. She expected him to take one more month to meet her because he's a busy man but Mohini removed her conception by informing her about his arrival tonight.The same evening, she was getting ready when Palak came running to her room." Didi.."" What happened?"Pari put her dupatta on the bed and Palak threw herself in her arms." That..that woman said a man bought me and..coming to me tonight. You said you will save me. Please.. I don't want to be touched. Please help me.. I beg you."Pari caressed her back, " calm down. I'll do something."" Please. I don't want that. Please help me."Pari gulped and nodded, " I'll see what I can do."Palak broke the hug and frowned seeing her in a good outfit." Are you going somewhere?"Pari grabbed her dupatta and started putting it on herself." My.. Sahab is coming."" But.. you said you are not touched yet," Palak asked with wide eyes." I told you it's a long story. I will tell you some other day."Palak shook her head, more worried about her situation, " please help me. I don't want to be touched. I don't want that."Pari smiled, " don't worry."" Promise?"Pari took a few moments before saying, " promise."Palak hugged her one more time then left the room. Pari did her remaining work and waited for darkness to engulf the sky and his presence in the room. He might arrive soon.And she was not wrong.She heard the sound of the door opening. She looked behind and there he was, keeping his jacket over his shoulder and a few upper buttons of his shirt opened. He seems....angry.She blinked her eyes and he locked the door behind and walked further, throwing the jacket on the couch which did not reach there. Pari picked it up and put it properly on the couch.He removed his shirt and she sighed when he again failed to throw it on the couch. She grabbed it and put it beside the jacket.She gasped when she turned and found him standing very close to her. He took her breath away for a second. She moved her feet back but stopped feeling the table touching the back of her knees. He is invading her boundary. Does it mean he wants to do that now?Due to nervousness, she stumbled but he held her waist from behind and pulled her closer to himself. She fisted her hand, making sure not to touch his chest.She frowned when he grabbed one of her hands and placed it over his left chest. She gulped and looked into his deep eyes which she always found very mysterious." How are you-"She stopped in the middle when he pinched her chin and lifted her head a little up to look at her face properly. Her heart beat increased and thumped loudly in her chest." How are you?"She frowned because he was asking this question for the first time. It won't be polite not to answer him." G..good," she stuttered and the corner of his lips curved into an amusing smirk." Hume laga.. thik nhi hogi."( I thought... you wouldn't be okay.)" What would happen to me?"She asked and her breath stuck in her throat as he brought his lips closer to her. She closed her eyes tightly and felt scared of the proximity. She never knew if he ever initiated it, she would be this scared." Pata nahi," he whispered against her lips, making his breath fan on her soft petals. She slowly opened her eyes and looked into his deep gaze timidly.( I don't know.)" Sahab-"She hissed when he applied pressure on her waist and his gaze darkened. His gaze depicted that she did something she shouldn't have. He has told her many times not to call her this.She gulped, " are..you okay?"His smirk widened and he repeated her answer, " what would happen to me?"She could finally take a breath of relief when he stepped back and created a distance. He walked toward the bed and climbed on it. She lifted her lehenga a little and walked to him, tickling her anklets." I want something."He leaned his back against the headpost and raised his eyebrows amusingly, " ahn? Haq mangne lagi ho aapna tum?"( Ahn? You've started taking your rights?)She bit the inside of her lower lip and shook her head before saying," I'll do anything. I mean, you can do anything but..just help me."" Mhmn, what is it?"He grabbed his mobile from his pants pocket and started using it." There's a new girl. She is 18. Tonight, a man is coming for her but she doesn't want it. Can.. you convince Mausi?"He lifted his gaze from the mobile screen to her." Tumhari Mausi hamari kya lagti hai?"( What is your mausi to me?)Her eyes turned sad, " can you not do something?"" No. I do not do welfare work around the world," he put his phone aside and took out his cigarette from pocket.She sighed when he again forgot the lighter. She grabbed the one from the drawer and went to him. She lit his cigar and he looked into her eyes. First time, she is asking for something and seems restless to help that girl.What an irony. She herself is stuck among wolves and wants to help someone else." There's a cheque book in my jacket. Bring that," he said.She did what he said and handed him the cheque book. Due to his forgetfulness, today he forgot to keep this cheque book in his car because just before coming here he had gone to buy land.He tore a cheque from the book and handed it to her." Pen?"She nodded and searched for a pen in her dressing table. Thankfully, she found one. She gave it to him and he signed the cheque." Fill any amount you think will satisfy your mausi and tell her to spare that girl by saying my name."Her eyes sparkled and a wide smile spread on her lips. She stood up hurriedly," Thank You so much. I'll be back in a few minutes."And she ran away from the room. He is seeing her behaving this happy for the first time. He stared at the cheque book and wondered why he even signed that? ⋆༺✷༻⋆