Chapter 10: Revelation Part 1

REVELATION PART 1 -  AS IT HAPPENED

Advay had a very hard time pulling himself out of the embrace. Every pore of his body and soul screamed to hold on to Chandni's soft and sensitive body, but he was afraid that his resolve to implement the plan for tonight would be thrown to the wind, if he continued to succumb to his heart's desire.

He cupped Chandni's cheek gently and wiped her tears off.

" Why don't you rest for some more time. It's a long night ahead. I have some last minute things I need to attend to." He suggested softly.

"Uhu.. I am ok now. I had a long nap. I woke up just now. Drinking milk always makes me drowsy, and you forced me to drink milk again, like always." She pouted.

For a moment they both forgot their surroundings and went into their own world.

"Look at you, so short and fragile... I am sure it's because you never drank milk or ate healthy food. That designer almost cried when I told her how much the lehenga needs to be shortened." Advay chuckled, and Chandni hit him on the chest sulking.

"I am quite strong and I do loads of household chores, I look after the whole Haveli. Keep your lectures to yourself, Professor." She retorted angrily.

"I know you are strong, mentally. Thodi lambi hoti  to kitna achcha hota. I hope you like the designer Lehenga for tonight's reception, you would look so pretty in it. But for me, this is how I always imagined you to be ...looking so ethereal and beautiful in this red saree... just like how I want my ...." He stopped, unable to continue, reality crashing back into his world.

Fresh tears erupted in Chandni's eyes and she hugged him back with abandon, sobbing, burying her face in his chest. Why does she feel so happy and safe in his arms, even though she knew he was out to ruin her and her family's happiness? She wondered as she inhaled his faint but earthy cologne smell.

Advay kissed her hair and sighed, closing his eyes in agony. How twisted their fates were!!

He hugged her back tightly, reminding himself that this would be the last time ever he would be doing so. After a minute or so, he abruptly left her, and walked out of the house without looking back.

At that moment Chandni knew, no matter how much he denied, her Dev was still inside that tough and hardened exterior of Advay Singh Raizada. She drank back her tears, realising fully well that she probably won't see her Dev again.

Advay tried to control the deepening ache inside, as he walked aimlessly towards the gate. His phone buzzed and he picked it up eagerly, as it was from Veer, the same Chirkut videos guy he had been meeting regularly, and the one Chandni was so fondly comparing to his brother Cheeku.

"Advay mere bhai, mere angry young man...kaise ho? Aaj to Mazaa Aa gaya! Poocho kyun!"

"Why do I have to tell you every day not to waste my time and come to the point Veer!" Advay hissed with gritted teeth, but regretted it immediately. Veer was not responsible for his messed up moods. He almost thought of apologising to the over talkative guy but then...

"Baap re I can already picturise your grumpy and angry face from here. Remember what we discussed last time. I got just the footage  you were after. I hope this is going to give me a million views on You Tube. Want to see it?"

"Veer!! You are not uploading anything on You Tube. ARE WE CLEAR?" Advay demanded angrily.

"Okay Chillax Bro!! I was just kidding. But I want you to see it first." Veer said apologetically.

"Come and see me in the Café opposite the university entrance in ten minutes. Is that ok?"

Advay ended the call, shaking his head in exasperation, and walked towards his car. He made two more calls, first to Shilpa and another to Murli, and informed them of his whereabouts and asked for updates from them.

After an hour he returned back to the bungalow, again talking on the phone, this time to ACP Siddharth.

"Yeah, But remember Reception is at the Continental. Oh I forgot!! of course you know. You are in-charge of the security arrangements for the MP and the MLA. Yeah Sid, Can't wait to see you and the gift you are going to bring along." Advay chuckled as he finished the call.

*****

8PM. Hotel Grand Continental, Allahabad.

The Reception hall was decked beautifully, and the hotel management pulled all stops to arrange the reception at such short notice, considering the fact that every top businessman, political leader and the who's who of Allahabad were invited.

Chandni was looking elegant in the glittery designer attire but there was no radiance or joy in her face. Advay was dressed in a very dark Sherwani and a colourful scarf which was the only bright spot in his attire.

Indrani, Yash along with their two daughters, Niru Mama, Kajal Maasi entered the reception and were instantly dazzled by the opulence and grandeur of the arrangements. Indrani was in fact stunned. How did Advay pull this off in such short notice? Had he been planning this for long? And from the talk outside, she could gather that all bigwigs were going to attend the reception.

Who is this Advay Singh Raizada? How much influence does he actually have? She began to realise that she grossly underestimated him, as she thought that he was just a wealthy NRI. Perhaps she could have procured a better bargain for Chandni if she settled an alliance with him instead of that good for nothing PP. Her blood boiled again, recalling the meeting she had, just before with PP and his useless mother. She pushed her thoughts aside and approached Advay and Chandni. She didn't like the smirk on Advay's face at all. She could feel it in her veins that something big was about to happen, but couldn't fathom what it could be.

Chandni's sprits rose the moment she saw her family and both her younger sisters rushed to hug her.

Indrani faked sympathy for her step daughter, and sadly remarked how much she was already missing her. Chandni's face lit up just by her words, and she hugged her Maa happily. She took the blessings of her Baba too, and felt somewhat reassured. When she turned to look back at her husband though, she noticed that his face was grim and she shivered inwardly.

Veer and his gang of friends came and greeted Chandni and she automatically broke into a smile as she looked at his cheerful face. Shikha pretended to avoid him and his teasing banters, but was inwardly enjoying the attention he was paying her. Meghana was observing the goings on with an indulgent smile.

Soon all the guests arrived, and the hotel staff got busy attending to everyone's needs and demands. Advay personally greeted and received the local MP Shyam Gupta and the MLA Rajpal Singh on their arrival, and saw to it they were very well looked after. The local mayor of Allahabad, some eminent learned Pandits and Mahants from famous temples in Banaras and Allahabad were gracing the occassion as well. Media personnel were there too to cover the event where all the top people were in attendance.

ACP Siddharth and other police personnel were busy, to ensure that the security arrangements were adequate but not too intrusive to ruin the spirit of the reception.

First MLA Rajpal Singh and then the MP Shyam Gupta spoke briefly, praising Advay Singh Raizada and his business enterprise and their joy in learning that, he was keen to invest in Allahabad and develop its tourism, by starting a new chain of hotels and another glass factory.

Finally Advay got up.

"Sorry everyone but this will not be a speech but just a note of thanks to the people of Allahabad and especially my in-laws. I am a stranger to the city, but the family of my in-laws are quite well known and respected a lot in this city. Am I Right?" He smiled indulgently at Indrani and Yash who returned an icy smile.

"And that's why, when I saw my wife Chandni and fell in love with her, I straightaway proposed marriage to her and after some hiccups, we finally got married. The marriage was a private affair, so I thought I would invite the all the eminent people here for the reception to celebrate our holy union. I too feel part of this community now that I am married to the daughter of such respectable family. I am a professor as well as a businessman, and I have big plans to develop the city especially the temples around here, and as our respected political leaders have announced before, I do plan to setup a chain of hotels and a factory here.

So I thought I will just run a short Audio-visual, introducing myself and my in laws family to the benefit of everyone who are gathered here. Shilpa!! Can you run the AV please." Advay sat down, next to his bride and her family on one side, and the political leaders on the other.

The video had a pleasant voice over and began with a brief introduction to the Raizada Industries and the various enterprises and investments they have worldwide including UK, India, US and Dubai.

Everyone in the guests, both the political and social bigwigs, as well as the local press sat amazed, watching the video as they had no Idea that ASR had such a huge business empire. Chandni felt so proud and happy that her Dev had become so successful in his life, and prayed with all her heart that he continued to be more successful.

Indrani was speechless, and inwardly began to feel happy that Chandni has gone into such a wealthy family. She began to think of ploys on how to extract money from ASR through her.

Next the video showed the Mahant Family and their background. A brief press clipping on how Yash Narayan Vashisht became the Mahant of the Shiv Temple 16 years ago as the previous Mahant was demoted due to corruption charges. Indrani and Kajal squirmed in their seats.

There was a brief video of Advay and Veer and their skilful, painstaking  effort to save the Huge Shiva Idol from falling down. Veer stood up and encouraged all the guests, as they joined in the chorus with the voiceover in the video chanting "Har Har Mahadev", while Advay fumed inwardly at his Nautanki.

Then the video turned blank and a new video started playing with the same pleasant voice-over.

It showed Indrani receiving a blackmail letter threatening to reveal what happened 16 years ago.

It was shortly followed by the charity lunch at the Haveli, where all the widows of Allahabad were invited, and how one of those widows was found dead mysteriously afterwards. Indrani's face turned stonily cold as she kept watching the video. She was too smart not to react to it, but the fear in Kajal Maasi's face was evident.

The video now showed how Ranjit had a secret affair with his wife Kajal's elder sister Shakun and how they were both thrown out of the Haveli by Indrani. Kajal started sobbing silently while Chandni consoled her Maasi. She looked with tear filled eyes at Advay, but he avoided looking at her.

Then there was a video of Ranjit boasting to all his gang of thugs that, Indrani had been misusing all the government funds allocated for the temple and the earnings from the temple for her own extravagant personal lifestyle, and temple was almost on the verge of bankruptcy with depleted funds.

Veer happily smiled, as he noticed all the guests' expressions turning nasty towards Indrani.

Indrani hissed angrily and was about to get up, but guests shouted demanding that she should stay put till the video was finished, and she had to forcefully sit down again. Her mind was furiously working where this was going to end up, and how to get out of the sticky situation.

There was some comic relief to the audience while they watched Pratham and his mother and their antics in the haveli, but the mood turned sober again as they watched the exchange between Indrani and Pratham's mother, just before Chandni and Pratham's engagement.

The Video showed Indrani, mocking PP's mum

"Please stay in your limits, as you know this alliance was made just to get rid of Chandni from the Haveli.  I hope I dont have to remind you that have agreed to pay me 2 crores, so that Chandni could produce a heir to your family using any devious methods, as everyone knows your son is infertile."

"Let me also remind you that we will get rid of Chandni, and dump her just like Pratham's first wife, if she can't produce a heir." Pratham's mother replied haughtily.

Indrani replied, "I Don't care what happens to Chandni once I get my 2 crores. But first you have give me 25 lakhs in advance towards the wedding expenses."

Which was promptly handed over  by PP's mum.

Murli and Shilpa shook their hands, as their video finally made it clear how Indrani used her own daughter as a pawn for trade.

There were loud gasps and angry hisses from all the guests.

Chandni was shocked to the core. Was this really her Maa? In spite of Niru Mama's warning and advice, she blindly believed in her Maa, with the hope that one day, her Maa would love her back if she showed utmost devotion and love towards her. But was that all in vain? How  could a mother be so ruthless and conniving to her own child? Was it just because she was a step daughter?

As tears rolled down her cheeks, she turned to her Maa and choked. "Maa what is this? Why did you do this?"

Shikha and Meghana too were speechless and in utter shock. They all thought their Maa was a strict disciplinarian, but they never knew she had so much venom against Chandni in her heart.

But Indrani refused to look at her daughters or anyone else, and kept her gaze stonily at the screen watching the video. Kajal was too ashamed to look at anyone and kept her face down, while Yash as usual had a blank expressionless face.

The only person who beamed happily was Niru Mama, as he felt relieved that her sister's double life and deceit were finally out in the open. He assured Advay's Nani, who was sitting next to him anxiously, that whatever Advay had done was absolutely right, and it was high time someone exposed his sister's fraudulent activities.

Just when everyone began to whisper obscenities about Mahantani and her devious ways, another video began to play, and Indrani's face turned pale as she looked at it.

It was the confession video of a thug Jaggi who kidnapped Chandni one year ago and kept her for three days in an unknown place. He clearly stated to ACP Siddharth, that the Kidnap was orchestrated by none other than Indrani to intimidate her step daughter Chandni, and he was paid hefty sum by her to do the whole thing; the video ended as he cried that he was innocent in the whole episode, pleading for mercy.

As the screen turned blank after the video ended, there was ruckus and huge boos among the guests watching the video. The Press tried to gherao the Mahant's family but the police barricaded everyone from coming near.

The Mahants of other temples were shouting loudly at the atrocious behaviour of the Mahantani, and the political leaders for once, were caught in a sticky situation. They had insight about Indrani and her funds misuse, but they too never realised that she would use her own daughter as pawn in such dubious ways, and this public exposure wasn't something they were prepared for.

As all politicians do, they jumped to go along with the popular mood, and began demanding answers from the Mahant and Mahantani, secretly hoping that their own mud wouldn't come out in the whole process.

Advay quickly pulled both the MP and MLA aside.

"Guptaji, Rajpalji I can assure you right now that your names won't come out anywhere in the accused list, either in the enquiry or the revelations later.

But for that to happen, I should be given in charge of handling of the Temple trust. I will replenish the funds for the temple to ensure that it is smoothly run. All I want to see is that the present Mahant and his wife are removed from the temple and Haveli, and my wife's name is completely cleared in all this, and I will handle the rest. I will explain everything later."

Considering the volatile situation they were in, they made quick decision to go with Advay's proposal.

Chandni felt as if her world had turned upside down. Is this the true face of her Maa? Someone so conniving that she will put her daughter through such horrors for sick purposes. When the whole town trashed her character, her Maa boldly supported her, and like a fool she fell for her Maa's tricks, thinking she had confidence in her character. She became a wreck, housebound, unable to face crowds or do anything properly because of her mother's treachery.

All the while she was cursing her fate for the sadness in her life but now she knew better. Her anguish was now mingled with deep resentment, as she slowly plucked up the courage and stood up facing her Maa. Shikha and Meghana too joined her as their faces were filled fury and even disgust at their mother.

"Maa !!" Chandni began...

"ADVAY!" Indrani roared, completely ignoring her daughters,  and Chandni shivered at her mother's fury.

The fear and submission that have been instilled in her for so long by Indrani submerged every tiny bit of courage she had, as she cowered away before her mother.

Indrani pushed past her daughters and faced her Son In Law, who she finally realised, had come here to become her Nemesis.

MP Shyam Gupta and the MLA Rajpal Singh, the Mahants and rest of the guests were right behind Advay as he faced her mother in law.

"What the hell is going on Advay? Where did you get all these concocted videos from ? They are all baseless. What do you think you are doing?" Indrani demanded furiously as she thought offence was the best form of defence for her, right now.

"Rajpal ji, Mayor saab, you know our family too well and the way temple funds are managed," she paused, hoping they got the message.

"Everything we did was transparent and above law..."

"Saasumaa! Then you won't have any objection if we setup an enquiry in to these dealings or handover the management to a trust right ?"Advay asked innocently.

"We don't need any trust to manage our temple. The temple has been managed by respectable families of Mahants from generations and will continue to do so." She hissed back.

"What respectable family are you talking about Indraniji?" One of the Mahants mocked her and everyone laughed.

"As a mother who had put up her own daughter for sale, and got her kidnapped as well, you have lost every right to be a Mahantani and owing to your husband's ill health, he is no longer fit to be a Mahant that's all." Another Mahant shouted and rest of the Mahants and Pandits shouted in agreement.

Advay tried to bring some peace and decorum in to the discussion and requested everyone to calm down. Indrani looked furiously at everyone.

"These videos and the message they are showing are nothing but a pack of lies. I have no Idea who that kidnapper is, why would I ever get my own daughter kidnapped for goodness sake? Why would I take money from my son in law's family? He gave us some money to get over some urgent debts that's all." Indrani knew she was being pushed in to a corner, but was ready to fight tooth and nail till she got over this crisis, even if she had bluff her way out of it.

"Sorry to break this to you Mrs Vashisht, but Pratham and her mother boasted right in front of me that they paid 2 crores to you for...Anyway the more important thing is Jaggi is right here with me." ACP Siddharth signalled to his constables who brought a docile Jaggi along and made him stand in front of Chandni.

Chandni shivered and shrieked as she recognised her kidnapper,  and Advay immediately reached out to her and hugged her protectively, shielding her away from everyone.

ACP Siddharth came forward and announced that he was arresting Indrani for orchestrating the kidnap of Chandni, and for fraud charges and misuse of temple funds.

MP Shyam Gupta decided that this was an opportune moment for him to show some leadership, and take the glory while he still could.

"Mrs Vashisht, I am going to push for an enquiry to be setup into the dealings of the Shiv Mandir finances, and most importantly, we are going to get all the priests involved in the temple, to make sure that your husband is no longer the Mahant, and handover the management of the temple to a trust. What do you say Rajpal ji?" He turned towards his state counterpart.

"I completely agree Shyam ji, I think we need to everything to restore the public faith in our holy temples, and we can't allow someone like the Vashisht family to run the prestigious Shiv temple anymore." Rajpal Singh endorsed.

Somewhere in Advay's heart, the fire that had been burning and consuming him all these years finally began to subside. But as he looked at Chandni in his arms, looking lost and devastated, he was reminded of his own condition 16 years ago. There was no one to console or support him back then, and ironically, Chandni, who was partially responsible for his trauma, was in his arms now, as he tried to console her.

Chandni smiled ruefully, her face still cradled in her husband's chest. Advay had finally done what he had vowed, ruin of her family and its honour in public. She slowly moved herself away from his embrace, as he looked concernedly at her.

Advay realised he had to make somethings very clear in front of everyone. He raised his voice slowly, and everyone turned to look at him.

"I want to make sure that my wife or her sisters would never be harassed, or drawn into any kind of comments or ridicule either by the press or the general public, because they were innocent of all this.

Whatever punishment needs to be given, it should go only to their parents." Everyone murmured their assents.

Slowly everyone began to leave after assurances from Advay and ACP Siddharth that this matter would be dealt in a smooth and transparent matter. ACP Siddharth was still guarding Indrani like a hawk, ready to snap the handcuffs around her wrists.

Nani slowly walked into the middle and called out to Chandni.

"Chandni Beti! Come here."

Chandni slowly walked towards her and Nani hugged her. Chandni rested her head in her embrace and cried her heart out.

Now only the families and Veer and his gang of friends remained.

As Siddharth was about to handcuff Indrani, Advay stopped him.

"Saasuma I just have a last minute surprise for you as well. What is a cake without an icing?" He turned towards Murali and Murali reluctantly left.

"Advay why are you doing all this? What is your benefit in all this? You want to take over the temple and the treasure, is that it?" Indrani made a last ditch effort to save herself, by throwing back the suspicion on Advay.

"How dare you Indrani?" Advay roared.

Indrani flinched and cowered at the fury and the menace in Advay's eyes.

"Don't you dare equate me with your filthy mind. All I wanted to do was marry your daughter because I loved her, but because you were promised 2 crores by that sleazy PP, you spiked my drink and hit me from behind and took my bride away from me. Then you set goons on me and tried to beat me to pulp. Today you have learnt what are the consequences of touching Advay Singh Raizada!!" Advay hissed in a menacing voice.

Indrani gulped nervously as Murali walked in with a pram with a baby inside.

"This is my last parting gift for you Indrani... your grandson."

Chandni gasped, as she slowly reached and took the baby in her arms and raised her tearful gaze at Advay. Meghana was feeling agitated and close to tears as she watched all this.

Advay controlled his temper with difficulty and plastered a smile on his face as he announced.

"Indrani your grandson was put up in an orphanage as a new born one year ago, and his carer has been named as Chandni." He smirked at her.

Indrani who was already furious with Chandni for bringing about her humiliation through Advay,  immediately spat at her.

"Oh! Is this why you refused to marry PP ? Because you were carrying an affair with someone and even had a baby behind my back?? What else could I expect from you? You have once again proved you are a slut and carrying the filthy blood of your mother!"

Advay's blood boiled and he came close to hitting Indrani but Chandni stopped him.

But before anyone could say anything, Meghana came forward and took the baby in to her arms.

"Maa how heartless you are, for blaming Jiji like this and calling her names.

This baby is mine but I never knew he existed, because Niru Mama and Jiji told me that he died in childbirth. Otherwise I would have never let him out of my sight. Just because someone becomes a mother out of wedlock, doesn't mean they have low morals or can be called whatever filthy names you have used. I loved Rahul, he didn't even know I was carrying his child before he moved to US and by the time we knew, it was too late for him to return. I didn't pursue his return as I thought our baby didn't survive. This baby is a baby of our love Maa,  not a secret one night stand or affair. I will inform Rahul about our son and even if he doesn't want him, I will raise my child on my own." Meghana declared emotionally, and Indrani was staggered to know one of her own daughters had turned against her, in defiance.

Indrani lost all control by then, and tried to hit Meghana, but  Shikha and Chandni protected her.

"Siddharth, I think it's high time this criminal is taken away from here." Advay growled at Indrani and ACP Siddharth didn't delay any anymore, as he handcuffed and took Indrani away.

^--------------------------^

Ok So this was a looooong chapter and Part 1 of the truth revelation where all the events that happened at the reception were described. The next part describes how Advay pulled this off and with the help of whom. although it is pretty obvious.

First of all hope you liked my take on the events as I thought should have happened. Indrani should have been the prime target of Advay's revenge vendetta along with Chandni because he hated them both. Chandni also suffers although in an indirect way because her family lost all respect in the society. But Advay's intentions are clear here that he doesn't want any mud to stick to his Chandni or her sisters.  Please let me know through your comments how you found this chapter.

What is the aftermath of this revelation and what happens to AdNi and their families is dealt in the next chapter. till then    Love you all   Sesi