Nani insisted they all sat down together to have breakfast. Advay refused the Aloo Paratha that Murli made and opted for his usual veggie club sandwich.
Chandni began to eat tiny pieces shyly, encouraged by Nani.
"Cheeku, what is there in that stupid sandwich? Eating Paratha laid with Desi Ghee for breakfast is so good for you. Your skin glows and your muscles build up too." She admonished her grandson.
"Haan Dikh To Raha Hai!" Advay eyes caressed Chandni briefly before turning back to the newspaper and Chandni almost choked on the Paratha, her cheeks turning red. Advay ordered her to drink a full glass of milk and she grudgingly drank it taking her own sweet time but Advay sat with her till she finished it.
Just after breakfast, Advay began to leave for the police station when he got another call from ACP Siddharth.
Chandni and Murli looked up anxiously at Advay as his face turned angry as the call went on.
"What the hell Sid? Why do I have change the time to afternoon? I don't have all day to come and go. I have lot of things to sort out here today." Advay looked up at his audience and hastily walked off to his bedroom.
After few minutes, Advay's shout reached the dining table.
"Murli!!! Murli!! Get me some coffee. Right now!"
"Looks like Bhaiya's mood has gone sour." Murli muttered to himself as he went to the kitchen to prepare coffee.
As he brought the coffee out, Nani insisted that Chandni take the coffee to Advay instead, much against her protests.
She entered his room hesitantly. Due to the expert efforts of Murli and Shilpa, room had been cleaned up and restored to its normal state.
Advay was busy looking at some maps on his laptop.
"Here's your Coffee." She said softly and handed him the cup.
"Where's Murli?" Advay lifted his gaze from the computer. Chandni's smiling eyes met his angry gaze and widened anxiously. She gulped nervously, not sure how to answer. Advay's mood lifted as he kept watching the myriad of emotions on her face.
He called her back just as she was about to leave. His heart ached for her presence around him, and he had a tiny hope that she could help her in this instance.
"Now that you are here, can you help me with this?" He pulled another chair and signalled her to sit and she sat obediently.
"Do you know this area well? This is the railway bridge near the market where the old Dargah is. I have been there couple of times but the area changed so much I can't recognise it anymore." Frustration echoed in his voice.
Chandni leaned forward to look at the map keenly and he pulled her chair even closer and she gave a low shriek as she lost her balance but Advay held her tight.
She shivered at his touch and looked up at him nervously. He knew how much his touch affected her but how could he tell her how much her mere presence affected him. He clenched his jaw and covered up his burning ache for her.
"Look at the map, not me." He hissed at her and once she moved her gaze back to the map, he smirked, wishing he could do this every day with her.
"Err Yes I know this place, I used to go to Dargah frequently and the adjacent Chudi Bazaar but I haven't gone there since..."
"Since the kidnapping, yes of course." Advay sighed.
He leaned forward and drew his finger across the railway track on the map.
"This is approximately where I dropped Miku from the running train because the river bed starts right after and I jumped into the river. I tried to make enquiries discreetly via Murli but no one was there long enough or remembers finding a boy dropped from the train." He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
Chandni's eyes welled up again trying to get a picture of what he must have been through that day. And in her ignorance all this time she was cursing him for leaving her alone.
"Please don't cry again, I am already in a bad mood." He hissed at her and she wiped her tears away hastily and tried to sound more cheerful than normal.
"I know some families there, and remember that prankster Chirkut guy, his family has a sweet shop right there. You know whenever I look at him, somehow I feel he is like our Miku, you remember how naughty he was, always running away, not wanting to drink milk and giving so much trouble for Badi Maa. But then you always managed catch him and made him drink milk which he so hated, just like me." Chandni stopped her reminisces as she noticed his stern gaze.
"I asked you one thing and you just keep talking, no wonder I called you Ms Badbad!!"
She pouted and looked back at the laptop screen and for the first time noticed several files open.
"What are all these?" she pointed at the files.
"All the information I have been gathering for the past few years regarding my parents and the temple and its hidden treasure, and all the culprits associated with my parents' murder. Do you think I would make accusations against your parents just like that?" He growled and Chandni looked at him in pain.
"I never said you did." Tears pricked her eyes again; this was too painful for her. She had no Idea what happened and all she was relying was on her instincts and experience. This is the best chance for her to actually learn what happened.
"Can I... Can I read the files? I have no Idea, but I want to know. I need to know." She pleaded and Advay's heart melted at her earnestness.
"This is a lot of information to take in Chandni. You are too tired and weak right now. Perhaps you can do it slowly. Why don't you start tomo..." He stopped and Chandni smiled ruefully at him.
"There is no tomorrow for me here right? Let me see what I can do today. Hmm?" She tried her best to sound casual but her voice broke anyway.
"I have couple of calls to make. Look at this file first. All the rest of the files are locked. I will open them for you when I come back." He hastily walked away from her, not willing to expose his teared up face.
Her eyes were too welled up to see the anguish filled face of Advay but Chandni slowly went back to the file Advay opened for her. It was a scanned newspaper report on the events at the temple 16 years ago. After wiping her tears away, she started reading the tiny reading carefully.
Advay didn't know where he was going as he stormed out of the room. He hated himself for what he was about to do and what it would mean for Chandni and her reputation in the society but he had worked for this moment for last 16 years. He can't back off now. Unless he saw to it that Indrani and her family were disgraced in society and brought onto streets, his burning heart would never rest.
He composed himself with difficulty and walked back into the room after some time only to find Chandni slowly dozing off in front of the laptop, her cheek cupped in one hand while the other hand still glued to the laptop touchpad.
His Katto Gilheri!!!
Slowly he lifted her in his arms and laid her down on the bed.
It was supposed to be their bed for their first night; he thought ironically. He tucked her saree around her feet and covered her in sheets, observing her peaceful face.
Just as he was about to leave, he remembered her nightmare again. What if she had them again now? He pulled up the pillows next to her and sat there with his laptop and began to look at the files he was working on before.
*****
A few hours later at the Police station.
Advay was looking boringly at the pulped up face of PP and his Mom who were desperately trying to establish a case against him with ACP Siddharth.
Advay knew that PP was here only on the advice of Indrani who was still trying to get some advantage of the situation. He was also glad of Siddharth's suggestion to keep some police protection at his bungalow till the reception was over.
"I am sorry Mr Pratham but we can't file a case against Mr Raizada. He claims that your goons have maliciously attacked him and you forcefully took away his would be wife from the Haveli.
He just acted in self-defence. He also claims that he hit you only when you tried to hurt his wife Mrs Chandni Singh Raizada. And Mrs Raizada is willing to give her statement that she intended to marry Advay and not you but you forcefully took her away. Our hands are tied in this." Siddharth was trying his diplomatic best to dismiss PP and his Mom's claims.
Advay liked the sound of the name Mrs Chandni Singh Raizada. He closed his eyes and recalled how beautiful she looked this very morning, clad in the red Banaras saree, an epitome of a new traditional bride. And how she blushed at breakfast! He groaned to himself, why can't he control his heart not to trust her and her innocent face? Leaving her alone with Nani was a risk just in case she came too attached to her and reveal what he told her overnight about her being a one night bride.
But he need not have worried. As Nani was scolding him about going to police station right on the first day of his marriage, he had to briefly explain to them why he was being summoned here. Nani insisted that Chandni do a small Pooja and put tilak on his forehead as he left. He pulled her aside to the guest room, longing to have a lonely moment with her. The mysterious look she gave him, as she assured him that she wouldn't reveal anything to anyone, was still piercing his heart.
He came out of his reverie and opened his eyes as someone called his name.
"Advay!! Advay!!"
"Sorry Sid... I had a rough night. Feeling sleepy. So where are we up to? Can I go home now?"
"Rough night huh?? Why are you faking Advay? I heard that Chandni has collapsed in the middle of night. HAHAHAAA!!!" PP tried to laugh loudly but the stiches on his face prevented him so.
Advay grabbed PP's shirt and tried to punch him hard but was pulled back forcibly by Sid.
"Shut your stinking mouth right now or I will make sure you will never walk or talk again!!" Advay growled as his eyes spit fire.
"Advay he is just spiteful because he is not able to put you behind bars. Don't give him any reasons to do it. Why don't you go home now? I will handle this matter now." Sid asked persuasively as Advay was still shaking with rage.
"I paid two crores for one night with Chandni to her Mom!! How much did you pay Advay??" PP mocked him again, frustrated that he is unable to get to him, as his mum was pulling him back and he dared not do anything silly in front of the ACP.
Siddharth and Advay looked at each other before looking at PP in disgust.
Siddharth picked up his phone and started talking on it and left the room signalling the other constable to follow him. Advay thanked his friend inwardly for his solitary moment with PP.
Advay punched PP so hard in his guts that he collapsed, knocked out. He heard a wolf whistle outside the window.
Advay walked away from the room before he did anything he regretted as the rage in his veins exploded to a dangerous level.
PP's words kept ringing in his ears as he furiously reached his car.
*****
It was almost late afternoon by the time Advay reached their bungalow. PP's words began to haunt him again as he got down from his car and entered his room. His eyes searched for Chandni everywhere and he got restless and angry, for not finding her.
Finally he went to the backyard garden where he found Chandni and Nani chatting together in low tones.
He was about to greet them but stopped himself as he could hear they were chatting very seriously... about him!
Curiosity got the better out of him as he listened intently, confident that Nani wouldn't notice his presence.
"Nani, I am not able to understand how I can make him trust me. I sincerely don't know what happened to Badi Maa and Baba till yesterday night. But he has already closed his heart against me and decided that I am guilty and the cause of his parents death." Chandni said chokingly.
"Shh.. please don't cry beta. It's not a good omen for the new bride to cry except when she is leaving her home to come to the in-laws house. Please forget what happened in the past, he has married you now, and you both have to work extra hard to make this marriage work. All his talk of revenge and hatred is just a pretext, trust me. He is thirsty for love and you have to shower him with all your love and make him forget the hatred in his heart."
Chandni looked at the kind face of Nani and didn't know what to say. How could she break this elderly lady's heart revealing her grandson's sinister ideas? Advay was observing her face from the side.
Chandni smiled ruefully and touched Nani's hand softly.
"I will try my best Nani." She assured her, cursing herself for her forced deception.
"Beti you have to trust each other and think of your future to make your marriage successful. I know my Advay sounds hateful and bitter but he had been through a lot of hardships after his parents died. He stopped trusting everyone around him, became very lonely. He just used his mind instead of heart. He studied hard, rose very quickly in academics and became a professor. His business acumen helped him too and he became a multimillionaire in UK very quickly. But he never forgot his past or forgave who was responsible for his family's destruction. I was initially against his marriage to you even though I knew how close you are to each other because I was afraid that his hatred will overtake his love towards you. But since I have observed his behaviour with you since yesterday, I have no doubt he still loves as strongly as ever, but it just reluctant to admit it to himself or to you. That's all." Nani assured her.
Chandni very much wished what Nani was telling her was true. Sighing deeply, she turned her head only to find Advay gazing at her with such intensity that a shiver ran down her spine.
"Dev!!" She called him in a flustered voice and got up and Nani too greeted her grandson.
"Sorry to disturb your cosy chat Nani, but can I grab my wife for a few minutes?" His voice sounded deceptively calm.
"Look Cheeku, if I find out that you have upset her somehow, I will take you to task, understand? Chandni Beta, go and see what this husband of yours needs." She said kindly.
Chandni felt terribly anxious as she followed Advay into their bedroom. He shut the door and turned around to face Chandni.
"What happened Dev?" She asked him anxiously.
"First of all stop calling me Dev. The Dev you know died 16 years ago along with his parents." He replied sombrely.
Chandni looked stunned at this response but nodded her head sadly.
He didn't know how to broach the subject without sounding too insensitive but he had to know the truth.
"Did Indrani...your Maa take any money from PP?" he asked calmly.
"Take money? For what? I don't understand what you mean?" Chandni looked confused.
"Did PP offer any money to your Maa, for anything?" Advay tried to ask in a different way, his frustration increasing with Chandni's ignorance.
"No...Yes. After the horrible events and my panic attach at the club, when...when you saved me..." Chandni looked gratefully at Advay.
Yes, when I almost foolishly thought you were an innocent girl only to be proven wrong again with that secret child. Advay reminded himself as he continued to gaze at her sternly.
Chandni faltered in her speech, observing his ominous vibes but continued nevertheless.
"After that, I approached Maa and requested that my alliance with PPji to be broken."
Advay raised his eyebrows in surprise. This was news to him.
"I told her how uncomfortable he makes me feel and how atrociously he behaved in the club. And Maa kindly agreed. You see? She never said no to my wishes. I was so happy. But just then the money lenders arrived and they behaved very roughly with both of us and threatened to throw us out of the house if Maa didn't repay her debts. And PPji offered to pay all our debts as he said it was his responsibility as son in law to ensure our family's honour is upheld at all costs. So even when my Maa was trying to explain to them about the alliance, I stopped her and agreed to marry PPji. I couldn't say no the man who saved us that day.
Is that the money you are referring to?"
Chandni's innocent question melted Advay and frustrated him at the same time.
He realised how cunningly Indrani manipulated Chandni's mind to make her do everything as per her wishes while making it look like family honour. But how can he get this through her thick head which is blinded by her love and respect for Indrani?
He thought being blunt and honest is the only way to get through to her.
"Was the debt around 2 crore? Do you know what that sleaze was boasting in the police station in front me and Siddharth? He said he paid....I can't even repeat such filth with my mouth." Advay gritted his teeth.
Chandni looked at his disgusted face and understood what he was trying not to say and tears started rolling in her cheeks.
Advay approached her in two strides and shook her gently by her shoulders.
"Why don't you realise Chandni that your Maa was manipulating you to marry this sleaze all this time just to get some money. She is nothing but a poisonous woman who ruined everyone's life around her for her selfishness. Yet you trust her and love her blindly but you don't believe a single thing I tell you." He spat.
"I am not my Maa but you didn't believe a single word I told you either." Chandni's soft whisper reverberated in his ears and he dropped his hands off her shoulders, stunned!!
"What do you want me to believe Chandni? That you never knew what happened to my Maa or my whole family all these years or what I saw with my own eyes, my Maa getting burnt right in front of my eyes? That nightmare you saw, I have lived with that nightmare for 16 years day in day out!! What do you want me to believe? That you never believed the mob was coming behind you or the fact that I had to throw my five year old brother blindly from a running train, hoping that he would somehow survive from that height. Even now I have a terror or crossing bridges and rivers. This is the truth I have been living with for the past 16 years. Do I look like someone who would lie about how his family died or destroyed to you?" Advay's agony filled voice melted Chandni's already guilty heart.
She moved closer to him and cupped his cheeks and tried to wipe the stream of tears falling along his cheeks.
"I want to believe you, I do believe you but I also have to go by my own experience just like you. My family never tried to harm me or cause harm to others as far as I know. I am only hoping and praying that all this is a huge misunderstanding. Why don't we spend some time trying to find out exactly what happened before jumping to conclusions." She pleaded with him emotionally.
"I HAVE WAITED 16 YEARS, I HAD ENOUGH" He hissed so loudly that Chandni shuddered and moved away a few steps till the back of her knee hit the bed and she stopped.
He closed his eyes and turned his head in exasperation, regretting his outburst.
"Chandni can I ask you one thing, I don't need any details just a simple yes or no would do."
Chandni thought she knew what he was asking about and nodded her head slowly.
Advay moved towards her reaching the edge of the bed and cupped her cheek softly.
"That... that baby in the orphanage, it's not yours isn't it? I think you are trying to protect someone. Is it someone in your family or ...?" He paused waiting for her response.
Chandni moved away from him, cursing herself for her inability to reveal the truth to him.
She turned around and smiled sadly at him.
"The very thought that you don't believe that child is mine has made me happy. But the secret is not mine either to reveal it to you or anyone." She said ruefully.
Advay pounded his fist into the wall in frustration.
"Chandni! I cannot forgive your parents for what they did to my family to fulfil their greed and lust for power! The Dev inside me loves you forever but he died ages ago. This Advay doesn't know what love means, he is on a mission to avenge his parents death that's all, no matter who suffers in this mess." He paused, as he was struck with a deep sense of regret and pain.
Chandni moved forward slowly, as she understood what he was about to say. She knew that they were both right as well as wrong from where they stand on this, but also realized that each had to face and win this battle in their own way.
She regretted the situation but not the inevitability of it.
"You are going to do what you had planned tonight all along anyway, isn't it?" She asked him in a choked voice.
Advay blinked his tears and nodded his head softly. They were standing so close to each other now.
"I won't stop you or plead with you." She declared in a soft voice.
Advay gulped his tears down as he kept looking at her. Neither of them knew who moved first but the next moment they were hugging each other hard, trying to convey to each other all the things that cannot be said verbally, as tears kept rolling along their cheeks.
^----------------^
Hi all
The next chapter is up and it is a long one. I struggled a lot writing this for various reasons. I wanted to get the emotions of AdNi right and why they behaved with each other the way they did.
In spite of all the bitterness, confusion, deception, and future betrayal Dev and Chandu are always guiding how Advay and Chandni react and respond to each other. Their bonding is strong and inevitable how much they deny it to each other and the results will show in future chapters too.
Hope you liked this. I have written most of the next chapter too and hope to publish it tomorrow.
I know these are quick updates but let me know if you are finding any thing wrong. I love feedback from my readers and am always ready to correct my mistakes.
Love
Sesi