Chapter 35: chapter 35

“What?!” Adhiraj practically screamed in shock, his eyes popping out like he just saw a ghost.Nodding in agreement, Virender watched Adhiraj's face transform as he exclaimed, "Dadi? She knew Imara? Hold up..." Adhiraj's eyes grew even wider, and he gasped in disbelief, "Was she the girl Dadi wanted me to meet?"Virender exhaled deeply and agreed, "Indeed! That girl was Imara. She was volunteering at the NGO to organize children's fairs in orphanages as part of a CSR initiative from her previous workplace. Interestingly, it was the same orphanage Devyani wanted to support, but the authorities suggested funding other projects due to receiving substantial donations from another source.”Adhiraj was about to ask for clarification, but Virender, who could sense Adhiraj's confusion, started speaking before he could. "Devyani was very curious to find out who the person was to show such kindness to the children. She was told it was Imara, who not only funded the orphanage but also did regular CSR activities. Devyani was deeply touched by Imara's selfless actions, and to see her, she visited the orphanage that day. The moment she laid eyes on Imara, she called me up and said, 'Virender ji, I've found Raj's angel! He's going to be smitten the moment he meets her.' She spent the whole day sneaking around the orphanage, watching Imara and taking notes on all her little acts of kindness. Every single thing Imara did just made Devyani more convinced that she wanted that girl to be her granddaughter-in-law. She was so excited that she didn't even bother listening to me for talking to Imara's parents first. She just summoned you right then and there!”“You gotta be kidding me,” Adhiraj muttered, unable to believe his ears. "Dadu, please! This is no joke. The girl that Dadi wanted me to meet, she was actually proposing to someone else!"Virender's expression darkened, and he nodded, "Yes, Raj. It was Imara who was proposing someone else. Devyani was so devastated that she didn't even allow you to see the girl, let alone tell you her name. She kept saying, 'I've lost a precious gem, Virender ji!'”Adhiraj's voice cracked as he whispered, "Imara..." his heart wrenching with an unfamiliar ache, "She loves someone else."Virender exhaled heavily, his expression pensive as he responded, “She did, for sure. But I don't know if she still does.”“What does that even mean, Dadu? If she had the courage to declare her love for him in front of everyone, it's obvious she loves him,” Adhiraj asserted as he stood up from the bench, his anger evident in the way he paced back and forth on the grass. "Why did you corner her, Dadu? Why? Even though you knew she was already committed to someone else?”Virender retorted, "She 'had' that person in her life. What do you think of me? Why would I push her if she was still with that someone?" His brow furrowed in disbelief."What are you trying to say?" Adhiraj inquired, puzzled by Virender's words.“Devyani possessed an innate sixth sense when it came to assessing people. The young man who caught Imara's attention immediately raised red flags in Devyani's mind. She was sure it wouldn't work out between them. Hence, following the incident at the orphanage, Devyani persistently urged me to keep a close eye on Imara. I complied merely to appease her curiosity. After a few months, I discovered...that their parents were against the marriage, and that boy, Dheeraj, yes, it was Dheeraj, ended his relationship with Imara. It was then, at Devyani's insistence, that I presented the proposal, fully expecting it to be rejected. However, I later learned that by the time our proposal arrived, Imara had already left her home.”Adhiraj bared his soul, revealing the turmoil that consumed him upon hearing Virender's words, “Maybe she still loves him? Maybe he also loves her? Her emotions for that boy appear to run deep enough for her to leave her home…”“And he left her….!” Virender concluded.“What?!” Adhiraj exclaimed, his brows furrowed in disbelief."I learned about it,” Virender explained. “From the gossip circulating among the maids. I heard that Dheeraj was the one who caused the conflict between her and her parents. I don't know the whole story, but she left everything behind to start fresh with him, only for him to leave her... and marry someone else chosen by his parents just a month later.”Adhiraj's heart clenched in a painful silence, the only sound echoing was the chilling night wind dancing through the leaves and his labored breaths. It felt as though his chest was being squeezed, as if someone was forcefully pulling at his heartstrings, making him sense the raw vulnerability and shattered emotions Imara must have been experiencing in that very moment. How could she have chosen such a spineless man who abandoned her, despite her sacrificing everything for him? What kind of love did he have for her? There are times when one must take a firm stance for the person they love, just as Imara did, but Dheeraj failed to do so.“It wasn't just Devyani," Virender murmured, catching Adhiraj's attention once again. "I also observed Imara after witnessing the impact she had on Devyani. Believe me, if Dheeraj wasn't in the picture, I would have arranged your marriage with her right away.”Adhiraj let out a frustrated sigh, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. "Why didn’t you tell me then?" he questioned. "Then, on the day of the wedding! Or is there something else about Imara that I should be aware of?”“Raj…” Virender began speaking when Adhiraj's phone suddenly rang. His expression twisted in bewilderment upon seeing that it was a call from one of their car showrooms.Adhiraj's only reaction was a sharp "What?!" before abruptly ending the call and ushering Virender back indoors. "There's been a fire at our showroom. I need to go!" he explained hurriedly.After ensuring Virender was safely inside, Adhiraj rushed off.Virender stared as Adhiraj drove away in the car. He then turned to look at Devyani's picture. Before long, he found himself standing in front of her photo, silently questioning, "You tricked me, Devyani. If you hadn't said it was your dying wish for Adhiraj to marry Imara, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths to hide the truth from Raj. Sooner or later, he will find out. I just hope we've raised him to be a man who is not a hypocrite. And before anything else, I hope he sees Imara for who she truly is.”Virender's attention was immediately captured by Jaidev's voice calling out, "Papa."Surprised, he spun around to see his son gazing at Devyani's photo, commenting, “You were smitten with Mummy, weren’t you?”Arching an eyebrow, Virender retorted, "What do you mean, were? I'm still smitten with my wife.”Jaidev flashed a knowing smile, casually looping an arm around his father's shoulder as he escorted him back to his room. “What were you two talking about?” he asked.Virender shrugged, teasingly whispering, “Secret!”"Or maybe the secrets you conveniently left out, Papa?" Jaidev quipped as they stepped into Virender's room.Without missing a beat, Jaidev continued, “You gave him an outline, tricked him into the wedding, and now you just gave him half the truth. Why?”“You were eavesdropping!” Virender accused."I overheard!" Jaidev clarified, "This leads me to think that Raj is not fully aware of Imara's history with that boy. Why did you keep this from him, Papa? Mummy thought she was perfect for him, and I trusted Mummy's judgment, too. But things change, and people change. This Imara is not the same person Mummy saw at the orphanage. And by concealing the whole truth from Raj, it seems like you also believe that he wouldn't have agreed to marry her if he knew. I can sense that Raj is starting to develop feelings for Imara, and you're still keeping it a secret from him.”Virender wore a solemn expression as he sat on the bed, responding, “Imara has a strong base Jai. Her morals are strong…”"If she possesses any shred of morals, she would never agree to be with Raj!" he exclaimed, his frustration evident as he criticised his father's irrational choices. "And if she does choose him, I'm afraid to say, in my perspective, she lacks any sense of morality.”Virender's voice dripped with fury as he defended Imara against Jaidev's judgment. "Do not dare to claim that your son is any better!" he retorted. "Don't act oblivious to the unethical tactics Adhiraj employs in his business dealings!”Jai fiercely defended his son, exclaiming, “That is different!”“Just because he is your son, everything he does is acceptable?" Virender challenged.“It’s just not about that, Papa. You know what I mean,” Jaidev replied, averting his gaze.“It is only about that, Jai. You can’t judge a person based on one incident.” Virender responded.“Then why didn’t you tell him?” Jaidev raised his concern again.“Because I didn't want Raj to form any opinions about Imara like you did. I want him to truly know her, to understand why Devyani and I chose her for him. I want him to feel love first. Once he gets to know her, he will understand everything that happened in the past," Virender justified his point of view.Jaidev disagreed, "No, Papa! I still think he should have known before marrying Imara. I don't know how he would have felt about her then, but he will lose trust in all of us." With those words, Jaidev left Virender's room, his expression worried.