024

The mood of the Durga bhavan was highly tight. After the morning incident and her brothers' return in that condition, the situation only worsens.

Meena Kaki rushed Vijay Bhaisahab directly to her home, yelling to anybody who would listen, "I won't let my son stay here, where he has no dignity or respect left." Vijay, who is too intoxicated to understand anything, follows in his mother's footsteps.

No one has eaten anything since the morning. After everything, Badi Amma went to her room, looking pale and clammy, and locked the door. Despite Nupur bhabhi's numerous attempts to get her to open the door, she did not came outside. If her father had been present, this would not have happened.

They both exited the house after Achintya and Mithilesh, "I think a meeting with the commisioner is must so his minions won't get involved in this-" Lokesh made an announcement and then left.

Phoolan Chaudhary left half an hour later after receiving a call from the party office about Achintya, but because he was not present, he had to leave in his place.

If her father had been present, this would not have happened.

After Mithilesh, Achintya, Abhay, Gayatri, and Nupur's combined efforts, the door eventually opened, and the reason for

DurgaDevi's delay became clear as she sweated profusely, shivered, and complained of a burn in her chest.

Despite everyone's efforts, Durga Devi refuses to visit the hospital, citing "simple indigestion& and missing her medicines. "

She felt a tightness in her chest and wanted to call her father as soon as possible.

Phoolan Chaudhary had just returned from the office and was having a discussion with his sons when Gayatri cried from above, scaring the men sitting in the courtyard. "Papa...badi Amma- badi Amma fainted-"

It all happened in the blink of an eye: Durga Devi, crying Phoolan's name, stumbled out of the door, and just as Nupur and Gayatri emerged from the former's room, the elderly woman collapsed, losing consciousness.

_

"It was a minor heart attack, Mr. Chaudhary." The patient's history of heart issues, diabetes, and hypertension all contributed to the reason. You're lucky that it was only minor."

"What will be the future course doctor?"

"An echocardiography of the heart revealed that one of the major arteries to the heart was 70% obstructed. We have an angiogram scheduled, and if she is stable, we will perform it tomorrow."

And the team of senior doctors, nurses, and juniors departed the counselling room, leaving the family behind.

_

Phoolan Chaudhary put a crying Gayatri on his shoulder, "Guddi, calm down. She's great, and Amma is too." Consoling her.

"A heart attack, Papa...she suffered- what if- what if- something happened to her. "What would we do?" Gayatri was particularly terrified of situations like this. She was once involved in a circumstance similar to this one...she was too little to grasp what was going on, but she did recall that her mother never returned to her after that.

She abandoned the world to become a star.

Badi Amma was the one who raised Gayatri, Achintya, and Mithilesh back then. The one who filled the vacuum left by their mother's love and affection in their lives. Gayatri was too tiny when her mother passed away, and so for her whole life she considered badi Amma to be her mother, and seeing her in this state, laying in the ICU, reminds her of so many things.

"Nothing happened to her. That is important. Our prayers have been answered; in a few days, she will be OK." He reassures her, knowing how gentle Gayatri was. Even though his daughter grew up in a brutal environment, she was as gentle as a cotton flower.

"Bhaisahab, you should go home." Take Guddi and Choti Dulhan, too. I will stay with Mithilesh and Achintya." Lokesh spoke from behind. "ae..the crybaby is crying again-"

"Kaka..I'm not a crybaby."

"Yes, she is assisting the globe with the water crisis, Kaka.The more she cries, the larger the pond she'll make-"

"Papa..tell Achintya bhaisahab to not tease me-"

"Achintya." Phoolan Chaudhary spoke at once. Lokesh laughed at Achintya's sullen countenance and Guddi's arrogant one. Her plane has only ever flown with Phoolan's assistance.

"Papa..Kaka is right. Go home.We are here." Achintya sat on the opposite side of his father, patting his hand. His father may not display weakness like others, a feature he acquired from him, but this does not mean he is invincible. Fatigue coated his face, and his clean white kurta had disintegrated.

"Where's Mithilesh?"

"Bhabhi wanted to visit the temple, bhaisahab took her there."

"Choti Amma had called several times earlier, stating Laxu was becoming upset without her mother." Lokesh provided from the side.

It was after numerous pledges and demands that Phoolan Chaudhary finally left with Nupur and Gayatri.

There was a waiting area outside the ICU where the three men sat in the recliners with other visitors.

Mithilesh has bought khichadi from the hotel for Lokesh "...your daughter-in-law purchased it for you. "If you don't finish this, you'll be the one answering her."

Making the old man grumble about threatening him with "just eat it before bhabhi burst from the door Kaka, with a spoon in her hand, pressuring you in the same way she do to Abhay." Lokesh's shoes flew straight at the chortling Achintya, who dodged it with the easiness like he already expected that.

"You are getting sloppy with your aims old man.."

"Hand me a gun and I tell you how sloppy I am."Lokesh said glaring openly at the Mithilesh.

For Lokesh, these two were his sons as much as Sundar was. If only Meena understands the same, nothing of this sort would have happened.

He was so ashamed thinking how he will face his elder brother and his children after what Meena said and did today but like always, the children never made him feel left out. Like they are blaming him for anything.

His own good for nothing son was nursing a hangover in the home, confirming his doubt that there was indeed something more than only alcohol was involved wherever Vijay was last night.

His men were already trailing that and once he knew what exactly it was, Vijay is gonna see the hell from him.

_

With a heavy heart Niyati left for the college in the scooty with Reecha. On the way to the college Reecha told her about the latest gossip happened yesterday and it explains the uneasiness she was feeling.

Until the last night, a peculiar sensation gripped her heart, like if something terrible had happened somewhere. Nevertheless, she had no reason to feel that way. Everyone around her was healthy and relaxing at home, and she had just seen Achintya this morning.

Only to turns out that a lot indeed has transpired in the course of one day.

And now Durga Devi is in the hospital." The images and content in today's newspaper are obscured, but the headline suggests the participation of the 'untouchable force,' and everyone naturally suspects the Chaudharys.

"What you called that place?"

"Kaveri bazar. It is the largest red light district in Begusarai. "

"I meant..where badi Thakurain is admitted." Corrects Niyati. She has little intrest in the violence that occured, definitely not wanting to be the another mouth added to the gossip. She would ask Achintya when they will meet, but right now she wants to know more about the badi Thakurain.

"Oh.. I don't know. But Papa will, or if he doesn't, Mayank surely will. " Replied Reecha to her question.

"Ohh.. Mayank will huh? Tell me..how far you two are right now?"

"Not so much. " Making the other girl narrow her eyes "the most we had done was holding hands and movie dates and you know-" as Reecha's tone get smaller Niyati's curiousity rises more.

"What?..what? I don't know anything. Tell me what?"

"Ahh...kiss. Now you know,"

"Huh.." came a loud gasp and a sharp slap on Reecha's shoulder making the girl flinch and the scooty to skit, luckily none of them fall "yah...if that is called "not so much-" air quoting the words "what is too much then?"

"Ask your boyfriend. He will know."

_

They had the first paper of the semester today, and Niyati sat at her assigned seat, Reecha, two rows to her left, when Asha appeared.

As the paper began and subsequently concluded, Niyati couldn't help but notice that Asha didn't take any extra sheets, despite the fact that the paper required it, and she departed the paper hall after barely two hours.

"What did you wrote on question 4?"

"I think I'll at least get passing marks-"

" -and I tried every unit. I'm confident I'll receive good grades-"

"Sudha took five extra sheets-"

Between the hubbub, microbiology students departed the hall after completing their first paper of the semester. Some girls slipped towards the canteen, others into the garden, while a few made their way to their individual homes to prepare for the second paper that is only after five days.

Reecha and Niyati walked to the stand and having an intense dispute."-It really doesn't matter-"

"It does. I don't think she even wrote the paper"

"Trust me, Reecha; Asha is doing this on purpose. Based on what you've told me, I believe she's doing all of this so that her family will grow tired of her and marry her off to Mukesh."

Reecha shuts her mouth in response to the precise observation in front of her. She initially intended to go and talk to Asha about her behaviour, but Niyati stopped her, stating "What if Asha doesn't know her mother met you and told you all that? It's like pouring butter into a fire and expecting not to get burned."

And in the midst of all of this, Asha's mother will be the most affected.But that girl is also correct; Reecha did not want the poor lady to get caught in the crossfire.

"You think she is serious about him?"

"I know she's serious about him." Niyati nods as she speaks. She recognises a lost case when she sees it.

"Have you saw that mukesh?" Niyati shook her head. Being as clueless as Reecha herself.

"We should go and see this Mukesh in person."

"Good idea. We should also bring Asha along on this nice trip..." Rolling her eyes at her words, Niyati sat down at the scooty's bscksit.

_

Reecha's father infact knew the address of the hospital Durga Devi was admitted, somewhere Niyati was well aware about considering she has been there when Achintya was there.

The problem was, she can not just be there like before. Due to her exams, Radha do not allows her to go outside as much, pressing her to spend all of her time revising her notes. The another problem came in the form of how widespread the news had been spread.

While Achintya's accident was hushed down, the one related to the Durga Devi's has already been turned as the talk of the town.

Coming home from the college she found blurry guards infront of the temple, her heart did the lurch -could he be here?- untill the whirlwind called Abhay came running, colliding with her limbs demanding to be hoisted up.

"Niti.. Niti...Niti.." the small boy cooed bouncing in her arms.

"Hyy baby..how are you? Is everything all right?" Niyati glances towards where the Chaudhary women were standing along with her Kaka, their attention completely captured by Raghuveer's.

"No." The boy shakes his head bringing her attention to him "badi Amma is hurt. I didn't saw her today- she is always on the swing peeking my forehead before school. No one did it today for me."

A gentle smile formed on her lips at his words, as they touches his forehead "here..I did it. It might not be as sweet as her but it is not that bad either. Right? "

Abhay nods his head and Niyati couldn't help but to notice how pink his ears has turned. "Hm. I will tell chachu, "

"Why chachu?"

"It is secret." Putting his finger on his lips he shushes the words. "He said his Jaan is sweetest..when in fact it is my Niti. I will tell him that. "

And Niyati really didn't know whether she should weep or laugh aloud..that idiot really runs his mouth infront of anyone, can't he just leave this sweet baby out of it. So at last, she settled for patting his cheeks, giving him another forehead kiss "hence proved today that the thing over your chachu's neck is only for the decoration. That idiot-"

__

Niyati might not have noticed but Raghuveer did.

Watching his niece's being friendly with the Abhay Chaudhary, the easiness that was between them, the familiarity all indicating how it wasn't the first or the second time of their meeting.

From the outsider's point of view who isn't aware of the relation between the these two, they would definitely think the girl and the little boy are part of the same family.

The little boy made his way to his mother back once she call his name, waving his hand energetically behind himself "bye-bye Niti..". Niyati waved her hand back too...and then folding her head infront of her greeted the other two lady who both went away after giving a curt nod to her.

"Niyati..beta come here." Raghuveer called his niece,

"Yes Kaka,"

At his question of how the little boy knew her so well, Niyati fed him the very much fabricated, edited version her kaki and mother had prepared because,"Your kaka is not supposed to know you both went to the Chaudhary's, understood." Roopa has told them.

Raghuveer nods his head at the end of it all staying mum when Niyati ask "why they were here kaka?"

"Oh..they wanted to perform the mahamrityunjay Pooja in the name of Durga Devi and they want me the one to do o the Pooja tomorrow at their haveli. "

"Oh.." that explains their arrival. "How is she? The badi Thakurain? Everyone in the college were discussing about her too-"

"She is not fine. Rukmani jii said currently she is in the ICU and the doctor suggested a surgery for the blockage in her heart-"

A surgery? It seems to her that the cloud of misery has fallen upon the Chaudharys. Niyati was well aware about the importance of the old lady in the house. Durga Devi was not only the strong pillar on which the whole family was leaned on but also was the thread combining, tying the ends keeping the family together.

"..anyway we all can only pray to the goddess Durga that she shows the grace on the poor soul. "

What must be going on inside him? Knowing his grandmother who is more of his mother..about to undergo a surgery. A heart surgery! He must be afraid, full of uncertainty and anxiety regarding the situation and with no one with whom he could share his worries, because Achintya Chaudhary don't ever loose his calm.

But Niyati also knew how much emotion does that man can hold back in his heart, how caring he is and how badly things affects him.

And so even if she can not do much, the least she could do was to provide him the support and the prayer to the lord to keep badi Thakurain safe.

She nods her head unconsciously aware that her Kaka has said something, Niyati was about to made her way to her home when Raghuveer called her name again telling her something which goes above her head, her attention divided in half only returned back on the conversation when she heard what he was saying and her heart start beating fast.

"...and maintaining the distance with the Chaudharys. I am aware what you have with Abhay is a pure bond but still I do not want my family members to have any kind of personal connection with them." The throbbing only intensifying hearing the words, her hands going numb. She turns towards the house, thanking the goddess that her feet didn't give up on her loosing the power of bringing her inside, as she collapsed on the floor of her room closing the door behind her.

The last of his words still ringing inside her head, his tone piercing her inside, "Especially after all the inner conflict regarding the Chaudharys nowdays, one do not know what can leads to another and I would prefer to keep all of us out of this ceasefire." With her head between her knees, Niyati leaned against the bed.

Her Kaka is talking about eliminating her connection with the Abhay who is only a part of her world. Not at all aware,about the man who has became her whole world.

It was the situation similar to months before, when in her emotional state of mind, Niyati broke up with Achintya after hearing her mother's words. They couldn't even stay away for more than the few days even at that time when their relationship was still so fresh.

That now, when their relationship has progressed this much.. Niyati had no idea how she will manage to eliminate her feelings for him. It would be as similar to stop the sun to rise or the moon to glow.

Even important than that, Niyati was sure if she even tries to do something like that -her heart throbbed even imagining that scenario as the tears flows more freely down her cheeks- Achintya would rather lay his life down then to allow her something like that.

She threw the bag on the floor in the frustration as her hand wraps around the chain in her neck, clutching it tightly as to ask for the guidance from its owner, "please.. please..I can't live without your son. So give your blessings to us and allow it to happen."

_

One word. Enjoy.

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This chapter has gotten longer so I had to divide it into two parts. Expect the another part in few days.

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