Advay didn't how he drove the car back to Bungalow because, most of the time his eyes were streaming with tears. His heart was bursting with joy that he finally found his brother Miku safe and sound, and so well loved by his Ammi and Abbu. But he was equally torn because he couldn't even acknowledge his identity to him, or just call him by his pet name. Just as he was about to turn his car into the drive way of his home, he thought he didn't have the strength right now to face the whole family.
Chandni washed off her face pack and freshened up by having shower again. She wore a soft chiffon saree. As she noticed her reflection in the mirror, she was happy to note that her face was glowing better, and the lips were back to normal thanks to the balm she used earlier. She filled her parting with Sindoor and applied Kohl to her eyes as usual. As she was about to pin the pleats of her Saree, her phone buzzed and she picked up without even checking the caller ID.
"Chandu!!" Something in Advay's voice made her very alert. He sounded distraught as if in pain. The safety pins fell down from her hand.
"Dev!! Dev!! Aap Theek to ho?" She asked him anxiously.
"Where are you right now?:" He questioned her back.
" I am in the bedroom." She replied, perplexed as to why he was asking her this.
"Stay right there till I come and see you." He cut off the call abruptly.
She sat nervously waiting for him and got up as he came through the window.
She quickly reached him and he crushed her in his embrace.
She didn't ask him anything but hugged him back tightly. He kept kissing her parting, and she slowly raised her face to him and cupped his face. She pulled his face down and kissed him on his forehead, gently and lovingly, and her heart ached to see the dried up streaks of tears on his cheeks.
Advay's eyes were full of pain and he finally looked glad that he was in her embrace.
What happened to him that he is so distressed? She wondered as she kept kissing him.
Advay lifted her in his arms and together they crashed onto the bed. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, and fresh tears broke out in his eyes.
"Shhh please tell me what happened Dev, I can't see you like this." Chandni choked back her tears as she ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him again.
Advay finally took some deep breaths and controlled himself. He explained in detail what happened since he left home few hours ago.. His voice cracked again when he explained why he couldn't reveal to Veer's family his true identity.
Chandni was ecstatic and sad too as she realised what Advay must be going through.
"Didn't I say Veer was just like our Miku that day? My hear felt some kind of connection with him. Oh Dev I am so so happy! Miku is here and we have been meeting him all this while, but it was you who finally found out who he was. I am so proud of you. "
"No Dear it was all because of you. They invited me in to their house and welcomed me warmly because they know you, and I was your husband. I was just a stranger to them, but because of you they treated me with respect and it was you who even suggested Veer could be our Miku, so this is as much your effort as mine." Advay kissed her softly on her lips.
Chandni's happy face suddenly looked worried.
"But Dev, Maa is in jail now. Do you really think Maa or Ranjit Mausaji would want to hurt Miku?" She asked him innocently.
Advay didn't have the heart to tell her that Indrani was capable of much more, especially in this happy moment. Besides he didn't want her to alert to the fact that Indrani would be out on bail, in case it rattled her too much.
"Let's just say I want to take my precautions. Chandni, let's keep this happy news with ourselves for now and not share it with rest of the family. OK?" Chandni nodded her head in agreement and he finally kissed her lips deeply, letting out all his pent up feelings that he couldn't convey through words. His heart felt lighter after sharing the news of Miku with her.
As she slowy kissed him back, Advay's hunger for her began to consume him.
"Chandni !!" He murmured against the crook of her neck.
"Hmm" she answered, as her body shivered in response.
"Chandni??"
She understood the subtle change in his tone and the way his hands now roamed all across her back.
"No Dev!! Please!" She warned him trying to pull herself away.
"Please!!"
His voice turned demanding as he tried to pull her back again but she was more firm this time.
"Dev, you very well remember how much trouble we got into this morning, trying to cover up by going outside, applying that ghastly makeup and everything. Now my sisters are home too. We can't... we shouldn't."
"Why can't a husband and wife love each other when they feel like it? This is so unfair and oppressing." He said grumpily.
"Dev, you know this very well that I am not just your wife. I am Nani's granddaughter, Maasi and Mama's niece and elder sister to Shikha and Meghu. We are part of a joint family and society, and we have to follow certain norms even if they feel a bit oppressive sometimes."
" Hmmm I wish we were on honeymoon right now Chandni, so we could have the much needed privacy. Forget honeymoon, I didn't take you anywhere after marriage. I married you in the most horrible way, and then I did nothing that any husband does for his newlywed wife. I didn't buy you any gifts or made you feel special in anyway, In fact I left you alone for one month. What kind of a horrible man you got for a husband?" Chandni's heart melted as she felt the anguish in his voice.
"You gave me my Dev back and that's all I ever wanted in my life, the best gift ever." She kissed him tenderly on his lips as he smiled slowly.
"This Dev is not exactly how I remember him, but I shouldn't expect him to be either. But he loves me the same way as he always did and He is mine, only mine." Chandni bit her lip shyly, and Advay laughed aloud hearing her speak his words.
"Can I go now? Shikha and Meghu might be wondering what I am up to." Chandni pleaded and Advay reluctantly let her go.
"We are having an early dinner tonight." He smirked at her as she ran away from him, blushing at his inherent meaning.
****
Next day, Advay spent all morning in his study having teleconference with his staff in Mumbai and in the afternoon he left with his team of lawyers to meet Shyam Gupta , MP of Allahabad. Together with MLA Rajpal Singh, they had discussed in detail the terms and guidelines of the Temple trust and who would be the board of members who would oversee the functions of the trust.
Advay made sure his lawyers prepared the framework,and defined each functioning of the trust in such a way, that all the dealings were transparent for the money received as well as the money spent.
A broad list of eminent and trustworthy Allahabad citizens from all walks of life were chosen to be members of the Trust Board, but the final members would be chosen by voting -- internally by members as well as general citizens at local council.
Chandni spent most of the morning performing special Pooja, as per request of Nani for her husband's health and wellbeing. Bharti called Chandni just as she finished the Pooja and to her delight, Chandni readily agreed to visit their home in the evening along with her husband Advay.
By the time Advay came home in the evening he was exhausted but Chandni made sure he had his favourite snacks and coffee before they left for Pandit Krishna Bharadwaj's home.
When Advay came face to face with Krishna Bharadwaj, he realised why Indrani must have hated him. He had an aura of a well learned, virtuous and strict disciplinarian. His gaze was intense and it reminded Advay of his own Baba, except that his Baba's gaze had a lot of kindness too. He looked older than his age and Advay wondered why.
He spoke very less and gruffly but he seemed glad to see Chandni and her husband. After the initial pleasantries, Kishen Chacha insisted that the newlyweds have dinner in their home. Out of respect for the old man, and feeling necessary to get to know him better, Advay agreed. So Chandni helped Bharti cook a simple but sumptuous meal as Advay, Kishen Chacha talked things in general. Shiva was still in the shop and promised to join them soon.
When Bharti and Chandni got busy in the kitchen, Kishen Chacha asked Advay to sit next to him.
He simply said " I know who you are, I can see your father's aura in you. Besides I always believed that you have survived on that horrendous day when my Guruji and his wife were so cruelly killed."
Kishen Bharadwaj's face was grave but there were no trace of tears to in his eyes. He looked as if he had become devoid of any strong emotions.
Advay, though initially stunned, was happy that someone finally saw his father in him; Advay bowed his head and touched the venerable Pandit's feet even though Krishna Bharadwaj protested against it.
" I am not worthy of your respect, you should actually hate me. I am one of the sinners, so to speak, who failed to protect my master the great Mahant and his wife. A person who didn't raise his voice against a crime is equally guilty as the person who committed it. I am not sure why you came to me now.
I could never help your parents when it mattered back then, I was too much of a coward to fight against Indrani and her gang. She actually doesn't know how much and to what extent I know about events of that day, but she was always suspicious of me. She indirectly threatened me several times that I will face similar fate if I open my mouth about anything.
And now, I am completely out of the picture, having been shunted out by my own brothers in the temple." Kishen Chacha's face remained expressionless but Advay could still feel the anguish and anger that was bottled inside him.
"If I knew this 16 years ago, I might have been terribly angry at you but now I know better. There's nothing a family man like you wouldn't be ready to do, if you feared for the safety of your loved ones. I am sure the circumstances back then compelled you to make whatever decisions you took." Advay said sombrely.
"You fool, don't even try to make me feel better. Your parents were my family too. Your father was like my elder brother and Janaki Bhabhi... Janaki Bhabhi treated me almost like a son. I was one of the youngest priests in the temple and my folks married me off at quite a young age, and hence I had Shiva too quite early. But in the eyes of my Guruji and Bhabhi I was still their little Kishen. I was too busy with my education and later with my young family to spend much time with you or Miku, so you probably don't remember me much." Advay nodded in silence. He only had vague memories of Kishen Chacha; otherwise he would have definitely tried to get in contact with him much earlier.
"But I was very close to your father and he always guided me to do the right thing. And look what I have done... That's why God had already punished me. He took my wife away at a very young age in the name of cancer. All I wanted was to see my son happy, and bless him to lead a contented life with a loving wife. But because my Bahu is from another caste, they turned it against me. Indrani finally succeeded to get rid of me forever from the temple." Kishen Chacha's way of describing the most tragic events in his life in such detached voice made Advay feel more sympathetic towards him.
"Chacha you can still help me if you want to. I am sure you know or your friends know so much more about what happened that day than me. I am trying my best here to avenge my parents' death, and make Indrani rot in jail for the rest of her life, but I am hitting dead ends everywhere without any solid proof or witnesses." Advay implored.
Krishna Bharadwaj looked at Advay with such a penetrating gaze that anyone else would have felt fearful of him, but Advay looked him back in the eye calmly.
"Is the temple going to be handed over to a trust now? And would it be run truthfully?"
Advay's gaze didn't waver when he answered him with a simple "YES"
"There's one thing that might definitely help you although it will not help in getting Indrani and Yash caught for the murder of your parents. This happened after Yash became the Mahant; And Indrani decided I was being too intrusive and got me demoted to a normal priest again."
Advay listened in shock as Krishna Bharadwaj explained the details, and gave the address of another priest who is currently living in Banaras.
"He will know that you have come from me if you tell him what you have come for. Except the two of us, not another soul knows about this. Go to him and he will give you what you need, and at least some of the false allegations laid against your family might get cleared."
"But Chacha wouldn't it be better if you accompany us. This Priest.... Pandit Sadanand Agnihotri... he is more likely to trust such an important thing with you than me." Advay implored.
"No need for that." Kishen Chacha replied gruffly and Advay knew that he won't change his decision. He was fascinated and somewhat irritated by Kishen Chacha's nature.
Shiva greeted them cordially as he returned back from the Shop, and Advay tried his best to make up for his rude behaviour at the shop the previous day, by being extra courteous and friendly.
Bharti and Shiva presented Advay and Chandni with new set of clothes in spite of their protests.
"This is the first time you are visiting us after your marriage, you can't say no. This is our tradition. Although you probably will never wear these kind of simple, inexpensive clothes." Shiva said sheepishly.
"Hey Shiva what are you talking about? I love cotton sarees, that's what I wear at home all the time. You are insulting me if you think I give more value to the price of a saree than the sentiment with which it was given to me." Chandni said furiously.
"Sorry Chandni sorry, I know you are not like that, somehow those words slipped out, please don't take them to heart." Shiva apologised.
"Chandni please go and change into the Saree Shiva presented." Advay asked and Chandni readily agreed.
"Paagal!!You don't order your wife to do something that you actually don't practice. First you go change into those clothes." Kishen Chacha ordered drawing laughs among everyone.
"Baba do you realise who you are talking to? He's Advay Singh Raizada. Don't call Advay Paagal and all that they way you speak to me" Shiva looked apprehensively at Advay but was surprised to find him laughing aloud.
"Shiva, I know who I am talking to and it is time you know it too. Advay is like your Bade Bhayya, he is my Guruji and Janaki Bhabhi's eldest son.... Dev Kashyap."
Shiva was too stunned for a few moments, and then hugged Advay with such affection that Advay felt he got another younger brother just like Miku. He too hugged him back warmly.
"Dev, I know you want to keep your identity secret for the fear that Indrani and her gang may cause harm to anyone who knows about you, but trust me you would need someone outside your family who can help you in times of trouble. And I do see troubled times ahead for both of you." Kishen Chacha warning words sent shivers up the spine of Chandni.
What is Chacha talking about?
"Don't worry Chandni, your husband will be victorious at the end, it is written in his destiny. But you must support him in every way. No matter what happens, even if the world turns upside down, trust your husband blindly and follow him." Chandni nodded her head in agreement at Kishen Chacha's solemn words.
"Baba why are we talking about all those things now. Chandni, Dev Bhayya please go and change." Shiva pointed to their bedroom.
Advay changed into the rich cream colour Dhoti Kurta and Chandni couldn't take her eyes off him. He looked so much like how Bade Baba used to look. She too quickly changed into the Off white cotton saree which looked so rich owing to the handmade buta work all over in red and gold thread with a tiny red border.
It was almost 9pm by the time Chandni, Advay along with Pandit Krishna Bharadwaj and his family finished their delicious dinner cooked by Bharti and Chandni.
As Advay and Chandni were about to leave, Kishen Chacha called them inside into his room and asked them both to sit down. Chandni sat down but Advay stood still staring at Kishen Chacha as his heart was filled some unknown fear.
As Kishen Chacha opened an old chest kept under his bed, his face looked very grave and in pain.
"Dev Beta, Just like Chandni, I have been waiting for you to return to Allahabad. In fact I had written everything in a letter and kept it in this box and asked Shiva to open it in case of my death. I had written instructions on what to do in case you never return also.
But now I am relieved that I can finally hand over this to you, your parents Ashes." He slowly opened the chest which contained two Urns.
Advay staggered towards him and collapsed on to the floor as he touched his parents Urns containing their last remains. He felt as if his heart is going to explode with the grief and heartache he was feeling.
At the same time, he was so thankful to Kishen Chacha for preserving this and handing over to him, something that belonged to his parents, which he was denied for all these years. Chandni reached her husband in two strides and hugged him tightly from behind, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"It was I, who cremated them finally on that fateful day. Ranjit and his gang were trying to secretly take the bodies away but I and Sadanand protested. Yash Narayan finally found his spine, and stopped those goons and asked us to perform the funeral rites, perhaps the only thing that he did which might redeem him from hell.. who knows?"
Chandni choked listening to his harsh words even though she knew he was speaking the truth.
"Chandni Beti, you have to accept and swallow this bitter truth that your father and step mother were instrumental in the murder of Dev's parents. I know what I am saying right now is quite harsh for such a kind and sweet girl like you but acceptance is the first step in the healing process. And you both need to heal, together, so you can face your future free of pain and guilt."
"I can understand your intentions Chacha and I have always known and believed in this. Sach Sach hota hai, we all have to accept that." Chandni said in a choked voice.
"I know you are a strong girl beti, and I am proud of you. Be strong and support your husband. He is very vulnerable right now and he has no one but you to share his grief with." Kishen Chacha patted her head affectionately.
While Shiva and Bharti looked on with tear filled gazes, Kishen Chacha sat next to Advay, who was still clutching onto both the urns, as tears kept rolling down his cheeks silently.
"I went to the Ghat for performing the funeral rites on your behalf that day. All night I sat there, and pyres were still burning and wouldn't die down. Especially Janaki Bhabhi's.." For the first time, Kishen Chacha's voice cracked and this, rather than anything, finally pulled Advay out of his shock.
Kishen Chacha hugged him sideways and kissed him on the forehead.
"You immerse these ashes on the day Indrani faces her punishment, not till then." He growled and Advay nodded his head silently, wiping away his tears.
Both men stood up and Advay gave his hand to pull up Chandni and hugged her.
"I cannot tell you how grateful I am Kishen Chacha, now I feel like I got all my family back. I will do as you have asked me to do, and go to Banaras. Indrani cannot escape from the long arms of the law but I will make sure she will see the wraths of hell right here."
Clutching the chest in one hand and his wife in the other, Advay made his way out of their home.
^-------------^
As you can see Kishen Chacha is the key person who will help Advay gather enough evidence to prove his parents' innocence and hopefully he will find the rest of the evidence too to put Indrani behind the bars.
Last month I went on a 10 day holiday to Bali, which is a land of temples, gods, priests and rituals. The break and the atmosphere around inspired me more than anything in writing the plot line and the revenge Advay seeks with the help of Kishen Chacha....So, a big thank you to Bali!!!
Writing this chapter left me emotionally drained in a way. I don't have anything else to write in the authors note but please give your feedback and detailed comments.
Love
Sesi