Chapter 9
Diclaimer:The characters aren't mine.I want AnuPre together.I don't endorse the views expressed by certain characters.Its just a part of the story.Nobody is a saint in this story.Its a 2 part story.I am posting it all together because of the common subject and continuity
Part-11: Everybody Underestimates Prerna
Chapter 1
Mr.Bajaj entered his Taj Bengal suite smiling to himself.In a very long time,he had enjoyed a corporate party,which was a rare thing.At this point in his career,he had attended so many that they all used to look the same to him.But not tonight's party, it was different- for various reasons.First and foremost the Basu deal was going to be a lucrative one.In this age of sensationalism and fake news,Basu Publications had managed to remain one of the few newspapers which is unbiased and fearless.People trusted it.It's owner Mr.Moloy Basu was an intelligent and self-made man who inspite of reaching such heights had managed to maintain his integrity in the business world.Thirty years in this business and not one scandal,it was quite a feat.Although his business advisors did warn him about the scandal with Komolika,but as far as he was concerned he felt that it gave them more credibility rather than infamy.After all, they were the ones to hand her over to the police.While,Mr.Chaubey was exposed because of an anonymous tipper,there are rumors doing rounds that the tipper was close to the Basu's-Mrs.Prerna Basu in particular.Which again works in Basu Publications favor.He was ready to give this deal a go ahead,he just needed a clearance from Mr.Gupta.He was Mr.Bajaj's fact checker.He did background checks on people they did business with.Be it finding out about tax evasions,off shore accounts, involvement in criminal cases,there was nothing Mr.Gupta couldn't find.But in the Basu's case Mr.Bajaj knew there was nothing to find about.From their conversation in the terrace,their biggest concern was their son's marriage,which would hardly affect their company.Remembering their conversation in the terrace,Mr.Bajaj couldn't help but wonder about Mr. & Mrs.Anurag Basu's relationship.They were in love with each other.Soon, they'll have a child together and yet they were getting divorced.Rather, he should say Prerna wants a divorce.Collapsing on his bed, he frowned as he tried to remember what she said on the terrace about being humiliated publicly at his hands and when he had asked her about ideal relationships, she talked about respect and equality.And yet,she supported him in the party.For some reason,he had hurt her self respect and self worth,yet instead of embarrassing him with her absence she supported him!!He had never seen a woman like this!Most of the women he met in his life were either victims of their own circumstances like his late Ma,who meekly put up with his alcoholic father's physical abuse or there were women who were egoistic and vindictive,who lived by the 'its my way or high way' rule.Mr.Basu is lucky, ki unhe aisi aurat nahi mili biwi ke Roop mein,warna apni beizzati ke badle poore family ko raste pe la deti,Mr.Bajaj thought.But ye Prerna bhi kitni ajeeb hai,yeh Anurag ke saath nahi rehna chahti,par phir bhi zaroorat ke waqt uska saath deti hai.Apni beizzati nahi bhoolegi par phir bhi sab ke saamne apne pati aur sasuralwalon ki izzat rakhegi.How strange!Mr.Bajaj wasn't nosy by nature.But he often made Mr.Gupta dig up dirt on the people he worked with,as an insurance, should they ever choose to cheat him.And that's how he knew that the perfect family picture was a farce!And happy marriage a myth!With the two wife scandal reaching London gossip mills he had also put the Basu's in that category, especially Anurag Basu.Entitled rich heir, who took advantage of an ordinary middle class girl with fake promises of marriage.Just like him,the affluent Indian society in London weren't surprised at this.It happened everyday.The difference was that this girl fought back!While,back then,he had secretly lauded the girl's tenacity for taking on the rich and powerful,he had still believed that she was playing with fire and that things might end badly for her. On the other hand London's rich NRI'S had dismissed her as a gold digger,and were even placing bets on how long she would last.Smiling,he thought,Mrs.Prerna Sharma Basu ne hum sab ko chauka diya.I wonder unka reaction Kya hoga agar unhe pata chalega ki kitne logo ne unke wajah se paise gawaye hai(chuckling).I swear itni alag ladki maine aaj tak nahi dekhi.Jab inke pati ne kisi doosri aurat se shaadi ki.Tab Prerna ne inhe nahi chhora,yeh sab ke khilaaf jaake ussi Ghar mein apne sautan ke saath rahi.Aur aaj jab inka pati sirf inka hai,inhe sabse izzat aur acceptance Mil rahi hai toh aaj yeh ghar chhorna chahti hai,Kyu?Pehli baar main kissi insaan se mila hoon jisse pyaar,paisa, power kisi bhi cheez mein interest nahi.I wonder kya yeh pehle bhi aisi thi ya situation ne inhe aisa bana diya hai.Khair,jaisi bhi hai unse mil kar achcha laga mujhe.I hope we meet again soon.
Mr.Bajaj got up from his bed, heading towards the bar cabinet,when his phone rang.It was Mr.Gupta he saw.Picking up,Mr.Bajaj got to the point and said,"So Gupta?All clear?".From the other end,Mr.Gupta spoke,"No sir.Basu's ne aapse ek bohot important baath chhupaayi thi.Unka ghar aur company sab unki ex bahu Mrs.Komolika Basu ke paas mortgaged hai."
Hearing this Mr.Bajaj sighed,So much for Mr.Moloy Basu's integrity,he thought."Gupta, Meri unke saath ek appointment fix karo jald se jald.",Mr.Bajaj ordered.Turns out,at the end of the day, people are really predictable,he thought sadly.
~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~~
After seeing off Prerna , Anurag quietly went back to his room.Worried that he might be too upset over this,Mohini went to look for him in his room carrying a class of cold milk and chocolate chip cookies-his comfort food since childhood.As she walked in,she saw him, sitting at the coffee table, looking at his wife's picture.She walked towards him and stood right behind his sofa.Looking at Prerna's picture herself,she said,"Tumhare bachche bohot khoobsurat honewale hai.". Hearing this,Anurag scoffed,"Bachche?Woh mujhe divorce dene wali hai Maa, toh aap plural mein kyu baat Kar rahi hai?". Mohini kept the tray on the coffee table and sat next to him.She said, holding his hand,"Tu aisa kyu bol Raha hai.You know na hum aisa nahi hone denge.Divorce file karne se agle chhe mahine tak usse Tere saath rehna hoga.I am sure utna time kaafi hoga tere liye usko manane ke liye.".Anurag looked at her,"Do you really think so?I mean woh mujhse naraaz hai kyuki maine usse dhokha diya"-seeing Mohini about to interrupt him,"-chahe mere intentions jaise bhi ho.Lekin the fact remains ki maine usse hazaaron waade karke uska trust tod diya aur ab divorce ke last minute mein mukar ke uska trust wapas todne wala hoon.Toh woh kyu mujhe maaf karegi?Woh kyu mujhpe wapas trust karegi?". Mohini closed her eyes and took a deep breath,this was exactly what she was fearing-her son taking the high road."Ok.Onu,so what do you suggest,you are going to just let her walk away from your life,with your kid?Yeh jaante huye bhi ki woh tumse pyaar karti hai?-" he opened his mouth to speak when she cut him off"-and don't give me that filmy line ki ek na ek din usse mere pyaar ka ehsaas zaroor hoga",she added agitatedly,"Kyuki jab tak usse iss baat ka ehsaas hoga ho sakta hai ki tab tak,tum dono ki poori Zindagi nikal jaaye-ya phir uska koi pati tumhare beech mein aaye.I mean come on!Onu tum bhi uss party mein the.Tumne dekha na woh Mr.Bajaj kaise flirt Kar rahe the Prerna ke saath!".Stunned by his mother's suggestion Anurag exclaimed,"What?!Mr.Bajaj aur Prerna.Come on Ma woh unse abhi abhi mili hai.". She rolled her eyes at this,"You know, Onu uss Naveen ne Prerna Dashami ke subha dekha tha.Aur uske agle din uske ghar woh rishta leke chala gaya.Uske baad kya hua,tumhe achche yaad hai na?".Anurag cringed at this."Listen Onu,main yeh nahi keh rahi hoon ki Mr.Bajaj wants to marry her.But he was flirting with her aur woh bhi tumhare, yani ki uske pati ke saamne.Toh socho divorce ke baad kya haal hoga. Listen Onu!Tumhare paas do raaste hai,ya to tum apne pyaar ko roko aur apne bachche ko ek loving aur secure aur carefree future do Ya apne bachche aur Prerna se zindagi bhar door jaane ke liye mentally prepared raho!".
"Maa!",came Anurag's anguished cry. "Kya Maa?!Tumhe kya lagta hai tumhara future kaisa hoga?Agar tumne Prerna ko divorce diya,toh kabhi na kabhi woh doosri shaadi karegi aur tumhari life se humesha ke chali jayegi aur woh bhi tumhare bachche ke saath.Listen Onu,yeh India hai, yaha pe chhote bachche Ma ke saath rehte hai,yehi rule hai.And I know you, tum Prerna se kabhi bachche ki custody nahi loge!Toh uss situation mein woh bachcha toh Prerna ke future husband ko hi apna papa manega na?Onu ,you will be left with nothing!",Mohini finished.Anurag buried his face on his hands exhausted.He felt as if one way or another he was going to lose her.Mohini took his hands in hers,seeing his tears,she lovingly wiped them,"Look baby,I know ke you love her a lot.Aur tumhe usse pehle hurt karne ka guilt bhi hai.But please beta don't let your past ruin your future.Prerna loves you.Yeh hum sab ko dikhta hai.Agar woh tumse pyaar nahi karti toh aaj party mein tumhare saath khari nahi rehti.Aur abhi woh sirf tumse naraaz hai,iss liye woh tumse alag hokar tumhe punish kar rahi hai.Let's face it,Onu tumne usse bohot hurt kiya hai,toh usse tumhe maaf karne mein thoda time toh lagega na.Main bas itna chahti hoon ki tum dono Jo bhi decision lo woh thande dimaag se lo impulsive hoke nahi.Aur abhi tum dono bohot emotional ho.Woh gusse mein hai aur tum guilt mein.Aisi haalat mein tum dono Jo bhi faisla loge woh galat hi hoga.And now there's a child's life at stake Anurag.Tum dono parents banne jaa rahe ho.You cannot afford to make wrong decisions."
After hearing his mother out,Anurag calmed down a little.Taking a sip of the milk,he said,"Lekin ma,main nahi chahta ke Prerna aur mere naye rishte ki shuruwaat ek dhoke se ho.Kya sachme koi aur rasta nahi hai?". Taking a deep breath, Mohini tried one last time,"Usne aur koi option chhora hai tumhare paas,Onu?Tum pihchle chaar din se koshish kar rahe the usse baat karne ki uska koi result mila tumhe?Ab jab usse sab kuch pata chal gaya Kya usne koshish ki tumse baat karne ki?Nahi na!Ulta usne kya kiya? apne bhai se kaha ki uske liye ek achhcha sa divorce lawyer dhunde!Agar woh tumse iss liye naraaz hai ki tumne apne aur uske rishte ek mauka nahi diya toh ab tumhe divorce deke woh bhi toh wohi galti repeat kar rahi hai na?Aur usse na rok kar tum pichli baar se bhi badi galti kar rahe ho. Aur rahi baat dhoke ki usne jo tumse dhoke se marriage certificate pe sign karaya?Hume almost arrest karaya uska kya?".
Inspite of the seriousness of the situation,Anurag gently laughed at the memory.It was one of his favorite memories of Bahubali Prerna.That day,just when he thought that this was it.It would be her last day at Basu Bari, with him.But out of nowhere,she had turned things around,and consolidated her place in this family, stronger than ever.Stunned to see the sudden change in his mood, Mohini asked,"Tu has kyu Raha hai?".
"Nahi,main bas uss din ke baare mein soch raha hoon.Uss din mujhe finally realize hua ma, ki isse pehle maine Prerna ko kitna zyada underestimate kiya tha."Anurag said.Thinking about the day herself,Mohini said,"Haan,mujhe bhi",she didn't need to explain more the memory spoke for itself.
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