Chapter 15

3 years ago

BurakZeynep

@BurakZeynep

Part 16:Prerna wants to get even

Recap-Anurag felt a hand sneak upon his.Stunned,he turned around to see Prerna standing in front of him.

 "Tum yahaan?",came his weak reply.Prerna didn't say anything.She just stared at his tear streaked face and blood shot eyes.She quietly handed him a handkerchief.He looked at it.It was his.The one he had given her the night before.He was about to say something, make an excuse when she wiped his tears with it.Looking into his eyes Prerna said,"Aaj jo kuchh bhi hua,main sab jaanti hoon.".Shocked to hear this,Anurag stammered,"T-tum-kya...I mean kaise...kisne-".Prerna cut him off,"Mujhe Anupam Da ne abhi abhi bataya.Toh iss liye tum mere saath itna rudely behave Kar rahe the.Meri wajah se Kakababu ne tumhe bohot bhala bura kaha na,iss liye aaj tum aisa-".He raised his finger to her lips to stop her.Anurag said,"Please,mujhe aur sharminda mat karo.Maine tumhare saath aisa behave kiya kyunki main tumse nazrein nahi mila pa raha.". Surprised,she asked,"Kyun?".He scoffed,"Kyun?!" turning his back on her he leaned against the railing and said,"Kyuki aaj Baba ne mujhe aaina dikha diya.".Anurag closed his eyes, reliving the pain he felt at his father's harsh yet true words. Prerna gave an impatient sigh before turning him around.She asked,"Anurag,aisa Kakababu ne tumse kya kehdiya ke tum mujse nazrein nahi mila pa rahe ho?Kal raat ko tumne kaha ki tumne Jo bhi kiya mere aur mere parivaar ke bhalaayi ke liye kiya,humara ghar bachane ke liye kiya,mujhe uss Komolika se bachane ke liye kiya toh aaj tum sharminda kyu ho?".Anurag clasped his hands with hers and said,"Kyuki aaj pehli baar mujhe tumhare dard ka ehsaas hua.Aaj pehli baar maine apne diye huwe dhoke ko tumhare nazariye se dekha.And trust me Prerna(crying), mujhe khudse pehle se bhi zyada nafrat hone lagi hai.".Prerna blinked at him.She had no idea what to say.When she found out the truth about Anurag's deal with Komolika,her first reaction was that of regret.She had regretted that she bought into his facade,when she should've tried to find out the truth behind the sudden change in his behavior.Only with time was her guilt and regret replaced with righteous anger at his lack of faith in her and their love.But looking at his condition now,Prerna felt that this was not what he needed to hear,and definitely not from her.So she did what he would have done in her place-be a friend.Without saying another word,she hugged him.He instantly hugged her,as he sobbed.While Prerna quietly patted his back.In between sobs he said,"I am sorry.I am so sorry.Maine tumhe bohot hurt kiya.Kaash main past mein jaake sab kuch theek kar sakta.".She replied back,"Tumhe sorry kehne ki koi zaroorat nahi,tumne tab wohi kiya jo tumhe theek laga.".

"Main tumhe deserve nahi karta.Tum mujse zyada better kisi ko deserve karti ho.",Anurag said dejected.Prerna stubbornly replied,"Agar tum mujhe deserve nahi karte toh aur koi mujhe deserve nahi karta.".In the heat of the moment, Prerna didn't realize what her words implied.But Anurag did,and it touched his heart.He hugged her tighter, savouring in the comfort of her closeness and the warmth of her words.For many long minutes,they simply stood like that.When they finally broke apart,their eyes met.Prerna's arms were still around Anurag's neck,while he had tightly secured her in his arms.Prerna stared at him in wonder.She had always found him handsome.But tonight, looking at him under the moonlight so close,she finally understood why he was so sought after in college.Why didn't she notice this before?Her husband was an incredibly handsome man, especially when he looked at her like that.Did he always look at her like that??As if she was the only person he could see in the world, like the way heroes looked at heroines in those romance novels she loved.She moved a little closer,as if pulled by some invisible force.Standing so close to him, she could smell his aftershave and she loved it.Feeling her arms tighten around his neck as she inched closer to him,tracing his cheek with her long,slender fingers Anurag stood mesmerized.Whatever this was dream,reality, delusion he didn't want it to end.Ever.As Prerna tilted her head, Anurag instinctively closed his eyes,as Prerna closed hers.Their lips were about to meet when the sound of thunder startled them both.They looked at each other in shock,both of them confused about what had just happened.As the first drizzles of rain poured on them,Anurag quickly grabbed Prerna's hand and brought her inside.Shutting the door of the balcony, Anurag turned around to see Prerna standing awkwardly behind him,as if she couldn't meet his eyes.Trying to put an end to this awkwardness he said,"Tu-tumhe towel chahiye kya?".She looked at him and then looked down.Hesitantly,she answered,"Na-nahi". Finally getting the strength to look at him,she blurted out,"I am sorry.". Surprised,he asked,"Kis liye?". Prerna shifted uncomfortably,her eyes fixed on the floor, wiping the sweat above her lips,before saying,"Woh jo..umm..(pointing at the balcony)waha hua-I mean...jo almost hone jaa raha tha.I really don't know woh kaise...maine kaise kiya..mujhe tumhe uncomfortable karne ka koi iraada nahi tha.".Anurag blushed at this.Tumhe sorry kehne ki koi zaroorat nahi,main to tumhara hi hu,he thought with a coy smile on his face.He finally replied,"It's ok, pregnancy mein yeh sab hota hai.". Flabbergasted,Prerna looked at him and asked,"Kya?".Hesitantly he explained,"Haan,woh second trimester mein....",he couldn't continue anymore without fumbling and blushing.Not that he needed to continue,Prerna understood what he was implying about pregnant women getting frisky in their second trimester.She quickly protested,"Nahi!Me-mera(looking down) abhi bhi teesra mahina chal raha hai.".She curiously looked at him and asked"Lekin tumhe kaise pata ki second trimester mein kaisa feel hota?". Anurag turned to the bedside table and opened the drawer.He took out a book and showed it to her,"Iss mein sab likha hai.".The title read 'What To Expect When She Is Expecting?'.Surprised, she asked,"Yeh book tumne kab liya?". Looking down Anurag answered hesitantly,"Umm..jis din tum mere office aayi thi woh marriage certificate sign karane aur tumne mujhe apne pregnancy ke baare mein bataaya tha,uss hi din.". Prerna shifted uncomfortably at the memory of that day.She finally said,"I am sorry,uss din maine tumhe kuch zyada hi keh diya.".

He replied,"It's ok,tumne woh sab kaha kyuki maine tumhe uski wajah di thi.".There was an awkward silence in the room,as Anurag and Prerna comtemplated about that day.To Anurag,the day marked the beginning of Prerna's revenge against him and his family.Everything she had done before that was nothing compared to what she had done after that like getting his entire family arrested.While Prerna, now viewed the day with feelings of guilt and regret,if only she had focussed on the helplessness in his eyes rather that the harshness of his words,maybe then she would uncovered the truth much earlier.Finally,Prerna spoke up,"Anurag,(walking towards him)achcha ab main chalti hu-oww!!".The heel of her left shoes broke and Prerna landed on the bed.Sitting up Prerna groaned in pain.Concerned,Anurag kneeled on the floor to inspect her foot.Rolling his eyes,he took off her heels."Pair upar karo.",he instructed.Prerna turned around and shifted to her right.She leaned back against the headboard.Anurag fetched the first aid kit and tended to her wound.While tending to her,he gently scolded,"Heels?!Tumhe heels pehenne ki kya zaroorat hai, Prerna,tum inn mein kabhi bhi gir sakti ho.".Prerna replied,"Tumhe pata hai neeche yehi baat mujse Kakimoni ne bhi kaha.".Anurag asked,"Achcha,aur tumne unse kya kaha?". Prerna replied, chuckling,"Isse pehle main kuch kehti, Kakababu ne mujhe defend kiya yeh keh kar Kakimoni mere height se jalti hai.". Hearing Moloy mentioned,Anurag stiffened.This didn't go unnoticed by Prerna,who gently took his hands on hers and asked,"Aaj meeting mein kya hua?Uss Mr.Bajaj ne Kakababu se kya kaha,mujhe sab bataao".And then,Anurag let it all out,how Mr.Bajaj had called his father a hypocrite and a cheater, Nivedita and his plan to keep the mortgage a secret,how Moloy was embarrassed because of them, Anurag's efforts to convince Mr.Bajaj to continue the deal and finally Moloy's outburst.By the time he was finished,Prerna was shaking with silent fury.After her Baba,it was Kakababu whom she loved like a father,who had always supported her and her family,there was no way she was going to let Mr.Bajaj get away with humiliating him like this,that too in front of his staff.Instead of making a scene if he had just told them the deal was off Prerna wouldn't have blamed him,after all he was being lied to.But humiliating her Kakababu and questioning his upbringing was a wrong he had to answer for.Anurag asked her,"Prerna?Baba ab kaise hai,unhone tumse kuch kaha kya?".Prerna answered hesitantly,"Woh..unhone mujse waisa kuch nahi kaha.Tum please unhe thoda waqt do,woh abhi bohot kamzor hai.I am sure,ek baar unka gussa shant hua to woh tumhe maaf kardenge.".Anurag looked down trying to blink away tears of shame.He quietly said,"I don't think ke main unki maafi deserve karta hoon.After all main unse kiya hua ek bhi vaada nahi nibha paya.Unhone company ki zimmedaari mujhe di thi,yeh sochkar ke main Basu Publications ko theek waise hi chalaunga jaise woh chalate the.Lekin ulta maine company ke izzat ko mitti mein mila diya.Mr.Bajaj bhale hi hume report na kare,lekin yeh baat to business world main phel jayegi naa ke humne kya karne ki koshish ki thi.(hyperventilating)Humne Baba ke tees saalon ki mehnat ko ek hi din mein barbaad kar diya.Unki legacy pe daag laga diya!Itna kuch karne ke baad kya haq hai mujhe unse maafi maang ne ka?!". Saying this,he fell on her lap crying his heart out.Ever since they found Moloy lying unconscious on the floor,Anurag had deliberately kept his emotions at bay.Telling himself that he had no right to cry or worry about his Baba,when he was the reason why Moloy got so sick in the first place.He had gone through the entire day stony faced.But Prerna's confrontation opened all floodgates.Stroking his hair,as Prerna watched him cry she was oddly reminded of herself,when Shivi had slit her wrist and she had broken down in Anurag's arms.Maybe in a lot of ways tonight was not so different.While sobbing,he said,"Agar aaj Baba ko kuch ho jaata,toh main apne aapko kabhi maaf nahi karta.".Prerna patted his back and consoled him,"Sshhh..bas ab tumhe rone ki zaroorat nahi.Tum aaraam karo.".

~~~Half an hour later~

Mohini entered Anurag's bedroom only to be surprised by the scene in front of her.Sitting in the middle of the bed was Prerna staring into space,as if deep in thought.Her hand absent-mindedly stroking Anurag's hair.While he lay fast asleep on her lap with his one arm and one leg draped around her like a child.For a moment Mohini felt embarrassed as if she was intruding upon a private moment between a husband and wife.She loudly cleared her throat and got Prerna's attention,who was startled to see her. Prerna whispered,"Kakimoni,woh..." Mohini spoke up,"Prerna,yeh lo tumhara phone.Tum isse neeche bhool aayi thi.". Prerna tried to say something when Mohini beat her to it,"Aur haan,Moloy ne kaha hai ki tum log aaj raat humare ghar ruk rahe ho.(Seeing Prerna about to protest)Please manaa mat karna,aaj pura din Waise bhi woh stressed out the,I am sure tumne sab suna hi hoga.".Prerna replied,"Haan, Kakimoni par-". Mohini cut her off,"Please Prerna mujhe excuses nahi chahiye.Tum jaanti ho naa Moloy kitne upset hai,tum logo ke saath time spent karke finally ab woh thoda better feel kar rahe hai.Ab agar iss tarah tum unki baat na sunke itne toofan mein,itni raat ko ghar jaane ki zid karogi to unhe to yahi lagega na,ke tum unhe paraya samajti ho.He will be very hurt Prerna.".Prerna sighed and gave in,"Achcha theek hai,main Kakababu ka mann rakhne ke liye aaj ki raat yaha ruk jaungi.Lekin kal subah hote hi hum chale jayenge.". Mohini smiled,"Theek hai,Kal subah tum log chale jaana humare saath breakfast karne ke baad.Maine Shivani ko Nivi ke paas wala guest room de diya hai.Aur hai Prerna,tumhe dheere bolne ki zaroorat nahi(smiling fondly at Anurag),my Onu is a deep sleeper.Agar yaha pe orchestra bhi abhi baja to yeh uthega nahi.".Prerna smiled uncomfortably,not sure what explanation to give about how she and Anurag ended up like this but her mother in law didn't seem to want any. Mohini was about to leave when she saw Prerna's bandaged foot,she looked at her questioningly."Woh meri heel toot gayi thi Kakimoni.", Prerna replied guiltily. Giving her a look of disapproval Mohini said,"Good night, Prerna." and headed downstairs towards the hall.

~~~X~~~~~

In the hall,Shivani, Moloy, Nivedita and Anupam were waiting for Prerna.Shivani thought, Yeh Priyu Di bhi na dus minute lagega bolke aadha ghanta laga diya.Already Ma ka do baar phone aa chuka aaj toh woh bohot naraaz hogi.As she saw  Mohini come downstairs,Shivani was surprised to see that Prerna was nowhere in sight.Confused she asked Mohini,"Kakimoni,Priyu Di kaha hai?". Mohini replied,"Haan,woh Shivani Prerna ke pair mein chot lagi hai to woh kamre aaram kar rahi hai.". Concerned,Shivani replied,"Kya?Toh phir main dekh ke aati hoon.".

Mohini stopped her,"Nahi tum upar nahi jaa sakti.". Looking at the startled expressions around her, Mohini quickly added,"I mean to say ke woh abhi rest kar rahi hai,after all uske liye bhi kaafi hectic din Raha he hume usse disturb nahi karna chahiye.Aur chot bohot maamuli hai Shivani kuch ghanto ke liye apne pair ko araam degi toh theek ho jayegi.Iss liye main keh rahi thi ke kyu na aaj raat tum aur Prerna humare saath ruk jaao.Kal subha breakfast ke baad Onu tum logo ko ghar drop kar dega.(looking at Moloy)What do you think,Moloy?". Moloy nodded,"Haan,I think yahi best rahega.Kal subah Prerna ke pair ke liye hum doctor ko bhi bula lenge.".Shivani protested,"Haan,lekin Kakababu,Ma ka phone baar baar aa raha hai,woh humara kabse intezar Kar rahi hai.".Moloy smiled at her,"Uski chinta tum mat karo beta,main abhi Veena bhabhi se phone pe baat karta hu.Mohini,tab tak tum Shivani ko uska kamra dikha do.".Mohini led Shivani,"Aao Shivani main tumhe tumhara kamra dikhati hu."

~~~~X~~~~~~

Prerna stared at the closed door as Mohini left,who would've thought that Mohini Basu,the woman who had desperately wanted her out of Basu Bari would one day insist that she and her sister spend the night here.At least not her.In a way it was quite ironic,when she had wanted Mohini's support and approval all she got was humiliation.And now,when she was going to leave Anurag and Basu Bari, Mohini's concern and care almost rivalled her own mother's.All it took was for Prerna to get even.She finally understood what Ved said about people like Mohini Basu.From such people, respect needs to be commanded not demanded.She smiled at the thought of Ved.None of the good things which were happening to her now would have happened if he hadn't interfered in her life.And right now,she needed his interference again,a haughty investor needed to be put in his place.Taking her phone she dialled his number.He picked up at the third ring.

Ved:Hi.

Prerna:Hi,maine tujhe disturb toh nahi kiya na?

Ved:Arre bilkul nahi, Moloy uncle kaise hai?

Prerna (surprised):Woh abhi better hai,par tujhe kaise pata?

Ved(chuckling):Tu bhulakkar ki bhulakkar hi rahegi.Aaj raat ko tune mujhe apne ghar bulaaya tha security arrangements discuss karne.Jab main tere ghar pohocha tab tak tu nikal chuki thi.Mujhe Veena Aunty ne sab bataaya.

Prerna:Oh haan,I am so sorry yaar,woh Kakababu ke baare mein sunne ke baad mujhe kuch yaad hi nahi raha.

Ved:Don't worry,dinner mein mujhe Veena Aunty ne tere aur Shivani ke hisse ka butter chicken khilaaya tha, so we are good.Achcha bata tune phone kaise kiya?

Prerna:Mere paas tere liye ek assignment hai.Mr.Bajaj,humare kal ke party ke chief guest,mujhe unki kundali chahiye.Unka background, unka past, especially unke past ka koi scandal.Mujhe unke baare mein sab kuch jaan na hai.

Ved:Ok fine,mujhe ek week de,main dekhta hu main kya kar sakta hoon.Par tujhe unpe information Kyu chahiye?

Prerna(angrily):Kyuki unhone bina kissi wajah mere Kakababu ko humiliate kiya.Unhe kuch baatein samjhaana bohot zaroori hai.

Ved:Hmm..achcha theek hai.Unke baare mein kuch information milte hi tujhe phone karunga.Tu ghar theek se pohoch gayi?

Prerna:Nahi, Kakababu chahte the ki aaj raat hum Basu Bari ruke.Toh aaj raat ko hum yahi rukenge.

Ved:Oh,I see.Tu apne pair ka khyaal rakhna.

Prerna (shocked):Ab yeh tujhe kaise pata?

Ved:Agar mujhe aisi baate nahi pata hongi to main detective kis kaam kaa?Shivani ne Mishka ko message kiya tha,unka aaj koi video chat ka program tha woh cancel karne ke liye. 

Prerna:Oh.

Ved:Achcha sun,kal gyaraah baje tu mere office aa jaana hum wahi pe security arrangements discuss karenge.

Prerna(sighing):Woh jail mein hai Ved,kya mujhe sach mein iski zaroorat hai?

Ved: Komolika ek bohot hi khatarnaak ladki hai.Mere jail mein ek contact ne mujhe aaj hi inform Kiya ke unke ek qaidi ko severe spinal injury huyi hai.And guess what?Woh qaidi Komolika ki cellmate thi.Usne Mishka ke saamne yeh baat admit bhi kiya iss mein uska haath hai.So, no Prerna we cannot afford to take a risk.(sensing Prerna's impatience from the other end)Bas do hafton ki baat hai Prerna,uske baad hum sab uss aurat se humesha humesha ke liye aazaad ho jayenga.

Prerna:Hmm...achcha theek hai main rakhti hoon.Hum kal milte hai.Goodnight.

Ved: Goodnight.

Ved hung up the phone when Mishka entered the room.Sitting on the bed she asked,"So Prerna ka pair kaisa hai?You know I still can't believe ki jo Mohini Basu Prerna ko itna hate karti thi,usse Basu Bari se nikalna chahti thi,aaj wohi Mohini Basu Prerna ke liye itni concerned hai ki woh zidd karke usse apne ghar rukwa rahi hai.".Ved smiled,"Woh pyaar karti hai apne bete se,iss liye apne bete ki sabse pyaari cheez ko sambhaal ke rakhna chahti hai.Unse yahi umeed thi mujhe.I am glad unhone mujhe disappoint nahi kiya."

~~~~~~X~~~~~~~