Chapter 29:

Black Widow

 

 

"Dev?" Sona managed to ask. Dev had led the shocked woman out of the hall and into a smaller side room. Dev nodded. Sona felt his face and broke down. She had for so long suppressed her urge to cry and kept all her sorrow's deep, deep inside her. Now, one touch had made everything come back out again. Dev held her tightly and slowly rubbed her back. He indicated Naintara to come closer.

"Look who I brought with me." Sona looked up and saw Naintara and little Nisha. Dev knew he had succeeded.

 

Annie hung up. Nani was a gem she concluded. It wasn't easy for Annie to leave home but Nani had made arrangements so that she wouldn't be missed.

Arjun came out of the kitchen and handed Annie a plate.

"Yeh kya hai?"

"Khaake dekho. I learned it from Geet." It wasn't the first time Arjun had made her something. It came as quite a surprise as in olden days Arjun had his own personal cook around him but times change and so do people.

"Yummy Arjun. I really want to meet Geet. Who knows she might be my future bhabi." Both chuckled. Arjun called BG but found out from Romeo that he was alone and neither Maan nor Geet were there. Annie was disappointed. But there were far more important things to do and maybe Maan bhai's absence would prove to be of use.

 

Vicky had called home and found out that Maan was not there. He was to return in a couple of days and Ferri jumped on the opportunity.

"Vicky, we are going to your home asap. If your brother is not there it might be much easier for us to question your Dadi and others."

They had reached Khurana Mansion and Vicky took a minute before entering. Ferri had to his surprise changed from her usual formal trousers and coat to a simple sari. She clutched onto Vicky's arm and gave him an It-is-all-just-drama-so-don't-read-anything-into-it look when the door opened.

"Yes?"

"Main Vicky hu, Dadi hain?" The servant looked at the couple. He was only working here since a few months and didn't know any other members of the family apart from Maan and Dadi. Ferri pinched Vicky who suppressed an 'ouch' and said:

"Look, I am Vikrant Singh Khurana so let me in or it will be your last day in this house" Vicky said in the Maan Singh Khurana way of talking. The servant cleared the door and let them in. Even if he didn't know the guests, this tone was unmistakably that of a true Khurana.

"Dadi?" Dadi got up and quickly came towards the couple.

"Vicky, mera baccha." She held his head and kissed him on forehead and both cheeks. Vicky turned all pink because Ferri was watching him.

"Kaha the aap? Kabhi apni budhi Dadi ki yaad bhi aai?" Dadi was in tears now. Vicky saw it coming. It was one of the reasons why he didn't want to come home.

"Dadi, of course I thought about you. See I came home na." They hugged and Dadi noticed Ferri.

"Aur yeh kaun hain beta, girlfriend?" Vicky blushed, he wondered why. Ferri was less girlfriend and more of a black widow*. Dadi went to Ferri who was all shy and looked down like a new bride. Vicky's eyes widened, this was a rare view.

"Kya naam hain aap ka beti?"

"Ji, Feroza."

"Bara pyaara naam hain aap ka. Aaye behtiye humare paas."

Dadi chatted a while with Vicky and Ferri. After that she told them to go and freshen up for dinner. Vicky led Ferri to the guest room. When Dadi was out of sight he asked:

"Why did you give a wrong name to her?"

"How do you know my real name isn't Feroza?" Vicky was stunned.

"Then what is Ferri?"

"My professional name. But when I am in mission I have to change it appropriately." She closed the door on Vicky's face, who left for his own room thinking about his female companion. He opened the door to his room and stood in the doorway. Everything had been left the way he had kept it. The bed, his clothes and even his half packed bag was there. He changed and came down to see Ferri again be all nice in front of Dadi.

"Vicky did you call Maan and tell him you are coming?" Vicky threw Ferri a quick glance and said:

"Nahin Dadi. I called home and Nakul told me he is out of town. But I wanted to see you so bad so I came."

"Yes. He has some urgent work to do. By the ways do you know the big news?" Both raised their eyebrows.

"Maan has a girlfriend." Vicky dropped his spoon. He never expected Maan to have one certainly not after Samira.

"Who is she?" And during dinner Dadi told them all about what she knew of Geet.

PRECAP: Maan's Story

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Here a note on Black Widow: The common name widow spiders is sometimes applied to members of the genus due to the habit of the female of eating the male after mating, although sometimes the males of some species are not eaten after mating, and can go on to fertilize other females. The black widow spiders are perhaps the best-known members of the genus.

  

Mina4202011-05-16 11:58:07