Helo helo, here are the next three chapters. These are the last ones, only the epilogue is still to come. So, enjoy reading and please leave comments for me. It will encourage me to post my next FF

Chapter 42:

Note

 

It was Ferri on the phone. She had purposely not been present during the little family talk as she had other business to attend to. Vicky had narrated, with Dev's and Annie's help, every detail of the conversation.

"This is interesting. Now listen carefully. Samira is back in Delhi and she is going to make a public announcement soon. She knows all about Geet and she will probably try to bring some differences between both so keep a close eye on them. Also it was one of KC office staff that helped her. Sasha is her name. All three of you are Khurana's hence have a say at KC. Try to get that woman under control before she does too much damage. Did you by any change talk to your mother about my theory?"

"No, there was just too much going on" Vicky said quickly as Dev was going to convey his annoyance.

"Fine, no need now to ask her. This will be very unpleasant but I think I should come there and have a little talk to Maan and your mother."

"NO" Vicky yelled.

"Maan bhai is going to kill me if he finds out."

"What will I find out?" Maan was standing there, raising his eyebrow. He had been looking for Annie to ask her some things and found her in Vicky's room. Vicky started to sweat badly and even Annie and Dev were scared. This is not how he was supposed to find out.

"What will I find out, Vicky?" He asked again. Vicky gulped and cancelled the call. Maan took his phone and looked for the last number that had called. The caller had no ID.

"Feroza…" Vicky improvised.

"She wanted to meet you." He was digging his grave just deeper. Maan didn't believe him.

"Your girlfriend wants to talk to me?"

"Actually, she... she isn't my… girlfriend." Maan came closer.

Annie tried to help.

"Bhai, I am really hungry. Can you get me something?"

"Ask Geet." Maan said to her.

"Nisha was asking for you" Dev tried.

"Tell her I'll come later."

"It is not nice to simply hang up on me, Vicky." Ferri gave him a dangerous glare.

"Oh boy, now I am dead for sure. Fire in my neck and storm in front, what do I do?" he mumbled.

"Bhai, this is…" Vicky started.

"Detective Ferri." Ferri helped. Maan turned. He looked at Ferri up and down.

"What is a detective doing in MY house?"

"I am poking my nose in you family business because Vicky hired me." She gave a straight answer.  Maan turned to Vicky.

"You set someone to snoop around in our family matters, Vikrant?" Maan's voice was low and dangerous.

"How about you hear her out before you kill me" Vicky managed.

"Yes good idea. Because what I have to say is going to prove very important to you all." Maan was unsure but he could behead Vicky later, too. They sat in the study of the mansion. Maan had never touched the desk and chair his father used to use. He had set his working area separate.

Ferri explained Maan all points. There were some issues at which Maan's temper rose at Ferri but she continued calmly. When Ferri had finished he was quiet.

"I know from Vicky you are very keen on proofs but you will get that in a few days from her. It is not pleasant, I agree but you have to decide on what you want to do next." Annie, Dev and Vicky looked at Maan. Dev still didn't believe Ferri and he knew Maan wouldn't either.

"If what you are saying is true and I am not accepting in any ways that it is, then why did he never leave us a note?"

"Your father might have left a note before his suicide. Who looked for it?"

"The police"

"And you?" Maan looked at her.

"The police just looked at some obvious places such as the outhouse or his room. But you know him much better. There might be places in this mansion where he spent a lot of time or to which he was emotionally bound. How about you and your sibling search for it? Which used to be his favourite place?"

"This study. In fact, that is his table. I never touched it after that." Maan pointed at it.

"Then go and have a look" Ferri ordered. Maan was never ordered but he was curious and hence let her.

Annie and Dev helped him. Papers and files lay around. And old ink pot was open and its contents dried out. They found photographs of their childhood but no note. Annie and Vicky went to the shelf where Rajeev had his alcohol collection. They moved some bottles and removed some random books here and there.

One book dropped down, it had been places rather carelessly on top of others.

"Bhai" Annie yelled. It was a letter. Maan rushed to her and took it from her hands.

Dev saw the book. It was a collection of bed time stories which both their parent used to read to them when they were young. Maan reread to pages several times. His heart shattered. He cursed himself. He handed the papers to Dev who didn't feel much different. Annie and Vicky had a read, too.

"May I?" Ferri asked, holding out her hand. She had a read and in her mind congratulated herself for being right again.

"Well, one proof found to prove my theory right. It is high time you do something now. Do you know about Sasha?" Maan nodded.

"Is there anyone at KC you can blindly trust?"

"Aditya Sharma. He is a close friend and very loyal"

Ferri tried to convince Maan to follow her plan. For that though he had to talk to his mother. Maan knew he had to make up to her. He had done one mistake in the past, now he was doing it again. They briefly discussed on what will happen next and Ferri left.

 

Maan knocked on his mother's door.

"Maa, can I come in?" Sonia was surprised but glad.

"Come" He didn't know how to start. He simply gave his mother the note form his father and left her to read.

"This is why you left, isn't it?" Sonia sobbed badly. It was out now. Maan embraced his mother.

"I am such a jerk maa. I should have thought about something like this. Please forgive me." Sonia felt nice in her son's arms.

"I was never angry on you. It hurts doesn't it?" Maan nodded. He didn't hold back his tears either.

"It was too much for me, I didn't want you all to go through this. It would have made everything too complicated beta." Maan felt bad for having misunderstood his mother and guilty for not having looked for the note. Ferri was right, he should have looked.

Maybe then all these years he would have had his mother on his side. They forgave each other.

 

Maan also told Sonia about what else Ferri had told him. She was distressed but Maan reassure her that he would take care of matters. He lost his family once and as long as they are together no storm can separate them.

 

Geet was in the kitchen. She had searched for Maan but couldn't find him. Rano joined her and they remembered old times. They set to make dinner and Geet told Rano all about her time at the restaurant. Rano was proud that her Geetu had been so successful. They made dinner and some time later the entire house was around the dining table.

Maan purposely sat between Rano and Geet so he could have them both next to him and to annoy Geet.

"Mujhe meri mamma ke paas betna hain" She complaint innocently.

"Mujhe bhi. Aur kyun ki yeh mera ghar hain, meri hi chalegi" Maan replied slyly. Geet pouted and everyone laughed.

"To theek hain. Geet tum mere paas betogi aaj se." Sonia mad Geet sit by her side before Maan could protest. They ate and everyone praised Geet and Rano. Maan could clearly see the similarity between mother and daughter. He was thankful to Geet's babaji for having both on his side.

"Mummyji pata hain mujhe kya lagta hain?" Sonia asked Dadi.

"Hume Maan aur Geet ki sagai karwdeni chaiye." Dadi agreed.

"Tum kya kehti ho Rano?"

"Main kya kahungi? Mujhe to bohut khushi hogi."

"Tum kya kehte ho Maan?" Dadi asked.

"Sagai kyun? Direct shaadi karwado, mujhse ab aur intesaar nahin hota. Kyun Geet?" Geet turned all red from embarrassment and buried her face in Sonia's arm.

"Chup, besharam. Aisa kehte hai kya?"

"Bhai, shaadi ke liye abhi itne jadi karrahe ho, badme bohut pajtauge" Dev whispered rather loudly and Naintara hit him with her elbow. Everyone laughed. But it was decided that the engagement was to be taken place in a few days. As Maan requested they were to get engaged in Hotel Blue Island's ball room, just like Dev and Naintara. It was to be grand with all media present.

Preparations went on and Geet called Adi, Pinky and Meera to give them the good news. Meera and Yash had returned from their honeymoon and Yash was still in the mood. The girls and Annie went for clothes shopping. In the mall all got more closely acquainted.

Maan asked Adi and Yash for help. He told them about his dilemma and both swore to secrecy. Maan trusted Yash. His stay at his place had given him an idea of what sort of person he was and there was no reason to mistrust him.

Sonia, Rano, Dadi and Nani made quick arrangements. They were all in high spirits. Dadi showed Sonia the family jewellery which had to be past on to her first bahu. Dadi had given Naintara her share on Sonia's behalf as she was not present and Sonia felt a little bad.