Hey Guys! I am Zynia.Some of you may have seen me around the forum dropping a comment or two.Sooooo, just like all of you, I also had many expectations from Riansh but things didn’t turn out the way we expected.😔
I was just thinking about the exact point where things started to become haywire for me.And that was,when Vansh had gone to Dubai. Story wasn’t handled well from there only.
I suddenly had a desire to write something. I wanted to write a drabble, something deep and meaningful but since I haven’t written any story in my life to woh ho nhin ska😒.But I really, really wanted to write a story so I ended up writing this. I touched mostly every point because I don’t know whether I will write anything again in my life.😊
This is my first ever story. Took me a week to complete it. I planned to just keep it to myself, but then I tried to overcome my anxiety and I gathered courage to post it.😛
I hope you guys like it. Please give your feedback. Good? Bad? Did you want the same Riansh? Do comment.😛
Lastly, I would like to dedicate this story to all the wonderful writers of forum who kept Riansh alive with their works. Special mention to Gurleen Di❤️❤️. She is an inspiration to me.
I do have two or three or more ideas in my mind. Would you want me to write further?
Ok Bht time lay liya apka! On to the story. Thank you in advance who would take out time to read this.🤗
And sorry for any typing errors. I haven’t typed anything this long ever in my life😊
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“Aj tak kabhi Sejal say mila hi nhin. Yeh to halaat k mutabiq aisy hi bluff maar diya main ny,”Vansh revealed.
Shocked by his words, Riddhima snatched her hand away. Vansh continued with a smirk,
”Kya kroon, yh karna pada kyun k koi hai jo is ghar main mjhy dhoka day rha hai and the world knows k Vansh Rai Singhania dhokebazon say kitni nafrat krta hai. To bus maukey ka faida uthaya aur…
Riddhima did not let him finish and said, “aur kya. Aik masoom larki kidnap hogyi hai or mjhy shak hai k woh isi ghar main hai. Main yhan pareshan hoon apni dost ki safety ko lay kar or tum…or tumhain yh sab aikk hel or mazak lag rha hai."
Vansh pulled her towards him and said in a taunting voice,
“Tum to aisy keh rhi ho jaisy tum koi khel khelti hi nhin ho. Khair, I care adamn about that friend of yours. I am quite busy. This mansion has become amess in my absence. I need to set things straight.” He said pushing her awayand continued, “You continue your search operation. Good luck, Sweetheart!”
Vansh showed her thumbs to wish her luck and walked out of room.
Riddhima sat on the bed exhausted. She could not understand what exactly happened in previous few hours. She shivered with cold air that lingered even after her husband’s departure. She had not felt like this in a very long time in her husband’s presence. Up until he left for his businesstrip, they had such heart-warming and relaxed interactions with each other and even those few minutes long phone calls also got her excited to wait for her husband’s return. But a person did come back but, It didn’t feel like her husband returned. It is only, The Vansh Rai Singhania who came back.
She must have continued to ponder upon the situation but her thoughts were broken by ringtone of her phone. She looked at. The phone, a giftgiven by her husband to remain connected even when apart. And they did. She felt closer to him than ever. But now, though he was back, physically, still she felt the longest distance between them ever. The phone kept on ringing and it started to get noisy, so she got up and picked up to see “KABIR” on caller’sID. Gathering herself she picked it up.
“Kya hua? Kuch bataya Vansh ny? Kidhr hai Sejal? Tumharimulaqat hui us say? Kya kha usny? Hello!! Riddhima! Chup kyun ho? Kuch bolobhi? Hello?”
“Tum bolna band kro or mjhy bolny ka mauka do to main kuchboloon na? Riddhima said in an irritatedtone.
“Acha! Acha! Bolo bhi ab, Kuch pta chla?”
“Nhin, kuch pta nhin chla!”
“Kya matlab k nhin pta chla? Uff Riddhima tum shi say poochtaach kyu nhin kr pati ho Vansh say!’’ Kabir said annoying the hell out of Riddhima and she replied in a raised voice,
“Acha to tumahain agr shi say sawal jawab krny aata hai to tum khud krlo. Wahan say order chalana band kro. Main tumhary koi Ghulam nhin ho!”
“Han to main ny kab kha hai k tum mery Ghulam ho. We are partners in this mission Riddhima and as your” Riddhima cut him in between and said, “Partners? Kis trah k partners hain hum is mission k jab hum common ground par hi nhin hai? Tumhara jo dil krta hai tum apni marzi say krty ho?Pehly Devraj ban kr kitny din tum yhan rhy. Tumhara maqsad kya tha? Or ab aj yoon achanak tum phirr say mansion main ghuss aye? Kyun? Main ny bulaya tumhain? Nhin na to tum yhan kya kr rhy thy? Mjhy to lagta hai k tum mjhy samny rakh k koi or hi mission chla rhy ho?”
“Riddhima, tum mjh par shak kr rhi ho?”
“Nhin Riddhima tum par shak kyun kreygi?. As your subordinate spy uska to KABIR SAYS THE TRUTH or KABIR IS RIGHT mode on rehna chaiye na?
“Riddhima, yeh tum kya keh rhi ho? Kya humarey darmayan sirf yhi rishta hai? Woh beinteha pyar “
“Nhin, you are wrong Kabir. Humary darmayan koi rishta nhin hai,” Riddhima interrupted him in a stern voice, “ From now on we do not have any relation with each other. Na hi mission ka or na hi koi aur.”
“Riddhima, Meri Jan!, yh tum kya keh rhi ho?”
“Wohi jo suanyi day rha hai. Yeh sab to mjhy bht pehly keh dena chahiye tha par khair we all do make mistakes and ghalatiyon ki maafi hojati hai par agr bar bar wohi doharyi jayen to woh gunah ban jaty hain or main apny khandhon par mazeed koi guanh nhin loongi.”
“Kehna kya chah rhi ho. Tum mjhy dhoka dogi? Apny Kabir ko?”Kabir said accusingly.
“ Nhin, ghor say suno main mazeed khud ko dhoka nhin doongi.Bht hua yeh khel tamasha jasoosi ka.” Riddhima took a pause and with a sigh continued,
“Listen to this very carefully, I ABORT THIS MISSION.”
“Par Riddhima, yh dhoka hai”
“Meri bat poori nhin hui hai abhi. Dhoka? Dhoka to tab ho jab main tumhary khilaf ya tumhary pheet peechay kuch kroon. And I do not intend to do any such thing. Main sirf or sirf is sab say alag hona chahti hoon. Main mazeed tumhari puppet nhin ban skti. Tumhain agr mission continue karna hai to tum krskty ho. Tum trained police officer ho. Tumahin apni duties poori krny kliye kisi civilian ki zuroorat nhin honi chahiye. Apni qabiliyat par jo karna hai kro. Mjhy bakhsh do?”
“Lekin yh sab tumny khud apni marzi say accept kiya tha. Mainny tumhain majboor nhin kiya tha. Ab tum yoon aisy alag nhin hoskti.”
“Tumny mjhy majboor nhin kiya tha? Tum ny khud ko gun point par lay kr meri kamzori ka fayeda uthaya tha. Yeh jo pyar k wasty day rhy hona,is pyar ka sirf fayeda uthaya hai tumny. Or dekha jaye to technically woh Kabir jis say main pyar krti thi woh to tha hi nhin. Jis rishty ki shroo’aat hi jhoot say ho, jhan mehboob ki identity hi jhooti ho, woh rishta pyar ka hargiz nhin hoskta.
“Yeh tum acha nhin kar rhi ho. Yeh tumahry liye bilkul thk nhin hoga,” Kabir said in a threatning voice.
“Kya acha nhin hoga. Main koi certified spy nhin hoon. Legal action to mery khilaf tum lay nhin skty. Or agr kisi or tareqay say mjhy pareshan krny ki koshish ki to tumahry liye acha nhin hoga kyun k main tumahri complaint zuroor krskti hoon. Bus bht keh liya or sun liya. Aj k bad mjhy call krny ki zuroorat nhin hai.”
“Tumhain Vansh Rai Singhania pasand aagya hai na. Saaf saaf kaho yh aalishan mansion, yh paisa, yh jayedad, yh aish o araam dekh k tumhari niyat badal gyi hai. Kya keemat lgayi hai VRS ny tumharyi? Btao kitny main baicha tumny khud ko? Did you sleep with him? You bloody gold digger!” Kabir said scornfully and continued,” Tumhain kya lagta hai k jab usko tumhary asliyat maloom hogi to kya who tumhain izzat say ghar main rakheyga ? Aakhir ko us say shadi kr k, mery liye jasoosi kar k tumny usko dhoka diya or phirr who pasand aaya to wafa ka rukh badal diya. You will be not more than a gold digger for him too. Mjhy kya zuroorat hai tumnary khilaf krny ki. Is kaam k liye to VRS hi kafi hai.”
Riddhima couldn’t listen anymore. She disconnected the call, blocked Kabir’s number and was about to smash the phone on the floor but stopped. She couldn’t. It was a gift from her husband after all. She kept it on the bed and came to stand at the window.
She was feeling suffocated. She could not believe that Kabir, the man she loved enough to embrace such danger for him would simply nullify her efforts.
“ Yeh shak to bht pehly say hony lga tha k Kabir mjh say mohabbat nhin krta,” She thought,” par is bat ka yaqeen tha k who shayad meri izzat zuroor krta hai par yeh ghlat fehmi bhi door krdi usny. Par Riddhima sari bhool to teri hi thi, us say juday har khwab ko poora karny k liye tuney khudko hi quraban krdiya. Han usny tera fayeda zuroor uthaya par ijazat to tuney hi di usko. Khair ab tuney apny sath jo bhi ghlt kiya hai usko sudharna tera hi kaam hai. Yeh bat to done hai k araam say hath par hath rakh kar Kabir nhin bethny wala.He does have an ulterior motive.
She moved from the window and walked to sit on the red sofa.She kept on pondering and things became clearer to her. Yes, Kabir does have something other to do with Vansh Rai Singhania. Because, If Vansh is a white-collared criminal then he is not the only one in the country. There are plenty of people too. If he belongs to mafia then there must be other people too. And this thing is also a fact that business as vast as Vansh’s cannot be achieved by being hundred percent honest.
“ Han Riddhima, jo lesson tujhy Kabir ny yad krawaya tha ussay hat kr socha jaye to is mulk main bht say white-collared criminals hongy.Or bht say businessmen bady bady empire khary krny k liye illegal raasty zuroor apnaty hain. To kya un k khilaf suboot nhin hoty hongy. In today’s digital and one-click world, nothing can be hidden.Woh suboot mitaye jaty hain. Unko cover provide kiya jata hai. Or woh kon karta hai? Yakeenan police officers,prosecutors, lawyers or baki higher-ups. All of these people are connected to each other. Even bht say politicians jo corruption krty hain woh bhi yakeenan insay miley hue hoty hain to why would police force be behind Vansh only. Let us say Vansh pakra jata hai then baki sabki bhi to illegal activities,corruption or crimes saamny ayengy. Mulk main aik bawal aajayega. Sab say pehly to police force hi benaqab hogi k ab tk aakhir kyun nhin pakrey gye yh sab log.”
She stood up from the sofa and moved towards the mirror. She looked at her reflection and said, “ You are the biggest idiot Riddhima. If Vansh is such a big criminal to sirf aik police officer ko hi kaam kyun diya gya. Wouldn’t this require a special investigation team. Or team k nam par kon tha? Koi nhi bus aik woh namoona! Kya nam tha uska? Khair choro. Agar civilian ko involve kiya ja rha tha aisa ho hi nhin skta k koi higher-up mjh say na milta. If this mission was matter of national security to koi commissioner, ya Minister of Security Affairs kisi ka to zikr hota but aisa kuch nhin tha. Yeh sara mission, yh jaal, yh sab to sirf or sirf Kabir ka tha. Ab uska kya maqsad hoskta hai? Aakhir kyun usny aisa kiya? Yeh pta lgana mera kaam nhin hai. Uskajo bhi maqsad hai woh rukny wala nhi hai. He woud even attack me. Best yhi hoga k main ja kr sab Vansh ko btadoon. I am sure he will handle this. He will surely get angry but mjhy yakeen hai k he would not harm me. Aisy darny say kuch nhin hoga. Is say pehly k usy kisi or say mery bary main sach pta chlay Ishould surrender. I need to take this chance.”
Taking a deep breath, she moved to pick up her phone and moved out of the room to search for her husband. While moving down the stairs,she collided with someone. It was Aryan.
“ Hey! Watch out! Andhi hogyi ho?” He said while holding the railing to prevent himself from falling.
“ Nhin! Abhi to aankahin khuli hain.” Riddhima said.
“ Matlab?”
“ Kuch nhin,” She said and started walking but was stopped by Aryan.
“ Shouldn’t you say sorry?” He said.
“ Kyun?” Riddhima asked
“ Well! you nearly killed me. Bina break k gadi ki trah chal rhi thi. Main stairs say gir jata.”
At this Riddhima saw where they were standing. He was on the third stair from the floor while she on the fourth. She rolled her eyes and said ,
“I am sorry”
“ Wah! Tum apni ghalti bhi manti ho” Aryan said amusedly.
“ Han, mjhy apni ghlti smjhna or us par maafi mangna aata hai.”She said eyeing Aryan’s coat sleeve. There was an earing stuck in the button of his coat. She knew whose earing this was. She continued,
“I hope tumhain bhi aata hoga. Jald zuroorat padeygi”. She completed by looking into his eyes.
“ Matlab?” Aryan asked confusedly.
“ Matlab bhi smjha doongi . Sabr kro. “ She said and walked away saying to herself, “ I am sure is sabr ka phal kafi karwa hoga.” Riddhima would have confronted Aryan right here but she decided against it. It would be better to have someone by her side. Aryan needs to be reprimanded once and for all.
“ Mjhy jaldi Vansh ko dhoondna hoga or usay sab batana hoga.Aryan say bhi wohi baat kreyga ab. Bus thori dair or Sejal! I will be there soon. Bus Bappa please! Aryan usko koi nuqsaan na pohancha day!”
Riddhima looked for Vansh everywhere in the house. But couldn’t find him. She looked at the wall clock. It showed 11 o’ clock. She saw Angre going into his room while coming down. This means Vansh should be home by now. He does work late at night but as she has observed he never leaves without Angre especially for night meetings. She thought,
“ Hoskta hai aj Angre k beghair hi chla gya ho?”
None of the staff could be seen. Even the Head Housekeeper has left. She is usually there till 12 o’ clock. The whole mansion seemed unusually quite. She turned to go back to room but decided against it. She needs to wait for Vansh here so that the moment he returns she can talk to him.
“ Han, yhi wait krti hoon. Yoon na ho wapis aany par secret room main chla jaye.”
She sat on the sofa and waited for about 20 minutes. She would have gone to sleep but her phone slipped from her hand and she got up startled. Riddhima stood up rubbing her eyes and suppressed a yawn. She thought that it wasn’t a good idea to sit here. She should not fall asleep. She thought to take a walk outside in the lawn to keep herself fresh till her husband is back.
She came outside and moved towards the extensive lawn area of the VR mansion. The night seemed quite serene. Cool air hit her body and she shivered a little. She walked on the green grass inhaling the scent of Night-blooming Jasmines.
“ It’s nice.” She said with a happy sigh. She removed her slippers and kept on walking. It was the very first time that she was having a walk in this lawn. She looked at the vastness of it. It was as big as a cricket stadium.
She continued to move further towards the center of the lawn where the gazebo was. As she continued to walk she looked around. She could see many guards on their duty. The mansion otherwise had a tight security. But today she felt there were more than usual guards. She could barely make out their identity as it was quite dark. Again an unusual event.
“ It seems like there is a blackout.”
It was unusually dark. It was too early for all the lights to be off.
She felt a little scared standing alone in the vast lawn.
She reached the gazebo and stood facing towards the mansion.The moment she stopped, she could see a guard moving towards her. She saw him move further into the lawn. He stopped a few feet from her. He bowed before her and turned to take his position.
“ Suno?” She asked the guard.
The guard turned upon listening to her voice, moved closer to her and said, “ Yes, Mam!”
“ Itna andhera kyun hai ” Riddhima asked looking around.
“ Mam! Bahir ka phase gya hua hai and generator kaam nhin kar rha. I am sorry! Woh mjhy pta hi nhin chla k ap bahir ayi hain. Abhi abhi shift change hui hai, main duty k liye tayar horha tha.” The guard explained.
“ It is okay. No need to be sorry.” Riddhima assured the guard.
“ Mam! Ap kehti hain to light ka arrangement krwa deta hoon.Waisy electrician aaya hua. Masla hal hony wala hoga.”
Riddhima looked around. It felt quite dark. She looked at the sky. There was no moon. The sky looked cloudy. She sighed and looked towards the guard. With folded hands and down-casted eyes he was waiting for the order.
“ Ji, light ka intezam krwa dijiye.” She said while looking towards the main gate. There was no commotion around it. Guards were standing quietly at their positions. “ Pta nhin kab tk wait krna padeyga. I hope tum jaldi aajao Vansh.”
“ Ok Mam! Main light ka intezam krwata hoon” The guard said and turned to go. He had moved a few steps when suddenly the cars honked at the main gate. All the guards became alert. The main gate was opened and one after the other five Hilux cars entered the mansion.
Riddhima saw the cars entering. She saw the cars were loaded with guards. Some standing at the back of Hilux and other sitting inside. She was quite far to see that in which car Vansh was. All the cars moved over the entrance passage and came to stop near the entrance door. Right at that moment the guards jumped from the cars. The doors were opened and the guards sitting inside came out. Everybody came out but Riddhima still could not see Vansh. She craned her neck to see where the employer was in the group of employees.
“ Vansh khan hain,” She asked the guard from earlier who was standing in alert position.
“ Ji Mam! Boss is in one of the cars.” The guard replied.
“ To bahir kyun nhin aarhy hain woh?” Riddhima asked sounding a little anxious.
“ Ummm Mam! Aj kafi important deal hona tha.To jab bhi aisa hota hai to pehly payment ya jo bhi samaan hota hai usko samnbhala jata hai. Ap dekh rhi hai k kaafi guards hain. Yeh log samaan thikany lgayengy or baaki hum strict pehry par hain k koi bhi mansion k aas pass unknown banda na ho. Kafi logon ko khabr ho jati hai k badi deal hui hai to sab clear hony par hi Boss ko signal diya jayega bahir aany ka,”
The guard patiently explained his Boss’ wife and then said, “ Mam! Ap please gazebo ki tarf hi chaliye. I am here guarding you. Apko bhi safe rehna chahiye. Bal k ap ko bahir nhin aaana chahiye tha. Boss would be upset!”
Riddhima nodded and moved towards gazebo and sat on the bench. She could see the men moving some boxes towards the backyard. Once all the boxes were moved they gave clear signs to each other. One of the guard moved forward and opened the door of 3rd car from the row. And then she saw her husband, Vansh Rai Singhania, moving out of the Hilux.
Riddhima saw Vansh coming. He was wearing a long black coat.He stood there may be giving further orders to his men. She couldn’t see his face clearly. As he was wearing a black hat. After talking for a few minutes to his men, he moved towards the entrance. Riddhima also stood up but stopped when she saw that a guard stopped Vansh and said something to him. Vansh turned and Riddhima could see him looking towards her. He started walking towards the lawn. All other guards buzzed off while 2 of them followed him.
As he came closer, she could now see his face. He looked quite magnificent walking towards her. His eyes were fixed on her while Riddhima was just looking at the glory of the man who happened to be her husband walking towards her. He came to stand a few steps away from the gazebo, said something to the guard from earlier and dismissed him.
Then he moved towards her. And came to stand tall in front of her. Right at that moment the lights came back and she could finally see her husband clearly. She looked at him from bottom to top. His Chelsea boots were neat and shiny. He was wearing black pants that fitted him just like a glove enhancing his long and lean legs. There was belt fastened around his waist that had some design. It seemed like a foreign language to her. She moved her eyes from his stomach to his chest and his neck. He was wearing a black turtle neck shirt that again fitted him perfectly giving idea about his body contours. Around his neck there was a long chain hanging at the end of which there was a “lion-shaped pendent”. Riddhima could identify it. It seemed similar to “Shera” but a bit smaller. She then moved her eyes to his broad shoulders that were covered with the coat.
It was deep maroon colored coat not black. There was golden colored spikes over the shoulders. She finally moved her eyes up at Vansh’s face. He was looking at her intently. She looked in his eyes. His brown-colored eyes looked beautiful. She would have lost herself into them but her mind was trying to read his mind through his eyes. She couldn’t understand what was going in his mind right now. But she did feel relaxed seeing that the coldness in his eyes which she saw a few hours back wasn’t there. It kinda restored her confidence.
“ Sari rat idhr khary reh kar ghoorny ka iarada hai kya?
Vansh asked removing his hat from his head,
“Waisy chaho to ghoorty rho. I don’t mind. Bus beth jao, thak jaogi.” He said playfully and moved past her to sit on the bench.
Vansh put the hat on the side and crossed his legs and sat comfortably. Riddhima stood there facing away from him. She was gathering her courage to finally make the reveal. She could feel her heart thumping against her ribcage. Her hands suddenly started shivering. She looked at her hands. And saw the engagement and VR ring sitting on both her ring fingers. Looking at those little ornaments, she felt courageous. She got clear about her identity.
”Yes! You can do this Riddhima”, She gave herself a pep talk, “ You have to do this for yourself, for your marriage and for Vansh. Have faith in Vansh. He won’t harm you. Or naraazgi tu uski zuroor door krleygi.”
She ran her hands on her face and neck to compose herself. Her fingers rubbed against her Mangalsutra. She held it tightly, closed her eyes and sent a prayer to her Bappa to let her pass through this situation. She released a long breath and was about to turn towards Vansh when she heard him say,
“ Arey kya hua? Tum to chehra mor k hi khari hogyi. Chlo tum nhin ghoorna chahti to thk hai. Par mjhy to tumhay dekhna haina. Mera ji nhin bhra. After all I am seeing my wife after a long time.”
Riddhima turned and looked at Vansh. He was sitting on the bench cross legged, one arm around the the back of the bench, back straightened and shoulders squared. He sat there as if he owns this world, this night, this dark sky and beyond that. There was playful smirk on his lips. He was looking at her. Riddhima again looked in his eyes to gauge his mood but could not read those brown, shiny orbs. But suddenly there came a glimpse of annoyance in his eyes. Riddhima’s confidence again faltered. She saw his eyes moving from her eyes to to her head, precisely her hair.
Riddhima could feel her hair swaying due to the cool breeze that was flowing. She tucked a strand behind her ears tentatively. And ran her fingers from her scalp to ends of hair to see what caught attention of her husband to annoy him. She didn’t feel anything unusual. She was about to ask but Vansh said,
“ I love the way they dance, Sweetheart!” He whispered this softly. Riddhima had to strain her ears to listen what he said. She felt herself blushing. She saw Vansh shifting his gaze back to her tresses. She saw how he was fascinated by her hair. She would have loved for him to continue his admiring session but they had an important issue to talk about. An issue that would decide whether she would be able to see this admiring gaze later on in life or not.
“Apsay bat krni hai,” Riddhima said. Vansh turned her attention to her eyes looking a little shocked. She has never really used honorifics with him. He took a moment and said,
“ Han bolo.”
Riddhima looked towards the two guards and then at Vansh. Vansh without tearing his gaze from her face, dismissed the guards with a flick of his hands. They bowed before him and walked away. Riddhima also kept on looking into his eyes without saying something.
“ Sweetheart, Am I looking too handsome today. Bar bar mujh main kho jati ho.” Vansh said teasingly.
Riddhima tore her eyes away from him and started looking at her intertwined fingers.
“ Lo ab mera mtlab yh bhi nhin tha k tum nazrain chura hi lo.” He said bending a little to see her face that she had lowered down. A few moments passed but Riddhima didn’t lift her head. He straightened himself and said,
“ Chlo kaho kya kehna chahti ho? Sach, jhoot sab kehdo aj. I am all ears.”
Riddhima lifted her head. And saw Vansh. The typical VRS aura was back. She was scared to talk with “THEVRS” even today. Her gaze saw his left hand sitting on his thigh. His wedding ring was there. He was subconsciously playing with it with his thumb. Right then Riddhima thought, this man sitting over here is her husband, Vansh. She isn’t going to talk to THE VRS. She is coming clean to her husband. She cleared her throat and again looked at his face. He was looking at her expectantly.
“ Vansh,” She said ever so softly
“ Hmmmm.” Vansh replied softly.
“ Woh main, woh main.” She paused, moved 3 steps closer and continued,
“ Vansh, main aj abhi tumsay jo bhi kehny ja rhi hoon please cool mind say meri bat poori hony dena. Meri bat khtm hony par tum jo bhi kho gay, ya jo bhi faisla sunaogy, mjhy qubool hoga.” Vansh nodded his head.
“ Main aj tumhain koi jhoot nhin kehny wali hoon. Today all I want to say is truth. Main tumhary life main khud nhin aayi thi. Mjhy tumhary life main shamil kiya gya tha. Mjhy tum par spy krny k liye bheja gya tha.”
Shepaused to gauge her husband’s reaction. There was none. She continued looking down at her interwined fingers.
“ Humari pehli mulaaqat k ilawa baki sab planned tha.”
“ Ghlat, pehli do mulaqatain.” Vansh interrupted her. She looked at him confusedly.
“ Mery liye doosri thi. Khair choro continue please!”
Riddhima again looked down and continued to narrate the truth. How she was in love with a man. How she came to know that he was a cop. How she was made to believe that Vansh is a dangerous criminal and Police Force is trying to catch him. How she and the man she loved planned to get her an entry into mansion. How she tried to get proofs. How she ran away from wedding. How she was forced to get back to him and get married. How even after marriage she continued her mission.
“ Vansh, shadi k bad bhi main ny jasoosi jari rakhi. Jo bhi information mili woh usko batayi par it was not substantial enough. Mjhy yhan rehna pada. But now everything has changed for me. I cannot continue this. I don’t want to continue this. Main or dokha nhin day skti. Na tumhain, na is parivar ko or sabsay barh kar khud ko. Jo pyar jisky liye sab kiya, it was just a "Mirage" maybe. Aik sapna tha, toot gya. Annkh khul gyi or ab jo asliyat hai, meri or meri zindagi ki, I want to accept it.”
She completed and looked at her husband. He was sitting there with no understandable emotions on his face. Riddhima felt a little lighter after revealing the truth but she was now scared. Kabir’s words from before rang in her ears.
“ Tumhain kya lgta hai k tumnhari asliyat jan leny k bad who tumhain ghar main izzat say rakheyga?”
Riddhima knew he wouldn’t kill her. She was sure of that. She didn’t want the punishment for her mistake. She wanted forgiveness. Maybe, she was asking for too much. But still she wasn’t ashamed of it. She didn’t want to leave this world, this mansion and this man. This world was way too different and complicated from the world that she belonged to. This mansion was way far from being a home for her. This man still was far away from being the kind of husband she wanted. But, she wanted a chance. A chance to understand this world, to make this mansion her home and this man hers. She wasn’t afraid of going back to her world and being alone there. She just wanted a chance to share her life with someone. And that someone was Vansh sitting in front of her. She looked at him expectantly hoping that he decides in her favor.
“ Stop!” He said looking deep into her eyes. Riddhima looked on with a confused expression.
“ Your fingers. Stop peeling skin from your fingers.” He answered her unasked question and shifted gaze to her hands.
“ I love the way they are. So delicate.” He again whispered with fascination in his eyes.
Riddhima stopped what she was doing to her fingers and dropped her hands by her side. Vansh’s object of fascination was removed from his eyes. He closed his eyes for a moment and asked,
“ So, what do you want? Kya chahti ho, Sweetheart!?
“ Forgiveness. Maafi chahti hoon.” She immediately replied.
“ Kis rishty say maafi mang rhi ho. What do you think with what right you are standing in front of me Riddhima?” He inquired.
“ Aik patni k rishty say. I am aware of the fact k agar aik jasoos k status say tumhary samny khari hoti to ab ab tak shayad mjhy saza sunayi ja chuki hoti. But today right now I am standing here asking for forgiveness as a wife. Main janti hoon mjhy sharminda hona chahiye. Because I never fulfilled my duties as a wife rather disrespected this marriage and now I am asking for my rights from you. I am sorry! I am saying sorry as a wife. I am telling you all this as a wife who wronged her husband. But woh selfish patni yeh chahti hai k uska pati usko maaf krday. You give me this right and I promise to fulfill all my duties. Tumhary sary haq adaa krdoongi. I lived as a spy. Now I want to live as a wife. Please! Mjhy aik chance day do.”
She said with desperateness in her voice.
Vansh finally stood up from the chair and approached Riddhima steadily. He walked close to her till his feet almost touched hers. She extended her neck to look into his eyes. She with bated breath waited for decision. She prayed that the decision is given by her husband and not VRS. VRS never compromises with his rules but she knows her husband does. Wasn’t this the reason that he even went on his knees and prayed for her to “Her Bappa” when she was on her death-bed.
“ Yes! I will give you a chance.” Vansh finally gave his decision. A teary smile broke on Riddhima’s face.
“Main apni patni ko aik moka zuroor doonga kyun k uska qarz bhi to utarna hai. Or Vansh Rai Singhania kisika qarz nhin rakhta.”
“ Qarz? “ Riddhima asked confusedly.
“ Han! Tumny bhi to mjhy mouqa diya tha when you took the bullet for me.”
“ Par woh to koi bhi”
“ Nah! I can see right through you Mrs Vansh Rai Singhania. You did that for me because you wanted to understand Vansh Rai Singhania-The Enigma for you. To batao,”
He stepped a little away from her, spread his arms and asked with a playful smirk on his face,
“ Kya paya?”
Riddhima chuckled at this and said,
“ VRS ki talaash main, I found,” she stepped close to him again, took his arms, wrapped them around her waist and put her hand on his chest, where his heart was and completed softly,
“ I found Vansh. I found you.”
A beautiful smile broke on Vansh’s face and Riddhima knew that she would cherish this smile all her life. She felt so happy at this moment. She laid her her on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. Vansh also tightened her hold on her.
Both stood for a long time in each other’s embrace. Their moment was broken by Vansh’s chuckle.
Riddhima lifted her head from his chest and asked
“ Kya hua?”
“ Aisy hi I was thinking k kafi Ziddi ho tum.”
“ Matlab?”
“ Matlab yeh k jasoosi nhin ho pa rhi thi. Par phir bhi you kept on. Haar hi nhin mani”
Riddhima looked at him shocked. “ Matlab you knew”
“ Yes, Sweetheart! I knew.”
“ Kabsay? To mjh say poocha kyun nhin kuch bhi?”
“ After the shootout. Sab confirm hogya tha!”
“ To phirr kuch poocha kyun nhi”
“ What do you think of me? My wife was shot. She took a bullet for me. She was in recovery period or main courtroom bna k beth jata?But my wife did continue her “Jasoosi” rather than staying put.”
“ I am sorry! But you were not listening to me. All I was saying that there was something fishy. But you never believed me”
“ I knew something was amiss too. But tumhain safe rakhna meri priority thi. Mjhy lga ghussay say tumko kahoonga k yh sab na kro to shayad na kro. But as I said, you are quite Ziddi.”
“ Phir bhi uskay bad tumny kuch nhin kha. Jab main thk hogyi thi”
“ Bus ishaani ki shadi aagyi or tumsay kya kehta sunta jab mastermind khud hi mansion main aagya tha.”
“ So, you knew k Devraj Singh Rathore,”
“ Of course, I knew. I am not dumb like you.”
“ Hey! Main dumb nhin hoon” Riddhima said by folding her arms,“ I am quite smart. Acha phirr kya hua?”
Riddhima asked as if Vansh was telling her a story of an action thriller.
“ Oh! I see my smart wife is interested in knowing this story. But, I am hungry. ” He said rubbing a hand over his stomach.
“ To tumhain batana chahiye tha na. Pta nhin kabsay bhooky ho. Chlo jaldi say, I will heat up the food for you.” She said by holding his arm and dragging him along with her.
After coming inside she pushed him towards the stairs “ Go! freshen up jaldi say. Main khana nikalti hoon.” She said and moved towards the kitchen.
Vansh kept on looking at her retreating back. The long hair moved sexily along her back.
“ Hurry up Vansh! Baad main ghoorty rehna.” She said without stopping and took left turn and disappeared from his eyes. Vansh smiled and ascended the stairs.
Riddhima was putting the final dish on the dining table when Vansh came in the dining area, folding the sleeves of his white shirt. Riddhima looked on fascinated. The dish in her hand waiting to be kept along with others on the dining table. Vansh looked up at her to see that the bowl was about to slip for her hand. He took a long step and held the bowl in his hand.
“ Riddhima!” He said with a little anger in his voice. “Kidhar dhayan hai tumhara. Hath jala leti abhi.” He turned and put the bowl on the table.
“ Main tum main kho gyii thi. Or yh meri ghlti nhin hai.” She said defending herself.
“ To phirr kiski hai?”
“ Tumahri,” she said poking her finger at his chest.
“ Hmmm thk hai! Purani adat hai tumhary har cheez ka ilzam mjh par dalny ki. Kya suboot hai ap k pass Mrs Vansh Rai Singhania k yh meri mistake hai.”
He asked by pulling her close to him with her outstretched arm. She collided with his chest. He locked his arms around her waist and again asked inquiringly,
“ Kahiye kya suboot hai.”
“
Suboot yh hai k you are so handsome. Koi bhi kho jaye.”
“ Hmmm Chlo man lety hain. Par yh ilzam mjht tabhi qubool hai jb tum lgao. Only you have the right to be lost in me.”
He said while moving his index from her brows till the corner of her lips. He looked into her eyes and then down at her lips and again whispered softly, “ I love they way these are. So rosy, so tempting”, and ran his thumb over her lips. He kept on looking at them enchantingly. And bent down to kiss her.
He was about to but a grumbling sound came from somewhere. He straightened up and looked at Riddhima and asked,“ Tumnay khana khaya?”
Riddhima nodded her head in no. Vansh held her arm and made her sit on the chair. And served her food. Once she started eating, he also made a plate for him and silently ate his food.
They silently ate food until Riddhima asked, “ Han to Kabir ki identity pta chlny k bad kya hua?”
Vansh put last morsel in mouth and gave her a signal to wait. He swallowed it, took a glass of water and took few sips. Meanwhile, Riddhima started collecting the cutlery.
“ Arey rehny do. Kitchen staff would take care of it in the morning.”
“ No Vansh! I can not leave the dining table like this. Moreover the food will go bad. We should not waste food. 2 plates hi to hai. Kitna time lageyga wash krny main.” She took the plates and moved towards the kitchen. Vansh also took two bowls and followed her.
She was at the sink when she heard him, “ Once I knew that DSR was Kabir, I simply waited for him to strike. But he didn’t do anything. He once approached you at the excuse of that bangle but I stopped him.” Riddhima kept on washing the plates while listening to him.
“ Yeh bowls kha rakhoon” He asked.
“ In the fridge.” She said drying her hands.
“ Zara coffee bna do” Vansh asked her.
She nodded and moved towards the counter to make coffee. As she was beating the coffee, Vansh brought all other bowls from dining and kept them in fridge.
She was now boiling milk for coffee. Vansh continued,
“ He didn’t do anything except that he killed real DSR.” He deliberately didn’t tell her about the fact that she was harmed by Kabir- the man she dreamt her life with.
“ Kya? He killed the real DSR!”
“ Of course, my smart wife who else would. Khair I also kept my game low key. He left and then I also got busy with business stuff. I put this matter on hold. I wanted him to make the real move first. Mjhy jan’na tha k uska intention kya hai. I think no one would use their woman for their duty. Personal dushmani ki koi wajh meri smjh say bahir thi. Jhan tak bat humari hai to, everything was going rather smooth between us. I didn’t want to have any turbulence. We both were trying to understand our emotions so I also tried and gave my full attention to our marriage.”
Riddhima was now adding milk to the coffee. She mixed it and handed it over to him.
He took a sip and said, “ It is nice. Just the way I like it.”
Riddhima smiled, cleaned up the counter while Vansh again started speaking, “ then I had to leave for the business trip. The meeting was quite important but I got update that there was some disturbance in the mansion. A fire broke out of nowhere. Khair I got back and,”
“ or aaty sath hi munh phula liya.” She said after finishing her work.
“ to kya karta, aik k bad aik tamasha sun’ny ko mila. And then I saw Kabir. I thought may be you allowed him into the mansion. Because I had alerted the guards. Security was tight. Woh khud mansion main nhin aa skta tha. And then you saved him. I felt betrayed then.”
Riddhima looked at him and said, “ I stopped you for you, Vansh.”
“ Han, mjhy bad main ehsas hogya tha. I am also sorry. I misbehaved with you.”
She held his free hand and said, “ It is Ok Vansh. Main decide kar chuki thi k bus jab tum wapis aaogy to sirf apni patni ko paogy but situation hi ajeeb si hogai thi. You came to find everyone bombarding you with their issues. Or main bhi to Sejal ki wjh say kitni pareshan thi.”
And then it struck to her that she has totally forgotten about Sejal.
“ Vansh! woh Sejal. Usko waqyi kidnap kiya hai. And that person is Aryan. And I can prove this. Vansh, trust me. I am not blaming him aisy hi. Vansh you need to help me. She is like a sister to me. My only family. Please Vansh! I beg you.”
Vansh kept the cup on the counter and held both her hands, “Riddhima! Relax. Sejal is safe. Woh mery pass hai.”
Riddhima looked at him shocked and then with a mistrust in her eyes.” Tum phir say to bluff nhi kr rhy ho Vansh. Yh koi mazak nhin hai.Uskay sath kuch bhi hoskta hai.”
“ No, I am not bluffing this time. Last jab room main tum say bat hui to I went out. Thanday dimagh say socha to smjh aaya that Kabir ka yhan aana is not your fault. I had tightened the security. He entered as a decoration staff. Sabki checking hui hogi, mask remove kr k hi, according to my instructions. He still passed the security. Mtlab saaf hai, there was someone in the security, who helped him.”
“ Pta chla kon tha?”
“ Han, one of the guard on the entrance was replaced withou tAngre’s orders. He usually handles all the security and house staff.”
“ To kon tha woh replaced guard.”
Riddhima saw Vansh’s eyes becoming steeled. He became stiff. He seemed quite angry and dangerous. She got a little scared.
“ Kon tha woh.?”
“ One from the group that is appointed for personal security of residents of mansion.”
“ What? Someone from the mansion?” Riddhima was shocked, “kon hai Vansh?” Khin…”
She was about to say the name but Vansh raised his hand to stop her, “ Don’t. Just don’t. Not now Riddhima. I am not ready to talk about this now. I need to register and understand the situation. Tumhe jald pta chaljayega.” He said in an exhausted tone.
“ Ok! Ok! Relax. Easy hojao. Jab shi lgay to bta dena. Or agr na lge to bat na karna. I know you will be able to handle this,”
He didn’t say anything as if he didn’t listen to her. It seemed that something was suffocating him. Riddhima moved forward and rubbed his arm.
“ You okay?”
She asked. He came out of his thoughts and looked at her. He didn’t reply.
“ Acha chlo halki phulki walk krty hain lawn main. Dinner bhi thora digest hojayega. If I go to sleep immediately after dinner to bloating hojati hai.”
She led him out of the kitchen and followed after switching off the lights. She saw him moving slowly lost in his thoughts. She took long strides and held his hand and intertwined their fingers. He looked at her. She gave him a smile, and he returned it. They kept on walking lightly swinging their joined hands.
Few steps into the lawn, Vansh said,
" I am sorry!”
“ For what?”
“ For not listening to you.”
Riddhima knew what was he talking about. “ It is ok,” She said and then added playfully, “ You can make it right by listening to only me from now on. Bus ab say meri batain suno.”
“ Tumhain batain karna acha lagta hai?”
“ Han. Mjhy batain karna bht pasand hai. Logon say bat karna, un k bary main jan’na, different ideas discuss karna; I really like it. Sejal meri…. “ She stopped at this and came in front of Vansh. “ tumny bataya hi nhink Sejal khan hai. How did you save her?”
“ Kuch khas story nhin hai is k peechay. Tumnay kha tha k you think she is locked somewhere in the house. So, before going for the meeting I had asked Angre to thoroughly search the mansion. I don’t know Aryan itna bewakoof kyun hai. I designed this mansion. I know where all secret rooms or passages are. If he did kidnap her to usko khin or rakhna chahiye tha na. I put Angre to this work. Mai usi waqt us say bat karta but I had to go the meeting.”
“ Oh tabhi aj Angre tumhary sath nhin gya. You saved her. Tumnay meri friend ko priority di. Tumhain mjh say naraazgi thi but still you cared for my friend. For me. Thank you Vansh!” She said holding his left hand.
“ Riddhima, there is no need to thank me. Who tumahri sirf dost nhin hai. She is your family. Only family that you had. Or main ny yh sab sirf tumahry liye nhin kiya. Mera tumsay rishta hai. To automatically tum say judy hue rishty say bhi mera talluq hai. I need to care for them even without you asking me.”
Riddhima had tears in her eyes. Nobody had said something like this in her life. Nobody looked out for her let alone caring about people around her? Vansh continued,
“ Waisy I talked to her on phone. Angre took her to the hospital. She will stay there tonight. She wasn’t injured gravely. Because of lack of food and water and psychological trauma of getting abducted, her energy levels are low. Zayada bat nhin ki main ny. She needs to rest. We will visit her first thing in the morning.”
“ Vansh, thank you! That is all I can say to you.”
“ Riddhima,” Vansh said by holding her softly by her shoulders, “kya kha hai main ny. Thank you ki bat hai hi nhin. Ghar ki bat hai. She is my sister-in-law. But mery liye she is same like Siya and Ishani. Uski wohi respect hai jo meri behnon ki hai.”
“ And trust me, anybody who is related to me would respect you the way you deserve to be respected.”
“ And I hope Riddhima k now that you have accepted yourself as my wife to tum bhi mjh say related logon ko smjhny ki koshish krogi. Meri family sirf chand log nhin hai. All those who work for me are my family. And now being the lady of the house, tumhain slowly slowly apni zimmedari smajhni hogi.”
“ Vansh main poori koshish kroongi to understand your world,” Riddhima said in a promising voice, “ But..” She stopped at this.
Vansh felt she wanted to say something but was skeptical about it.
“ Riddhima, bolo. What do you want to say. I am listening to you.” Vansh encouraged her.
“ Vansh, main to tumsay juday hue logon ki izzat kroongi par kya who bhi mjhy izzat daingy?,” She said with a sadness in her voice.
“ Kyun nhin Riddhima? Zuroor kraingy.”
“ Kaisy Vansh? Bus Dadi or Siya hain jo mjhy kuch smjhty hain. Baki to jaan boojh kar mjhy nuqsan pohanchana chahty hain. I don’t feel safe in this house. Tum abhi yhan nhin thay to Aryan misbehaved with me. Vansh main room main nhin thi woh room main chla aaya, he used our washroom, aur, aur yoonhi bathrobe main bahir aagya,” Vansh fisted his hand, “ Or jab main ny jany ko kha to he said k yh uska ghar hai. Woh is ghar ka beta hai. Par Vansh, thk hai mjhy Bhabhi k rishty say izzat na day par usko limits to pta honi chahiye na. I am not one of those modern girls jo usky aagy peechay phirty hain. Jinsay woh flirt krta phirta hai. I am a married woman. Kuch to zara sa khyal ho usko. Izzat karna woh janta hi nhin hai. Ab dekho, he bloody kidnapped a girl, my friend, mjhy pareshan krny k liye. Woh usk sath kuch bhi krskta tha. Kuch bhi.” She said emphasizing on “ kuch bhi”.
Riddhima looked at Vansh. There was anger clearly written on his face.“ Tumhain meri bat smjh main aaarhi hai na?”
“ Riddhima, tumhain kisny kha hai yh bardasht krny ko. Aikl gaani thi usko. Uski himmat kaisay hui? Meri absence main, meri wife ko harass krny ki.” He said barely controlling himself.
“ Vansh, tum humesha mery sath nhi reh skty ho. To kya har bar mouka dekh kr woh yhi harkat kreyga. What do you think k main chup kr k uski bakwas sunti rhi hoongi? I slapped him.” Vansh looked at her proudly. “But Vansh, har bar yeh nhin hoskta. He is a man. He is stronger than me physically. Main sirf lafzon say uska muqabla nhin krskti hoon. I am scared k woh mery sath.”
“ No!” He said in a loud voice, “ aisa kuch nhin hoga.” Vansh said coming close to her and cupping her face.“ I will protect you.”
“ Par Vansh kaisy.” She said by removing his hand away from her face and stepping back a little. Vansh fisted his hand. He didn’t like this. He stood there, thought something for a moment and said,
“ Tumhain fikr krny ki zuroorat nhi hai. Aryan ka main bandobast krta hoon koi. Ghar main ghar ki aurton k sath reh reh kar or bus parties kr kr k uska dimagh khrab hogya. He will have to leave this house. This city. This country.
“ Khan jayega woh, woh to is ghar ka beta hai na?” she saidr epeating Aryan’s words in a taunting tone.
“ I have decided. I will send him to Hong Kong. Main jany wala tha for about month but I think, It is high time that Aryan also starts taking responsibility. Chachi or Chacha ko lagta hai na k usay mouka nhi diya jata. Par sach yh hai k woh apni mom ka pallu choreyga to aagy barheyga na. Jo training Chachi uski kr rhi hain us say woh Kitchen Politics main zuroor specialize krleyga par business ki kuch smjh nhin aani. I will give responsibility. He needs to learn k yh itna paisa yoonhi nhin baras rha. Usky peechay din rat mehnat krni padti hai. We have been doing business there for quite sometime. They are not easy people to work with. Jab wahan jayega or unko handle kreyga na to zindagi or paisay donon ki qadr karna aajayega. Here, he feels that he is some Don by harassing women, udhar jayega to akal thikany aajayegi. You don’t worry. If you want, I will rebuke him about this issue. But to be honest. He won’t stop like this. This would be more appropriate if I remove him from the scene.” Vansh looked at Riddhima. She was silentlyl istening to his words. “ Thk hai na?” He asked.
“ Yes Vansh! yhi thk rheyga.”
Vansh nodded his head, took her hand in his and started walking. They moved towards the direction of gazebo quietly. Vansh sat their on the bench, with his legs stretched and crossed at ankles. Riddhima stood there.
“ Phir kis soch main gum hogyi? Aao idhr mery pass betho,” he said taping space next to him.
“ Vansh, or Ishani?”
“ Sweetheart, bus bhi kro. Kabsay doosron k bary main hi bat kr rhy hain. Kuch humary bary main bhi bat krlain?” Vansh said
“ Lekin Vansh?”
“ Riddhima, usky bary main I can’t say anything. I am sorry about all those things she said and did to you. It is our mistake that shel ikes to put everyone through a “statusometer,” Vansh said by making an air quote gesture with his fingers and continued, “ and then she judges k kon kitni izzat deserve karta hai. She is a woman full of herself. I was too busy in handling the business from a very young age. I couldn’t gave her attention. Siya was paralyzed I used to take extra care of her and let Ishani do her thing. But she turned out like this.”
“ But Vansh, yeh koi reason nhin hai kisi ko torture karny ka. She has harmed me both mentally and physically.”
“ Riddhima, she will have to face consequences if she continues to harm you.”
“ Kya krogy? Usko bhi ghar say nikalogy?”
“ Agar yoonhi chlta rha then, Yes!. Don’t worry, I will let everyone know that anybody who dares to lay a finger on my wife would not be my person. I want to keep everyone together. And family members don’t hurt each other. Koi kareyga to woh family nhi hai. Or mjhy koi zuroorat nhin hai anjan logon ko ghar main rakhny ki. Pehly yh kar chukka hoon. Ab nhin” Vansh said with a regret in his voice. Riddhima knew what was he talking about. She said,
“ Do you think woh man jayegi?”
“ I can work hard to tone down her actions but uski nature nhin badal skta main. You are allowed to tell her off if she says something to you. I don’t want to be a part of Kitchen Politics,” he said again air quoting his fingers, “ You are Mrs Vansh Rai Singhania . Tum mery liye sirf Riddhima ho k bhi equally respectable ho. But if someone is pointing fingers at you about your status, you are free to let them know who you are. Riddhima, Izzat karwan ysay hoti hai. Or tumhain apni izzat karwani aaani chahiye.”
“ Ok, main koshish kroongi to live up to my status,” Ridhima said obeyingly.
“ Good girl! Or wasiy bhi pehly to lockdown chal rha tha. Everything was closed down. Abhi the world is opening again to Ishani will get busy with her shopping, kitty parties and girl trips. Tumhain woh nazar hi nhin ayegi. She will be back surrounded with people who flatter her. To usko choro.”
“ Thk hai, Vansh. Aur.”
“ Bus Riddhima, enough talks about others. Kuch tumhari or meri batain krlain ab?”
Riddhima chuckled and nodded her head in a yes. Vansh also smiled and said,
“ So, Mrs Vansh Rai Singhania! Did you miss me?” Vansh said lightly moving his crossed legs. He had a mischief in his eyes.
Riddhima’s mind wandered back to the few days she lived without him. How she felt alone and lonely while passing through the corridors. How she felt as if Vansh took some part of hers with him. She was left alone to be Riddhima but she wanted to feel like Riddhima Vansh Rai Singhania. How she used to leave the room in the morning and spend the day trying to busy herself with little chores. How she used to take a glance at the entrance door as if Vansh would walk in any moment. At the dining table, when all other members used to be engrossed in their talks, how she just looked at the chair where her husband used to sit making sure that family had an amicable dinner. She thought how she used to walk away without taking a morsel and no one stopped her to ask “ Khana kyun nhin kha rhi ho”.
And how she delayed going back to room at night. How she couldn’t sleep at night without him. How she was scared that what if someone entered the room because Vansh wasn’t there to protect his private space. How she kept on laying straight on her back not wanting to turn to either side. She didn’t like the empty space beside her. She didn’t like when she turned and didn’t use to see her husband’s back as he slept soundly. And if she used to turn away from his side of bed, there was the red sofa. That sofa reminded her of the initial days after marriage when he used to sleep there. They were apart, she didn’t trust him but still she felt protected and not lonely. When sleep used to evade her, how she spent the night thinking about him, about his thoughts about her, about her thoughts about him, about his care for her, about her desire to care for him. And with these thoughts she used to fell asleep to wake up to same happenings. Riddhima wanted to tell all this to Vansh but she just said,
“ Yes! I missed you. Har pal, har lamha. I missed you.”
Just then his phone rang again, Vansh gave an irritated expression. It seemed he didn’t liked this disturbance. Even Riddhima felt annoyed. He picked up the phone and listened to other end silently. And then said in typical VRS tone,
“ Usko kho agr intezar nhin krskta to he can go somewhere else. Main kam apny terms par krta hoon. Log meri marzi say aaty jaty hain, Vansh kisi ki marzi say khin nhin aata jata. Jo time main ny decide kiya hai, metting usi par hogi.”
And he disconnected the phone after putting it in silent mode.
“ Sorry, Sweetheart! These people,”
“ Aur tumnay?” She didn’t let him continue.
Vansh looked on confused. She explained,
“ I am asking k tumny mjhy yad kiya? Did you also miss me?”
“ I am missing you even now, Sweetheart!”
“ Matlab?”
“ Itni door jo ho. Yhan pass aao to shayad tumari yad aana band ho?” He said stretching his hand towards her.
Riddhima took it and he pulled her to sit just next to him. Riddhima sat there and laid her head on his shoulder. Vansh wrapped his right arm around her. They sat their in silence with their eyes closed as if they could finally breath after trying so hard to survive their time apart. Riddhima was absent mindedly playing with wedding ring in his finger when Vansh broke the silence,
“ Why did you miss me so much, Riddhima?”
Riddhima lifted her head from his shoulder. He was looking at her as if he was really curious to get answer to this question. Riddhima thought for a moment and replied,
“ Kyun k mjhy tumhari adat hogyi. Tumhari presence zuroori lagny lgi hai”
The look in his eyes changed. His eyes shone to get the answer to his query. Riddhima could see in his eyes how happy he was to know this. She could also see that he felt a little sorry at this moment about leaving her.
“ Or tumny bataya bhi nhin k ja rhy ho. Yoon achanak chley gye. Or phirr abhi tumhari tabiat bhi fully thk nhin hui thi. I was worried about you,” she complained in a wifely manner.
“ It was an urgent matter. I had to leave at night. I didn’t want to wake you up. I would’nt say k yh dobara nhin hoga. But yh zuroor koshish kroonga k har bar aisa na ho. Koi bhi emergency ho jati hai or mulk say bahir jana padta hai. Ya kbhi meeting main itna busy hota hoon k bat nhin kr pata. Earlier, it didn’t use to affect me a lot. My family is familiar with this and even they are quite busy with their lives to bother about my whereabouts. But now that I am married, and have a person waiting for me at home kyun k woh wahan meri wjh say hai, mjh say bandha hua hai, jisko mery hony na hony say farq padta hai to I will try to ease up my work schedule. I hope tum smjhogi.” He finished expectantly.
“ Of course, Vansh! I will understand.”
Vansh smiled and again laid her head on his shoulder, dropped a kiss on her head and closed his eyes. Riddhima felt so complete at this moment. For the past few months, when she lived as a spy she couldn’t even identify her previous self-THE RIDDHIMA with no surname, with no family, no house and no one to call her own. And then at the same time she couldn’t identify THE SPY RIDDHIMA who was all over the space spying but was always confused that why is she doing all this. She knew that this wasn’t benefitting her in any way. And when she thought that she was doing this to get back to Kabir to build a life with him another part of her-THE RIDDHIMA VANSH RAI SINGHANIA would question her. What about the life she had here? She used to live in a hostel but now she had a house that sometimes felt like home. She didn’t had a surname, now she had one. She had Siya and Dadi who gave her warmth. Then most importantly there was a person who used to call her as his- “meri patni, Mrs Vansh Rai Singhania”. These thoughts used to frustrate her a lot. She was confused as which Riddhima she wants to live like. But now she could see herself merging back and giving rise to Riddhima who was VANSH’SRIDDHIMA. She felt at peace. She felt WHOLE.
“ And you Vansh? Why did you miss me? Kya tumhain mjh say mohabbat hogyi hai? Do you love me?”
Riddhima waited for Vansh’s answer but there came none. “Kuch bolo na?”
“ I don’t know Riddhima. What should I call this? Mohabba tsirf I LOVE YOU kehny ka nam to nhin hai. There are many other factors jo mohabbat ko complete krty hain. Tum pasand thi, tumhain zabardasti hasil krliya tha. Ab shayad tumhain pa bhi liya hai. But still we need to work hard to be with each other. Trust, transperancy, understanding, care and respect, yh sab milta hai to mohabbat banti hai. I won’t say yh sab nhin hai, but utna nhin hai jis say yh kha ja skay k main tumsay ya tum mjh say sachi mohabbat krty ho. I think we still need to figure out what all this is about. We need to make our relation work and sirf lafzon say tum meri ya main tumhara nhin hojaoonga. Our actions should prove this to each other that we are one. Kho Riddhima tum is sab main mera sath do gi na?”
She lifted her head up and, looking deep into his eyes, said,
“ Tum bilkul thk keh rhy ho. Abhi to bht safar rehta hai. Fikr nhin kro manzil bhi mil jayegi. We are together in this,” She said raising their joined hands.
“ Yes! Always together,” Vansh said joining their foreheads together. They remained like that for few moments but then Vansh moved away and took along sigh.
“ Chlo Riddhima tumhain andar chor deta hoon. I need to leave for a meeting.” He said standing and stretching his hand towards her. Riddhima looked at the time in his phone kept aside on the bench. It showed 1 o’ clock.
“ Itni rat ko?”
“ Han, humary kam main rat din ka kuch hisab nhin hota. Jo kam jab zuroori ho tab krna padta hai.” Riddhima nodded her head.
“ Ummm Vansh, tum exactly kam kya krty ho?” Vansh smirked at that and said,
“ I make money,Sweetheart. I do everthing that gives me money and power.”
“ Illegally bhi?” Riddhima questioned. Vansh kept silent. He put his hands in his pocket and turned to stand facing the mansion. Riddhima could only see his back but, she knew VRS was back.
“ Legal ya Illegal kuch nhin hai ajkal. Everyone is behind money these days. This is a war in life. And everything is fair in love and war, baby.” He turned his head and winked at her.
“ Do you even kill people for money?” Riddhima asked hesitantly.Vansh smirked and turned again. Riddhima waited for him to answer. There came none. She stood up and moved to stand with him. Vansh looked at her. She raised her eyebrows to let him know that she is waiting for his answer. Vansh knew that she won’t stop until he answers.
“ As I said, all this is a war. Everybody is a part of this rat race. So, some do loose their lives.”
“ Kon log?”
“ Those who don’t know when to surrender.”
“ And do you know when to surrender?” Riddhima asked teasingly..
Vansh gave a hearty laugh at that and replied by running a finger from her temple to her chin,
“Of course, I do. I very well know when to surrender and when to strike. Jo position aj mjhy hasil hai woh yoonhi nhin mili. I survived the war to become the king. I patiently waited for my turn. Jo log jaldi krty hain ya aukat say barh kr mangty hain, unko isi ghlti saza milti hai.”
“ Kisi ko yoon rasty say hathana asaan hota hai?”
“ No! that’s the most tough part of the business. You know why? Because it’s a long process. You see when someone goes against my orders, I give them chance, since, I am not that ruthless. Firstly by showing them how life can become beautiful if they easily surrender. Phirr bhi agr baaz na aye to khoufzada karna padta hai. Mout ka khouf dikhaya jata hai. Zindagi ki qadr jisko hoti hai woh man leta hai. Or jisko mout say dar na lgy woh surrender nhin krta. It is practically similar to suicide.”
Vansh moved forward to grab his phone. He put it in his pocket and said,
“ Chlo, I need to leave.”
“ Do you do this yourself.” Riddhima couldn’t stop herself from asking.
Vansh smirked, “ Sweetheart! Main ny aj tak kisi ko apnyhath say nhin mara.”
He said this while lifting his hands. Riddhima looked at those hands. Those long fingers. Clean nails. She would have continued to admire them but another question knocked at her mind,
“ To kaisy hota hai yeh sab”
“ I told you I am a businessman. I make money. I use that money to make more money. I have my employees that hold the guns for me. I reward them generously. Un k ghar walon ki zurooriyat aisy poori hoti hain. Ikinda save them from hunger”
“ Tumhain nhin lgta yh ghlt hai?”
“ No! We all need money. Woh bhi paison k liye yh kr rhy hain. I don’t force them. It is there choice. Agar woh chahain to apni or apny ghar walon ki bhook mitany k liye kuch or krskty hain. And I also love money, power and position. And I work hard to get what I love. What’s wrong in that?”
Riddhima thought that “he” was right that her husband isn’t purely an innocent man. He is the kind of person that she wouldn’t want to be with. Morally, if she can’t punish him then she should leave him. The man she loved before was a kind and pure man. But, irony is that he, in order to grind his own axe, made use of the woman he claimed to love. Maybe he was after money too and he sacrificed a person he claimed to love! At least her husband had limits. He vows to protect those who he loves. He has boundaries set between his people and the people he work with. Maybe, Vansh is right, in a world full of black, one cannot live with morals. Some of white does get tainted. And we need to accept this. Vansh is right, if we don’t bend, we will break.
“ Gunah to har koi karta hai. Koi chota. Koi bada.” She thought.
Vansh saw Riddhima lost in her thoughts with some incomprehensible emotions on her face.
“ Pachta rhi ho?” His voice broke her stream of thoughts.
“ Kyun?”
“ K tumhara pati aisa hai,”
“ Kaisa hai mera pati?” She asked curiously.
“ Selfish. Ruthless. Hiawan “
Riddhima sighed and said, “ No, main nhin pachta rhi hoon. Let’s just say I am selfish too. Har kisi ko kuch na kuch chahiye. Some want money, some want power. I want love, respect and a family. And I can compromise a little for all this. It will be difficult but as you said you need to work hard for things you love. So, I plan to work hard for this.”
Vansh smirked and pulled her towards him and said, “ Smart choice, Sweetheart. I am impressed.”
“ Bola tha main ny! I am quiet smart.” She said and winked.
Vansh smiled but suddenly his expressions changed to that of annoyance. Riddhima couldn’t understand what happened.
“ Kya hua, Vansh?”
He was again looking at her tresses. Lost but still with the same expressions. She moved away from his chest. And tentatively touched her head and hairs. There wasn’t anything out of place.
“ What happened? Kuch hai kya balon main atka hua?” She asked, shaking his arm a little.
Vansh’s trance broke. He held her waist tightly with his right hand. And ran the back of his left index finger across her cheeks and said,
“As much as I love the way they dance, I would still say,
Choom leti hain kabhi ruksar tokabhi lab
At this he ran a thumb across her lower lip.
Tumnay zulfon ko bht sar par charha rakha hai
He completed by tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Riddhima could see tinge of jealousy in his voice and eyes. Riddhima chuckled and asked,
“ Are you jealous, Mr Vansh Rai Singhania?”
“ Yes! I am.”
At this Riddhima, put her arms around his neck. And said,
“ To tumhain kisny roka hai. Tum bhi choom lo.” Saying this she raised on her tiptoes and gave a peck on his lips. And went back on he rheels.
Vansh had a shocked look in his eyes. Maybe he wasn’t expecting her to take the initiative. But inside he felt happy that she did. She gave him permission.
Riddhima saw that Vansh wasn’t moving. He just stood still. She thought maybe he didn’t liked this. She was about to move her arms from his neck when he pulled her towards him, both his hands tightly holding her waist .He bent his head towards her face. He came as close to her lips that she should feel his warm breath. That breath made her insides burn. He kept on hovering over her lips but didn’t join them with his. Riddhima was getting impatient. She was about to kiss him herself when she heard him whisper,
“ Thank you, Sweetheart.” And then finally joined their lips together.
He kissed her softly moulding his lips with her. Riddhima could feel how thankful he was. He was thankful to her for accepting him. He was thankful to her for giving herself to him. They kissed softly for sometime and then Vansh pulled away.
“ And Thank you too, Vansh!”
Riddhima said with a little shine in her eyes. Saying this, she pulled him again towards her and crashed her lips with him. And kissed him as if this one act would make her complete. Vansh also tightened her hold on her and gathered her more close to him. She was raised on her tiptoes as Vansh reciprocated her kiss with as much passion as possible. He bit her lips to get entry into her mouth and explored it as a traveller explores nooks and corners of a new city. They would have continued but the need to breath arose. Vansh pulled away and said,
“ You are most welcome, Jaan!”
The endearment he just used made her heart flutter a little more. She whispered,
“ Say that again.”
“ What?”
“ Jaan!”
She said in an overwhelming voice. The way he said Jaan simply made her feel that she was important. That orphan girl whom no one considered important to look out for, that girl who wasn’t considered worthy enough of being called a friend, that girl who just because of her lonely status was used by the man she mistakenly loved was called jaan by the man who had world at his feet. She was called jaan by the man for whom she wante ddoom. This man over here said jaan and she got what she wanted the most in her life: the sense of belonging.
“ Kho na,Vansh?” She again requested with an innocence of world in her eyes.
Vansh smiled and cupped her face and said with as much sincerity as possible,
“ Jaan-e-Vansh”.
Riddhima heard this and just closed her eyes. These words weren’t heard by her ears only. She felt elated as if each and every cell of her body heard it and came alive. A tear fell down from her eyes and she just felt WHOLE.
They kept on looking in each other’s eyes smiling beautifully. Vansh again bent to kiss her and she joined him midway. They kissed each other as if they are each other’s most prized possession. Vansh turned her and moved her back towards the pillar of gazebo. He put a hand behind her head to provide a soft cushion to her head and deepened the kiss. Riddhima opened her mouth to give him access and he happily took it. He left her mouth to let her breath and started placing kissing along her cheek, corner of her lip and jaw-line. Riddhima moved her hands from his neck to lay across his back. Vansh was now placing kisses along her neck. He kissed a spot and Riddhima moaned. She rubbed her palm across his back to let him know that she liked it. She wanted him to keep doing that but she didn’t feel his lips on her neck anymore. She opened her eyes to see what happened. Vansh was simply looking at the mole just below her collar-bone with his lips opened. He kept on looking and then whispered pressing a thumb over it,
“ I like this. This mole. This. Drives me crazy.”
And thenhe palced his mouth on the mole and sucked on it. Riddhima moaned at that and her toes curled. Vansh slid his hand from her waist and grazed his thumb across her breast. Riddhima felt them hardening. She slid her hand further down to hold the untucked ends of his shirt. Vansh moved his mouth away from the mole and was about to slid her off-shouldered white shirt when suddenly Riddhima felt something vibrating near her thigh. She immediately came back to her senses. They were standing in the lawn doing this. She whispered,
“ Vansh, phone?”
“ Hmmm” Vansh didn’t pay attention and kissed her shoulder.
Riddhima felt electricity run through her. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want this to stop but she had to. They were oustside. Guards were everywhere.
“ Vansh!”
She moved him away from his shoulder and straightened to move her back away from the pillar. Her husband also came back to his senses. He looked intoxicated though.
“ Vansh, phone aarha hai?”
He fetched phone out of his pocket. It was the reminder for the meeting. He put it back and said,
“ Reminder for the meeting. I have to leave. Let’s go.”
Riddhima ran her hands through her finger, settled her sleeves and dupatta and said,
“ Chlo.”
They started walking towards the main door, hand in hand. They were just about to reach there when Angre appeared out of the blue.
“ Boss! You are here. Woh DGP bht utawla horha hai. Mjhy bhi kitny calls kr dali hain.
Vansh asked Angre to get the cars ready.
Riddhima got shocked.
“ Vansh tum DGP say meeting karny ja rhy ho. Kyun? Is everything fine?”
“ Han, sab thk hai”
“
To who tumsay kyun milna chahta hai?” Riddhima asked being anxious.
“ Because he also loves money.” Vansh said smirkingly.
Riddhima blinked her eyes as if she was really shocked. Vansh laughed.
“ Why are you shocked? Bataya to tha THE LOVE FOR MONEY,” He said once again air quoting his fingers.
Riddhima came back to her senses and said, “ Hmm, thk hai. Jao. Stay safe. Jaldi aana. I will wait for you.”
“ No! don’t wait for me. It is already late. Take your beauty sleep. Tomorrow is a busy day for you.”
Riddhima looked on confused,
“Busy?”
“ Yes! We have to go meet Sejal. And then you have an interview.”
“ Interview? Kaisa interview?”
Vansh smiled and said teasingly, “ Since my wife has retired from her spy job, so I think she a needs a new one. I have talked to the hospital. Go for interview tomorrow and see if it works for you.”
“ But what if I want to do both?”
“ Both?”
“ Both event management and physiotherapy?”
“ Oh Riddhima! That would be great. I will get you the list of the best event management companies in the city. You can go and intern with them. And learn how things are managed at big scale. Then we can open up your own event managing company.”
Riddhima saw him getting overly excited.
“ Okay Okay. Break lgao. Tum to company tak pohanch gye.”
“No! Jaan-e-Vansh! I am serious about this.”
“ Right. Chlo pehly kl main ja kr interview to deti hoon na phirr dekhty hain. You go and be back soon. I need to get my things ready for tomorrow. Main bhi andar chlti hoon”
“ Okay I am leaving. I will be back soon. Take care. Lock the door. I have key.” He kissed her forehead and moved towards the cars. He stopped and turned,
“ I will ask Angre to get a new maid from house-help company as your personal help. She will be here tomorrow.”
“ Personal maid. Uski kya zuroorat hai Vansh?”
“ Zuroorat hai. Jistrah ghar ki baki ladies ko hai. Moreover, I don’t want my wife to be alone taking a walk in lawn as she waits for me. You need to have company. Okay! I will be back soon”
He waved and walked. Angre opened the door for him. He got inside the third car. Angre closed the door and signaled the gates to be opened and moved to sit at the front. Guards took their positions at the back of Hilux. Gates opened and cars started reversing. Vansh again waved at her and mouthed,
“Go inside,”
She also moved to stand at the stairs of entrance. She watched all the cars moving outside and start their journey towards the meeting destination. The mansion gates were closed again. Riddhima looked at the sky. She could now see a faint lining of new moon. The clouds had moved away. She smiled seeing the curved moon. She felt as if sky also smiled with her. She turned to go inside feeling WHOLE.
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