Chapter 26
“Sometimes it takes a good fall
to really know where you stand”
“Imagine all the people you meet in your life. There are so many. They come in like waves, trickling in and out with the tide. Some waves are much bigger and make more of an impact than others. Sometimes the waves bring with them things from deep in the bottom of the sea and they leave those things tossed onto the shore. Imprints against the grains of sand that prove the waves had once been there, long after the tide recedes"
says Ridhima to Sejal while both girls sat beside the window. Riddhima looking out and Sejal was busy with her Ipad
"But why are we speaking about all these babes? Everything is happening the way we want"
says Sejal still engrossed in her Ipad.
"This house, the people here and Vansh they have left such an imprint on me Sejal. I don't know whether moving away from these people would be easy for me or not, to forget all these memories, Sej would I be able to do it or not. I don't know."
says Ridhima sitting beside her and putting her head on Sejal's shoulder.
Sejal closes the Ipad and looks at Ridhima,
"These days my favourite conversations with you are the ones with no real answers"
says Sejal while hugging her.
Ridhima closes her eyes taking a deep breath, she says,
“It is naive to think you know someone so well. To think that whatever time you have shared in knowing their habits, their history, their stories, their weaknesses, their strengths, their wounds, and deepest corners of their heart could ever sum them up-- is unjust. Vansh is going to hurt very badly when he gets to know the darkest truth of his family members."
Sejal tightens her grip on Ridhima,
"I don't care about the Rai Singhanias, Ri. You’re one of the most important parts of my life, Ridhima. I want to be what brings you happiness. Not what causes you to pain and honestly even you should stop bothering yourself with them and their matters."
by making lie her down on the bed and Sejal closes Riddhima's eyes with her hands.
"Have some sleep sweetie pie. A long way to go."
Sejal kisses her on the temple and closes the curtains.
******************
While Vansh was busy with new construction business papers Angre rushes inside making Vansh raise his eyebrows.
"Boss, its code blue,"
says Angre making Vansh stand on his foot and open the doors of the secret room from his office.
"What is it Angre?"
asks Vansh while Angre takes a moment,
"Boss, Kabir is the biological son of Anupriya, ma'am"
says Angre while locking his eyes with Vansh.
“Some scars don't hurt. Some scars are numb. Some scars rid you of the capacity to feel anything ever again. That is what Vansh is feeling right now. So what all Anupriya told them about her son was kidnapped by someone is a big lie. Another betrayal. Kabir is his half-brother. Now, he understood why Kabir wanted to take revenge on him and the person who is helping him with the inside information. It's neither Ragini nor Ridhima. It's Anupriya. The mother of that sinner. Ragini and Ridhima both are the catalysts in the game they played merely a pawn. He knew his step-mother was up to no good but this was on an entirely different level. God knows what more secrets will come to the fore from here on. Now, it's time to take control over the game" thinks Vansh while he commands Angre,
"Get me every single detail about them, their phone conversation. Everything. Phone, emails or letters, anything. I need to know what they did until now and what they are planning ahead."
*************
Ridhima slowly opens her eyes and realizes she slept in Sejal's room. Feeling the weight on her waist and she notices Sejal has slept while half of her body was on her. Well, it's a habit of Sejal that she cuddles while she sleeps and the person who ends up sleeping next to her ends up becoming her personal cushions. She been told not to do that but then again who can control her or any sleeping person and this is Sejal we are talking about on can't control her awake forget about her sleeping form. With a smile on her lips, Riddhima pushes Sejal away gently and gets back to her own room. The whole room was scattered with things broken into pieces. Ridhima looked around and saw Vansh who was sitting at the corner of the bed.
"Wow, did a storm came in here or what?"
she said looking around getting Vansh's attention who turns and look at her.
"Ridhima: Things... are broken
She continued with a drawl in her voice
Vansh: Yes, I know. I like it that way. It represents the way I feel."
Vansh said making Riddhima raise her eyebrows in understanding and knew something has happened. Maybe he has learned something he shouldn't. She walks towards her cupboard to get her clothes when she heard Vansh's voice from behind.
"Do you know something Ridhima?"
said Vansh lost in his thoughts though it was a question she did not know who it was directed at or was it directed to anyone at all.
"Depends on what you are referring to."
she answers in a dry voice him still facing the cupboard and looking for her stuff.
"Kabir is the biological son of Anupriya."
he stated making her go still for a moment. Taking a deep sigh and a moment she says in a casual voice continuing with her work,
"Yeah."
He chuckles and says,
"Of course as usual. You too betrayed me, Ridhima."
"Excuse me"
said Ridhima turning around and giving her attention to him now and then continued saying
"Oh yeah, just like you did"
making Vansh all attentive and looking at her
"I have never betrayed you,"
said Vansh with a hint of anger evident in his eyes.
"Come on Vansh"
said Ridhima with a scoff.
"What are you trying to say?"
asks Vansh.
"It's strange, isn't it. You say you hate betrayal yet it's exactly what you ended up doing and becoming"
asks Ridhima.
"Stop talking in riddles Riddhima and come to the point"
said Vansh now getting irritated.
"Nothing, forget it."
she replies.
"So, when did you got to know and how?"
asks Riddhima while busying herself with putting things back to their place that was scattered on the floor while Vansh's eyes kept following her.
"Yesterday night after that debacle with Chachu, I asked Angre to find out the connection between Kabir and Mrs Rai Singhania. What about you?"
Vansh asks while replying to Riddhima.
"I got to know before I left for that medical camp."
Riddhima said while her back was facing him.
You knew yet you did not bother to inform. Did you not felt it was important to let me know about these things? or Were you waiting for things to go wrong?"
Vansh said with anger evident in his voice along with accusations that were held in his words, making Riddhima straighten up and turn around looking at him in his eyes she said
"Don't try to push your ignorance on me Vansh. I did try to warn you about mummyji remember that watermelon incident but what did you do? Okay tell me something if I had come to you and told you all these things would you have believed me and this time the accusations and allegations were even bigger because like that day even this time I did not have any proof with me against your mother sorry step-mother. I'll tell you wouldn't have believed me so what is the point, what difference it makes whether I told you anything or not?"
Riddhima said with a finger pointing at Vansh with her voice and tone hardening up then taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself talking about that day she remembered everything. All the revelations and betrayals, the ploys and games by both the men she fell in love with at different stages of her life not just Kabir even Vansh"s intentions was a revelation that she came across. The nerve of this guy it appalled her to think that the man himself had been playing and betraying her and now accusing her of betrayal?
All this while lying to her had he forgotten and actually started believing himself in love with her or what? What's with all that anger? At times even she gets confused and wonders about his emotions even after knowing about his betrayal. Sometimes his words, actions, emotions his eyes depicts look so genuine and real isn't that's how she fell for him? Agreed she herself was no saint and she did come into this house with intention of betraying him but it was the manipulated her for whom Vansh Rai Singhania was the bad guy who is needed to be punished and put behind bars.
For that naivety, blind sense of justice, her blind faith in Kabir, and her stupidity she was ready for whatever punishment Vansh deemed fit, heck she was ready to die but Vansh wanted to punish her for Kabir's wrongdoings, not her's.
Then heaving a deep sigh she continues in a monotonous voice she said
"It was a day of quite a few revelations for me as well. I needed some time away for myself as well and to think."
Vansh: I did not expect this from you.
Vansh said in a low voice.
Ridhima: You should not expect anything from me at all Vansh not now not tomorrow to come"
Riddhima said in an emotionless voice.
That nonchalant and emotionless voice she had been talking in about since she came did not go well with him. Somehow it pinched him the Riddhima he knew could never see anyone in pain and would try to lessen it in whatever way she can even if it was her enemy. This aloof and distant Riddhima was new to him. Even when she hated him she was there for him though he used to push her away at that time one of the main reasons was he wasn't used to it someone being there for him. It was new to him and initially, it was scary as well but slowly he does not know when and what changed he started relying on her.
Whenever he was upset somehow he looked up to her, for her. Somehow, somewhere in between her presence started to bring the piece to him. Now at this moment even though she was there in front of her, she felt distant and maybe he missed her?
"Since the day I came into this house on numerous occasions, you have saved me and stood with me. I promise you one thing today, before leaving this house I'll make sure to let you know who are your real enemies and who are your well-wishers in this house. This family will become a real family maybe not entirely but they will be in a better place than they are now. Take it as a thank you for everything you did for me and a parting gift from my side a better place to live and maybe a less chaotic life.”
Riddhima said bringing him out of his thoughts while he looked on at her, then continues with
"By the way head up for you since you already got to know about Kabir and mummyji's relation so I am assuming you have asked for Angre to investigate on this matter there is a lot to come so gear up for it. Since you accused me of not telling you anything here I am warning to be ready though I can tell you few things but will let you discover things on your own that way I won't be accused of lying or would be asked for proof for my claims not that it matters to me what you or anyone else in this house thinks about me anymore."
Riddhima said to him and then turning around left for bathroom leaving Vansh alone in the room getting lost in his thoughts once again.
******************
Ridhima reaches to Anupriya's room with a spy camera fitted as one of the buttons on her Kurti. Anupriya was surprised to see Ridhima in her room with a raised questioning eyebrows she looked at her then turning around Anupriya begins to walk towards her bed but was stopped by Ridhima and pulled around towards herself aggressively,
"Why did you do that?"
asks Ridhima angrily
"What is that you're speaking about? About Kailash, I already apologized in front of everyone"
says Anupriya confused taking a few steps backwards.
"You have done so many things in your life that, you have lost the count, Anupriya,"
says Ridhima with a mirthless chuckle
"Anupriya? Where are your manners Ridhima? Oh, what can I expect from an orphan"
comments Anupriya questioningly Riddhima in a mocking voice.
"Don't, don't mock me over me being an orphan. I'm an orphan yet it is you who has a questionable character and intentions."
"Riddhima"
Shouted Anupriya becoming furious.
"Don't shout and as for manners I have far better credentials in that department whereas you had never cared for anyone in this house. How could you betray Vansh like that?"
says Ridhima to the older woman who looked livid at the insult by the younger woman. Making Anupriya confused about what truth she has learned.
"Oh please don't act so innocent. I know the truth that you are the mother of Kabir. How could you play with Vansh like that? All this while both you and your son had been lying to all of us, playing with us, with me, with Vansh."
says Ridhima asking in an angry accusatory tone.
"Please, if I did lied then what about you? You have entered into his life to betray him for the sake of Kabir. Isn't it?"
replies Anupriya in a chilled out voice with a raised eyebrows.
"I know a lot of secrets about you Anupriya. I know you were the one who changed the aerospace project files"
said Ridhima folding her hands making Anupriya smirk
"I know you know because you have become a chamchi for Kailash. He might have revealed the truth to you"
says Anupriya while making Ridhima shocked to hear Kailash knows the truth, however, she covers up and says
"Yes, and he told me a lot more things"
says Ridhima bluffing with a smirk making smirk on Anupriya's face wipe off.
"Okay, then let me tell you a few more things Ridhima. Do you know what it is? That it was me who shot Ragini because she came to know the truth of mine. She got to know that I have killed Uma Rai Singhania. Got it? Now, you got to know the biggest truth of my life. Now, tell me what you will do? What you can do? I'll tell can do nothing Riddhima. NOTHING"
says Anupriya in a threatening low voice while coming close to her face making Ridhima shocked with her confession. There was a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"You have no idea what I can do Anupriya,"
says Ridhima recovering and braving up. Taking a deep breath Anupriya backs away then walking around Ridhima, she says
"Ridhima, I'm here for the past 15 years. No one had ever thought of me being the player of this house. I have made sure Vansh, Ishani, and Sia trust me to the core. Even if you try to say all these things, I will act a bit and lie, and present things as if through you I have learned Kabir is my son and I will ask Vansh to bring Kabir into this house. And you know what? He will do it because, no matter what he thinks with his brain, Vansh Rai Singhania's biggest weakness is a mother. I'm going to wage an emotional war on him using motherly sentiments. Then yes, Kabir will be in VR Mansion beside me"
in a chilled out casual voice as if discussing the weather. Then pushing Ridhima on to the bed getting a loud angry shout
"Anupriya..."
from Ridhima only to cut her in the middle and pointing her finger towards Ridhima,
"Listen Ridhima. Never and ever try to over smart me. These days with the help of Kailash you are creating so much a mess, but, remember I'm going to kill you the way I did Uma. You are going to leave this house soon, live your life. But in between if you tried anything, I will make sure to kill you and put the entire blame on Vansh. Then, later the whole of this property will belong to me and my beloved son Kabir"
says Anupriya looking around the room while spreading both her hands around indicating to everything shocking Ridhima to the core with her vicious plans along with the other two people who heard everything standing outside the room of Anupriya.
********************
At the Dinning table: -
Everyone sat for dinner while Rudra was the only person who came late to the table.
"Arey, Rudra why are you so late today?"
asks Dadi.
"Why Maa? Why I can't be late like Vansh and Kailash. Do you think only they have work?"
asks Rudra with a tight smile on his face
"Rudra, I didn't mean that beta. I just asked because you were late today"
says Dadi apologetically.
"Maa, don't be sorry. It's your right to be angry with your kids"
says Kailash while making Rudra irked and give a frustrated angry look to him,
"Yes, only you are the sweetest child for her's. I, on the other hand, am, not her son only"
says Rudra with anger while leaving the dining table making others confused with his behaviour. Vansh picks his phone and checks with his employees what had happened in the office and says,
"What?"
making others turn their heads towards him.
'What happened, Vansh?"
asks Kailash.
"Chachu, Rudra Chachu has lost a deal worth 500 crores,"
says Vansh sighing making Aryan and Chanchal worried for their state.
"How come he can be so careless. Why cannot he understand that at this age he should be a role model for his son and not be a loser"
says Kailash angrily making every head turn towards him. He never speaks in such an angry tone, forget about the choice of words he used for his elder brother. Surprising everyone while Aryan embarrassed and felt downgraded with everyone's eyes present on him and his mother after his uncle's comment on his father and him.
"Kailash Uncle, of course, Rudra uncle is an inspiration to everyone including Aryan. If no one does mistakes, how come one can learn? Isn't he teaching Aryan what mistakes he shouldn't do?"
asks Sejal making everyone look at her in surprise at her question bringing a half thankful smile on Aryan's face and a full-blown proud one on Riddhima's face.
"I agree with you Sejal. It's not about 500 crores deal. It's about relations. Aryan, don't worry, I will handle it"
says Vansh with a smile on his face making Aryan feel nice for the first time about Sejal and Vansh.
***************
"Thank you,"
says Aryan from behind while Sejal enters her room. Seeing Aryan in her room she takes attack position making Aryan quickly say,
"I'm here to say thank you not to get hit by you."
"Why thank you?"
asks Sejal confused and keeping the water bottle back to the side table from where she picked it up from then jumping on to her bed
"The way you took my side at the dining table. No one has ever done that for me?"
replies Aryan with a raised eyebrows getting a bit confused himself and ending up making his statement sound like a question
"Well, I didn't do it for you. I know how it feels to be wronged unnecessarily?"
replies Sejal
"How?"
Aryan asks furrowing his brows being curious
"Well isn't that what you guys do with Ritzy? Always pulling her into some sort of trouble and blame her for the things she has never done?"
says Sejal making Aryan lower his eyes.
Sejal understood his situation,
"if you have nothing else to say, then leave the room Aryan. If not I can still hit you with that costly vase beside me"
says Sejal while covering herself with a blanket. Aryan sees her one last time and leaves the room closing the door saying,
"I'm sorry Sejal"
which got heard by Sejal yet she enacts as if she is sleeping.
******************
Vansh sat in his room and lost in his thoughts. He had learned the truth and yet he didn't play his game. Not because he cannot but because he wants to see to what extent Kabir and Anupriya are going to go and what their plans are for the future. He looks at his family who sat in the hall and sees everyone. While his eyes get stuck at Ragini. These days she is behaving very weirdly with him. As if she doesn't want him anymore. But isn't she who wanted to be with him a few days before. That night had changed everything where he has shared what he did with Rane.
Then he gets remembering the time where Kabir has met Ragini. He only met Ragini when he was near her coincidentally. But what about other times when he was not present? She has loved Kabir madly, is she still having some lingering feelings for him? Vansh calls Angre,
"Get me all the call records between Ragini and Kabir, now itself,"
says Vansh while striding towards the CCTV room.
The moment he has entered the footage room he orders security to give him all the tapes where Ragini is with Kabir. He was happy to know security has kept Ragini and Kabir's footage aside as he ordered initially. He doesn't know why he did that, but he wants to keep separate footage on them.
He enters into his secret room and watches the videos. No, where it felt as if she is speaking to him. It is more of an argument. In every video, he is asking Ragini to betray him until he saw the last video where she asked him to give the name of the person who has shot her. And the last line of what she said about his mother's death, made him thump on his chair. She knows who has killed his mother and yet she didn't reveal anything. Though due to some glitch the bits of their conversation were not clear for him to know about the murderer yet it was clear Ragini knew the person yet hid from him and lied to him.
Now everything has started to take a picture before him. Ragini has used him as bait to know who has shot her. Kabir wants Ragini on his side so Anupriya has lied Kailash chachu did this. She never loved him. He knew a day may come when he might end up regretting ever-loving Ragini but it would come this soon he did not know that. But wait, he has given information on what he did with Rane if Kabir took Kailash Chachu name then that says, she ......... No Ragini. No! You cannot do this. He starts walking towards the hall when he saw the man whom he doesn't want to see at this moment... Inspector Kabir.
The whole family was shocked to see Inspector Kabir with other police officers late at night.
"Inspector Kabir, why the hell you are here"
shouts Vansh waking up Sejal from her sleep from all the commotions going on in the hall loud enough to be heard in the entire house.
"I know you don't like me much Vansh Rai Singhania, but what to do, this time I am here with the evidence of all your crimes,"
says Kabir with a smirk displaying on his face while Anupriya was enjoying the play of events.
The moment Kabir said he got the evidence, Vansh looked at only one person Ragini which made her shiver with fear.
"What evidence you got?"
ask Vansh looking back at Kabir.
"Well for the starters we got to know about your Mafia links and deeds. Someone whom Interpol and RAW are also searching, Wow Vansh you came out to be a big fish. I'll have to admit even I was surprised by this."
says Kabir while showing and waving the same papers on which he signed the ones Rudra gave him. Vansh looks at Rudra Chachu asking "What is this?"
but he stood clueless. Dadi who listens to this asks,
"What Mafia? My Vansh is not like that"
she shouts while Kailash asks Chanchal to take her inside and he, himself stand beside Vansh,
"He is not like that Inspector Kabir. Don't show us false shreds of evidence"
says Kailash.
"Your game is over Vansh,"
says Kabir while taking a step forward. Also, I have other evidence that says he is a murderer.
"What evidence?"
Kailash asks. He takes out the recorder and makes everyone listen to the recording where he confessed with Ragini he has killed Rane.
"Wait, this is the wrong recording. It is edited and tampered with to turn it into your evidence. A lie and not the truth"
says Vansh looking at Kabir with confidence and anger making Kabir clear he knows about his ploy.
"Being a police officer I hear such things in day thousand times, Vansh. Every criminal says the same thing. Now, you are under arrest"
says Kabir with a smug look on his face and smirk engaged in a staredown with Vansh, while taking out the cuffs from his pockets.
Ridhima was the first one to reach Vansh,
"Don't worry Vansh. I will make sure you come out of this sooner. I will speak with Mr Chauhan"
says Ridhima making Vansh smile sadly and walk ahead.
While Vansh walks away with Kabir, Rudra stands silently and moves away from the place immediately making family members confuse more about his actions while Ishani is the first one to slap Ragini and making everyone stunned.
Written by: @Abhyudaya
Contributed by: @BhataktiAtma
Thanks for showering so much love for the last update. Hope the love continues... Until next update - be safe, kind and courageous :)
Chapter 27 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5197552?pn=59#155358299
Edited by Abhyudaya - 4 years ago
