So here is the first chapter of the sequel, Enjoy…
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CHAPTER ONE – The Uncertainty
Dear Destiny,
You have hurt me a lot, you hurt me so bad that I chose not to remember the past. You made so helpless that I ran, away from your tortures and away from your wrath. I ran my whole life. But I forgot that the world wasn’t flat and after all the toil and turmoil I found myself on the same spot where it all began.
But guess what? Am stronger now, am no longer the kid you pushed around because I can fight now. In the end all those years of running proved fertile. But look at you, you are old and tired now, you are nothing to my bullet proof hatred I have for you.
I’m here now, standing tall before your eyes, resentful and full of rage. I advice you to sleep with one eye open because Destiny, Oh! My Dear Destiny; I’m ready now.
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El Milagro Palace
Piyali looked at the image of a man she recognize as her brother, No! It was not an image. She had to tell herself over and over again that she wasn’t imagining things, her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her. The man before him was not a mirage but a true and real man in flesh and blood “Kabir… ” she whispered still in disbelief.
“One and Only” he replied still smiling at her. “Won’t you give me a hug sis?”
Tears found their way down her eyes when she touched him, she touched his face, his eyes were worn like someone who hadn’t slept for ages, her hands caressed his shoulders, there were not broad anymore, he had become so lean. She wrapped her arms around him as tight as she could, she was seeing him after five long years and Kabir hugged her back. โBut they told me you died?โ she whispered asked when she broke the hug. She remembered it clearly, she could not forget something like that especially when it had left her devastated. Two years ago she got a call from the prison he was in and the authority informed her that her brother had died due to a fire that had occured inside the prison. The news was also highly publicized by the media because a drug lord had made an escape from the prison by instructing his devotees to bomb the jail resulting in deaths of 13 prisoners.
โLook at me sis, am in front of you as alive as ever?โ
โBut the DNA…?โ she trailed, since most of the corpses where damaged beyond recognition, siblings of the victims were asked to take DNA tests to identify the bodies, if he was alive then whose body did she cremate.
โMoney talksโ he said smirking โI made connections inside prison and it’s because of that I am here todayโ
So the bomb blast wasn’t for the drug lord alone, it was for him too she thought. Piyali couldn’t bring herself to believe that the boy she had loved as her son and not as her brother alone was capable of living with the death of 13 men under his concious, as realisation fell upon her, she took two steps back creating a drift between them โall those people died because of youโ she accused him.
Kabir laughed humourlessly โand I thought you will be happy to see me aliveโ
He didn’t deny it, why didn’t he deny the accusations she threw at him โwhat do you want?โ she masked the pain in her voice with coldness in her eyes.
โI want to go away, I don’t want to hide anymore and I need money for thatโ
Money, money was all that he needed, why didn’t she think about it sooner โI can’t help you Kabir, I have mended my waysโ
โOh! Don’t give me that bullshit, a crook can never mend her ways. Don’t tell me that you are now a saint because I don’t believe itโ
She sighed โHow much do you need?โ
โtwo hundred and fifty thousands poundsโ Piyaliโs eyes widened in shock, Kabir softened his features and held her hands โI need to get away sis, I need to make a fake passport and start a new life somewhere else. I have to go away and I need that moneyโ
Piyali withdrew her hands from his hold โI don’t have that kind of moneyโ
Kabir strode to picked the codeless phone and gave it her โcall the police then and send me back to that hell hole, abandon me like you did beforeโ he teared โall I ever did, I did because you told me so but when the time came to face the music you left me all alone…. I suffered alone in that jail cell for both of our mistakes while you enjoyed here in this palaceโ He wiped the fake tears โIf am going to suffer again then I want that to be in your hands, call the police and report me…. Call them sis, call them nowโ
Piyali cried too, how could she forget that he was in prison afterall, she threw the phone away and hugged him tight, no matter how he was he was her brother still. โpromise me you will go away and be away from troubleโ
Kabir placed his palm on her head โI swear on your lifeโ he told her and she believed him, if there was one thing Kabir would never do then that was harming his own sister.
โgive me two daysโ she promised him and he smiled before saying his goodbye, he got what he wanted at last.
Kensington International Kindergarten
Jai was nervous as if it was his first day of school, he kept rubbing his sweaty palms while Aria was busy playing candy crush in his phone. He pulled up at the school parking area and turn to her โwe are hereโ he told her and Aria excitedly took off her seatbelt and picked up her pink Barbie backpack. Jai held her hand as they walked towards the entrance stairs of the school โnow listen to me, if any kid troubles you tell the teacher immediately…. And it’s okay if you can’t make friends on the first day itself, take your time…. Remember to have your juice, you need your energyโ he kept instructing without noticing that Aria had her attention on other kids in the playground and not him.
โPreeti..โ Aria squealed causing him to turn to the direction she was looking and saw the same woman whom they met at the park on Ariaโs birthday. Aria left her dadโs hold and ran to the young woman in a pink floral summer dress who seemed equally happy to see Aria.
He sighed and walked up to them โhi..โ
โhi..โ Preeti replied smiling.
โyou… Work here?โ
โyesโ she nodded
โyay, I already have a friend at the schoolโ exclaimed Aria.
Preeti smiled โyes, you doโ Aria then joined other kids of her group and together they were taken by their new teacher to their class.
Jai sighed walking back to his car, he thought Aria would cry and he would have to pacify her but it seemed that he was the one having parting problem while his daughter was perfectly okay with the new environment. He saw Preeti near the parking area and went to her โmay I ask you for a favour?โ
She smiled โsureโ
โplease take care of my daughterโ he urged.
โthat’s my job, actuallyโ Jai smiled thanking her โyou really don’t remember me, do you?โ she asked out of the blue.
โwe met at the park, a week agoโ he replied with a hint of confusion on his face.
She chuckled โhow could you forget the person who helped you cheat in your 12th grade math exams?โ
Jai now was more confused, how could she know that he cheated on his 12th grade exam, and how could he not cheat when he had spent the whole night watching the world cup finals instead of studying. But that was a secret between him and his friend alone, how could she have known? Wait a minute, could she be…. Her? His eyes almost dropped out of their sockets with surprise, he gasped โcannon ball..!?โ he said still in surprise. โMY GOD! You are a woman nowโ he said but then realised what he had said and apologized โsorry, that came out wrongโ
She chuckled โI know…. I know…. I looked like a boy back then with the moustache and allโ He chuckled at her words, she was always like one of the boys in school dressed like a tomboy, good at soccer plus no cute girls accepted her in their group. He nicknamed her cannon ball because she had broken a boy’s nose who was teasing her with just her one punch โI recognized you instantly at the park that dayโ
โBut I didn’tโ he replied still smiling โhow could I when you have turned into this beautiful womanโ
She blushed and he averted his gaze realising what he had just blabbered โwe should catch up sometimeโ she said breaking the silence. He smiled and they exchanged contacts promising to meet up for old time sake.
Forensic Toxicology Head Office.
The forensic toxicology office was not a new place for Arjun, having solved most homicide cases with greatly the help of the people from that department so it was no shock to the receptionist when he walked by the entrance smiling at her. The young woman behind the desk greeted him friendly before he walked to the office of his old school mate who was now one of the major assets in forensic toxicology science โhey Arjunโ greeted a young man in a white lab coat sitting in his office.
โhey Steveโ he greeted back taking a seat facing him โwhat news you got for me?โ
Steve adjusted his rectangular shaped glasses and took a file among the piles on his table โam afraid I have bad newsโ he started while opening the file.
โSo you did find something?โ he asked sounding impatient.
Steve nodded โwell… We found traces Calcium Gluconate in his body, it’s a drug used by doctors to counteract what we medically call as hyperkalemiaโ Arjunโs brows furrowed in confusion of the scientific word, biology was never his favourite subject โhyperkalemia is basically a condition where there is too much potassium in the body that can produce heart arrhythmiasโ
โBut Dad wasn’t sickโ
โWill you let me finish?โ countered Steve and Arjun apologized. Steve continued โthough Calcium Gluconate is a drug but when overdosed it can disrupt the normal levels of sodium, potassium and chloride in the body and thus leading to a heart attack. The victim will experience the same symptoms as a person having a heart attack does. But …….โ
โBut what?โ
โA lethal dose of Calcium Gluconate can only be achieved through injectable form but we found no puncture marks or any signs of being recently injected in your fatherโs body which leads to the conclusion that he had taken the drug orally….. But when ingested the drug takes time being absorbed in the body…. It would just made him sick and would have found medical assistance even after 6 to 8 hours of consuming the drug, It couldn’t have killed himโ
โYou lost me nowโ he confessed rubbing his face with his palms.
โSo was I, I was confused too so I did further tests until I found the culprit….. Aconite, aconite was the poison that killed your fatherโ Arjun heaved a sigh, so his father was murdered afterall, though he doubted it earlier but now that he knew it was true it spiked a whole new feeling in him. โwe found small amounts of alkaloid toxin which is only found in Aconite….. Aconite is a plant indigenous to various parts of the world, its a very lethal plant and very hard to trace, even the best modern toxicology experts may be fooled with this plant….. In some culture it’s called The Queen Of Poisonsโ
โThe Queen Of Poisons?โ
โYes, even a tincture of aconite root something about 2mg is enough to kill a man, mix it in alcohol it will go unnoticed…. it’s the perfect poison to mask a murderโ
โIs it easy to find this poison?โ
โWell yeah, in some countries like China or India it’s used as auyervedic medicine, it’s used as homeopathic remedy for acute inflamation so am sure if you drive to China Town you will find it in the drug storesโ
โThat’s intenseโ he sighed again feeling helpless.
โTrue and coincidentally enough someone who has been poisoned with aconite will also show the symptoms as someone having a heart attack….. If you hadn’t insisted on the toxicology test then we wouldn’t have ruled your fatherโs death as murderโ
Arjun took the file from Steve and read the information for the second time, it was hard for his mind to process everything at once. His dad was given two drugs both intending to murder him, he never knew his dad had enemies like that โso two people wanted my dad dead?โ he whispered but it was enough for Steve to hear.
Steve leaned on the table that separated them โyes, one must have done a thorough research that’s why aconite was used and the other must either work in a hospital or have knowledge about medicine that’s why Calcium Gluconate was usedโ
โAnd what if it’s the same person?โ
Steve leaned back on his chair, to use two poisons that were going to have the same result was not a trait that a murderer would possess โIt can’t be the same person but if it is I would say whoever this is, is either an impatient fool or simply derangedโ
Arjun thanked him and took his leave, his father was murdered and now it was up to him to find him justice.
Malhotraโs Apartment
Neil was on the verge of having a nervous break-down, Kiaan had turned the house upside down and he knew that he was in trouble because when Sam got back and saw the house in that condition he will be toasted. Kiaan had knocked down Samโs favourite flower vase she had bought during their honeymoon in Italy while playing football inside the house a habit that Sam discouraged a lot. But what could he have done Kiaan was playing with his phone and he was afraid he might delete his entire contacts like he did previously so told him to play with his football instead.
He looked at Kiaan who had his whole attention on the flat screen TV watching Sponge Bod Square Pants show without a worry for the world โthis boy will get me killedโ
The front door opened and Sam got in โHi…โ she said softly, she sounded low.
Neil followed her to the kitchen โwhat’s wrong?โ
She sighed โnothing, I just thought someone was following meโ Neil held her by the shoulders and asked her to explain โI noticed this black SUV following me since I left work, I went to the kidโs store and it was still behind me… I had started to worry when it took another turn, near here…. I almost called the policeโ
Neil hugged her โyou are just paranoid, and it’s normal with the recent happeningsโ
She nodded โmaybe am watching too much detective seriesโ
He chuckled โmom called, she will be back next weekโ
โOh, that’s greatโ she exclaimed โwe really need her help, Kiaan is getting more and more mischievous everydayโ
He gulped โabout that…โ
Sam looked at him suspiciously, she then quickly walked to the living room and when she didn’t find her vase, she turned to him red with rage, nostrils flaring and teeth gritting โNEEEEEEILโ her shrill echoed throughout the living room. Neil tried to defend himself but it was a sinking ship โfind yourself a couch to sleep on tonight because you are not sleeping in my roomโ she snapped before slamming their bedroom door on his face.
Neil sighed when he turned he found Kiaan playing with his football again “seriously?” he muttered.
Mishra Mini supermarket
Over the years Dilip had transferred from a grocery store to a mini supermarket thanks to Ajayโs business plan, his friendship proved to be useful for his life and his business too. Radhika walked inside pushing the glass door, she always did her grocery shopping there to contribute in her father’s success. The small bells hanging above clinged when she opened the door causing the young man at the cashier’s desk to raise his head from the Calculus book he was engrossed in. โgood evening Diโ he greeted her smilingly.
โGood evening, Chotuโ she replied equally smiling. She then gave him a small gift bag โthis is for youโ
โthanks Diโ he replied taking the gift out โhow did you know I needed this?โ he asked surprised seeing the latest scientific calculator.
Radhika smiled โI heard over the phone that day, when you were talking to your friendโ
He smiled and thanked her again โyou are an angel Diโ he said gratefully. Radhika loved to help the young boy and in all honesty he deserved the aid, he was a bright student but due to financial scarcity of his family he had to drop out of college and look for a job but none would give an Indian young boy a decent job until he came to Dilip and got a part time job as a cashier. When Radhika heard about his story she paid for his tuition and insisted that the only way he could return her favour was by doing good in school and that was exactly what Karan aka Chotu was doing.
โwhat can I do for you Di?โ
โnothing am just here for my usual shoppingโ
โlet me help youโ he took her grocery list from her hands โI will take care of this you just relax Diโ
She smiled in appreciation โokay, where is Dad?โ
โin the back, in his officeโ he replied while already disappearing in the aisles.
Radhika walked to her dadโs office, it was in the far end of the store near the toilet. The door was slightly open so she could hear what was going on inside. She managed to figure out that Dilip was on the phone with someone and was not pleased with the person on the other end of the phone โhow could you be so careless, do you want to get us caught?โ he shouted and Radhika stood behind the door to listen โwhat you did at the party was wrong, I have worked so hard for this and you will ruin it all with your impatienceโ Party? What party was he talking about? Was he talking about Aria’s birthday party? She thought and got more keen to know who was her dad talking to โlisten…โ just then Radhika’s phone rang and Dilip had to halt his conversation and look outside only to find his daughter ransaking her handbag to find her ringing phone โI’ll call you laterโ he said ending the call.
Radhika finally found her phone and answered โhey Sweetheartโ came Arjun’s voice over the phone.
โHi..โ she replied
โjust called to tell you that I will be late today, have something to do at the station laterโ
โsure, whateverโ she answered uninterested.
โhey, is something wrong?โ he sounded surprised with her curt replies.
โnothing, now will you get over the phoneโ
โokay, chillโ he said before ending the call.
By the time she got inside Dilip’s office he was seating on his usual chair going over something on his desktop computer, she greeted him and sat opposite him โshopping?โ he asked and she nodded โhow is Arjun getting by?โ
โHe resumed work today but this things take time, so I can’t say that he is over the mourning periodโ
Dilip nodded in agreement โeven Priya went to work today but her eyes clearly show that she is sad, we all try to cheer her up but she has just lost her father so I understand what she is going throughโ
She smiled a nervous one, she was debating in her mind if she should ask him or not about the phone call he was at โuh, dad… Who were you talking to just a while ago?…. You sounded really angryโ she asked nervously.
โnothing important, just businessโ he replied casually and quickly averted his gaze back to the computer screen and that made her more curious, her dad never does that. She wanted to pry more on the matter but just then Karan came to inform her that he was done with her shopping and she had no other choice but to leave.
Taste Farm Offices
Arjun sat in Priyaโs cabin waiting for her, she was in a meeting in the board room. He looked at his phone where Radhika’s image was on the screen and recalled his phone conversation with her few minutes ago, why did she sound mad, did he do something? He looked at the date displayed on the screen, it was not her birthday, he sighed of relief that he was not in trouble for forgetting to wish her on her special day. Besides he had reminders for all important dates in his life, it was not her birthday neither was it their anniversary and it was summer so it can’t be Valentine then what had he done for his wife to sound angry at him. โwomenโ he whispered concluding that no man can understand that specie.
โhave you been waiting long?โ Priya asked when she entered her cabin.
โnot reallyโ he replied and greeted her with a warm hug.
They settled on the two-seater sofa in her office โhow are you?โ she asked in her sisterly concerned voice.
โjust like you, I guessโ he said pointing to her dark circled eyes showing that she has either not been sleeping properly or she has been crying and he decided to believe on the latter.
She sighed โam trying, but it’s not easyโ
โI know, but we have each otherโ he placed his hand on hers โwe will get over this togetherโ and she smiled at his words.
โso, to what do I owe this visit?โ she asked after a minute of silence.
โI got the toxicology reportโ
โand…โ
โhe was murdered, dad was poisoned to deathโ he refrained himself from revealing too much information like the possibility that two people might have wanted him dead to not worry her. Shock was not even a word enough to express Priya’s state at that moment, who would have wanted his dad killed, did he have enemies, and why now when their lives were settled and peaceful โI wanted to ask you if you have any suspects in your mind, are you aware of any enemies dad may have had?โ
Priya nodded in negative โI… I… I don’t understand… Who would have wanted him killed…. And why?โ she stammered as fresh tears kissed her cheeks. Arjun took her in an embrace and calm her down by giving her a glass of water to drink.
โrelax…โ he told her in assurance โyou know I will bring whoever did this to justiceโ he said as a promise and she nodded showing her trust in him.
โwhat else did the report say?โ
โnothing helpful, just that the poison is called Aconiteโ
โAconite?… How is that spelled?โ she asked clearly with confusion on her face.
โA.. C.. O…โ he started.
โN.I.T.E?โ she finished for him, worrying him.
โyeah, do you know anything about it?โ
Her brows were furrowed in confusion โI think I have read about that recently, or someone must have told me about… I don’t know…. I can’t remember…โ she said biting her lips trying to recall where she had learned about that poison.
This can’t be good, he thought. How did she come to know about a poison that killed their father before the murder took place, this can’t be a coincidence โare you sure?โ he asked but she was so concentrated in her thought juggling her memory. Then suddenly the lines of worry on her face vanished as her brows straightened โdid you recall something?โ
She looked pale, as if what she remembered was more shocking, he shook her a little when she didn’t respond to him for some time โHuh..?โ she looked puzzled as if he had been talking to a wall all this time, he repeated his question and she nodded negative โNo…. No… I have nothingโ
โAre you sure?โ he repeated his previous question.
She stood from the sofa and grabbed her purse โI have to run, I remembered an issue I have to look afterโ
He also got off the sofa โokay, but if you recall anything about that poison be sure to tell meโ
โsureโ she replied quickly forcing a smile on her face.
โAnd yeah…โ he said as he just recalled why he came to see her โI needed the video of the birthday party since you organized it I thought you will know where it isโ
โYeah… Yeah…. I have it, will email it to you when I get homeโ
โThanksโ he told her and left her office behind her.
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Well… Well… Well…
Too much mystery for the first chapter, my mind scolds me.
So what’s your take so far….
1. The letter, who wrote who received?
2. Is it one or two murderers?
3. What or who could have Priya recalled?
Excited to read your views.
36 Comments
Hyyyyyu…..welcome back…….belated
HAPPY NEW YEAR……its like a new year gieft for me actually……. as usual fantastic episode……. really toooooo much mystery for 1st chapter……..but you know i just loved it,especially the letter at starting…….waiting for next episode
Tack care….
Thank you Ritwika, n a very happy new year to you too
Nice episode giana di.I read shades of love few days before.I loved that story to the core.thanks for the sequel.waiting for next.
Thank you so much Chashni
Loved it
Thanks Kavina
Wow… amazing dear… tooo much mystery.. enjoying it
Thank you Sulbi dear
Hmmmm….???? Ajay…who could have kill him….Tina…because I won’t believe her…after all , she was aggressive killer…priti…new one but interesting character…and doc…only hrisant is there…chotu aka Karan…god…i don’t have any doubt on Dilip…..i knew Ajay was murdered but who might be his enemy…that drug mafia or kabir….so aconite came….
I have pulled one murder into a thousands directions, have to keep the mystery intact. Thank you dear, I always wait to know what you think about my writing.
Love you Watson
Outstanding episode, love it to the core, does Dilip have something to do with the poison? Eagerly waiting for the next update, Gianna you nail it, well done and Happy New Year. ๐
Thank you Bring dear, can’t divulge any detail now, you just wait and enjoy the mystery unfold. Love u dear n tc
*Brin
Gianna di its just outstanding, I just loved it… Its so amazing thrilling and mysterious…. Love reading it… Waiting for the next one eagerly….
Thank you so much Divya, will try n post the next one soon
Superb…. Loved it… Wait for next…
Thank you Saran
Gianna darling awesome episode…. I loved it….
Thanks ?
Hi Gianna …happy new year ….the episode is marvelous and mind blowing…no words…only you can write such a story…thank you for the story…really loved it…and SERVED COLD ..also….no one can write a story which is really trilling …..sometimes I doubt you are an experienced writer…not a naive writer…..thanks once again for giving us thrillling experience…
Thank u Nina, but am really just an amerture writer, I am my own wrist critic and everytime I write something I find nothing but flaws in it. It’s comments like this that make me seat back and look at my work with a different view. Am so glad u r enjoying the story
gianna, fantastic one…. i don’t want to doubt on anyone, especially dilp. last season i was behind him, bt he was not there in that….. bt priya, she found something, and she didn’t tell that to arjun… that means someone really close to her know about that poison, who will be that?? i am really curious to know what will happen next?? i hav a request, plz this time plz don’t break jai’s heart, he already went through a lot, so plz, hope that preeti is a good person and bring some happiness in his life like aria…. eagerly waiting for next one…
Thank you Jewel, yes Priya recalled someone very close you will know that person in the next chapter, about suspects then I only have this to say ‘there is no crime without motive’ once that comes into the open then so will your suspects. Jai will have a happy ending that’s a promise.
Love u n tc
Hey Ginna…happy new year. I am a big fan of shades of love & so happy that you write its sequel. the episode was full of suspence…mind blowing. I really loved it. And about gussing sorry am not a good detective.
Thank u Tian, hope u will love this sequel too. Stay blessed
Hi gianna… awesome n mind blowing… who must have tell abt the poison to Priya? As usual u have ur readers at the seat edge. Lol.. pls post soon
Thank you Farjana, you will know where Priya learned about the poison in the next one. Stay blessed.
Hey di happy new year…..how are you ….and shades of love ka sequel ….god i am so happy ??????awesome chappy ….i loved it
Happy new year to you too dear, yes a sequel I just hope it’s as good as the previous one. Stay blessed
Gianna..amazing dear ๐ I really wonder what ur brain is made of … ๐ I guess it is itself a mystery lyk ur stories ๐ Really wish I was in place of jiju ๐ all eager for nxt..plz plz plz post soon.. ๐ loads of love. ๐
Thank u Ritj dear
Ritu*
Wowww… superb…
Thanks
Awesome, wowwww lovely very mysterious episode. ..n mind blowing beginning of the sequel. ….kabir is backkk…omg…he trapped piyali again. ..jai n preeti meet was cuteee…their past very good…Ajay report very strange. ..he was murdered. …so the mystery started…..n rads heard dilip’s convo…very fishy….priya remember what…..it very intriguing. …making me so curious. …amazingly awesoooooome. …keep it up honeyyy. Love you loads. muaaaaahhhhhh Bear hug my sweeeeeetheart darling. โกโกโกโกโกโกโกโก ๐
Thank you so much Roma dear, more suspense to come