LOVE, LIFE, SECRETS: Answers lie within – CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 45: Attacks

Ishana was walking through the parking lot of her apartment searching for the scooty keys in her bag…. Abir had called her an hour ago asking her to come directly to the police station…. He had even offered to pick her up but she denied saying that she would manage…. She knew Abir said it as he cared for and was worried but then she could not always depend on him…. It was her fight and at some point of time she had to fight it alone…. All by herself…. She was looking through her bag when she felt something hard hitting her head…. She stopped and immediately touched the back of her head…. She could feel immense pain building in her body…. She stumbled and collided with the wall nearby…. Her sight was getting blurred as she sat down taking support of the wall…. As she tried hard to keep her eyes open she saw a blurry figure…. Before she could do anything more darkness surrounded her….

Daksh sighed as he saw Ishana slipping into unconsciousness…. He bent down and sat in front of her…. He forwarded his hand to touch her but stopped his hand few inches away from her body…. He had to do this….

Daksh: I am sorry Ishana, but I have to do this.

*****

Mrs. Kapoor: I am not going to answer any useless questions of yours.

Mishti looked at Abir asking him what to do…. They had called Mrs. Kapoor for some questioning…. Already they had spent a lot of time in bringing her here but then she was not answering any of their questions…. Abir looked at Ranveer, was standing near the window…. Ranveer signed Mishti to stop requesting and to command her to give answers…. Seeing the age of Mrs. Kapoor they did not want to disrespect her but now they had no other choice…. Mishti nodded and turned to Mrs. Kapoor…. Mishti bent down close to her looking directly into her eyes…. For the first time in the past hour did Mrs. Kapoor feel a fear rising in her heart seeing Mishti’s dangerous gaze….

Mishti: Chup chap jawaab de dijiye warna mujhe aisa kuch karna padega jo aap she nahi payengi.

Mrs. Kapoor: Okay, jo puchna hai jaldi puch lo.

Mishti smirked seeing her changed tone and behavior…. Abir and Ranveer smiled seeing this….

Mishti: Why were you giving Tia poison?

Mrs. Kapoor looked at her startled…. She has not expected this question….

Mrs. Kapoor: What rubbish are you talking? Think before you speak.

Abir: Well, of course we think before speaking. And please don’t do this act of not knowing in front of us.

Mrs. Kapoor: Do you have any proofs that you are putting such allegations?

Mishti: Of course we have, do you think we would speak just like that? Now answer my question, why did you poison Tia?

Mrs. Kapoor: Because she was a useless daughter, good for nothing. I wanted to give her the best possible life by marrying Shivaay but she, such a fool loved that Dushyant Rana. She would have spoiled all my plans by telling Shivaay and the other Oberois the truth, I had to do something.

Abir: So you also got her stabbed by someone?

Mrs. Kapoor: No, never, why would I spoil my own plans at the last moment? I wanted her to marry Shivaay; it was beneficial both personally and professionally.

The trio exchanged some looks amongst themselves….

Mishti: Why are you staying in Oberoi Mansion from the past two years? You have your own house then why stay at Oberoi Mansion?

Mrs. Kapoor smiled hearing the question…. The others looked at her confused by her smile….

Mrs. Kapoor: Haven’t you heard the famous saying, “Keep your friends close, and enemies closer”.

Ranveer: What do you mean?

Mrs. Kapoor: I’ll tell you….

The trio looked at her not knowing what to expect…. Mrs. Kapoor started the narration….

Years ago Oberois and Kapoors had started a project in partnership…. Initially the project had given immense profits and everyone was happy…. Both the families had become good friends from business partners…. Over a few years the project did not yield the desired results and the company started facing immense loses…. Both the families were in stress and had arguments every other day…. Finally Shakti and Tej decided that they would do use some illegal ways to keep the company working…. Mr. Kapoor did not agree with those means and was against the entire idea….

Seeing no other way out of the situation Tej decided to break the partnership…. Kapoors were left with no other option and unwillingly broke all ties with the Oberois…. Mr. Kapoor was in huge debts while Oberois covered the loses using all wrong ways…. Mrs. Kapoor who couldn’t see her husband in such deprived state decided to expose the Oberois and collected proofs against them exposing all their illegal ways…. When Tej and Shakti found out about this, they confronted Mr. Kapoor…. Arguments took an ugly turn and Tej threatened Mr. Kapoor that if he did not back off consequences would be devastating…. Tej sent one of his trusted men to acquire the proofs from them…. But before the man could take the proofs from the Kapoors, they fled away from their house…. While running away to save their lives they met with an accident and Mr. Kapoor died on the spot…. Mrs. Kapoor managed to save her daughters…. Oberois were shocked with the news….

For years Mrs. Kapoor was away from the Oberoi family but the vengeance in her heart did not die…. After few years she returned back with her daughters and started blackmailing Tej and Shakti…. She still had the proofs and had kept them hidden away from the reach of the Oberois…. When Shivaay entered the business world, Mrs. Kapoor blackmailed Shakti to get Tia and Shivaay married…. When Shivaay found the entire truth, he promised Tej and Shakti that he would not let his family suffer…. Tia and Shivaay had become good friends over time and Shivaay did not see any harm in marrying her…. Moreover he thought that after he married Tia, Mrs. Kapoor would stop with the blackmailing game…. But before any of their plans could succeed Tia was killed….

Mrs. Kapoor: That is why I wished Tia to marry Shivaay Singh Oberoi. I wanted to take back everything the Oberois had snatched from us.

Abir and Mishti looked at each other stunned by the revelation…. Ranveer was lost in his thoughts…. He looked at Mrs. Kapoor….

Ranveer: Do you have any proofs against the Oberois that prove whatever you said as true?

Abir: Veer….

Ranveer put his hand in front of him to not say anything…. Abir was taken aback…. Mishti looked on surprised….

Mrs. Kapoor: Yes, I have proof about every single wrong deed of theirs.

Ranveer: I want them; only with the help of those proofs can we take any action against the Oberois.

Mrs. Kapoor: That is all I want now, Oberois getting punished. I’ll ask my manager to get the proofs here.

Ranveer: Sure.

Ranveer walked out of the room asking Mishti to keep a check on Mrs. Kapoor…. Mishti nodded but was surprised by what Ranveer had said…. Abir asked her to be there while he followed Ranveer….

*****

Gauri parked her car at her usual spot in the parking…. Looking at the parking lot, she was reminded of the incident from last night…. She took a deep breath and composed herself…. She did not have to get scared of anyone or anything…. Whatever happened last night she could not let that affect her…. She came out of her car and started walking towards the lift…. As she was walking she felt someone following her…. She stopped in her tracks as the last night’s incident replayed in her mind…. She took a deep breath and turned around…. She was shocked….

A man was wearing black clothes and his face was covered with a black scarf…. He was carrying a knife and was walking towards her…. Gauri looked around but no one was there…. The watchman would also be away…. Even if she called for help there were very less chances of someone hearing her…. She prepared herself to defend herself from this person…. He walked towards her…. Gauri moved back…. She slowly took out the pepper spray from her bag…. The man was about to stab her and she was about to spray it in his eyes when someone intervened…. The man stopped as someone intervened…. Gauri was shocked as she saw Adhvik hold the knife with his hand just moments before it could hurt her…. The blood dripped from his hand and fell on the floor….

Gauri: Mr. Malhotra….

Adhvik let go off the knife and punched the man hard…. The man winced in pain and stumbled…. Adhvik was going to hit him again but the man pushed him back and ran away…. Gauri stood shocked as she witnessed everything…. Adhvik walked to her….

Adhvik: Ms. Mehra, are you fine? I hope you didn’t get hurt.

Gauri: I am fine but you got hurt because of me.

Adhvik: It’s a small wound, don’t worry about that.

Gauri: Blood is flowing and you are telling me not to worry, come with me.

She held his hand and he looked at her surprised…. Without saying anything he followed her as she walked into her office and towards her cabin…. On her way, her employees looked at the scene in surprise…. They talked among themselves…. When Gauri looked at them with a stern look, all immediately got back to their work…. Adhvik smiled a little seeing this…. Inside her cabin, she asked him to take a seat…. He quietly obliged…. She brought the first aid and sat in front of him…. She took out the cotton and started cleaning the blood…. He looked at her getting lost in her for a few moments….

Adhvik: This is not needed Ms. Mehra.

Gauri: Of course it is needed and it is Gauri….

Adhvik: What?

Gauri: My name is Gauri, so call me that, not as Ms. Mehra.

Adhvik: Okay but only if you call me Adhvik and not Mr. Malhotra.

Gauri: How can I….

Adhvik: Of course you can.

They looked at each other for a few moments before their lips curved into a smile…. Gauri looked down and dressed his wound…. He smiled looking at her….

Gauri: But aap yaha, itni subah?

Adhvik: Wo, I had come to tell you that from tomorrow you should start work at the our house. The wedding functions will also start soon and you can check the arrangements and all.

Gauri: Yes, that will be better.

Adhvik: I should get going now, I have to reach the office also.

Gauri: Ji.

He smiled at her and walked away…. Gauri smiled as he walked away….

*****

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