CHAPTER 60: The culprit?
(Day of Pankhuri’s arrest)
Pankhuri: This is the only truth now, I have killed Tia.
Pankhuri sat down on the sofa keeping her head low, after whatever had happened she could not look into their eyes, especially Arjun’s…. The fear of losing him had come true, she had lost him….
No one moved from their places….
Mrs. Kapoor did not say anything and sat on the sofa nearby…. She did not what she was supposed to do now…. All her plans had failed now and there was very little she could do to achieve what she wished to have…. She thought it was better to remain silent at the moment….
Dadi was shocked…. Shakti consoled his mother…. Pinky felt immense pain…. No matter what had happened in the past she had always looked after Tia and Romi as her daughters…. Tia always had been the daughter-in-law that Pinky wished to have for her one and only son…. Tears flowed from her eyes and Janhvi consoled her sister-in-law…. Tej stood with his usual arrogant face; he stood as if nothing till now had affected him…. Om and Rudra exchanged looks not knowing whom to console and whom to look after at the moment…. Priyanka sat beside Romi who was in tears hearing about how her sister was killed….
Shivaay stood there not showing any emotions as he looked at her…. Even after everything his eyes refused to leave her, all he cared about was still Anika…. Why…. When did she become so important…. This love was making him go insane….
Arjun sat down with a thud on the ground…. The last hope in him died the moment Pankhuri confessed the truth he had been denying for a long time…. Anika rushed to her brother and hugged him tightly as tears flowed from her eyes…. Arjun hugged Anika tightly hiding himself in her embrace as tears flowed from his eyes…. Sumitra and Shekhar also had tears flowing seeing their son’s broken state…. They did not know how they were supposed to console and comfort him….
Gauri did not know what she should feel…. Relieved that the truth had been out and she was free from the stress…. The truth that made her feel safe was also the truth that had shattered her Arjun Bhaiya’s life…. Even if they had known each other only for few days, yet they had developed a bond of trust, care and affection…. Tears collected in her eyes seeing the devastated Arjun…. Soumya understood Gauri’s thoughts and kept her hand on her shoulder…. Gauri looked at her…. Soumya signed her not to worry….
Ishana stood silent…. She had known that Arjun had known about Pankhuri and she only prayed that whatever they were thinking was wrong and that Pankhuri was not at fault…. Ishana had known Arjun for only months yet they had developed a bond as she considered him the brother she never had earlier…. Now seeing her Bhai’s state only squeezed her heart…. She had already been through this phase when Devika had known Daksh’s lies…. And now Arjun was feeling the pain of betrayal…. Why did God have to be so cruel with her sister and brother….
Shaantanu and Naren were not able to say anything…. They only looked at Adhvik who was not reacting…. They knew that his silence was worse than his anger…. They only hoped that Adhvik doesn’t do something that makes them regret later….
Ranbir and Prachi looked at each other as tears collected in Prachi’s eyes…. Since the time they had known the truth, all she hoped was they were wrong…. Arjun had always loved her as much as he loved Anika…. Seeing him like this made her heart feel immense pain….
Ranveer, Abir and Mishti looked at each other…. Ranveer knew the people there would need time to accept the truth and to get over it…. He only looked at Mishti and signed her to go to Pankhuri…. Mishti nodded and walked towards Pankhuri but she stopped as they all heard a voice….
“So you have killed Tia”
The voice caught everyone’s attention and all of them turned towards the entrance surprised and shocked seeing the person…. The man walked inside…. His eyes reflected rage, pain and hatred as he walked towards Pankhuri…. Seeing him walking towards Pankhuri, Adhvik stood before him…. The anger in his eyes only increased seeing Adhvik interfering still trying to protect his sister….
Adhvik: What are you doing here Mr. Dushyant Rana?
Dushyant: That doesn’t matter now; first I have to talk to her…. How dare she kill my Tia?
Anika: Dushyant…. Please….
Dushyant: No Annie, not now…. This is about my Tia….
The elders were looking at Dushyant as he referred to Tia as his….
Anika looked at Shekhar and signed him to hold onto Arjun…. Shekhar nodded and sat with Arjun….
Anika stood up and walked towards Dushyant…. She kept her hand on Dushyant’s shoulder and he looked at her…. Seeing her eyes Dushyant’s rage calmed and tears collected in his eyes…. Anika knew how much it would be hurting him…. Dushyant sad down on his knees as tears made their way out of his eyes…. Anika also sat down beside him…. After all before everything else, they had always been friends and had been there for each other always…. Now that her friend needed her support she could not back out because of some bitter moments…. She sat beside him as he let his pain flow in the form of tears….
Shivaay was looking at the two of them…. Seeing Anika consoling Dushyant was breaking him…. Why did she not step forward to console him…. Why did she not look at him and see the pain in his eyes…. Whatever that happened in the past weeks played in his mind…. The only thing that he was concerned about was that he loved Anika and maybe…. Maybe she still loved Dushyant…. Maybe he was still the man she loved…. The mere thought of Anika loving someone else was killing Shivaay….
Dushyant: Annie…. She…. She killed my Tia…. Why did she do this Annie…. Why….
Anika: Dushyant, please…. I know this is so hard for you, but please sambhalo khud ko….
Dushyant: I loved her Annie…. She was my life, my heartbeat…. Why did she kill my lifeline….
Anika did not know how she was supposed to console him…. She only caressed his back as he hugged her and cried his heart out…. Dushyant knew that only his friend could understand him at this moment….
Adhvik: What is all this?
Rudra: Adhvik Bhaiya….
Rudra looked at Om before saying anything…. Om only nodded asking Rudra to narrate it all…. It was time that even this truth had to be revealed…. Rudra narrated about Tia and Dushyant…. How they met and fell in love with each other…. How Mrs. Kapoor rejected their relation and threatened Tia that if she did not marry Shivaay, she would kill Dushyant…. How Tia and Dushyant got married in secrecy…. How they planned to tell Shivaay and Oberois the truth after her marriage with Shivaay….
Pinky: Tia was married to Dushyant….
Omkara: Yes Choti maa, Tia and Dushyant were already married.
Mrs. Kapoor: What nonsense are you talking; my daughter did not get married to anyone. She was….
Romi: Enough mom, please stop all this.
Mrs. Kapoor: Shut up and dare you raise your voice in front of me again.
Shivaay: ENOUGH…. EVERYBODY JUST SHUT UP….
All looked at Shivaay…. His loud voice had its immediate effect as a silence fell over the entire place…. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe…. He again opened his eyes…. None of them present there uttered a word…. Shivaay turned towards Ranveer….
Shivaay: Now the truth is out in front of everyone, please take the culprit away DCP Randhawa.
Ranveer: Yes, Mr. Oberoi….
Ranveer signed Mishti to proceed…. Mishti walked to Pankhuri and put the handcuffs…. Pankhuri controlled her tears and looked down…. All her strength had now been washed away…. She could not look into the eyes of the people around…. She could not bear them looking at her with anger, hurt and hatred…. Adhvik did not oppose anyone and kept quiet standing at his place…. Ranveer shook hands with Shivaay and the police turned to go…. All of them stopped hearing Arjun’s voice…. Pankhuri turned to look at him still hoping for something to happen…. Arjun did not look at her and stood up…. His eyes had no emotions…. Pankhuri felt a stab in her heart seeing him with that blank face….
Arjun: Now that the truth is out, let everyone know the entire truth.
Abir: What do you mean by entire truth? Ms. Malhotra has already told everything.
Arjun: I don’t think so, she did not tell everything.
Shivaay: Arjun, what are you saying, tell us clearly.
Arjun: Not me Shivaay, someone else will tell the truth.
Rudra: Who?
Arjun: Gauri….
All looked at each other surprised and confused…. Gauri did not know what to say and looked at Arjun…. Arjun signed her to say it….
Gauri: But Bhaiya….
Ranveer: Gauri, say it…. I have already told you, there is no point in delaying this….
Gauri: Actually…. The Malhotra family already knew that Pankhuri had killed Tia. They had known it for weeks and that is why they all hatched a plan to protect Pankhuri and put the blame on someone else…. I know all this because Arjun Bhaiya had told me everything and had asked me to keep an eye on them….
Ranveer: And what else….
Gauri: Also, Adhvik Malhotra had appointed someone to keep an eye on me and had also planned attacks on me….
Naren: Shut up; don’t make up any nonsensical stories about my son….
Abir: Relax Mr. Malhotra, ab story start hui hai toh khatam bhi hone dijiye….
Gauri: I would have never doubted Adhvik Sir, if he would not have saved me that day…. It was as if he knew that someone would attack me and he will gain my trust by saving me…. Instead of trusting him, my doubt increased and that is why Arjun Bhaiya tried to find the attacker and when he found him, the man confessed that he was there on Adhvik Sir’s words….
Ranveer: So Malhotra family was making plans to fool the world, but shayad aap sab bhul gaye ki jhoot jyada der tak chalta nahi…. Kahi na kahi ladkhada hi jaata hai….
Abir: Ab charges toh aap par bhi lagenge Mr. Malhotra, ek murderer ko bachane ki koshish ke liye….
Adhvik: I don’t care…. Whatever I did was for my family and I am sure if someone else would have been in my place, they too would have done the same….
Prachi: No Mr. Malhotra, not everyone is like you…. And the biggest example is standing in front of you…. Arjun Bhai….
Omkara: I think now everything is clear….
Ranveer: Mishti, take Ms. Malhotra…. They have done enough, now it is our turn to do the needful….
Mishti took Pankhuri with her followed by the lady constables….
Ranveer looked at Shivaay and nodded his head…. Before going out Ranveer looked at Priyanka once and she signed him not to worry now….
Dushyant thanked Anika and walked away….
One by one everyone walked out of Malhotra mansion….
The case that had made them all sleepless for weeks was now closed….
The truth had been out and hurt them all in different ways….
How could life be so unpredictable….
How can someone we trust so much break our trust in few moments….
How much it hurt to see the people we cared for end up hurting us in the worst possible ways….
None of them spoke anything….
*****
Anika looked at Shivaay before sitting in the car hoping he would see her once before leaving…. Shivaay stopped on his tracks and turned to look at her…. Her heartbeat increased with each step he took towards her…. He stood in front of her…. Their eyes met and a silence prevailed for few moments….
Shivaay: Thank you for the service Ms. Raichand, you’ll get your fees by tomorrow.
And with that he turned and walked away…. Anika looked at him going away not being able to neither stop him nor say something to him…. Shivaay got into his car and drove away…. Anika did not let the tears flow and quickly got into her car….
Umeed….
Yeh umeed bhi kitni ziddhi hoti hai….
Khud tut jaati hai par apne saath aur bohot kuch tod deti hai….
*****
Ishana and Om were standing near Ishana’s scooty…. They did not know what to say…. Was it the good-bye moment now…. Was this their last meet….
Omkara: So, now the truth is out.
Ishana: Yes, and with this….
Omkara: With this….
Ishana: It is a good-bye, I guess….
Omkara: Yeah…. It was nice knowing you….
Ishana: Same here….
They looked at each other and smiled faintly…. Ishana looked at him once and then sat on her scooty…. She started her scooty and was about to drive away when Om stopped her…. She looked at him surprised….
Omkara: Shayad tum bhul gayi, abhi bhi kuch baki hai….
Ishana: Kya….
Omkara: Daksh….
Ishana looked at him and she thought for some time before smiling at him….
Ishana: Toh phir kal milte hai Mr. Artist….
Omkara: Sure Ms. Reporter….
Ishana smiled at him and drove away…. Om smiled seeing her….
*****
Rudra: Gauri Di and Soumya, bhale hi case khatam ho gaya ho…. Hamari friendship khatam nahi hui hai….
Gauri: Of course Rudra….
Soumya: Absolutely correct Rudra…. Sometimes wrong things lead you to the right ones also….
Gauri: Sahi kaha…. Who had thought ki we three would get along like this ever….
Rudra: Okay beautiful ladies, now that all is well…. We have to celebrate…. So, kal main aap dono ko dinner par lekar ja raha hu….
Gauri: But Rudra….
Soumya: Chalo naa Di…. Celebration toh banta hai….
Rudra and Soumya looked at Gauri making cute faces…. Her heart melted seeing their cuteness and she agreed…. Soumya and Rudra hugged her tightly expressing their happiness…. Surely they had become a warm little family….
*****
Prachi: Case toh solve ho gaya but bohot kuch bhikhaar gaya….
Ranbir: Sahi kaha tumne, socha nahi tha ki sach aisa hoga….
Prachi: It is going to take a lot of time till everyone accepts the truth and moves on.
Ranbir: It’ll take time but I am sure time will mend everything.
Prachi: By the way, it was great working with you.
Ranbir: Same here and yes, our friendship will always continue, no matter what.
Prachi: Yes.
They smiled at each other…. Ranbir offered to drop her home and she happily obliged….
*****
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the next chapter of the story, do share your views.
But is it the end or the beginning?
Has Pankhuri really killed Tia by her will or someone forced her?
Who would want Tia dead and why?
Why did Daksh kidnap Ishana but not hurt her? What is Daksh hiding?
Will Om and Shivaay find about Tej and Svetlana’s plans?
Why did Mishti break Abir’s heart is the past? Who is back in Mishbir’s life?
What turn will their lives take now? Will their love find its destination amongst these lies, secrets and revealtions?
Has the mystery really ended or has it just begun?
So many unanswered questions, but you all need not worry…. All of these will be answered in the Season 2 of “LOVE, LIFE, SECRETS: Answers lie within”…. Coming soon….
So, I have decided to take a break for sometime before I continue with the further story as I really feel that I need some time for myself. I know you all will understand.
Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!