Hallo people!! How are you all?! Here’s the next update.. too quick I think… hahahaha… enjoy.. I’m not going to be ranting like before.. I feel like I bore you all with it…
As usual.. please do bear with my typos and grammatical errors..
Happy reading ??
Saral smirked as he looked up the ceiling. It was time. Time to put his four and a half month plan into action. No one knew where he was. The police had a tough time. He had been watching the Mishras and Joshis residence in the disguise of an old man. No one could recognise him. The security forces were reducing as time passed. They’d only keep discussing on his return. But were frustrated he never showed up. This is what he wanted. The families to have no backup. Saral had managed to get so close that he knew of everything that the family was upto. This made him plan on how to put his plan into action even more easily.
“Here I come my family. And you’re going to love me for this” smirked Saral as he sang.
“Brijesh came to him “how long?” he asked.
“Soon” Saral clipped.
“Ok we’re in together. I’ll watch your back” smirked Brijesh.
“No I can do it alone. I wanna do it alone” replied Saral.
“Ok. I’m not. I know how important this is to you. All the best” smiled Brijesh.
“Thank you” smiled Saral.
Bird Song was in a total chaos. Sam and her mood swings. It had everyone on their tippy toes. She was so crazy. Had made the whole office go upside down. Nobody knew why. Niti doubted. Her craving for food… junk food made her doubt rise even more. Piyali and Samrat had a hard time in calming her down. Neil was pitied by every single person in the office. It was like seeing the next version of Niti. Niti was literally scratching her head as to how to go to Sam as every time she went, she’d get screwed by her. But now she had to. Niti took in a deep breath and went to Sam.
“Sam when was your last period?” asked Niti.
“Why?” she asked.
“Just tell me. And this is not the answer to my question” spoke Niti.
“We have a meeting Niti. I have no time for this” said Sam as she turned around.
“Rule number one, no one. No one turns away from Nithika Rajput and her questions” spoke Niti as she was losing her temper.
“Nithika Rajput?” asked Sam as she cocked up an eyebrow.
“Yes” she clipped.
Just then, Niti got a call. She gulped down as it was from Anant Narayan.
“Yes uncle” clipped Niti.
“Beta your father has been nominated for the Bravery Awards. His seventeen years. Please do come. I’ve informed his family too” informed Anant.
“Why do I have to come?” Niti gasped as she thought of it.
“You’re his daughter. You too helped in nailing Surya Prakash” he replied.
“Uncle but….” Niti dragged.
Sam got up as she saw Niti uncomfortable. She thought he was troubling her. Niti gestured her to stop as she approached her.
“You’re coming beta. You’re collecting the award on your father’s behalf” he spoke.
“Why can’t mom do it? And the media” she scowled.
“I’ll take care of the media” he informed.
“No uncle I can’t. The Mehras will be there too” spoke a scared Niti.
“It’s k beta” cooed Anant in a fatherly tone.
“No one knows about dad” she cried.
“They’ll have to find out now” sighed Anant.
“I don’t want to see mom’s hopes shattering. I can’t uncle” Niti cried.
“Beta it was Arav’s dream. For him. Please” pleaded Anant.
“Ok uncle. Fine” said an exasperated and defeated Niti.
“That’s like a good girl. See you tomorrow night at Taj” he said.
“Ok bye” she said as she hung upon te phone.
“What happened?” asked Sam.
“None of your concern” snapped Niti as she walked away.
Taste your own medicine. Sam cringed at the tone she used and looked at her as she walked away. She was zoning out again. She got Prerna’s call who informed her on the awards function. Arjun too was called and informed on te Bravery Awards and how Arav got Rakesh justice. Arjun was shocked as to how he was found. Anant informed that he had been keeping an eye on him since day one after his parent’s death. Arjun and Radhika decided to go. It was one way he could find his long lost best friend.
The night was going to be the night for everyone to remember. Everyone got ready in their best. Arjun and Radhika arrived grace and poise. As Anant had promised, there was no media, which made Niti heave a sigh of relief. Arjun was shocked to see Niti. But he brushed it off as she had contacts in the police force. Then arrived the Malhotras that shocked Arjun. Radhika looked confused. Was he the childhood best friend of Arjun?
As they a took their seats, Anant announced “ladies and gentlemen. This has been the most awaited event of all time. I’d like to welcome you all to this auspicious function. So I’ll cut short my speech and go in to the awards.”
Niti sucked in a deep breath as she sat next to Prerna. Niti was tensed as she had seen Arjun and Radhika. She didn’t care of Neil now. It was high time he found out that she was his sister. Prerna squeezed her palm gently.
Anant announced “The award goes to….”
Neil got a call and got our of the hall due to network error. Niti wanted Prerna to go collect the award on behalf of her husband. She just prayed for it to happen. Prerna’s eyes kept searching for Arav.
“Goes to Arav Malhotra” finished Anant “now I call upon his daughter Nithika to collect the award in behalf of her father” he smiled as he saw her.
Niti scowled. There was no way escaping now. Prerna’s heart sank as she couldn’t see her husband. She gave Niti a confused look in what was going on. Niti knew what was coming and just got up to collect the award. Sam smiled. Arjun was shocked. Niti was Arav’s daughter!! Which means she was a Malhotra. She’s Neil’s sister. Neil was his long lost childhood best friend. Oh God!! He was in tears. Radhika was not in a state to react. Ankush was nowhere to be bought back to earth. He kept staring. Whatever was happening was too much for him to digest. Nandini was smiling. Finally everything was falling in place.
Niti collected the award and went to the mic “good evening everyone. First of all, sorry mom. I never told you this. Dad’s no more. This happened last year. My dad died in my arms. For him, it was his duty that came first. He did everything he could to bring justice to his best friend and his family. As promised I never let his seventeen years go in vain. I met my dad after seventeen years” she cried. Prerna watched her daughter in tears.
“We killed Surya Prakash. And it was all I could do. Dad this is for you” finished Niti as she showed the momento looking up.
This left everyone in tears. Arav had died trying to get his friend justice. How wrong Arjun had taken them to be. He silently apologised as he cried and Radhika let him be. But it was too painful to watch a person like him break down. Prerna cried as her husband was no more. Sam let Prerna be. She had to break down. Niti quietly sat next to Prerna in tears and dumped the award in her hands. She squeezed her hand and mouthed a feeble sorry. Prerna cupped her face as tears failed to stop. Just then, Neil returned. Sam scowled. Destiny played so well. Everyone knows she’s a Malhotra, except for her dumb husband.
“God, I missed it. Mom why are you crying?” asked Neil.
“You’re dad’s no more Neil” cried Prerna.
“Mom it’s k. Shhh.. calm down” cooed Neil as he hugged his mother. He too was breaking down, but tried to be strong.
Niti cried silently turning away. She knew this was bound to happen, but it was too painful for her to see it. She too needed her family. Their embrace. Everyone left after the function. Arjun stormed to his bedroom and threw himself over the bed.
He remembered Neil’s words “I want to hate you so much for what you’ve done. But I just can’t. I donno why.”
“Neil” whispered Arjun as he cried and images of their childhood flashed.
Next day was a gloomy one. The whole of Bird Song wondered why the “Powerful Five” of Bird Song were so quiet. It was like they had lost a big. Like something terrible had happened. The meeting that was supposed to be held the previous day was scheduled today.
As they assembled, Sam started to explain things. But she felt giddy at one point. Everything going round and round. She brushed it off and went on. Finally, she gripped her chair hard and then went back falling to the floor. Niti ran to her and checked her pulse. She smiled a little. She placed her palm on her tummy and rubbed it gently. She bought her palm to her lips and kissed it. Tears failed to stop. She was going to be an aunt. Her brother, a dad. Her mom, a grandma and most of all, Sam was carrying!! Neil sprinkled water and woke her up. Sam looked at Niti with a confused face.
“When was your last period madam? Answer me atleast now?” asked Niti.
“Three months back” answered Sam.
Everyone laughed and cheered as they understood. Sam still had a confused face. Neil was speechless. He just sat to the floor as he was kneeling. Arjun and Radhika were on cloud nine. Ankush smiled. The grandparents to be were jumping.
Niti informed “you’re carrying. You’re going to be a mother.”
“Better get it checked in a hospital. On how many months the foetus is. You look too weak Sam. Need vitamins. Congrats to the new parents” said Niti as she got up and left.
Sam hugged Neil. It was the best thing she could ask for. Everyone congratulated them. Now Niti was even more tensed. Sam was pregnant. Saral was on te loose. He should never find out. She will never let him.
That’s all people… hope you all enjoyed it.. Tata babaye.. love you all loads.. tc.. keep smiling.. bear hugs to all of you ??