"And why would you think that??" Janani asked in total bewilderment as to why he is so confident that she would agree to all his demands.
"Because I have the upper hand sweetheart. You don't have any other choice" he said, making her wince at the sarcastic note in the endearment.
"I have security camera visuals of you stealing credit cards and using them in acts of fraud. I can always pass that evidence to the respected authority"
"Are you threatening me?" Janani asked in shocked disbelief.
Stealing credit cards?
What the hell is he talking about?
Was he serious??
Did Saanvi resort to stealing to make money?
"I an just letting you know how things are going to happen, if you refuse to co operate with me. As it is, the police is after you. All they need right now is solid proof, which I have in my custody" Armaan said calmly
But Janani had turned pale as death.
Proof of theft.
Goodness!!
He could have her arrested right here right now!!
Forcibly separate her from Advi, her beloved nephew.
She took deep breaths, as she tried to contain her panic and struggled to remain calm.
"So you will agree to DNA testing??" Armaan asked once more, now confident what her answer would be.
"Yes" she agreed. What choice did she have
"We will try to be civilised about this matter" Armaan said
Janani's palm tingled when she heard his words.
Never in her life had she so badly wanted to slap someone for lying.
There is nothing civilised about the man standing in front of her.
He is literally threatening her and offering her a civilised conversation in the same breath.
What an irony!
"Yes, we must try to be civilised" she heard herself muttering.
What other option did she have??
"I can be a very reasonable man" Armaan said smoothly
"Ofcourse" Janani conceded, not really believing his words.
She didn't think in any way he could be reasonable.
Okay!! You have to be fair here, Janani.
He is the wronged party here. He is the victim of what your twin did.
His reactions are justifiable.
But that didn't give her enough courage to give up on Advi. She loves the little one to the moon and back.
So she would hang on to him as long as she could.
"The laboratory technician will call in to take the DNA samples in the morning" he said
"You are not wasting any time" Janani remarked grumpily
"You have already wasted a great deal of my time, Ms Trivedi" he told her furiously.
Once Armaan left, Janani picked up her phone and dialed her best friend Richa.
"Run past me the rights you mentioned Saanvi would have had on Advi" Janani asked as soon as Richa answered her call
"Did you call me at midnight to ask that??" Richa grumbled sleepily.
"Armaan Verma dropped by. He left only now. He says he has some proof against Saanvi" Janani relayed the things Armaan had told her.
"Look Jan, I don't think Saanvi particularly has any rights over the baby. She might have signed away her rights before the IVF'' Richa said
"But you told me Saanvi has rights " Janani reminded
"I am not a lawyer, Janani. I thought she does have some rights, but it turns out she doesn't" Richa said and Janani felt miserable.
She is going to lose her beloved Advi.
"Then why is Mr Verma being so reasonable??" Janani asked confused
"Haa, this I have an idea about!! And you could capitalize on it, Janani. I am personally against you continuing this charade, but I know how important Advi is to you" Richa said sympathetically.
"Tell me" Janani prompted
"Commercial surrogacy is banned in India. So Mr Hotshot already breached the law when he resorted to one." Richa said
"Oh" that was news to her. She basically had no idea about surrogacies.
"And Mr Verma is an intensely private person. There are a lot of informations about his business life on the internet, but there is nothing of his personal life"
"You did a thorough research on him??" Janani asked in disbelief
"Of course I did. It's not every day my best friend gets acquainted with a hotshot billionaire" Richa said, making Janani roll her eyes.
"Well??" Janani prompted Richa to continue the conversation they were having
"Ah yes ,the surrogacy!! If the police are involved, the media might get involved. His business dealings are all legal.There is nothing people could point a finger at. So if it comes into media attention that he did breach the law in his personal life ,they would have a field day. And Mr Verma, from what I understand, will do everything in his power to stay out of paparazzi attention."
"I see. So as long as he thinks I am Saanvi, he wouldn't be able to take him off me so easily" Janani asked
"Yes, but once he realises that the biological mother of the baby is dead, all bets are off. He could easily destroy the details of surrogacy and claim that he did have a relationship with the mother and the baby is conceived in a natural way. He is very influential" Richa pointed out her assumptions.
"I will keep all this in mind." Janani said
"Also keep in mind, Armaan Verma makes the worst enemy one could have." Richa said before hanging up the call.
The next morning was a hustle bustle with the technician coming to collect the swab for DNA testing.
By the time the technician left Janani was in no mood for further company and she suppressed a weary groan when she heard the doorbell ringing yet again.
Her face stiffened when she saw the man at her doorstep.
It was her ex fiance
Vikram Thakur!!
She was still friends with him because her parents liked him. And her parents are friends with his parents.
And both sets of parents still hope that she will get back with him.
They have no idea of the real reason why they broke up.
She had let them believe it was a mutual decision to call off the engagement
They don't know about Saanvi's involvement in it.
Or what a chameleon Vikram Thakur is?
"May I come in?" Vikram asked once the polite small talk on the doorstep about her parents' little holiday got over and she was hoping he would take the hint and leave.
"Advi is still up" Janani warned him.
Vikram had made no secret of his dislike towards Advi.
"Well, how is the little one doing??" He asked, with his widest fakest smile possible.
"Well his father dropped by yesterday" Janani heard herself saying and cursed herself for saying that to him.
"Well, that's great news," Vikram said cheerily.
Janani genuinely did not hold Vikram's deception against him.
How could she possibly blame him for finding her colourful lively twin more attractive. It's not his fault that she is a plain Jane.
But what irritated Janani was that he was smugly convinced that he could talk his way back into Janani's heart, now that Saanvi is gone for good.
Not that her sister and ex fiance were really suited.
They had a brief fling, soon after he broke up with Janani, and parted ways when Saanvi returned to Delhi just before her surrogacy.
"Tell me more about him" he encouraged
And Janani told him as little as possible, making sure to keep all facts about her sister's double life a secret.
"That's the best news I have heard in weeks" Vikram exclaimed happily
"I admire you for what you did for the boy, but keeping him to yourself isn't practical. You have to move on. You have a life for yourself" He added
"Feelings aren't always practical, Vikram" Janani countered quietly
Vikram gave her an earnest appraisal
"You know how I feel about you, Janani. How long is it going to take for you to forgive me? I agree, I was foolish. I made a mistake. But I realised my mistake. I will never repeat it" Vikram said
"If you had really loved me,Vikram, you wouldn't have gone after my twin"
"I admit I made a mistake"
Janani breathed in heavily
"I have moved on now. I am fond of you, Vikram, but I am afraid that's all it will be" Janani said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"I know the child is what stopping us from getting together, Janani. Let the father take him away. And then you think clearly" Vikram told her through gritted teeth.
Janani resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
How did she fail to see what an arrogant and judgemental asshole he is. It was so easy to see. How the hell did she miss it?
To think she had once fancied herself in love with this man!!
Two days later ,Janani received the DNA test results that declared her nephew was indeed Armaan Verma's flesh and blood. She couldn't believe that she wished that the tests would turn out negative!How could she be so selfish!! Armaan Verma had searched for ten months to find his child. He had missed the first ten months of Advi's life.He wanted Advi. And he have every right to take Advi with him.She had to stop being so selfish. She had to take a step back. And give way for the father and son to bond.She had barely set the documents down when her phone rang. "Armaan Verma" the caller said in a cold tone, which had a warning note too in it. She remained silent and waited for him to continue "I would like to meet my son today" he added and Janani's heart skipped a beat.His son. Not hers. Advi is not hers anymore.He had never been hers to begin with, her conscience reminded brutally. She sucked in a deep breath and answered him"Yes Mr Verma. What time suits you?" She asked as
Janani was so shocked that she froze for a moment. Her lips parted in surprise and her breathing wavered. Her eyes widened in horror as Armaan's words sunk in."It would be easier on my son's emotional stability. But be sure to step back from him, letting others take your place. Consider this a warning, if you want" Armaan shrugged casually. "He should learn to adjust without you. It's good that he is at such an age were he will forget you soon" He added, without really understanding the blow Janani felt at his words.He had delivered the killing blow of truth by telling her what he expected and wanted from her.Mumbai and nanny job is very temporary and would come at a high cost She would eventually lose little Advi. Her beloved little nephew.She paled, as she felt a slicing pain in her heart, at the thought of having her expelled from Advi's life.But at the same time, Janani realised that, for all that she has heard about the heartless man in front of her, he is worthy of bei
"Mr Armaan Verma?" Vikram Thakur asked as soon as Armaan opened the door of his suite."Yes. And you are?""Vikram Thakur. Someone very close to Janani and her family." Vikram Thakur said smugly as he walked into Armaan's suite. "So?" Armaan asked "And I am here to talk about your decision to take Janani with you and your son to Mumbai" Vikram said in a demanding voice and it didn't bode well with Armaan. "I dont think it's any of your business Mr Thakur" Armaan said coldly "It's Dr Thakur" Vikram corrected "Yeah, whatever. It doesn't really matter. Anyways, it must be clear as daylight that my son and Janani share a deep bond. You must have seen that yourself. So, I would like to make it easier for my son when she moves on. An outright separation will not be good for him" Armaan said with a shrug."And what about Janani? Taking her to Mumbai is a stupid move. How is it going to let her move on" Vikram said with a polite smile and Armaan shrugged."It is better if you could sim
Armaan looked at the defiant tilt of her chin, holding the baby close to her bosom fiddling with the seat belt with her free hand. "But the plan was to give him away as soon as he was born. That's what you signed up for. That's what you planned when you left that note asking for more money" Armaan bit out furiously.He felt her stiffening... "As long as the pay off was sufficient, you were prepared to give him up. So you should have made sure that he is prepared for that. You shouldn't have let him get attached to you" He added "I wasn't sure about the separation" she fired back, an angry flush spreading across her porcelain skin."I would have moved heaven and earth to find my son. I would have never quitted. From the day you disappeared, every single day, I have thought about him and searched for him" Armaan said gruffly"But giving him up isn't going to be as easy as I once thought it would be" Janani said, her heart aching at the mere thought of itArmaan shrugged "You convin
Armaan looked at the defiant tilt of her chin, holding the baby close to her bosom fiddling with the seat belt with her free hand. "But the plan was to give him away as soon as he was born. That's what you signed up for. That's what you planned when you left that note asking for more money" Armaan bit out furiously.He felt her stiffening... "As long as the pay off was sufficient, you were prepared to give him up. So you should have made sure that he is prepared for that. You shouldn't have let him get attached to you" He added "I wasn't sure about the separation" she fired back, an angry flush spreading across her porcelain skin."I would have moved heaven and earth to find my son. I would have never quitted. From the day you disappeared, every single day, I have thought about him and searched for him" Armaan said gruffly"But giving him up isn't going to be as easy as I once thought it would be" Janani said, her heart aching at the mere thought of itArmaan shrugged "You convin
Satisfied that Ava was finally asleep, Janani wriggled gently away from her and slid off the bed. Armaan moved as silent as a cat as he strolled across the rug towards her. "A water pistol?" Armaan asked mockingly Janani gasped in fright and covered her mouth with her hands.When did he come back?How did he come in without making any noise?"Goodness! You scared the hell out of me" she said, placing a hand on her racing heart.She peered over her shoulder to see if Ava's sleep was disturbed due to her loud gasp, and sighed in relief when she saw the child sleeping peacefully."Don't wake her up. It's taken me ages to settle her" Janani said softly"I saw that" Armaan said dryly.Heavens! She looks like a teenager, in that ridiculous nightwear, her face bare of any make up. Gritting his teeth Armaan reminded himself what she was. A woman who stole a baby for money. Young, she might be!! But innocent, she was not!He has a dossier on her, which proves how much of an experienc
Next morning, Janani woke up at six along with Advi. Advi is an early riser.He wakes up promptly at six, will have a bottle and plays long enough to drive away his mama's sleep and goes back to sleep by seven.By the time Advi goes back to sleep, Janani would be wide awake. As usual Advi went back to sleep by seven. Janani took a quick shower and switched on the baby monitor before walking towards the kitchen. She also took her post it notes with her so that she could mark the direction in case she got lost again, like the previous night.As she entered the kitchen she started looking for the ingredients to prepare breakfast.She could find nothing in the darn kitchen other than the things she brought. "Payal" she called out seeing the house help coming into the kitchen. "Yes Ms Janani" the other woman greeted cheerfully."First of all stop calling me Ms Janani. Just Janani is fine" she said making a face and Payal chuckled "Okay Janani" "Now, why is this kitchen so empty?
Janani looked at the dress Ava is wearing in stark disbelief . Last night the child was only wearing an under pants.Today she is wearing a frock made in brocade cloth.Who dresses a three year old in such clothes? Maybe in the eighteenth century, the royal family might have made their royal babies dress up like this.This is the 21st century for crying out loud. She turned towards Mrs Seth, now Shaanima, for her name is Shanthi Seth."Shaanima, aren't there any other dresses for Ava in here?" Janani asked."There is a cupboard full of clothes for her, but all like this" Shanthi pointed at the dress Ava is wearing. Ava and Advi were now sitting on the rug on the floor and playing.Ava is being the momma and Advi her little baby. Janani opened the drawers one by one and checked what all Ava had got in here. They were full of new and exquisite baby clothes which made her catch her breath.Not in admiration. In dismay! Lovely though they were, these were what she privately call