The girl called Mahi sat next to Aryan and introduced herself.
"Wow Aryan! What a great name... suits you perfectly!! Don't mind Micky huh!! He is the drama queen in our group. By the way this is Kunal, Monty, Sanju and this is my dear friend Mimi" Mahi introduced the rest of the gang.
Aryan could see that Nirmal was indeed an experienced driver as he overtook their minivan and manoeuvred the car effortlessly through the busy highway traffic. Sanju, who was driving the minivan wasn't bad either, and made sure they were right behind Nirmal's car all the way.
Their cars slowed down at the Market junction and Aryan's eyes busily scanned for Rana or his gang, but it was too crowded with too many cars to notice much.
As they went past the area and picked up speed towards
Micky, the cheeky monkey as his friends fondly call him is a complete contrast to Aryan, right? I know more and more characters are being introduced now in every chapter, but if you have any doubts, please ask me and I will happily clarify. So Aryan's plans have become a success and he is going to avenge justice for his parents' death. What is his plan actually? you will find out soon.
It was quite late in the night by the time Aryan returned to his small outhouse, which was located in a remote area, on the banks of River Ganga. The outhouse was part of a century old traditional house with spacious tree laden grounds which belonged to a well-wisher of his parents, who was currently abroad with his kids, but let Aryan use the outhouse whenever he was in town. As Aryan changed into pyjamas, he reminisced about all the fond memories he had with this place. In their childhood, their family used to come here for a picnic along with Chandni, and take a dip in the holy Ganga River, away from the crowds. And then Chandni and he met again afterwards here... Aryan closed his eyes painfully. Don't go there, he reminded himself, as he prepared his bed to catch some much needed sleep, before waking up for the early morning ritual the next day. **** Ther
But he looked very different. Not just because he was bare chested and clad in a dhoti and half wet, busy in the rituals. But something about his body language looked totally different to Mahi...His face looked quite hardened, his shoulders sagged, as if he was carrying a huge burden, in grief, and he looked suddenly older than his normal age. He was still following the rituals the junior priest told him, automatically, as if out of practice, but his gaze was fixated elsewhere.Mahi, who was about to call him, hesitated to even open her mouth. She felt as if she would be prying into his private moment if she talked or disturbed him right now. Perhaps Aryan had lost his parents or dear ones recently and still hadn't got over the tragic loss. It would be better to leave him on his own, till he was ready to mingle with them, she decided.
Aryan bit his knuckles hard to stop himself from talking further. He didn't even realise how rapidly tears were streaming down his cheeks. "You wish I was there with you now.... don't you? I wish I was there too, I want to pay my respects to them. But I did pooja for them here today Dev!! I never did before, but I did today!" Chandni said in a choked up voice. "Thanks...Chandu!!" He closed his eyes and gulped down his tears. "Shut up Dev!! Don't you dare to thank me for this!!" She hissed at him. He chuckled even as tears were still streaming down his cheeks. He bent his face down and wiped them with his arm slowly. "Only you can make me feel content and happy, Chandu, no matter how I am feeling!!" He sniffed and cleared
"In every loss, in every lie, in every truth you'd deny, and each regret and each goodbye was a mistake too great to hide." Rana's house: Munnah stood in front of Rana Bhai, fully alert, awaiting his next command as he observed Rana in deep thought, probably contemplating his next steps. It had been two days since Rana's men found Munnah unconscious at the airport, and brought him back, but he remembered the whole thing as vividly as it had happened just an hour ago. ~~~~ He stood in front of Rana that day too, just like this but was ashamed and terrified to the core, as he knew he might be counting his last days in Allahabad.
Aryan knew they had no future. He wondered whether he had any future at all considering the dangerous path he had chosen for himself right now. But at least he would die a happy man, with the knowledge that Chandni loved him as deeply as he loved her.As he made himself some hot water tea, he found a note stuck to the door.It simply said."Vikram asked me to check on you and ensure that you were safe. I settled you back in bed and informed them about your wellbeing. Your location and whereabouts are safe, for now."There was no sign and no name as to who it was from.Aryan read it again and threw it into the bin. So Chandni a
Gurmeet picked up his mobile nervously and ran inside into the kitchen, dialling for the police. Ratnesh walked and stood right in front of Aryan, his face just a few inches away from him, his gaze murderous. Micky and his friend Kunal stood up and walked towards Aryan. "Pehchaana mujhe? (Do you recognise me)?" Ratnesh sneered. The reek of Alcohol in his breath hit Aryan so strongly, but he continued to stare at him with an unflinching gaze. "No one remembers the faces of Cowards who run away, rather than answer for their behaviour." Aryan smirked at him. The sneer on Ratnesh's face disappeared and was replaced by an ugly scowl. "Bastard! This is not your Mumbai that you str
Gurmeet who knew all about Aryan's struggle in searching for his long-lost brother couldn't have been happier for his dear friend. He slowly led the whole family towards the slightly secluded area of the family section and made sure they were all seated and resumed his duties as host, bringing soft drinks and an assortment of snacks for them. But neither Aryan nor Miku were in any mood to eat or drink, happy to be united again and too eager to know each other's stories.As the night progressed, thanks mainly to the narration of Avinash, Smitha and Satpal Singh, Aryan and Miku finally could understand what went on in each other's lives, after their fateful split all those years ago."Dev!! If there is one thing, I still feel terribly guilty about, even after all these years, it is that I couldn't save you from those goons that night. I followed you
It was way past midnight by the time everyone retired to bed. Miku insisted that Aryan join him at the hotel where they were staying and Aryan happily obliged. Avinash and Smitha went back to the Army guest house along with Satpal Singh.Aryan felt emotionally drained and disturbed after the long night. The euphoria of meeting his brother and sharing all the happy memories with them was soon replaced by the tragic recollections of the traumatic events of all those years ago. And if that wasn't enough, Avinash and Satpal privately grilled him to explain what exactly happened at Goa after his wedding with Chandni, as they were still clueless to most parts.Reliving all those painful memories left Aryan with a heavy heart. His body and soul longed for Chandni, the other eternal bond he felt more acutely and ached for, even after all these years of separation. He w