Ch11Shadows of the Past
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I dragged Vyom by the collar from the room, marched him into the house office, and practically threw him onto a chair before collapsing into my own. “What the hell, you idiot? Why were you sneaking around and without telling me?”
Vyom straightened his back, sat forward in the opposite chair, and spoke seriously. “Cut the act. I ran a check even though eyes are on the Vardhan mansion, our tight security would have stopped anyone from getting in.”
I nodded, my voice hard. “So? What did you find out?”
He smirked. “A ... lot of things.”
“Speak, then. What is Devesh Kukreja planning?” I demanded.
Vyom spread some files on the table. “Like you told me, I followed Devesh secretly to the Maldives. There I learned they’re moving arms from Sri Lanka to Bangkok and it’s all illegal. If we get involved here, no one will know. It’s a big racket.”
I cut in. “He’d be planning something against me, of course. He knows I’ll never let his cargo reach its destination.”
I’d suspected Vyom had gone to the Maldives only on a security pretext we kept our calls casual so they wouldn’t suspect.
Devesh Kukreja is my greatest enemy; he’ll go to any lengths to defeat me.
This time he even used the American mafia to try to kill me.
He forgets I didn’t become Asia’s most feared mafia head Rudraksh Vardhan by playing small.
I don’t lose games. This time his death is certain.
Vyom’s face went grave. “This time he’s targeting your family. The rest of Vardhanpur might be safe till tomorrow night, Rudraksh, since most of them will left tonight but the one who remains is Bhabhi, Rivanya.”
My fists clenched and my teeth ground together at that.
Vyom continued, voice low, “Rivanya’s life is at risk now. Half the world probably knows that Rivanya Bedi is actually your wife now, Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan. That makes her a bigger target.”
I forced my anger down. “No one will harm Rivanya. I may not like her, and I don’t accept this marriage, but she is my responsibility even if only for a while.”
Vyom drew in, puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘even for a while’?”
I answered in a serious tone, “Look, Vyom, what she wanted I could never give her. I knew Alisha Bedi married me for my money divorcing her would have been easy. But this is different. Rivanya is not like that. I don’t know why,
but I can’t let her hold any false hope that this marriage or our relationship will ever be real. The love a woman expects I can never give that.”
Vyom looked at me, suddenly earnest. “Why, Rudraksh? Why can’t you love Rivanya?”
I took a deep breath. “You know the reason, Vyom. It’s my mother. Love killed my mother. From the start I decided there was no place in my life for the kind of love that took my mother away.”
Vyom pressed, “How long will you let yesterday control today? Aunty’s death was an accident uncle didn’t do anything.”
I snapped up, furious. “How was it not his fault, Vyom? I saw it with my own eyes. That truck was heading for Pratap Raj Vardhan, not my mother but she pushed him aside and took the hit herself. The truck struck and she fell down the mountain. We couldn’t even recover her body.
We couldn’t give her a proper last rite.”
My throat tightened. “Everyone buried it as fate the queen of Vardhanpur’s death was inevitable, according to the superstitions my family clung to. Even Rana Pratap Raj Vardhan accepted it.”
Vyom was silent for a long moment, then finally said, “Rudraksh, I know how badly Aunty’s death affected you. But what does any of this have to do with Rivanya? Why are you taking revenge on her?”
I calmed myself and said, “Nothing... Rivanya hasn’t done anything wrong. But I won’t push her into the darkness of my life on purpose she’s free to live her life. Once we go to Vardhanpur and I find my mother’s last letter, I’ll free her from this forced tie forever. I’ll give her a divorce.”
Vyom said, “That won’t be so easy. If you do what I say, I can only pray that before you give her a divorce, you’ll fall in love with Rivanya and your life will fill with happiness.”
I gritted my teeth at that and said nothing further I didn’t want to waste words on him.
“Increase the mansion’s security fourfold,” I ordered. “Tell every guard that not even a shadow may come near Rivanya.”
Vyom nodded in agreement. Just then there was a knock on the office door and I said, “Come in.”
Rivanya entered, followed by a servant carrying two mugs of coffee.
She said, “I made these for both of you. I asked the chef, and he said you both don’t drink tea but coffee, so I thought I’d bring you coffee.”
I nodded slightly and took one mug. Vyom picked up the other cup and grinned, “That’s right, Bhabhi. First you beat him with a rod, then you make coffee to make up very clever.”
Rivanya apologized, “I’m so sorry I should have checked first. I didn’t mean to hit you so hard. I’m really sorry…” Her innocence as she spoke seemed to cling to her face.
Vyom waved it off. “It’s okay, Bhabhi. Now you’re my bhabhi consider me as your Devar too, so you can scold me a little. It’s your right. Next time, just aim a bit higher i got some pain in this side!”
Rivanya laughed softly, “That won’t happen again, Devar ji. Don’t worry.”
When she laughed, she looked so sweet a small dimple appeared on one cheek. I shook my head at myself and thought, What nonsense am I thinking?
I calmed myself and said, “Nothing? Rivanya hasn’t done anything wrong. But I won’t push her into the darkness of my life on purpose she’s free to live her life. Once we go to Vardhanpur and I find my mother’s last letter, I’ll free her from this forced tie forever. I’ll give her a divorce.”
Vyom said, “That won’t be so easy. If you do what I say, I can only pray that before you give her a divorce, you’ll fall in love with Rivanya and your life will fill with happiness.”
I gritted my teeth at that and said nothing further I didn’t want to waste words on him.
“Increase the mansion’s security fourfold,” I ordered. “Tell every guard that not even a shadow may come near Rivanya.”
Vyom nodded in agreement. Just then there was a knock on the office door and I said, “Come in.”
Rivanya entered, followed by a servant carrying two mugs of coffee.
She said, “I made these for both of you. I asked the chef, and he said you don’t drink tea but coffee, so I thought I’d bring you coffee.”
I nodded slightly and took one mug. Vyom picked up the other cup and grinned, “That’s right, Bhabhi. First you beat him with a rod, then you make coffee to make up very clever.”
Rivanya apologized, “I’m so sorry I should have checked first. I didn’t mean to hit him so hard. I’m really sorry…” Her innocence as she spoke seemed to cling to her face.
Vyom waved it off. “It’s okay, Bhabhi. Now you’re my devar’s sister-in-law, so you can scold him a little. It’s your right. Next time, just aim a bit higher he’s got some pain in his side!”
Rivanya laughed softly, “That won’t happen again, Devar ji. Don’t worry.”
When she laughed, she looked so sweet a small dimple appeared on one cheek. I shook my head at myself and thought, What nonsense am I thinking?
I heard her say, “Suniye...”
Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up and answered, "Haanji Sunayiye..."
“Yes? I’m listening.”
Rivanya lowered her eyes and spoke quietly, “It’s time for dinner. Both of you please come downstairs I’ll set it out.”
Whenever she lowered her gaze like that, it felt as if two rose petals were folding shyly closed. Even when she said nothing more, her eyes spoke volumes. How could someone be so gentle and innocent?
I nodded once, and she went off to lay the table.
As soon as she left, my thoughts drifted back to that Yesterday night the bite of kheer she had made.
It had brought my mother to mind. How strange that her cooking tasted so similar to my mother’s.
What are you, Rivanya? Why do I keep thinking about you?
Everything about you the way you walk, talk, laugh, cry seems strangely dear to me, even though I tell myself I should hate you.
Vyom’s voice cut through my private muddle. “Come on, today I’ll eat food made by Bhabhi. Let’s go.”
He left in a hurry and I followed.
Downstairs the whole house was gathered around the dining table. Dadi Maa and My so called father Pratap Raj Vardhan were preparing to go out.
I went to ask Dadi Maa, “Where are you going at this hour?”
She smiled and said, “We’re going to the Bedi mansion to meet Rivanya’s father.”
I raised an eyebrow, confused. “To the Bedi mansion? Why? Did something happen?”
Dadi Maa’s voice grew serious. “No, beta. We’re only going to bring back Rivanya’s kundali and show it to our pandit. It’s important.”
I protested, “Dadi Maa, I’ve told you so many times these things are nonsense. All this talk about our family’s curse and omens… it’s rubbish.”
Dadi Maa looked at me with steady eyes. “Rudra, you may refuse to believe, but this is also about Rivanya’s safety. Your kundali matched Alisha’s, but you married Rivanya. According to our ancestors, the 100th generation of the Vardhan line that could be you can break this curse.
But only if your wife’s horoscope is very powerful and blessed by the goddess. That was true for Alisha, but this marriage is with Rivanya. We must check what it means. So don’t argue...”
Her words left me silent. I relented. “Alright, Then I'm also coming. Don’t try to stop me I’m coming.”
Dadi Maa smiled. “Good. Bring Rivanya along too. It will make her happy to meet her family.”
I nodded. “I will. Go ahead; I’ll bring her.”