27| A glimpse of past.
Secrets I have held in my heart
Are harder to hide and than I thought
Maybe I just wanna be yours
I wanna be yours, I wanna be yours
As the morning rays cascades their glow all over the room, Tara turns and buries her face in the pillow but the ringing of her phone from the night stand breaks her peaceful slumber.
Without getting up and opening her eyes, she spreads her arm towards the night stand to take the phone and after struggling a bit, she picks up the call and asks in a sleepy voice "who's this? "
"Your mom"
"My mom?"
"Wake up, bitch"
Her eyes widen after hearing this voice as she murmurs "Alie?"
"Woah woah, so you remember my name? Do you also remember the relation we share?"
She gets up and rubbing her left eye, she says "Of course I remember everything, bestie"
"Don't call me that" she snaps from the other end "I was about to block you from everywhere, but then I remembered how you consoled me after my break up"
"Break ups, we say" Tara teases, a smile forming over her lips as she's talking to her best friend after long.
"Whatever, but your shameless ass doesn't deserve this. You didn't even bother to call me once?" She complains, grimacing in anger.
"No, it's not like that" she pauses, thinking what to say to calm her angry best friend. "Actually, I am busy these days"
"Busy with whom? Don't tell me you are planning baby with that khamine husband of yours, huh?"
"Don't you dare call him that" she snaps and then pauses "what did you say? Baby and me? Never, we will adopt babies better" she giggles.
"Ohh, I see, now you want to make babies with him, huh?"
"I said adopt, Alie"
"Fuck what you said, I have something to tell you, listen to me with your everything open"
"Everything open?" Tara frowns.
"I mean your ears and attention, you dirty minded bhishhh. Do you remember you were going to perform in Nigeria with Alex on World's biggest music platform?"
Tara's expressions dull up as soon as she hears Alex's name, then she answers in a low voice "yes"
"You are at the top of the nominees for that event, can you believe it?"
Tara's mouth falls open with alie's words but she doesn't say anything.
Performing on this stage was her dream ever since she lifted the guitar, that too by her own efforts, not as Jindal's daughter, or New York's princess, she wanted to grab this chance by her own true efforts, and to make her brother and father proud of her.
"You are so lucky, Tara, you got your first break at just 21. You know you deserve much more than this, your voice is a true magic"
"Alie, If you are kidding, then just stop it, otherwise I will break your head seriously" she murmurs out of nervousness.
"Do you really think I will call you early in the morning, after spoiling my own and your beauty sleep, just to joke with you?"
"No, i didn't mean that.. i mean" she stands on the bed, her face lightening with a bright smile and excitement "For fucking serious, this was my dream which is going to be a reality soon"
"Yes, My little star, you know what Baby, I'll be standing at the front to cheer you up, with arsh bro and uncle on both my sides"
Suddenly, she feels a shock at her hand and turns her head towards Aayansh who had taken her phone from her hand as he says on call "Dare to call her 'Baby' again and you'll be ten feet under the ground of the place you are present right now"
Tara stares at him with narrow eyes as he disconnects the call and throws the phone on the other side. She realises that he had returned from his workout as he's shirtless while she's in her night wear, still standing on bed and feeling sleepy.
"What is your problem?" She snaps at him "She's my best friend and she will call me anything she feels like" she sits back in bed, grimacing at him.
"Really?" Aayansh rests his one knee in bed and towers over her head "well in that case, I am your husband, I can do whatever I feel like with you, right, wife?" He starts leaning over her and she starts leaning backwards with nervousness.
"Aa..Aayansh, I'm on p- periods" she lies and gulps down her saliva as her back hits the mattress and Aayansh hovers over her completely, keeping his arms around both her sides.
"Nothing new for me, I've already devoured you in that condition" He teases, an oblique grin curling his lips after seeing her like this under him.
"Ayan, please" she closes her eyes tightly, as he grabs both her wrists in one hand and places them above her head.
He smirks at her actions, leaning further over her face, he husks in her ear "I've already taken you in every way, so you don't need to get scared like this" He bites her earlobe and whispers "As it turns me on very badly, which is definitely not good for you, wife"
Pecking her lips, he pulls away and she stares at him with a flushed face as he says "Freshen up and come downstairs" He makes his way out of the room.
Her expressions get changed in an instant as she remembers the text and everything, she glances at her phone once and then makes her way to the bathroom to freshen up.
The whole day goes like this, she stays in the palace only.
Now it's around 7 P.M in the evening, Tara is standing in the room, wearing a black jeans and black jacket with her hair tied in a pony tail.
Aayansh isn't at the palace and she can't lose this chance.
Both nervousness and firmness dripping from her face as she looks at herself in the mirror and takes a deep breath.
She walks to the side drawer and takes out the gun and hides it in the strap of her sandle. She isn't that good in shooting, but Aayansh has trained her enough to at least protect herself in needed situations.
Checking something in her phone, she makes her way out of the room and reaches downstairs with calculative yet quick steps.
As she reaches the main entrance, no single guard dares to hinder her way as they aren't allowed to.
She pauses and turns towards them who are standing with their heads bowed and guns in their hands.
"No one will follow me in my way" she orders, completely aware that they may try to follow her behind as they aren't allowed to stop her, but they are commanded to ensure her safety.
"But ma'am, we can't leave you alone, it's about your safety" One of the guards pleases, without lifting his head up to her.
"I'm responsible enough to ensure my safety, and I don't think I need to repeat myself" she states authoritatively, leaving no room for further argument and she walks outside, sitting in the car, she starts it without wasting another second.
"But the Peace treaty can't be broken without your consent and involvement?" A voice filled with both confusion and concern cradles, slicing through the chilling silence of this place and Aayansh, who is sitting on his king sofa, looks at Romano sitting a distance away from him.
"Exactly, I want him to approach me to break the treaty" He says, his voice is both mysterious and calculated as he hits a slow puff of his cigar.
"Why will he approach you to get his sister free? What if he Directly calls out a war?" Romano frowns, keeping his voice in check.
"Wrong, My brother in law isn't that stupid. And about war, I will initiate it" Aayansh utters with the same cold tone.
"What are you exactly planning, son?" Romano asks, his tone tinged with curiosity and desperation.
"Planning doesn't help, uncle, and I don't believe in these shits. What I'm going to do, you'll see that soon" He says, leaning on his sofa with an enticing dark aura surrounding him.
"You are inviting destruction, king." Vice chief Mark Easton sighs with fear "That too, just for a girl?
I know she's the queen now, but at the end, she's your enemy's sister, if not today, she'll betray you tomorrow and-" His mouth snaps shut when Aayansh looks at him with his dark eyes.
Mark lowers his head instantly, cold sweat drops breaking on his temple as he realises what he said.
"I apologise, king" He says, his voice shivering with fear.
"Mark isn't completely wrong" Romano interrupts "She will carry your heir in her womb, The Next King.. you know how important mafia women are, and especially when she's the queen-" He pauses and then asks again "Is she living with you of her own free will or-?"
Aayansh cuts him off and warns "You have reached your limit, Mr. Romano, I hate when someone tries to interfere in my personal matters"
He turns his gaze to the rest and with the same dark tone, He warns "Let me make this thing clear.
My woman will not be involved in these matters, one word against her and you all know I'm used to doing more than I say" He crushes his cigar in the ashtray, meanwhile fear takes over everyone's faces present here.
She lets out a sigh to maintain her composure before making her way to the cafe, her mind swirling with multiple thoughts. Who can this person be, What does he want from her and much more like questions like these.
Reaching the said cafe and the table, her eyes narrowed a bit after seeing a man in his mid fifties sitting on one of the chairs.
Wearing a grey suit, he's looking decent yet respectful.
Keeping all her thoughts aside, she walks to him and as he sees her, he stands up, meanwhile Tara stares at him with a suspicious gaze.
"You don't need to be scared of me, beta" He says softly and indicates her to sit on the chair.
"I'm not at all scared" She says, taking a pause, she asks "Who are you and what do you want from me?"
He sighs and then says "I'll tell you everything, first take your seat" He sits on his own chair again.
She sits on the chair, staring at him with the same gaze as he starts saying "I'm Aaryan oberoi, Aayansh's father"
Her eyes widen a little as she doesn't know anything about his family, except that he has a family.
He continues "I know this is surprising for you, facing me all of a sudden, and the way I used to reach you-"
She cuts him off saying "Get on the point, Mr. Oberoi, what do you want from me?"
"As you say" he starts with a slow voice "There are many things about Aayansh which you don't know but have the right to know, Aayansh has a family, jo uski shakal dekhne tak ke liye taras chuki hai."
(Which is longing to even see his face)
Tara is listening to him quietly, her expressions remain the same but many things are going on in her mind.
"He was barely eight years old when his mother and my late wife, Aaina Oberoi, she committed a suicide" Her heart clenches with his words and she fists her hands under the table "She was a mental patient, but we kept all these things hidden from our son"
"My son, he loved his mother so much, and at the same time, My daughter, aashi oberoi, aayansh's elder sister also passed away in a mishap.
To keep him away from all this mess, I sent him to the boarding school for some time, but after two days, I got to know that he ran away from there.
We looked for him everywhere but couldn't find him, I was completely devastated as I thought I lost my only son too.
After twelve years, we got to know about him, but as a completely different personality, he has become heartless, completely different from what his mother had made him.
He hates his family to the extent that he won't even hesitate to kill us.
Tomorrow is both his birth anniversary and his mother's-" the ringing of his phone halts his words.
His expressions change instantly as glances at the screen but he doesn't pick the call.
Before he can continue, Tara asks "what do you want from me?" Her voice is straight and demanding.
He takes a deep breath, pausing for a minute, he utters "Only you can bring him back to his family, to India"
"And why do you think I'll do this? If my husband is maintaining a distance from you all, then there must be a reason, isn't it?" She frowns, looking at him who is staring at her with amazement. She heard every single word of his, but neither her heart nor her mind allowed her to believe him.
"You are literally proving that you are Aayansh's wife. Well, beta reason is that he blames his family for his mother's death, which isn't the truth, we just want our son back, I hope you-" Before he can complete, she stands up.
"You told and I listened, Mr. Oberoi! But do not expect anything from me" she concludes and makes her way out, while Aaryan sighs with frustration, staring at her who is heading out.
Reaching out, Tara leans against the car and closes her eyes to take a breath and calm her racing mind.
Truth or lie, Whatever he said was too much for her and she's feeling uneasy at this moment.
Her mind isn't able to process all this as she never even tried to know anything about Aayansh's past or his family.
Somehow collecting herself, she opens the car's door, sitting inside it, she starts the car as she wants to go back home as soon as possible.
As Tara reaches back to the palace, she goes straight to her room with the lift. Her mind is still stuck in the conversation between him and Aaryan oberoi, which is making her feel uneasy even more and she's completely lost in her own world, unaware of her surroundings.
Stepping in the room, she takes off the jacket and opens her hair to calm herself. But before she can make her way to the bathroom to freshen up, a voice from behind halts her steps "where were you?"
She freezes at her place and fists her hands, taking a deep breath, she turns and sees Aayansh who is already sitting on the sofa and staring at her only.
"You?" She asks, trying to hide ner nervousness.
"Expecting someone else in our room, wife?" He says, staring at her the same way.
"No, I didn't mean that.. actually, I was in-"
He cuts her off coldly "Don't you dare to lie this time" he stands up and starts taking steps towards her, making her breath hitch as she realises he already knows what she's trying to hide from him.
He takes her hand in his and makes her sit in bed and brings the first aid, sitting beside her, he opens the zip of her top slides it down a little, he starts applying the ointment over her back and shoulder which are swollen slightly as she got hurt with the car's door in the midway, meanwhile, she keeps staring at his cold face.
"You know everything already?" She asks, her soft voice is a slow whisper.
"If you think you can hide anything from me, then you are very wrong.
I know about it since the moment you got that text, with who and why sent it to you.
I wanted you to tell me the truth, and you had enough time for that, but you chose to lie" He says without sparing a glance at her, rage is evident in his voice as he stands up and she immediately holds his tricep with both her hands.
"But your father-"
Aayansh cuts her off "Stay out of these things, Jaan, they aren't for you"
She waits for a while and then murmurs again "I was scared, that's why I didn't tell you" she stares at him with guilt in her gaze.
"Scared for what? hm?" He asks, looking straight into her eyes and pulling her close to him "Remember one thing, Amour, I don't give anyone or anything the fucking right to affect my woman"
She looks into his eyes and murmurs slowly "I know I should have talked to you about that, but I had my reasons, I won't repeat this again"
"Of course you won't" He says, tucking her hair behind her ear from her face.
"What do you mean?" She frowns.
"Be ready for your punishment, wife" saying this, he leaves her and makes his way out of the room while she keeps staring at him until he disappears from her vision.
(He has brought a girl of his equal, she will not fall on our words so easily)
"I know Aaryan, but we have to do something" Anika oberoi from the end sighs, "we have to bring Aayansh back to India as soon as possible, you know how important it is"
He opens the door of his room and steps inside as he says "Hm, I will-" His words die in his throat eyes almost gauge out of their when he lifts his head up to the front.
In a dark mansion, someone's continuous screams are echoing and Aayansh is sitting on the chair with his head resting on the crown and his eyes are close. Memories of the past is roaming in his mind as he hears his father's painful screams.
"Dadu, chachu, dad, mom" Eight years old little Aayansh rushes inside the living hall with a bright smile lightening up his Charming face, he's in his sports uniform with a trophy in his hand.
As he reaches inside, his eyes roam around where his grandfather Reyansh Oberoi, the name which rules over both business and the mafia world, he is sitting on a grand sofa with an enticing aura surrounding him.
Aaryan oberoi, his elder son and Rithvik oberoi, his younger son are also sitting there and their faces are dripping severity.
"Come here, son" Reyansh calls Aayansh, motioning with his arms and his smile mirroring Aayansh's own. Aayansh storms towards him and he makes him sit on his lap.
"Dadu, I won the football match" Aayansh informs with excitement.
"Of course, You had to win because my lion is not used to losing, right?" He moves his fingers in Aayansh's hair with pride.
"Right" Aayansh smiles back and then suddenly, he says "I will become like you after growing up"
"No, son" Reyansh says with a calm, decent tone with a smile of experience on his face "Your name will be bigger than mine, the world will bow down in front of my lion"
"Dad, don't you think you are snatching my rights from me" Aaryan interrupts "Aayansh is my son and the only heir of this family, he has every right, but Aaina, she's just my contracted wife who has to leave once Aayansh and aashi gets mature.
How can you hand her oberoi empire's largest branch. It was my dream and-"
Rithvik keeps hand on his shoulder and says calmly "Bhaiya please, Aayansh is seeing" Aaryan's eyes shift from Reyansh to Aayansh who is looking at him only and he takes a deep breath to calm himself.
Reyansh's demeanor turns cold as he looks at Aaryan who is already looking at him with a rebellion in his eyes.
"I'm not a bit ashamed of saying that Aaina is more capable than you, son.
And this branch is in Aayansh's name, aaina will handle it until my grandson gets mature enough to handle his responsibilities.
I don't want any argument on this now"
"Ansh, go to your room" aaina who has just returned from her hospital says to Aayansh. She's both a successful neurologist with her own hospital which is one of the biggest hospitals of india and a businesswoman as she handles her father Aarav Rajvansh's whole empire.
"Yes, son, go to your room" Aaryan repeats her words softly and Aayansh nods and makes his way to his room.
_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_
Aaina is in study room, reading a file carefully while Aaryan is doing something in his laptop when Aayansh rushes towards her saying "Mom, aashi is a cheater, I hate cheaters"
"Now what happened?" She asks, shifting her focus from the file to Aayansh.
"Me and her were playing a game and she promised me that if I win, she wouldn't call me pumpkin, but she lied" he complained, folding his little arms up to his chest.
"No, mumma, this pumpkin is lying" aashi rushes to them with her eyes narrowing at Aayansh "I didn't say anything like this"
"Aashi, he's your younger brother, you shouldn't behave like this with him" aaina explains to her and then turns towards Aayansh "And ansh, she lovingly calls you pumpkin beta, there's nothing wrong in it"
"Stop manipulating my kids, Aaina" Aaryan murmurs sarcastically, his eyes remain on his laptop's screen.
"And you stop playing diplomatically as always" she snaps at him.
"I will also call her ladyfinger" Aayansh grimaces.
"Dare to call me that, you pumpkin" aashi retorts, scrunching up her face at him.
"Ladyfinger, I did, now what?" Aayansh flashes his teeth at her teasingly.
"These both disasters" aaina sighs.
Aaryan closes his laptop and calls them to him "Princess, Aayansh, both of you come here"
Ignoring each other completely, both of them walk to Aaryan and he sits aashi on his lap and Aayansh in front of him. They both turn their faces opposite sides of each other.
"You don't like each other, right?" Aaryan asks gently, looking at both of them and they respond simultaneously "right" grimacing at each other.
"Okay so I'll send one of you to the boarding school, then you don't have to face each other, happy?"
"No" they both yell at the same time.
"Dad, he isn't that bad, I can tolerate him" aashi says followed by Aayansh "yes dad, I can also tolerate this mad woman, don't send her to boarding school"
"Why would I go there? You will go there angry mad oberoi, I will stay with my mom dad, we don't need you" she croaks at him.
"Aashi, stop it" aaina snaps at her "Go and complete your homework, and ansh, you come to me"
Aashi teases Aayansh with her tongue before heading out of the room and he teases her back. He stands up and walks towards aaina, she makes him sit on her lap and asks "Did you search something in my laptop? And deleted the history, hm?"
"Yes, I did mom" he answers politely, "Mom, what is a contracted wife?" He asks and aaina's eyes widen a little as she looks at Aaryan who is already looking at them as they realise he had heard their conversation a while ago, they exchange a glance and Aaryan leaves the room.
She sighs and then says "Okay, I will tell you a secret, I know my mature boy will understand everything. Your dadu and Nanu are best friends and your dad and Anika masi loved each other a lot, they wanted to get married"
Aayansh's eyes are fixed at her face as he's listening to her quietly.
"But she couldn't give birth to a baby, that's why your dadu decided to get me and your dad married so that we can bring you to this world.
And we got blessed with two angels, first aashi and then you.
But before the marriage, I had signed a document according to which I'll have to leave when you become a big boy"
"No mom, I won't let you go anywhere" Aayansh retorts, hugging her tightly.
"Aww, Mera bachha" she smiles and after a few moments, she detaches away and takes his little face which is red in anger in her palms and says "I won't go anywhere, why would I leave my family, and especially my angry young man, huh?" She chuckles, trying to change his mood.
"You know, family is the biggest blessing of our life" she murmurs softly, moving her fingers in his hair gently "And those who stay alone, their life is no less than hell, but you are so lucky, you have such a big family, your dadu, chachu, dad and everyone loves you a lot"
"Just because I'm the only heir of this family" He says without any hesitation, his eyes remain intact to hers.
"Ansh?" Her tone raises up slightly "aisa kisne bola aapse?"
(Who said that to you?)
He takes a pause and then replies "Anika masi, she told me that dad only loves me cause I'm the only heir of this family"
Her expressions soften as she says "No my boy, aapko laga kabhi aisa ki aapse koi pyaar nahi karta ya Kam pyaar karta hai?"
(Have you ever felt that no one loves you or loves you less?)
He shakes his head immediately, making her smile.
"Then?" She places kisses on both his cheeks and continues "Jaise aap mere dil ke tukde ho na, waise hi sabke dil ke tukde ho"
(Just like you are a piece of my heart, you are a piece of everybody else's heart)
A bright smile makes its way on Aayansh's face as he says "lekin aap to mera poora dil ho"
(But you are my whole heart)
"Um.. I know that actually" her smile mirroring Aayansh's own as she rubs the tip of her nose over his and then says "You know what is this?" She picks up a file from the table and Aayansh's eyes travel back to the file from her again as he shakes his head.
"This is your dadu's dream, to see you rule the world just like him, as he finds his own reflection in you, son"
"That means, I'm like him?" He asks.
"No, you are more sharp than him, that's why he's making you ready for everything from now" she answers, her eyes glistening with pride.
_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_
Aayansh who is in Reyansh's study room, hiding himself in the cupboard as he's playing hide and seek with aashi, as hears a loud sound from outside, which is a gun shot's sound, he peeks his head out slightly and his eyes widen with shock.
Reyansh is lying dead on his chair, completely drenched in his own blood.
Three bullets were shot in his chest and one on his forehead, between his eyes.
Aayansh's eyes freezes at the sight but he remains standing quietly, his face reflecting no emotion, no fear which is usual for an eight year old child in this Situation.
"You killed my father vidyut? How dare you?"
"N.. no, sir, I didn't"
These sounds reach his ear but he doesn't come out.
?_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_
Aayansh opens his eyes which are red as he stares back at Aaryan and says "I told you to stay away from me, my matters and especially from my wife, but you didn't listen" his voice is cold and dark enough to scare someone's entire existence.
"Aa.. Aayansh, I'm your fa.. father, you can't.. aahhh"
Tara is sitting in bed, grimacing her face, she's staring at the dinner on the coffee table which contains the boiled bitter gourd with other green vegetables and she has to eat all this for a month as this is the part of her punishment.
Many things are going on in her mind and she lays on her back in bed and stares at the glass ceiling.
Suddenly something clicks in her mind and she gets up immediately, she takes out her phone and calls Rivaan, he picks within a single ring and without giving him a chance to utter a single word, Tara asks "Is it Aayansh's birthday today? "
"What? How do you-"
She cuts him off "Yes or No?"
"Yes, but-"
"Is he with you?"
"No, but-"
"Listen Rivaan, wherever he is, just prevent him from coming here until I call you back, okay?
" She glances at the vintage clock once which is showing 12:43 A.M as of now.
Time is less so she cuts the call and then calls Carla and orders her to bring some round candles, fairy lights and other stuff to the terrace.
She makes her way towards the lift to reach the terrace.
After one hour, Arranging everything and decorating the area with her own hands, she looks around and a bright smile makes its way on her lips.
The whole terrace is decorated with white round candles which are looking so beautiful yet elegant, fairy lights cascading a soft glow all over and roses around.
She could have ordered servants too, but she wanted to do everything by her own.
Reaching their room back, she goes straight to the closet to change her clothes. Her face scrunches up with confusion, she texts Alie to take help.
She: Alie, It's his birthday, what should I wear?
She: can you please shut up, I'm dead serious.
After a bit of struggling, she decides to wear something Indian and that too, A Saree.
Finally, She takes out a red saree from the closet, standing in front of the grand of the mirror, she gets rid of her clothes and starts wearing it.
Once done, she applies slight kajal in her eyes, with light touch up.
She takes out her nuptial chain (Mangalsutra) and wears it and then she applies a slight vermilion in her hairline.
She's wearing mangalsutra and vermilion now after their marriage.
Completing her look, she gives a slow perusal to herself.
The net red saree she's wearing is looking so beautiful on her fair complexion, giving a tantalizing view of her waist slightly, the blouse is with strap sleeves and she's wearing light diamond earrings to complete her look.
Her slightly curled hair is open at her back with light red bangles around her wrists.
A pretty smile makes its way on her face after seeing herself.
She takes out her phone and calls Rivaan and as he picks it up, she asks with excitement and desperation "Rivaan, where is Ayan?" She hesitates a bit "I mean Aayansh"
"Sorry bhabhi, he won't come tonight"
"Why?" Her expressions dull up "where is he?"
"I too don't know, I'm just saying"
"Okay, I'll see" she disconnects the call and looks at the time which is showing 02.31 A.M. she tries to call him but he doesn't pick a single call which makes her feel uneasy and desperate even more.
She heads out of the palace, guards try to stop her as the weather is too heavy and it's raining already but she doesn't listen to them.
She sits inside the car, trying to check his live location on her phone but fails, she starts the car without wasting another second.
Her mind is racing and heart pounding inside her chest with multiple thoughts making a rush in her mind.