5.
“I love you” I say slowly to Kanha and then I step out of my room. I walk very slowly because my knees are hurting with every movement.
A dull pain spreads as I put my foot down. Tara has already rubbed an ice pack on them but even after that, the pain is still there. I bite my lip lightly and keep walking, telling myself to be careful.
Kanha, sach bata rahi hoon main. Is baar pakka apni galti se seekh chuki hoon. Ab gala phaad kar baat nahi karungi. Dheere dheere bolungi taaki saamne wala bhi na sun sake, I think to myself while slowly climbing the stairs.
(Kanha, I am telling you the truth. This time I have surely learned from my mistake. Now I won’t shout at the top of my voice. I will speak very softly so that even the person in front of me can’t hear)
Tara is very busy today. The Kaalver's are throwing a party in a few days because it is the anniversary of Gauri and Bhairav Kaalver. Everything has to be perfect.
She wakes up early in the morning, even before the sun rises and now she is going to work till late night. I feel a little bad for her but this is how things are here.
I slowly peek inside the kitchen, careful not to make any noise. My eyes fall on Tara. She is standing near the counter, mixing something in a huge bowl with both hands. She doesn’t notice me at all.
I quietly turn around and start moving toward the guest rooms. I have to do dusting there, change the bedsheets and finish other small tasks.
Just as I take a step forward, I stop. The head maid’s sharp voice calls me.
“Take all this and come with me” she says, pointing toward a tray filled with bread and croissants.
I nod immediately not daring to say a word. I bend slightly, lift the tray carefully and balance it in my hands.
“Should I help you, head maid?” I hear Subh’s voice from behind me. She sounds eager, almost desperate. I can see her stepping forward, her eyes fixed on the tray, clearly wanting to hold it.
“No. You help others” the head maid says firmly without even looking at her and then she starts walking ahead.
I follow behind her with the tray, trying hard to control my smile. Inside, I am laughing. Subh ka popat ho gaya.
(Subh got completely ignored)
I walk happily upstairs with the head maid, holding the tray carefully in my hands. For a few seconds, my heart feels light and I almost forget the pain in my knees.
But suddenly, meri happiness ka janaza uth gaya, the moment I realize where we are going. My steps automatically slow down as we reach near his room. My grip on the tray tightens and my heartbeat starts racing.
Kanhaaaaaaaaa, yeh kya kiya aapne. Aapko meri jaan pyari nahi hai kya. Mujhe unke saamne nahi jaana hai aur aap mujhe unke room mein bhej rahe ho. Itni chubhne lagi hoon main aapko, haan. Popat Subh ka nahi, mera hua hai, I cry inside my head, my eyes almost watering.
(Kanhaaaaaa, what have you done. Don’t you care about my life. I don’t want to go in front of him and you are sending me to his room. Have I become such a pain to you)
“Come fast” the head maid’s cold and strict voice pulls me out of my silent crying.
I straighten my back and immediately walk inside the room not daring to delay even for a second.
The moment I enter, a loud sound of laughter hits my ears. I lift my eyes slowly and freeze. All the youngsters of the mansion are inside his room.
They are sitting and lying on his bed, laughing at something like maniacs. Some are holding their stomachs, some are wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.
“What does she call bhai… darinda” Ishita says while lying on the bed, laughing loudly. Her words hit me directly.
I gulp hard, my throat suddenly dry. They are talking about me. My face heats up and I wish the floor would open and swallow me.
Kanha, good morning bolne ka tareeka accha hai aapka, I say sarcastically in my mind, my heart thumping loudly.
(Kanha, your way of saying good morning is really nice)
I quietly place the tray on the side table, my hands slightly shaking. I keep my head down and try my best to hide my face so that no one notices me properly.
Thank God, darinda is not here.
Koi toh keh raha tha main apni galtiyon se seekhti hoon, my subconscious mocks me as I again call him darinda in my mind.
(Someone was saying that I learn from my mistakes)
I turn around to leave the room quietly, my feet moving toward the door but... “Wait, she is the one” I hear a boy’s voice from behind. I stop immediately. I think his name is Omkar.
“Ohh, Sita, right?” Ishita says. I slowly lift my face from the floor, which suddenly looks like the most interesting thing in the world.
My eyes meet hers for a second. She passes me a beautiful, warm smile. It is soft and friendly. I smile back without thinking and bow my head a little.
“You call bhai darinda?” another man asks. His name is Shaurya. He is smiling widely and the others are smiling too, clearly enjoying the moment. My throat tightens. I gulp and immediately look down, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.
“Ayee, don’t be embarrassed. We call bhai with worse names than this” his younger brother says casually. His words make me look up at him in shock. A tiny, helpless smile appears on my lips.
“By the way, how is your knee? Is it still hurting?” Omkar asks, looking at me with genuine concern. His tone is soft. I just blink my eyes not believing what I am hearing.
Yeh saare parinde aur woh ek darinda, I think.
(All of them are like gentle birds and he is beast)
“I’m okay, sir and thank you for your concern” I say politely, my voice low and respectful. I take a small step back, ready to leave the room but they stop me again.
“Sita will make coffee for us today. You go” Ishita says, looking at the head maid. Her voice is cheerful but firm.
I glare at Kanha in my mind.
“But she is new here” the head maid says. I immediately nod my head, agreeing silently, my fingers tightening around each other.
“That’s good. Then she’ll learn like this” Ishita says calmly. The head maid nods her head in approval and walks out of the room, leaving me alone with all of them.
My heart starts beating faster the moment she leaves. Sita, coffee bana aur 9–2–11 ho ja, I say to myself, trying to give myself courage.
I walk toward the table and start making coffee. My hands move carefully, though my heart is still racing.
“Two tablespoons of sugar in our coffee and for darinda, no sugar” Shaurya says while laughing, his eyes still focused on his laptop. His words make me smile slowly. Awkward smile.
Thodi si sugar kha lega toh sweet ho jaayega shayad yeh darinda, I think to myself.
(If he eats a little sugar, maybe this darinda will become sweet)
As I prepare coffee for everyone, my eyes slowly move around his room. And hmm… I am impressed. His room looks elegant and royal, with a perfect mix of dark and light vibes. Both contrast beautifully with each other.
There is a huge bed in the center, so big that it feels like the entire Velqar could fit on it. On the other side, there is a table with a unique kind of screen and keypad, something I have never seen before.
On one side, there is a balcony door with curtains slightly open. There are couches near the wall and behind the couch, there is a huge portrait of his... oh sorry, I mean a portrait of a dragon.
I carefully pick up the tray with all the coffee cups and walk toward them. I place the tray in front of them, my movements slow.
“Thank you” Yuvan says. I bow my head slightly and smile politely in reply.
I turn around to serve them croissants but my breath hitches badly. He is standing right in front of me. His hair is wet, drops of water still clinging to the strands and his eyes meet mine. He stops in his place too.
I keep staring at him. My heart beats loudly and for a second, the whole room feels silent. Aur meri masti toh dekho, us se nazrein hataane ki bajaye usse dekhe ja rahi hoon main, I think.
(And look at my madness, instead of taking my eyes off him, I keep staring at him)
“Bhai, look, we have decided a few themes” Shaurya’s voice makes me look away from him immediately.
Even after that, I can still feel his gaze on me. It burns softly on my skin. I walk toward the couch and quickly make his coffee, my hands shaking badly. My fingers tremble and I try my best not to spill anything.
I see him walking toward the bed and looking at the laptop screen. All of them are busy deciding and planning the party, discussing seriously.
I get up from the floor slowly but a soft hiss leaves my mouth when my knee hits the side table. Pain shoots through it. I freeze and look up immediately. Thank God, no one seems to hear me.
But I am unaware that he hears it and smirks internally.
I walk toward him with the tray and extend my hand a little toward him. My eyes are fixed on the ground as I wait for him to take the cup. But he doesn’t.
“Do you want me to drink this?” His deep voice reaches my ears. I slowly lift my face from the ground and look at him, blinking my eyes in confusion. He is looking at me with a completely blank expression.
I immediately look down at the tray and my eyes widen in shock. There is no coffee mug on the tray. Instead, there is a coffee kettle placed there.
My eyes widen even more as I realize it.
I look back toward the table and the mug is still kept there exactly where it was. My heart drops in embarrassment. I immediately look at him again and bow my head again and again, feeling my ears burn.
“I’m sorry, sir” I say softly. I quickly step toward the table, pick up the mug with trembling fingers and walk back to him.
He takes the cup calmly, without saying anything. Just then, all four of them burst into laughter.
“Sita, you are cute” Ishita says warmly. Her words make me smile awkwardly. I turn my head toward him but he looks like he is made of stone. His face is blank, his eyes strange and unreadable. The way he looks at me makes a shiver run down my spine.
I quietly walk back toward the table. I collect the remaining things carefully, keeping my head low and then walk out of his room. As soon as I step outside, I take a huge breath, filling my lungs fully, trying to calm my racing mind.
Kettle se hi pee leta toh kya ho jaata, I mutter slowly to myself while walking downstairs.
(What would have happened if he had just drunk it from the kettle)
As I reach downstairs, my eyes fall on Subh. She is glaring at me openly, her eyes sharp and annoyed.
Bhai, is bandi ko kya takleef hai mujh se, I think and walk straight toward the kitchen, ignoring her completely.
(What problem does this girl have with me)
“Sita, tu zinda wapas aa gayi” Tara says the moment I enter the kitchen.
(Sita, you came back alive)
She looks at me from head to toe, scanning my face and posture, which makes me sigh deeply.
“Lagta hai maine kuch galti kar di hai, is liye Kanha mujhe baar baar uske saamne le ja rahe hain. Aur pata hai kya hua? Maine usse coffee serve karne ki bajaye poori kettle pakda di” I say, still shocked myself.
(It feels like I have made some mistake, that’s why Kanha is taking me in front of him again and again. And do you know what happened? Instead of serving him coffee, I handed him the whole kettle)
She looks at me with wide eyes, completely stunned. “He didn’t shout at you or throw the kettle?” she asks, disbelief clear in her voice.
I shake my head slowly. Her shock deepens even more.
“Sita, Kanha tujhse naraaz nahi, khush hai. Is liye tujhe usse bacha rahe hain. I mean, woh yeh sab tolerate nahi karta” Tara says, her voice low but sure.
Her words make me pause for a moment. I think about it silently. She is right, though. Deep down, I feel it too.
“Sita, Tara, don’t talk” the head maid shouts suddenly. Her loud voice makes me shiver. I immediately stop talking and start walking toward the guest room. Tara turns back toward the kitchen again, busy with her work.
“But he is doing too much, Dad” Dhanraj says, leaning back on his chair. His jaw is tight and irritation is clearly written on his face.
“Can anyone stop him?” Rajiv says calmly, sipping his tea. His expression is relaxed, almost unreadable, as if all of this doesn’t bother him at all.
“But all this is ruining our image. He kills whoever he wants, he robs, he trades illegal things” Virendra says, rubbing his temple slowly, clearly stressed and tired.
“Don’t forget, you all, agar hum aaj yahan hain toh kahin na kahin Zayran uski wajah hai” Rajiv says with a small, knowing smile on his face.
(If we are here today, then somewhere it is because of Zayran)
“He didn’t do anything. Dad and I built this empire” Dhanraj says sharply, glaring at Rajiv. His voice is filled with anger and pride.
All the men present in the room know exactly who Zayran is. But some truths are too heavy and some people are too afraid to admit them out loud.
“Yes, the same empire that was about to fall a few years ago. But just because of his tricks and his help, we built it again” Rajiv says, reminding them once more. His voice is firm, carrying a truth no one wants to accept.
Bhairav doesn’t say anything. He sits quietly, listening to his sons without uttering a single word. His face remains serious but inside his heart, there is both fear and admiration for Zayran. No matter what anyone says, that feeling never fades.
“But we are his elders, Rajiv. We can stop him. He is going on the wrong path. And also, if he joins the company, no one will ever dare to mess with us” Dhanraj says, trying hard to convince Rajiv.
Somewhere deep inside, he knows that Zayran listens to Rajiv, even if it is just a little.
“Look, bhai and Dad, I respect and understand your reasons. But don’t forget, we are the reason for his condition.
We should be thankful. Instead of throwing us out from here, he is letting us stay happily.
And you say he is killing people. I think you forget, he never kills anyone.
He never does killing. Remember this” Rajiv says firmly.
His eyes hold pain, truth and warning all together. With that, Rajiv turns around and walks out of the room, leaving his father and brothers behind in heavy silence.
“Rajiv is right. Leave this decision of yours, both of you” Bhairav says in a final, commanding voice to Dhanraj and Virendra. He stands up and walks out of the room as well, ending the discussion completely.
My eyes are fixed on the screen in front of me. My fingers tap slowly on the desk, creating a steady rhythm, as I watch the video playing.
My rival steals the rare diamonds but I inform the police because I am a true citizen of my country. And while the police are busy arresting them, my men skillfully replace the diamonds.
Now those same diamonds are resting right in front of me, shining under the light.
“Sell them to the politicians” I say, playing with the diamonds in my hand. I pass them toward Grover. He nods his head and takes the diamonds without saying a word.
I get up from my seat and walk toward the railing of my balcony. The sunset is clear from here, spreading orange and red shades across the sky.
My eyes move down when I hear someone shouting loudly. My gaze catches the head maid yelling at her. The same girl from yesterday and from this morning.
She is standing there with her head lowered. Tears keep falling from her eyes, one after another. My eyes stay on her.
“How can you be so careless? This is not your home and you don’t even know how much it costs. Khud ko bhi bech dogi na, tab bhi nahi khareed paogi us antique piece ko” the head maid shouts at her again and again.
(Even if you sell yourself, you still won’t be able to buy that antique piece)
More tears fall from her eyes. She doesn’t say anything. She just listens. “Grover, call them here” I say, turning away from the balcony. I walk back and sit on my chair again.
Grover immediately walks out of my room, moving toward them. I take out my cigarette and light it. The moment it touches my lips, a strange kind of calmness rushes through me.
“Boss, they are here” Grover says. Both of them walk inside the balcony.
My eyes immediately move to her.
She is trembling badly, her shoulders shaking. Tears keep rolling down her cheeks and her hands are clenched tightly near her sides.
“What is the matter?” I ask slowly, taking another puff of my cigarette. Smoke leaves my lips as my eyes stay on them.
“Sir, she is really clumsy. From the time she has come here, she keeps doing things to trouble others. She also broke one of your favourite antique pieces and now she is talking back to me” the head maid says angrily. Her voice is sharp and accusing.
Her fingers tighten around her dress as she hears the head maid’s words. She looks even smaller, even more scared, standing there silently.
“She will do all the work of my room from tomorrow” I say calmly and take another puff. The moment these words leave my mouth, both of them look at me in shock.
“But she is new, sir. She doesn’t know how you like your things arranged and she...” the head maid starts speaking again.
“Leave” I say. I throw the cigarette on the ground and crush it under my shoe.
“But sir, sh....” she tries to speak again.
I look at her. She immediately stops talking and walks out of the room.
“Not you” I say when I see her turning to go outside. I signal Grover with my hand. He immediately walks out of the room without saying anything.
She stays there, standing still, her eyes fixed on the ground. Her tears stop falling but fear is clearly written all over her face. I can see it in her stiff posture and trembling hands.
“Darinda” I say the word she called me yesterday. It’s not new. Everyone calls me that. Some call me even worse. But she is the first one from whose mouth I hear.
“I… I’m really s...sorry, sir” she says. Her voice is barely audible, almost breaking.
Silence fills the balcony for a moment. Then she speaks again.
“Aaj ke baad aisa kuch nahi kahenge aapko” she says in a shivering voice, finally looking into my eyes.
(From today onward I will never say anything like that to you)
The moment our eyes meet, she lowers her head again, looking down.
“Go” I say slowly. She literally runs out of the room, as if her life depends on it.
I grab my phone but before I can do anything, the door bursts open and all four of them enter the room at once.
“Bhai, mujhe aapse yeh umeed nahi thi” Yuv says, looking at me in disbelief.
(Brother, I didn’t expect this from you)
“Bhai, aap monster ho, par har time dikhate nahi phirna hai aapko” Om says in shock, shaking his head.
(Brother, you are a monster but you don’t need to show it all the time)
“Bhai, main kya muh dikhaungi duniya walon ko. Kis ki behen hoon main” Ishi says, now wiping her fake tears.
(Brother, how will I show my face to the world?)
“Bhai, I’m someone who is proud of you no matter what you do but aaj aapne line cross kar di” Shaurya says. His voice is heavy with disappointment.
I blink my eyes slowly. Not him. Anyone but him.
(Brother, I am proud of you no matter what you do but today you crossed the line)
“Arre, insaan mein insaniyat hoti hai aur aap toh haivan ho. Par aap mein toh haivaniyat bhi nahi hai. Aap ki haivaniyat mar gayi hai” Yuv says sharply.
(A human has humanity and you are a beast. But you don’t even have beastliness left. Your beastliness is dead)
I close my eyes tightly and rest my head back on the chair.
“Arre, us bechari ne toh bas mazaak mein darinda kaha tha aur aapne usse rula diya” Om says.
(That poor girl just called you darinda as a joke and you made her cry)
I take deep breaths, trying to control the storm inside me.
I grab my gun from the side and fire it straight into the sky. The loud sound echoes in the room. The moment I open my eyes again, all of them are gone.
I shake my head slightly and get up from my seat, moving inside the room.
“I don’t want to hear anything now” a man shouts loudly, his voice filled with rage. “I want him dead by tomorrow any how. Or else you know me” he says threateningly, turning toward the two men standing in front of him.
“But he is Zayran Kaalver. It’s not easy to kill him. He himself is death” one of them says. Fear is clearly visible on his face.
“There is a party at his house, right?” the man says coldly. “Kill him there and then only. And I’ll give you whatever you both want” he adds. The two men look at each other. Greed is clearly visible in their eyes.
“Okay, we will kill him” they say together.
The man smiles proudly.
How was the chapter????
Fav part????
Zayran ke dimag me kya chal raha hai??????
Kon marna chahta hai mere bete ko???
Bahot confusion hai re baba ??
Aur kal puchi dena kya bhul gai dhanga phasad hi chalu kar dia app logo ne ?? matlab chapter na dalu ek bar to chal jaye ga but puchi na do to....baba baba bhooot masle hai aap logo ke. Ye lo puchi ?????? aur mere to Gaal laal ho gaye hai aap logo ki puchyion se??