The party was over, Advay had done and said all that he had intended to. His revenge was served. He left the venue with his Nani, with a weight lifted off his heart. He was done with Chandini and was now free to go back to his life. As they drove back to the guesthouse in silence, his Nani was sobbing to herself, at her own helplessness and at the monster that her Grandson had turned into.

“I expected better of you, Advay”. She said.

Advay raised his brow in surprise. He flinched at the mention of his name “Advay, Nani had never called him that, he was always her Cheeku. But today was different. Today he had crossed all the limits of decency. He knew the road to redemption would be a long arduous one. But to gain back his Nani’s love he was willing to do anything…

___

Chandini slumped against the cold black marble flooring with Vidhwan nestled in her arms. She shivered as the cold seeped through her limp body. She held Vidhwan close to her heart, as he slept peacefully, totally oblivious to the harsh realities of life.

Her Maa had abandoned her, Advay had abandoned her and above all her father had stood callously and watched everything. He didn’t even know who she was.

“No one needs me any more” she sobbed.

“I am sorry” she apologised to the baby sleeping in her arms. “I Promise, I wont let you have the same fate as mine. I have ensured that the family that wants to adopt you are going to Love you and adore you. You will have all the love I never had.” She sobbed as she cuddled him closer to her heart.

Mamaji, Meghu and Shikha came back to the Venue looking for Chandini.

“I tried explaining the situation to Indu jiji” Mamaji sighed ” but in vain” he added.

“Why ?” Meghana asked Chandini with resentment in her voice.

Mamaji looked at Meghu scornfully. “How dare you ?” he thought to himself with anger seething through his eyes.

“I am sorry ” Chandini squeaked. She knew what she had done to Meghu was unpardonable. But yet she stood by her actions. She had only wanted to protect Meghu and her mother against social scorn.

Meghu slumped against her sister, as she wept, “Why JiJi, Why ? She asked her again, only this time with total abandon. “Why didn’t you tell Advay that Vidhwan is my baby. Why, Why did you have to protect me jiji? Why didn’t you save your marriage instead? Oh, How can I ever forgive myself?”. She wept with her head against Chandini’s shoulder.

Mamaji looked at Meghu in astonishment. This was not the reaction he had expected from her. She had managed to pleasantly surprise him for a change.

Chandini rested her head against Meghu lovingly.

“Arey Pagli” she said, “Tune toh mujhe dara hi diya. I have only had your interest at heart, my love. I could not bear the thought of you having to bear the shame.” Chandini added with a sad smile.

“Why , jiji ?” Meghu looked up into Chandini’s eyes.

“Because I love you” Chandini said tenderly.

“You, Shikha, Mama, Maasi and above all MAA, all of you, are over and above my marriage, and my happiness. I can only be happy when I know ,that all of you are happy and safe” She added affectionately.

Mamaji and Shikha too had tears rolling down their cheeks at the beautiful scene that enfolded before them.

“Chalo, Chalo group hug ho jaaye ” Shikha quickly sniffled trying to cheer everyone up, as she flopped next to her sisters and gathered them in her arms, with Vidhwan still nestled against Chadnini’s heart.

Meghu quickly took him in her arms and began to kiss her sweet baby as Shikha played with his tiny little fingers.

_______

Advay had reached home and was busy packing his bags, as Nani sat on his bed with her head in her hands, still sobbing to herself.

“Enough, Nani.”He pleaded with her “Enough.”

“You knew I always intended to seek revenge from Chandini, So why are you so upset now”. He asked her with frustration. It was killing him to see his Nani in so much despair, All because of him.

“Nahi, Advay” she said slowly. “I don’t know who you are anymore.”

Advay was beyond grief. He wanted his Nani to understand and accept his actions. He wanted her to forgive him and to once again love him.

“Nahi, Nani. Please don’t do this to me”, he begged her as he put his head on her lap.

“I have waited for this moment for sixteen years. Now that I am at peace, please don’t take this moment away from me.” He pleaded with her with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Are you sure you are at peace,… Advay?” She mocked him, as he looked up at her with confusion.

“She had a point” he thought to himself perplexed. He had got what he had wanted. The Vashishts had been defamed, yet he felt restless. Guilt tugged at his heart as the images of a helpless Chandini flashed before his eyes.

“Stop it.” Advay admonished Dev. “Chandini got what she deserved. A girl who can betray her child, can betray anyone.” Advay declared to Dev…

“Advay, if you really want me to forgive you, then can you do me one last favour , please”, Nani requested him with tears glistening in her eyes.

“Yes, Nani ” He choked. “Yes, I will do anything you ask” he promised her. He was willing to do everything it would take to have Nani forgive him, and to have her call him Cheeku again.

“I want to meet Chandini, for one last time ,before we leave. I need to ask her a few questions. Can you please arrange for Murli to go and fetch her, please” She ordered him.

Advay looked at her in disbelief. He couldn’t believe his Nani still wanted to speak to Chandini and ask her for an explanation.

“Nani, she will only speak another lie, and manipulate you”. He tried to convince her.

Nani put her hand up in the air to stop him from saying any further. “Do as I say, or accept the fact, that today… you have lost your Nani too.” She replied in a placid, toneless voice.

“Murli” Advay shouted as he stood up. “Go, and get Chandini. Tell her that Nani wants to have a word with her.” Murli looked at him in shock and couldn’t move a muscle. “GO” Advay thundered.

__________

Chandini’s phone rang, “Maa” She choked as she answered her phone,

“Chandini, I am sorry beta” Indrani apologised to her. “I know I over reacted. Enough’s enough. Now come back home.”

Chandini wept holding her phone to her heart. Her Maa had forgiven her, there was still a ray of hope for now.

“Yes Maa”, She assured Indrani. ” I am coming home now.”

She put the phone down and hugged her Mamaji. “Maa has asked me come home”. She sobbed in his arms as she felt her heart flutter with joy.

“Lets go Mamaji “she said hurriedly “Lets not waste even a minute.”

As they quickly made out of the building and onto the main road, Murli walked towards them, smiling from ear to ear.

“Chandini didi, Aap ko Naniji ne bulaya hai” He informed her delightedly.

Chandini looked at him with dilemma. She didn’t know what to do. Maa had finally calmed down and had asked her to come back home immediately, while at the same time Chandini found it impossible to turn down Nani’s request. After all Nani had been extremely sweet and kind to her. She just couldn’t bring herself to disrespect this lovely elderly woman, who was also her Grand mother in law.

She looked up at Mamaji for advise, while a black Van screeched to a halt right next to them.

Four burly looking goons, got out of the Van, as everyone looked at them with fear and confusion. One of them grabbed Chandini and dragged her to the Van, as she screamed for help. The other two men hurled punches at Mamaji and Murli, and knocked them to the ground.

They forcefully pushed Chandini into the Van, and drove off with full speed, as Meghu and Shikha ran after them shouting out to their sister, with Vidhwan still safe in Meghu’s arms.

Shikha screamed for help, but there was no one around. It was late at night, and the street was deserted. Murli staggered back to his feet, and asked the girls if they had by any chance, made a note of the registration number.

Shikha stammered a Car registration number, which she had managed to note in the confusion, while Murli called the police.

__________

Advay was pacing up and down his room, while Nani still sat on his bed expressionless. She had refused to even have a drop of water, till she hadn’t spoken to Chandini,

Advay was getting impatient. What was taking Murli so long, he wondered as he punched the wall with frustration.

His phone rang, and he picked it up at the first ring. “Where are you, Murli?” He barked.

“What?” Advay asked him in shock. “What do you mean they took her with them?” he asked him in disbelief.

“Wait there, Murli, I am coming “.He told Murli before disconnecting the phone.

Nani looked around with concern, “Kya hua” She asked “Who has taken whom,? What did Murli say? Advay answer me “.she demanded loudly.

“I am not sure Nani, but some goons have taken Chandini with them” He snapped as he rushed out of the room in hurry. He ran down the stairs and got into his car.

He sped down the road at full speed, without any further delay.

“I should have at least dropped her back at her house”. he kicked himself. “Nani was right after all. He had acted irresponsibly towards his Chandini”, He chided himself.

“Where could she be?” He wondered as a dark thought crept at the back of his mind. He put his foot on the brakes as the car screeched to a halt.

He immediately turned around towards the harbour. He called Murli and asked him to check with the police if they had seen any activity around the run down old steel mill near the docks recently.

He remembered PP telling him that his family owned the old Steel Mill. He was willing to offer the place to Advay at a throw away price, but Advay had declined it at that time.

“Could it PP”? he thought to himself as rage took over him. He put his foot to the accelerator as he sped at full speed. He decided to go check the place out himself, just to make sure.

Murli called him back and confirmed that the Police had seen a black Van speeding in that area.

Advay instructed Murli to come to the old mill, along with the police.

__________

Meanwhile, Mamaji reached home with Meghu and Shikha and strode straight into Indrani’s room as he fumed with anger.

“I know it’s you”. He accused Indrani who was rocking herself on her arm chair.

“Oh, shut up Niru,” She told him with a smirk on her face

“That girl was of no use to me, so I thought, I might as well make as much money of out her as possible. I called PP …and we struck a deal”. she added with a wicked grin.

“How could you, jiji ” Mama choked in anger. “I am going to call Advay right now, and tell him everything “. He threatened her as he reached for his phone in his pocket.

Indrani sprang upon Niru , and knocked him to the ground.

” Don’t you dare, Niru”. She yelled back at him.

” Don’t forget that I am the only one, who knows your truth. So just shut up, and get lost, before I ensure that the mob attacks, and burns you too, at the stake”. She looked at him diabolically.

Niru shuddered, he knew his sister very well. She was a cold blooded murderer. She was capable of anything. For now he stayed slumped against the floor and wept for Chandini as Indrani grinned at his helplessness like a witch.

“Kayar” she taunted him.

______________

Advay quietly drove behind the mill and turned off the engine. He got out of the car quietly and walked towards the old run down mill. He jumped over the barbed fencing, and started to look around to see any movement. He spotted a black van to one side of the building. Chandini had to be somewhere here, he assured himself.

He walked into the dilapidated building. It was dark inside, he heard some muffled voices coming from across the large factory floor. He swiftly ran across in the direction of the voices and hid behind the window of a dimly lit room, only to find four men laughing as they bet over a game of cards.

“If these men were here, Where was Chandini ?” he looked around suspiciously.

Suddenly he heard a blood curdling shriek from upstairs. Advay froze to the spot.

It was his Chandini, she was upstairs. “Dammit , What the hell?” He exclaimed as he ran upstairs.

He flung open the door and froze to the ground … it felt like he was struck by lightening. Chandini was lying on the dry wooden floor squirming and struggling, screaming for help, while PP was trying to force himself upon her.

A dark rage took over Advay as he felt thick hot blood course through his veins. He pounced on PP and yanked him away from Chandini. He punched PP in his face a few times. PP shuddered at the sudden turn of events and cried out for help.

Chandini cowered in one corner as she tried to cover herself with her arms.

The goons ran upstairs to investigate the commotion. They instantly hurled themselves upon Advay and tried to free PP from his clasp.

Four men tried to pin Advay down.

PP punched Advay in his stomach a few times while Chandini flinched and pleaded with PP to let him go. One of the men landed a blow against Advay’s jaw, while the other punched him hard again in his stomach. Advay hit his head against the sharp edge of the door and hurt his brow, while PP laughed like a maniac on loose.

Advay had blood pouring out of his mouth and his brow. The men pushed him down again, while Advay got back to his knees and pushed the men holding him down, away from him with great force.

He kicked one of them in the groin, as he grabbed another by his legs, and plummeted him in the air, and against the wall. He saw a third man coming toward him with a rod, from the corner of his eye, and ducked, only for the goon to hit the dark large man to the left of Advay, on his head, with his rod. Advay pulled the rod from third him with a jolt, and landed a few blows on his head, while PP hid behind a table, in the corner of the room.

The men fell to the ground unconscious.

Advay strode with anger, to where PP was hiding, and dragged him out from behind the table by his hair.

PP squealed like a girl, and begged Advay to let go of him.

“Please Advay , Please, Mujhe jaane do” he pleaded as he tried to push Advay away.

Advay’s rage had reached a point beyond reason. He began punching PP once again. He broke PP’s jaw and pushed him against the window. PP’s crashed into the window as shards of glass stuck to his face and he fell to the ground.

PP was almost unconscious, but Advay was still not done with him. He picked PP up and punched him again on his nose, blood started to ooze out of PP’s nose and mouth. His face was badly bruised.

“How dare you?” Advay hissed. ” Tumhari himmat kaisi hui meri biwi ho choone ki?” He snarled through gritted teeth, as he punched him a few more times.

Advay jerked to a sudden halt, at the touch of a soft hand on his shoulder. “Jaane deejiye, Advay” Chandini begged him. “Maar daalenge kya unko” She sniffled

“Haan Maar daaloonga” He shot back at her ,

“iski himmat kaise hui , tumhe choone ki”, He barked and punched PP’s limp body again.

Chandini tried to pull Advay back , but staggered and fainted. As realisation struck Advay, he let go of PP and in a flash held Chandini in his arms.

” Chandini”, he tried to shake her “Chandini, tum teek ho” He asked her with concern.

He carried her in his arms and took her downstairs, out in the open and put her on a broken bench. He patted her cheeks softly trying to wake her up.

Chandini slowly fluttered her eyes open, and saw Advay looking down at her with concern.

She instantly flung herself into his arms, and wept with her head against his heart. Advay felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. He slowly put his arms around Chandini and comforted her.

“Hey, Its ok” He whispered. “Main hoon naa”, He assured her.

“Aapko itni der kyun lag gayi?” She sobbed.

Advay slowly closed his eyes, as he put his head against hers and held her closer to his heart.

He took her face in his hands tenderly and wiped her tears away.

He noticed that her duppatta was missing. She had claw marks on her arms, and her blouse was torn from one side thus revealing the soft skin underneath, which she was trying to cover with one hand.

“PP, you bloody animal”, Advay swore under his breath, as he removed his jacket to cover her. He saw finger marks on Chandini’s cheeks, that were just beginning to turn blue. He touched her cheeks softly with his finger as she flinched in pain.

“Usne maara tumhe”, He hissed in anger. “Chodoonga nahi usey”, He vowed to himself.

He took her on his lap as he held her close to his heart. “I am sorry, Chandini”. He apologised to her softly. “Its all my fault. But I am going to make this right” He assured her, only to find that Chandini had passed out in his arms…

Murli turned up with the Police and Advay directed them to where PP and his goons lay unconscious. Advay carried Chandini in arms towards his car, leaving Murli to deal with the cops.

He carefully put her inside the car and secured her safely with the seat belt. He turned the ignition on and the engine roared back to life and he sped back home without any delay.

He relaxed as a sudden sense of calm took over him.

She was safe, for now. She was with him, for now.

____________

Advay reached home, only to find Nani waiting for him at the doorway, with Shilpa by her side.

He carefully picked Chandini up from his car.

“Advay sir , aur Chandini jiji” , aagaye. Shilpa chirped happily to Nani. “Par Chandini jiji ko kya ho gaya” She looked on with concern.

“Kya hua Chandini ko” Nani asked her anxiously.

“Pata nahi Naniji. Main abhi jaake unke liye paani aur chaai laati hoon”. Saying so Shilpa ran towards the kitchen.

Chandini had always been kind towards her, even when the others had mocked and teased her at the haveli. “I will nurse her back to health”, Shilpa swore to herself as she quickly began making tea.

Advay walked into the house with Chandini in his arms. He walked up the stairs, straight into his room and put her on his bed carefully, while Nani kept badgering him with a million questions.

“Ek Minute nani”. He replied softly. “Chandini is hurt, I am waiting for the doctor to come. Please wait, I will tell you everything”, He assured her as Chandini stirred.

Chandini fluttered her eyes open, only to find Advay sitting by her side looking at her with concern.

Shilpa came in with a glass of water and a cup of tea. Advay thanked her, and held the glass of water against Chandini’s lips, as she sipped on it slowly.

” Chandini “,Nani asked her with concern. “What happened my love? How are you?”

“Nothing Nani “, she replied weakly, “I am Ok now “.she sighed heavily.

“Bullshit”, Advay spat back. ” Let the doctor come and confirm that himself”, He told her curtly while his phone rang.

Rage shot back in his eyes when looked at his phone.

“Yes… Saasumaa”, He said in a cold, placid voice.

“No …, Saasumaa”. He replied harshly.

“No… Chandini is not going anywhere. Aap shaayad bhool gayi, Chandini meri biwi hain”, his tone was blunt and expressionless. He meant business.

” Please let me make myself clear here… Saasuma, Chandini is safe, here , with me”. He spat back angrily.

“Chandini will be moving to Mumbai tomorrow, with me”. He told her bluntly before he switched off the phone and threw it against the wall in a fit of rage, while Chandini looked at him in shock.

“Thank you, My Cheeku”, Nani smiled with tears glistening in her eyes…