(Unedited)
****

NANDANI's pov

I watch the night turn light blue. The birds began to crip. It's may be some 6 in the morning. Dehradun is turning colder day by day with the coming winter.  I spent the whole night outside in the balcony. I have stopped caring about the cold atmosphere ever since Madhyam has walked into my life. I stand up and walk inside but my lower body is too sore. I can't even walk properly. I slide the door close. I walk to the chest drawers and pull out a strip of painkillers. I gulp one with water. Hopeing the sedatives will bring me some sleep. I slide in the warm sheets besides Madhyam and close my eyes to drift in solace.

****
I feel two kind of fingers over me. One creasing my cheeks and the other one my hair. The little fingers on my cheeks clutch my skin into tiny little fist and pull it a little. I know this touch. The most soothing touch. My baby's touch. My Shruti's touch. I frown a little because I don't remember sleeping beside her nor she wakes up beside me ever. 

My eyes shoot open wide suddenly. As soon as I open my eyes, Shruti gives my a wide toothless smile. My eyes reach out to the figure lying behind her. Madhyam was lying behind her, resting his head on his elbow and his other hand in hair. "Good morning Nandani." He says and pulls my hair into into his fist. I hiss in pain. "Oohh!! Did i hurt you? Come I will heal you." He says.

I shift back suddenly away from his touch. He pouts, and hugs Shruti from behind and glance at her "Baby, see mumma is running away from Daddy. Tell your mumma naa... Daddy loves her sooooo much."

Why is he calling himself Dad. "What do you want Madhyam?"

"Aah! There you are. Straight to the point." He grins and get up. He is well dressed in his formals. He adjusted his blazer, rubbing off the creases with the back of his hand. Shruti too turns facing him lying on her stomach and watches him intensely. She gets up a little and briskly crawls to the edge towards Madhyam. She lifts her arms in air indicating him to carry her.

I quickly get up to get her before Madhyam does, but I was late. He swiftly carries Shruti  and she giggles in his embrace. "What do you want Madhyam?" I ask sternly. Getting up.

"A sweet little happy family." He says with a fake polite cheesy grin. What is this man up to now. He and his evil games. But I will not let him drag Shruti in his games. Before I could question him further he made himself a bit more clear this time.

"Aryaman." His face becomes serious and hard.

    Aryaman Khurrana was the elder step brother of Madhyam. Madhyam can lick his soles for he has all the property under his power. I met him once and he unlike Madhyam seems to a genuine man. But I have stopped trusting people now. They show their real colours when you least expect them to. But now when it concerns Aryaman it has to something big because he is involving Shruti in this.

"Aryaman is coming back from the States. He presumes us to be a happy family. His arrival means your freedom. If you TRY, mark my words EVEN TRY an escape, you will have to face the consequences and this will be even worse than the last time. Be a good wife. If Aryaman smells anything fishy you are the one paying." His voice crystal clear and sharp.

"What if I say no." I speak sternly. Looking straight into his eyes.

"Haah!" He give out a humourless chuckle. His lisps press into a hardline. He walks into the walk in cubbord with Shruti in his arms. My heart beats raised abnormally. I shouldn't have spoken like this. After a minute or so he comes back. Shruti is holding something. Something metallic. She puts it in her mouth and tried to chew it with her gums. Before I analyse the foreign object, Madhyam throws something at my feet making me jump.

   "I guess you forgot this." I hear his voice when I look down to register a silver revolver. The gun. The very same gun. I chill runs down my spine and sweat runs down my forehead. It takes me no time to register what is in Shruti's hand. Its a bullet shell. The very same bullet shell.

   I run to her and take it out of her mouth and throw it into some corner. Her expressions change and she was on the verge of crying. I try and take her into my hands. "No...no.. Honey." Madhyam says and snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. "No running away from now. We are a happy family from now, till may be a few days." He gives a wicked grin pointing towards the full length mirror. I look at the reflection of Me, Madhyam and Shruti.

****

I take a shower and get ready. I make Shruti take a bath and dress up. Madhyam has gone to pick Aryaman from the airport. Shruti is in a way too good mood today because of having me since the morning. It's rarely that we  have this opportunity. But inspite of all this, my mind is stuck on something. Something weird.

     This is not just Aryaman finding something fishy. This is something big. He is trying to mask something. He is upto something big otherwise he wouldn't have got Shruti to intimidate me. There is something deep to it. And why is Aryaman coming all of a sudden. May be his arrival will get things a bit clear.

     I dress Shruti in white and pink pajamas and grey small hoodie. I carry her downstairs and make her sit in the baby carriage and move to prepare for the breakfast arrangements.

     I arrange the breakfast table with Jenny. While arranging the last plate my hand accidentally hit the newspaper and it falls down flat on the floor all scattered. I sigh in irritation and bend down to collect the scattered leaflets.   I gathered all of them and start arranging them in order when my eyes fall on an article's headlines.

  RETURN OF THE OIL KNIGHT IN OOTY                  Khurrana oils to invest in the Ooty project again.

I get goosebumps reading the lines and it forces me to read further. I quickly scan the article. It said;

    The Khurrana brothers are back with the Ooty oil plant. The project will be started again by the coming week with the return of the elder Khurrana from the states. This project is re-opened after the tragic incident that ended in a disaster. After the announcement of this project the shares of Khurrana oils have taken speed by leaps and bounds and proved a remarkable profit.  Sources say that Aryaman Khurrana and Madhyam Khurrana assure that this beginning will bring down an happy and prosperous ending unlike the one that occurred  two years back.

This is that same project. Is this the reason Madhyam wants to fake around Aryaman. But This doesn't co-relate the family drama. Or it does?

I was all baffled and confused when I heard the sound of the car. May be they arrived. I quickly adjust the newspaper in it's regular place and accomplished my self.

Madhyam and Aryaman come in laughing and grinning. Shruti glees seeing them. She is never used to seeing these many people around her. It's just me and mostly Jenny she is surrounded with. She is happy to be with all kind of kid. I smile seeing her happy. Atleast once in this house she is happy.

"Ooh My Good!! Just look at the little princess!! She is so grown up!!" Aryaman exclaimed coming to her with wide open arms. Shruti too opens her arms to get carried up. Aryaman carries her and swings her in the air and catches her. My heart rises up in my throat with each swing. While Shruti giggles care freely. This was the first time the house was echoing with the happy cheers, otherwise it's just the sobbing and crying of us. Me for her and her for me. Because of Madhyam.

Aryaman snuggled his nose in her tummy making her giggle more and more. "Kitna hasta hai mera bachaa..." He says in a childish tone. He sees me and comes to me. "Hello, Nandani... How are you?" And takes me in a side hug. I smile uncomfortably as I feel an intense gaze of Madhyam on me.

"I am all good. How the journey?" I asked politely. "Aah!! A tiring one. But now I am home with the princess so noo being tired, all fun and play."

"Bhai! Chalo, breakfast?" Madhyam interrupts eyeing me. I lower my gaze and say," yes, bhai. Sit i will serve you both."

They both take their seat, and I serve them breakfast. "Come Shruti. Let's get you your Milk." I say and take Shruti from Aryaman and make her sit in her carriage.

I was feeding Shruti milk and powder biscuits. Aryaman and Madhyam were talking about random business but not the Ooty project.  My ears were keenly listening to all their chats.

"So, when are we moving down to Ooty?" Aryaman asked chewing the omelet, while Madhyam suddenly chocked the juice. Of course. This is it. It's the deal he wants to hide from me. "Ahem. Aammm yes. I mean, ammm, kuch socha nai. We will decide about it later." He said looking at me secretly with the corner of his eye. "And...." Before Aryaman could fire him with more details Madhyam's phone rang and he taking the opportunity immediately excused himself out.

******

It was late afternoon. I was in going to Shruti's room when my eyes fall on the open Study door. Madhyam and Aryaman have been out since a while. I watch around to register the presence of any of his guards. Not finding anyone near, I quickly and slowly peep instead. Finding the way clear i tip toe inside towards his  desk. The smell of the furniture invades my nose. The smell tickles the old wounds. I have very bad memories with this study. My breath increases, heart rate increases, but I gather myself. I have to do this. Just look around once Nandani. I said to myself. I took a deep breath and moved towards the table and search around. The shelves, cupboards, the files, the tables. But nothing. I get frustrated and bang the desk in irritation.

    The desk wood slides open  and making me jump. There are files. Many files. But my eyes fall on the new file out of all. I quickly take it out and open it. It's something like a contact, I don't get. I turn the pages to get an idea about it, figures, clxauses, but suddenly something catches my eye. A signature which spells
                  CABIR DHAWAN.
*****
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