Salaam everyone. How are you all? Here is the next chapter of Misconceptions.

Happy reading.

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Chapter 32: The Aftermath.

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Arjun could not believe what he had heard. His father murdered his mother! How can a person do such thing to a person like his mother? He knew their relationship is not what he thought of but he also thought their relationship is unique and tried to implement in his life. Now it seems that their relationship is all a farce and it was so dangerous that his father plotted and killed his mother!

Where did that leave him? He has the same genes in his body. Did he become the same thing as his father when he wanted revenge from a reporter not so long ago for laughing at him? Even though that meeting did not turn as he expected, he still would have been responsible if something had happened to her or she is not as brave as Radhika to handle any situation.

Is he really worthy of Radhika now that he knew his family's history? Will she accept him after knowing what his father had done to his mother? Sure, he cannot live without her, but that doesn't mean he will compel her to stay with him if she wants to leave him for his father's sins. But he knew her better than that. His wife will not leave him for anything in the world. They made such a pact not to leave each other in their happiness, now that there are dark clouds on their heads doesn't mean she will leave him for his fate. If she ever got a sniff of his thoughts, she would take a very great pleasure in kicking him to oblivion.

Now no one can believe him that he is doing everything to bring some good to the society. Everyone will think that he is doing all this so as to relieve himself from the money his sinful father had accumulated. What good did he get after pausing his business in London? Nothing. Probably this is his lesson. No one should enter into politics without learning betrayal. What should he do now? This news will become the toast of the state within few hours. Will he be able to look in another person's eye and see himself as a good leader? Will he be able to see himself as worthy person to carry on whatever he had started to improvise the society? He does not have a doubt that his panel of ministers and MLA's will look him with disdain like it is his fault that his father had committed a grievous sin and punishable offence.

He should not have come to India even after what Pawan has told him. This legacy should not have come in to existence if not for Pawan getting a position in the party and swiftly informing him about the action to be performed. Why did he listen to him then? He wanted to find some peace in his own country after all the crazy events happened in his life. And then, he cannot count all these as his curses, surely. He would not have found Radhika, his love of life; Sweta Ma, Vikas, Hitesh and Pawan if he didn't make a decision of coming to India. They are his only family now.

Why is he magnifying all that had happened and trying to put them in a bad light! Didn't he learn something from everything that had happened? He got to see the true faces of many people whom he thought to be God once. He got to know that there is very much bad in every person as there is good. Why is he forgetting that there is silver lining to every cloud! He should get himself out of these gloomy thoughts and stop pitying himself for something he had not done, at all. What will he get if he wallow in his self misery? Absolutely nothing. He should get his head straight and make the people who have ruthlessly taken his mother's life to pity themselves for ever showing their filthy faces again. Yes! That's what he will do. Even though his image will get damaged after this scandal, he holds the power and he will do everything in his power to get the people convicted for their crimes.

Before doing that, he had to sort his personal life. Pawan is standing as still as a statue after the conversation between Radhika and Mr. Mehra. Why should he even call that killer as his father? He has got absolutely no reason to do that. What should he do now to pull Pawan from wherever he is? Is he reliving the accident? He knew that Pawan arrived to the mansion late after his work and by the time Pawan has reached the mansion, it was in ashes. He was then taken in the same orphanage which was run by Vikas's father. Pawan did not know that time who was being  so gracious to him. Only few days ago when Radhika said the truth, he got to know. Even though he didn't say anything, Arjun knew that Pawan was grateful to Vikas and his family for whatever they did to him. If not for them, Pawan would have been on streets with no funds and nowhere to go. They are in debt to Vikas's family more than they ever thought.

Arjun got up from his chair and touched Pawan on his shoulder. He started and tensed a little but after seeing Arjun, he relaxed and turned his sorrowful eyes to Arjun. Of course, the guy is devastated. He saw Arjun's father as an inspiration, after all.

* * *

Pawan watched Arjun when he touched him. His face is expressionless as if the information that was relayed now was not any issue at all. How can the guy pull himself together so easily? He just got to know his father is a killer, his mother was murdered by his own father and whatever he thought till now are all his misconceptions. How did he become so resilient to take in this news so easily! Pawan thought he knew Arjun inside out. But it seems that he didn't know his friend at all.

'How are you so calm and collected after listening to such a devastating news, Arjun?'

'I accepted the sins committed by my father because I saw him confess those words, Pawan. Do you really think I will make a fuss out of this when I still have the chance to get my father and his partner punished?'

'I did not think in that way. You are correct, though. We still have the power in our hands just to squeeze whatever punishment we think is suitable for him. And I also think the capital punishment for him should be his death just like he thought Maya aunty is not worth to live after she transferred all the properties to your name, don't you think?'

'I agree with you totally. Before we make any decisions, let's wait for my wife to make her entry. Or else we will be the ones who will receive her capital punishment.' said Arjun.

Pawan was amazed to hear the amusement in Arjun's words whenever he talked about Radhika. These two are truly soulmates. He did not know how he had thought less of Radhika even before knowing about her.

He thought Arjun started searching for happiness even in small things. Even though Arjun suffered so much in the past after being the son of one of the richest people, he did not lose his faith on life. He truly felt life gives everything, good and bad, to everyone and one should accept them as being part of the life. Pawan is glad to know that the anchor Arjun required has appeared in the form of Radhika.

He will wait for her and the  remaining family for helping them to take away the men who killed Maya aunty and his mom.

* * *

Radhika is anxious to reach Arjun and Pawan as soon as possible. But it seems it will only happen if they have a helicopter or she magically sprout wings and take off to Arjun's office. Why are there so many people standing in their way? Can't they take the hint that none of them are interested in talking to them. Vikas is trying his level best to shoo them away. If they did not take their leave in respectful, she should have to resort to more violent ways and that will not be so good considering the circumstances they are in.

After a debate of about ten minutes, Vikas got back into the car and made sure no one followed them. They are already late to reach the office and these Hawks are not all helping. What is there to explain what had happened? If people are interested to talk, they will talk without any prompting. Can't these people take that hint and leave them be? She knows the process of getting fame to their channel. She knew it very well. But stopping people in the way when there is life and death situation, it is no way to work.

Maybe she is judging them harshly as she is not in their position, but this is also true that she cannot accept such behaviour when they are in a hurry.

By the time they reached Arjun's office, both Arjun and Pawan are talking about something and they turned towards them with indifferent faces of their own. What should she make of this reaction? She expected more from these two. Who is she kidding anyway? These guys are known for their impassive nature and ruthless decisions. Now Prithvi Mehra and her father should definitely fear for whatever these guys have in their mind.

'I thought you are never going to come.' said Arjun.

'We would have come earlier if not for our journalist friends hounding our car as if Yamaraj is on their heals to take them to hell.' answered Radhika.

There is slight crack in the cold face of Pawan when slight smile touched his lips. She is very glad to see she could bring such reaction even in this situation.

'Why don't you guys take your seats so that we can discuss what to be done to the sinners, who are unfortunately our family.' said Pawan.

'Let Hitesh come too. Or else he will never leave us for starting the discussion without him.' said Vikas.

'Damn straight, brother.' said Hitesh announcing his arrival. 'Now I am here, let's start the project of taking down villains of our life.'

'Who would have thought our fathers will be the villains of our lives!' said Arjun with a resigned sigh.

'Before going into the details of our planning, I have a confession to make.' said Radhika.

'What could that be now?' asked Pawan.

'I knew that Mr. Mehra was the one who murdered Maya aunty.' and she added hastily before Arjun and Pawan pounce on her, 'I did not tell this to anyone except Vikas and Hitesh because I thought these people will never show their faces to us after what they had done. But I have been proven wrong. They not only flaunted their faces but had the gall to speak everything on my face.' finished Radhika with barely contained rage remembering the earlier encounter.

From the looks on both their faces, they seems to understand her predicament that drove her to hide this. She heaved a sigh of relief when they did not snarl at her for hiding yet another truth from them.

When she turned her eyes towards Arjun, his eyes are like fathomless depths and they are covered with so many emotions at once-- hurt, betrayal, determination and finally a look that chilled her to the bone- vengeance.

What would he do with Prithvi Mehra? What would he do with her father when he got his hands on both of them? Will she be able to stop Arjun before he destroyed himself in this fire? She needs to stop him before he lost himself. Even though he is showing a brave face to everyone, she knew he must be hurt deep with the ultimate betrayal any person could be subjected to.

In all of this, she observed her mother is acting as a silent spectator. It is unlike her to sit silent and brood when a situation is as dire as this. Is it what his father had told to her? Or is it the shock of his friend's death that rendered her speechless?

'What happened to you, Ma? Why are you so silent?' she asked when she couldn't take the silence anymore.

Her mother jolted out of her trance as if she was drenched in cold water in winter.

The words that left her mouth in the next moment shocked everyone in the room.

* * *

Prithvi is seething in anger when the police constable is saddling his hand to the handcuffs where in one side of the handcuffs is already locked to the police jeep. He is being carried to the station as if he is a common criminal. Doesn't they know that he is a former minister and the father of the Chief Minister?

He will see to it that these police officers get what they deserved when he finally attained his freedom. Did they think that he will come to the liar without any weapons in his hand? He learned earlier in his life itself that one should not go near a Lion without a back up. Most importantly, a hunger lion. It is time to unsheath his weapons from his scabbard. No one will be saved from his wrath this time. Everyone will burn- literally.

He laughed so hard on the face of the constable that he must have looked a runaway from asylum. But he is the one who is going to send every one of them to hell.

'Everyone is going to pay for this, Chandra. Especially your witless daughter and wife.' he said when he took his seat beside Chandra in the Jeep.

He listened to the most soothing answer from his lap dog.

'I know, Sir.' Chandra said.

It is what he had expected from him. How did he even doubt him before? The man is as witless as his wife and daughter even with his highest educational qualification. He smirked with content when he got to see upper hand on such a qualified man. Such a poor being! He will burn with the others. He doesn't want any loose ends this time around too.

* * *

'What?' said Arjun shooting to his feet and his voice is close to a snarl.

Her reaction is no less but that word got stuck in her mouth as if her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth.

What is her mother saying now? Is it true? If yes, how can this happen?

'Yes, Nash! He said to me and called me "sweeting." He called me that when our relationship is all good and sweet. What should I derive from this unexpected behavior from him?'

'He said what, Ma?' she asked again to confirm that the words left from her father's mouth are true.

'He said, "He is not worth it, sweeting."' answered her mother.

'Impossible.' muttered Pawan reflecting her thoughts.

What is the game of her father?

* * *

Chandra knew that Prithvi Mehra came to India with a back up. The guy has a special liking to fire and burning people in it.

What did he plan this time and how is he so confident in his plan that he laughed downright on the face of a constable?

He should coax the truth out so that he may relay the same to Arjun or some other of his gang when he got a chance. He cannot see the suffering again. From the look on Prithvi's face, it is not only his wife and daughter who are going to suffer but a large number of population. He cannot let that happen and put so many lives in danger.

'What do you have in your mind, Sir?' he asked with a pliant voice of a servant.

Prithvi whispered his plan in code words so as to not to give any hints to the police personnel in front of them.

After listening to what Prithvi has said, his heart beat in a speed rivalling a person who had just run a marathon. He put his face stoic and bobbed his head as if encouraging Prithvi in his plan. He should find the first opportunity he could get to speak with Arjun or else so many lives will be lost.

'What are you whispering about? Stop talking or else face the barrel of my pistol in your mouth.' snapped the police officer who sat in the front seat beside the driver.

'Of course, officer.' said Prithvi with barely contained rage curling his fingers.

'Everyone will burn.' are the last words spoken by Prithvi who went silent when he received a glare from the officer in the front seat.

Prithvi bared his teeth to him as if mocking the police. The police turned his head to the front of vehicle as if watching them is somehow a sin. He cannot blame the man, though, can he!

* * *

'I need to talk to Chandra Mishra before planning anything.' said Arjun after coming from the haze of the shock given by his Sweta Ma.

How is that this man, who acted as a lap dog to every whim of Prithvi Mehra got a change of heart? Or is it a lure to get to the good side of Sweta Ma. She is the only one who could relieve them from all the sins they have committed. She is the one who left evidence, provided by his mother, in the magistrate's post so that the culprits can be arrested.

All the people present over there thought it is better to know the enemy before plunging in their territory.

So, now it seems a meeting is in order with Chandra Mishra.

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End of the thirty-second chapter. I have to take a break of one month that is in April as I am having exams.

Hope this chapter suffices till then. Thank you so much for the votes on the earlier chapters. It feels so good to see so many new readers joining the family of Misconceptions.

Please vote, comment and share your thoughts on the story.

Till next time, Sayonara.