Free Palestine 🇵🇸

•••

“You can't use this recording,” said Vidyut after carefully listening to the recording.

“Why?” Yuvraj asked while taking a whip of cigarette as he stared at the sunset. Both of them were sitting on the rooftop of his penthouse.

“Mandira will also get arrested if you gave it to the police,” Vidyut reasoned.

“Whatever, Devika is not the culprit. There was no fear in her eyes. This recording was only supposed to scare her, but that didn't happen.” 

“So do you have your doubts on someone else?” Vidyut asked while returning the phone to him.

“No, not yet,” he let out a defeated sigh and continued, “Did you know that Vini was a bully?”

Vidyut nodded, “Well, I did hear about some instances from Purab Bhai.”

“She had morphed Devika and Purab's pictures... to make it look like Devika slept with him to get the first place.” Yuvraj threw the cigarette and smashed it under his shoe. He felt like a failed father. His parents must be disappointed on him for not raising his sister properly. But maybe he is not any different from Vini. He also messed up Vidyut, Mandira, and Devika's life because of a misunderstanding.

Just looking at Yuvraj's face, Vidyut understood what might be going on in his head so interrupted his thoughts, “You should meet Purab. Apologize on Vini's behalf.”

Yuvraj nodded while wiping that one teardrop that slid down her cheek. “I should. Maybe it's the resentment some people have towards her that isn't letting her open her eyes. I should apologize.”

“And... apologize to Mandira and Devika too. They did wrong by tampering the evidence. But your misunderstanding wrecked havoc in their perfectly fine lives,” he added.

“I will,” Yuvraj nodded and immediately left for Purab's place.

✿ ✿ ✿

Suraj was supposed to return to Mehergarh with Devika's father that day. So he came to meet Devika before leaving. When he entered her bedroom, Mandira was present there.

“You didn't bring me cupcakes yesterday,” Devika complained.

“I ate them. I love Sanjh's cupcakes, you know,” Suraj replied while scratching the back of her head.

Mandira gasped at Sanjh's mention. “Sanjh? Both of you met Sanjh? How's she? How's her baby? She must have turned four, right?” Mandira kept asking, not giving them a chance to speak.

Devika put her palm against Mandira's mouth before she speaking, “She runs a bakery in the nearby market. I saw her, but didn't meet her. But I sent Suraj to that bakery.” Once she finished her side of the story, she removed her hand from Mandira's mouth.

“Oh, and what happened between you two, Bhai? Did you guys patch up?” Mandira asked curiously, hoping to hear a positive reply.

But Suraj let out a frustrated sigh, as if annoyed by her question.

“Mandira, Sanjh is a mother now. And a mother will always choose her child over love. And you know how Maa is. Sanjh is much better running a humble bakery than marrying me and enduring Maa's taunts everyday,” Suraj explained. And instantly, both Devika and Mandira's face fell.

Mandira sighed in annoyance, “Maa is so troublesome. All good girls are leaving you because of her unwelcoming personality.”

Suraj and Devika glanced at each other. Devika also broke up with him because of Gayatri's personality.

“Bhaiya, it seems like marrying a good girl is not written in your fate. Maybe you are meant to marry a cunning vixen. You know, the one who will eat all your property,” Mandira joked to make her brother feel better.

“Still, she will be much better than your cheater of a husband,” Suraj gave her a befitting comeback.

But Mandira didn't like that at all, “Bhaiya! I didn't tell you all that so you could make joke about his past.”

“I'm serious, Mandu. That man broke his brother's trust. You really think he will stay loyal to you? If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have let this marriage occur at any cost.”

Devika connected the dots. “Wait, do you mean Vidyut slept with his Bhabhi?”

“He did,” Suraj replied.

“That's horrible,” Devika tsked.

Mandira rolled her eyes, “Both of you, listen carefully. The day he cheats on me will be the day I file for a divorce. Which is why, Bhaiya, don't marry a woman hungry for money so that I can easily get my share in property if circumstances demanded.”

Devika decided to crack a joke, “I don't think he will cheat on you. You already shot him once. He must be scared that you'll shoot him dead if he cheated on you.”

Mandira chuckled, “That's quite right.”

Suraj just rolled his eyes at them and exited the room after saying a bored goodbye.

“Mandira, should we go out for shopping?” Devika suggested.

“But you aren't fond of wandering shop to shop.”

“Yeah, but... I want to tell you something. And I really need a short break from all the overthinking happening in my head. Shopping will help, I guess.”

“Sure, get ready then,” saying so Mandira put on her pink shrug that Kajal bought for her to wear over her strapless tops when stepping out of the house. No wonder Vidyut fell in love with Kajal in the past. She has a caring personality. Mandira was actually amazed at how Vikram did not fall in love with Kajal yet. She would have, if she were a man.

✿ ✿ ✿

Yuvraj parked the car outside Purab's house before entering through the gate that is always open during the day. Purab's house was not extravagant, but minimal. It was adorned with a well-kept garden where flowers bloomed round the year. Purab also had the ‘Queen of the night’ flower that bloomed only once a year for few hours. It was a two-storey house. The ground floor belonged to Purab and the upper portion belonged to his younger brother Armaan. Armaan, by the way, was Yuvraj's secretary. Both the brothers might not look like brothers, but their habits were identical.

“Yuvi sir, what brought you here?” Armaan asked from the ground where he was performing Sirsasna on a yoga mat.

“I'm came to meet Purab,” Yuvraj clarified before heading inside the house.

As expected, Purab was preparing his breakfast in the kitchen, which included a glass of warm milk, exactly five almonds, and exactly three slices of brown bread generously filled with homemade apple jam.

“Good morning, Purab,” Yuvraj greeted as announcement of his arrival.

Purab glanced at him and went back to spreading jam on the bread. “Good morning, what brought you here? I don't do psychiatric sessions, if that's what you want.”

Yuvraj chuckled at Purab's desperation to make him leave, “I'm here to talk about Vini.”

Now that caught Purab's attention. “Have a seat. Would you like some warm milk?” 

“Nah, just cold water.” He took his seat on the dining table.

Purab first brought him a glass of icy cold water and then sat down to eat his breakfast.

“Speak. I'm listening,” Purab said before taking a bite of bread.

Yuvraj sighed deeply and spoke, “Vini had morphed your and Devika's picture.”

Purab stopped chewing for a moment. He put down the bread and took a small sip of milk before saying, “Hmm, she did. It happened only a day before she fell down the building.”

“When the accident happened, I was abroad. When I returned, Vini was in coma and everyone said it was a suicide attempt. About ten months ago, a girl came to meet me. She was an old employee's daughter whose education was funded by the company. She told me that she was the assistant of the doctor who did Vini's checkups and tests post the accident. He was bribed by Mandira to tamper with the evidence,” Yuvraj narrated.

Purab leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the side of his glass. “So you suspected Mandira.”

“Yeah, but she had bribed the doctor only to remove Devika's fingerprints from the scene.”

Purab’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated the situation. “Devika was present on the crime scene. Probably fighting with Vini. Devika is one of those people who even mourn the ant they stepped over accidentally. She doesn't have the guts to push a person down the building.”

Yuvraj ran a hand over his face, the frustration evident in his voice. “Yes, the culprit is roaming free. And I wasted all these months plotting against Mandira.”

Purab took a deep breath, his gaze steady. “Yuvraj, will you believe me if I said Vini is not the only victim of this culprit?”

“What do you mean?” Yuvraj frowned.

“Actually... after Vini, three more students died in the last three years. They were from the same session as Vini, even though their streams were different.”

“Who?”

“Upasana Kaushal, Neelam Sandhu and Nandini Arya.”

Yuvraj’s mind raced. “Wait, I know their families. All of them belong to rich families. Upsana's family owns textile factories. Neelam's mother is a well-known fashion designer. Nandini's father owns a restaurant chain.”

Purab leaned forward, his voice lowering. “Vini and these three girls had one more similarity, beside wealth.”

“And what is that?” Yuvraj asked.

“All of them were bullies.”

Yuvraj blinked in disbelief, his hands tightening around the glass. “Wait, that's absurd, Purab. Maybe writing thesis over serial killers has messed up your brain.”

Purab shrugged, though his eyes remained sharp. “I would like to believe the same. But isn't it odd that three of them died at a young age? Upasana consumed poison and was found dead with a suicide note. Neelam died in a car accident. Nandini had a heart attack last year at the age of twenty-three. It doesn't make sense, Yuvraj.”

Yuvraj exhaled heavily, standing from his chair. “Purab, it might be just a coincidence. It doesn't make sense to me.”

“It's alright if you don't believe it. I know it's sounds more like the plot of a crime thriller.”

“Please read some romcoms to silence the serial killer enthusiast inside you. I came to apologize on Vini's behalf, but now I feel like giving you a scolding. But still, sorry for what Vini did. Please don't resent her.”

“I only resent those who steal flowers from my garden. Well, Vini did that once but still I don't resent her,” And he picked his bread again.

“I'm leaving then. Have a nice day.” Yuvraj walked out of the house.

•••

My grandfather passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Honestly, I didn't feel sad because he was very sick for a couple of months and all of us were mentally prepared to face this day. He is in a better place now. Maybe listening to my late granny's rant right now.

Yesterday, I was babysitting my three months old nephew. My second cousin sister couldn't attend the funeral because she gave birth to her second child only ten days ago and maybe it's a superstition or something.

And today, I wrote the first chapter of a story idea I had in my mind for months. It happened all of a sudden. I'm not going to post it anytime soon though.

Ahem, even shared the screenshots with my favorite model Sona Rafiq. She said she will definitely read it. Let's hope she does. I'll be over the moon if she took time from her busy schedule to read the chapter.

Enough of my rant. Good night.

Btw, how many of you have watched the K-drama Cinderella and Four Knights? Ahn Jae Hyun is so handsome. 😍