The following morning was cold, and all Rajiv wanted to do was sleep in the embrace of the mountain air. But he remembered the promise made to Sunaina and immediately got up, had breakfast, and readied himself after messaging Surjith. When he reached downstairs, Surjith was in the foyer, waiting for him.

"Good morning, Surjithji. How are you?" asked Rajiv.

"I am fine, Rajivji. Shall we?" Surjith asked, directing him toward the car parked outside. They got into the car and drove to Teena's home. On the way, Surjith asked, "What do you think they might have decided?"

"I'm not sure, but if they are not willing to help me, I have some more drastic plans that I will put into action. I have to somehow save my wife," Rajiv replied.

Rajiv and Surjith arrived at Teena's house, expecting her to be cross with them and make them leave as she had the day before. But she opened the door and invited them inside to sit in the living room. Soon, Sunaina joined them, bringing hot cups of tea and homemade biscuits.

"Rajivji, I want to first apologize for my behavior yesterday. But you can't find fault with me. You also have children that you protect dearly, and I have only Sunaina in my life to live for. For me, there is no right and wrong, nothing is just and fair if her life and happiness are on the line. I am sure, as a parent, you too have the same tunnel vision," Teena said.

"I understand, Teenaji," replied Rajiv.

"But yesterday, Sunaina and I had a lengthy discussion, and we have jointly decided on something that will be in Leena's favor as well. We concluded that the only way to escape Pankaj bhaiyya's grasp forever is to flee to a foreign country. But while doing so, we have to make sure bhaiyya knows we sold the property and the money is beyond his grasp. So we have decided to claim the properties Omji gave us, sell them, and inform bhaiyya through some of his trusted sources that we are escaping with the money. By the time he finds out, we both will have escaped, and he will know there is no point in pursuing us. In such a case, he will leave Leena alone as well," Teena explained.

Rajiv's eyes lit up. "That plan could help my Leena."

Sunaina nodded in agreement.

"But won't that involve leaving the country on such short notice?" asked Rajiv.

"Of course. Anyhow, Sunaina already has her visa to the USA and will be leaving immediately. My visa approval is under processing, so I will get a visa to Thailand as it doesn't require prior approval and leave at the same time. When I do get the visa for the USA, I will join her. It was already our plan for me to close the school and join Sunaina in the USA when my visa is approved. You are just a reason for speeding it up," said Teena.

"I am sorry for all this," apologized Rajiv.

"It's alright. That's the least we could do for Leena. You have no idea how much I wish I was there taking care of her in such a delicate situation," said Teena wistfully.

Rajiv nodded and asked, "So when are you planning this?"

Teena and Sunaina exchanged smiles, and Teena said, "Rajivji, it's all set in motion. Right now, my lawyers are finalizing the sale of the properties, and Sunaina and my tickets are booked for tomorrow's 6:30 and 7 am flights."

"WHAT!" Rajiv was shocked.

"I just need your help. We have done everything in secrecy, but in the off chance that my brother gets to know, we need protection. If you could escort us to Kangra airport, we would be grateful. We have made sure that the information about the sale of the property reaches my brother in a week's time," said Teena.

"Of course I will come with you," said Rajiv. He thanked them profusely, and soon he and Surjith left the house.

"Rajivji, all your problems are solved now," said Surjith.

"Almost, but I won't be able to breathe a sigh of relief until everything is settled. I will also leave tomorrow around the same time to go back home. But Surjithji, we have to plan the whole travel because, as far as I know, Pankaj is like an octopus. He has tentacles everywhere, and we have to get them safely out of the country," observed Rajiv.

***********************

Gomati was sitting in the living room with Padmanabhan when her phone rang. It was Rajiv. She talked to him for some time and then hung up.

"Who was it?" asked Padmanabhan.

"Rajiv. He said he will be here by 12 pm tomorrow," said Gomati. She glanced outside and saw Leena getting into her car, with her phone in her hand, laughing as she was talking.

Gomati went through her contacts and found the phone number of Swaminathan, Padmanabhan's brother-in-law, and dialed his number. His gruff voice answered, "Chechi, what's the matter? Why are you calling this early?"

"Swaminathan, there is trouble brewing in our house, and I need all of your help to solve it," said Gomati.

"Trouble? What trouble?" asked Swaminathan.

"The trouble that plagued us two decades back. You know that I had tried to fix Rajiv's marriage with Indrani. But Rajiv is no longer interested in that alliance since he started working with a woman in his office, a Christian girl," said Gomati.

Swaminathan drew a deep breath. During the time Rajiv was working in Bangalore, Padmanabhan and Swaminathan were in talks about an alliance between Swaminathan's niece and Rajiv. But the sudden marriage of Rajiv with Angel had ruined everything, and Swaminathan's relationship with his sister's family was soured by it.

"Again? Has somebody been giving him kaivisham?" he asked in irritation. (Kaivisham - food that has a spell cast on it which makes people who consume it to do what the person who gave it to them wanted).

"I don't know what to do. That woman might be pregnant, and nobody knows who the father is. She might just want to latch on to the nearest rich man. Rajiv is in Delhi now and will arrive tomorrow. We were not able to save him last time from that evil woman, let us all join together and save him before this entire affair tarnishes the name of the family," said Gomati.

"I understand, chechi. I will inform others, and we will be there tomorrow," promised Swaminathan.

***

Ravi and Abhi were in Ravi's bedroom watching a movie on the laptop when Kiran came in and said, "Did you hear?"

"What?" asked Ravi, without taking his eyes off the screen. He was used to Kiran's general gossiping nature.

"Achachan and Achamma are calling our uncles and aunts and telling them that Leena aunty is pregnant and trying to trap Achan in a marriage," said Kiran, his eyes as wide as saucers. He went on to detail everything about the situation at hand.

Ravi and Abhi scrambled up from the bed and rushed downstairs, followed by Kiran.

"What are we hearing, Achamma?" asked Ravi.

Gomati looked up from her phone and at the three boys. She said, "Kiran, go upstairs."

"I know everything. Why are you sending me upstairs?" asked Kiran in anger.

Gomati was appalled but said to Ravi and Abhi, "Your father is having an unhealthy interest in the lady in the annex."

"So?" asked Abhi, shocking everyone else.

"Doesn't it bother you?" asked Gomati.

"Why?" asked Abhi.

"Because... because..." stammered Gomati.

"Because there is no way to phrase your answer without hurting us?" asked Abhi.

"You have no idea how it is going to affect this family. This is going to ruin your chances of finding good alliances too," said Gomati.

"And you are not helping by spreading it around as well. You need to stop right now," said Ravi in anger.

"Twenty-two years ago, I was unable to save my son because we kept everything within the walls of our house. If I had involved our families, he would have never walked out on us. I am trying to rectify that mistake," said Gomati.

"In that case, these mistakes don't want to continue this conversation. Come," said Abhi to Ravi and Kiran, and they all went upstairs.

"Do you think there is any truth in what Achamma said?" asked Kiran.

"Even if there is, will that change what you think about Achan?" asked Ravi.

Kiran thought for a while and said, "A little. Achan was supposed to marry Indrani aunty."

"You know he never liked her in that way. It was never meant to happen," said Ravi.

"What do you both think about Leena aunty?" asked Abhi slyly.

Ravi looked lost for words for a few moments and then said, "If she makes Achan happy, why not? He has been alone for too long."

Kiran took a long time and said, "I don't want that to happen. Indrani aunty spent time with us and got to know us. Leena aunty tried to talk to us, but we do not know much about her. I don't want Achan to marry someone who is unknown to us."

A pained expression fleeted across both Abhi and Ravi's faces, which they did not notice in each other's faces. Ravi thought, "Amma almost died giving birth to you."

"Don't you care about Achan's happiness?" asked Abhi.

"You are right. If Achan is happy, I am happy. But she will never be my Amma," said Kiran firmly, making Abhi and Ravi lost for words.

"But why do I have a feeling both of you are trying to convince me of her?" asked Kiran.

Ravi and Abhi were flabbergasted for a second, and they both stammered, "Nothing like that..."

*************

Pankaj Shah was pouring the first glass of whiskey for the evening into a crystal glass while sitting on a sofa in his hotel room. Lying on the bed was one of his mistresses, dressed in a silky nightgown and leafing through a fashion magazine. Occasionally, she would move her legs, causing the anklets she wore to clink in a musical way, one of his favorite sounds. His wife was at home, taking care of their newborn grandson, and the incessant cries of the baby had given him a headache. The sound of the anklets was a welcome relief from the cries and the voice of his homely wife.

A knock on the door made him alert, and it opened to reveal his right-hand man, Purab. "Sir, there is good news." Purab glanced for a second at the woman lying seductively on the bed, but quickly tore his eyes away from her to Pankaj's face, fearing repercussions.

"What is it?" asked Pankaj in irritation. He was looking forward to an undisturbed romantic night with his mistress, whatever-her-name-was.

"Sir, do you remember the property in Tekri that belonged to Om Prakash Sethi?" asked Purab.

Pankaj remembered it all too well. Before getting killed, Om Prakash had sold all his assets and bought property with that money. Most of those properties were unknown because before leaving, Teena took all the documents, and the rest of the documents went missing from the advocates Iyer and Iyer's office. But a photostat of a transaction was at the office. The property was a farmhouse in Tekri, Uttar Pradesh. Since they wanted to know where the other properties were, that farmhouse had been like bait for many years. If Teena ever tried to sell it, they would get to know from the village office who sold it to whom.

"What about that farmhouse?" asked Pankaj.

"It was sold today. This is the detail of who bought it, but most importantly, who sold it," said Purab, handing him a printout.

Pankaj got up, took the paper, and read the name of Teena and her current address. The entire property of Om Prakash must have at least tripled in value by now; this was a golden chance.

"Good job," said Pankaj to Purab, who smiled with pride.

"Let's go; we have no time to waste," said Pankaj.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" asked the woman.

Pankaj gave a derisive smile to her and turned to Purab and said to him, "Get the guns, we have a long trip."

Photo by Natalie Runnerstrom (Unsplash)

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