Ch7- the Betrayal

It has been a few days since Uday invaded the Goswami home. Since then, Vivesh had gathered as much evidence as he can sneak out. He had brought back some pictures and the few witness testimonies that they had.

As Uday sat at the dining room table, viewing a picture and relaying it with what a witness said, he tried to figure out the catch. He sighed and scratched his head as he thought. Vivesh sat across from him, looking over a couple of the witness testimonies himself.

Vivesh looked up at the Raghavan and studied him. Again. He frequently did this, trying to figure out how Uday convinced him to go against the Majumdars, and the Goswamis, just so he could prove to them that something was off about the killing. He could have just killed the Raghavan, stole his idea, and figured out the killing himself.

Uday suddenly scraped his fork against the plate, making an obnoxious noise.

Vivesh scowled. "I told you not to do that, yaar!" (Yaar is like slang for man, bro, and/or friend.)

"I know, but you're looking at me again. I told you not to do that... yaar."

"I don't trust you."

"I don't care!" Uday exclaimed, and let the fork drop and clatter on the plate. "I just need you to help me!"

Vivesh exhaled heavily and sat back. "Did you find anything?"

Uday sighed. "No. But would you happen to have any fingerprint evidence gathered from the bodies?"

Vivesh thought for a moment. "Yes, we gathered fingerprints from the bodies. Why?"

"Did you scan them through the database to find matches?"

"No."

Uday raised his brows. "No? Why not?"

"We didn't find the need to," Vivesh said, shrugging.

"You didn't find the need to or you didn't want the possibility of finding matches in your village?"

Vivesh scoffed. "How should I know? I'm not the one who decides to run the tests."

"Devraaj does, right?" Uday asked nodding.

Vivesh sat up. "How do you know Devraaj?"

"I don't," Uday scoffed. "Janya always talks about him."

Vivesh reeled back in shock, his mouth gaping open. "Now how do you know Janya?!"

Uday sighed and rolled his eyes. "I don't. You call each other daily and on speakerphone."

Vivesh narrowed his eyes at him. "And... how do you hear all this?"

Uday sighed again at having to explain himself. "Raghavans, during their first year after getting the tattoo, spend a year of survival and senses enhancing training. My hearing had the best results."

Vivesh opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally he said, "That's... impressive."

Uday scoffed. "No, it was difficult. We had to learn pain tolerance, and there's no other way of doing that other than inflicting torture on yourself." Uday stopped suddenly, as if he said too much. He stared down at his plate, his eyes freezing over in an angered expression. He blinked and breathed out heavily before saying, "I'll go wash my plate." Uday stood quickly, picked up his plate and fork, and briskly walked to the kitchen.

Vivesh sat back slowly and thought. For one, he wondered about Uday's past; that sudden reveal made him think that Raghavans don't grow up loved. They must think it makes them tougher, Vivesh thought. He exhaled slowly.

He suddenly started thinking about Naina. If only he knew who she was looking for, he could've helped, or met her halfway. But Vivesh knew there was no such luck on his side. No way would a beautiful, mysterious girl pop up twice in his life.

Uday walked out of the kitchen and stopped for a second. Then he raised a finger and announced, "I have to use the bathroom," and instantly turned around to use the hallway bathroom.

Just when Uday closed the door, there was a knock on the front door of the house. Vivesh sat up, nervously wondering who it was. He walked slowly to it. Was it a group of Goswamis, or Majumdars, coming to arrest him for harboring an enemy? Would they just kill Uday? Or would they kill the both of them?

Vivesh reached the door and opened it.

"You took forever."

"Janya?"

Janya rolled her eyes. "Yes, stupid, it's me. Can I come in?"

"Uhh..." Vivesh turned his head in time to see Uday at the hallway entrance. Vivesh widened his eyes and shook his head. Uday's eyes widened in realization and he nodded, turning back into the bathroom. Once the bathroom door was shut, Vivesh widened the front door and welcomed Janya in.

Janya noticed that Vivesh was slightly nervous and off, but she decided not to comment on it. She walked in, then suddenly Vivesh rushed past her and she saw him quickly gather papers to one side of the table and stuff it in a folder.

"What was that?" Janya asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing important. I was just trying to clear the mess."

Janya knew he was lying to her, but usually Vivesh had a good explanation, so again she decided to ignore it.

"Ooookay," she said slowly, and just sat at the dining room table. She scrunched up her nose and looked around the house. "It's been so long since I've been here."

"Whose fault is that?" Vivesh muttered under his breath. But Janya heard him anyway, and she snapped her attention towards him.

"Aditya Goswami's," she hissed.

"Janya, stop that."

"What?"

"Stop saying he was a bad father!"

"When my parents died, he had to take me in. He already hated me because I was his brother's child, Manesh Goswami's. He knew he couldn't change that so he neglected me." Janya shook her head furiously. "He never wanted me around, you could see it in his face. The only reason you defend him is because he always praised you, no matter what you did. I was the problem, the freak, the rebellious child. You didn't know what it was like being burdened, Vivesh, all because I was of Manesh Goswami. But when I could, I moved out and now I'm the Goswami heiress, destined to marry Devraaj Majumdar." She sat back and quieted, waiting for Vivesh's response.

"Is that why you never went to his funeral? You couldn't even come for me?"

Shame flashed across Janya's face and she looked away. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you in the process. I just wanted to continue to stay away. I didn't want to look like I cared."

Vivesh pursed his lips and looked down. He didn't know what painful memories haunted Janya, but he selfishly felt hurt for himself that she couldn't throw away her pride to support her cousin -- practically brother since they grew up together.

Janya sighed. "I need to use the bathroom," she muttered, and stood up. Vivesh just nodded, until suddenly he remembered.

"No! Wait! Janya not that--"

But it was too late; Janya opened the bathroom door. Uday was caught by surprise and didn't have time to hide in the shower.

Janya looked in and gasped.

"So... you're Janya."

Janya screamed and backed up, until she noticed his Raghavan tattoo. Then she gasped. Scowling, she pulled out her gun and pointed it at Uday. Uday moved forward swiftly and knocked the gun out of her hand. Instead of trying to find another weapon, Janya pushed him back and ran off towards the front door. Uday chased after her and grabbed her from behind. He pulled her back some, but Janya got the better of him again. She elbowed him in the stomach, hard, and kicked backwards, making him topple over.

When Janya tried running again, she had barely made a step when Uday reached out and grabbed her ankle. Janya almost fell down, but regained her balance and then used her free leg to step on his hand. He cried out in pain and let go. Janya started running again until Vivesh blocked the entrance and grabbed her by her shoulders.

"We have to tell Devraaj he's here," Janya panted.

"Janya, I can't let you do that."

"Why not?!"

Vivesh grimaced. "Because I'm helping him."

Janya pushed Vivesh's hands off of her angrily. "Harboring a Raghavan? What are you thinking?"

"It's about the killing."

"Vivesh, that doesn't matter anymore. Look, I can tell Devraaj he came in here and tried to threaten you to hide him. I'll get you out of it." Janya made another move to the door. Vivesh pushed her back again.

Uday was now standing, but he stayed back knowing he shouldn't near her again.

"I can't let you do that," Vivesh said.

"Vivesh, this is wrong." Then Janya scowled at him when he still didn't budge. "Fine, if you don't want my protection, I'll just tell Devraaj the truth." With that, Janya pushed Vivesh out of the way and ran for the Head House.

*

Janya ran into the Head House going over her plan; she'd tell Devraaj that Vivesh was threatened so much that he was convinced he was doing the right thing. The Raghavan tried to convince her too, but she ran scared.

Although she said she'd rat Vivesh out, she knew she couldn't bring herself to do that to her cousin.

Janya walked into the foyer and made her way to the upstairs patio, where she knew Devraaj would be at this time. She saw him standing there, leaning against the railing, gripping it. Janya was about to step out when suddenly a girl appeared behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Janya reeled back and hid, keeping an eye on them.

"What are you thinking about?" the girl asked.

Devraaj sighed and pulled her to his front so that he could wrap an arm around her. "Janya."

"Why?" The girl tried to sound calm, but there was still an edge to her voice.

"I feel like I'm being evil to her."

"Well, technically, you are. I agree; you're not being fair to her, but I do get why you're marrying her."

"Really? When did you figure this out?"

"Like yesterday. Besides, the last time we talked about Janya, you said yourself that you had to marry her for her name."

Devraaj sighed and tightened his grip on the girl. "If only she wasn't the Goswami heiress. Then she wouldn't have to be so deceived."

Janya clenched her jaw, but not in anger; she was trying to hold back her tears. She knew Vivesh was right about Devraaj's reasons for marrying her. There was one time when he muttered it, but at the time she ignored it and pretended as if she didn't hear him. Janya wanted to believe that Devraaj really loved her as much as she loves him.

But Janya knew the girl he was with is the one he loves. There was nothing she could do to change that.

Janya stepped away and slowly made her way back downstairs. She tried to remember why she went for him in the first place. When she figured it out, her shoulders slumped; she was too disheartened to be a tattle-tale now. Besides, it looked like Vivesh had the situation under control.

So instead, Janya crossed her arms and walked home. She sighed thinking, Maybe I'll get the Raghavan some other time.

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Some badass pics of Parineeti (Janya) to the side. Isn't she awesome?! Top pic: I do not wanna be on the other side of her gun 😳

Anyaway, I hope you guys like it so far, thanks for reading!

(I also hope you guys have been able to see the multimedia on the sides of each chapter!)

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