It was another busy day for Advay. Advay was so tired by end of that day and was looking forward to crash into Chandni's arms, that he was quite annoyed not to find her anywhere when he reached home.

He went straight into their bedroom, and had a long hot shower as he reflected on that day's events.

All the executive team from Mumbai had flown in to Allahabad only because he refused to go to Mumbai, and he had spent gruelling afternoon and evening finalising on many deals, and listening to their ideas about new projects. They had to finalise upon their project proposals for the new hotel chain and glass factory to be setup in Allahabad. He had booked a conference centre for this purpose.

In the evening he had invited the Sanjay Gupta and Rajpal Singh for a casual drinks and dinner event, where he introduced his team to them and gave a briefing on his proposals in Allahabad. His team left no stone unturned and gave a dazzling and impressive presentation, along with examples of similar projects  they have taken up in other cities, that both the politicians were quite excited.

When it came down to talking the nitty gritty details of prime real estate allocation for the hotels and the factory, they tried their best to dodge it and postpone it for later, but his team was too clever and experienced in these sort of dealings to let them get away with it.

Advay knew the language of power and money.... By dangling his promised contribution to both their election campaigns, he was finally able to get the land he was after... . He arranged for future meetings with the executive staff of the respective politicians to start on the paperwork.

He didn't press the talks too much though; preferring to be in the good books of both of them as it was crucial for his main objective, get the temple trust established and make sure Indrani is cornered into submission.

He made sure the topic of Indrani was introduced, casually and cleverly by one of his directors into the conversation as they were having a quiet drink.

"Haan Advayji we too heard that she got released on bail today. It must be tough on your family to have someone like this..." Rajpal Singh paused and smirked at him.

"Trust me Rajpal ji, I am more worried about the fact as to how such a person had been allowed to stay in such respectable position for so long? What were the authorities and other prominent members of the Allahabad doing, turning a blind eye on these matters? It just makes me wonder if she had the support of other people too, apart from that lousy mayor." He spat back wiping the smirk off Rajpal Singh's face.

" Ahaha.. Erm...I don't think so Advayji. Anyway don't worry about her now, the police and the lawyers will take care of her. She is released on bail but her case would be up in the court soon." Rajpal tried to backtrack with a sheepish grin.

"Hmmm so who was that Jeweller you were talking about in the morning?? Ah yes... Gangaram, was he excited to be part of the temple board now?" Advay made sure he was sounding his casual best and waited eagerly for Rajpal's answer.

He was curious to note that both Sanjay Gupta and Rajpal Singh were squirming uncomfortably at the mention of Gangaram's name and wondered why.

"Well it is curious Advayji, but he flatly refused to be part of the temple trust board when we proposed the matter to him this morning. He just kept saying he wanted to retire now, and doesn't want any further responsibilities." Sanjay Gupta said in an irritated tone.

"Hmm.. interesting. I thought being associated with the temple all along, he would be honoured to be part of the new board. Is he trying to hide something from us?" Advay laughed loudly but he was satisfied to see that his casual remark had its desired effect. Both Gupta and Singh looked at each other fleetingly, as if why this idea hadn't crossed their mind before.

"Anyway it doesn't matter Guptaji, we have plenty of other respectable and successful members to choose from. Let's enjoy our drinks and toast to the city of Allahabad!!" He raised his glass as fresh drinks were brought to them, and both the politicians joined heartily. Advay made sure he was just pretending to be giving company to them for the drinks as he definitely didn't want to go home with alcohol in his system. He was sure that Chandni will be very upset to find him even with a whiff of drink on his body.

So after keeping his alcohol intake to bare minimum with a lot of difficulty, and washing his mouth several times before finally reaching home, he was only mad not to find her waiting for him, perhaps even longing for him after the mind blowing memories of previous night.

He walked slowly into the living room where Nani, Shilpa, Murli were sitting and chatting about the latest TV Shows. Shilpa was eagerly explaining the stories while Murli kept teasing her about the unnecessary melodrama and illogical story lines. Meghana had Chotu dozing off in her arms and Shikha was writing some notes while lending her own opinion on the so called soaps in between.

Advay went and kissed Chotu tenderly on his forehead and chatted with Meghana and Shikha for some time.

Niru Mama came back from his nightly stroll and informed Advay that all arrangements for the Barsi have been made. Advay too had some information to share. He strictly warned Shilpa and Murli not to lose sight of any of the Vashisht sisters while they were gone. The security agency had send additional men to guard the bungalow 24x7 and it was a lucky coincidence that they were going away on the weekend so they didn't have to worry about Shikha and Meghana's classes at University.

"Nani where is Chandni?" He couldn't control himself, and asked impatiently.

"Cheeku, she is with Kajal Maasi. She is still not feeling well. We have called the doctor and he prescribed medicines for her. She seemed better from last night but Chandni insisted on sitting with her in her room. She is such a caring girl, we are so lucky to have her as our Bahu Cheeku." Nani's voice was full of love and affection.

Advay felt ashamed that he didn't remember about Kajal Maasi's condition at all owing to his busy day. He promptly went into her room and enquired after her. She was lying down on the bed reading a book but Chandni was cuddled up in a sofa near her, fast asleep, her feet drawn against her chest and arms wrapped around.... His Khatto Gilheri!!!

Kajal Maasi tried to get up noticing Advay but he stopped her and requested her to stay rested.

"I am feeling slightly better Damadji, but Chandni wouldn't listen to me and insisted on giving me company. Moreover she had been on fast all day. That's why she was so tired and fell asleep on the sofa. I was just about to call someone when you walked in." Kajal Maasi said.

"Don't worry MaasiJi, I will carry her to our bedroom, why does she have to do these fasts for goodness sake!" He hissed furiously.

Even though he was angry, his heart went out to her, as he noticed how tired she was looking.

He gently lifted her up and carried her in his arms. As he passed through the living room, he had to bear the wolf whistles from Shikha and Murli, and Nani enquiring curiously as to why everyone was teasing Advay.

Chandni woke up to all that noise and even Chotu too. Meghana took him to her bedroom, but cheered Advay nonetheless.

"Good job Jijaji!!"

"What are you doing, please put me down, this is so embarrassing." Chandni tried to get out of his arms but he didn't care.

"You fell asleep in Kajal Maasi's room and she was telling me that you had been fasting too!! What was the need for all this? Now if you don't stay put and come with me silently, I will make sure you will get even more embarrassed in front of everyone." He hissed back in her ears and she had no choice but to comply.

He gently laid her down on their bed and kissed her forehead. Their room was almost in darkness except for the soft glow from the night lamp.

"Please promise me that you won't go on these fasts anymore Chandni!! I hate to see you like this." He choked.

"Dev there's nothing wrong with me. I was just feeling a bit sleepy that's all you know because..." She paused and blushed as she recalled their previous night.

Advay kissed her on the forehead again and sighed.

"Then all the more reason for you to have eaten well and rested more today, instead of going on fast!!" He said in exasperation but Chandni covered his mouth with her hands.

"Please let's not fight over this now. I am seeing you after almost 10 hours. Do you know how much I missed you today? And to think you are going to leave me again tomorrow and I won't see you for two days!!" Chandni looked close to crying and Advay pulled her into his embrace and let her rest on his chest.

"You know Chandni!! I just feel amazed how quickly I got used to having you in my life, and how much it had changed me for better. Your thoughts are at the back of my mind even when I am at work. And the moment I come home, I just keep looking for you. One month ago, I probably wouldn't even be speaking or admitting my feelings so openly. But look at me now!!! You have wrapped me around your little finger, making me look forward to our moments together, even when I am in office." Advay chuckled and kissed her softly and Chandni snuggled even closer to him, a happy smile on her face.

"I just wished I had returned from UK earlier, if only I knew my life would be so peaceful and content after meeting you." He sighed as he stroked her hair slowly. Her deep even breaths after sometime indicated that Chandni had finally fallen asleep. Advay kept looking at her profile and dozed off into peaceful slumber, not realising that few sinister brains were actively thinking about him and his destruction, right at that very moment.

****

Advay kept dawdling and delayed his journey to Banaras as much as possible, waiting to have some private moments with Chandni before leaving. But she was too busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone that he finally lost his patience and went in there himself.

Chandni was quickly making Advay's favourite Kheer, as she kept worrying how she was going to survive two days without him. She didn't realise Advay's presence till he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you doing? Please ...Please go away from here. Shilpa or Murli will be here any minute." She stuttered as blood rushed to her face, his soft stubble against her cheeks causing havoc in her whole body.

Advay completely ignored her pleas and asked casually.

"What are you making? It smells delicious." He kissed her hair softly.

"Kheer... It's your favourite right? I just want to make sure the sweetness is just right." She took out a spoon and tasted the kheer with shivering hands, dripping it all over lips and chin.

"Let me check." Advay tried to kiss her lips to taste the kheer.

"What are you doing?" she pushed him away with horror filled eyes as she kept looking over her shoulder, to check if Murli or Shilpa were watching.

Advay sighed in frustration. He slowly wiped the kheer off her lips with his fingers and licked them.

"I think the sweetness is just right." He said, enjoying the flushed look on her face as much as the sweet taste of the Kheer.

Much to his annoyance, Niru Mama called him from the living room just then, informing that the car was waiting outside, and Chandni sighed in relief. 

She served him the yummy kheer in a bowl and he took it reluctantly.

"You will have to make up to this when I return." Advay warned, as he slowly walked away from her with a disappointed look, and Chandni agreed wholeheartedly by whispering "I will."

*****

By the time they reached Banaras, it was late in the afternoon. They visited all the important shrines, just like first time tourists do on their visit to Banaras, so as not to raise any suspicion.

In the evening, finally they made their way to Sadanand Agnihotri's residence. He was waiting for them, as Advay had previously called him and explained about their visit.

He was teaching few young Brahmin kids at his residence, and beckoned them to wait while he finished his class.

Sadanand Agnihotri had his own simple and kind aura, but his eyes shone with wisdom, and he was teaching the students with such authority and knowledge on scriptures that Advay admired him immediately. Sadanand was quite young, probably in his early forties, but his demeanour and mannerisms showed his wisdom was beyond his age. His wife was a soft spoken lady who served them all some refreshing lassi, and they all drank it thankfully after the tiring day.

Sadanand joined them shortly afterwards and took them to a small room at the back of his house, which looked like his private library.

He opened an old cupboard and took out a large trunk case, quite tattered but still clean.

"I must explain my own story and background before I can tell you why Krishnaji sent you here." He began.

"I was a poor orphan, still learning and aiming to be a priest at the divine Shiv Temple in Allahabad. I would spend few weeks in every kind household who would offer their hospitality to me, and served them back by working in their house, helping them with whatever chores I can do. Your father, the great Mahant had insisted me to stay permanently at his Haveli but I refused, preferring to stay just few weeks there now and then, just like every other household I had been living.

 Krishna Bhayya was like an elder brother to me and his wife Sharada Bhabhi was a kind lady, who took pity on me and made sure I was looked after well. She even spoke to her relatives and found the marriage alliance for me in Banaras. There was a small room at the back of Haveli, and this is where I used to stay during my turns. It was in such a corner, hidden from passers-by, but I had a good view of the back entrance to the Haveli." Sadanand paused, his face now filled with anguish and sadness as he recalled the horror filled day of Maha Aarti, 16 years ago.

"One day before the Maha Aarti, 16 years ago, I was studying quite late in to the night, and noticed Gangaram entering the Haveli through the back entrance carrying a large box. He went into the anteroom which was just behind the Pooja room in the Haveli. The anteroom was filled with old and broken brass Diyas, tattered Pooja related books and knickknacks. I observed the whole thing but didn't give much importance to it except wondering why he entered the Haveli through the back entrance.

When the whole town was accusing the great Mahant that the temple jewellery was hidden in his Haveli, only then I realised the significance of what must have been inside that box that Gangaram brought the previous night. I quickly explained the whole thing to Kishen Bhayya, but it was too late by then. The mob was becoming violent, and Kishen Bhayya dragged me away from the scene, and warned me to not to repeat what I saw to anyone. You know what happened later. I don't want to repeat those horrors again." Sadanand paused, trying to control himself. Advay, Nani and Niru Mama were trying their best too not to remember that horror filled day, but it was too difficult not to.

Sadanand continued after some time.

"Kishen Bhayya somehow persuaded Yash Narayan Vashisht to keep me as a permanent boarder in the Haveli, as the town was quite disturbed after the terrible events on Maha Aarti Day. Even though the Mahantani Indraniji wasn't too pleased about it, she thought me as quite a harmless and gullible fellow, and let me stay. Kishen Bhayya asked me to keep my eyes open and warn him immediately if I notice any suspicious activities in the Haveli. I did notice Gangaram at the Haveli frequently, but never saw him or anyone else entering through the back entrance again. 

Krishna Bhayya was a frequent visitor to Haveli too, and began to assist Yash Narayan Vashisht more, much to the annoyance of Mahantaniji. Almost one year passed by. I finished my studies and my marriage was fixed with this lovely lady of the generous family here. I was about to leave for Banaras that very night. I went into the Haveli and thanked the Mahant and Mahantani when they were performing Pooja. Kishen Bhayya and Sharada Bhabhi were also there. The Mahantani congratulated me on my nuptials, and kindly gave me this tattered old trunk to keep and carry all my belonging s to Banaras." Sadanand said with a wry smile.

"I packed all my things in the trunk and rushed to the train station in the night, but missed my train. I went back to my room to sleep so I can catch the early morning express train to Banaras, but I don't think anyone observed me at that late hour. That very night I observed Gangaram entering the Haveli again through the back entrance with a large box and this time I followed him discreetly, as he placed the box in the anteroom and showed the contents, the sacred temple jewellery, to the Mahantani Indrani. I rushed out to Kishen Bhayya's home, which was just few doors from the Haveli back then, and explained everything I saw.

We quickly thought out a plan. I was to enter the Haveli via the back entrance and stay hidden in the anteroom. He would somehow get into argument or engage Indrani long enough for me, to transfer the sacred belongings of the divine to my old trunk. We both rushed back to the Haveli. I went back to my room, emptied my trunk and dumped all its contents to a big empty rice bag, and entered the anteroom with the empty trunk via the back entrance, making sure I was hidden.

After he entered the Haveli through the front entrance, Kishen Bhayya went straight to Indrani and Gangaram, who were still in conference and demanded to know where Yash Narayan was, and why Gangaram was in the Haveli at that late hour. Indraniji was terrified first to find Kishen Bhayya there, but covered it up by acting incensed at his behaviour, and asked him to mind his own business.

But he insisted on staying till he met Yash Narayan. A terrified Gangaram slowly fled the scene, not wanting anything further to do there. Hearing the commotion, Yash Narayan came and asked Kishen Bhayya as to why he was arguing with the Mahantani. It looked like the Mahantani was keen to keep the transaction she had with Gangaram hidden from her husband. May be Yash Narayan Vashisht didn't know about this whole thuggery, but we had no idea. For Kishen Bhayya this was a golden opportunity, he somehow kept insinuating and arguing with Indrani and Yash Narayan.

While this was going on, I quickly and silently transferred all the jewellery to my trunk, filled up the box with old knickknacks lying around as planned, and went back to my room with the trunk discreetly.

Kishen Bhayya finally left the Haveli in anger, as if he was being insulted by the Mahantani.

I picked up the rice bag with my belongings along with the jewellery filled  trunk, and slowly made my way back to the train station, carrying the heavy luggage. That night was the most terrifying night, as I waited anxiously for the next train to Banaras, and when it arrived, I just hopped in, relieved and exhausted. This trunk had stayed with me ever since."

As Sadanand narrated the fascinating turn of the events of that day, Advay, Nani and Niru Mama could only listen spell bound, and appreciate the bravery and quick thinking of these simple and honest men, who saved such historic and sacred ornaments from going into the wrong hands.

Sadanand opened the old trunk with difficulty and showed them temple jewellery, which had the markings of the Shiv temple ingrained on them.

Advay thanked Sadanand by touching his feet and Sadanand blessed him wholeheartedly.

"I was asked by Kishen Bhayya to wait for your arrival. In case of his death, I was supposed to either handover this to the police, or his son Shiva depending on the circumstances." Sadanand added humbly.

Once the initial shock was over, Advay was left chuckling wondering what Indrani must have felt, when she realised the contents of the box were gone.

"So what happened when Indrani found out the Jewellery was gone?"

"I heard that she was raging madly, but couldn't pin the robbery on anyone because, she couldn't reveal what the robbery was about in the first place. Apparently she even had Kishen Bhayya's home ransacked in the name of robbery a few nights later, but they found nothing. Since then she hated Kishen Bhayya, and had him demoted to an ordinary priest in the temple. She couldn't openly confront him as she had no idea whether he knew the whole truth or not. But she couldn't dismiss him either, as she had no proof of him being involved in the disappearance of the jewellery. So he remained in the temple like a thorn in her flesh, till she finally got her revenge and got him out, because his son had an inter-caste marriage." Sadanand added sadly.

Advay knew what he had to do. He immediately called ACP Siddharth and explained the whole situation to him, and asked him to get in touch with the public prosecutor as well and confront the Jeweller Gangaram secretly, without Indrani knowing what was happening.

Siddharth listened to the whole thing and let out a loud whistle.

"Don't worry Advay, I will take it up from here. You are lucky, but I am actually at the Public prosecutor's office discussing about Indrani case. I will explain everything to him right now. I heard that Gangaram's daughter got married yesterday. So perhaps this is the right time to go and talk and make him spill the beans. He wouldn't want to get this splashed all across the news channels before his daughter is farewelled from his home now, would he?" Siddharth chuckled with satisfaction.

"Yeah Sid, that would be the best solution. Now I understand why he refused to be part of the new temple trust board. My blood is boiling now to realise that, all these years the sacred gods in the temple were adorned with fake jewellery." Advay said with gritted teeth.

"Hmm... yes, I too didn't think that these people would stoop to such lows. Ok here's plan. I will go along with public prosecutor right now to Gangaram and get him to confess. We will see what happens. Tomorrow I am going to come there and pick up the jewellery from you, and keep in my safeguard so I don't want you to be tainted or associated with it anymore. How does that sound?" Siddharth asked.

"Fantastic, I will be at the Ghats all morning as it is my Nana's Barsi tomorrow, and I will see you afterwards at SadanandJi's residence." He gave the address details to Siddharth and hung up.

They all stood up to take leave, and Nani came forward to hold Sadanand's hands.

"Beta I just wish I had my eyes now to see a person like you and Kishen Ji, who are so selfless, kind and honest. God bless you and your family. Your bravery and effort are going to restore my daughter and her family's reputation forever. I wish I could touch your feet and thank you too." She choked.

"Arre Maaji, what are you saying ? We did all this because Janaki Maa and the great Mahant were such kind and honest people, have done nothing but good in their lives and gave shelter to many needy people like me. We couldn't save them that day, but we just tried to do whatever little we could." Sadanand replied earnestly.

Advay, Niru Mama and Nani thanked him once again, explaining that they will return the next day with ACP Siddharth to formally handover the jewellery.

^-------------------------^

Hi lovely readers,

First of all thank you for all the support and encouraging comments you have given for this story so far. I cant express how happy I am.

Coming to this chapter, again we come to know once more treachery of Indrani. Are we keeping count? Our faith in humanity is restored whenever we come across people like Sadanand and Krishnaji. But if it wasn't for absolutely golden people like the great Mahant and his generous wife, they would have never done what they did. So as the saying goes, we reap what we sow.

Kindness and honesty in us somehow, always begets kindness and honesty in others in someway.  Wow I am talking too much. Enough from me now.

Eagerly waiting for your feedback and comments.

Love,

Sesi