One is like burning lava, the other like ice-cold water.<br /> One holds the wisdom of the world,<br /> While the other is filled with nothing but innocence!<br /> How will their story unfold?<br /> To find out, read "Zindagi!"<br /> <br /> A massive... One is like burning lava, the other like ice-cold water.<br /> One holds the wisdom of the world,<br /> While the other is filled with nothing but innocence!<br /> How will their story unfold?<br /> To find out, read "Zindagi!"<br /> <br /> A massive upheaval occurred in the life of Sahir Singh Rana, the king of Pratapgarh, when he forcibly married "Zindagi," a naive girl brimming with all the colors of life. That Zindagi! Whom he must protect from his enemies. But every time, that same Zindagi stands as his shield. When do they fall in love while fighting and arguing? They themselves don't know, but Zindagi is, after all, Zindagi!!<br />
Page 1 of 6
12:00 AM
GIRLS HOSTEL
Night had draped itself in a cloak of darkness. Though the hostel had electricity 24 hours a day, no one knew what had suddenly happened that darkness descended upon the entire girls' hostel.
"What happened to the lights?" a sixth-grader asked her classmate.
"I don't know... how did the power suddenly go out?" the other replied.
"Are there light problems here?" one asked.
"Not really... Dad was saying there's electricity round the clock... do you have a torch?" one asked.
"Yes, there should be a torch in my bag... Mom packed it for emergencies... but how to find it in this darkness?" another girl said.
This was a hostel for junior girls, where girls from class six to twelve resided.
New girls had been admitted to the sixth grade and had come to stay in the hostel just about two days prior.
"The lights had to go out right now," one girl said, fumbling through her bag in the dark.
"Dude, what if the senior girls were telling the truth... that ghosts come to this hostel at night?" said a girl who was trembling with fear. That morning, the senior girls had warned them not to go anywhere alone at night. When asked, they gave evasive answers, saying that ghosts come to the hostel at night, and they might get scared if they saw them, so it would be better for some people to go together. So, some girls had befriended the senior girls, and they had also told them a story that was half true and half false – that some girls from this hostel had died, and therefore, their spirits roamed the hostel. Then someone mentioned that this land was previously a graveyard, which is why ghosts were seen here. There were as many stories as there were mouths. Some had even said they had seen ghosts wandering at night.
Now, after the power went out at night, everyone was remembering all these stories. Besides, they were all young girls, barely eleven or twelve years old. Far from home for the first time, they had come to stay in the hostel, so it was natural to be scared.
"Hey dude... be quiet... you're scared yourself, and you're going to scare others too," said one of the slightly braver girls among them. But everyone was scared. They all huddled together, shrinking in on themselves.
"I'm not staying here... When Papa comes, I'm going back home... I don't want to study here..." said one of the girls.
"Let morning come first... I'm afraid the ghosts might come and kill us tonight," one said.
"If anyone remembers the Hanuman Chalisa, start reciting it... I've heard that reciting the Hanuman Chalisa makes ghosts flee," one said.
"You start..."
"I don't know the whole thing..."
"Hey, just recite whatever you remember..." one suggested.
The girls had just started talking when the clock suddenly struck midnight. Hearing the sound of the 12:00 chime, the girls became somewhat startled.
Just then, a shadow, wearing a white gown and holding a candle, descended the stairs of the girls' hostel. It was singing a song in a low voice. Its hair was long, reaching its waist, and it was open.
"Someone is anonymous...
Someone is unknown...
Who knows who it is...
Someone is unknown..."
The entire hostel seemed to be fast asleep, so the sound of the ghost's feet clattering down the stairs could be heard. These girls, who were new to the place and couldn't sleep in a new environment, were perhaps awake for this reason.
A few others who might have been awake in their rooms were hidden inside their blankets. Now, in fear, all these girls had gathered and sat on almost the same bed.
Those sleeping on the top bunk of the double-decker beds had completely covered themselves with blankets, as if they were fast asleep. But the reality was that even under the blankets, they were shivering so intensely that the bed began to shake.
Suddenly, the ghost turned towards the girls' room. Now, faint candlelight began to seep from the door.
"Mommy... save me, that ghost is coming this way."
"How do you know it's a female ghost? Not a male ghost?" one asked.
"Oh, shut up, dude... Death is at the door, and you're worried about whether it's a male or female ghost? Go and ask it if it's a ghost or a ghostess!"
All the girls had closed their eyes in fear.
Just then, one of them glanced at the ghost standing at the door. She saw the ghost's face. Its face was completely white. Red blood was flowing from its lips. Its teeth were large and protruding outwards, and in place of eyes, only black hollows were visible, with only the white part where the pupils should be. Seeing such a form, one girl's voice got stuck in her throat. Then, her friend, still with her eyes closed due to fear, held her.
She felt as if the ghost had grabbed her.
She screamed loudly, "Mommy, save me."
Then what happened, all the girls screamed together.
"Save us......"
Screams and shouts erupted throughout the hostel in the darkness of the night. Hearing the voices of so many girls at once, the poor ghost also fled in fear. It didn't even notice that the candle it was holding had dropped on the floor right by the door. Managing to hold its gown, it ran towards its room. Its roommate had already opened the door. An emergency light was on in this room, and a group of four girls was sitting on the same bed, studying. "Come inside quickly before anyone sees, and clean off your makeup too," said the girl who had opened the door.
Nodding in agreement, the ghost hurried towards the bathroom. Just then, a girl sleeping on the opposite bed, whose sleep had been broken by the loud screams and shouts, pulled back her blanket.
"Man... what a nuisance? Who's making so much noise at this hour of the night?"
Hearing her, the girls sitting on the bed burst into laughter.
"They saw the ghost today, I mean, the ghost scared them today, so they're screaming out of fear," one said.
"Ghost?" The sleeping girl sat up with a jolt. Seeing her reaction, everyone laughed even harder.
"You go back to sleep quietly, otherwise that ghost will carry you away because it's in the bathroom of this very room right now," said Niti.
"What? A ghost in the bathroom?" The sleeping girl, named Ruhi, exclaimed loudly.
"Oh, dude... don't shout so loudly, are you crazy? There's no such thing as a ghost," Purvi said, pulling her blanket.
"Leave my blanket, Purvi, I'm scared," Ruhi said, holding her blanket tightly.
Seeing her state, everyone burst into laughter. Ruhi stared at them with wide eyes.
"Don't laugh so loudly in the middle of the night, guys, or someone might suspect that this is all our doing," Meethi said, putting a finger to her lips.
"I have to admit, this girl has courage," Mona said.
"Exactly, she's done the job," Niti gave Mona a high-five.
"She scared all the girls alone so late at night. There's so much shouting going on that the warden must have woken up and be rushing over any moment now," Niti said, laughing.
"What if that fat warden falls in this darkness?" Purvi asked mischievously.
"What would happen? So far, there's a storm; soon, there'll be an earthquake too," Meethi said, laughing.
Ruhi looked closely at her friends. These were her friends: Niti, Purvi, Meethi, and Mona, but one was still missing.
"What do I do, man? This cream just won't come off," Jindgi's voice came from the bathroom.
The cream was mixed with powder to give the face a white appearance. Red blood flowing from the lips was created by mixing lipstick with Closeup. Fake teeth, made of plastic, which cost about two or three rupees in the market, were used, and the black hollows for the eyes were made by smearing kajal. Now, in the cold weather, the cream had dried and stuck, making it difficult to remove.
Ruhi, who was still half-asleep and trying to understand their conversation, understood everything upon hearing Jindgi's voice.
"Jindgi... you'll never change..." Ruhi said with regret.
"What kind of life is it if one changes? The real fun of life is in living on your own terms, living every moment," Jindgi said casually from the bathroom.
"First, tell me how to fix this getup of mine," Jindgi said, trying to clean her face.
"Put rose water on cotton and clean it slowly; it will come off," said Meethi.
"Whose cream did you use, Jindgi?" Purvi asked, looking at her empty cream tube.
"Of course, yours," Meethi said. Purvi glared at Meethi.
"Why are you staring at her like that? Her sacrifice was even greater than yours; the lipstick on her lips was hers too," Mona said, laughing.
"What? You broke my lipstick, Jindgi? I'll break you," Meethi screamed.
"By the way, whose idea was this?" Ruhi asked.
"It was hers, who carried out this dangerous mission, the Great Jindgi Rana," Purvi said casually.
These six girls were studying in the twelfth grade (Maths).
Just then, the lights came on, and there was a knock on the door.
"Warden Ma'am..."
The five girls looked at each other and quickly opened their books to start reading.
"Open the door..." Meethi nudged Purvi.
"Yes, I had forgotten, but Jindgi is in the bathroom right now..." Purvi worried.
"Don't worry about her, open the door quickly, or this warden will break it down hitting us," Meethi said.
Purvi stepped forward and opened the door.
"What were you all doing for so long?" the Warden asked from the doorway, looking into the room.
"Madam... we are studying..." said Niti.
"I can see that too. There was so much noise, how can you all study in so much noise? All the girls have come out. They're all screaming, but you're sitting here calmly studying. Could this all be your doing?" the Warden asked with a probing gaze.
"Weren't you scared? And where is Jindgi?" the Warden asked.
"I am here, ma'am, and we are not scared because we know that there is no such thing as ghosts in the world," Jindgi said, coming out of the bathroom and wiping her hands with a towel.
The Warden stared at her.
"What were you doing in the bathroom for so long?" the Warden asked.
"I was asleep. I woke up hearing this noise, so I was finding a way to shake off my sleep properly," Jindgi said.
"Alright..." The Warden adjusted her glasses and looked at Jindgi. "But how did you know these girls were screaming out of fear of ghosts?" the Warden asked.
"Because they are all screaming 'ghost, ghost'," Jindgi replied casually.
"Are you really not scared of ghosts, Jindgi?" the Warden asked Jindgi in surprise.
"Not at all, ma'am, because I know that our God, Mahadev Shiva, resides directly in the cremation grounds. So, how can ghosts harm us?" Jindgi said, smiling.
"We are only afraid of your anger..." Meethi said, but it was clear from her face that she was enjoying the Warden's predicament.
"I understand very well that this is all your doing. Just let me get my hands on some proof, and I'll deal with you all tomorrow morning..." the Warden said angrily and went out.
"First, let's see those who are screaming in fear..." Purvi said from behind.
"No, she's older," Jindgi glared at Purvi.
Purvi giggled.
"By the way, wasn't it fun?" Jindgi asked.
"Yes, it was fun, but what if this Warden turns this fun into punishment?" Ruhi asked fearfully.
"Oh! What will she turn into punishment? She said she'll see us in the morning, but before that, we'll show her ourselves who Jindgi Rana is?" Jindgi said casually, climbing onto her top bunk.
"By the way, Jindgi, tell me the truth, weren't you scared? Going from our room to the junior dormitory in the middle of the night..." Ruhi asked.
Jindgi thought for a moment and then, looking at Ruhi, said, "If I wasn't scared, why would I have left my candle there?"
"Ruhi, look, a ghost behind you..." said Meethi.
"Oh, Mommy..." Ruhi pulled the blanket over her head in fear.
Jindgi smiled at her action.
"This is the ghost; a person fears not the ghost, but their own fear. And the one who conquers their fear, life becomes theirs," Jindgi said, smiling.
To be continued:
Zindagi Singh Rana is a 16-year-old, twelfth-grade student, full of life. The only child of millionaires Jitendra Singh Rana and Janvi Singh Rana, "Zindagi."
Zindagi is filled with all the colors of life.
From childhood until today, whatever Zindagi has laid her hands on has become hers. Madam Zindagi, though she projects herself as very intelligent and brave, possesses only as much intelligence and bravery as you saw last night. She went to scare others but ended up running away herself, leaving her own candle behind in fear.
She is so beautiful that anyone’s gaze can be captivated by her for a moment.
Zindagi wants to live life to the fullest. But let's see what life has planned for her?
You will read about the love of a young girl and her beautiful perspective on life.
You will also read about how Zindagi and love, which are very mature things, and their perspective on them affect her life.
At 16, the world feels like it's in your fist; by 26, you realize time is slipping away, and at 36, time shows you its back.
But now we have to see what our Zindagi will do?
Will Zindagi take time into her own hands at just 16, or will there be a bang?
A beautiful love story that teaches and explains a lot.
This story will live up to all your expectations.
"I don't understand why we even study chemistry?" Zindagi said, placing the chemistry book in her bag as she prepared to go to class.
"I am your chemistry madam, not Sushmita Sen, who looks so smart. I only sit in chemistry class to look at her. I just want to be like her," Ruhi sighed.
"Oh you fool, her Rahul is Vasu from our class. Stop dreaming about her during the day; you already do that every night huddled under your quilt," Niti said, placing a book on Ruhi's head. Ruhi had left her bag and was imagining the beauty of the chemistry madam with her eyes.
"Yes, yes, I know. Anyway, I'm not interested in her beauty; I just want to be like her. I wish I were as beautiful as her, then boys would line up behind me," Ruhi said, looking behind her as if boys were truly standing there with flowers in their hands, ready to propose to her.
"Oh, you crazy girl, she is not a chemistry teacher because she is beautiful, but because she has an MSc in Chemistry, from Banaras Hindu University, with a gold medal. That's why she is the chemistry teacher of our class. And if you truly want to be like her, then stop applying makeup to your face and study," Mona said, laughing.
"By the way, Zindagi, why were you having a problem with chemistry?" Niti asked Zindagi, who was now closing her bag, as she tied her shoelace.
"That's what I wasn't understanding either. You are the topper of your class, and you don't need to apply makeup to your face either. God himself created you with leisure. This need for makeup is a problem for people like us, alas, my complexion...!!!" Ruhi said with regret. She had a big problem with her dusky complexion, for which she used various cosmetics, even though her features were sculpted in such a way that she looked beautiful.
"Oh friends, stop singing irrelevant songs at a wedding. The problem is with chewing formulas in studies, and Madam remembers the problem of applying cosmetics to the face. My problem is that when we have to study history in the name of chemistry, why did we have to take admission in a science class? When we have to study the history and geography of these carbon formulas. In which year was it made? Who made it? And what is its structure? What are its physical and chemical properties? We study all this in history and geography, don't we? Who discovered this country? In which year? What is the geographical structure of that country? Whether you hold your nose straight or turned, the result is the same," Zindagi said, standing up.
"If you feel that way, what should we feel, Zindagi?" Niti asked.
"You should feel what you haven't felt until now," Purvi replied in Zindagi's place and gently placed a hand on her head.
"We know very well, you took admission in the science class because Zindagi did," Mona said, laughing heartily.
"That's true. Wherever Zindagi is, that's where I am," Niti admitted openly.
"Live your own life sometimes, or do you intend to remain a burden on my life forever?" Zindagi asked.
"Well, you carry the burdens of my life, Zindagi, otherwise my life would have been dedicated to the hero of that liveliness, the great tragedy king, Dilip Kumar," Niti said, sprawling comfortably on the bed.
"Dilip Kumar has passed away..." Mona said, laughing.
"Exactly, I was also preparing to follow him, but Zindagi stopped me, saying if you go there, what will happen to poor Varun Dhawan?" Niti said, laughing.
"Nothing can happen to you, girl. Think about someone else sometimes, who is waiting for you at home with a rolling pin, your mother. At least study out of fear of her," Zindagi took a deep breath and scolded her thoroughly. Niti’s mother was very strict about studies, but Niti was equally careless.
"Zindagi, is your physics assignment complete?" Purvi asked.
"Yes..." Zindagi replied.
"Give me your copy, I'll quickly copy it in the library during the first period. The second period is physics; she’ll be very angry," Purvi said, reaching out for Zindagi’s physics copy.
"Girl, you were studying physics all night yesterday, right? Still, your assignment isn't complete?" Zindagi asked.
"I was studying, but does anything need to go into the brain? The brain was in your mischievous ghost plan..." Purvi said, laughing.
"By the way, Zindagi, when did you complete it?" Purvi asked.
"I had completed everything in class..." Zindagi said, handing over the copy.
"Whatever you say, this girl's mind works as much in mischief as it does in studies. She is an all-rounder," Ruhi said.
"Yes, it only doesn't work in one thing, sleeping under the quilt like you. And along with applying makeup to the face," Meethi teased Ruhi.
"First, you guys ruined my ₹300 Lakmé cream yesterday, and now my face powder is also missing, and on top of that, you are making fun of me..." Ruhi said angrily.
"Oh, take it, dear, it was just a cream," Meethi said, trying to placate Ruhi. But apart from all these conversations, Zindagi was quietly getting ready for school, holding her bag. The girls looked at each other.
"What happened to her?" Purvi shrugged in response.
"Zindagi is very sad these days..." Meethi said, placing a hand on Zindagi’s shoulder.
"There's a reason for this sadness, she has to go home tomorrow. All of us," Mona said.
"Oh, this is not the reason for sadness, this is the reason for happiness. You are something else..." Ruhi said.
"Yes, it might be a reason for happiness for you, but not for me... At least I can live my life here peacefully..." Zindagi said sadly.
To be continued...
What is the secret of Zindagi's sadness?
See you in the next part...
"Life is very sad these days..." Meethi said, placing her hand on Zindagi's shoulder.
"There is a reason for this sadness too... we have to go home tomorrow. All of us." Mona said.
"Oh, this is the reason for sadness... this is the reason for happiness. You are something else..." Ruhi said.
"Yes... it might be a reason for happiness for you... but not for me... at least here I can live my life peacefully..." Zindagi said sadly.
"But why Zindagi???" Purvi asked.
"That Dracula who lives there..." Niti completed Zindagi's sentence.
"But why are you so afraid of that Dracula?? I find him very handsome... I'm telling the truth... if such a handsome guy was destined for me... I would have fallen in love with him by now." Meethi said with a sigh.
"Now this was the only thing left..." Zindagi said, holding her head.
"If you're going to drown, you can't even find a handful of water." Meethi laughed at Niti's words.
"You don't know the nature of that Dracula yet... that's why you're dreaming of falling in love with him..." Zindagi said.
Upon hearing Dracula's name, Zindagi became agitated. She hated him, with a fierce hatred. It wasn't that her hatred was baseless. There was a reason, and it was a very solid one. Zindagi was a soft-hearted and sensitive girl by nature. She couldn't even think of hating anyone. But when it came to hating Sahir Singh Rana... Sahir himself had forced her to... by imposing baseless restrictions. Restrictions that, in Zindagi's eyes, were baseless... but were very important.
"But who is this sahib to you?? And why does he live at your house??" Purvi asked.
"He is no one to me... and he doesn't live at my house... he is the prince of the Pratapgarh estate in Rajasthan, and our home too... falls within his estate... My father has some business problems. Sahir Singh Rana... in that regard... whenever he comes to Delhi, he stays at our house... By the way, he has completed his MBA finals this year... technically learning the business... but he is a grand master in business. But sometimes I feel that along with business... he makes more than half the decisions at my house... and especially for me... I wanted to pursue further studies from DPS in Delhi. But because of him, I had to study from here." Zindagi said with a pout.
"And you came here??" Ruhi was quite surprised... because in the past 2 years, as much as... they had known Zindagi... according to them, Zindagi was a girl who lived her life on her own terms.
"I had no other option..." Zindagi said sadly.
"How do you tolerate all this silently? That's your house. You have your parents. Then what is the reason for living a stifled life inside?" Mona asked.
"Who said I live a stifled life... they live their lives... I live my life... it's just that their arrival scares me a little..." Zindagi explained.
"I don't know why, but I feel like Sahir bhai loves you." Niti said.
"Here, let's complete what was left..." Zindagi said, hitting her forehead. The other girls laughed at this.
"No... in their novels... in films... on TV serials, it's always like this... the hero imposes many restrictions on the heroine... but in reality, he loves the heroine very much." Ruhi said.
"There's a point in that... I've also noticed this." Niti agreed with Ruhi. Hearing Niti, Zindagi glared at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?? This is how that Dracula looks at you. If you don't stop looking at me like this, then I don't know about him... but I will definitely fall in love with you..." Niti said, laughing.
"That's right... whether you believe it or not... Mr. Sahir Singh Rana is in love with you. And if you are not in love with him... then there is no one as boring as you in this world. Hey!! Is this even life... eat, drink, and sleep. The real joy of life is on a dinner date with your hero." Niti said, laughing.
"The real joy of life is roaming around at a romantic place with your hero..." Meethi said, spreading her arms and imagining a romantic place. It was clear from her face that she had already reached that place in her dreams with her hero... and a hero whom no one else... not even she herself had seen... but she was roaming with her hero in her world of imagination... Zindagi laughed seeing her facial expressions.
"The real joy of life is dreaming about your hero..." Ruhi said, holding a pillow and lost in dreams with her eyes closed.
"The real joy of life is holding your hero's hand... and dancing to a slow romantic song." Mona extended her hand and offered Zindagi a dance. Zindagi slapped her hand away and rejected her offer. Mona pouted and retreated.
"That's right... a boring life like yours... what would it know about the real joy of life?? Just by the name Zindagi... it doesn't become life... The real joy of life is in being captured by Sahir of love, affection, fondness, and passion. Without the spice of romance in life?? Is that even a life... a life." Purvi said, placing her hand on Zindagi's shoulder.
"Oh, ladies... come out of the world of TV serials and novels... Stop dreaming with open eyes that some prince charming will come riding a white horse and take beautiful girls like you to his dreamland... This is life... here, when love blossoms... flowers don't bloom out of season... nor do they... like your chemistry madam... 'I am here'... the movie's violin music starts. Ruhi, Meethi, and Niti are already half-witted... but you Purvi... you've memorized as many synonyms for love as you have words... if you had remembered synonyms for other words in Hindi class... your teacher wouldn't have thrown you out. And Miss Mona... dancing is your hobby... strengthen yourself in it... so that someone genuinely comes forward and offers you a dance... Crazy girls, they are crazy themselves and they've made me crazy too... Now come on... it's time for prayer." Zindagi said, closing the topic of conversation.
"Miss Zindagi Singh Rana... Mr. Sahir Singh Rana has come to meet you. Please come to the meeting room quickly." Then a voice came from the speaker in the room.
"Here he comes... Zindagi's prince charming... Sahir Singh Rana, who will capture Zindagi in the magic of his love." Niti announced, making a fake microphone.
Zindagi looked at Niti with mock annoyance. But a sweet tickle stirred in her heart. The truth was that Zindagi's heart had also remembered him just now... and by then, he had come to meet Zindagi.
"Is this really love?? A strong connection from one heart to another..." Zindagi thought, closing her eyes.
To be continued:
Sahir Singh Rana... Age 24 years
Athletic, muscular build
Height 6 feet 2 inches
The sole prince of the Pratapgarh princely state.... or Rana. At the age of 9, he lost his entire family in an accident.... The world considers it an accident... but his heart refuses to accept it. He considers it a conspiracy. The only loyal people left in the family are Prem Singh... who lives with him... like his shadow, and another, Jitendra Singh Rana.
Who was very loyal and close to his father, like a younger brother. (Jindagi's father)
It is not necessary that the lives of those born with a silver spoon in their mouths..... are a bed of roses. Sahir Singh Rana is an example of this. Having lost the shelter of his entire family at the tender age of 9.... life showed him many good and bad colors. It taught him to recognize people. The hardships of time made him wise before his time. At the age of 16... to establish his own identity.... he stepped into the world of business. On the strength of his hard work... he turned dust into gold.... which is why the Rana Empire today ranks among the top ten construction businesses in the world.
Where, at his age, the children of other royals and businessmen..... party late into the night, he remains engrossed in his work until late at night.
When Jindagi entered the meeting room to meet Sahir, Sahir was looking at some business-related news on his phone.
"Come in, Jindagi... I was waiting for you..." Sensing Jindagi's arrival, Sahir switched off his phone and put it in his pocket.
"Oh God, is this man or a genie!!! Does he have eyes in the back too.... Earlier, they just used to appear anywhere like the genie of Aladdin's lamp, and now they can even see behind." Sahir's ability always left Jindagi perplexed. Jindagi, walking slowly, stood in front of Sahir.
"How are you, Jindagi??" Upon seeing Jindagi, Sahir got up from the sofa.
Their eyes met for a moment. Jindagi did not have the courage to look at Sahir's face. Jindagi immediately lowered her gaze. She was afraid of Sahir's calm, deep voice. Today, he was present in all his might.
Seeing Jindagi lowering her eyes like this, a smile appeared on Sahir's lips.
"Hey! What happened??" Sahir asked the next moment.
"I am fine," Jindagi replied curtly.
"And any other problems??" Sahir asked. Jindagi shook her head in negation.
"But I heard you are having trouble with some online classes??... with some latest searching?? Is there a problem using the school computer??" Sahir asked.
"Yes.... that..." Jindagi couldn't say anything. How could Jindagi explain that she did most of her studies at night.... and she couldn't sit alone in the computer room at night. She was so scared.... that's why even after having her own room.... Jindagi was always found with all her belongings in the girls' rooms. And besides, in the house, loneliness was rampant.... when there were such good friends here..... why would anyone want to be alone?? She was immensely grateful to God that Sahir, despite knowing this till now.... had not objected to it..... otherwise, Jindagi's staying here would have become difficult.
Seeing Jindagi lost in her own thoughts, Sahir extended a box he was holding towards Jindagi and said, "Here... I brought this for you."
Jindagi raised her big eyes and looked towards Sahir's hands. There was a branded 4G mobile phone. Jindagi's eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Sahir with shining eyes. A contented smile spread across his face. Jindagi remembered that last year when she had asked her father for a phone..... Sahir had refused, saying Jindagi was too young. The hostel had all facilities.... so what would she do with a personal phone?? And today, he brought it himself.
"Take it.... I brought it for you.... you need it now.... I know you spend very little time in your own room..... you like to be with your friends..... so you don't even use the computer there. It will always be in your hands now..... so you can study whenever you want using it." Sahir seemed to understand her dilemma without her saying a word.
Jindagi reached out and took the box from Sahir's hands.
"Thank you.... I don't like being alone. I stay with them..... but I also study," Jindagi said quickly.
"I know.... your friends are quite good..... just like you..... you don't need to give such explanations." Sahir's lips curved into a slight smile at her action.
"They are just like you....." Jindagi was a bit confused by this statement.... she didn't understand if Sahir had genuinely praised her friends or made a sarcastic remark because, as much as she knew him.... Sahir Singh Rana praising someone..... would be like the sun rising from the west.
"Why are you standing??" Jindagi said softly. Her legs trembled even to stand in front of him. Somehow her friends used to say that Sahir Singh Rana..... was captured by Jindagi's love, Sahir (the magic of love).
"To hell with you all..... and your philosophy of love." Jindagi mentally cursed her friends heartily because they had planted in Jindagi's mind that all these were signs of love..... whereas Jindagi felt that if she stood on her feet for a moment longer in front of Sahir..... she would falter and fall..... even though she was a very confident girl.
"Come... you sit too...." Sahir gestured for her to sit with him on the three-seater sofa. Taking small steps, Jindagi silently sat on the other side of the sofa.
"Why did he come here?? Was it just to give a phone.... he could have sent it through someone." Jindagi was cracking her knuckles, thinking to herself. In Sahir's presence, she always felt confused..... why?? Was it because of Sahir's captivating personality..... which was enough to daze any girl..... or because of the strange thoughts swirling in her mind..... which either started racing at the sight of Sahir or completely blocked her mind.
"I had come to the city for a business meeting..... our company is building a shopping mall here..... I had to finalize the land deal..... so on my way, I thought I would meet you and also check on you." Sahir read her mind. Jindagi looked at Sahir with surprise in her big eyes.
"Oh God!!! He can even read minds....." Jindagi thought. "No, no, Jindagi.... don't think anything about him.... otherwise, he will find out.... what all you think about him??" Jindagi took a deep breath and calmed herself. Seeing Jindagi looking at him like this..... Sahir also got a little flustered. To compose himself, he started some formal conversation like how was school going??? Are there any problems?.
Jindagi slowly answered all the questions.
"How is your studies going, Jindagi?? Your exams will start in a few days..... and then you will go to college..... are you fully prepared for the examinations??" Sahir asked, his gaze fixed on Jindagi's face.
"Yes, I am fully prepared..... I study at night," Jindagi replied. By now, Jindagi had become somewhat normal while talking to Sahir.
"There must be difficulty in studying due to the absence of light at night....." Sahir said.
"No, no..... the light is proper," Jindagi replied.
"Oh!! Then how did the power house switch blow yesterday??" Sahir asked.
"It didn't blow..... it was made to blow....."
"Oh!! Who blew it??" Sahir showed interest.
"Meethi blew it..... you know last night...." Jindagi said quickly and then stopped. She bit her tongue and, sensing the coming storm.... closed her eyes tightly. "Jindagi.... you are completely mad..... he trapped you in conversation and extracted all the information from you..... now what will happen??"
"What happened last night, Jindagi??" Sahir asked in a stern tone. Although Jindagi's nervousness like this..... brought a slight smile to his face..... he suppressed it and asked Jindagi in a stern tone. Who was waiting for Sahir's next reaction with her head bowed.
"Focus on your studies, Jindagi..... there is a whole life for mischief like this..... you have to get admission in college after 3-4 months..... there you will get an even more open environment..... what will you do then?? I sent you here so that you could strengthen your base..... but you...." Sahir intentionally left his sentence unfinished, his words filled with sadness and regret.
"I just played a small prank....." Jindagi said softly.
"Prank!! A prank is a prank, Jindagi..... in a prank, you should never harm anyone..... never play such a prank..... that someone's life becomes a joke itself...... you didn't even think that the girls you were going to scare..... are little children. Go and see their condition..... some didn't sleep at all last night and are still trembling with fear, and some are not even ready to stay here anymore..... I hope there won't be another opportunity..... to explain something to you like this," Sahir said in stern words.
Hearing Sahir's words, Jindagi's bowed head bowed even lower. Tears could well up in her eyes at any moment.
"Jindagi.... look at me...." Seeing Jindagi with her head bowed like this..... Sahir didn't feel good either.
"Jindagi.... Jindagi is another name for liveliness. I want to see you always smiling and laughing. I don't want any problems to come your way..... nor do I want you to become a problem for anyone. Live happily yourself and let others live in peace and tranquility....." Sahir said, getting up from his seat.
"I have spoken to the warden..... and the principal, no one will say anything to you..... but next time, when you plan something like this..... use your brain a little bit..... before blowing the power house switch..... make arrangements so that your face doesn't appear in the CCTV there. Otherwise, the girls were just scared..... they were scared seeing that painted face..... seeing this round, innocent face, the person checking the CCTV footage would definitely have a heart attack..... Miss Ghost." Sahir said, suppressing his smile, and started to leave.
Jindagi was listening to him silently..... but as soon as she understood the meaning of his words..... she was completely astonished. She looked at Sahir's back as he left. He stood at the door and turned back, smiling.
"All the best for your exams..... next mission, Miss Ghost...." Sahir said and left, wearing his sunglasses.
"No….. no," Jindagi stamped her foot angrily upon hearing her new name and the next moment clutched her foot..... because in the cold days, even a small injury hurts a lot, and her foot had hit the sofa in front of her very hard.
"Ouch..... Dinosaur.... no... you are a ghost," Jindagi shouted from behind, but alas.... Sahir was not there to hear her.
To be continued.
"I don't know how moms do so much shopping?" Jindagi said, letting out a deep sigh.
"Exactly, friend... my head is spinning just from walking around," Niti said, holding her head.
"We bought all our items so quickly and left... if Mom had been with us... it would have taken from afternoon to night... and still, quite a lot would have remained," Ruhi said.
"That's already happened... you'll know when we get out of here," Jindagi said and went to get the bill made at the cash counter.
Before going home, all these girls were roaming the market today. There was a local market near the hostel... while their preference was branded... in this connection, they had come to the city market... in search of buying something new and unique... it had been quite late, and they had many shopping bags in their hands...
"I'm hungry..." Meethi said as soon as they got out of the mall.
"It's not just you... everyone is hungry," Niti said.
"What time is it?" Mona asked, looking at the sky. The sky was preparing to don a blanket of stars.
"It's 7:00 PM..." Niti said, checking the time on her mobile.
"My God, so we were shopping for the last 7 hours?" Mona said.
"That's right... we went inside the mall in the afternoon and by the time we came out, it was night... today we have even left Mom behind in terms of shopping..." Ruhi said.
"Now I understand why Dad makes such a fuss about going to the mall," Jindagi said with a smile.
"Pockets get emptied and along with that, a plight like porters..." Purvi said, showing the shopping bags in her hands.
"Even then, we did it in such a hurry... we couldn't even buy so much," Niti said, checking her items.
"These mall people, they don't put clocks inside the mall so that customers don't know the time," Mona said.
"Smart business mind... like Sahir Singh Rana..." Purvi said, glancing at Jindagi... who had come to pay for all these shopping bags.
"Shame on you all... ever since I've known you, you've been singing his praises... if you took God's name that much, your life would improve... but you're taking the devil's name... be careful you don't fall," Jindagi said irritably.
"That's why... my life improved as soon as I saw him... now I won't do any mischief," Mona said, teasing Jindagi.
All the things from the morning flashed before her eyes.
"This Sahir, he doesn't miss a chance to make fun of me," Jindagi said, shaking her head.
"But I still can't understand how he gets to know about our hostel conversations so quickly? Did they plant a spy behind us?" Niti said, looking around.
"Don't turn your head around too much... if their hidden bodyguards are anywhere, they'll shoot you straight," Jindagi said, frightening Niti with a joke.
"Oh my god!!" Hearing Jindagi, Niti quickly put her hand on her chest. Seeing her condition, all the girls burst into laughter.
"But I don't understand why Mr. Rana, leaving his vast business, keeps an eye only on Jindagi?" Purvi said, teasing Jindagi.
"Because he loves Jindagi... these are matters of the heart, Sahiba... profit and loss are not considered here," Ruhi said calmly.
"Now tell me, darling... in which novel did you read this line?" Jindagi asked Ruhi.
"In the novel of your life..." Mona's reply came.
"Whether you believe it or not, Jindagi, the truth is this... they don't say it with their lips... but they show it with their words... they care about you and these are all signs of love," Purvi was now serious.
"Absolutely right... there are signs of love, I read somewhere..." Ruhi said a romantic line.
"Then you all are back to square one," Jindagi said, holding her head.
"Look Jindagi, whether you believe it or not... all of Sahir bhai's actions indicate that you are very important to him," Mona said, explaining to Jindagi.
"And now you should also make yourself important in his life," Niti said, looking at the shopping bags in Jindagi's hand.
"At least we'll get rid of carrying this burden," everyone laughed at Ruhi's remark.
"If you go shopping with them... they'll throw you along with these... big deal, holding bags for others... their PA carries their personal laptop... what will they carry our bags for?" Jindagi said, making a face.
"You've made a sensible point, Jindagi," Mona said, showing understanding.
"So, are you the only sensible one in the world? Now let's hurry... let's eat something... and go back to the hostel... otherwise, the warden won't let us in..." Jindagi said, pointing towards the cafeteria ahead.
"Yes, let's go..."
"First, food, then anything else..."
Seeing an empty table, all the girls put their shopping bags on chairs and then ordered light food.
"I'm going to the washroom..." Jindagi said, standing up.
"Okay," Ruhi said.
"Oh God! How is my face looking? Truly like a witch..." Jindagi said, splashing water on her face.
"All the best... Miss Witch." Suddenly Sahir's reflection appeared in the mirror. Jindagi's heart skipped a beat.
"You! How are you here???" Jindagi turned around startled... there was no one there.
"Oh God! These girls are going to drive me crazy by talking so much... now I'm actually seeing Sahir everywhere..." Jindagi said, holding her chest and quickly walked out towards her table.
Jindagi was muttering to herself when a boy in a suit and boots came talking on the phone.
Engrossed in herself, Jindagi collided head-on with him.
"Oh God!!" Jindagi clutched her head, darkness clouding her eyes for a moment, it felt like she had crashed straight into a wall.
"Mr. Sahir... because of you... something might happen to me," Jindagi said softly, rubbing her forehead.
Meanwhile, the man was glaring angrily at Jindagi, who was sitting on the ground. His bodyguard stepped forward to help Jindagi up. But the man stopped everyone with a gesture and asked them to step back... and extended his hand towards Jindagi.
"Thank you..." Jindagi said, standing up. Then her gaze fell on the man's blank face and his broken phone lying on the ground... Jindagi closed her eyes in fear.
To be continued...
Lost in Sahir's thoughts... Life was moving rapidly towards her table. Suddenly, she felt as if she had run straight into a wall. Holding her head, she fell to the ground. A man's hand appeared before her eyes. Zindagi took that hand.
"Thank you..." Zindagi said as she stood up. Then her gaze fell on the boy's impassive face... whose eyes were looking at Zindagi with a dangerous expression, or rather, staring at her. Zindagi's heart skipped a beat... "What have I done wrong now??" As Zindagi was still thinking, her gaze fell on the man's broken phone lying on the ground...
"Oh no..." Zindagi closed her eyes in fear.
The boy, who was barely twenty-one years old, wanted to say something to Zindagi in anger. But when his gaze fell on Zindagi's innocent face, with her eyes tightly shut... his words remained buried somewhere in his heart... He became oblivious to everything around him. He had forgotten everything, that he had suffered such a great loss, and that too because of this girl... He comfortably adorned his face with a smile... and kept looking at Zindagi's innocent face.
Zindagi, with her eyes closed... waited for him to speak for a long time... But when no sound was heard... she felt that he had left. Taking a deep breath... Zindagi placed her hand on her chest... trying to calm her racing heart... opened one eye and looked in the direction where the boy was standing... According to Zindagi, that place should have been empty now... but the boy was still standing there. But now his facial expressions had changed... He was now looking at her, smiling... Seeing the boy smiling...? Zindagi opened both her eyes. Zindagi was quite surprised... she was expecting to hear a stern lecture, but instead, this boy was smiling at her like this... as if he had known her for a long time.
Seeing the boy smiling at her like that, Zindagi felt strange.
"What is it??" Zindagi asked with her eyes. At this action of Zindagi, the boy was taken aback for a moment... as if his theft had been caught... but the next moment, composing himself... he smiled broadly. He wrapped both his hands around his chest and stood comfortably.
"What are you looking at like this?? Has the phone breaking affected your brain?? Has your brain broken??" Zindagi asked. But as her attention went to the words that came out of her mouth... she bit her tongue tightly.
"I don't know about the phone breaking, but where has my mind disappeared?? I don't know that either... but my heart is definitely ruined." The boy said to himself, and then hit his head for his nonsensical talk.
Zindagi was about to apologize to him... when before that the boy said, "Sorry... it was my fault... I was coming from that side talking and I didn't see you... Are you hurt much?... I am really sorry.... I am Jayant Jindal." The boy extended his hand towards Zindagi.
Zindagi felt as if she had been saved from a great danger. She immediately said with full attitude, "Okay. Be careful next time."
Zindagi started to leave slowly. Hearing Zindagi's words full of attitude and seeing her leave, Jayant came out of his trance. He caught Zindagi's arm and pulled her forward, "Hello ma'am!! I'm not saying anything... but that doesn't mean you can ignore me and leave like this.... I have suffered a loss... at your hands."
"So what should I do?? If there was a loss, there was a loss.... Whatever loss you suffered, you will bear the compensation for it.... Because of your mistake, my head was injured so badly... Did I say anything to you??? No. So similarly, if your phone is also injured... you have no right to say anything to me. Now pick up your broken phone and if you don't want to get broken yourself... leave quietly. Otherwise, you too might be lying broken on the ground somewhere instead of your phone." Zindagi said calmly.
"Can you really break me? It doesn't seem so." Jayant was now getting interested in Zindagi's words. "Perhaps you haven't heard my name... My name is Jayant Jindal...." Jayant also said with full attitude, adjusting his suit collar.
"Yes, so... what should I do?? Whether your name is Jayant Jindal or Mayank Jindal....." While saying the word Jindal, Zindagi bit her tongue again.
"Say it... say it... why are you silent??" Jayant asked, smiling.
In response, Zindagi showed her teeth.
"When did you come to India?? You didn't even tell me...." Zindagi happily hugged Jayant.
Jayant also happily wrapped his arms around Zindagi.
"I just arrived today and wanted to meet you first... but I found out you are living in the hostel. So I stopped here to get your favorite kachoris before you went to the hostel. But what did I know?? You would land in an emergency like this in the cafeteria... and fall right into my arms." Jayant said, teasing Zindagi.
"You are very bad... don't talk.... First, you disappeared from India with the whole family without meeting me... without telling me... and then you appear like this today?? Where have you been all this time?? Do you know how much I searched for you??" Zindagi said with a pout.
"Really?? It doesn't seem so from your face." Jayant said, smiling. "Anyway, forget about me.... it's a long story and now that I'm in India... I'll keep meeting you... we'll keep talking... but first, tell me why are you living in the hostel?? Has Rana Bhavan become too small for you.... where this elephant can't be kept." Jayant asked, taking a bite of a samosa.
With Jayant, Zindagi had come to a table in the cafeteria. She had informed her friends about her presence with a hand gesture and was now talking to Jayant.
"You are the elephant.... I am still thin and weak...." Zindagi said, gently hitting Jayant's hand.
"Yes, absolutely.... you are still like a squirrel... but this is not an answer to my question...." Jayant said seriously.
"You know very well... your family has moved from the neighborhood house... so there are no friends nearby... I wanted to do my plus two from DPS... but all the Rahu, Ketu, Shani of my life are one... by their grace, I am wandering in this unknown city." Zindagi said with a pout... doing full justice to the kachoris.
"Sahir Singh Rana...." Jayant's hands paused for a moment. As he said the name, Jayant's throat felt bitter... the bitterness of which was clearly visible on his face... but he immediately hid it.
"Yes... besides him, who is the bad constellation?? For our innocent Zindagi." Zindagi, lost in herself, was doing full justice to her favorite kachori.
"Absolutely not... we have wandered enough... now he will wander... now Saturn, Rahu, Ketu have arrived in his horoscope." Jayant said to himself.
Continued
"Uff.. What a hassle??" For a moment, Zindagi glanced at her flour-covered hands and then at her continuously ringing mobile. The phone had rung once and stopped, then started ringing persistently for the second time. Zindagi walked over to her phone. The screen showed Jayant calling.
Zindagi quickly looked around... no one was there. She washed her hands in the basin and then quickly picked up the phone.
"Hello...."
"What happened?? Were you sleeping??" Jayant's soft, intoxicating voice came from the other end.
"No, I'm seeing dreams with my eyes open..." Zindagi said irritably.
"Meaning??"
"Meaning what??... Nothing.. You tell me, why did you call??"
"Why?? Can't I call you for no reason??" Jayant asked coyly.
"Of course you can... but I'm busy right now... I'll talk to you later." Zindagi intended to hang up.
Jayant on the other end understood her action.
"Hey, wait!! Wait!! How busy can you be?? That you don't even have time to talk...." Jayant was surprised.
"I'm just doing some work... I really don't have time right now.... I'll talk to you once I'm done..." What could Zindagi tell him? What was she doing? And on top of that, if someone had come into the kitchen at this time, she would have been in trouble for no reason.
"What kind of work are you doing?? That you don't have time to talk to me...." Jayant still couldn't believe that Zindagi didn't have time to talk to him, as they had had long phone conversations for the past few days.
"Please Jayant, I'm really very busy.... If you've called for an important reason, tell me quickly and hang up...." Zindagi said, glancing at the pressure cooker, which could whistle at any moment.
Zindagi quickly approached the pressure cooker, still holding the phone.... Before Zindagi could even turn down the gas knob, the pressure cooker whistled loudly.
"Oh Mom!!" Zindagi quickly took four steps back. Along with the whistle of the pressure cooker... hot lentil splatters also fell on her hand.
When Jayant's ears picked up the loud sound of the pressure cooker on the phone, he pulled the phone away from his ear and shook it... Had the sound of the pressure cooker really reached his ears?
"One minute, one minute.... Are you in the kitchen??" Jayant asked incredulously.
"No, I'm in the conference hall....." Zindagi retorted.
"Oh man.... Why do you always answer the opposite??? Tell me... What's the matter? Zindagi, who wouldn't go near the kitchen door... has today stepped into the kitchen with her auspicious feet!! Is everything alright at home!!" Jayant asked, suppressing his laughter.
"Everything is fine at home.... It's just that my mind went haywire.... and for that, I'm being punished by being shoved into the kitchen." Zindagi said, picking up a wiping cloth. The gas stove was all dirty due to the water coming out of the cooker.
"Why aren't you talking now?? Speak quickly.... and hang up the phone... My mind is already messed up, and don't mess it up any further." Zindagi said exasperatedly.
"What's the matter, Zindagi?? If you tell me everything, maybe I can help you in some way," Jayant said.
"No one can help me.... They have forbidden me from taking help from anyone.... Whatever I have to do.... I have to do it myself..." Zindagi said, her voice trembling.
"Who has forbidden you from taking help??"
"Oh, you know.... the one who is like Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu in my life...." Zindagi scrunched up her nose.
Jayant understood that Zindagi was talking about Sahir, so he said in a serious tone, "What is it?? Tell me the whole story..."
"I must have lost my mind.... that I agreed to join the computer class because of those girls, and in return, I have to cook everyone's food today. That too Dal Baati Churma, only then... will I get admission to the computer class."
"Do one thing... turn on the video option on your phone... I'll see... Don't worry.... you will definitely get admission to the computer center," Jayant told Zindagi.
"But he has forbidden me from taking help from anyone...." Zindagi's mind was racing with Sahir's words.
"Zindagi, don't be foolish.... No one is watching you here to see whose help you are taking or not? Anyway, you haven't taken the maid's help. He must have definitely said that for the maid." Jayant explained.
"Yes, you are right about that.... He doesn't like food cooked by the maid...." Zindagi said in agreement.
"I always say the right thing.... But it takes time to understand in your head..."
"What do you mean?? Does my brain work slowly??" Zindagi asked Jayant, raising one eyebrow.
"No-no... it works very fast.... but only in front of me.... that too for arguing and fighting... In front of him, you become a scared cat." Jayant taunted.
"You are right about that...." Zindagi made a sad face.
"Don't make a face now.... make what you're supposed to make first....."
"But how did you know I was making a face??" Zindagi asked, full of surprise.
"Because I know you better than you know yourself, and if that's enough understanding, then quickly stop arguing for now and first close the kitchen door... so that no one can come into the kitchen. And then turn on the video option on your phone," Jayant explained to her.
"If you wanted, you could have made it earlier by watching videos on YouTube. Anyway, now turn on the video option.... I want to see you making it...."
"You want to see me making it or mock me?? Because I know very well that you don't know how to make anything either." Zindagi raised one eyebrow.
"Alright.... you go and make it. Even if I don't know how to make anything, I could have kept you entertained with my words, right? But if you don't agree..." Jayant was about to hang up.
"No, no, wait, I'm turning it on." Just as Zindagi was about to turn on the video option, Sahir's deep, serious voice echoed near her ears.
"What is this??" Hearing Sahir's voice, Zindagi jumped up quickly, and her phone slipped from her hands. Zindagi closed her eyes in fear.
To be continued:
Zindagi, engrossed in her argument with Jayant, didn't even remember that Jayant had asked her to close the door. She was comfortably chatting with Jayant, standing near the kitchen slab. Just then, Sahir entered the kitchen silently. Standing at the doorway, he took a look inside the kitchen.
Zindagi wasn't visible anywhere in front of him. Then, his gaze fell upon Zindagi standing in the corner near the fridge, from behind. He couldn't understand that she was talking to someone on the phone. Before he could ask Zindagi why she was standing there, his eyes went to the flour kept in the plate. Zindagi had added so much water to the flour that forget making Bati, the dough was no longer suitable even for making pakoras.
"What is this, Zindagi??" Sahir asked Zindagi, lifting the flour batter with his finger, which was dripping through his finger like water.
Meanwhile, Zindagi was so engrossed in talking to Jayant that she didn't even notice Sahir's arrival. When her ears heard Sahir's deep, serious voice, she jumped up in fear, and her phone slipped from her hands.
Sahir, who was now waiting for Zindagi to speak, saw Zindagi looking so scared and flustered. He quickly moved towards her. He caught Zindagi's phone just before it fell.
"How careless you are?? The phone would have fallen and broken right now," Sahir said, returning Zindagi's phone to her.
Meanwhile, when Jayant heard Sahir's voice on the phone, he quickly hung up.
"Oh sheet....." Jayant exclaimed, throwing his phone on the sofa and hitting his palm with his fist.
"This man, seriously... he appears out of nowhere like a genie... I have to get rid of him first."
Zindagi had closed her eyes in fear. When Sahir's gaze fell upon the scared and anxious Zindagi, a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
"What were you doing on the phone??" Sahir tried to keep his tone completely normal.
"I... I..." Zindagi didn't understand what to answer.
"Weren't you asked to make Dal Bati? And you were busy on your phone... What have you done to this flour?? Will you knead the Bati dough like this??" Sahir asked Zindagi, pointing towards the plate of flour.
Zindagi didn't know what to answer. On one hand, the flour was ruined, and on the other, Sahir was scolding her.
Zindagi's large eyes welled up with tears. Seeing Zindagi like this, Sahir felt something in his heart. He wanted to say a lot but couldn't say anything. He couldn't express his feelings easily. Because of this, he tightly closed his lips in helplessness.
Meanwhile, Zindagi, who was waiting for Sahir's next reprimand, hearing no sound, slowly raised her head. When her eyes met Sahir's, his face was completely expressionless. Zindagi's heart beat even faster.
"I was trying... and that's why on the phone..." Zindagi managed to say, trying to compose herself. She was afraid that if Sahir had heard her conversation with Jayant, then no one could save her today. Anyway, seeing Sahir's calm face, she couldn't understand what storm he was battling internally.
Tears spilled from Zindagi's eyes due to fear.
"It's okay... okay... don't cry, I'll help you, and come with me." Sahir took Zindagi's hand.
Sahir threw away the previous flour, took out fresh flour in the plate, and showing it to Zindagi, said, "Look, this much ghee will be added to this much flour so that the dough somewhat binds." Sahir demonstrated by clenching a handful of ghee-coated dough in his hand.
"The amount of ghee in this should not be too much, nor too little. If you add too much ghee, the Bati won't cook, and if you add too little, the Bati will become hard."
After that, by slowly adding water, Sahir started kneading the Bati dough. Seeing the skill with which Sahir was kneading the Bati, Zindagi's eyes widened in surprise.
"Do you know how to cook??" Zindagi asked, seeing Sahir cutting dough balls for Bati.
Sahir smiled at Zindagi's question.
"Why, what did you think, I don't know anything??"
"No, no... that's not what I meant... you know a lot... you manage such a big business, but cooking?? I mean, boys don't know how to cook..." Zindagi had seen her father, he didn't even know how to make tea.
"Don't boys get hungry??" was Sahir's next question.
"They do, and they get the hungriest of all. But cooking....." Zindagi smiled thinking of her father, who couldn't go without eating for even a moment, but couldn't cook anything himself.
"I believe that whether it's a boy or a girl, since everyone needs to eat, everyone should know how to cook. Because you can wake up after sleeping hungry, but you can't sleep with a hungry stomach," Sahir said to Zindagi in a serious tone as he turned on the gas.
"You are right, you can't sleep with a hungry stomach...." Zindagi said with a pout.
"You understood this part, but did you understand the part I explained earlier??" Sahir asked, pinching Zindagi's small nose.
"Which part??" Zindagi asked Sahir, raising her big eyes.
"That part, how much ghee and how much water should be in the flour??"
"Yes...." Zindagi nodded her head in understanding.
"Do you know, Zindagi, our lives are just like this flour. Everything in it must be in the right proportion, only then can we enjoy our lives or give our lives a new shape or destination. Otherwise, if we are even a little careless in shaping our lives, then no one can stop them from getting ruined," Sahir said, showing Zindagi a dough ball he was making. Even with slight pressure, the kneaded dough was changing its shape. Zindagi looked at Sahir blankly. She couldn't understand what Sahir was trying to say.
"You know, life... our life is also like this dough... everything in it should be in the right proportion... only then can we enjoy our life... or give our life a new shape or destination. Otherwise, if we are even a little careless in shaping our life... then nothing can stop it from going wrong." Sahir was illustrating life while making a dough ball. Even with a slight pressure, the kneaded dough was changing its shape. Zindagi looked at Sahir with bewilderment. She couldn't understand what Sahir was trying to say.
"Just as it is in our hands to make this dough round or square, similarly it is in our hands to give our life a new direction. Look, how does it look when it's made square? And when it's round? Now it depends on us which direction we want to give our life? It feels good to make dough balls like this while playing and having fun... but think about whether these baatis can be roasted properly like this? Absolutely not... they will remain raw from somewhere, and in such a case, we won't be able to enjoy the true taste of the food.
Similarly, play and fun are also necessary in our lives... but up to a limit. We cannot play or gamble with our lives... otherwise, this life will not give us a chance to repent."
Sahir's words were profound, and Zindagi understood a great deal of it.
"I was trying..." Zindagi said softly, looking at the dough ball in her hands. While Sahir was making round baatis and cutting them in the middle, Zindagi was enjoying playing with the dough. But nothing was hidden from Sahir's sharp eyes, and Zindagi was ashamed to see her mistake being caught.
"You should definitely try... but where you don't understand, you should also ask... after all, what are elders at home for? Because if you keep experimenting with everything, you might have to sleep hungry..." Sahir replied with a smile.
"Come on... bring the onions. I'll teach you how to fry dal."
"Yes... you tell me... I'll try to do as you say..." Zindagi said happily.
"Good girl..." After this, Sahir kept telling, and Zindagi kept making.
Together they made Dal Baati Churma and Gatte ki Sabzi.
But how did it turn out? Only the eaters would tell after eating!
"What's this, Huzoor? Today you have cooked food of my choice," Jitendra Ji said to Janvi Ji as he approached his chair at the dining table.
"I didn't cook the food... your Lado did..." Janvi Ji had already washed her hands of it because Jitendra Ji could not tolerate even the slightest experimentation in food. His clear saying was, "If a person doesn't eat, how will he work?" Therefore, he was very fond of eating and drinking and liked delicious food accordingly.
"That's what I was thinking too... this taste is not from your hands. By the way, the food is very tasty. We can't believe our Lado has made such delicious food? Why Prem Sa?" Jitendra Ji said, looking at Prem while eating Dal Baati.
Janvi Ji looked at Zindagi with surprised eyes, her neck stiff with pride.
"Did Zindagi really make this food?" Janvi Ji asked, taking the first bite.
"No, we ordered it from a restaurant." Zindagi said, lifting her head.
"That's what I thought? Just like father, like father's Lado, how could she make such baatis? This must have been ordered from some Rajasthani restaurant..." Janvi Ji said calmly.
"Not at all... ask Kunwar Sa. We made it with our own hands." Zindagi said, showing her fingers.
Hearing the mother-daughter conversation, Jitendra Ji burst into laughter and was greatly shocked. He started coughing violently. Before anyone could understand anything, Zindagi ran to his chair and gave him a glass of water.
"Easy, Papa Sa." Zindagi stroked his back.
"It's okay, beta... I'm fine... but your mother said something like this that!!!" Jitendra Ji said, looking at Janvi Ji.
"What did I say wrong? I just said the truth... your Lado didn't make this food." Janvi Ji said.
"No, Chhoti Maa Sa. Zindagi made the food today." Sahir glanced at Zindagi, who was beaming with happiness hearing everyone praise her. He didn't want to diminish the happiness on Zindagi's lips. Hearing this from Sahir, Janvi Ji's eyes widened in astonishment. She immediately took off her necklace and put it around Zindagi's neck.
"I can't believe it... but when Kunwar Sa says so, then she must have made it.... really, I can't even make Dal Baati Churma like this."
"Then you admit it, don't you? Our daughter is even better than you." Jitendra Ji said proudly.
Meanwhile, as soon as Prem took the first bite, he understood who had made it. He looked at Sahir, who, avoiding Prem's gaze, bent down towards his plate. Seeing Sahir do this, a smile spread across Prem's lips.
They didn't need to say or explain anything. The taste of the food and Sahir's action made it clear to them who the cook was.
But would Rana Sa accept it so easily?
What will they do to save their life, or will Zindagi herself spill all the secrets in her foolishness?
Just as we have the choice to make this dough round or square, we also have the power to give our lives a new direction. Look, how does it look when it's made square? And how when it's round? Now it depends on us which direction we want to give our lives. It feels great to make dough like this while playing and having fun... but think, will the 'bati' be cooked well this way? Absolutely not... they will remain raw from somewhere, and in such a situation, we won't be able to enjoy the real taste of the food.
Similarly, games and fun are also important in our lives... but only up to a certain extent. We cannot play games or trifle with our lives... otherwise, this life will not give us a chance to regret it.
Sahir's words were profound, and life was understanding them to a great extent.
"I was trying..." Life said softly, looking at the dough in her hands. While Sahir was making round 'batis' and cutting them from the middle, Life was enjoying playing with the dough. However, nothing was hidden from Sahir's sharp eyes, and Life felt ashamed seeing her mistake being caught.
"You should definitely try... but wherever you don't understand, you should also ask... After all, what are elders at home for? Because if you keep experimenting with everything, you might have to sleep hungry..." Sahir replied with a smile.
"Come on... bring onions, I'll tell you how to fry the dal."
"Yes... you tell me... I'll try to do it that way..." Life said happily.
"Good girl..." After this, Sahir kept explaining, and Life kept making.
Together they made Dal Bati Churma and Gatte ki Sabzi.
********
"What is this, Hukum? Today you've cooked food to my liking," Jitendra Ji said to Janvi Ji as he approached his chair at the dining table.
"I didn't cook, your Ladlo did..." Janvi Ji had already washed her hands of it, as Jitendra Ji couldn't tolerate even the slightest experimentation in food. His clear statement was, "If a person doesn't eat, how will he work?" Therefore, he was very fond of food and liked delicious food accordingly.
"That's what I was thinking too... this taste is not from your hands. By the way, the food is very delicious. We can't believe our Ladlo has made such a delicious meal?? Why Prem Sa?" Jitendra Ji said looking at Prem while eating Dal Bati.
Janvi Ji looked at Life with eyes full of surprise, whose neck was stiff with pride.
"Did Life really make this food?" Janvi Ji asked, taking her first bite.
"No, I ordered it from a restaurant," Life said, lifting her head.
"That's what I thought?? Like father, like father's Ladlo... how could she possibly make such 'batis'? This must have been ordered from some Rajasthani restaurant..." Janvi Ji said casually.
"Not at all... ask Kanwar Sa. We made it ourselves with our own hands," Life said, showing her fingers.
Hearing the mother-daughter conversation, Jitendra Ji started laughing, and he was greatly taken aback. He began to cough vigorously. Before anyone could understand anything, Life rushed to his chair and handed him a glass of water.
"Take it easy, Papa Sa," Life said, patting his back.
"It's okay, beta, I'm fine... but your mother said something like that that!!!" Jitendra Ji said, looking at Janvi Ji.
"What did I say wrong? I only said the truth... your Ladlo didn't make this food," Janvi Ji said.
"No, Choti Maa Sa. Life made the food today," Sahir said, glancing at Life, who was very happy hearing praise from everyone. He didn't want to diminish the smile on Life's lips. Hearing this from Sahir, Janvi Ji's eyes widened in astonishment. She immediately took off her necklace and put it around Life's neck.
"I can't believe it... but when Kanwar Sa is saying it, she must have made it... truly, I can't even make such Dal Bati Churma."
"So, you admit it then?? Our daughter is even better than you," Jitendra Ji said proudly.
Meanwhile, when Prem took his first bite, he immediately understood who had made it. He looked at Sahir, who, avoiding Prem's gaze, bent over his plate. Seeing Sahir do this, a smile appeared on Prem's lips.
"So, you're saying that first Sahir Singh Rana demanded Dal Bati from you, and then when you ruined his favorite dish, he didn't even get angry with you..." Meethi asked Life in surprise.
Life nodded in agreement.
"...and then he also taught you how to make Dal Bati Churma??" Niti was overcome with astonishment.
Life nodded in affirmation.
"...and after that, he didn't take any credit? He gave all the credit to you," Purvi asked, standing up.
"...and then he also allowed you to join computer classes," Meethi asked.
"Oh, yes, baba, yes! How many times do I have to tell you?" Life said a bit loudly this time and held her head.
The three girls looked at each other, and the next moment they burst out laughing. Life looked at her friends in surprise, who were continuously laughing like mad.
Life simmered, "Have you all gone mad!"
Zindagi was sharing her life experiences with her friends. At this moment, the four of them were sitting in a cafeteria, talking and also doing justice to the breakfast laid out in front of them.
Zindagi had received permission to join a computer class. To celebrate this happy occasion, they had planned a get-together, and when they heard this shocking news here, they couldn't believe it at first. Once they did, they started laughing like mad people.
"Have you gone crazy??" Zindagi said, looking around. The laughter of these three girls was so loud that people at the adjacent tables also started looking at them.
"What are you doing, you silly girls?? Everyone is looking at us." Zindagi tried her best to keep her voice low, otherwise, she was getting very angry.
"Oh, come on!! You said something like that," Purvi said, somehow managing to stop her laughter.
"What did I say that's so special??" Zindagi asked, thinking.
"And what else?? You're saying that Sahir doesn't love you. Oh, you fool!! If he doesn't love you, why does he do so much for you??" Purvi asked, looking into Zindagi's eyes.
"What does he do? He made Dal Bati Churma because he wanted to eat it. What favor has he done for me in this??" Zindagi replied calmly, looking into Purvi's eyes.
"Okay, they made it because they wanted to eat it, but they also gave you the credit for their share. Is that not a big deal??" Niti spoke this time.
"Exactly, this idiot doesn't understand. In today's world, people don't even give credit for a cup of tea. He gave you credit for a whole delicious dinner," Purvi said.
"There's some truth in that, I agree," Mona said, agreeing with her friends.
"Credit!!! You're talking about credit as if they handed over their credit card to me for shopping to my heart's content," Zindagi said, wrinkling her nose.
"You should have at least asked once."
"Zindagi, if you were to ask them for their lives, they would lay them down in front of you," Purvi said with full confidence.
"They would just lay it down, what a big deal," Zindagi said, shaking her head.
"What?? Tell me the truth, Zindagi, have they put a stop to your shopping??" Niti asked Zindagi with a slight glare, her eyes narrowed.
"No," Zindagi said thoughtfully.
"Have they ever asked you for an account of your shopping?" The next question came from Purvi.
Zindagi shook her head in denial.
"Have they ever stopped you from spending money?" This was from Mona.
"No."
Zindagi said, lowering her eyelashes.
The truth was that Sahir SinghRana himself would take her to the shopping mall and quietly buy whatever Zindagi wanted without looking at the price tag. Not only that, but if he went abroad for his business, he would always buy something for Zindagi from there. Yesterday too, he had brought a beautiful, delicate bracelet for Zindagi, which she was wearing on her hand at that moment.
"When will you ever understand, Zindagi??? Sahir loves you, but it's a different matter that he doesn't want to express or show it," Purvi said.
"So, let him keep loving, who's stopping him? I just had to ask for permission to join the computer class, and I got it. After that, let him do whatever he wants," Zindagi said calmly.
"There's no hope for you, Zindagi." The three girls shook their heads.
"There shouldn't be any hope, otherwise, that Sher SinghRana will hang me," Zindagi said, as if revealing a secret.
"What?? And who is this Sher SinghRana now??" Purvi asked.
"Oh, him!! The one who roars at me day and night, who else??" Zindagi said with mild anger.
"He doesn't roar at you in anger; rather, you become a meek cat when you see him. But why would he hang you??" The girls narrowed their eyes.
"Yes, I forgot to tell you this. He said to go well and come back well, and if there's any problem, inform him directly. Got it? He has to keep a close eye on me," Zindagi said, mimicking Sahir.
"He doesn't keep a close eye on you to guard you; he genuinely worries about you, which is why he keeps track of your every moment. Otherwise, how sensible you are!! We all know that," Mona said, hitting Zindagi on the head.
"Whatever the case, it amounts to the same thing," Zindagi refused to accept it, even though she knew everything.
"What is this Jayant matter, Zindagi?" Purvi asked Zindagi seriously this time.
"I have no involvement with him," Zindagi said calmly.
"Then why do you talk to him so much? Does Sahir bhai know about this??" Mona asked.
Zindagi shook her head in denial.
"And you all don't tell him either," Zindagi gave a new order.
"Why??" Niti asked, surprised.
"Just like that, I don't think he would like it," Zindagi couldn't come up with a better excuse.
"There should be something likeable in the person too," Niti said.
"What do you mean??" Zindagi narrowed her eyes.
"Exactly what you understand but don't want to understand. You don't appreciate what's good and run after the sparkle of glass. Look, Zindagi, I don't know why?? I don't get any positive feeling from that boy, and I also wanted to tell you that I saw them frequenting my computer center yesterday."
"Yes, he was telling me; he went to find me. He wanted to meet me," Zindagi said calmly, as if she already knew this.
"So if he wanted to meet you so badly, why didn't he go to your house??" Purvi tried to make Zindagi understand.
"Oh, he wanted to meet me, not my family. And besides, he has many other reasons for not coming home."
"Like what?" Niti wanted to know.
"There's a lot he hasn't told me yet, but he will soon," Zindagi said, as if refusing to hear anything about the Jayant issue. Lately, she had been having long phone conversations with him. Perhaps this was the result. Gradually, Jayant's words had started to affect her.
"So, madam, shall we leave?" Suddenly, Zindagi heard a voice from behind her.
Zindagi, who was drinking cold coffee at that moment, let the can slip from her hands, and it fell directly onto the clothes of the person behind her.
"Oh no..." Zindagi turned and looked at the person standing in front of her, and then at his clothes, which were badly ruined due to the spilled cold coffee. Zindagi closed her eyes tightly in frustration at her own foolishness.
To be continued:
Today was the first day of life... in her college.
Jindagi, Purvi, and Meethi had taken admission in Delhi's biggest college. The rest of their friends were in other colleges.
After leaving school, the colorful world of college was waiting for them with open arms. All three were very excited about it. This top college of Delhi University... where admission was very difficult. These three had cleared its entrance exam. The only problem was... that while Jindagi got admission in her desired stream, her other two friends were in different streams. They had only one subject in common.
"Doesn't it feel great to be here??" Meethi said to Jindagi as they entered through the gate.
"Yes, girl... it would have felt even better... if those three were also with us." Jindagi was missing Niti a lot.
"You're right... we were together from PG... just got separated after coming to college."
"Those three didn't even clear the entrance... I don't know what they were doing for three months?? Sitting at home and learning to make Dal Baati Churma... did they make their Churma..." Jindagi was still angry with Niti. She felt as if Niti had let go of such a great opportunity due to her carelessness.
"That was you learning... with your Sahir." Purvi said, laughing.
Hearing the words "your Sahir," Jindagi looked at her with mild annoyance.
"Leave it, girl!! Why are you guys dwelling on this..." Meethi said, intervening.
"Why are you burning your blood thinking about him??.... Until now, we studied in girls' schools and lived by their strict rules and regulations... Here we are experiencing freedom. Look how good it feels..." Meethi said, drawing their attention towards the college's large campus, where everyone in colorful clothes looked like unique fashion models...
"You're right... we got freedom from that boarding school... and boring dresses..." Jindagi said, breathing in the fresh air.
"I am surprised how Sahir allowed you to take admission in this college? And that too without any argument... agreeing in one go?" Purvi asked Jindagi in surprise.
"That's what I was thinking too..." Meethi said, looking at Jindagi.
"I really don't know... how a bitter bitter gourd suddenly became a sweet mango??.. When I talked about taking admission in this college... they just said... whatever you do, do it thoughtfully... lest you regret your decision later... Just remember that you are going to college only to study and what happens there?? It should not be of any concern to you. If there is any problem, I will call them directly." Jindagi said, mimicking Sahir's style.
"They have handed over the responsibility of pick and drop to the driver... and must have also arranged for their guards... Where can that person digest my freedom??" Jindagi said, making a face.
Today was the first day of college. So Jitendra ji himself had come to drop these three at college. After dropping them at the college gate... he went to his office and then these three crossed the college gate... traversed its large campus... chatting amongst themselves... and were going towards their class. Just then, they saw a crowd of boys and girls gathered.
"What is happening here??" Meethi asked, looking that way.
"Nothing, let's just quietly move aside. They are ragging." Purvi said, seeing from a distance.
"But isn't ragging a legal offense in our college??" Jindagi asserted her knowledge.
"Ragging is a complete legal offense... not just in our college... but in all colleges. But when will these super seniors and seniors understand this!! They just need an opportunity to harass juniors." Purvi said.
"Hey, you nymphs descended from heaven... goddesses of beauty!! Where are you heading!!" A senior boy shouted when he saw them changing their path.
"Hey!! They are changing their path like cats with burnt feet... Come on ladies... Entry into the college will not be allowed without attending the court..." someone shouted from there.
"You made an entry, man.... bells rang in my heart...." one said, making an acting gesture with his hand on his chest, throwing a jest from behind. Hearing him, everyone burst out laughing.
"We don't have to look back... just keep walking... towards the class." Meethi said. Jindagi nodded in agreement. Holding Purvi and Meethi's hands, Jindagi was walking past them, ignoring their words. By then, one of the boys, who was perhaps their boss, came and stood in front of them.
"What happened, Madam Ji?? Are your ears covered, or can't you hear?? Come on... over there..."
The boy ordered Jindagi, wrapping his arms around his chest. The other two girls had already moved aside.
Jindagi looked up at the boy. This handsome muscular boy, about 5 feet 10 inches tall... was staring at Jindagi with dangerous intent.
"Leave our way... we are getting late for class..." Jindagi said, trying her best to keep her voice firm, with a hint of anger.
"Leave!! What did you say, 'leave' and who did you say it to?? Don't you even know that seniors are to be spoken to with respect." the boy said, raising one eyebrow.
Just then, his friend came and put his hand on the first one's shoulder and said, "Hey man!! He'll teach all the lessons on the very first day... She's new... don't know from which planet she descended... For 2-4 days, they will be well taken care of. Then they will learn all the rules and regulations of our Earth?? Right Madam?? We said it right??" the second boy said, laughing.
The words "descended from another planet" pricked Jindagi. And on top of that, teaching rules and regulations... she felt like giving him a couple of abuses right then and there... and teach him all the rules properly... clear his mind... but responding back now was not right... Anyway, her mother had told her to stay away from all these hassles when she left home. Jindagi looked around; everyone was standing and watching the spectacle.
"Come on, quietly..." the first one ordered. Resignedly, Jindagi and Meethi had to go that way and, unwillingly, become a part of the ragging.
"So, you are the one who was ignoring us..." said a boy standing in front of Jindagi when it was her turn.
"What's your name??" the boy asked in a stern voice.
"Jindagi..."
"Jindagi!!!" the boy's lips repeated Jindagi's name.
"Your name is very beautiful, just like you... but whose Jindagi are you?? You are very colorful... but you know, nowadays my own Jindagi is going through a lot of sadness." the boy said, mocking Jindagi's name.
"Jindagi is very sad these days..."
All the super seniors and seniors burst into laughter in unison.
"Come on, get to your work." the boy said, giving a rose flower to Jindagi.
"Come on Jindagi... make Jindagi's journey beautiful... You must have heard the song, right... Jindagi ek safar hai suhana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana??" the boy said, singing in a very stylish manner... and came close to Jindagi's ear.
"But here we know every tomorrow, and your tomorrow... depends on how skillfully you complete your task?? And your task is to propose to one of us." the boy said, smiling.
"You won't find a more handsome guy than me here... so, do this with your auspicious hands for us..." came forward one, stroking his hair stylishly.
"I am also in line... you can do it for me too..." another raised his hand.
"No.... me... Jindagi, I am coming..." said the third.
"Hey, shut up!! Is this Jindagi's swayamvar going on here, where everyone is staking their claim for the garland? Come on Jindagi... leave all of them... propose to me... Come on..... show me by proposing..." the first one said to Jindagi, intimidating everyone.
Jindagi felt like throwing the rose flower right there... crushing it with her feet and leaving. But alas!!! She couldn't do that.
Because doing so would escalate the situation, and Jindagi didn't know self-defense either. Sahir had asked her many times to join a martial arts club. But Jindagi, with her delicate nature, found the rigorous training of the martial arts club very boring. Waking up in the morning itself felt like a huge task. Today, she was angry with herself. Why didn't she learn a few steps for self-defense?
If Jindagi had strength in her hands today, she would have smashed this boy's face without thinking... and whatever happened after that...
Sahir would have handled it.
"Come on... start. You know, I don't like waiting for too long." the boy said, looking at Jindagi.
"Me!! And I will propose to you??? Have you seen your face??" Jindagi blurted out, unwillingly.
"What did you say?? I haven't seen my face!! Hey, someone bring a mirror and show Madam her face.... Seems like she forgot to see a mirror before coming from home." the boy said, mocking Jindagi. This time, the laughter that echoed made Jindagi feel deeply insulted. Her anger flared up, her rage simmering from head to toe. She was looking at the boy with such anger as if she would devour him with her eyes. Then, suddenly, the boy's tone had changed.
"Start quickly... or else this face won't be worth seeing anymore...." the boy said, pointing his finger towards Jindagi's face.
"Your face won't be worth seeing anymore. I only told you half my name. My full name is.... Jindagi Singh Rana." Jindagi said, crushing the flower in her hand badly and throwing it at him.
"How dare you??" seeing himself insulted, the boy shouted. Seeing the boy's anger... the entire campus fell silent.
"When have you ever seen my courage?? And what did you ask... whose Jindagi?? Then listen with open ears... Rana Empire... You must have heard the name." Jindagi said, calmly looking into the boy's eyes.
"Sahir Singh Rana...." someone whispered from behind... but with Jindagi's action... there was such silence that his voice could be heard clearly.
Jindagi nodded in agreement and pointing her finger towards the boy's face, said, "Why?? Hearing the name... your face fell flat." Her tone was mocking. After this, Jindagi didn't stop there... holding Meethi's hand, she walked towards the classroom.
The boy remained with his mouth open, watching Jindagi's action. Then, suddenly, he heard muffled laughter. He looked up and saw that the other college students... openly witnessing the humiliation of this defiant boy... were laughing with their mouths covered.
"No.... It's enough....." the boy shouted in anger, clenching his fists. His loud voice brought silence back to the college campus.
"You have messed with the wrong person, Jindagi. The price for this... you will have to pay dearly... very soon....." the boy said angrily and then, gesturing his friends to get up... headed towards the canteen.
To be continued:
"Have you lost your mind, Zindagi?? Do you even know which boy you've tangled with??" As soon as they reached the canteen, Meethi scolded Zindagi to her heart's content, but Zindagi seemed unaffected.
On her very first day of college, Zindagi had crossed paths with her super-senior, Ricky Agarwal, who was the son of a renowned builder in the city and also the college's don.
"Hey, why are you shouting?? All the eardrums in my ears are shaking. I can hear everything even when spoken softly," Zindagi said, placing her hand over her ear as if Meethi's voice was truly making her eardrums vibrate, when in fact Meethi's voice was low, but filled with anger.
"I can see that..... how much can you hear?? When I was telling you to leave here quietly, why didn't you hear that??" Meethi asked angrily.
"Hey!! How could I just leave?? Without confronting him?? Didn't you see, he was getting rude with us," Zindagi defended herself.
"...And why are you getting so hyper?? You should be happy and congratulating me for the great job I did. Didn't you see the reaction of all the girls and boys in class? They were all looking at me with admiration and wanting to befriend me," Zindagi said, lifting her chin proudly.
"They don't want to befriend you... they want to befriend your status... the one you've given with the name 'Rana Empire'," Meethi said, bringing Zindagi crashing down from the heavens to earth.
"So what?? It's all the same, isn't it... Am I and Rana Empire different?" Zindagi still couldn't understand why Meethi was so upset.
"You've spoken the truth, Zindagi... today or tomorrow, you're going to be the owner of Rana Empire," Purvi said, placing their orders on the table. A smile spread across her face.
"I will..." Zindagi glared at Purvi. Understanding what Purvi was hinting at, Zindagi simmered.
"Why aren't you speaking now?? You threatened the entire college with the name Sahir Singh Rana and walked away... and now your name is being associated with him... and you feel bad??" Meethi asked Zindagi, wrapping her arms around herself.
"That's not it... I took Sahir's name because he can handle these kinds of scuffles easily... everyone was happy... as if I had done something great... but you're so annoyed... as if I've let your buffalo loose," Zindagi said casually, in a style of flicking a fly off her nose.
"Let your buffalo loose?? What does that mean?" Meethi asked in surprise.
"But what's the harm in letting a buffalo loose, and what is this buffalo?" Purvi's next question.
"It's not 'the buffalo'... it's 'a buffalo'. Buffalo is a feminine noun," Zindagi told Purvi.
"Whatever it is... but what does it mean?" Purvi still couldn't understand.
"I don't know myself... I just heard it," Zindagi said casually, drinking her cold drink.
"You both really don't know what a buffalo is??" Meethi felt like banging her head.
Zindagi shook her head in denial.
"Oh God!! What will happen to this girl?? Buffalo is called 'Baisakhi'... now do you understand?" Meethi explained.
"Oh yes!! I've seen its picture in the book," Zindagi said happily.
"But tell me one thing... why do people get annoyed at the mention of letting a buffalo loose?" This was Zindagi's next question for Meethi. Before Meethi could say anything in response to Zindagi's question...
"Whose buffalo has been let loose and who has taken it away?" Jayant asked, placing his hand on Zindagi's shoulder.
"Meethi's," Zindagi replied promptly. Upon hearing Zindagi's answer, Meethi glared at Zindagi in anger, but Zindagi was no longer worried. Meethi and Purvi, seeing Jayant there in the college canteen, paused for a moment, lost in thought.
"What is this specimen doing here?" Purvi whispered into Meethi's ear.
"Now only Zindagi can tell what he's doing here," Meethi said softly, looking at Zindagi in anger. Jayant was not liked by either of them, nor did Jayant like these two friends of Zindagi, which Jayant had no problem showing upfront... nor did Meethi and Purvi.
But Zindagi... now ignoring her friends, got completely engrossed in talking to Jayant, who had come and sat on the seat next to her.
"So you both also got admission in this college with Zindagi??" Jayant said, looking at Meethi and Purvi. Jayant's demeanor was as if he was mocking them.
"No, we've come to visit..." Purvi said with a pout.
"By the way, tell us... what are you doing here??" Before Jayant could reply to Purvi... Meethi asked her question.
"I study here too..." Jayant said calmly.
"Did you pass the test or is it the favor of your father's wealth?" Purvi said, doing justice to her samosa.
"It must surely be the favor of Jindal Industries. After all, what will they do with so much money?? They can't just throw it on the road, can they? They distribute it like this..." Meethi also supported Purvi.
"Look!! This is getting too much..." Jayant said, pointing a finger at Purvi.
"Not yet!!! It's just the beginning... Zindagi Madam will do more," Meethi pointed towards Zindagi.
"What will I do??" Zindagi asked innocently.
"Why??? Aren't you going to speak now?? He's mocking us too..." Purvi said.
"You two, really... where do you take the conversation?" Zindagi shook her head.
"What's the matter, Zindagi??" Seeing Zindagi so troubled, Jayant asked her. In response, Zindagi told him everything.
"Don't worry... I'll take care of it..." Jayant assured Zindagi.
"Yes, for now, focus on your class. Your friends are calling you," Purvi gestured towards Jayant's friends who were coming towards them to call him.
"Okay... Zindagi! I'll meet you later." Jayant got up.
"Okay, bye..." Zindagi said.
After Jayant left, when Zindagi looked at her friends, they were both staring at her with dangerous expressions, looking less and glaring more.
"What happened??" Zindagi asked.
"You tell us, when did this happen??" Meethi's direct indication was towards Zindagi and Jayant's friendship.
"Oh come on!! We've known each other since childhood..."
"We also know each other since childhood... but we don't know you as well as you know Jayant," Purvi tried to explain to Zindagi.
"There's nothing like that... he's a good boy..." Zindagi seemed unwilling to listen to anything.
"Then when did we say he's a bad boy? It's just that his intentions are a bit bad, and you need to be a little cautious," Purvi explained to Zindagi without mincing words.
"Okay, let's go... it's time for class. You both go to your respective sections. I'll go to my department too," Zindagi said, getting up and picking up her bag. Meethi and Purvi exchanged glances... they both understood that Zindagi was upset by their words, but still, they were worried about Zindagi.
But Zindagi didn't care that knowingly or unknowingly... she had taken a step towards her destruction.
To be continued:
From the next part, Zindagi's real tests will begin.
"Where did those two get stuck?? Haven't their classes finished yet??" Zindagi was standing at the gate for a long time after finishing her class, waiting for her two friends to arrive, but they still hadn't come. Zindagi took out her phone from her packet and tried calling Purvi, when she received a message from Meethi on her phone, "Don't wait for us, Zindagi.... We are going for coaching after class finishes... You go home."
"Oh no...." Reading Meethi's message, Zindagi became very angry.
"Naughty girls.... Couldn't they have told me by calling? I would have reached home by now."
Zindagi called the driver.
"What should I do now?? The car will take another 15 minutes to arrive. Now I have to stand here for 15 minutes and wait." Zindagi said tiredly. There wasn't a single free period since morning, and Zindagi's legs started aching from standing at the gate for so long, but it was a compulsion... she had to stand.
Zindagi started waiting for the car to arrive, standing near the gate.
"What's the matter, heroine! Can't find a lift??" Ricky Agarwal stopped his bike and stood in front of Zindagi.
"Come, get in my car..." Ricky started singing and circling around Zindagi. He had two or four companions with him, who were laughing foolishly while watching this whole spectacle.
For a moment, Zindagi got scared because there was no one near the gate. Most students had left... and those who were leaving... pretended not to see her. It was obvious that no one wanted to get involved in someone else's mess.
She wanted to run away from here... but that was also not possible. She closed her eyes out of fear.
"Why are you afraid of anything?? What is fear?? Fear is just an illusion of our mind... The more you fear the fear in your mind... the more fear will scare you. So, instead of running from fear... learn to stand firm and face it. Then you'll see, fear will run away from you... with its tail between its legs." As soon as she closed her eyes, Zindagi heard Sahir's words in her ears.
"I shouldn't be afraid of these people... this morning too, I stood firm in front of them... and they ran away. Kunwar Sa's words have weight." This thought immediately came to Zindagi's mind, and she opened her eyes.
"Really! Do you have the audacity to give Zindagi Singh Rana a lift!" Zindagi wrapped both her hands around her chest and said with full attitude.
"Where have you seen our audacity yet?? We have the audacity to make you disappear from here..." Ricky parked his bike and stood beside Zindagi, saying this.
"You will make me disappear?? Very funny!! Perhaps you don't know... how big the price will be for what you are doing. There is still time... move out of my way, or you will disappear overnight with your family. So, it's better to leave here quietly." Zindagi said angrily.
Hearing Zindagi's words, Ricky laughed, mocking her.
"I won't move out of your way... because not only our paths but our destination is also the same. Come on!! What will you do?? Tell me, baby.... what will you do??" Ricky said, looking into Zindagi's eyes.
Zindagi took out her phone. She was about to call Sahir when Ricky snatched the phone from her hand.
"So, madam is calling Kunwar Sa. By the way, who is this Kunwar Sa?? Where is he from, a king or a prince??" Ricky asked Zindagi in a mocking tone, looking at the dialing list on her phone.
"Give me my phone quietly..." Zindagi tried to take her phone back from Ricky's hand.
"No, no, baby... whatever falls into Ricky's hands once, it becomes his. Whether it's a phone... a bike... or a girl..." Ricky put Zindagi's phone in his pocket and forcibly started pulling Zindagi towards his bike.
"Leave me." Zindagi screamed. Ricky signaled his friend... to bring the car, and started dragging Zindagi away forcibly.
"Help me...." Zindagi was screaming.
"What happened??? You were going to make me disappear overnight... and now you're calling others for help. Baby!! No one will come to help you here. The entire area is ours." Ricky said, trying to touch Zindagi inappropriately. Zindagi understood Ricky's intentions, so she quickly turned and stomped on his foot.
"Wow!! If God gives beauty... then grace comes automatically." Ricky was stunned by Zindagi's action, but he was also a completely rotten person. He couldn't give up so easily. As Jayant tried to pick Zindagi up, a strong hand hit Ricky's face.
"Didn't I tell you... don't touch her..." Jayant stood in front of Ricky with his friends. Seeing Jayant in front, Zindagi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Look, Jayant!! You have no quarrel with us... so step aside." Ricky said with a little softness seeing Jayant in front.
"Who said I have no quarrel with you?? The girl you touched.... is my Zindagi. Meaning, you have directly touched Jayant Jindal's Zindagi. Now, this hand will not remain in your hand." Jayant said, freeing Ricky's hand from Zindagi's hand, he grabbed it tightly and twisted it sharply. Ricky's hand broke in two places with a crackling sound.
Hearing "Jayant's Zindagi" from Jayant's mouth, Zindagi looked at Jayant with her eyes wide open... but when she heard the sound of Ricky's hand breaking, she became happy.
"What are you all looking at??? Beat him." Ricky shouted in pain. After this, a major commotion ensued outside the college. Jayant also sustained some injuries in the fight... which made Zindagi's face fall, but for now, she was standing and watching the spectacle.
Just then, Zindagi's car stopped in front of the college gate.
"You go from here now... Zindagi, and don't tell anyone at home about this commotion. I'll talk to you later. Let me deal with him first." Jayant signaled Zindagi to leave from there.
"But you...." Blood was flowing from Jayant's wound... so Zindagi didn't want to leave him.
"Don't worry.... he can't do anything to me, but you leave.... your standing here will escalate the situation. Do you understand!!" Jayant gestured towards Zindagi's driver. Reluctantly, Zindagi obeyed Jayant and got into her car.
"Kaka Sahab, I have seen and checked all the details. Proceed with the next steps accordingly," Sahir said, handing a file to Prem.
"Yes, Rana Sahab..." Prem took the file from Sahir and started looking at it right there. As he turned the pages, his eyes widened.
"Rana Sahab, do you even realize what you're doing?" Prem asked, looking at Sahir in surprise.
"Very well... Kaka Sahab. The cat-and-mouse game has to stop now. It's time to declare an open war," Sahir said seriously.
"You can present a million pieces of evidence... but my heart will never accept that it was just an accident. How long will these mice hide in their holes?? They have to come out," Sahir said with dangerous resolve. Prem observed Sahir's face intently. At this moment, his expression seemed more dangerous than that of a ferocious lion.
"You are right, Rana Sahab... but try to understand this too... if they play such a game again... we will suffer significant losses," Prem tried to explain to Sahir.
"Who cares about losses, Kaka Sahab?? Whatever losses we had to incur, we have. Now it's time to recover those losses," Sahir was serious.
"I'm not talking about financial losses..." Prem said quickly.
"I'm not talking about financial losses either, Kaka Sahab..." Sahir replied instantly.
"Why don't you try to understand, Rana Sahab?? Although Rana Sahab Senior and 9 other people died in that accident. You still survived. The sole heir of the Rana family survived. We cannot allow you to play with fire like this." Prem's concern was evident in his words.
"We know, Kaka Sahab. Our life... is a trust. If life hadn't been there that day... perhaps we wouldn't have survived either. We were also going in the same car with Baba Sahab... but due to destiny, we stopped. But it won't happen like this now. No one can stop us now. Rest assured, Kaka Sahab. Nothing like this will happen now. Just clear this file and show it in the market. I'll take care of everything else," Sahir said, getting up from his chair, making it clear that he wouldn't listen to anything more on this matter.
Prem watched Sahir leave with great sadness; he was worried about Sahir.
"You spoke the truth, Rana Sahab... your life... is a trust. It's time that life is entrusted to someone. We cannot stop you. But life can stop you, right??? I will talk to Jitendra Singh today," Prem thought, exhaling a deep sigh.
"Zindagi... Zindagi..." Jitendra Ji called out for Zindagi as soon as he entered the office.
"She hasn't come back from college yet... she will be here soon. But Prem Sahab is here to see you," Janvi Ji said, taking his bag from Jitendra Ji's hand.
"Where is Prem?"
"There..." Janvi Ji pointed towards the sofa in the drawing-room.
"Listen! You arrange for breakfast, I'll wash up..." Jitendra glanced at Prem and hurried to his room. As quickly as he could... he changed his clothes and came to sit beside Prem. Prem made space for Jitendra Ji next to him.
"Did you come alone? Where is Sahir Sahab?" Jitendra Ji asked, looking around.
"Why? Did you need something from him?" Prem asked, surprised.
"Yes, I needed something... but where is Rana Sahab?" Jitendra Ji seemed restless.
"I don't know, man... he was with us at the office at 10:00 AM today. Then he said he had some urgent work and left. He didn't take any security vehicles. Where did he go without telling anyone? No one understood. At that time, I was in a meeting. He just messaged me not to worry about him??? If not tonight... then by tomorrow morning... he will be back home. Since then, his phone has been switched off. I am worried myself," Prem told Jitendra Ji in a worried tone.
"Rana Sahab... how can he leave without telling anyone? Knowing that enemies are lying in wait for him at every turn. I never expected such foolishness from Rana Sahab," Jitendra Ji said.
"Oh, he must have gone somewhere... with friends. It's not necessary for him to tell us everything. He's young... maybe he went out for a party with his friends," Prem tried to reassure Jitendra Ji, seeing him more worried than himself.
"Really! Do you think our Rana Sahab is like these young boys these days?" Jitendra Ji stared at Prem upon hearing this. Prem nodded in understanding.
"If he had gone out with friends, there would be no issue. You don't understand... what's going on in Rana Sahab's mind right now??? The way he's making hasty decisions, it scares me."
"Meaning?" Prem wanted to know.
"We have to stop Rana Sahab. Targeting Agarwal directly like this... what does that mean? You understand, don't you?" Jitendra Ji said to Prem in a very concerned tone.
"So, the news has reached you. I also came to talk to you about this matter. I understand your point... but do you think I haven't tried to stop Sahir Sahab?" Prem said with great regret.
"But why is Rana Sahab doing this? We have no direct enmity with Agarwal. He is loyal to the Sisodia family. Or, you could say, he is a pawn of Sisodia, and you don't win a war by killing pawns," Jitendra Ji told Prem.
"Meaning, you are also thinking what I am thinking?" Prem asked, his gaze fixed on Jitendra Ji's face after his statement. In response, Jitendra Ji took a deep breath.
"Agarwal came to my office today... he was asking to speak with Rana Sahab," Jitendra Ji said thoughtfully in a serious tone.
Sahir had bought all the shares of the companies that provided economic support to Agarwal's company. Now, Agarwal had to report to the Rana Empire for any decision instead of these companies. But Sahir had cancelled his very first meeting with Agarwal. He didn't want to talk to Agarwal at all. In such a situation, Agarwal was greatly distressed because he could not get money for any project. Wherever he went, everyone refused. Finally, defeated, he came to Jitendra ji. Jitendra ji assured him that he would talk to Sahir about this matter and threatened to deal with him if the matter was not resolved soon. They had no information about this matter until now, so before talking to Sahir, they tried to talk to Prem amicably.
"But I don't understand what I should talk to Rana Sa about and what I should say in this matter?? After all, why is Rana Sa doing this? Knowing that सिसोदिया is behind Agarwal and by doing this, it will openly create enmity with सिसोदिया? And you understand the consequences very well," Jitendra ji said.
"They think that सिसोदिया was involved in that accident..." Prem said.
"But if that were the case, there would have been some evidence somewhere. After this accident, you and I investigated thoroughly. At that time, Sahir Sa might have been a child, but we were not. I was present in the car behind with Zindagi, Jaanvi ji, and Sahir Sa. There was no attack on us from anywhere. At that time, that car went out of control and fell into a ravine. After falling hundreds of feet into the ravine, the car parts were not found, let alone the people??? No one could be saved. Later, it was found that its brakes had failed. Nothing was found anywhere to prove that it was a murder and not an accident. Then why is Sahir Sa digging up old graves after so many years???" Jitendra ji said thoughtfully.
"That's what I can't understand either, what is going on in Sahir Sa's mind?? You remember that at that time he was furious seeing Jindal, because of which we had to remove Jindal from here. It is heard that Jindal has come to India again with his family," Prem said.
"Yes, at that time I was also scared that if Jindal remained in front, Sahir might kill him. For this reason, I removed Jindal from here. But I don't understand that Jindal's family has nothing to do with us, so how can Jindal have a role in that accident?? And why is Sahir Sa repeatedly suspecting Jindal?? Like Jindal knows something about this, but we did question Jindal, didn't we??" Jitendra ji asked.
"That's the problem, yaar, he doesn't speak openly. But as far as I can see, he has found out a lot from his sources. Agarwal is not his first target. Before this, he has questioned one or two people and perhaps he has found something in it, which is why he is very confident. It is heard that in this, Jindal has ruined his clothing business, because of which he is agitated," Prem said.
"Brother, even if something like this happens, we have to stop Sahir Sa. You are not understanding, सिसोदिया, Jindal, and Agarwal, if these three are united, they are very dangerous. The person who can get Sahir Sa's entire family killed due to his enmity, that too with so much security, will he spare Sahir Sa??" Jitendra ji was also worried.
"That's my concern too, we have to divert Sahir Sa's attention from all these things somehow. Until someone comes out openly in front of us," Prem said.
"But how??" Jitendra ji asked.
"Oh wow, Kaka ji has come?? Ghani Khamma. Kaka ji." Jitendra ji and Prem ji were discussing this serious topic when Zindagi arrived from college.
"Ghani Khamma, daughter... How are you??" Prem replied to Zindagi's greeting but signaled Jitendra ji with his eyes to remain quiet, but Jitendra ji was restlessly changing his posture.
"We are fine... Is Sahir here too? Where is he??" As soon as she arrived, Zindagi asked about Sahir.
"Zindagi.... When will you improve??" Jaanvi ji glared at her. She absolutely did not like Zindagi calling Sahir by name and had scolded Zindagi many times for this. But what kind of Zindagi would she be if she reformed after hearing something once??
Not only did she call Sahir by name in front of Jaanvi ji, but she also called him by new nicknames. She just made sure not to utter Sahir's name in front of Prem Kaka ji or Papa Sa. And in front of Sahir, Zindagi would lose her words as well as her voice. Calling him by name was a far cry.
So, biting her tongue, she apologized by holding her ear. Prem and Jitendra ji smiled at her antics.
"No... Nana Sa did not come with us. He has gone somewhere due to some business meetings..." Prem informed.
Hearing that Sahir was not at home, Zindagi breathed a sigh of relief. But the next moment, she was consumed by worry for Sahir.
"... And you didn't go with him?? You should have gone with him, shouldn't you??" Zindagi's words carried both her concern and surprise, which Prem, as well as Jaanvi ji and Jitendra ji, had sensed.
"No, daughter, he did not take us with him, nor did he inform us..." Prem said with great regret. He wanted to see how much Zindagi was worried about Sahir, and his arrow had hit the right target.
"What do you mean he didn't take you? And on top of that, he didn't even inform you?? How can he do that??" Zindagi said in a slightly angry, loud voice. Her voice was noticeably higher than normal.
"When he comes, you can ask him yourself then.." Jitendra ji replied with a slight smile.
"We will definitely ask him, they increase our security so much, and he roams around without security??" Zindagi said, pouting.
Zindagi was surprised that Sahir, who always followed rules and regulations, could make such a big mistake himself?? But her concern and surprise were interpreted differently by these people. With a look, Prem signaled Jitendra ji to think about this matter. Jitendra ji understood Prem's point.
"Alright, alright, first go wash your hands and face and then eat. The samosas will be here. They won't disappear.... Go quickly...." Jaanvi ji stopped Zindagi's hand as it moved towards the plate of samosas.
"You should have been his mother then..." Zindagi said poutingly, adjusting her bag and starting towards her room.
"Whose??" Prem looked at Zindagi, not understanding.
"Oh!! Kaka ji, don't you know?? Of that Rule Book," Zindagi replied, pouting.
"Rule Book!!! Who is this???" Jitendra ji and Prem ji looked at Zindagi together.
Zindagi's steps faltered at the door as she moved towards her room.
"Oh, that Rule Book.... the one who is Mom's darling.... who made Zindagi's life a rulebook," Zindagi said pitifully, pouting.
"Now, you either go wash your hands and face quietly or should I teach you the rules and regulations?? Get out of here..." Jaanvi ji scolded her.
"She has kept a very good name for herself..... our daughter, Rana Sa," Prem said laughingly.
"But the worrying thing is, why did this Rulebook break the rules and regulations??" Jaanvi ji said worriedly. She had overheard Prem and Jitendra ji.
"My heart is very uneasy, I don't know where my child is??" Jaanvi ji's words were filled with worry.
"Don't worry, Jaanvi ji, we'll find out..." Jitendra ji got up and stood, and Prem also followed. Both went out together.
To be continued:
"Is the information completely solid, Arjun? It's not like we'll be empty-handed again this time, will we?" Sahir asked, glancing at Arjun sitting beside him.
"No, Rana Sa... this time the information is completely solid... we will find that man right here... I've had my man tailing him for a month. He's coming here tonight," Arjun said.
"Who are you calling Rana Sa??" Sahir stared at Arjun.
Arjun, who was driving, felt the intensity of Sahir's gaze on his face and closed his eyes. "Sorry, man!! It's just that... sometimes my tongue slips..." Arjun said with a smile.
"Then keep your tongue in check... otherwise, if my hand slips one day... it will be very bad," Sahir said, putting his phone in his pocket. Arjun burst out laughing at Sahir's words.
"We've arrived... we're at our destination," Arjun said, pulling the car to the side. Sahir glanced outside from inside the car. It was around 10:00 PM, and the place where their car was parked was a deserted settlement quite far from the city, where only a handful of houses were visible. It was completely dark outside.
The entire settlement was plunged into darkness, as if no one lived there or everyone had fallen into a deep sleep by 10:00 PM. Only a shop had its shutter half-open, and a dim yellow bulb was burning outside it. Its light was just enough for him to see his own face and let others know of his presence.
"What kind of place is this??" Sahir asked Arjun, who was now unbuckling his seatbelt and preparing to get out.
"It's Pandora's Box, my friend..." Arjun said with a smile.
"Meaning??" Sahir asked, even though he understood his words.
"Come inside and see, you'll understand everything," Arjun said with a knowing smile.
"Why do we need to go inside? Can't we wait for him in the car?" Sahir asked.
Arjun shook his head.
"This is the path for those who are coming here for the first time, otherwise, there are many other ways for customers to come here. And for those customers who are regulars, there are even more special paths. By the way, if you command it, I can arrange a special pass for you too..." Arjun leaned towards Sahir and said.
"Have you been here before??" Sahir asked Arjun, raising an eyebrow.
"I've brought you here without having been here myself..." Arjun said, waving his special pass in front of Sahir's eyes from his pocket.
"Shall I tell you something inside information??" Arjun leaned slightly towards Sahir.
"Yes, tell me..."
"Once someone comes to this special place... they become a part of it. Just like me," Arjun said, raising the collar of his blazer.
"What is it about this place?? I can't see anything... other than this dilapidated building..." Sahir said in a confused manner.
"You won't see anything," Arjun pouted.
"Oh, come on! You can only see something if there's something worth seeing. It's so dark here, and on top of that, this decaying building, I can't see anything else," Sahir said quickly.
"Never mind... you're a boring person, it's nothing of your concern," Arjun said, sitting up straight the next moment.
"What do you mean??" Sahir narrowed his eyes.
"To see beauty, you need a beautiful vision," Arjun said, pursing his lips.
"What do you mean! Don't I have eyes??" Sahir asked irritably.
"You have eyes... but only to see business deal papers. Not to see this tremendous colorful beauty. It's very colorful inside. A way to make the night colorful..." Arjun smiled knowingly. Sahir understood the meaning of his words.
"Reform yourself... if Prem Kakosa finds out about your antics... you can't even imagine what will happen to you?? They'll beat you so much that they'll color not just your nights, but your days too. You'll see stars in broad daylight," Sahir said, lightly hitting Arjun on the head.
"That will happen the day they find out too... but think about yourself, what will happen that day when they find out that their Rana Sa is also treading the paths of such alleys?" Arjun asked.
"Are you blackmailing me??"
"No, no, brother... I don't have that much audacity? To blackmail the king of Pratapgarh.... Let's go inside and see," Arjun gestured for Sahir to get out.
Sahir stood in front of the shop with Arjun. Sahir looked at the building very carefully before going inside. From the outside, the building was in a very dilapidated condition. This two-story building looked as if it hadn't been painted in years, and the plaster was peeling off in many places. One room had been converted into a shop with a shutter from the outside. What was inside now?? That would only be known after going inside.
"I wish!! My search would be fulfilled today!!" Sahir breathed a deep sigh, fumbled for the revolver in his pocket, and ducked with Arjun, going inside through the shop's shutter.
Arjun was right, things are not always as they seem... Sahir also understood this. But what was inside made Sahir's eyes widen for a moment.
To be continued;
"Wish!! May my search be fulfilled today!!" Sahir sighed deeply, felt the revolver in his pocket, and ducked down with Arjun, slipping in through the shop's shutter.
Inside the shop, it seemed even darker than outside. Only a night bulb was lit in the entire room, a red one. The room was twenty by twenty feet, so it would be more appropriate to call it a hall rather than a room. Sahir's gaze swept across the hall. This zero-watt red bulb wasn't providing enough light for the entire hall, but it was still enough to make out things easily.
There was no furniture in the hall; only pictures of gods and goddesses adorned the walls. A simple, torn old carpet was laid out on the floor.
Sahir looked at Arjun. Arjun took Sahir's hand and led him towards a corner. There, an electric meter was fixed to the wall. Arjun gently removed the electric meter. Inside was a small blackboard, perhaps a scanner for something. Arjun placed his pass there.
Without a sound, the carpet moved aside, revealing stairs leading down. Arjun, holding Sahir's hand, moved towards them. Sahir stood there, looking down the stairs. Near the last few steps, there was a bright light. Apart from that, nothing else could be heard, perhaps very loud noise or something like a DJ was playing inside.
Sahir and Arjun started descending the stairs one by one, as they were so narrow that only one person could go down at a time.
"Careful... it's slippery here," Arjun said.
Sahir nodded in agreement.
By the time they reached the last step, Sahir's lips curved into a smile as he gauged the atmosphere inside. Arjun had said it right. Things are not always what they seem. And here, even at night, it felt like daytime. The scene inside was exactly like a beer bar. A stout, broad-shouldered man stood at the door.
Arjun handed his pass to the man.
"Come in, sir... you are so generous... it seems you've found your place here," the man said, smiling as he looked at Arjun, recognizing him perhaps.
"There is more color here than in the outside world... so how could one not find their place? After leaving here, it feels like the heart is left behind..." Arjun replied in the same tone. Hearing Arjun, the man smiled broadly.
"You're right," the man said, inserting Arjun's card into a small machine he held and looking at a large screen in front of him.
"Fourth time this week... and with a balance of ten lakhs! Are you wealthy... or black money holders?" the man asked Arjun.
"Neither... I am from your community..." Arjun replied.
"Who is this? A new person?" the man asked, pointing towards Sahir.
"He's my friend... make him a pass," Arjun whispered into the man's ear.
"Has Monty arrived?" Arjun immediately took out a 2000 rupee note and placed it in the man's hand. The man, in turn, took out a new pass from his pocket and placed it in Sahir's hand, quietly telling Arjun, "Yes, he has arrived."
Arjun immediately placed another 2000 rupee note in his hand, "Where is he?"
The man whispered, "On the third floor... room number 413."
Arjun and Sahir moved inside. Both were wearing masks, and their clothes were different today.
Monkey-wash jeans and a vibrant t-shirt.
Typically, Sahir and Arjun wouldn't wear such clothes. But perhaps keeping this place in mind, both had changed their attire. Their hair was styled up, so even if someone saw them here... the chances of being recognized were negligible. But as a precaution, both wore brown contact lenses.
Sahir and Arjun moved through the beer bar towards the dance floor. Loud music was playing on the dance floor, and intoxicated boys and girls were dancing.
"The environment here is more boring than a pub," Sahir said softly, casting a look of disgust around him.
Arjun smiled at his words.
"I told you... to see beauty, one needs a beautiful perspective... but alas! You don't have it," Arjun said, gesturing with his eyes towards a girl who was so drunk she was beyond all consciousness.
"Useless people..." Sahir muttered under his breath. The air was filled with cigarette smoke and the haze of drugs.
Perhaps if they didn't have masks on, they wouldn't have been able to bear it. Arjun and Sahir started descending from the dance floor. Just then, a girl, dancing uncontrollably, collided with Sahir. Arjun and Sahir's hands were jerked apart. If Sahir hadn't caught the girl in his strong arms in time... she would have fallen onto the dance floor by now.
"Be careful..." Sahir said, steadying the girl with a jerk.
In response, the girl looked at Sahir with her glazed eyes and flashed a smile.
"What a cool guy...! I like you...."
Sahir felt awkward. He looked closely at the girl and let go abruptly. Arjun had already descended from the dance floor; he gestured for Sahir to come to him.
"Where are you going?" the girl tried to grab Sahir's hand by stepping forward. But Sahir, shaking his hand free with a jerk, walked towards Arjun. Descending from the dance floor, Sahir... turned back and looked at the dance floor before going further inside. The girl had now disappeared into the dancing crowd. Sahir suddenly felt as if he had seen a golden bracelet on the girl's hand, inscribed with a shining 'J'. He had seen such a bracelet somewhere before.
Sahir's mind was very sharp. He could never forget something he had seen once. He remembered it instantly. But the next moment, he dismissed his thought.
"No, no, she can't be here..." Sahir thought to himself and then proceeded towards the third floor with Arjun.
To be continued:
"Oh, if only my search would end today!!" Sahir sighed deeply, fumbled for the revolver in his pocket, and, crouching with Arjun, slipped in through the shop's shutter.
Inside the shop, it seemed even darker than outside. Only a night bulb was lit in the entire room, a red one. The room was twenty by twenty feet, so it would be more appropriate to call it a hall rather than a room. Sahir scanned the entire hall. This zero-watt red bulb wasn't providing enough light for the whole hall, but still, it was enough to identify objects easily.
There was no furniture in the hall, only pictures of gods and goddesses adorning the walls. A simple, worn-out old carpet was laid on the floor.
Sahir looked at Arjun. Arjun took Sahir's hand and led him towards a corner. There, an electric meter was installed on the wall. Arjun gently removed the electric meter, revealing a small blackboard inside, perhaps a scanner of some sort. Arjun placed his pass there.
Without a sound, the carpet shifted aside, revealing stairs leading down. Holding Sahir's hand, Arjun moved towards them. Sahir stood on the upper level, glancing down at the stairs. Near the bottom step, there was bright light. Other than that, nothing could be heard clearly; perhaps there was a loud noise happening somewhere inside, or some DJ music was playing.
Sahir and Arjun began descending the stairs one by one, as the stairs were so narrow that only one person could go down at a time.
"Be careful... it's slippery here," Arjun said.
Sahir nodded in agreement.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sahir's lips curved into a smile as he gauged the atmosphere inside. Arjun had said it right; things are not always what they seem. And here, even at night, it felt like daytime. The scene inside was exactly like a beer bar. A large, burly man stood at the entrance.
Arjun presented his pass to the man.
"Come in, come in sir... you have a generous heart... it seems you've found your place here," the man said, smiling as he looked at Arjun. He likely recognized Arjun.
"There's more vibrancy here than in the outside world... so why wouldn't one find their place? After leaving here, it feels like one's heart is left behind..." Arjun replied in a similar tone. Hearing Arjun's words, the man smiled broadly.
"You're right about that," the man said, inserting Arjun's card into a small device he held and looking at a large screen in front of him.
"Fourth time this week... and with a balance of ten lakhs! Are you wealthy... or dealing in black money?" the man asked Arjun.
"Neither... I'm from your community..." Arjun replied.
"Who is this? A new person??" the man asked, pointing towards Sahir.
"He's my friend... make him a pass," Arjun whispered into the man's ear.
"Has Monty arrived??" Arjun immediately pulled out a 2000 rupee note and placed it in the man's hand. The man took a new pass from his pocket, handed it to Sahir, and whispered into Arjun's ear, "Yes, he has."
Arjun immediately placed another 2000 rupee note in his hand, "Where is he??"
The man whispered, "On the third floor... room number 413."
Arjun and Sahir moved inside. Both were wearing masks, and their clothes were also different today.
Monkey wash jeans and a brightly colored t-shirt.
Normally, Sahir and Arjun didn't wear such clothes. But perhaps considering the venue, both had changed their attire. Their hair was styled upwards, so even if someone saw them here... the chance of them being recognized was minimal. However, as a precaution, both wore brown-colored lenses on their eyes.
Sahir and Arjun walked through the beer bar towards the dance floor. Loud music was playing on the dance floor, and intoxicated men and women were dancing.
"The environment here is more boring than a pub," Sahir said softly, casting a look of disgust around him.
Arjun smiled at his words.
"I told you... to see beauty, one needs a beautiful eye... but alas! You don't have that," Arjun said, gesturing with his eyes for Sahir to look at a girl who was so drunk that she had lost all sense of her surroundings.
"Useless people..." Sahir muttered. The air was filled with cigarette smoke and the haze of drugs.
If they hadn't been wearing masks, it might have been unbearable for both of them. Arjun and Sahir began descending from the dance floor when a girl, dancing erratically, bumped into Sahir forcefully. Arjun and Sahir's hands slipped apart. If Sahir hadn't caught the girl in his strong arms in time... she would have fallen on the dance floor by now.
"Be careful..." Sahir said, steadying the girl with a jolt.
In response, the girl looked at Sahir with her glazed eyes and flashed a smile.
"What a cool guy... I like you..."
Sahir felt quite awkward. He looked at the girl intently and let go abruptly. Arjun had already descended from the dance floor; he beckoned Sahir to come closer.
"Where are you going??" the girl asked, stepping forward to grab Sahir's hand. But Sahir, shaking his hand free with a jerk, walked towards Arjun. After descending from the dance floor, Sahir turned and looked back at the dance floor before going further inside. The girl had now disappeared into the dancing crowd. Sahir suddenly felt as if he had seen a golden bracelet on the girl's hand... with a 'J' written on it in diamonds. He had seen such a bracelet somewhere before.
Sahir's mind was very sharp. He never forgot something he had seen once. He remembered it instantly. But the next moment, he dismissed his thought.
"No, no, she can't be here..." Sahir thought to himself and then proceeded towards the third floor with Arjun.
To be continued:
"Weren't you in the mood to rock the dance floor?" Arjun asked mischievously as they walked through the lobby.
"No, I was in the mood to drag you and give you a couple of slaps. Tell me, and I'll take you back," Sahir retorted.
"That's what I thought... I was wondering how a bitter gourd suddenly turned into a sweet mango?" Arjun said, suppressing a smile.
Hearing the words "bitter gourd," Sahir was suddenly reminded of Jindagi. Whenever she heard the name of bitter gourd, she would make a face as if the entire bitterness of the gourd had gone down her throat.
Sahir's lips curved into a smile just thinking of Jindagi. Even though Sahir was wearing a mask, this captivating smile was not hidden from Arjun's eyes.
"By the way, I also heard about a rule book at this time, shall I tell you something about it?" Arjun leaned towards Sahir and said.
"Rule book?" Sahir didn't understand.
"Yes, the same rule book that has turned our Jindagi into a walking law book and is roaming the illegal streets itself," Arjun said with a smile.
In response, Sahir glared at him.
"Sorry, sorry, that's not ours, that's Sahir Singh Rana's life, and Sahil Singh Rana is our life. So it all comes back to the same point, doesn't it, brother?" Understanding Sahir's gaze, Arjun lightly touched his right ear with his right hand and said.
"By the way, why did you stop on the dance floor?" Arjun asked, taking a step towards a door inwardly.
"Nothing, I just felt like I had seen a couple of people there before," Sahir was still entangled with the girl's bracelet.
The path they were walking on was like a maze tunnel. He didn't know where it led. Sahir found it all strange, especially these paths...
It felt like if he had to leave from here suddenly, he would probably get lost because every lobby looked the same, and every path led to two or three other paths. He was trying to remember the path so that he could recognize something and get out quickly, but Arjun's constant talking was breaking his concentration.
"It's bound to look familiar!! They were the spoiled brats of a millionaire father," Arjun said.
"I felt the same, but no one was there from where we came," Sahir said in a way that suggested he didn't understand, because no one else's car was parked on the path from which these two had arrived.
"I told you, brother, there are many entry points and exit points here. Passes are made according to who you are, and entry is granted. With the pass I got, we'll get VIP entry, and you understand what VIP entry means here, right!!!" Arjun said, suppressing a double entendre smile. Understanding his smile, Sahir shook his head.
"This is..." Sahir suddenly saw a logo.
"This is the logo of the Royal Stage Hotel," Arjun completed his sentence.
"We are going there, this is its underground area," Arjun informed.
"What??" Sahir was greatly surprised.
"Did your head spin?" Arjun said with a smile. Sahir looked at Arjun in surprise.
"The more white a person is on the outside, the blacker they are on the inside," Arjun said as they entered an underground lift. "Now, where we are going will open directly into the residential area of the Royal Stage Hotel."
Sahir was surprised, and at the same time, he admired the mind of the hotel owner. The Royal Stage Hotel was in the main market, and these people had come far away from the main town. Inwardly, the Royal Stage Hotel had spread its underground network quite far.
"We could have entered from there too..." Sahir said, thinking. Arjun shook his head in denial.
"We couldn't get entry through the front door for the work we came for, and even if we had, we would have been caught," Arjun said.
"Why don't you just say that by entering through the front door, we would only see what they wanted to show us, and through the back door, we are seeing what we want to see?" Sahir now understood a lot. Behind the facade of the white hotel, a lot of black business was going on because he had glanced around; in every room, there was some illegal deal or some wrongdoing happening. Arjun nodded in agreement.
"That's why we had to use the back route after changing our appearance. Let's go and see what it reveals?" Arjun said, inserting his pass and forcefully opening the door of room number 413, as if it were a master key, not a pass.
*****
"It's 11:00 PM, but Rana Sa is nowhere to be found. I wonder where he went? What if he got into some trouble?" Prem was very worried.
Both their cars were currently in the outskirts of the city. Apart from these two, a few of their men were searching for Sahir in other areas as well. Prem and Jitender Ji had been wandering around searching for Sahil for a long time.
According to the information received so far, no one had seen them after 1:00 PM.
"Where could he possibly have gone?" Jitender Ji said worriedly. He was now considering informing their high-level security or seeking police help.
"That's what I don't understand either. Why would someone break their own security like this? Knowing that there is danger for them everywhere? Arjun was also supposed to come today, and he hasn't arrived yet either," Prem said, looking at his watch.
"One minute, Arjun was supposed to come. Then why don't you call Arjun and find out? Maybe Rana Sa and Arjun are together," Jitender Ji advised.
"What do you think I haven't done? His phone is also switched off," Prem was worried about Sahir's security. Enemies were scattered at every step of the way. In such a situation, Sahir disappearing like this without informing was very disturbing. Sahir used to disappear for three-four days before like this, but at that time, he would give Prem a solid excuse, and upon Sahir's return, Prem would know where Sahir had gone. And later, when Prem would get angry with him, Sahir would smile and hold his ears.
But perhaps Sahir had left in such a hurry today that he didn't have time to give Prem any solid excuse.
"This means that both friends have gone out somewhere, and we are wasting our time unnecessarily," Jitender Ji thought.
"When Sahir Sa arrives today, I will ask him. His excuses won't work today, and if Arjun is behind all this!! then he's in trouble," Prem's anger was not subsiding.
"Don't worry too much, with Arjun around, Rana Sa will be fine," Jitender Ji said, putting his hand on Prem's shoulder.
"How can he be fine!! That Arjun himself is a walking shop of trouble," Prem said while driving.
"He is for you, but not for Rana Sa. He understands his responsibility. He is your son, isn't he? He would give his life for Rana Sa but wouldn't let any harm come to Rana Sa. Have that much faith in your son. Let's go home and see. Maybe both have arrived?" Jitender Ji said, looking at the time on his watch.
"That's true..." Prem turned the car towards home.
"Since Arjun has arrived, they wouldn't have come through the front door, which is why Janvi Ji also hasn't called; she must be worried too," Jitender said with a smile.
But Sahir and Arjun were in real trouble.
To be continued:
