Brushing the sands of past

Finally Maddy travelled with Kenny and Kiara and the twins to his mother's party.

Rakesh was fuming.

" Kiara I appreciate you coming as my plus one", said Maddy.

" So you slept with the bride and the groom knows", chuckled Kiara.

" He needs to beat the sh*t out of you", said Rakesh.

" Hey look pal you keep me away from the love affair you guys have with your brother. I was fine with breaking this tool's leg", he pointed to Rahul. " He added you. Its him you need to talk".

" I just hope he does not create another mess for Queens to clean up", said Kenny.

" You could just leave", said Rahul.

" And face a legal battle with this devil", said Kenny pointing to Maddy. " No thanks".

" Do I hear an appreciation ", Maddy smirked.

" Back in gratitude mode or I'll punch you", said Kiara. " Hey Rocky".

" WHAT", he screamed.

" I can hear thank you", said Kiara. " You can decrease your volume."

" What do you want", he asked.

" Bruh get your mood corrected first", she brushed him off.

" He wants you moron ", whispered Maddy.

" We've had each other. We broke up. It was fun", she whispered. " Nothing serious".

" He is damn serious", said Maddy.

Kiara felt bad for Rakesh. He was a good friend. That's all.

" I don't do serious Maddy", she said. " Look what Kenny got being serious", she said.

" You haven't seen my parents", he rolled his eyes.

" What are you two gossiping", said Rakesh.

" Ahh weather report", teased Maddy.

" You", said Rakesh.

" He is my boyfriend", said Kiara. " Accept that we are done Rocky. You too Rahul. Raj may be a manwh*re and she may never return to him. But she is done with you. We are friends. So don't make it awkward."

" Party pooper", whispered Maddy. " Brutal baby".

" Do you want that punch", retorted Kiara. Maddy wisely shut up.

Back at palace

Raj was on a call with Laxmi Shashtri.

" Aunty its okay if we come then. You are fine right".

" Yes Raj. You and Maddy are same to me", said Laxmi.

" Thank you".

He cut the call.

" So Lonavala", said Solly.

" Yup", he smiled.

" Lets pack", said Ro.

" Not you five on Kenny. She will get an attack", said Myra. " We are coming too. This is an official tour. You bear the expenses". She pointed to Raj.

" No issues. You are most welcome Ms. Kapoor".

Myra turned and left.

One day later

Kiara saw the party first.

" Why am I not surprised", she said tapping a foot.

" We provide moral support to poor Maddy. Groom wants to kill him", said Solly.

" That happens when you don't keep your d*ck in check", retorted Shai.

" Maddy", came a kind feminine voice.

" Maa", Maddy hugged Laxmi then touched her feet.

" Your friends are here too", she said.

" Yeah".

" Aunty", Sheena Raichand came with Paras her groom. He was staring at Maddy.

" You are dead", whispered Ro.

" How many friends you got", he said looking at them all.

" Maddy took Kiara in his arms and mouthed " Sorry". THEN HE SMOOCHED HER.

Kiara liked it. She knew he was doing it for Paras's benefit.

" This is Kiara my girlfriend ", he said. " You know prince Rajeev. Grace is his secretary".

" I am the dress designer", said Myra.

" Welcome everyone ", said Sheena. She looked jealously at Kiara.

" She still holds the flame", whispered Kiara to Maddy.

" Well you are the best fire extinguisher I got", he replied.

Kiara giggled.

" You got a girlfriend", said Laxmi to Maddy. She looked pleased. She hugged Kiara and started talking to her. Kiara got along well with her.

" I know Alok uncle too", she said. " He is a friend of my father".

Laxmi started asking about her family.

Maddy too acted like a doting boyfriend getting her snacks and cold drink.

Meanwhile

" There is a basement full of ancient art", said Rahul.

" Lets look it", said Kenny.

They went to the basement. It was well lit, air conditioned and clean. Rahul showed Kenny a lot of art. Suddenly she stopped at a painting.

It was a king's court. King sat on his throne. Three ladies surrounded him probably his wives. A girl sat at his feet. She looked sad. Kenny felt her pain through the painting. The girl was gorgeous. Her features and figure looked great. She had no veil. A courtesan probably.

" This", said Kenny.

" One of the finest art", said Rahul. " The heirarchy, the clothes the practice of polygamy depicted clearly. This is wow".

" She looks sad", said Kenny.

" Sad", Rahul said. " Who"?

" The girl", Kenny said with difficulty. " She shouldn't be here".

" She is a courtesan Kenny. It was norm for them to sit at king's feet".

" Did he he.. ra..r*pe." , she could not speak as tears came out.

" Yes love", Rahul hugged her. She started crying.

Rahul wiped her face with a wet wipe from her bag and gave her a toffee he carried.

" You really are sensitive", he said taking her face in his hands and and softly kissed her forehead.

Too bad Raj saw them like this.

" KENNY", his voice echoed.

A few minutes back

" Where is Kenny", Raj asked Kiara.

" There is a historical room downstairs. She went to visit it. She like antiques", replied Kiara..

He rushed downstairs to surprise her. Instead. HE WAS SHOCKED.

" Raj", said Kenny. " You..what are you doing here"?

" Intruding in a private moment", sneered Rahul. " F*cker".

" I thought that ....I missed you.... I am sorry", said Raj. His mood soured. " I'll leave".

He turned to leave.

" Or you can look the art with us", said Kenny.

" Art", he turned to look at her . Kenny nodded.

" Its centuries old", she said. " Rahul knows a great deal about art".

" If you say so", he said.

He was still fuming but being with her was fine.

To Rahul's dismay he joined them.

They were looking at the scenes when Raj stopped suddenly.

" This", he pointed to a picture.

It was a wedding picture.

" Those people look young.", he said.

Rahul nodded.

" It was a norm in those days to get married early", he said.

Raj stared at the picture. He was having visions these days of two young peple getting married.

" This room is locked", said Rahul.

" I have a key", said Kenny. " Got it from Maddy as a thank you gesture".

" I saw him alive. So the trick worked", said Raj.

" Yeah", shrugged Kenny. " Come Rahul lets open this door".

SHE HELD HIS HAND AGAIN THOUGHT RAJ.

The door opened to a lot of paintings again. Rahul looked keenly at them.

" These brush strokes, colour combination, lights..this artist is genius", he said.

" Its someone called Vishnu", said Kenny.

" Must be a good artist", said Rahul. " Look how the colours when meet are marked here in showing characters but blurry in horizon."

" You know a lot about art", said Raj.

For the first time he admired his brother.

" Rahul is a painter himself", said Kenny.

" Ohhh".

And then Raj saw her.....

In a red Saree with a puja plate in her hand. Her hairs black in loose plate upto her back .Green playful eyes, her lips in a smile as she bit her lips. Alluring.

AND HE RECOGNISED HER.

She was always sad in his dreams. Dying or crying but here she looked happy.

" Gunjan", he muttered.

And the name struck Kenny.

" What did you say", she asked.

Well he knew his nightmares were a weakness. And Rahul won't hesitate to use it against him.

" Do you know her", asked Kanu.

" No", he shook his head. " Just looks familiar to a girl I met in LA", he lied.

" Ohh", her face fell.

Kenny thought as if..as ..if..she knew that girl..like..someone she met..And then Gunjan the moment Raj spoke the name she was about to answer.

BUT I AM NOT GUNJAN.

WHO IS SHE?

DOES HE KNOW HER?

" Kenny", came a voice.

" Kiara", she replied. " In here".

" Good if you have seen enough maybe we all can have snacks and tea", she said.

" Yeah".

" Oh look they have not murdered each other", said Shai. " We are okay" .

Rahul nodded and left.

" Lets go", said Maddy locking the door.

And thus Raj and Kenny brushed the sands away from their past. Soon it was going to direct their lives.