It is the Calm before the Storm

The next few days passed quickly. The vacation was a blessing. Kenny clicked a lot of photographs. As they returned back she and Kiara checked on Gaurav.

" I feel a lot better girls ", he said.

" Still you should not work this much G", scolded Kenny.

" Your husband needs to win this election to ascend that throne. Kamini will try all the wrong tactics in book", replied Gaurav. " As much as I dislike his hippie ways", Gaurav sighed, " I am his mentor".

" Tell me about it", pouted Kiara.

" Kamini has rigged the Bhishma council. Rahul told me", said Kenny.

" That boy is righteous", said Gaurav.

He was in deep thought.

" Did he attack you", asked Kiara.

" It's a blur", Gaurav held his head. " I don't remember much. " Maybe I saw him. Maybe not. "

He tried to get up but winced in pain again.

The girls were alarmed.

" Uncle please rest", said Kiara.

" Don't over exert yourself ", said Kenny. She massaged his head.

Gaurav's eyes smarted.

" G".

" It's okay just lost in past", he said wiping his tears. " Tell me about the vacation ".

" The whole gang was there", said Kenny.

" We teased Solly and Shai and men played a lot", said Kiara.

" Show me the photographs ", said Gaurav.

" I will. We took so many. Hey uncle I need to upload these pics on my camera on laptop. Maddy took mine and the memory card is full".

" Use mine", said Gaurav.

" You are the best", she said.

Gaurav hugged her. Then he said to Kenny,

" About those officials who are voting against him"..

And the discussion continued.

Parry and Raj were having the same discussion. Maddy was also present.

" The vote in Bhishma is post election", said Parry. " And we are losing 15-9."

" That's 6 votes", said Raj. " A bit difficult to overturn ".

" Not impossible though", said Maddy.

" Considering Rahul wants to leave Bhishma ".

" His choice ", shrugged Raj. " The decision saved his life if you ask".

Maddy was a bit worried.

" What are you thinking ", asked Raj.

" Dr. Prakhar had no interest in ruling yet was killed", he said.

" He recognised the b*stard", said Raj feeling a bit uneasy.

" I think I know him", his instinct said.

" Maddy we ran the dna on our suspects", he asked.

" Yeah Ro said it matched no one except you and Kiara and both of you plus your brothers have a Royal connection", he said.

" I don't want Grandma Cooper enquiring about those similarities between me and him", said Raj.

" Kiara is on it. I asked Grandma not to do it", said Maddy.

" Don't you know her", asked Parry.

" She is doing it bet me", said Raj. " Ask Solly to keep an eye on her. "

" Will do", said Parry.

" For an intelligent investigator he is the biggest moron if you consider relationships", chuckled Maddy.

" Bro did actually want to film him having s*x to give us proof", said Parry as he joined.

" It's fun teasing him", said Raj". " Isn't it"?

The men laughed heartily.

Meanwhile at Mehta's

Myra was trying very hard. Vinita's design s*cked. Literally. But Raj asked her to play along.

" It's a way to get close to them. I requested Mrs Qureshi to help too. I told her we get good business for our textiles. But remember try to grasp even a drop of information you get from Mrs. Radhika Mehta".

Myra agreed. Radhika Mehta knew something.

Payal was with her.

" The heels doesn't sit well with the office dress. And I am not a designer", Payal whispered to Myra.

" In the 24 hrs I have urges to kill her thrice each hour", scoffed Myra.

Payal chuckled.

Mehtas then welcomed a house guest Pammi Chadha. Ad much as her sister-in-laws welcomed the socialite Vinita detested her.

" You don't like Mrs. Chadha at all",asked Payal.

" She is b*tch", said Vinita. " I am adopted alright. Doesn't make me a less of Mehta. I have their upbringing even if I don't share their blood. "

Myra and Payal sensed her insecurities . They felt bad for her.

Pammi Chadha ignored Vinita.

" She has no talent", she whispered to Myra. " She looks like a B grade actress back in our time", she said. " No class".

" Pammi", said Mrs. Radhika Mehta.

" Radhika dear ", she said and the talks begin.

Pammi openly criticised Vinita's design belittling her subtly as Sheena enjoyed.

Vinita left after some time.

" How is the queen", asked Pammi to Payal.

" Her highness is not well today. Heat stroke I am afraid", said Payal.

" Ohh dear. Poor girl. She works very hard. But then poise and Grace comes with Royal blood", said Pammi.

" You knew Malti", said Myra.

" Yeah Jhanvi was really concerned about Gaurav's nupitals. She threatened him with her life. The boy was really reluctant. He was a player" , winked Pammi.

" Can't imagine him like that", smiledyra.

" You didn't know Vikram Oberoi girl. He attracted women like flies. And those other two", sighed Pammi. " An evil eye happened ", she sighed again.

" Guess so", said Payal. " Malti ran a NGO".

" Yeah on women neglected by men", said Pammi.

Payal asked a lot and Pammi heartily replied.

Late Evening

Maddy and Kiara were looking at old photographs.

" This was the break up party Riya and Manav threw", she said.

" My Appa is not in it but Amma is here", said Maddy.

" They were not an item back then", said Kiara.

" Hmm your uncle is absent too", he said.

" As per Zoya aunty and you mom he got dragged to see girl for marriage", said Kiara.

" Soll's dad is absent sis Ro's", wondered Maddy.

Then he said,

" Lisa hid her affair and Numaan made sure Salman uncle was away from Shai's mom".

" Could it be Numaan", asked Kiara.

" He is dead", said Maddy. " And I feel it's not him".

" It could be anyone", wondered Kiara.

" Kenny says party is sure that Raj will win", said Myra.

" And we are 6 votes short in council", said Maddy.

" This is all wrong", said Kiara.

" What baby", asked Maddy.

" This stillness. The calm Maddy ", she replied. " It's the calm before the storm. A catastrophe is coming. I can feel it coming ".

Kiara literally shivered.

" We will handle it love", said Maddy as he hugged her.

HE WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.

Junagarh

Unknown place

" This is not good colonel", said a person.

" Shut up", replied the.man.

He looked at a photograph.

" I thought she died back then", he said.

" If she is alive means one of our own cheated on us", said Dom.

He was the one colonel was talking to.

" Who", asked Colonel. " Did she meet the girl"?

" No as for our sources say", said Dom.

" She wished Mehtas well and left".

" She is biding time". Said the boss. " I taught her this. If she makes a move then we are in trouble ".

" She can try and meet him to give the proofs against you", said Dom.

" The Khuranas. Get them in action. Their father is arrested. They will help. And she is a wanted criminal ", said Colonel.

" Okay", said Dom.

" Also Kamini must know her son plans to leave", said the cobra boss.

" But isn't this wahat you want. The heirs all leaving", asked Dom.

" I want them dead so none of them or their spawns can come back to claim this throne".

" You will need heir though. Ever thought about it", asked Dom.

He was in deep thought now. He hates queen of Vidhangarh but the prophecy is there.

" She will decide the emperor. Where she stands there stands the ruler. Her choice matters".

" I have to work on her", said the man.

" You thought you could work on Riya too", said Dom.

" Leave it to me", he said.

Dom left.

He looked out.

They were in forest in the the outskirts of city. Everything looked calm.

The calm before the storm...