A menacing silence
" Where is Jeet", Rash asked the house help after she came back to Mumbai. She went directly to Aashiyana.
" Sir is in a meeting with his commandos and deputy", said the help. " He does not wish to be disturbed".
Rash knew it was security related immediately and did not ask any further questions. Guru was with him. As she called Shaun it went to his voice mail.
" In a tedious surgery . Please leave your message. Thanks. Dr. Shaun Josef".
" Ever the polite as*h*le", murmured Rash.
Zeeshu however picked on the second ring.
" Yes sweetheart", he said.
" Where are you", she asked.
" Better you don't hear the answer", he said.
She sighed and said,
" I need to meet Chi Chi. Can you help?"
" Sure but you will not go with blazing guns in his house", replied Zeeshu.
" Yes sir", she said.
" Be a good girl and wait for me", said Zeeshu.
" Okay", she giggled.
Zeeshan got years of his life back with that sound.
" I love you ", he said.
She blew kisses and cut the call.
Zeeshan sighed and looked at the place where he was standing.
Revathi House
The resort stood in the same condition as it stood three years ago...
The night he left them all in mourning..
" Its been three years", said Guru as he put a hand on Zeeshan's back.
" Seems like yesterday", said Zeeshu with a heavy heart as his eyes watered.
Guru couldn't control his tears either.
" Lets get in", he said weakly.
Revathi House was now an abandoned ruin. Dragon bought it from the owner. The famous seven star resort stood mummified like a shrine as if telling a story.
A horrifying and violent story that resulted in a deep loss.
Every thing was in place. The scattered chairs, broken lights, the clothes the tables, broken vases with wilted flowers.; the garlands that the bride threw and that the groom never woreand a broken yagna vedi. Everything was covered with cobwebs and dust. Owls probably hooted at night.
A stage decorated with dried flowers was at the center. Two dirt filled sofas were on it..
A sign above the stage read
SHEETAL WEDS SUMEET
Zeeshan moved ahead to see Shaun standing there staring at it. His eyes were red but his tears were probably all dried up.
" Shaun", said Guru.
They hugged.
" Where is he", asked Shaun.
" The f*cker locked himself in that groom's room", replied Zeeshu.
" Damn", said Shaun. " He is spiralling again. He is losing it".
" If he does", said Guru, " then Waheguru save us all".
" Bring Dev uncle", said Guru to Shaun. " Priests just called. I am going to see the arrangements. Zeeshu".
" Yeah I'll get him", sighed Zeeshan.
Meanwhile
Two old men were sitting in a room. Their faces showed pain and loss.
" Devendra you shouldn't come .This is too much for your heart", said Adhiraj.
" I need to", replied Dev Oberoi. " I feel close to him here.And does it matter? Nobody can fool me. I am already a dying man. I just wish my dead son gets justice and the other gets peace in his heart before I join himand my wife".
" You know he cannot be in peace until he avenges him", said Adhiraj.
" I don't know Adhi", said Dev. " Jeet has lost the happiness of his life. You know about his emotional emptiness. But now even when I look at Rash I feel I failed that sweet girl. Jeet needs to let it go and move ahead. He is not dead Adhi. But with him I can't", he broke down.
" Dev no don't get agitated. We both are old men. We have seen this life and we want what is best for ourr sons. I'll talk to him", he said.
" Thanks".
Adhi also thought of his daughter-in-law when Dev talked about Rash. Chanchal has been consistently deteriorating after her miscarriage.
" God knows what future helds for us all", he said.
Shaun came in then.
" Uncle the puja is about to start", he said.
Adhiraj walked with a stick as Shaun wheeled in Mr. Oberoi continiously asking about his health.
Meanwhile
Zeeshan knocked a room.
" Jeet. Come out now. The priests have arrived", he said.
The room slowly opened.
Jeet silently looked at Zeeshan and nodded. His silence surpassed a thousand screams.
There was no emotion on Jeet's face. It was like that he held a switch that could switch off anything that could make him a normal person thought Zeeshan. IT MADE HIM MORE DANGEROUS . They both quietly walked and entered a room.
The room was completely cleaned; a stark contrast to rest of the rooms. It was well lit, freshly painted and completely air conditioned. A garlanded photograph of a young man was near a yagna vedi Dev Oberoi was on his wheel chair. Beside him Adhiraj sat on an another chair.
There were clean mats on the ground where 11 priests sat chanting mantras.
Jeet folded his hands and sat opposite to them. His friends were sitting behind him.
The puja continued for an hour with no one except the priests chanting for the peace of the departed soul.
The man in the photograph has black eyes and jet black hairs. He was smiling and looked very happy.
" Please speak the name of the departed soul and wish peace upon him", said the head priest.
Its been three years but to this day this was the most difficult part knew Guru.
In a clear voice Ranjeet spoke,
" My brother Sumeet Singhania; May you rest in peace. May your soul find salvation and May God bless you in your Afterlife".
Dev started crying as Adhiraj joined him. Sumeet's friends cried too. All barring Ranjeet Oberoi who sat their like a statue staring right at his dead friend who laid down his life for him. His righteous life that would have blessed this city, brought prosperity and broght sunshine.
And look what it has now...Him
A curse that would destroy the city....
" OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI", said the priests.
After the offerings the priests left. And Shaun knew there was no peace here even though everything was silent.
" He never cried for three years on his death", said Guru. " He is botteling it up".
" His silence is menacing", said Shaun to others.
" He has switched his emotions off", said Zeeshan.
" Like he has anything to began with", grimaced Shaun.
Then they joined Ranjeet and the two old men in the groom's room as Jeet stood there with his two dads.
The dragon looked at his deputys.
" Lets begin", he said.