Chapter 9

Sanchi spent the whole of the next day crying, lonely and devastated to the extent that she hadn't even moved out of her dark room. The only job that she possessed was no more with her, the bank had rejected paying her a loan and she had to forcefully push Vihaan to leave Ujjain without solving her case.

It was six o'clock in the evening when the bell to her cellphone rang all of a sudden. Wiping the salty liquid off her cheeks, she scanned her eyes through the unknown number flashing on the bright screen. With trembling fingers, she sweeped her thumb across it.

Before she could mumble anything over the phone call, a hoarse voice radiated into her ear. "Is that you, Miss. Editor?"

The gap of her eyelids widened when she whispered, a little scared of the person on the other end, "Who are...are you, Mister?"

She heard the man's sarcastic laugh. "Haven't you really registered my unforgettable voice in that tiny brain of yours?"

It was not impossible anymore for Sanchi to realize as to who he was. He was the only person who had always teased her for possessing a tiny brain.

"Vih-aan?" Sanchi whispered.

"Vihaan Sir." He corrected her.

Sanchi took a couple of seconds to react to what he said when Vihaan added again, "If you think I've loads of time to waste on you, then you are wrong. Whenever I talk to you, I need immediate answers."

She affixed her lips together to construct answers mentally for him. She then replied in a staunch manner, "Aren't you was-ting too much of your time by pull-ing and stretch-ing some unnece-ssary tittle-tattle like a bubble gum? I don't expect you to corr-ect me at this hour of the eve-ning. I'm sorry but I am busier than the busy smart-ness in you."

"So I take it that you've already solved your endangered case using the busiest tiny brain of the world?" Vihaan remarked gravely as he stretched himself on the chair to his personal workroom.

"That's none of your busi-ness. If you've called for some-thing utmost nece-ssary, buzz it quick-ly and fly off bef-ore any crow pecks on you," Sanchi directed in an annoyed voice.

"Are your words comparing me to buzz and fly like a bee?" Vihaan was gaping with the not-so-humble description of himself.

"Bumble bee." This time she corrected him sternly.

"I'm trying to be nice with you, which I really don't do often with women. You should at least be grateful that I called you to forward my helping hand to you." Vihaan frowned his forehead in annoyance.

"Then I'm tell-ing you in a short and sweet way. Blurt out what-ever you want to in a single sen-tence and put the damn phone on hold," Sanchi uttered in the most humble way she could. At least he must be able to feel it over the call.

"Your annoyance speaks volumes, do you know it really?" He continued with his silly rantings.

"Yes, only till the time your voice is aud-ible to me."

"I think I should tell you why I called you." He came back to the right track when he had exhausted all the metaphors that he had in store for her.

"As if I'm wait-ing with bated brea-ths to hear it!" She added ironically.

"If you hadn't found a way out of Shakti's trauma, I've hatched a master plan for it." He tapped the switch to his table lamp twice before uttering again. "Only if you agree."

Sanchi sighed, aware of the fact that she hadn't yet found any way out of the detrimental trauma. "What...what is it?"

"Are you sure you haven't found a way out?" He wanted to confirm.

Sanchi sat upright on her bed and confessed, "I haven't."

"Fine then, meet me outside your orphanage tonight. I'll be there by twelve midnight. Sneak out quietly after everybody goes to sleep," he ordered her in his usual accent.

"Have you rea-lly lost your brain to some bett-ing person-ality? Are you trying to flat-ter a girl to meet you at night, a girl who has recen-tly been molest..." Sanchi's voice felt heavy over phone.

Vihaan realised his folly quicker than expected and said again, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I know it's difficult for you to trust any man after all that you went through. It's just that I found something that we need to meet and discuss. And secondly, you were the one to request me not to tell anything before the people at the orphanage. So I thought to discuss on Shakti's case outside."

"I hadn't request-ed, I had order-ed you to keep my secret as it is. You don't own the copy-right to spread them as and when you like. Second-ly, if I consi-der your arro-gant mouth invi-sible, I bet you are an honest living crea-ture who can be trust-ed to some extent. After all, you are Viren-dra Sir's son."

"But..."

"Wait, I have not comple-ted with my speech. I have no prob-lem in meet-ing you but I should make sure you are not going to annoy me or your plan should-n't be base-less. That would be a waste of my preci-ous time. Decide pro-perly before we face each other again," Sanchi said strictly.

Vihaan knitted his eyebrows together. "It's final, we're meeting at midnight outside your orphanage. And don't think I'm doing you a favour with anything. It's just that..."

"It's just that you want to repay my debts, I know. It's a deal, we're meeting tonight," Sanchi confirmed and disconnected the call without listening to his awkward replies again.

***** 

Vihaan, dressed in comfortable navy blue polo shirt and light brown khakis, was ready to depart for the unofficial and unwanted meeting with his latest quarrel partner. It was when Dheeraj came knocking to his room and delayed the tour for him.

"Hey brother, do you need something?" Vihaan asked casually.

Analyzing Vihaan's brooding expressions, Dheeraj enquired hastily, "It's ten at night. Where are you going, boy? Anything related to some case?"

Vihaan nodded since he was very well aware of his elder brother's intelligence. "No brother, some different case it is."

"Can it be told to me?" Dheeraj knew Vihaan's adamant nature but it was difficult for him to shrug off the worries for his younger brother.

Vihaan's rigid face lit up in anticipation. "No, I mean there's something different brother. I can't really tell you what it is, I mean I'm myself confused with it and..."

"Wait, do I find my angry young brother fidgeting with his speeches? The toughest DCP of Indore is confused! Do I have to believe this?" Dheeraj scratched the back of his head.

Vihaan leaned against the door to his room, his hands crossed against his chest. "Because it's a different case altogether."

"I can see that already. You generally don't wear your casuals whenever you go out for a case. I'm just pissed that you are not sharing things with me like before. Weren't we more like best friends than brothers?" Dheeraj held Vihaan's wrist comfortably like the care of an elder brother.

Vihaan hugged his brother the next minute. "I'm sorry brother. I know I've hurt the girl you are seeing for yourself and thought you were mad at me. Yet, you came to talk to me."

"You're deviating the topic, Vihaan." Dheeraj said separating from his brother. "Even though you've changed your behavior roughly three years ago, but I know my lively brother is still alive inside you."

"Please, I don't want you to bring up that old dusted topic," Vihaan warned him.

"So what's making my brother so anxious tonight? I can read your eyes and it's not related to any official case." Dheeraj observed the face of a distraught Vihaan and uttered calmly again, "Is it Sanchi?"

Vihaan bit his lower lip. It was very difficult to hide things from the person who had shared the same womb as you, who was your best friend since the day you were born and someone who had been your comfortable zone in every rough situation in life. "Brother, it's her only and..."

"I get you but isn't it unusual for you to be seeking a woman, the ones you despise strongly? You are even going to meet her at this time of the night." Dheeraj was astonished. 

"I am but I'm not seeking her. It's just..."

"Are you in love, Vihaan?" Dheeraj bent his head to take a closer view of his brother's eyes.

Vihaan flinched at this. "Are you going to misinterpret me when you know I'm not the type to fall for anyone at all? It's just that... I want to aid a helpless girl in times of her distress because she had saved my life. I want to repay..."

"The debts you owe her. Am I right?" Dheeraj sighed. "I know you don't keep pending debts at all but what is the reason behind your fidgeting and contemplating with this matter? If you are just going to help somebody out of some problems?"

"I told you it's a different case altogether." Vihaan narrated everything to Dheeraj. "And I hope you will not disclose her matters to anyone, not even to dad or else the dangerous girl will set me ablaze with her overspilling metaphors!"

"I won't but I yet didn't understand why you are going to meet her now. Have you really found a way out?"

"I did brother."

"What have you thought? Her case is really worrisome and a tough nut to be cracked."

Vihaan pressed the skin of his forehead with his fingers before disclosing his plans to Dheeraj. "That's the reason for my confusion and contemplation."

"And you think she'll agree? I know you have crazy and creepy ideas in that police brain of yours but it doesn't mean you're going to play foul with a girl's bad times in life to help her out. Will you?" Dheeraj warned him after listening to everything that his brother had to say.

Vihaan's shoulders slumped in uneasiness. A prolonged silence prevailed in the room before Vihaan muttered again, "I am not playing foul at all. I'm already going to give her an ample of time and opportunity to ponder over my plan. I am not going to force her and it's simple as that. I just want the burden of debts to slide down my shoulders and of course, end of her problems too."

"I don't know what I should say but think again. You are considering everything from the view of a cop-like brain who thinks these things are easy but this might adversely affect..."

"Please brother, I didn't share my worries with you to earn your lame advices. I very well know what I'm doing so it's better that you wish me luck for the plan's success," Vihaan said in a rush and exited the room before listening to Dheeraj's chiding again.

"Why do I feel my brother is unknowingly attracted and getting attached to Sanchi? Or is it just because he feels indebted to her that he wants to help her? But he's made a very nasty plan to which I can't agree wholeheartedly," Dheeraj thought to himself before leaving for his own workroom.

***** 

Virendra stood against the railings of their balcony at midnight, getting worried for both his sons. On one hand, he had his arrogant youngest son Vihaan who was too tough to be handled, and the other one was his eldest son Dheeraj, who was hiding the romantic feelings that he possessed for Vidya.

He saw the lights to Dheeraj's workroom switched on at midnight and peeked through the door. Dheeraj had fallen fast asleep sitting at his desk, with the papers scattered all around. Virendra moved nearer to where his son was resting awkwardly and he glanced at the papers. To his utter surprise, Dheeraj had simply doodled random sketches on the white sheets instead of doing any work that night. Moreover, the papers were soaked in tears and filled with calligraphies of Vidya's name.

Virendra felt the pain of his son easily and smiled to himself. "So my plan worked successfully. It's confirmed now that Dheeraj loves Vidya but is unable to confess. I need to talk to his mother before taking my next step."

He walked back to his own room and found Durga still awake on their bed. He took his seat beside her and touched her shoulder lightly. "I have something to talk to you, Dia."

Durga and Virendra had bound themselves in a love marriage some thirty two years ago, against the wishes of their respective families. Virendra used to lovingly call her 'Dia' while she regarded him as 'Vir'. They were happy and contended with their little family, which revolved around their two handsome sons, Dheeraj and Vihaan.

The Bundela mansion at Indore was their second ancestral home, the first being at Omkareshwar. They had many of their relatives staying at their ancestral palace at Omkareshwar but they were not in the habit of visiting their native place more often. So many years had passed since their detachment with their families but things remained as they were.

"Even I have a few things to be sorted out with you," Durga told him simply.

"What is it?" Virendra asked her.

"What's your topic about?" Durga enquired curiously.

"About Dheeraj."

Durga smiled a little. "Mine's about Vihaan."

"Basically, we both are worried for our sons and have separate topics to discuss," Virendra said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Durga nodded. "Vir, we are getting old and like every parent, even we wish to see our sons settled in their lives. Like every other family, even I wish to see my house filled with daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Is it too much to hope for?"

"You are right and that's why I'm here to discuss with Dheeraj's matters. Do you know he's in love with Vidya?" Virendra asked his wife.

Durga's eyes gleamed with mixed emotions. "But they were good friends as far as I know."

"You haven't read our son properly. Dheeraj is drowning in her love since ages. When Vidya left our home in the morning, I saw them together and felt that their closeness wasn't ordinary. Hence I planned something to unite them and have already started working on it."

"What is it?"

"Vidya visited our bureau in the afternoon when Dheeraj was still on his half day leave. She was there to submit some reports on a post-mortem case. I intentionally spoke something loudly to one of my colleagues so that she could hear it."

Durga leaned closer to her husband. "What did you say?"

Virendra let out a humorous laugh. "I told my friend that I'm thinking to get Dheeraj married and that I've chosen a girl for him. I also added that he has given his consent to it. And when I looked at Vidya's face, I noticed the visible pain in her eyes before she left the bureau crying."

Durga sat upright. "You shouldn't have said such serious things. You made the poor girl cry. You could have simply said that you're looking for a girl for him. Why did you add that Dheeraj has given his consent?"

"You don't know Dia, these two lovebirds are very adamant and won't confess their love easily. I need strong execution to unite them. I'm sure that Vidya will confront him directly and I feel she must have done it. Dheeraj was crying in his workroom," Virendra told her.

"So what will you do next? Talk to her and get them married?" Durga was curious.

Virendra nodded. "I'm not sure yet. I don't know if Vidya really feels for him in that way or are they both ready? I even need to talk to her father Mr. Trivedi before deciding anything. I also want you to talk to Dheeraj to know his feelings for her because he is the closest to you."

"I will, don't worry. Now will you listen to what I have to say?" Durga asked him as he stretched on his side of the bed. When he had permitted her, she continued, "Even Vihaan is going through the same phase in his life like Dheeraj. Why do I feel he is in love with Sanchi."

Virendra rapidly sat upright and gaped. "Are you serious? He has just met her though I would love to select a girl like Sanchi for him."

"Didn't you notice his curiosity for the girl Sanchi? His behavior seems strange since the time he has met her." Durga smiled a little.

"I know what you mean but I feel he is just attracted to her so he's curious. Their emotional attachment might need time because they've met under wrong circumstances. The more they meet, the more their bonding will develop, as like Dheeraj and Vidya." Virendra explained, assorting his valid points.

"I wish it happens truly. I had told Dheeraj to talk to Vihaan about it and I don't know whether he did it or not."

"Dia, don't pressurize Dheeraj with Vihaan's case since he already has his own pressure of feelings to be handled. Let me think what I can do for Vihaan," Virendra concluded before they both dozed off to sleep.

As much as a child wants to hide his developing feelings from his parents but his emotions can never remain hidden from the caring eyes of the source of his own existence!

To be continued...

A/N: Durga and Virendra, aren't they really awesome parents? What will happen next?

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