Game Plan

Part 29:Secret files and meetings

~A day after Prerna left Basu Bari~

Prerna turned the pages of her book restlessly, annoyed at herself for not being able to concentrate. Finally giving up, she threw it on the bed. "Arre, iss bechare book ne tera kya bigaada hai, jo tu isko torture kar rahi hai?", a voice said. Prerna looked up to see Ved standing in the doorway.He was wearing his trademark black hoodie with matching gloves. Ved smiled mischeviously ,"Dekh main tere liye kya laya.". Judging by his tone anyone would think he was offering her sweets. But he wasn't carrying any sweets for Prerna. In his hand, he was carrying a thick black folder. He entered the room and sat next to Prerna. Handing her the file,"Yeh le, tere Mr.Bajaj ki kundli". Prerna corrected him crossly, "Woh mere Mr.Bajaj nahi hai". Ved rolled his eyes, sighing,"Baapre...aajka mausam to bada hi kharab hai". Prerna commented,"Yeh file thoda zyada bhaari nahi hai, unke school ki report card bhi hai kya isme?". Ved smirked,"Yeh file jitni bhaari hai uske andar ki information utni hi dhamakedaar hai. I've to say Mr.Bajaj ne bohot logo ko paise khilaye honge apne secret ko chhupake rakhne ke liye, pehli baar mujhe kissi pe information nikaalne ke liye itni mehnat karni padi-but it was worth it! Bechare(chuckling)! Unhe toh pata bhi nahi ke  maine unke saare paise barbaad  kar diye..... Achcha tu file ek baar kholke to dekh.". Prerna opened the file. "Oh my God!" Prerna exclaimed, as she started reading the contents of the file. "Exactly",Ved said, "Mera bhi first reaction yahi tha. Jo aadmi khud apna sach duniya se chhupaata phirta hai woh Moloy uncle ko honesty pe lecture de raaha tha, can you believe it?"

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~Basu Bari living room~

"Waise Baba, I can't believe ki itna kuch hone ke baad Mr. Bajaj ne aapke  liye fruit basket bheja. That's really nice of him",Nivedita Basu said as she sat opposite Moloy and sipped her tea. "What's so nice of him Nivi?!",Mohini retorted, as sat down next to her daughter with her own cup in hand,"Moloy ki tabiyat uss Mr.Bajaj ki wajah se kharaab hui hai! Toh abhi yeh jhoota concern dikhakar woh kya sabit karna chahte hai, I don't know.". Nivi knew better than to argue with her mother now. Since Prerna left yesterday afternoon Mohini had been in a terrible mood. Not to mention Anurag's snub must be killing her from inside. That was her brother, even as a kid, whenever Anurag was angry at his mother he would avoid her company, snub her politely but never directly confront her. Yet that was enough for Mohini to do everything in her power to please him.Whereas Nivi would scream, yell and cry but her mother would always treat her anger as nuisance rather than hurt.  Maan na parega Onu ko jo bina kuch kiye hi Ma se itni mehnat kara raha hai, Nivi thought wistfully, Warna agar main uski jagah hoti to mujhe manaa na toh dur, abhi tak Ma ko yeh bhi nahi yaad rehta ki main unse naaraaz hu. Just then Nivi saw Anurag climbing down the stairs looking extremely focused as if he was gearing up for a battle. "Onu!",his mother called him in a sweet and welcoming tone,"Aao beta chai pee lo-". Without even looking at her, Anurag said,"Not now Ma. Baba Main apne lawyer se milne jaa raha hu.". Nivedita was surprised at this,"Kya?Kis liye?". Anurag smiled sardonically,"Oh haan, aap toh kal nahi thi jab yeh sab ho raha tha. Well, Nivi Di, meri biwi mujhe phirse chhorkar chali gayi, uss galti ke liye jo maine ki bhi nahi. Meri Ma aur uski bhabi ne jo kuch bhi kiya hume ek karne ke liye, Prerna ko laga ki unn sab mein main bhi shaamil tha.... Maine usse bohot convince karne ki koshish ki, roke, girgira ke, gussa karke lekin usne meri ek nahi suni. Aur ek baar phir woh mujhe aur mere intentions ko galat samajke yaha se chali gayi....Toh ab jab usne mujhse alag hone ka faisla kar liya hai, toh main kon hota hu usse rokne waala? Bas iss hi silsile mein apne lawyer se milne jaa raha hu.". Mohini tried to pacify him,"Beta, tu chinta kyu karta hai?Woh wapas zaroor aayegi. Main usse-". Anurag folded his hands in front of her,"Please ma! Main aapke aage haath jodta hu. Aap please aur kuch matt kijiye. Aapne already bohot kuch kar liya. Ab mere aur Prerna ke rishta ka faisla aap mujhpar aur Prerna par chhor dijiye.". Saying this Anurag stormed out of the house, leaving a devastated Mohini behind. "Baba",Nivi said stunned by her brother's demeanor,"Y-yeh Onu-yeh Onu kitne gusse mein tha. I swear maine usse itne gusse mein kabhi nahi dekha. And he looks so desperate! Mujhe darr hai ki yeh gusse mein koi galat kadam na uthade.". Moloy replied hopefully,"Usse thoda waqt do beta, abhi woh bohot dukhi hai. Ek baar woh thoda sambhal jaaye phir sab kuch theek jo jayega".
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