Vineet is stunned when a bunch of policemen break into the warehouse, catching him offguard. The senior inspector, Rishabh, tends to recognise him. He’s amused and curious about his presence in the warehouse.
“Mr Singhania, what are you doing here? Kahin jo khabrein news mein aa rahi hain, sahi toh nahi?” The inspector calls out at him.
“Kya aapko lagta hai ki main aisa kar sakta hoon?” He asks, faking a smile at him, trying to regain his composure.
“Aap toh aise bhi nahi lagte ki aapko yahan aana pade. Naamcheen businessman hain aap, Mr Vineet Singhania. Ek baar ke liye maan leta hoon ki aap iss drug ke jhamele mein pad gaye honge, kisi ne fasa diya, lekin aapka yahan hona aapke case ko weak banata hai,” The inspector says, his tone laced with sarcasm.
“Jitni aasani se naam darj hote hai na, Inspector, utni aasani se nikla bhi jaa sakta hain. Aur aap toh jaante hain, mere kitne dushman hain iss shahr mein, kisi ne kuch keh diya hoga, uska bhi pata chal jayega. Khair, aap yahan kaise? Yahan andar toh koi nahi hai, main bhi ek aadmi ka peecha karte karte yahan aaya tha. Infact, abhi police station hi aane wala tha,” Vineet replies, trying to divert the policeman’s attention.
“Oh, Mr Singhania, aap chahe kuch bhi kahein, meri aankhein toh aap par bhi hain. Khair, aap jaiye, main dekhta hoon, aapka naam iss mein kaise aaya,” The inspector responds, though, he’s not satisfied by Vineet’s answer.
He watches as Vineet gets into his car and drives off. Rishabh signals his right-hand man, Suraj, to keep an eye on Vineet, for, the doubts still linger on Vineet’s head. The inspector feels Vineet is lying to them and he was here for some reason, maybe, to meet his henchmen. However, Rishabh is all set to find out the reality hidden beneath Vineet’s facade.
*****
Vineet reaches home and finds the house sitting in silence. He looks around for his wife and daughter but he doesn’t find them anywhere. He walks straight into his daughter’s room and finds her lying on the bed, hugging her soft toy. Taking a close look at her, he understood that his princess has been crying. As he smears her head, Bulbul wakes up from her slumber, and smiles as she finds her father in front of her eyes. She immediately leap into his arms, seeking comfort. But, her words leave him stunned. He parts her from the hug, and looks at her intently.
“Haan, Papa, vo jo news mein aa raha tha wo galat hai na? Aapne vaisa kuch nahi kia naaa?” Bulbul asks.
“Beta, tumhe ye sab kisne bataya? Tumhe isspe dhyan nahi dena chahiye,” He says, trying to divert her mind.
“Par news mein aa raha tha, aur Mumma ne kaha ki jo bhi news mein aa raha hai, wo sach hai. Aur Aanya maasi ne bhi wahi kaha. Aap aaj kahan chale gaye they? Mumma ne mujhe danta,” Bulbul complains about her mother, and Vineet clenches his fists.
“Aap mumma ko samjhao, pata nahi unko kya ho gaya hai, meri toh ek bhi baat nahi sunti,” Bulbul says, trying to tell him everything that happened with her.
Vineet glances at her, he knows that this girl loves him and will believe every word he will say. So, he cups her face, trying to convince with his sugar-coated words.
“Bulbul, dekho, main Mumma se baat karunga, hmm! Tum itna pareshan mat ho, tumhe lagta hai main waisa kuch kar sakta hoon?” He asks and the girl immediately nods negatively.
“Nahi, Dadda, mujhe pata hai aap kuch galat nahi karoge. Lekin pata nahi Mumma ko kya ho gaya hai? Vo na kuch sunne ko ready nahi hai, I hate her, vo kabhi meri baat nahi sunti, infact, unko aapse zyada news pe bharosa hai,” BUlbul says, expressing her disappointment, while a smirk is dancing on Vineet’s lips as he hears his daughter talking.
“Bas toh phir, aap mujhpe bharosa rakho. Aap Mumma ko main dekhta hoon, she needs a lesson,” He murmurs the last line, such that, it’s audible to her.
Bulbul hugs her dad once again, feeling lighter after telling him everything. She thinks that he will convince her mom and things would be sorted. Little did she know that her dad has some heinous plans up his sleeves,and that he’d use them against her mother.
*****
Vineet orders some food from outside, all of Bulbul’s choice and the girl is over the moon, She is glad that her father cares for her unlike her mom. Ruhana didn’t became the part of this dinner, for, she didn’t wanted to see Vineet’s face. She’s disgusted with him, and a little distance doesn’t harm.
After the dinner and after tucking Bulbul in her bed, Vineet makes way into his bedroom. He finds Ruhana sitting on the window pane, her favourite place. There’s a book in her hand, but her attention is elsewhere. He walks towards her and immediately pulls her hair tightly, letting her face him.
“Tumhari himmat kaise hui meri beti ke dimag mein mere khilaaf zeher gholne ki?” He asks, his words seem to dipped in venom.
“Zeher toh tumne khud ghola hai, Vineet. Aaj nahi toh kal wo bhi tumhari asliyat samajh jayegi,” Ruhana glared at him, responding back with the same intensity.
“Kabhi nahi! Aisa kabhi nahi hoga! Tum mere aur meri beti ke beech mein na aao, toh tumhare liye achcha hoga, Ruhana,” He leaves her hair with a jerk, such that she hits the window sill, trying to steady herself.
“Tumse pyar karna, tumse shaadi karna hi meri sabse badi galti thi, Vineet. Aur galti nahi karungi main. Main tumhe Bulbul ki zindagi se nahi khelne dungi. Tumhara kya bharosa hai? Kal ko apni beti ko bhi bech doge! Insaan se jaanwar toh tum ban hi gaye ho,” She screams at him, and jerks him away.
“Enough, Ruhana! Apni hadd mein raho,” He yells at him, his tone deep and dangerous.
“Tum apni hadd bhul gaye ho, Vineet. Tum vo sab kar rahe ho jo tum nahi karte they. Tumhe kabse paison ki itni talab hone lagi ki tumne apna zameer hi bech diya. Vo— vo drug consignment tumhara hai na? Haan! Lekin tum toh police se bhi safed jhooth bolkar yahan aaye ho,” Ruhana snaps at him, her tone laced with anger and disgust.
“Haan, toh!! Jaise news mein mera naam aaya hai , waise hi clear bhi ho jayega. Uski tum chinta mat karo. Tumhe toh mera sath dena chahiye, be my good wife and do what’s good for you,” Vineet says as he steps closer to her.
“Tumhare liye? Jo ab tak maine kia hai na tumhare liye? Uska achcha sila diya hai tumne, Vineet, tumse ab koi umeed nahi hai mujhe,” She glares at him.
He continues walking towards her until she hits the wall. He cages her beneath himself, he keeps one hand on the wall and with the other, he holds her face harshly, she’s stunned, he’s never been this rude and harsh to her. But hey, this man is changed, he’s not the one whom she loved. Their gazes meet, as if tearing through each other.
“Maine tumhe kaha hai na, Ruhana, mere kaamon mein beech mein mat aao. Tumhe lavishly rehne ke liye paise main de raha hoon na, meri beti ke dimag mein zeher gholna band karo. Aur jo ye tum befizool ki mehnat karna chahti ho na mujhe expose karne ke liye! Vo ksii kaam ka nahi hai, isliye apni zidd chhod do, aur shanti se raho,” Vineet whispers, his tone blunt and cold.
He leaves her with a jerk, causing Ruhana to cough, her heart pounding in her chest. She glares at him, her eyes fiery red due to anger.
“Tum mujhe jaante ho na, jo main thaan leti hoon, wo toh karke hi rehti hoon, aur tumhara sach sabke saamne toh main laakar rahungi. Aur rahi baat Bulbul ki!!! Toh usey bhi ek din tumhari asliyat pata chal hi jaayegi, you end is near, Mr Singhania,” She says and steps out of the room, not wanting to converse with him any longer.
As Vineet watches her go, his lips twitch into a smirk, as if, it didn’t affect her. He didn’t even care that this lady is her long-time love, his partner, but he’s continually hurting her, unknown that he has chosen a path to his destruction.
To Be Continued.