Tej and Shakti recognized him, how could they not?
"Bhaisaab" Shakti whispered to Tej.
"Pretend that you don't know him. After all, we only saw him briefly at Harsh's house" said Tej.
"But he knows us.....what if?" said Shakti.
"We'll see, it was more than twenty five years ago. We went to Harsh's house just once, Shivaay, Annika, no one is suspicious until now. So, there is no reason to assume the worst" said Tej urgently.
"Bade Papa, Papa, you've come at an opportune moment" said Shivaay, his face expressionless.
"What do you mean?" asked Tej.
"This is Annika and Gauri's maternal uncle. Wait, I better bring the rest of the family here as well, otherwise we'll have to do introductions again" laughed Shivaay.
An hour later the entire family was gathered in the living hall, conversing with Dharesh, who glanced at the two Oberoi seniors covertly.
Shakti looked uncomfortable, but Tej managed the cool demeanor pretty well.
"It was nice meeting you all, I think Harsh did mention Tej ji and Shakti ji to me, but of course, I never met them in person, until now" said Dharesh, stressing on the meeting part, looking significantly at Tej and Shakti.
Shakti looked even more discomforted if possible, but Tej smiled and said, "Its unfortunate I don't remember much from before the mills accident. I, Shakti, and my wife, Jahnvi, were so busy establishing the business that we couldn't get a chance to know our employees better. After the accident of course, some of them passed away, and some left, not wanting to associate with the Oberoi business anymore."
"But the business survived didn't it, in fact it bloomed, after all, it received the funds from the insurance claim?" said Dharesh off-handedly.
Nobody could contradict these facts, since they were true, but there was an awkward pause at this.
"We are hosting a memorial service coming Friday for the families of all the victims in the fire. Our family has supported them through these years, as much as we could, and thinking of extending further financial support to those victims" said Shivaay, his tone a tad defensive, perhaps brought on by the underlying assumption in Dharesh's words that the Oberoi business benefited from the disaster.
"Life cannot be replaced with money, Shivaay" said Om, his face expressionless, though he looked at this father for a second.
"Mamu, would you like to come to the memorial service too? That is, if bhaiyaa thinks it fit" said Gauri, slightly abashed at speaking out of turn, but wanting to nip any argument in the bud, for the moment.
"Of course, Dharesh uncle must come. After all, Annika and Gauri's father also disappeared, with them, after the accident, so in a way, they are victims as well" said Shivaay.
"We are victims in more ways than one" said Annika, without thinking, but she quickly covered it up saying, "I mean, victims of circumstances, of fate, how Chutki and I got separated."
"Yes, that is sad" sighed Dadi, sadly. "But I am glad you both found each other, and my family found you."
Annika smiled, but her eyes were sad. She didn't know what they were going to uncover in the coming time, and that thought scared her, because she loved these people.
"I have to leave now, I have flight to catch to Delhi, but I'll see you all on Friday" said Dharesh getting up.
Everyone bid them goodbye, and Annika and Gauri went to see him off.
"Chutki, why did you change the topic from the insurance claim? We could've learnt something" said Annika, once they were outside the main hall.
"Sorry Jiji, I just felt that was not the right time. And in any case, we did learn something. Tej uncleji and Shakti uncle ji know our Mamu, and thus, our father. They have been pretending to be ignorant till now. Shakti uncleji looked visibly worried, and I know Tej uncleji well enough by now, to know that he was pretending" said Gauri.
"I felt the same, they did recognize me" said Dharesh, agreeing with Gauri.
Annika groaned.
"Jiji, don't worry, just because they acted shady doesn't mean they lighted fire to their mills. We'll take things as they come. For now, lets just pray that our uncle is safe, after this gamble" said Gauri.
"I have requested Khanna Ji to provide him extra security in Delhi, and keep it a secret from Shivaay. I hope it works out. Just....just be careful, Mamu. We both have lost our parents, we can't afford to lose you, after finding you so late" said Annika. Gauri nodded.
Dharesh said, "Don't worry, girls. I feel God is finally on our side, and our trials are at an end."
************************************************
Rudra was on skype call with Soumya.
"Soumya, are you fine? How was the flight? Did you land on time? What..." asked Rudra but Soumya cut him off.
"I'm fine Rudra. I'm in the visa queue right now. New York airport is crowded, the visa check for students from Third-World countries takes time. Seriously, India sent a Mars Orbiter Mission in space, and still our students are less valued than those coming from Europe. Racial profiling sucks!" complained Soumya.
"Yeah, well, they aren't this strict when its just tourists I think, but I agree New York airport is crowded, and not all that. I love Paris airport, its smooth and pretty. So, how was the flight?" asked Rudra.
"It was good. I read, watched a movie and slept. Nearly sixteen hours of flying is terrible, though. I feel so tired. I think the jet lag might be kicking in" sighed Soumya.
They chatted for a while about the flight, until Soumya's turn came up.
Soumya hung up, and got her formalities done. Once she was done completely, she found a car waiting for her to drive to Yale. Shivaay had arranged it all for her.
Soumya got into the car, and saw another incoming call from Rudra.
"Nice timing, I just got into the car" said Soumya, smiling.
"Ha, ha, I'm going to become a pro at this. By the way you won't believe what happened, this evening Annika and Gauri bhaabhi's maternal uncle came to visit us. We didn't even know they had found a surviving relative, but apparently he met them the same time around our Roka. Can you believe it, they kept all that so quiet?" asked Rudra, sounding amazed.
Soumya could believe it.
She remembered Annika didi enquiring about the mill disaster, and how she helped her with the insurance company claim. Annika Didi didn't immediately reveal about their uncle. Did they have something to hide? Was it related to the mill disaster?
But Soumya decided that she didn't want to be involved in this, and definitely not from overseas, so she changed the topic.
"Thats nice Rudra, to know that they have discovered their biological family too, like me. Did they come to know more about their parents?" asked Soumya.
"Their mother died giving birth to Gauri bhaabhi, and they still don't know anything about their father's whereabouts, or how he separated from them" said Rudra, sighing sadly.
"Thats terrible, Rudra. But they are together now, thats some consolation. Anyways, now that your internship is over, are you joining Oberoi industries?" asked Soumya.
"Actually, I think I'm going to join my mother" mused Rudra.
"Jahnvi aunty?" asked Soumya.
"Yes. You know well Soumya, my mother gave up her position in the Oberoi business to take care of me and my siblings. She would've been as established and famous as my father, by now, if she had continued. Its good that now she is back to doing what she does best. But I think its time I showed her some proper gratitude for what she lost because of me" said Rudra.
Soumya was touched at Rudra's thinking. "That's a great idea, Rudy, I'm so proud of you" she said. "When are you joining?"
"Well, I'm going to check out tomorrow, it will be some time before I officially join in" said Rudra, cheerfully.
"Okay, Rudra, I'm feeling a little sleepy, let me catch a nap in the car, I'll phone you once I settle down in college" said Soumya, yawning.
"Sure" smiled Rudra, and hung up.
**********************************************
Jahnvi was absorbed in her work; the start of the week was always busy, when someone knocked on her office room door.
"Tej?" asked Jahnvi surprised, as her husband entered her office. "Didn't you have some important deal with your German clients today?"
"I did, and I took care of that. Is Gauri here, in the office?" asked Tej quickly.
"No, she finished her work in the morning, and is doing her tuitions right now. Why?" asked Jahnvi, shutting her file.
"Good, because I've got something to discuss and I can't risk her hearing it" said Tej, making sure the door was shut tightly.
"Let me guess, this has got something to do with her and Annika's uncle, who visited yesterday?" asked Jahnvi shrewdly.
"Well, yes" said Tej.
"Tej, what are you not telling me?" asked Jahnvi.
"Jahnvi, remember when you nearly blackmailed me to support Annika in her endeavor to show that Omkara is illegitimate, instead of Shivaay?" said Tej.
"You mean, when Pinky tricked us all, and blackmailed poor Annika to either give up Shivaay, or see his mother betraying him?" said Jahnvi testily "Turns out Shivaay wasn't illegitimate either. But Tej, Pinky has apologized for that, and everyone has moved on from it, why bring it up now?"
"I'm not bringing up Pinky's devious acts, I'm reminding you what you blackmailed me with" said Tej.
"That I know, you and Shakti were there at the mills before the fire broke out?" said Jahnvi. "But you fully know that I said that only to threaten you to join our plan, I wasn't really going to go to the press with that information. I know my duties as the daughter-in-law of this family."
"But someone else might" said Tej.
"Someone? Who? Wait....do you think Dharesh knows about it? Do you think.....?" said Jahnvi, the truth growing bigger in her eyes.
"Harsh knew about it. And I'm sure his brother-in-law does as well. Thats why he looked at us so curiously yesterday evening" said Tej, holding his head in his hands.
"Tej, you and Shakti, knew Annika and Gauri's father, and yet kept quiet all these time? Why? Is it because....." asked Jahnvi, fearing the worst.
Tej nodded his head slowly, looking ashamed.
Jahnvi groaned.