When Jeet returned from the capital Dev was ready to me moved to the Singhanias.Rash was there.
" The meeting with Deepak was urgent", she enquired.
Blast that journalist brain of hers.
" He enquired about the Goa attack", he whispered back. "He called Palekar too a few days back. Mr. Gandhi was there. They are seriously worried about some kind of organisation in this area involved in questionable and suspicious activities", he said.
" It was a terrorist attack", she replied promptly.
" Yeah but Gandhi wants it quiet and public statement will be a personal tussle between them", she said.
" Why so"?
" Not to alert them and avoid panic in public", he said.
She thought for a minute.
" Good thinking", she said.
" When we nab them you get a full coverage", he said.
She gave a thumbs up 👍.
She bought it. Thank f*ck!
Meanwhile
" Daddy I prepared the room opposite to you for Dev uncle. It gets sunlight and fresh air", she said.
" Make sure his AC works fine and he is good", her father chuckled.
" Rash called me. They have already left. Dr. Josef is coming too", she said.
" Yeah I want him to be happy now", he said with a sigh.
Chanchal knew the unspoken words....these were his last days..
Jeet and Rash arrived along with Shaun and a nurse. Dev refused the other doctors. Chanchal hugged him.
" Welcome Uncle", she said.
Jeet got out and helped his father. Shaun gave a few instructions to the nurse. He was on the other side helping Dev.
At that time Guru arrived with Dev's luggage in the other car.
Chanchal greeted him politely. He nodded. She led the way to Dev's room. Shaun arranged a strecher.
" I just want my daughter near me", said Dev looking at Rash.
" I am here daddy", she said walking with him as he was wheeled in his room.
Once Dev was settled Jeet and Guru took their leave. Shaun stayed till lunch arranging everything.
" I arranged two nurses", he whispered to Rash. " He hates medicines and broods all day. I messaged you his medicine chart."
He sighed finally.
" How is Jeet", asked Rash.
" He is I don't know", said Shaun. " He bottles up his pain always. He has accepted it. But I heard from their family doctor he was worse when it was his mother".
Rash nodded. She knew Jeet loved his mother. It was tragic he lost her and now Dev uncle.
It was seafood for lunch. After lunch Dev took his medicine and Shaun left.
Adhi was with Dev and Kashmir arrived with CPS. The old men sat together as Chanchal quietly took Rash and Kashmir to her room. There was a pile of albums.
Megha came in along with a reluctant Manya.
" You got the albums", said Rash." Yes most of them. Some old tapes too", she said.
" Let's start", said Rash.
" What is all this about", asked Manya.
" Someone impersonated the Dragon and killed Kunal", said Rash.
" To impersonate him you need to be close enough to him to copy him", provided Chanchal.
" And since we may not recognise all of them we pulled you in", provided Kash to Manya and Megha.
They agreed and the five of them sat down.
They saw Sumeet, his father, his sister Malti, Kunal and Sumeet's mother.
" She is so drab", said Rash looking at Malti.
" Pretty face", said Kash. " But yeah plain and no dressing and make up sense".
After some time they found an old photograph. It was of a young woman; a striking beauty, dressed in a fitting saree with a proud face.
" Who is this", asked Rash to Manya.
" Preeti Rajvansh", he replied.
" Rajvansh", mused Chanchal. " Ohhh his mother's family".
" Yeah this is her sister", replied Manya.
" Ohhh", she said. " I didn't hear about her".
" She was the one engaged to sir. But she ran away with some low born and he married the younger sister", said Manya.
" Ohhh", everyone gasped.
Rash immediately wrote a name in her diary...
"Rajvansh"..
After Dev slept CPS visited Rash. She talked animatedly with him for some time and then he said Goodbye and left.
" Rash beta Manya told me you wish to talk to me", asked Adhi.
" Yes uncle please sit. I called Zeeshu. He is coming. Then we can discuss ", she said.
They settled. Zeeshan arrived and hour late.
Rash erupted like a volcano 🌋 🌋
" Bug can you be on time for once. I'll crush you beneath my feet if you can't come on time", she sneered.
" I was busy", he started.
" BUSY BEIG A GOON", she screamed.
" DO I LOOK LIKE I SIT DOING NOTHING HERE".
" Seriously are you suicidal", asked Kashmir as he entered carrying a tea tray.
" Sometimes in the evening", winked Zeeshu as Kash shook his head.
" I'll grant your wish soon", said Rash pulling him by the throat and throwing him unceremoniously on the sofa.
" But first I have an important question."
Adhiraj arrived at that moment.
" So Qureshi we found you at last", he said.
" It took time as garbage truck threw him out of the city", said Rash.
Zeeshu raised his hands in surrender.
" The question", he asked.
" Preeti Rajvansh", said Chanchal as she entered and locked the door.
" Preeti", mused Adhi.
" Daddy you were engaged to her", she asked.
" Yes. I met her just once before I married Maya my wife. It was when our elders discussed marriage ", Adhi replied.
" You didn't deny", asked Chanchal .
" It was no use. In our families marriages are decided by the elders", he sighed.
" Like yours with the Satan", quipped Rash.
Chi Chi blushed. Rash rolled her eyes .
" What about Preeit? Was she ever found again? Did Rajvansh kill her", asked Rash.
" She did return. And no her father didn't kill her; he wanted to but Meera insisted he didn't. She was pregnant ", he said.
" PREGNANT ", a collective gasp came from the room.
" Yeah", sighed Adhi. " That loser abandoned her. She came back pregnant ", he said.
" Was the child born", asked Kash.
" Yes", said Adhiraj. " Malti was that child ".
" Ohhhh", again it was a chorus.
" Mr. Rajvansh was agitated. He suggested abortion. But Preeti was too woke for her own good. She gave birth to the girl. He was further annoyed. When she was asked to give her up she seeked her sister's help. I was fine with it. So we went ahead ", said Adhiraj.
" Where is Preeti now", asked Kashmir.
Mr. Singhania coughed.
" About that I don't know but there is one more thing you should know. When Maya was pregnant Preeti came to help. She saw the power, the authority and riches her sister held and got jealous ", he said.
" And", asked Zeeshan.
" She tried to hurt Maya and s*duce me. I backed off because I plainly didn't like her. Malti saw her bullying Meera and complained to me and her grandfather. She was finally thrown out. Meera didn't defend her", he said.
" Where did she go", asked Zeeshan.
Adhi shook his head in denial.
" So she holds a grudge. Against you. Against heirs. And against Malti", said Rash
" But Malti was her daughter", said Adhi.
" But she chose Mom", said Chanchal.
" This is a big clue ", said Zeeshan. " Thanks Mr. Singhania. Bullseye 🎯 Rash"!
" Thanks babes", she purred.
Zeeshan and Kashmir said goodbye and left.
The Rajvansh connection gave their search a perfect headstart.