Chapter 4

*Maheshwari Pov*

“Maha!” Mom said while I stared at the back of Di with a slight hurt.

“I am fine, Mom.” I mumbled and walked away, ignoring her to reach my favorite spot.

And that turned out to be a big blunder because I just got to know the things which I don’t think I can handle at all.

I stayed on my bed with eyes open thinking what to do now. Should I talk to Mom? But she will get upset and sad.

Should I talk to these both and try to make them come out of this plan? I snorted thinking they will not even hear the second word if I start talking.

Should I keep quiet and behave like I never heard anything? But how can I do that? I can’t let all this happen.

Should I tell Nakul? What if he will harm my family knowing all this? I thought groaning and turned to press my face on the pillow.

Then suddenly it struck me and I know whom to talk. He seemed to be sensible, even though weird, but he may help me.

“Well?” his voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“What is it? I need to go back before Nakul comes and go with him if he has to go somewhere.” He added and I stared at him.

“Why were those people coming near to me?” I asked and he frowned at me.

“You seemed to behave suspiciously. So, I asked them to get a hold of you if you seem to walk away.” He replied and I stared at him in shock.

“What?” I asked him and he shrugged like really just shrugged.

“So, if anyone seems to be a threat, you will do that?” I asked and he nodded.

“What will you do then?” I asked frowning.

“We will interrogate the person and decide whether there is any harm from that person for Nakul.” He replied and I nodded.

“If the person have harming thoughts?” I asked, hoping the reply is something mild.

“Either jail or something worse.” He replied so simply that I had to gulp the fear.

“Why? He is just a business man, right?” I asked him frowning.

“Yeah! But he has enemies. They are not there here as he never interfered with any business in India. But now he has taken over, we are taking extra measures.” He replied and I sighed.

“That still seems to be too much.” I mumbled while he frowned.

“Are you here to make enquiries about him instead of your sister? Isn’t it late with the wedding being within two weeks?” he asked and I looked away from him.

“I need a promise from you.” I said and waited, but he didn’t say anything.

I repeated the words and turned towards him. He nodded, but I took out the paper I wrote from my bag.

“I want a word from you that you will not punish my family.” I said and gave him the paper where I wrote the words before passing the pen for him to sign.

“Are you serious?” he asked and I nodded to which he shoved the paper and pen in my hands before getting up from the bench.

“Fine! I thought of helping your boss and now I will not.” Saying that I stood up and turn to walk away but he called my name.

“Fine!” he said and took the paper before signing it.

“Now, tell me.” He demanded.

“My father and sister doesn’t have pure intentions regarding the marriage.” I said and he stared at me.

“That’s all? I expected something like that knowing your father being a worse rival to Nakul’s father. You are worried about this? Then you are stressing yourself. Because Nakul is also marrying for the business only.” He said, waving off and I stared at him.

“For business? Does anyone know that marriage is not all that? One does it for revenge and one for business. God! Children games are fairer than the games adults playing with each other.” Saying that I walked away fuming.

“Wait! What do you mean by revenge?” his voice followed me, but I ignored him and lifted my hand seeing a taxi.

“Tell me!” he demanded, standing beside me and I turned to stare at him.

I was about to say ‘get lost!’ but then remembered the extent of Di’s plan. It is not just about marrying someone anticipating some benefit, but it is anticipating someone’s destroy.

“I can’t say it openly.” I said and he frowned, but nodded before looking around.

“Look, there is no one in the park.” He said and I followed him returning to the same bench knowing there is no other such private place where I can explain.

“First promise me you will not hurt my family.” I started and he gave an irritated look.

“I already signed didn’t I?” he asked and I nodded, but waited for the words which he said finally.

“My Di and Father want to take revenge on Nakul not because of the rivalry. But because of personal issues.” I started and he gave a confused look.

“They want to take his business away and make him penniless and also something else which I don’t know, but not killing.” I added in the end.

“Don’t worry about making him penniless because I am sure he will get a pre-nup. He made it a rule for even board of directors to always have a pre-nup to not have any problems.” He explained and I sighed in relief.

“But what personal problem do they have?” he continued and I felt a little awkward to explain.

“There has been an accident fourteen years back in which a lady Maheshwari Guptha died and it was caused by Nakul. Di wants to take revenge for her mother’s death.” I replied and he gave a shocked look.

“What? Do you hear yourself? We met your Mother when we were at your home.” He said and stood up.

“She is my mother, but not Di’s.” I explained.

“Then why are you named after her?” he asked frowning.

“Well, my parents and Di’s were best friends. So, my Mom named me after her best friend.” I replied and he nodded.

“Do you know Nakul would have been a fourteen year old boy at that time? Why do you all think he did it and why was he not punished?” he asked and I sighed.

“I don’t know! But all I know is his father made sure he is saved. From that time my father is wishing for justice, but I thought everything was settled. However, yesterday when I heard their conversation I can see it is nowhere near over.” I replied.

“So, you are Miss guptha’s step sister?” he asked and I nodded, feeling irritated hearing such silly question.

“Yes! My Mom got married to him after the accident.” I replied and he nodded before looking somewhere with a far away look.

“Can you stop the wedding?” I asked and he shook his head.

“I have to tell Nakul.” He said and I immediately held his hand before he can move and stood up.

“Are you mad? He will destroy my family.” I said, glaring at him.

“He will not.” He said in an assuring tone.

“No! You tell me, if someone is out there for some revenge on you, will you sit calmly and step aside?” I asked and he stilled.

“Look, whatever happened or not happened or whoever had done it, it was so long ago and he was a kid. He can’t be destroyed based on that.” He replied.

“I know! That’s why I came here. If I don’t think that, do you think I would have come near you?” I asked frowning.

“Yeah! But the loss was theirs so they are hard about it.” He replied and I sighed.

“Then what else can we do? He is hell bent for this marriage. And no matter how close we are, I am still his employee.” He added.

“Are you good at making inquiries?” I asked and he frowned, but nodded.

“At that time it was told, Nakul’s mom did the accident and died in it, but no one in my family believes it. We can try it to be true. What if, we find the details about it or someone who knows about it with proof and present them before my family. We will ask them to lie about his involvement and manipulate the proof. With this, everything will settle and everyone can go on with their lives.” I explained the plan I thought from yesterday night to this evening.

“You thought too much. But one second! Are you saying the accident in which his mother died is the one where her mother died?” he asked and I nodded to which he cursed.

“Well?” I asked him frowning.

“That is nothing but a taboo topic in Nakul’s house. No one raises the topic. Once, I listened to a maid talking about it to the new one and Nakul heard it and immediately fell ill. His father removed her on the spot. But the sad thing is that was the first time he returned  home after joining in boarding school without his father’s knowledge during our college holidays and that became the last until now.” He explained and I stared at him in shock.

“Someone from his family must know something.” I said with a pleading look.

“Only his grandfather is there, but we can’t do anything with him. He is kind of scary.” He said and I couldn’t help but chuckle when he shuddered.

“But… but I remember a doctor being called when Nakul fell ill. I was kept away, but I observed clearly and even saw the name.” he added.

“So, from college days only you wanted this kind of profession.” I said and he shrugged lost in his thoughts.

“Okay! I will search for that doctor and get him here to tell the truth or lie, depending on the truth.” He said and I felt a relief inside.

“Why do you want to help Nakul?” he suddenly asked with a suspicious look.

“I don’t care about your boss. I am doing this for Di. She is always driven by strong emotions and I know she will regret it. I can’t let her do it when she had enough of everything already in her life.” I replied and he frowned, but nodded.

“Take my number.” Saying that I took my mobile phone and we exchanged our numbers.

“Nice plan by the way.” He offered and I smiled before hugging him making him still.

“If my family gets hurt, I will not leave you alone.” Saying that I walked away feeling relief.

*James Pov*

“I am getting married within a week and you seem to be busy these days.” Nakul finally said which I was expecting.

I mean, before I never took any leave, but I took it two times within a week and I am sure he will get doubt.

“Yeah! Some personal thing.” I said shrugging.

“What personal you have which I don’t know?” he asked, frowning, but I didn’t reply and concentrated on driving.

I am finally relieved to find the doctor and met him two times already, making sure I got the right one the first time because he turned out to be a psychiatrist and asking him about the Nakul the second time.

His expression showed me he knows Nakul by which I started asking him questions which he ignored saying he can’t reveal considering privacy of a patient.

However, I just directly asked him who was responsible for the accident to which he replied Nakul’s mother without thinking. I asked him to tell that to a few people who thinks Nakul as the culprit.

Finally, after a lot of pursuing he accepted today morning and said he will be here soon. Now, I need to inform this to Miss Guptha.

“I will be here soon.” I said the moment Nakul moved to get down from the car.

“Why this secrecy?” he asked, frowning and I shrugged to which he closed the door while I drove off.

I called her and asked her to come to the café near their house. I know, I can inform this in the phone, but I feel it is better like this.

We met a few times and each time she was more stressed, saying so many preparations have started and taking all her stress on me by shouting.

“What is it?” she asked, not even greeting me and sat before me while I leaned back.

“I found a doctor who says Nakul is not the culprit. And it seems his mother was really the one.” I replied, to which she gave a blank look.

“I asked you to make the person lie to my family and not to me.” She said sighing.

“What?” I asked her frowning, but she waved me off.

“Okay! Can you bring him today?” she asked and I shook my head.

“No! He is not from this state only. He will be here within four to five days.” I replied and she glared at me.

“Do you know by that time there will be only one day for wedding and all the preparations must have been finished.” She said and rubbed her forehead.

“Look, they are having a simple wedding without much fuss. So, I am sure stopping it even before a minute is fine.” I said shrugging and she sighed.

“Something is better than nothing.” She mumbled and I stopped myself from smiling at her defeated look.

“Don’t worry!” I said, patting her hand and she nodded with a smile.

“Well, well, well!” we heard a voice and I looked behind her to see the one who is causing all this ruckus.

“What do we have here, Maha?” Swetha asked, staring at both of us and at the table making me follow her gaze to see my hand over her sister’s.

“Di!” the girl before me stood gulping while I stood up along with her.

“Yes?” Swetha asked and I moved to talk to her, but Maha held my hand.

“You go!” she said and I frowned, but she gave a pleading look to which I sighed and walked away.

I returned to Nakul’s office and stood near the entrance only waiting for him. He has a meeting during lunch time and I sighed in relief by being here on time.

However the moment I saw Nakul, my phone started ringing which I lifted while walking towards the car.

“Hello?” I asked, opening the passenger door for him.

“James! Come to my home now.” I heard Maha’s voice.

“What? Why?” I asked, opening the driver side door.

“Please! Everything went to worse from bad. Oh god! It’s a disaster.” She replied and I can hear her panic tone.

“Calm down! I will be there.” I said and immediately gestured one of the security person to come near me.

“Drop the boss.” I said, hanging up, but stopped hearing Nakul’s voice.

“What happened?” he asked, stepping out of the car.

“It’s urgent! I will tell you after returning.” I replied, rushing to the security team car and asked them to follow them in a cab.

I drove as mad as I can with worst case scenarios in the head. Did Maha tell them about me knowing their plan? Are they planning something else before wedding only?

Are they going to harm Nakul? I thought, hoping it is nothing like that, but then remembered Maha’s panicked tone.

I stopped near her house and got down from the car before walking towards the main door thinking what could have happened.