Blow

Summary: Na toh yeh Rajghar hai na hum Chandra Singh Rathod.

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Farida backs away the moment she sees Veer's face, colour draining from her own.

The evening is falling and in his arms Amrit looks pale as death. He tells them nothing as he walks past the astonished residents of the Siddiquie household.

"Is that doctor still here?" Is all he asks. The fellow had tried to stop him from leaving earlier in the day and had been reduced to a 'bheegi billi' (to borrow from Rukzaar's dictionary) before Veer's mounting temper.

A man with any survival skills would have run for his life long back. Despite the situation Farida bites back a smile at the work of God, for Veer himself is now looking for the doctor.

"Haan. He is in the estate guest house. Family doctor hai, Nawab sahab ke saat chalte hai. Bhula lein?"

Veer briefly nods in reply and climbs the stairs. Farida follows after him.

It scares her, the tension that holds Veer's frame in taut, angry lines. It usually doesn't end well when it begins like this.

She wonders only briefly what Nalini had done this time, if she even realizes what she has done. Nalini did not see Veer for the man he is, did not assess the threat he could be if his limits were pushed. She kept doing it, bringing the worse out of him and pinning the consequences on him. Perhaps the end of their war is coming,  for loyalties of Veer have changed factions.

Veer lowers Amrit into the pillows, his hands tremble as they withdraw from around her. He steps back and presses a hand to his forehead, trying and failing to catch his breath.

"Veer -" Farida calls him softly. She approaches cautiously, watching him to gauge his reaction.

Veer turns and looks back at the motionless Amrit, a muscle in his jaw working furiously.

"She's wearing green," he says in a choked voice. His fingers claw at the sides of his face in a building panic. "I - I told her not to wear green. I -"

Farida snatches those hands and grips them tight in her own.

"Veer! Veer!" She says sharply. "Look at me! Amrit ko kuch nahi honga. Kuch nahi honga. Haan? Sun rahe ho? Kuch nahi honga!"

He stares at her in wide eyed panic, his thoughts reeling, his breath coming in short puffs.

"She's cold," he says slowly, stumbling over his words. "She's been there for hours. And I didn't know. I wouldn't have known even if she -"

"She will be fine. Here - come with me. Look at her," Farida brings him back to Amrit's bedside, and busies herself by pulling blankets over her.

"She's Amrit. Amrit not your baba sahab. She will be fine when we warm her up. We just have to warm her up. She's not dying Veer. Hum sab hai na yahaan? Hum aap ki Amrit ko kuch nahi hone denge."

Veer collapses on his knees by Amrit's side, reaching for her hand, clasping it tightly. He strokes her hair with near reverent gentleness.

Her eyes move beneath their closed lids and her lips murmur.

"Veer..."

Veer nuzzles against the side of her face, overcome by his own choking need to be closer to her.

"Hum yahi hai jaan, tumhare paas."

Farida claps him on the shoulder and mutters an assurance that she will be sending the doctor at once before leaving him to watch over Amrit.

Her lashes flutter, opening only a crack.

"Aap ke - bohut - yaad aaraha tha..." her fingers try to clasp around his but in their numbness they barely move.

Veer draws that hand to his mouth and places an open mouthed kiss on the back of her palm. Amrit's eyes flutter as she fights drowsiness.

"Neend aarahi..." she mumbles, drawing their clasped hands to tuck against her cheek.

Veer strokes her other cheek.

"Sona nahi hai, Jaan."

Amrit hums, snuggling more comfortably, her eyes still closed.

"Biwi sahab," Veer taps her cheek softly. "Aankein kholo. Stay awake."

"Neend arahi hai," she mutters again, half complaint, half content sigh. The back of her hand brushes against his cheek. Her eyes crack open once more.
"Veer?"

He doesn't reply, instead buries his face against her throat taking solace in the weak throb of her pulse.

The moisture that had gathered and burned in his eyes brim and spill into the lustre of her hair, blot into the softness of her skin. Her fingers slowly stroke his head.

"Kyun aise khelte reheti ho humare jaan ke saat?" He mutters a complaint. "Jaan nikal gaye the humare."

"Meri bhi," Amrit replies, her voice faint and broken. "I wondered if we were to part like this, without a proper farewell - without -"

Veer pulls back and stares at her with reddened eyes.

Amrit's eyes brim with tears.

"Aap ko chhod kar kaise jaau yeh soch hi nahi pa rahi thi." She confesses softly and snuggles against him. "Abhi humein saat mein bohut kuch karni hai. Kuch vaade joh main ne aapse kyi, kuch aapne mujhse. Poori zindagi toh jeena hai -"

"Shh," Veer hushes her, not willing to hear those words, not willing to allow her to breathe life back to those dreams that he had buried. But Amrit continues.

"Jaan toh meri nikal jaati hai baar baar, jab aap Yun mujhse door jaate ho. Mujhse Yun jee nahi jaati Veer."

She clutches a fist against him.

"I could hear him laughing. I thought he was gone. Par usski hassi aaj bhi sunai deta hai. Har bhure aadmi mein mujhe wohi nazar aata hai. Mujhe dar lagta hai Veer, meri dam ghut thi hai. Jab bhi aap ko khone ka ehesaas hoti hai, aap se door hone ka dar beith jaati hai, woh laut aata hai."

Veer brushes a hand on her head and presses a kiss on her forehead.

"Woh nahi aayenga."

Just then the doctor arrives, bustling in with Farida and a nurse at tow. Farida gestures Veer to step back so that the doctor could examine Amrit properly. Amrit holds him back, her eyes pleading.

"Stay," she mouths. Veer nods, pats the back of her hand before stepping away allowing the doctor to do his job.

"I'm sorry," he tells Farida. "I keep bringing trouble to you."
Farida gives him a look.

"Bachche aafat nahi kudha ki rehemat hoti hai Kuwar sahab, aap bhi toh humara apna bachcha hai." She says. "Haan. Although I wanted to ask, what your papa sahab and his subordinates are doing here?"

"Investigation," Veer spits the word venomously.

"This is not how things would have gone, but then that Chandra Singh Rathod's side kick decided to hurt Amrit. Uss ne Akif se nahi Veer Pratap Singh se dushmani mod li. Hum bhi dekh the hai how they cover up as usual when one of their own has been at the receiving end."

"Wah Veer Sahab, so my Amru is just means for an end is she?"

Uday glares at them from the doorway, arms folded against his chest. Farida opens her mouth to give him a piece of her mind but Veer gives her a look.

"What is she to you? A pawn in your political game? A puppet to dance at your whims? Aaj usse kuch hojaata toh -"

Veer steps up to him and meets his eye.

"Humari patni humare liye kya hai, yeh kissi ko batana hum zaroori nahi samajh the." He makes a move to step out. "Come, let's take this conversation outside."

Uday doesn't move, fury radiates from him.

"My sister is not a ball to be tossed back and forth between warring factions."

A muscle at Veer's jaw starts to twitch.

"Your sister is getting distressed by our conversation. Hum Amrit ke saamne aise kuch nahi bolna chahte jisse unki dil ko taqleef pohoche. Step out with me Salesahab, alow your sister a few moments of peace."

They come out into the passageway and Veer walks towards the stairs, crossing paths with Rukzaar on his way.

"Babhijaan ki paas beithiye," he tells her offhandedly, "hum abhi aate hai."

They descend the stairs and Veer pause before a door.

"First thing," he says. "You are very quick to misunderstand your own people. Second thing, I have never considered Amrit a plaything, nor will I start doing so now. Agle baar ilzaam lagane se pehele soch aur samajh liya kijiye. Humara dil itna bhi bada nahi hai ke baar baar Maaf kar dein."

He turns the bolt on the door.

"Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"Kuwar sahab," Uday lowers his tone, but the bitterness remains. "These people you are messing up with - katarnaak log hai. Main nahi chahta ke in sab mein pad kar Amru katrein mein pad jaaye. Bass itna hi mangna hai aapse. Don't involve Amru in your political agendas."

For a moment Veer says nothing. His expression shifts ever so subtly. His grip on the door handle tightens.

"Aap ne toh humein apna smajha hi nahi," he says slowly. "Galati aap ka nahi hai. Shayad Amrit hi pagal hai joh hum se rishta rakhna chahti hai."

"Kuwar sahab..."

"Nothing will happen to your sister. Humare iss khel se usse bohut door bhej diya jayenge, aanch taq nahi aayenge uss par. Yeh humara vada hai."

With that he opens the door and enters the room where the police along with his step father are already waiting.

*

"This is wrong!" The doctor from the hospital, brought along by the police glares at everyone of them.
Vijendra doesn't mind him the least, his subordinates follow his example. It is Veer who arches a brow.

"I'm amazed that you are aware of the notion," he tells the man. "Chandra Singh Rathod takes time to impart such worldly knowledge to his dogs."

"You - you," the man's red face turns purple with anger. "You are interfering with police investigation. Obstructing justice - that's what you are doing!"

Veer shrugs and looks at Vijendra sideways.

"Uh Papa Sahab? There is an investigation going on here?"

Vijendra's mouth twitches. Veer comes and lowers himself so his eyes bear into the doctor's, as he grips the headrest of the chair the man is forced to sit on.

"You might have seen how things are done at Rathod's. Open your eyes wide and take a look around yourself. Na toh yeh Rajghar hai na hum Chandra Singh Rathod. Tune abhi taq iss Veer Pratap Singh ka asli roop nahi dekha."

The man swallows, the extent of his blunder dawning upon him as he watches the repressed fury in Veer's face.

"Humare patni ki katal karne ki koshish ki jaaye, aur hum dekhte rahe, aisa toh ho nahi sakta."

"You can't do this to me!" The doctor states, his voice rather shaking. He is not looking at Veer but at Vijendra. "I've been working with Rani Sahiba for so many years! I've been the most loyal to her - how would she take it if I-"

Veer smashes a vase at his feet. The doctor screams.

"I don't care who your masters are!" Veer growls. "In my view you have outlived your usefulness. And guess whose word is law here..."

"Kuwar sahab," the doctor speaks slyly. "Agar hum bone lag gaye toh aap ke ma sahab ki bohut Nuksaan ho saktha hai. Phir se soch lijiye, do you want me to be handed over to the police with all your mother's secrets?"

"Veer - Hume shayad -" Vijendra begins. Veer fumes.

These implications had kept this man out of reach of law for long enough. He had no intentions of letting him dance free any longer.

"Very well," he leans a hand back on the chair's headrest. "You have ten minutes, you will speak. You will spill every secret that you know. I will decide whether they are worthy of keeping you alive or not."

The doctor shifts in his chair, rather eager.

"Your ten minutes start now."

*

"You know babhi Jaan, a wise man once said - agar kissi ki mohabbat parakni ho toh beemar pad jaao. Mubarak ho aap ko bhi kudha ne woh mauka diya hai."

Rukzaar adjusts Amrit's blankets, takes her hand in both of her own and rubs warmth into them.

"How are you feeling now?"

Amrit smiles weakly.

"I'm fine, Rukzaar. Veer kahaan hai?"

Rukzaar shrugs, then concern draws her face.

"I think your brother is not happy with him. Aap ko shayad unse baat karni hongi, woh bohut bhura bhala kehe rahe the bhaijaan se."

Amrit's lips purse as she exhales.

"I shouldn't have done this. My intention was not to hurt him. But I ended up causing hurt. Rukzaar perhaps we should stop."

"Babhi jaan, yeh mohabbat joh hai, dard ka dusra naam hai. Mohabbat bhi ho aur dard bhi na ho - aisa ho nahi sakta. Aur rahi baat bhaijaan ke, he is hurting himself by this self imposed -" she waves a hand as she hunts for a proper word.

"Ab kya bholein - tapasya? There's a word like that right?"

Amrit giggles suddenly compelled to imagine Veer as a sage doing meditation and herself a seductress trying to disturb him. Rukzaar nods.

"Trust me, yeh tapasya bhang karne mein hi sab ki bhalai hai."

"You know," Amrit says as she reaches for Rukzaar's hand. "Veer was right. You are very mischievous."

"Arre zulmi zamaana hai babhi jaan. Warna hum bhi ladki badi masoom thi."

*

The doctor watches him with assessing eyes, in the depth of all that evil there is a hint of sarcasm.

"Chhod nahi pa rahe ho na sharab?" He asks, his mouth twisting into a loathsome grin. "Sar mein dard hota hai. Haat kapne lagte hai. Saans lena mushkhil ho jaati hai. Right?"

Behind them Vijendra moves.

"Veer - this is all pointless talk -"

The doctor talks over him.

"Have you ever thought about how similar your symptoms are to your father's? Or were you too young to remember how the illness that he finally succumbed to, began?"

"Enough!" Vijendra roars. But Veer holds out a hand to silence him. A muscle twitches at his jaw, another at his throat.

"Kya kehena chahta hai tu?"

"Yaad kijiye Kuwar sahab - agar kabhi bhool paye toh. How did your father die?"

Veer presses the heel of his hand to his forehead. His head had starts to throb. Memories ring in his ears. Hazy memories dance before his eyes.

Baba sahab wearing green velvet, pearls that hang from his throat. The exhaustion in his eyes. His exclusive smile for Veer.

He is going somewhere. He is dressed in traditional attire. Where is he going? What is he doing in the balcony?

"Look below baba." Veer remembers his words, he remembers the feeling of being carried in those strong arms.

And he never called him beta sahab, or any variation - but baba - always that endearment.

"All of this will be your responsibility."

With effort he keeps his eyes open against the pounding headache.

The doctor laughs.

"Remember his fall?" He asks. "Do you know why he fell? How he fell?"

"Don't listen to him Veer," Vijendra tries to cut him off. "Yeh kuch bhi bol raha hai. He is trying to manipulate you."

"Nahi," Veer says slowly. "Nobody knows Baba sahab fell from that place. Jab unko woh heart stroke aaya tha, bas hum ghar wale hi jaante the ke -"

"Heart stroke?" The doctor laughs.

He laughs and laughs and laugh some more.

"True it is what Rana sahab says. You Pratap Singhs are blind fools. Kudh zeher peete peelate rehete ho, aur heart stroke ! Ha!"

Veer launches at him and grabs him by the throat.

"What do you mean! What - do - you - mean?" He barks.

"Your father was a fool - just like yourself. He was poisoned. His stupidity killed him. His blind trust and his - ab kya kahein - unka narm dil - killed him! Maze ki baat batayein? Unhe zeher pilane wale bhi aap the. Do you remember Kuwar sahab? Your father used to have milk with you every night because you refuse to drink yours? That was the one glass of his that wasn't taste tested. Aap ke glass se, aap ke baba sahab zeher peete the har roz."

Veer's grip falters. He staggers back staring wildly at the man who looked at him in a wickedly supreme look.

"Dil pe mat lijiye. You've been collateral damage of that scheme. Kya karein, war requires sacrifices. Aur woh zeher - it's inside you too. Slowly ruining you, slowly corrupting your organs. Until one day you will follow in the steps of your -"

Vijendra slaps the man hard. His cut lip starts to bleed. But there is a wild obsession in his eyes.

"Won't you ask who did it? Who is doing it? Won't you ask what everyone around you are sworn not to tell you? Aap ki Ma!"

"Veer!" Vijendra's voice turns into a begging. "Don't listen to him. Please. This is not what your father wanted for you!"

"Haan. He wanted to keep you in your bubble. Never let you know that your mother did not - does not want you alive! Woh aap ko marna chahti thi, chahti hai - yahi karti rahengi. Karti aayi hai - even before you were born. Even before that - she came to me, she wanted to -"

"Veer!"

The moment Veer pulls out his pistol Vijendra calls his name warningly. His smile in reply is rather terrifying, like a predator bearing its teeth.

"Release him," he says softly, in a terrifyingly calm tone. The doctor begins to laugh.

"Aap ka aukaat hi nahi Rana sahab se takrane ka, woh jisse paida hone se pehele hi marna chahiye tha woh kya -"

"And make sure," Veer continues rather unaffected. "His Rana sahab learns exactly how many of his secrets this loyal servant has betrayed.

"In fact I'd say send him with a copy of tomorrow's Aawaz, with the seizure and sealing notice of his hospital. Joh bhi karna hai inke saat inke Rana sahab hi karenge -"

He takes one last look at the doctor and smiles.

"I don't dirty my hands for things that can easily be arranged otherwise. Apne baap pe joh gaya hoon."

**
These chapters are more like things falling to place. Slow and steady. I hope you are not bored with this pace.
Let me know what you thought, comment and vote! As always awaiting your feedback and missing some of my old regular readers.
Thanks for reading!