Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 45

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Chapter 45


Khushi’s POV


Its’s a dark well and I am still trying to breathe as I fall down, deep inside, with only Anjali Di’s laughs echoing in my ears.


I wake up in a jolt. My body aching terribly by the pain. Where I am? I look around. It’s still dark around me. Am I alive? Or dead? Hey devi maiyaa.. The moment I chant this name, I see a light and I have to blink hard to see whats happening. Babuji reaches me.


“Babuji?” I gasp. What is he doing in the well?

“Khushi.. how are you feeling now? You should lie down. You need rest.”

He forces me to lie down and that’s when I realize I am in some house. Whose house? Suddenly I recall how Arnav was under the spell and was trying to destroy the key which Maa had given me and how I entrusted it to Di who pushed me to the well. Those memories make me grip Babuji’s arm tight.


“Babuji, I .. I have to go.. that key.. that key is.. with..”

“Anjali,” Babuji mentions shocking me. “I know,” he nods a bit disappointed.

“How… how do you know?”


I try to get up again and this time he helps me sit by keeping some pillows behind to support my aching back. One thing I realize is that despite falling in the well, I am not much hurt. How is it possible that though I have a bodyache, there is only one bandage on my head.

“Who… who saved me?” I ask Babuji who turns to the door where Sheetal and Shyam gets inside.


I am overwhelmed to see Shyam jeejaji here. And hold on, this is not my house but Sheetal’s where she is staying from past few weeks.


“You saved me?” I ask Sheetal who denies and looks at Shyam instead. “He did.”


My jaw drops. Shyam saved me? How? He looks confused and very annoyed too at the moment.

“You know all this whatever Sheetal and your father just briefed me about is not something I would otherwise believe had I not seen Rani Saheba pushing you into the well last night.”


His eyes brim with tears and horror both as he narrates the incident.

“I was sleeping last night in my room when I heard your screams. I woke up them and realized even Anjali was not in the bedroom. Instantly, I rushed down and saw you were running from the exit door towards the backyard. I had no idea why so I followed you and the moment I reached some distance I saw you giving Rani Saheba the key and then she pushing you in the well, laughing hysterically and even muttering some spell which trust me I have never heard her saying before. I was so shocked by the entire incident that I didn’t know what to do. To confront to Rani Saheba why she did that or to save you.”


I swallow my tears as he continues.


“Obviously, saving you was important and I saw Anjali getting back into the house. So before she could see me, I quickly made my way to the well and I instantly called up your father and asked him to come to Sheesh Mahal that very instant. Fortunately, just two days back we had already started the closing of the well process and which is why there was enough sand inside the well and it wasn’t very deep. Also, it was Arnav’s idea two days back when he told me to put some hay inside the well too. Initially I didn’t know why he asked me to do that but now that I think about it I realize he was already aware you were going to be pushed in the well some day and he was already taking precautions to ensure even if that happens you don’t get hurt.”


Hey Devi Maiyaa!! I sob. I think right from the time Arnav had started believing he was in Chandrika’s control, he already began to take his measures to keep me safe. He must have recalled my premonition which I shared with him once that he would be pushing me inside a well and based on that, Arnav already began the work to close the well and filled it up with sand and hay so that even if it happens, I don’t get hurt. Most importantly, he hid this fact with everyone from the house. Only Shyam knew. He trusted Shyam based on his instincts and thank God he did otherwise who would save me last night?


“Your father got Sheetal along, and we three managed to pull you out with a rope. All this happened and it was Sheetal’s idea to get you here in her house and not in your father’s home in Laxmi Nagar as that could be the obvious spot to track you for anyone, especially Chandrika. So, they got you here and I went back to Sheesh mahal, having so many questions in my head which Sheetal and your father promised to clarify today. They wanted me not to ask anything to Anjali even though we all are yet to relate why she did that? Was she under some spell too? I don’t know..”


I don’t have any clue of that either.


“So, I went back in my room and saw Rani Saheba keeping that key safe in her locker. After she finished, I entered the room and she asked me where I was. I told her I got some work to do so was in the study room working as I got some US client call and though at first she didn’t believe me, when I cross questioned her why she was missing in the bedroom when I woke up to take the call she lied to me that was suffocating and wanted to breathe some fresh air so she had been roaming in the garden for a while. I knew she was not in the garden but at the backyard but I didn’t argue with her. We slept.”


Hey Devi Maiyaa!!


“Arnav? What… what about him?” I ask in worry.

“He is fine,” Sheetal responds. “He was chasing you for the key but maybe then Chandrika got to know that Anjali was already there to take care of it, she made Arnav go back to your bedroom and he slept there without even changing his black attire. Seems, today morning when Akash and NK woke him up, they saw him in that same clothes and asked him about you and he was clueless.”

“He… he must be worried for me..” I try to get down. “I should go back to him. He is alone..”

“Khushi, no”

They all stop me at once.

“You can’t go there now. It’s better you stay here and rest. Until we know Anjali’s intentions, we can risk you sending there again.”

“But what will Arnav think about my absence? He doesn't even know I was pushed in that well by his sister.”

“Yes he doesn't know that and its fine. It’s good for him if he doesn't know it or else Chandrika might use Anjali to hurt him too which we don’t want.”


Sheetal is right. I can’t take that risk.


“Khushi,” Babuji caresses my head. “You stay here and let Shyam do the work.”

“What work?”

I turn to Shyam who exhales.

“Bringing the key back to you so that whatever role it has to play in saving Arnav and breaking the spell, we could expedite that.” Shyam replies.

“Yes, and we need that key on priority as the Lunar eclipse is nearing and we are yet to find out what role that key has in this entire spell that Chandrika has casted.” Sheetal adds.

“And only Shyam can bring the key before Anjali or Arnav destroys it.” Babuji mentions. “And until then you will be here, regaining your health and finding the purpose of this key.”

“But… my absence in Sheesh Mahal will confuse the family. They might even think I am dead.”

“We have already told NK and Akash you are here. We told them today morning when Arnav had instructed them to call up your father and check if you were here.” Sheetal says.

“So they know and so does Daadi but, no one else apart from them. We don’t know who else is in chandrika’s control in that house so we cannot tell about your whereabouts to anyone or else Chandrika might try to harm you again.” Babuji adds.


I am not worried about others but Arnav.


“Arnav will be fine. And we have for now stopped him from going to the police station or filing any complaint of your absence. But I don’t know how far we can stop him from doing that.” Shyam mentions.


A tear escapes my eye.

“He might think he hurt me, Shyam and he will break down. I .. I can’t let him feel that.”

“Khushi..” Babuji cups my face. “Arnav and your love is divine. I am sure he will be okay and its hardly a matter of few days. For now, Shyam needs to get the key, Akash and NK need to search the basement area again ensuring Arnav and Anjali doesn't come to know they are and you and Sheetal have to find the relation between the key and the spell that Chandrika has casted.” Babuji declares.

“There is one more thing that we have to find, Babuji,” I say, wiping my tears. “And that’s Chandrika’s whereabouts. Until she is caught, we can’t end this, I am sure.”


They all agree with me. We then devise a plan how to implement this.


To be Continued.

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Love By Chance - ebook Published + Prologue Inside

BOOK LINK - CLICK HERE

Sameer Khanna

I had no intention to marry till I met Tanisha Gupta. More than her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, her petite curves and sassy attitude, her accomplishments as the current CEO of Gupta Industries, and her commitment and dedication to expanding her company allured me. Though I admired her love and sense of responsibility towards her half-sister for whom my marriage alliance was proposed, Taani, was all I had in mind, she was the only one I wanted.

Tanisha Gupta

I was looking for potential grooms for my younger sister when I met Sameer Khanna. More than his smart, charming personality and his oh so sexy French beard, Sameer’s eagerness to bring out my true self, the woman I used to be when my father was alive, drew me towards him. Much as I tried to resist him, my heart finally crossed the line it shouldn't have.

But were the sparks of attraction, compatibility, and respect that we felt for each other enough to sustain the Love that happened by chance between us?

A slow burn arranged marriage Contemporary Romance.

Note: Though the book can be read as a standalone, you can also read my book "Mr and Mrs Kapoor" to know more about these lead characters.

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PROLOGUE

Taani

The kiss is pure perfection. My lips meet his as he runs his hands down my arms to my waist, gently caressing every inch of my skin until they reach my hips. Just the feeling of his hands on my body, holding me tightly to him while our mouths join to taste each other, is enough to make me feel desired and wanted. I’ve met numerous men in my business circle; many even showed an interest in me, but this man here is the only one I’ve ever wanted since I laid my eyes on him.

A tiny gasp escapes my lips as he removes his hand from my hips, but I take a relieved breath when he cups my face instead. I had no idea a casual dinner date with him would escalate this desire between us to such an extent that we would end up kissing each other in the confined space of the washroom of the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur, where we are staying for the past three days. The sound of our kisses fills the empty space while I lean against the grey countertop basin, with the weight of his body crushing me. My hands slide from his shoulders to touch his well-groomed French beard. It’s a novel sensation for me, and I like it. It’s prickly and a little rough, but I like the ticklish and heady feeling of it rubbing against my face. The beard gave him an edgy look with a boyish charm, and I always wondered what it would feel like to touch it, to feel it against my skin. When my nails stroke his beard, he lets out a moan and pushes our lower bodies together fervently. It feels more like a dream, a naughty one at that, bringing all my fantasies to life because the kind of woman I am, I would never ever let any man invade my private space so easily. But he is special. Ever since I saw him, he became special. My back arches greedily as our bodies meet, and I’m a squirming mess against his supremely male body.

I can already see the stars as his tongue dances seductively with mine making me a quivering mess. Good Lord, this man is a good kisser. Although I’d tried to find as much information about him as possible before meeting him tonight, I would never have found out what a great kisser he is if we hadn’t indulged in our lips mating with each other tonight. My fingers tangle into his thick dark hair as he kisses me passionately, feasting on my lips and tongue, and the only thought at the back of my mind was that I don’t want this to end. I never knew I had missed out on such amorous feelings in my life until tonight. I never knew I wanted this deep connection, this feeling of oneness with the man of my dreams, not until this very moment.

Man of my dreams?

These words instantly echo in my head on loop. He is not the man of my dreams, nor is he allowed to pursue me. This bitter realization dawns on me, and I push him away from my body. What the hell have I done? How could I kiss him? I think my brain got short-circuited with my hormones swirling around it. We both were a frenzied mess with unfulfilled, insatiable and uncontrollable need hanging between us from the time we met, which neither of us could ignore any longer.

I feel like I have committed a sin by allowing him to get close to me. He reads the anger and mortification on my face.

“Taani, I…” he tries to speak, coming towards me again, but I stop him right there.

“Don’t even think of touching me again. This … this shouldn’t have happened, Sameer.” I cover my mouth with my palm feeling appalled. How am I ever going to face him or my sister again?

“I know,” he exhales in a rush, brushing his fingers through his messy hair. “This shouldn’t have happened like this, but-“

I don’t wait to hear his excuse and storm out of the washroom, banging the door loudly behind me.

How could I do this? Me and Sameer Khanna? Seriously? I was in Udaipur, away from my home in Delhi, for a business meeting. Then how did things heat up between Sameer and me to this extent that I lost all my control? His family had proposed his alliance for my younger sister, Vidhi. Though nothing is fixed, and Vidhi is yet to give her approval, how could Sameer and I cross this unspoken line between us?

He is forbidden. And after this act tonight, I’ll make sure he doesn't even think about marrying my sister either. A man whose control could slip so easily despite knowing his marriage talks are going on with some other woman cannot be trusted. Ever!!!

BOOK LINK - CLICK HERE