Revenge of Love

Hiding the broken heart

 6 years later

Adarsh stood in front of a high steel Gate and looked at the sign above it that says “Dr. Zena khan mental health unit for females” then he took a deep breath and went towards the doorman and the nurse sitting on a chair beside him

Adarsh: Dr. Zena expects me, I am Adarsh Singh Khatri

The nurse: yes, of course, come with me, sir

And she walked towards the hospital building and Adarsh followed her, trying to not look at the women in the pink pajama like uniforms staring at him vacantly

The nurse: right this way

He entered the building and walked towards an office, the nurse knocked on its door then entered

The nurse: Mr. Adarsh is here, Dr. Zena

Zena: Let him in

Adarsh took a deep breath then entered and walked towards the middle age woman behind the desk wearing a white coat over a black suit and thick glasses

Zena smiled: sit down Mr. Singh Khatri, what would you like to drink?

Adarsh: nothing thank you, I am worried, is everything fine?

 (And she signaled to the nurse to leave and she left, closing the door behind her)

Zena: Mr. Adarsh, I don’t want you to worry, Eve is showing great progress, I asked you to come because she really wishes to see you

Adarsh swallowed and Zena smiled faintly to him and said kindly

Zena: it’s been 6 years since you admitted her here Mr. Adarsh, and since then you didn’t come to visit her once or anyone one else, that is not good for Eve, she needs to feel supported, you see Mr. Adarsh, when our patience show great progress with treatment and make an effort to respond to it, we give them a small reward to encourage them, Eve asked for a doll and when I asked her for the reason , she said when her mother left her you brought for her a doll and told her how much you love her, and she think she might remember how it feels to be loved and cared for if she got a doll

Adarsh: I understand what are you saying doctor, but I can’t see Eve right now

Zena’s smile vanished and nodded: I understand Mr. Adarsh; but I assure you that meeting Eve is perfectly safe, every place in the hospital has an observation camera and a nurse will keep an eye on her, beside she is showing great progress and absolutely 100 percent positive behavior and not a single hostile thought against anyone or any thing

Adarsh whispered: that is what the other sanatorium told me the first time, but she wasn’t treated (then he leaned forward and said in low tone) my daughter shows no remorse or sympathy towards the pain she causes others, doctor and she does horrible things, very horrible things

Zena: horrible things like what Mr. Adarsh?

Adarsh swallowed: not more than what I told you before

Zena: you admitted Eve 6 years ago for poisoning a mare, but I feel I am obligated to ask you if you are hiding another thing

Adarsh’s eyes widened: no, no I am not hiding anything; that is it

Zena nodded: Mr. Adarsh, I can’t make Eve have conscience or feel remorse and sympathy, I am sorry to tell you that no treatment can make Eve develop them, we can only rehabilitate her to understand these feelings and know her actions are very wrong and not wanting to repeat them, and the good news is that your daughter shows complete understanding for this emotions, and knows her actions are unacceptable and do feel regret in her own way

Adarsh shook his head: no I don’t believe Eve feels anything, Eve is very manipulative; everyone meets Eve believes she is the most amazing person and the kindest, she makes them believe she is sorry for their misfortune, for 11 years I believed that she changed or rehabilitated after the year she stayed in the other Sanatorium, but now I know that she doesn’t want to, she knows her actions are wrong and she enjoys them, she enjoys seeing others in pain, and I am the only one carrying the burden of her actions

Zena: Mr. Adarsh, did you bring Eve here to treat her or to keep her locked away from people outside including yourself?

Adarsh looked at her for a moment then looked down, Zena said in low tone

Zena: do you love your daughter, Mr. Adarsh?

Adarsh without thinking: of course (then his eyes crowded with tears) she is my older daughter, I knew what love means when I held her over my arms, but knowing what she did, I can’t (then he looked at the down as a tear dropped on his cheek) no one can understand what I am feeling, no one

Zena: Perhaps, you need to talk about it, Mr. Adarsh; with a friend or professional, it’s not healthy to keep such secret and pain to yourself

Adarsh took a deep breath then wiped his tear and smiled

Adarsh: I am fine, doctor; and perhaps I will consider visiting Eve soon but I am not ready now (Then he stood) I have to go, my son’s plane probably arrived from London by now, allow me to go

Zena: as you wish, Mr. Adarsh, thank you for coming

Adarsh nodded then he walked to the door and opened it, only to find Eve in front of him, in the pink uniform, her eyes were filled with tears and a doll in her hand

The nurse: Eve, you saw him, now let’s go

Eve: Papa, thank you for coming, I missed you so much

(and she hugged Adarsh, he looked at the doctor with widened eyes and the doctor frowned to the nurse)

The nurse: I felt so bad for her, I... (then she looked down) I am so sorry

Eve sobbed: Papa...t..take me home please, don’t leave me here, I am so sorry, I will not do anything to upset you again

Adarsh breathed heavily and wanted to hug her back but his hand stopped in the air and he closed his eyes

Meanwhile

In the airport

Sanjay pushed the trolley of the suitcases and Nelly walked beside him then leaned her head on his shoulder, he didn’t even look at her as he walked towards the exit of the airport

Nelly: Sanjay, I was thinking to throw your birthday party in my family’s mansion, since your parents’ house you know! Very humble

Sanjay: I don’t want a birthday party

Nelly’s eyes widened: are you kidding? How many times will you turn 30, no there must be a party and we will invite all our school friends, they miss you so much (then she smiled a faint smile) speaking of our friends, can you imagine they think we are engaged? They can’t imagine we are just dating till now (then she sighed) nor can I

Sanjay frowned faintly: because we are not even dating, Nelly (then he stopped walking and Nelly looked at him) Nelly, coming here won’t change what I told you every day in the past 6 years ago, there is no hope of waiting for me and like I was only focused on my education, now I will be only focusing on my career

Nelly: daddy told you, if we got married he will make for you the biggest law firm in the country, you will also be the head of the Legal department for his cardboard company and the main lawyer for all his friends

Sanjay frowned: NELLY, how many times I will tell you I am not for sale?!!!  

Nelly: fine, don’t be angry, I am not in a hurry, you will be mine eventually, let’s be honest I am pretty, I am rich, I am any man’s dream so why wouldn’t you want me too? Of course you will

Sanjay rolled his eyes then walked out of the Gate and looked around

Sanjay: apparently we arrived early, Viola is not waiting for us; I think we will take a taxi

Nelly: I don’t know why we returned to here, we could have established your business in London and lived there

Sanjay: you know if you want to live in London, you can and I will wish you the best of luck

Nelly: no, I am with you, where ever you go

An old woman approached them with neck chains in her hand and a huge plastic bag, and stood in front of Nelly with faint smile

The old woman: would you like to buy from me a neck chain, young Ms.? I have golden ones and silver ones and I have eyeliner for your green eyes, it’s exactly like the expensive one and I have hairbands for your silky hair, buy from me I need the money, please

Nelly: eww, I don’t buy street things (then she pulled Sanjay near her) move away from her, Sanjay; she might steal your wallet or touch you with her dirty hands

The old woman’s smile vanished, then bowed her head sadly and walked away and sat on the pavement and Sanjay looked at Nelly shocked

Sanjay: that was unbelievably rude and unkind (then frowned) but again who am I talking to?

Nelly rolled her eyes and he walked to the old woman, she looked at him and he smiled to her

Sanjay: I am so sorry for my friend (then he took out his wallet) do you have something for me?

The old woman smiled widely: yes of course, son; hold these, let me see what you need

And she put the neck chains in his hand then bent looking in her bag, he smiled and looked at the neck chains, only to be shocked to see one of them is identical to the” red rose in the silver neck chain” that Hira pulled from his neck before she leave him

His breath froze in his lung and his heart ached to the limit that he had to press his hand on his chest to lessen the pain, the woman held wool socks for him with faint smile that vanished seeing the longing in his eyes looking at those neck chains with his hand on his chest

The old woman: how could she break a heart as kind as yours, son?

Sanjay’s eyes widened: what?! (And he looked at Nelly)

The old woman: I am not talking about the blonde cactus; I am talking about the rose that broke your heart

Sanjay took a moment trying to adjust what she said then he shook his head and said in low tone

Sanjay: no one broke my heart

The old woman: oh (then she nodded) then it’s not your heart that aching in your chest, son

Sanjay swallowed and looked down and the woman put the socks back in the bag and took out a red scarf instead, put it around his neck and he looked at her as she adjusted it over his chest

Nelly: SANJAY, COME NOW, I STOPPED A TAXI

The old woman: hiding the broken heart is what my scarf will do for you, hide her heart for now, till you heal it and deserve your rose back

Later...

Sanjay’s Taxi parked and he looked through his door’s window at the former Singh Khatri mansion

Nelly: why we came here?!!Did your father buy the mansion back without telling me?

Sanjay: no, who bought the mansion is a friend of mine, I want to see him, I think you should take the taxi and go your home then send the taxi with my suitcase to mine, I would like to spend the day with my family by my own, I hope you understand

Nelly: I get it, your bag can go to your house and I can’t, fine but can you at least take off this cheap scarf (then she smiled) the man I know and love doesn’t wear but the best, this scarf is embarrassing  

Sanjay: Nelly, I am tempted to ask you, what if the first time you saw me I was running in the street bare foot and in my Pajamas? Would you have considered loving me?

Nelly chuckled: eww, who would love a person like that Sanjay?!! (then she smiled) I loved you because you are handsome and cool and...

Sanjay interrupted her by getting out of the taxi, closing the door and walking away, Nelly frowned and her taxi drove away, Sanjay looked at it going, took a breath in relief then walked towards the security man at the mansion gate

Sanjay: good morning, Salman; I would like to meet Mr. Jagdev, please

Salman: Mr. Sanjay?! I will inform Mr. Jagdev right away

And he walked to inside the mansion and Sanjay looked at the Garden and remembered his walks with Hira, he smiled faintly and thought what if in this horrible day he heard Hira instead of hurting her as he did, perhaps he would have been this moment walking with her in the Garden, then sitting under this tree and talking for hours

Salman returned, smiled and opened the Gate

Salman: welcome, Mr. Sanjay

Sanjay entered the mansion and was surprised to find it the same, even the family picture still hanged on the wall, the only thing that was different was about 30 issues of a woman magazine called “the pink tea” on the coffee table!!! And he wondered if there is a woman in Jagdev’s life or....

Sanjay’s eyes widened: she is here

(And he looked around but then flinched when the office room opened and Jagdev got out)

Jagdev smiled: oh my, I can’t believe it what a wonderful Surprise? You can imagine how happy I was when Salman told me, the son of the man murdered my mother came to visit me

Sanjay swallowed didn’t say a word as Jagdev sat on a chair then signaled to Sanjay on the opposite chair

Jagdev: sit down Sanjay and tell me why you came after all this years asking for me, I am really curious

Sanjay swallowed: I ...I don’t know really...I just wanted to know if everything okay with... (Then he shook his head) I am sorry, I will go

And he turned but Jagdev said in low tone

Jagdev: with Hira?

Sanjay stopped and turned looking at Jagdev nervously and Jagdev frowned

Jagdev: and you think after what you did to Hira you deserve to ask about her and demand from me an answer?

Sanjay frowned faintly and looked down as Jagdev looked at him for a moment then nodded

Jagdev: yes, you do deserve to ask and demand an answer

Sanjay frowned confused: I do?!!

Jagdev sighed: what I don’t like to admit Sanjay is that, I actually owe you, because when the factory burned you wanted to safe my sister, you fought your father to threw yourself in the fire and safe her and you were just 13, it’s true it was uncle Alejandro who saved her but at least you tried and for that I am so grateful

Sanjay’s eyes widened: how did you know I did that?

Jagdev: I had a footage of surveillance camera but that is not important now, what is important is that after knowing that, I agreed with Hira about you being different from your family or at least that what we thought before! Anyway I accepted Hira’s request of not hurting you in my revenge and even try to protect you, but since we didn’t hurt anyone anyway (then he frowned) I still owe you and I don’t like the idea of owing you anything, Sanjay, so I will pay my debt by putting your heart at ease and I will answer your questions, do you accept that?

Sanjay sat and nodded faintly, he will take it, even if Jagdev planning to tell him that Hira hates him or moved on he will take it, for hearing anything about Hira he is ready to squirm in pain in front of Jagdev and satisfy his hatred

Sanjay: is she here?

Jagdev shook his head: she didn’t come since and she will never come, she told me indirectly many times that

Sanjay adjusted the Scarf over his chest and nodded faintly

Jagdev: would you like to drink something, Sanjay? Tea or Juice

Sanjay: is she happy there?

Jagdev smiled: I think so, she is living with Eliana and the twins, she is about to finish medical school and she specialized in psychology, she is going to be one of the best psychiatrists I am sure

Sanjay smiled: I am happy to hear that (then his smile lessened) is uncle still in her life?

Jagdev’s smile vanished: no, I mean I don’t think so (then he sat straight and leaned forward) Sanjay, why did you ask about that man?

Sanjay frowned: I don’t trust this man, I think he is using Hira and doesn’t care for her but Hira doesn’t think that, she think of him as her godfather, she didn’t even see him once or know his real name but trust him blindly

Jagdev frowned: I don’t trust this man either, you see this man called me from 8 years to be exact, he told me that he is Alejandro’s friend and that your father killed my mother and showed me a part from a surveillance camera of one of the factory’s doors, it was showing your father as he carrying the gas containers after he burnt the factory

Sanjay frowned confused: gas containers?!!! I

Jagdev frowned: yes, that is why I trusted Uncle, although I didn’t think being a friend to Alejandro is enough reason for him to seek me to take my mother’s revenge but I didn’t care, I was hurt and furious to know my mother’s murderer is uncle Adarsh, who was like my father ...

Sanjay looked down with faint frown and Jagdev continued

Jagdev: so his enemy is my enemy and we both want the same thing and he told me Hira is with him, obsessed with revenge and full of hatred and I couldn’t leave Hira in this alone, enough I left her all her life alone but after I watched Hira for two years and when I met her, I became sure she has no idea or intention to take revenge, and that something is not right

Sanjay: wait, I may misunderstood but it seems as if you didn’t meet uncle before or know who he is, as Hira

Jagdev: you didn’t misunderstand, I don’t know anything, I just followed his orders and let him convince me to put Hira in heart breaking situations to toughen her heart then put her inside the mansion with Adarsh (then he held his head) I was so stupid and brainwashed (then he frowned) but I woke up when I knew he punished her for saving you again and made your mother take her to Joseph to torture her, he hurt Hira so badly and that made me furious, in addition to that, someone sent to me that there is another part of the surveillance camera that Uncle hid from me, and he will send it to me in exchange of money

Sanjay frowned: who is he?

Jagdev: I don’t know, I just sent the money to the private account he sent to me and he send to me the rest of the Video and in this part I saw you trying to save Hira, so the bastard Uncle wanted us to take our revenge from the only decent Singh Khatri, the one who actually tried to save Hira!!! So I told Hira to stay away from uncle and planned to hurt Viola and Jude instead of you and you know the rest

Sanjay nodded: but this man did so much to Hira, hired Eliana to take care of her, paid for her education she considered him a father, what changed so he treat her like that?

Jagdev interrupted: Sanjay, this man is fraud, he didn’t do anything for Hira (then he looked down shamefully) Eliana used to work for us before I was even born then she was my mother‘s friend till she left to Spain, so when my mother died I wanted to have nothing to do with Hira, in the same time I had to find for her a home away from me, so I sent Hira to Spain to live with Eliana and paid Eliana to be her nanny and for all Hira’s needs till she became 21 and came back here, I made all this under an anonymous name so Hira and Eliana don’t know me, and I think uncle told Hira its him and took the credit to enter her life

Sanjay’s eyes widened: oh my god, why didn’t you tell Hira this?

Jagdev’s eyes widened: how could I? how can I tell her that all this years she thought someone cared for her was not true, no it was just her brother keeping her away from him by paying people and a creepy man pretending to be her god father but actually was using her to kill a person and then pay for it (then he shook his head) no, no I can’t face her with the truth, Hira is very sensitive it already broke her heart that I didn’t want her and that uncle punished her harshly without care, but it will fully break her beyond repair that all this years this man was a fraud and I actually sent her to another country to not take care of her (then he sighed ) poor Hira, everyone man she trusted and loved hurt her, including me (then he smiled) and of course....

And he signaled on Sanjay, Sanjay looked down with faint frown

Jagdev: now Sanjay, I think I paid my debt and I promise you, one day you will pay yours too

Sanjay frowned confused: pay mine?!!!

Jagdev nodded: remember 6 years ago, you told me as “as you hurt my sister, I will hurt yours” but turned out I didn’t hurt your sister and you just hurt mine (then he frowned) then let your security guards drag her and throw her at your feet in front of my eyes, Sanjay

Sanjay swallowed and held his breath, remembering this horrible image, why was he so cruel? He couldn’t remember

Jagdev: don’t worry, I won’t take her right from you now, do you know why Sanjay, because even though you are a coward and hurt my sister, humiliated her and broke her heart, Hira was right about you, you have a pure heart (then he leaned forward ) and the best time to take a revenge from a pure heart is when this heart feel regret, so Sanjay, I will take Hira’s right only when your heart break for  what you did to Hira’s heart and you come begging me to take her right from you ,perhaps you can forgive yourself and find some relief, only then Sanjay, only then I will take her right and that is also your right on me

Then Jagdev stood and just walked away while saying

Jagdev: you know the place of the door, Sanjay

Sanjay stood and walked to the door, thinking perhaps the old Lady was right about the scarf, perhaps it’s hiding the broken heart in his chest, that Jagdev couldn’t see how broken and full of regret it already is

An hour later

In Singh Khatri’s house

In the Garden

Marie smiled widely: finally Sonia, finally I will see my son not through a screen, 6 years Sonia (then she frowned) put for me some tea

Sonia frowned and picked up the tea pot in front of Marie’s hand and filled her cup, Marie leaned back on her chair and took a sip  

Marie: 6 years that snake Nelly took Sanjay from me (then she frowned) I am sure, she sent Sanjay somewhere before he come see me and brought his bag here, just to see me teased, god I always hated this girl

Sonia frowned: really? You always hated Nelly?!!!

Then her frown vanished seeing Sanjay sneaking to Marie, and pressing his finger on her lips not to say anything

Marie: of course, she is arrogant and thinks so much of herself when she is...

Sanjay hugged Marie’s back, her eyes widened and she gasped

Sanjay: ...she is nothing compared to you, beautiful

Marie turned her head then chuckled happily and jumped off her chair and into Sanjay’s arms, her eyes crowded with tears and hit his back

Marie: 6 years Sanjay, how could you stay away from me all this years?

Sanjay: I am here now, ma (then he wiped her tears) don’t cry, be happy

Marie chuckled: I am happy, look I am happy

Sanjay smiled: really happy to see you, Sonia; I thought you quit!!!

Sonia: your mother brought me back

Sanjay: happy to hear this, where is Viola and Eve and where is Adarsh?

Marie frowned: Viola is upstairs writing like always, since she started working for this magazine, she think we are not worthy enough of her company as for Eve she is staying with Jude where ever he is, they are angry of us, so they call only Viola as if we are nothing to them

Sanjay smiled half a smile then he heard loud barking, he looked around and saw a dog’s house and a huge dog inside it, he chuckled in disbelief

Sanjay: Insanju? Oh my god, you looked smaller in the photos

 (And he went towards the dog house and rubbed the dog’s head, the dog whimpered and rubbed his face in his hand)

Sanjay smiled: If Hira saw how big you became, she will be so happy

Marie frowned: AS FOR YOUR FATHER...

Sonia rolled her eyes as Sanjay looked at Marie startled, she swallowed

Marie: he went to shop for your birthday gift

Sanjay: my birthday is in three days, he could have waited till I see him

(Then he cleared his throat nervously seeing a wide smile on Marie’s lips)

Sanjay: anyway I will go see, Viola (then he smiled to Sonia) could you tell me where is her room? I don’t remember this house at all

Marie frowned: of course, you don’t; you didn’t spend in it a week then ran to London with the blonde snake Nelly

Sanjay kissed Marie’s head: won’t you forgive me?

Marie smiled: I forgave you before getting angry at you, Sanjay; you are my whole life

Sonia: Viola asked me for tea anyway; come with me (and she filled a cup of tea)

Sanjay: no give it to me, I want to surprise Viola, where is her room?

Sonia: upstairs there is only four rooms, hers is the one in front of the stairs and yours is the one beside it

Sanjay: thank you

And he took the tea cup on a tray and walked to inside the house and it was strangely larger than he remembered, it is two levels and have a decent space, maybe not so big like the mansion but not very small either

He ascended the stairs with the tray and reaching to Viola’s room, he smiled faintly and knocked at the door

Viola: come in, Sonia

Sanjay held his chuckle and open the door and Viola was sitting on the bed and giving him her back, he entered with tray and sneaked towards Viola as Viola was pressing the phone to her ear

Viola: ....and I was like” you don’t have to buy me a smaller size to tell me I am fat Marie?!!”... What are you saying of course she meant it; have you forgotten when she bought to Nelly the same dress she bought for you?!!

Sanjay froze in his place and his head felt numb

Viola: Hira, how....?

Hearing Hira’s name the tray fell from his hand and Viola gasped then turned and saw Sanjay standing behind her, her eyes widened as the phone on her ear, looking at Sanjay’s wide shocked eyes

Viola: don’t worry Hira, it just Sonia dropped the tray (then she swallowed) anyway how you think she didn’t mean it?

Sanjay rushed towards Viola and took the phone from her hand and pressed it on his ear

Hira: it just I noticed that Marie Lately trying to get closer to you, and be your friend, I am sure that is the main reason she took you shopping, not to embarrass you for gaining few pounds!

Sanjay closed his eyes and pressed his hand on his heart, feeling it will jump out of his chest, how much he missed her; just her voice is enough to make his longing like fire inside his chest

Hira: Hola? Viola, are you hearing me?

Sanjay breathed heavily as Viola swallowed and put her hand on his hand in attempt to make him leave the phone to her and he should, he knows he should but he can’t, he just can’t stop hearing her Voice and feel her on the other side of the line

Hira: Hola? Viola? (a moment of silence) Sanjay?!