Revenge of Love

Saving Adarsh

The heavy metal door of the jail cell opened and all the inmates rushed to the wardens and grabbed the trays of food and the bread from his hands

Warden: slow down, there is enough food for everyone, leave something for the old man

Inmate: he doesn’t like to eat

The warden frowned and took from the inmates sitting on the floor a piece of bread and a cup of tea, then approached towards Adarsh who was sitting on a blanket over the concrete floor of the cell looking at the high prison cell window with the rusty bars

The warden: eat something Adarsh, it will be long day for you tomorrow, you need your strength, inshallah (if god wills it) your family will find a way to pay the money and get you out, don’t lose hope you just spent one day

Adarsh smiled: thank you

And he took the bread and the tea cup from the warden and the warden smiled to him then got out of the cell, Adarsh left the bread beside him for another inmate to take, and took a sip from the tea then he smiled faintly looking at the cup of tea and lost in the past

12 years ago

Adarsh in low tone: don’t worry about me, I will drink it cold, just tell me what happened and stop crying please?

And he held the beautiful woman’s hand to make her sit back down then took the cup of the tea and took a sip, she wiped her tears and put her hand on her chest, he looked at her hand and nodded

Adarsh: what happened with Alejandro, Radha?

Radha: I miss him so much, I want to return back to him (then she smiled with teary eyes) you know sometimes I forget for a moment that I and Alejandro are separated , I imagine myself returning back to his little apartment and Jagdev accepted Hira and Alejandro and came with me, and we are living together one happy family (then she smiled with teary eyes) but then I look at Hira, and I see her getting taller and smarter, becoming a beautiful girl, she is 9 years old now can you imagine? And I wake up on the ugly truth, I left her and Alejandro for 8 years now, almost all her life, I have no right to ask to return back home now, I am a horrible wife and mother

Adarsh: why are you saying that? it’s not like you are Eliana, Jagdev is also your son and he was young back then and his grandmother passed away, he needed you more than Hira, Hira has her father but he had no one but you, beside you always where there for Hira, every week, every occasion or even a school dance and now Jagdev is an adult, you can return to Alejandro and Hira, even if he still doesn’t accept them, you can leave him to live his life as he wishes

Radha: but Alejandro doesn’t love me anymore, there is another woman in his life, I can feel it

Adarsh frowned: another woman, impossible, who can know you and love another woman (then he smiled) you just ask Alejandro and I am sure he will be more than happy to have you back

Radha: I don’t know...I feel it’s just a beautiful dream but will never come true, I feel it in my heart, I will never get another chance

Adarsh looked at her sadly and held her hand and she chuckled and wiped her tears

Radha: look at me, I asked you to come and celebrate with me and instead we are talking about my problems

Adarsh: it’s okay, you need this

Radha: no, no I am fine, now I will tell you the good news, I decided to buy your Land, what do you think?

Adarsh: my Land?!!!! Yes of course, you can take it as a gift; you don’t have to buy it

Radha smiled: aren’t you the best friend ever? But business is business, I will buy it from you for 2 million dollars, what do you think? 

Adarsh’s eyes widened: two million what? Radha this is too much, my land doesn’t even cost....

Radha interrupted: and you call yourself a business man?!! I am offering you 2 million dollars; take them; now I am going to build on it a factory, a cardboard factory (then she closed one eyes) you work in a cardboard factory, right?

Adarsh: Radha, I don’t understand, please stop joking and be direct with me

Radha sighed: fine, I can’t take what is Anthony doing to you (then she frowned) increasing the rent of your mansion every 6 month, not treating you nicely in front of your children and deducting from your salary for such insignificants mistakes, not to mention forcing his two daughters on your sons

Adarsh in low tone: Sanjay likes Nelly

Radha: but Jude can’t stand Helen, how will he marry her? (Then she shook her head) NO he has no right to do this to you and I don’t care if he will give you ownership shares in the factory that you built with him by the way

Adarsh: you are right Radha but I need the big salary

Radha: I know (then she put her hand on his hand and smiled) that is why I am going to buy the land and build a factory on it, a cardboard factory, bigger and better than the one Anthony has, you just tell me what you need for it and I will make it happen and you will be my partner by half, you by the management and I by the financing; and by the money of the land buy the mansion from your horrible boss Anthony or buy even a bigger mansion, three floors

Adarsh smiled widely: are you serious Radha?

Radha: since when I joke with you on business (Then she smiled widely) but I have to conditions?

Adarsh: are you kidding, ask for anything

Radha: the first is that we name the factory, “Hira for cardboard” I want to give her that, the second is that when you buy the mansion, invite me for dinner, I really want to see your Marie and little Sanjay, and you have to tell your wife it’s better to accept that your best friend is woman, and I promise you I will be so ugly she will not feel slightly jealous on you from me

Adarsh smiled widely: you can’t be even if you tried (Then he shook his head in disbelief) you must be an angel of mercy, Radha; I can’t believe it, it’s a dream (Then his smile lessened) but no, what if our partnership caused between us problems, I can’t imagine losing you

Radha’s eyes widened: and why would you lose me? (Then she smiled and leaned forward) we are going to build a factory, what is the worst thing that can happen?!!

Flashback ended

Adarsh closed his eyes and a tear skipped his eye, but the heavy metal door opened again and the warden entered

The warden: Adarsh, come with me

Adarsh stood then walked towards the warden and the warden put the cuffs in his hand then took him out

Adarsh: where are we going?

The warden smiled widely: you are getting out, your son paid the cheque for you but there are some procedures you need to do first

Adarsh’s eyes widened: Jude?

The warden: no the young one

Adarsh: SANJAY?!!! How?

A day before

Marie: Sanjay, look what happened to us, it’s a scandal”

She rushed towards Sanjay the minute he entered with Hira and Nelly, and hugged him and he hugged her back while looking at the shocking scene

the police men searching the mansion, Eve, Eliana and the twins standing in a corner trying to skip the eyes of the curious neighbors looking inside the through the open door and Adarsh sitting on a chair bowing his head with two policemen on his sides; And Anthony standing by the office room door with a gloating look on his face

Marie with teary eyes: Jude destroyed us Sanjay, the police are searching the mansion for the cheque or the money, they think we stole it, your father will go to Prison he took the full responsibility and the punishment instead of that bad seed

Eliana: don’t call my son bad seed; I don’t know why he did this but...

And she just looked down, tears flowing on her cheeks and the twins patted on her shoulders kindly

Marie frowned: why are you silent raise your head and defend him if you are not ashamed

Adarsh: Marie enough, I lost the cheque, Jude has nothing to do with this

Sanjay looked at Adarsh sad and confused asking himself why Adarsh is so kind? how can a coldblooded murder and the kindest most loving father be in the same man !!!

Hira with teary eyes: you can’t do that Mr. Anthony, Mr. Adarsh is innocent, it’s not fair

Adarsh looked at Hira who was looking at him as tears flowing on her cheeks and he smiled faintly

Anthony frowned: who is that girl?!!!

Nelly frowned: daddy, we agreed you won’t press any charges on uncle Adarsh, how can you put me in such situation?

Anthony: sweetheart, business is business

Sanjay approached to Adarsh and sat on one knee in front of him, Adarsh face brightened seeing the kind look at Sanjay’s face and raised his hand to touch him but it just stopped in air and shivered in longing  

Sanjay in low tone: don’t worry, we can sell the old mansion, we don’t need it anyway

Anthony: the mansion you are talking about belongs to AAA Company, you just rented it

Sanjay frowned: what about this Mansion? I am sure it worth more than quarter million dollar!!!

Hira: yes and I have my father apartment (then she frowned sadly) I don’t remember where it is, but we will find it... you can sell it, then stay with me

Adarsh in low tone: I sold this mansion already, few days ago

Sanjay frowned confused: you sold this mansion, our home!!! To whom?!!!! And where is its money?

Adarsh didn’t answer and just looked down, and Marie rushed towards them

Marie: what about my gold, I have gold bangles and my ring and a car, we can sell all the cars

Anthony frowned: not enough and his shares are also not enough and I am not giving up on a cent

Sanjay frowned: there must be a thing that I can do

Adarsh touched Sanjay’s hair and Sanjay looked at him but he didn’t take his hand back

Eve looked down: there is nothing you can do, Sanjay

Nelly smiled widely: no there is!!!

Hira’s eyes widened and put her hand on her chest, and Sanjay looked at Nelly with attention

Nelly smiled: daddy, you did what you wanted to do, tell them the good news

Anthony frowned: enough Nelly, you don’t understand, Adarsh called me when you were in the night club and told me that he refuses our proposal that is why I called the police

Sanjay frowned: refused what?

Adarsh: Sanjay please!!

Nelly frowned: Me!!! My father was going to pay to you “the quarter million dollar” as our wedding gift but your father refused our marriage

Sanjay looked at Adarsh shocked but seeing him looking at Hira, he looked at her and saw her covering her lips to hold the sound of her sobbing, he felt ache in his heart for her

Marie’s eyes widened: No we don’t refuse, Sanjay will Marry Nelly in the time you decide

Sanjay’s eyes widened to Marie and she looked at him with pleading eyes

Adarsh: Sanjay, you don’t have to do anything, my son

Two police men walked towards Adarsh, made him stand and put the cuffs on his hands

The police officer: Mr. Singh Khatri you are under arrest....

Marie screamed: NO, NO

And she fell on her knees and held on Adarsh’s legs

Marie: TAKE ME WITH HIM

Adarsh with teary: Marie, I am so sorry my love

Hira sobbed seeing Marie holding on Adarsh’s legs with all her strength and screaming as Sanjay trying to raise her up

Sanjay: ma, please, I promise I will bring him back I promise

Marie looked at Sanjay with teary eyes then closed her eyes and let him raise her off Adarsh’s feet but as he doing that Adarsh fought the cuffs and the tight held on his wrists, only to press his lips on Marie’s head and smell her hair before being pulled away

The police officer: Let’s go, Adarsh

Sanjay hugged Marie and looked at Adarsh going with police, feeling unimaginable sorrow and longing to hug Adarsh in his arms but how can he knowing what he knows?

Anthony: we will be home, waiting for Sanjay’s decision, Come Nelly

Nelly: I will stay some more time daddy (then she smiled widely) I can’t wait to hear Sanjay’s answer

Sanjay looked away with frown, as Anthony rushed out to precede Adarsh out of the mansion, Adarsh turned as everyone stood at the door looking at him taken away

Adarsh: SANJAY, I ALREADY TOOK 11 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, I BEG YOU SON DON’T GIVE UP THE REST FOR ME

Sanjay closed his eyes with faint frown, then left Marie and rushed inside, in the same moment Sonia came crying and holding Adarsh’s suitcase, Marie tried to take it from her

Sonia: Ma’am can I take it to Mr. Adarsh myself

Sonia nodded faintly and walked behind Adarsh and the police, through the curious neighbors crowding in front of the Gate, but before Adarsh entered the Police car...

Adarsh: HIRA, HIRA

The police officer stopped as Hira ran towards Adarsh and looked at him with teary eyes

Hira: I didn’t want this to happen, it hurt so much to see you hurt

Adarsh: my sweet Hira, you are as kind and as beautiful as your mother, I wish if I had the chance to tell you how much I love you as my own children, I...

Then he stopped talking and looked behind her terrified, Hira looked behind and saw Marie, Sonia, Eve and Eliana standing and behind them the crowded neighbors, she looked back at Adarsh as he swallowed and said strictly

Adarsh: Hira, I beg you to put my heart in ease and promise me to leave the mansion for good and don’t tell anyone about your place no matter how much you trust him, I can’t protect you now please leave

Hira nodded, although she doesn’t understand why his request and whom he is protecting her from but his fear made her feel fear as well, especially when the police put Adarsh inside the car and it drove but Adarsh screamed ...

Adarsh: LISTEN TO ME HIRA, LISTEN TO ME

Till the car Vanished from their sight, Hira held her breath then looked around

Hira: Sanjay?!!

And she ran inside, looked around but hearing a loud noise coming from the office room she ran inside, and saw Sanjay on the floor collecting the papers scattered on the floor and looking in it 

Hira: Sanjay, what are you doing?

Sanjay looked at her while holding piles of papers

Sanjay: there must be something we can do, I remember we had a land somewhere, we can sell it and the money he sold the mansion for, where is the money? It must be at least 1 million dollar, it’s our only chance 

Hira smiled: I will help you then

And she sat beside him and collected the papers, but seeing Nelly’s high heels shoes tapping on the floor in front of her, she stopped and frowned

Hira: Sanjay?

Sanjay: what? Did you find something?

Then he noticed Nelly who was looking at him with a frown, he looked at her with a frown

Nelly: Sanjay, why are you doing this? When we get married, you will have the quarter million dollar

Sanjay frowned: I am not for sale, Nelly; now go home because I don’t want to say something that might upset you

Nelly frowned and looked at him for a moment as he looking at the papers then walked out angrily, Hira looked at Sanjay with faint smile and he looked at her then looked back at the papers, she did the same and after few minutes...

Hira: Sanjay I found something, look at this

Sanjay took from her the Paper and frowned, as Marie, Eliana and Eve entered the office room

Marie: what is this?

Sanjay: Papa bought two story house few days ago, outside the city; I think this is where we will stay

Marie: okay, if he sold the mansion to buy it, then it must be big and expensive; if we sold it then our problem will be solved

Sanjay shook his head: it’s not big or expensive; I don’t think he sold anything to buy it

And he put the Paper away; Marie held her head and Eve patted on her shoulder

Hira held a paper: I found a contract for a yacht that will be delivered after a week, for Jude!!!

Sanjay took the Paper from her hand and sighed and then shook his head, as Hira looked at another

Sanjay: Adarsh didn’t lie when he told Jude that his gift is not ready yet, he bought the yacht a day before his birthday

Eliana in low tone: he must left it for him as a surprise, Adarsh like surprises

Marie frowned at Eliana then looked at Hira who was looking at a Paper and breathing rapidly

Marie: what is that in your hand?

Hira flinched then put the Paper inside a file

Hira: it’s my Resume, it fell from my file

And she held the file of her CV to Marie and Marie frowned and pushed her hand down

Sanjay: I FOUND THE LAND (then he looked at the paper with a frown) who is Radha Garcia?!!!

Hira flinched and looked at Eliana who was about to talk but she shook her head faintly to her then looked down as Marie took the contract and looked in it then she nodded

Marie: yes, I remember your father sold the land for a wealthy woman years ago to buy the old mansion from Anthony, the woman was to build on it a factory or something and wanted your father to be her partner but then you got sick and we bought this mansion instead and your father didn’t mention anything again about the factory and I didn’t ask

Sanjay swallowed: factory?!!

Marie: I am not sure Sanjay; I didn’t get time to see the land or what they built on it

Eve: I remember it’s the burned factory, you were at when you tried to kill yourself, I heard it was tragic, a mother and her little daughter got burned to death inside

Sanjay covered his ears and walked out of the office room

Sanjay: I am sorry I didn’t find a thing  

Marie: SANJAY

Sanjay ran upstairs, and Hira ran behind him taking the file with her, she entered her room and looked at the file nervously then put the file under the mattress and her handbag on bed then ran to Sanjay’s room

“Knock...Knock”

Sanjay: come in Hira

Hira entered and looked at him sadly as he was sitting on the edge of his bed and holding his head

Hira smiled: I like that you changed the hammock for a real bed, so I can sit beside you

Sanjay looked at her and she smiled to him and caressed his wrist

Hira: don’t give up, we will find a way to get uncle Adarsh out

Sanjay in low tone: what if there is no way but...

Then he stopped talking when her smile vanished and put her hand on her chest, then she looked down and swallowed

Hira: then marry her and save uncle Adarsh, don’t care for anything else

Her eyes crowed with tears and Sanjay raised her face and looked at her eyes

Sanjay: by anything else you mean “your heart"?

Hira looked the other way but he continued

Sanjay: or mine...”

Hira looked at him and her eyes widened

Sanjay: I felt something when we danced, a feeling I never felt before (then he smiled widely) when you talked about dancing and how it describes emotion, I felt I know you a little bit and see you not just feel you and what I saw is the most beautiful person I ever seen and she loves me, Hira (then his smile vanished) but it was just a glimpse, a moment I lived that I don’t know if it’s a dream or a reality better than any dream

Hira: Sanjay, I ...I have to go

And she stood and was to go but Sanjay held her shoulders and she closed her eyes and a tear dropped on her cheek, when he neared her to his chest

Sanjay: “I am happy when you are with me and feel safe between your arms, I want you to be mine because I love you; but I know we can’t be, so I am letting you go” are those emotions you described by your dance are what you really feel towards me? Or was this just a teaching moment?

Hira: Sanjay, that is not that the time to talk about that

Sanjay: tell me why we can’t be? Why someone wants to hurt you and you accepting it? Why you never tell me what’s in your mind or talk to me about your past? Why I always feel you are hiding something from me, Hira? So many questions Hira that I want answers for

Hira’s eyes crowded with tears: every word I described to you is true, I love you

Sanjay held his breath as she looked down and said in low tone

Hira: that is the only question I will answer, the rest I don’t want you to know, so please stop trying to know me Sanjay, because if you know me, you will hate me and I can’t take you hating me, I can’t

Sanjay wiped her tears: never, please don’t cry

And he wrapped his arms around her and she put her head on his chest and closed her eyes to feel with all her senses his tight warming embrace, he caressed her hair lightly only to feel her trembling between his arms, he looked at her and saw her teary cheeks blushing like rose petal with morning dew, he held his breath, feeling a strong desire to not let her go, to hold her even closer to his chest to calm his heart that racing rabidly, he tried and hugged her tighter but only to feel his heart not getting calmer but the opposite

Sanjay whispered: how can I hate you when I see you if I already fall in love with you from just a glimpse

Hira’s eyes widened looking at his eyes that stared at her lips then his lips trembled before brushing it on her lips delicately, so she closed her eyes to feel his lips over hers

Sanjay whispered: please don’t hide the love of my life away from me  

Hira looked at him then a tear fall on her cheek and her lips parted slightly

Hira: the love of your life

Sanjay nodded faintly then surrendered to his desire of closeness and kissed her the most beautiful kiss she felt in her life, sweet and tender, his hands slid over her back then pressed over her waist and pulled her closer to him; it was a magical moment that ended by a loud thudding over the door.

Sanjay and Hira looked at each other shocked as if they forgot there is someone else in their world and the knock reminded them of that fact

The door opened like a storm and Marie entered, and looked at them with teary eyes and a frown of disbelief, then she took her breath and held Sanjay’s hand, and pulled him towards the door

Marie: come with me, I called Anthony and took for us an appointment in an hour to go and ask Nelly for Marriage, then you will marry her tomorrow

Hira’s eyes widened and Sanjay looked at her then he pulled his hand from Marie’s hand

Sanjay: No, I won’t do this, I will never do this

Marie: what about your father?

Sanjay: I will find another way, but this I can’t do (then he looked at Hira then back at his mother) I am sorry

Hira Looked down and wanted to walk out of the room but Marie held her arm and Hira looked at her with widened eyes

Marie: what do you want from us? STAY AWAY FROM US, ISN’T WHAT HAPPENING TO US ENOUGH?

Sanjay frowned: MOTHER (then he hugged Hira’s shoulder) Hira has nothing do with this, this is my decision, I am not for sale

Marie looked at Sanjay with teary eyes and said in low tone

Marie: I didn’t call Anthony to ask him for appointment, I called him to beg him to bring back my husband but he laughed and humiliated me, he said your father is in jail now between criminals and we have no chance to get him out unless you marry Nelly and accept his wedding gift

Hira looked at Marie with teary eyes then took herself out of Sanjay’s arms and took a step back, as Sanjay walked forward towards Marie surprised

Sanjay: you begged him?!!

Marie: I didn’t care for my pride or even my life, they are not worth of a moment of pain my love feels, and if the price of saving Adarsh is for me to beg you too, then I will do that

And she fell on her knees in front of Sanjay and held his leg, and Hira covered her lips and Sanjay flinched in shock

Sanjay: NO, NO

Then fell on his knees and hugged Marie, and kissed his her head, a tear fall from his eyes

Sanjay: I am sorry, I am so sorry

Marie: I beg you, come with me, I am in so much pain Sanjay, your father is suffering and I can’t take it

Hira ran out of the room and entered her room not noticing Eliana who was standing beside the room then followed her,

Hira threw herself on the bed and sobbed and Eliana entered then sat beside her and patted on her hair, Hira looked at her then threw herself in her arms

Hira: I am in so much pain, Nanny; I don’t know if the pain I am feeling is mine or Sanjay’s

Eliana: yes I heard everything, I am so sorry (then she broke the hug) Hira, I think you should listen to Adarsh, you should leave, I, Pedro and Mario will leave with you too, we all will return back to Spain

Hira in low tone: but Sanjay....

Eliana: if you really love him, don’t let his heart rip between you and his family, give him a chance to figure out what he is going to do, and if he loves you, he will be yours (then she gave Hira her handbag) take your phone and book the tickets on the first flight

Hira looked at the bag then opened it and took her phone and put it in the charger, when it turned on she took it and was to dial the number but it peeped with a recorded message, she frowned confused seeing the sender is Jagdev

Hira: why?!!

Eliana: what is it, Hira?

Hira: a message from..a friend

And she pressed on the message and put the phone on her ear, but hearing the message, her eyes widened in disbelief then she gasped and the phone fall from her hand, and got off the bed as if she got electrocuted

Hira: NO, WE HAVE TO SAVE VIOLA

Eliana: what? What happened?

Hira picked up the phone looking at Eliana shocked then she opened the message and pressed on the speaker, her hand was shivering

“Hira, the murderer Adarsh mentioned my name because I am your half-brother, son of Radha Garcia, I know you never knew about me and one day I will explain everything to you if you forgive me for what I will do, because as you are hearing this message, I will be taking our mother’s right from Viola Singh Khatri”

Eliana screamed: WHAT?

Suddenly the room’s bathroom door opened like a storm and Hira and Eliana screamed seeing Jude holding a large knife, standing in front of them, looking at Hira with anger and hatred

Jude: YOU ARE DEAD

Hira and Eliana screamed again when Jude ran towards Hira and pushed her to hit the wall then put the knife’s blade over her throat

Jude: WHERE IS THE CHEQUE? WHERE IS THE QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR?