Tangled hearts in love

Chapter 11 - Pregnant

Sejal came inside the room and noticed the reaction of Vansh and Riddhima. Riddhima was tensed and frustrated while Vansh was hell angry with Kabir. Sejal left the place by saying bye to Riddhima. But before leaving, Riddhima asked Sejal to inform Mayuri that she was not willing to come inside the house.

“What if your aunt asks for the reason for you not coming inside?” asked Sejal preparing to leave.

“Tell her, that I am suffering from viral fever due to the visit to the medical camp.” Told Riddhima by waving her hands to Sejal.

Riddhima wanted to ask him lots of questions about Kabir. But she was scared about what will Vansh think about her. She came and sat near him. A few minutes of silence prevailed between them both. Finally, Riddhima broke the silence.

“Boss, How are you feeling now?” queried Riddhima pointing her fingers in the direction of the gunshot area.

“Better. Will Kabir come to your room? Are you not tensed after knowing about Kabir’s presence here? “questioned Vansh adjusting himself on the sofa.

“I think Kabir will not come to my room because Mayuri aunty will not allow anyone this side as I told Sejal about the viral fever.” Completed Riddhima.

“So you are not tensed by Kabir’s presence here. But I have a doubt, Whether you gave the information to Kabir that I am staying in your room.” doubted Vansh taking a sip at the juice.

“Oh my god, I helped you but how could you even think like that?” rasped Riddhima pouring the juice into the glass.

“Because he is your brother-in-law and he tried even to marry you. So I thought that you would support him.” Denoted Vansh completing his juice.

“I have met him only a few times. Whenever looking at him, I don’t get any positive vibe and the most important thing is that he belongs to the mafia. So I don’t like him at all. “declared Riddhima drinking the juice.

“You also don’t like me because I belong to the mafia. Then Why are you supporting me and trying to save my life from danger? Because do you like me? “ hinted Vansh making Riddhima spill her juice on the floor.

“I didn’t support or try to save your life. You came into my house so I helped you. That’s it.” Trembled Riddhima.

She made an effort to look away from him. She tried to move after getting up from that position, but she soon noticed her wrist was being clenched. She was tugged by Vansh which made her land on the sofa again.

“Okay, but I can't agree. You should be aware of the fact that when we like someone, we are willing to sacrifice anything for them and violate our morals and ethics to be there for them.” Pronounced Vansh holding her hands firmly.

“So what? I didn’t do anything for you.” Uttered Riddhima admiring his speech.

“Okay, let me elaborate on that for you. First, to rescue me from harm, you violated your professional moral code. Second thing, You're willing to make any sacrifice—including faking a fever to trick your family into thinking you're sick—to spend quality time with me you care about. I played a role in both of these events in your life.” voiced Vansh gazing at her, while she also was busy gazing at him.

Suddenly a knock was heard on the door. Riddhima didn’t know how to react. Vansh stood from the sofa taking the knife near him that Riddhima had placed to operate on him. He never forget to notice the way Riddhima was protectively holding his gunshot arm area. Riddhima was able to hear Ahana’s voice from outside.

Riddhima and Vansh arrived near the door, Vansh hides in a way that when the door opens, the door will able to hide him. Riddhima calmed herself and opened the door.

“Ahana di, I am not feeling well. The fever might spread to you also.” Expressed Riddhima but Ahana immediately hugged her tightly.

“Doctor, I know about your lies. You don’t like my husband so you are refusing to meet me and him.” Accused Ahana pouting.

Both came inside the room and sat on the sofa. Riddhima sat in the direction facing the doorway.

“Ahana di, stop accusing me. How are you? Is Kabir treating you properly?” interrogated Riddhima.

“Yes, he is treating me properly.” Lied Ahana viewing at the floor.

“Then what about this red mark on the hands?” asked Riddhima raising her chin.

Tears were ready to fill Ahana’s eyes but Riddhima threw her arms around her and hugged her to pacify her sorrow. Riddhima knows about how a mafia person treats women, this is why she hated marrying a man who belongs to the mafia.

“I have good news for you.” Stated Ahana taking Riddhima’s hand and placing it on her lower belly.

“You are going to become an aunt and I am going to become a mother. I am pregnant.” Expressed Ahana happily.

Riddhima caressed the belly and congratulated her. Ahana’s joy was boundless, she told that she was in her fourth month.

Riddhima’s eyes went in the door direction and made sure that Vansh was standing safely.

“Did you tell Kabir that you are pregnant?” questioned Riddhima.

“Yes, I told him while we went on a business trip to Mauritius. He just nodded his head after listening to the news and immediately we returned to India yesterday at 11 clocks because of his family members' insistence about my safety. His family members were really happy. Especially his grandpa blessed me abundantly by presenting so many gifts to me. I requested them that I wanted to meet you all. They agreed and forced Kabir to visit with me to meet you all.” Elaborated Ahana.

“Ahana di, So Kabir was with you last night.” Asked Riddhima playfully teasing Ahana but Vansh understood her intention.

“Probably not, till midnight, he was talking on the phone call. At 12.30, he went outside to meet someone but within an hour he returned home.” Whimpered Ahana with last words.

“Ahana di, what happened? You can express to me anything.” Stated Riddhima caressing her hands.

“From the maids, I came to know that while returning home at night at 1.30, he had carried a girl in his arms. His parents gave him a warning to him but he told them that girl whom he brought home was the love of his life.” Told a sobbing Ahana.

“Did you see that girl?” asked Riddhima wiping her tears.

“No, that girl left the place in the early morning itself. I don’t know why Kabir told like that. I sacrificed my education for him and was ready to be a proper housewife for him. But every day, he used to treat me like a slave.” Cried Ahana.

Riddhima somehow consoled her tears by talking to her about pregnancy time. Ahana was listening to the conversation deeper, and slowly her tears disappeared.

“Now, tell me how is your life going?” implied Ahana.

“Horrible! I didn’t even get a night of proper sleep for the past four months. The main reason is that you were not near me. I missed you a lot.” Answered Riddhima.

“I don’t agree. You are working under your superhero and saying the word ‘horrible’. Are you spending some valuable time with your Mr. firestorm?” teased Ahana.

Vansh realized that these two women were talking about him in their chat. Vansh peered out the door and noticed Riddhima's entire face had morphed into a crimson rose as if she were blushing. Her flushed face caught Vansh's attention, and he concluded that she was the pinnacle of beauty.

“He is an exact version of a Vampire. Look at this scar on my palm, he was the reason behind it.” Whined Riddhima witnessing the glare behind the door from Vansh.

“So sweet of him, he went to a level of biting you. Superb improvement! Soon tell the good news about your marriage with him.” Mocked Ahana playfully.

“Ahana di, please stop it. Mr. Firestorm is going to be engaged to a girl soon, I am just his secretary who doesn’t even know his phone number.” Confessed Riddhima getting a chuckle from Ahana.

“If your Mr. Firestorm didn’t belong to the mafia, you would have proposed and married him. Wouldn’t you?” Bubbled Ahana making Riddhima completely blush, Vansh was also enjoying the conversation.

Riddhima trembled with words while Ahana started to yawn. Understanding her tiredness, Riddhima asked her to go to her room and sleep peacefully. Ahana left the place while Vansh relaxed from behind the door.

Riddhima didn’t know how to explain to Vansh about her gossip talks with Ahana. When his gaze met her, She blushed and looked at the floor. He was mesmerized when she was blushing. He had never seen Riddhima like this. Riddhima couldn’t control her mind thoughts. Ahana’s last statement was still running in her mind. Yes, if he didn’t belong to the mafia, She would have proposed and married her Firestorm.

Her thoughts came to end when Vansh snapped his fingers in front of her. She equipped herself by moving away from that place. Again the door knocking sound was heard, and Vansh went into frustration. This time he rushed to open the door still carrying the knife, before that Riddhima pushed him behind the door and opened the door.

Kabir was standing at the entrance of the door. Sweating started for Riddhima profusely after witnessing Kabir in front of her.

“Brother-in-law, what are doing here in front of my room?” interrogated Riddhima casually.

Knowing that Kabir was present, Vansh's rage increased. Riddhima saw his attempt to move in front of him. Riddhima was now leaning against the door and gripping Vansh's wrist. He halted his movement in response to her firm grasp.

“Did you see the news? Vansh is no more. So why don’t you join as my secretary?” asked Kabir smirking.

“No, I won’t come and work with you. Brother-in-law, I think Vansh will come back. Police officers still didn’t find his body. Just leave the news or society talks, What is your intuition about his dead?” questioned Riddhima.

“He is not dead, he is safe. If his soul leaves this world then it will be from my hands. Yesterday, A gang of people tried to attack him, a buzz in the mafia world the same gang is going to attack me and your Rishab uncle also.” Elaborated Kabir.

Riddhima understood Vansh’s situation so she tried to finish the conversation soon.

“Okay, Brother-in-law good night.” Completed Riddhima trying to close the door.

“Riddhima, our relationship is not personal anyway now we can make it professional. Why don’t we do human and o***************g after you complete your degree?” proposed Kabir about his business idea with her.

“Sorry, I couldn’t agree to your offer. But promising you after Vihaan comes to India, I will ask his opinion and accept your deal.“ uttered Riddhima.

“Don’t talk about that stupid Vihaan and coward Vansh with me? I hate Fire clan.” Stomped Kabir walking inside the house angrily.

Riddhima closed the door and notice Vansh’s vexation, he was about scream in rage. Vansh was even preparing to kill him with the knife in his hand. Riddhima covered his mouth with her palm and pushed him against the wall.

“Don’t scream. We have got a clue from him.” Murmured Riddhima while Vansh was busy admiring her closeness.

He was cherishing each moment spent with her. She tenderly held his arms and helped him to come back to the sofa.

“Boss, first tell me why you assume Kabir trying to kill you?” enquired Riddhima.

“Riddhima, The mafia roundtable meeting is going to be held soon. He wants to rule the entire mafia in Mumbai. So only he is trying to kill me.” retorted Vansh.

“Boss, I have heard Kabir’s motive for destroying your fire clan. I don’t think so Kabir would have made this attempt. Kabir is very clever. Now I understood why he married Ahana. If voting happens then Kabir who belongs to the Air clan will vote for himself and Rishab who belongs to the Water clan will vote for his son-in-law none other than Kabir. So Kabir will get two votes. Kabir will win based on the majority. So I conclude my guessing that he didn’t try to kill you.” Explained Riddhima.

“I couldn’t completely agree with it.” Told puzzled Vansh thinking about Ahana’s and Riddhima’s conversation.

“Riddhima, do you remember your sister's words? She told that she and Kabir came from Mauritius at 11 P.M. The attack also happened at on same time. How could Kabir be in two places? From Ahana’s statement, it is clear that Kabir left the house only at 12:30. P.M. So who tried to kill me?” grumbled Vansh.

“May be Mahendra pratap. Just imagine if Mahendra Pratap kills you, Kabir, and Rishab, then he can alone rule the mafia world in Mumbai.” Predicted Riddhima.

“Anyhow, I need to return home. I think my security guards should have come back from London. Give me your phone. I will message Angre.” Stated Vansh.

Riddhima gave her phone to him. He typed something and after 10 seconds he returned the phone. Riddhima with curiosity tried to read the message.

“Is this English or Latin? I couldn’t speculate anything from this message. Just five words only you have typed as a message.” Confessed Riddhima.

“V5 –htrj yt wniimnrf mtzxj” read Riddhima in gibberish which is the message sent from Vansh.

“Riddhima, The message is encoded using the Caesar cipher text technique. The Caesar cipher is a type of substitution or replacement cipher in which every letter in plain text is changed to a different letter. I used to communicate with Angre using this way by sending an encrypted message for security concerns.” Explained Vansh.

“Weird, but it is really interesting. Will you tell me the decoded message?” pleaded Riddhima.

“V indicates that I am Vansh and 5 indicates the replacement cipher text from plain text. Suppose plain text is ‘a’, we need to travel to the next letter after five alphabets from ‘a’ then the cipher text is ‘f’. Now, the original message that I had sent to Angre is ‘come to Riddhima's house. This concept is cryptography.” Elaborated Vansh.

“I couldn’t understand anything. I am a biological student. Anyway, He had seen the message. From morning, you didn’t have consume any food. I will prepare something.” Told Riddhima moving to the corner of her room to boil the milk.

Within five minutes, she came carrying a bowl of hot milk with some pieces of bread. Vansh looked at her in disbelief.

“Understand my situation, I can’t go inside the house. In this room, I have this bread and milk only please adjust with this.” Told Riddhima placing the plate in front of him.

Vansh tried his level to pick and dip the bread in milk but he failed in bringing the bread to his mouth. The pain was immense in the area of his shoulder while trying to bring the bread to his mouth.

Before he could think, Riddhima got the plate from his hands and started to feed him.

“You don’t need to do this to me. I can handle myself. Anyway, you don’t like me.” Told Vansh to try to get the plate.

“I didn’t utter that I don’t like you. You just assumed it.” Stated Riddhima pushing the bread into his mouth.

He was mesmerized by her inner beauty. Suddenly she realized his eyes were gazing at her deeply. She tried to avoid his gaze. Though it was just bread and milk it seemed to be like nectar for him.

He had never experienced such caring; it was new to him. With his queen by his side, he imagined himself feeling like a king. When Riddhima requested him to sip the milk, his fantasy came to an end.

After completing the dinner, Riddhima took a bag that was his medicine, and she gave the tablets to him. He had his tablets.

Riddhima's phone got notified by a message from Angre but she couldn’t understand the message as it was encrypted. Vansh decrypt the message and smirked. Riddhima asked him to tell her the information.

“I can’t tell you the message, But Get ready for an action thriller night with gun sounds.” Roared Vansh making Riddhima completely confused.

What is the message that Angre sent to Riddhima’s phone?