CHAPTER 3 - Seething Hostility
1974 Words
Jwalin stood in front of the sprawling glass in his beachview villa, gazing at the rising and falling of the beach waves. His deep black eyes were bloodshot, and his heart was still in turmoil as Tushar's words kept ringing in his ears.
He's a very disciplined man, with everything planned and implemented according to his choice in his life. But suddenly, the most important decision of his life was no longer under his control!
He's the man the entire nation respects and fears. The name Jwalin Oberoi itself sends many prominent figures on their knees. By just lifting his finger, he could smash several businesses.
His words are like an irresistible order. But, he never imagined that one day he'd be threatened by his own father! How cruel!
By just reminiscing about the discussion he had with his father earlier, his blood boiled, making his veins pop up on his forehead.
"How dare he!" The question didn't leave his mind.
Glancing at the night view, which was so pleasant, he thought that would help him attain his peace.
But he's so wrong! Just like the chaos in the tides, his life also became chaotic in just a day.
Usually, this house provides him with serenity. But today, no matter what he did, his heart was burning with anger.
With a disappointing sigh, Jwalin grabbed a pack of cigarettes and strode to the window while twirling the glass of whisky.
Time passed by as the packet turned empty while gulping the alcohol, but his mind didn't calm down!
Thousands of thoughts were running in his mind that were driving him crazy. Leaning against the wall with one leg supporting the wall, he punched the wall.
His knuckles were turning red with each passing second, yet he didn't feel any physical pain! The hurt that his father had turned against him and even forced him into a corner didn't settle well with him.
Although it's a fact that he and his father weren't on good terms, he still respected and cared for his father a lot. Though he never showed it!
"How can he do that so easily to me?" That question kept on bothering him.
Doesn't matter how many times he keeps on saying to himself that marriage wasn't a big deal, he just couldn't accept the fact that the injustice had happened to him by his own father!
"I'll avenge for myself, father." Jwalin took an oath to himself that one day he'd make his father know the consequences of making him helpless now.
...
Next Morning
Pranavi was in a deep slumber when the banging sound of her mobile made her frown. Her brows furrowed when she couldn't find her phone on her bed.
But it seemed she had thrown it aside yesterday when Shreya and Pranavi were drinking.
Unable to lift it, she decided to let it be and was again drifting to sleep, but the caller wasn't stopping!
"Who the f**k is calling me so many times!" She cussed in annoyance and opened her eyes. As soon as she stood up, the pounding headache hit her.
As she remembered the previous day's events, her head throbbed, "why the hell did I drink so much!" She muttered under her breath.
After a few struggles, she finally grabbed her mobile and quickly answered the call.
"Pranavi," A shrill scream made her open her eyes wide, and instantly her sleep disappeared.
"Yes, Aunt?" Pranavi asked in a why-did-you-call-me-now tone.
"There's an emergency at home. You must come right away." Her Aunt, Leela Mehta, declared in a commanding voice.
"What's wrong?" When Pranavi heard that, she understood that something was going to happen to her.
Because by now, Pranavi was sure that a call from Mehta's house was never meant for her good, except when her Uncle called.
"Unless I tell you the reason, won't you come to see us?" Leela asked, as if she was wronged by Pranavi.
"No, Aunt. It's not like that." Pranavi tried her best to convince Leela Mehta.
"Then what else do you mean? I wanted you to be here. Was that so difficult?"
"It's just I had a lot on my plate." Pranavi tried to avoid going to Mehta's place, but did she have a choice?
"Alas! What an ungrateful girl you are? Your Uncle brought you home, and I accepted you without any complaints. But here you are, couldn't even accompany me when I need you!" Leela started to poke Pranavi's wounds to make it work in her favor.
Pranavi clenched her fists as if to control her inner turmoil. "There's no need for you to think like that, Aunt. I'll come as soon as I can." With a sigh, she added.
Suddenly, Pranavi heard Dheeraj Mehta's melancholy tone, "can you come before 1 Pm, Pranavi?"
"Uncle? Uh, sure, I'll try to be there. Is everything good?" Pranavi queried, because it's rare to hear such a sad voice from her Uncle.
"Yes, I just want to see you." He added while closing his eyes when a bleak look settled on his wrinkled face.
"You can just order me to come, and I'll be right in front of you, Uncle. Don't you know that?" Pranavi added, touched by his care. It can be said he's one of the very few people Pranavi can consider as family.
Dheeraj chuckled hearing her cheeky tone, "alright! Come home."
Before Pranavi could say anything, she heard Leela's curt tone, "Start right away. I want you at home before 1 pm." With that, Leela hung up without giving a chance to Pranavi to say anything more.
Hearing the eagerness in Leela's tone, Pranavi understood there was some conspiracy, and Leela might have done something and convinced her Uncle to talk to her.
With all these thoughts running in her mind, she had a bad premonition. "She'd definitely be up to no good! Damn! What an unlucky day to start it like this!" Pranavi shook her head and threw the pillow near her in frustration, and that hit Shreya.
"Ouch! Calm down, girl!" Shreya yelled and gave an are-you-crazy look at Pranavi.
"Sorry. I didn't see you coming." Pranavi blurted without giving a second glance to Shreya.
"Hey, you are insincere." Shreya started her drama queen acting and pouted when Pranavi rolled her eyes, "do I look like I care?"
"You're seriously becoming brazen!" Shreya exclaimed and hit her shoulder, "what's with that face, duffer?"
"My Aunt called." A depressing sigh escaped Pranavi's lips.
"Oh! What does she want now?" Shreya asked as she occupied the next seat on the sofa.
"I should accompany her for something, it seems."
"What's the big deal in it? Go on."
Pranavi gave an are-you-serious look, and Shreya shut her mouth.
"Ugh, anyways, I'm going to get ready. Else I don't know how much of a commotion my Aunt was going to raise!" Pranavi shrugged her shoulders when Shreya nodded in understanding.
Quickly she dressed in a plain Mustard knee-length top with cigarette pants and a Dupatta, put on matching jhumkas and bangles, hair tied to a french braid.
Grabbed a sling bag, slipped into her wedges, and waved a bye to Shreya.
...
Pranavi stood near the bus complex for almost half an hour, but there was no sign of the bus she had booked!
"Why is the bus running so late today?" She mumbled, glancing at the time, "10:30 Am."
"I'm screwed. It'll take at least three to four hours for me to reach Pune. There's no freaking way I'd be at home before 1 pm." As she was muttering to herself in worry, luckily the bus came!
Hopped onto her window seat, she plugged the earphones into her mobile and she decided to relax without worrying about what was going to happen in Mehta's house.
Glancing at the time and traffic in front of her, she sighed, "it seems impossible to be there by 1 pm."
...
At 1 Pm, Mehta's house
Jwalin, dressed in his tailored black suit, stepped out of his black Rolls Royce and noticed his father, who stood leaning on his black Mercedes in a busy street with fallen leaves flying in the air with the breeze.
The father and son duo was quite eye-catching, with stunningly handsome features looking almost alike.
While one had a few aged wrinkles with matured refinedness, another in his full vigor like a Greek god who landed from the sky with tinges of ruthlessness dancing in his gaze.
Gazing at each other with a nod, they eyed the house, which was painted brown and seemed old, with cracks on the walls visible. If not for his father, he’d never have stepped his foot into such an unsophisticated house!
His stepmother, Ananya Oberoi, stepped into the house elegantly in a green embroidered designer saree paired with a diamond necklace and gorgeous makeup on her face, which enhanced her natural beauty.
The grace she carried made Leela speechless because it was rare for her to encounter such elegant people.
In the meanwhile, a few people from Oberoi's were bringing jewelry, sweets, and expensive gifts into Mehta's house.
Seeing all the high-class arrangements, Leela Mehta grinned ear to ear in fondness.
Leela Mehta immediately masked a warm smile on her face and tried to converse with Ananya, but she just nodded at Leela and looked sideways, where Jwalin stood tall in all his glory.
His face looked stoic, he was aloof and emanated an aura like a king. His eyes held no emotion while his plump lips formed into a thin line.
The way he stood, his walking style with grace, his every action appeared like a royal king walking to their house and showed the Mehta family how untouchable he was!
Seeing him, Ananya patted beside her on the cushion, which wasn't up to their taste, but Jwalin accepted her invitation not to embarrass her without much emotion. Leela Mehta gave a smile to him, and he stiffened and gave a curt nod.
Glancing at the house and surroundings, Ananya smiled in her heart in ridicule, “Tushar selected a bride for Jwalin from here? How thoughtful!”
Her lips gave a crooked smile as she thought, "How did the proud Jwalin Oberoi accept such a degrading arrangement?"
Biting her lips to control her inner happiness, Ananya cheered in her heart, “finally the day has arrived when I can see the humiliation of Jwalin Oberoi!"
With that, she asked as if she were the most concerned mother, "Where’s the bride?”
Hearing the question which he was thinking made him attentive, and he pondered with furrowed brows, "where was she? Did she run away?"
If she did run away, then he would be the happiest groom, but alas, was that even possible?
Because he knew his dad well! How much importance he gives to fame, elegance, etiquette, and power.
Leela and Dheeraj stared at each other, not understanding how to answer. Seeing them, Tushar questioned, his tone rigid, “Isn’t she here yet?”
"She'll be here soon." Leela quickly answered in panic when Ananya and Jwalin glared at them in displeasure.
"This girl, can't she listen to me for once?" Leela scolded Pranavi in her heart.
While Dheeraj kept on calling Pranavi, but couldn't reach her due to poor signal.
He started stressing, and beads of sweat were visible on his forehead, because if Pranavi didn't show up today, then his family would be doomed in the hands of the Oberoi.
Just imagining their fate, Dheeraj trembled because he knew Jwalin wasn't the one he could afford to offend in his lifetime.
The Mehta family was pressurized with all the powerful auras emanating from them. Neither of them can be trifled with!
Would Pranavi reach home safely?
How would Jwalin react after seeing Pranavi?
...
- Writer
