Chapter 22: " The Relation of the Heart"

The epsiode starts with everyone shocked to the core listening to Ajay's words, except Riddhima, Aryan and Kabir.

Dadi: Riddhima is an army chief?
Sejal: Riddhima you?
Everyone was staring Riddhima being extremely shocked. Ajay continued,
A: Whatever she did in the past 6 years was done on my saying! Including that incident because of which you all hate her today. She had stolen that 50 crores on my saying! And I did that for saving you all from the big scandal hidden in the sources of that amount.
Ishani: I am not able to get anything? What scandal?
Sejal: You said that Riddhima is your successor. That means your were the previous Army Intelligence chief?
Sia: But you were a businessman. Right?
Vansh: What are you trying to say Dad? I want to know everything.
Ajay: Before I start narrating everything, I want you all to know one thing. That Riddhima!! Was always innocent. No one will ever dare to bash her again!! Not even you Vansh!!! She had already borne alot of your words. I don't want anyone to bad mouth about my Riddhima! She is my DAUGHTER!! MY PRIDE!! (Looking at Riddhima) Right?
Riddhima was not paying attention to anyone's words. She didn't want to. She had not courage to remember everything once again! She didn't want anyone to now understand her situation when they didn't understand the time when she wanted them to. She was least interested now to know what the others think about her. She was in her deep thoughts when sejal called her out.
Sejal: Riddhima!!
Her voice did echoed in Riddhima's ear but she didn't reacted!
Ajay: Riddhima!!!
She came out of her thoughts.
R: Yeah! (Looking here and there) Aaa.. Dad!! I think I should go now. Everything is sorted. Its not my place to stay anymore. You enjoy your family time. And call me whenever you are free.
Ajay: But...
R: Bye Dad!!
She turned to leave but someone grabbed her by her wrist. She craned her neck to find Vansh holding her wrist. She looked in his eyes that has for the first time, request and concern in his eyes,
V: Nothing is sorted yet Riddhima! It won't sort out without you!
Even after so many years but his one requesting gaze was enough for her to step back. Even she didn't want to know why. She just knew that escape was not possible right now. She nodded and stood at her place. Ajay smiled a little but inside he knew the state of Riddhima right now. Vansh looked at Ajay and spoke,
V: Dad! I can't wait anymore.
Ajay: Yes Vansh! I am going to tell, just wanted Riddhima to accompany me in telling everything.
Before everyone again turn to Riddhima, she spoke,
R(stern): I will join you Dad. You start speaking.
Ajay: So,....

" As you all know now, that I was the previous military chief, Riddhima's predecessor! I joined this profession many years ago. But there is a rule in our intelligence department. That is we can't tell about our profession, our identity and our missions to anyone. In the start, I was handling both. My job as an intelligence officer and my business of VR Enterprises. But the business always belonged to Vansh. Time was passing very fast. My daughters grew up and My Vansh came back from London completing his business degree. At that time, I had been promoted to the designation of "Chief". Big designation means big challenges. Dangerous missions and worst enemies. I was getting worried for the safety of my family. But soldiers never back of from their duties nor do they escape. I neither wanted to put my family in danger nor I could back off from my duty. I was scared of the thought that what would happen to my family If I die. So, I decided that I should hand over all the business to Vansh so, that If I die one day or accept martyrdom some day then My family should not suffer anything. And Vansh was also handling everything with extreme maturity, responsibility and professionalism. I was so satisfied that now I can fight till death without any worries. But the fate was not in my hands. One day, we got the news about an extremely dangerous and most wanted criminal, "Devraj Singh Rathore". The underground mafia of Spain who wanted his empire to expand in India. We got the orders to find him and get him arrested. But there were no signs of him. We were not able to find anything about him. But his resources were so strong that he got to know about our mission against him. We were in our secret hideout when someone planted bombs in our hideout. The bomb blasted and all my colleagues and companions died!! Luckily, I and one other soldier got saved. We escaped from there. I came back to my home but as soon as I came back, I got to know that they aslo killed the other soldier who had survived the bomb blast as soon as they got to know that he survived. They even killed his family brutally. I was so scared that day. For the first time, I became extremely worried. I thought the whole night about the next move. Because I knew soon they will kill me too. I was chief so It was a little difficult to reach me but not impossible. I don't wanted my family to suffer. That night I decided!!! I decided that I will fake my death. So that, they could know that now no enemy is left behind. In this, I would be able to protect you all from them and I won't let go any of the sacrifices of my brave soldier in waste. I decided that I will go deep in the roots of this mafia system and will root out the name of "Devraj Singh Rathore" from India. For this, I completely destroyed my identity. I proved myself to be dead in the plane crash. I remained hidden for a week. In that time, I became sure that after my death news, DSR had stopped searching for me and my family. I became sure that my family is safe now. Then, I rose up again with another identity. "Manish Raichand!" He was a normal civilian who died in that plane crash. But through my resources, I made his bod being identified as Ajay RaiSinghania and took his identity. I became Manish Raichand! With only one mission! DEVRAJ SINGH RATHORE!!! "

He stopped being extremely emotional. He felt his pain when he had taken the decision of leaving his family. Everyone was sad. Ishani, Sia and Dadi were in tears. Everyone remembered the day when the news of his death came. Even Vansh had tears in his eyes. There was silence in the hall.

Ajay took a long deep breath and continued,

" For completing my mission, My first step was to enter the mafia world. I did it!! I got settled in Mafia world of Spain!! In the hard and tough struggle of 10 months, I successfully built up my name as a Mafia king! And Was noticed by Devraj! I got to know about his whereabouts a little bit. For this info to be conveyed back, I came back to India. Because, I didn't want this info to be conveyed through any digital media. So, I came back! The first thing I did after coming back was to see my family. I did it too in a disguise. Looking at you handling business and family so perfectly, I was satisfied. I wanted to meet you all but I had promised myself that I will not come back until I remove the name of DSR from history. Becoming a stone hearted person, I went away. Someone was following me behind when I was walking on a road. Soon I saw a truck approaching me in full speed. I was already heartbroken not able to meet my family, I lost all my senses and stood blankly being extremely upset. But probably God didn't want me to get upset. He gave me another daughter (Looking at Riddhima) I found Riddhima. A sweet, beautiful, mature, responsible and extremely talented girl! With my one glance, I identified all her qualities. I couldn't stop myself from talking to her. I found my Sia and Ishani in her. With her one glance, All my burried fatherly feeling again rose up. That was the time when I met her. She saved my life!!."

He stopped and looked at everyone having blank expressions. He spoke,
A: Now its your turn to tell Riddhima!
He asked Riddhima gesturing her.
R(smiles): Sure!!! So, Dad was right! That day I met The most responsible and the best father of the world. Actually......

"10 months had passed away since the death of my parents. I forced Sejal to go to Goa for her job. I was staying alone trying to cope up with the financial problems I was facing at that time. But I lost. I decided to leave my dream behind. That day, I went to college for requesting one last time to the college management to let me stay on scholarship or anything. But they didn't agree. Now, I was sure that soon I will be rusticated. In my stress and regret of not being able of fulfilling my parents' wish, I started walking on the road blankly. But then, I saw a truck approaching him. All the incidents that happened when My parents died revolved around my mind. I ran to save him. Luckily, I pushed him and succeeded in saving him. I made him stand. Dad was staring me in extreme surprise but I was worried for him. I had tears in my eyes. I don't know why but I saw my Papa in him. And I didn't want to lose him again. So, instantly ran to save him...."

Flashback starts,
Riddhima scared and panting made Manish Stood up.
R: Uncle!! Are you ok?? Did you get injured? Let me take you the hospital.
M: Beta!! I am fine completely. But why did you came to save me? If something had happened to you?
R: Uncle!! I....
Riddhima was not able to tell him why she saved him. She was panicking because the pain of losing her parents refreshed in her mind. She looked downward. She had tears in her eyes.
R(low): I...I just felt like saving you.
Manish made her look up by lifting her chin.
M(concerned): Beta! What happened? Why are you crying? (Diverting his thoughts) Ok! Look we will go to the nearby cafe. There we will talk and sort out everything! Ok? Is there any cafe nearby?
Riddhima did wanted to talk to him so she didn't deny his offer.
R(wiping her tears): Yeah! Nearby it is!
Flashback ends.

Riddhima received a call. She went out to receive it.
Manish/Ajay continued the story,
A: " Then, I took her to nearby cafe and We talked alot. She told me everything about her. Even I did tell her that I have lost my family and living alone. But I didn't tell her anything about my real self. Even I told her my fake name, "Manish Raichand!". When we talk to each other, we found ourselves sailing in the same boat. Craving for a family!!!! I found a daughter in her and she found a father in me! When she told me about leaving medical college, I insisted her to let me return the favour by paying her fees. But she refused. You know what she said, "I have found my father in you! And father never returns favours". She impressed me with her words. She was pure gem. An angel! Though she was in so much pain, but she was smiling. At her that statement, I replied...."

Riddhima came back after receiving the call. Listening to his words, she spoke,
R(cutting him): "And daughters never refused to their father!"
She was smiling. She came in and continued,

"He without letting me have a second thought, got ready to handle all my dues. From that day, We started bonding so well. We used to share everything and spent much time together. I was so happy to find him, To find another dad. Though it was not a blood relation....It was THE RELATION OF HEART. I wanted to tell this to Sejal but Dad forbade me. He asked me not to tell anyone about him. Not even his name. He didn't tell the reason but requested me to hide his identity, promising that he will tell me the reason soon. I agreed and never told anyone about him. Though everyone asked alot. After some days, He went back to Spain. He used to talk to me on every weekend just to know about my well being. I again started studying and got indulged in my life. Then, I met you all in VR Enterprises. Everything happened the same way as Sejal and Angre told you all. And then...."

She looked at Vansh remembering the incident and stopped. She was filled with emotions and didn't want to speak more. Vansh looked at her. All the memories of their moments, confessions and then betrayal revolved in his mind.
R(emotional): And then....
Ajay understanding her condition, spoke,
A: Riddhima! Its ok. Don't force yourself. Let me tell them ahead.
He spoke,
" When I went back to Spain, I got indulged in my mission again. I was not able to get any lead. I used to remain worried but talking to Riddhima at the weekends soothered all my worries. She used to tell me all her week's routine at the weekends. One day, She told me about her encounter with Vansh in his office. I became shocked but didn't react. I was already so desparate to know about you all. I felt like God sent her to fulfill all my wishes. She was my family and she was keeping me connected to my family. Everything was going smoothly. Riddhima was keeping me in touch with my family indirectly. I was confused that why she didn't recognize me If she knew him. I asked her indirectly as if interrogating about Vansh's dad and family. And she told that Vansh gets upset at the mention of his father's name so I never asked about him nor did he showed his picture or anything. As he didn't want to fall weak. I was feeling guilty for hiding everything from everyone but then, I remembered my mission and again got indulged. Then One day, I got a lead that DSR wanted to expand his empire through illegal business in India. I put my all efforts to get in the depth of that lead. And soon I found something very shocking!!!! That news scared me to the core and I immediately came back to India and called Riddhima"

Flashback starts,
It was the day when Riddhima and Vansh confessed their feelings to each other. Riddhima was in her room in VR Mansion reminiscing all the moments when she remembered,
R(to herself): Oh God! I didn't tell Dad about all this. I should call him
She was about to call him when she received his call. She immediately picked up but before she could speak, Manish spoke in a tensed voice,
M(panicking): Hello Riddhima!...
R(worried): Dad! Are u ok? What happened?
M: Riddhima! I want to meet you Right now!!!
R: But dad! When did you come back? Are you in India? What happened Dad? Please tell me!! You are making me worried!!
M: Riddhima! Its urgent! I want to talk to you about....
R: About what?
M: About Vansh!!!!!

(To be continued)