They soon forgot Laksh's bewildering call as they spent the precious time enjoying each other's company.

The car, speeding on the state highway, was eating up miles but the song playing in the car's music system engraved the moment for Swara and Sanskar. It was just the two of them, secluded in an island of their own, their hearts humming together to the lyrics of the song.The words filling the air echoed their feelings.

Tu safar mera
Hai tu hi meri manzil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil

Tu mera khuda
Tu hi duaa main shaamil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil

Sanskar and Swara cherished the moment sharing their unspoken emotions in comfortable silence. Swara dozed on the way and Sanskar slid his hand behind her head to rest it on his shoulder, kissing and inhaling the fragrance of her hair to his heart's content. Last night at Hong Kong, when she entrusted herself to him, a new beginning was made and his heart burst with joy at the beauty of their togetherness. He never thought that he was capable of such intense emotions or love. How his 'Angel face' changed his perception of life....He smiled and caressed her face gently. He wanted this drama with Sisodia to end and begin his marital life with Swara soon. He could not even think of a moment without her. With this thought, he continued driving, enjoying and listening to music. The moment could not have been better. He hoped and wished that they would always remain together like this.

The village in Midnapore was not very big but it had modern outlets like cyber net cafe and booths for ISD calls. Many ancient temples and mosques dotted the village.The road to Sisodia's house followed rice fields and tilled land on both sides. Swara was awake and noticed the watch towers on either side. She nudged Sanskar and pointed it out to him. As they neared the sprawling village house, muscled men with country weapons followed them randomly

'Is this Banana republic? No law and order?' Swara asked with annoyance

'Sisodia is the law. It is the reason he wants to contest the election within the party. He thinks he can rule the world by becoming the party leader.'

'Is that why he does not want you to air the documentary on refugees we made?'

Sanskar nodded and replied 'The idea was well received by everyone in the party and the status of my friend who is a cabinet minister for refugees and immigration has gone up.The documentary which is in favor of him and what he is doing, will elevate his position in the party and make him the favorite to win the election. It is for this reason that Sisodia is trying to threaten me. He does not want the documentary to go on air and help my friend in winning the party leader post.'

'Don't you remember meeting him in the family functions?' Swara asked

'As far as I know, he has never attended any family function but I do remember meeting him vaguely because when Ishan showed me his photo,I found him familiar.Maybe when I was young,I might have seen him. But if he is the one causing all the trouble, I am not going to let him get away.' Sanskar spoke with anger lacing his voice.

They reached the gate and the security guards asked for his identity. Sanskar gave his name and waited. Swara observed that the squads following them were keeping a watch from distance. She knew that they would be watching them through binoculars and Sanskar would switch on the device that was attached to him, connecting to the crew.

The huge gate was opened slowly and Sanskar drove down the curving driveway. He stepped out of the car and opened Swara's door. Together they climbed up the steps to enter the den of Annapurna's brother. They were seated with flourish in the open courtyard by teeming servants. When they were served water, Swara picked up a glass to drink. But Sanskar nudged her and shook his head. So Swara put it back...

'Beta, we have not poisoned the water. She can drink it...' The booming voice heralded the arrival of a man of around late sixties with bald head and spectacled face. He wore a traditional Marwari outfit and he carried a glittering Samsung tab. Swara hated him at sight. There was something cunning about the man's eyes. She was surprised to see him being followed by Annapurna. When did she come here?

'Badi ma aap yahan?' Sanskar asked and Annapurna nodded with a divine expression, as if she was the noblest soul on earth. Swara remembered the night when she overheard her speaking to Adarsh. There was so much fury on her face then.

'Haan Sanskar, I always come here when my sister in law needs me as she is bedridden.' She replied with a smile. She sat down on the wide couch and Sisodia took the arm chair with huge head rest. Swara could not help imagining him as the cruel Lord of a feudal kingdom.

'So Sanskar what is the reason for your visit?' the man asked him,

'We want to invite you for the launch of our documentary on Refugees camp.' Sanskar explained

'So you are going ahead with it...'he murmured

'Excuse me sir, I didn't know that you were aware of it.' Sanskar expressed, pretending ignorance....

'Beta, Politics mein sabko har cheez ka pata hota hai.....' the older man replied

'Phir toh aapko yeh bhi pata hoga ki mere upar hamla kisne kiya hoga?'
Sanskar asked him abruptly deciding to take the bull by the horns

The man was shocked at Sanskar's words but he stifled his shock and a mask came over his face. Annapurna looked at Sanskar and asked
'How would he know Sanskar? He is staying here and you were attacked in Kolkata.'

'Badi ma, he knew our whereabouts in Hong Kong also.' Sanskar gave a cynical smile and continued 'Is it not Mr. Sisodia? The phone call to that man who threw the dagger at Swara was traced and it was from this village.' Sanskar explained having done his homework well

'So? It could be anybody Sanskar. What do you think you are doing coming here and accusing my brother? Have some respect for him....'Annapurna admonished him

'I never accused him of anything badi ma...Since he said he knew everything, I just asked him.' Sanskar replied with an impassive face...

'Annapurna...Relax...I don't mind answering him. You keep out of it...' her brother told Annapurna

'Yes Sanskar, what were you asking? If I knew who attacked you?...The answer is no... I don't...I said I know everything happening in politics, not in your life...'

'What about the Hong Kong phone call that was traced here?' Sanskar asked

'It could be anybody beta. How do I know?' Their man servant brought a tray of snacks and tea..

'Lo beta, dimaag tanda karo..bahut garam hai...'he offered and both brother and sister shared a wicked smile. Sanskar made a change in the line of questioning,

Sanskar glared at the man and asked point blank 'You killed Suraj's parents didn't you?' They did not expect this.They thought Sanskar would probe about the recent attacks and not about the past.

'Who Suraj?' Sisodia asked with a controlled fury. He was provoked and Annapurna's face was seething with anger...

'My cousin brother who was Durga Prasad's son..' Sanskar replied meaning to irk them further...

'He was a bastard...Do you hear Sanskar? He was not my husband's son...'Annapurna shrieked and Sisodia tried to calm her. Sanskar had to agree that this Sisodia was a cool cucumber. He was not provoked easily. He noticed that two of the muscled men roaming around the house paused, giving them glares. Sanskar looked at Swara but she was cool and relaxed. He decided to nail them further with provocative questions ...

Swara was taken aback by Annapurna's fury.The woman looked as if she would kill all of them. So much venom dripping from her eyes! Swara wondered if Annapurna had loved anyone other than herself in her life. In contrast, Sujata was soft, compassionate and understanding.

'Yes badi ma, he was bade papa's and mausi's son.You hated that. Did you not? That is why; all of you killed him and his parents?' Sanskar asked with a deadly quietness and their eyes widened at the coldness in his eyes.....

'Nobody killed anyone.They were all accidents. Adarsh and Suraj had a fight and he fell into the river accidentally.' Annapurna's brother explained

'How do you know that? Everyone thought it was a suicide..'Sanskar asked and there was an uncomfortable silence.

'Annapurna told me. How else would I know?' he asked

'I thought you knew because you wrote that suicide note...' Sanskar said and Annapurna yelled 'Sanskar...' Now even Sisodia was getting angry

'Think before you accuse us.....If your invitation to us is over, then leave..' Sisodia told them angrily.

Suddenly they heard the sound of wheels and all of them turned around to see a frail woman being wheeled into the room by an attendant. She seemed paralyzed on one side and her face was worn out with lines and sadness. Swara felt a surge of sympathy for her.

'Roopali, what are you doing here?' Sisodia asked her angrily but she waved her hand and called Sanskar to her side. Sisodia and Annapurna looked at each other with frustration. Annapurna went near the woman and said 'Bhabhi, aap idhar kyon aaye ho?' She tried to wheel her around but the woman made strange noise as if she wanted to stop her. Sanskar took hold of the chair and asked his aunt to let her speak....

The woman raised her hand as if to bless him and tried to speak with difficulty. First, she pointed out to her husband and said 'Inhone........... hi...maarrrrraaaa Mohhhhhiiiiiini ko....'

Everyone was startled and Sisodia went charging at her with exploding anger but Sanskar restrained him with his hand on Sisodia's chest. The brawny men, who were loitering, lunged towards Sanskar but he pulled out the small gun in a flash from his shirt. Annapurna was shocked at the audacity of her nephew. Sisodia laughed and said 'Do you think I would get frightened at the sight of a gun?'

Sanskar instructed 'Swara, wheel her to her room' he pointed at Roopali 'and take down her statement.'

He directed the men to drop their weapons and placed the gun at Sisodia's temple, 'Listen everyone, if any of you take a step closer, I will shoot your boss. So step back...' he warned all.

Swara wheeled the woman called Roopali to her room. She knelt beside her and recorded her statement in her mobile phone. It was difficult to comprehend what she was saying due to her immobility but Swara managed to understand. She was shocked that Annapurna, after coming to know about Durga Prasad's child, had pleaded with her brother to do something. Her brother had arranged for them to be killed when they were travelling from the village to the city.They thought Suraj would also accompany them but he was left behind with his grandparents. It was also Sisodia who threatened Mohini with dire consequences if she married Durga Prasad because his sister had told him that she would not marry anybody other than him. Swara was shocked at the extent of willfulness in Annapurna.

When Swara asked Roopali about her own life in the village, she started weeping. Roopali spoke about her sorrow on her daughter's death and how she felt that they were the result of her husband's actions.

Sanskar held the man at gunpoint and the hunks standing around them backed off after Sisodia gestured them to do so. Annapurna gaped at Sanskar as if she could not believe that her brooding nephew would try to kill her dear brother....

'I am going to shoot you Sisodia if you don't tell us the truth. You killed Suraj's parents, didn't you?' he asked but the man like a bull shook his head. Sanskar adjusted the gun to pull the trigger when Annapurna shouted

'Yes Yes Yes....he did it because I asked him to get rid of them. Now no one will know that he killed Suraj because you are not going to leave this place alive.....'

Sanskar never realized that his aunt hid so much frustration and bitterness over the years.He pitied her but he needed to deal with her sternly now.

'Really badi maa? So you knew that he killed Suraj....' Sanskar asked

'No, that was an accident by Adarsh. Though I was unhappy after Suraj came to stay with us in the house, he did not create any trouble so I tolerated him.' She said

'You could have told bade papa that it was an accident instead of letting everyone assume that it was a suicide..Do you know how much guilt mom felt for bringing him to Kolkata?'Sanskar asked remembering all the days when his mother cried over Suraj's death..

'Do you think he came here because your mother called him?' Annapurna asked and When Sanskar looked at her with question she continued 'Nah, your Bade papa wanted him to come here so he could teach him to handle the family business. He wanted to make him part of his business. And do you think I would allow it? Never do you hear Never..I hated Suraj..' she went on without noticing the new arrivals at the door.

'So did you kill Suraj?' Sanskar asked her, still holding the gun carefully on her brother's temple making him motionless. Annapurna did not say anything....

Sanskar studied her face and asked again 'Did you kill Suraj?'

'Answer Annapurna.....Did you kill him?' Durga Prasad asked and Annapurna was shocked to find her husband and brother in law at the door...She looked at Sanskar and all others. She sat down defeated..

'I will reply if you let me go..'Sisodia said and Sanskar took the gun away because according to the plan, the police and others would follow Durga Prasad. So Sanskar knew that all the men working for Sisodia had been rounded up....

'Suraj was poisoned.' Swara said from the doorway..........

PRECAP

As the mysteries get unraveled one after the other, the families get ready for the marriage of Swara and Sanskar.......