The Other Half

Chapter 25

(1997: Lavanya Kashyap)

"Lav beta, come here!"

Lavanya looked away from the bride, Anjali Malik, and ran to her mother.

She followed her out of the mandap. While the general crowd moved towards the residential quarters of Sheesh Mahal, her mother was walking- no, rushing- towards the exit.

Lavanya opened her mouth to ask what was happening, but paled on hearing a scream. "Chhote!" She gasped and looked backwards.

Her mother grabbed her arm, understanding that Lavanya would run. "Lavanya, your father's dead." As if it was a science fact. "I need to keep you safe. We're going away."

Lavanya shrieked and pulled away. She was unheard over the crowd mingling and discussing the death of Arvind and Ratna Malik.

That night, she did not go to her Lucknow home. She landed in Allahabad by dawn the next day, and her mother took up a job for the first time.

With time, 12 year old Lavanya Kashyap learned what she meant for Allahabad. For justice. That one day, she would be the one who could turn the tables on an evil that was named Indrani Vashishth.

But at 18, clearing NEET, she buried the information. She cleared her college with top marks, and started practicing. It was at 24, that she finally coaxed her mother on moving to Delhi, promising the head of the community that if she was needed, she would gladly come back, for justice.

(Vashishth House: It's got to be me)

"I was not missing. I was... hiding... from her attempts to kill me." Chandani pointed to her mother.

By now the crowd knew better. Anything could happen.

"Chandani, stop this! How can you even think that?"

"Think noooo... you see, I picked up on a few things the last few days. Much more than you can imagine, Ma."

"Murli, now would be a good time for your film." Payal called out.

Indrani dreaded what was coming next. She thought of how she could flee.

Suddenly, a Brahmin spoke out. "Dev, enough. This is a havan ground. Don't do something you'll regret."

"Regret? Did you regret killing my father? Any of you?"

"He was a fraud." Someone called.

"BIG WORD. FIVE LETTERS. Such a nasty crime that you STABBED him to death. WITHOUT PROOF." Dev's voice thundered in the hall.

And the next second the footage from last night played.

If Chandani is of sound mind tomorrow, do you know what will happen?

We have our men at the ready. The jeweler will validate the gold and Chandani will lock it back.

Are you mad? We need to distribute after validation. You are telling me that the Brahmins won't lash back when they find out?

"There's a lot more where that came from." Murli shouted from the above the hallway. "Hours of planning to kidnap Chandani didi just so that the treasury will not be opened. Sorry, Indrani Mam, I sent it to the police. Oh and heads up, I resign."

"Murli, get down from there!" Dev called. "I said no recordings. Arnav?"

"Wasn't me."

"It was me."

"You bugged our house." Indrani cried.

"Sorry, was I not supposed to?" Khushi asked, quite casually. "By the way, your men are idiots. Couldn't tell the difference between me and Chandani even if they did have a bag on my head. And it stank. Took me two baths to remove the smell."