Beauty & Beast

IMAGINATION

mohabbat karne vaale kam na hoñge
tirī mahfil meñ lekin ham na hoñge,
agar tū ittifāqan mil bhī jaa.e
terī furqat ke sadme kam na hoñge....

(Ittefaqan -- By Chance, Furqat -- seperation)

~~~~~~~~~

Veena opened the front door and found a Police Officer standing at the front porch.
It didn't take her long to add two plus two.

It must be that guy - Arjun. Veena thought

'Hello, Aunty Namaste' Arjun gestured greetings.

'Hello? Is everything alright?' she pretended. Although she had complete idea of why he must have come here. She understood her assignment about how he would try to contact Priya and how it is her job to deflect him and create a seed of doubt so that this officer can ultimately leave Priya behind.

'I am here to see Priya, I am her ... Friend' Arjun hesitated.

If he keeps coming sniffing her scent, this marriage cannot happen and if this marriage cannot happen, there goes our chance of good life. Veena's mind was racing. Her thought went back to suitcase full of money hidden in secret compartment of her wardrobe.

This money she had hidden from her husband, from her children. But every night when whole house sleeps she gets up to count this money again and again, just to make herself believe that she has such amount. She counts the money and puts it back to its original hidden position and spends rest of night weaving dreams about how she is going to spend the amount.

Five lakh Rupees...

But this was just half the amount. Other half will be delivered when her step daughter will be send off with Abhay. Ten Lakhs Rupees for marriage of her stepdaughter. It was dream come true for her.

She remembered the time Abhay came to meet her, she was certain by that time that she will marry Priya off to Dubai returned Daya, atleast to ensure she kept recieving various gifts.

She low-key envied her stepdaughter and hated to admit that her beauty attracted men. She hated her for her charm and was certain she had some black magic thing going on, but she kept tolerating all this as long as she kept getting gifts in return. But Priya in her opinion was very pretentious. She showed like she didn't need any gifts, how she never opened any of the gifts Daya has given.Veena detested her virtue signalling in her mind She thinks she can fool me, what woman doesn't like gifts.

Abhay came one fine day with all his grandeur along with lines of cars and guns. Veena was alone at home that day conveniently, which now she can bet that he probably knew. Priya was off to college and her father was to office, kids were off to school as well. She was surprised how such a wealthy looking man came to her house. But by the time he told how her foolish stepdaughter has witnessed against this powerful man in a police case, the ground beneath her feet was shaking. She was terrified and was certain that her and her family is going to get murdered as well.

But to her surprise he offered to marry her and in return offered her as much money she had never seen in her entire life. Her only job was to make sure this wedding goes through. Veena was delighted, amazed and envious.

It was not like she hated her stepdaughter infact she was not at all useless, she keeps the house running and practically does all house chores. But she hated the attention her husband gave Priya. She suspected he loved Priya more than her and that was unforgiven. She will never accept her as her daughter.

Another woman's child.

But now Priya is beginning to become pain in her ass. She can marry this rich man and go off to live a good life but instead she wants to be with this salaried policeman. Veena thought detested. I am going to do it for her good as well as mine. I have to do it..