Vodka on the rocks

Part - 6

Deshmukh Nivas, Hyderabad, 2:45 pm

"What!"

"That's what Dada, I don't know why Pallavi consented to the marriage. But it was so sudden, so secretive that we were all blindsided."

"We all know what happened Amrutha. No need to sugar coat the truth. That woman, Mandar I tell you, she is no good. We had been taken in with her show of innocence. She was definitely having an affair with that Raghav.."

"Kaku that's enough. I don't believe it. Pallavi would never do something like this on her own volition. The most likely reason would be blackmail."

Sharda looked sharply at her son at that. She followed everyone's faces and clocked their individual expressions. Sulochana looked mildly distasteful and Vijay looked thunderous as had become his perpetual expression of late, Manasi looked strangely guilty and Amrutha had this odd expression of discomfort. Milind on the other hand looked shockingly alarmed. He had changed his expression the next second but Sharda had already seen it. 

"Why would you think like that beta? And anyways, we don't associate with the likes of her anymore. I am so happy you are home. You are alive. Forget about that traitor. We will get you a better girl."

Mandar shrugged off his father's hand and looked almost maniacal the next moment. 

"No Baba. She is my wife. And she has been trapped by that monster of a man. She must have been so scared, all alone.. my poor Pallavi. But, by God's grace, I am here and I will get her back."

"But Mandar, before all that, at least tell us what happened to you? What happened that night? Why had you gone out? Where were you all these years and why didn't you contact us sooner? What is all this?"

Milind asked exasperated and saw his nephew turn to look at him piercingly. But his expression softened the next second. 

"I am sorry Kaka. I should have explained this earlier. It's just everyone became so busy dancing and celebrating, I didn't have the heart to... anyways. I was in a coma for the past two years. I apparently had an accident and someone took me to a hospital. I woke up a few days ago and got discharged. Then I immediately came here, first thing. Apparently the guy who had me admitted had not disclosed his identity to the staff but told he found me lying on the road. I cannot remember exactly why I had gone out that night. But I think I might recollect it soon, in familiar surroundings. I just remember a phone call though. Someone had asked me to meet at some spot. It was urgent... rest everything is foggy. All I remember is the wedding and then when I woke up in the hospital."

Sharda looked pensive and Milind mirrored her even as Vijay hugged his son again, muttering blessings on the person who had taken him to the hospital. 

"But, why had we not been given the information that you have survived and where you were admitted. We.. we cremated y..you son. We had received a fully burned disfigured body... I don't.."

"Leave it na Milind. Why talk about bygones? It was a very painful time anyways. Now, the sun has shined upon us again. Let us look towards the future. God has given us a second chance. I don't want to relive the pains of the past."

Mandar hugged his father back tightly as the rest of the Deshmukhs smiled warmly. Only Milind couldn't get the nagging feeling out from his mind that something was definitely off about the entire situation. 

And was this somehow related to the reason why Pallavi married Raghav? 

Mandar had other plans in his head in the meantime. 

He wanted his wife back at any cost. He needed her like a starving man needs water. He had sacrificed a lot for that woman. Including two years of his life. He has to have her. By hook or by crook.