The Enchantress

Chapter fifty five

"What happened, Maayi (mother)? You said you want to go home suddenly?" Viraj asked as he went to her and Yuvraj's room. Aabha, who was getting the luggage ready, turned to him and nodded, before saying, "Yes. I have decided that we will leave for home now. We have already taken enough leaves now and we can't postpone work anymore. Besides, daughter Mahamaya must get to her work soon too."

Viraj frowned, wondering where all this was coming from. In her words, she had said that one day wouldn't make much difference when he had said the same thing but now, she had taken a complete U-turn. He sighed, taking deep breaths. His mother had already gone through a lot and he wanted to make the rest of her life pleasurable. Maybe the long journeys and so much walking weren't suiting her old self. He nodded and said, "As you say, Maayi (mother). We will leave for home immediately."

He talked with her some more and then finally left the room. He was walking to his room but he heard sounds from inside. He rushed there and opened the door to find someone holding Mahamaya from behind, his arm across her neck as he was trying to kick a screaming Tara away. Viraj paused, looking at the scene and hid in a corner, wanting to see how she would deal with this situation. He knew he should save her but till when would he protect her? She would be without him in many occasions and to keep her safe, it was important that she knew how to fight and Viraj knew fully well she already did. It was always a pleasure to see her fight. Her attacks were smooth, quick, graceful and pleasurable to watch.

Mahamaya said calmly, "Get away, Tara. Do not panic. I am alright. You will hurt yourself. This uncle is my friend and is only hugging me from behind because he saw me after so long."

Little Tara wiped her tears, looking at Mahamaya curiously, wanting to trust Mahamaya but she didn't like the new uncle. Mahamaya elbowed him on his stomach, making him cough and step back and with a swift motion, she turned around and made him lie down, keeping her foot on his stomach to keep him down as she called out, "You done watching me fight?"

Viraj blushed as he realized that he was caught. He stepped out and Tara turned to him and complained, "Aaba (father), Maayi (mother) met her friend after so long but she beat him. Can I beat my friends too?"

That made both Mahamaya and Viraj burst out in laughter. He came forward and tied the man up, before calling Vijay to handle the man because they would have to leave now. A few backup men which had come behind them and staying low were also called so that they could handle this guy. He was immediately taken away.

Vijay asked Mahamaya, "You okay, sister?" Mahamaya nodded in response, smiling at the way he so genuinely cared about her husband.

Vijay then turned to Viraj and asked him, "Why not question him here itself?"

Viraj said, "I will let my wife answer that."

Vijay rolled his eyes as he said, "Are you going to make your friend jealous again at the fact of how perfect you both are?"

Mahamaya asked, surprised, "Again?"

Viraj was confused too. He didn't remember showing off before. The couple didn't have enough chances to either. Vijay stiffened as he said, "Forget about it."

Vijay was about to change the subject before Mahamaya pleaded in her sweet voice, "Bhauji (brother-in-law), will you act like this now? Won't you tell your sister what you meant?" She somehow sensed that it was worth stressing on.

Vijay sighed, before he told them what had happened yesterday and even Tara corrected him in some places. The couple was surprised at what had happened a day ago. Vijay sighed and said, "I was not supposed to tell you two because of what Aaba (father, Ayush) told me. He thinks falling of a temple was a bad omen."

Mahamaya nodded, feeling like it was understandable for someone so old to be superstitious. Vijay asked again, "Why did we not question him here?"

Mahamaya answered, "Right now, the Mafia is under the hands of Ayush uncle. As soon as we reach home, the Mafia would be handed to aaho (endearment for husband) and he wants to question the man himself because he doesn't trust uncle."

Vijay nodded, having a proud smile on his face as he side hugged Mahamaya and she leaned on him. Tara hugged his legs and he smiled and picked her up, pecking her forehead. He felt like his family was complete. Vijay smiled at the trio, feeling his eyes water after seeing his friend finally settled like this, after personally seeing the things he had gone through. 

Vijay finally said, "Yes, you guys leave. I will come in a few days with him," he said, leaving the room, not wanting to interrupt their private time. As soon as he had left, Viraj asked, "How did he manage to enter?"

Mahamaya became serious as she answered, "He had a key card of the room and he entered as soon as you were gone."

"Let's handle this later? We need to get going to home now," Viraj said, keeping Tara on the ground and then picking up the bags. Mahamaya nodded, helping him with the bags and she had picked up the smaller ones while Tara said, "I want one bag too." 

Viraj chuckled and showed her a bag of water bottles, which seemed to be the lightest bag and said, "You can hold that one."

She nodded, her face serious and ultra focused as she picked it up and Viraj walked forward and then Tara, then Mahamaya, locking everything and making sure Tara was not left behind. Finally, everyone had gathered in the reception as they checked out but Vijay declared, "I can't check out. I will have to live here for a few more days, some work I have to do."

Ayush frowned and asked him, "You want me to stay and help too?"

Vijay's face morphed with anger and disgust as he said with gritted teeth, "No, you have already helped me enough in my life, my dearest Aaba (father)," and stormed off from there...