Blood And Blossoms

Chapter XXXIV

25/03/23
At night in Sehgal's Mansion:
"Mumma, there's this wonderful girl I want to marry." Ayaan said smilingly.
"Anaya?" Mrs. Sehgal replied in 'I-know-all' tone.
"How do you know?" Ayaan said with a fake shocked expression.
"Well, you eventually come to know about someone when your son talks only about her 24/7."
"Whatever. I'm planning to propose her tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Mrs.Sehgal sound worried.
"Why not? Whenever I look at her, I fight the urge to hold her hand into mine. I want to listen her talks. I want delicately tuck her silky straight strand of hair behind her ear. Then cup her cheeks and set into her dusk. I want to get lost into her almond-hazel brown eyes while she sits infront of me smiling with those pink lips of hers... which I want to crash with mine. Okay I should discuss 'this' with you, mother. But yes, I want to make her mine. And for that I want her to permit me to let me make her 'mine'."
"You are so in love with her baccha. But have you talked to your father?"
"First let me talk to Anaya. If she agrees then I'll talk to papa. Okay I'll go to her in the cafe, introduce myself and tell her about how I feel for her, give her all the time that she needs to claim me 'hers' and prepare herself to be your daughter-in-law."
"I hope she will say yes. But if she doesn't, then how long will you even wait?"  Was Mrs. Sehgal was trying to make Ayaan back off from his decision.
"Uh, I can wait for her even till eternity mumma. And maybe even after that." Ayaan sighed and smiled. Again lost into her thoughts. "Good night mumma, bless me and pray for me." Ayaan hugged her mother for the last time. And maybe he knew it was the last time as he didn't break the hug until too long.

After he went, Mr. Sehgal came in the room.
"Who is that girl he was talking about?"
"Viraj... that girl is his friend. Nothing else."
"I heard it all Nitya, don't try to lie to me now."
"Don't plan to do anything now. Wait."
"I may wait. But tell me about that girl. From where does she belong to? Her class? Her parents? What does she do? Khaadaan ghar pata sab."
"She's an orphan. Completed her marketing degree. Lives with a friend on a rented apartment."
"Don't tell me Ayaan is planning to bring this disgrace to our family."
"Sometimes, look apart from class and standards. Look to your son's happiness."
"I will. He can never be happy with her."
"Vir-"  before Mrs. Sehgal can say anything further, Mr. Sehgal turned in anger and left the room leaving the heat behind. Mrs. Sehgal followed him.

"Andy, go and check upon her. Tell me about her." Mr. Sehgal said on the phone call. Yes to the ugly-tattooed man. His name is Andy, one of Mr. Sehgal's loyals.

26/03/23
In the morning, Mr. Sehgal had the history and geography about Anaya. "Kill her. Na rahega baas, naa bajegi baasuri." He ordered.

"Sir remember what happened in 2006? Is it necessary to kill her?"
"It's the matter of my son's life. I can't let any middle-class girl to be his wife."
"Okay sir."

In the cafe:
Anaya was sitting on the table, eating ice-cream, again. Ayaan reached there when she was leaving. Her eyes stayed focused at her phone, and his eyes were focused on her. He stood straight, unmoving, his gaze travelled along with her steps and then, she bumped into him. "Ouch, sorry. I didn't notice you. I was looking in my phone." She said apologizingly.
"It's okay." Ayaan said. He was already on cloud nine.
"You've such pretty eyes." Anaya said in almost whisper, and Ayaan chuckled.
"Like Ian Somerhalder? That's what I get to hear the most." Ayaan said
Anaya let out a small laugh and said "Yes. Just like him."
"By the way I'm Anaya. Nice to meet you Mr. -" Anaya held out her hand for a handshake.
"Ay-" his eyes fell on the gun that Andy was targeting, on Anaya's back. He held her hand and pushed her behind him. And the bullet pierced through his heart.

Everyone around screamed and started running. Anaya noticed the tattoo on Andy's hand. Then her attention went back to Ayaan who was laying on the street, covered in blood. Anaya cupped his cheeks and tried to keep him awake. Don't worry we'll reach to the hospital. Nothing will happen to you. You'll be safe. Just stay alive please." She begged as tears rolled down her cheeks. Anaya held his hand tightly and he smiled looking into her eyes as his last wish got half completed. Then, from the cloud nine, he went straight to heaven.

The police came 20 minutes later. And when Anaya told about what happened, they took a sign of hers and let her go.

"Sir, Ayaan baba is no more."
"What? How?"
Andy explained everything to him. Begged him for apology and defended himself by explaining how this isn't his fault and Ayaan came in between.
"You'll pay."
"Sir, Ayaan baba was close to me too, I'll surrender myself to you, but before that I want to take justice for Ayaan baba and put that girl behind the bars."
"Okay. You have 6 months. Manipulate evidences and do whatever you want to. She should pay for this. And so shall you, but later and lesser if you succeed."
Mrs. Sehgal heard half of this conversation. She skipped the part about Ayaan's death. And when the body came, she screamed loudly, cried and had a stroke. From then on, she heard everything, every planning, every manipulation of Mr. Sehgal, but couldn't help herself and Ahaan. Until now.

Present:
"This is all what happened that day. I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything until now." Mrs. Sehgal whipped.
Everyone's eyes were filled with tears. Ahaan wasn't able to process this sudden turn of events. He blamed Anaya and made her life hell for so long. Loved her and destroyed her. All because of Mr. Sehgal. Ahaan didn't realise that the original killer was just at the next door.

"And what about 2006?"
"Your father, he was killed because of your father. His rival had his interest in your mother decades before their marriage. But his ego was hurt when he got to know that he wasn't Nitya aunty's first choice. So he made your father go and kill him and as a result, your father is no more, too." Ishika answered

Ahaan went and held Mr. Sehgal by his collar and punched him in his face.
"I lost everything because of you. Everything I loved. My father. Ayaan and now Anaya. I worked for you when all you did was destroying my life."
"Listen to me son."
"Don't call me your son. I don't want to die too." He shrilled.
"You cared only for your reputation and ego. The best way to punish you would be destroying that."
Ahaan took out his phone, called Mr. Martin and said "Arrest the original killer. And make this announcement public. The owner of Sehgal group of industries is arrested for six murders."

I feel pity for Ayaan. He loved Anaya so much, but didn't even get a chance to express it. And the one who got the chance lost her because to Mr. Sehgal. What would he do now? Will Anaya forgive him and they'll have their HAE? Stay tuned to know more.

Also, just to add more details, I'll be editing the chapters after this book is over. Don't worry the story line won't change. And I'll add the bonus scenes for you in the end. And if you are reading it after this book is completed, then the bonus scenes are already in the chapters.