RESTART

chapter 26

The tension in the air was thick as days passed after Jeevika received the threatening note. Every move she made now felt like it was being monitored. She tried her best to stay calm, but deep down, she knew she had to tread carefully. Kamini’s secrets were deeply entwined with her own family's destruction, and the more Jeevika uncovered, the more dangerous it became.

Jeevika sat in the living room one evening, pretending to read a book, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Abhiman was in the study, working late as usual. She wanted to talk to him, to let him in on what she was going through, but every time she thought about it, fear gripped her. The consequences of involving him could be dire.

Suddenly, the landline rang, breaking the silence of the room. Jeevika picked it up, expecting it to be one of the usual business calls. Instead, a familiar, low voice spoke from the other end.

"Jeevika... Tum itni easily har baat jaanne ki koshish kar rahi ho, lekin tum jaanti nahi ho ki yeh tumhare liye kitna khatarnaak ho sakta hai."

It was Kamini.

Jeevika's heart raced. She gripped the receiver tightly, trying to control the tremor in her voice. "Kamini... Tum kya kehna chahti ho?"

Kamini chuckled softly, her voice oozing with malice. "Jo tum soch rahi ho, wo sach hai. Lekin yeh baat jaanne ki koshish karna tumhe mehenga padega. Apni zindagi mein jo sukoon hai, use khona chahti ho kya? Think about it, Jeevika. Tum ab ek Rathore ho. Yeh sachai agar saamne aayi, toh sirf tum nahi, tumhara poora parivaar bhasm ho jayega."

Jeevika swallowed hard, her fingers trembling as she held the phone. She had expected this kind of confrontation but not so soon.

"Kyun kiya tumne yeh sab?" Jeevika asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Meri maa ke saath, mere pita ke saath?"

Kamini's voice turned cold. "Mujhe woh sab nahi chahiye tha jo tumhare paas tha. Tumhari maa ka pyaar, tumhare pita ka vishwas... Main hamesha doosre number par thi. Aur jab woh meri zindagi mein aaye, main nahi chahti thi ki koi doosra mere raste mein aaye."

Jeevika felt a lump forming in her throat. "Toh Jhanvi ka baap kaun hai, Kamini? Kya wo mere pita hi hai?"

Kamini was silent for a moment, and then her chilling laugh echoed through the phone. "Tumhe lagta hai ki tum itni asani se yeh sab jaan paogi? Jhanvi ka baap kaun hai, yeh sirf main jaanti hoon. Tum bas apni zindagi mein khush raho, aur yeh mat bhoolo ki tumhari chhoti si galti tumhe sab kuch khone par majboor kar sakti hai."

Before Jeevika could respond, the line went dead. She slowly lowered the receiver, her mind reeling. The more she dug into Kamini’s past, the more dangerous things were becoming.

---

Later that night, Jeevika lay in bed, her mind heavy with thoughts of Kamini's words. Her stepmother had done something terrible, but the question still lingered: Who was Jhanvi’s father? It wasn’t her father, and that left only one other person from her past—her late uncle.

Jeevika’s uncle, her father’s younger brother, had died in a mysterious car accident years ago. The details surrounding his death were always unclear. Jeevika suddenly recalled how, after her uncle’s death, Kamini had moved into their lives so swiftly. Could it be possible that her uncle was Jhanvi’s real father?

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Kamini had married her first husband, Jeevika’s uncle, and Jhanvi was born soon after. But then, five months later, her uncle had died. Kamini quickly remarried Jeevika’s father, taking over the household and keeping her past a closely guarded secret.

Jeevika felt sick to her stomach. If her suspicions were correct, Kamini had destroyed their family, manipulating her father and burying the truth of her uncle's death. What if her uncle’s accident wasn’t an accident at all?

---

The next morning, Jeevika decided she had to make a move. Kamini’s threat wasn’t going to scare her into silence. She had to know the truth about Jhanvi’s father and why Kamini had gone to such lengths to cover it up.

Jeevika called Mr. Deshmukh again, setting up a meeting. She needed to find out if there were any more details that could expose Kamini. This time, she would be prepared.

But as she was leaving the house, she spotted a shadowy figure lurking near the gate. She stopped, her pulse quickening. Was she being followed?

Forcing herself to stay calm, she walked to her car and drove off. Her eyes kept flicking to the rearview mirror, and sure enough, a black SUV seemed to be trailing her. Jeevika’s heart pounded, but she kept driving. She couldn’t turn back now.

---

Mr. Deshmukh met her at their usual café, but this time, Jeevika was nervous. She glanced around, checking if anyone was watching them.

"Jeevika, tumhari awaz kaafi urgent lag rahi thi phone par. Kya hua?" Mr. Deshmukh asked.

Jeevika took a deep breath and leaned in. "Mujhe sachchai chahiye, Mr. Deshmukh. Jhanvi ka baap kaun tha? Aur Kamini ne itna sab kuch kyun chhupaya?"

Mr. Deshmukh sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mujhe lagta hai tum yeh sab jaanne ke liye tayaar ho, lekin sachai bahut badi hai, Jeevika. Tumhara shak sahi hai. Jhanvi ka baap tumhara chacha, tumhare pita ka bhai tha."

Jeevika's heart sank. Her worst fears were confirmed.

"Tumhare chacha ki maut ke baad Kamini ne jaldi se tumhare pita se shaadi kar li, aur sab kuch apne haath mein le liya. Tumhara chacha aur Kamini ka rishta us waqt tak shuru ho chuka tha jab tumhari maa zinda thi. Jab tumhare chacha ki maut hui, sabko laga woh ek accident tha, lekin kuch log kehte hain ke us accident ke peeche kuch aur tha," Mr. Deshmukh explained.

Jeevika felt her entire world tilt. If what Mr. Deshmukh was saying was true, Kamini might have been involved in her uncle's death. But proving it would be dangerous.

"Yeh sab sach ko saamne lana tumhare liye aasaan nahi hoga, Jeevika. Kamini bahut chalaki se yeh sab chhupati aayi hai," Mr. Deshmukh warned her.

Jeevika’s mind raced with possibilities. She had to be careful, but she wasn’t going to stop now. Kamini’s crimes had to be exposed, no matter the cost.

---

As Jeevika drove back home, her mind was spinning. The truth was much more complicated than she had ever imagined. Kamini had used her position in the family to hide her betrayal, but now Jeevika knew the truth.

What she didn’t know was what to do next.