Dream and Destiny:The Saga of Love, Faith and Betrayal. *Editing*

Prologue

SHIMLA,

28th October 1988,

1:22 a.m.,

Mr.Agarwal, a proud owner of a small, just born, enterprise, that supplies spare parts for automobiles, was pacing back and forth in a poky lobby of a dilapidated hospital, tensed. Cold sweat broke into beads on his forehead as his wife's screams were hitting his mind piercing through his eardrums. A couple of seconds passed and then his wife's screams were dead giving birth to high pitch cries of 2 babies,

A minute later, the door of labor room creaked open and a nurse in her mid forties walked out with wide grin on her face.

'Mr.Agarwal, you're blessed with twins' nurse smiled her brightest. Mr.Agarwal ignored her and walked into the room, where Mrs.Agarwal was shifted to, with her babies, he walked up to the bed where Mrs.Agarwal was laying unconscious,

'Anju' he touched her forehead.

'She's sedated mr.agarwal' nurse replied standing at a corner. He was silent. He shifted his gaze to the swing to his left, in which 2 babies, wrapped warm in sheets of blankets were sleeping with a toothless heavenly smile on their faces,

He looked up at the nurse 'the baby in pink is boy and the baby in blue is girl mr.agarwal' nurse replied on reading his confusion. Mr.agarwal carefully lifted, the baby in pink, taking him into his arms, and the very next moment, the baby in blue began to cry aloud, wriggling her fragile arms anticipating a warm touch from her father, mr.agarwal looked at the baby in blue and frowned

'let me help you mr.agarwal' the nurse stepped forward towards the swing to lift the baby girl and to place her in mr.Agarwal's arms, mr.agarwal looked at the nurse in horror 'keep away that jinx' he said indignantly 'throw her away. I don't need that girl.'

The nurse, taken aback by his words, grew furious, comprehending his intentions. 'Need?' she narrowed her eyes 'mr.agarwal, you'll end up in jail, if anything happens to this girl' she warned. Mr.Agarwal sensed the cold vibes and faked a smile, the nurse' face softened a bit. She placed the baby girl in his arms and left the room 'Mind it. By the way your wife is okay and will be discharged tomorrow'

Mr.agarwal was silent. He looked at the baby in blue; the baby was silent, smiling, with her tenuous eyes yet to open, as if she grasped her father's protective touch. The moment the nurse left the room, mr.agarwal placed the baby back in swing, curtly, I should get rid of this thing before my wife gets to know about this— he made a mental note, and shifted his gaze to the baby in pink, who was sleeping safely in his arms.

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On the other side of city, Mr.Shekawat, king of Shekawat's business Empire... was silently offering his prayers to the lord, standing in the spruced lobby of a swanky hospital. His wife's screams were punching his heart hard that he felt hard to breathe in. a moment later, the screams ceased and the air filled with terribly high pitch cry of a baby. Mr.Shekawat didn't wait till the door creaked open and the nurse to come out with wide grin on her face. He just rushed into the labor room eliciting glares from the duty doctors and nurses there. Mrs.shekawat, sweating, panting, writhing in pain, facepalmed at her husband's impatience... he ignored her and quickened his steps towards a weighing machine on which the baby was placed to check its weight.

.

'Mr.Shekawat. you're supposed to ...' one of the doctors tried to say something but Mr.Shekawat was too busy adoring his baby who was yet to take its first bath ever.

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'Aww...mera bachhi...!' he placed his index finger in the baby's tiny palm smiling from ear to ear. The baby held his finger, still crying. The baby's soft touch brought tears in Mr.Shekawat's eyes... 'mera bachhi recognized me' Mr.Shekawat did a happy jump only to be pushed out by the nurses there.

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'Mr.Shekawat! Stay here. Till I call you in....! By the way it's your bachha not bachhi' the nurse shut the door curtly on his face. Mr.Shekawat wore a confused look for a nano second and continued to jump in joy along the lobby, celebrating.

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SHIMLA,

28th October 1988,

5:48 a.m.,

Mother Teresa orphanage.

Shimla was still sleeping under the blanket of fog and cold wind was blowing intensely. Mr.agarwal furtively walked up to the verandah of the single storied building which has swings in it. In his hands was the baby wrapped in blue blanket, sleeping with loads of innocence on her face. He looked at her face one last time, placed her in one of the empty swing and pulled out a tag, written 'SANYUKTA' on it, tied it to her frail wrist, placed a bundle of notes beside her, turned around and walked away. Ever since then mr.agarwal had never seen his daughter —Sanyukta Agarwal.

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At the same time, on the other side of the city, Mr.Shekawat's mansion was reflecting joy and happiness. Mr.Shekawat refused to step on the land... he was on clouds. He never let touch his baby and he never let anyone take his baby from his arms, not even Mrs.shekawat. Finally, hours after carrying his baby in his arms, staring at his serene face, smiling at the way the baby scrunched his nose; Mr.Shekawat's back began to ache. He placed the baby beside Mrs.Shekawat 'take care of my baby' he warned in animated voice. Mrs.shekawat giggled.

.

'Oh! Should I call your baby 'sir' Mr.Shekawat?' she added. Mr.Shekawat let out a thoughtful sigh sitting beside her

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'Randhir' he said. 'Call him Randhir Mrs.shekawat' he caressed her hair lovingly. The baby squirmed a bit

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'Aiee...he heard his name...' Mr.Shekawat widened his eyes. Mrs.shekawat beamed.

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'RANDHIR SINGH SHEKAWAT. My son...! Our son...!' he hugged his wife, Renuka, who was now holding the little baby boy in her arms.