FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING

Abhay Raichand stood at the window of his room,his face expressionless,his ice-blue eyes cold and unfathomable. People say that eyes are the windows of the soul.It seemed that he had locked up those windows long ago,so that no one could look through him,into that lost,lonely soul.But Abhay Raichand hardly cared. Having lived most of his life in the clutches of loneliness and darkness,it had become almost a habit,almost as natural as breathing,so much so that he had forgotten how it felt to be not lonely.The sound of the door opening brought him back from his thoughts and he turned around to watch as his father,Chand Raichand,entered the room in his wheelchair.Although his physical handicap had taken away the power of his lower limbs,it had on no accounts taken away that distinct aura of power and dignity oozing from his very presence.His dark eyes looked up and met his son's ice-blue ones,a question in them,which Abhay immediately answered."The deal was a success,Dad.Our first breakthrough in business."Chand's face relaxed a little,though his expressions did not change."Good",he spoke quietly."There will be no looking back from here. Raichand Empire will be one of the biggest and the most powerful industries there is.I hope u haven't forgotten the reason behind all this,Abhay?"At the question,the subdued agony and hateful anger rose inside Abhay again,although he allowed none of that to show on his face.Forget?How could he ever forget that fateful,ugly night, which had turned his life upside down?He remembered the feeling of helplessness and horror,the feel of his sister's blood on his hands,the laughter,the maniacal laughter of that murderer.Those were memories forever ingrained into him,things he would never ever forget."Abhay"called Chand sharply,pulling him back to the present."Yes,Dad I remember"said Abhay quietly.Chand nodded."And now that u have power and money,u can finally set out to complete what began all those years ago.Tonight,the Doriyals are giving a party"he continued,and Abhay's jaws clenched. He hated the very name.Dobriyal. Chand was still speaking."Its their daughter,Piya's birthday today"he paused and his eyes met Abhay's,an understanding passing between them.Abhay clenched his fists.He hated the very thought of that girl,alive and breathing,while his sister was forever sleeping,snatched away by the savage called LOVE.Chand sighed."The businessmn in him seeks opportunity for profit at every chance.So of course,he is eager to know more about the newest business rivals in town,US."He paused again."He's invited us to their party Abhay,and I think it is a perfect opening to set our plans in action.So I want u to go there."Abhay stared at his father for a long moment,but his mind was still in the past,hearing his sister's helpless cry.Fury erupted in him.He would make that person pay for what he had done. This was a fight and pawns would be sacrificed.In this case the pawn would be the main instrument of damage as well as the one to be most damaged.The pawn.Piya Dobriyal.Abhay's eyes became,if possible,even colder."Yes Dad,I will go." **********"Mish dont shout"said a grinning Piya,holding her cellphone away from her ear,as her best friend shouted"Happy Birthday"over the phone."My eardrums will burst.""Not shout?"Misha Jaiswal's incredulous voice came from the other end."Madam,I will be unable to attend my best buddy's birthday party,and the phone is all i have to give her my love.How can a soft voice hold all my love and carry it to ur heart,yaar?"Piya laughed at her crazy friend."Mishu,I know u love me lots yaar,but when did u start giving senti dialogues hun?"Misha laughed."U r right,ugh,this doesn't suit me,man!!Maybe being a doctor and seeing happy newly become parents have made me one,huh?""No,no"said Piya grinning."I think it is ur engegemnent to Kabir,Mishu. All the romance..""Shut up"said an annoyed Misha,to a giggling Piya."But hey jokes apart,I really wanted to come,Piyu.""Duty comes first,Mish"said Piya."And u can always kidnap me for a treat later right?""Right"said Misha seriously,and they both burst out laughing."Listen,Piya,I gotta go,Dr.Sharma's calling.Enjoy the party.""Buhbye,take care,Mishu"said Piya,cutting the call,a smile on her face,just asa she heard Arnab calling for her."Coming papa"she called out,checking herself in the mirror one last time. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant dress,which fell just above her knees,hugging her curves perfectly. She had left her curly brown hair open,and her baby brown eyes shone with joy,a happy and loving smile on her lips."Ah..my sweetheart is looking even more angelic."said Arnab,as he watched his daughter make his way towards him."Happy birthday dear"he said,hugging Piya when she reached him."Like the decorations?"Piya's face lit up as she looked around the huge hallnow ready for the party,with lights ballooons and flowers."It is fabulous.Thank you Papa.""My pleasure"said Arnab with a smile."Err,there is something else I got for u.Close ur eyes."Piya closed her eyes,and then she felt something cold touch her neck.She opened her eyes to see a beautiful silver pendant now hanging from her neck."Oh Papa its beautiful." she said,examining the glowing pendant."But Papa,"he said suddenly,holding up the small metallic letter attached to the pendant."Ithink there has been a mistake!My name starts with P.But the letter is S here."Arnab sighed.He hated to lie to his daughter,and especially on her birthday,but some truths are best left hidden and untouched.Some pasts are best kept buried.Otherewisw they can turn the present upside-down."No sweetheart."he said forcing a smile on his face."The letter S stands for sweetheart,remember.Its what I call u."Piya's face cleared,and she gave her father a big smile."Oh,Papa"she said with a laugh."Now I understand."No,u don't,thought Arnab sadly,hating the fact that he had taken advantage of his daughter's innocence.But he had to keep this last promise to a dying person.Just then his eyes met his wife's, Madhu, who was coming down the stairs.She looked dissaproving,as she flashed an irritated look at Piya before looking back at her husband again.Arnab sighed.It seemed that sometimes,the ghosts of the past,are never far away. ********************Long after Abhay had left,Chand Raichand sat in his wheelchair,lost in thoughts of his lost daughter,Alisha, and her mother.He had nver loved anyone as much he had loved these two women.But that had been a different time,a different place,when he had been a different Chand.He sighed.Of course,he still loved them both.But with each of their memories was attached the knowledge of revenge and betrayal.People are right.Love is blind.He had been so blind in love that he had not seen the betrayal until it was too late.It might feel strange,but the only reason he had never considered Abhay as his son.He was there merely to avenge Alisha's murder,and maybe pay the price of the betrayal.Abhay and Chand Raichand had always had a strictly formal relation,quite unlike the lovely father-son bonding.And Chand Raichand hardly cared.For him,his family had died the day Alisha had died. *********************Arjun Dobriyal drove the car at breakneck speed,knowing full well that he was late for his sister's birthday party.Piya and his mother were two of the women who had a hold of his heart.He never allowed any female lose to his heart,not after that nightmarish experience 20 years ago.Well of course,one woman had broken that rule 10 years ago,and what had followed...Arjun scowled.."Dont think about it"he muttered to himself."This is a happy day..don't think about the past..DON'T"he said,as pulled up in front of the lavishly decorated Dobriyal Mansion.Little did he know,the past had returned and had just parked his car beside his...