Reawakening

Part 8 - Stage set

Early morning saw Raizada mansion bustling with various activities. All getting about their business for the day. Nani casually mentioned at the breakfast table, "Anjali bitiya, Keep your evening free, I want to discuss about the property in your mums name in Lucknow that your nana had left. It is quite a big piece of land, so I need to discuss. Manohar, Chote, Akash, I want all of you to be here as well... "

Nani definitely knew how to keep the snake at home. Just as she knew, he did not budge out of the house the whole day. She did not want to wait anymore, not after what they had got to hear early in the morning....

In the privacy of her room, Lavanya was talking, "Nani ji, there is some good news. You know I have been trying since 2 days, finally, I just spoke to Khushi. She and her buaji is back in Delhi, she had to return to work today"

"Lavanya bitiya, Manohar has already made plans for today. I will talk to him... whether to call her or not.."

The stage was being set,...

Very few times in his life Manohar took charge of the situation. And this was one crucial issue. On reaching the office,...

"Akash, Arnav, cancel all your meetings for today, I want to have a meeting with you two"

Both the brothers looked at each other questioningly seeing how serious he was.. "Pa, is everything ok?"

"Mama?" husked ASR..

Manohar just patted both of them on the shoulder and moved to his room.

While the Raizada men were busy in the office, back in Raizada Mansion, Nani asked Anjali, "I want to go to the temple can you come with me.."

No surprises, Anjali was excited initially, but thinking her husband is at home she suggested, "Nani I will ask him as well to come..."

"Bitiya, it will be quick, we will be back soon, why do you want to disturb him.."

Thankfully she was supported by the snake himself, who wanted to be left alone to do his planning for the property division, "Rani sahiba, listen to your Nani. She is correct, like all the time, I have some work, I need to make phone calls and I have to get some papers ready on the computer,.. you go ahead..." seeing her worried face, he assured "I will not go anywhere today!!"

He thought, "I need to sort that old Shashi soon, but I cant go to Lucknow, not today of course, will call Khushi and find out"

Back at the office in Manohar's cabin, both brothers sat numb, dumfounded. Unable to believe a single word Manohar told them. Though ASR trusted his uncle, there was some doubt, may be there was a mistake... Manohar was prepared for this, knowing this would be the case..

Meanwhile, back at the temple under the devine sanctity of Devi maiyya, Anjali sat numb, dumbfounded. She was sure there was some mistake. "Nani, Lavanya, are you both joking? Both of you are sitting in a temple and saying all these?"

Lavanya squeezed her hand while side hugging with the other. "Di. I know it is a lot to take in. May be we should have prepared you or given you hints. First of all, we ourselves wanted to be cent percent sure. That's why I hired the best investigators. Then mamaji was not here and you know he is Nani's right hand man. Somehow she was not too keen on letting Akash and ASR know about this, especially how unreasonable he can be when he is angry and imagine when it comes to your matter, he would go ballistic..."

No sooner had she said those words, along came the entire Raizada men to the temple. Both Akash and Arnav ran to hug her, comfort her. She wept. Wept like a child. Still some part of her didn't believe what was happening. It was too sudden.