Prerish: A Collection of Tales ✔️

~ Shot -3 ~ {Completed}

The grand Mansion of Rathores glittered under the evening sky, adorned like a bride herself, celebrating the marriage of their only daughter, Jiya. Mr. Rathore, a prominent businessman in Kolkata, had spared no expense, inviting every significant figure in the city's elite. Among the distinguished guests were the Basus, the Sharmas (now a burgeoning small business family thanks to Shekar's relentless efforts), and the elusive Bajajs.

At the threshold, Mr. and Mrs. Rathore beamed, greeting each arrival. Just then, the Basus and the Sharmas entered simultaneously. A palpable awkwardness settled between them as both families instinctively turned their faces away from each other, a silent acknowledgment of the bitter chasm that now divided them. Only Anurag, ever the chameleon, offered the Sharmas a polite greeting, as if nothing had transpired, and they, too, reciprocated with strained smiles. They stepped into the opulent ballroom, unsurprised to find themselves among the last guests to arrive, the vast space already buzzing with Kolkata's crème de la crème.

Across the ballroom, Veena Sharma stood conversing with a few society ladies, her presence a quiet testament to her family's newfound, albeit reluctant, social standing. Not far from her, Mohini Basu also circulated, clinging to the vestiges of her past glory. Once a fixture of the city's creamy layer, the last few months had been brutally unforgiving for the Basus. Their business faced severe losses, each new day bringing fresh setbacks. Worse still, allegations of dubious financial dealings clung to Mohini and Moloy, unproven yet stubbornly persistent. In the rarefied air of high society, rumors spread like wildfire, and truth often mattered less than perception.

The whispers had turned into a chilling societal frost. High-class ladies, once Mohini's companions, now subtly avoided her. Invitations to exclusive parties and functions had dwindled to nothing, extending instead to Veena Sharma, who, despite her growing prominence, politely declined most of them, preserving her dignified distance. Mohini seethed internally, consumed by a gnawing annoyance at their dwindling influence, yet powerless to stem the tide. The Basus were slowly, painfully, losing everything, and she could do little but watch.

Meanwhile, Anurag moved through the crowd, a phantom of his former self. His mind was a maelstrom of desperation, consumed by the Herculean task of salvaging their crumbling business. He fought against an invisible enemy, an insidious force that pulled at the very foundations of their empire, making complete destruction seem all but inevitable. He had no idea who was orchestrating their downfall, only that they were relentless and deadly effective.

Moloy Basu, however, carried a heavier burden of knowledge. He was a broken man, distraught by the agonizing sight of his family and their legacy crumbling bit by bit. He knew, or at least had a terrifyingly strong suspicion, who their enemy was: Rishabh Bajaj. The chilling certainty had settled upon him the very day Prerna had walked out of their lives, her final words a stark warning of impending ruin.

His wife, daughter, and son had dismissed Prerna's threat, foolishly believing she was still the naive, helpful, innocent, and kind-hearted girl they had always known. They had underestimated her, fatally so. The very next moment, it seemed, their world began to unravel. Moloy was also haunted by Veena Sharma's decision – her lack of trust, her abandonment of Prerna. That moment, he realized, had been the fatal flaw, the trigger that was now proving catastrophic for them all. The social isolation, the financial ruin, the crushing weight of their predicament – it was all a consequence of that single, damning choice.

The air in the Rathore Mansion, already thick with the murmur of polite society, suddenly crackled with uncomfortable tension. "Mrs. Sharma," a high-pitched voice cut through the hum, belonging to the notoriously gossipy Mrs. Jha, "I heard that you disowned your elder daughter, Prerana, because you found out she's pregnant with another man when she was going to get married to Mohini's son. Is it true?"