The Journey of Revenge to Love

A little while later, Shrey made a call, explained something to the person on the other end, and walked out.

Not much happened in the next few days, except the ongoing tension between Ravindra and him. Everything was still under Shrey's control, and Ravindra wasn't in a condition to confront him directly he only believed in attacking from behind.

One night, Shrey came home late and collapsed onto the sofa. He was completely exhausted.

Just then, his phone rang. He looked at the screen in irritation a chill ran down his spine. The screen flashed 'Tiwari'.

"Maalik....."

Someone called him. He turned to see Moli was standing at the door.

"You didn't go home?" he growled.

"Can't you ever talk nicely..."

Moli mumbled to herself, then looking at his annoyed face, said aloud,

"You can scold me later, first answer this"

"Baba has gone to a relative's wedding, so I'm staying here tonight..."

Shrey was about to say something when she added,

"Thakurain has given permission."

"You didn't go to the wedding?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Just like that..."

She answered, avoiding eye contact.

Though the truth was she couldn't bear to go even a single day without seeing Shrey.

"Crazy girl..."

Shrey smiled.

"Talk respectfully, will you?"

Moli snapped.

Shrey glared at her, and in anger, Moli banged the food plate she had brought and ran off.

Shrey couldn't help but smile at her little outburst.

Then his eyes returned to the phone screen his jaw clenched.

Taking a deep breath, he answered the call.

"Does Banaras even sleep at night, Tiwari ji?"

He started with sarcasm.

"We're in big trouble, Assistant Babu..."

came Tiwari's panicked voice.

"What happened?"

"Vicky Verma's cousin... he's filed a police complaint..."

"Then pay them off and shut them all up..."

Shrey responded with a bite in his tone.

"We tried, Assistant Babu... but the builder whose building it was, he's been caught... police have arrested him..."

"So...?"

"Assistant Babu, he's innocent..."

Shrey was silent for a moment... then with venom in his voice, he said —

"Then go and tell the police that you're the one behind all this..."

And with that, he slammed the phone down.

"Why don't you call the MLA sir?"

suggested Tiwari ji's sister, who was sitting nearby with her head in her hands.

"He won't go against Assistant Babu... they seem like thick friends..."

Tiwari ji muttered, lowering his head.

---

The Next Morning

Shrey went to wake Anay up, but Anay was already getting ready.

Shrey's eyes widened in surprise — he stared at him.

"What's this, Kumbhkaran(The Charector of Rmayana) ? Up so early...? And where are you off to?"

Anay, combing his hair, glanced at Shrey and then said while looking at himself

"Banaras."

Shrey dropped his watch, which he had been about to wear.

"Why Banaras?"

He quickly stepped toward him and grabbed his arm, turning him around.

Anay looked at him calmly, then gently pulled his arm free and said —

"I have work."

"What work?"

 Shrey flared up.

"Some builder got caught because of us."

"So?"

"So, we need to save him."

"Since when did you start caring so much about other people?"

Anay didn't reply. A brief silence followed.

"There's no need. I'll send someone. But you're not going..."

Shrey said firmly, picking up his watch from the floor and storming out.

---

Shrey was buried in some files when his phone rang again.

He picked it up without checking the caller, and the voice on the other end drained all the color from his face 

"Come outside."

It was Anay.

Shrey rushed out. Anay was already seated in the jeep, ready to go.

"I told you, you're not going..."

"If you're coming, get in. Otherwise, I can go alone..."

Shrey clenched his jaw and stared at him 

"Wait ten minutes."

And he dashed inside.

In a hurry, he stuffed Anay's medicines, a shawl, and a few sets of clothes into a small bag and came back outside. Anay smiled at him.

"Don't show me your teeth I'll knock them out if you do..."

Shrey shouted in irritation.

Just then, Moli was seen going out. Shrey's jaw tightened 

"Everyone's gone crazy in this house..."

Then he said —

"Wait, one more minute..."

And he walked over to Moli.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He yelled from behind, startling her.

"I was just taking this to the elder sir..."

She turned and showed the tray in her hand with some cut fruit.

Shrey called a servant, snatched the tray from Moli, and handed it to the servant 

"Go, give this to the ex-sarpanch."

"I was going anyway..."

Moli tried to protest, but Shrey glared at her and roared 

"Listen carefully, girl... You're not stepping a single foot out of this house now. And don't you dare go near that sarpanch either. If I catch you outside... I'll break your legs. Now go inside!"

He growled, and Moli sulked as she went back in.

---

He returned to the jeep, where Anay was leaning on his elbow, looking at him.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Shrey snapped.

"What's going on between you two...?"

Anay teased.

"Shut your mouth. There's nothing like that..."

Shrey replied immediately.

"Then why did you stop her from going to the fields? Her father's medicines — she can get them however she wants. Why do you care?"

Shrey didn't answer. He just turned his face away.

Anay, with a soft smile, said —

"If it's love, just admit it... or you'll be too late. Her father's already looking for boys for her..."

He started the jeep.

Shrey growled 

"Shrey Thakur has no interest in being ruined... I hate love!"

---

As the jeep drove toward Banaras, Shrey's heartbeat kept rising. He was desperately looking for an excuse anything to stop Anay.

But it felt like the entire universe was working against him this time.

By the time they reached Banaras, black clouds had taken over the sky. A chill and strange anxiety filled the air. Shrey's heart skipped a beat.

That cursed day replayed in his mind when Anay's blood had mixed with the rainwater.

The memory made him shudder.

"Let's go back, Anay..."

He pleaded almost tearfully.

Anay gently ran a hand over his head

"Nothing will happen to us..."

And with that reassurance, Shrey broke down and hugged him tightly.

Anay patted his back and said —

"Call Amma..."

Shrey looked at him in confusion.

"No... just marry me already, then you can walk all over me every day..."

Anay joked to lighten the mood.

Shrey gave him a hard slap on the back and said —

"Pervert!"

Too be Continued...