The next few days passed quickly. The vacation was a blessing. Kenny clicked a lot of photographs. As they returned back she and Kiara checked on Gaurav.
" I feel a lot better girls ", he said.
" Still you should not work this much G", scolded Kenny.
" Your husband needs to win this election to ascend that throne. Kamini will try all the wrong tactics in book", replied Gaurav. " As much as I dislike his hippie ways", Gaurav sighed, " I am his mentor".
" Tell me about it", pouted Kiara.
" Kamini has rigged the Bhishma council. Rahul told me", said Kenny.
" That boy is righteous", said Gaurav.
He was in deep thought.
" Did he attack you", asked Kiara.
" It's a blur", Gaurav held his head. " I don't remember much. " Maybe I saw him. Maybe not. "
He tried to get up but winced in pain again.
The girls were alarmed.
" Uncle please rest", said Kiara.
" Don't over exert yourself ", said Kenny. She massaged his head.
Gaurav's eyes smarted.
" G".
" It's okay just lost in past", he said wiping his tears. " Tell me about the vacation ".
" The whole gang was there", said Kenny.
" We teased Solly and Shai and men played a lot", said Kiara.
" Show me the photographs ", said Gaurav.
" I will. We took so many. Hey uncle I need to upload these pics on my camera on laptop. Maddy took mine and the memory card is full".
" Use mine", said Gaurav.
" You are the best", she said.
Gaurav hugged her. Then he said to Kenny,
" About those officials who are voting against him"..
And the discussion continued.
Parry and Raj were having the same discussion. Maddy was also present.
" The vote in Bhishma is post election", said Parry. " And we are losing 15-9."
" That's 6 votes", said Raj. " A bit difficult to overturn ".
" Not impossible though", said Maddy.
" Considering Rahul wants to leave Bhishma ".
" His choice ", shrugged Raj. " The decision saved his life if you ask".
Maddy was a bit worried.
" What are you thinking ", asked Raj.
" Dr. Prakhar had no interest in ruling yet was killed", he said.
" He recognised the b*stard", said Raj feeling a bit uneasy.
" I think I know him", his instinct said.
" Maddy we ran the dna on our suspects", he asked.
" Yeah Ro said it matched no one except you and Kiara and both of you plus your brothers have a Royal connection", he said.
" I don't want Grandma Cooper enquiring about those similarities between me and him", said Raj.
" Kiara is on it. I asked Grandma not to do it", said Maddy.
" Don't you know her", asked Parry.
" She is doing it bet me", said Raj. " Ask Solly to keep an eye on her. "
" Will do", said Parry.
" For an intelligent investigator he is the biggest moron if you consider relationships", chuckled Maddy.
" Bro did actually want to film him having s*x to give us proof", said Parry as he joined.
" It's fun teasing him", said Raj". " Isn't it"?
The men laughed heartily.
Meanwhile at Mehta's
Myra was trying very hard. Vinita's design s*cked. Literally. But Raj asked her to play along.
" It's a way to get close to them. I requested Mrs Qureshi to help too. I told her we get good business for our textiles. But remember try to grasp even a drop of information you get from Mrs. Radhika Mehta".
Myra agreed. Radhika Mehta knew something.
Payal was with her.
" The heels doesn't sit well with the office dress. And I am not a designer", Payal whispered to Myra.
" In the 24 hrs I have urges to kill her thrice each hour", scoffed Myra.
Payal chuckled.
Mehtas then welcomed a house guest Pammi Chadha. Ad much as her sister-in-laws welcomed the socialite Vinita detested her.
" You don't like Mrs. Chadha at all",asked Payal.
" She is b*tch", said Vinita. " I am adopted alright. Doesn't make me a less of Mehta. I have their upbringing even if I don't share their blood. "
Myra and Payal sensed her insecurities . They felt bad for her.
Pammi Chadha ignored Vinita.
" She has no talent", she whispered to Myra. " She looks like a B grade actress back in our time", she said. " No class".
" Pammi", said Mrs. Radhika Mehta.
" Radhika dear ", she said and the talks begin.
Pammi openly criticised Vinita's design belittling her subtly as Sheena enjoyed.
Vinita left after some time.
" How is the queen", asked Pammi to Payal.
" Her highness is not well today. Heat stroke I am afraid", said Payal.
" Ohh dear. Poor girl. She works very hard. But then poise and Grace comes with Royal blood", said Pammi.
" You knew Malti", said Myra.
" Yeah Jhanvi was really concerned about Gaurav's nupitals. She threatened him with her life. The boy was really reluctant. He was a player" , winked Pammi.
" Can't imagine him like that", smiledyra.
" You didn't know Vikram Oberoi girl. He attracted women like flies. And those other two", sighed Pammi. " An evil eye happened ", she sighed again.
" Guess so", said Payal. " Malti ran a NGO".
" Yeah on women neglected by men", said Pammi.
Payal asked a lot and Pammi heartily replied.
Late Evening
Maddy and Kiara were looking at old photographs.
" This was the break up party Riya and Manav threw", she said.
" My Appa is not in it but Amma is here", said Maddy.
" They were not an item back then", said Kiara.
" Hmm your uncle is absent too", he said.
" As per Zoya aunty and you mom he got dragged to see girl for marriage", said Kiara.
" Soll's dad is absent sis Ro's", wondered Maddy.
Then he said,
" Lisa hid her affair and Numaan made sure Salman uncle was away from Shai's mom".
" Could it be Numaan", asked Kiara.
" He is dead", said Maddy. " And I feel it's not him".
" It could be anyone", wondered Kiara.
" Kenny says party is sure that Raj will win", said Myra.
" And we are 6 votes short in council", said Maddy.
" This is all wrong", said Kiara.
" What baby", asked Maddy.
" This stillness. The calm Maddy ", she replied. " It's the calm before the storm. A catastrophe is coming. I can feel it coming ".
Kiara literally shivered.
" We will handle it love", said Maddy as he hugged her.
HE WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.
Junagarh
Unknown place
" This is not good colonel", said a person.
" Shut up", replied the.man.
He looked at a photograph.
" I thought she died back then", he said.
" If she is alive means one of our own cheated on us", said Dom.
He was the one colonel was talking to.
" Who", asked Colonel. " Did she meet the girl"?
" No as for our sources say", said Dom.
" She wished Mehtas well and left".
" She is biding time". Said the boss. " I taught her this. If she makes a move then we are in trouble ".
" She can try and meet him to give the proofs against you", said Dom.
" The Khuranas. Get them in action. Their father is arrested. They will help. And she is a wanted criminal ", said Colonel.
" Okay", said Dom.
" Also Kamini must know her son plans to leave", said the cobra boss.
" But isn't this wahat you want. The heirs all leaving", asked Dom.
" I want them dead so none of them or their spawns can come back to claim this throne".
" You will need heir though. Ever thought about it", asked Dom.
He was in deep thought now. He hates queen of Vidhangarh but the prophecy is there.
" She will decide the emperor. Where she stands there stands the ruler. Her choice matters".
" I have to work on her", said the man.
" You thought you could work on Riya too", said Dom.
" Leave it to me", he said.
Dom left.
He looked out.
They were in forest in the the outskirts of city. Everything looked calm.
The calm before the storm...