Chapter 27:
Suraj Rathore was narrating the details of his earlier life to the Prof Rastogi. He was listening with utmost interest.
"Don't start from the middle Rathore! Say it from the beginning. That is the day you returned from Dantla after murdering 3 people." Said Rastogi in a matter-of-fact voice.
"I returned to my house, thinking everything is going to be alright. I have money, a doting wife who is expecting and everything"
Niveda returned to the palace. The sight of innocent Aditi made her cry with pity.
"What happened Niveda? Why are you crying?" asked Aditi with fear.
Niveda poured out the whole story of cruelty and greed. Aditi was shocked beyond words. She stood like a statue. A worried Niveda shook her. "No! I could not stand this. My husband a murderer? That Too of a pregnant woman?" with a thud she sat down on the cot. Her chest was going up and down. "I am sorry Aditi. I should not have told you! Please think of the babies. You have to bring them to this world." Cried Niveda.
"Why? Why Niveda? To hunt more women? I don't want to become a mother of such child." Said Aditi with conviction.
"No! Don't take any rash decision. Please think before that" begged Niveda.
"I will! As you said I will think of many things before I Take a decision Niveda! But promise me, whatever I say, I decide, you will abide by me" with a stretched palm said Aditi. Not trusting herself to speak, Niveda put her hands in Aditi's.
After two days Aditi was in labour and gave birth to twin boys. One was called Mihir and the other was called Arun. Niveda thought at the sight of 2 babies might have changed the queen's mind. But exactly after 15 days of the delivery, Aditi summoned Niveda and handed her a letter addressed to the police commissioner.
"Aditi? Are you sure?" asked Niveda with fear in her eyes.
"Let me explain! I have a plan! I have written stating that My husband Mr. Suraj Rathore is trying to kill me for the sake of getting married to another woman. I am going to threaten Suraj, saying I know everything. I will ask him to surrender himself to the police, otherwise I myself will do that." Stopped Queen Aditi for taking a breath.
Niveda looked at her. A shadow of once a beautiful girl was there. She was looking haggard.
"But? This letter?" asked Niveda.
"This is where you come in. Once I threaten him, he would not surrender, instead he would try to kill me. If that happens you have to give this letter to the police." Said the queen with confidence.
"No! Never! I won't allow that. Don't make me do this Aditi. Why don't we go to the police now?" asked Niveda.
"How naive you are? Do we have proof? We know that Suraj burnt down the hut along with three people. But who would believe it? Do we have any witness?" asked Aditi.
"Yes Aditi! We do have Proof! Remember that Girl Arunika's brother and sister-in-law? They were witness to this. I myself am a witness." Said Niveda with hope.
"You are a fool, Niveda! It's us against the rich and famous Suraj Rathore, who is a philanthropist, industrialist and a new star in the horizon. Who are we? And what reason we would give for the murders? If we say the tantric Baba story, the court will laugh at us. Once the case is over, he would finish off both me and you. You want that?" asked Aditi. Niveda kept silence. But they never knew, Suraj was hidden behind the door and listening to every word they spoke.
The next morning, when Niveda awoke, there was an absolute silence in the house. There were hardly any servants. This reminded her of the day, when the King was murdered. She came down rushing to see Aditi. In her room, Aditi was in the cot dead, stabbed by none other than her husband Suraj. As Niveda entered, he came rushing to her, gagged her and made her roll on the floor. Before Niveda could cope up with the situation, he made her hold the knife in her hands, smeared blood here and there on her body.
"You and Aditi thought you were too clever to plot against me. After all you are females. What could you do? Cry? Sob? Or commit suicide? That would have suited me. But going to the police behind my back? I cannot stand the atrocity." Said Suraj Rathore in a malicious voice.
"You brute! You devil! What did Aditi do to you? She gave you money, respect and everything what you are today! Why you killed her?" cried Niveda uncontrollably.
"Now that is like a woman. Now I have a proposal for you! You are free to give that letter to the police. But I have another letter written by Aditi, saying, you threatened her to give money, jewels and much more. Even you were trying to seduce me. If she was dead the only reason will be Niveda my handmaid. You want to see that letter?" asked Suraj again.
"Aditi would have never written that letter. You are telling a lie. I won't believe it." Shouted Niveda.
"Well! She did not write on her own will, But I made her write by saying if she does not write, I might kill her and put the blame on you. I told her I even might say, the fire in the old palace was caused by you. "Said, Suraj.
"My God! You murdered the King too? How many lives you are going to take? What do you want?" Again, cried Niveda in agony.
"I am coming to that. If you assure me, not to give that letter to the police, I will hush up the death of Aditi. Otherwise, she is dead, you will be hanged for her murder. What do you say?" asked Suraj with a vicious smile.
It was intolerable for Niveda a could be so heartless, so cruel to bargain in the presence of his deceased wife's dead body. She cried uncontrollably.
"You can cry how much ever you want. But give me the answer" demanded Suraj.
"How will you hush up the death of the queen?" asked Niveda bewildered.
"Very simple! Queen Aditi, the mother of the twin is still alive. Only her hands maid is dead due to some illness. Since She was very close to the queen, she will be buried along with the family members."
Niveda blinked. She could understand the outline of the plan. That itself gave her shivers.
"You mean…"
"Yes! You will become queen Aditi! And this dead body could be you! I could not let you out of my sight, as you pose a great danger to me. What do you say? You can have all the dresses of Aditi, her jewels too. But remain silent. You don't even have to mother my babies. I know how to bring them up." Said Suraj Rathore.
It was like discussing a business deal to him. But for Niveda, her heart ached with pain and cruelty of Suraj Rathore. She saw Aditi lying on the cot with eyes open. "I will not leave this Rathore as easily as he thinks! He killed my friend. He killed the Queen, he killed the light of this palace. He will pay for it. Not now may be later. When he least expects it, I will bounce on him. Till then I need to keep an eye on him. For that I have to accept his offer. Otherwise, he is cunning enough to kill me and come with another story. Princess Aditi's story must come out. For that I have to live." Niveda decided.
"Why do you think I won't hand you over to the police?" asked Niveda.
"Because you are intelligent. You know your position and my capabilities too! Don't you? So, what have you decided?" asked Suraj Rathore.
"Do I have any choice? But tell me one thing, Aditi died knowing that you killed her father?"
"Yes! she did! I had to tell her. She was all like, Suraj you are such a nice man..how could you sort of sentiments. So, I have to show my other side to her." Replied Suraj Rathore.
Tears flooded Niveda's face.
"I agree to your proposal" she said timidly.
"Good! But remember, you are just a maid. Don't start taking too much of liberty with me. Remain as a guest. Watch everything, eat good food, enjoy parties. But keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you know I can remove you too!" said Suraj Rathore and went on to announce the death of hand maid.
Professor Anil was listening.
"So now this Aditi is actually Niveda, a maid, right?" he asked.
"What choice did I had? Going to the police was a cat on the wall business. They could even arrest me. I didn't want that." Replied Suraj Rathore with pride.
"Umm….That's true. Whatever had happened had happened. Now let's concentrate on the present. Shall we?" asked the professor.
Suraj Simply nodded.
"Now I understand the great enemy force in your residence. She has to be removed. Or we will be in danger. She might make alliances with the other forces. That should never happen."
Anil Rastogi got up and walked tensely here and there. He was murmuring to himself. Tamra is in Dantla, the place where everything happened. If my calculations are correct, she could be rebirth of one of the victims. That was I saw in the Puja. Her presence at the village might invoke another great force, too! If That happens Rathore is gone. But if we make use of that great force, that is Tamra who was murdered, that could be very useful. I can get the Chintamani, which could turn any metal into gold. Only those souls who are in between could get the Chintamani. I know, dead Tamra was pregnant, which is even better. Already she is burning with fury. If I make her soul my slave, she could serve me for the rest of my life. Once I get hold of Chintamani, I can perform puja and increase my life span up to 200 years. That means I have enough time to enjoy the luxuries provided by money and power that follows.
As Anil Rastogi was thinking about these things, Suraj Rathore began to feel impatient. They started talking when the Sun was about to sink. Now the moon has come out, till this man has not told me anything concrete. Professor Rastogi shifted his eyes to Rathore. He was gazing the moon. Automatically he also looked. The moon was almost complete. He felt as if a big stick had stuck his head.
"When is the full moon?" the professor asked Suraj Rathore. There was immense panic in his voice.
"What? Why?" Rathore thought, the professor had gone out of his senses.
"Tell me when is the full moon day?" urged the professor again.
"4 days left I think."
"Then we don't have much time Rathore. I have already sent someone to fetch your daughter. Once your daughter comes here, then all others will follow, including Tamra." Said the professor with authority.
Suraj Rathore felt dizzy. What? This old man had sent someone to fetch my granddaughter? He didn't even bother to inform me? What am I to do with a moral less creature?
"Come on make this palace ready to welcome a great force. Before that we have to eliminate Aditi AKA Niveda."
Again, a surge of adrenaline went through his head. A familiar feeling of adventure along with the smell of blood came to Suraj's mind. His face wore a merry smile which was eerie to watch. But Rastogi was made of different material. He did not even turn a hair.
"What you want me to do?" asked Suraj with enthusiasm.
"You have to send all servants on a holiday. Send your family members somewhere. No one should be here. Once we can plan the elimination of Niveda. Then I will start performing Puja, and chant Mantras which will bring the vengeance filled soul to come here. For that we need Your granddaughter. Only she could summon Old Tamra.
"What about her safety? My Granddaughter….?
"Are you really worried Rathore? "a sinister smile came to the professor's face.
"But what will happen to her? I need to know that. Now a days, the police and the public are very vigilant. Thanks to the information technology. Any one can say anything on the social platform. I don't want to be in the limelight of any scandal." Said Rathore with conviction.
"Ok Ok! I Know. You already have an imposter, there are many unclaimed dead bodies in a mortuary. So ….no need to worry. First let us eliminate Aditi AKA Niveda. Her death might further infuriate Tamra.
Saying these, he turned towards the room. Suraj Rathore followed him. Aditi was listening near the terrace garden. She decided to act.