To ask forgiveness from the Almighty and to protect their little girl from evil eye Deshmukhs visited Shiva temple. Sonia and Sharman accompanied them along with her father who was on a trip to Mumbai. Ramcharan accompanied them. But not Vicky. He was busy.
" He is highly busy with his resort work", said Ram.
Riya knew he was giving her space.
On their ride home he said,
" Please forgive me and marry me Riya".
" I don't know Vicky", she replied. " You hurt me a lot. I don't think we can work."
" I just don't know how to carry on without you anymore", he said.
" I need time", she said.
There was still love in her heart. She could not deny that. But...
There was still these buts between them.
Her brother mentioned right choices. So until these buts exist between them she won't agree to marriage.
But she met him to work on the museum's work. She also met Mr. Khedekar and Mr. Gupta.
" Riya king Baldev is lurking somewhere near to us. Remember you heard him that night", he warned. "Also Salman doubts that someone close to me is associated with the terrorists. Be careful".
" I will be", she replied. " You don't be reckless yourself", she said.
They created a planet and satellite alignment, devil and God, a Shiva temple etc. Most of the story was told using Vishnu's potraits and Zoya's translations. But both Manav and Vicky were concerned about girls working with him.
" The boy is a terrorist ", said Manav.
" Its not that black and white", argued Sonia. " His art is excellent."
" Youth get lost", said Riya.
Vicky scoffed. He and Manav knew they cannot leave it at that. Bodyguards followed girls near him.
As she climbed the steps of temple Riya was again filled with a lot of questions. But Agni was not around there.
Where did he go?
SHE LOVED VICKY. BUT SHE WAS SCARED.
Gunjan's plight angered her. Dhara's curse made her sad. She has to help them both.
But How?
Everyone started puja. Riya bowed to her God in surrender. Like a child asks her father she prayed.
" Oh almighty Shiva who writes our past, present and future guide me through my dilema".
She prayed with her heart. She got a vision.
" Join me in our forever my queen. Climb this throne with me. Today we start our happily ever after. We have waited centuries for our forever. Come my love lets fo it".
Vicky it was Vicky. But he looked different. Golden brown hairs , blue eyes, sun kissed face. He was smiling. None of his darkness exist. He wore a royal blue and golden robe
And she was with him wearing a matching robe. Raven black hairs, kohled eyes, small face, green eyes. She was smiling too.
" Hurry up sister. We need photographs ".
Rajjo yes it was her. She tried looking in her direction. But the vision ended.
And she was back in temple again.
" Riya", said Sonia. " You look a bit lost. Are you okay"?
" Yes", she replied.
And she did worship her lord with her whole heart.
What did she see just now?
But she knew the answer.
A glimpse of the future.
After puja she took some prasad for Vicky as a habit. She knew it hurt him to swallow it because of the curse. But he still did it. WITHOUT FAILURE.
Manav dropped her at Zoya's place where the four friends were meeting today.
Zoya was sulking.
" What's wrong with you", asked Laxmi.
" Salman is asking me to quit my job with Oberois", she said.
" Why", asked Riya.
" He says I don't have time for him", she said. " But then he is always busy and has no time for me while I sit at home dwindling my thumbs".
Laxmi snorted.
" Men", she said.
" Do whatever you feel right", said Riya.
" How about you and Vicky", asked Zoya.
Riya sighed.
" I still love him", she said.
Zoya knew the feeling. She patted Riya's back.
" Is cheating okay", Lisa asked. She was restless.
" He didn't cheat on me. He and Shalini broke up before we met", said Riya. " Just that he lied".
" But if told you truth", said Lisa. " Suppose after being engaged you fell for someone else".
Zoya froze. She knew this feeling too.
" Then we break up like I did with Manav", said Riya.
" Hmm", said Lisa.
" Princess Jeniffer is back in Mumbai", said Laxmi. " She may visit the palace today".
" I like her", said Riya.
" We all do", smiled Zoya.
Afternoon
Zoya's driver left Riya and Zoya at palace. Princess was already there. She was talking to Gaurav and Sonia about details and designs of temple inside the palace.
" Ms Qureshi", she called Zoya.
Both Riya and Zoya reached her.
" Yes your highness", said Zoya.
" I liked your idea of keeping the original Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions intact and adding English translations", she said. " But what about the locals? How will they understand"?
" I did suggested a Hindi translation your highness but apparently it adds to the cost", Zoya replied.
" Hmm", said the princess. " Mr. Shekhawat can you hand over the details on additional cost", she asked.
" Yes after discussing with Mr. Oberoi", said Gaurav.
" It won't look cluttered Ms.Pradhan", she asked Sonia.
" It may", she replied. " So I suggest a few important ones be translated in both languages where we have space. At some places we can add photographs ".
" We have a good artist ypur highness", said Riya.
" I would like to see the pictures", said Jeniffer.
Gaurav sighed. He knew Vicky did not like Vishnu Pundit around Riya.
" Riya", he warned. " About Vishnu; you know Vicky".
" I 'll tackle him", she replied. " Whare is he"?
" With Professor Gupta and Mr. Dharma inside that dancer's room.
HE TURNED RED.
Riya shook her head. Vicky's obsession with Gunjan embarassed him. Vicky was closing that room for comnon public. He was adamant about it. He was ready to shelve the project had it was not done.
She started in that direction. On her way she met the historians with whom she shared a brief discussion and moved ahead.
As she reached there she found that the door to Gunjan's room was open. One of her potrait where she was standing under a tree lied there. Gunjan was sad. She wore a shimmery saree and no veil. She was Chandbai. Vicky bowed down to the potrait and was crying.
" I can't go on my love", he said to the potrait. " Its getting unbearable each day. Forgive me and let my soul wander woth yours".
HE LOOKED MORBID.
Tears sprang in her eyes. She made a decision then.
Srikant Pundit was forgiven.
Abandoned Forest.
Two people were searching inside the broken castle. They were trying to find something; anything associated with their purpose.
" I found some parchment papers", said the woman but the script is unfamiliar", said the girl.
" Give it to me", said the man.
" Punditji does this end our search or we continue", she asked.
" Not anymore Reshma. We need to go back now", said Agni.
They both collected the parchment and started to return.