Page 64

Story: Substitute Bride

"Dressing should be done daily on your wounds because the better the medicine is applied on time, the faster the wound will heal."

“How is Jhankar…?” He quickly asks.

“She fainted out of fear. But it is confirmed that she is very scared of blood and all these things. That is why she suddenly got scared. She has regained consciousness and is sitting near Sharda Maa.”

He nods and remembers the last event too. It has been a long time since Mahesh left, and Vikrant's anger is increasing a lot. Seeing this, all the people present in the room start getting worried, but Mahesh says while entering the room:

"I apologize for my late arrival, but after gathering all the necessary information, I went to apprehend the individual who had obtained information about you from Ramesh. I caught him and brought him here; he is in the garden right now."

Upon hearing his words, Vikrant immediately stands up and begins to leave. He then notices a maid standing in front of him, her head bowed down. He asks her immediately:

"Is Maa okay?”

"Sharda madam is growing increasingly concerned for you. She has regained consciousness, and Jhankar madam is with her. She has been sitting with her since she gained consciousness.”

He peeks inside Sharda's room; Jhankar is constantly sitting close to Sharda. He understands that she is scared and nervous, and in such a situation, she will definitely need rest. However, when she sees Sharda's health, she is delighted to be by her side. Yet, when he notices that Jhankar is shivering due to this minor accident, he informs the maid:

"We are going to the garden; keep in mind that no one should come there."

The maid nods her head, and at that point, he departs. Everyone reaches the garden and sees the man who falls at Vikrant's feet, crying upon seeing him and telling him:

"Sir, you're misunderstood; I didn't do anything; I just wanted to know when Ramesh will be returning home. Today we both had planned to drink alcohol together; that was all.”

Vikrant knows very well how to extract the truth from someone. That is why he immediately takes out the knife from the hand of Mahesh, who is standing with a knife in his hand, and puts it on the neck of that man. That man gets scared and immediately moves back, but Akram is standing behind and watching him, so he gets nervous and starts running away from there. Vikrant is coming towards him, walking very comfortably. He understands that death, in the form of Vikrant, stands before him, and even if he tells the truth here, he will die. Therefore, there is no questionof lying; he can attempt to save himself in the form of telling the truth to Vikrant.

“A man had given me money and told me to keep asking Ramesh about his whereabouts so that he can keep getting to know about you. I don’t know anything else. I repeatedly asked him, ‘Where have you arrived and where are you leaving from?’ I have small children at home. Please leave me. I am innocent.”

Vikrant grabs his hair, stabs him in the stomach, and whispers in his ear:

“Whether you cheat in business or with your friend, there is no forgiveness for that.”

He immediately takes out a knife and stabs his body two to three times and keeps himself a little away from him because he has a white bandage tied to his body, and he has to go to meet Sharda swiftly after completing these tasks. He knows that Sharda will get very angry with him if he does not rest and keeps doing all these tasks. Then a man comes there and tells Vikrant in a trembling voice:

“Sir, the maid has called and said that Madam is coming here looking for you.”

Vikrant sees him and releases the body from his grip. Before it could fall down, Mahesh and Akram catch him and make him disappear from there. Just then, he hears the sound of someone's footsteps. He hides the knife behind him in his hand and stands facing the direction of the voice. Meanwhile, Mahesh and Akram hide the man's body in the right place and stand behind him. Jhankar is standing in front of them. He feels very relieved after seeing Jhankar. But looking at her face, he can very well feel that she is upset. He immediately replies to her words, and without any delay, he takes away the knife from hersight and starts walking with her, wiping his hands after seeing his men.

"I should go to Maa's room and go to our room and rest now.”

PAST INCIDENT ENDS

He immediately enters Sharda's room, and Sharda sits down crying as soon as she sees him. He comes close to her and hugs her. Seeing the bandages on his body, she starts crying even more. Vikrant smiles lightly and says to her,

"Nothing has happened to me, and you are crying as if I am dead."

On hearing this, Sharda slaps him. Jhankar, who was standing behind Vikrant, puts her hands on her mouth in surprise and looks at them in shock. Vikrant laughingly says to Sharda:

"Look, you are well aware that I didn't suffer much harm; otherwise, you wouldn't have even touched me, let alone slapped me."

"You talk too much nonsense. I don't understand why you have to talk so much; can't you maintain your favorite work when it's needed? Thankfully, nothing happened to Jhankar, and you are also fine. I have been waiting for you for so long, and this Jhankar is not letting me go anywhere."

Vikrant looks at Jhankar, who is looking at him, and he turns towards Sharda and says smilingly:

"At least someone has the courage to stop you; otherwise, you never listen to me.”

Sharda smiles lightly, and Jhankar also comes back and sits on the chair in front. All three of them start talking to each othervery comfortably, but Sharda and Vikrant both notice very well that Jhankar is very upset. So, Sharda tells Jhankar:

“My dear, you should go to your room and rest. Vikrant is also coming soon; don't worry about anything. I am also okay, and he is in front of you; he is fine too."