~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

FIVE MONTHS, EIGHT DAYS, FOURTEEN HOURS LATER:

Palermo, Italy

Time : 11:37 am

A heavy sound of foot steps echoed in the silent corridor as Vedh walked towards his cabin, his assistant Harshit following closely behind

Vedh carried authority as he walked with confidence just coming out of a tiring meeting which lead to denial

"Schedule my appointment with doctor Ricci in some time"

Vedh's authoritatively cold and deep voice rang in the corridor which lead to his cabin leaving behind the chatter of employees

Harshit noted his boss's order walking behind him in his robotic walk and stopping just before the gate of his cabin as Vedh entered

Vedh had been so busy in these past months, working on the lacking point because of which he had to come here urgently

They have still not found out the reason because of which their shares were crashing slowly but now as Vedh worked day and night, the hard work seem to show colours and the company was now touching the new heights

This branch mattered so much to Vedh because this was the first branch of their company which his mother had started and now as she is dead, this place gives him a different kind of peace everytime he comes here but not this time

For these past months Vedh is not able to sleep properly, the new heights of his company and the place his mother started gave me no peace, no satisfaction

From the day he left Heer sleeping on his bed like that and came here without telling anyone, it seemed as if his peace has been snatched away and everytime he closed his eyes to take a breath the picture of Heer, sleeping on his bed like a child so helpless wearing his mother's dress, his bride

Looking at it as a mental problem, Vedh started seeing a psychologist and for last few months everytime he feels restless or something wrong he gets an appointment with Doctor Ricci

Though Vedh was working very hard, his mind was busy every time with some or the other work but a part him felt lost somewhere as if he had left a piece of his soul behind

In these past months didn't matter what Vedh was doing, his mind always echoed with only one name- Heer, his wife whom he had left behind the same night he married her

Vedh sat in his cabin on the boss chair leaning his head against the head rest closing his eyes to have some kind of peace but again it was her, Heer

Later, After two hours

Vedh was sitting in front of doctor Ricci, his leg resting on his other knee while his fore finger rested on his lips, his expressions were cold but frustrated

Meanwhile Doctor Ricci, an middle aged man around his late forties sat opposite to him smiling slightly at Vedh's condition

"Lo accetti o no Ved, ma ora sei una preda d'amore"

("You accept it or not Vedh but you are a prey of love now")

Doctor spoke calculating Vedh's reaction already as his Italian accept slipped out smoothly, while Vedh expression turned into annoyance

"Cone puo essere un dottore quando non ho nemmeno vissuto con lei per un giorno?"

("How can it be doctor when I haven't even lived with her for one day?")

Doctor Ricci smiled wider at the way Vedh replied, his Italian as perfect as doctor's , the frustration and confusion dripping from Vedh's tone

"Acluno cose non hanno uns ragione, sono semplicemente accettate senza una"

("Somethings don't have a reason, they are just accepted without one")

Vedh's face fell, his mind racing with thoughts of Heer and her invisible presence around him even when they were in two different countries, miles away

"Ma dottore-"

("But doctor-")

Vedh again tried to speak but this time doctor cut him off by stating the facts Vedh didn't want to accept or face

"Ved, Il destino e cio che serve e fidati di me hai qualche relazione con tua moglie anche prima del tuo matrimonio"

("Vedh, Destiny is what it takes and trust me you have some relation with your wife even before your marriage")

Doctor had been smiling all the time while speaking to Vedh because he knew that this matter is not something to be handled lightly, though this was not a mental problem like Vedh thought but it was the matter of Love

Vedh left the doctor's clinic and immediately got into his black range rover, his mind still in the haze of the thoughts of him being in love with his wife

The wife he did't even spent a proper day with, the wife who didn't even look at him properly, the wife he left behind immediately after their marriage, the wife he is away from for almost last six months, the wife he didn't know was even alright

The wheels rolled on the smooth roads of Palermo, the road stretched towards the mansion, Vedh's parents' mansion

It was the same place where Vedh's parents first met and fell in love together, and decided to make a family along

Yash ji fell for Sugandha ji's fierceness, the way she worked hard to form an empire of her own after declining the legacy of her family

Yash ji loved the way Sugandha ji carried herself even after working day and night handling such a big business idea

While Sugandha ji fell for Yash ji cause of the respect he gave her and every woman, the way Yash ji treated her made Sugandha ji fall for him

Yash ji, ignoring his own formed empire for some time helped Sugandha ji in her business and they both made it work

After Sugandha ji's company started touching heights, they both got married. They lived a hectic but happy life here in the Palermo

They were in so much love, living for each other until one day they got to know that there is a new reason now coming in this world for them to live

Sugandha ji was pregnant, with twins. The nine and half months of her pregnancy were the best for the couple

Yash ji taking care of his wife while Sugandha ji always admiring him caring for her, they both knew one thing that they would love their children so much

After nine months and twelve days of pregnancy, Sugandha ji gave birth to two non identical boys

Their family was complete and so much happy until one day everything changed, their lives changed completely

Everything ruined, the empire Vedh started years later was from ashes because everything his mother built was nowhere, everything was destroyed, everyone had forgot his parents

But Vedh reminded them again, he told the world about his parents once more without words, his hard work again built the empire that once belonged to his parents and once again 'SYSO' carved it's presence in the mind of everyone

Before when the company was started, it was only 'SYS' which meant 'Shining Your Sky' but when years later Vedh started it again he added 'O' in its name making it 'SYSO' which means 'Sugandha Yash Singh Oberoi'

The car rolled to a stop in front of the large entrance of 'Redolence Manse', the first place of Vedh's parents

Vedh got of the car, Doctor Ricci's words still echoing in his mind like permanent residents

'Ved, Il destino e cio che serve e fidati di me hai qualche relazione con tua moglie anche prima del tuo matrimonio'

A connection?

He had also felt the same thing with Heer's presence around, when he saw her eyes for the first time but taking it as a coincident he let it slip

Vedh was in his thoughts that probably where he met her, his wife before their marriage when he heard a woman shouting, crying, sobbing and even begging the guards on the large iron gate of premises

Vedh looked towards the woman who was joining her hands in front of the guard who was trying to explain something to her but she wasn't ready to hear

Vedh frowned looking at the elderly woman, probably the age of his grandmother and she was begging in front of the guard

She had a suitcase clutched in her hands like life and her appearance was a mess, her tear streaked face and those messy hair were doing no good

Vedh first thought to let the matter go but something in him told him to go and check until he heard the woman's loud scream calling his name again and again

"Per favore, fammi incontrare Vedh una volta"

("Please let me meet Vedh once")

She was requesting the guard almost touching his feet but never letting the suitcase slip out of her palm

"Perche non capisci donna, signore non incontra persone a caso?"

("Why don't you understand woman, sir doesn't meet random people?")

The guard tried to explain, his voice was helpless but as he said the word 'Random' the lady shouted, in fury

"I am not some random lady, Vedh knows me"

Her voice was shrill, broken as if carrying the weight of danger but only she knew why she glanced here and there every two seconds

Vedh walked towards the lady with long strides and as he took steps, the lady's face became more clear to him

His eyes widen as he remembered the lady's identity. Vedh almost ran towards the lady as now he knew who the lady was

"Ms. Rachael...."

Vedh breathed out as soon as he reached the lady making her look up at him, her eyes glistened with happiness upon seeing Vedh after so many years

She immediately touched his chest, a smile making its way to her tear streaked face as she whispered lightly, dreamily

"Vedh......"

Just then she remembered the purpose of her meeting Vedh, her smile vanished and she forwarded the grey suitcase

Her eyes had fear in them as she spoke, her voice was shaking not because of her age but because of something else

"Vedh, I don't have much time.....take this"

Ms. Rachael's words confused Vedh more and his frown deepened as he held the suitcase which was a bit heavy

"What do you mean Ms. Rachael, and at least come inside and tell where you've been these years?"

Vedh's words lingered, his questions faded in the air without answers to them as Ms. Rachael said no whispered

"Vedh, I don't have much time to live...he...he will kill me but just know the password is the name of person you carry with you- always"

Vedh's frown eased but his confusion still lingered, his gaze now filled with anger when he heard someone was to kill Ms. Rachael

"Who? Who is it Ms. Rachael?"

Vedh's words were sharp and cold as Ms. Rachael turned around to leave but stopped the moment she heard those words

Ms. Rachael gulped audibly and turned around towards Vedh with a sigh and with a lot of courage she whispered, almost to herself

"Mortis...."

That single name, it wasn't just a name but a shift, a shift in the temperature, in the way wind flowed

Vedh didn't recognize the name, it holds no memory, no history or no identity yet it felt heavy connected and.....dangerous

That single word spoken from Ms. Rachael sounded like a secret, a dangerous and scary secret which was not meant to be spoken out

Mortis

It doesn't sound like a person but more like a verdict

Something final.

Something cold.

Something that ends things.

Yet it didn't terrify Vedh, it just felt scary but not terrifying as if the name had some relation with him not from today but for decades

Till Vedh acknowledged the name Ms. Rachael was already gone, disappearing in the fog like a part of it leaving behind the mark of her words

~Mrs. Heer Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Amritsar, India

Time: 6:30 pm

Living room of Oberoi Mansion was filled with chatter, the old women in warm silk sarees lounged on the luxurious sofas

The smell of hot tea and fresh sizzling fritters filled the air, mingling with the soft laugh of the women who were Sumitra ji's friends

Sumitra ji sat in between the women, like she owned this mansion and every fiber of it but the reality was something entirely different

In a blink the fritters from the expensive world class plate were emptied, eaten by the ladies and then Heer entered

Her saree was even worst than a maid, her hair were tied in a bun messily, the two artificial bangles in her hands couldn't make a single noise alone

Heer was sweating heavily as it was summers and she had been frying fritters for last one hour but these women are not budging

Heer didn't complain, she couldn't complain because she knew if she complained then she will be the one at loss

Since the day Vedh had disappeared after their marriage, Heer lost all her hopes, she never waited for him- Never

Because she assumed that Vedh was forced into the marriage with her and leaving her alone was obvious for him. Heer even thought that one day Vedh might come with his another wife, whom he loves

In the starting two months, Heer used to take care of herself not because she wished Vedh to come back one day and fall for her but because she used to go to meet her father in every few days and she didn't want them to believe that she was unhappy

But then her father died, she was devastated left with no hopes, no light in her life just the cold space beside her

Back then Heer looked at her mother and sister and realised that now even if she wanted, she could not tell them

Her family was already suffering and now she could not make them suffer by telling her grief, they knew that Vedh wasn't home but Heer lied to them saying Vedh told her before leaving and he even calls her every week

Last month her brother, Raj came back from foreign. He was very furious to know Heer has got married without his information

He even came to check on her and when he saw her state, he was angry very angry. Raj was extremely grieved for his father's death but what made him more restless was the state his dearly sister was living in

He loved Heer more than anyone in this world and he could never see his sister in such a state, he even tried to take her with him but Heer denied

Heer refused Raj's offer to go back saying her husband isn't here and until he is here she can't go back, Heer knew Vedh won't come back

She just didn't want to bother the ones she loved because of the one who took vows of seven lives but didn't live with her even for one day

Raj's eyes were filled with tears seeing his daughter like sister sacrificing herself for them, he cried a lot that day

Heer made Raj take her swear that he won't tell anything to their mother till Vedh comes back and Raj somehow agreed

Raj did not come back again but he tried everything in his power to find Vedh, he just wanted Vedh to come back and free Heer

Heer had been living in this house without him, like an unpaid maid leaving her soul, her dreams, her career even her whole existence behind

Heer filled the plate of fritters again and was about to walk back in the kitchen when Sumitra ji, intentionally kept her foot on the free pallu of Heer's saree

Her eyes were filled with evilness, the darkness she carried inside her, the hatred she had for Heer that too for no reason

Heer felt a sudden tug at her saree's pallu and jerking back she fell on the ground, her head hit on the sharp corner of table and her forehead started bleeding

Sudha ji was passing by when her eyes fell the blood oozing out of the wound she just got, her eyes widen and she rushed to Heer

"Heer, how did you fall?"

Sudha ji was about to touch Heer when Sumitra ji raised her palm while all the other women present in the room just stared at the unfolding scene

Sudha ji glanced at the raised palm of her sister in law and stopped while Heer's eyes filled with tears, her heart was paining more than the wound

Heer pressed her palm to her wound trying to get up slowly, struggling she finally got up with lowered eyes and Sumitra ji said

"It is her fault, this girl doesn't even know how to walk"

Her voice was filled with venom as she avoided taking Heer's name like it would burn her tongue while tears streamed down Heer's eyes

"Now go and do your work, you are not even hurt much"

Sumitra ji ordered saying the last part as if she regretted that Heer wasn't hurt much

Heer nodded and left the scene quickly, Sudha ji stood there like a statue unable to do anything though she wanted to help Heer but she couldn't bounded by the respect for Sumitra ji

Meanwhile in the guest room Heer sat on the bed, her tears still streaming down as she was pressing a cloth on her bleeding cut

The cloth wasn't clean but enough to absorb her blood, she was crying over her destiny.

Just then Chhavi entered her room holding a first aid box, Sudha ji had sent her seeing Heer's state

Chhavi's eyes fell on Heer's crying figure and she felt sad for her, not pity, not sympathy just a feeling a girl feels for another girl's struggle

She walked near the bed slowly and sat down beside Heer scared that she will hurt her with any of the rushed movements

Heer wiped her tears softly, avoiding Chhavi's gaze

Chhavi sat down beside Heer, her head lowered ashamed of the way Heer is treated in their house behind her brother's back

Chhavi slowly held Heer's chin turning her head towards her examining her wound before she softly cleaned it

"Ssss"

Heer winced as the pain rushed in her body, fresh tears streaming down her already wet cheeks while Chhavi's eyes also filled with tears

After dressing Heer's wound carefully Chhavi set the first aid box aside and holding Heer's palm softly she whispered

"I am sorry bhabhi"

Her voice cracked as she apologized, Heer looked up at Chhavi who was crying, guilty for the mistake she did not even make

"I...I am really so...sorry, I came to get you married with my brother so happily so excitedly but see now we are the ones reason for your misery"

Chhavi stated accepting her family's fault, she was guilty for it and she knew it. Heer shook her head before cupping Chhavi's cheeks and said

"No Chaya it's not your fault, you are not guilty and trust me the ones who are will be punished by waheguru, you don't worry"

Heer consoled Chhavi, calling her out with a nickname she once mistook as her real one. Heer's words were pointing towards Sumitra ji and Chhavi knew it

Both the girls stopped crying and Chhavi went to her room while Heer went to complete her house hold chores

~Mr. & Mrs. Aashrit Thakur~

Amritsar Airport

7:55 pm

The runway was dark, empty as the sun had already set and it was almost night now when a private plane landed on the smooth road of runway

After a few minutes the plane stopped, Aashrit & Reva stepped out of the plane, Reva looked eager while Aashrit was calmly looking at her

These last six months had been a blessing for their marriage as in these past days they lived a lot of moments together

They lived in separate rooms but they were friends now and now Reva also had a soft corner for Aashrit in her heart though they have not moved any further

When Shyam ji had died, Reva was grieved a lot but couldn't come back because of Aashrit's work but now Aashrit had got that deal, she insisted on coming back to Heer

As Reva set her foot back on her birth place, she felt a different kind of peace which brought a small smile on her face

While Aashrit just stood there looking at his wife he had already fallen for, in these past months Aashrit never remembered Bella or you can say he didn't have to

Aashrit never felt that Reva was not enough or she was less than Bella, she was always the enough so Aashrit never took Bella's name

Aashrit and Reva soon got into their car and it rolled out of the airport on the route to Oberoi Mansion, Reva was excited to see Heer's reaction

Reva had planned this surprise for Heer because it was Heer's birthday in a few days and she wanted to be with her for her first birthday with her husband, though since childhood Reva has never missed Heer's birthday

"You know Mr. Thakur, my Heer will be so so happy seeing me here and when she will know that I am here for her birthday, her face will glow and shine in a different way"

Reva said already guessing Heer's reaction upon seeing Reva after so many months, while Aashrit was admiring Reva sitting beside her

His lips were twitched a sweet smile as he looked at the one he loved, his charcoal eyes were tender a silent vow that he will never look at anyone else like he looks at her- his wife, his Reva

After about half an hour their car entered the premises of Oberoi Mansion which was silent from outside, white and pure but nobody knows about the darkness grows inside it

Reva eagerly got out of the car, her red dupatta fluttering with the soft evening wind blowing as she almost ran towards the main door

Aashrit followed calmly after instructing his men to unload the luggage and the gift packages, both their faces had smiles

Reva entered the house with extreme excitement as a child but the sight in front made her steps falter on the tracks

She froze, her eyes forgot to blink, the smile that had been lingering on her face all the way long from NYC to Amritsar and then Oberoi Mansion suddenly vanished as she saw the scene

Her eyes refused to believe what was happening in front of her, her breath ragged and lips parted to take in the reality of this house

Her grip on the edge of her dupatta because of excitement now loosened and her knees gave up, she couldn't stand and stumbled about to fall

But then Aashrit who was following Reva caught her midway, his confusion and concern lingering looking at the tears falling from Reva's eyes

Until he followed her gaze and looked in front, his own pride faltered as he took in the scene in front and he understood half of the thing in once

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

The air was filled with the tension, confusion and strangeness as Vedh stared at the grey suitcase in front which was still locked

Ms. Rachael's words were not at all helping Vedh, he had tried punching everything, every name that he felt could be the password

His parents' names

His cousins' names

His best friend's name

His own name

But none of them helped, the suitcase did not open and now Vedh was just one moment away from breaking the lock away

'.....just know the password is the name of person you carry with you- always'

He closed his eyes as his frustration started to bubble up but then everything stilled, every movement inside him stopped at that moment as one name made it's way to his mind

The name which is always in his heart and mind nowadays and he suddenly opened his eyes lunging forward to try one more password

Vedh punched the name softly but eagerly and as soon as he was done, the locks clicked open at once as if they had been waiting for this name for ages now

The old suitcase opened making a loud screeching noise which made Vedh a little irritated but he kept his cool

Vedh peeked inside the suitcase, there a rectangular dark brown album rested and along with it was a small frock of a little girl and some tape reels

Upon the old stuff there was a white folded paper, neatly laid in front as if waiting to be opened, it did not look much old

Vedh frowned but then slowly held up the letter softly before unfolding it carefully as if the paper would tear under much force

The inked letter was written in elegant handwriting, the Italian curves mixing with English words as the writes wrote it in hurry

The letter read:

'Vedh, my dear,

If you've opened this suitcase then I am sure you still remember her, your pearl. The girl you always wanted and loved, the girl your parents desired for you.

My dear if you are reading this then I am already gone, please don't try to find me and just find her, find your pearl my dear because she is in danger and if that danger finds her then you won't ever be able to find her.

Vedh just don't try to go deeper in roots and find her, you belong to her please Vedh just go to her at any cost.

Years ago you had an accident with your parents where you lost them and child when you woke up, you never took her name again.

I don't know why maybe you forgot or what but what I know is that she is a part of you and she is in danger.

Please My child find that girl

Find you Pearl dear'.

The letter ended at one name leaving Vedh's eyes widen, he knew this name, it was a part of him, it has always been but he was just late to recognise it and now destiny had played it's game

Vedh folded back the paper neatly taking out the brown album carefully and as the first picture came in front of him

He froze

Because it was exactly what he had predicted

There was a small girl wearing light blue night suit, her short curly tresses tied in two ponies on side and she was gasping with her eyes wide

Those eyes, they held something

The honey brown orbs held something that reminded Vedh about this girl, not like he had forgotten but that name was long dumped inside one corner of his heart after that accident

Vedh opened the next photo, in this one the same little girl was pouting while standing under the bright sun

She wore a sleeveless yellow frock with white sunflowers, her sparkling honey brown orbs were perfectly contrasting with her shining fair complexion

Then the next picture, and then next then again

Every turn, every picture it was hers- pearl

And as the album ended Vedh's eyes became glossy, he hugged the album like his life depended on that before a single word slipped out of lips, divine, pure and innocent

"Pearl....."

~Author~

Somewhere on the outskirts of Italy:

An old lady was tied to an old wooden chair with the help of ropes, surrounded by a bunch of strong, muscular and dangerous men

The lady was not struggling, not crying, not reacting as if she had given up on the life, as if the purpose of her life was completed now

Her head hung low as a yellow bulb hung above her head in the dim and shady room, and just then an intimidating figure entered the room

The air of the room stiffened and became heavy with tension as the man kept walking until he stood in front of the woman

The woman was not hurt till now as no one had touched her till now but now something was about to happen, something dangerous as the man with dark gaze stood before her

"Rachael....."

The man whispered out the name in his dark, deep and intimidating voice gritting his teeth as his eyes darkened

Ms. Rachael looked up immediately, a mocking smile lingering on her face as she stared straight in those terrifying orbs

"Leonardo..."

Ms. Rachael whispered back, her tone mocking and challenging as if won a bet, her eyes were filled with the pride, a victorious pride

Leonardo was no more aged than Vedh, but with a more dangerous and dark aura because he was from underworld directly connected to the lord of it unlike Vedh

Leonardo growled in that silent room, his confidence breaking as he saw that smile on that fragile old woman's face

"You know right, what happens when someone disobeys him"

His words were a challenge, while Ms. Rachael only laughed at his silent threat not caring about her life anymore

"He can't do anything now, Vedh will find out his pearl and that boss of yours won't be able to do anything"

Ms. Rachael stated with a thousand percent of confidence before laughing out loud again as if gone mad in happiness

Leonardo clenched his jaw tightly that it would break in sometime if he put more force on it and gritting his teeth he muttered

"He will not spare you..."

He let his words linger in the tight air but there was no effect on Ms. Rachael while she whispered back with her smile

"Do you think I fear you or your boss? My work is done so now even if I die there won't a guilt"

Leonardo was angry no doubt but he was amused to hear this old lady saying she doesn't fear the mafia lord of whole underworld

Leonardo took out his gun from his back pocket and pressed it against the head of Ms. Rachael whose smile didn't even falter

"Say it that you fear him"

Ms. Rachael's smile widen and she closed her eyes seeing her death near, she whispered back with her whole courage

"I don't"

"Say it woman"

Leonardo warned, rubbing the trigger of his metal gun

"I don't"

Ms. Rachael challenged, pressing the buttons tight and then the next moment Leonardo pulled the trigger

The bullet tore through Ms. Rachael's forehead and she fell back closing her head, hugging death with proud

While Leonardo seemed satisfied now, looking at the dead body he said, his dark voice calm now

"The ones who don't fear Mortis, they die"