“That information came as a shock for me… I really loved Pooja… But I wanted to do something for my burning rage also…. I really felt that I need to do something to make my mom happy… To make her smile again… So I buried my love for Pooja and started planning to con her… But still it was not an easy decision Praba….”
Prabakar didn’t say anything…. And Nikhil continued….
“It was like a war within me… I loved Pooja but I thought I should complete my duties first. Completing my revenge was one of my duties. Atleast I believed so. I know I will hurt Pooja… I can’t avoid it…. But I thought of a plan to indirectly help her… I know she likes you a lot. So I decided to leave her in your home. I believed you will forgive her… will take care of her… But then it didn’t happen.”
Prabakar looked at Nikhil and bit his teeth… But didn’t say anything.
“Pooja was there in the street just as a lost child…. I was watching that… I know I need to act fast… So I called Ranga and asked him to help Pooja… He was furious at me, but he helped her… On one condition…”
Prabakar didn’t ask anything… He continued to drive the car quietly…
“Ranga wanted me to stay away from Pooja… I know it was a right condition… So I went away…”
Prabakar gave a quick stare…
“I know what ou are thinking…. But I never meant to leave Pooja like that… I wanted to come back and somehow win her back…. I would call and ask Ranga about her wellbeing now and then… Though he never shared any information about her whereabouts, he did tell me she was trying to re-build herself… At the same time I was trying to get information about my dad… That was the one last thing I wanted to complete before going back to Pooja….”
There was silence for a few seconds.
“But as you know suddenly Pooja re-appeared in my life…. And when she let the tour mid-way, I know something is wrong… I called Ranga. He didn’t tell me about their plan to pay ransom amount to the Nigerians…. He just mentioned that Pooja needed some urgent money and she had but no other choice of selling her mom’s jewels… I know about Pooja… So I realized it will not be an easy decision for her… I recommended Chandalal to Ranga… Then I spoke to Chandalal and made a deal with him… You know everything after that… Now tell me what you think….”
“Where are the jewels now?” asked Prabakar in a calm voice.
Nikhil looked at Prabakar with disappointment….
“I want to get those jewels back. I can give your money also. Where have you kept them?”
Nikhil sighed and said,
“It’s in a bank safety locker”
“Here in Chennai?”
“Yes”
“Can we go and get it now?”
“Yes we can”
“Good! Give me the address”
When Prabakar and Nikhil reached home, they had the jewels with them.
Pallavi and Pooja were discussing something and was surprised to see them both.
Prabakar held out the bag and said,
“Pooja, here’s your jewels. Never again think about selling them. These are Chithi’s special jewels…. She got it from her parents….”
Pooja was surprised. She took the bag from Prabakar’s hand and opened and saw the glittering jewels.
“Oh Praba, you don’t know how much this means to me. You are a wonderful brother”
“Thanks”
“But how did you find about these jewels? I didn’t tell you….”
“No you didn’t…. But it didn’t take much time for me to gather the information from Ranga…”
“Oh I see… But how did you manage to get the jewels back???”
Prabakar looked at Nikhil….
“Ok, first let us sit down…. And then this gentleman will explain how we got the jewels back…”
Nikhil was startled… He never expected Prabakar to give him a chance to talk….
“Yes Nikhil…. say everything that you haven’t shared to Pooja…..”
Though it was a tough task, Nikhil told everything to Pooja and Pallavi.
They both listened to that quietly…. Though Pallavi knew part of it already, it was completely new for Pooja. And she was astonished…
“So `you did that all for me?”