In the days that followed, Veer and Kashi found themselves drawn together more frequently. Veer continued his investigation at the factory, slowly uncovering the layers of corruption and deceit that had taken root. Kashi, unaware of his true identity and mission, provided invaluable support with her insights and observations.
Their conversations grew deeper, their moments together filled with a quiet intimacy that spoke volumes. Veer admired Kashi's resilience and courage, while Kashi found herself drawn to Veer's kindness and strength. Though they kept their growing feelings to themselves, the connection between them was undeniable.
One evening, as they walked through the market, Veer noticed Kashi's eyes lingering on a small Bracelet in a vendor's stall. It was a delicate silver bracelet, adorned with tiny charms that sparkled in the fading light.
"Tumhe yeh bracelet pasand hai? (Do you like this Bracelet?)" Veer asked, noting the way her eyes lit up seeing the bracelet.
Kashi nodded shyly. "Haan, bohot sundar hai." ( Yes, it's very Beautiful!)
Veer smiled, his heart warming at her simple joy. He bought the bracelet, surprising Kashi with his gesture. "Yeh lo abse yeh tumhare hua , Kashi." (Take this from now on, it's yours, Kashi)
Kashi's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing with gratitude. "Veer ji, iski kya zaroorat thi...." ( Veer ji, what was the need for it.....)
"Yeh mere liye zaroori tha, (This was important for me)" Veer interrupted gently. "Tumhe muskurata dhek mujhe khushi milti hai" (Seeing you smile, gives me immense happiness), making her blush.
Kashi accepted the bracelet, her fingers brushing against his as she took it. "Shukriya, Veer ji (Thank you so much Veer ji) . Main isse hamesha sambhal kar rakhungi. (I will always keep it safe with me)"
The bracelet on Kashi's wrist sparkled in the twilight, a symbol of the bond that was forming between them.
As they made their way back, Kashi asked him a question that had been on her mind. "Veer ji, aap Jhansi mein kis kaam se aaye hain? Apka ghar kaha hai?" (Veer ji, for what work are you here in Jhansi? And where are you from?)
Veer hesitated for a moment, then spun a plausible story. "Main yahan kuch kaam se aaya hoon". (I'm here for some important work Kashi)
Kaisa kaam? ( What type of work) Kashi asked making a cute confused face.
Vishwanath hesitated for a moment, careful not to reveal too much about his true identity. "Vishwanath wanted to form a genuine connection with Kashi without the weight of his royal title influencing her perception of him. He valued the honest and pure interactions they shared and feared that revealing his true identity too soon might disrupt the trust and comfort they were building.Though he felt a little bad while hiding it from her.
"Main ek private investigator hoon. Mere company ne mujhe yahan bheja hai factory mein ho rahi kuch fraudulent activities ko investigate karne ke liye
(I'm a private investigator, my company has sent me here to investigate some fraudulent activities that have been occurring here in the factory recently.)
aur apka dusra sawal ki mein kaha se hu? Toh "Mein aur mera parivaar Bundelkhand se hai". Meri family mein maa-papa aur do chote bhai hain.
(And your second question that where I'm from , so me and my family are from Bundelkhand. And my family consists of my Maa-Papa and two younger brothers.)"he partially lied about his job and family status, maintaining his cover.
Kashi looked impressed. "Wow, private investigator! Apka kaam toh kaafi interesting lagta hai, (Your work seems really interesting)" she said, her admiration evident.
Veer chuckled. "Haan, kabhi kabhi kaafi interesting hota hai,(Yaa, sometimes it's really interesting!)" he replied, his mind focused on the mission at hand but his heart increasingly drawn to the girl beside him.
As they shared more about their lives, Kashi's phone buzzed, and she quickly checked it. "Mujhe jaana hoga, Veer ji. Kal phir milte hain?" (Veer ji, I have to go, we will meet tomorrow now) she asked hopefully.
Veer nodded, smiling. "Haan, zaroor. Tum apna khayal rakhna," ( Yes sure, you take care of yourself) he said
"Kashi," Veer started, hesitating, halting her movement
Ji , she said softly
"Mujhe kya tumhara number mil sakta hai ? Agar kuch zarurat ho, toh main tumse baat kar sakun."
(Can I get your number, so that I can talk to you if it's something urgent).
Kashi smiled, reaching into her bag. She pulled out a small, button-type old model phone, its screen slightly scratched and worn from years of use. She quickly found her number and handed it over to Veer. "Yeh raha mera number, aap note kar lijiye," (This is my number, please note it) she said, her voice soft.
Veer took the phone and quickly saved her number in his modern smartphone. As he glanced at her phone, he felt a pang of concern. It was evident that the phone had seen better days. "Tumhara phone... kaafi purana lagta hai, (Your phone looks a little old)" he remarked gently.
Kashi chuckled lightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Haan, yeh phone kaafi purana hai. Lekin abhi bhi kaam karta hai, (Yes this phone is a little old, but still it works fine)" she said, trying to sound cheerful.
Veer nodded, though his mind was already made up. He knew he wanted to get her a new phone. It wasn't just about the device itself but also a gesture to show her that she deserved better, that she deserved care , comfort and all the luxuries this world has to offer.
NEXT DAY....
As Kashi moved out from the factory, after finishing her shift, she saw veer standing at the corner looking at his watch again and again.
He looked at her direction and their eyes met. Kashi waved her right hand to him, smiling gently. He reciprocated her smile and waved back.
I was waiting for you, veer said smiling.
Today Kashi and veer had decided to explore Jhansi in the evening, as he was new here and requested her to show him around, to which she agreed enthusiastically.
They started their journey through the bustling streets of Jhansi, with Kashi leading the way. She pointed out various landmarks and shared little anecdotes about each place.
Their first stop was the Jhansi Fort. As they climbed the stone steps, Kashi began to recount its history.
"Yeh Jhansi Fort, Rani Lakshmi Bai ka Mahal tha. Unhone yahaan se angrezon ke khilaf ladai ladi thi," ( This is the fort of Jhansi , Queen Laxmi Bai's Castle, She fought against Britishers from here. Kashi explained, her voice filled with pride.
Veer listened intently, fascinated by her knowledge and passion. "Tumhe history ke baare mein kaafi kuch pata hai, Kashi, ( You know a lot about History Kashi)" he remarked.
Kashi blushed slightly. "Haan, mujhe history bohot pasand hai. Jab bhi mujhe time milta hai, main padhti hoon,(Yes, I love History, whenever I get time i spend in studying it)" she admitted shyly.
They spent some time exploring the fort, taking in the majestic views from the top. As they stood at the edge, looking out over the city, Veer couldn't help but admire Kashi's Beauty and innocence.
After the fort, they wandered through the local markets. The vibrant colors and lively atmosphere were infectious.
They continued their walk, stopping by a small tea stall. As they sipped their tea, Veer admired how Kashi's face lit up when she talked about the places she loved in Jhansi. Her passion and simplicity were endearing, and he found himself growing more attached to her with each passing moment.
Veer asked, "Kashi, tumhare baare mein thoda aur batao. Tumhara parivaar mein kon kon hai?" (Kashi , tell me more about you? Who all is there in your family?)
Kashi's smile faltered slightly, but she composed herself quickly. Meri family mein bas mein, maa aur papa hai.
(In my family, it's just me, mom and dad.)
"Meri maa, unki tabiyat kaafi kharab rehti hai.Unhe chronic kidney disease hai, aur unhe regular dialysis ki zarurat padti hai." (My mother's health is not good, she is suffering from chronic kidney disease and she needs regular dialysis).
Veer's heart ached at the pain in her voice.Kashi gave a sad smile.
"Main tabhi do jobs karti hoon. Din mein cafe aur doophar se sham tak factory, taaki maa ka ilaj sahi se ho sake." (That's why I do two jobs, at a cafe in the morning and at the factory from afternoon to evening, so that mom could get proper treatment.)
Veer admired her strength and resilience even more. "Tum bohot strong ho, Kashi. Tumhari himmat waqai kaabil-e-taareef hai,(You are very strong Kashi, your unwavering strength is quite praiseworthy)" he said, his admiration evident in his eyes.
Kashi looked away for a moment, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Lekin yeh sab asaan nahi hai, Veer ji. Mera papa bohot abusive hai. Woh paise ko lekar mujhe bohot dhamkata hai, bar bar bolte hai ki maa ka ilaj band karva denge. Kabhi kabhi toh mujhe lagta hai ki main sab kuch chod doon,par phir maa ka khayal aata hai toh ruk jati hu.
(But this isn't easy, Veer ji. My father is very abusive, he threatens me a lot regarding money, everyday he tells me that he is going to withdraw his help from my mom's treatment. Sometimes I just wish to leave everything behind, but then my mother's thoughts stop me)" she confessed, her voice breaking.
In a moment of vulnerability, Kashi broke down, unable to hold back her tears any longer. Saddened with grief and not in her proper senses, she unknowingly hugged Veer tightly, seeking comfort in his embrace. Veer (Vishwanath) froze for a moment, startled by her sudden action, but as her sobs grew louder, his heart ached for her pain. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"Kashi, sab theek ho jayega. Main tumhare saath hoon," (Kashi, everything will be alright, I'm with you) he whispered, gently stroking her hair.
After a few moments, Kashi pulled back, wiping her tears. She felt a bit awkward, realizing how close they had been and what she had done unknowingly. "Sorry, Veer ji. Main... main bas..."
(Sorry, Veer ji. I....I was...I was ju.st..)she trailed off, unable to find the right words,her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.
Veer smiled gently, trying to ease her discomfort.
"Koi baat nahi, Kashi. Kabhi kabhi ro lene se mann halka ho jata hai,"(It's ok Kashi, sometimes you should cry to make your heart feel lighter ), he said softly.
Veer felt a surge of protective anger towards her father. How could someone treat such a kind and strong person like Kashi so cruelly?
Kashi, mujhe afsos hai ki tumhe yeh sab sehna pada hai. Lekin abb tum akeli nahi ho. Main hamesha tumhare saath hoon,tumhe koi bhi help chahiye mujhe bejijak bolo " (Kashi i regret that you had to go through all this , but now you are not alone. I'm always with you. You need any help feel free to ask me without any hesitation) he said firmly, reaching out to gently hold her hand
Kashi shook her head, refusing his offer. "Nahi, Veer ji. Aapka saath hi mere liye bohot hai. Main bas chahti thi ki koi meri baat sun le," (No Veer ji, your support is enough for me) she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Veer reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Mein tumhare saath hamesha hoon, Kashi. Tumhe kabhi akela mehsoos nahi karne doonga,(I'm always there for you Kashi, I will never let you feel alone)" he promised, his voice filled with sincerity.
She was grateful for Veer's support but also wary of becoming too dependent on him. She had learned to be strong and self-reliant, and accepting help was something she struggled with.
They walked in silence for a few moments, the weight of their conversation settling in. Veer knew he had to help Kashi in more ways than one. His mission in Jhansi had become more personal than ever. It was no longer just about uncovering the fraudulent activities in the factory but also about protecting and supporting Kashi through her struggles.
As the night drew close, they found themselves back near Kashi's house. Kashi looked at Veer with a soft smile. "Aaj ka din bohot acha tha, Veer ji."(Today was very special, Veer ji ) she said sincerely.
Veer smiled back, feeling a warmth in his chest. "Mere liye bhi, Kashi. (For me too , Kashi).
"Mujhe tumhare saath waqt bitana bohot acha lagta hai,"(I like spending time with you) he replied.
Author's Note ๐
Hello guys hope you enjoyed this lovely chapter.This is one of the longest chapter i have written till now comprising of approx. 2200 words.Please do share your valuable remarks on this chapter.and do press the โญ before leaving, it takes a lot of hardwork to write a chapter. Your small gesture would reward me with so much happiness and satisfactionโค๏ธ
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