15. Dangerous Makeover
Nandini and Alice hugged each other and cried.
Nandini – “Why are you living with that guy Inder (Surya’s fake name to the world)?”
Alice – “It’s my fate, Nandu. I am blessed with unluck.”
Nandini – “Why are you not getting rid of this idiot?”
Alice thinks, “It’s not as easy as you think, Nandini. I have told you only half truth but the truth is vast.”
Nandini – “Why! Can’t you share this with your friend?”
Alice looks at her. She was remembered of their friendship.
Flashback
It was the time when Britishers slowly start to enter India
Alice was not actually the biological daughter of General Williams but when he visited India, he found the baby isolated in the River of Pataliputra. He tried to find the parents of the baby, but in vain. So, Mr. Williams adopted her as his daughter. Mr. Williams stayed in the same city for a few years due to their work (merchant). He didn’t marry anyone.
Nandini, being the princess of Pataliputra, visit a temple in a chariot during her childhood days. Since Alice’s house was located there, Alice used to play there. Nandini and Alice soon became childhood friends. Nandini took an excuse from her parents and often visits Alice and Alice too visited the palace. Both their parents don’t have any problems with their friendship. Neither Alice nor Nandini knew about their past birth until that special day.
One day, when Alice and Nandini are playing in the forest, they meet Avni, the girl of almost the same age of them. Soon, they get along with each other. Alice and Avni are the two distinct personalities Nandini had ever seen. Alice is a sweet girl who was talented in make-up as her father was a makeup artist. She is a perfect dancer as well. While Avni is not like that. Though she gets along with Alice and Nandini, they always felt that Avni is different from them. She is calm and not-so-smiling girl. Alice ignored as she was a priest’s daughter.
Few years passed… (One year before AvNeil’s first meet)
Someone knocked the door of Alice’s house when no one was there in the house. Alice opened the door and Suryaprakash is standing in front of her. Obviously, Alice had no idea who is he but Suryaprakash knew her. Suryaprakash’s age was 175 during that time as Icchadari Naags & Naagins are blessed to live for a limit of 300 years. But, Indu died by suicide after few years post the death of Rudra.
Suryaprakash abducted her and took her to Naaglok’s secret room. He is the king of Naaglok as his father died. He recited few mantras and made her remember her previous birth as Indu. He made Alice to regain her powers.
Suryaprakash caressed her face lovingly, “Why did you attempt suicide?”
Alice breaks down and cries. She didn’t answer anything to Surya. Surya decides to give some more time for her so he sent her to the house.
Only Alice knew what she lost because of Surya. Surya had a intense obsession to gain gandhak. After failing the attempt of obtaining gandhak, Surya decides to make himself strong by performing various penance and yagnas. He never spent time with her. Surya was obsessed with his revenge that is completely unknown to her. She didn’t have any idea why he killed Neil, Avni, Swastika, Rudra, Shivanya and the members present at the temple. Yes, the reason for Rudra’s blood vomit and other’s vomit and death was because of her magic. She did that as Surya has asked to do so. When she argue with Surya regarding the murder, reasons and his ignorance, he didn’t heed to her words. Out of rage and hatred, she took his sword and slit her wrist and died.
In fact, she regretted for getting into the relationship with him. It is the reason why she attempted suicide to get rid of that. Her hatred towards Surya was not obvious to anyone. But, things are that easy for her as Surya had approached her again.
Alice met Nandini on one day and told her everything about her previous birth but hid her involvement and Surya’s involvement in the murder.
Alice – “Yeah Nandini. You were Shivanya in your previous birth and your brother’s friend Udayveer was Rudra.”
Nandini – “Oh, It is the reason why I felt something special for Udayveer always.”
Alice – “You both were destined to be together just like Avni and Neil.”
Nandini – “But, why did our face change, but Avni and Neil’s face remain the same.”
Alice – “Face change is common for normal creatures. But Neil and Avni have devoted themselves to Gandhak and as a blessing, they would have a same face in all births until they withdrew themselves from the responsibility.”
[Surya is also devoted to Gandhak and Indu helped him a lot there. So, Indu also has the same face in this birth]
Nandini – “Can we say this to Avni?”
Alice – “If she remembers the first birth, she definitely goes for Neil. If they unite, they would die as per your curse.”
Nandini – “They deserved the curse. We would deal it themselves. But, Avni is my friend…”
Alice – “Don’t make decisions out of haste. For now, we make Neil not meet Avni.”
Nandini agreed the same. Alice makes Udayveer also to remember the past and didn’t reveal about Surya or herself to them. Soon, Udayveer and Nandini married and lived with Neil. Slowly, their touch with AVNI decreased and lost the touch with her.
Unfortunately, Surya comes to know that Alice told everything to Nandini and Udayveer.
He starts behaving violent by grabbing all the powers from her. He treats her like a maid in the house always torture her. He compelled her work as dancer in kingdom in order to humiliate her. He also killed Mr.Williams
*****
Wide ground near palace,
The last rites procedure has been started and his first two wives agreed for performing Sati, who would be cremated along with Pawan. People badmouthed Avni and considered her as a sign of unluck. Since Avni is not present at the place, it increased the suspicion.
Avni is in her luxurious room of the palace is combing her hair. She was reminded of past events where Neil tried to kill her and how Udayveer controlled Neil. She laughs.
She applied oil in her hair and did a makeover for her face to look prettier than usual.
Then, Avni tied the hair into braids and tied it with flower bands. She hides a small dagger in her hair’s strands and tied it tightly so that no one notice the dagger in her braid.
Avni’s maid come near her and looks at her in awe.
Maid – “Princess… You’re busy in making yourself pretty rather…”
Avni – “Fine… You answer my question… Describe the Royal Family…”
Maid – “Princess… Why..”
Avni – “Am I your maid or you are my maid?”
Maid becomes silent and tell about them.
King Rajveer Singh Choudhary and Queen Shanti Devi have three children. Pawan Singh Choudhary is the oldest son of the couple. Ranjan Singh Choudhary is middle son. Pratap Singh Choudhary is the youngest. Pawan married three girls – Kamala, Indira and Avni. Kamala and Indira are double the age of Avni. With Kamala, Pawan has a daughter Maya and with Indira, he has daughter Jaya. Jaya and Maya are of Avni’s age. Ranjan married Urmila and have a son Neil Singh Choudhary. Rajan died a few years before. Pratap married Shubra and have a daughter Nandini. Jaya, Maya and Nandini are staying with their husbands not in the palace.
Avni – “Now you say… Why Pawan wasn’t a Crown Prince when he is the eldest son of the King?”
Maid – “King feels Pawan irresponsible and cruel towards people. Pawan is not at all interested in ruling a kingdom but he wanted his son to rule. But he doesn’t have any son too. So, mutually they give the position to Neil. People love Neil for his virtues. But, suddenly Pawan requested the king to change the decision and made himself the heir of the kingdom. The King rejected it and at times, they had heavy arguments.”
Avni – “Who will be the one who gets affected if Pawan becomes a king?”
Maid – “Hmm…. Prince Neil… Ah…”
Avni – “Right. I suspect Neil because the kingdom’s heiress is taken from him. Maybe because of greed to rule the kingdom, he would have killed his uncle. Maybe Neil mixed something in his food that might stop his heartbeat too.”
Maid was shocked and opens her mouth in awe. The maid doesn’t know whether to understand that she has some point or she is a HOME-WRECKER.
Avni takes two pair of gold earrings from one box and give it to her.
Avni – “This is the advance for one work. I need justice for my husband. You need to tell this to citizens of the kingdom. If anything goes wrong, your head is shoved from your body. In case if Neil asked anything who said like this, you take some other member’s name from this family.”
Maid takes the earrings and hide it under the saree Pallu. She goes outside. Avni caressed her hair with a smirk.
*****
Within a few days, the news of Neil’s involvement in Pawan’s murder spreads like a fire among the people. People start criticizing Neil and detested him wherever they meet.
Doubts are getting stronger when,
After four days of Pawan’s death, Rajamatha and Shubhra died in a same way. Their funerals ended soon, but gossips didn’t stop. Nandini and Udayveer stayed at the palace to console their relatives.
After three days – Night
Nandini and Udayveer grew suspicious over the murder. They are confused whether it is a coincidence or a murder. That time, Alice come to the palace secretly to meet Nandini.
Nandini – “Alice! It is surprising that you came here… Is there any problem?”
Alice – “Its a big problem… You can’t even believe what I am going to say.”
Nandini is shocked and took her to an even safer place.
Alice – “First you say, do you or Udayveer have any mild stomach pain, headache, abnormalities, mild leg pain or body pain or anything?”
Nandini – “No. Not even Udayveer.”
Alice get a relief and says, “I have some personal vengeance towards the royal family. I had a plan to murder everyone.”
Nandini – “What? How? Are you the one who behind Pawan uncle, grandma and mom’s death? Why?”
It doesn’t make Nandini much angry. Because, Nandini always knew that Karma will do its work for their sins. She personally disliked her family members for showing extra partiality towards Neil as he is the only boy and the heir of the throne. Pawan is known for having romantic affairs with the maidens and always a drunkard. She always wondered why her best friend Avni married this creep. Her father is no less than the creep, but a narrow-minded guy with lots of restrictions. But, she never wished them to die in such way. She didn’t expect her friend to say these words too. Alice is so friendly with all the maids and queens of the palace than her.
Alice – “I had a plan, Avni. But I didn’t do anything. There are possibilities that someone has stolen my plan.”
Nandini – “Stolen your plan?”
Alice tells her a shocking news to Nandini that made Nandini frozen,
“My father was a make-up artist and so I have wide knowledge of make-up. So, I tried a different type of make-up.
If we apply the makeup, you can look prettier than ever. It is composed of few creams, liquids and powders. It enhances your looks and can even make a normal looking girl into a damsel.
But, if we mix the make-up in food, it would act as poisons and can take the life of the consumer. I feel someone mixed my make-up solution in the food of your parents or Pawan uncle.”
Nandini – “How is it possible? If there is any poison, why didn’t our physician detect it? More than that, three of them died of heart-attack. You are cooking up a new story.”
Alice – “I have prepared the makeup lotion in such a way that after killing the prey, it disappears from the body and no one can find any traces of poison and purely they believe it is a natural death.”
Nandini stares at her but more than anger, there is still confusion.
Alice – “The process is, Mix the makeup in the food for first three days. Some symptoms like mild headache, stomach pain, back pain or leg pain would accompany and on the fourth day, suddenly his heart beat stops. Then, the victim would be died.”
Nandini – “But…”
Alice – “Pawan died after sneezing louder. It means that the quantity of makeup in his food was large.”
Nandini – “But, who have such enmity with Pawan? Why should they kill my family? How did someone steal your make-up lotion… Wait, why did you want to kill my family?”
Alice – “There is not a single reason, Nandini. You know that, right. Will you believe if I am your cousin?”
Nandini – “What rubbish! What is the problem?”
Alice – “Skew desire for male child can make anyone stoop low.”
Nandini – “Alice…”
Alice – “I am an illegitimate child of your uncle Pawan. Yes. After the birth of Jaya and Maya, he and King wanted a male child to rule the kingdom. So, he raped a mentally ill lady and made her pregnant and as a result, girl twins were born and I am one of the twins. Since I am a girl child, Pawan killed my mother and asked Pratap (Nandini’s dad) to kill my twin sister. He took both of us to a river and he threw my sister in the river. Guilt attacked him it seems, he couldn’t throw me. He kept near the bank and ran away.”
Nandini – “Is it true, Alice? It’s really horrible.”
Alice – “After Neil’s birth, the problem was resolved as they got an heir to the throne. But before that, several women are raped by your father and my so called father. I know how it feels, when there is no mother. Taunts are no less from the society. I came to know everything when few maids gossips the things. Then, I confirmed things through various sources. Then, I grew vengeful towards them.”
Nandini cries and hugged Alice.
Nandini – “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know whether to feel sad as I lost my father or to feel happy that you got justice. But, you’re my friend. You told me about my past life and the motive of my rebirth. I really need to pay my gratitude. I stay helpful to you and help you to take revenge on my family. I didn’t expect they are even lower than I think.”
Alice thinks, “I am guilty that I am unable to tell you the whole truth about me and my husband still.”
Alice – “But someone else is playing here. Also, five years before, Rajan (Neil’s father) died in a similar way (heartbeat stopping). I found the make-up solution 7 years before. I thought Rajan’s death might be a coincidence, but after seeing all this, there might be some mystery behind that. But, he is overall a good guy.”
Nandini – “Better everyone die. He too might have died as he was born in the group of sinners. But, what to do? Girls always facing such things now. Rape threats, female foeticide… Sigh”
Alice – “What if it was Neil? Did you hear the rumor?”
Nandini – “Yes. But Neil told me some other story.”
Nandini tells about Avni and Neil’s meeting and Avni’s betrayal to Alice.
Alice – “Connecting the dots… Avni have a lot of reason to do the same. But, still she doesn’t have any enmity with Pawan that she could overdose the poison. Rana and her only enemy is Neil.”
Nandini – “Something is missing…”
Alice – “I have an idea.”
Saying this, Alice said an idea in Nandini’s ears. Nandini agreed it to be a good idea.
Alice – “But, it is dangerous. No one should come to know about our plan. Not even Udayveer.”
Suddenly they heard a noise of weapons falling down. Nandini and Alice are shocked and go to look that. There are traces that someone had entered the place.
Nandini – “Its not safe anymore. You go fast…”
Alice nods and escapes from the palace. Nandini thinks.
*****
Next day,
Neil’s mother Urmila and Nandini’s father Pratap died because suddenly their heart stopped beating. But, Neil bribed the physician to change the statements to everyone like mysterious disease, heart attack, lung failure etc…
Udayveer and Nandini are looking at the corpse.
Neil is crying seeing his mother in a died state. Avni is not present.
Nandini and Udayveer come near him to console him.
Udayveer – “Neil, stay strong. Our times are bad.”
Nandini – “Everything will be sorted out, brother.”
Neil looked at Nandini with feiry eyes. He move to his room angrily. Udayveer and Nandini followed him and entered the room. Neil pushed Udayveer out of the room and locked the door. Nandini is surprised.
Neil slapped Nandini. Nandini expected that he is angry for something but didn’t expect his slap. She felt the anger to slap him again.
Neil – “Who is she?”
Nandini – “She?”
Neil – “The girl to whom, you were speaking yesterday night at the Weapons gallery.”
Nandini understood that Neil was the one come there last night. She thinks, “If I say anything, we couldn’t identify
Nandini – “You misunderstood bhai…”
Another slap landed on her face,
Neil – “You are the one who created all the rumours about me and created every misunderstandings. Are you thinking that after creating this rumours, you and your husband take over the kingdom? One of your dumb thoughts it was!”
Nandini was confused about what Neil saying. She didn’t spread anything about Neil.
[Flashback: Few days back, he came to know about the rumour and coincidentally he approached the same maid as a random choice. Neil asked her whether she has any idea about the source. The maiden didn’t expect this question. Out of haste, she take Nandini’s name as she was passing through the way that day. Neil asked the reason. For that, she said another lie that she want to rule kingdom to escape from Neil. Then, previous day night, he saw Nandini with another girl and heard the partial conversation. He confirmed his suspicion]
Neil – “I heard you speaking to her how to kill the royal family. Who is she? You also have some connecting regarding my father’s death… What is that? Why did you kill him?”
Nandini (angrily) – “You are mad, Neil. I don’t reveal anything to you. They all deserved a cruel death.”
Neil -“How dare you! You are betraying your own born household.”
Nandini – “They are getting their punishments. They don’t deserve a life, Neil.”
While at outside, Udayveer is attempting the break the door since he could sense some verbal fight inside.
Neil – “Nandini, I can’t tolerate betrayal and lies. Better say the reason and how you killed them. Or else…”
Nandini – “What can you do?”
Neil goes crazy in anger. Nandini pushed him and is about to open the door to go outside.
Neil pulled her back and stabbed her stomach with a sword.
Neil – “You deserve your death, Shivanya.”
Nandini was shell shocked seeing the sword in her stomach and the name Shivanya. How could he remember the past? Is he Neil’s humshakal ( look-alike )?
Confused, she managed to pull out the sword from her stomach. She took bael leaves (allergic to Naag/Naagins) with her minimum energy and threw it on Neil. It doesn’t show any skin color changes in Neil. So, she confirmed that he was actually Neil. Neil wonders why she was throwing leaves. Again Neil stabbed Nandini though he felt emotional.
She falls down and cursed herself for showing sympathy on him. He is always a betrayer.
The door breaks, Udayveer was shocked to see his wife in such state. Neil smirked and get outside without minding them.
Udayveer cried seeing her.
Nandini (in a trembling voice) – “You thought of giving Neil and Avni a chance… And the result is here…”
Nandinin slowly closed her eyes. Udayveer shouts and cries.
To be continued.
Author’s note:
Hello everyone, hope you enjoyed the chapter. So, now you have come to know why Aman/Mayank’s hatred for Neil-Avni is at another level.
How did Neil know Shivanya’s name? Did he know only the name or he even remembers his past birth? Is there any hidden game behind this?
What did you feel about the make-up posion? It was actually inspired from a real incident – Giuliana Tofana has prepared the make-up to get rid of her abusive husband and abusive men of her place. She has killed over 600 people with this make-up. There are some slight fictional changes made in the concept.
Is really Avni the murderer? If so, does she have other reasons to do the revenge rather than revenging Neil?
The story is nearing the last phase. Thankyou so much for your constant support, dear readers.
