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What do you think? Who deceived whom?

✨ Words count : 4215 ✨

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Ananya walked in drawing everyone's attention, following by her four teammates who had Pooja Mehta and a man in late twenties along with them.

Pooja Mehta!!

The 'Lady Hitler' for Maheswari brothers!

Her face held no remorse but a tinge of disappointment on getting caught, maybe just before the accomplishment of her goal. But does it matter? No! She had made all her moves and she holds no regrets now. She had the Maheswari Empire in her hands now.

'Still the Hitler mode.' Laksh thought.

"Welcome to Maheswari Mansion, Ms. Mehta!" Ananya smirked. "They had been expecting you from long."

Pooja had managed to dodge her visit to Maheswari Mansion. But what she didn't know was her being constantly followed by one of Arvind's teammate from the last two days. Her last chance got dropped when her conversation was heard by the Maheswari family through the call which she assumed disconnected; Arvind had ordered Ananya to get her chased without any delay.

And she was here! Yet silence prevailed in the hall; an unwelcomed silence instead of the expected explosion. Sangita and Ragini glanced the woman while Purvi approached her in long strides and slapped tightly across her cheek.

"W-Why?" The only word Purvi could utter; even though she wanted to scream at her, let her know how she deceived her sister.

"Why not?" Pooja asked in a calm demeanor clearly not affected by the sudden turn of events. She had expected it someday. "I did nothing wrong to you, did I? Even if I did, you shouldn't be affected like this! I'm not your sister, am I?"

"For me, you were! You are, Pooja!" Purvi let out an anguished yelp. She couldn't bring herself to dislike or hate the woman in front of her, her sister!

"Aww Purvi, you're such a good girl. But it's not necessary that others also are. I'm still being good enough to be a family member and handle your empire, right! Believe me! I knew this day would come soon and I'm not that disappointed. I got what I wanted and the climax cannot be rushed. Don't worry, it will happen on time." Pooja let out a sly smile while a tint of moisture appeared in her eyes.

"Ahhaaa.... I don't want typical interrogation segment here, please!" She raised her hand to stop Arvind. "I have my own ways in everything, even in revelation. I know your questions and I will answer them without your efforts. Well, I'm impressed! You look like a birdie but you're a silent lioness, Ananya Gupta!"

"I agree but you can appreciate later, Pooja. I think you should start---" Ragini's voice was grim and demanding.

"Ragini! Ragini! You were my favourite.. I wanted you as a pawn but you tried, no actually played smart!" Pooja smirked raising her hands for slow claps while the man besides her joined her smirking.

She turned to DP as her face became stern and gaze, piercing.

"Mr. Durgaprasad Maheswari! Great to see you once again, personally. It's because of you, mostly, I had come this far and honestly, I'm grateful! But what to do! My hatred for you always beats my gratitude. And that, that made me a Mehta, the now sly confident business woman.

What do you think is the reason of the current situation Mr. Maheswari? Or should I call DP uncle like good old days?" She titled her head to side facing DP and Annapurna and laughed mocking.

"When do you think everything started? And Purvi, why do you think your father, sorry, our father adopted me? Because I deserve it! He was just trying to give what I had been denied because of him or I should say his family.

When I wasn't Pooja Mehta, I was a Rathore! Kavya Viswanath Rathore! Did it lit something DP uncle? Viswanath Rathore!! Nice twist, na?" Her sly grin widened seeing the surprise broke out on Senior Maheswaris' faces. "You all remember me well!! You faces are saying it! Aww, I'm so happy." Her last words ended sarcastically.

"You know Purvi, there is story you aren't aware of. I'm your cousin only; second cousin. My father's rights were snatched by your grandfather and he never allowed in the Mehta family, because of what? Just because my father was an illegitimate child of his elder son? But he lived with it, a happy life with my grandmother, mother, brother and me. And this--" She pointed the man besides her.

"This is your cousin brother, my brother - Karthik Viswanath Rathore! But atlast, happiness never misses the eyes of vultures, right?"

She turned towards Lakshya and Adarsh, her eyes red with rage. "Your father snatched my father's career because of his obsession for lineage! He withdrew his proposed business alliance and his allies made sure that my father is estranged in the business circle. He was defamed. Do you know how it feels? Do you know? Well, your family got to feel it these days with various incidents, right!"

"But---" DP tried to interrupt but was cut off by Pooja.

"Even then, you all survived. But my family-- my family was destroyed! That day, 15 years ago, it started! Our father had vowed to destoy Maheswaris but he couldn't. Me and my brother were left behind as they went far--- so far from us." Her voice shook as the bitter days flashed in her mind and she closed her eyes for a moment to regain her composure.

"But we weren't weak! We fought with life, even when our home was seized, we were left to starve, we were separated as bhaiyya was sent to a foster home in Patna and I was here. But it was all rewarded!

Mr. Harshvardhan Mehta, my uncle came to India, only to find his niece alone besides her parents' grave. For him, I was abandoned as brother ran away from the foster home and was untraceable. He extended a hand to pull me into a world which provided everything which was denied to me once; where I could accomplish what all I wanted in my life, maybe more than that and I asked for a new identity. From that day, the 12 year old me started weaving the web to trap you all.

I was shrewd, but covered with warmth I forced myself; was cunning but protected myself with the overflowing sweetness and innocence of my new 'sister'. There was nothing for me to regret! 'Its your rights too' My new parents enlightened me. I loved them, in fact I love them, but not more than my goal, MY parents. Even though I was salty that dad never supported Papa (her real father), his love had slowly conquered my heart."

"But you were calling us a fool! You sounded so selfish Pooja.. unlike you! That--- I can't believe you talked to someone about us like that!" Purvi said in hurt which Pooja chose to ignore.

"She's always like that---" Kartik tried replying but Pooja interrupted him.

"6 years later, I got connected with bhaiyya again with the help of Shail, another lunatic. From then, we had been trying to interject the venom, but situations failed us and we decided to wait, to wait for the Maheswaris pave a way for us!

Lion always takes a step behind before bouncing on the prey! And we wanted to take it slow. What our family endured 15 years ago, we siblings went through had to be compensated. For that, we waited for threads between you all to get loosen. And it did, but unfortunately with Kavitha!

I never wanted her to get hurt as she was dear to me as Purvi was. So I rejoiced the fact the foundation was shaken, it wouldn't take long for me to have another opportunity, expecting Kavita would be safe with the younger generation of Maheswari family. But, how will someone have a good fate of they're related to you? And we lost Kavita! That was the last straw of my patience.

I started preparing for my return to India. And then---"

"Should we call you Pooja or K-Kavya?" Sangita asked as tears rolled down her eyes. The person whom she trusted with everything after her sister! But---

"Gitu---" Pooja trailed off not understanding what to answer.

"Did--Did you--- Was Kavita's accident also planned by--"

"No!" Pooja shrieked. "I would never do that, Gitu! I'm not that heartless snatch an innocent's life. And she our Kavita, your titli. Yes, it has happened with me. Of Gadodhia family, it was planned as a small accident without any harm but at the end moment it went out of control! It wasn't meant to end up like that but--- Kavita... Never Sangita! Just because she was in relation with a Maheswari, I would never hurt her."

"But you did it with Gadodhias. First Swara, then Dadi, Dadaji and Shekhar uncle, and finally you targeted Ragini. Are you going to justify that also? Pooja ya Kavya, whoever!" It was Sanskar who spoke. "Because they were having a relation with us! Why should we believe the justification you told just now?" Sanskar gritted his teeth as anger bubbled inside him while Laksh held him back directing his stern gaze towards Pooja.

"I'm not answerable to you." She growled back.

Sanskar charged towards her to hold her by neck but Laksh and Adarsh held him back. "YOU'RE!!! YOU'RE ANSWERABLE TO US! IF YOUR BLOODY REVENGE WERE TO MAHESWARI FAMILY, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LIMITS. YOU DARED ENOUGH TO HURT OUR FAMILY WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU AND YOU'RE ANSWERABLE FOR IT, TO WHOEVER IT IS!!."

Pooja smirked chucking his words but her smirk faded as a palm tightened around her neck, the fingers digging deep choking her. Her eyes flew to face before her, to see Ragini with eyes red like blood and face holding rage enough to turn her into ashes. She looked beside to see Swara holding similar face, not bothering to hold her sister back.

"YOU DARED TO TOUCH MY FAMILY, AND IS SAYING AS IF IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT'S LIFE DAMNIT!" Ragini yelled as she felt herself drowning in rage, her mind chanting to pull life out the woman in front of her.

"You----" Kartik charged towards Ragini to push her off but was immediately held back by Arvind's teammates.

Arvind and Ananya rushed towards Ragini and tried to loosen her hold on Pooja. "Ragu, leave her... She'll die.. Leave!" "Bhabhi, please!"

But it all went to deaf ears as Ragini continued to be in a trance of rage. Arvind looked Swara silently pleading to make her sister withdraw, but her tears flowed down as her rage increased.

"Sanskar--" Laksh called and pointed towards Ragini which doused his madness at a flash of moment and he rushed towards Ragini to hold her hands.

"Ragz... Leave her! We are no one to punish! We can't make our hands dirty by punishing her." He held her hands trying to release the hold but it remained there though loosen. "Ragz, we have Pari Bhabhi here."

In a swift moment, he pulled her hands off and captured her in his embrace, while her rage slowly turned to anguished sobs.

Swara continued to glare her, her palm fisted tightly as she walked towards Pooja and slapped her soundly twice. "I want to kill you right now. But---" She uttered through her gritted teeth while Sujatha held her back glaring Pooja.

"I think where you stopped your narrative holds the importance, Pooja. You would need to know the details of it." Arvind smirked.

"You know, we love investigating. But the real success is when the guilty confesses himself before everyone. And I guess, Kartik will have something to say, rather clarify on the matter, right Mr.?" He crossed his arms to chest standing besides Kartik staring him pointedly while Ananya came to the other side caging him.

"Bhaiyya has nothing more to add to what I said just now." Pooja said in between her long breathes.

"You killed Kavita! Didn't you?" Ananya asked him not wanting to beat around the bush. "We don't want the answer in 'Yes' or 'No' as we know it. We want the reason, actual reason."

"What the heck!!!" Pooja yelled but soon ended up coughing badly. "Now are you trying to trap my brother in that---"

"Why?" Arvind repeated the question without any emotions.

"You did it??" Sangita asked unable to believe the facts unveiled.

Kartik was introduced to her on her arrival in India by Pooja as her brother but the facts that the brother-sister duo had their own purpose was not revealed to her neither she knew Pooja had another identity nor she had a connection with Maheswaris other than business.

"Gitu, no!! What are you even---" Pooja tried to speak but was pushed aside by Sangita.

"Did you????" She again asked while Arvind continued his unwavering stern gaze. "Why??" She asked analysing his silence to be a yes.

Sanskar stood rooted surprised again. So did Ragini!

Others also stood as spectators as the scene unfolded before them.

"HAAN!!! I DID IT!" Kartik said in a menacing voice as the hall went to utter silence for a while.

The only faces which didn't had any changes were of Arvind, Ananya and their teammates. Others including Pooja were shocked to the core at the confession.

"Bhai!!" Pooja mumbled unbelieving. "You told me it was an accident by Maheswari's car. The doctor himself had told us that someone who had been with Sanskar drugged Kavita, and it was late for him to save her. How did you--- in all these where were you--- Why Bhai?" She fumbled with her words on her brother's cheating. She had considered him and her Dad as her God, as her brother was the only possession she had who was HER!

"Why? You're questioning me, Chutki? As always, you're slipping into that emotional fool mode, right? You're a Rathore! You can't be emotionally weak but you just failed me everytime and is even doing the same now. And your friend, this Sangita, worser than you. Both of you needed two f**king years to convince yourselves to do something. Even when I managed to give you the biggest disaster, you disappointed me by going into remorse mode!" Kartik's expressions varied like a psychopath while Pooja stood rooted astounded at the sudden change in her brother.

"Do you even know how frustrating it is to handle you both? I would fuel you, you wil be all cool like "Haan, it happened! Dad is here. Purvi went there! Purvi did this, Gitu said that, she is sad, etc etc.". God girl, we had some purpose of living. And I know you do speak against them only to convince me that you're not involved emotionally with them. But I don't care. This game!!! This is my game!! Kartik Rathore's game!! I've been playing it since long!"

Pooja shuddered at the terror in her brother's voice and the madness in his eyes.

Others let the conversation go uninterrupted. Finally, the time is here!

"Why? Why--- why--- why---" He mumbled like curses looking here and there.

"You asked right?" He asked pointing Arvind while he remained unmoved.

"And you too!" Kartik said pointing Ananya.

"You also!" Next was Sangita who sat lifelessly. "You were so desperate, Kavita's sister. Are you not going to ask, Mr. Sanskar Maheswari? Won't you ask me why?"

Sanskar tried to gauge if he had seen or heard about Kartik from Kavita. No! His mind said.

"Because of you!" Kartik came dangerously close to Sanskar and said in a croaky voice while Sanskar's eyes widened. Before he could react, Ragini pushed Kartik away into Arvind's hold, holding Sanskar away from him.

"Because SHE loved YOU!! She rejected me and went on to love you, that too a Maheswari!" Kartik spit the words out like venom. "I thought she'll come back to me. She will break your heart and come back to me. I believed in my love but--- she decided to get married leaving me." Kartik's breathe quickened and he grabbed a vase to smash in on the floor.

"What did I lack? Huh? Money, right? If she couldn't live with me, I won't let her live with anyone. I wanted to snatch her happiness at the end moment. I thought I will kill her just after your marriage. That too with a full-proof plan following which the whole blame will be on Maheswaris. But when I approached the temple, she was there awaiting her destruction at the road-side. And I preponed my plan... Why should I let someone claim her as his wife? No!! I had made the boy who drove speed up the car feeding some lies to him and when the car neared her.. WHOOSH!!!!" He narrated like a fairy tale told by a lunatic.

"She was beautiful even then! But he had to scoop her up in his hands." He gritted her teeth. "My plan wasn't perfect even then. She was not ready to accept defeat like that, not even me. If she had Sanskar, I had me!! I was enough to inject drug into her in the Mumbai hospital, thus relieving her from all tension and miseries. That day I thought I was caught. That uncle-aunty duo of her nearly caught me, but luck was favouring me!!" He broke out laughing like a maniac while Sangita and Pooja felt earth slipping off their feet.

"Maheswari family!!! Always escapes from my attacks! Remember that accident of Ramprasad four years back? He also escaped but I managed to snatch your father in the next attack." He said smirking at Durgaprasad and Ramprasad.

"And Kavya, what do you mean by Gadodhia's accident was not intentional? It might have not been for you but not for me! This game is of blood! And I won't surrender for your bloody emotions. I had a great satisfaction that day. To see these people in misery. Aah!!" He moaned in satisfaction, the sadistic demon becoming more and more evident.

"The days followed were the best! When this Ragini, was frantic to save her so-called family, my mind was at peace. The turmoil you all went through when this Laksh and Ragini was married!! Pure bliss! I know to take advantage of shortcomings and I knew Laksh's impulsiveness and Ragini's sacrificing nature! There also, I had to talk hours and hours to these fools. The information that Ragini loved Laksh helped me and I wanted no one's permission to kidnap this Swara!" His smirk deepened with words as Sangita-Pooja closed eyes in misery.

"I'm satisfied to an extent now! You all had a great time crying and lamenting, in hospital, at home... Now, devoid of home, business, any assets. How willyou all live?" Kartik cocked his eyebrows at DP and Adarsh and laughed hysterically again.

"This is the advantage of having a business mastermind with you. My sister! She is undoubtedly brilliant even though an emotional fool! I wonder how? Isn't it clear to you all now? Manipulation is an art! And I have enough knowledge and experience in it! My sister was too naive to trust on her estranged brother while this friend of her had a very weak and clinically depressed mind to get easily manipulated making my route more easy."

"Now, what will you do Mr. IPS? I knew you got to know about everything. Thanks, I could manage to get an anticipatory bail." He smirked. "And I want you all to clear this Mansion before I come back. This will be Rathore Mansion from tomorrow where me and my sister will live." He tried to hold Pooja to hug her but she pushed him away trembling.

Yes, she had a fire of revenge in her! But it wasn't this mad! She always thought the aftermaths of various attacks were unintentional at the end, like her brother convinced her, but it was insane! She could try convincing her mind and soul but couldn't cheat it!

A small smile appeared on Arvind's face, gradually it formed a proper smile and later he laughed out along with Ananya while their teammates remained smirking.

"What do you think Kartik? We will simply let you know that we know about you. We knew you would get frenzy and in such situations people do mistakes. You got so many people to assist you in last few years and your mistake was trusting your so-called P.A blindly at the moment of stress. You should have read the papers before signing assuming it to be the property papers." Arvind shook his head while Ananya shrugged her shoulder showing a glance of Kartik's sign in his confession.

"And you shouldn't have been so naive to believe on people at such a situation, you know. What if your advocate was in our custody?" Ananya smirked raising her eyebrows. "And don't worry! We have enough space in this statement to add your deeds! Happy Jail Life!" She said blinking her eyes and feigning a smile.

"Jyot!" Arvind spoke through his phone to his ACP friend.

Sangita walked towards Kartik and stared him blankly. Her eyes blinked and widened as his words replayed in her mind. HE KILLED HER!

The nerves in her eyes became dark as the redness became prominent. She grabbed his collar and brought him close to her face in a swift movement.

"You killed my Kavita!! You bloody--- Remember, the moment you'll be out of the bars, you'll be burnt alive!" She seethed, her breathing irregular.

"You're not even able to say it! Forget about doing." Kartik said with a smirk, his voice and demeanor lacking an ounce of regret.

Sangita let go off his collar and pushed him as tears rolled down and her breath quickened in rage. She glanced the police officer standing besides her to arrest Kartik having a gun hung down his uniform. She grabbed the gun, all of sudden catching the officer off-guard and pointed it at Kartik's forehead.

"You'll die, you beast! I don't care about anything; I have nothing to think about! You'll die with my hands. You know right, I'm good at shooting!" She said with quivering lips as she hit his face with the back of the gun. She could hear the people calling out and warning from the police, but nothing mattered to her.

As Arvind tried to get hold of her, she pointed the gun towards them warning them to back-off. Her excellence in shooting was a disadvantage for them.

Sangita kicked hard Kartik making him yelp as pain shoot up his body.

"You dared to cause pain to my sister!" He voice held the menace which Kartik had a little earlier. "You took the wrong move, KARTIK RATHORE!" Her words ended up yelling as she proceeded to pull the trigger but the gun was pushed away from her hand and she was pulled to an embrace.

The familiar warmth seeped in her as she broke down in the arms of the person who waited for her to return to his life, Manav. "Even after my pleadings, you chose the path of misery, Gitu! I missed you!" He whispered along with his words of soothing.

Without any delay, the police officers captured Kartik and was taken away. The ACP and Arvind approached Pooja who was sitting blankly with Purvi besides her.

"Officer---" Purvi began but Pooja cut her off.

"Officer, I accept my crimes. You can arrest me." She said calmly.

"Pooja. It's night time and there are no lady constables. We knew Kartik was the culprit, even though you have been a part of the conspiracy. So neither you nor Sangita were gonna arrested as every attackers had taken Kartik's name. And we knew both of you were being used to an extent. You need to visit police station tomorrow and give your official statement." Arvind said calmly. "Purvi, take your sister to home now."

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Arvind walked towards Ragini who was sitting besides a grief stricken Sanskar. Indirectly, he had become the reason for a death! He thought in pain. Ragini sat beside him whispering sweet nothings to him, trying to ease his pain while he passed a smile to assure her.

"So...." Arvind said the couple glanced him as he neared them.

Sanskar stood up with a smile and hugged him warmly conveying his deep gratitude.

"I can't disregard your efficiency and help with a mere thank you, Arvind! You had been a great strength throughout!" Sanskar's words showed his sincerity and gratitude.

"Even I don't want Thanks!" Arvind laughed off. "Sanskar, I can do anything for Ragu. She's my sister. And I would feel happy if you throw a small party for celebration." He said with a soft smile. "You guys need a break!"

"Sir, shall we go?" Ananya asked standing besides him holding few files.

"Yeah! Sanskar, We are going to the station right now. Needed to hand over the files to Jyot. We will return in a hour."

"I'll come with you both." Sanskar offered to accompany.

"No Bhai. I'm going with them." Laksh said blinking eyes at Ragini. "I'm driving." He said in defence showing the keys before Arvind could deny.

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Uff!! Longest chapter till now! I wanted to end everything with this! So I guess everything is clear. If not comment them, I will be able to correct while editing.

So.... Oooffff!!!! I'm so relieved now even though I'm not sure how it came out :)

Thanks a lot for the reads, votes and comments till now.♥️

This chapter is dedicated to every reader :)

Love you all
Sameera ♥️