Recap :

"Hello ? Mein Gopal bol raha hu, mujhe Oberoi's se baat karni hai." ("Hello? I'm Gopal, I wish to speak to Oberoi's.") He said into the phone.

As soon as he heard the reply from the other side, his expressions changed. He looked shocked.

"Kya !?" ("What??") He yelled making Shivaay stare at him with curiosity and anticipation.

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"Ji haan, woh gaddar Oberoi's ab yaha nahi rehte." ("You heard me right, those traitor Oberois don't live here anymore.") The man repeated from the other side.

"Kisika call hai ? Yaha laao." ("Who's call is it ? Give it to me.")

Gopal heard another voice and heard the noise of someone snatching the receiver of the landline.

"Hello ? Mein ACP Shinde bol raha hu Delhi police se, aap kaun ?" ("Hello ? I'm ACP Shinde from Delhi police, who are you ?") The man said authoritatively.

"J..Ji mein, Gopal bol raha hu. Gopal Datar." ("I.. I'm Gopal. Gopal Datar.")  Gopal kaka stuttered. He was still in shock. "Mein Oberoi's ke yaha kaam karta tha, mujhe unse baat karni thi." ("I used to work at Oberoi mansion, I wanted to speak to them.")

"Lagta hai kaka, tumhi news nahi bagat, lagta hai news nahi dekhte aap." ("Seems like you don't watch news.") ACP Shinde chuckled.

"Ji..." Gopal kaka stuttered yet again.

"Aapke Oberoi's bhag gaye hai. Aur naa toh woh apse ab milenge aur naa hi woh ab apse baat karenge." ("Your Oberois have fled off. Now they won't meet you or speak to you.") ACP replied.

"Pr kyu, saahab ? Kya hua hai ?" ("But why, sir ? What happened ?") Gopal kaka asked worriedly as he eyed Shivaay, who was standing there impatiently to know what was happening.

"Arey kaka.." ("Oho..") ACP started irritatedly. "Konsa bhi news channel chala do, apko pata chal jayega ki hua kya hai." ("Just tune in any news channel, you'll get to know what happened.")

ACP said and hung up on Gopal kaka.

Gopal kaka slowly took the receiver away from his ear and stood there, still in shock.

Why was that man calling Oberoi's a 'traitor' ?

What was ACP doing in Oberoi Mansion ?

Why did the ACP said that he'll never be able to meet Oberoi's ever again ?

What had happened ?!

"Kaka ? Kaka ? Kaka !" Shivaay's calls brought Gopal kaka back to earth.

"Huh ?" Gopal kaka asked.

"Kya hua ? Kya apki Bade papa ya Badi maa se baat hui ?" ("What happend ? Did you talk to Badi maa or bade papa ?") Shivaay asked hopefully.

Gopal kaka sighed. "Nahi, nahi hui meri unse baat. Woh ghar pr nahi the." ("No, no I couldn't speak to them. They are not at home.") He replied.

"Aap itne tension mein kyu lag rahe hai kaka ? Kya hua hai ? Batayiye na." ("Why do you look so stressed ? What's wrong ? Tell me.") Shivaay frowned.

"Woh...woh... darasaal baat...yeh hai ki..." ("Uh...Actually...the thing is...") Gopal kaka started slowly but stopped when his eyes landed on the TV's remote control present nearby.

Without another word, Gopal kaka switched the TV on and played news. Shivaay was confused by Gopal kaka's actions but he stayed silent and turned to face the tv screen.

"Kal shaam ko Oberoi Industries ki factory storage mein police ne raid dali aur kai ton RDX, 170 Ak-46 rifles aur 345 hand grenade waha se police ne baramat kiye hai. Police ka yeh manna hai ki Oberoi's Underworld Don Bosco ke contact mein the aur Oberoi Industries ke banner ke piche usey yeh sab maal supply karte the." ("Police raided Oberoi Industries' factory storage yesterday evening and have found tons of RDX, 170 Ak-46 rifles and 345 hand grenades there. Police have suspect that Oberoi's had connections with Underworld Don Bosco and they used to supply weapons to him under the banner of Oberoi Industries.") The reporter said and added. "Oberoi's kal shaam se laapata hai. Kisi ko nahi pata ki woh kaha hai. Police unke staff aur rishtedaron se puchtach kar rahi hai. Filal police ne Oberoi's ki saari factories, ghar aur bank accounts seal kar diye hai aur police Oberoi's ki talash kar rahi hai." ("Oberoi's are missing since yesterday. No one knows where are they. Police is interrogating their staff and relatives. Police have sealed all the properties, bank accounts and mansion and they're now searching for Oberoi's.")

Gopal kaka and Shivaay were shocked to say the least. They were frozen on their spots. Never in their wildest dreams they had thought this all to end up like this.

OmRu, oblivious to all the chaos, looked at the TV screen and smiled as they saw his parents photo on the screen.

"Shivaay bhai ! Dekho Papa aur maa TV pe aa rahe hai." ("Shivaay bhai ! Look mom and dad is on Tv.") Om said happily as he adored his mum and dad on the television. "Bhai ? Pr Maa papa TV pe kyu aa rahe hai ?" ("Bhai ? But why are they on tv ?")

Shivaay had tears in his eyes but he controlled himself. "Arey kuch nahi..." ("It's nothing...") He started with a fake smile. "Tujhe pata hai na ki humare bade papa bahot famous hai isiliye yeh log bas unki photos dikhate rehte hai. Tu dhyan mat de." ("You know our bade papa is famous so they come on tv often. You don't pay much attention to them.")

Gopal kaka switched the channel to some cartoon channel and smiled at OmRu. "Aap dono cartoons dekho, Om baba." ("I'll tune in cartoons for you, Om baba.") He said and handed the remote to Om.

Om grinned and settled before the tv with Rudra.

Shivaay and Gopal walked into the kitchen and faced each other. "Woh sab jhoot hai, Gopal kaka. Bade Papa aisa nahi kar sakte !" ("It's all lie, Gopal kaka. Bade papa can't do such a thing !") Shivaay said and broke down into tears. "Bade Papa thode strict hai lekin woh terrorist groups ko kabhi bhi support nahi karenge." ("Bade papa is strict sometimes but he cannot support terrorist groups.") He cried.

"Mein jaanta hu Shivaay baba, aap please shaant ho jayiye." ("I know Shivaay baba, please calm down.") Gopal kaka said and rubbed Shivaay's back soothingly.

"Kaka.." Shivaay suddenly straightened up as he realised something. "..Ab humara kya hoga kaka ? Mein OmRu ko lekar kaha jaunga ? Mein Om se kya bolunga jab woh mujhe puchega ki mom dad kaha hai ? Humara kya hoga ?" ("...What will happen to us now ? Where will I go with OmRu ? What will I tell Om when he'll ask about our family ?")

Shivaay was devastated. At the age of 9 he was burdened with his 2 younger brothers and a news of his family being anti-national. He didn't know what will he do ? How will he manage and where will he go and take his brothers ?

"Shh...Shaant ho jayiye Shivaay baba. Aap fikar mat kijiye. Hum abhi jaake dekhte hai ki akhir hua kya hai. Yeh tv channel wale toh aise hi baat ka batangad bana dete hai. Aap pereshan mat hoiye." ("Shh...Calm down. Don't worry. I'll go and see myself what's happening. These news channels telecast whatever they feel like. You don't worry.") Gopal kaka said but he was equally worried and tensed.

Shivaay nodded and picked himself up. "Woh sab jhoot hai...Bade papa aur badi maa jarur kisi kaam se gaye honge woh aise hume akela chodkar nahi jayenge. Hum Oberoi's hai aur Dadi kehti hai ki Oberoi's kabhi kisi se nahi darte. Oberoi's kabhi nahi bhagenge." ("It's all a big fat lie...Bade papa and badi maa must be busy in some work, they won't leave us alone like this. We're Oberois and Grandma always tells me that Oberoi's never get scared of anything. Oberoi's will never run away like a coward.")

"Haan Shivaay baba. Haan." ("Yes, Shivaay baba, Yes.") Gopal kaka nodded and smiled at Shivaay. Though, deep down he knew that things weren't as simple as they seemed.

This was a big game. Oberoi's were badly trapped and framed for a very serious crime. If they ever showed up they'll be destroyed and if they never showed up then their kids will be devastated.

Even if the Oberoi's managed to prove their innocence (which was almost impossible as all the proofs were against them) still they'll face a hard time in earning their dignity and respect back in the society.

Gopal kaka decided to visit Oberoi Mansion and see for himself what had exactly happened.

"Kaka mein bhi chalunga aapke sath." ("Kaka I'll come with you too.") Shivaay insisted.

"Nahi baba, aap yahi OmRu baba ke sath rahiye. Hum unhe akela chhod ke nahi jaa sakte. Aap unke sath rahiye, unka dhyan rakhiye. Mein abhi jaake aata hu." ("No, baba, you stay here with OmRu. We can't leave them alone. You take care of them, I'll come back soon.") Gopal kaka said.

Shivaay thought about it and realised that kaka was right OmRu needed him.

"Thik hai kaka. Aap jayiye, mein yahi OmRu ke sath rukta hu." ("Alright. You go, I'll look after OmRu.") Shivaay mumbled and wiped off all his tears.

Gopal kaka collected his wallet and smiled reassuringly at Shivaay, before leaving he said. "Darwaza thik se band kar lijiyega Shivaay baba." ("Shivaay baba, lock the door properly after I leave.")

Shivaay nodded and locked the door as Gopal kaka left. He smiled at OmRu and joined them. He was staring at the TV screen but all he had on his mind was the latest Oberoi scandal.

♠

Gopal kaka reached the Oberoi Mansion after a while and saw that some people were sealing the gates of the mansion.

"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai ?" ("What's this blunder ?") Gopal kaka asked one of the man standing near the gates.

"Yeh bank wale hai Oberoi's ka ghar seal kar rahe hai." ("These are Bank people, they're sealing Oberoi mansion.") The man replied.

"Bank wale ? Oberoi's ka ghar to police ne seal kiya tha na ?" ("Bank people ? Police had sealed their mansion, hadn't they ?") Gopal kaka asked in confusion.

"Haan, police tehkikat kar rahe the aur unhone ghar ki talashi bhi li magar Oberoi's ne joh loan liya tha bank se woh ab kaun recover karega isiliye Bank ne special order nikalwake ghar japt kar liya hai. Ab woh yeh ghar bechke apne loans ki recovery karenge." ("Yeah, police had sealed the house and had searched the house thoroughly but Oberoi's had taken loan from bank and to recover that loan Bank has taken a special permission and have got hold of the mansion. Now they'll sell the mansion to recover their loan.") The man replied.

Gopal kaka nodded in understanding but he wasn't fully convinced. 'Kal hi toh yeh scandal light mein aaya hai aur aj ghar aur sab property seal bhi kar di ? Kuch toh gadbad hai.' ('Only yesterday this scandel has came to light and today all the property is sealed ? Something is fishy.') He thought.

"Kya zamana aa gaya hai, pehle log mehnat kar ke bade hote the aur ab dekho log galat kaam kar ke bade ho rahe hai." ("People used to get rich by working hard in the old times and look at the world now, people are getting rich by doing unethical stuff.") The man scoffed.

Gopal kaka acknowledged his words but started to walk away without replying. The man too realised that Gopal wasn't interested in talking anymore so he walked away as well.

Gopal had known Oberoi's for 10 years and he knew for a fact that Oberoi's were not into any illegal business. Oberoi's were rich but they weren't heartless or anti national !

They were framed. They had to be framed.

Gopal was walking on the road in his own thoughts. He wasn't really paying attention to where he was going when suddenly a woman bumped into him.

"Maaf kijiye behenji." ("I'm sorry, mam.") Gopal panicked. "Mera dhyan nahi tha. Aap thik hai ? Apko kahi chot toh nahi lagi ?" ("I was not looking where I was going. Are you alright ? You ain't hurt right ?") He asked and looked at the woman for the first time.

The woman was wearing salvar kamiz but she had hid her face with an oversized scarf. Her face wasn't visible at all.

"Mein thik hu bhai sahab." ("I'm alright.") The woman replied hastily. "Aap yeh pakadiye." ("Take this.") She said and pushed a paper in Gopal's hand.

"Yeh kya hai ?" ("What is it ?") Gopal kaka asked but she didn't reply.

She walked away hurriedly and was gone before Gopal kaka could ask her anything further.

Gopal kaka looked at the paper in his hand and looked up again to see that the woman had suddenly disappeared.

Gopal kaka decided to open the folded paper and see what it was. He just did that. He unfolded the paper. It was a letter.

The letter read :

Gopal kaka,
Mujhe pata hai ki bacche apke sath hai aur surakshit hai. Aur mujhe yakeen hai ki woh tino apke sath hi surakshit rahenge. Mein apko sab kuch iss khat mein nahi bata sakti magar ye joh kuch bhi hua hai woh sab ek chal hai...Hume phasaya gaya hai.
Aap plz ShivOmRu ka khayal rakhna. Kuch dino ke liye.
ShivOmRu ki jaan ko khatra hai toh plz kisiko pata mat chalne dena ki woh tino Oberoi Industries se related hai.
Please un tino ka khayal rakhna Gopal kaka...please.
Aapka yeh ehsaan hum Oberoi's pe ek karz rahega.

(Gopal kaka,
I know kids' are with you and they are safe. And I know they'll be safe as long as they're with you. I cannot explain everything in this letter but I want to tell you that this is all a conspiracy... we're being framed.
Please take care of ShivOmRu. For a few days. ShivOmRu's lives are in danger so plz don't let anyone know that they're related to Oberoi Industries.
Please take care of them Gopal kaka... please.
This favour of yours on Oberoi's will never be forgotten.)

Gopal kaka was stunned for a moment but he knew that he wasn't going to think twice before letting ShivOmRu stay in his house and take care of them.

Whatever that was happening had nothing to do with those innocent kids.

Even if Oberoi's were connected to underworld, what was ShivOmRu's fault in this ? Those lil kids were innocent and Gopal kaka didn't want them to suffer just cause of some deeds their parents commited or just cause of some rivals of Oberoi's who were heartless and cruel to this all.

Gopal kaka folded the paper again and kept it inside his pant pocket.

He was walking towards his home when he saw a temple on the way. He removed his footwear and went inside the temple.

It was a holy temple of Lord Shiva. A beautiful, pitch black Shiv Linga looked glorious. Some essence sticks were burning in front of it along with an oil lamp.

It was late in the afternoon so no one was present in the temple.

Gopal kaka sat on his knees before the Shivalinga and joined his hands. "Deva..." He started. "....Kaun saccha aur kaun jhootha hai mujhe pata nahi, lekin tune socha hai toh jarur kuch accha hi socha hoga." (".... Who's right who's wring I don't know, but if you've chose this for us then it should be for good.")

"6 mahine pehle tune mujhse meri patni aur mera beta chin liya aur ab un tino ki jimmedari mujhpe daal ke tu kya karna chahta hai ?" ("6 months ago you snatched my wife and my son away from me and now you're giving me the responsibility of those 3 kids, what exactly is your plan ?") He asked with furrowed eyebrows and a frown.

"Mujhe pata nahi ki tune mere liye aur un tino bacchon ke liye kya socha hai... lekin agar tu chahta hai ki mein un tino ka khayal rakhu toh mein rakhunga. Joh kuch bhi ho raha hai usme un bacchon ki koi galati nahi hai." ("I don't know what you've in mind for me and those kids... But since it's your wish I'll take care of them. Whatever that is going on, it's not their fault.") He said.

"Mein bas itna kahunga deva, ki kisi nirdosh pe annyay mat hone dena." ("I'll just say one thing God, please don't be unjust with the innocent people.") He finished and prayed for some time before leaving to go home and face Shivaay.

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Hey guys !

So yeah...I managed to get you all an update.

This quarantine isn't as amazing as it should've been for me.

I've a hell lot of work now.. Assignments, exam preparation and some online hobby classes I've enrolled myself into...So please bear with me and forgive me if I don't get you daily updates.

This is the 1st chapter in this book which is not ending with a cliffhanger so far...🙈😂

I hope you all are happy about me not leaving you with another cliffhanger.

Thanks for reading this book and appreciating it. It means a lot to me, Thank you so much..😇♥️♥️

Meanwhile, stay indoors and take care of yourself and your family.

Until the next update,
Have a safe and great life😇