~ Always Besides You ~

38. The Deception

"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!