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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Chapter 13 - Secrets in blood

(play the music for mood)
Sasi knew it was going to be a long evening of explanations. He needed a drink to make it happen.
“Drink?” he offered ASR.
“Yes, Bourbon, please”
Sasi poured them drinks and handed ASR his drink. He settled on the couch across the coffee table and continued.

“Khushi descends from the royal family of Gwalior. She is the daughter of Maharaja Mahinder Singh Chauhan, the grandson of the last monarch of Gwalior, His Royal Highness, Maharaja Ratan Singh Chauhan.”
“And who are her parents?”
Sasi quaffed the scotch and winced as the alcohol burnt his insides. He looked straight at ASR and decided the truth had to be told.
“She is the child of Mahinder Singh Chauhan and Sarah Schwab, born out of wedlock.”

“Wait!” ASR’s eyes widened as he heard a distinctly Jewish name
“Mahinder Sing Chauhan and Sarah Schwab.” ASR repeated, letting the unlikely combination sink into his psyche. “ So her father is the grandson of Maharaja Ratan Singh Chauhan and her mother is….a German Jew?” he posed it both as an observation and a question.

“Yes” Sasi clarified. His forehead creased as he recounted the heavy burden of secrets he had carried for years, now threatening to rip him apart with impunity.  ASR had formed a riot of questions but he knew he had to give the old doctor some time to formulate his responses. So he waited.

“Mahinder and I grew up together. After our college, Mahinder took over the management of business ventures and wealth of the royal family. As far as I can remember, my ancestors were under the employment of the Royal family of Gwalior from Ratangarh. In fact, Maharaja Ratan Singh Chauhan was my benefactor who funded my medical education and living expenses. The Guptas bear allegiance to the family for generations and I was no exception. I had sworn my allegiance to Khushi’s dad, Mahinder. Although Mahinder treated me as a peer and a friend, there was no doubt in my mind that if he ever called for it, I’d lay my life down for him and his family.”

“Ok, how did Khushi’s father end up having a bastard child?” ASR was impatient to cut to the chase.
“Don’t!” Sasi raised his voice slightly and waved a finger. “Don’t call her that. She is the rightful owner and heiress to the family fortune and the throne, the first born of Maharaja Mahinder Singh Chauhan. Don’t ever forget that.” He said with finality and authority, causing ASR to recoil in surprise.

“I….I am sorry, I did not mean any disrespect” he apologized to Sasi.

“Good, because no one should ever forget who she is, what she is and what her family has done for us. She comes from one of the richest royal families of India, one that exerted immense power, and were widely respected before Indian Independence. The Ratangarh branch was one of the most progressive monarchy of its times. Mahinder and his father, Madhav Singh before that, were tuned to the pulse of the people. Maharaja Ratan Singh was feared but his son Madhav and followed by Mahinder were respected and revered by the masses.”

“They gave up their kingdoms willingly to annexation to join the republic of post independent India. Madhav Singh and Mahinder Singh were widely eulogized for their egalitarian views and they shared their wealth. The wealth you see around me, the comforts my family enjoys – it belongs to Khushi’s family, passed on to us because we took the responsibility of caring for her.”

ASR nodded and accepted the old man’s reprimand as a reminder to be careful in future.

Sasi stoked the fireplace wood to reignite the fire, causing a few embers to fly out. He smiled sardonically, because his soul mimicked the fireplace, burning cinders and fly-away embers that were ready to burn everything too weak to withstand the fire. He fisted his left palm to find courage to continue. ASR observed the man fight his feelings but kept quiet letting him pace his story.

“The poor child got cheated of her rightful place. Stupid traditions, shame, secrets, everything went against her. I remember that fateful day like it happened yesterday.” Sasi’s eyes gazed into some distant past, flooding his conscious with memories.

“That day, Mahinder summoned me to his office. He appeared very disturbed and upset. All he told me was that he was to be away in Switzerland for six months and that during the time he was gone, I was to manage the family finances and keep my lips sealed about his whereabouts.”

“I see.” ASR spoke, not sure where the conversation was leading or how all this was connected to the Sabres. Sasi poured himself another drink and sat by the fireplace, continuing his reminiscence.

“Mahinder left the country for six months. We didn’t know where he was in Switzerland or why he was there. He called us once a week to let us know he was safe. Of course, Mahinder’s wife, Rani Suchitra was beyond grief because she didn’t know why Mahinder had chosen to disappear. I think Mahinder met Khushi’s mom during his time away at Switzerland.”

“What do you know about her mother?” ASR asked, his interest peaking at the potential connection between Khushi’s Jewish heritage and the Russian Jewish Mafia that was on their hot pursuit.

“Not much, I'm afraid. I never met Sarah. From what I know from Mahinder, she was a waitress at a café in Zurich and he had met her by sheer chance.” Sasi shook his head in disapproval and continued, “I don’t think Mahinder was truthful to me. I think he sought Sarah out. I don’t know why but I think his trip to Switzerland was connected to Sarah. I don’t think he intended to start a relationship with her or get her pregnant but I think whatever mystery he was hiding from us, it had something to do with Sarah.”

“I am curious too because Khushi’s mom is Jewish and the Russian Mafia’s Jewish wing seems to be behind the attack on Khushi. I think there might be a connection. I will ask Kevin to find out more about Sarah Schwab. Dr. Gupta, you have to promise to give me any documentation and information you have regarding Sarah Schwab. That is the key that connects all the dots.”

Sasi agreed and got up to open a locked safe in his library. He took out a wooden box, which had a brass lock and handed it to ASR.

“Everything I have from Mahinder is in this box. Read it after we finish here.”

ASR took the box and decided to open it later in his room. For now, he wanted to hear the rest of the story Sasi had to share.

“So Mahinder returned from Switzerland after six months. Did he tell you about Sarah then?”

“No, When Mahinder returned, he was a changed man. Something bothered him to distraction. On many occasions, he told me he felt like a thief and a fraud. I didn’t know what to make of it and didn’t feel it was my place to ask for further explanations but I could tell he was really struggling inside. He bequeathed every penny he had to others and my family was the biggest beneficiary for obvious reasons. He became increasingly sickly and gaunt, and at times I thought, somewhat delusional. He was fighting to keep some secret and eventually, he seemed to have lost the will to live."

"Rani Suchithra was worried about him and thought it was because she could not bear him an heir. She pressured him to adopt a baby boy, Karan, who was born to a distant cousin. But nothing seemed to help Mahinder. In any case, the house of cards toppled when a series of strange deaths and attacks began on people close Mahinder. He was paranoid and, if I may say so, genuinely scared.”

“Did he tell you who was behind the attacks?” ASR asked.

“No. But one day, out of the blue, he visited Garima and me with pressing urgency. He brought this box with him and asked us to keep it safe with us because he could not trust anyone in the palace. And then he asked us a strange question – whether we would be move out of the country to Switzerland in less than a week. Garima was pregnant with Payal at the time, but our loyalties were put to test and we felt compelled to agree. He asked us to keep our conversation a secret and promised to make arrangements for our visa, travel and stay in Switzerland.”

“A week later, he came in secretively and gave us our travel documents, tickets and address of the person we were to contact in Switzerland. He then told us about Sarah and Khushi. Sarah had passed on during child birth and Khushi was with her maternal aunt. We were to claim Khushi, pay her aunt a handsome amount in return and officially adopt her. Mahinder had made all the arrangements for us, paperwork, money, stay, contacts everything. I guess when you are connected, everything falls in place.”

Sasi paused to put his thoughts in sequence and continued, “Garima and I left the country for good, never to look back. Twenty seven years and counting” he sighed, a note of nostalgia played in his words.

“Once in Switzerland we claimed Khushi, who was ten months old at the time, and we began our stay in a small suburb of Zurich. Several months passed with no news from Mahinder. I tried contacting him but all my attempts were dead-ended. I began working in a pharmacy and we had Payal there. It was a difficult transition for Garima but she never complained. She showered Khushi her affections and raised her like her own. We are both aware of the grave responsibility and to this day we know, when the time comes, Khushi will have to rise to her calling, and be the princess that she truly is.”

“Anyways, many months passed with no news from Mahinder. Then we heard the news that Mahinder, his wife and their adopted son were all killed in a road accident.”

At that point, Sasi found it difficult to continue and paced the room to gain his strength. His legs didn’t agree and he slumped into the couch.

“It was a shock for us, suffice it to say. We knew the road accident was not an accident. Mahinder had always feared for the life of his family and he had made sure all the finances, wealth and anything meaningful was transferred to a bank in Switzerland under Khushi’s name, his first born. No one knew about Khushi and he knew that his heritage and lineage will be safe. The box you are holding has all the relevant paperwork and notes from him. When we had left India, he had told us not to open the contents unless something happened to him and his family.”

“And this box has the Sabre in it?” ASR prompted aloud wondering how a box of this size could hold a full-sized Sabre. Sasi nodded.

“Yes, the Sabre. But not in the traditional sense. It was a Sabre Tooth Tiger sculpture. Mahinder had made a note for me in the box and these were his words - A Sabre in spirit yet not quite.”

It began making sense to ASR. The Russian Jewish Mafia was after the Sabres. They chased after the twelve royal families that owned the Sabres except Khushi’s family had the sculpture and not an actual Sabre. She survived because they could not find the Sabre in her apartment or didn’t know where it was kept. 

Khushi was bequeathed a Sabre Tooth Tiger sculpture and not a Sabre! This was monumental; this had derailed the mafia and he knew, he could use the time to get to the bottom of the secret that the Sabres held. She would probably be safe until the mafia figured out that Khushi's family held a small sculpture and not a real Sabre.

“When Mahinder and family were murdered, I knew, it was a matter of time, before they got to us. I opened the box and found an SOS number inside the box and the sculpture. I was to call the SOS number in case something happened to Mahinder. I did and those people told us to hold on to the sculpture and helped us move to the U.S. And every few years, we kept moving, to escape detection and to distract anyone who might follow us. Suffice it to say, it was hard on Garima and the kids. I don’t know who those SOS guys are, but I know they were always helpful when we needed them, until now."

“Did they tell you why they could not help you anymore?”

“No, not really. The SOS contacts were quiet helpful until the attack on Khushi. I am not sure why they seem less than helpful now, Khushi’s identity is obviously out, and it’s a matter of time before they find the sculpture.”

“Who else knows about the sculpture? Where is the sculpture now?” ASR’s questions tumbled in quick succession, his excitement hardly under control.

“Garima, and the SOS contact. The sculpture is in the safe keep of the Field Museum of Chicago. I figured a museum would have the security and ability to guard it.”

ASR knew he had hit the jackpot. The museum curator, Joseph Isaacson was FBI’s art historian and could help decode any history related to the Sabre Tooth Tiger sculpture. He knew his next stop was Joseph Isaacson.
He had one final question for Dr.Gupta

“Does Khushi know about her parents?”

“No.”

ASR’s heart exploded. He knew she was going to be devastated by the news. He decided he would tell her only if it was absolutely necessary.

“Dr. Gupta, you have my word that I will not let Khushi know about any of this, unless absolutely necessary.”

Sasi looked tired. He pulled ASR into a hug, seeking reassurance. ASR’s words meant a lot for the old man who had borne the secret for far too long. He could only rue the secrets of the royal family, secrets from his own children and wife, secrets that hollowed him inside and brought danger to his doorstep. He was finally liberated, finding a youthful compatriot in ASR who could carry the burden forward for him, and do the right thing by his daughter. He saw the softening in ASR’s eyes when he spoke of Khushi and Sasi knew, at last that his daughter would be safe with ASR.

*****

Khushi stood rooted to her spot as she overheard the entirety of the conversation. Chameli was sitting comfortably coiled around her feet, waiting for her owner to make her move for a walk outside, in the snow. Chameli grew restless and nudged Khushi’s legs and then she dashed out of the back door. Khushi was unable to move, her legs were concrete refusing to listen as her mind instructed them to flee away from the secrets revealed behind the study door. She hated herself for eavesdropping on the conversation between her father and ASR.

Curiosity had gotten her to the study, but now, she just wanted to erase everything she’d heard, clean her slate and be whole again. Her eyes misted with tears and her ears rang with disbelief. The finale exposed the fears she had harbored as long as she could remember - the fear of being a pariah, a misfit, a stranger in her own house and the fears fell as realities on her like a ton of bricks. She was the bastard child of a royal, she was adopted, she was not her parent’s child, and she was a stranger among them. She wanted to disappear into thin air. She just wanted to run away.

She peeled her feet and dashed out of the rear door of the house. Chameli woofed playfully in the snow filled brick patio, chasing wild squirrels in the twilight. She barked, beckoning Khushi for a playful chase and dashed into the wooded back yard. Khushi ran, as fast her feet could take her following Chameli into the woods. The chilly wind hit her wet cheeks, but she was numb. She kept running, as FBI agents stationed on the edge of the property shouted and warned her to stop. She couldn’t hear anyone and Chameli led the way gleefully, deeper into the wooded forest preserve. FBI agents alerted ASR as he headed into his guest room.

Oh Shit! She must have heard everything.

He placed the box in his briefcase, locked it and kept it under the bed away from plain sight. Then he rushed downstairs.

“Which way did she go?” he asked an agent as he ran out of the house, into slushy snow gathered around the house. Agents who were searching the area with flashlights pointed in the direction Khushi had run.
“Khushi, come on, don’t do this again.” He pulled out his gun and ran into the woods.

Twigs, branches and dry brush crushed under his feet as he rushed deeper into the darkness.

He heard an animal yelp in pain.

“Chameli!” he figured and rushed in faster. Another painful squeal of the animal shattered the dull winter breeze. A loud cry followed, this time that of a woman.  It was Khushi.

“Khushi!” ASR shouted and frantically waved his flashlight in every direction to find her. He located her at the far end of the wood near a frozen creak. She was on her knees and leaning over something. She screamed again.

He ran to her and knelt beside her. He found Chameli in a pool of blood, its throat slit. The soft snow around the animal was spattered with blood. Khushi was shivering uncontrollably partly from the shock and partly from hypothermia.

“Its my fault, everything’s my fault!” she scooped the dogs body and held it close to her, bawling in pain. Blood covered her hair and face but she didn’t seem to care. As Chameli struggled to breath and wheezed in pain, Khushi went into spasms. The dog’s head rolled to its side, as it breathed its last.

“She’s gone, Chameli’s gone. Its my fault, its all my fault. Chameli’s gone!” she screamed. ASR felt her diaphragm paralyzing in fear and shock and he knew if she did not recover, she would fight for breath. He shook her wildly, and patted her cheeks, “Khushi, look at me. Control yourself.”

“She..she…she’s gone….its….my…..fault…” she wailed again.

Other agents rushed in with a blanket and covered Khushi. ASR helped her to her feet but her legs gave away. He lifted her and carried her to the house.  



64 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. OMG!! OMG!! That was hella thrilling chapter. My heart was pounding through out.

      I absolutely loved the entire conversation between Sasi and Arnav. It was so man to man with all the etiquette and respect for each other. One man bequeathing his life long secret to the other man expecting and trusting him to protect and preserve it like he had been doing it for so long. Amazing :)

      Khushi is a princess with such a messed up history, poor her :(. So, she is related to Jews, hmmmm I'm really keen to know more about the mystery behind khushi's mother Sarah Schwab and Mahinder Singh.

      I really admire Sasi for keeping the secret so intact and never letting any harm on Khushi or rest of the family until now. I can't even imagine the pain he must be going through at the moment. After all these years of protecting Khushi and the secrets, now he is in the risk of losing it all. Shit!!!

      Khushi heard the entire convo. God, I was not expecting that at all. I wish she would not have heard it :(. I really I'm scared of Payal finding out the secret. Jeez that would be the worst thing ever.

      And chameli died?? No. Why??? I don't want her dead. Chameli can't die. That's really sad. Khushi, please just stop running into the woods all the time. You either hurt yourself or someone else in the process.

      And these mysterious Sabres, sabre tooth tiger sculpture, the secrets, all are twisting my mind like a spiral string. I just feel like I want to know everything right now lol. I know that's not gonna happen, so I'm going to make a scotch for myself too and wait for the next update. Loved it :)

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  2. I am here too!! wink

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    Replies
    1. Loved the Chicago city on top..... :)))
      Happy Diwali!!!

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. First of all, YAAAAAYY! I guessed a part of it right! Khushi is descendent of the Royal family! But not in the way I thought, and there is clearly much more to it than that! I mean why was Mahendar freaked out AFTER he came back from the trip, if the sabre was with him even before the trip technically, and why did he seek out Sarah?

      Payal is such a bitch, I want to slap her! I have met people like her, and they are horrible and vile and mean and just plain cruel! But I don't know her back story so I won't say much. Molly sounds like a sweet kid with bad influence, so I'll give her a chance.

      And Sasi, poor him, under such pressure all his life. Garima and him and parents to Khushi for all intents and purposes. I would love to see Payal's face when she realizes whatever she has is because of Khushi though. LOL!

      And Shyam is a creep as established, I don't know if he is the snitch, but a creep nonetheless! And Gitu? Wasn't she supposed to be here? Yet no mention of her! What does this mean? :O

      And OMG! Someone killed Chameli! How dare they!? ASR! Track them down and kill them! Poor Khushi! Shock after shock! I hope ASR comforts her! #Hugs

      Amazing story! Continue soon!

      <3

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  4. OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!
    u SACRED THE HELL OUT OF ME!!!!
    ITS THE MOST BONE CHILLING UPDATE SO FAR........
    AND THAT MUSIC.... FUCKING OUTSTANDING!! MY HEART WAS IN MY THROAT WHILE I WAS READING...........
    SJ WHAT DID U DO?!?!?!?! FREAKING AMAZING WOMEN!!

    LOVED IT!!!!
    SHE KNOWS... SHE KNOWS!! CHAMELI DIED.. POOR DOG! I LIKED HER....
    IT CANT BE BETTER THAN THIS..... JUST CANT WAIT FOR NEXT HON.....
    EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE NOW..... HOLLY COW!!!


    WELL DONE!!! JUST GREAT!!

    UPDATE SOON!!

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  5. oh no the dog is dead.and my assumption was right i assumed that somehow khushi is related to royal blood otherwise why would russian mafia try to kill her.but sj why did you killed the dog i love dogs.thanks for the update and thanks to twittergod for creating twitter otherwise i will not be able to know that you treated.i should visit twitter more often.shinaa from if

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  6. Oh no!

    Chameli died! And if I guess right, she must have been murdered in front of Khushi! How horrible!

    And so much to find out in the span of an evening! Poor K!

    And ASR! I hope nothing happens to the box he left in his suitcase!

    Oh what a mess! A royal mess at that!

    Thank you.

    JerryTheMouse- sachi.

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  7. Hi,

    First things first, HAPPY DIWALI to you and your family.

    I decided to check one last time before closing off and found the update.
    Thank you so much for the update. I am shivering with khushi. But her overhearing was a surprise. And then what happened to chameli was a shock. :-(
    Sasi and garima are really amazing people. Each sigh and breath has been sketched beautifully.
    So what next?

    A



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  8. how did chameli die? did someone kill her. then why did they leave khushi alone. i'm a li'l confused abt that.

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  9. OMG, what a nerve wrecking update!!

    I was happy to read that Sasi loves Khushi, unconditionally...So, K is the sole heiress...her devastation on overhearing about her intriguing life story, was palpable...

    And, the adorable Chameli breathed her last....it was heart-wrenching.. the ruthless mafia is lurking around,and, Khushi is still in danger inspite of all that security,around her..

    A cliff hanger once again!!! hope you update soon, cuz I am being really selfish, wanting for more...

    And wishing you a very Happy Diwali!!!!

    Cheers!!,
    Aanchal15 - IF

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  10. Amazing update and quite a history....these royal families and their secrets....Khushi has always felt that somehow she did not fit in, and now that her doubts have been confirmed she must feel devastated...given what an ordeal she has been going through for the past couple of weeks, it must be quite difficult to maintain her sanity. Poor Chameli....I wonder why someone would kill chameli when khushi was around....was it meant to scare Khushi out of her mind...well then the trick worked....
    Am also very curious about Sarah Schwab's role in the whole Sabre mystery....Shyam and Payal and their not so subtle 'camaraderie' did creep me out...Payal is one twisted female....wonder how Shyam convinced Khushi to accept his proposal since she does not seem to like him a lot while Payal likes him a bit too much.
    Niharika111(IF)

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  11. awesome chapter. khushi heard everything. poor khushi.

    loved the chapter.

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  12. Wow! I think all my replies begin with the saw word wow...not planned though..
    Loved the way you connected Khushi and Guptas with Royal heritage via Sarah schwab linking it to the Sabre a monumental piece...awesome imagination...

    Soloperson IF

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  13. OMG , OMG! Brilliant stuff, and she heard it all, chameli is killed, but err.. How did they miss khushi?.. I mean she is the obvious target
    Awesome

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  14. Brilliant...........

    Now, how often have you read that word describing your update and I use it again. It was a very important update and it reveals a lot. It is interesting no doubt, but also raises more questions and keeps us hooked. Thank you for an awesome Diwali update.

    - Kalyaani (IF)

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  15. Mind blowing!
    Too much for Khushi to handle ..first with the secret and chameli's death...

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  16. Yay! I was right in guessing Khushi is a descendant of the Royal family and this is how she is linked to the Sabers.

    Poor poor Chameli! Such a horrifying way to die! I just hope whoever committed this heinous crime, wont go unpunished as he/she deserves a fate even worse and painful than this. A**hole!

    Shyaam & Payal are complete slime balls. They should be with each other, at the earliest.

    Next update kab milega? Kab? kab? kab? (echo fading away...) :)

    Amrita_12 (IF)

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  17. wtf! what just happened! OMG update update UPDATE!

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  18. Omg! what was that? So it was just a warning to Khushi? They didn't kill her as they still dont have sabre? impatient for the next update.
    i just hope nobody else heard ASR-sasi convo..
    -shree10

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  19. i absolutely love this thrill ride... my heart was beating at a frantic pace...

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  20. superb update
    casker

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  21. Superb update.. So she's from the royal family.. Who killed Chameli?
    Prpk525

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  22. OMG! Great update SJ.
    So, it make sense why Payal was so rude and hates her.
    Poor Khushi..
    Poor Chameli...
    I am divested ASR is getting know of her slowly now

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  23. great update!!

    that's a long complicated history!!
    poor khushi, how will she cope will all this??

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  24. HEY!

    Yes I took my time, but now that I am here SJ ji... :D

    Catching up right now!

    -Vee

    V323-IF

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  25. Many questions were answered as well as more questions raised in this chapter!!
    You are one brilliant writer to pull this off!!!
    Wtf happened in the end??? dammmit!!!!!
    I hate cliffhangers now!!!! :P
    Happy Diwali!!

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  26. Wonderful update! The care and loyalty that Sashi feels toward Khushi was very well written, this must have brought alive every childhood fear for her...Loved the chapter!
    -choco_123

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  27. Wow just read all the way from chapter 4! Absolutely loving the story! So many twists and turns! Sorry for the lack of comments, just had major exams! I wonder who the traitor is???

    I loves khushi's reaction, I think its what anyone would do in that situ

    P x

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  28. Omg!!!:0
    This is so interesting...and even khushi now knows this...:/
    And chameli....:/
    Rabzooo

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  29. action packed like the skyfall!

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  30. Oh. My. God.
    What an explosive update!
    This was too much information!
    Khushi's mother a german jew .. Thats how the Sabres and mafia come in.
    I always knew Khushi would be connected gl the royals but the turn you gave - of an illegitimate child - completely unexpected. Bravo, SJ! This is genius.
    Liked Sasi -ASR's bonding, glad that the old man could notice ASR's soft spot for Khushi.
    And what just happened in the end - Khushi overhears everything. Runs off into the woods. Poor Chameli dies. Khushi, like all of us is hysterical. Shock after shock after shock. Woah!
    Witnesssing someone getting murdered is - inexplicably sad. Poor Khushi, has to endure so much :(
    Waiting for ASR's next step. And the consequences of such a big revelation.
    I knkw you're going to make it interesting as hell!
    Update soooooooon. :* thanks for this one!

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  31. What a roller coaster update!
    So many secrets in blood. True that.
    A blue blood past, a sad beginning and a secret present, future. So many questions raised!
    I for one am really glad that she got to know her real true identity, though the hard way. Misfit, stranger-- totally her state at the moment. And with the slaughter of her beloved German Shepherd, her agony just fueled.

    Intriguing update.

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  32. Such an idiot! I'm reading on my phone and I didn't realise there was an update after ch12. Ok so the 12th sabre is found! Khushi is of royal blood, and despite the FBI agents, someone managed to kill poor Chameli :( Loving it! So many mysteries and secrets! Update soon! And happy Diwali to you :)
    -jay

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  33. poor khushi, no wonder she feels so out ofplace..
    oh god,,, poor chameli.... someone is following khushi so close........ who can reach her tht easily and y didnt they hurt khushi??

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  34. So the mystery unfolds and how ...

    Khushi has heard the whole story and is shocked
    out of her wits about the reality of her situation ...
    The Russian Mafia really means bussiness ... as is obvious from Chameli's slaughter ...
    ASR really has a hard task on his hands of protecting Khushi ...

    Its going to be one nail biting story SJ ...

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  35. Hey there SJ!! First of all, I'm so glad you have copyrighted this story. It's truly a piece of genius that deserves to be marked.

    Oh my! This was one helluva update. So K is essentially a Royal out of wedlock? That's interesting, and the German Jew mum is a good connect.

    I wish she hadnt heard the convo though; nobody wants/ deserves such a tumultous history for no fault of theirs.

    Also, apologies, but I'm still not quite clear on WHAT exactly is a Sabre? Google mamu didnt prove to be too helpful either :/

    Happy Diwali to you and fam!! Yes, it's almost the 13th here in India! Hence, eat lots of kaju-badams and burst tons if crackers!! :D

    -Abhi911

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  36. OMG! Terrific Chapter..
    Can't wait for more.. Please update soon.
    Happy Diwali!

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  37. Wow! What an update! I was so glad Khushi was going to see her family over Xmas......and then this! The twists and turns in this update kept me on the edge and for a while I think I was not breathing! Fantastic!

    What a reality bomb to drop on Khushi....shit....can't even begin to imagine how she feels right now....her whole life she lived without knowing who she really is!

    Gosh can't wait...what next!?! SJ you are driving me nuts!

    Please update soon! Meanwhile...HAPPY DIWALI!!! :)

    Rayolight - IF

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  38. Amazingg Update :) I Can't Believe khushi heard!! poor soul she must be so devasted and that payal .. she is some kind of person ...in fact a slutty good for nothing sister :( Wow I Think Arnav will be so dissapointed...This sabre secret has really got me wonderingg ....curiosty at its utmost best , awesome update though , very detailled and illuminating

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  39. oh my God SJ.this is soooo interesting.

    but y such a close ending for chameli.im nvr fond of pets.but chameli....did she really breath her last????who did it?oh u r going to kill me with suspense.dont do tht.update soon.

    im happy tht sasi realized ASR as the safest for kushi,atleast tht is a step.

    there is more to sarh n mahinder.can see tht.y did he go thre?did the british govt there ordered him to do something?we had all kinds of foreign imerialists then.n i've heard the kings hv done all kinds of work for them.so mayb sarah r a big team behind it n mahinder had to do some work.was it love bwn them r a obligation r cheating.intriguing!!!

    oh she is a bastard child.this must be too painful for her.i cant think of her state.n she had to hear it too.oh shit!

    n thanks for no shyam.i had loved shyam only in ur story 'TFS'.i thot i wil lget to see such a shyam again wen u wrote this story.u knw in TFS i was alays suspicious of him.it was only to the middle i started loving him.but here shyam n payal r pain in the ***.oh God!:(

    but i like this story.as usual arnav n kushi r potential chars n i love them evn in this one.good job dear.keep going.u rock!:)

    daljeet

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  40. loved the gradual unfolding of the truth regarding khushi's past... nice inter-cultural mix... poor khushi, it must have been such a shock! her fears of never actually having belonged anywhere have ffinally come true! she needs asr to be the pillar of strength he has always been... the killing of chameli looks like an inside job, or has the mafia infiltrated the grounds thanks to all the snitching that has been going around? interesting questions that await answers!

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  41. oo..woow a thriller!!enjoyed it....

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  42. Whew! A lot of answers and yet so many more questions. Khushi's Jewish heritage is certainly the key. The weaving of events back and forth between the chapters is gorgeously done! Looking forward to the next chapter.

    Amrita

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  43. Poor Khushi...that's a lot to take in all at once. It feels a little like the Bourne adventure...they run from place to place as the baddies close in.

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  44. Too many secrets..this is really interesting.!!
    Can't wait 4 d nxt chapter...!!


    penguin143(IF)

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  45. Another amazing chapter.
    i am a little in awe of mr gupta, so much he did without asking questions.
    its good to finally find a few answers. except at the same time so many more questions are popping up in my head. what was mahinder upto?! and khushi's mum if she was just a waitress how come they knew each other from before? and so russian jewish mafia are after a german jew/her possessions..the sabres. must read the prologue again. so confused!
    the way you describe mahinder post swiss trip " He became increasingly sickly and gaunt, and at times I thought, somewhat delusional. He was fighting to keep some secret and eventually, he seemed to have lost the will to live.".....reminds me so much of macbeth!
    and poor poor poor khushi! and also its sad to see ones pet die. again takes me back hedwig in harry potter :( although we didnt know chameli for long we can relate.
    sorry about the awfully long essay of a comment.
    loving every bit of this story! thank you so much for giving it to us. lets see where asr (and u!) takes us next.

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  46. Terrific chapter. Slow unveiling of all the layers, Khushi's anguish - just splendid. I am in love with the FF, SJ. This is just really fine writing.

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  47. SJ. ....I am with you...initially I was not liking the story so much...but the last 3 chapters has made it quite interesting...though not in the same league of da Vinci code..but quite gripping still.. Do continue .happy Diwali

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  48. Very Interesting...thanks for the update
    N

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  49. arnav's character is so different here
    m loving d story
    each n every chapter is interesting

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  50. Thrilling update!!

    nam_adi

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  51. amazing chapter

    wow Khushi is damn rich... but the illegitimate child, i waiting to see how she takes it.
    Khushi's mom is linking key to the mafia..its getting very interesting

    -Smarties-

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  52. Hey,

    Mein aageyi apni bakwas ka pitara lekar!

    Tiya


    PS: Initally I had thought to wait it out till the whole thing was complete but the waiting got to me, and I am catching up, slowly but surely. Comments might be irregular, but know I am reading :)

    PPS: I LOVE YOU

    PPPS: I LOVE CHAMELI.

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  53. Ohhh no chameli!!!!!!! Why did she have to die????? And khushi...how is she going to handle this news. As it is she feels like an outsider in the family and now its proved that she indeed is one!!!! Good update.
    Star303(IF)

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  54. Phew! So thrilling and poor poor Chameli! :(
    So much for Khushi to deal with right now- gosh!

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  55. Thrilling story, thank you for writing.
    -sd

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  56. Omg poor chameli :( my heart bleeds for Khushi

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  57. I knew someone would overhear this conversation... poor Khushi...

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  58. Oh no Chameli killed in such an awful senseless manner!!!!

    So Khushi is a princess!!!

    Hope she is able to cope with the news or I'm sure with ASRs help she will be able to!!!

    Excellent update!!!!

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