Avenging Heartlands: A gripping crime thriller with a stunning twist (Heartlands Thriller 2) by Neelabh Pratap Singh

Author:Neelabh Pratap Singh [Singh, Neelabh Pratap]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-16T23:00:00+00:00

21

DEV

If not for Constable Yadav, Dev wouldn’t have known about Pradhan Pankaj Singh’s visit to his ghetto. Thankfully, SHO Atul was more concerned about the pradhan’s visit to the basti than him and had instructed him to head for the basti right away. “I don’t trust the pradhan,” his boss had said. “He isn’t visiting our neighbourhood for some trivial matter. Go and see what the upper caste Rajput is up to.”

As if the pradhan’s visit was not in itself a surprise, he saw the basti dwellers amassed in front of his house. As he reached closer, he spotted Pankaj Singh descending the steps of the veranda along with Umesh Rai and Diya. Pankaj’s son, Nikhil, followed the trio. But the real shock came when he saw Seema Devi and her kid.

What the hell the pradhan is up to?

His father too was present in the veranda with his mother.

People were dispersing when he stopped his bike in front of his house. Diya was the first one to notice him. A cheerful smile spread across her small, oval face as she waved at him. The pradhan’s reaction was a different one, dominated by sharp frowning.

“Well, well,” the pradhan said. “I’m glad you’re here.” Pankaj turned towards Dev’s father. “Your father saved the day for us today.”

Confusion unfurled inside Dev as his eyes flitted between the pradhan, Diya, and his parents. Diya stepped forward and told him about Pankaj Singh’s proposal for hiring Seema Devi as his housemaid and urging the basti dwellers to accept her as their own.

“My father?” Dev asked, genuinely surprised. “He allowed Seema Devi to live in the old room behind our house?”

Diya flashed a wide smile, her head bobbling with excitement.

He looked at his father. His father motioned to come to him with Diya.

Dev cleared his throat. “My father… Diya, my father… if you don’t mind…would like to meet you.”

Diya spun and watched his father, the delightful smile still lingering on her lips. “I just got to know that he used to work for Papa.”

Dev nodded.

“That’s why he was looking so familiar,” Diya said.

He was your Ajju Uncle, Dev thought, but the words couldn’t leave his throat. “Come.”

The brightness in his father’s otherwise tired and watery eyes intensified as Diya neared him.

“Diya, beta.” The words came out almost as a gasp. Dev feared his father might start sobbing, which would be very embarrassing in front of Diya. He remained a couple of steps behind her.

Diya folded her hands in a Namaste gesture. “Namaste, Uncle.”

“It’s been such a long time,” his father croaked. “You were just a kid when I used to take you to Bhulla’s place.”

Diya’s mouth opened ajar, recognition entering her eyes. “I… I… so it was you.” He flicked a glance at Dev.

“You used to call me Ajju Uncle,” his father said.

Realisation dawned on her face as a warm smile spread her lips. “Ajju Uncle. Yes, now I remember you.”

Dev’s father sniffled. “‘Ajju Uncle, I want to see the canal’, ‘Ajju Uncle, I want to go to the mango orchard’, ‘Ajju Uncle, I want to go have launglata’.

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