(AUTHOR'S NOTE : MALINI CHATURVEDI'S POV has been described as the 3rd Chapter in my book AryLie : THEIR SIBLINGS.)
Half an Hour before Narmada's Phone Call to Dev.....
"How can this be, Raju ???"
Narmada stood numb with shock at Raju's narration, after seeing off Jiji and Preetha.
The usually jovial guy was scared, and unable to believe his eyes.
After the House-helps had left for their tasks, Raju Bhaiyya had stayed behind to reveal what he had seen yesterday.
It was beyond His Belief. He had rubbed his eyes and slapped himself as He had witnessed the despicable act by the Younger Chaturvedi Woman.
Such a sweet-natured Woman with an angelic face, a struggling Single Mother .... Why would She harm her own baby !!!
Raju had to check the CCTV Visuals in the hallway to confirm that His eyes had not lied to Him and that the smoke from the fire had Not got in His eyes, after all.
And here he was, a good 20 Hours later, testifying to the Senior Rathore Mother, who stood horrified at what he narrated.
"Yes Maa Ji. I was running to take the first-aid kit from the Kitchen, and something caught my eye and I looked up .... Malini Madam was standing at the top ... In Green Saaree ... And I saw Her ...... throwing a ball towards the other end of the landing, and I saw the ball going near the pram.. and it suddenly started rolling.. I was scared and, and, and I just.. froze..... and then I saw Aryan Baba running to get the Baby in the pram.. it felt like He was shouting something to Imlie Didi while She was running up the stairs, but I couldn't hear it properly... Both had panicked. I was also scared Maa Ji ..... Then... Both had Stopped as Aryan Baba caught the Pram.... And then... I saw Imlie Didi reach out to Aryan Baba... And then..."
Raju took huge gulps of air to continue.
"I had slightly hidden behind the pillar, as you all took Imlie Didi to the Hospital. And before that..... when I saw the Ball falling down the stairs, I... I ..... I knew... I could guess .... Why Imlie Didi had fallen down... And... And... Malini Madam was watching it all.... from the Top... She ... She was smiling ! Maa Ji, She was smiling !"
Narmada sat down on the nearby sofa, as She felt energy being drained out as the impact from Raju's words, her eyes unseeing.
Raju continued as anxiety overtook Him. He could Not falter now, he needed to do this for this Family :
"Maa Ji... I thought .. that I was stupid... Malini Madam is Her Elder Sister ... atleast namesake... right.... But then... the other day .... Aryan Baba had instructed me to install the CCTV in the main hallway and the stairs ... and I checked the visuals... It is all in there, Maa Ji !!"
"Raju."
"Ji !"
"Bring Me a glass of water first. Then... Do you know how to transfer those visuals ?"
"Ofcourse Maa Ji !"
"Good. Make several Copies of it in different devices. And bring them all to me."
"Maa Ji, I am sorry I could Not say this earlier... I.. I ..."
"You are in Perfect Time, Raju."
As Raju left to carry out the instructions, Narmada took deep breaths to get a grip on herself, and dialled Dev Chaturvedi's Number.
*************************
To be continued.....