Chaalbaaz #ReadersChoiceAwards Completed G

Chapter 11

Part 11 [MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]

Rathore smiles as she leaves. Her words had calmed him down to quite an extent. She was right in a way. It was Arjun after all. Arjun may have team issues and socially phobic tendencies but he was smart enough to get the right people involved at the right time. The solving of crises always mattered most to him, no matter what the method……………………..

In another corner of the city, Arjun was pacing up and down the street. Soon, a motorbike drove up the pathway. He stopped near Arjun and removed his helmet as he got down.

Man: salaam saab

Arjun nods: mila?

He removed the bag from the handle of his bike: ha saab, aapne jo bhi kaha, sab kuch le aaya

Arjun smiles: chalo mere saath

ETF-

Though he was calmer, Rathore kept checking the watch, it had been 2 hours since Arjun left. He wondered if Arjun was going to stay disappeared for the next 24 hours, doing everything alone. Just then his phone beeped with a message.

Arjun- Rathore! Meri baat dhyaan se suno. Team ko lekar Dadar pahuncho, Siddhivinayak Mandir ke paas, main wahi milta hun tum sab se, hume raid maarne jaana hai lekin ye baat tum kisi ko mat batana

Rathore- ok hum aate hai lekin raid kis baat ki?

Arjun- abhi nahi Rathore, baad mein

Rathore shook his head. However, he did not have any other option other than to follow him, did he? He had to do as he said and so he does. He goes to the conference room. Rathore catches the attention of the team.

Rathore: guys!! Move out, hume ek case ke liye jaana hai!

Before anyone could ask anything, he leaves. They exchange glances amongst themselves but follow orders. Shree is suspicious due to the absence of Arjun for so long. However, he was also satisfied as the location of his phone had not been anywhere where Riya was. If so, he would have been sent an alert immediately. Yet, he wasn’t ready to underestimate the ACP. Knowing the others were curious as well, he asks Rathore as they sit in the car.

Shree: waise sir, hum kaha jaa rahe hai?

Sakshi: ha aur kis liye aur Arjun ko nahi bulana? Woh dikha hi nahi kal ke baad

Rathore starts driving: use pata hai ki aana hai, filhaal hum Dadar jaa rahe hai

Ayesha: koi murder hai sir?

Rathore looks at her subtly from the rear view mirror: actually, attempt to murder hai lekin high-profile hai toh isliye

Ayesha understands the hidden meaning. It was related to Arjun. Something was cooking in that guy’s brain.

Shree: kaun high-profile sir?

Sakshi: are usse kya farak padta hai? meri news report toh dhamakedaar banegi

Shree: tujhe teri news report ke ilawa aur kuch sujhta hai?

Liza: tumhe apne gadgets ke ilawa aur kuch sujhta hai Specky?

Shree: you…

And that leads to a banter between them that Rathore did not mind for once. It gave him respite from their questions. As Arjun said, Rathore sped upto the Siddhivinayak temple. He noticed his car parked on a side at the main road and pulled over.

Sakshi: hi Arjun!!!! Kaha chale gaye the tum?

Arjun: tumse chutkaara paane

She pouts and glares at him.

Rathore: bolo Rawte

Arjun: Shree

Shree eyes him apprehensively: ji sir

Arjun: hum sabko bluetooth se connect karo

Chotu: kyun sir? murder investigation hi toh karni hai

Arjun ignores him: Shree, tumhe sunayi nahi de raha?

Shree: ji sir, karta hun

Arjun did this purposefully, once they were connected. Shree would not be able to use his phone to send messages or call without them knowing. Plus, he had activated a basic jammer in his phone that would allow transmissions only from the official sim cards of ETF. Therefore, there was no chance that Shree could use any other phone.

Arjun: ok guys! Ab suno, hume ek gangster ko pakadne ke liye raid maarne jaana hai

Chotu: kaun sir?

Arjun: sawaal mat karo kaam karo! time kam hai, we need to get there, and fast! Move it!

They split into the two cars. Shree tries to move in with Rathore. Not wanting to take any chance, Arjun sits in the passenger seat, giving his car keys to Ayesha. Shree clenches his jaw. He couldn’t change cars without gathering suspicion now. Ayesha would have asked but the conversation that she had had earlier with Rathore did not let her and she obeyed silently.

Arjun: main directions deta hun

She nods and takes the driving seat. Rathore gives him a quizzical look.

Arjun: are baba batata hun raasta, tum drive toh karo

Shaking his head, Rathore ignited the engine. Arjun continued to give directions to Juhu. They entered a posh neighbourhood of the city.

Shree understood his game the minute Arjun gave his car keys to Ayesha. The ACP had it all figured out or so he thought. He sniggered to himself. If he really wanted to keep all of it a secret he shouldn’t have involved the ETF at all.

Arjun directed the team to K. J. Road. He stopped them just before the gate of the last bungalow in the lane.

Arjun: yahi humari jagah hai, attack!!!

Guns flew out. Rathore announces their arrival with a shot in the air and they rush in. The team surrounds the bungalow by dividing 4 teams. Rathore and Shree took the entrance. Arjun and Liza took the back, Ayesha and Sakshi took a window on the left while Chotu, one on the right.

For a moment, Arjun is surprised at the lack of security after what had happened at the hospital. However, he did not have time to dwell on it as Rathore barked orders to engage.

They barged in all at once, ready to take on whoever dared to block their path.

But, the house was… empty?

They scoured and searched through each and every room with Arjun getting restless and panicked.

The team gathered into the main hall.

Ayesha: yaha toh koi bhi nahi hai sir, aisa lagta nahi ki ye kisi gangster ka ghar hai

Chotu: ha!

The sound of the door banging a wall made eyes turn. Arjun was still searching the house frantically.

Rathore: Rawte kya kar rahe ho? koi nahi hai!

Arjun shouted as he checked another room: NAHII!!! Aisa Nahi Ho Sakta!!

Rathore: Rawte meri baat suno…

Arjun: Nahi!! Nahi….Aisa Nahi Ho Sakta Hai…(muttering) kaha chali gayi woh…nahi…

Her words ring in his ears.

“Mujhe yaha se nikaliye”

“Please help me”

Arjun(frustrated): NOOOO!!!!

Rathore goes to him. He holds his shoulders to shake him.

Rathore: Rawte!! Hosh mein aao! Kya bol rahe ho? kya nahi ho sakta?

Arjun: Rathore yahi woh jagah hai, main sure hu

He sees the desperation return to his eyes: Rawte shaant ho jao!

Arjun: KAISE SHAANT HO JAU?!?!!?

“ant mein jeet aapki hi hogi sir”

He dropped to his knees with his mind racing at an incredible speed. He pressed his temple to make sense of what all was going on. Where was she? She was supposed to be here! When and how did they shift her? Or was the information false? Just another game to play with him?

The others look at him in worry. Rathore places a hand on his shoulder.

Rathore: Rawte…

Arjun stands up with a jerk, glaring at Shree. The technical expert maintained his innocent face as always.

Arjun gritted his teeth: Kaha Hai Woh?

Rathore: tum Shree se kyun…

Arjun took quick steps grabbing Shree’s collar: JAWAB DO MUJHE SHREE!!!!

His action sweeps away the ground from beneath everyone’s feet.

Shree answers fearfully: sir aap kya keh rahe hai, mere kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha hai

Arjun glared at him to bore holes in him: Faaltu Ki Bakwas Mat Karo Shree!! Khatam Karo Apna Khel!!

Rathore pulls Arjun away from and steps in between.

Rathore: Enough!! Bakwas tum kar rahe ho Rawte! Kis Baat Ke Bina Par Tum Shree Ko Accuse Kar Rahe Ho?!?!? What The Hell Is Wrong With You?!?!

Arjun: SABOOT CHAHIYE TUMHE?!?!!? TOH PUCHO ISSE KI ISKE PHONE SE CHETAN KI BASTI KE PCO PAR CALL KYUN JAA RAHE THE???

Shree’s eyes widened. He had no idea how Arjun came to know about it without him knowing first. He wasn’t even using his registered sim card for the same matter. Neither did the sim cards they found from Chetan’s hideout had been used for their contact. Nor had Arjun travelled anywhere near the basti again. However, he continued to feign innocence. Why would anyone in ETF suspect the poor technical expert who loved his gadgets on the basis of a PCO call?

Shree: sir aap kya bol rahe hai sir… mere informer usi area mein hai sir isliye main us PCO par call karta hun

Arjun: JHOOOTT!!!!

Rathore had had enough. He had been worried about all the emotional upheaval that Arjun was going through but he was not going to tolerate anyone laying a finger on his team.

Rathore glared at him: Bas Bahot Hua Rawte!! Tum Shree Par Shak Kar Rahe Ho?? Jo Ladka Ek Makhi Tak Nahi Maar Sakta Us Par?? Woh Bhi Ek PCO Call Ki Wajah Se?! Tumne Time Maanga Maine Diya, Tumne Chupane Ko Kaha Woh Bhi Maine Kiya But I Won’t Let You Accuse Innocent People, Samjhe!!! Mujhe Tumse Ye Umeed Nahi Thi!!!

Arjun balled his fists and glared at both of them. He had been right all along. When they were not believing him with evidence, how the hell were they going to believe him without it? The back of his mind thanks his lucky stars that he didn’t risk Riya by sharing the truth. He stamped his foot and left the room.

Rathore sighs deeply wondering what had taken over the sanity of his friend. He places a comforting hand on Shree’s shoulder who was now close to tears.

Rathore: uski baat ko dil par mat lo Shree, woh, tumhe toh pata haina? Woh gusse mein kabhi bhi kuch bhi kar deta hai

Shree composes himself and nods. The Chief glances at the others giving them the cue to leave. The team leaves the bungalow. They were walking on the lawn towards their cars parked outside.

Ayesha: Rathore sir, ab kya hoga?

Rathore: mujhe nahi pata Ayesha, usse baat karne ki koshish ke ilawa, main kuch…

Female voice: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Startled, they look at each other.

Chotu: ye awaaz?

The scream repeated.

Sakshi: baahar se, chalo!

They rush out to see Arjun manhandling a woman. The team was hit by another lightning bolt. What the hell was Arjun doing? Since, when did he become so manner less?

Shree balls his fists. He grits his teeth scowling at Arjun. The arrogant officer was going to pay for this, he would make sure of that!

The girl tried to free herself but his grip on her wrists was firm as he dragged her on the road. There was fury in his veins and fire in his eyes.

Rathore somehow manages to come out of shock: Arjun!!!

Arjun turns his face: KOI BEECH MEIN NAYI AAYEGA, YE MERI SHIKAAR HAI!!!

Rathore: ARJUN TUM PAAGAL HO GAYE HO???

Arjun: Haa!

He throws her on the road and removes his gun shocking the others further.

Arjun: Ye Us Gangster Ki Behen Hai Jisne Uske Saath Mil Kar Sab Kuch Kiya Hai, Woh Toh Nahi Hai, Kam Se Kam Ek Paap Toh Kam Ho Hi Jaayega!!!

He loads his gun.

Shree’s gun goes straight up: ARJUN!!!

Two bullets shot out of the barrel and hit his chest.

Rathore/Sakshi: Arjun!!!

Chorus: Arjun sir!!!!!!

His shirt stained red as he started falling to the ground. Shree runs to the girl.

Shree: Riddhima!!!

He grabs her hand as Arjun falls with a thud. She quickly stands up and the duo run to a car. The ETF had barely reached Arjun when they sped off!

Rathore takes Arjun’s head in his lap: Rawte!!

They all had tears in their eyes. Only one of them was able to capture the essence of what had just occurred.

Liza: iska… iska matlab ye sab Shree ne?

The team stares at her in horror. Arjun was saying the truth! Shree was guilty!................................

bloomie2020-06-18 07:09:01