Chapter 25

Arjun: Madad Karna Chahte Ho? Isliye Meri Life Mein Taaka-Jhaanki Kar Rahe Ho Right?

Ab Rathore shock hota hai: ma...matlab?...

Arjun: Oh Please! Tumhe Kya Laga Mujhe Samaj Mein Nahi Aata? Tune Mere Ghar Ke Baahar Khabri Bitha Kar Rakha Hai Right?

Rathore ke paseene chutne lagte hai mv "ise kaise pata chala? Ye toh maine Ayesha ko bhi nahi bataya.

Arjun: Ab Chup Kyun Ho Gaye? Jawab Do!

Rathore: Arjun let me explain...tum jaisa samaj rahe ho waisa nahi hai, I was worried isliye...

Arjun: SHUT UP! Galti tumhari nahi hai Rathore, meri hai. mujhe hi firse galatfehmi ho gayi thi, kal tumhare us dayavaan nirnay ko lekar...par main galat tha, Firse! Tum kabhi nahi badloge! Kabhi Nahi!

Itna kehkar woh waha jaane lagta hai.

Rathore: Arjun meri baat suno...

Arjun darwaaze se mudta hai: aur ha! tumhare khabri ki khabar toh main le chuka, agar dobara tumne aisa kuch bhi karne ki koshish ki toh mujhse bura aur koi nahi hoga

Rathore: Arj...

Par Arjun chala jaata hai.

Rathore table par punch karta hai: Dammit! Us Idiot Ki Toh! Kaha Tha Usse Arjun Par Nazar Rakh Rahe Ho, Sambhal Kar Rehna Par Nahi...Bevkuf! Ugh!!

Woh irritate hokar apne khabri ko phone karta hai.

Admi: hello?

Rathore chillane waala hai lekin: kaun ho tum?

Admi: aapka nahi, Arjun sir ka admi hun

Rathore(angrily): mere khabri ko phone do!!

Admi: sorry, Arjun sir ne mana kiya hai, aapka admi tab tak mere saath rahega jab tak sir kahe

Rathore apne muh mein aane waali galiyon ko kisi tarah control karta hai: Tumhe Toh Main...!!!

Woh gusse mein call disconnect kar leta hai.

Rathore phone table par fekta hai: Arjun musibat mein na pade isliye ise lagaya tha lekin isne toh alag hi matlab nikal diya, (sigh karke) ab pata nahi Arjun mujhe kabhi maaf karega bhi ya nahi? (fir hyper hokar) nahi, nahi mujhe use manana hi hoga, par kaise?

Tabhi Ayesha cabin mein aati hai

Sameer(startled): tum kabhi knock nahi karti na?

Ayesha: aap achanak itna chid kyun rahe hai

Sameer: woh...nahi main tumhe nahi bataunga

Ayesha: kyun?

Sameer: tum mujhe daantogi

Ayesha(sternly): Sameer seedhe-seedhe bataiye kya kiya aapne ab?

Sameer(sheepishly): woh actually...(woh use puri baat batata hai) maine use isliye Arjun ke peeche lagaya taaki woh us ladki ke baare mein pata kar sake aur Arjun uski wajah se musibat mein na pade lekin woh toh Arjun ke peeche hi pad gaya. Ayesha main jaanta hun ki tum meri baat se sehmat nahi ho lekin mera man maan hi nahi raha hai ki Arjun ke informer ki hume Raghu tip dena aur woh wanted ladki sab connected nahi hai.

Ayesha: hey bhagwan Sameer! Aapne khabri kyun lagwaya aur lagaya toh lagaya, aise idiot khabri ko kyun lagaya? Aur rahi baat us ladki aur informer ki toh...dekhiye pura sach kya hai ye hum abhi nahi jaante isliye apne logon par shak karne ke bajay hume un criminals dhyaan dena chahiye. Kahi aisa na ho ki us ladki ko dhundhne ke chakkar mein itna bada gunehgaar humare haath se nikal jaaye

Sameer sigh karta hai: galti ho gayi, tum sahi keh rahi ho

Ayesha: ha woh toh dikh hi raha hai mujhe

Sameer: main kya karu ab? Kaise Arjun ko manau?

Ayesha(sochte hue): ek idea hai mere paas

Sameer(khush hokar): kya?

Ayesha use idea batati hai

Sameer: idea toh acha hai, par agar woh aur gussa ho gaya toh?

Ayesha: toh seh lena thoda

Sameer sigh karta hai: theek hai.

Ayesha: aur ha, main isliye aayi thi kyunki Chotu ka phone aaya tha. woh keh raha tha ki Altaf waha 8 baje aanewaala hai

Sameer: theek hai. main thodi der mein aata hun, Arjun ka nipta kar

Ayesha nod karke chali jaati hai. Sameer phone lekar Arjun ko message karta hai.

Arjun's cabin-

Arjun apne hi soch mein baitha hua hai.. achanak uske phone par message aata hai. woh uthakar check karta hai.

Rathore- maine toh teri protection ke liye use lagaya, jaise baakhi sabke ke peeche lagaya hai. sach! Raana ka kya bharosa, sab maare gaye...team ko bhi khatra ho sakta hai isliye. Sorry tumhe pehle na batane ke liye. Mujhe maaf kar de.

Arjun bina reply kiye side par rakhta hai. jaise hi woh rakhta hai firse message beep hota hai. woh fir check karta hai.

Rathore-maine toh teri protection ke liye use lagaya, jaise baakhi sabke...

Arjun irritate hota hai: ye ek hi message do baar kyun bhej raha hai?

Itne mein firse message aata hai...wahi waala. Arjun confuse hota hai. ek ke baad ek Rathore ke messages aate rehte hai aur sab mein wahi cheez kahi gayi.

Arjun frustrate hota hai: ise balance fukat ki milti hai kya, kitne messages kar raha hai?

Tab tak 4 messages aur aa gaye hai.

Arjun: Dammit!! Block bhi nahi kar sakta ise...(firse message beep hota hai)  UGH!!! (woh finally irritate hokar reply kar hi deta hai)

Arjun- BAS KAR MERE BAAP! Maan Li Teri Baat Ba Ek Aur Message Kiya Toh Aakar Phone Fod Dunga Tera!!! Samjhe Ya Samjhau?!?!

Rathore immediately reply karta hai: THANK YOU!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Arjun- zyaada udo mat! Warna screenshot lekar, mere bajay upar ladki ka naam daal kar Ayesha ko dikha dunga khabardaar jo ek aur message kiya hai toh!

Rathore apne cabin mein almost naachne lagta hai: Woohoo!! Ayesha ka plan kaam kar gaya! (shaant hokar) chalo ab kaam par lagte hai.

Woh conference room mein jaa kar sabko bulata hai. Arjun use ghurte hue aata hai. Rathore apni smile chupata hai aur Ayesha ko discreetly victory look deta hai.

Rathore: ha toh kya bataya Chotu ne?

Ayesha: are bataya toh tha, ki 8 baje Altaf aayega

Rathore: ha, toh hum 7 baje tak dockyard ke aas paas pahunch jaayenge, fir jaise hi Chotu hume Altaf aur uske admiyon ki position batayega, hum us hissab se strategy bana kar attack karenge aur ha! Ayesha, Chotu yaha nahi hai, weaponry aur back up dono tumhe sambhaalne hai. (Ayesha nod karti hai) Shree, make sure we have good communication devices, waha network issue ho sakta hai aur Liza tum nahi aaogi, this one's dangerous.

Liza: sir main waha nahi aaungi par aapke saath Dockyard ke paas tak toh aa sakti hun na sir please? Warna mujhe tension hoti rahegi aur agar kisi ko chot aayi toh main first aid bhi toh de sakti hun aur agar zaroorat padi toh aur back up bhi toh bhej sakti hun

Rathore sigh karta hai. woh apna jawab dene hi waala hai lekin fir uske man mein khayal aata hai. woh Arjun ki taraf dekhta hai. Arjun apni eyebrow raise karta hai. Rathore Liza ki taraf ishara karta hai jaise ki woh uska opinion jaanna chahta ho. Arjun choukta hai par fir negative reply deta hai.

Rathore: nahi Liza

Liza: par sir...

Rathore haath upar karke use rokta hai: agar baat tumhare tension ki hai toh main tumse vaada karta hun, jaise hi sab settle ho jaayega hum tumhe inform kar denge, ok?

Liza ka chehra utar jaata hai.

Rathore: ok then, that's settled.

Waqt ret ki tarah beh jaata hai. pata hi nahi chalta kab unke jaane ka waqt ho jaata hai. Liza ko chod kar, sab office se nikalte hai aur Dockyard se 1 km dur ek jagah par rukte hai. Back up bhi wahi pahunchti hai. Sab Chotu ki information ka wait kar rahe hai and finally...Rathore ki ringtone bajti hai. woh phone ko speaker par rakhta hai.

Rathore: ha Chotu?

Chotu: sir, good news hai

Shree: kya?

Chotu: Altaf akela nahi hai, Raana bhi hai uske saath

Arjun alert hokar Rathore ke haath se phone kheench leta hai: Kya Tum Sure Ho Chotu?

Chotu: ha sir 100%

Rathore: acha ye batao kitne admi hai waha?

Chotu: sir kuch 25 log hai.

Rathore: theek hai, tum alert raho. Hum jaldi aate hai.

Chotu: ji sir

Call disconnect

Rathore: blueprint nikalo

Ayesha map unroll karti hai. on the spot woh log plan banate hai. 20 minute mein woh log ready ho jaate hai.

Rathore (team ki taraf mudkar): let's go!

Chaaron Dockyard pahunchte hai. Shree apne Taser se watchman ko behosh karta hai. woh peeche sabko signal karta hai. uski lead lekar team silently gate se enter karti hai. waha ke workers ki nazro se bachkar woh log area mein spread out hote hai. andar pahunch kar woh Chotu ko bhi inform kar dete hai. Chotu aur uske saath ke officers, sab alert ho jaate hai.

ETF silently ek-ek admi ko gira rahi hai. Arjun north side par hai, Rathore East, Ayesha west aur Shree south. Chotu aur back-up officers chaaron ko cover de rahe hai. Itne mein Altaf ka admi unhe dekh leta hai.

Admi: POLICE AA GAYI!! RAANA BHAI KO SAFE BUNKER MEIN LE JAO!!!!

Ye sunkar dono side se firing shuru ho jaati hai. Altaf ke admi ek direction ki taraf concentrate hote hai. ETF bhi Raana ko pakadne e liye usi taraf jaati hai. team ke paancho members re-group hote hai. woh goons ki wall ko tod kar jaldi hi aage bunker ki taraf chale jaate hai.

Arjun par toh jaise khoon sawar hai, woh Raana ka kissa wahi ka wahi khatam karna chahta hai. Sab ladne mein bhi busy mein, sirf ek hi admi ke man mein doubt aata hai.

Rathore mv "ye log itni aasani se peeche kyun hat rahe hai?

Par situation aisi hai ki woh kuch kar nahi sakta aur unki badkismati se sab kuch Altaf ke plan ke according hote jaa raha hai. Raana ke name ke peeche ETF unke jaal mein fasti chali jaati hai. dekhte hi dekhte woh log bunker mein pahunch jaate. Arjun ko andar ke kamre mein parchayi dikhayi deti hai. woh uske peeche jaane ke liye aage badhta hai lekin tabhi... unke peeche darwaaza band ho jaata hai.

Arjun ke pair apne-aap ruk jaate hai.

Rathore: shit!

Ayesha (unfazed): lagta hai hum galat jagah par aa gaye.

Arjun frustrate hota hai: SHIT! Woh Firse Humare Haath Se Nikal Jaayega!

Woh jaakar darwaaza kholne ki koshish karta hai lekin woh khulta nahi. Woh gusse mein use kick karta hai. woh darwaaze ko todne ki koshish karta hai par darwaaza strong hai. baakhi sab Arjun ko is had agitated dekhkar choukte hai.

Rathore bas use dekhe jaa raha hai mv "kya lena-dena hai iska Raana ke saath?

Arjun ka josh dekh kar woh khud hi use rokne ki koshish karta hai.

Rathore: Arjun! Arjun shaant ho jao!

Arjun: RATHORE TUM BEECH MEIN...

Tabhi ventilator grill se achanak dhua aane lagta hai.

Ayesha groan karti hai: ab yahi baakhi tha

Shree(exasperated): Ayesha Shut Up! Chotu Darwaaza Tod Isse Pehle Ki Hum Sab Behosh Ho Jaaye!

Chotu nod karta hai par

Ayesha: Shree? Dhua choda hai toh darwaaza na tute aisa hi lagaya hoga na? idiot!

Dhua failne lagta hai. Ayesha ke comment ko ignore karte hue, Arjun, Rathore aur Chotu teeno darwaaza kholne ki koshish karta hai.. sab smoke ki wajah se cough karne lagte hai.

Rathore(coughing): DAMMIT!!! Kis Cheez Se Bana Hai Ya Darwaaza?

Arjun ke man mein us waqt bhi ek hi cheez aati hai mv "Riya...

Kuch hi der mein paancho behosh ho jaate hai. Unke behosh hone ke kuch pal baad, dhua band hota hai. darwaaza khulta hai, kuch masked men andar aate hai. Arjun, Rathore aur Chotu teeno darwaaze ke paas hi hai. Ayesha aur Shree kamre ke beech mein. Woh log puri team ko Altaf aur Raana ke paas le jaate hai.

2 ghante baad-

Wahi dockyard ke ek bade bunker mein Altaf aur Raana dono apne admiyon ke saath khade hai. unke saamne team ko circular formation mein band kar rakha hai. ek admi un par paani fekta hai. uski wajah se sabko hosh aata hai. achanak paani padne ki wajah se sabko shock lagta hai.

Woh reflexively uthne ki koshish karte hai par hil nahi paate hai. Dheere-dheere unki aankhein khulti hai. tabhi unhe realize hota hai ki unhe bandh kar rakha gaya hai.

Arjun mv "kaash Riya hoti, apne khanjar se do minute mein sabko chudwa deti...lagta hai mujhe bhi khanjar lekar ghumna shuru karna chahiye.

Altaf aur Raana unke saamne hai. dono apne plan successful hone ki wajah se bahot khush hai.

Rathore: Raana?

Raana: yaha sawaal main karta hun ACP Rathore! Na humare paas barbaad karne ke liye waqt hai aur na tumhara paas...toh seedhe point par aate hai. Altaf!

Altaf Arjun ke aage jaata hai aur uske sar par bandook rakhta hai: ladki kaha hai?

Arjun ka gussa aasmaan chuta hai aur baakhi ki team confuse hoti hai.

Rathore: kaunsi ladki?

Altaf smile karta hai: wahi jisse tumhare is officer ne chupa kar rakha hai.

Sabko shock lagta hai.

Rathore: Arjun, ye kis ladki ki baat kar raha hai?

Arjun koi jawab nahi deta hai. Altaf apni gun load karta hai.

Altaf: dekh ACP chup-chap bata de ki woh ladki kaha hai warna...

Arjun: warna kya? Maaroge mujhe? (sternly) Himmat Hai Toh Maar Ke Dikha! Main Bhi Dekhta Hun Tum Log Us Tak Kaise Pahunchte Ho!!

Altaf gun ke handle se uske sar par maarta hai. uski chot choti hai par fir bhi thoda khoon behta hai.

Chorus: Arjun sir/Arjun!

Arjun use glare karta hai: tujhe jo karna hai kar le Altaf, par woh tum logon ke haath kabhi nahi lagegi!

Rathore: DAMMIT! Arjun Kis Ladki Ki Baat Kar Raha Hai Woh? Why The Hell Is She Worth More Than You?

Raana ko gussa aata hai: Altaf use chod! (woh apni gun nikalta hai) tujhe teri jaan ki parvah bhale na ho ACP lekin (Ayesha ke sar par bandook rakhkar) iski jaan ki toh hai.

Arjun ki aankhein badi ho jaati hai.

Rathore protest karta hai: DON'T YOU DARE!!! STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!

Woh apne aap ko chudwaane ki koshish karne lagta hai par rassiyan tightly bandhi hui hai. Raana Ayesha ko pakadkar group se alag karta hai aur use hostage bana kar Arjun ke saamne laata hai. Arjun react karna bhul jaata hai.

Rathore: Nahi...AYESHA!!!

Raana: bolo ACP kaunsi ladki zyaada zaroori hai tumhare liye? Woh jise tumne chupa kar rakha hai ya fir ye jo tumhari team mate hai.

Rathore: Ayesha...he desperately turned to Arjun.

Arjun was only staring at Ayesha in Raana's captivity. His brain went backwards in time. His wife's murder flashed in front of his eyes. Rathore's words rang in his ears "Tumhari laparwahi ki wajah se Roshni ki jaan gayi hai Rawte!!! Agar tum uski zindgi mein nahi hote toh woh zinda hoti!! Tumne uski jaan li hai! ek mangadhant criminal ke chakkar mein tumne apni biwi ko bali chadhaya hai! The dark and lonely nights enveloped him. The pain of losing her haunted him. He couldn't allow his friend to go through the same thing...that too because of him. He tried to scream for help but wasn't able to move a muscle. Riya's face flashed in front of him. The way she had melted his heart, warmed him. She had kidnapped to help protect his dignity despite being at risk herself. The trust she had placed in him, that he would protect her from any harm. The moments they had spent in the past few days flashed like a movie. He had got her back from the dead. She had come back to him. Was he ready to lose his love for the third time? Could he betray her? Break his promise? Abandon her? Break her trust? Could he bear it? Was he ready to carry another burden of guilt till his dying breath?

Rathore's heartbeat had risen off the charts. He was desperately trying to free himself but was unable to. He couldn't see the love of his life die in front of his eyes.

Raana pressed the barrel of the gun to Ayesha's head: lagta hai tumhare boss ko tumhari koi chinta nahi hai...(he loaded the gun) sad...

Rathore: NA...

Arjun(cracked): ruk jao! Don't!...use...use kuch mat karo, please!

Rathore looked at him in relief, shock and confusion while Altaf and Raana did a mental victory dance.

Arjun gathered all the courage and strength that was left in his body: main...batata hun

His heart screamed at him but he had no choice. Sameer had never faced such a loss in his life, but he? He had lost his love before, hadn't he? And he had lost Riya before? How hard it could it be to revert? He knew Riya would forgive him for the betrayal. He knew she understood him like no one else. This time too, she would understand that it wasn't really his choice to make. He knew that these men wouldn't leave her alive. Maybe they were never meant to be. Maybe their togetherness wasn't the objective of her being alive. Maybe it was time to say goodbye, after all...