Chapter 26

Raana loosened his hold on the trigger: batao...kaha chupa kar rakha hai tumne use?

Arjun closed his eyes, a tear trickled down his face: woh...house...house no...

Before he could speak further, Ayesha rammed her foot into Raana's knee. Raana screamed in pain. She snatched his gun and pushed him away. Altaf lunged towards her but Chotu knocked him away from behind and untied Ayesha's hands so she could move around more freely. Shree hurriedly opened Rathore and Arjun's ropes who were still puzzled over the happenings. Raana's men came forward to attack but the ETF was in control now. Leaving all confusion behind Rathore and Arjun charged back, breaking bones and snatching away their weapons.

A full-fledged fight ensues between the two sides. It wasn't long before Raana fell into the fateful hands of Arjun. Arjun's heart was on fire. His punches had never had such force as they had today. The thought of him trying to kill Ayesha and then ultimately Riya burned his mind.

Blood oozed from Raana's nose and mouth. His bones were breaking. He had never thought that such a day could come for him. One look at Arjun and he knew protesting was going to be futile. He didn't even have enough gap between one injury and the next to try and beg for mercy.

The other fight was over. Raana's men lay dead all around. Ayesha looked at Rathore and winked. Not able to contain himself anymore, he hugged her tightly as he sobbed. He didn't ever want to witness anything like that ever again. The mere thought of her not being with him shook him to the core.

Ayesha: Sameer relax! I'm fine! Kuch nahi hua mujhe

Sameer retorted sharply: Shut Up! Chup Chap Khadi Raho! Let Me Hug You!

Ayesha rolled her eyes and hugged him back. Shree and Chotu looked at them fondly. Their reverie was broken by the agonizing whimpers of Raana. The four pairs of eyes turned towards the source of the sound. Arjun was still beating the crap out of Raana. The trio looked at Sameer for help. Sameer collected himself and went towards them.

Sameer: Arjun! Arjun ruk jao! Please!

However, his words fell on deaf ears. Arjun was in no mood to pardon the fellow.

Sameer: Arjun please stop! Mar jaayega woh...dekho Arjun main, main tumhara gussa samaj sakta hun lekin ye koi solution nahi hai. Arjun ise maar kar tumhe kya haasil hoga? Ise court saza dega. Jail mein sadne do use!

Arjun kicked Raana away: NAHI!!! KOI COURT NAHI! KOI JAIL NAHI!! ISE SAZA MAIN DUNGA!!

Raana was almost dead. He could barely move from where he had fell. Arjun picked up a gun lying on the ground. Sameer didn't press him any further. He knew all limits of Arjun's patience levels had been crossed. Arjun loaded the gun and pointed it at him. He glanced at Raana one last time and shot him in the head ending him, once and for all.

Sameer went forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. He half-expected Arjun to become emotional but he remained stone-cold. Only, his anger had washed away.

Arjun(pulling away from his hand): kuch nahi hua mujhe! (he looked at the trio) Ayesha?

Ayesha: main bilcul theek hun sir, main toh sirf in dono ka wait kar rahi thi...ye Shree na bahot slow hai

Shree: oh hello! Bachaya na maine? Khush reh!

Sameer: par tum log? hume kuch samaj mein nahi aaya. Kaise chute?

Shree apne pocket se nail cutter nikalta hai: woh sir, subah pocket mein reh gaya tha toh uski knife se maine apni aur Chotu ki rasi cut kar di

[ok I'm not sure kitne logon ne notice kiya hai nail cutter mein humesha ek choti blunt knife hoti hai jiska use mujhe aaj tak samaj nahi aaya by the way]

Chotu: fir jab rasi kat gayi toh maine Ayesha ko ishara kiya. Usne Raana ko maara aur humne baazi fir apne haath mein le li.

Ayesha: main pehli hi kick maar deti par fir agar help nahi hoti woh firse mujhe pakad lete na, and no offense but aap dono us haalat mein the hi nahi ki madad kar sake.

Arjun smiled: none taken, good job Shree! Is nail cutter ko ab tum lekar hi ghumo. Kya pata kab kaam aa jaaye

Shree fondly looked at his nail cutter: aap sahi keh rahe ho sir, ab na main iski pooja karke ise mandir mein rakh dunga

Chotu: mujhe Prasad dena mat bhulna

His statement earned collective groans from everyone.

Chotu: par sir ek problem hai

Sameer: ab kya?

Chotu: sir, woh Altaf bhaagne mein kamyaab ho gaya, maine peecha karne ki bhi koshish ki par

Arjun: koi baat nahi Chotu, use toh hum kisi na kisi tarah dhundh hi lenge aur waise bhi ab bacha hi kya hai? Raana bhi toh mar gaya...kitne dino tak humare haath se bachega?

Ayesha: sir? Woh kis ladki ke baare mein baat kar raha tha?

For a second, Arjun thought he should tell them about Riya but then decided against it. It would be best if she herself explained everything. Besides, they were all drained emotionally as well as physically, it wasn't a good time to reveal the truth to them.

Arjun: wahi ladki jo unke wanted list mein hai

His statement shocked everyone.

Sameer: tum jaante ho use?!?!?!

Arjun: ha, where do you think mujhe woh saare sabut kaha se mile? Ayesha ne sahi kaha tha woh saari dino ki nahi mahino ki mehnat hai

Ayesha: and let me guess, wahi aapki so-called informer bhi hai, haina?

Arjun: in a way yes, tum log jis ghunghat waali ladki ke peeche pade the woh bhi wahi hai. usine woh card dhundha tha aur Saxena ki pitayi bhi usine ki thi (he leaves out the kidnapping part) aur wahi card dhundhne ke liye office mein bhi ghusi thi

Sameer: aur wahi Rafiq ke table par bhi gayi thi?

Arjun looked at him in surprise: tumhe kaise pata chala?

Sameer beamed with joy. Ayesha looked at them in shock.

He looked at Ayesha meaningfully: Maine Kaha Tha Na Tumse! Ye Zaroor Us Club Mein Aaya Tha! Aur Woh Raghu Jis Ladka Aur Ladki Baat Kar Raha Tha Na, I'm Pretty Sure Woh Bhi Tum Dono Hi Honge!

Arjun: ha, hum hi the.

Sameer(excitedly): Kya Kaha Tha Tumne Ayesha? Ki Main Random Cheezon Ko Jod Raha Hun? Ab Dekh Liya Apne Arjun Sir Ko?

Ayesha: ha! ha theek hai! itna uchaliye mat! Chaliye office jaate hai! ye saara kaam hume hi nipatna hai, formalities kaun puri karega? Aap toh baith jaayenge apne cabin mein aur order dete rahenge, upar se woh Liza bichari waha tension mein hogi...huh! And she walks out the door.

Sameer keeps looking at her with a question mark on his face: and she's back...(turning to Shree and Chotu) chalo tum log bhi jao, hum aate hai

The duo nod and leave. Arjun too starts walking. Sameer follows him.

Sameer: Arjun suno!

Arjun: Mujhe Kisi Se Koi Baat Nahi Karni Hai Rathore! Leave Me Alone!

Sameer: mujhe baat karni nahi hai Arjun sirf kehni hai

Arjun looked at him quizzically.

Sameer: main bas...thank you! Agar tum...I mean, agar Ayesha ko kuch ho jaata toh apne aapko kabhi maaf nahi kar paata, thank you so much.

Arjun: khud ko maaf nahi kar paate? Ya fir mujhe?

Sameer looked at him in shock and tried to explain: Arjun aisa nahi...

But he walks out without another word. Sameer dejectedly goes behind him. How could Arjun think that he would put one life greater than the other? The girl had as much of a right to live as Ayesha. Had he distanced him to such an extent?

They quickly round everything up and go back to office. Arjun goes straight to his cabin and locks it from inside. Liza heaves a sigh of relief as she sees them in person. The four of them start to chatter immediately.

Sameer: baatein baad mein karna, pehle kaam khatam kar lo, ghar nahi jaana hai kya?

Ayesha(irritated): aap cabin mein jayiye, hume pata hai paperwork karna hai...hum kar lenge. Saans toh lene dijiye.

Sameer shook his head in disbelief and leaves. The others giggle at their Chief following his wife's orders.

Arjun's cabin-

He collapses on his chair and gulps down the glass of water. He removes his phone and dials a number.

His house-

Riya was sitting in the bedroom, whilst searching something on her laptop. The faint sound of a ringtone alerted her. She got up from her seat and tried to search for the source of the sound. It was coming from Arjun's cupboard. Confused she opened it. The ring got louder. She checked the drawers and there it was...a phone ringing inside. She picked up the phone.

Riya mv "ye number toh... Arjun ka hi hai lekin ye phone kaha se aaya?

 She cautiously answered it: hello?

Arjun: Riya?

Riya heaved a sigh of relief: aap hi hai, par ye phone?

Arjun: woh mera emergency number hai, undercover ke liye use karta hun, tumhe dene waala tha par...

Riya: ha, mujhe phone nahi rakhna tha, acha aap theek hai? aap hai kaha?

Arjun: office mein

Riya: aur woh...

Arjun: Raana mar gaya

Riya screamed in excitement: SACH?!?!?

Arjun: ha

Riya: OH MY GOD!! MUJHE TOH YAKEEN NAHI RAHA? Woh Sach Mein Mar Gaya!!! Hey Bhagwan Thank You So Much!! DAMMIT ARJUN Aap Yaha Kyun Nahi Hai? aap yaha hote toh main... main aapko kiss karti

Arjun smiled weakly: lagta hai ghar jaldi aana padega

Riya blushed: ayiye na, kyun office mein jaa kar baith gaye? I miss you!

Arjun: kaam khatam karke aata hun warna woh Rathore firse kebab mein haddi ban jaayega

Riya: acha theek hai, par jaldi aana

Arjun: ab woh mar gaya na? ab ye phone abhi ke liye tum hi rakho

Riya: ha baba theek hai, main rakhti hun. Aap jaldi se sab kuch khatam kijiye, main aapka wait kar rahi hun

Arjun: Riya?

Riya: ha?

Arjun paused before he continued: Riya...I...I am sorry

Riya(confused): aap sorry kyun keh rahe hai?

Arjun: kyunki...(cracked) Riya maine...I...kyunki maine...tumhe, dhoka diya hai

Riya(tensed): ye, ye aap kya keh rahe hai? dhoka diya matlab? Aap...(his silence only feeds her fears) Arjun aap, aap boliye na...dhoka matlab? Kaisa dhoka? Aap...aap mujhse...(tearfully) aap mujhse pyaar nahi karte?

Arjun: pata nahi

Riya felt dizzy, she caught hold of the cupboard's door for support: Arjun? (a tear trickled down as she recalled the moments they had spent) kya sab kuch jhut tha?

Arjun remained silent, unable to put his feelings into words.

Riya was crying by now: why? I never told you to love me!!

Arjun: you didn't but I did, apni marzi se Riya...main (he closed his eyes) aisa kaunsa insaan hoga Riya? Jo apne hi pyaar ki bali chadhane ke liye raazi ho jaaye?

Riya was more confused than ever: Paheliyan Bhujana Band Kijiye! Aur Saaf-Saaf Bataiye Ki Hua Kya Hai!!

Arjun broke down as he narrated the events that had happened. He told her how he was about to give her up for Ayesha. Relief washed over Riya as she understood what he had meant when he said he wasn't sure of loving her. She wiped away her tears and comforted him.

Riya: Arjun..

Arjun(cracked): I'm sorry Riya...main sapne mein bhi tumhe chot nahi pahuncha sakta lekin aaj...main hi jaanta hun ki uski shart mante hue mere dil par kya beet rahi thi...trust me Riya...main...

Riya: Arjun, please shaant ho jayiye.

Arjun: nahi Riya...

Riya: Arjun, listen to me. Main aapse bahot pyaar karti hun Arjun aur main ye bhi jaanti hun ki aap bhi mujhse utna hi pyaar karte hai, shayad zyaada. Aapko guilty feel karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. hum haq bhi toh apno par hi jamate haina? Mujhe bilcul bhi bura nahi laga ki aapne Ayesha ki jaan bachane ke baare mein socha aur waise bhi (she tries to cheer him up) agar aap unhe address de dete aur woh log aa bhi jaate toh main kaunsi unke haath lagne waali thi? Jabse mari hun tabse unhe chakma de rahi hun aur Chetan ko bhul gaye aap? Aurat ki kabiliyat par kabhi shak nahi karna chahiye. Ulta agar woh yaha aate na toh us Altaf ko bhi us Raana ke saath neeche bhej deti!

Arjun(confused): neeche?

Riya: obviously! Unke jaise Ghatiya log swarg mein thodi jaayenge? Narak mein jaayenge na? toh neeche

Arjun manages to laugh amidst his tears: kya karu main tumhara?

Riya: mera kuch mat kijiye, aap office ka kaam khatam kijiye aur jaldi-jaldi ghar aa jaiye. In fact, hum na ek kaam karte hai. aap ghar aane ke baad thoda aaram kar lijiye.. uske baad na hum kal shaadi kar lenge okay?

Arjun chuckles at her solution: jo hukum, fir honeymoon ke liye kaha jaana hai?

Riya: are pehle aap ghar toh aao, shaadi toh hone do, uske baad shanti se decide karenge na. waise bhi main aadha desh toh ghum hi chuki hu, koi nayi jagah dhundhni padegi na? toh uske liye time lagega na?

Arjun shook his head in disbelief: thank you Riya...so much

Riya: your welcome hone wale pati dev (complaining) ab jaldi phone rakhiye aur jaldi ghar aayiye!!

Arjun: ha baba jaisa tum kaho, bye

Riya: bye!

Call disconnect

Arjun finally feels lighter after talking to Riya. He rests his head on the head rest and decides to join the others after a little while so that he could calm himself down completely. Now that he had confided into her, he felt peace. More so, because his promise hadn't been broken. She was safe now, ready to do whatever she wanted.

On the other side-

Riya phone apne pocket mein rakhkar firse laptop ki taraf jaati hai. screen par MLA Shirke ki details hai. her mind goes back to the thoughts she was having mv "is Shirke ka zaroor koi na koi connection hai, main maan hi nahi sakti ki iska koi lene dena nahi hai, Altaf bhi toh bhag gaya. Mujhe check karna hi hoga.

Woh laptop band karke ghar se nikal jaati hai. woh apna scarf pehan kar records mein bataye gaye Shirke ke bungalow par pahunchti hai. waha baahar thodi security hai. woh pure area ko scan karti hai.

Riya mv "pure ghar mein sirf ek hi kamre mein hulchul hai, ho na ho woh Shirke ka hi kamra hai.

Woh mauka dekhkar, deewar chadkar ghus jaati hai aur bhag kar pillar ke peeche khadi ho jaati hai. guard round maarte hue firse udhar aata hai. kuch second waha ruk kar aage jaata hai. uske jaane ke baad Riya pipe ke sahare upar ke floor par chadti hai. woh balcony ke railing ka sahara lekar usmein kud ti hai. woh doorway ki deewar par lag kar chupi rehti hai.

Andar zoro shoro se argument chal rahi hai. Riya dheere-se peep karti hai. Shirke ek admi ko daant raha hai. uske aaspaas 2-3 guards aur hai.

Riya mv "Arjun sir sahi the, ye Shirke toh coma mein hai hi nahi, nakli medical report se sabko bevkuf bana raha hai.

Woh seedhe hokar unki baatein sunti hai. woh phone nikal kar vice recording shuru karti hai.

Shirke(gusse mein): Tum Log Jaise Nalayokon Ko Pata Nahi Kyun Kam Par Rakha Hai Maine. Udhar Agar Us Raana Ke Bache Ne Mera Naam Ugal Diya Toh Mere Saare Kiye Karaye Par Paani Fer Jaayega!! Ek Baar Pakde Gaye Toh Ye Coma Ka Naatak Karna Pada...Laashon Mein Chip Kar Drugs Bechne Pade! Fir Bhi Pakde Gaye, Woh Bhi Dusri Baar!!!

Admi: par boss hum kya kare? Woh ladki...usine naak mein dam karke rakha hai

Shirke: ALTAF! NAAK MEIN DAM TOH TUM DONO NE KARKE RAKHA HAI MERE!!! KYA ZAROORAT THI ETF KE MUH LAGNE KI? JAB TUMHE PATA CHAL GAYA THA KI WOH TUMHE PAKADNE WAALE HAI, TOH CHUP CHAP BHAAGE KYUN NAHI?!?!

Altaf: boss, hume laga ki ETF aur us ladki dono se nipat lenge, fir bhaagne ki bhi zaroorat nahi padegi isliye...

Shirke use thapad maarta hai: isliye tum logon ne apne saath-saath meri bhi naav dubo di!! Upar se bhaag kar yaha aa gaye! MISHRA!!!

Mishra: ha sir?

Shirke: mujhe aaj raat hi desh ke baahar jaana hai taiyaari karo!

Mishra: ji sir, aapki beti ko bhi inform karna padega.

Riya recording band karti hai. woh use Arjun send karti hai aur Shirke ke bungalow ka address bhi SMS karti hai. unfortunately neeche patrol karta hua guard use dekh leta hai.

Guard: GHUSBAITHI!!!

Riya chouk kar use dekhti hai. isse pehle ki woh kuch samaj paaye, kamre ke guards balcony mein aa jaate hai...