Chapter 27

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

Riya punches him in the face but he dodges. The other man shoved her inside. She fell on the inside. Her scarf fell from her face. Shirke and Altaf was shocked to see her there. The three men surrounded her. Riya got back to her feet as they circled her. Mishra lunged towards her.

But Riya was back to her senses. Her knife stabbed his heart. Mishra screamed. Riya pushed him at the second and engaged with the third one. The knife grazed his shoulder. She kicked the second one as he recovered. Mishra lay on the ground, close to death.

The other guards came hurrying to the room to protect Shirke. They saw Mishra lying on the ground and Riya fatally injuring the other two. She was about to finish the second man once and for all when someone caught her armed hand and twisted it back. Riya used her other hand to elbow him as she struggled to free from his grip. The guard let go of her. She turned and stabbed him but before she could pull back a heavy object hit her head.

Riya: AAAHHH!!!

She fell to her knees. Taking the opportunity the left over guards snatched her knife and pinned her to the ground. Riya tried to free herself but was unable to. the men tied up her hands and forced her on her knees.

Shirke: kaun ho tum?

Altaf: boss!! Ye wahi ladki hai! isi ne sab kuch bigada hai. yahi us ACP ke saath mili hui hai.

Riya: mujhe pakad kar kuch haasil nahi hoga tum dono ko, jis tak jo pahuncha tha woh pahunch chuka hai.

Shirke steps forward: haasil toh bahot kuch hoga, ab tum hi meri dhaal banogi aur mujhe yaha se baahar nikalogi!

She glares at him: kabhi nahi!!

Shirke: woh toh waqt hi...

A girl jerks open the door: Mishra!!

All eyes turn to her. The ground sweeps away from her feet.

Girl: Dad? Aap...aap (tearfully) coma mein se baahar aa gaye?

Riya muttered to herself: gaya hi kab tha?

Shirke exchanges glances with his men and gesture them to follow his lead.

Shirke: ha beta, ab main theek hun

She ran to him and hugged him(sobbing): kabse Is din ka intezaar kar rahi thi main aur ab...(she parts from him) par kaise?...kab?

Shirke: meri beti musibat mein ho aur uska pita uski pukar sunkar bhi na aaye toh baap kis kaam ka Sakshi?

Sakshi: but dad...(suddenly her gaze falls on the girl imprisoned) ye...ye ladki kaun hai?

Shirke: yahi tumhari saari musibaton ki jad hai beta

Sakshi: meri musibate? Matlab?

ETF office-

Arjun went back to the conference room after a short while everyone was muttering curses and fussing about the need for doing paperwork at the time. Chotu was literally sleeping on the table due to the lack of the rest the others had got for a short while. Arjun felt pity on them.

Arjun: kuch help chahiye?

His voice caught everyone by surprise.

Ayesha happily started to instruct him: ha sir, ye lijiye ise proof read kar dijiye. Bahot mistakes niklenge, meri toh aankhein band ho rahi hai, kitni mushkil se likh rahi hun mujhe hi pata hai.

Arjun smiles and takes the papers she gave him. Seeing him accepting it even Shree and Liza piped in.

Shree: sir, (giving him a few evidence bags) inhe catalogue kijiye na

Liza: aur sir, jitne bhi drug baraamad hue maine unki list bana li hai, aap please inki cost estimation calculate kar lenge, mujhe saari forensic reports bhi finalize karni hai.

Arjun took the evidence bags and Liza's papers as well.

Ayesha: aap kitne ache hai sir, Sameer toh baith gaye cabin mein, ab tak toh so bhi gaye honge

Arjun smiles in reply and continues. Sameer enters just then with a cup of coffee. He raises his eyebrow when he sees Arjun working with them.

Sameer(taking his seat): Arjun? Tum ye sab kyun kar rahe ho?

Arjun was about to answer him when Ayesha interrupts.

Ayesha: woh apni bhabhi ki baat maan rahe hai

Sameer rolled his eyes: main nahi karne waala kuch, I'm tired

Ayesha: ha toh bola maine aapse kuch nahi na?

Sameer: ye Chotu so kyun raha hai?

Arjun: Rathore, make yourself useful faltu ke sawaal karna band karo aur sabke liye coffee aur mere liye chai lekar aao

Sameer: ha, ye main kar sakta hun, par tujhe tea bags thodi pasand hai?

Arjun: jitna kaha jaaye...his phone interrupts him.

He opens the message. He was about to open the video when his eyes fell on the next message- MLA Anand Shirke: VP road, bungalow number 6. He immediately realized Riya had gone there.

Arjun: DAMMIT!!

Leaving everything he jumps up from his seat to leave. Surprised, the others follow him.

Sameer tried to ask him: Arjun kaha jaa rahe ho?

Arjun(without stopping): tumhe samjhaane ka waqt nahi hai mere paas!!!

Sameer: main aaunga!!

Arjun stopped in his tracks.

Sameer: if it's important for you, I'll be there!

Arjun really wasn't in the mood but he had to get to Shirke. He glanced at the team and nodded. The team rushed out. Sameer took charge of the wheel. Arjun gave him the address. It was 12:30am. The roads were empty. To top it, Sameer's racing skills hadn't rusted. The 45 minute drive was covered in 15 minutes. The team hopped out whilst firing bullets in the air announcing their arrival.

None of the guards were present on the grounds as all of them had gone up to tackle Riya. ETF had no difficulty getting in.

Inside-

Sakshi: Dad aap kya keh rahe? Main is ladki ko jaanti tak nahi toh phir ye meri musibaton ki jad kaise hui? Aur (tensed) aur ye Mishra aur baakhi ke guards ko...ye sab kya ho raha hai?

Shirke: yaad karo beta, tumne mujhse kya kaha tha? yahi na ki tum apne pyaar ko apni jaan se bhi zyaada chahti ho

Sakshi(bewildered): par...us waqt toh aap...aap coma mein the.

Riya rolled her eyes at the question but she too was confused as to what connection she had with his daughter.

Shirke: ha main coma mein tha lekin Mishra ne mujhe sab bata diya. Tumne kitni koshish ki Arjun ko paane ki (Arjun's name alerted Riya) lekin fir bhi woh tumhe thukrata raha aur ab...us Judge ne tum par ulta case kar diya hai. uske saabit hote hi tumhe saza ho jaayegi. kuch hi dino mein shayad woh bhi tum par case kar dega.

Sakshi: Dad! Lekin is ladki us sab se kya lena-dena?

Shirke: kya tum nahi jaana chahti ki Arjun ne tumhe kyun thukraya?

Sakshi's eyes widened at the question: kyun?

Shirke pointed at Riya: is ladki ki wajah se

Riya mv "Oh God! Im so dead she struggled to free her hands but the ropes were too tight. "Dammit! Ek baar haath khul jaaye toh ise dikhati hun, ki Riya kis cheez ka naam hai.

Sakshi: iski wajah se?

Shirke: ha beta! Isi ki wajah se Arjun ne tumhe nahi apnaya...kyunki woh is ladki se pyaar karta hai.

Sakshi(shocked): WHAT?!?!!?

Shirke: ha beta, yahi hai woh

Sakshi: lekin...lekin aise kaise ho sakta hai? Roshni Toh Mar Chuki Hai!! Use Sikandar Ne Maara Tha

Shirke: ha lekin ye Roshni nahi hai, ye uski dusri aashiq hai

Sakshi(shocked): DUSRI?

Shirke: ha, dusri!! Isliye woh tumhare paas nahi aana chahta

Sakshi glares at Riya. Arjun's rejection flashes in her mind repeatedly.

"lekin mere dil mein tumhare liye kuch nahi hai

"Tumhari Soch Itni Ghatiya Ho Sakti Hai, Ye Maine Nahi Socha Tha.

She steps forward dangerously and spread her hand. Shirke gestured his men to do as she said. One of them placed a gun in her palm.

Riya stared at her mv "hey bhagwan! Arjun kaha hai aap? Jaldi aayiye please!!!

Sakshi gripped the gun tightly. She glared hard at Riya and raised her hand. She brought the butt of the gun heavily on her forehead.

Riya: AAAHH!!

The skin above her right eyebrow cut and the wound started bleeding.

Sakshi: Tumhari Himmat Kaise Hui Mujhse Mera Arjun Cheen Ne Ki?!?!

Riya winced in pain. Her head was throbbing. First the injury at the back of her head and now this.

Sakshi: iski saza toh tumhe chukani hi padegi!

Shirke: ha beta, maar do ise taaki...

Sakshi: Nahi Dad! Isne Mujhse Mera Pyaar Cheena Hai, Itni Aasani Se Nahi

Riya shuddered at the possibilities that were forming in her mind. Sakshi smirked as she saw fear forming on her face. Shirke wanted or rather needed the chapter to get over soon. He hadn't forgotten that Riya had already sent a message for help.

Shirke: Sakshi us sab ka waqt nahi hai humare paas, isne already baahar inform kar diya hai, Arjun apni team ke saath pahunchta hi hoga

Sakshi(shocked): WHAT?!?! ETF KO PATA CHAL GAYA HAI?!?!

Shirke: ha Sakshi, ise yahi maar do aur chalo, hume ye desh chodkar jaana hai

Sakshi: nahi dad! Main ise itni aasan maut nahi dungi, hum ise bhi apne saath le chalte hai. Arjun Ise Dhundhta Rahega Aur Ye Tadap-Tadap Kar Maut Ki Bheek Maangegi!!

Shirke groaned mentally, he was about to reason with her when gunshots resonated in the atmosphere shocking everyone. Shirke only had a handful of guards left.

Shirke: Sakshi! Peeche waale kamre mein chali jao, ye log tumhe cover karenge. Waha ki emergency staircase use karke peeche ke raaste se airport chali jao, main tumhe wahi milunga

Sakshi nods. She grabs Riya's arm and drags her out of the room along with herself. Riya didn't protest. If Sakshi was alone, she would be able to deal with her easily. Shirke's guards too rushed out behind them. They started firing in response, providing cover to the boss's daughter. Sakshi ducked and dragged Riya to a room on the opposite end of the corridor near the stairs. Shirke on the hand, hurriedly got a brief case and opened his safe. He started transferring all his documents and bundles of money into the bag.

The ETF had entered. Arjun was just in time to see a female figure disappearing in a room above and as far as he was concerned, Riya was the only one. He cursed mentally and showered an onslaught of bullets advancing towards the staircase.

Rathore was surprised to see him in such vigor. He gestured Ayesha to cover and help Arjun. Ayesha nodded. The team was strategically well, taking cover behind pieces of furniture and pillars. They knew they would soon overpower the guards.

Arjun moved forward. Protecting himself by laying low and hiding behind the stair's railing he climbed to the first floor and swiftly swerved to the room he had seen the figure go into. Ayesha tried to follow him but it was difficult. A shower of bullets blocked her. She cursed them and countered.

Inside-

Sakshi had somehow managed to get Riya without being seen by the ETF. She advanced towards the staircase leading from the balcony but Riya stopped walking spontaneously.

Riya: leave me!

Sakshi tried to drag her: Shut up!!

But she was no match for Riya's strength.

Riya stood her ground and started to instigate her. If there was something that she had realized amidst all the court drama it was that Sakshi couldn't control her temper. If she got her angry, she would be able to hold her till help came.

Riya: Tumhe Kya Lagta Hai? Mujhe Maarne Se Arjun Tumhare Ho Jaayenge? KABHI NAHI!!

As expected Sakshi grew furious: I SAID SHUT UP!!! (she grabbed Riya by the shoulders) Tum Hoti Kaun Ho Decide Karnewaali Ki Woh Kya Karega Aur Kya Nahi? Arjun Sirf Aur Sirf Mera Hai Samjhi Tum!!

Riya: ye tumhara wahem hai Sakshi kyunki Arjun ne agar Roshni ji ke ilawa kisi se pyaar kiya hai toh woh sirf main hun!

Sakshi slapped her in anger. Riya fell to the ground and glared at her.

Sakshi pointed the gun at her: Woh Pyaar Karega! MUJHSE KAREGA!! Aur Woh Bhi Tumhare Marne Ke Baad!!!

She loaded the gun and a gunshot reverberated through the space.

Riya closed her eyes bracing for impact. Sakshi screamed and stumbled behind. Her gun was knocked out of her hand.

Arjun: RIYAAA!!!!

Riya opened her eyes in relief: Arjun?

Arjun rushed to her and cupped her face: mana kiya tha na maine tumhe? (he put his gun on a side and opened her ropes) kyun meri baat nahi maanti tum?(he pressed his handkerchief on her forehead) dekho kitna khoon beh raha hai. He helped Riya stand up.

Sakshi fumed as she saw Arjun fussing over Riya. The gun was at a distance. She quickly picked up the gun again.

Sakshi: Arjun!!!

Arjun looked at her in shock as he finally saw her face: Sakshi tum? Tum kaise?

Riya cleared his confusion: Sakshi Anand, MLA Anand Shirke ki beti jo apna surname chupa kar apna power use karti hai. (Arjun looked at her in surprise) kyun Sakshi sahi kaha na maine?

Sakshi smirked: ha bilcul sahi kaha. Kisi ko shak na ho isliye main surname nahi lagati.

Arjun: Sakshi Enough! Chup-Chap Surrender Kar Do Warna...

Sakshi: warna kya? Kya karoge tum? (Arjun attempts to pick up his gun but she loads hers) Sochna Bhi Mat Arjun Peeche Hato!!! (he unwillingly stops) Main Is Ladki Ko Nahi Chodungi! Iski Wajah Se Tum Mujhse Door Hue Ho! Iski Saza Ise Bhugatni Hi Hogi!!

She shifts the aim of the gun to Riya again. Arjun immediately stands in front of her, despite Riya's protests.

Arjun: Usse Pehle Tumhe Mujhe Maarna Hoga!

Sakshi: Arjun Raaste Se Hat Jao!

Arjun(firmly): NEVER!

Sakshi seethed in anger. She tightened the grip on the gun. Riya realized her anger had crossed all limitations, she wouldn't even spare Arjun if it meant to kill her.

Sakshi's finger was on the trigger. Staring right into Arjun's eyes she squeezed it! ...