Chapter 11

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

This is a short update. Will try and compensate with a mid week update🙈

Chapter - 9

Samrat gauged the situation being played out in front of him within seconds of coming across a young girl being followed by 3 men who looked like goons in the middle of a jungle at this hour. It really didn’t need a genius to figure things out. And almost as on reflex, owing to his army background, he went on alert mode, changing his position like a crouching tiger circling its prey. He didn't hear Sai call him; he was too engrossed on the movements of the targets, mentally chalking out his rescue plan. The story of why and how could wait, but he should deal with the immediate danger now and leave the rest for later. Sai on the other hand didn’t know how to express her gratitude for this divine intervention. She was thankful for Samrat coming to her rescue just in time, but she was also grateful at his appearance. However mysterious this encounter may seem it still meant he was alive and that was enough for her to send a silent prayer of gratitude. She knew what he meant to Virat and she couldn’t imagine the relief this news would bring to him. And the trauma Mansi bua had been going through would finally see an end. The entire family had been worried sick and there was not a single day that he wasn’t mentioned, or his name didn’t appear in the prayers of the family members. They still lived in the hope that he would return one day. And here he stood in front of her, in flesh and blood. She quickly regained her composure, from the shock and surprise of seeing Samrat. This was not the time to go numb, but to spring into action with the help bestowed on her in the form of Samrat. She had to understand his strategy and facilitate him in his plan to fight or escape. 

Just then Jagtap’s voice broke into the building tension into silence of the dead night. 

Jagtap – Whoever you are, I’m giving you a chance to run away now, and I will grant you your life. Or else be ready to face the dangerous consequences. This has nothing to do with you. Just leave from here, assuming you never saw anything. 

Samrat didn’t respond and continued to circle around them waiting for that opportunity to attack. 

Jagtap – Why do you want to risk your life for some random girl? Who is she to you?

Samrat – I don’t need to build relationships to protect the someone. I’m an army man and we are trained to fight against every enemy whether an insider or outsider and to protect every citizen of this country. I will not let you bring any harm to her till I’m alive. And I will not even give you the opportunity to leave, because the likes of you need to be punished. You will get your dues by my hands before you and your men are handed over to the authorities.

Jagtap and his men were taken aback by the fact that they were facing a defense personnel. But he soon let a loud nervous laugh to cover up. Jagtap signaled to one of his men who took his strike at Samrat with a knife. While Samrat was trying to block the attack, Jagtap took this opportunity to hold Sai captive in his grip. The other goon then tried to attack Samrat from behind when he was busy fighting with the other one. Sai alerted him by screaming her heart out… “Dada”. Samrat dodged the attack, but he didn’t miss the genuineness and the familiarity in her tone when he called him dada, like she was used to calling him so. A gruesome fight ensued between the three of them while Jagtap and Sai looked on. However, they were no match to Samrat, and he soon overpowered them. Jagtap sensing his men losing the fight, aimed his gun at Samrat. But Sai was quick to react as she kicked him in his shin. And the surprise element got the better of him while he stumbled letting go off his gun. As Sai tried to get her hands on the gun, she felt her tripling as Jagtap got hold of her ankle. He got himself on his feet before pulling Sai up by her arm. But just as he tried to go for the gun he saw Samrat leaping for it. Reconsidering his next move, he took advantage of the darkness and escaped dragging Sai after him. Samrat followed them, but the dense forest and darkness were making it difficult. But then Samrat was trained for far more extreme situations. While they were now divided in 3 groups – Sai & Jagtap, his two goons and then Samrat, and scattered around. Samrat held up his torchlight, when he heard a screech followed by some muffled noises from nearby bushes. Jagtap had tightened his grip on Sai and closed her mouth with his hands to stop her from calling out for help. Samrat switched off to light, and advanced towards the bushes. He knew how to find his way in the darkness, he was only looking for the direction. And he had that now. And he wanted to use it to his advantage and their disadvantage. 

Biting into the hand that covered her mouth she screamed out, “Samrat Dada, I’m here”, before Jagtap took over again. Jagtap was surprised that this person was known to Sai. Did Virat send him? Is this his plan all along? Were they already here watching them?

Samrat on the other had stopped in his tracks at being addressed by his name. It had been a while since someone had called him by his birth name as he had picked up an alias to hide his identity ever since he went absconding. But what puzzled him was this girl calling him not just by his real name but also addressing him as “Dada”. Undoubtedly, she knew him, but how? He had never met her before, he was sure of that. Then who was she and how did she know him. What if she is connected to the Chavans and would expose his wherabouts to them? But he let these questions and doubts slide back for now as he had to save her first. He would get to solving this mystery later. What followed was an hour-long chase in the dark, with Jagtap managing narrow escapes, before Samrat finally stood in front of home with the gun pointed at him. Finding no other alternative, Jagtap pushed Sai towards Samrat and escaped into the darkness. Samrat was in a fix between following Jagtap or staying back with Sai and he opted for the latter. He would be caught sooner or later, but he couldn’t risk leaving her alone while he chased him. Samrat walked towards a shaken yet relieved Sai, 

Samrat – Who are you? How do you know me? And who are these men who are following you?

But before Samrat could get his answers, Jagtap’s men appeared out of nowhere and aimed at them. Just then gunshots were heard, and the two men collapsed on the ground. Samrat and Sai looked up to see policemen descending the slope and lights flashing everywhere and police vehicles lining up on the road above. And then she heard him. The voice from a figure approaching her with lightning speed…“Sai”

The moment she spotted him she ran into his eager arms. He held her in his tight embrace, trying to compose his racing nerves and assuring himself that she was alive and safe. It was a desperate hug, pouring out the anguish, the fear of losing and never seeing each other again. Virat was the first to break the hug as he started to examine her for any injuries. Despite Sai’s assurances, he still was not convinced and kept asking her repeatedly. He again pulled her back into his embrace to ensure that he had found her in time, and they were together finally. He didn’t mind his colleagues moving around, searching the place thoroughly, or stand around as onlookers. He didn’t care. He stood there holding his wife, tears releasing the fear and anxiety he had lived with in the last few hours, thanking Bappa a zillion times for giving his Sai back to him. This probably was one of the most difficult day in his entire life, professionally and personally. Because they had somehow merged into one with Sai being involved in it. Sai on the other hand had surrendered herself in Virat’s arms. He was her safe ground, and she knew that nothing could touch her till he was around. It had been her mistake to act without thinking and walking into the same trap of Jagtap again. And she knew the depth of the agony he would have endured to get to her. They just stood there basking in the new leash of life that had been bestowed upon them, their life together, their life in the other! 

Virat had not yet spotted the inquisitive pair of eyes staring down at them. Samrat stood surprised and confused at the scene being played out in front of him. This was Virat, his brother, whom he trusted more than his life and who had betrayed him. The man who his wife was in love with and openly expressed it to his brother on their wedding night. But who was this girl then? The way they were staring into each other’s eyes, and the pain, the desperation…the LOVE evident in every gesture every action. If Virat was in love with her then what was it about Pakhi proclaiming her love for Virat? This was all muddled up, and Samrat had to get to the bottom of it. Is his brother two timing with this girl? No, the emotions were too genuine to be passed as an act. Then what was the missing piece that would fix this puzzle for him. He stood there waiting for them to get over their overwhelming emotions and acknowledge his presence before he went out to them for his answers!

Chapter 10 - Complexity of human emotions!!

[MEMBERSONLY]