Chapter 31

[MEMBERSONLY]

Hello Arakshians. back with a new part.

pls read and reply.errors ho toh maaf kardena.

Thanks for liking and commenting on it! ur comments is my driving force.thanks a ton!

Disclaimer: all characters, situations and names used in the story are fictional.any similarity is purely by coincidence!

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Part 19A:

He glanced to her side silently. Something which he had been doing so long to read what was running in her mind. What was troubling her? Why was she so aloof and alien to him?

His mind and heart screamed and hurled those questions to her side but somehow never once did they come out of his mouth! he didn't know why but he could never voice them openly to her.

Even those silent words never failed to reach her heart...but her heart could only reply back helplessly, I am sorry Arjun!

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They reached ETF...all were happy to see Sakshi back...all their worries and tension for her well being and safety had made them really anxious...Shree and Liza hugged Sakshi and welcomed her in...Aisha was relieved to see Sakshi and so was Sakshi...she was so relieved and feeling happy seeing all her friends!

Arjun couldn't help a grin seeing their bond...such cute bonds and gestures were all alien to him...he never could relate to such things...perhaps Roshni's death had made him a stone who was devoid of all such emotions...

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As they sat around the conference table discussing the next course of action, Rathod decided that Sakshi will face Vikrant alone first just to see if recognizes Sakshi and also his reaction to her...

Rathod was sure that Vikrant would in an impulse confess his crimes relating to the conspiracy which trapped her father! Though he had told about his illegal businesses, he was yet to open his mouth regarding Sakshi's dad...

But Arjun wasn't so sure if he wanted to send Sakshi but then as a cop, he knew that he had to nod to his chief for such an experiment!

Sakshi was a bit tensed but not scared to face him...afterall, the ETF team was with her!

Arjun came to her side just before she went in and held her hands within his voicing, "Sakshi...daro matth...hum sab yahi hai!"

Sakshi nodded and Arjun left her fingers hesitantly as she walked in...

Vikrant was sitting at the table and her foot steps made him look up at her...

Though he had broken down a bit, his attitude and arrogance still lingered on his face...and the sight of her only added to that attitude...

He smirked as her face became clearer...

She could sense that he had recognized her...He voiced arrogantly, "oh tum ho inn sab ke peeche..."

She took a step back when she saw him stand up and coming closer but then Arjun's words rang in her mind and she stood boldly facing him...

She replied confidently, "haan main hi hoom...Sakshi Anand...Anand Shrivastav ki beti"

He came closer and spoke up, "yeah right, "THE Anand Shrivastav" ki beti, I should have guessed it...maine ek galathi hi kiya hai...tumhe thoda underestimate kar liya tha...socha ladki hai, ek dho baar daraane se bhaag jaayegi...par nahi...tum toh Jhansi ki rani nikhli!"

Sakshi smirked back at him which he caught at the wrong note and fumed out angrily, "ek baar iss haat lagi thi...usi din tumhe aise...[he stopped and added] koyi baat nahi...main bohat jald baahar aa jaavunga...and sweety, you are going to be my first treat...[his hands raised to her shoulders but before he touched her, Arjun grabbed his hand and came between him and Sakshi]

"Sochna bhi matth...warna yeh haat tutega hi...saath saath yeh tumaara ghandha dhimaag hai na, ussme goliyaan barr dooga..."

Arjun's thunder like SYS was enough for Vikrant to step back...but his eyes darted to Sakshi...

Arjun noticed his lusty look and voiced, "Sakshi tum baahar jaao..."

Sakshi tried to protest, "but Arjun.."

He glared to her side and spoke "jaisa kaha hai waisa karo...Go"

She didn't argue further but just walked out...Vikrant smirked and his eyes trailed her till she went out...Arjun edged closer hiding his vision, pointing at his eyes, "yeh aankhen baahar keench loonga Vikrant...phir kisi bhi ladki ko aankh utaake dekh nahi paavoge"

Vikrant looked into Arjun's face and chuckled as if taunting Arjun, "accha? Woh ladki tumaari behen ya biwi toh nahi? Toh chill maar na ACP...tum baahar jaao aur usse andhar bhej deh...yahaan beite beite bore ho raha hoom! Chal jaa..."

Arjun punched his face and he faltered back cupping his face, yelling in pain...blood oozed from his nose and his lips were cut too!

His disgusting words were more than what Arjun could take...He couldn't control his rage and so he didn't even try to control it!

As Vikrant harshly wiped the blood off his face, Arjun spoke up holding him by his caller, "lagtha hai ke tumne mere baat teek se suna nahi...agar ek lafz bhi galath bola toh tera aisa haal karunga ke seedhe kadha nahi ho paayega"

Vikrant's smirk never faded even after that blow...that angered Arjun even more and he took out his revolver...

Shoving it into Vikrant's mouth, he thundered, "mujhse aisa khel tumhe baari padega Vikrant...ladki ko chodo aur seedhe seedhe sacch batha dho...warna...main kuch bhi kar saktha hoom...samjhe ya samjhaavum?

Vikrant didn't move a bit while Arjun pulled the trigger further...

Right at that moment, Sameer entered and tugged Arjun back voicing..."Rawte, chodo usse..."

Arjun reluctantly let go of him and moved back allowing Sameer to take charge!

Sameer signaled Chotu to come in and take Vikrant away...

Once left to themselves, Rathod spoke up, "Rawte, aise ghussa hone se baat bigad jaayegi...Vikrant bohat pakka khiladi hai...ussne abi tak Sakshi ke papa ke baare mein kuch bhi nahi kaha...usse daraa dhamkaane se kuch haasil nahi hoga"

Arjun was fuming with anger and he responded, "phir kya kartha Rathod...chup chaap usske badthameez baatein sunn letha, huh? Tumne sunaa na ussne Sakshi se kya kaha?"

Sameer: Rawte cool down...Sakshi koyi aam ladki nahi hai...she is brave enough to handle all this...usse thodi dher Vikrant se baat karne dehte toh shaayad...

Arjun snapped him short and replied, "nahi...Main Sakshi ko uss jaanwar ke saath akele nahi chod saktha...waise bhi, woh pehle se hi pareshan hai...We cant drag her into this and trouble her more Rathod!"

Rathod could see more than care and concern for Sakshi in Arjun's eyes...He was angry but there was a hidden emotion, a hidden feeling behind all that anger, care and concern...

Rathod mellowed down instantly and placed his hand over Arjun's shoulders voicing, "Rawte, tum teek ho na?"

Arjun instantly recoiled back and replied, "haan...I am fine...[he turns to walk out without able to face his chief's questions...Arjun knew that Sameer would have questions relating to his overly protectiveness for Sakshi...but he wasn't ready to face them yet...before leaving the room, he adds] Sakshi ko beech mein laaye behair yeh case kaise solve karna yeh mujhe patha hai Rathod...So don't worry!"

He walked away leaving behind Rathod who was in deep thoughts...and his thoughts were less about solving the case and more about Arjun!

Rathod knew that the case would get solved surely...there was no chance of failing there but he was worried for his second in command who for the first time appeared confused about his own feelings and emotions...Rathod had sensed that Arjun was deeply entangled and caught between his feelings for the "Miss wrong number" of his life!

He had seen love reflecting in Arjun's eyes while he was talking but his mind was shutting out all that and posing indifference to his own feelings...

It was indeed a tough situation and Rathod knew that solving Arjun-Sakshi case would be tougher than the case they had in hand!

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It was past midnight when the team called it a day...

It was decided that Sakshi would stay with Rathod for the time being...The drive to his place was silent...but all their hearts were brimming with anticipation and much more...about the case and also about their own life which seemed to be trapped in a web of mixed and strange emotions!!

Somewhere deep down, Arjun's heart weighed down at the thought that Sakshi wont be staying with him hereafter...He would never accept it openly but he surely felt a unique peace when Sakshi was with him at his place...but from that night, he was all alone in his lodge...and that troubled him like hell...He had to accept to himself atleast that he had started liking her presence, her company, the conversations! Perhaps he had started liking everything about her!

Given a choice, he would keep Sakshi always with him...protect and safeguard her with all his might!

But he knew that at the moment, he had no other choice but let go of Sakshi...Sakshi would be safer in Rathod's place...Aisha would be there too for her support...it was the best for her!

He had a tough time struggling with his conflicting thoughts but then managed to get a grip on himself!

Sakshi's mind was in no better condition...She already knew that she had to part from Arjun sometime soon but then when it actually happened, her heart ached...But she knew, she was wishing for something that can never become hers...she had no option but let go of him! The more she stays closer to him, the more difficult it would get for her...

After coming closer, parting would be more painful! So it was better this way! She took a deep breath and that's when she saw him gaze at her through the mirror and their eyes locked for a few seconds...it was getting difficult to handle and pretend indifference...so she forced her eyes to look away through the window...

Aisha and Sameer were toiling with their emotions as wel...the past 2 days were a roller coaster ride for them due to the case and interrogations and so they were left with no time to think about all this but today, they were clouded with all their confusions and stormy conflicts which had sprung up in their hearts after that intimate close encounter during their mission!

They wanted to share their feelings to each other but were shying away without knowing what or how to voice it to the other...

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All of them snap out of their trance when Arjun pulled up the SUV near Rathod's place...

Rathod and Aisha got down first...They could feel a sort of reluctance and hesitation from the other two...as if the separation was unbearable for them...

Sakshi was waiting for Arjun to say something while Arjun couldn't openly tell her not to go but stay with him! Both were in a strange awkward situation!

Rathod cleared his throat and voiced, "Sakshi..."

Sakshi nodded silently and got out slowly...Aisha could read everything, their reluctance, their awkwardness, and perhaps their thoughts also...

She grinned to herself and spoke up to help them out of their fix, "almost subah ho gayi hai, Arjun sir, why don't you come in? Have coffee or tea with us...[turning to Sakshi] Sakshi, bring him in na?"

Saying that, Aisha walked into the gates...Rathod taking the clue, followed her leaving behind the couple to themselves...

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It was serene silence which none wanted to break...

After a few moments, Arjun snapped out and voiced, "Tum jaakar rest karo Sakshi...main chaltha hoom"

Sakshi stood still, her hand on the window and she voiced, "Arjun"

He instantly turned to her side, "haan Sakshi"

Sakshi: Coffee?

An invite for coffee was just pretence to prolong the time they were together...and both knew that it was getting tougher with each passing moment!

Arjun turned to her side and replied with a faint grin, "main coffee nahi peetha Sakshi"

Sakshi lowered her gaze away from him...and replied, "Patha hai...patha nahi phir bhi kyun poocha"

He looked at her trying to read her confusions...perhaps he could see that she was in a similar state as his own...but he didn't know why both were so stubborn or why was it so difficult for them to open up their hearts to each other...

He wondered what stopped them! Perhaps their mission was the reason...or was it...Roshni??

He didn't know...May be he had to wait...

Jab Kisi Ki Taraf Dil Jhukne Lage
Baat Aa Kar Zubaan Tak Rukne Lage

Aankhon Aankhon Mein Iqrar Hone Lage
Bol Do Agar Tume Pyaar Hone Lage

Hone Lage, Hone Lage...

[To be continued]

So how was it?? pls do reply...

for those who feel its slow paced and devoid of hard core romance, sorry, but this is the way I have visualized this story...

anyways its gonna end soon! It will pace up and in the next update case will get solved and then everything will be fine!

No silent reading...SYS?