Part 23

Trigger warning: mention of homicide

Q/N - The chapter might give you adrenaline rush, practice deep breathing. In Hindi, dil tham kar baithiye!

--*--

Tomorrow was a big day for them. A charity music and dance event was organized at AR Design's auditorium. They had kept limited tickets making it a fully-sold out show and they had already confirmed someone named 'Naagraj' (which was Shyam's alias) had brought the ticket. All preparations were done, all traps were laid, everything was covered.

Still Arnav couldn't shake off the feeling of foreboding arising in his heart. This was absurd. He was always a brain person, logic person, never having given any heed to emotions or feelings or intuitions. But tonight, as he stood by the poolside, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his lounge pants, his mind was clouded by unease, a rare moment when his heart seemed to take over his rational mind.

"Kal ke bare mein soch rahe hai (are you thinking about tomorrow)?" Khushi asked, coming to stand beside him.

He replied with a stiff nod. She already knew his opinion on this whole thing, what was the use of giving fake replies?

"Sab thik hoga (everything will be ok), Arnav."

That irked him. "Seriously, Khushi? You are telling ME this? I don't need to worry about myself, it is you who's literally walking right into a f*ckign inferno, dammit!" he said, turning to hold her shoulders on impulse.

She didn't flinch or show signs of fear. Instead, she mildly smiled and replied, "But I won't be alone. You will be there with me, right?"

And just like that she turned it around. That little minx knew how to work with words and diffuse his tension! He shook his head and removed his hold.

"You remember the code word in case something goes off-plan, right?" He asked after a while.

Sameer had given them a code word to use when something went awry. As soon as they heard it over the walkie-talkies with them, all the others would gather around that person. The code was 'snake-charmer'. To counter the obvious snake as their target.

"I do. But don't we already have an added advantage as the place is all familiar to us?" Khushi asked, thinking out loudly.

Arnav's head snapped in sudden realization as he remembered something that might be crucial.

"You're absolutely right, Khushi!" He exclaimed excitedly, "There is an advantage. The thing is, all big companies, especially the headquarters, have prepared for sudden mishaps which includes secret exit routes to use in case of emergencies. AR has one, too. But only me, Akash, and Mamaji know about it. Not even Di." he said.

Khushi's eyebrows raised with curiosity.

"And I think," Arnav continued, pacing slightly as he spoke, "it could be crucial for tomorrow. You might need to know about it, just in case."

He didn't wait for her to respond. He turned on his heel and hurried inside the house. A few minutes later, he returned, blueprint in hand.

He unfolded the paper, spread it out on the poolside table, and pointed to a spot behind the auditorium.

"Here," he said, his finger hovering over a small door marked in a faded red. "This door leads directly outside, behind the building. It's one of the few emergency exits, and the only one known to us. If something goes wrong...if we need to get out fast, this will be the quickest route."

Khushi leaned over to study the map, looking with concentration. "And you're sure no one else knows about this?"

"Positive," Arnav confirmed. "I made sure of it. It's a safety measure that we never talk about. Only a few select people are aware of it. So, if the situation goes south, this could be a lifeline. If you get separated or-"

"I'll know where to go," Khushi finished for him.

.

.

"Tumhe pura yakeen hai na ki tumhe unn ka sara plan pata hai (Are you sure you know their entire plan now)?" Pratap Malik asked Shyam as he was getting ready to act on his plan for tomorrow.

Shyam, dressed in his usual dark attire, stayed unfazed. He looked up at Malik with a grin that bordered on the maniacal. "You just wait and watch Malik sahab. Kal aisa dhamaka hoga jo kabhi kisi ne nahi dekha hoga (There will be such a big blast tomorrow that no one would have seen)."

Thanks to the mole in inspector Sameer's team, he knew everything about their plan to trap him, including their code word for rescue.

Pratap raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. He took a slow, deliberate sip from his glass, his eyes never leaving Shyam. "You speak a lot, Shyam. You know that they say right? Garajne wale badal barsate nahi hai (The clouds that make a lot of noise don't rain). "

"Trust me, Malik sahab. You won't be disappointed." Shyam's grin widened, the corners of his lips twitching with excitement.

"Good. Because I want to see Arnav on his knees. That dearest nephew of mine has enjoyed too many days of happiness. Now he should only suffer. Ye chuhe billi ka khel ab khatam hona chahiye (This cat and mouse game should end tomorrow)!"

"Chuha, billi, saanp, naag, aap kuch bhi keh lo (Call me mouse, cat, snake anything). Tomorrow, I'm going to destroy the Raizadas."

.

.

Arnav and Khushi still stayed around the poolside, silently liking the solace before the eventful day of tomorrow.

"You had told me I used to love stargazing, before my- umm- accident, right?" Khushi asked breaking the silence.

Arnav nodded, "Yes."

"I think the stars show us the way!" she said, softly. "My parents...and yours too... they are watching over us." she said, tilting her head to look into the vast sky above them.

Arnav's lips curved into a small smile, his gaze following hers. There was something in her words that brought him a strange sense of peace.

"You know, the auditorium also has small LED lights in its ceiling. Aman had asked me to add them. Even if all lights in the hall don't work, those tiny lights work not needing electricity." he added, as an afterthought.

--*--

The evening of the charity event had arrived. The atmosphere in AR Design's auditorium was lively with some underlying tension. The Raizada family, along with a select group of guests, had filled the hall. Anjali and Vikrant sat together anxiously waiting for the event to begin. Payal had clutched Akash's hand in a tight hold whose own hands were turned cold in tension. They had reluctantly agreed to stay in audience as Shyam wouldn't approach khushi if she was surrounded by family. Aman, was there too, his usual calm demeanor betraying the tension in his heart. Alongside him sat Kashish, her own stance betraying her calm exterior.

Inspector Sameer, standing at the edge of the crowd, was watching the audience with keen eyes. His team of officers were scattered throughout, blending in with the attendees in their civilian clothes. They were all here for the same purpose: to find Shyam. The man who had been a thorn in their lives for too long.

"Do you see him?" Sameer whispered to one of his men, his eyes scanning the crowd. They were looking for any sign of Shyam, who would inevitably try to blend in with the crowd, likely disguised.

"Not yet, sir. But we'll find him," the officer- named Rana, replied.

Backstage, Khushi was getting ready for her performance, adjusting her outfit one last time, her heart racing with a bit of nervousness. She remembered face of that man who had creepily showed up the last time she performed on stage like this.

Today, she knew he was a criminal and she was here to get him caught. She hoped she would succeed.

Arnav in the meanwhile stayed around her dressing room. He was vigilant, his eyes constantly flickering toward the entrance to the backstage area. But as time passed, Arnav couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Soon, it was time for Khushi to go on stage. So far nothing had happened. She walked out of the room and noticed Arnav at the end of the hallway.

He nodded but didn't let her go without one last look, his protective instincts at their peak.

Khushi walked toward the stage entrance, leaving Arnav alone...

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, and Khushi's performance went on without disturbance. As always, she enchanted the audience with her dance, despite her mindset. But Arnav as well as Raizadas and inspector Sameer's team remained on edge, waiting for a sign, any sign, of Shyam.

However, as the minutes passed, and the event was about to end, Sameer and Arnav's unease deepened. Shyam had never shown up in the room with Khushi before or after her performance. The bait had been set, and yet, no one had taken the trap.

Was it too quiet?

Wasn't it too easy?

Arnav decided to go and wait in another room that was across Khushi's. That way he would be better able to keep a watch.

That's when the unmistakable sound of a door creaking open reached his ears.

"Sale Sahab! Long time, no see?"

Arnav's body tensed instantly. It was the unmissable sickly sweet voice. Shyam.

Arnav's jaw tightened as he turned to face the man who he wanted to kill with his bare hands tonight, "What the hell are you doing here, Shyam?"

Shyam's eyes glinted with malice, and his lips curled into a wicked smile. "Is that how you greet your jijaji, Arnav? Oops. I mean, ex-jijaji. And soon to be your ex-wife Khushi's husband! You didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?"

.

.

Sameer looked at his walkie-talkie for the nth time. Nothing happened. No signal from Khushi or Arnav. Something didn't sit right. Everything had been moving too smoothly, almost too predictably. It was as if they were being led down a carefully laid path...by someone insider?

He started looking at everyone with suspicion. And one by one he started ruling out everyone.

That was when he heard his associate, Rana, tell him. "We are wasting our time here, Sir. I think we should just leave."

Sameer looked at him in confusion.

"Why?" Sameer had asked, his voice calm, but his eyes sharp.

"Nothing has happened yet, sir. So, I think nothing will." Rana had replied, his tone slightly too casual.

Sameer's eyes flicked toward Rana, his suspicion rising. "Keep your eyes trained on target, Rana. Shyam's a slippery one. We can't let our guard down."

Rana gave a slight nod, but Sameer saw the glint of something in his eyes, hesitation. A shift. It was almost as if Rana was waiting for something. But Sameer had to tread carefully.

.

.

Arnav stood in the backstage area; eyes locked on the door where Shyam had just entered. The man's presence was suffocating but the worst part wasn't Shyam's voice or the sickening grin on his face. It was the threat that followed.

"Listen to me carefully, Arnav," Shyam said, "You don't want to make this any worse than it already is. You do as I say, and the people including- especially Khushi ji walk out safe. You don't, and I blow up the entire auditorium. Every single person here."

Arnav's gut twisted in horror, but he forced himself to stay composed.

Arnav's voice was low, cutting through the tension. "You're bluffing."

Shyam's wicked grin only deepened. "You think so? You don't know me as well as you think, Arnav. You've underestimated me for far too long." He leaned closer, his breath cold against Arnav's skin. "Hmm. Let me see. 'Snake charmer' isn't that your code word today?"

Arnav looked at him clearly taken aback.

Shyam laughed. "Money still helps Arnav. Especially old Malik money? Must say, inspector Sameer is quite capable. But not all on his team are..."

Arnav closed his eyes in helplessness. Clearly, they were betrayed and now Shyam knew what this trap was all about... So, not just his chacha but someone from Sameer's team also helped Shyam.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Arnav. If you want your family and friends and Khushi to make it out of here alive, you'll do exactly as I say. Otherwise my one word and Rana pulls the trigger and the entire place goes BOOM!" he said, laughing maniacally. "If I can't live with Khushi ji, I'll die with her. Sadly, she dies too!"

Arnav clenched his fists, the anger burning him like fire. But his mind was racing, searching for a way out. He couldn't let Shyam get away with this, not after everything he and Khushi had gone through. Not after their efforts towards this day. Not after the endless pain they endured. All because of this one, sick, evil man!

Arnav quickly thought about something, knowing that he had to think smartly. "Alright," Arnav said through gritted teeth, knowing the risk he was taking. "What do you want me to do?"

Shyam's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, "Great, that was fast! Alright, listen. You've to go to stage and announce the function is over. And then you will walk out- ALONE- towards a black sedan parked beside your SUV. I'll take it from there."

Arnav walked towards the stage, thinking about Shyam's threat. As he neared the wings, he saw Khushi walking towards him, unaware of what was coming up.

His heart twisted in knots. Would he be lucky to stay alive and meet her at the end of the night?

She stopped as they neared each other, giving him a tentative smile.

"You were right, Khushi. The stars will show us the way." He said, making her confused. And further added, "Please remember what I told you last night, ok?"

She looked confused but quickly nodded, sensing something had happened.

Arnav turned away and made his way to the stage.

He grabbed the microphone, facing the audience with a calm façade. "Thank you, everyone! This evening has been wonderful. But what makes it truly special... is this auditorium." His eyes flickered toward the lights above for a microsecond that no one knew about.

"The lights shine like stars. And the stars show you the way when there is darkness. Even if your pre-decided path doesn't work any longer."

He locked eyes with Sameer and Aman, sending them a subtle message. Sameer's eyes hardened as he understood Arnav's cryptic SOS message. One glance up and he also noticed the tiny battery-powered LED ceiling lights. He got what he had to do.

But before that he quickly turned to his trusted associate and told him, "Rana. Betrayal. Arrest" that was enough for him to get the message.

Meanwhile, Khushi gasped, recognizing it was Arnav's message of distress. What should she do? She didn't want to go towards the secret-exit door, alone, leaving all her family there. Leaving Arnav there.

Sameer quickly rushed to Aman. "Turn off all the lights. Lead me to Arnav and Khushi."

And the auditorium plunged into darkness.

What followed next was nothing short of an action movie! The police rescued the crowd safely out of the auditorium although Anjali and Payal initially refused to leave without knowing the safety of Arnav and Khushi. Rana tried to make a run but was handcuffed. Arnav found Khushi, and the relief in their eyes was unmistakable, though neither spoke, knowing there was no time for words. They met Aman and Sameer halfway. Arnav asked Aman to take khushi towards the hidden exit and decided to go with Sameer to the place where they knew their target was waiting...

And Shyam. He was confused. Just what had happened? How did the lights go off? He didn't know anything about this blasted place!

He was fiddling around the room, cursing that he didn't carry a torch with him nor did his phone have one!

And then he heard a voice he would never forget in his life.

"Game over, Shyam Manohar Jha."

--*--

A/N - Heaving a sigh of relief, are we? Just the formality is left now so stopped there :D Hope you enjoyed it. If you have been following me from 'NSIV' series, you would know that I have a penchant for writing Shyam's dramatic ending! This book wouldn't have been an exception :P I am going to need a lot of reviews and votes on this one, please. After all, Shyam ka the end was the most awaited moment, wasn't it?

p.s. hearing recent cases of plagiarism. Please don't do it, guys. This is literally a fanfiction! Besides, I'd hate to move all my work to private blog to keep it safe.