Part 24

It had been two days since that incident. Two full days since Arnav Singh Raizada's presence of mind and inspector Sameer's heroic act nabbed a psychotic, absconding criminal Shyam Manohar Jha! Soon after, his main accomplice Pratap Malik was also arrested along with the corrupt police officer, Rana. And while Malik and Rana begged and claimed to be innocent, Shyam had been unnervingly calm throughout the ordeal! It was as if he was unbothered about being handcuffed, taken into custody and facing severe punishment!

Flashback from 2 days ago:

When Arnav and Sameer arrived at the room where Arnav had last seen Shyam, they found him trying to climb to what appeared to be an alternate exit, a ventilator window high up on the wall. And when Sameer said, 'Game over Shyam Manohar Jha', he was clearly startled and fell back on the floor.

A voice Shyam would never forget until his death!

However, that was the only reaction he gave.

After that he looked emotionless, cold, eerily calm. Was it because he had anticipated this end as an option? Or was it because he knew he could get out of prison again? They didn't know.

Even when Sameer tackled him and Arnav slapped him across his face, he took it all in.

"Never. Ever. Show. Your. Disgusting. Face. Again." Arnav said, each word punctuated with a kick in Shyam's stomach or a punch on his face.

The pain, however physical, didn't seem to scare him.

And thus, as Sameer handcuffed him, and took him away, Arnav realized one thing. Shyam Manohar Jha was a cold-blooded criminal. The rules of pain, hurt, defeat didn't really exist in his world. And the only way Arnav could guard his family, his Khushi and himself from this criminal was to ensure that Shyam didn't see the outside world again.

That he could ensure.

End of flashback

"I want to talk to him." Anjali said to everyone as they had got home after giving their statements. Shyam was kept in tight security, this time with electric fencing around his cell to ensure any escape attempt would result in electrocution.

"But why, bitiya?" Nani asked, disapproving Anjali's wish to face that demonic man who was once her husband.

Anjali looked at Vikrant, a man who had held her hand, who had renewed her faith in love and trust, and answered Nani. "Because I need to ask him why he did it, something I never got a chance to ask 3 years ago."

Arnav who had been quiet until now, got annoyed and finally snapped, "Sure, Di. Go have a chat with him. What do you expect him to say? 'Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you?' He is a goddamned criminal, Di. He has no regret nor fear."

Anjali's rebellious gaze met with her brother's furious one! But no one was ready to give up.

"Arnav, let her talk to him." Vikrant spoke this time. "She needs this closure with her past. And as someone who she wants to move ahead in her life with, I think she deserves to get her answers."

Hearing that, Arnav's jaw clenched, but he chose not to argue. He wasn't convinced with Anjali or Vikrant but maybe he didn't need to. As far as he was concerned, Shyam Manohar Jha was a closed chapter. The only thing left for him to ensure was that Shyam never saw the outside of that jail again, not using the law, and certainly not through any power Arnav might use. And he had made sure of both.

So, if Anjali needed to have this conversation and felt it was what she could handle, he decided to step back...

And that was why Anjali faced Shyam amidst tight security the next day.

When Shyam saw Anjali standing outside the bars, he stood up, finally showing some reaction.

"Ye sab... kyun kiya (Why did... you do it), Shyam? How much more money did you need? What else did you need? Three years ago, you kidnapped my brother, you caused Khushi's accident... and now you planned to kill- why? For money?"

"Ek paise hi toh hai jo humein aap se bandhe hue the (It was only money that kept me tied to you), rani saheba! Otherwise, who would have stayed with a disabled woman like you?" he said plainly.

Anjali recoiled at his words, but didn't flinch. "Tumhe zara bhi afsos nahi hai na (You don't have an ounce of regret right)? About anything?"

"Hai na (Sure, I do)! Ki humne aap se peecha chudane mein itni deir laga di! (That it took me so long to get rid of you)." he said with a small smirk.

Anjali felt her stomach churn with nausea. She felt frustrated, and angry. She didn't know what she had expected when she came here. Perhaps a flicker of guilt, a word of regret. But it looked like this man was beyond any such emotions.

Even if she strangulated him to death at this time, or shot him point blank, or banged his head against the wall, he would perhaps not blink...he was far too gone...

Arnav had been right. It was futile... their victory was that Shyam was caught and they had to ensure he remained there.

As she turned away from there, she met Inspector Sameer in the corridor. His gaze softened when he saw her troubled expression. And he seemed to have sensed what must have happened.

"I have seen many criminals in my life, Ms. Raizada." he said using a softer tone, "People like him have a dead conscience. Thande dimagh se soch samajh kar karte hai aise log gunah (These people commit crimes with cold blood). Inn se pachtawe ki umeed rakhna bekaar hai (to expect regret from them is useless)." These words of deep understanding brought her some much-needed peace.

She nodded, giving him a small, grateful smile. And then left from there.

.

.

Pratap Malik on the other hand did a full drama of begging for mercy!

When the police dragged him out of his hiding place, he at first claimed innocence. And when he saw Arnav standing in front of him, he understood there was no use distancing himself from the crimes his nephew might already have proof of.

So, he decided to take another route. Emotional drama.

"Arnav! Tumhare chacha se choti si galti ho gayi, (Your uncle made a small mistake), beta. Galat sangat mein pad gaye hum (I got into bad company). Iss baar jane do (leave me this time), beta. Hum dobara kabhi aisa nahi karenge (I won't do it again)."

"Woh toh tum ab waise bhi nahi kar sakte (That you anyway can't), Pratap malik." ASR roared.

Malik gasped, taken aback.

"What? Shocked that I didn't call you 'aap'? I don't waste my respect on anyone, Malik, especially not on criminals like you! The last time, we met, I took back what was rightfully mine, my house, Sheeshmahal. This time, you will lose something far more precious: your very sanity." The way Arnav delivered the line was as cold and final as a court's judgment. It sent a bone-chilling wave of fear down Malik's spine. "Remember this day, Pratap Malik, because after today you will not even remember your own name. That's the price you pay for hurting my family, my wife."

And with that Arnav turned away from there.

A quick word with his lawyers had assured him that Pratap Malik was looking at a double life term in jail, meaning at least 28 years, for helping a criminal stay on lose, supplying him arsenal, banned weapons and hatching a mass murder plan for many innocent people including Raizada family. Each charge had a separate punishment, combining them meaning jail term till death...

But what happened to Shyam in the following days took everyone by surprise. A rare, highly poisonous snake somehow made its way into his prison cell, likely through the crevices of the old, crumbling walls. The snake bit Shyam, resulting in a slow, agonizing death. His respiratory system failed first, then his nervous system began to shut down, one organ at a time. It was as though Karma had finally done its job. The very animal Shyam had arrogantly named himself after, had come back to settle the score, taking its revenge and, in a twisted way, redeeming its own name!

--*--

On one hand, with them heaving a sigh of relief with closure of one of the darkest chapters in their lives, on the other hand, Arnav and Khushi's relationship was yet to see the days of bliss.

Khushi had been furious with Arnav the night Shyam was caught. When she learned how Shyam had blackmailed Arnav into going on stage to announce the end of the show and then surrendering to him, Khushi was angry that Arnav had even considered such an option. Yes, he had thought of a plan to outsmart Shyam, and he had succeeded in doing so. But what if Sameer or Aman hadn't picked up on his signal for help? What if Shyam had managed to take Arnav away? Had he not considered any of that?

And that was exactly what she had told him the next day when he confronted her.

Flashback from the day after Shyam's final arrest:

Arnav had been watching Khushi's cold indifference towards him while she appeared to talk with everyone else normally. Finally, that evening, he cornered her.

"Khushi, is something wrong? Are you mad at me?" he asked, as she was tending to some plants on the poolside... a hobby she had picked in the past 3 years... or had subconsciously borrowed from him...

"Aap ko kya lagta hai (What do you think)?" she asked not looking at him, but her frustration clear in her voice, not bothering to hide her emotions.

"That you're angry... but why?" he frowned.

She now stood up, hands on hips, ready to charge, "Why? Are you seriously asking me this, Arnav? You recklessly agreed to Shyam's demand to sacrifice yourself! Even when you could have told me when we met before you went to announce the show was over, you didn't do so! Did you even think what would have happened if Sameer or Aman didn't get your plan? Do you know how I felt when I understood what message you were trying to give? I felt so, so helpless. I didn't even know what had happened, had you already met shyam, had he threatened you with anything, how should I save you, I couldn't understand any thing!" She was speaking amidst her heightened heartbeat and short breath!

Arnav stood shocked as well as touched seeing her passion, her care for him.

Taking a step in her direction, he asked her "Toh kya ho jata (What would have happened), Khushi? Agar sach mein mujhe kuch ho jata, sach mein Shyam mujhe kuch kar deta, toh kya ho jata (If Shyam could have really hurt me, then what would have happened)?" he asked, unable to resist using the same questions she had asked him back in the day...

During Akash-Payal's wedding, the night of the Havan... he had thought she was in an accident, and he had confronted her...she had asked him these exact questions. That night, he had let his own fear and cowardice stop him from telling her the truth, that he was affected because he loved her. But now, he hoped she wouldn't do the same and hold back.

Khushi's eyebrows narrowed in confusion, feeling as if she had been in this same confrontation sometime in past...

But she proved that she was his true "better-half" as she also chose silence...

Smiling a little, Arnav decided to help her to reveal her emotions. So, he said, "I already told you why I did so, Khushi. But if you want, I can say it again. I can say it as many times as you want. I didn't think about myself, because I was protecting someone much more important to me than my own life, someone I love more than my life. And that is YOU. I love you, Khushi. More than my life. More than anyone, or anything. So, if life ever gives me that choice again, I'll choose you. And I'll keep choosing you. Forever."

Even though this was not the first time he had told her he loved her in the recent past, Arnav allowed himself a moment to savor the emotions at play on her beautifully expressive face, in her emotive hazel eyes as she heard him proclaim his love. There was shock, then disbelief, then shyness, then hesitation and then a clear reflection of her own love... why wouldn't she just say it?

"I told you why I did it. Now you tell me your reasons, Khushi. Why were you so worried? Why are you so upset? Why are you so worked up for me?"

Khushi opened her mouth to say something... but the words just wouldn't come to her lips.

It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him she didn't reciprocate his feelings. But she didn't know what exactly was pulling her back.

And Arnav who had decided to never force her into anything again, no matter how hard it was for him, decided to wait patiently...

"Take your time, I will wait for your answer." He said, leaving her to deal with her emotions.

End of flashback

That was 2 weeks ago.

Over the past two weeks, she had tried, so many times, to gather the courage to talk to him, but each time she backed away...

It wasn't that she didn't love him. She did. She'd realized it the moment she thought she had lost him that night. All the doubts she had about her feelings, whether it was mere attraction, a fleeting crush, just respect, or just accepting their married status, had vanished in that instant.

Now, she knew. What she felt for him was pure love.

But telling him... that was the hard part. Every time he appeared in front of her, her heart raced, as if competing with the speed of a bullet train. At this rate, she might just die of a heart attack before ever confessing her feelings for that man!

But what he planned to do today had finally pushed her to let go of her hesitation. And she knew it was time.

Arnav had decided to leave for London. Without saying good-bye!

That was why Khushi Singh Raizada had finally overcome her fear of airports and stepped foot into the 'Departure' lobby of Delhi International Airport after 3 years!

--*--

A/N - Yeah, you got it! Arnav and khushi will do it...i mean say it (what did you think)! As this story is set around the infamous kidnapping track of Arnav and their separation at the airport did play a crucial part in it, thought it would be only fitting to have that bad memory replaced with a good one, no? As for Shyam, hope we got a closure :)

Coming to the next part of this story, it would be all about when will Khushi remember her past and if that changes anything! The best is yet to come. So stay right here, and pls continue to share your reviews!