FF: Fire and Water (Ch. 26-A Updated on Pg.145!) - Page 52

it was awesm
m speechless
thankx 4r pm

wow...loved both the updates...

CHAPTER 15

"Aap zindagi mein kabhi nahin sudhrenge! Apne ghusse pe na zara kaabu rakhiye, varna.."Avantika warned Sameer. They were on the terrace. Avantika was wearing a light blue colour saree and she looked angelic.

"Varna kya? Mujhse shaadi nahin karogi?" Sameera retorted.

"Haan nahin karoongi.." Avantika said and folded her hands, looking determined.

"Theek hain, mat karo," Sameer said and turned away from her.

Avantika opened her mouth, stunned. She stood in front of him and said, "Ab aapke liye mujhse zyada important ho gaya hain ye gussa? Theek hain aap aur aapka ye gussa khush rahiye! Main chali yahan se," she said and started walking away, when Sameer pulled her towards him.

"Tum bhi tho itni aasani se bhadak jaati ho? Uska kya?" Sameer asked with a naughty smile playing on his face. Avantika looked here and there except at him. Sameer was still lost in her beautiful brown eyes and Avantika smiled.

"Sameer, aap jaante hain na..Bhabasa, bhaiyya aur sabhi log bahut mushkil se maane hain hamare shaadi ke liye. Sirf hamare liye. Varna kitni andh bandh hain inn dono parivaaron ke beech mein. Infact, puri biradari ka sawaal hain. Isilye please aap apne gusse pe kaabu rakhiye," Avantika said to Sameer.

"Theek hain. Sirf tumhare liye," he said.

Avantika shook her head, "Hamare liye.."

"Avantika!" somebody called for her and she went downstairs.

Avantika had inherited her beauty from her mother. She had a fair complexion and a slender build. The first time Sameer saw Avantika was in their village, her face covered by her dupatta. All he could see was her beautiful eyes adorned with kohl and her long, black hair. He tried to get a glimpse of her face but in vain. She had disappeared. He was determined to find her by the end of the day and he did. And he fell in love! They met accidentally the next day too. The day after Sameer made sure they met.

A month later Sameer got his posting in Mumbai. That day he decided to confess to Avantika.

They met at an abandoned fort. Sameer was surprised to see that Avantika was early and was walking to and fro, very tensed.

As soon as she Sameer, she ran to him and stopped in front of him. "Aap kuch kehna chahte the?"

"Haan lekin tum itni ghabrayi huyi kyun ho?"

"Pehle aap kahiye na.."

"Theek hain, mujhse shaadi karogi?" he asked her directly without any hesitation. Sameer wasn't the kind of guy who would beat about the bush.

Avantika was not shocked, she was worried.

"Jab aapne mujhe yaahan milne ko kahaan, tabhi main samajh gayi thi ki aisa kuch hoga. Lekin main pehle aapko kuch batana chahti hoon," Avantika said.

Sameer just remained calm.

"Main Bhagwat Chauhan ki beti hoon. Avantika Chauhan. Hamare parivaaron ke beech kaise andh bandh hain woh aap bhi jaante hain. Mujhe bhi kal hi pata chala ki aap kaun hain. Ye sach jaanne ke baad bhi aap mujhse shaadi karna chahenge?"

"Ye mere prashn ka jawaab nahin hain. Mujhe aapke aur hamare parivaar ke beech ki dushmani se koi matlab nahin hain. Mujhe sirf tumhare feelings se matlab hain. Mujhse shaadi karogi?"

A smile appeared on Avantika's face. Her happiness knew no bounds. She hugged him and said, "Haan karoongi.."

"Rathore!" Arjun's voice brought Rathore back to the present, "Rathore, theek ho?"

"Tumhe kya lagta hain?" he said and looked at the horde of reporters outside the house, "Ye baat press ko kaise pata chala?"

"Pata nahin," Arjun said, "Lekin inhe yahan se nikaalna hi hoga. Nahin tho.."

"Saumya ki jaan ko khatra bhi ho sakta hain, jaanta hoon," Rathore said and walked towards the main door.

He went to the press and all the cameras focused on him immediately, "Aap please yahaan se jaayiye. Ye publicity ki vajehse victim ke jaan ko khatra bhi ho sakta hain. Please leave."

Chotu and the security of the house made sure that the press left the place in the next five minutes.

"Rawte, tum aur Riya abhi KVN International jao aur pata karo ki wahan hua kya tha. Watchman ne kuch tho dekha hoga," Rathore said and then walked towards Avantika, who was still in tears.

Riya's eyes followed Rathore. Arjun turned towards her to see that she was yet again curious about somebody else's personal life. "Chale," he said to her.

"Yes sir," Riya said and followed him.

"Avantika," Rathore called out her name.

She couldn't meet his eyes. She couldn't protect their daughter. She couldn't!

"Avantika, mere taraf dekho. Saat saal guzar gaye lekin tum vaisi ki vaisi hi ho. Har mushkil ko akele hi samhalna chahti ho. Khair, main uss din bhi tumhare decision ko badal nahin paya. Aaj shayad mera koi haq bhi nahin hain. Lekin tumse vaada karta hoon ki main Saumya ko bachaoonga. Usse kuch nahin hoga," Rathore was cut short by Avantika.

"Main jaanti hoon Saumya ko kuch nahin hoga. Aap usse zaroor bachayenge. Mujhe bas.." she couldn't complete her sentence. Rathore put his hand on hers, assuring her that everything will be fine.

In the SUV:

"Rathore sir itne calm kaise reh paa rahe hain? Unki beti kidnap huyi hain sir!" Riya said to Arjun.

"Agar woh calm nahin rahega tho Avantika ko kaun samhalega? Chauhan tho vaise hi apne hi beti ka dushman hain ab," Arjun said.

"Ye dushmani kya hain sir? Avantika tho keh rahi thi ki agar uske beti ko kuch hua tho woh Chauhan ko maar dalegi. Kya matlab hain?" she asked looking at him.

"Chauhan ke kayi dushman hain, politician hain woh. Ek bahut hi chaalak aur ek aisa insaan jo apni matlab ke liye kisi ke saath kuch bhi kar sakta hain. Zahir si baat hain Avantika usse nafrat karti hain," Arjun explained.

"Right sir. Avantika ka ek bada bhai hain, Aditya Chauhan, jo bilkul apne baap pe gaya hain," Riya said opening her diary. She paused and then said, "Lekin Avantika ye sab jaante huye bhi ussi ghar mein kyun reh rahi hain? Unki tho khud ki fashion house hain. Aur Rathore sir tho.."

Arjun gave her a look that said, "Apne kaam se matlab rakho."

Riya understood and corrected herself, "Mera matlab hain Rathore sir vahin hain ghar pe. Agar Avantika ka bhai aa gaya tho kuch gadbad tho hoga. Unke baton se tho yahin lagta hain ki bahut purani dushmani hain unki."

He sighed, "Tum nahin badlogi Riya."

"Sir, lekin ye tho case se related baate hi hain na? Agar coincidentally ye Rathore sir ki personal life bhi hain tho main kya karoon?" Riya retorted.

Arjun had to give up now, "Shaayad. Lekin Rathore jaanta hain iss waqt kya important hain. Aur unke dushmanon ke baare mein Rathore se zyaada koi aur nahin jaanta hain. Isiliye woh kaam Rathore pe hi chodna sahi hain."

Arjun stopped the SUV in front of the school. It was about 5:30PM. Almost all the students had left the campus except for some high school students.

Arjun and Riya questioned the security guard.

"Kya hua tha yahaan?" Arjun asked.

"Kuch nahin saab. Uss bachi ka driver aaya aur usse legaya. Pata nahin ye kidnap kaise hua?" the security guard said.

"Kya? Driver aaya tha? Tho uske saath koi aur tha? Matlab uss bachi ki ma?" Riya asked.

"Pata nahin. Lekin woh gaadi bahut achi tarah yaad hain. Wahi gaadi thi jo har roz aata hain," the guard said.

"Yahin tha woh driver?" Arjun asked showing him a photograph of the driver who went with Avantika that afternoon. He knew the answer already but wanted to confirm it.

"Nahin saab. Main aaj usse theek se nahin dekh paaya. Pichle hafte se ek naya driver aa raha tha saab. Lekin maine usse bhi kabhi theek se nahin dekh paya. Purana wala tho kabhi kabhi mujhse baat karta tha. Lekin ye naya wala tho kabhi iss taraf aaya bhi nahin."

Riya and Arjun looked at each other. They knew something was wrong.

"Kya koi aur hain jisne uss driver ko dekha hoga?" Arjun asked.

"Haan, uss bachi ke saath har roj ek aur bachi bhi hoti hain. Uske hi class ki. Pehle usse uske gaadi tak chodti aur uske baad hi apne gaadi ke paas jaati thi. Uss bachi ne zaroor dekha hoga."

"Theek hain," Arjun said and called Rathore.

"Rawte, Avantika ke bhai ka phone bhi nahin lag raha hain aur uska phone switch off hain. Tumhe wahan se kuch mila?" Rathore asked Arjun.

"Haan. Ek baar avantika ko phone do."

Rathore gave the phone to Avantika, "Hello?"

"Aapka koi dusra driver bhi hain?" Arjun asked.

"Ji. Last week bhaiyya usse gaun se apne saath le aaye. Purane driver ko office ke kaam pe laga diya. Kyun?" Avantika asked a little shocked.

"Aaj shaayad wahin aaya tha aapki beti ko pick karne," Arjun said.

"Kya? Lekin usne tho kal hi do din ki chutti li thi!" Avantika panicked.

"Shaayad wahin tha. Kya aap mujhe uska photograph bhej sakte hain? Ek aur baat, aapki beti ki koi best friend? I mean watchman keh raha tha ki har roj woh aapki beti ko aapke paas chodti hain phir apne car ke paas jaati hain. Kya aap mujhe uss bachi ka pata de sakte hain?"

"Ji main photograph aur pata bhej doongi. Uska naam Krithika hain," Avantika said and handed the phone to Rathore.

"Rathore, ho sake tho Mumbai ke saare check posts pe paabandi lagado," Arjun said, "Woh log Saumya ko kahin aur bhi le jaane ki koshish kar sakte hain."

"Haan. Maine alert kardiya hain. Lekin abhi tak koi ransom call nahin aaya hain," Rathore said in an apprehensive voice and then cut the call.

Arjun received the photograph and the address. They left for the girl's place.

Arjun and Riya reached the house, and were stopped by the security guard.

"ETF. Hamein andar jaana hain," Arjun said.

"Ek minute saab," the guard called someone and then let them in.

The servant led them to the hall of a ultra posh house.

"Miss Mukherjee, aap yahaan?" the head of the family, Sushanth Kapoor recognized her immediately.

Riya was shocked to see him as well and felt a little uncomfortable.

Arjun turned towards Riya and was a little surprised to see somebody refer to Riya with such respect.

"Aap aayiye, baithiye. Aap ETF ke saath..?" Sushanth asked.

"Ji, I'm an ETF officer. Hum Saumya ke case ke baare mein pooch taach karne aaye hain," Riya explained.

"Oh.. aayiye. Aap..?" Sushanth asked looking at Arjun.

"ACP Arjun Rawte,"Arjun said showing his ID. He sat down in the couch while Riya stood beside him.

Sushanth was waiting for Riya to sit down. Riya shook her head and said, "It's ok, aap baithiye."

Arjun was observing all this and wondered why Riya was being given so much respect.

"Aapki beti Krithika se baat karni hain," Arjun said.

Sushanth hesitated for a moment; then looked at Riya. He then sent for his daughter who came along with her mother.

Krithika seemed scared and was trying to hide behind her mother.

Arjun observed that, "Riya tum baat karo."

"Yes sir," Riya said and knelt down to talk to Krithika. Sushanth seemed a little surprised when she called Arjun 'sir'. Arjun saw that too.

"Hello Krithika!" Riya said in a cheerful voice, "I'm Riya."

Krithika didn't say anything.

"Kuch nahin hoga beta. Aapke papa Riya mam ko jaante hain. Aapko unse darne ki koi zaroorat nahin hain," Sushanth said to his daughter.

"Hello," Krithika said in a sweet voice.

"Aap aaj bhi Saumya ke saath uski gaadi tak gayi?" Riya asked.

"Haan. Saumya ko vahaan chodke hi main mamma ke paas aayi thi."

"Kaun aaya tha Saumya ko lene?"

"Uska driver aur ek uncle aaye the," Krithika said.

Arjun and Riya looked at each other.

"Aap uss uncle ko jaanti hain?"

"No. Maine pehle kabhi nahin dekha. Lekin Saumya jaanti hain na," Krithika said and then looked at her mother, "Mamma aapko pata hain? Saumya uss uncle ko dekh kar bahut khush bhi huyi thi."

"Krithika, kya yahin woh driver tha?" Arjun asked her showing the little girl the photograph he had received. He knelt down beside Riya.

"Haan. Yahin tha," she confirmed. Arjun got up and asked Krithika's mother whether she had seen the man who was with the driver; her reply being negative.

"Thank you Krithika!" Riya said and Krithika was taken inside by her mother.

"Thank you," Riya said to Sushanth as they were about to leave.

"Suna hain aapki shaadi hone waali hain. Congratulations!" Sushanth said to Riya.

Riya's face paled while Arjun looked at Riya.

Sushanth studied Riya's expression and said, "Sorry shayad maine kuch galat bol diya. Lekin Mr. Mukherjee bhi iske baare kuch baat kar rahe the Anurag sir se."

'Anurag', that name again! Arjun hated him, despite the fact that he didn't even meet the guy yet.

"Acha? Mujhe tho kuch nahin pata iske baare mein," Riya said and smiled.

"Hamein nikalna chahiye. Thank you," Arjun said and walked out of the palce with Riya following him.

In the SUV:

"Itna respect?" Arjun asked Riya, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Woh mere Chachaji ke company mein hi kaam karte hain sir," Riya told him.

"Aur ye Anurag kaun hain?"

Riya was surprised. She didn't expect Arjun to ask about Anurag so directly, because that was the last thing Riya wanted to talk to him about.

"It's a little personal sir, sorry," Riya said giving him a taste of his own medicine and Arjun was now pissed. Riya sensed it. But what else could she do? She couldn't tell him that he is the guy she is supposed to marry.

The SUV picked up speed as Arjun's anger rose and they headed back to the minister's house.

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Here's chapter 15...

I know it doesn't have much to offer but the case is developing and I've taken a peek into Rathore's past.

I hope you liked it!😉 Next update would definitely be a lot more interesting.

Thanks a lot for all your wonderful comments!

P.S. Don't forget to leave your comments!

Chapter 16: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3198907&TPN=79

hmmm nice plot...

i'm loving the attention and respect riya got at sushanth's house! nice... arjun being curious was interesting... looks like someone can't wait to know stuff when it is related to riya... and riya saying it is personal was a good come back! haha! arjun felt pissed off... haha! i am totally enjoying this... please update soon! can't wait to read more!

oh dear its too very intresting👏