CHAPTER 20 - Part 1
Riya stood there miffed. How could he taunt her like that? She then wondered, "Why did he taunt me like that?"
"Ri," Shree tapped on her shoulder, "Miss Riya Mukherjee."
"Haan," Riya said absent mindedly.
"Maza aaya?" Chotu asked.
"Haan.." Riya snapped back into reality, "Kya???"
"Hamein hamara jawaab milgaya!" Shree said, giving Chotu a high five.
"Aisa kuch nahin hua hain jaisa tum log soch rahe ho!" Riya panicked, turning red.
"Woh tho dikh raha hain," Chotu said taunting Riya.
"Chotu!!!" Riya said hitting him.
"Riya, agar kuch hua nahin tho itna kyun sharma rahin ho?" Shree said nudging her.
"Shut up Shree! We just slipped!"
"Acha.." Shree was about to say something else when he heard Arjun shout his name. He did look angry. They froze in their place sacred. "Hamara band bajne waala hain," Chotu said. Riya looked at Shree, furious, "Dafar!" Poor souls, only if they knew that he was anything but angry. In fact, he was far from angry. He was amused, seeing Riya's reactions.
"Shree! Case abhi khatam nahin hua hain. Agar tum logon ka hasi mazaak khatam ho gaya tho, case pe dhyan de?" Arjun was standing a few feet away from them his hands folded. "Yes, sir." Shree said to Arjun.
Arjun walked towards the out house as the trio followed him.
"Hamein abhi bhi kal raat ka taxi driver nahin mila hain. Shree, Riya, Chotu tum teeno police ke saath split ho jao aur usse doondho. Woh kisi bhi halat mein bhagna nahin chahiye. Main abhi Rathore ke paas jata hoon," Arjun said went upstairs.
"Arey, tumhe nahin bulaya Riya apne saath?" Shree said, teasing Riya.
Riya glared at Shree, but Shree didn't mind, "Trust me Riya. Kuch tho hain unke mann mein bhi. Trust me!" he said and left with Chotu.
Riya stood there wondering, as she remembered how he had taunted her just now. He never did that before.. he only chided her. She remembered his smirk and involuntarily blushed. Butterflies in the stomach..again! She felt her face heat up; and her knees become weak.
"Riya!" Avantika yelled out her name from the corridor upstairs. But Riya was lost somewhere else. "Riya!" Avantika called out again, but in vain.
Arjun turned around. He was with the paramedics, who were currently dressing Rathore's wounds.
"Kya hua?" Arjun asked Avantika, and walked to her side. He looked down to see Riya just standing there lost in thought.
"Pata nahin. Respond hi nahin ho rahin hain. Bas wahan akeli khadi hain," Avantika said.
A smile appeared on Arjun's face, "Pagal hain ye ladki," he thought.
He called Riya's mobile. The phone started ringing and Riya suddenly realized that she was standing in the middle of nowhere, staring into nothing. She face palmed as Arjun stared at her amused. Avantika returned to Sameer.
She saw the name flashing on her mobile screen and looked up; she answered the call, "Yes, sir?"
"Kya kar rahi ho Riya?" Arjun asked turning around so that Riya couldn't see his face, "Maine tumse kya kahan tha?"
"Sorry sir."
"Upar aao, abhi."
Riya cut the call and gulped, "Get a grip girl. Get a grip."
As Riya reached upsatairs, she saw Avantika helping Rathore stand up. The taxi driver was also caught. Shree walked towards Riya and she asked him, "Kahan mila woh driver?"
"Baju ke room mein hi tha," Shree said pointing at the room beside the one where Aditya was held captive.
Even Aditya was being taken downstairs on a stretcher. He was still unconscious.
Rathore walked a few steps and wobbled. Shree immediately rushed to his help, "Sir aap theek hain?" Avantika who was already helping Rathore to walk was worried now, "Aap theek hain? Chal nahin paa rahe hain tho.."
"I'm fine," Rathore said straightened himself and they went downstairs.
"Sameer?" Shivam who was waiting for them outside the out house exclaimed as soon as he saw them.
"Bhaisa? Bhabisa? Aap theek tho hain na?" Rathore's younger brother rushed towards them.
"Hum theek hain," Avantika said to him.
"Bhaisa, aap Avantika ko apne saath ghar le jayiye," Rathore said pushing Avantika towards them.
"Nahin Sameer main ghar nahin ja rahi hoon aapko aise chodke," Rathore knew Avantika was stubborn.
"Agar tum yahan ruk jaaogi tho Saumya ka kya? Wahan tho uske liye sab kuch naya hain," Rathore also knew what would make Avantika listen to him.
Avantika left for their haveli asking Rathore to take care.
An hour later:
Local Police Station:
"Ab sirf sach Vikram. Sabhi proofs tum logon ke khilaaf hain," Arjun said slamming his fist on the table in front of Vikram.
Rathore had finally lost his consciousness after Avantika left. He managed to remain conscious until Avantika left, but after that he couldn't. He was immediately rushed to the hospital on the outskirts of the village.
Vikram Rajawat clenched his jaw, "Sa buss nalaayak Anath ki vajehse hua. Agar usne ussi raat ko Aditya ko mar diya hota tho ye naubat hi nahin aati. Nikamma khud Aditya ke hatho mar gaya." Everybody was shocked listening to this.
"Purushottam ka isme kya lena dena hain?" Arjun asked Vikram.
"Shuru hua hain to Purushottam singh Bhati se. Unhone Bhabasa ko iss gaun mein laya hi isliye taaki unke business ko samhale. MP woh bane aur unke gair kanuni dhande Bhabasa samhalte the. Istamal kar rahe the Bhabasa ki, par Bhabasa ko koi farak hi nahin padta tha isse. Purushottam bhagvan, aur Bhabasa haivaan! Tab Bhabasa ki dosti huyi Bhagwat Chauhan se. Woh bhi inn dhandho mein shaamil ho gaye. Lekin woh samjhdaar the. Purushottam ka faida kaise uthaye, woh jaante the. MP bangaye. Aur Bhabasa reh gaye sirf ek naukar!" Vikram paused for a moment.
"Par aath saal pehle, Sameer se Avantika ki shaadi huyi. Tab Bhagwat ne socha ki Jagdish Rathore ko bhi isme shaamil kare. Lekin woh maane nahin. Balki iss Bhagwat ko dhamki di ki ye sab dhandhe chod de. Tab Purushottam ne hi Aditya ko bhadkaya taaki, inn dono parivaaron ke beech daraar pad jaaye aur Jagdish iss sab mein dhakal dena bandh karde. Aditya ne unki baton mein aakar Sameer pe goli chalayi. Jaisa Purushottam chahte the, waise hi hua. Jagdish Rathore ne Avantika ko ghar se nikaal diya aur Bhagwat Chauhan ke maamlon mein waapas kabhi dhakal nahin diya," Vikram said and paused again. Whatever happened had a long story behind it. A story that linked all the four families. A story that destroyed Sameer and Avantika's lives.
"Kya soch raha tha Bhagwat? Jagdish jaisa aadmi inn gair kanooni dhandon ko bhadava dega? Ek police officer ko apna daamaad banakar kya haasil karna chahta tha? Purushottam tho inn sabke liye bhagwan tha. Isliye peeth piche vaar kiya. Sameer aur Avantika ko support kiya aur pehle unki shaadi karvaayi, phir unhone hi ye rishta thod diya. Kisiko shak bhi nahin hua ki iss sabke piche Purushottam ka haath tha. Aapko kya lagta hain, police ko kabhi inn sabke baare mein sabut kyun nahin mila? Yahan ka sarkaar hain Purushottam Singh Bhati. Sarkaar ke khilaaf koi sabut kaise ho sakte hain? Pagal log, usse bhagwan samajhte aaye. Lekin, Bhagwat Chauhan ko tab gussa aaya jab Hari singh MP bana. Purushottam aur kya karte? Hari Singh ko ticket dena hi tha, nahin tho unke khilaf awaaz uthta. Hamesha woh Bhagwat ka hi tarafdari nahin kar sakte the. Par Bhagwat Chauhan maana nahin. Purushottam ko dhamki dene laga. Tab Purshottam ne decide kar liya ki Bhagwat aur uske bete ko raste se hathana hoga. Unhe pata chala ki Anath Bhagwat ke business mein dhakal dene laga hain. Unhone aur Bhabasa ne Ananth ko bulvaya aur use bhadkaya, Aditya ke khilaaf. Ananth ne decide kar liya ki woh Aditya ka kaam khatam kar dega. Hari singh ko iss baat ki shak tak nahin huyi.." Vikram was then interrupted by Arjun.
"Lekin Aditya ke haathon Ananth maara gaya. Aditya ne ye baat jab Devilaal ko bataya tab Devilaal ne usse bhagne ko kahan aur uski mada karne ka promise kiya, right?"
Vikram nodded his head and Arjun continued, "Lekin Aditya darr gaya aur apne pure parivaar ko bachana chahta tha. Uski biwi already Ajmer mein safe thi. Usne aur uske baap ne ye plan kiya ki woh separate ho kar bhaagenge. Isiliye pehle Aditya Saumya ko lekar wahan se nikal gaya. Jab tak Bhagwat Chauhan apni beti Avantika ko iss sabke ke baare mein smajhata, tab tak Avanatika ne ETF ko call kar diya tha. Jab tum logon ko pata chala ki Aditya apni bhanji ko lekar bhaga hain aur ETF ab issme involved hain apne uss ek aadmi ko marva ne ki koshish ki jiske paas saare sawalon ke jawaab the, Bhagwat Chauhan. Phir?"
"Hum Saumya ko maarne ka risk nahin le sakte the. ETF involved tha. Sameer involved tha. Agar usse pata chalta ki uske beti ke maut ka zimmedaar hum the tho.." Vikram shook his head, "Vaise bhi ye sab shak Hari Singh pe jaane wala tha. Hari Singh Saumya ya Avantika ko chot nahin pahuchayega. Isiliye hamne Saumya ko safely lauta dena hi theek samjha. Lekin woh bewakoof taxi driver.. check post ke paas hi roka gaadi ko. Paper mein dekhe kisi kidnapper ka chehra banvaaya! Jab subah usne bataya ki usne ye kiya tha aur ETF ke officers bhi uske ghar aaye the, tho tab hamara dimaak kharaab ho gaya. Isiliye usse apne saath le jane waale the, jab avantika ne hamein dekh liya. Purushottam ne keh diya ki koi proofs nahin bachna chahiye. Jo bhi ho saare sabut gaayab ho jaane chahiye. Lekin iss se pehle hi ETF outhouse mein pahuch gayi. Aap sabko maarne ki koshish ki lekin…"
The case was solved. Chotu pulled Vikram by his collar and threw him behind the bars. Purushottam and Devilaal enetered the police station, under arrest.
Purushottam looked at Arjun as he walked past him. Arjun was too disgusted to say anything.
An hour later:
2:30PM:
Arjun was standing beside Rathore's bed in the hospital and narrated to him everything that Vikram told him.
Rathore couldn't believe his ears. Purushottam Singh Bhati, the man who they respected and believed all these years was the man responsible for the chaos in their lives. He played with his and Avantika's life. He cheated his people, his village. Rathore felt disgusted.
"Log itne kaise gir sakte hain? Kitna maan dethe the unhe.." Rathore said and shook his head.
"Commissioner sir se meri baat huyi hain. Press mein case ke details release hone waale hain. Kyunki ye case ek MP se bhi judi huyi hain, woh keh rahe the ki yahaan ke officials media ko samhalenge. Hum koi statements na de tho hi acha hain," Arjun said, "Hum Mumbai ke liye kab…"
"Aaj raat ko nau(9) baje ki flight se," Rathore said, "Tab tak meri haalat bhi thodi sudhar jaayegi. Avantika aur Saumya yahin rukenge. Dussera ke baad hi Mumbai aayenge."
"Theek hain," Arjun said and was about leave when Rathore called him, "Rawte, kal shaam ETF mein uski case transfer ho jaayegi."
Listening to this Arjun clenched his jaw and balled his fist. He turned around and exited the room slamming the door behind him.
Rathore would be angry at Arjun for his reckless behaviour, if it had been any other day. But, not after today. Rathore remembered how he loathed Arjun for his short temper. How he ridiculed him for becoming the man he was after Roshni's death.
He remembered his own words, "Kal aur aaj ke Arjun Rawte mein zameen aasmaan ka farak hain. Pagal ho gaya hain woh.."
He could now understand why he had changed. He almost lost Avantika today. If it wasn't for Arjun…
He knew his apology wouldn't matter to Arjun, but Rathore had to apologize to him and he did. His thoughts raced back to the night he told Arjun about the case being transferred to ETF.
Day before yesterday:
8:00 PM, ETF office:
"Okay team, that's it for today. Kal subah milte hain," Rathore said.
Everbody was about to leave when Rathore said, "Rawte, tum ruko. Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hain."
Arjun stayed back and the others left.
"Sikender," Rathore said and the name hit Arjun like a lightning bolt, "Uska case hamein transfer hoga do dino mein. Main jaanta hoon tum ETF mein join kyun huye the. Isiliye keh raha hoon, gusse mein aisi koi galti mat karna jiski vajehse tumhe baad mein pachtana pade.."
Arjun got up from his seat not letting Rathore complete his sentence, "Meri baat puri nahin huyi hain Rawte! Issi gusse ki baat kar raha tha main. Main nahin chahata hoon ki tumhari vajehse team risk mein pade. Apne gusse pe kaabu rakho. Sikender ke jad ab aur bhi strong hogaye hain. Anurag, ye naam jo hamein uss resort ke case mein mila tha, woh naam iss Sikender se hi juda hua hain. Kolkatta mein trace hua hain uska aakhri movement. Aur resort ke case ke baad sab kuch dormant hain. Isiliye hamein patient rehna chahiye. Ye mission bahut dangerous hoga iss baar. Bahut mushkil bhi hoga. Jaldbaazi mein hum kuch bhi nahin kar sakte hain Rawte. Main iss team ke kisi bhi member ki jaan khatre mein nahin dekhna chahta hoon, kisi bhi member. This time it's not an order Rawte, it's a request."
Arjun only nodded his head and left the room.
Rathore came back to the present as Shree, Riya and Chotu enetered his room.
"How are you feeling now, sir?" Riya asked him.
"I'm fine," Rathore said, "Good job team."
"Thank you sir," Chotu said.
"Sir, Arjun sir ko kya hua hain? Bahut gusse mein the," Shree asked Rathore, for Riya's sake. He knew Riya would never ask Rathore directly and keep on worrying about it.
Rathore sighed and said, "Sikender ka case ETF mein kal shaam transfer hone waala hain."
The three were shocked to hear this, particularly Riya.
"Ye tho wahin aadmi hain na jisne.." Chotu said.
"Jisne Roshni ka khoon kiya," Rathore completed Chotu's sentence.
Riya became alert when she heard the name "Roshni".
"Apka matlab Arjun sir ki wife?" Shree asked.
Riya turned towards Shree, "Tho Arjun sir ke wife ka naam Roshni tha?"
Shree hesitated a little, "Haan.. kyun?"
Riya quickly composed herself, "Nahin bas aise hi pooch rahi hoon."
"Aaj raat ko nau baje hum Mumbai ke liye niklenge. We have a big mission at hand team. Iss baar hamein kisi bhi tarah Sikender ko pakadna hi hoga," Rathore said.
"Yes sir!" the three said in unison and left the room. Rathore observed the change in Riya when Sikender and Arjun's wife were mentioned. If whatever Avantika said about Arjun and Riya was true then it was going to be a very tough time for them, especially Riya. Arjun wouldn't care about his life if it was about avenging Roshni's death, but if anything happened to him… what about Riya?
PRECAP: Riya tiptoed into Shree's room in the haveli, to find his laptop on the table. Shree had gone out for some work. She knew his passwords so it wasn't much trouble for her to open his laptop. She started checking Shree's new database that had a number of old case files and froze on one particular name, Arjun Suryakanth Rawte. She opened it and skimmed through it. She then found at the end of some report files a particular link, "Roshni Arjun Rawte". Her hands were shaking as she put the cursor on the link. She never tried to probe into Arjun's past, but now she had to. She prayed to God that her intuition should be wrong as she clicked the link.
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HELLO GUYS!!! Back with an update..
I hope you liked it!
Thanks a lot for all your wonderful comments!
Part -2 on it's way.. I'll update it mostly by tonight.
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Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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