FF: Fire and Water 2 (Chapter 28-B on Pg. 18) - Page 9

CHAPTER 28-A

The same day:

Mumbai:

"Ek aur lead hain sir hamare paas Anurag tak pahunchne ke liye! And I'm sure we will find him. Agar uss lead se information milti hain tho main aapko report kardunga," Rathore said clearly pointing out that he had no intentions of revealing his plan of action.

The Comissioner didn't inquire further. He trusted Rathore and hence gave him all the power he needed.

Rathore was about to leave when he turned around and asked, "Sir, ek aur baat.. mujhe unn undercover cops ki complete profiles chahiye."

Comissioner Coelo remained quite for a moment, "Saat mahine pehle jab hamne ye undercover mission shuru ki, tho maine kabhi nahin socha ki humein ek din apne hi kaabil officers pe shak karni padegi. I can understand what you're trying to do. Uss gaddhar ko doondhna chahte ho? We'll have to Rathore.. humein kisi bhi haal mein usse doodhna hoga. Lekin mujhe abhi bhi yakeen hain ki unn undercover officers mein se koyi bhi gaddhar nahin niklega.. Anyways, make sure these profiles are secure."

"Yes sir! Ye baat ETF se baahar nahin jaayegi," Rathore assured him.

"Rathore, kya tumne baaki ke team members ko iss mission ke baare mein bataya hain?" the Comissioner asked.

"Not yet.. it's still a secret. Jab tak zaroorat na pade tab tak vaise hi rahega.."

The Comissioner's phone buzzed and he took the call.

"Yes, yes.. the orders have been sent.." he spoke for a few minutes and cut the call. Rathore was asked to stay until the end of the call.

"Iss baar Navratri celebrations mein security kayi guna badhayi jaayegi. Intelligence department se information mili hain ki Aatankwaadi hamle ki possibility hain.." Coelo told Rathore.

Rathore frowned. Navratri celebrations in the city attract huge crowds and a terrorist threat would be grave problem for the Police Department. But, weren't they accustomed to handle such situations?

"Iss baar kuch zyada hi pareshaan hain Home Ministry'" Coelo shook his head, "Desh ke sabhi mukhya shehro mein bhi Department ko alert kardiya gaya hain... Waise Rafeeq ke hisaab kuch bahar ke log involved hain right.. uss deal mein?"

"Yes sir! Agar ye foreign groups aatank pehlane ke irade se aaye hain.. tho hamein jald se jald unhe pakadna hoga.."

"You're right Rathore.. Intelligence Bureau has eye on all such foreign organizations.. Agar kuch pata chale tho, you'll be informed immediately. The Ministry is very keen on getting rid of pests like Sikander.. Iss baar ye mission fail nahin ho sakta hain!"

"Yes, sir!" Rathore said, "I assure you we'll be successful this time!"

***

Rathore, Chotu and Aarif were heading back to the ETF office.

"Aarif, uss resort owners ke statements ka file tumhare paas hain abhi..?" he asked Aarif.

"Ek minute sir.." Aarif opened the zip file Shree had mailed him before leaving for Kolkata. Shree made sure Aarif had all the information he required.

Aarif gave Rathore the Tab, "Ye rahin sir file.."

Rathore read statements carefully for the third time, "Bahut hi chaalaki se plan kiya hain sab kuch. Ek level ke logon ko next level ke baare mein kuch bhi nahin pata..kuch bhi nahin.. Ye business men sirf Rafeeq ke baare mein jaante the, Rafeeq sirf Anurag ka naam aur kuch nahin.. Anurag unn dealers ke saath deal karta hain.." Rathore said returning the Tab to Aarif. He then turned towards Chotu and asked, "Uss admi ke baare mein koyi information..? Wahin jo Pathan Lala ke saath tha..?"

"Nahin sir.. Pata nahin kahan chupke baithe hain.." Chotu said.

"Chupne do.. Woh ab sirf wahin kar sakte hain. Kahan bhagenge? Agar bhagne ki koshish karenge tho pakde jaayenge.." Rathore said turning away.

"Sir, ek aur baat.. Arjun sir ne mujhe jo list di thi.. Woh keh rahe the na, agar sabse pehle kisko khabar milegi tho unn logon ko milegi.. uss list mein Kali bhi tha. Aarif ne mujhe jo details di thi, woh usi Kali ke hain.." Chotu told Rathore.

"Tabhi tho main soch raha tha.. Rawte ne abhi tak Kali ka zikr kyun nahin kiya' Usne tho already Kali ko mark karke rakha hain. Not a surprise," Rathore thought.

Kolkata:

A few minutes earlier:

Riya walked into the room angry and disappointed! She wanted to go with them to the night club. However, she was asked not to. It was the Comissioner's order, he said it was too dangerous! Ridiculous.. Riya thought. Arjun tried to negotiate, but in vain. Arjun didn't want to leave any of his team mates behind, alone. But, the Comissioner had said that one of the team mates should be staying back as back up at the head quarters. Now, Riya had to go back in another half an hour. Arjun and Shree were supposed to come back to the head quarters directly after the night club mission.

She remembered what Arjun had told her..

Undercover mission.. that was something that surprised her. She had no idea that the groundwork for this particular case had started long back. All the inside information they had with them right now was because of those people who were risking their lives, living in the enemy camp! She knew Arjun would never give her the details of the mission because it is supposed to remain a secret unless revealing it becomes unavoidable. He gave her that tiny bit of information, only to warn her; so that she doesn't fall prey to anybody else in an informer's disguise. She realized that her venture into the slum alone, that morning, could've been dangerous!

But, that boy could be right too.. Deven did confess that he met Kishen at the night club. And hence, there was that million dollar question: Is that piece of information genuine or is indeed a trap?

Moreover, she had her own doubts about Acharya too.

She took her mobile out and called Chotu, "Hello Chotu..?"

"Ri? Kya hain..?"

"Kuch nahin.. Kal raath ko uss ladke ne ek sketch banvayi thi na.. usike baare mein poochne ke liye call kiya hain. Achanak yaad aayi.. isliye.."

"Woh..?Usse subah hi hamne saare informers mein circulate kardi hain.. wahan sab theek hain na?"

"Haan..theek hain.."

"Abhi hum Shiwde aur ACP Deshmukh se milne jaa rahe hain. Riya.. Kisi bhi haalat mein hamara ye mission successful hona chahiye..Kissi bhi halat mein! Kuch bahut bada.." Chotu was about say something when Rathore's voice was heard, "Mujhe jaana hain, main tumhe phirse call karta hoon. Bye!"

Riya cut the call and stood there for a moment, her eyes closed.

"Kisi bhi haalat mein hamara ye mission successful hona chahiye.." Chotu's words echoed in her ears.

He was right, this mission was very important to them. Especially to Arjun! She has to be strong; she couldn't let her insecurities and her fears muddle her mind right now, "Arjun sir already kitne pareshaan hain. Woh kuch keh nahin rahe hain iska matlab ye nahin ki main jaanti nahin hoon.. Apne dukh ko apne mann mein hi chupakar mujhe hosla de rahe hain! Aur main..? Main kya kar rahin hoon? Unki pareshaani badha rahin hoon.. aise ek darpok ki tarah behave karke!"

They were going through a difficult phase right now.. Both Riya and Arjun buried their pain within themselves and posed to be normal outside.. They knew there were more important things to take care of at the moment. She was aware of the fact that the revalation of Roshni's truth was equally painful for Arjun, yet he was trying his best to mask that pain.

Time.. it was something they didn't have.. Time to recover from the wounds that have been inflicted upon their broken heart all over again. Pain has been their constant companion for the past few years; can they not bear it for a few more days..? Riya knew there was a bright future ahead, beyond this gloomy present..

Riya gathered herself, preventing her grief from clouding her mind and decided to apologise to Arjun right way. She walked out of her room to see Arjun walking towards her dressed suitably for the night club.

Present moment:

"Arjun turned towards her with a smile, "I promise.. I will." With those final words Arjun left the place.

Downstairs, Arjun was greeted ACP Shravan Kashyap. He was one of the finest officers of Kolkata Police Force. Bagchi had insisted that Shravan would join them.

ACP Kashyap was a part of the investigation team, looking into the warehouse incident, "Ek aur case mein phas gaya tha.. isiliye subah report nahin kar paya.." he explained his absence in the morning, "Comissioner sir keh rahe the ki aap Acharya ko isse bahar rakhna chahte the.."

"Haan.. Aap ko bhi andaza ho gaya hoga ki ek gaddar hain hamare beech.. I'm trying to narrow down the possibilities," Arjun said.

"Right.. But, I'm sure it's not Acharya. I've somebody on my mind.. jisse maine transfer karvaya hain iss case se. Dekhthe hain kya hoga.." his words made it clear to Arjun that Shravan trusted Acharya.

"Filhaal hum chalte hain.. Agar hamein wahan Kishen mil jata hain tho, hamara kaam bahut hi asaan ho jaayega.." Arjun said as they exited the hotel.

"Waise Kishen kaafi mashoor hain, arms dealing mein.. Lekin ek baat tho pakki hain, koi hain uske upar, jo iss sabko chala raha hain. Kolkata, aur samundar ke aas paas ke ilakon mein aise deals hote hain. Kyunki, yahaan bhi Mumbai ki tarah samundar se entry mil sakti hain.. Jaise ki Diamond harbour, aur waise hi kuch inlets.. Hamne do saal pehle uske hi ek group ko pakda tha.. Woh log aadhi raat ko harbour se sea route ke dwara, hathiyaaron ko desh ke baahar le jaane waale the.." Shravan told Arjun, "Kishen aur uske aadmi aaj kal explosives mein deal kar rahe hain.."

"Aaj kal?" Arjun asked, raising his eyebrows, "Tho ye log kheton mein fasal ki tarah.. dandhe badalte hain.."

"Bilkul.. demand and supply principle ko bahut maante hain aur follow bhi karte hain. Zaroorat ke hisaab se hi supply karte hain," Shravan said as they neared the SUV.

Shree was waiting for them near the vehicle busy with his Tab.

"Sir, mujhe Aarif ne Rafeeq ki statement mail kardi hain.. And.. I just found something interesting.. Do saal pehle Kishen ke kuch aadmi hathiyaar.."

"Hathiyaar desh ke baahar pahunchate huye pakde gaye.. aur woh explosives mein deal kar raha hain.. right?" Arjun said, getting into the driver's seat as Shravan and Shree got in.

"Haan sir.. Lekin aapko kaise pata ye sab..?" Shree asked, wondering what would've been his source of information.

"Maine bataya hain.. Kaafi smart aur fast hain aapke technical expert. Confidential files hack karne mein tho aap mahir hain.." Shravan said looking at Shree.

Shree chose to remain silent and got back to his work.

Meanwhile in the hotel:

"ACP Arjun, ACP Shravan yahaan se nikal gaye hain," a man informed somebody on the phone, "Woh officer akeli hain upar.. tum jaldi se apna kaam niptalo aur mujhe wahin milo jahan hamne decide kiya tha. Mujhe phirse contact mat karo, sidhe spot pe milo.. Samjhe? Kaam jaldi ho jaana chahiye! Zyada time nahin hain hamare paas."

The man then exited through the back door and vanished into the alley behind the hotel.

Ten minutes later:

"Rathore sir..?" Shree wondered looking at his phone, "Hello sir.. Yes sir.."

Shree gave the phone to Arjun and said, "Sir.. Rathore sir aapse baat karna chahte hain.."

Arjun and Shravan were talking to a few constables (in plain clothes) outside the hotel, a little away from the main gate.

"Haan Rathore..? Kuch aur pata chala?" Arjun asked.

"Tum apna phone kyun nahin utha rahe ho?" Rathore asked a little annoyed.

"Mera phone?" Arjun said and searched his pockets to realize that he had forgotten his mobile.

"Woh.. kuch nahin.. tum batao.."

"Kali ke baare mein tum kuch jaante ho?" Rathore asked.

"Kali..?" Arjun repeated, as he balled his fist.

His name brought back memories.. no nightmares! It was this case that changed his life completely. Destroyed it!

"Rawte..?" Rathore's voice brought Arjun back to the present.

"Main zyada kuch nahin jaanta hoon, sivai yahin ki woh zamaanat pe bahar aaya aur.. gayab ho gaya! Chotu ko maine uske details de diye hain.."

"Jaanta hoon.. Tumhe koyi aisi baat yaad hain jiske dwara hum uss tak pahunch sakte hain..?"

"I'm not sure Rathore. Main bhi utna hi jaanta hoon jitna uske case file main hain. Lekin, agar kuch pata chalta hain tho main tumhe immediately bata doonga.." saying Arjun cut the call and returned the mobile to Shree, "Shree main abhi aata hoon.." he said and walked back into the hotel.

He rushed to his room on the fourth floor, took his mobile and walked out of his room. He decided to take the stairs, as the elevator seemed to be on its way to the ground floor. He was about leave the floor when he heard the elevator door open. A waiter exited the elevator, pushing his serving trolley along with him. Arjun stood a few steps below and was hidden from view. He saw the waiter turn towards their wing, that had their rooms. There was something that disturbed Arjun; there was no food on any row of the trolley, just empty plates and tissues!

Moreover, apart from his, Riya and Shree's room, there were only two other rooms in that wing that were unoccupied!

Having retrieved his phone from his room, he immediately called Riya.

"Hello.. Sir?" she said.

"Riya tumne koyi room service order ki hain?"

"No.. sir.. kyun, kya hua hain?" she asked confirming his suspiscions. He heard a door bell in the back ground.

"Riya! Dhyan se suno, darwaza mat kholo. Kuch bhi ho jaaye.. tum bahar mat aana. Main abhi tumhare paas aa raha hoon..! Just do as I say!" he said and hurried upstairs.

Riya was shocked, "Ye ho kya raha hain?"

She walked towards the door and suddenly heard a commotion outside; she strained her ears, trying to get a clear idea of what was going on.

The waiter saw Arjun standing near the stairs, which was quite shocking for him. What was he still doing here? Shouldn't he have left by now? Well, that was what he was told. So, where did Arjun come from all of a sudden?

"Tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho..?" Arjun asked, observing the waiter's panic striken face.

"Woh.. Ma'am ne khana order kiya tha.." the waiter said, his hand slowly moving towards his back.

"Khana? Kahaan hain..? Mujhe tho dikh nahin raha hain.." Arjun said ready to draw his gun out.

The waiter realised he was caught!

Riya heard a gun shot outside her room that snatched her breath away..

"Arjun sir..?" she said, her eyes wide in shock. She drew her gun out and hid herself behind the wall near the door. She immediately heard another gun shot, followed by a scream and it was definitely not Arjun's!

"Arjun sir???" she shouted his name out, "Sir, aap theek hain?"

She couldn't open the door yet, not until Arjun orders her to come out.

"Haan Riya! Tum bahar aao.. Case ke saare files lekar!" Arjun said, securing the gun that was previously in the waiter's hand. The bullet fired from Arjun's gun wounded the waiter. Arjun also made sure that the man wouldn't try to kill himself.

"Shree, upar aao..jaldi," Arjun told Shree over the phone.

Riya did what was told to her. She took all documents they brought along with them to Kolkata, put them in a bag and locked the room behind her.

Meanwhile, the commotion had grabbed the attention of a number of curious guests of the hotel. They were sent back to their rooms. Shree and Shravan were shocked upon knowing that Riya would have been killed if Arjun hadn't come back to take his phone.

"Lekin unn logon ko kaise pata ki Riya hamare saath nahin aa rahin hain?" Shree wondered aloud, "Ye sab achanak tho nahin plan kar sakte.."

"Humne tho Acharya ko bhi isse bahar rakha hain.." Riya said and turned towards Shravan, "Aap kaun hain?" she asked with a frown on her face.

"ACP Shravan Kashyap.." he said in his authoritative voice.

Riya stopped frowning at him and thought, "Oh.. tho ye hain ACP Shravan Kashyap."

Shree and Arjun turned towards Shravan, the only outsider with them. But, Shree's research on Shravan confirmed the fact that he would never stoop that low! He had clean record and was a very sincere and an efficient officer.

"Hamare siva aur kaun jaanta hain ki Riya nahin aa rahin hain?" Arjun asked, no one in particular.

All four of them had the same name on their mind.

"Comissioner Bagchi?" Riya and Shree said in unison.

Arjun and Shravan looked at each other and nodded. They knew what they had to do.

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Hello guys! I'm back with an update! So here's the next part..

It includes a lot of mystery..! Sorry guys.. but you know.. my works are a mix of both mystery and Ariya.. I hope you guys like the mystery part too..!

Next part will be posted asap..

P.S. Do leave your comments! 😊