Chapter XIII - Goodbye My Love!
[Brace yourself for a long chapter and I am sorry for the mistakes. It's 4 in the morning here so I haven't edited it.]
His heart was beating so fast that it felt as if it was going to burst out at any second. He watched her sweat over the wires. He knew she was nervous. He had known her at least that much to know that every time she diffused a bomb she was nervous. She would get so scared that she would start sweating and tremble. She was not scared of death instead she was scared for everyone else's life associated with it. She was going through the same phase at that moment. Rathore went ahead and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and he gave her assuring look. She nodded and went back to scrutinizing the wires. His gaze averted towards Arjun and he slowly walked towards him. He just went there and sat next to him. He stared at his own shoes and thought about the memories of them in this college. When they were students, Rathore had never imagined that there would be a day when their friendship wouldn't exist. Few years ago living without Roshini and Arjun was not even in far corner of his mind. He believed it was just impossible and that bear thought would make him angry, but it happened and life moved on. His friendship got lost somewhere and Roshini was taken away from them. He didn't die though. Granted that he lived with pain, regret and sour memories, but he lived on. So why am I still holding grudge against him? Was that really his fault? Rathore dwelled on it. His gaze fell on Aayesha as she proceeded with one wire and closed her eyes as pressed the cutter.
****
She sat on the snowy and soft bed of the hospital as Liza wrapped a warm blanket around her. She shivered not due to cold, but due to the familiar feeling of staying at the hospital. Not only she had uneasy feelings towards the hospital, she was also anxious about what happened to him. There was no news about them. Liza fed her the soup as they waited for the doctor to come and do the full check up. Sakshi kept on fidgeting with her blanket as her mind started creating the different scenarios of what happened to them. She just shook her head because she didn't want to think about anything bad. Liza kept on distracting her so she wouldn't stress out, but deep down Liza herself was scared. In her entire career she had never seen such a contrasting yet so intertwined team before. When her transfer letter came, she wasn't willing to come to ETF because of how Arjun and Rathore were and of course because of Shree, but she didn't even realize and she became an integral part of everyone's life just like they became vital part of her existence. Whether it was an annoying Shree, emotionally clueless Aayesha, Scared yet strong Chotu, Chirpy Sakshi, Caring yet strict Rathore or hot-headed yet warm-hearted Arjun, Liza had came to love everyone. She couldn't imagine being part of any other and she couldn't picture losing any of them.
Liza was pulled out of her frightening thoughts by the screeching of door. The doctor stepped in with a smile on his face. He greeted them and started reading the reports as he talked to Sakshi. He did the full check up and checked the reports yet again. It was good news that Sakshi's body was okay, but the doctor advised her that to be careful and slowly condition her body because her legs were functioning after so long and her body needed a little time to get used to it. Sakshi nodded and thanked the doctor as he started to leave. Sakshi assured Liza that she'd be okay alone and she sent Liza to follow up on the case. After Liza left, Sakshi slipped under the comfy and cozy blanket. The warmth of the blanket of enveloped her as her body released all the tension and coldness, but her mind was still troubled. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of him. She kept on fighting to stay awake to wait for him, but all the cold and sleepless nights made her sleepy. Her eyes felt droopy as she prayed for him. Finally her body relaxed as her eyes closed with the hope that when she wakes up, they'd tell her that he was okay.
****
She heaved a sigh of relief when she opened her eyes to the diffused bomb. She fell back as the tears rolled down her tears. For a second she thought she would lose two of the most important people in her life. She looked at Arjun whose breathing was shallow and then her gaze went towards the man who made her heart speed and who made her mind go crazy. She smiled as Rathore was calmly just sitting against the wall. Her eyes smiled when she realized how much he trusted her. She got up and hearing her steps Rathore opened her eyes too. For a second and two he just stared at her and then it dawned upon him that what happened and he smiled. It didn't even take him a second to get up and wrap her in his arms. She was taken aback by the gesture at first, but she just closed her eyes and clasped her arms around him too. She sniffed and let her tears out. They stayed like that for a while, until they both took in the position they were. Both of them broke off and looked away. Aayesha sat down and unwrapped the bomb from Arjun's waist. They didn't waste another minute and both of them went on either side of Arjun and helped him out until they reached ambulance. They put him on the stretcher. Rathore got a phone call from Chotu that they have surrounded Sikander and they needed the orders what to do. Rathore told them to stay alert and he'd be right there in a while. Aayesha wanted to go along with Rathore, but he said to her that Arjun needed someone by him at the hospital and Aayesha nodded.
"I promise I will be back." He whispered as he caressed her cheek with his right hand.
"I am trusting you with those words, don't break my trust this time." She whispered back and hugged him. He slightly smiled and nodded.
****
Liza and Chotu were dressed up as maintenance staff. Shree kept track of Sikander and directed them to follow the certain route. The plane, in which Sikander was supposed to flee with a different identity, was delayed on purpose due to ETF request. The excuse of that there was a maintenance problem and all the passengers have to change to different plane. Liza and Chotu led out the passengers one by one as they kept an eye on Sikander. They didn't want to take any chances so didn't make any move while around people because they didn't want to hurt anyone in process. Sikander walked through the other plane's door, the passengers were replaced by the police force dressed in everything and anything except their own uniform and they talked casually to not make anything obvious. As soon as the door of the plane closed, Chotu and Liza sealed the plane. Sikander was chilling in the business class and had no idea that there was a whole operation taking place against him right under his nose. In his mind Arjun Rawte was suffering in a cold dark room in the basement and there was no one else ever who could chase him and actually catch him. Just at that moment the curtain was moved away and Rathore was standing there with smirk on his face, but anger in his eyes. Sikander was too shocked to even move.
"Welcome to hell Sikander." Rathore smirked and shot him in his shin.
***
She felt someone slightly shaking her. She felt irritated so she just pulled up the blanket. She heard someone chuckle. She slowly opened her eyes and covered her face again as the glare of sun fell on her face. She turned away her face from sun and sat up. She slowly focused her eyes on the two figures standing next to her bed. Liza and Aayesha were smiling at her. She smiled back and hugged Aayesha.
"How is he? Is he out of danger? Is he..." She didn't want to say, but she just hoped Aayesha would tell her that he is alive. Aayesha put her hand on Sakshi's shoulder and smiled.
"He is okay. The doctor said he has quite a lot of wounds, but he is out of danger." Aayesha patted her shoulder. "And Sikander got caught."
Sakshi closed her eyes and thanked God for it. She looked at Aayesha and gave her the look. Aayesha shook her head in amusement and nodded. Sakshi got off the bed and followed Aayesha out the door and through the hallway until they reached the elevator. When they were in elevator, as the elevator got closer to the fourth floor, her heart sped up as well. She slowly followed Liza and Aayesha to the designated room. They stopped in front of a room at the end of the hallway and they looked at her. They informed her that she had already been discharged, but they left her there because they knew she wanted to see him and she wanted stay buy his side. She slowly opened the door.
There he was in the bed, under the white covers, snoring softly. His face was covered in bruises and bandage was wrapped around his wrist. She relaxed as finally heard him breathe normally. She went sat by his bed. Her lips turned up as she thought about him making it through. She didn't know why she was in love with him. She didn't know where it was his commitment towards duty, the way he helped others without making it obvious, the way he protected everyone, his confident attitude, his angry personality or maybe the pain in his eyes. There was just something about him that just pulled her towards him. Something so special, something that she just felt only around him. She had already guessed that he knew she loved him, but she still needed to confess. Actually she wanted to confess. She wanted let him know through her own words. She didn't care if he rejected her or not. The only thing that mattered to her was that she wanted to let him know that she'd be always in love with him and she'd be always there for him.
"If you stared at me like that a little more, I swear I will melt right here." She heard the low voice that she had been desperately wanted to hear. But it was so sudden, that she almost fell off her stool.
His lids slowly uncover his eyes and their gaze met. For the first time she had ever seen him this calm. There was that peace in his eyes that she wanted to see all along. Her smile widened as she saw a small smile on his lips. But then she remembered what he went through just to save her, her smile slightly fell and a flash of worry crossed his eyes. He reached out for her hand slowly as his body was still weak.
"I am sorry for everything you had to go through. I am sorry that you got hurt because." Her tears fell on his hand. He shook his head.
"I should be the one to say sorry. You wouldn't have to go through all the pain and sufferings if I was not around. So I am really sorry for that. I don't have enough words to thank you for everything you had done for me." He clasped their hands together. "But I am glad that you can walk again."
She nodded, but she put her head on their clasped hand and cried softly. He let her cry because he knew she needed that moment. He knew she needed to let it out. She had been through so much and he was surprised how she came out of it bravely. Just like that they stayed together at hospital until the day of his discharge. It felt as if the time has reversed. This time it was her who took care of him, just like last time it was him who took care of her. After staying at home for a week, both of them were back at ETF. The whole team welcomed them with cake and banners. She suspected it was Liza, Shree or Chotu, but to her surprise it was Aayesha who did all that. Arjun met everyone for the first time ever he hugged everyone and thanked all of them. They all were so shocked that it seemed as if they were going to freeze to death. Arjun noticed hesitation in Rathore's gestures and he was quieter than usual. He knew why Rathore was so hesitant, but he was scared to bring anything about their past. After all the celebration of their coming back, it was time for reality check.
Rathore told Arjun that they have arrested Sikander, but kept him in ETF custody. Nobody knew about the arrest because the whole team wanted Arjun to decide what he wanted to do with Sikander. Arjun stepped in to the room where Sikander was and Sikander was chained to the chair. He looked up as soon as the door opened and Arjun walked. Sikander had no words, the only thing he could do was look regretfully at Arjun because he knew he had lost this time. He knew that there was no way that he would get out of here in one piece. Arjun stared back at him with anger and malice in his eyes.
"All I want to do is riddle your body with bullets and kill you right at this moment, but no I won't do that. Death is far too easy punishment for you. You are going to suffer." Arjun said spitefully. "Tumhari zindagi ka har ek din tumhai tumhari har us ghalti yaad dilayega, jis se kisi ko dard pohancha hai." Arjun shot him in left knee and Sikander screamed in pain.
"Chalna door tum to pair bhi nahi hila sako ge. Har roz tum maut maango gey, par tumhai maut nahi sirf dard milega." He shot him in his right knee and the room echoed with Sikander's screams yet again. "Tumhari zindagi ka har ek second tumhai itna dard de ga ke tumhare moun se khud ke liye he baddua nikle gi." Arjun got up and shot him in shoulders. He turned and looked at Shree.
"Every got damn case that had ever been associated with him, open it. Is ka pura kala chitha khol do media ke samne. Itna isko humiliate karo ke, is jaisa koi sochne ki bhi himat na kare."
He wanted to kill him, but he also wanted him to suffer. He wanted to see him suffer from pain like he did all these years. He wanted to see the same pain in Sikander eyes, which Sikander had given to him and many others like him. Even though Arjun was not able put the bullet through Sikander's heart, his mind still became relaxed. Right at that moment all his pain just released out of his body. Granted that memories of Roshini's death would be always heartrending, but the memories won't make him suffer anymore.
***
She was packing her stuff. Both of them were healthy enough to function by themselves, so she decided it was time for her to move back to her own house and it had been so long that she had seen her dad, she just hoped that he was okay. She zipped her suitcase and looked around. For past few months she had called this place her own home. She smiled at the fond memories in that place. The place where she learned so much about the man she loved, she learned about his true personality, she taught him how to care openly, she fought with him, she smiled along with him, she whined for random stuff at random time and he tried to fulfill it. She had fallen all over in love with him again by living with him. Granted that there were sour times, but she knew no place on this earth would ever make her happy like the way this place made her happy. She smiled and the door opened. He came in and stared at her hesitantly.
"uhh... you know the recognition ceremony for Rathore and I is today." He stuttered as he talked. "I know you are busy, but I was wondering if you could go with me. I promise I will drop you back at your home on the way back." He said as scratched back of his neck.
"I'd love to go with you." She grinned and it didn't even take her a second to reply.
"You packed stuff so I don't know if you want to reopen it. If you don't want to there is closet where Roshini's dresses are. I don't know how the dresses are, but ask Bhavna she'll tell you." He said and he left. She laughed at his nervousness.
He just shook his head at his attitude. Why? Why am I even nervous? She just the same stupid Sakshi Anand. He scolded himself and went on to get ready. He opted for a black suit along with a black time. He showered and got ready. He groomed his hair and looked at the time and he was already getting late. He got out and froze right at his room's door. She was standing there with her back towards him. She was in black Saree with silver work on it. Her long hair fell in loose curls until her upper back. She probably felt his stare as turned around. His pupils dilated by her look. She had smokey dark look which complemented her pale skin and the minimum silver jewelry. He slowly walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. She slightly blushed and looked away. He stopped in front of her and stared at her once again.
"May I?" She whispered.
"uhh." He was in his own trance. "Yeah! Sure."
She smiled and fixed his crooked tie. He smiled along with her and held his hand out. He didn't know whether the matching black was coincidence or Sakshi's conspiracy. Well Sakshi's habits and actions couldn't be trusted in that context, but whatever it was she just looked way too god damn beautiful in black saree. She put her hand in his and they walked out of the house together. Bhavna chuckled and prayed for them to be together and smiling like that.
The event was in its full swing. Aayesha looked as beautiful as ever in her dark blue dress and so did Liza in her purple dress. Shree and Liza were bickering like always, but they still couldn't live away from each other for too long. Chotu was as busy as he could be with his food like always. While Sameer's eyes didn't leave Aayesha even for a minute no matter what he was doing. Sakshi noticed all of them and smiled. Finally all of them were happy without any worries and guilt. Liza, Aayesha and her were talking when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and Arjun was standing there looking as hot as ever. He held out his hand yet again and she grinned like always and put her hand in his as they walked to the dance floor. He put his one hand on her waist and pulled her closer. She just tilted her head and lost herself in his deep brown eyes. As they danced slowly, she noticed something different about him. There was a very different emotion in his eyes. She couldn't understand what it was. She knew something was coming up, she just hoped that it was not something that would break her apart. As they danced she just kept on gazing right in his eyes, he hadn't even utter on word. What were those emotions? What was so different in his eyes? Those question haunted her throughout the whole party.
****
His car came to the halt. He didn't know how he was suppose to do it or how he was suppose to tell her, but he knew that it needed to be done. He opened the car and helped her move her bags to her house earlier Bhavna had helped her. He dropped her bags in the house and on the way to coming out he held her hand as they walked out of her house. He closed his eyes in sadness as they stopped in front of his car. No matter how much his heart of longing to be there with her, no matter how much he needed her in his life, no matter how much he loved her, he just couldn't stay by her side. Because of him she had been hurt many many times, he just couldn't be selfish and make her stay by his side knowing that she might get hurt again. Even though Sikander was long gone, what happened to Roshini was still in the back of his mind and the fear of that trauma was still in his heart and he want to put Sakshi through it. Also he had promised Rathore that it was the last time he'd be ever associated with them, that nobody would ever get hurt again because of him. He looked at her one last time with love and put his right hand on her left cheek and caressed it. She closed her eyes to feel his hand against her skin.
"You look so beautiful tonight." He whispered. She opened her eyes and slightly smiled.
He heart was breaking in piece, but he had to do it. "Your smile is pretty and contagious. Thank you for everything Sakshi. I am truly thankful for everything single thing you had done for me, from making me smile to risking your own life to save. Thank you so much. Keep smiling just like that." She just kept looking at him without saying anything. It seemed as if she was prepared for this. He stepped forward. "It's time for me to go."
"Goodbye Sakshi." He kissed her forehead.
He turned around and sat in his car. He just drove without turning. He stared her in his side mirror and tears rolled down his cheeks. Goodbye my Love. And he was gone.
*******
Next Chapter will probably be the last one!!!😭
Edited by Sara_Joong - 11 years ago
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