#07
Arjun was standing in the hospital's corridor, leaning his back on the wall.
Wrinkled shirt.
Disheveled hair.
Miserable face.
He stood there numb.
Sameer put a hand on his shoulder. He turned his face and looked at him.
"kuch pata chala?"
He hardly whispered.
Sameer shook his head in a 'No'.
He stumbled a little. Sameer tried to get a hold of him but he stepped back and slumped on one of the chairs placed in the corridor.
Sameer looked at him painfully.
"Not again"
Sameer whispered to himself.
He can't imagine his friend going through this pain again.
His mind went back to the call that he received a few hours ago.
It was Arjun telling him that Mr. Anand and Sakshi were missing and Shree was injured. He quickly reached there.
After gaining consciousness, Shree told them that as they left the hospital they were attacked by some goons.
Shree tried to fight but they were four and he couldn't stand in front of them for a long time.
They forcefully pushed Mr. Anand and Sakshi into a van and left the injured Shree on the road. He had some deep cuts on his arms and forehead. Fortunately, he was brought to the hospital by some unknown people.
Arjun had come to know all this as he came to the hospital to have a look at them as neither Sakshi's nor Shree's phone was reachable and he was hell worried.
But as he reached there he found out everything and it was terrible. This shocking situation was enough to drain out all of his energy.
Since then they had been searching for Mr. Anand and Sakshi but all in vain.
He took a deep breath and come near Arjun.
"Arjun, Shree had been discharged. Tum bhi Ghar jao. Mein Shree ko drop kar du ga"
The clock was striking two of night.
He looked at Sameer mindlessly.
How could he go like that?
Without her.....
No, he can't.
"Arjun we had searched every possible place and I had informed in every police station. Strict restrictions had been imposed on every check post. We will find them soon"
Sameer sat down in front of him.
"We will find them Arjun. We will. Trust me"
Sameer tried to assure him.
"Lekin tumharay yahan baithy rehny se wo log mil nahi jayen gay. Go home. You need to come to the office early tomorrow. We had a lot more to do. Sikandar is doing this to break you and to distract you from his tomorrow's consignment but you can not give up"
Sameer said placing his hand on his shoulder.
Arjun nodded and took his steps away.
Sameer stood there for some time and then went from there.
__________________
He was standing at the door of his apartment.
He was having a hard time getting hold of himself.
He took out his keys and tried to put one of them in the hole. The key was not getting in the hole as his vision was getting blurry due to tears that were, again and again, forming in his eyes.
He rubbed his eyes harshly with the back of his hand and put the key in the hole.
But,
the door was already opened.
Did he leave the door opened in hurry?
He tried to remember but he couldn't find himself to recollect anything.
He pushed the door a little.
Again there was darkness and loneliness but he also felt something else.
Maybe a certain restlessness or something more...
A feeling of helplessness.
A feeling of loss.
or
A feeling of fear.
Fear...
that leads him to the place where he was standing three years back.
Yes...
It was the same fear, same feeling, same restlessness.
1
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He stepped back.
"Not again plz. Not this time"
He whispered to himself.
Some seconds pass.
Assembling all his strength. He took a deep breath and whispered to himself.
"Not again"
This time there was a determination in his voice. He can sense that.
He took his phone out, typed a message and send it, and then pushed the door and entered the house.
______________
Sameer just had dropped Shree at his place when he heard a message tone.
He picked up his phone.
"Arjun"
He whispered and immediately opened the message.
"I think he is in my house"
Sameer looked at this cryptic message.
"He?"
"Whom?"
Suddenly, something strikes his mind.
His eyes widened. He quickly dialed some numbers and spoke to someone. Then turned his car towards Arjun's apartment.
He drove fastly. As soon as he reached Arjun's apartment. He came out of the car and ran upwards.
After receiving Arjun's message he already informed the superiors and the nearby police station.
They were also present there.
He stopped at the entrance when he saw a dead body being brought on the stretcher out of the house.
He stood there mindlessly.
He stumbled a little backward. Ayesha gets hold of him. Chotu and Ayesha had already arrived there on Sameer's call.
Sameer took a look at her.
Her state was miserable.
Red eyes.
Tear-stricken face.
She looked shaken.
He turned his face towards the dead body. Ayesha took the white cloth away from the dead body's face.
He sighed in relief.
The person's wrist was hanging on the stretcher. The 'S' mark on the person's wrist was enough to know his identity.
"Sikandar"
Ayesha confirmed.
"Arjun?
Sakshi?
Anand Sir?"
He asked.
"They are in the hospital. Chotu is also with them"
She told him and he just nodded.
Neither he was in a state to say anything nor Ayesha. They both were unable to understand what life was going to bring for their loved ones.
________________
He had been sitting beside her for several hours.
She was still unconscious.
Indeed the previous night was one of the heaviest nights of his life.
He remembered the fear he felt when he entered his own house. It was the same feeling that he felt three years back and he hated that feeling.
He knew history was repeating itself.
Although he had messaged Sameer still the fear of losing her was engulfing him inside.
What if Sameer won't be able to arrange help on time?
What if he lost again?
When he entered his house he saw that nothing was in its place in the lounge. Everything was scattered just like that night. That unfortunate night.
Today again he was afraid, afraid to witness something worse.
As he stepped further, to his horror there his sight fell on Mr. Anand who was tied to a pillar. He ran towards him and opened the ropes.
"Anand Sir. Plz open your eyes"
Arjun patted his cheeks. He stirred a little.
"Arjun"
He barely whispered.
"Where is Sakshi?"
Arjun asked hopefully.
Just then he heard the same menacing laugh that once had destroyed his life.
How could he forget this evil laughter!!!
Arjun looked up. He can see Sakshi wriggling in his strong grip. He was putting a knife on her neck.
Along with them, Sikandar's men also came into sight.
Arjun's gaze was fixed on Sakshi.
Her state was miserable. Tears were continuously flowing from her eyes.
A feeling of angst arises within him.
He stood up holding Mr. Anand and making him stand on his feet he took a few steps forward.
"Leave her"
Arjun said with a strong voice.
"I said leave her"
There was angst, hatred, and pain in his voice.
Sikandar again started laughing.
"You needed to be destroyed Arjun"
He said in his cold voice.
Arjun took a step towards him to which he tightened his grip on Sakshi and took the knife close to her throat to which some blood oozed out. She held a cry of pain.
Arjun stopped in his place.
"Don't do anything to her. You wanted to destroy me then do whatever you want to do with me but leave her"
Arjun said helplessly to which he again started laughing like a psychopath.
"That's what I am doing. I am destroying you"
His ruthless voice echoed in his ears.
Why hasn't anyone come yet?
Arjun thought to himself just then he heard the sound of the siren that distracted Sikandar. His puppets also panicked.
Arjun took this chance and pushed him. He fell to the ground.
Arjun immediately gets hold of Sakshi and hides her behind himself.
He took out his gun and pointed it at him. Sikandar threw the knife at him that hit his hand and the gun fell which was picked up by Sikandar. Blood started oozing out of Arjun's hand.
His puppets tried to come forward but he stopped them with his hand gesture.
Sikandar stood up with his menacing laugh. Suddenly he stopped and pointed the gun at Arjun.
Sakshi screamed in fear.
Arjun was standing in front of her just then his eyes fell on the knife which was lying near her feet.
"Sakshi pick up the knife"
He whispered to her.
"Surrender yourself Sikandar otherwise you will regret"
He was covering Sakshi and also was distracting Sikandar from her.
She picked up the knife and gave it to Arjun but Sikandar saw it and he pressed the trigger. At the same time, Arjun threw the knife at him.
The sound of the bullet shot can be heard.
"Arjunnn"
Sakshi pushed him.
"Sakshiii"
He screamed falling to the ground.
Soon two of the bodies fell to the ground.
One was of Sikandar whose stomach was torn by the sharp knife.
And the other one was,
"Papa"
"Anand Sir"
Sakshi and Arjun barely whispered.
Mr. Anand had come in front of Sakshi and the bullet had pierced his heart.
At the same time, police entered his house and immediately got hold of the injured Sikandar along with his men.
Arjun can see Mr. Anand breathing heavily and Sakshi losing her consciousness.
He came back to reality after hearing her mumbling.
"Sakshi"
He held her hand.
She tried to get up. He helped her and sat next to her.
"Sakshi"
He whispered.
She looked at him. She touched his shoulders as if assuring herself that he is sitting in front of her.
"I am fine"
He assured her sensing her worry.
"Papa?"
Tears started brimming in her eyes.
He shook his head in a 'No' and the next moment she burst into crying on his shoulder.
He held her close.
She needed to cry.
She needed to let it go.
She needed to unburden her soul.
She needed to lighten her heart.
He knew and he does understand.
And
He was there for her.
______________
One week later
He stood there outside the conference room, seeing her smiling through the glass door.
After a week he had seen her with a little smile on her face.
He stood there remembering their last night's conversation.
"I feel guilty that because of me papa gave his life"
She whispered. Her voice was having a tint of pain.
"What would you have done if you were in his place?"
He asked.
She looked at him. He held her hands in his.
"He did this because he loved you and because he wanted you to live your life as well as his"
He said looking straight into her eyes.
"We can't die with our loved ones. We had to live because that's what they wanted from us. That's what we would want if we were in their place. No one likes to see their loved ones in pain"
His words were playing the role of medicine to her wounds.
His voice had some healing powers.
One look into his eyes and she found all the relief, all the comfort, all the solace that she needed.
How can your pain be reflected in someone's else eyes!
How can someone's words heal you!
How can someone's one glance can make you forget all your pain!
A hand on his shoulder brought him back to the present. He turned. Sameer was standing behind him.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded and took a glance at Sakshi.
"I guess, now I am"
He whispered.
Kabhi jo tum ronay k liye ek Kandha chaho
To ek nazar mujhay Dekh lena
Kabhi jo tum Dil ki baat kehna chaho
To ek baar mujhay Pukaar lena
Kabhi jo tum khud ko Tanha pao
To meray Qadmon se apnay Qadam mila lena
Kabhi jo tum mera Saath chaho
To bas ek baar mera Haath Thaam lena
Sakshi's eyes caught sight of him. Her eyes glittered seeing him.
Ayesha glanced at her and looked in the direction where her eyes were fixed.
They both were glimpsing at each other with affection.
Sameer & Ayesha smiled at both of them and prayed for their happiness in their heart.
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Edited by Aaina25 - 3 years ago
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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