Ajnabee Darr
Riya Mukherjee’s heart pounded as she ran down a dimly lit corridor. Shadows stretched long and distorted, curling towards her like grasping fingers. A chilling whisper echoed around her, a voice she couldn't recognize but feared deeply.
"Bach nahi sakogi, Riya..."
She turned a corner and gasped—there it was. A body, blood pooling around it. The face was mutilated, unrecognizable. Her breath hitched as a deep chuckle rang in her ears.
"Tumhare haathon se khoon chipak gaya hai, Riya…"
Her hands trembled as she lifted them, and her fingers were slick with warm, crimson blood.
"No… nahi!" she screamed, stepping back in horror.
And then, a hand shot out from the darkness, grabbing her ankle—pulling her down into the abyss.
"AHH!"
Riya jerked awake, sweat trickling down her forehead, her chest heaving with shallow breaths. She clutched her bedsheet tightly, feeling the residual terror from her nightmare. Her room was dark except for the dim glow from the streetlights outside.
She ran a shaky hand through her hair, her pulse still racing. This wasn't the first time. The nightmares had been plaguing her for weeks now—getting worse each time.
She glanced at the clock. 3:17 AM.
"Fir se wahi sapna…" she murmured, pressing a hand to her face.
She hated this. The sleepless nights, the restlessness, the growing fear that something was terribly wrong.
And deep down, she knew—this was more than just a dream.
The next morning, ETF headquarters was as busy as ever, but Riya was running on only two hours of restless sleep. Her head throbbed as she sipped her nth cup of coffee.
Shree, engrossed in his laptop, glanced at her. "Riya, tu thik toh hai na? Kal bhi late tak online thi, aaj bhi aise thakki thakki lag rahi hai…"
Chotu frowned, taking a bite of his samosa. "Haan yaar, tu bilkul zinda laash jaisi lag rahi hai!"
Riya forced a smile. "Main thik hoon, bas thodi neend kam hui hai…"
Shree smirked. "Kahi kisi se late night chatting toh nahi chal rahi?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Shree!"
Just then, Arjun Rawte entered, his sharp eyes scanning the team. He instantly noticed Riya’s tired face, the slight bags under her eyes, the way she rubbed her temples as if fighting off a headache.
"Miss Mukherjee," he called, his deep voice snapping her to attention. "Aaj raat fir se late tak jag rahi thi?"
Riya stiffened. How did he know?
"Sir… woh…"
Arjun’s gaze sharpened. "Kitni baar kaha hai… apne health ka dhyaan rakho. Ek officer ka dimaag tabhi sahi kaam karega jab uska sharir sahi condition mein hoga."
Rathore, who had just walked in, raised an eyebrow. "Aur tumhe kaise pata ki Riya late tak jag rahi thi, Rawte?"
Arjun blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Woh… mujhe bas laga."
Chotu and Shree exchanged a mischievous glance, barely hiding their grins. Riya looked away, her heart doing an odd little flip.
But Arjun wasn’t done. "Tum thik ho, Riya?" His voice was softer now, quieter.
She hesitated, debating whether to tell him the truth. But before she could answer, Liza entered with an urgent report.
"Sir, ek naye case ka update aya hai."
And just like that, the conversation ended.
But Arjun didn’t miss the way Riya avoided his gaze.
That night, sleep evaded Riya again. She sat by her window, staring at the city lights.
"Yeh sapne mujhe kuch batane ki koshish kar rahe hain?" she thought.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. Unknown Number.
Frowning, she answered. "Hello?"
Silence.
Then, a whisper.
"Bach nahi sakogi, Riya…"
Her blood ran cold. "Kaun hai?"
A low chuckle. The same one from her dreams.
Panic surged through her veins. She cut the call and stood up, her breath coming in quick gasps. She grabbed her gun instinctively, her hands trembling.
And then—BANG!
The sound came from outside her apartment.
Heart hammering, she rushed to the door, yanked it open—
Only to come face-to-face with Arjun.
He was standing there, his jaw tight, eyes dark with an emotion she couldn’t decipher.
"Sir?" she breathed, confused.
Arjun scanned her face, taking in her terrified expression. "Tumhe laga main koi aur hoon?" His voice was eerily calm.
Riya swallowed. "Mujhe… mujhe laga ki—"
"Ki tum par koi nazar rakhe hue hai?" he finished.
She froze. How did he…?
Arjun exhaled sharply. "Andar chal ke baat kar sakti ho?"
Wordlessly, she stepped aside. He entered, his presence instantly grounding her.
Arjun turned to her, his gaze unwavering. "Ab batao, Riya. Kya chal raha hai?"
And at that moment, all the fear, the nightmares, the whispers—it all came crashing down.
Tears pricked her eyes. "Mujhe nahi pata yeh sab kya hai, sir…" Her voice trembled. "Lekin yeh sapne… yeh awaaz… jaise koi mujhe kuch keh raha hai… par kya?"
Arjun stepped closer. "Aur aaj ka phone call?"
She inhaled sharply. "Wahi awaaz thi… jo mere sapne mein aati hai…"
Arjun’s jaw clenched. His hand lifted, hesitating for a fraction of a second before resting on her shoulder.
"Riya," his voice was softer now. "Tum akeli nahi ho."
A single tear slipped down her cheek. "Mujhe darr lag raha hai, sir…"
Arjun’s fingers tightened slightly. "Main hoon yahan. Tumhe kuch nahi hone dunga."
For the first time in weeks, Riya felt a flicker of safety.
And for the first time in years, Arjun felt an uncontrollable urge to protect someone beyond duty.
Arjun’s grip on Riya’s shoulder was firm yet gentle, grounding her in the moment. She was still trembling slightly, her breath uneven, but there was something about his presence that made the fear less suffocating.
Riya gulped, wiping her tears hastily. "Sir… mujhe samajh nahi aa raha yeh sab kya hai. Yeh sapne… yeh awaaz… kya koi mujhe follow kar raha hai?"
Arjun’s expression darkened. "Ho sakta hai. Aur ho sakta hai yeh sirf ek coincidence na ho."
Riya looked at him, confused. "Matlab?"
Arjun hesitated for a second, as if debating whether he should say what was on his mind. Finally, he asked, "Riya… kya tumhara koi purana case ya personal matter ho sakta hai jisme kisi ne tumse badla lene ki dhamki di ho?"
Riya’s breath hitched. She had never thought of it like that.
"Sir, mujhe yaad nahi… par—" She stopped, a flicker of something flashing across her mind. A memory… too faint to grasp.
Arjun caught the hesitation in her eyes. "Par?"
Riya shook her head. "Nahi… bas aisa laga ki… jaise kuch yaad aane wala hai."
Arjun narrowed his eyes. "Tumhare subconscious kuch yaad karne ki koshish kar raha hai, Riya. Yeh nightmares kisi random wajah se nahi aa rahe."
Riya looked down at her trembling hands. "Agar yeh koi warning hai… toh mujhe sach jaan'na hoga."
Arjun gave a curt nod. "Aur hum mil kar jaanenge. Tum akeli nahi ho, samjhi?"
Riya blinked at him, her heart warming at his words.
She gave him a small, grateful nod. "Sir… thank you."
For a moment, they just stood there—silent, yet speaking volumes.
But before anything else could be said, Arjun’s phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and frowned. "Rathore ka call hai."
He picked up. "Haan, Rathore?"
Rathore’s sharp voice echoed from the other side.
"Rawte, ek naye murder case ka update mila hai… aur yeh Riya se judta lag raha hai."
***
ETF Headquarters was buzzing with tension when Arjun and Riya arrived. The rest of the team was gathered around Shree’s system, grim expressions on their faces.
Rathore cut straight to the point. "Ek aur murder report hua hai… aur crime scene par ek ajeeb si baat mili hai."
Arjun folded his arms. "Kya?"
Shree turned the screen towards them. "Yeh dekho."
On the screen was a photograph from the crime scene. A lifeless body lay sprawled in a dark alley, blood pooling around its head. But that wasn’t the eerie part.
The eerie part was the message written on the wall in blood.
"RIYA, YAAD HOON MAIN?"
The words sent a chill down Riya’s spine. She staggered back slightly, her breath caught in her throat.
"Yeh… yeh kya hai?" her voice barely came out as a whisper.
Chotu frowned. "Matlab yeh killer specifically Riya ko kuch batana chahta hai?"
Rathore’s gaze darkened. "Aur iska matlab yeh bhi ho sakta hai ki agla shikar Riya ho sakti hai."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Arjun’s fists clenched. His gaze flickered towards Riya, who looked visibly shaken. He took a step closer to her, his voice dangerously calm.
"Riya, soch ke batao… koi hai jo tumse badla lena chahta ho? Koi purana dushman? Koi case jo adhura chhoda ho?"
Riya closed her eyes, willing her brain to remember. Her fingers curled into fists as fragmented memories started piecing together.
A dark alley…
A shadowed figure…
A scream…
Blood splattered on her hands…
Her eyes snapped open, wide with realization.
"Sir… ek case tha. Do saal pehle." Her voice was shaky. "Ek serial killer… jo sirf ladkiyon ko target karta tha."
Shree immediately started searching. "Naam yaad hai?"
Riya hesitated. And then—
"Aman Verma."
Shree’s fingers flew across the keyboard. Within seconds, the database pulled up a file. Aman's mugshot appeared on the screen.
A shiver ran down Riya’s spine.
Arjun read the file, his brows furrowing. "Teen ladkiyon ka qatil… jo sirf unn ladkiyon ko target karta tha jo usse reject karti thi."
Chotu clenched his jaw. "Matlab ek psycho lover jaisa case?"
Riya swallowed. "Main… main uss case pe thi. Jab humne usse pakda tha, usne mujhe aankhon mein dekh ke kaha tha…"
She paused, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Main lautunga, Riya. Aur tumse woh cheez chheen lunga jo tumhe sabse zyada pyaari hai."
The weight of her own words settled on her like a boulder.
Arjun’s jaw tightened. "Aur ab woh laut chuka hai."
Rathore exhaled sharply. "Yeh case personal ho chuka hai. Rawte, Riya ki security badhao. Hume Aman Verma ko jitni jaldi ho sake dhoondna hoga."
Arjun didn’t need to be told twice. His entire being screamed at him to protect Riya. He turned to her, his voice laced with a quiet intensity.
"Main tumhare saath hoon, Riya. Jab tak yeh case khatam nahi hota, tum akeli kahin nahi jaogi."
Riya looked up at him, her heart pounding. There was something unshakable in Arjun’s eyes. A silent promise.
And for the first time in days, despite the fear curling in her chest—she believed him.
***
ETF headquarters was filled with a tense silence. The weight of the case settled heavily on the team. The name Aman Verma had unlocked something dark—something that had been waiting to resurface.
Arjun stood near the glass board, his eyes fixed on Aman’s mugshot. "Yeh sirf ek qatil nahi… ek mastermind hai. Yeh chahta hai ki Riya dar me jiye. Woh khel khel raha hai."
Riya sat stiffly, her fingers clenched around her pen. The memories of Aman’s cold, calculating eyes flashed in her mind. Main lautunga, Riya…
Rathore turned to Shree. "Kya Aman jail se release ho chuka hai?"
Shree’s fingers flew across the keyboard. After a few seconds, his face paled. "Sir… yeh impossible hai."
Chotu frowned. "Kyun? Kya hua?"
Shree slowly turned the screen towards them. "Aman Verma ko ek saal pehle encounter mein maar diya gaya tha."
The air in the room froze.
Riya’s breath hitched. "K-kya?"
Arjun’s eyes narrowed. "Kisne maara?"
Shree clicked through the files. "Encounter team ka naam hai, par koi exact report nahi hai. Bas itna likha hai ki uska body jal kar khaak ho gaya tha."
Chotu scoffed. "Matlab koi bhi sure nahi hai ki woh actually mara ya nahi?"
Arjun’s jaw clenched. "Aur agar yeh sach hai ki woh mara nahi… toh iska matlab hai ki—"
"Ki woh aaj bhi zinda hai." Riya’s voice was barely above a whisper.
A tense silence filled the room.
Arjun turned to Riya, his eyes searching hers. "Riya… kya tumhe yakeen hai ki yeh Aman ki awaaz thi?"
Riya gulped. "Main sure nahi keh sakti, par… woh hasi… woh awaaz… sir, bilkul waise hi thi jaise pehle thi."
Rathore exhaled sharply. "Matlab ya toh Aman sach mein zinda hai… ya phir koi uske naam ka istemal kar raha hai."
Arjun’s fists clenched. "Aur hume uska pata lagana hoga."
That night, ETF team ne Riya ki security badha di thi. Arjun ne khud ensure kiya ki Riya ghar par safe rahe.
Lekin Riya ke mann mein ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi. Woh jaanti thi ki yeh sirf ek coincidence nahi ho sakta.
She sat on her bed, staring at her phone. Kya mujhe phir se call aayega?
The thought alone sent a shiver down her spine.
And as if on cue—
RING RING.
Riya’s heart stopped.
She picked up the phone with trembling fingers. "H-Hello?"
Silence.
Then—
"Kaha tha na… main lautunga?"
Riya choked on her breath. "T-tum kaun ho?"
A slow, mocking chuckle.
"Itni jaldi bhool gayi, Riya?"
Tears pricked her eyes. Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Tum kya chahte ho?"
"Bas… thoda khelna."
Her stomach twisted. "Mujhe akela chhodo!"
Another low chuckle. Then—
"Dar lag raha hai?"
A chill ran down her spine.
She gathered all the courage she had. "Mujhe dar nahi lagta."
A pause.
And then, in a voice so soft, so venomous—
"Jhooth mat bolo, Riya. Tumhari saanse bata rahi hai ki tum dari hui ho."
Her breath hitched.
"Aur ab dekhna… main tumhe dikhata hoon ki asli darr kya hota hai."
BEEP.
The call disconnected.
Riya’s hands were ice cold. A suffocating fear curled inside her chest.
And then—
BANG!
The sound of glass shattering echoed through her apartment.
Her blood turned to ice.
She grabbed her gun and rushed towards the source of the sound—her living room window. The glass was broken. Cold air rushed in through the gaping hole.
Her heart pounded violently.
Someone had been here.
She wasn’t alone.
And then—
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Before she could turn—
A strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back. A gloved hand covered her mouth.
Her scream was muffled. She struggled, thrashing wildly, but the grip was too strong.
The last thing she saw was the faint outline of a figure before something sharp pressed against her neck—
And darkness consumed her.
Arjun’s phone buzzed at exactly 12:47 AM.
A message.
Unknown Number.
"Agar Riya ko zinda dekhna chahte ho, toh akele aao."
Arjun’s heart stopped. His grip tightened around his phone.
A picture followed.
Riya.
Unconscious. Bound to a chair. A dark figure standing beside her.
Aman Verma.
A burning rage ignited in Arjun’s chest. His fingers curled into fists. His blood boiled with fury.
Without a second thought, he grabbed his gun and stormed out.
His Riya needed him.
And he was going to bring her back.
No matter what.
***
Arjun drove like a madman. The city lights blurred past him, his focus razor-sharp on the address sent in the message. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white with rage.
Riya ko kuch nahi hone dunga.
He replayed the image of her—unconscious, bound, vulnerable. His blood boiled. He had seen Riya fight criminals, face death without flinching. But this… this was different. This was personal.
Aman Verma had dared to touch what was his.
And now, he was going to pay.
As he neared the abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city, Arjun killed the headlights and parked a safe distance away. His mind was eerily calm, every move calculated. He checked his gun, secured his knife, and slipped into the shadows.
Inside, the factory was eerily silent. Faint light flickered from broken bulbs. The air smelled of rust and damp cement. His ears picked up the faintest sound—breathing.
A familiar voice chuckled from the darkness.
"Mujhe pata tha tu aayega, Arjun."
Arjun turned sharply, gun raised, only to find Aman standing on the catwalk above him, smirking.
"Riya kaha hai?" Arjun’s voice was deathly cold.
Aman tsked. "Arrey, arrey… itni jaldi kya hai? Pehle mil toh lo. Tumhari pyaari Riya yahi hai."
He snapped his fingers.
A spotlight flickered on—
Riya.
Tied to a chair, her head slumped forward. A cut on her temple trickled blood. Ropes bound her wrists tightly, her breathing shallow but steady.
Arjun’s jaw tightened. "Aman, agar usse ek bhi kharoch aur lagi—"
Aman laughed. "Toh kya? Mujhe maar doge? Arrey Arjun… tumhe pata hai na, main maut se nahi darta."
Arjun’s eyes darkened. "Main tujhe marne ka mauka bhi nahi dunga."
Without warning, he fired—
Aman dodged, disappearing into the shadows. "Tch, tch… aise nahi. Pehle thoda khel khelte hain, phir Riya ka faisla karenge."
And then—
The lights cut out.
Darkness swallowed the space whole.
Arjun’s grip tightened around his gun. He sharpened his senses, listening, waiting—
A whisper, right behind him.
"Tu mujhe dhoondh raha hai, ya main tujhe?"
Arjun spun around, gun raised, but Aman was already gone. Footsteps echoed, circling him.
This was a game.
A deadly one.
But Arjun never played to lose.
Riya’s head throbbed. Every nerve in her body screamed in pain. But as she slowly came to, one thought drowned out everything else—
Arjun.
She blinked against the dim light, her surroundings spinning. The ropes cut into her skin, her wrists raw. She flexed her fingers, testing the knots.
Aman’s voice echoed in the distance. He was playing with Arjun.
No. Not this time.
Gritting her teeth, she willed her body to move. Inch by inch, she twisted her wrists, ignoring the sting. Years of training kicked in. Her breath steadied.
And then—
The rope loosened.
Her fingers worked quickly. The moment her hands were free, she reached for the metal rod lying nearby. The second the opportunity came—
She was going to fight.
Because she was not a damsel in distress.
She was a fighter.
And she was taking her life back.
Arjun moved like a shadow, his every step precise. Aman thought he was playing games—he had no idea what was coming.
The second Aman stepped too close—
Arjun struck.
A brutal punch landed on Aman’s jaw, sending him stumbling back. Arjun followed up with a knee to the ribs, the force enough to make Aman gasp.
But Aman was prepared.
He retaliated with a blade, slashing at Arjun’s arm. Blood spattered, but Arjun didn’t even flinch.
Instead, he smirked.
"Bas itni si taqat hai?"
Aman growled, lunging again. But this time—
Arjun caught his wrist, twisting it painfully until the knife clattered to the ground. In one swift motion, he slammed Aman against a pillar, his forearm pressing against his throat.
Aman choked, struggling. "T-tujhe… lagta hai… main haar jaunga?"
Arjun’s grip tightened. "Tu haar chuka hai."
A gun clicked.
Aman stilled.
Riya stood a few feet away, gun aimed straight at Aman’s head. Her stance was steady, her eyes blazing.
"Game over." Her voice was deadly calm.
Aman chuckled, blood dripping from his lips. "Riya… tum itni strong kab se ho gayi?"
Riya’s finger hovered over the trigger. "Jab tu mujhe todne chala tha."
Arjun stepped back, allowing her space. "Yehi chahta tha na? Ki Riya darr ke jeeye? Afsos… yeh ab sirf tere liye hoga."
Aman’s smirk faltered.
Before he could react—
Riya fired.
The bullet grazed his shoulder, knocking him back.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
Arjun stepped forward, towering over Aman’s fallen form. "Ab tu sirf jail mein saans lega, woh bhi agar bachi toh."
Aman groaned, clutching his wound. But this time—there was no escape.
The nightmare was over.
The case was closed. Aman was in custody.
But Riya’s hands still trembled.
She stood near ETF headquarters’ terrace, staring at the night sky. The memories of the past few days weighed on her.
A warm presence settled beside her.
Arjun.
"Kya soch rahi ho?" His voice was softer than usual.
Riya sighed. "Ki kabhi kabhi… darr sirf ek emotion nahi hota. Kabhi woh saach bhi ho sakta hai."
Arjun studied her for a moment. Then, gently, he reached out—
And clasped her hand in his.
"Jab tak main hoon, tumhe kisi cheez se darr nahi lagega." His voice was firm, a silent promise.
Riya turned to him, her eyes searching his. "Aap hamesha aise hi bachane aayenge?"
Arjun’s lips curled into a rare, soft smile. "Hamesha."
For the first time in days, Riya allowed herself to breathe.
Because no matter what nightmares lay ahead—
She knew one thing for certain.
Arjun Rawte would always be there.
And that was enough.
***
The sun rose over Mumbai, casting a golden glow over the city. The chaos of the night had settled, but the aftershocks still lingered.
At ETF headquarters, the team was gathered, exhaustion visible on their faces. But beneath it, there was relief. Aman Verma was behind bars. The nightmare that had haunted Riya was finally over.
Shree stretched with a groan. "Yaar, maine socha tha ki criminals sirf movies mein psycho games khelte hain. Yeh toh asli thriller ban gaya tha!"
Chotu chuckled, shaking his head. "Haan, lekin asli hero toh Arjun sir aur Riya nikle. Kya action tha!"
Rathore, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Mission successful raha. Tum sabne accha kaam kiya." He turned to Riya. "Aur Riya, tumne jo himmat dikhayi… well done."
Riya gave him a small smile. "Thank you, sir."
Arjun, leaning against the glass board, observed Riya carefully. She looked better—her shoulders less tense, her eyes no longer haunted. But he knew the scars of fear didn't fade overnight.
As if sensing his gaze, Riya turned to him.
Their eyes met.
There was no need for words.
She knew he had been there for her, that he would always be there.
And he knew she was stronger than ever before.
Riya stood at the terrace of her apartment, the wind playing with her hair. She closed her eyes, letting the fresh air fill her lungs. The nightmares had lessened. The restlessness had faded.
And she had survived.
Her phone buzzed.
Arjun: "Bahar aao."
Her heart skipped.
She quickly grabbed her shawl and stepped outside.
Arjun was leaning against his SUV, his arms crossed. His usual serious expression softened when he saw her.
"Kya hua?" Riya asked, confused.
Arjun simply gestured towards his car. "Chalo."
Riya frowned. "Kaha?"
Arjun smirked. "Bharosa hai mujhpar?"
Riya hesitated for a second, then smiled. "Hamesha."
She got in without another question.
As they drove through the empty streets, a comfortable silence settled between them.
After a while, they stopped near Marine Drive. The sea stretched endlessly before them, waves crashing gently against the rocks. The city lights shimmered in the distance.
Riya turned to Arjun. "Yaha kyun laaye?"
Arjun didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her, his gaze intense yet unreadable.
"Riya… tumhe pata hai ki darr aur dukh insaan ko tod sakta hai."
She nodded silently.
"Lekin kabhi kabhi, woh insaan ko aur mazboot bhi bana sakta hai."
Riya swallowed the lump in her throat.
Arjun continued, his voice softer. "Tumne darr ko hara diya, Riya. Tum sirf ek victim nahi ho… tum ek fighter ho."
Riya’s eyes glistened, but she smiled. "Aur agar kabhi phir darr laut aaya toh?"
Arjun’s lips curled into the faintest smile. "Tab bhi main yahi rahunga."
Riya felt her heart warm. She didn’t need grand gestures or long promises. This was enough.
A quiet moment.
A silent vow.
A new beginning.
She turned to the sea, inhaling deeply. The air no longer felt heavy. The fear was gone.
And for the first time in a long time—
She felt truly free.
~The End~
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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