Rantara One shot:
|| Never Let Me Go ||
"They are coming closer" Whispered Raghu before pressing his back more firmly to the oak tree. He took her in his arms and shielded her face in his chest. He can feel her shivering and her deep shuddering breaths.
"raghu" antara's voice quivered holding his hands more tightly. Raghu looked back at her and saw the fear in her eyes. Her eyes were huge with unshed tears. He wanted to reassure her that it will be all right but he knew that even his reassurance is not going to help them.
*******
Raghu have promised her once that he will never let her go. He was good in his promise but ever since satya came into their lives, it got harder for him to maintain it. There was the loyalty that he had for his Daya mai and on the other hand it was his promise to Antara. He was in dire straits trying to be loyal to both women in his life.
It was not long when finally his eyes opened to reality. He got to know what kind of person his Daya Mai really was. He felt like a fool considering her as his everything.
*******
The footsteps grew closer and he pulled her more close to him. He looked over trying to see if he can see them. So that they can make a run as soon as their path is cleared. The rustling of leaves nearby indicated that they were getting more close to them. Raghu and Antara moved a bit further away trying to hide.
Daya Mai's henchmen gave a careless search around and one of them pointed to the opposite direction and they all ran towards there. Raghu and Antara drew a huge sigh of relief as they moved away and Raghu looked down at Antara who was breathing heavily. He cupped her face and gave a light kiss on her forehead trying to calm her and him. Raghu then took her hands and ran.
Raghu and Antara ran deeper into the woods; they knew that their chance of survival in the wild is more than in an open area. It was raining heavily and they were having a difficult time in moving since the ground has become moist.
"raghu, I cant go further" Antara stopped, clutching her midriff. The daylight was already fading away and it was necessary for them to keep going till they find any kind of shelter. "Antara, we have to go, just a few more steps, I'm sure we will find somewhere safe"
"No, raghu, lets rest here" Antara shook her head. She knew she was not making any sense. Her body was screaming in pain and she was out of breath.
Raghu looked around helplessly. The rain was getting heavier by the minute and there was no sign of stopping it soon. They both were freezing though out of breath. While he looked about, his eyes caught a roof. He squinted to look better and realized that it was a cabin..
"Miss Kaul, there is shelter, lets go" Raghu said grabbing her hands and began to run. He pulled her along, carefully as not to trip, his hands were secure around her waist as he guided her towards the cottage.
Few minutes later, they found themselves in front of the cabin, and Raghu took hold of the door knob and turned. It was locked. Cursing under his breath, he began to kick open the door.
"Raghu what are you doing? This is someone's house"
"Really? You are thinking about it now? And who will live here and this cabin is old and don't think anyone has been living here"
"Still-"
"Look Miss Kaul, I don't want to argue now, we will spend the night here and we will leave, its almost night and we cant move around at night here"
Antara nodded her head in agreement. She knew there was no point in arguing with him. He was right. They had no choice but to wait.
Raghu slammed his shoulders to the door twice before it broke open. They went in and closed the door.
Antara stared at the place, it was not neat but not dirty either. There was a small fire place and a worn out sofa which can easily accommodate the two of them.
"Are you hurt?" Antara asked touching his shoulders. It got to hurt since it took a great effort for him to break it open. Raghu smiled and placed his hands over hers and replied. "I'm fine"
Raghu began to peel off his sodden jacket and Antara looked away. Raghu saw how uncomfortable she has become pulled back the jacket again and said. "I'll go see if there are dry clothes here" Antara said turning towards the other room. She went in and raghu began to gather the firewood at the fireplace. He busied himself with the fire and a tiny orange flame began to curl around the log.
Raghu saw that Antara has still not returned, he went inside to find her and found that she was searching through the cupboards which all were empty.
"Nothing is here" she said closing another drawer. "Who live in a remote place like this with no clothes?"
Raghu smiled at that and walked towards her. he put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around . "Miss Kaul, come"
She turned with him and moved towards the fireplace. They sat side by side and they both held their hands out. A low moan of contentment escaped antara's lips and raghu looked at her mesmerized. He didn't know how but his hands moved towards her and cupped her cheek before turning her to him and he moved slowly and took her lips in his in a light kiss. Raghu smiled at her he saw the light blush that was creeping up her neck.
"what was that for?" she asked in a shy whisper.
"i just wanted to" Antara smiled at his response and taking his hands, she pulled him towards her and hugged him. She hugged him so tight as if she wants to pull him to her. Raghu hugged her back with equal passion and with each moment passed, their passion began to build in.
Raghu slowly moved away a bit and stood up taking her. "Raghu" his name on her lips so soft and husky got him undone. He bent down and scooped her up in one fluid moment.
Antara sighed as she rested her head on his chest. The warmth of his body intoxicating. He carried her towards the sofa and laid her gently and reverently before covering her body with his. Antara could only stare at him. Raghu, the love of her life whom she trusts more than herself was looking at her with such intensity that it sort of scared her. And thinking that she'd loved him forever, that her every dream, her every waking thought, had been leading to this moment. He hadn't yet uttered the words that would make her heart soar, but just now that didn't seem to matter.
Raghu was about to bend down to kiss her again when the door to the cabin burst open and Satya entered with a rifle in his hands.
Raghu and Antara jumped and turned towards him. Satya's eyes were blazing in anger and Raghu pulled Antara behind shielding her from all the danger in front of them.
Raghu glared at Satya angrily and clenched his fist ready to fight. Antara stood behind him clutching his jacket tightly.
"Finally! Found you" Satya growled and pointed the rifle at Raghu. Antara's eyes widened and began to shake violently. But raghu did not budge, he stood facing it. "Now you are dead!" Satya declared putting his finger through the trigger.
In one fluid moment, Raghu kicked the rifle out of Satya's hands and pointed it back to him. Satya stood dumbfounded at the sudden movement. He began to growl more. "YOU CAN NEVER KILL ME!"
"You are right, I cant" Raghu replied. "Because I don't want to soil my hands with your blood"
Raghu lowered the gun but before that, he hit satya square on his jaw. Satya reeled back and clutched his jaw in pain. Blood began to ooze out from the corner of his mouth. Satyas control snapped and giving a cry, he lunged towards raghu sending them down on the ground. Antara shrieked as they both began to punch and kick each other.
Antara tried to stop satya from hitting him by grabbing his arms but he just shoved her away where she went and hit her head on the wall. Raghu on seeing this gave a shout and began to hit him brutally. Raghu gave him on more punch before shoving him off and rushing towards Antara who was clutching her head in pain.
"Miss Kaul? Are you okay?" he asked running his hands on her face trying to see if she has been hurt.
"I'm fine" Antara said nodding her head and looked over Satya who was slowly getting conscious. "We have to go"
"Yes, lets go" Raghu said grabbing her hands and moving towards the door.
"Raghu!" they both turned as they heard a menacing voice call behind him. Satya has got up and was facing him with a pocket knife in his hands. Raghu's mouth twisted in disgust. "its not over!" Saying so, he again lunged to raghu and raghu was quick to hold and tackle the knife and twist it away from him.
Antara did not know what else to do but to stay where she was helpless. She moved towards them but was pushed back when Raghu's shoulder hit hers. They both dropped to the floor again and within moments, they both stopped fighting. They both froze. They both had the same expression on their face. Of horror and disbelief. Antara cried as she realized what had happened. She ran towards them as Satya's body dropped on top of Raghu. Antara began to cry harder but then, Raghu moved his hands and shoved Satya away from him. His lifeless body lay sprawled across the floor.
Antara's eyes widened as he saw the knife in satya's chest. Crimson blood was oozing out. Antara launched onto Raghu and hugged him tight. He was okay. Satya was dead. And he was okay. Raghu hugged her back and she turned to look at satya's lifeless body but Raghu turned her head to the other side shielding her from the ugly sight before her.
"Satya's dead" Antara whispered.
"Yes, as he should be" Raghu replied. He knew he should not talk of the dead that way but he had no sympathy for a man like satya.
Long before he has foretold Satya that his death will be by his hands. Though at the time he was not sure how true his words were, that finally came true today. Satya is dead and they were free. Almost.
"Raghu, Daya Mai?" Antara spoke breaking the silence. Raghu became very still for a moment before breaking the hug. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. He was still slightly shaking. He knew that Daya Mai will not spare either of them, but for now, he was not going to think about it.
"Nothing is going to happen to us" Raghu assured her. he himself was clueless to what was going to happen to them. But he knew one thing, that he will never let any harm befall her.
Antara nodded taking his words in. she felt better when he assures her that they will be alright. She trusts him that much. But she still cant help be a little afraid for him. He is after all, just one man.
"Look there is a cabin over there" They heard a distance shout. Raghu and Antara looked at each other alarmed. The men who has been following them has finally found them. Raghu went near the window and looked out to see where they were, they were already approaching and Raghu looked around to see if there is any escape route.
There seem to be none. Just then when all hopes seems to be lost, Antara motioned him to follow her and they went in the next room and found a backdoor hidden behind a cupboard. Smiling broadly at each other, he slid the cupboard aside just enough for both of them to slide through, and then they slipped out.
And it was just then, Daya Mai's henchmen opened the door to the cabin and found it empty except for Satya's corpse lying on the floor.
"Saheb" One of them exclaimed in horror. They did not have any chance to react further when Daya Mai strode into the cabin. She glanced around the cabin. Her eyes widened when she saw her son's body lying there with a knife stuck in his chest. Daya mai stood frozen for a moment before numbly walking where satya lay. She hunched down and glanced at the terror struck eyes of Satya. my son' she whispered as a lone tear escaped her eye. She moved her hands and closed his eyes, closing her own, trying to calm herself. Grief and rage was burning through her as she realized that her son is no more and who was responsible for it. She got up and turned and glanced at her henchmen in anger. All five of them moved slightly back seeing her eyes red with rage.
"Find them and bring them back ALIVE!" she ordered them in a low menacing voice. "I will kill them myself"
They all nodded and headed out. Daya Mai sat beside her sons' body and vowed. "Raghunath Naik and Antara Kaul, you took the most precious thing in my life, I will hunt you down and I will kill you BOTH!"
*******
Further from the woods, Antara and Raghu were running out towards a bridge. They crossed it and reached towards a main road. They looked around to see if they can get a ride to get them away from there. But saw none.
"raghu? What now?" Antara asked flicking nervous glances back. She was worried that they might be following them.
Raghu did not answer her but held her hands and squeezed it tight silently reassuring her.
"Look, I think there is a railway track" Antara pointed where the track lay. Raghu did not stand to think and pulled antara towards it. If there was a railway track then there surely will be a way for them to get help.
They made across the road and realized that they were standing at an abandoned railway station. The place was deserted and there was no one in sight.
The sound of steam suddenly jolted them. They turn to look and saw a train heading towards them. The slow movement made it enough for them to realize that they can catch it if they move faster. Raghu did not waste time to think and ran towards it with Antara.
Antara tried hard to catch up with Raghu. His hands left hers as he ran ahead and jumped into the train. She ran faster as the train began to move faster. Panicked, she extended her hands towards Raghu who was already leaning out, extending his hands. Antara managed to catch hold of it before he seized her inside.
Antara was crushed against Raghu's chest. all the tension he had kept so tightly constrained for the past few minutes was released in hard shudders as he gripped her against him. Antara held him tight not wanting to let go. It seemed that her pulse would never return to normal. "You got me," she finally managed to say.
"I will never let you go" Raghu murmured sliding his shaking fingers into her hair. They stood like that for moment, trying to calm their racing hearts until a discreet cough made Antara to twist in his arms.
A man in white uniform stood with his brows raised. "What are you doing here?"
Raghu opened his mouth to answer but Antara beat him to it. "sorry bhai sahab, we did not want to miss this train"
"do you even know where this train is going?" he asked looking at their dirty clothes.
Antara flushed not knowing what else to say. Raghu stood by her side amused his arms wrapped around her shoulders. She jabbed her elbows in his midriff to which he winced in pain and turned to the conductor. "we needed a ride and we didn't know the area, so we thought..."
"That you will jump the first train you see?" he asked annoyed. "are you both mad?"
"we are" Raghu murmured inaudibly.
"we really need a ride" Antara said giving him a pleading look. "Please, we will get off at the next station"
"That's impossible" He shook his head. "You cant get off"
They both stared at him in shock. Surely he did not mean that he is going to surrender them to the police?
"Please" Antara begged. "we are in trouble, we would not have don't such thing if we had no choice, please don't hand us over" Antara choked back a sob and she turned and buried her face in Raghu's chest and began to cry.
"Hush" Raghu murmured sliding his hands up and down her back trying to calm her. He looked over the conductor who stood their with his mouth gaping open. Raghu shot him an angry glare for making his Miss Kaul cry.
"what did I do?!" he asked baffled at the weeping girl.
Raghu did not answer. He was not in a mood to explain or beg anyone. He just needed to make Antara to stop crying at the moment.
"All I said was that you cant get off as this train is not stopping for the next 15 hours"
"what?" Raghu asked. "why?"
"because this train is going to Srinagar and the earliest stop is Kota and after that, the journey will continue to Srinagar" the conductor began to smile then. "I'll get a compartment ready for you, come along" saying so, he left.
Raghu and Antara stood staring at his retreating back.
"Srinagar?" Antara asked in disbelief. Raghu looked at her then. They both began to smile realizing that they were now heading to the place where their fate was written. They still have Daya Mai to deal with. But that was okay. They will deal with it later. For now, they are heading to Srinagar, a place where they can once again start their life over.
"Srinagar" Raghu began to smile wider taking her hands in his and giving it a light kiss.
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Note:
Ahem.. hellođł , so yeah i'm bored and wrote this 𤣠i just want that phattu to die asap! i thought of posting this yesterday but thought that since tonight we wont have any epi, you all will be bored. i hope you guys like this short OS from me. any comments are most welcome. if you like this, please hit LIKE or comment :)
PS: i know the title and story dont match. i'm real bad at giving the names đ was listening to the song, Never Let Me Go from Florence and the machine. so thought of adding it
song link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNKbeV3wM84
****
More on Rantara :
Rantara OS: The beginning of tomorrow:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/do-dil-ek-jaan/3768550/rantara-os-the-beginning-of-tomorrow
Rantara OS: The Wall Between Us:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/do-dil-ek-jaan/3798497/rantara-os-the-wall-between-us
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