Arnav froze.His already racing heart started beating even faster, and his breathing became strained - he had hoped he would hear that sound again. He reached out to grab hold of something - anything - that could give him support. Breathing fast, he stood, shivering, holding onto a dirty, musky wall, which had been painted a bright color of green , it seemed, long ago. He turned his face away, wishing he hadn't noticed it's color... that was the color the walls in his childhood home had been, back when... no, no , he musn't think about that . Not now, not ever. He exhaled sharply as his mother's face came flashing before his eyes, all to vivid, as if he had seen her just yesterday, as if she would be there when he got back home, waiting for him. He shook his head, but he couldn't shake off the sound, that dreadful sound, that was reverberating in the air, seemingly trying to pull him in, make him lose all control... Not now, not now, not now, please, not now... thought Arnav, as his mind threatened to give in to a panic attack. He didn't want to go through that now, not after all this time, not when he was here to find Khushi... KHUSHI? As the realization dawned, suddenly, he heard a loud scream, as if in response. It was Khushi : there was no mistake about it. But what about the sound before that? Whoever it was that had brought her here definately had a gun. But ... no, it couldn't be... Arnav thought as he rushed into the dark and vast hall. A shady kind of smell seemed to surround him, like a curtain.
He stopped as his foot hit something... someone... he looked down, in horror, to see a man on the floor, a pool of black blood surrounding him, it was too dark for him to be able to see his face properly. This had to be the person on whom the gun had been fired. But he couldn't be bothered about that now, not now that - "KHUSHI?!" Arnav exclaimed as he spotted Khushi slumped against a wall, her mouth taped,hands tied behind her back, the the lightly colored suit she had been wearing when he last saw her ripped toward the sides, with the arms ripped off. He ran toward Khushi, pushing away anything that came into his way. "Khushi, Khushi , are you okay? Are you... who did this to you, who the f*@# did this to you?" he said, kneeling down and untying the ropes that bound her, untaping her mouth. "Say something, Khushi! Who was here? What was that sound? What - " He stopped as Khushi suddenly started crying really hard, like he had never seen her cry before. "Khushi - ?"
"Arnavj-ji...", said Khushi, her voice shaking and threatening to break.
"What, Khushi? What? Tell me what it is!". Arnav turned around, as Khushi pointed to some point seemingly behind him. Right behind, as if he had popped out of nowhere, stood a familiar - looking man, even though he couldnt see who it was, Arnav knew he had seen him before, that he knew him... He had been standing there the whole time. This was Khushi's captor.
"So, you've found me, Saale Sahab. Caught me red - handed. " said Shyam, holding his hands up, with a mocking smile on his face. "Hah... you, out of all people" .
Arnav felt like someone had knocked all the wind out of him, his vision blurred. No, it couldn't be... it couldn't... "Jeejaji?" , he said, staring dumbly, as he Khushi sobbed in the background, it seemed light years away from him.
"But ofcourse, Saale sahab. What did you think? I can't say I'm pleased to see you, I'm afraid - I wasn't quite finished with Khushiji here - if you know what I mean. Don't worry, though, Saale sahab... we will continue from where we left off, once I'm done with you, won't we, Khushiji?" said Shyam, a smug smile on his face.
"But... how could you? How DARE you do this to Di - to KHUSHI? What the hell is happening here?" said Arnav, a sense of betrayal, and then anger, creeping upon him.
"C'mon, now, Saale sahab. You are a practical man, and a realist. Did you really think I could love that cripple of a sister you have? Really,now? Do you think ANYONE could? No, I don't think so. I would've suspected as much as this if my sister was a cripple. And it's not just that either - it's just that she's so boring. Know what I mean? Not my type, with all those pooja thals... I'm surprised she doesn't SLEEP with them. She's not fiesty, like this one right here" he said, nodding toward Khushi.
"
Don't you dare. Don't. You. Dare." said Arnav, standing up. He could feel the rage that now posessed him , he wanted to ... to ...
"Now now, Saale sahab, do nothing in haste. Harming me won't do you any good. If you stand your ground I'll make your death sweet and painless. You won't feel a thing. Which can't be said about your friend Aman there - I'm afraid" Shyam said, gesturing in an offhand kind of way to the body that lay behind them, on the floor, surrounded by blood.
Aman? So ... the man he had seen on the floor earlier had been... whatever he had been about to say caught up in his throat, making him feel like he would choke upon it.
"He's still alive" he added, noticing that Arnav was looking "But that's besides the point. You will die instantly, I promise. You shouldnt have come here. It's really saddening that you must lose your life for someone who doesn't even bear that much of significance to you. You and your sister, you're both fools. But I thought of you to be better, Saale sahab. Not an emotional fool like her. Weren't you the one who kept saying people below you weren't worth your time? And then you come looking for Khushiji? Should've stayed away... but, it doesn't matter now. It's not like you are going to be at a loss, dying. Your life was miserable anyway, wasn't it, Arnav? Ever since your parents died. Just like your sister... but you didn't even have someone to console you, who loved you, like I do her" said Shyam, laughing sarcastically.
"Don't worry, though, I won't leave your sister. After your death, I'll go back and console her, she'll cry on my shoulder".
"Enough!" said Arnav, leaping at Shyam, his hands clenched into fists. He knocked him to the floor, punching him again and again, until the latter's face was bloody. "Stop. You will never see my sister again. Ever" he said, hitting Shyam, trying to cause all the harm he could.
Shyam kicked Arnav , causing the latter to tumble down across the floor.
"There's really no point, Arnav, I told you that. I have a gun. Now, unfortunately, you've lost the No-Pain-Deal. Unless you just surrender. Give in,Arnav. You still have a chance", he said, keeping one hand on Arnav's shoulder to keep him from getting up, he fished his gun out of his pocket with the other hand, and pointed it at his brother-in-law. He stood up, as Arnav showed no signs of trying to move, slowly and steadily.
"Good. Now, would you like to watch me and Khushiji? - Haha, only kidding, I don't like people watching" he said making to pull the trigger "Sweet adieu, Saale sahab."
Without warning, Arnav leaped to his feet, pushed Shyam to the ground and snatched the gun from the weedy man. "No. It's you who's gonna die" he said, pointing the gun at Shyam's forehead. As soon as his hand touched the trigger though, he heard the sound again. The sound that had reverberated through the hall when Shyam had shot Aman. It was only a figment on his imagination, but it was enough to make him decide against doing it. He couldn't kill him. Not like this. Grabbing him by the collar, Arnav pulled the struggling (to no avail) Shyam toward those dreadful, green walls and pounded him against the wall - again and again and again and again, until Shyam stopped resisting, and blood started dripping down the wall. Then, letting go, he stooped down, checking to see if he was still conscious. He didn't respond when he punched him again, confirming that Shyam was unconscious, if not dead.
Abandoning Shyam, Arnav ran toward the still crying Khushi. "Khushi... it's okay. It's okay, all d-done" he stammered, though he didn't quite believe those words himself. "Khushi..." he said, nudging her, but she did nothing but cry, and now didn't seem like the right time to ask questions. He still felt numb all over. He reached into his pocket and called the police. They would come and lock Shyam up. He would see to that.
But for now... he walked over to Aman, who was lying on the floor, still breathing very softly. He looked away as he approached him, trying to make sure he made no eye contact with Aman... he had done so much for Arnav... "Let's get you to the hospital, Aman. C'mon" he said.
"N-no. Sir" said Aman, in a breathy tone. He hadn't heard it all, but he had heard enough to understand what had taken place.
"Don't be stupid, Aman. And t-thanks."
Aman smiled. "No. You don't have to thank me. And no.. hospital"
"But-" began Arnav, but stopped when he saw the expression on Aman's face. He seemed happy and sad at the same time. He had never seen someone look so sad, and happy at the same time. It seemed like he really didn't want to go. As he looked down, upon him now, Arnav realized how he had never really appreciated Aman until now, when he lay dying before him. He watched as tears trickle down Aman's face, but he didn't know why. He also saw that Aman's eyes were blue - he had never noticed before.
"A-Aman, I'm sorry. For everything" he said "I shou-shouldn't -". But he couldn't say anymore. He felt like he would choke if he tried to speak, as if something was keeping him from doing it, just like he had felt ten minutes ago.
"S'okay" Aman said. He seemed to understand. "Miss me?" he mustered the courage to say. It was literally now or never right now. Looking at Arnav's surprisingly grief-stricken face for the last time, Aman closed his eyes. He knew Arnav was confused. But the answer to this question, he would never understand.
As Aman closed his eyes, Arnav realized it was true - you never DO know a good thing, until it's gone.
-----x
Sorry it was so long and sappy toward the end, guys.
Next part will be updated sooner next time,I promise. 😳
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Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
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