IPKKND FF: Masquerade [Chapter 18] Updated 10 Sept - Page 44

"Your life's in danger!"

"What the-?"

Arnav stared at her incredulously for a while. This girl never failed to infuriate him. He had just received some information regarding her movements during the past couple of days and his temper was on edge. She had been visiting a shut down building and had gone off for nearly two hours down a lesser known highway. It had taken a lot of will power to decide to observe her rather than clash with her all the time but she was really testing his patience. He had been angry the entire drive down to the Guptas' and seeing her face first off which seemed to be busy spouting nonsense, made him even more foul tempered.

"I'm serious. Your life is in danger."

"What crap? Just stop your nonsense! I don't want to hear any more of it."

"But-"

"Don't understand English? I said, shut up! And get out of my way before I make you."

Khushi was about to open her mouth again but he pushed past her roughly and went inside. She heard him speak curtly to Buaji and then excuse himself. She got a hold of herself and followed him to his car.

"You have to listen to me. Yo-"

"Have to? And why is that? Why should I listen to anything you have to say? Don't forget, that even though no one else does, I know exactly what you are."

He finished in a dangerously low tone. Khushi felt anger boil inside her. Did this man know of nothing else but insulting people? Why did he always speak to her like that?

"I don't know what you're talking about but this is not the time for silly arguments."

"Silly arguments? Really? The fact that your name changes according to your appearance doesn't strike me as particularly silly. In fact, it seems to be a pretty serious offence. Don't you think?"

Khushi gulped uneasily but her resolve was strong. She wasn't going to let this man defeat her.

"I don't care about what you think. You just have to listen to me. Your life is in danger. You must-"

He scoffed at her and prepared to get inside his car.

"No. You can't get inside the car. I won't let you!"

'You won't let me? Alright. Let's see you try."

With that he opened the door and got into his SUV. What he didn't realize was that Khushi had opened the passenger's seat and had also gotten in. He shut the door and gazed at her incredulously.

"What the hell?! Get out of my car this instant!"

"I won't!"

She crossed her arms across her chest and sat back defiantly. He gripped the steering wheel in a death like hold and his knuckles turned white with effort to not physically harm her.

"Why you-"

Just then a sharp ringing sound was heard and Arnav cursed before picking up his phone.

"Yes Di. What is it? What?! No way! I am not doing anything of that sort! But... No but... Di I... Ok fine. Whatever you say."

He almost bit out the last few words as his teeth were clenched so tightly that his mouth barely moved. He turned towards her and glared at her before putting on his seat belt and slamming his foot on the ignition. Khushi mentally thanked Devi Maiya for making her remember to call Anjali about coming back with Arnav. There was no other way he would have let her stay in the car. She had a little more time on her hands to convince him about the threat to his life.

They had been driving for about ten minutes when they encountered a no entry sign. Apparently there was some kind of construction going on so that particular road was closed for the moment.

"Damn it! That's the only way to Shantivan. Now I have to take the old highway."

He banged his fist on the steering wheel and reversed the car before heading towards the old highway. He wasn't particularly looking forward to it because the old highway was not a very desirable road. It was almost always deserted and was surrounded by dense forests and practically no civilization. A new road had been built a couple of years ago and so this road was barely used anymore. Arnav himself preferred the new road but he really had no choice.

Khushi had been too busy debating on how she would convince him to realize where they were going. She looked at the side mirror absentmindedly a few times and then it hit her. She had seen that black car somewhere before her. She racked her brain for a bit and tried to recollect. There was something strange about it and the reason slowly dawned on her. It was the same car which had hit Kushal and it was currently following them. She suddenly felt very scared and looked towards her right. Arnav's seriously discontented face made her feel a little better and she decided to tell him about the car which was following them.

Suddenly there was a loud bang. They both jumped up in shock and looked around searching for the source.

"It's probably a tyre which burst. Hope it's not mine."

Khushi nodded her head and relaxed a bit. Something bright and shining caught her eye in the side view mirror and she squinted her eyes to get a better view. Her heart almost stopped beating as she slowly made out what was shining like that.

One of the windows of the black car was rolled down and a gun was pointing towards them. Khushi ducked inside just in time as another bullet whizzed past her.

"What the-? That definitely wasn't another tyre bursting!"

"No there's a car following us and they're firing at us with a gun!"

"What?!"

Arnav looked out his window and confirmed the bit of information for himself. What the hell was going on? Khushi had said something about his life being in danger but this was ridiculous! Why was there a car chasing after them with and firing bullets as well?

As another bullet left the gun, Arnav decided that he would ask questions later. First he needed to get them out of this situation. He increased his speed and swerved the car left and right to disrupt their aim. And sure enough the gun went back in but the car picked up speed instead. Arnav cursed under his breath and concentrated on the road. What was he going to do now? This was a high risk situation and he really had no idea what to do. He just mindlessly drove on, taking any corner or curve he saw to try and throw the other car off their track. But they followed with great tenacity.

Khushi had no idea where they were at the moment. They had long since moved away from the highway and were currently on some narrow road flanked by steep edged forests on both sides. There was danger behind as well as on either side of them. One wrong move and they would be goners. She silently prayed to Devi Maiya while thinking of ways in which they could escape.

There was a pot hole on the road and Arnav had to turn sharply to avoid it. He lost some speed in the process and the other car had caught up to them considerably.

"Damn it!"

He pressed on the accelerator and was about to move on to top gear when a deafening sound was heard. Khushi clutched onto her seat as the car suddenly jerked and swerved dangerously to the left. Arnav fought hard to regain control of the steering wheel but it was futile. The back right tyre had been punctured by the bullet and the car was rapidly spiraling out of control. Arnav pressed hard on the brakes but nothing happened. He tried several more times but the result was the same.

"The brake's failed Khushi."

Khushi's eyes opened wide and fear engulfed her. She could see that there was little chance of them making it out of this situation alive. Arnav tried once more to take control of the steering wheel but the car just kept swiveling till it crashed horrifically into a tree and burst into flames.

Personally not too happy with this chapter but what can I do about it. Anyway, please do read, like and comment. I really appreciate feedback of any kind.

😊

Chapter Thirteen