The Fading Butterfly: Thread 2 link in INDEX - Page 16

Chapter Two

As the whole ETF was searching her, Arjun was hell scared as to which part of the city she would be in. this was the reason he didn't wanted to get married! This was the MAIN reason. He knew his enemies would target his weak points. And he may admit it or not, Riya was, is and will always be his weak point.

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It was night of the same day Arjun found her missing. The night was still very dark and long, the day was far away. Arjun glanced at the clock, 4 AM of the morning. Usually at this time, sunrays would follow the sun, but today, there were clouds all over the sky and no traces were found of it. As there was less light, the difficulties were more. Arjun waited for the dawn to come, so that he can hurry up his search. Coz this night! It was too dark! For the first time he feared that this night would never over, the dawn will never come, for the first time he was willing to do something for her, but was not able to.

Rathore looked at the dull face of Arjun and kept a hand on his shoulder, trying to pacify his friend. Right now, the ETF and everyone else were shocked to see this side of Arjun, the caring side. The side they were witnessing today was buried deep down in his heart. This side of his was the loving side. He may not admit it but yes, he was in love with Riya. Her small antics, her small actions were starting to affect him deeply. He may not show it, but it did. Riya did not know it, maybe no one knew it but Arjun was so fond of her in these 6 months that he kept a record of everything Riya did, either for him or for any one else. Yes he saw her do everything, maybe not with his eyes, but through different cameras.

Close circuit cameras. They were Arjun's eyes on Riya. And she, poor girl, had no idea. That Arjun is noticing her every move, Riya thought Arjun didn't even notice her, but it was not true, he saw her do simplest and littlest of things. The way Riya danced while making food for him, the way she came out of the room nearly slipping every time on the doormat, the way she swayed her long wet hairs to get rid of those cold drops of water, or the way she sang romantic songs to herself, maybe imagining him in it. The way she applied body lotion on her hands and legs when she came out of shower. She always had hot water shower, he knew, coz whenever she came out of the bathroom, room was blurry every time. No he didn't put cameras IN the bathroom, some things were secret after all, even if they were husband and wife. Or else nothing about her was hidden from him, even the not so secret miss call by the watchman, yes he noticed and knew it all, after all he was Arjun. THE Arjun Suryakant Rawte. And this was HIS way of making sure that she was safe. The cameras and rooms had motion sensors; they showed the clip in which any motion, ie Riya was present. So he always had a note of what she was doing, she was safe or not. Whenever there was a doorbell on his house, there was a notification in his cell phone. And all the cameras were delivering live footages to his cell phone.

From last few days he had been getting some uneasy feelings. So he decided that he would fit a transmitter in her rubber band too. Riya changed her dress and changed everything else but never changed her black flowery rubber band. How badly he wished he had done it. Maybe he would have been able to save her. or even track her down. But no, no signs of her were available.

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(Just imagine Arjun keeping eyes on Riya like "big boss"..by seeing and hearing her both. And please imagine an imaginary system that will make his phone beep or vibrate whenever the doorbell goes.)

Riya woke up after the horrible night. She woke up and tried to move, but her body was exhausted. She didn't know when she slept and when Arjun left her. ARJUN! Thinking of him she bolted like sat on a broken wire and looked at the side of the bed. No one! She sighed and closed her eyes in relief. For the first time, she feared him. Riya moved a bit and tried getting up again. Her hands were paining and a lightening passed through her when she smelled his cologne near her hairs. She looked at the pillow horrified of his presence again, but to her relief he was not there. Just his handkerchief, tied around her neck, maybe on her bleeding neck. BLEEDI--- thinking of that horrible moment Riya had Goosebumps all over her body and she quickly got up and moved inside her bathroom to wash away his smell.

Arjun watched his phone screen and noticed the fear on her face. The fear she had for him. He closed his eyes and mumbled a sorry to his own heart.

Riya was in the bathroom when the hot water dropped on her head. The feeling was soothing till it found its way on her neck. The bite burned and Riya winced in pain. She closed her eyes and prayed for strength. She took some of the shower gel and rubbed it on the wound. It irritated and burned her skin around that but soon she cleared the dried bloodstains on her skin and the pure teeth marks were now visible. Riya flinched as she saw the maroon teeth marks in her white skin. She closed the shower and got out in a towel, unaware of the eyes on herself.

Arjun saw her coming out in his cell phone screen and his breath hitched, his throat went dry with instant want. But he knew, it was not possible. Not at all.

Riya then got busy in some work and Arjun too went on to solve the cases he was on.

Soon after some hours, Arjun checked up on her, when she was making lunch for her and amit, his heart noticed something.. Suddenly his heart screamed to his brain – HER CHIRPY SONG IS GONE! His heart broke into uncountable pieces seeing her making the food silently. His eyes became watery and he heard the vibration on her phone, indicating it to be the doorbell. She opened the door and her dull face became a bit brighter by seeing something. Just then Arjun saw amit coming in holding something, a raw guava fruit. Amit came in and smiled at her and passed the fresh looking fruit to Riya. Soon she looked at him and took it.

Amit smiled and Riya thanked him. Arjun saw her eyes twinkling slightly and mumbled to himself, "its her favorite fruit!" and smiled seeing her attack the fruit like a baby. Amit smiled happily knowing his gift was admired by her and took out one for himself and they had a small guava party before starting for the studies.

It was night when Arjun saw amit gone and Riya cutting vegetables for dinner. She was sitting on the floor, coz he had made it clear to her that day that she wont use anything of his house apart from her room and the kitchen, so she didn't even dared to sit on the chairs or sofas of his house. God knows if he came to know! He heard a faint sound of her humming and his heart took a sigh of relief. Her song was back and maybe she too was back to her usual self. But one thing Arjun didn't know, he has done an irreparable damage, not to her body, but to her heart, who loved him but now had started fearing him.

After few minutes, the landline phone rang and went dead on the second ring, Riya looked up at the clock and was shocked, it was just 7 and he was already here! HOW!

Riya started cutting her vegetables faster and ran into the kitchen before he spots her and yells. She went in and sat on the kitchen floor. She heard Arjun opening the door with a key and entering. Her eyes went wide as she heard his footsteps near the kitchen but then he went away. Riya sighed and finished her cutting spree. She started cooking now and heard the faint noise of water descending and falling on the floor, letting her know he was in the shower. She thanked god as she got some spare time, as she knew he usually took an hour to bath! He was a prince by birth, so he had some of his princely acts too.

The food was ready and was served on the table but his highness was still having his bath! Riya shook her head at his antics and waited for him to come. Soon she heard him and came to the kitchen door to see him eat, but to her dismay, he was standing in front of her, that too just in his pajamas! Riya looked at him shocked and then closed her eyes and turned around fearing him.

"Where is my white kurta!" asked Arjun a bit sternly and saw her jerk in fear.

"I- washed it. Bu-but forgot to keep it in the sun to let it dry. I am – I am sorry." Riya fumbled through her dress.

"I told you not to touch my things!" Arjun raised his voice a bit and saw her all the more nervous as her back was shaking.

"I dint, I- I - just took it for washing." Riya said and Arjun went away. Riya turned around to see if he was really gone, and yes he was.

Arjun came out in a spare kurta he had and started having dinner.

Arjun never let Riya have dinner with him. He would eat on the dinner table and Riya would eat in the kitchen, praying for the day when she would have dinner with him. At first Riya would see him having dinner and after that she would have hers. Today too, Riya was seeing him eat when suddenly he choked and started coughing. It took her all might to stop herself from not running to him and rubbing his back to sooth him. He coughed and coughed more, and Riya was unable to stop herself anymore. Soon Arjun saw her running out to help him. She came and gave him water that was just in front of him but he failed to notice and started rubbing his back. Soon his eyes saw the concern she had for him and the pain they held. Her eyes were unconsciously screaming him to be their culprit and he couldn't handle it anymore. He got up and left from the table. Riya saw him leave and had a bite of food from his plate just to check if she put extra chilly powder but the food was good. Maybe it was bound to happen.

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Seeing him so much concerned for Riya, Rathore came and handed hiscutting chai to him and assured him that they would find her soon, after some time Arjun choked on his tea and Rathore rubbed his back, reminding him of Riya, who rubbed his back the same way when he chocked at first.

After Arjun's coughs subsided his phone rings and Shree indicates him to pick it up after pressing the tap button and Arjun picks, "hello."

"Sir, Ar-Arjun sir-" Came Riya's drugged voice from the other end. The tea-glass he had been holding fell from his hands and broke into pieces.

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2-3 days later..

Riya did not notice Arjun coming home, as she was busy in her room, so she sang aloud the song she liked.

Song: Piya Basanti Re - Movie or Album: Woh Chandni Raatein -Singer(s): Ustad Sultan Khan, Chithra. (I am making her sing only the girl's part coz this will add up some reality to it.)

She was ironing her dresses and was singing along. She felt so happy today, she didn't know why but she was happy indeed. She took her dress and twirled around dancing too. She swayed the dress and kept it on the ironing table again. She twirled around again as she finished the dress and took another cloth from the basket near by as there were a lot of cloths to iron. But accidentally it was his shirt!

She ironed it a bit and again twirled around smelling it and the scent of the newly washed cloth mixed with his fragrance filled her senses in utter bliss. She again sang the same line and twirled around.

piya basanti re, kaahe sataaye aaja

Arjun came and heard her singing. He ignored it but the line, 'tere hain hum tere piya' took his heart away and again he tried stopping himself from falling for her. But couldn't. His room was just besides hers and he could clearly hear the lines that were unconsciously dedicated to him. He then decided to punish her. Punish her to make him realize the feelings that were abandoned by him. Punish her to make his heart beat again. He went angrily to her room and the moment he entered, she twirled around, seeing him angry to the core.

The rest of the song died in her throat and she got scared seeing his eyes, and the emotions it held were anger, anger and anger. Arjun came forward and she backed away. She looked down and Arjun stared her. She was hesitant.

"What happened to the song, Riya?" Riya looked at him as soon as he spoke out her name. It sounded magical, as if it was not hers.

"I – am sorry-" Riya looked down and said.

"I don't want to hear anything!" Arjun said making her jerk up in fear, "I hate hearing your voice and its just unbearable!" Arjun said disgusted and Riya's eyes became teary.

He hates my voice, he hates me. Said out her heart and she looked down ashamed.

"Next time you speak in front of me, the consequences wont be good!" Arjun said and banged his palm near her head and she closed her eyes tightly in fear. When she opened them slowly, he was gone.

A week later..

It was 12 noon when Arjun came back from work. He had the rest of the day free as Rathore had some work in commissioner's office and Shree went out of station. So Chotu and Arjun decided to call it a day.

Arjun knew amit would be coming home too and then he had to see Riya and amit having fun, and he would, somewhere, miss himself being there. Arjun too built a happy bond with amit (even though he never met him) knowing he was able to bring that smile on Riya's face that he miserably failed in.

Riya sat on a mat, as she was not allowed to use his things, and waited for amit. As soon as Arjun came home, he went to his room and closed the door. Riya, who was waiting for amit, to teach him some new words of English language, saw this and was confused as hell. Should she call off today's class? Or should she continue coz she promised amit to teach him English today?

Then she decided that she will fulfill her promise and will teach him. But then again she feared, would he be angry by hearing her voice? Will her voice reach him through the door too?

She then decided to ask Arjun himself. Riya with shaky steps went towards his room and her hands shivered at the thought of knocking. But then she had no other choice. If she opened her mouth to call him, he will surely be angry. So she knocked. At fist no reply came. She knocked again, and this time Arjun opened the door.

Seeing him so close, her breath became heavy. Oh he is just so handsome! Her heart said drooling at him and her brain teased. Soon his cologne reached her nostrils and the night's happening came crashing down upon her. She shivered inwardly and Arjun stared at her asking her to speak.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something." Riya said looking everywhere but him and he, stared at her.

"What." It was neither a statement nor a question, he just asked her to carry on.

"Now, now that you are here, should I cancel, cancel the classes I held for amit. Coz you wont like me speaking to him." Riya asked looking down, not sure of his reaction.

"Okay." Said Arjun and Riya looked at him confused, okay to cancel the class or okay to speak in front of him? Riya thought and Arjun read her thoughts, maybe. "You can take the class, but I don't want any disturbance or ANY noise!" Arjun said making it crystal clear to her and she nodded vigorously, obeying him.

The sparkle of her eye deepened and she pressed her lips together in a small smile and went away. That day Riya told amit that Arjun was home so he dare not do any mischief but to study only.

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The Arjun who had been holding himself let go of his emotions hearing her voice and said in nearly audible tone, "Riya, Riya! Where are you!?" Arjun thought she had enough conscious to be able to tell him where that ba*tard had taken her.

Finding no voice from the other end his heart pumped faster and he asked again, "Riya! Where are you!! Are you okay!??" Arjun's heart was desperate for her to tell him that she was fine and was waiting for him to find her, he wanted to know from her, nobody else but just her!

The other end was again silent and this silence was eating him. "Riya!! Dammit, say something!!" Arjun urged and a voice came, a broken voice of her desperate plea, a sound of her exhaling loudly as if trying to maintain her consciousness.

"You are drugged?!" it sounded more like a statement then a question and Rathore kept a pacing hand on his shoulder.

Then sounds of her sharp inhale of breath came and Arjun's voice died in his throat. He could almost see her being hurt. She was hurt; there was no doubt of that, but how much! He wanted to know.

Then suddenly his face became white, his hands froze, and he knew, she was waiting for him to tell her, to permit her to speak. She was still following his words of not speaking until he permits her to.

"Riya, speak." Arjun said urgently and Riya let out a sigh.

"si-sir, " her voice shook and Arjun closed his eyes damning himself for asking her to call him sir! Soon she inhaled sharp breaths as if recollecting her energy, "Arjun sir, I love you." Saying so she let out a sharp breath again and fell on the floor wherever she was.

The life went out of him and his brain stopped working. His heart ran faster and Arjun came back to his senses as the voice died but the line was still connected.

"Riya! Riya! Wake up! Riya, give me one chance! Riya!" Arjun roared through the phone.

The receiver fell near her head and Riya could hear what he was saying. She wanted to tell him, that he had all the chances but was not able to, coz the person in front of her, came up to her and carried her away and she could not do anything.

Arjun heard footsteps nearing her and his heart roared inside to stop him or her but then, the line went dead.

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The person who carried her, kept her on the bed as slowly as if keeping a priceless possession. Riya was drugged but her face was giving away the feeling she felt at his touch, disgust. The man caressed her cheeks which were red as he had slapped her hours ago. Riya had no energy left in her. She barely felt what was happening to her. Then suddenly she felt the person sitting next to her and holding her hands in his. The disgust fled through her body as she felt his hands on her wrist, caressing it. Her heart screamed for Arjun, and Arjun, had no idea where she was.

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PRECAP:

"I want you!" said Sikandar.

"But I am already taken!" said Riya with eyes full of pride.

"I don't care!" roared Sikandar and slapped her, making her fall from the chair in which she was sitting.

"Arjun!" said Riya inaudibly as her head hit the floor and once again, unconsciousness engulfed her being.

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So guys!! I am so happy by the feedbacks!! Loved all of them!!

Here is the part 2 and really I want looonnnggg comments!! People commenting in one sentence, buckle up!!

Please tell me how it was...

Is anybody confused between the flashbacks and the main story?

Please tell.