Originally posted by: TINA!
*NOTE*: This is second half of Chapter 36: Fireworks. First half is on page 1!
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Two minutes later, Khushi sat beside her sister in a rickety, metal chair, taking small, nibbling bites of her sandwich.
Her eyes were on the door, waiting for Arnav.
She sighed as she took another bite.
It was always like this. When her husband wasn't beside her, her eyes searched for him unceasingly; and when he was with her, she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
Payal nudged her gently, "You don't like the food here, do you Khushi?"
Khushi shook her head, "It's not that, Jiji."
But Payal looked at her worriedly, glancing down the road. Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Look, Khushi! There are jalebis over there."
She grabbed Khushi's hand, pulling her along. "We'll be right back, Akash," she said over her shoulder.
Akash nodded, sipping coffee, his eyes on Payal and Khushi as they crossed the road.
Payal was smiling brightly as she ordered jalebis, passing the plate to her younger sister.
A moan of pleasure escaped Khushi as she bit into a piping hot jalebi.
"Told you would love it," said Payal, taking a sip of tea.
Khushi nodded, picking up another jalebi.
As she raised her hand, she saw a familiar shape enter the cafe across the street and walk toward Akash.
Her eyes narrowed. "Jiji," she whispered, pointing, "Look, it's Aman. What is he doing here? He's supposed to be with Arnav.."
A half-eaten jalebi slipped from her suddenly limp fingers as she hurried out.
"Khushi!" cried Payal, struggling to pay the shop owner quickly, "Wait!"
But Khushi had already left.
She had just mid-way crossed the road when loud gunshots broke out.
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Arnav was lying facedown on a long, rectangular examination table, his back tense as a doctor sutured up the open gash.
And then loud noises sounded outside, startling him.
It was the obvious sound of gunshots..the same sound he'd heard just yesterday when the pack of cars had been chasing them, shooting wildly.
Khushi! he thought, his breath stilling, his heart beating uncontrollably.
Fear choked him as he wrenched himself off the table.
The doctor and his assistant looked startled.
"Mr. Raizada!" shouted the assistant, "Please, lie back down! You still have a few stitches left."
Arnav shook his head, his thoughts running wild. "Those gunshots..my wife.."
He headed without pause toward the closed door of the clinic.
But hands tried to stop him. He pushed them away as overwhelming panic clogged his senses.
"Please, stop, Mr. Raizada!" cried the doctor, looking hassled, "Those are not gunshots!"
Arnav paused amid his struggle with the assistant, his head turning sharply toward the doctor.
"What? But it sounds like it."
The doctor shook his head wearily. "Maybe, but those are not gunshots. You heard the sound of fireworks."
Arnav looked confused. "Fireworks?"
The doctor nodded, "It's New Year's Eve, every year there are always some fireworks throughout the day. Now please, lie back down."
Arnav looked torn. "Fine, but you have two minutes."
Maybe he was being paranoid, but for some reason, worry still plagued him.
Khushi's face kept flashing before his eyes, his heart kept beating fast.
Just fireworks, he repeated to himself over and over, Just fireworks..
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Khushi cried out as an explosion went off near her. Noise and smoke suddenly descended on the quiet lane.
She broke out in a run, her shoes slipping as she hurried away from the noises.
Gunshots..it sounded just like gunshots.
"Khushi!" she heard voices scream behind her. But her feet never slowed. The gunshots were coming from that direction, she couldn't turn back now.
Yes, she suddenly decided, she'd go directly to the clinic. To Arnav.
The loud noises sounded again, so near it made her heart freeze with terror. It sounded like it was just behind her.
She glanced behind, her eyes widening as she noticed plumes of fire spike out from the smoke.
Around her, there was chaos as people ran hastily away, many of them easily outpacing her.
Tears slipped from her eyes as she struggled to run, her hands shielding her abdomen.
The memory of Arnav's voice rang in her ears: "I want you to promise me that you will do whatever you need to do to protect our child. You will not put yourself in danger."
Yes, she decided, she would protect the baby. The baby was all that mattered right now.
Pain throbbed in her left foot as she stumbled along, trying to keep up.
It was hard to see, hard to breathe. Thick, white smoke had descended around her now, blanketing the area.
Khushi coughed as she ran ahead, hoping she hadn't missed the turn to the clinic.
Aman had said the clinic was right behind the cafe, but why couldn't she see it? Had she passed it in the chaos, she wondered?
As she turned to the side, she suddenly ran head first into someone.
A scream broke out as she threw her hands out to block the person. Her bones throbbed painfully at the contact, but thankfully, the baby had not been touched.
Khushi sighed with relief, wrapping her arms protectively around her abdomen. But her eyes narrowed as she glanced down.
She froze as she suddenly noticed the shoes the person before her was wearing: open-toed, black high heels, the toenails painted a bright red.
Memories engulfed her. Her eyes widened as she glanced up toward the woman.
Natasha Raina stood before her, looking shocked. Her hands were wrapped tightly around a designer purse.
"Khushi?" she asked, her eyebrows rising with irritation.
But Khushi didn't hear. The memories of the yacht hit her once more: The blinding rain..the swaying floor..heels approaching her, the nails painted a bright red..a knife engraved with her name being staked inches from her face into the wood..
Her eyes widened.
A woman..a woman was after her. And before her stood the woman who'd always hated her, who'd always wanted Arnav for herself.
And she was wearing almost the same exact shoes from her memory of that dark night, the nail polish the same blood red.
For months, Khushi had debated if Natasha Raina was in fact the woman after her.
She glanced up in horror at her now, her face blanching.
"You will not put yourself in danger.." echoed Arnav's words in her mind.
As Natasha gazed at her with growing confusion, Khushi suddenly reached out, pushing Natasha out of her way.
And then she ran. Ran as fast as she could, her rounded form disappearing in the white smoke.
Natasha fell to the side towards a roadside stall selling woolen scarves and sweaters. A cry left her lips as she caught herself on a wooden pillar, her hands tightly gripping it. She breathed a sigh of relief as she regained her balance.
But just then there was the sound of metal crashing.
Natasha's eyes flew open. Her heart stilled as she glanced down.
Her purse had fallen onto the rocky, uneven ground below.
"No.." muttered Natasha, looking frozen, "No.."
She kneeled down beside her purse, her hands frantic as she searched within. Her heart fluttered wildly as she brought her most prized possession out.
The iPad's smooth screen had shattered into pieces.
Natasha's French-manicured finger shook as she pressed with bated breath the small power button.
The screen though remained blank.
"No!" howled Natasha, clutching the iPad to her chest, "NO!"
"KHUSHI!" she screamed, her eyes blazing with sudden anger, "KHUSHI!"
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Khushi hurried forward as a voice screamed her name behind her. It sounded like a wild animal.
She glanced back with alarm. Natasha had to be close.
But danger hit her from all sides. Through the thick smoke, she could just make out bright flames, edging closer.
Her eyes widened with alarm. It seemed like the tendrils of the fire were approaching her, the smoke hiding their fast approach.
Loud noises broke out once more.
Khushi threw a hand over her mouth, darting through the crowd. Terror consumed her.
A voice suddenly shouted her name ahead.
Khushi squinted to see. Through the smoke, she could just make out a black jeep parked ahead.
"Khushi!" called the male voice again from the jeep.
Khushi ran toward the voice.
It was not the woman, she realized. Nothing else mattered.
She wrenched open the car door, sitting inside quickly.
"Please," she said, her breathing ragged, her eyes gazing out the window frantically, "Please, drive to the clinic behind the cafe. Arnav is there."
"Of course, Khushi," said Roy, driving forward.
Khushi barely heard, her heart beating wildly still.
"It's this lane," she said, pointing ahead, "Turn right!"
"Of course, Khushi," said Roy again, smiling broadly.
As the jeep swung in, a sudden pain exploded at the back of Khushi's head. Her vision blackened and she knew no more.
She fell back against the car seat, her body going limp at once.
Roy hummed as he took a U-turn, driving toward the highway.
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Arnav sensed something was wrong with every passing second. Something was pulling at him, leaving him uneasy.
As soon as the doctor was finished, he jerked himself off the table, hurrying toward the door.
"Mr. Raizada!" called the assistant, his glasses askew, "We still need to apply a bandage!"
But Arnav had already run outside.
Pain sizzled along his tender back. But he barely felt it. His entire being was focused on Khushi.
Please, he thought as he jogged to the cafe, Please let her be okay. I won't be able to stand it a second time..Please, let my family be safe..
His eyes widened as he neared the restaurant. White smoke filled the air.
Arnav coughed as he ran inside. Almost immediately, he ran into a hassled looking Akash.
"Bhai!" said Akash with visible relief, "Payal, look Bhai is here. Everything will be okay now."
Arnav's eyes skimmed over a sobbing Payal to the rest of the crowded area.
The restaurant was filled with people: parents hugging their children close, a husband and wife consoling one another in the corner, a group of young men discussing something animatedly, several middle-aged couples ordering coffee and tea at the counter.
His heart shattered as he realized his pregnant wife was not there.
He grabbed Akash by the shoulders, shaking him. "Where's Khushi?" he screamed, his face hardening, "WHERE'S MY KHUSHI, DAMN IT?"
"Bhai, calm down. We'll explain," said Akash.
Payal nodded beside him.
Arnav released Akash with an oath, his anger palpable.
"What happened?" he barked.
"I'm honestly not sure, Bhai," admitted Akash, "Payal and Khushi went to that shop across the street, I was watching them the entire time."
Arnav surveyed the bakery across the street. It was closed now. A team of firefighters stood along its side wall, surveying irregular, black marks.
Arnav stilled as he recognized the damage. A fire..a fire had started near the bakery Khushi had been in.
His mind went numb with worry.
"Someone lit fireworks near us," said Payal, sniffling, "And suddenly, a fire broke out. There were loud noises and smoke all around."
Arnav nodded, he'd heard the same.
"Where's Khushi? Was she.. hurt?" he asked, struggling to say the last. It agonized him to even imagine his wife in pain.
"That's just it, Bhai," said Akash, his eyes dark behind his glasses, "She wasn't hurt. I saw it all happen from here. I don't know why, but Khushiji still ran away. She looked scared to death. We called after her, but it seemed to make her more frightened."
Arnav's head shot up. Khushi had been scared..could it be for the same reason he'd been startled, he wondered? It had to be, he reasoned.
"She must have thought it was the sound of gunshots. I thought the same too at the clinic."
Akash and Payal exchanged a glance, looking thoughtful.
"Where's Khushi now?" continued Arnav, his eyes steely, "Didn't you go after her?"
"Of course we did, Bhai. But we couldn't find her in the chaos. The fireworks kept going off, there was smoke everywhere."
As Arnav struggled to stay in control, Payal added softly, "Arnavji, Aman and the detectives have gone to find Khushi. They've probably already found her, it's such a small town.."
As if on cue, a team of four men entered the cafe.
"Mr. Raizada," said the lead detective, his face cold and expressionless as he approached Arnav, "We cannot find your wife."
The ground seemed to slip beneath Arnav's feet once more. Except this time the pain didn't slice his back, but at the core of his heart, tearing him down.
"What the hell do you mean?" he barked, "Where is Khushi?"
The detectives shook his head, "Not in this area. We've swept it thoroughly."
Arnav staggered back, his eyes closing. No..this couldn't be happening..they couldn't have gone through so much only to lose one another..
"KHUSHI!" he screamed, running out blindly, "KHUSHI!"
He jogged up the street, his body shaking, his thoughts running wild.
Horrible images kept crossing his mind: Khushi lost..Khushi crying..Khushi in pain..
He fell on the road, a scream escaping his clenched jaw.
"KHUSHI!"
But there was only silence.
And then as rain began to fall once more overhead, Arnav knew..knew in some inexplicable way that his wife and child had been taken from him.
They were gone.
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Roy hummed as he drove, his gaze falling every now and then on the unconscious woman beside him.
He smiled, running a long, bony finger along her pale cheek, his lips curling.
Finally, finally, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada was in his grasp.
He laughed, reaching for a tube of lipstick.
He applied the bright red color across his lips without looking, his eyes closing for a brief moment.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer Royal Raina in his mind, but Alice..only Alice..
His face tightened.
His eyes glazed over. Anger and hate bubbled in them as they sliced toward Khushi, pausing at her face and then at her protruding stomach.
Alice smiled sickly, her lips twisting with malice, "Finally..you are mine, Khushi and baby.."
She pressed on the gas pedal, speeding onward.
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Arnav brushed away his tears as he stood, his legs shaking beneath him.
He would not give up. He couldn't. Not now, when his wife and child needed him the most. He was still alive, still breathing. And he wouldn't rest till he had them back in his arms..till he caught whoever had taken them.
That thought made him pause.
Someone had taken them..Some woman..
But who? he wondered, pacing before the jeep, Who could it be?
He kicked at a rock in his path in anger, his rage barely restrained. Even after all these months, they were no closer to finding out who was after Khushi. The one who hated her enough to harm her time and time again.
Akash approached his older cousin hesitantly. He'd never seen him quite like this. His cousin was always in control, always the one with solutions.
But the man before him looked broken.
"Bhai.." he whispered softly, "We'll find her."
Arnav didn't respond, mumbling under his breath, "A woman..but who? Dia? Natasha? Di? Or is it someone I don't know..like the thief said, some Janice or Alice or--"
Akash frowned beside him, "Did you say Alice?"
Arnav froze mid sentence, his eyes widening as he swerved toward Akash.
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Alice had almost reached her destination when her phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered, her lips curving into a lopsided smile. Happiness bloomed in her in waves. This was the best day of her life. Finally the shameless girl was in her grasp.
"Boss," said one of the criminals, "We've tracked down the Raizadas. That ASR is standing across the street by some roadside restaurant, along with his brother and sister-in-law."
Alice smiled. Poor Arnav. He'd hired the best investigators, had run away from Delhi to some secure location, and yet, he still hadn't been able to defeat Alice.
"Should we shoot them, boss?" asked the criminal, his excitement palpable.
Alice paused, considering.
"No, that won't be necessary. You've done your job. I have my prize in my hands."
Her eyes shifted back toward Khushi, hatred growing in their depths as the call was disconnected.
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Arnav grabbed Akash by the shoulders, "Alice? You know an Alice?"
Akash shook his head, "Not really. It's just that when I was in London last month, I ran into the Raina's mom. When she was asking me about Roy, a couple of times, she seemed to slip up and mentioned that name: Alice. It was really weird."
"The Rainas..Roy.." whispered Arnav, his face whitening.
Memories ran through him: Khushi shaking, her eyes pooled with fear as she told him someone had attacked her in the red room..Mrs. Singh being brutally stabbed in an alley..a tall figure running ahead as he struggled to breathe in the back gardens of Raizada Mansion, a bullet in his chest..
The Rainas..
Dia..Natasha..Roy..
The names repeated themselves in his head.
It had to be one, Arnav realized. He'd thought about Dia and Natasha in the past countless times, but never Roy.
But now as he stood on the empty road beside Akash, it hit Arnav for the first time.
What if it wasn't a woman? What if they were all wrong? What if it was a man after Khushi instead?
But then what about the high heel footprint the police had found? And Khushi's own memories of a woman in high heels approaching her on the yacht?
Was he right to suspect a man or was he just falling deeper into the mystery? Going completely off-track? He sighed harshly, his eyes closing.
Help me, Khushi, Help me, love..he whispered, trying to make sense of the mess before him.
An image of Khushi from last night in the cave flashed across his eyes: her eyes glowing in the firelight as she stretched atop the blankets, her left foot bandaged carefully..
Arnav froze.
And then the memory of Khushi's voice hit him: "I think I stepped on some glass bottle outside of the hotel suite."
A glass bottle..
Who could have dropped a glass bottle outside a five-star hotel with it going unnoticed by the staff?
It meant someone had dropped it recently, reasoned Arnav. And who would be standing outside their hotel room window, spying on them?
It had to be the person after them..
A glass bottle..
And immediately, a face flashed before Arnav's eyes.
He stumbled back.
And then he raced to the jeep.
"Give me the keys, Akash!" he shouted, throwing open the driver's side door.
Akash looked at him confused, but hurried to sit beside him. Payal slipped into the backseat, passing Arnav the car keys, "Here you go, Arnavji."
Arnav turned on the jeep, reversing quickly.
"Tell the detectives to follow us," he instructed Akash.
Akash nodded, pulling out his cell phone.
As Arnav got on the highway, his mind was engulfed with images.
How blind had he been? There had always been hints, but the glass bottle confirmed everything.
Who was it that always reeked of alcohol? Who was it that had drunkenly stumbled out of his bedroom months ago? Who had the strength to easily overtake Mrs. Singh..choke his wife? Who was always with a glass bottle?
"Royal Raina.." said Arnav out loud, "He's the one."
Akash and Payal looked at him in shock.
"What? Bhai are you sure? I don't think Roy could do something like this."
"And didn't you say it's a woman?" asked Payal, her face furrowing.
Arnav nodded, "It's him. I just know it. Everything fits except for the high heel imprint at Dock 51 and Khushi's memory of a high heel shoe on the yacht. But maybe that was all done to throw us off. I don't know how or why, but it's him: Roy Raina."
Payal and Akash still looked uncertain, but Arnav asked quickly, "Akash, where is Roy?"
Akash glanced up, "Here in Nainital. I met him at the conference."
Arnav nodded, it was another piece of the puzzle that locked into place. His jaw clenched with fury. "Of course he is. But where will he be right now? What hotel?"
"Not a hotel, Bhai," said Akash, "The Rainas own their own private house here. Its about 30 minutes from here."
Arnav fought for control as Akash told him the directions, his hands tighting on the steering wheel.
I'm coming, Khushi..I'm coming..he thought, wishing she could hear, praying she was alright.
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Khushi stirred awake weakly, the back of her head throbbing terribly.
She started to raise her hand toward her head, when she stopped, her eyes widening.
Her heart beat wildly as she realized she couldn't move her hands.
A thick rope was tied around her wrists.
Khushi shook as she realized the position she was in: bound to a metal pillar, her hands secured behind her.
Terror choked Khushi as she glanced about. Darkness surrounded her. She seemed to be in some giant, empty space.
Khushi tugged on the rope frantically.
She had to get out of here. There was danger here, she could sense it. And in the position she was in, she would never be able to protect the baby. Her stomach stood out, unprotected.
She had to do something, she thought, glancing around with fear, she had to protect her child. Nothing else mattered. She had to, she'd promised Arnav.
Arnav..Her husband's name gave her strength. She clung to his image as she pulled at the rope, her wrists burning with pain.
Her overwhelming love for the unborn life within her propelled her forward. She fought against the binding with every ounce of strength left in her.
But just when she began to sense the ties loosening, an odd, high-pitched laugh rang out in the blackness.
Khushi gazed ahead, her eyes freezing.
Memories hit her: Arnav's injury..jalebis..a fire..a dark jeep..Royal Raina..
But nothing made sense as a woman emerged from the shadows before her, her face hidden in darkness..
"Hello, Khushi," said the woman, "Finally we meet.."
Chapter 37: Memories..coming soon! Precap is below😉
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