Author's Note:
Hi. Are you sleepy?
I have updated early today in the hope that you aren't sleepy.
'Coz i intend to write the longest A/N in the history of A/Ns today!!!!
So if you are sleepy, then skip this and go to the story.
If you are up for it though, then continue! You might just find your name in here!
TheMockingBlue : Sanchari, I'm not going to thank you for the double award that you've given me (FF & OS of the week). Thanking you would mean kind of like bribing. But yes, you were the judge and you picked me and I respect your decision and it made me very happy!!! *Takes a bow*
The FF award was expected, the OS however came as a pleasant surprise! 'M so delighted and you made that happen!!
Iraa_ParSh : Samaira, so apparently there are people who stalk this FF not just for its updates but also for your comments!!!! And I know exactly why!! The way I tumble with laughter after reading each of your feedbacks is proof enough that you are "Charlie Chaplin re-incarnated"!!!
I'm actually paranoid that someday your reviews are gonna end up getting more likes than my update!
Barauni : Nikitha, so here's the deal...We are both paranoid that there might be guys in this forum hiding behind false usernames and stalking us!!! Wait a sec, did I say 'paranoid'?? Nah, we are plainly 'expectant'!!! Who doesn't want to be stalked?!!!!!
If by chance any guy is reading this, 'WE ARE JUST JOKING'!!
TaReyFan : Aishwariya,like I said, 35 comments in 3 days!!! And you don't know how much I appreciated it!!!! For 3 whole days, I spent the greater part of the day waiting for you to complete reading a chapter and then reviewing it!!!! I love you for this. I'm dedicating this part to you!!
KBGs : The khudgarz behaya gustaakh parindeys!!!!!!!! By God i've never chatted in watsapp as much as I've chatted in the last few days!!!!
Arushi, Tanya, Ari,Nidhi, Pari, Priya, Payal, Iptisha, Tich...
You guys have become like family!!! Do I need to say anymore??
We are too 'close' to get so formal!!! Pun very much intended!! *winks*
I love you guys to bits!!!!! I am so lucky to have known you all!!!!! Long-distance friendship doesn't get better than this!!!! *Hugs all your 'beeches' tight and sheds tears of joy*
*Ahem Ahem...You guys can hold your 'pervy' thoughts!!!!!!*
My IF sisters (The little angels) : The word 'di' feels homely now!! I'm so used to everyone calling me Anu/Pooja/Radha/Scholar/Chashmish back here in my city, that the name 'Anu di' is a pleasing change!!! Makes me feel like the 'engine' of a 'train'!!
Tanya (Chutki, you are the only one who gets mentioned twice...You are THAT special), Shalini, Harita, Harika,Prachi, Nivedita, Zoya, Aryana, Rekha, Priyanka, Anjala.
You guys are just so amazing!
My friends (The ones who don't call me 'di') : Well, most of you are younger to me...which is sad kind of...Because I feel like we've known each other so long...we might actually be 'childhood buddies'!
Aditi (I won't be exaggerating if I say you're one of my IF besties), Ritushree (You and your twwets about me rendered me speechless! I should also mention Sakshi Nagpal here), Safrena (My latest watsapp buddy...I still have to send u a song...I haven't forgotten, you see!), Piyu (Yes!!! Finally..You appearing your Grad finals? Me too!!! Which means we are of the same age *Relief* Atleast someone is the same age as I am!!!),Sparky (Remind me again why I never called you di???? *Facepalm* I've spoken with you all along like you're my girl next-door, only to realize my folly!! But I'm so thrilled to still talk to you as if you're my 'girl-next-door'!!!!), Naira (You are just so awesome!!! I literally wait for your reviews!), Shiya (Miss intelligent-reader, your comments are so worth waiting for...And might I add, I am still waiting for your 'unres' on chapter 8!!!), Ashka (You are such a darling for commenting on every update! I am a fan of ur FF...Love the way you right), Kiki (Your gifs are the best!!!! I so wait for them), Shivangi (How nice of you to stalk my FF and Iraa's comments as well...Guess why? It inspires her to give better reviews everytime!) and Gunseerat ( For being kind enough to give me words of encouragement whenever u comment!).
The people I know by username only : I know just some of your names, the others merely by ur usernames...By u are the ones that have made this story cross 100 pages in its 8th part itself!!
Sunshine_Ami (Poulami), Srividya68 (Sri), Anki08 (Himani), Craziness123 (Ayesha), AnjiPankaj (Rashi), Kaveriw2008 (Kaveri), RichuRachna (Rachna di), Unishaz (Unisha), G.R. (Foram), Purnima09 (Purnima), So_Naley, Starart, FlawlessAshvik, Gudiyalovesguru, SonakshiMehta29, Suumi, Meenu1613, Shar123, Pasya, Asapom, Scarlettkevin, RemindmeIforgot, Anyania, Khyati178, Mariya.Kamran, 123456me, Moonkmh, MarriedLove, Archakan, LoveSandhir25, Katheriene, UnnatiArjuhi, Wahian4lyf, Myrahh, Angel.Thomas, LastSong.
I know I have missed several names...All the people who regularly 'like' the updates...and many more...To all whose names I couldn't take...*Holds ears in apology*
But I love each of you dearly!!
And finally the last name :
arpitaa9 : Appy, I have never stalked anyone in the forum, mostly because I don't get the time to stalk...You were always and still are an exception. You are the reason I wrote MTB...Your "Love Is In The Air" served as an ispiration and I came up with "Meant To Be".
To be honest, I have never come across a 'casual-writer' or 'amateur-writer' (whatever you want to call yourself) with such great ability of plot-making!!!
And you have an admirer in me! You always did and will do in future too!!!
Love you loads for being a SanDhir fan...that way this forum has the privilege of reading your works!
The names I've taken have just made me realize just how much you guys have supported me!!! And I can't thank all of you enough!!! *Big Hugs To Each Of You*
And my A/N comes to an end...
*Waves before your face*
I see you guys are yawning!!! Goddd...don't fall asleep please...There is still 'Chapter 9' waiting for you...and then you have 'comment' as well...remember???
*Sees the readers glaring at her*
*Ducks stones and rotten eggs*
*Shuts up her mouth and runs away*
-----------------
CHAPTER 9 : Fate Beckons
"She followed her heart and lost her way,
She tried to escape before they could make her pay;
Fear gripped her soul, as fatigue took its toll,
But 'he' caught her, before she could fall;
She looked at his face and turned away,
You aren't the one, was all she wanted to say.
She needed a hand, a hand to hold;
And there 'HE' was, her beacon of hope.
She reached for him and ran into his arms,
He held her tight and made her feel warm.
Silence engulfed them as they spoke no words,
'She' was 'his' and 'he' was 'hers'!
-Anuradha
----*----
7 PM.
She sat unmoving, staring blankly at the piece of parchment in her hand.
"If you want to know the truth about your parents, meet me at 'Masjid Road', tonight at 8PM and come alone."
The truth about 'his' parents...those are words that baffled her. What truth? And why was he carrying this in his bag?
Sanyukta Agarwal realized that there was something fishy going on...Randhir was hiding something. But what?
She looked around for Kaustuki, but the latter had gone to the library. Having no other choice, Sanyukta went to the next room and knocked.
"Come in.." came Vidushi's voice.
"Hey" greeted Sanyukta, "Umm...can I ask u something?"
"Sure, go ahead" replied the former, a bit surprised.
"Do you happen to know where this 'Masjid Road' might be?"
Vidushi narrowed her eyes and replied, "Yes...it's an hour away from here. Why do you ask?"
Sanyukta was expecting that question and had already formed a reply, "Oh I just have relatives over there...I was thinking of visiting them..."
Vidushi looked at her suspesciously before saying, "You are lying..."
"Eh...what? Why would I lie?"
"Because 'Masjid Road' is home to criminals, drug mafias, human-traffickers, smugglers and what not...Are you saying your relatives fall in any of those categories?"
Sanyukta's confidence was replaced by fear. Was Vidushi right? If yes, then what connection did Randhir have with the place?
"Are you sure about what you just said?"she asked.
"Of course I am Sanyukta. I grew up around that area...There is a 'Chor Bazaar' there...It's cheap and dangerous. It's the last you would want to be. And again I ask, why are you so curious about 'Masjid Road'?"
"I actually wanted to go to the 'chor bazaar'...I was just a bit hesitant to tell you. But thank u. I won't go since it isn't safe" Sanyukta lied without batting an eyelid. Vidushi believed her!
"As you say...There is nothing to be ashamed of...Being poor...We are in the same boat...But see where that boat has landed us...FMC!"
Sanyukta smiled and left. Vidushi was nice when she wasn't prying.
-----
7:15 PM.
If 'Masjid Road' was at an hours distance, it meant she was already late.
"Why am I doing this again?" she asked herself for the umpteenth time.
"Because you want to know the 'truth' ...Because you are foolish enough to believe in things like 'true-love'...Because, face the truth, you would take a bullet for him if need be..."
The last line she thought made her insides squirm. Was she so far gone that she was willing to risk everything for him? But why? What did he mean to her?
Sanyukta took a shawl, picked up her bag, stuffed whatever money she had in it, took a torchlight, carefully put the envelope inside and came out of her dorm-room. This could very well turn out to be the worst decision ever in her life. But there was no way she was going to return the 'opened' envelope to Randhir Shekhawat and be at the receiving end of his never-ending taunts. Instead, she would just meet 'the person' and act as a messenger.
She took one last glance at her room, left a "Please don't worry about me" note for Kaustuki and sent her prayers above before sneaking out of the college and into the night!
Her quest was about to begin!
------
"Bhaiya, yeh 'Masjid Road' janey ka kitna loge?" she asked a cab driver.
"250" came the reply.
"250?? Itna kyun? Meter pe chaliye..." she argued. But the look she received in return zipped her mouth.
"So much for love..." she mumbled to herself before boarding the cab.
She passed unfamiliar roads, dimly lit bylanes and finally after an hour and 10 minutes reached a dingy place from where she could see a huge mosque.
She got off the cab and paid the money. She started walking towards the masjid when she realized that there wasn't any specific address given in the paper. It just said 'Masjid Road'.
Sanyukta walked a bit further until she reached a market bustling with people. There were all kinds of shops selling items ranging from clothes to shoes to accessories to groceries etc.
Sanyukta looked around for a signboard that read 'Masjid Road', but she couldn't find any. She clung onto her bag, suddenly aware of her surroundings and feeling a tad bit scared.
She approached a woman and asked, "Yeh Masjid gali kidhar hain?"
The woman pointed at a dark lane ahead in response.
"Udhar kya milegi?" she asked again.
The woman looked at her like she was crazy and replied, "Aap kisey dhoondh rahe ho?"
"Kisi ko nahi...Mujhe bas masjid gali jana hain..."
"Udhar kuch nhi milne wala...Ek godaam hain. Bas..."
Sanyukta thanked the lady and proceeded towards the lane. She kept glancing over her shoulders to make sure that she wasn't being followed. The place was creepy and Sanyukta felt jittery.
'Masjid Road' was almost empty and dark, except for a few bystanders here and there. The entire lane was filled with ragged buildings. She walked past them without sparing a glance and kept her eyes open on the lookout for any 'warehouse'.
The deeper she went, the more scared she was. Suddenly her 'plan' didn't seem so full-proof afterall!
Finally she located a building. The entrance was around 6 feet wide and from outside it looked like a garage. The door wasn't bolted. Sanyukta guessed that this must be the warehouse that the lady spoke about. She had a strong inkling that the 'warehouse' must be where the man in the letter wanted to meet. All the other buildings seemed unoccupied for years.
Sanyukta tiptoed towards it and pressed her ears to the door. But no sound came from within. After making sure that it was completely safe to go inside, she pushed the door ajar slightly. It made a creaking sound making her jump in fear.
She crept inside and found a large empty room with lots of instruments.
Medical instruments.
Scalpels, test-tubes, thermometers, scissors etc...Not one, not two...But whole lot of them. She took a sharp breathe. This place was a doctor's ecstasy. She had reached the right spot.
"What is this place?" she thought nervously. That was when she spotted another door at the other side of the room. She walked upto it silently and as she neared it, she heard voices.
"...there will be. We know the essentials. We need the codes" said one man.
"I thought u said the book was enough to decode?" asked another.
"Yes, but the book isn't in my hands right now..."
Sanyukta frowned as she heard them speak. What book? Who were these people? Are they the ones that called Randhir? She strained her ears to hear more.
"It's 8:30. Randhir isn't coming afterall..." spoke a man.
"Have patience. This concerns his parents. He is bound to come..."
Sanyukta's eyes grew wide. So they were waiting for Randhir. The door was slightly ajar and she peeked inside it.
There were 4 men, seated around a table. 3 of them had their backs to her. But she spotted the fourth in the dim light.
He had a kindly face and wore spectacles. He wore his lab-coat. Sanyukta tried to read his name on his coat, but the lack of light made it impossible to see.
"They seem harmless. They are doctors. Maybe I should go inside and tell them I'm here instead of randhir...Or maybe...I could just..."
As the thought came to her mind, her eyes fell on the table. And she went rigid.
There were 2 guns, both loaded from the sights of it, kept on the table. Sanyukta shivered in fear. What were they doing with guns?
"Don't u think the media will talk if we pull off his murder so soon?" spoke one.
The kind looking man replied calmly, "I want the media to talk about it. Randhir Shekhawat's murder should afterall attract a lot of attention."
*Crash*
The sound of shattered glass filled the warehouse. And Sanyukta Agarwal was exposed.
------------
"Randhir Shekhawat's murder should afterall attract a lot of attention..."
That one sentence unnerved Sanyukta. She took a few steps back, forgetting that there was a rack behind her and the entire container came down crashing on the floor.
"Who's there?" came a voice from inside the room.
"Oh my God...What have i done?" Sanyukta thought, her heart running a mile per hour. Her brain stooped thinking rationally. She just knew one thing.
She had to run before they got her. And that she did. She ran. Fast.
"Do u think Randhir is here?" asked one man as he picked up his gun and came outside.
"Shoot at sight.." instructed the kind looking man.
"Sir it's a girl" exclaimed another.
"Shoot NOW..."
*Bang*
Sanyukta ran outside and had pushed close the wooden door on her way. She heard a loud bang and realized that a bullet had gone off. It hit the wooden door as she ran past the streets. The men came chasing after her and she desparately tried to mingle with the crowd.
"Run Sanyu run..." she thought.
But her feet were hurting severely. She glanced at it and found her left foot was bleeding profusely. She must have caught some shards of glass on her way out. Her right palm was bleeding as well. But now was no time to stop.
She ran into the market and started moving between the crowds to avoid being seen. She was sweating and shaking in fear...Fear for her dear life!
She looked behind her and spotted two men looking for someone and realized it was them. They were so close!
"What do I do??" she asked herself. And it was like her prayers were answered. A bus came and halted right before the market. A bus that would take her to FMC and she ran towards it and boarded it.
The last thing she saw were the faces of those two men who were still searching for her in the market. She was panting from all the running. Her strength gave away and all of a sudden everything went dark.
Sanyukta fainted in the bus.
------
Randhir Shekhawat rushed towards the dissection hall. He had to get that envelope back. It was the most important thing to him right now.
He entered the lab and switched on the lights. The first place he searched was where sanyukta had fallen with his bag. But it wasn't there. He searched again, but in vain. He searched the entire lab frantically. But the envelope was nowhere to be found.
"Where could it be?" he asked himself, "Did someone take it? But who?"
And even as he asked that question to himself, he knew the answer to it.
"Sanyukta..." he thought cursing, "But even if she did take it...Why wouldn't she give it to me?"
He searched one last time before giving up. The envelope was missing for real.
"What the hell!" he grumbled angrily and returned back to his hostel. He would grill Sanyukta the next day and find out if she had it.
He entered his room to find Karan talking on the phone with Smriti. But Parth's bed was empty.
"Where's Parth?" he asked Karan.
"Gone out...It's friday remember?" replied the latter.
Randhir nodded remembering. He sat on his bed, but his mind was restless. What if the envelope fell on wrong hands? He wasn't even aware of what it contained.
He picked up his phone and dialled Ishita.
"Hello.." she said sleepily on the 3rd ring.
"Hey...Can u talk?" he asked.
"Yeah...what's up?"
She sounded tired.
"U haven't seen an envelope marked to me by any chance have u?" he asked her in whispers.
"Envelope? No Randhir, I haven't. Why?" she asked.
Randhir sighed. She deserved to know. And so he told her everything that had happened...about how he found the envelope, how he realized that someone had very intelligently sliced Ramu chacha's corotid artery...Ishita heard it all in shock.
"What?? U found an envelope in his pocket marked to u? And all this time u kept it from me?? From us??? Randhir don't u trust us?"
"Ishi, if I wanted to get bashed, I wouldn't call u...I was just paranoid ok?" he said a little irritated.
She sobered up, "Listen, it's 9PM now. Let the night pass. Meanwhile, let us decide what to do. We can ask the lab bearer if he found anything tomorrow...Ok?"
"Ok...will do..." replied Randhir and hung up.
He drove his hands through his hair as he wondered where it could be. He was in dire need of some fresh air. And so, he went out again...for a walk.
------
Ishita hung up the phone and looked at Smriti. The latter was still talking with Karan. Ishita dialled her dad. The phone kept ringing, but no one picked up. She rang again. This time he replied, "Ishi I'm in the middle of something..."
"Dad, it's an emergency. Where are u? What's all that noise?"
"Ishita I'm outside. What do u want?"
And Ishita told her father everything Randhir told her. Dr. Mittal heard it all patiently and replied, "Calm down. But make sure he finds the letter."
"Ok dad...I will..We'll search again tomorrow..." replied Ishita.
------
Parth sat on the window seat of a bus, his thoughts straying to a girl he met recently. She was unique. She was fierce yet kind, she was helpful yet competitive, she was beautiful yet simple, she was...
*Thud*
He jerked at the sound. Apparently someone had fainted in the bus.
"Excuse me..." he told the people who had gathered around, "I'm a med student, i can help.."
They made way for him and he saw a girl lying on the floor, her hair covering her face. He knelt and picked her up, only to realize that she was the girl he was just thinking about.
Sanyukta Agarwal.
"Sanyukta...Sanyukta...Wake up...Sanyukta..."
Sanyukta could feel beads of water being thrown on her face and someone gently trying to wake her up.
"mmm" she said softly and opened her eyes. Her head hurt from the fall.
She slowly adjusted her vision and saw a worried looking Parth peering down at her.
"Where am I?" she asked him trying to sit up.
"Wait...rest...We are on our way to FMC...U fainted..."
And sanyukta recalled it all. She shut her eyes as if willing the haunting memories to go away.
"Where did u go this late Sanyukta? And you are bleeding from ur hand and feet...What happened?"
She stuttered and replied, "I w-went to my relatives place and fell down while trying to run and board the bus..."
Parth frowned, "Relatives? Here? Which stop did u board the bus from?"
Sanyukta bit her lips.
"I'm tired..." she said.
His eyes softened immediately, "We'll reach soon. Rest till then. I will take u to the clinic as soon as we reach FMC."
It was 9:45 by the time they reached their college. The gates closed at 10. Parth supported a limping Sanyukta and entered the premises.
"Sanyukta, girls aren't allowed to be out this late. If you get caught.."
"I will manage. I will sneak in, don't worry.." she interrupted.
Just then they heard footsteps. Both froze on spot.
"Quick, hide behind that bush...Go.." whispered Parth. And Sanyukta heeded his words without argument.
The footsteps grew louder and a man into sight. It was the watchman.
"Parth Kashyap? Itni raat ko kahan the tum?" he asked.
"Medicine laney gya tha bhaiya. Aur abhi toh dus nhi baje..."
"Chalo jaldi hostel..." urged the watchman.
"Par bhaiya, woh...aap jayiye...mein ataa hun na..."
"Kyun? Abhi tumhe kya kaam hain?" asked the watchman again, giving Parth suspicious looks. The latter had no choice but to move without giving away Sanyukta's position. The watchman followed him all the way inside.
Sanyukta made sure that the watchman was gone before coming out from hiding. She winced as a searing pain shot through her feet. Some of the blood had dried up by now, but fresh blood was still leaking.
She limped carefully as she suddenly felt all alone. Any dangerous situation doesn't register in a person'd head until they look back at it and realize how close they were to being anihilated.
Sanyukta's ears still rang with the sound of the gun-shot.
"They actually shot a gun...They meant to kill me...I could have been dead...Oh God!!! How could I be so irrational and go to some unknown place all alone like that??..."
The dimly lit streets, the dingy warehouse, the kind doctor who turned out to be a murderer, the gun-shot...she just couldn't let go off it all.
"Agarwal..."
She yelped at his voice and then turned to look at him.
Randhir was standing behind her, looking curious. His eyes travelled up her disheveled form and fixated on her wounds.
He looked at her and was about to taunt her when he saw her face and stopped himself. She looked scared out of her wits. Her eyes looked haunted and her lips were quivering.
Sanyukta limped her way to him and before anything could register in his head, she flung herself in his arms and held him with all her might.
Randhir was shocked.
"Wha-.." he managed to utter before she started sobbing hysterically, her whole form shaking.
Sanyukta didn't care that he didn't embrace her back...she didn't care that she was spoiling his best shirt with her tears and drool...she just held on to him and cried.
After what seemed like ages, he hugged her back. Her sobs echoed into the night as he held her and traced soothing cirlces in her back.
"Shhh...It's effing 10PM Agarwal...don't wail that loud..." he tried to ease her pain. He was baffled by what was happening. Suddenly this girl appears out of nowhere and completely injured. And then she falls into his arms and takes out all her pain...What in the world was wrong with her???
He tried to release her hold on him, but in vain. She needed first-aid badly. So he just forcefully shoved her and picked her up.
She was surprised at first and then settled down in his arms as he made his way towards the clinic.
Sanyukta wiped her eyes and nuzzled against him.
"Listen, don't try to make yourself too comfortable. That shirt cost me a fortune and you are spoiling it..." he said harshly.
She smiled against him.
"Where are we going?" she asked softly.
"We??? There is no we...I am going to drop u till the clinic and then I'm out of here..."
"Okay..."
Her monosyllabic reply made him look at her. She looked fatigued.
"Where did u go?" he asked her.
She didn't reply but he felt her hold on him tighten.
"Where did u go Agarwal? How did u get hurt?"
She kept mum.
"Fine...I'm going to tell the authorities about you tomorrow..."
Her eyes nearly popped out. She struggled against him and he put her down.
"Clinic" he said and pointed behind her.
But she looked at him hard.
"I was almost killed tonight...And you...Please leave me alone...Go tell the authorities whatever you want...Go get me expelled for all I care...Go to h-..."
and she paused, her eyes watering again.
He simply stared at her in response. He had got his answer. He took her hand and tugged her along. She didn't struggle but yielded.
The doctor in the clinic was preparing to go to sleep, but Randhir woke him up.
They made sanyukta sit on the bed and the doctor examined her wounds. He took out a small glass shard from her foot and then applied antiseptic. He dressed both wounds and gave her an injection.
Randhir watched all of it in silence.
"Sit here for sometime and then leave" advised the doctor and went away.
Sanyukta glanced at Randhir and said, "It's late. You can go. I'll manage..."
He smirked and said, "Oh I'm sure you will..."
"I'm serious Randhir.."
"Shut up" he scolded, suddenly serious.
She gulped.
"Where is the envelope?" he asked her out of the blue.
"The what?"
"Stop with the pretence Agarwal...Where is it?"
"How did you-.."
"I asked where is it?"
"In my bag..." she whispered, afraid of his reaction.
He glared at her and snatched her bag. He took out the torn envelope and reached inside. The paper came out and he read it. With each word he read his eyes turned hard.
"Who were they?" she asked meekly.
"How dare you?" he spoke.
"Randhir..i..."
"HOW DAREYOU?"
She flinched.
"I was just trying to.."
"Trying to what??? What if it got u killed?? What if u died?? What would I answer??"
She gawked. Was he worried about her?
"Randhir who were those people?"
He was breathing hard to calm himself down.
And finally when he looked at her, she saw a totally different person. A wild and volatile avenger.
"My parents didn't die in a car-crash. They were killed. And you just blew the one thing that could have led me to the killers..."
-------
Next update on saturday or sunday.
Love,
Anuradha😳
Edited by federized2210 - 11 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
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