Checkmate- Sam-Arj(Aham-Kashmira)FIC part 52 updated on 11/12/2019 - Page 45

Arjun rang the door bell of his house. Samaira peeked through the keyhole & opened the door. Arjun stepped in & smiled looking at Samaira but she just ignored him, took the bag from his hand & went inside. Arjun sighed. Samaira & her stubbornness! He removed his shoes near the doorstep & went in his bedroom. Samaira was arranging papers scattered on the bed. Arjun first put his service revolver in the locker of his cupboard & locked it. Then, he pulled out his cell phone & wallet from his pockets & placed them on the table. He removed his watch & put it too on the table. He unbuttoned his shirt & carelessly threw it on the bed . Samaira closed her laptop & glared at her husband.

Samaira- Don't you dare throw your used clothes on the bed. Put all of them in laundry basket.

Arjun looked at her & nodded his head.

Samaira- Would you like to take tea?

Arjun- No, already had a cup of coffee in airport.

Samaira left the room. Arjun took his towel & the discarded shirt & went inside the washroom to freshen up.

Arjun combed his wet hair. He is feeling refreshed after taking bath. He connected his cell phone to a charger & stepped out of his bedroom. Samaira was setting the table & was listening music on television. Arjun sat & looked at her but she is not even looking at him. She is avoiding him & clearly not in a mood to talk with him. Samaira served the food & sat at the opposite side of him. They ate in silence. After completing the dinner, Samaira put the dishes & other utensils in the sink.

Arjun- You leave, I will wash the dishes.

Samaira- No need. I appointed a maid for cleaning & washing utensils. She works in our neighbor house & trustworthy. She will come to work from tomorrow. I can't manage office & all the household works alone.

Arjun- I don't have any problem. In fact, you can hire a cook also. You just concentrate on your work.

Samaira- It's not easy to get a good cook & I was managing my office & cooking together from the day I left Khanna Mansion. So, it's not a big deal for me.

Arjun- hmm.

Samaira was lying on her side on the bed facing the opposite direction of Arjun, waiting for sleep to come. She felt relieved & happy to see Arjun but she is upset with his behavior & she just don't want to talk with him now.

"How was your day? She heard Arjun's voice in the silence of the room. Samaira remained still & silent. She can hear Arjun's sigh. "I know you are not asleep Samaira.

Samaira (looking towards Arjun)- How was my day? Well, can't complain & no one would listen if I did. So, it's good.

Arjun remained silent hearing her sarcastic reply.

Arjun- You were not picking up my calls. So, I was worried.

Samaira- really? Glad to know that you got worried for me. I was busy. So, can't able to receive the calls & most importantly, why the hell you were wasting your time to call me?

Arjun( sighed)- It's not a time waste to call you or to listen your complains. You should share your every problem with me. It's my right to know.

Samaira blinked, then her normally calm & pleasant demeanor changed & her face contorted in all consuming anger.

Samaira- What did you say? It's not a time waste to call me but the same "YOU can't even take out few minutes from your busy schedule just to inform me once that you are going out of station? Do you have any idea how much tensed & worried I was? No, you don't. You just got so much busy in your work that you absolutely forgot that your wife is waiting for you at home.

Arjun- Samaira my mind was occupied with so many thoughts...

Samaira (cutting his words in between)- Now please Arjun, don't give excuse of your work. I never demanded to know where you were going. You can even give a message to inform me that you are not going to come at night. But no, you just have it in your way.

Arjun- Samaira please, try to understand yaar...

Samaira- What to understand? Please you try to understand. It's getting extremely difficult for me to handle your mood swings. I am your wife. Share your stress, sorrow, happiness everything with me, but please don't misbehave. Don't talk rudely with me. It hurts. I respect your dedication towards your work. I perfectly know that I am always & will always be your second priority, first obviously your duty. I accepted it. After all, not everyone has the guts to do their duty with that much passion.

Arjun hold her hand & pressed his lips on her palm. "I love you Samaira, I really love you. Arjun murmured.

Samaira- But you don't trust me. We have love in our relationship & we are lacking understanding between us. I am afraid Arjun. We are always going to stay together, right? Arjun, I can't live without you but that doesn't mean I will tolerate everything.

Arjun remained silent for some time. Samaira looked at him. His eyes are full of sadness & Samaira felt it's extremely difficult to control herself from hugging him tightly. She controlled her tears that were threatening to fall.

Arjun- What are you saying Samaira? If I did not trust you then we would never ever be together.

Samaira- So, now, you are regretting your decision?

Arjun- What? Samaira please, don't misunderstand my words.

Samaira- oh no no. Twisting anyone's simple words is your job, not mine. I always failed to understand your complex thought process. I am still trying hard to understand what was my mistake that day? After getting that call from Rajat, you suddenly became so angry & disturbed. So, I asked you the reason. After that, you not even gave me any single chance to complete my sentences. Do you really have any idea what I was actually trying to say. You just started interpreting things in your way & you even told me to stay there & do whatever I like! Do you even have any idea how much disgusting was your statement & your tone?

Arjun- I did not meant those words in this way you are thinking. I am sorry Samaira. Please understand that it was really an emergency situation & I messed up.

Samaira- You misbehaved with me before. So, you are saying I was going to be your punching bag in emergency situations.

Arjun- Samaira, again you are misjudging me...

Samaira- Leave it Arjun. You looked tired. So, please sleep & let me sleep.

Arjun was preparing himself to say something but Samaira's voice shut him up. "Arjun please, I have to attend an important meeting tomorrow & I need rest to refresh my mind. So, goodnight.

Samaira again turned towards the opposite side & closed her eyes. "Good Night, she heard Arjun's faint voice.

Samaira woke up hearing the constant buzzing of alarm clock. She rubbed her eyes but wait, she did not set any alarm last night. She stopped the alarm & looked at the other side of the bed. Arjun is not there. Her eyes fell on the side table & noticed a tray. In the tray, there is a coffee mug, a small box & a paper folded under it. Samaira took the paper & read it.

"I am sorry that I made you feel bad. I never meant to put you through pain. Sorry for hurting you dear. Please forgive me.

Samaira's eyes widen. A hand written sorry note from Arjun! He apologized & she also feeling light venting out all her anger & frustration in front of him. The reason must be big that he lost his temper that night in Goa. She don't know. She is not even angry anymore & she really not has the ability to say No on his face. Every time she wonders why he has so much control over her mind & heart? They both have no one to openly share their feelings apart from each other. She opened the small box. Again, she was surprised. She carefully looked at the trendy anklet set. A smile spread on her lips. Inside the box, she also noticed the card of the jewellery shop. So, he was in Rajasthan & he bought a gift for her from there. She finished her coffee & put the box into the drawer & went inside washroom.

Arjun was reading the newspaper sitting on the dining table. Samaira came & stood in front of him. "Good Morning. She greeted him.

"Morning Samaira. He smiled looking at her. He folded the newspaper & placed it on the table.

Samaira- Thank you for both the gift & the coffee.

Arjun- You liked the gift?

Samaira- The anklets are really beautiful. I loved it. Thank You.

Arjun stood up & came closer to her.

Arjun- Are you still angry with me?

She shook her head in denial. Arjun cupped her face in his hand & made her meet his eyes.

Arjun- I know I behave rudely with you. My mind was not working then. It was a crisis moment. In fact, still the situation is not good. I am just trying to find ways to crack the case plus the tremendous pressure from higher authority. It's just went out of my mind that I have to inform you that I was going in Rajasthan.

Arjun sighed & remained silent for some moment.

Arjun- Naa, no more explanation. I can't blame the situation. It's all my fault. I made you cry.

Samaira- Leave all this. I am not angry anymore.

Arjun looked at her. Samaira firmly nodded her head & smiled. Arjun tightly hugged her.

Samaira- now tell me, why the hell you set the alarm & that too in highest volume?

Arjun- Obviously to wake you up.

Samaira- Can't you think of any romantic way to wake me up?

Arjun- hmm. Point. Actually, I was not sure about your mood. But I have a romantic idea in my mind. I should throw water on you to wake you up.

Samaira- What?? Pathetic!

Arjun- arre, in Goa beach, don't you noticed that couples were throwing water at each other?

Arjun bites his lips & tried hard not to laugh. Samaira pinched on his arm.

"ahhh! " Arjun rubbed his arm. "Cut your nails Samaira. Do you even notice how many scratch you gave on my back?

Samaira turned red. "Shut up & leave me. I don't have time to waste with you. I have many works & already said today I have to attend an important meeting in office.

Arjun- But first give me my good morning kiss.

Samaira- No.

Arjun- oh yes.

Samaira- Don't you have office today?

Arjun- of course, I have. But first good morning kiss. See, I didn't even smoked till now.

Samaira rolled her eyes. She lightly kissed on his cheeks & started to move but his hand drifted to her hip & pulled her closer. She inhaled sharply as she was against his warm chest. She splayed her hand against it. His breathing quickened & he covered her mouth with his in a hungry kiss. Their lips crushed together. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than she could have imagined & she opened her mouth with a low moan. The door bell rang & Samaira quickly withdrew.

Arjun (irritatingly)- now, who is disturbing us?

Samaira- Definitely, the maid. Now, you don't disturb me. I have lot of work both in home & office.

She went to open the door but she heard Arjun's voice from behind, "Okay, I will disturb you at night.

In Intelligence Bureau Office,

Arjun was checking the fax sent by Bundi Police. Rajat was sitting in front of him lost in thoughts. He suddenly muttered, "shocking!

Arjun looked at him, "What so shocking?

Rajat- Nandini Pandey aka Anju Kiran is Rana's cousin sister!! Oh My God!

Arjun- We got the clue about Nandini from Rana's past. Most probably, we get more. So, we need to search more about their pasts.

Rajat- how?

Arjun- well, this Nandini Pandey aka Anju Kiran used to do counseling in the same correctional home where Dev used to stay.

Rajat- But the NGO no longer exists. They closed their office many years ago & vacated the house where their office used to be. So, it's impossible to get the total details of the workers. The correctional home only kept the records who used to come to do counseling, but that's too only their pictures & an identity proof & all the staff of correctional home are new, so, they are unable to provide further details.

Arjun- Need to talk with the Superintendent of the correctional home at that time again. Anyway Rajat, you try to find about Nandini's life in Mumbai.

Rajat- but how?

Arjun- She left the village after passing Board examination. So, she must took admission in a college in Mumbai...

Rajat- now, you are talking like crazy. How to find out about a single student after so many years??

Arjun- There must be many colleges in Mumbai but University only one & all students of various colleges have to registered their names & details in University. So, search the database of Mumbai University for Anju Kiran. & take the year in which she left the village & also search three more years if by any chance she got delayed in taking admission.

Rajat- Okay.

Arjun nodded his head & lit a cigarette. "But one of the biggest mystery is till now Samrat Khanna.

Arjun finished the cigarette & stubbed out the left over in the ashtray.

Arjun- Yes Rajat, the biggest mystery is till now definitely Samrat Khanna. See, we know nothing about his background. He married Piyali when she was pregnant with someone else's child. The motive must be money & property or there may be some personal equation between them. Then, Piyali gone missing when Samaira was only four years old. I was checking the details, Piyali's father, Aniket Chaudhary died in heart attack just after a year Piyali went missing, that mean in 1996. Now, my confusion is, why Samrat did not attempted on Samaira then?

Rajat raised his eyebrows in confusion.

Rajat- What are you saying Arjun?

Arjun- Think practically Rajat, at that time, Samaira was a child, totally dependent on Samrat. No Piyali, no Aniket. Then, why he waited till Samaira turned 25 when according to Aniket Wills, it is clear that Samaira will become the owner of Khanna Industries & all properties at that age? Okay. We are sure about the fact that now Samrat wanted his path to be clear but the question is why not then? Don't you think it will be much more easier & less risky as that time Samaira was a vulnerable child.

Rajat- point Arjun!!!

Arjun- How the hell I missed such important point. Then, Samrat's death. Just think the level of perfection in planning! I just have only confusion regarding Samrat's death & that also got cleared after reading details Post Mortem Reports.

Rajat- What confusion Arjun?

Arjun- Why Samrat Khanna did not tried to escape when he was getting suffocated by the Carbon Monoxide gas that was leaking from Car's AC? According to Post Mortem Reports, Doctors found traces of Melatonin & Alprazolam in Samrat's body. Both are sleeping drugs & together create a deadly combination. Doctors also got undigested food in his stomach & both drugs were mixed on that food. Samrat was not in his senses when his car got collided with the truck.

Rajat- Indeed perfect Planning!!

Arjun- Hmm. But why? & most importantly by whom?

Rajat- May be because you break into the store room of Khanna Industries, the main secret of them.

Arjun- Someone convinced Samrat that he can easily escape from our country. That was possible. If he fled away in another country with which we don't have any Extradition treaty than it would be extremely difficult for us to take Samrat in our custody. He was on the way to Airport, he has his passport with him, but no tickets. So, the promise was someone will hand over the ticket but their master plan was different. They just wanted to kill Samrat & they were successful. But why? Yes, the reason is they don't want to take any chance or they want to distract us or may be any other reason.

Rajat- Distract us?? From what?? The reason is definitely Samrat has the answers of all our queries, that's why Nandini planned to kill him. She is the mastermind.

Arjun- Money Laundering, attempt on Samaira, Dev Arora, Sarika, RDX Smuggling, Anil, Rajen, Ravi Desai, Rana, Jai Khanna, K.K, Killing Samrat, Linda Joseph, the mysterious packet, the shrewd plan of trapping Samaira in smuggling chain & even the escape plan of Dev. Do you really think Nandini is the mastermind? In Fact, honestly speaking, till now, I did not exactly get their plan. We have so many pawns, knights, rooks, but my point is who is the king?

Rajat- Samrat is already dead. If not Nandini, then who?

Arjun- I think, the real mastermind, the king is still playing from behind. We don't know him or her. Samrat Khanna had all the answers of our queries but he is no more. But that doesn't mean I can't reach them. I will get them at any cost.

Rajat- but how Arjun? We can't able to trace Dev till now, not even able to find out Nandini aka Anju.

Arjun- I know. But Rajat, amidst all, we missed an important character, Aniket Chaudhary, Piyali's father.

Rajat- What more you want to know about him?

Arjun- When his daughter Piyali suddenly gone missing what he actually did? If he really cares for her than it would be impossible to believe Samrat's theory. Did they at that time filed any missing complaint?

Rajat- Why this matters now that then Samrat or Aniket filed any missing complaint for Piyali or not?

Arjun- Its matters. I want to know if there is no missing complaint, then how Samrat convinced Aniket about Piyali's absence or what Aniket's role in money laundering or in this conspiracy & if there is missing complaint than I need to know what at that time Police Investigated. In fact, then we have to doubt Aniket's death natural heart attack or not.

Rajat- But Arjun why we are trying to find what happened in past? I mean, don't you think we need to concentrate more on the RDX dealing, the mysterious packet & Dev.

Arjun- We don't have any single clue to progress. We are standing on the verge of dead end. I think finding more about Samrat, Piyali, Nandini aka Anju & Aniket we will surely going to get hints about the King who is playing from behind.

Rajat- Agree with you Arjun. So, tell me what I have to do.

Arjun- First of all, tomorrow, I want all the final reports of each point we discussed before. Next, I want all the servants who used to work in Khanna Mansion, present there.

Rajat- Okay.

Arjun- Try to find out if there was any missing complaint for Piyali Khanna or not. At that time, there was no provision for Zero FIR, so, the complaint must be filed in the local Police Station of Khanna Mansion.

They stopped their discussion hearing a knock on the door of cabin. "Come In. Hearing Arjun's voice Bonnie entered inside. She was looking quite angry.

Bonnie- I need to discuss something important with you Sir.

Arjun looked at Rajat who nodded head & left the cabin.

Arjun- Yes Bonnie?

Bonnie- I think Sir you are forgetting that our Higher Authority dropped down the allegation of "Irresponsible Behavior " against me & again appointed me without demotion in my previous post. So, it is my right to attend every briefing of Yours...

Arjun- No, it is not your right. It is solely my decision as team leader how I am going to handle the mission. If you have any objection regarding any thing, you can complaint to our seniors.

Bonnie- Sir, I am not saying in that way. You are clearly misunderstanding me.

Arjun- See Bonnie, I don't have time for useless things like understand or misunderstand you. Now, let's talk about work.

Bonnie swallowed the insult & stood in attention.

Arjun- Nerium Oleander... Do you have any idea Bonnie what it is?

Arjun looked at her & Bonnie felt like her heart started beating rapidly. She nodded her head in negative.

Arjun- Well, this is a poison. Doctors found traces of it from Dev's vomit. Now, you need to find out how Dev got this Oleander when he was in our custody?

Arjun smirked looking at Bonnie.

Arjun You are my clever, responsible Sub Inspector. Don't disappoint me. I want your Investigation Report soon in my table. Hope, I made myself clear. Now, don't waste time. Dismiss.

Bonnie almost rushed out from Arjun's cabin. His cold stare & smirks are too much for her to handle. She is indeed feeling nervous. She came towards her desk & drank down a whole glass of water in one gulp.

Though the X Superintendent of the Correctional Home cannot be able to provide any information regarding the NGO where Anju aka Nandini used to work. But he reminded Arjun the most essential fact that every NGO need to be registered. Arjun felt like banging his head. He is behaving dumb, missing out crucial points. He waited till his Officer came back with necessary details.

"Sir, the NGO was registered in the name of some Dorothy Faria, but we have no information about the vision & mission of the NGO & the other members. And the most shocking fact is Dorothy is dead. She was murdered that too in the same year in which Devendra aka Dev Arora got free from that Correctional Home. The Officer informed Arjun.

Arjun raised his eyebrows. Again, another dead end. "Say in details Officer.

The Officer- Sir, she was shot from point blank range on the street while she was returning from morning walk. Two Killers & their faces were covered. Local Police Investigated but result was nil. After a year, Dorothy's parents filed a petition in Court to seek justice for their daughter. The Court gave the case charge to Crime Branch, but they too unable to solve the case. After two months, Dorothy's father died in heart attack & their elder daughter aka Dorothy's sister took their mother in U.S.A with her & Dorothy's murder mystery remained unsolved as the family stopped following the case.

Arjun sighed. He leaned on his chair.

Arjun- Try to locate Dorothy's elder sister in U.S.A & I want both the Investigation reports of Dorothy murder case.

The Officer nodded his head, saluted Arjun & left from the cabin. Arjun lit a cigarette.

Arjun ( in his mind)- If my intuition is right, then by knowing about Dorothy, I will surely going to find more about Nandini & the dark years of Dev's life, how he became Dev from Devendra. Have so many clues, bas, need to explore all perfectly, then only I can get the clear picture.

That's all for TODAY. Waiting for responses. Sorry for the late Update.