Chapter Forty Nine
It was evening by the time they heard the knock at the door, Raj starting up from the couch where he had been sitting with Naina and Aalekh. Since Abhimanyu had called that morning to tell them he would be returning they had heard nothing more. The wait had been torturous and all of them were on edge, attempting to pass the time and keep themselves distracted.
Before Abhimanyu could knock again, Raj had already opened it, pulling him inside before his friend could say a word.
Exhaustion was clearly written on Abhi's face, he had barely slept for the past two days and Raj frowned with worry as soon as he saw him.
"Come and sit down." Raj told him even as Abhi began to try to speak, "You're not going to be able to tell me what has happened if you collapse at the doorway."
Abhimanyu allowed himself to be led inside to the living room, Naina and Aalekh had both stood up at the sound of his knock and he gave them both a tired smile of greeting before half collapsing on the couch. For a few minutes he simply sat there, attempting to gather his thoughts as the others waited in silence. It was when Naina's mother placed a cup of chai in front of him that he finally moved, gripping it with slightly shaking hands.
"Did you manage to see her?" Naina finally asked, unable to wait any longer, "Is she alright?"
"I did," Abhi replied shortly, "And no… no she's not alright. She hasn't been alright for quite a long time now." He looked around at all of them, trying to work out how to tell them. The effect that such a betrayal would have on them and Raj especially…
"Take your time," Raj told him, reaching out to grip his friend's shoulder, "But whatever it is, it's time that the truth finally came to life."
"You're right, the truth should've come out a long time ago." Abhi agreed with him, his voice suddenly steely. "But I don't know how to tell you, how to…"
"Nothing has happened to her, has it?" Raj asked, suddenly terrified by how long Abhi was taking to tell them.
"Physically she's fine… but she's suffered so much over the years, always keeping it hidden inside herself. She never told any of us because she was afraid for us, afraid that…" He passes a hand tiredly over his face, trying to work out how to say the words that will change everything. "She's kept it a secret all this time because she's afraid of what he'll do to us if we find out, of what he'll do if she disobeys him. He's threatened her… threatened to take revenge on those she loves."
"Threatened to harm us? Who?" Raj asked him, desperately hoping that Abhimanyu wasn't saying what he thought he was saying, "Abhi, tell me exactly what you mean."
"We always wondered why she was so hostile at the beginning, so angry… she did it to keep everybody away from her, to ensure that nobody could be used against her." Abhi didn't miss the slight nod that Aalekh gave at this statement as if he had guessed it much before. "Because ever since she found out the truth about her father, she has also known exactly what he'll be willing to do to guarantee her silence."
"Tell us in plain words, Abhi." Raj said, desperate to finally know once and for all, "What is the truth?"
"The man that we had all assumed to be a loyal servant of our country is really a damn traitor." Abhi spat out, "Naveen's entrapment and death, the plan to steal the triggers, he's behind all of it. He's willing to sell his country, even those he calls family for power and money."
There was a deathly silence as the new sank in. Raj felt as if his world had dropped out from under him, he had loved Lala Saheb like a father, trusted and respected him more than anyone else and all this time… That man had not only killed his best friend, but had also betrayed their country, and to have been torturing his daughter in this way for such a long time…
He glanced across at Naina who sat ashen faced beside him on the courch, as if all the colour had been drained from her. Forcing himself to put his anger at Gehlot aside, he reached out to take her hand.
"He…" Naina said, unable to even finish one sentence in her current state of shock. He had put his hand above her head, blessed her. The very thought made her feel sick to her stomach. "And all this time, Sherry…"
"She made a deal with him that she would do whatever he asked if he stayed away from us." Abhi revealed, "But I can't leave her there, Raj. I won't."
"No." Raj agreed, "We won't leave her there any longer, enough is enough."
He looked at Naina searchingly, hoping that she would understand. He had responsibilities to her and to their unborn child and he knew that what he was about to do was dangerous. It wasn't possible to challenge a man as powerful as Gehlot without risk and it was possible he wouldn't even come back alive. However he also had responsibilities as a brother and he wouldn't abandon his little sister to a life of torment simply to keep himself safe. For far too long she had shielded him, it was time that he fulfilled his duties.
Seeing the emotions pass over her husband's face, Naina understood perfectly how conflicted he was. No matter how scared she was of losing him, she had to be strong for him rather than becoming his weakness.
"Bring her back to us," Naina told him, "To where she belongs." Sitting to the other side of her, Naina's mother nodded her agreement.
Abhimanyu drained his cup of chai and stood up as if to go but taking his wrist, Raj pulled him back down.
"We're not going anywhere right now," He informed his friend, "We need to go in there with clear heads, with our full wits about us. For that you need rest, we'll leave first thing in the morning."
Abhi hesitated, unwilling to leave her there for one moment longer than necessary but finally he nodded, knowing that Raj was right.
None of them knew what tomorrow might bring, but whatever lay in front of them they were willing to face the challenge.
**
Naina woke early to find Raj already up and preparing for the day ahead. As sunlight began to filter into the room she watched him open his bag and take out his gun, loading bullets and checking it.
She tried to control her fear as she watched him tuck the gun into the back of his pants. If she was honest then she was terrified that something might happen to him, Abhi or Sherry today. Glancing towards her, Raj noticed that she was awake and watching him with wide eyes.
"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye were you?" she asked him quietly, getting up from the bed.
He shook his head in reply and crossing the room towards her, he put his arms around Naina. She hugged him back fiercely, dreading the moment when she would have to let go.
"Life keeps doing this to us, doesn't it Naina?" he asked her, a wry smile on his face. "Hopefully this will be the last test."
"Stay safe and bring her back safely." Naina told him, "We'll all be waiting for you, I know you'll be successful."
Raj nodded, cupping her face with his hands he leaned down to kiss her lingeringly before leaning down to touch his forehead with hers.
"We'll all be back as soon as possible." He told her, "Safe and sound, but if anything should happen to me then…"
"Don't even say it," Naina told him, "Nothing will happen to you."
"No, I need to say this." Raj told her, "I have a will… everything has been left to you, it's in the cupboard in our room at KMA. If something were to happen then I don't want you to give up, live your life to the fullest, be happy and bring our child up well."
Naina nodded even as tears welled up in her eyes, "Nothing will happen to you." She repeated once again, "Life can't be that unfair."
He kissed her one more time before taking her hand and leading her outside to where Abhimanyu was already dressed and waiting, pacing back and forth while Aalekh watched him.
"Sir… I want to come with you." Aalekh told Raj, "I want to help."
"Naina… do you still have Naveen's old gun?" Raj asked and nodding in affirmative she opened the locked cupboard they stored it in, taking it out and giving it to him.
Gazing down at it for a moment, Raj gestured for Aalekh to come forward, handing the gun to him.
"You're not coming with us but you have another duty." He told Aalekh, "I hope you won't need to use this, but if you do then you know what you have to do. If you don't hear from us by five pm then take Naina and her mother somewhere safe."
"I'll protect them, Sir." Aalekh promised him, "You don't need to worry about their safety."
"Thank you," Raj told him earnestly, feeling relieved that there was somebody he could trust with their protection.
They all walked outside together, and after saying goodbye to Naina and Aalekh, Abhi crossed to the jeep, taking a seat behind the wheel. Raj hugged Naina one last time before kissing her forehead, forcing himself to step back he headed towards the jeep, getting into it before his emotions could betray him.
As he looked in the rearview mirror he could see them in the rearview mirror, one of Aalekh's arms around Naina's shoulders.
He kept watching until they were out of sight, hoping that it wouldn't be the last time he saw them.
**
Meanwhile they were not the only people on the move, Ritu Mishra had been shifted from her jail mid morning, and as she sat in the back of the prison van with a slightly bored expression on her face, she wondered how long this pretense would last for.
She expected that by the end of today she would be free, either it would be reported that she had escaped or her death would be faked, there was no way that she would ever actually reach trial, she knew far too many compromising things about far too many people.
For this reason she wasn't surprised when the van pulled over to the side of the road and the guards gestured to her to get out. She stood calmly as they undid her handcuffs, waiting for the next instructions. Ritu wondered where it was that they would send her, a new city or even a new country. No matter where it was, her job would remain the same. She had trained for years to become a spy, they wouldn't allow her expertise to go to waste.
It was then that another vehicle pulled out and a man got out, one of her regular contacts. He signaled to the guards that they could leave and getting back into the van they drove away.
"So where to next?" Ritu asked the man, "What plans are there for me?"
"I'm afraid that this is the end of the road for you, Dr Mishra." The man informed her, his expression unchanging as he pulled out a gun. "You've been compromised, you're far too much of a liability for us to be able to keep you alive."
"You're joking, right?" she spat out at him, "After all of these years, all of my service to your group…"
"You've always known the way things are." He told her, his expression still unchanged. "You knew the risks when you agreed to work for us."
She moved quickly but not quickly enough, even as she lunged towards him in an attempt to take the gun he fired, the bullet lodging close by to her heart. The impact pushed Ritu backwards and she stumbled, but her adrenaline was enough to keep her going and even as he fired again, hitting her in the abdomen this time, she grabbed the gun out of his hands, pointed it at his head and pulled the trigger.
As he fell to the ground dead, she slumped onto the road, weak from the loss of blood. On such a deserted road, Ritu knew that there was no hope of getting medical hope in time. Even if she was to drive the car she was likely to pass out from blood loss on the way.
She wondered whether she should regret the decisions she had made in life, whether if she had made a different decision she could be living a peaceful, happy life today. In the end it didn't matter, it was impossible to change the past and her fate had been long since written.
Ritu's hours were numbered, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. Afer so many years of loyal service if they could betray her this way then she wouldn't let them live in peace. She had always known there was a possibility they would betray her one day and that was why she had been gathering evidence against them for many years now.
As Ritu searched the dead man's coat, she found his mobile phone and smiled. She would have her revenge, even if it was from beyond the grave.
**
When Raj and Abhi pulled up at the gate of Gehlot's residence the guard looked at them steelily, gesturing them to step out of the car.
"Lala Saheb isn't home right now." He told them, "I'm afraid I can't allow any visitors to enter."
"We haven't come for Lala Saheb," Raj told the guard, "I've come to see my sister Sherry… I heard she was getting engaged soon and I wanted to congratulate her."
The guard hesitated, obviously wondering whether he would get in trouble for letting them in.
"I'm sure Lala Saheb could have no objection to us visiting," Abhi told the man persuasively, slipping a large note into his hand.
"Alright, but make it quick." The guard finally told them waving them both inside.
They pulled up in front of the house, both of them bounding up the steps, ignoring the protests of the stunned door man who obviously hadn't been expecting any visitors.
"Sherry! Where are you?" Raj called out as soon as they had entered, "Sherry!"
She appeared on the upstairs level, staring down at both of them in shock as if unable to believe they were there.
"Bhaiyya, what are you doing here?" she asked him even as she hurried down the steps. Looking at Raj's face she saw his expression, the anger simmering beneath the surface, "Abhi, you didn't…"
"He did, and it was about time too." Raj told her, "So many things you hid from me and for so long. Today all of that is about to end, today I've come to do what I should've done long ago."
"Bhaiyya, what are you talking about?" Sherry asked him, suddenly scared, "You can't challenge him, you know what he'll do, how powerful he is. I won't allow you to put yourself at risk, to put Bhabhie at risk."
"It's not your decision to make!" Raj snapped at her, "I know what my responsibilities are and I know that I'm not allowing you to stay in this house for one moment longer. Pack whatever you want to take with me, we're leaving."
Sherry looked from him to Abhi and back again, barely able to believe it. She wanted to go with him so desperately, but at the same time she knew what the consequences of such a decision would be.
"Bhaiyya I can't…" she told him tearfully, "You know I can't."
"I don't want to hear any excuses!" Raj yelled, "Abhi, follow me up to Sherry's room, we'll pack her things herself if she won't do it."
Abhi nodded and grabbing Sherry's hand, followed Raj up the stairs. As they surveyed the room, trying to decide where to start, she suddenly sighed.
"I really can't talk you out of this, can you?" she asked Raj.
"No you can't." he informed her, "I might not have been the brother to you that I should've been but I'm not going to abandon you to this hell. Today I'll fulfill my responsibilities."
"Then I'll take a picture of Ma with me…" Sherry finally announced, "I don't want anything else from his house."
Taking the picture in a frame that sat by her bedside she put it into a bag and slung it over her shoulder.
Seeing that she had finally agreed, Raj relaxed and reaching out put his arms around her, hugging her warmly.
"It'll be alright, I promise you." He told her, "Nothing will happen."
She nodded mutely, hoping that he was right. Giving her a reassuring smile, Abhi reached out to take her hand again and they followed Raj down the steps and towards the exit.
It was when she saw the figure standing in the entrance hall that she realized of course it couldn't really be that easy.
"So you thought you would visit my house without even bothering to meet me?" Gehlot asked Raj and Abhi, his eyes sweeping over them before coming to rest on Sherry, the bag over her shoulder and her hand in Abhi's. Abhimany tightened his grip on her hand as if afraid that she might change her mind and let go, taking a protective step in front of her.
Raj also took a step forward, trying to keep his stance neutral. "I came to see my sister," he told Gehlot, "I've realized she's not happy here… and I'm taking her with me."
"And Sherry has agreed to this?" Gehlot asked with his eyebrows raised, "She changed her mind so easily?" He took a step forward, "I think it would be best if Sherry and I had a little chat together before she makes a final decision."
Stepping sideways, Abhi placed himself firmly in front of Sherry, still gripping her hand tightly as she stood behind him. Raj stepped forward yet again, placing himself in Gehlot's path.
"Enough is enough, Lala Saheb." He told the older man, for the first time allowing the anger he felt to shine through. "I'm taking my sister with me, I won't allow you to torture her more than you already have."
"Torture her?" Gehlot laughed, "I don't know what tall stories she's been telling you but you have no idea how much of a liar she really is. You don't really believe what she said, do you?"
"Oh I believe every word of it." Raj told him, "And you're lucky that I'm only here today to take her with me, because if I was to do what I really wish to…"
"Oh it's like that is it?" Gehlot asked casually, "Don't be an idiot, Rajveer. You know you can't challenge me, you know what the consequences will be."
"Yes I do know… and that's the only thing that's stopping me right now." Raj told him, practically spitting out the words in anger, "Don't worry though, whether it's me or somebody else, one day you'll be made to pay for everything you've done."
"I can't allow you to take her with you." Gehlot told him, "She's too much of a liability for me. Take your friend and go, and we'll forget that this ever happened."
"Neither of us are leaving unless Sherry goes with us." Raj told him, "Whether you like it or not."
"Then perhaps neither of you will be able to leave at all…" Gehlot started to say before the ringing of his mobile disturbed him, annoyed, he took it out of his pocket, checked the number and answered it. "Call me back later…" he told the man shortly before a frown appeared on his face, deepening as he listened. "You're sure?" he asked the man, his expression turning to one of rage. "Send the helicopter now, do you hear me!"
Hanging up the phone he turned to the three of them, his face red with anger. "You have no idea who you've messed with." He announced to them, "I may have forgiven you for challenging me about Sherry but what you've done now can never be forgiven."
"What have we done?" Raj asked, not only confused about the accusations but also sensing exactly how much more dangerous the situation had just become.
"What did you think? That if you expose me you'd win? That I won't escape?" Gehlot laughed, "Within a couple of hours I'll be out of this country and nobody will be able to to touch me. However I can't allow all of you to escape after what you've done, it will ruin my credibility."
Ignoring the tug on her arm as Abhi tried to pull her backwards, Sherry stepped forward. "So somebody finally managed to expose you, good." She told him, "I hope you die like the rat you are."
His eyes flashing with anger, Gehlot pulled a gun out from the holster underneath his jacket, pointing it at her.
"This is all because of you," he announced, "If you'd just kept your mouth shut then this wouldn't have happened you little…"
In the blink of an eye, Raj had also pulled out his gun, pointing it at Gehlot.
"Don't even think about it," he told him, "If you want to stay alive then put your gun down."
"Oh I'm sure that you could kill me," Gehlot told him with a snear, "But could you do it before I kill your precious sister, or perhaps your only remaining best friend? Think about it!" he told Raj.
The next sequence of events happened so fast that it passed in a blur. Whirling around, Gehlot fired a shot at Raj who ducked just in time, rolling on the floor to escape it, dropping his gun in the process. Turning back around, Gehlot fired a shot in Sherry's direction even as Abhi pushed her out of the way, the bullet lodging in his arm and both of them knocked to the floor by the impact.
Cursing his ill luck, Gehlot turned back to Raj who had now reached his gun and was already raising it. Seeing that Gehlot was about to pull the trigger, Raj fired almost blindly, hitting the older man in the shoulder. As he stumbled backwards, Gehlot raised his gun intending to fire on Raj and this time prepared, Raj fired again hitting Gehlot square in the chest. On the impact he dropped his gun and Raj quickly kicked it away, still keeping his own gun trained on Gehlot. Even when the man was close to death, Raj still didn't trust him not to try and take revenge on them.
Bleeding to death on the floor, Gehlot smirked, and then began to laugh.
"If you think that I regret what I did for even a minute, then you're wrong." He told them, "It was all worth it."
They were the last words he said as the light left his eyes. Edging forward cautiously, Raj checked his pulse and after confirming that he was dead, finally put the safety back on his gun and stepped back before hurrying over to Abhimanyu and Sherry.
"Are you alright?" he asked his friend, "Let's get you to a hospital."
"Now I wish I was one of those girls who wore dupattas so that I could've bound it with something," Sherry said miserably, tears in her eyes as she looked at both of them.
Abhi laughed before he could stop himself, "That's why I love you," he told her, "You can find something to joke about even in the worst situations."
"Just wait," she told him, finally pulling a handkerchief out of her bag and tying it around the wound tightly, thankful for Dr Shalini's first aid classes. "I promise you it's clean."
Raj couldn't help shaking his head at the two of them, even after everything that had happened, they could still joke with each other like this.
"Now let's really get you to a hospital," he told Abhi, "If you pass out on the floor from blood loss then neither of you are going to find it very funny."
As they both helped him to stand, Sherry glanced over to where her father lay dead on the floor. She wondered if it made her a bad daughter that she felt no sorrow for him, in fact all she felt was relieved. Even in the very last moment he had shown no remorse, no regret at what he had done… he had deserved this death.
"It really is all over, isn't it Bhaiyya?" she asked Raj as they walked towards the jeep slowly, after Raj had called the police and instructed the guards not to enter the house.
"It finally is." Raj told her as he helped Abhi into the front passenger seat.
They had all suffered enough for an entire lifetime, and after so many years of pain it seemed unreal, almost as if it was a dream.
As he pulled out of the driveway and headed towards the gate, Raj passed his cell phone to Sherry.
"Call Naina and tell her we're safe," he told Sherry, "Tell her that there's nothing more to fear."
Today, Navin's memory had finally been done justice.
Life, in all its glory was waiting for them.
***
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Long, long chapter finally posted.
1 more chapter to go now....
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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