Chapter 8
RR stared at the cellphone in his hand. His chest was tight, squeezing his lungs like a vice. He was losing control. His assistant had just called to say that the Government had somehow got a heed of his plans. He was told that the Government had managed to enlist someone who was operating out there in the shadows, working against him. He thought of Heer's cousin and wondered if he was involved in some way.He tried to breathe. He had to release the pathogen now. He had no other choice.
RR walked to his window, still gripping his phone. He had managed to get the entire Juneja family together, except Heer. She was still out there somewhere, out of his grasp. He had no antidote near her, no one to whisk her out of the country. He had to wait.
RR wondered what would it all be worth if he killed Heer - the person he loved. What kind of a man would that make him? He clenched his jaw thinking.
He turned suddenly, picked up his other phone and started punching in a series of codes that would set off a chain of events that only he personally would be able to halt. He hung up, feeling a resurgence of his power. He had just initiated protocol that would cause the bombs to blow at precisely five minutes past midnight today. He had just bought himself additional bargaining power - insurance - to search for Heer.
He wanted to meet Heer's cousin. He was not very happy about her connection with him. Once he had the chance, he will take him down. He would find a way to explain the man's disappearance to Heer. And she'd get over it, just as she'd gotten over Prem all those months ago.
RR stilled in mild shock. Why was he even thinking about Prem? It was because of Heer's cousin, thats why. There was something vaguely haunting about the man who called himself her cousin.
Prem looked at Heer. She was sleeping peacefully. He was driving back. He knew that he had hurt her a year ago when he disappeared. He'd broken her down and her had rebuilt her trust in the last few hours. And now he was going to have to smash it to smithereens. To get RR, to save the nation, he was going to have to pay the ultimate sacrifice - he was going to have to kill his dream. He was going to have to give up Heer for good.
Back home, Heer excused herself to take a shower. Prem used this time to make some phone calls. He looked at the sky seeing the sun sinking down tinting the world a shimmering copper. Today was the day. In few hours time it would all be over.
He went through his plan. Heer had talked to RR and made sure they would meet at 10pm tonight. Prem had conveyed this to his superiors and all his men. There were two teams waiting for instructions, ready for action. The choppers were on standby. They'd be in the air and approaching the target shortly before midnight. His team was also in position, strategically distanced from RR's office. He picked up the printout and studied the specs for RR's office again, committing the layout to memory.
Prem put the specs down. Everything was ready. He had a sample of the virus that RR was planning to use. He had the syringe ready. The antidote was also ready in his pocket. Prem inhaled deeply as he thought about that aspect of the operation. He was supposed to inject Heer with the virus so as to convince RR that Heer was really in danger and that he should abort the operation and surrender. Once RR surrendered, he had to inject the antidote into her. The medics would be on standby with the choppers. If necessary, they could get Heer into a hospital withing minutes. She'd be safe. But still, he didn't like the idea. Not one bit. For too many reasons to count.
Once the operation was complete, authorities would be notified and the CIA would take over. It would be best to eliminate RR in the takedown - a man with his power and connections was not easily contained behind bars. It would be simple enough to take him out with a stray bullet, and the world would be a better place and it would be a exact revenge for RR actions a year ago. But Prem could not do it. He had his conscience. He realised that after tonight a future for him and Heer together might never be possible.
Heer stepped out of the bath and started smiling. She felt alive after a real long time. She remembered spending time with Prem - lying in the sun, talking about everything and anything except about RR and what was going to happen tonight. It was a time of getting to know each other again, finding out that although time had changed them so much, something hadn't changed at all.
"Its what happens next that matters." Prem's words wove through her mind. But she felt better equipped for what lay ahead now. She was committed to confront RR and seeing him in prison.
Prem saw her and walked up to her. He came to her side an unfathomable look filling his eyes. He took both her hand in his.
Anxiety rippled through Heer. "What is it, Prem?"
"I wasn't going to say this, not until after, because I am not sure where we'll be after midnight."
Her pulse quickened.
"One year back I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you."His eyes held hers. "I still do. I still want you to marry me, Heer. This is what I want. I never want to lose you. Not again."
"Prem..... you're scaring me."
His eyes burned. He grabbed her and kissed her. And when he pulled away, she saw a raw anguish in his features.
"I love you more than anything, Heer," he whispered his voice gravelly with emotion.
"Prem..... you're not thinking of going and dying on me now, are you?"
His lip twitched. "Done that already ---- Now I'm thinking of how much living we still have to do, how much time we have to make up."
"Yes we do" replied Heer.
Relief sifted into his eyes and Heer was moved to see it. Her warrior was vulnerable. He cared so much about her that he was afraid. She could not have loved him more than at that moment.
Prem checked his watch and inhaled deeply. "It's time."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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