Chapter 38 - A Fight to the Finish
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Preet came to gasping for breath as a bucket of cold water was thrown over his head. His first reaction was to jump to a standing position, but his head began to swim and he felt sick to his stomach. "What the...?!" He muttered as he sat back down on the bale of hay behind him, with his head in his hands and elbows on his knees. He shook his head to clear his mind, making water droplets fly everywhere. It was then that he realized he wasn't alone.
"Hello Preet", smiled Viren, as he walked out in front of him. "Welcome to my den".
Preet's reaction was swift. In an instant he lept at Viren, who found himself on the ground with blood coming out of his nose.
"You fools!" Viren cried as he quickly got up, pulled out a handkerchief and held it to his nose. "Why isn't he tied up?!"
Preet watched as 4 men emerged from the shadowy corners of the farm building and surrounded him. He raised his fists and readied himself for a fight, when there was a sudden commotion at the entrance of the building.
"Preet!" cried Meher. She raced towards him, but Viren grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.
"Sorry", said Pammie, huffing out of breath. She had come running in after Meher. "But she just won't stay put or cooperate!"
"Oh she'll cooperate alright", sneered Viren. He twisted Meher's arm making her cry out in pain.
"Let her go Viren!" Preet yelled seething in anger. He took a step towards Viren but his goons immediately blocked his way.
"Na-Ha Preet. I would be careful if I were you", chuckled Viren. "You're outnumbered".
"Why don't you stop hiding behind your hired hands like a coward then, and meet me face to face?" Preet challenged him.
"Save the heroic dialogue for someone who cares", Viren snapped back. "I told you before, this is my game. I'm the boss. I get to make all the rules".
"I'm not interested in playing any games with you Viren", said Preet. "I've only come to get Meher. It's all over for you anyway. Mr. Bedi knows everything. In fact he's on his way over here right now, and so are the police".
"Oh really", laughed Viren. "Funny how I don't hear any sirens. You're bluffing Preet. You didn't call the police. Not after my warning. You wouldn't do anything that would hurt Meher. As for Mr. Bedi...he's nothing but a paper pusher. When Meher herself will tell him how she willingly married me, he'll have no choice but to hand over what's rightfully mine".
"I'll never marry you!" cried Meher.
"Won't you? Not even to save your precious Preet?" Viren asked through gritted teeth. He took Meher by the arms and shook her hard. "Do you really think he came here of his own accord like some knight in shining armor? Well you're wrong Meher. I made him come here. I knew Preet would go to my uncle's place looking for clues. I knew he'd see that old farm picture of mine there. And I knew my uncle would break out into the sad story about my deprived childhood. The old man loves to reminisce about the past, and he loves to use catch phrases. Finding something in the last place you'll ever look...is his favorite one. It was no coincidence that I used that phrase during my phone call. I bet you thought you had found the big clue you needed. Hmph! You were so predictable Preet. You fell for it hook, line and sinker, and now...here you are...trapped and at my mercy. So...let's complete this little scene now, shall we? Then we can bring the curtain down in style".
Viren nodded towards his men, and they attacked Preet one by one, but he fought them off.
"You fools!" screamed Viren. "What do you think this is...some Bollywood movie? Attack him all at once, and use the rods!"
Viren's men picked up wooden rods lying in one corner of the room and surrounded Preet once again. Despite being cornered from all sides, Preet fought back bravely and as best as he could, but he was soon overpowered. Gurinder took the lead, striking him twice on the face followed by one hit in the pit of his stomach making him bend over in breathless agony. The other goons used their rods to deliver accurate and heavy blows to his head and body, stopping just short of making him pass out.
"Preet!" screamed Meher, as she struggled to free herself from Viren's grip.
Preet looked up at her just as an upper cut came from one of the goons, that sent him staggering backwards and crashing against the wall. The unconsciousness that followed enveloped him like a warm velvet cloud.
Meher broke free from Viren's hold, and ran to Preet. She gently lifted his head and cradled it in her lap. "Preet! Preet are you alright?" she sobbed. "Why don't you say something? Oh my God! He's bleeding!"
"This is getting boring", said Gurinder, as he pulled out a gun. "How about if we just finish him off?"
"No wait! Please don't kill him!" pleaded Meher. "Please don't let him die! I'll do anything you say, please!"
"Anything?" Smiled Viren. "Does that include surrendering yourself to me utterly and fully for the rest of your life?"
Meher was stunned into silence.
"I didn't think so", Viren chided her. He grabbed her by the arm, forcibly pulled her away from Preet, and proceeded to drag her out of the building.
"What do you want us to do with him?" Gurinder asked pointing at Preet.
"Dig his grave right here and toss him in", ordered Viren. "Oh and be sure to empty your gun into him before packing the dirt back in. We'll be waiting right outside. I want to make sure Meher hears the gunshots, but she needn't see him fall into the dirt. I'm not totally heartless you know".
"Right", chuckled Gurinder.
"No wait!" cried Meher. "If I do what you want...will you promise to take Preet to a hospital and make sure nothing happens to him? Will you promise to let him go? No tricks?"
"Of course sweetheart", smiled Viren. "You can even come along when we drop him off. I'll see to it that he gets the best care money can buy. I'll even go a step further and continue to show you proof that he's still alive whenever you want. And he'll continue to lead a long, uneventful life, as long as you continue to cooperate with me".
Meher grew quiet again.
"What do you say Meher?" asked Viren. "If you wish to see your precious Preet breathe another breath, you'll give yourself to me willingly. No tricks. You know very well what I'm capable of, so don't test my patience any further. I'll let Preet go, but if you resist or disobey me in anyway I will send someone out to kill him. If you try to escape from me...he dies. If you kill yourself...he dies. The ball is in your court Meher. So, what's it going to be?"
"I'll do it", said Meher, without any further hesitation. "I'll do whatever you say, just don't hurt Preet. Help him...please".
"Oh he'll live", chuckled Viren. "I'll take good care of him. And I'm going to take real good care of you Meher".
Meher pulled herself away from Viren and slowly walked back to where Preet lay. She sat down next to him, and gently ran her fingers through his blood streaked hair, before placing a kiss on his head. "I'm sorry Preet", she sobbed. "I'm so sorry".
A shortwhile later...
Meher sat motionless in front of a mirror in small room on the upper story of the farm house. Tears slowly fell from her eyes onto the wedding dress she was wearing. Her nightmare was about to come true. She was about to marry Viren Kashap. She had made a deal with the devil himself for Preet's safety.
"You always do make a beautiful bride", said Viren.
Meher looked up and saw his reflection in the mirror. He was standing in the doorway smiling back at her. Meher quickly wiped her tears and turned to face him. "Preet...where is Preet?" she asked. "Is he alright?"
"He's fine", Viren replied tersely. "Gurinder and Lucky are on their way to the hospital with him".
"I thought you said I could go with him", said Meher.
"He'll be alright, and that's what's important right?" insisted Viren. "I did as I promised Meher, now it's your turn to do a little something for me". He held up his cell phone. "I have Mr. Bedi on the line. Talk to him. Tell him exactly what I told you to say and nothing else. Remember...Preet's life is in your hands...so no tricks".
Meher nodded and quietly took the phone from Viren. "Hello?" she said in as cheerful a voice as she could conjure up.
"Meher Beta, this is Mr Bedi, Mr. Kashyap's lawyer", the voice on the other end said. "You remember we met in Delhi. I'm on my way to Ambala with Prem Juneja. He told me all about your kidnapping. But now I get this call from Viren saying that you 2 are getting married. It's all very confusing as you can imagine..."
"Let me clear up any confusion then", Meher said quietly. "Viren and I are getting married shortly. And I...uh...couldn't be happier. If you're in town feel free to stop by and give us your blessings. We'll...uh...stop by your office as soon as we can to sign any papers you may have ready for us".
"So you weren't kidnapped?" asked Mr. Bedi.
Prem snatched the phone from him. "Meher! What the hell is going on? Why are you lying to Mr. Bedi? Where is Preet?"
"Prem Bhaiya? Woh...Preet...Preet..." Meher said choking back on her tears.
"I know he was at the farm Meher!" said Prem. "He called me from there a couple of hours ago".
"I'm sorry...I don't know what you're talking about", lied Meher. "Preet and I parted ways in Mumbai. I'm going to marry Viren".
"You're lying Meher!" cried Prem. "Are you being forced to do this? Is Preet in trouble? Just keep quiet for a moment and I'll understand".
Meher grew silent.
"What's the matter?" barked Viren. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"I...uh..." stammered Meher.
"Never mind", said Viren as he snatched the phone from her hands and disconnected the call. "Just finish getting ready. Lucky should be here with the pandit soon".
"I thought you said Lucky and Gurinder took Preet to the hospital", said Meher.
"Uh...yeah...that's right", Viren corrected himself quickly. "I meant...they'll pick the pandit up on their way back from the hospital". Just then his phone rang. He glanced at the name of the caller. It was Gurinder. What now? he wondered. "I...uh...have to take this call".
Meher watched as Viren slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. She didn't trust him as it is, and the way he was behaving, she knew he was hiding something. She quickly walked over to the door and opened it slightly. She could see Viren pacing in the hall outside, he was barking orders into his phone. She leaned close into the opening in the door, her ears straining to hear his conversation. Her eyes widened as she heard him tell Gurinder to kill Preet as they had originally planned, and to get back to the farm with the pandit as soon as possible, just in case Mr. Bedi did happen to drop by.
Meanwhile...
Preet held his throbbing head in his hand as he came to. He was in the back seat of a beat up old car. He didn't know how long he had been lying in an unconscious state, but he knew he had to some how get back to Meher. He searched his pockets for his phone, but it was missing. Viren must have taken it so he wouldn't call for help, he thought. Outside the door, faint voices of 2 men arguing with each other caught his attention. He sat up slightly, and repositioned himself, being careful not to let them know that he was awake.
"Well what did he say?" asked Lucky, as he watched Gurinder hang up his phone.
"I already told you, we have to get rid of him...for good this time", said Gurinder.
"But he promised the girl we'd take him to the hospital", said Lucky.
"That was just Viren's way of negotiating with her", explained Gurinder. "She wouldn't agree to marry him otherwise".
"Well maybe he shouldn't force himself on her then", said Lucky.
"Come on Lucky", said Gurinder. "Do you have any idea how much money is at stake here? And don't forget you'll get your fair share".
"Look man...I agreed to help Viren because we go way back", sighed Lucky. "Beating up a guy who was getting in his way is one thing...but murder is a whole other ball game. I don't think I want to be a part of this any more. I mean...you guys will be rolling in gold. You may even leave the country after all this is over, but what about me and Pammie? We've got a good set up here with the restaurant and all. This guy Viren wants us to take care of...he's a Juneja. I've heard of them. They're very rich and influential people. If their boy goes missing permanently the police will be all over Ambala. What if they come to us looking for answers? What if we get blamed? No...I just can't afford that. I'm taking Pammie and the rest of my boys back into town. We're washing our hands of this whole mess".
"But Lucky", said Gurinder, as he watched him walk away. "Fine! Be a chicken! I'll take care of this myself!" He took out his gun and headed towards the car. When he opened the back door, Preet launched himself off the car seat like a rocket.
The sudden impact caught Gurinder by surprise and threw him off balance. As he fell to the ground, the gun slipped from his hand and landed at a distance. All at once Preet was on top of him, pummeling him with one clenched fist after another, until he fell unconscious.
Preet checked Gurinder's pockets until he located a phone and the car keys. He called the police immediately, and was surprised to learn that his brother Prem was at the station that very moment filing a complaint against Viren.
"Preet! Thank God you're okay" sighed Prem, as he came on the phone. "After I spoke with Meher, I didn't know what to think".
"You spoke with Meher?" asked Preet.
"Briefly", explained Prem. "Viren had her call Mr. Bedi and try to convince him that she was marrying him of her own free will. But I could tell by her voice something was very wrong".
"Right...uh...look PB...I called the police like I promised", said Preet. "But now I have to go get Meher".
"Becareful Preet", said Prem. "We're on our way".
Preet gave the police Gurinder's location then quickly checked the trunk of the car and found some rope. He ran back to where Gurinder still lay unconscious and tied him up. That was one less goon he'd have to contend with. He then picked up the gun, got back into the car and raced back towards the farm house.
Meanwhile...
Viren looked at his watch. There was no sign of Lucky, Pammie, Gurinder or the pandit anywhere. Where was everybody? He wondered. To hell with it! He'd take Meher down to the mandir himself and get this marriage business over and done with.
"There's been a slight change in plans", he declared as he walked back into Meher's room. "Pandit Ji can't come to us, so we're going to go to him instead".
"I'm not going to go anywhere with you", said Meher.
"What?" Viren said in surprise. "I thought we agreed..."
"You lied to me Viren!" cried Meher, as she hurled a hair brush and then a small stool in his direction. "I heard you talking to Gurinder on the phone. He was never taking Preet to the hospital. You promised me you'd let him go, but you told Gurinder to kill him instead!"
"I'm sorry Meher", said Viren. "I had no choice. If I left him alive he would only be a constant thorn in my side. Try and understand...",
He tried to pull her into his arms, but she struggled away, fighting him off. He tried to get near her again, but this time, she slapped him with all her might.
"I always hated you!" she screamed. "But never more so than now!"
"Enough!" cried Viren. Seething with anger, he grabbed both of her hands roughly. "You're going to have to pay for that Meher. You could have had it easy...but now we'll play it your way".
Meher struggled to free herself from Viren's hold, but he was too strong for her. He dragged her to the mattress that lay in one corner of the room, and threw her down onto it. As she tried to get up, he pushed her down again and leaned over her, pushing her shoulders down and trying to cover her body with his. Meher turned her face to one side as he tried to kiss her. She balled her hands into fists and brought them down hard on his ears. He rolled off her, bellowing in pain and hurling curses at her.
Meher used the momentary reprieve to leap from the bed and dash out of the room, throwing whatever she could grab blindly at Viren to clutter his path. She quickly ran down the stairs to the front door. It had 3 bolts on it. She managed to open the first 2 with the keys hanging on a hook by the door, but none of them would fit in the 3rd bolt. Damn it! She thought, as she desperately tried the keys she was holding again.
Just then Viren appeared at the top of the stairs. He seemed relaxed and unrushed. "Looking for this", he sneered as he waved a large key in his hand.
Nervous, fearful and out of breath, Meher froze in her spot and just stared at him, terrified at what he might do to her. "You...you have to let me go Viren", she finally mustered up the courage to say. "You can't hold me here against my will".
"You're right", sighed Viren. "And you have every right to be upset with me Meher. I know I've treated you badly and you certainly don't deserve it. You have every reason to want to walk out on me, but you also have to understand that I need you. I'm begging you not to leave".
"You're crazy you know that!" said Meher.
"But I love you Meher. I've always loved you", said Viren. "I'm sure we can make things work if you just give me a chance".
"Don't! Don't even try that!" cried Meher. "There is nothing you can say that'll make me stay. I just want to go. Give me the key Viren".
"Fine. Have it your way. Come and get it", Viren challenged her.
"No! You throw it down", she insisted.
Viren shrugged his shoulders and tossed key down the stairs, making sure it wouldn't fall all the way down. It landed with a loud clang on the 4th last step. Meher immediately made a break for it, while at the same time Viren ran down the stairs towards her.
Meher made it back to the door, unlocked it and ran outside, where she spotted a car. She ran to it as fast as she could. To her good luck it was unlocked and the key was in the ignition. She quickly opened the door and was about to get in when Viren grabbed her from behind.
"Let me go!" she yelled. But Viren ignored her. He dragged her back inside the house kicking and screaming all the way.
Once inside, Viren dragged Meher into the living room and then threw her down onto the floor. "You didn't really think it was going to be that easy did you?" he growled. "You know me better than to think I'd just let you walk out on me like that. All I wanted was my fortune. I need that money, but you just won't cooperate, will you?! My step-father, the pandit...Preet...it's all your fault that they're gone now! Look at me Meher! I'm not a monster but you've turned me into one! And right now...I think you need to be taught a real good lesson".
Meher slowly crawled backwards, as she watched Viren take his belt off. She closed her eyes and raised an arm protectively in front of herself, fully expecting to feel the blow of the belt. When nothing happened, she looked up in surprise.
Viren too had a surprised look on his face. He tugged at the belt but it wouldn't budge. It was as if someone else had taken a hold of it from behind. His eyes widened in shock as he turned around and came face to face with Preet. "Tum (You)?" he said.
"I told you I'd kill you if you hurt her", Preet said through gritted teeth. He yanked the belt from Viren's hand then met him with a fist straight to his jaw. Viren went tumbling to one side. He stood up quickly and tried to retaliate, but one by one, Preet grabbed his arms by his wrists, forced them down and then butted him with his head. Viren fell to his knees. Preet promptly picked him up by his shirt and punched him in the stomach. He then wrapped the belt around his hand and gave Viren a good thrashing with it.
All of Viren's efforts to fight back were in vain. Preet was enraged. He tossed the belt aside and drove another solid punch to Viren's face making him fall to the floor again. Ignoring his cries of agony and pleas of mercy, Preet crouched down on him, relentlessly delivering one punch after another directly at his face. He then grabbed him by the hair and bashed his head against the floor with a deafening thud.
He was about to repeat this action when Meher cried out. "Preet! Let him go Preet! Woh mar jaye ga (You'll kill him)!"
Preet looked up at Meher.
"No Preet!" she pleaded. "You don't want to stoop to his level".
Meher's words brought Preet back to his senses, and he let go of Viren's hair. He stood up out of breath and gave her a weak smile. She ran straight into his arms. He held her tightly to him. "Are you okay?" he asked as he kissed her on the forehead.
"Yes...and you?" she asked with tear filled eyes.
Preet nodded in response and hugged her again.
Just then they heard Viren stirring. Preet released Meher from his hold and turned to face him. "I wouldn't get up if I were you", he said as he pulled out Gurinder's gun and pointed it at Viren. "Because if you try anything, Dharti Ma ki kasam, I'll put a neat little bullet hole right through you".
"Uuuggghhh!" Viren groaned in pain, as he tried to lift his head. "I...I didn't really hurt her".
"That's probably only because she didn't let you", said Preet tightening his grip on the gun. "For the record...if you had hurt her...you'd be dead right now".
Viren fell back exhausted as sirens began to sound in the background.
"Come on Meher...let's go...the authorities will take care of him", said Preet, as he took her hand in his and led her towards the door.
"You called the police?" she asked.
"Yes...and PB...and Mr. Bedi. Oh...and we really should call Sam and Gaurav as soon as possible. They've been worried sick about you. They can update Inspector Khan too". He looked at her and smiled "You're the most precious thing I have in my life Meher...I called everyone I could find. And right now Mrs Juneja...your husband would like to take you home". Tossing the gun to one side, he hugged her tight against his chest with enough force to squeeze the air from her lungs.
"I love you Preet", whispered Meher, as she hugged him back and tears began to well up in her eyes again. Suddenly her eyes widened in fear. "Preet!" she screamed as the sound of a single gunshot rang out in the air.
Both Preet and Meher turned around to see a pale looking Viren holding the gun Preet had thrown away just a few minutes ago. He stared back at them blankly, before looking down in shock at the bullet wound in his own body and collapsing. One of the police officers entering the house had shot him just as he was about to shoot Preet.
Meher hid her face in Preet's chest. She had seen enough blood and violence in the past few days to last her a life-time. Preet comforted her and looked on quietly as an officer checked Viren's pulse, then shook his head.
"Preet! Meher! Thank God you're alright", cried Prem, as he ran to their side.
"Yes thank God you're alright", said Mr. Bedi, as he joined them. He winced as his glance fell on Viren's lifeless body. "Poor sap. Things could have been so different for him, if only he had listened to Mr. Kashyap and mended his ways".
"Mr. Juneja", a police officer walked up to Preet and said. "We picked up his accomplice in the field you left him tied up in, but we still need you and your wife to come down to the station to complete some more paperwork, especially if you want to file charges against anyone else involved.
Preet looked at Meher, and she nodded. "Sure", said Preet. "We'll be there shortly".
"Are you sure you guys are alright?" Prem asked gently. "We can ask the police to hold off their paperwork until tomorrow".
"It's okay PB", said Preet as he took Meher's hand in his and squeezed it gently. "We want to close this chapter as soon as possible and move on in our lives".
"I understand. Whoa...those are some nasty looking bruises", said Prem as he looked over his younger brother's face. "Are you sure you don't want to see a doctor first?"
"No, I'm okay", said Preet.
"Well...what are you going to tell Ma?" asked Prem
"The truth", smiled Preet. "But...uh...maybe we can go to the hotel and get cleaned up first".
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
