PART-23
Kalpi's world came to a stop; the demon of her life, her nightmares was targeting her soul. "No it cannot be!" she thought frantically, Prem Kapoor the man with a seemingly harmless but misleading smile could not take away the smile of her lips. He could not kill her Raghav; he did not deserve this.
"His life is in danger because of me. Prem wants to kill him because he is obsessed with me", Kalpi thought, her doe-shaped eyes widened with fright as she tried to come to terms with this unexpected threat for her husband's life. Her hands gripped Raghav's arm tightly, her breaths were ragged and gaze focused on Raghav's forehead. Curling her toes, Kalpi's heart struggled to move her body ahead, to make herself as Raghav's shield. "Prem will not hurt me, he cannot hurt me" she thought.
Just then Raghav's stern voice reached her ears, "Kalpana...S.T.A.Y. T.H.E.R.E." he commanded Kalpi, as if sensing what waves of thoughts were washing her heart. Kalpi slowly shook her head, even though Raghav's eyes were still staring back defiantly into that of Prem's.
His eyes could not see Kalpi, but his heart could. Raghav clenched his jaws more out of frustration than the slight pain he felt in his arm by Kalpi's even more tightened hold. But he continued his efforts to shake Prem's confidence; to make him commit some mistake of which he could take some advantage of.
"Back off Prem, accept your defeat. You know very well; you cannot get away with this. If you even attempt to press that trigger, all these officers here would shoot ten times more bullets in your body. It's all in vain Prem, back off and surrender. You still have a chance" Raghav told Prem, hoping his attempt to divert Prem's focus will be somehow successful. Had he been in a similar situation before, then Raghav would have taken all the risks he could to turn the direction of this gun towards Prem's heart instead. But now after marriage with Kalpi, he couldn't. His Kalpi needed him now more than anyone else in the world ever had. Now, he could not stake his or Kalpi's lives. But as Raghav now looked at Prem's menacing grin, it seemed his little effort had not paid off. He just hoped that Kalpi does not do something stupid, because he could handle this. He just needed some time to put this moron in his place.
A little wave of fear washed Raghav's body when he saw the vindictive grin on Prem's face was replaced by a scowl. "Oh so you still think I cannot get away with this, uh?" Prem asked in mock amusement. He moved the muzzle of his gun on Raghav's forehead, pressing it as closely as possible to Raghav's skin. "I will get away with this and the world will see. So sad that you won't be alive to see it, Raghav Singhania" Prem threw an assured threat Raghav's way, pleased with the affect he was having on the people around.
"Your countdown starts now" Prem continued; "five, four, thr..."
"NO" a loud female shriek filled the frightened atmosphere with even more terror. Unable to see and hear more, throwing all caution to the wind Kalpi had come out of her safe spot. "No Prem, No you cannot do it. You, you cannot harm my husband" Kalpi half pleaded and half shouted on Prem. She now stood in front of Raghav as his sield, her one hand grasped Raghav's hand behind and the other clutched her mangalsutra.
"Kalpi No, move away; go behind. He..." Raghav pinpointed Prem, "He cannot do anything." Holding Kalpi by waist and shoulder, Raghav attempted to move Kalpi away. But his wife it seemed had found a sudden energy force inside her. The love of a wife overpowered the strength of a woman; and despite being able to move Kalpi to his side Raghav could not put her behind him. Then it happened in the flick of a second.
Prem moved like a tornado; in one swift motion grabbing Kalpana by elbow he pulled her closer to him. The gun was now pressed to Kalpi's temple instead of Raghav's forehead, stopping Raghav's breaths. His jaw dropped and heart came out of his mouth watching his worst fears come alive. Yes he was right; that sc******l of a man was capable of anything; his heart and senses were right in warning him. But Kalpi did not listen to him.
That moment when Kalpi fought for him, forgot the safety of her own life for him, Raghav should have felt proud. But all he felt was fear; and now that fear had seemed to come true. Prem had put the life of his life, his wife, his Kalpi at risk; the man was surely blinded by obsession. No, Prem did not love her. Else, he would not have done what he was doing now. "But what do I do now", Raghav thought helplessly, sweeping one swift gaze on the shocked officers around; and his even more shocked family and friends. Just like him, Raghav could see a terrified look on Vitthal's face, "Rajkumari" Vitthal spoken a bit too loudly.
"Shut up" Prem shouted making everyone flinch. "Just shut up. Otherwise I will take no time in killing your precious Princess and your Queen" Prem warned Vitthal and Raghav, the two men who loved Kalpi the most in the world.
"Prem" Raghav hissed in a low tone, a dangerous fire of anger slowly took the place of waves of fear inside him. "Just stop this madness. If you as much as scratch my wife, you will be a dead man. I promise you that" Raghav focused his formidable stare on Prem and continued. "You...you, love Kalpi" Raghav rolled out the venomous words on his tongue, hating the sound of them. "You cannot hurt her. Free her Prem. I am your enemy, not Kalpi. Just free my wife. I promise you I'll do as you say" Raghav said in desperation, hoping Prem would fall for it. But it seemed for now the devil was winning.
"Ha ha ha ha" Prem's loud laughter echoed through the temple and surroundings. "You think I am a fool Raghav. I will come into your sweet talks, huh?", "No way! Yes I love Kalpi and it is you who is my enemy. But you do not understand. It is because I love her that I am doing this. It is because I want to hurt you that I am doing this. I wanted to make Kalpi mine completely. I, I wanted to possess her, I loved her" Prem said in a hurt voice, passing one hand over Kalpi's arm and Raghav closed his eyes in frustration.
"But she married you. She is not mine anymore. But I will not allow her to become yours either. I will not let her go to your home as your wife. I will not let your f****g hands touch her! She will never become yours. I, I might have lost everything Raghav. But I will win everything with Kalpi's death, with maybe...my death. Or wait...maybe I will live and give you a shoulder to cry on when Kalpi dies. Because I want to enjoy watching you die every second the rest of your life; you are a dead man without Kalpana. Have a nice life in hell Raghav, your own living hell!" Prem poured out venomously before clutching Kalpi's arm tighter and preparing to press the trigger.
"No!" Vitthal and Raghav both shouted in desperation. Raghav's eyes were fixed on Kalpi, whose eyes were filled with tears yet lips were smiling. "I love you Raghav" she whispered softly, but Raghav listened. "And I am happy that I will die for you" she said, a satisfied feeling in her heart; because for Kalpi, her Raghav's life was more important than hers. Yet she knew Raghav will possibly break down if something happens to her, the thought itself was making her sad. She prayed to God in her heart, to save her, for her Raghav.
"Oh so love story is still continuing" Prem said now slowly descending the stairs and taking Kalpi with him. His eyes like a guard moving all around, as the police officers holded their guns up ready to take the devil down. "Mr.Prem Kapoor" the officer in-charge warned Prem, "Put your gun down. This is a final and last warning."
Raghav's eyes darted cautiously between the officers and Prem, unable to decide which the right way to save his Kalpana is. He could not endanger Kalpi's life. Prem who was now facing everyone of them slowly moving backwards, smiled dangerously. "Kill me" he hissed, "Kill me and I will happily kill Mrs. Kalpana Raghav Singhania here, much before her time is up." A victorious gleam shone in his eyes when he heard Raghav's angry yet fearful voice, "Prem...No!"
"Tch, tch; Sad Raghav. I want to talk to Kalpi before she dies, alone. But if you and these officers force me, I will have to end my love's life before I have planned. So if you want some more breaths for Kalpi's life, you better tell these officers to back off. Or else..." Prem warned Raghav, almost pressing the trigger and hurting Kalpi with his tight grip. As panic ran through every vein of Raghav's body, Raghav widened his eyes and clenched his jaws in a mixture of fear, helplessness, anger and desperation. Turning his attention to the Officer-In-Charge, Raghav said, "I want you to back off officers. Not now please, I cannot risk my wife's life."
"But Mr.Singhania we can handle this man...trust us" the man protested. "No" Raghav stood his ground as Vitthal supported his decision, not wanting to risk his Princesses's life either. "I do not trust this obsessive, mad man here" Raghav almost shouted, "I do not want to take the risk."
"Very well Mr.Singhania" the officer said defeatedly and passed the orders for the same to his team, who had no option but to comply.
Prem smiled evilly, "Thank You Raghav, at least you were of some use to me." Saying so in matter of seconds the smile on his face transformed into a menacing scowl. "Kalpi!" Raghav shouted even as Kalpi tried to resist the way Prem was taking her, having descended the stairs now. "Raghav..." she called out, causing Prem to press her closer to himself and the gun. "Shut your mouth Kalpana...I want you completely to myself for the last minutes of your life."
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Head bowed down, Neetu and Sahil Kapoor were sitting inside the chamber of their advocate, Prem's friend. After one whole day they had managed to get bail; they had no where to go to. There was no one who would be happy to see them back. Their life moved in a slow motion like a reel in front of their eyes. All their lives they did what they did, for money and for their family to live comfortably. But now they had lost everything; their daughter hated them and son was likely to spend most of his life behind bars. They had even lost their money, properties. Both were trying to find some ray of light in their now dark lives. But nothing could prepare them for the news which was about to reach them.
Their advocate was busy on a phone call he had just received. But Sahil and Neetu had no interest to eavesdrop on his professional calls; their own life was full of troubles to think about others for now. Then a voice startled them, "Aunty, Uncle" their advocate was saying making them both look up. The young advocate had a worried and concerned expression on his face, "Prem fled away from custody and he also abducted Kalpana. He is at a temple at present."
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"You are mine Kalpi, you are mine" Prem was telling a fighting Kalpi within the grip of one of his arms. Still within the temple premises, at the edge of land where the high rocks stood bearing the force of ocean waves Prem was still holding Kalpana at gunpoint. The police along with Raghav and others had somehow made it just in time to see that dreadful vision. "You bas***d leave my wife!" Raghav yelled, it was now or never. Something had to be done soon, else Raghav was sure that psycho would not hesitate in harming Kalpana in anyway whatsoever. Now as he stood, hearing unpleasant words out of Prem's mouth more his blood boiled. Looking from the corner of his eyes, Raghav indicated the police officer to be ready to shoot Prem any second now; at the first right opportunity. The officer nodded his head sneakily, gesturing that he understood and he is ready.
"Your wife yes, but Kalpi was and still wil be only mine. Only I have the right to live with her, and only I have the right to kill her. Whenever she dies, it has to be for me, and only I have the right to..." Prem passed a lustful gaze at Kalpana's body from head to toe. "...to touch her" Prem completed meaningfully even as Kalpi shivered and shrunk under those unwelcoming eyes and Raghav curled his fingers into tight fists.
"Keep the dirty yourself off her!" Raghav shouted, but Prem ignored. He moved closer to Kalpi,"I wish Kalpi...", "I wish I could make you completely mine before I had to kill you. I wish I could mark this beautiful body of yours as mine before you died, but...but, but...Your dear husband will make things difficult for us and I do not want to take any chances. If you live, you will live for me; and if not, you will die, for me. And I promise you sweetheart..." He continued in a venomously sweet voice, "I may follow you there, in the other world soon. Maybe now, or maybe after I see Raghav suffering with my own eyes. But I promise you, that I will come before Raghav does, to make you completely mine at last."
He moved his face closer to Kalpi's trying to kiss her cheek, the muzzle of the gun pressed closer to Kalpi's forehead now. Kalpi flinched more out of the disgust she was feeling with Prem so close to her than out of the fear to die. She moved her face away, angering Prem. He clenched his jaws, "So you will not improve even on the doorsteps of death! Raghav, Raghav, Raghav! I wish I could kill him, but the punishment he will now get is far better for him than simple death. Anyway, be ready to die sweetheart."
The moment his thumb moved the voices of his parents stopped him. "Chocopie...no!" Neetu shouted as she and Sahil arrived at the scene. "Prem beta, leave Kalpana. We do not want to lose you" Sahil was saying.
"No Mom, Dad. Nothing will happen to me. I do not need your advice; I need your support, unconditional support just like you always have given me always" Prem told them, making Neetu and Sahil wince at their shortcomings.
"Prem leave all this; we still have a chance to fight for your freedom in court. We will prove you innocent. Do not ruin your life for a girl, that too a girl like Kalpana" Neetu screamed.
"No Mom, Kalpana is not just any girl! She is mine and I love her. I cannot leave her like this, for her to live with anyone else" Prem continued to stand his ground when the police-officer-in-charge's voice echoed around. "Mr. Prem Kapoor, I suggest you leave Mrs. Singhania. Otherwise we will have no option but to shoot you" he said, as other policemen followed his orders. Now innumerable guns rose up aiming Prem who gave a devilish laugh again. "Kalpana will still die. If I die now, I will happily take her with me, in death we will be together. Go ahead officer, I am not afraid" Prem said.
"Prem Kapoor!" Raghav shouted attracting Prem's attention to him. He was holding a gun now, having borrowed from one of the constables. "I swear Prem, Raghav Singhania never loses; and if it is a matter of life of his wife- Kalpana Raghav Singhania. You do not even want to know what I can do. Yes you will die, because this time a husband will kill you; and Kalpi will be safe. You know why? Because a husband will bring her out of the jaws of death" Raghav warned Prem without blinking an eye.
Prem remained silent for a while then laughed, taking Raghav lightly, "Really? And Raghav Singhania is ready to go to jail? Ha ha ha, I don't believe it." This time it was Raghav's turn to smirk, "You forget Prem that I am Raghav Singhania. Shooting you with the gun of a policeman, without leaving any fingerprints. I do not see anything happening to me! Don't make me cross my limit. Don't turn me into something I don't want to, but I will for my life. This time, YOU Prem Kapoor start counting last seconds of your life, if you still do not leave Kalpi."
With these words Raghav slowly started moving forward as Sahil's eyes darted between his son and Raghav. He was on the verge of losing his son, just because of his one mistake and obsession with a girl. He had to do something; sneakily he reached out within the pocket of his pants.
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"You cannot shoot me, Kalpana is still at my gunpoint" Prem hissed, for the first time in all those dreadful times, his voice quivered a bit, as his confidence started losing ground.
"Test me" Raghav muttered in a threatening low tone even as Sammy, Pakhi, Vitthal and Chhaya overlooked the whole scenario worriedly. Their eyes swapped between the trio in question just like the police officers present there. "If I do not hurt you, you will definitely harm my Kalpi. Your time is up Prem" they heard Raghav continuing the tensed conversation with the obsessive Prem Kapoor.
Prem prepared himself, "One of you will surely die today Raghav; either you or Kalpi. In fact I am now thinking that killing you is not such a bad thing. I'll get a chance to get Kalpi if I kill you." His gun moved between Raghav and Kalpana, keeping the target of his gun a secret of his heart even as Raghav aimed his own gun at Prem.
In the seconds which unfolded the air was filled with gunshots, wrapping everyone in an envelope of dread. They saw the sprinkles of blood on the ground in front of them and Sammy's eyes widened with what he saw. This was not what he had expected; this was not what anyone had expected.
P.S.: Okay, ready to be killed by your words. LOL. I really wanted to not torture you all. But then writer in me overtook the girl in me, love this cliffhanger.
