Arhi FF:Mirage #2 Next thread link on Pg 151 - Page 75

He stood outside the narrow street which lead to Ramcharan Das's house. This was the older part of Delhi where one could only find old shacks and wrecked buildings that threatened to collapse any second. Any respectable man never dared to venture out into these streets for the fear of being shot down.

Popularly known as the 'Criminal's Street' to the whole city, this was a place where even the Delhi Police feared to step into. If the inmates of this colony even had the faintest suspicion that their lives were in danger, any outsider who stepped inside this boundary would be mercilessly killed.

And it was in this same locality, that Ramcharan Das, the notorious Drug peddler of Assam had taken asylum for the past two months.

As he slowly walked towards the old house at the end of the street, he felt sweat pool under his arms and trample down his spine, apprehensive about what would be Das' reaction to the news he had to give.

Outside the gate stood two men, who were designated to guard the house day and night and restrict entry of any unfamiliar outsiders into it.

Letting out a sigh and inhaling a deep breath, he stopped at the gate.

"Das Bhai." He said, pointing a finger towards the door ahead of him. "Tell him I have news about Arnav Singh." He saw one of the men go inside the house and return back after few minutes.

"Come in!" the guard replied in a gruff voice, gesturing him with his hand to follow him, not before he stopped him outside the door and frisked his whole body to search for any hidden weapons. On not finding any, the guard took him inside.

He was greeted by the sight of many men, who seemed to be working for Ramcharan Das, talking among themselves. Some of them had cigarettes in their hands, while the others had liquor filled glasses. They were either involved in discussing some important matter, maybe about how they were to going to smuggle the next batch of Heroin to Mumbai or Chennai, or they were involved in waging their money for the gambling bets.

He was taken deeper inside the house, through a narrow corridor, on whose sides lay doors to various rooms, some from which he could hear loud moans of women, crying out in pleasure as unknown men ravaged their bodies.

"You want one?" The guard asked with an evil glint in his eyes, pointing to those rooms.

"What?" he asked confusedly at the sudden conversation between them.

"Ask Mansour when you go out. He'll arrange the best item in Delhi. But be ready to shell out your pockets." The guard let out a chuckle before he opened the door of the room at the end of the corridor.

The room was dark and mysterious, while the woody scent of Shisha hung in the air.

"Aah! I've been waiting for you." He heard a hoarse voice from the centre of the room, but he couldn't exactly see the man's face.

"Das Bhai!" he acknowledged the man as his eyes slowly began to adjust to the dark and the face of the owner of the voice was visible to him. The man was probably in his mid thirties, as per what he had heard about him. But his reputation was enough to scare even the most experienced players of this Underworld.

He had heard many stories about the life of this man. Born to a family of Opium Cultivators in Assam, Ramcharan Das had entered the Drug peddling business at a tender age of ten, when most boys of his age would have been playing in their fields. Quick as the lightening and more cunning than the fox, he had instantly risen to fame, controlling the whole of the Assam drug peddling business. With his sweet talk, he could fool and convince even the mountains to move aside and make way for him.

And now, he wasn't happy with his current establishments. He had wanted to expand his business, that too in a place where he would be almost undefeatable by anyone.

Hence, he had chosen Delhi as his target. He had thought it would be easy to topple down the ruling arm of Delhi. But he was mistaken.

He had underestimated Khalid Bhai and his supremacy over Delhi. At one mention of Khalid Bhai's name, every dealer refused to co-operate with Das, for the fear of being hunted down by none other than the right hand of Khalid Bhai, Arnav Singh.

But Das was never the one who would back out so easily. He never accepted defeat. He always believed that no system was perfect and there would always be loopholes that could be exploited to his advantage. And indeed, he found it coz right now, that loophole stood in front of him with some news of Arnav Singh.

"Bhai, few days ago, I had said that Aman, Arnav's sidekick would give me that Kashyap's file which would help us in weakening Arnav's position in Khalid's gang. But now, it seems, he cannot find it. Looks like that Arnav has kept it hidden in a secret place. Bhai, what do we do now? Do we go back to our original plan and hunt down Arnav?" he stammered, wondering how Das would react to this.

Instead to his utter surprise, the drug peddler sat calmly without any signs of anger.

"No. Let him spend some more days on the earth before being packed up to hell. A life like his cannot be wasted just like that. I heard that Khalid Bhai shares all his top secrets with Arnav only. Isn't it? Well, it would be useful if we could extract all that out from him before he kicks the dust." Das replied back, his mind busy hatching out a new plan every minute. "You said, he has no family? No wife? Kids? Nothing that we could use as leverage to open up his mouth?"

"No, Bhai. As far as I know, he has lived all alone his whole life." He replied.

"No wonder Khalid appointed him as his right hand." he muttered to himself. "I also heard rumours that Khalid has some big mission in his hands. Is that true?"

"Yeah Bhai! Even I heard the news but it's carefully guarded. No one has any idea about it."

"That means Arnav will be used for it. This means we have to definitely postpone our plans to shoot down Arnav. Otherwise, all heads in Delhi would get suspicious about us. Very well then. You may leave and your money will be sent to you tonight at your house. And listen, you have a fresh new virgin waiting for you in the room on your left. Use her as long as you want to. This is a reward for your help. Enjoy it boy!" Das smirked back as he saw the young man leave the room.

A minute later, he saw one of his aides enter the room.

"Khalid's man?" he asked pointing at the door behind him.

"Yeah!" Das said, gesturing to close the door behind him.

"Wah Bhai! I didn't think it would be so easy to infiltrate their gang so fast."

"Money and women are the weakness of every man. Give them both and they will lick your feet." Das exclaimed out in a haughty voice followed by a maniacal laughter.

"So what have you promised him?" his aide asked tilting his head backwards to indicate the man who had just got out.

"A little of both. He needs money as well as women to satisfy his not so controllable needs. And the best thing is that he thinks that he would get a place here in our gang once we topple down Khalid. But once a betrayer is always a betrayer. I don't need such fickle minded people who can be easily lured by such little money and women. He has no idea that the minute the reigns come into my hand, he goes down along with Khalid." He replied with an evil glint in his eyes.

"Khalid wouldn't even have the faintest idea that half of his men are working for you. Poor chap will get a shock of his life the day he discovers this." His aide replied joining his boss.

"But that is not enough. I just wish we could get hold of Arnav. Consider him. Unlike this one, men like him are very valuable to this business. The skills he possesses in sharp shooting would make any man envious of him. And his loyalty is simply marvellous. I mean there is nothing in the world that can falter his loyalty to Khalid. What is that man made up of? I wonder what Khalid must have done to him to earn such unfaltering loyalty from Arnav Singh. I don't think it's just money. And as per what I've heard, he isn't even lured by women. Then what else is driving him?"

"I guess only Arnav Singh himself knows about it!" the aide said before slouching down on the chair.

o0o

Khushi slowly opened her eyes, awaking to the warm sunlight that flitted through her window. Lying on her abdomen, she stretched out her arms to reach out for the alarm clock on her bedside. With sleepy eyes, she noticed that it was 9:10 am. Groaning lazily, she pulled up the duvet to cover body till the neck, deciding to doze off for some more time.

She wondered why Buaji hadn't scolded her for sleeping for so long. That was when she realised that her life had changed. Buaji was no more a part of it.

For a minute, she felt depressed. But then, the last night's conversation with Arnav came to her mind. He had made her promise that she would make a fresh start from today. Leaving behind all sorrow and going ahead positively and confidently.

Arnav!

She remembered him and turned to the other side to check if he was lying beside her. It was empty. She didn't even remember how she had landed up on her bed. The last thing she remembered about the night was talking to him and falling asleep in his arms.

Letting out a sigh, she got up and scrambled her feet into the flip flops lying beneath her bed, to avoid the harsh cold floor on a winter morning.

She looked at herself in the dressing mirror that stood at one corner of the room. She was still wearing her baby pink Salwar Kameez that she had worn while returning from Lavanya's house. Her hair was totally messy and her eyes were slightly puffy after all the crying yesterday.

"Arnav?" she called out in a hoarse morning voice, as she strolled to the living room. Again, there were no signs of him. She called out his name once again, but there was no reply. Concluding that he wasn't at home, she slowly made her way to the bathroom. She was busy dreaming in her own world, when suddenly she heard a voice, startling her completely.

"You're up already?" he asked.

"Arnav? What are you doing here?" she asked back, popping her eyes out at the sight of him seated on the floor outside the store room, going through what appeared to be an old book.

"Hey Devi Maiyya! Is that my seven year old drawing book? Where did you find it?" she asked scandalously, trying to snatch away the book from his hand due to utter embarrassment. But he was too fast for her. He hid the book behind his back before she could reach him. "And why didn't you answer when I called out your name?"

Arnav lazily smiled at her, innocently blinking his eyes. "Nice drawings. I never knew you were so fascinated with cartoons."

"You were not supposed to see it. It is some nonsensical drawings that I drew when I was bored." She replied bending forward, trying to reach his back.

"I was bored. What else do you expect me to do for the past three hours that I was awake? You sleepy head had drifted off into your own dream world. After waking up at 6:00 am, I cleaned the whole house, which nearly took me an hour. Then, for the next two hours, I was simply bored and hence, decided to do some exploration of the house, when I discovered this store room and all your wonderful things here. By the way, you really draw well. Don't be embarrassed by your talent." He said handing over the book to her.

"You think so?" she asked curiously, opening up the book and seeing her own creations that she had done in her school vacations, years ago.

He stood up, pulling her towards himself, planting a light peck on her cheek. "I didn't respond when you called me coz I wanted to see you get all flustered up like this, seeing me with your book." He smirked mischievously before he bent forward to capture her lips. But his lips were immediately stopped by her hands on his mouth.

"Morning breath!" Khushi shook her head frantically trying to free herself from him. "And I'm messy." She said frowning, as he slowly released his grip on her waist. With the slightest opportunity, she dashed into the bathroom, not before hearing him call out after her.

"I'm letting you go today. But you better get used to this in the future. I won't back away next time." He declared causing her to blush as she closed the door behind her.

o0o

Khushi sat on the kitchen slab, swaying her legs in the air, getting impatient to get down and help him out. But Arnav had strictly insisted her to sit back and let him prepare tea and breakfast for both of them. Actually, Arnav himself had carried her and made her sit on the kitchen slab, ordering her not to move until he told her to do so.

"Arnav! I know how to prepare tea. Let me do it!" Khushi pleaded him. But it was pointless to argue with him.

"Khushi, I want you to lay low for sometime. You have been too stressed out these days and it isn't good for your health. And allow me to show off my cooking skills to you." He said, turning over the Aloo Paratha on the frying pan with his bare hands.

"Careful! You'll burn your hand." Khushi shouted out with fear.

Arnav looked down at his calloused hands that had grown rough after all the hard work they had endured at a tender age. By now, he had been nearly numbed any sort of pain. "It's ready. Now, you may get down and follow me." He said, holding the plates and the mugs in his hands, while walking towards the dining table.

"Mmm.. It's so delicious. When did you learn to prepare such good Aloo Parathas?" she managed to ask him with her mouth full, relishing the taste of butter that was melting into her mouth.

"When you are living alone all throughout your life, you will have to learn basic survival skills." He said taking a bite of his own Paratha.

"So do you know to cook all the dishes?" she asked curiously, discovering a whole new side of Arnav.

"Not really. But I can see to it that I don't sleep hungry."

"Hey Arnav!" she called out, pausing her eating for a minute. "Sorry for the horrible dishes that I forced you to eat the last time you were here for dinner. I never knew they were so horrible. Guess, I'm a bad cook." She apologised embarrassed for her mistakes that night. "And even you didn't mention anything about it."

Surprised at the sudden turn of conversation, he glanced at her with a faint smile on his face. "You tried to do something special for me that day. You tried and hence, your efforts are more important to me. Guess what Khushi! I have never eaten a dinner prepared with so much love, for a long time. Not since my mother left me." He said dismally, looking down at his plate, remembering the old memories of his childhood. "You did and no one who cooks with so much love and affection can be termed as a Bad Cook."

The change in the atmosphere between them was instant. Khushi looked down at own her plate, remembering the Parathas that her Buaji used to prepare for her so lovingly. She had never bothered to acknowledge such a loving gesture from her Buaji. Maybe that's why they said absence makes the heart fonder. And now she really knew what those words meant.

"I miss Buaji. She used to prepare such delicious Parathas for me." She spoke, as a single tear strolled down her cheek. But she wiped it away before it could drop down to her plate.

Suddenly, she found Arnav's hand around her shoulder. Looking up to his face, she noticed him standing beside her. Unable to control herself, she fiercely hugged his waist, seeking refuge in him.

Arnav didn't know what happened to him. But at a vulnerable moment like this, he needed her and somehow, knew she needed him too. That's why he didn't hesitate to just walk up to her and pull her into a hug, consoling her heart as well as his own. He just continued to hold her, caressing her hair and her back.

After a long intimate moment, where they lay their hearts out open and bared to each other, Khushi stood up, facing his chocolate brown eyes with her own firm and determined ones. She had wanted to tell this to him for a long time. But everytime she had decided to, she had hesitated, wondering what his reaction would be, whether he would accept it or refute it, whether she was making the right choice.

Today, at this minute, at this instant, she had no qualms about it. She was going to tell him irrespective of the consequences that would follow it. At this point, she wasn't even worried about what he felt for her. But she was sure about what she felt.

"Arnav," she said reaching out for his hand, looking downwards at it, not exactly sure of how she should begin. "Thank you." She said looking up into his curious eyes that were keenly observing every single expression on her face. "For everything. For being beside me when I needed you. For now. And for the promises of our future together." She said pulling his hand closer to her face and kissing his knuckles.

Inhaling a deep breath, she let it all out. Unconcealed, bare and plain. "I love you Arnav. I really do. More than you know." She expressed with the deepest sincerity that was enough to melt all the barriers of his heart and etch her permanently into it.

She reached out with both her hands to his neck and tugging the hair at his nape with her fingers, she pulled his head forward, and standing on her toes reached out for his lips, claiming it as hers for eternity.

Suddenly feeling a bit self conscious of what he must be thinking about her, she pulled apart to gaze into those brown orbs that were now staring at her with indescribable emotions.

"I know," Was all that he whispered as he suddenly felt his throat constrict with emotions. Grabbing her waist, he pulled her flat onto his body, moulding hers perfectly into his as he reclaimed her lips, letting her know that he really did.

CHAPTER 33

first time ever in the last 1 year m first to comment on some post...yayyy...finally...i did...

well coming to the update which was gr8 as usual. loved khushi's acknowledgement and sad for arnav's nswer...hoped for a "i love u too" type thing there...but nevermind...thank god akash is off for sometime ...loved lavanya's reactions to breakup...bt arnav must not have said that...i mean "u r nowhere comparable to khush"...it might take a new turn in future...well update soon and yayyy m so excited for my achievment😆

*EDIT*

as usual that was an awsumm update👏. now i am totally racking my brain thinking abt who the guy is who has been holding poor aman's family hostage😭 dunno why bt i feel its SHYAM, cuz he was quite shocked whn he saw arnav alive waAay back in ur third or fourth update, btw really interesting turn of events😃 i just hope tht they stay together and nothing horrendous happens although i am quite sure u wont leave us with any stones unturned regarding surprises😃

take care😊 and update soon😊

Sim