OS Amarprem - Chapter 65

krishna turned to Vikram , indicating the doctor that he is alright n smiling ...' where were u all this time?'... he asked Vikram, his tone a bit rash ...'I..I got a call from hospital sir, they were discharging shankar ...I am so sorry I left the hotel without asking ur permission sir' Vikram said, timidly , his tone guilty ...'he wants to see u sir, Shankar...he came with me...' Vikram nodded towards the entrance n krishna looked around, purposefully ignoring pratigya again ... ...very good kst ! u r doing good! ...Yes! Ignore her! Chanted his mind... the doctor turned to pratigya as Shankar walked towards krishna ... the doctor said, making pratigya gasp softly n her eyes flutter in a new found emotion ...hope... ...'pratigyaji, u should ensure that he gets proper rest n pls apply this ointment over his arms n shoulders , 2 times a day, one in early morning n then the other around 7 pm in the evening , for 2 weeks...' ...'yes...' she whispered , suddenly feeling tensed n blushing ...' n this one is for his knee...its bit sore...' he handed over the medicines to pratigya...'make sure he eats lots of fruits n food , on time...' he added , smiling n pratigya nodded back nervously ...

krishna who was speaking with shanker didn't hear what the doc said to pratigya ...'how r u? krishna asked him n shaknar looked at krishna in surprise n smiled ...'fine , sir!'...'why do u want to meet me? krishna asked him, standing up n pulling his shirt over the fresh linen over his arms n shoulder ... 'I want to work for u , thakur sahib...' he said, his eyes meeting krishna's ... krishna stared at him ,hard , n the smiled ...'I admire ur loyalty to ur ex-boss n ur straightforwardness ... yes, u can... Vikram , arrange for his stay at our quarters here ...' he nodded at Vikram n Vikram smiled at Shankar ... the nurse gave the child to the elderly couple , mr n mrs, agarwal , who insisted that they will stay with pratigya n krishna n will look after the kid while they change n then go n meet remya n avinash in the hospital ... pratigya smiled in gratitude at them... the doctor smiled at krishna ...' take rest thakur sahib, although the burns r little ...n i have told ur wife about ur medicines n food , n yeah , obey her!'... he chuckled good naturedly n shook his hands ...krishna stared in horror at the doctor ... what did he just hear? ...what medicines? N what did he tell her to do? ... no! ...the doctor smiled n left before krishna could open his mouth ... he looked around at pratigya sensing her eyes on him n saw her smile awkwardly ... he gritted his teeth n looked away ... pratigya's face wilted like a flower in rain n she felt a slight pain clawing at her chest , but smiled at mrs agarwal who was noticing her with a curious face... krishna told Vikram to escort pratigya n mr n mrs agarwal n arjun to his apartment n order refreshments for them , lazily gazing at police n security staff doing their work as the manager chopra came n informed them that media is waiting to get access inside the lobby... pratigya walked towards the lift , unsure n confused as to why he wasn't coming with them ... she forced herself to concentrate on the child so as not to succumb to tears which threatened to fall from her eyes ...krishna busied himself in his watch , as though wiping out soot on it , gritting his teeth n waiting till the lift doors closed ... ur doing very good! Kst! ... yes! Ignore her!...but ...but why wasn't he feeling happy ?

... 'so will see u soon...' krishna said curtly to Shankar n walked towards the other lift .shankar looked at krishna curiously , noticing that he deliberately stayed back ... Shankar was about to go outside the lobby when he noticed Victor pressing the lift button, preventing the lift from going up , his face tensed up n panicky , darting his eyes towards the police outside the hall...shankar turned n ran towards the lift , suddenly tensed ... the lift doors opened n krishna gazed at victor lazily n then he noticed his face ... victor jumped into the lift n pressed a random button but not before Shankar too squeezed inside it ... shankar's entrance shocked victor who was about to pull up his gun ... n Shankar didn't waste time n just jammed his fist into his nose , as krishna watched in amusement , the lift doors closing... ...'aaargh...' shouted victor in pain , n tried to kick at Shankar but krishna's hand came down over his nape in a flash n he slumped to the floor , the gun dropping from his hands ... 'I think he was after u sir' said Shankar , taking the gun... krishna nodded in thanks , his face grim, calling up Vikram n alerting him to shift pratigya n others from hall of his apartment to her room... they reached 9^th floor n krishna gestured Shankar to wait as Vikram opened the door n signaled all is ok... Shankar bought victor's limp body to the hall n Vikram opened the door to krishna's room, tensed ... pratigya , who had got up from her bed to fetch water for mrs agarwal stopped short at the door , hiding swiftly , as she saw Shankar taking an injured man into krishna's room , closely followed by krishna ... she saw Vikram close the door , but not properly as at that moment victor had stirred n grunted n vikram's attention was shifted from the door ... she ran to the kitchen to fetch water, her heart beating fast ...she could tell that something was wrong... what happened ? who was that man? ... she gave the water to mrs agarwal n smiled at her n her husband, trying to hide her tension...' er...my husband wants me with him...pls feel free , n take rest ...' ...they nodded , smiling n she caressed arjun on his cheek , who was sleeping n went out of the room hastily , shutting the door ...

Pratigya tip toed across to krishna's room, opening it gently n entered ...she must stop him from doing anything , exerting himself ...the doctor said he needed complete rest! What was he doing? ... she closed it n looked around in shock to find no one in the room... but ...but how could that be possible? She wondered, tension gripping her n she saw drops of blood leading to a wall cabinet ...what? ... she ran to it , checking for any switch that will open the cabinet n found one on the side wall... she pressed it n the cabinet opened to reveal steps to a hidden basement like room... she stopped short ... wait , pratigya ! what r u doing ? ... U have no business here! Go back this instant ! ...no! ... she took tentative steps down to a corridor n found a door at the end , slightly ajar ...voices were coming from inside the room... she could feel her heart hammering against her chest as she peeked in to find the injured man seated on a chair n krishna infront of him, his back to her , n Vikram n the other man looking at the injured man from behind the chair ...

krishna was saying...' I am asking for the last time , why did u try to kill me? ...' the injured man remained silent , his face working furiously to hide his fear ...someone tried to kill him! Again? She found her heart beat skipping ... she heard krishna sigh , n oddly the sound send shivers down her spine... she saw the man look in terror at krishna n then heard vikram's phone ring ...he attended the call , his face becoming grim with every passing sec... ...'what is it?' krishna asked , slightly interested ... 'it was the inspector ... the explosion was deliberate ...the cables were being tampered with... but chopra sir is going to the media with the news that it was a circuit failure ...' Vikram said , his eyes on victor ... krishna gazed at victor , his eyes hard ...'why do i think that u did it, worm?' he said , his eyes piercing , anger n , to praigya's shock, pain in it... victor gulped , but refused to open his mouth again ... krishna came closer to victor , his fingers caressing along the right arm of victor...' I am asking u nicely , did u do it or not?' , his voice was almost a whisper , but it carried anyway , chilling ... 'I don't know what u r talking about ...I just climbed in the lift with u n if that's a mistake then I ...' shouted victor , desperate, but the rest of his sentence was an ear splitting scream , although the voice didn't quiet reach the hall up ... pratigya shivered against the wall, feeling dread as she saw the man double up in excruciating pain on the chair , his left hand clutching at his right palm ...she saw his small finger dangling lifeless in his palm n shuddered , her eyes widening in shock... her eyes snapped back to krishna , unable to believe that this was the same man she saw a moment ago , risking his life to save arjun ... but...but...something seemed to have changed in her down the hall... she wasn't feeling the revulsion she used to feel for him now...

she closed her eyes in shock as she heard him chuckle n asking the man again...' now tell me or do u want ur other finger too to be broken?' ... ...'I ...I did it...' whined victor in pain... Vikram n Shankar stiffened , while krishna asked in controlled calmness ...'why?' ... victor gritted his teeth against the pain as he said ...'to kill u!...' ...'i see...' said krishna , his tone amused ...'so u go n blow up a hall full of innocent people n child , just so that u could kill one man, me?' krishna asked , his tone mocking n angry n dangerous ... pratigya looked at krishna , surprised ...'yes!' said the man , writhing in pain ... 'so all those innocent people , except perhaps that bas***d khurana , died in my place ?' krishna asked , his tone cold, underlying shock in it...pratigya gasped softly , hearing his question... victor looked up at krishna , his eyes fearful...'sir, don't blame ur self...' began Vikram but krishna silenced him with a look...vikram gritted his teeth n bowed his head , his eyes slits on victor ... 'who send u?' krishna asked , running his hand through his hair in frustration n anger ... oh no! Don't let anything happen to avinash ! it will be bec of him! N the kid very nearly died ! ...He cursed apoplectically ... victor recoiled , fearful to the core ...'this guy here, Shankar...he tried to kill me too...but not like u coward! ...Face to face ! ... that's what u should have done ! ...n not target innocent people who didn't have got a clue ! who send u bas***d?' krishna roared at victor , his hand , clamped down in his pocket , his face livid...pratigya looked at Shankar in surprise , again ...if he tried to kill krishna earlier , then what was he doing with him?... victor darted his eyes here n there , n his eyes fell on his gun in shankar's hand ... 'I ..I don't know'... he stuttered n whimpered , as if in pain, his upper body bending ... he suddenly lunged sideways n prised the gun from shankar's hand , pushing him off with his elbow...

'yes!'... victor yelled , his face contorted in triumph as he pointed the gun at krishna n Vikram n backed away ...pratigya clasped her hand to her mouth in shock , dread filling her ...she could feel her breath hitching in her chest painfully , an insane urge to barge inside the room n either shove krishna out of the way or to hit that man!... oh no! He is in danger! ...why isn't he moving! He looked confusedly n anxiously at krishna ... victor laughed , steadying the gun with his good hand ...'the devil! KST ! worried about nameless people who had to die in his place ! ha! Sakthi sahib is going to laugh his head off at this joke! ...' ...krishna , who had not moved an inch , smirked mockingly ...'sakthi! ...ha, thought so! Such a coward ! ...May be i should get his head off soon' ...victor's face lost some color as he saw krishna smirking n Vikram n Shankar , just standing , not even moving an inch , but alert... pratigya could feel her heart beating like drums as dread n tension threatened to engulf her ... she couldn't see krishna's face n she wondered frantically what he was thinking ...! n sakthi! That evil durjan's son ...! he send this man to kill krishna!... ' don't be over smart KST ! i fooled all the security staff here n now I am going to kill u! '...he shouted brandishing his gun at krishna , his eyes bulging in excitement ... 'go ahead then ...what r u waiting for...' said krishna , smiling at victor , who blanched at his tone n voice...pratigya almost ran into the room , her hands flying out to defend krishna or to attack that man, for what she wasn't sure !...she saw krishna walking forward in measured steps closer to victor, his eyes piercing his, effectively unnerving him... 'u r a fool KST! U r going to die! '...victor yelled as he pulled the trigger ...

pratigya's scream of horror died in her throat itself as she saw krishna grasp his hand n twist it up at the last moment , the bullet hitting the roof... she stopped midway in her attempt to enter the room n she saw shamkar's eyes flicking towards where her gown had been just a sec ago...oh no! That man, Shankar or whoever , saw her! ...she panted against the door... krishna smirked as victor looked back at him horrified , struggling to kick at krishna but krishna was too fast for him ...he had hit victor along his groin n he slumped to the floor , howling in pain, trying to turn the gun towards krishna , but krishna held his wrist n stamped his foot down over victor's face ... blood spluttered from his mouth even as krishna's hand closed around his along the trigger...pratigya peaked in again, n darted her eyes towards Shankar n then to krishna, relieved that probably he didn't see her... krishna twisted victor's hand n forced the gun in his hand down his throat...pratigya shuddered in shock n fear ... 'I would have send u alive to sakthi to deliver my message, but there is no guarantee that u will go back to him on ur own! ... u r such a coward !' krishna hissed at him ...victor's eyes bulged n pratigya's eyes widened in horror as she saw his hands struggling to prise krishna's arm n the gun from his mouth, his feet writhing...she closed her eyes , dread filling her as she turned away , blindly reaching along the walls for support...oh no! He was going to kill that man!...' i would have let u live if u didn't just kill n injure all those down there...' She tried to hurry , tried to block out the sounds , her legs feeling like sand... ...' if anything had happened to that kid or my pratigya , I would have cut u into pieces n fed to dogs ...!' she heard him snarl , n she stumbled forward in consternation , dragging her feet to run ... n yet oddly , his words 'my pratigya' registered in her mind ...it sounded so...good...no! what r u thinking! She could hear her sane part screaming at her, the voice powerful... 'but as they r safe , u get to die a sudden , painless death !' she heard him say, his voice ice cold... pratigya ran , flat out , her face scrunched up in shock as she tried to block out the sounds of feet writhing over the floor...she shuddered as she heard the gun shot n panted for air... why r u shocked pratigya? if he doesn't kill that man, he would have killed him! ... n that man was responsible for the deaths down the hall! many innocents died ! ...n think of avinash!...but but... he could have called the police! He could have given that man over to the police! Why do he have to kill him? ... shouted her sane part at her... she closed the cabinet with trembling hands n ran outside his room ...

she forced herself to calm down as she approached her room n opened the door forcing a smile at mrs agarwal...'the child is asleep...' mrs agarwal smiled back n mr. Agarwal sat straighter on the couch , leafing through a magazine n smiling up at her ... 'u could change ur dress n then we can go to hospi...' began mrs agarwal but she stopped short , seeing pratigya's tensed face ...'er ... what happened dear? Is thakur sahib alright? ...she asked , her voice concerned ... ...'ye...yes!' stuttered pratigya...'I will just go n meet him...' said mr agarwal n made to get up...'no! '...pratigya almost shouted , panic assaulting her... the couple looked at her strangely ...'I ..I mean ...he has just laid down a bit n...' she stammered , her face sweating n flushing ...'That was a brave n good thing he did! U can't find kids like him these days...' mr agarwal smiled at pratigya ...'yeah, n he needs the rest... we agree..' smiled mrs . agarwal... pratigya gazed up at her ... she is right! ... mrs. Agarwal went on...' No one tried to save anybody, just busy saving their own skin in the fire...it takes real character to save others in crisis...' ...pratigya could feel her heart swell with pride as she heard the good words about him...yes! ... he is such a good , brave man...! I like him...! what the hell r u thinking pratigya? she heard her sane part lash out at her... that's just a part of him! What about the other part? the ruthless, devil part? that u just saw? That u have been seeing all along? ...she shuddered , her eyes twitching ... she nodded absently at them n gazed at arjun ...

her thoughts jumped to remya n avinash ...oh no! Hope he is alright! They need to get arjun as soon as possible to the hospital ...' how is remya?' she asked mrs agarwal n found that she was looking at her...she found her curious glance a bit unnerving ...'I have phoned the hospital ... the poor girl is still unconscious ...don't worry' she added seeing pratigya getting alarmed ...'she is in sedation ...the docs said her mind needs rest '... ...'n avinash...?' pratigya asked , dreading , feeling sad ...'he...he...will live...' sighed mrs agarwal , her voice sad ... pratigya looked down ,shocked n sad tears in her eyes ... what happened all of a sudden? All were happy , laughing ...n next sec... death... destruction! ... anger erupted inside her as she thought of sakthi n that man !... they tried to kill him n attacked a hall full of innocent people ! ... she remembered his shock at finding out indirectly he was responsible for the death of those innocent people...how wrong was she ...he is not as bad as she had thought... he is all confusing ! one moment he is like pure , good , kind... next moment he is ruthless , cruel ,devil... just as one moment he was kissing me... holding me... n the next moment , he was walking away...ignoring me...why? what did she do? Her heart wrenched , not knowing the answer ...

she started as she felt mrs agarwal's hand over her thigh , clasping her hand...' don't worry dear...he is just a bit ...upset with u, i am sure...' pratigya gasped, her eyes fluttering ...how did she know that she was thinking about him? ... mrs agarwal chuckled as she read the question in her eyes ...' I guessed ...N i think its because u ran inside the burning hall without a thought! ...he must have been shocked n angry! I know my husband would' she lowered her voice dramatically ...pratigya stared at her , her brain buzzing ...did she really ran inside the hall without a sec thought? Why? ... the old woman was saying again...' these men ! ...they think that only they love us! ... whatever we do , they won't agree that we love them equally or even more than that!... let him behave like typical men! ...n u just behave like a woman ...he just can't ignore u or be upset with for long...lets see how long he could resist ur love...n u, as a matter of fact..! ...' pratigya gazed at her , that new feeling of hope filling her ...'... u know, love can bring back even dead to life, he is just upset...don't worry'.. she smiled ... praigya wasn't actually hearing ... her mind had exploded as the word reverberated inside her every cell...LOVE! surely not!! ...'I ..I will change n come...' she croaked n almost ran to the bath room, struggling for breath ...

she hurled herself infront of the mirror , searching her eyes ... pls ...pls don't betray me! ... her eyes stared back at her , frantic , shy, confused ... bright... she closed them , her heart beating in her mouth n opened them , her hands fisted in tension, excitement , shock... he was standing behind her , his face serene , beginning to break into a naughty smile... she felt her heart hammer against her chest , suddenly panicky n made to turn n face him, but he had already closed the distance between them , hugging her from behind, his arms around n along her belly... she shivered as he rested his chin over her bare left shoulder, after pulling the shawl , which covered her upper body, off her n smiled up at her , their eyes locked in mirror ... her eyes were frantic, panicky ...no this is not happening! ... n his eyes amused , naughty ... loving... she saw him angle his face n brush his nose all along the pinna of her ear n shivered ... she saw him smile as he loosened one hand from her belly n caressed up along her right arm , making her pant slightly as he reached her shoulder n swiftly pulled open her bun ... she gasped as he snuggled his face in her hair n inhaled her... no! ...'Pls...go away...' she sobbed , turning around n trying to push him off her... 'no... I won't... I can't' ... he chuckled n grasped her chin in his palm ... why? ... she managed to gasp , her eyes meeting his in a shiver... 'bec u love me...' he whispered n captured her lips in his mouth ... no! ...

she blinked ...he was nowhere to be seen ...she sagged to her knees , panting n sobbing...she realised with a jolt that she had been fighting like mad with herself to deny what was obvious to her all along...there's is no denying it now... she was irresistibly ,dangerously falling in love with him... the realisation shook her to the core as she shuddered , tears springing from her eyes ... when n how did this happen? How was , why was she so utterly pathetic ? all her life he hated men n she had to fall for a devil! ...she waited for her heart to be assaulted by self loathing again ... but ...but...why wasn't she feeling bad? Instead all she could feel was a curious buzz, in her ears ...in her heart ... n a stupid happiness...shyness... she could feel her heart jumping in joy at the new realisation...n then a sudden horrible thought hit her!...what if he doesn't love me? He sees women as mere things! He is going to use n throw me , as a slave...! no! How could he do that? Doesn't he know that she loves him? ...no! ...what do u mean to him? Nothing! ...what will her friends say if they knew who was he?... What will her mother think of her ?...her mother!!!! no! ...she started in shock ... she was supposed to save her mother ! run with her to whatever far corner of the world n live a peaceful life ...! n what was she doing? ... Busy falling in love with a ruthless devil!...n contemplating whether he will ever love her back!... Standing helpless while he wrecks havoc in her life, heart , mind...he humiliated u , tried to kill u, called u a wh**e in front of the world ! n u r falling for such a man!... he is a womaniser for gods sake! U r nothing but a toy to him!... n letting him take u, body n heart... in whatever way he pleases ... whenever he wishes ! ... but ...he is nice, kind, brave... u saw it urself ! she heard her heart counter!... u r defending the devil? How could u close ur eyes on his wrongs? Don't u have any self respect?...no! ...how could u get to terribly pathetic? I don't know!...I don't know! She wanted to scream... pls , what is happening to her?...

u r out of ur mind, that's what's happened to u, pratigya!...she heard her sane part say to her...all is not lost, pratigya ! u can save urself from this horrible situation ... ignore him... get a grip on ur heart !... forget everything about him!... think of only ur mother!... save her!... n urself !... but...but to save her mother she needs to get the files! ...n to get the files she needs to be inside his room! ... no! she won't survive even a sec now being close to him! She won't let him touch her!... Now that she know that she...she is falling in love...no! don't think about it! ... she jolted as she heard a knock at the door ...'pratigya? r u ready beti?' she heard mrs agarwal asking her n she gulped frantically , her voice high pitched... 'yes ! 5 mins...' ...she stood up clumsily n looked back at her reflection ... this was surely the worst nightmare of all !...