PART-72

ASR nervously knocked on his di and brother-in-law’s room,before entering,his usual smug and self-assured aura gone.

“Di?”He called her uncertainly.

“Chote!Please come in.Do you need something?”Anjali asked curiously,exchanging a bewildered look with her husband as they both had never seen him so chickened out and wondered whether their intuition was going to be proved true.

“Di,actually I’ve something very important to talk about..."He stammered.

"Yeah sure Chote,what is it?"Anjali asked,trying to smother her grin. She exchanged a conspiratorial smile with her husband wondering whether Akash's deduction were going to be true?

Apparently Akash had spotted his brother staring at beautiful ring with a smile and then he  had taken khushi out!It didn't take him long to put two and two together and he had not wasted even an iota of a second to report the same to his di and jijaji.But they hadn't expected the chips to fall where they should so soon! In fact,Anjali's ever-excited and energetic mind was already running from one shop to another as she thought about the shopping that she would do!

"Di,actually you know,I...I..no,we means me and khushi we went out...no I mean talked that..."ASR stuttered completely at a loss not knowing that his di and brother-in-law were enjoying his discomfort immensely!

"Yeah,Chote speak up!You and khusiji went out or talked or whatever,then what?"Anjali said,trying to keep a poker face.Armaan coughed to stifle his laughter.

"Di,actually....I..I proposed khushi and she said yes and we want to get married at the earliest!"He said,words nearly tumbling in his agitated haste.Anjali felt like she will burst with trying to control her guffaws.Already her face was heated.

"Chote you can put even Rajdhani Express to shame with the speed with which you speak!"She uttered somehow.ASR's face flushed red invoking Armaan's pity who immediately jumped to his rescue.

"And Anju if you don't stop teasing him,he'll soon put an overripe tomato to shame the way he's blushing!"Armaan quipped cheekily.

Anjali flushed,throwing and angry glare at her husband.The trouble she'll be in if her brother got to know that she was pulling his leg!She'll have hell to pay!So,she dropped all her pretenses pronto in the nick of time and gushed.

"I was just kidding chote!Of course I'm so happy!I'll go and talk with Nani and mami and then,we'll take the alliance at the earliest!Oh,please excuse me now you two.I've got so many things to do.Shopping,and yeah..I promised to accompany Mami to beauty parlor too!"Anjali said in single breath and darted out of the door before her startled husband and brother could make out head or tail of her monologue!

The very next day they went to the Gupta house and fixed everything.

"But obviously we have got so much to prepare!After all we've to marry off two love pair of love birds!"Anjali commented cheekily shocking every one and making Payal and Akash blush simultaneously.

"Two marriages?"Everyone gasped incomprehending.

"Yeah,Arnav and Khushi and Payal and Akash!"

"What the!You love her?"ASR asked Akash directly,making him turn beetroot red.

"Jiji,you too didn't tell me!"Khushi was scandalised.

"Khushi I ..actually.."Payal looked miserable.

"Hello hi bye bye enouph of teajing!I hab to go to booty parlor!Two mrriages that too oph my children!Do I look old enough to be mother-in-law?"Mamiji quipped pitying Akash and Payal and earning a grateful glance from the couple.

Everyone laughed.Wedding bells had started ringing!

Soon the much-awaited day arrived and the Arnav and Khushi finally gave a name to their pure,pious love surrounded by all those people whom they loved. As they vowed to be together,cherishing each other through ups and downs of lives, their eyes glittered with love,thinking about the turbulence and turmoils they had faced together and thwarted.

From then on,they celebrated and adorned each day of their life with their love as they traversed together on the path unknown...

                                                  THE END

                                   "Love seeketh not itself to please,

                                     Nor for itself hath any care;

                                     But for another gives its ease,

                                   And builds a Heaven in Hells' despair."

                                                                               William Blake

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                            ACKNOWLEDGEMENT!

Hi guys,

So,here I end my 'The Path Unknown'.I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Khushifan di,who instilled in me enough confidence to write,Razy di,who was the first one to comment on this story, Marrie di,who has always been so encouraging and supportive,Nuts4arshi di,who is one of the best readers any one can get,Arshisweet who is a dear friend and constant source of suppport,Arshi_fan 12 di,who always read and commented constructively,Riya di,who was always a very enthusiastic reader,Kartikeyani di,who has always been seet and generous in commenting and Sc12345 di, whose encouraging comments literally make me blush!Thank you so much guys!I owe you all!

             

Apart from them,I'll also like to thank Varsha Rohit,Maha Laxami,abc di,Reensk di,Davyanti di ,Sunita di and Anonymous and all my silent readers,who have encouraged me so much!I'm indebted to you all!

I'll start posting my other story 'HEART WRENCHING ADORATION' now and I hope you guys will read it too!The character's are same but the plot is different.  In fact,I've already posted its four parts on my other blog.The link is on the top right of this blog.

I would also like to request all my silent readers to leave comment on this last part as I want to know how you felt about this story.Any comment good or bad is welcome!

Love

Akansha

 

PART-71

Long blades of golden grass danced to the tune of the gentle breeze,the air redolent with the heady smell of approaching spring.Khushi and her colleagues sat in silence as they waited for even teensiest of motion,staring unwaveringly at the grubby shack that loomed in the midst of the sea of gold and brown.

They didn't have to wait for long as Shyam Manohar Jha soon emerged sneakily, moving like a panther flexed for attacking his prey.He pootled slowly, lying low and nearly crawling,as he attempted to scarper,absolutely oblivious to the impending danger.

Suddenly he felt the a cold,metallic muzzle at the back of his skull and he stopped dead,his countenance acquiring a pallid pallor.

"Your time is finished Mr.Shyam Manohar Jha!Just surrender yourself if you don't want to die a terrible death!"Rohan's solemn voice sounded ominously loud in the serenity of the clearing.

Shyam rose slowly,his hands up in air as he took in his surroundings,his lips curling at the sight of his mistress who stood be khushi's side,shooting him a look of utter disdain and loathing.

"You bitch!You brought them here,didn't you?You bad-blood,useless whore!" Shyam snarled in crass fury,lunging forward to grab his mistress's throat,but he was brought shot be a blow,a sudden burst of light and he could see the world revolve as he fell down on the ground groaning.But that wasn't the end as soon he received another tight slap that left his teeth aching,he could feel something warm trickle down his chin and realized,with a jolt that his lips were half torn under the impact of the powerful slap!

Dazed,he looked up to see his attacker and was shocked to find a shivering khushi in front of him,but it wasn't fear that was the cause of her quivering form like he had seen a few months ago,but her ire that radiated from her like the power of the death itself!For the first time in his life Shyam Manohar Jha was frightened beyond his wits,that too because of a girl!

"You whoring scumbag!How dare you...how dare you accuse her,call her all that rubbish when you yourself behave like some kind of a bloody male whore!" Khushi yelled,making Shyam cower.Even her colleagues were stunned,rooted on the spot to see her angry avataar!

As for khushi,she couldn't see anything clearly as a red haze seemed to impediment her reasoning, ice-spiked adrenalin charged through her frayed nerves,at an unnerving pace.She wanted to rage and storm at the despicable man lying in front of him,she felt disgusting maggots crawling down her skin as he gazed up at her.But she couldn't do anything,for she had a responsibility. She was a police officer and hence couldn't take law in her hands otherwise Shyam Manohar Jha would've been long dead!

So Khushi took out her froutstion through her kicks and slaps that she ruthlessly showered on him.

"Khushi stop khushi!"

"Khushi you'll kill him!Just stop!"

Lavanya and Rohan tried to grab her back,but to no avail.It was as if she were possessed by the Satan himself!After a protracted period of struggle,the duo somehow overpowered her while a fleet of constables took a groaning and wincing Shyam away from her reach!

"Khushi calm down!"Lavanya soothed her,urging her to drink water.Khushi snatched the bottle from her hands and emptied the bottle in one go,panting heavily.

"Are you ok?"Lavanya asked nervously,and khushi realized with a jolt that she was frightened of her anger.

"I'm absolutely fine La!"Khushi mumbled,but still Lavanya and Rohan gave her anxious look as if expecting to see her fly in her apoplectic rage any moment.

"Seriously guys,I'm alright!Let's get back to work!"Khushi urged,leading the way.

The news of the Jha's debauchery stunned the world,but what evoked the most vehement reactions was what was found in their deluxe brothel.As the police forces along with S.T.F. searched the locked rooms of the lower landings,they found several young girls chained there,living in the most spartan and unhygienic conditions!They were clad in rags and lay unconsciously on the floor of the dingy cells which were frequented by the rats!There were several injuries and bites on their bodies as if their flesh had been clawed at and the cause were wild dogs!

The investigation revealed most gruesome,uncouth face of the human beings blinded by their greed as the girls narrated the story of horror.Apparently they were trafficked from various states,especially the backward and tribal areas of Jharkhand,Chhattisgarh and Bihar and forced into flesh trade!They were treated worse than slaves and were brutally raped and sodomized  by the staff of the brothel and if they resisted their inhuman demands,they were made to be bitten by wild dogs as punishment.

The world reeled in shock and people thronged the streets to secure death sentence for the culprits father and son duo and all others involved into the inhuman act.The news sang ballads of success of S.T.F. and heaped praises on A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada and his team,but the man himself stayed aloof from the frenzy and stole a romantic evening with his beloved,khushi in his farmhouse at the end of which he very conveniently proposed her.

"Khushi,I want to spend every moment of my life with you.I promise to cherish you throughout my life till my last breath!You are my everything,a part of me, so essential that I can't survive a moment without you.So will you honor me by marrying me and adorn my life with your presence?"ASR asked softly as he gazed up in khushi's eyes,holding a beautiful diamond ring.

"Yes!"Khushi chocked,absolutely overwhelmed by emotions.

"Thank you!"ASR whispered,his soft voice suffused with sheer joy as he gently slid the ring in the third finger of her left hand and rose up to claim her lips.

They had left the ordeals behind to stride in a new feature brimming with joy,hope and love!

PART-70

The great chains of 'Spark Hotel' was seized in absolute chaos,every branch of hotel throughout the globe were raided on A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada's tip off and huge hordes of drugs,amounting millions of dollars were confiscated.Hence,it was nothing but the apparent truth that every person whether a waiter or Manager,whoever was associated with the hotels was in utter most consternation, with the only exception of its owner and his son,Surinder Mnohar Jha and Shyam.

A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada had seen into that!So,it was quite a bit of nasty shock for Surinder Manohar Jha when A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada thronged his grand cabin when he was busy discussing further tactics and evil ways ro mint money with his P.A. and Manager.

He leaned back into his high-backed chair,masquerading his genuine curiosity behind a smug smirk.

"Ah...I didn't know that you were to swarm into my room like this A.C.P. without even showing slightest of courtesy as to so much as knock,but anyways,I don't give a dice to such modicum of indecencies.So,may I know  as to what I owe such a hasty visit?"Surinder asked.

"Your nemesis,you scum!Your time is over!Arrest him!"ASR ordered quitely.

"What?...You possibly can't do that A.C.P.!Are you out of your mind?My one call will make you wash your hands with this job of yours!You can't impeach a respectable citizen of the country without any valid reasons!"Surinder tried to be offhanded,but his voice betrayed his shock.

"Respectable citizen,are you?You blasphemous,reprehensible creature!Now watch here!"ASR snarled and switched on the plasma T.V. with a flourish,turning to news channel,which sang ballads of despicable deeds of the Jhas!

Surinder Manohar Jha's pockmarked,ugly face turned paler so much so that it was almost flaccid as he stared up at the screen,unable to believe his eyes. His mouth went dry as he saw all he watched the news reporters throughout the globe scream every intricacy of his illegitimate activities,until ASR switched off the T.V. with a huge complacent smirk.

"No!This can't be...How can this be?I..You...!No!How come I didn't get any reports of this?"Surinder's words nearly came in a garbled mush,absolutely incoherent.

"Do you think only you can play games?Implant your spies In S.T.F.?" It was his Manager,Sudhir Saxena who answered,looking gleeful.

"Yeah,what do you think,we police men are some kind of imbeciles who will swallow every rubbish you threw our way?"Surinder's P.A. Nikhil Malhotra quipped.

"Police men?But you two...you were....are the men of Chhota Mayappa,aren't you?He recommended you to me!Then how come?"Surinder Manohar Jha was almost wild.

"Do you think that that sidekick of yours,Chhota Mayappa would've been able to send a message to you through high security cell,if I hadn't allowed him to do so? For a person who built up such a huge empire of every evil deed possible,you are fairly obtuse!"ASR sneered,his smirk getting more pronounced.

"But then who are you?"Surinder asked,staring at the duo,whom he had-until a few minutes ago-considered as his trustworthy staff.

 

"And where are the men of Chhota Mayappa?"

"I'm N.I.A.(National Investigation Agency) officer Sridhar Raman."

"And I'm ethical hacker Farhan Ahmed.The one who fished all information on your wicked deeds!"The other guy chortled.

"The men Chotta Mayappa sent are already behind the bars!You see Mr.Jha,you are not the only one who is a pro at plotting.This was my contingency plan!Now I'm going to make sure you languish your life rotting in a Jail cell with your beloved son !"ASR smirked contentedly.

He had avenged his parents death!

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At the same time when Surinder Manohar Jha was truly on the verge of a massive heart attach owing to dastardly change of events,his son Shyam Manohar Jha was stuck with policemen and his wailing mistress in the suite of his brothel.

"Don't you dare step forward even an inch or else,she'll be dead!"He warned, inching backwards.Shyam reached the back walls and quickly pressed a button, that khushi and others hadn't noticed and immediately,the door to his private elevator slid open.He pushed the struggling girl,nearly throwing her on the floor mercilessly and disappeared behind the door,jamming it shut.

Khushi rushed forward and grabbed the girl,steadying her soothingly.She immediately made the girl wear a bath robe,lying on the couch over her see-through neglegee.

"He...he bet..rayed me!Used me...and I loved hi..him!"The girl sobbed relentlessly.

"Shh!Don't cry!He doesn't deserved to be shed a single tear on!He'll pay for all his deeds,we'll make him pay!Just tell me where this elevator leads to?"Khushi asked urgently.

They needed to nab the absconding criminal Shyam Manohar Jha!

PART-69

"This place is a bloody brothel!"Lavanya gasped as she adjusted around khushi to look at the edifice that loomed amidst the expanse of dried grass.

They were hidden behind a thicket with Rohan,Rahul and other junior officers, local police officials and constables whom khushi had called for back up.The place which was at a considerable distance from the frenetic capital of India,on the outskirts was bustling with activities.Loud sirens broke the usually serene surroundings as several high-profile bureaucrats and ministers arrived at the place every now and then.

 

"Exactly!Its some kind of high-profile place for prostitution."Rohan murmured as he stared at the men flurrying in to a flock of women who loomed near the gates in the surrounding gardens,looking as gaudily provocative and tantalizing as any slut can be.

"Guys,we need to be very careful!It won't be easy to get in.I could wager anything that the damned place has more security arrangement than any high-security cell.So,the only thing on our side is element of surprise!We've to catch everyone who is in there,so we'll throng the place,surrounding it from all sides!Is that clear?"Khushi's low voice rang with authority.

Soon a gamut of police officials spread out in all directions and they waited patiently for the right moment.Khushi was just checking her transistor when shee saw Shyam's car pull up.

"There he comes!"She muttered in disgust.

"Who?"Lavanya asked curiously.

"Shyam!If I'm deducing correctly,then he is the owner of the place! "Came the prompt reply.

"What?...Shit!He's such a creep!And your buaji wanted you to get married this man who spends his time whoring around!Good gracious!I will surely love to see your buaji's face when she comes to know of his true colors!But can you be so sure that he's the owner?"

"Because I just checked the name of the person on whose name this bungalow is registered and guess who he is?Samit Shah,Shyam Manohar Jha's P.A. and quite literally his right hand!"Khushi's voice was pale with revulsion.

"Then,we've got a nice opportunity to get them wind up in the jail.By the way,I think its time.We should attack now!"Rahul suggested.Nodding in approval, Khushi brought her satellite phone near her mouth and spoke softly,but firmly.

"NOW!"

A fleet of armed men and women clad i n khaki swarmed forward and surrounded the place while S.T.F. officers thronged the entrance like storm, not even giving slightest chance to the hapless,gaping guards to catch up with their bearings and put two and two together!They rushed up the flight of stairs that led to the upper landings from the opulent and tastefully decorated reception.

The doors were banged on and nearly broken down,the felons taken into custody before they could make out head and tail of the raging pandemonium. Half naked men and women who were found in controversial and indecent positions rushed about the place to scarper,but were nabbed immediately. Khushi led other officers to upper floors, making arrest until she finally broke open the huge mahogany door that was at the end of corridor.The room was no less than the Presidential Suite of the Ritz Hotel,but it didn't even register on her mind. She and her colleagues stood agape,looking at Shyam and his mistress. 

Before any of them reached forward to grab them,Shyam got out of the initial shock and gathering his clothes together pulled out a gun from the bedside cabinet and held it point blank at the whimpering girl,clutching her harshly.

"Don't you dare come forward even an inch,otherwise she'll be dead!"He snarled, blood evident in his eyes.

"Shyam,sweetheart what are you doing?Its hurting!"The girl struggled, bruise evident on her arms.

"Shut up you useless bitch!I need to get out of here and you are going to help me in that!Just keep your mouth shut or else I'll shut if for you!"Shyam yelled,spanking the girl hard,making her wince in pain.

Khushi stared at him,her fists clenched,nails digging into her skin. She was murderously furious on Shyam Manohar Jha.

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As the event unfolded at an unnerving pace , another place was struck by the same chaos.A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada had raided the hotels owned by the Jhas within a short span of a few hours and had confiscated drugs worth crores of rupees.

Media nearly went wild with frenzy and the conflagration raging in 'Spark Hotels' acquainted the world with the true colors of Surinder Manohar Jha and his company, feeding on the despicable deeds done by them.

 

Their time was over!

 

 

PART-68

“Hello khushiji!How are you?”Shyam asked in his coyishly silken voice,much to distaste of khushi.

“Are Shyam babua!Please come in!”Buaji blubbered,dragging him in.

“I’m going .Bye!”Khushi murmured.

“Khushji,wait!I’ll drop you.”Shyam offered eagerly.

“Thanks but no thanks Shyamji!I’ve to go to temple too.You need not face the inconvenience.” Khushi retaliated,ignoring buaji’s exclamation of how lovely that would be.

“That’s all right khushiji!I won’t be put to any inconvenience....”

“ Shyamji why are you forcing your company on khushi?If she doesn’t want to go with you,then let it be!”Payal growled angrily.

“Payaliya!Is this the way to talk to a guest?Haven’t we taught you anything?”Buaji fumed.

“Buaji,please will you stop taking his side and think of khushi for once?She need not be even more upset and despondent than she already is!”Payal puffed.

“Please stop it!Shyamji,I’ll come with you!”Khushi implored desperately, trying to subside the angry altercation between her sister and aunt.She didn’t have the patience to bear it. With hapless resignation,she left the duo-one fuming and other slightly gleeful,behind with Shyam as they started for temple.

“Shyamji,I’ll be back in a few.You can go if you are running late.”Khushi added hopefully,but the latter didn’t pay her heed,his entire concentration centred somewhere in the midst of the bustling copious crowd.

“Khushi,you go on.I’ll wait here.Actually I’ve spotted one of my clients.So....”Shyam trailed off, trying his best to infuse careful off-handedness in his tonebut not quite managing the effect cleanly.

“Ok Shyamji!”Khushi said dubiously,registering the unmistaken urgency in his voice.Shyam hurried off in the milling crown and khushi’s curiosity got the better of her.

She carefully stepped into the ensuing bedlam,keeping a  scrupulous distance from Shyam as she followed him.She saw him clutch the hand of a girl-who was too skimpily clad for a religious place and was invoking several scandalised looks for the same from passer-byes-and drag her to a secluded corner of the precinct,throwing nervous glances to his surrounding every now and then.

“What are you doing here?”He hissed as soon as they were nearly discernible behind a dense thicket,his face menacing,but instead of recoiling from him,the girl hung on to him as if for her dear life.

“I just saw you entering the place,so I followed.By the way,who was that girl?”The girl asked suspiciously.

“A cousin of mine!”Came the prompt reply,which shocked khushi.The guy literally panted after her and here he was lying regarding her!

“Oh!”The girl puffed apparently satisfied by his answer and wound her arms lewdly around him,pressing her body against him.A hungry expression came on Shyam’s face.

“It has been so long that you came up to see me!”The girl pouted,her voice flirtatiously critical.

“I’ve been so busy sweet heart!Otherwise I would’ve surely spent  my days with you,ensnared in the manacles of your love!”Shyam sad cloyly,his hands pulling her indecently closer.

Khushi’s eyes widened in confusion!She couldn’t make out head or tail of what was unfolding in front of her eyes.

“Aww my poor baby!You look so tired!You seriously need a break!Why don’t you come along and play?”The girl asked sinuously, slipping her fingers between the buttons of Shyam’s shirt,making his eyes dilate with lust.

“Surely my love!How can I deny such a tempting offer,but not now for I’ve some meetings to wrap, but I’ll be there in the afternoon to be your beauty’s slave!”Shyam murmured and after disentangling himself from the girl’s embrace,traded his hold on her for her hand.He hailed an auto for her.

“Be there in the evening then!”The girl insisted.

“Of course!”Shyam promised.

Khushi saw the auto chug away and immediately jumped into another one,giving hasty directions to follow the other.

“Like in Hindi movies!”The driver exclaimed exuberantly.

“Shut up and follow the auto!I’m a police officer!”Khushi growled,whipping out her cell to send a SMS to Shyam.

‘Some important work cropped up,so I had to leave in haste!Thanks for the lift!’Shyam read the message in disappointment.He had hoped to spin things so as to spend some time with khushi before going off for a promising day to his mistress.But the plan had fallen in cold bag. Sighing resignedly,he sat in his car and zoomed off, unaware o f the tempestuous storm so close on his horizon!

Just as the chase began sleek black S.T.F. SUV rolled to a stop in front of a speeding truck followed by a fleet of police car.

A.C.P.Arnav Singh Raizada alighted, straightening his shades.The look on his face promised menace!

“What do you want ?”The driver drawled,alighting from the truck,the graffiti on which proclaimed its association with  ‘Spark hotels’ owned by the Jhas.

“Akash,Aman check the truck!”ASR ordered,ignoring the driver.

The truck was assiduously checked ,but nothing was found except blankets,quits and pillows to be used in the hotel!

“I told you so!You won’t find anything!Its just pillows and duvets in there officer!Yor really need to...know...really...”The driver balked as he saw ASR grabbing a pillow and tearing it deftly with a pocket knife.

To utter amazemet of those that surrounded him,several packets of some white stuff fell out! ASR tore one of them and sniffed lightly.

“Drugs!”He announced shortly to the stunned gathering of police officers and constables around him.

There was silence for a split second before,the driver of the truck raced off as if chased by fierce hounds of hell with loud yelp!

Downfall of Jhas had begun!

PART-67

A.C.P Arnav Singh Raizada had a whacking day during which he leafed carefully through,stacks of papers related to the company of Surinder Manohar Jha. Details of banking transactions,MoA(Memorandum of Association), Articles of Association,financial statements,investments etc,in an attempt to find some vital clue which would throw some light on the entire incident.

Apart from the business jargon,he also had call details and banking statement of Chandru.He had given strict instructions to tap Chandru's calls to Akash without any speck of mistake.

He scrupulously examined all the papers, reading every word with great concentration till his grey cells were stretched taut,to their limits.ASR leaned back in his high-backed chair,dialing a number.

"Hello jijaji,I need you to do me a favour!I want you to probe into every deal and investment that Surinder Manohar Jha and his son does,every minutest and non- consequential details on the firms they are partners of,whether dormant or active, their black money floating in the market or stashed some where else-because I'm damn sure it is!Any secret alliance or contract they have entered into with anyone! I the nutshell,everything!Can you do it,please without raising any unnecessary suspicion,please?I could have done it myself,but it would've drawn attention and I don't want that.Even if the beans are spilled in your case,then it won't arouse dubiousness since you are involved in the same business as his and hence it can be brushed off as competition!"ASR explained wearily.

Armaan listened in grave silence as his brother-in-law explained his strange request to him,his mind whirring.The unnatural gravity of his voice was unnerving,but Armaan knew better than to ask him.Arnav liked to maintain secrecy.

"Fine Arnav,I'll do as you say and don't worry!Every information will reach you and nobody will be wiser!"Armaan assured.

"Thanks jijaji!I owe you one for this!"ASR said gratefully and disconnected the call,closing his eyes with complacent contentment.

His 'contingency plan' was on the rollers too!The situation was under his control!

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The sun rose just as beautifully as ever,initiating another day,full of promises, happiness and hope for everyone but not for khushi,who had been dreading this day every year since that horrendous night years ago when she had lost her parents.

She felt the same void,the same emptiness,which was even more pronounced on the ghastly day and fought hard against her tears.She couldn't fall weak.

"Khushi,are you ok?"Payal asked anxiously, caressing her hair.

"I'm fine jiji!"Khushi tried to smile,though her gruff,throaty voice gave her away.Before Payal could say anything,she hopped into bathroom,not trusting her tear ducts to support her long.

She stood underneath the steaming shower,letting her tears run unchecked- one of the many benefits of water drops!She bathed longer than usual and then gloomily dressed up to go to the office,only work could occupy her mind.Her family treated her diligently,caressing her cheek and ruffling her hair affectionately,attempting to sooth her,but unknowing adding to her pain.

"Come back soon titaliya.We've organized a pooja in the evening."Buaji said after she forcefully fed her some morsels of breakfast.She avoided looking in khushi's eyes as she said it,not wanting to see the pain there.

Khushi nodded,knowing that it was the ritual pooja that was organized on her parents' death anniversary every year.She wordlessly crept forward and opened the door,not knowing her day was going to become even more worse!

Quite on the cue,she grimaced to see Shyam Manohar Jha emerging from his car!

PART-66

"What's going on?"Khushi asked as soon as she reached near ASR,who was standing on the steps with an expressionless face,yet he had an aura,sheer power which was almost palpable!

"Nothing terribly exciting.Just the usual sweeping the place for possible bugs for snooping,you see.Not that any one will dare to do that S.T.F. office!They could as well go in front of a rampaging,mad bull!"ASR said mendaciously, keeping a watchful eye on Chandru who was lingering anxiously in the corner,obsequiously listening to each word he said.To Arnav's immense satisfaction,Chandru bought his theory and slouched off,but same wasn't true for khushi.

 

Had it been not been for the indisputable fact,that she knew his inside out,even though they had not been together for more than a few short months, she wouldn't have been able to detect the hard edge that was undercurrent in his carefully off-handed voice.Khushi raised her eyebrows questioningly at the look of contentment on ASR's face,making the latter realize that he could fool anyone but her.So,sighing resignedly,he sauntered to his cabin,shutting the door firmly behind khushi before turning to her.

 

"You are dubious regarding honesty of people working here.This sudden check is not simply adhering to protocols."Khushi stated flatly.

 

ASR affixed her with a hard,speculative look,apparently weighing how much to tell her.He didn't want to compromise her safety by putting a lot into her.

 

"All right!I won't persist.If you want confide in me,you can do it anytime!" She muttered,mistaking his silence to be his lack of trust on her.ASR's heart fluttered at the look of hurt on her face,though she attempted hard to disguise it behind her nonchalance.

He reached forward to grab the door knob before she could open and step out and pulled her in.

"Khushi,don't be ridiculous!Its not a question of trust because I've full faith that you will never betray me or this organization,but its merely my concern for your safety!"ASR said,guiding her to one of the chairs.

"What do you mean?"Khushi demanded,confusion apparent in her voice.

"I think someone is spying on us.I mean he is passing information regarding intricacies of our every move,our investigation to our enemies."ASR said lowering his voice.

 

"And who is in your radar of suspicion?"Khushi asked.

 

"Chandru."

 

"What?He I mean how could that be?Are you sure?Because we did all the routine check assiduously before employing him!All his driving license,voter ID, Aadhar card, everything to determine his identity was done meticulously,then how could he possibly hoodwink us?"Khushi spluttered.

"I'm aware of that khushi,but I'm sure of this thing too that Chandru is the infiltrator!"ASR's low voice was grim.He then narrated the entire incidents that led him to his deduction.

"We should sack him immediately!His presence poses danger to all sorts of high profile information that S.T.F. houses.All the names and residence of our spies in different nation,deals on armaments and secret missions,everything is at stake! We can't take risk of this magnitude!"Khushi exclaimed  vehemently,jumping to her feet.

"Khushi,Shut up and sit down!"ASR ordered,pulling her down.

"But how could we....."Khushi stammered.

"Khushi I could've sacked him long back if I had wanted!But, we can't afford to make any hasty decision in a sensitive situation such as this.We need to weigh our every step cautiously.Exonerating is not a viable option.We've to nab the kingpin of this obnoxious nexus!"ASR reasoned passionately.

"But..."Khushi began,but she was stopped short by a brusque knock on the door. ASR stood up and sat behind his table before saying a brisk 'Come in'.

"Sir,we found nothing!There is no electronic bug in here."The man said.

"Good!You may go now and thanks for coming here today."ASR said dismissively.

He had not expected anything to be found either.That would have been the most abysmal of mistakes.His foe was equally shrewd!

PART-65

Sun rays peeped in through the heavy curtains and khushi grimaced in her sleep, her one hand groping around for Arnav.She soon found an arm and in her state of abject sleepiness mistook it for Arnav's ignoring the softness altogether. Khushi pulled herself closer,nuzzling closer.

"Good morning Aranvji!"She mumbled sleepily,slightly lifting her face to place a kiss on the cheek of whom she mistook to be Arnav.

She felt his body rock,tremors going down until they increased in frequency.

"Arnavji,what's wrong?Why are you so shivering so much?Oh God!Did you catch cold,sleeping all night in the balcony?"Khushi's eyes flew open in concern and her one hand immediately touched his forehead,until she saw a figure clad in yellow lying beside her.Surely Arnav wouldn't wear such bright colored clothes!

"Khushi....you aa...re mad!Arnavji.....Gooood morning!Se...riously!" Payal rocked back and forth with laughter,clutching her stomach.

"Jiji...you here?What?How?When did I reach here?I was with Arnavji!Then how?"Khushi went on incoherently.

"Woah!Hold down a bit little sis!So many questions at a time!Why are you blaring like a steam engine?Anyways, so this is what you do with your Arnavji? Kissing and coddling!"Payal teased,clutching her by her ears.

"Ouch jiji!It hurts!By the way you are wrong!I was just....I mean I was dreaming and that..."Khushi's cheek turned the shade of a tomato!

"Stop it Khushi!Don't lie!The fat is in the fire!...You love him don't you?" Payal added softly,letting go of her ear.

"Jiji I..."Khushi looked down,abashed.

"I know you love him and this time round you have truly done something sensible!Arnavji absolutely adores you!He is so intense about you...so caring..and the look in his eyes,when he was gazing at you!Well, it seems my crazy, childish sister has finally found her match!"Payal smiled softly.Khushi looked up and immediately embraced her,while Payal patted her back gently.

"You know what,had you murmured someone else's name and coddled up the same way going cozy,I would've given you a good one,a nice elder sisterly lecture on being responsible!"

"If you want you can still have a go on me jiji!Don't keep anything pent up!" Khushi said.

"Oh sure,I would love to!But you should get going.I don't want to be the cause of your Arnavji's despondency so early in the morning!"

"Jiji!"Khushi yelled,throwing a pillow at her,while Payal laughed and ducked out of the way just in time.

After sometime,Khushi emerged out of her room in great haste,having willed away her time in a pillow fight with her sister.She ran helter-skelter,trying to gather her things up and banging every now and then on the walls and doors.

"Hai rey nandkishore!This girl will bring the house down someday! oversleeping and then nearly razing the house down!What will I do with her?"Buaji wailed, watching her niece rush around like a lunatic.

"Bye Buaji!Love you!"Khushi blew her a kiss mischievously,before dashing out of the house.

She didn't encounter much traffic,to her immense relief and reached the office on time.She swiped her identity card and touched the screen of the biometric device with her palm,rushing in as soon as the doors opened.

"What the.....?"Khushi gasped as soon as she emerged out of the elevator.

The entire S.T.F. office was bustling with activity as unknown people swarmed around with a heavy-looking machine in their hands!

PART-64

Payal walked back and forth in the gallery near the back door as she waited for khushi and ASR for Akash had just called and informed her about their reaching there any moment.She felt pretty churlish as she pondered over the conundrum named Shyam in tensed silence.

Apparently buaji had called Shyam home when she tried to call khushi for umpteenth time and her call couldn't get through.She started having kittens and was bantering at the top of her lung,until Payal had called Akash and he had somehow assuaged buaji's temper,giving some trifle excuses.But it was Shyam's outburst that had raised her suspicion.

As soon as buaji had told him and the others that Khushi was with Akash,working on some important case,he had nearly shrieked through gritted teeth and tempestuous spleen that Akash had lied,that Khushi was with ASR. Though,the family had ignored it after Shyam had stuttered some badly-constructed lie,with buaji fondly referring it to be caused by stress and possessiveness,Payal who had known the truth was highly unnerved.

She was anxious about her sister's safety.Was that creep of a man keeping tabs on her little sister?The question made her highly restless and she had immediately shared her worries with Akash for she couldn't possibly be the cause of her father's anxiety by confiding her suspicion with him.

Her dubiousness and restlessness had further increased when,though Akash had tried to use fairly nonchalant and dulcet tone,he hadn't been able to hide genuine anxiety in his voice.She knew something was terribly wrong and was squared to have a word with ASR.If he truly loved her sister then it was a matter that he should be aware of!

 

Suddenly she heard a gentle rap on the backdoor and nearly flew and wrenched it open,her mouth hanging down at the sight in front of her.Khushi was cradled in ASR's arm and slept serenely while he was holding her as if she were something that would break at the slightest of jostling.She followed him inside and watched appraisingly  as he lowered khushi on the bed.

Payal could clearly see the love and absolute adoration in ASR's eyes for khushi and knew with renewed conviction that he was just the man for her,that finally her crazy,erratic and hair-brained sister had done something mature and sensible by falling in love with a man who was perfectly capable of looking after her.

 

"Arnav ji,I have something really important to talk with you."Payal began hesitatingly,as soon as ASR was done with ogling at khushi.

 

"Yes what is it Payal?"ASR asked curiously.It was the first time that they were having a conversation more than mere courtesy.

 

"Its about khushi....and Shyam."Payal said,looking for his reaction.ASR's eyes darkened and his hands balled up into fists as he heard that rascal's name tagged along with his khushi's.

 

Payal narrated the entire incident to him and was quite literally frightened by the look on his face.It was murderously angry!

 

"Don't worry Payal!I'll look into the matter and I assure you that  his sick plans to court khushi or marry her will never succeed.I'll surely look into the matter!"He assured her as gently as he possibly could,but his voice was still taut and strained.

ASR looked at Payal and knew that she was still anxious and was touched by her possessiveness and unquestionable love for khushi.

"I won't allow anything to happen to her Payal!"ASR tried to sooth her to which she nodded gratefully.

ASR and Payal were flexed to save their khushi from anything that conspired against her!

 

 

 

PART-63

"What?"Khushi screamed at the top of her lung as soon as she got out of the initial shock.

"Yes,he's the one who is responsible for the reason I'm an orphan.The reason of all the anguish that me and my di suffered for all those years.The reason my mom killed herself to save her honor from that lascivious fiend,my dadi died protecting my di and my dad of a cardiac arrest!...We suffered a lot of humiliation and were ousted from our very own house!"ASR's voice seethed with hatred and khushi stared at him ashen faced.

"But,now its going to end,because I'm going to end it!That Surinder Manohar Jha got away by shredding my family apart but not this time,not at any cost! I'll be damned if I didn't get him and that scumbag son of his to rot behind the bars for rest of their lives begging and grouching for their death!I had waited so many years for avenging the death of my family!"ASR growled,making khushi shiver in fright.

Though khushi had been unaware of the magnitude of felony and debaucheries of the Jhas,she knew that they were pretty potent with lots of politicians at their beck-and-call.Local police literally ran around,wagging their tails behind them. So,as she heard of ASR's oath,it was utmost natural for her to be absolutely terrified.She had already lost her parents in the dirty bog of politics and she knew she would die if something happened to ASR.

Khushi immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his waist as if protecting him,making ASR chortle darkly.He disengaged one of his arms from her fierce embrace and patted her gently.

"Nothing will happen to me."He assured her softly.

"I won't allow anything to hurt you,to snatch you away from me!"Khushi growled back,embracing him possessively.ASR sighed and kissed her forehead.

The couple sat snuggling,each lost in their own world,taking in what all had transpired,and in khushi's case,letting the revelation sink.Utterly cathartic,they dozed of wrapped in each other's arm in the serenity of the night.

It was just quarter past 1 when ASR's cell rang,awakening him from his slumber. He looked down groggily at the screen which flashed Akash's name.ASR carefully extricated his arm from that of khushi's,barely moving more than enough so as to not to jostle her and received the call.

"Hello,what is it Akash?"He asked irritably.

"Bhai,where are you?Its so late in the night!Did you forget you need to drop khushi at her home?Buaji was having kitten and had literally razed the house down until Payal got her to talk to me and I lied that Khushi is with me and we are busy with an important case!"Akash replied in a single breath and ASR could almost hear his smile.

"Oh,yeah we sort of zonked off!I'll take khushi to her home."ASR said,wanting nothing more than to scold his brother for sounding so smug,but he couldn't do it,not with khushi sleeping so peacefully on his chest.

"Good!Then go from the backyard of their house.Payal shall be down there to open the door."

"What the!I'm not some thief that I'll need the back door to get khushi in!" ASR said,clearly annoyed.

"Fine then!Go down the front and get shot be all kind of awkward question by khushi's family,not to mention get khushi in serious trouble with buaji!" Akash quipped slyly,but ASR didn't reply and snapped the phone shut.He vowed to deal with his younger brother in the morning.

With assiduous gentleness as if handling a fragile butterfly,he lifted khushi in his arms and zoomed off towards her home,with his sleeping beloved at his side!