A deathly silence hung over RM and everyone was still where ASR had left them, including Dadiji. The only addition was Shyam, Arnav noted grimly admixed with relief. At his entry they looked at him with hope and dread but he refused to meet anyoneβs eyes. Not even Diβs. He made for the stairs but half way through he stopped and turned to Akash. βTake them home will you?β He made a general movement towards where Buaji and Garima sat. “And perhaps Payal may like to stay with them, it has a been a long stressful night.β He dismissed them.
Stunned they could only stare at him while Shyam and Dadi had ill-concealed smirks on their face. Even Mamiji had a satisfied look on her face.
βBut Bhai,β Aakash didnβt like the vibes and wanted to be sure he wasnβt misinterpreting.
ASR glared at him and reiterated, βJust do it Aakash, just do it.β
βBut Chotte!β Nani spoke up. βWhy are you sending Payal? And what about Khushi? Did you find her?”
βI donβt want to talk about Khushi and I donβt want anyone else to talk about her either.β He strode off to his room.
Speechless, they all stood there just looking at him. Amma and Payal went off into a fresh paroxysm of tears, swiftly followed by Anjali. Shyam gleefully rushed forward to comfort her.
Aakash gently touched Payal on her shoulder. She controlled herself and nodded her head and they slowly moved out of RM.
Nani slumped down on the sofa and Mami tried her best to console her.
NK stood staring at ASR, and then suddenly he appeared to come to a decision and charged off behind him.
βNANNAV! Would you please tell me what the hell is going on? Where is Khushiji and why are you behaving like this?β
ASR pulled NK into the room and said, βWhere is Shyam?β
NK was suddenly alert. βDownstairs with Di, why?β
ASR, closed the door and said, βNK, I think Khushi has been kidnapped and I believe that Shyam is behind it. I had to pretend I am angry with Khushi so that he doesnβt suspect I am on to him. The police are working on a few leads,β He nodded grimly at NK shocked gasp. βNK will you keep an eye on Shyam? If he moves out let me know.β He clenched his fists. βI donβt trust myself around him.β
βSure.β Even NK looked as if he could cheerfully murder Shyam.
βOh and NK, can you tell me why you guys thought Khushi was with me?β He questioned. βI mean something must have made you think so?β
βI donβt know,β NK scratched his head. βI canβt remember,β He frowned, βJust a general impression I think, oh yes now I remember.β His brow cleared. βNani asked HP if he had seen Khushiji and HP said that you had called her to the poolsideβ.
βBut I didnβt. So why did HP say so?β ASR wondered. βJust send HP to meβ¦ umm tell him to get me some coffee.β
NK went off to do Arnavβs bidding.
βArnav bhaiya coffee.β
βHP why did you tell Khushi that I wanted her to go to the poolside?β He pounced. βI didnβt tell you did I?β
HP shook his head. βNahi of course not. One of the numerous waiters who had come to help out at the wedding, he told me to pass on the message to her.β
βWould you recognize this man if you saw him again?β
HP nodded confidently. ASR waved him away only to call him back. βDont talk about this to anyone. I mean anyone. Understood?β HP nodded.
ASR walked to the poolside and called Khushi where are you Khushi? I hope you are safe! Restlessly he walked around the pool trying to retrace Khushiβs steps. She would have come from here and if someone wanted to kidnap her, he would have to take her out from here and then he saw – a brown spot on the white edge of the pool. Blood, Khushiβs blood, he was sure of it.
A shadow fell on ASR. He swiftly straightened and relaxed. It was Aakash. βWoh Bhai,β he looked strained. βI dropped them home. Payalβ¦β He trailed off.
βWhere is Shyam?β
βUhβ¦I think he has taken Di to their room to rest.β
βOk, look Aakash,β he opened up, βI am sorry for boxing you into a corner. I had no choice. I couldnβt risk alerting Shyam.β
βWhat happened Bhai?β
ASR took him to his room and briefed him. βAakash, that man has kidnapped Khushi. She is in danger. The police are trying to locate her from the phone call she made to me a while ago. Look, can you do me a favor?β
βAnything Bhai,β averred a shocked Aakash.
βHP just told me that one of the waiterβs had asked him to pass a message to Khushi to meet me by the poolside, which I didnβt. So who did?Β I want you to take HP to the catering company and ask HP to identify the waiter who passed the message and then take him to Raman and have him interrogated. I will call Raman and brief him and ah and take a couple of photographs of Shyam along with you.β
Aakash nodded his head and turned to go.
βAakash, be discreet,β Arnav warned him. βDonβt let Shyam suspect anything and perhaps you could call up Payal and explain the situation and perhaps (wonders of wonders) apologize on my behalf. I didnβt mean to be rude. It was all an act for Shyam.β
Aakash reassuringly clasped his shoulder. βItβs ok Bhai. I will explain. They will understand.β
ASR paced restlessly up and down the room, pausing only briefly to freshen up and change his clothes. Dadi came to gloat but he turned his back upon her and refused to entertain her. She passed a few acidic remarks, which ASR bore with remarkable restraint. Defeated she left him alone. Soon afterwards Nani too came, she was in tears and clearly on the point of collapse. ASR turned his back to her as well yet the emotions were in deep contrast.
Unable to extract any information or reassurance from him, she turned to go. Suddenly Chotte came forward and hugged her tightly and whispered, βEverything will be alright. I promise.β She stared at him unbelieving. He nodded his head and then put a warning finger on his lips. She looked startled but comforted she went out of his room.
Nervous and impatient, he gave a zillion calls to Raman. Irritated, Raman finally stopped picking up his calls, instead sent a terse SMS, βSTOP callingβ¦ will contactβ.
Aakash returned a couple of hours later and informed him that the waiter had passed the message to HP had also been instructed to pass on the message by another waiter who was now missing. However, luckily, another waiter could provide the address of the missing waiter as they were neighbors and the police had gone looking for him.
ASR was getting more and more fidgety and antsy as time passed, unable to wait any longer he went off to meet Raman. Half way through, he received a message from NKΒ – S preparing to leave RM. ASR alerted Raman so that he could put his men on Shyamβs tail.
Soon he barged into Ramanβs office. βDid you send somebody to follow Shyam? Could you trace the phone call?β
βWhoa buddy!β Raman looked up. βHold your horses, yes to both questions. I was just about to leave.β
βLeave? Leave for where?β
βThe hideout, where else?β He stood up and slid the gun into the holster, βAnd yes there is a temple nearby. Smart girl that bride of yours, or maybe not,β He mused, βIf she is actually wants to marry you.β He chortled.
βCut the jokes Raman, letβs move.β
βLetβs move? You are not coming.β
βOh yeah?β ASR thrust out his jaw pugnaciously. βAnd who is going to stop me?β
A wide grin split Ramanβs face. βYESSSS! Finally I have the answer to that ASR!β He was rubbing his hands in glee. βOh boy I waited years for this one.β His entire face shone with delight.
Raman schooled his expression to a disdainful one and folded his arms with an attitude and drawled, βSeriously ASR, I got the whole police force with me.β
ASR grimaced but backed down. βYou wouldnβt.β He said confidently but with little heat. βYou owe me one.β
βWhat!? Β Owe you one? What the hell do you mean?β
βRemember class 9?β ASR prodded. βMaths exams? You would have flunked if I hadnβtβ¦β
βOk, ok,β Ramain interrupted hastily. βBut no histrionics ok? Just a quiet sober, silent spectator. Ok?
βSure Chief.β Having gotten his way, ASR was all goodness and compliance.
***
Click here for Chapter 7
The updates have become one of the focal points of the day! Now for some action, waitIng for the next
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Thank you Sri. I also look forward to the interactions. Very therapeutic. π
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I like Raman π
Good luck to him trying to keep ASR in order when they get to the hideout!
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πππ Glad you like Raman. Last time round there were calls to get Raman married to Diπ
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Good Morning Dahlia.Theek Ho? thank you for the update.
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Morning Ferdi. Yeah a bit underweather. Better today π€thanks π
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Waited all day for this! Thanks!
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Thanks! π
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Raman… really thought ASR could be a spectator ππ..
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π
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Thank you Dahlia! I’m imagining Arnav as a super sleuth… and giving Raman orders.
Cant wait for the milap and the revelation of the brahmastra …. I guess, still 4 chapters away.
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Haha. I wonder if the reveal would fizzle out after the build upππ
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Arnav & Raman? What a bromance! Wonder if ASR even had friends growing up!! π Also Also, I love the relationship you always manage to show between Nani & Arnav!! It makes me go aww and makes me terribly miss my dadi!
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Even I thought he didn’t have any friends. Socha hona chahiye π
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Maybe school friend hai toh shayad friend hi hoga…His mother died when he was 14 rght?
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Yeah woh problem hai…
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As always, Nani and her Chote’s relationship is so lovely to see!!
Poor Raman, his glee was shortlived. .. jahaan Khushi hai, wahaan ASR hoga hee π€ͺ π€ͺ
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Of courseπ
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