Chapter 26

Bloomie

@bloomie

The godown of S.R Industries had been shut since three years. Taking advantage of the owner’s bankruptcy Sikandar’s men had made it into one of their safe havens. Ayesha and Riya waited at the perimeter with the backup force connected to each other and the other team which was in the vicinity of kamala Mills.

From their position, the girls were able to keep track of more or less everything that was happening in the premises. Inside, the men were loading crates filled with drugs into the truck. Once they were loaded, the supervisor went inside the building. He came out after a few minutes following another man. The new man walked with authority, his gaze was sharp. The others trembled before him.

Supervisor: Sikandar bhai, saara maal load kar diya, thodi der mein client Kamala Mils par pahunch jaayega

Sikandar: mere jaane ka intezaam ho gaya hai?

Supervisor: ji, sab ready hai. aap aasani se deal puri karke desh ke baahar jaa sakte hai par boss

Sikandar(sternly): kya?

Supervisor: woh…uska kya karna hai?

Sikandar smiled devilishly: tum log apna man bhara lo fir jo karna hai karo

Supervisor smiled: ji boss

The supervisor signalled the driver in the truck. He ignited the engine in response. Sikandar got into a car and lead the truck away from there.

Ayesha(whispered): Sikandar yaha se nikal chuka hai

Rathore: copy

Rathore, Arjun, Shree and Chotu had camouflaged in the vicinity of the Kamala Mills. Tampering with the location could alert Sikandar. Hence, they had decided to stay outside and then pounce in when he was in the deal.

Within a few minutes, a car entered the grounds of the Mills with a truck in tow. Sikandar stepped out and signalled the truck driver to stay. The driver switched off the engine. Arjun’s blood boiled on seeing him. He wished to get out and shoot him then and there but Riya’s words rang in his ears.

‘aapke dimag ko gussa control karna hai na ki gusse ko dimag’

He tightened his grip on the gun and closed his eyes to maintain his composure.

Arjun: Riya, Ayesha? Get in!

They answered in unison: yes sir!

S.R Industries-

Riya and Ayesha glanced at each other after the order. They nodded at each other and diverged towards opposite ends. The backup forces surrounded the godown. Riya waited till everyone was in position and then announced their arrival by killing a man on guard.

All guns went up from both the sides. Heavy firing started. The guards were clearly taken by surprise. Ayesha’s side entered the compound and started their onslaught. Riya and the others gave them cover fire.

Riya: Ayesha! Kill anyone with a phone in their hand, agar usne Sikandar ko inform kar diya toh gadbad ho jaayegi

Ayesha: leave that to me! Tum West side se enter karo, it’s clear! Hum building mein enter kar rahe hai.

Riya: Copy!

Ayesha entered the godown with a few men by her side. Riya entered with the others, killing all that were left and entered the second building. One by one Sikandar’s men were falling as Ayesha and Riya took charge of the location. It wasn’t long before Ayesha caught the supervisor.

Seeing the situation slip away from his hands he desperately tried calling Sikandar. Ayesha shot him in the leg causing him to scream and drop his phone.

Ayesha(holding him by the collar): agar koi bhi hoshiyaari karne ki koshish ki toh yahi par thok dungi, samjhe!

She threw the man away at the feet of an officer who arrested him.

Ayesha: iski zaroorat pad sakti hai hume, dhyaan rakho iska

Officer: yes ma’am.

Ayesha’s gaze fell across the room, it was covered with their bio’s and photographs on duty since the past few days. The contents present there shocked her, mv “Oh God! Arjun sir sahi keh rahe the, Sikandar ko humare baare mein sab kuch pata hai. Acha hua uske kuch ulta-seedha karne se pehle hum pahunch gaye.””

Riya and her team retrieved an enormous amount of drugs and illegal weapons stored in the second building. All the men over there too were either caught or killed.

Riya: seize karo sab kuch! Kuch bhi chutne na paaye!

As she looked over the officers picking up everything and cataloguing it, an officer ran to her.

Officer: Ma’am! Riya ma’am!

Riya turned around abruptly: kya hua? Itna pareshaan kyun lag rahe ho?

Officer: ma’am woh upar ek kamra hai…locked…

Riya: toh isme batane waali kaunsi baat hai, taala todo aur check karo!

Officer: andar se band hai ma’am, humne khola, usme do admi ko toh humne pakad liya lekin

Riya: lekin kya?

Officer: aap khud hi dekh lijiye ma’am, maine commandoes ko waha se nikaal diya hai

Riya was confused at his answer but nodded nevertheless and followed him upstairs. The officer stopped two steps away from an open room and gestured.

Officer: ye waala kamra ma’am

Riya: tum ruk kyun gaye?

Officer: ma’am aap hi dekh lijiye

This time Riya felt a little annoyed. She shook her head and entered the room but what she saw in front of her, shook her to the core!

On the other hand-

The boys communication with the girls had been cut after giving the order. They waited with baited breath for Sikandar’s deal to start. Shree had climbed up a tree was ready with a camera to get hold of enough evidences. As is, he wasn’t much of an on-field person. He would stay with 3-4 men and enter if need be.

Sikandar was leaning against his car with a cigar in his mouth. Feeling impatient, he checked his expensive Rolex for the time and shook his head albeit angrily. He was going to run out of the country as soon as the deal was over. His chopper was waiting at ONGC. His trip had been cut short due to Pathan’s arrest. Though he knew Pathan was loyal, he had to make sure that he didn’t even think of opening his mouth and he knew that Pathan knew, what he would do to prevent it.

As if on cue, a Mercedes rolled it’s wheels inside. A man in an Armani suit stepped out. The ETF was shocked to see the renowned businessman, Ritwik Dhananjay. He smiled seeing Sikandar and went forward to shake his hand.

Ritwik: kaise ho Sikandar?

Sikandar(angrily): kitna time lagate ho tum Ritwik?

Ritwik: are meeting mein tha, tum itna ukhde hue kyun ho?

Sikandar(gusse mein): Ukhda Hua Kyun Hun? Yaha Mera Pura Dhandha Thap Ho Gaya Aur Tum Puch Rahe Ho Ki Main Ukhda Hua Kya Hun?

Ritwik(taken aback): jeez! Chill old man! Aa gaya na…ab maal do

Sikandar: pehle paise

Ritwik shook his head. Despite doing business with him for quite a few years. Sikandar still demanded money before giving the order. Ritwik gestured his driver. The driver got out of the car with a briefcase. Ritwik opened the briefcase and showed it to Sikandar. It was filled with bearer bonds worth crores. Sikandar smiled and took the briefcase. He gestured his driver to follow Ritwik’s car.

Ritwik: waapis kab miloge?

Sikandar: jab woh ACP mera peecha chod dega

Ritwik: kaunsa ACP?

A voice startled them from behind: woh meri baat kar raha hai

They turned to see the second-in-command of ETF pointing a gun at them.

Sikandar(shocked): Rawte?!?!?!

Rathore came out of his hiding: humse bhi mil lo Sikandar

And before they knew Ritwik and Sikandar were surrounded. Chotu caught hold of the truck’s driver and held him at gunpoint.

Sikandar was still reeling from the shock that he had been discovered. He immediately removed his gun and took Ritwik as a hostage, shocking him.

Sikandar: wahi ruk jao!

Ritwik was beyond shocked: Sikandar! Ye…ye tum kya kar rahe ho?

Sikandar: chup! Muh band! (turning to the officers) chup-chap mujhe yaha se jaane do warna ye gaya!

Rathore(angrily): Sikandar use…

Arjun: Maar Do!

His statement startled everyone.

Rathore: Rawte Kya Bol Rahe Ho??

Arjun: Beech Mein Mat Pado Rathore(Glaring At Sikandar) Ye Mera Shikar Hai…Maarna Haina Tumhe? Maar Do! Mujhe Koi Farak Nahi Padta. Main Uske Bagair Jee Lunga Lekin Tujhe Main Aaj Narak Mein Bhej Kar Rahunga!!

Sikandar taunted him: ACP Arjun Rawte mujhe azmaane ki koshish mat karo! Yaad nahi pichli baar kya hua tha? bahot cheekhi thi tumhari biwi…(mimicking) Arjun! Arjun! (he laughed) par afsos! Uska Arjun toh pahunch hi nahi paaya use bachane ke liye…bichari bahot ro rahi thi. Waise suna hai….nayi heroine aayi hai tumhare paas, sambhal kar rakhna use, kahi mere kaam mein firse dhakal dene ki saza use na mil jaaye

Arjun’s blood boiled with a new fury but Riya’s words rang again in his mind. He somehow maintained his composure.

Arjun: aakhri mauka de raha hun tujhe, surrender kar de warna jaan se jaoge!

Sikandar started laughing and pressed the nozzle of the gun on Ritwik’s head.

Sikandar: surrender naam ka shabd meri dictionary mein nahi hai ACP. Ab seedhe-seedhe apni gun neeche karo warna ye ladka apni jaan se haath do baithegi!

Arjun: behre ho? Kaha na maar do!

Ritwik: Ye Kya Bakwas Kar Rahe Ho Tum Officer…Bachao Mujhe Is Paagal Se!

Arjun: ye baat drugs khareedte waqt nahi aayi tujhe, tu criminal hai aur criminal ki jaan se mera koi vaasta nahi hai

Saying so he shot Ritwik in the leg. Ritwik screamed in agony. Surprised at the turn of event’s Sikandar’s hold on Ritwik loosened and he fell to the ground. Before anyone could comprehend what had happened Arjun shot Sikandar straight in the head, ending him once and for all!

And just like that, it was all over! Arjun’s gun lowered as he felt a load shift from his heart. Roshni’s dead body flashed in front of his eyes. He closed his eyes to control himself.

Rathore went forward and arrested Ritwik much to his protests.

Ritwik: Tum Mujhe Kyun Arrest Kar Rahe Ho? Main Toh Victim Hun! Usne Mujh Par Gun Taani…Tumhe Dikhayi Nahi Deta?

Rathore glared at him: Shut up!!! Desh ko bhavishya ko drug ki chapet mein bhejkar khud ko begunaah keh rahe ho? Sharam aani chahiye tumhe Mr. Dhananjay!!!

Ritwik: Ye Tum Theek Nahi Kar Rahe Ho Officer! Jaane Do Mujhe! Tumhare Account Mein Itne Zero Daalunga Ki Zindgi Bhar Baith Kar Gin Nahi Paoge!!

Sameer’s patience wore off. He slapped Ritwik hard.

Sameer: Mera Imaan Tumhari Tarah Sasta Nahi Hai…Samjhe!!!

Sameer grabbed him by the neck and threw him into the van. He handcuffed Ritwik to the bar inside and turned to Chotu.

Sameer: saara maal seize karo Chotu!!

Sikandar ko marte dekh Shree bhi ped se utarkar andar chala jaata hai.

Sameer: Shree! Tumne….

Shree apna tab dikhata hai: maine sab kuch record kar liya hai sir aur photos bhi kheench liye hai.

Sameer: good! Ladkiyon se contact karo aur unhe update karo

Shree: ji sir abhi karta hun aur sir

He stopped abruptly as he saw Arjun on one knee beside Sikandar’s body, staring at distorted face, as if trying to make sure that the man was dead. Sameer turned to look in that direction. He couldn’t help but feel sad for him. True, he still hated him for whatever he had done to Naina but the pain he had seen him go through over the last few days and his desperateness to give justice to his wife, somewhere touched his heart. Riya’s punch had also managed to knock a little sense in him to look at things from Arjun’s perspective. He took a deep breath and walked upto him………………………