Chapter 24

Hey friends🤗, this update is very long 😳totally filmy😆 and is dedicated to all my readers ⭐️who wanted Arnav to teach Shyam a lesson!😡

Chapter 24

Arnav to the Rescue

Arnavs adrenalin was pumping! He was raring to lay hands on that b*****d Shyam and rescue Khushi as fast as he could!

He shook his head at Lavanya and Mami who were still wailing and pulled Mamaji aside.

"Mamaji I have a plan. Call Billu now and tell him you have to attend an emegency meeting. Then instruct him to drive your car to the AR godown. See to it that he does not get suspicious. Shyam planted him here to keep an eye on us. I will now use Shyam's own man against him." Arnav smirked.

"Yes Arnav bitwa," Mamaji was only too eager to help after the mess his wife and her niece,Lavanya had put everyone into.

Arnav sprinted down the steps with Aman at his heels. He jumped into his SUV, put on his shades ,switched on the ignition, revved the engine and turned to a panting Aman, outside the window of his vehicle.

"Aman, order your men to nab the rascal as soon as he enters the premises Is that clear?"

"Yes ASR, as clear as a crystal. Aman dabbed his face with his large handkerchief. He grinned. He was rather enjoying himself in this assignment that was so important to his boss. He would give his very best to it.

"And the police, sir?" Aman asked.

"Someone else will take care of that, Aman, don't worry,"

Aman was too well trained to ask his boss, "Who is this someone." But he hazarded a guess. Just like ASR to keep a few cards up his sleeve, he mused.

Billu had laughed at the attempts made by Aman's muscle-men to extract information from him, till Arnav walked into the godown. Billu was trained to tolerate extreme torture. But he had never met an astute businessman like ASR! Arnav's offer of a safe passage out of India, a huge villa on French Riviera, and an account in the Swiss bank was too good to resist. A second after Billu had accepted the offer, ASR barked orders to his employees who fell over each other to make all the preparations. Billu was impressed and ecstatic as the plane tickets, deed of the villa, Swiss bank account number was handed over to him in no time. Meri to nikal padi !(I am going places! ) he thought rubbing his greedy hands in glee!

"Shyam babu kya cheez hai, itna sab kuchh ke liye main apni maa ko bhi bech sakta hoon!" (Who the hell is Shaym babu, for all this I can also sell my mother!) he told Arnav enthusiastically.

Billu was surprised at the abrupt clenching of Arnav's fist. A nerve twitched on his angular jawline and Billu felt a chill run down his spine as Arnav's eyes bored down on him, emitting fire. God knows what I said wrong, Billu winced. ASR is not a man I would like to take panga with.He hurriedly averted his gaze and clamped up.

Anjali helped Nani down the steps of their private temple at Sheesh Mahal. Maa had loved praying to the Radha Krishana murti (idol) here. Memories flooded her. It was so many years ago but Anjali vividly rememberd her maa's smiling face, her hands swiftly weaving a mala of the sweetly scented juhi, her head covered by her favourite red chunri (transparent veil) whispering to her daughter, "Anju bitiya you are my rani beti(good girl)! Look at your naughty brother. He plays endlessly on the steps of the mandir(temple) but doesn't come inside. But I am sure his dulhan(wife) will love it here like you and me, hai na?"

Chhotey's dulhan...Anjali sighed at the thought.

Chhotey had taken their father's betrayl of maa to heart. And unlike her, his pain seemed to have surged over the years instead of ebbing, making him averse and disdainful to the institution of marriage. She had never seen Arnav show any genuine interest in women, though scores milled around him, not even Lavanya. But today ...she couldn't get over Chhotey's concern for Khushiji.

She decided to talk to Nani.She was excitingly narrating her early morning conversation with Chhotey when Aman called.

"Anjaliji, don't panic. I am calling from the City Hospital. ASR has met with an accident. He has fractured his right arm and..."

"What?!!" Anjali screamed over the phone. Chottey ka accident!? Kya keh rahe ho Aman! Chhotey kahan hai? Usse phone do!".(Chhotey's accident? What are you saying Aman! Where is Chhotey? Give him the phone! )

Aman sighed and handed over the phone to Arnav who was staring outside the window of his hospital suite. Arnav took the phone in his left hand as his right hand was in a sling and said in a gentle voice, "The doctors have seen me Di, I am fine now. A truck rammed into my SUV, I was lucky to have escaped with a fracture.Yours and Nani's blessings came handy, I guess!"

"I am coming to see you now, Chhotey," Anjali cried. Nani who was hearing the conversation was also in tears.

"Di, listen to me carefully. I might have to leave Delhi soon. So no point coming here. But I want to give you a really important task. Something I can trust only you with.! You will do it for me, won't you?"

"Hmmm..." Anjali said wiping her tears, ready to do anything for her precious brother.

"Go to Khushi's house in Lucknow and tell her family Shyam has kidnapped Khushi and I am paying the ransom money today. But I don't trust Shyam. He might try to make a deal with her Babuji too. Tell Babuji not to strike any deal with that scoundrel. Tell her family to trust me. I will get her back."

Anjali was dumbstruck. Then she wailed, "I can't believe this! That creep Shyam kidnapped Khushiji! You broke your arm in an accident! What is going on, Chhotey?!

I will inform her family, and keep them calm, don't worry, but why is Shyam demanding ransom from you, Chhotey?"

Arnav sighed. "It's a long story Di."

"A story that began with the breaking of Khushiji's bed...right, Chhotey?"

It was Arnav's turn to be shocked. "How do you know that Di?"

"I am your elder sister, after all," Anjali chuckled. So Aman was right about the broken bed, she thought. She regretted not having pursued the matter.

"Take care Chhotey. Shyam is dangerous. But my brother is the mighty ASR!" her voice oozed with pride. "Shyam ki to khair nahin (Shyam, will not be spared)!" Anjali laughed.

Arnav smiled and ended the call. He was expecting Shyam's call soon.

"Hello Arnav, I am sure you are ready with twenty crores in return for your maal (slang, meaning commodity)," Shyam sniggered. "Proceed along the highway from Delhi to Lucknow with the money. I will tell you where to halt, later."

"Mind your language Shyam," Arnav's temper and voice soared immediately. But he controlled his anger and putting his well-thought out plan into action said, "Listen, I must tell you I have met with an accident and have fractured my right arm. You can cross check if you want to. I need someone to drive my car. So I can't come alone."

"Is this some plan of yours to trick me Arnav?" Shyam shouted angrily.

Arnav said in an exasperated voice "Fine Shyam. Send me one of your men. But he should accompany me all the way from my office in Delhi.Okay? Hurry up!" And he hung up the phone.

"ASR! Why did you disconnect the call? What if Shyam...?!!" Aman panicked, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.

"Try to understand Aman, if I insist on someone accompanying me, Shyam will become overtly suspicious and careful. My reasoning is that Shyam will try to find out from the hospital records if the story of my accident is true. If he has some recourse to the phone conversations between me and Di, which I am sure he has, he will hear the concern in Di's voice and will be convinced. It is also logical that he will ask Billu to accompany me, since Billu is in Delhi and he can drive."

"Excellent reasoning ASR!" Aman was elated.

Arnav rolled his eyes."Don't waste time telling me that my reasoning is superb, Aman because I already know that! Rather tell Billu to assure Shyam that he will make the necessary arrangements."

"Jijaji, Shyam has surely kept Khushi captive in one of the three hideouts mentioned by Billu," Arnav addressed Brigadier Vikram Singh, Anjali's husband,who had immediately responded to his brother-in-law's SOS and was currently posing as Rana, Billu's henchman.

"Yes Chhotey, thanks to your demand to release Khushi today itself that snake Shyam couldn't have got the time to shift her to a new hideout. I have informed my friend, the police commissioner. The police will cover all the three locations. But ..."

"But , what Jijaji?" Arnav inquired.

" But what will happen when Billu realizes you have taken him for a ride! He will be furious! He might tell the police that you kept him captive and struck a deal with him."

"Jijaji, Billu will not be able to prove anything! And then it will be his word against mine. Who will believe him? I will personally see to it that he spends the best years of his life in prison in extreme pain and grief!"

"For a civilian, you are a ruthless man, Arnav."

"Yes, Jijaji, I had to grow up the hard way, you know. And a man like Billu has no qualms about selling his mother for money deserves no less."

"Yet you are sentimental enough to remember the promise you made...to beat the shit out of the guy who hurt my wife and your sister. And this girl Khushi, you care for her, don't you?"

"Jijaji, please...let's not talk about this! She doesn't deserve me. I only land up hurting her and putting her in danger. I just want her safe and Shyam behind bars, then I will go away to London..." Arnav trailed off.

Arnav was as usual right! After they had been on the highway for about two hours, Shyam directed them to one of the hideouts mentioned by Billu. It was off the road, a ditch trail led to the deserted factory, far away from human habitation. The interiors were as dark as the man who rose to greet them, the satan,Shyam.

Shyam smiled devilishly at Arnav and shouted to one of his mean looking goons " Abbey O gaddhey(You donkey)! Welcome the high and mighty ASR! Frisk him for any weapons.Get rid of his mobiles. And double check the sling on his arm!"

"Where is Khushi?" Arnav eyes darted in every corner of the room, as he was frisked expertly.

"Oh! She is untouched Arnav, just the way you like her," Shyam winked at him.

It took every ounce of Arnav's self control not to smash the devil's face.

He let out a deep breath and said sternly"Stop this game Shyam. Hand over Khushi to me and the twenty crores are yours. The cash is in my car in two briefcases. Your man Rana has seen the money!"

"Get her!"Shyam barked at his men, "and fetch Rana."

"By the way, I hope you have been a good boy Arnav and haven't informed the police! And I want no hanky panky from you. All the guns in this room are trained at your head, remember that!" Shyam's sinister voice echoed in the room.

Khushi heard Shyam as she was herded into the room and she trembled with fear.

Even before she saw her savior she felt his presence.

And then she saw him! Her Arnavji... standing tall and ruggedly handsome in front of her! His chocolate brown eyes were clouded and anxious, but they were also calm and reassuring and a wave of relief washed over Khushi! He had come for her!

She started sobbing silently and before anyone in the room could react she ran to him across the length of the room and crashed into his chest. Someone shouted at her to stop! But the moment she snuggled into his arms and felt his warm heart beating in tandem with hers, the world around her ceased to exist!

Arnav drew her close to his strong length and dropped soft kisses on her head whispering, "Its alright, darling. I am here now.You are safe. Lets get out of here."

Shyam's voice cut in, " After all I did for you and your family, how come you never hugged me like that, you bitch? If it hadn't been for the conditions this loverboy set I would have ..."

Arnav could take this filth about Khushi no more. Something inside him snapped. It took him a second to pull his right arm out of the sling and catch Shyam's throat in a vice-like grip. The safety catches of all the guns trained at him went off.

"Khushi move away from me, you are also in the line of fire!" Arnav whispered fiercely.

"No! Never! I will not leave you."Khushi cried out

Shyam's henchmen were ready to shoot Arnav down but dithered because the bullets which could kill Arnav could also take down their boss.

Arnav was like a man possessed. He did not slacken his grip on Shyam. Shyam's eyes bulged. He writhed in pain as it became increasingly difficult for him to breathe.

While Arnav's right hand was squeezed Shyam's wind pipe, his left hand enveloped Khushi in its protection. She had turned away from Shyam convoluted face, muttering prayers to her Devi Maiyya into Arnav's heaving chest.

Brigadier Vikram Singh stepped into the room and trained his revolver on Shyam's head and announced in a booming voice "I am Rana alias Brigadier Vikram Singh and the best marksman in the army.Three of your men who had gone outside to fetch me are down on their knees! If anything happens to Arnav and Khushi I will blow Shyam's brains out, long before any of your bullets can touch me. Is that clear to all of you buffoons? Drop your guns!"

Arnav was relieved to hear his Jijaji's voice.

"Khushi, that is my Jijaji. Go to him. He will keep you safe."

" No Arnavji, no! I am not going anywhere without you!" Khushi hugged him even more tightly.

Arnav slackened his hold on Shyam's throat and pulled Khushi out of his embrace and coaxed her behind him. As Shyam staggered, clutching his throat, with one swift movement Arnav kicked Shyam in the guts. Shyam rolled on the floor with pain. But Arnav was not done with him. He jumped on him and started punching him left, right and centre with vengeance! "This is for hurting my family, this is for my Di, this is for my Khushi," he kept muttering like a madman. Blood spurted out of Shyam's face and neck and he started coughing.badly.

A gunshot anounced the arrival of a posse of policemen. Arnav's Jijaji dragged Arnav off Shyam butnot before he himself had solidly punched Shyam a few times.

And then suddenly the room was filled by the entire jing bang known to them. Anjali, Aman, Mama, Mami, Lavanya, Khushi's Buaji and Payal jiji who had returned home their pilgrimage, Khushi's NSS team members,Shaila, Tasneem, Nandini and Rohit and even Laxmi, the pet goat...all of them trying to land a punch on Shyam, while the police tried in vain to keep them at bay!

"Who allowed them here?" Arnav asked the officer-in-charge shouting above the din.

"Your sister took special permission from the authorities." the officer shouted back. He apologized."Sorry we were late. Shyam had sent his men up to the highway to ensure that no one was following you." Arnav nodded and shook hands with the officer..

Holding Khushi's hand he stepped out of the crazy crowd staring at them with disbelief as they had a field day bashing Shyam. Khushi giggled. Arnav looked into her hazel eyes with amusement. They smiled at each other and burst out laughing.

Suddenly NK burst into the room, and spotting Khushi, exclaimed " Thank God you are safe, Khushi! Why didn't you tell me that you wanted to marry me?"

Arnav felt he had just been punched.

I think I will finish the story in 1 or 2 updates! 😎 Thanks for your love and support! I am already missing you guys!😭 ❤️ 🤗

Please press the like button😃 if you liked this update and do comment while you are at it.😃 Thanks! ❤️ 🤗

I have answered to all your comments on the last chapter.😃