Arjun FF: Reshimbandh [Chapter 15- page 16] *Completed* - Page 16

Chapter 15

One month later.

“Good morning team!” Sameer wished everyone. “Where's Neha?” He asked no one in particular.

“Haven't seen her since last night.” Aisha said. “Though, it's her usual.”

Arjun walked in. “What happened?”

Sameer looked up. “Just asking about Neha.”

“Why?” Arjun took his usual seat.

“Nothing special.” He shrugged.

Arjun's phone buzzed. “Kaka?” He answered the call.

“Where is Neha?” Shashikant's voice was vulnerable.

“Not sure, why?” Arjun felt the panic in his voice.

“I tried calling her, she didn't answer. Please ask her to call me back right away.”

“I- I will do that.” Arjun assured him. He called up her number.

Vikram walked in with her phone. “It was on her desk, with her bag.”

Arjun frowned. It wasn't the first time Neha was gone for the night but never without her bag and phone.

Sameer cleared his throat. “Let's wait for a while. She will return as usual.”

Arjun shook his head. “Shree, check the CCTV.” A nameless feeling unsettled him since last night. He had ignored it before but not anymore.

Thirty-five minutes later Shree returned. “Sir, the CCTV shows Neha going into the emergency exit and someone dragging her out in the parking area. Since it was raining the details on the car cannot be made out.”

“Someone kidnapped your officer within the ETF premises and nobody heard or saw anything? How convenient is that?” Vikram mocked Sameer.

“Who are you to question our security measures?” Sameer retorted.

“I'm an INTERPOL affiliate officer. One complaint and you'll be forced to shut down this office.” Vikram said calmly, picking his phone.

“Can we focus on finding Neha?” Arjun almost screamed at the two.

Vikram frowned. “How can her tracker be off for 20 hours?” He refreshed the page. “Any other tracker?”

“One of her rings.” Arjun looked up on his phone. Last location was ETF. “Chotu, check the trash cans.”

A few minutes later Chotu returned with a plastic bag full of Neha's jewellery. “I also found two knives. One has blood on it.”

“Send it to the lab for testing.” Sameer ordered.

Arjun slumped on his chair, his mind raced through the events of the night—the mundane tasks, the routine calls. How had he missed Neha's disappearance?

His phone buzzed. Unknown caller. “Hello?”

"Tch tch tch.. it has been ten hours, ACP Arjun, how did you not realise your sister was gone?" The voice on the other end mocked him.

"Where is Neha?" Arjun asked eagerly.

An evil laugh. "She's with us, our most honoured guest." A loud scream echoed in the speaker. Arjun recognised the trembling voice, it was her.

"Neha!" His heart pounded. "Who are you and what do you want?" Without waiting for the answer, he threatened. "If there's a little scratch on her, I will give you the most painful death."

"It's too late for that, ACP sir. There's not an inch unscratched.” The tormentor's voice remained eerily calm. “We will call you with our demands. Wait for it. Until then, Sikander says hi."

The line went dead, leaving Arjun with a void—an abyss where hope and dread collided. Neha's screams reverberated, etching scars on his soul.

Arjun's phone chimed. A video. His fingers trembled as he hit the play button.

In a dimly lit room, Neha was tied between two pillars by chains. She was being slapped, kicked and punched, repeatedly. Her shrieks echoing in the seemingly empty chamber. A bright light was focused on her face, her eyes shut tight due to the burning light.

Arjun's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. The room felt smaller, suffocating. Neha was in the clutches of sadistic tormentors. The evil laugh still echoed in his ears, a haunting melody of despair.

“Rawte?” Sameer called him again. Arjun snapped out of his thoughts.

Shree played the video on the TV while the team watched it, making observations.

“Shree,” Vikram said, “can you isolate and amplify the background sounds?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

The ETF team gathered around—their resolve unwavering. Arjun's mind raced, connecting dots, seeking patterns. Sikander. His time was up.

"Prepare for the call," Arjun ordered. His sister's life hung in the balance. The room blurred—the walls, the faces. Neha's screams echoed, urging him forward.

"We'll find her, sir." Vikram's voice cut through the chaos.

About an hour later, Arjun's phone buzzed again. "Hope you've seen the video. Your dear sister is safe, for now."

"I want to talk to her." Arjun demanded.

A sigh. Few footsteps.

"Talk." The voice was rash.

They heard a heavy breath. A soft thud, a wince. A louder wince caught his attention, again.

“Neha?” Arjun waited for her to assure him that she was fine.

“Paathirakha." Her voice cracked.

“Vithuraya” Arjun mumbled.

“Paathirakha." Her voice was low.

Arjun's fists curled up in anger and frustration. A louder thud was heard along with some rough abusive words thrown at her.

The chains clanked louder. Another scream. Arjun had heard enough, he wanted to teleport to the unknown location, save his beloved sister. The clanking of chains reminded Arjun of his own perils with Sikander. How helpless he had been. Vithuraya Paathirakha. Vitthala, have our back.

Another hour passed. This time the call was shorter. "Release Sakshi and keep rupees 50 crores ready along with our drug consignment. Will call you soon." The line went dead without confirmation.

Vikram sighed in frustration. “The Morse code is gibberish. Why couldn't she be clearer?”

“Come on Vikram,” Aisha said, “She’s being tortured and you expect her to send a proper message?”

“Well it's not the first time she's held captive. She knows the drill. And looking at the video they shared, she's endured torture for far worse and longer hours. Five days with the Sicilian mafias and she escaped from there.” Vikram shook his head.

Arjun took a deep breath. “Shree, find out if there are any temples around the possible locations we have shortlisted.”

“Yes sir.”

~

“He tried to hurt princess and he- he has held Neha captive.” Aahil informed over a call and Sikander flew back to Mumbai right away.

He was seething in anger all the way from Lucknow to Mumbai.

“Azeem” Sikander screamed as he entered the factory. Everyone around trembled in fear, hearing him roar.

“You're early.” Azeem snidely remarked which was replied by a punch that threw him on the floor.

“How dare you touch what's mine!” Sikander fisted him again.

“It wasn't just a touch.” Azeem laughed. “I had a lot of fun with your precious little Sahiba.”

Sikander slapped Azeem and kicked him. “You shouldn't have touched her.” He held Azeem's hair and dragged him towards her. Her creamy body was painted in shades of red and blue. Her head hung low, dried tears on her cheeks and limbs chained up.

Sikander gazed at her hands and legs, tightly bound with cold iron chains. He felt a surge of anger as he confirmed what Aahil had told him was true. With a determined grimace, he began the arduous task of undoing each link, his own flesh occasionally grazed by the unforgiving metal. Each chain seemed to resist his efforts, but he persisted, driven by a mixture of guilt and urgency.

Sikander picked her up in his arms and walked into his personal chamber. He turned on the hot shower and began rubbing off the blood stains. He heard Neha mumble something as she gained consiousness.

“Don't touch me!” She screamed.

“Hey!” Sikander cupped her face. “It's me. Your Mirzya, Sahiba. You're safe with me.”

“Stay away from me, you monster.” Neha held his hands.

“Let me help you, Sahiba. Please. I'm so sorry that Azeem did this to you. He will pay for it with his life. And don't you worry, your brother will be here soon.”

Neha's grip around his hands loosened. She placed her head on his chest, her arms falling to the side. Sikander held her close, knowing it was for the last time.

He wrapped a towel around her realising that she had passed out from pain and gently carried her to his bed. He picked a fresh shirt and put it on her before tucking her with the bedsheet. He glanced at her sleeping form before walking out to punish Azeem.

~

“Sir,” Shree presented a map, “These are the three locations where Sikander’s hideouts are marked. All three have some or the other temple around.”

“Which one has a Vithoba temple?” Arjun asked.

“This factory warehouse.” Shree pointed out.

“Let's go then.” Arjun picked up his gun.

“And what about the ransom?” Aisha asked.

Sameer shook his head “We are not paying them anything and Sakshi remains in our custody. Team, prepare for the raid and rescue.”

Chotu and Aisha entered the ammunition room, carefully picking the guns and ammo needed.

“You know Aisha, I still can't believe Sakshi was spying on us for all these months.”

“Truth is stranger than fiction.”

~

Twenty days ago, ten days after the investigation against Sikander began by team ETF.

“Damn it, how is this possible?” Sameer banged his fists on the table. “How do they keep escaping, like they know we are coming?”

Neha looked at him, “It’s alright. They can't run forever.” She hands him a file. “This file contains confidential information, please keep it safe.”

“Sure.” Sameer said, locking the file in the secure safe in record room.

Everyone left an hour later when the alarm went off on their phones. Sameer and Arjun reached Sameer's cabin, seeing Sakshi with the file.

“What are you doing here?” Arjun said, unlocking his gun.

“N-nothing, I was just-”

“Ms. Sakshi Anand, you are under arrest for stealing confidential information.” Sameer ordered.

“As if you can lock me up, you have no evidence.” Sakshi scoffed.

“We can.” Arjun crossed his arms. “We have more than enough evidence that you have been interfering with our investigation and passing information to Sikander.”

Aisha cuffed her hands.

“Take her to the seventeenth floor, in the holdup.” Sameer said.

When Neha had informed them about Sakshi being the imposter, Arjun came up with a plan to catch her red-handed. Aisha and Chotu had screened her house, finding hidden cameras, bugs and information related to Sikander and communication devices.

Sakshi was placed in solitary confinement, nobody except the core team was allowed to meet her.

~

16 hours to Neha's kidnapping.

Sikander's Warehouse

“ETF! Hands up in the air.” Sameer roared as they walked into the factory with their guns drawn. They saw two figures at a distance busy fighting each other.

Arjun rushed towards the duo, team behind him as firing erupted from the other side.

“Stop it Sikander, he will die! I beg you.” Danish was on his knees, begging Sikander to let go of Azeem.

Arjun glanced at the chains and dried blood on the floor. His heart raced. “Where is Neha?”

Sikander stopped strangling Azeem and looked up at Arjun. The gunshots were heard behind them. ETF was here for a few minutes now and he didn't even realise it between Azeem's screams, Danish's tears and his anger.

Arjun's eyes were red with anger. “Sikander!” He screamed. “Where is Neha?” Sikander silently looked towards his chamber and back at him. Arjun followed his gaze and signalled Aisha to check.

Arjun tucked his gun behind and walked up to Sikander. Their eyes locked into each other as anger took over. Arjun let go of all his restraints and punched Sikander.

“You're late.” Sikander chuckled. Arjun threw in more punches and he laughed. “Is that all you got?” Sikander fisted his bloodied knuckles and punched Arjun.

As the two continued fighting each other, Aisha walked out with Neha, leaning on her shoulder. She held Neha's back with one hand and a gun in the other.

“Before you kill him, bhaiya.” Neha said in a low voice, “call Vikram to take his fingerprints and DNA samples to make sure we're killing the right person.”

After Vikram had finished taking the vitals, Arjun unlocked his gun. Roshni's face flashed before his eyes as he tightened his grip around the gun.

As the bullet pierced Sikander's body the chaos around the factory fell silent. Arjun emptied all the bullets in his body.

Sameer walked over, seeing Arjun bent on his knees, staring at Sikander's lifeless body.

~

“Who are you?” Chotu asked the hooded figure sneaking around the warehouse.

“Did you save her?” He asked.

Chotu frowned. “Who?”

Two uniformed policemen carried out Sikander's body. A faint, muffled cry caught Chotu’s attention. “Who is crying?”

The hooded figure carefully placed his backpack on the floor. He picked out the child from inside. “Look at your father for one last time.”

The little one stopped crying for a moment, seeing Sikander and began wailing as they took him away.

“Who is this child?” Chotu asked.

“Chotu!” Sameer called him.

“Yes sir.” He returned to the team. “Sir, I saw someone there.”

“Who?”

“I don't know. But he had a child, probably Sikander's child.”

“Find him.”

~

“Agent Victor reporting, case completed. Sikander aka Alexander is dead.” Vikram informed Captain Turnbull.

“Good. I need you to return to London right away, another important case awaits.”

“Sure Captain but Agent Mona is unwell. She was-”

“Let her recover, we will ensure she gets the best treatment, but you need to be here now.”

“Alright captain. On my way.”

Vikram looked at the sleeping Neha, tied to all sorts of beeping machines in the hospital ward. “Hey babe, I have to go. Maybe we won't meet again, please take care of yourself.” He scribbled a note and gave it to Arjun. “Give this to her when she wakes up.”

“Where are you going?”

“Another case, all the best to you people.”

~

Rawte Mansion,

“Arjun!”

Arjun turned around, looking at the familiar figure, frowning in confusion. “Bhau?”

“Yes, it's me.” Aryan patted his shoulder.

“What? H-how is this possible?”

“I was undercover, for a mission.” Aryan put his bag aside. “It has been so long.” He pulled Arjun into an embrace.

“Bhau,” Arjun sobbed in his arms.

I saw bhau there, please trust me bhaiya!

Arjun took a step back, “Neha knew about you? Why didn't you tell me?”

“I couldn't risk anything, yet it cost her so heavily.”

“She knew?”

“I was providing her the information.”

The source is very trusted, bhaiya, do not doubt it.

Nobody gets you such precise information, Neha, who is giving it to you?

Just trust me, it is authentic.

Arjun sighed. “What now?”

Aryan pulled out some hard disks and diaries. “You've barely scratched the surface. Here's all that I have for now. We need to work on it.”

“Give it to the system, they will take care of it.” Arjun scoffed.

“Definitely not, the system will never use this information properly.”

“You don't trust it too?”

“Every system has its flaws, Arjun. Sikander was also created by the same system but he had a mind of his own, men like him aren't meant to take orders but give them.”

“Men like him only know how to ruin people's lives.”

“That's true.”

Some loud shrieks caught their attention. “Neha is home?” Aryan asked as they rushed downstairs.

“Yes, I think it's better to have her here.” Arjun said entering the room.

The nurse was trying to calm her down but she kept screaming. Arjun walked over to her bed. “Dollie, it's okay, you are home, you are safe.” He caressed her hair.

Her eyes fixed on Aryan. “Bhau! I didn't say a word. I-” tears streamed down her cheeks.

Aryan sat beside her, holding her hand. “I'm sorry I couldn't reach you sooner.”

“That's okay, I know you did your best in keeping me safe.” she voiced softly.

“You will be alright, bittu!” Arjun said.

“Really? She allowed you to say that?” Aryan raised his brow.

“Only in exceptional cases.” Neha smiled. “Now you’re not allowed to go anywhere.”

“Can't stay for long, I have to report back and maybe get some new case.”

“You are not going anywhere, bhau.” Neha said strictly.

“Okay, I won't. Now let's have some soup and get you some medicine.”

“I'm definitely starving.” 16 hours. “Azeem is dead, right?”

“Yes.” Aryan nodded.

“I hope it was painful. I wanted to keep him alive for torture.” Neha eyed Arjun.

“We were late, he was quite dead by then.”

“That's fine, I heard his screams, that was satisfying. Anyway, what about Sakshi?”

“She is still in custody, let's see how things go forth. We have a meeting with commissioner sir tomorrow.” Arjun said.

“Good. Maybe I'll come.”

“No, Neha, you need to rest. You are not going anywhere.”

“Sounds like that is the best option for now. As long as Bhau is around.”

“Sure, I'll be here with you.” Aryan held up a spoonful of soup.

~

Next afternoon

Commissioner’s office

DIG Coelho had a core team meeting with the ETF. “Officers, we have dealt with a very important case, very efficiently, kudos to you all, especially team ETF. Henceforth the remaining things will be handled by CBI and NCB.”

Arjun and Sameer looked at each other. Coelho continued. “I'll be hosting a small dinner tonight to celebrate our victory.”

“Victory?” Arjun scoffed. “None of this sounds like a victory to me, sir. I won't be joining.” He stormed out.

“ACP Rathore, I expect your entire team tonight.”

“Sir, as you know, one of our officer, Ms. Neha was taken hostage for over 15 hours, she is currently hospitalized and I don't think Arjun would want to leave her alone. So please excuse them, the rest of my team will be joining.”

“Share the details, I'll visit her personally, she has been crucial in this case.” Coelho patted his back.

“That's very kind of you.” Sameer nodded.

~

“Bhau, where is Noorie?” Neha asked.

“She is with her grandmother. Why?”

“Just wanted to make sure that she is alright.”

“Yes, don't worry about her.”

“I am worried about bhaiya. He is trying to act normal but I know he is going through a lot.”

“I know , but he will find another purpose in his life. This emptiness and void will be filled.”

“Let's send him to London, being with Anu and Aru will help him calm down.”

“That sounds good.”

“Bhau, it's time you meet Bhabhi again, she has been waiting too.”

Aryan sighed. “It's been five years. I don't know how it is going to be.”

“It's gonna be alright.”

“I hope so.”

~

“Vikram!” Neha woke up out of breath.

Arjun frowned. “Are you okay, dollie?”

“Where's Vikram?”

“He left.” Arjun replied solemnly.

“Without meeting me?”

Arjun pulled out the letter. “This is for you.”

Neha read the scribbles.

Dear Neha, I'

ll be long gone when you read this letter. This is a goodbye and I believe we won't meet again. Please remember all the lessons you have learnt so far. Take care of yourself and live your life on your terms. Bye.

Neha tore the letter. “He really just left?”

“That's what he said.”

“Fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. He was just a coworker anyway. Let's eat ice-cream.”

Arjun narrowed his eyes. “After dinner.”

-*-

Note : I've had this chapter in drafts for almost a year. And I finally decided to post it.

It isn't the best,. I'm not satisfied either but I'd like some constructive feedback. In the re-written version of Wattpad, I'll put in a bit more detailed digging of Siki and other background.

Let me know what else you'd like to see. I will be giving an epilogue, but can't tell when. 🙈