190/106 #2 SKR 21st CENTURY RAMAYANA: YEH HAIN ZINDAGI | SENANU | - Page 33

PART 116

Sushen completed 3 more rounds of doses and only then was Lakshman allowed to consume any food; they had to ensure his body was strong enough to take in the degrading quality of food.

"Hes a miracle," Sushen said," Im saying this for the umpteenth time I know, but I, being a doctor, have never seen someone of such strength or calibre. He is just beyond my scientific comprehension."

Ram patted Lakshman on the back and smiled.

"He's always been so." But he noticed, that Lakshman was not his usual self. Yes, there was a physical exertion, but his eyes too were blank and tired, something very uncommon in him.

"What happened Lakshman?" Ram asked.

Lakshman looked down and fidgeted with the sand.

"Siya Bhabi and Urmila.. I guess they have been told that I am dead. What will go over them?"

Ram sighed .

"I believe they know better."

-------------

The last three days had been tumultuous for Urmila. She and Siya had learnt of Lakshman. But their hearts, refused to believe a tinge of it, atleast when the heard it.

And when Indraniel showed her the piece of his shirt, she was shook, no doubt. But still, she had faith on her love.

But of late, her heart had sunk. Every day, Neil would barge into her room, drunk most of the time, and say things which she knew were too explicit to be true. But the fact was, even Siya could not give her the moral support this time she hoped to receive. The other day, as they talked beyond the walls,

"Siya di, Lakshman will be alright na?"

"Uh..I.." *sobs*

"Di, are you crying?"

"Urmi, dont get me wrong. I know deep in my heart that nothing can touch Lakshman when Ram is around him, but the thing is I know of this too, that Ram himself is not in a good condition. Physically, mentally and emotionally, they have been tortured by time. So, a part of them is bound to break.."

"Di please! Please you dont say this !"

"Urmi, dont lose heart. They will not be harmed, but yes, when they come to take us, you cant expect them to stand in front of you spotless. Its the harsh truth dear, and we must accept it."

As Urmila sobbed, Siya raised her voice a little louder and consoled her,

"Urmi, stay strong. Remember what Dad used to teach us always? He always told us not to shatter even when we hit the ground, so let alone break. Don't break down. Lakshman will be fine. Have faith in your love."

She was sitting in her room presently, eyes closed and in prayer when she heard screams outside. The voices of a man and her attendant.

"I dont want her out on any account! She will not move till this isn't over!" The man yelled.

The attendant came inside after a few minutes, and Urmila kept silent, though curious.

"Theres good news for you," The attendant said.

"Good news?" Urmila asked startled.

"Hm. Good or bad I cant say, but do you want to know?"

"I wouldnt have bothered to speak if I didnt."

The attendant cross eyed her but continued.

"Your Lakshman is alive."

Urmila clasped onto the edges of the bed she was sitting on and trembled. Out of joy, out of awe, or simply just out of having her prayers heard.

"And?" She asked quickly.

"I dont know what your husband is made of," the attendant Said whilst cleaning portions of the room, "But Neil Sir was saying he apparently hasn't got a single scratch. "

Urmila closed her eyes and thanked god again. Her faith in HIM/HER had doubled.

"But.."

"But What?" She asked.

"Now if Neil Sir plans to hurt him again, your husband will not live. My, you should have seen the blood in his eyes."

The attendant walked out, when Urmila whispered,

"That is, if Lakshman allows him to do so."

----

"Time, time is what we are running out of," Ram announced as the entire crew sat curled around the fireplace.

He continued,

"They too are wasting their time. They could have attacked us now. but they didnt. Why? Because they are weak from the inside. No matter how many people they have or how many weapons they own, they cannot touch us."

"What are our stocks?" Jamshed asked.

"10 litres of freshwater, we can get more by bribing a few."

"120 tins of food, and since weve managed to get some of Raghavans people on our side, we'll get more."

"Arms and ammunition, only 20% used."

"Very well then" Jamshed said.

"Quickening our pace is what is the demand of the hour," Ram said, "And.."

"We will go right now."

All of them turned to look at Lakshman, who's glass clean eyes reflected the fire in front of him. He knew, a lot of time had been wasted because of him indirectly, and now, it was one him who could give it back .

"Excuse me Lakshman," Ram said in a typical elder brotherly- sarcastic tone, "You need to get back on your feet first. And then you will come with us. Im not taking any risk with you."

"But Bhaiyya!" He retorted, "What has happened has happened. I am not going to slow down now. Enough has happened because of me. I want to return that favour and.."

"If you really want to return your favour, just get well quickly."

" But I am good Bhaiyya!"

Ram placed his hand on Lakhsmans shoulder and said,

"Lakshman, I dont want you to get hurt again,, stay safe and then you can join us."

Lakshman stared into the fire.

"Bhaiyya, that Indraneil not only hurt you, but he also hurt Bhabi and Urmila. He touched Urmila, freaking touched her!!!! I cant let him go like that! Bhaiyya, Ive found new energy, and trust me from now I will think with my head, not with the temper. Let me accompany you. Also, I have a great plan."

"A plan?" All of them asked.

Lakshman smiled and narrated all that, that ran though his mind whist In Rams lap. Even then, all he could think about was Indraneil. And his doom.

---------

*SLAP!*

Neil was pushed to the ground after Raghavans arm pumped up, having only for the second time in his life raised his hand on his son.

"One job you had, one job. You danced around but didnt even for once check if Lakshman was really dead. And having trusted you got carried away too, or else I always send a party to check. Its all my fault."

Neil was hurt. Not because he had failed to kill Lakshman on the first try, but because he lost the little confidence his father had in him.

"Dad I.."

"Don't show your face to me unless you've brought that Lakshmans head at my feet."

Neil wiped off a tear and nodded. He left the room in a haste.

"I swear to god I wont leave you this time you..."

----------------

Neil called his crew at midnight and stood assembled in front of the little cave type hideout just behind the Dharvesh mansion.

"Tomorrow morning, well attack again but this time, I want open firing. Straight into the bodies."

"Yes Sir! " Came the sounds.

Just as Neil was about to act further, a huge blast was heard a few feet from where he stood and in front of his burst open atleats 20 mens bodies.

"What the hell?!"

"ITs your time to go there now!" Yelled an angry Lakshman standing face to face with him.

------------v------------

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? JANNE KE LIYE STAY TUNED :P

Originally posted by: Shrinika13

RES BEFORE PM!

PART 117

"What the hell is going on?!" yelled a freakish Neil as blood splattered all over him. He had not anticipated anything so soon, specially at this time of the night. He had received the news of Lakshman being alive just a few hours before, and how the man had shown such strength was truly of wonder to him.

And now, he not only saw Lakshman in front of him, but came Ram and the others, a large crew behind, loaded with ammunition.

Ram came and stood next to Lakshman and whispered in his years,

"Good you knew of his weakness. We hit him right where it hurts."

Lakshman nodded.

*FLASHBACK TO THE FIREPLACE*

"Lakshman, what do you have in your mind?" Ram asked.

Lakshman took a deep breath and began,

"Bhaiyya, My association, rather aversion with Neil, has been much deeper than you have ever had with him. I know his weakness, and Urmila pointed it out to me one day, I remember it so evidently.."

"What did she say?"

Lakshman went back the days with Urmila. When he lay on the bed recovering from the shock they had recieved. They had just come to know of Indraneil's true identity, and what Lakshman had put himself into after the boxing match.

He clasped onto Urmila's arm and made her sit next to him on the bed.

"I am so bad at understanding people, na?" he asked.

Urmila made a sarcastic face and said,

"Yes. You think of me as sweet and simple, but Im not. I swear, if the next time you do any of this, I will kill you with my bare hands."

Lakshman smiled.

"I think I deserve to.."

Urmila's hand went over his lips.

"What is wrong with you huh?! She said with her voice shaking. "Here I am trying to lighten your mood and you.."

He kissed her very fingers which made her move her hand away in a blush.

"Lakshman?"

He was brought out of his trance by Ram.

"What did Urmila Say?"

Lakshman said,

"Sorry. She pointed out correctly that, Neil is at his best when he is prepared, when he has a plan. But when things go out of hand, he falls."

"Thats true," Pawan added, "When we were doing the case study for the kidnapping of Siya and Urmila Di, we actually found that Neil too was involved in a major part. But when we started following him, he hid behind the bushes and could not complete the rest of the plan as prepared. Thats why he had sent his wife Naina to con them. He is not smart when it comes to his present thinking."

Ram nodded in thought.

Lakshman continued,

"Bhaiyya, I can assure with my life that right now Neil is spending his time partying away .He really believes I am dead," he smirked. "I think it is this moment we need to take an opportunity of. Lets attack on him."

Ram looked taken aback.

"But Lakshman, its easier said than done. He has his crew, his arms, and we dont even know where he will be."

"Bhaiyya, we too have crew and arms. And for his location, I can find him from his smell. I dont know, he just has such a pathetic vibe, I can sense him from miles away."

"Lakshman, do you know the feasibility of your thoughts?"

"They may sound insane, but I assure you, Ive never been more sure."

Ram looked at the others for an opinion. The young blood around was burning. They were thirsty for revenge, and now that such a chance came up they were not willing to lose it.

He could see the fire in their eyes. For a moment, he fell emotional.Never in his life had he expected such kind of a support from people whose names he had heard only once or twice. Good still existed in the world.

Jamshed spoke up,

"Ram, I have to agree on Lakshman on this one. But Lakshman, you be here with us.."

Lakshman giggled.

"Sir, if I dont kill Indraneil with my bare hands, I will never get well . He will be my medicine."

Jamshed didnt speak. He just smiled. Being an ex army man, he knew what revenge meant.

"So, when then?" Ram asked.

"Right now." Lakshman said.

The crew worked with hands and feet and arranged themselves within the next hour. They covered themselves in black paint to hide themselves in the dark of the night and proceeded in a group.

Deep into the heart of the jungle, they spotted light from what seemed like a cave, and yells of men.

"Thats was easy," Lakshman said. "Weve got him."

"I dont think so," Ram added, hiding the torch under his arm and pointing towards the cave.

"Look, its guarded by atleast 7 men."

"So what do we do?" Lakshman asked.

Ram turned to Pawan and nodded. Pawan pulled out a black grenade from his back pouch and smiled.

"We only have one left, guess that'll be there for the final battle. "

He flung open the top cap and threw it in a jerk onto the cave opening,and after a few seconds, the raging fire fumes could be seen with a huge sound.

*PRESENT*

Neil was shivering, but he couldnt show that.

He had Been outsmarted, and that was something he didnt enjoy, to say the least.

"Back off," he said, "Or else my aim will not miss you now."

"YOU KEEP YOUR AIM TO YOURSELF!" Lakshman yelled ,straining his wound but not caring.

"Enough of Gun fights. Neil, Ive shed your blood by hand, remember?"

Neil recalled the boxing match and became agitated once again.

"So?"

"So I want to give you a chance to show me your might. Right now. Hand to hand. You, and me. No one else."

Blood rose in Neil. He wanted to jump on him, but he thought before that. He had his crew, his arms. It would be foolish. But then, is Lakshman could fight with him one on one, why couldnt he?

Ram looked at Lakshman.

"Are you sure you want to do this Brother?"

Lakshman have a confident look to Ram.

"With you by my side, Ive never been more sure."

Ram nodded. Each of Rams members went and stood near one of the members of Neils crew, with the opposing parties aimed at each other.

Lakshman said,

"If anyone other than you or me comes in between, they will be finished, be it from my side or yours. Come on now, lets get it to it."

Neil still was skeptical. He wasnt sure of what expected him.

"Look, Neil is sweating. Just still he did when I hit him in the face." Lakshman said.

Memories of a loss plundered in front of him. The match in which he could have ended a saga, he had drawn into the present.

Neil stepped forward.

"I will give you my best today. "

--

Lakshmans fingers gripped onto those of Neils tightly so that his wrist clenched and veins popped up. Ram was scared for him, but he knew, as long as Lakshman kept his cool, no one could hurt him.

Neil raged into his eyes and set tricked down his face. He understood what he had gotten himself into. This was not going to be easy. Not in the least.

Neil kicked Lakshman in the ankle which pushed him back.

"Lakshman!" Ram said, but Lakshman raised his hand asking him to stop.

He lunged forward and pushed Neil to the ground. He sat on top of him and smacked him right across the cheek. Blood spurted out from his mouth.

"This one for touching my Urmila. You'll pay for each of your sins now."

He smacked him again across the left cheek.

"This one for insulting her."

As he went to hit him again, Neil sat up and punched Lakshman just above the wound.

"And this one for touching me."

Lakshman moved back and caught a breath. He groaned, but there was no question of stopping.

Neil walked ahead but Lakshman moved away, thus catching Neil from behind and hitting him in the back.

"You still have time Niel, repay for your sins. Don't do what you father has taught you. "

Father.

Neil turned and punched Lakshman in the arm.

"WHY ARE YOU BRINGING MY FATHER IN THIS?!"

Lakshman punched him again.

"Because he started all of this!"

"What do you mean?"

He punched him again.

"Don't act as if you know nothing you...! He was the one who despised my brother, he was the one who sighed to marry by Bhabi, He was the one who thought of kidnapping her..He is the one who has brought India too its knees! Your father and people like him and reasons why we are dying slowly. Why we cant sleep with peace at night! You father is the reason today your Aunt has acid on her face and guess what, you father is the one because of whom you are standing in front of me with blood running down your face!"

Neil stood there, breathing heavily but quiet. At first, his blood raged, but then, as Lakshman spoke, somewhere deep in his heart, he knew, what he thought of was ... true. It was scary, really scary. But then, the light that had dawned upon him it would not die so easily.

Lakshman continued,

"And you, like and absolute yout, listen to him. To praise him and to prove to him how good you are. Damn, you never applied your own brain! Because of you today you've lost your Uncle and Brother, and soon your wife will lose her husband too."

He had never thought of life this way. He ha never seen himself from the light. Now, when his brain found itself at many places all at once, he went clueless.

Neil gulped. Was Lakshman wrong? Maybe, maybe not.

In this thoughts, he didnt realise when Lakshman hit him again between the ribs because of which he fell down.

Lakshman towered over him and kicked him on the chest.

"Its too late Neil. Even if you'd want to rectify, you cant."

Lakshman clenched his hand around Neil's neck and breathed. His eyes were red. Cheeks fuming.

Ram was about to ask Lakshman to loosen his grip, but then he recalled, Neil deserved this. Perhaps more, but Lakshman had a kind heart.

Images flashed though Niels mind. What he had done in his life,his achievements . All of them brought with them images of tears. Of pain. Caused both to his family and himself.

Had this life been worth it?

The sudden realisation that dawned upon him weakened him. He let of of his efforts and stated into Lakshmans eyes. All that he had done brought him his Karma, then and there.

"Sorr.." was all he managed, before he let out his last breath.

Lakshman sensed it and moved his hand away. He turned to Ram with a blank expression in his eyes. Neils crew Ran away.

"Bhaiyya, I saw something in his eyes which Ive never seen before. Remorse."

Ram came and placed his hadn't on his shoulder.

"Think how painful it must have been to die thinking of a life, unlived."

The trees made sounds of rusting while the sea shores withered away.

From the corner of his eye, Pawan could see outside the cave that a light had lit up in a room in the mansion. If he was not wrong, It was Raghavans room.

Maybe he had sensed the ending.

-----v---