The Royal Fling - Part 33

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Chapter 33
Nainital. That’s where Payal was. Arnav couldn’t believe how he missed tracing Akash and Payal there earlier. He had paid special spy teams to look for them in Nainital when he had got a hint they were there. But Akash was too good to cover up his hiding all these months.

“Arnav.. the teams are ready” Angad rushed in the drawing room where Arnav was informing Daadi about Payal’s distress call. “The choppers are on standby. We will have to make a move now”

“Good. Lets go”

“Call me once you find Akash” Daadi urged.

With a curt nod, Arnav reached the door but was blocked by Khushi.

“I am coming along” she said.

“No, it’s risky for you. Stay here”

“I am not asking Arnav. I have made up my mind. I am coming with you”

Arnav clenched his jaw.

“For once, will you do as I say? You have still not recovered from the Panic attack. I cannot risk your health”

His over worry for her got her more worried. It was better earlier when he at least said he didn’t care. These days he cared for her like he would never let her in pain and reflected both in his words and actions.

“My sister is out there.. needing help. How can I be cool here? I am coming and that’s final. Either take me with you or I will make my own travel arrangements”

Arnav groaned in anger. She wouldn’t listen to him.

“fine”

Khushi was glad he agreed. She followed him out. No one except Daadi, Angad and a handful of men from his security knew about their current ploy to find Akash. Shyam and Anjali had not come out from their room after Holi celebrations.

“It’s just us? Where is Shyam?” Khushi asked as they stepped in the car which headed for the helipad.

“I didn’t bother to waste my time informing him” Arnav replied busy checking his phone.

“What? You didn’t inform Shyam? Akash is his brother too”

“Will you shut up for a while and let me concentrate?” he snapped.

She stared at him coldly. Who would say just few hours ago he demonstrated his romantic side by applying her colors and even kissed her cheek? It was just the two of them in the car along with the driver. Angad and few men were following their vehicle. She kept her mouth shut as he dialed Angad and started instructing him of their next actions. The Nanital’s police were not informed. Arnav didn’t want to aggravate Akash’s kidnappers and take any harsh actions which could cost Akash’s life. But the royals had their men in Nainital on high alert as this was a secret operation. So secret that even Khushi had no clue about it.

After a 10 km drive, they got down at the Helipad where two huge Black Choppers were ready to fly them out. He put a pair of noise plugs in ears and handed the other pair to Khushi. She was thrilled to get in the Chopper. It kind of made her giddy. She stopped.

“Come on…” he scowled. His voice was hardly audible amidst that noise of the Chopper blades in the background.

“We.. are going in that?” she shouted

“Yes” he read the expressions on her face. She was afraid.

“Don’t tell me you are scared of these things”

“Very” she muttered.

“Good enough. Stay back. I will ask someone to drop you back to Shantivan”

“No” she immediately gripped his arm. “Take me with you”

Arnav glanced the way she held his arm. Despite her fear she didn’t want to turn back. It showed how much she cared and loved her sister. Arnav gripped her shoulders hard.

“I will bring her safe. No one will be hurt, I promise. Just go back home”

She didn’t doubt on his assurance. Somehow, she knew he would do anything in his power to get Akash and Payal safe. He would intentionally never hurt his family. When he could even agree to split the Royal property for his brother, why wouldn’t he turn the world upside down to save another?

“I will come with you” she made up her mind again. If he could do so much, why couldn’t she show some courage?

He exhaled briefly.

“Come on then” he gripped her hand and dragged her gently to the bird. She stepped in first and buckled herself. He sat next, close… very close. The space inside wasn’t enough for anyone except the two Pilots and the couple. The other bird carried the rest of the men with Angad. As the bird took off, Khushi shut her eyes to drive away the uneasiness she felt inside her body. Arnav shut his mobile after the take off. As he glanced back at his wife, he saw her muttering something constantly in fear with eyes shut. She probably was praying. His gaze on her turned sympathetic during the entire one-hour ride to Nainital.

As they got down the Chopper at the Helipad in Nainital, Khushi felt her stomach churned.

“Need a minute?” he asked her before proceeding to the vehicles.

She nodded in agreement breathing heavily. Arnav gave her some time to relax while he strode to the Two teams who were ready for his instructions in tracing Akash Singh Raizada. Khushi gulped some water and felt energized in few minutes. The ride wasn’t that bad like she had presumed it to be. But it was worse for her husband whose arm she almost scratched by her nails as she dug them into his skin in fear, whenever the chopper shook by turbulence. Her nail marks were clearly noticeable as he wore a Half-sleeved T-Shirt on those denims. That man had shown too much of patience during the entire ride. She couldn’t thank him enough. He finished addressing the teams and turned around gesturing Khushi to walk over. It was time for some action now.

As she got in the car, Arnav shut the door without getting inside.

“They will take you to Payal. She is safely evacuated by my men” he said. “Stay there with her”

“Where are you going?” she scowled.

“We have got a tip where Akash is. Going to get him. Will see you soon”

He tapped the car door hard for the driver to start the engine. Khushi kept staring at him as he walked with his men towards another vehicle. He wore a piece of Bluetooth in his ear and then someone handed him a gun. A GUN? She instantly touched the inner glass of the car window in an attempt to see clearly what was going on.!! Her car was yet to move out of the place which was why she could focus for some more minutes on Arnav Singh Raizada. He unlocked the gun, checked the bullets and in no time slipped it in his back pocket. He knew to shoot? Why not? He was a Royal after all and such things he learnt quite early in his childhood. But now since she got to know guns and bullets were involved, she feared if anyone would be hurt that badly!! Who had kidnapped Akash and why?

******************

After a drive of 40 minutes, Khushi got down at a small bungalow which was heavily guarded. The place was no less than a fortress with heavily armed people blocking every entry and exit. What place was this? Was Payal here? She stepped inside.

Payal sat there on the couch, helplessly holding her second trimester pregnant stomach. She looked pale despite wearing the brightest color dress. There were cut fruits served for her which probably she didn’t even touch. Even the coffee she was served had become cold. The worry of getting her husband safe and sound bothered her. Khushi’s eyes swelled with tears as she saw her sister in this condition. It had been more than 2 years now that they didn’t see each other. And now even though they met, the situation was terrible. Khushi wanted to fight with Payal for being so selfish and eloping. But this was not the right time to debate on the past grudges. Finding Akash and assuring Payal that he would return safe was her only motto.

The moment Payal turned and saw Khushi walking to her, she stood up. Her legs felt jelly as she stepped closer.

“Khushi” she hugged her and burst into tears. It was painful to see her in this state. “Akash.. I want him back.. I want him back Khushi”

Khushi composed herself and wiped Payal’s tears.

“He will come back. Nothing will happen to him. Arnav has gone to fetch him”

Payal’s cries didn’t stop. Khushi took her back on the couch and made her sit.

“You need to calm down Payal. Everything will be fine. Drink some water. And what is this? You didn’t even touch the fruits. How can you be so careless? You should eat. If not for yourself then for this baby”

Khushi lovingly touched Payal’s semi bloated stomach. “Hey there…” she tried to converse with the baby to divert Payal’s mood. “I am your Maasi. Come out soon and we will play and cuddle day and night”

A weak smile touched Payal’s lips. She caressed Khushi’s cheeks.

“I am sorry” she mumbled. “I should have told you..”

“Good you didn’t.” Khushi snapped. “I would never let you run away otherwise. Do you even realize what Dad and Maa went through? Maa was broke and Dad’s taunting about the way she raised us didn’t go well with her for months. We .. we all suffered so much because of your one wrong step”

Payal cried again with guilt.

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want people to point a finger at you all. For my mistakes”

Khushi had no clue what that meant until Payal explained her the rest.

“I was pregnant Khushi. 3 months pregnant when I took the decision to elope”

It took few minutes for Khushi to register it and bring words in mouth.

“You were pregnant that time?”

Payal weakly nodded.

“Yes. And since Akash was no longer with his family, we took this decision to flee and have our independent lives. But they say, you cannot stay happy hurting your families. That’s why after 3 more months I had a miscarriage”

Tears rolled down Khushi’s cheeks.

“Oh My God” Khushi put her palm over her mouth to curb her emotions. Now she knows why Payal looked so dull just few days before she eloped.

“Why didn’t you tell me? We would have found a better solution”

“What solution Khushi? Dad was against the Royals. His cold fight with them for power had always brought bitterness in between the two families. Why would he agree to get me married to Akash? And.. the Royals? Had they found out Akash was having a child from me before marriage, their name would have soiled too. Knowing how worse Arnav Singh Raizada’s actions are, we decided to run away from all these headaches. We didn’t have much choice”

Khushi gulped nervously. Payal went through so much? Poor woman. She lost her first baby.

“And when I learnt you got married to Arnav… I was shattered. How could you marry that man? He.. he is not worth it”

Is he? Khushi swallowed hearing that accusation for her husband. She had seen different zones in that man. He was worse.. but he had compassion too for people he cared about. He dominated on everyone but he also admitted his sins to her. He took miserable decisions in his ego, but he also changed them before it could affect the people he loved. And could she even tell Payal now that she married Arnav because of her? She joined hands with Arnav Singh Raizada to find her sister, to safeguard her and get her back in Shantivan where she rightfully deserved to stay? And just when Khushi had plans to end it all and move out, here she was… in Nainital.. instead of Mumbai where her work was again going to be hampered.

“Did Dad force you to marry him? I am sure he must have. But why would he? He doesn’t like the Royals”

Khushi’s chain of thoughts broke again.

“We will talk about it later. Right now, you should eat”

She started feeding the cut fruits to Payal who resisted at first but soon agreed to eat.

*******************

“Cover me” Arnav whispered taking his gun out. They had reached the place where they suspected Akash was kept. There was only one way they could enter the place – the front door. The entire area was covered by thick bushes which paved their hiding efforts. Angad rushed to Arnav from the other side.

“He is in there. I can see him” he passed the binoculars to Arnav who saw Akash tied to a chair. Akash brother was yelling at the goons standing around him. Arnav had never seen his brother so helpless and it only boiled his blood.

“We are going in. Shield this entire area. I don’t want these goons to escape” Arnav demanded.

“I am coming with you” Angad removed his gun and took the position. “Have informed the local police for backup”

Arnav had instructed not to involve the local police until they reached this place. Only a powerful man had to be behind this abduction of the Royal. And if that’s true, he will obviously have his own eyes and ears in the local police which would threaten Akash’s life and this entire secret operation.

“Lets go”

A team of 5 strong men along with Angad and Arnav Singh Raizada stormed in the house. There were gunshots firing at them instantly and Arnav’s men who happened to be trained Officials, handled the crises. Angad covered Arnav who headed to unchain Akash.

“Bhai” Akash was shocked seeing Arnav coming here for help. Arnav didn’t care to talk. He unchained Akash when someone fired a bullet at Akash. Arnav saw it happening and pushed his brother away, taking the bullet on his arm. It hit his arm, bruised it but passed through.

“Bhai.. You are hit”

“Flesh wound” Arnav gritted his teeth checking his wound on the forearm.

Angad turned around and shot the man who fired from the top floor.

“Damn.. they are fast and too many” Angad screamed.

“Where the hell is the police?” Akash scowled dragging his brother Arnav and Angad away to hide.

“On way” Angad snapped.

The gunshots continued.

“I thought you would get them along with you” Akash shouted at Arnav.

“Had they been informed prior; you would be dead meat by now” he scowled.

This was mostly true. Before Akash could get more agitated for not having a weapon to shoot, Arnav handed him a spare gun.

“Just shoot the arms or feet. We don’t want to kill them. Just injure them enough not to hurt us back” Arnav warned.

“Seriously?” he snapped. “They are allowed to kill us and we cant?”

“Do as I say Akash. No arguments” he groaned and shot another goon who had targeted them again from the other side.

The gunshots continued, mainly the ones from the top floor. Someone was heavily loaded with bullets there.

“Cover me” Arnav shouted before rolling on his back to reach the staircase. Akash covered for him until he reached the stairs and climbed. Both Angad and Akash kept shooting at the goons who targeted them to stop Arnav from reaching that floor.

“Glad these guns came to use” Angad shouted happily. “And good to see you friend”

“Good to see you too Angi” Akash winked.

“Not again” Angad rolled his eyes. “Why do you call me Angi? It’s Angad”

“I love short form of it. Simple.. cute”

“Shut up”

“Mind your words Angad, you are talking to a Royal” Akash mocked.

Angad frowned but he knew Akash didn’t mean any of it. He loved making fun… that’s how he was… always!!

There were two people up there who kept firing and Arnav smashed one of them with his punch. He then shot the other man’s arm injuring him badly. The gunshots stopped once the police vehicle siren could be heard. The goons lay there injured, blood everywhere while Arnav taking the headcount of his team. None of them were hurt except a few bruises. He was glad.

*****************

3 hours passed that Khushi was here with Payal and had no clue if Arnav could save Akash. She paced on the floor, fiddling with her phone. Should she call him up? Not a good idea. But how was she supposed to know otherwise. She didn’t care. She decided to call. And just before she dialed, she heard Payal’s scream in joy.

“Akash…”

Khushi turned around and exhaled seeing Akash Singh Raizada making way to his wife and hugging her hard. Just when she moved her gaze behind, she saw Arnav Singh Raizada following in with his arm bleeding.

“Arnav?” she ran to him without wasting a second. “You are hit?”

Akash and Payal both turned to them.

“He took a shot for me” Akash informed watching his brother carefully. He was himself so shocked that all this happened and his and Payal’s whereabouts were no longer a secret. Khushi wanted to touch Arnav’s arm but she refrained from doing so when Angad reached there.

“Arnav.. the doctor is here to stitch it up. Come on” Angad almost dragged Arnav away but while he did, Khushi couldn’t take her eyes off her husband who showed no pain on his face. There was only a satisfied smile on his lips, she wondered why until she got the proof.. Her tears which rolled down her cheeks. He was smiling for her tears. Probably he guessed it.. that she cared!!! She cared for him!!


To be Continued.


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