LOVE, LIFE, SECRETS: Answers lie within – CHAPTER 85

CHAPTER 86: Rising danger

Pankhuri was sitting in the cell worried about what was happening outside…. All her loved ones were out in the danger and she was not able to do anything to keep them safe…. She was only praying that everyone remained safe and the ones who had done the wrong deeds get their deserved punishment…. She was lost in her thoughts when the opening of the door broke her chain of thoughts and she was surprised to see Mallika and Dushyant….

Dushyant: Pankhuri, we just got to know about Annie and Prachi, how did all this happen?

The Ranas had to go to Delhi, after the sudden demise of Ketki’s mother…. Dushyant and Mallika wanted to help with the case, but they had their other duties also and they had informed Anika and Arjun about the same…. They had returned in the morning and the first news that reached them was Anika and Prachi being missing…. Dushyant and Mallika had gone to Arjun’s office but he was not there, even Shivaay was not available…. They knew now only Pankhuri could tell them what had happened, and they immediately came to meet her….

Pankhuri: Actually….

Pankhuri began explaining all the events that had taken place in the last few days….

Anika and Prachi finding some clues about Mr. Kapoor’s killer…. Their visit to the Oberoi office…. Their absence after that…. Om’s sudden absence…. Arjun and Shivaay sneaking into the Malhotra mansion…. The conversation between Tej, Shakti, Adhvik, Shaantanu, and Naren revealing that Oberois are responsible for both Mr. Kapoor and Tia’s death…. Adhvik going to release Prachi, Anika, and Om…. Arjun and Shivaay following Adhvik to find the girls…. Rudra and Ranbir coming to the police station to reveal everything to Ranveer and others….

Dushyant and Mallika were shocked by the new information they had found….

Dushyant: That means Shaantanu didn’t kill Tia….

Mallika: But if the Malhotras were not involved, why did Adhvik and Shaantanu let you suffer?

Pankhuri: Only they can answer this question.

Mallika could understand Pankhuri’s state of mind….

Mallika: Don’t worry Pankhuri, everything will get fine soon.

Dushyant: Pankhuri, do you have any idea where could Adhvik and Shaantanu keep the girls and Om?

Pankhuri got into thinking….

Pankhuri: Maybe our farmhouse, it is away from the city and very few people go towards that area. Also, it is surrounded by dense forest, escaping from there is also not easy.

Dushyant: Pankhuri, tell us where the farmhouse is, we’ll go and look for them.

Mallika: Dushyant is right, we’ll go and find the girls, and also know what these people are planning now.

Pankhuri told them the address and gave them the instructions to reach the place…. Dushyant and Mallika assured her that they would inform her at the soonest and left for the destination….

*****

Shaantanu: Not so soon, ACP Sahiba, this is my reign and only my law will be active here. I’ll make the decisions here and no one else.

All looked at Shaantanu hearing his words…. All looked around and saw Shaantanu’s men with weapons surrounding them…. Tej, Shakti, and Naren smiled seeing this while others were thinking of how they were going to tackle the problem…. Shaantanu ordered his men to tie them up, so none of them would escape….

Mishti: Look Shaantanu, all this is not going to get you anywhere, it is better you surrender before some more charges get added to your list.

She tried getting out of the man’s hold but couldn’t….

Shaantanu: I am not affected by these warnings Mishti, and no one can do anything against me, I won’t let anyone go out of this place alive.

Adhvik: Shaan, you still have time, think properly and stop doing all this, you are only increasing your problems.

Shaantanu: Enough Bhai, stop giving me these unwanted lectures on changing myself now, and in fact, you still have time, come back to my side, maybe I’ll think about letting you live.

Adhvik and others were shocked hearing his words….

Naren: Shaantanu, what are you saying, you do whatever you want with these people, but nothing should happen to Adhvik, he is also my son.

All eyes turned towards Naren hearing his words….

Shaantanu: Even Pankhuri Di was your daughter, but you never showed this concern for her Dad, how come you suddenly realized this fatherly love?

Naren: Don’t you dare talk about that girl, she is not my daughter.

Adhvik: Why Dad, you accept it or not, she is your daughter, and her life is messed up because of you.

Shakti: What are you saying, Naren, what is all this, you had told us that Pankhuri is not your daughter, and you have nothing to do with her, you had said she is their step-sister?

Others except Arjun were shocked hearing Shakti’s words…. Pankhuri…. Adhvik and Shaantanu’s step sister…. There was so much more they all were not aware of….

Adhvik: Haa uncle, Pankhu is our stepsister, but she is also Dad’s daughter. It was years ago when mom found this truth and brought Pankhu home. Dad never accepted it, but the truth can never be changed.

Tej: Only God knows what more secrets you Malhotras have?

Omkara: Well, I guess not more than you Mr. Oberoi.

Tej: Shut up Om, just because you are my son and I won’t do anything to you doesn’t mean you’ll talk anything you want.

Shaantanu: Enough of this family drama, and accusations, I have had enough of you all now.

Abhi: No Mr. Malhotra, we had enough of you and now you better let us all go, otherwise it won’t be good for any of you.

Mishti was lost in thinking…. One question still prevailed in her mind….

Mishti: Adhvik, if you knew it from the beginning that Malhotras were not involved in Tia’s death, why did you let Pankhuri take the blame for everything?

Hearing Mishti’s question, all others also looked at Adhvik and Shaantanu…. This one question was running in almost everyone’s mind – Arjun, Anika, Shivaay, Om, Prachi, Ishana, Gauri all wanted to know this….

*****

Ranveer: Is the team ready Abir?

Abir: Yes Veer, all are ready, the location Mishti sent is towards the outskirts of the city, the area is surrounded by dense forests, we have to be very careful on letting even one of them escape.

Ranveer: That is definitely not going to happen, these people had played games for a long now, now we’ll make the moves and end the game for once and all.

Abir nodded at Ranveer’s words and then turned to Rudra and Ranbir….

Abir: We are taking you along but be careful; we all know how dangerous those people can get.

Rudra: Don’t worry Abir Bhaiya, we’ll be careful.

Ranbir: Yes, you do your duty; we’ll not let us become a problem there.

Ranveer: Good, Abir, is she ready?

Abir: Yes, Pankhuri is already waiting in the van with others. She is the one who needs to be there the most; after all she suffered the most without any fault of hers.

Rudra: We are taking her along, but we have to be careful, that Shaantanu is a mad guy, can’t trust him a bit, he’ll definitely try doing something to Bhabhi.

Abir: Don’t worry Rudra; Pankhuri’s safety will be my first priority.

The four of them walked towards outside….

*****

Dushyant stopped the car a little away from the farmhouse’s location…. Mallika and he got down from the car and walked towards the farmhouse…. They were surprised seeing many cars already parked around the premises…. It only indicated there were many people in there, and they both weren’t sure how many of them would be their help, and how many would be a possible threat….

Dushyant: Bhabhi, have you messaged Bhai?

Mallika: Yes Dushyant, I have already told him everything and also messaged him the location of the place. Sid is on his way, would reach soon.

Dushyant: Good, come Bhabhi, let us go inside. Today, all the culprits will definitely get punished.

Mallika nodded at him and the two started walking along the compound wall to find a place from where they could enter the premises unnoticed….

*****

Arjun: Yes Adhvik, tell us when you all knew Shaantanu didn’t kill Tia, why did you lie to Pankhuri and let her take the blame, why did you do this?

Adhvik looked down feeling guilty for doing this to a sister, who had always been by his side during all his good and bad times…. How he had made the wrong choice by choosing his brother instead of his sister…. How he had broken her trust and let her suffer without any fault of hers….

Shivaay: Adhvik, say something, why didn’t you stop Pankhuri when she said she would take the blame instead of Shaantanu?

All were looking at Adhvik waiting for him to answer their question…. They all could understand that Tej and Shakti were responsible for Tia and Mr. Kapoor death…. They could understand that Malhotras and Oberois were together involved in the illegal activities…. But none of them could understand why Adhvik let Pankhuri take the blame when he very well knew she did not have to it as even if the case was investigated, and the truth came out, it would affect Tej and Shakti more, and not the Malhotras….

Ishana: Mr. Malhotra, your silence will be misunderstood, it is better if you only tell the reason behind it.

Mishti: Boliye Mr. Malhotra, aap ka iss tarah se chup rehna kisi ko kuch nahi samjha raha.

Shaantanu: It’s okay Bhai, if you cannot tell, I’ll only tell them, anyways they know so much, one more thing won’t make much of a difference.

Everyone’s attention shifted to Shaantanu….

Shaantanu: It wasn’t Bhai’s fault completely, I lied to Di that I have killed Tia, and then she only said that she would take the blame in case the police found anything. Bhai was against it from the beginning, but I only convinced him that everything will work for our betterment. Anyways, I had nothing to do with whatever happened with her, she isn’t my real sister also, I don’t care if she lived or she died….

Before Shaantanu could say anything further, he received a hard slap from Adhvik…. All people present there were shocked by the sudden action….

Adhvik: Shaan, how dare you say this?

*****

Mallika and Dushyant who were outside hearing everything were also shocked by Adhvik’s action….

All of them felt bad for Pankhuri…. Whatever may have been their equation, Pankhuri did really care for the family, despite the different behavior of Naren and the selfish behavior of Shaantanu…. She had accepted the family as hers even if they couldn’t think of her as more than an asset….

Mallika: If Pankhuri had heard this, she would have been so hurt.

Dushyant: Yes Bhabhi, I really hope this problem gets over soon and she gets out of all this.

Mallika’s phone vibrated and she looked at the screen flashing Siddharth’s name…. He told her to do something and she agreed to do it….

Mallika: Dushyant, I am going in, you wait for Sid and come with him.

Dushyant: Bhabhi, please take care and message me if anything goes wrong.

Mallika nodded at him and walked towards the front door….

*****

Shaantanu looked at Adhvik shocked by the slap he had received…. The brother who had always protected him had slapped him today for a girl, who was their step sister…. He felt extreme anger rushing inside him….

Shaantanu: How dare you, Adhvik Malhotra, how dare you to slap me?

All were looking at him shocked by his loud voice and the way he spoke to Adhvik….

Naren: Stop it both of you, we have enmity with these people and here you both are only fighting with each other.

Shaantanu was about to answer back but the ringing of the doorbell caught their attention…. All looked at each other surprised and confused who could be here at this place and also ring the bell….

Shaantanu signed one of the men to check who it was…. The man followed the order…. He opened the door and all were surprised to see Mallika walk inside….

She looked around the place and was surprised as many of them were already present there….

Shivaay: Mallika, what are you doing here?

Mallika: That is none of your concern Shivaay.

All were looking at her surprised by her tone of talking to Shivaay….

Adhvik: Mrs. Rana, who gave you the address of this place, and why have you come here?

Mallika: Well, to answer your question Mr. Malhotra, one Pankhuri told me everything, and second, I am here to offer the Malhotras a deal.

Naren: Deal, kaisi deal?

Mallika: A deal that will benefit the Ranas and Malhotras, and also get us rid of these Oberois, and their problems.

Anika: What are you saying Mallika, you know these people are not right….

Mallika: Anika, I know what I am doing, it is better you don’t interfere.

Adhvik: What are you talking about Mrs. Rana?

Mallika: Our plan is very simple Mr. Malhotra, you and we have a common problem – the Oberois, you help us in getting the business deals these Oberois have got, and we’ll help you get your name cleared from all the illegal businesses. One deal and we have our problems sorted.

All were looking at her not knowing how to react….

Naren: Look Mallika….

Shaantanu: I am ready, we’ll help you, I am ready for this deal.

Adhvik and Naren were surprised…. Mallika smiled at her success…. And others were still absorbing what was happening….

Tej and Shakti were angry seeing the Malhotra’s switching sides…. Arjun, Anika, Prachi, and Shivaay were shocked by Mallika’s changed stance…. Mishti, Ishana, and Om were also shocked by the new turn of events…. Gauri, Abhi, and Purab were only thinking about what more was yet to come…. Dushyant messaged Sid about the success of their plan….

*****

Ranveer and others reached outside the farmhouse….

They all got down from the vehicles and looked at the place….

Ranveer: Get ready team, this is the final destination and our final move.

All others nodded confidently at him…. They were about to enter but stopped seeing few more cars approaching the place…. All looked on and were surprised to see Siddharth Rana getting out of the car with his men…. Siddharth also saw them and walked towards Ranveer….

Siddharth: I guess it’s time to make moves as a team DCP Randhawa.

*****

Some unexpected moves….

New players….

And one final chance for all the players to make it to the end….

Who would make it to the finish line and win, only time would tell….

*****

Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the next chapter of the story, do share your views on the same.

The game has reached its final destination, all players have one chance to make a move, who will succeed and who will fail? Will the culprits be caught or will they escape again?

Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!