Chapter 49: The Face off.

Afternoon: Restaurant -

You are my sunrise

You are the daylight

Hiding the shadowsof my mind...

RAJAT with his face in his palm was admiringly watching an eating PURVI.

PURVI looked at him asking: Why aren't you eating?'

RAJAT: I am feeling full just watching you eat.'

PURVI: I won't feel full if you remain hungry just watching me eating. So, eat.'

RAJAT smiled and started eating.

Other side TARIKA had a spoonful bite of her food and sighed looking under the table to see a leg constantly shaking and above a finger tapping on the table with the rhythm of the legs and finally looked at ABHIJEET in front of her asking: ABHIJEET would you stop thinking for now? We are here for lunch.'

ABHIJEET: 6 hours has already passed and we didn't get about the whereabouts of NILESH and KRIPAL. 24 ghante poore hote hi CHITROLE bhi mere samne aake bin bajana shuru kar dega.'

TARIKA smiled: Are you worried of DCP?'

ABHIJEET: I am just nervous. DEVRAT is not someone to sit back quietly after all this. He must have been planning to do something.'

TARIKA looked at his worried face and kept her hand on his tapping hand gently squeezing it and said: ABHIJEET... Take it easy. Things will come right into place if you can see them coming right and for that you need to be relaxed.'

She looked in his eyes saying: Whatever it is, we will go through it together. So, just don't think about it much because I am right here for you. Ok?'

ABHIJEET looked in her eyes...

You are my sundown

You're giving the moon life

Not even stars can shine so bright...

And he smiled at her saying 'Ok' as she smiled back at him.

Across the table RAJAT choked on his food witnessing the scene of his sister's hand in her colleague's hand.

PURVI patted his back giving him water and RAJAT drank the water looking at ABHIRIKA's direction and said: Suddenly I am feeling very hungry.'

PURVI followed his gaze to see ABHIRIKA at the same restaurant while RAJAT picked his plate walking to ABHIRIKA's direction.

ABHIRIKA heard an intended cough and looked up to see RAJAT. They quickly pulled their hands in haze and ABHIJEET felt his heart almost stopped as he said looking at RAJAT: You just scared me.'

RAJAT kept his plate on the table where their hands were a moment ago and pulled a chair from other table taking a seat between them asking: Why are you scared in a public place unless you did something wrong?'

ABHIJEET looked at him nervously as RAJAT asked: What are you doing here with my sister without your other team members?'

ABHIJEET: Your sister was hungry. So, just bring her here.'

RAJAT not fully convinced remembered how ABHIJEET was full of love eyes was staring TARIKA at the college, while driving his customers he has seen the two together on way, how ABHIJEET often drove TARIKA home and finally ABHIJEET's increasing concern for TARIKA after his B'day party and pointed his two fingers from his own eyes to ABHIJEET's in a warning sign and said: I am watching you.'

TARIKA looked aggressive at RAJAT asking: What's that?'

ABHIJEET requested: TARIKA Ji please let this handle us between man to man.'

TARIKA looking at ABHIJEET's requesting eyes nodded giving one more shock to RAJAT as she agreed so easily at his one request.

ABHIRIKA looked surprised as PURVI too, join them taking a seat opposite to RAJAT.

TARIKA asked RAJAT: What are you doing here?'

RAJAT: I was dropping PURVI home from college. On the way she said she is hungry and his brother often brings her here for lunch. I know things aren't good around but I couldn't deny her hunger request and bring her here.'

TARIKA: Finish your lunch and safely drop her home.'

RAJAT eating his food: All right.'

ABHIJEET was still having an uneasy feeling about the day but watching the 3 eating, he had a satisfied smile on his face having a glimpse of his future family as they finished their lunch.

ABHIJEET's Flat:

RAJAT and PURVI were standing in front of the flat with their hands in each other's.

Looking at RAJAT's worried eyes PURVI asked: What happened?'

RAJAT looking at her said: I am feeling very strange. Aaj ke din tumhe akele chhodne ka man nahi kar raha.'

PURVI smiled giving him a light hug and said: RAJAT... You are just worrying like my brother now. I am just going home. So, just relax. Ok?'

RAJAT looking at her nodded: ok.'

PURVI before walking away waved at him saying: Bye. I will see you tomorrow.'

RAJAT smiled at her before his phone rang and picked it up that was from a customer and he cut the call saying: Yes, I am coming.'

RAJAT one last time looked at the building and left in his taxi to pick his customer.

Evening: CID Bureau-

TARIKA comes to bureau and asked FREDDY: Any news from other team?'

FREDDY: No ma'm. They didn't found anything yet.'

TARIKA then looking around the office asked: Where is ABHIJEET? He didn't return from head quarters?'

FREDDY: Ma'm, sir went to DEVRAT's office.'

TARIKA: What? Why?'

FREDDY: Sir didn't tell you? He got a call from DEVRAT asking him to him at his party office.'

TARIKA: Why did he go there alone?' and she walked out of the bureau to leave for DEVRAT's party office.

DEVRAT's Party office:

ABHIJEET stood inside the door of DEVRAT's cabin as a guard checked him from top to toe taking his phone, Bluetooth and service gun and looking at DEVRAT said: All clear sir.'

DEVRAT nodded and the guard went out leaving ABHIJEET and DEVRAT alone in the office as DEVRAT said: I hope you won't mind it officer. Actually I don't trust today's cops.'

ABHIJEET replied: No problem. Actually I am glad to see that your men have become smarter but unfortunately it won't work. It's too late for that.'

DEVRAT catching the taunting hint behind his words said: I guess we don't need be formal here.'

ABHIJEET: Yes, you can come to the point.'

DEVRAT: You have been lucky till now because of that SHAKTI who back-stabbed me but not anymore. I thought the boy RAJAT was a CID officer and now when I know he is not. I want you to prove him SHAKTI's murderer clearing NILESH's name from the case.'

ABHIJEET: Why do you think I will do that?'

DEVRAT: Why do you want to protect him? Is it because your sister loves him or you like his sister?'

ABHIJEET clenched his fist holding back the urge to butcher his face as DEVRAT continued: What if the story goes out like you released him from the police station after catching him in a rave party and now you are trying to protect him from the murder charges of SHAKTI falsely accusing my son because you like his sister? Do you think people won't believe this story, ACP ABHIJEET?'

DEVRAT said with a smirk: You will be dismissed from CID and that boy will be jailed for SHAKTI's murder.'

ABHIJEET stared DEVRAT disgustingly and then smiled surprising DEVRAT asking: Are you trying to threaten me?'

DEVRAT looked him in disbelief: I am just warning you because you really don't know who I am and what I can do?'

ABHIJEET asserted: I know what you did 18 years ago.'

DEVRAT looked shocked but covered it thinking the officer is trying to manipulate him and said: Then you would know it better to what extend I can go to protect my family and career.'

ABHIJEET: Just like you killed Journalist PRAKASH 18 years ago, right?'

Ground shook beneath DEVRAT's feet hearing it from him. After his brother-in-law DHANRAJ got arrested, he did a back ground check on the officers of the case and find out that ABHIJEET is journalist PRAKASH's son and personally called the most dangerous man KRIPAL SINGH from his long hide out to keep an eye on ABHIJEET in fear that in midst of all this investigation, CID doesn't reach to the secret he buried 18 year ago. And he had come this far to prevent it from getting exposed.

Not knowing the fact that ABHIJEET doesn't know anything except his father's murder DEVRAT asked him: How much do you know about it?'

Seeing the fear in DEVRAT's eyes, this time ABHIJEET played his card saying: I have the evidence you didn't find that day with PRAKASH. You have 12 hours and if your son doesn't surrenders within 12 hours, you and your kingdom will go down for once and all.'

DEVRAT: I won't warn you again. Stop whatever you are doing right now if you don't want to end up like your father.'

ABHIJEET looked at him as DEVRAT said: Do you think you will be able to go home from here? What if you die in an accident in the way before reaching home? No one will ever know the reason.'

After a pause ABHIJEET smiled at him: Sach ko dabaa sakte ho par chhupa nahi sakte. 18 years ago you killed PRAKASH but failed to get evidence from him.'

Mar Bhi Gaya Agar

Marne Ka Gum Nahin

Dekh Zara Mera Hausla

ABHIJEET looking in eyes of DEVRAT confidently said: I am son of that Journalist PRAKASH. You can kill me but you can't stop me from disclosing the truth. Agar mujhe rok sakte ho to rok lo.'

Saying that ABHIJEET walked back but stopped in his next step as DEVRAT said: Just remember one thing officer, once you step out of this office your life will be a disaster.'

ABHIJEET turned at him and DEVRAT continued: Your sister is alone at home right now. Anything can happen to her and KRIPAL thinks RAJAT killed his son SHAKTI. He will kill him and his sister. You will have nothing left.'

Mujhko Dara Sake

Tujh Mein Vo Dum Nahin

Sun Le Jahan Mera Faisla

Jhuk Na Paunga Bhale

Mit Jaunga ..

ABHIJEET smiled looking at him and said: Pata nahi kyu tumhari ye dhamkiya mujhe meri jeet ke karib hone ka ehsaas dila rahi hai. I will see you soon with the arrest warrant.'

And he walked out of DEVRAT's office.

On the way -

ABHIJEET worriedly drove towards his home trying to call PURVI again and again as she wasn't picking up. He then tried calling RAJAT but even he wasn't picking up and finally tried TARIKA's number.

TARIKA while driving in rush picked up the call as ABHIJEET asked: Where is RAJAT? He is not picking up my call.'

TARIKA: I have got a call from RAJAT's phone.'

ABHIJEET: What does he said?'

TARIKA: It wasn't RAJAT, it was KRIPAL.'

ABHIJEET: What?'

TARIKA: He said 'Your brother is in old industrial colony and if you want to save him then save him.'

ABHIJEET: Where are you now?'

TARIKA: I am going there.'

ABHIJEET: Is anyone with you?'

TARIKA: No.'

An already tensed ABHIJEET said in a frustrated tone: TARIKA you shouldn't leave there alone.'

TARIKA hung up saying: I can't wait or waste time.'

ABHIJEET's Flat -

ABHIJEET stopped the car in front of his building and ran all the way to his flat. His feet stopped at the door as he pushed open the door to see his house in a mess. Things were fallen here and there as if someone was for looking for something. He checked all the rooms and found PURVI missing.

His phone rang showing a private number.

He picked the call to hear from DEVRAT: I have warned you officer, once you step out of my office your life will be a disaster. By now you have find out that your sister is missing. Now you get that I really meant it.'

ABHIJEET angrily asked: Where is my sister?'

DEVRAT: She is fine now but... If you want to see her alive then give me all the evidence you have. Otherwise you very well know it won't be new for me to kill her. And don't involve CID anymore in this case because if a thing goes out about me then it won't be good for your sister. Now you have 12 hours and once you decide to give the evidence, I will tell you where your sister is.'

DEVRAT cuts the call and ABHIJEET hits his hand on the wall at the slipping situation. He cools himself and calls NIKHIL asking him to find RAJAT's location through the tracking device.

NIKHIL after few minutes calls him back answering: Sir, it's showing the old industrial colony of Vilasnagar.'

ABHIJEET: NIKHIL, inform DAYA to reach the location with team. We have got a lead about KRIPAL there and TARIKA is already on her way to there. And keep me updated with each detail.'

NIKHIL: Right sir.'

Night: Police Station -

ABHIJEET was walking out of the police station as Inspector SHINDE called him about the recent case and he stopped to see RAJAT coming the way.

ABHIJEET asked him surprised: What are you doing here?'

RAJAT seeing ABHIJEET: Oh sir. Actually I lost my phone so I come to report it.'

ABHIJEET shocked: What?'

RAJAT: Yeah, what if someone misuses it. Aur police ka kya bharosa? Wo to bina puchhe mujhe hi pakadke jail me daal denge.'

ABHIJEET asked: Wait, weren't you at Vilasnagar?'

RAJAT: Yeah. I went there to make a delivery and just returned from there. But how do you know?'

ABHIJEET looked away in distraught: Shit! That was a trap.'

RAJAT looked confused: Trap? What trap?'

ABHIJEET's phone rang and he picked up to hear: ACP ABHIJEET, your lady officer is in my capture. Tell her brother, if he wants to see her alive then come and meet me.'

ABHIJEET guessed: KRIPAL SINGH..?'

KRIPAL: Sahi pahchana. I won't do anything to your officer, just send RAJAT alone to me otherwise I don't need to tell you that if you try to do any kind of smart thing then it will cost you your sister.'

KRIPAL cuts the call as RAJAT looks at ABHIJEET.

Note:

1st song: 'Sing my song' by Koo Keun Byul.

2nd song: 'Jhuk na paunga' from the movie Raid.

Sorry Shweta, but finally here ends all the investigation and don't worry, ABHIRIKA ki shaadi is locked for the happy ending. And thank you.

Thank you so much Sree, RK Sweety and Each Dear Guest Reviewer.

Thank you all the readers.