PART 15:
The surgery lasted like, forever. As the Orthopedic Surgeon and Muskaan entered the OR, they were greeted by another familiar face. Dennice Payne, a well known plastic surgeon. "Hello, ladies..." he smiled. "Dennice, seriously?" muskaan huffed. They soon started the operation and it took them, 5 hours. Aditya went into the gallery to see his wife's leg being chopped off. His blood was boiling. "I was supposed to protect her?! What happened to that promise I made to her when she married me...how could I let this happen?!" he cried. Aakash came up to him and sat near him. "You know jiju, we never thought that something like this could ever happen to Di! But I guess, its fate...and we can't help it!" he cried too. "I wish we had bhai with us today, he would have teared SHYAM apart for this!"
Junior ASR roamed around the hospital to look for his mother. He knew that since his dad was not present with them, he had to take up everyone's responsibility and he didn't know what actually happened with his dad. He only knew that his father will never come back. But why, how, when, is he alive or not, he didn't know anything. He respected the fact that the elders decided to hide the truth from him but all he wanted to know was how his dad looked and who he was. How did he meet his mother and fell in love with her. And now that he is gone, he has to take responsibility of his family, especially his mother. He went around, asking everyone about khushi when finally, he found her sitting on the couch and looking at other patients. "Mom!" he sighed. "Hey ma...you scared me damnit! Where were you? I was looking for you from the past 2 hours!" he said as he waited for her mother to explain.
"Mom? Are you alright?" he asked, when he saw his mother's eyes tearing up. "Ya...of course I am!" she said, wiping up her tears. "Mom...I have taken up the responsibility to take care of you...so first , everything will be okay...I trust muskaan didi and I know God , will never be merciless with my anjali bua!" he huffed and patted on khushi's head like an elder person. Khushi smiled. "I know, I know your heart is breaking son, and I promise that one day, I will reveal everything to you about your dad...but not today! You are so much like your dad...taking up responsibilities when everyone needs your dad!" khushi smiled and kissed his forehead.
"Mom...if it hurts to tell me the truth, then please don't tell me , because I can't see my mom or my family crying because of me..." He said and hugged her. "I love you ma..." he said and khushi cried again. "I love you too son...and now, go and sit in sid uncle's cabin with NK chachu ok...?!" he smiled , kissed her cheeks and went away happily. "Wow...your pretty good with that kid, he's a damn luckly guy!" khushi heard someone say from her back. As she got up, she saw that it was Arnav. "Arnavji..." she whispered. He made her sit down, and brought some food for her. He listened to everything that the boy said about his own father. "Khushi...can I ask you something?" he whispered. "No!" she said.
"Khushi..?" arnav didn't understand why she said No'. "I know what you're going to say...that you regret kissing me and all, so please I don't want to hear that..."she said. "I wanted to know about your husband, where is he, why did he leave you...I was about to ask that..." he said and shifted back uncomfortably. "My husband? Well , what do you want to hear , that he loved me too much that it cost him his life , or the fact that he was stated dead' when actually , he was pretty much alive?!" she sighed , angrily. Arnav looked down. "You don't believe he is dead right?" he asked, seeing her sindoor. "I do that for my child, not for me..." "I am sorry if I hurt you...khushi!" he sighed. He got up and was about to go, when he turned and said "And about the kissing part, no khushi , I would never regret kissing you! I only regret the fact that I don't know why...why I wouldn't regret kissing you!" he sighed and went away, shocking khushi like hell.
Khushi went after him and found him standing in the hospital's balcony. "You know you carry an air of mystery, arnavji?!" she asked him as she reached him. Arnav chuckled. "Ya...that explains why Sid's 8 year old nephew used to called me Mystery Man'..." and with this both laughed a little. "Khushi , i...i don't know what I have lost...because I don't remember anything...but now , I would love to live for something , for someone..." and he looked up. "I just fear one thing..." he sighed. "What?" khushi asked him. "Muskaan and Sid's life...they are in huge danger and to protect me, they can cross any limit, that's what I fear!" he whispered. She could see how worried her husband was. She just wanted to be in his arms and die there. "Kiss me!" khushi whispered, as she took arnav's hand in hers. "Wh...what...what are you..." arnav was shocked. "Kiss me...please..." she trembled as she tightened her grip on his hand and closed her eyes. Within a moment, she felt his soft lips on hers. His hands were on her waist, caressing every inch of it with the tip of his finger. She moaned deeply into his mouth, turning him on even more. He entered his tongue into her mouth as their tongues fused into one being. Khushi gripped his shirt because her feet were trembling so much, that she feared that she might fall.
Arnav broke the kiss for the need of air and soon started kissing her cheeks and neck. "Oh...arnavji..." her voice trembled. Arnav heard this and stopped. "Hey...are you ok...?" he asked. "Ya...it's...it's just that, it's been years since someone loved me like this..." she cried but was soon stopped as arnav fused their mouths together again. He touched her chin to get access to her mouth and she, in turn, wrapped her arms round his neck.
FLASHBACK:
Arnav was lying on the ground, when he suddenly heard some people talking. It was the voice of a boy and a girl. He felt two soft like feather hands picking him up and sprinkling some water on his face. The hands touched his face. "Arnavji..." He heard the panic in the voice and recognized it instantly. "Khushi!" his heart and mind screamed. And it was the first time, that he felt that his mind and heart were having a perfect sync. He forced himself to open his eyes and finally landed them on khushi's. "Hey...is he ok?" he looked up at sid who asked this to khushi. "Ya...I think so!" arnav answered.
Khushi had tears in her eyes as she untied arnav's hand and got up. She quickly got up and hugged arnav. Arnav didn't know why, but he too hugged her back. It was so peaceful. For a moment, he forgot that he was kidnapped and they needed to get out, fast. "Hey guys...does anyone know where muskaan is?" sid asked them, bringing the lovebirds out of their reverie. "She's here?" arnav asked. Sid and khushi nodded. And then, they hear a number of serial gunshots.
They all escaped the guards where they found, muskaan standing, in front of a person whose face , they could not see due to the darkness. "What the hell is she doing? Is she out of her mind?" arnav whispered. But soon, they saw muskaan raising her gun and firing towards the man-in-darkness, and then running towards the exit. "Shit, guys run...i think she just fired her dad!" sid yelled. "What?" arnav and khushi exclaimed together. The four of them met as they managed to get inside the car. "Hey arnav...you okay?" muskaan asked in a hurry as she started the engine of the car. "Ya...hopefully, I am!" he said and looked at khushi.
END OF FLASHBACK
Khushi was in arnav's arms. They stood by the balcony and watched the stars. "Arnavji..." she whispered. "Hmm..." he said, "Why did they kidnap you?" she asked and looked into his questionable eyes. "I don't know!" he huffed.
"But I know!" they heard muskaan's voice. They quickly got separated and khushi blushed as they were caught in an intimate position. "Di..." khushi whispered. Muskaan smiled. "She is fine, we are keeping her on observation and on tight security!" she said. "Can...can I meet her?" khushi asked. "Sure...she is in OR 3 and will be transferred to the ICU now...you can go now...visitors are allowed!" she smiled and saw khushi running towards the main corridor. "So...?" she asked, her eyes shining with happiness. Arnav knew exactly what she wanted to know. "I am not telling you anything dude...chill!" he huffed. Muskaan laughed. She was about to go when arnav stopped her. "Hey...can I ask you something?" "Ya sure!" she answered. "Why did I get kidnapped?" he asked. Muskaan sighed. "It was just not you arnav...it was Anjali di, you and that ASR kid...you three were the target!" she sighed. "Whose target?" he asked. "Shyam's!" she said, disgusted of that man.
"How did you know?" he asked. "I separated my way with khushi and Sid there, because of a reason! But I will not disclose it now!" she looked at him, determined of some decision she made. "Let's go and check upon sid..." Muskaan whispered. "Ok then...let's go!" arnav smiled. They soon entered sid's cabin. "When will he open his eyes?" arnav asked. "He is having multiple rib fractures and swelling in his brain...I don't even know if he'll ever get up!" muskaan sighed. "Enough is enough...Nazim can't go on hurting the people I love...this has to stop..." she said. "So...exactly what are we going to do?!" arnav asked. "I can't do anything without having sid by my side , so till then , I am going to strengthen the security around Raizada house...especially now that the creep SHYAM can enter it easily...we have to do something!" she concluded.
All of a sudden, Muskaan's phone rang. It was a text message, that read :
"If you think you escaped me, then you're wrong, because until and unless I see every drop of your blood scattered on the ground and is being licked by the dogs, I will not sit back. Alas, I couldn't see your face today too. But I will find you soon enough. Wish you all the very best till then, my dear daughter."
Shivers ran down her spine. Arnav took her phone and read it. He was disgusted. How could somebody say like this to their own child? Muskaan threw her head back on the sofa. "Unbelievable!" she heard arnav muttering this word under his breath. "How could someone be so shameless...like...seriously...and he called you Daughter'..." he said. Muskaan smirked. "Whatever arnav...I never restricted myself from thinking of killing him. He too has the same right...doesn't he?" she asked. "But...but this is crazy!" he yelled. "Ssshhh...arnav I know it is...and believe me I am pretty much used to it..." she whispered. "I wish I could have the muskaan and sid back whom I met for the first time...I mean...both of your lives were so un-complicated at that time..." He whispered. She pressed lips together. "I know right?! Those were the best days ever!" she sighed.
As they chatted more, they saw Aditya entering the cabin. "Mr. Saxena...I mean, Aditya..." muskaan smiled. "Thank you...thank you so much muskaan for returning me, my wife..." He cried and hugged her. Something familiar and hurtful crossed their hearts and they looked at each other, breaking their hug. "Aditya...how did this happen...?!" arnav asked. Aditya looked at arnav, and started, "I was with nani, helping her in the kitchen, when suddenly we heard anjali's scream. We knew that something will be going wrong in you all's absence but as we came out of the kitchen, we...I saw, my wife being dragged by her hair, strangled and then thrown down from the stairs by shyam...and as I reached for anjali , Shyam took his gun and was about to fire me , when Aakash and NK knocked him down from behind!" aditya finished. "Oh My God! And due to the force with which she fell, the air tubes in her lungs got blocked and she suffered from a heart attack!" muskaan concluded and the guys, stood there, disgusted.
Muskaan's lips thinned. "Where is Shyam now?" she asked. Aditya looked up. "He is in police custody...beaten up to hell!" he said. "Then let's go to the police station!" she exclaimed , as she opened her coat and handed it over to her assistant who came to give her the vital stats of Sid. "Hmm...he is doing great!" she smiled and looked at his peaceful face. "I'll come with you..." Aditya said. "You sure...?" she asked. He nodded. "That man...almost killed my wife...i want to see the end of him..." He muttered. "Okay! Arnav...?!" muskaan asked. "I'll...be here...if he wakes up or something..." He stuttered. He knew muskaan could catch his lie pretty easily. And she did. She smiled and nodded and went away. She was happy for Khushi. She totally deserved this.
"Shyam Jha!" muskaan uttered, as they took her and aditya towards his cell. They looked at a beaten-to-death shyam who was lying on the floor, sleeping maybe. "Oye...look up!" muskaan yelled. "Hmm...look whose here...the woman whose body, every man would love to possess!" he smirked. "Mind you tongue Jha...you know that you won't get bail at all...then also your talking like this?" she smirked. "How's my dear wife...is she still alive...?" he smirked. "SHYAM! DON'T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANJALI..." Aditya yelled. "Ok...leave her, she must be dead by now anyways...how is my khushiji...? And that brute of a boy..." he huffed. "Shyam...i am getting to the point...you tell us, with whom and how you work, and we might just..." Muskaan stopped as she saw that shyam was tempted. "Might just what...?!" He asked. "We might just remove your death sentence and give you 75 years of jail...!" She concluded.
Shyam , started to laugh. His disgusting laugh echoed through the whole police station. "You really think that I care...i know that I will be out of here...anytime soon...so you all just keep protecting yourselves..." He laughed. Muskaan smirked. She knew that it would be tough to get to shyam. So she told Sid's assistant to tab shyam's phone. "You know what...i don't need you alive..." She exclaimed. "You do...you do need me alive, because if I am dead...you would not have any access to your Daddy. And I wish, I weren't so much in love with khushiji...i might have had just slept with you..." He laughed again. Aditya was disgusted. "If you can't respect women, you can't have anything in life...didn't you have a mother or what?!" he yelled. Shyam's expression changed. "Hey...don't you dare talk about my mother..." Shyam yelled. "Whatever boozy..." Muskaan huffed and pulled aditya away from the cell bars.
"He deserves to be hanged you know..." Aditya yelled while, they made an exit from the police station. As they were about to open the door of the car, muskaan felt as if someone was stalking them. She looked around, but found no one doubtful, though she knew that she was being watched and followed from the time they landed in India. "Hey...aren't you coming?" aditya asked her. "Hmmm...ya let's go!" she whispered and drove back to the Raizada House. There was something which was distracting Aditya a little. "Hey...ummm...what did shyam say about your dad?" he asked muskaan , who was driving the car, pretty slowly. "Well...he said...'You do...you do need me alive, because if I am dead...you would not have any access to your Daddy'...that's what he said!" muskaan shrugged. "Ya...well about that...umm...who...who is your dad?!" he asked her. He saw muskaan taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. All those horrible memories associated with the word Dad' came to her mind and she opened her eyes again. "Nothing of much importance!" she sighed. "But...but he said that he works for your dad...that means he wants something right I mean...look at all these accidents..." Aditya asked her. "He is not my dad! That's all I can tell you!" she said and turned the car and entered the garage of the Raizada House.
"Oh beta...I am so happy that anjali bitiya is all right!" nani exclaimed and hugged both Aditya and Muskaan. "Abb bas, Siddharth bte ka theek hone ka intezaar hain...I kept a small pooja at house for both of them!" Nani smiled and entered the mandir, present in the house. "Nani...I am going back to the hospital to check upon di and sid and I might as well send the lovebirds back home too, okay?" she winked at nani and she winked her back. Aditya rolled his eyes. "Women..." he muttered under his breath and followed Muskaan to the car again. "Hey...are you following me?" muskaan asked. "What...umm...no, I was just...!" he stopped when he saw her laughing as he understood that she caught him off guard.
FLASHBACK:
"Asad beta...go and see to that Aleyah reaches her school properly without any problem. Ok?" his mother asked him. He nodded. He followed his little sister everywhere around the house, like a bodyguard. As Aleyah stood near the bus stop, for her school bus to pick her up, she sensed her brother , standing walking behind her. "Bhai-jaan...are you following me?" she asked him out of the blue. "What...umm...no, I was just...!" He stood there, scratching his head and chuckling while seeing his little sister laughing like anything.
END OF FLASHBACK
Muskaan waved her hands in front of aditya's face to bring him out of his reverie. "Ya...what?" he asked. "What were you thinking? It's ok, let's go. I know you're pretty desperate to meet your wife..." She smiled and teased him in the whole journey, to the hospital. Yet, another feature of Aleyah , his sister.
PRECAP:
Muskaan reached the hospital only to find that it was a wrong call. "This usually doesn't happen!" she thought but then she got a message from shyam.
"Meet me at the Central Park! Come Alone"
"Great, the villain escapes from the prison!" she muttered under her breath and drove to the Central Park.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You should have called me!" arnav freaked out. "Called and tell you what? That man was about to kill you, how am I supposed to tell you that he texted me?!" muskaan justified. "Muskaan, where is shyam now?" khushi asked. "Oh he's in police custody with a much more tight security than before!" muskaan huffed as she took a pillow and swung it under her knee and lied down on the bed. "You still should have told me or taken me!" arnav whispered. "Hey, listen I didn't wanna spoil this moment for you!" muskaan argued. "You are not spoiling anything but you need to trust me!" arnav argued back. "Trust you with what? Arnav I am not gonna risk your life just because MY dad wants to see ME dead!"
