Hell Bent, Heaven Sent

Merciful Messiah

"Then about two and half hours ago, we got a call from an unknown number. Shyam called us claiming his phone battery was dead. He told us his research had born fruit. That he saw activity at Mr Raizada's apartment in Greater Kailash. But he called us first letting us know he was going in. So we stayed the reinstatement and sent our team to the address he gave.

It indeed belongs to Mr Raizada.What he didnt mention then is that he called his own lawyer as well. Being a criminal lawyer, he knows how these things work. His lawyer admitted to have been informed about the case.

Shyam claims when he broke the door, Rahul was shocked to see him but immediately abused and attacked him. He was blabbering about killing her child as it wasn't his. Seeing his mental condition, Shyam fought with him and he ran into the room where Mrs Raizada was lying on the bed. She was weary and half awake, taking her husband's name. Seeing her in that state, Shyam claims he lost track and Rahul overpowered him. So, to save himself, Mrs Raizada and the child, Shyam choked him to death.

This led to Mrs Raizada starting to focus on him. She screamed at him, not answering any of his questions and calling him a murderer. Not wanting to stress her anymore, he left and stayed a safe distance away to let himself not be seen. Then, our team arrived at the scene. Our officers saw Mrs Raizada walking towards the open door whispering a lot. But suddenly she screamed and fainted. When our female officer checked her, she informed us that Mrs Raizada water had broken.

We immediately called Mr Mathur and he asked us to admit her to AIIMS in a private room, as her husband, brothers and father would be arriving soon. Mr Mathur was already there completing the formalities when our team reached the hospital. And we found Rahul's body in one of the bedrooms at that apartment. So we started looking for Shyam again. This time again we thought he ran because he committed a crime, but he came here an hour ago and confessed to everything in presence of his lawyer.

We couldn't hold him for self defense. So I called Mr Mathur to ask if the family wants to press any charges. Shyam was here when I called you Mr Mathur. He was awaiting his punishment. But your stance left me no choice other than to let him go."

The three men looked at each other. "Aman, Akash, please excuse us."

"Shyam did this? For whom?" Aman whispered.

***

Anjali and Arav had arrived the morning after the kidnapping fiasco, along with Khushi's mother and Lakshya Kashyap.

Lakshya had cried her heart out and apologized for being rude to Khushi for no fault of hers. The sisters made up immediately.

Aman moved to Shantivan the following day.

Over the next few days everyone except Payal had visited. It was only when Akash left that Nani came.

Khushi completely broke down on seeing her. She was the only elderly figure in her life who always stood like a pillar of support since Khushi had entered Shantivan. So she clung to her Nani.

Every morning Khushi would go to see her baby and only come back at night, when the doctor wouldn't let her be there anymore. No one asked her how she was brought to Delhi, as she had not said anything except wanting to see her child.

Two weeks later, Shantivan looked more like a guesthouse. Khushi and Arnav had shifted back into their room.

It was on one of these days when Aman, Arnav, Nk , Lakshya, Lavanya, Anisha and Anish were on the terrace. Anisha, Anish and Lavanya were to leave the next day to help Akash at AR Mumbai. Not having ASR was proving to the workforce that they could laze around again. So Arnav had given the twins an offer they couldn't refuse.