A Night on a Highway (completed)

Prologue

Arnav Singh Raizada was breathing fire after that phone call with Aman, his trusted right-hand man. Apparently, his brother-in-law, his Shyam Jiju who was his beloved Di's husband was cheating on her. With someone! If only he knew who that girl was, he would ensure to wipe out her existence from this world, along with that swine of his jiju!

But those were not the only two people he was wishing to murder. Someone else also topped his murder-wish list! That 'someone' was a faceless guy who was Khushi's fiancé. Arnav did not know who she was engaged to, he only knew her fiancé's name was ALSO Shyam, but yes, he wanted to kill that Shyam as well!!! How dare he try to claim the girl Arnav lov-, wait, Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't do 'Love', yes, he didn't 'love' khushi. He just wanted to protect her! Because- erm- well, because she was just so naïve! God knows which idiot she was getting hitched with, but he will find that person out as well and then kill that Shyam, along with his jiju Shyam and his jiju's so called 'love interest'!

But where the hell was Khushi? He hadn't seen her from last 2 days! For 48 freaking hours!

--*--

Khushi sat numb at the corner of what looked like a shady outhouse somewhere in outskirts of Delhi. In front of her, were her Jiji, her amma, her paralyzed babuji and her buaji, all under a watch of few dangerous looking men. Yes, HER WHOLE FAMILY was abducted! And it was none other than their sick tenant, a man who came to live in their house on rent a few days ago and then proposed marriage to her. It was Shyam who had gone obsessed over marrying her!

When she went to break their engagement 2 days ago, he went berserk! He not only kidnapped her but also her entire family. The only solace was they were not tied with ropes and were allowed to roam around in that 2-room place!

But his men were constantly keeping a watch.

And now Shyam was going to marry her tomorrow, forcefully!

She felt sick in her stomach!

"Humka maaf kar diyo titaliya, ee sab humri wajah se ho raha hain (forgive me titaliya, all this is happening because of me)" Buaji said, tearfully. She now regretted forcing Khushi to say yes to this evil man's proposal!

Khushi didn't say anything.

Her amma and jiji were making tea for everyone, as Shyam had asked them to.

"tsk tsk, there is no use of this now fatty, I am going to marry her tomorrow, then I will be your son in law" shyam said in his sick voice, as he took a cup of tea from Payal and drank a sip!

"I WILL NEVER MARRY YOU." Khushi got up and shouted,

"That is why I like you so much janeman. You are so feisty, ekdum patakha (firecracker)" shyam said keeping the cup down and smiling in his signature sick way

"I will die before marrying you." she spat with disgust

"And I will kill your family if you don't marry me." he said angrily now, walking near her, but he felt his steps falter a bit.

By then her jiji had given tea to all his men and shared a look with her Amma.

As Shyam moved to hold Khushi's hand, he felt dizziness and before he could hold her, Khushi used all her force to push him away, making him fall back.

All his men too fell unconscious one by one, as the sleeping pills Payal and Garima had added in the tea showed its effect. Khushi looked at payal, who winked at her, indicating it was her deed.

She smiled in relief.

And just as they had started helping a weak Shashi get up, Shyam showed some signs of wakefulness. Payal looked in horror to realize he hadn't finished his tea completely.

"Khushi!" he hissed, "I'll catch you"

Payal and Garima tried to pull Shashi, but it was difficult by the moment. And they realized, only one person can escape right now. It was impossible to take shashi and run!

"Khushi, we don't have much time. We can't all leave together right now as babuji is in this state. Tum jao and get us help. All his men won't wake up until morning. Run Khushi." Payal said and khushi started shaking her head vigorously, rejecting the idea

By then Shyam was trying to get up holding his head

"titaliya, this is your only chance, our only chance. Run. And find help. there is a police station 5-6 kilometers from here near highway, if you can reach there somehow, you can save us all." Madhumati said,

"Khushi, prove that we didn't raise a coward, prove that your babuji taught you to be courageous. You are not supposed to give up but fight. Shyam wants you, so it's important that you escape. He won't do anything to us and if he does, we three will overpower him." Garima's words encouraged her and Khushi wiped her tears, running as fast as her legs could take her, towards highway!

--*--

Arnav was driving his SUV on the old Agra highway. This highway was hardly used and, on that night, very few cars were there. He was already in a very bad mood due to Khushi's disappearance for 2 days and then his recent knowledge about his Jiju being a cheater!

He was still in these thoughts when he saw someone standing along the roadside a few meters ahead, showing a hand to stop the car. Someone was asking for a lift! He wouldn't have stopped but he realized that person was a lady and it was late night. So he decided to help and stopped!

To his utter shock it was none other than KHUSHI!

"TUM(you)?"

"AAP(you)?"

--*--

Chapter 1 sneak-peak: "What the-? look what you did." he pressed the brake pedal with a large force as he realized they had hit someone with their car.

"Not me, you were driving the car, you have hit him." Khushi said, and they both got down to check who they had hit and how bad that person was injured

"SHYAM" she gasped with horror

"SHYAM" he said with shock and disgust

The man was dead on spot!!!

Arnav and Khushi looked at each other, realization dawning on them, they had caused a murder!

Least they knew, he was already shot, had been poisoned and had a head injury! Who was real murderer of Shyam Jha?

--*--

A/N - TADAA!!! I had NO plan for a new book before next year, but here we are. Suspense-thrillers are indeed becoming 'my thing' after all! Anyhow. Do let me know what you think. First chapter will be posted on 1st day of Navratri! After all, to kill the devil, we'll need Devi maiyya who is devil-slayer!

I'll update the story depending on how you all respond. Thank you.

p.s. in case it wasn't clear, Arnav didn't know his jiju was same Shyam as Khushi's fiancé and Khushi too didn't know yet that this shyam was anjali's husband!