𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐢-𝐋𝐚: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬|Cricket Fanfiction

Chapter Twelve~

Prithviraj stopped his car as he noticed lots of people at a place near their main plantation area. Stepping out he quickly moved towards the crowd, asking,"kya chal raha hain yaha? Sab yaha kiyu khadey hain aisey?"

"Saheb! Samajh nahi araha hain. Hum toh abhi aaye hain. Tenduey ki awaaz sunai di. Kisi par attack kardi hain shayad. Pata nahi. Waha niche ke ouhr kuch huya hain shayad,"one of the men said and he rushed down the hilly terrain, shouting Jheelam's name.

"Jheelam! Jheeeeeelam! Answer back! Damn it!"he shouted aloud, and his voice returned as echoes while darkness had fallen upon the area completely.

He noticed another crowd, bigger than the one at the uphill, and he ran towards it, asking,"kya huya hain? What's the matter?"

"Arey saheb!"one of the workers from their plantation approached him and he asked,"tumney...tumney voh wali Mem Saheb ko dekha hain kahi pe? Jo mere saath thi."

"Areh haan! Voh rahi,"he said pointing towards a direction and Prithviraj ran towards the way, only to get startled by the snarls of the leopard who had been captured in a strong cage, which was covered with leaves and shrubs.

"Sirrrr!"Jheelam's excited tone earned his attention and he turned towards her immediately as she ran up to him, saying,"pakad liya humnein tendua. See! Firstly we traced the footprints then we made a trap and...."

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! WILL YOU?"Prithvi's sudden outburst startled her and she took a step back, staring at him in shock.

"What do you think of yourself? Haan? You have solution to every problem? You're some super human? You can do everything that a man can? Why? Why do you have the main character syndrome?"he scolded her at the top of his voice.

"But...main toh help...kar rahi thi,"Jheelam said and he held her hand and pulled her along while saying,"chalo, chalo yaha se. You'll go from here tomorrow itself. Koi zaroorat nahi hain tumhey yaha rehene ki."

Jheelam couldn't say anything though she wanted to. She stopped herself as for the first time, she felt Prithvi's concern in his shouts. She understood it very well that he was worried for her safety, hence, she remain quiet.

The forest rangers had arrived in the meantime to take the leopard away, and they thanked them for the deed, before the duo left for the villa, silently.

On reaching the villa, he stepped out of the car and walked inside, without waiting for Jheelam to step out.

"Mem Saheb, aap thik hain?"Arasi asked and Jheelam gave a nod while saying,"par aapka Chhotey Saheb shayad thik nahi hain. Bohot gussey mein hain."

"Unhey aapki fikar hain. Humnein unsey kaha tha ki iss wakt baahar khatra hain. Hum kisi aur ko bhej denge aapko dhundne. Phirbi voh khud chaley gaye,"Nithya said and then added,"bilkul Bade Saheb jaisey hain voh. Voh bhi Badi Mem Saheb par aisey hi gussa karte theh."

"Matlab...Preetika ma'am aur..."

"Haan,"Nithya replied to Jheelam.

"Aap jaiye Mem Saheb. Fresh ho jaiye. Dhul mitti lagi hui hain. Kya kar kya rahi thi aap? Humey Balaji ne bataya ki aap tendua pakad rahi thi logon ke saath milkar."

"Haan...matlab..."

"Nahi karna chahiye tha aisa. Aapko kaha aadat hain yeh sab karne ki? Tabhi toh Saheb naraaz hogaye. Dar gaye theh bechare,"Arasi said and Jheelam frowned while going upstairs, thinking,"hadh hain! Tendua maarke main aayi hoon aur chinta inhey Saheb ki hain. Aur Saheb toh apne hi dhun mein hain upar."