Silently...

Part:36

Arjun’s phone rings.
An unknown number.

Arjun: Hello?

Arjun’s Informer: Sir Arjun, we’ve found Sahil.

Arjun: Where is he?

Informer: Right in front of my eyes. I had my men searching for him. About an hour ago, one of them called to say he had spotted Sahil. I reached here just now.

Arjun: Any idea where he had been?

Informer: From his condition, it looks like he was held captive by someone.

Arjun: What do you mean?

Informer: Sir, his entire body is covered in blood. He’s extremely weak, tired, and badly wounded.

Arjun: What is he doing right now?

Informer: It seems like he escaped and came here. Ever since I started watching him, it feels like he’s hiding from someone. But from whom?

Arjun: From Sikandar, I’m sure. Sikandar is the only one who could reduce him to this condition. Sahil could easily handle his other enemies, but Sikandar… he is the most dangerous.

Informer (interrupting): Sir Arjun, he stole a phone from a man. He’s making a call right now.

Arjun: Go closer and secretly find out who he’s talking to. In this condition, I’m sure he’s trying to ask his brother for help. His brother is a wanted criminal. Go, find out who he’s talking to and inform me.

Informer: Yes, sir.

The call disconnects. Arjun sinks into deep thought.

Arjun (thinking): Sahil is injured and has been missing for so many days. I’m certain Sikandar is behind this. Who is he calling? His brother Raj? He must be calling Raj. He won’t take help from the police. So who else can get him out of this mess? Obviously, his brother Raj. Once we find Raj, Sikandar will be within our reach too.
And that unknown man who asked me to gather information about Sahil—in return for Sikandar’s address—why hasn’t he called me yet? I tried so hard to trace the number he called from, but found nothing. If Shree were here, he would have figured something out. When will he return?

Lost in these thoughts, Arjun goes to Sameer and asks when Shree will return. Sameer tells him that since Shree went on leave, he hasn’t spoken to him, but according to the leave application, he should return in one or two days.

While they are talking, an officer from the technical department arrives and shows them all the CCTV footage from around Sakshi’s house from a few days ago. In the footage, Sakshi is seen with an unknown man (Altaf), whom no officer had ever seen talking to Sakshi before.

Ayesha and Chhotu assign all their informers to collect information about this man, Altaf. They themselves begin reviewing all the footage again, frame by frame, hoping to find additional clues. Arjun and Sameer go to Sakshi’s house to search it, hoping to find something. The entire day passes this way.

Around 5 in the evening, Riya calls Arjun to ask when he will come home. He tells her that he will be late tonight.

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10 o’clock at night

Two hours earlier, Sikandar had arrived in Mumbai and was resting comfortably in his mansion. Around 10 p.m., his men bring someone inside the mansion, tied up inside a sack. Sakshi enters the mansion along with them. She walks freely. Looking at her smiling face and carefree steps, it doesn’t seem at all that she is the same girl who was kidnapped from the ETF office the previous night by Sikandar’s man Altaf—right under the eyes of all the officers.

The sack is placed in the hall. Sikandar comes out of his room, fully dressed in a black suit.

Sikandar (to Sakshi): So, Miss Journalist, are you ready to watch your enemy get destroyed?

Sakshi: Yes. Because of her, my Arjun is away from me today. Tonight she will be finished, and my Arjun will belong only to me.

Sikandar starts laughing. His laughter is sarcastic. Sakshi cannot understand what it means. Suddenly, all of Sikandar’s men start laughing too. Seeing them laugh at her, Sakshi gets angry.

Sakshi: Why are you laughing like madmen, showing your teeth? What joke did I crack?

Sikandar: It was a joke.

Seeing Sakshi confused, Sikandar laughs again.

Sikandar: You’re saying that once Naina comes into my custody, Arjun will become yours.

Sakshi: Yes, of course. That’s what Altaf told me. Help kidnap Arjun’s wife. Once she’s in our control, Arjun will be mine.

Sikandar: You are truly foolish. Why would I leave my enemy Arjun alive when his weakness—his wife—is in my hands? Through his wife, I can easily summon Arjun and kill him as well.

Sakshi is shocked. Seeing her face, Sikandar laughs even louder. This time, his laughter doesn’t seem mad—it feels terrifying.

Sikandar: Shall I tell you something interesting, Miss Journalist? This woman—Arjun’s wife—is going to help me eliminate all my enemies. First Arjun, second her lover Sahil, and third Sahil’s brother Raj—my biggest enemy. I have been waiting for a long time to punish Raj for the betrayal he committed against me. Now, because of Riya, my dream is about to come true.

Saying this, he laughs again and orders his men to tie Sakshi as well. Sikandar then walks toward the sack placed on the chair.

Sikandar: So, you finally fell into my hands, Riya. Ohhh (turning towards Sakshi)—and Miss Journalist, there’s one thing I forgot to tell you. Do you know who this Naina really is?
She is Riya Mukherjee—the real one. And do you know what I think? I think Arjun loves Riya. When I had information gathered about Riya, I found out that she is a capable officer—someone who has the power to control the anger of an angry young man like Arjun Suryakant Rawte. The same Arjun who, after his wife’s death, never let anyone come close to him—not even his best friend—had started sharing things openly with Riya. And as far as I know Arjun, he doesn’t become comfortable with just anyone unless he truly feels something for that person. So I’m sure he cared for Riya. And now, when he finds out that his new wife is actually the same old Riya… he will definitely fall in love, won’t he?

Saying this, Sikandar starts laughing again. Suddenly, there is movement inside the sack. It no longer seems like the person inside is unconscious—rather, it feels like they have regained consciousness and are trying to come out.

Sikandar (looking at the sack): Well, look at that—she’s regained consciousness too. Arjun’s name truly carries power. His wife has woken up.

He laughs again and orders his men to take Riya out of the sack. As his men move toward the sack, open it, and begin pulling Riya out, Sikandar walks toward Sakshi. He places his hand on her face and gives her a cunning smile.

Sikandar: Love is a very useless thing, Miss Journalist. And you chose the wrong person to love. Now watch—within a few moments, you’ll leave this world.
The love you struggled so much to achieve—the love for which you committed treason against your country, betrayed your friends, and even had the wife of the man you claim to love kidnapped—you won’t even get to see that love one last time.
He didn’t love you while you were alive, and after you’re gone, because of your betrayal, he will only hate you.

Hearing this, tears fill Sakshi’s eyes. Guilt begins to overwhelm her. And seeing her condition, Sikandar laughs.

Sikandar: Don’t be sad, Miss Journalist. After you’re gone, I will definitely tell Arjun that his wife is the real Riya Mukherjee. But before love can bloom between the two of them, Riya will—

As he says this, he turns toward Riya—and freezes in shock upon seeing the person standing in front of him.

Sikandar: You…??

Now Sakshi starts laughing.