Silently...

Part: 38

Raj and Sahil: You…?

Standing before them was ETF encounter specialist Ayesha—rage and determination blazing in her eyes, a sharp shard of glass clenched tightly in her hand. Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, Ayesha struck Raj’s hand with the glass shard. In one swift move, she injured him and knocked the gun out of his grip. The weapon fell to the floor.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Ayesha lunged forward, picked up the gun, and pressed it firmly against Raj’s forehead. Raj, who was sitting on the ground holding his wounded brother in his arms, was completely helpless.
Ayesha: Drop your weapons. Or your beloved boss will meet God today.

Raj (shocked): Who are you?

Sahil (in pain): ETF officer… Ayesha.

Raj: Where is Riya?

Sahil: It’s good she isn’t here. (in an accusing tone) I never knew that the brother who was like a father to me would try—for the second time—to take my love away from me.

Raj: What are you saying, son?

Sahil: The truth. I heard your conversation. And I saw it with my own eyes—you shooting at Riya. Thank God she isn’t here.

Sahil screams in pain as the bullet wound burns.

Sahil: Aaahhhhh!

Seeing his condition, Raj panics. His men stand frozen, guns still aimed at Ayesha, unable to move.

Raj: Son, let’s go to the hospital.

Ayesha: Don’t you dare move. (to Raj’s men)
Didn’t you hear me? Drop your weapons. Or Raj Singhania will die—and so will his brother. Look at him… he’s losing so much blood.

Raj (shouting): Drop your weapons!
(to Ayesha) Please, my brother needs to go to the hospital. You can arrest me later.

Ayesha: Not like this, Mr. Raj.
You’ve played with too many lives. I can’t let you go so easily. If you want your brother to reach the hospital alive, stay right here. Call the ETF office and ask them to come with an ambulance. The sooner you do it, the sooner your brother survives.
And don’t try to be smart—one more bullet from this gun will finish your brother, and the remaining four are more than enough for you.
Now… make the call.

For his brother’s sake, Raj obeys without hesitation and dials the ETF office.

Voice: Hello?

Raj: I want to speak to the ETF Chief.

Voice: He’s not available right now. Please try his personal number.

Raj: His number?

Ayesha: Dial **********

Raj quickly dials.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Arjun’s House

After learning the truth about Riya, Arjun collapses to the floor in shock. Sameer still can’t believe that the woman who had been in front of them all this time was ETF’s brave officer Riya—the same Riya he considered his younger sister. Arjun is completely shattered.

Arjun (thinking): Riya is alive. She was right in front of me all this time. I felt her presence every moment, yet I couldn’t recognize her. She remembers everything now… which means she must remember that she loves me.
She even asked me once what Riya meant to me—and I said, just a colleague. That must have hurt her.
I need to meet her. I need to tell her how much she means to me.
But where is she? Those goons…?