Playing With Fire (Rishbala Fanfiction)

Chapter 28

(RK's POV)

I barged into the house, my mind constantly wandering around Madhu. Malik was waiting for me, patiently holding a decorated card in his hand.

"What did you want to show me, Malik?" I asked. He turned around and handed me the card. "This?" I lowered my eyes. What was so special about this card that I had to waste time looking for Madhu for?

"Look inside." He said, walking towards the countertops in the back of the room. The card had some lovey-dovey crap all over it, and at the bottom, an address. Armaan's house. "That's where Madhu is. I saw her reading the card and immediately leaving."

"Let's go then." He nodded, pulling out something from the drawers I couldn't yet make out. I walked up to him. "What are you doing?"

"Taking these with us." He placed a shiny black pistol into my hand. My eyes widened. "Don't worry, I'm only taking these if needed later on."

"Alright. Let's go." We got into my car, and I stepped on the gas. No way was I going to let Armaan touch her.

This house was far from the very outskirts of town. I sped through the streets, the scene soon transitioning from city lights to trees and darkness everywhere. I managed to get us to his house in fifteen minutes.

But there were no lights. The house was empty. I even went around and checked the whole premises, but in the end, I knew I had failed.

"Damn it!" I slammed my fist into the outside wall, leaving a giant hole in place of it. There was no way I was going to find her like this.

I walked sullenly back to the car, running my fingers through my hair in an attempt to calm down. It wasn't working. Malik put a hand to my shoulder.

"Relax RK. We will surely find her, one way or another." We sat there for a few more minutes, until the sound of a band could be heard from behind. And it was getting louder. I got out of the car, turning my back so they couldn't see my face.

They were clearly going to a wedding. Perhaps Armaan called them. They moved past me, and I examined the troupe to confirm my suspicious. Sure enough, the back of the vehicle had a sign plastered with 'Armaan weds Madhubala' on it. I jumped back into the car and waited till they were far enough to follow.

"Are they?" Malik seemed to understand. I nodded, and this time, softly stepped on the gas. They didn't seem to notice us, given the fact that they were blasting music and my headlights were off.

(Madhu's POV)

I was dragged into a room, where three parlor ladies were waiting with makeup and my clothes. The goons tied my hands up and made me sit at the vanity, instructing the girls to begin their work. They couldn't seem to get the makeup on me as I was crying, which could buy RK time if he did know I was in trouble. My heart believed he would come and save me.

"Stop moving." One of the girls snapped. I shot her a cold glare. She flinched and immediately shut her mouth.

Armaan barged in as soon as the veil was draped on my head. He smiled and came up to me, freeing me hands. "You look so beautiful." He leaned forward to kiss me, and instead I gave him a hard smack on the face. He smirked regardless and twisted my wrist. "Stubborn, is it? I don't remember you being this way, love."

"Get your filthy hands off me!" I pushed him back with all my strength. Instead, he pulled me up and carried me outside. "Please let me go."

"No can do Madhu. I've waited too long for this moment. Too long."

He carried me to a brightly lit-up mandap, a priest already getting ready to perform the rituals. Armaan set me down and made me sit in front of the fire, positioning his men around the area to make sure I couldn't run.

"Look Madhu, I've set this up just for you. Don't you like it?" I shirked away from him. To make matters worse, a band decided to show up and rub salt into my wounds. Some of the men started dancing.

"Please let me go." I begged. This was all a mistake. A very stupid mistake. RK and I walked straight into his trap.

(RK's POV)

The band led us to the place we were looking for. Malik and I pulled out our guns at the ready and snuck out of the car, parked a few feet away from sight.

"She has to be there." I pointed at the lights shining from just a bit away. "Let's go." Malik nodded, and we took off.

The entire area was surrounded by Armaan's men. There was no getting past them without a distraction.

"We have to lure them away somehow." Malik said. He paused for a moment before coming up with an idea. "I know. RK, step back a little."

He pointed his gun up into the sky and fired. We both ducked behind the vegetation and watched as most of the men came back to investigate. We took off again. The lights grew more visible, and I could hear the cracking of a fire.

There I saw Armaan and Madhu getting married. My anger took over my reasoning, making me walk right out into the open and hold Armaan at gunpoint.

"RK!" Madhu screamed. I smiled a little before placing Armaan in a headlock, the gun poised at his temple.

"Ready to die? I think so." I crushed his throat with my arm, watching him gasp for air. Malik came out too, taking Madhu in his arms. The priest and the band fled.

"Madhu, stay back." Malik said. She nodded, wiping some tears. He approached Armaan and slapped him hard. He looked up, shocked beyond belief. "How dare you do this to my daughter?!" He slapped him again. 

Armaan stayed silent, standing limp in my hold. Why wasn't he fighting back? The remained the scene for a few minutes,  until he suddenly gained an enormous amount of strength and pinned my arm behind my back. The gun dropped, and he seized it.

It was now pointed at Madhu and I.