MANAN- Strings of love

27. Unexpected Attack

 Belated Happy Republic to everyone. Thank you for all your precious votes and comments. I know I am taking a lot of breaks but please keep up. 

  Never thought that I would be in this fucked up situation. I can't believe that the monkey Abhi wants to use my bike as his bike stopped in the middle of the road. "Go to hell. I won't take you." I spat and headed to my bike. 

   Apparently we enjoyed a lot and we were returning to home were in the middle of no where Abhi's bike stopped. His reason was 'I forgot to feed my bike.' Mukti came to me begging and I was thinking of breaking the traffic rules when I got the call of Shanno Chikki. 

   She bargained that she will bring me her famous tomato sambar in south Kanara style and my mouth started watering hearing it. I told ok but now I am regretting. "How the hell are you the CEO of a company? When you don't know the basic precaution to fill your bike with petrol idiot."

    I asked Abhi when I was helping him by lifting his bag. Manik and Abhi were pushing Abhi's bike. "I am always perfect but Mukti's mother requested me and I was not prepared so it slipped from my mind. By the way, who is bringing your bike?" "If Mukti rea

   "Mukti will bring it. She is handling all our bags." I said and started counting the distance we travelled. It was not even 10 meters and the petrol bunk was 5000 meters. "If Mukti reaches the petrol bunk then we can take a sigh of relief." I said  walking.

   Aliya, Druv, Kabir, Navya and Shikha went ahead leaving us and they have reached houses. Aliya told me that she will be taking Shikha to her home as Gunjan and Harshad were missing her.

  "I regret not going with Aliya." I adjusting the bag. "Stop complaining like a baby and woman up." Abhi's advise made my blood boil. I could see Manik appeasing Abhi who to say sorry to me but he didn't budge.

   I dropped the bag and started kicking it. Abhi saw it and came running towards me leaving the bike to Manik. "What the hell are you doing? Are you mad?" He was stopping me. 

  " I am tolerating your non sense bike, your non sense excuses, your non sense bag and a very non sense you. I can't kick you so I am kicking your bag." I said and started kicking it. "You agree I am strong." Abhi's audacity made him go nuts.

  "No, If I kick you then your baby making machine will not be working so I am kicking it." I was kicking it when I heard a loud bang. I looked at the direction where Manik had dropped the bike and his hand was bleeding. I ran towards him shouting his name.

   Tears sprung from my eyes seeing the ugly wound. The bullet was inside his upper hand. Abhi was calling someone. "I am ok." Manik said and then I realised he was seeing me. I removed the first aid which was at the side bag of the bike. Abhi had it done while giving for service.

   Mukti came running with two cans of petrol. When she saw Manik, she put it down and started inspecting it. With cotton I started wiping the blood. An ambulance came and I helped Manik to get in.

   "I will call Kabir and inform him. You accompany Manik, I will come along with Mukti." he said and handed me a water bottle. I nodded and the nurses in the ambulance started doing their work.

     I was waiting at the lobby when doctor came from Manik's room. "The bullet has been removed but we need to keep him here for observation and many tests should be...." his statement was left hanging Mr. Malhotra along with Mrs. Malhotra barged in. 

   "He doesn't need anything. We are taking him to our house." he signalled someone from behind and gestured me to follow him. I did as he instructed me like a lost puppy. "The attack was aimed at you." his words made my steps halt.

   "I know it is too much to digest but we have informed the intelligence who told us that will give you full security and they want you to search the password for the locker in which the weapon is hidden." I nodded at his words. He was going to say something but Mrs. Malhotra stopped him.

    "Give her a break Raj. She is tired from all this and also afraid, discuss this tomorrow now lwt her rest." she took me to a seat. "Raj will be here with Manik, let's go." She said and collected her bag.

    "Mam, I will come along with Manik." I felt so guilty that the attack was on me but suffered by Manik. A group of police men came from the entrance and stood in front of Mr. Malhotra. "We need to take the statement." The IPS officer said and gestured me to follow him. 

   "Mam, can you tell me what happened?" he asked. 

   "We were returning from our adventure, Aliya, Druv, Kabir, Navya and my niece Shikha went ahead and we thought of spending some time over there. When we were returning, Abhi, my cousin's bike stopped as it did not contain enough petrol so Mukti, one of Manik's friend decided to take my bike to petrol bunk and bring petrol in cans." I drank some water feeling thirsty.

   "Manik, Abhi were pushing the Abhi's bike and I was taking Abhi's bag. I was so angry on Abhi so I started kicking his bag to infuriate him. We were busy in our banter when I heard a bang. I looked at the direction of my bike where Manik fell with his hand bleeding. I ...." my words were cut shrt as Mr. Malhotra came .

   "Sorry to disturb you Inspector but she is really tired, her niece is demanding her presence so can she go home?" The inspector nodded.

    "Nandu, Shikha is having a nightmare and she is crying a lot." Navya's panic voice penetrated through cell. Abhi and Mukti have arrived and Abhi was on phone. "Mukti take Nandini to Saxena's residence and I will ask Malik to drop you guys." I was about to protest but his one hand with stern face told me another story.

   I did as he told.

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Who would have attacked Manik?

Character's Opinion

Lotus_dream: What are you going to do with the culprit who attacked Manik?

Mr. Malhotra: Nothing.

Lotus_dream: Manik is your son. Don't you feel anything?

Mr. Malhotra: I care for him but when he is ok he will take care of the culprit and Nandini is his girlfriend and he need to take the responsibility.

Lotus_dream: What if the attack takes place again?

Mr. Malhotra: No, a clever one doesn't attack a person twice in series, he will wait so we have a lot of time. 

Lotus_dream: Ok, as you wish.