Secrets of the Past (Completed)

19. Past

Flashback

"Kushal, take Titli and Chutki with you and run away. I have kept some money in the bag, they don’t know that you guys are my siblings, just remember, whatever happens, don’t come back. Am I clear?”.

With tears flowing, Chutki and Kushal nodded their heads in a no. Sighing, she spoke, “there is not much time left, they have already reached the entrance, take our secret passageway and escape now!”

Pushing her siblings outside the door, she shut the backyard door when the front door opened with a bang.

Not having any other way, the three siblings took their secret way and came out from the house.

After walking for a long time, they rested under a tree when they heard hurried footsteps. Kushal’s eyes widened at the scene. They were coming for them!! How did they know them? Holding his sisters’ hands, he started running towards the forest.

The footsteps were nearing. Not having any other way, he took a shortcut and went towards their secret tree house, climbed swiftly and put his Titli down when the men reached the same spot. Holding their breath, Kushal and Chutki waited. Titli was already drowsy due to the drug.

Not finding their prey, the men returned. Sighing in relief, Chutki opened the bag and took some food for her siblings and herself. Since Titli was fast asleep, Kushal and Chutki ate silently. It was still dark and there was nowhere they could go and find shelter.

Silent tears started streaming down their eyes, thinking about the fate of their family.

**********************

1st March 2020 early morning 4 am, conference room at the guesthouse

Nk’s kidnap was a slap on everyone’s face, especially on Ranvijay.

He was walking with frustration, mumbling something incoherent.

Everyone was afraid to approach him. After finishing the formalities related to the child trafficking case, Kushi joined the team.

As soon as he saw Kushi, he made her sit down and enquired her.

Ranvijay “Kushi, are you sure that you are Savita Gupta’s granddaughter?  The murders are definitely related to you. You can see the clues for yourself.”

Kushi sighed, “ Chief, I am Savita Gupta’s granddaughter. I have all the proof. My birth certificate, school and University certificates, the photographs, everything points that I am a Gupta.”

Frustrated, he said, “then why are the dates pointing at you?”

No one was able to give an answer.

“NK’s body will be thrown at this guesthouse tomorrow morning. I don’t have any other lead.. except you!”

She was getting angry, but couldn’t say anything since he was her senior.

Kushi “Chief, the dates don’t point at me. NK's kidnap is the proof. There should be another angle to this story.

Get that Arnav Singh Raizada and start the third degree punishments, he will spill the truth automatically.”

***************

1st march 2020, morning 10 am, guesthouse

The house was eerily silent. Arnav Singh Raizada was enclosed in his study room doing god knows what.

Finding the time to be right, Anjali and Bubbly cornered Shyam and took him to the latter's room.

Shyam “what are you guys doing? Anjali? I have some important work!!”

Not heeding to his words, Anjali and Bubbly made him sit on the bed and sat in front of him with accusing and enquiring looks.

Shyam became alert. His wife and sister in law’s stance screamed something dangerous. He sat silently and waited for them to start whatever it was.

Not beating around the bush, Bubbly asked “what happened in the past jiju? Don’t try to hide. We came across your diary. We know something terrible happened which has distanced you and Arnav bhai. What did he and his friends do that has made you hate them?”

Bewildered at Bubbly’s direct attack, Shyam was thinking what to tell her, when Anjali spoke “we promised that we will trust each other and share anything and everything without hiding from our better half. What happened to those vows Shyam?”

Her tears were always his weakness. Sighing, Shyam started narrating the horrible past to his wife and Bubbly.

*****************

When Manorama Mami had gone to call Bubbly for lunch, her room door was closed. Surprised, she started knocking when Anjali opened the door slightly and enquired.

Assuring her Mami that they will have a late lunch, Anjali shut the door immediately. Worried at Anjali’s abrupt dismissal, Manorama Singh Raizada decided to leave the girls for now.

At a distance, a shadow was looking at the happenings with a weird look. She took slow steps towards Devyani Raizada’s room, made sure that the coast was clear and entered the elderly lady’s room.

Lavanya and Sheetal, who were in-charge of monitoring the guesthouse, found something unusual. The conversation between Anjali, Swara and Shyam was clearly visible and Neil was hearing their conversation with a bewildered look on his face. He was recording the entire audio, which meant something serious was happening.

Suddenly, Sheetal realized that Devyani Raizada’s room was not visible on the monitor. After a few seconds of stunned silence, Sheetal and Lavanya dashed through the corridor, simultaneously informing Ranvijay and Vasundhara of the emergency.

Not waiting for the spare key, they broke open the room door, only to stand back with shock.

NK’s body was hanging from the ceiling of the Raizada matriarch’s room.

*******************

Same day, 3pm

Ranvijay and Vasundhara were busy with the forensic team, while Lavanya and Dev took charge of interrogating the family.

Neil was sitting at a corner with a faraway look. Not gaining any response from him, Sheetal shook him out from the reverie.

Sheetal “what happened? Anything serious?”

Holding her hand suddenly, he took Sheetal to a nearby room and after making sure that they will not be eavesdropped or disturbed, he told her everything that he heard .

Shocked at the sudden turn of events, Sheetal said “we need to inform Chief and Boss. Let’s go!!”

*****************

Evening 6pm

Ranvijay and Vasundhara were stunned after hearing the conversation between Anjali, Shyam and Bubbly. The entire team was getting things ready for the much needed face off with their culprit.

Vasundhara “ok, we need  to execute the plan as soon as possible. Sonakshi, Sheetal and Lavanya, I want you guys to get the paperwork done and make sure that there is no loophole through which he can escape. Dev, Neil and Ajay, you know what to do.”

Nodding their heads, they dispersed.

Ranvijay “get Kushi on call”

Vasundhara immediately called Kushi, but there was no response.