CHECKMATE

Chapter 37

"You must be insane." Concluded Mukesh Chauhan rolling his eyes at Pratap.

"If I don't take him down that's when I'll turn insane." Replied Pratap immediately.

"Listen, that man leaves no clue behind." Growled Mukesh in agitation. "You saw what he did to me right? I'm framed for a rape I never commited, the two women were murdered with zero leads."

"Every villian makes a mistake, and Ranveer too shall make one. Its just the matter of seeing...." Sighed Pratap.

"You are waisting your time on this. Not only time but also life." Warned Mukesh.

"Who was the girl you... allegedly raped?" Asked Pratap.

"Her name was....Asha....or..."

"Pallavi." Corrected Pratap shaking his head as he glanced into the prison file.

"Whoever she was...she not only filed a complain but also in the tests conducted it was my DNA found in her."

"Planting evidence isn't an issue." Replied Pratap. "Umm...what were you doing the night before the rape."

"Sleeping."

"With whom?"

"On my bed at home alone...you idiot." Snapped Mukesh smacking his forehead. "My wife died long ago!"

"So say it clearly..." Ordered Pratap. "Then how did he get your semen? Umm...aagh...do you have someone whom...you suspect."

"No...I don't." He replied in a rather bored voice.

"Looks like you are enjoying prison life you want seem to wish to come out nor prove yourself innocent." Sighed Pratap shutting the case file.

"What are you going to prove boy and how? Either way I'm finished, whether or not I'm in or out of prison." Replied Mukesh stubbornly.

"C'mon..." Groaned Pratap his arms up on the air. "Every politician has served time in prison, consider yourself one among the lot! If you read history, even our freedom fighters went to jail."

"But not under rape charges..." Replied Mukesh immediately. "Just," he sighed aloud, "forget it...and leave and settle in US."

"Not until Raveer is behind bars." Replied the advocate adamantly. "I'm reopening your case in court and I'll find that lady who framed you as well."

"But I'm not interested in reopening this rotten matter once more. Also you will lose the case." Warned Mukesh immediately.

"Let's see." Replied Pratap and left the prison interrogation room.

Zooming past the traffic of Jaipur, Pratap reached the outskirts of the city and stared at the villa for a moment and then narrowed his eyes and rang the bell.

The watchman eyed Pratap from head to toe as though he was a terrorist who had come to do away with someone.

"Just call advocate Aakesh Khatri and say it's Pratap he'll come running out."

The watchman did as he was told and rightly so Aakesh came running out of his villa and growled at Pratap asking, "My arch nemesis...what the hell do you want?"

"Ranveer's dog!" Greeted Pratap with a smirk. "Weren't you the traitor who fought Mukesh Chauhan's case?"

"Huh...he was found guilty." Snapped Aakesh rolling his eyes. "You lose the case..."

Pratap smirked at him and winked, "I don't have the habit of losing and...I remember you lost to me...many times."

Aakesh snarled and looked at one of his servants saying, "Get box number 32."

The servant nodded and left while Aakesh warned, "You will lose this case is hopeless right from the start."

Pratap simply stepped closer and whispered, "Was it so hopeless that...after you lost Ranveer made you his dog to clear his shit?"

Aakesh immediately felt like killing Pratap but the smirk on his enemies face made me simply take a step back.

"Sir the box." Came the servants voice.

Aakesh reluctantly handed the case file to Pratap who asked, "Did you lose the case because you were fed something?"

"JUST GET OUT." Roared the old advocate trying to push Pratap out of the gate, but despite his best efforts he was unable to make Pratap move an inch.

"Your reaction says more...in due course I'll understand either way; let's hope I'm wrong otherwise along with Ranveer I'll make sure you rot in prison as well." Saying that Pratap turned around to leave but immediately stopped and glared at the man warning, "If I find out that this isn't the complete case file, I'll frame you in some fraud case and have you arrested."

Aakesh gulped and mumbled, "It...it is the entire case..."

"Do you have anything to confess regarding this case?" Asked Pratap as though giving one last chance before readying himself to slaughter people.

Aakesh shook his head immediately and watched Pratap zoom off in his car leaving behind a cloud of dust.

"This Ranveer is so dead and so am I..." Groaned Aakesh and with trembling hands dialed a number on his phone.

After a brief silence he stammered, "I...I hope...there's no clues for Mukesh Chauhan case..."

"Why?" Came the voice from the other end of the line.

"Because that insane Pratap is reopening the case." Warned Aakesh nearly in a scream.

"WHAT!" Exclaimed the man on the other end. "Shit...did you give him the case file?"

"What other choice did I have?" Growled the man wiping the cold beads of sweat that trickled down his forehead.

"YOU RASCAL...FOOLISH IDIOT..." Thundered the man over the other end of the call.

"Stop calling me name, do something before it's too late or we are dead." Warned Aakesh and cut the call immediately.

Little did he know that Pratap was just standing outside the high white walls of the villa and had eavesdropped on the entire conversation.

Although he had zoomed off, he stopped his car a little away from the villa, got off and had walked back to the house.

Pratap smiled to himself muttering, "I knew it...I knew someone had tampered with this case... Aakesh...I swear I'll throw you and your pal in prison." Saying that he walked back to his car and drove away.

Reaching home he frowned seeing Anjali who was busy cooking in the kitchen.

"Aren't you supposed to be at your parents place!" He exclaimed immediately.

"So that you and your stupid friend can feast on junk?" She scolded putting her hands on her hips. "I saw all the pizza boxes and coke bottles!"

"Yes that's quick foo..." He immediately stopped seeing his wife glare at him.

"I'm staying here only." She snapped. "At least I can make healthy food for you'll."

"But you are pregnant." He insisted as he kept the case file and walked up to her.

"Pregnant...not handicapped." She retorted and continued stirring the vegetable in the vessel. "And you have any shame. Could you not even call me up?"

"I was busy..." He replied and hugged her from behind but as soon as he did that he got a smack on his head.

"You only love your work, I am your second wife no...." She complained.

"I don't remembering marrying anybody other than you actually." He replied in rather serious voice.

Anjali put the knife down and hugged him tightly saying, "I missed you..."

"Your hormones are really jumpy..." Teased Pratap earning another smack from his wife.

He chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead. He was glad to have her back home, although he missed her immensely he couldn't risk ger life.