Chapter 33 - Raabta

 

"Shivaay !" Annika yelled and ran towards him as soon as Shivaay collapsed on the ground.

Annika sat beside a now unconscious Shivaay and cradled Shivaay's head on her lap.

"Shivaay, Shivaay aankhein kholiye." ("Shivaay, open your eyes Shivaay.") Annika cried as she tapped Shivaay's cheeks repeatedly but he didn't respond.

Harshad's blood boiled when he saw Annika pampering Shivaay in front of his eyes.

"Annika !" Harshad growled and held Annika's arm and dragged her on her feet. "Tu meri ho ! Tumhe meri chinta honi chahiye, kisi aur ki nahi." ("You're mine ! You should care for me, not anyone else.")

Annika struggled in Harshad's grip but he only tightened his hold.

"Chhodo mujhe Harshad !" ("Leave me Harshad !") Annika screamed as she desperately tried to get to Shivaay. "Shivaay uthiye ! Please." ("Shivaay wake up ! Please.") She whispered the last part.

"Chalo yaha se." ("Let's go from here.") Harshad gritted and dragged Annika with him.

Before leaving the room, Harshad turned to his hooligans and said, "Maar daalo usey." ("Kill him.") He nodded towards Shivaay.

"Nahi !" ("No !") Annika screamed and trashed against Harshad when she heard that he had ordered to kill to Shivaay. "Nai ! Harshad tum aisa nahi kar sakte. Tum kisi ki jaan nahi le sakte." ("No ! You cannot do this Harshad. You cannot kill him.")

Harshad smiled and caressed Annika's cheek. "Mein tumhare liye kisi ki bhi jaan le sakta hu sweetheart." ("For you, I can claim anyone's life, sweetheart.")

Annika's jaw clenched at Harshad's touch but her eyes were still fixed on Shivaay.

How could she just let him die ?

He wasn't even supposed to get kidnapped !

It was all Annika's fault, if she had listened to Bhavya and stayed at home then she wouldn't have been here and neither Shivaay would've been here, in this condition.

Harshad forcefully dragged Annika to another room which looked clean and luxurious unlike the storeroom where she had spent the night with Shivaay.

The room had a king sized bed, a wardrobe, numerous decorative items and vases, carpet, etc.

"Anu." Harshad pushed Annika on the bed and locked the door. "Yeh lo." ("Here.") He produced a big plate full of nuptial material.

Annika stared at the red lehenga, nuptial chain, vermilion and the heavy jewellery and other things necessary for a bride in her wedding.

"Yeh kya hai ?" ("What's this ?") Annika rasped and looked at Harshad in fear.

"Tumhara shaadi ka joda aur baki saari cheeze." ("Your wedding costume and other necessary things for wedding.") Harshad smiled. "Jaldi se tyyar ho jao, pandit ji bahar humara wait kar rahe hai. Shaadi ka muhurat nikla jaa raha hai." ("Be ready, priest is waiting for us outside. The auspicious time for wedding is running out.")

Annika stood up abruptly.

"Shaadi ?!" ("Wedding ?") She widened her eyes.

"Haan." ("Yup.") Harshad took Annika's one hand in each of his hands and kissed her knuckles. "Aj humari shaadi hai." ("Today's our wedding day.") He told her sheepishly.

Annika just stared at Harshad without any emotions.

Just then Harshad started sneezing uncontrollably. He left Annika's hands and covered his nose with the palm of his hand and looked around urgently.

Harshad's eyes caught a bunch of daisies placed in a beautiful vase in a corner of the room.

"Yeh daisies yaha kisne rakhi ?" ("Who the hell kept daisies here ?") Harshad boomed before sneezing again. "Meine kaha tha ki mujhe daisies se allergy hai." ("I had told them that I've allergy with daisies.") He mumbled.

"Tumhe daisies se allergy hai ?" ("You're allergic to daisies ?") Annika asked softly and a small smile played on her lips.

Harshad nodded with a sneeze.

"Mein jaake tyyar ho jata hu aur inn daisies ko hata deta hu, tum bhi tyyar ho jao." ("I'll go and get ready and I'll ask someone to throw these daisies away, you get ready as well.") Harshad rasped before leaving the room.

Annika smiled and walked up to the daisies. She pulled the bunch of daisies out of the vase and smelled it.

"Daisies are my favourite from now on." Annika smirked as a plan clicked in her mind.

♠

Shivaay was dragged in the middle of the factory by the goons and tied to a chair.

"Boss ne isey maarne ke liye bola tha, tu isey yaha kyu leke aaya ?" ("Boss had ordered us to kill him, then why have you brought him here ?") One of the goons asked the goon who had tied Shivaay to a chair.

"Isey itni aasan maut nahi dene wala mein. Tadpa tadpa ke marunga isey." ("I won't give him such an easy death. I'll give him a painful death.") The goon, on whom Shivaay had puked, gritted.

"Jo karna hai jaldi kar, pakkya, boss ne dekh liya na toh humari band baja denge." ("Whatever you are up to, just do it ASAP, Pakkya, if boss saw you here with him then he won't spare us.") The other goon said and left Pakkya (aka the goon on whom Shivaay had puked) and Shivaay alone.

Pakkya smirked and picked up a bucket full of water and splashed on Shivaay's face waking him up with a jerk.

Shivaay gasped for a few seconds before struggling with the ropes which had tied him up with the chair.

"Kal ka badla mein aj lunga." ("I'll take my revenge from you now.") Pakkya snarled and produced an iron rod.

Pakkya walked upto Shivaay and gripped his hair in tight fist making Shivaay groan.

♥

Annika took the red chunari in her hand and wore it on her head as a veil.

She didn't change her clothes.

"Harshad ! Harshad !" Annika yelled and stared at the door with an excited look on her face.

"Haan Anu ?" ("Yes Anu ?") Harshad called back and opened the door.

A smile crossed Harshad's face when he saw Annika in veil and hence couldn't see the trap he was walking in.

As soon as the door opened and he took a step inside the room, daisies showered down on Harshad making him sneeze uncontrollably.

"Yeh kya !" ("What's this !") He exclaimed in between sneezes.

Annika threw the chunari on the ground and produced a vase from behind her and started beating Harshad with it.

"Yeh le ! Aur yeh bhi le !" ("Have this ! And this ! I'll beat you up today.") Annika said as she beated him black and blue. "Mujhse shaadi karoge tum ? Meri jutti bhi tere se shaadi nahi karegi !" ("You'll marry me ? Even my footwear won't get married to you !")

Harshad's condition was like a sick monkey trapped in a cage. On one hand, his sneezing was irritating him and preventing him from defending himself and on the other hand, Annika was bashing him up with whatever she could find.

At last, after 10 solid minutes of bashing, Annika finally stopped and without another word she locked Harshad inside the same room and fled off to find Shivaay.

Annika found her way through series of halls and machines and reached the middle of the factory where Shivaay was being beaten up by Pakkya.

Annika gasped and hid behind a wall of boxes.

"Shivaay." Annika whispered to herself softly.

She didn't know why, but her heart was aching at the sight of Shivaay getting beaten up.

Just then she saw a rat rolling an identical iron rod in her direction and the rat left it near Annika's feet.

Annika picked up the iron rod and clutched it into a fist.

"Jai shri Ganesh." She mumbled and mustered some courage.

Annika tiptoed behind Pakkya, who was too busy in beating up Shivaay that he didn't even realise Annika's presence, and she brought down the rod straight on the back side of Pakkya's head.

The iron rod in Pakkya's hand fell down with a noise followed by Pakkya collapsing unconscious beside it.

"Shivaay !" Annika threw the iron rod down and ran towards Shivaay to untie him.

"An...Annika ?" Shivaay stuttered in between groans. He had a few bruises and a broken nose but due to his head injury, he was still feeling a bit dizzy.

"Shh." Annika muttered as she untied Shivaay from the chair. "Jaldi chaliye yaha se." ("Let's get out of her fast.")

Annika held Shivaay's hand and started dragging him.

"Le..lekin Harsh...ad ?" ("B..but Harsh...ad ?") Shivaay asked as he stifled a groan.

"Woh bandar chhikta baitha hai." ("That monkey is busy in sneezing.") Annika giggled before stopping abruptly and hiding herself and Shivaay behind a wall.

"Woh ladki aur uska majnu dono bhag gaye hai, dhundo unhe." ("That girl and her Romeo both fled off, find them.") Shivika heard a goon order his subordinate.

"Majnu ? Kaun majnu ?" ("Romeo who ?") Shivaay mumbled to himself.

"Arey aap, aur kaun ?" ("You, who else ?") Annika replied back absent-mindedly.

Shivaay awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Hume jaldi se chalna chahiye, issey pehle ki woh hume pakad le." ("We should get out faster, before they catch us.") Shivaay said, ignoring the awkward feeling between them.

Shivaay shook his head a bit to rid of dizziness and took charge of the situation.

Shivaay started guiding Annika safely towards the exit but on the way they got lost, gratefully Shivaay's memory was sharp enough to recognise the pole which he had seen last night when they had been brought there by the goons.

He found the direction from where they had came in and started walking in that direction with Annika.

"Suno, agar koi problem hoti hai ya fir woh log hume dekh lete hai toh tum sidhe yaha se bhag jana mein inko sambhal lunga." ("Listen, if any problem arises or if they see us then you will run away from here, I'll handle them.") Shivaay said while cautiously looking around.

Annika stared at Shivaay. "Ek baat puchu ?" ("Can I ask you something ?") She mumbled. "Aap meri itni madad..kyu kar rahe hai ?" ("Why are you... helping me ?")

Shivaay didn't even look at Annika cause he was too busy in scanning his surroundings.

"Kyu ki tum ek ladki ho aur meri dadi aur baba ne mujhe ladkiyo ki izzat aur madad karna sikhaya hai." ("Because my grandma and my baba have taught me to always respect, help and protect a woman.") Shivaay replied absent-mindedly.

Annika just stared at Shivaay with a strange feeling in her heart.

Kehte hain,
Khuda ne iss jahaan mein
Sabhi ke liye kisi na kisi ko hai banaaya
har kisi ke liye...

Shivaay wasn't a person she had thought him to be... He was rude and egoistic, yes, but he wasn't a heartless, ruthless, psychopath as she had expected him to be.

Shivaay and Annika were just walking through a corridor of machines when Shivaay suddenly noticed a goon coming towards them.

Shivaay acted on impulse and hid behind the machine before pulling Annika towards himself.

Annika banged in Shivaay's chest and looked at Shivaay's hand which was protectively wrapped around her shoulder.

Tera milna hai uss rab ka ishaara
Maano mujhko banaya tere jaise hi kisi ke liye...

Shivaay didn't even realise that he was holding Annika to his chest, he was too busy in watching the goon.

After a while the goon disappeared and Shivaay gently pushed Annika away and started walking again with Annika's hand tightly held in his.

Annika started walking but her eyes were fixed on Shivaay's hand which was tightly holding her hand.

Kuch toh hai tujh se raabta
Kuch toh hai tujh se raabta..

The exit was just 6 strides away from Shivika.

Shivaay had a smile on his lips while Annika was still lost in her own thoughts.

Annika had started seeing Shivaay in a different light, she had seen the side of Shivaay which hardly existed for anyone other than his loved ones.

Perhaps, she had started falling for this blue eyed wild cat.

Kaise hum jaane, hume kya pata
Kuch toh hai tujh se raabta.

"Ruk jao !" ("Stop right there !") A voice boomed just before Shivika could escape.

Shivika turned around and saw Harshad with a gun in his hand and a few goons.

Shivaay protectively pushed Annika behind him and glared at Harshad.

"Annika tum jao yaha se." ("Annika, make a run.") Shivaay whispered.

"Mein apko chhod ke nahi jaungi." ("I won't go without you.") Annika replied stubbornly.

"Annika I said leave !" Shivaay said a bit more loudly in exasperation and Harshad heard it.

Harshad pointed his gun towards Annika. "Agar tum meri nahi hui, toh kisi ki nahi banogi." ("If you won't love me then I won't let you live to fall for anyone else.") He growled and pressed the trigger.

The bullet was fired but before the bullet could hit Annika, Shivaay came in between and took the bullet in the side of his stomach.

Meharbaani jaate-jaate mujhpe kar gaya
Guzarta saa lamha ek daaman bhar gaya...

"Shivaay !" Annika yelled worriedly.

Harshad too was shocked to see Shivaay taking the bullet.

Shivaay slowly lowered himself to the ground as tears flowed freely down his eyes, blood was oozing out like a waterfall from his stomach. He felt an immense pain but at the same time he felt numb at the point where the bullet had hit him.

Tera nazaara mila, roshan sitaara mila
Taqdeer ki kashtiyon ko kinara mila...

Annika came forward and cradled Shivaay on her lap. She was crying too.

"Jao yaha se Annika." ("Go away Annika.") Shivaay said with great difficulty.

Sadiyon se tarse hai jaisi zindagi ke liye
Teri sohbat mein duaayein hain ussi ke liye...

Annika shook her head as she stifled a sob.

Tera milna hai uss rab ka ishaara
Maano mujhko banaya tere hi jaise kisi ke liye.

Kuch toh hai tujhse Raabta
Kuch toh hai tujhse...Raabta.

"I said leave Annika, please." Shivaay requested. "Please jao." ("Please go.")

Annika didn't want to leave but Shivaay somehow convinced her to leave and she ran out before Harshad and his goons could catch her.

"Niklo yaha se, Annika se baad mein nipat lenge." ("Let's go from here, we'll deal with Annika later on.") Harshad said and ran from there with his goons.

Shivaay fell unconscious soon after Harshad left.

♦

Annika ran and ran and ran until she unintentionally came before a car.

The car halted before Annika.

Annika looked inside the car and saw two middle-aged ladies on the backseat.

"Mam, Mam..." Annika rushed to the back side windows of the car. "... please meri help kariye, please. Mein...mein Annika Rathore hu...mein doctor hu, please, meri help kariye." ("... please help me, please. I...I'm Annika Rathore...I'm a doctor, please, help me.")

Both ladies looked at each other before getting out of the car.

"Kya hua beta ?" ("What's wrong dear ?") One of the ladies asked and widened her eyes as soon as she saw blood on Annika's clothes. "Aur yeh khoon ?" ("And this blood ?")

"Yeh mera nahi hai." ("It's not mine.") Annika replied urgently. "Yeh Shivaay ka hai...unhe goli lagi, unhe hospital le jana bahot important hai, please meri help ki jiye." ("This is Shivaay's blood...he's been shot, he needs to be taken to the hospital urgently, please help me.") Annika joined her hands in requesting manner.

"Oh my mata...Shivaay kaha tumne ?" ("Oh my mata...did you just say Shivaay ?") The other lady asked with worried face.

"Ji haan." ("Yeah.") Annika nodded frantically.

"Pinky calm down." The other lady, Janvi, said to Pinky and turned to Annika. "Chalo, dikhao hume kaha pe hai Shivaay." ("Let's go, show us where Shivaay is.")

"Haan." ("Yes.") Annika nodded and a small amount of relief crossed her heart. She wiped her tears and sat in the car and guided them towards the factory where Shivaay was lying unconscious.

------------------------

Hey bubblies !

How was the update ??

Had anyone expected Pinky and Janvi's entry ? I don't think so..🙈🤭

I hope the chappy wasn't boring...

Next chapter is again going to be Shivika oriented with a bit more of drama...

I'm very bad at romantic stuff so bear with me...😛

Until the next update
Have a safe and great life 😇