Chapter 44 - Surprise...or Shock!

 "Aur kitne address baki hai ?" ("How many more places are there on the list ?") Shivaay asked Khanna as he dejectedly walked out of another club with Annika and Khanna in tow.

Shivika and Khanna had been to 3 clubs till now and had made Annika stay out of the club everytime, cause according Shivaay the clubs were too shady for Annika, but they hadn't yet got any clue about Jhonny.

"Aur do bache hai, sir." ("There more 2 places, sir.") Khanna replied.

"Okay, waha chalke dekhte hai, shayad wahi pe hume mil jaye woh Jhonny." ("Okay let's go and check those places out. We may find that Jhonny there.") Shivaay said and was about to climb his car when Annika's voice stopped him.

"Nahi milega." ("We won't.") Annika said bluntly.

Shivaay turned to Annika with a frown.

"Tum madad karne aayi ho ya fir mazak udane ?" ("Are you here to help or to mock ?") Shivaay mused. "Aur woh kyu nahi milega hume ?" ("And why won't we find him ?")

"Kyu ki..." ("Cause...") Annika walked closer to Shivaay with a 'I-know-everything' look. "...Yeh sab addresses Jhonny ke time pass ki jagaho ke hai. Yaha woh sirf tab aata hai jab usey chill karna hota hai. Yeh uska permanent address nahi hai." ("...the addresses we've are of Jhonny's hangout places. He doesn't go there everyday but only when he feels like chilling out. These are not his permanent address.")

Shivaay thought about it. As much as he wanted Annika to be wrong, she was right.

Those all address were of clubs and pubs and it was a common sense that no one would stay there 24/7. Plus the goons like him were always on hideout and clubs and pubs were always under police's radar so it was not illogical to assume that they wouldn't find Jhonny at any of these places unless they are high on their luck.

"Sahi kaha." ("Right.") Shivaay mumbled distantly making Annika's lips widen with grin.

"I know." Annika said triumphantly.

"Toh hum ab usey kaise dhunde ? Humare pass bas yahi addresses hai." ("Then how shall we find him ? We only have these addresses as clues, nothing else.") Shivaay said.

"Don't worry, Mein hu na. Mujhe aise cases ka experience hai. Meine pehle bhi sting operation karke drug smugglers ko pakada hai." ("Don't worry. I'm experienced in such cases. I have caught a drug smuggler through sting operation before.") Annika smirked.

Annika had went on sting operation, yes, but she had left out a lil detail that her superior had disguised herself and nabbed the smuggler while Annika was in the background, working as backup if something goes wrong.

But that doesn't matter, Annika knew she could have nabbed the smuggler all by herself if she would've given the chance.

"Toh kaise pakade hum usey, mam ?" ("So what's the plan, mam ?") Khanna asked.

"Hum yaha se chalte chalte jayenge." ("We'll walk back to hotel.") Annika said and started walking in the direction of the hotel where they all were residing.

"What ?!" Shivaay and Khanna shrieked together.

"Yes. Now follow me." Annika snapped and continued walking.

"Yes mam." Shivaay replied with an eye-roll and Khanna replied with a nod.

Shivika and Khanna had been walking for a while now. They were passing from a small road surrounded by small houses when Annika abruptly stopped.

Shivaay raised an eyebrow at her as he and Khanna stopped walking too.

Shivaay and Khanna were about to walk towards her but Annika stopped them and put some more distance between herself and Shivaay and Khanna.

"Kya kar rahi ho, Annika ?" ("What's wrong Annika ?") Shivaay asked.

"Ab aap dono pr humla hoga." ("You are going to get attacked now.") Annika replied. "Toh tyyar rehna." ("So be ready.")

"What ?" Shivaay mused.

Just then 3 boys appeared behind Shivaay and one of them was about to slam a hockey stick on Shivaay's head but Khanna was fast enough to push Shivaay away before the stick could make any contact with him.

Shivaay was startled by the sudden push but he quickly came back to his senses and took in the situation.

As Khanna tackled the boy who had attacked Shivaay first, Shivaay managed to dodge the attacks of the rest of the two guys.

One guy came running towards Shivaay with his hockey stick and was about to hit Shivaay with it but Shivaay stopped the stick in midway and kicked him off.

"Woohoo Shivaay ! Khanna Bhaiya, punch !" Annika cheered as she enjoyed the fight from far.

"Annika cheer karna band karo aur humari madad karo !" ("Annika stop cheering and help us !") Shivaay yelled as he dodged another kick and replied it with a punch.

When Shivaay yelled at Annika, the goons got to know that Annika was with Shivaay so one of the guys went to attack Annika.

Shivaay watched with wide, worried eyes as he saw the goon advancing towards Annika but he couldn't go to save her cause the guy he was dealing with was keeping him busy.

Annika gave a bored look to the guy advancing towards her but as he came near she changed her stance.

The guy pulled out a pocket knife and was about to hold Annika hostage but Annika came loose out of his grip and stamped her feet before jabbing her elbow in his stomach.

The guy cried out and bent over, Annika used this situation and his condition to her advantage and kneed his nose breaking it swiftly.

Shivaay and Khanna stared at Annika, amazement, admiration and respect in their eyes. They both slowly clapped making Annika smirk.

Shivaay and Khanna had already took care of the other guys.

Shivaay and Khanna walked up to Annika huffing and puffing.

"Impressive." Shivaay praised with a grin. "Kab sikha self defence ?" ("When did you learn self defence ?")

"Apko kya laga, Harshad wale scene ke baad mein kya mein apne bachav ke liye 90s ke heroines ki tarah hero ka wait karti baithti ?" ("What did you think, after Harshad incident I'll always depend on you for my safety ?") Annika said with a face. "Aap hospital mein the jab mein Khanna bhaiya se fighting karna sikh rahi thi." ("You were in the hospital when I started learning some moves from Khanna bhaiya.")

"Khanna ?" Shivaay looked at Khanna with amusement.

Khanna nodded with pink on cheeks.

"Very good." Shivaay patted Khanna back.

"How did you know we were going to get attacked ?" Shivaay asked as he turned back to Annika.

"Apko woh waiter yaad hai jisne Jhonny ka naam sunte hi glasses gira diye the ?" ("Do you recall the waiter who had dropped all the glasses after hearing Jhonny's name ?") Annika asked as she squeezed some sanitizer on her palms.

Shivaay and Khanna nodded.

"Woh Jhonny ka khabri tha." ("He was Jhonny's informer.") Annika replied.

"Tumhe kaise pata ?" ("How did you get to know that ?") Shivaay challenged.

"Common sense and Body language." Annika retorted. "Jaise hi aap log bahar aaye usne pakka kisko phone karke inform kar diya hoga ki hum unki puch tach kar rahe hai. Aur isiliye yeh gunde bhi bheje taki hum Jhonny tak naa pohonche." ("The moment we got out, he must've called someone to let them know that we're looking for Jhonny. And they sent these hunches to make sure we don't reach Jhonny.")

Shivaay hummed.

"Chalo, baki ke addresses pe chalke dekhte hai." ("Let's go, and check the other places on the list.") Shivaay said.

"Nahi." ("No.") Annika opposed. "Hume kisi bhi address pe ab Jhonny nahi milega, ab usey pata hai ki hum usey dhund rahe hai toh woh pakka apne adde pe chhup gaya hoga." ("We won't find Jhonny on any known places now, he now knows that we're looking for him so he must've hid in his headquarters.")

"Toh ab hum usey pakadenge kaise ?" ("So how will we find him ?") Khanna grumbled.

"Yeh hai na." ("Through him.") Annika said as she picked up the goon she had bashed minutes ago. "Isey pakka pata hoga ki Jhonny kaha hai." ("I'm sure he knows Jhonny's whereabouts.")

"Mein abhi issey information nikalwata hu." ("I'll make him spill the beans.") Khanna said as he took hold of the goon.

♣

OmRu were just strolling in the gardens of Oberoi villa, occassionally gazing up at the star filled, peaceful night sky.

"Toh bhabhi ko surprise accha laga ?" ("So did Gauri sister-in-law like the surprise ?") Rudy asked.

"Bahot accha laga usey. Tune life mein pehli baar itni acchi cheez ki hai." ("Yes, very much. You've done something perfectly for the first time in life.") Om chuckled at Rudy's pouty face.

"Mein sab kaam acche se hi karta hu." ("I do everything perfectly.") Rudy replied defensively.

"Accha ?" ("Really ?") Om raised an eyebrow. "4 saal pehla ka bhai ka birthday surprise yaad hai ?" ("Do you remember 4 years ago Bhai's birthday surprise ?")

Rudy's face distorted at the ugly memory.

"Mein bas 14 saal ka tha tab !" ("I was only 14 !") Rudy replied.

"Toh ? Kisi bhi 14 saal ke bacche ko itni samjh hoti hai." ("So ? Every 14 year old has common sense.") Om said. "Woh bandar ko parties mein nahi laate aur laaye bhi toh khula nahi chodte." ("Any 14 year old doesn't bring a monkey to a party and even if they bring it there, they don't let him free.")

Rudy blushed a deep shade of red and tried to come up with a comeback but couldn't.

"Haan toh ho jata hai kabhi kabhi. Mein bhaiya ko sabse hatke gift dena chahata tha." ("Yeah, okay, it happens sometimes. I wanted to gift bhaiya something different and unique.") Rudy replied.

Om laughed at his younger brother's reply.

After a while of chatting with each other OmRu reached the backside of the Oberoi villa.

"O, mein thak gaya, chalo na thodi der baith jaate hai." ("O, I'm tired, let's go a sit for some time.") Rudy complained and without waiting for Om's reply, he jogged towards the bench.

Om shook his head and followed Rudy.

As soon as OmRu neared the bench they saw a duffle bag resting on it.

"Yeh kiska hai ?" ("Whose bag is that ?") Om mumbled.

"Kisi guard ka ya fir gardener ka hoga." ("Maybe it's of gardener's or guard's.") Rudy shrugged.

Rudy was just 5 feet away from the bench when Om pulled him back just in time cause the next thing that hit their ears was the deafening sound of a blast.

OmRu looked at the flames of fire where the bench once rested. The duffle bag was nothing but a time or remote operated bomb.

"Tu thik hai ?" ("Are you okay ?") Om asked worriedly as he checked Rudy for any injuries.

Rudy nodded wordlessly, his eyes still glued to the ball of flames.

Om heaved a sigh before pulling Rudy into a tight hug.

Om didn't even wish to know what would've happened if he would've been even a second late in pulling Rudy back.

Bodyguards rushed towards OmRu with fire extinguisher and blankets and some with guns too.

Some guards hauled OmRu inside the villa while others started working on putting out fire and safeguarding the house.

All the elder Oberois and RiVya were worriedly and impatiently waiting in the living room as the guards didn't allowed them out.

"Kaa hua ? Aap dono thik hai ?" ("What happened ? Are you two alright ?") Gauri rushed towards OmRu with fear stricken face, followed by Bhavya.

"Hum...hum thik hai." ("We... We're fine.") Om assured as he made a still shocked Rudy sit on the couch.

Janvi quickly sat beside Rudy and rubbed his hand comfortingly as soon as she saw Rudy's trance.

Rudy leaned in Janvi's touch while Om explained what had happened to RiVya but made sure he was audible to elder Oberois too.

All the elders shared a worried look when they heard about the bomb but decided to talk about it in private.

♦

"Yeh pakka unhi logo ka kaam hoga." ("I'm certain this has all been done by those people.") Tej said.

All the elders were now in Tej's room.

"Ho sakta hai ki yeh Shivaay ke kisi business rival ne kiya ho." ("Maybe Shivaay's business rival has done this.") Shakti suggested.

"Nahi." ("No.") Tej shook his head dismissively. "Agar rival ka kaam hota toh Shivaay ke presence mein woh bomb blast karta." ("If rival would've done it then he would've blasted the bomb in presence of Shivaay.")

"Toh fir-" ("Perhaps-") Shakti was cut off by the loud ringing of the telephone.

Tej nodded, silently saying that he'll receive the call, before receiving the call.

*Phone conversation*

Tej (firmly) : Hello ?

Man (chuckles evilly) : How was the surprise ?

Tej (annoyed) : What surprise ?

Man (sickly sweet) : Don't act dumb, buddy. The bomb wasn't that harmless, you know.

Tej : How do you know about the bomb ?

Man (chuckles again) : I was the one who planted it and if I wanted I could've blasted it after your sons were in the range of it.

Tej : You-

Man (gritted) : Don't ! .... Just remember that if you don't do my work then I'll not waste my bomb for nothing. I'll make sure all your sons die in the blast next time.

*Phone conversation ends*

"Yeh unhi logo ka kaam hai." ("Those people were behind this conspiracy. It's confirmed.") Tej confirmed as soon as he slammed the receiver back on the telephone. "Unhone dhamki di hai ki agar humne unka kaam nahi kiya toh agli baar...agli baar woh humare tino beto ki jaan le lenge." ("They've given us warning. He said if I don't do their work then they will kill...kill all our 3 sons.")

Gasps sounded throughout the room as the elder Oberois contemplated on what to do and what other ways they had.

"Humare pass koi option nahi hai." ("We don't have any other option.") Tej started. "Hume unka kaam karna hi hoga." ("We need to do their task.")

"Pr Bhaisahab-" ("But Bhaisahab-") Shakti was cut off by Tej.

"Jaan hai toh Jahan hai Shakti." ("Life is everything.") Tej snapped. "Agar jaan hi nahi rahi toh company ka kya karenge ?" ("Our sons'lives are more important than any company, ain't it ?")

"But-" Janvi was also cut off by Tej.

"Jara socho tum sab." ("Just give a thought.") Tej said. "Unn logo ko sirf Shivaay ki company chahiye aur agar hum aise karte hai toh hum safe rahenge. Humare bacche safe rahenge. Companies hum khadi kar sakte hai, humare baccho mein utni himmat hai ki woh khud koi business khada kare lekin humare bacche replaceable nahi hai. Unke baare mein toh socho ! Unki puri life aage padi hai, bacche hai woh ! Hum unki life se nahi khel sakte." ("They only want Shivaay's company and if we give them that, we'll stay safe. Our kids will be safe. We can build businesses but our kids are irreplaceable. Think about them ! They've just started living their lives, they're kids ! We cannot play with their lives.")

All the other elder Oberois fell silent.

Tej was right.

Those bad people only wanted to take control of Shivaay's company, Oberoi Reality, they didn't ask for more.

But that company was Shivaay's soul. He had nurtured and grew it like his own baby.

Was it right to snatch that away from Shivaay after snatching away his childhood too ?

No !

But what other option did they have ?

Life will always attain priority over anything. Right ?

"Thik hai." ("Alright.") Pinky nodded. "Mere liye mere beto ki zindagi se badhkar kuch nahi hai." ("Nothing is more important to me than my kids' lives.")

Janvi and Shakti nodded half-heartedly, agreeing with Pinky.

Tej let out a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Thik hai toh fir...Jaise hi Shivaay wapas aayega, mein Shivaay se company ke ownership ke documents pe signatures le lunga." ("Okay then it's final...As soon as Shivaay comes home, I'll take signatures of Shivaay on the documents of ownership papers of the company.") Tej said firmly.

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Hey bubblies !

Until the next update
Have a safe and great life 😇