Part16 

Arnav looked at NK like, "who is he?" seeing Shivshankar with him as he didn't expect his father soon. Shivshankar went speechless, seeing Arnav. Except, the hair-style, there is no difference between Arjun and Arnav. Arnav became embarrassed by his constant gaze. He raised his eyebrows towards NK.

"He is my father."

"Your father? But you said he will come only at the weekend?"

"Curiosity of meeting you brought me here soon," Shiv replied, not taking his gaze from Arnav.

"Namaste, Sir." Arnav greeted him.

"I can't believe this. I really can't...." Shiv murmured.

"I was also curious to meet you. I will be grateful to you if you clear my doubts."

"I will tell you what I knew."

"Who is Karan Singh? Why did he kill Arjun?" Arnav started interrogating.

"It's because he also loved Arjun's girlfriend Khushboo. He was not ready to sacrifices her for anyone. So, he killed both of them by using Sumar Singh."

"Who is Sumer?"

"Arjun's friend."

"Being Arjun's friend, how did he help Karan to kill Arjun?" Aman questioned, not understanding.

"Karan got to know that Khushboo had fallen in love with Arjun. He tried his level best to break them apart but it never happened. Arjun and Khushboo were so firm in their stance as they loved truly. Karan knew he couldn't do anything against Arjun as he was so strong. So, Karan played a trick and used Sumer. Sumer belongs to a Royal Lineage. He and Arjun were so close to each other but Arjun maintained the distance as Sumer belongs to the Royal family. He helped Arjun, a lot in the freedom struggle. Karan wanted to break the ties between Arjun and Sumer. Karan brought Sumar into their love matter by creating a desire in his mind on Khushboo. Khushboo was a beautiful girl who could captivate anyone's heart. She was a well-mannered girl also. So, Sumer also got captivated by her charms. Poor man, he didn't know that she loves Arjun.

"Being friends, didn't Arjun share anything about Khushboo with Sumer?" NK asked.

"What do you think? It was before eighty years... People were not so forward thinkers like this generation guys. And I told you Arjun maintained a distance from Sumer."

"Then, what happened?" Arnav asked him to continue.

"Arjun and Sumer hardly interacted as Arjun became a terrorist. In that gap, Karan had been grown desire in Sumer's heart for Khushboo. Khushboo was a nice girl. She respects everyone. As the same, she respected Sumer too. Sumer misunderstood that she also had feelings for him. Obviously, Karan is the one who created such an idea in Sumer's mind, using his brain."

Everyone was listening to Shiv keenly.

"At that time, Arjun burnt some British vehicles and went underground. The British ruler issued the shooting order to Arjun."

"Oh, God..." Aman panicked.

"My father was also wanted to take part in the freedom struggle but his parents didn't allow him. Though he didn't take part openly he indirectly helped Arjun many times. My father was the one who passed Arjun's important messages to Sumer and Khushboo. Arjun was giving a tough time to the police but he couldn't hold himself from meeting Khushboo. They often met in the temple. Except, my father and Karan, the Pandit of the temple knew their love story."

"You mean, the young man?" Arnav asked.

"Yes... he saved Arjun many times."

"Then?"

"As the British wanted Arjun to be killed, Karan used it in his favor. He forced Sumer to marry Khushboo."

"How sick..." Aman gritted his teeth.

"Yes, Sumer went to Khushboo's house with a proposal. Khushboo's parents were so happy about the proposal of the Royals. They readily agreed to it."

"Didn't they ask Khushboo about her wish?"

"No, at that time, parents decide themselves and girls obey their parents."

"What did Khushboo do?" NK asked.

"She sent a message to Arjun through my father."

"What Arjun did?"

"He wanted her to marry Sumer as his life was at stake. He wanted her to be happy, marrying Sumer."

Arnav tightened his jaws. This is the first time, he reacted to the story.

"This is ridiculous," Aman said irritatingly.

"What else he could do? Sumer was his friend... and a Royal... how could he be a hindrance of Khushboo's happy life when there was no surety to his own life. He could die anytime..."

"Then?" Aman and NK asked together.

"Khushboo was not ready to listen to him. She threatened him."

"Threatened?" Arnav asked for the first time.

"Yes, she said, she will kill herself if the marriage happened."

"wow..." Aman smiled whereas Arnav smirked.

"She was adamant in her decision. She decided to talk to Sumer. But, Sumer saw the scene of a conversation between Arjun and Khushboo from far who came to the temple to meet Arjun. He was shocked seeing, Khushboo warned Arjun, raising her index finger. He hid behind the tree, couldn't understand anything as he didn't hear their talks. And more to his shock, Arjun clutched Khushboo's upper arms and said something. He left the place and Khushboo sat there crying. Sumer saw Khushboo going back lifelessly. He got back to the palace with a clouded mind."

"He could have asked her..." Aman asked as if Shiv was a story writer.

"Yes, he could have... but he didn't..."

"Why?"

"Fate... what else?"

"You continue sir..." Aman sighed.

"Sumer wanted to know the exact issue. So, he sent Karan to Khushboo to know what happened."

"Ohhh shit...." Aman hit on his forehead.

"That was the time, Karan played his filthy game. No need to say what he would have said to Sumer."

"He would have told Sumer that Arjun is forcing Khushboo to marry him, right?"

Shiv nodded yes sighing.

"Sumer's anger rose into no limits. At the same time, he didn't want to harm his friend."

'He seems nice." NK said.

"He was...but when Karan was there, he won't allow Sumer to go vulnerable. He poured oil in his angry fire. So, Karan brainwashed Sumer and he was ready to become an approver."

"Means, Sumer became a Judas?"

Shiv nodded yes.

"Sumer called Arjun to the temple and informed his arrival to the police."

"But you said the police didn't kill them"

"Yes, Arjun sent a marriage wishes to Sumer through my father which confused Sumer to the core. He thought Arjun is diverting him. So, he started shouting at my father. Without any choice left, my father told him their love story and how Arjun asked Khushboo to marry Sumer which made Sumer guilty. He wanted to go to the temple to save Arjun. Karan locked Sumer in the room who heard their talks. He was not ready to miss the super opportunity to kill Arjun. Sumer started banging the door and got released by his servant. Khushboo saw Arjun coming to the temple who was there, observing fasting to stop the marriage. Karan saw the police and also Sumer rushing towards the temple. He snatched the gun from the police and shot Arjun. In the process of saving Arjun, Khushboo came in front of him and took the bullet in her chest. Arjun held her in his arms and Karan shot him too. Sumer stood there shockingly with hell guilty. Khushboo extended her hand towards Arjun and asked "promise me you will reach me at any cost in the next birth at least." Arjun clutched her hand "I will get you not only in our next birth but in each and every birth we take." Khushboo died on his lap with a smile and Arjun fell on her taking his last breath. They died together. Karan laughed at them and said, "I will not let it happen in the next birth also". Sumer removed a knife which he always keeps with him and stabbed Karan to death while shouting, "I will be there to protect them from you unlike this birth".

"Sumer promised to himself?" Arnav asked.

"Yes, he promised in front of Arjun and Khushboo's lifeless body that he will be there to make them together in the next birth."

Not only Arnav but also Aman and NK were thunderstruck.

"You mean Sumer would also have been taken rebirth?"

"Maybe...or may not be. Until we see him, we can't say anything. Who knows, you may see him in your dream."

Arnav nodded yes looking at Aman and NK. There is a chance for these guys to be Sumer, he supposed.

"Don't you have his photo?" Arnav asked him curiously.

"No... I have only Arjun's photo because he was with my father."

"Can't we get to know about Sumer?"

Arnav was damn curious about Sumer as he thought Sumer might be Aman.

"The young man can give you the answer," NK said.

"You guys should not forget one more thing," Shiv said.

The trio looked at him like "what?"

"You may have to meet Karan also. And we can't say that both of them would also be with their previous birth FACES. You will automatically get Sumer's helping hand and Karan's enmity." Shiv smiled.

"You mean they can be with different faces?"

"Maybe... do you know one thing? My father told me the story just a day before he died."

"Really?" NK asked.

"Yes, his death was so pleasant. He died in his sleep. I wondered why he wanted to tell me the story before his death. Now, I understood. It's all destined."

The trio was stunned. Everything is cleared now. Arnav wanted to know Khushi's stance first. Making her accept him is the first task for him. After hearing their story, the terror inside Arnav woke up... not to fight for the nation but for his love.