Location: Enquiry room, CB-CID, Mumbai

"For the hundredth time Mr. Oberoi, I do not know any one named Arjun" shouted Vikram Bharadwaj exhausted and irritated.

Omkara sighed looking at Shivaay. It has been two hours since they started and they had tried all possible ways to extract the information about the guy but it went to waste.

Abhishek hurriedly entered the room and whispered something in Omkara's ears. Omkara listened intently and a smile appeared on his face. He nodded at Abhishek who calmly left the cabin while Shivaay looked at Omkara in question.

"So why did you meet him in your office then? A year ago?" asked Omkara and Shivaay gave a winning smile to him before turning to Vikram.

"You know Vikram, our department here was quite smart in obtaining information. It has considerably improved I see in the last two years" said Shivaay. "Instead of wasting your time and ours you can tell the truth"

Vikram only glared at them giving silence as answer.

"Come on Vikram you threw that guy out of your office that day...You should have remembered him" asked Omkara. "How about Mukesh then Vikram? Do you want to talk about him?"

"What about him?" asked Vikram acting confused.

"Did you know that he is trying to trap you in a murder case?" he elaborated.

"What?"

"Yeah it was quite unbelievable for me too" said Omkara making a sad face "But it is the truth Vikram you were to be arrested in Nisha's murder case" he said.

"Omkara...I already told you that I did not kill her. I agree that I was in a relationship with her but I never killed her. She was not my enemy."

"Right... we are on first name basis aren't we" said Omkara sarcastically. "Anyway I did not say that you killed her but evidence does so. Your friend Mukesh informed us about the dead body's location a month after she died. He expected her to be the mother of our child and he wanted to implicate that you who were the only one close to her and had made her pregnant might have killed her" he explained and Vikram gaped at him.

"But Nisha got an abortion done" said Vikram.

"Yeah you were lucky then and we could not get to you" said Omkara smiling at him "but he didn't stop at that. Your drug trail failed and Mahira died accidentally. He came to know you were going to dispose her and he again gave us the location of the place of disposal. Your gang members got alerted, killed Mukesh's informer and changed the place in the last moment. However, since the security was tight all over the place thanks to my team, your people could not properly dispose the evidence."

"He thought we will get you that time with the drug toxicity report but you still got away" concluded Omkara.

"What did you do to him Vikram? Friendship gone kinky?" asked Shivaay.

"That dog" roared Vikram "How dare he"

"He dared enough..... Now come on spill the truth and give a statement so that we could get him arrested man. Hurry up now" said Shivaay bored.

One hour later Omkara and Shivaay walked out of the enquiry room quite surprised at the developments. Arjun is a Bharadwaj and he must definitely be working with Mukesh.. But for what? Money? Or is there a story again. They still don't have any idea as to where they must have hid Gauri or Why did that guy trap Abhay.

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"Arjun be with that Abhay all the time. He is our trump card but if he succeeds to warn the department then we are over" warned Mukesh on the call.

"Yeah I know Mukesh. I will be with him. What is going on in the department? Did they suspect you?"

"No Arjun they are still in search of Abhay. Omkara is emotionally gullible. Once provoked he cannot control his temper. We made it look like Abhay stole Gauri from under his nose. He won't leave him" he said confidently.

"Good. Let them continue. When should I kill her?" asked Arjun.

"Once Abhay transfers the funds into my account we can kill her and he can take the blame. Or better we wait till Omkara comes to take Gauri and then kill Abhay himself but that would be too dangerous. He might suspect something wrong. Smart dog that he is" said Mukesh

"Okay... But why do you want the funds to be transferred into my account. It was to be divided between ourselves right? Why the sudden change of plan" questioned Arjun.

"Yeah it can be divided later too. Better to transfer it into one account instead of giving multiple accounts to that Abhay... one cannot trust him Arjun. Even if I get caught, I want you to walk out free from all this. You are my friend. You know that. Don't you?" asked Mukesh and Arjun nodded his head vigorously "Of course Mukesh you are the one who stayed with me, supporting me after my mother's death. How can I forget your friendship. Thank you for everything" said Arjun gratefully.

"You did not let my name out anywhere did you Arjun?" asked Mukesh.

Arjun was afraid that his friend would be angry with him if he said he told his involvement with him to Gauri. So he lied to his best friend though he felt guilty about it "No Mukesh I did not" he answered.

"Okay Arjun good. I am off duty today and will go off the grid too after a short while. Keep Abhay under watch. You already have twenty men guarding the place. Call them for help if required. Once Abhay transfers the shares, kill both of them and ask my men to dispose them. You should take cover for some days after that. I will call you once conditions are stable" he instructed before he hung up and laughed to his heart's content.

Finally he can be a millionaire... Ahh!! How he craved for money and power he thought with a dark look on his face.

Mukesh Shetty was an orphan brought up in a measly place in Haryana. He was one man fighting against the big bad world since childhood. He learnt in an early age that money and power are the oxygen for life. Without them, one cannot be happy and he decided that one day he will be both powerful as well as rich. He became a police officer not inspired by their duty or devotion but by seeing them getting bribed yet get away with their mistakes using their power.

Though he was not endowed with riches, he did have intelligence and determination with which he completed his education and entered the police service. He bribed his way in to enter the investigative department after five years of training and service. He searched relentlessly for an opportunity which will land him in endless power and money when he stumbled upon the Bharadwaj group.

One year of research later he knew about the underground business run by the white collared tycoons. He seized the opportunity when they asked his help in finding out the mole that works in disguise against them.

Since the department maintained high level of secrecy, he could not give them the required information but he closely followed all the officers which were likely to have information about the same.

He always envied people who were born with a silver spoon while he had to work hard and make ends meet to not die of hunger. That resulted in him being at loggerheads with Omkara and a few others whom he thought obtained their rank and success only because they were born into riches.

Working in the department for more years than his colleagues though did not lead him to success, it did earn him experience and form contacts. Contacts which lead him to Shivaay. He knew Shivaay as a sincere officer and did respect him for his work when they worked together in a few cases. But he wanted more than a normal job and salary.

When he observed Shivaay always evading personal information and maintaining distance even from his friends, he knew he was withholding something. He kept watch on him and got to know of his sister and best friend. Luck by chance he discovered that he was indeed working against the very organization that he was a part of. He tried to steal the bracelet but was unsuccessful.

He gained the trust of Vikram Bharadwaj by giving him the information against Shivaay. He got money in abundance for his favor but he was still thirsty for power.

Opportunity knocked his door in the form of Arjun Bharadwaj the illegitimate son of Nikhil Bharadwaj. When he saw Arjun's state of mind and realized how easy it was to manipulate him, he saw him as the bridge to limitless power and money.

He got to know about Arjun's weak points provoked him against the Bhardwajs and became his friend in need. He used him to spy on Gauri, Abhay and occasionally even on Omkara. He made Omkara have a bad impression of Abhay which can be put to use later. He didn't have anything against Abhay but he was a collateral damage just as Nisha Jotwani.

He had the basic doubt in his head. How can he become rich coning Vikram yet get away with it. Vikram would not leave him alive if he knew of his game. He needed to bring Vikram down without making him aware of his plan after making sure that he has the guy's properties.

He knew Nisha's relationship with Vikram and used that to his advantage. He closely followed the girl and came to know of the unplanned pregnancy. When Vikram asked her for an abortion, she fought against him. The couple had a fight and Nisha threatened him that she would reveal their relation to the public.

Mukesh tried to talk to the girl and turn her in his favor but he failed to understand that she was too faithful. She warned him and threatened to report him to Vikram himself. When Vikram went to a conference, he found the perfect time to abduct the girl and killed her with Arjun's help. He knew Vikram would get away with an alibi. He spun a story around the case making the department and the human rights commission suspicious. He knew the case will be handed over to his department where he could be the officer in charge as he was the senior most amongst them.

Tables turned when Shakti handed over the case to Omkara. Mukesh then turned an informer. He expected that the department would ask for a DNA analysis after they recovered the dead body of Nisha but he did not know that she had an abortion which lead to his failure in implicating Vikram as the killer.

In his attempts to talk to Nisha he gave away his identity to the tea shop seller and the department now presumed that there was another guy involved in Nisha's abduction. He then bribed and threatened the tea shop seller to give Abhay's description which would serve two purposes. One, he can get Arjun blindly trust him by which he can make him a scape goat. Two he thought he could talk to Abhay to get the shares in his name in return of getting him out of the case as he knew that Omkara has a dislike towards him.

He then waited for another opportunity which presented in the form of Mahira. He made Arjun give the details to the department and closely followed the case guiding it in such a way that the prime suspect remained Vikram. Yet again Vikram got away with his influence. When giving the clues got them nowhere, he took a U turn.

He instigated Vikram against Omkara making him the bait. Sadly, he knew not that his father in law would help him out. The day he knew about Kaali being the secret informer, he knew they were planning something big which could bring down Vikram but then he would be penniless. He had to act fast. He could either leave everything and be calm or make one last try.

That made him use Arjun again, making him take Abhay and Gauri away. Abhay will transfer the properties to Arjun because he cared for Gauri's safety and he will then help Arjun escape. He could later take the properties from him and dispose him as well. If Arjun gets caught, he can still walk free of the case taking advantage of Arjun's loyalty towards him or citing his mental illness as a loophole. So, even if Vikram gets caught by Omkara, he will still be rich.

Perfect planning is the wok of sharp minds. But having plan B when the first fails, is the quality of a Genius.

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Location: CB CID, Mumbai.

Bhavya came running to Omkara and Shivaay "Bhaiyya someone messaged to Abhay's mail come and see it for yourself"

The team then walked towards the computer room.

"As expected Mukesh is at his home sir. He seems to be having a merry time. I never saw him so happy" said Abhishek.

"Let him bask in the few hours of peace then" said Shivaay looking at the computer screen."

"Why don't we arrest him now and ask him about Gauri mam sir?" asked Dandi.

"If he has anyone else helping him and that person alerted Arjun regarding Mukesh's arrest, he will kill both Abhay and Gauri. We still do not know what this guy is after" explained Omkara.

The email which came to Abhay's account was blank. What are they supposed to make of it? thought Shivaay. He was expecting some message from him.

"What are we to do with this Om" he thought out loud.

"I have no idea...It is your friend... you should know" said Omkara.

Shivaay glared at him "I am bad with computers" he spoke in his defense.

"Yeah I am exceptionally good at that. Aren't I?" countered Om sarcastically.

"Can we trace a location via gmail?" asked Bhavya calmly making Omkara and Shivaay want to bang their heads on the wall. The guy had sent them their location.

"Remind me to read a bit about computers and technology next time" said Omkara aloud and Shivaay nodded "Count me in"

On noting the location however they could only see that it was within Mumbai in the outskirts. But where exactly?

At that moment Omkara's mobile rang showing Ridhima's caller Id.

"What the hell Om" roared Shivaay "You are still talking to her" he said accusingly.

"No Shivaay, I don't know what suddenly got into her she wants to reconcile. I asked her to get lost and she did.... till today"

"Why is she calling now, take the call and put it on speaker" ordered Shivaay and Omkara nodded.

"Om... Aww you answered my call.. I miss you baby!!" squealed Ridhima in her high pitched tone making everyone cringe while Shivaay glared at Omkara.

"Ridhima tell me what it is you wanted to talk or I'm hanging up" spoke Omkara.

"I am asking you for one more chance Om. You won't regret giving it to me. You don't know how many secrets are held from you. You are being taken for granted" she spoke while people rolled their eyes.

"Okay Ridhima bye" said Omkara about to hang up when Ridhima squealed again "Om don't hang up it is about Gauri" she said and Omkara stopped in his action

"What about Gauri?" he asked in anticipation.

"I saw her yesterday going in a car resting her head on some man's shoulder. She is cheating on you Om" she said.

Omkara smiled at Shivaay "Which way did you see them go?"

"I was returning from Rajmachi late night yesterday when I saw them going in the opposite direction" said Ridhima happy that he believed her.

Shivaay immediately took the phone from Omkara's hands.

"I have always hated you Ridhima but I would have kissed you right now if you were in front of me" said Shivaay smiling making Omkara laugh and the rest of them make puking faces.

On the other side Ridhima looked shocked at her phone "Is that Shivaay? Wasn't he dead?" she screamed after she realized that but they already hung up on her.

Shivaay took his phone to call someone "Uncle we need your help" he asked.

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Location: Shayadri fort, Udhewadi.

The sun sank lower in the sky, light of the day draining away giving way to the darkness. It must be sometime after eight in the night looking at the darkness threatening to enter the room if the source of light was put off.

It has been hours since Arjun dragged Abhay with him to the computer room and Gauri assessed the room while she formed a plan of escape.

She is kept in a room with multiple arches and pillars with high ceiling having a huge fan in the center. There was one tube light which illuminated the entire room while the rest were merely present but not functional. The pillars where large enough to hide her if she hid behind them. There was a window at the back, large enough to accommodate her.

Gauri looked around the room for a possible means to cut the ropes tying her hands down. Except for a few broken chairs, one glass plate and an empty glass bottle which was almost five feet away, the room was entirely empty.

She gently nudged her chair towards the glass bottle. She knew she would alert Arjun but this was necessary. She moved her chair to the side swiftly making her loose balance and she fell with a thud on the floor along with breaking the glass bottle which pierced her hands.

She cried out in pain and within minutes Arjun rushed out from the next room to see her.

"Gauri what did you do?" he asked angrily.

"I wanted water Arjun I was about to take it when I fell down" she explained innocently.

Arjun pulled her up making her sit straight still tied to the chair.

"Don't give that innocent look to me Gauri. You cannot escape from here. There are more than twenty men placed around the place and you cannot fight everyone. So you better stay put otherwise I will be tempted to do things to you" he warned kissing her cheeks not caring her resistance.

Arjun then called three of his men into the room to guard her and disappeared into the next room again.

Gauri sulked. She managed to get hold of a broken piece of glass which can cut through the ropes. But how was she supposed to do that with three men watching her.

She coughed loudly making the men come towards her "I am thirsty please bring me glass of water. Will you?" she asked them, showing her best puppy eyes making them melt.

How do they say no to such a beautiful face they thought.

One of them nodded their head and went to bring the water.

One down, two more to go

"You both seemed to be exhausted isn't he giving you enough food?" she asked them.

The men merely nodded and turned their heads to the side.

Gauri again tried "You do not look like criminals at all. Where did you work before?"

"Yeah we were..." started one of them while the other gestured a no making him stop.

"You know I always watched action thriller movies. Salman khan is my favorite."

Both the men turned to her excited and then decided not to talk. They left her to move away turning to the other side and making conversation lest she distracted them again to make them talk. They saw many movies in which heroine makes the criminals talk and later escapes.

Gauri mentally said a thanks. Now she could at least cut her rope in peace without them breathing down her neck.

A few minutes later her hands were free. She carefully proceeded to her legs when the man who went for water returned. She sat straight her hands at the back of the chair gesturing him to make her drink.

After making her drink the man turned around walking towards the other two and Gauri got back to her work and made her legs free. She swiftly swung her hands around the man stopping his tracks and covering his mouth preventing his scream. With the piece of glass she slit his throat making him stop his struggle. She then gently lowered him to the ground soundlessly.

The remaining two unaware of their colleagues fall looked in the opposite direction still talking to one another. She carefully walked back to search for anything that could knock them down. To her luck, there was wooden board on the other end.

She walked towards them noiselessly and in one swift move knocked them out with it. That made a noise and Gauri cursed. She looked to the top and flung the wooden board towards the tube light breaking it and filling the room with darkness. She swiftly ran and hid behind a pillar which was facing the window. As anticipated, Arjun came out of his room and seeing the room filled with darkness called the rest. Gauri held her breath not making any noise. She assessed her route of escape again.

The room has three exits one of which lead to the room in which Abhay was kept and which was guarded by Arjun who was shouting orders to his men. One lead her to the outside where one of the men was stationed while the rest moved about in the huge room searching for her. She still has the glass piece with her. If she ran fast, she could make it outside but that would alert the rest and she is outnumbered.

The last one was the window which lead to a path of darkness. Deciding to take a leap of faith that no one was there to guard it, she quietly walked towards it still looking for someone to jump through it and attack her.

Taking a look behind for one last time, she quietly moved out through it and took one step forwards when someone closed her mouth from behind preventing her scream and lead her away from the place.

Gauri struggled to get out of the hold. But the grip was iron clad. She remembered everything that her Shiv bhaiyya taught her. Taking a deep breath and putting all her strength together she elbowed him swinging her arm behind her. That earned a grunt from the man making the grip loose but he still didn't leave her. Irritated, she tried the same blow second time when he stopped her.

"Gauri stop struggling" he said but she couldn't recognize the voice.

"I hate that I had to meet you this way but I am your father. Kaali Sharma."

When she remained silent, he informed "Let us get out of here now. Your husband is worried for you."

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End of chapter 25.

You know the master mind now...

Let me know your thoughts.

Whom do you hate more Arjun or Mukesh?

Next chapter might be the climax fingers crossed and I'm not sure if I can update tomorrow.

If I do update then it might be late at night.

Did I describe Gauri's plan of escape aptly? Did you get the picture?

Any doubts uncleared can be asked. I will clear them in the comments or in the next chapter.

Thanks for being such supportive readers... I love you all...

Till the next update.... Signing off... yours Soujanya.