Happy reading.....

When Abhimanyu woke up, he immediately noticed that Raina wasn't in the bed. Puzzled, he called out, but there was no response. Just then, Kavita, entered the room.

"Where's Raina?" Abhimanyu asked, his eyebrows creasing with concern. "It's not even sunrise yet."

Kavita smiled gently. "He took Shourya outside. They went to see the first rays of the sun together."

Abhimanyu's confusion deepened. "Suddenly Why?"

Kavita's smile grew warmer. "It used to be their favorite thing to do before they fought and stopped talking to each other. It seems like they've reconciled."

Abhimanyu felt a surge of emotions. He hurried outside, eager to find them.

As he approached the garden, he saw Raina and Shourya sitting on a low wall, watching the horizon. The sky was tinged with the soft hues of dawn, casting a serene glow over the scene.

Shourya, looking much better than the night before, leaned against Raina, who had an arm around his shoulders. They were talking quietly, their faces relaxed and peaceful.

Abhimanyu approached them, a smile forming on his face. "So this is where you two have been hiding."

Raina looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Shourya chuckled. "We didn't want to wake you. This is... our thing."

Abhimanyu nodded, understanding. "I'm glad to see you two like this. It’s a good start to the day."

Raina looked at Shourya, then back at Abhimanyu. "Yeah, we talked about a lot of things. Cleared the air."

Shourya nodded. "It felt good. We should have done it sooner."

Abhimanyu sat down beside them, taking in the tranquility of the moment. "I'm proud of both of you."

They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sun rise. The first rays of light broke over the horizon, bathing them in a warm, golden glow. It felt like a new beginning, a promise of better days to come.

After a while, Abhimanyu spoke again. "Let’s head back inside. We have a lot to do today, and you both need to rest."

Shourya and Raina nodded, getting up from their spot.

Inside, they found Kavita preparing breakfast. She looked up and smiled at them. "How was it?"

"Perfect," Raina replied, sharing a look with Shourya.

Abhimanyu smiled at her, "It was exactly what they needed."

----

As they ate breakfast, Abhimanyu looked at Shourya and made an announcement. "Shourya, you'll be taking a week off from the office. You need to rest and heal."

Shourya sulked, a frown forming on his face. "Abhi, it's not like my hands and legs are broken. I can manage."

Raina intervened, his tone firm, "Your brother is right, Shourya. You should stay home and not stress yourself."

Shourya glared at Raina. "You're taking his side? Just now, you promised to support me in everything, and now you're already backing off?"

Abhimanyu chuckled, shaking his head. "It's his routine pickup line. How naive of you to believe him."

Raina, clearly offended, turned to Abhimanyu and poured sauce on his pasta, knowing how much he disliked it.

Abhimanyu shrieked, "What the hell, Raina!"

Raina smirked. "That's for talking too much."

But Shourya was stuck on her brother's words.

He demanded, "Is what my brother said true? Do you say those words to everyone?" He looked grumpy, his eyes narrowing at Raina.

Raina immediately tried to smooth things over. "He's just jealous because I never say those things to him. Don't take him seriously."

Kavita, watching the playful banter, smiled warmly. "It's good to see you all like this. It's been a while since the house felt this lively."

Shourya, still grumpy, crossed his arms. "I'm not a kid. I can decide for myself."

Abhimanyu softened, looking at his brother. "We know you're capable, Shourya. But sometimes, it's okay to let others take care of you. We just want you to be safe and well."

Raina nodded, backing up Abhimanyu. "Your brother's right. We all care about you."

Shourya sighed, relenting. "Fine, but only because you all are making such a fuss."

Abhimanyu smiled, relieved. "That's settled then."

As they continued to eat, the atmosphere lightened further. Kavita watched her sons and Raina, feeling a deep sense of contentment. Despite everything, their bond had grown stronger, and the love they shared was palpable.

Raina, still feeling playful, nudged Shourya. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get bored. We'll find something fun to do."

Shourya couldn't help but smile. "You better keep that promise."

Abhimanyu laughed. "Looks like you're in good hands, Shourya."

As they finished their meal, the room was filled with warmth and laughter, a stark contrast to the tension of the previous night. It was a new day, and they were facing it together, as a family.

----

Abhimanyu and Raina stormed into the police station, determination etched on their faces. They were there to find out who had the audacity to kidnap Shourya and, more importantly, why.

When Abhimanyu saw the main kidnappers, anger surged through him.

Without a word, he lunged at them, his fists connecting with brutal force.

The police officers rushed to intervene, but Raina managed to pull Abhimanyu back, trying to calm him down.

However, Raina's own restraint snapped when he saw the man who had given the orders. He punched him square in the face, the man’s head snapping back with the impact.

Abhimanyu, breathing heavily, approached the man who had orchestrated the kidnapping.

"Why did you do it? What's your motive? Speak the truth, or I swear I'll shoot you right now," he threatened, his voice low and deadly serious.

The man, tied to a chair and bleeding from the mouth, looked up at Abhimanyu with a mix of fear and defiance.

"It's the Minister's son, Bhushan Deshpande." he finally muttered.

Both Abhimanyu and Raina were taken aback. "The Minister's son?" Raina echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why would he want Shourya kidnapped?"

The man spat out a mouthful of blood before continuing. "Your brother, Shourya got the deal that was supposed to go to the Minister's son's men. He wanted to teach him a lesson for outbidding him."

Abhimanyu's eyes narrowed. "So this was all about a business deal? He risked my brother’s life over a contract?"

The man nodded weakly. "Yes. He didn't care about the consequences. He just wanted to send a message."

Raina clenched his fists, the anger barely contained. "This is not over," he muttered. "We need to make sure the Minister's son pays for this."

Abhimanyu turned to the police officers. "You have his confession. I expect you to do your job and arrest the Minister's son immediately. If you don’t, I’ll make sure the media gets hold of this story."

The officers nodded, aware of Abhimanyu's influence and determination. They knew they couldn’t afford to ignore such a high-profile case.

As they left the police station, Abhimanyu and Raina exchanged a look of mutual understanding. "We need to keep an eye on Shourya," Raina said. "This might not be the end of it."

Abhimanyu nodded. "Agreed. We'll make sure he's protected. No one threatens our family and gets away with it."

----

Back at home, Abhimanyu briefed Kavita on what had happened. She was horrified to learn that a business deal had put her son’s life in danger.

"What kind of world are we living in?" she murmured, tears welling in her eyes.

Abhimanyu placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We’ll take care of it. Shourya will be safe. We’ll make sure of it."

Raina, still seething with anger, joined them. "We should also consider involving a lawyer. This isn’t just a simple case of kidnapping; it’s an abuse of power."

Kavita nodded, her resolve strengthening. "Do whatever it takes. I want that man to face justice for what he’s done."

-----

The tension in the room was palpable as the police called Abhimanyu.

He listened intently, his expression darkening with each word.

"What do you mean you can't arrest the minister?" he demanded, his voice cold with fury.

The officer's response was hesitant, almost apologetic. "The man who confessed to the kidnapping... he was found dead in his cell this morning. It appears to be a suicide, but... we suspect foul play. And the minister has pulled all his strings in the government. There's nothing we can do right now."

Abhimanyu's grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white. "So you're telling me that despite everything, he's going to get away with this?"

There was a pause before the officer replied, "I'm sorry, but without a living witness or more concrete evidence, our hands are tied."

Abhimanyu slammed the mobile onto the floor, the device shattering into pieces.

Raina and Shourya, who had been nearby, were startled by the outburst. Shourya had never seen his brother this angry before, and it unnerved him.

Raina approached cautiously, his voice calm but concerned. "What happened, Abhi?"

Abhimanyu took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. "The key witness is dead. The minister pulled every possible string to save his son. The police can't do anything."

Raina's face darkened with understanding. "So they're just going to let him walk free?"

Shourya, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "What do we do now, Abhi?"

Abhimanyu looked at his brother, seeing the worry and confusion in his eyes. He felt a surge of protective anger. "We don't give up, Shourya. We'll find another way to make sure he faces justice."

Raina nodded in agreement. "We'll gather more evidence. There has to be something that ties him to this. We can't let him get away with it."

Kavita entered the room, sensing the tension. "What happened?" she asked, her eyes scanning their faces.

Abhimanyu explained the situation, his voice steady but filled with barely suppressed rage. Kavita's face paled, but she straightened her shoulders. "We won't let this go. We'll fight this together."

Shourya looked at his family, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt. "I’m sorry for causing so much trouble."

Abhimanyu placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "None of this is your fault. We're a family, and we protect each other. We'll get through this."

Raina, began formulating a plan. "First, we need to secure ourselves legally. We need a good lawyer who isn't afraid of taking on powerful people. And we need to start gathering any and all evidence we can find."

Abhimanyu nodded. "I'll start making calls. We need to make sure our bases are covered. No more surprises."

As the family rallied together, their resolve hardened. They would not rest until justice was served.

------

As Raina and Abhimanyu sat in the dimly lit room, the weight of their conversation hung heavily in the air. Abhimanyu leaned forward, his expression resolute. "We have only one option available right now," he said firmly.

Raina raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "And what would that be?"

Abhimanyu took a deep breath before answering. "Meera."

Raina’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Meera? You’re talking about the same Meera who hates your guts?"

Abhimanyu nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, that Meera."

Raina shook his head, frustration evident. "Why would she help us? She’s engaged to the guy we’re trying to take down. Besides, have you forgotten how hostile she was towards us? You think you can just charm her into helping us?"

Abhimanyu’s lips curled into a determined smile. "Who said I would go easy on her? I have a plan. If I can make her trust me and convince her to see the bigger picture, we might have a chance."

Raina leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You know she’s a tough nut to crack. It’s not going to be as simple as just talking to her. She’s not going to fall for some simple flirtatious act."

Abhimanyu’s smile didn’t waver. "I’m not planning on flirting. I’m going to present her with the truth. I’ll show her that her fiance is not just a danger to us but to her as well. If she sees the threat he poses, she might reconsider her stance."

Raina’s skepticism remained, but he knew Abhimanyu well enough to recognize his resolve. "Alright, but you need to be careful. Meera’s not someone you can just manipulate or convince easily. She’s smart and resourceful."

Abhimanyu nodded, acknowledging the concern. "I understand. But we need to take this risk. If there’s even a slim chance she can be persuaded, it’s worth trying. We don’t have many options left."

Raina sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. If you think you can get through to her, then I’ll support you. But remember, this could backfire. We need to be prepared for anything."

Abhimanyu’s eyes gleamed with a mix of determination and apprehension. "I’ll be careful. I’ll meet her soon and make my case. We need to act quickly, though. Time is not on our side."

Raina nodded, his expression shifting from skepticism to reluctant support. "Let’s hope you can pull this off. For all our sakes."

As Abhimanyu prepared to take on this challenging task, he felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with unease. Convincing Meera to help was a gamble, but it was one they had to take. If he could turn her against her fiance and make her an ally, it could be the key to bringing him to justice. The stakes were high, and the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but Abhimanyu was determined to see it through.

*****

😮 Getting Meera help? But will she help him?

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