Happy Holi ✨

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Rudra

"Let's go," Niharika gets up from the chair, opening the door of the interrogation room for me. I stand up, ignoring the glaring pair of eyes watching me leave. Unable to stop myself, I pause at the door and look at the woman. "Shourya, don't," Niharika warns.

I smirk.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Rajawat?" The officer who brought me in for interrogation asks, the bridge of her spectacles dropping low, and she eyes me keenly, interested and annoyed at the same time. Interested because, well, I'm interesting, and annoyed because, well I'm interesting.

I like her. I've been tracking her from the time she was appointed as Income Tax officer of Rajgarh subdivision. Loyal to the bone, hardworking, and she just can't stand rich, especially old money rich. It was so difficult to find someone like her, and when I did, she was easiest to choose. It's like she was dying to be put on a high profile case like this. Perhaps, we may have helped each other in ways more than we can thank each other for. It's unfortunate I can't share that with her. I'm sure she'd have been a good legal backbone to have in the future. But having honest people like her with you always has its own drawbacks. They're too stiff and have black and white sense of people. They don't understand the shades of grey.

"I had a great time." I smile at her. "Wish these interrogation rooms could be rated, like we do on Google? Solid five stars." I compliment.

Her glare hardens. "Get out."

I click my tongue, feigning disapproval. "Four and a half stars."

"Shourya, enough." Niharika grabs my arm and drags me out. I allow her. "What is wrong with you?" She hisses as we step out of the building.

I button my blazer and take a deep breath. I was cooped up in that empty room for over six hours. They didn't even offer me a cup of coffee. Maybe four stars. The service was not up to my standards.

"C'mon, our car is here," Descending the stairs after her, I open the door of my side while she rounds the bonnet to reach the other side. Feeling eyes watch me, I look over my shoulder and see the woman outside the entrance, jaw clenched she stares at me like she wished she could drag me back inside and grill me with her questions until I give in. But she's targeting the wrong man. I understand why though. She'll understand soon too. Giving her a two finger salute, I slide in and slam the door close, lowering the window and watching her storm back inside the building.

The car pulls off and I rest my head back. I'm sure Yara has already uploaded the video we had downloaded from Inayat's cloud after hacking into it. I did it the night we had returned from Goa. It was necessary. I didn't trust her back then, and I did right when Atharva, like the fool that he is went and submitted all the evidence to his money leeching professor. I pretended ignorance when their investigation was exposed in front of the chairman. I didn't want any attention on me. It was painful to watch my love get humiliated that evening, but I could have done nothing. The benefit lied in playing safe, and Yuvraaj agreed with me when I showed him the video later that night.

"What the fuck?"

My head turns. Niharika shows me the phone screen.

King of Jaigarh, Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan has been indicted for unethical human experimentations and child trafficking charges this evening. To be put on trial coming Monday.

"Is this true?" Niharika asks me in disbelief.

"Take me to Veer Mahal." I command.

She sighs. "To the Veer Mahal, Kaka."

The old man nods, turning the street at the next intersection.

This is what I knew would happen if he didn't give up on that forsaken position. I can never understand his greed for more when he already has everything. He's a great businessman, I'm sure he knows the perils of these accusations. Bad publicity is the worst publicity, especially for a respected individual like him. It will bring an unrepairable dent to his reputation. And his business? It's bound to suffer. I pity Arush. He's going to be a mess while handling the mess his brother has made.

As soon as our car stops at the porch, I see several police jeeps drive off. Opening the door, I step out and watch as his family rushes out of the door, stopping short at the sight of me.

"Ru- Shourya!" Taranya skips down the stairs and flings herself in my arms. I lift her off the floor, burying my face in the crook of her neck, refilling my empty vessel of peace. Moments later, I put her down on the floor and she pulls away to look at me, her hands reaching to cup my face. "Are you okay? I was so scared."

"I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine."

"Okay, but they took Bhai," she points towards the direction police jeeps disappeared into. "They arrested him. They- they said he- he was the one-"

"Calm down, Esther."

She blinks, eyes alarmed, her appearance haggard. "But they falsely accused Bhai-"

"I know. I saw the news. Let's go inside." I wrap my arm around her shoulders. "Niharika," I look at the woman who gives me her attention. "Can you please return to the palace? I need updates on the situation there. Who he's contacting, who he's reaching out for help, I need to know everything."

She nods. "Sure, I'll keep in touch."

As she drives off in her car, I steer the Chauhan family back inside the palace.

"What was that?" Vivaan demands. "Why is our brother falsely accused?"

I make Tara sit on the couch. "Because he's the director of the hospital."

"Namesake!" Vivaan growls. "He practically had no authority in any of the decisions they made!"

"I know, calm down." I say firmly.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Rudra! My brother is falsely accused of something he didn't do! What if they send him to jail in place of the real criminals!?" He hollers. "Was this your so called great plan? To make my brother a scapegoat?"

"Vivaan!" I address the man sternly.

He rakes a shaky hand through his hair.

"You're overreacting. But I understand. Calm down." I nod at Arush to handle his brother. He obliges, helping Vivaan sit on the couch and bringing him a glass of water, crouching next to his knees.

"Bhai didn't look panicked." Tara mumbles, catching our attention. "It's like he was expecting this." She shares a look with Arush. He hums.

"What do you mean?" Agastya frowns.

"She's right. He knew this would happen." I answer. "And you should be at the office right now. They need you." My eyes shift to Arush.

He releases a troubled sigh. "Yeah, I know. Just tell me everything will be fine in the end. I won't be able to concentrate otherwise."

"Don't worry. Just trust me." I tell him.

He nods and gets up from the crouched position. "I'll see you guys...." He trails unsurely, "whenever possible." With that, he turns around and walks off.

"That video," Ayush brings up. "Where did that come from? I thought Inayat destroyed any remaining proof and whatever was left the Chairman had it."

"The night we returned from Goa, I had Yara hack into her cloud." I tell him.

"God, this is so messed up." Yuvaan plops down on the sofa, his head in his hands. "They'll sieze the hospital too, right?"

I nod.

"There's no coming back from this. Mankind Medicare is finished." His worry laced eyes dart to his brother. I watch Vivaan fumble around with the metal belt of his watch, his gaze stuck on the carpeted floor, like he's deep in thoughts.

"Wait. Do you mean the university will shut down too?" Ayush panics. "Wh- what about my career? Bhai?" He looks at Vivaan too.

"I don't know." Vivaan mumbles. "I don't know anything!" He hides his face in the cup of his hands. "Fuck," getting up, he strides upstairs and a door slams shut.

I look around myself. Distraught faces stare helplessly into the distance.

Fuck. This is messy.

I need to get out of here.

"Tara, I need you to come somewhere with me."

She looks up and nods, getting up from the couch. "I'll get my purse from the room."

"Sure, I'll wait outside." I tell her and leave the place as soon as possible. I can't handle so many overwhelming breakdowns all at once.

Stepping out in the fresh air, I pull out my phone and get in the car waiting for me, calling the Chairman immediately. "Hello, Dadu?"

"Shourya," he breathes out exhaustedly. "Everything's over, my son."

"Don't worry, Dadu. We can get over this. You know we can." I tell him.

"My project. My dream, Shourya."

"We can redo it, Dadu," I say earnestly. "But right now, we need to focus on making sure nothing about this links back to us. You always worked in the background when it came to Mankind Medicare, and I was practically never in the picture. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan."

"That's right." I state. "Dadu, we need Inayat and Dr. Khan. Where are they?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I need them. I don't know where he has kept them hidden, but to make this case stronger, the court needs their testimony. "Dr. Khan and Inayat know nothing about who's behind everything. But their testimony can help us strengthen the charges against Yuvraaj. Sure, Inayat believed it was the Rajawats, but considering the news circulating the internet, it won't be that hard to get her on our side."

"Yeah, their testimony should work in our favour. Alright, I'll send my secretary to pick you up. Where are you?"

"I'm at Veer Mahal right now."

"Right. Okay, tomorrow morning I'll send my secretary to get you. He'll take you where Dr. Khan and Inayat are."

I sigh in relief. "Alright, Dadu," the door opens and Taranya slides inside. "I've to go now, but we'll keep in touch. And don't worry about the launch, I'll make sure it isn't postponed."

"Okay," he whispers and hangs up.

"The launch won't be postponed?" She asks in confusion.

"No, I told you, tax evasion charges are easier to evade."

"Then why-- to distract them." She catches on faster than I expected.

We drive out of the palace premises.

"So you're planning to sabotage the event?"

I hum.

"And the damage?"

My lips quirk into a cruel smirk. "Incomparable. Overnight, Rajawat Corporation will not only lose its King, but also its throne."

"What's your plan? And please keep me in the loop this time. You've no idea how scared I was when I had to give the news of your arrest live."

"I wasn't arrested." I correct her.

"Whatever. But I really need to know what you're planning to do next." She requests.

I give in. I never planned to keep her out of this anyway. Things just happened so fast that I couldn't stop and explain everything patiently.

"Inayat and Dr. Khan will submit their testimony to the public prosecutor. And it might not work in our favour, but it'll help the case tremendously."

"Why? They're on our side."

"They're on truth's side, Tara." I meet her eyes. "And the truth is, someone in the position of power at Mankind Medicare willfully committed those heinous crimes. Right now, the public believes it's your brother."

Her face crumbles. She looks at me brokenly. "This is your plan?"

I sigh tiredly. "Of course not. I know everything that I'm saying sounds like I'm setting us up for a failure. But you have to understand, Tara. We need Inayat's testimony. She was the one who recorded that video. For it to be accepted as a valid proof, she needs to confirm in front of the court that it isn't fabricated, and she, in her complete awareness and consciousness recorded that video."

"Just tell me how you're getting my brother out." She asks.

I clench the wheel. "I will get him out."

"How?" She repeats.

I swallow. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"What?" She snaps. "Rudra! What the fuck?"

I bite my lower lip. "Just trust me."

"Trust you? On what basis? You're giving me no reason to trust you right now."

I stop the car at the side of the road and face her. She watches me impatiently, fear evident in her eyes. Leaning in, I take her hands in mine. "Tara, your brother has protected me many times in the past, now it's my turn. And I'll do anything to get him out of there. I owe it to him. So please, trust me."

"Promise me. Promise me you'll bring him back to us." She whispers. I nod. "He's everything for us, Rudra. You might not understand why everyone back in the palace was in shambles, but that man is the reason for it. He keeps us together. He's our backbone. We siblings need him. I want my Bhai back."

I pull her closer for a hug. She fists my shirt in her hands, breathing in and out deeply.

After we separate, I pull back on the road.

"Where are we going?"

"Ratangarh." I answer.

She throws me a surprised look but doesn't say anything.

We reach Ratangarh at 12 am, and it takes us an extra hour to round the steep hill, on top of which stands the tall and proud Rawal Haveli. "Why are we here?" She finally asks me when the huge double doors open to let the car in. "I thought you're never coming back here," she eyes me in confusion.

Cutting off the engine, I look at her and nod as a gesture to step out. Opening my door, I exit the car at same time she does. Our eyes lock over the roof of the car before her attention is stolen by the sound of main doors of the Haveli opening.

Out steps Rana Singh Rawal. "Come in."

I hold Taranya's hand and lead her inside, following the old man as he takes us to the west of the Rawal Haveli. Taranya looks around cautiously, holding my arm tighter as it starts to get darker the deeper we walk in. Then the man stops at the end of the hallway, facing an old, rickety wooden door and produces a set of keys from his pockets. He unlocks the doors, picks up the glowing flambeau from the wall and walks inside. Taranya hesitates upon seeing the stairs that spiral down into the underground floor. "C'mon," I urge her softly. Her expressions drip of nervousness. "I'm with you. C'mon," grabbing her hand, I guide her inside.

Upon reaching down, the narrow path crowds us, and I have to keep Taranya behind me to avoid us knocking into each other.

"Is this- is this a cell?" Taranya asks in awe as we pass several rooms barricaded by thick metal rods. I nod at her. "Wow," she whispers, not pleasantly of course, only in pure shock. And then she comes to an abrupt halt at the last cell, her eyes popping out of their sockets at what she sees. "What the hell is this? Who are these men?" She asks me.

In the last cell, hostage to my mercy, and cuffed to the chairs sit three men, the three pillars of the third floor.

Jatin Kumar. Prem Singh. Baldev Sahane.

Mr. Rawal opens the cell door for us and I walk in. Taranya steps inside after me.

"Rudra," I look over my shoulder at the old man. He hooks the lock on the horizontal bar of the cell. "I'm keeping this here. You must leave before the sunrise."

The gratification sinks in. "Thank you."

He appears stunned for a second. Then he nods and walks away.

"This is illegal, you know?" Jatin speaks up. "It's called Kidnapping."

Of course, the smartass has to open his mouth and rattle off some bullshit.

"Illegal?" I scoff out a mirthless chuckle. "You know what's illegal? The crimes you've committed."

Baldev's eyes grow wide in fear.

Jatin rolls his eyes. "You've nothing against us except that ledger."

"But I do," I state. "Who do you think uploaded this video?" I show him Inayat's video. Jatin's cocky mask drops. Baldev starts to panic. Prem stares at the screen aghast. "I've many such videos, with your faces plastered on them." I lie. I've jackshit against these men.

"We're not testifying against the Chairman." Jatin shakes his head. "We can't. We'll be admitting to our own crimes. Please, try to understand. I've a wife and a daughter. Don't ruin my life!"

"My life?" Baldev screeches. "You alone don't have a wife and a kid! We all do!" Then he looks up at me. "Shourya, please. Please, take everything from me, but let me go."

"I need the data." I tell them. "I need the records of every child you've experimented on, the reports, and the end results. I know you keep them somewhere. I need the information."

"There's a publishing house two miles away from Mankind Medicare."

"Baldev!" Jatin growls.

"Shut up! It's all over anyways!" Baldev grits out.

"He's right." Prem nods. "There's a server room on the first floor of that publishing company. You'll find all the data there."

"And how do I get in?" I raise a brow.

"Biometrics. Our biometrics are saved in the system. You can use them." Baldev answers. "It has two security guards at the door. They change shifts at one in the morning. If you somehow replace yourself with the guard on the second shift, you'll easily get in."

I nod thoughtfully. "So, I need one of your thumb prints."

The trio goes pale.

"Let's choose my favourite. Jatin!" I smile, whipping out a pocket knife from the sole of my shoe. Baldev and Prem sigh in relief. Taranya gasps. "Turn around, Esther," she obeys quickly.

I approach the panic driven man. He thrashes in the bolted chair helplessly, screaming my ears off. I squat to the level of his knee and tap my fingers across his knuckles. He cries hard.

"If you were as obedient as them, I'd have played eenie, meenie, miney, mo to choose. You did this to yourself." I say innocently, grabbing his thumb and straightening it.

"No! No! Please! I'm sorry! Look, I'm sorry-" he bellows when I dig the blade through his flesh, hitting the barrier of his bone. "Fuck! Fuck!" His head lols back, and he thrusts in the chair, trying to get off. I push the blade deeper, grazing the bone, cutting gently through it. "Don't- don't- God, please!" His blabber and saliva becomes one, messy and incomprehensive. Enforcing the blade deeper, I snap the bone in two, and blood spatters on my face. His thumb comes off, hanging to the remaining finger with a thread of a skin. I take out my handkerchief and tear off the thumb, wrapping it safely before putting it inside my pocket. Shortly after, Jatin falls unconscious.

The remaining two stare at me in horror. I'm not sure this is enough to scare the men off, but I try my luck. "The testimony?"

"Get him indicted and I'll be your witness." Baldev agrees. "Just don't make us the first to speak against him, please."

My eyes shift to Prem.

"I concede with Baldev. Get him indicted first."

I smile.

"Smart. Survival should always be one's priority." I lean over and he flinches. Chuckling, I wipe my bloodied hands to his collar. "See you soon." Turning around, I place my hand on Taranya's back and guide her out.

She doesn't speak to me until we're out of the basement.

"Why- Why did you bring me here?"

"Because you're going to help me hack into their servers."

Her head whips to me in shock. "What!?"

Yes, Tara, remember fifty-fifty? You're a team now. 💀

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.