Part 16 Aman Mathur

Khushi's shock was not estimated. She could not trust her own ears. She doubted that she should have heard wrong. The much she knew, Aman Mathur was the most loyal officer among two in the Mumbai city. Another one was Varma. She herself saw Aman pouncing on the reporters who talked about ASR. According to the world, Aman Mathur and ASR were rivals. But what just NK said was totally opposite to what people thought. Was everything a drama? Was Aman Mathur pretending like, he hated ASR? But why? No doubt he was a straightforward officer. Then, how did ASR trap him in his web? Did ASR take Aman's family members hostage to achieve what he wanted? Did Aman give up easily? If they were partners what were they doing together? Were they just partners or partners in crime? They must be partners in crime. These setups themselves said they were doing something against the government rules. Individual empire, individual force, individual troop, what was all this? Whatever, she was not going to leave this. She could not let it go.

She waited for the ambulance to return back from the building. After one and a half an hour, the ambulance came out of the building. In no time, Khushi rushed out and zoomed toward the ambulance. The ambulance driver pressed the brake, seeing a girl coming towards the ambulance.

"Hey, girl, give m a way" the ambulance driver shouted.

Khushi nodded no and stood spreading her hands.

"What do you want?"

Khushi stood silently. That made the ambulance driver irritated. He got down from the ambulance and advanced Khushi. Khushi tackled him and rushed to the backside of the ambulance. She tapped the ambulance door loudly. The ambulance door opened. And a man peeped from the ambulance. Undoubtedly, he was Aman Mathur himself.

Khushi was shocked to the core. The same man who she wanted to meet to complain about ASR. The same man was now, ASR's guest. Khushi clapped.

"Weldon, Mr. Aman Mathur... Congratulations on your so perfect acting... What a mind-blowing drama...! How realistic your dialogues are...! Why not nominate for Oscar awards? You will surely get selected as a great actor"

Sarcasm scattered in her tone.

Neither Aman Mathur said anything nor did he show any reaction on his face. He was gazing at her with no expression.

"This is how you are serving the nation? This nation trusts you... But you? You are cheating the world joining hands with the most wanted criminal" she said angrily.

"Criminal? What do you mean criminal?" Aman spoke breaking his silence.

"Do you want me to explain what is meant by criminal, Mr. ACP?"

"Yes, people's perception change according to their mindset.. (He passed for a while and said)... Khushi"

Khushi looked at him surprisingly, hearing her name from ACP Aman Mathur. Aman smirked.

"I know your name. ASR told me about you. There is no hide-and-seek between us. You asked me some questions. Let me ask you only one question. Why is the most wanted criminal trying to save you from the small-level criminal called Ishan? Why does he bother about anyone's life who is not related to him if he is a heartless monster as per your perception? Why should he have thought of protecting you if he doesn't have a concern about lives?"

Khushi gulped down hard.

"Not everything can't be understandable... Not everything can be describable... There are much more issues beyond our knowledge. I think you will get all the answers from ASR"

Khushi nodded no.

"He won't tell me," she said.

"He will... (He paused and looked behind Khushi, tilting his head) won't you?" He asked.

Khushi looked, turned around, and find ASR himself standing there.

"I'm getting late. I have to attend the commissioner's meeting to discuss how to reach ASR... Bye," Aman said smiling, and closed the ambulance door.

The ambulance left the place. Khushi stood firmly looking at Arnav. Arnav came in front of her.

"Tell me, what do you what to know?" Arnav asked.

Khushi sighed.

"Who the hell are you? What's the connection between you and Assistant commissioner Aman Mathur?"

"We are friends... From college... We have the same wavelength. We think the same. Aman got to know my perspective at the time of an inert college DEBATE competition. After that, we discussed a lot about many things. After our UG, Aman joined in IAS training whereas I entered PG. Yet, we were in touch... without anyone's knowledge... as per our plan"

"But why? What's your wavelength? What are you guys doing? What do you want?"

"Crime-free, drug-free, criminal-free society"

Khushi raised her brows, getting amazed. A criminal himself wanted a criminal-free society?

"Criminal-free society? Like really? Do you know, according to the world, you are the biggest criminal in India?"

"I told you already, I don't care what people think about me. What I'm doing is what matters here"

Khushi was about to say something, but she stopped, seeing NK rushing towards them. Arnav looked at NK.

"What happened NK?"

NK looked at Khushi hesitatingly. Arnav understood his gesture.

"Tell me, NK"

"The matter is serious Nannav," he said in a feeble tone.

"It's ok NK... Whatever it is, let her know. We don't have to hide anything from her. It will confuse her more. I don't want her to lose her sleep" Arnav said with a slight smile.

"It's a sensitive matter Nannav"

"Oh..."

Arnav gestured to NK. He came close to him and whispered in Arnav's ear.

"You are right. It's certainly a sensitive matter."

Arnav looked at Khushi who was watching them not understanding anything.

"A message for us from AM. Our next mission is ready... We have to go" Arnav said.

"AM? You mean, Arjeet Malhotra?"

Arnav nodded yes making her more shocked. AM was one of the multi-millionaires in India. He had strong political support. He was running a TRUST called AJIT FOUNDATION and helping poor people in many ways. He was famous for his Benevolence. He was more good than Aman Mathur. Unfortunately, his son died a few years ago. Everyone knew that. But, what connection he had with ASR? Khushi felt dizzy.

"Don't think, I'm fleeing from answering your questions. I will do that after coming back" Arnav said.

"Where are you going?"

"To complete the mission"

"What mission?"

"You will get to know that soon"

Arnav walked fast and NK followed him while passing orders to the guards. It seemed it was not new to them. They should have experience in doing such missions. Khushi understood that seeing them act fast. Exactly after an hour, she saw four jeeps leaving the vicinity. Khushi sighed.

Khushi decided to wait to see whether Arnav keep his word or not. Time passed. She was bored watching TV. She started changing the channels, searching for an interesting program. As she found no interesting program, she watched a news channel.

After a while, she heard the vehicle's sound. She saw the jeeps getting inside the vicinity. They were back. Arnav went to his room. He was extremely opposite to how he was while talking with Khushi. His reddened eyes said how wrathful he was.

Arnav went to his room and closed the door. He walked to the washroom straight away. Removing the clothes, he stood under the tepid shower. His face became calm after a while. Or, maybe, he would have made himself calm.

Khushi waited. She knew he needed time to get fresh as he looked messed up. She continued watching the news. She got stuck by a FLASH NEWS. She sat straight. It was about a GANG assassination. A smuggling gang had been killed brutally by unknown people.

Khushi gulped down hard. Was that Arnav and his men who did that? This was why he went hurriedly? Was AM's hand in this? But why did he do this? Why did he support ASR? How big his reputation in this society was? But, he was helping a criminal. She was sure about something. Until SK supported ASR, no one could near him in the name of LAW. ASR must be doing all this with the courage given by AM.

Arnav would not come to her room if this assassination had been led by him, she came to the conclusion. She thought he would not like to answer her anymore. She sighed and about to close the door, she stopped, seeing him at her doorstep.

To be continued...