Sameer had taken control of the wheels but it seemed like he himself didn't know where to go. Arjun didn't realize first as it had been a long time since he was there. But when he realized they crossed the same path twice, he got irked.

"Rathore iss raaste se hum ek baar already guzar chuke hai." He glanced at Sameer who found it feasible to remain silent.

"Rathore! Tere dimaag mein chal kya raha hai? Tab se dekh raha hoon... dimaag kahin aur hi hai tera. Baat kya hai?"

Rolling his eyes, he swiftly turned the steering wheel, slowed down and applied brakes. Taking deep controlled breaths, he decided to face Arjun and his team.

"Main nahi jaanta hum kahaan Jaa rahe hai." he admitted sheepishly.

"Kyaa??!!", juniors shout. Since Arjun had analysed it already, he was waiting to find out what was disturbing his friend.

"Actually..." vigorously rubbing his temples, he continued.. "We can't take help from any other department. Jitne kam officials iss case par kaam karenge utni privacy rahegi aur media coverage se bhi bachhi rahegi."

Everyone were processing the point of why he was driving aimlessly on the Jaipur roads, until Ayesha gets agitated.

"Ab saaf saaf mudde pe aaiye na.. kya tabse gol g..." she left her statement incomplete as Sakshi covered her mouth glaring and gesturing her to shut up.

She further looked at everyone carrying same expression on their faces -- shock and disbelief. They would have rather heard that there was a bomb attached inside the car bonet, rather than hearing Ayesha raise her voice in agitation. Especially, agitation with Sameer. Little did they know what else could they be hearing.

Sameer although had amusement written all over his face, he never had imagined such a rebuttal from Ayesha. She was always regarded to be calm, collected and a lot like Sameer. His amusement soon turned into annoyance when Arjun coughed to prevent laughing. He too needed some time to process whatever took place in this short time.

Ayesha realised how big she messed up and immediately got on with her 'damage control', "I am extremely sorry sir. Mera matlab woh bilkul nahi tha.... I mean tha... I mean.. Nahi...". Arjun snickers and Sameer passes him a stern look, which he shrugs off.

"Mujhe yeh baat ache se bolni chahiye thi lekin maine frustration mein aake aise rudely baat kiya. I am very sorry sir. Agli baar aise bilkul bhi nahi hoga." Sameer keeps looking at her intently, searching for answers to the questions he himself doesn't know.

He feels like there is a part missing to this Ayesha which has never been uncovered. He wants to know the real Ayesha who is hidden behind this facade of calm and collected officer. But for now he ignores all the thoughts running across his mind and focuses his complete attention on the given day and time.

"It's okay Ayesha." He smiles assuringly, soon adding up a teasing grin, "Lekin yaad rakhna agli baar yeh galti na ho."

Ayesha who was sitting on the edge of her seat sits back comfortably giving an assuring look to the others. Sameer proceeds with the original conversation which was left hanging midway.

"Confidential reasons ki wajah se hum kissi aur department ki madad nahi le sakte aur aisi koi jagah jahan pe hum aaraam se kaam kar sake, isska mujhe pata nahi hai. Last time jab Jaipur aaye the tab hotel mein ruke the, lekin iss baar toh..." he trails off with a very small hint of obvious frustration.

"Toh hum ghar jaa sakte hai na. Itna bada ghar hai aur study mein toh discussion kar hi sakte hai. Samar Bhai ko nikaal phekenge wahan se. He won't mind." Arjun softens his facial features, unabashedly exercising his complete right on Rathore House and the Rathores.

Sameer grows even more impatient and frustrated over the way Arjun is providing a solution which Sameer had already thought about and rejected, given the circumstances at hand. 

"Tumhe kya lagta hai Rawate maine yeh socha nahi hoga? Socha tha aur study bhi taiyaar hai. Lekin aaj... Aaj gangaur hai. Pata hai kitne log aayenge. Kitne log mujhe dekh ke sawaal karenge. Aur Maasa ne toh ab tak dhindora peet hi diya hoga beton ke aane ki khushi mein."

"Aree toh hum andar baithke kaam karenge na Sameer. Usmein kya problem hai?" Sakshi shifts her gaze back and forth from Arjun to Sameer.

"Haan Sakshi.. lekin uss se pehle shikaariyon ke jhund ko kaise paar karenge?" He turns back looking at everyone expectantly in the hope of a plan.

"Okay suno!" Sakshi excitedly taps on Sameer's shoulder to gain his attention and during this she gains everyone's attention along with Arjun's combined with extra amount of displeasure.

She gets to detail her plan and surprisingly not only Sameer but Arjun also agrees without passing any snide comments. Sakshi feels proud and even nostalgic.

She had regularly used these tricks to save her childhood best friends and school mates from school and police authorities. Though she was a disciplined and a well-mannered girl, she was also a friend who would have her friends' back despite all problems they caused. But no one needs to know that. Especially so early into normalcy.

They soon reach their residence and looking at the celebration happening around there, all stand stumped. Never had they expected the festival to be celebrated in this grandeur. Sameer clears his throat to gather everyone's attention as they had to reach their den, the study room too. Arjun chuckles looking at Sam, all nervous with sweaty palms. The last time he saw him in this state was during the initial days of ETF when Raghu sir was their second-in-command.

As they were approaching the front door Sakshi started feeling dizzy and lost. She looked around her and wanted to call Ayesha for her uneasiness, when darkness surrounded her eyes and last she knew was hearing her friends shout her name.

The panic set in among her team members and among the people who were surrounding them. A lot of chaos surrounded them as everyone wanted to know what had happened, when Maasa and others came running outside. In a stern and loud voice Maasa asked everyone to back away so that Sakshi got exposure to proper ventilation. She had to be taken to a room far away from the living room, and since climbing stairs was not feasible, she was taken to the study room. 

Upon entering, Liza had closed the doors for privacy. Sameer comforted Maasa telling her not to worry as this could have been effects of fatigue and nothing severe. He even requested everyone to continue celebrating Gangaur and not bring it to a halt as Sakshi wouldn't like that. Sameer and Arjun were the last to enter the room and lock it from the inside. Once the locking was heard, Sakshi winked at her friends baffling them. Sameer and Arjun too were baffled enough to not form any coherent statements.

They were all furious and relieved at the same time. Furious because they didn't know that all this was an act and relieved because all this was actually an act. Seeing that none of her friends reacted the way she expected, Sakshi frowned. "Kya guys, maine tum logon ki madad ki aur mujhe tum logon ki sadi hui shakal dekhne ko mil rahi hai, as a compliment? Not fair.", she stomps her feet, pouting upset.

Shree notices Arjun's fists clenched and face hardened, implying that he has reached beyond his threshold. "Sakshi toh gayi kaam se.", he mutters to his group and unfortunately they all agree in unison.

"Miss Sakshi Anand agar yeh ghatiya sa naatak tumhara plan tha, toh main tumhe yeh bata dun, yeh ek bohot hi behuda aur ghatiya plan tha." His voice is mellowed but his expressions are equally harsh and rough.

Not intending to disturb the celebration going on at the room far beyond, he continues "Kya tumhe andaaza bhi hai ki sab kitna dar gaye the? Already case ki tension, phir Sam ka natak, ab tumhara... Chal kya raha hai team mein?"

"Mujhe kyun beech mein laaye?" Sameer questions, already annoyed by this extra drama.

"Kyunki tum ghar nahi aana chahte the, yeh behosh hui. Ab agar tumhein bahar jaana ho toh kya Chotu ko behosh hona padega?" Arjun questions sarcastically at the whole idiotic scenario.

"Tum jaante ho ki maine kaha tha- humein study room jaldi pahunchna padega kyunki guests humein bahar rok ke rakh sakte hai. Issiliye maine idea maanga tha. Warna main pagal nahi hun logon se chupne ke liye. Actually tumse zyada ache se bheed sambhalta hun."

"Tum pagal ho." Arjun declares. "Bina iss namuni ka pura plan sune tumne haan kaise kiya?" he boils up in frustration while referring to Sakshi's idea.

"Rawte, akele Maine plan ko approval nahi diya tha. Tumne bhi approval diya tha." Sameer reminds him.

"Toh issne pura plan nahi bataya tha. Warna kabhi approval nahi deta."

"Toh tujhe lagta hai main de deta?"

"Kya pata!" Arjun huffs and before Sameer could talk further, Ayesha stops them.

"Bas kijiye aap dono. Baahar guests hai aur hum S..supriya A..aunty ko aur embarass nahi kar sakte unke saamne. Ab gussa chod dete hai aur iss sone ki talwaar pe focus karte hai." 

Sameer takes a deep breath, relaxing himself and continues conversing with Liza about the reports of yesterday's discovered sword. She excuses herself to enquire about the same at the Laboratory. In that given time Sameer gazes at Sakshi and nods his head in disappointment, meaning to tell her that what she did was wrong.

Sakshi who was standing in a corner like a child who was given time out, comes and sits next to Sameer. "Sameer... I am sorry" she pouts and holds her ears in apology.

Sameer frees her hand and scoffs in amusement at how fast his disappointment dissolved. He gives her a tight lipped smile, relieving Sakshi from fright. Now Arjun was the only person with whom she had to maintain a precautionary distance. The issues being -- he is never fond of dramas, and the second being he hates the thoughtless drama which results in someone feeling worried. Previously he never cared about the consequences of his reckless behaviors, but now he realizes its intensity.

The room is dead silent when all of a sudden everyone slightly jump in their places as Liza ends her call and with a quite energetic voice, "Sir reports ready hai, lekin unfortunately ek problem hai."

"Kya?" Arjun asks ever so harshly that Liza furrows her eyebrows in frown.

"Ki woh talwaar bhi nakli hai." She replies nonchalantly. Arjun bangs the table, getting everyone to flinch from their seats.

"Yeh talwaar ne toh rollercoaster se bhi zyada daraya hai humein." Shree mumbles to himself which gets him confused looks from the others.

"Ab kya karna hai?" Ayesha asks, carefully looking at her seniors.

"Pehle yeh pata lagate hai ki ek talwaar ki kitni imitations bani hai." Sameer says, to which Arjun adds, "Aur jahan pe humein Anurag ki laash mili thi wahan jaake phir se ache se taikikaat karni padegi. Aur iss baar kuch nahi chutna chahiye humse."

They immediately leave using the backdoor, the path cleared by Laxmi Kaakisa. Sameer uses the rented car to reach the palace, while Arjun uses the one belonging to Rathores.

Inside the palace Sameer asks for a private talk with Mahinder and Ajit, Anurag's father and brother. Inside the waiting room Mahinder's PA  walks upto them, "ACP Sameer kya aapko Anurag Babu ke kaatil ka kuch pata chala?" Mahinder 's PA looks desperate and gullible. Sameer honestly denies his expectations and before he could question the PA  he gets called in. When it looks like the PA is accompanying them inside, he is asked to wait outside as the conversation is supposed to be private.

They enter the drawing room, everyone taking their seats after which Sameer speaks, "Sir, Aapke bete ke kaatil ka filaal humein kuch pata nahi chala, lekin jo talwar humein wahan mili thi, woh bhi nakli hai." the last statement is told rather hesitantly.

Ajit and Mahinder stay rather unmoved. Mahinder again reminds them that the sword is not their concern, the murderer is.

"Mahinder ji, talwaar aapke liye maayne nahi rakhta hoga lekin hathyaare ke liye woh talwaar bohot keemti hai. Issiliye aapke bade bete ki jaan li gayi hai. Woh log asli talwaar tak pahunchne ke liye kuch bhi kar sakte hai. Toh kya aap humein ab bata sakte hai ki kitni nakli talwarein banayi gayi hai?"

"Kitni banayi gayi hai, hum bhi nahi jaante sir." Ajit answers, "Hum bas itna jaante hai ki asli talwaar kahan hai, yeh gharwaalon mein se koi nahi jaanta." he confirms.

"Phir Ghar se talwar chori kaise hui, jab koi jaanta nahi tha toh?" Sakshi points out.

"Pichli baar Bhai talwar lekar hadbadahat mein kahin jaa rahe the aur woh aakhri baar tha jab humne Bhai ko dekha. Usske baad aapne contact kiya, yeh bolkar ki talwaar aapke paas hai."

"Yeh mujhe kyun nahi pata?" Mahinder sternly questions Ajit.

"Kyunki Babasa, Bhai aapko stress nahi dena chahte the. Issiliye yeh baat sirf mujhe aur Bhai ko hi pata thi. Aur Bhai ko shak bhi tha ki Ghar ke log bhi uss talwar ke laalach mein hai."

They all sit in silence for a minute. Sameer-Sakshi waiting for Ajit and Mahinder to hold themselves after the big loss. Sameer then mellows down, "Anurag ka Postmortem ho chuka hai. Usski body yahan pahuncha di jaayegi." By now the two members start shedding tears, while Sakshi tries to gently soothe them. Sameer still trying to stay strong, continues, "Aap log usse aakhri alvida keh dena. Tab tak hum usske kaatil ko dhundlenge."

Sameer then leads Sakshi out of the palace and they drive back home. Sitting on his chair, Sameer blankly stares at a painting hung upon the wall. Arjun slides the files he is carrying, towards Sameer as he stands at the opposite edge of the table. Pulling it to himself Sameer observes that all the files are forensic reports of each evidence collected from the body and the scene.

After taking a glance at the contents in each file, he passed it across to Liza, who read each file with great concentration, making detailed notes of each evidence. After an hour or so, she looks up from her file and sees everyone sipping on coffee/tea. Before she could complain, Ayesha places her coffee next to her. She blushes as she smiles and thanks Ayesha for coffee.

She gets up stretching her body, while all just sit there contemplating her death. When turning to grab her coffee she notices them observing her intently. She realises, "Oh! Haan! Toh yeh reports.." and all nod in positive, gesturing her to continue.

She takes a final sip of her coffee and starts, "Toh jo kayi saare evidence mile hai, uss mein se ek baal hai. Yeh important evidence issiliye hai, kyunki yeh kissi insaan ka hi baal hai, obviously, aur high probability hai ki ek ladki ka  hai. Yeh baal Postmortem karne waale doctors ko Anurag ke mutthiyon mein mili thi. Lagta hai zor zabardasti ke dauraan ussne uss ladki ke baal noch liye honge.

Ab aate hai Anurag ke paas mile glass bottle pe. Bottle ke rim pe lipstick ke smudged impression mila hai aur lipstick ke saath saath humein saliva ke traces bhi mile, but woh contaminate ho chuka hai aur kissi kaam ka nahi hai. So cut out. Lekin uss bottle pe se humein fingerprints mile hai, lekin woh humaare database mein kissi ke saath bhi match nahi hua hai.

Next hai gait pattern. Uss se humein ek aadmi ke chalne ka dhang pata chalta hai. Wahan pe jo footprints mile the humein, lab mein usse study kiya gaya hai. Kyunki humein jungle mein bas ek hi pair ka impression saaf saaf dikh raha tha, hum keh sakte hai ki woh insaan apne ek per par zyada dabav daalkar chalta hai.

Aur woh Anurag ke jooton ke nishaan bilkul nahi hai. Yeh kissi aur ka hai. Shoe print se toh lagta hai ki koi raees aadmi ke joote hai. Yeh issiliye kyunki shoe ke sole edges kaafi sharp hai, zyada wear and tear nahi hai aur shoe print ka size dekh ke koi keh nahi sakta ki ladke ka hai ya ladki ka.

Next hai body pe mile nishaan. Sar par kissi bhaari pathar se vaar kiya hai. Aur woh patthar bhi lab bheja gaya tha jiss par Anurag ka khoon mila hai. Dusra hai, kaanch ke bottle se sar pe vaar kiya hua nishaan. Vahi glass bottle hai jiss pe humein lipstick ka mark mila tha. Kyunki jo chote-chote tukde sar par se mile the, woh bottle se match kar rahe the. Aur last mein hai chaaku ka nishan. Aur yeh chaaku bohot ordinary sa hai lekin tez dhaar ka hai. I mean sharp. Mostly kitchen knife hai, jo meat cut karne ke liye use hota hai. Aur iss se direct pet pe vaar kiya hai. Ek baar nahi, do-teen baar kiya gaya hai, jab tak Anurag mar nahi gaya." She ends her whole presentation by drinking a full glass of water, which Chotu passes across to her.

"Hmmm!! Toh wahan pe ek se zyada log the, kya hum aisa keh sakte hai?" Arjun asks.

"Haan sir."

"Isska matlab jaise hi Anurag Ghar se nikla talwar leke, aur ghar mein se kisi ne usska peecha kiya. Anurag talwar ke saath jungle mein gaya yeh dekhne ki kahin dusra talwar surakshit hai ya nahi. Lekin anjaam tak pahunchne se pehle hi uss pe hamla hua, theek ussi jagah jahan dusra talwar tha. Kyunki dusra talwar bahar nahi aaya tha, khooni ussi talwar ko asli maan baitha jo usske saamne pada tha. Khooni ko laga ki shayad Anurag woh talwar chupa raha hoga, issiliye jald se jald uss se cheen liya gaya." Everyone agrees with Arjun's hypothesis.

"M.K ke saath woh bhi foreign clients ke saath iss deal mein shaamil ho jata. Aur paise transact hone ke baad, woh yahan se kahin door. Lekin problem tab hui jab Jitesh ke mann mein laalach bhar gaya, jisski wajah se usse Mumbai Bus Stand mein marna pada. Lekin iss pehle M.K deal kar pata, ETF iss talwar tak pahunch gayi."

After listening to Sameer conclude Ayesha needs an answer, "Sir agar Mahal mein jo talwar thi woh nakli thi, toh Anurag usse lekar kahan jaa raha tha?"

"Haan ghar mein rahe ya kahin aur chori toh nakli talwar hi hoti na." Chotu adds, curious for suitable theory.

"Ayesha, Chotu, agar tumhare ghar mein aisi koi keemti cheez ho jisse paane ke liye koi ghar ke sabhi logon ko khatre mein daal sakta hai, toh tum kya karoge?"

"Uss cheez ko nikaal denge." Liza doubtfully gives an answer to Sameer's question.

"Exactly. Toh jab Anurag ko pata chala ki talwar ki wajah se Rajawats ko khatra hai, toh woh talwar ko kahin aur rakhna chahta tha. Taaki Gharwaale sab safe rahe."

"Phir woh jungle kyun gaya hoga?" Sakshi asks.

"Shayad yeh pehla talwar uss dusre talwar ke paas rakhne ke liye." Shree tries, when Arjun agrees with him and continues,

"Yes Shree. Jab Anurag Ghar se nikal raha tha, toh uska intention yahi tha ki talwar ko kahi aur rakhein. Aur jungle ke uss khufiya jagah se zyada surakshit aur kya ho sakta hai?"

"Toh ab?" Sakshi asks, shaking up everyone from their thoughts. As soon as they become mindful of themselves, they realise that they are all hungry.

Upon hearing a knock on the door, Chotu gets up to open it. Enter the ladies, Kakisa with Masa and Ruhanika (Ayesha's friend) , who get food for the famished souls.

Ayesha drags Rooh to a corner, and concerned she asks, "Tu bhi subah se vrat rakhe baithi hai, tujhe bhook nahi lag rahi kya yeh sab dekhkar?"

"Haaye Ayu.. ab bhi itna concern." she coos at her friend's concern at which Ayesha playfully pata her across shoulder.

"Lekin tu jaa na bahar. Yahan rahegi toh bhook aur badegi." Ayesha tries her last attempt to persuade, but doesn't succeed as Rooh flatly denies.

"Wahan kya khadi ho tum dono? Ayesha yahan aao." Kakisa calls her to have lunch, and she reluctantly goes, glancing at Rooh for final confirmation, but Rooh does not budge down.

"Woh kya hai na Kaakisa, Ayu chahti thi ki main yahan se chali jaun taaki mujhe aur bhookh na lage." Rooh places a kiss on Ayesha's head and hugs her from behind. "Lekin jab mujhe itna kam time milta hai apni 'duty-driven' dost ke saath, toh khaana kya, jeena bhi kurbaan." Along with getting a round of applause for her performance from everyone, she even gets a playful smack across her cheek from Ayesha. "Nautanki." she sighs.

"Arey hum stage artists hai, bhulo mat.  Aur tujhe yaad nahi tere draa.. Owww!!" she yelps in pain, holding her waist and glaring at Ayesha.

"Kya hua?" Sakshi asks horrified.

"Chimti", she mutters lowly, warning Ayesha, and continues, "Muscle catch. Normal hai hum dancers ke liye. Ayesha se pucho. Kyun Ayesha?!" dragging the last syllable of her name sarcastically, Rooh smirks.  

Giving her a heated glare and muttering a few words under her breath, Ayesha's fingers twitch, "Haan baat toh tu sahi keh rahi hai. Drama toh humaare rag rag mein basa hua hai. Humaare liye Dance aur Drama ek hi sikke ke do pehlu the."

"Ayee.. the tere liye tha, humaare liye aaj bhi hai." Rooh takes an offence. "Kathak karna tune choda, humne nahi."

"Haan baba theek hai. Abhi meri life chodke, tum sabki life draame se judi hai.",  she gladly surrenders. 

"Ayesha hum tumse kuch puche?" A soft voice from the known sets dread inside her. Turning around she could see her team's eyes having unresolved questions about her past life. 

Faking to be alright with whatever is coming next, and already preparing her answer a hundred times, "Haan pucho na.", she smiles.

"Tumne Dancing kyun chodi?" Sakshi meekly asks.

A fond curve takes place on Ayesha's lips. "Sirf dancing nahi Sakshi, Kathak. Dono mere liye bohot alag hai. Dancing ki tarah Kathak mein sirf energy aur beats ko importance nahi diya jaata. Graceful movements ke saath apt expression bhi bahut zaroori hoti hai. Har taal ke liye ek complete step. Full concentration -- taal aur steps pe zaroori hoti hai -- ek fine performance dene ke liye. Aur uss ke liye practice...", she reminisces, while Rooh looks at her lovingly. "Guru Maa, jo ki humaari dost Vi ki maa hai, itna perfectionism ke peeche bhaagti thi ke pucho mat. Daant daant ke humse practice karati thi, aur agar thodi si bhi badmaashi karte, toh dande se pair par haule se maarti. Zyada dard toh nahi hota tha, aur agar hota toh maalish bhi wohi karti. Aise humein unhone itne saare awards ke kaabil banaya tha. And actually No Regrets." 

When she looks at everyone, she realizes how she was beating around the bush and vigorously shakes her head, controlling herself from getting affected at all the emotions engulfing her heart. "Haan", rubbing her palms she relaxes, "Maine Kathak issliye choda, taaki main apne studies pe concentrate kar sakun. You see scholarship vagera ke liye, marks bahut important hai. Toh issiliye mujhe inn sab ka saath chodna pada."

Rooh emotionally grabs her by her arms and pulls in for a bone-crushing hug. But Ayesha doesn't voice any complain, even if she had many. "Kitna, kitna jhooth bolegi chudail.", Rooh whispers authorotataively near her ear. "Kuch toh sharam kar le. Inn maasumon  ko dhokha dete hue zara bhi zubaan nahi hichkichayi?" 

"Rooh, do cheezein -- mujhme sharam by birth nahi hai, aur jhooth bolte hue Ayesha Kapoor ki zubaan kabhi nahi hichkichati." 

"Paagal.", she mutters fondly and lets go of the gripping hold she had upon Ayesha. "Lekin tu aaj bhi Kathak aur beete hue dinon ko lekar itni nostalgic hai, jaanke acha laga."

Wiping her tears she glances at everyone in the room. "Chaliye Kaakisaas, inhe kaam karne chod dete hai. Meri aur Ayu ki baatein kabhi khatam hi nahi hone waali hai."

"Pehli baar samajhdaari ki baat ki hai tune. Ab nikal" Ayesha mocks.

"Ji Zill-e-Illahi. Jo aadesh.", and dramatically she exists. Everyone has a loving smile on their lips with a chuckle here and there and a refreshed mood.

"Abhi lunch kar lete hai, phir aage ka bhi sochna hai." Sameer instructs.

"Lekin Sameer aaj Gangaur hai aur shaam ke baad yatra hogi. Toh traffic bohot hone waali hai. Aur aaj shaam Rajawats Anurag ka antim sanskar bhi karne waale hai, toh press coverage pakka hoga. 'Ek jawaan aadmi aise kaise maraa?', yeh sawaal bhi uthega zaroor. Mujhe lagta hai filaal ke liye unke PR ko yeh crucial aspects cover up karne dete hai, Agar hum jaayenge toh sabko shaq hoga ki kuch gadbad hai." Sakshi points out, to which everyone agrees. 

But Arjun takes this as a opportunity to rile up Sakshi. "Saaf saaf kaho Sakshi ki tumhe Gangaur dekhna hai. Itne saare justifications dene ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Waise bhi Sameer tumhe apni behen maanta hai, toh tumhaare liye yeh aaj kya pura hafta chuti de." He looks at Sameer and donns a very mischievous smirk. 

Everyone mentally face-palm, bracing themselves for another fight. Ayesha along with Sameer stay cautious to put out any hazardous fire, caused by this verbal fight. 

"Arjun mujhe Gangaur dekhna hai, lekin case ko ignore karke nahi. Tumhe kya lagta hai case solve karne ki sirf tumhe padi hai? Hum sabko humara kaam utna hi important hai jitna tumhe hai. Sadu si shakal leke aur ghurne se  bonus points nahi milte dedication ke." 

"Solve toh hote hai na case. Tumhare bas pe chod de toh reh gayi humaari janta surakshit." 

"Issiliye mein bolti hun badam khaaya karo atleast yaad toh rahega ki main journalist hun officer nahi." Sensing that Arjun was about to speak, Sakshi adds, "Publicist bolna bhi mat. Sahi nahi hoga." Catching hold of her breath she concludes, "Aur haan janta ki suraksha tumhaari zimmedaari hai aur unhe jaagrukt karna meri."

"Tum hi ho na jissne jaagrukta ke naam pe, case solve hone se pehle hi leak kar di thi." Arjun mocks and this alerts everyone. 

"Rawate bas." Sameer warns before Arjun goes any further.

Seething in rage Sakshi talks back, "Aur usske liye maine kayi baar maafi bhi maang li hai aur khud ko saabit bhi kiya hai. Sirf mujhe target karne ki zaroorat nahi hai aur galtiyan toh tum..... sab se hoti hai." she stands still, shocked by her own words. 

Realizing that Sakshi unintentionally was referring to Roshni's death and their kidnapping, broke Arjun. "Sakshi tumhein pata bhi hai tum kya bole jaa rahi ho." Ayesha jolts her in order to get a response from her currently shocked stance, But by then Arjun left the room to get a grip over his over-bearing emotions. He may be able to easily breathe under the sky, but the words that echo in his ears suffocate his soul.

Once Sakshi came out of her static state, she collapsed on the ground and sat hugging her knees to her chest. "I don't know maine kya bola aur kyun bola. Mujhe itna gussa kaise aaya main nahi jaanti. Aisa gussa baba ke accident ke baad se kabhi aaya hi nahi. I don't know yeh kya ho raha hai. Gussa andar hi andar mujhe khaa raha hai aur mann kar raha hai ki bolte jaaun, bolte jaaun. Thakk gayi hun inn sab se main." 

In between this downpour of feelings, Sameer sends Ayesha to Arjun in great hopes of her being able to help him with his emotions, just like the last time. She was skeptical at first, but she knew she had to handle one of her team member and Rathore would do an amazing job with that of Sakshi. Sakshi realizes that her anger is getting the worst of her. The negative feelings which she had pent up within herself was going to explode someday or the other and she didn't want to hurt anyone else, like she hurt Arjun, the love of her life. 

She takes note of the car key which Sameer had kept on the table and immediately grabs it, running out of the house. Benefit of having too many people around, she could escape without falling into the clutches of her team. She, for the moment, was letting the devil take control. Not caring about how her team is going to feel. Everyone rushed behind her till they could only watch her drive away. Arjun from a distance saw Sakshi rush towards the car and others trying to catch up behind her. 

Seeing that she frantically drove away from the parking, he ran to where his car was parked. Since the other car's key was with Arjun, he didn't wait for any signal and rushed to his car, unlocking it and drove away in the direction Sakshi left. "Sakshiii kahan ho tum? Bina soche samjhe tum bolo aur phir gaadi leke bina kuch bole nikal jaao. Movies dekh ke dimaag kharab ho gaya hai tumhara." Soon his mobile phone blares with Shree's name, and he picks it up. "Haan Shree...." 

Soon  Shree informs him about Sakshi's location and shares her moving details. He speeds up his car, pressing hard on the accelerator like his life depended on it, as he drives though the isolated forest area. Heavy vehicles which come from the opposite direction doesn't seem to faze him, as he doesn't bother slowing down. As he is detected to be nearing Sakshi, he keeps his eyes stoic on the road in front of him, frantically searching for Sakshi's car, but to no avail. When he again checks in the map, he finds her location unmoved, and again speeds up to the blaring location. He was growing restless every passing second as her mobile was traced at a cliff unmoved. This could mean that she....

"No no no... Arjun yeh waqt nahi hai yeh sab sochne ka. Haan woh thodi paagal hai, lekin bevakoof nahi hai. She is just having a hard time." Arjun chides himself, not losing hopes while he drives faster to the cliff.

Upon reaching there he slows down on seeing a car parked at the near end of the cliff and realizes it's the one in which Sakshi had left. He could feel his heart shift upto his throat just at the thought of losing Sakshi. "SAKSHI!!", he screams in fear as loud as one could ever scream, but gets no response. Not letting the negative thoughts overpower him, he strides towards the car in hopes of finding her inside. But she is not in there. "SAKSHII!", he shouts, giving one last hopeful attempt to find her. 

***************************************
Nidz: 

Hello guysss!!!😎

Sorry sorry sorry bache ke loge Jaan kya? Sorry sorry sorry mehangi hai ek muskaan kya!!(Smile pleaseee readers)😊🥺

Meri koi galti nahin hai guyss sab Karu ki hai.....🥹

How was the update?

Ayesha aur Rooh ki dosti ke liye kuch shabd?

Arakshi ka jhagda.. phir se..

Sam-Jun nahi Ar-Akshi time bomb jaise hai. Kahin bhi aur kabhi bhi phoot jaate hai. 

Karu ko motivate karne ke liye, please do LIKE. Kam se kam emotionally blackmail toh kar paaungi. 

Dher saara pyaar 💖💖

Nidzz 💕

Karu: 

I feel Jaipur Arakshi ke liye bad luck hai... Ya ho sakta hai they will be overcoming their differences in Jaipur... Hone ko toh kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Aap sabko kya lagta hai?

I know there is no reason I can give for updating so late, but I have tried to reason myself in the previous section. Do read it. Open to all sorts of cuss words if you feel like it. 

I know how much you guys wanted an update and were longing for it. But I will tell you guys that I am never stopping this book. I might take long long breaks, but you will always find me or Nidz here. 

I will do my best and not disappoint you all further. 

Any comments on this chapter? Please do leave your suggestions.

And yes I don't deserve to request, but please 

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Love you all ❤️💕

Karu 💖✌️