Salaam everyone. This is the next chapter. Happy reading.

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Chapter 34: The Blast

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By the time Pawan's friends reached the police station in which Prithvi was kept, he already made his escape. They thought it to be good thing as Pawan mentioned that they would have to do their work without Prithvi get an inkling that his plans are being thwarted by none other than his own son. Prithvi will be positively enraged to see the results of his plan being dissolved like not more than ice melted by hot water. It would serve the old man right for plotting mass murder. This is one of the places for them to reach in the area as the man who is mastermind of this entire scheme planned blasts all across this area. How they wanted to kill the devil with their bare hands for such inhumane behavior! But they have to stop themselves from getting their hands around the neck of the slimy snake named Prithvi Mehra.

From the looks of the situation around them, it seems the side kicks of Prithvi Mehra are getting ready to blast the police station. That is just not going to happen on their watch! They got hold of the criminals and stopped the blast a further informed the same to Pawan. Then they asked for the next location.

Pawan cannot get involved in this matter physically because reason one: he was wrecked listening to the true personality of the man whom he had idolized from childhood. They have heard the story over and over again how the man had saved his mother and him from poverty. That bubble broke when he got to know the truth. Reason two: Chief Minister Arjun Mehra needs his closest friend and confidante near him during these dire situations. Sure, a person will need their spouse to calm their nerves in such situations but the presence of best friend is another part of calmness altogether. Only so, they didn't ask any further questions as to why Pawan is not present in the mission and is doing only background work.

After settling the men of Prithvi Mehra in the same jail that kept their boss earlier they moved on to the next location of the area after getting instructions from Pawan. But what they found was a ruse! There are no bombs planted in the place except for a tranquil neighborhood and seems people are getting their good night's sleep. Seems like the snake's belly is not completely black, after all. He did get some tricks up his sleeve.

Informing the same to Pawan from their location, they got a series of exclamations from all the members present in the room, wherever they all are.

After disconnecting the call, they all waited for any suspicious activity for another couple of hours and made their way back. The effect of the ruse finally grating their nerves, they cursed Prithvi Mehra, slimiest bastard ever present on the planet at the moment.

***

Later that night after receiving the call from Pawan's friends, all are in a state of shock caused by the false information provided to them by Chandra Mishra. They all knew that they should not have trusted the man but they did not expect this backstabbing. Or was it backstabbing by Prithvi Mehra to Chandra?

They were not sure anymore.

All they can do right now is to wait out the night to carry itself to dawn and see what the new day brings for them. Till then, the patrols for all the areas will be continued to ensure that there are no further bomb blasts anywhere in the city.

Radhika is not happy to see everyone in the tensed state. Even her nerves are giving up, but all of them need their rest and nothing will come out of this if they take themselves to their early graves. So, she with the help of Hitesh, cajoled all the others to get some rest. When they didn't budge from their seats, they both threatened them to administer them all with sleeping pills, even if that took to close their noses so that they can swallow the pills got them moving. They did not want Radhika to carry on the threat as they knew that she takes her promises very seriously. They all moved to their rooms in the farm house, their present stay, to get their sleep and also hoping in their hearts that they will not receive any bad news before they woke.

***

The next day brought no more bad news from their sources and they breathed a sigh of relief. Another bomb blast was thwarted in the middle of night at a place very far from the police station where Prithvi Mehra was kept.

The men of Prithvi thought to take the distraction of the patrol police to carry on their dirty deed but were promptly nagged by the police, who got suspicious seeing the people in masks prowling the streets at night. Police thought them to be thieves but only after doing a thorough search of their person, they got to know that they held material for a bomb.

Arjun praised the police officers for job well done and kept the steady flow of the data he got from the technical team about the details of the cell phone location of Chandra Mishra.

The phone was not switched off, it means there is a ray of hope that Chandra is still in the plan and still with them. The rest can be assured till Chandra does not switch off the phone or Arjun is dead on the dias of the function hall in which next bomb blast is planned according to Chandra. So, it is as usual going as per the plan. They are lulling Prithvi Mehra in to a false safety net where he will be attacked from all sides when he least expected.

***

Prithvi is ecstatic to say the least. He is jubilant. He is going to win this battle once and for all. All of them will see who holds the highest power.

He knows not to hold any connection with his men. He got a hang on technology these past few years. He knew the police will make a connection and catch him once they get one phone call tracked back to him. So he kept his hands and shutters of his temporary residence closed so that no one will identify him. The house in which he was lodged does not have a television set and so he cannot know what exactly is happening in the outer world. But he expected everything is going in his favour and also who else can know his plans to stop them? His pathetic excuse of a son will not stand a chance in front of him. For sure.

***

Arjun knew the time has come for him to move towards his doom or a bright future. All that rests in the hands of one man.

Radhika, Pawan, Hitesh, Vikas and Sweta Ma are giving him concerned looks. They knew that they should not be worried if the previous events are anything to go by. Chandra did not lie to them. The men of Prithvi Mehra were just waiting for a right time.

The bomb near the meeting hall was traced and diffused. So no one is in immediate danger. But he is guessing that Prithvi will come to the meeting hall premises to watch his handiwork. That will be the perfect opportunity for the police to catch the man and Chandra Mishra.

A discreet phone call from Chandra confirmed that indeed Prithvi will be coming to the meeting that is being held in the honour of Arjun's mother Maya, who is epitome of grace and kindness.

Arjun prayed that this will be the last time that he will see the demon's face, which is unfortunately his father's face. Years, he waited to know the living status of both his parents and what did he get at last? That, his father is the murderer of his mother and now he is trying to kill him too and the only family he had got and also many innocent people.

The Hawks, which is media, is not helping to have his peace either. From last night the news of his father's escape and narrow escape of a bomb blast was making rounds like a wildfire. His fear of Prithvi knowing these details was put to rest when Chandra informed him that Prithvi is blissfully unaware of all these because of lack of any electronic device that can relay the live transmission of news.

Everyone breathed another sigh of relief when they heard this. Now all they have to do is wait for the demon to make his entry so that they can catch him in his own trap.

***

Chandra's nerves are wrecked and his thoughts are everywhere. Till now the plan of Prithvi is thwarted. But the big picture is the bomb blast that is going to happen today. He didn't pray for anything till now but he prayed for the welfare of all the people and Arjun's family.

He prayed that his wife and daughter will forgive him for whatever happened. He also prayed that Arjun will take a strict action against Prithvi for all he has done. If he knows Arjun at all and if he is a person that Maya and his wife has raised, Arjun will definitely leave the punishment of Prithvi to judiciary and he cannot allow that. A demon like Prithvi should be fried alive not put behind bars and given food for his survival so that he can plan for another disaster.

If Prithvi is going to kill anyone, then that will be Prithvi himself. And Chandra will make sure that Prithvi will burn along with him. He will take down Prithvi along with him to the fire. This is how he is going to redeem for his wife and daughter. He will leave their lives permanently and without a trace that he ever laid his eyes on them these past two days. His dark shadow will never hide them from their goodness starting from tomorrow.

Prithvi will burn.

With this determination, he listened to all the final details of Prithvi's plan.

After disconnecting the call he made to Arjun earlier, he got a feeling that Arjun is going to be noble and honorable and handover Prithvi to police officials so that law can take care of him.

Whatever he had thought about Arjun had turned out to be true. He is the son that Maya has raised and he will never deviate from that path.

So it is up to him now to punish Prithvi in the only way that he should be punished.

Burning him alive.

This good work will be done by Chandra with pleasure.

***

Arjun waited for the moment that Mr. Mehra will be visible so that he can catch him and handover him to police. But he is nowhere to be seen. His phone was ringing continuously, so he excused himself from the dias and took the call.

After the preliminary introductions from Chandra, he got the biggest shock of his life. Mr. Mehra is with Chandra and he is taking him to a secluded place so that he can finish the unfinished work that has been left years ago.

'Maya would have been very proud of you for what you have become, Arjun but I cannot allow your father to rain anymore of his demonic acts on you. I will take care of him and you take care of my wife and my little girl.' said Chandra.

'You will do no such thing, Mr. Chandra. Do you hear me?'

'No, Arjun, I don't. You will not give your demonic father another chance. Oh, now he wants to talk to you. Wait! Let me put the phone on speaker.'

'Arjun, beta, please save me from this man. He has suicidal tendencies and now he wants to kill me too.' shouted Prithvi in to the phone and continued, 'The doors of the car are locked and I don't know how I can escape from this deranged man.'

'If anyone is deranged, that is you, Mr. Mehra. I think this is how you heard the shouts of my mother burning in the fire, right? I may not be the one who is going to give you the punishment but sure as hell this is the worthy punishment for you. You take pleasure in burning people. Now take pleasure in burning yourself.' said Arjun with a pent up rage listening to the words of his father begging him for his life. He will now know the pain.

'That is the son of Prithvi Mehra talking now, Arjun. Don't forget what I said to you about my wife and daughter.'

The words barely transmitted through the phone then the line went dead.

Arjun knew what should have happened. He contacted for the location of Chandra's phone and collected all his family to reach the place.

As the place is secluded, Arjun and police got around at the same time to the spot.

When they reached the place all they saw is a car that is charred and two burnt dead bodies in it. There is no doubt that those bodies are Prithvi Mehra's and Chandra Mishra's.

Police are surrounding the area with tapes so that everyone will know that is a crime spot and no evidence is disturbed.

Arjun and his family knew what will be in the forensic report. The bomb blasted because the vehicle reached the speed limit set for the bomb to blast.

There are no tears in anyone's eyes but only relief. Relief for the end of evil in their lives. Relief that the demon will never be able to come back from the ashes again.

All of them went back to their place with contentment in their hearts. If Prithvi was arrested there is a chance that he will plan something against them again. His life is a threat to their lives. Now that he is dead there is no need to fear for one known problem. There may be many unknown problems in their lives. They can handle them if they are together. The uncertainties of the life is what makes the life interesting. With these thoughts in mind, they entered the life with new energy and zeal. The only sting in this plan will be Chandra's death. He should have been sent to jail but seems his retribution has been served. The man made sure that there is no escape for Prithvi.

The new day brought bright future in front of them but not the doom Arjun has expected.

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End of the story? Nope. There is an epilogue remaining and that I will post in a few days from now of my health permits.

Please vote and review.

Till next time, Sayonara.