26. 𝙐𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚

ᴋᴀʀᴀɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴠɪᴇᴡ

My eyes roamed around in clue of any suspicious activity as I patiently stood in the corner of the auction hall, waiting for the signal as Sanju had left for seeing Faizi and Koel upstairs a couple of minutes back.

That's when I felt a sudden tap on my shoulder as I turned back alerted only to find Sid standing in his disguise as he informed murmuring, as his eyes wandered around, "Anubhav Sir aur Rishabh Sir, Ajeet Sir ko leke vanity mein hain safely."

I nodded my head sighing, knowing that Ajeet Sir will be able to receive the medical attention but I just hoped that there are no more casualties in this mission, specially after knowing the brutality of ARS that he can kill his own people for his motives.

"3 captured... 372..." I heard the faint of Faizi saying through the earpiece as the realisation dawned upon me.

Faizi, Sanju, and Koel are already captured.

"Shit!" Sid cursed as his face was covered with an concerned expression.

ARS knew about it! He had prepared a trap for us and that's why he had already changed the places.

I glanced at Sid as I told him, maintaining a stern expression hiding my own tensions and worries, "Sid, don't worry. Voh teeno khudko sambhal lenge, filal hume humara saara focus un logon ko yahaan se baahar nikalna hona chahiye jo human trafficking ke es racket mein fase huye hain, aur uske alawa hume Yash aur uski team ko bhi dhoondna hoga!"

Sid looked at me as I blinked my eyes assuring him, as he slightly nodded and spoke up as the serious was spreading over his face, "Let's end it."

"Karan! Siddharth! Monami bohot gusse mein 3rd floor ki taraf gyi hai, stop her esse pehle voh kuch aisa kre jisse uski jaan aur mission khatre mein aaye! Es vakt voh har chiz ke liye khudko blame kr rhi hai, stop her from making any decision jisse usse baad mein regret ho!" Gunjan ma'am ordered but her care and concern for Monami was clearly reflecting in her voice.

"Yes ma'am!" I and Sid spoke up in union as we unnoticeably walked out of the hall and sprinted towards the 3rd floor, only to find the last door of the corridor open, as I along with Sid positioned our guns, and looked around alerted.

I entered the room first to find it empty but I refused to put my guards down and so did Sid.

"Karan bro...." Sid called out for me and I turned to look at him as he was having an deadpan expression on his face, as my gaze followed his, only to stop it over a note which was written on the wall.

I walked closer as I read out the note, "Monami Juhi Mahajan! Finally tum yahaan tak toh aayi, kher vaise toh mujhe pta tha tum yahaan aahi jaogi, after all Juhi Mahajan ki beti ho! Zid toh ragon mein hai tumhari! 2nd floor, Room no. 201, surprise rakha hai tumhare liye!"

I stood there startled at the note when I and Sid muttered, "Rani Sahiba/Monu ki jaan khatre mein hai!"

Without caring about anything else, now both of us ran to the room no. 201 as we saw Monami standing at the doorstep of the room and we quickly paced up.

We stood on either sides of her as gasped after seeing the scenario inside.

"Yash!" Monami exclaimed, as she found Yash covered up in bruises as he was tied up with the chair.

He was wearing a half torn black shirt, as his torn shirt clearly gave away that he was tortured and beaten up with belt in an horrible way, while his face seemed unrecognisable from the time when I have seen him at first.

A faint smile came across on Yash' face on seeing three of us standing there as he sighed, and I could read that expression well. He did not care anymore if he is about to die because he knew that his work is done, because no matter what, atleast the innocent civilians will make it out alive even if he doesn't.

That's a relief for an army officer.

BANG!

My trance of thoughts were broken as the sound of bullet echoed once again, as soon Monami had put her foot forward, as a pure look of shock overpowered our faces.

I and Sid were quick to recover from the unwanted shock as we saw the silhouette of the person who shot Yash, made in an attempt to jump out from the window through the narrow balcony.

I stared back at Monami who took a moment to process as there was hole in the middle of Yash' head as blood poured out of the wound, killing him on the spot and as soon the scenario was registered by her, she ran after the shooter.

Whereas I and Sid screamed, "Monu/Monami nahi! Voh trap hosakta hai!"

As both of us ran towards the window but was stopped by a voice which was not so far from us, "Special Agent Karan Shergill aur Cadet Siddharth Ganju! Agr aapne saathiyon ko zinda dekhna chahte ho, toh ek aur kadam aage mat badhana. Aur agr shak hai toh zara apni nazar hall mein ghuma lena!"

Sid shot me a look as both of us turned behind and I took the lead to walk towards the corridor as I peaked down from the railings to find everyone gone and that's when my eyes fell on Koel, Sanju and Faizi who were tied by the pillars.

Before I could even say something, Sid sprinted down the stairs as he reached near Sanju to untie her ropes and I was left with no option but to follow him, because there was no way I was leaving them in this situation.

"Put your guns down." The voice now echoed in the whole hall as I stole a quick glance at Sid, before we were compelled to drop our guns.

We needed to end it and for that, we had to risk it.

We were trapped.

That's when my eyes fell on a figure who was sitting cross legged on the chair little behind from centre of the hall, as his face wasn't visible to us when he ordered, "Pakad lo dono ko. Aur Karan aur Siddharth, ladne ki mat sochna kyunki tumhari ek galti ki keemat sabko chukani pad sakti hai..."

"Karan, follow his command. Main almost sab ladkiyon ko nikal chuki hoon, just hold on for few more minutes. Jaise hi Sanjana, Faizi aur Koel ko hosh aayega, we can attack and just capture him." I heard Gunjan ma'am.

I and Sid allowed the 4 men who walked towards us to tie us to the pillar without any resistance as we had to make them believe that we are loosing.

As as were getting tied up, I glanced at Sid who was staring back at me and we know we are taking a big time risk, even a minor mistake here means death, not just of ours, but everyone.

We turned our gaze towards Koel, Sanju and Faizi who were appearing to gain consciousness, as we waited for a moment as they opened their eyes and I took a sigh of slight relief as Sid shouted, "Sanju, tum thik ho!?"

Whereas Sanju looked at him nodding, as she along with Faizi and Koel adjusted with the surroundings and seeing themselves tied, they looked at me and Sid, while seeing us, the realisation dawned upon them.

But that's when a question popped up in my mind, which sent shivers through my spine...

Where is Monami!?

"Kya hua Special Agent Karan Shergill? Monami ki fikar ho rhi hai?" The person on the chair said, mocking me.

"Well, fikar tumhe apni krni chahiye!" I said with confidence and pride flashing in my eyes, but nope, I wasn't the only owner as my words were united with a feminine voice, Monami.

I turned towards the door of the hall where she stood with an stoic expression as the lights behind her were hitting the ground, whereas from the corner of my eyes, I could see the chair turning but the darkness in that area had forbidden us to get the clear view of his face and we were just able to see his silhouette.

He snapped his fingers when his people went towards the door and closed it, as he moved ahead when the lights were switched on.

"Mere auction mein swagat hai tumhara Monami Juhi Mahajan." A man in his late 30s said, as he took a step forward, unveiling his face.

While we exclaimed in unison, "ARS!"

"Tum log toh aise hairaan ho rhe ho jaise horhe ho jaise jaante hi nahi the?" ARS questioned with a smirk.

Whereas Monami gave him a mocking smile but within lied a glimpse of her anger, as she said, "Socha ki tumne es plan mein, khudko hidden rakhne mein, apni pehchan chupane ke liye logon ki itni jaan li hai, toh thoda surprised toh hosakte hain, after all you are living the last moments of your life."

"Well, lagta hai es mission mein dimaag lagake itna thak chuki ho ki ab ladne ki taakat nahi bachi hai tum mein..." Ayaan sneered with a smirk.

"Mazak bekaar hai tumhara, aur jo tumne logon ki zindagi ka mazak banaya hai ab tum apni zindagi ka mazak bante huye dekho!" Monami replied.

Monami and Ayaan marched towards eachother furiously, with their fists closed as Monami pulled up her fist to punch him right on his face, but Ayaan blocked it with a gap of second, before he pinned her to the nearest wall, having the upper hand.

"Finally, yeh game bhi mera aur jeet bhi." Ayaan said maliciously, his eyes wandering around at the helpless group of humans, or rather 3 Special Agents and 3 Best Cadets of Parakram Special Action Force.

While Monami spinned as she pinned Ayaan to the wall, as she struggled for a moment before elbowing him on the stomach, leaving Ayaan hissing in pain when she turned to face him.

Ayaan glared at Monami before barging at her again as she dodged his attack, as she said in an tone of mockery, "Gussa aarha hai na?"

Whereas Ayaan moved to a side as he grabbed two glass bottles and smirked while looking at Monami as I shouted, "Monami jhuko!"

But before she could comprehend my words, Ayaan threw a bottle at her which she was sliding as he threw another bottle from the other side as it hit the side of her shoulder, as the glass bottle was into pieces whereas it made her yelp in pain due to the impact as I closed my eyes momentarily.

As I opened my eyes again, my eyes were fixated on Monami, who took a moment before grabbing the vase and tried to smash it at Ayaan's face but he was stable unlike her, as he blocked her attack and threw it on the floor as Monami dropped on her knees unable to bear the pain.

"Monamiii!" five of us screamed in horror as we saw her hit the ground, being on her knees as the white flooring of marbles were now coloured in the deep shades of red.

Monami get up, please you need to do it. You can't loose it.... For Juhi ma'am, Yash... and Aashna. You have to do it for them.

My eyes wandered around for something which could help us but all my eyes found were the helpless faces of Koel, Sanju and Faizi, while Sid who was tied beside me was ready to collapse in ground if he was not held back by the ropes.

Whereas Ayaan Rai Singhania had the victorious smirk on his face, as he spoke up with a malicious smile, "Game over Cadet Doctor Monami Juhi Mahajan. Mera badla finally pura hoga, tumse aur tumhari so called maa, Captain Doctor Juhi Mahajan se!"

I glanced over at Sid who had got a knife, as he tried to untie his ropes but before any of us could proceed to make any attempt of helping Monami, without wasting another moment, he aimed his gun at the half-conscious Monami, who was still on her knees as the sound of firing of bullet echoed in the Blue Paradise.

And, for a moment all our heartbeats stopped with the sight infront of us, as the blood was spluttered all over Monami and the floor.

I stood there frozen when I saw Gunjan ma'am collapsing on the ground with a thud, when Monami yelled at top of her lungs, breaking my chain of thoughts, "Maasi!"

So, this was the cost of everything we had done, this was the price for saving the lives of so many people, for saving the dignity of girls who were gonna be auctioned here, there's always a price to pay because nothing comes free of cost, and this was the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier for her country and people, and most of all, the sacrifice of a  mother for her daughter....

******

Thankyou.
Yours
R•