The Marriage

#Episode 11

#Thelastepisode

#TheMarriageEpisode11

#RhituparnaChakraborty

#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. Any relation to any person or organism living or dead is purely coincidental. This story cannot be published, copied or reproduced elsewhere without the consent of the author Rhituparna Chakraborty. This is a work of imagination with no intention to hurt anyone.

The girls were taken to the police guesthouse. Mushtaque, Neeraj, Chopra and Sofia accompanied them. They were given comfortable rooms. The girls were overjoyed. They had forgotten what it was to live without fear. They had forgotten what happiness was. Now, they were given fresh clothes to wear, good food to eat. They were given phones to call their family. The girls rejoiced, smiled, sang songs and what not.

Saanchi was allotted a room with Riya and Samaira. Since Saanchi lived in the same city, she will be dropped home today. She wanted to call her parents too. She told Mushtaque, ‘I want to call my parents.’ Mushtaque said, ‘ We will drop you home in some time. You can call your parents from my phone, but I would suggest, you don’t call them now. They are still under the impression that you are on your honeymoon. They might be shocked if you tell all of this now. Once you reach home, you can tell them all. However, if you still wish you can call them.’ Saanchi said softly, ‘ You are right. I will go home and tell them.’ Mushtaque said, I will go quickly, finish all the formalities and take you home in another half an hour.’ He then jotted his number in a piece of paper and gave it to Saanchi and said, ‘ Call me if you need anything. There is a lady officer in the adjacent room, you can use her phone to call me.’ He then looked at Riya and Samaira and said, ‘ You girls are going home tomorrow.’ Riya and Samaira looked at Mushtaque…they smiled and cried at the same time, joined their hands, knelt down and said in their soft muffled voice, ‘ Thank You!’. Mushtaque went near them, helped them stand up and said, ‘ I just did my duty. You are safe. Get some sleep and rest now. We all are here to ensure your safety.’ Saying that Mushtaque left.

Mushtaque, Sofia, Chopra and Neeraj were at the headquarters adjacent to the police station. The were inside the cabin of their boss. Their boss was none other than the lady in the wheel chair. She was no longer sitting in the wheel chair, because she never needed a wheel chair. It was all a charade which was a part of the mission. She was supposed to reach India a day before, but she stayed back to ensure her team and the girls were safe. She was the brains behind this mission. She had been working undercover for years now. She looked at Chopra and said, ‘ So, Vinod Mahadik aka Chopra, let’s start with you.’ Vinod Mahadik aka Chopra was one of the senior officers in the team and a technical expert cum hacker. He was made an accomplice of Dewaan and Bhalla. Because of Vinod, the team was able to trace Burns. It took years for Vinod to win the confidence and trust of Dewaan, Bhalla and Kushal. Because of him, the team was able to bust quite a few drug rackets, however, this flesh trade was launched recently. It was necessary to finish this off. Vinod Mahadik aka Chopra said, ‘Maám, nothing much. I went ahead with my regular strategy of being a lecherous soul and before Dewaan went close to Saanchi, I just ensured to mix drugs which he usually consumed, in his drink. Only change I did was, increase the dose. That did the trick. He was dead. Back at Burns’ guesthouse, Kushal was already dead in the room.’ Vinod Mahadik looked at Neeraj and said, ‘ Abhay had already killed Kushal by the time I had reached their room at Burns’ guesthouse. All I did was, pretend to have a heart attack and when Burns was unable to reach any of his guards, I shot him. It was easy. I had taken care of the CCTV cameras and telephone network.’ ‘ Hmm’ said the lady. She then looked at Neeraj and said, ‘ Abhay Rathore, your turn now.’ Abhay Rathore aka Neeraj said, ‘ I had shot a bullet at Kushal while he was trying to abuse Saanchi at the hotel. I deliberately missed the shot. Later at the hotel room, I ensured the flower vase hit Kushal’s head. I did not want to do that but Faraaz wanted me to do that because he could not bear Saanchi’s forehead injury,’ saying that, Abhay aka Neeraj giggled. Faraaz Fayed aka Mushtaque looked at Abhay aka Neeraj sternly. Neeraj/ Abhay then continued, ‘ Kushal saw the gun I was carrying. Back in the room at Burns’ guesthouse, he was all set to kill me, so I had to shoot him. Moreover I was sick and tired of kissing him.’ Sofia giggled. Abhay/Neeraj then continued, ‘ I eliminated the guards in the CCTV monitoring room. Munira had ensured arrangement of the bus and food. I went ahead and waited in the bus for the girls to arrive.’ Munira was Sofia. Munira Alam was Sofia’s real name. The lady then looked at Sofia/Munira Alam and said, ‘ You have been sharing all the details through out, so it’s Faraaz’s turn now.’ Faraaz Fayed aka Mushtaque said, ‘ Maám, I ensured Saanchi’s safety through out. I was the one who threw the switched on hair dryer in the bathtub full of water. I ensured Saanchi sat away from Bhalla in the airplane and rest, you know. Her safety was, is and will always be my first priority.’ The lady smiled and said, ‘ Was and is, I understand, but will be your first priority?’ Mushtaque aka Faraaz smiled.

After the meeting, Mushtaque went to pick up Saanchi. It was a long drive. Well, the drive could have been short but Mushtaque did not want the drive to be short. He switched on the radio. Arijit Singh hits made the ambiance in the car more sweet. The song, ‘Kyunki tum hee ho, ab tum hee ho, zindagi ab tum hee ho….’ touched the soul of both Saanchi and Mushtaque. Through out the drive, Saanchi kept quiet. Mushtaque stole glances at Saanchi without Saanchi realizing that.

In an hour, they reached Saanchi’s home. Saanchi rushed to the door and rang the door bell. Mushtaque parked his car and followed Saanchi. Saanchi’s mother Parvati Pandit opened the door. With a veil on her head, big bright red bindi and jingling bangles she smiled with the most beautiful smile ever when she saw Saanchi. Saanchi could see how surprised her mother was to see her. Parvati said beaming, ‘ Saanchi!! My little girl. Oh, we missed you so much. Thankfully you had called the other day. I know you were with your husband but that never meant that you will forget your parents. I know you guys should get at-least a week of privacy, but, is it fair that you don’t call us? And where on earth had you gone? There was no network. Thankfully Kushal’s sister Vithika used to give us information about your well-being.’ Parvati kept on talking. Saanchi hugged Parvati tight and cried. Parvati was shocked. She patted Saanchi’s head and said, ‘ What happened Saanchi?’ Parvati then looked around. Kushal was not there. Instead she saw Mushtaque. Parvati asked Saanchi in a tone of sheer surprise , ‘ Where is Kushal and who is this guy with you?’ . Just then Saanchi’s dad Purshottam Pandit came and he too was equally surprised to see Saanchi and Mushtaque. Saanchi wiped away her tears and said, ‘ He is Mushtaque. Because of him, I am safe.’ Parvati and Purshottam stared at Saanchi bewildered and said, ‘ What are you talking about?’ Saanchi said, ‘ Let’s go inside. I will tell you everything.’ Saanchi’s parents listened to everything dumbfounded. They were in utter shock. Saanchi’s dad stood up fast and said, ‘I need to talk to Kushal’s parents right now. How dare they harm my little girl.’ Saanchi’s dad was furious. Parvati sat on the sofa like a statue. Mushtaque went near Purshottam Pandit and said, ‘ They were all involved in this, Mr. Pandit. We have arrested the entire family. In the name of girls school and education, they were running a flesh racket.’ Purshottam Pandit hugged Mushtaque tight and said, ‘ Thanks for saving my daughter. Thanks!’ Mushtaque did not say anything. Mushtaque then looked at Saanchi’s mother, Mrs. Parvati Pandit, and said, ‘I will take your leave now. Saanchi is fine. I repeat, she is fine. Take care.’ Mushtaque then looked at Saanchi and said, ‘ Take care Saanchi.’ Parvati Pandit looked at Saanchi and said, ‘We are sorry. We did this to you. We thought Kushal would be a good match for you but we were wrong. Forgive us.’ Saanchi hugged her mom and said, ‘ No mom, you never knew that. But, because of this, so many girls were rescued. I am glad, unknowingly, I could be of some help.’ Parvati Pandit wiped her tears, looked at Saanchi and said, ‘ Be with your dad for sometime. I will walk Mushtaque to the gate. This is the least I can do to thank him.’

Fixing the saree veil on her head, she went to walk Mushtaque till the gate. Mushtaque boarded his car. Parvati Pandit said, ‘ You did a great job Faraaz. I had to use my daughter for this mission to rescue those innocent girls. But, I knew Saanchi would be safe because you were there.’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘ Thank you Maám for trusting me.’ Parvati then said, ‘ My husband and daughter thinks I am a music teacher in the school adjacent to our office. They should never know about my real job.’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘ They will never know it from me Maám.’ Parvati smiled and said, ‘ I know that. However, now that you will meet Saanchi often, hence thought of warning you.’ Mushtaque looked at Parvati confused, ‘ Uh, huh, I did not understand maám.’ Parvati warmly smiled and said, ‘ You had said in office that Saanchi “will always be your first priority”’. Mushtaque blushed. Parvati said, ‘ I am sure Saanchi will call you. Seems she likes you too.’ Mushtaque gave a bright smile to Parvati, thanked her and left. Mrs. Parvati Pandit, the lead of this mission, the senior most undercover officer of crime branch was a happy soul today . Let’s see what new adventures come her way again….