Fitoor

Chapter 20

Kuhu Singh

"Ab chup kyu ho? Tum bhi unke tarah nikle. You're all same." I muttered unable to control my damn tears. I hated them. And especially because I was shedding them for my fiance, who turned out to be a traitor, made me feel pathetic.
"Kuhu, mai batana chahta tha. Par sab kuch itna jaldi hogaya-"
"Cut the crap Kunal." I cut him in between.

I sat on the chair with a thud and held my head.
"Jaldi bolo." I urged.
"Fine. You know about PRIDE?" He questioned.
"I have a vague idea that my parents were a part of that foundation." I told. What did it have to do with whatever they were talking! His mother was threatening Abir and Mishti and he was asking about some old organisation!

"Well it wasn't a foundation. It was a means to store illegal money. Us foundation ka naam use karke humare parents human trafficking aur drugs me deal karte the. Tumhare papa unke against gaye aur unko-" He stopped in mid as I understood what he meant. He was killed.
"Continue." I said flatly. He held my palm and pressed it in assurance.

"Mere chacha kuch information collect kiya aur unko expose karne ki koshish ki. Isiliye meri mom ne unpe false cases daalke jail bhijwa diya. She said that he was laundering money to a shell company. Ye sab me pata nahi Mishti and Abir kaise phas gaye." He retorted.
"Tum kaise involved ho Kunal? I want to know that." I said again.

He looked down and sighed.
"Mai hi hu jo unke illegal money ko launder kar raha hu." He finally said and I widened my eyes.
"Why?" Was all that left my mouth.
"Jab chacha jail gaye, tab humara company Bharadwaj industries ke partnership me gaya. Do saal me mom ne itna kamaya ki humko kisi bhi company ka support nahi chahiye tha. Tab Abir ne partnership shares withdraw ki aur primary shareholder bangaya." He said.

"Ek din jab mai accounts files check kar raha tha, tab mujhe pata chala ki ho kya raha tha. But it was too late. Mom ne prove kiya ki agar mai unko expose karunga to na hi hum defame honge, balki Bharadwaj industries aur Bose companies ka naam bhi barbaad hojayega. If we go down, we go together. Isiliye maine unka har condition maana. Ab ye bhi." He said looking at the ring.

"To ye engagement bhi ek sauda hai?" I questioned hurt. I was really. Knowing that my dad was killed because of some illegal activities hurt me enough. And now my fiance is saying that our engagement was just some kind of a drug deal.
"Mere liye nahi hai." He answered honestly.
"That doesn't make this better." I told and he chuckled. He handed me a napkin.

"Abir and Mishti are trying to save us." I reprimanded.
"But unka plan dangerous hai Kuhu. Mom kuch bhi kar sakti hai. Maine unko rokne ke liye kisi had tak jaa sakta hu. Par unko rokna impossible hai." Kunal wondered.
"Possible hai." I repeated.
"Kaise?" He asked like a kid.

"We have to know where Mishti and Abir are." I smiled as he looked at me confused.

Next evening

Mishti Bose

"No way! Mai aarahi hu. Ab tum mujhe isolate nahi kar sakte Abir!" I shouted again that finally gained his attention. We were in his office arguing as I came back from college. We had another camp in 20 days. By this time we could go to that place, ask about that wretched company and come back. But Mr.Arrogant is not at all ready to listen to me!

"Nahi Mishti. Tum final year medical student ho yaar. Behave like one." He said and typed something on his laptop. What does he even do in that thing!
"Abir, you need to listen. Hum dono ne decide kiya tha na ki ek dusre ka opinions respect karenge." I stated calmly.
"Haa. Compulsory to nahi haina!" He casually remarked.
"You gadh-"
"No insults. You promised." Abir reminded.

Taking a deep breath I looked aside. This fellow is enough for my blood pressure to go high. How did I even end up with this buffalo!
"Mann me bhi agar gaali de rahi hai na, mujhe pata chal jayega. So don't even try. Aur tum nahi aarahe ho." He declared and smiled.
"Naya Colgate maxfresh ad me aap aane wale hai sir?" I questioned sweetly.