Hearing Balu's voice quiver over the phone, I asked, "Where are you now, Balu?"
"I'm out searching with Dad and Rajesh," he replied, his voice tense.
"Alright," I said, trying to keep my own anxiety in check. "Come to my house. We can go together from here."
"Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes," Balu agreed before we ended the call.
As soon as I hung up, I turned around to find the girls staring at me, their faces filled with worry. Anu was the first to speak, her voice laced with concern. "Krishna, what's going on? You look tense."
Before I could reply, Aamukta chimed in, "Yes, Krishna, tell us. What happened?"
I opened my mouth to explain, but Ammu interrupted, her eyes wide with alarm. "Is everything alright, Krishna?"
Just as I was about to respond, Raji's voice cut through the air. "Krishna, why aren't you answering us?"
I sighed, realizing how anxious they all were. "Girls, calm down. Let me explain," I said, holding up my hands in a placating gesture.
They all fell silent, their eyes fixed on me, waiting for an explanation. I took a deep breath before speaking. "Balu just called. Rajan is missing, and he's been looking for him all over the place but can't find him. He's on his way here now so we can search together."
Hearing Ammu's determined voice, "What? We're also coming to help!" I paused, glancing at the others. They all nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute.
I couldn't help but smile, touched by their concern. "Don't worry, girls. You're already tired from your day out. You should rest. I'll take care of this and see what's going on," I said gently, hoping to reassure them.
They hesitated but eventually nodded, understanding my intention. I leaned in to gently kiss each of them on the forehead. "Don't worry, okay? I'll handle this," I whispered, my voice soft but firm.
After one last glance at their anxious faces, I turned and started walking toward the door. But before I could reach it, the door swung open, and Ma and Papa walked in, their faces lit up with the joy of being back home.
Seeing Ma and Papa enter, I smiled warmly and said, "Welcome home."
Ma returned the smile, her face lighting up with the warmth only a mother can give. "We are back," she said softly.
Papa, noticing my shoes already on and the door still open, asked with a hint of curiosity, "Where are you going, Krishna?"
I quickly plastered on a casual smile, not wanting to worry them. "It's nothing, just remembered some work I need to take care of. I'll be back in a few minutes," I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Ma and Papa exchanged a quick glance but nodded. They trusted me, and I appreciated that they didn't pry further. As I turned to leave, Ma's sharp eyes suddenly noticed something unusual. She narrowed her gaze, catching sight of the marks on my neck. Her brow furrowed slightly as she asked, "Krishna, what is this? What happened?"
Caught off guard, I couldn't help but smile sheepishly. I pointed back toward the girls, who were trying their best to look innocent but failing miserably. "Please ask them," I said with a teasing grin, not waiting for a reply.
As I opened the door to leave, I could already hear the girls behind me, their voices a mix of embarrassed giggles and indignant protests. They called out my name in a chorus of mock anger, clearly flustered that I had just left them to explain the situation.
I couldn't help but chuckle as I stepped outside, the sounds of their laughter and scolding following me. The cool breeze hit my face, and I breathed in deeply, feeling a strange mix of amusement and anticipation. The peaceful day had suddenly taken a playful turn, and though I was worried about Rajan, the lightheartedness of the moment lingered with me.
I walked down the steps, finding a spot near the gate where I could wait for Balu. As I stood there, I allowed myself a brief moment of reflection. The girls' playful shouts and Ma's concerned voice replayed in my mind, making me smile.
I glanced down the road, waiting for the familiar sight of Balu's car. The playful moment had passed, replaced by the seriousness of what needed to be done.
As I stood by the gate, the quiet of the evening was broken by the distant sound of an approaching vehicle. Squinting down the road, I recognized Balu's taxi as it neared, a cloud of dust trailing behind it. My heart quickened, the urgency of the situation settling in. The taxi came to a smooth stop in front of me, and Balu leaned out the window, his voice tense, "Seat quickly."
Without wasting a second, I nodded and slid into the backseat, closing the door behind me. The moment I was in, Balu hit the accelerator, and the taxi lurched forward, speeding down the road.
Uncle Rajendra, Balu's father, was sitting in the passenger seat, his usually calm face etched with worry. As he turned to glance at me, he offered a weary smile. "It's good you are here, Krishna," he said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and anxiety.
I leaned forward, resting a reassuring hand on the back of his seat. "Don't worry, Uncle. We'll find him," I said firmly. He nodded, seemingly comforted by my words, though the lines of worry didn't leave his face.
As the taxi sped through the streets, I shifted my gaze to Balu, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. "Now, tell me what happened," I urged, needing to understand the situation better.
Before Balu could respond Rajesh, who was sitting beside me, leaned forward and pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "When we returned home, we found this note," he said quietly, his voice trembling slightly as he handed it over to me.
I stared at the note in my hand, my eyes scanning the hurried, almost childlike handwriting that read, *"Please don't look for me. I am leaving this place."* The simplicity of the message was chilling, considering it was written by a little boy. My heart clenched, and I looked up at Balu, confusion and concern etched on my face.
"What is this?" I asked, my voice low but firm.
Balu's eyes were downcast as he replied, "It's written by Rajan."
"I can see that," I said, trying to keep the frustration from seeping into my tone. "But why did Rajan leave? What happened?"
Uncle Rajendra, his face drawn and weary, spoke up from the front seat, his voice heavy with the weight of a father's worry. "We don't know, Krishna. He's just a little kid. We didn't notice anything unusual, and he didn't say anything that made us think he was unhappy."
I looked back at the note, the words blurring slightly as I tried to comprehend the situation.
As we drove through the streets, our eyes scanned every corner, every park, every alleyway where a child might hide. We searched everywhere we could think of. But there was no sign of Rajan. The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as our search yielded nothing.
Finally, we pulled into a busy marketplace, the kind of place where people could easily get lost in the crowd. Balu parked the taxi, and we all got out, our eyes sweeping over the sea of faces, hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy we were so desperately looking for.
"We'll cover more ground if we split up," I suggested, trying to inject some order into the chaos of our thoughts. "I'll take this side of the market, and you all can check the other. If you see anything, call out."
Balu nodded, his jaw set in determination, while Uncle Rajendra gave me a shaky but grateful nod.
I started moving through the crowd, my eyes darting left and right, searching for any sign of Rajan. The market was bustling with life—vendors shouting out deals, people haggling over prices, children laughing as they ran around.
As I continued my search through the bustling marketplace, a sudden, urgent shout pierced through the chaos. The voice was unmistakable—it was Rajan, calling out Balu's name. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned towards the source of the sound. There, amidst the crowd and commotion, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
A man was sitting in a jeep, holding Rajan by the collar. Rajan was dangling helplessly in the air, his small body swaying with the motion of the vehicle. The sight was enough to set my anger ablaze. I could see Balu sprinting behind the jeep, his face a mask of panic and fury. Without a second thought, my instinct took over.
I started running towards them, pushing through the throngs of people who seemed to part in surprise as I barreled through. My focus was entirely on Rajan, who looked terrified as he struggled against the man's grip. I could hear the desperate cries of Balu growing louder as I closed the distance.
As I reached the jeep, another man—middle-aged and burly—appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Rajan from the first man's hold. The sudden change in who was holding Rajan didn't deter me. My anger was all-consuming, and I wasn't about to let this situation escalate any further.
I surged forward, grabbing the man who had originally held Rajan by the hair. Without hesitation, I yanked him out of the jeep, my hands gripping his hair tightly. The man stumbled, shocked by the sudden assault. I pulled him roughly from the vehicle and slammed him down onto the road with force.
The sound of his body hitting the road was jarring, and he let out a pained grunt as he landed. I didn't care. My mind was focused solely on protecting Rajan and ensuring his safety. I stood over the man, my chest heaving with anger and adrenaline.
The commotion drew the attention of several bystanders, who gathered around, their faces a mixture of shock and curiosity. Rajan was now safe in the arms of the other man, who appeared to be trying to calm him down. Balu reached us, his face pale but determined. He quickly moved to Rajan, wrapping him in a protective embrace.
"Rajan!" Balu said, his voice trembling with relief and worry. "Are you okay?"
Rajan, still shaken, nodded weakly, his eyes wide with fear. "I'm okay, Balu."
I took a deep breath, forcing my anger to subside as I looked down at the man I had just thrown. He was groaning, clutching his head.
The situation took a sudden and violent turn. As I stood over the man I had thrown to the ground, I noticed a glint of metal coming toward me from the corner of my eye. A second man, wielding a metal rod, swung it at me with force. My instincts kicked in immediately. I grabbed the rod mid-swing, twisting the man's hand with a sharp, painful wrench. The sound of cracking bones echoed ominously as the metal rod slipped from his grip.
Before he could react, I seized the rod and swung it back, striking the man who had originally held Rajan. The impact sent him sprawling, his body hitting the pavement with a sickening thud. I pivoted, eyes scanning for the next threat. The man who had attacked me with the rod was already lunging back, his face contorted in pain.
Another attacker rushed at me, aiming a punch. I caught his fist, twisting his arm with a sharp twist that made him cry out in agony. I grabbed his hair, yanking him towards me and slamming his face into the side of a Jeep. The metal of the vehicle crumpled under the force, and he slumped to the ground, blood dripping from his nose.
The chaos around me was deafening. Balu, seeing the fray, had jumped in to assist. He had grabbed a nearby metal pole, using it to fend off one of the attackers. The two of us fought side by side, our movements in sync as we took on multiple assailants.
Another man, seeing my focus on the first attacker, attempted to land a punch. I sidestepped, delivering a sharp kick to his chest that sent him flying backward into a stack of crates. The crates toppled over, creating a loud crash that drew the attention of nearby onlookers.
As I turned, a group of attackers advanced, their faces a mix of anger and fear. I was surrounded, but my adrenaline was at its peak. I grabbed a metal rod from the ground, swinging it with brutal efficiency. The rod connected with one man's ribs, eliciting a scream of pain. Another assailant tried to tackle me, but I ducked and swung the rod, catching him in the side of the head. He dropped immediately, unconscious.
As I fought through the chaos in the marketplace, my thoughts raced. The presence of cameras and the media's potential scrutiny weighed heavily on me. I couldn't afford to kill anyone—there would be too many questions and too much trouble. But that didn't mean I couldn't inflict pain.
A man lunged at me, swinging a small axe with wild desperation. Reacting swiftly, I grabbed him by the hair, yanking his head down. With a vicious motion, I brought his head crashing into my knee. The sickening crunch of breaking bones was accompanied by a spray of blood from his shattered nose and teeth. He crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
I yanked the axe from his hand, feeling the cold metal as I gripped it. Another man approached, his eyes wide with fear but still intent on attacking. I swung the axe with precision, slicing through the air. The blade met his hand, severing it with a grimy spray of blood. His scream of agony was lost in the cacophony of the market, and he stumbled away, clutching his bloody stump.
The crowd was in full panic now, people screaming and running for cover. The scene was chaotic, and the attacks were relentless. Another man charged at me, but I was ready. With a fluid motion, I swung the axe again, this time aiming for his other hand. The blade bit deep, and his hand fell to the ground, blood spraying in a wide arc. His cry was guttural, his eyes wide with terror and pain.
The brutality of the fight was escalating, and I knew I needed to maintain control. I couldn't afford to be overwhelmed by the bloodshed. The attackers were becoming more desperate, and each one was met with increasing violence. I could hear people shouting, some in fear, others in shock, as I continued to cut and maim.
One more man, seemingly more determined, came at me with a knife. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it painfully until he dropped the knife. I didn't hesitate; I grabbed him by the collar and smashed his face into the metal of a nearby stall. His nose cracked, and he collapsed, his body twitching in unconsciousness.
As I struggled to maintain control over my fury, I noticed the thuggish men I had subdued trying to pull away, their panicked movements becoming more frantic. Just as I was about to reassert my grip, the shrill wail of police sirens pierced through the tumult. A police car skidded to a halt, its lights flashing ominously against the encroaching darkness.
ACP Deva was the first to emerge from the car, his authoritative presence cutting through the chaos. Alongside him, I spotted Sridevi moving purposefully toward Balu and the other police officers, who were now forming a perimeter around us. Uncle Deva's sharp gaze locked onto me as he approached, his demeanor a mix of anger and concern.
"Krishna, what the hell are you doing?" Uncle Deva's voice was commanding, but laced with urgency. Before I could react, he and the officers restrained me, carefully but firmly. Uncle Deva's grip was strong as he pried the ax from my hands, his face etched with a mixture of frustration and concern. "Calm down. The media is here, and if you do anything rash, it's going to blow up into a major issue. We'll handle these men. You need to calm down."
Despite my seething anger, I nodded in resignation. "Okay, Uncle. I'll calm down." But my gaze was already shifting toward the commotion. The distant blare of ambulances grew louder, their flashing lights converging on the scene. The sight of the approaching vehicles was both a relief and a source of mounting tension.
The ambulances arrived in a flurry of activity. Paramedics rushed out, their expressions a mix of urgency and professionalism.
As the chaos continued to unfold, my gaze fell upon Uncle Rajendra, whose head was bleeding profusely. Panic surged through me, and without a moment's hesitation, I rushed to his side. I carefully lifted him into my arms, trying to be gentle despite my urgency.
"Uncle Rajendra, hang in there," I muttered, my voice tight with anxiety. Balu, already on edge, swiftly opened the ambulance door. Sridevi, showing her usual calm under pressure, helped to steady the situation. The unknown middle-aged man, still holding Rajan's hand, followed us as we moved toward the ambulance.
As we made our way to the vehicle, the press, drawn by the commotion, attempted to breach the scene. Flashing cameras and intrusive microphones were held back by a line of police officers. I could hear their shouts and questions, but my focus remained on getting everyone to safety.
Inside the ambulance, the cool air was a stark contrast to the heated chaos outside. I laid Uncle Rajendra gently on the stretcher, my heart racing as I watched the paramedics work with practiced efficiency. They began to administer first aid, their hands moving swiftly to address the blood and assess the injury.
I turned to Rajesh, who was standing by, his face a mask of determination despite the stress. "Rajesh, take Balu's taxi and get to the hospital as quickly as you can," I instructed, my voice firm despite the tremor of worry beneath it. Rajesh nodded, his expression grim but resolute.
Next, I addressed the middle-aged man who had been involved in the ordeal. "Please come with Rajesh. I need to ask you some questions about what happened," I said, trying to keep my tone even. The man, though visibly shaken, nodded in agreement.
With that, Rajesh and the middle-aged man departed, making their way to the taxi. The ambulance doors were closed with a heavy thud, sealing us inside. As the vehicle began to move, the hum of the engine was a monotonous backdrop to the flurry of thoughts racing through my mind.
I sat beside Uncle Rajendra, my eyes scanning the faces of those around me. The paramedics were focused on their tasks, their expressions a mix of concentration and concern. Sridevi, sitting across from me, looked over at Balu and offered him a reassuring smile. Balu, though still visibly shaken, managed a small nod in response.
The ambulance's interior seemed too small for the weight of the situation. Every jolt of the vehicle seemed to amplify my anxiety. The blaring sirens outside were a constant reminder of the urgency, and the flashing lights from passing cars painted the walls with fleeting bursts of red and blue.
(A/N:If you want to support me, please use this UPI:-omgadekar29@oksbi "Om Gadekar")
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