SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
Ik.. Ik.. It's been 6 Months 22 days since I last updated and reason, I needn't explain y'all know it.
But I swear I love you all... coz I'm writing this when I've my Chem exam in 2 days. lmao. I love you all! I swear 🥹🫶🏻❤️
Please don't stop loving me! And read this update till the end. Love y'all! 🌍💗
~•~
"Love. Ever heard of that?
No. because I have felt it."
Chapter 20: Challenges
*Author's POV*
She tapped her fingers on her arms, impatiently waiting for him -pacing to and fro in the living room. She glanced at the door and then at the clock.
"11:58 pm" ,the clock read.
What the heck is taking him so long to solve just a fight?
Okay, may be not just a fight.
Just a fight wouldn't have Police involved.
But why the heck is it taking him so long?
Should she call him?
No. He would be busy right now. Calling him right now won't be a good idea.
But she's worried!!!
'What should she do now then!!!!!!!!????' She groaned, picking up her phone from the table and re-reading the last message sent by him an hour ago,
The Karan Luthra🐵❤️:
- Manav is admitted to the hospital. Everyone's fine here.
- I have some procedures left to complete, so it'll be late by the time I reach home.
- Have dinner but no ice cream.
- And sleep with charging off and Ac temperature at 24.
- Good night.❤️
How would I have dinner without you stupid!
She huffed, tossing the phone on the couch along with herself.
Guess I have to spend the rest of the night waiting for him. Coz there's no way I'm going to have dinner without him.
3 HOURS AGO
"Wohooo! CHEERS" the young mans hooted as they gulped down the intoxicating liquid down their throats, the liquid leaving down a burning sensation.
"Sahi mein yaar.. maza aa gaya" Gaurav, one of Karan's Cricket member chuckled.
"Wakai mein.. par bass Karan ki kami hai yaar! Woh hota na toh sahi mein maza aata" Manav said and everyone nodded agreeing to him.
"Par woh hai kahan?" Siddharth questioned looking around.
"Apni Laila ke saath" Rahul answered, "Bhabhi ke alawa kiske saath hoga" he said in a duh tone.
"Abbe par uski girlfriend, Rhea toh wahan baaki ladkiyon ke saath beithi hai"
"Haan toh meine girlfriend thodi na bola meine.. Bhabhi bola" he specified.
"Bhabhi? Abbe kahan ki Bhabhi.. kiski Bhabhi? Bhabhi kabse ho gayi yeh Rhea--? ek second tu Bhabhi kisko bol raha hai"
"Preeta ko aur kisko" Manav intervened.
"Abbe saale.." Siddharth eyes widened and he looked behind to see if any one from Veer's team heard it or not.
"Preeta, Veer ki girlfriend hai.. tu kahan usko--"
He stopped ashort as Rahul and Manav looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Veer ki girlfriend hai" Rahul mimicked and everyone burst out laughing.
"Abee tu na apne aankhon ka check up karwa pehle" Manav teased him, "phir dekhna ki.. Kis tarah Karan Preeta ko dekhta hai.. Saala, Saaf Saaf pata chalta hai ki kitna pyaar karta hai usse.. and yeh kuch dinon ya mahinon ki baat nahi hai janab 12 saal puraana pyaar hai!"
"What the fuck bro? Are you serious?
"Ji haan" Rahul leaned in "Kehne ko toh dono kabhi relationship mein nahi the par college mein sabse lamba inka hi chala aaya hai.. Class 1 se.." Siddharth eyes widened at it. "Aur mein shart lagata hun agar aane wale kuch saalon mein Karan ne Preeta se shaadi nahi ki na.. mein aadha zaydad tere naam kar dunga"
"Oh bhai! Itna confidence!" Siddharth exclaimed.
"100 takka confidence" Rahul kissed his fingers in surety.
"Ab toh dono kar hi le shaadi.. zaydaad ki baat ayi hai beech mein bhai.." Siddharth says making everyone laugh out loud. "yaad rakhiyo apni yeh baat saale!"
Rahul does a head bow, sarcastically nodding at him.
"Aur tu isse kya puch raha hai mujhse puch.. mein toh inka LKG se classmate hun.. saala LKG se lekar aaj tak kisi ki mazaal hai ki koi Preeta se aake thoda flirt karle chance maar le? Haath paer tod dene hai Karan ko uske.. koi aankh uthakar bhi dekh le na toh saale ki aankh na noch le woh" Manav feeds in.
"Saala, Bahut possesive hai uske baare mein" Rahul chuckled "Aur yeh Veer sahab toh ek exception hai jo Preeta ko girlfriend bulaane ka sobhagya paaye hai warna isse toh Karan pura" he swishes his hand around his neck making a dead face and everyone one's again crack up.
"Ohoo ho hoo" Manav takes long breaths trying to control his laughter. "Bhai mein chala bahar hawa khaane.. mujhse aur yahan raha nahi jayega.."
Everyone shooed him away, waving their hands and he walked out shaking his head."
PRESENT TIME
"Name of the Captain of the injured team"
"Karan Luthra, sir"
"Name of the injured member of the team"
"Manav Dhanwal"
"Hospital admitted in"
"City Hospital, Bandra"
"Thik hai.. report file toh ho gaya hai.." The constable said in a Marathi accent, lining up the papers "tu bass yahan sign kar"
"Ji sir" he nodded, taking the pen from the table and signed above his name.
He then handed the papers back to the Constable uttering a thank you, to which the constable nodded back and left with a handshake.
"Karan" he turned back to find Raj approaching him in a changed pair of cloths from the bloodied ones.
2 HOURS AGO
"Haan be" Rahul laughed raising hands for a hi-fi. "Dekh meine bola tha na" Raj hi-fies and they both laugh hysterically.
"Abbe tu hota koun hai mujhe bolne wala.. tere baap ki.. (faint voices)"
Raj scrunches his brows at the faint noise coming from somewhere but he shakes his head thinking may be he had too much of beer.
He starts to talk again that the voices raise and he looks at Rahul and other team members to have the same expression as his.
They immediately sprung up from their seats and rushed outwards to see Manav on the road, bleeding uncontrollably and Veers team members beating him collectively with a cricket bat.
"Manav!" They ran up to him and pick him up. His face was red with blood and bruises, lips split up and nose bleeding.
"Bahut khoon beh raha hai isse immediately hospital leke chalna hoga"
"Mein mein car nikalta hun" Siddharth stammered running to the parking lot to take out his car while Raj and Rishi pick Manav up on their shoulders and carry him till there.
"Bilkul bilkul guys!" Shaurya, one of Veer's team members sneered "Hospital hi leke jana hoga, itni achi khaatir daari jo ki hai humne.." he laughs and his team members join in.
Rahul glares at them and before he knows he has already landed a punch on Shaurya's face. Shaurya falls down and his team member's laughter immediately died.
He touches his nose to see blood in his fingers. He looks up at the bloodied knuckles of Rahul and sneers under his breath "saale tune" and pounds upon Rahul.
They get into a nasty fight and with the howling crowd begans to gather around them. Two police men on their night round shout at them "He kaaye chaalle aahe?" and run towards them.
Raj and Rishi turn around to the shouts after they place Manav in the back seat of Siddharth's car. They see their team members fighting and police gathered around.
"Shit Yaar! Yeh log jhagad rahe hain and Police bhi aa gaye hain" Rishi exclaims.
"Oh gosh! Ab kya kare" Siddharth looks between the both in worry.
Raj looks between them and over at Manav who groans in pain.
"Tum dono ek kaam karo" he says "Manav ko hospital leke pahuncho.. mein tab tak Karan ko lekar aata hun, wahin yeh situation handle karsakta hai"
They three nodded and departed in their ways.
PRESENT TIME
"Manav ki halat kaisi hai abhi?" Raj asked approaching Karan.
Karan sighs, "Thik hai filhaal..7 stitches aaye hain sarr aur haath pe. Uncle ko inform kar diya hai.." he glances his watch "Aate hi honge."
"Tujhe lagta hai yeh police case honewala hai?"
"Lagta nahi, hone wala hai.. Police ne khud yeh hote hue dekha hai aur abhi mujhse report mein sign karake gaye.. aur Uncle toh definitely chup nahi beithenge. Yeh pakka ek Police Case hone wala hai" he sighs, tiredly running a hand on his face.
He glances his watch and notices the time in it.
It's past her sleeping time. She must have had her dinner and gone to sleep.
"Manav!!"
Both of their's head snapped back at the sudden shout and they found Manav's Dad rushing towards them, breathlessly.
"Karan! Raj! Beta, Mera Manav kahan hai? Uski condition abhi kaisi hai!? Usse zyada kuch hua toh nahi na--"
"Uncle unclee.." Karan held the panting old man by shoulders and gestured him to first breath. The worried man did and Karan then informed him Manav's condition.
"Uncle, Manav filhaal thik hai.. woh iss room mein hai.." he points the room behind him "zyada kuch nahi hua hai bass kuch stitches aye hain and behosh hai.. Doctor andar hai.. and achi baat yeh hai ki aap usse jaake mil sakte hai"
The old man's face glowed and he smiled amidst everything, happy about finally seeing his son. He hurried towards the room--
"Uncle!"
A Loud Call pierced through the hallway and all three of them turned towards it to-
VEER?
1 HOUR AGO
Karan hastily parked the car on the road side and barged in the cafe, pushing past people surrounding it.
He enters and discovers an injured Rahul on the chair with head down. His eyes furrow seeing his injured face and hands. "Rahul!" He runs up to him.
Rahul looks up at him from his injured state and his pale face immediately boosts up in confidence as soon as he sees Karan rushing towards him.
He gets up to respond that the police intervened from behind, "oh Helloo.. yeh yahan kya chal raha hai.. aur tu koun hai?" he said looking at Karan.
"Karan Luthra sir, team ka captain"
"acha.. Karan Luthra.." the inspector looked at him from top to bottom "tujhe pata yahan kya hua hai"
"ji.. ji sir"
"pata hai toh yeh bhi pata hona chahiye ki suspects se investigation ke douran milna allowed nahi hai"
"suspect..?" he whispered unbelievably glancing down at Rahul.
"jab tak investigation puri nahi ho jaati tab tak koi idhar nahi aayega.. tu jaakar baaki suspects ke saath khada ho.. "
"sir, mujhe bass ek second.."
"mana kiya na maine"
"sir woh bahut injured hai.. mein bass ek second--"
"hum tere yaar ka marhap patte kar lenge - yeh lo First aid box bhi aa gaya.. ab thik hai.. jaa ab"
Karan dejectedly looks down at Rahul who nods him with a sad face, mouthing "I'll explain it to you later."
He nods and backs out of there to a panic-striken Raj.
"Calm Down Raj! Hum baat karlenge usse" he rubs his shoulder. "Par Police.." Raj muffles almost cryingly.
"Sab theek ho jayega" Karan pulls him in a bro-hug. "Manav kahan hai?"
"Siddharth aur Rishi hospital leke gaye hai" Rahul glances his watch "admit kara diye honge abhi tak" Karan nods and pats his back before moving back.
His eyes fall on his other team members sitting in the dining room in a dishevelled state. He moves in there and they all look up sensing him.
He looks at them from top to bottom in confusion and glances at Raj, "Hua kya tha yahan par.. sirf Manav injured tha na.. toh tumlog, Rahul..??" he squares his shoulder in utter bewilderment.
"Ladai hui thi" a voice booms in from behind and Karan turns to a Confident Veer, smirking at him. "Tere aur mere team ke beech mein ladai hui thi jahan tere waale" he wiggles his hand horizontally "thoda pheeke pad gaye"
"Pheekapan toh mein tujhe batata--"
"Gaurav" Karan holds on his chest before he pounds upon Veer "Police hai yahan par" he whispers for only him to hear.
Gaurav balls his fist and nods his head backing off shooting a glare at Veer.
Veer smirks and wiggles his eyebrows, "Well done guys.. aakhir tum logon na dimaag se kaam karna seekh hi liya, warna.." he looks right at Karan "..Manav toh saala nashedi tha"
Karan balls his fist at Veer's words knowing it very well that Manav never touched drugs.
"waise bhi konsa dhang sa dikhta hai usse.. par saala dimaag bhi beech ke khaa gaya.. jab mana kiya tha ki jagah humara side ho ja, sir ji ka attitude dekhna.. (mimics) kyun Jagah tera baap ka nahi hai.. Karna hai toh wahan jaake karna... blah blah blah" he then leans in
"Toh Kardiya humne bhi, jo karna toh aur dekho ab hospital mein jaake pada hai" he chuckles biting his lips to control his laugh.
Karan scoffs, shaking his head in dismay.
"Tujhe seriously lagta hai ki.." he scoffs again. His team members look at each other as of how is he chuckling at such a situation.
"Woh muhavra suna hai, Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad, yahn bandar nahi likhna chahiye tha.. kyunki bandar toh at least" he looks up and down Veer " jaahelon se behtar hote hai"
Veer's face drops at his indirect insult to him.
"Bat se maara tha na Manav ko? Bat se jeet nahi sakte toh socha hoga ki Bat se maar hi lo.. kahin toh kaam aa jayega" Gaurav and others burst out giggling despite how much they tried to control.
Karan chuckles asymmetrically and winks at them.
"Bahut guroor hai na apne jeetne par?" Veer grits his teeth.
"Bilkul hai.. teri tarah match ke dates pehle se pata kar extra prepare karne ki koshish nahi karte hai.. balki jitna prepare kiye hote hai.. usse behtar banaate hai.." He leans in "Aur tune jisse maara hai na.. daava mein deta hun uske taraf se.. tere mooh par agar usne wicket nahi maara na.. uska naam bhi Manav Dhanwal nahi"
He challenges looking into his eyes and steps back creating a distance. He turns around that -
"Match toh jeet jayega, Karan. Par Pyaar ka Match kaise jeetega?"
Karan stops ashort and turns back at him. Veer smirks coming towards him and stuffing his hands in his pocket.
"Preeta ko kaise jeetega, Karan?" he leans in "Woh te tere haath se gayi.." he lifts his hand then ".. yahan mere haath mein"
Karan looks at his hand and then him, "Kya bakwaas hai?"
"Bakwas nahi mere dost sach hai sach" He says leaning in to his ears.
"10 din.." he calls out in his ears
"Aane waali inn 10 dinon mein" he lowered his voice with a smirk lingering on his lips "Preeta physically, mentally and har tarah se meri hojayegi and tu bass dekhta hi reh jayega"
He moves back, passing Karan a wider mocking smirk before moving away from there. Karan's jaw tightens invigorly and he glares at him dangerously.
PRESENT TIME
"Uncle aapki car ki chaabi.." Veer chimes in "meine sahi jagah park kar li hai.. aap please jaane waqt akele mat jayiega.. mujhe boliega mein aapko drop kar dunga" He says handing over the keys to Manav's Father who looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Thank you so so much Beta.." he joined his hands in front of him and Veer lowered them down, shaking his head.
Karan felt as if his whole life was bullshitting him. He could hardly believe what he saw.
Veer. As in the fucking bastard Veer who was fucking responsible for Manav's such brutal condition, for Rahul's wounds and injuries and definitely not to forget who challenged Karan of taking Preeta's dignity in 10 days was fucking getting Thank you's from Manav's Father!
Fucking Bullshit.
Utter Bullshit.
He scoffs holding up a bitter expression and looked right at Raj, "What the fuck has he come to do here?" he says through his eyes. Raj mirrors in confusion and shrugged his shoulders "I fucking don't know"
"Iski koi zarurat nahi Uncle, aap please Manav ko jayiye dekhiye"
"Haan.." the old man nods towards the three and rushes in to see his son.
As soon as he's out of there, Veer drops the fake caring face and rubs his jaw, rolling his eyes, "Kitna melodrama karna pada iss buddhe ke saamne" he massages his cheeks looking at the two who held a scoffing expression.
"Chalo aaj ka drama yahi khatam, kal se aur thoda karna hoga" he says moving away and looks at Karan. He gestures 10 by his hand and leaves mouthing "10 days" to him.
~•~
Karan shuts the main door of their house quietly and secures the night safety measures. He enters in their living room to find all the lights turned on.
He moves in that stops to spot His Angel asleep on the couch in a very awkward position that would surely hurt her arms and body if not changed in a better one.
He sighs looking at her, well aware that she must be waiting for him all this time. He drops his keys in the holder and strides towards her.
On reaching her, he removes the phone from her hands and leans down. He sits beside her and ogles her face for a while before gently pulling it towards him. She cozily leans in and stuffs her face in his neck.
His breath stops ashort and hitches in his throat as soon as she moves making her lips brush against his neck. The sensation made him utterly breathless and he clutched the couch trying to catch some air from his almost senseless state.
He balanced his disbalanced breath and slid his arm below her knees, other around her waist and picked her up. She cooed lightly in her sleeping state and secured herself around him.
He carried her phone along with her and headed towards her bedroom. Pushing it open, he went to her bed and slowly placed her on the right side of it.
She immediately cozied in and he chuckled seeing how much of a baby she was when asleep. He pulled the blanket and tucked her under it. He switched on the AC and set the temperature to 24.
He then looks down at her and stares her beautiful serene face. He slowly bends on his knees on the floor and shifts closer.
Her bushy yet well trimmed brows furrowed along with her plump lips showing that she was in a serious dream. Her long dark lashes brushed past her pink supple cheeks that glowed on her milky white skin.
He tucked away some chestnut hair strand falling over her face and bringing his lips slowly towards her, he softly plants a kiss on her forehead, cheek and a long one on her chin.
She babbled in sleep and turned to the other side stuffing the people beside her now underneath and cuddling it along with 3 others.
An involuntary smile rose on his lips and he stood up from his position. He keeps her phone on her right nightstand and switches off all the lamps and lights just the way she likes and leaves the room.
Entering into his own, he sighs loudly and looks around the now so cleaned and arranged room unlike the untidy one before he left.
HER.
He shakes off his head knowing it too well that she must have tidied it after he left. Having her in his mind all the time, he takes off his jacket and hungs it on the stand, followed by his T-shirt which went in laundry.
He looks into the mirror at the reflection of a tall, lean man, muscular enough with a early six-pack abs and toned bisceps. He tilts his head to a side and absentmindedly traces the waistline of his pants, his mind being busy in what Veer had said.
"10 din.." he calls out in his ears
"Aane waali inn 10 dinon mein" he lowered his voice with a smirk lingering on his lips "Preeta physically, mentally and har tarah se meri hojayegi and tu bass dekhta hi reh jayega"
He moves back, passing Karan a wider mocking smirk before moving away from there. Karan's jaw tightens invigorly and he glares at him dangerously.
The look on the bastard's face was surely not of joking. He was serious about it. Damn Serious. Maybe the Arrogant prick was confident enough as he had access to Preeta. May be he -
Stop. Okay Stop Karan.
Stop thinking about it.
What are you here for? You wouldn't at any cost let him touch her even. You would distance him from her and break the thing they have or better you would show her the truth and she would herself break everything with him. Right?
"Right." he nods at himself from the mirror and goes in the bathroom where he shrugs the last piece of cloth on his body and stands in for a cold shower.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Precap:
"What do you mean Veer!!!??? Unhone Manav ko -"
Before she could complete her sentence, Veer pulls her towards him and Karan's wandering eyes stop at them at that moment only. He looks at them in disbelief and Veer smirks hideously knowing he has activated his 10 day plan.
Word Count: 3790
~•~
OMG! OMG! OMG! FINALLY! YES! FINALLY I'VE WRITTEN THIS CHAPTER! LMAO TOOK ME SOOOOO LONG IK.
Are things getting spicy enough between them for you all to enjoy? Now things need to get spicy enough to savour the hotness and breathlessness.
I'm not giving spoilers but things are gonna heat up soon between them and in a good way! ;)
That's it for today! I've FINALLY been able to write after taking out time from my exam schedule. Yes I've my Half-Yearly going on and yes am barely managing to pass. I've my Chem in few days and gonna prepare for it.
Again sorry to everyone for being so late, for those who don't know let me tell it again. I'm in Class 11th which is quite hectic since I had to complete a 6-month course study in just 2 months and give exam.
Lol yes! it's that hectic. But anyways am being optimistic and handling it in a good way. (Have my best friends as my fellow sufferers so maza hi kuch aur hai usmein).
Until next surprise update! Bah-Byeee.
Vote, Comment and Share to boost up my confidence and motivation so that I give updates faster. 😌🌍🫶🏻 Doesn't take that much effort as mine, now does it? 😉❤️🔥
Love
Bushra 🦋