Shourya PoV:
I went home with Diya. Mom is waiting for us.
“Shourya, where is your dad? Why did you arrest him?” Mom asked, but I didn’t answer.
“Diya, what happened? Where is your dad?” Mom asked Diya.
Diya held my arm, controlling herself.
“Diya, you go and ge fresh up. Bring medicines for mom. I will be talking to mom.”
Diya nodded and went to the room. Mom looked at her.
“Shourya, Does Diya become normal?” Mom asked me, and I nodded, taking mom to her room.
I waited for Diya to bring her medicines. Diya came with her bp medicines. I didn’t understand how to say all this to her. Diya kept her hand on my shoulder, signing me to say everything to mom. I said everything to mom. Mom got shocked.
“Shourya, how can you do this, Shourya? How can you believe that your dad had done wrong? You didn’t even ask me at least once. By killing that idiot, you threw your dad’s life at risk. Now, we can never know where your dad is,” mom said, shocking both of us.
“What do you mean? I didn’t get you.”
“Shourya, the person whom you killed was not your dad. He is the head of the terrorists. He abducted your dad and acted as your dad. He underwent plastic surgery. He blackmailed me not to reveal this to the world as your dad is with them. Now we lost every chance to find your dad,” mom said, crying.
“When I was working as IAS, I came across a case where I ordered to arrest that terrorist head, Hafeez Khan. We got information that he came to India planning serial blasts. He was arrested and convicted, but unfortunately, he escaped when police took him from court to remand.
After a week, unknown people abducted your dad. One day, at midnight, I got a call from Hafeez Khan. He told it’s a revenge plan on me. I requested them not to kill your dad. He then told me that I should help him stay safe in India in your dad’s place until they complete all their works in India. I agreed to save your dad. He underwent plastic surgery and acted as your dad before the world. I confronted him many times and requested too to leave your dad. But he didn’t listen. I didn’t even know whether your dad is alive or not now,” mom said to me.
I couldn’t believe what I have heard. All these 7years, I stayed away from mom, and I never found that he is not my dad. I was always busy with my profession and never took care of my family. Mom is facing a lot of stress and pain, but I never understood that. I got a call from Geetha.
“Shourya, DNA of the dead body in the blasted car is not matched with you. He is not your dad. I think he escaped,” Geetha said.
“Come to Ranveer’s house immediately. We will talk there,” I said and disconnected the call.
“Diya, take care of mom, and you both don’t go anywhere from the house. Call Geetha or me if anything is serious,” I said.
“Ok, but take care of yourself too,” Diya said.
I noticed teardrops in her eyes. I can understand her emotions. I know this stress and tension is not suitable for her health now as she is pregnant. But, I had no option, and I must stop the bomb blasts planned by them and save dad. I just nodded and went off.
I met Ranveer and Geetha. I said what mom told me. They were shocked. Geetha immediately called to the forensic doctor and asked to match the dead body’s DNA with Hafeez Khan. As he is the most wanted criminal, we had his personal information in our records. Geetha got a call from the doctor confirming that he is the dead body belongs to Hafeez Khan. We were happy to know that Hafeez Khan, the most wanted criminal, was dead. But what about dad? Where is he? How to find him?
Ranveer took special permission from Chief Justice to interrogate those criminals who were convicted. We took those criminals into our custody from prison again. We were interrogating them, and Diya called me.
“Diya, I am busy. I will call you back soon,” I said, receiving her call.
Because if I didn’t receive her call, she might panic as she knew how dangerous it is to deal with this case.
“Shourya, it’s vital. When you left, I searched dad’s room and office room at home to find a clue about dad. Maybe Hafeez Khan unintentionally leaves any clue,” Diya said.
“Ok, did you find anything, Diya?”
“I found his laptop. I cracked the password of the laptop with my colleague’s help. As it’s his personal laptop, his mail id was automatically signed in. In his mails, I saw a few photos of a person with a long beard and hair. I didn’t recognize him, but mom said it’s dad. I will mail you those photos, check them. I hope those photos will be helpful to you in tracing dad,” Diya said.
“Thank you, Diya. Mail me immediately,” I said and disconnected the call.
Seeing photos, I became emotional. It’s my dad. He was tied to a chair. He was looking like a lifeless person with bloodstains on his body. I think they had beaten him. We observed the room; it looked like a well-furnished hotel room. We didn’t understand how to trace the location. Diya called me again.
“Diya, tell me.”
“Shourya, did you a clue in photographs?”
“Not yet, Diya, we were still trying.”
“Shourya, open 3rd photograph I sent and observed the wardrobe behind dad. Zoom in and try to read letters on it.”
I did what she said. I read the letters “Ekshita” inscribed on the wardrobe.
“Ekshita?”
“Haan Shourya, I checked the hotel Ekshita’s logo with this inscription. Both are the same. I think you can find dad there,” she said.
“Excellent, Diya. Thank you so much,” I said.
“Ok, then I won’t disturb you again. All the best, take care,” she said.
“Diya, one minute.”
“What?”
“I love you, sweetheart, take care,” I said in a low voice.
“Love u too, but is this for helping you?” She asked, making me smile even in this stressed situation.
“I will answer you after returning home.”
“Ok, but come only with dad, or I won’t allow you inside the home.”
“As you said, madam.”
“Ok, bye for now. I don’t want to disturb you anymore unless I wish to become a victim of DCP sir’s anger,” she said.
“Bye, tc of baby, mom, and yourself. Please make mom have something. Otherwise, her health will spoil. I will find dad at any cost,” I said.
“Sure,” she said, disconnecting the call.
I took Ranveer’s permission and attacked the hotel with my team, along with Geetha’s team. We first tried to get permission from the manager to search the hotel, but through his facial expressions and stammering, I understood he is a supporter of the terrorists while answering our questions. We arrested him and took the entire hotel into custody.
We searched every room, but I didn’t find dad. I remembered mom and my promise to Diya, saying that I will bring dad for sure home. What should I do now? How to find dad? Suddenly I remembered the kitchen, the place we left while searching. I went there to check. I found a room locked in the kitchen. I ordered the cook to open it, but he said it’s a storeroom and had no keys. Geetha gave a smirk snd shot the lock with her pistol. The door was opened, and we went inside. It’s quite dark.
Using the mobile torch, we searched the room and found steps towards the underground. We went there, and we saw dad tied to a chair in the most miserable stage. We found sleeper cells too, for whom we were searching for a long time to stop the blasts planned. I felt a bit relaxed now. Geetha and I fought with them.
Geetha shot two sleeper cells on the knees. She won the best candidate trophy in her training period, whereas I lost it because I am not good at shooting at that time. Later on, Geetha trained me to develop my shooting skills. We fought for 15 minutes with them and then finally succeeded in arresting everyone.
I went to dad and removed the ropes tied to him. He is not even conscious. I saw needle marks on dad’s hands in many places. I understood they gave him drugs. I tried to wake him up. He looked at me but fainted before recognizing me. I lifted dad in y arms and took him with me. Geetha went off with criminals to the station, and I went to the hospital to admit dad. The doctor said it takes a year for his complete recovery. I wiped my tears from my eyes as I remember how dad used to love, care for, and support me. I felt helpless seeing him in this stage. I want to beat all those b*st*rds
ruthlessly until they die due to the fractures’ internal bleeding inside the body. I somehow controlled my anger and called mom and Diya to inform about dad. I don’t know how mom will react if she sees dad.
Mom fainted, seeing dad at that stage. After a week, we took mom home. The hotel was seized, and criminals were convicted. Diya kept long leave for her office to take care of mom and dad. I noticed her becoming tired and weak day by day. She is pregnant and needs rest but was working a lot as she took care of mom and dad. At night, I reached home, and Diya was sleeping. I took a shower and came to the room.
“I will set the table for dinner,” Diya said, getting up from the bed.
“Sleep, no problem. I will serve myself. You are becoming so tired these days,” I said, cupping her face.
“Diya, I will appoint a nurse to take care of mom and dad,” I said to her.
“Why, Shourya? Did I do something wrong in taking care of them? I am giving food and medicines on time to them,” she said.
“No, Diya, you didn’t do wrong. We are so lucky to have you. You are taking care of them so well, but the thing that makes me upset is you are doing that at the cost of your health,” I said, sitting beside her.
“Please, Shourya, I am ok. I can’t leave them to nurse, showing my pregnancy as a reason. Its my responsibility to take care of mom and dad. Dad still didn’t recognize us. We can’t leave him to others in this stage,” she said.
I love her now more than before. She is a perfect wife and daughter in law. I decided to take a break from the duty to help Diya. As a son and husband, I, too, have few responsibilities. Showing my duty as a reason, I can’t escape from my responsibilities.
“Shourya, how did you know that I acted as if I am mad?” She asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Diya, we are tapping your mobile number for a long time as you are dealing with difficult cases. We tapped calls of a few journalists who are under life threat. We had special permission for that. So, on that day, I went to my office, leaving you at home. I heard your phone conversation with your colleague saying you were acting as if you are gone mad. But why did you act so?”
“Shourya, I got information that the accident which happened to me after our wedding was because of dad. I got shocked. I am dealing with an entrepreneur case who is the main suspect, and it’s dad. So, I acted as if I am mad to find out the truth by staying at home,” she said
“Ok, sleep now, and I found Ranveer’s parents,” I said.