As Aditya approached the front of the Chandravati house, he noticed Ravi, the one tasked with handling the guards. With a swift and quiet maneuver, Aditya positioned himself behind Ravi, ready to strike if needed. Maheshwar circled around, preparing to surprise Shyam, the one in charge of securing the grains. Aditya kept an eye on the surroundings, mindful of the possibility that someone might notice them.
Just as the criminals began executing their plan, Aditya made his move. With a sudden step from the shadows, he confronted Ravi, drawing his sword to Ravi's neck. "Hold! You have been trapped. If you take another step, you will be killed." Aditya's voice was just a whisper but it echoed with authority, in the eerie night.
Ravi, startled, turned to face Aditya. Before he could react, Maheshwar emerged behind Shyam, his dagger poised for action. The criminals found themselves surrounded, caught between the unexpected duo.
"Your little escapade ends here," Maheshwar declared, his eyes fixed on Shyam.
Ravi, realizing the dire situation, threw a nervous glance at Shyam. Realizing that he was also trapped in a similar situation, he stayed silent.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Aditya demanded, his gaze piercing through the darkness.
The moon cast an eerie glow as Aditya, Maheshwar, and the captured criminals retreated to a secluded spot, hidden from prying eyes. The captives, Ravi and Shyam, exchanged nervous glances, realizing that their sinister plot had unraveled.
Aditya's eyes bore into Ravi, demanding an explanation. "Why are you threatening the villagers and driving them away?"
Ravi hesitated, swallowing hard before finally confessing, "We are mere followers, sir. We have no idea about the plan. All we were told is to loot people and take away their cattle and grains making sure it looks like it is the mother's wrath. That is all we know sir."
"Then who knows about the bigger plan?" Maheshwar asked, as he tightened the hold on Shyam's neck. Ravi and Shyam looked at each other. "Speak, else you will be killed." Blood oozed out of Shyam's neck, as Maheshwar pressed his dagger down his neck.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you. Don't kill me please. I have a family." Shyam pleaded. "Prashant. Prashant knows everything. He is waiting for us. He knows about this." Aditya and Maheshwar shared a look before Maheshwar knocked Shyam unconscious. He quickly got into his clothes and dragged him to a corner. Tying his hands behind his back and legs together, he pulled him to a corner. He opened Shyam's turban and tied his mouth and joined Aditya and Ravi.
"If you make any unnecessary noise, I'll not hesitate to kill you." Maheshwar threatened him and Ravi shivered in fear. Aditya quickly left from the place following them from a distance while Ravi and Maheshwar walked to the scheduled point. Ravi let out a whistling sound and a figure walked out of the shadows. "Where is the loot?" He asked, and Ravi looked at him skeptically. Before he could talk again, Aditya held him in a headlock from behind and pointed a knife at his throat. Maheshwar knocked Ravi out of his senses and walked towards Prashant.
Aditya's eyes bore into Ravi, demanding an explanation. "Why are you threatening the villagers and driving them away?"
Prashant hesitated for a moment. "Speak, else I'll kill you."
Swallowing hard, Prashant confessed. "It's the gold. We found traces of it during the festival, and the village head got wind of it. He wanted the gold for himself and concocted this plan to clear the village, leaving the treasure ripe for the taking."
Aditya's expression hardened. "The village head? Why will he do this? What does he gain out of this?"
Prashant, feeling the pressure, tried to free himself from Aditya's headlock. But his attempts were futile. Embracing his defeat he added, "He believed that with the villagers gone, he could excavate the gold without anyone noticing. The threat of outsiders stumbling upon it would be eliminated." Realizing that mere words wouldn't be enough, Aditya and Maheshwar decided to take a more forceful approach. They bound Prashant, ensuring that he wouldn't escape. Prashant, now desperate to be set free and be alive, began to spill more details about the village head's involvement.
"He orchestrated everything. Fabricated threats, spread rumors, and pushed the villagers into a state of panic. It was all to drive them away and give him unrestricted access to the gold," Prashant confessed, his voice laden with guilt.
Maheshwar, his patience wearing thin, pressed Prashant for more details. "How does he plan to execute this scheme without anyone suspecting?"
Prashant, fully aware of the dire consequences, hesitated, but eventually spilled the truth. "He planned to use his influence to convince the villagers that they were in grave danger. The fabricated threats were meant to create an atmosphere of fear. Villagers, driven by panic, would abandon their homes, leaving the village head with a clear path to excavate the gold."
Aditya's fists clenched in anger. "This ends now. We need to confront the village head and put an end to his treacherous plans."
With the truth in their hands, Aditya and Maheshwar led the bound captives back towards the village. The village head's betrayal had been exposed, and justice needed to be served.
**********
The culprit is found. What happens now?
Spoiler alert: Aditya to find love.
How's the story so far?