Part 50 | Checkmate

"It was Naira! "

That voice. He can recognise, even in his sleep.

I can't be wrong.

Exhaling a long breath Kartik sat on the rolling chair, rubbing his tired eyes. It was 4 in the morning.

His knees bounced up and down impatiently, waiting for an answer.

Just after the anonymous call, Kartik summoned his technical team to track the call.

" Okay, let's assume it's her. Did she say anything? " Dhruv asked to which he responded with a negative nod.

" She probably wanted to convey something. But the line went off." Having heard her call, Rudra supported his brother's statement.

Dhruv sighed. " Did - "

The door bell caught their attention.

Who could possibly be at his doorstep, 3 in the night!

" Sir, a young women came across the gate and told this was important. She was in a hurry and left before I could question her further. " The gaurd forwarded an envelope.

Rudra dismissed the guard before he tore open the cover.

" Tissue? "  The boys exchanged glances of confusion. " There's something written on it. "

" What does it say? " Arjun questioned impatiently.

Kartik watched Rudra's brows twitch.  " what is it, Rudy! " He sounded harsh, but he wasn't apologetic for he had little patience in his reserve.

I can't spend another day away from her. I need to make sure she's fine.

He snatched the letter and read through the lines.

Kartik,

It wasn't Dad.

Malhotra has false evidences

against dad.

Trafficking. Sunday.

Old palace harbour.

Don't worry about me,

I'll be waiting for you.

-  Naira

Kartik just stared at the tissue, the last promise he made to his wife came rushing back.

" I'll be back soon, Wait for me. "

" Okay. "

There was a flash of agony in his eyes but it was quickly replaced by rage.

Malhotra's dirty plot to trap him and his family infuriated him.

He held himself guilty, all the while. Everytime he looked at Naira, he couldn't shake the thought if not for his father, she would have had a happy childhood with her parents.

But it was Malhotra who snatched her childhood, killed her parents and kept her in dark.

" The phone call was indeed her! " Dhruv exclaimed in a renewed hope.

" Sunday? That's Today. " Arjun said, " whatever we are gonna do, we need to be quick. "

Kartik couldn't agree more, Time is ticking.

" Sir, we got the location. " Informed the tech team to everyone's delight.

" Dhruv. Call Malhotra. I have made my decision. "

Kartik shoved the tissue into his pocket.

---

Two hours before noon.

The angry feminine voice that bombarded through the walls of his house, made him look up from his laptop.

" Babe, we are trying everything. "

" Then why isn't she here ? " the door of his study, flung open.

Seven months pregnant Aditi dodged into the room enraged and the next moment, she had her hands on his shirt collar. " You better speak up before I shove a knife down your throat "

" You need to calm down, Aditi. " Dhruv tried but his words fell on deaf ears.

" Have you lost your mind!?

You asked Malhotra to drop the case against your father to save him and your business. What about Naira!  " Aditi screamed amidst the angry tears that poured down her eyes.

" You do know about that Malhotra and the bastard son of his. I told you they are dangerous, They could hurt her. Yet you are here sitting without doing anything! " She exclaimed, racking his body furiously.

" Clearly she isn't your priority. Had she been, you would have chose her! She could have been here today. With us. " Her voice cracked. It's the hurt and despair talking.

Kartik gently tugged her hands off his shirt. " She will be here today. "

Aditi didn't fight when she was made to sit on the couch. She was clearly exhausted, fear of losing her bestfriend - sister had gripped her heart ever since Naira was missing.

" Look at me. " Kartik kneeled in front of her as she raised her glossy orbs. He sighed, bringing down the intensity of his voice to the softest level possible.

" They won't let Naira go until they get their hands on the legal papers. And she certainly won't sign them, now knowing their intentions are much darker than she had expected. So I asked them to drop the case but that doesn't mean I'll sit here doing nothing and let her go. " He paused as Aditi sniffed, trying to hold back her sobs.

" And when it comes to making a choice between my love and business. I'll choose her in a heartbeat. Anytime, anywhere, over and over again. " His word held a sincerity none could doubt.

" I know. I'm sorry.. I- " Aditi muttered overwhelmed with the situation.

Arjun wrapped his arm around her shoulder, taking his sobbing wife into a side hug. " We have a plan, babe. You got to trust us. We are getting her back soon and safe. "

Kartik stood up on his feet, racking his already messy hair he turned to leave when Aditi stopped him by wrist.

" I need her alive, Kartik. " Aditi whispered, choking on her tears.

" I won't let them lay a finger on my wife and that's a promise. " With that he walked away to bring Naira back to his abode, where she belongs.

-----

Kartik and Arjun dodged into the abandoned warehouse.

" She isn't here. The place is empty! "  Arjun announced dejected as the duo scanned every corner of the double storey warehouse.

"  They probably found out about the call. F*** we are late!  " He growled .

Kartik's eyes narrowed on the piece of jewellery lying on the floor. The very platinum chain he had gifted her.

"Because when I hold it in my hand and you aren't around, I'll know you had left me...."

"Just wear it always babe."

His phone buzzed interrupting his thoughts. " We got the information!Kartik, you are going to love this. " Dhruv filled him with details that made him smirk.

Growing up, Kartik loved chess. His grandfather who was fond of the game taught him to master it, which infact is one of the many reasons why he loved business.

One can say, In the process of teaching the game, his Grandfather gave him insights of the business world too.

Taking risks thrilled him. The adrenaline rush, He loved it. The fact that you could conquer or lose it all, with a single move made the game as well as business interesting for Kartik. You make sure every move counts.

' Sometimes, All it takes is one good move of the pawn to end the defenceless King. Just one smart-ass move, Grandson. '

And he is gonna make the move, which shall bring ruins to the empire that dared to capture the queen of his heart.

" What's the next move. " Arjun asked with a wide grin on his face.

Letting his thumb graze over the interlocked heart pendant, Kartik clenched the chain in his bandaged palms.

I'll not let you go, babe. Not this time.

His eyes met Arjun's. " Checkmate. "

-----

" Look who's here! "

The sun crawling to rest witnessed Kartik standing in an old factory.

" Good to see you again. " Malhotra exclaimed in delusive contentment.

Kartik rolled his eyes " Can't say the same. "

" Well, let's keep this quick then. " Malhotra ordered one of his men to get the legal papers.

" Sign it. " Kartik held the contract that stated the terms and conditions of the merger.

" Not until I see her. " He demanded.

" Sign the papers, if you wanna see her." Said Malhotra nonchalantly.

" How can I believe you? "

" Scared much huh? " Malhotra chuckled, wiggling his left leg crossed over his right. " I may be a terrible,  selfish person, perhaps a villain in your story, But I am not a liar. You have my word, Young man. "

Kartik stared at Malhotra for a whole minute, before scribbling his signature in the contract. A smile of satisfaction crept on the devil's lips.

" Such a Naive girl, isn't she?  " Raghav mocked walking into the scene.

" Hoping that you would fight for her like a Knight in shining armour. But alas, you are just a pathetic lover boy."

The Malhotras threw their head back in laughter, celebrating their apparent success before a chuckle broke in the air.

" Right now the one who needs to be saved, is you and your beloved Father, Raghav."

Kartik jumped on the bonnet of his car with a nonchalant ease.

Swirling the pen between his index and middle finger, he looked at the father son duo.

" It's time to expose your dirty secrets." Kartik muttered warily yet his voice held a threat.

The smirk left Malhotra's face almost instantly when he didn't find Kartik's signature, but instead.

F*** off !

See you in hell, Malhotra.

" What nonsense! " Malhotra roared in anger, getting on his feet.

" What do you think is the punishment for a felony of murder and child trafficking? 7 years? 10 years? Or maybe Life imprisonment. "

Kartik held a red file in his hand that Malhotra instantly recognised and his face turned pale.

" You must be wondering how I managed to get these false evidences you had stocked against my dad. It was quite simple, Just had to throw in a few extra notes to Tiwari and your greedy lawyer. Looks like you have no faithful people in your life. " Kartik threw him a mocking look of pity.

" And about the trafficking, thanks to your worthless son. He did one hell of a sloppy work. " Kartik held out a few photographs and a pendrive.

Early that day, While Kartik and Arjun went to search the warehouse, Dhruv along with Rudra reached the harbour at the right time to find Raghav exchanging cash and drugs with the dealers.

Once he left the scene, Dhruv and Rudra managed to nab the dealers who confessed about the Malhotra's plans succumbing to pain from the series of beatings and punches.

The photos revealed Raghav exchanging huge cash & drugs while the pendrive contained confession statements of the dealers, clearly stating Malhotra and Raghav's involvement in the felony.

" Unfortunately you weren't smart enough to chose your fight, Mr. Malhotra " Kartik mocked, smirking.

" It's over Malhotra. "

*********

Phew!!! Never knew the climax required rewriting and editing

a ton of drafts.

🤧

Sorry, It took me a while to come up with the final draft.

I wasn't able to include it all in one chapter, so had to divide it into subsequent parts.

So, Expect an update tomorrow!

And a sneak peak right away!

Hope you are excited as much as I am.

Your author needs some love and motivation lovelies ❤️🥺

Drop in your Comments and

Hit the star

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" Sign the god damn papers ! "

.

" Take your hands off him! " A dangerous threat left her lips, holding a gun with trembling hands.

.

" No Naira! Not again" He pleaded.

.

" Say it. " He whispered with his eyes shut. " I deserve more than a voice message. "

.

" Naira!! "

.