Chapter 4

In a forest

Cloudy night....howls of wolves , amidst the darkness of woods , a boy running all the might he has and calling someone's name. He is tired from running , wants to rest but he thinks if he stop he will lost that person forever . Someone who is precious to him . He don't know how he got there. He don't even know how to get out of this place. Then he suddenly sees a abandoned building . And heard cry of a little girl . In silence of the night... the cry can be heard clearly. Stops for a second and with a sudden thought and starts running towards the building and scream "RIYAAAAAA........"

Shatak jolt out from the sleep, he is trembling, his body is covered with sweat, he is tired like he ran from hours. Suddenly he heard his alarm ringing, he takes his phone, it indicates 5 am. He sigh and got up from sleep.

He thought while sitting in his bed "It's just a dream but why it feel like real and Riya.... where is Riya?"

He got up from bed and run towards Riya's room. He open the door of Riya's bedroom . Seeing Riya is sleeping peacefully, Shatak felt relief. He closed the door and went to his room and grabbed a towel from the closet and went to take a shower.

After 15 minutes, he came out from the bathroom while wrapping only white towel in his waist. He stand near his closest and take a pair of white shirt and black pant. He changed his clothes and goes to kitchen for making breakfast.

After 20 minutes of cooking, he makes some banana pancakes, make coffee for himself and warm milk for Riya, then cuts a apple. After done his cooking, he goes to Riya's room to wake her up.

In Riya's room, Shatak call Riya's name few times but she didn't open her eyes. This is Riya's usual habit, waking up Riya from her sleep is really hard task for Shatak. Sometimes waking her up from sleep Shatak get scolding from his office as he gets late. Shatak don't want to repeat this mistake so he got an idea , he starts tickling her.

Riya opens her eyes and annoyingly say " Bhaiya (brother) , stop doing this, it's hurt." Shatak immediately stop and said in concern "Sorry , Riya . Are you okay?"

Riya said "Yess bhaiya( brother).I am fine "

Shatak said " Is it? then get up , you have a school, remember. Fresh up and come at dining table I made banana pancakes."

Riya got up from her sleep and said " Bhaiya I am coming in 5 minutes , don't finish my pancakes."

Riya goes to bathroom and Shatak also goes to kitchen and start sipping his coffee while waiting for Riya.

After 15 minutes later, Riya also joins him , she is wearing her school uniform . Shatak saw Riya and he served breakfast. They did silently their breakfast. It's rules of their house which was made by their mother. Their mother told them don't talk while eating but Shatak and his father never listen to her . Now she is not in this world anymore but Shatak still follow this rule.

Shatak dropped Riya to her school and went to his office. He is doing his job peacefully but suddenly at around 2 pm he got a call from Riya's school that Riya got stomachache and her condition is very serious. He wants to run to her but he have to first take permission from his Boss. So he immediately apply a leave application through email. Although his boss first declined but later he agreed when Shatak told about Riya's situation.

One hour later, in the hospital, Doctor check on Riya told that "She might have eat something which is not healthy or indigestible for her. I told you already please take care of her diet, if not, it will effect on her body. "

Shatak said " I am taking care of that but maybe she ate at school something." Shatak asked Riya "Riya did you eat something at school, other than your lunch."

Riya said " Yes bhaiya (brother) today was my friend's birthday so she gave chocolates and I ate that. "

Shatak said " I told you already, don't eat any junk foods , why you don't listen?"

Riya said " Sorry bhaiya (brother)."

Doctor said "It's okay Riya, don't eat this type of thing again. If you eat then I will give you an injection, do you want it ? And always listen to your brother."

Riya feel afraid of hearing doctor's words so she immediately said "No , Doctor uncle, Don't give me injection."

Doctor said while smiling " Okay."

Shatak said "Can I take Riya home now? "

Doctor said "Yes ,you can but be careful next time."

Shatak thanks to doctor and pay bills and goes out from the hospital.

Outside the hospital, he is starting his bike then he suddenly got a call . He saw that it was from Mr. Kaali Raj Kumar.

He received the call " Hello , Kumar uncle . How are you?"

On the other side " I am fine, what about you. Where are you?"

Shatak said " I am good, right now I am outside the hospital with Riya."

Mr. Kaali said " Are you okay, son . Did something happen?"

Shatak said " I am okay, uncle. Just Riya got stomachache."

Mr. Kaali said " Ohh , Is she fine now ? And Shatak can you meet me right now."

Shatak said "Yes uncle, she is fine. I can't right now because Riya is with me and she is not well so can I meet you next time maybe tomorrow."

Mr.Kaali said "It's okay. I understand your situation but it would be glad if you come today . Why not you bring Riya along with you."

Shatak want to denied but still he say "Okay but where we have to come."

Mr. Kaali said "I'm sending you my home address . Bye."

Sharak said "Okay uncle, bye " and he cut the call and saw Riya's direction.

Shatak said "Riya ,Did you remember that uncle whom we met yesterday at outside of our apartment."

Riya said "Yes, bhaiya ( brother) . "

Shatak said "He invited us to his house. Can you want to go there?

Riya said "Yes , I also want to meet him. He said he is Papa's friends so I want to ask something about papa. Cause I don't remember clearly anything about Mama and Papa." She said last line in very sad tone which is visible by Shatak.

He understands how much Riya miss their parents. Riya don't remember their parents because she was very small at that time. She is his only family left in this world.

Shatak got a message from Mr. Kaali. He then went to Mr. Kaali' s home.

Half an hour later, he is standing outside of a very big building. The guards took them inside of the house. After few minutes later, Mr. Kaali also joins them and told them to sit and tells to think this as their own home. They are enjoying their time while talking about random things and sometimes about their father. Especially Riya and Mr. Kaali , Riya got a very good bond with Mr. Kaali which is surprising for Shatak. She didn't talk much with strangers. But Right now he is happy cause Riya is smiling without knowing her health problems. Shatak is smiling and happy outside but inside only his heart knows how much pain he is holding, he want to scream and say that he can't lost anymore. When he was 10 years old , he lost his beloved grandmother. Which makes him devastated but this makes him realise that lost and found is a part of life. Later on his, 18th birthday, he lost his parents. Now Riya's illness.

Shatak saw Mr. Kaali's behaviour which is friendly and kind although he is very rich person. Anyone can think that he is rude and arrogant person because of his looks. He looks like a body builder who can kill you by one punch. He internally laugh at his own thoughts, and wander his eyes and someone caught his attention .

He saw a person, who may be Mr. Kaali's bodyguard or worker . He is looking familiar to him but he doesn't remember where he met him or see him . He thought it maybe he is just overthinking. So he shrugged this thought.

After one hour later, they bid good bye from Mr. Kaali and and went to their apartment. At leaving Mr. Kaali gave many toys and gifts to Riya which Shatak didn't want to take but as per his request at last they have agreed. Mr. Kaali also said Shatak that, he wants to know about them that's why he invited them.

After 45 minutes later they reached their apartment building , they are about to go to their apartment direction suddenly someone called his name "Shatak sir, someone wants to meet you."

Shatak saw that a person of his mid 30s standing beside security guard. He also get close to them asked "What happened?"

Security guard said "He is asking about you and then I saw you so I called you. "

Shatak "Ohh, thank you " and saw that person direction and said " How can I help you?"

That person said "I have something for you but first I have to ask you that are you advocate Kabir Verma's son Shatak Verma?"

Shatak said " Yes and How did you know ? "

That person said " Can we talk somewhere else?"

Shatak nodded and they went to Shatak apartment. Shatak told Riya to go to her room. He will call her when dinner is ready.

Shatak makes to sit that person in their hall. He made two cups of coffee and join him and asked " May I know your name or occupation and reason to coming here?"

That person take a sip of coffee and said " My name is Rajveer Kapoor. I was a intern in your father' s office when he was alive and right now I am a well known advocate . I really admire your father and wants to be like him . But now I realised that how much I try, I can't be like him. You know what Shatak, advocate Kabir Verma is not just a person who do their job for money, he lives his life for justice and also die."

Shatak who listens carefully Rajveer's talking, feels proud on his father, suddenly raised his eyebrows at last words. He asked "What do you mean by death?"

Rajveer said "Your parents accident was intentional. "

Shatak said "Intentional, but who did this."

Rajveer said "I can't tell you that nor I will help you about this. You have to find yourself. All I can do this is give you this." He handed a diary to Shatak.

Shatak took it from him and asked " What is this?"

Rajveer said " This is your father's diary. He gave me this long ago. I didn't give you because I was waiting for right time and I think this right time to know the truth."

Shatak say nothing, just thanks him . After few moments later Rajveer bid good bye from him. He keep that diary at his room safely to read later. After he made dinner for them. That night they ate early and went to sleep because they are tired from the hectic day.

Somewhere in a apartment building, a man's body is laying on floor covered with blood, a knife stabbed in the stomach.

I know this chapter is long, but I will try to keep this short next. And what all of you think?, who is this person... tell me in the comments. And that person whom he sees in Kaali Raj' s home, it's just his hallucinations or something related to his life. If you want to know please 🥺 support my story.

Till now.... lots of love 💕💕😘

Bye.bye

~ Peony J.

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