In the jungle: around Mahindra Thar: 15th July Friday: 10: 55pm:

Some silhouettes came forward from the dark bushes. The clicking sound of the revolver gave goosebumps to the young stars.

"Your plan was good but not enough for us you little kittens."

A hoarse voice hissed.

"Maddy...."

Manik muttered. A cold iron touch on his temple formed sweat beads on Manik's forehead. He tried to see the hand holding the revolver.

"One more over-smart move and your skull will blow like a watermelon. All of you, get back to the car. Now it's showtime. You already have killed enough time in this hide and seek game."

Maddy appalled out and lightly pushed Manik's temple with the tip of the barrel.

"But Maddy, Devid is not here. Should we search for him?"

One of the guys from their gang asked eagerly.

"No need. He took a wise decision to run away. Otherwise, he will have to face me. His stupidity brought us to this condition. Worthless.....he couldn't even handle a bunch of callow kittens."

Maddy gritted out and pushed Manik forward. Due to this Manik stumbled on some wild climber and fell flat on his face. Because of the moist soft soil, he didn't hurt much. Maddy bent down to lift him once again by grabbing his collar when something ricocheted against the nearest tree. Simultaneously a gunshot sound fragmented the silence of the surrounding.

"BEND DOW........N."

Manik alerted in a high pitch while immediately lay on the ground on his stomach. Due to darkness nothing was clearly visible but plenty of heavy boots marched forward making a circle around all of them. A strong searchlight skirted all over the area impatiently.

"I hope they finally found us."

Manik whispered.

"Don't move. You all are blockaded by the forest surveillance force. Drop the guns and surrender."

A metallic voice announced. Silence lingered for a couple of moments. Suddenly something tried to wriggle past the nearby bush. Immediately the searchlight flooded the spot. A Vulture gang member tried to raise his gun but at once was shot at his hand by one of the forest guards.

"Ahh....hhhh"

He screamed in pain and immediately collapsed down by holding his wounded hand.

"Don't try to escape. Otherwise, we have to shoot. Come out all with your hands up. I repeat, hands up and step forward."

The voice commanded again. The place was quite lit up till then. Gradually the goons and the Fab 5 and Fusion 4 members came out with a surrender position. Some uniformed force member marched forward and started searching everyone's body.

"Sir, we are students of S.P.A.C.E Academy. We called you to save us. These are the Vulture gang members. They were trying to smuggle illegal arms through us. All the arms are kept in the car. But one of the members Devid has fled."

Aryamaan stated one by one. One of the officers came forward and said,

"Devid has been captured already. In fact, he only gave us information about this place. Otherwise, it was being difficult to locate you all. We also informed the police. They are about to come. Who is Manik Malhotra? Mr Commissioner wanted to talk to him."

Dhruv, Aryamaan and the other members of FAB 5 and Fusion 4 looked around for Manik. They were expecting him to come forward.

"He must be here only. One more thing Sir, Nandini, one of our friends is still a hostage of the goons as some of them might be in their hideout."

Dhruv said anxiously.

"But where is Manik? MANI......K....."

Aliya cried in a high pitch.

"He is not here. And I am afraid Maddy has run away too."

Cabir said in a trembling voice.

"Who is Maddy?"

The officer asked. The other vulture gang members had already been handcuffed till then.

"Maddy is the right hand of the leader Harshad aka Harry. But both of them are not present here. The gang has almost 8 members. 4 of them and Devid have been caught. That means 3 more are still free. Sir, I think Manik left to search for Nandini. But it can be dangerous for both of them. Please, Sir, do something as soon as possible. They are deadly."

Cabir sounded hell worried.

"The police force is coming. They will continue the further search. We have to catch the other smugglers who are involved in this arm dealing racket. We have to open these bustards' fucking mouth."

The officer gave a bunch of five to a goon and ordered the other force members to escort them to their patrolling jeeps.

"I told you guys, don't leave Nandini alone. Now we don't have both...Nandini and Manik. Hey, Matarani...what to do now? They will kill both of them...."

Navya whined while Cabir pulled her in his embrace.

"Don't say all these. Manik is intelligent. He won't do anything that can harm Nandini. I am sure he will protect her as well as himself."

Cabir tried to pacify Navya when stroked her back affectionately.

"But what was the need to leave like this. He can wait for a while. We decided that we will go together. And now we had the help of the forest guard force too. Then why this impulsive move? I always say right. His anger and impulse will land him in big trouble one day. Why one day? He is already in trouble but unfortunately not alone. My sister is in this danger because of him only."

Abhimanyu chided. His eyes became red and blurred. He couldn't think straight when his little sis is in danger.

"Come down Abhi. Manik left because he couldn't wait any longer. And I think he has done the right thing. We have already done a blunder by leaving Nandini alone. So it would be wise to not waste a second more for searching her. Because from now every second will be counted. And we also go with the police to search for them. But right now we have to cool down."

Mukti said when held Abhimanyu by his biceps. Suddenly a whistle blew from a distance.

"The police have reached. One of you has to go with them to help them to locate their hideout. The rest can come with us. Especially the girls. Because it can be a dangerous operation."

The officer suggested.

"We all go with them because we never leave each other in any difficult situation. Come what may."

Aryamaan confirmed while everybody nodded in positive.

.....................................

Amidst the jungle: On a bike:15th July Friday: 11:15 pm:

Manik accelerated the bike and it roared to increase its speed. It was difficult to sidestep the situation happening sometimes back. Thankfully the darkness helped him to camouflage him from the eyes of the forest surveillance force as well as the Vulture gang.

"I am sorry guys but I couldn't wait for the police or the forest guards' help. Nandini is in danger. This thought is killing me in every passing minute. I am sure she has been captured by that bastard Harshad. Dare to touch her and I will show you hell."

Manik gritted out. He was almost near to the house. Manik calculated the distance and gradually slowed down the speed. He already had planned to stop the bike a few distances from the house and approach the house by walking as he didn't want to alert the goons. Manik stopped the bike and made it stand near a tree and stealthily proceeded to the house passing the narrow path covered with wild bushes and weeds. Within a couple of minutes, he again reached the stable. The house was standing silently as it previously appeared. Only the difference was there were no lights in it, unlike the first time. The kitchen window was still open with that stained and torn curtain but there was no light inside.

"Why is it so quiet? As per my guess, there has to be more than one person. Harshad, Tonny and unfortunately Nandini."

Manik thought and sighed. He tiptoed to the entrance and was about to push the door. Suddenly a wire touched his hand. He felt it properly yet lightly with his fingertips. Sweat trickled down from his sideburns. He immediately stepped back.

"Bloody bastards. They have planted a bomb here. I had been blown out if I would have pushed the door forcefully."

He muttered in vexation.

"That means they are not here. They whiffed the situation and abandoned the place. Then where is Nandini? Did they take her along to somewhere else? How do I get there? God, how do I find out my Nandini? Please give her back to me. I can't live without her."

Manik kept on muttering the prayer. Tears trickled down from his void eyes.

Author note: The Italic bold lines are the thought of the character.