by Ruchi Singh
"Aditya," the old woman repeated taking a step towards Vikram.
"Sara what are you doing here? How did you come here? From where did you get the gun?" Negi shouted.
"What are you doing to Aditya?"
"He is not Aditya," Negi said. "How the hell did you come on this side. Oh, the cupboard latch... I forgot to fix... hell!"
"How dare you threaten my Aditya?"
"He is not Aditya! Can't you see?" Negi shouted.
"Silence," Sara shouted. In the excitement, her hand shook and she fired the gun. The bullet wheezed past Negi's ear and ricocheted off the wall behind, chipping the concrete. Looking daggers at him, she stood in front of Vikram, where Esha wanted to be—like a shield, his bodyguard.
"No one threatens my Aditya. He is the king. It's treason. You should bow to him," she said pointing the gun at Negi.
"Sara... darling, he is not Seth senior. He is his son," daija placated.
"His son? Meera can't bear children." Sara looked confused. "She is good just for maintaining a facade for the public. Aditya and I have a daughter. He has only ONE daughter. Stay where you are." Sara waved the gun at daija, as she took a step towards Sara.
"Look at what they have done to her. Your father duped her. She kept him on a pedestal and he cheated on her. And then, your mother took her child away," daija hissed.
"No, Anna is sleeping in her crib," Sara interrupted, and pointed the gun again at Negi.
"They took away her only hope to live." Daija turned towards Esha. "They thought they were doing her a favor. They felt magnanimous. Look at me... I am so great that I have accepted the love-child of my husband." Daija spitted years of venom for Mrs. Seth, trying to imitate her. "We wanted your father to witness this, but he croaked just like that. Kaali Maa's will.” She lifted her hands up, then looked at Vikram. "But the way she had snatched my Sara's child, we'll take hers. Kaali Maa knows how hard we tried to do that from the day you were born, but we were poor and you have been lucky. Very lucky. But now that luck has no role to play. Today we'll get the divine justice. Sara, come here."
Daija tried to pull Sara away from Vikram.
"I want to be with Aditya," she struggled. As daija tried to take the gun, it went off and daija fell down clutching her stomach, her sari drenched with blood.
"Nooo..." Negi screamed.
"Stay there and bow," Sara again aimed the gun at him.
"Sara, I'm your brother!"
"Are you?" She peered at him. "No, you are lying. My Shiva will never harm my Aditya."
"Come on give the gun, good girl. Look Anna is crying, you should go upstairs."
"No, Aditya has come back and I want to talk to him. I knew he'll come. He never lies to me."
"Get away from him." Negi took a step forward.
Another shot reverberated in the small confined area making Negi stagger back. He was shot in the chest. The gun from his hand slipped to the ground. The surprise etched on his face even as he lay there unmoving.
"No one threatens my Aditya." Sara touched Vikram's cheek. "Aditya..." She let the gun fall on the floor. "You have come for me! I knew you will. I've waited so long for this day..."
So much for divine justice! Esha let her head fall on the bed. Relieved to see that the danger was over, she gave in to the blissful unconsciousness.
* * * *
Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai
4th November, 9:30 PM
The soothing green and white walls of the hospital's waiting room did nothing to calm the turmoil inside Vikram. The doctors had examined him and run all the possible tests and there were no external wounds for them to treat. He had come back from the ordeal unscathed, but he didn't know how to deal with the internal scars he had received at Negi's revelation.
He sighed when the attendant brought a cup of coffee for him. Sipping the lukewarm, sugary brew he strolled towards the examination room. He had refused to meet his mother or sister. It would have hurt them, but right now he was in no mood to indulge anyone. He had to clear his own thoughts before facing the world.
From the one way mirror of the examination room, he looked at the confused, old woman, who had saved him today. She was still asking for his father. Was any human being capable of that kind of devotion to another? Vikram had always kept his father on a pedestal, but today his idol lay shattered at the feet of this woman. The frail, endearing woman, who was his sister's mother too! How could his parents hide such an important detail of their lives from them? How in hell's name would he break the news to Vandana di?
His musing was broken with arrival of the doctor who was treating Esha. "She is doing fine. A few stitches were required. Nothing to worry about. Lost a lot of blood, but rest is all she needs."
"Thank you, doctor. May I see her?"
"Yes, of course." The doctor took him to the post-operative observation room. "She is still under anesthesia. You'll be able to speak to her tomorrow morning. By that time she will be shifted to a proper room."
"Thanks. Please make sure she gets the best," Vikram said.
The doctor nodded and left Vikram alone with Esha. This was the second time she had been injured because of him. She looked pale against the white sheets, and helpless with all the tubes and medical paraphernalia attached to her. The thought brought the whole gory scene, in that lunatic's basement, alive. His heart thudded in his chest again, as he fought the urge to take her into his arms. He had come so close to losing her too. Nikhil's face appeared in front of his eyes intensifying the fear and loss once again.
Sheer waste of life!
He had to pay a heavy price, all because of something his father had done when he didn't even exist, and for his mother's passion for preserving family honor and looking after what was theirs. His logical brain forced him not to blame them. They probably did the best under the circumstances, but still...
It would take some time to come to terms with the reality.
A movement to his left forced him to look at the intruder. His mother stood in front of the first examination room, watching Sara. Vikram hardened his heart as he saw Meera Seth wilt as recognition dawned.
"Who would have thought you will meet her again?" Vikram drawled.
"Is she... she is...?"
"Yes. She is one life that you have ruined. Of course, father is more to be blamed, but you too had a part in this—"
"What are you saying?" she whirled towards him. "I didn't expect you to be so judgmental, that too without knowing the whole truth."
"I know everything. I used to wonder about Vandana di too, you know." He continued, for once not bothering to ease her anxiety. "Remember the conversation we had at Alibaug? The fleeting thought used to worry me about her anxiety and panic attacks, but I kept quiet... thinking it was one of those nature's pranks or that Jindal was a worthless fellow that added to her stress. But now everything has fallen in place, every piece of the puzzle has found its place, and I have lost a dear friend and was on the verge of losing the love of—" He paused and swallowed as her mother's eyes welled up.
Cursing under his breath he went and sat on the steel bench.
After a couple of minutes, his mother too sat beside him, crying softly.
Taking a deep breath he placed his hand around her shoulders and pulled her to him.
* * * *
Epilogue
Dwarka, New Delhi
4th February, 12:30 PM
He watched her standing on the balcony.
It was time for the next step.
She would not be an easy target. He had seen her in action, she was no simpering female. That's the reason he had come prepared for every scenario before putting her on the plane as per his boss's instructions.
With purposeful strides, he hurried towards the four-apartment block. No one was there to stop him or question him. It was a wedding venue, not everyone was supposed to know everyone. Her apartment lock had already been taken care by his team-mates present at the entrance in plain clothes. He too wor
e jeans and a white t-shirt trying to merge with sleepy relatives.
He didn't pause to look around and stopped only after reaching the balcony effectively shielding her from any peeping tom behind. He had memorized the way to the small room at the back—her room with the tiny, stark balcony. She stood in the same pose staring at the moon. Her shoulders tensed as he stepped at the threshold. His breath seemed to stop as she turned around and looked at him.
"Jay! What? Is everything alright? How did you even enter the house? I had locked it myself."
"Ma'am you know us." He jangled the bunch of master keys.
She looked tired, which was not surprising. She had hardly slept for more than two hours a day since he had been watching her.
"Sir wants to talk to you and has asked you to come with me to the airport. He has only a few hours before he leaves Delhi."
"Oh... he wants that... is it?" A veiled screen of emotion made her eyes flicker and chase away the sleepiness, but she relaxed against the railings and crossed her arms. "Tell him I refused."
"My job is on the line, please ma'am. He is in a mood."
She kept staring at him.
Jay sighed and brought out the can he had been hiding behind his back and sprayed.
"What the—" she exhaled and twisted his hand back at his nose.
Goddamn! Esha caught Jay before he could hit the ground. She looked at the unconscious man on the floor and decided it would probably be best to meet the boss, and tie the loose end once and for all.
* * * *
IGI Airport, New Delhi
4th February, 1:15 PM
It had been two long months since Vikram had taken care of the furore caused by the Negi family. He had to use a significant amount of diplomacy and clout to keep the lid on Sara's identity and his involvement in putting her in a proper institution so that she lived comfortably for the rest of her life.
Surprisingly Vandana di took the news stoically and accepted the fact without showing any undue distress. In fact she was largely instrumental in settling Sara in the special needs facility. They had later come to know that Daija had been stealing di's jewelry to fund their nefarious intentions. But now was not the time to dwell on that episode, he thought as he saw the car coming on the tarmac. He had to fix another important part of his life.
She was driving. Like a maniac. There was no one else in the car. He grinned. The hectic day was getting better.
It was a sight to see her walking across the concrete in the light of waning moon, hair blowing across her face in tandem with the light breeze of the sultry night. She had let the tresses grow—probably for the wedding—and tried to tame them by tucking them behind her ears, but they refused her wish.
He smiled at the sight of her marching onto the plane. Boy, was she angry?
"So, Jay was right," he began the moment she entered his plane.
"How could you think that I would fall for the same trick again?" she spat.
"I had never pegged you as the sneaky type," he said trying to overcome the urge to hug her.
She raised an eyebrow.
"You shouldn't have slipped away from the hospital... the way you did."
"I left a note." She scowled.
"A note! Two lines written haphazardly, for what we feel for each other. You even missed the period at the end of the sentence."
She sighed.
"I think there are some etiquettes on leaving your lo... em... leaving someone who cared... who..."
That got her attention, and a little blush rose near her ears.
"That too when he is so busy and had asked you to wait," he lamely finished the sentence. Gosh, he had never been so corny even when he was a teenager. "Then you changed your mobile number, as if I won't be able to track you down. Adding insults to my invisible wounds."
"So you sent your guards to kidnap me!"
He grinned. "Anything to get your attention." He took a step forward, she took one back maintaining the distance.
"Afraid of me?" he taunted.
"Never." She stopped.
He was satisfied to see her chest rising and falling rapidly, like his own. Pulling her by the waist he planted his mouth on her lips. Her whole body shuddered against him and responded.
Esha felt she had come home. Vikram had seeped into her system like no other, but all kinds of doubts reared their head again. She couldn't become like Urvi or Vandana, heading business ventures and charity organizations. The thought threw ice-cold water over her raging hormones and she pushed at his chest. When that didn't work and he continued his assault on her lips, she stepped on his toes.
"Ah... what the hell, Major!"
"This isn't going to work. Oh, the plane is moving!" She rushed to the window.
Someone coughed.
She turned to find the steward standing at a respectable distance outside the cockpit.
"Sir, you both need to buckle up," he said, looking at something beyond Vikram's shoulder, hands behind his back.
"Yes, of course. Thanks Chetan," Vikram said, placing a hand on her arm. "Come, sit. We need to talk."
She slapped at his hand. "What's going on? You were actually thinking of kidnapping me, Vikram? Stop the plane right now! Like NOW!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. We have got the clearance, and if we stop now the pilot will land in the jail," Chetan said with the same bland expression and stance. She was sure his brilliant boss had coached him.
"Major, come on. I'll drop you back if we do not reach a conclusion." Vikram sat down and patted the seat next to him.
"What conclusion? We do not have anything to talk about, goddamn!" She sat down and put the buckle on. "I have a house full of guests for my sister's wedding."
"Not full. By afternoon every one of them are leaving. Don't worry. Jay will take care of them," he said.
"You have thought of everything. Have you?"
"I'm quite a strategist, but you know that already." He grinned. "Come sit."
She sighed and buckled herself in.
"What do you think of this?"
She sucked in her breath when she saw the ring in the velvet box. The platinum ring's base was shaped like a golf club with its stick curving all around. A solitaire nestled like a ball at the center of the club's face. It was simple and beautiful, more so if someone knew the story behind it.
"It'll not suit anyone in your family."
"Will you marry me, Esha?"
She looked at him. His eyes as earnest and somber as a child's making her heart melt like molten lava. Affection surged into her throat. Goddamn, how she adored him!
"Vikram, please. I won't be able to handle."
"Handle what?"
"Life. I can't bear to live with constant threats and danger."
"What nonsense. You feel this is going to repeat in anyway?"
"No. But I won't be able to bear..." her voice thickened. "If... if anything happened to you." Embarrassed by her emotional display, she looked out of the window.
"What if we live apart and then something happens to me? Will you be able to bear?"
Panic surfaced at the thought. She had never considered that possibility. She swallowed the bile rising in her throat and turned to him, he was still looking at her in the same way. He scanned her face and picked up her left hand.
"Vikram, please," she whispered hoarsely.
"Come on! You've handled everything that had been thrown your way the month you were in Mumbai with consummate aplomb. Why this sudden uncertainty?" He slipped the ring on her finger.
"I don't like parties, and functions and I can't stand putting on makeup."
He laughed out loud and said in between his breath. "Then don't. You don't have to attend any function if you don't want to. I'm asking you to marry me, not be my slave."
"I won't fit in with your family."
"This is all hogwash. And you are marrying me, not my family. You and I are a perfect fit, Major. In fact we are more than that, we are like a bullet in the gun." He p
ut his hand on her nape and kissed her. "Think of an intelligent excuse," he said in between the kisses and caresses.
"Mmm... okay." She kissed him back matching his fervor, even though the seat belt pinched at her waist. "I'll think of one tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is better." His hand sneaked onto her breasts. She sighed against his lips. "Esha?"
"Hmm..."
"Do you know I have a bed on this plane?" he said as her hand wandered to his thigh.
The sentence brought her back to earth, not literally. She pushed at him unsuccessfully. "Vikram, This isn't going to work. What will I do with my time?"
"Why, you'll be my bodyguard."
* * * * * * * *
Glossary
Aahuti : Mixture of various things (butter, camphor, rice, sesame etc) put in the ceremonial fire for worship
Baba : Nickname for someone younger
Bali : Sacrifice
Beta : Son or affectionate way of calling anyone younger
Bhaisabh : Elder brother
Chachiji : Aunt on the father’s side
Dada : Elder brother, or giving respect to someone who is elder
Daija : Nanny
Didi/ Di : Elder sister, or a mark of respect for any girl/ woman.
Ghee : Clarified butter
Gora : Fair
Gulab-jamun : Indian sweet-meat/ dessert
Havankund : The conical large bowl used for ceremonial fire for worship
Janeyu : Sacred cotton thread worn by hindus during worship
Jijaji : Sister’s husband
Kaali/ Mahakaali : Hindu deity
Karmabhoomi : Work place
Khichdi : Indian dish of lentils and rice cooked together
Mama : Mother’s brother
Methi-paratha : Indian bread stuffed with fenugreek leaves
