“Wassup?” Arjun asks her; Riya just shakes her head. She stays motionless for a moment and then walks away towards the railing by the edge. Arjun follows her, gently brushing his hand up her arms.
“You want to say something Miss Riya?”
“Say what?” Riya tries to act casual about the conversation.
“Ummm”, Arjun whispers in her ears, “What a girl tells a guy….?”
Riya doesn’t respond. She is now blushing red. Their eyes lock again as she nervously squeezes the side of her skirt.
“Hey, you are blushing!” Arjun smiles at her.
“No!” Riya is very uneasy now at his blunt question.
“Do you know Riya…your cheeks have gone red... like ripe tomatoes!”
“Will you please shut up Arjun?” Riya mumbles, almost inaudibly to herself and closes her eyes, breathing heavily, blushing profusely as Arjun stares at her, inches away from her face. Suddenly, Riya’s phone starts ringing.
She rushes to pick it up, eager to dodge her awkward situation.
“Yes mama… we are on our way… Yes we will be home soon.”
She puts her phone down and walks back to Arjun, “It was mummy’s phone. How long will it take to reach home from here Arjun? We didn’t realize and it’s already 11:49pm. Can we reach home before midnight?”
“It’s at least half an hour’s drive back home!... Should we, then? Your parents are never going to allow you to come with me again.”
“Shut up Arjun! Papa and Mummy trust you more than they trust me!”
Arjun gets on the steering wheel and they drive off. The car meanders past the beautiful valley amidst the tall mahogany trees, with the beautiful moon still shining brightly in the sky.
Silence makes up for what Arjun and Riya could not say tonight, as the electrifying chemistry between them has become obvious tonight.
Act 5: DELIVERING RESULTS…SETTING DIRECTION
4 days ago
Dreams…and Nightmares
Riya has been sleeping like a baby. In her dreams, she re-enacts all the special moments with Arjun earlier today. She sees herself on the hill again as Arjun gently pushes away the tuft of her hair from her eyes. He slowly runs his forefinger caressing her smooth beautiful cheeks. He follows that with a gesture that indicates he is about to kiss her, when suddenly Riya spots a man in the distance behind Arjun, with his back towards her.
Riya raises her head from Arjun’s shoulder and takes a step forward to look at the man in the distance. She turns back to look at Arjun, but he has vanished into thin air. And when she turns and looks ahead, the man in the distance is only at an arm’s length away from her, with his back to her. And mysteriously, the scene behind the man changes into lofty mountains in a white, desert-like landscape. The man, with his back turned towards her, slowly turns around. This time Riya can see his face. He has an unkempt beard and a broad rough jaw.
The man is holding a child in one hand, a cute seven-or-eight month-old baby. Riya smiles gently at the baby, admiring the innocence of the kid gurgling and kicking his legs in the man’s hands. Suddenly, the man moves his other hand, hidden behind his back, in which he holds a gun.
Hold on, what’s going on? Riya is confused and raises her hand as if questioning the mysterious man. The very next moment, the man moves the gun to the kid’s forehead and pulls the trigger. She can hear the shot echoing loudly across the hills of the desert landscape.
Riya shouts loudly in her sleep and wakes up immediately. She is sweating profusely and panting for breath. There’s a loud knocking at the door, as her father has woken up on hearing her scream.
“Riya beta, Riya…”, Varun calls out through the door.
Riya gets out of bed and opens the door to let him in.
“Are you ok, beta?”
Riya nods yes, and buries her face in her father’s shoulder, crying like a baby.
“You had the same nightmare, didn’t you?” Riya nods yes, still hugging her dad strongly.
“That monster keeps coming into my dreams Papa! And the child! Why did he kill the child Papa?” Her tears fall on Varun’s neck. He pulls her up to look at her and wipes her tears away.
“It’s ok beta! It’s ok! Everything is going to be fine!”
Riya calms down in a few minutes and gets back to bed.
“Was the party ok beta?” Riya nods yes. “Ok you go to bed Riya; let’s speak tomorrow.”
Riya closes the door as her father leaves. She goes to the window to look at Arjun’s room in the far end of the other house… Not a light to be seen! Perhaps he is sleeping tonight. She dreads getting back to sleep; she fears the skeletons in her closet that continue to haunt her.
She waits eagerly for the bright morning light, when she can be with Arjun again. But she cannot play this game anymore. Her soul is stretched to hell and beyond. She gets into bed but is wide awake. It’s almost 5am now. She hugs her pillow tightly, desperately trying to get some sleep, but simply lies there for another couple of hours blankly looking at the white ceiling above…thinking all the while about Arjun.
Crossing Dams - Bridging Barriers
Riya can’t sleep after the nightmare and kept tossing and turning in her bed. She gets out of bed at 6:30am, and picks up her phone to message Arjun.
“Hi. Are you awake? Will you be at school today? Can we catch up please?”
She moves around the room impatiently at a brisk trot, getting ready for the day ahead. There’s a response on her mobile in a few minutes. It reads-
“Hi. I have some work in the morning and then need to be at the headquarters in the afternoon. Should we catch up at Puja’s engagement party in the evening?”
“Ok no problem”, she types, “I may visit the school for disabled children near Bhatsa dam in the afternoon. But I can change it if your schedule changes. Please let me know. See you in the evening otherwise. Bye.”
When she goes downstairs to the living room, she finds her dad surfing the channels on the wall-mounted TV. Mr. Saxena sees Riya coming, and extends his hand to her.
“Come beta.” Riya holds the extended hand and sits next to him, as they both listen to the news reporter on the TV.
“A special military court in India has given its verdict against the ISI lieutenant general this morning. He has been found guilty on all the charges raised by the Indian Government, namely that of murder, drugs and espionage.”
“Oh my God! We won?! Let me call Arjun.”
“His phone is not accessible beta. I tried as well. Kamla tells me that Arjun went to work very early in the morning. Guess he wants to wrap up everything quickly before the engagement party later in the evening.”
“Ok Papa. I will speak to him later then.”
Varun turns on the volume of the TV instead as the news reporter continues on.
“We have with us retired Colonel Mohammad Ayub from Pakistan and political think tank member Ayub sahib first tell us what impact it will have on the international community?”
“We still maintain that the charges are false and …”
Varun quickly surfs through other news channels.
“The international community is in turmoil as diplomats figure out their interpretation of the allegations against the ISI lieutenant general being proved true. Will the Indian government undertake a diplomatic offensive after this result? Now the Indian people want to see results and the whole world is taking note too! The time to act has come. Is this landmark verdict an official confirmation of Pakistan as a rogue terrorist state? Will Indian diplomats be able to use this victory as an arm-twisting exercise with Pakistan? Will India convince Pakistan to shut down its terrorist camps? There are many questions and unknowns but whatever happens from now on, the Indian intelligence service and diplomats do have a reason to celebrate because of the verdict today.”
Just like millions of Indians, Varun is eager to hear about this development, to know if this incident will help to establish lasting peace and stability between the
two countries. Or perhaps… this may lead to a backlash of violence and a further outbreak of terrorism?
Suddenly Puja walks into the room and Riya springs up to greet her friend.
“Hi Puja…look we have got the court verdict in our favor too on your auspicious engagement day!”
“I know! Isn’t it great? But hey, how was your evening? Arjun came so late and then left early morning that I couldn’t speak to him.”
“Miss Liar! You are asking me about our party?” Riya asks sarcastically, pretending an air of annoyance at Puja’s lie last night.
“Oh! So you know about it?” Puja exclaims, “I am so sorry, my dear friend, that I lied to you a bit yesterday. But you didn’t share your truth with me either.”
“What truth?”
“That you love Arjun… C’mon now don’t you dare dodge me any further. I know you very well since we were children.”
The girls gossip for an hour as Riya shared all the details of the party. They express their anguish, awe and excitement. They hug and shriek as Puja senses that Riya is deeply in love with Arjun.
“So tell me Riya,” Puja asks her directly, “Have you told Arjun that you love him?”
“No I haven’t!” Riya can no longer lie about her feelings to her best friend.
“Why not? Are you shy?”
“No. It’s not that. There is something else… I just cannot tell Arjun!”
“What something else? Oh! C’mon Riya! Gone are the days when girls waited for guys to make the first move. … Today, girls do not lag behind guys in anything…And this includes courtship and romance my friend.” They giggle and smile at each other. “Anyway listen, I have to run, so much work to do for the evening. I’ll see you later tonight!”
Puja walks out, really happy at the turn of events for her best friend. Riya is finally on her own to think through all that has been said. She knows that Puja is right- girls no longer lag behind boys in any field these days. In today’s fast world, one really needs to reach out or risk being left out. But life is not so simple. A strange sense of uneasiness grips her as she considers the ramifications of what has happened over the last few months. Life has changed for her ever since Arjun came into her life…But why does life have to be so complex? Why cannot we be kids again? A life without hassles, of sheer pure friendship and love… without the unnecessary complexities that bar us from seeking happiness. Amidst her feelings of uncertainty, Riya continues to pack for her school and for the disabled children’s school visit later in the day.
Meanwhile Arjun is back at the department headquarters. Obviously, he can feel the same love in the air that has gripped Riya as well. But he realizes he cannot afford to get carried away, because once his Mumbai mission is over, he cannot be sure which part of the world he will go to next. The evening with Riya at the party, the romantic time under the moonlit skies … it’s been all so refreshingly beautiful, but he shouldn’t take it for reality. The next call for duty may see him in another part of the world, with love evaporating into thin air. While Arjun is lost in his thoughts, his mobile rings.
“Hey Krish! How are you buddy?!... Thanks. Yes, the court verdict is a big step forward.” He pauses to listen attentively, “Yes go on … What? A bomb?... Oh ok. You have contacted the squad already? …Bhatsa dam? …Let’s hope it’s a false alarm and the squad can take care of it. All right, speak to you later.”
It is likely that ISI has decided to respond to the court verdict through another mischievous endeavor. The Bhatsa dam in Thane is a strategic site as it provides water supply to almost a quarter of the city. A disruption to Mumbai’s key water supply can lead the city to chaos. Although the bomb squad will answer the call, Arjun realized that, coincidentally, Riya was planning to visit the school for disabled children, which was in the slum areas close to the spillway of the dam. Arjun immediately decides to drive to the dam as well. By the time he arrives, a bomb squad is already in position, just as Krish had promised.
An officer walks over to Arjun, “Sir! This area is secluded. You cannot go ahead.”
“Hello Officer,” Arjun whips open a badge showing his identity. “Arjun Sinha. Executive Head of the Strategic Intelligence Wing, RAW.”
The officer salutes him, “Captain Ravi Singh, Sir! In charge of the squad.”
“Any signs yet of the bomb yet?”
“No Sir! Our sniffer dogs have searched the entire area around a radius of about two kilometers but nothing yet. Looks like a hoax, Sir!”
Arjun thinks, “Krish has provided the information… his intelligence is never wrong.” He looks around, across the vast extents of water on one side, a large picturesque dam and green forests below. His view meanders to the sky and to the top of the dam wall. He pauses to think for a moment and immediately starts climbing the iron railings swiftly up to the dam. In a few minutes he reaches the top of the rail and starts walking across. After walking a few meters, he spots a black object lying at the far end.
Meanwhile, after her class at the children’s school ends, Riya leaves the slums area just below the Bhatsa dam and strolls up the hills towards the dam. She has been on top of this dam earlier and it was a worthwhile trek for the beautiful view. Moreover, she needs a moment to herself to think through all the emotions and ideas swirling like a storm in her head. She is wearing a beautiful white ethnic salwar suit and repeatedly clings to her dupatta that is blowing along in the strong breeze. She spots some movement at the top of the dam and starts walking swiftly.
In the meantime, Arjun has covered a third of the path across the narrow edge. He can feel the strong breeze whooshing around him. When Riya reaches the top of the stairs she immediately spots Arjun at the top of the iron railings on the dam.
“Arjun!”
“Riya! Wait for a second.” Arjun immediately responds.
“Arjun! What the hell are you doing? Come down now!”
“Riya just go! I’ll explain everything later.”
Riya rushes towards the railings of the dam. “Arjun! Come down! Now!... Else I’m coming up.” Arjun ignores her and continues walking.
“Arjun! I am not joking!”
As everyone looks on, Riya suddenly starts climbing the railings. Arjun walks faster, crosses a narrow stretch and is and is just about 3-5 meters from the bomb. By that time, Riya reaches the top of the railings and started walking on the ledge.
“Riya, please do not come further,” Arjun calls out to her. He kneels down to look at the bomb that is within his grasp. A little screen on the bomb shows the digits counting backwards– “28, 27...”
He starts to work on the bomb quickly. Meanwhile Riya is a third of the way through the narrow stretch. Arjun works quickly, cuts a red wire and immediately throws the bomb down to the team, waiting and ready to accept the catch.
“Riya, just stop there… don’t move. I’m coming back.” Riya stops immediately, almost mid-way in the narrowest stretch of the walk. A strong breeze sends her dupatta fluttering. For the first time, on her climb to the top, she looks down the dam, and sees large spans of water on one end and a raging torrent of water flowing off the edge of the high dam down to the abyss underneath. The height of the dam and the flowing water falling down such heights make her head spin; she feels as if she will lose consciousness. Arjun rushes over and grabs her that very moment. Her dupatta is about to fly off in the strong breeze, but Arjun manages to grab it as well just on the tip of his finger, and carefully pulls it back to wrap it around Riya.
“Riya! Riya!” Arjun shakes her, holding her tightly by her arms. She regains consciousness, looks down again and clutches Arjun strongly burying her head in his shoulder.
“Riya! Listen to me!” he holds her face in his hand, “Look, put your feet on top of mine. Close your eyes and just hold me tight. Trust me. I’ll do the rest. Do you understand?!” Riya nods yes vehemently. She dares to peep over Arjun’s shoulders to look at the water pouring down from the height into the gorge down under. Beautiful stretches of wat
er on one side of the dam and a picturesque gorge with roaring waters on the other end would have made a scenic view from any other part of the dam.
Riya and Arjun move nervously in each other’s embrace, a step at a time, past the narrow stretch and then gradually towards the edge of the rail. Arjun goes first down the iron stair, with Riya following him, as Arjun shields her on the way down the iron ladder. They eventually reach the bottom safe and sound. Riya comes running across and hugs Arjun tightly.
“Arjun! Oh my God!”
“Are you ok?” Arjun pulls her away and suddenly shouts at her, much to her surprise “Are you crazy? Why did you come up there, Riya?”
Riya is taken aback and looks at the bomb squad, who were observing their descent from the dam with concern. However, on hearing Arjun raise his voice, they have dispersed to give them some space. They are now crowding around the bomb, to analyze it better.
“Are you out of your mind!?” Arjun cries out, “What if something happened to you Riya?”
“Yes! I am crazy! What about you Arjun? Tell me…what if Kamla aunty saw you there? Do you ever think about anyone else?” Tears roll down instantly from her eyes. “Why did you go up there Arjun? You don’t care about anyone!”
Arjun immediately lowers his voice upon seeing her tears.
“Riya look. It was… it was… just a bet.” He points feebly towards an agent.
“A bet? Are you out of your mind? … Bet? What if? Are you?”
Arjun tries to pacify her, holding her arms as Riya struggles to articulate herself in disbelief. In despair, she shrugs off Arjun’s hands and starts walking, extremely disturbed and visually disappointed. Arjun follows her for a few steps but returns immediately to the bomb squad. He wishes he could pacify Riya but there were more urgent matters to address first. Inaudible discussions continue as he gives instructions to the bomb squad. After a quick scrutiny the bomb squad confirms that the bomb was a dud. The work of an amateur it seems. The squad continues a routine search with sniffer dogs and magnetic equipment for another half an hour before proclaiming the area safe.
Cold Love Page 12
