Warlock

by Vickram E Diwan

  “What’s wrong brother?” asked Rohit. “You seem to be in a bad mood.”

  “That bloody Khan is going to get a good thrashing at my hands one of these days,” Rudolf replied as he seated comfortably in a sofa chair opposite Rohit.

  “Who? That Afghan drug-peddler, who supplies designer drugs to party circuit? You stay away from him bro; his days are numbered,” Rohit said warning him.

  “How come? Has someone tipped off the cops about him?”

  “Whether it’s a pimp or a peddler, none works without the protection of cops,” said Rohit. “A friend of mine had tipped the party-goers that Khan was trying to establish an independent drugs supply business in the city. The people who control this trade are most dangerous guys, and they have issued orders for bumping off the Afghani. Unless cops bust and arrest him first or he runs away, he’s going to be found in a sewer or in a dark alley in a month or two.”

  “No worries, I’ll find his replacement just as easily,” Schönherr said confidently. “If you have money to burn, you can find and buy absolutely anything in this city. I’ll just go to the men’s room and take a fix of Coke that I bought from the bastard,” he said getting up.

  “You can’t openly take coke in a big hotel like this!”

  “That’s why I’m going to the washroom; you want to come?”

  “No thanks, I don’t do drugs in the afternoon itself.”

  “Suit yourself,” said Rudolf Schönherr and went away. He came after a short while, having taken a dose of coke, wetting his hair and combing them backward. He sat back in his sofa chair and after the steward had gone taking the order he said, “So, how’s your consultancy business going on these days?”

  “It’s booming, ever since I took the reins in my own hands and retired my dad. Thought I gain from his advice, he was just becoming a little old for this line; couldn’t adapt to the bold new age and we were losing business to our rivals. I have given down payment for a new office in the upmarket and quiet neighborhood of Jorbagh; much better than main Greater Kailash, which is becoming ghettoized these days. Our guests prefer the quieter places, and the large bungalow is perfect for my line of business.”

  “You must be making a lot of money to be able to pay for such prime property.”

  “No kidding, I made twenty crores in last quarter alone. And I am hopeful of concluding a major deal within two months. I tell you brother, making big money gives you such a kick that even drugs and sex can’t match. Become my partner, Rudolf Schönherr; together we can set this whole city on fire! With your personality, courage and my brains, we’ll be a great success.”

  “Thank you, but I have no desire to become a middleman, or a ‘fixer’- no offense!”

  “None taken, and being a fixer isn’t such a bad thing.”

  “So the old formula is still working?”

  “Wealth, wine and women; the three ‘W’ have been a winning combination.”

  “Morality is a useless thing for both of us and corruption comes so naturally to us,” said Rudolf Schönherr.” That is why I say that we are both of the same kind.”

  “You said the other day, that you needed my help.”

  “I want you to help me in my business; I am offering you an equal partnership, without any monetary investment. Your name and fame in society and your established institute will serve as a perfect cover, for us to hide our illegal activities and our real work. And don’t underestimate my contacts in Government, Bureaucracy, Police, and Judiciary. I know who’s who in power and can prove extremely useful to you at every turn in your life. I also know well, that you are even more corrupt and immoral than me; so stop acting like a saint!”

  “I am an artist and not a professional fixer like you.”

  “Remain the artist; let me do all the dealing and dirty work.”

  Both friends shook hands on that and after dessert that Rudolf Schönherr flatly declined, because he had to keep in shape, they left the restaurant.

  CHAPTER 7: THE SATAN’S COVE& THE HUMAN SACRIFICE

  The constantly ringing bell of the phone woke up Payal; she put the pillow on her head, but the noise didn’t stop, neither went away. She had to give in to the persistence of the caller; getting out of the bed she wore the slippers and went to the drawing room of the flat to pick up the phone. It was near noon; Shalini had gone to Lajpat Nagar for shopping and Payal was alone in the flat.

  “Yes?” she spoke in a lazy voice picking up the cordless phone.

  “Hi Payal, this is me, Abhay,” she heard from the other end.

  “Abhay, how are you?” she asked lying down on the sofa.

  “I’m fine; I’m calling you from my office.”

  “Yes, I’m listening.”

  “I…I was sort of thinking of you, and I thought I’ll give you a call. Actually, I could do no work and just keep on thinking about you,” he confessed in the same breath.

  “I’m flattered to hear that.”

  “Listen, I want to meet you.”

  “You mean now?”

  “In the evening, how about dinner, same place as last time. How does that sound?”

  “I don’t know; I’ll think about it.”

  “Come on, it’s only a dinner. We can take your friend Shalini too, just like the last time.”

  “Well…” Payal was still undecided.

  “All right, it’s fixed; I am coming to pick you both at eight.”

  “I’ll tell Shalini about it.”

  “And Payal; one more thing,” he said hesitatingly.

  “Yes?”

  “I love you!” Abhay declared and hurriedly put down the receiver on his end.

  Payal lay with open eyes on the sofa, listening to the empty dial tone on the phone. She switched off the phone and put it on the center table, closing her eyes. She rose up from the sofa and walked towards the bedroom; she stopped mid-way, came back and picked up the cordless phone from the center-table and took it with her to the bedroom. She put the phone on the bedside shelf and lay down on the bed; she closed her eyes and tried to capture the clam of sleep.

  Her sleep was broken after half an hour by the sudden ringing of the bell of the phone.

  “Hello, Payal, is that you?” This is Rudolf Schönherr.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Listen…I have some great news. You know about Leena, my discovery, who tabloids call the ‘Queen of soap operas’ on the Indian television screen?”

  “Yes,” said she.

  “She has left a major serial which is telecasted twice a week on prime-time television. And now the producers are in desperate search for a young actress who can play that role. Since my relations with them go back very far, I was the first person they approached with their problem. They told me in fact that it was my responsibility to find within a week such an actress since it was also me who found them, Leena, to begin with.”

  “And, what did you say?” Payal asked with great difficulty, as her heart leaped into her mouth. She felt her fingers squeezing the phone as her pulse raced uncontrollably.

  “I told them about you; it’s fixed, just one screen test and you are in. And if you play the role well for just three or four initial episodes and the audiences accept you, ratings of the serial don’t fall steeply, you would make it big time, and need I tell you what this kind of a dream-break would do to your career?”

  He didn’t need to; Payal knew it very well. She felt herself soaring in high heavens once again all her dreams of fame and fortune surfaced.

  “Payal, are you still there?” She heard Rudolf Schönherr’s voice from the other end, which she never knew could sound so sweet.

  “Yes, yes, I’m here. But I am new, virtually unknown and my experience is limited to a few advertisements for television and dancing in a music video. I haven’t even done a bit role in a television serial. Are they willing to sign me, despite being aware of all these facts?”

  “They want a fresh face,” Rudolf Schönherr explained. “The role
by its very nature is such that an established actress with a specific image can’t play it, neither would she be accepted by the regular audience of the serial drama. Talent and on-screen presence are the only conditions of the producers, which I have assured them, you have plenty of.”

  “Thank you for the effort Mr. Schönherr but I’m not sure if I’m ready for this.”

  “Don’t get cold feet now Payal, not after you have come thus far; this won’t do. Don’t be one of those unsuccessful people, who accept and live with failure, because they have not the courage to succeed. Opportunity only knocks on your door once in life and once missed, it never returns.”

  “Maybe I need some time to think it over,” Payal said.

  “No, that is one luxury which you cannot afford. It’s now or never Payal, if you want this you’ll have to meet with the producers this very evening. If all goes well you’ll be shooting on Monday; don’t waste this God-given opportunity of a lifetime, I tell you. Else you’ll be repenting all your life thinking ‘what if?”

  “You are very persuasive Mr. Schönherr.”

  “Well, what’s your decision; do you want it or should I tell the producers to look for some other girl?”

  “I’ll take it,” Payal said with her voice choked with emotion. “I…I accept it.”

  “Excellent; I knew it. That’s why I had arranged for the meeting with the producers in the evening. I’ll come and pick you up at four.”

  “Four in the afternoon?” Payal asked as she remembered the dinner-date at eight with Abhay.

  “Why, is there a problem? Is there anything else which is more important for you to do?”

  “No, no, four is fine,” Payal said hurriedly.

  “Good, I’ll see you at four.”

  “Rudolf Schönherr…I’ll never forget this favour,” Payal said sincerely.

  “Nonsense, I’m just doing my work.”

  “You are the most kind-hearted man I have ever met.”

  “Oh, believe me, I’m no such person, so I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye,” Payal said and switched off the phone, putting it back on the bedside shelf. She put both her hands on her head and let herself slip on the bed; she closed her eyes with sheer ecstasy. Still unable to believe that it had really happened, that finally, at last, her long-cherished wish was now about to be realized.

  She outstretched her hands and shouted with pure joy, “YES!” She got out of the bed and walked briskly, to and fro in the bedroom, unable to control her excitement; Payal felt it all getting to her nerves. She opened the wardrobe, picked up a large towel and her friend Shalini’s red coloured dress and went to the attached bathroom.

  After she got ready, Payal wondered whether she should write Shalini a note, but decided against it. She wanted to see her friend’s disbelief when she told her of her meeting with the top producers and her opportunity of playing the lead role in the major soap on a satellite television channel.

  But what about her date with Abhay? Well, she should be back by eight, she argued with herself. If not, she could call Shalini later, to ask Abhay to wait for an hour or so as per the circumstances. Or else she could postpone the dinner for the next day if the need arose. After all, what was one lousy date compared to a chance of a lifetime?

  The phone bell rung in the drawing room and she went to pick it up. “Hi! Payal,” Rudolf Schönherr said, “are you ready?”

  “Absolutely; where are you?”

  “Just outside your building.”

  “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  “Good, I’m waiting.”

  In her haste, Payal had completely overlooked the fact that by parking outside, Rudolf Schönherr had succeeded in making both is arrival and his departure with Payal in his Land Cruiser to go unnoticed and undetected by any witness.

  Payal climbed in the S.U.V, closing the door behind her. “Hi, how are you?’ she asked with a forced smile.

  “I’m fine,” he said in an emotionless voice. He was wearing a woolen cardigan with a dark coloured trouser.

  Payal looked with a little apprehension at his eyes, which seemed to have turned to glass and at his thin lips. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

  “Of course, why do you ask?”

  He started the engine and put his ‘Prado’ on the busy ring road with heavy evening traffic. “By the way, nice dress,” he said in a voice devoid of any emotion as he kept looking at the road ahead from the windscreen.

  “Thank you,” Payal spoke in a matching ungrateful voice.

  Before she could catch her breath, Rudolf Schönherr went haywire, as he drove his Prado with unbelievable speed in that heavy traffic. She had a hard time, avoiding knocking herself with the dashboard- unable to find or tie the seat-belt -as Rudolf Schönherr continued to drive rashly.He scared the daylights out of Payal, as he raced his station wagon at top speed at a crossing. The green light of the traffic signal at the intersection had been blinking warningly. It was two seconds after it had closed altogether, that Rudolf Schönherr’s Prado came rushing at top speed.

  Like the opening of floodgates, the traffic released from the opposite road. The entire traffic crossing was filled with the noises of skidding tyres, as a multitude of vehicles, from buses to cars, to two-wheeler scooters, had to jam their brakes to save Rudolf Schönherr's ‘Prado’, which had by that time come in the middle of the crossing.

  Payal thought that the vehicles on the left side of the Prado, coming straight towards the door on her side, were going to crash into them. She panickingly threw her head on her knees and both her hands above her head. But the Prado continued to run at top speed, leaving behind the loud slang, swears, and curses of other drivers. She also saw the cars ramming into buses and two-wheelers from behind, as the latter abruptly applied brakes on the green signal to save Rudolf Schönherr.

  “Lucky for you that they didn’t have any traffic police around or a cop with a motorcycle to give you a hot chase,” Payal said.

  “But why would they want to chase me? Rudolf Schönherr asked surprised.

  “Some nerve you got; I have to give you that at least.”

  “No need getting melodramatic honey,” Rudolf Schönherr said putting on a Peter Gundry’s music on the stereo of the car “happens all the time.”

  Payal turned the volume down after a while and asked, “Aren‘t we going to your place in South Extension?”

  “No, we’re going to a large estate in Mehrauli. You’ll never see another place like it in this entire city,” he said proudly.

  “Are the producers of the soap-opera coming there?” Payal asked.

  “Yes,” he answered avoiding looking Payal directly in the eye. He again increased the sound of the music as they passed the posh locality of Green Park.

  Payal was starting to feel a little weary or perhaps it was her woman’s intuition, which was warning her that something was wrong. At any rate, her enthusiasm was slowly vanishing and she hardly looked forward to meeting the producers. She was also beginning to feel that she had been too hasty in accepting Rudolf Schönherr’s invitation; maybe she should have gone with Abhay instead. She felt much calmer with him and also somehow safe.

  These were the kind of thoughts that occupied her mind all the way to Qutab Minar the most famous historical landmark of Delhi- from where Rudolf Schönherr’s Prado took a right turn towards the large estates of Mehrauli. Rudolf Schönherr slowed down his station wagon considerably, as he put it on an unmade road, a winding by –lane that ended before a huge iron gate of the Raul estate..

  Payal saw a signboard on the left-hand side of the path, which announced:

  NO ENTRY

  PRIVATE PROPERTY

  TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED

  Rudolf Schönherr opened the door of the Land Cruiser Prado and went outside to open the gate after unlocking it, he came back and drove his station wagon inside. But not before Payal had seen an even more ominous sight, an iron chain link fence – similar to the one th
at surrounds military bases – running from the pillars, which held the iron gates, on both directions, possibly to the entire length of the estate; protecting or cutting it off from the outside completely.

  Payal looked at the fence at least eleven feet high; somehow that estate appeared to her as a huge open jail, from which there was no escape.

  “When will the producers come?”

  “Don’t worry about them; those Bastards won’t be here for quite some time. We got all the time in the world, look, there’s the farm-house,” Rudolf Schönherr said pointing to the windscreen in front of him.

  Payal followed his gaze and saw that the one kilometer or near about long winding road ended in the porch of a single storied farm-house, which had a glass pyramid-like structure on its terrace. And some distance from it was a small and artificial lake; round shape and aesthetically build smooth slabs of pink stone led to the water body from the farmhouse.

  Rudolf Schönherr stopped the car on the stone floor porch of his farmhouse, just in front of the wooden door that led inside. “You sit tight,” he said opening the door and getting out of the station wagon, “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?” Payal asked hurriedly.

  “I seem to have misplaced the keys to the front door; I’ll just go and fetch the duplicate set of keys from the shed behind the building. I’ll be back before you know;” he said and was gone in a flash.

  Payal’s heart was pounding in her chest for reasons unknown to her. Maybe it was just being alone in a vast estate, which seemed to her to be completely cut off from the outside world. She screamed aloud; jumping out of her skin when her eyes fell on the open window on driver’s side. An unknown and strange face was staring at her from there; she hesitatingly opened the door of her side and got out of the car. The stranger ran and came before her from the front side of the Land Cruiser.

  He was a barely five feet high, lean man with a small head and had very small hair, deep-sunken, sharp eyes that moved feverishly in their sockets and face unshaven for many days. He wore torn rags as clothes and dirty shoes on his feet and a worn out round shaped test-cricketer’s cap on his head, but the very first impression which he gave Payal was that of a ‘mad-man’. The kind of madman which one encounters on roads, bus, and railway stations, who appear to be forever wandering aimlessly; Payal looked at him scared, she could also see the dirty yellow teeth of that man who stood before her. She again screamed aloud when someone came from behind and put a hand on her shoulder.