by Varsha Dixit
The man appeared familiar to Aisha. She studied his face with the smooth forehead, deep set eyes, thin mustache, and the pronounced jawline. And then it came back to her. He had been at the shoot earlier today.
At that moment, the man noticed Aisha too. He stopped and stared at her.
A sudden acute pain cudgeled her body. Aisha stumbled, and she clutched her chest, her face folding in pain.
A low, painful moan erupted from her throat.
Sweat gushed from every pore and her body trembled violently. Her heart felt lacerated like someone was squeezing every ounce of blood from it.
All the oxygen seemed to desert her.
Aisha could sense each cell in her body shrinking. Her blood seemed to turn to ice, her arms felt weighed down by lead, even as shooting pain pricked her all over and strong nausea threatened to buckle her legs.
Aisha’s breath became shallower by the second. Like a shroud being pulled slowly over a corpse, Aisha felt death overcome her bit by bit.
She had a moment of clarity. Someone I love is dying!
Kabir, who had come to her side, noticed Aisha’s pale face and trembling body. Bending, he touched her shoulder. “Aisha, what happened? Bloody hell, you are cold as ice.”
Unknowingly, Kabir’s touch jolted life back into her. Aisha shrieked. Turning blindly, she ran for the villa.
The panic wasn’t new. She had experienced this exactly thrice before—once when her brother had been murdered in his house twenty kilometers away; the second time the very minute her mother had breathed her last in the hospital; And lastly when her father had been in a deadly collision but fortunately survived.
This time Aisha’s panic had another name. The name of the one she loved the most—Kiara.
Chapter 40
Aisha did not feel the small stones prick her feet or the undulation of the sand. Her head pounded, and she pushed herself to run faster. Aisha saw the villa’s back gate in front of her. She flew over the steps, dashed around the patio, hurtling inside the house through the back door.
She careened the corner and managed to keep running. She reached Kiara’s bedroom door and shoved it hard. It was locked. Aisha pounded the door with her fists. “Kia, open the door, open it!”
“Aisha!” Kabir reached her and grabbed her forearm. “What are you doing? You are waking everyone up.” He dropped her sandals next to her.
Aisha swung to him, her eyes wild, her mouth bent. “Kiara never locks doors. Can you open this?” She rattled the knob loudly even as she kicked the door.
Kabir grabbed Aisha and pulled her to him. “Stop it!”
Aisha struggled in his grip. “You don’t understand! Let me go.” She twisted her head.
“Calm down, Aisha.” Kabir shook her lightly. Some of the models and Amee appeared in the corridor.
“Didn’t you hear me! She never locks her door!” Aisha kicked Kabir on his shin.
“Ooof!” He reflexively dropped his arms, releasing her. Aisha threw her body on the door.
“Stop her, Kabir! Stop this infernal racket!” Amee gestured.
“Aisha, Kiara is sleeping—”
“She is sleeping through all this noise at her door?” Aisha spoke hoarsely.
“Do you have the key?” A new male voice interrupted.
Aisha turned. It was the man from the Lopez Point and the beach.
A loud crash came from behind the door. Something heavy fell inside and glass shattered.
“Kiara!” Aisha screamed. The stranger dashed between her and Kabir and crashed through the door. The door quivered but stayed.
“C’mon! Together!” Kabir gestured at the man and they both fell on the thick door. It splintered in the middle. Kabir stumbled through and Aisha was quick to follow. The stranger trailed her.
The room was dark, but the broken glass of an open window was noticeable to all in the room. Aisha stumbled in the dark. Kabir found the light switch on the wall and flicked it. They all saw Kiara.
“Kia!” Aisha ran to her niece struggling on the floor, her fingers around her throat. Kiara’s face was white, her chest heaved as she drew big gulps of air.
“Boo . . . Boo!” She kept pointing at the window behind her. “Someone tried to kill me!”
Aisha sucked her breath in and hugged Kiara to her chest. “You are safe, baby. You are safe.”
Kiara was shaking like a lone paper under a fan. Aisha hugged her niece tight, her eyes fighting tears even as they studied the state of the room. The bedside lamp lay on the floor, the window behind the bed open with one side of the glass broken and scattered on the floor.
Kabir crouched next to Aisha and Kiara. “I have called for the doctor. Let’s help Kiara on the bed.”
“No, not on the bed.” the man who had followed them from the beach said, even as he strained his head out of the window looked around. “He’s gone. Move back!” He gestured to Amee and the models crowding the room.
Aisha shifted protectively, blocking her niece from their curious gazes.
“Who the hell are you?” Kabir jumped to his feet. His body was tightly wound like he was about to swing a punch.
“Parth Mangal, CBI.” He held out his badge to Kabir. “Everyone, please step outside. There is evidence in the room that should not be contaminated. I’m calling my team.”
“You are not calling anyone. I will call the commissioner. This is my house.” Kabir stepped up to the CBI officer.
“Well, then you should have been here protecting your guests rather than flirting on the beach. Their security is your responsibility.” Parth provoked Kabir, taking a step in his direction.
“Please, just shut the fuck up, you two. I need to get Kiara to the living room.” Aisha’s voice was forceful.
Chapter 41
“Thanks!” Aisha took the offered glass of water.
“Sure. Let me know if you or Kiara need anything else. Anything, okay?” Amee said and left the living room.
Aisha helped Kiara drink some water. Kiara winced as she swallowed.
Aisha felt a new tidal wave of rage, the kind one could surf on, when her eyes were again drawn to the thick and ugly red welts around Kiara’s neck. Whoever had come in her room had come to kill her.
“When will your team arrive?” Aisha asked Parth who was hovering close. “I want to apply something on the bruises.”
“They should be here anytime.” Parth flexed his shoulders, standing at the corner of the room. It allowed him to keep an eye on the room Kiara had been attacked in.
Two people from the production team had been woken hurriedly and were guarding the room from outside the house. The broken window was another point of entry now.
“When does the police ever arrive on time?” Kabir made the acerbic comment from his seat.
Aisha glared at Kabir; he just made an irritated sound and got to his feet.
“The medicine should kick in soon.” Aisha had given Kiara some painkillers. “You are so brave.” Aisha wiped Kiara’s glistening forehead. “Did you see who it was, Kiara?”
Kiara shook her curls. “No. It was dark. I was sleeping and then . . . I woke up to him sitting on my chest . . . crushing my throat.” She struggled to speak.
“Can you describe that person? Height, weight? Did he say anything to you?” Parth added.
“He was heavy and strong. . .” She trailed off observing Aisha’s stricken expression. “I couldn’t get anything else. Sorry!” Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“You did nothing wrong.” Aisha flared. Kiara’s pain made her want to lash out and she did. “How the hell can someone get in the house so easily? Zero security in this place with so many girls here! So bloody irresponsible.” Aisha’s cheeks were red with anger and her eyes leveled with Kabir’s, accusing.
Kabir did not say anything. His expression was that of guilt.
“Kiara and I are leaving for Mumbai first thing tomorrow morning.” Aisha’s voice, like her expression, was unyielding.
“Boo, please.” Kiara pleaded, still struggling with her speech.
“No, your aunt is right.” Kabir interjected. “You are no longer contractually bound, Kiara. You can leave.”
Kiara began to protest and then, as if it took too much effort, she lay back on the sofa. “Fine, whatever you all think is right.”
Aisha grabbed another stole and wrapped it around Kiara’s shoulders.
“Don’t disturb that area. We will be taking pictures of the marks on her neck and dust for fingerprints.” Parth requested.
“You won’t find any prints; he wore gloves and a mask.” Kiara replied, her eyes still closed.
“Did you fight back?” Aisha asked. She had made sure Kiara knew self-defense like herself.
“I hit him in the ribs. And once I was able to sock him on his cheek. That’s when you started banging on the door. He was surprised, and his grip loosened. That’s when I shoved him off me and he fell against the lamp. That is all the damage I could do. He was strong, and I was surprised.”
Aisha squeezed Kiara’s hand. “You did good.”
“You have long nails. Did you scratch him?” Parth dropped down on his haunches. “There might be DNA under your nails.”
“No, he was fully clothed. Tight dark clothes from head to toe.”
Parth stilled and then nodded, studying the floor.
“The asshole came prepared.” Aisha spoke bitterly.
Parth got to his feet. “He’s not getting away. We’ll get him.”
There were sounds of a car pulling up in the driveway. “I’m posting policemen in the front and back of the house.” Parth walked outside.
Kabir, who had been quietly listening to them, grabbed his cell phone and dialed. A phone rang upstairs. “Come down immediately.”
A door opened somewhere on the first floor and Vikas came down in his pajama and T-shirt. He looked disheveled. He stopped for a second upon seeing everyone gathered and then hurried down straight to Kabir.
“What happened, Boss?”
Kabir took him to the side and started speaking, his tone low. In a few minutes, Kabir came back to them. Aisha did not acknowledge him. “After the cops are done, Kiara and you will be shifted upstairs in the empty room in my suite. I have ordered additional security; they should be here soon.”
“Thanks!” Kiara nodded.
“The security is top notch.” Kabir said, looking at Aisha but she kept her face turned away. He pivoted and walked away from them, sitting closer to the front door.
“Boo?”
“Do you need anything, Kia? Something to eat?” Aisha knew Kiara was about to defend Kabir. But that is Kiara, always rising to defend others. But today there had been no one to defend Kiara.
She noticed Kiara’s eyes droop. Aisha grabbed a small round cushion and placed it behind her head. “Take a nap. When the police want to talk to you, I’ll wake you.”
“Thanks. You will be here, Boo?”
Aisha swallowed. Between Kiara and her, her niece was the brave one. “Right here. Next to you. My chops ready.” Reaching out, she planted a kiss on Kiara’s forehead. Aisha gently stroked Kia’s hair. Kiara’s eyes closed as she held on to Aisha.
Aisha watched her for a few seconds then sighing, she turned her head. Her gaze clashed with Kabir. For a few seconds neither of them glanced away. Then Aisha sharply swiveled her head. She felt him come over to them. Aisha realized that except for a sleeping Kiara, Kabir and she were by themselves.
“It’s all your fault!” She hissed.
Kabir rubbed his forehead. “I was with you when this happened.”
“Exactly. You were out. The back door was open. You have so many models living here and deplorable security arrangements.”
Kabir exhaled. “I’m sorry. You are right, it is my fault. In my defense, something like this has never happened before.”
“News flash: there is always a first time for everything. If you had security at the house, that maniac would have never got in. Kia would have never . . . Do you realize she nearly died?” Aisha’s voice broke and she stuffed a fist in her mouth.
Kabir was beside her in a flash. He clasped her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t!” Aisha pushed his hand away from her shoulder. “Just don’t!”
Kabir’s face closed. “Is this because of what I said to you earlier?” They both were speaking in hushed tones so as to not wake Kiara up.
Aisha’s eyes were incredulous. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. You don’t even come close to what I feel for Kia. You are inconsequential; she isn’t.” Aisha snapped, switching her gaze to Kiara.
Wordlessly, Kabir got to his feet and went back to his former position near the front door.
Aisha swallowed, her eyes crowding with tears.
Chapter 42
After few minutes, Parth walked in. He came straight to Aisha. A middle-aged woman trailed him, leather bag in hand. “This is Dr. Madhuri Lorso.”
Kiara’s eyes flew open.
“You weren’t asleep?” Aisha asked.
“No, just listening.” Kiara’s gaze moved to Kabir who kept his distance, watching them silently.
“Is there an empty room we can go to?” Dr. Lorso looked at Parth.
“Yes, there is one at the end of the corridor.” Kabir led them.
Dr. Lorso and a lady constable helped Kiara to the room. Aisha walked up to Parth. “Just letting you know that this is not the first attempt to hurt Kiara.”
“It isn’t?” Parth’s glance held surprise. “So why did you not inform the police?”
“My fault. I should have made more noise.”
“So, what happened?”
“Two days ago, Kiara was posing on the pier and she fell down. That’s why the twisted ankle. Anyhow, she fell because the railing had been tampered with. There were obvious signs. Neat cuts on both ends, smell of glue at the joints.”
“Are you a PI?”
“A Private investigator? No!” Aisha shook her head. “Why?”
Parth smoothed an end of his mustache. “Because things that are obvious to you are not so obvious to most. Just now when you described the clues pointing to the tampering of the railing, that’s not something a civilian would notice.”
Aisha kept glancing at the room Kiara had gone into.
“How did you know that Kiara was in trouble? I saw you running. Did she call you?”
Think! Think! Think! Aisha shook her head. “Ugh no! I did not know what was going on here. I had a big argument with Kabir and I was very upset. He said horrible things to me, so I just ran to get away from him.”
Parth studied Aisha’s face, his gaze piercing. He seemed to believe her. “So, does Kiara have any angry boyfriends, present or ex?” Parth probed.
“No, she is very focused on her career.”
“You are her…?”
“Bua.”
“Shouldn’t you inform her parents?”
“They are dead.” Aisha left it at that. “I’m taking her back tomorrow.”
“Good luck with that. There is a massive storm expected to make land tomorrow afternoon. A deep depression in the Arabian Sea. Everything is going to be closed after ten in the morning. Airports and roads included.”
“How come no one mentioned that?” Aisha glanced around. Kabir was parked at the other end of the living room with Vikas. She stalked over to him.
“So now I know why you said yes to letting Kiara go tomorrow.” Aisha accused.
Kabir turned to her his face weary. “What did I do now?”
“Oh, don’t use that tone with me.” Aisha wagged her forefinger. “Everything is closed tomorrow. We are trapped in this bloody house of horrors because of the damned storm.”
A muscle worked in Kabir’s cheek even though he went still. “What storm?”
Vikas twitched his shoulders. “It changed direction last minute, Boss. It was supposed to head toward Kerala but now it’s going to hit here tomorrow afternoon.”
; Kabir started pacing the room. Aisha lobbed a glance at him. His expression was dark just like his clothes. He caught Aisha staring at him. “I’ll check on the security that was to come.” He bit out, leaving the room abruptly. His assistant followed him.
“Odd chap!” Parth remarked, joining her.
Aisha could not contain herself. “The concierge at my hotel said women are getting attacked and killed in this city. Are they?”
“This is police business. So, no comments.” Parth’s tone was dismissive.
Aisha put out a pleading hand. “But at least please tell me if this attack on Kiara is random or if she fits some obscene pattern of some idiotic deranged sociopathic killer.”
“She is random.”
Aisha nodded, relieved.
“What do you know of patterns?”
“Nothing,” Aisha was quick to reply.
“I’ll repeat, what do you know of patterns?” Parth crossed his arms over his chest.
“Nothing!”
“Your words were ‘pattern of a deranged sociopathic killer.’ I know behavioral analysis terms when I hear them.” Parth’s gaze was hard.
Aisha exhaled. “All my life, I wanted to be a cop, the investigative kind. My brother was a cop.”
The sound of an opening door made them turn.
Chapter 43
The lonesome figure paced the empty street near the villas. The light in the area was dim. He glanced at his watch. It was close to 3:00 am. The wind was picking up and spinning dust. One or two other people on the road ducked and kept their head lowered to protect their eyes from the prickly grains swilling around.
But not this man. His face was bent but to hide the feral, wild look in his eyes. His hands were curled into fists. “That bloody bitch. I failed again. Her silly fuck of an aunt interrupted!” Spit pooled at the side of his mouth, like a rabid animal. I’ll strangle them both.
“Frustration will make you commit blunders. Calm down. Or we will never be able to kill her.” He was talking to himself. “Calm down, idiot!” Two voices, one person.
“I will calm down, but I need to kill! I need to see the light go from her eyes. I need, need, need, need it.” His voice was high pitched.
