by Varsha Dixit
Shreya’s expression bordered on incredulous. “That asshole did his flat up like mine?”
Obviously, we are not showing any respect to the dead. Aisha nodded.
Shreya, abruptly, leaned forward and Aisha sank back. “You knew about me since then?”
“A friend—a cop—showed me pictures of Princess Kritika, Lavina and Tony and said that all of them had one thing in common—Kabir. And that I was defending Kabir because of my feelings for him and not facts. He was right; my gut screamed at me that Kabir wasn’t capable of taking a life. So, to back my gut I started matching facts. And, wherever there was Kabir, there was Shreya. So, I started looking at you and things started falling in place.”
Shreya raised an eyebrow. “You are so stupid. You came here alone?”
“I was hoping to be wrong.” Aisha flicked a worried glance at the gun.
The storm was dying down. The wind was no more the roar of a beast but the yowl of a whipped dog. The rain had tapered to a steady pitter-patter.
“Why did you kill Lavina?”
“So that Kabir would come to me. First his sister dies, his family breaks apart, and then his wife dies. He was supposed to come to me.” Shreya said, her jaw clenched.
“He was always with you.” Aisha reminded.
“As a friend; never as a lover like he is with you.” Shreya sneered.
“So, you took a woman’s life? She was his wife—”
“Who made that alcoholic his wife?” Shreya twisted her mouth. “She lived in my building; I bumped into her regularly. I saw the signs—the trembling hands, bloodshot eyes, her breath always smelled of booze.” Shreya tossed her head to the side. “The watchman told me of the several men who went in and out of her flat. She was expendable.”
Aisha gasped.
“Don’t look so shocked. It wasn’t like she was going to find a cure for AIDS. She was a bloody drunk. I took her in, helped her get sober and then coached her to become the girl Kabir would definitely fall for.” Shreya sighed. Her eyes glazed as she recalled a fond memory. “I did a commendable job with that useless drunk. Kabir fell for her hook, line and sinker. He felt they had a connection. Within weeks, he proposed to her. Lavina said yes and they got married, never to live happily ever after,” she jeered.
“What did you do?” Aisha asked, her voice a quiet whisper.
“Reminded Lavina of her first love, the bottle.” Shreya chuckled. Her laugh was brittle. “And the fool resisted. She had genuinely started loving Kabir. The effect he has on us poor women?” Shreya’s expression was coy. “But I’m very persistent. Lavina succumbed to one sip that became a bottle in an hour. Kabir saw the real Lavina and their fights started.”
“So, you sent Vikas to kill Lavina?”
“Yes! I sent him to kill that useless drunk!”
“Kabir was in that same apartment. If you cared,” Aisha couldn’t bring herself to call it love, “If you cared for him then why? Did you not realize that Kabir might be blamed for it?”
Shreya’s smile was saucy.
Aisha understood. “You wanted him to be blamed? You were hoping that he would break so that you could build him back up? And he then he would fall in love with you. A warped version of Pygmalion.”
“Hmph! Everything was planned. I went to their place for dinner. Lavina was drunk in her room. I coerced Kabir to take some sleeping pills. Fights with that useless tart were taking a toll on him. Vikas was supposed to kill Lavina quietly, but that drunk did not drink enough so she woke up and fought back, but Vikas was stronger.”
Aisha sat back, her head hung low. She is sick!
“Why did you marry that sleaze ball, Sudhir Vyast?”
“Oh please!” Shreya rolled her eyes. “Another useless person I had to invest my time in. I knew that lecher’s character perfectly before our wedding. There was no way he would not go back to his cheating ways after the marriage.”
Aisha rubbed her forehead to stay focused in face of such deviousness. “Another ploy to get Kabir’s sympathy?”
Shreya’s grin was self-depreciating. “You think I’m pathetic?” Her expression changed, and her eyes glinted cruelly. “But I’m not. I’m strong and persistent. Someone who does not let anyone, or anything get in the way of her goals.”
“Goal,” Aisha corrected, “Kabir!”
“Enough talking. I’m eager to call Kabir and give him the news of your death. Let me show you the terrace.” Shreya dug the gun in Aisha’s stomach. “The place where I committed my first murder. Twenty-one years ago, on this day.”
Aisha could only stare at her, stumped. Her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. Finally, she said hoarsely. “Princess Kritika!”
Straightening, Shreya giggled. “Bingo.”
“Shreya!”
A roar came from the darkened corner of the living room. A man thundered toward them. Another man grappled with him, trying to stop him.
Shreya turned as pale as a ghost. Startled, she took jerky steps back. “Kabir!” Her lips trembled.
Chapter 93
“Let me go!” Kabir raged, pushing Parth to the side, his fury focused on Shreya.
Aisha jumped to her feet. “Kabir, please.”
It happened in seconds. Shreya was quick to come up behind Aisha and hooked her arm around Aisha’s neck. She pulled Aisha.
Not expecting the pull, Aisha fell back. Shreya pressed the gun on Aisha’s temple.
“Stop right there! I will not hesitate to shoot her. You know I can kill.”
Kabir froze even as his eyes glittered with rage. “Let Aisha go!”
“Why, you love this one too?” Shreya yelled, digging the gun into Aisha’s soft skin.
“Ms. Shreya, I’m a CBI officer.” Parth interceded. “End this peacefully. Let Aisha go. We can work out a deal for you.”
Shreya clucked her tongue impatiently. “Would that deal make Kabir mine forever?”
“Shreya!” Kabir growled warningly.
“How did you get here? You were in Goa. I dropped you at the airport myself,” Shreya shouted.
Kabir stayed quiet; his nostrils flared as he stared at Shreya with deep-seated hatred.
“I arrested and brought him here,” Parth butted in. “Kabir thought I was taking him to Mumbai. Then Aisha convinced him to be a silent spectator.”
“Can’t you see all that I did for you, Kabir?” Shreya cried out as if in pain. “You don’t see my pain, my sacrifices? Nothing! You don’t see how much I love you?”
Aisha felt Shreya tremble against her in anger. Kabir’s gaze dipped to Aisha. “Nothing will happen to you, I promise!”
“Stop talking to her!” Shreya shouted.
“Why? Why did you kill Kritika? Wasn’t she your best friend?” Aisha spoke hoarsely, struggling to breathe with Shreya’s arm choking her, the gun pinching her temple.
“What a curious one you are!” Shreya dug the gun some more. Aisha resisted the pain.
Parth stood alert, ready to jump into action like a coiled spring.
“I killed Kritika because of you, Kabir. It was all your fault.”
Kabir’s mouth opened but no words came out. He swallowed a few times.
Aisha saw his tortured look.
“I fell in love with you, Kabir, the first time I saw you when my father and I visited this palace. I made friends with Kritika just to get close to you, Kabir. But you never noticed me. Why didn’t you?” Shreya cried out.
“I noticed you.” Kabir said, even as his eyes misted.
“You are lying. Just like your precious sister. I kept begging her to arrange a date with you. For I knew, you would not say no to her. I begged her so many times that entire two weeks I stayed here. She just kept putting me off.” Shreya raged. “And then the day before I was leaving, Kritika finally told me to my face that she was never going to set me up with you, Kabir. I wasn’t good enough for her brother. She called me a ‘crazy psycho!’
“So, you killed her just for that?” Parth a
sked.
“Yes! I followed Kriti to the terrace when she went to get her Walkman. She begged me to let her go. But I was mad. I pushed her off the terrace. Satisfied? Is everyone bloody satisfied now?” Shreya screamed.
Chapter 94
Keeping Aisha close to her, Shreya glanced at the door she had just come through.
“The place is surrounded by the police. You can’t get away.” Path warned.
“Bullshit! I did not see them coming in,” Shreya shot back.
“Then go ahead and step outside,” Parth encouraged, taking a few steps toward them.
Shreya pointed the gun at him. “Do they know of the side entrance from the courtyard?”
She increased the pressure on Aisha’s throat. Aisha gagged. Parth blinked.
“See, you don’t know this place like I do.”
Shreya dragged Aisha and went behind the stairs. Aisha tried to keep pace with the deranged woman tugging painfully at her neck.
“SHREYA, DON’T!” Kabir roared, moving closer.
“If any of you try to stop me, I will shoot her,” Shreya called out. She hit Aisha on the head.
Aisha winced, trying to choke her scream.
Kabir made a strangled noise in his throat.
Parth put a restraining hand on his arm. “Don’t be the reason she shoots Aisha.”
Kabir gave him a tortured look but stayed where he was.
Aisha felt Shreya tremble in rage. “Still feeling for another woman? Why can’t you love me, Kabir? Why?” She again hit Aisha on the head.
Aisha whimpered in pain and saw momentary blackness.
“Please, let Aisha go. Take me instead,” Kabir voiced, unsteadily. His gaze locked with Aisha’s.
Shreya pulled something out from her pocket. It was a zip tie. “Put this on.” She put it in Aisha’s hand. “Don’t try anything smart. I have nothing to lose.”
Aisha put the bind around her wrists. Shreya reached over and yanked hard.
“Ouch!” Aisha could not help a startled yelp as the ridged plastic bit into her skin. Her head felt raw and throbbed from Shreya’s blows.
“Does he know, sweet Aisha?” Shreya mimicked the term Kabir often called her by.
Aisha’s eyes flew open.
What is she talking about?
“Hey, Kabir!” Shreya pushed Aisha.
Aisha faltered and fell on her knees in front of Shreya.
“Did your precious girlfriend tell you that she is pregnant?” Shreya’s laugh was cruel.
Kabir face turned white, he swayed unsteadily. Parth caught him and held him up.
Chapter 95
“No! No!” Aisha yelled out to him. “I’m not, Kabir. I lied to push her over—”
Shreya grabbed her hair and yanked Aisha back up. “You little bitch! Stay there, you both,” she pointed the gun at Kabir and Parth, “don’t follow me. I will not hesitate even for a second in killing her!” Shreya roughly turned Aisha around and hit her on the back. Aisha struggled to stand straight as her back stung.
“Did I make my point boys?” Shreya cooed.
Aisha had to wipe her eyes for her temple was bleeding.
“Move, c’mon! Go in that corridor!”
Shreya pushed the gun on Aisha’s back. Wincing, Aisha put her hands on the wall and limped to the dark corridor. The pain in her head was sapping her energy, weakening her.
“Turn left.”
“Ouch!” Aisha’s foot hit something hard. A chest of drawers.
Shreya grabbed Aisha’s neck. “Don’t slow me down or I will shoot you.”
Aisha croaked, “If it makes any difference, Kabir did not believe me for a second. He was sure you would never show up because you weren’t capable of . . .”
“Shut up! Keep moving!” Shreya led Aisha through the corridor and stopped suddenly. She knew her way around the palace.
“Open that door to your right,” Shreya pushed Aisha toward a metal door. “Unlock it, hurry!”
Shreya shone some light through a pen torch. She looked over her shoulder, so did Aisha. Kabir and Parth had followed them but were keeping their distance.
Aisha felt around the door and found the latch. She worked on it, trying to slide it out even as the latch creaked in protest.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!”
Shreya reached out and shoved the latch all the way back. Aisha cried as the skin of her forefinger got caught in it and broke away. Shreya pushed Aisha outside and quickly turned around, locking the door on the other side.
Rain fell on Aisha as she somehow managed to get to her feet, holding her bleeding hand close to her chest. She was muddy all over. The ground was slippery.
“Keep walking. You will get me out of here,” Shreya yelled over the pounding Parth and Kabir were doing on the other side of the gate.
“Back off or I will shoot her,” Shreya shouted. They immediately ceased.
She pressed the gun into Aisha’s back. Biting her lower lip, Aisha took small steps on the wet floor. Rusted furniture lay upturned around her. Pots that had long ago lost their plants and broken lamp posts lined their ways like mourners of a funeral.
The wind slammed Aisha’s body, making her break into shivers. The night was dark. The swaying trees cut off any light filtering in from the hotel nearby.
“Please don’t do this!” Aisha’s teeth chattered as a sob, the first of many, escaped her clamped mouth. She kept seeing the faces of Kiara and her father.
“Cut the drama. Keep walking.” Shreya shouted to be heard over the din the storm was making.
Rain crashed into Aisha’s face. She shaded her eyes to look ahead. A familiar smell assailed her.
The pond! We are near the pond!
Shreya put the gun to the back of Aisha’s head. Her laugh was low and humorless. “I can’t be second best for Kabir! Never!” Her words held an air of finality.
“Please Shreya, think of my family,” Aisha sobbed.
“No one thought of me,” Shreya whispered. “I will kill you. If Kabir can’t be happy with me, then he can’t be with anyone.”
Bleakly, Aisha closed her eyes, “That’s pathetic!”
Shreya smacked her hard.
“Argh!” Aisha fell against a metal chair. An iron leg slammed into her face. Aisha felt her eyes blacken momentarily. She struggled to stay conscious. A sharp metallic taste filled her mouth. Blood! Her blood!
“You, stupid tart,” Shreya roared, staring down at her. She aimed the gun at Aisha’s face. Aisha slithered back. Shreya followed.
The lightning behind Shreya lit her, making her appear demonic.
Aisha smiled a broken smile, even as her cracked lip stung. “I will not go in fear, I will go in love! Love for Kabir, love for Kiara,” Aisha’s voice broke, “love for my father! I will go in love! And you can never take that away from me.”
“Fine, then die in love!” Shreya shouted.
“I will die for love!” Aisha spat some blood out of her mouth. “Like Kriti died protecting her brother. I will die to free Kabir from your lies, free him from your hold, once and for all.”
Aisha’s smile was peaceful.
“YOU BLOODY SLUT!” Shreya pulled back the safety of the gun, aiming it between Aisha’s eyes.
“Kabir!” Aisha howled.
Shreya clucked her tongue and fired.
Chapter 96
The bullet whizzed past Aisha’s ear. Her heart thundered and her ears rang.
Someone screamed.
Aisha realized it was her own voice.
Shreya aimed the gun squarely at Aisha’s forehead and pulled the trigger again. Something was off. The gun jammed.
Hit her with something! Run!
The rain was pelting hard and the darkness didn’t help. Aisha managed to get up, only to slip back to her knees.
Kabir! Scream out to him!
Aisha opened her mouth to scream just as a bolt of lightning lit up the dark grounds. She froze.
They were not alone.
The gardens went dark again.
Chapter 97
Aisha’s mouth opened and closed, making no sound.
Shreya fiddled with the gun, rattling it, and tugging at it.
Aisha got to her feet, her hands still tied in front of her. The pelting rain made everything harder. Even escape.
Another bolt of lightning!
Princess Kritika was closer. Merely a few feet behind Shreya.
A click sound confirmed that the gun was back in play.
Shreya put the pen torch between her teeth and pointed the gun straight at Aisha’s head. “You are dead now! No more misses!” she hissed.
Aisha had no idea what a bullet traveling at 1,100 feet per second would feel like, ripping her brain apart. She heard the ominous rumble of the thunder over the wind and rain. Another bolt of lightning was on its way.
“Turn around!” Aisha’s voice was guttural.
Shreya’s look went from murderous to puzzled, “What?”
“Turn around!” Aisha cried, as the lightning struck.
Shreya turned.
Princess Kritika stared right into her face. A flash of lighting hit the ground behind them. Kritika smiled—a frightening black hollow visible between her lips.
“Can’t you see her?” Aisha sobbed out.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Shreya snapped, boring down on Aisha. “Who can’t I see?”
Aisha backed away. “Princess Kritika. Can’t you see her? She is right there.”
Shreya’s hand, holding the gun, shook violently like her body. “Shut up! Kriti is dead.”
Aisha tried to stand upright.
Shreya bent down and swiftly picked up a piece of rusting chain from the ground. She wrapped it around Aisha’s neck.
“Stop! What are you—” Aisha struggled with the sudden weight around her neck. “Please don’t!” she whimpered, trying to fight Shreya off but her tied hands made the attempts pitiful.
“You will die one way or another. I will make sure of it,” Shreya pressed the gun on Aisha’s wound and pulled the safety.
