ANTHONY ON THE PROWL.

It was 8 p.m. The jailor had just finished his rounds and ensured that all was in place and that all the cellmates had finished their dinner and were back in their cells. He had had a hectic day, thanks to the visit of a famous journalist who wished to interview the inmates and make a cover story for her magazine. He could not refuse her as she was his close friend’s daughter. Escorting her and seeking permissions wherever needed had taken up most of his day. He sent his constable to get him a cup of tea, put up his legs on the table, and stretched back.

He had hardly done so, when some screaming alerted him and he rushed in the direction of the scream. He reached just in time to thwart an attempt of murder by a cellmate of Anthony – he had smashed his aluminum plate and had tried to attack Anthony with its sharp edge. The attacker was separated and locked up in a different cell. The jailor then went to his cubicle waiting for his tea.

Anthony chuckled to himself. The jailor had fallen for their act – his cell mate had merely pretended to attack Anthony! Pitying the jailor for being so naïve, he heaped the blanket where he was supposed to sleep and quietly left the cell. The jailor in his hurry to separate the attacker had merely bolted the door and the lock was dangling by its side.

Having spent many years in the prison and having unsuccessfully petitioned for pardon, he knew the ins and outs of the prison premises. It was not long before he crawled out of a convenient gap in the fence and made his way out. As planned, there was a jeep waiting outside the jail with the key in the ignition. He drove it away and after an hour’s drive, took a break and changed into a new set of dress which had been kept in the jeep. He did a makeover with a beard and a big mole and did it so well, that no one could recognise him.

The jeep next halted at Darana’s house. “Danny Bhaiya”, Anthony shouted at the window. Darana, who was a light sweeper got up to see who it was. His eyes could not believe him – here was his step brother, a free bird.

Though they were step brothers, unlike the usual stories, they got along famously. Both their ideas matched and when something had to be achieved, they would both discuss and finalise plans which always succeeded. They also did not mind sharing the loot because there was lots and lots of it and to spare too.

After updating each other’s status, and having come to know of the plan being hatched by Ruth and Abhay to eliminate Charu and Yuvaan, they started thinking how they could be rescued. They wanted Charu alive so that they could intimidate her and get all the documents legalised in their favour. Though Antony had bullied and tortured Sheryl, his feelings to Charu, Sheryl’s daughter by another man was surprisingly very different. The blue eyes seemed so timid and submissive, that he did not nurture any hatred towards her. On the contrary, he felt he should protect her.   

Now that Anthony was out of the jail, albeit having escaped from it, Darana had him well covered. Both of them met unknown to others and started hatching their plans. The next morning, hell broke loose in the jail when the news of Anthony’s disappearance spread. The news of the jailbreak had reached Abhay’s ears too. He was fretting and fuming but couldn’t do anything other than that.

Since Darana was informed about the kidnapping of Yuvaan and Charu, he immediately instructed his work force to give it utmost priority and bring back Yuvaa and Charu unscathed. It is strange however, while all goondas and henchmen look st tough and stern, they are quite kind to the fairer of the sex.

Abhay and Ruth knew that they could not lay their hands on Charu as long as Yuvaan was in her vicinity. Moreover they had seen Mani Oommen come across both of them in a local restaurant and he too seemed to approve their relationship.  Ruth and Abhay had to think hard as to how to get hold of their sworn enemies now. Abhay also had to retrieve the Khopesh which was in their possession, and his mind kept searching for solutions all the time.

One morning, Charu called up Yuvaan early in the morning and expressed the desire to jog around the countryside. Yuvaan too was thrilled and within minutes both had geared up and met in a common place. They had jogged for about an hour or so, when they caught sight of a small boy running across the road while a big tanker lorry was just behind him. Both of them sprang into action and saved the boy by a whisker. The boy’s mother came rushing down the street to cuddle the boy in relief!

She did not hesitate to invite both Charu and Yuvaan to her house for a cup of tea. Both of them needed the break as well as the tea and readily consented.

All of them entered the citadel-like house and as they stood speechless, whom did they see? It was none other than Danny in person!! The story of rescuing the boy from a sure stroke of them was told him by his wife, with all exaggerations she could think of.

Danny’s soft corner for Charu got a little softer now. It looked as though, soon he would turn over a new leaf! 

While tea was brought and served, Darana opened up the topic of Abhay and Ruth planning to get them killed. Both Charu and Yuvaan were taken aback, but also started thinking as to how they could protect themselves. They needed to think no further when the Mafia Boss merely ordered one of his boys to clean up a fresh room in their house. He then told Yuvaan to call up Charu’s father and tell her that he was taking Charu out for a couple of days and that he may not be worried about her. He told both of them to be under his custody for this would be is the last place Abhay would come in search of them.

Yuvaan also thought it to be the right thing to do under the circumstances. He thought to himself that if they were both smart and discreet, they could even get to know what was happening in the Boss’s Den!

They were not to be disappointed, But they never expected that it would happen so soon. As they were having tea, both of them sensed some movement behind the curtains. Unobtrusively they tried to find out who or what was behind the curtains. Their curiosity was aroused when Danny rushed inside and was heard to chide someone in muffled tones. However the other did not think it prudent to lower his voice and boomed loud, “So what if someone is there?”. Charu looked at Yuvvan meaningfully. They had recognized the voice to be that of Anthony – Anthony who had escaped from jail!!!

Both of them were shown into their room and once they had settled themselves, they started to plan their actions. They had the keys to the vault and the Khopesh. They spoke to each other in loud tones that they would visit the vault the next day if the Boss would permit them to do so. They wished that the Boss would hear them speak so that they could then try and find out what his plans were. Now that Anthony was also on the prowl, they decided to carry out their actions very secretively.