Betrayal

Bringing the car a little from the road to the unmetalled road, Dilip applied the brake, turned back and said,” Brothers we have reached, but hear me – here you have quicksand.”

Reena opened the door of the car , came out and said, now you don’t scare us, there is nothing like quick sand here, it is merely a rumor.

Dilip said,” Hear me, my Queen of Jhansi, let's go a little slowly. It may be a rumor, but there is no harm in being alert. We all will stay together."

Madhav also came out of the car. Reena made her face and moved forward. Geeta, Anurag, and Dilip came after parking the car.

Geeta told in a dreaded voice, "When all were objecting, what was the need to come here? Why do you give room for the trouble deliberately, Last time also it was the reckless courage of Reena ...” she stopped abruptly saying this.

Dilip explained to her, "There is a difference between then and now! There is no danger of any kind here, the talk about quicksand, which we have heard, maybe a rumor."

Although Geeta was not satisfied, yet proceeded with everyone

After descending from the road the wide stretch of sand, with the Ganges making roaring noises by its swift-moving currents and high mountain in front created a romantic setting. A little ahead of Rishikesh, the place called Shivpuri, which is a tourist spot is famous for river’s flowing stream and quicksand.

Reena was the first to reach very close to the swift-flowing river. All the five stood on this side of the sand. Reena raised her hands in the air and shouted"Come on, how long will you be scared? Look, I am absolutely fine. There is nothing here."

Anurag and Dilip went ahead but Geeta was still hesitant Madhav looked at her, still, there were fears on her face. She probably could not come out of the panic of the previous incident. Looking at her, the whole accident flashed in front of Madhav's eyes when Reena ran on the ice of Dhanaulti and suddenly fell down slipping and by the fall Geeta also lost her balance. Geeta and Reena slipped and reached almost the edge of the mountain, in front of which, there was a deep ditch ahead. Reena took care of herself somehow, but Geeta could not have escaped had Dili, not Dilip caught her at the right moment. There also security personnel had advised everyone to walk on ice carefully, but Reena, ignoring all, grabbed Geeta's hand, climbed the mountain running on snow, and slipped. That incident has scared everyone, especially Geeta! She did not go anywhere for many days but there was no effect on Reena. She was still carefree and courageous.

Madhav caught the hand of Geeta and gave her strength. "Don’t get panic! We are here, so be courageous and go ahead, See all are walking on the sand and there is no danger."

Just then Dilip came running. "Come on, I'm here, so there is nothing to fear."And he grabbed Geeta’s hand and almost pulled it forward. Never openly said, but as the two used to deal with each other and take care of each other, it looked as though they loved each other. Both of them were moving forward and Madhav was coming behind them recalling the old incidents.

All five met at Dehradun Engineering College on the day of admission. Apart from Reena, others came for the first time from small towns to a city like Dehradun, which was famous for its beauty and fondness. Reena was from Delhi, very bright and fast flowing. Geeta and Reena had met before coming to the college because both of them stayed in Dehradun with their relatives who were neighbors by coincidence. Madhav, Dilip, and Anurag were busy from the morning in filling the admission forms, paying the fees and in other formalities, during which they met frequently and got acquainted with each other. After completing all the work they came back in the evening. Their classes started after a week and also their friendship. After some days they saw Dilip talking to both Reena and Geeta. Later it was found that all the three had joined the computer classes from where their friendship started. Gradually all five became friends and were identified as a gang. On every holiday they made plans for outings.

Suddenly, Reena's voice broke Madhav's attention.

"Come on Geeta! See how pleasurable it is! Let's run a race!”Reena told loudly.

Geeta replied standing, "No, you better enjoy. Involving myself in the last race with you had almost sent me up heavenwards.

"Nothing will happen. I am also in the race, Dilip and Madhav are also there. Whoever wins, we will give a party to that person, Okay!"Anurag told looking at everyone

Madhav and Dilip looked at each other and Dilip looked towards Geeta and then held her hand with one hand, and held Madhav’s hand with the other hand and all moved towards Reena and Anurag. Anurag decided the route for the race. They started running races along the river.

At the forefront was Anurag then Reena and Dilip. Madhav and Geeta, as usual, were behind. While running, Reena's foot fell on a stone and it shifted from its place but she carefully moved forward. She screamed for a moment pointing to Dilip,” Be careful here” and then ran forward.

Dilip jumped and moved forward but came back later, perhaps his idea was right as by then Geeta had reached there and no sooner her foot fell, the sand of that place started sinking. Catching the hand of the faltering Geeta, Dilip pushed her one side. Geeta fell on her face, she got up and looked back when she screamed.

Hearing the scream Anurag and Reena also got scared. Both of them ran back to that place where the sight was really scary. Dilip was almost sinking in the quicksand up to his shoulder and Madhav was pulling him out with full force. Geeta was also supporting him, but her efforts were not fruitful. Anurag screamed looking at those people,

"Try to stop it like this for some time; I'll come with a rope from somewhere, without which we  will not be able to save him." He ran away towards the road and came back in a few minutes but by then it was late and Dilip had completely got submerged in the sand. Madhav was sitting holding his head between his knees; Reena and Geeta were sitting there and crying. Anurag also saw those people and fell down on his knees.

Two days later, Madhav, Anurag, Reena, and Geeta were sitting sadly in the college canteen. Madhav broke the silence, "Whatever happened was not good, probably we should not have gone there. Tomorrow the people of Dilip's house are expected to pick up his belongings, and it will be difficult to face them."

Geeta said crying loudly,” I was already telling that we should not go to such a place, but this Reena always keeps on bubbling. Because of her all these …... "

Anurag did not agree with her and told, "Do not say that, whatever happened was just an accident! It was not a mistake of anyone."Reena shouted, "It was definitely a mistake! Everything happened because of this Geeta. She was to die, instead, that idiot died himself trying to save her. I can never forgive her."Madhav and Anurag were looking at each other with surprise. They felt something strange in Reena's behavior. Geeta was still crying while hiding her face on the table.

The next day at 11 o'clock, the call from Dean’s office came for all the four. When they reached Dean’s office, the parents of Dilip were sitting there. Dilip's father's face was expressionless, but his mother's eyes were dry with regular crying.

Dean told looking at all the four, "When this unfortunate incident took place, all four of you were with Dilip. Who can change destiny?”Dilip's father said, "Yes, you are correct. None can change destiny. What is the mistake of that poor girl! How does anyone know if the soil will sink there?"Dean, "Who are you talking about? He got a little flabbergasted over this, "Someone told me that Dilip got trapped in the process of saving a girl."Before someone else spoke Geeta told, "I am that unfortunate girl. In the process of saving me, he lost his life.”And she started crying again.

Dilip's father got some satisfaction but his mother started crying. She did not look up. In a short while, they all came out. Dilip's parents went with his baggage and the other four went to their class. After the class, Madhav went to his room but suddenly remembered that he forgot his book in the class. He went to the class running, the book was on the table, taking the book as he was moving back to his room he heard a familiar sound from the other side of the corridor, He moved towards the sound and as he approached the sound became clearer."Look, Anurag, do not spoil my mind! I am already very upset, here in my life an earthquake has come and you propose me, your mind is not steady, you go from here." It was Reena's voice. "Look, Reena, you told last time whether he took interest or not, you will wait for him, but now when he is no more in this world, there is no question of waiting." Anurag's voice was heard."Rina told, in a jocular voice, "With great difficulty, we almost reached victory in our third attempt, but one mistake of Dilip turned our victory into defeat."

Anurag, "Meaning?"

Reena said, "When I proposed to Dilip, he told me that he liked Geeta and will not think of anyone except her, From then on I started trying to remove this Geeta from the path but every time she survived. I deliberately pushed her towards the ditch on the ice but Dilip saved her. When you fixed the route for the race, I was sure that she will not survive this time as I had seen the place before. But my fate was bad. She has snatched away my love so I shall not allow her to live”

Anurag spoke with surprise, "You are very dangerous. But because of you, my work got done."Reena, "What do you mean? Stay away from me or else it will not be good."Anurag, "Nothing Nothing."Madhav became dizzy after hearing all. He could not understand what to do".

Someone placed his hand on the shoulder of Madhav, Madhav becoming nervous looked back and found Navin Sir standing. He was in charge of the college administration and security, as well as hostels' warden. Madhav was a straightforward and brilliant boy, so like everyone Navin Sir also liked him.

Seeing Madhav's nervous face, he became worried, "What's the matter, Madhav? Please tell me, if there is any problem."

Madhav was scared, but when asked, again and again, he told Navin Sir everything and also said that he had doubts about the credentials of Anurag.

Navin Sir also got worried because on one side it was necessary to get justice done and on the other side to safeguard the reputation of the college from any accusations coming to the students of the college. Navin Sir asked him to go to the room and rest and he went towards Dean's room himself.

Navin Sir told everything to the Dean by hearing which he too got upset. But both decided after careful considerations that the truth must be extracted by talking to both with strictness. The next day Dean called both Reena and Anurag to his office where Navin Sir was also present. Dean looked towards them and told, “Look, we have called you for an important discussion.Before starting, I want to tell you both that whatever asked, you must tell the truth because we know that you only know the truth. If you try to hide anything then it will be difficult for you".

Reena and Anurag looked at each other in surprise and turning to the front said together, "What's that, Sir?"

The Navin Sir began to speak, "Dilip's death was not an accident." He waited for a minute and said, "We know this thing, and now we want to know from you what is the truth. Please tell us clearly”.

Both of them got stunned, Anurag spoke with a little stammer "Sir, what are you saying, Dilip got submerged into the sand in front of all four of us. If you want, call Geeta and Madhav too. Dilip’s death was an accident."Navin Sir told in a serious voice "Maybe his death was caused by quick sand but he was deliberately transported there. I also know who has created this conspiracy from among you but I want to hear from your mouth."No, Sir, I am not involved in any conspiracy. That is Reena ..."Anurag spoke in a frightening voice.

Reena retorted, “What nonsense, I did nothing. You set the route of the race and were in the forefront of it, but nothing happened to you. It means that you knew about that place, so you could escape by getting out of the way. But the head did not warn us that we were in danger. I also warned Dilip but he tried to save Geeta instead and got screwed up .. If conspiracy has happened, then Anurag should have done it”.

"He is lying, he himself told me that he wanted to kill Geeta so he deliberately took her there but accidentally Dilip died. This was his conspiracy."Sir Anurag is lying, all this has been done by him, and he is also a witness of this conspiracy."

This voice was that of Madhav and everyone turned around looking at him, there was somebody else with him

Madhav was standing with Sanjiv. Sanjiv and Anurag were in the same room of the hostel. Madhav entered Dean’s room accompanied by Sanjiv. Madhav said,” Sir, Sanjiv knows a few things which may throw more light on the subject. Sanjiv whatever you know you tell Dean Sir Sanjeev was feeling nervous; He looked at Madhav once and then towards Anurag, who was staring at him badly.

Dean’s voice was assertive, "Nobody needs fear, tell us whatever you know, and whoever is the culprit should be punished."

Sanjeev started speaking slowly, "Sir, I do not know much, I had heard some things which I told Madhav." It was about two weeks back when Anurag was talking to somebody late at night in which he did not take anyone’s name but talked about the quicksand along the hill river and also told him that his work will be done but he should keep the amount ready. Today, when Madhav came to me asking about the past activities of Anurag, then I remembered this fact. I do not know anything more than this. " Sanjiv had not completed his narration when Anurag ran towards outside and as soon as he opened the door two security guards, standing in front, caught him and brought him inside

Dean said in a loud voice, "You have broken all the speculations and have proved the truth; therefore, I am giving you the last chance to tell all the truth. The way of asking by the police is different."

Anurag fell at Dean’s feet crying, "Save me, Sir, I have not done anything, if I get any punishment then my parents would die. I was lured by money to kill Dilip, which should look like an accident. So it was a clear conspiracy. I knew that Reena hates Geeta and wants to kill her because I had heard the talk about Reena and Dilip, so I gave Reena information about such places where she tried to kill Geeta. When Geeta will be in danger, Dilip will definitely come for rescue. When she gets to the mouth of death, I shall pretend to help, thus giving no room for any doubt. I deliberately chose the path of the race which went right from where the quicksand rattled inside. I was confident that Reena was also aware of this place, so it was easy for me to provoke her.

Reena felt that Geeta would not survive this time, but Dilip after pushing her at the right time fell down himself. I was happy with my success but on the pretext of helping, I went in search of a rope keeping them engaged. After a while, I returned but by then the job was over. And since I was not present at the spot none could suspect me. I had not talked to that person openly so nobody could implicate me. But I wonder how Madhav and Sanjiv got the suspicion.

Dean Sir said in a serious voice, "Almost all the things have become clear except for one thing. Who is that person who gave you money to kill Dilip and why was he doing this?"

Anurag said, "Sir, Dilip’s father talked to me about giving money, he knew that I and Dilip loved one girl and that girl was Reena."Madhav said, "Do not try to complicate the issue. Why would Dilip’s father like to kill him? Anurag said, "I am not complicating anything, I am telling only what is true. I am telling you that Dilip's father wanted to kill him because he was his stepson and the only owner of a thousand crores of business which his real father had named him in his will. Dilip's mother, in connivance with her friend and company's general manager, killed the real father of Dilip and got married to him. After the marriage, they came to know that the whole business was in Dilip’s name. Now they were conspiring to kill him for many years. I am from a poor family. My father could hardly meet the expenses of my education despite his hard labor. So I became greedy for money. He cried after telling this. Dean Sir and Navin Sir looked at each other and then decided to report the matter to the police station.

Dilip's father and mother were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder conspiracy. Anurag was given relief in the sentence because of giving testimony and he was sentenced to seven years. Reena was evicted from the college for playing a part in the conspiracy. Everyone in the college was instructed to report to the security, whenever they went out of college campus, giving details of the duration of work outside so as to prevent any untoward happening in the future!

Link of the original story in Hindi titled भ्रम by Nitin Srivastava https://storymirror.com/read/story/hindi/elhf5ngv/bhrm/detail?undefined