The Master Unmasked!

'Anthony…!!!' Sheryl's eyes had widened with fear. 'What on the earth makes you go nuts like this?' She bellowed, unable to restrain herself from reacting, at the site she had just seen.

'Shh….! Don't bark mad love…you will wake up all and sundry!' Anthony replied, hurrying towards her, carrying a blood-stained, heavy-looking Mallet.

They were standing in the dark alley on the second floor of Hotel Mount Verghese, in front of the door to the secret chamber. Vincent was lying prone on the floor, drenched in the blood that was profusely flowing through the head injury; most probably given by Anthony.

'Anthony, you…you killed him…? Are you insane?' Cried Sheryl, with bated breath, unable to absorb the truth.

The high-pitched voices intrigued Martha, as she was carrying out normal room services. She followed them and hid behind the wall in the dark silhouettes, listening intently.

'Just shut up. Shut the hell up, Sheryl. It was needed. He had got all the details, that filthy little watchdog. He was threatening me with lawful action. Vincent! The treacherous swine!' Anthony had the devil dancing in his eyes. For the first time in life, Sheryl felt intimidated.

'Vincent told me about the contemptuous plans that have been brewing in your head. For sure Anthony, we never had this plan with the new species of aquatic plant found in the lake. You want to manufacture that mind-control drug and want to sell it to tyrants, imperialists, and nation-haters? Vincent told me that you already had your share of money!!!' Sheryl's voice contained intrusive derision, which triggered Anthony.

'So where do you think all this money comes from? Your ancestors are long gone Shery! And so is their dignity and royalty! We have been left with only these heirlooms as a legacy! I am stuck deep down in this swamp now. I can't help it. We can make a lot of money with this Sheryl, please!' Anthony pleaded, but this only exasperated Sheryl more.

'Anthony, look how low you have stooped. You have killed Vincent! Greed has driven the devil out of you. But I can't just be docile and accept it. You are a sinner Anthony, and I will never let your dreams come true.' Sheryl blurted out, immediately regretting her impetuous reply, as Anthony's bloodshot eyes now stared at her with horrific contempt.

Behind the wall, Martha shuddered, suppressing the wail that was about to slip her; by thrusting her fist into the mouth.

'Ohh, so that was the true notion behind creating another secret vault! You moved the Sword, you hid that formula in there, absolutely keeping me in the dark! Sheryl, please do not make me unleash the monster I am restraining within. Give me the sword and just leave. Forget about whatever has happened.' Anthony's voice depicted a clear warning.

'You won't get the sword! Never!', Sheryl started running away as Anthony leapt forwards to get hold of her. As soon as they were out of hearing range, Martha came out and knelt by the body, trying to fathom if there was any hope left. She let out the much-suppressed wail, as she saw Vincent. But he was alive. His heart was beating slowly.

The wail echoed highly in Charu's mind, and she woke up from the horrifying dream trembling badly.

~

Anthony's wrinkled face showed an unfathomable expression. 'What was this boy called Abhay up to?'

He turned towards his subordinate and asked, 'Is the real sword with him? Are we sure about it?'

'Yes, Master. The cargo he'd sent to Egypt was just a decoy. He claims that you can check the sword and confirm, but then you must meet him in person with absolute transparency. He has said that he also knows that Mr. Oomen is not the culprit and that next time if anything goes fishy, the actual sword might find its way to Egypt.' The subordinate replied earnestly.

'This boy definitely has some mettle. I had fabricated it perfectly to hide behind Oomen, but how the hell Abhay got to know the truth? He is playing it with me – 'the mafia boss', and that too at his conditions! I am glad that he is keen to be a pal.' Anthony thought.

'How about my granddaughter and the other hero of our story?' Anthony's lip curled as he tried to smile.

'Master, Ruth provided them exactly with what we had planned. But the wonder woman got Yuvaan out of jail yesterday. She is a whip-smart lawyer; it seems that she knows where to look for loopholes.' The subordinate jeered, clearly putting out his anguish for Charu.

'Haah, it is undoubtedly from her meddlesome grandmother that she inherits it.' Anthony growled, trying to discern the options left. 'She was supposed to become the ladylove for this flamboyant superhero Abhay, right?' He asked.

'Seems like both cats want the same cream!' The subordinate jibed and both chuckled heartily.

'Hmm…let the queen know then that the King has the sword!', Anthony aka the mafia boss said, raising his glass.

'And what for the other hero?' The other man asked. Anthony didn't even try to suppress his laughter. 'Are you writing your stepson's love story? Damn…Tell him a nicely woven story of torcher and make him fight harder for his love.'

The Corporator left. 'Love…such a powerful yet decisive thing…!' Anthony murmured, stroking his knuckles gently on the table to match the beats of 'hymn to the sea'.

~

Charu looked utterly surprised. It was becoming a conundrum day by day. Till this point, only Abhay was trying to frame Yuvaan. Now the latter had also started playing at the same.

'Yuvaan, for God's sake! Not you as well!' Charu replied in a worn-out voice.

'Charu…I am not lying. Dad had called yesterday. And he had a rather spooky story to share. Abhay has teamed up with this mafia gang. They made Dad a fugitive and made it up for Ruth to lie about him. Abhay has the real sword, and he is about to crack a deal with them.' Yuvaan blurted out in a single breath.

'WHAT!!!' Charu yelled in dismay.

'Good Lord Yuvaan! Stop it please! Stop this foolhardy blame game! Why don't you guys understand that it eventually hurts me? Abhay also had a lot many allegations about you. About the Diary you owned and the reaction you gave to Ruth's appearance. Can you explain them?' Charu retaliated grudgingly in a stern voice. Clearly, an allegation on Abhay had hit her hard.

'Why not? Said Yuvaan, abandoning the friendly tone. 'Uncle Vincent is in my maternal relations. He happened to be mentioning Sheryl's diary and letter. I wanted to read them, so I borrowed them! Simple! As for Ruth, I had seen him coming home and begging to dad for a job, isn't it quite natural that I felt indignant at how he repaid Dad's compassion?'

Charu nodded silently, but inside, she was feeling as if her heart had been put on fire. Total chaos had occupied her mind. Abhay had always been her silent support. He was a stoic person, who had an uncanny ability over logic and crime investigations but was abysmal when it came to express his heart. His calm eyes used to do it instead. The past they had was not very soothing, but Charu had once dreamt of a life-long journey with him. She had had her reasons to move on, but the love that had been buried deep, well, it was still love!

Yuvaan on the other hand was poles apart from him. He was a jubilant and youthful guy, who never believed to keep it in. He used to hide all his pains and solitude behind a hearty grandiloquent demeanour, which easily deceived everyone but Charu! He had stood with her like a much-needed friend, especially after the wedding with Abhay had been called off.

Both had been important to her, and she felt potentially sandwiched between their tussles.

'Charu…', Yuvaan called, gently stroking her shoulders.

Charu looked up to him but did not respond. 'We will follow Abhay tomorrow and shall find out the truth.'

Charu silently followed him, while the warm tears found their way down to her cheeks.

~

Abhay was staring at the soft ripples forming in the water with the moist breeze. Similar ripples were wavering inside his heart too. He had to get this deal done as quickly as possible. It was the only possible way for him to catch the mafia boss red-handed. He had to unmask him and his fastidiously woven web of drugs. He had to plan it very meticulously, even at the cost of being the bad guy. 'Believe me Charu, please, I want to explain everything as desperately as you want to hear it, but I have no choice…' His heart was full of great agitation but still, his face showed the same stoic determination.

Charu and Yuvaan were hiding behind the boulders at the beach, observing everything with rapt attention. Finding Abhay at the beach had made it clear to Charu that Yuvaan was right. However, her heart was still oscillating between emotions. Somewhere she was still praying that this all should be proved as a hoax.

Suddenly a boat came, and a huge figure presented itself on the beach. Abhay walked up to him and offered a handshake.

'Nice meeting you, my boy!' Said the masked man.

'Same here Sir,' Abhay replied earnestly.

'I must admit that I am impressed with your wits! On a friendly note, how did you find out that Oomen isn't guilty?' Anthony asked the question that had been exasperating him ever since.

'I even know that the real culprit does not have his origin from this region.' Abhay replied, locking his sight with Anthony's, and grinning lopsidedly.

Anthony's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his demeanor usual.

'Ohh…And how did you deduce these conclusions?'

'Two simple things sir. First, when I'd called, he said that he doesn't know me. Owing to the past that his daughter and I share, and a doting father that I know he is, it was not even remotely possible. Second, I had asked him to share the received receipt on his letterhead. The printed name on the top right corner had 'Manikanth Oomen'. But while signing it manually, he wrote 'Manikant Oomen'. That missing 'H' explained to me that someone had been masquerading all the way long. There is a subtle difference in usage of 'ta' and 'th' in Southern India. A neophyte won't pay the required attention to it in hurry.'

Anthony nodded in admiration, careful not to reveal his identity yet. 'Great! Coming to the point, May I have a look at the sword?'

Abhay showed him the sword but didn't hand it over to him. 'Please sir, money should come parallelly.'

At the glimpse of the sword, Charu and Yuvaan moved closer, ready to strike.

'Yeah,' Agreed Anthony. As he turned to get the bag, several things happened at once. Yuvaan gave Abhay a sharp blow on the head from behind, nabbing him down. Charu kicked Anthony's leg, snatched the bag, and gave him a sharp blow with the elbow in the abdomen.

As Anthony screamed in agony, she gave him another jolt with the bag, this time straight on the face making his mask fall over. As she saw his face, all the dreams, glimpses came rushing to her, and for a second, she was petrified! On the other hand, Abhay and Yuvaan were taking all their tussle out. They were fighting so ferociously that nobody was paying heed to the sword lying unattended.

Recovering from the shock, Anthony pushed Charu away with all force his body could gather, making her bang her head hard on one of the boulders. Taking advantage of this, he grabbed the sword and ran away with the boat.

Seeing this, Abhay and Yuvaan both chased him, but the damage was done. The sword was gone…!