The Revenge: Sure For Damages

With my full anger, I threw the glass which was on the table with my hand, breaking into thousands of pieces as it hit the ground. The level of frustration upon me could be understood by measuring the strength of the bang which I made on the table with my fist. Even the nearby frame which was hanging on the wall, titled side wise a bit. I took a bottle of cold water, poured it over my charcoal hot forehead, slowly, trying to feel the coolness of the water as it dropped into my skin. I stretched my hair upward with my hand, pulling it hard, so as to get relief from the tension from which I was suffering. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, slowly letting it out, opened my eyes with a shine which signifies the inner confidence and determination build upon me slowly, I clenched my fist so hard, looked towards the ceiling and let go my inner anger as I shouted like hell!

“Doctor, do something, please, my child has met with a serious accident, I can’t withstand the pain he is suffering, please do fast as you can”

“We will try our level best, already his condition is critical, surviving chance is very less, and we will put our maximum effort, and have faith in God”, and the doctor closed the door of the operation hall. I sat on the nearby chair, my fingers crossed with a lady, who came with me, her head leaning on my shoulder, I calmed her by saying, “Have faith in God, He will surely…..”, I couldn’t complete the sentence as I burst into tears.

I sat on the chair with my head supporting on my hands. I still couldn’t control my anger. I kicked the table, stood up, went to my study, opened the drawer of the cupboard, searched in haste and at last I found what I was looking for, I loaded a full magazine into it, pushed it up until I heard a click, I grasped my hand onto the slide, pulled it backed sharply until I heard a click and fired it upwards towards the ceiling! I said, “The game is still on”

“…..So you mean to say that, your son is missing since afternoon, maybe he went to his friend's house or must have stopped somewhere and started playing somewhere, who understand kids these days” said Inspector Ram.

“Sir, my Tito won’t go anywhere without saying to me, always he will go to the market and come back safely, but today it has been 5 hours since he has gone, I’m really afraid, I hope my Tito is fine” cried, my wife.

“Sir, please take necessary actions as fast as you can, being his father, I only have the maximum concern and I’m very much worried. Here is my son’s photo, his latest to be precise, about a week ago.”

“Sir, you can go tension free, I have already noted down the details of your son, I will put my best men to action,” said the inspector and he smiled.

“Dad”, shouted a boy, as he entered through the door and straightaway jumped into my hands. “Tito, where have you been? We were so worried about your safety, why did you take an hour long to come from the market?”

“Sorry dad, while I was coming back, I saw a big very big stage and many people were dancing on the stage. My friend, Sonu was also there, I started to talk to him and we were also dancing as they were playing loud music.” said my 10-year-old son.

“So sweet, next time, don’t go without telling me, and go look at what your mama has made.” Tito jumped from my shoulder and ran straight to the kitchen and I continued to do my work.

“Honey”, called my wife, “Tito, forgot to bring butter as I planned to make a cake this evening, would you please get it from the market? Take Tito along with you, or else he will disturb me and turn the house upside down with his naughtiness.” So, I and my son decided to go for a walk as it was 5 in the evening.

After I fired the shot up, I opened my wardrobe, put on a t-shirt and a cap. Just for style, I chose a particular shade, slide my gun opened and looked at my watch. It was evening 5. I smiled, “Now, those two will surely come out for a walk, this is the best chance to kill them”. I put my gun on the back of the jeans, protected by my T shirt, put my hands inside my jacket pocket and opened the door. Cool breeze tangled my hair; I smiled, closed the door with a bang and said, “The time has come.”

 

“Hurry up, Tito, let’s go. It’s almost 5. We have to get home before sunset or else we will miss your mummy’s magical cake baked from her magical hands. Come fast…I will buy you chocolate also.”

On hearing the word chocolate, he came quickly. I closed the door, said bye to my wife, kissed on her forehead. I was walking on the road, with my son on my shoulder, he was singing some song and I was whistling according to it. The breeze was cool and we both enjoyed it.

I was waiting at the crossroad, reading newspaper, looked at my watch. I knew that those two would come through the right side, and turn left, so I hid behind the wall with my pistol ready. My sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps approaching; I could hear their voices also. It was like one guy singing a song and the other was whistling to the music! I looked up, remembered my anger and emotional memories attached to my life incident, I looked up, “On the count of three, 1, 2 and……”

I and my son came to the crossroad junction, where we were supposed to turn left, but all of a sudden we heard a siren wailing from behind! It was the police! The inspector Ram greeted us and said, “Very nice sir, you found your son, congratulations; we were searching for him everywhere. It’s good that you found him, it reduced our stress a bit.”

I looked confused, I didn’t understand what the inspector was speaking, I put my son down and looked at the inspector, “Sorry sir, I think you approached the wrong person. I have never filed an FIR nor my son was missing, and over the top, I didn’t even visit the station also.”

The inspector expression changed, he got angry, he got down from his car, and starred again, “Say it again, what you have just told. What do you think we have made a mistake? Today afternoon, around 3 you came to the station and filed an FIR report on your missing son, don’t just act and say that, you didn’t come.”

I told my son, “Tito, go home, don’t tell mummy about this.” Tito looked frightened and hurried home.

“Inspector, with full respect I’m speaking, neither I have filed an FIR, nor my son was missing and I didn’t even come to the police station.”

Inspector got angry, “Do you think we are lying? Don’t you think we have no other job other than disturbing people? We have been searching for your son for the last 2 hours and you just think we are a joke! Just get into the jeep and come to the station.”

As I turned around to shoot the approaching enemy, I was surprised to see police! Quickly without any second thought, I put my pistol in the back pocket of my jeans and walked off normally. I gave a sign of frustration as it was the perfect time to kill those two! Now I have to find some other day. I banged my fist on the wall and left the place.

I was in a complete shock as I held the FIR report, my hands were shaking, my eyes grew big, and my heart beat increased. On the FIR report, there was my sign along with my wife. “Sir, this is completely fake, though it is my signature only…but seriously speaking, neither have I come to the station nor I have signed this.”

The inspector took over my collar and asked, “Last time I’m asking, stop playing with me and answer my question seriously?”

I answered the same answer. He got angry, “Constable, put him in jail, for today night. Let him suffer his mistake for today, tomorrow if he doesn’t speak the truth, then beat him till he turns blue.”

I started protesting, two constables, dragged me on the floor, I kept on shouting about my innocence but no result. They threw me inside, took my phone and locked me leaving me and my loneliness alone in the darkness.

Next morning…..

I ran as fast as I could after getting released from jail. Last night, I was thinking fully about my family, what must have gone through their mind, how will they react today after hearing my jail story. As I reached my home, I saw a huge crowd gathered near my house, discussing sometime. I thought that the news might have spread and everyone would think that I’m criminal. As I reached my house, the crowd became silent, they all looked at me in full remorse and sad face, some were wiping their tears others heads were down, didn’t want to make eye contact with me. Finally, Sudarshan uncle put his hand over my shoulder, wiped his tears and said, “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

I couldn’t understand anything, then aunty said, “How is Tito? How is his condition in the hospital? I’m very sorry about your wife.”

For a second, my heart beat increased, I began to sweat and started breathing heavily, I turned to Sudarshan uncle with courage and asked, “What has happened to my family?”

After hearing the story, I run inside the house as fast as possible, the crowd making the way for me. I was fully in tears, wiping with my hands and shouted, “Priya…….No….you can’t leave me like this and go”. I ran inside the house, the neighbor ladies looked at me, slowly made the way for me to Priya’s bedroom. I almost fainted, as I couldn’t recover from the shock. I fell on my knees as I didn’t have the courage to go inside also. I looked at Him, slowly gathering courage and supported by some ladies, I was able to stand on my feet, but I was limping my way inside. I don’t want to open my eyes and see it, but I had no choice. With my tears making a layer on the floor, I saw with my two whole open innocent eyes, lying on the bed was Priya’s dead body, covered with a bedsheet, which was covered with blood as it soaked most of the bedsheet. With my head, near her body, I held her hand, started to breathe heavily, opened my eyes, wiped my tears, and changed to anger expression, “What were you ladies doing when this happened? How did this happen?” I shouted at the top of my voice. “With such a protective neighborhood, how did this happen?”

No one had the answer, I called the watchman, “How come an unknown man enter my house, rape and kill my wife, without anyone knowing it? Still, you people didn’t hear a single sound, not a slight bit of noise, I’m surprised?”

My Tito, as per neighbor met with an accident while coming home and was admitted to the city hospital with critical condition. I rushed to the hospital with my neighborhood friend, Geetha and asked the doctor,

“Doctor, do something, please, my child has met with a serious accident, I can’t withstand the pain he is suffering, please do fast as you can”

“We will try our level best, already his condition is critical, surviving chance is very less, and we will put our maximum effort, and have faith in God”, and the doctor closed the door of the operation hall. I sat on the nearby chair, my fingers crossed with a lady, who accompanied me, her head leaning on my shoulder, I calmed her by saying, “Have faith in God, He will surely…..”, I couldn’t complete the sentence.

After the operation, the doctor came out, “Surely, it’s a miracle, your son is out of danger, but not in a condition to talk, he will get well soon, The Almighty has showered His blessing on your child, don’t worry, he will be fit in 2 to 3 days. Just relax! And by the way….. I found this”

The doctor handed me a small thing. “It is like a small camera, I found it attached to your son’s body, sorry on his T-shirt. I hope you gave the camera for nice use only” laughed the doctor “And please complete the rest of the formalities.”

I smiled and went with the doctor.

After my wife’s funeral and leaving Geetha to look after my son in the hospital, I reached home and sat on the sofa lonely for around two hours, thinking how did the camera come to my son’s body and why? Later I remember, what my son said,

““Sorry dad, while I was coming back, I saw a big very big stage and many people were dancing on the stage. My friend, Sonu was also there, I started to talk to him and we were also dancing to the music ” said, my 10-year-old son.

I began to think, ‘could it be like that Tito brought it from the dance show? But, he didn’t have money? So, how did he buy?’ I thought where was the show held? On making enquires with my neighbors, I came to know that it was being held at The Park and today was the last show! So, I decided to pay a visit to the fair.

The ground was very crowded with proper security and a huge number of people gathered to witness the epic dance performance by a renowned artist. It came to my notice that there were CCTV cameras, installed everywhere. I began to think, could something be captured in the cameras or not. I went to their office, showed the picture of my son, told them that, he went missing in the fair, so is it possible to capture him in the footage or not? The security began to play yesterday at 4 pm footage. I kept my eyes opened for any possible clue, from where did my son get the sticker like thing? Then I remembered what Tito told, “…I went with Sonu.” I gave the security guard an excuse of a phone call and went straight to meet Sonu. His family greeted me with hearty condolences and asked for any help if required. I took Sonu to a side and asked

“What did you do at the Dance yesterday? Did Tito, say anything about a sticker or not?”

“Yes uncle, I saw Tito and waved at him. He came and told me that he had played Hit the Cup game, he got first prize and that two uncles gave him a sticker which he struck it on his t-shirt.”

“Sonu, did you play that game also or do you have the sticker?”

“No uncle, I couldn’t play the game because the dance show had already started. So, we danced and Tito told that he has to go home or else his father would scold him. So we went”

“Did Tito mention anything, like from where he played the game? Which stall number? Anything like that”

“No uncle”

I took Sonu out and brought him an ice cream. Later, after dropping him home, I returned to the fair. I began to search for the games stall. Although I managed to find it, it was impossible to say from which stall Tito played, as mostly every game stall had the Hit the Cup game. Then I recalled what Sonu told me.

“…and two uncles gave him a sticker…”

I began to search all the stalls in the hope to find this ‘two uncles’. But it was too difficult because the owners of the stalls were men only! Then I began to observe each and every stall, wherever a child was aiming to win, as in the hope to find which stall gives stickers as the reward! I sat on a bench opposite to one stall and began to drink tea. I don’t know why, my attention went to the stall in front of me, where a boy was playing the Hit the cup game. He won the game in the first try itself and his father praised him and took him away. I sipped the tea again. Now, I noticed a girl and her mom came near the stall, as it was obvious that the girl wanted to play. Even the girl finished the game in one shot and her mom praised her. The owner of the stall came forward and gave a sticker to the girl and pointed to her that it should be attached to the top, and they went away. But inside me, I could feel something was not right, I was feeling a bit fishy about this stall and decided to observe for some time. This time a boy alone came; he played the game and that man at the stalls, gave him a sticker too and told him to pin it on his shirt. I got up, walked up to the boy, just to get a glance about the sticker and well! It was the same sticker that was given to Tito! Now, I began to understand something. I left the place as soon as possible to visit my friend’s house.

They wished me, said sorry for what has happened to my family. I went to Arjun, my best friend since childhood and told about the incident and how I went to the fair and all.

“What do you think about it?” I asked Arjun.

“I also agree to what you say, but we must be sure.” He replied.

“Can you help me? I have a plan in my mind.”

I went back to the fair with my friend Arjun and his family. I carefully told my plan to them. His son Tom and his wife Seema went to that Hit the Cup game. Seema was wearing a sari such that her midriff could be seen and her hair was open with pretty makeup. The two men who were in the counter looked at them! Tom threw the ball, it hit the entire cup at once and he won the game.

“Mama, I won the game, hurray! Now I want ice-cream.”

“Okay Tom, let’s go”

But the man at the counter stopped them. “Wait, boy, you have won the game, here is your reward.”

Tom said, “Thank you for the sticker uncle, Mamma, it is the same sticker which my friend Tito got yesterday.”

That was enough for me. Thank God, as I have put a bug on Tom’s hair and as I heard what Tom said through my Bluetooth, I came to the conclusion. Now, I looked at Arjun.

“See, now my doubt has turned into belief.” I smiled at Arjun. He understood that it was his time to go now.

That night, when I reached home….

With my full anger, I threw the glass which was on the table with my hand breaking into thousands of pieces as it hit the ground. The level of frustration upon me could be understood by measuring the strength of the bang which I made on the table with my fist. Even the nearby frame which was hanging on the wall, titled sidewise a bit. I took a bottle of cold water, poured it over my charcoal hot forehead, slowly, trying to feel the coolness of the water as it dropped into my skin. I stretched my hair upward with my hand, pulling it hard, so as to get relief from the tension from which I was suffering. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, slowly letting it out, opened my eyes with a shine which signifies the inner confidence and determination build upon me slowly, I clenched my fist so hard, looked towards the ceiling and let go my inner anger as I shouted like hell!!!!

I sat on the chair with my head supporting on my hands. I still couldn’t control my anger. I kicked the table, stood up, went to my study, opened the drawer of the cupboard, searched in haste and at last I found what I was looking for, I loaded a full magazine into it, pushed it up until I heard a click, I grasped my hand onto the slide, pulled it backed sharply until I heard a click and fired it upwards towards the ceiling! I said, “The game is still on”

I decided to kill them myself otherwise who knows these goons, they may know some higher class men and who may bribe the police to free them from jail. I hope whatever I told Arjun, the goons might believe him and come to the crossroad around 5 in the evening. Obviously, they would come as they will do anything for money.

“Hey Arjun, you remember what to do right”, I told him on his Bluetooth.

“Leave it to me!” Arjun was dressed like a local goon, with collars up and 2 buttons opened. In his hand was his kerchief with which he was playing some tricks. He approached the goons. They were both inside the store laughing merrily. He bent his hand on the railing, another hand was full of peanuts as he was chewing them. Really, he looked like a real goon.

“Boss”, said Arjun. One of the men approached him, “What do you want?”

“I work for a local goon name, Gabru Dada. He is really impressed with your work; he wants to meet you tomorrow at the crossroad dhaba around 5 pm. And yes” Arjun gave them the suitcase he was carrying. “Boss has sent fifty thousand in advance; he will be waiting for you tomorrow.” And Arjun quickly left the stall.

After I fired the shot up, I opened my wardrobe, put on a t-shirt and a cap. Just for style, I chose a particular shade, slide my gun opened and looked at my watch. It was evening 5. I smiled, “Now, those two will surely come out for a walk, this is the best chance to kill them”. I put my gun on the back of the jeans, protected by my T shirt, put my hands inside my jacket pocket and opened the door. Cool breeze tangled my hair; I smiled, closed the door with a bang and said, “The time has come.”

I took my mobile phone. “Hello, Inspector Rohan, I would like to meet you.”

Rohan was my friend since school days. He came to my house and I told him everything that has happened and also about Inspector Ram! Then I showed him the photo of the two men which I took from my phone.

“Rohan, could you check whether these men have any criminal record or not?”

He instantly called to his office. “Yes, I have spoken to them; they told me that they would call within two minutes.” He kept his cap on the table.

“Say, how your life is going. Arjun told me that, you had a crush on a girl, how is that going?”

“You won’t change right. Same old Rohan! Yup, she was my crush 12 years ago until Priya came to my life. Now, I don’t have any contacts.”

“You told me many times that she would come in your dreams?”

“That was 12 years ago, obviously…….” And Rohan’s phone rang. He spoke and told me.

“Those two men are criminals and they served in jail for 3 years for 5 rape cases.” I stood up and called Sudarshan uncle.

“Yes Inspector, I saw it. I still remember. While I was walking down the street, I met Tito on the opposite side. While I was crossing the road, a car from now where, dashed straight to Tito! He managed to escape but got hit slightly by the speeding car. The car was driven by two men.”

“Thank you, uncle,” said Inspector Rohan. Sudarshan Uncle went home; Rohan and I sat on the sofa.

“Now I understood, what is going on. These two men gave a camera hidden in the sticker to Tito, so they could follow him to my house. Then someway or other, one of the men was able to disguise as me, went to the police station filed a fake report about my missing son, still, don’t know how they got my signature! So, the police arrested me and locked me up in jail. These men try to kill Tito by deliberately creating an accident, so as to get hold of the camera, but failed this time as Sudarshan Uncle almost saw them. Then they, came to my house, raped my wife, killed her and took away all the cash and jewelry. This was a nice business and a well planned to! Really, this seems to be a very easy method to earn money!”

Later that night, Arjun called me, “Hey Shouvik, as per your plan I have informed Rohan. He told that his men will be in plain clothes; sitting all over the dhaba and some will be on the crossroad junction also. Since you told not to inform Inspector Ram, I didn’t.”

“I already called Rohan to my house and told him everything. Anyway, thanks, man.”

“Welcome”

“Thanks, Buddy, you were my best friend since school. I knew that you have such a habit since school days and anyways I have a bit doubt on Inspector Ram. Anyway, meet you at the crossroad dhaba.”

I was waiting at the crossroad, reading newspaper, looked at my watch. Arjun was also armed with his pistol. All the policemen were in position. I looked at inspector Rohan and he gave me thumbs up symbol. I knew that they would come through the right side, and turn left to the dhaba, so I hid behind the wall with my pistol ready. My sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps approaching; I signaled to Arjun who in turn signaled to Inspector Rohan. I could hear their laugh also. I looked up, remembered my anger and emotional memories attached to my life incident, I looked up the Almighty. As the footsteps approached more loudly, I shouted: “On the count of three, 1, 2 and……”

As I turned around to shoot the approaching enemy, I was surprised to see police! Quickly without any second thought, I hid behind the wall and signaled to Inspector Rohan that Police Van was approaching. I peeped only to see the surprise and as I expected Inspector Ram was with them! He was one of the members of the gang! I signaled the attack sign to Inspector Rohan who ordered his men to charge. As the enemy was not prepared for the ambush attack, the shower of bullets sprayed by the policemen made them to hide inside the van, but I was quick enough to puncture the tire so that they couldn’t escape. At last, they surrendered; Inspector Rohan arrested them and took them away from the scene, told me to visit the station to collect my reward and the stolen items. But, I denied the offer since I already lost the love of my life, nothing was more precious than her love and I feel really sad that I couldn’t kill those men with my own hands! But later, I thought of Tito, someone has to take care of them and I promise Priya that I would give him all my love and needs and won’t make him feel that he can’t get mother’s love. So, I put my pistol in the back pocket of my jeans and walked off normally. I gave a sign of frustration as it was the perfect time to kill those two! Now I have to find some other day. I banged my fist on the wall and left the place thinking about Priya and my Tito.

As I walked a bit far, to be precise, a safe distance from the Dhaba and away from the police, I began to laugh like a mad man! It was the best laugh ever in my life! It has been years since I laughed like a mad man!

“What game I have played! This is called killing two birds with a single stone.” And I began to laugh again.

The previous day…..

“Honey”, called my wife, “Tito, forgot to bring butter as I planned to make a cake this evening, would you please get it from the market? Take Tito along with you, or else he will disturb me and turn the house upside down with his naughtiness.” So, I and my son decided to go for a walk as it was 5 in the evening.

So, my son and I went outside the house for a walk. After walking for some distance, I realized that I have left my wallet in my home as I couldn’t find it.

“Tito, I have forgotten my wallet. Go to Geetha aunty’s house and stay there until I come.”

After I dropped him, I went to my home. As I stood at the threshold of the door, I heard someone speaking on the phone and I stopped.

“………you guys can come now. My husband has gone out and he won’t come back till 7. I have packed the stuff and it is in the bag, it is ready for delivery.”

As soon as Priya hung the phone, I went inside the house. There was a moment of silence between us and we looked at each other for some time. I could see a crooked smile growing over Priya’s lips.

“Well Well, what do I hear. The stuff is in the bag, just we have to deliver.” I stared at my wife and spoke out.

“Look who is talking; the real drug dealer is just accusing his wife of something I guess.”

“Yes, I’m accusing you. I heard it while you were speaking. Since when have you started to be a dealer? Don’t you understand what effect would fall on Tito when he hears that her mom is a drug dealer?”

Priya began to laugh. “What just say that again? Did I hear what effect would fall on Tito when he hears her mom is a drug dealer? Lol, the question should be, what effect would fall on Tito when he hears that his father is the master or the King in the drug trade?” 

“Don’t talk rubbish” I claimed.

“Wait,” said Priya. She took her phone. “I have video proof that proves everything.”

She was about to play the video while I dashed towards the bedroom when all of a sudden she took out her gun which was kept hidden inside her jeans pocket.

“Stay where you are, Shouvik. Don’t try to act clever. Today I want to record your full confession.”

I took my phone and played a recording which I recorded while I was eavesdropping Priya. It can clearly be heard about the drug deal what Priya was talking about!

“If you try to do anything smart, I would just press the send button and it would go to Inspector Rohan. Also, I have sent Tito to Geetha’s house, if you try anything smart on me, the entire blame would fall on you only as there is no one else in the house.”

Priya slowly lowered her gun. “Who said I’m going to shoot you?” She slowly came forward to me and whispered in my ears, “Thank you for saving my life Gabru Dada that day.”

We looked at each other and gave a hearty laugh! “I think I gave you a scare right, business partner,” said Priya.

“This is our daily drama, right. How many times have I told you not to try the same thing again and again, it becomes an old trick and I become sick of it. I can easily understand the drama you were doing. Anyway, leave that, when are the boys coming? Did you finalize the deal with Mr. Nishant?”

“Yes both Rahul and Karthik will be coming soon, I just know spoke to them. I have weighted the stuff, it coming near to 40 kg. I think we will get a heavy price for it.”

We went to the bedroom. I kept the bag under the cot. As I was able to take it up, Priya again took out his gun and pointed straight to me!

“Look Priya, jokes apart. Enough of this drama, let’s go and sell it to Mr. Nishant.”

“No, this time I’m serious. For the world, I may be your wife, but in reality, I am an undercover agent working for the Central Department of Investigation. We have been looking for you for the last 5 years and have finally caught the Gabru Dada who was creating a headache for us!”

I got scared this time! I didn’t know what to do! I became helpless! We looked at each other and she couldn’t control her laughter again! I also gave a smile, got relief from the scare!

“Phew! You are a very good actor.”

The very moment two men entered the room. “Yes, Rahul and Karthik welcome.” They entered the room and stood at one corner.

“Okay guys, listen! This is going to be our last deal. I have talked to Mr. Nishant. He agreed to pay us 100 crores for our product as it is in demand abroad also. So, here is the plan. We go to him, do the deal and divide the money into 3 equal parts and then settle abroad.”

“Yes Boss.” shouted the two men.

“We are four of us. It should be divided into 4 equal parts, right?” Priya was a bit confused.

We, three men, gave a look at each other and started to laugh.

“Well, everything in this world has an expiry date and I’m sorry to say that your date is already over Priya.” Immediately I took out my gun from my pocket and fired at Priya! The bullet just touched her on her hand and she fell down on the bed with pain! I laughed. She looked at me, but I took the bag and went out of the room. I whispered to my men, “You know what to do right.”

“Yes boss”

“I hope no one saw you coming inside.”

“No boss, we came from the back door by jumping through the wall. We did exactly what you said, boss..”

I smiled and went out of the room. “Come and meet tomorrow at our usual place at 5 in the evening.”

The present time….

I straight away went to Geetha’s house. She opened the door and gave me a hug!

“I knew it very well that you would accomplice your mission! I just wanted you to get rid of that bitch,” shouted Geetha in anger.

Tito came forward and jumped over me! “Hello dad, where have you been? Mom has made a very delicious cake for us, come and join us.”

“Yes, of course, coming within a minute.”

“Mama” shouted Tito as he disappeared into the corridor.

Geetha came forward. I looked at her and said, “I’m really sorry, I didn’t want to hurt Tito. I told them just to kidnap Tito and take that sticker from him. But, my plan failed as Tito saw Sudarshan uncle on the opposite side and those two couldn’t control the car that properly and went and hit Tito.”

“It’s okay, honey. At least he is safe now. Come, don’t think about all this. You must be tired. Go and have a quick shower and come and taste the cake that I have made.”

“Mom” shouted Tito.

“Coming in a second dear.” and Geetha ran towards the kitchen.

I went upstairs to my room and went straight to the bathroom. I took off my clothes and sat on the tub thinking about the incident which had changed my life!

Ten years ago….

We both went inside the pub. That time, Geetha and I were dating each other. We went and sat on the desk and ordered two ‘Whiskey on the Rocks’. She met her friend after like some 10 years and went to talk to her. I sat their alone drinking my drink when suddenly a girl approached and sat beside me.

“Hi, I’m Priya.” she introduced herself and she gave me a drink.

“Hi, I’m Shouvik, and that girl in pink, she is my girlfriend, Geetha.”

“Wow! Nice, how sweet! Well, I’m single and trying to make chances with all the single boys around for a hookup. I saw you sitting single, so I thought I would try on you.”

“Nice try, but bad luck! At least you told me honestly that you came to flirt with me, well I won’t disappoint you, I will have the drink that you offered, but after I finish my drink, you have to leave, and that’s my only condition.”

“I agree, cheers.”

I started chatting with her. After finishing my drink, I still remember that I felt some dizziness, became a bit uncomfortable. The next thing I remember was, the next morning when my eyes opened, I saw myself sleeping beside Priya!

I opened my eyes and got up from the tub. I drenched myself, opened my wardrobe, wore a t-shirt and shorts and went down. I still remember the disturbance Priya created.

“Shouvik, that night we made love with each other. Now, you can’t escape! If you try to escape, I would file rape charges against you and your life will be ruined. I will give to another option. Marry me! Look, I will be honest with you, I’m a drug dealer and you are a very rich and respected person in the society. I just need a rich husband, so that everyone would think that I’m a housewife and I can side wise do my drug business! No one will suspect me. And also, by chance, if you give a statement against me to the police, on inquiry, they would find out that we had a drink at the bar and you took a chance against me! In this situation, everyone blames the boy not the girl and I have tampered with the CCTV footage also."

So, I had no other option, but to marry her. After a few months, I found out that I never made love with her that night!

I went down and sat at the dining table. Geetha bought the delicious cake and kept it at the center of the table.

Tito asked, “Papa, what happened to Priya aunty?”

I replied, “I told you right, Priya aunty suffered from a disease. Whenever she sees you, she thinks you as her son, that’s why I told you to say ‘mom’ to her and your mother ‘aunty’ for the last 10 years. Yesterday, when you met with an accident, she couldn’t bear the pain and she died.”

Tito said, “I feel sorry for her. She was a very good aunty.”

I replied, “How much good she was only I can understand.” And I began to recall that one fine morning after our marriage.

Priya said, “Look, I’m a very dynamic girl. I change my husband frequently; to be honest this is my fifth marriage. I knew very well that your Geetha was 3 months pregnant at that time when I met you at the bar! So, I would like to propose a point! Accept your son as my child, so to the world, we can show that we started our own family and also one more thing, we never had anything between us that night!”

After finishing the cake, Tito went upstairs. Geetha and I sat on the table.

“Tomorrow, the police will come and question you. Do you think that you can escape without any charges against you?”

“Yes, I’m a hundred percent sure. Well, I have called Arjun to my home to thank him for his help. Without him, I was pretty sure that I couldn’t have done such a big thing. Make his favorite pasta please.”

“Yes sure.”

After 10 minutes, the doorbell rang. I opened the door and welcomed my friend Arjun inside my house.

“Thanks for everything, Arjun. Without your help, I never thought that I would get my family back.”

“My friend was in trouble and I wouldn’t help, that is not my principle. Because of you only I used to pass in exams, now it’s my turn to help you.”

“Thank God it’s over! The tension that had started 10 years ago is finally over.”

“I still remember that day, when you came to me.” recalled Arjun.

9-10 years ago……

“Hey Arjun, please help me, man. I am in deep trouble. Only you can save me now.”

“What happened? Did you again have a fight with Geetha?”

“No, it’ something much more worse than that.” And I began to tell Arjun about my meeting with Priya, what happened that night and how she cleverly made me fall in her trap!

“What did you say? She is a drug dealer! Man, you are in deep trouble. Wait let me figure out something.”

“Just tell me some way to escape.”

Arjun replied, “Do one thing bro, you also join her in her business and say that you would assist her. By doing this you would gain her trust.”

I gave a surprising look at Arjun! “Can’t bro, give some other idea please.”

After thinking for some time, he replied, “Do you believe in bribing and all?”

I don’t know what had happened to me at that time. I told yes, maybe because of the tension. He replied,

“I met Inspector Ram of bazaar junction police station in a bar and we became good friends. Then one day while he was drunk he told that he had locked two men who were drug peddlers. Do one thing, bail those two men out by bribing the inspector and make yourself their boss. Introduce them to your wife and slowly gain her trust. Join her in the business and then slowly we will take revenge on her.”

“But how?” I asked him.

Arjun gave a smile and replied, “Don’t worry, I have a superb plan.”

The next day….

The Chief of Police called me to his office as he was investigating the murder case of Priya.

“Sir, that evening I went out for a walk with my son, then all of a sudden Inspector Ram accused me of lodging a false FIR of my missing son and he sent me in lockup for the night. The next morning, when I came, I saw my wife’s dead body. Later, I remember my son saying that he went to the fair from where he got a sticker hidden with a spy cam. I began my investigation, went to the fair, saw in a security camera about the two men, even asked Sonu about him. Then I saw those two men giving stickers only to children and women so that they could follow them to their house because of the spycam. I immediately called Inspector Rohan and told him everything. Then I went back to the fair with my friend Arjun and told him to disguise himself as a drug informer and asked those men to come to the Dhaba at 5, the next evening. Late that night, I met Sudarshan uncle, who told me that it was those two men who tried to kill my son by a car accident and told me that he also saw them jumping into my house through the back wall around 5 in the evening! So the next day, around 5, Inspector Rohan and his men ambushed those goons and caught them.”

The chief listened to my explanation and verified it by asking Arjun, Sudarshan Uncle, and Inspector Rohan. All of them stood for my judgment and as a result, the chief suspended Inspector Ram and locked up those two men in jail and issued a clean chit for me, free of all charges!

Outside the office, Arjun caught up with me. “That was nice reasoning with the chief. He didn’t even get a hint that those were your men.”

“Phew! I was also in tension. Somehow or the other, I had to make the chief believe that I have no connection with those two and have to accuse them of murdering Priya. I knew very well that every evening around 6, Sudarshan uncle would go up to his terrace and do aerobics. So, I told Rahul and Karthik to come from the back door so that Sudarshan Uncle could easily spot them. Every evening around 5:30, Uncle would go for a walk, and I was lucky enough that he was a witness to my son’s fake accident.”

“So now what plans? Are you going to stay here with Geetha or going abroad?”

“Mostly abroad, at least I should get the benefit of the profit which I earned by selling those drugs for the last 8 years.”

“Yeah, correct.” Arjun laughed.

“Well anyway, I should appreciate Rahul and Karthik for the idea of putting a spy cam in the sticker.”

“Well I never told them to put any spy cam in the sticker; anyway that was a nice idea. But as far as I remember, they told me that they never put a spy cam in the sticker then how come you found it in your son’s sticker?” questioned Arjun.

“Well, to speak the truth, there was no spy cam attached to the camera! It is just a tactic to show that you have contacts with them, Arjun.”

Arjun stopped and looked at me. “What do you mean to say? It was I who introduced you to those goons; so obviously, I should have contacts with them.”

“Now the question arises is that you already had contacts with those men, and you knew that they were in jail, so you decided to free your men by taking advantage of my situation.”

“What are you trying to prove?” asked Arjun.

“Well don’t look surprised. Some few years ago, I was browsing through Priya’s laptop to find a document about a deal, when I saw both of your engagement photos, which is crystal clear that she was your wife! Now, Inspector Ram got information about both of you, so you decided to separate away from Priya but you want to continue the business. So that day, when I was in the bar, you deliberately sent Priya to me and cleverly made me marry her. I never understood why she used to call me ‘Gabru Dada’ until when I discovered that you are the real ‘Gabru Dada’. So that day when I asked for your help, you understood that your plan worked and you want your men to be free from jail! So you asked me to bribe Inspector Ram so that he can be on your side and also were able to free your men from jail! So for you, everything was going fine until one fine day, when I caught both you and Priya together at CCD! So, I eavesdropped your conversation and heard that you wanted to kill me because I was taking more of your profits and all. So, that day itself I have decided to kill both of you. So, when I went home….”

With my full anger, I threw the glass which was on the table with my hand, breaking into thousands of pieces as it hit the ground. The level of frustration upon me could be understood by measuring the strength of the bang which I made on the table with my fist. Even the nearby frame which was hanging on the wall, titled side wise a bit. I took a bottle of cold water, poured it over my charcoal hot forehead, slowly, trying to feel the coolness of the water as it dropped into my skin. I stretched my hair upward with my hand, pulling it hard, so as to get relief from the tension from which I was suffering. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, slowly letting it out, opened my eyes with a shine which signifies the inner confidence and determination build upon me slowly, I clenched my fist so hard, looked towards the ceiling and let go my inner anger as I shouted like hell!!!!

“I even heard that next day evening you guys were going to meet at 5 pm at crossroad Dhaba. So, I went with full preparation to kill you guys……”

After I fired the shot up, I opened my wardrobe, put on a t-shirt and a cap. Just for style, I chose a particular shade, slide my gun opened and looked at my watch. It was evening 5. I smiled, “Now, those two will surely come out for a walk, this is the best chance to kill them”. I put my gun on the back of the jeans, protected by my T shirt, put my hands inside my jacket pocket and opened the door. Cool breeze tangled my hair; I smiled, closed the door with a bang and said, “The time has come.”

“While you guys were walking, when I turned around to kill you guys, all of a sudden I heard a police van approaching! I got scared, so I walked off. later off course I found out that it was none other than Inspector Ram."

As I turned around to shoot the approaching enemy, I was surprised to see police! Quickly without any second thought, I put my pistol in the back pocket of my jeans and walked off normally. I gave a sign of frustration as it was the perfect time to kill those two! Now I have to find some other day. I banged my fist on the wall and left the place.

“Then the very next day, I came to you told you about my plan to kill Priya and you instantly agreed because you can now get more profits and also there will be less chances for you to get caught by the police. And from then on, it was full of my plan, and thanks for disguising as me that day when you and Priya went to the police station to file a fake FIR on my missing son. See, when the Chief was interrogating me, he should have the full evidence that I’m innocent and there has to be a reason for me being locked up for the night in lockup, and that was the fake FIR which you signed, which got recorded in the CCTV camera, which according to the Chief was me but in reality it was you, so the Chief found a valid reason for me being in the lockup that night and couldn’t even accuse me of Priya’s death which occurred that evening while according to the Chief, I was in the police station. Similarly, I knew that those two men, Rahul and Karthik, who owned the game stall in the fair, but I have to show evidence to the Chief that I was searching for my son, and my wondering in the fair, asking random people from the crowd was recorded in the CCTV and also the security guard provided additional help as he has the proof that I came to the CCTV room in search of my son. Simply for no reason, I sat half an hour opposite to the stall drinking tea, just to give a natural look to the Chief that I got tired searching for my son, so I went to have a cup of tea. What the chief wants was evidence and I provided him a complete set of evidence which clearly showed my innocence and my restless nature to find Priya’s murderer and that night at the fair, in order to prove your innocence to the Chief, I asked you to come and help me out by asking you to dress as a goon and speaking to them. Later that night, for being more sure, I called up inspector Rohan and told him every conclusion which I drew from the fair and even asked whether those men were criminals or not. By this, I was able to make Inspector Rohan believe that I didn't know them. Just for proving my innocence I had to do such a big drama." I signed.

Arjun looked at me. He didn’t say any word at all!

“But since you are my brother and as you made me join this drug business, I was able to make more money in less time. In other words, you helped me a lot and since I’m your partner in crime, I won’t say this anyone or else we both might end up killing each other! Now, if I have enough money to go abroad and enjoy my life with Geetha and Tito and with my qualifications, I might get a job also, and you will be staying here, so we won’t be crossing each other parts anymore! Let’s have a handshake and leave, within 2 hours I have a flight to catch.”

We hugged each other and Arjun got into his car red Mercedes car, while I departed for the Airport!

After the security check at the airport, we were sitting at the lounge, when we saw the 12 o’ clock news on the airport TV.

“…….and fresh news is coming up from the D-block, where we can see the picture of a red Mercedes which crashed with a tree an hour ago. The Driver is reported to be a man who died on the spot. Experts say that the cause of the accident might be due to brake failures but the test is still on. According to the eyewitnesses…….”

Geetha looked up, “Hey, does that car belong to your friend Arjun?”

“No, I don’t think so. Look our boarding has already started. Come, Tito let’s go.” And we proceeded for boarding.

As I sat on my seat, I was very happy that my mission was a success! Now, I can enjoy my future life without any disturbance from my previous life.

As the flight was ready for taking off, Tito asked me,

“Dad, why are we going to Paris?”

“To start a new life.” I replied, "And to make new contacts with people abroad."