A Silent Alleyway

Mainsha Sharma, a young girl of around 25 years was returning from her office. She had long black hair that cascaded down to her waist and deep black eyes in which you could drown in. She appeared unfocused on her surroundings of her local bus as she was busy reading her novel. The conductor was standing at the last row of the bus and was talking merrily on his mobile. A young man of around 27 years was sitting on the row behind her, watching the scenery out of the bus window. The bus trundled along with its twists and turns of the road. It was an usual day. She looked up for a moment as the bus gave one of the nasty turns and clutched the bus handle for support. She flickered her watch and it showed.

10- pm.

She glanced at her window side. The pale yellow streetlight cast an orange glow to the surroundings. Many cars and jeeps roared past her. The scooters, being the smallest vehicle, moved with ease and navigated between the stuck vehicles.

Sighing, She recognized the place and reminded herself for umpteenth time that she needed to leave office a bit early. It will take atleast 20 minutes to reach her destination.

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Mr Robert Shah was a man to reckon with. Although he had a hard upbringing, he was endowed with a die-to-hard spirit. That he could achieve anything his mind was set to. That alone took him to great heights and landed him in the role of police inspector. He had a brilliant brown eyes that could bore in you if you are unlucky enough to cross his path. Usually he had kind eyes but today, his eyes had a murderous look.

“Don’t tell me you failed this mission again!” He rapped, words rolling on its own like a snake that hissed angrily when prodded. His team took an instinctive step behind as they knew that their boss was in the bad temper.

Robert took a deep breath, looked at folder documenting the failed attempts to capture Mr Prasad Singh, a notorious and hardened criminal. He is wanted for many murders and thefts .Prasad had slipped his team not once but thrice. The photo of Prasad looked back at him, unseeing but yet smiling. As if to mock inspector that he can elude capture for long.

Not for too long, vowed the inspector as he closed the folder with the decisive click. He is going to catch Prasad and end this bloodbath caused by him. At with it, Inspector rose, surveyed at his gathered team who was waiting for his command and said “I am going to handle it from now and catch him.” Inspector said quietly.

At this very moment, his mobile rang. It was an anomymous tip.

“Prasad Singh is heading to the banyan tree park. He will alight from bus at the borvilli east bus stop. It is the tip off”

And with that the line was dead.

It had better be correct tip, the inspector thought grimly. I have to catch him before he does further damage. With that, he commanded to his team – “We have a work to do. We have received a tip off. Now we have to lay a foolproof trap”

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The bus took a soft turn and slowed into halt in front of the borvilli bus stop. She slowly stood up and stretched her legs, that had become numb from sitting in bus for one hour. She closed her novel with a soft click and it reunited with one of the numerous objects that was buried within the her purse. It is a wonder that her tiny bag could hold many things.

Alighting down from the bus, a cold breeze wept past her, causing her hair to rise, resisting the rubber band that held her hair in check. It gave her a ruffled appearance. But she was uncaring as she swung around, her purse held tightly in her hand.

After she alighted from the bus, a young man, who was sitting behind her, followed her. He was hardened fellow, after been through ups and down in his years. As for now, his eyes were watching the girl in front, a furrow marked in his forehead. Sensing that he was giving her too much attention, he glanced around so as to not draw attention to himself. He was also searching for one of his friend named Rakesh Jadhav who was waiting for him. He spotted him at a distance. But the friend in question was not looking at him, but at the same girl he had watched few moments ago. At the same moment, their eyes met and Rakesh’s eyes went over to the girl and sharply focused on her purse and nodded. Rahul followed his eye movement and got the message his friend was trying to send.

“Catch her purse and flee” was the thought.

Walking as if he hadn’t a care for in the world, he was joined by his friend, who slowly was picking up his pace.

“Lets pick up her purse, Prasad” Rakesh said from a corner of his mouth , “No one is watching us”

But they did not know that someone was watching him or rather the whole of inspector’s team was watching them. The police team was placed in the strategic position that concealed them from outside yet could see what’s going on, They could see that their target was joined by other target and they are following the unsuspecting girl.

Manisha, strolled along the street, revelling in the freshness of the cold night breeze. It is refreshing, she thought with a smile. As she walked to now narrow alleyway filled with the garbage bins on one side and the filthy walls on other side that was painted with graffiti. It was a pathetic sight, but she was unfazed by it as she was used to that sight.

Five more minutes then she is home, she had a happy thought, and the moment it came, it was gone. Suddenly the two men came hurtling past her, and grabbed her purse. She was thrown backwards by sudden turn of events but recovered quickly enough to realise that she was being robbed. She was not without a fiery spirit and thus she clung on her purse for her life.

“Give us your purse” one of the man snarled, showing the ugly gnarled teeth “and you will be saved”

“Or face the consequences” the other man threatened , brandishing his knife, “I am sure you want a reason to live”,

But no sooner did words come out of this mouth, than the thunderous footsteps were heard in the cold silent night. The police came in force, their footsteps hard on the cold concrete floor, throwing the two men off-guard.

“Damn the police. We got to leave. “ screamed Prasad and with a mighty hit, he hit her head with her purse.

A bone crunching crack to the back of her head crumbles her to the floor, her head ricocheting off the cold unforgiving pavement. Blood streaming from her hair down across her face, he knocked her unconscious. “Let’s get outta here, before police catch us”

And the two men ran away as if hell was after them. The police chased them and yet again, they slipped through their fingertips.

“What happened?” She wondered groggily as she woke up from deep abyss of unconscious. She lay motionlessly on the road. Despite the warm light flooding on her from the streetlight above and hundreds of torches that beamed towards her, she felt cold and empty. She opened her eyes, hoping beyond hope that it was merely an nightmare. Weakly, she pushed herself out of the road she was lying, away from the puddles of her blood. She stood feebly on her shaking feet, surveying at the police that were scattered around. Her hand ran over her head, gently fingering and massaging throbbing pain on the sore spot in her head.

As fragments of memories came bit by bit and then came in sudden force, causing her to sway.

“Steady, Mainsha, you need to sit down. You have got quite a nasty bump” a voice spoke behind her.

Trembling, She turned to see a fierce looking guy watching at her. Her eyes took his khadi colored uniform. Police, she thought. Her eyes went of their accord to the name tag placed strategic just above the shirt pocket. “Robert Shah, police inspector”

She could not muster enough energy to speak but whispered “those two men…”

“We saw that, we were behind that building waiting to lay trap on them,” the Inspector pointed at the building in the distance “but we didn’t expect the plan to backfire nor did you come to picture. We tried to trap them, but again they slipped through our fingers” The man let out a tired sigh. “I am Robert Shah, the police inspector”

Glancing at the her bloodstained fingers , she remembered how so desperately, she clung to her purse. “My purse” she muttered, “It had important documents, my passport,…”

“It is gone” the inspector said with sorrow, “If we find those criminals, I will make sure to return your purse to you”

“My mobile” She wailed, unaware she was watched by the police, “It has so many pictures…my memories, my passwords, my accounts!”

Inspector perked his ears up as the opportunity presents to him “Did you say that your mobile was in your bag?”

“Yes” Mainsha replied, still massaging her head.

They didn’t know about it. Inspector thought with hope. “Can you give me your phone number. We might be able to track them.”

“Really” her face brightened up. And without haste, she scribbled her number. “Here it is”

“Thank you.”

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“Hello, Savita, This is Robert” The inspector said, once the call was connected. “I need you to track this number”

“Right away, sir” Was a Savita’s brisk response.

“It will take atleast 10 minutes to track” she added , as her finger hovered over her keyboard. “Can you wait?”

The inspector smiled grimly. “Ofcourse. We need to nab those criminials”

“I will call you back once we find the location” Savita said and abruptly cut the call.

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It was more than 15 minutes since the call was made. The inspector drummed his fingers on the cold and hard desk. The Coffee that his junior had prepared for him had grown cold. He drummed more, a sign that he was impatient to get an call. All police personnel went busy with their tasks but looked at the telephone what looked old and yet was in pristine condition as if they knew that it was an important call.

No sooner did the loud ring issued from the telephone than inspector picked it up.

“Hello, this is Robert speaking” the inspector said, out of the habit.

“Hi. This is Savita speaking. I have got the location. The suspects are now in the CST station. I have a feeling that they are planning to flee to the city. Catch them before they flee”

“Yes, Can you gave me the exact co-ordinates?” the inspector asked, while taking a pen from his pocket, and scribbled the co-ordinates that Savita had given.

“Thank you, Savi” inspector said.

“Wait” Savi said, A small silence stretched between them, “Take care”

Inspector stood silent as the memories of past came flooding to him. “Yes, I will.”

He cut the call and for a moment was lost in thoughts, cradling his telephone. Does Savita have feelings afterall?

“Sir?” Aakash, his junior stood there, with his gun holstered up. “I assume, we have got the location? Was that call from Savita?”

“Yes” the monotone tone revealed all.

Their eyes met, but Aakash didn’t probe further. He knew where to draw a line.

“But” he hesitated, “Does she know that it is the same guy as her cousin?”

Inspector looked up from the file he was perusing, and closed it with the decisive click. “No, She doesn’t. All she does is to track the numbers."

And with that, he swirled around, calling the personnel at large.

“Attention, suspect location is at CST station, We need to nab them before they flee from the city. Make sure you are wearing plain clothes so as to not to arouse suspect’s attention”

“Yes, sir”

The CST station was bustling with thousands of passengers from all walks of life. Two men were waiting impatiently for the train to arrive.

“Hope it arrives on time” Prasad muttered, his eyes darting from one place to other. Rakesh, however merely laughed and whispered “Don’t worry. They are not going to find us. They won’t unless you make that shady face. Act natural”

“Really?” Prasad raised his eyebrows and rearranged his face, in what he hoped was the neutral expression. “Looks good?”

“It is perfect. No one would have a clue” Rakesh muttered as he dragged his luggage. “If announcement is anything to go by, the train is going to arrive soon in few minutes”.

“Can’t wait for that” replied Prasad. But they did not have to wait for that long.

“Hello” a voice behind them spoke, causing them to turn. But before they could react let alone talk, they fell down to their knees. As soon as they realized what was going on, their hands was already tied behind their backs by silver handcuffs.

“Nice to meet you, Prasad and Rakesh” a man came to sight “We have finally caught up with you. Recognize me , don’t you?

Rakesh looked up at the cold and hard face, and recognized him “Inspector Robert”

The inspector smiled at last.

“But how did you find us-?” Prasad asked, but was cut off by inspector. “By this” He opened their luggage and picked up the purse. “Remember that girl’s purse you had robbed in the alleyway just two hours back?”

He opened the purse and spilled the contents on the floor. Out came tumbling the make-up, books, pen, papers, empty wallets, passport, documents and finally mobile. “I see you have got hold of the cash, but you diddn’t even bother to check purse fully. I tracked you down using mobile’s whereabouts”

“Oh” the light went on in his head. “Damn, I didn’t check” Rakesh cursed himself.

“I guess they have to be returned to rightful owner, don’t you think? “ Inspector said “I will have to return this purse back”. Inspector surveyed the spectacle he created. The passengers have stopped in track to see what is going on. The curious bystanders even took a click on them.

“How is my cousin sister? Is she the one who gave you the information?” sneered Prasad.

Inspector smiled and said “ She did, as the matter of fact. I will have to thank her. She would be delighted that you have been finally caught. Her 10 years of searching for you has finally come to the end. Give back her belongings and you might get a lesser sentence”

Prasad looked at him thoughtfully, “That works. Let’s discuss”

“Not here” inspector shrugged, gesturing to the crowd. “We could discuss with you behind bars”

And he smirked “Welcome to hell”

And the two men were taken into police van by the gleeful police.

Aakash, who was listening to the conversation, finally spoke “But Savita does not know, right? Why didn’t you tell her that you were searching for Prasad?”

“Oh, I will tell her. I didn’t want to raise her hopes only to have it dashed down. She has suffered enough. Now we have have caught him, I am sure it is right time for her to know” The inspector smiled.

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Manisha was busy drying her laundry when the doorbell rang. Her head still hurt from the blow she received. And she took a day off from her work to rest only to find her friends and relatives come barging to her home, expressing concern as well as eager to know what actually transpired last night. She regaled her story for umpteenth time, and that was tiring.

She expected that some other friends had come to visit her, but when she opened her door, she was surprised.

“We meet soon” inspector smiled, He raised his hands to show her purse, “As I told you that I will return the purse as soon as I find the criminals. Thanks to your mobile, I found them real quick”

“But ” Mainsha stammered, “I didn’t expect-“

“It was so soon. You probably thought you will never get it back” Inspector said kindly, “Now you know, We police are efficient people” He handed back her purse.

“Thank you very much” said Manisha and she took her purse back. “I will never forget you”.

Inspector bowed down and saluted before turning on his heels and walking into the silent night.