Riya stared into nothing, the darkness around her threatening to swallow her.
Neel always had a habit of sleeping in absolute pitch dark, whereas she always needed a source of light, even a small mini bulb in the room. But now, she was used to darkness. She was living in it-literal and figurative. She can handle it.
At least he was not sharing the bed. Her body shuddered and she felt like throwing up. Trying to look at him with anything else other than suspicion, hatred or anger was hard enough. Each innocent touch made her feel like shit, the bed sharing would had been unbearable.
Pushing away thoughts so that she don’t throw up all over herself, she slowly sat up, trying not to move her wound. Neel has done a haphazard work on slapping cotton and gouges together- the terrorist camp did not train him for this, apparently. She could see outline of blood seeping through, sighing at it. Maybe this would make him go out, leaving her alone to figure out what to do next.
Then, she looked at the room.
There were several bags and packets. Bottle of water and familiar packets of chocolates and dry fruits peeked out from some of them. The medical supply he had used on her was lying on a small tea table, and from the look of it there were more of it. There was also a travel bag, and she could see some clothes inside.
He had a ready to go bag and he had made plans to survive longer.
She looked at the couch Neel was sleeping on, the laptop beside him was still on and it cast a light on his face. Riya glared at nothing as she took in the situation. He was not going anywhere, and if ETF or IB finds them here, he will bolt and take her with him. She had casually asked about what was his plan next, and he had jokes that he would send a video to ETF making it look like he had kidnapped her. That will be just bad idea- and it will go beyond IB or State police if her family is involved. She needs to handle this little shit show on her own, inside the city borders.
Then he had sobered up, and told her some outline of his plan. Make fake ID and passport, get inside airport and flee. He needed her for shady connection which did that, as he could not risk going out to fetch one of his own. He would leave goodbye and make her look like a hostage, like a fuc king martyr. As if he was sacrificing something, as if he cared.
She had a big problem if he did not leave her side. She looked down at her bracelet, tracing the edges with her finger. A long time had passed, and since none had arrived yet there were two possibilities- one, the tracker is dead. Second, Neel had picked a place where neither ETF nor IB can venture. She racked her mind to think about area where it’s possible, coming up with a few. Then she mentally calculated the time she was unconscious, till she woke up in this room.
She had a few places in mind, and neither were good.
Lying down on the bed, she sighed to herself, arm thrown over her eyes. If the tracker is dead, and none is coming, she needed to find a way to move from here. And take him with her, earning his trust. It will only happen if he sees any potential threat.
She hoped at least a police van with red siren passed outside. She can try to convince him.
Once again, she was at a mercy of other party and she did not like one bit of it.
On the other side of the city, Sameer Rathore along with Chotu stood in absolute darkness, waiting for two of Riya’s informers to arrive. The senior officer looked around in uneasiness, trying to not pant in nervousness. He never needed to be in shadows, or seek people from the other side for help. Chotu, on the other hand, stood in complete ease. He grew up in the dark corners in the city and had build his own informers squad since the time he had joined. Nothing shook him anymore.
“Do you think they will arrive?” He asked quietly, looking around. Chotu nodded wordlessly, his gaze never shifting. He was the one who had used Riya’s phone (which was, surprisingly, unlocked. Had no fingerprint scanner or pin. Everyone wondered how it could be as she guarded the flip phone so fiercely, and then thought to themselves maybe she had done it intentionally in case they needed her phone and she is not present) to message the informers, and Sameer just hoped this won’t go south in case the duo arrives and don’t see her.
They can’t afford anymore bad incidents.
Two men arrived from the shadows and Sameer straightened his spine, trying to appear cool. Chotu shifted on his feet, the duo’s movement halting as they realized Riya did not come. They looked at each other, ready to bolt or do something violent, the senior officer could not tell.
He cautiously reached behind his back, feeling the cold metal around his fingers. Just in case.
“There is no need for that.” Chotu’s voice was lower but it might as well had boomed into the silence. Sameer’s own hand stilled, so did the two informers as they stood rooted in their spot.
“Where is the ACP?”
“Unavailable.” Chotu showed them her phone and they relaxed a bit, “And she needs your help.” They frowned, and the commando gave them the sanitized version of what happened- a man had taken her hostage. He was probably hiding in this area.
They looked at each other and immediately Sameer knew they will deny, “We should not interfere between a police case.”
“It won’t be interfering if we are asking you.” Chotu spoke calmly, then the next moment sighed in impatience, “I know what you are thinking. No, denying is not an option. She needs you, so do we.”
“We live here. You are asking to betray our friends and family.” One of them spoke with venom in his tone. Sameer had enough of this back and forth.
“Did not think of it when she was handing over money, or saving you from jail, were you?” Chotu glanced at the officer as he went on, “Don’t try to be saint here. Whatever she did for you, we will do the same. We guarantee you. Money, no jail time, you pick.”
“And what if we don’t?”
“That’s not an option. We did not come here to ask about your opinion.” Chotu crossed arms over his chest and the men stepped back a bit. Then Sameer Rathore spoke, making the former realize what was up with the hype of Rajputs and their threats and promises, and felt himself cower a bit in fear, also admiring the senior in respect.
“She is injured. If we don’t find her alive, if we find a body, trust me, there will a bloodbath in this city. None will survive, you or your masters. And I will personally make sure ETF leads the front, and the first two victims will be you two.” He pointed fingers at them, “Take it as threat or promise, your wish. I expect her location within the next 12 hours.” Nodding at Chotu, the duo turned around and walked away.
“You think they will agree?” Chotu muttered, trying to look over his shoulder to guess their reactions.
“Don’t look back.” Sameer ordered sharply, muttering, “I hope they do.”
The informers came around, gave the ETF a location next afternoon of a shady hotel.
The ETF with IB agents went inside, gun blazing. By then Neel had fled, and there were no traces of the ACP.
Arjun stared into the dustbin full of bloody cottons and bandages, and Sameer sighed beside him, squeezing his shoulder. That seemed to bring him out of his broodiness as he barked at his team to scan the premises, for samples to collect for forensic.
Rahane might as well had punched the walls in frustration, but he needed to work his mind quickly. Where Neel Sahay would go in case of emergency?
“He left in a hurry, looks like.” Shree clenched and loosen his hold of gun, standing beside Rahane. There were few bags of food and medical supply lying on the floor. Sahay was in such hurry that he even forgot to take the laptop charger cord. He looked up and saw ACP Rawte was looking at the supplies as well. Walking ahead, he touched the adapter, feeling heat seeped through his fingers.
He turned so fast that his neck almost snapped, his eyes wide, “It’s still hot. They just left.”
The men looked at each other before all of them running out, Sameer’s ‘Let’s go! Let’s go!’ filling the air. The agents and officers spread all around the premises, and then one of them shouted from a gully about a possible figure moving. Till the time Arjun and Rahane had reached others, they saw Neel Sahay as he put his arms around Riya’s neck, holding her tight and carefully in front of him so that none of them can take a shot. The Second -in-command looked at her face, silently asking her to give a space, just a few centimeters, but it might be the stress of the situation, or fear of unknown. Like a ragdoll, she moved just like how Neel made her to.
”Sahay, let’s not do something stupid.” Rahane spoke cautiously.
“I am not, let me just go.” Neel looked around, taking a few steps back. The agents and officers were closing in but he had the trump card, “Stay back!” He yelled, and to emphasize his threat he squeezed Riya’s wound from other hand. Blood flew freely and she bucked at the sudden pressure, the drops running through her dress and falling on the street.
“Don’t hurt her!” Arjun yelled.
“You guys are making me.” He looked behind for one moment before replying, “My car is right there.” He pointed behind a black honda, “I will just . . . “ dragging Riya by her neck, they both moved toward the car, taking steps backwards. The others moved too, but hesitant as they waited on their seniors to give orders. All of them stayed silent, and they watched Neel Sahay taking the injured ACP with him.
Of course, he changed the car the moment he was out of reach.
After the shock went off, they gave orders to track the car. The ETF men and Rahane stood near their SUVs. The scene just happened in front of them will be forever burnt in their memory. The liasion agent wondered when the last he ever saw the fiesty ACP so still, so unresponsive.
Injured.
“They had left in a hurry. Well, Neel had.” Arjun spoke quietly, staring hard at the ground. “So he was sure he will be here for a while. It did not happen.”
“What are you saying?” Sameer asked.
“He did not prepare to flee.” The former looked at others, his eyes roaming, “If he had not planned to flee, he probably did not have any location in his mind.”
“He won’t roam aimlessly.” Rahane caught up, “He is right. If Sahay had no place to stay, Riya might have suggested a hiding location. They were probably heading towards that place.”
“Her apartment?” Chotu supplied. Both the men shook their head.
“It’s too easy. Sahay won’t fall for it and she won’t suggest it.” Rahane turned to Shree, “You sit with my team. Go through her history post she had arrived in Mumbai and look up the possible locations.” He turned to others, finally feeling this wild goose chase is coming to an end, “I feel we are really close.”
Neel honked the card, slamming his palm on the buttons repeatedly as he glared at the slow moving traffic. Beside him Riya was slumped on the seat, eyes cautiously taking him in.
He had planned to stay in the location until she had made a plan to help him escape country, but early morning he had seen suspicious activity in the nearby location. He had woke her up with repeated shakes, then almost ran towards roads. He had even rented a car which was parked some kilometers outside the hotel.
Just in case, he had said with a strained smile. He did not do that much in that last few hours.
Riya don’t believe in god, but it might be either he existed, or others prayed for her so much that he decided to take mercy on her.
He was probably wondering how IB found the location, or where to go next now that his hiding place is gone and he had no back up plan, judging by his annoyance and panic state. Once they drove around and moved to the state highway, his temper flared at the snail paced traffic. Apparently, every vehicle is being checked and none was allowed to move outside Mumbai. Almost like a total shutdown. Riya reckoned that was probably IB with the help of state ministry.
A check post arrived in their vicinity and she spoke up, “Go in the back and hide.” At his look she probed “Quick!”
“What if they recognize you?” He asked in fear even when he moved to the backside, Riya taking over the wheels ignoring the blood soaked shirt. They reached the post, the traffic police looked inside, told her to open the back. Finding nothing, they were allowed to move away.
“They are looking for you, not me.”
“But you are missing too.”
“It won’t be disclosed.” She did not explain much, and he gave a sly smile in return. If a policeman had gone missing, department will never disclosed voluntarily until the opposite forced had leaked the information. It will set off panic in public.
She pulled on the side so that he can take the wheels again, and Neel asked, “I am not sure where we can go next.”
“My apartment is probably surrounded by police.” She said, and watched cautiously as his eyes lit up with a plan.
“My old place? I had checked it, it was empty.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” At his frown she clarified, “IB will find out your history and that place will be first on the list.”
“But it’s not in my name anymore.” He sighed in impatience.
“I have a feeling.” She suggested at his look, not wanting to make him agitated or suspicious, “Let’s drive around. If anything off, we move.”
He nodded at that and pressed on the accelerator. It took almost ages due to the traffic, and all Riya could do was hope, and surprisingly, pray for another miracle. One guard, one ETF suv outside the building.
One last miracle.
Aisha, Arjun, Sameer . . . anyone.
And God must be feeling merciful today, as the moment Neel pulled in, they saw 2 SUVs with ETF logo along with a discreet white van outside Neel’s building, which looked exactly like from warehouse location. Neel’s face became white as a sheet, and he turned to her, almost expecting a look of ‘I told you’ or any sarcastic comment.
All Riya could do was to stare at the familiar Man who was surrounded by other ETF officers and IB agents. She was granted this wish too- she saw Arjun, and yet taken aback at the expression on his face. He stood taller, guarded, sharp eyes taking in surroundings as to miss nothing.
She never saw him like that, and wondered if she looked as bad as him.
She turned to Neel just as from the other side, Arjun looked up at the unsuspecting white Suzuki which stood exactly opposite the building. At her direction, Neel drove away, slowly as to not spook anyone, and Arjun frowned, taking a few steps towards it. With this awful feeling in his head that something is slipping away.
Then his phone rang, and the thoughts went off.
It doesn’t really matter
Rahane along with ETF officers stood in the conference room, the table full of pictures and papers which included entire history of Riya the moment she stepped into Mumbai.
Arjun entered and was hit by the giant photos of Riya and Neel from a different time, and felt sick. When he looked up, everyone had that same expression on their faces.
How things went south . . .
There was an older man who stood near Rahane, who was talking to the agent and was in charge of the snipers. He was John, Rahane quickly introduced and moved on as the former started speaking.
“We got some locations, but you guys can speak better what might be the possible location.” ETF officers turned to Aisha who stood with arms crossed over chest. She nodded, and John started writing on the white board.
“Googly cyber cafe- Neel’s place for rendezvous, Baker towers- ACP’s apartment, Starling heights- Neel’s rented place, Cafe Latte- where they had frequently visited, some other locations.” John wrote down some places where they individually had went- Neel’s friends, places Riya went, her IPS batchmates who are still in the city.
“If we start with IPS batch mate there will be a bunch.” Aisha rubbed temple, looking at the board as she felt headache upcoming, “She did not socialize much, but I am guessing she kept touch for the . . .” She gestured.
“Informers.” Chotu finished for her, earning a nod.
“From what we know from Neel, his friends will be a small size. It needs to be someone so close, so trusting that he will go there.” Sameer said.
“I looked at that side.” Turning to John, Rahane took his marker and cut out the words, “There are no friends.”
“So we can cut out the apartments too.” Shree said, and Rahane cut off the two names. “They would know those were the obvious locations we might be looking at.”
“Now we are left with Googly, Cafe Latte, and IPS batchmates.” John spoke up.
“You can cross off Latte. It’s not a place for hide out, there is no hotels or any place to live. It’s a commercial place filled with malls and shops.” Aisha said, “Now Googly. It’s a secluded location. I am not sure, I have been there once I guess.”
“IPS batchmates?” Rahane demanded.
“I will pull up and list and personally contact each of them.” She nodded at Shree who nodded back, immediately pulling a list of officers who were with Riya and Aisha during their IPS training time.
“Something is amiss.” Sameer stared at the board then turned to his team, “I get the logic behind IPS batch mates, Riya might have called and asked for favor. But it’s too risky. Googly, I think we need to check the area before making a judgment.”
“I get you.” John looked at Rahane,”Nothing screams here as a place to hide.”
“We missed one location.” Arjun, who was silent all this time, walked towards the board. Taking the market from John, he wrote two words.
“Ravi Lodge?” Chotu frowned, “Where have I seen that before?”
“She lived there.” Aisha nodded at Arjun’s words, exhaling sharply. This was probably the obvious location and yet none had mentioned it.
“What is this place? We did not find anything on that.” John asked in confusion.
“You might have found a blank space post her resignation and entering ETF.” The former nodded in understanding and Arjun wasted to time to explain further, “I have a hunch they might be there.”
“You, Sameer, Rahane and Chotu go to Ravi lodge.” Madam Director ordered, pointing at the men, “Take your agents with you, Rahane.” He nodded at that, then turned to John.
“You go with rest to Googly. Check the area.”
The men moved out of the conference room.
Riya stepped into the familiar room of Ravi lodge, footsteps halting as all the memories rushed to her. How many countless nights she had spent here- planning, strategising, asking questions to herself, blaming herself. Forgot to sleep, forgot to eat, forgot to live. Only agonized about her situation and plotted revenge. Trying to dig deep.
Neel stood behind and the sense jerked her into present. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she moved aside to let him in.
“I can’t imagine you living here.” She told him a story of how she lived here to catch a criminal. “Shady don’t even cover it. Did you notice how the receptionist man did not bat an eye at your blood soaked shirt.”
The man downstairs knew her, and it might have shown on her face that he pretended to not know her, silently took their details and handed over the key. Riya was tempted to slip a paper- Call the police!- but like Neel said, it was a shady place. He might not do it to save her.
Riya shut the door behind her and Neel immediately sat on the bed which creaked annoyingly. He opened the laptop, sighing at the screen in relief, but then frowned. He looked around, and then let out a groan, “Shit.”
“What?”
“I forgot the power cord.” He stood up abruptly, looking outside as if wanting to go, but knowing it will be risky to do so, “Laptop is going to die soon.”
“Is there any need for it?”
He looked at her as if she had asked a stupid question, “Ri, the government is after me. They might have found out my IP address and the location I am now currently. I installed a jammer into it, it will block all trackers, comms or any other way they can find me. If the laptop dies, we are in danger.”
At his little speech, something stirred inside her. Fu ck. But before she could agonize over it, Neel stood right in front of her, reaching out to touch her wound. She almost jerked backward, earning a look from him.
“Just trying to check.”
“I will just,” She motioned to the washroom and tried to give a smile at his nod, “I will check. Don’t worry.”
“Let me know if you need extra bandage.” She nodded and shut the door over his words, immediately collapsing against the door and trying not the hypervent. Putting a hand over her mouth, her eyes filled with tears, but then she closed them, took a deep breath and pulled the hand off her mouth. Wiping off the tears quickly, she stood in front of mirror, took a look at her face and splashed water on it.
She was back to where she started, and maybe it’s a good thing. She can finish it here.
She traced the black bracelet with her finger tips, yanking it off her wrist and shaking it, hoping it’s not dead. Niraj had said it was durable, but she was unconscious for a long time and not sure what it had endured. If it was dead or it was Neel’s jammer which was blocking the signal all along.
Suddenly, the vision turned black and she felt herself almost falling down. Quickly holding on to the wash basin, she tried to balance her by breathing deeply. Once again, she looked at her face, then down to her injury.
When she pulled the shirt, she winced at the bloody mess. The bandage was soaked, and it was put on haphazardly. When she tried to push the bandage, it stuck to the skin. She knew about injuries and felt like it’s most likely infected.
She can’t afford to pass out again.
Making up her mind, she gave herself a last, loaded look in the mirror, turned and unlocked the bathroom door. Neel barely looked up and she chose to sit on a plastic chair, staring at the man in front of her.
After a while which felt like lifetime, she heard the words she desperately needed to hear, “Fuc k yaar.” He looked at her with panic and fear, “It’s dead.”
She straightened her spine, ready for one last round. She did not know if her team was coming, but she will see the end of it.
Even if it’s with her bare hands.
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isoleucine @isoleucine
3 years ago
Now that Neel laptop is dead etf will be able find riya wherever Neel takes