2 Days later, a old warehouse in west mumbai, around 2 am in night.
Rathore pulled hair tightly of Rafik, who was bleeding badly from his mouth, his eyes had turned red and one was punched. his hair were dishelved, in short he was in bad condition. others police officers observed as the ETF chief himself took the harculean task to open his mouth. from past 48 hours, day and night, all were torturing Rafik but he had not opened his mouth. Rafik let out an animalistic howl of pain.
"You had realised that you cant leave this place alive, so why dont you do us a favour and open your mouth?" Rathore hissed menacingly near his face. Rafik shook his head in no.
"If i open my mouth, they will kill me."
"What give you the impression that i will leave you alive?" Rathore now left his hair and looking intenty in his eyes so that he cant look away, "In either way, you will be dead. i can give you protection, you will rot in jail but you will stay alive. now its your choice."
Maybe this gave something to think about, as Rafik looked in floor in deep thoughts. rathore continued to glare at him, silently hoping this time he will open his mouth, cause his patience was alowly going away. maybe if this time he dont open his mouth he will torture Rafik so brutally that he can even die.
"ok." rafik nodded his head, and Rathore's breathing stopped for a while. rafik looked at him, and said, "I am ready to answer your questions. ask anything."
Rathore sighed in relief inwardly and asked, "From where you are getting the illegal arms? No other local dons or mafias are selling those."
"Our boss," Rafik shuddered in fear, "He is a very powerful man. he has many contacts, thats how we get them to sell."
"Who is he?" Rathore pressed. Rafik shook his head.
"i had never meet him, but heard many things about him. He stays outside of country, he had many special men who handle the works here."
"And who handle works in Mumbai?"
"His name is Monu."
"How come till now you guys didnt get caught?" Wondered Rathore, "No single tips, nothing. as if you dont exist."
"we dont exist." rafik agreed, "For rest of world, we are finished the day Mumbai Police caught our illegal arms consignment nearly 2 years ago. the case had created such a uproar, we were all worried that if Police catch us all, but thankfully none of them opened their mouth." he sighed, "after that case, we all went into hiding. till now, our deals are done in absolute secrecy. we deal with big, rich, powerful people. Boss cant take the risk of getting caught, if one of us get caught many will fall into trouble, so we dont do our business openly."
"if all these are done in absolute secrecy and for rich powerful people only then how come you were selling those to petty criminals?" Rathore asked, and he flinched.
"I was. . . selling them for extra money."
"And your boss dont know about it, eh?" rathore smirked as fear across Rafik's eyes. Rathore now took out a paper on which the dragon tattoo was drawn and showed it to him.
"You know this mark?"
"Know?" rafik eyed Rathore in astonishment, "This is our sign. our gang's sign. this sign are there on every members," he rolled his shirt's sleeve and there was the same tattoo on his bicep, " on every cartoon boxes of consignments." he paused for a while, thinking if he should say more or not, then continued again, "I had heard our Boss has a tattoo exactly like this."
Rathore's jaw hardned, then he took out another picture, "You know him?"
"Of course." Rafik nodded, seeing the photo of the person who died consuming poison, "he is Salim. he works with us, though from some days we didnt see him."
"And you wont see him ever, unless you die and meet him in hell." Rathore leaned away from him and Rafik looked at him shocked. Rathore signaled to the others, and walked away from the warehouse.
So the shadow, the myth he was chasing all along, turned out it does exist. he should have felt happiness, but no. it was a strange emptiness inside him, maybe due to the reason he didnt believe the person he had called his best friend, or maybe because he had blamed him for HER death, quite unfairly. he ran fingers in his hair, feeling this unknown emotion doing strange things to him. he needed to do something, and he had a weird feeling what exactly he was going to do now.
people let off steams in many ways. some people cry, yell to let out their frustration and anger, some people hurt themselves by punching on walls, mirrors, etc etc, and some others throw and break things. some people dont cry or yell at all, they press those emotions so hard till all they feel was numbness. Rathore's way off let off steam were different. being a car racer once upon a time, it was quite easy for him to push off the extreme feelings for a while under adrenaline rush. the cheering, the need to win by hook or crook, the competitiveness, the speed, the dangerous curves, it was all he wanted right now, so even without thinking anything else, he took one of the fellow officer's SUV (on whom there was no logo of police or anything), and drove toward a place.
Illegal racing. if anyone sees him here they will die and go straight to God's. how shocking is for a Person who is co incidentally the protector of law, the person who fight with criminals and crime everyday, to turn up here, challenge some weird constipated looking driver who looks ready to chew him off, just to let off his steam! the organizer of the race looked strangely to Rathore, maybe thinking how come a person who looks like he belong from good family, has arrived here and asking if he can race. nevertheless, he took money from Rathore, and a girl with too minimal clothes started the race by dropping a red cloth, while the crowd cheered for these two. the other driver gave rathore a look, like he is here for boxing match and not car racing. Rathore didnt look toward him at all, his eyes were all for the road ahead. the two SUVs roared into life and shoot ahead.
it was working, he thought warrily, as he just avoided a clash with the challenger driver. he was not feeling the earlier frustration or whatever unknown emotion, too strongly now. his mind was slowly filling with a determination and it has nothing to do with the race. he was moving on from the self loathing, now totally focused on the 'catching bad guy' part. whatever happened in past, it cant be changed, but we can surely change our future. he decided, from now on he wont duel on past, but channelise his all attention toward catching HIM.
he came out of his thoughts when he heard Police whistle behind him. God dammit! Police was raiding the race, he thought with a panic and put the SUV on top gear. it shoot faster than earlier, and after some more lanes he could not see the police, neither can hear the whistle.
he stopped the vehicle infront of his own house anc laughed out loud at himself. he was imaging what would have happen if police had caught him, it would have been a scandal. it was a narrow escape, and he mentally noted not to something like this ever again!
Next morning, ETF
"WHAT!" Riya reacted just like rathore had predicted. as soon as he told her about the mini adventure late night yesterday, she went all wide eyed and stunned.
"God! Did you realise you had a narrow escape? Oh my God!" She exclaimed, removing her specks as if to see him clearly, "What had gotten into you? You are the Chief, for Heavens sake! you cant go and do all this illegal stuff, do i have to remind you this?"
"I am not proud of myself too," He sighed, shaking his head, "I was not thinking anything."
"If police had caught you. . ." She left the sentence hanging, and sighed, not wanting to think more. she wear her specks once more, and rathore knew the subject was over.
"Dont do this again, how much worse you feel, just dont." she stared at his eyes to let him know how much serious she was. he nodded, and they went back to Rafik. she heard quietly about what Rafik said, and was thinking the same thing like Rathore.
"How are we going to get hold of this Monu?"
''I had sent sketch artist to make a picture of his." He replied, his brows knotted in deep concentration. her face soften watching him and she looked away, giving him peace of mind. her eyes ran on the office and fixed on HIM. her mind went to the night when she had asked him why he wants to find Sikandar.
she didnt want him to tell all those things, it just came out. maybe he was more angry at her, maybe now he will press her more for information, but she didnt care. she wont ever open her mouth about this secret investigation, how much HE presses her for it. even Sameer dont want him to involve in this, she knew why. Arjun's anger is very destructive, and this case involved his wife's killing. how much Riya preach him about keeping aside his professional life, but she knew its impossible. the line of personal and professional had vanished the day Sikandar had went behind his family. he is not wrong in his motive to find him, even Riya is here only because she wants justice for HER. they both were in same place, little did they know.
Rawte could feel her gaze from across the office, but he didnt look at her. her words had left a big deal of impact on him, he was torn between to think more about her words and demanding answers. he hated to say but she was right, his motive to find HIM was not wrong but he was being selfish.in mind he was thinking if he should offer his help if Riya and Rathore are working on this case, but his ego didnt let him. instead it triggered anger in his mind, how can they secretly investigate HER case without him? but then, he was only assuming they are investigating HER death, not necessarily they are doing it.
he was frustrated with his own double standards. he removed the pen from his fingers and nearly threw it on table, then meet her gaze. it was blank, betraying no emotion as usual. she didnt look away from him, and they were engaged in a never ending staring session, which was not agressive like the day she had joined, it was strangely calm.
it was never calm between them, he thought warrily and chuckled thinking the day they had met for the first time. she was locked in girls toilet, a prank by the seniors, and he was sent in girls toilet, being told that it was actually boys. he was stunned to hear a girl is shouting and cursing to open the door, and when he had opened the door of her, she fell on top of him, making both of them hit the floor. and then, she could not get off him because her high heels didnt let her. he had to pin her under him and make her stand on her own feet. he was thinking how can this girl enter a police academy, who was dressed like a fashionista and wore 4 inch high heels? but how wrong he was, he had realised it later! the person who had said first impression is the last impression in a complete idiot! her first impression was a dumbo fashionista with a big temper, but later when they become friends he knew so much about her. like she value her friendships so much. once seniors had pulled a prank and he and rathore was stuck in Raghu sir's cabin. it was the exam time, so when next day Raghu sir saw his cabin messed up obviously he had thought someone had come to stole question papers. though she knew it was them who had entered the cabin, she lied and vowed infront of Sir that they three were together. now it was different question after it she had run straight to the seniors and did some quick marshal arts on them, leaving them in bad shapes. or like her smart mouth, ever ready with answers that was both witty and sarcastic, something to leave one tongue tied and force to think about. her hard work to become best in everything, though one cant be best at everything, or maybe her temper, which was so bad. everytime she was angry she used to smash everything in her room, a strange way to let it out. her arrogance and pride about her abilities, which sometime make others to think she is rude, but she never gave hoots to others. for her, the people she love and care matters most.
their relationship was never easy. they were both similar type of person, with ego as big as football ground and bad temper. it was strange how they become friends, but till the day Arjun was sure she had seen something in him. she had only one friend in academy before him, Sameer. she didnt offer her hand for friendship just because Rathore had said so, she must have thought something. everyday was different with her, everyday he knew something new about her, everyday with her was challenging, achieving something new. he didnt realise when the years of academy passed, and one day it was their last day in academy.
and its the same day when it had ended. their friendship, or whatever it was. his eyes tighten thinking about it, and he saw even she looked sad. or it was shame? he could not put his finger on it.
not quite surprisingly her thoughts were also going back to the academy days. it always does, whenever her eyes fell on him. its quite painful to be afraid of the person with whom she used to share such good rapport in some distinct life of hers, which she herself destroyed. she had never opened herself that much to anyone, he was the only one who had seen the real her. he knew her so much that sometime it used to scare her. staying with him and opening herself to him, it had left a bad impact on her, she thought warrily and chuckled, she could not open herself to another person ever again.
Rathore heard her soft low chuckle and looked at her curiously. he saw her staring at Rawte and sighed. he had no idea what happened between them, he only guessed they had a silly fight years ago which never resolved. now, of course, the circumstances are different, it was near impossible for her to go and talk to him. he was not the same Arjun with whom they were friends once upon a time. everyone had changed, everything had changed.
though he had once thought these two had a silly fight, but he was not so sure anymore about it. how weird it was for rawte to behave like that when she had entered this office, like his arch nemesis had entered in his life. his rudeness to her, rathore thought it was his hurt becuase she had vanished one day suddenly and never contacted anyone of them. his glares and anger now forced him to think something totally different had occured, which he failed to see. he was pondering whether he should ask her about it, or he should not. the relationships are not the way it used to be, easy like breathing. it has changed, now it consist very deep thinking and carefully chosen words to start a conversation.
She tore her gaze from HIM and now she was staring at the floor. she was trying very hard to put the forbidden thoughts in the corner of her mind. and to distract herself, she looked at Sameer once again, a question coming in her mind which answer she already knew.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Rathore looked confused for a while, then sighed, remembering the car racing part, "Because i didnt have anyone to share about my life."
She smiled hearing his answer, though she already knew he will say something similar to it. it felt good to know someone missed her. she had missed him too, but it was her decision to stay away from this city and all these people. she cant complain.
oblivious to these three, someone else was also observing them. Aisha, the ammunition expert who hardly take interest in other people's lives, could not move her eyes from these three. there was something heart ripping about the way Arjun sir and Riya were staring at each other, though their eyes were blank but it felt hollow, empty. the way Rathore sir is observing them, its like he sighing in defeat about something. maybe neither of these are making sense, maybe she was wrong, but suddenly Aisha realised maybe Liza and Shree's theories are not that wild like she had thought them to be. maybe they were on the spot about their theories, or maybe they were near it, but there was something between these three, she can see it clearly.
but in the night, she had something else to think more about. it was nearly 11 pm, and the office was deserted except Riya, herself and Arjun sir. nearly half the people in office knew Arjun sir dont go home in night, he stay most of the time in office so it didnt fell wrong. Riya was doing her paper work, and Aisha was coming back with two cups of coffee for herself and her. she offered her one, which was black coffee. she had observed she always take black coffee, and Riya looked surprised yet pleased seeing it was her type of coffee which Aisha made.
"Thanks." She took a sip and closed her eyes in peace. Aisha nodded smiling, taking sip from her own.
"Its nearly 11, when are you leaving?" She asked. Riya sighed, taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes.
"Its never ending. i dont know when it will finish." She sounded like a small child which made Aisha chuckled. even Riya smiled at it. She settled in her chair and went back to her work, when Riya's phone buzzed.
"Please pass the phone from my bag." She said and Aisha did so, as the bag was on the chair beside her. but when giving her the phone the bag fell down, scattering every thing on the floor. she gave a apologetic look to Riya, who signaled back that its ok, and Aisha bend down to gather it all. her eyes suddenly fell on a drawing, a dragon spitting fire, and she had this nagging feeling that she had surely seen it somewhere.
It was Riya's father, calling her like every day and asking how the day passed. she informed she is still in office, so he cut the call, telling he will call tomorrow. she cut the call, smiling fondly at her father, and looked at Aisha. her smile vanished when she saw Aisha holding the paper on which the tattoo was drawn.
"Where did you get this?" Aisha asked even before she can say something. she was tongue tied, thinking what to answer, but then she saw the strange expression on her face and decided against it.
"Do you know something about it?" she counter questioned.
"Yes. I have seen this sign." Aisha replied, now leaning on the table and looking straight in her eyes. Riya looked stunned.
"You know how i entered ETF?" asked Aisha, and she shook her head in negative.
"Let me tell you."
"I was part of a undercover mission. i was a part of a illegal arms dealing team and was very close to tip off about a big deal, but didnt get the chance. maybe it was fate, or whatever, that ETF was assigned with some case with whom this gang was linked and my cover blowed off. After ETF solved the case and we caught some of the gang members of it, i joined here." Aisha finished off her tale. Riya was still looking at her quizzically.
"I had seen this sign, Riya, on the cartoon boxes of the arms.'' She replied and Riya went blank hearing it, "Where did you get this?"
"I cant answer this to you," she replied calmly, looking back in her eyes, "so forgive me, but i must not lie."
after this answer Aisha could not ask her anything of course, but curiosity is a bitch. she could not stop herself to ask more.
"Are you chasing this gang?" She asked, and Riya sighed. why everyone in ETF have to be so spot on about their guessing?
"What if I am?" She counter questioned. Aisha's face harnded hearing this, then it was replaced by concern, something which Riya didnt understand.
"You should be careful if you are. This gang is ruthless, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into." She looked at her, "when i was part of them i had seen their cruelty. secrecy meant the most for them, and their unique style of torture," she shuddered, removing her gaze from her, then looking back again, "How deep you are into this?"
"I cant answer this." Riya answered and Aisha looked disappointed, "i was just telling what if i am, its not necessary that i am into this."
"You and Rathore sir are doing this, right? during the time when you are not in office?" aisha asked again and Riya looked taken aback for a while. did she really thought none in the office will notice?
"You are overthinking this." Riya tried to divert her mind but it was too late. Aisha smiled little at her.
"I wont tell anyone, you can trust me, you know."
"I know you wont." Riya replied calmly. they both stared at each other for a while, then went back to their work, though their mind was far away from the work infront of them.
Aisha kept wondering about the suicidal mission Rathore sir and Riya doing behind everyone's back. what had brought this on? some secret tips or high profile information? why they are not involving everyone? is this the reason Riya had entered in ETF? why she is having this nagging feeling something was hidden below all these, something on which she cant put her finger on.
After a while Aisha took leave, bidding good bye. as soon as she was out of sight Riya took out the mobile phone of the victim who died by poison, and started to go through it. nothing important, the messages only consist of company messages, about recharge offers and data packs, the call list consist of family and friends. not anything out of place in this, and for the umpteeth time Riya felt dejected. her eyes snapped at the phone when the mobile suddenly vibrated, and there was a new message.
B'lore, 27th.
thats it, only two words, B'lore and 27th. nothing else. does it mean something was going to happen in bangalore on 27th of this month? maybe a new deal?
she quickly gathered her stuff and took her bag, walking toward the door while typing Sameer's no. in her phone. she needed to tell him this quickly, this must mean something.
Neither of the ladies noticed where is the person all this while who spent his most nights in this very office sleepless. they didnt even notice he was not in his cabin, but he was actually in CCTV room, watching the ladies talking among themselves. he saw the CCTV room was empty and had a strong desire to check the footage from Rathore's cabin, to hear what stuff he and Riya talks about, but he didnt. when he was coming out, he heard Aisha asking Riya about some sign and it held his attention. he watched the entire conversation, and came out only when Riya left the office and the guards of CCTV room entered in the room. Arjun went in his cabin, spinning on his chair and twirling the pen as he thought about what Aisha and Riya was talking.
Does she really think Aisha will by her stupid reasoning? what was that," i was just telling what if i am, its not necessary that i am into this." like in hell Aisha will buy this stupid line. she was not stupid, neither was Arjun, so now both of them knew the chief of ETF and new entry in office were upto something. Arjun didnt understand what was so secret about the case if they are chasing some illegal arms gang, or why they didnt involve the entire ETF into this. Another thing what made him little tensed for his ex- friends were Aisha's warnings. the gang was dangerous, and they should be careful. Arjun didnt understand why these two are playing with fire, why this solo adventures?
and why he was being so nosy about their matters? why it bothers him if they are upto something, and it endanger their lives? he dont care, he just dont care. . . then why?
but more than his other why, he wanted to know why this secrecy. this time he wont ask HER, he will approach HIM. its not going to be easy, but he have to. he took the keys of his SUV and walked out of the cabin, heading for Rathore's home.
Rathore rubbed his eyes and was shocked out of his wits when he saw Riya standing on his ddor step 12 am in night. she hurriedly explained him about this message, and both reached a conclusion that maybe a illegal arms dealing is going to occur in Bangalore on 27th. they decided to inform the Bangalore PD next day, and leaned on the sofa, excited with the findings.
"Seems like we are getting somewhere, eh?" Rathore smiled in satisfaction, and frowned as Riya looked lost. he asked about it, and she sighed.
"Aisha had seen this tattoo on some cartoon boxes during her UC mission. she told me this night." rathore's eyes widen in shock as she went on, "she saw the paper consist dragon tattoo and asked me about it. she suspect we both are trying to bust this gang, and warned me that we should be careful. this gang is ruthless and they have interesting torture styles."
"Did she suspect. . . " Before he can finish she shook her head in negative, "No. she didnt have a clue about HIM."
"Everyone in ETF is exceptionally on the spot on their guessing," Murmured she dryly as Rathore looked amused, "Even Arjun thought we were investigating HER murder case."
"What you said?" his voice went cold and detached. Riya looked at him, frowing, a question which's answer she can only guess forming in her mind.
"Why we are not involving him in this?"
"Are you mad?" Rathore nearly yelled, now getting on his feet and pacing up and down, "He will destroy whatever lead we had got. His anger. . ."
"Till when you are planning to blame all these to his anger?'' she counter argued and he looked shocked once again, "why dont you admit you just dont want him to involve in this."
"He will destroy everything." he repeated like a stubborn child.
"At least dont lie to me." She sighed, "you and me both know one day we will get stuck somewhere in this, and we will need his help."
he didnt answer back but stopped moving and looked at her like she is some alien. she looked back calmly, not letting him get away this time.
"Who was the girl you were going to propose on the farewell party Sameer?"
He looked horrified that she brought this on after all these years. the expression was all she needed to confirm her suspicions.
"You loved her, dont you?" her question sounded a mere statement. the last bit of self control left him, and he went on hurriedly, something he was dying to let off all these years.
"She loved him, what mattered the most. i never came between them, you know me to do better than that. i thought he will keep her happy, keep her safe, but he failed my faith, he failed her faith. He was also responsible in her death."
"just because he was doing his job?" She asked quietly. he shook his head in negative.
"no. He was supposed to keep her safe. he failed in that."
"In this way, even i am the murderer of my Mother and Brother." she said in her same quiet detached voice as he looked confused, "I could not keep them safe too. they died because some petty criminal tried to kill me."
he looked stunned at the revelation, then ashamed.
"You were different."
"explain how." Riya asked in same detached voice, "Me and Arjun are standing on the same path, Sameer. you cant really differentiate between us."
He looked down, as if trying to search something else to counter argue, "Its too personal for him. it was his wife."
"Was not she our friends too? is not it personal for us too?" she argued again, now getting on her feet sighing, "adding him in this is your decision. you are the boss here. . . but you need new reasons if you are going to continue lie to yourself."
he didnt answer it. she took her bag, about to leave, when the door bell rang. Rathore snapped out of it and looked curious, going toward the door. he peeped through the key hole and saw it was Rawte.
"rawte?" He wondered aloud and Riya looked worried. she then took her bag and hurriedly went toward kitchen so that he wont see him. Rathore was oblivious to her hiding, so when he and Rawte entered inside, his eyes searched for her. he then turned toward Rawte, going back to his cold detached mask reserved only for him.
"There is better to be a good reason for your arrival." He said, looking crossly in his eyes, "its 12 in night and you are disturbing my sleep."
"Why you are not involving ETF in your solo adventure 'finding illegal arms dealer gang'?" Rawte came straight to point and Rathore groaned inwardly. inside Kitchen, Riya looked anxious that whats going to happen next.
"why i am not surprised by your lack of 'mind your own business' feature? was not you the one who stole a very imporant file in my absence?" he tried to make him feel ashamed but it didnt work, of course. Rawte crossed his arms, glaring more than ever.
"I wanted answers, not your sarcastic replies."
"you are not getting any." rathore dismissed him with a strict voice, "I am the chief, what i do behind everyone's back is none of your concern."
"So, does raghu sir know about all this?" Rawte wondered trying to make his voice playful but it didnt work, "I wonder what he will say about this."
"are you trying to threaten me?" Rathore looked murderous, "bad move Rawte."
"Threatening to sack me, are you, SIR?" he put pressure on the Sir, and Rathores eyes flashed in response. inside kitchen, Riya's heart beat increased as she felt something was coming.
"I am only tolerting you just because Raghu sir kept you here, Rawte, so dont test my patience." his words came out of gritted teeth, "I wonder where your all these detective skills vanish when you try to dig more into your wife's murder case."
Riya put palm in her mouth in shock. she could not believe Sameer to say something like this, even Rawte could not believe it. he looked blank at his comment.
"eclipsed by your infamous anger, i suppose." Rathore finished, and regretted instantly for mentioning HER into this. Rawte now understood fully what he had just said. he looked menacing, like he will lunge at him anytime now.
"How dare you to drag her into this?" He whispered, clenching his fist in both side to control his temper. Rathore kept intact his angry face.
"You know what? go to hell. I will find out myself what you are upto." Rawte said the last words and walked away, banging the door behind him. as soon as he left, Rathore slumped on sofa, hiding his face behind palms, loathing himself for dragging HER into this. he heard someone's footsteps entering in the room and he sighed loudly.
"I didnt mean to mention her."
"I know." Riya answered quietly, feeling miserable. may be she should have been in the room, then maybe they could have avoided this. she wanted to pat his back and tell its ok, but it was not okay. without any further word, she left, closing the door quietly behind her.
as soon as Rawte came out of Rathore's house and reahced his SUV, he banged his fist into the glass, causing the window smash in thousands of pieces. blood started to ooze out of his palm, but he didnt care. he was cursing himself for even thinking he will get any answers from HIM. he really wanted to punch his face for mentioning her into this, the audacity of him! he was shaking with fury, wanting to do something stupid for letting off his steam.
he heard someone's foot step coming behind him and he froze. turning slowly around, he saw Riya standing in front of him, her face a curious mixture of pain and nervousness. no trace of coldness or detachment was there, a very first what he can remember. then he realised she was coming from HIS house, then she must have heard his and Rathore's verbal war. it made his blood boil.
"enjoyed the show inside?" He said harshly and she flinched. she didnt answer him, his bleeding was much more important right now. she was searching for the hankerchief, the very same which he had giver to her when her palm was injured.
"You two are so similar. you both enjoy giving me pain by mentioning her name. . ." Rawte went on, his voice choking, "No wonder you two are friends. . . correction! Best of friends."
"Tie it around your palm." she kept the hankerchief on the bonnet of SUV, turning to go away from him. she cant face him like this, he was too angry and hurt and her mask of indifference has already slipped. she cant let him see her like this. but she could not put one step, as he caught her by gripping tight her arm, the uninjured one, and pulled her to him.
he was momentarily tongue tied. what he was supposed to say to her? yell at her, for being so infuriating at every step? for leaving academy without saying anything? for breaking frienship? or to come back after all these years and being so indifferent? or because simply she had entered and was on HIS side, not him?
she could not meet his eyes. sensing his bottled up frustration , she tried to free herself when he didnt say anything to her. he let her go, still not removing his stare from her. she took several deep breathes, her one leg ready to run away, but she felt suddenly too brave. she took the hankerchief from the bonnet, and tied it around his injured palm, thanking to God that he didnt protest.
he should yell at her, push her away, but he was doing nothing that sort of thing. she is nursing his wound and he is letting her to do, why? why he didnt have answers of the questions?
she finished tieing the last knot of hankerchief, her fingers still touching his palm. she had an incredible urge to hold his palm and squeeze it, but she didnt. how can she? it was the same like earlier. she gulped the lump in her throat, and with great difficulty let go off his palm. she took some steps behind, still not meeting his eyes, at last turned and left from the place, walking too fast.
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