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When Sujal returned from the walk an hr latter he knew something big was wrong as soon as he stepped in.
Sam –Sujal!!! Where the hell have you been? Do you how worried we've been!!!!???? Especially since Kashish-
S –Kashish? Why what is wrong is she hurt?
Sid –we don't know… she is missing Sujal… actually we were hoping she was with you ….
S –WHAT!!!!! MISSING?????!!!!!!!!!!!! KASHISH IS MISSING!!!?? How can u all be so relaxed?
Ashoke –coz we are not sure if she is it's just that we haven't seen her since morning and I can't reach her cell..
S –her office? Did you try it?
Sid –not there seems like he didn't go there.. But then.. You know her.. She goes off to some isolated place for some serious thinking…
S –he should know better to be alone in a situation like this, especially when that mad woman is-
A –Kashish doesn't know the whole thing as yet… Sujal… why do you have a dog with u?
Taking calming breath and pushing away the feeling that screamed that everything was not right, Sujal explained everything abt Nancy and Juli. Every1 sat down in the kitchen then.
S –so I want you all to allow Juli to sniff you so that she can familiarize herself with u.
Sid placing coffee mugs on table.."I don't think I want her near me. I don't like dogs much"
S –in that case Sam bahiya can we start from u?
Sam –ok.
As Sujal went Sam with his hand on the dog collar it started barking madly at Ashoke who had started at it with his mouth open, a cup in his hand.
A –Sujal.. Why is it?
S –I..Don't know… Juli!!! Down girl!!! Quite!!!
Not heeding her master's command with a surge of energy, Juli leapt on the dinner table knocking everything down and spilling the brew from Ashoke's hand.
Sam –SUJAL!!! Control that thing!!! This is not funny!!
Sam yelled over all the noise cups breaking, Ashoke crying "hot!" and the dog barking mightily.
Sid- everyone CALM DOWN!!!!!!
No one did…. Sujal tried his best to palacate the dog, Sid gave ice to Ashoke to put on his scalded hand on which hot coffee had spilt and Sam decide to make some more and throw it on the dog.
S –girl quite!!! Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! What is wrong with u? Quite down!!!!!
Sam –I tell you that bitch of urs is maddd-aaah!!!!!
Am s creamed and threw the coffee pack at the dog as it suddenly started to attack him. But Sujal pulled back the collar just in time and suddenly there was silence. Juli was now smelling the contents on the floor instead of barking and every1 was just breathing hard…..
********
Nancy slowly ran her fingers through the brail text.. She was reading her fav. Book it always calmed her nerves.. When she suddenly heard someone coming.. It didn't sound like the nurse… well she didn't know every one of nick's friends… shrugging to herself Nancy closed her text and readied herself to greet the guest, who seemed too surprised to find her there…
Stranger –who are u?
Nancy –I am Nancy. And you would be?
Nancy asked getting up and searching for her walking stick
S –me? Why I am… the nurse…
N –ah… then you must have come to see that he is comfortable.. Well he hasn't woken up a yet. So can't complain abt the hard pillow.
Nancy gilled trying to keep her voice normal. Everything in her body screamed danger ad she knew that the woman in front of her was not angel, but death angel..
S –yes.. No.. I.. actually, I heard that there was a visitor and I came to tell you that visiting time will be over soon.. That is if you are not family… are you with them?
****
Sam –t.th….that dog of ur…. Put it outside or I'll shoot it!!!it tried to attack me!!! Sid didya see that!!! She was flashing her teeth at me!!! Sujal if don't throw her outss-
S –bhaiya… I don't mean any disrespect but, SHUT UP!
Sujal bent down near his dog and sniffed what Juli was sniffing, it was coffee but there was something else too… something Sujal couldn't quite recognize but he was familiar with. Some scent which he had all too often smelt at poisoning cases crime site……
*****
R you with them….
that's what the old woman had asked Sujal… I mustn't say yes.. not yet at least…
N –me? Oh no.. I am a friend's friend. I came coz my friend was too busy.
S –oh.. well then. Pls leave in half an hr.
*****
A –what is it Sujal? you look tense…
Sam –something wrong with the coffee?
S –yes. There is something mixed in it which isn't good for our health… I don't know what it is but its familiar smell.. Juli caught the whiff and hence created such a fuzz....
Sid –god!!! This isn't good.. they..she got..she was…here inside…oh..go-
A –no she hates too muc-
S –no. it's an insider… we have been fooled by some1 we never suspected one of us had betrayed us….
Sam –what nonsense!!!!
S –no one else had the access.. now calm down and think logically as who it could be…
Sid –what do you mean who it could be.. it can't be any of us we are..
A –Sid relax Sujal is right it has to one of us no else has the opportunity… we must think with cool logic.
Sam made a disgusting sound and Sid muttered something about cold hearted lawyers…
*****
Nancy nodded her head in acceptance and waited, only when she couldn't hear the retreating steps of stranger did she lose her grip on her cane. Quickly Nancy retrieved her bag and called Sinha house. It was not safe to leave nick alone tonight. She needed them to sign permission for to stay. As the ph started ringing Nancy broke the line… she couldn't tell hem abt this.. she would jut request normally.. she cannot tell them coz the stranger's noise was familiar. She had heard it before… Nancy couldn't remember who but she had heard it in Sinha house… the stranger wasn't a complete stranger.. after all.
****
S –ok… so who all go into the kitchen the most…
Sid –well…I am not defending myself but I don't and ii doubt if Sam nick or dad do either…
Sam –yah… us men…well..never cared much for cooking ourselves
S –so that leaves women… Kashish obviously wouldn't…
Sid –uuhm…yah..right..
Sam –suuuurrreee……
A –boys…
S –what?! It's true.. she isn't.. you don't need proof for her!!! And if she as responsible…she wouldn't be sending that hand to herself!!!
A –Sujal..it's ..we believe Kashish is not the one.. continue..
S –uh..umm yah. So it obviously isn't Kashish, then Rin is too lazy and sick most of the times..so… and it's always Kaveri who does all the kitchen-
Sid –shut it!! Don't dare speculate that it's Kaveri! she is my wife I know her very well. She wouldn't!
Sam –and she knew from the beginning.. she doesn't blame us…or whatever..
A – I also think that it couldn't be her..
S –well then who is it the walls and the air? Be reasonable..I m saying she did it deliberately to hurt us maybe she had some good reason or maybe she didn't even know….
Sam –maybe you are right but I still don't think so… I mean we all know her, doesn't character count?
Soon Sid and Sam started arguing but Sujal was having none of it… the feeling of wrongness he had while entering the house had inc tenfolds..
S –can it guys!! Look. I don't know for sure if Kaveri did it… but she is one of my suspect… you may not agree and I don't care. Coz may be you don't realize that Kashish is still missing. Now. Sam you go to hospital and check up on nick and the girls… Sid you come with me
Sid –why ant I go to hospital? I wanna go!! Since you are bla-
S –exactly the reason you are not going. Uncle please take this coffee and get it tested, if there is something..then maybe Rin had been having it for long-
Sam –and that is why she always used get so sick after her coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! holy god!!! For that long!!!!!
S –we don't know… u'll have to get her blood tested too.. I am going to Kashish's office if she isn't there… well.. I am worried. Let's go Sid bhaiya.
***************************
(Late Evening/ night)
This time when Kashish felt the strain of consciousness she didn't react the same way. She conc. on breathing normal, kept her eyes shut and dint dare to move a single centimeter.
If that limy man is watching me, he isn't going to know I am awake, trying her best to gauge the condition of her body Kashish conc. on her last convo, to keep herself sane, she did not want o think what all could have happened after he passed out.
I have heard that voice b4.. no I have heard that type of speech, the voice was distorted.. as if changed.. I … my head was so fuzzy I can't even remember exact words…. But.. there was something which had twirked my brain what ?
As Kashish speculated she felt some1 touch her wrist then her neck, a disappointed sigh and then WHAM! Another of those blows… Kashish didn't make the mistake of opening her eyes this time she just allowed her head to loll.
"guess I damaged your brain or something.. well wasn't much of it from the beginning since you liked that pompous self proclaimed lawyer!! haaaahaaaaaaa"
Oh my god!!!
Kashish channeled all her energy into keeping still, she could not scream and get caught..
How can I ever forget this cheap laugh! Piyush!!!!!!!!!!! That pig dared this?!!! He is going to die by my hands!!!!
Kashish went on a mental attack and planned different ways to torture Piyush once she had the upper hand. Meanwhile her capturer.. unaware of her state and worried over her condition untied her and decided to take her for some check up… but he has to ask first.. he didn't dare to disobey his employer….
As soon as Kashish heard the leaving steps she bolted upright and out of bed. She would leave accounting of her injuries for later, she wasn't sure she could keep her head if once she looked at herself. Willing herself to move silently Kashish went out of the room. Walking on her tiptoes and sometimes crawling, Kashish kept to shadow, the house was dimly lit and it was dark outside… trying her best not to fall or trip anything, with good luck finally shining down on her Kashish found the main gate. For once she believed it to be a deception, but what other choice did she have. Opening the locks with minimum noise, Kashish opened the door. The door creaked loudly on its hinges, somewhere Kashish heard a phone dropping and a man cursing.
Taking
her chance Kashish slipped out and ran for her life. He house was in some dark,
deserted lost alley. Kashish ran for life, she heard some1 shouting and footsteps
following, but didn't turn to check. Each second was precious. Just as she
turned into the main road curve after sprinting some 100meters she collided
with a strong chest and thankfully just in time strong hands helped her
balance. Feeling sudden rush of relief Kashish
almost fainted. Her adraline rush was burnt out and fatigue caught up with her.
She gazed at her saviors' face ad a happy exclamation shot out
"Jake!!!!!"
"KASHISH!!!!!!!! What are you doing here?..."
Kashish didn't hear the rest of it… the relief of seeing a familiar face drained last of her energy. Although she fought to keep awake.. she heard something which she couldn't fully comprehend but her mind wanted her to remember it.. but she finally slipped back into absolute darkness as a harp pain shot up her back.
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