Chapter 4 - Aakho Ki Ghustakhiya Maaf Ho

About a month earlier.

It is just like any other night. The café is closed for the customers and everyone is cleaning up. Everyone except Kabir. He is watching the news on tv. There is a late-night segment about Kalash Juneja v/s Kajal Aggarwal court case going on. Another witness has given a statement against Kajal’s claims. If this keeps going on Kajal will lose.

Kabir: Kamina. Mann kar raha hai ke iske ghar me ghuske ise goli maar du.
Lily: To maar do na. Kisine roka thodi hai?

Everyone looks at her inquiringly.

Lily: Mere kahene ka matlab hai ke kaunsa paheli baar kisiko marenge. Usually paise leke karte hai. Is baar free me karenge. It will be like a pro-bono case.

Kabir smiles sardonically.

Shunty: Pru… kya?
Chandni: Pru nahi Shunty pro bono. Jab koi free me apne services deta hai to usko pro bono kahete hai.

Then she looks at Lily.

Chandni: I wish hum aisa kar pate Lily. Lakin hum contract killers hai. Already ye ek bohot risky kaam hai. Bina contract ke kisiko maarke hum ye risk aur nahi bara sakte.

Lily looks disappointed, but she doesn’t argue anymore. She understands what Chandni is saying.

Kabir turns off the tv and proceeds to help Chandni. The more he will see the news the more he will feel helpless. It is better to focus on something else.

Lily goes the backroom which is behind the kitchen. The room is kept locked almost all the time. Usually Lily comes here every night just before leaving to check if there is any new assignment. The room isn’t much big. There is only a desk and a chair. There is nothing on the except a laptop locked in a drawer.

They use an encrypted messaging system to communicate with the clients. They carry out around 3 to 4 assignments a year. The clients contact them with a picture of the target and their demand. The usual protocol is to seek more information about the situation, such as motive and their identity, from them. The identity of the client is important for various reasons. One of them is to ensure safety. Naturally clients are hesitant to reveal their identity. But when it is explained to them that revealing their identity to the assassin is less dangerous than wiring the money and it is necessary for cash payment, they tend to fold.

After getting the identity of the clients Lily and Shunty digs into both the client’s and the target’s lives, Lily digitally and Shunty by using his network as a street informant, to get a clear picture of the situation. Then she sets a cash drop with the client. After that they all dive into planning their assignment in the least risky way possible and executing it.

Lily opens the laptop and checks the messages. There is one new message. This means a new assignment. She calls the others…

Lily: Guys.

She opens the message. There is a picture of the target with the message.

“I want this person dead.”

Lily: Oh my god.

One by one everyone joins her.

Kabir: Kya hua? Naya assignment?
Lily: Ha. Talk about coincidence.

Everyone looks at the screen and sees the picture of the target. It shocks them just as much as it shocked her. Lily looks at Kabir inquiringly.

Lily: Your mission, should you choose to accept it?

Kabir smiles.

Kabir: I do. Kalash Juneja ko maarne ka itna accha mauka to main nahi chorne wala.

#

Present day.

The next morning.

It is almost noon. Angad stops the car in front of the café. Riddhima looks outside from the window. Kabir and Chandni’s Sweet Corner. This is it. This is the place they have been looking for.

They went to Kajal’s house this morning to take her statement. Kajal wasn’t there, only her parents were. As expected Kajal’s parents were not very much happy seeing them and refused to answer anything regarding Kalash. Her mother even blatantly told them to leave the house. But when Riddhima explained to them that it is necessary for the police to make sure that neither Kajal or anyone in her family is involved in Kalash’s death, they agreed, though still not very happy, to talk. Riddhima asked them about their whereabouts of the night of Kalash’s death and where she can find Kajal at this moment. After that, Riddhima and Angad drove to the café to talk to Kajal.

Kajal and Dhruv are sitting at a table and discussing about the situation after Kalash’s suicide and confession. Lily is making coffee, Shunty is cleaning tables and Chandni is attending the customers at the counter and Kabir is in the kitchen.

The door opens and Riddhima and Angad enter the café. Lily becomes alert as soon as she sees them. She quickly looks at Chandni and gives her a signal, who looks at the door maintaining a clam face. Though both Riddhima and Angad are in casual clothes, their movement and gesture tells her that these two aren’t here to enjoy a beverage.

Soon Riddhima locates Kajal and heads towards her.

Riddhima: Ms. Kajal Aggarwal.

Kajal and Dhruv look at her. Riddhima introduces herself and Angad. It has been a decade since Dhruv helped Kabir carry out his first assignment. And ever since they have been together in this journey. This and his experience as a lawyer has made Dhruv quite skilled at hiding his emotions when needed. He keeps his eyes fixed on the police officer and doesn’t look back at the counter where his wife is standing.

Riddhima: Hum aapse Mr. Kalash Juneja ke death se related kuch sawal puchna chahte the.

Dhruv immediately turns his lawyer mode on.

Dhruv: Lakin, ye to ek suicide hai na. Kal sabse news me dekh hai. To phir kya puchna hai aapko.

Both Riddhima and Angad look at him.

Angad: Ji aapki tarif.
Dhruv: Dhruv Mathur. Inka wakeel.
Riddhima: You are right Mr. Mathur. Mr. Juneja ne suicide hi kiya hai. Hum bas formality puri kar rahe hai.
Dhruv: Formality?
Riddhima: Ji. Hum bas Ms. Aggarwal se ye puchna chahte the ki kal raat ko 3 se 5 ke beech me woh kaha thi.

Dhruv notices that Riddhima has mentioned a different time of death. He doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out she did it to trap Kajal. If Kajal reacts to that, it will mean she is involved. But Dhruv knows that she won’t because she doesn’t know anything.

Kabir has come out of kitchen by this time. Chandni looks at him and he immediately senses that something is wrong. He looks at the table where he saw Kajal and Dhruv talking before going to the kitchen and sees a man and a woman standing there talking to them. It is obvious that both of them are police officers.

He looks at the women. There is something in her makes him instantly drawn to her. Her beautiful brown eyes are alert right now, she knows what she is doing. Her hair is tied into a bun, the remaining loose strands have draped over her brown skinned face. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

Lily finishes her coffee and hands it to Shunty, who also has seen the two police officer but maintaining a cool attitude. After that she stands beside Kabir and tells him…

Lily: That is sub-inspector Riddhima Rai.
Kabir: She is going to be a trouble for us.

It is like his brain knows that this girl is dangerous for them, but in his heart, he feels completely different.

Riddhima’s question angers Kajal.

Kajal: Aap mujhse mera alibi maang rahi hai? Woh bhi us admi ke suicide ke liye? Woh mara to aapke pure department me halla mach gaya. Aur jab mujhe zarurat thi to koi nahi aya.
Riddhima: Kajal please listen…
Kajal: Mujhe kuch nahi sunna. Aap please jayiye yaha se.
Kabir: Relax Kajal.

Everyone looks at Kabir, who is striding towards them.

Riddhima studies muscular figure attentively. It is her usual habit. But this time she finds herself looking at him differently than she looks at her people. There is something captivating about him. His manner reflects confidence. The eyes behind those glasses are deep like the ocean, gazing at her warmly.

Kabir: Ye bas apna kaam kar rahi hai.

Then he directly looks at Riddhima. Their eyes meet for the first time.

Kabir: Aur waise bhi tujhe inhe thank you kahena chahiye. Kalash Juneja ke confession ka telecast nahi rokne ke liye.
Kajal: Kya?

Riddhima’s gaze turns into a mixture of surprise and caution.

Kabir: Tu yehi thi na jab woh news aya tha. Lagbagh dopahere ho gayi thi. Aur Kalash Juneja ki maut ki khabar to subha hote hi sabko mil gayi thi. Aur police sabse pahele victim ka phone check karti hai. Inhe to woh video ek ghante me mil gayi hogi. Aur ye bhi pata chal gaya hoga ke Mr. Juneja ne video ka kiya hai. Inke paas bohot waqt tha telecast rokne ke liye. Lakin inhone aisa kuch nahi kiya.

Riddhima finds herself to be impressed by his deduction skills but she doesn’t show it.

Kabir: Aur main daave ke saath kahe sakta hu ke ye inhi ka kiya hai. Inke partner ka nahi. Kyuki ek aurat hi dusre aurat ka dard samajh sakti hai.

Kajal looks at Riddhima apologetically. She has known Kabir for only a month, but by now realizes that whenever he says something, it is usually right. Which is why believes him.

Riddhima: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Kabir smiles at her playfully.

Kabir: Fine. If that is how you want to play it.

Riddhima shifts her focus to Kajal to avoid him.

Riddhima: Kajal. Main akhri baar puch rahi hu. Kal raat ko tum kaha thi?

Kajal looks at Dhruv. He gestures for her to answer the question.

Kajal: Ghar pe thi.
Riddhima: See. It was that simple.

She turns to Angad.

Riddhima: Let’s go.

She casts a quick glance at Kabir before heading out. Angad follows her. The rest look at their way.

Kajal: Kamal hai. Bas itna puchna ayi thi?
Kabir: Nahi. Bas tujhe saamne se dekh kar ye sure hone ayi thi ke tujhe kuch pata hai ya nahi.
Kajal: Lakin woh aisa kyu karegi? Kalash ne to atmahattiya ki hai na.

Kabir doesn’t say anything. He just watches Riddhima and get in the car and leave. The initial wave of her charm has subsided and a sense of worry has taken its place in his mind.

#

Angad: Maan na parega yaar. Kya dimag hai. Kaise use samajh agaya ke hume pahele se video ke bareme pata tha.

They are driving back to the police station.

Riddhima: Bohot hi satir kism ka insaan lagta hai.
Angad: Ha. Baat to hai bande me.

Riddhima laughs.

Riddhima: Looks like you got a crush on him
Angad: Nahi. It is not me who has got a crush.

She gives him a sharp look.

Riddhima: Matlab?
Angad: Come on Riddhima. It was so obvious. Woh tumhare saath flirt kar raha tha. And you were flirting back.
Riddhima: Shut up. Aisa kuch nahi hai.

He laughs but inside he is struggling with discomfort. Riddhima’s mind is totally engaged in the Kalash’s case, which is why she doesn’t notice. Otherwise it wouldn’t escape her eyes.

#

Naturally during the day, it not possible for them discuss much about their assassination business because of the presence of other people. As a result, most of the discussions take place after 10 pm when the café is closed for the customers.

Today they all have gathered in the backroom to discuss the situation. This is the first time Riddhima is investigating a murder committed my them. And one meeting is enough for them to realize how good she is and how dangerous it can be for them.

Chandni: Tumhe kal raat ko hi shak ho gaya tha Kabir ke Riddhima ko us video ke bareme pata tha?
Kabir: Ha. Main to sure tha ke police ko video mil gayi hai aur un logo ne telecast rok di hai. In fact, maine to Lily ko bol bhi diya the ke woh video release karde, anonymously.
Dhruv: Woh yaha Kajal se amne samne baat karne ayi thi. Use study karne ke liye. Matlab use shak hai ki Kalash ki suicide me kuch garbar hai.
Kabir: We have to be very careful of her.
Chandni: Ha. Considering….

She doesn’t finish her sentence. Everyone except Kabir gets what she is trying to say.

Kabir: Considering what?
Lily: Considering… Matlab… woh… khubsurat hai na bohot.
Kabir: To?
Chandni: Come on, Kabir. Hum sabne dekha ke tum kaise use dekh rahe the.
Kabir: Kya matlab kaise dekh raha tha?
Shunty: Fida hoke.
Kabir: Kya bakwas kar raha hai?
Dhruv: Bakwas nahi kar raha hai woh. Tu use jaise dekh raha tha, jaise uske saath flirt kar raha tha, saaf saaf dikh raha tha.
Lily: Not to mention, koi zarurat nahi thi use Kajal ke gusse se bachane ki. But like a knight shining armour, aap kud pare us bechari ko bachane ke liye.

Everyone starts laughing.

Kabir: Tumlogo ka na dimag kharab ho gaya hai. Abhi bakwas band karo aur chalo kaam karne.

Kabir steps out the kitchen and heads to the cash register clear the accounts of the day. As he counts the day’s revenue, he hears a sound from the front door. He looks up and sees someone standing there. It is Riddhima. And the moment his eyes fall on her, all his worries about getting caught disappear.