Chapter 9 - Main Samandar Se Gahera Matured

12 years earlier

A 20-year-old Kabir enters the school cafeteria and looks around. The place is filled with students. Waiters are running around, taking orders and delivering foods. The smell of various types of foods is hanging in the air. Kabir looks for the person he has come here to talk to among the chaos. It doesn’t take him long to locate that person and approach him.

Kabir: Rahul?

15-year-old Rahul, who was chatting with his friends at a table turns towards the voice that called him.

Rahul: Ji. Aap kaun?
Kabir: Main Lily ka bara bhai.

A serious look takes over Rahul’s face.

Kabir: Mujhe lagta hai ke hume akele me baat karni chahiye.

Rahul agrees. They walk to the back exit of the cafeteria where there is no one else.

Rahul: Mujhe nahi pata tha ke Lily ka koi bhai bhi hai.
Kabir: Isiliye tumhe laga ke uske saath jo marzi woh tum kar sakte ho.
Rahul: Nahi, aisi koi baat….
Kabir: To kaisi baat hai?

Rahul doesn’t answer.

Kabir: Kya hua? Chup kyu ho? Bolo. Main jaan na chahta hu.
Rahul: I… like her. Main use date….
Kabir: Are you serious? Tum 15 saal ke ho aur 12 saal ki. Aur tumhe use date karna hai. What is wrong with you?

In this entire conversation Kabir’s voice doesn’t rise or sound angry. It remains calm, yet cold.

Kabir: Lily se dur raho. Warna tumhare liye accha nahi hoga.

Kabir turns to leave. But by now Rahul’s ego has helped him regain his confidence.

Rahul: Nahi rahunga. Kya kar lenge aap? School board me meri complaint karenge? Ya police ke paas jayenge? Kuch nahi hoga isse. Mere Dad is school ke sabse bare donor hai aur Police department ko bhi woh apne jeb me leke ghumte hai. Mujh par koi anch bhi ayegi.

Kabir turns back to him. But this time his manner is different. He is still calm and steady, his eyes unblinking. There is a smile on his face which holds no warmth but is full of cruelty. A chill goes down Rahul’s spine.

Kabir: Tumhe lagta hai ke main school ke principle ya police me jaake tumhari sikayat karunga? Nahi. Main aisa kuch bhi nahi karunga. Tum jaan na chahte ho main tumhare saath kya karunga?

He takes a step closer. His eyes are fixed on his. They are terrifying, yet captivating. Rahul can’t help but keep looking at them. Kabir’s smile widens. He almost whispers.

Kabir: Tere waha pe garam istri laga ke jala dunga.

Kabir’s words grip Rahul with fear. He observes the man standing in front of him. He is not joking, he is serious. He WILL do what he said and he wouldn’t even bat an eye.

Rahul: Aa… aap... aisa nahi kar sakte. Agar aapne… aisa kiya to police aapko pakar ke le jayegi.

Kabir laughs.

Kabir: You really want to take the chance Rahul.

Rahul doesn’t answer, he just keeps staring at Kabir in disbelieve.

Kabir: Exactly.

Then he grabs Rahul’s by the shoulder.

Kabir: Yaad rakhna, agar maine Lily ke mu se ek aur baar bhi tera naam suna to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Samjha? Chal ab ja yaha se.

Rahul leaves the place as soon as Kabir loses his grip. Kabir looks at his way and sighs. His job here is done. This boy won’t bother Lily anymore. His manner becomes normal. No one can tell now that he just threated to kill someone. He heads towards the exit but then stops abruptly. His elder bother Vikram is standing there and he does not look happy.

#

Present Day.

Riddhima and Angad enter Angad’s office. It is quite similar to Riddhima’s office, apart from the arrangement of various items on the desk. Angad puts his gun on it and sits on his chair. He speaks for the first time since they left Sunita’s house.

Angad: You were right?

Riddhima gives him a pompous smile.

Angad: Shut up and be serious Riddhima.
Riddhima: Accha thik hai. Sorry.

She sits in front of him.

Riddhima: So Anjaan ne Priya ka harassment orchestrate kiya aur iske zariye Kalash ko blackmail kiya.
Angad: Taaki Kalash khud hi khud ko goli maar de. Aur forensics bhi yehi kahe. Genius.
Riddhima: Genius to woh hai hi. Warna itne saalo tak police ke aakho me dhul jhokna asan nahi hai.
Angad: Lakin tum use pakar logi. Tum hi kar sakti hu.
Riddhima: Come on. Tum bhi kar sakte ho.
Angad: Nahi Riddhima. Kisi ko pakarne ke liye uske jaise sochna zaruri hota hai. Aur tum bilkul Anjaan ke jaise hi sochti ho. That is why you could figure out that ke Kalash ko blackmail kiya gaya tha. Tumhari jaga ab koi aur hota to abtak is case ko suicide bolke band kar chuka hota.

They remain silent for a while.

Riddhima: You know, ab tak hum is impression me the ke Anjaan akela kaam karta hai. May be that is not true.
Angad: Yes. Shayad uska koi partner hai.
Riddhima: May be woh aurat jo Priya ki “madat” karne ayi thi wahi ho uska partner aur woh admi jo Priya ko harass kar raha tha woh bas koi hired criminal ho.
Angad: Aisa bhi ho sakta hai na ke woh aurat hi Anjaan ho.

She looks at him with wide eyes.

Riddhima: Oh my god Angad. Maine to kabhi socha hi nahi. Apne subconscious me maine humesha yehi assume kiya hai ke Anjaan ek admi hai. Mujhe kabhi ye khayal bhi nahi aya ke woh ek aurat bhi ho sakti hai. It IS actually possible.
Angad: Kisi ne use dekha nahi hai aajtak. To hum surely ye nahi kahe sakte ke woh admi hai ya aurat.
Riddhima: May be isi wajay se aajtak use koi pakar nahi paya hai. Because everyone was looking for a man aur asal me woh ek aurat hai.
Angad: Aur ye naam “Anjaan” isne bhi dimag me admi ka impression hi diya hai.
Riddhima: Ha. Lakin ye naam to usne khud khudke liye choose nahi kiya hai, ye hum jaante hai.
Angad: Exactly.

Riddhima takes a deep breath.

Angad: Hume Kalash ke driver se baat karni hogi. Uske car ka tire puncture hona is not a coincidence. Iske picche bhi definitely Anjaan ka hi haath hai. Lakin….
Riddhima: Lakin kya?
Angad: Ek baat samajh nahi arahi hai. Ke Kalash ke murder ko suicide ka chahera kyu diya? I mean jaha tak main jaanta hu pahele to kabhi usne aisa nahi kiya.
Riddhima: Shayad uske client ka demand ho.
Angad: Possible. That brings us to our next question. Anjaan ko Kalash ka murder karne ke liye hire kisne kiya.
Riddhima: Sabse bara motive Kajal ke paas hai.
Angad: Lakin uske paas itne paise nahi hai.
Riddhima: Exactly.
Angad: Sunita?
Riddhima: Motive to uske paas hai. Lakin paise?
Angad: Kalash ke paas hai.
Riddhima: I don’t think so. Jaisa unka equation tha mujhe nahi lagta ke Kalash ke naak ke niche se Sunita itne saare paise nikal payegi.
Angad: Bhaskar?
Riddhima: Ha ye possible hai. Sunita ne shayad Bhaskar ko jake sab kuch bataya hoga aur Bhaskar ne Anjaan ko hire kiya ho.
Angad: Lakin kya Sunita ne apni hi beti ke saath ye sab karna allow kiya hoga?
Riddhima: May be shayad ye idea Anjaan ka tha. Bhasker ne kaha make it look like suicide and he took the necessary steps.
Angad: May be.
Riddhima: Hume Bhaskar ke financial records check karne honge.
Neha: Woh aaj nahi kal karna.

Both of them turn to the door as Neha enters room. She looks tired.

Neha: Jo bhi kaam hai woh kal karna. Abhi chalo.
Riddhima: Kaha?
Neha: Kahi bhi. I missed lunch aur abhi bhook se meri jaan ja rahi hai. Aur waise bhi bohot din ho gaye hai hume kahi saath gaye hue.

Riddhima and Angad look at each other.

Neha: Ab ek dusre ko kya dekh rahe ho. Chalo.
Angad: Thik hai. We are coming.

They get up and the three of them leave the room.

Riddhima: Kaha jana hai?
Neha: Uski chinta tum mat karo? I have already picked a place.

#

12 years ago.

Vikram: Damn it Kabir!

They are in the drawing room of their house. Barkha and Jenny are also there. Vikram almost dragged Kabir home from there after he saw him threatening Rahul.

Vikram: Maine kaha tha ke main sambhaal lunga. To phir tumhe kya zarurat thi ye karne ki?

Barkha puts a hand of Vikram’s shoulder.

Barkha: Relax Vikram. Kya ho gaya agar Kabir ne usse jake baat karli to. Ek hi baat hai.
Vikram: Ek hi baat nahi hai Barkha. Ye use dara raha tha. Main use calmly samjhana chahta tha.
Kabir: Calmly samjhane se kuch nahi hota Bhaia. Woh aisa insaan hai hi nahi jise sidhi baat samajh aye.
Vikram: Iska matlab ye nahi ke tum use aise dhamki do.
Barkha: Dhamki matlab?
Vikram: Ye dhamki de raha tha use ke agar usne Lily ka pichha nahi chhora to ye use…. istri se jala dega.
Barkha: Kya?

Barkha and Jenny look at Kabir in astonishment. Barkha’s reaction doesn’t bother him much, but the look on Jenny’s face hits him.

Barkha: Kabir, tumhara dimag kharab ho gaya hai kya?
Jenny: Bhabi. Aap please shant ho jayiye aur Kabir ko bolne ka ek mauka dijiye. I am sure usne soch samajh kar hi kiya hoga.
Vikram: Soch samajh kar….
Jenny: Bhaia please.

Kabir can tell that Jenny was taken aback by his threat, but she hid it. She is like this, she always supports him, even when she doesn’t understand.

Jenny: Tell him Kabir. Tum sirf use dara rahe the na. Tumhara actual me aisa karne ka koi irada nahi tha. Right?
Kabir: Exactly. Mujhe jail nahi jana.
Jenny: Dekha Bhaia. Aap kahmakha me pareshaan ho rahe the.
Barkha: Lakin Kabir, agar usne police me jaake tumhari complain kardi to? Ke tumne use dhamki di hai.
Kabir: Nahi karega Bhabi. Aur agar kar bhi diya to uska bhi solution hai mere paas.

Kabir takes his phone from the table and plays an audio. It is the recording of the whole conversation between him and Rahul. Kabir waits for the others to hear the whole thing before saying anything.

Kabir: Yaha usne admit kiya hai ke woh-ek 15 saal ka ladka ek 12 saal ki ladki ko date karna chahta hai. Sirf itna hi nahi mere mana karne pe uska apne father ke connections ki dhamki dena woh bhi record ho gaya hai. Lakin jitna dara hua woh lag raha tha mujhe nahi lagta woh Lily ko dobara pareshaan karega ya kisike paas jake complain karega. Agar karta hai to we have this recording as an insurance.
Barkha: Lakin Kabir tumne jo dhamki di hai woh bhi isme hai.
Kabir: Iski fikar matt kijiye Bhabi. Jenny woh portion edit kar degi. Kyu Jenny?

He looks at Jenny.

Jenny: Of course. Main kar dungi.
Kabir: See problem solved.
Barkha: Problem solved? Kabir, tumhe andaza bhi hai ke tumne kitna bara risk liya hai?
Kabir: To aur kya karta Bhabi? Aapne abhi suna na ke ye kaise baat kar raha tha. Aapko sachme lagta hai ke Bhaia agar inke tarike se usse baat karte to koi baat banti?

Barkha takes a couple of second to answer.

Barkha: Nahi.
Kabir: To phir? Aur kya karta main?

Vikram who has been observing his brother silently, leaves the room suddenly, startling everyone.

Barkha: Vikram.

Barkha follows him. Kabir sighs. He just solved a big problem for them, still his brother isn’t happy. Jenny steps closer to him and gently places her hand on his arms, with a reassuring smile. That smile makes all of Kabir’s worries go away.

Vikram enters his bedroom, Barkha joins him in a second.

Barkha: Kya ho gaya, Vikram? Tum itna gussa kyu kar rahe ho.
Vikram: Tumne dekha na Kabir ne kya kiya. Phir bhi tum puch rahi ho ke main gussa kyu ho raha hu?
Barkha: Usne to explain to kiya na sab kuch. Aur Lily ko protect karne ka aur koi tarika nahi tha. And you know that.

Vikram slumps onto the bed helplessly.

Vikram: Pata hai mujhe.

Barkha sits beside him and holds his hand.

Barkha: To phir kya baat hai?
Vikram: Mujhe Kabir ki chinta ho rahi hai Barkha.
Barkha: Kyu?
Vikram: Tumne suna nahi usne kya kaha. Usne kaha ke woh Rahul ko istri se nahi jalayga kyuki use jail nahi jana. Matlab that is the only thing that is stopping him from doing that.
Barkha: Tum kya kahe rahe ho Vikram. This is Kabir we are talking about. Usse zayada naram dil ka insaan to koi hai hi nahi.
Vikram: To tumhe bilkul shock nahi laga use woh sab bolte hue sunke?
Barkha: Ha… laga. Lakin usne woh sab woh sab Lily ko protect karne ke liye kaha. Aur waise bhi kahene me aur karne me bohot fark hota hai.
Vikram: Nahi Barkha. Tumne use Rahul sr baat karte hue nahi dekha hai. He was not angry. Woh ekdum shant tha. Uski aakho me koi emotions nahi the. They were blank. Aisa lag raha tha ke koi shikari apne shikar ko dekh raha hai. Woh aise hi nahi kahe raha tha. He was serious. Agar Rahul ne Lily ka pichha nahi chhora to Kabir sachme use istri se jala dega.
Barkha: Vikram, woh bhai hai tumhara. Tum uske bareme aise kaise kahe sakte ho?
Vikram: Bhai hai isiliye to chinta ho rahi hai. Bachpan se main ek baat acche se jaanta hu ke Kabir apne apno ke liye kuch zayada hi protective hai aur woh unke liye kuch bhi kar sakta hai. Lakin aaj I realized something else.
Barkha: Kya?
Kabir: Ke Kabir apne parivaar aur dosto ke liye koi bhi hadh paar kar sakta hai. Agar zarurat pari to woh kisiki jaan lene se pahele dobara nahi sochega.