Prologue
It sounded like violin music, and it was coming from the basement. Aisha Kapoor shot a look at her boss, wondering what to do next. She and Arjun had entered the derelict house following their suspect, a not-so-prominent businessman suspected to be an associate of the man who was responsible for the haunted look in Arjun's eyes that both scared and intrigued her.
Sikander.
She was still wondering what to do when she saw Arjun, about ten steps away, begin to head towards the stairs. Such recklessness would have irritated Sameer enough to bring on a fight between the two, but Aisha knew better than to get between Arjun and his search for Sikander. All she could, and would, do was to make sure he didn't endanger himself too much, because she was damned if he got hurt on her watch.
The music seemed to take on an eerie quality as they both made their way down. It was approaching crescendo and Aisha knew that whoever was playing would be entirely absorbed in it. There couldn't be a better time, given the circumstances, to attack. Arjun seemed to be thinking on the same lines, and he sped forward quietly, eyes blazing dangerously. She had time to see the back of a man seated on a solitary stool at the far end of the room before Arjun started firing. She could have told him it was of no use though. It had been too easy. They had walked into the spider's web.
***
Their hands and feet bound, Arjun and Aisha glared at the smirking man before them. "I knew you're a fool, Rawte
saab, but this truly surpasses everything!", he gloated, kicking Arjun's ribs yet again. Aisha hissed as she felt Arjun cringe with pain. "No backup either," the man continued, hooking a finger under her chin, "except this lovely lady who I have an old score to settle with." For the first time in her life, Aisha felt fear flooding her stomach. Fear that she'd die a liar. Fear that
he'd be killed. She was so lost in her thoughts that she missed what Arjun was saying. "... you are mistaken. I will take you down if it is the last thing I do." No worry about what would happen to her or even himself.
Typical. In his place, Sameer would have threatened to disembowel Sikander if he so much as looked at her again. A wry smile playing on her lips, Aisha shifted a bit closer to Arjun, a move that wasn't lost on their captor. "Tell me Rawte saab, how do you manage to find such beautiful women. I remember your wife, she was quite an item. Such a pity I had to kill her..." he burst out laughing at Arjun's ineffectual rage. "Don't waste your anger over a dead woman, Arjun Rawte. You'll have much more to be angry about when I get started on your
friend here..."
A sudden shuffle upstairs distracted him. Relief flooded Aisha's system.
Sameer. He'd gotten her message. Sikander realized what was happening and turned to leave. "Another time, Nadia," he yelled, as his men moved to cover him, firing at the policemen who suddenly started to pour in. "I have my eyes on you, doll..."
*****
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Edited by dee86 - 12 years ago
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