Part 9:
Night:
Kiran was pacing up and down in his room. What could be worse than its now? His daughter is with a man who is supposed to be dead 3 years back. The condition in which he was left back was not the one that would have made left him alive. Even if the wounds would have healed taking its time, which still is a mystery as of how, but the mental stability? How did he recover from that brutal murder in front of his eyes? That man had seen his wife been stabbed atleast 6 times right infront of his eyes. And before that he was assaulted very badly as none could even imagine. His wife had taken her last breath in front of his eyes. He was pathetically alive when the life left her eyes. Kiran had nightmares of that event many a time in his life. He had seen death and played death to many. But what he witnessed that day, proved many things.
One, his boss Sikander was an evil. He knew when and how to strike. Any one would believe his flattery smile. But what lies beneath is something as cruel as hell. If conditions were not as today, Kiran himself would have taken the life out of that creature. But he was bound in many ways.
Two, the boss had a very strong reason to strike that policeman. It was very rare when he came down to do some action. Always he had men like Kiran to do away the doings. He had a reputation to be held. The name Sikander was known only in their circle and a very few actually got a chance to see that face. For many others, he was a voice that came through the speaker, or selected correspondents. For the rest of the world the name Sikander did not exit, he was some one else, whom Kiran hardly knew.
And unknown to everything, his Anjali was with him. What is the unknown work for which he was brought down to Mumbai? Was it Arjun? If so, what about his daughter? Will she have to witness what her Dad has turned to be? Did she ever know his dad? What has Avni told about him? He knew nothing.
He sat back to the bed tired. It was too much for him. He never felt so drained these days. His mobile rang breaking the trance. Speaking of the devil, here was his call.
"hello"
"hello Kiran. Mumbai ka hawa kaisi hai?"
"wo sab chodo. Ab kam ke bath karo. Wo kaunsa adhura kaam hai, jiskliye mujhe yaha bheja hai?"
"ithne jaldi kya hai Kiran? Wo kaam ayega. Pehle, kuch aur. Abhi hamare usual dock keliye nikalo. 2 baje ke baad, ek consignment aane wale hai, use factory thak pohonchao."
"meine pehle bhi kaha tha aapse, mujhe uss dande ke sath math judiye"
"firse yaad dilatha hu Kiran, ke abhi bhi boss mein hi hu. Kafi unche bolne lage ho tum aaj kal"
Kiran stood silent at this end. On the other end, the boss was trying his best to keep his temper in leash. "Kiran... kuch purane karz hai, jo tumhe pura karna hai... hope you remember it."
"ussi karz aaj thak bhukat raha hu mein. Kuch bhula nahi hai ab thak"
"good. I knew it. Tum mere wo wafadar sipahi ho jisse mein ankh band karke viswas kar saktha hu. Use tutne math dena. Firse wahi bath yaad dilatha hu. Tum mere liye kaam kar rahe ho. Maana mostly tum un logonko hatarahe ho, jo mere raste me athe hai. Par ye math bhulna, ke hamesha tumhe choise nahi milega."
Kiran clutched his fist to keep up. The sweet tone was irritating to the bits.
"tho mere bhai... jao, hamare log tumhara intezar kar raha hai"
"aur baadme kya karna hai?" he was impatient now.
"wo fir bathaunga. Ab jao. Bada consignment hai, mujhe nirash math karna. I know you wont." Then came a laugh, and the line went off.
Kiran threw the phone to the bed, he was breathing heavily. He heard a knock at the door. They were waiting for him. He took back the phone and walked out. He was back in an SUV, but memory was that of a trip in a van, precisely a police van, almost 7 years back.
He was taken to the lockup for questioning. He was enraged to the maximum that he was so violent. If there was no handcuffs, he would have atleast killed 2-3 policemen who were trying to get hold of him.
He was expecting all third rate torture in the cell. He welcomed it. Atleast it was better than men who were trying to control him as if he was a wild horse.
"Chodo usse..." came a masculine voice that had a huge power in it. He turned to see a well built police officer, the same one who had taken him away from his home. If he was not mistaken, he had seen this guy nodding at Avni. So this was the man with whom she betrayed him. She had called him to handover him. The mere thought enraged him further. He moved towards the man only to be held back by the constables.
"shant hojao Kiran. Tumhara gussa mein samajh saktha hu. Par isme Avni ka koi dosh nahi hai. She was just trying to help you"
He gave out laugh that had full on sarcasm. "help me?? Kaise?? Police ke pas chodke?? I never expected this from her. Never. She betrayed me. Aur iskeliye mein use kabhi maf nahi karunga."
"thats your thought Kiran. Lekin hamara nahi. Mujhe patha hai, ke jo tum kar rahe ho, wo tumhare pure marzi se nahi hai. Koi majburi hai. Apne beti keliye paise chahiye. Isliye kar rahe ho na? Hamare sath do Kiran. I promise, mein tumhe kam se kam saza dilwa dunga. You can be a free man. Wapas apne pariwar ke sath ji sakthe ho"
"kaunse pariwar? jo mujhpe viswasghat kiya? I am sorry officer. Mere koi pariwar nahi hai. Jo karna hai karlo"
The officer, Sameer Rathod, stood infront of him. "kash tum hamare bath samajhne ke koshish karthe Kiran. Kash... tum ab jiss admi keliye kaam kar rahe ho, use tum mila thak nai hai. Bas unke kuch logonse mile ho. Wo jo upar hai, wo sabkeliye thabahi hi plan kiya hai. Tum bas ek mohra ho. Tumhare hone se ya na hone se kuch nahi badlega. So choose your side wisely."
"ab mujhe choose karne ko kuch bacha nahi hai officer. Kuch bhi nai..."
Rathod knew that was the end of discussion. A man came to cell and called back Rathod. He left after giving a meaningful look at him.
The whole night none came to question him. He was all alone in the cell, with protection outside. He couldn't cry. Still there was pain all over in his chest.
He had just hacked a few sites for some men. He knew what he was doing was illegal, as the material that he was collecting were of the undercover officer's identity stored in much secured channels. And other official information. But he had to do it. Anjali needed proper treatment. And Avni...
He ceased the thoughts. All the way long, he was feeling cheated by her. Why Avni? Why did you do it?
Next morning, Rathod came in. He could see a change in the officer's attitude. He was angry, upset and irritated. He came to the cell with another officer.
"tumhare case ab ye handle karega. Tumhe yaha se lejarahe hai"
He could clearly read that the officer was not happy with the decision. The new officer grabbed him by the collar and punched at his stomach. He bent down feeling the pain. "ye kya kar rahe ho officer?" Rathod had barked.
"ye tho khatirdari ke shuruath hai... aage aage dekho Rathod, kaise hum sare sach ugalwathe hai... tum fikar math karo. Tumhare Mumbai me aane ke baad ye pehle case tha na? Case hath se jathe waqt bura tho lagega hi. Koi bath nai, iss sheher me case ke koi kami nahi hogi. Ab chal..." he dragged Kiran out of the cell. Before going he looked at Rathod. There was a tinge of helplessness over there in his face.
He was in a van with 2-3 guards. He didn't know where they were taking him. There was another jeep in front with the officer and others. After sometime, the trip stopped due to some block in the road. From nowhere came gun shots, and the last thing that he remembered was a man with a mask breaking opening the backdoor of the van, and hitting him with a gun's butt.
He jerked as the SUV stopped. They had reached the destination.
***
Karan, Simi and Arjun had a guest at "home". Anjali was there to stay for 3 days. Simi was excited as she was thinking of getting a company to speak, while Karan banged his head hearing about it. The kid was always hell bent to annoy him. But still he liked her. And Arjun was as usual in his I-don't-care attitude.
After constant nagging from Anjali and blackmailing that he don't have guts to play against the "real opponent", Karan was now sitting opposite Arjun with a chess board in between them. Simi and Anjali were spectators. But Simi got bored and was now concentrating on helping up her nails, giving some absurd comments at times. Karan knocked out Arjun's rook from his way and smiled triumphantly. "ye gaya ek aur... ab tumhe patha chala Chashmish ke hum bhi kisise kam nahi?"
Anjali banged her forehead with her palm. "kahi se ye suna hai, Mr. Karan ke over confidence is injurious to health"
"kyu?"
"kyunki, agle 4-5 moves me aap haarne wale ho"
"ja ja... kuch nahi hone wala"
"aur agar mein shart rakhu tho?"
"rakhlo... aaj agar mein jeeth gaya tho tumhe wo karna hoga jo mein kahunga. Aur agar nahi jeetha tho thereliye ek pizza, extra cheese wala. Manzoor?"
"double manjoor. Simi di, aaj dinner math banao. Mujhe pizza milne wali hai"
"ab dekhtha hu kisse overconfidence hai. Chal Shera, ab there move hai"
Arjun was looking at the banter. He has to bear it for 3 days now. "hogaya bathein? Ab mein shuru karu?"
Karan nodded him to go ahead. As predicted by Anjali, by the 5th move Arjun won the game. Karan was open mouthed at the sudden change. He had everything in his grasp till the last moment. Then what happened?
"chakravyuh" Anjali answered his unasked question. "chakravyuh suna hai? Mr. Arjun ne wahi kiya hai. You were caught from all side, par tumhe patha bhi nahi chala. Well played Mr. Arjun."
He nodded agreeing it. "pizza ka ek share mujhe bhi chahiye" he proclaimed. He really enjoyed Karan's expression at that moment.
"haye rabba... ek kaam karna, har roz ye game khelna. Thab mujhe kisi din dinner banane ka zaroorath nahi padega." Simi was happy at the result.
"tum kehne kya chahthe ho? Ke mein kabhi nahi jeethega?" Karan was upset.
"jo samajhna ho, samjhlo" she walked in giving a high five to Anjali.
***
Sikander was in his place trying to compose himself. His man nearby was observing him. "saab ek bath puchu? Aap uss Kiran ke manmani ko ithna kyu bhav derahe ho? Aise kya hai usme jo..."
He looked up silencing him instantly. "2 cheez. Jo tum logonke paas nahi hai. Akal aur wafadari."
The man went silent and walked out fearing further attack.
Sikander had heard about this guy 7 years back and about his arrest. He wanted him out as a tech expert back then was rare. He pulled certain strong strings so that the case went away from the new officer who was in charge. The attack was well planned and took away Kiran from Mumbai and hid him from the world for more than a year. He wanted everyone to forget that name and identity.
In the hide, his men informed about this man. He was a being with a hidden fire. It took a long time to get him to speak something. He was sober and angry all the time. But in mean time he was trained by his men. Soon they knew he was a gem. His shooting skills proved it well.
After one and half years of training and hiding, he was taken out abroad through secured channel. He was given work and all the distraction possible. Again this man surprised all.
Kiran never touched drugs or liquour. He never let any girl near him. But he proved faithful to what he was given. He was a man devoid of feelings. He had a fire inside. Only they had to pour oil at the right moment. 2 and half years after his escape from that police van, Sikander met him. The men around knew that now Kiran was going to be a marked man, as the boss was never so keen to meet anyone. He met only the best. And so was Kiran. And on that day, Kiran surprised the boss by another notch. He kept a decision. He didn't want any work related to drugs or ladies. He will be there when he wanted for any other work. The boss smiled and shook hands.
Only now he was getting to know how strong Kiran and his ideas were. If he was not as loyal as now, he would have reached his grave for his attitude. But now it was time. Its time to break him up little by little to show his right place. A wounded tiger should not be left open for long time.
The trip to Mumbai was just a beginning.
***
It was almost midnight. Arjun was on his favourite position, above the car, leaning onto the window pane. He was thinking about Sree's call few days back.
"Sir... Sree here"
He was silent for a while. "I know you are there sir... kuch bologe nahi?"
"ab bolne keliye bacha kya hai Sree? Meine sab kuch khatam kar diya hai na?"
"aise math boliye sir..."
"tho tumhe kya lagtha hai?"
Sree waited silently for a while. "uss rath Liza ne call kiya tha mujhe..."
"wo mere sawal ke jawab nahi hai Sree"
"usne bohot bath ki thi..." Sree continued ignoring his question again. Arjun waited silently for him to continue. "abhi bhi samajh me nahi araha hai Sir, ke ye sab kaise hua? Uss din aapka thabiyath teekh nahi thi na?"
"hm..."
"aur wo video,jo police ke paas tha... wo unhe kaise mila? Jithna mujhe patha hai, office ke ander ke koi bhi video bahar jane ka rasta nahi hai."
"tum kehna kya chahthe ho?"
"koi ander se khela hai Sir... bohot badi khel khela hai. Baki sabko aapne arrest karwa diya. Wo hi bach gaya."
Arjun sat silent. Indeed he hadn't thought about it before.
"sir, kuch karna hoga. Ye patha karne ke actually kya hua tha..."
"isse ab kya milega Sree?"
Sree waited for some time. "I can't believe it. Ye aap mujhse puch rahe ho..."
"ab sab kuch badal gaya hai Sree. Kuch bhi bacha nahi hai. Jiss system ko meine sabse zyada maana, usne hi dhoka diya. Aur mujhe bas ek naam diya. Wo jo apne team ke bali chadaya. Jisse bhi apne paas rakhne ka koshish kiya usse sab meine... khair... acha hua tum dono pehle hi nikal gaye... warna mein tum dono ko bhi..."
"sirf wo log sab nahi sir... hum sab mit chuke hai. hai na?"
Arjun didn't reply.
"aur sabse zyada chot tho aapko hi laga hai... mujhe patha hai." Again Arjun sat silent.
"please apne aapko dosh math dijiye sir. Agar hum sab mile tho shayad wo sare bath bahar asakthe hai"
"ye sab pehle Rathod se kehne ke baad call kar rahe ho mujhe?"
"nahi sir, Rathod sir se meine ab thak iss mamle me bath nahi ki hai. Mujhe laga pehle aapse bath karlu. I want to meet you, Sir. Thab jaake mein kuch kar saktha hu. Mujhe ek bar firse office jaana hai."
Arjun waited for a while. "Sir..." Sree tried to probe again.
"Mujhe thode time chahiye Sree. I will call you back"
The call ended soon.
But he never called back. He wanted to call back, but something was stopping him.
He heard a voice behind him and saw Anjali. "kya hua? Soye nahi ab thak?"
"neend nahi arahi hai. Aur Simi dib hi so gayi. Tho socha aapke paas au." She sat on the long couch keeping her legs on it. "aap bhi soye nahi?"
He nods no. She looked away. "mumma ko bohot miss kar rahi hai. Pehli baar unse dur hu na? Mujhe patha hai, wo bhi soye nahi hoge."
"call karo"
"try kiya. Out of coverage area me hai" she sat silent.
He watched her intendly. "ek bath puchu Anjali?" she nodded yes.
"tumhare papa kaha hai?" he saw her face turning gloomy. He wished he had never asked it. "sorry. Agar tum nahi kehna chahthe ho tho..."
"nai aisa koi bath nahi hai. Mumma ne bathaya hai mujhe. Papa bhi bohot ache computer expert the. Par wo kuch galath kaam kiya. Phir..."
"fir?"
"fir... police ne pakad liya. Par wo farar hogaya... par Mumma ne kaha hai ke wo buri nahi hai. Bas kuch galath kaam me bhas gaya tha..."
He saw her speaking dreamily about her dad. He felt sad for her. "meine Papa ke photo dekhi hai... bohot ache hai..." she smiled sadly facing him. He smiled back. She leaned onto the headrest of the couch. Slowly she changed the topic to her mumma. How she worked and about their masti. And then she drifted to sleep.
Arjun watched the girl sleeping soundly. He got down and took her in his arms. She shifted herself in her sleep and clutched his T-shirt. He took her to his room and placed her on the bed. He tucket a blanket and placed his palm over her forehead. She went to a sound sleep and then he walked out. The car top was inviting him again for the night.
***
It was noon when Kiran noticed the same jeep that he saw last day. He silently followed it keeping a good distance from it. It stopped in front of a garage.
Kiran stood away to watch the place. Arjun walked out from the jeep. And on the way was Karan who was repairing a car keeping its front part open. Anjali was beside him sitting on the stack of tyres. Arjun ruffled Anjali's hair and walked into the garage.
Kiran was watching his kid from away. She was munching an apple and talking to the guy who was repairing the car. A smile came to his lips watching her animated talks.
Anjali saw Karan rubbing his hand in the shirt and taking potato chips from the packet to his mouth.
"ewww... gandi gandi hath se khate ho? Acha hua Mumma ne nahi dekha. Aapko issi waqt thapad marthe..."
"theri mumma hai bhi Hitler. There Mr. Arjun ke tharah"
"na...meri Mumma tho bohot sweet hai. Aur Mr. Arjun bhi ache hai. Par aap...eww..."
"oye zyada chehra math bana. Hath uthna bhi ganda nahi hai." He looked at his hand. There were some black marks over there. She eyes angrily at him.
Kiran saw it from a distance. She was just like her mom. But then he knew he should go away. He didn't want to put her in danger because of him. He knew his boss can at any time put anyone behind him. He didn't have a baggage of relation till now. That was his best plus point. And he didn't want to change. He once again looked at his daughter and turned to reach his bike which was a bit away. He was about to start when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
A young man was there. "excuse me bhai saab. Yaha aas paas koi garage hai?"
The newcomer felt the man was looking him head to toe, before pointing to the opposite side to a distance. The young man smiled. "thanks"
But he didn't return the smile. He put on the helmet and drove away.
The young man felt it a bit weird. He shrugged and walked to the pointed direction. As he reached there, he was feeling a bit tensed. How will he be welcomed? He had come unannounced.
The kid noticed him first. She might have recognised him. "Mr. Karan..." she called up. The othe man also peeped at him. Now he came forward. "aap yaha?"
"hi... Arjun Sir hai?"
There was silence for a second and then...
"Sree?? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho??" Arjun was surprised to see him there.
Edited by kunchu - 11 years ago
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