MRD....my way 16/1 Updtd Pg 112 - Page 18

Held Captive

Sohan tauji was swift on his feet, but not swift enough. He was getting on in age. And weight. Rahim used to often tease him over it. The younger lads were quick and melted into the bushes. Satpal and Pyare had taken the girls and gone. But the head count he had taken was nine including himself. So who was missing? He hoped to God that it was not Kranti. His anxiety made him turn his head for the glimpse of her to ensure that she was safe. A gunshot was fired. Sohan tauji could feel the fire hot pain in his calf. He continued to half run and half walk. Blood was fast oozing down his lower leg. He decided to act as a decoy just in case Kranti was in danger. All attention would be focussed on him and she would get the chance to escape. Besides, running now would invite another shot in his injured foot. He needed his leg. Of what use was a lame KK? The security forces were soon upon him. He was told to surrender. He dropped his knife. The pistol had been thrown away at a distance. This was the general thing the KKs did. They never surrendered away their arms. Arms were expensive and difficult to procure, so they always threw them at a distance. After a few days, some from the group would return to the scene to collect the weapons which would be used for another conspiracy.

The Police surrounded Sohan tauji. It was a moment of jubilation for them. They had netted a big fish. He was a ring leader and taking him in would be a feather in the cap for the entire department. Sohanji looked fatigued but more than anything, he was inwardly worried. He prayed earnestly that Kranti had escaped. If she had been unhappy with her mamiji, her life in the cell would be worse. And that was what he didn't want. He surreptitiously looked around casting a keen eye to see what the scene was and if his niece was also a captive. But he couldn't see her anywhere. He sighed with relief. She was probably safe and far away with the rest. He was not worried about himself or his life. A KK never is.

Kranti felt the breath knocked out of her. Raj had made her fall flat. Her arm was stinging from its twisting. Didn't he realise the strength he had? How cheap…..using it on a woman !! Let go …. she almost screamed. Instantly he covered her mouth with his hand. She still struggled fiercely. Stop it, you little ninny……stop making a noise. She suddenly bucked and caught him unawares. She threw him off and tried to escape. He may have been lax for a moment but his reflexes were quick. As she made to get up and bolt, he caught her ankles and brought her down rather unceremoniously. She fell face down in the hay. She could hear that the KKs had been caught and were trying to escape. She wanted to be with tauji. She wanted him to be safe. Tauji…she started to call out when a hand covered her mouth again from the back. He pushed her on the ground and once again turned her. Dear God ….she thought, what did this fiend want? She almost started to weep. A dry sob escaped her throat. She was fighting him with all her might. She bit his hand. Goddddd !!!!.........he muttered angrily, she was a true vixen!!! He lost his patience. He turned his palm rapidly so that it sliced across her mouth. He applied pressure so that she couldn't move her jaws. She gagged and almost choked. But it stopped her struggle. He didn't remove his hand. His eyes were watching her closely to check how far she could take it. She looked at him her eyes limpid pools of black. She was in pain…that was evident. Her eyes overflowed and a tear slipped down her cheek. She was breathing heavily and slowly her eyes closed. But he didn't relax his hold. You never could tell with Kranti, she had a wonderful trait of bouncing back. But she did faint and he body relaxed. Her jaw which was distended by his hand stopped resisting. After a moment, he lessened the pressure and slowly withdrew his hand. Dear Heavens, Kranti had sharp teeth. No man without the knowledge of proper self defence would be able to pin her down. He smiled …somewhat. His hand was in pain. He looked at the unconscious face. It was pale and tired. What tore at his being was the sight of that one helpless tear that found its way down her cheek. He held her face and looked at it. He brought it close to his chest as if trying to alleviate the pain. But there was no time to lose. He wasn't going to allow any one to see her. He covered her with the hay. He dusted his trousers and got up to go to the scene of action.

He realised that her uncle had been caught. He was looking furtively everywhere to see if he could spot Kranti. He noticed Raj coming up. He was tying his kerchief round his palm. He looked at the young lawyer questioningly. But Raj remained deadpan and unconcerned.

Held Captive - Contd

Manacles were slapped on Sohanji's wrists. They were behind his back. It was not a pretty sight. He was almost dragged by his heartless captors. The pain in his leg was growing to a steady heavy throb. Yet the man did not wince. He limped to the jeep. He was a few feet away from Raj when he looked up. He looked straight at the young man. His gaze was piercing, trying to break through a barrier. He was trying to size up the man before him. What kind of a man was he? His large forehead seemed to say he was intelligent. He had been in the front of the caravan of trucks where Kranti had been positioned. She must have tried to stop them. She must have been in the forefront of the hold up…….probably in direct confrontation with this man. So if this man was free then what had happened to Kranti? A slight frown marred his forehead. Had Kranti escaped or was she too held captive like him? He continued to look at Raj. But he was cautious, for too much of eye contact could give the public prosecutor the wrong idea, especially if he was too intelligent. A KK does not allow any weakness to show……certainly not a mental one. He shifted his gaze as he went past him to the waiting van. There was no other arrested person there. If she was not in the van then she must have escaped or else she must have been ….. He stopped at the door before climbing in. He turned to take in the scene once more before giving Raj one last look. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaws. He knew what games these young over smart men could play. Raj looked back at him absolutely expressionless. He did not want this man to read his eyes. Some of these veteran KKs could read a situation and a man's disposition just by looking at him. Well, he was not going to allow anyone to get even a wee bit near him. Or to draw some clever conclusion. He had to maintain the upper hand ….when the bargaining would be done. He knew what he wanted, he knew how he was going to go about it and he knew this man could make or break his strategy. Sohanji was going to play an important role in the future. It would be an uphill task to get this man to trust him. That he would deal with when the time came. Both men were gauging each other, not giving the other an inch. What kind of a psychological game was this lawyer playing?...Sohanji thought. He hated it when anyone tried to take advantage of a weaker person. If Raj was doing anything underhand, he was not going to get away with it. His eyes turned cold as he looked at him for the last time before climbing up.

He didn't want to wait here for too long alone because he knew that the remaining KKs would return to see if any from their fold was wounded or dead. He didn't want those angry young men to see him alone with an unconscious Kranti. That would further worsen the case. Sensing he was alone once again, he sprinted across to the pile of hay and removed the hay. She lay there still. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to his car. He laid her in the back seat. But he had to gag her and tie her hands and feet. He was soon driving way.

He drove as fast as he could. He reached the periphery of Lahore. He took a diversion and went into a kuchcha road. He couldn't see anyone following him. He had probably left before the KKs returned. Thank God for that. He could sense that Kranti was beginning to regain consciousness. Oh Oh ! So trouble would start anytime soon. But she was well trussed up and at the back. He would have no problem. She was gagged too. He suddenly felt light. In fact he seemed to smile.

Kranti stirred. Where was she? She seemed to be in some kind of a vehicle. She could hear a light tuneless whistling. The driver was whistling. She was tied up….her hands, her feet and her mouth. She screamed as loudly as she could. She remembered everything, the ambush, the tussle with Raj, he overpowering her and then her fainting. Oh God……and where was Tauji? What had those savages done to him? And where was this scoundrel taking her? She could do nothing but wait. Raj saw her struggles through the rear mirror. He nearly laughed aloud. Kranti could really entertain him. She seemed to have a never ending reservoir of energy.

Hello Kranti, said Raj. What a beautiful day it is.

Kranti remained silent. Raj drove through the gates. The chowkidar came running to greet the car. The car stopped. Raj got out from the car and spoke in hushed whispers to the man. He nodded and moved away. Raj opened the back door of the car. He leaned inside and pulled the pair of legs that were tied up. He pulled her out of the car. She hobbled to rest against the body of the car.

Well, he said, tell me do you like your new home?

She looked mutinously at him. He reached in to take out a bag, when she suddenly went at him and butted him with her shoulder. He took a step backward and instinctively held her with his hands. She looked at him angrily. He held her flat against the door.

What are you, Kranti? You bit me like a hyena and now you've butted me like a bull.

Kranti was furtively looking around to see where this odious man had brought her. She couldn't recognise this place at all. O God where the hell was she! She blinked for the sun was now overhead and her throat was as dry as sand paper.

Come along, let's go inside, Raj said casually and began to walk towards the haveli.

Kranti couldn't even move. Not that she wanted to go inside. Hah!

He returned to where she was standing. He looked at her and took his time in inspecting her face. He gave a small smile and narrowed his eyes. She had a nice forehead, the blackest of eyes, a straight nose, well formed lips, smooth cheeks and a slightly pointed chin. A chin that he now held in his fingers.

You know something, he continued, you could look better …….. but ……

Kranti looked at him as if he was the worst scumbag she had laid her eyes on.

He chuckled. C'mon, giddy up.

The Sparks Fly – 1

I'll call for you shortly.

Thrown over his shoulder in this manner, left Kranti no alternative but to gaze at the floor. It was white marble with grey zigzagging strokes, giving it a very elegant look. But Kranti was in no mood to appreciate. He was taking her up. He walked round a long landing on the first floor. Finally at the far side, he came to the last room. He unlocked it and went in. He walked up to the large bed and threw her on it. She lay on the soft mattress looking at him. Her arms were still twisted behind her back and they were beginning to ache now. Her feet were tied up so she could barely move. He returned to close the door shut. He looked down at himself and made a face. He was full of filth and hay.

Kranti was watching him. What a dandy he is she thought.

He went to her, held her arms and pulled her into a sitting position. He removed the gag from her mouth. He put up his hands to gently massage her jaws and cheeks. She angrily turned her face away.

She looked at him in disbelief. You have some gall if you think I am going to let you touch me. Where have you brought me? And why have you brought me here? Where is tauji?

I won't tell you anything, I know you work for them. She looked at him with loathing.

She looked at him her eyes full of ire. He reached forward once again. She went back……as far she could against the head rest.

Do you want me to open your hands or not?

Yes she said in a small voice. What was she feigning now?

He reached behind her back and carefully undid the rope tying her wrists together.

She did as she was told. He removed the bindings from her feet too. She remained calm. She was rubbing her ankles which were sore with the chaffing of the ropes. He continued to sit on the bed. What was this silence? A lull before the storm?

What was the hold up for? He asked her.

Oh don't you know? You traitor!

Kranti, stop this name calling. I am getting tired of it.

There was ammunition in the trucks? He broke in and looked perplexed

Oh you are a fine actor or a terrible fool ! There was supposed to be ammunition in the third truck. I am sure it was there.

My fault? The truth is that he is not deft at thinking or action anymore. Maybe the man has no choice either. With a pack of monkeys as his army, he was bound to fail. Raj started to laugh. He loved goading her.

You little wildcat, he said. Are you going to behave?

What am I going to do with you, my little shrew?