Corridor, Mount College
Abhay lifted his sharp ice-blues to Kabir's face and his fists clenched as he saw Kabir's hands on Piya's delicate waist , pulling her away from Abhay. Piya realized what Kabor had sensed. DAMN! She was about to hug Abhay. Shucks, that would have been a disaster. Kabir looked how angry Abhay looked – so angry that his honey complexion had gone a blotchy red as he gulped down his temper. Kabir looked into Abhay's eyes an quickly removed his hands from Piya's waist.
Kabir ( clearing his throat )- Piya, what are you doing here? Come on. Let's go. You were to help me with some reference books , right? Piya?
Piya ( still looking daggers at Abhay )- Sure Kabir. Just gimme 2 minutes. I want to know what he is trying to do?... ( puts her hands on her hips and confronts Abhay)…. Why don't you just tell me for once and all, Abhay Raichand. What is running in your head?
Kabir ( trying to handle the situation )- Piya, what's wrong with you? What has Abhay done?
Abhay ( blinks his eyes innocently at both of them )- That is what am trying to figure out from her wildcat behavior, Kabir? What have I done or what am trying to do? What did you have for breakfast, Piya? Misha's brains?
Kabir ( looks at Abhay closely )- That apart , you sure look changed. There is something on your face….in your demenour, Abhay. Is all okay?
Abhay grins and slips his cellphone in his pocket. He comes behind Piya and Kabir and puts his two arms around their shoulders, pulling both of them closer to him. Piya and Kabir look at him deeply as he scans their faces like a X-ray machine – with eyes of distrust and doubt.
Abhay ( looking at Kabir's face )- That is what I am trying to find out , actually. Is everything okay?... ( turns his face to Piya's and jerks her face closer , making her heart skip a beat )….is everything okay, Piya?
Piya ( stammering on her words )- O-Okay…. Yeah, everything is okay with me….
Abhay ( smiles )- And me, sugar? Is everything okay with me?
Piya ( gulps )- I don't know….
Abhay ( releasing her and Kabir )- Don't worry. You will know soon. I mean, unless you know what is wrong with me , how will I know what is wrong with me.
Kabir ( diverting Abhay's attention )- Come on, dude. What's with the teasers and riddles? It almost sounds like an interrogation.
Abhay ( winks at Kabir )- Maybe it is an interrogation. Or maybe something worse…..( turns away)…. See you around, besties.
Abhay goes away , without even once looking back. Piya watches him go and she almost staggers on her feet and Kabir supports her making her sit down on a bench.
Kabir ( rubbing her back )- Piya…
Piya ( seeing Abhay vroom his car out of the college gates )- He knows it, Kabir! He knows that we are playing with him !...Did you, did you look at his eyes? They turn that colour when he is out to rip you apart. I know that look of Abhay. It means trouble… (….she is shaking all over)….I am scared, Kabir. I am scared. You know… ( holds his hand for support)…. The way he rounds up people with that slow dark humour.
Kabir ( nods )- I know. His knife cutting through the guilt cake. But have to hold on , Piya. You almost succumbed to the pressure today. One word out of the ordinary from you and we are dead. Catch hold of Anushka when she is out of her Lady Ga Ga costumes and find a solution, okay? ….Abhay has sensed that he is being taken for a ride and the way he is sharpening his claws on you, I smell trouble.
Piya nods and holds her head in her hands. Sorry, Kabir. If only you knew that Anushka is not here. Its Zeenia we are dealing with and there is nothing anyone can do to stop Abhay. The magic spell worked on his brains , not his heart.
There were too many secrets within the group and too many divisions – vampires, werewolves , witches , human beings and slayers. You cannot imbalance nature and nature does not permit the predator and the prey to stay in harmony. All of them were about to learn this…….soon.
Living Room, Sambhav's House.
Sambhav , dressed in his black vest and drawstring pajamas was lying on his favourite couch , crystal glass of rum in his hands . He was seeing the rum change colour against the yellow light of the lamp in front of him. His eyes looked stormy and sad. His beautifully crafted face had sunk into dungeons of depression and confusion . He was looking at his right hand again and again. The Garnet – brilliant , strong and overbearing in its majestic quality was intimidating Sambhav so much that he had worn it and taken it off a hundred times since he had come back from the dungeon. His celphone buzzed again. Ah, Tanzie. 55 missed calls . Misha, 20 missed calls and Abhay, one RECEIVED call. Sambhav had messaged T and Misha that he will call them later but when Abhay's call came , he had to take the call. After all, he had taken a decision. Just then, the doorbell rang and Sambhav put aside the glass of rum and got up from the couch. Taking a deep breath , as though bracing himself , he went to open the door. He knew who had come to see him. As soon as he opened the door, he found his greatest frenemy standing in front of him, his hands jammed in the pockets of his beige jacket and his Byronic Hero jaw tightened. The classically handsome brooding face – finally,Abhay had showed up. Abhay looked at him and he sensed change in Sambhav. The air inside the large living hall was frosty and so were those primal grey eyes. Sambhav moved away from the door and let Abhay in, closing the door quietly behind him.
Abhay ( still disturbed over the showdown with Piya )- You didn't have to call me, really. I knew we will have to meet the moment Mom said that the Pentagon came visiting you….. ( looks at him)… I guess it was important to remember who we were. We were beginning to…
Sambhav ( nods )- To care about each-other. To care about human-beings , which is forgivable for you because you are 'Abhay – the good vampire' …. But not for me.
Abhay ( shrugs his shoulders )- So, this is the end I guess. I don't need to ask you. I know you chose your …. ( looks at the garnet )….your power, position and responsibility.
Sambhav ( looks at him deeply )- It was good being friends with you, Abhay. In this animosity of centuries, we were almost friends for 6 months and…. Well, I will remember the good times.
Abhay ( laughs sardonically )- Yeah , over my dead body when you and your clan are perhaps drinking my blood in wine glasses, hmmm?
Sambhav ( trying to feel not guilty )- I am bound by duty.
Abhay ( sharply )- Sure. That is if you get to sacrifice me, Sam. Planning my sacrifice is one thing and getting your hands on me is another.
Sambhav( raises an eyebrow )- Trust me. I will not disappoint you…..( wants to vent it out )….at least your brother definitely doesn't want your frenemies to disappoint you.
Abhay – As in?
Sambhav ( crossing his arm across his chest )- Abheer. Abheer sent an official letter to the Pentagon saying that I was breaking the rules to be followed by a King-in-waiting by befriending my arch enemy – you and getting close to other vampires and human beings. That is why the confrontation came in the first place.
Abhay ( his face tightens )- Expected. Abheer means 'devastation' in my dictionary. So, its over between you , T, Misha, Piya, Kabir…. All of us?
Sambhav ( with a heavy heart )- Yeah. Its over. I …. ( shakes his head)…. Deviated from my goal, Abhay. Goodness is this bowl of chocolate mousse , you know. It makes you feel so good that you just don't want to get out of it. I don't regret the good times, frenemy. Its just that…. Its back to business.
Just then, the main door is thrown open and both the men look at the door in surprise. Abheer walks in, whistling and swaying to some inaudible music in the air. Sambhav looks livid and Abhay looks shocked and pained at the same time as he looks at Abheer, taking a few steps back as though he doesn't want to believe that Abheer has actually appeared in front of him.
Abheer ( with a big smile )- HOLLA! Awww…. Two of my favourite men over the centuries…. ( looks at Abhay and his face becomes mischievous and child like )….. sigh! My little baby!
Abheer leaps ahead and wraps his arms around Abhay , kissing his cheek in an elderly fatherly manner . As Abheer holds him, tears well up in Abhay's eyes but he doesn't lift his arms to hug Abheer back.
Flash : Abheer pushing Anushka into fire , locking up Abhay in a tomb , back stabbing Chaand by staking him, ripping people's throats , forcing Abhay to drink blood of human bodies , attempting to kill Abhay.
Abhay ( unmoved )- What wind blew you in, Abheer? My 666th birthday is still months away and even before you open your mouth , I'd rather let Sambhav bite me or Kabir stake me than live a life which is in your servitude.
Abheer rolls his eyes and lets Abhay go with a jerk as Sambhav watches him sharply.
Abheer ( concentrating his deep greens at him )- Spoily Abhay! You just had to spoil this perfect brotherly moment , right?...( makes a cute face )…. I thought you'd be happy to see me after so many years.
Abhay ( shakes his head )- Even if I was on drugs or had a gun on my head, I wouldn't be happy to see you. Infact , nobody is ever happy to see you except the hookers and high-on-hormones –innocent-virgins or scarlet women you use to grace your four poster bed.
Abheer ( laughs )- Whoa! You've learned to answer back, brother. But mind your tongue, hmmm. I mean, you won't put Misha into that category, would you?
Abhay ( pushing him away )- LAY OFF, HER!
Sambhav growls and grabs Abheer by the neck , pinning him to a wall.
Sambhav ( seething )- Don't you dare touch her!
Abheer ( looks into Sambhav's eyes and his grip loosens )- Animals. You werewolves should be sent to some finishing school. Anger is the greatest weapon and the greatest drawback of a werewolf. And you are gonna be THE KING. Stop being a bad boy… ( winks at him)….that is my business , munchkin.
Irritated , Sambhav lets go of him and Abheer adjusts the collar of his shirt and checks himself out in the mirror.
Sambhav ( controlling his temper ) – I am sure you did not show up this sex-magnet face of yours here to have a teary reunion with Abhay or tease me about Misha. What do you want, Abheer? Bark the purpose . Being a nuisance is not one of your talents. …. ( heatedly )… being a tattle-tail and a sneak is!
Abhay ( unable to bear Abheer's sight and sneer )- You are a pain to look at , Abheer. Just GET LOST.
Abheer ( rolls his eyes )- You and Misha should have been born from the same mother's womb. So good-looking and so OVER DRAMATIC. Come on, Abhay. I am your darling elder brother. Show some respect.
Abhay ( jerking off his hand )- I know what this is about. Your fave pass time. Feed on people's wounds , torture them with your bloody black humour and then, watch the show. And you are NOT my brother.
Abheer ( face becoming dark )- I AM . Chaand and Haseena….OOPS! I mean, Dad and Mom may have taken you under their wing but the blood used to turn you was mine. So, in a way am your father but since am as young as the morning sun, I settle to being your BIG BROTHER.
Sambhav ( calmly )- Abheer….. LEAVE. I think your entertainment is done for the day.
Abheer pats Abhay's head and Abhay just angrily looks away , fighting the urge to smash Abheer's face. Abheer grins like a tiger who has cornered his prey and slants his calculating gorgeous green eyes in Sam's direction.
Abheer ( sipping Sambhav's rum )- I thought you'd know me well enough by now , Sammy. My visits are neither for pleasure and nor are they pleasant. Infact , am here to do a good deed for a change.
Abhay ( with mock shock )- Good deed and you? Do you even know how to spell the word in any damned language ? Go ahead… sow some more seeds of war , BIG BROTHER.
Abheer smiles and walks up to the mantelpiece . There is a framed photograph of the gang . Abheer narrows his eyes at it and picks it up.
Abheer ( looking at it )- Sigh! How funny life can get. Just look at this picture – vampires, werewolves , humans and slayers posing together in the name of friendship…. ( pretends to be interested in someone )…. Aha, who is this chick? Copper haired, sharp-boned, whiskey eyed….hmmm…. milk skinned and what a lovely kissable mouth. I….
Sambhav ( bellows and snatches the frame from him )- Keep your ugly despo hands off Tanzie. If you eye her , am going to gorge your eyes out!
Abheer ( blinks his eyes innocently )- Tanzie, as in Tanushree. As in that infamous hybrid Bolshva who has all the Bolshva powers compounded in her because she is a mutant?...Oh, so whatever I had heard about her and what she has done to you is true?
Abhay ( alarmed )- Enough with your games, Abheer. Shut up! Sam, don't listen to him!
Sambhav ( furiously )- Don't even take her name from your mouth, Abheer and if you have any designs on Tanzie or Misha …. WATCH IT.
Abheer ( shrugs it off )- I understand you defending Misha but its strange that you would want to protect someone like T , especially after what she has done to you, I repeat.
Sambhav ( losing temper )- What has that poor thing done to me? She is incapable of hurting me! She will never hurt me because she …. She loves me and I know it!
Abhay ( shocked )- Sambhav…..what … what are you saying!
Abheer ( laughs )- Ah, my innocent innocent wolfie. See, how your own feelings came gushing to the surface the moment I triggered them. I don't know about her but you sure are besotted with her. Good. The kid has surely mastered the art of applying the infamous Bolshva emotional energy. I mean, come on, Sam. Do you even realize that she turned you into a pet pooch? Her beauty melts you. Her tears tear you apart. Her pain disturbs you…….is it normal, Sambhav?
Both Sambhav and Abhay look stunned as Abheer engineers the next catastrophe. Sambhav recalls that he had started melting towards Tanushree when he had found her incapable of dealing with her vampire identity – she had clung to him for support and he had found his heart pulled towards her helplessness and vulnerability. Could Abheer be right? Had Sambhav been used and manipulated by T? No, his heart screamed! It was real. Whatever he and T had was real……..
Sambhav ( with a shaky voice )- Why should I trust you?
Abhay ( defensively )- T is many things but she is not a back stabber!
Abheer ( shakes his head )- You are in a worse state than Sambhav, Abhay. Sam has just one chick cheating him, you have a whole crate of losers and front stabbers in the name of friends and beloved…. My innocent baby brother. …. ( to Sam)…. I don't explain the truth , Sam. I just deliver it. Why don't you do one thing?...Go. Confront T. Ask her. You will get nothing but the truth…. ( winks at him)…. As you said, she loves you. She won't lie to you. Try her.
Sambhav reads something in Abheer's eye which is more than wicked and bas***dly. Truth. Abheer was a master player but rarely a liar. A voice inside Sam was screaming that he should do what Abheer said. Sambhav grits his teeth and rushes out of the house.
Abhay ( screams after him )- SAM! Sam , just stop! Don't do anything stupid! SAMBHAV!
But Sam's car has already left the premises. Enraged , Abhay turns back to Abheer who is making some naughty comment on T's perfect body as he is coolly looking at the framed photograph.
Abheer ( innocently )- What? Why are you looking at me like that now? I am helping you and Sam…. Like seriously. The women in your lives are just upto no good.
Abhay feels such a surge of a temper inside him that he punches Abheer hard across the face , breaking his jaw and making his mouth bleed.
Abhay ( shaking Abheer by his collar )- Will you never learn to deliver the truth without stamping it with your signature Satanism!
Abheer ( smiles with a bloody face, wiping the blood off )- No. I don't wanna miss the fun of the wars that break thereafter !
TO BE CONTINUED………………
Cricket
