Raghu's POV
As I parked the jeep near machmach's garage I found bhangu and mangu back in their sleeping mode holding their rifles in hand. I nodded my head in disappointment. They would never change. I came near the gate and give both of them a light kick on their gun. They jerked up and seeing me their eyes widened as usual.
"RRR... Raghubhai... Sallamm..." They quickly saluted. The smell of alcohol was so clear from their mouth. Their knees were shaking badly due to alcohol affect too.
"Abey s**on, kis kaam ke liye idhar rakha gaya hain tum dono ko?! Dimag se nikal gaya?! Phir se yaad dilana parega?!" I said in harsh words looking towards them.
"BBB... Bilkul nahin... Raghubhai..." mangu stumbled.
I sighed and composed myself. It was useless to say anything to those lads. They would never change!!
Something hit my mind and I twitched my head instantly towards the house standing silently in the silence, just next to our house. My eyes moved towards the room at first floor which looked dark and quite. Seemed like miss call was in deep peaceful sleep, I still felt confused that why I felt that odd feeling near the dumping ground! Might be, I didn't get over the evening clash between us or I must be turning crazy for some unknown reason. Breathing a long, I moved my eyes towards bhangu and mangu who were still feeling difficulty to stand on their stumbled feet. I threw them a hard glance and moved inside.
I was surprised when I found mai seating on the sofa of visiting room still awake. She seemed worried a bit. The sound of my footstep made her alert and she looked up.
"Raghunath!!..." she looked relieved finding me there. She quickly stood up and came near me.
"Raghunath... Tu aa gaya?!!" she asked me with concerned voice. I stood there in silence. Mai always showed her concern to me. But for some unknown reasom, her concern didn't touch me like before.
"Sab thik se hoo gaya naa?!!... Koi dikkat too nahin huyi raste mein?!... Kissi koo pata too nahin chala naa saman ke barein mein?!" it seemed my cold expression made her worried a bit.
"nahin mai..." I sighed, "Sab kuch barobar hain... Apun nee woo dono trucks sahi salamat paucha diya kakka ke pass... Kissi koo bhi bhanak tak nahin padi..." I just said like machine and wanted to move to my balcony as soon as possible. My head was jumbled up yet again and I need to be alone.
"Raghunath..." Mai touched my chin and made me look towards her straight, "pata hain, aaj kaal tu bahut badla badla saa lag raha hain..." she said looking straight in my eyes. I quickly came into my guards. Well obviously, even I can feel some change within me but I was still unable to understand that what changed actually and what was the reason for change.
"pahele jab bhi main teri akhon mein dekhti thi... mujhe mera sher nazar atta tha... nidar, hauslemand... joo meri ek ishare pee poori duniya jeet lene pe taiyar tha..."" mai stood silent for some moment still looking deep into my eyes with that stern gaze. I didn't know why I couldn't face that gaze anymore and moved my eyes abruptly.
"Lekin aaj mujeh inn akhon mein kuch aur hi nazar aa raha hain... humesha kahin naa kahin khoya huya raheta hain... aur yee khoyi huyi nazar mujhe bilkul pasand nahin hain raghunath..." her voice turned more harsher as she moved her hand from my chicks. I stood there unable to give her answer.
"Aaj jab maine tujhe woo saman deliver karne ke liye kahan... to pahelibaar mujhe teri akhon mein mere liye bharosa uth te huye nazar ayya... Joo raghunath mere kahane par bina koi sawal kiye sara kaam kar deta.. aaj ussi larke nee mere kahene par sawal uthaya... mujhpe bharosa nahin kiya.." Her words turned colder and harsher with every passing moment.
"Aisi koi baat nahin hain mai..." I took a deep breath and finally gathered the courage to look at her face, "Raghunath koo kaal bhi apne mai pe poora bharosa tha... aur aaj bhi hain... aaj bhi woo apne mai ke liye poori duniya jeet sakta hain..." I said with determined voice. But still there was something in my heart, something like confusion, indifference. I couldn't find the faith inside me while I said those words.
Mai seemed satisfied with my words, "Mujhe pata hain raghunath, tere wafadari pe shaq nahin hain mujhe. Aur bhagwan kare kabhi naa hoo..." she sighed. "Mausam badal raha hain... aur yee badaltey mausam ki hawa apne sath bahut kuch badal deta hain... Aur humein pata bhi nahin chalta ki kab hum bhi badal jate hain in hawa ke sath..." She stood quite for a moment making me confuse. I never understand those symbolic words, "Samhal kee rahena raghunath... Uss rahon pee kabhi apni kadam mat barana joo anjane mein hi tumhe badal de... kyun ki akhir mein woo rasta humesha barbadi ke taraf modta hain.." mai's word contained clear warning.
I just nodded in agreement unable to understand anything. Her words sometimes didn't make any sense at all.
"Ab jaa kee aram kar le... raat bahut hoo chuki hain..." mai said.
Finally I got a chance to be alone and think over my jumbled thoughts. Without wasting more time I went upstairs quickly.
Antara's POV
The sound of booming didn't faded yet, the sparks were still flying on the air.
Devastated, tired I was still on my place, unable to move, unable to stop my tears. It hurt, it really hurt inside. More than the fire, the destroyed boat, my inside was burning with pain, with anguishes, with disappointment. I was not heartless being like them who would just go and destroy everything and leave the place quietly. I could still remember the faint scream which I heard coming from the trawlers while the flames were running to destroy them. Yes, those people were terrorists, killer, and destroyer but still they were living being, I shouldn't regret for whatever I did. But god knows why I couldn't be heartless and cold blooded murderer like them.
Some footsteps made me aware and I quickly wiped my tears and stood up in motion. I found manohar and his two men rushing towards the shore. Manohar's face was shocked, devastated and mad.
"Arey s**a yee kya hoo gaya?!" manohar asked in frustration striking his head hard.
"Kakka... Ansari bhai ke dono ke dono trawlers urr gaye..." one of the men said.
Suddenly I saw fear rising in manoihar's facial expression. "Abey jagiya, madhav bhag idhar se... iss kand ki khabar pure area mein fail ne se pahele humein nikalna parega idhar se..." manohar said.
"lekin kakka, uss budhe watchman ka kya karein?!! Aur woo dono truck driver too blast ki awaz sunte hi kalti maar gaye unn dono ki truck idhar chor ke..." that same man told again.
"Arey jagiya... pahele apni jaan bacha.. phir dusro ke barein mein sochte hain... Uss budhe ko yahin pe para rahene de, waisey bhi gunga(dumb) hain... kuch nahin kahe payega. Aur unn dono truck driver koo hum dekh lengey..." kakka said.
"Sukar hain ki taxi driver nahin bhaga..." the other men huffed with a deep breath.
They rushed towards outside, even I had to leave the place as soon as possible. The place was at the outskirt of city area, so it was still empty but soon people would reach here. The sound of blast was huge enough to spread miles over miles.
The cut on my foot was paining a lot but somehow I was habituated with it. When I struggled near the entrance I heard the sound of taxi going away. Holy shit!! I understood that I didn't have any transportation to go back to home. I stood there dumb for a few moments.
After such a huge pause I understood that standing there like a fool wouldn't work. I looked everywhere and came out of the warehouse through the main door. Whatever happened, I had to go far from the warehouse before people reach there. Looking towards the dark road almost without a single life, I felt an immense cold shiver in my body. Everywhere there was emptiness and the dead silence, only the faint sound of boom could be hear from the side of lagoon.
I knew that from which side the taxi came while coming to that warehouse, so I took the road hoping that it would lead me to somewhere where I can get something to go to home. But it was not at all easy work. The time and place was not at all suitable for a girl like me. I didn't know what would happen if I get into some nasty trouble or collide with some bad people in way. Well nothing could be worse than whatever happened till now. Shoving away all the negative thoughts
from my mind and gathering up all my courage I moved on the dark empty road with cautious steps.
Finally when I reached near the dumping ground area I found some people on the road who were no doubt from the slam areas nearby. Thankfully they didn't noticed me coming by cause their concentration was all aimed towards the horizon where the fire created by blast could be seen clearly from the distance. I quickly covered my face with dupatta and sneaked out of the sight. Some of the buzz from them came into my ear. All of them were discussing about blast and the sound they heard.
One of the mentioned that police were already informed and they would be reaching soon. I quickened my steps and soon was out of that area. After just some moment I found myself on the high road.
"Now what I supposed to do?!" I thought looking towards the vehicles bypassing me with high speed.
They didn't seem to stop there and even asking a lift from them wouldn't be a wise idea.
I was stunned when a bike suddenly parked near me. startled and shocked I looked towards the biker and was more than shocked seeing the person. Even he was looking towards me with wide eyes.
"Parth?!!" I almost gasped.
"Antara?!!!! You?!!!" he seemed struggling to find his words.
"What are you doing here?!!..." I asked somehow composing myself a bit.
"I should ask you the same question antara... What are you doing here?! And that's also in such a place... it's so far from your home as I know... I couldn't believe myself when I saw you standing on the roadside you know. I thought it was my hallucination... But,...what are you doing here at late night?!!!" parth was more than frustrated and confused.
"Parth... parth relax..." I took a long breath and tried to compose him and also me, "Listen parth, I would tell you everything later. But please I am really stuck in bad situation. Would you mind if I ask you to drop me near my house. Please..." I asked him.
"Off course antara... but tell me one thing... are u in some kind of trouble, cause seeing you it looks like u just ran out of some bizarre situation or danger." parth asked in doubtful tone.
I heard the sound of police jeep's horn and got worried, "Parth please, I need to get out of the place now. I will tell you letter. Please!!" I begged him helplessly.
Parth looked towards my worried face and seemed like understood the situation. He told me to get on to the bike and I did so. He quickly took a turn and speeded on the road. After some moment when we were out of the place I felt relieved. Parth didn't ask me a single question till the time. I couldn't say how much I owe to him at the moment. he really came like the savior at the moment.
"Thanks parth!!" I said.
"Anytime antu... but would you explain me now...what's happening actually? I couldn't get a single thing! I noticed that when u heard that police van siren u just get scared!! Antara tell me if you are in some serious problem!" Parth said.
"I am sorry parth... It's not the time to explain. It's so complicated, but trust me I didn't do anything wrong." I said gravely.
"Okk antara.. I won't ask if you are not comfortable in sharing... I know that you won't do something wrong.. that much I came to know you in these days." Parth assured.
"Thanks for that... I owe you this..." I said in grateful voice, "BTW... what are you doing there at the road?" I asked.
"Ohh actually, Rashmi's flight got late due to some weather problem and she landed on the airport so late at night." He informed.
"What?!! Rashmi is here?!!" Rashmi was Parth's fiance. Both of their family had engaged them a year ago. After that rashmi went to states as she was doing internship in some famous hospital there. Parth told me that she was about to finish her internship and come back to India soon and their family would settle their marriage soon. That's what I came to know from parth till now.
"She doesn't know anyone here and was quite nervous. So she called me to drop her in her hotel. So I had to go to the airport leaving my peaceful sleep to pick her up." Parth teased.
"Come on parth, she is your would be wife. Show some respect to her." I rolled my eyes.
"You are saying this as you didn't meet her yet.. trust me she is another firecracker girl... she was the topper girl in our school and we all used to get afraid of her due to her attitude. I actually got fainted when she proposed me in the last day of school..." parth giggled, "but also, whatever... anyone would be lucky to have someone like her in life... now don't tell it to anyone... She will get into heights if she listen that I actually praised her." parth warned.
"Fare enough!!...lips chained." I said giggling hard. Their bittersweet relationship was a topic of gossip for kirti and me. Parth always used to tease about rashmi but deep down we all knew that how much he cared and loved her.
"Then, rashmi moved into medical college and I went to study on computers. But we were in touch always... Our families knew each other from school days and so it was not at all problem to convince them..." parth said.
"Parth this is the 10th time you are narrating us ur and rashmi's story. U always pretend to get annoyed of her but still u can't stop talking about her..." I said with a bit teasing voice.
"10th time?!! seriously... I need to stop it now... okk parth beta... seal your mouth..." parth teased too.
Soon with the chatters we reached near the basti entrance. Parth parked his car near the entrance and insisted to come with me. I forbid him but he was not at all ready to listen. He was not ready to leave till he escorted me near my doorstep. I looked around the empty basti street and the road looked clear. We both entered in the basti and parth left leaving me on my doorstep. I thanked him whole heartedly for everything. He left with a smile and Boy Scout salute. I didn't have to knock the door. Seemed like rhea was just there on the window, as soon as parth left, rhea opened the door with worried face.
"Di?!! Where have you been all the time?! It's almost 4 am..." she said with worried voice.
"Andar chal... sab batati hoon... is everything okk here?!" I asked.
"Yup.. everything's alright here... Tum andar aao..." rhea moved inside.
Before I could move inside I felt a very odd feeling, like someone keeping eye on me. That gaze was so strong and nerve wrecking. I gasped as it remind me of the day when raghu was sneaking me all the day secretly and I could feel his gaze upon me.
I snapped my eyes towards the balcony of naik sadan but I couldn't see anyone in dark. I composed my loudly beating heart and made me understand myself that I must be imagining things. Without wasting much time I moved inside.
