14~NOT just a passionate affair~ 55 28th Sep - THE FACE-OFF 2 pts!

THE MASTER BEDROOM

Destroyed and defenceless, the young student sensed that his ugly hands had finished loosening all her knots off. She had to think and QUICKLY. She had to think of something that'd disturb him. RATTLE him. Something to interrupt him - at least for a while! 'Y... you...' she reopened the puffy eyelids that'd worn out from battling those sickening sedatives and stinging salty tears 'You've lost all sense of morality and remorse... if your wife is watching you from up there, she'd be disgusted...'

His fingers froze. He glared right through her, his teeth scraping against one another in fury 'NO! She'll understand why I have NO remorse, because she KNOWS! Instead... YOU ask those bullies why they had to take away my happy childhood... ask them why I was harassed all through school just for being different... ask them why it was such fun to lock me up in a godown for a whole day with no food or water... ask my parents why they scolded ME for being bullied rather than helping me out...' he gradually zoned out into nothingness, causing the inherent viciousness in his eyes to fade away for a bit - as though he were compelled to recall something sad from his past 'Ask fate why it had to snatch away the only person who ever understood and supported me all my life - my love...' he nodded 'Why I had to return home on what was to be our first anniversary, only to find her tragically lying in a pool of blood...yeah... when I learnt that a ruthless burglar had taken her life for the sake of three gold chains, my sense of morality was shattered forever...' a short forlorn lull thereon, he realized he was being led astray. He snapped out of it. His vile-mode subsequently returning with a vengeance, the monster grabbed Jodha by her hair and drilled his words right into her face - parading his rage on the lady who'd made him revisit those ugly memories 'Anyway, the day I truly lost it was when I realized my wife had returned ten years later only to be hypnotized by another man... when you were dressed like MY bride on that Annual Day only to be seeking affection in the throes of a paraayaa mard!'

'Not again!' tired of having heard the same thing a zillion times, the drowsy lady broke away from her cries to erupt into a smirk - and not just any ordinary smirk, but a prolonged 'gutsy' one. Just to give him a taste of his own medicine. To avenge some of that anguish she'd been made to endure. To reveal some of those potent emotions she'd bottled-up all through. To drive his demented mind into a frenzy and stall the looming threats to her modesty 'Your wife?' her semi-conscious self spewed out 'You pathetic excuse-of-a-man... kitni baar boloon... I am NOT your wife... SEE for yourself... right now, you're nothing but a 40 year old loner punishing an innocent drugged student for the tragedies in your life ...cheee!' she nearly spit at his face, stunning him into momentary inaction 'And Jalal didn't steal your wife... you are the one stealing HIS!'

There! She'd said it. A thought that she'd never said aloud before - not even to Jalal. A tone so brazen she'd rarely used before. Nevertheless, she'd said it - and she definitely felt better for having done so!

Fortunately for her, the tactic had worked - because that crude-ish retort DID bring his actions to a screeching halt. At once!

'W...' he sat back up, in absolute shock - unable to accept what he'd just heard 'HIS wife? W... what do you mean HIS wife? Did y... you...'

'Huh!' she let out a sleepy smirk. Well, what else could she say?

Recognizing the untold 'hints' in her confession and gestures, his latent furore escalated to perilous proportions. He couldn't believe it. He - just - couldn't. Oh, how ruthlessly had all his fantasies been slaughtered 'YOU CHEAT!' he exploded with an ear-splitting yell, lurching forth to grab her by her neck 'You were supposed to be MINE... MY virginal angel...and why do you still take his name? Y... y...you... you... deserted him months ago...'

As his expected outburst prompted another canny smile onto Jodha's lips, her heavy eyes involuntarily drew shut.

'HEY!' he tightened his grip around her neck to shake her out of her drowse 'I was watching you both closely all the while, WAITING to get rid of him... but, I left him unharmed only because I saw that you'd broken it off for REAL...I kept up my promise only because I assumed YOU'D KEPT YOURS... that you'd given him up forever! I'll punish you for betraying me saali dokhebaaz...'

'God! Do what you have to...' her speech was slurred, but she knew he would decipher her language 'Leave a defenseless girl for near-dead...I don't care... run away like a spineless man... I don't care... but remember one point... while a thousand others can go missing everyday, you CAN'T... kyunki, those thousands don't concern Jalal...YOU however, he would NEVER forget!'

'Basss...'

A few tears drifted down while she choked for breath under the intensifying strain of both - her emotions and the constraint around her airways 'He would NEVER rest till he seeks you out...'

'Basss...'

'Have you seen how a cunning blood-thirsty wolf tracks down its helpless prey through miles of barrenness? That's precisely how Jalal will hunt you down...' the ensuing short-winded coughs couldn't mask the sly pride in her attitude 'Add to it my brothers who would be baying for your blood too... and you think you'll be able to disappear for long? No!'

'STOP!'

'One final reminder PROFESSOR...' she paused - somehow knowing it would be the last word she'd be having with her abductor 'I've always loved Jalal... NOTHING changes that!'

THRASSSH!

The broiling resentment in his being had ultimately spilled over. Hoisting her up, he'd smashed her to shut her mouth - as hard as he could - with a sweeping backhand stroke of his left arm. Only; he hadn't anticipated the ferocity of the collision to have been such that it would critically hammer the soft back of her head against the sharp edge of the wooden bedstead.

Then; the confines of the room fell silent. He dropped her on the pillow. No sounds were heard for a while. NONE! Apart from the slow whir-ir-ring of the ceiling fan, of course!

Having recoiled both his hands in alarm, it took the psychopath a few moments to garner the courage needed to touch her ashen torso 'Jodha...wake up...' he called out. She didn't flinch 'Wake up... please... I didn't mean to do this...' briefly relieved to discover no blood oozing from the back of her head, he patted her cheeks - but there was no movement 'I didn't mean to hit you... you drove me to do this, you know...'

TRRING!

It was the doorbell! All of a sudden!

'Huh?' he darted the entrance a peek 'Who could it be? Must be a salesman...' he glanced back at the unconscious victim, still flummoxed by the unexpected turn of events 'Wake up... WAKE UP!' he held her shoulders 'I never meant to hurt you, my love...I'm sorry! I hate myself for this!'

TRRIIING!

'Jodha...' he began shaking her hard and harder to get her to respond - like one would a little doll when it'd run out of batteries 'You can't die on me... y... you have to wake up...for my sake...I promise, I'll never hit you again!'

TRRIIINGGG! TRRIIINGGG!

'Who the hell is it?'

'Oh... hello sir' arrived Jalal's timely yet polite greeting, dispelling the two-second-silence once the entrance door had swung open

'Jalal?' he returned the favour with an equally cordial smile 'After so long... what a lovely surprise, my son!'

'I...I...' the young man mulled upon the apt words to justify his unannounced arrival 'I apologize for disturbing you at this hour... but it's just... it's just that I had to urgently discuss a few matters with you...'

'Now?' he darted his watch a cursory peek 'But, I have to leave soon... I have to be elsewhere in...'

'Oh I understand Ram sir...' he was empathetic 'I promise... I wouldn't take too much of your time...'

'Hmmm...fine' on second thought, he decided to welcome the former pupil in 'Andar aao... let's catch up!' the invitation was furnished with a round of warm grins. After all, the gracious lecturer in him was just not used to turning down so courteous a request from students

Stepping into the living room, Jalal scanned its modest interiors - almost impressed by how tidy and well-kept it was

'Don't be so formal...' came the suggestion, soon after 'Take a seat'

'Jee sir...' proceeding towards the lounging area, he made himself comfortable on one of the armchairs. However, not before he'd turned around to acknowledge his host's hospitality with a friendly nod. The 'student' Jalal had to display his sense of gratitude to his ex-tutor, but more importantly - the 'boyfriend' Jalal also wanted to keep an eye on the man latching the main door.

'Achaa...' rubbing his palms cheerfully, Ram Charan approached the large sofa 'What shall I get my young guest, then? Some juice... or maybe water?'

Nearly tempted by the idea of sipping on a cold drink, Jalal was about to accept - what with the non-functioning elevator having forced him to make a dash up three floors. Yet, something struck him otherwise and he ended up declining instead 'No thank you sir... I'm fine...'

'Ok...' the older man went on to relax himself - on the seat right opposite his visitor's 'So, what was it you wanted to talk about?'

'Hmmm... a two-day International marketing training course is to be held at my office premises next week... and the staff would be delighted to have someone with your credentials speaking on the subject...' his sociable expressions sobered down into a 'no-nonsense' smile 'But, before I get into the details...just one quick random question sir...' abandoning the comforts of his backrest, he slowly leaned forward 'Had Jodha come here earlier?'

The liveliness in the tutor's posture briefly toned down 'You're referring to MBA year 2 batch Jodha Singh, right?' he seemed to reflect on the intent behind the sudden question 'No... she didn't... actually, I held no tuition classes today...'

'Oh!' he rolled back on his chair again, his stares still unbroken. That answer sounded as genuine as could be - giving him even lesser reason to doubt its authenticity. After all, his girl's scooty wasn't at the car park in front of the building. He'd checked on entry. Her heels couldn't be spotted anywhere around the vicinity of the doorway. He'd double checked while stepping in. Her handbag or belongings were nowhere to be seen in the lounge. He'd triple checked now. Even none of the professor's expressions so far were out-of-the-ordinary. The civilized diplomacy in the tutor's eyes and voice - the ongoing kindness in his attitude and approach - made for a picture DIAMETRICALLY opposite to that of the lunatic! So, was Prof. Ram Charan Singh REALLY the stalker or just a lecturer going about his life as normal? Apart from the foot size and build, he had nothing really to go on!

Yet still; his 'funny instincts' just didn't want to settle down. If nothing else, the ambience of that apartment alone kept his suspicions going. Something about that place felt amiss. Bizarre. Even mysterious - and in not a good way. It was as though its organized calm facade were hiding a multitude of deep secrets within - only, he wasn't able to pinpoint why!

'Why do you ask? About Jodha Singh?'

'Oh...' Jalal successfully masked his growing discomfort with a shrug 'My friends have been trying to get hold of her all evening and they couldn't... since she comes here for tuition, I wondered if you might have any idea where she might be... '

'I have no idea about her whereabouts...' Ram Charan calmly shook his head 'Anyway... I would have loved to take you up on this training-course offer... but sadly, I'm leaving out of station... I'm not here next week... so... sorry beta...'

'Oh!' intrigued by the reply, Jalal sized-up the person facing him again! Leaving? Was this leaving-out-of-station a sudden plan or just a routine trip? He couldn't say. With his restlessness intensifying, the student decided to let his eyes subtly scan his surroundings. It was his final shot, knowing he was running out of time - knowing he would be obliged to leave the apartment after that!

And THAT is when his keen gazes incidentally picked up on one - no, TWO oddities in that room. Oddities that'd somehow escaped his attention earlier. JUST - IN - TIME!

'W...what!' his eyes narrowed as he prudently went over the warning signs. Freakish theories raced past his mind. The tension in his gut cramped-up many notches. Thankfully though, his fired-up senses were vigilant-enough to not let the agitation show on his face

'Okay...' the professor subsequently spoke up, confounded by his guest's silence 'Shall I presume we've reached the end of ...'

'Oh yesss...' momentarily putting his thoughts on hold, the young man dipped his chin as a mark of disappointment 'It's unfortunate you can't make it next week...but anyway...' standing up, he stepped forth and put his hand forward to greet the lecturer 'Mujhe chalnaa chaahiye...'

'It was my pleasure...' Ram Charan rose from his seat to conclude the formalities

The boyfriend's handshake that followed was stiff. His stares had hardened 'A word of advice sir...' while the tutor's palm was still arrested within his handclasp, he indicated to a 'fresh' mark on the other hand - a mark now peeping out of the man's long sleeves 'Please have that nasty bruise on your wrist checked... waise, how did you cut yourself like this sir?'

Prompted by the inquiry, Ram Charan freed himself from the grip and pulled back his left sleeve to check on the wound. There it was. A deep scratch on his left wrist. An injury he'd possibly sustained when striking his hostage's face a few minutes ago - perhaps, as his wrist had scraped by the sharp spikes of her jhumka. How had he missed it? 'Oh this...' smirking in half-hearted assurance, he readjusted his cuff 'I... er... er... I'd mistakenly toppled a glass vase... I must have hurt myself when I ... er cleaned up the mess... koi baat nahi... nothing major...'

Nope. Jalal wasn't buying it - what with the one-too-many awkward 'errrs' in that response. Nevertheless, a few seconds thereon and he continued on his journey in the direction of the doorway - making another calculated move - by navigating himself near the dining table.

When passing by the professor's wedding photo frame, his pace slowed down so he could afford a closer peek. No doubt, it was unusual for an old wedding photo to be standing slap-bang in the middle of a dining table. Especially, in a flat otherwise so organized. However, what had actually piqued his curiosity - ever since he'd caught sight of the picture from that armchair - was the FACE in it. And he was so right. The lady. She felt strangely familiar. NOT because he knew her but because, she resembled someone he knew. Someone very very close to him.

'F**k' he struggled to breathe slowly as a second scrutiny only reconfirmed his fears. The psychological impact had left him shaken. Running his numb fingers over his lips, he looked away from the face that bore a vague affinity to his Jo! Was this the missing link in the entire story? Was the professor stalking Jodha because she reminded him of his late wife? Maybe! Should be! Well, there was only one way to find out 'Y...' he cleared his throat 'Your wife, sir? I'm sorry... I... I... mean your late-wife?' he asked, trying not to sound insensitive

'Yes... I was going to put it away...' the man behind him paused 'But tell me, Jalal... is this how much of an interest you take in every house you visit?'

'No...' Jalal smirked under his breath 'Not every house!'

'Anyway Jalal, I have to get going now...'

The owner's patience was evidently starting to wear thin.The clock was ticking. The young man had to get the truth out. NOW! He had to finish this. FAST! This student-professor interaction was not working. If he was dealing with a devious psychopath indeed, the only way ahead was to infuriate the animal in him - like he had on that fateful Annual Day!

'I know I am inconveniencing you by lingering around sir... but for some reason... I just can't convince myself to go...' he turned around, his approach darkening 'You see... I've been having a very strong hunch... the last time I had such an inkling, I was right... but, I ignored it by leaving Jodha alone in that green room... so, you must understand when I say that I don't want to repeat the same mistake twice... '

'What do you mean?'

'I need to know for certain' he took a deep breath to counter the rising levels of adrenaline in his bloodstream 'That Jodha is not here...'

'How dare you accuse me!'

'I haven't accused you of anything yet sir...' signalling to a front room - the only room, whose door was shut closed - Jalal narrowed the gap in between them 'Is she in there?'

'Who the hell do you think you are?'

'Right now, I'm only a worried boyfriend...' his brow raised into an intimidating frown 'Don't turn me into something else...'

'Don't do this Jalal...'

'Where is MY girl?' he emphasized on the 'my'

'SHE IS NOTTT YOUR GIRL!'

Both men fell quiet. One had finally said what he had to. The other had finally witnessed what he had to. So, little else transpired for a while. Nothing echoed - nothing except for the haunting sounds of livid breathing. Neither spoke - apart from exchanging a round of indignant stares.

'She is NOTTT YOUR WIFE!'

Jalal eventually ceased the stillness. As gambled, those carefully-chosen aggravating words were to be the last straw to break the stalker's resolve. A fiendish streak gradually surfaced in the blandness of his calm eyes. The kindness in his voice steadily gave way to a guttural growl. The man had been lured into shedding his masks. Into disclosing his secrets. Into EVENTUALLY revealing his 'true' face.

'You are delusional Ram Charan Singh!' Jalal seethed, watching the disturbing transition of a 'Professor' into a 'horrid maniac' from close quarters for the first time 'You need serious help!'

'You think I haven't sought help?' he yelled back 'What would YOU know? You've always been loved and accepted... everyone is not as lucky as you...'

'Your students didn't love you any less... nor did your own niece...'

'That was because I was acting... acting like a 'cool' professor and a 'cool' uncle... and acting can get really tiring after a while...'

'Then shut yourself in a room for all I care...' nudging his foe away with a Don't-mess-with-me look, he forced him to clear his path 'But stay away from HER... and stay out of MY life...'

The brute stuck his hand out to stop his challenger 'You think I would let you do this?'

Glancing down at the barricade and then at his challenger's face, Jalal slowly whipped his phone out of his pocket. Better to call Abdul for some backup - seeing how things were going to take an ugly turn.

'093...'

WHAAAM!

'Argggh!'

His stability had been abruptly jolted - his phone sent flying to a corner of the room. That powerful strike on his lower jaw had come out of nowhere. Literally!

Taking a moment to recuperate from the piercing pain, he clicked his jaw into place before spitting out the blood pooling in his mouth. Glimpsing at the hidden weapon that'd been used to inflict that blow - a small brass monument tucked inside the sadist's hands - Jalal glared at his assailant like a beast that'd been provoked 'You shouldn't have done that...'

'You really underestimate me' came the wicked retort 'Your family will suffer at my hands... a fate similar to what your pet, Robbie endured...' observing the new shades of bewilderment and horror marking his student's angry face, Ram Charan became pleasantly surprised 'Oh... so, Jodha didn't tell you about it? About how three cans of pesticide successfully ended the life of you...'

'YOU bas***d!' grabbing the creep by his collar, an incensed Jalal butted into the psycho, much like a bulldozer would blitz through a pile of rubble. Succumbing to an uncontrollable surge of emotions, he banged the creep's back against the wall. The disclosure had devoured away at his healed wounds, affecting the man like nothing before. His heart was bleeding again. It was pure evil on so many levels. This was his defenceless kid brother for Heaven's sake 'No... no... no...no... no... no...'

'Yes... yes... yes... yes...' he ridiculed Jalal's torment

PUNNNCH!

His hand now quivering, the silent youth surveyed his reddened knuckle - his own capacity of violence taking him by surprise. He'd successfully broken his enemy's nose. In one savage stroke!

The demon didn't care 'You lost your marks...'

PUNCH!

'You lost your pet...'

PUNCH! PUNCH! Unable to believe the reckless extent to which this cornered lunatic was riling-up his edgy temperament, he bellowed a threat loudly 'Shut up if you want to live!'

'Tch... tch...' the madman persevered, unaffected by the deteriorating state of his face 'And now you've lost your girl too...'

'SHUT UPPP!'

PUNCH! PUNCH! He struck down with a feverish barbarity - over and over. He didn't realize it, but the line 'You've lost your girl too' was playing more havoc on his mind than he could come to terms with PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!

Ultimately, the stalker was down. His nose broken. His eyes swelling up. Blood drooling out of his mouth.

With the muscles in his biceps still throbbing from their reflexes, Jalal had to actually restrain himself - so he didn't get sucked into meting further brutality upon an unconscious casualty. After all, punishing a man as depraved as Professor Ram Charan Singh seemed to be the most effective medicine for a lot of pain he was currently experiencing. Almost addictive.

'That was for Robbie, you bas***d!' he bit down on his teeth, before crouching low to prod the wounded's shoulder roughly.

Nope. No signs of activity there. The body was breathing - but his senses had truly passed out 'Forget about this guy Jalal' the logical part of his brain gradually made itself heard - coercing the lone man to snap out of this vindictive daze he'd been drawn into 'Go find out if Jodha's around... and get out of here... let the police deal with this guy...' he darted around 'Damn... Jodha...where are you... please be safe!'

PART 2 contd below...

'Yaar' having peeked at his mobile for the nth time, he let out a long fretful groan 'Ladies... I'm going up... you both wait here, haan?' distancing himself from the Audi he'd been leaning against, Abdul stared at the third floor of the building warily 'This idiot is not picking his calls either!'

'Par Abdul' Meera grumbled 'It really does feel odd barging into a professor's house so late in the evening!'

'Odd wodd chod!' chipped-in a confounded Renu 'Jalal instructed us to wait here... what if he's trying to arrive at something conclusive... what if our unannounced entry spoils all his plans? What if we end up alerting the stalker...' knowing she'd raised a valid point, she hurled him an I-make-sense look 'Do you know what I mean?'

Damn! Abdul darted his pal an unhappy glare - she was right too. He didn't have a counter-argument for that 'Ok another two minutes...' he signalled to his mobile 'Just two minutes and I'm going up... get it?'

'Yeah... yeah!'

'Sure...'

CRASH!!!!!!

'Bloody hell... thank God!' he swore, catching up on his breath

The door had EVENTUALLY barged open. The rusty lock had LUCKILY given way - after five minutes of relentless battering!

'Shit...this was tough!' staggering into the dark room, he massaged the sore shoulder that had been used like a torpedo to take down the door 'If that haraami hadn't smashed my mobile... I could have rung Abdul and got him to help me with this... but no way am I leaving this place without...' he stopped. He'd noticed the silhouette of a slumped figure lying on a large bed 'Jodha?' he frantically flicked the light switches up and down 'Damn! This power cut... just when I...' rushing towards the bed, he bent over to check upon the slouched profile for himself.

Then, he froze. In shock. In revulsion. In dread. In absolute dismay!

Under the hazy moonlight permeating through an old window, the mess he saw was so distressing that even the Braveheart in him couldn't stomach such a scene. When bludgeoning his way through that barricaded bedroom door, he hadn't known what to expect - but THIS was definitely more painful than anything he'd envisaged. He'd never stumbled upon a lady in so sorry a state before. To see HIS VERY OWN GIRL reduced to this pathetic plight - on another man's bed - was a tragedy his spirit wasn't prepared for.

Dishevelled. Pale. Shivering. Possibly drugged. Hands bleeding. Face bruised. Forced to dress up like another's bride. Vase shards having ripped through her clothes. The knots of her salwar undone!

'Ya Allah!' racing against time, he sat beside his girlfriend. Tenderly carrying her in his arms, he reposed her face against his own 'I am so so so so so sorry...' his broken words practically trembled into her ears as the sorrow that'd built up in his throat refused to go away 'I should have come earlier...I am so sorry sweetheart' his quivering lips kissed the bruised sides of her face. Wrapping her chilly unconscious form snugly within his arms, he couldn't even begin to explain the profound anguish he was feeling.

It was evident she'd gone the extra mile to dress 'special' today - wearing one of his favourite salwars - possibly in her excited anticipation for their first 'proper meeting'. Now; it was in shreds. That salwar. Her grace. Her body. All of it. Crushed under the dirty deeds of her abuser. Like what became of a soft flower under a dirty shoe. The injuries on her frail self a testament to the numerous fights she must have put up. Her battered form reflecting the cruel misery and humiliation she must have been subjected to.

He cradled her in his arms - more for his sake than hers 'Thank God for small mercies' he prayed as he overheard her faint heartbeats through her chest. As he felt her weak breath against his neck 'Jodha... sweetheart...' he whispered emotionally 'Wake up...and please talk me through this...' he didn't even know where to start? Or how? Tie her knots? Tend to her bleeding hands? Sprinkle some water? 'Talk to me...' he tried getting her to respond while pulling in the neckline of her salwar to cover her exposed shoulders and chest. He'd attempted retying a knot or two but his fingers were too dysfunctional to be able to achieve that task 'Ditch it Jalal... Renu and Meera will take care of that...' plucking out a prominent glass piece or two from her palms, he examined the gashes to see how bad they were 'This is dreadful' closing her fingers to prevent further chances of grazing, he went on to remove the large bindi from her forehead - the one he KNEW didn't belong to her 'I am so so sorry Jo...' he reiterated, hoping she was able to hear him 'But I have to wrap you in these sheets... you're shivering...' he flapped open a folded blanket from the stalker's bed - unfortunately, the only means for then to reinstate both - her modesty and body temperature.

At the point that he was about to bundle her up, she stirred. Only slightly. Yet, much to his surprise she DID stir. Adjusting her body in his hold, he called out to her 'Jo...can you hear me?'

An extremely feeble smile emerged on her lips

'Jodha!' he lamented in relief 'It's me...Jalal...'

After what felt like eons, her eyes marginally opened, but her pupils remained unfocussed. So, she let her palms do the expressing. She slowly took her fingers to his face. To feel his forehead. His eyes. His nose. His lips.

'What's happened? Why are your...' increasingly perturbed by the strange 'fuzzy' look in her eyes, he tapped her cheeks to avail a better reaction 'Jo...'

'Shhh...' she simpered 'I can't see anything Jalal...' a tear fell from her blank eyes. Her diction was slurred 'So, let me feel you... this way, I am finally at peace!'

'Huh?' his stomach instantly dropped. What did she mean by finally-at-peace? Why was she so dismal? So unlike herself? 'JODHA?' he tapped her cheeks again 'You are fine... you're with me... I'll take you out...it must be the drugs...you're not well...' he abruptly stopped. Her eyes had shut down again 'Jo? Jodha? Jodha?' turning hysterical, he ran his fingers over her face. Her breathing was no longer detectable 'JODHAAA' beside himself with despair, he raised her slightly till her wasted body was encased close to his shoulders - so he could re-listen to her beats. It was when his teardrop slid off her waxy skin that he realized how lifeless she appeared. How her pulses were no longer palpable 'No... no... Jodha you can't...'

Something ghastly struck him. Out of the blue. Yielding to a bout of morbid curiosity, he felt his way through the back of her head 'A swelling?' that was not good news - not good news at all!

The sordid discovery pummelled through his soul like a machete. Life had just been yanked out of his body. He thought he was going to collapse 'N... no... Jodha...' he lamented, beside himself with despair. Huddling her as tightly as he could - lulling her as affectionately as he could - the delirious boyfriend murmured a few reminders into her ears 'Last night when we spoke... you said you were going to make it up to me in a BIG WAY soon... I'm waiting for you to make it up to me... your Jalal is still waiting for your surprise...so wake up now...' he was becoming dizzy in grief. His head was aching. Badly 'Ya Allah! Wait. Wait a sec. Wait. This can't be happening...no... no! STOP coming to conclusions... you're no doctor...she's fine!' he gazed down at her 'Jo, you promised me that we are meant to be together forever...those promises can't be a lie, right? Your Jalal is more stubborn than any mule alive... he wouldn't give up on you. He wouldn't let you give up on him... understand?'

He subconsciously felt his own desperate heart. It was still beating fine. It could only mean hers had to be beating too. Wasn't that how soulmates were supposed to be? 'Yeah' that was the only reality he was going to stick to. That was the only reality that would keep him from crumbling into a wailing wreck 'Stop grieving... start acting...she needs medical care...URGENTLY!' He shouldn't be playing 'victim' when he had to be 'protector' and 'saviour'! After all, the precious one now leaning against his chest was far more vulnerable than he was. Totally dependent on him for security - for support - and FOR LIFE! 'Come on Jalal...' taking a second to wipe his misting eyes, he pushed himself - to regain as much of normalcy as possible. Standing up, he carried her still profile carefully. Once he'd rested her as near his chest as possible, he paced in haste - towards the ill-lit living room.

THE LIVING ROOM

Hurrying across the pitch-black spaces of the drawing room, Jalal made his way to the door when a compelling feeling came over - with no warning whatsoever. He stopped in his tracks. Something had just dawned upon him. Something dastardly. Something petrifying. He swallowed hard. Possibly, for the first time in blatant fear.

Slowly turning around, he double-checked the dark corner 'Huh' he gasped in fright, his pulses soaring like they'd burst a vein. His face turning as white as it would if blood had been sucked out 'F**king hell...'

He wasn't there! The madman wasn't there! The beaten-up body of the stalker was missing. Well, it definitely wasn't in the spot that Jalal had left it a few minutes ago. Hadn't the monster been injured enough to require medical attention? Then, how was it possible that he was even standing somewhere? Not a noise had been heard. Not a movement sensed. How was it even possible that he was still lurking around? Ensuring his back was to the wall, he tightened his grip around his girl and let his eyes roll around the lightless room. Left. To right. To left. Over the chairs. Behind the furniture and doors. For any shadows. For any signs of life. For any untoward development. He found none!

He couldn't wait forever to fight back - what with an injured woman now in his arms. Besides, he was on enemy turf. In a dark strange environment. Wiser to choose pragmatism over heroism for then 'Let me get you out of here for now Jo...but, I promise... I'm not going to let this guy get away!' re-surveying the surroundings - lest, he'd missed any peculiar silhouettes in the obscure lighting of nightfall, he hastened to the door 'Ok let's get out...' with his defensive impulses in overdrive, he didn't want to lay her down on the floors of that creepy flat. So, continuing to precariously balance her in his clutches he undid the top latch.

Then, he twisted the main handle to open the door. He twisted it the other way - and then around again 'Shit' he'd stopped breathing 'No... no... no... bloody bloody bloody bloody bloody ...' he rattled the main lock, but he knew this exercise was going nowhere. It'd obviously been secured - by a key! Something the psycho must have done in the past minute or two.

With the weight of her body beginning to take its toll primarily on one arm, he realized he had no other go but to set her down for the time-being.

Alas. Within the split second that he'd made that decision, the skin on his back suddenly iced all the way up. It was in that dire split second that Jalal knew he wasn't alone. It was in that split second that his eyes had caught the outlines of the dark menacing shadow on a wall - a shadow that had sneaked up behind him. From nowhere.

He HAD to throw his girl down from chest height if he had to immediately spin around and save himself from the enemy. However; it was within that split second that his heart opted for the more 'humane' route, unable to drop his unconscious lover's semi-exposed body down so mercilessly.

Just as he hastily ducked - to place her gently AND save his head in case of an attack - a knock came from the other side of the main door. From outside the flat!

'Jalal?'

YESSS! It was a welcome voice. A friendly voice - but, a voice that had made an appearance a tad too late 'ABDUL...' Jalal yelled from within the flat 'Just get help! Just...'

And those were the last coherent words he could utter, because the piercing pain of a blade making its way into the flesh of his shoulder had blinded all his senses momentarily 'Argg...' The blade had struck the raw spots under his shoulder blade. The weaker one. The left one. The one that'd already been injured in the past - by the stalker 'Arggghhh' even screaming only seemed to make the agony worse.

'JALAAAL? ARE YOU OK?'

'Jalal?'

With only his screams to go on and with no real idea of what was happening inside, the three friends frantically knocked and banged from outside - but no response came thereafter!

'Please open the door...'

'Jalal?'

The spasms were so intense that his eyes saw white flashes. Barely having rolled his girlfriend onto the floor, he faltered up - trying to stay uprooted on his infirm legs 'I have to get this knife out...' he attempted to extend his right hand across, but that didn't work. It only felt like he'd just pulled every aching nerve and muscle in every which way - making the white flashes in his eyes go black. The ground felt unsteady. With his vision deserting him at such a crucial juncture, he had no idea where the stalker was either.

'Jalal?'

'Ugh' crudely jolted into consciousness, Jalal struggled to overcome the pounding drones in his head - only to realize that they were the loud sounds of his friends banging on the door. Needing a minute to calibrate his reflexes, he let his mind concentrate. He let his eyes refocus 'How long did I pass out? 1 second? 1 minute?' he suddenly recalled 'Jodha...' rising his head, his blurry eyes spotted the vague outlines of her frame. There she was. Where he'd placed her last. So he'd only blanked out for a few seconds then 'The maniac?' his impulses panicked. That doubt was answered soon too. A pair of heavy footsteps were approaching him

'JALAAAL!'

'Please answer yaar...are you fine?'

Clearing his dry throat, he put his lips near the gap underneath the door 'Call for an ambulance guys...URGENTLY!' having instructed his aghast friends, his gazes rolled back - till they stopped upon her form. Her forlorn fading form.

Jodha Singh lay all alone. Cold. Defenceless. Helpless. Sinking. THAT was when he noticed his own body too. It was no longer in pain. He cautiously tested himself, stretching his right hand across his shoulder 'Huh?' the weapon was now in his clutches. At last! No excruciating nerve-pulls. No blackouts. With enormous will and effort, he dislodged the weapon and uprooted it out

'Arggg -ggg- ggg- ggg- gggh!'

Throwing aside that bloody blade, his thought processes accelerated into full-throttle 'Have to get up... have to stand up...have to... have to...' as he wrestled to rest his shaky torso on his arms, every motion caused more blood to gush forth from the cut - but he cared no more. His survival instincts knew he had very little time. To save himself AND her.

Slowly boosting himself up with the support of his elbows, he stood - and he stood tall - till his face was in line with the stalker's

Only now, there was a shift. The equations had changed. Drastically.

The features on the young man somehow appeared more frenzied than the maniac himself. The spite in his eyes exceeded the evil in the professor's - the snarl in his voice more frightening than anything the psycho had uttered.

Jalal Muhammed was finally on par with Professor Ram Charan Singh - he was now a madman himself. And just as numb. Numb to human emotions. Numb to pain. He HAD to be. After all, he had just set down the lifeless body of his love. His once vibrant girl, who was now battling between the beauty of life and the throes of death - thanks to this monster!

It was no more man vs fiend. It was fiend vs fiend. The scales were even!

'Where is the KEY?'

'She's dead, isn't she?' the stalker asked, rather calmly

'WHERRRE IS THE KEYYY?'

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