Mishal Raheja as Dutta Patil
Fettered Affection ~Chapter25
"A pound of flesh"..Shakespeare
As soon as Naku entered the kitchen her mother stopped what she was doing and hurried over to Naku's side,"ey sab kam chor, Bhau phooche tera bare mein dard ke goli mangte hain, ja meri baache, abhi ke abhi de kar ah unko".Naku gently brushed her mother's arm, and looked at her, sideways, "Aye, mujhe teri samhje nehi ati , phele rokte the, ab tu bolte ja..?. Babi glared at her,"ey mujhe maat sakha! tu mera maa nehi, main teri maa hai.." From, the kitchen door, Baji yelled, "ey Naku! kya ree tum yehre ho! where do you go? woh Bhau na dard ke goli mange hai! pura ghar sar be utha liya us ne!chaal ab de.!"
Naku, bowed her head , took a fresh jug of water and told Baji, tu chal main ati hai.. Baji ,gave her a warning, "eh! come at once! nehin tu woh Bhau mujhe pe goli chalia ga!" .
Naku entered the room , he sat up propped up in bed, and she briskly went to his bedside drawer pulled it out and pointed to it,"Saab you know ap ki painkillers are in this drawer, then why didn't you take them yourself, why wait for me." she said coldly. Baji gave her a warning look, which she ignored, but did burst a blister to get a couple of tablets out. He watched her and griped, "haan I knew where they were, just wanted to suffer some pain, good training for any excessive approaching pain.."she shook her head, and held before him the two tablets in the dip of her palm.. "here take them, and get yourself out of pain", she instructed and then turned to leave, although she half hoped he would stop her for some other request, thus providing her reason to linger, but he didn't. But as she neared the door, Baji called instead, " Naku he hasn't had anything to eat so if you can provide him some food, it'll be good". Dutta turned his head, towards Baji and glared at him,"stop worrying about me! nehin khana mujhe kuch bhi ! when I feel like I can jolly well get some myself! he grumbled. Naku hated this sore attitude of his, he was a pro at making things awkward not just for himself but for everybody else around him. But it was when he took out his anger on himself that upset her the most, so she decided to respond. She turned briefly and commented, "Saab, if you don't have proper sustenance, your wounds will not heal soon, so be good to yourself" she didn't wait for his answer which she suspected would probably be negative, and turned to Baji , I'll see what I can do.."she committed, Dutta turned and caught her gaze, and with hooded eyes , he said ,"kam se aye he tu abhi, I take it, so rest a bit and then.." Naku bowed her head turned and left Dutta' room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Despite his sour side, there was a subtle side to him as well, but it only surfaced when he willed it to, mused Naku; like he said take a break before getting his meal organized. But her heart, had far gone expectations.That he would speak to her gently like before.But when this cold war betwixt them would ebb was any body's guess. She would have to think reasonably and listen more to that brain of hers which went into a malfunction mode when around him, and less to her haywire sentiments. Of course having a transparent face didn't help her either, for her mother with her sharp eyes could without much effort barge into the inner recesses of her heart.
Naku bit her lower lip, as she saw her mother ecstatically immersed deeply in stirring dal.. her heart missed a beat, yes this was out of guilt.That she restrained how she felt regarding some concern about the manner in which Saab was injured. Somehow she had untold fear that related to him, but had no one to voice her fear too. She looked at her mother's back and swallowed hard, for that avenue she'd best not traverse. If she shared with her mother, Aye would rub it in, "dekha Naku ! bola tha maine Saab se lagan tera nehi thek hai!
Babi reeled around,"ey! ab ja kamre mein aur kapre badal! aur meri madat kar! Naku nodded, "haan Aye, aur woh Saab ke liye kuch khana ko bhi de de.."Babi turned to Naku , and felt her daughter's elbow, "ho Naku, tera poocha tha table par , jabhi bola maine tu kam pe gaye, Bhau bola mujhe bhook nehi..kuch khahi bagher ,apne kamre mein chala gaya..Naku shook her head, and lowered her eyes,"pata hai Aye,BajiRao bola mera ko".. and she turned and left for her room. Babi looked on at her daughter's back and mopped her brow, "Deva maine kyun roka Naku ko Saab se baat kerne ko , ab ye yehre Naku ko bhi kuch ho gaya hai.." Babi stressed..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dutta shifted his legs on the bed independently, and walked over with reasonable comfort to his lime green single settee and relaxed his back against the turquoise back cushion. Baji, stood near the opened terrace French doors. Suddenly his phone rang and he answered it. Dutta turned his neck and gazed at his friend. Baji's voice shrilled, "kya hai reee? abhi tu tum gaye hai edher se! kya problem hai teri hain? Dutta jerked his head up and Baji replied,"Digu hai Bhau! Dutta nodded, "what does he want?. Baji's face fell , and he accused "Digu! "areee tu dar gaya kya? phele to tu bola chale ga ab chooza bun gaye!". Dutta glared at Baji and twisted his hand and indicated let him go..
Baji knew when Bhau ordered, he gave one short regulation, no further discussion. Baji nodded and switched his phone off, then sauntered over mighty sheepishly at even suggesting Digu's involvement in dealing with the two guys who shot Bhau.
Dutta leaned forward in his sofa and rested his arms on his knees, "told you didn't I ye Digu is a big waste of space, you know Baji, this guy's main problem is he's unreliable, and Dutta is a stickler for trustworthiness.. good! he got out of it! you never know when the action gets tough he would do a runner! He's done it before. I am happy, Baji if you ask me. He paused and looked at Baji's run down expression,"ummm , tera kyon mau buna hoya hai? don't blame your self, but get one thing straight, I know whose blood is running through that sad case's veins. Nothing is hidden from you, his father was a lily livered gutless man! so how can you expect the son to be any different, ranted on Dutta. Baji interjected with the inevitable question, "pun Bhau tu bhi tu use baap ka beta hai? Dutta shot up to his feet in pain "nehin! main sirf apne Aye ka beta hoon! got it? I am only my mother's son!.. Baji stood and felt his friends arm,"Bhau please don't exert yourself, tu beith ja! Dutta sat and raised his eyes slowly towards his friend. "Baji, he said "you thought you'll get some family patch up going between me and that useless man? face it Baji! I don't need him, but yes I do need you at all times.. he looked down and looked the other way, and carried on, for I trust you Baji. I know so for my sake, without blinking an eyelid you would gladly lay down your life, and you should know that I would do too for you.. Dutta admitted, but added "isliye Baji , Digu ke naam ke mala jabna band! kar!. Baji smiled, sweetly , "pun Bhau ye bhi tu soocho he told us the names of those guys.. Dutta raised his palm, "yaad hai mujhe Baji, that's why I didn't shout at him over the phone telling him a few truths about himself..Baji I let him off you know why? not because he is my brother, but because he has a sister and mother to look out for, humare saath ye kam kerta tu , but could fall from Jeera's grace too, he'll be picked up on the radar in the underworld, his family needs his life" reflected Dutta. Baji nodded, "yes Bhau this is what he fears , bola mujhe usne zinda rehena hai mujhe for my mother and sister.. so he has decided, koi lotcha wali acts mein he'll not take part ! waise he's always supporting you". Dutta looked at Baji icily, "stop talking about him! sounds like he made such an impression on you that tu mujhe bhool gaya hai Baji , shall I remind you!" and he showed Baji his steel fist. Baji laughed it off, mainly to amuse Dutta , but the truth was, it was Dutta he held close to his heart, Dutta was the man who provided him a home a family.. Bhau's happiness mattered to him, far beyond his own existence, he only wanted things corrected between Digu and Dutta, so Bhau could find some solace from his past., but here it seemed Bhau was having misgivings between him and his growing affiliation with Digu. Baji, gazed at his friend, " dekho Bhau tu bole tu tera liye jaan bhi hazar hai," Dutta nods, "hummm , band kar apne nautanki aur aj raat I pay those guys a visit!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was past midnight, yes he had given enough evidence that he was well enough to carry his weight on his two legs. As far as painkillers went he would naught be asking for them anymore , he would drink instead... pain felt distant, plus it would give him an additional feeling of complacency ,that which he could do with.
He looked at Baji in his den ,"come on then what the hell are you thinking about? listen if it's about my calf, bhool ja sab thek hai! tu ja abhi aur jeep ready kar mein ata hai", Dutta muttered as he took out the pair of his shining pistols.
He checked the cartridge load, pointed them up for a second and shoved them both on either side of his black pathiani shirt.The gun metal felt cold against either side of his warm skin. He tipped his head to one side,folded his black sleeves to his elbows and without another thought came down the stairs. He held his head high up on his neck, no one was expected to be seen, he had decided before hand if he was confronted by anyone within the house, his answer would be quite simply , going to work..
He walked through the hall haughtily, beside no one in their right mind would dare to question him! he mused. He turned the corner and with a firm face, and equally contracted eyes, he raised his right leg and loin and got into the passenger seat.. Baji gave him a sided look , as he could have sworn he heard Bhau wince, "tu thek hai Bhau? main chala jata hoon.. you don't have to come," Dutta turned and gripped Baji's arm, "eyeee Baji! doon thujhe ulte haat ka! tu ghare chale Iam coming, in fact you're coming because I am going! Dutta bellowed. Baji started the jeep, but muttered, "Bhau don't shout you'll wake everybody up with your hollering...
They came out of PN and moved towards the financially deprived , rundown area within Patil Vadi. Dutta deep in thought while Baji drove, looked at the poor state of housing, he folded his palm and rested his chin on it. Even the street lightening was virtually non- existent. Yes he was going to sort out some unfinished business .. but even so, this going back to bygone times he hated. Living in want he hated, it was not a humbling experience when he compared to his present comfortable affluent life style. It was pure disgust! he hated this existence then when he lived here! and he hated it today.
Though partly lit, yet the sparse pedestrians on the road , customers in the late opening kiosks still showed that life still went on in these samples of shabby neglect..
Dutta turned to Baji, "for some night brings sleep and respite, for others it opens up lady luck, and for some it pulls them down into a quagmire of depressive tumbleweed of hoplessness.. rok phir uske gambling ka adaa par"..said Dutta slowly, twitching his jaw.., "ho Bhau , aur mein jata dosera ke taraf". Decisively Dutta got out of the jeep and looked up at the illegal gambling place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baji barged into the loan shark's adda, it was a single room in need of bad repair with metal framed racks stacked with file upon file with a film of dust on the top one. A couple of guys dressed in kurta pyjama stood around a big guy dressed in a jean and T- Shirt.The big man chewed pan and peered over a ledger type book, spread open on his coarse desk. He, pushed his spectacles back on his nose and scratched his head,"dhandha aj bahut slow hai , koi panchi udher to nehin aya.. business very down!.Baji came in as he gambolled his bum and stretched his arms ,behind his head, "and no one will come either, ustad! ju aye ge woh hai pooleez ke car! abhi bolo tumhe under hona hai ya mera saath chalna hai? you wanne be banged up? yoon samjhe lo taaow! main tumhe batman ke mafaq! save kerne aya hai ! woh tum Jeera ka aadmi he tu main bhi!. explained Baji.
The loan shark, Jabra[jaws] chacha! stood up and so did his boys, as they came towards Baji. Baji, rolled his eyes and yelled back to them with his beckoning hands , "ah jao salloon! thume aloo chat khaloon! ay! Jabra chacha! bol apne pillon ko ke half day ka holiday lein!.. Baji's phone rangs and he answered ,"yes inspector Iam at the loan shark's joint at the moment come quick!. Jabra rushed to Baji's arm and yelled ,I'll come with you! where ever you say ! give you whatever you want! just get me out of here! Baji smiled and said, hey man! don't wet your pants come on then..
Baji doubled his chin, and he flashed a dimpled smile. The credit to this dupe acted, had to be shared with Bhau, thank heavens! he phoned, as police, other wise , this act would suffer delayed reaction..
Baji packed Jabra chachaa in the black jeep and raced down to the derelict warehouse. Once there, Baji pulled Jabra out of the jeep unceremoniously. The guy glared at him and Baji , sneered in his face, "ab dekho uncle! tum apne baap ke shadi pe tu nehin aya! that you should get a warm welcome, anything warm you get from me for the minute is a warm kick up your back side!.Baji kicked Jabra roughly into a room full of boxes, a discoloured mattress, an earthen pot of water and a ladle to drink from.. Baji turned to the wooden door and called out from there ,"abhi you take a break here Jabra !and I'll go and get pav bhaji for your dinner !and he slammed the door and bolted it from the outside. Jabra chachaa yelled, "oyee Bajirao! nikal mujhe yahan se! ..Baji rao!.
But Baji,with a spring in his gait, jumped and mumbled, "salla chinde chor! ab tu thujhe Dutta Bhau he yahan se nikale ge! and he whistled and jumped back into the jeep and waited for Dutta...
~~~~~~~~~~~
The gambling joint was shamelessly busy riddled with young, to middle aged to older males, all under the spell of the flirtatious lady luck.. she had them in her grip, filled them with dreams of being big winners... that is all they thought of when they stepped into this smoke filled room, that lay scattered with tables surrounded with weather beaten chairs. Each table had an empire shaped straw discoloured lamp shade with a putrid bulb that shone on the slightly ducked heads of players with elbowed arms and palms that graced a fan of cards.
Dutta walked towards the converted garage, gambling joint. Two guys with, silky shirts with opened collars attempted to stop Dutta's forward bouncy walk.
With eyes that focussed mainly on the entrance, the sudden widened spans of his arms hurled the two young custodians side ways, as he reached the door. He perched his outstretched arms on the door post and yelled... bahar nikal! choohe! giving you fifty seconds! The owner of the gambling joint, Badshah![king] got up and yelled back from behind the shield of his counter.."look Dutta back off! I don't want any trouble here! Dutta ignored him , and walked into the middle of the joint, pulled out his gun, tilted his head and cocked the gun , slowly he said in a baritone voice.. "business is over for the day! every body leave now! and showed he meant his business! fired his gun up in the air! Players, with clean swipes of their palms gathered their cash and made a stampede towards the door. Dutta cocked his gun again and slowly turned his head, and pointed his gun at the man who had shot him.. Badshah! and he said clearly, "ab tu chal aage aage! mera saath your ride awaits you ..
Before he left, Dutta twisted his arm behind him and took shots at the lit up bulbs! he blew them up one by one!
The illegal gambling joint, rang out with the sound of shattered glass that sprayed sharp slim pieces of glass! Dutta groped the back collar of the man and he hurled his body coarsely onto the edge of the entrance door. Followed by one twist of his stiffened sinewy arm, he turned his torso, and propped up his elbow that held the gun ,and aimed at the main wiring and one shot from Dutta created a huge explosion and the place was engulfed in fire as he dragged the the gambling joint owner Badshah! to the jeep where Baji waited! shoved the man at the back of the jeep.
Baji rammed the gas and a huge explosion sounded as they pulled away towards the ware house!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baji screeched the jeep to a halt and Dutta, slowly poked his long leg out and and stood, tall and imposed before the grey corrugated steel roofed warehouse. He looked at Baji and growled, "nikal use so called king ko and let's show him some high voltage drama! bring him in the warehouse"... and he stretched his arms sideways , and then let his sinewy arms fall to his side, he clenched and unclenched his wrist... and took a deep breathe to unwind.
Badshah, moaned, why am I being roughed ? was only minding my own business running my ada! Baji yelled back in his face, "oyee zip it up! and get in there all will be revealed.. but the guy dug his heels, "if I don't tu kya kare ga? Baji, held the guy before him and clenched his jaw and landed a powerful punch in his belly which doubled up the guy up! Baji looked at him and with a dimpled smile wound his arm around the man's neck and pushed him in, opened the bolt to the warehouse, and hurled him forward from the back headlong! pushed the guy's back side with his foot with such force that he lurched forward and found the other loan shark, Jabra chacha as well.The illegal gambling joint owner arched his back and accused the loan shark, with a yell, "I should have known that you would have your filthy mind in this!. Jabra yelled back, "abe salle mujhe kya bole tu? why blame me? my dhande runs because of you! why would I have you toppled over tell me why ?.. they walked towards each other and one of them says to the other! you know something we both have been made suckers by somebody... Baji stood in the doorway and clapped!,"sahi samjhe ho tum dono.. there is one larger then you both who have ordered you two be brought here! he has to sort unfinished business with you both... they both looked open mouthed! .. Baji looked at them and folded his arm and felt the back of his head as he heard the sound of a car stop outside..a car door slammed shut and then footsteps walked towards them.. and Baji said, you useless gits! come let me introduce you to your father..
A tall shadow marred by the blue dim light behind it stood in the doorway. Baji turned to look at the silhouette and with his folded hand, he felt his chin, as he waited for the figure to move and free these jokers out of their misery.
Dutta moved forward slowly, his hands relaxed in his pockets. He paused before them his feet slightly apart. Dutta Bhau! they shrieked with faces as white as sheets. Dutta , looked at Badshah," you disappoint me your highness, me being tera baap! shouldn't surprise you, surely you got the clue since I was the one who accompanied you here from your palace to this pit! aagar itna bhi nehi jana tum , tu business kya run kare ga tu badshah?.. Dutta said frigidly with cold narrowed eyes.
Badshah panicked , clasped his hands and fell to his knees, "I didn't do anything, ye sab iska idea tha, tum pe goli chalana ka!.. Jabra defended ,"nehin Bhau Deva shapat! sab is ke chal the bola humre partenership ka Bhau na batiya Jeera ko tum ab goli khaie ga! .. Baji came flying at Badshah and caught him by the neck and wacked a punch under his chin, so hard that the man went flying across the corner and collided against wooden boxes and ended up with a split eye brow on the ground. "Bhau pe goli chalana ke himmat kaise hoi teri salla! Baji shrieked. Dutta shouted, "Baji bas hat ja age se! ye mera mazza ha!i.. he walked up to the guy kneeled on the floor and grabbed his hair and pulled his head up! "kyun re, aurat ke mafaq goli pheeche se kyun chalie tune? himmat hai tu ab mera seene pe goli chala!" and he slammed his hands on the man's shoulders and pulled him up to stand! Then pulled one of his guns from his pathiani trouser pocket and held his gun on his palm, offered it to the man, "here take it and shoot me! and he stood tall before Badshah !
The poor man shivered as he saw Dutta's gun displayed on Dutta's pink palm before him. "Bhau he cried, "maf kar do! jane do!! at least you didn't lose your life!".Dutta yanked his neck to the side, swerved it, and speedily whipped out his gun from the other pocket of his trouser, and started shooting near the man's feet on the ground!! Badshah jumped hysterically like a yoyo! and Dutta hurled his guns one after the other to Baji who caught them like a ball and held them up! while Dutta gathered his strength and twisted his torso as his body swerved to deliver heavy noisy punches under the chin on the lip of both men one by one. He gripped Badshah by the neck and poked painful gut busting elbow punches, in his belly! till he pulled him over his shoulders and toppled Badshah over with a heavy thud on the floor!
Dutta looked at the near dead men on the floor and then looked at his own bruised knuckles as he wiped his chin with his back hand. He tilted his head and looked at Baji,"I hope they have got the message nobody messes with Dutta.. oh by the way and he pointed his finger to Badshah whose eyebrows and lips now both bled, "tera tu adaa band karwa diya maine, it's now a pit of ashes! bahut gharib logon ko tune chuna lagya! you made your money from the sweat and blood of the already needy! you robbed from children's mouths morsels of bread! for you stole from their families.. duty of care to fill your bloody purse! He lifted his leg up and crashed it down on the man's calf with a loud angry roar! the man yelped in pain and Baji shouted , aur mar ise Bhau!
The Dutta turned to the loan shark Jabra!, "aur tera business bhi aj se thap! hai .. I will sanitize it down to the core too! nothing to worry about now everything will be clean as a slate, for long you have been charging over the legal limit from the poor around here.. now get out from here! and find out for yourself what's happened! aur yaad rehe your destiny Dutta Patil determines! not fate! Dutta roared .
Baji threw the gun over to Dutta , who then fired up wards and the bleeding guys scrambled to their feet and limped out of the warehouse .. as Dutta and Baji walked behind them slowly. Baji held up Dutta's other gun as both of them walked up to their jeeps.
Jabra and Badshah limped faster and faster as they ran frantically for their lives!
Dutta's calf hurt and he cocked his pistol... just before he got and took aim at each of their right calf and took shots! that tore the dead of the night as Baji and Dutta saw the two men collapsed by the road side in the dark..
Baji started the jeep as Dutta sat by him in the passenger seat. The jeep could see in the distance the loan shark and illegal gambling adda boss in the darkness. Dutta ordered in his baritone voice,"garre mein load kar in dono ko! and drop them near the outskirts of where they live.. there they will be no danger of them being eaten alive by animals.. waise had a good mind to ditch them pun... Baji turned to his Bhau and said "ho Bhau ..
Both Dutta and Baji got out of the car , and held each man in their arms and dumped them in the back of their jeep.. Dutta's garments got smeared with blood , he looked at his trouser and the end of his shirt... this time the blood was not his..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once the two men were taken to the boundary of the village.. Dutta turned to Baji , chaal ab! let's finish of the last bit of teaching these mongrels a lesson! chaal zarra, loan shark ke dukan par! let's go to his shop..
A group of locals noticed this black jeep hovering in the area and ran behind it.. Once outside the shop Dutta turned to Baji ,"do the honours!" and Baji took out out his gun and took a shot at the fuse box outside the shack.. with a big boom , the place caught fire and was engulfed with tongues of flames that bellowed and licked the shack down.. amidst the rising black smoke ,Dutta's figure in his blood stained black pathiani jumped up on the bonnet of his black jeep.Baji turned off the ignition
With the smoke in the back ground, he raised his hands to the small crowd, and said,"spread the message that from today onwards no one owes any money to the money lender, Jabra! sab proof jal gaye hai! this is Dutta Bhau's order! And the people cheered and clapped with shouts of Dutta Bhau ! Dutta Bhau ! he pressed his palms and jumped off the jeep and winced as he got in surrounded with the blessings of the people.. Dutta Bhau! bless you! Dutta clenched his jaw as beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, "Baji ghar chal yaar! my leg hurts.. a lot.."he winced. "ho Bhau , said a worried Baji and raced out and got to the motor way and drove in fifth gear as Dutta , rested his head against the head rest of his jeep.. turning pale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dutta stood on his feet outside his jeep.. and slowly walked into his house ..he did feel faint. Baji ran on tip toes towards the annexe and Dutta , glared at him with his fingers raised, which clearly indicated no don't call her. Somehow Baji got Dutta to his room. Dutta entered and struggled to get to his bed and then sat on the edge and collapsed on it one of his long legs dangled off the bed , and the other folded back on the bed.. he closed his eyes.. to be continued... Hamlet53~ 25.10.13
precap: Saab, aap ke haat, these knuckles..what happened..? he looked into her eyes.. leave me alone! haat!
Dedicated to rose.. congrats for becoming IF SIZZLER!
Edited by Hamlet53 - 11 years ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
