Phulwa was feeling unsteady. What had been that look in his eyes? Even thinking about it made her go breathless. She felt no happiness in having got the file. , in fact she felt that she was losing something far more important because of it. As she and Babu drove back home, she lifted her arms, looking at the faint red lines where his hand had gripped her wrists. Then she thought of the kiss he had bestowed on each of them. She let her arms drop on the seat again, emotion twirling endlessly in her.
****
Arjun made his way to the police station. He knew it was early but he had heard the whole station had been drugged to sleep the other day. He grinned, thinking he could not leave this opportunity of teasing Abhay get away. But was he really coming to meet Abhay or someone else also? He shrugged as always not stopping to analyse his thoughts. He always felt it was a waste of time to do so. Do as you feel like and forget about it, was his motto. As he crossed entrance of the police station, he bumped into someone.
****
Aarti was busy. The police station was buzzing with activity and she had just gotten a complaint about some people ruining the crops of a farmer. She was overloaded with work and ACP Abhay was nowhere to be seen yet. She pushed her gun into its holster walking to the door while looking down at the complaint file in her hand. She bumped into something solid which sent her stumbling backwards then strong arms came to hold her stopping her in mid-fall. She looked up at mischievous eyes crinkling at the corners. She blinked thinking she was mistaken but it was him. Dr Arjun Singh.
Arjun felt good. A beautiful woman leaning on his arm, what more could he ask for? He smiled down at her letting his arms rest on her back. The police cap on her head started falling but Arjun grabbed it lightning fast with his other hand. He noticed her black hair drawn back in a severe bun. I would love to see them loose, he thought suddenly. The angle at which he was holding her made it impossible for her to get up without making a bigger fool of herself.
***
Abhay was walking in the station, feeling elated even though he had not slept the time of a wink last night. Visions of Phulwa in her drabby kurta, Phulwa in black gown...Phulwa without anything on had haunted him. At the last thought, he felt his body tightening uncomfortably. She would have a fit when she realised the file was useless. All the information of her whereabouts was safely guarded in his head. Then he saw them. As he surveyed the scene in front of him, he grinned. Seems like love is in the air, he told himself.
He tapped Arjun on the shoulder, then crossed his arms.
"This is a police station, not your flirting spot."
Arjun turned, at the same time bringing Aarti to an upright position.
"Abhay, you always have to spoil the fun." Arjun slapped his palm against Abhay's in the way they used to at school.
Aarti blushed crimson then grabbed her cap from Arjun's hand and excused herself, darting past Abhay. Aarti felt stupid. If that obnoxious man had not been ACP Abhay's friend, she would have personally put him behind bars.
Abhay and Arjun both looked at her huffy exit with amusement.
"Stop harassing the lady officers, Arjun. Don't tell me there's no cute doctor in that hospital." Abhay said as they walked to his office.
Arjun sighed holding his hand to his heart in a comical fashion.
"What to do? This heart does not like doctors." He laughed "And what do you mean harassing lady officers? " he glared at Abhay then mischievously added "I'm harassing only one for the moment."
Abhay laughed. Arjun would never change. In college he had been one of the best catches. Handsome, smart, knew how to flatter the girls.
Arjun looked at Abhay. True, he had been the popular one in college especially among the girls but somehow even without Abhay doing anything, girls had drooled over him behind his back. His total lack of interest in them had made him even more alluring. Arjun wondered at the girl who would capture his friend's heart. He hoped it happened soon. Abhay was one hell of a good man and he deserved to have someone loving him.
"So what good wind pushed you here? Or was it only Inspector Aarti you came to visit?" Abhay teased him.
"Oh just heard you were giving drugged tea to your staff now." Arjun cracked up with laughter.
The mention of drugged tea brought Phulwa back to his mind. She could drug anyone just with her eyes, Abhay thought. In fact, he still felt drugged after yesterday's events.
"Yeah, it was someone's plan to evade two prisoners." Abhay said casually, rummaging through his files as Arjun sat down across him.
Arjun narrowed his eyes at him.
"And you are not angry?" he was almost dubious. "I would have expected you to be throwing things around and turning this place upside down in fury."
Abhay looked up.
"Let's just say the prisoners do not interest me. In fact, I'm more concerned about the person who helped them escape." His eyes went soft.
Arjun did not press. He brushed aside Abhay's words as normal.
"Do you know when Aarti's shift ends?" he stretched back on the chair.
It was Abhay's turn to narrow his eyes at him now.
"Inspector Aarti Rajput not Aarti. And this is none of your business." He sat down, lifting the glass of water on his bureau and drinking from it.
Arjun glared at him in mock anger.
"What kind of friend are you? Hmmm, Aarti Rajput. I think Aarti Singh sounds better."
Abhay choked almost spitting water on Arjun's face.
"What!" Abhay's voice held disbelief. "I did not know you were planning to settle down."
Arjun guffawed. He had no intention of marrying any time soon. He prided himself on his independence.
"Just said that to gauge your reaction. ACP Abhay is very concerned about his woman staff." He joked.
Abhay's phone rang. He looked at the display. Sarla aunty. He ignored it turning back to Arjun.
Arjun looked at him strangely.
"Mera Ishq Sufiana?" he snorted "I thought you hated such lovey dovey songs. Now it's your ringtone. What's up buddy?" he waited for Abhay to answer.
Abhay suddenly wanted to change subject. He had heard that song on the way back home last night and since thoughts of Phulwa had at that time been consuming him, the song now strangely reminded him of her. Like a love sick boy, he had put it as his ringtone. He felt stupid, vowing to remove it soon, but quickly diverted Arjun's attention. There was no use in giving Arjun another reason to annoy him with.
They talked for more than an hour when Arjun looked at his watch saying he had to get to the hospital. As he reached the door, Abhay called out.
"Her shift ends at five. But I did not say that." Abhay innocently said.
Arjun turned to see his grin mirrored on Abhay's face.
****
Phulwa was furious. According to Babu, the file contained nothing threatening to them. In fact they were quite far from finding out Phulwa's whereabouts. He deliberately lured me there, Phulwa fumed. She was feeling restless, something she never felt. She had thrown the dress away last night but then had gone to retrieve it back. She hated it but she strangely could not separate herself from it. She sighed. Just then, Banwa Kaka came running to her.
"Phulwa, somebody planted a red flag in the village," Phulwa got up quickly. "It seems like a landlord bought a little girl from the village."
Phulwa closed her eyes against the sudden pain. She was sure it was an exchange for a piece of land or something even less. Why did fathers do that to their daughters? Why could they not fight back? She thought back at her own father. He would have died but he would not have sold her come what may. She wiped the single tear which coursed down her cheek and lifted her gun.
"Babu, let's go." She called out to him.
****
Abhay was lost in thought when Jitendra came barging in.
"Sir, a constable noticed a red flag planted near the neem tree on his way to the police station."
Abhay raised his brows.
"How does that concern us?" he was exasperated by the sometimes stupid statements of his team. Now even flags were news in Chambal? He chuckled.
Jitendra continued unabashed.
"Sir, villagers usually put that to alert Phulwa." On hearing her name, Abhay sat up straight, now very interested. "We always notice there is an attack from Phulwa whenever a flag is there. But so far, we have not managed to get her."
Red flags? He smiled. His Dacait Rani was decidedly unique. Then he realised how he had just called her. Dacait Rani. He was still smiling adorably when he spoke.
"I'll go to the village right now. You alert the whole team. If I need you, I'll call."
He had no intention of calling anybody, he thought smugly. Phulwa was destined to be caught by only one man and that was him.
****
When he arrived at the village, all the locals looked at him warily. Abhay was instantly suspicious. He walked around trying to find out why exactly they had needed Phulwa. He knelt at the tree where the red flag swayed gently. He touched it, silently thanking the person who had put it there. He was sure it would be the reason he would meet Phulwa again today but first he needed to find the reason for its presence. He got up then his ears focused on the sobs coming from somewhere close. He walked in the direction of the sound coming to stop at the door of a run-down hut.
"I want my daughter back." The woman's voice was anguished.
The man holding his wife suddenly looked up, seeing Abhay. He glanced at his wife quickly, trying to calm her down.
"Shhh, for God's sake stop crying, Suman. There is a police officer at the door." He whispered urgently looking terrified.
The woman's sob died down. Her eyes were bloodshot as they fell on Abhay. Abhay was curious, he walked in stopping where they both knelt on the ground.
"What is happening here?" he demanded.
"No...Nothing..Saab." the man's Adam apple bobbed up and down as he spoke.
Abhay focused on the woman then he slowly placed his hand on her shoulder leaning forward. The woman looked into eyes which were compassionate. She could not hold herself back.
"Saab, Saab..th..they took my daughter." Her sobs shook her again.
The husband looked scared. He shook his head frantically as if to say this was not true. Abhay ignored him.
"What do you mean? Who's they?" he asked calmly.
The woman had trouble talking but she knew she had to tell him. He did not look like the others. Every police officer in the past had been hand in hand with the landlords. They never helped them get their daughters back. Only Phulwa was there to stop the landlords from taking them away as payment for the villagers' loan. But she strangely felt this man would understand.
"My husband sold her. He sold her." She was hysterical now. "That landlord came to take her and I don't know where she is."
Abhay looked at the man in disgust, his hands clenching. Half an hour later, he had all the details. But he also knew the woman had called Phulwa for help. He looked in the distance as he came out of the hut. I'll let you make your move first Phulwa. If she failed, he would intervene. He strode out, a plan already forming in his head.
****
Abhay found exactly who was the landlord. Viren Badodhia Thakur. He called Jitendra asking him to track him down and give him his location.
Jitendra called him back fifteen minutes later saying Badodhia had been spotted leaving his warehouse all would be hitting the roads in a few minutes. Abhay calmly told him there was no need for anybody to come, he would see to it.
He hoped Phulwa was alone. Love, he thought sighing inwardly. It was astonishing how a word which had held no meaning for him before, was now the driving force behind his actions.
****
Phulwa intercepted the car just as it was going out of the village. The road was deserted except for Badodhia's car. She, Banwa kaka and Babu stood in a single line effectively blocking the passage of the car.
Badodhia got out, his face red with anger. He was a stout man who represented everything Phulwa hated. He reminded her of someone she knew and who was the reason she was a Dacoit. She pushed the painful memories away, leaning on her gun which stood on the ground and sharpened her gaze on the man.
"Leave the girl and I'll let you live." She said in a deadly calm voice.
The man looked at her disbelievingly.
"Get out of my way! I bought the girl. She is mine." He was trying not to show his fear.
He had heard of Phulwa before but had never been face to face with her.
Phulwa smiled, but it was a smile which made your blood curdle when it was directed at you. She walked slowly to him until she was close. Badodhia retreated but hit the hood of the car behind him. He was trapped. The voice of the little girl inside reached Phulwa's ears. She was crying. Phulwa clenched her teeth then lifted the gun, pointing it directly at his heart.
Badodhia gasped.
"Wh...What are you doing?" he had never seen such a look on anybody's face before.
Phulwa looked like she would really kill him on the blink of an eye.
"I'm giving you a choice." Her tone was lethal. "I either take the girl or I take your life. The decision is up to you."
She placed her finger on the trigger and pressed the gun deeper in his skin, waiting. Badodhia looked over her shoulder, Babu and Banwa kaka were both pointing their guns at him ready to shoot at Phulwa's slightest hint.
Badodhia wiped sweat from his brow.
"I...I'll give you the girl! Just let me go." He cried.
He started to move but Phulwa shoved the gun in him again. He looked at her, eyes wide in fear.
"There is no need for you to go. Tell your driver to release the girl."
Badodhia gulped then called out to his driver to release the girl. The little girl ran to Phulwa hugging the lags of her pants. Phulwa felt tears mounting but she kept them inside, placing a hand on her head.
"Babu and Banwa Kaka, take the girl and drop her at her parents'." She said without turning to look at them.
They protested.
"Jijia, I won't leave you here."
"Do as I say." Phulwa's voice held no room for argument.
Babu and Banwa Kaka left with the girl. Phulwa gestured to the driver to go. The man darted past them without a second look at his master. Badodhia was terrified. Why wasn't she letting him go?
"Come with me." She turned him with her hand, her gun now pressed to his back forcing him to move towards the jungle.
When they reached the edge, Badodhia refused to budge. Why was she dragging him to the jungle? He shivered at the thought that she would kill him and dump him there.
"Keep going." Phulwa snapped at him.
This time she shoved the gun hard, sending him stumbling through the trees. Lights filtered through the thick sky of branches. They walked some distance when Phulwa suddenly stopped and ordered him to sit down near a tree. He complied, closing his eyes and preparing himself for the shot but it never came. Instead Phulwa unwound a thick white rope from around her waist and started tying his arms to the trunk of the tree. Badodhia was shocked. He had expected him to kill him off but she was already retreating leaving him there. He screamed for her to return. He was scared of spending the night here in the dark.
Phulwa ignored him and kept walking. One night in the jungle with wild animals would serve him right. She doubted any animal would be roaming so close to the road but just the sounds would surely make him wet his pants. Phulwa smiled then feeling exhausted, stopped. She stretched her arm to her left and placed her palm against the trunk of the tree at her side. She bowed her head looking down. She was tired from all these consuming emotions of the past days. Then she felt something cold and metallic around her wrist. She turned gasping.
*****
Abhay had watched the exchange between the man and Phulwa from afar. For a moment there, he had been scared the man would hurt her but his Dacait Rani knew how to defend herself very well indeed, he thought his chest swelling with unexpected pride. But it puzzled him when he saw her pushing the man through the woods. When would she stop surprising him? He wondered. Somehow, he had known she would not shoot him down. He had seen her eyes. They were determined, angry, passionate but never cruel, he believed. He sighed. ACP Abhay Rai Singh was now busy praising his lady love. He chuckled quietly. Sarla Aunty would be disappointed to know that he had found his match.
He followed Phulwa from a distance, frowning slightly all the way. Then when she saw what she was doing, he could have laughed out loud. He controlled his mirth. Tying him to a tree? This woman would be hell to handle if she ever got angry. His eyes went soft.
He hid behind a tree as Phulwa turned away from the man walking past him blissfully unaware of his presence. Then he saw her stretch her arm, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He removed his handcuffs from his belt then soundlessly came up behind her before clamping them shut on her delicate wrist.
****
Phulwa thought she was dreaming...or maybe having a nightmare. Surely this man could not be standing in the jungle with her. She gulped, feeling unsettled. He was grinning wickedly, lifting his hand slowly to show her own handcuffed one. He leaned close forcing her against the tree until her whole body was pressed along its length. She brought her free hand down on his heart trying to push him back, suddenly realizing it was not a dream but very much real.
"Aww... don't do that. My heart is the most sensitive thing I've got right now." He chuckled leaving her perplex.
This man would make her mad one day with his stupid talks and actions! She wanted to hit him on the head again.
"My people are around. They'll come looking for me any moment and they are armed." Her eyes spit fire at him.
She was scared to move. His mouth was so close that an inch forward, it would be on hers. She pressed back more against the trunk. Abhay smiled, a knowing light in his eyes. Damn him! He knew. He must have seen them going away, Phulwa thought angrily. He slowly lifted her left arm then closed the other handcuff shut on his right wrist. Phulwa opened her eyes wide. What was he doing? She tried to speak but she had a feeling she would not hear herself over the loud beating of her own heart.
"What are you doing?" she hated how her voice sounded.
Only this man could make her feel scared, Phulwa thought. Right now, his hair was brushing her forehead, its silkiness surprisingly soothing against her hot skin. It had such a pleasant feel that she wanted to sigh. Phulwa struggled against her own thoughts. Was she going mad along with this man? Why had he handcuffed himself to her? The trapped doe look returned to her eyes. She did not want to be this close to him. Close enough to notice his stubble, the red tinges in his thick hair, his lips, his eyes which were presently fixed on her face. She tried to push him back with her free hand but he grabbed it holding it to the place where she had hit him some moments before. The beating of his heart against her palm was strangely unsettling. He lifted his other arm which was handcuffed to her own, to place it on the tree above her head. Then he answered her question.
"I'm just tying you to me." He spoke huskily his mouth a breath away from her own.
"Stop this! Once my people notice my absence, they'll come to search and you'll be dead." She hissed, fierce eyes looking back at him.
Abhay leaned closer, his breath teasing her skin with its hotness. She was irresistible when she was angry, he thought feeling the now familiar tug at his heart. Her alluring kohl filled eyes fixed on his made him glow inside. If someone had asked him if he had seen God's most beautiful creation, he would have replied yes. Because she happened to be right in front of him. He did not care that they were on opposites sides of the law. To hell with rules, he told himself. The only thing he wanted to do right now was kiss her and that was exactly what he was going to do. He closed the distance between their lips, almost sighing with the feeling it aroused in him. It felt like a thirsty traveller had finally reached a river bank.
****
Phulwa felt the strangest combinations of sensations. She was cold and hot at the same time, her heart pounding. He was going to do it again! She wanted to kill him but she already knew she would never be able to do so. Why did this have to happen to her? Why did this man need to land in her life only? She closed her eyes in resignation for the first time, her protests dying down. Then his warm lips touched her cold ones and somewhere inside Phulwa, a gentle warmth blossomed in a place that had known only sadness and resentment. She felt like a blanket had engulfed her. She was helpless when he laced his fingers with hers on the trunk of the tree.
He was nibbling her lower lip, torturing himself with little tastes of her, and making her heart do somersaults. She wanted to fight him but every sinew of her body pushed her against him. She forgot the jungle, the sounds, the hard tree behind her back. There was only this man and nothing else. He filled her senses, made her breathless. This kiss was different, his stubble scraped her sensitive skin unlike the other day. Then it was as if a dam broke inside her, she could take his teasing nibbles no more. She kissed him back forcing him to stop his nibbling and shocking him.
****
Abhay was drunk on her taste but then he suddenly felt a pressure against his lips. His brain was fuzzy and it took him a while to understand she was kissing him back. He felt his heart soar, he almost stopped the kiss to look at her but then was scared if he did that, it would break the moment. He felt her bite his lips and wanted to laugh. She really liked to bite him, he thought. He wished she would do that forever, his heart brimmed with love as he tilted his mouth changing the angle of the kiss, deepening it. He felt happiness and awe swallow him up. Yes, this is how it should be, his mind said.
***
NO, this should not be happening, Phulwa's mind screamed. She tried to drag her mouth away, drawing herself out from the world his kiss had taken her to. She opened her eyes, feeling the familiar panic take hold of her. Why could she not fight him? He was looking into her eyes but he did not break the kiss, he softened it, his eyes dark pools of passion. Phulwa dragged her right arm down causing his hand to fall. She twisted her face away.
Abhay drew back. He felt like a person who had run a mile. The moment was gone, she was again in control, Abhay thought regretfully. He sighed, removing his head from hers. She refused to meet his eyes. Her lips quivered the faintest bit, her skin flushed. Abhay noticed her bottom lip glistened with moisture, he wanted to yank her to him again but resisted, tightening his jaw against the passion he felt.
****
Phulwa felt as if she would fall when he drew back. She wanted to pull him close again but kept her arms firmly at her sides. Then she noticed, that in the process she had dragged his handcuffed arm too. She realised nothing could make her as weak as this man. She would never be able to carry out her threat of killing him because she already felt that the fabrics of their life were interwoven. I have to break that fabric itself, Phulwa vowed. She had no place for this kind of feeling in her life. She wished with all her heart that she could run away or take back the last few moments and make them disappear. But that was impossible. What had happened between them would be there forever, she thought tears glistening in her eyes.
***
Abhay sighed. He could see she was distressed. He pulled at the handcuff making him look at her then he lifted it to place a kiss at the centre of her palm making her close her eyes again. He unlocked the handcuff then turned, walking towards the light.
***
He was walking off! Phulwa was suddenly furious. This was insane. Why did he have to keep meeting her like this then leave her feeling disoriented? He never arrested her, just turned her feelings upside down and walked off every time. She shook herself out the warmth surrounding her body and marched behind him.
****
Abhay was almost at the edge of the forest when Phulwa planted herself in front of him. She was back in form, thought Abhay amused. She looked all angry and...sexy. He resisted to put her over his shoulder and drive off with her. He looked at her calmly.
"Why are you doing this?" she hissed, suddenly not caring about anything. "You came to arrest me, didn't you? Then why are you not doing it?" she knew she sounded mad but at that moment she just wanted an answer out of this man. She was frustrated and felt out of her element by the actions of this man.
A slow smile curved his lips and he sent her a glance surprisingly warm with laughter.
"Oh, now you want me to arrest you? The other day, you were so eager to escape me." His eyes turned smouldering black." Don't worry, I have every intension of doing so but first I have to make sure you won't want to escape." His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Though not understanding what he meant, Phulwa suddenly felt hot. She had a feeling he was not talking about escaping from jail. She seethed. Why was he being so obnoxious? She held out her hands in front of her defiantly throwing her head back, sending her long braid flying.
"I demand that you arrest me!" she knew this was highly uncharacteristic of her but she was no longer thinking straight. She hated the turmoil he created inside her. She preferred jail to it.
***
Abhay chuckled low. So his Dacait Rani already knew he had other plans for her? She wanted to escape from it, but I won't let you Phulwa, he thought. He smiled deviously at her, feeling his love brim up to the surface again.
"Get out of my way otherwise..." he let the words hang.
Seeing her like this was making his control dissolve. He swore if she did not get out of the way soon, he would really fling her over his shoulder and take her home.
Phulwa glared at him unaware of his thoughts.
"Otherwise what? You'll shoot?" she was fuming. She refused to let him go without answering her question.
Abhay looked calmly back, his face serious.
"No, I won't shoot..." he paused. "but this time I might not end the kiss." He said looking at her lips.
Phulwa's eyes open wide in shock. He looked amused but she could see the stubborn light shining in his eyes. He will really do it, Phulwa thought. She stepped aside quickly, making Abhay laugh softly. He wanted to bring her close to his heart and hug her but he knew she was not ready ready for it yet. He strode out of the jungle leaving Phulwa to watch him with disbelief mixed with something else. This man was the limit! She felt no triumph at having escaped jail. In fact, now she felt that only jail could keep this man away from her.
*****
Abhay drove all the way home with a smile on his face. When she had kissed him back, he had felt all his doubts melt away. Her place was at his side. She loved him but she did not know it yet. Oh, don't worry Phulwa,...I'll make sure you know it before long, he thought his eyes darkening with love and passion.
*****
The next morning, Abhay took Jitendra with him to the jungle. As they made their way through the trees, Abhay felt the need to laugh again. He had never laughed so much until this woman barged into his life. Badodhia was still tied to the tree where Phulwa had left him. He was shivering, a scared look in his eyes that told you he would never dare to cross Phulwa's way again. Abhay felt proud of his Dacait Rani again. He laughed softly surprising Jitendra into looking at him. He ordered Jitendra to untie him and take him to the police station. One thing was still nagging him. Why did the villagers not call on the police for these matters? He needed to find out. He knelt down to the spot where the man had been, removing a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket. He scribbled:
'Meet me here tomorrow at five or else I'll come to visit you at your hideout.'
He smiled as he took off the handcuffs he had used on Phulwa from his belt and placed it on the piece of paper on the ground.
He was sure Phulwa would be there to check on Badodhia and she would know who had wrote that note. You'll have to come Phulwa otherwise I will not hesitate to carry out my threat, he thought walking back to his car.
****
Phulwa had no wish to return to the jungle. Every tree reminded her of him and yesterday's... She closed off her mind quickly. But she needed to untie Badodhia. This would teach him to do something like that again, Phulwa thought satisfactorily. She thought she had come to the wrong spot when she did not see Badodhia. Had he escaped? Then her eyes fell on it. A piece of paper and the handcuffs on top of it. She blushed, the memories of how he had tied her to him coming back. Abhay. Strange how the ACP got lost when she thought of him now. She knelt down, retrieving the handcuffs, running her fingers on them for a while then stuffed them quickly in her pocket. She lifted the piece of paper, and felt the most painful of pangs when she realised she could not understand the scribbled red words. For the first time, she badly wished she could read. She sighed pushing the paper inside her pocket alongside the handcuffs. She would not show it to Babu, knowing Abhay, she could not be sure what he must have written...
I'm sorry if there's any mistake or incoherence. As usual, comments are most welcome😊
Cricket
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
