Arakshi FF: Now-Before-Later! (Completed!) - Page 8

Part-22:

You know what you are doing that's what hurts most.

Sakshi placed the files on his table heavily.

He looked up and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Finished my work," she said without details.

"Good," he too appreciated without details.

He saw that, she was not going away.

"What, want something?"He inquired.

"Will you give me what I want?"

She asked mystically.

He felt a warning tug in his brain.

"If it's possible," he said cautiously.

"I think, it's very easy for you."

"Tell me."

"I want to talk to you about-"

"Right, first sit then talk," he motioned toward a chair.

She sat without a word.

"Now tell me."

He leaned against his chair.

She changed the hand kerchief from her left hand to the right and placed her left hand left open on her lap restively. It had a small round object in it.

Once she was sure that his eyes would not get it, she started.

"I want you to stop this."

She said without preamble. He noted it and though he knew exactly what she was asking for, he asked, "Stop what?"

"Just the thing you are doing lately. I want you to understand that you are not needed, I repeat, I don't need you between Shiva and me. Got it?"

She was blazing now.

"Nope!"

She was stunned, for sure, now.

"What?"

"What are you saying that I'm doing lately?"

"See, Arjun, I'm ready to do the work you give me, no matter how hard I've to work. All I want is you to stop this. You may think, you are helping me, but no, your plans won't work," she changed course then.

"My plans?"

"Why, telling him to take me to that restaurant was not your plan?"

"What, he took you to that restaurant yesterday?-"

He said and bit his tongue.

She smiled at him.

"Thank God, at least you accept that you know that restaurant."

"Right, well, so what?"

He looked her in the eye.

"So you are behind this all without shame!"

"Shame? Why me?"

"Trying to set-"

She stopped short and looked him.

His face was getting harder.

"Mind your language, Sakshi," he threatened her.

"Why should I?"

"You are crossing your limits!"

"So you too can't accept when someone crosses the limits!"

She wondered.

There was a moment's silence.

As though they feared that if they touched it, it would shatter them. They were silent and watching it.

Sakshi seemed decided to talk again when he said suddenly, "I don't think you are still the same as before that night. The same Sakshi, who would come with me to my ca-"

She became a flame at that.

"What non-sense are you talking about?"

She was about to close the thing in her open palm and to crush it, if possible, when he said, "I was just asking, to my car, once I said I wanted to talk," he emphasized, "What did you think?"

He inquired her to her annoyance.

God, what I would tell him here!

Without waiting for her he continued.

"I thought, now you are different, I mean, you've changed. Then what's in it helping Shiva or not?"

She was silent.

"When you are sure about us, are you sure or..." She nodded boldly as she did not trust her words, "I decided to help Shiva when he came to my room one day."

It was more like a confession.

She smelt a trap too late, then. He was convincing her that she could get married Shiva. If she was waiting more he would declare that she was ready.

He was waiting for her to speak now.

That would be apt, now, after he had said this much. To add some solid proof to his points she should talk now and she did.

"Maybe you are right," she started, "I can see that you are thinking for me. To mend my life you are risking too much, I know, but, what if he gets suspicious?"

He could not believe his own ears.

"He knows well I'm his friend and I won't do anything to tear that friendship?"

"And are you sure, you would do anything to save that friendship?"

"Of course, why?"

"Then stay away from us, until I decide what my need is, what I need in life, what I really choose to lead my life with, since, now you don't have the-"

"Right?"

"I know you are a genius!"

"Thanks for that compliment!"

He said sarcastically.

"And I hope you know well that you don't have to intrude in my decision too."

#

Sakshi said, "Tell me, what I've to do!"

"Think twice, Sakshi, before you say that line."

She looked me in the eye.

"Yes, I don't want you to retreat once you accept to do anything for us. I warn you the side effects might be highly against you."

I was still talking mystically.

She gave me a bitter smile.

We wanted that conformation.

Slowly I started intoxicating her mind then.

"Right, as you are ready now, I'd suggest you to talk to Arjun sir about this matter. Just go and ask him, convince him that you know he is in this with Shiva. So we can clutch Shiva's collar the next moment. Not much, just a single word from Arjun sir is enough."

She looked at me in confusion.

We wanted that confusion too.

I started telling her the next move.

I put a small round object before her.

"A recording device!"

I saw the confusion in the trio's eyes, now.

"Solid evidence!"

I pointed out.

"What I want is you never giving him a chance to deny your points. Go, I need the same strength, same anger there. Go, Sakshi! Just prove him wrong. Just save your side! Go, now."

I stopped my talk and waited.

She sighed and looked the red color object before her a moment.

She took it in hand and stood up.

I said, "Be careful. We need the secrecy more than anything. Just be sure, you are keeping this device in open when he speaks," I added further, "I know we have no way except this or otherwise I won't..."

#

Sakshi went toward Arjun's room with some files and as she approached the room, something started nagging her.

She ceased in her tracks.

God, how could she forget that the angry talks would never do any good in his case, while she was there as a living example?'

She calmed her mind first then made her mind before moved toward his room in small strides.

#

"Do you think, she s fallen for that?"

Chottu asked me.

I shrugged my shoulder.

"I think, you could have planted it in his room. What if, she failed to put it in open?"

"Chottu, you are worrying about a minor issue. See, it's the easiest and most importantly safest way of getting what we want. Now see, we are sitting here safe and sound and the system is recording it quietly. Don't you know I'm not going to his room, unnecessarily?"

"I know, you are sending me there in necessity, instead."

I grinned.

"Yes, he'd believe you than me as harmless."

"What if, he found out this time too?"

If he had expected me to get tense, he was wrong.

I simply said, "I don't think, she'd betray us for the whole world."

Ayesha asked, "What if he doesn't speak as we want?"

"I don't need him to. I just need a word that I can use against him. Even I could use voice modulation, if necessary. All I need is his voice recorded in a device. Today or later. If it worked today better, or- Don't worry, it'd work."

"You are talking more like a villain, lately."

I laughed out aloud.

"I d take any role for the taken oath!"

I announced.

"And I know how to roll the dice well."

"As you say boss," Ayesha said and bowed.

We laughed at that.

#

Sakshi hoped, she had done what she wanted. She changed the kerchief once again from her right hand to the left and covered the red piece.

"It's not me Sakshi, who is standing between you and Shiva. It's you, who are standing between me and Shiva."

She heard enough.

She stood up and as she reached the door, he said softly, "You'll soon know that whom you think are helping you, are not really helping you. I wish it should be before, time's passed."

She had gone.

Part-23:

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge ~ Stephen Hawking .

Arjun knew that she did not talk whole heartedly. He knew that in haste- just to hurt him she had talked a lot. He could ignore it and he did.

But what was worrying him a lot was the talk with Shiva the previous night.

"Everything went all right, Arjun, except the last part, you know, she even asked me to take her to the beach. Phew, I ruined everything after the dinner. I shouldn't have asked her so!"

"What happened?"

"After the dinner, she got a headache and I suggested that she had to see an eye specialist. That's my mistake. I know well. She became all furious then and we had to return in a rush."

Arjun neither thought it was a good sign nor it went all right.

"Did she ask you to go to the beach before the dinner or after?"

He asked as though he knew the answer already.

"Why, before the dinner."

"Tell me the whole story."

He insisted.

Even after hearing it word by word, he could not appreciate that the date was a success.

He simply said, "We can't decide it fast, Shiva."

#

We were in my apartment hearing the tape that evening.

The speech started with Sakshi's voice.

"I want you to stop this."

I did not see any anger in it. I could say she was entreating him, instead.

I let it go for the time being. The tape had a full four minutes, after all, to go.

./

./

./

'Why telling him to take me to that restaurant was not your plan?"

'What, he took you to that restaurant yesterday?'

There was a pause then she said, 'Thank God, at least you accept that you know that restaurant.'

'Right, well, so what?'

'So you are behind this all without shame.'

Chottu looked at me and I stopped the tape there. We heard the talk up to this, twice now.

"That's it. See, we got what we wanted."

He said triumphantly.

"We got it all right," I did not show half of his enthusiasm.

"I can see, he is blinking after saying that, 'yesterday'," he went on. I was silent then.

"Why, see, after that he is saying in a hard voice, 'so what?' "

"That's right, but see, from the start he was denying her every word, I don't think all of a sudden he'd fall for that one word restaurant'."

"Agreed!"

Ayesha said quietly.

"I don't think it's a slip of the tongue. If we know him well, I'd definitely say, it all was a trap!"

Chottu nodded and played the tape.

'Shame, why me?...'

'...So you too can't accept when someone crosses the limits,'

Then the tape was reeling in silence. The silence seemed too thick.

We were eagerly waiting for the talk to be continued.

"Nice punch, isn't it?" Chottu said in the mean while.

I smiled.

We waited.

"Move the gap, Shree!"

He told at last, but the talk started then.

To our surprise, Arjun started talking again, even in a softer voice.

'I don't think, you are still the same as before that night. The same Sakshi, who would come with me to my ca-"

'What non-sense are you talking about?'

She was in shock and her voice was shaking even when she was shouting at him.

'I was just asking to my car, once I said I wanted to talk,' with a pause he added, 'What did you think?'

"See, see he is playing here." Chottu shrieked.

I cut the tape and said sarcastically, "He is definitely, prevaricating something,"

Ayesha was silent; she was numbly seeing the tape.

I played the tape again.

'I thought, now you are different, I mean you've changed. Then what is in it helping Shiva or not?'

Again he talked, 'When you are sure about us, are you sure or-" he stopped and then said, 'I decided to help Shiva when he came to my room one day.'

We were tense at that.

What next? He was going to betray us, like what we did to him?"

After a small unmovable pause, she said, 'Maybe you are right. I can see that you are thinking for me...'

I thought, 'God, he has nabbed her at last!'

We heard the remaining tape in silence and got that he had not betrayed us and she did not budge in, to our delight. And WE COULD DO ANYTHING USING HER.

We heard a muffled voice talking something; before the door was clicked in. we could not understand the voice.

"See, he was preparing her for his speech after those long, silent moments as though he was really doing this as her well wisher. As I said it was a trap!"

Ayesha asked hesitantly that important question then, which faltered us tremendously.

"What if he is really thinking for her? What if he is really helping her after all?"

"That's incredible!"

I exclaimed and went silent as I got that she was not in our mission anymore.

Part-24:

I'm a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.

Things were changing slightly.

We should be careful from Arjun and we should be careful in our words while talking to Ayesha as well.

She was now with Sakshi, the most of the time. We knew they were talking secretly time to time.

We were watching them and waited in silence for the right time to move.

It did not mean that we suspected her to say the plot to Sakshi, but just that she had fallen for his words.

Poor girl!

I was working with the tape. When Sakshi asked I said so, too.

#

It did not mean that he suspected her to say about that night to Shiva, after all she did not even tell it to her friends.

He should be patience for some time, for her to decide.

Poor girl!

She could not understand what was happening around her.

#

After hearing the tape, Ayesha had started thinking more seriously about that night.

To her female ears his words fell differently and she could not stop thinking about what could have happened that night.

'Just at the mentioning of that night, why should Sakshi scream like that?'

'Why did he stop short there, when he said, he didn't think Sakshi would come with him to his car?'

'Why should Sakshi- avoided telling me about this matter this long?'

She got that she would not tell it ever.

'What does she try to keep from me? Whom does she try to save by this silence?'

She was not going to ask her, if she did not like to share, she decided.

He said, "When you are sure about us," meaning, God, he knew her love and Sakshi was angry on him, meaning, they broke up or-or the worst- he refused her-No, "You are sure about us"- he had done something that annoyed her the most and she was angry. She had refused him!'

'She said the other day too, something like, "I came to know the real faces of everyone."

'Within one day, what could have happened between them that could spoil everything?'

She tried to stop thinking anymore.

She did not want to decide anything now.

For the first time she thought, everything was going wrong, if not only going against everyone..

She could not decide to whom she could talk about this.

#

Sakshi was relieved that she had done everything she could to stop Arjun. She didn't tell or expose him to her friends in that talk; after all, it would be a shame to her too otherwise.

She knew, her friends would make sure that Shiva would not disturb her anymore. Surprisingly, Arjun had stopped casting her over with work now.

But what she had forgotten was the fate would not leave her alone without a good reason.

#

I finished the cutting and patching work and produced a new tape.

I called Chottu to my flat and played it for him.

I instructed him clearly what and when he to say some exclamatory words with suitable emotions, while playing the tape for Shiva.

I had added a buzzing sound in the background to create a realistic effect to it.

We were waiting in the visitor's hall when he came to us.

"Hi, what a surprise!"

He exclaimed.

"Sorry to bother you in the office hours," I started with an apology.

"Hey, come on. I'm happy to see you here. Did Sakshi say something to convey me?"

He came to the matter at once.

"No, but we want to talk to you in private."

"Why not? We can meet in a coffee shop."

He suggested.

"Well, what about my place?"

"With pleasure."

"7 O'clock this evening."

"Suits me."

"Can I get your mobile number?"

He looked surprised, but gave me the number.

Chottu asked once we moved out of his ear shot, "Didn't you know his number?"

"I know even his little sis's puppy's license number. But, we should create an atmosphere here that Sakshi has no role in this matter."

#

"I don't know what he's told you about us, but all we want is Sakshi's happiness."

I started.

"I can understand it."

"I don't know, whether you've told him about this meeting, I-"

I stopped and he said, "I didn't!"

"Right, I need you to know that we are not happy that we gave you the wrong list of her favorites the other day. "

I went silent.

"I can understand it too."

He replied.

"Are you sure?" Chottu asked excitedly.

He nodded and smiled.

"Thanks," Chottu said emotionally.

"Hey, come on. It happens, I know. I'm happy you understand it and confessed it. But forget it."

"But you must have-"

"Arjun had told me that it was not her favorite's list," he said to ease the situation.

"Did he?"

I asked and went silent.

He noticed the silence and before he could voice it out, Chottu asked, "One more?"

He motioned toward the juice glass.

"Oh, no, thanks."

"Please, don't mistake us, Shiva. We didn't think you would be this much understandable. Or otherwise, we would have told this sooner than this."

"Hey, why are you worrying like this? I just forgot it once got that why you did so."

We looked him shockingly.

"Yes," he explained, "He told me you didn't think me as a correct match for Sakshi that was why you gave me that list, right?"

We looked at each other now then turned to him.

I said slowly, "What we can't accept is the fact that he really considered us and supported us."

I detonated the bomb without a clue.

"Why? I mean you are his staff!"

We noted the confusion in him.

We needed that confusion.

"And don't forget that he is our boss!"

Chottu said looking at him keenly.

The point was well taken.

And I started intoxicating then, further.

"We would not have thought to meet you in the first place, if we didn't want Sakshi's happiness."

"I didn't get this."

"We are trying to help you, but if you don't trust us..."

"Tell me," he insisted.

"We can't talk about our boss, if you don't want..."

"Tell me,"

We got that he was more than interested in this than us.

If we stopped here, he would make us talk.

"All we can say is to be careful with him. Oh, hey! -no, not that he is dangerous, just thought to warn you that if not already -be careful at least now."

"It means what you take as dangerous, in what sense you take it."

Chottu added.

"May I know why I should?"

"I don't think if you know it, how once Sakshi was. She would be like a butterfly, always flying. Smiling like a flower, chirping like a rill, always talking like a river and believe me she didn't know how to get angry, you know. Suddenly, suddenly everything faded away- into thin air. She is not smiling even talking freely. You can't blame that the work swigs her time."

"It means you are saying that the work he gives her lately is not the reason for her dullness?"

I asked Chottu.

"Can't you see, he had to shut her up, once she announced that she could not do anything in that media case?"

"Oh, but you can't say it's the only reason. Can you?"

"Of course not! I know, he hated her attitude ever since she entered our office."

"Right, but I'll say-"I turned to Shiva then, "You don't have to take it seriously, if he is really helping you now. It's just the past, you know?"

"I doubt it now."

He said slowly.

His mind was wandering back to the phone conversation with Arjun that morning. He was still iterating that Shiva should wait.

When he said he was not sure that if she was interested in him, Arjun said, he was mistaken, but when he said- after that restaurant episode- she was interested in him, Arjun was telling he should wait that he was deciding fast...

"Why, no you can't decide-"

"No, I've thought it over well. You know I could see that he has changed lately."

"What?"

"What are you talking about?"

He looked us both and said, "He says, I'm deciding things fast."

"And are you sure you are right in your decision?"

"Of course I'm!"

"And are you saying he has changed?"

"Yes!"

"Then be careful. Now you can't expose yourself that you are suspicious on him. It would create more problems and you've to promise that you won't tell him that we met. Oh, God! Chottu we've talked too much!"

I clutched Chottu's hand, nervously.

"You can trust me."

Shiva promised.

"Thanks, and be sure you are talking to him regularly and just accept his plans then we- you decide whether you've to proceed."

Part-25:

Forgiving is easy, but being able to trust them again is a totally different story...

Drinking is neither an option nor a solution, that being said-

Once said that I wanted to talk to him, he followed me to the bar, just like a 'Hutch dog'.

On the way I informed him that we had a plan to deal with Arjun.

As we entered, I saw that Chottu was already in his third round and was complaining the bearer about the small quantity of the liquid on the glass.

"He'll tell you about the plan."

We approached him and noted that a slur in his talk.

Shiva eyed me enquiringly.

I shrugged, "Or maybe I'll!"

We sat and I cursed Chottu under my breath.

Chottu turned toward me and as though he had just then noticed our arrival, he said, "Hee!..."

I got that it was a ''hi!'

His eyes rolled back drowsily.

He asked a moment later, "Where is he?"

I just wanted to kill him.

I motioned toward Shiva.

"Aye.. hee... Sorry, I couldn't see you before your shirt..."

"Just behind it, he means," I interpreted it and glared at Chottu.

He grinned and clumsily asked the bearer to fill our glasses.

"Sorry... I drank your glasses too as you weren't appearing in time.."

I looked the other tables and did not see anyone as mad as Chottu. Everyone around was drinking quietly and talking gently.

'Who told him to drink, in the first place?'

I stirred my glass and saw that Shiva did not even eye the glass.

I knew he was waiting and I started.

"Is everything going all right at your end?"

"Yes, he is still telling I've to be patience."

"But we can't!"

"I know, tell me."

"I don't know, whether he's told you about she loved him-"

The situation started changing from there.

"She did him what?"- he snarled at that with a raised eyebrow.

"It seems he's forgotten to tell you."

I said quietly.

"Forgotten?"

He said between his gnawed teeth.

"If you are taking it seriously, why, Sakshi too didn't tell you," I tested him.

"But she didn't tell me she'd help me out. HE- DID!"

He exploded.

"I think something is going on here under our very noses."

"I don't- I just don't know what to say."

He took the glass and gulped it.

I was feeling my glass's top, drawing a circle with my index finger as Chottu called the bearer to fill Shiva's glass.

"What's the plan?"

To my surprise, Shiva was much sober then.

"I think, it's time we declare his bluff."

He nodded.

"We've to know what's in his mind. What's his plan, to be exact, by cheating you like this, what he can get in this? Once dealt with him, we can talk to Sakshi and get what her position in this."

"You said she loved him?"

"Yes, we don't know what her mind is now. Once we thought, why, everyone in the office knew, you know, they were pair. Her family didn't know it actually. She was going to announce it to them once talked to him. He didn't propose her. But we thought- I mean we knew something was going on between them. And once Sakshi told us that she was waiting for him to come out and confess," I sighed, "You know, it was when she was expressing everything to us freely."

I stopped and he asked, "Then?"

"Suddenly, everything started changing. You know, she has stopped talking to us. We were shocked; we couldn't reason with it. Not that, we've done something to annoy her, we knew well. Then you came. But we didn't know he would cheat you too like this. I'm very sorry. We've annoyed you by sending you to him. We really didn't-"

"What happened?"

'God, he is still-

"We thought, he was hesitating because of her previous attitude toward him. Poor Sakshi, didn't know, he wouldn't like her talkative nature. We thought he would never accept her love. But they were going all right then. We don't know what happened, to be truthful. One day she was all beaming in happiness and announced that they were going out that evening. We couldn't suspect anything then."

I sighed again and continued, "Hmm.. We don't know whose green eye fell on them, everything collapsed. Shiva, I have a request for you. You've to help us to ease the situation. We are ready to do whatever you say to."

I finished and waited.

He looked up at me from his glass.

"I've to see Arjun once."

Then I got that the damn drug had started working at last.

"If you are asking my opinion I'd say you to wait. Just wait for some more time. I think you would have gotten by now that we could not do anything in a rush. After all he is our boss, Shiva."

I pretended that as though I was pleading him.

"What do you suggest?"

He asked me then.

"Just wait for two days. We are working on evidence against him."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, we can nab him," I assured him.

#

Once Shiva left us in a week gait, I turned to Chottu who was grinning at me.

"You fool, what would he think?"

"After all, he had to drink four glasses, when it comes to deal with Arjun sir!"

I blinked at his steadiness.

He said coolly, "Hah, what could this much small quantity of liquid do to me?"

He raised his hand and said, "One more!"

Then he looked at me, "Sorry, I was worrying to talk to him that was why I had to act like a drunkard."

I glared at him.

"But your points were, hah!" he patted my shoulder. "Wow, what a dramatic one! Boss, I sway! I think you were a theatrical artist in the previous life. What a performance!"

"I think you were a bar tender!"

I gnashed my teeth.

Part-26:

God does not desire to create evil, but man's evil activities provoke God to create an evil situation.

Now I dusted the tape and called Shiva excitedly.

I said to him that I had planted the recording device in Arjun's room and had cut the remaining official talks from the tape.

"I can understand," he accepted at once.

"We got something new, Shiva!"

I looked at Chottu who nodded excitedly.

"We thought that she was angry to go out with you. But no- we got then that she was angry to go to that restaurant they went before. She admitted that the next day you took her to the restaurant for dinner. You know she was restless, if you can see what I mean. I think he is annoying her lately. It's in the tape."

Chottu looked at me in shock.

"Yes, he doesn't know about it. Right, now I play the tape for you two."

I dramatically, very slowly reached the play button.

I warned them first that I had tried my best to remove the background A/C running sound to hear better, but the speech was not crystal clear.

The humming came first then the speech started.

I want you to stop this.'

I got from his face that Shiva could recognize Sakshi's voice.

My job would work then, I thought, without persuading him much, that was.

'Stop what?'

Shiva's face showed an angry mark hearing Arjun's voice.

'Just the thing you are doing lately. I want you to understand that you are not needed, I repeat, I don't need you between Shiva and me.'

Chottu gasped in shock.

'What are you saying I'm doing lately?'

'See, Arjun, I'm ready to do the work you give me, no matter how hard I've to work. All I want is you to stop this.'

Chottu and I looked at each other knowingly and made sure Shiva had noticed it.

'I thought now you are different, I mean you've changed. Then what's in it helping Shiva or not?'

'May be you are right.' A gap, then, What if he gets suspicious?'

"Oh!"- Chottu.

"See!"- I.

'He knows well I'm his friend.'

Shiva fisted his hand and punched hard his other palm.

'And are you sure you'd do anything to save that friendship?'

Of course -why?'

I had added an unmistakable pause there and it seemed he was hesitant a bit too longer than needed.

'Then stay away from us, until I decide what my need is, what I need in life, what I really choose to lead my life with, since, now, you don't have the-

[Now-had been emphasized.]

'Right?'

'I know you are a genius!'

'Thanks for that compliment!'

'And I hope you know well that you don't have to intrude in my decision too.'

I asked Shiva, "What do you say we've to do now?"

"Shall we," we were eagerly looking at him, "Go to the bar, now?"

#

This time we went behind him like a -Oh, two 'Hutch dogs'.

I went straight to the bearer and told him to bring four glasses of liquid in total. I paid him and came to my seat.

The bearer came with the glasses and set them at the centre of the table.

Chottu raised his eyebrows, but got the hint, all right.

Shiva put the first glass down and asked, "Did you notice the cunningness in his voice, while he threatened her?"

It was new to us. But who would care?

I asked him a different question, "You think he was threatening her?"

"See, he is saying, I'm his friend, so I won't suspect anything. Non- sense!"

We got that he was focusing fully in himself.

I repeated, "Do you think he was threatening her?"

"Huh. Then what? She is saying him to leave her alone, but he-he is trying to convince her that he is doing everything for her sake. Liar! He told me when I told about the dinner that I had to wait."

"What if he was right?"

Chottu asked slowly.

"That's what I'm asking, how was he right? Hes known everything about her. But he talked me out as though- and he has annoyed her with work load deliberately."

"We too thought she was avoiding us. But it seems he was trying to separate her from us."- in a lower, mourning voice.

"Don't I know who went with her now? Now I can understand that she was furious for the dishes I ordered for her. I thought she was too excited to eat that day, but-" he stopped, then went on, "He told me her favorites and what would be available in that restaurant."

He lowered his gaze and said, "I didn't get what for I had to wait then. But see, he is saying to her that I've to wait till he softens her."

He clutched the glass tight, "Is there a board hanging in my neck that says 'I'm a fool'?"

His face hardened.

"See, even after she declares that she wants to think about our relationship, he is trying to threaten her. Who is he to interfere in her decision?"

He asked hotly.

He took the third glass.

"Perhaps, he may think to get her back. I mean he got this idea after you came in."

"I think I've heard enough."

He looked up at us.

We got that he had decided something important.

Now we had to hear that out.

"Perhaps, he might think you'd get angry."

He was silent.

"So he decided to wait for some time for the right time to tell you."

He was still silent.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm- anything! I'm even ready to kill him."

He put the fourth glass down.

"Shiva!"

We cried simply.

"What?" - He looked us with his red eyes.

"You can't do that," we announced.

"He is-"

"Your boss?"

"Boss too. But you can't-"

"How?"

He seemed thinking a moment. Then, "Can you arrange me a gun?"

His eyes reached yet another shade of red then.

Part-27:

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

Mae West

Sakshi was standing near the window, watching the moving traffic.

Ayesha called her, "Sakshi!"

She turned toward Ayesha with a smile and went away from the window.

She was thinking about the talk with her Dhi, the previous night.

Her Dhi had said, "Saki, all we want is your happiness. If you don't like Shiva then we won't insist you. Just think and tell. I'll talk to him."

She smiled. When her friends were there for her, her Dhi would not need to talk to him. They would have done something by this. Or otherwise, why he didn't approach her after the issue in the restaurant.

He would soon announce his decision.

Soon she could start smiling again.

Ayesha smiled at her and said, "I came to help you."

"Chanceless. You can't. I too don't have anything to do now."

They both sat side by side.

"Did you talk to your sister?"

Sakshi smiled.

Ayesha raised her eyebrow questioningly.

"Dhi called me up yesterday. She says, if I say No' she won't insist me further."

"Have you decided?"

"About what?"

"About Arjun sir."

"What should I decide?"

She frowned.

"They will show you someone else soon, won't they?"

"Yes, but it'll take time. Shiva should tell no, if he fails I've to say, then they have to start searching this someone else. It-will-take-time! I'm now free and happy!"

She announced.

"But I think the sooner you decide about him the better."

Sakshi went silent a moment.

"I think I've already decided about him," she said numbly.

"What about you?"

"I'm doing good, now!"

She said playfully.

"Sakshi-"

"Ayesha- please, I -"

Ayesha thought where she could start, while Sakshi was talking wearily.

"Didn't Shiva call you then?"

Sakshi chuckled, "Not even once!"

"So he has decided something."

"I hope so. Soon he'll talk to Dhi."

"What, girls' conference in the conference room?"

The girls turned to see Chottu and me were entering in.

We took our seats and noted that the girls were talking something pleasantly.

Sakshi said, "We won't mind if some men too be present."

"Thanks, but if you please, shall we know the topic which is going on here now?"

I asked politely.

"Why not, we were talking about friendship and friends."

"Then definitely we have a role here."

Chottu said proudly.

"Then what, we were exactly wondering about you and your actions."

"Were you?"

"Yes, Ayesha asked if I needed any help to finish my work and I said I was sitting idly, because of you."

I looked at Chottu and asked, "Did you do something like that, Chottu? I was working there alone, but you were helping her here," I said seriously with a wink.

"You know, how he helped me, he has said something to Arjun and so he is not giving me anything to do."

"No wonder, after you gave him an expostulation he would not even dare turn to your side." Chottu appreciated.

"But you know what, when I asked him to give some work he said, he was not ready to face my dear friends."

"Sounds good."

"What about Shiva?"

She asked and was still laughing.

"Don't you trust the friends now?"

"I know I have none, but the friends to trust."

She said emotionally.

"Then what? Leave him to us and go and fly, you little butterfly."

She giggled and asked, "What if Arjun interrupted in your plans?"

"You'd be surprised if you hear what we have arranged for him."

"Really? Tell me then!"

She asked with a child's enthusiasm.

"Surprise!!"

I showed her an explosion in sign.

"Chottu!"

She turned to Chottu then.

"Wait, baby, soon you'll know!"

We noted that Ayesha was silently hearing out talk, but uttered no word this long and we did not push her to talk.

Part-28:

Don't stop when you are tired, STOP when you are DONE.

Ayesha decided to talk to us at last.

Chottu and I were talking about the next move.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, we can set this here. See, it's easy here. If you don't want to draw much attention, I think this is the best place for our plan."

"All right then. If you need I'd shut the floor for an hour."

"Good, but not before Shiva entered in the premises," I laughed softly, "Then who will execute the plan for us? And if you can shut her out of the floor Chottu..." I pointed a finger toward Ayesha who was approaching us.

"I don't think she is that much harmful to our mission. But what is worrying me is what if Shiva found us out at this point. Now we don't have time to go back and canvas him."

"Do you think, Arjun would?..."

"Chances are there, Shree. You know well that he would do nearly anything to get what he wants. I have a hunch that he'd have smelt something by this."

I was silent a moment then said, "But this time he has no clue about what our plan is! He'll help us unknowingly."

"Right, can't we add some music in the background as in cinemas?"

He came back to festive mood.

"If you insist. What about Beethoven?

"Not bad, try some happy notes. I need it to reflect our mood."

"Sure."

"And I'd like some lighting effects too."

"We can arrange some serial bulbs here then, all bright colors. I think youd ask for some colorful balloons, if I'm not mistaken."

"You are a mind reader, Shree! I'd like to arrange some blood red balloons around the central beam."

"Now you are talking! Granted!"

Ayesha talked for the first then, "Someone's birthday?"

"Just the opposite."

We said seriously and laughed.

But it seemed she was not in a mood to encourage our laughter.

"Shree!"

"Hmm,"

"I want to talk to you."

"Right, start talking."

"Shree, I need glitters too."

Chottu interrupted.

"Of course, Chottu!"

"I don't know if you-"

"Shree!"

Ayesha interrupted this time with an edge in her voice as though she could not take it anymore.

"Haan!"

"I want you to stop this."

"You mean the decorations? See Ayesha-"

"Shree, you know what I mean."

I frowned at her.

"Shree, please, hear me out,"

"Shoot!"

"I don't think she is ready for this. She does not still understand the situation."

"What are you talking about?"

I asked clearly.

"This won't work Shree. You can't understand a girl's heart."

"You are right. After those precious promises you fell for his words after all."

We did not to be told that she was helpless then.

Suddenly I looked at her hands.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"Who knows, when you were against him you helped us. After switching sides, what if you have a recording device with you?"

"Shree!!" she screamed.

We were silent a moment. She said quietly, "I'm not his side, Shree."

"Oh, third party? Not bad."

"Please Shree, stop this. What is our mission actually?"

She asked.

"Which one?" I asked her in real confusion.

"Shree..."

"Seriously, which one? The one you were in or the one we are in after you betrayed us?"

"You don't understand it,Shree. I'm with her in this. See, what is the use of this mission?"

"Can't you see, she is happy?"

"That's what I'm asking. If you want to keep that happiness, stop this. Now."

"It's too late for that, Ayesha."

I looked at her eyes.

"For Sakshi's sake, Shree!- She can't accept this now."

"I can prove you wrong within a minute. Just inform her that Shiva is angry on Arjun, on behalf of us."

"You can't succeed, Shree!"

"This is too early to talk about it Ayesha."

"Shree, please!"

"I have a lot to do."

Ayesha looked at Chottu, who shrugged and turned away.

#

Arjun was thinking about Sakshi and Shiva.

Still he could not make her understand that she could consider Shiva as a companion.

Not that his efforts had gone in vain.

He could see the traces of hope of his victory in her eyes.

After all she went with Shiva that evening just to show him that she was all right, after seeing Shiva with him.

He could not ignore the smile she gave him as turning the staircase, still.

But he could not take it so in the restaurant scene.

She could have seemed normal, but something was nagging him to tell that, 'She was still not ready for Shiva. So wait!'

He knew, if he was there with them at the dinner the situation would be different.

He smiled on that thought.

He was worrying about Shiva now.

He was not sure that if he still believed him, for he had instructed him to see her Dhi once, who would know her moods better, who could tell him what would convince her after a misunderstanding.

But he was still wasting time, he thought, by insisting that he was busy now.

He could not understand what was in his mind now.

Some more clever moves would ensure his goal, but he was retreating at this point.

Arjun had decided at last that he was going to meet Shiva once, no matter whether he was in this game or not.

Now-Before-Later-3!

My conscience has a thousand several tongues,

And every tongue brings in several tales,

And every tale condemns me for a villain.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Part-29:

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You learn.

Now-Now! [This is just a title; just forget it- but not completely!]

Climax scene!

I gave him the gun.

As I explained him how to hold it straight and how to pull the trigger, he became an obedient student.

I was sure this student would pass with distinction easily.

"I'm ready to kill him now."

Shiva said.

"Whom are you going to kill, Shiva?"

Arjun came in and looked at the gun.

He frowned and took the gun from Shiva's hand.

'Tchai, we could not even intrigue against him in this building without him!'

I swore under my breath and saw that it was, after all, a chance where the goat had come to the altar itself, without calling.

"Which idiot gave you this?"he asked sharply as he suspected something.

Shiva looked at me unintentionally.

Before anyone would upset our plan, I decided to save our side.

"Sir," I started, "We are rehearsing a drama here and we have an important role for you."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes sir. It's true. We are rehearsing the climax scene, now. In fact, this is the first scene in our drama. Then the whole story is a flash back."

"I see."

He seemed interested then.

"Sir, see, in a way, your character is the turning point of the story," I was talking as if I were a director of the show. Slowly the devil in me came out, "In fact, we were going to call you, but hi..hi.. You are here by yourself. We'll tell you the whole story later, if you can hear, that is."

I prevaricated and started explaining him the scene.

#

Once arranged everything I called up Sakshi.

"Did you see Shiva with a gun searching for Arjun sir?"

I knew she would not be ready for the shock and waited.

"I saw him last going toward the records room- Sakshi?"

She was not there. I cut the call and we waited.

The girls entered in hearing our screaming voices, "Shiva!" and saw the scene with shock.

"Shiva!"

Ayesha numbly thought, at last we made it for real against her pleadings.

Shiva was standing there within ten feet to Arjun with a gun in hand pointing toward his chest.

"Shiva!" I shouted once again.

Without thinking, Sakshi lunged forward and put herself between Arjun and Shiva.

"Sakshi, go away. I've to kill him."

Shiva snarled between his gnashed teeth.

"Shiva!!"

She cried madly.

"Sakshi, I know you loved him."

Suddenly a weakness fell over her, she said quietly, with a weak smile, "Everybody except him knows it," she turned into a flame again, "But for that you can't kill him."

She threatened him but he was not going to budge in.

"You just go away. I'll deal with him."

"Are you crazy?"

"Yes, I'm!"

He roared.

"Then kill me first. After that do as you wish. Go ahead!"

She stood cocked.

"Sakshi, you don't understand. I want to kill just him. You go away. We'll talk about it later."

"Shiva, you don't understand it actually. If you are talking about our marriage forget it. I can't marry you, in fact anybody in that matter."

Shiva looked shocked, "Are you saying?-"

"Yes, this is the truth. Leave him Shiva. Drop the gun."

She tried to reason with him.

If she had thought her speech would turn him sane again, she was wrong.

"This is not for you Sakshi. He cheated me, you know, he promised me that-"he stopped short and started again, "I can't leave him as you did. I'm not as poor as you. If you are not going to move away, I'm going to-"

He hinted and waited for her to move. But she had no intention of doing so.

For the first time we got tense.

"Please," she submitted herself.

Shiva suddenly turned his tone, "It seems you are ready to die for him and you are going to wait for him to change his mind for the rest of your life if I leave him?"

He made that question sound casual.

"You are wrong Shiva," her voice was too low, "When I said I would not marry anybody it included him too. No, I'm not going to wait for him. I don't want him, not that I don't love him, just that my thoughts are purer than him."

She had fallen in to the trap unknowingly.

"My job is now easy. I don't have to feel guilty to kill him. You can go happy with your thoughts," he announced.

She blinked at him trying to understand his words.

"Yes, I thought for everything he has done for us both, I had to kill him and for your sake too. I hope you'd like to give me a hand here after you've told everything, come on Sakshi, I wish it should be your fingers on the trigger."

He invited her.

We wanted to kill him right away.

Why should he talk the things that we did not discuss?

Arjun frowned, but stood unaffected.

Ayesha stood there paralyzed, just staring the progresses.

But Sakshi proved everybody wrong and did not even show the glimpse of moving.

"You think I'll fall for that Shiva?"

She asked hotly.

'Clever Girl!'

"I'm tired of being cheated, Shiva," she said wearily, "I can't give him up. He could have denied me. He could think he was doing the right thing for me, but no he can't do any good for me unless, until he understands me. Just because the wind is not visible for the eyes, will we say I won't breath? He is asking me to show the love to the eyes, hah, and whenever I'm trying to show him the love in the eyes he misunderstands me. I could have failed in proving myself to him. That might be my incapability. But I never thought him to die," her voice was now a mere whisper that Arjun who was standing behind her had to sharpen his ears to here further.

A lone tear escaped her eyes.

She touched her cheek numbly and said, "Whenever the tears dry up I don't think it's just the wind, but the love itself comes and wipes them."

Shiva was silent.

Sakshi went on, "If you think he's cheated you, it's only because of me, Shiva! So kill me first. Then you two sort it out- after- I can't see him die."

A tear ball rolled down and rode on the same track the previous one took.

"For God's sake, Shiva, kill me, please! Just free me from-"

Sakshi stopped talking as she saw Shiva's smiling face.

She felt the change in the air, at last. The gun was no longer pointing toward her.

She saw that Shiva was smiling, not at her, but-

Part-30:

The one who understands you even after so much misunderstandings... is really the person who is truly in love with you.

Now-Before:

A few days back from the climax scene!

Chottu said, "Something tells me Shiva would become a villain soon."

"Always a villain is for the hero. All we've to do here is showing him the hero."

I replied with a smile.

"Shree, be serious!"

"Right. I know him well, Chottu. He is emotional, but really soft and he believes in love."

"That I know."

"He is very friendly to everyone and if there is any problem for his friends, he would be there as first one to help. And in love, he would go to any length to save them."

#

The morning of the climax scene!

Shiva called us to his house.

"I thought it over in the morning,"

He started.

"Why the devil should you do so? Don't you know in a mission you can't act alone?"

Chottu exploded.

I could see his nerves jumping in tension.

"After the hangover was over I could think clearly," he said slowly.

"Right, no problem, still. I know a bar which will be open in the day time."

"No need. I've decided to leave them alone."

"What?"

"Yes, if she likes him, why should I bother them?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm!"

"You may think of helping us here, still."

#

The climax scene- after the curtain had been raised full! 😉

I started explaining the scene to Arjun.

"Sir, now Shiva is going to shoot you- I mean, he is going to point the gun at you."

"Right."

"Then Sakshi will come and see you, I mean you two."

"Oh."

"Then she will tell- well, she will tell-"

'God, what's this? At the right time it's stammering like this!'

He asked suddenly.

"What's the point, Shree?"

I saw his eyes and got the hint.

"That she would prove her love, sir."

The game was over then.

"Not anymore, Shree. We've talked everything and she won't prove anything now. She doesn't have to, since it's not love."

"Are you sure?" I asked adamantly.

"Yes, I'm!"

"Then what's the problem in giving her a chance?"

My tone had lost the anger then, I could see.

"What's the use in it?"

"It seems he is hesitating, Shree," Chottu talked and talked well.

Arjun smiled at that.

"Then give me a chance too, to prove that it's not love."

'Giving him a chance is like putting my bare hand into an alligator's open mouth,' I swallowed nervously.

We could push Sakshi from a bridge, happily, instead, I thought. Oh, better we could announce that 'Mission Abort'!

"Sir, actually-"

"Not fair, Shree! You people are trying your butt off to prove some point, including Shiva," Shiva lowered his gaze at the accusation, "But when it comes to me you are hesitating."

'Who is hesitating? We are declining it', I whimpered silently.

"Sir, I'm thinking how-"

"Yes?"

"No. I'm just thinking when we can give you that chance," I tried to cajole him.

"Why, now itself I can prove my point," he took his mobile to call Sakshi, "Even Shiva is present here."

"Sir, wait!"

I literally jumped on him, "Wait," I clutched his mobile.

"You can't do that," I screamed.

"Why, just now you accepted to give me the chance, after all."

"Yes, but not now. Perhaps, later?"

My speech seemed weak even to me.

He shook his head and me as well and looked at his mobile.

"Sir, ladies first! Yes, give her a chance first. After all, we've prepared this sincerely."

I took my mobile and dialed fast.

"Did you see Shiva with a gun searching for Arjun sir?"

I looked Arjun then, with a smile.

Arjun too smiled back and thought he was getting too many chances in life surely. He had nearly started believing the thing fate, lately.

He thought to talk to Shiva and saw him entering into the office, but when Shiva did not come to his room, he started searching and found him here.

And now he was going to prove everyone...

#

"Ayesha, you were right. Shiva- Shiva is angrily searching for Arjun with a gun."

She rushed out of the room and shot herself toward the records room without giving time to Ayesha to think.

I was standing outside the room when I saw that the girls were going toward the records room.

I informed everyone inside the room to be ready and saw Chottu.

We took our positions as planned.

We stood in a row against Arjun and Shiva and screamed with a hand extended toward Shiva with a STOP' sign.

"Shiva! Please don't!"

Nothing happened.

We looked the doorway and saw no trace of the girls.

Arjun said, "Shree, a bit louder!"

That was Arjun. Once you've confessed, he would help you even when he'd found you were against him.

We screamed at the top of our lungs now, "Shiva!!!"

The girls ceased in their tracks and turned toward the source of the sound.

#

The girls entered in.

Chottu and I were crying, dramatically, "Shiva!"

We turned toward Arjun.

"Sir!"

Sakshi could not believe the scene she was witnessing.

She saw only two figures there. But she could not see in which one's form her fate was standing before her.

Her gaze then fell on the gun, as though to answer her.

In a moment her mind went back to that night a thousand times, when she was pointing a gun toward him. But then, even he had known that she would not shoot him.

But here, now-

Her view was blocked a moment.

She blinked her eyes.

She saw the gun was still there.

It was after all, real.

No, she can't do anything about it, now.

Her knees went numb; she could no longer feel them.

I saw that she was going to faint.

God! This can't be happening now.

"Shiva!" I shouted and she came to life at once. She bounced toward Arjun and blocked him from the gun.

It's not me Sakshi, who is standing between you and Shiva. It's you, who is standing between me and Shiva.'

Arjun's lone voice rang in her ears to her annoyance.

She got that his words had come true at last. But she was not going to let anyone win this time.

#

Now-Later:

We left the two statuesque like figures there and went out to send off Shiva.

"I was stunned to see the gun scene," Ayesha looked at me.

"In fact, it was Shiva's idea."

Shiva raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, when you said you were even ready to kill him, we got the idea to stage it in the climax."

"I didn't expect it a minute that it would be in the shock treatment," Ayesha confessed, "On what ground you got the nerve to stage it, after my hints that Sakshi was not ready for the climax still?"

"The love we saw in her eyes," Chottu said softly.

"Hah, you can tell anything now, once everything is all right. I didn't believe he would budge in at last!"

She exclaimed.

"That's true love. You can do anything with that!"

Shiva said emotionally.

Ayesha smiled at him.

"Right, take this. I've to go to her house first."

Ayesha took the gun as we said in unison, "Thanks, Shiva!"

He smiled and went away.

We turned to go in as Ayesha shouted, "Oh, my God! What?-"

She raised the gun, "It's phony!"

"That's right!"-I.

She shook her head in disbelief.

"But he asked differently, Didn't he, Shree?"

Chottu fell in behind me and whispered with a grin.

I ignored him and reached her.

We saw that she was in shock.

"You are right. He found us in the middle," I had to confess then.

She chuckled suddenly and tried to suppress the laugh.

"Go ahead, laugh out!" we knew she deserved it after what she had undergone these days.

She laughed out and asked a moment later.

"Then how did he?-"

I sighed and said, "God, we can't explain the things happened then, before we could make him nod. Uff!"

I puffed wearily.

When we crossed the room we heard voices from inside.

"...After a change of mind-"

"Couldn't you quote it any better?"

A terrible, impregnable pause...

"Do you want us to talk this out?-", "Now, tell me you are-"

They tried again.

"Do you love me?", "You said that day-",

"Why did you that day..."

#

We settled in our seats.

Chottu said," Oh, we forgot the glitters and all!"

"Wait, we can use them once they came out of the room. If he comes out and asks, 'Shree take that file!' ,as though nothing has happened, we can drop a bomb on his head then, instead."

"Shree!"

Ayesha called me slowly.

"You are forgiven!"

I said with a smile.

"You too!"

Chottu said.

"For what?"

"For talking in riddles this long!"- Ayesha.

"Why, didn't everyone know what the mission was?"

-The End-

Thanks,

~K-..