CHAPTER 63
He smiled as he tossed the noodles into the boiling water. It had been a good day. Yes, the major had removed the bear. Yes, he found the chip. It was expected of a trained military man. In fact, he expected to be caught earlier. But the father to be was too distracted. He was too busy making his wife' happy in every way possible.
He flung the pot into the sink. She was supposed to be in mourning the man who was supposed to build a world for her. For them. He took a deep breathe. He shouldn't blame her. It was ridiculous for her to lead a lifetime of loneliness in memory of the one day she was married. But did she have to marry him? That murderer?
They were living the dream Varun bhaisa had. Parvati was a good woman. It should have been his nephew or niece in her womb. He would have filled their home with toys gladly if Rudra wasn't in the picture. He still didn't want to hurt her. But Rudra had to pay for tearing his world apart. He would go after those who were important to him.
He took another deep breathe and tried to focus. He didn't want to harm his bhabhisa. Bhaisa probably loved her till his last breathe. Ideally Rudra should die. But the man was a soldier immune to physical agony. He would be conditioned to handle any amount of physical pain that a civilian could come up with. He picked his notebook and went through the notes made with research that went on for months. He had made plenty of mistakes in Delhi and almost blew his cover when he delivered that pizza. He had to give uo his bike, his only possession. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
PARVATI
She was the only one that mattered. A single tear drop from her eyes hurt him more than bullets that made him bleed. As per Chandangard gossip, the Ranavat scion would move mountains, swim across oceans for her happiness. His love for her was the kind books were written about and movies were made of. He had to break her to watch him disintegrate. Her heartbreak will cause him to howl in pain. Her anguish will driven him mad. And his inability to help will finish him. His brother's soul will be able to find peace.
He flipped the page looking for another target.
- Sunheri - College student - Economics
- Maithili - Jeeja - care taker in the major's absence
- Dilsher - Bapusa - funny man
- Mohini - Kakisa - masala boss and weather report
- Shanti - toddler - nursery rhymes
These were the people who spoke to Parvati in the few hours the chip worked. He scratched two names, the sister and father. They rarely leave the haveli unaccompanied by someone.
His pen moved to another name. Mohini. She had a wicked tongue and a dominating attitude. She was the kind of mother-in-law who could be a she-devil. He wondered if she could be swayed against his bhabhisa. She seemed a little too obsessed with the unborn child, the next Ranavat heir.
Shanti! She was a Ranavat heir. She could be used as leverage against Mohini to make Parvati miserable. If her life was at stake, her formidable grandma will dance to any tune he plays. That could work. He needed make another trip to the toy store.
At the BSD headquarters, Rudra was surprised to see Aman in the general's office. "Rudra, due to your collaborative efforts with the arms smuggling case our service has been requested by the government of Pakistan for a civilian matter. I know that you would rather push around paper work for the next few months, so I was thinking of proposing that..." the general started. To Aman's utter surprise his senior colleague spoke up, "I would be honored to take up this mission, Sir!"
The general was shocked. Rudra was the preferred choice but he was hoping to convince the neighboring army that Aman was just as capable in fact a calmer, wiser choice than his hot-headed senior. Aman looked down disappointed. He had hoped that his friend would have been able to hold on to his resolve of no danger throughout his sister's pregnancy. He barely lasted a month.
Rudra narrowed his eyes at the general. The smuggling case was done for. Tejawat would be celebrating his prison anniversary soon. "I'm sure you understand my hesitancy Rudra," the general remakes pointedly. Rudra looked at Aman who should have realised how this was perfect timing by now. But he avoided his gaze.
"Sir, I have the best rapport with them. I feel it's in our best interests to work together to sort our small issues along the border before it gets escalated to the corridors of power and politics. Tact is needed right now. I will ensure that diplomacy is maintained," he assured his boss.
The general was now suspicious now. Why was his lean, mean killing machine offering to play the peacekeeper all of a sudden? Rudra changed his tactic, "Sir, as much as I hate using my family as a reason. Ranavat, I mean my father will feel better if I am...," he paused remembering how his father hated him being away.
The general knew very well how his family especially Paro wanted him away from danger. "It doesn't to be dangerous. Words sometimes work better than weapons," he dismissed his worry. Aman held his smile back. Rudra's military feats on battlefield were the stuff of legend and as for his words, the lesser said the better.
"Since you brought up Paro," he stopped when he saw the general cross his arms. "Would you want her to feel ashamed that her husband didn't do his bit for the country? What will she tell my children?" he asked earnestly. Aman watched the master manipulator at work in silence. The general knew it too. But he didn't want any witnesses. He dismissed Aman.
A few minutes later, Rudra walked out proudly. He tossed the file on Aman's desk and sat back twirling his mustache. "Sir, agreed?" his friend asked surprised. He was sure that wouldn't happen. "Aman, you know this is for the best. My enemies might leave Paro alone. You have to make sure of that somehow. I won't be too far away," he assured. Aman nodded reluctantly. This was a good plan but he just had a feeling that this won't work as expected.
Rudra mounted his bike and sped home. This would work. He would wrap up his mission quickly and then go off the radar. Dimples won't know what him.
His thoughts went to his wife. He sped up his bike. She would hate this. She would pout adorably but not say a word when he explains why he has to go away. She would support him until it is time for him to leave. Then her tears would come followed by Ranavat's complaining voicemails. But her calls would be filled with nothing but sweet encouragement and words of love. She knew how to make his job easier. BSD would always be his first love but Paro owned his soul.
He slowed as he crossed the market. The shopkeeper was putting his bangle stands in. Red bangles were Paro's favorite. The man obliged the young soldier. He was in the mood for Choodi Leela 2.0. He looked at his watch. If he is lucky, Kakisa would be in bed by the time he reached. He raced home as quickly as he could.
He looked at his watch as he pushed open the doors of the haveli. 11:15 pm. The house was quiet but for the sound of Paro's anklets. He recognized their sound. She must still be up. He followed the sound to the kitchen. He saw pour herself a glass of water. She paused, her sixth sense announcing his presence. She ignored him, slightly upset that he ran off to headquarters after their short nap. He watched as she tilted the glass to consume the cool liquid. Her hands shivered as she noticed him approach slowly. His eyes followed the thin stream of water trickle down her slender throat as they missed their mark. Her feet moved backwards as she saw his eyes darken. Her eyes shut as she felt his lips on her neck drinking up the errant droplets. His tongue lapped up the viscous mixture of water, perspiration and something that was simply Paro. She willed her heart to behave. She was supposed to be mad at him. But his onslaught was turning her into a puddle of mush right there in the kitchen.
The glass fell, shattering the moment. He felt her heart skip a beat, "Its okay, Paro." She gave herself a shake and got a broom. He quickly removed the larger pieces while she swept the fragments away. Kakisa was going to be angry, she thought to herself. She hated carelessness when it came to cutlery. She quietly heated his dinner on the microwave.
He watched with pride. The girl who couldn't use a gas stove was operating a complex gadget. Samrat was right. It made the lives of the women in their home much easier. Kakisa wasn't a fan. She believed that food must go from the fire to the plate without refrigeration and reheating.
He watched his wife as he ate in silence. Her focus was on his roti. "Did you finish your dinner?" he asked. She replied that finished her dinner, took her medicine and gulped down her milk and Jeeja could confirm it in the morning. He smiled. His bhabhisa was caring for her with military precision. There was a feeding chart and activity schedule which was followed without fail.
Paro's eyes were now on his fingers. They followed his moment from his plate to his lips. "Do you want some more rotis?" he asked, knowing well that her appetite had grown in the last month. She shook her head. She didn't wake up thinking of rotis. "What else do you feel like eating?" he asked casually. Her eyes brightened up instantly. "You know what I have been thinking off? That brown thing which tastes sweet! What's that called...? Chocolate cake! That's what I feel like eating now," she told him getting more excited by the second.
He looked at the clock. 11:37 pm. Where would he get cake now? He saw the delight that shone on her face. She seemed to believe that he had the power to make this dream come true for her. His shoulders drooped. Where would he get a baker for her this late? She prattled on, "Shatabdi made it for me. I had never eaten it before. The way it just melts in the mouth was... You know." He smiled in relief. She just gave him the solution.
"Come, let's get some chocolate cake," he said pulling her gently by the wrist. She ran to keep up with his quick gait. He wore his helmet and started to fix hers when he heard, "Rudra! What do you think you are doing?" He turned around and saw his aunt standing at the doorway with an empty jug in hand. Paro went to her immediately, "I thought I kept enough water to drink in your room." Kakisa replied that her uncle wanted more water.
Rudra joined them, "Not bad, Kakisa, you remember your wifely duties. Nanisa will be proud. I don't think I have ever seen this side of you." Mohini glared at him not in the mood for his teasing. Paro admonished him wordlessly by the crossing her brows. The boy needed a good whack. "Where are you going this late?" she asked. He mounted his bike choosing not to answer. He never explained his comings and goings to her. He wasn't about to now.
"We...um...we...," Paro tried but the words refused to come out. "We are going on a ride to Jaipur. I'd invite you but I'm sure you don't want to be kabab mein haddi," Rudra replied kick starting the motorcycle. Paro cringed. What was Kakisa going to think of them? She could feel the matriach's eyes on her even though her head was bowed. "Fine, you can go but take the car," Mohini suggested. Paro's head shot up. That's it! They weren't going to argue till dawn?
"What's wrong with my bike? Our story started on this bike. If this bike wasn't with me, Paro would be underneath the sand dunes in the desert by now," he told. She shook her head, "No Rudra, our story started at the bus stop when I gave you my doll." He flinched when she revealed about the doll. That was supposed to between them. Kakisa would definitely use this information at the most inopportune time.
"Beendini, come in with me," Mohini instructed pulling her gently by her forearm. Rudra saw the disappointed eyes of his wife. She really wanted that chocolate cake. He wasn't sure how he would get it for her. But he had to, especially since he was going away again. He wanted to leave a happy Paro, content in his home behind. She was already going to be upset about that in the morning. The least he could do was make sure she was happy tonight. "Wait," he said parking his bike and rushing in to get Samrat's carkey. Next he had to think of a bakery that might be open. Then he remembered. He pulled his phone and placed the call.
Shatabdi grabbed the phone after the seventh ring. She rubbed her eyes and saw the name, Paro's jailer'. She switched on the night light. "What's wrong? Is Paro alright? Sumer wake up," she pushed her husband before getting any answers. Rudra hesitated, a little guilty that he gave them the wrong impression. "She is fine. She wants chocolate cake. Bake it and keep we should be there in two hours," he ordered.
She wanted to reach him through the phone somehow and punch him. But he had ended the call before she could reply. Chocolate cake? At midnight? She saw Sumer smiling in his sleep. She kicked him off the bed. "What, what, what?" he asked groggily trying to get up. She told him that his moronic cousin wanted her to bake a cake right now. He laughed, "Does he know you won't even make me tea after 9 pm?" She started to throw pillows on him. His laughter didn't cease. "His wife wants cake. You're wife wants sleep. Be man for once and tell him off," she scolded grabbing a vase. He held his hands up in surrender. "He wants it for Paro bhabhisa, your best friend. Women act crazy when they are pregnant. You can't blame Rudra for that," he tried to explain. The vase went flying over his head. "I'll do something. You go back to sleep," he assured and ran out of the room. 
Cricket
Anupamaa
