FF: Lootera ~ Last Chapter on page- 85~ - Page 62

Chapter 16

Thapki felt like she was teleported to the stories of Arabian Nights the moment she set foot on the place Bihaan brought her. It was a bazaar, but not like a regular bazaar...The place was beautifully lit with twinkly lights and lanterns, stalls after stalls overflowed with merchandise varying from finest silks, colourful gems to fire arms. The narrow lanes in front of the stalls were overflowing with people and vendors were calling out to attract customers trying to sell their goods. Thapki looked around in awe. She wondered if she could find Aladdin's lamp and flying carpet in one of the shops.

"Bihaan what kind of p-place is this? They are selling g-guns and weapons openly." Thapki said in shock.

"Thapki welcome to the chorbazaar of the Bandhavgarh forest, also known as the thieves market. There is not a single thing you won't find here."

"CHOR BAZAAR?? D-D-Do you mean all these things here are stolen?" Thapki's mouth fell open. Bihaan laughed at Thapki's horrified expression.

"Yes and no. Yes lots of stuffs here are stolen and robbed from people but there are new goods too. This place is a hotbed and gold mine for smugglers and thieves all around the world. You can find tiger's milk to rarest emerald anything you desire. But no one can find this market...you have to have contacts to gain entry here." Bihaan explained and urged Thapki to explore the various stalls.

Thapki was going through some brass pots and pans for her kitchen when she felt something cold slid in her throat. She gave a small jump in fright when she noticed it was Bihaan. He was securing the hook of a beautiful pearl and ruby maharani necklace around her throat. Thapki gasped at the sheer beauty of the necklace, it was so elegant and stunning and it had to be beyond expensive.

"Bihaan, I can't...Bihaan you d-d-don't have to ...Bihaan I can't accept t-this."

"You don't like it?" Bihaan asked looking hurt at Thapki's refusal of his gift.

"Bihaan it is beyond b-beautiful...but I don't need it--"

"But I want to give it to you."

"But B-Bihaan, I can't accept this." Thapki started to remove the expensive necklace from her throat quickly. She might have not said anything to Bihaan but she could never accept his profession as a daku. Only god knew how he acquired this expensive necklace, maybe the necklace was robbed from someone or Bihaan threatened the life of the vendor of the necklace took it by force?? Thapki shuddered.

"Thapki...don't worry I paid for this necklace." Bihaan said quietly stalling her attempt to remove the necklace knowing why his wife was refusing to accept this gift.

"But Bihaan it is so ex-expensive...how can you afford--what I mean is, Bihaan...no n-need to waste money." She didn't exactly have any idea how much he earns being a daku.

"Thapki, I used to live in a ramshackle hut not because I am poor but because I didn't care to spend money on myself. I was content being alive and breathing I didn't care for luxuries and comfort."

Still Thapki hesitated. In a small voice without meeting his eyes she said, "But Bihaan, yeh to daku p-paisa hai na?? You earned it b-by robbing and god knows what...I am not b-blaming you for surviving this way when you had no choice but I c-can't accept such a lavish g-gift bought with that kind of blood m-money"

"Thapki I admit my current profession is not exactly an honest one...but that is not the only source of earning I have. So don't worry... this necklace is bought with honest money trust me." Bihaan insisted.

"Bihaan what do you m-mean? What other s-source of earning do you have?? Tell me...what are you hiding from m-me?" Thapki was shocked.

"Just trust me...okay?? Do you like this pot?" Bihaan prevaricated the whole issue suddenly getting busy with the cooking pots. He seemed totally reluctant to talk on this matter anymore. Thapki dragged him by his arm to a quiet corner.

"Bihaan tell me what are you h-hiding from me? Tell me...tell me p-please." Thapki pleaded.

"Woh" Bihaan wavered blushing and Thapki became more than ever intrigued in Bihaan's mysterious profession. He seemed unwilling to reveal that.

"Hmm??" Thapki urged.

"Woh... Thapki...when I first started to work for Durga, I didn't quite feel right inside, whatever I earned I gave it away...I gave it to a man I beat up and felt bad afterwards...he later resumed his business which I destroyed using that money...though I didn't want anything from him, he kept saving me money from the profit he made and kept nagging me to take it... I told him to invest it in his business and the business became larger...somehow he got me involved more into it...and the man forcefully made me his partner and somehow I started earning that way. No one knows about it...it is a secret." Bihaan explained uncomfortably.

"What kind of business?" Thapki asked still reeling from the information she was just fed.

"Lodge-hotel business" Bihaan answered uncomfortably stealing his gaze from her.

"Which lodge?"

"Umm..." Bihaan looked so embarrassed, Thapki was astounded " woh..Suktara Lodge" Bihaan said in a small voice.

"YOU MEAN THE P-PLACE WE HAVE BEEN STAYING FOR OUR H-HONEYMOON IT IS YOURS???" Thapki screamed.

"NOT MINE" Bihaan said quickly, "Not entirely mine...I mean I am just a partner...its Dorai's...he is the real owner, he takes care of it..." Bihaan finished in a small voice ill at ease.

"OMG, Bihaan you s-should have told me...the lodge is so b-beautiful. I am so proud of y-you baby" Bihaan still looked embarrassed but happy at his wife's praise. But he batted her praises away.

"It doesn't matter...what matters is do you accept this necklace, my queen???"

"Only if you get me m-matching earrings with it" Thapki said with a beautiful smile she was so happy her husband was not the nefarious daku as she thought...maybe he would leave being a daku all together and start to live honestly again??

After their shopping Bihaan directed Thapki to a boisterous part of the neighbourhood where loud music and laughters could be heard from distance. The main area was actually an open courtyard beautifully lit by twinkly lights. A group of musicians were singing and playing beautiful, melodious upbeat songs to which girls in bold and scanty Arabian attires were belly dancing. There were tables and divans spread around the side of courtyard keeping the middle clear for dancing. Dangerous and scary looking men were sitting with their firearms on display either drinking alcohol, having serious discussions huddled together or looking at the dancing girls. Lots of men were dancing along with the girls. There were other girls too who were serving the patrons. Instinctively, Thapki moved closer to Bihaan, clutching his arm seeing the rowdy looking mean men all around.

"Don't be scared Thapki no man who has will to live will look at you in a wrong way. You are my woman, you will be safe here...just relax and enjoy." Bihaan said with a wink.

Bihaan kept walking around the tables eventually reaching where Durga was sitting. Lots of the people he passed turned their heads and looked at them. Around the same time, a voice rang out in the mike,

"Welcome, Welcome, Welcome O fearsome warrior to Khan's humble abode. Today I will tell you all a story in honour of my friend. A fable was heard about a girl, who was blessed with such unparallel beauty that she stole a fiersome stone hearted daku's heart and made him her eternal servant. If the daku kills with gun, this girl kills with her beauty, grace and loveliness. One has to only look at her to fall madly in love with her---"

Bihaan took Durga's blessing touching his feet; Thapki did the same and Durga urged her to sit beside him in his divan while Bihaan went to sit with the men of his gang. Thapki began to have an uncanny suspicion that the voice over was talking about her and Bihaan. She began to get warm in embarrassment.

The voice in the mike continued, "---It was not any wonder the daku jealously guarded his precious mehbooba hiding her from all. We request with this song to the fearsome warrior to let us see his beautiful queen's beauty even once so that we feel blessed for the rest of our lives." A round of cheers went around and few rounds of shots were fired in the air and the singing started,

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s74PBDvbcA[/YOUTUBE]

maqtool jigar (ya baba)
qaatil hai nazar (ya baba)
ik mahjabeen (ya baba)
ik noor-e-nabee (ya baba)

Thapki had turned beet root red by then at the voiceover's description of her. She looked at Bihaan who was also red and was being teased by his gang members about being his wife's servant. She heard Bihaan saying exasperatingly. "Khan ko to main dekh lunga I swear." Khan must be the person who was now singing after his speech.

rab ki rubaayi (ya baba)
ya hai tabaahi (ya baba)
gardan suraahi (ya baba)
boli ilaahi (ya baba)

"Beti, I wanted to say you sorry for the havoc my daughter caused in your and Raja's lives. I am very sorry. Be assured I have punished her severely for this and she will think thrice before doing anything like this in future" Durga said looking embarrassed.

"Durga, please you don't have to say s-sorry. We are fine d-despite everything...you...you shouldn't be so hard on her. Everyone makes mistakes. N-No harm done" Durga smiled indulgently at Thapki's kind reply. This girl reminded him so much of the love he had lost in his youth.

The boys were daring Bihaan to do something and Bihaan gave in finally. A cheer went around their table. He came forward and tugged Thapki's hand towards him making her stand. She was surprised as he led her to the dance floor and began to dance with her. The whole crowd went wild and everyone started to dance circling them, firing their guns in the air.

Afghan jalebi
mashooq farebi
ghaayal hai tera deewana bhai wah, bhai wah
bandook dikha dikha ke kya pyar karegi
chehra bhi kabhi dikha na bhai wah bhai wah

Imli dropped the tray of empty plates with a clang on the kitchen floor not caring if they break to pieces. She was burning in rage. She wanted to kill her, wanted to bathe in her blood. Raja, her Raja was dancing with that chudail glued to her like fevicol. Why didn't Imli die before seeing such? She wiped away the tears which had began to fall down her cheeks. Dad had punished her, taking away Chotu from her saying, he didn't want his grandson to be in vicinity of such disloyal person as her jwho would be a bad influence on him. He separated a mother and son. And then he ordered her to serve as a maid in this god forsaken place. She was the Imli Rani, daughter of the most fearsome daku, always pampered, always treated as a princess but now cleaning tables of drunken louts, washing dirty dishes...chi... Keeping aside her dad's punishment, even the men were treating her as a pariah as if she had done something huge. And it was all because of that parasite...Nobody understood her point of view, nobody was regarding what she wanted she huffed. She wanted Raja, she knew she can make him 1000 times happier than the chudail he had married and was now dancing so shamelessly. She walked to the window and peeped in the dance floor watching the crowd, watching Raja dance with her.

gul-e-gulzar (ya baba)
mere sarkar (ya baba)
bade manshoor (ya baba)
tere rukhsaar (ya baba)
haaye shamsheer nigaahein
chaabuk si adaayein
nacheez pe na chalaana bhai wah, bhai wah

Imli tortured herself watching them together, laughing, and dancing. A stronger stubbornness came over her, she wanted Raja and she would get him by hook or by crook, even if that meant she had to remove that pathetic creature permanently from Raja's life.

She had heard about Raja's psycho brother, the same one she called few days back, how much he was in love with this Thap...Thap..Thapki. That brother was the reason Raja was found in such condition in the forest. The psycho did all for this girl. She had heard Hira and Mirza talk, how crazy that Dhruv was about this girl...how he can do anything to get her anyhow.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

5 days later:

Lalu was supposed to come and take Thapki to the town where she had some shopping to do. He would be there in half an hour and Thapki hurried around trying to finish up her chores and get ready before he arrives to get her. She was almost ready, when there was an urgent pounding in the door. Thapki was surprised as Lalu never knocked on the door such manner. He always chimes his cycle bell to let her know he had come.

A bigger shock was waiting for Thapki when she opened the door and saw Imli standing there. Without saying anything Thapki started to shut the door on her face but Imli quickly held the door open before she could do it.

"Mujhe bhi koi shok nehi hai teri surat dekhne ka." Imli said nastily.

"So why have you c-come? Bihaan is n-not here."

"I know he is not here. He is in my house."

Thapki rolled her eyes at Imli almost pitying her. "Kuch to sh-sharam karo...Don't you get tired of your cheap t-tricks??...try something new if you really want to create m-m-misunderstanding between us. I know Bihaan loves only m-me...nothing you can say can make me d-doubt him."

"I don't have time to listen to your pathetic speech. Raja ko goli lag gai. The boys brought him to my house to get him treated. I have taken out his bullet from his shoulder but he is still feverish. And he kept chanting your name. Only because of this I have come to get you. Raja's welfare is first and foremost to me, even if that means I have to come and see your manhus chehra."

"You are l-lying. My Bihaan is absolutely f-fine. Nothing h-h-happened to him. " Thapki ran to get her mobile phone.

"Raja is lying unconscious, how can he receive your phone pagal ladki?" Without heeding Imli's words, Thapki dialled Bihaan. Phone uthau Bihaan, baby please phone uthau...prove Imli is lying. Why wasn't he answering his damn phone? Thapki began to hyperventilate.

"Mere paas itna waqt nahi hai...I have to return to his side. Ana hain to aa mere saath or bhar me ja. I don't care" Imli turned to leave and Thapki dialled Bihaan again...the rings went unanswered. Was Imli telling the truth?? Was Bihaan really shot? Was he really fighting for his life, lying in pain. Thapki thought frantically.

"Imli r-ruko. I am coming." Thapki ran behind her.

--------------

My goodness! Bihaan saw 5 missed calls from his wife on his phone. He was on an important meeting representing Durga and he had put the phone on silent. Thapki would surely nag him to death because he didn't pick up. She was supposed to go to town with Lalu today. Maybe she needed to talk to him regarding something she wanted to buy. How many times had he said she didn't need his permission to do anything? Still Thapki kept waiting for his permission before making any decision.

Bihaan thought exasperatingly and called her. The phone kept ringing and ringing but she didn't pick up. He called again and then again.

Kitni shopping karti hai yeh ladki?? Bihaan said exasperatingly. He dialled again, and this time she picked up.

"Thapki what is this?? How many times have I told you to keep your phone handy?? Or was this one of your childish antics to get back at me for not picking up your phone earlier??"

No reply

"Gajaab... Itna gussa???? I was in a meeting baby. Aab bolo kyon phone kya?"

Still no reply.

"Thapki, kya hua? Is everything alright? You are worrying me now" Bihaan asked checking whether the phone was still connected.

"You don't have to worry" A voice slithered and Bihaan felt its chill slither down his spinal cord.

Bihaan's heart stopped beating.

"DHRUV? WHAT THE F**K YOU ARE DOING WITH THAPKI'S PHONE. WHERE IS THAPKI?" Bihaan screamed.

"She is with me. You don't have to worry about her anymore."

"IF YOU DARE...IF YOU DARE TRY TO HARM HER...TOUCH HER IN ANY WAY...I WILL KILL YOU BAS***D BUT BEFORE KILLING YOU I WILL MAKE YOU SORRY YOU WERE EVER BORN...WHERE IS SHE ?? WHERE IS SHE?"

"As I said before you don't have to worry about her...she is safe with me...why would I harm her? Don't you know how much I love her?? And...and...and she has started falling for me too...she told me...She is happy with me...haven't taken your name even once since I asked her not to." Dhruv said in the same cold inhuman voice.

"KUTTE, KYA KIYA TUNE MERI THAPKI K SAATH? WHERE ARE YOU?? WHERE HAVE YOU TAKEN HER? LET ME TALK TO HER."

"She is sleeping peacefully...beside me and god she is looking so beautiful...I don't want to wake her up." Dhruv said conversationally.

"Dhruv, kya chahtay ho tum?? Please...please don't do anything to her...you hate me?? Take your revenge on me...you want me gone??you want to kill me?? Then do it...but please let her go...don't harm her." Bihaan couldn't stop the tears coming down his face. Dhruv had lost it...he had become full blown mental.

"Bihaan you are so stupid. Why are you not getting the fact that now Thapki and I are in love? we are very happy with each other. She doesn't want to leave me. And we don't need you in our life as a third wheel. I will never harm her. I just want you to know she is happy with me more than she was ever happy with you. Bye."

"Dhruv don't hang up...tell me..where are you?? Where have you taken her?" Bihaan asked desperately.

"Why do you want to know Bihaan? I don't want to give you chance to steal her again."

"I won't steal her. I just want to see whether you are telling the truth. If I see she is indeed very happy with you I will leave you guys alone." Bihaan tried to negotiate with the mad man playing Dhruv's game.

"Actually Bihaan, I also want you to see how happy we both are. Just the way I saw both of you making love from the window that night, I want you to see us doing the same too."

Bihaan couldn't reply, his throat constricted and he choked on his tears hearing Dhruv's depraved and sick thoughts.

"Yes Dhruv I want to see too, just tell me where you are, I will come now. Just don't start ...or do... anything to her before I reach there...just wait."

"Hmm...I don't have any options but to wait anyways...yeh Thapki hai na?? She is not waking up from her sleep...I am calling her since so long...but the girl just kept lying like a corpse..."Dhruv said exasperatingly.

Hearing Dhruv's description of Thapki's present state, Bihaan fell on the ground on his knees, all pride, all ego was forgotten, "Dhruv, tell me please...tell where you have taken her? I beg you...she needs a doctor." Bihaan cried pitifully.

"Bihaan not now, let me decorate this place more, I am sure she will wake up on her own...no need for a doctor. I will give you a call, you can come and see us then..."

"Dhruv tell me...tell me now please."

"I will call you Bihaan I give you my word, I want you to see us together make love, I promised to myself I will make you see that...I always keep my promises...don't worry about her...she is with me...I love her so much...I will not harm her...it is just that she is not waking up now...I didn't mean to hit her so hard...but she was aggravating me so much...I told her to shut up...but she kept screaming like a banshee calling your name...I lost my head and hit her and now she is not waking up..."

"Dhruv take her to the hospital please, she may be seriously injured."

"I can't do that...police are searching for me ... After Ma bailed me out, Bauji brought charges against me for attempt to manslaughter. "

"Dhruv it doesn't matter, you need to save her life first, take her to a hospital...or tell me where you are, I will come and take her to the hospital myself and you don't have to worry about police."

"I think I will wait some more, she is not bleeding so much like before."

"Dhruv please..."

"Don't worry Bihaan she is fine, she is happy with me and believe me when I say I was never your enemy...I want you to be happy too. Your girlfriend seems like a very nice lady...you will be happy with her. Don't worry about us...bye."

"DHRUV...DHRUV...DHRUV..DON'T HANG UP...DHRUV" Bihaan screamed at his phone like a mad man but the line was already cut. Bihaan called back but Thapki's phone was switched off.

Bihaan stood up and wiped his tears, he needed to visit his girlfriend.

Chapter - 17