Finally I was able to complete this chapter... I'm now more in awe with some of my writer friends, the in depth chapters they give us... This chapter is the first inspiration of writing this FF. Please feel free to comment. Fresh flowers or rotten tomatoes both equally welcome!
CHAPTER 13- THE ESCAPE
" You know Swara?Creating troubles is your favourite hobby, not music!" Sanskar was pacing continuously, " Now I can get it! That's why wise people say women are danger! I'm hardly coping with a fake girlfriend cum fiance, how can people deal with a real one!" His voice sounded dramatic at the end.. Well, at least to Swara!
" How mean, Sanskar?! I tell you, you are number one opportunist!" She huffed, "I finished my job only yesterday night! Not a single day have passed yet , already you're calling me trouble! "
"And you? Number one moron! Why did you have to thank that sh*tty Laksh? I wouldn't allow the dogs to hurt you, you knew it? Then? And why were you parading around the camp, when you absolutely have to do nothing?"He sounded peeved.
"Sanskar! knew, you knew,I had no danger.. but not him.. There he jumped in front of some Alsatian dogs... If I hadn't thanked him, it would look fishy, right?And ...I was getting bored, coudn't stay inside all day! I was never this jobless" Swara pouted.
"Then why you have to wear all your fancy clothes here? Don't you have any normal clothes?" He whined, refering to her purple sleeveless crop trop and rosy pink palazzo. (Which had made her look too pretty for her own good, according to his opinion)
Swara's mouth dropped, she nevertheless answered "Hey I was going for an international workshop cum trip, remember?And I always wear nice clothes, huh!" Then her eyes narrowed in suspicion, " One second! Why are you continuously questioning me like this? I'm not bound to give you any reply, okay? Oh hello! Tum Sach me meri mangetar nehi ho! (You are not my real fiance!)If fake fiance acts so possessive, I'm better off without getting a real one!" She twisted her lips.
"Arghh! Forget it!"Sanskar threw his arms in defeat, "Listen, I'll check the new shipment of anaesthetics now. And you! Just stay inside! PLEASE."
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" Hey Doc!" Vikash called Sanskar, " You can check the shipment later too! We've just finished our dinner! I think the beasts will give both you and us some break tonight!" He joked.
"No Vikash already I'm two hour late! The supplier is new this time, not yet assured of their goods . If only the former supplier wouldn't run of stock! Gas tanks must be checked ASAP. They are tricky and sometimes have leaks you know!"Sanskar replied with his best smile, "And I also hope the beasts will spare us today!"
Giving him a thumbs up, Vikash joined some fellow Black wolves for a chat. Sanskar entered the medical equipment storage. He closed the door, kneeled down near the cylinders of gaseous anaesthetics. At first he looked at an empty old cylinder, Nitrous oxide encrypted on it... He turned to the new cylinder now, which had following words "decabromodiphenyl ether".He brought his hand near his lips, "Swara, you inside the sleeping bag? All set here. Can wear your mask now. Over and out.."
Then he opened the instrument chest, grabbed a mini oxygen cylinder enclosed with a mask,quickly worked to wear it, went back to the gas cylinders, released their valves, then moved towards a small window to open it...
"Sweet dreams dear wolves!"He smirked. After five minutes he came out, carrying a small box in his hand...
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Sensing someone's footsteps, Swara peeked out through the sleeping bag, smiled inside mask to see Sanskar. She had changed in a slim fit camouflage jacket,all buttoned up, with a pair dark olive skinny cotton pants. Seeing him, she came out and put on the dark brown caps. Her hair was already tied up in a high ponytail.
She looked ecstatic , "It's amazing, you know? The clothes u got for escape fit me perfectly! Are we ready for the journey now?"
"Well you are, not me! I have to wear the jacket instead of shirt. You in the meantime keep the arms in my backpack and the scalpels in yours." He had finished wearing his Keen Targhee II hiking shoes, ready to change in his jacket..
"Are you going to change in front of me?" Her eyes widened...
" I don't mind! I think you shouldn't too!"He said lightly, " As far as I know, girls love six packs!" He winked as he opened one button of his shirt
"Nooo! Don't! " She took a sharp turn, facing her back at him and covered her eyes with her palms. " Shameless! So you show off your body to other girls? Hawww!" she gasped, still not looking.
" Now who's possessive?" He arched his brows." Listen, I'm done! You can stop dying out of shame now! I had a vest on me, for God's sake!" He rolled his eyes , " You're bloody hypocrite you know? You do operate on half naked men daily!"
" Please spare me Sanskar! " She was mortified beyond limits...
Sanskar passed her a light weight backpack, while he carried a bigger one. They had now mated camouflage outfits, bags packed for surviving in the woods, Swara in the meantime had tied the strings of her Salomon Ellipse GTX pairs.
"Let's go, Swara! It's time to leave..." He urged now.
"You know ,Sanskar? I think I'll miss our tent!" she nodded and said in a forlorn tone.
He sighed, " Me too. But you really need your freedom now! Let's go!" He held her wrists close, guiding her from the tent to the quest of breaking free...
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" Sanskar, do you know the way to the nearest town?The woods are so dense, and it's about midnight!"Swara asked him, anxious about impending risks that may come their way. They had hopped on a jeep, which Sanskar was driving.
"Remember when we were brought here? Dr Swara Bose was sleeping like a log in that journey not this SSR! And he has pretty good memory I can assure you!" He smirked with a hint of pride.
" Till now I've met Dr Oberoi only, not any SSR! Are you sure you can use these guns you got from them?" she said casually, " I think you're bluffing!"
"You know what? I think I should give the demo of my shooting ability on you only. At least I can drive in peace!"He sounded annoyed, as his ego had been wounded much.
" Fine ! You want peace? Well, I'm not talking to you anymore!" Saying she turned her head to face away from Sanskar.
He ignored her threat, which according to him was childish and cute, and continued to drive. Sounds of turbulent waters entered their ears, the forest was less dense in this part. A wide rocky terrain near a waterfall became visible from far, where the border of closely situated trees seemed to have ended. Sanskar became happy as he wanted to get out of the darker, dense forest for so long. He could really use the moonlight for some time..He pressed the accelerator harder to speed up a bit, near the finishing line of the dense wood he took turn to left, as the waterfall was on right side...
"Sanskar!" Swara screamed, glaring flashes of headlights almost blinded them. Sanskar pushed the brakes hard to avoid collision with the four wheeler that had blocked their way...
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Silhouettes of two humans jumped from their seats, advancing towards them. Moonlight fell on to reveal the sinister faces of... LAKSH and RAGINI...
" Yudh was right, Laksh! We should've killed them in first place!" Ragini's beautiful face looked like stony, emotionless, only coldness reflected from her eyes.
And Laksh had his stare fixed on Swara, he ordered Ragini, "Get hold of Swara, Rags!" Then his eyes turned to Sanskar and clenched his jaws, "I've some unfinished business with Dr Oberoi..."
Sanskar got down from the jeep, drew out a Colt Delta Elite M1911 semi automatic handgun from his pocket and aimed at Ragini, but she jumped aside at the end moment, resulting the bullet to graze her right shoulder. He couldn't attempt for the second as Laksh had landed a massive roundhouse kick on his shoulder... Sanskar's balance was lost for few moments,the grip loosened.. resulting the Colt landing on the ground.
Taking this advantage Laksh charged series of punches towards him, few of them landed on his upper torso, then targeted for a hammer fist under his jaw but missed. Sanskar regained his balance at the correct time, parted his legs in a squatting position, ducked his head and evaded the punch. Next moment he tilted backwards and jumped on his feet...his elbow moved upwards in a pirate's hook trajectory, landing a forceful uppercut on Laksh's solar plexus. This strike made Laksh to stagger backwards... Sanskar didn't lose this moment.. He grasped Laksh's necks with his hands tightly , leaned his own body backwards, targeted his kneecap towards his target's groin with all his force...
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Meanwhile Ragini got up and advanced towards Swara, who got down from the jeep ,quickly grabbed a surgical knife from her backpack's side pocket and hid it behind her back. She had a defensive approach unlike the others iand kept moving backwards, gradually. Ragini posed a sardonic smile, " So you can't hurt anyone,right angel ? You two pulled a very stupid stunt today! Didn't expect us to go for a long drive? Well, surprise surprise!" She inched closer, "Thanks to you, Laksh was so sad I had to take him out ... Now your fiance will die as a punishment !"
" No, he won't be! He CAN'T be hurt!"Swara hissed[/FONT
[FONT=Courier]"Oh he will, I'd have loved the same fate for you, but Laksh won't let me!"She was now very close to Swara, had a small .44 Magnum revolver pointed towards her, " Your fiance will stop fighting, the minute he sees this!" She shouted, "Hey Oberoi! Stop...AAHHH!"she screamed in pain.
Swara gathered all her resolve and plunged the knife in Ragini's thigh, who fell on the ground and dropped her weapon. Swara shakily inched away, to see the fate of other fight...
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Sanskar was looking down at Laksh, like a predator observes its prey. Here the prey's gaze had similar hatred for the predator and wanted to snatch it's own prey under the predator's protection... So, Sanskar, the protective predator showed no mercy, repeated stomped all over Laksh's body. But Ragini's shout broke his striking series... His muscles stiffened to see Swara on gun point, but relieved she stabbed her attacker.
But taking this momentary opportunity Laksh picked the Colt Delta from ground and pointed at Sanskar's head.They both could hear Swara's gasp. Laksh jeered, " Sorry Oberoi, time's up! You kept my Swara away from me too long! And Swara, I forgot to tell you. I'm replacing your soon to be late fiance."
"Don't you dare Laksh!" Sanskar growled, "Don't even think about it! "
"You know doctor, I thought to gave you a quick death, a shot on temple... that's all! For my dear Swara!"His eyes was red shot now, " But your attitude! You deserve slow and agonizing death only! Abomen it is then!"Saying he lowered the gun... Sanskar managed to sneak out a prefilled syringe from the hip pocket of his trousers and pierced in the hamstrings of Laksh.. His legs wobbled then fell unconscious... Sanskar left a deep sigh when...
SPLASH!!!
"SANSKAAR!!!"
To his horror, Sanskar witnessesed Ragini to crawled behind Swara, who got very close to the waterfall... and pushed her...
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Footnote:
**Nitrous oxide: gaseous anaesthetic with short half life of few minutes, commonly used...
**Decabromodiphenyl ether: Not used as anaesthetic yet, still under research. In animals half life 2-3 days...
*** The brand names of hiking shoes mentioned are real, same applies to the handguns.
* The Colt one Sanskar used was released in 1997 in USA and very much in use.
*The hiking shoes mentioned here are in the top ten list, both shoes are light weight, water resistant very suitable for trekking and hiking.
Mangal Lakshmi
