Chapter 30
Paro watched Samrat bhaisa retreat to the darkness slowly. Sumer bhaisa had to settled in before the others realise how drunk he was. She wanted to be brave. She was Smt. Rudra Pratap Ranavat as he declared in this very corridor. But her gut instinct told her something was wrong. If only Rudra was back. She held tightly to her ghagra when she heard the phone ring. It echoed in the quiet aangan. What if it was Rudra? She raced to the deafening instrument and picked it up.
"Paro," she heard the broken voice of her sister. Her throat became dry. "Mrs. Ranavat, we are just outside your door. Your sister is hurt. Please open," she heard a male voice. Her feet flew to the door. She gasped when she felt an arm grab her. "Paro wait! What are you doing," Samrat bhaisa warned. She pulled away, "My sister needs me." He stood against the door. He had no idea what was going on. But he knew that if the man wanted to bypass Rudra's guards he couldn't be friendly. He took a deep breathe, "Paro he maybe Tejawat's man." Paro's face turned white. "But bhaisa that is even more dangerous. Thakursa will not spare Jeeja. She is proof that he was wrong. We have to do something," she said. "Bhaisa, if it were Maithili Jeeja was on the other side you wouldn't stop me. He has Nandu Jeeja with him," she pleaded. Samrat turned away.
She opened the door and Samrat bhaisa was right next to her in silent support. "Can you take care of her," a gruff voice asked her pointing to the limp woman on the floor. She crouched down pulling the blanket down. "Jeeja!" she cried wrapping her arms around her sister. "Where did you find her Officer saab?" Samrat asked the officer. The door slammed shut loudly. "Rudra! Rudra is back! I'll be right back," she said getting up. Samrat crossed his arms barring the door. He didn't like to see Maithili's sister upset. "Ask your brother? He knows more than me," ignoring the hostility.
Rudra stormed in and grabbed Major Sequira by his collar. "How dare you come to my home?" he asked reeling his hand back to punch. The other officer deftly caught him, "Really? Is that the way you talk to your seniors?" Rudra laughed. They were of the same rank even though the other man held it longer. In fact there was a good chance that he would get promoted first since he will be the one putting Tejawat away for good. "Yes, yes! A hot head who has no patience for an investigation was BSD's best man," he teased Rudra shoving him. Tejawat had buillt his empire on his watch. BSD will soon see the truth. It was time for him to get lost like the rest of Tejawat's aides.
Paro watched in horror at Major Sequira's hand met her husband's jaw. "Bas! You cannot come to our home and threaten Rudra. He maybe a little hot headed sometimes. But he gets results when it counts. If you have a problem with his methods, you can talk to Singh Saab. You have no right to hurt him," she shouted. The three men looked in shook. "Not bad Rudra! I thought your wife was a mouse seeing how Tejawat played with her life. But she sounds like a lioness now," Major Sequira observed. Rudra shot a disapproving glance at him.
"Paro let me help you get your sister inside. I'm sure Rudra has things to discuss with Major," he paused not sure of his name. "Major Kevin Sequira. Its a pleasure to meet you," he held out his hand in introduction. He shook it politely. Paro helped Jeeja get up as Samrat bhaisa supported her on one side. Rudra watched them go. Suddenly Paro stopped and turned around. Rudra lead their unexpected guest to another part of the haveli. "Are you planning on throwing me into the dungeon? I know you are a big shot in these parts but its a bit much don't you think?" he asked. Rudra opened the door to the store room and pulled out a chair. He turned to Kevin, "Start talking."
"I'm the one who has to present things in court tomorrow. You owe me answers. Why haven't you told us about Nandini? She would know so much about the case. She can destroy Tejawat single-handedly," Kevin said. Rudra smirked. He knew how valuable a witness she was. That is why he had been so careful to keep her hidden away. "Don't be so pleased. You have wasted an opportunity here. You cannot produce surprise witnesses. The defence has to be aware of them. You should have stuck to protocol. What were you planning on doing pretending innocently that she returned by herself?" he asked angrily.
"You mean the way you innocently pretended for years that the baraatis weren't smuggling guns? Singh Sir may not know this but I know you are on Tejawat's side," Rudra shouted back. Kevin laughed bitterly, "You are right. It is my fault. My job is to make sure that the wrong kind of people don't step into this country. My job is to make sure that the women of our country cross its borders to a stable and secure future. But my job is also to my family. When I am forced to pick, I won't pick BSD."
Rudra wondered if the stale air in the room was affecting his brain. "You have been married for what a year now? I was married for about the five years before I came here. She was the girl next door who managed to capture my heart with an clair. Our love was from the stuff of fairy tales. We had everything, the beautiful home, the supporting family, and eventually our very own little princess," he looked as if he was seeing his memories play out on the broken screen of their ancient television.
Rudra checked the time on his watch. He wanted to check on Nandini before crashing into bed with Paro. "I know this is your home and it means a lot to you. For me its the place dreams come to die. After two years of investigation, I had collected enough evidence against Tejawat. I went home early to celebrate with my girls. They weren't there. I checked all the rooms, the backyard and the terrace. They weren't there. Then I heard a knock but there was no one on the other side, just a box. I opened it to see, My Lisa's severed head," he said shuddering.
Rudra's hand went to his shoulder. Kevin pushed it away, "I don't have time for this, to feel. I simply must go on and you need to know why." Rudra nodded. "There was a note mentioning a time and place. I recognised the address. It was Tejawat's haveli. I went early wanting answers. His guards stopped me. I hit them. Then I heard a laugh, my baby's. I saw her sitting on a swing in the other room with Tejawat's wife, Mala. I went to the door. That's when he came in. Thakur Param Singh Tejwat! He ordered his men to relieve me of my weapons. Then he told me that my Rachel, the only thing left in my life was his prisoner. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands but I knew his men would finish me and Rachel before we left the haveli. He asked me if I liked my gift. Arrogant fool! The entire haveli is filled with portraits of his wife and he things I would appreciate mine in a box," he said.
Rudra looked away. Mala had filled that haveli with so much and took away the sunshine from him. "He promised to make it up to me. A brave and intelligent officer of the BSD deserved more. He said my daughter would be sent to the best schools where she would receive the finest education. After all what more could a father want? I asked what he wanted in return. He replied that his wife couldn't have children and she wanted Rachel for her own. I was shocked. Not only had they kidnaped her, they planned to keep her forever. What kind of monsters were they?" he asked.
But Rudra wasn't listening. Tejawat's wife wasn't childless. She simply forgot about the boy she brought into the world. What claim did she have on motherhood? "I said that Lisa and I had made plans for her future. It wasn't his place to make decisions. He laughed at my navet. The mother of my child was no more and his wife was trying to take her place with every caress. I was the only obstacle in the way. I asked if he planned on killing me next. No! He had made his own plans for me. I would become his inside man in the BSD and let his work continue. I would let him malign its name for his purposes. As an incentive, I would get pictures sent of my girl growing up in a world far away from me," he said.
So Mala Tejawat had abandoned another child she embraced in a short duration. All Girls like Bindi, Paro and Nandini atleast had other people in their lives to depend on. Rachel Sequira had no one. Just like him! "Why didn't you tell all this to VK Sir? He could have helped you. We can get your little girl," Rudra asked. Kevin shook his head. It wasn't safe. He had followed Tejawat's plan for 3 years when Col. VK Singh came here. And his first task was to bring his protg, the ruthless Rudra Pratap Ranavat on board. He had been furious at first that things were getting worse. But Tejawat had become cocky. He was sure that he will get away.
"I then saw a way out. You would catch him red handed and I would find my daughter again. I just had to watch it all come down. I prepared to join BSD's legal wing. It would be lesser dangerous and quieter for Rachel. But then you got sloppy. You made too many mistakes. Your family supports you and they are helping you and Mrs. Ranavat out but mine is still shattered. That's why I agreed when I was called back. And that's when I told VK Singh everything. Now I'm working as a double agent trying to bring him down from the inside," Kevin said.
"So that's how you knew about Nandini," Rudra guessed. Kevin nodded, "His men recognised her and followed to your safe house. I snuck out a little ahead and smuggled her out. You will need a back story for her being here. Tejawat will go with denial. Her mother is under his protection. He will use her as his pawn." Rudra smiled, "Mamisa is in Bangalore recovering from a stroke. I have the medical certificate for that. They will have to accept Paro's word and the government ration card as verification of identity. Both, in my custody. She escaped and sneaked aboard the Thar Express. When she didn't possess the documents she was arrested on arrival at Barmer by the BSD. Is that clear enough for you?"
Kevin paced thinking over this story. Rudra would have taken care of fake documents supporting this. "Why was she kept hidden? The defence needs a chance to prepare their counter-case for all evidence collected," Kevin asked. Rudra replied that she was a hostile witness who didn't want to go home to her mother or stay and help the BSD. So they found her suitable accommodation. It was because of the so-called accidental fire that she decided to do her duty to this country. "How much of this is the truth?" Kevin asked curiously. Rudra shrugged his shoulders and replied that only the part where she doesn't want to go home is a fact.
"Poor thing! He has robbed her of a home and women in these parts value it highly," Kevin said. No they didn't. She didn't look back on her home or her family or even her only son. She just left. "Did you hear what I said? We need to find an NGO or something where she can stay. Else like your wife she too will become useless as a witness," he said. Rudra glared. His wife was not useless. Just because the court didn't find it credible didn't mean all that passed was a dream. "Whatever. We'll discuss it tomorrow. Meet me at 7 am in head quaters before we all leave for court," Kevin said walking out. He wanted to throw something at him. Unfortunately the man was needed tomorrow in court.
He went to his room to see Nandini sleeping peacefully on the bed as Paro sat next to her deep in slumber. He slowly lowered her and tucked her in. "Dinner," she mumbled. "I'll eat after a bath," he whispered. His smiled as he gazed on her wrinkling nose. The desert dust he had brought along must be bothering her. He pulled away slowly but her fingers held to his shoulder. Her lips parted slowly as he sucked in his breathe. Next to her Nandini turned slowly. He watched her carefully as he bent his head. She may have taken his place on his bed but nobody was going to rob him of Paro's kiss good night.
Cricket
Anupamaa
