UNDER THE SKY LANTERNS - PART 38
An original story by Archana Vinod
DWIVEDI'S APARTMENT - MEANWHILE
Jamanlal is restless. It's close to 9:30 PM now. And yet, no trace of his daughter.
Meena too, is tensed.
JAMANLAL: Something's not right. She's not usually like this. She always keeps me informed about her whereabouts. I'm going to look for her Meena. You take Bharathi's company in the meanwhile.
Meena doesn't know what to say. She worries if something terrible might have happened. Jamanlal notices.
JAMANLAL: I'll be back soon. Keep your phone with you.
Meena nods, yes.
Jamanlal picks up his scooter's key and hurries out.
BACK TO SID
The policeman has Siddhant's phone to his ear.
POLICEMAN: (on the phone) Yes sir. Right away. (hangs up)
Sid listens hopefully.
POLICEMAN: (to Sid) Get in the jeep. Let's head to that spot.
SIDDHANT: (visibly relieved) Thank you, sir.
The two of them hop onto the jeep and set off. Siddhant rings up Anand.
SIDDHANT: (to Anand) Uncle, everything's fine now. I'm headed to that location.
BACK TO JAMANLAL
Jamanlal drives along the crowded city streets on his scooter. He is visibly anxious and fearful.
What if something's wrong, he worries, but I swear, if I catch her fooling around somewhere, I'm going to beat the living daylights out of her! How can she be so irresponsible? Doesn't she know that we're waiting for her at home? At least she should have the courtesy to call us up... or at least a simple message... that she's fine somewhere and having fun! How difficult is that?
Jamanlal pulls up into a parking lot and hurries to TechSearch's office. He waits for the elevator to come down.
But... what if something bad happened? Jamanlal's heart skips a beat as he recollects all the news that has been floating around lately - murder, rape, horrific accidents, etc. etc.
He gets into the lift and waits to reach the destined floor.
Hey Bhagwan, he prays quietly, I hope it's not anything like that. Please let her be safe.
No, he consoles himself, nothing could have happened. I'm pretty sure that she's safe.
DING! He reaches the 3rd floor, steps out and makes his way to her office. It's too late for the office to be open, but what if someone's there?
As he closes in, he finds the door open! Thank God!
He walks in and finds the office empty. It's very quiet in there and a bit dark as well. Just a few lights are on. He can hear the clickity-clack of a laptop's keyboard.
JAMANLAL: Hello?
No response.
TAP-TAP-TAP! Jamanlal knocks on the front desk.
JAMANLAL: Hello? Is someone there?
The typing stops followed by the creak of a chair. A tall, rugged guy steps out. Vikrant...
BACK TO ROLI
Roli is in a state of confusion as she lays stark naked and flat down on the dirt. She is terrible pain but the overwhelming need to head for safe haven drowns out all other emotions.
Through a slit opening of her eye, she sees a blurry image of Prakash's foot close to her face. She cautiously gropes around on the dirt and clutches a fistful.
From the distance, she sees Raman approaching with a long wire, sack and a jack handle. He hands over the metal rod to Prakash.
RAMAN: (whispers to Prakash) We have to discard her body at the garbage dumping site and burn it. There's a can of fuel in the trunk.
Discard? Garbage site? Burn? What are they doing, wonders Roli fearfully?
The familiar clunk of a metallic object catches her attention. The jack handle. What are they going to do?
BACK TO JAMANLAL
VIKRANT: Yes?
JAMANLAL: Hi. I'm actually wondering if Roli dropped in to the office by any chance.
VIKRANT: (confused) Roli? No. And you are?
JAMANLAL: I'm her father.
VIKRANT: Oh! So sorry! (smiles now) Haven't met you before, so...
JAMANLAL: (tries to smile) Yes, I was told that she was headed for a party with her boss and colleagues.
VIKRANT: (surprised) Party? What party?
Jamanlal is confused now.
JAMANLAL: You must be Vikrant, right? Her boss?
VIKRANT: Yes, but, I'm not aware of any party?
Jamanlal is embarrassed now. Was his daughter lying to him? But why?
JAMANLAL: Oh, I'm sorry...
VIKRANT: No-no. It's alright. Let's check with her team mates. Maybe they know something about this?
JAMANLAL: Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much.
VIKRANT: My pleasure.
Vikrant picks out Remo's number and rings him up. But all the while, he has his attention on Jamanlal. Something is not right.
VIKRANT: (to Jamanlal) Is everything alright? (before he can respond, Remo answers the call) Remo! Vikrant here. Where are you man?
BACK TO ROLI
Roli musters all her strength and flips around just in time to see Prakash standing over her with the jack handle raised high above his head.
Hey Matarani! They're going to kill me!
... TO BE CONTINUED
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