Swasan FF : Zephyr vs Tempest ( Chapter 30; P-71) - Page 46

Vindhyachal or Vindhya Ranges is a labyrinthine, disjointed chain of mountainous range in West Central India having an abundant share of ridges, high eminences and plateau escarpments. Today's Vindhyachal, covering about 1086 km area is almost synonymous to the escarpment that runs alongside of Narmada river, the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh'; extending up to Gujarat in the west, and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the east.

Sitting on the edge of one of steep slopes of Vindhya, Laksh was staring towards the nihility, wondering about the barrenness of his life, the arduous vacuity that almost squeezed his heart. Those twinkling, innocent, hazel eyes, which had stayed wide open when his father was fighting the death, those strayed locks of brunette which used to love flying like rebels whenever winds turned strong , those pink petals which once had curved up a little while expressing gratitude towards him, those slender hands which used to go dancing in almost poetic motion whenever they worked on someone's imperfections. He touched the scars on his chest, a work of the fangs of those canines, where the owner of those hands touched her healing wand of hers... a memento of most intimate and caring touch he had ever received from his amartelamiento, his fixation, the craze who was running through his veins... He picked up a pebble and flung it aimlessly only to land it in the deep water basin of Narmada.Only if he could chuck her thoughts away from his mind just like that! With every passing moment the urge having her in his cage was turning into the gnawing pain of his soul. Swara Bose, was the biggest aim in his life, even if her surname had changed into some unknown one.

Black wolves' recent failure didn't matter to him as much as it should. What stabbed his heart was her being whisked away... the marital symbols on her... the ambiguous pride she held stating that her femininity had been bestowed upon Sanskar, that treacherous imposter! His every nightmare was filled with flashes of Swara melting into Sanskar's arms, now that they were together.

"ARRRGHHH!!!" Laksh punched the hardened surface of marble rocks with entire might and frustration. Dark red started dripping on the grey, but not for long.

" Till when are you going to remain in your self destructive mode?" Ragini began to do the dressing of his wound, " Hurting yourself wouldn't help you to gain anything, Laksh. Don't forget, you're a black wolf, not some weak, failed, whining loser like Devdas."

Laksh turned his face abruptly, grabbed her hand, " You're right Ragini. I can't stay put forever whining and burning. I want revenge from that Sanskar. I want her!"

She held his shoulder with her other hand as if in assurance but a different desire forged holocaust in her dark orbs. "You don't know Laksh. Swara made you oblivious to everything around you. Your loyalty is being questioned, just because of your soft corner for that unworthy girl, your everything is at stake." She thought, "I promise you, I'll do anything to clear your name, even if that demand your heartbreak. Sorry Laksh, for the first time in her life Ragini will lie, cheat and keep secrets from you , all for your good."

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"What do you think of yourself? Not one day,not even a week or two... it has been five long weeks since that wretched date... How could you Shona? How could you be so irresponsible?" Sharmistha Bose, wife of late Major Sandeep Bose, the lady in her early fifties approached towards the direction, where the sombre yet regal looking young man at his late twenties was previously hurling accusatory words towards Swara.

"Mom... I'm sorry... Main toh sirf..." Swara lowered her eyes... What excuses were left from her side, barring that she didn't wish her family to go through that similar ache she could see in the eyes of her newly found life? Or was she distraught, thinking how they would deal with her newly acquired space and status? Or had her entire focus had shifted to one spot within such a short span of time that everything else next to it automatically fell inside the blind spot? Something she needed to see, yet she failed to do it!

Sargam shook her baby sister again, " What is this Shona? Don't we deserve at least one call from you?" Swara winced again, as her bro had unknowingly pressed her wound spot once another time. This made Sanskar lose his reticent state, he freed her shoulders by shoving Sargam's hands away.

"Don't! Sargam you're hurting her injured shoulder!" His eyes shifted erratically over her face to read whether any more pain laden lines had been created over her forehead, while his voice turned stern. This piece of information however poured water on the heated atmosphere around them. Anger subsided and turned into concerns, apologetic looks, frenzied queries...

Swara in her unsettling voice tried to calm them, " Mom, Bhai relax! I'm fine. It's just... I fell down on my shoulder when we were escaping from that forest..." while saying she casted a furious glance at Sanskar.

" Kuch nehi toh abhi bhi dard kyun ho raha hain?Sanskar Beta, tell me the truth. Koi fracture toh nahi hua na?" Shomi was on the verge of crying.

Well, Sanskar didn't had to lie at this question. A negative reply was all he had to do. Swara hastily dragged Shomi inside their apartment, "Ma, drama khatam hua ya abhi bhi kuch baki hain? Please! Come in. I badly need something to eat! Pizza? Anyone?"

Sanskar was following the ladies when Sargam called him back and took him into a brotherly hug. " Thanks for everything Sanskar... For returning our Shona safe and sound, for taking care of her, for being her strength when we couldn't be there."

Sanskar withdrew himself and knotted his brow, "As far as I recall we agreed about not being formal, Mr Sargam Bose! This is simply breech of agreement. I can sue you anytime!" he winked.

"Well you got me, Mr Rathore! By the way we can always go for outside the court settlement! What do you say?" Sargam winked back, and in no time they both bursted into laughter. He hit his shoulder lightly, " But really buddy, I'm liking you a lot. I'm sure Shona would have loved to be around you. That's why that imp never missed us!"

In that moment itself Sanskar's grinning face became wary and flushed like a thief getting caught, "You're getting it all wrong, Sargam! She did miss you two, really!"

"Chill guy! I know my little devil. She may look serious to the world outside , but to her close ones witty, fun loving and warm person. Just like you. She can do anything ... even can lay her own life for them." Sargam got a bit emotional towards the end, "That's why I said, you must have clicked very well and had the time your life... even if you were... with them..." He turned away... Perhaps to control himself as the memories of those horrifying weeks caught him again.

"Bhai! Sanskar! Are you planning to stay there all night?" Swara's call turned their attention towards her and their steps inside the apartment. She sounded happy yet traces of trepidation laced her voice. Once again they had blocked a severe blow from black wolves. She had her loved ones near her. Then why couldn't she rest her heart in amity and peace?

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Sargam turned still as he glanced at his own reflection in the mirror. His light blue fitted casual shirt was having brick red marks all over it. Being a criminal lawyer it wasn't a Herculean task for him to guess the source of them. Shona's unusual attire had already left him perplexed. Now blood stains on Sanskar's clothes made him believe all were still not peaceful in his kiddo's life. He had to sort out everything as early as possible , he needed to confront Swara and Sanskar, about what's going on.

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Sanskar had just changed into a pair of track pants after a warm shower. He upper body was still bare, droplets of water were still running down his body. He had just grabbed the towel from the rack to dry his dark jet black wet locks, when a soft and secretive melodious voice floated in the air flowing like soothing breeze. "Sanskar! Are you there?I need your help." he noticed that voice stopped, when those eyes came to meet his ones through the mirror... those too familiar blushing cheeks... now more crimson than ever...

Swara cursed herself... for choosing the most improper time to come into Sanskar's temporary den in Ayaz and Kiara's apartment. She couldn't help but stare when her eyes had discovered such a visual treat. Every marvellous inch of his toned pectorals and biceps were flexed and taut, as he raised his arms to wipe his hair. Her stares rolled down along the way the water droplets travelled across his bulging six packs. She was transfixed to the spot, her throat getting parched in an unknown thirst ,her eyelids blinked in slow rhythm to have her more vision more clouded in sinful desire with every passing moment.

Sanskar noticed she was still in her rockstar getup. Memories of her being in the arms of Ryan and Mike flashed before his eyes. Flares of green played inside his intense stares , his flaming veins, his restless mind... He pranced towards her with a panther like gait, as if he was in a trance. As his musky cologne fragrance hit her nostrils, she started shivering a little, even if the room heater was fully functioning. He pulled the hair band from her pony, her long strands fell down past her shoulder as flow of brunette water came down along a glazing fountain. On the very next moment a part of the damp towel on his shoulder removed the smudged kohl over her eyelids, while her chin was turned upwards by his bossy index finger. Her eyelids had already bowed in submission, just like her other parts of the body eager waited for whatever he was about to do. His one hand unknowingly rafted along the brunette ripples on the back of her head, while his fingers of other hand rubbed over her parted petals with torturous sensuality removing even the final traces of dark red shade on them.

Her sanity was threatening to escape any moment. She whispered almost inaudibly, " Sanskar! Kya kar rahe ho tum?" "Mein toh tumhari madat kar rahi hoon... Jaise tum kaha tha... chaha tha..." His voice was husky, deep and sexy. " But... I needed help with this jacket only... Tab toh Thea pehenake di thi. Aab main... nahi khol pa rahi hoon... aur ma ko keh bhi nahi sakti... kyun ki woh" She uttered those words with utmost difficulty, still not daring to open her eyes.

"Is that so?" His lips purred against her ear. "It's my pleasure then... to help you..." He grabbed her by the left side of the waist pinning her body to himself. He felt her breath got hitched, while the jealous possessor in him screamed inside him to go for the kill. But the tender lover in him took the control instead. He slowly removed the right sleeve from her shoulder making sure her left one remained still, unhurt; sending tingling sensation all over her body. His eyes fell over the bandage over her shoulder. He placed a soft feathery kiss near there, sippng away her pain . Then he dug his face in the hollow of her nape kissing her hair... He withdrew himself from there before he loses himself completely in her tantalising jasmine aroma ... his orbs drank the creamy skinned beauty before him... He kissed the eyelids covering her bashful doe eyes ... He pecked her rose petals that were slightly parted, trembling ... Her hazel eyes opened in shock... Her heart thumped wildly like crazy drumroll ... She found her half naked Greek God standing in front of her, smirking in mischief.

"Now you're looking like Nymph Bose... MY NYMPH..." He stepped back from her, leaving her desires unrequited," And I like you this way."

Swara was about to go, blushing, beaming but not before shooting her response, " Stop being Sooraj for others, and I like you this way."

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" Shona, from your getup it looked like you went for a nightout.As far as I know you don't have any old friends here. Then? You're not supposed to roam around in an unknown city. It's still not safe for you!"

"Bhai, phir se Lawyer jaag gaya? Relax. I was with my new friend Thea. You know what, I performed in a gathering after 3 years. You can't imagine it was so much fun!" Swara immediately replied not telling lie, yet not revealing the truth completely.

"Aur Sanskar tum? Did you attend the same party ?" Sargam's suspicion now started to a take a concrete form. His experienced eyes told him, Swara was nervous.

"Actually I went to a gala ball as a part of my duty. After winding up my job I brought Swara home." Sanskar chose to stick to the truth as far as he could. He knew Sargam wasn't a guy to be fooled easily and he hated to hide anything about Swara from him or Sharmistha. "You know Sargam, your sister has a habit to running into places where she shouldn't be. Such an adamant girl she is."

"I know."Sargam seemed to be in deep thoughts. " Shona tu apna future, apna career ki bare mein kuch socha? When are you returning home with us? Already I've been looking for your safe working options in Edmonton. But there's no hurry. At first I want you to rest and enjoy for a while."

Shomi smiled a little when her son mentioned this. She was making the favourite dessert of her daughter in the small open kitchen adjacent to the living cum dining room. Sanskar stiffened to his position. It never felt good, never... Even hearing the possibility of being without his Swara...

"Mom! Sargam bhai! Please sit down. Actually I've to tell you something... It's about my new job!" Swara took in a deep breath, anticipation and apprehension duelling against each other when she began to break the news at last.

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DCS Fletcher looked at his experienced and newer recruits with pleased glance. And why would not he? They won this round of the battle without causing any scratch to the civilians. Moreover after their stint they had a number of Black Wolves under their custody .

Similarly other twelve branches also managed the situation with success. Except they had to lose an aircraft maintenance engineer in Harare, being the only innocent victim of "Operation Merry Christmas". Before breathing his last he let the Interpol agent in Zimbabwe capital know about an aeroplane that had been damaged intentionally that was about to take off for Cape Town. But the calamity was prevented by his sacrifice; the lives of 167 passengers and crew being saved in the process .

"Hey SSR ! Great job by the way!" Mike lightly punched Sanskar's arm. All the agents were leaving conference room after the meeting Fletcher that time. Then he turned to Swara, "And NB, oh my God! You rocked the stage last night! Never imagined our beautiful surgeon can look so freakin' hot !"

That was it for Sanskar! How could anyone else call his girl "hot" in front of him? He clenched his jaw hard, controlling himself from breaking those flashing teeth of that idiot, even if that was the thing he wanted to do the most at this moment. Instead he turned his temper towards a slightly smiling and blushing Swara, the inevitable attention grabbing magnet, " You've appointment with doctor Swara! Don't waste your time in chit chat here. Irresponsible girl!" saying this he held her wrist in a possessive manner dragging her away from all the prying eyes, according to him.

"Sanskar! What's wrong with you?" Swara hissed in anger as he was walking in swift paces along the corridors, her wrist caged in his iron fist. She could hardly match his pace; she was almost almost running and stumbled on his back and yelped. "Aah! Stupid, arrogant guy! I'm not talking to you."

Sanskar pinned her to the nearest wall in no time. His body pressed tightly over hers, his one arm wrapped her tiny waist so tightly that one could miscomprehend they were parts of same being , his another hand held her back of head, compelling her hazel eyes to meet his caramel ones. At this moment he is not jovial, tender, ever gleeful Sunny. He was someone breathtakingly handsome with a commanding aura... rage defined his attitude... intense was a small word to describe his gaze... his scrutinising glare bored deep down inside his prey... He was resembling a typical hero from the pages of a Mills n Boons novel.

" So now I'm stupid... arrogant... for you?" He pronounced every words separately, clenching between teeth, "You won't talk to me? Now that you have nicer people around you, haan? You'll smile for them, dance with them. Tell me am I wrong!'' Their faces were so close... Their nostrils could inhale their mixed breathe... Their eyes could delve into every pores of the skin... Their lips could devour into pool of bliss... They could do so much, yet they didn't.

"You're being incorrigible and childish, Sanskar!" Swara squirmed under his body as she reprimanded him. But he refused let her move, even for a second.

"Yes I'm being rogue, immature and you know what? I admit I'm getting possessive over you! I can't stand when some idiot dances with you, makes you blush, calls you hot. I almost die in panic whenever you decide to pull some stupid stunt. I feel relieved when you fight hard with your brother for staying here, for doing this job, like a mean, selfish person. You can't imagine how important you are to me. I don't want to share you with anyone, never!"

"Oh really? You can dance with others, you can flirt with them and I can't? Rules should be applicable for both side, shouldn't they?" Swara matched his tone with equal aggression, "You can't decide my every action. Mr Sanskar Singh Rathore, you don't own me!"

"Yes, Dr Swara Bose. I can decide what you should do, because clearly you suck at doing that on your own. Your smiles are mine! Your every dance is mine. Like I told you last night, let me repeat. YOU ARE MY NYMPH! ONLY MINE!" He pulled her closer, his nose touching hers, his lips barely an inch afar from her, her petite frame almost forming a perfect fusion with his tall, hard, masculine torso. He let his stubble graze over both side of her face. The raging holler of his suddenly turned into husky, sensual whispers, " Hold a rein over those insolent cheeks of yours, Nymph. Nowadays they tend to blush for undesired actions of unnecessary people. Only your sun should have the right to spread warmth over them. Samjhi?"

Saying this he left her, claiming his exclusive right in the process. And that crimson hue stayed till her stitches and bandages were about to be removed in the hospital section of Interpol. There she met her new colleagues, Dr Natalie Powell and Dr Sebastian O'hara for the first time as well as some not so pleasant personalities.

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" Mr Mehra, I think you should shift the patient as soon as you can. There were several attempts performed to pull the plug of his life support system." Dr Bentley informed this in a sombre tone to the man before him, sitting inside his chamber, "It's sheer luck that your brother in law is still breathing."

"Don't worry, I will do anything for the safety of Sanskar jiju." Tarun Mehra, a man in his early thirties said in a determined voice, "Please arrange for the discharge papers by tomorrow." His worried face had traces of guilt, frustration and anger. " Sorry Tara Di, I've made a great mistake. I shouldn't have agreed with their outrageous proposal. Their goddamn mission almost caused his death . Now they must return the favour. Interpol have to protect the real Sanskar Oberoi, at any cost."

"Hello Mr Mehra. I hope everything is fine. How is Mr Oberoi ' s condition? I hope the new hospital is good." DCS Prithviraj Shinde picked up his phone from Mumbai office, a bit surprised.

"Nothing is fine, Mr Shinde! My Jiju could be dead you know? We shifted to Manchester, but still it's not enough. I want him out of this country. HELL, I WANT HIM OUT OF THIS BLOODY CONTINENT!" Tarun shouted over the speaker in fury, punching hard the bonnet of his car, "Do anything to keep him breathing. I want him to be transferred within 24 hours and your direct protection from onwards ." He cut the call abruptly and drove away.

Lurking from the veil of darkness, Falcon finally stepped out in the secluded parking lot of St John's Hospital. He dialled his cell phone in almost contemptuous satisfaction, " Good news Agni! The fish took the bait. But are you sure you can reach them through him? I mean, this man has apparently no connection to that imposter and his girlfriend, except that guy used his name and qualifications."

"Do we have any other options left? That fake Sanskar and his allies are indebted to him, so I'm sure they won't leave him to die." Agni reverted from a distance of thousands of miles in Madhya Pradesh, behind the obscurity of arrays of bamboo trees. "Tarun Mehra won't let them to, even if they do that."

Falcon shifted the weight of his body one foot and leaned against a wall, "But, I'm curious about one thing. You're adamant about hiding this quest of yours. Even your Chief is unaware this time.Why?"

"Because I'm sure, we have some traitor among us , who is passing information about our every steps to someone. I can't take any risk this time." Saying this Agni disconnected the call. His hawk eyes flickered, his jaws hardened in conviction. He could guess the darkest days of Black Wolves had started right after the escape of their former prisoners. His sixth sense could feel their ominous presence somewhere when everything was falling apart on the day of Christmas.

Ancient Sanskrit scriptures like Ramayana referred to Vindhya Ranges as a hearth for cannibals and demons. Whereas another mythological tale suggested that once Vindhyas had raised so high that it obstructed the sun for a while, to defeat Mount Meru. Today's Vindhyas had become the safe habitat for some demons named Black wolves. Agni hoped the latter tale too would turn into reality in no time . They were Vindhya, the fierce hunters . Soon they would be the Vindhyas, the arrogant mountains, soaring so high that they could block the sun and his light permanently, rendering the world into darkness.

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Three days have passed from their passionate altercation in that corridor. But neither him nor her brought that topic again. Sanskar still waited to propose in a grand way whereas Swara was battling two battles at the same time. Firstly, Sargam was trying his best to convince her to resign from Interpol and Swara was as stubborn as ever, leading the mature conversations turning into heated arguments at the end almost every time. Moreover, she was frustrated, confused and outraged watching Sanskar's careless inaction. For her it was nothing less than a cowardly retreat. What did he think of himself? After asserting his claim on her, he was just doing... nothing! Okay, that's not true completely. Now a days he was more invested into being a referee between Bose siblings. Swara in her anger joined hospital earlier that she had planned to do. And being the pain he was, during the lunch break Sanskar was trying to put some sense into her,"This is not right, Nymph. Aunty and Sargam deserve your company.Take a leave for God's sake. Your hospital isn't gonna run away, but they'll leave after 4 days!"

"Yeah right. Running and leaving, people tend to do them a lot these days, unlike this building."Sarcasm was at its best, dripping from her tone. God, she never failed to amaze him!

Sanskar chuckled sensing her irked state, "Then you can join the bandwagon too. I mean opt for a leave... at least for Aunty! In fact, I'm also planning to take one ."

" Kis khushi mein? What can be more important for the great SSR than his missions?" Swara was all out with her blazing guns and cannons.

" Kuch to hain... The most important mission in my life... is yet to be fulfilled." He stared right into her eyes meaningfully, then changed his expressions within seconds. " But you're right, we're running away from here for a while. If you throw tantrums, this time I'll kidnap you! Uthake le jaunga, samjhi." He smirked, noticed her eyes widening in surprise.

Swara had forgotten to move. She was startled when Sanskar clicked his fingers in front her, "Remember the date and place, Nymph. 31st December... Saturday... Boston... You're running away with me... to run together again..." His last words barely came as a whisper.

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*amartelamiento = love sickness