It had been more than a week of agony. It had been more than a week of intolerable vacuity. Eight never ending days of melancholy had passed since Swara's departure to Edmonton. And she didn't say a word of farewell before leaving him. Serves him right. He deserved this gut wrenching pain. He deserved the every bit of it for the insult he had inflicted upon her; for he dared to define those sublime, beautiful, blissful moments between them as physical desire. How could he?
He was missing her. His home, his office, roads, his car, all were screaming her name, his every cell was writhing in pain without her. Her memories were haunting his in the state of consciousness. She was permanent in his dreams and those dreams had snatched his sleep.
That soft glowing face of hers on the eve of sunset, that melodious laughter raising the beats of his enchanted heart, that jasmine fragrance which used to awake the hidden carnal desires in him.
He was reminded of her absence seeing the empty apartment facing opposite his one, the one where she was supposed to stay. That apartment reminded him, she stripped him of all rights all on a sudden.
Sanskar went to deal about the apartment on Swara's behalf, as she had left in hurry.There he came to know, all matters regarding her absence had been taken care by Thea.
"You jerk! You let the best thing go that have ever happened to you." She was not her usual cheerful, teasing self, when Sanskar met her in the cafeteria. She was downright rude and cast an accusing glance while leaving.
Thea could still remember the pain in her voice, when Swara came to office before leaving. "How can I get upset with him? How can I forget those days? He became my shield and strength, he gave me reasons to smile when there was none, he found me when I was lonely and lost. He did everything he could, just forgot to love me."
No, Thea couldn't act like all was hunky dory. That guy managed to hurt Swara, her dear friend cum partner in crime in the worst possible way.
He didn't have any answer. He wanted to say that day, when he overheard her. "I can't forget breathing, can I? Then how can I not love you? You'll never know, I'm suffocating, Nymph... But it's better to let you go, it's better than having your blood on my hands again..."
If he had his way, he would never let her go.He just wanted to kiss her senseless and bind forever in his embrace, show her how much he needed her, but he could not. He could not act like a needy selfish person and let her die.
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Sargam thought with Swara's return all would be fine. They would be one little happy family just like before. But man proposes, God disposes.
Swara was not her old bright self anymore. It didn't need any weather forecast to tell every now and then storms and rains washed her heart and eyes, for looming shadows of black clouds never left her face.
Yes, Sargam was impulsive, he forced Sanskar to act according to his will. But he didn't know his one wish would hurt his sister to this extent. All he wanted she would breath. Was that too much to ask for?
He almost lost his mind when his sharp vision had caught that bullet mark the night they went to House of Blues, a famous nightclub in Boston. She had wore that purple off shoulder asymmetric cocktail dress, after much protest, paired with a lavender laced mini cape. That cape shifted accidentally when they were on the dance floor. She adjusted it quickly, but Sargam felt cheated and terrified. The very next morning he confronted her, generating a lot of heat and tension in the atmosphere. He could guess why Swara hadn't contacted them that time. Fortunately Kiara and Ayaz put an end to that, with their timely arrival.
But he overheard them and came to learn in which situation Swara had been shot. Those two could be in awe that she could take bullet for Sanskar, but for Sargam he would prefer living Swara than noble Swara any day, who didn't care for herself, and who was deeply in love with Sanskar.
Criminal defense Lawyer Sargam Bose exploited his legal degree to the fullest, he performed as a merciless prosecutor when he found Sanskar was on the verge of proposing her.
"How selfish you are Sanskar! Once you people used her for your God damn mission, let her take a bullet that was meant for you. Now you want to keep her to yourself till one day she breathes her last? And you demand you love her so much! If you ever loved her truly, then prove it. Let her go, make her leave yourself."
And he was certain Sanskar would oblige, for that man loved her enough to let her leave to make sure she would live. If it was another realm, Sargam would do anything to unite them. But he couldn't let such a man entering Swara's life who played with death and fire on daily basis. Already she had immersed herself in that world too deep. She shouldn't be there anymore.
Unfortunately, despite being a doting brother and man of ethics, Sargam played sneaky. He really did that outside the court settlement once he joked about. He was one treacherous brother who had made his only sister going through living hell. He was not guilty but his conscience was, which had snatched his sleep since that eventful night.
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Inside the outlet of Planet Coffee, a Canadian chain of cafe located near the Ottawa Hospital Riverside Campus, a man in his early thirties was sipping his almost cold coffee. His mood was just like the liquid his tongue was tasting, black and bitter. He ran his fingers through his copper colored curls, his smoky grey eyes clearly showed the animosity that resided in his mind. He had been in deep thoughts until the call from W-506, a sleeper cell of Black wolves broke his reverie.
" Good news Falcon, target spotted. But unfortunately the guy was not with her." W-506 sounded really excited. This meant with a lump sum of cash, he was getting more credentials for earning a proper Black wolf name.
Falcon had to resist his urge to bang on the coffee table with great difficulty. At last this gamble including Sanskar Oberoi and Tarun Mehra paid off. Finally Agni with his aide had managed to hit the jackpot. "Excellent! Keep eyes on her. I'm coming tonight. Don't worry, iron will come running willingly once we have the magnet in our hands."
So, that over smart couple had weaved their lovely nest in Canada. "I hope you guys didn't waste your days and nights together. For soon you have to say goodbye to your pretty wife, Mr Imposter." A devilish dark smirk appeared and resided almost permanently near his tobacco stained dark lips.
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"Bhabi, please stop your stupid brother. Right now I'm regretting for coming here." Sanskar was half lying on the sofa cum bed placed in the living room, leaving all the weight of his body on his back. His eyes were closed, his hair was ruffled, his sexy stubble had grown way more than he would prefer to normally. His palms were covering his dull, worn out face. Not even the first ray of the sun had succeeded to brighten his appearance.
His ears were almost bleeding from the blaring sound of speakers coming from the spare bedroom of the apartment. Currently Eric, Kiara's younger brother was occupying that room. And that guy was hell bent on ruining Sanskar's already miserable mood by those songs, songs which were screaming the ache of separation and longing of lost love. A song that was reminding him of his Nymph, her musical voice, her closed eyes, the night when he had hurt her for the first time. It was the night she accepted him as her friend even if he was rude with her.
Monday night and I feel so low
I count the hours but they go so slow
I know the sound of your voice can save my soul.
"Oh you have plenty of things to regret for." It was Ayaz snapping back from the hallway. "You should regret for acting like a coward. You should regret for hurting her in the cruellest way ever. You should regret for not stopping her. At least Eric had guts to ask the girl he liked for a date. And you were in love with her, you fool! Or was that love not enough for you?"
"I still love her, AK! I will, forever. Don't question my feeling and please, don't use past tense. You know very well why I behaved like that, don't you?" Sanskar bursted out all on a sudden, his frustration was evident. This never ending blame game was an added insult his already wounded heart, as if losing her wasn't enough.
Now he hated himself for staying the night here. What was he thinking?
City lights, streets of gold
Look out my window to the world below
Moves so fast but it feels so cold
And I'm all alone
He was afraid to stay in that apartment all by himself. Loneliness was making him more miserable. Those moments with her was playing in front of him, inside his head like there was no end to this. Like a broken tape recorder.
Their first kiss, near the waterfall, when she was lying beneath her so close, that souls earing passionate kiss, the wetness of their skin, those overflowing emotions and relief...
Their evening in Chilumputri, when they had disguised themselves as a newly married couple. That red in her parting , that wedding chain. How he wished those could have been her identity that day, not disguise.
And the deepest shade of crimson on her creamy cheeks when he whispered, "She said we complete each other in every sense... We're definitely going to have very cute babies."
Don't let me die
I'm losing my mind
Baby, just give me a sign
"See, Sunny. Just look at this. How perfect you two were together." Ayaz showed him a picture that he had clicked on the 1st night of 2017. "Even in a picture which captured her broken heart, thanks to you."
And that image hit him hard, like a heavy punch that knocked him out of his breath. Her petite frame was almost concealed inside his strong hold, her face almost buried against his chest. Their eyes had tears, they had fireworks in the background.
"I love you, Nymph. Be mine forever."
It was an illusion like that proposal happened and she said yes. It gave him the feel, what he could have; what he let go so carelessly. Those tears could have been tears of joy. That embrace could have marked their beginning, not goodbye or a desperate attempt to refrain her from watching that fireworks. He could dream to see his Nymph in bridal attire and make her Mrs Swara Sanskar Singh Rathore one day.
And now that you're gone
I just wanna be with you (be with you)
And I can't go on
I wanna be with you (be with you)
Wanna be with you
"Her brother asked you to ditch her and you agreed? You think you've done great favour on her, you think you can ensure her safety if you stay away from her, don't you?" Ayaz was fed up of his pigheaded friend, who had been avoiding the topics for discussion since that very day. Today he was determined to knock some sense into him. "You are so wrong, Sunny. Do you really think Black wolves won't track her in Edmonton? At least here she would have you."
"Exactly! I'm here. She will never hesitate to jump and take a bullet on my behalf." Sanskar clutched his forehead, his body shivered.He could clearly remember her faint smile, when her small bleeding body was imprisoned by his desperate embrace, when his tears had kissed her face. He could remember those sleepless hours of that dreadful night, the darkest night of his life.
I can't sleep, I'm up all night
Through these tears I try to smile
I know the touch of your hand can save my life
"Are you sure she won't do the same for her mom or that overprotective, manipulative brother?" Ever zestful Ayaz was getting harsher with every sentence he mouthed. "That Sargam Bose will do nothing but cry over her missing news or worse, over her dead body!"
THWACK!
And Batman finally punched Robin on the right side his face.
"How dare you, AK? How could you use those words for MY NYMPH?" Sanskar's eyes were red in anger, but his seething voice couldn't conceal the raw agony, desperation and fear, whipping a storm in his heart. She was safe, she had to be. She shouldn't get a scratch, just because he acted like an emotional, sacrificial goat. He couldn't afford losing her.
He picked his cell and called someone. "Mr Finn, please book a ticket to Edmonton for me. Time of the flight? As early as possible."
Don't let me down
Come to me now
I got to be with you some how.
Ayaz winced as he smiled, for his lips had cracked in the corner. He was relieved. At least that buffoon had found his missing wits. He was ready to accept any amount of punches to see those two together. However, his wife was looking she would murder Sunny any time, and that crazy guy was running here and there, getting ready to leave.
Fear gripped his heart, when Sanskar found his phone was ringing and it was Sargam calling for the first time. It sank when Sargam's panicked status transmitted through his trembling voice.
"Shona is missing, Sanskar. She left and we don't know where she is. All we know is she left for her new working place but don't know where it is. And she is not picking up the phone. "
And now that you're gone
Who am I without you now?
Sanskar felt he was going crazy. He couldn't hold his anger, blasted Sargam for his lack of responsibility. Swara had punished him in the worst possible way. He left her for keeping her safe, and she left her safe home. Like that dress, she had rejected his concern.
Where are you Nymph? Please, come back.
I can't go on
I just wanna be with you.
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"Mr Perera, please wait for me. I think I left my cellphone inside." Swara was rummaging through her purse as Juan Perera, one of the security personnel sent for Bose residence made an amused face. That request faced a denial, and Juan followed her inside the restaurant where they had grabbed breakfast and some coffee. He was supposed to drop her in the airport which was not really far from here. Then he would go back to watch over the Bose residence again, he needed to reach there before Sargam leaving for Patrick and Smith Lawyers, his workplace.
Swara noticed her iPhone 7 lying near the drinks counter. But she hadn't went that direction. Perhaps someone picked it and kept it there for safekeeping. She didn't want to think that much. Already a notorious man was occupying every inch of her mind and heart.
He or his betrayal? Perhaps the latter. She would stay strong, she would never cry. Only that thought kept her sane. Otherwise those few hours she had spent in moping and pining had already left deep scars on her still bleeding heart.
Now those scars are drying, building fibrosed walls surrounding her heart.
She got her phone and headed towards the exit. The moment she turned, a waitress tripped over and dashed into her, spilling sunny side of two poached eggs on her cream woollen pullover. Unfortunately that particular customer loved that portion raw.
She really felt bad to keep Juan waiting while she had to rush inside the restroom for a change. That girl apologized, but Swara wouldn't have minded if she hadn't. Her heart and dreams had been broken by the man she was in love with. Loss of an apparel was the last thing she should be bothered of.
She was washing her hands after throwing the stained tops in the bin. Keeping something that smelled of raw egg in the luggage wouldn't be a good idea. She was about to close the tap when she saw an image on the mirror, of a person who seemed to appear out of thin air. A pair of smoky grey eyes was looking at her through the mirror, the eyes which screamed the owner of them was bad news. His sardonic smile gave no effort to conceal his evil intention. In a jiffy he jumped forward and caught her from behind.
Only a moment was wasted in shock, Swara parted her mouth to scream as loud as she can. Juan was not too far from here, all she needed was to keep calm and use her wit. But that lost moment was the game changer, when a needle pierced her upper arm, making her body go limp. That attempted scream came out as a yelp. The hustle and bustle in the restaurant in the thick of the rush hour was more than enough to shush that sound.
Moreover who was going to look for her? Falcon let out a low chuckle when he recalled that guy accompanying her was lying on the floor few minutes before. Same drug had worked wonders with him, going places from muscles to circulation.
In a few minutes the clumsy blonde waitress appeared and held Swara from the other side. People on the street watched two kind souls were coming out the back door holding a semiconscious girl from her shoulder. One of them even called someone, probably some family member. The girl in her half conscious state stirred a little with great difficulty and murmured. "S-sans...kar..."
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Inside the terminal of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sanskar was waiting for his only luggage to pass the X Ray scanner for security check. Just when his luggage had got the tag attached to it, his phone beeped twice.
Finally she had responded after 97 missed call, that too with a message. So she didn't want to talk to him, Sanskar came to the conclusion, leaving a deep sigh. Never mind. At least she broke her silence. A smile crept on his lips automatically as her angry bird image consumed his mind once again. His crazy Nymph!
The smile vanished in no time; reading the message from A to Z. It said, "Wanna see your lovely wife? I think you do. Right now she is breathing but I can't guarantee she will after few hours. If you don't wish to be a widower, meet us in Mactaggart Sanctuary near White mud Creek at sharp 6. Beware, one more person other than you and I'll shoot her right then.-BW"
The people inside the terminal were witnesses of an unique incident that day. SSR faltered in his steps, for the first time in his life.
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Mangal Lakshmi
