Antara's POV
I pepped out again and looked everywhere. Everything seemed silent around. I slowly came out of car's dickey silently. I looked around again standing on the road and couldn't find any one around me. All of them musty be inside the warehouse I had to find the way inside first and then get into the warehouse saving myself from their eyes. I slowly walked forward taking the shadow covered trail around the boundary wall so that I could hide myself quickly from other's eyes. Though the gloomy street light was not enough to see clearly but was enough to detect a human being coming round. I had to be extra careful every time.
Sooner I heard a footstep from the other side and quickly hid myself on the shadow boundary wall. After some moment I found kakka and some other men coming from the other side. Kakka was confusingly looking towards the ground while walking. I invoked myself on the small gapping on the wall and stood there holding my breath. They passed by me and fortunately didn't notice. Their broken conversation reached my ear.
"Kya kakka... kyun apne ghari ke piche pare hoo aisey time pe... rahene doo na,.." that other guy with kakka told him.
"Chup kar vey... do hazar ki ghari thi... sona zaraya huyaa hain... aur woo ghari jab bhi mere hathon se girta hain tabhi kuch naa kuch bura hota hain aur aaj saa se iss ghari koo pata nahin kya hoo gaya hain.." kakka said in annoyance.
I was not far away from that taxi. I saw them going round the taxi and finally it seemed like they found them near the back side of car. I thanked god that I didn't ran over that watch in darkness. They would be doubtful if they would fine the watch broken. Kakka and that other man again passed by me on the reverse way and vanished on the corner of the wall. It seemed like the entrance to the warehouse was on that way. Cautiously, I stepped towards the direction. When I took the turn I could clearly see the entrance some steps away and also some dim lights were coming out. I slowly stepped towards the door holding onto the wall with slow pace, and finally reached near the entrance. Some broken cardboard boxes, drums, broken metal pieces were scattered around the ground near the ground making it a wastage place. It seemed like a perfect place for hideout, so I quickly moved inside and peaked inside hiding myself behind a drum.
The scene inside made me silent for a while. No one could say without seeing that what a big thing was happening on such a lonely place. I found the two trucks parked at some distance and some men were fetching out cardboard boxes from the trucks and moving towards the backside of warehouse. The boxes seemed too heavy because even three men together were having difficulty to carry one single box. I wander from where those men came from cause manohar only had two men with them apart from drivers and even that ansari men didn't had so many followers with him while he came. I remembered Ansari mentioning about the trawlers standing at the back side of warehouse. There must be some backwater lagoon behind the warehouse as I could clearly felt the sea breeze nearby with the salty smell in air. Those men must had come in the trawlers. I wandered that how many people they had fetch.
Also I found Ansari's guards and some other men checking out all over the area with loaded firearms in their hands. it was not at all easy to skip their vulture eyes. There was a guard standing near the entrance aiming his firearms determined to blow the head of who ever tried to trespass inside. At somendistance I found an old man sitting on the floor all tied up. That must be the old warehouse guard they were talking about. Another guard with loaded gun was keeping an watch on the old man. As I saw the condition inside without a single breath I left the idea to enter inside through the main entrance. I went on search for another entrance saving myself from their eyes.
My whole body was shaking during all these. It was not at all easy for me to do so. I was not some trained police officer or military person who was expert in handling such situation. I was only an ordinary girl who was stuck in the situation by my own reckless choice. I only had my determination as power whether they had loads of arms which were enough to create ruthless brutal sieve of thousand bullets on my body. My girlish fear was capturing me all the time as I was thinking about the result if a little mistake I had done. Tears were about to brim down my eyes and I was backing up all those thoughts biting my lips and holding mu nerves, praying hard to god to take away every fear from my mind so I could do whatever I was capable of to stop those leeches.
At last I found a way to inside. It was just within the wastage area. Just removing some broken cardboard boxes I found a hole at the bottom of boundary wall large enough to crawl in for me. I peeped inside cautiously and found the scattered broken metal pieces, cardboard boxes and drums around and at the right side I could see the men busy in their work. They were not at all looking towards the wastage area. Good for me! I closed my eyes for a minute and hold my breath. Then I silently crawled inside making as less sound I could make. Soon I found myself inside the warehouse area.
Within the wastages, I moved cautiously without stepping on something which could make a sound and alert them. I was searching for an way to go at the back side of the warehouse because everything was happening there only.
After some moments, I found a dark narrow way between two huge buildings of warehouse which would surely lead to backside. Looking around cautiously I came near the dark lane taking the shelter of dark shadows of warehouse building. I waited for some moment to see if the way is safe. I couldn't hear any sound coming from the narrow lane and it seemed like the workers were taking another suitable way to the backward to carry the arms containing boxes. I entered inside the dark lane and walked as fast as I could. Soon I reached to the end the cold sea breeze hit my face hard.
I didn't come out from the dark lane as it was the best place out there to hide myself and check around.
As mentioned, there was a large backwater lagoon at the back side of warehouse and could see a broken small jetty. The cardboard boxes which were being carried away on the broken jetty were gathered near the shore and some other bunch of people were loading them to the two trawlers which stood just near the jetty only some few distance from each other. Some armed guards were also there keeping their eyes around and giving rounds near the loaded boxes. I also found manohar kakka and that ansari guy near those boxes. Two people were opening the seal of a box and both of them were gazing towards that box silently. And finally when the box was finally opened, I could see a satisfactory smile on Ansari's face. He moved his hands inside the box and with some hay sticks he let out a long sharp firearm which I never seen in my whole life. I had a very little idea about the different kind of firearms when cornel uncle used to teach me gun shooting. But seeing that thing in ansari's hand that it was surely fetched from outside country cause these kinds of advanced and developed firearms is still not available in our country. Ansari checked the gun with satisfied eyes.
"badiya hain..." he complemented.
"hum log kharap maal kabhi nahin dete ansari bhai..." kakka said with an impish grin.
"Chalo thik hain..." Ansari kept the gun inside the box and ordered him to move the thing.
They started to have some usual talk about the money transfer and I was thinking hard that how to stop everything. After thinking hard I got a way that if somehow the arms containing box would get caught fire everything would be ruined. But how could I do that?! It seemed impossible for two reasons.
Number one, if the boxes caught fire on the spot the whole warehouse would be blown away with us.
Number two, I couldn't even reach near the boxes breaking that tough security.
"Think antara think... you don't have much time left..." Someone told me from inside and I think harder and harder.
"Boss problem ho gayi hain..."I heard soemone's worried voice. I found a man standing near ansari with worried face.
"Kya huya?!" ansari asked.
"Boss woo... diesel kii kuch 4-5 dabbe leak hoo gaye hain... jyada nahin hain par thora bahut tel nikal rahe hain unn defective dabbe se... kya karein?!" that guy asked.
"Arey nikal fenko unn defective dabbo koo... 4-5 dabbo see kuch nuksan nahin hone wala... humare pass itna supply hain ki kaal subha see pahele humlog samansar ke raste se international water mein pauch jayangey...par unn lekage kiye huye tel mein agar zara saa bhi aag lag jayein too barood aur hathiyar see bhara huye dono trawler ek sath jal jayengey aur beach samandar mein hum logon kaa kaam tamam hoo jayega!!" ansari said with a high peach voice.
"Thik hain boss... arey fenk do sare defective diesel can..." the boy screamed and moved. I was watching everything silently. After some moments I saw two of the men coming down from a trawler with 4-5 middle sized diesel cans in their hand and going towards the broken brick walls which was surrounding the warehouse. Suddenly I saw a boy coming near the dark lane. My heart thudded loudly. I thought that he caught me. But no, he just stood some inches away and lit up his cigarette. I went a bit inside the darkness for caution.
"Arey lateef kya kar raha hain?! fenk issey..." I saw another guy approaching and snatching the cigarette case and match box from him.
"Arey arif, bas kar yaar... do ghante hoo gaye bina liye..." lateef said.
"Lateef pagal hoo gaya hain kya?! Boss dekhengey too zubaan kaat dengey humari... aur waisey bhi idhar charon taraf barood bhara huya hain.. boss nee kuch der pahele kya kahan suna nahin tune?!" arif said and threw away the cigarette case along with the match box. The match box fell directly near my feet. Someone called for them and they moved towards the trawler. I kept on looking to the match box near my feet. An insane dangerous idea was flashing in my mind which seemed almost impossible to execute.
However it was the only option left for me by far!
I took the match box in my hand and slowly peeped out from the dark lane. At my left side I could see the broken wall's coverage along the building. I moved my eyes towards the people and everyone looked busy with their work. I quickly steeped out of the dark lane and moved inside the coverage of broken brick wall. I stood there for a moment taking a deep breath. The thing I was going to do was not at all easy. If a little thing gets wrong the whole plan would be ruined. After a haul I moved along the broken wall quickly towards the place where I saw those men throwing away the defected diesel cans.
The wall was almost broken at a side where the lagoon water had almost reached near the pavement of warehouse building and the building was almost ruined there. The whole place was filled up with wastage materials like broken metal piece, glass pieces, cardboard boxes, wires etc. The brick wall had transformed totally into brick pile there but enough to hide me from their eyes. The lagoon water was touching the end of brick piles and one of the trawlers was standing so near to the brick wall. Perfect as I wanted. I headed to search for the defected diesel cans and it didn't make long to find them. Touching them I searched for the cracks and soon found them. The little bit of oil was leaking out but it was not enough for me to do everything properly. I looked around and find a sharp metal piece and a long rope in the wastage. Perfect thing I needed for the moment.
It seemed like god himself wanted to help me on that day, that's why I was saved from raghu's eyes and was getting everything I needed. As if like the almighty was showing me the way on his own, I was feeling a strong inner strength in my heart which made my determination strong to stop those evils.
The oil cans were a bit heavy for me but it would be better because it would contain so much oil inside which is needed for me. I tied them up with the rope and dragged them over the sand to reach near the nearby trawler. No one was watching over the side of brick wall and was busy in loading the trawler. I swiftly moved out of the brick pile's coverage and moved along the shore keeping eyes on them. But suddenly disaster happened while I stepped over a broken glass piece unconsciously. I bit my lips hard to press the scream inside. I understood that I had a bad cut on my foot and probably it was bleeding.
"kaun hain?!!" I heard a sound. Damn!! The broken glass piece sound had alerted them. Ignoring the burning pain in my feet, I kept those cans there and rushed back to the brick piles coverage. I sat there covering myself. After some moment I heard the sound of a foot step approaching near. Soon a shadow fell on the ground near me. I sat there stopping my breath while my heart hammered inside my cage. If that guy move a bit further he would surely find me hiding there.
But seemed like luck was in my favor that day, suddenly a little kitten appeared from nowhere in front. The shadow didn't move further.
"Arey pappu, idhar kya kar raha hain?!" another shadow appeared at his side.
"Kuch nahin bhaiya, woo kuch awa sunayi di thi idhar se... idhar ayya too dekha woo billi hain." other guy answered.
"Chal idhar se yaar.. jaldi jaldi sara samman load karna parega... subha hone see pahele coast guards ki nazar bachake humein samandar mein pauchna parega..."
Soon the shadow disappeared from the ground and the kitten disappeared on the darkness yawning hard.
"Thank you.." I just couldn't stop saying that although it was just a little thing. It literally saved my life that day.
I soon moved back to the place while I left the cans. That time I became extra conscious not to step on any random thing and soon I reached near the trawler. I had to step inside the water to reach near the trawler and as soon as my feet touched the salty water of lagoon the burned on the cut of my foot. I squeezed my eyes shut biting my lips to bear the pain and moved near the trawler. As far I knew that this kind of trawlers always hanged tower tubes at the both sides. My eyes were habituated with darkness on the time and in dim light I could visualize the tower tube hanging from the side. Quickly I wrapped the rope on the tower and lifted those cans with the help of that rope and with the same rope I tied those cans with the tower tube. I was panting hard due to the mental and physical stress. My tired mind and body couldn't take it anymore. I stood there silent and numb for almost 5 mins to recoil myself. Just some little bit more I had to wait and till that I couldn't let my tiredness and tension take over me.
"Arif bhai... Idhar sara saman load hoo gaya..." someone screamed from the trawler.
"Bahut ache... Dusre trawler mein bhi lagbhag hoo gaya hain... boss ne kahan kuchi minute mein hum log niklengey..." someone answered me form other side.
I quickly pushed away my tiredness and tension aside. I took the broken sharp metallic piece and pushed inside the cracks of cans to enhance those creak so that a large amount of diesel fell on the water from those cans. As diesel is lighter than water so it would fall from the can and float all over the way over the lagoon water as the trawler would move further. But I cut my fingers while enhancing the
cracks of last can. I quickly sucked my cut. Cornel uncle told me once that the small cuts should never be considered while u are in battle field. They are like the glory of soldiers. So I ignored all the paining sensations. Finishing my works, I quickly rushed back to the coverage of brick pile and waited for the place to be emptied.
Soon the trawler started its engine while ansari and all his men moved inside them. As the trawler moved further, even manohar kakka and his men left. My nerve was almost shaking due to the tension. I just prayed to god hard that my insane plans worked. I would get only a single chance... if I didn't succeed everything would be ruined. With those arms and ammunitions I didn't know how many lives they intended to take. I just wanted to perish those all demons along with those dreadful arms to get them the taste of their own medicines.
My whole feature stiffened in utter determination. I stood up ignoring all the cuts and bruises in my body. No one was around and the trawlers were also at safest distance. Just after some more minutes it would disappear from my eye sight. So I need to move faster. I struggled with my aching feat and reached to the same spot where the trawler was standing just some moment ago. The powerful sent of
diesel made me detect the place. I looked towards the small light of two trawlers on distance which were moving enough closer to each other to execute my plan perfectly. My heart thudded hard in my cage as I lit up the match stick in my shaky hand.
"Please pappa... help me..." I mumbled closing my eyes and then at the next moment I threw the lit up matchsticks on the water. The diesels which were floating on the water caught the fire instantly and I witnessed the fire flames merging up into the water and slowly turning into huge. Following the trails of
diesels which were scattered over the water it rushed further towards the source of diesels i.e. the trawlers from where the diesel cans were hanging.
I stood there numb for a very moment unable to believe that my plan was working finally. I stood there on the shore with wide eyes looking towards the fire flames rushing over the water to perish the evils. I knew as soon as the flame would touch the trawler the box full of gun powders would surely caught the fire. I heard some faint scream from further which brought back my sense. They sensed the fire rushing towards them. I should not stand there like that anymore. I rushed and struggled back towards the brick warehouse like mad. Following the coverage of brick wall as soon as I moved inside the narrow lane a huge ear defeating sound of blast mad me fall on the place losing my all powers. With wide eyes I saw the bright lights flashing suddenly on the dark lanes. I snapped back behind and could see two massively huge yellow fireballs over the lagoon water exploding and shinning on the dark sea. The flames were reaching higher and higher with each and every ear deafening sound of explosion.
Among those ear deafening sounds, the flying flames towards the sky, the smell of burns I sat their numb on the ground seeing the devastation with my own eyes. It was not new to me. Just some months ago those people snatched my everything in such a manner.
A huge burst of emotion rose from my heart to my shaking thorat, my shaking lips and came out through my eyes in form of vigorous tears. My vision started to turn blur with the falling moist drop from eyes.
Cricket
