Part 11
Year 1999
“What are you looking in the newspaper since half n hour?” Mickey asked as he threw a stone in the sea. “We murdered that gangster and injured that mantri severely but there is no news of it in any newspaper.” Neil replied. “So what?” Mickey asked as he threw another stone in the sea. “I wanted to know who that gangster was? He was sitting in minister’s party he must be some big shot and we killed him. We should know everything about him to protect ourselves.” Neil explained. “Protect?” Mickey asked. “What do you think his men will not take revenge from us? They must have already started looking for us.” Neil concluded. “May be police covered up the news to protect minister’s image but these underworld people will surely come after us so we should better be prepared.” Neil concluded.
Neil checked his pocket. The money they got from selling those bottles and drugs packet was enough for few weeks of survival, to buy a locally made gun. Once this money is over they must soon think of a way to survive and earn livelihood. Also, they needed a roof over head.
Neil decided to go to his chawl. There he hid himself when he saw some goons were standing at the door of his house. He entered from back gate of the chawl and called his Mukesh uncle. “Where were you? I have been searching for you everywhere. What did you do? Do you even know that gangster you killed …who was he? He was Ismail’s younger brother Khursheed.” Mukesh informed him. “Ismail bhai???” asked Neil. “The matka king, He owns all the casinos, lotteries and gambling joints. Bahut bada aadmi hai. Bade bade logo se pehchaan hai. Wo apne bhai ke kaatilo ko kutte ki tarah sungh kar dhund nikalega. Tu aur tera wo sathi agar marna nahi chahte to ye shehar chhodkar bhaag jao.” Mukesh advised.
“I will not run away. Mumbai kisi ke baap ka nahi hai jo hume chhodne par majbur karde. Aapse bas itni help chahiye ki aap wo jo gun lekar aaye the. Waise do gun aur chahiye.” Neil said. “Ok, but this time I’ll need money.” Mukesh replied.“I have that much money to purchase desi kattas, filhaal isi se kaam chala lunga main.” Neil answered. “Ok, this place is not safe for you. Go, I will inform you once I’ll arrange the gun.” Mukesh said and pushed him back from the back door.
Mukesh called him after two days. Mickey and Neil went in the chawl. Neil looked at Mukesh. He looked nervous and scared. Before Neil could understand anything they were surrounded by 4 men. Neil looked at Mukesh in shock. He hung his head in guilt. “I am sorry. They threatened to kill my family.” He said.
“I couldn’t believe first when I was told that a mere teenager boy killed my brother but after seeing the fire in your eyes now I believe you would have done the deed. If it were another circumstances I would have surely recruited the talent like you in my gang. But you have to bear the consequences to kill my brother.” Ismail ordered his men to capture the boys. But Neil was too fast for them. He and Mickey dodged them and ran away. Neil held Mickey’s hand and kept running through the narrow streets of area as he knew it from his childhood.
The goons scattered to find them. Taking advantage of the situation Neil and Mickey trapped and killed all four men one by one. Ismail called more of his men and started chasing both the boys. The boys were beginning to slow down as they were tired of excessive running. Finally Ismail caught them and pushed them to the ground. He pointed his gun at them while Neil took some dust in his hand ready to throw in Ismail’s eyes for counter attack. But Ismail had to put down his gun when he heard a thick commanding voice of a lady.
“Don’t even dare to use weapons in this area. This is my area. Ye bacche meri panaah mein hain is samay. Inhe maarne ki bhul mat karna nahi to tum yaha se zinda nahi ja paoge.” Lady warned. “You don’t know Naeem bi, they have killed my younger brother khursheed.” Ismail protested. “I know and I also know what your younger brother used to do with innocent little boys of juvenile prison. They killed him in self defense. In my eyes, its not a crime. So back off.” Naeem bi warned again and on her signal many women and children whom she considered as her extended family, started surrounding Ismail. So he had to retreat having no other option.
“Thanks for helping us Aunty.” Neil said. “Naeem bi, sab yahi kehte hain mujhe. Tum bhi aaj se yahi kehna.” Naeem bi said and placed her hand on Neil’s head lovingly. Neil looked up at her and smiled. Not only Neil and Mickey got a roof over their head in Naeem bi’s waadi, a place which she has developed over the years and settled down many orphans and widows of mafias after their death. After so many days Neil got something as close as family in Naeem bi and Mickey. Naeem bi taught him all about the underworld, about every whos who of this city.
Flashback ends
Present time
Mini woke up in the morning. She found she was lying very close to Neil. She distanced herself immediately from him. But then she gave it a second thought.She knew Neil always made her put her head on his chest so that he can see her face first thing in the morning. This was a good opportunity to come close to him. She lied down again in his arms and put her head on his chest and acted as if she is in deep sleep.
Neil woke up after few minutes. For a moment he forgot to breathe as he saw his beautiful angel is sleeping in his arms just like old times. He kept looking at her for few moments. She was really an angel to love a devil like him. He knew he was weird and most of the people around him considered him as psycho. They were even afraid of coming in his way or looking at him directly fearing he could kill them on whim.
He himself sometimes feared that this blood lust will make him mad one day but Mini had not only accepted him as it is but kept reminding him that life is beautiful when she is with him. She was his inspiration and motivation to fight every battle and win it because at the end of the day he will get to come home to Mini. All these years when he stayed away from her were the darkest days of his life. He was only existing, existing to take revenge from those who took her away from him. The two men he killed last night were from those people. How could he have left them?
Now that his angel is back, he will not let her go away even if he had to massacre thousands people or burn down whole world for that. He caressed her hair lovingly. Mini pulled up her head and looked at him yawning like an innocent cute little cat…his billi. “Good morning jaan.” Neil wished her and planted a kiss on her forehead. In that moment he looked at her so lovingly that Mini had to remind herself that she is just pretending to be close to him.
Mini got up and went to her room to get ready for the day. She met Mickey on her way. “How are you? I know you were hurt by his behavior last night. You know how he is. He can be so obtuse sometimes. Please don’t take his words to your heart.” Mini placed her hand on Mickey’s shoulder as a friendly gesture. Mickey looked into her eyes as if trying to read her mind then laughed out loud.
“Why are you laughing?” Mini narrowed her eyebrows. “Turns out that Neil was right after all. One night in his room and look at you, trying to say sorry to me on his behalf.” “What nonsense?” Mini replied back. “Arre, naraaz mat ho. Just joking. I know why are you trying to pacify me? Neil is the common person that brings us together but apart from him also there is a relationship between us…a beautiful friendship. That dumb head keeps hurting us and we keep wiping each others tears.” Mickey smiled at Mini and she returned the gesture.
“Hmm, looks like two most important persons in my life are conspiring against me.”Neil said as he came out of the room. “Yes, we are planning your murder.” Mickey joked. “Oh, I should be really afraid then. Two people, one is my jaan and other is whom I trust with my jaan….deadly combination…but will they ever be able to live without me?” Neil asked dramatically. “No.” Mini and Mickey both said at the same time. Mickey’s answer was obvious but Mini was stunned for a second at her reply. Neil smiled at her, she clearly looked uncomfortable. She excused herself and proceeded towards her room.
“Told you, keep your advice to yourself in her matter. Did you hear that? She is softening towards me.” Neil asked as he hit Mickey with back of his hand playfully. Mickey saw Mini’s retreating form. He was not convinced what Neil said but he didn’t want to burst his bubble so he let it go.
“I have got an important lead. Its about Anna and Ismail.” Mickey told him. Mini stopped in her tracks when Mickey’s words reached her ears. She saw both of them went into Neil’s room. She started thinking of some way to go there when she noticed a servant who was taking a tray of tea and breakfast in Neil’s room. Mini took the tray from him and dismissed the servant.
Mini entered with the tray in Neil’s room. Neil and Mickey looked up at her in shock. “I…I…thought…I should ..bring the breakfast for you guys.” Mini nervously answered Neil’s questioning gaze while she averted her eyes from Mickey. “Why suddenly?” Mickey said before he could stop himself. “Why…Cant I…I bring breakfast for you? Sometime back in the hallway…the way we all were talking it reminded me of old times…that’s why I….” Mini try to come up with some excuse.“No need to give explanation jaan. Come…come here and you also join us. We will have breakfast together just like old times….that’s what you want right?” Neil shifted on the couch and made place for Mini. He was happy finally Mini was changing to her former self.
Mini sat down and started to fix their breakfast. “Yes, tell me what were you saying” Neil asked. “Our informer has told us that Anna and Ismail is going to make biggest deal of their life. One separatist group supported by neighbouring country is planning to dump fake currency worth rs. 3000 crores in Indian market. They will be bringing money through hawala with the help of Anna via Bangladesh route then Ismail will spread it through his casinos and lotteries. Thus they want to hit the backbone of India by crumpling down its economy. Anna and Ismail have been promised 500 crores for the success of mission.” Mickey completed.
“Mini cut her finger while she was cutting an apple as she was shocked by the information Mickey had shared. “Be careful jaan.” Neil said took her finger immediately in his mouth to suck it and stop the blood flow. Mini looked at him in wonder. The person who could slash the throats of people to let them die mercilessly can be so soft hearted and considerate for her small cut. Mini remembered how happy he was after that bloodshed as if it was giving him adrenaline rush now look at him so worried at just few drops of blood on her finger. Mini tried to pull her hand back but he didn’t let her till he was convinced that the blood has stopped and cut was not deep while Mickey looked away embarrassed from the scene.
Mickey cleared his throat to get their attention. “How can these people stoop so low?Joining hands with enemy country and separatist groups!” Mini asked. “I am not surprised. They were already low lives.” Replied Neil rolling his eyes. “Excuse me, how are you guys any different from them?” Mini asked angrily but then bit her tongue as she reminded herself that now she is pretending to be close to Neil.
“I know you wont believe even if we say that whatever or however we are but we know where to set limits. Hum kitne bhi bure sahi par kam se kam Anna aur Ismail ki tarah usi thali mein chhed nahi kar rahe jisme khate hain. I know we all are criminals but I have my own set of rules and principles and whatever doesn’t fit in it is wrong for me. When all those mafias used to work for me in my cartel my interference, my principles were one of the most important reason they turned against me.” Neil gave his clarification. But Mini shook her head disapprovingly and continued cutting apples.
“There is one more news and probably the most important news for us.” Mickey said.“Whats that?” “Their so called high profile deal is going to take place in one of Lala’s pub.” Mickey replied. “Wow! Looks like they offered Lala some money to make him join their side but they didn’t know Lala has already made a deal with us. He wants them all dead.” Neil laughed. “So where this deal is taking place.” Asked Neil. “After 10 days on Ganesh visarjan as on that day police will be busy handling crowd and even if something goes wrong they can easily escape.” Mickey completed.
“Hmm…taiyyari kar lo. Is ganesh visarjan par victory dance to apna hi hoga.” Neil said. Mini handed Neil his cup of tea. He took a sip and closed his eyes in content. “You still remember everything about my likes and dislikes?” Neil asked as he looked at Mini lovingly. Mini nodded her head in yes. “How could I have forgotten….there was a time when all I wanted to do is to please you in every way possible.” Mini replied honestly without any pretense this time.
“Mickey, make preparations. I will also come this time.” Neil instructed. Mickey just nodded his head and waited till they completed their breakfast and Mini left with the tray. “Neil, I don’t think you should come. As there is another news, I didn’t want to say it in front of Mini.” “What are you talking about?” Neil asked. “Patnaik went crazy after seeing his son’s dead body. He want to avenge him anyhow. I have information that he has given your supari to a sharp shooter from Columbia. It will not be safe for you to move out of the house.” Mickey suggested. “Ab toh main jarur jaunga. Main bhi to dekhu don ki supari lene ki himmat kisne dikhayi hai. Main darke baithne walo mein se nahi hoon. Main waha jaunga. Unke beech ghus kar marunga unhe…unki aukaat pata chalni chahiye unhe….Neil Oberoi se dushmani bahut mehngi padegi sabko.” Neil said with gritted teeth.
to be continued.......
comment:
p_commentcount