The Curse of That Night (15 page)

Chapter 33

Rohan

“Hello.”

“Hey! Rohan. How are you brother?”

“Brother, I need some of my documents that I left at your place. Can I come in the evening to collect them?” Rohan asked over the phone.

Abhijeet was more than happy. His brother was calling him after such a long time!

“Sure Rohan. Why are you asking bro? This is your house too!” said Abhijeet.

Rohan got his answer. He disconnected the call.

Now he had to work on the plan. The death must look like an accident, with no evidence left behind what so ever.

Gas leak. Cylinder blast. Four dead bodies.

Perfect plan. Perfect accident. Perfect blast. No survivor. Mission accomplished.

He reached Abhijeet’s villa in the evening. The gatekeeper recognised him.

“Rohan sir
aap
? Abhijeet sir told me that you would come to meet him. Do you want me to tell Abhijeet sir?” asked the guard.

“No,” replied Rohan.

He entered.

“Rohan sir!” it was Darsh.

“Hello Darsh. Where is everyone?”

“Abhijeet sir is with Malvika madam. Should I call them?” said Darsh.

“No,” said Rohan and walked towards what used to be his room.

In between he came across Abhijeet’s study room.

“What is this case all about that Abhijeet has taken so many risks and got involved with people like MLA Yadav?” he wondered.

He entered the room and looked for any case file or documents. He came across one. ‘Aarti’ was written on top of it.

“Aarti’s rape case.

Main Culprit: Omi Yadav.

Decision pending,” he read the contents of the front page.

Rohan flipped the page. The second page contained a picture of someone. May be it was Aarti, the victim. He had never seen her face. He took the picture in his hands to take a closer look.

His jaw dropped down. He was shocked. Stunned.

“This can’t be true!” he dropped the picture on the floor and fell on the sofa adjacent to the table.

“This can’t be… ”

“Why in the whole fucking world it had to be her!”

Chapter 34

Aarti

If she is right, it disheartens almost everyone to see that chivalry is not something easily visible today. And the ones who follow it with slavish devotion keep wondering how can someone who doesn’t know how to respect and treat women in a chivalrous manner can ever expect to win someone’s gratitude and respect? Be it college, DTC buses, markets, they are looked upon by some men as sex- object and disrespected. If a person calls himself civilised enough to be a part of the society, he should be civilised enough to follow chivalry.

But rape? Disgusting…

Aarti decided to fight. Not for herself, but for all the women around the world. She wanted to show the world that a guy cannot just rape someone and get away with it.

‘I will fight. I will’,
she thought.

Chapter 35

Rohan

A well built man, who just entered the store, hauled the shopkeeper across the counter by his collar. The shopkeeper was frightened.

“I want money,” he demanded.

He then turned to find the next victim. Unfortunately, that girl was standing just a few feet away from him.

His eyes, crazed and hostile, were fixed on her.

“You,” he ordered her, pointing his gun towards the girl. The girl nearly choked, her eyes were wide open with fear. He partially dragged and partially shoved the girl.

“Please let me go. Please! I can’t breathe!” she pleaded for her life, her arms clawing the heavy and muscled forearm wrapped tight around her neck.

Instantly, her eyes sought Rohan. She looked at him for help. Rohan’s eyes were fixed on the ongoing drama. But his expression was closed and hard to read.

The man holding the girl followed her gaze and spotted Rohan.

“Come here asshole! Get here man!” he beckoned Rohan.

Rohan gave a slight shake of his head and looked at him.

For a second, the fearlessness on Rohan’s face made the masked man speechless.

“Asshole, here right now or I will shoot this bitch right here.” To show he meant his word, the masked man yanked his gun to point at her. The dark and black barrel of the gun was quite intimidating and nothing like the girl had ever seen. Her eyes again flew to Rohan. He responded merely with a nonchalant shrug – her fate was sealed.

“Oh crap!” she closed her eyes, frantically visualising all the good memories she had lived, rather than the whizzing bullet coming for her life.

“Stop it please,” the shopkeeper intervened.

“Please don’t kill her. Here, take the money. Listen to me please!”

She dared to sneak a glimpse of the person who was trying to save her life. “Was he the same guy,” she wondered.

The masked man literally spewed fire from his flared stout nostrils, shooting livid glances at Rohan’s face, who continued to stay firm in his stance.

“Just take all the money you want and leave,” said the shopkeeper.

The girl moved back, until she felt the steel of the rack against her lower back. The masked man stopped a few inches short of her. He reeked of dirt and sweat and mouth filled with stained teeth. She saw no humanity in that face.

Abruptly, the masked man brought the gun close to her face, rubbing the cold metal against her left cheek. She averted her face. She felt the gun slide down her neck to prod hard at the opening of her buttoned shirt.

“Ouch,” the yelp just slipped out.

“The store is for shopping, not stealing,” a new voice broke in. Rohan. Relief surged her body. She tried to get away from the masked man’s grip.

“Stand straight bitch!” the masked man dragged her back.

“You move man, and I will shoot her!”

“Shoot her,” said Rohan.

She looked at him surprisingly.

“You have two minutes to decide, to live or die,” said Rohan.

Action was about to take place but who would make the first move was unknown.

The masked man laughed.

“Let her go,” Rohan spoke mildly.

“You come any closer and I will shoot this bitch, asshole. Don’t move!” the gun was back on her.

She closed her eyes.

Thoooffff…

A gun shot.

“Aaaahhhh,” screamed someone.

Thoooofffff…

Another one. The scream got louder. She opened her eyes. The masked man was lying on the floor crying with pain. Both his knees injured by the two bullets.

“Call the police,” said Rohan to the shopkeeper.

“You, come with me,” he looked at the girl.

“What is your name?” he asked her.

“Aa… Aa… Aarti,” she fumbled.

“Was it your gun?” asked Aarti.

“Yes,” Rohan replied.

“But, you don’t seem too big!”

“Neither do you,” said Rohan.

“Yeah, I am in class ninth. Govt. Girls school,” said Aarti smiling.

“DPS, class twelfth,” said Rohan.

“WHAT! You are a school boy and you have got a gun!” Aarti almost screamed.

“Shhhhh… it’s not licensed. I am involved with the underworld. Match fixing and betting on cricket matches. I deal with loads of cash. So need to keep it. But, you won’t tell anyone. Promise?” said Rohan.

“Oh! No, no. I won’t.”

“See you around,” Rohan bid her bye.

“Sure,” smiled Aarti.

Over the past few days, Rohan often wondered if she was the one. Earlier he had this perception that all the girls from government schools were aunty types, wearing suits and oily haired. But, she was different. Cute and innocent. After all, the unfortunate way that they had met – when some robber almost killed her and he saved her from him – seemed right out of some romantic-action movie with a happy ending.

After that first encounter, he never met her until that day near the school.

“Hey, Aarti,” he waved at her.

“Oh! Hi, Mr Mafia,” said Aarti smiling.

“Mafia?”

“Oh yeah! Actually, you didn’t tell me your name,” said Aarti.

“It’s Rohan.”

“Nice to meet you again Rohan,” said Aarti, still smiling.

“What are you doing here?” asked Rohan.

“I study here. Govt. School. Now heading back home,” replied Aarti.

“Come, I will drop you,” said Rohan.

“Ok.”

He pointed to his car that was parked just at the school gate, an Audi A4.

“You come to school in that?” asked Aarti surprisingly.

“Yes, why?”

“No, nothing.”

The car was something that Aarti had never seen before, but today she was sitting inside it. Once in the car, they started talking and forgot about the time. After over an hour, they found themselves at a place where there was nothing but miles and miles of road ahead of them.

“Where are we Rohan?” Aarti seemed worried.

“I am a bit hungry. Let’s eat something.”

Rohan took her to a heritage hotel. The heritage hotel was not special because it had won many awards or it was a five star hotel, it was special because Aarti had dreamt of dining there at least once in her life. Her dream was on the verge of getting real.

Everything was just perfect. But, Aarti was suspicious about Rohan.

‘Why is he treating me so nicely?’ she wondered.

It was not about the way he was, it was about the way he was making her feel.

Aarti looked at Rohan. He looked impeccable, and a little strange. His perfection was kind of bugging her. For someone like Aarti, who never got such a luxurious treatment for the majority of her life, it was new and troubling. She couldn’t help asking herself – ‘what does he really want from me?’

“I think I should leave now. I will take an auto. Thanks for the ride,” said Aarti, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“Hey, have something first. And don’t worry I will drop you home,” said Rohan convincingly.

Rohan told her that he wanted to know everything about her. She told him about her village, her brother and how he worked in a factory as a labourer to earn money. And once started she didn’t stop.

“You are so lucky to have a brother like him,” said Rohan.

“Yeah,” said Aarti.

Soon Aarti realised that it was too late. She looked at her watch. 6:30 p.m.

“Hey, it’s too late! Dada will kill me. I think we should leave now,” said Aarti.

Rohan wanted to spend some more time with her.

“Hmmm… ok,” he agreed. He paid the bill and they came out of the hotel.

When they got to the car, Rohan held the door open for her. She was flattered.

‘How did I ever get so lucky!’ she wondered.

And they drove back home.

“Here. Just stop here,” said Aarti.

“Here? You live here?” Rohan was surprised. It was kind of a slum, small houses, malnourished children and what not.

“Yeah, I told you, I am not the girl you are looking for,” she said.

Rohan looked at her.

“Aarti, I think I have fallen for you. I think you are very pretty. But that’s not it, there are many rich and pretty girls out there, but you are smart and you are funny and you are cute. That’s what I really like about you!”

Aarti was numb.

“Rohan. You kidding, right? Is this some kind of a joke?” she said.

“No I am not joking Aarti. I think my life is pulling tricks with me. I have found the love of my life, you. But, I am leaving for Singapore in a week for higher studies. I just wanted to let you know that someone loves you so much and you are special for someone in every possible way,” said Rohan.

Aarti was quiet.

“Say something Aarti. Your silence is killing me.”

“All the best for your life ahead, Rohan. I am sorry,” she said and left.

Rohan just looked at her as she disappeared in the crowd of messy people…