Chapter 2

BitterBerry

@BitterBerry

Chapter Two


Sometimes you suffer because you are helpless...and some other time because you CHOSE to...


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That warehouse was our only hope. Chotu's big informers chain helped us high time getting here in this place. After a whole week we finally had some clue about the case we are working on. Sudhir Rao Murder Case. It already took us the whole weeks time to identify the victim and then this lead. According to Chotu our suspect was expected to be here. But that place was as deserted for even crows feast. But still I didn't want to let go of this chance.

I walked behind Sameer as he stepped out armed, fully prepared to kick and punch and kill. Chotu was behind me covering me. We walked in complete silence, not letting the enemy know our presence. The warehouse was of a famous business man who sold it years back but now it seems the place is as dead as grave. I noticed some foot prints on the dusty floor of that place and it proved that there is some movement going inside.

Rathod also noticed the foot prints. He counted them. There are at least 13 pair of foot prints. There was no sign of any trespass in that place. Whoever were they maintained everything in a civilized manner. We didn't know if they were armed or not. But we were. We moved inside further. I ordered Chotu to take the other way, in case if we'd need back up. Hr took the left and I followed Rathod towards the right.

That was a typical warehouse with empty paper boxes everywhere. Just in the middle of that place I saw the video 60 watt tube bulb bright high. There were four men sitting around a table and the rest guarding them. We didn't know who is our suspect but Chotu knew. We chose to hear what they are all talking about. They must not be some drunkards planning to raid any bar or club but something very serious, I thought.

'Lets wait for Chotu and see what these people are doing...' I suggested and Rathod agreed. Yes now these days he agrees to most of things I say. We've finally reached to a point where we can stand together...well without killing each other.

I observed the whole place. This region was little brighter than other regions. Good for us if we very "fortunately" get into a fight could hide in the dark regions. I saw a big figure emerged from opposite site where we were hiding. He was Chotu, and his observing eyes scanned the area and the people as well. I looked at him and waited for him to recognize that one suspect. But he was not our only business. I can't let go of the fact that all these people gathered here are related to him. Chotu pointed his finger at one particular person sitting around the table. So he was among the four persons. Our suspect was sitting at the end of the table facing Chotu and opposite to us.

Just when we branded ourselves in position, a loud sound of breaking wood startled all of us. Chotu! Damn his weight, it crushed the box he was leaning onto. The armed men looked alerted and Chotu was exposed with his gun. In no minutes the warehouse was in chaos with gunshots. The men started firing at Chotu furiously and Chotu tried to cover himself. He hid behind another box and started firing back knocking out one of them.

Rathod and I started firing from the back hiding behind the boxes dragging their attention.

'i don't care what you do but I want that guy alive..' Rathod barked. Of course he'd want that. I nodded and jumped into my position. Four men moved forward towards us and started firing. We fired back. Rathod came up with a plan. Since Chotu was exposed he was in more attention. So Rathod followed to cover him and I had to deal with these four well no three men ad Rathod already shot one of them who was on the ground.

From the three man moving towards me, one of them was our suspect. I fired at them but missed. Two of them lunged at me kicking the boxes and breaking them. Our suspect was firing at me. He wasn't a pro otherwise his rage would have killed me. He looked angry and full of business. His one bullet just missed my arm and I was on the ground just by trying to escape from the bullet.

Now the two men, one who is our suspect approached again. The other man who was with them was nowhere to be seen. Strange! Our suspect lunged at me blowing kicks in my stomach for which I couldn't get up. I blocked the blows by using my hand and trying to get up. I finally managed to get on my feet.

One of them again tried to punch me, but i went dangerously close to him twisting his hand applying my full force kind of dislocating his arm. He winced in pain but wasn't ready to give up. I locked my legs with his and pushed his weight toward ground making him fall. I kicked his stomach some more time so that he won't get up again.

Just when I turned around, I was at gun point. And who is this person pointing the gun at me? No seriously I felt like I was dreaming. This cannot be true. She cant probably be involved with our suspect. And what was that look on her face. Looking lethal and was in no mood for a reunion I guess.

Her eyes fierce as if burning with fire. Her forms stiffened, she was numb as if someone placed a statue of the woman I knew six years ago. Except I could see her breathing hard, she was too in the chase, I figured out the way she was all sweaty. Strands of hair stricken to her face, but she was least bothered. Her hands tightened around the gun and her finger swiftly pressed on the trigger. I saw her shoulder flinched a bit with jerk she must have felt. I had no idea why I was observing her too much even when I was at the gun point? I was very sure the bullet would pass right through my head. And I'd be gone. But I was least bother. She was the biggest shock from which I couldn't recover.

'Riya'!!!! The only sound escaped from my lips and she just blinked her eyes as if recognizing me and a blank expression covered her face.

Behind my back I heard a weight thumped on the ground and from the sound of it i guessed it was body. It was nearly impossible to tear my gaze away from her but i had to look at the dead body and who was person aimed the gun at me and she saved me from. I still couldn't believe she did that. She killed someone without even flinching at the person she shot. She was unmoving at the moment. And I was shocked beyond anything.

Damn it!! Rathod was going to be mad. She just killed our suspect.

'what did you do'? I asked still recovering from the shock.

'I thought just saved you' , she shrugged off unaware of the fact that someone was standing behind her. I was about to jump forward but she was even more conscious than me as she swiftly turned around shooting that person to death.

She turned around to face me again and i was preparing to give her a lecture about what she just did and why the she was there at that place in between a firing round.

'What the hell are you doing here ' i screamed at her. This wasn't suppose to be like this. This was all went wrong.

'still the same, ACP Arjun Rawte? Intimidating! Aren't you'? She said in a tone as if teasing me. Did she lost her mind or what? No she very much recognised me.   I looked behind at Rathod and Chotu who were unaware of the things just happened. I had no literal idea about what I should do with her? Her being here is still a question and the fact that she killed our suspect.

I didn't reply anything and she seemed no way waiting for my reply which was very unusual of her. Rather she busied herself tackling two more man on her way. She showed some brilliant moves of martial arts. First she kicked one of them in the groin and he landed on his knees. To the other she grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back and smacked his head on the nearby box then kicked his knees making him dump his head in the broken box. May be he was the last person in the warehouse she dealt with. She was never this brutal.

I saw Rathod and Chotu froze at the sight. They were sort of speechless seeing the woman in front of them who was then trying to tie her hair properly and may be making herself presentable. I still couldn't believe Riya Mukharjee standing right there in front of me. She was looking very confident. Wearing a grey tank top and pair of black jeans, she kept her gun neatly in the hustler and opened her hair making it fall on her shoulder.

But I was still mad at her for killing our suspect despite knowing the fact that she just tried to save me. I looked at Rathod, he was equally confused about how to react to her presence her. But Chotu's expressions were different. Mixed with shock to happiness to longing. But he chose to stay silent and stare at her.

'what are you doing here Riya'?? I asked her again this time expecting some serious answer.

'i can ask you the same question officers', she said in a tone as if she was annoyed. Her attitude was different. Hell she is a whole different person now.

'where have you been all these years'?? Asked Rathod. A bit concerned about her but the concern least bothered her.

'i discuss personal stuff middle of an encounter case'! She said bluntly and took out a card which looked more like an identity card and handed that to Rathod. I didn't know what was that card but that was enough to calm Rathod just too much. He stared at her blankly and there I noticed a glint of mischief in her eyes.

'we are working in this case where this .. This person was our suspect and you killed him' said Rathod.

'still I do not regret! He had his name on my bullet. He had to die anyway' she said in a more confident voice which thrilled me and shocked Rathod.

'and it wasn't written on his head that he was your suspect? How'd I know'? She added later with arrogance dripping from her voice.

Saying so she turned opposite to us taking out her phone and called someone or somewhere.

'umm.. I called the Mumbai police informing them about this mess and they'd be here anytime soon'! She said in a formal tone. I couldn't get a glimpse of familiarity in her voice or the fact that she was even a bit happy about seeing us.

Well why would she? We still behaved as if interrogating her while all she did was saved my life.

' I have already called for back up'! Rathod said not finding anything else to say. Even it was awkward for him to question her and get all arrogant replies from her. So he chose to keep his tone formal and more official.

'What are you guys staring at? I am no alien'! She said and moved towards the table where the heated discussion was going on.

'so you know us'?? I asked and she must understand my sarcasm. I can stand anything but arrogance. All this while she was making me angry with her replies.

'how can I forget my ex-senior officer and second in command of ETF? Still there! No promotion'? Just what the hell she said. She must have suffered a lot of mental problems , I could think of the only thing at that moment. But if she'd keep messing with me like this sure as hell I'd lose my control.

She wasn't looking at me. Rather she was inspecting the table searching something. She checked each and every paper on the table, keeping some pages separate. And then she bend down looking under the table discovering a big box.

'ahaa! Now this is a jackpot'! She said. Her tone a little bit pleased with her own discovery. She opened the box revealing box full of different types of machine guns. She checked those guns each and may be a bit distracted enough to forget our presence.

Rathod joined her inspecting the guns while i was still looking at her. For a moment she abruptly looked back meeting my eyes instantly.

'my open hair blocking your view'? She asked out of the blue. I was trying to look at her face but wasn't aware of the sense power she developed enough to know if someone was looking at her.

'well 70% woman can know if someone is watching them intently! Weren't you'?? Did she just read my mind? I don't know but this person who is looking like very much of Riya Mukharjee was different. But I was looking at her. Huhh! I still didn't understand where I lost my sense? I am just behaving very unlikely just because of a woman.

'whatever' I tried to ignore her eyes and too joined Rathod for the inspection.

'These guns are for mass killing...' He said to riya shocked to which she presented a knowing look.

'i think we should discuss Riya'   said rathod and she was not much pleased.

' but why'? She denied for the discussion.

'This important Riya'! Rathod argued.

' I know Sir but I'd discuss it with my department, anyway why you guys need me in ETF'? She said irritated.

'this is because its all related. And I think you understand that. On another note we need to know about this person'! That was enough to convince her and she just nodded.

'I think you should go with him'! Rathod said pointing at me and I don't really understand what was he upto. Why he was bagging her with me? And I don't know what really changed in her, she agreed and followed me towards the SUV. The whole journey was silent much to my discomfort. But she seemed pleased with the silence. And I chose not to provoke her enough to get another arrogant reply because this time surely I thought I'd throw her outta window if she'd spit any of it. I don't know this unpredictable Riya Mukharjee and why suddenly I am urging more to know her as if not knowing her is making me extremely restless.

'you guys know her'! It's Sakshi's voice and she was angry and furiously moving here and there. Chotu glanced at her irritated and followed Riya upstairs. May be he is the only one "normal" to her even after all these happened.

'yes! She was a part of ETF six years ago'! Replied Shree with a pang of sadness in his voice. Why didn't he go after her. Her? Is she even the her I knew before. Or may be I really never tried to know her. But this is very unlikely of her. Gone the woman who once wear a dimple smile and silly statistics ranting and the chatter box talks. But now a rude arrogant stubborn female officer who is just too adamant to not accept our offer. Hell we are requesting her.

I have never thought she'd change to that extent. What she have done to herself. This is just not the Riya I know. Who are you blaming Arjun? You don't know why she is behaving this way? No no! Mind voices I won't hear you always.

She is just too detached from herself. Her every word venomous. She was silent the entire way to the office. It didn't seem she had this much things held inside her. But I did hear it right??? She is the second in command of NIA. Now that's something... Impressive.

'buy why the hell she was talking like that. And why the hell she was just too unhappy about a crime journalist in ETF...about ME'!!! Now this voice is irritation.

'we gave her enough reasons', said Shree and walked towards his chamber.

'what does he mean Arjun'?? Now the question answer lines turned towards me much to my displeasure.

'he meant nothing! Concentrate on your work Miss Sakshi Anand', only rough remarks shut this woman but this time I guess I need to leave before she starts polluting the area with her noise.

I left the room leaving both the ladies. After all these years for the first time I myself do not know what exactly I want. For the first time I couldn't resist the life I lead all these days. Why she had to be extremely repelling? I can't stand it. There is no purpose in my life. It is all over. I don't know what kept me here. But I am here. Particularly nothing had been changed. I avenged her death. Made justice to her. Finally I am at peace. But is it the real peace? I am void. Empty. I don't think I have left anything to live for.

I can't say life had been cruel to me. Tragedy happens, people lose their dear ones. I lost her. I cried for her. Sometimes the rage of vengeance turned me into a monster and some it made me too weak that immobilized my soul. I thought his death would put me into peace. That I did justice to my wife. Sure it did. But what I am now?

'i am still breathing. Living, surviving'! She said those same exact words to Shree. Isn't the same thing I have been doing all these years? We are similar. No we are not. I more likely a cold corpse. She still have that fire which I failed to keep. I am an open wound. And she is now a mystery beyond imagination.

I never meant those words I told her that day. I knew she was always capable of doing better things. I wanted to push her to the extent but may be I pushed her just too far. That she couldn't get back to us. At a distance I watched the glass cabin in front of me.

Sameer Rathod would have been breaking stuffs by now. But his chamber is still at peace. If there would have been any other woman ever used that voice in his presence he'd have been fired her but for this woman? It's still a question. I know he is equally shocked and she must be all over his mind now. How remorseful it would have been for him to take her accusation after six years? But weren't we both made it happen? Our anger leads to greater disaster. And this time the disaster is ... HER. Is he guilty?

No. I don't know. He'd be same. He never spoke to me after Roshni, same with Riya. May be he found this way to torture himself by not letting out his turmoil. And what I did? Didn't I do the same? We both are now at the same point. Unmoving. Still. Empty. Melancholy. These things define us. I don't want add another name into the definition list. No way its gonna be her!!! But what can I do? And why in the first place I am thinking so much today??



So this is chapter two.
Three is typed already.
Thanks for your replies guys.

Do lemme know if you have problem reading in PM.

Thread link : http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4402024&PID=123814421&#p123814421

Good bye.