I know them

6 months ago

Mikky

@MidnightLibrary

I know them

Sanyogita came out of Indrani's office. Her mobile phone started ringing. She rummaged inside her bag nodding her head sideways while thinking the caller would be none other than her lovely Husband.

She grabbed the mobile in her hand but her funny " couldn't-take-this-boy- anymore" smile

evaporated as soon as I saw the name on the mobile screen.

There was a frown on her forehead and she stared at the caller ID name. She Swift the green button and speak

" Hello!"

A pregnant moment later her eyes were glittering like stars in the sky. Her lips curl into a peaceful smile.

" Oh wow, thank you a bunch, Sakshi. I'll call you later, I need to accomplish another. important thing"

" It's alright Sanyo, okay bye !" Said the receiver

Sanyogita took a deep breath and stepped ahead.

She hadn't any anticipation that the driver would be standing outside the entrance gate. She was supposed to take a cab but was disappointed.

"Kaka.. aap yaha ?" "

" betiya, Babu told me to drop you at your mother's house and also told me to drop you at the main gate of your best friend's house "

Sanyogita glimpsed at the driver without a word. Nevertheless, she opened the back seat door and climbed into the car . She shut her eyes and clenched and unclenched her. left-hand fingers, all while thinking how could she get the idea of taking a lift from a cab when his husband didn't leave any chance to let her go from his grip. Anger grew within her mind.

She felt irritated. She lifted her eyelids.

On the other hand, she realised he was doing all this for her sake.

The driver started the car.

Sanyogita opened the window, glimpsing outside. Her mobile phone again started ringing.

Glancing once at the screen she answered the receiver

" Hey Jaan, where are you?" "

"In-car!"" " Sanyogita irked

" Oh !" Have you finished talking to Advocate Jaiswal?

" Yes, we've done. "

" What did you discuss with the advocate for so long?"

" Will tell you after getting back home "

" Ok, sweetheart... " Prithvi took a pause and mumbled" a.. are.. you alright? "”

" What??? ""

" I mean is everything alright? ""

Sanyogita frowned, she sensed him a little tense "Yeah.. what happened ?? Is anything

there? You sounded a little disturbed ??"

" No Jaan. Everything is just fine "

" Really?? " she asked him in suspicious

" Yes mera baccha!! " He grinned

Sanyogita rolled her eyes, with chuckled

She heard him exhaling heavy breath

He asked " Btw what are you doing? ""

" Just taking a cold breeze… thandi hawayein main saanse le rahi hoon…..saanse le loon

Patidev Ji ! "" She replied him back with a sarcastically 

She heard him giggling,

Sanyogita nodded her head sideways

". You are just incorrigible. I just become hid from your sight for a few hours only .. and you sounded so restless "

She heard him laugh a little "Staying away from you giving vibes like of one birth of mine "

" Stop flirting like despo . "

She heard him laugh again..

Sanyogita paused before asking

" Why did you send Kaka ?? How would you come to receive me then? ""

"Madamji, Your husband doesn't have a car crisis . Uncle will be back home after leaving you at Maa …

" No I'd meet Radhika first" she corrected

" Okay as per your wish. But I'll come to receive you at night "

Sanyogita smiled. She could feel him smiling too.

They talked several times more before disconnecting.

The driver reached the building residency area where Radhika lives with her husband, mother-in-law, and her sweet one-year baby boy.

Sanyogita came down from closing the door behind. She told the driver to go back home.

And she started taking slow steps towards the large building complex.

She turned back her neck to check the estimate and virtual distance of the car apart from her.

The driver was still there.

She closed her eyes and turned in front and opened her eyes with a deep breath.

She walked ahead on the way and she got another call but this time it was from Arjun. She answered the phone call.

Arjun who called her was told to check whether she had reached Radhika's place or not.

Sanyogita assured him that his Boss didn't take much stress and his wife was safe.

She took the staircase instead of the lift.

10 minutes after she came out, and peeked here and there. She didn't find the driver.

The watchman who saw her coming down within a short period found something strange but when Sanyogita gave him a nice smile he recognized the girl whom he met before with one of the residents of the complex so didn't react.

Suddenly an auto grabs her attention. She was about to take an auto heard a familiar voice that hat sounded mocking

" What I'm seeing, Mrs. Sanyogita Prithviraj Malhotra, wife of one the richest business Tycoon, billionaire, now taking a ride from an auto. "

Sanyogita turned back to take a glance at the speaker. Her eyes grew wider, she felt

warmness behind her ears. The person was Rishi.

" I thought after marrying Prithviraj Malhotra you will never put your legs on the ground but alas!! Oh my god… you are taking a lift from an auto and couldn't believe my eyes. The shocking news of the day" Rishi showed an extra dramatic expression and nodded his head

sideways.

Sanyogita fondled her arms close to her chest. She rolled her eyes annoyingly.

" Yeh amir log na aise hi hote hai.. all they knew about their purpose. '' Rishi continued to blah blah " But I feel very bad for you .. only four months had passed till you two got married…and he divorced you in the next year. Neya saal aaye hai biwi bhi badalii kyaa!!! itni jaldi maan bhar gaya Prithviraj ka "

As soon as a yell came out " Mind your language Rishi!!!!!! "" "

Rishi had a look of sarcasm

Sanyogita clenched her teeth , she unfolded her hands , " How dare you say abuse about my husband?? I know what my husband really is. I don't need any character certificate about my husband from a vulgar person like you. There is no one percent doubt how much he loves his wife and what a woman wants from her man more than love is respect that a coward like you will never understand. Aur mein tum jaise ghathiya geere hue insaan ko samjhane ki koshish bhi kyun kar rahi hoon … Apni ego ko toh shamal nahi paye isliye toh abhi bhi mere rejection bardasht nahi kar pa rahe ho . " Sanyogita taunted back at Rishi with disgust

Sanyogita snapped before him and raised her index to Rishi in a sight of warning" what I'm.doing or not is none of your business. Being a journalist, if you work with dedication to your job , that will be better for you. "

Sanyogita's eyes were burning with anger. She dropped her index and thought to ride the auto, wasting time on an annoying man like Rishi instead.

" Tumhara husband ki meharbani hai jo abhi four months se suspended hoon…

Sanyogita looked at him with surprise. She wasn't aware of the suspension of Rishi who proceeded with

" Yes, your husband Prithviraj suspended me for six months..not even getting a job with any company. But very soon I'll be back…dekhna teri husband ki yasa izzat pe ki char utcha lungha .. tab pata chalega…

Sanyogita cut him short and she sounded furious. " Rishi it was the grace of God that My husband only suspended you unless he gets to know about it you're still running after me like street dogs you wouldn't imagine what he can do . Agar Prithvi ko jara sa bhi idh baat ki vanag lagi toh tum phir kabhi mere samne khade hone ki himmat bhi nahi karo ge . " She had pride

on her face.

Rishi was boiling in anger.

Sanyogita shot him an igneous glare before climbing the auto. She told the auto driver to take the vehicle to the city hospital.

Rishi felt more humiliated as he was insulted publicly. He would take this revenge very soon.

Sanyogita was furthermore disappointed to hear Riddhima was discharged in the morning.

She was eagerly waiting to meet her today. She had got some important clues. She asked the receptionist for the addressee but she refused except that the police couldn't give any personal information regarding the patient to anyone.

Sanyogita realised there wasn't any point arguing. She closed her fist and waved a little in the air then unclenched it in disappointment, keeping the hand on either side of her. Abruptly she saw a hospital staff member, a nurse. Sanyogita recognized her face. The

A nurse was there in Riddhima's cabin when she started screaming frantically. She knew what she had to do.

She requested the nurse to give her Riddhima's address. At first, the nurse was surprised and refused, but she recalled that Sanyogita was the person who admitted the girl there. And

after knowing her identity the nurse agreed on a deal of 5000 rupees.

It was 6:30 in the early evening when she reached the locality where Riddhima lived.

Sanyogita paced through a narrow lane , and saw a drain mouth kept open, foul smelling came out, after she saw a club where a few young boys were playing carrom. She stepped over the damp soil, held the plates of her saree, and maintained her balance, rough, irregular pebbles scattered on the small lane.

She noticed the colony belonged to a lower background economic residency. Two and three grocery shops, a small shop of refreshments along with those queues of cigarettes, and pan masala packets hanging by a rope were screaming to draw attention towards them.

Two autos were parked near a middle-high-high wall which was pasted with a series of Bollywood movie posters. One the poster was torn in a zigzag pattern, and another, it seemed as if anyone had painted the picture of the film star with red betel leaf spite. Married women exchange glances at Sanyogita. They scrutinized her from head to toe.

Small children who were playing were called by their mothers.

Sanyogita inhales a deep breath thinking to ask someone about the location. She asked a shopkeeper who told her to go straight 10 minutes after taking a left turn there would be a green and cream-colored 2-storeyed house that would come into view.

She shows gratitude to the shopkeeper. She began to take steps according to the direction guided by the shopkeeper. She was surprised to see the whole locality was very lonely and it was different from the previous one. Hardly any human could be seen there. Queues of small, large trees stand across the footpath as if they were giving a warm welcome to honourable guests. Two or three personal cars were parked in front of their respective houses.

Everything was tidy and clean. A cool breeze brushed the exposed skin of Sanyogita. She loved nature; she felt one kind of serenity in her heart.

Abruptly a nameplate pasted with House no number 25 D, With 4 people's names was embedded with a yellow nameplate stained with black bold ink in English .

Rajesh Gupta

Kanika Gupta

Riddhima Gupta

Renuka Gupta.

A solace flashed spread on her face. She prayed to God in the expectancy her work would be accomplished today.

The calling bell rang out 5 times. The door was opened in slow motion. Through the gap of the gate, a teenage girl's glimpse was seen . Sanyogita recognized the girl .

" Renu, who is coming?" "

Sanyogita heard Riddhima's voice. Within a fraction of a second, she could read the tension in her adorable face of Renuka.

Renuka didn't respond, Ridhhama's mother came.

" Aap??" Why did you come ?? How did you know about our Whereabouts?? " Mrs.

Malhotra, are you stalking us? " Kanika started shouting

" Aunty please, relax .. I'll tell you everything but before that please relax

" Mrs. Malhotra just left us. What do you want from us?? "

At the neighbours, a lady opened the door to see what was going on.

" Aunty I just came to see Riddhima" She spoke out in soft eager voices

" My daughter doesn't want to see anyone. Mrs. Malhotra, please go away." Kanika pleaded

" Aunty, I think I could help you… I think I got a hint about those boys!"

Kanika got mute for a while, she glared at Sanyogita who threw her a consoling nod Kanika uplifted on her toes and peeked here and there above the shoulder of Sanyogita.

Sanyogita catches Kanika peeking outside

" What happened to Aunty,?? Why are you frightened?" "

" Mrs. Malhotra, jitni jaldi ho sake yaha se chale jaye. You can do nothing. I get about your identity: you are a billionaire's wife.

Everything seems too easy for you.You live in a palace, and plenty of security is taking care of you, have the privilege of everything you wished for. But we are a middle-class family. My One daughter is fighting with life and the younger one

doesn't see the world yet. It's my humble request, please don't come here. It will be better for you and also for us! "

As soon as saying this Kanika slammed the door shut in front of the face of Sanyogita.

Sanyogita felt dejected, her heart became heavy. With disappointment, she spun back and started taking slow steps.

Suddenly something fell from above on her legs. She had a deep frown on her forehead. Confusion and questions in mind. She looked here and there first then pulled back her head and looked above , saw Renuka, who was standing near the window covered with an iron rod grill, sitting down as soon as a rat was hiding in a hole.

Sanyogita bent down and picked the paper up. She stood up unfolded the paper, and found a small used rubber inside. Then she checks the paper, written in 

English alphabets with blue ink,

"Will you help my sister??”

Sanyogita scrunched her eyebrows. She turned her face up and waited to catch Renuka's glimpse.

Renuka came to view the window.

Sanyogita nodded her head a little in a positive gesture.

There was another paper wrapper that fell on her legs like the previous one.

Sanyogita took the paper piece and read

" I know them !"

Sanyogita's heart started pounding, in that instant umpteenth of questions and hope was enlightening in her heart.

But then she gave a soft smile to Renuka who smiled back at her too.

Sanyogita thought of doing something and suddenly an idea came into her head. She took out a pen from her bag and wrote her mobile number on the small piece of paper and dropped it into the letterbox.

Renuka notices this.

Sanyogita left the place but she stood a distance away from the house and saw Renuka come outside to collect the paper in a rush and enter the house.

Sanyogita exhales a sigh. She checked her mobile. It was 7:30 in the evening. She thought about taking a cab on the main road. On the way, I saw building construction work. It was only 7:30 but yeh area seemed like any old rural village.

Suddenly a man stopped his bike and blocked her path. He climbed down from the seat and stood leaning on the bike. He rummaged in his jeans pocket and took out a cigarette and a lighter. He took the cigarette in his mouth and lit it on its tip.

Sanyogita became conscious; she thought to walk from the edge of the man.

" Stop putting your nose into the family. Stay away from them.

Sanyogita's flat nude-colored sandals were about to touch the ground. She took a pause and brought her attention toward the voice.

She looked at the man, with suspicious eyes. The man continued, holding the cigarette in between the index and middle finger and smoking out in the air

" Unless it will not be better for you !" It sounded more threatening than a warning

" If I don't stop yet? " Sanyogita squeezed her hands closed to her chest, uplifted her right eyebrows, looking at the man with piercing eyes

" Madam, why are you showing graciousness to the family? You don't need to utilise your brain !"

" Narayan Rao man, send you the right to stalk me! "

The relevance of Sanyogita grabs the man's attention. He looked at her with a smirked

" When you learn his name then you should know more about him. Don't dig your graveyard by yourself. If you don't stop then your condition will also be like that girl's. Your soul will too be scared seeing your body "

Within a blink, the man gets a tight slap.

Sanyogita glanced at the man furiously.

The man kept his hand on his right cheek in disgust and shouted

" Saali … .. sl*t… !" "" He threw the cigarette and raised his left hand to hit her

Sanyogita caught his left hand tightly by her right and kicked his inner thigh.

The man's head turned on spinning all of a sudden.

Sanyogita didn't stop, she caught him by his collar and with a heavy jerk pushed him to the ground.

Blood was on his forehead. Suddenly she saw an iron rod lying near a corner of the road. She picked it up and began to beat the man with the rod in his legs and arms.

" Kaya samjhta hai tu. ladki hai, dar jayegi…!! Dhamki deta hai..!"" tu toh kya tera Narayan Rao khud aur uske sare chamche bhi milke mujhe nahi rok sakte …" Sanyogita roared like an injured tigress 

The man was squirming with pain .

Two young boys who were passing through seeking a lady beating a man pathetically came there.

They asked them what happened, and Sanyogita shouted back

" I don't need any man's help I can save myself"

They suddenly heard a bike horn sound. The man came down from this bike.

Sanyogita was about to pick up the man by his collar but he threw the dust at her face and ran away from there immediately riding on his bike.

Sanyogita started to cough , she couldn't see anything for a moment because of the irritation in her eyes. 

" Are you alright Mrs. Malhotra??”

As soon as hearing the voice, Sanyogita looked at the person. It took her a few minutes to recall the face.

ACP Zunaid Yusuf Imam Mallick was standing before her.

*************************

To be continued… 

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