Chapter 12
Naina started to apply makeup carefully , trying her best to put all her concentration into the task but her thoughts kept wavering here and there. She heard a knock on the door and opened it to find Karan still in his disguise. He smiled at her and handed her a card- an invitation to Maxwell's party which he had procurred.
She took it from him and stared at it for a moment before closing the door and went back to dressing up. She selected a long black dress with silver work around the neckline and diamonds decorated her neck and wrists.
She stepped out silently and Took the elevator to the main hall where the party was being held. The elevator doors opened and Maxwell stepped in, adjusting his cufflinks. His eyes fell on Naina and he stared at her, checking her out. Naina clenched her fists to stop herself from hitting the man and gave a sugary smile in return. He came and stood next to her and his arm brushed against her. She did not react and he said in a heavily accented voice
"May I know your name young lady?"
Naina smiled and said
"What is there in a name dear?"
He laughed and held out his arm.
"I am hosting a party tonight...Be my guest."
"Oh sure...I was actually wondering what to do this evening."
Maxwell turned to his body guards and said to one of them
"Take care of this beautiful woman." He was having a hard time keeping his eyes on her face. He exited at the hall while Naina purposefully remained in the lift, going around the hotel once before going to the party. She looked around the lavishly decorated place and the crowd of guests, all crookmen. She spotted Maxwell and delibrately went to stand in his range of vision and since she was not really easy to miss, was immediately spotted by him. He walked upto her and asked her for a dance. She accepted and they begun to waltz. A waiter came to them with drinks and they looked at him. He handed a glass of strong wine to Maxwell, as preferred by him and Naina picked up red wine and Karan smiled at her as he turned away. They both took a sip from their drinks as they continued to dance. As the drink was just about to be finished, Naina felt it taking its toll on the man. His weight slowly started shifting towards her and she gently lead him towards the fire exit. Karan had already taken care of guards there. They quickly dragged him out and took him to Naina's room using one of the food trollies. Naina looked up to see Devraj already seated in one of the armchairs. She had never seen him look so dangerous. There was no trace of fury in his features, that had been burning since years and so was easily supressed. He kept looking at the unconscious man in front of him silently and emotionlessly before Karan nudged him out of his thoughts.
"Here...Devraj- Finally you got what you wanted."
Devraj looked up at him and smiled slowly.
"Thankyou Karan...and Naina." Naina had been avoiding his eye but looked up and smiled formally, without any hint of their previous conversation. For the first time she was scared of Devraj.
"To isey maar de?" Karan suggested when Devraj did not take any action.
"Nahi. Isey apni maut ka kaaran pata hona chahiye. Aise nahi. Ye kabtak hosh me ayega?"
"Kuch adhe ghante me." Karan checked his watch.
"Thik hai...Mujhe koi jaldi nahi.'"
"Lekin tabtak iske aadmi..."
"Dhoondhne do. I am sure we can manage."
Karan nodded though looked troubled and walked out of the room to guard. Naina settled on the window sill and parted the curtains slightly to look at the view outside. Devraj crossed his arms and went back to his memories. With Naina around him, they seemed to be even clearer and more painful than ever.
Flashback continues
Slowly Devraj became a part of the family and was trusted blindly by both Aasma and Sam. They went out for dinners, movies, shopping and everything seemed fantastic. Aasma had made him a part of her life, which she graded as very important and depended upon him alot. Devraj on the other hand kept trying to get out some information out of her about her work, even scanned her house but could not find anything. He was about to give in one evening when she called him.
"Hello"
"Raj its me...Aasma."
"Haan Aasma bolo...kuch kaam tha?"
She sounded strangely nervous and he found it odd but ignored it and she spoke after a few minutes of silence.
"Raj kya tum mujhse mil sakte ho aj shaam ko?"
"Haan bilkul...Aasma koi problem hai kya? Tum aise..."
"Nahi koi problem nahi hai. BAs tumse milna hai. Tum 7 baje Hotel Paradise pahuch jana, ok?"
"Thik hai, I will be there."
"Ok, so see you."
She disconnected the call and he wondered what she wanted from him. He reached the hotel that evening and asked for her. The waiter guided him to a table where she sat staring at the tablecloth. He was shocked to see her that way- she was wearing a pearl clored dress instead of her usual shirt and trousers and had even applied make up! Dazed with confusion, he took his place opposite to her.
"Raj...thanks for coming..."
"Ye kehne ke liye bulaya tha?"
"Actually nahi..wo aaj 1 party thi, mene socha tha hum vaha jayenge par ab mann nahi hai."
"Its ok..."
She stared at her interlocked hands for a few moments before speaking up again. His head warned him of what was coming and his heart prayed that this would not happen.
"Raj tum jante ho ke mai Army me kaam karti hu...Par actually mai yaha koi aam administrative officer nahi hu. Im a special agent, jo humare desh ki armoury and Research and Analysis ki hifazat karti hu. Aur kuch hi dino me mai yaha se bahut door jane wali hu. Par jaane se pehle mai tumse kuch kehna chahti hu...I mean, Raj wo...I I love you."
Devraj felt that his last hope had been lost as the girl sitting in front of him continued.
"Raj mai bahut logo se mili, par pata nai kyu tumse milke...mai khud bhi nahi janti mai kab se ye sab feel karne lagi tumhare liye. Its just that jab mujhe aj ye ehsaas hua k mai yaha se door ja rahi hu, aur shayad fir kabhi vapis nahi a paungi...shayad fir kabhi tumse ye kehne ka mauka nahi milega mujhe...mai kabhi apne parents ko bhi ye nahi jata saki k mai usne kitna pyaar karti hu, aur fir vo chale gaye. Mai janti hu shayad tumhare mann me mere liye koi feelings nahi hai, par fir bhi, mai tumhe ye batana chahti thi...."
Devraj was too lost to reply. In his world of crime and dishonesty, he had never come across such honest confesion of emotions. He clenched his fists and for the first time in life felt that he was doing something wrong...No, I wont let this happen. I will just tell her that we are better off as friends...I cant deceive somebody like that.
At that moment his cell phone buzzed and he excused himself.
"Hume pakki information mili hai ke ye ladki un files ko bahut jaldi shift karne wali hai. ab usey liye bina wapis mat ana, samjhe tum."
Devraj closed his eyes and remembered the cost of leaving his mission incomplete. He went back to her and embraced her gently, without uttering a single syllable. He needed reassurance more than she did. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bearded man wearing dark glasses observing them keenly.
Aasma's cell phone rang at the moment and she had to leave much to Devraj's relief. He did not sleep the entire night.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aasma went away next day and Devraj did not get any chance to talk to her. He cursed himself for not asking more about her work as the chance was obviously gone now. He tried his best to trace her out and was even successful. But he had no idea what she was exactly doing. So he decided to go to the place where she was and pretend to run into her if he found her. As his flight landed in Bangalore, he wished sincerely that this gets over soon. He checked into a hotel and had just settled down with his laptop to get a map of the city when his cell phone buzzed. He did not recognize the number but he did recognize the voice. It was Aasma and she sounded hysterical.
"Raj...please mujhse milo.."
"Kya hua? Aur Tum ho kaha?"
"Bangalore me..plz agli flight pakdo aur yaha a jao...mai...ek problem ho gai hai."
"Mai Bangalore me hi hu, kuch kaam tha. tum kaha ho?"
"Oh Thank God..." she gave him an address and directions.
"Mai tumhe kuch papers dungi..inhe Mumbai le jana aur Hq me submit kar dena...ye bahut confidential information hai, aur is waqt mai kis par bharosa nahi kar sakti."
She disconnected the call, refusing any further details. He took a taxi and reached there before her. It was an isolated building and strong wind was blowing. He was finding it harder and harder to wait now as the seconds ticked by. And then he heard screech of car tyres as her car turned around a bend and came into view. She was being followed. He clenched his fists as he recognized the car behind her. Everything was over now. If these guys were following her,then she was dead for sure. It would be a miracle if she escaped now. But before dying, what she would have to endure was even more forboding than death itself. He was aware of his boss' hobby of playing with his prey before finishing it off.
She stopped the car next to her and looked into his eyes. He saw fear, panic and determination in them. She hugged him and sighed in relief.
"Thank God you are here.........." she said softly. He placed a hand on her back whispered.
"Dont worry"
"This is it? All the papers?" he asked in a businesslike voice.
"Yes" she replied
Just then she saw the car following her bend around the curve.
"They are here. Take this and leave. I'll try to divert them." She said stuffing the bag in his arms."Love you"
He took it but remained still.
"What are you waiting for? Leave." She screamed at him on her way back to her car. Her eyes nervously flitted to the car that was almost at the gate. It skidded to a halt blocking the gate.
"Oh no" she muttered. She moved towards the man and took out a gun from her the inside pocket of her coat. Devraj did not move an inch.
A burly man got out from the back seat. His driver and assistant tagged along.
"Hello officer" he smirked at her. She pointed a gun at him.
"Don't be stupid dear. You are alone. One against four." He said calmly.
She stared at him confused.
"We are 2 if you might not have noticed." She said gripping the gun tightly and glancing around at Devraj who stood rock still.
"He is right." He said calmly moving over to that man and handing him the bag while Aasma stared in shock.
"You..........." she stammered in astonishment.
"Yes" he continued smoothly. He did not want to give an impression to his Boss that he felt something for her.
"You betrayed me" She said more to herself than him.
"I was merely doing my job" he said remorselessly. Unnoticed by her, his fists clenched.
The woman was now shaking with disbelief. Her follower and the traitor eyed her with an amused expression. She closed her eyes to balance herself. When she opened her eyes she was on gunpoint. It didn't surprise her. She looked at the burly man calmly and said softly "You got me."
"Yes" he replied a triumphant smile spreading across his face. The other man merely stared at her his gaze calculating. She sighed and stuffed her hands in her coat pockets.
"Any last wishes?" the big man asked as he loaded the gun.
"Yes" she said slowly looking at the other guy intensely. "You will shoot me." She said pointing at him.
He was taken aback but took the gun offered to him by his boss. He calmly took the aim as his target smiled. The gunshot echoed through the silent place unheard by anyone. She slumped on the ground dead.
Devraj stared at the spot where Aasma stood a few moments ago and saw Maxwell standing there. He had been in the building before any of them.
He lowered his unused gun and his mouth dropped open in shock.
"You promised that you won't kill her..."
"Devraj...you really believed we would leave her after she had seen you or any of us. She was too close to tracking all of us. Be glad that you are alive my boy."
"You..." Devraj pounced on the man and he staggered backwards. In a moment, the burly man, his assistant and driver were upon him. They dragged him and threw him down next to Aasma's dead body. His hands hit the road wet from her blood and his anger increased. Maxwell signalled the burly man to stop as he was about to shoot him and said,
"I am leaving you alive because you did my work. Remember Devraj, personal and professional life dont mix well. Shouldnt fall for beautiful girls easily...." But they both had heard the police siren echoing in the distance.
Maxwell and his men quickly got inside the car and left, leaving Devraj there. He kept sitting next to her body for some moments but then the sound of siren brought him back. He looked at her eyes closed in peace and lifted her lifeless form in his arms and carried her to her car. He placed her softly in the backseat, got in and drove off to the creamation ground as fast as he could.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Devraj opened his eyes in shock as her dead face came back to him. After that day, he resolved to kill Maxwell as he had not slept in peace for a single night without getting drunk. He had to kill him, for taking away his peace. He could have killed Aasma or done whatever he wanted to with her. But to do it through him and destroying Devraj's self was inhuman in Devraj's eyes.
Maxwell was stirring slowly. Devraj straightened up and waited for him to regain full consciousness. He looked around slowly and sat up rubbing his eyes before he noticed Devraj. He almost jumped up and Devraj smiled.
"Goodevening."Devraj said running his fingers over his gun's barrel. Maxwell stood up and looked around to see Naina who was alert now and was holding her gun and Devraj followed him.
Devraj tossed his gun and caught it saying
"Shouldnt fall for beautiful girls easily....remember something?"
"We can strike a deal here." Maxwell was dead scared now and was taking steps in the backward direction.
"What deal? I am not up for any negotiations..."
"You owe me your life..."
"You left me alive so that you could pass off the blame to someone else. Had the police not arrived, I would be there." he pointed up.
"you doing this for a silly girl..."
"I cannot expect you to understand...I am doing this as you broke a promise...Broken commitments are not tolerated by me."
"No..."
Devraj pointed the silenced gun at himand pulled the trigger. He crumpled on the floor dead. Devraj took a deep breath and sat down on the armchair. Naina did not move from her place at all. She was too shocked to even react. she could have never imagined that a man like Devraj could take revenge for somebody else. Full 10 minutes passed before the door was burst open and armed policemen took over. Devraj looked up at being cornered. His mouth dopped open and he looked around at Naina who looked as shocked as him. But slowly her features changed and she looked at the policemen.
"What are you waiting for gentlemen? Arrest him!"
She walked past him without glancing at him and he kept staring at her. a policeman came to hima and pulled him to his feet and tied the handcuffs around his wrists. His eyes were still fixed on the door way from which Naina had just exited. He felt the policeman pull him and when he did not move, he heard him speak
"Kiska intzaar hai Raj?"
Devraj's head snapped to take in this guy's appreance who was holding his arm. The deep intelligent eyes looked familiar.
"Pehchana mujhe? Sam..." he said in a bitter voice. And Devraj knew who he was now. He smiled and said
"Man...you have grown up."
He received a push in reply and was dragged out of the room.
hey guys
here comes the much delayed(whats new?) update of IHYFLM. I know you guys hate me from the bottom of ur socks after reading this...but as they say, its my story. I know most of u must have seen this coming anyways, so i mght be spared.
now, i have this delimma...when i started with this fic i did not have any actors in my mind...this was more of a story than a fanfic and that is the reason you did not find any songs and dance here. im sorry if i have disappointed you. anyways, coming back to the point, now i have to post a happy ending as this is an RN fic and there are some rules to be followed. but then i had something in my mind, a sad ending with which i started in the first place. so i have thought of posting both of them...please tell me if you want to read it...only then i will take the effort and write it, being a lazy bum i am...
now i think i have replied to all comments..if i have skipped nay, please drop in a line...comments are decreasing due to my own neglignece...i request u guys, please dont stop commenting! i have changed my whole story just because you guys wanted it this way and thats the real reason of super delayed updates...even if u think the quality is going down, let me know.
i will try my best to post the next ud after checking out ur response
Sur
P.S. thank god im finally able to post this..every time i try to post it, if signs me out :I
Edited by Sur_Singhania - 15 years ago
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