“Fuck…why do I always behave like this in front of her? I went there to claim her and I approached like a puppy lover. Disgusting…I fist the balcony railing in pique. Suddenly an alternative thought peeps into my mind. Though I couldn’t get her today and I behaved very weirdly it will work in reverse and in a better way. At least I instilled a dilemma in her mind that she has to come forward to work out this relationship. Now, she will come to me willingly what I exactly want. Nandana, I can have you anytime by force but it will be more fun to have you under me like a shot…craving for my touch…my passion…I smirk in my mind. My frustration subsides. And what makes you so confident that she will surrender voluntarily…and so easily? My evil mind tries to counter me. I gulp the wine and wink at him. Because in the coming days, I won’t leave any stone unturned to pretend to be a good lover. A helpless fiancé who is desiderating her love. How long will she be able to refrain from falling in love with me? Actually, it was my mistake only to approach her like a money-minded man. She is not like those girls who are always after money and privilege. She gives more importance to her heart than her mind. Now, I have to manipulate both… her heart and mind and I can bet; she will surrender both to me…Ha ha..I high five with my evil mind. At last, this night seems worthy to me.”

..........................

It is 8 o’clock in the morning. Aditya is tossing and turning in his bed. Last night he hit the sack quite late. So, he planned to sleep till the afternoon as he doesn’t have any important work or commitments today. However, something alters his plan. He scrunches his brows still having his closed eyes. A sweet melodious voice soothes his brain and gradually brings him back from his sweven. He unfurls his heavy eyelids but the sound doesn’t bother him at all. Otherwise, it is a sin for everyone to disturb his slumber and nobody wants to see the aftermath. Aditya gets up and sits squarely on the bed. The voice is coming from outside…from the balcony side. He gets down from the bed and unmindfully saunters towards the balcony totally engrossed in the voice and lyrics. Aditya looks at the garden just down from the suspended veranda. He doesn’t have to search much as his eyes stick on a figure strolling around in the garden. For a moment, he feels like the white angel statue of the fountain came to the life and she is roaming around like a nymph. In a spellbound state, he comes out of his room and destines to the garden. From a distance, he keeps on admiring her euphonious voice and seraphic beauty. Unmindfully his lips curve in a content smile. Nandana takes a deep breath as she finishes the song. Now, she is sitting on the cement circle made around the fountain. The tangerine apricity is caressing her bonny face.

“Where did you learn music from?”

Aditya's bewildered voice breaks her reverie. She gets startled and turns to him finding a mesmerized Aditya. She brushes her eyes all around his face and body. His unruly hair and puffy eyes are proof that he just woke up. However, his question pushes her to other questions. She can’t remember how she learned music. Maybe from that orphanage, where she used to live as Aditya said or maybe it is inherent. But why did Aditya ask this? Logically, he must know that. Her eyes get clouded with uncertainty. Aditya whiffs it and immediately alters his question.

“I mean, where did you get this melodious voice from? Every time I listen and every time, I fall in love with it.”

Nandana stares down shyly. Aditya is praising her way too much. She softly replies,

“Nothing like that. I love music…so I felt to sing. Sorry if I disturbed your morning sleep. It’s just that I woke up early today and thought to see the garden. It’s beautiful.”

Nandana looks around with admiration and again says,

“Aditya, why doesn’t this house have a temple? It’s always good to start a day with worship and prayer. This garden has so many flowers. I feel like collecting them and adore any idol of God.”

Her eyes become dreamy.

“Come with me…”

Aditya abruptly clutches her wrist and pulls her to follow him. With a perplexed mind and heart, Nandana accompanies him. She guessed that Aditya will lead her inside the house but to her surprise, he comes to the opposite side of the garden. This is the backyard of the house. Until now, she has never come to this side. Nandana observes that there is a small hut to the extreme corner of the wall which is surrounding the whole mansion.

“Wall of the selfish giant…”

She mumbles. Aditya arches a sardonic brow at her and she shyly wobbles in denial.

“I hope he didn’t hear…”

She utters in her mind…embarrassed. The hut is camouflaged with trees and Bougainvillea bushes in such a way that if Aditya hadn’t pointed it out to her, she would have never found it.

“Come…”

Aditya commands and enters the hut so does Nandana. It is a small hut that only consists of a room. There is no furniture or anything that can indicate that someone stays here. Nandana looks around and turns at Aditya to quell her curiosity. But before she can get a verbal answer, Aditya leaves her hand and presses a button which is on a wall covered with a demon mask. Suddenly a wooden plank on the floor slides away with a rumbling sound removing a staircase going down. Nandana furrows her brows and looks at Aditya with a bewildered face. Aditya smiles and again holds her hand to approach the opening. Within a couple of minutes, they come to an underground room. The view compels Nandana to gape in surprise. It is a pretty big room with almost all the facilities like a king-size bed, a home theatre, a small refrigerator, and a wardrobe. There is a closed door adjacent to a wall. Perhaps a storeroom or an attached bathroom. Nandana guesses. She then brushes her glance all around and fixes it on a corner. This is a bar counter having a semicircle wooden counter and an elevated stool. The wall has a cabinet consisting of different types of liquor bottles and crystal glasses. Nandana’s forehead bears some lines. Aditya observes it. In order to divert her concentration, he lifts the electric guitar lying on the bed and strikes the chords. The jingle catches her attention and brings shine to her eyes.

“You play the guitar?”

Her words are damped with ecstasy. Aditya bobs and sits on a stool kept near a corner. His fingers are now moving on the guitar chords like a ballet dancer who sways and covers the entire floor like a light bird. He is skimming the fingers on the chords with closed eyes. His head is rocking with the beat. Slowly the tune picks up the pace and his leg starts tapping on the floor. Nandana can feel how much he is engrossed in the music. Unknowingly Nandana saunters to him and stands in front of him…stock still. Perhaps Aditya could feel her presence and he slowly opens his eyes. His fingers stop on the strings. The room is sunk into silence. Both are now gazing at each other…adrift. Slowly Nandana scoots forward and touches her lips on his forehead like a feather. Aditya closes his eyes. His heart skips a beat and it fills with smugness. He doesn’t even realise that today he himself has broken his rule. For the first time, a girl steps into his den…his innermost world. An angel finally enters the heart of a brute.

..........................

“Sir…that car, which was described by the father of that girl has been spotted.”

The constable informs while standing in front of the desk of the police inspector. The officer lifts his face from the file. After 10 days of random investigation and interrogation; this is the first information that sounds worthy to him.

“The car?... In which that girl Nandana was supposed to be kidnapped? Where? And what about its owner.”

The officer mouths quizzically and restlessly. He sits squarely on his seat.

“There is still no information about the owner. It was dumped in a deserted graveyard and unfortunately, its number plate is fake. Most probably it was abandoned there on the day of the kidnapping as its condition indicates only this. I think it is a stolen car.”

The constable states like a true investigator. No doubt he watches and reads suspense thrillers a lot. The officer hums unmindfully and again asks,

“Is its interior searched?”

He knows that without this, they can’t come to any firm conclusion.
“That’s why I came to you, Sir. We have to visit the site along with our forensic department. The delay can contaminate the clue and the evidence.”

The constable puts his point.

“Right. There is no question of any delay. For the first time, we have got something to proceed in a definite direction. By the way, inform that man….ummmm…Mr Basu. Nandana Basu’s father. I want him on the site when our forensic department will examine the car. If there is any clue…like any piece of cloth, any slipper or any piece of jewellery, he will be needed to identify them. So, call him to come.”

The officer gets up from his seat and gaits to another desk to inform the forensic department. At last, this case gets some positive turn. He feels new energy.