“Sir, there is a single piece of lady’s slipper under the back seat.”

The head constable yells from the car inside. The SP hastily comes near to the car. Mr Vivek Basu does the same. When he was informed about the car and the Superintendent of Police requested him to come and identify it, he left then and there. In the first observation, he confirms that it is the same car that he saw when Nandana was dragged inside it. The constable comes out holding a slipper in his hand. It is simple white footwear without any speciality. In a single glance, Vivek recognizes it as her daughter’s slipper. He feels giddy. A suppressed sound of weeping escapes out his mouth.

“Are you alright?”

The SP efficiently gives him support as Vivek staggers for a moment due to a momentary blackout.

“You sit here. Relax. We will find her. At least, it is clear that this is the car in which Ms Nandana was kidnapped. Gradually we will catch the goons too.”

The officer tries to assuage him but Vivek’s question leaves him silent.

“I am scared, Officer. I know my daughter. She never gives up so easily. She must have resisted and they must have hit her severely…She is alive…right officer?

His vacant eyes distress the SP. He scoffs when one of the forensic experts calls him.

“Sir, take a look..”

The officer strides at him. The forensic person is holding a spanner. He minutely observes it and scans it with a UV light. The overall stainless iron spanner turns into a not so clean rod. Both identify some greenish-blue spots on it. The expert points out them and reveals his verdict.

“These are blood spots which were tried to wipe out but the UV light caught it. We have to get a DNA test. I think we should get the DNA sample of her father. If both match then we can be sure that she was in this car and most probably was injured.”

The officer nods in positive. He decides that he won’t reveal this blood evidence to Vivek right now. It could be another shock for him. But the DNA sample is necessary. He squares his shoulder and again approaches Vivek Basu. The job of the police is not so easy. They often are not allowed to show their emotion though they are humans too.

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

“But Aditya, I am feeling better today. There is no headache no breathlessness. Why can’t I go outside? This house is making me sicker. I am feeling suffocated and today I will go out of this house… out of this selfish giant’s wall.”

Nandana mouths adamantly. Aditya glances up and pins Nandana with a cool glare.

“Oh…so you find the boundary wall as the selfish giant’s wall? Then what is this house? A selfish giant’s jail? And who am I? The selfish giant itself?”

His voice is grave yet it has a tinge of fun. Seems he gets amused by his new name.

“I didn’t say that but if you won’t give me permission then I will give you more innovative names.”

Nandana challenges him pointing her index finger at Aditya. He smirks and gets up from his chair. Nandana furrows her brows. She gets confused while Aditya is angry or entertained.

“Hmmm…innovative names. Okay, give me some examples. If they succeed to impress me, I will take you outside…promise.”

He says in a playful tone and comes near to her. Nandana licks her lips in confusion. Sometimes she can’t understand this man. He behaves coolly when he should be angry and sometimes, he throws unnecessary tantrums over a trivial issue. Mr Mercurial. Her mind invents a new name. She chuckles inwardly.

“In fact, there are so many like…Monster Oberoi, Selfish Giant, Handsome Brute, Under-cover Guitarist and the most recent name is Mr Mercurial.”

Now he is laden with all weird names. Aditya’s eyes are dancing with amusement.

“Handsome Brute? Now, this is unexpected and innovative. By the way, I know I am handsome but why Brute? Have I ever behaved like an animal?”

His tone is light. Nandana gets assured.

“No…but you know I feel like the Beauty in this big castle-like house and then you should be the Beast but you are not ugly like the beast rather you are handsome. So, I thought it should be the Brute. Handsome Brute.”

She air quoted the words which bring a mischievous grin to Aditya’s lips.

“Okay, so you are the Beauty and I am the Brute. But as you named me, I also want to name you. Beauty only describes your outer look. But in my opinion, you are more beautiful inwardly. Like an Angel. So, I would like to name you Angel. And I am your Brute. Angel’s Brute. Does it sound like a fairy tale?”

Aditya leans forward and inches at her face. His eyes are raunchy. Nandana stares down. Her cheeks are crimson. She bites her lips self-consciously.

“Where do you want to go?”

Aditya’s words make her look up. She finds him grinning.

“Anywhere…but far from this place. I want to be free from this Brute’s castle.”

She says enthusiastically but immediately bites her tongue. Aditya smiles at her cute antics and says,

“Then let’s go…”

But his evil mind whispers,

“You can be free from this castle but you can’t be free from this Brute…never.”

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

“I can’t take her into any public place. Because the police are already searching for her everywhere. Today Ayan even gave the news that they have found out the car. Bloody idiots. Can’t do a single work properly. I am just waiting to get them. After that, there will be my gun and their heads. I restlessly veer the car to the left. Nandana is sitting beside me. Her face is glowing with ecstasy due to the happiness that finally she is going outside. She is gazing outside sticking her nose at the window glass. She is looking adorable. My lips twist in a smile. But why you agreed with her? Don’t you know; how can it be dangerous for you? My devil mind warns me. I don’t know why I agreed but I just couldn’t defy her pleading eyes. You are changing…you fool. My inner monster mocks. Shut up! I shun the topic and press the accelerator.”

After a long drive, Aditya’s car stops in a deserted area. Nandana glances at him with surprised eyes and rolls down the window like a curious cat. A gust of moist and cool air hits her face. The car is standing on a beach. There are some date palm trees semicircle the beach. On the other side, there is the wild sea elongated to the horizon. Aditya gets down and comes to the other side to open the door. As the door opens, Nandana steps out like a zealous kid who has suddenly seen the Atlantis. She looks at Aditya with her thousand-watt bright smile and runs towards the shore. Having no other option, Aditya also follows her with a helpless kiddish grin. It seems like unknowingly he got his childhood back.

“Nandita…stop. Let me come…”

He yells but only gets her reply as a giggle. She is running on the seashore like an adrift feather. Sometimes she is chasing the waves and sometimes running back from where they are lapping the shore. The rumbling of the waves is mingling with her continuous giggle. For a certain time, Aditya was trying to stop her but her gambol impels him to stand still and adore her. He finds her like a mermaid who accidentally came out of the water and now is playing with nature. He saunters at her….spellbound. Nandana is lost in her lark until she feels the pull and bangs to a hard chest. Aditya is holding her arm, pressing her wet body into his torso. They are almost submerged in the water till their knees. The waves are lapping their bodies, drenching them with zillions of droplets. Both are looking at each other. The twilight is on beaming their faces. Aditya reaches her cheeks and removes a strand of tresses stuck on her wet lips. His gaze fixes on her buxom lips and he skirts his thump over them.

“Stop Angel…before I lose myself…”

He whispers and slowly inches at her quivering lips. Now, their lips are less than an inch apart. Both can feel each other’s warm breath on their skins. Aditya closes his eyes and is ready to sink his lips into hers when a soft mumble halts him.

“Aditya….”

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

The SP is sitting on his chair frequently glancing at his mobile and the wall clock. He is waiting for the forensic report. Suddenly the senior constable comes to his table and salutes. The SP leisurely looks up.

“Sir, I think our informer has found out one of the goons. He just called me.”

His voice is laced with a zest that passes to the SP.

“Really?...Where? Tell him to follow that guy and inform me.”

The SP instructs but the senior constable doesn’t look very satisfied.

“Why, Sir? We can arrest him right now and interrogate.”

He opines.

“No…not now…I want to catch all of them and if I am not wrong, there is someone behind this…. bigger than these goons. I am sure, it is not just a kidnapping case. Some big shot is there and I have to catch that person.”

His voice is determined.