“I have never felt so nervous and helpless in my life. A guy is garrotting Nandana with his strong hand while pointing a revolver at her right temple. Nandana’s eyes are closed in fear. She is struggling to reduce the pressure on her neck. As I strain my eyes to observe the man more clearly, I recognise him as the absconded goon whom I paid to kidnap Nandana and later imprisoned him at my farmhouse. He is the last alive felon whom I was searching for…for ending his life. But here he got the upper hand. The revolver which he is pointing at Nandana is mine. He must have got it from my drawer. I curse myself.”

“Relax, you want money? I will give you. But don’t try to harm her.”

Aditya utters while trying to near Nandana and the goon. The man sniggers and retrieves a bit.

“It seems that you couldn’t recognise me, Aditya Sir. I am Billu; whom you wanted to kill by Pappu. But see, I am still alive. But I even know that I won’t be for a long as nobody can live by messing with you, Sir. That’s why I came here. I want to live my life, Sir. A peaceful life. Out of this city, even this country. I won’t tell anyone about you, Sir. Please let me live.”

The man Billu pleads like a pet dog. His eyes have panic and desperation both. Aditya’s jaws get hard. More this man will speak this shit, more Nandana will know about everything. He curses the situation. Aditya forwards a bit more. His eyes are alert.

“What the hell are you talking about? I know you are a burglar and broke into this house for ransacking. Now, leave my wife. I will let you go. Drop the gun… you fool.”

Aditya tries to control his agitation and tension. On the other hand, Nandana is standing like a statue, still, her eyes closed. Sweat beads are visible on her whole face. It’s not palpable whether she is being able to grok the situation fully. Billu snickers and grabs Nandana tighter. A suppressed squeal comes out of her mouth. Aditya raises his hand to stop Billu. He is panting like a trapped wounded lion.

“Billu…stop. Don’t hurt her. You want money….right? I will give you. But dare to hurt her…you BASTARD…”

He ends with a yell.

“Superb, Sir. You are caring about this girl? And what did you say? Your wife? When did it happen? (He scoffs) You rich men are really players, Sir. Did you forget that you….yes you only hired us to kidnap her. You instructed us to get this girl (Billu lightly pokes the barrel on Nandana’s temple) in your farmhouse. Today you are telling me to leave her? Wow, Sir…what a drama! But how can I forget; this girl….yes this girl (He screams against Nandana’s ear) has ruined our lives. Since the day we kidnapped her our lives became hell. Before that, we used to be your favourite henchmen. You used to give us so much money. We lived our life like a king. But since this girl entered your life, she brought bad luck for us. You killed all my partners. You might kill me too….but God saved me. I don’t want to be killed, Sir. And if I have to die, I will kill this girl too.”

Billu sounds ferociously insane. He drags Nandana more to the backside. Now, they are almost at the end of the walk-in wardrobe. Aditya observes that if Billu gets distracted for a second, he can be seized. And for that, he has to engage him with his talks. Aditya steps forward again and says in a composed voice.

“Billu…whatever you are saying is nonsense. I have never done anything like this. You are mistaken. Maybe you are stressed and hungry. Okay, let me get some food for you. You have some food, drink some water and after that, we can talk….comfortably. Look, don’t do anything for which you have to repent in future. Whatever your demand is….I….yes, I will fulfil…Promise. Now, Cooldown.”

As Aditya was saying all these, he observes that Billu is standing over a piece of cloth. If he tugs the cloth, Billu will lose his balance. He also observes that Billu hasn’t unlocked the safety latch of the revolver. So, any bullet can’t be shot accidentally. Hearing about food, Billu’s eyes flicker with the urge. He indeed is hungry because he couldn’t have anything for the last two days. The only thought in his mind was how he can run away from Aditya Oberoi’s grip. Aditya whiffs longing in his eyes. His eyes beam with hope. He looks at Nandana. She is still standing like a puppet entrapped in Billu’s hand but the difference is that she is not struggling anymore. Instead, it seems that she has given up and lost her strength. Aditya furrows his brows.

“Did she lose her conscience?”

He becomes suspicious.

“Good for you. The less she hears, the less you have to cover it up. Now, concentrate on Billu only.”

His calculative devil mind instructs him. He raises his hands in fake defeat and utters,

“Okay, I get some food for you. You have it. But in between, don’t hurt her….please.”

Billu licks his lips and bobs. Aditya retrieves a bit and takes out his mobile.

“Shiva, get some chapati (Indian Bread/Roti) and curry for me. And a jug of water. And listen, bring some sweets too. Hmmm.”

He cuts the call and eyes Billu who has now removed the revolver barrel from Nandana’s head but is still grabbing her as prey. Aditya again watches the cloth on which Billu is standing. In the next moment, a knock is heard on the door. Aditya nods at Billu and comes out of the walk-in wardrobe place to open the door. After one minute, he returns with a plate and a jug of water. Billu looks at it greedily.

“Keep it on the floor and push it to me.”

Billu instructs alertly. Aditya just wanted to have this chance. He bends to keep the plate on the floor but suddenly he pulls the cloth. Billu was not ready for this. He slips and falls straight on his back. He even loses the hold on Nandana. However, the revolver is still in his hand. Aditya hurls the jug towards his hand and the revolver glides from Billu’s hand and lands in front of Aditya’s feet. Like an agile tiger, Aditya picks it up and simultaneously rushes towards Nandana to support her drooping body. Billu tries to stand up and bounce on Aditya but before that, Aditya’s revolver reports…BLOB.

“Ahhhh…..”

With a howl, Billu kneels on the ground. The bullet has almost smashed one of his knees. Being satisfied with his work and Billu’s helpless condition, Aditya concentrates on Nandana. He was right. Nandana is unconscious and it was predictable. She doesn’t have the nerves to bear this trauma for so long. Aditya lifts her in his arms and walks to the bed. After making her lie down on the bed, he again comes to the wardrobe place. Billu is writhing in excruciating pain. Aditya saunters at him and observes. Suddenly he kicks on his freshly damaged knee. A painful shriek vents out from Billu’s mouth.

“This is for troubling us. Otherwise, you deserve a bullet in your head for touching her and hurting her….do you understand…BASTARD?”

Aditya yells in his high pitch. He steps on Billu’s chest and mouths ruthlessly.

“But I don’t want to dirty my hands with your blood. Better late than never. Pappu is your ultimate destination…So, bye. Rot in hellll..”

He smashes the revolver back strap on Billu’s head. With a quack sound, Billu falls to the ground, passed out. Aditya nudges his lifeless body with his boot and after being satisfied, comes out of the walk-in wardrobe. He slides the door to close the place and calls Ayan.

“Come to my place. Billu is here. This moron has to be removed from my house at once. After that, hand over him to Pappu. Pappu knows his job.”

He mutters with a sinister scoff.

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

Three hours have passed. Now, it is striking at almost 4:30 am. Ayan came immediately and got Billu with him. Nandana is still unconscious. Aditya didn’t call the doctor as he didn’t want anyone to smell anything about the incident. Right now, he is sitting beside Nandana, holding her hand. His eyes are restless and eager. He again sprinkles some water on her face and calls her softly,

“Nandita…Nandita…open your eyes, Baby. See, you are fine. We are fine. Wake up, Baby.”

However, Nandana doesn’t show any sign of responding which deepens the lines on Aditya's forehead.

“God…I hope she hasn’t had any serious impact because of this incident. Should I call Dr Nikhanj? Now, even that Billu has been taken away.”

He mumbles under his restless breath and after a brief dilemma, is about to type Dr’s number. His back is facing Nandana’s motionless body. All of a sudden, a low susurration attracts his ears.

“Ummmmm…..”

He turns with a jolt and finds it is coming from Nandana’s mouth. Her eyes are still closed but the eye-balls are moving under her closed eyelids. Simultaneously she is wobbling her head slowly from side to side. She is gradually gaining her sense. Aditya takes some more water in his palm and spatters on her face and upper chest. Nandana shivers a bit and a wail comes out of her mouth,

“Please don’t…hurt me…my head…uffff…Papaaaa…”

Her voice is pain and panic-stricken. Aditya holds her shoulders and tenderly shakes her,

“Nandita….wake up…nobody is there. You are safe. I am here. Your Aditya.”

the tone is restless. It seems that something makes Nandana open her eyes with force. For a moment, she keeps on staring at Aditya’s eyes. Her eyes are red and vacant. However, in the next moment, she sits on the bed with a jerk. Her eyes are now emitting fear and uncertainty. Aditya cups her face and says in a gentle voice,

“I am here, Nandita. Nothing has happened. You are safe. Nandita, come down.”

But Nandana’s next words make all his blood drain out from his handsome face.

“Who is Nandita? I am Nandana…Nandana Basu. You…you…Adi…Aditya. Aditya Oberoi. How did I…get here?”

She jerks his hands from her cheeks and tries to distance herself from his proximity.

“Don’t touch me….you BUGGER.”