It was eight o’clock when Charmi woke Shyam.
“Shyam, get up. Gurpreet had already left for the school.”
Shyam rubbed his eyes reminding the nightmares he had at night. Shyam went to the washroom to freshen himself.
He had slight pain still in the thigh but he avoided painkiller.
Gurpreet was not present hence they began to discuss the next planning.
“You said he will be unconscious for forty-five minutes but it seemed he gone forever and police had wasted some bullet to declare him dead and criminal.”
“I think so but the postmortem report will disclose the fact,” Shyam said.
“The report will be prepared as per their will,” Charmi replied without any wonder.
“The police is involved in them is now doubtless,” Shyam stated.
“Yes, not only police but media as well. We are lucky the demonization prevented our story to be limelight.”
“They will release our sketch.” Shyam doubled.
“Yes, but even we don’t identify ourselves in the sketches.” Charmi was laughing.
“Why so?”
“All officers from the department never be involved to them. If they declare the sketches, they, all Haryana and Chandigarh police, will start to chase us. They never afford the risk we come in hands of any honest officer. They are interested to kill us unofficially and hence they will release the sketch only for formality, the defective sketch.”
“What will we do now?”
“The demonetisation has worsened our situation.”
“Can we expect help from Gurpreet?” Shyam asked.
“Gurpreet is from a lower-middle-class family and we can’t expect from her. I think we should pay her for food when we leave.”
“We have only one thousand. How can we pay her?”
“We must do something. I have forty thousand in my account but my debit card is with the kidnappers.”
“Mine also and my cell phone too.” Shyam cursed.
“We have no option. We have to contact the head.” Charmi opened the laptop.
Charmi downloaded the mail encryption to prevent the emails to be hacked. She installed the software. Charmi logged in her email account.
To: head.detectivedepartment@dp.org
Encrypted mail from c31540i@dp.org
I was kidnapped. Now I am free and safe buy without a wallet and cell phone. Need cash – Rs 10,000 in the denomination of only Rs 50 or Rs 100 and Aadhar identity. Such a situation set as police must be informed.
Charmi sent mail. She looked out and closed the laptop.
“We can’t do anything except waiting until the reply from the end.” Charmi annoyed.
Shyam missed Archana, but he knew he couldn’t contact her in this situation. He lit cigarette to divert his thought, imagining various shape through the smoke as it shaped some wild animals.
Shyam remembered the nightmares he had previous night. In the nightmare, he was standing middle of a slaughterhouse abandoned for ages with many hooks, and the walls painted red of blood. The drainage line was flowing the blood beneath his legs. He frightened remembering the nightmare.
It was a nightmare but in fact a reality. He was indeed in the slaughterhouse. Poor Shyam didn’t know why they wanted to kill him. The animals in the slaughterhouse never know why they are slaughtered.
Shyam looked at Charmi. If this girl hadn’t come, I would surely die unknown to the world. I don’t know about the future but now I am safe and secure. He remembered the haunting dreams he had for three years.
She always speaks the same word, the same face and the same sadness and pain over the face. But he couldn’t identify the face. The sadness over her face and the mist had never let her face be clean to identify. He sighed.
He set his eyes at the photo above the wall. Gurpreet was in the picture. An old man near Gurpreet Hyam assumed her father.
Shyam felt his father’s face very kind now. How much I got annoyed when the dad came to the room and ordered to switch the light off and sleep early at 10:00 pm. He always dreamed the life in which he can sleep and awake as per his own will. Why dad interfere in his life?
His dreamed life met him in the cell but he felt the life according to his father’s rule was much better than his own dreamed life.
He remembered. When the father stayed at the house of his any host, he and Aniruddh would enjoy any movie a\or internet surfing till the midnight.
He had selected the upper floor. He learnt from his experience that farther from the dad is always safer. Now he missed his father. He felt sorry as he never talked to his father more than need.
Shyam came out from the thought seeing Charmi logging in again in the mail.
“Thank God! The reply came.” She shouted.
“Shouldn’t it so early?” Shyam wondered to her shouting.
“Usually it comes but when the head is out of office or busy in any meeting, the reply may be delayed.”
Charmi opened the mail.
Encrypted mail from: head.detectivedepartment@dp.org
To: c31540i@dp.org
Location
Charmi logged out from the mail. She closed the laptop.
After ten minutes, she logged in again.
Charmi chose fresh mails instead reply. The reply from the head was not also a reply but a fresh mail. Shyam thought a fresh mail can prevent all conversation to be hacked even a mail could be hacked. Shyam understood the process of log out after sending or receiving any mail was a special care for the security of communication.
To: head.detectivedepartment@dp.org
Encrypted mail from: c31540i@dp.org
Mumbai London
Hawda Hawda Delhi
Imphal
She sent the mail.
“What did you write? We are in Mohali.”
“This a coded language.”
“What?”
“There is a particular method to decode this message. The one who knows the method can only decode the message.”
“What is the method? I understood nothing.”
“Position of words and letters.”
“Which type position?”
“First first and the second is second...”
“I understood nothing.”
“In the first line first word Mumbai means M, second word London means the second letter O. Now in the second line the first-word Hawda mean H and the second word also Hawda but it means the second letter Am and Delhi is the third hence its third letter is L.”
“I understood. And the Imphal is first in the last line hence I mean MOHALI.” Shyam thrilled with joy.
“You know Shyam, coding is a language type that can be decoded easily by the one who knows the pattern of coding. But the one who doesn’t know the pattern of coding can ever decode the message. Even if he tries hard, he can get many answers and he can never find the real meaning of the message. Suppose a master of coding-decoding can decode the message, he can’t be sure the meaning he finds is only the meaning of the message. He has always to depend upon the prediction and chances.”
Gurpreet returned the afternoon. She had brought the vegetables with her while returning to the home. Gurpreet cooked and this time Charmi tried to help her in the cooking.
After the lunch, Shyam felt laziness inside him but he avoided to sleep. The trio kept on chatting till 3:00 pm.
At 3:00 pm, Gurpreet rose as she had personal tuition in the society near about her room.
Shyam felt the intensive need of a painkiller. He took a painkiller. He had no much pain in his leg or hand but now he was feeling headache. Gurpreet can cause a headache to anyone. Shyam thought and smiled.
Charmi opened the laptop and logged in again.
There were two separate emails from the chief.
One reads – 3/5510 Chaddha & Brothers,
Sector -70, Delhi.
The other has only two words - Rosewood & Sisters.
Shyam understood Delhi here meant as Mohali. Charmi explained him ‘Rosewood & Sisters’ is the password to receive the money. Charmi in t replied the mail. She uninstalled the encryption software and deleted history from the browser. She closed the laptop. Shyam understood Charmi had no more need of the laptop.
“I am going to receive the cash. It will take me an hour. Even it may take more time, don’t go out and never try to search for me by mistake.” Charmi explained him and hurried to the door. Shyam heard her stepping down the stairs.
*
It was only 4:00 pm, Charmi had just gone before a half hour but Shyam’s eyes were stuck to the clock.
Why has she not returned yet? If she has been caught? Shyam afraid they will kill her because she had killed their man and two dogs.
Charmi returned at half-past four. Seeing her back, Shyam felt he won a battle.
Charmi’s face was a little worn.
“The work is done?” Shyam asked as soon as she sat on the chair.
“Yes, but I had to face many hardships to reach the location.”
“What happened? Still, are they searching for us? Did you face them?” Shyam spoke what came on the lips.
“No, no, nothing like that, but because of a short address, I got troubles to reach the location. And head couldn’t share full address by mail.” She opened a bag and took out some newspapers.
Gurpreet had also returned at that time.
“Gurpreet you must have been tired but please get me a cup of tea,” Charmi spoke.
“I will do. Tuition is my routine job.” Gurpreet replied. She made tea and trio sipped the tea.
“Any other tuition now?” Charmi asked.
“No. I have only tuition.” Gurpreet sighed.
“Gurpreet switched on the TV and watched a Punjabi serial. Shyam and Charmi engaged in the study of newspapers.
In today’s daily, they published the photo of the dead body. He was shot in the temper and died on the spot. Instead of releasing the sketches, police changed the topic and accepted the fugitives are unknown as police couldn’t recognise them due to dark. The police are searching still them was the last sentence printed in the news.
“Gurpreet, we are going to market to buy some goods,” Charmi told Gurpreet.
“What do you want?”
“Just some goods and items, not anything special.”
“Okay”
Shyam and Charmi came out of the room and stepped down the stairs.
“If anybody notices us then?” Shyam declared his fear.
“We are going that anyone can notice us.”
“I didn’t understand.”
“I want to know if anyone sees us in the market, what will be the reaction.”
Both kept on walking with no dialogue for a while.
*
Chhota market was crowded as usual when Shyam and Charmi reached there. The name of the market is the Chhota (small) market; however, one can get anything he wants to buy there. Shyam thought the name should be Bada (big) market.
Charmi bought two jeans, a shirt and a hoody cardigan for Shyam and for her two jeans and a T-shirt. She didn’t forget to buy an unstitched dress for Gurpreet.
Paying at the counter they went to another store a footwear store. Charmi chose canvas shoes for her. Charmi asked his choice and Shyam wished for the canvas. In fact, Shyam was familiar with two words and they were canvas shoes and party shoes. Charmi did payment. Demonetisation had forced the seller first deal at the evening and they got the shoes at a reasonable rate. The bill of clothes was also lower than usual. Perhaps, retailers were forced to decrease the rate due to the demonetisation. Shyam thought they were meeting the fixed cost of the shop selling with a little margin. Shyam remembered the chapters fixed cost and variable cost he would teach his students. He smiled.
Charmi stopped seeing a Dhaba while returning.
“What makes you stop here?” Shyam wondered.
“I want not to bother Gurpreet at the evening. Let’s have the meal packed. What do you like at dinner?”
“Get anything and you only know what Gurpreet likes.”
“Okay.”
Shyam and Charmi approached the counter at Dhaba. Shyam remembered the words of that devil, and then visit the Pal Dhaba at next birth. He was wrong now. It was not Pal Dhaba but they are at a Dhaba.
“Veere, Chitte Chhole and Panj (five) Parathe,” Charmi spoke in Punjabi.
“Pickle” Shyam reminded her.
“It is already at Gurpreet’s room.” Charmi murmured with a smile.
Not only in the movies or novels but also in real life, a detective notices everything at sight. Shyam had noticed nothing at Gurpreet’s room.
*
They gave preference to Chhole and Parathe when they turned back at Gurpreet’s room. Shyam and Charmi, each, ate a single paratha while Gurpreet ate two. Gurpreet forced them for the last one and Shyam and Charmi parted the last between them.
Shyam was still hungry, but he knew they had to leave after the dinner. He thought it would be difficult to run with a heavy stomach if they would have to run during the travelling. Shyam had no pain in his leg or hand but still; he was hesitant whether he could run.
Charmi showed Gurpreet the clothes they had purchased and presented her the unstitched dress.
Shyam went to the bathroom and did dressing to his wounds at the thigh. He changed the clothes, and he was feeling uneasy in new jeans and shirt. He had got the dressing on his hand by Charmi before going to change his clothes.
Charmi collected his bloodied clothes and stuffed in a bag with her own. She stuffed the medicines in another bag. Charmi had already stuffed the gun in her jeans while Gurpreet was examining the unstitched dress.
Shyam and Charmi took each bag in their hands. They thanked Gurpreet. Gurpreet became sentimental. She asked Charmi to see her whenever she comes to Chandigarh. Charmi promised her to see her every time she comes to Chandigarh.
“Bye,” Gurpreet spoke.
Both stepped down the stairs and came onto the street.
They got an auto after a little walk.
Charmi was good at the geography of Mohali. She instructed the auto driver frequently and gets him to stop the auto. When the auto halted, Shyam found an isolated way.
Charmi had already paid the fare and began to walk when Shyam got down from the auto. Shyam didn’t feel to ask where they were going when he caught Charmi after some steps.
Charmi stopped after a little walking. Charmi took the bag from his hand and placed aside on the road.
She lit the bag with the lighter. Shyam’s bloodied clothes, her clothes and the jacket of that demon were nothing but ashes now.
Charmi lit a cigarette and offered him one. Shyam also lit a cigarette.
Charmi hid her head under the hood of the T-shirt. Shyam didn’t understand whether it was to save from the cold or unknown eyes but also did the same and covered his head under the hood of the cardigan.
“Let’s go,” Charmi spoke.
“I also don’t want to spend the night here,” Shyam replied.
Both were walking on the deserted road.
Shyam found a highway after a half hour. Charmi showed her hand to an auto and auto halted near them. Both got in the auto.
*
Christy had to breathe in the cellar for a long time. In beginning, Agent Malik would torture her but for the last several months; she was under Rozy’s watch. She hated Rozy as Christy herself got Rozy in the team of Victor after a couple of meetings with Rozy at Miranda Hotel in Goa. And Rozy double-crossed her, and she was kidnapped by Malik.
Rozy was worried as she had no talk with Malik for months.
Not only Rozy but any else in the world didn’t know where Malik was. Unfortunately, Simon’s bullet caught his head before he jumped off the train. He fell in the deep water of the river. He drowned and found near the river bank in an isolated village. He was treated, but he had lost his memory. He was living his life as a madman among the villagers who were kind-hearted enough to provide food, water and clothes to him.
Malik’s most of the enemies had mistaken poor Shyam as agent Malik. The reasons for their mistaken and confusion were agent Malik had a code name in his last mission and it was Shyam and unfortunately, Shyam travelled Palanpur to Chandigarh on the same train and same berth after Malik’s encounter with Simon.
After Malik’s disappearance, Rozy was watching over Christy. In his absence, Rozy was undecided what to do of Christy.
That day Rozy went very near to Christy to serve her evening meal. She made a bloody mistake. She underestimated Christy. Malik would never have done such a mistake. But Rozy was not an experienced spy. She was assistant of Malik only for several months.
Rozy made a mistake to reach very close to Christy but Christy was not ready to miss the chance. Christy used her handcuff as a weapon. She took Rozy’s neck between the handcuff and let the chains screwed and tighten until Rozy discontinued breathing.
Christy fumbled her pockets and found the key to handcuff. She freed her hands from handcuff. Christy was lucky, and she also got the key to Rozy’s car.
Now Christy was free but the most vicious fear was waiting for her outside. She was racing her car on the street of Chandigarh with no joy in her face of freedom. Christy knew Victor never forgives a mistake. Christy made a mistake, She was identified and caught. She did the greatest mistake, and it was she had opened the doors of their crime world for Rozy to enter. Christy knew Victor wouldn’t let her live.
***
To be continue...
