Part
13
Seconds ticked to minutes and
each 60 was fitted niftily in the hours that past waiting for Ram. It had been
long since dawn, the sun began to dip as it yawned nearing the end of a hectic shift.
Priya remained seated stiffly in her office with the note from Ram clutched in
her hand nestled into her palm. There was no doubt in her mind that she was
wrong and the constant guilt that washed her conscience refused to let her
forget it.
“Where the hell is Ram?” She
recited to herself while glancing at her watch as if in it was lodged some clue
to the puzzle of his whereabouts. Averting her gaze to the clock that hung on
her wall Priya confirmed that her two sources for time were in line. “Three
hours and there is still no sign of him…” She complained, trying foolishly to
hide the anxious tone of concern in her voice, fearing it herself. The note
slipped from her hands gliding gracefully down the tips of her fingers while
she gripped and lifted the phone receiver and stretched to punch in Jenny’s
extension for the fifth time in that hour alone. However, the door was thrust
open in that moment and Ram quite conveniently intruded on her loosely knitted plan
to determine his location. There he stood in front of her and she looked at him
dumbfounded. The door continued to creep until it clicked behind his sturdy
figure. This confrontation was what she had been waiting for, atleast for the
better half of the day and now that it was going exactly the way that she had
wanted it to, her words failed to convey, playing in the field of her lost mind
beyond the reach of her thoughts. “Umm.” she stuttered plastering a few letters
together and mustering the courage to slowly ease up on her feet. It was quite
clear to any overseer that Priya was flustered from the inside out or was it
from the outside in. Whatever the order, this situation was sort of like
writing a story knowing exactly where to end but no clue as to how to begin.
Stepping out from behind her
desk she took fragile steps towards Ram as if she were walking on a bed of
eggshells. This was the moment for which she had conjured up several scenarios
in her mind as to how it would play out. She was eye to eye with the man whom
she had erred only to realize after the fact that there was no actual sweetness
in bittersweet revenge.
“Mr Kapoor…” She spoke up
hesitantly, unsure of her words as if she had just learned to speak. Had that
been the case than Ram’s next statement was without a doubt the fatal blow to
her already flaky confidence. “Priya I don’t want to hear a damn thing…” The
look of sheer shock on her face was the ignition to her realization that this
was not going to be as simple as simply saying I am sorry. Judging by the size
of his already inflated ego Priya knew that she would have to hike up Mount
Everest insulted and belittled while carrying his pride on her brittle
shoulders. And when she reached the tip at the top she would have to scream at
the top of her lungs, “Mr. Kapoor I am sorry.”
“Priya why haven’t you been
answering your phone?” Priya smirked slightly amused that he had just asked her
that question so seriously because it was the same one that was at the top of
her list of things to ask him.
“I was just about to ask that
exact same question…” She confessed, her amusement clearly slipping through to
her tone.
“Priya I am not bloody
joking…”
“There we go, now that’s more
like it…” Priya thought to herself momentarily before proceeding on a more
serious note, taking a stab at an apology for the second of god knows how many
times to come. “Mr. Kapoor, I have been meaning to talk to you about…” Ram
grabbed a hold of her arms and jerked her gentler than she had anticipated from
the moment his fingers had curled around her flesh.
“Priya…” Ram had a scary
determined presentation in his voice, one that seemed shaky yet sure at the
same time… He continued carrying his tone in a consistent pattern… “Kush is
missing Priya…” Sploosh… her heart sank into her stomach, she could feel her
insides sloop and swirl in an attempt to digest it along with the side of his words.
“Leave me Mr. Kapoor… That’s not funny…” Apology? What’s that? The rage that
was conceived by his news engulfed any remorse that she had for her behaviour
earlier towards him. “I hate you Mr. Kapoor … You think that this is funny… Is
this your sick, twisted way of getting back at me? I am not having any of this…
Screw you…” Priya spoke hardly and screamed more, squirming and snaking in his
relentless hold. “Listen to me dammit!” Ram demanded in his usual manner…
“Everyone has been trying to get a hold of you for about an hour… Your cell is
turned off and your work number keeps coming up as busy… Sid called me about
half an hour ago and I came to the office as fast as I could…” If this were a
joke, a revolt of some sort, Priya would have Ram’s throat in her bare clutches.
But Ram was serious; his concern filled gaze was undeterred from the moment he
had stepped into her private cabin. “What? How?” She asked, exasperated. Priya
forfeited the struggle using his hold as leverage to prevent herself from
slipping to rock bottom.
Ram’s answer was true and to
the point, “ I don’t know Priya but we have to find him… Let’s go…” He grabbed
her by the hand and she didn't protest, instead she just went along with his
steady nudges trying to digest that her precious Kush was kidnapped and she
couldn’t protect him.
Ram tiptoed on edge to his bedroom, an anxious grin
plastered on his innocent face merely pondering the idea of a surprise like a
child on Christmas Eve. "What could it be?" He thought gripping the
side of the open door and peeping his head in for a quick glance at any clues.
There was nothing or no one in the room sparing his white dress shirt that lay
lathered on the floor, which he didn't think too much of until he stepped in
and saw a trail of discarded clothing leading up to the walk in closet. Picking
his dress shirt up off the floor he walked over to his red tie that he had on
the night before. “What the hell?” Ram mouthed audibly, his eyebrows knotting
in display of his obvious dismay. By now he had gathered that this arrangement
was purposeful it was too perfect of a trail to be considered a coincident.
Priya must have done this as part of her surprise but the aching question
remained why?
“Ram is that you?” He followed her voice to the
bathroom where she stood struggling with the hook on her blouse, her hands
scrambled behind her back. The sight was
envious, pleasurable and playful all jumbled into one messy ball of a certain
uncertainty. Bringing his arms to a fold snuggly around his exposed chest, Ram
leaned against the doorframe, completely sold on the sight. "Let me
guess." He started his sentence meeting her annoyed gaze in the mirror.
"You got dressed up so I can undress you and we could play into a sexy
fantasy." Priya raised her right eyebrow, amused but adamant she
refused to let out her true emotion. But somehow, judging by his next remark
Ram felt like he knew exactly what she was up to. " Aha! I was
right." With uncoordinated haste, Ram paced until he was standing right
behind her in the bathroom. The composure that usually resided on his face had
been hijacked by a surge of excitement. Priya could see the glee quite clearly
in her husbands’ expression as he wrongly inferred her silence. But the fault
was not entirely hers, she hadn’t said a word to confirm his allegation, of
course she hadn’t denied it either.
Time
flew at its own arrogant pace unearthed by the disappearance of Kush, the heir
to the Kapoor throne. However, 6 hours later it seemed that even if the hands
of time had halted for their sake, it would have made no difference. By now the
sunrays had been splattered and smudged across the fluffed tainted clouds.
There was a blanket of civilians trickling out and about on the streets but
none were the least bit resourceful when it came to finding Kush. At this point
hope had slowly gained its new name, desperation and with its conception the
blaming game was bound to take place.
“Priya…”
Ram steered his gaze off the road momentarily staring helplessly at Priya who
sat next to him in the caramel beige leather seat in his dark blue Benz. “I
think we should go back to your apartment and re group. We have been at this
all day and we’ve come up empty. Everyone, including the police commissioner is
at your place. Perhaps they have some new leads.” Staring outside the tinted
car window, which thawed a fog circle from the heat off her breath, Priya sat
quietly, her mood unaffected by his suggestion. “Priya?” Any other time, Ram
would have given her a piece of his mind for her sheer neglect. But as cold
hearted as he appeared to the world, Ram understood the hopeless pain that came
along with losing someone you loved. So when Ram called Priya’s name again and
she reacted in the same emotionlessly mute manner he simply remained
levelheaded and drove in the direction toward her home. However, untold to Ram somewhere beneath the
trenches of her silence there was a storm stirring mayhem in her already uneasy
soul. “Stop the car Mr. Kapoor.” She imposed suddenly. Closing her eyes Priya
donned an expression of disgust leaving Ram startled by her unexpected
statement and confused at the same time with her request.
“What?
Why?” He continued driving, glancing at her periodically, anticipating her response.
“Just
pull the damn car over Mr. Kapoor.” There was much more force in her voice this
time around. Priya clicked open her seatbelt and leaned forward in the seat,
there was a flicker of adamancy in her eyes, which in the night could only be
seen when passing by a row of glowing streetlights. Not given much of an option
by her insistence Ram pulled over to the side of the road and almost
immediately as the brakes kicked in Priya stepped out of the car, slamming the
door in his face as he looked on.
“What
the F…” Ram, whom all this time had pain strikingly kept his cool was now
beginning to run on fumes nearing the end of his much tested patience. He kept
reminding himself that Priya was not in her right state of the mind and with
that mantra he followed her to the edge of the sidewalk where she stood staring
at the long narrow road in front of them.
“Priya?”
She remained silent. “We will find Kush, don’t worry.”
“How
can you be so sure Mr. Kapoor?” She piped up with her back to him.
“I
have a feeling. I can’t explain it, but I just know.” He answered the best he
could with the limited knowledge he had about Kush’s whereabouts. Whatever he
said must have worked to calm her because when she turned to face him, Ram felt
as if he had remedied her breakdown. “Rajat was right…” However, the thought of
having settled her was short lived. “You took Kush didn’t you?” Priya clutched
his collar, feeling tough in her blind frenzy she screamed… “This is payback
for yelling at you isn’t it?”
“Have
you lost your mind?” Ram shouted back at her staring achingly in her blazing
eyes.
“Where
were you for three hours this morning Mr. Kapoor?” Letting go of his collar she
nudged him in the process but given his build he didn’t even budge. Instead,
Ram gripped her arms tightly in a fit of rage and tugged her towards him until
they were face to face.
“I
don’t have to give you any explanation. This is your mother’s fault for leaving
Kush unattended in the Park. So don’t you dare turn this one on me.” Priya
scowled and scrimmaged trying to break free. “Let go of me… I said leave me…”
He opposed her demand and instead he held her tighter and tugged her
closer. She hissed and screamed, “Mr.
Kapoor you are hurting me!” For a second it seemed as if Ram wasn’t bothered it
was like he wanted her to feel the same pain that she had caused him with her
suspicious remark. Despite knowing the most intimate details of his life, which
he hadn’t shared with anyone besides Vikram, Priya had chosen to tear his
identity apart with her baseless doubt. “Just leave me Ram…” She reiterated
fiercely not expecting the immediate surrender that followed. Priya heaved a
sigh of relief feeling the clamp of his fingers loosen enough for her to
wriggle free. It was a mystery to say the least as to what had caused him to
oblige so quickly. But opportunities seldom repeat and Priya was not about let
this chance slip like quick sand through the slits between her fingers. Wisely,
she tamed her overly keen curiosity; her conscience gave rise to caution while
she stood on guard watching a parade of emotions as they were displayed on his
face. The backdrop in his eyes was like a battlefield after a war because aside
from pain and misery there was nothing more in his gaze.
“Get
in the car… I am going to drop you home.” There was disappointment in his
voice, a shrilling dissatisfaction that only she could have evoked. Without
uttering a word Priya walked obediently to the car feigning compliance to avoid
another confrontation that may not end as peacefully as the first. Reaching the
car at exactly the same time, Ram and Priya exchanged quick enraged glares
before pulling open the car door. Seating himself first Ram stared straight
ahead waiting for the passenger’s side door to shut so he could drive off. However,
Priya had another plan in mind, there was no way that she was about to climb
into a car with Ram. “Go to hell Mr. Kapoor.” Priya cursed, reeling in his
focus as she slammed the door. With her purse dangling off her left shoulder
and a picture of Kush stuck to her phone in the clutch of her right hand, Priya
began walking off on her own tangent. She heard the roar of his engine behind
her followed by the screech of his tires as it bit into the ground and
immediately she prepared herself for the gust of dirt that she was sure would
stir when he blew past her. The best-case scenario would be for him to get off
her back and so she waited patiently to feel the aftermath of his speedy take
off. But alas, some plans have no shot at reality crafted only to crash while destiny
sits back and laughs at your pathetic attempt to do its job. The powerful purr
of his engine hummed against her eardrums at a distance as she began walking
further away from his car. It’s soft echo was so subtle yet potent that his
exit from the vehicle had eluded her awareness. It wasn’t until she felt a
familiar set of large lanky fingers clamp tightly around her arm that she
realized her escape and his defeat was nothing but a fable that her
subconscious had stuffed into the wailing mouth of her ego. Priya had no chance
to process the situation otherwise she would have surely screamed sometime
along the line as she was dragged and roughly shoved into his vehicle with the
door slamming shut on her perplexed ridden face. Ram took three long strides and
he was in his car with not so much as a glance in her direction he impaled his
foot on the gas pedal enjoying the fear in Priya’s demeanor. “Mr. Kapoor, have
you lost your damn mind?” She screeched gripping the leather on either side of
her seat. “Slow down.” Priya bit back tears with dual intent, she refused to
appear weak in front of Ram and she was determined to deprive him of any pleasure
his twisted mind would savour from seeing her cry. However, it seemed by the
way that Ram was swerving between cars in light traffic he had his mind set on
shattering her already dwindling emotional sanity. “Mr. Kapoor, I said slow
down. Please, slow down…” Priya pleaded desperately, pushing the soles of her
feet against the floor of the car. Ram played deaf to her sincere request; his
blind rage was both selfish and paralytic, he had no feelings of remorse or
fear of any consequence that may follow. Priya, out of fear, had accepted
defeat. Without so much as a sign or warning her otherwise boisterous ego
resigned, shattering the dam, which once housed the tears of a rightfully proud
woman. “Mr. Kapoor, I am scared… Please slow down… I am begging you, please…”
The crack in her voice was the whip that snapped his conscience back into
action. Ripping the reigns forcefully out of the hands of his enraged pride,
Ram slammed on the brakes, an act which hurled Priya forward in her seat and catapulting
towards the dashboard. Rather calmly Ram stuck his arm out holding her back in
her seat, interrupting the impact that would have otherwise occurred. With her
eyes shut tightly she absorbed the fact that she hadn’t crashed into the
imminent dashboard simultaneously with the thought that she was unharmed
despite being deliberately spawned onto the path of destruction. “Get out of my
car.” She felt him withdraw his arm from her midsection, finally piping up to
break his vow of silence. “No way.” Priya thought to herself as she opened her
eyes, a surge of sudden bravery overtaking her senses. “Have you lost your damn
mind?” Resorting to rhetoric she glared at him with sheer focus as if she aimed
to scorch a hole in his soul. And Ram was not denying her access; instead he
coaxed her further into the realm of his mind daring her to hold true to her
unspoken yet implied threat. Engulfed in
the depth of her fiery Priya had failed to realize that Ram had abruptly halted
in the driveway of her apartment. However, at this point even if she was aware
that escape was but a mere step away from captivity she would not have cared
enough to bail.
"I
hate you so much Mr. Kapoor...How could you do this to me? You're a
monster." Ram simply watched her lips move paying no mind to her revolting
rant but instead conjuring up a verbal comeback of his own. "You
know about how my parents..." she paused and shook her head in
frustration before continuing. "Never mind..." Priya pulled at the
lever on the door and stated as she stepped out. "You need a heart in
order to understand and that’s something you’ll never have." And for Ram
that was the wicked blow that crumbled his patience unleashing his inner demon.
Following suit, Ram stepped out of his car too. She never saw it coming even
though she should have. But she had just flipped the top off her bottled up
rage intoxicating the better half of her brain. Before she knew it she was
propped up against the side of his car encaged between it and his large frame.
The tension in his eyes read like a book but it was like Priya’s sight was
illiterate, she didn’t understand a single word.
“Who
do you think you are talking to me like that?” Ram asked not at all interested
in her response; he had already decided that she was an ungrateful piece of
work. Nonetheless, she parted her lips trying to slip in a few words but he
remained adamant and cold in his approach. “Shut up!” Ram commanded before she
even spoke. “You think I took Kush despite everything that I told you about my
past?” She stared at him in wonder, her curiosity blemished by a grimace, which
was sparked by his grip. “Do you really think that I am capable of such a low
act?” He questioned, not really asking though, just laying out the facts.
“Fine! I’ll make a bet with you… If you can prove that my three hour
whereabouts was directly linked to Kush’s kidnapping and Rajat in fact has
correctly summed up my character than I will bow down to your every request.”
Priya’s right eyebrow raised, saluting his almost too good to be true
proposition while a more practical side of her listened up for a drawback to
the same suggestion. “And if I find Kush first and I am able to account for the
same three hours than you will have to marry me…” That was the dagger that she
would have rather not heard but having heard it she had to choose between Ram’s
innocence and Rajat’s almost certain words. “Your life is mine to ruin if I can
prove that I am innocent. And if Rajat happens to be correct than of course I
will be in jail on top of giving you whatever you want. Is that a deal?” Priya
pupils swung from side to side, undecided in her approach. Ram shook her by her
shoulders, “I am asking you a question Priya… Do you accept my deal?” Breathing
at an abnormal rate, Priya’s chest heaved while her eyes searched his for some hint,
which would suggest that he had truly lost his mind. “Marriage?” She thought.
“Was this man really that sick to propose the idea of marriage simply to ruin
me?”
“Is
that a deal?” Ram reinforced, amused by the glaze of vulnerability in her gaze.
Kick
started by his shrewd insistence on an answer Priya’s ego got the best of her
judgment, without a guess as to what his bold suggestion implied Priya accepted
his wager. Impressed Ram examined her expression just for the heck of it before
backing off and walking brazenly to the right side of his car. The fact that
Ram had confidentially got back into his car with the most arrogant smirk on
his face as if he was destined to win his proposed bet edged Priya to the core
of her rage once again. His demeanor made her question whether she was right to
believe Rajat’s assumption, a doubt that had never crossed her mind until now.
Had she acted out of impulse, taking on something for which she would have to pay
a steep price? It was too early to say but with the way that Ram drove away in
a rush it seemed that Priya was in for the ride of her life. Deep in the
trenches of her mind, worrying about Kush’s whereabouts and fearing Ram’s
challenge, Priya dragged her feet up the stairs to her apartment. She robotically stepped into the elevator
completely numb to her surroundings when she was brought back into the swing of
things by a voice with a convincing edge of urgency. “Hold the elevator
please.” A man called out, and if she
had paid any attention to the tone of the voice she would have known it was
Vikram before he had gotten in to the elevator.
“Hey
Priya, where’s Ram?” Vikram remarked immediately noticing that she was in the
cavity between the three walls all by herself.
The
snappiness within her wished to declare her disregard of his absence but she
played it safe and simply stated in an audibly irritated tone, “I don’t know.”
“Wait?”
Vikram scrunched his eyebrows in wonder straightening a pile of papers in his
hands. “Weren’t you guys both looking for Kush?” Noting the distress in her
eyes Vikram ceased his interrogation closing the door to the elevator as soon
as it began beeping. Not to Priya’s knowledge, Vikram had assumed that Ram had
eagerly made his way up to the Sharma house. So making small talk, Vikram
stated harmlessly, “As soon as Ram found out that Kush went missing, he
directed all his energy into finding him. And whatever Ram puts his mind to, he
gets. So don’t worry Priya, Ram will make sure that Kush is found…We are all
trying” There was a small spark that dangerously grew within Priya, hearing the
praise of a man whom she despised for no valid reason other than what was
speculated about him. Vikram continued to fuel the fire, giving credit where
credit was due and in a sense hoping that his faith in Ram would grant Priya a
certain level of confidence that Kush would inevitably be found. He ranted
about the kind-heartedness of his buddy whose true identity seldom surfaces
past his active ego. Vikram safely assumed that his strategy to soothe Priya’s
quelling heart was working effectively albeit in silence. However, when she reached her floor and
walked out of the elevator, she screeched “Enough Vikram!” And it was clear to
Vikram that the effect he thought he had achieved was nothing more than a
silently raging storm.
“Ek
minute Priya.” Priya stopped walking towards her home out of respect for Vikram
who had always stood by her like a big brother even in the limited time that
they had known each other. So even though she had no interest in hearing about
Ram’s so called heart, which she didn’t know he had until now, Priya turned to
face Vikram figuring she owed him atleast that much. “What is your problem?”
Priya sighed and replied more calmly. “Vikram you have always been nice to me.
I respect you a lot. But I can’t stand here and listen to you talk about Mr.
Kapoor as if he did me a huge favour.” Vikram listened keenly, his forehead
rippled in confusion, not sure where the conversation was headed. Priya
continued, reciting a clear blueprint of her thoughts. “ Mr. Kapoor was missing
for three hours today. I called him numerous times and he wouldn’t answer his
phone. And than suddenly he came back to the office and said that Kush was
missing.”
“Uh…
Wait a minute…” Vikram interrupted promptly, gaining a sense of what she was
postulating with her words. “Priya you think that Ram did this?”
“I
don’t know Vikram, Rajat suggested that as an idea and I think that he is
right. We got into a huge argument before Ram disappeared and he knows that
Kush is my weakness.”
“Please
just stop it Priya…” Now it was Vikram’s chance to mum her, fully grasping the
depth of her misunderstanding. “I can’t believe that you of all people could
come up with such a cheap thought.”
“But
vik-.” She tried to justify her stance but the friend in him trumped his
brotherly affection.
“No
Priya… Let me finish.” Teary eyed and distraught Priya observed without remorse
as Vikram continued his strict lecture. “ You are the one person besides myself
who Ram trusted enough to disclose his past to and despite that fact do you
really think he has it in him to do this? Just because Rajat told you that it
could be possible? I know that Rajat is your good friend, but perhaps you don’t
know that Ram is my childhood friend. We grew up together… I have seen him at
his worst along with the rest of the world, but I have also seen his remorse,
his caring nature that he hides behind a mask so he doesn’t get hurt. And after
what you did today, he was right to do so for all these years.”
Infuriated,
Priya remarked, “If you have so much faith in him than can you explain where he
was in the morning during the time when Kush went missing?”
“Yes
I can… But you are so blinded by rage that you wouldn’t believe me if I simply
told you. Evidence? You need proof right? Well here…” He handed her the file
that he had in his possession, which she hadn’t noticed until just now. “What
is this?” Priya questioned, looking at the file and than back up at Vikram.
“See for yourself.” That was his obvious advice, which served as a fitting
solution. She delved into the text contained in the file, her mind already
miles ahead of her eyes. Skimming through the file, paper after dreaded paper, her
soul headed face first into the emotionally charged spirals of guilt. Even she
knew that there was no fair explanation for her overboard reaction. In fact,
she was now able to rip through to her stitched up sense, which she had knit on
the context of flimsy presumptions. The file that she had held in her hand was
concrete evidence that Ram and Vikram were with company lawyers at the time of
Kush’s abduction. She was back to square one; Now it was twice in 24hours that
Ram had proven to be a man of honesty, a man of his words and a worthy
combatant to her doubt. Without even so much as a speck of effort he had slain
her ego. The red in her eyes was no longer telling tales of rage it was now the
defeated display of shame, a plea for forgiveness.
Barely
able to make any eye contact with Vikram Priya asked through a screen of guilt,
“He transferred everything in my name? I don’t understand.” She knew that
somewhere in that statement was a lie because although Ram’s action wasn’t
clear as day she had now began to make sense of his earlier threat. The idea of
a marriage to ruin her image was a sham, a cover up to a much larger plan, the
same one that was outlined throughout the documents in her hand. Vikram could
have played the situation in any, which way that he wanted. He could have
belittled Priya until she was pushed by her guilt into the same ditch that she
had dug for Ram. But being a man of morals, a gentleman at his best
he
comforted Priya on the premise that her judgment was most likely depressed
credited to the array of stress from the events of the day.
“Priya,”
She refused to look up at him, not finding the courage in her to do so. “Ram
respects you a lot, if he didn’t he would have never done this…” Gesturing to
the file that remained clutched in the confines of her fingers. “If you two get
married than he will transfer everything in your name… Remember, Sheena is
still beating around the Kapoor Mansion bush because she needs Sid’s million
dollar shares in the company. But Sheena didn’t expect Sid to name Ram as the
beneficiary to his shares. She thought that the web of lies she had woven prior
to Sid’s death was efficient in gaining his trust enough for him to list her
name in the will but of course she was mistaken. Once you two are married, Ram
will adopt Kush as his son. Essentially, you will become the guardian of the
wealth until Kush is of age to take charge in financial matters. This will
seriously screw with Sheena and her boyfriend because the years of work they
put in to gain Ram’s trust will be a waste, Ram will have no say in the
allocation of the wealth. You would play the bad guy to beat them at their own
game. It will turn the tables on Sheena, she will have to consult with her
boyfriend and maybe even meet him. Hopefully we will catch her in the act. You
will be an immediate threat to Sheena so she will not be snooping around to
find out whether Kush is Sid’s son, even though she has her doubts…But don’t
worry Ram and I will make sure that you and Kush are safe…”
The
plan was solid and Priya had no qualms about playing the role of Mother Theresa
with a certain rough side to her character, of course. Besides, now that the
cloud of doubt had cleared her mind about Ram, there was only one person who
was capable of orchestrating the kidnapping of Kush… Suddenly, a chilling
afterthought struck her, “Kush!” She stated in a panic feeling a shrilling
trail of Goosebumps from her spine running up the back of her head… “Vikram…Kush!”
She gripped his arm for support feeling the ground being drawn up from
underneath her feet. It wasn’t that she had forgotten about him that would have
been impossible. But in her moment of doubt and uncertainty she had wasted time
and energy, which she could have put to better use finding Kush. Her subconscious
taunted her and rightfully so, “If anything happens to Kush Priya, you are most
responsible.”
“ Vikram… Ram didn’t do this I know but
doesn’t that mean…” Priya shuddered at the thought unable to catch her breath
in a state of worry. “Priya… Please…” Vikram held her by her shoulders feeling her
crumble under her own weight as she cried uncontrollably. “Try and relax
Priya…”
“How
can I relax?” She cried, her voice elevating involuntarily. “I have to find
Kush right now…He is definitely in danger.”
“
Priya listen to me…” He shook her gently… “Ram has left no stone unturned in
the search for Kush… We have eyes on every corner… Someone, somewhere will spot
him…”
“So
we just wait?” She stepped back; perplexed and frazzled. “It’s my fault Vikram…
Mr. Kapoor was right… I wasted so much time pointing fingers and if anything
happens to Kush, Vikram it will be my fault… Mr. Kapoor…” Her voice cracked
abruptly as a light bulb was switched on in her head. “Mr. Kapoor.” Priya
repeated roughly brushing her cheeks with her palm. She scrambled through her
purse for her phone and pulled it out past a pile of junk. Turning her phone on
she immediately saw a list of five missed calls all from one person, Ram.
Before she could call him back, her phone vibrated in her palm prompting her to
answer. “Hello, Mr. Kapoor… I am so sorry…” Priya stated all in one unsteady
breath. Vikram observed preoccupied with the fact that Ram had called several
times. “Perhaps he has some news on Kush…” His interest peaked on that hopeful
note.
Priya
continued apologetically, “Mr. Kapoor you were right…”
Ram
interrupted squeezing in a couple words to break her anxious cycle, “ Priya,
hold on… I have something important to tell you…”
“What
happened?” She jabbed in two quick words and waited with baited breath for his
response.
“I
know where Kush is…”
“What?
Where is he? Is he safe? Mr. Kapoor is he hurt? How is he?” Vikram gulped
enticed by the news he stepped closer to Priya who put the call on speaker
waiting for the answers to her slew of questions.
“Priya
just shut up for one second and listen to me… I was at the bar near your apartment
and there was this drunken guy buying several rounds of drinks for his friend.
He claimed that he had been part of a deal where he was going to be a
guaranteed millionaire.”
Vikram
finally pitched in… “Ram? It’s Vikram… Where are you getting at with this? How
is this related to Kush?”
“Vikram
that’s the thing, I wouldn’t have thought much of it until he mentioned
Sheena’s name… She is the one who he mentioned would be paying him for his
deed.” Vikram and Priya shared a nervous glance. “Shit!” Ram cursed…
“What
happened?” Priya asked, the news had her feeling as if she had swallowed her
heart and it was lodged in her throat beating frantically.
Ignoring
Priya perhaps intentionally Ram continued, “Vikram I am on my way there… I have
seen this man before… He lives in the same building as the Sharma’s… Mr.
Gupta? I think that’s the name that the
security guard had used to address him...”
That
was all that Priya needed to hear before she made a mad dash for the stairs
handing her phone to Vikram. Mr. Gupta was a new tenant, he had moved in about
a week ago and Priya had always sensed a bad vibe when she was around him.
“Priya
wait!!” Vikram called out after her but it was too late, she had already
started on her way up the stairs…
“Vikram?
What’s going on?” Ram asked…
“Ram
you are right… This must be the guy… Priya must know where he stays…”
“Well
follow her then… Don’t let her go there by herself; this man most likely has a
partner… Priya could get hurt… Inform the commissioner and follow her! I will
be there in another two minutes…” Ram commanded Vikram who stuttered, “Uhh
Ye-Yeah… Yes… I-I will do that now…”
“Oh
and Vikram make sure Sid stays in the apartment, he can’t blow his cover…”
Adding that last part Ram hung up and threw his phone on the passengers seat as
he shifted gears and pounced on the gas pedal.
