The 174th Day

Day 138 (Early morning)

Ameet wake up by a creaking sound. But he couldn’t see anything. His eyes were hurting. Initially, he felt the softness of the cloth over his eyes. But now that sense is numbed. He gradually started realizing the immense pain in his knees and biceps. Ameet didn’t know for how long exactly he is in this position, but it seemed like a lifetime. Each passing second seemed like an hour. And the irony is that he didn’t know why this is happening. His mind wandered through so many emotions but he is too tired to think now. He has given it up. After a certain point, pain lessens and nothingness starts. He thought he will die.

He heard that sound again and this time more prominent. A slow continuous creaking sound of a wooden door. It is definitely someone’s footsteps. Ameet’s heart started pounding with anticipation. He started to make violent movements with odd sounds due to his gag. Is this the end of his ordeal or start of a new?

Ameet heard a voice of a lady, “If you promise that will never come back here and not speak about this to anyone, I’ll help you escape.”Ameet made violent efforts and moved every muscle but it all resulted in the suffocating sound again. His jaws suddenly felt the relief of its life. “Yes, yes, yes. I won’t say anything, please let me go.”

“But if you get caught then it’s your luck.” the voice said.

“Please let me go!” Ameet pleaded. He realized movement around his back, where his hands were tired.

“You know, you have done nothing and you should not be punished for my fate. My brothers will be coming any moment and you have very less time,” the voice said hurriedly.

“But, why they have brought me here?”

“To get you married,” the voice revealed with a sigh “With me.”

His biceps, his ankles, his wrists suddenly cried with joy. He couldn’t move his hands for a second. The sensations gradually came back.

“Run for your life!” the voice said before her footstep departed hastily.

Ameet removed his blindfold. It was a wooden shed filled with straws. He removed the rope from his legs. The cumulative effect of hunger and fear made him sick. He opened the door carefully which made a lousy sound. There was a brick fence of around five feet in front. The shed was behind a moderate white house. And he heard chatter from inside.

With a deep sigh, he ran towards the fence and jumped it. There was a huge wheat field. He ran and ran and ran until he reached a pitch road. The wind caressed the crops like waves in motion of a Yellow Ocean. But Ameet was too overwhelmed to appreciate the view. He rested on the roadside for a while. But the fear of his captors coming back, made him alert. He had no clue of his current location. Every second made him more anxious. He saw a bus coming from the horizon and started running towards it. It was a Bus from Chandigarh to Delhi. 

                                          Day 160 (Afternoon)

Ameet was sitting in his room. The incident still seems like a nightmare. He thanked god so many times. His mother was equally thankful to the almighty. Although his father was not very sure of letting this event go without reporting. But Ameet was dead sure that he didn’t want to go to the Police. But still he had to visit them to withdraw the missing report with an elaborate lie.

It took some time for him to not think of that dreadful day every other moment. Sometimes things happen in the most unexpected way in life and those events become milestones for life. He can only think of one more such impactful episode. Time gradually showed its healing power. He went towards the drawer and took out a piece of paper. The same paper that was inserted into his hands by that voice. A white paper with a mobile number written on it. Is it her number? His curious heart was able to convince his cautious mind that a phone call from a random PCO will not pose any immediate threat. 

Day 161 (Night)

“Hello?” answered a lady voice.

“Hello!” said a hesitant Ameet.

“Yes who is it,” the lady.

“Who are you?”Ameet.

“You called, you tell me first,” the lady seemed disgusted.

“See, how to tell you this, I got this number in a very unusual situation,” said Ameet.

“How unusual?” the lady asked.

“Someone gave this number to me, while saving my life.”

“I think, I know, who you are. You are the guy I let you slip from my marriage?”

“I called you to thank you for what you did on that day,” said Ameet

“Never mind, it was a win–win situation for both of us,” said the lady.

“It was very brave of you,” Ameet.

“And very quick of you,” the lady said in a teasing voice. “I can see that you are from Delhi. Why don’t we meet up, Hmm…like day after tomorrow.” 

Day 173 (Afternoon)

Today is Manisha’s birthday. Ameet was waiting for her at Starbuck Café. He thought various options including a card, a purse or a showpiece, but finally sealed the deal on a ceramic flower-vase. It was heavy, but he didn’t mind the weight. This is their fourth meeting. They met at this very place for the first time and it was a delight. She was so charming and there was an instant connection. Manisha is a PhD student from Jamia Milia University and staying in the university hostel. She is from Sonipat and has a very conservative family. Her brother was misinformed about an affair of her and tried to marry her instantly with a well to do boy. They saw Ameet coming out of a five star hotel and kidnapped him. But after Ameet’s escape, her mother intervened before they could have found a new groom.

A very smart girl with an adorable smile. The face looked familiar for a second, but he couldn’t remember from where. Although a very common looking face. She was looking extra stunning in her yellow top and blue denim with a blue velvet scarf.

“So, who is planning the cake?” Ameet asked cheerfully.

“No one,” said Manisha. I don’t believe in birthdays. It’s not a day for fake wishes. It is about who you really are and what you have became. Oh!

Sorry to bore you. Ok change of topic. Tell me your plan for today.”

“Nothing much, mostly free,” Ameet lied in a casual tone.

“Then let’s do something else,” said Manisha.

They were sitting at Cannaught Place, next to a group of students singing with Guitar. Ameet was thoroughly enjoying her company and he didn’t expect this day to be like this. It was Manisha who spoke first, “Let’s go somewhere else.”

Ameet didn’t realize that they were heading Paharganj. They reached in front of an average looking hotel.

“This is a friend’s hotel and we have key to a room for partying and all. Don’t get any wrong ideas. Let’s have a quite drink before I go back to hostel,” explained Manisha.

He could see the obvious invitation and grew suspicious. What kind of a girl takes a boy to a hotel in few meetings? “I am not very sure of this, if this is a good idea,” Ameet said in a strong voice.

“Ok, no problem” Manisha said and vanished inside the hotel.

It was mind boggling. The urge to go inside that hotel was immense but the risk seemed equally high. He turned and started walking towards Metro station. The train was approaching and Ameet went to the sliding doors. The doors opened and he immediately realized that his resistance was defeated to his temptation. He started running back. The fear was taken over by the forbidden lurk.

“Which room Ms. Manisha is staying? She is expecting me,” Ameet asked the man at the reception.

The man searched for something and then asked, “Are you Mr. Ameet?” Ameet nodded.

“Please show some ID.” The man gave back the driving license and said,

“Room 206, first floor, extreme end.”

The hotel was plush against what it seemed from outside. He pressed the bell. His arteries & veins started transporting blood furiously. He heard footsteps and the door opened. Manisha was looking mysterious in the blue light from inside. She didn’t seem surprised and went inside the room. The room was moderate sized but decently decorated. She was sitting on the single sofa beside the bed. He saw his flower-vase and a White Wine bottle on the table.

“Please help yourself, if you want some,” said Manisha in a mysterious tone.

Ameet saw the glass in her hand. He poured some in a glass and rested himself on the bed rest. He couldn’t articulate appropriate words. And

Manisha seemed a bit different too. Is she testing his patience?

“How you were so sure that I’ll come back?” Ameet spoke after a while. He has already poured some more wine. His nerves were gradually calming.

“I knew you would come back. Anyone would have come back. Isn’t that what we all do? We go back to where we start,” Manisha said in dreamy voice.

“I didn’t understand what you said, but I must confess something. You are so beautiful and you are so damn smart,” Ameet struggled a bit while saying the words.

“But this can be a curse also,” Manisha said.

“What do you mean?” asked Ameet.

“I’ll share with you something that I didn’t tell anyone. It was 28th October, last year that I was with my friends in a restro–bar on the outskirts of Gurgaon. We were having a good time. Suddenly I had to go outside to attend my father’s call. Ameet, are you listening?”

“Yea, yea, sure, carry on, just a bit tired I guess,” his eyes looked dreamy.

“I moved away from the gate so that the noise can’t reach the other side. I was totally unaware of the immediate threat. How causal of me? After the talk…..Ameet! Ameet! What happened, are you Ok?” 

Day 173 (Night)

Ameet wake up with a feeling of Déjà Vu. He couldn’t move as his hands were tied with the iron bed rest and his mouth gagged. He couldn’t believe on his stupidity. How can he be so naive? Manisha was sitting opposite on the sofa with a knife and staring right at him. She started talking in a mechanical voice, “So, Mr. Ameet, how are you feeling? A little dizzy from the effect of sleeping pills?”

Ameet doesn’t react.

“So, let me finish the story. After I disconnected my phone, a car zoomed in from thin air and before I could have understood anything, I was pulled into the car. They had a knife and threatened to kill me. I sat in fear as the car ran into darkness. After a while the car stopped and they raped me. Yes! Raped me and I couldn’t do anything. Both of them were drunk and had a handkerchief tied on their mouth. I saw their horrifying eyes in fear and pain. They left me on the spot. I was in a state of shock. The mental agony can’t be expressed in words. What people will say? What my parents will face? I didn’t felt like living anymore. My cell phone was lying there on the road side. And then I saw a card lying beside it. It was during the scuffle that it must have felt from their possession. Then and there, it was clear to me that what I want for the rest of my life.”

Her eyes were blazing, “By each day my anger grew furiously. But I didn’t tell it to anyone. I wanted to punish them. For me! And not for public entertainment. I went to see my culprit and realized that the Visiting card belonged to an elderly, well established, Real Estate developer, Mr. Sinha. He was not the guy for sure. I recced many possibilities but all were inconclusive. I was losing my war. My only aim seemed impossible.”

“In desperation, I met him in his office and told him how I got his card. He was afraid at first but I convinced him I’ll not drag him into the matter. He observed that he has never seen this card. His receptionist informed that this card is only used by his reception desk and are given to the visitors. Luckily, they maintained a Visitors register.”

“After three months of research I shortlisted four guys. But there was no way I could have recognized them. So, I made a plan and started with you as you visited him on that day. I got help from Mr. Sinha, to fake your kidnap. But he was not ready for any casualty. So, I let you go. I was afraid that you might recognize me, but I took my chance to meet as you were too drunk on that day. At least your reaction would tell.”

“Now it’s time for your confession. Please don’t shout as I won’t care if this knife cuts you.”

She came near and freed Ameet’s mouth.

Ameet spoke rapidly, “This is all a big misunderstanding. I swear I didn’t do it. How can you be so sure about me?”

She came near and stared into Ameet’s eyes. Just then Ameet’s sudden jerk loosened a hand. He took her off-guard with a sudden push and she fell off on the carpet. He jumped over her and held her by neck.

“Don’t try to act smart, now. Dhruv was right on that day. We should have killed you, but I was so wrong to let you go. You will die, bitch!” gushed a ferocious Ameet.

Ameet pressed her neck hard. She couldn’t breathe and felt dizzy. She saw the flower vase on the table. She took one last breathe and grabbed it and hit it on Ameet’s head with all her strength. Ameet fell on the ground with a scream. Manisha was quick to jump off and grabbed the knife. The next moment there was blood everywhere as she thrust the knife into his heart. He tried to reach the door, but she held him down with all her strength. She felt his life fading away. 

Day 174 (00:00)

She sat in the Starbucks cafe, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf. She didn’t felt satisfied. She didn’t felt any remorse either. She felt hollow.

She finished off her coffee, when she realized that, no one noticed the knife that was kept beside her. She knew what she has to do next. She put it back into her handbag.

“Ameet’s friend Dhruv,” she thought.

                                      __________________