Chapter 2
Daya sat on his bed waiting for Lara to provide him the other officer's photo and info.
'Just a moment handsome', said Lara giving him a small smile. She worked for sometime and a database file opened on his desktop.
He clicked open the file.
Name: Shreya Malhotra
Age: 31 years
Place of Residence: Mumbai
Occupation: CID Inspector, Mumbai Office.
On and on it went. The list was endless.
He clicked on the photograph to enlarge it.
The image was taking lot of time to load. Daya was getting impatient.
'Uh oh... I am sorry Officer. There seems to be some internal problem. You will not be access our database right now. I will get back to you when we solve the matter', said Lara.
'Yeah whatever', said Daya sulking.
2 days later -
Scene 1
It was a beautiful day in Sao Paulo. Street art adorned its walls which portrayed the Brazilian culture. Few miles away in the outskirts of city of Sao Paulo, a girl was sitting on her a worn out bed. Fear or any other emotion had no place in her heart. She had just finished writing a letter. She kept it in her bag which she hoped would be found and delivered to the appropriate hands soon.
She checked whether the doors and windows were locked properly. With trembling hands, she pulled out a pistol and put it at her temple. She had to do it. There was no hope left. After that horrible incident she didn't have guts to face the society and her near and dear ones.
'I love you Ma! I will miss you! And I love you so much. Ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena', she said.
Her two fingers slid on the trigger and she closed her eyes. A moment of silence and then she pulled the trigger. She collapsed on the floor blood strewn all over her face.
That's it. End of life. This locality was strikingly in contrast with other plush locals of Sao Paulo. It was a harsh reality. Filth and dirt spanned every corner. Drugs, Abuse, Murder and what not. It was a way of living.
The surroundings outside this particular house were very peaceful. Nobody had realised that was young woman had committed suicide a moment ago. Nobody cared. After all, so many of people died every day.
How ironical it was! Sao Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil they say. But when someone was in great need, there was nobody around!
Scene 2
Few hours later 2 men entered the house.
'WHAT THE F**K?' one of them exclaimed seeing the dead girl.
'She is hot', said the other one.
'She was...!' corrected the first one and they both laughed.
'Still let's have some fun', said the second man.
They closed the door shut behind them.
Scene 3
She was running barefoot as fast as her legs could carry her. She had only one aim. Escape. Run away from this horror forever. She had no idea how she was going to do it. She had to help her friend too. For that she needed to find her. And then they would plan their next move. She chose the most deserted streets and alleys so that nobody would spot her. She suddenly she heard screeching of the brakes. She turned around and saw a speeding sedan heading straight at her.
Scene 4
Daya was driving the car at lightning speed. He had to reach that place. What if he's too late? He couldn't afford to lose them now. It would be very difficult for him if he let go of this opportunity. He was so preoccupied in his thoughts that he wasn't looking at the road. When he looked in front he saw a girl slowly turn around. She seemed to have frozen in her place. 'Move aside you fool', he thought desperately. But she stood on her place. Knowing he had only seconds before he crushed her to death, he turned his wheel to the left. The car skidded and he lost control over it. Daya shielded his head and shut his eyes tightly as the car smashed into a giant tree which stood at the side of the road.
He clothes were covered with shards of glass. He opened his eyes. The engine had died down. The front glass was completely broken. He was lucky to have escaped only with one deep gash and a few cuts and bruises.
His eyes however were searching for that girl. He got down from the car. She stood there her face towering with rage.
They looked at one another. 'Pagal ho kya? Itni tez gadi chalata hai kya koi? Logon ko marna chahte ho kya?' she said angrily.
'Chillao mat. Main bohot important kaam ke liye jaa raha tha. Dhyan nahi tha mera. I am sorry ok?' Waise tum raaste se hat nahi sakti thi kya?' he said.
Their argument continued for few more minutes. She saw two men approaching from a distance. But they hadn't spotted her.
'Oh no!' she exclaimed.
'Kya hua?' Daya asked.
'Please yaha se chalo. Kuch log piche pade hai mere. Maar denge mujhe yaha dekh liya to. Kya main tumhare saath chal sakti hu?' she asked him.
'Maar denge? Aisa kya kiya hai tumne? Aur main kaam par jaa raha hoon. Main tumhe waha nahi le ja sakta', he said.
'Please... Main haath jodti hu tumhare saamne...' she said now almost on verge of tears.
'Haan haan thik hai chalo baitho gadi me', he said.
'Hum isme jayenge?' she asked shocked.
'Toh? Dusri gadi kaha se lau main? Aur abhi to tumhe jane ki badi jaldi thi!' said Daya.
'Ok chalo', she said.
They sat in the car and he drove further southwards. He stopped outside the slum dwellings. 'Tum yahi ruko. Main thodi der me aata hoon. Aur jara sambhalke.' said Daya.
'Tum yaha andar jaa rahe ho! Lekin kyun?' asked the girl surprised.
'Dekho main tumhare koi sawal ka jawab abhi nahi de sakta. Mujhe jaroori kaam hai.' said Daya.
'Lekin mujhe bhi yahi jaana tha. Actually meri ek dost hai yaha. Mujhe usse abhi milna hai', she said.
'Kya? Tumhari dost yaha pe? Kaun ho tum? Aur chal kya raha hai ye sab?' asked Daya.
'Please abhi main kuch nahi bata sakti. Chalo yaha se jaldi.' she said.
Without further ado both walked down the twisted, narrow alleyways. People stared at them as they passed. Men passed lewd comments at the girl. Both ignored them walking at a faster pace. Daya walked protectively close to her.
They reached a house. Daya remembered it was the similar one. It resembled the photograph which he had seen on his PDA. 'Meri friend yahi rehti hai', said the girl.
'What?! Ye kaise ho sakta hai? What a coincidence! Lagta hai hum ek hi insaan ko dhoond rahe hai.' said Daya.
A pungent odour reached their nostrils. The girl covered her mouth. 'Yuck!' she exclaimed.
Daya too covered his nose with a handkerchief. The smell grew stronger as the neared the house. It was overbearing. Daya tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. He kicked it open and the sight before their eyes made their stomachs churn. The girl let put her fist in her mouth to stop herself from screaming. In the floor lay a corpse of a girl. The blood had turned from red to black. It had dried completely. The girl was entirely naked and beer bottles were strewn across the floor.
Daya thought he would puke any moment now... The stench of the god knew how many days old dead body was terrible.
'Noooo!' the girl let out a wail and buried her face in Daya's chest. Her hands gripped his shirt tightly.
'It's okay. Chalo yaha se', he said patting her back. He made the girl wait outside the house. He went back in covered the body with a dirty blanket lying around. He scanned the room but as expected there was no murder weapon. All the belongings of the dead girl were missing. He saw a small chit lying below the table. He pocketed it. He looked at the pretty face which now lay cold and dead. 'R.I.P Anisha. I am sorry for getting late. We will miss you. But I promise I won't forgive your killer. He will pay for his sins in this life itself.' said Daya and shut the door. The girl stood in the corner hugging herself and shivering a bit. Tears flew down her cheeks.
'Chalo yaha se. Kya tumhe pata hai tumhari friend ek CID officer thi?' he asked.
'Haan. Main bhi ek CID officer hoon. Shreya Malhotra.', said Shreya.
'Kya? Tum Officer Shreya ho? Thank god tum thik ho. Mujhe laga shayad maine tumhe bhi kho diya', said Daya with a look of relief.
'Kya matlab?' asked Shreya.
'Main Senior Inspector Daya hoon. CID Mumbai se. Mujhe tum dono ko wapas lane ki mission par bheja tha yaha', he said.
'Kya sach? Oh thank god!' she exclaimed tearfully and gripped his hand tightly.
'Fikr mat karo. Hum jald hi nikal jayenge yaha se.' said Daya.
At that moment, a bullet wheezed passed Shreya's ear. She let out a terrified scream. Two masked men were firing at them. Daya grabbed her hand and they hurtled forward running for their lives.
Women had hung their clothes for sun drying. They dashed passed them trying not to get entangled. Small puddles of dirty sewage water were seen everywhere. Daya spotted an old bike. He grabbed it and Shreya sat behind him. 'Hold on to me tight', he ordered. Shreya held him tightly on his waist. The rusty engine churned to life and seconds later they were speeding on the road.
150- 160- 180... The speedometer was rising. The men followed them for some time but eventually lost them. Daya let out a sigh of relief. He slowed down a bit. 'Tum thik ho na? Dar to nahi gayi na itni tez raftar se?' he asked her.
'Jee nahi. Main thik hoon. Aur waise bhi darne se kya fayda? Jaan sabse jyada pyari hoti hai har insan ko. Aur mujhe fast bikes aur cars pasand hai, she said.
'Ab chod sakti ho mujhe', said Daya laughing.
'Oh sorry sir!' she said embarrassed.
A few meters ahead the bike came to a halt suddenly.
'Kya hua?' asked Shreya.
'Diesel khatam ho gaya', he said.
'Oh no ab ye kounsi nayi musibat aa gayi? Ab kya hoga?' asked Shreya.
'Tum bohot jaldi panic ho jati ho. Ruko hum kuch rasta nikal lenge.' he said.
They stopped at the side of the road. But then Daya spotted a self-service gas station ahead. They walked their bike towards it. Daya filled the diesel and as they were about to leave suddenly out of nowhere two bullets were fired straight into Daya's arm.
Blood sputtered out of his arm.
'Dayaaaaa', shreya screamed.
'Shreya bhago jaldi', he yelled.
'Nahi mere piche baithiye aap', said Shreya.
'Kya? Tumhe bike start karni bhi aati hai kya? Ye alag bike hai... Hamari jaise naii...'
'Oh just stop it! Jaldi kijiye!', said Shreya.
Daya sat behind her holding his bloody arm. She drove at full speed and they sped away again.
The firing continued.
'How the hell had they traced them? This won't do. They had to get out of this country as soon as possible.' thought Daya.
'Daya sir aap thik hai na? Kitna khoon nikal raha hai', she said after sometime.
'Haan I am fine. Shreyaaaaaaa aage dekho!' he yelled.
But too late. Their bike struck a huge boulder and they fell. They rolled down the valley cutting through grass and trees.
'Aaaaaaaaagggggggg... Nooooooooooo!' they screamed at the top of their voices. They came to a stop at the bottom of the valley. Luckily there happened to be a street alongside.
'Pagal ho kya? Ab kaise jayenge? Gadi bhi nahi rahi', said Daya.
'Sorry sir! Mujhe maaf kar dijiye please. Lekin ab kya kare?' she said.
Daya's hand was paining now. He knew the damage was deep. 'Shreya tumhe mera ek kaam karna hoga. Mere haath me jo bullets hai wo nikali hogi.', he said.
'Kya?! Nahi main aise kaise? Kitna dard hoga aapko!', she said horrified.
'Shreya please. Jab tak wo bullet andar hai tab tak ye khoon clot nahi hoga. Ye lo isse ho jayega', he said drawing out pincers like tool from his pocket.
'Isse?! Main nahi kar sakti', said Shreya.
'Tum jaroor kar sakogi. I trust you completely', said Daya cupping her face with one hand.
She gulped. She took the tool and with trembling hands started removing the bullets.
Daya clenched his teeth but didn't utter a word. Soon the ordeal was over and Shreya sat down and buried her face in her hands.
Daya smiled. 'Dekha kaha tha na maine tum kar paogi. Mujhe kuch hua bhi nahi', he said tying handkerchief around his wound.
'Aur kuch naa sahi par ek baat main acche se jaan gayi hoon aapke baare me. Aap dard ko chupana acchi tarah se jaante hai', she said.
'Good observation', said Daya smiling at her.
They saw a huge trailer approaching. It was apparantly delivering two brand new BMW's. The rear door of the trailer was open.
'Chalo. Ye hame jaroor airport tak le jayega' said Daya.
They both jumped into the trailer and sat in the one of the cars. 'Please ab kuch nahi hona chahiye. Thak gayi hoon main. Bohot ho gaya aaj ke liye', said Shreya.
Daya took out his PDA and pressed the red button.
'Lara I want you to book two tickets for India at the earliest possible', he said in an urgent voice.
'Is everything all right officer? You seem worried.' said Lara.
'No. Nothing's right. I have some bad news. Officer Anisha is dead. We have confirmed her death. I have rescued Officer Shreya. The goons are following us and we are in great danger.' said Daya.
'Oh I am sorry to hear about Officer Anisha. I will get you both the airline tickets within next half hour. Stay safe.' she said and the screen went blank.
Fortunately the driver had not realised that two unknown people were in his trailer. Their journey continued smoothly ahead. Both of them were unusually quiet. The car in which they were sitting was situated in a slightly elevated level of the truck.
The evening stars crept in the night sky. 'Wow. This is amazing', said Shreya. She had her eyes closed and was enjoying the feel of air on her face. Daya watched her mesmerised. Light breeze blew through her hair. 'She looks gorgeous', thought Daya.
'Mujhe nahi laga tha humari mulakat yaha hogi in halton me hogi', he said.
Shreya smiled. 'Haan. Kitni ajeeb hai na zindagi!'
Eventually Shreya slept resting her head on his shoulder. Daya stayed awake waiting for their destination to come.