“What
now?” Preeti was horrified.
“A
simple twist.”
“Twist?
Are you out of your mind?”
“Nope.
I just got it in the right place.”
“Seriously!
Where are we going?” She asked me in a frantic tone as we rushed down a steep
staircase that led us to the underground of the movie hall.
There
were many shops in row like goods shop, novelty shop, icecream parlors and some
places selling lots of chocolates. I searched down till my eyes found a small
eatery place. I yanked her with me while she wriggled in my tight hold on her
wrist. I loosened my hold a bit but never left her.
“Ava!
Don’t be a child. Where are you going?”
“To
where he can’t stalk us displaying his ridiculous cleverness.”
“Really
I didn’t tell him anything. He is waiting there on his own. In fact I also
thought that he would have gone.”
“We
will see.” I said. The sky was turning its tone to orange as I passed through a
open space above the moss embraced brick boundary encircling the whole
building.
The
small restaurant like place looked old and the bright red paint was half peeled
from its facade revealing the scratchy bare back. There was something written
in yellow on it that was supposed to be its name. But it took me longer than
usual. I give up and pushed the pressed-wooden door into it.
The
inside lacked brightness and the air needed some purification. I instantly felt
out of breath in the viscous murky air. But it didn’t matter when the thought
of winning the challenge crossed my mind.
We
took a seat near to the serving bar. A lanky boy looked up from behind of it
and staggered to us with a menu in hand. It took ages to him to reach to our
table and lay down the menu. It felt as if we were watching a slow motion
movie.
“Two
soft drinks.” I said as soon as he put down the menu. “Anything of that you have.”
I ordered before he opened his mouth. He returned back at the same speed.
As
soon as he left, I quickly pulled out the phone and texted Madhav. “We left 4 hom. U cn also.”
Exactly
after thirty seconds, my phone beeped. “I’m waiting here till u com bck. Enjy ur mvi.
Dnt wrry i nt gttn bored here.”
Not bored! Huh! Tough Guy! Let’s see.
Our
drink arrived as I typed another message. “As u wish. Doesnt mttr 2 us.” I had written me in place of us before but then again I didn’t want to show him that he had
any affect on me. So I stayed along with us.
Preeti sat slouching on my
side. I thought she wanted to bang her head for being with me. But she also
knew how randomly stubborn I could get sometimes.
This time it took double the
time earlier it had and it came as whole rings. I picked up the call. “Where
are you?” Madhav’s voice came from the receiver. He sounded playful as well as
concerned.
But why isn’t he annoyed! I
dragged him to here, left in middle and now telling that I sneak out to home.
Still he is so calm! I wanted to pull my
hair. No! Wait! Why to torture my hair more. They are already ruined.
“It’s not your business. You go
home.”
There was some whispery noise
like he was simpering. “I hope you are not hiding in washroom and I really wish
to see Preeti fine. Hope you haven’t drugged her.”
“Can you be more irritating or
this is your level? Why don’t you stop stalking and leave us on our own. We
don’t any baby sitter.”
“Yeah! Just that you girls came
with me and now it’s my duty to drop you home safely.” There was a depth in his
words that blew me out of proportion.
“Oh! great then. You wait. Wait
till the mid-night show ends. What to me!”
He laughed highly this time
emptying his stomach.
Am I this funny! The whole life I haven’t
been able to successfully crack a single joke without embarrassing me and this
guy is laughing over my each and every sentence. What’s the matter with him? Is
he even okay?
“What’s so funny in there?”
“Ah! You sound so desperate.
You running away from me such like I’m some bounty hunter.”
“Well. We are not running away
from me.” I stammered. It was a lie. Of course we were. In fact it’s me hiding
away from him.
“Yes. You are. Or else why
would you have left movie in the interval? Knowing that I was waiting for you
outside the whole time, you couldn’t keep yourself from falling for me.”
I wanted to give a solid excuse
this time to end this discussion and convince him that he has no effect on me.
I took a pause and creep back into mind digging for some excuse. When I got my
conscious back, the two chairs on the other end of our table were pulled with a
loud noise.
I looked up at the hands those
dragged the seats. They were big and rough hands with back of it matted with
thick hair. One of them had nasty curls grooming out in every direction and
another had long sleek hair oiled back into a ponytail. They both donned French
moustache and wore black sleeveless jackets.
I stared at them agape while
they both took the place without even caring to ask us. The worse thing was
that I had forgot that Madhav was still on line and the worst was that my
new-found excuse was somewhere dissolved in shock.
“Ava! Ava! You there?” Madhav
repeated from other side.
“Yeah. Just leave us.You go home.
Bye.” I hung up the call awkwardly.
I looked around the place.
There another five tables except us divided into two rows and all were
unoccupied. The bony waiter was cleaning the cabinets and counter in his speed.
My gaze slowly reverted to Preeti. She also looked same in shocked as me.
“Hey..hey you there..”I
fidgeted with my own words. Everything seemed wrong at that moment. “Here is
your money. We are leaving.” The waiter kept wiping the cabinet without a
single flinch as if our words were inaudible. But they weren’t. Obviously the
place was too small for that possibility.
I placed twice the price of the
cokes and we slowly stepped out from under the table without having any eye
contact with the thugs sitting before us.
All of sudden the guy with
unrulier curls curled up into a loud grin showing his black rooted teeth. It was
so menacing that it got impossible to avoid. I looked back. “Hey. Madamji..you
left your money here.”
I fought with my vocabulary to
say something. Dread was evidently clouded my senses and I knew that they could
see it in my eyes. I stuttered involuntarily. “The money..bill..paid for it...”
“This much?” He mimicked of
being very generous and helping and righteous.
“The bi..coke and
..tips..waiter.”
“He asked you tips?” He behaved
as if tipping was illegal. Like Preeti the long haired man was also silent
observant all that was going on.
“Oye Chotu. Come here.” He roared.
“Yes bhaiji.” He started
to limp from the bar.
“Oye! How much time do you need
to come here? Come fast.”
“Not..not he asked us. I gave
him.” I spoke again resenting and cursing why Preeti isn’t saying anything. I
glanced at her. Heavy pulses were clearly escalating through her throat and
loud breaths were audible to me. I just prayed they are not audible to them at
least like they were to me.
I need to be strong. I muttered under breath. Strong!
As Chotu, the waiter entered
into scene, he slapped at the top Chotu’s head. “Don’t you know how to behave
with Madams? How many times I have told not to ask extra tips from them?” Again
there was another flip on Chotu’s small head. Chotu kept folding his hands over
head in defence while the guy yanked him down with the collar.
“Now leave and bring us two.”
He barked to him again along with crossing his legs outstretched on the table
and comfortably craning himself in the chair.
Chotu left us. There was evilness in those brooding gaze that scanned along
the length of our body. His accent didn’t match our place. So he wasn’t from
around. But does it matter whether he is from here or from Mars! Well, it
doesn’t.
I looked all around and at my
watch in the last. It was just fifteen minutes past interval. There was still around
forty-five minutes of the movie to end. After that only anyone could be
expected here.
“Madamji, Why are standing
there? Come over. Sit here. Look! You haven’t even touched your drinks.” He
said to us. It sounded more like undeniable commands.
Immediately he added again.
“Don’t be scared. We are not bad people. We won’t do anything. Come. Come. Sit
here.”
My legs felt numb along with my
brain. I was blank and couldn’t think what I should do. Should I run? Should I
shout? But they haven’t done anything till now for which I should scream. But
it was clearly known that there was something dangerous waiting to happen.
I prayed under breath, prayed
to get some courage, at least enough courage not to pass out before them. Or
send someone, anyone to just interfere into this cumbersome situation. Oh! No!
No friend of them. At least I don’t want to be outnumbered. Again does it
matter! Nope. Seeing their thumping size, even one is enough to handle both of
us.
Suddenly the long haired guy
moved on to his feet and motioned towards us. His dark gaze was invariant at
us. I started to shiver. Shiver. Shudder. Rattle. Crumble. Melting. Closed
my eyes. And endless Silence!
