1 Who is she?
Part 1: Who is she?
Delhi 8 pm
The city was curled up in houses due to the heavy cold. Furthermore, the pollution issues prevented people from leaving their houses. So, the capital appeared to be deserted, with no movement of people.
People were advised to work from home. A maximum of companions followed it. But Aarav could not be sitting at home, giving such excuses. He was a busy businessman with good looks. He just left the office, finishing his work and headed home. He could not drive the car fast because of the fog. Even those within ten feet could not be seen due to the fog.
That was when he received a call. Seeing the name, Amarnath, he attended the call. Amarnath was his friend cum manager.
“Haan, Amar...”
“Aarav, where are you? Have you reached home?” He asked nervously.
“On the way...”
“Still?”
“What to do? Due to the fog, I can’t drive the car fast. But, why do you sound nervous?”
“My source warned that you are under a life threat. Please, don’t leave home for a few days and be safe, until I say...”
“Who is that?”
“We will talk about it later. Do one thing. Leave the car and hide somewhere until I come...”
“What the hell...”
Without giving heed to his WHAT THE HELL, Amar said,
“Share with me your live location...”
“Now?”
“Yes...We should not be careless. I’m coming with our men...”
“Mmm...”
Aarav understood the seriousness. He disconnected the call and shared the live location. It seemed someone targeted him, and they might attack him at any time. Aarav drove the car, keeping a cautious eye on his surroundings. He prepared himself to face them. At the same time, he didn’t want to be careless because Amar would not warn him unnecessarily. He saw a park. He stopped the car and removed his coat, tie and watch. He didn’t want his enemies to identify him with his watch and coat. Keeping the watch in the dashboard, he wore a mask. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he messed his hair up. Then, he got out of the car.
He felt the skin peeling cold outside. He went into a park and watched his car hiding behind a tree, near the entrance. He wanted to see who wanted to attack him. He was even ready to fight with them. But when they came, he thought how stupid his decision to fight with them was!There were more than ten people, looking like rhinos with broad-bladed butcher knives. They saw Aarav’s car.
“This is HIS car...”
They checked the car. Looked inside through the window.
Aarav caught his breath. He would not be alive even if one of them had seen him. They would cut him into pieces.
“He is not in the car...”
“Where did he go?”
“Was the information right?”
“The information can’t be wrong. He must be here.”
“But, where did he go in the cold?”
“Maybe, to piss off...”
“I thought he would piss off in fear, only after seeing us...”
They laughed.
Aarav closed his eyes, tightening his jaws. If it was not a cold climate, he would not bother fighting with them. But now, he didn’t even count how many of them were there. It didn’t seem wise to go in front of them. So, he stood controlling himself.
“He must be here only. He could not go on longer in this fog. Search for him...” Someone ordered.
The goons obeyed the order and started searching for Aarav. He saw someone coming towards the park. Aarav understood he had no choice but to come out. He knew Amar was following his location. He would come there any time. Until then, he has to handle the goons.
Aarav got ready. The goon saw someone behind the tree. He was supposed to shout, but before that, he received a tight punch from Aarav. His nose bridge was broken, and he started bleeding. After that, Aarav didn’t stand there. He ran. The goons saw him running.
“He is there...”
“He is running...”
“Catch him...”
“Cut him into pieces...”
The goons chased him, ordering one another. The one who came from the left side pounced on Aarav and cut his back with a knife. Aarav felt a sharp pain in his back. Yet, he ran. He could not stop. He could run only until he had energy. He knew he was bleeding. The blood loss would make him weak. Before he felt weak, he should have protected himself. If he was lucky, Amar would come to save his life. But Amar was also struggling to drive fast due to the fog.
The goons, who were brisker than Aarav, reached him and surrounded him. Aarav had no choice but to fight. He fought his level best. But he could not stand the goons with weapons. They cut his body without missing a chance, and one of them stabbed his stomach. They held him tight. Another one raised his butcher knife with full force and was about to get it in him, but he stopped, hearing a police patrol siren.
“Police...” They shouted.
“Let’s go...”
“We have to finish him...”
“If we don’t leave this place, we will be finished... However, he will die in a few minutes. Come...”
They dropped Aarav on the floor and ran to their jeep. They left the place as the siren sound neared them. Aarav was at a lack of breath as if someone was standing on his neck. He felt unbearable pain in his body. He tried to get up but could not. He could not even open his eyes.
That was when he heard footsteps. It seemed Amar came. He huffed in relief. But he heard something.
“Oh, my god... How cruel they are! See, how they cut him mercilessly...”
It was a girl’s voice.
“Sister, you saved him by making a police siren sound and the goons left. It’s enough. Please, let’s leave...”
“Brother, please don’t say like that. Look at him. How could we leave him in the pool of blood? He will die. We will admit him to the nearby hospital...”
“Whaaat? No way. Don’t you have other work? You are going to the railway station. You will miss the train if you are doing social work. Go and do your work. We saved him. He will be alive if his fate is strong...”
“We can make his fate strong, brother. What’s the use of saving him from the goons if we leave him here? He will die if not from the blood loss but from the cold.”
“Sister, listen to me. It’s a police case. I’m a mere auto driver. I can’t waste my time and money roaming around the court and police station. I’m going...”
“Brother, please, please, save him. I will give you five thousand rupees...”
“Five thousand rupees?” He was stuck.
“Hannn...”
“Why are you troubling me?” He said, scratching his head.
“Please, bhai, please save him. If it becomes a police case, I will deal with it. I will not let you get into it. Like us, his life is also precious...” She pleaded.
“Ok, but we will drop him outside the hospital. Before anyone sees us, we should leave. Is it ok?”
“Ok, ok, it’s enough. Please, help me lift him.”
The auto driver lifted Aarav with the girl and put him in the auto. He started the auto. They saw a multi-speciality hospital. The driver covered his face with a kerchief.
“You too cover your face...” He told the girl.
She nodded ok and covered her face with her thief hoodie.
“Stretcher...” She shouted.
The hospital staff rushed out with a stretcher. The girl helped the staff to get Aarav on the stretcher. Seeing a man’s condition, the hospital staff pulled the stretcher inside fast.
The girl was about to follow them, but the auto driver clutched her hand and pulled her back.
“What are you doing? Come...” He dragged her.
“Wait...” The girl removed her hoodie and wiped the blood on the seat. She threw the hoodie in a dustbin in the hospital.
The auto driver started the auto. The girl left the hospital half-heartedly.
To be continued...
