**Episode-10**
After reading the e-mail and going through
the googled contents, Jennifer couldn’t understand anything that was going
around her. She had, in a fit of rage, moved out of the hospital in order to
find him and she kept on calling Tawde, half-expecting him to pick up the phone
but to no avail.
She went to the police station but couldn’t
find Tawde here. She knew, anyhow she had to confront Tawde and tell him all
she has known. But for everything to happen, she had to first find Tawde. She
had taken his house address from the station and was en-route to his place
only. Sweat beads were forming on her forehead but she wasn’t bothered to wipe
them away, all she knew was that she had to get Cyrus out of all this and
continue the trail which Cyrus had left behind by hook or by crook.
She knew how much Cyrus loved her and it
was only her he entrusted his secrets with. She needed full-proof and only Tawde
could answer all her questions. As she was contemplating all the possibilities,
she reached Tawde’s house. All she knew now, was that there was no return for her on
this trail and she had to find something substantial. As she went inside the
house, a foul stench hit her nose.
***
The room was dark and all she could see
were bottles of alcohol strewn around. She put a handkerchief on her nose and
tiptoed towards the bedroom. She saw Tawde sitting on a sofa and drinking. He
had his back towards her. As she put her foot inside the bedroom, she called
out loud “Inspector Tawde!”
Tawde, startled at having someone inside
his house after a long time and that too a female, stood up, stumbling and
looked back. As shocked as he was at hearing a voice in his house, he was more
shocked to see Jennifer, the photographer there.
“Why weren’t you picking up the phone
Inspector?” asked Jennifer. “Uh! My head was paining and my phone was in the
silent mode, I came home to take my medicine” explained a fumbling Tawde. “Do
not dare to lie to me Inspector! I know the truth. And I want you to confess it
here in front of me” barked Jennifer. “What truth are you talking about
Ms.Jennifer?” asked Tawde almost stammering over his words.“I AM SERIOUS HERE
INSPECTOR” shouted Jennifer, stressing over each word to make their importance
known.
Just as Tawde was going to say something, her phone started ringing. It was ringing for a long time but Jennifer didn’t
notice. Taking it out of her Jean pocket, having received the phone and
listening to what the other person said, the phone slipped out of her hands and
she slowly sank to the floor. Tears streaming out of her eyes. Tawde, startled
at seeing such a scene, started shaking Jennifer frantically. Between cries,
all she could murmur was that…
“Cyrus is in coma….”
***
As Tara was pulling Shekhar by the collar
after he disconnected the call from Inspector Tawde, Shekhar couldn’t find
words to say what he heard. How can the Inspector loose Roohi after so much?
Where will his baby be? How is Roohi? All these questions were forming in his
mind and It was after a long time he heard Tara shouting in front of him. She
was asking where Roohi was. What happened to her? Was she alright? He knew, it
was justified for Tara to behave like that; but at that moment, only one name
escaped his mouth…
***
Tara barked at his house in anger. She had
lost her senses when she had heard the name and she knew that she could have
her questions answered only at his place but still she couldn’t understand how he
is related to the disappearance of Roohi. Her suspicions from Day 1 about the
aloofness of the person gave her food for thought. She now knew that he has to
be the person behind all these. She had to confront him and find her baby asap.
As she entered the house, she heard him
talking on the phone with someone.
“I have to get him soon” he said to his
master. Unable to stop herself any more from the outburst, she shouted while
storming into the room “Who are you talking about, Aryan Ahuja?”
***
Aryan Ahuja, was a man in his late 40’s and
was Shekhar and Tara’s neighbor. It has been a year he has been in the house
and his over-friendliness with Roohi always caused discomfort to Tara. She
tried talking to Shekhar regarding it but Shekhar was always too busy with his
own thoughts to contemplate what was going on and he always brushed Tara aside
telling her that it was her over-the-top thinking that made her feel that way.
As over friendly he was with Roohi, that much aloof he was with the others of
the neighborhood.
No one saw him moving much outside his
house. Neither did anyone visit him nor did he visit anyone. He didn’t even
have his family. Due to his aloofness, many people forbade from talking to him
or even going near him. As Tara heard his name from Shekhar’s mouth related to
Roohi’s kidnapping, she knew that he had to be the person behind everything.
***
Disconnecting the phone after a quick “Will
call you back” Aryan stood bewildered. He couldn’t understand why was Tara
accusing him and what has he done. “What are you talking about Mrs.Dutta?” asked
Aryan. Tara, shocked at his audacity to answer her back shot back “You very
well know what I am talking about! Where is Roohi? Where is my baby?”
Aryan couldn’t understand what she was
upto. He said “I do not know where is Roohi Mrs.Dutta!” bewildered Aryan
replied. “Stop lying! I know, I know you know where Roohi is. I doubted you
from Day 1. Tell me, tell me you bastard, where is Roohi?” shouted Tara in an
even bitter tone. “I will kill you if you don’t give my Roohi back. My baby, my
baby is my life. I can’t live without my baby. Tell me where have you hidden
her?” accused Tara, wailing inconsolably.
Aryan, still confused at what was
happening, regained his composure in a moment and shot back, an eerie calmness
in is voice “Mrs. Dutta, I know Roohi’s disappearance is disturbing you but
trust me, I don’t know anything about this. And you have no right to blame me
for something that I have not done and moreover, for something which you don’t
have proof.”
Tara would hear nothing, anger possessed
her like anything. She searched the room frantically, and as she laid her eyes
on the thing she was searching for, she jumped on it and grabbed hold of it;
angry at not having done it earlier and guilty of not having been able to stop
all these from happening; she went on to shove the knife in Aryan Ahuja’s chest,
like a woman possessed. As she was a second away from Aryan, Shekhar came in
and pulled her away.
Tara was not ready to go, Shekhar tried
calming her down but he was unable to do so. He slapped Tara to bring her in
control and forcefully took the knife from her hands and threw it away. Aryan
was a mute spectator to all this. He couldn’t get out of the situation. He was
more confused with Shekhar coming in between.
Tara now, was crying hard and was slung on
Shekhar’s chest. “I want my Roohi... Where is Roohi..?” was all she could say.
“It’s ok Tara, our baby will be back soon” consoled Shekhar.
“I am sorry Mr.Ahuja for the entire
problem. As you can see, she is very disturbed with what s going on! With Roohi
gone missing, she has been uncontrollable. I am really sorry! I sincerely hope
you would understand. She meant no harm” apologized Shekhar.
“It’s ok Mr.Dutta, I totally understand her
state of mind. Not a problem. Please do keep me informed about Roohi” said
Aryan and Shekhar pulled her away and took her to their home.
As Aryan heard the front door closing,
Aryan mumbled… “I understand… I really do understand...!”
***
PS- “Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”
