they hadn't realized how much exhausted they actually were until it was all over. with great effort sidharth and Aditya both carried rajveer near to the wall palace him with it and collapsed on either side of him. rajveer had started to snore lightly till now, which was also making his friends dizzy with sleep, the idea of a good nap was looking very tempting after all the hard work. but of course they could not because one, Aditya's clothes were wet and he was shivering. two, They still haven't got the key and third and most importantly they didn't had any time to waste either, it was already 3 in the morning. they had spent all night in the tunnels and now if they hadn't acted fast, they will lose this chance then they might have to come some other day because they couldn't think of stealing anything from museum when sun was to be raising on their heads. so Aditya rose to his feet and started collecting their supplies. he didn't wake rajveer to let him rest until they're ready. luckily his weapons and bag hadn't gone into the pond, he found everything along with rajveers kattar and even the gangajal bottle which still had some water in it. later sidharth had pointed him in the direction where most likely he could found rajveer's clothes and he did, he found Rajveer's black jipper and a wool sweater, he also found sidharth axe in the way.and when he was coming back holding rajveer's clothes and other weapons in his arms, his gaze fell on a thin red thing, a thread. the same thread he had given rajveer as a ward off for ghosts and evil, he hadn't given it much thought lately but know he understand that how rajveer got possessed but it also raised other questions which he stored in his mind to ask later, and stuffed the thread in his pocket. he went up to his friends and finally woke rajveer with few sprinkles of water on his face. he woke with a start and yelled 'pakhi..' then he realized he had fallen asleep and probably having a dream. he sighed 'what happened' he asked sleepily
'the plan worked' aditya told him grinning, looking quite pleased with himself. then he pulled out the thread and showed it to rajveer
'think you lost it'
rajveer told him what had happened with him and how he came to the decision he made.
though aditya didn't looked happy about it, he thought it was very foolish of him but he didn't said so. later he thought perhaps to him it would have seemed the best option at that time, the situation would be very tense indeed. sidharth however was edging far from them after seeing the thread. aditya then passed rajveer his sweater and pulled off his own three layers of cloths and wore rajveer's zipper alone. although his lower was still wet but still it was a relief. Rajveer noticing his wet clothes didn't objected.
after all three got ready 'sidharth you still can find the way?' asked Aditya
sidharth nodded grimly
'lets go then'
it didn't take much time after that, sidharth ran and they followed. Just after three galleries sidharth stopped and started examining the walls on each side. and then he found it. on the left side the wall had, what looked like foot holds and above as they seen a tile was an inch lower than others. surely a way out.
'sidharth do you have any idea where it opens' asked rajveer nervously
'no' sidharth said flatly 'but so, far I haven't seen any other exit apart from the one we used to enter. so'
'it's our best chance' aditya completed thoughtfully 'let's go then'
being the strongest rajveer volunteered to get up and push the tile aside but both aditya and sidharth had to support rajveer's bottom so he could use both of his hands. then with some difficulty rajveer managed to push it upward and then slid it one side and climbed out, followed by his friends. when he realized where they had ended rajveer had a hard time believing his luck. especially after all the hardships, it almost came as a treat. they had reached not only inside the tomb but they were inside the very museum they wanted.
'cover your faces first' Aditya groped into his bag and handed rajveer tha piece of cloth he himself was using as a mask earlier. rajveer hastily rapped it around his face. then they went to the showcase where the key was and searched for any possible way to get it without breaking the glass but they didn't found any. sidharth however was getting very edgy now. he was pacing back and forth when after 5 minutes rajveer and sidharth didn't found any way. then finally he came forward pushed Aditya aside and slammed back of his axe into glass, close to the key, shattering one side of the glass chamber into large pieces. rajveer and Aditya both watched him with horror. in this time of the night, making a noise so deafening wasn't a very bright idea.
'what the... ' rajveer whispered with a look of pure disbelief.
but sidharth didn't care he quickly took the key ran back to the passageway and jumped in it. Aditya grabbed rajveer's arm and ran. aditya jumped first, sidharth was still there then rajveer climbed half down using the footholds and was sliding the tile half upon the passageway when he heard the voices and stopped dead, Two people were talking, just outside in very hushed tones.
'I heard glass breaking' said a voice in apprehension
'but see, lock is fine' said the second, yawning 'how could anyone be in here, and why, what would anyone want to steal from here han.., broken pottery?' he laughed 'come on.. go to sleep and let me sleep for a while'
'no, still we should check'
then came tha clinking noice of the lock banging with latch. they were opening it.
rajveer heart was pounding furiously in his chest as he went down, quickly told Aditya and sidharth to support and slid rest of the tile in place at once, just in time. they stayed still and heard as the doors creaked open with a thug and two person entered the room, talking but it was hard to make anything out of it, the voices were muffled. rajveer landed slowly on the ground. then he nodded to sidharth who understood and gestured them to follow and they did. they knew what was coming now, caretakers of the tomb would be calling for police and in few moments they'll be here. they had to get out of the tomb, took their car and flee as soon as possible. rajveer however suggested that they should wait till morning before they get out perhaps police would have gone till then but Aditya showed him the light, they couldn't let policemen find their car parked outside in the alley it would be as bad as getting caught.
sidharth ran as fast as he could without any puse, turning left and right without any hesitation, but soon he was forced to dodge the tree roots, now could be seen hanging from the sealing here and there. indicating that they were gaining height. hardly 5 minutes would have passed when sidharth hurtled to a stop, and gazed upward where a tile was missing from the sealing. they had reached from where they had started.
'Aditya you go first, here' rajveer locked his fingers together and held it for Aditya to step. when Aditya and sidharth both were in the chamber upside, rajveer threw his bag and weapons to them, stepped a few feet back, ran and jumped, managing to catch the edge. then he pulled rest of his self up effortlessly.
together they closed the passageway and opened the door a bit which opened as a respective door should and didn't stuck close. rajveer peered through it and saw to their relief no red blue lights flashing, no sirens were wailing. not yet at least. hesitating, all three stepped out when rajveer called the way clear. walking in the shadows of walls then of trees they made their way towards the side where they had parked their car. but half way through when the tomb entrance came into view they had to take cover into one corner of the nearby chamber, it was darker there than the rest of the place. the door of the tomb was open and caretakers were standing there either of them holding a large flashlight holding in their hands but after a minute both of them turned and went back inside. it was a comfort for their pounding hearts. they came out of the shadows and ran this time without bothering to take covers, it was barely a hundred meters, all three climbed the fence cautiously and jumped to the other side Aditya pulled out his car key from his pocket and tried to place into the door lock but his hands vere shaking so bad it took him half a minute to place the key right, rajveer kept glancing here and there to check no one was watching them, soon Aditya was inside. he opened the other doors and rajveer and sidharth pushed in. aditya had just started the engine when the night silence broke with the horrible echoing wails of sirens. the fact that it was still distant didn't help with their fear. Aditya pulled the reverse gare, and thrown his feet on the accelerator, engine roared indignantly and the car shoot backward. rajveer felt as if he had dropped his stomach behind, aditya whirled the car making a full one eighty deegre ark, changed the gear again, and they soared forward into the darkness. headlights were still off and Aditya didn't turned them on he drove in the darkness. the sirens were sounding closing on them now with evey passing second.
'aditya what are you thinking we gonna run into them' rajveer cried 'turn in, turn it'
but Aditya didn't he pushed the accelerator even harder and they spead and the next second a t point shoot past them they soared state ahead. aditya slowed down the car but kept going. rajveer turned and saw through the back glass as a jeep came out of the t-point they just passed, and went hurtling towards the tomb with flashing lights on its top and echoing sirens wailing along. it was a narrow escape, just a second or two later and the police car could now be on their tail. their nerves didn't cool down until the tomb had left miles away and there wasn't any sign of pursuit. they were now soaring on a narrow road when there was nothing on either side of them but long fields of sugar canes. Aditya had turned from the very next turn after the t-point and rather than taking the turn which lead to the main highway he had chosen to go by crossing a village instead as a security measure.
rajveer gave a long sigh of relief and smiled broadly
'we did it guys we .. hah.. can you believe it' he said jumping back and forth in his seat with excitement.
Aditya smiled back even sidharth was smiling.
they couldn't believe it.
they had actually managed it, not only the theft and escape but aslo they had get across so many obstacles along the way they couldn't even think about doing in normal circumstances before now.
'so, where are we going now, we can't go home like this, right?' rajveer said while combing his fingers in his long and now filthy hairs and pulling out beads of dry blood.
'right, we need a clean up first, am smelling worse than dung, mum would kill me if I went home like this' replied aditya
'so, where?'
'am thinking but first I need to pee' he pulled his car to one side and applied breaks.
'me too' said rajveer as he climbed out with aditya and stood beside him.
'haaa....' exclaimed rajveer
Aditya nudged him
'I think it's the time' he whispered leaning closer
'what time?' whispered back rajveer
but before Aditya could answer car door opened once more and sidharth came out and stood with them. aditya and rajveer was done so they moved to the doors. Aditya now standing opposite rajveer poked his head twice in sidharth's direction who's back was turned to them. rajveer frowned but when Aditya nostrils swelled with anger, he mouthed a large oooooooohhh and nodded slowly.
slow-motion aditya thought and shook his head head disbelievingly then he opened the door slowly and pulled out gangajal and bhabhoot box out which he already got ready. then just before sidharth could turn he showed them to rajveer and mouthed catch him. rajveer nodded and turned, meanwhile aditya hurried the length of his car and went to their side, the stuff hidden behind his back.
'hey sidharth' he called just when sidharth was about to open the door.
'yes?' sidharth replied looking bemused and
thats when rajveer hugged him from behind seizing his both arms within and lifted him off ground. they had caught him with such surprise he just had time to look wildly around before a handful of ash splattered on to his face filling his mouth and nostrils, followed by a splash of water. sidharth felt his face burn as if someone had just thrown acid on his face not water. he hissed, his body stiffened badly, rajveer held him tighter but then, it relaxed. a relax he had never ever felt in his whole life, all tha pain all the aching in his muscles suddenly vanished, even his mind was feeling relaxed as if there is nothing in the world that can bother him, and instantly his lightheadedness had took him he was drifting into a good sleep.