"Not every relation is born, some are created."
I woke up startled when I heard a noise. I quickly opened my eyes and saw a cat running away hastily outside the room. It broke the glass jar and that made the noise. I slowly got down from the bed and walked downstairs. Aanchal was cooking in the kitchen and humming some local songs. I called her and she came running towards me. She asked, "Should I bring breakfast?" I said, "No. I just woke up and still have to brush my teeth." She smiled, "Fine. Holla me when you want breakfast." I smiled. I walked outside the house and saw that the weather was cloudy and it looked like it would rain soon. I saw Ravi and some other young boys sitting in the local restaurant and eating food. I got inside and started brushing my teeth when a familiar voice came from outside. I quickly washed my mouth and splashed water on my face and ran outside.
As I expected, Meera was standing there and she gave a warm smile upon seeing me. I asked, "Why did you have to come here, ma'am? If you had told me, I would have come to your mansion." Meera smiled, "Why would I call you, Suraj if I want to meet my dear, Aanchal?" I smiled, "Oh." She smiled, "Don't think that I will call you to the mansion often. Sarla doesn't like me gossiping with servants. But I did come to meet you too." I asked, "What's the matter?" She said, "Not here. I want you to come with me." I asked, "Where?"
She grunted, "Don't ask so many questions. Just come." She pulled me and took me outside and pushed me inside her car and sat beside me. She said, "Driver. Let's go." I said, "I didn't even change my clothes. Where are you taking me so hastily?" Meera smiled, "Just think of me as your kidnapper." I laughed, "Then, I should start screaming." She playfully slapped my hand and said, "Just sit straight."
We stopped near a well and Meera said, "Get down." I got out of the car and we walked towards the mouth of the well. Meera said grimly, "Last night, Aanchal's father passed away. He was quite ill for a long time and breathed his last this morning. I went to her house to inform her about the death of a relative who was a distant relative of her and that the relative requested her to cremate him. But, maybe that won't be right. She is still quite young and to know that she had a distant relative who never even once visited her would be painful for her. So, I think you should do the cremation."
I said, "How can I do that? It's Aanchal's birthright." Meera said grimly, "Birthright? She doesn't even have a family now and you talk about birthright. It will be a vice to give that poor girl more pain." I said, "But...." She said, "Here. Take this torch. I have already arranged sandalwood to be thrown inside the well and also poured three drums of kerosene on the dead body. You just have to throw the torch inside. I took the torch and threw it inside the well. Soon, the fire started burning and after a few minutes of burning, the fire slowly extinguished. I asked, "What about the ashes?" Meera said grimly, "Sarla warned me that if I took out his ashes, he would burn Aanchal alive." I asked, "How could you even tolerate that monster?" She sighed and said, "Let's go. Aanchal must be waiting for us. Please, don't tell her anything about today ever." I said grimly, "Okay." We sat inside the car and soon drove towards the colony.
We reached the house after half an hour and saw Aanchal standing at the front of the house and looking at us with an angry face. I walked towards her and she asked, "Where did you two go away?" I smiled, "Nothing. Meera ma'am wanted to show something to me, that's why she took me so hastily with her." She asked grimly, "What's the matter? Is it something serious?" Meera smiled, "No, dear. You shouldn't worry about grown-up people's problems. I am sure you have other things on your mind." She smiled, "Maybe." Meera playfully nudged her head and we all walked inside. We all were sitting at the dining table, eating our breakfast. Meera looked at Aanchal and asked, "How's life going, beta? Did you make friends?"
Aanchal smiled, "Good. In fact, Ravi has told me that he will teach me how to fly a kite on the weekends." Meera smiled, "Awesome. Maybe, after you learn we can have a friendly competition between us." Aanchal smiled, "Challenge accepted." I looked at them and smiled. Meera asked, "What about you? Have you ever flown a kite?" I smiled, "Nah. Unlucky for me, my childhood was quite hectic. I didn't get much time for fun." Meera held my hand and said, "Don't worry. I will teach you to have fun." I smiled lightly. She said, "I have to return home now. Sarla must be waiting for me. I should take my leave."
Aanchal smiled, "Okay. But, don't forget about the competition." She smiled and said, "You better be well-prepared. I won't agree with any excuses after I beat you." Aanchal smiled and went inside the kitchen. I walked with Meera to her car and she said, "You are a good man, Suraj. Please, take care of that poor child. She is an orphan now and only Lord Balaji knows what evil plan is brewing inside Sarla's brain." I asked, "Does Sarla know about her father's death?" Meera said grimly, "Anything that happens in Kerala reaches his ears." She sat inside the car and soon drove away.
I walked towards Mathur's house and knocked on the door. Mathur said, "Come inside, Suraj. The door is open." I pushed the door and walked inside the house. The house was a little different than the last time I entered the house. It smelled of incense and was quite tidied. Mr. Mathur smiled, "Sit, Suraj. Let me bring some coffee for you." I said, "No, thanks. I just had my breakfast." Mr. Mathur laughed, "Yes. I can see that. How is Meera beta? Did she ask about me?" I asked, "Why would she ask about you?"
Mr. Mathur smiled, "Nothing much. It's just that she would come to my house every time she came here in the colony. Strangely, she didn't come to my house this time." I said, "Oh, yes. Sarla was waiting for her." Mr. Mathur laughed, "Patience is not Sarla's character. Anyway, if she said this, then it must be true." I asked, "Why? Did you have something important to say to her?" Mr. Mathur smiled and sat beside me and held my hand and said, "Leave her. I have something important for you." I asked, "What is important...."
He asked, "What did Anthony say about the gift I gave him?" I said, "I don't know. He didn't show much emotion." Mr. Mathur smiled, "Whatever. Now, what are you going to do?" I asked, "What do you mean by what am I going to do?" Mr. Mathur said grimly, "I know you have decided to finish Raju tonight. I want to know how you are going to do that?" I asked bewildered, "What do you mean by that? Why would I kill him?" Mr. Mathur smiled, "Don't try to act so naively in front of me, son. I know Anthony always tells the caretaker of Aanchal to kill Raju. I just want to know what your plan is?" I said, "I don't have any plans. Why would I kill Raju? He is my employer." Mr. Mathur said in a harsh tone, "Don't do this drama in front of me, Suraj. I know you sympathize with Aanchal and all the other girls of the colony. I can see clearly in your eyes. I know your blood boils when you hear about the atrocities that Raju committed on the poor girls. I know that you want to finish him and end his terror."
I said, "I don't know what the hell you are blabbering about. I clearly don't understand. I should just leave." Mr. Mathur laughed, "Go away, coward. But, I know when that scum will come here tonight to snatch Aanchal from the mansion and rape her publicly, your blood will boil." I quickly went to the house and shut the door behind me.
I quickly walked towards Aanchal's room and looked for her. She was not in her room and I became worried. I ran downstairs and saw that she was talking with Ravi. I held her hand and said, "Dress up quickly. We have to go somewhere." She looked at me and asked, "Go where?" I said irritated, "Don't ask. Just come with me." Ravi asked, "Can I come too?" I said, "No." Aanchal said, "Please. Let us take him too." I said, "Fine. But, dress up quickly." Aanchal quickly ran towards her room and Ravi looked at me and asked in a worried tone, "What's the matter, sir? You seem quite tensed."
I tried to smile and said, "Nothing, Ravi. Just wanted to give Aanchal some fresh air." Ravi looked at me and smiled. I looked around and closed all the windows so that everyone would think that Aanchal was not home." Ravi looked at me, all the time but didn't ask anything. A few minutes later, Aanchal walked downstairs and said, "I am ready. Where are we going?" I smiled, "It is a surprise." We walked outside the house and quickly got inside our car. I ignited the engine and soon we were driving towards the outskirts of the colony.
Aanchal asked, "Is Meera didi there too? I know it is a surprise, but at least you can tell that much." I said, "Just sit and wait for the surprise." We drove towards a scheduled place near the beach of Kannur and I dumped the car near a tree. Aanchal and Ravi asked, "Where are we going?" I said, "Trust me. It will be a good surprise." We boarded a ferry and soon we were heading towards Miramar. Aanchal and Ravi didn't ask many questions as they were still children and were more interested in the journey than worrying about the destination. The night was dark and only the light of the ferry was reflecting on the surface of the water. I took out my phone and dialed a number.
After some time, the other end received the call and said, "Harsh. Why are you calling such late in the night?" I said, "Listen, Bhatti. I am bringing two teenage kids to Miramar. I cannot stay here for too long. Meet me at the beach. NOW!" I disconnected the call. We reached Miramar some 3 or 4 am in the night and both Aanchal and Ravi were fast asleep. I slowly woke Ravi up and carried Aanchal on my shoulder and walked towards Bhatti's car. Bhatti is Jaspal's cousin and has a chain of food courts in Miramar. Even though, we don't meet much Bhatti is a very good friend of mine whom I can trust blindly. Bhatti looked at me and screamed, "Here, buddy. I am here." I saw him and waved back. I quickly walked towards him with Aanchal and Ravi and stopped near him.
Bhatti looked at Aanchal and Ravi and pulled me aside and asked, "Who are these kids?" I said, "They are important people and I want them to stay with you for a couple of months. After that, please send them to this location." I gave him a card. Bhatti looked at the card and asked, "UCID. Ms. Maria Gonsalves. Birmingham, London." I said, "Yes. She is a friend of mine. She will know what to do with them." Bhatti said, "Okay. But, where are you going?" I said grimly, "I still have much to do. You won't understand." Bhatti patted my shoulder. I walked towards Aanchal and Ravi and said, "I am heading back to Kerala. Your Meera didi needs me." Aanchal said, "Please, don't go." I said, "No, beta. I have to go. Jaspreet will take care of you both." I bid them goodbye and boarded the ferry.
I waved them goodbye and soon I was heading towards Kannur. I got a call on my phone and saw that Sumeet was calling me. I answered the call and he screamed angrily, "Where the hell are you? Where are Aanchal and Ravi?" I explained everything to him. He said, "What the hell, brother. You have created a blunder. What will you tell Sarla?" I said, "Meera will take care of him. But, the real question is what will Raju do?" Sumeet said grimly, "Your nobility fucked us." He disconnected the call. I dialed a number and the other end picked up the phone. I asked, "Are you still interested in killing Raju, Anthony?" Antony smiled, "Why not? I am very eager to end that pedophile." I said, "Then, keep your men ready." I disconnected the call and stood on the deck of the ferry and was looking at the bright moon shining in the sky....