The nurse knocked on the door.
A few moments later, the co-pilot opened it and asked, "Yes, please?"
The nurse pressed the barrel of her revolver against his forehead and pulled the trigger. The silenced bullet pierced his skull, and he staggered before collapsing.
Swiftly, the nurse entered the cockpit and placed the gun against the pilot's temple, pulling the trigger again.
The pilot's head slammed against the seatback. His eyes remained wide open. The aircraft continued flying at high speed.
The nurse and the injured man hurried to the door. When they opened it, a strong gust of wind rushed inside.
The doctor said, "Hold on to the shoulder bag."
"Yes, sir. But perhaps we won't need the boat. I don't see the ocean waves glowing in the dark."
"If we land on solid ground, even better. It will make our journey easier."
"Yes, sir."
"Come on, hurry."
Then both of them jumped. Since they leaped together, their parachutes deployed simultaneously and got tangled.
Meanwhile, the aircraft, traveling faster than the wind, crashed into a rock. A massive explosion lit up the surroundings.
The nurse screamed.
"Sir, the parachutes…!"
The injured man looked down and said, "It's the ocean. Your assumption was wrong."
They plummeted toward the sea like lightning because their parachutes had tangled, forming a column instead of opening properly.
The nurse shrieked, "Sir, what's happening?"
The injured man clung to her and shouted, "Stay calm! We might survive… it's the ocean below."
The nurse screamed, "We won't survive! You filthy pig! You've pushed me into the jaws of death!"
"Get a hold of yourself!"
"You're going straight to hell!"
The injured man grabbed the nurse's throat. She writhed, but suddenly, they both hit the ocean's surface.
The nurse's final scream was one of unbearable agony. They plunged deep underwater. The injured man kept his grip on her neck. Soon, her limbs went limp.
Separating himself from the nurse, he secured her shoulder bag. He unfastened his belt, freeing himself from the parachute, and then began to rise toward the surface.
Upon reaching the surface, he pulled out the rubber boat from the shoulder bag.
When he regained consciousness, an overwhelming exhaustion weighed on him. For a long time, he had no desire to move, let alone lift his head. Slowly, awareness returned.
Then, he heard a sound—like a loud television broadcast. Suddenly, something clicked in his memory. With great effort, he lifted his head, feeling as if it weighed a ton. Struggling, he pushed himself up with his hands.
As he sat on the carpet, dizziness overwhelmed him, and darkness clouded his vision.
He steadied himself for a long time. Then, crawling like a horse, he barely managed to get onto his knees. Using the wall for support, he moved from the back room to the front.
At the bar counter, he grabbed a sealed brandy bottle and a glass before collapsing onto the sofa. He struggled to place the glass down and exerted so much effort to open the bottle that it felt like uprooting a pole.
Gripping the bottle with both hands, he poured brandy into the glass, spilling some onto the table. He barely managed to fill half the glass. Setting the bottle down, he lifted the glass to his lips and took a long sip.
As the warm brandy coursed through him, some strength returned. He then focused on the television. It was broadcasting news, though he didn't know from when.
The news anchor was saying, "Breaking news: According to recent reports, industrialist Seth Oberoi's chartered plane lost control due to a malfunction and crashed into a rock. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the explosion, leaving no trace of the passengers.
"The passengers included Dr. Vasudev, a nurse, the injured Seth Oberoi, his son, air hostess Julie, and both pilots. Their bodies have not been recovered, as the wreckage was reduced to ashes.
"Seth Oberoi, who was fighting for his life this afternoon after a severe car accident due to brake failure, was being transported to Houston in his chartered plane by his son-in-law. He was a major industrialist."
A sudden, intense rage flashed across the man's face. Ignoring the news, he reached for the telephone, picked up the receiver, and pressed a button.
A few seconds later, a woman's voice came through, "Yes, please…?"
"Is this room number 785? Connect me to Bombay immediately—within thirty seconds."