Vodka on the rocks

Part - 2

Raghav felt a puch land on his stomach winding him up temporarily but could feel Pallavi's curious gaze on him.

What was the mad woman doing? Why was she still here?

"I.. didn't sell you out... you moron! I warned you.. several times.. I told you.. we are not selling drugs.. we don't do that.... custom evasion was okay... but the rest.... I won't allow.."

"Who were you..to allow? We were partners goddamit! You weren't the owner... you liked her didn't you! You wanted her... so you sold us out!!! You.."

What was he telling? Someone from Raghav's past? A woman... whom apparently she reminds him of? Huh?

He caught Raghav by the neck locking one of his leg and pulled his head back against his chest restricting his breath. He was strangling him. Raghav saw purple spots dancing in front of his eyes as he desperately tried to throw him off. Ved was still shouting.

"This woman! Pallavi Deshmukh... so much like her isn't she.. the same fire in her eyes, that same goddamn altruism. Haan! So predictable brother! Falling in the same pattern aren't you? You ruined me and you got her killed. Wonder how you live with yourself you a**hole! I.."

Suddenly Ved howled and rolled off in the floor clutching his head in pain as Raghav fell face first on the ground heaving and coughing as blessed air got forced into his almost crushed trachea. He lifted his head up and blearily saw Pallavi standing with a smashed porceline jug in her hand looking wildly at Ved.

"Good job."

He whispered hoarsely and took her help in lifting himself up. But before he could do anything Ved was up again and might have lunged at his throat again had Pallavi not punched him squarely on the jaw coming in front of him. Ved felt his face being thrown back at her sheer force and Pallavi didn't take a minute to kick him in the groin which made him kiss the marble tiles yet again.

"And stand down.. you jerk. I had work to do. But you had to come and play villain of the week, tonight itself! Raghav..please tell me the time when you will be free from your appointments with scoundrels then I'll time my visits accordingly, samazla! I swear there is no peace in my life!"

She spun around facing a now increasingly nervous looking Raghav who was still gasping for air leaning against the pillar like a weed. Ved looked up wild eyed to meet his estranged friends gaze who had his fearful eyes fixed on a volcanic Pallavi.

"Yeah.. that's definitely her..."

Ved whispered painfully and managed to stand up when the police came thundering in. Ved broke into a run as the Inspector screamed at him to stop or he'll shoot. Pallavi moved away in the nick of time stumbling over her saree on the floor and landing on her a** on the centre table.

"Don't shoot! Swamy no!!!! Wait!!!!"

Raghav's frantic voice bewildered Pallavi as she nursed her little bruised bum with a hand and her not so little bruised ego. Swamy equally confused pulled the trigger in shock and Raghav leaped in front of Ved and tripped over the same saree resulting in the bullet hitting his shoulder instead of Ved's back.

"Raghav!!!"

"Sir!!!"

"Anna!!!"

And a few more shots resounded in the air. Pallavi ran towards him and cradled him against herself frantically. The blood spilled everywhere. On his checkered red shirt and her yellow saree painting everything a rich maroon. She heard the Inspector named Swamy and probably Farhad and Harish come close. She turned back for a glance and saw Ved Pillai standing there like a granite statue. A split second but she thought saw something soft in his eyes before he leaped away as some of the policemen ran behind him.