*Three months later*
"According to new information,
Mr. Reyansh Rathore has been found not guilty of the murder charges. All
accusations against him have been
thoroughly investigated and cleared.
Mr. Reyansh Rathore has been released f
rom incarceration, and he has received a formal apology from the FBI agent involved in the case. We trust that justice has been served.
This has also seen an increase in the stock price of Rathore Inc."
Switching off the TV, I silenced the relentless ring of that irritating reporter who once targeted me. The hypocrisy of the media was on full display, a reminder to always seek out the truth amidst the noise.
I throw my head back on the headrest, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, loneliness hiting me.
This is what I've dreamt to become.
A man with power.
The sacrifices I've given, now feels like a rotten flower.
My sister once asked me, what I've sacrificed? My darling,
Myself
A man whose mother regrets giving birth too, a man walking with a line of enemies, a man in love, whose lover ran the moment his self came in light.
A pearl of laughter leaves my mouth.
18hours Ago
The black and grey wall, has become my daily view. Every where my eyes went, the same colour repeated itself.
The suffocation was too much, to avoid. Since three months, I have been waking up to the dull color, depicting my life.
I twist the knife in my between my fingers, the sharp edge touching my hard calloused fingers. The sharpness gleaming in the darkness. The same darkness where I had built my home.
My comfort-zone, my mask, my protection.
Missing. What does this term really mean?
It's a term that resonates with the lifeless, empty walls that surround me. They've never known the touch of fresh paint and have been left to deteriorate, covered in dust. They exude a sense of desperation, much like inanimate objects left outside in the unforgiving, frosty winter, longing for even the slightest sound.
I blink the hazy image of her, empowering in my sense.
I sit up, drawing the attention of the hefty jailer sitting in the corner, perched on a wooden chair. His eyes scrutinize me, fear evident in his deep, dark irises. A sly smirk creeps across my face, inviting a sharp hiss. My finger reaches to touch the busted corner of the lip, which has been the result of a small fight.
The guy whose nose I busted early in the morning turned out to be his buddy, a scrawny guy who must've thought he could take me on with his meager six-inch physique. One solid punch to his nose sent him sprawling to the ground. I rose to my feet, rolling my shoulder and twisting my neck to enjoy that satisfying crack of bones.
My every move was being observed by the watchful hawk, his eyes wide, posture rigid, although his pot belly made him resemble a soggy tomato.
It's time. I whisper under my breath.
I reach for the pocket knife, which I have hidden when Vedant break into the jail, disguised as an officer. I made my way towards the cell bars, giving the door a solid kick that sent vibrations through the rusty, foul-smelling air. My erratic behavior rattled the guard, forcing him to step up, take a step back, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Open it." I order.
"No." He shook his head in reluctance, torn between running to his superior to complain or standing his ground. Eventually, he chose to stay, a decision he would surely regret.
The jailer inhales a breath, calling out, "Stay where you are."
I clenched my teeth together, retorting, "If you want your dead to be painful, just say the word. No need to test my patience. Besides, my muscles are itching for some action. Isn't morning chaos enough of a reminder for you to open this fucking gate." I cracked my knuckles for emphasis.
He laughs, displaying his red yellow teeth, "How are you going to do so?" His hands rested on his waist.
"Like this." And the next moment he was kissing the ground, a grunt escaping his mouth.
"Vedansh you should've been careful, he is pregnant." My eyes narrow at my brother, who innocently gaze at me, not making it obvious that he kicked the butt of a pregnant man.
"Get up and open the door," Vedant commanded, gripping the jailer's hair to make him stand shakily. "This is not right," the jailer stammered, shaking his head and closing his eyes when he met my deadly stare. I massaged my forehead, my fingers curling around the bars in frustration.
"Leave it," Vedansh shakes his head, shoving the nozzle of the gun in his mouth, silencing the dying speaker. He takes out a bunch of keys from his pants pocket, throwing towards Vedant.
"The tenth one." I reply, stopping my idiotic brother, who was going to try every key in the lock until it opens. He looks at me, smiles a sheepish one, and unlocking the door. I cross the threshold of the jail room, marching towards the fucker, and blowing my knuckle right against his jaw. He groans, couching out blood.
"This is wrong." I mutter, his body moving in wooziness, before plastering itself on the ground.
Throwing a last glance at his body, I move out, both of them following me.
"Everything is taken care of?" I inquire. Yess, I'm flying from jail. I move in a shabby area, which is termed as a washroom, stripping away from the dirty cloth.
"There were three guards at the back, two at the entry in the building, everyone is knocked down. The head is tied against the tree." Vedansh fills me, following me close behind. I forward my hand before him. Taking it as indication, he gives me my lighter and cigarette. I take out one stick, lighting the red cherry, in the cold of the night. The drug calms down my nerve, kicking back the memory gushing back as soon as I step out in the air.
I blew a breath, my eyes fixate on the night sky, which I've been seeing after three months. The heavy air, causing me difficulty in breathing.
"Where is the Officer?" I took a blow from it, letting the smoke out, dissolve in the cold air of the night.
"He is tied to the tree."
Now, it'll be fun. We walk to the open space, the banyan tree, welcoming us, with a pleasurable sight, spreading my burning wound in deep sleep.
"What happened, Falkun?" I connect my gaze with the shivering figure of the fair skinned, middle aged man, sweat coating his face. Even the darkness, didn't masked the creeping fear gripping his face. I let the cigarette fall on the ground, stomping on the red burning tip of the bud, extinguishing it.
"What did you told me?" I roll my lips between my teeth, "That how you'll watch me rot there." I point my finger at huge building termed prison. Digging my nails, on his jaw, I made him look in my eyes.
"See, who is rotting." I hick my knees hitting him straight where it hurts the most, straight at his pennies. He screams in pain, and swear it was music. "It's me who decides, how the dice of my life plays." I whisper in his ears.
"You'll pay for it, Reyansh Rathore." His eyes leak tears, whetting his cheeks. A cruel smile, etches my face, "Don't worry about me, hell is my home, if anything worry, about your family."
I gesture him to look at the laptop screen.
His face palpable, color wipes out from is making him look pale. "Please, don't do anything with them. They are innocent, hurt me as much as you want but leave them out of this."
"Wanna see firework."
He shakes his head, and I click the button on the controller. His whole house blows away, sparkling, burning in fire.
Falkun, screams out in agony, watching the pillar of his house, built with corruption money, dazzling in flames in the dark night.
"Stop screaming." I said, twisting my fingers in my ears.
"You bastard-" I kicked his shin, silencing him.
"Here, I saved your family from burning in that house and look how you're returning my favour. Good heart suffers a cruel death in this world." I jest, looking at him.
"They are safe?" Hope sparkles in his eyes, and I fucking despise the site.
I take out the knife, the sharp point, fixed right before his eyes, "Not for long. If you you know what you need to do."
His eyes enlarge, before clenching them shut when I bring the knife nearer to his eyes, "It's difficult. Every evidence is against you."
"Then watch them burn." I shrug my shoulder.
"No, please. How am I supposed to do it." He cries out.
"Don't act like fool. Not atleast before me, when we both are aware how corrupted our system is. It's not like, I am talking with a new player. Just like the way you took money from Rishabh Malhotra to get me inside, I hope it's not that difficult for you to take me out."
"How..how did you know?" Bewilderment flashes on him.
"Oh, first of all, why was I inside the prison for three months." I question him.
"For murdering."
"Nope," I click my tongue in disappointment, "Because I got jealous enemies. Because I have power, and to keep themselves protected, they decide why not put me in cage. Poor them. They got succeeded in putting me in jail, but here comes the twist. They don't know, it's me who made it turn so easy. It's me who decide whether I will go or not. It is me, who decides when to come out. Just the fact is, we all are in delusion."
"You mean you could've come out earlier than intended. Then why did you wait for three months."
I grab his throat, pressuring on his veins, "What did I told you about delusion? Well, you serve as a perfect example. What makes you think I will tell you."
His face turns slightly blue, with the "Let me go, please." He begs, his snort coming from his nose, mixing with his tears.
"I also don't intend to keep you here, for longer, because that meant delaying in my bail." I trace the knife on his face, "Listen up, and hear me for good. I want you to destroy every proof you got up in your ass, regarding me, and clear my name from all the scandal you created. If you dare going against my words, get yourself ready to lift your family dead body. Am I clear?"
He nods his furiously. "Understood?" I call out.
"Yess." He mule out in desperation.
"Vedant, leave him." As soon as the rope looses from his body, the sniveling fucker falls on his knees, coaches a breath, with a final nod thrown at my way, scurry out.
"Bhai, let go home." I don't turn around, my back still faced them, my gaze focused on the running figure of Fulkan, till it disappeared in darkness.
"I am not going. I need my mind out." I need some relief, from what I don't know, but I need one. I just need the thoughts, to be muted.
"You want to go to the warehouse?"
"Naah! Car keys." Vedansh hands me out the keys of the car. I move away from them, getting in the car, slamming the door close. I ignite the car, when both the doors of the car slams open.
"You are following me?" I raise my eyebrow at them, glancing at them from over my shoulder.
"Accompanying you." Vedant corrects me.
"Well, I don't think that's a perfect place, a loyal man like Vedansh should go and a sex driven hormonal challenged man like Vedant should go. I don't want to be blamed for breaking any house."
When mine has turned to ashes.
"You are going to bar."
"Why? Can't a single man like me go." I drive the car out, driving it out from its hideout, following the others just like me, driving on the highway.
"Bhai, she didn't sign the divorce paper."
I press the accelerator, driving off the speed limit. My heart thudding against my ribcage, just one mention of her, and that steel like heart gets a life, running like a mad lover.
All the memories, comes running.
I park the car, infront of a bar, loud music booming out. I climb out of the car, gazing at the opulent bar, painted with neon light, waisted teenager, depressed man going in and out. I make my way inside, the loud music deafening me.
I grab a drink, making my way to the VIP cabin, where a dancer dances on pole, women swaying their body on the beat, men finding a way to get in their pants.
Everyone is desperate.
I sip on the Martin, when a girl dressed in bodycon, catches my eye. Her brown long locks touching her waist, the tight dress kissing her curves, the red lips, the hips swaying on beat. I look away from her, when another girl, dressed in blue, jet black shoulder length hair, catches my eyes. Her eyes connect with mine, and the thing that I was looking at her, makes her smirk. She thinks I was checking her out, I's interested in her.
The blue dressed approaches me, yet I subtly gesture, causing her to pause. I gently shake my head, my cold gaze locking onto her, signaling for her to retrace her steps back. She takes a step backwards, disappearing in the crowd, muttering a curse.
Another delusion.
As the bitter liquid scorches my throat, I can't help but wonder, was my love not sufficient? She was the very air I'd grown accustomed to breathing, a major reason I'd willingly imprisoned myself for three long months. Deep down, I knew that when I finally emerged, she would have vanished, like a ghost. The truth already stings, and her actions carve painful wounds within me.
Is this the essence of love? To have your trust mercilessly shattered, rendering you incapable of standing on your own two feet. Her mere presence once breathed purpose into my life, but now I'm left contemplating where it has all led me.
Emotions flood my thoughts, and I struggle to keep them in check. This bar, with its flashing neon lights and throbbing music, offers no solace. I watch as people lose themselves in the chaos, desperately searching for something they may never find. A realization dawns on me, as I sip another drink.
Perhaps, in this sea of desires and illusions, I am not the only one drowning. We're all here, adrift in our own emotional turmoil, seeking refuge in temporary distractions.
I take another sip, the harsh taste a bitter reminder of the pain I carry. Maybe this bar can't mend my broken heart, but it's a temporary escape from the harsh reality that love can be both beautiful and excruciating.
As the night wears on, I remain in that dimly lit bar, a lone figure lost in a sea of people. I grapple with the complexities of love, trust, and the scars they leave behind. The emotional storm inside me rages on, and I'm left wondering if I'll ever find the answers I seek or if I'm destined to be forever adrift in this turbulent sea of life.
I don't know when, how, who, made me reach my room, but I step in the abandoned room, which captured her smell, her smile, her face, the sound of her ghunghroo, even her laughs echoed.
I stretched my hand, to touch her, but she vanished.
I love you, Kiraz. My voice heavy in the dancing darkness.
Still she doesn't come back. Her figure remained vanished. Her light disappeared.
I move towards the balcony, lying on the cold floor, the coldness numbing in my bones, still it didn't affect me, just the voidness did.
I look up at the stary night, the stars blinking, the moon shining in its full glory. Even today she is complete. But my darkness has no light, I am incomplete.
I waited, in that cold cell, for her to return. If I'd been out, I would've rampaged the world and searched for her, making her once again forcefully stay beside me, make her hate me more.
So I locked myself, and waited, passed the painful 2160hours, my eyes dried but she doesn't return.
Now, I only wish I don't end up hating her, because I know rest of the hours coming, her presence will be not there. There is a thin line between love and hate.
A future without her, kills me thousands times.
But the creeping hate, burns me alive.
I turn on my side, my fingers tracing the place, the exact spot where I made love to her.
"Happy Anniversary, my lady."
I slept in coldness, still waiting to hear the same wishes to be whispered back.
•~•~•~•
This scene starts from the time when Reyansh was arrested.
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Published: 5Nov, 2023.