CAUGHT AND ESCAPED
Guru was anxious as well as excited as he hurried out of the quarters. Mohan had confirmed that the packets he had nicked were indeed those containing drugs - marijuana to be precise - and had praised him generously. The pride and satisfaction Guru was feeling at that instant was enough to reaffirm his passion towards his job and to make him desperate for fingerprints.
As he entered the main road, someone called his name. He stopped and turned around. It was Nirvesh himself!
“Guru, will you come to our hostel for a minute?” He asked politely.
Guru wondered why he was being called, but didn’t show the confusion on his face. He just nodded in agreement and followed Nirvesh.
“I’m sorry Guru, I know it is lunch hour. But we need you right now. As soon as our job is done, you can go back.” Nirvesh assured him as they entered the men’s hostel.
“They just need me for some trivial chore.” Guru thought and relaxed.
But, as soon as they entered a lonely corridor, Nirvesh caught hold of him and pressed him against the wall. His friends emerged from the nearby room and surrounded them both.
“Where are the packets you nicked today morning?” Nirvesh asked in a chilling tone.
Guru was shocked by the sudden attack and didn’t know what to do. He tried his best to speak, but words failed him as Nirvesh’s chilling gaze scrutinized his face. He looked menacing and his grip was rather strong.
“Oh, no! They’ve cornered me quite tactfully. What do I tell them? How do I escape? Please God, show me a way!” he prayed desperately.
“We know it was you who cleaned the water purifier in the common room today. Speak up!” Nirvesh shouted and shook Guru harshly
“I won’t stand a chance against these people if I infuriate them. I should somehow spin a believable lie, escape and alert Bhayya.” Guru thought as common sense slowly drifted back to his frightened mind.
“It’s not with me!” Guru shouted back.
“Did you sell it to someone, then?” Nirvesh’s right hand, the bulky six feet six inches guy came in front and inquired.
“Yes. To my friend who needed it.” Guru said quickly, inwardly thanking Bulky for providing him with a reasonable lie.
“I know his friend. It’s his roommate, that gardener, isn’t he?” Another tall, but skinny guy from the group asked.
A million thoughts were going through Guru’s mind right then.
“What do I do? If I tell Bhayya’s name, maybe I can escape now. But won’t they hunt Bhayya? If they decide to attack us within this campus, then we both will doomed.” he thought anxiously
“So that’s how things are. Then you need not worry. We are only happy to welcome another one into our group, be it a gardener or a student.” Nirvesh said and relinquished his hold on Guru.
“Tell him to meet us today in my room at sharp nine.” Nirvesh said while straightening Guru’s creased collar.
“What about the stuff he stole?” Skinny interjected.
“How much was it worth?” Nirvesh asked his gang.
“Just about a hundred rupees. It was marijuana only, not cocaine.” Bulky replied.
“Then tell your friend to bring thousand rupees for using our stuff without permission. Bring more if he intend to buy some new stuff.” Nirvesh commanded.
“So they are letting me go. Thank God! I will inform Bhayya immediately and then, we will leave the place before nine at night.” Guru decided.
“Go now.” Nirvesh nudged him towards the exit.
Nirvesh’s order startled him. He hastened out of the place in a minute and hurried to reach Mohan and tell him all that has happened in such a short span of time.
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Megha and Mohan soon hurried past the entertainment room. The men inside had their eyes glued to the TV and didn't even notice them walking past. Mohan felt sure nothing else would hamper their little adventure, but he was wrong.
As they were about to exit through the main entrance hall, the 'real' Guru barraged in. In his hurry, he collided with Megha and her hanky fell down.
Both stared at each other for a moment and then, in unison, turned their gaze to Mohan: Megha's terrified and Guru's questioning.
"Trust Guru to pick up the worst timing for his first meeting with Megha." Mohan thought and let out an exasperated sigh.
He bent down, retrieved his hanky and thrusted it back into Megha's hand.
"Arrey yaar, this is only Guru - my assistant." He assured Megha. She recovered from the shock, covered her face again and stood there observing Guru from behind the hanky.
"And Guru, this is Megha Vyas - you know who she is." Mohan left the introduction vague, but Guru's eyes lit up with recognition.
"So this is your Miss Spitfire!" He exclaimed, grinning excitedly at Megha.
Megha's questioning eyes peeped out from behind the hanky and Mohan sighed again.
"I'll explain later but right now, we need to get you out from here before someone else notices." he said and caught hold of her hand again.
He turned to Guru, who was still grinning at the pair.
"Guru, I want you to obey without any resistance what I'm about to say. Hide your face with your cap, hanky or hands whatever, hurry inside our room and lock it. Don't answer if anyone calls you, open only when I come. I'll explain everything later." He said in a serious tone.
"Ok Bhayya." He said in an equally serious note and scampered off.
"Come on." Mohan tugged Megha's hand again and they hurried out of the building into the main road. Mohan looked around and seeing no one else in the vicinity, released her hand and pulled down her hood.
"If anyone asks why you are wearing sweatshirt, tell them you were having fever and was coming back from health centre." He instructed.
"Okay." Megha replied and stood there, looking up at him.
"Go now." Mohan urged.
"Don't forget to visit Nanhi during evening at the park. And come prepared with an explanation for naming me Miss Spitfire." She said in a mock-serious tone, turned around and hurried off.
"Yes Ma'am." He called back with a chuckle.
***********************************
Mohan knocked in their pre-planned manner and Guru opened the door immediately. Mohan expected a barrage of questions and teasing from Guru as he crossed the threshold and closed the door. What Guru said was completely unexpected and it took him by surprise.
Mohan didn’t expect Nirvesh and his gang to be this much cunning. He didn’t particularly look forward to a meeting with them but now, it seemed unavoidable. As he was thinking about how to convince the gang that he was indeed a drug user, Guru spoke again:
“We have got the fingerprints on the packets, haven’t we? And we have those old video recordings also. Let us go now, Bhayya. Let us get out of this college. The police can collect the original ones and arrest the guilty.” Guru suggested.
Mohan was taken aback by the pleading note in Guru’s voice.
“Are you afraid, Guru?” Mohan asked curiously.
Guru was visibly startled by the question. He began adamantly shaking his head, but finally, accepted defeat in front of Mohan’s piercing gaze and nodded.
Mohan felt a rush of affection for the young journalist.
“Just as I expected. He may be intelligent and cunning, but is still a young one who just joined this job this year and hence, has got no experience in this field. I should be a support and pillar of strength for him right now” Mohan thought compassionately.
He went and sat near him on the bed.
“Do you trust my experience and my abilities, Guru?” he asked again.
“Of course Bhayya.” He looked up and answered readily.
“Then cast away your worries. Just do as I say. We are not going anywhere. I’ll go to meet them at night and you’ll wait for me , hidden, somewhere outside the hostel.” He said.
“But Bhayya.... Is it necessary?” Guru asked in a small voice, his eyes pleading.
“Journalism is a very demanding profession, Guru. We should never limit ourselves to just what is necessary, for such things could turn out to be completely useless later. We should always try to attain as much as possible. Never be satisfied with just a few; always strive for perfection.” Mohan advised calmly.
“But, what if you or I get caught?” Guru asked with hesitation.
“This is your first time doing such a case, isn’t it?” Mohan asked.
Guru nodded without looking up at him.
“It’s alright to be afraid Guru. Fear originates because we are aware of the danger we could fall into. So, in a twisted way, fear is sort of good. I’m not saying that recklessness is a bad thing.” Mohan said, thinking about the recklessness displayed that day itself by Megha.
As he felt his mind starting to wander, he shook off those thoughts and focused on the confused young journalist in front of him.
“But in our case, we should be careful and not reckless. It is the fear which could make us more careful. So, it is sort of okay to be afraid.” Mohan assured him and patted him on the back slowly.
Guru was yet to reply and hence, Mohan decided to try a different approach.
“We have come this far, Guru. We shouldn’t disappoint Prateek Sir, our families and all those people out there who deserve to know the truth. Just like it is the duty of a police man to maintain law and order, it is our duty to bring the truth in front of the society. Are you with me in this mission?” Mohan asked intensely.
The mention of family seemed to have done the trick. Guru slowly raised his face and looked back at him. This time, his eyes were not clouded with fear or confusion: they were burning with optimism and the passion for his job.
“Yes, Bhayyya. I’m in.” Guru replied bravely.
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