“No need for that anger amigo! I am your friendly ex-owner.”
He didn’t care about my bullshit and jumped on me. Somehow, the dogs hated me too. What a life!
WOOF!
Everything was a blur. I loved dogs, but this one was intent on killing me first. I couldn’t hit him even if I wanted to. That’s how much I loved them. I could see an outline of the dog jumping towards me.
“DAMNNNN!!!!”
I expected the dog’s jaw around my leg squeezing the life out of it, but what happened was unexpected. I could hear a whimper and some cute noises.
“Woof,” he barked lovingly.
I took out my flashlight and shined the light towards the mysterious four-legged attacker. My heart melted as soon as I saw the cute little furry face. There was a young brown dog, with the cutest eyes, and an elegant tail. He looked energetic and playful.
“Who is the young, handsome fellow here?”
“Woof! Woof!”
“Hey kid, you scared me for a second back there.”
He stood up on his hind legs and rested his little front paws on me. I kissed him and ruffled his furry coat. I looked around me and saw a twig lying there.
“Wanna play mister?”
With a little force, I threw the twig a little far away. He quickly jumped into action and raced to retrieve it. Once he caught it in his mouth, I called him back.
“Come on, kid!”
He raced towards me with all his energy. He looked so cute running in the night. Once he reached near me, I spread my arms to hug him, but he didn’t stop and kept racing ahead running past my legs. I knew only one other dog who did this. Could it be possible?
“Dino! Is that you?”
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” he barked in agreement with his little tail wagging like a table fan.
“Oh kid, I missed you so much. Show me your paw.”
I looked at his front paw, and there was a mark which was similar to when he was injured. The doctor had said that it would disappear eventually, but there were still traces of it. I started kissing him uncontrollably. He was like family to me, perhaps the last one of them. I had tears of joy in my eyes. I had let him down so much just like every other who was close to me.
“I am sorry Dino.”
He kept wagging his tail and started licking my face. I didn’t stop him. I finally felt at peace after so long. I started walking ahead and felt as if I stepped on something. It was something silvery which glinted in the darkness of the night.
“Is this yours, Dino?” I asked patting him on his back.
I kept it in my pocket inside. I snapped my fingers, and Dino was ecstatic. I remembered him jumping all around whenever he heard this sound.
“You are the best dog ever Dino. I love you!!”
I came back to Dino who was suddenly whining now, scratching his neck. I sat in front of him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
I found the source hurting his skin was the broken locket on his neck. “Oh, don’t you worry, this won’t hurt you now,” I said, and pulled the locket off his neck slowly.
I noticed that the hinges on the half of the pendant didn’t look like they were broken. It had a rectangular slot in the middle where something could be inserted. I remembered keeping the other half in my pocket. I took it out, and it had the same size of protruding metal. I didn’t think at first and quickly inserted it into the slot, and it fit in nicely, creating a whole red heart.
Dino watched me eagerly as I dabbled with that pendant. Then it hit me. How could I have been so stupid? I pulled it apart once again and immediately recognized the protruding metal. It held a USB. This was a heart-shaped flash drive.
I put it together again, and looked curiously at my dog, “What are you doing with a flash drive, bud? Will I find photos of some ladies in here?”
He barked, “Woof!” and I laughed, setting down the flash drive on the floor beside me, and picking him up. I rested him down on my lap and ruffled his fur. I said to him, “I am really sorry for not being there with you, bud. I can’t imagine how it must have been, and to think that if I hadn’t heard the news. I looked at Dino, and said, “I really mean it bud, when I say that my heart is a part of this place.”
It all happened in a flash of images and memories.
I saw the message ‘Follow Your Heart’ written on a sheet of paper.
Then there was Ajeet’s voice, echoing, “Arjun, you are fucked. Don’t make matters worse for you. You are already caught up in enough shit. Just hand over the flash drive to me, and you still could salvage your life.”
Tia, and me in conversation,
“The bastard ran away. I tried so hard, but couldn’t get him, but I did get something, he mentioned a flash drive.”
“What flash drive?” she asked.
“Beats me. Another open-ended clue, but I bet this has got to be something Aditi was investigating.”
Zayed’s voice saying, “Where is the flash drive?” then after that asking with a puzzled face, “There was no flash drive at her house?”
Then in the SUV, he said, “Your sister told me about all your shenanigans. I believe the Mirzapur happenings had caused her death, but I could be wrong. Regarding the flash drive, we should proceed with –”
Then the big truck hit us which jerked me off a little, and I saw Dino’s locket falling into nothingness in front of me, the heart pendant revolving around slowly with my words to Dino again, echoing aloud this time, “I really mean it bud, when I say that my heart is a part of this place."
I finally snapped out of it, and quickly looked to my right. Dino was holding the heart flash drive between his teeth, wondering why I had looked sharply towards him.
“Oh, Bhen-”
“WOOF!” he dropped the drive onto the floor.
I picked it up and looked at it. Then, I got up and looked at the innocent dog.
I scoffed, and said, “Huh! You had THE flash drive? The one that people are ready to kill for? The one which people got killed for! Wow!”
~*~
“Hello, and welcome you all to Rita ki Report. This is our election special, and we have quite a segment planned ahead for you. Firstly, the Delhiites have announced their result in a roaring fashion. The results of the recently held State Elections are out, and the result is clear. Almost 95% of the votes favor Devraj. It is a landslide victory for India Political Party and the new Chief Minister of Delhi will be none other than the Lion himself – Devraj.”
Rita was over the moon after Devraj’s victory. She had hoped and prayed for this day, and finally, it had happened.
“Our guests tonight are none other than the men of the moment – Devraj and Satyendra Singh. Let’s get on with the rest of the show ahead. Devraj Ji, congratulations on the unanimous victory. It looks like you connected with the public and the result is in front of everyone’s face.”
“Dhanyawaad Rita Ji, I would first like to thank all the people that believed in our principles and voted for our party. We would not disappoint the faith you have shown towards us, and I promise you that the capital of our country would be in a much better place than before–”
Satyendra intervened in between. He knew that he was the weaker contestant amongst the two, but he never expected such a landslide victory.
“Devraj, we all know the lengths to which your party has gone in order to secure this election. We all have heard about the booth capturing and sabotaging the EVMs.”
“Please mind your language Satyendra, those are allegations against our party from our opposition and nothing has been proved till now,” Devraj barked at him.
“We all know the truth Devraj, you have corrupted the minds of the innocents, but all those lies would be uncovered soon when they see your true face and intentions.”
Devraj laughed out aloud. “Don’t be a sore loser now. You tried but failed. There is no shame in admitting it.”
Rita had a smile plastered on her face. Heated words meant more TRP for her show. �
�Let’s not carry on with the negativity here. Devraj Ji, what are your plans ahead?”
“Very nice question indeed. I have planned for everything. After my swearing-in ceremony, I have a huge fundraiser event planned which will take India to the top. I have been working with Delta Solutions, and I believe this is our best work yet.”
Rita nodded. “About that fundraiser, where is it happening, and will it be available to the common people?”
“This will be held in Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel at Connaught Place, and it will be broadcasted to the common people later on as only VIPs and businessmen are invited.”
“What can all of us expect from this fundraiser?” Rita asked him.
“Something that will be totally unexpected. We all need guardian angels in our lives to look after us. I will make it a reality.”
“And what about Arjun and his menace?”
“I believe my announcement will make it clear for all the convicts that they have a very short shelf life, and I have a special surprise for Arjun as well.”
Rita turned her attention towards Satyendra. “What about you Sir, what have you planned now?”
However, it was the soon to be CM of Delhi who interjected. “What is left now? He will accept his defeat, and enjoy witnessing the golden years of the politics.”
Satyendra looked pissed off. “I can say for myself. Firstly, I would like the Election Commission to investigate the voting held in different parts of the city. If nothing fishy is found, we would be proceeding ahead accordingly.”
“Arre Satyendra, you can rest now. You have aged gracefully; it’s time for us to take over the reins. I bet that the Election Commission won’t find anything wrong in the whole election process.”
Rita suppressed her laugh. “That’s all the time we have here right now. I will come tomorrow with different news that would be affecting the entire nation. Congratulations Devraj Ji once again. This is Rita signing off for now.”
~*~
I parked inside the junkyard and quickly rushed inside the bunker to get the flash drive secured.
A few moments later, there was a loud clank and crash outside which seemed like a small junk landslide.
I came outside and looked around. I saw the big broken TV which had fallen from the big pile on my left and smiled. I turned to my right and circled the whole building around. When I started to turn to reach the left side of the building, I crouched down. I saw a medium-built guy on the left side, his right shoulder fixed to the wall, trying to get a look at the entrance.
I sneaked up to him and jabbed my kneecap in his groin. He gasped, and fell on his knees, holding his groin. I grabbed his neck in a choke hold, and he gasped for air. His cell phone rang.
“Oh, you can’t take that, can you?” I said, “Let me do it, it must be important.”
I put my left hand forward, and freeing one hand, he took the phone out of his jacket pocket and handed to me. I saw the caller ID, ‘Ajeet Sir’, and laughed.
I picked it up, and said out loud, “Ajeet Sir!”
“Who the fuck is this?” Ajeet barked.
“Kaisa hai mere Bhai?” I continued, “Heard you joined back a week ago, bastard. I was happy for you. You could have asked to meet. We could have celebrated the irony of our capital where a cold-blooded killer just waltzes right back into business after taking a vacation post-killing.”
“Arjun,” he replied at the other end.
“Yeah, instead of that, you send your paid pig to greet me. Tell me Ajeet, are you paying him well? You know what, I think he deserves more. After a week of his hard ass work, he is even getting his life sucked out by me.”
Ajeet slammed his fist onto the table, saying “DAMN IT!” Ajeet had hired the best to gain the flash drive from Arjun. However, even his best has failed him.
“Did you really think that I would not figure out any move that you make?” I asked Ajeet.
“I will destroy you!” Ajeet’s voice filled with anger.
“Okay, from what I know of this predicament, I believe that you can’t. You need the flash drive, don’t you? You are still following up on that mission on which the top dogs count on you. You know what, I do have it, just got it today right on time.”
“You wanna meet, get face to face with your doom? Fine!” Ajeet said firmly.
“Oh, you are in a dilemma. You don’t want to meet me, but you have to because of the drive,” I replied. “Because what would they feel about you, if you were so close, and you couldn’t get it. Maybe that you are useless to them.”
“How do I know that you are not bluffing?”
“You don’t, but you are lucky that I want to meet you badly too so you can find out.”
“I will text you the address, we can settle it then,” he hung up.
TITAN
Ajeet’s guy was unconscious by the time I was done with the call.
I picked up the guy’s body and dumped him in the back of a van. I shut the back door of the van and came back in front of the armory. I needed supplies.
I found a label titled ‘Ratnik body armor’ on a box and took out one set to wear. I knew that I was a little bit out of my game, and that is why I didn’t want myself to be in a weak position. The armor was at least six to seven kilos. It was really hardcore stuff, something I hadn’t tried before. The armor that I had tried in police work had been about four kilos of a Kevlar vest. This one came off as very heavy as I wore it, but I thought I might grow into it.
The very next on my list were guns. I shortlisted a couple of rifles along with the SCAR which I threw in the back of my van, and a Smith & Wesson .500 Magnum for the back of my jeans. I locked the armory with a new lock when I felt satisfied.
I still felt baggage inside me when I left from there to my next destination. I kept looking sideways towards the passenger seat, where my revolver lay. I couldn’t believe that I will probably kill one of my best friends today, all because of the shit storm he got himself into.
I believed in Ajeet more than anybody ever. He used to take shit from the world as long as I knew him. People used to tease him in college and at his workplace. That stuff used to get to his mind, and he used to make mistakes for which he took more heat, but I always believed in the good in him and made others do it too.
It surprised me why he didn’t have many friends in college because when I started talking to him, I got to know that he was a very good kid. He was very shy and introvert, but he opened up in our group, and eventually started the same with other people. I knew that I had done well with him when the boy made more friends, and people started trusting him more and teasing him less.
We were all very supportive as well and cared for him in his troubled times during the gang threats, and the OD case of the girl in our colony, but I didn’t notice his obsession towards Aditi ever. His words still echoed in my head sometimes. That call was the worst, the pain she had to endure; the torture that he inflicted on her-
“If it were me, I would have saved you. Arjun never cared for you, but I did. I loved you from the moment I saw you in college. The second I set my eyes on you, I was ready to make you mine. I tried to tell you, but he stole the show every fucking time. I followed you, waiting for you to be alone, but if I gave up a dime for every time you were with him, I would be poor as shit. That asshole ruined everything for me. I had to make do with the photos I took of you, from which I had to cut him off from you in more than half of them.”
I was breathing heavily, clutching the steering. I turned left and entered the Najafgarh road along the blue line metro which would take me straight to Dwarka. Some abandoned construction site was there where Ajeet wanted to meet.
My phone rang showing an unknown number. I picked it up but didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Arjun!” Tia’s voice whispered from the other side.
“Tia? Wha-? Why are you calling so suddenly? Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes, yes, I am fine. Everything turned out well here. Listen
, I don’t have much time to talk. I just wanted to tell you that I tried digging up some more on Delta, but didn’t find much except the fact that most of their work is highly classified. Can you tell me that under which particular branch did Shikha worked there?”
“She was the head of their research division in biogenetics, but this was a very broad picture as per her words, and she didn’t divulge much because it was highly classified. She used to say that Delta is very strict about these things.”
I gave a pause, then said to her, “Tia, do you realize how dangerous it is for you to still get involved?”
“But-” she started, but I interrupted her, and said, “Listen to me, you have got a fresh start, and I am really happy for that. I might not get that, but I will feel content that you are living your life in the company of someone who really cares for you. If you still get involved in this mess right after you are in the clear, you could get into trouble again. Please, Tia, do it for me. Move on, so I can be free of any worry, and finish what I have started.”
She paused for a moment, then said, “So this is goodbye then?”
“Never say goodbye,” I smiled, and the call disconnected.
It had started to appear that I was finally getting some answers, though most of them came ready to pop up more questions. It was becoming very confusing what had Aditi uncovered about Delta Solutions, and the contents of the flash drive which had got her killed. Were they both somehow linked? Did Shikha know about it? She would have told me definitely if Aditi had ever got in touch with her regarding something suspicious. Adding to that, there were some pretty powerful people in the picture as well who had somehow made a good cop like Ajeet turn, and made him do their bidding. They even wanted me to be put in prison for everything that I didn’t do.
No, I refused to believe that the upper management of our police department was corrupt. I had met with our commissioner and deputy commissioner in my career and both are good and honest men who had put themselves in the line of danger multiple times to do their duty. I was hoping to get some answers from Ajeet now.
Death and Dishonor Page 25