by Amit Khan
Tilak sprinkled some water on Brinda’s face.
I went to the foot end of her bed.
It was necessary to give her warmth. I started rubbing her soles vigorously.
“Little harder,” Tilak said.
I added more effort in warming her soles and palms by rubbing.
Tilak joined me in the effort by rubbing her palms.
After some time, it showed a positive result. Brinda was coming back to senses.
She slowly opened her eyes. Then she stared with into a vacuum listlessly.
Her face was ashen-white. Her eyes looked lifeless. Her gaze was of confusion and disorientation as she looked at me and Tilak alternately.
“What happened to me?” Brinda asked weakly. Her words hardly carried no force in them.
“Nothing,” Tilak said. “Nothing happened.”
“But…”
“Just try to sleep. You are tired.”
Brinda didn’t believe him. She looked at me suspiciously.
“Shinaya, you tell me, what happened?”
I looked at Tilak. I was not sure whether I should tell her. Tilak’s face wasn’t suggesting anything. He just walked out of the room.
I sat beside Brinda.
The mystery of the occurrence unsettled Brinda. She wanted answers. As soon as I sat beside her, she tried to sit up.
“No,” I stopped her. “Keep lying down…you are weak.”
I said the final words firmly to stop her from trying to get up again. Her weakness was obvious. As if something had drained all the energy out of her body.
“You screamed loudly,” I explained her. “When we came rushing to your room, we found you unconscious.”
“Unconscious?”
“Yes. What happened to you?
Brinda was confused.
“I am not aware of anything,” she confessed.
“You must have felt something out of the ordinary.”
“Yes. I felt strange. Like something inside me…you know. An engorged sensation in my belly. Then I don’t remember anything.”
Brinda was trying to figure out what she had just endured. It was beyond her own comprehension.
●
Dr. Maalpani, Tilak and I; we were in drawing hall, sipping tea.
All of us were in deep thought. Tilak had called Dr. Maalpani.
“I don’t understand,’ Dr. Maalpani said.
“What?”
“This has never happened before. She has lost consciousness for the first time. Why? It is difficult to make out! And the latest blood report was showing better results. Now this sudden development! It means Brinda’s case has a new complication. We were expecting improvement and what we have is an aggravation.”
“That is exactly what worries us,” Tilak said. “We are shocked and clueless.”
We kept on sipping tea.
“When did it happen?”
“Around 2 am last night.”
“And you said that you heard a scream first,” Dr. Maalpani probed.
“Definitely,” I said, “that’s how we woke up. Otherwise we were sleeping. I ran out of my bedroom and Mr. Tilak rushed out of his. Then we ran towards Brinda’s room without wasting time.”
“Then?”
“She was unconscious when we reached there.”
“In fact, we were worried at first,” Tilak said, “that we have lost her.”
“How did you know that she is alive?”
“I checked her heartbeat.”
“Heartbeat!”
“Yes.”
Dr. Maalpani stopped sipping his tea and stared at us. As if he has realized something important. As if it was displayed on our faces!
“Which one of you thought of checking her heartbeat?”
“I did,” Tilak said.
“Hmm.”
His teacup was empty. He placed it down and started pacing the room.
His line was questioning was odd and I did not like it. In fact, he scared me for a moment. This harmless looking gentleman could prove dangerous for us, I figured.
“A few things puzzle me,” Dr. Maalpani spoke again.
“What are those?”
“I have studied many case files of this disease and none of the patients show the symptoms that Brinda is showing. So as far as my judgment is concerned, there are only two reasons behind the incident of last night.”
“Hmm?”
“Either this is a very different matter, Mr. Tilak or we are looking at a very higher category variant of this disease…whatever is the case, I will like to see Brinda now.”
“Let us go.”
We had finished our tea by then.
●
We walked into Brinda’s bedroom.
Dr. Maalpani had a serious face on ever since he had heard what happened. It worried me.
First of all, Dr. Maalpani checked her blood pressure and then used a pencil torch to check her eyes.
“Shinaya,” he turned to me and said, “Are you giving her medicines at the right time?”
“Yes.”
“Did you miss any dose?”
“No.”
Dr. Maalpani walked to the trolley of medicines and started scanning the strips of medicines.
I choked with fear.
He was a shrewd person.
I thanked God that I had enough sense at night to remove the tablet from the trolley. I had kept it with me. Otherwise, the shrewd doctor would have found out the truth in a second.
He would have known that there has been some trickery about one tablet.
“Brinda,” Dr. Maalpani turned back towards the bed. “What time did you take your medicine at night?”
“Around 10 o’clock,” I answered.
“I am not asking you,” Dr. Maalpani snapped at me. “I am asking Brinda. When I ask you only, then you answer.”
My mouth was drying fast. I needed a glass of water.
This was a completely different Dr. Maalpani we were looking at.
“She is right, doctor,’ Brinda answered softly. “It was around ten when I had my medicine.”
“Ten o’clock.”
“Yes, and I am sure about it because the countdown show on TV just got over when I was having medicine. The show ends at ten.”
“What medicines you took?”
“The regular ones.”
“Which ones?”
“Two tablets and one spoon of the syrup.”
“And then?”
“Nothing happened. I was taking rest,” Brinda remembered- “I was trying to sleep but it took some time. Later on, I slept nicely.”
“You didn’t feel anything weird inside your body after ingesting medicine?”
“No…nothing.”
“Everything was normal.”
“Yes. I screamed only when there was discomfort in my stomach. Then I don’t remember what happened.”
“And how do you feel now?”
“Almost normal,” Brinda mentioned. “Except some weakness.”
The wrinkles on Dr. Maalpani’s forehead were increasing.
He was still searching for an answer.
“Mr. Tilak,” he said, “I will be here again tomorrow. I will see you all then.”
“So, have you any idea about the reason behind last night’s emergency?”
“I am trying to reach a conclusion. I am sure I will have an answer by tomorrow.”
Dr. Maalpani left the penthouse after that.
●
9
Desperation after Disclosure
Rest of the day was busy and tense.
Tilak came to my room in evening. We were not boss and servant anymore. Our relationship had changed from formal to cordial. We were in love now. Just a man and woman in love!
“Tilak. I can sense danger from this doctor,” I hugged him and rested my head on his shoulder.
I was still scared.
The face of that doctor was flashing before my eyes again and again.
“What danger?”
“I think this doctor is going to mess up our plan. Whatever happened today clearly indicates that he is suspecting something amiss. He is not quite the gentleman he looks like! Till today he had appeared was so harmless.”
Tilak looked at me carefully.
“How can he mess up our plan?”
“Take for instance,” I expressed my fear in quivering voice. “If he finds out that we have fed Brinda Dianil tablet then our plan is over. We are finished. Did you hear what he said before leaving? He is going to reach a decision by tomorrow.”
“Easy to say, Shinaya,” Tilak said. “Not so easy to actually find out. Just think. How would he even think of Dianil tablet idea that we have used and then how will he prove that we have fed Brinda that tablet? How would he ever suspect that we are trying to murder Brinda?”
“If he somehow finds out…”
“But how?”
I had no answer.
But my heart was telling me that something was wrong. That fear was stuck inside not ready to leave my heart.
“You must stop thinking about that doctor,” Tilak caressed my hair and said. “I know that quirky doctor very well. He would cause us no trouble.”
I calmed down.
“You just plan the next step in our plan,” Tilak suggested. “That’s what you should concentrate on right now. All this has proved one thing beyond doubt.”
“What?”
“The Dianil formula that you chose as a murder weapon is perfect. Just one Dianil tablet led to such havoc. Even we are surprised.”
“Tonight I will give her two Dianil tablets.”
“Two tablets?”
“Yes.”
Tilak looked worried.
“I hope two tablets won’t be too much. Just one tablet led to such severe reaction.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured Tilak. “Two tablets are not strong enough to kill her.”
“That’s your job… to plan the dose,” Tilak said. ‘I am waiting for the day when Brinda will be no more and you will be my wife. That would be the happiest day of my life.”
“And that day is not far, I assure you, Tilak,” I embraced him and claimed. “Few more days and all our dreams will come true…every single dream!”
Clapping began suddenly…very close to us.
Loud and ceaseless clapping!
“Very good,” a voice pierced the room. “Very good. Nice plan and very well thought out too! You know even in a person with darkest of soul, there is some mercy but you! Wealth has blinded you. You are diabolic and evil without a shred of kindness and human feeling.”
●
I was shell-shocked to hear those words.
And Tilak almost let out a muffled scream. As if that voice had given him a heart attack! We separated from each other and looked in the direction of the voice.
Brinda was standing there.
Brinda!
In her never before seen livid appearance!
She was not looking sick at all. Her face was not showing any signs of illness.
“Brinda!” Tilak’s face went pale and words choked in his throat. “Why are you away from bed? You are advised complete bed rest.”
“Complete bed rest!” Brinda entered inside bedroom and said, “That complete bed rest has suited you well. It has given you a chance to have fun with other women. You are a wonderful husband, Tilak.” Brinda’s voice was getting sharper. “Wife is sick. Hmm…so what? Find a new girl friend,” she growled. “And not only that…you also made a plan to get rid of me. Very good! Wonderful!If the world has more husbands like you who are nothing but back-stabbers, then women should probably stop believing in the santicity of marriage.”
Once again Brinda started clapping loudly.
Tilak dropped his head.
Whereas I was completely numb with fear and embarrassment!
I had never imagined that Brinda will catch us red-handed like this.
“And you,” Brinda turned to me. “Shinaya Sharma. The heartthrob of hundreds of hearts. A monument of beauty! You have been a wonderful friend. You planned to kill me by feeding Dianil tablets. Well done! The plan was definitely awesome.”
“Sorry!” I lowered my head and said in a low tone. “I made a mistake.”
I was scared. I feared that Brinda, in her sprut of anger, will reveal my secret identity of call-girl.
“Not a mistake,” Brinda shrieked. “This is your nature you scum…this is your dirty blood showing its true colour! To claim something that does not belong to you; you have always done that. You are a slut…just a cheap low-lying prostitute!”
“Brinda!” I screamed.
“Don’t you shout, you bitch,” Brinda screamed louder than me. “Shouting won’t help you hide your dark secrets. You are nothing more than a call-girl in a nightclub. And both of you listen carefully.”
My god!
She did it. She revealed my real status but in such a way and at such a moment that Tilak could not understand it.
Brinda was looking like a she-devil.
Ruthless & Fearless!
“If you two think,” Brinda warned in a serious tone, “that you are going to get rid of me and then get married then stop dreaming. Your dream will never come true. I am calling police right now and will tell them about your plan.”
“Police!”
We were shocked.
“Yes. Police!”
“No…” Tilak moved towards Brinda. “You are not calling the police.”
“Stay back Tilak,” Brinda pushed him away. “You have lost your right of telling me what to do or what not to do. No one can stop me from calling the cops.”
Things were getting out of hand very fast.
I knew it in a flash. Brinda was not going to stop. After what she had just witnessed, no wife would have been in a forgiving mood.
The expected happened. Brinda turned and hurried towards her room energetically.
I was close to fainting.
“Tilak,” I shouted. “Stop her…grab her. If she calls cops, we are finished.”
Along with Tilak, I ran behind Brinda to catch her.
But!
A strange energy was surging through Brinda’s body.
Looking at her at that time- moving like a hopping deer- nobody would have accepted that she had been seriously ill for a long time. Someone who has been advised complete bed rest!
“Brinda!” Tilak shrieked. “Stop!”
She was simply flying.
Before any of us could catch her, Brinda entered her bedroom.
“Don’t be a fool, Brinda,” Tilak shouted again.
“I have already proved myself a fool…by marrying you.”
Brinda turned.
She tried to close the bedroom door after entering inside.
Tilak quickly jumped ahead and placed his foot between the door flaps.
“Back off.”
Brinda picked up a small flower pot and swung it towards Tilak’s head.
Tilak backed away screaming with pain. Flaps of the door closed noisily. Brinda locked the door from inside.
●
Brinda had locked herself inside her room.
No doubt, Brinda had blown away our plan and had got us in trouble.
All our planning had gone down the drain.
We were numb.
“Brinda,” Tilak banged at the door. “Please open the door. Don’t call the police!”
“I apologize for whatever has happened Brinda, ,” I knocked at the door too and pleaded. “I will leave this penthouse right away.”
Brinda did not budge.
We heard something inside…a noise.
“Tilak, I think she is dialing the phone,” I said. “Do something. If she makes that call…”
Tilak looked for an idea. Breaking that door was not easy. It was a strong Sheesham door. Tilak looked at a glass window.
“That’s the only way,” Tilak said. “We can break the glass and get in.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” I shouted. “Do it.”
Tilak picked up the same earthen flower pot and checked its weight.
It was heavy and strong.
Even after Brinda threw it towards him, it was not broken.
“Get aside.”
I moved away.
Tilak threw the flower pot towards the window with all his might.
The glass of window shattered with a deafening noise down. Small pieces of glass were scattered everywhere.
“Hurry up.”
Tilak rushed to the window. He put his hand through the broken glass and unbolted the window. The window brackets opened up.
Both of us quickly jumped inside.
Brinda was standing before us.
She was right before us! Standing beside a table on which telephone instrument was kept.
The receiver was in Brinda’s hand.
She was dialing a number frantically. She had checked a number of a police station in a phone diary and that had taken some time. The phone diary was open on the table.
I moved forward, snatched the receiver from Brinda’s hand and banged it down on the cradle.
“You bitch!” Brinda raised her hand. “Coming into my house how dare you to act with me like this…”
Before her hand would hit my face, Tilak grabbed it. He followed it with a hard slap across Brinda’s face.
Brinda screamed and stumbled. For a moment she was blinded by the blow.
“In last one year, you have forgotten Brinda,” Tilak growled, “that this house is mine and not yours.”
Tilak picked up a knife kept on the trolley of medicines. It was a fruit-cutting knife.
Tilak’s demeanor startled Brinda and she got scared.
“Tilak…what are you doing?” Brinda screamed.
“You could have survived for few more days,” Tilak said with clenched teeth. “But your little show that you just put up before us, has changed everything. We cannot afford to let you live now. You know too much. You must die.”
Brinda was pale with fear.
I could see the fear of death in her eyes.
I felt bad for her at that moment.
She was my friend so I was bound have feelings for her. But now her death was essential for me too.
She was a danger for Tilak Rajkotia. And she was an equal danger for me too.
Her threat and attempted telephone call had proved that she could go to any extent to destroy us.
No…No,” Brinda pleaded. “Don’t kill me, Tilak.”