‘I gave him those Voveran shots, Zara,’ Rihana whimpered.
‘Don’t blame yourself, Rihana. He will be okay.’ Zara was caressing Rihana while holding back her own tears. It was as painful as seeing one’s child in distress, since Tiger was like their baby. Zubair could completely understand and was doing all that he could to help. Somewhere, he felt responsible because he was the one who had suggested the government hospital in the first place.
The doctor shaved Gabbar’s leg to insert the needle. He had been trying to avoid the shaving to save time, but it was already too late. Tiger took his last breath before his heart stopped beating in Rihana’s lap. It was as if he was waiting for Rihana to put his head on her lap. Rihana realized that he had completely stopped moving. She went numb with pain and couldn’t move.
‘Doc, just have a look. He isn’t breathing any more,’ Rihana said softly.
Zara put her hands on her mouth and held her cry back as she placed her back against the wall for support. She knew Tiger was gone.
The doctor stopped what he was doing and left Gabbar to check on Tiger. He placed his hand on his neck and simply shook his head.
Zara got up and asked the vet, ‘Have we lost him?’
‘Yes,’ came the reply from the doctor that pierced through Rihana and Zara.
Zubair and Zara walked closer to Rihana. She still had Tiger’s stiff body on her lap and wasn’t ready to let him go.
‘I killed him,’ Rihana said softly, sobbing. ‘Zara, I killed him. I shouldn’t have given him those shots,’ Rihana repeated.
‘It wasn’t your fault, darling. You did what the doctor asked you to do. Anybody would’ve done the same. Don’t blame yourself.’
‘No, Zara, I should’ve cross-checked. I should’ve taken a second opinion.’ Rihana was on a guilt trip.
Zubair was feeling equally guilty, if not less. He just stood there with his head down.
Zara called up Kanhaiya to help them carry Tiger’s body out to the car. Kanhaiya called up Nandini to inform her. She knew how tough it would be for Rihana at this moment. So Nandini instructed Gudiya to take care of Cupid, and immediately hailed an auto and reached the vet’s clinic within fifteen minutes.
‘I’ll not leave that bastard. He prescribed the wrong medicines.’ Zubair’s guilt had converted into anger, which looked like it might even transform into revenge. But Rihana couldn’t get over her guilt.
‘Move, Rihana! Get off the table, sweets. We’ve to carry him home,’ Zara said, rubbing Rihana’s shoulders.
But Rihana wasn’t letting go of Tiger. ‘No! Don’t take him away from me. Please don’t take him away. He was the only thing that loved me in this universe. Please let my love stay.’
Zara hugged Rihana and said softly, ‘I love you too, sweets. He wasn’t the only one. For my sake, let him go,’ Zara cried, pleading to Rihana. But Rihana couldn’t shed a tear. She was stiff.
Zubair and Kanhaiya lifted Tiger, and Rihana screamed at them, ‘Don’t you dare hurt him!’
‘We won’t, Rihana,’ Zubair promised.
Zara took Rihana’s hand and pulled her up on her feet to follow Zubair and Kanhaiya. Nandini walked with Rihana, consoling her. Nobody knew of her attachment to Tiger more than Nandini.
They arranged for Tiger’s burial in Cupid’s backyard with a tombstone that read: Here lies the king of the jungle, our beloved Tiger. Gone too soon.
Zubair stayed with the girls for some time to console them as best as he could, but his presence made no difference to Rihana’s state. She was as numb as a pounded thumb.
Zara walked with Zubair and Gabbar to see them off.
‘She needs to cry, Zara. Tears make sure that the poison flows out with them. Don’t let the poison eat her up,’ Zubair said in a concerned tone.
He was right in a way. Rihana hadn’t cried at all. Her guilt was silencing her and eating her up.
The next morning, Zara consulted Rohan and filed an FIR against the vet who had prescribed the medicines for Tiger.
Rihana was in a state of unrest and Zara could see that. She had been with Rihana like her shadow in all the painful and turmoil-filled hours. She also wrote a blog and posted it on the Internet. Following the huge number of people who had connected or commented on her blog previously, many websites posted and shared a link of her blog, after verifying the credentials over the phone with her. Some animal activist bodies also visited their house to find out the cause of Tiger’s death. Some were genuinely concerned while others took to dharnas outside the government veterinary hospital and demanded the suspension of the vet for publicity.
Since Rihana had made headlines not long ago as a celebrated artist, many celebrities also came forward for the cause and showed their concern on Twitter and other social media. The Maharani also came to the forefront and wrote to the authorities to support Rihana and Zara. The media had their ‘story’. But whatever the intent was, it worked. The police were forced to investigate the case on a priority basis and found out that the doctor had got the job at the hospital with a fake degree. He was subsequently arrested on charges of fraud and malpractice.
His arrest was not going to get Tiger back, but at least a part of Rihana healed, as she had hope that what happened to them might prevent other people from losing the most precious parts of their lives.
‘He is behind bars, Rihana. The racket involved the whole medical college. They were distributing degrees for mere peanuts,’ Zara said to a still-mourning Rihana.
‘Only if love and life can be equated with peanuts,’ Rihana mocked.
‘Rihana, you’ve saved so many lives by putting such a man in his right place. Moreover, the way you can help in generating revenue for the cancer institute in Jodhpur can be a saviour for so many. Imagine humans dying of that dreadful disease, their loved ones feeling the same emptiness as you are feeling while missing Tiger. Get your act together and start painting. You’ve only got a few days left for your exhibition in New York. The Maharani has called up almost eight times to know how you are doing and if you’ve gathered yourself after losing Tiger. She also told me that she has appointed you as one of the trustees for the cancer institute.’
Rihana didn’t say anything at all in response.
Zara continued, ‘What are your plans for New York, Ri? I think you should start preparing.’
‘I’m not going to New York, Zara.’ Rihana was firm.
‘But why? You could go and meet your parents too. It’s been so long.’ Zara was trying to give Rihana an incentive, hoping the trip would give her a break from her guilt and sadness. She didn’t realize that Rihana would never go back to New York. It wasn’t New York that was the issue, it was her parents—particularly her father.
9
Skeletons Out of the Closet
‘I ran away from New York to find some sanity and peace. But I seemed to have lost my soul there, and I have found it with much effort and difficulty. I came here and found you, Zara. You’ve brought so much love in my life that you’ve crippled me forever. Your absence haunts and torments me. It’s funny, but your presence and absence . . . both mean something to me. I love you so much, Zara.’ Rihana hugged Zara and held her close, as if trying to find solace for her loss in Zara’s arms. ‘Please don’t underestimate the stubbornness of a woman in love. I’m not going to New York and that’s final. Don’t push me in that pit of hell again,’ Rihana said and ended the conversation, leaving no space for any more discussion.
Zara didn’t argue any further. She had always known that Rihana loved her selflessly—to the level of dependence—and that the bond that they shared was unmatchable. But that day, the confession was different. Zara was now only concerned for Rihana, the world could wait. She hadn’t shed a tear since Tiger passed and that disturbed Zara endlessly. She didn’t want Rihana’s bottled-up grief to manifest one day as some psychosomatic symptom—or anything that worsened her existing liver condition. She wanted to call up Rihana’s parents and inform them abou
t it, but somehow she couldn’t make herself do it. She would feel like a traitor, knowing fully well that Rihana would never be comfortable with that; she would definitely hate it if Zara spoke to her parents about her.
Zara never heard from Shaurya after that, but Rihana’s emotional confession of her love for Zara made her very happy. The feeling of meaning something to someone felt exquisite. All this time, Zara had been under the assumption that she had taken more than she could give in her relationship with Rihana. She now realized that the years they had spent together had apparently brought some meaning to their lives—to both of them equally.
‘I have a few clients coming today. I might have to stay late in the office. Will you be okay?’ Zara asked as she handed over Rihana’s medicines to her. ‘I’ll be fine, Zara. No need to compromise on work because of me. You go ahead!’
Zara left for the office, albeit reluctantly, as half her attention was still on Rihana. After she left, Nandini came to Rihana and said, ‘Didi, I have to go to my mother’s house. She isn’t feeling well and needs to be taken to a doctor. Harish will not let me get any medicines for her if he is around. He will snatch away the money I have saved for it and make everything more difficult. I’ll give my mother the medicines and be back by the evening.’
Rihana nodded without saying a word. ‘I’m leaving Gudiya here with you if you need anything,’ said Nandini. She looked at Rihana and could see the blank eyes staring back. She could feel the pain Rihana was going through. She said, ‘Didi, time will heal everything.’ Rihana merely responded with a meek smile, indicating that she wanted to be left alone.
It was soon going to be dinner time, and Gudiya wanted to feed Rihana. She called up Zara to ask what she should make and was told to order in Rihana’s favourite dish—chilli chicken—and not cook. Zara didn’t want Gudiya to cook as she knew how much Rihana hated young Gudiya working in the house. Zara also mentioned that she would be back in time for dinner; she wanted to spend as much time as possible with Rihana.
Gudiya could hear her father shouting for her mother outside their quarters.
‘Where are you, Nandini? You whore, come here right now!’ Gudiya didn’t want her father to be a nuisance and affect Rihana as she was already upset over the events of the past. She decided to go out and silence him.
‘Mummy has gone to the market to get some vegetables, Papa. She will be back soon.’ Gudiya was terrified of him and lied to save herself and her mother.
‘Then you come and feed me. I’m hungry.’
Rihana came out to listen to Harish’s ranting. He was not one to keep his volume down while talking to anyone, especially when drunk.
‘Didi, you go inside! I’ll give him something to eat. I’ve already ordered some food. It’ll be here in sometime.’ Rihana nodded and went inside, though she made up her mind to talk to Nandini about Harish again. He was such a bad influence on the children.
Gudiya went to the quarters and started preparing food for her father. Rihana went to her room and sat staring at the television without registering a single thing on it. She had no inclination to watch anything. It seemed like an entire hour had passed. It struck her that Gudiya had gone to give Harish some food and had taken unusually long to return. She decided to check on Gudiya. When she stepped out of the main door of the house, she heard some noises coming from the servants’ quarters. She quickened her pace to check what was happening, just in case Gudiya needed help. She peeped in through the window before reaching the door—and was horrified. It made all her patience and resolve melt into nothingness.
In the dimly lit room, with just a bulb hanging overhead, Gudiya sat scared in a corner, shrinking into herself further and further. From the little that she could make out, her arms were bare, perhaps her shirt had been torn from the sleeves. Gudiya seemed to be whimpering, sobbing even.
‘Please, get me out of here! Someone please help me.’ Gudiya was trying to scream to attract attention, but was completely unable to. She could only manage to plead with Harish in between. ‘Please let me go. I promise I won’t tell Maa about it. I will never say no to you. I will do whatever you say. But please let me go.’ Gudiya was struggling to breathe. Rihana’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in absolute shock.
‘No! No! No, you bastard! No, no, no, no!’ Rihana screamed.
Harish was naked and was approaching Gudiya with the look of the devil in his eyes. When he heard Rihana scream, he turned to look at the window. But Rihana had by now moved to the door and was standing in the doorway. Harish was shamelessly fondling himself even as Rihana was standing right there.
Harish now pointed the sharp knife he had been threatening Gudiya with at Rihana and warned her: ‘If you interfere, I’ll cut you to pieces.’
Rihana didn’t move. There was an old visual running in her mind while the scene unfolded before her and the sounds played in her head.
An eleven-year-old was pleading in front of her father: ‘No, Papa, I don’t like this. Please don’t pinch me like that. It hurts, Papa.’
‘My Rihana baby is a good girl. Show me how Papa taught you to play with the snake?’
She tried to get out of the man’s clutches when she tripped over her open shoelaces and . . .
‘No, no, Papa! Please let me go. Mammaaaaa!’ screamed the little girl.
Rihana stood in silence, watching Harish pointing a knife at Rihana with one hand and pulling up Gudiya’s dress with the other. She was sobbing, pain writ large on her face, eyes begging to be saved.
‘Take this in your mouth, whore!’ Harish was clearly drunk and was slurring as he spoke.
Rihana noticed that his member couldn’t venture north on its own—probably on account of his overdrinking. He was holding his limp penis in his hand and asking Gudiya to do his bidding. Everything about Harish sickened Rihana at that moment. She knew he was a useless piece of crap for Nandini and her family. But seeing what she had just witnessed had put her in a veritable fit of rage.
‘Take this in your mouth and make it hard,’ Harish was telling Gudiya, who was gagging on her tears, terrified with fear at what was happening.
Rihana heard a car horn in the background, which broke her reverie. She gathered strength from seeing Gudiya so scared, perhaps from the raging storm within her. It took one swift move for her to pick up an iron bucket lying just outside the door. She brought it in contact with Harish’s head with a loud metallic twang. That one blow brought him to the floor, but Rihana continued hitting him with the bucket while crying and screaming hoarsely: ‘She is your daughter, you bastard! I will kill you for making her go through this! You have absolutely no right to live, you good for nothing drunkard! I will kill you!’
Kanhaiya had just driven in with Zara’s car, when Nandini and her sons walked in. They were not sure where the voices were coming from, but when they saw Rihana beating Harish with a bucket, as if possessed, they were stunned. It took only a second for them to comprehend that Gudiya’s clothes were torn and that Harish himself was naked. And Rihana was hitting Harish as hard as she could, with all her might.
Zara held back Rihana and pulled her towards herself. She tried hard to disengage her as Nandini ran to Gudiya to cover her up with her dupatta and Kanhaiya tried to snatch the bucket away from Rihana. The bucket gone, Rihana started kicking Harish in the balls.
‘Rihana, do you want to kill him?’ Zara shouted in an effort to stop her.
‘Yes! I want to kill him! I’ll kill this bastard!’ Zara was surprised to see Rihana’s fury.
‘Rihana, what is wrong with you? Kanhaiya help me!’ Kanhaiya came running and helped Zara pull Rihana back. Her face turned to look at Gudiya and she saw the little girl’s face buried in her mother’s bosom; she was crying to her heart’s content. Harish lay motionless on the ground in a pool of blood.
Rihana turned around to cling to Zara and cried in absolute despair and anguish. She was howling with pain; her wounds, which had never quite healed, were now fresh again.
‘Rihana, my sweet, sweet Rihana, everything will be okay.’ Zara was trying to calm Rihana down. ‘I am here with you, my love. I won’t let anyone harm you, I promise! Stop crying . . . Look at me! Look up at me!’
Zara cupped Rihana’s face and made her look up at her. The tears were flowing and so was the poison. Zara understood that this catharsis was the accumulation of all that Rihana had been holding within her for all these years. She let Rihana cry as a much-needed release and to process all the events of the past month.
Rihana had held her tears back for far too long. Zara wasn’t sure if she was crying for just Tiger and Gudiya, or if there was more to this. Had it just been Gudiya, Rihana would’ve been more in control. But she had looked possessed when hitting Harish.
‘He is not breathing, madamji,’ Kanhaiya said after examining Harish.
‘What! I killed him too?’ said Rihana, crying.
‘You did not kill Tiger, Rihana. And it’s okay. Don’t worry! We will take care of it.’ Zara took out her phone from her bag and called Rohan, the same advocate who was going to file Zara’s divorce petition, and narrated the incident to him.
‘Should we call the police or seek legal help first?’ Zara asked Rohan after he was apprised of the whole situation.
‘I’ll have an inspector come over. He will be sympathetic as this is a rape and self-defence case. But tell me, did Harish try to hurt Rihana as well?’ Rohan asked.
‘He is lying on the ground with a knife in his hand. I’m sure Rihana’s life was in danger too,’ Zara said.
‘Why did you keep such a man in your house in the first place?’ Rohan asked.
‘We wanted Nandini and . . .’—Zara paused a moment and said—‘and . . . Nandini wanted to maintain her name in society. We always knew Harish was a bad idea and would never amount to any good. Rohan, I don’t have the time to answer all this. Please send some help as soon as possible. And please, I don’t want any media interference in this case. Rihana is already very upset. Your bill will be taken care of.’
Love Bi the Way Page 17