11 Hours

by Daniel Paul Singh

  “I never said your wife is with me, did I?”

  “Just stop this word play now, will you?”

  “The game has not even started, Mr. Robin!”

  “For heaven’s sake, tell me what you want! Take everything I have. Just don’t harm my wife.”

  “Not a good bargain, Mr. Robin. Not at all! Money is not what interests me.” he paused.

  “What is it that you want then?” I was getting more and more irritated.

  “I need something else.”

  “Tell me already.”

  “So, do you agree to my deal?”

  “I do. Whatever it is, tell me straight. Don’t beat around the bush.” I had a strong instinct that he had kidnapped Diana and was using her as bait. I wasn’t sure what ransom he would ask. Whatever be it, I will give it away to save her.

  “Do you realize that I have already messaged you what I want?” he asked.

  “Find Brindha?” I questioned.

  “Exactly.” he replied.

  “But, who the fuck is Brindha? I have absolutely no clue who she is, and you are asking me to find her. Have you gone crazy?”

  “You don’t remember Brindha? Your best friend and your supposed crush?” he asked sarcastically.

  “The one who worked at Bangalore VCS?” The word ‘crush’ helped me to identify her.

  “Aahaa… Now we are talking.” He said in a serious tone.

  “But, where is she?”

  “How would I know? You have to find her for me.”

  “Who are you? Her lover? Or brother? Or husband?”

  “What if I am her father?” he said and paused.

  I didn’t reply.

  “Listen, Robin. My identity has to be the least of your worry now. Buckle up and find Brindha. How you would do that is your problem. I don’t know where, but I sure know by when.”

  “By when?” I asked him.

  “How long do you know her?”

  I thought hard. How long did I know her? I knew her from my 12th standard days. That should be around,

  “Maybe, 11 years?” I gave my response to him.

  “That’s quite a long time. I don’t have that much time with me, but I can give you 11 hours. 1 hour for each year you know her. Beg, borrow, steal - do anything you want, to find her before 11 AM tomorrow, and your wife will come back to you safely.”

  I looked at my watch, it was sharp 12 midnight.

  “Where should I come after I find Brindha?”

  “I am not dumb to tell you that, now. But, be sure that I will be monitoring everything you do. So, don’t try to act over smart. Find her and I will contact you”

  “Alright, I will locate her through my contacts and let you know where she is “

  “Locate Brindha virtually and I will give you back an augmented reality version of your wife”

  “What do you mean?” I was confused.

  “I want you to find Brindha in her physical form. Meet her in person, greet her and then reach me, no ‘locating’ business. No cheating business. How you find her is up to you.” he responded coldly.

  “Fine. I need to have a word with my wife to be sure that she is safe and that you indeed have abducted her”

  “Trust me Robin. She is fine and yes, I have kidnapped her. She was crying all evening calling out to you and has just slept, exhausted. I wouldn’t harm her. You are my TARGET!” He finally agreed that he had kidnapped her. In some corner of my heart, I was happy that Diana was alive.

  “At least send me her photo.” I demanded.

  “With her clothes on or without?” he giggled.

  “If you so much as touch her hair!” I screamed in an agitated tone.

  “What will you do, my boy? Whaaaat!” he shouted back threateningly.

  “Listen, Mr. Whoever you are... Remember this. I will go to any extent to save my wife, and if I know that you have harmed her even in the slightest possible way, I will give it back to you tenfold.”

  “You are forgetting that you are talking to your wife’s captor. I give the orders here. Not you!”

  I took a deep breath and composed myself.

  “I have no contact with Brindha. The last I know of her; she was in Australia. How could I meet her in person within 11 hours? Why am I the target for all this?” I rattled all my questions.

  “Do you love your wife, Mr. Robin?”

  “I wouldn’t be running like a headless chicken and talking to an unknown stranger at the middle of the night about finding a girl who I have lost touch with, if I didn’t love my wife!”

  “Then, stop asking questions and go find Brindha.” He gave his final order.

  “How can I?” I had my genuine doubt.

  “Why should I bother? And by the way, what’s the date and time now?”

  “12.01, Oct 20.” I was getting frustrated.

  “20th was yesterday, Mr. Robin. Today is the 21st. Do you know what’s special about today?”

  I was totally blank and couldn’t think of anything. Even our anniversary was 11 days ahead.

  “I have no clue.” I replied.

  “It is Brindha’s birthday, and your 11 hours to ‘Find Brindha’ mission has already started ticking.”

  “What in the world is happening to me!” I uttered aloud, thinking I was talking to myself.

  “And don’t be so foolish to go to the cops. I hope you wouldn’t when your wife’s life is in danger.” saying, the stranger cut the call.

  My whole world turned upside down. Diana had been kidnapped by some unknown loafer who claimed the reason for the abduction was me. There were too many knots to undo, and I felt they were quite complicated and incomprehensible. Who was that caller? Why should he kidnap my wife? What did she do? How did Brindha come into the picture? Why did all this happen today? My mind whirled in confusion, and I was unable to draw any conclusion.

  I looked at my phone. It had 83% battery strength. I wasn’t sure if it could withstand for the next 11 hours. It was going to be one long sleepless night.

  Even though he warned me not to contact the cops, I felt I had to inform them of this. I didn’t know anyone in the police department nor did I have friends whose fathers were cops. Without having any other option, I searched for the contact number of the local police station on the mobile internet and noted it. I dialed the number anxiously and waited for someone to pick, but there was no response. I then dialed again, and it got connected to the local police station.

  “Hello, Sir! My name is Robin. Someone has kidnapped my wife. Please help. Please do help!” I pleaded breathlessly.

  “Calm down, please. Don’t panic. Please give me more details.” an officer answered from the other end in a subdued tone.

  “She is 25, short, wore a black full sleeve dress today. She is fair, has short hair and doesn’t wear any jewels. She works for Galarena and has been missing since 8 PM last evening, Sir.”

  “Missing since 8 PM? Why are you complaining so late then?” he doubted.

  “Just now, I got a call from someone stating that they have kidnapped my wife.” I said breathlessly.

  “What is the number from which you got the call?” he enquired.

  “Wait, Sir!” I checked my call log and gave the number to the cop.

  “Fine. Let me trace the number and get back to you. Give me your contact number.”

  I told my number, and the officer cut the call.

  I felt slightly relieved. My throat was parched by now. I wanted to drink water again and took the glass from the water filter.

  I was waiting for the cop to call me back. I wasn’t sure where the nearest police station was. I wasn’t sure if the officer took a FIR complaint. I prayed to the Almighty to help trace the kidnapper as soon as possible.

  After a few seconds, my mobile buzzed. I picked up instantly. “Hello Sir, were you able to identify the caller?” I asked anxiously.

  “And I thought you would be a gentleman agreeing to the deal, Mr. Robin. What did I tell you?” />
  It was the kidnapper and he knew that I had breached the contract and had called to the cops.

  “Shit!” I said under my breath.

  “You are making me angry, and I am losing all the hope I have for you.” He said in a disappointed tone.

  “I am so sorry. It was a mistake” I uttered as I felt the jitters in my body.

  “I called to say that your number is in my control now. I was the one who answered the last call. Every call you make from your mobile will reach me. To reiterate it again Robin, you are being monitored and followed. Mr. Robin, if you still don’t believe how serious I am, should I send you, your wife’s little finger for proof?” he was dead serious.

  “No! Noo. Please don’t do anything to her. I am sorry.” I panicked.

  “Haven’t you watched any kidnapping movies before? Don’t behave like a nut case anymore.” he said furiously.

  “What do you want me to do? Who are you? What is your name?”

  “I already told you what I want you to do. Remember, every single call of yours is being traced. Don’t even think of reaching the cops again. All your calls go through me. As for my name, call me LOSER” saying, he cut the call.

  I broke down helplessly. I sat on the platform nearby not knowing where to start and what to do. Coming to terms with the recent happenings was hard. I wished it was all just a bad dream. I pinched myself. It really hurt. It wasn’t a dream.

  I called my best friend Prabhu, but the call went to the LOSER by default.

  “Listen loser. I will find Brindha for you, but just don’t do this to every call of mine. I need to contact my friend Prabhu. He is not a cop, for God’s sake. He is someone who is just going to help me.” I was exasperated.

  “Tell the number. I will connect.” he said.

  I wondered how the LOSER could control all the digital devices that I was using. I desperately wished that I could throw away all my electronic goods. I would then become non-traceable. The Loser connected the call to Prabhu.

  Prabhu was my ‘4 AM friend’ and the go to person for me, every time I was in trouble. He answered sleepily.

  “Prabhu, I am in a big soup, and I need your help” I spoke like a possessed man.

  “What happened, Rob?” he sounded alarmed as soon as he heard my tense voice.

  “Diana has gone missing since 8 PM today. I just got a call that she has been… she has been...” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the words.

  The LOSER was still listening to my conversation. I continued hoping that Prabhu would somehow understand my situation. “Listen, I need your help. We need to find another girl. We need to find Brindha.” I told Prabhu

  “Have you lost your mind?” Prabhu replied irritated and confused.

  “Prabhu, trust me on this. Please try to understand. My phone calls are being traced. There is only so much I could tell you. Just help me find this girl, Brindha before 11 AM tomorrow. Only then will I get Diana back, please understand.”

  “Okay, where are you? Where should I come?” Prabhu was always ready to help.

  “Wait. I will come to your house now. Tie your dog. Keep the gates open. I will be there.” I said and pressed the ‘end call’ button.

  I then called the LOSER and asked if I could go to Prabhu’s house.

  “Remember, I follow every move of yours. I don’t care whom you go to as long as they aren’t the cops.” he replied warningly.

  I opened the photo gallery on my phone and looked at the picture of the man who was accompanying Diana at the cafeteria. His face looked like that of a loser. I took Diana’s bag, got my Pan card back from the security guard and started my bike to reach Prabhu’s place in Madipakkam within 20 minutes. The gate was open, and the dog was tied.

  I entered in a hurry. Prabhu offered me water and then we both went to his study room where he had his computer.

  “Calm down, Man. Why are you in such a hurry? Tell me what happened.” He tried to comfort me.

  “I already told you, Prabhu. Diana has been kidnapped. To add to the misery, all my electronic goods are bugged, from my phone to my computer. The kidnapper knows everything I am doing online and is tracing me. Wonder if he knows what I speak as well. But, I can assure you that this kidnapper knows every move of mine! We have to be really careful with our plan of action”

  “That we will be, yes, but tell me who you want to find now? Why some random Brindha, and not your wife, Diana?”

  “He threatened me with so much conviction, Prabhu. He definitely has Diana in his custody. I know for sure that he is no regular guy. He has planned it all for six months, and I have no clue why. We aren’t dealing with ‘just’ another guy. Even the call I made you, he was listening. I tried to call the cops, the call went to him. He has bugged my cellphone. He knows what I browsed in my system. He has been watching me all evening and claims he has followed me for almost six months. He has planned it all meticulously through the days. He definitely isn’t some random usual kidnapper. There is a bigger, greater motive behind this. And this guy wanted me to find Brindha, if I have to get back my wife in one piece. He has given me 11 hours to accomplish the task, the clock has started ticking already, Prabhu.” I sputtered.

  “And who the hell is this Brindha?” Prabhu was visibly furious by then.

  “Prabhu, this is definitely not the right time for flashbacks.” I silenced him.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Chapter 10

  Brindha– A Flashback Dear Readers of this blog, I am happy to present you with a story that is up close and personal - an autobiographical account of incidents that happened in my life. Please do read and provide your candid feedback, as always – Robin.

  I wasn’t sure if it was winter or autumn then, but a fresh breeze of spring engulfed me, when I saw her sitting along with her gang of friends in the row ahead of us. She was of a medium build, clad in an orange salwar, had long hair, thick eyebrows, sharp nose and attractive lips with a measured smile. We were in that large auditorium attending an interschool talent competition at St. Joseph’s School in Trichy. I was seated along with my school friends waiting for a dance event, to be followed by the overall winners’ announcement.

  When my school dance team came up and performed on stage, we all screamed and shouted till our vocal chords cracked, all through the performance, a few in the audience even danced. I saw her closing her ears, unable to bear the noise. I smiled and screamed and whistled even louder. The dance lasted for ten minutes and it got the loudest of applause.

  After our team left the stage, we reminisced on how well they had performed. We were being quite vocal as we discussed and were giving hi-fis for each other, when that girl turned around and spoke to me in her sweet voice.

  “Excuse me.” she said.

  “Yes?” I looked at her questioningly.

  “You are being loved.” she said without any reaction in her face. “Come again?” I told her. She repeated the same words. “You are being loved.” she stressed on the last word. I lost myself

  for a few seconds feeling flattered. I was in seventh heaven. A girl loved me so soon, and said so in front of everyone? What did I do to impress her? Had she fallen for a simple whistle?

  ‘I don’t love you. I will love only the girl of my mom’s choice,’ I

  wanted to say, but no word came out of my mouth. I couldn’t take my eyes off her either. She looked puzzled and turned away. I wanted to boast to the guy sitting next to me that I had won a girl’s heart within just a few seconds and that too without doing anything. I kept gazing at her. But, she had decided not to turn back again.

  I sat back and was planning on how to inform this to mom, how to get married and where to go for honeymoon. I was divided between Switzerland and Los Angeles, when I heard a loud cry from the audience for another set of dancers from some other school. ‘Why are they being so loud’ I thought as it struck to me that ‘loud’ and ‘loved’ sounded the same if not pronounced correctly! Crap.

  My palpita
tions stopped, my nerves cooled down, and I smiled like a lunatic. I shook my head and kept giggling the whole day, whenever I remembered that silly incident. Our school won the overall championship there and I won second prize for the GK quiz competition, but nothing sank in my mind. I was still yet to come to terms with what I had imagined. Long after the teachers congratulated us and my fellow students lost their voices post celebration cries, I looked in the front row to find her missing. She was gone. I didn’t know which school she belonged to as she had not come in any uniform. I wondered what event allowed her to come in an orange churidhar, should have been some dance performance that I had missed.

  I looked around for girls in orange churidhar, but couldn’t find any, the rest of them were in uniforms. I felt so bad for not initiating a conversation with her. I could have at least asked her school’s name or where she stayed. I felt like a loser. I didn’t do anything further to find her whereabouts in the following days, but I could never forget her.

  Six Months Later:

  It was my first day in ‘ASPIRE’ tuition center. We were the last

  batch in Tamil Nadu to have entrance exams post 12 th board exams, which would determine our scores, colleges, and thereby our jobs, wives and lives. ‘ASPIRE’ was a famous institute in Trichy, which prepared us for those dreaded entrance exams. I joined the coaching center along with five of my school friends. Our classes were conducted in K. A. P. Venkataraman School in Thillai Nagar.

  On the very first day, I was taken aback to see that same girl again, wearing the same orange salwar. “Does she not have any other outfit?” was the first thing that came to my mind, followed by some inexplicable happiness and a sense of satisfaction of having found her, finally. I believed that destiny and karma had a role to play in us meeting again. Life was giving me a second chance. I wanted to go talk to her, but couldn’t bring myself to. She left the class as soon as the lectures were over.

  I tried to get her attention on the second day, but failed miserably. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t seem to remember me and also kept to herself without taking much notice of anyone for that matter. She was clearly studious and focused solely on the purpose of enrolling in the coaching Centre, which was ‘to study and score well’ in the entrance exams.