Killer Moves

by Varsha Dixit

  Kabir grimaced. “I did nothing—”

  “Yes, you did. Knocking on that door was the best thing you could have done. It distracted Vikas, giving me enough time to pull out Parth’s gun.”

  “So, you can shoot too?”

  “Practicing for last so many years at firing range paid off.” Aisha closed her eyes only to open again.

  “Hush,” Kabir raised a finger and wiped a tear that had slipped from the corner of her eye.

  Aisha did not realize she had been crying. She pulled in a fractured breath. “How did you happen to come to Vikas’s apartment? Did he call you too?”

  “No. Once I cooled down after our argument earlier, I realized a few things. All the times I was in Goa, Vikas always accompanied me. All those scenic points where I shot the calendar were his haunts. Vikas had introduced them to me. He was from Goa. And lastly, that night when we met for the first time, minutes before you had appeared on the beach, I had spotted Vikas there. That was the reason I had been walking in that direction. But he had disappeared by the time I got there. And then you captured all my attention. I just forgot all about him.”

  “Oh!”

  “I tried calling you to tell you about Vikas, but you didn’t answer. So, I called up Kiara to inquire about you and she told me that you were at Vikas’s apartment. I just rushed there.”

  “I’m glad you did!” Aisha managed a smile. “You didn’t mention anything to Kiara, did you?”

  “I had to, just now. While you were with the police. She has been calling repeatedly. I could distract her only so much.” Kabir replied, tossing her empty coffee cup in a bin.

  “Damn, she will be worried now. She has probably told Papa too.”

  Their eyes met and Kabir broke the gaze. “Why don’t you talk to her now.” He handed Aisha his phone. “Do you know where your phone is?”

  “Vikas probably took it when I passed out.”

  Kabir stared straight ahead, his mouth clamped in a tight line. “I can’t believe he was capable of what he did. How could I not see it? He worked with me for so many years. Fuck!”

  “He was good at duping.” Aisha took the phone from Kabir. Her hands brushed his.

  Kabir nodded and withdrew his hand. “I’ll be right back.”

  Aisha took a deep breath and called her niece. She answered in one ring.

  “Boo, are you okay? We are coming to get you.” Kiara’s voice was urgent.

  For the next ten minutes, Aisha pacified her niece and shared with her all that had unfolded in the last few hours.

  “I am coming to the hospital right now!” Kiara repeated.

  “No, you are not. It’s close to 3:00 am. I’m fine. I will come when the surgery is over.”

  “Let me talk to her.” Kabir was back.

  Aisha handed him the phone. Closing her weary eyes, Aisha had no recollection of falling asleep.

  Sometime later, a gentle hand tapped on Aisha’s shoulder. Wincing, she raised a groggy head. Her eyes were burning as she rubbed them.

  “Did I fall asleep?” Aisha raised her head from Kabir’s shoulder.

  “For ten minutes or so. The doctor is here,” Kabir pointed, getting to his feet.

  Aisha turned. It was the doctor who was operating on Parth. He was a thin wiry man with oval glasses, a small face, and a pronounced nose. He was still in his blue scrubs. Aisha too rose slowly.

  “The operation was successful. SSP Parth will recover fully. The bullet missed his heart or any other arteries by inches and embedded in the soft tissue around the shoulder. We were able to extract the bullet with no damage to the surrounding area.”

  “Thank you so much.” Aisha shook the doctor’s hand. “Can I see him?”

  “Sorry, the first person Parth asked was for the case in-charge. Your boyfriend is very committed.”

  Aisha nodded and sat down.

  Kabir sat down next to her after thanking the doctor. They sat in silence for the next few minutes.

  “Excuse me, Aisha Ma’am!” A policeman approached them. “Parth Sir wants to see you.”

  Chapter 80

  “Hi!” Aisha walked in a room that smelled strongly of bleach. Parth lay on a bed, his shoulder bandaged. His face was the color of the pale walls.

  “Do you smell the bleach?” she asked.

  Parth wheezed. “Don’t make me laugh!”

  Two inspectors were also present in the room.

  Aisha and Kabir stopped at the foot of his bed.

  “Where did you learn how to shoot?” Parth asked.

  “At the firing range. I told you I was serious about wanting to be in the police.”

  Parth nodded and glanced at a stoic Kabir. “Thanks.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I was there for Aisha.”

  Parth nodded. “You should go home now, Ms. Aisha.”

  “I just wanted to know how you found out about Vikas? If one of you could tell me, I will sleep better.” Aisha glanced at the other two cops in the room.

  Parth smiled weakly. “You are persistent.”

  One of the policeman spoke up. “The van at Lopez Point, the one you discovered Ms. Aisha, had been frequently sold and resold. The last owner was a late zamindar of Priol—a small village seventy-five kilometers away from Panaji. It was here that Parth Sir got some sketchy details about the zamindar’s mistress, a drunkard Nellie Varghese and her weird son, Tony Varghese.”

  Parth took over, his speech strained. “Vikas Mishra was actually Tony Varghese from Priol. His mother, Nellie Varghese, was a small-time starlet in Konkani film industry and an alcoholic. She was asked to leave the village around 1985 when she became an unwed mother. When he was fifteen, Nellie and Tony moved to Mumbai.” Parth paused and asked for some water. The inspector who had spoken earlier came forward and helped him sip from a paper cup. “You continue,” Parth said, falling back against the pillows.

  The Inspector put the cup down and extracted a clipboard tucked under his arm. He scanned the document, probably Parth’s statement.

  “In Mumbai, the mother and son started living near Kamatipura area. When Tony was sixteen, he was sent to a juvenile home for attempted murder. After serving his time, Tony worked there for nearly a decade. Around the time Tony worked there, a fourteen-year old boy Vikas Mishra was sent to the juvie house. A few months later, Vikas disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The officials assumed Vikas had run away. As he was an orphan, no one really bothered about him.”

  “You think Tony killed Vikas?” Aisha asked.

  Parth nodded.

  “So, Nellie and the late zamindar stayed in touch even after she moved to Mumbai?” Aisha asked.

  Parth nodded. “The zamindar continued his relationship with Nellie on and off. And when the zamindar was not able to come to Mumbai, Nellie would visit him, accompanied by her son Tony. The zamindar, in his later years it seems, had also developed a taste for young boys.” Parth’s mouth twisted in disgust. His speech got slurred.

  Everyone became quiet in the room. “Tony had a horrible childhood,” Aisha heard pity in her voice even though she had no guilt over the fatal shot she had fired.

  Parth spoke after taking another sip of water. His lids were getting heavy. “I got ambushed. I went to the apartment looking for Nellie Varghese because officially, she had never died. The hospital records simply stated that she had stopped coming for her chemo sessions. The doctors had anyway told her son that there was nothing more they could do. The cancer had corroded her body from the inside. She was past the point of recovery.”

  “All the pictures of Tony Varghese and Vikas Mishra were removed from their juvie home records, so Parth Sir had no idea what he looked like.”

  “He was thorough?” Aisha murmured.

  “Yes!” Parth nodded. He was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

  “I’m guessing you will never find Nellie’s body?” Kabir said.

  “Hmm,” Parth nodded.

  Everyone was silent for a few sec
onds.

  “I think I would like to go home now.” Aisha said, sounding as tired as she felt.

  “I’ll take you home,” Kabir asserted. Aisha did not argue.

  “You get some rest, Parth!” Aisha turned away.

  “Aisha,” Parth called out.

  She paused.

  “I could not have cracked this case without you. You would have made a great cop.” Parth’s eyes were gentle as they closed and he drifted off.

  Kabir helped Aisha into his car and with her seatbelt. She was bushed.

  “This is probably not the best time,” Kabir hesitated, yet his voice was low and burning. “Aisha, please tell me, is Parth your boyfriend?” He paused and swallowed. “Are you seeing anyone?”

  Aisha sighed and closed her eyes. She was too weary to be tactful. “I thought I was seeing you, Doofus!”

  Chapter 81

  A loud crack resounded near her ear. A bullet! Her eyes flew open and Aisha sat up with a jerk.

  Kiara was sitting next to her on the bed, a book in her hand, which she immediately placed aside. “Boo, it’s okay. You are in your room.” she hugged Aisha.

  “Sorry,” Hiding her face in Kiara’s shoulder, Aisha took a few calming breaths. Sitting back, Aisha pulled the thin sheet off her body as she was sweating heavily.

  “Here,” Kiara held a glass of water toward her and she wiped Aisha’s brow with her other hand. “Gosh, you scared the crap out of me when you sat up like that.”

  “How did I get home?” Aisha felt muddled. Her last memory was getting into Kabir’s car.

  “Kabir dropped you, no, carried you home. You were fast asleep. You did not move a muscle.” Kiara put the glass down. “Let me get Dada; he has asked to be informed the moment you woke up. Oh yeah, Kabir came over in morning and dropped your cell phone off. It was in that sicko’s apartment.”

  Aisha drank the fresh cool water. “What time is it?”

  “Close to 2:00 in the afternoon,” Kiara said, leaving the room.

  Aisha scooted back. Her body felt rested, but her mind felt like the ground had been scraped with it.

  Ragged and raw!

  Aisha grabbed her phone and switched it on. Several messages downloaded on it. Most of them were from Kabir and he signed off as ‘Doofus.’

  A tiny smile came on Aisha’s face as she read them. Most of them showed his concern and were repeat requests to call him if she needed anything, or just call him.

  “Aisha!”

  She looked up. It was her father. His eyes held worry and he seemed to have aged overnight.

  “Papa,” Aisha raised her head. “Sorry, I didn’t tell you about all this.”

  “Tell me now,” He pulled a chair close to her and took Aisha’s hand.

  He has been crying.

  Aisha swallowed heavily and shared everything with him even as Kiara sat on her other side. Aisha severely downplayed her role in it. It was unsettling to see her father, who faced stone-cold criminals and weathered death threats all his career, so terrified at the thought of something happening to her.

  Close to five, Aisha emerged from her room, fresh from a shower. She pulled Kiara to a side. “Kia, I’m going out for a while.”

  “What? Where?”

  Aisha cleared her throat. Her blush gave her away

  “Oh!” Kiara smiled. “Well go. I will cover for you. Tell Dada you are going to see that CBI chap in the hospital and tying up some loose ends with the police.”

  Aisha hugged her. “Thanks, Kia.”

  Kiara hugged her tight. “Sorry for being such a pain in the ass, Boo. I love you so much. If something had happened to you . . .”

  Aisha hugged her back tightly. “I’m okay, kiddo. I’m not going anywhere until I play with your babies.”

  “Oh, stop!” Kiara moved away and turned around. Aisha knew Kiara never let anyone see her crying. She had always been like this.

  Aisha hugged her from behind. “I’ll be back before dinner.”

  “We will see.” Kiara rubbed Aisha’s arms. “Just don’t get shot, please.”

  Chapter 82

  Kabir sat on the sofa, leaning forward. He tapped his soles on the ground and kept playing with the cell in his hands. Why hasn’t Aisha texted back? She should be up by now. Should I call her?

  The nervous energy that flowed in him would not let him focus on anything even if he tried. He had to take a few calming breaths.

  The pealing doorbell shattered the silence in the apartment.

  Kabir jumped to his feet and went to the door, waving his butler off. When he opened the door, he could only stare.

  “Hi, Doofus!” Aisha smiled at him.

  Kabir’s smile was quick and inviting, his voice deep. “Come inside. Should you even be walking?”

  “I’m fine,” Aisha replied, walking past him. She sat at the edge of the white suede sofa, her fingers repeatedly drumming the top of her knees.

  Kabir stopped right next to her. “Can I get you something? Water or coffee? Or coffee and Red Bull?”

  “Have a seat . . . please!” Aisha mumbled, trying to speak over the throbbing blood between her ears.

  “Okay,” Kabir sat down close to her.

  Keeping her eyes lowered, Aisha fiddled with her silk and gold skirt. She had teamed that up with a simple sleeveless white lace blouse. Her hair was loose, and she had applied some make-up in the car.

  Turning to her, Kabir placed an arm on the sofa behind her. His spicy musk smell swarmed her. “You have nothing to be nervous about.”

  Aisha ran her eyes over his lean torso in a black tee, the strong column of his neck, his face that had seen the sun, a mouth that was relaxed but not smiling, his straight nose and his dark eyes filled with concern for her.

  Just effing say it!

  Taking a deep breath, Aisha stared in Kabir’s eyes and whispered throatily, “I want to take it to the next level.”

  She saw his dark eyes glimmer and then his mouth widened in a broad smile. Kabir took her hands in his. His grasp was warm and enveloping. “Are you sure, Aisha? I want this,” He shook their clasped hands. “God, I want you more than any woman I have ever wanted in my life. But you have just experienced a big trauma. I don’t want to take advantage of a situation—”

  Aisha leaned in. “Shut up and kiss me!”

  Kabir studied her face for a few seconds and then got to his feet. Aisha’s gaze was one of surprise.

  “Come on! I don’t want us to be disturbed.”

  Licking her lips with the tip of her tongue, Aisha felt excitement unwind in her. She felt her knees knock against each other.

  Wordlessly, Kabir led Aisha up the stairs to his bedroom.

  Chapter 83

  Once inside, Kabir shut the door and turned Aisha to him. Wrapping a muscular arm around Aisha’s waist, he pulled her in. “Are you sure about this?” Kabir asked, twisting a loose tendril of her hair around his finger, watching her all the while longingly.

  “Kabir, please!” Aisha’s voice was raw with yearning as she arched against him.

  Kabir needed no more assurances. He bent his dark head down, tipping her chin up simultaneously. Aisha sighed as all her senses tingled.

  Kabir rubbed his lips back and forth over her soft mouth. Aisha moved her body closer and Kabir wrapped his arms around her plaint form, meshing them together. Aisha curved her arms around his neck even as her eyes fluttered close. Heat built in her body and moisture pooled between her legs.

  Aisha’s fingers stroked the base of his nape. Kabir groaned and possessed Aisha’s mouth. His tongue delved into her hot wet cavern, dueling with and stroking her tongue. Their first kiss was everything Aisha had imagined—passionate, long, and arousing. Their lips clung to each other just like their bodies.

  Aisha mimicked his movements, chasing his tongue with hers. Groaning, Kabir thrust his fingers into Aisha’s hair and clasped her head as he feasted on her mouth. He sucked her tongue as if he was thirsting for it.

  Ais
ha felt her nipples harden, her limbs felt weightless as she sank more into him. He was relentless. Aisha felt like an exposed mass of nerves. Every inch of her skin, where he touched and caressed, sparked. Kabir’s hands ran down her back, molding her to him. Then his hands moved between their bodies and cupped her soft breasts. He rolled her nipples between his fingers.

  Aisha bit off her moan and arched her back, pushing her breast deeper into his hand. She moved restlessly against Kabir.

  Kabir broke apart to get some air. “You are so damn sexy, Aisha,” he spoke thickly. “I could love you all day!”

  Aisha stared at him, her eyes laden with desire, her cheeks suffused with color and her lips swollen from his kisses. “Did I stop you,” she murmured throatily.

  Kabir’s answering smile was wolfish. Picking Aisha up effortlessly, he carried her to the large bed and placed her gently on the silk sheets.

  “I . . .” Aisha sat up and trailed off, unsure of what she wanted to say.

  Kabir sat next to her and nuzzled her neck, pressing urgent kisses into the soft skin of her neck. “We will stop anytime you want. Promise,” He straightened and smiled even as one of his hand lowered the zip on her top.

  Aisha leaned away from him, smiling mysteriously. In one fluid move, she took her top off but chickened out at the last minute and covered herself with it.

  Kabir’s eyes roamed over her fair, petite shoulders. A slight smile creased his face, contrasting with the heat in his eyes. “This is the only thing you remove,” he cupped her face.

  Aisha laughed and hid her face in his shoulder. “As you say, Doofus.”

  He slid the strap of her camisole and bra down one shoulder even as he placed wet kisses on the skin he was exposing bit by bit. He gently nipped Aisha’s shoulder and then laved the spot with his hot tongue. She jerked with pleasure.

  Kabir pressed Aisha down on the bed. His hot mouth laid a damp trail of kisses down to every piece of clothing he removed off her. By the time the last piece was removed, Aisha was clutching his broad shoulders, pleading with Kabir to take her. When he first thrust in her, Aisha was slick with desire.