The Face Off

The Last part in the story. Link to previous parts available in the tab to the left or just scroll down.

“Sir there is a police officer at our door asking for you.”

“What is his name?” inquired Shravan.

“Sire, it’s Inspector Abhimanyu Singh”

“Send him in.” replied Shravan, he went for his laptop; he knew this day would come and he is prepared.

They both sat across each other. Shravan feeling dejected and tired, eyes red and deep due to lack of sleep.

“How may I help you officer?”

“Your ex-wife has been found dead a week ago, I guess you are aware of the fact?” Abhimanyu made it clear he was here for business. Shravan rubbed his nose, shifted in his seat. It was the first time he was feeling nervous since the day he killed them both.

“Yes, I read the news.” Shravan replied in a shaky voice.

“I have one more news for you! You are now a suspect in the murder” Shravan realised he has something onto him.

“Bring drinks for us, this conversation is going to be long.” Shravan said to the servant.

“Thanks for the offer but I am on duty and I cannot drink” denied Abhimanyu.

“It’s late already and a patriot like you is always on duty, a drink will do no harm.” Shravan showed that he is prepared for the game.

The servant bought the best malts and spirits from the bar “What would you like to have sire?”

Both of them made their choices, the drinks were set. Shravan was wise enough to realise that an outspoken and honest guy like Abhimanyu cannot be dodged easily.

“If hypothetically we say that I have killed them, how will you prove it?” Shravan punched himself hard in his mind, he has almost lost the battle even before it started!

“I will tell you something Mr. Shravan, I come from humblest of origins, my father was a clerk in a bank. Every day after returning home he started cursing his life, envying the luxuries his boss lived in. Why he didn’t work for it that’s another story. But his boss wore the same type of white shirt everyday bought from his favourite designer. When I asked my father the reason behind it he said to me in a heavy drunk voice ‘Son success traps you. It makes your life a pattern. People buy things from money but you cannot buy time.’ and that was the only thing he ever said against wealth.” Abhimanyu made his move; Shravan recalled the missing nature of his tie.

“That’s fascinating he sounds like a wise man, but even he wasn’t able to able to control his wife.” Shravan spiced it up.

“I am sorry Mr. Shravan but I am not here to talk about my personal life.”

“I hear your wife works at Jethlani Legal Associates, and the last time I checked she was wearing a gold bracelet. It raises questions.”

“What are you implying Mr. Shravan.”

“Nothing I am just saying if you didn’t buy that bracelet for her than who did, and if you bought that bracelet for her than how?”

Abhimanyu just left the room more confused than angry. He was here to investigate a murder arising out of adultery but seems like he has to now first confront his own wife.

“Sire should I assume this is the time?” asked the servant.

“YES! And be quick, we have a small window.”

+ ------------------ + -------------- +  ------------------ + -----------+

Before Abhimanyu could come out of the shock and collect himself, Shravan fled the country with his servant to Portugal to never return.

WILL YOU?

To be read after the preceding parts of the story:

PART I  : THE FIFTY ONE
PART II : DEAR DIARY

"Where are you taking me Shravan?" asked a confused Rashee.

"Wait a second baby!" 
After few seconds,
"Now open your eyes!"

"Oh my god, it's beautiful."

Shravan has took Rashee to a hilltop. The sun is about to set.  A windmill is swirling above her head. She expands her hands to fell the cool breeze. She openes her eyes to see rose petals scattered all over. She turns all around but finds herself alone.

"Shravan! Shravan! Where are you?"

She hears a buzz around her as if a small helicopter is flying around her. Confused she spins her head all around the sky. It was a helicopter, octa-copter to be specific. A electronic small drone used for spying by the forces and as a toy by kids. 

"Don't you worry my dear, I am near you." a voice from the drone spoke.

"What are you doing Shravan."

"Be quiet darling, and listen. First of all bring your hand towards it. I have something for you."

"It's beautiful." She nearly screams. The drone drops a solitaire ring into her hands."You dumb man! You should have handed this ring to me on knees."

"Who said i have only one ring for you" The voice from the drone stopped and Shravan's voice came out clear. He came behind Rashee holding her in his arms.

"What's going in your mind?" 

"You have given all the happiness and is the only happiness in my life. I was just a human being without you, but you made me a man." He slipped another ring into her finger.

"Who proposes with a metallic ring." 

'This woman will never stop complaining and finding mistakes in everything.' thought Shravan.

"It's a very special ring baby. When you open the small lid on it you will see a small button in it and...."

"And what?"

"And it's not just a button. It's the electronic key to our new penthouse apartment."

"What?"

"Yes baby. So, when i have fulfilled all your requirements or should i say conditions after which only you said you will marry me! May I ask you to marry me?" Shravan came down to his knees.

"YES!!"

Shravan stood up and threw the remote of the TV on it. The servant came in running.

"What happened sire?" 

"Take this C.D. and burn it right now." Shravan recorded the whole proposal through his drone. He wanted to store the memory for his entire life.

"But sire...."

"Do as I say."

"Yes your highness, but may i ask you something with your due permission sire."

"Hmm mm....."

"The news stated this morning that you are selling your business. Is that true sire?"

"Yes it is."

"But sire, why? Rennet technologies is a name you have built  with lot of struggle and hard work."

"It's a name built by me and it's in my hand how I handle that for any matter. You just leave." Shravan shouted, full of tears.



                  ------------------------


"Abhimanyu Singh my precious jewel" CBI chief praised Abhimanyu."Have a seat my boy."

"Thank you so much sir."

"So what's the progress in that superstar's case."

"Did you read the newspaper today sir?" Said Abhimanyu in his deep polite voice.

"Yes! Did they print anything about the killer?" chief giggled.

"Yes sir but they didn't know that they have!"

"What do you mean to say?"

"They haven't printed about the killer but about rennet technologies Ltd."

"So?"

"You will come to know sir, soon. Very soon." Abhimanyu smiled and left the room saluting the chief.


           --------------------------------------------------

DEAR DIARY.

TO BE READ AFTER THE FIRST PART, JUST FOLLOW THE LINK IF YOU HAVEN'T YET READ IT:
THE FIFTY ONE

The true laughter of a devil. He has done what he wished to do, with a clean sweep. But loneliness grabs his soul as he gazes at the diary and moves towards it. He takes his seat and looks at the sun rising from the horizon through his rooms window. A dark red hot ball rising from cool deep blue sea. He feels a sense of connectivity to the sun. He has risen above all odds. His plan has been a sheer success. The view in front of his eyes starts to blur only to let him know that his eyes have become wet. By wiping of his tears he opens his diary.

18th August 2014
8:00 A.M.

Dear Diary,

She was disloyal to me in spite of all the efforts I made to keep her happy. My life had no ambitions, no direction. My parents death when I was just seven taught me only one thing: materialistic things never give you happiness, yet they are necessary, for one's survival. Because this world is full of materialistic things, the world actually runs on it. My life let me towards the Army, it was not my choice indeed. They paid me well, I served for the nation, it was a job of honor and pride too. What more does a man needs? She wanted all the luxuries of life, on hand, and i was giving her all of it. Where did i make a mistake? I don't know! I actually don't know.

            -------------------------------------------

"Hello! May i talk to Rashee?" Shravan called at Aakash' house.

"I am afraid sir, Madam is not at at home" replied the voice.

"Give it to me." A voice from the background spoke.

"Hello! This is Aakash Raane may I know whom am I talking to?" Aakash replied.

"Shravan here! Give the call to Rashee." Shravan grumbled.

"And by what right have you called here?"

"By the right of being her husband!"

"HUH! A husband who is not man enough to control his wife. Listen you creep don't even try to call here again. She is my woman now. It's my first and last warning to you, don't you dare to call here again."

Shravan hung up the call but didn't stop making efforts to get her back. Aakash too didn't sit like a stone. He reacted, and reacted bad. He used his power to beat down Shravan.

"You have been hit badly, sire. Who the hell did it?" The servant is panicked watching blood oozing out of his head and wounds on several parts of the body. 

"Nobody! You just go and bring me a glass of wine."

"Here it is sire. But this wine will not heal your wounds, neither physical nor mental."

"So what? What should I do? Kill that bastard?" Shravan shouted.

"Why not if that's justified?"

"Oh so now you are going to teach me?"

"Who am I to teach you my master? but I will tell you just one thing - when i was young and lived at the village my grandmother used to take me to various satsangs, I don't remember much of it but the only thing I remember is one of the quotes by Shri Krishna........." he became mum.

"Keep saying, i am here only."

"Know well that if someone slaps you, half the responsibility rests with you, because you're being weak and passive, what becomes an invitation for him to hurt you." the servant speaks and leaves the room closing the door behind him.

             ------------------------------------ 

"Sire! Sire! Open the door sire." Servant bangs the door hard.  

"What's so urgent?" Shravan says seeing him in panic.

"Come, see what they are saying in the NEWS."

                                       ---                   ----                  ----                ---

The  mystery of the super star's death seems a nightmare to the police with only a half burned Tie and a watch found in the corridor seems not enough of the evidences for the police. The case will now be the handled by a team of CBI headed by Inspector Abhimanyu Singh. 

"My tie?" Shravan completely stunned and terrified walks into his room.

                                       -------------------------------------------------------   

THE FIFTY ONE

Cold soothing breeze is touching his face and his long hair is flowing with the pace of the wind. He always carries a pony, tightly and neatly bound, which compliments his perfect built and a six feet and an inch long height. But today he has let  his hair flow free. Soon he notices that he is going to light the last cigarette from his pack and even the bottle of whiskey he was carrying is going to end, after his three or more such gulps. He raises his head and sees a windmill swirling at its full pace now making heavy noise by cutting the wind. 

The cool breeze has now started to turn into heavy winds and the sun is going to set within no time according to his phone. Even being on a hill he is unable to see the sun due to heavy clouds which have just covered up the whole sky. With the first thunder of lighting he buttons up his waist coat, unties his tie, and pushes it in his pocket,throws the cigarette and crushes it and picks up his coat while heading towards his custom made matte black colored 4X4. He starts to drive down the hill with heavy rain dripping whole of his body.

He stops his car below a posh multistory building. Climbs up the stairs and heads up to flat no. 51 and rings the bell. Water dripping from his body has made the floor all wet. The door is opened by a woman in her mid 30's. Within a fraction of a second he takes out his pistol from his pocket but still hiding it behind his back. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" the lady speaks.

His hands starts shaking with fear the lovely and cute voice of the lady and forces him to put the gun back again. But the another flash of light, the thunder coming through the corridor window somehow reminds him of his plan, his determination.

He has always done what he wished to do without any second thought. All these things happened in just a fraction of a second.

"I want to talk to you" He says.

"But there is nothing left to talk about now" she replies.

"No one even his parents know that you both are living in. He's always busy shooting, not even able to give you what you wanted and then too you want to live with him!"

"Yes i do." She said with a straight face.

"I am asking for the last time are you coming back to my life or not." this time his eyes, red hot boiling eyes are speaking more than his words.

Every next strike of lightning is making him look like a devil in his open wet hair falling on  half of his face.

"NO!!!! I have already said this a thousand times, i am not.......

BANG!!!! A sound followed the whistle which deafens a person, usually after sound of a big blast. He has covered the sound of the pistol with the sound of thunder. The bullet passes her through and through. He puts the gun back and throws a large packet on her body and rushes towards the lift.His phone is continuously making a beep noise which he turns it off. While coming down the lift he takes out a plastic card from his dripping pocket and throws it in there. Gets on his 4X4 again and heads towards his home.

"OH! you are back sire, should i serve food." says the servant.

"No thanks! you may leave for your home and tell others too to do the same. I want to be alone." he replied.

"As you feel fit sir." the servant whispers and leaves.

"Good night."

               -----------------------------------

"You are hell of a workaholic Shravan." Rashee speaks.

"But that's whats needed to be baby. I want you to have all the happiness in this world." Shravan says.

"We have been together from almost our childhood but you never were so?" she exclaims.

"Because you never demanded these luxuries earlier, a diamond watch, a corvette or anything else as such." shouted Shravan.

"Oh! So you mean to say that you don't have time for me just cos of me only." The famous female weapon called tears by the human race have now started falling upon him.

"What do you want from me?" Shravan stated straight.

"LEAVE ME."

"What? Where does this come from?"

"I am dating Aakash Raane. The real Gentleman. He will be having all the time for me. He is rich, famous and has a family too. he is not an orphan or uncultured person like you. he has been born and brought up by real parents." She shouted in one breath.

This was the last thing Shravan wanted to feed his ears, he just sat on the floor in the corner of the room, stunned. Rashee Hurries all around the room packing her bags.

"Did you see a Black colored card written The Fifty One on it." 

She asked him in a tone as if he has stolen the card. But she was not wrong. A day before he saw the card lying on the the side table and he just slipped it in his pocket without asking Rashee any kind of questions.

"No. And isn't Aakash Raane that infamous and Casanova kind of actor of the film industry?"

"Get your facts correct. Press cannot be always relied upon." she said.

"Rumors too are made up of reality." he smirked and walked out the room, just to see Rashee follow and leave the house.

                                                   -------------------------------------------

Another loud thunder breaks his thought. His phones makes a beep. He takes out his phone and dials a number which disconnects automatically, removes the SIM card, breaks it and throws it out of the window only to fall inside a pond of water. He changes his clothes and lays down on his bed. There are his pictures hanging on the wall in front of him in which he is dressed in an army uniform. He is an EX-ARMY officer and now a top notch real estate businessman.

             

                   --------------------------------

THE NEXT DAY:

All the newspapers are full with news of Mr. AAKASH RAANE killed and found dead with an unidentified body of a woman. the bomb blast was so fierce that none of the bodies' faces can be determined.

                                                             ----------------------------

The card was the entrance key to the The Fifty One which he purposely left for Aakash to open the door and let that high tech packet which he thrown on Rashee's body know of any movement around it just to alert him on his phone and for him to make a call and trigger the bomb.

                         

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Is the story raising questions in your head. Then wait for Shravan's dairy to come with all the answers.