EIGHTEEN
Sanjay was roaming in his room like a ferocious caged tiger. Kanuba was caught… he was to be freed immediately… by hook or by crook.
Urmil was followed too… now if the girl was caught… everything would be over.
She was to be removed from her apartment. Sanjay picked up the phone.
Urmil returned home and entered the bathroom. It was very hot and sultry. She couldn’t do without a shower. Her phone rang.
It should be Sanjay, surely. That guy didn't give anything in return... Sanju must be enquiring. What would happen to her? A severe punishment was awaiting.
Urmil hurried out and picked up the handset.
It was an unknown number. True Caller was showing the name, Adnan Qureshi.
… My God, who is that? Must be that man who came to meet her. It could be Sanjay too, must be calling through some other number.
A shiver ran down her spine, she had goosebumps.
"Oh Jesus! Please save me. Why did you put me into this?"
She was sure that it was a packet of drugs. Urmil was sad as she thought of herself as a criminal and remembered Mother Patricia. She was so hopeful about Urmil. Mother said "Keep yourself attached to good deeds, always."
What types of good deeds She's attached to?
Urmil called back as the phone stopped ringing and could hear Sanjay's hissing over the phone.
“Where were you? You have committed a big mess today. Come at once. I'm texting the address from another phone number. Don't keep this phone with you."
Urmil had a quick change and slipped out of the flat wearing a pair of jeans and a top.
She called a cab, looked into the message and instructed the driver to move towards Patparganj. She didn’t even have a faint idea of the location or distance of the destination. She got frightened as she came to know that Sanjay was helping some terrorist groups with money and arms… but Urmil was sure that he was not the head of the group… but he must be knowing who was there behind all these.
Urmil blamed herself for being guilty of the same crime. When she was able to find out at the beginning that she got caught into the trap, she should have ended her life but she didn’t have any idea that she was such a coward and so, she had become a puppet in Sanjay's hands.
Within a kilometre of her journey she received another message "Leave that cab and return home in another… will talk later."
Urmil took out the small make- up mirror from her purse and tried to have a view of the back of her car without turning her head. There was a car seen at a very short distance. Was anyone following her?
Sanjay must have the knowledge and so instructed her accordingly.
Urmil couldn’t find the car as she got out of the cab. That car had just vanished.
Urmil did not understand exactly what Sanjay was trying to do.
She returned home in another cab.
Riaz Khan was alert after receiving Dharmesh Dhawan's phone call.
"Sir, Salman called up. He was near the girl's house to track her. The girl boarded a cab to go somewhere but left it midway and returned home in another. She must have realized that she was being followed."
"We have to reach the root of the organization at any cost. We have to acquire the information about how they are getting all the news before us? What a deadly network they have! Is Salman keeping an eye on Veronica?" Riaz Khan was eager.
"Of course sir, I am in touch with Salman. I will let you know as soon as I get the information. Don't worry sir, we will succeed." Dharmesh was very positive.
Celebrity Gym, 'Health Spot' was just outside Lal Bahadur Shastri Complex where Urmil's flat was located. Officer Salman was spending his time there as he wanted to keep an eye on the people leaving or entering her apartment. Salman Javed got friendly with the instructor, pretending to be an exercise freak.
His personal trainer, Vinod's eyes flashed with admiration and he said with a smile on his lips "Great physique sir. Regular practice will keep you in shape. I generally train celebrities and they opt for tough ones. You can do whatever you like, there is no compulsion."
Exercise maniac Salman forgot why he was there in the gym and went with his practices.
At about one am, Urmil walked out of her flat, covering her face with a scarf. She quietly walked towards the small gate at the back of the complex. That gate got locked at night but could be sneaked through without being noticed. After reaching the gate, Urmil hid herself behind a large tree and waited for a while. As soon as the watchman went out of sight, she took the chance.
Oh, a part of the wall was broken and was covered by shrubs and creepers.
God is kind enough.
Urmil marked her chest with a cross, removed the bushes and crept out. The sleeve of her shirt was torn off. With the burning sense, Urmil realised that her arm was scratched.
She started running frantically as she wanted to get out of the locality... as far as she could. She didn't have anything to eat the whole day. Both of her legs were shaking, but there was no way to stop. Her tennis training was helpful and she kept on running.
After arriving at the crossroads, Urmil stopped to take a deep breath.
Some stray dogs kept staring at Urmil with suspicious eyes. Urmil turned to a statue, holding her breath.
The dogs came near, sniffed at her and walked away. They got busy arguing among themselves on some unsolved matter.
She waved at a running taxi to stop it.
The driver inquired about her destination.
"Where to?"
The place she had heard about from Asthaa flashed to her mind and she said "Ramakrishna Puram"
"Too far madam, give me two hundred more on the meter price."
Urmil dumped herself over the seat and closed her eyes.
She tried to call Asthaa but it was unanswered.
Upon re-dialing, the recorded voice said "The number is now out of reach."
Why didn’t Asthaa take her call? That had never happened before. She had answered Urmil's midnight calls too and appeared at her door whenever she needed her.
Asthaa's address was not known to Urmil and so she had no idea how to reach her house.
… Is Asthaa alright? She didn't have any idea about what had happened to Urmil. There was a difference in their lifestyle. Asthaa's life was much better, she was not an orphan like Urmil, she had family support to stand by her and dreams for a bright future.
The car stopped with a sudden brake and Urmil's head got hit with the front seat. By the dim street light she could locate a black car parked horizontally in front.
Two shadowy figures approached Urmil's cab. Before the blink of an eye, the door of Urmil's car opened and two strong hands pulled her out. Urmil couldn't find the cab driver. A handkerchief was pressed on her face and she got unconscious after struggling for seconds.
Dumping her body in the back seat of the car, they sped away.
