The utmost respect you can give a female is to accept them as they are. I and Ashok got separated for a similar reason. But Ashok, is nothing like Rahim. He respects women but to an extent you couldn’t digest. He is ideal boyfriend; any girl can ask for. That’s the problem, you either worship women giving them all the power or enslave them. Men have to learn to be with women. The most beautiful thing, two opposite genders can give each other is freedom of another person. I still touch that fantasy, what if the day we separated never exist like the country Runisia. That’s the problem of being in a relationship. When you face a problem, you cannot stay with person nor away from them. Both ways, you are trapped within your own decision.
We stepped out of the car near the airport. Walking as quickly as possible. Pushing the people away from the line. I enquired at the cabin crew and one of the them, guided us to Siraj’s cubicle. We were asked to wait as they inform them. My gaze crawling all plain walls and empty ceilings. Heart is beating faster as we rushed here. While it’s difficult to walk on heels, I don’t know, how many ladies manage to walk on high-heels so easily?
Ashok went to fetch some water for us ‘Sorry, Aditi. You aren’t well. I rushed you’ She sighed and didn’t say anything.
A voice approached ‘Haven’t you already printed the news?’ said Siraj from behind
‘I’m here for the same.’
‘What can we help you with?’ tilts his head ‘Madam?’ scratching his back oddly ‘Journalists have a wider reach than our whole police department.’
‘This time, I’m here to help you, the news is for your department’
Pitching his look at me, sat on the chair comfortably, while we were still standing.
‘This is serious,’ I turned towards Aditi and introduce her ‘This is Aditi Sharma.’
‘Then?’ Siraj totally uninterested.
‘Wife of Rahim Razak’
He shifts his attention gazing at Aditi; He picks up his mobile phone and quickly dials the number and waves his hand at us, to sit down. ‘We are coming to meet Rahim’ But surprised by the reply ‘What?’
‘What happened?’ I got up from my chair. He didn’t respond to me.
‘He escaped?’ continuing his stress over call ‘Search the hotel and nearby areas, I will be there in few minutes?’
‘Who escaped?’ I understood that its Rahim, but still confirming.
‘Rahim!’ He rushed and we followed him.
‘Fuck! My jeep has gone for patrolling’ Siraj gulped.
‘Siraj, where to go? We can drop you.’
‘Are you sure?’
Three of us got into the car.
Ashok’s voice hardens ‘What is happening Meghana?’ he yelled, leaning over the steering wheel.
‘Will explain on the way.’ I replied.
‘Imperial Hotel.’ said Siraj. Ashok throws a look at me and revs the engine.
‘Why is he staying in a hotel?’ I asked Siraj
‘Thanks to you,’ sarcasm swelled through his words
Ashok and Aditi looked at me.
‘Sorry?’ muddled by his statement.
‘When we informed our higher officers about the incident and your presence. They were afraid, what if Rahim is innocent, then police department will suffer from the media trails.’
‘So?’ felt a flush of anticipation.
‘Until proven, that he is a threat. They decided to keep him under police surveillance. We kept two armed officers with him 24x7.’
‘But how could you do that?’ I skreiched. ‘He can be a fucking terrorist’ trying to hold my anxiety.
Both Ashok and Siraj looked at me.
‘Aditi is the prime witness. The very reason why I bought her here.’
Clueless Siraj ‘Can you elaborate?’
Gazing at Ashok, who is still killing me with his angry stares. He is the only person in the car, who knows nothing about it. I respect his patience. I will explain everything to him. Once I get complete understanding. This case is just moving around in a maze.
‘Aditi told me that he delved into some bad influence, after he lost everything and joined an activist group which may have links with terrorist communities. We aren’t sure yet.’
‘So, I was right. It was all a lie. I should have trusted my instinct.’ Siraj said.
I don’t completely agree, he might be making early assumptions about a person without studying or observing them. His instinct could be wrong on many occasions. He continues to provide the details he received from his investigation team.
‘But every document he acquired from him, was genuine and not a faked, except for the Runisia part. Rest everything was completely original as per Iran’s government and verified. We mailed it to various foreign authorities to verify his identity, we cannot arrest him until we have a solid proof. So, until we get the reverts, we received orders to observe his movements.’
*****
Grand Imperial Hotel, Mumbai.
13th August 2011.
Two police officers approached us. Ashok hits the break at the entrance of the Hotel. It is a giant building, nothing less than a five- star hotel. We got down and Ashok left to park his car in the basement.
‘He is nowhere to be found. Nobody from the hotel has seen him leaving the hotel.’ One of the officers informed.
‘I thoroughly checked the CCTV footage, Sir. No sign of him anywhere.’ Shivdeep Informed.
Strange. Where did he go then? Did I make a blunder yesterday? By taking Rahim’s side. It will be
