Judaiyaan [ON HOLD]

Necklace

“What deals did you make with ILF? What is your connection with Doctor Karplin? Why did you know so much about him?”

Darshan tried his best to lift his head, which felt as heavy as a rock. His vertigo, as always, came at the wrong time when he needed all powers to stay awake and alive. His face was barely unidentified. Bruises and scars were covering it. A handcuff tied his hands to his back, leaving him with no power but to accept the violent treatment from the agent. He had been receiving constant beatings for the last two hours for not giving information regarding the group he worked with before. Blood that mixed with his own saliva had pooled inside his mouth which made him spat to the side. It was not only blood and saliva that came out of it, but also one of his broken molars.

Another jab landed on his jaw, causing the excruciating pain that made him lose his sight. Everything just went blurry for him. His ears made some buzzing noise that caused him to shut his eyes tightly. The man with a brass knuckle kept throwing questions but all he could hear was only a fading voice. His head hurt as hell. His stomach growled like he just wanted to puke up his organs and die.

“We knew your people killed him. An innocent. You called that a movement? Fighting back for justice?”

He smirked. “An innocent wouldn't kill infants and elders.”

He had been keeping his mouth closed during the whole interrogation. When he used it carefully, the words stabbed the agent right into his heart which succeeded in hurting the blind idea he believed. The brave action cost Darshan another hít on the face. He growled in pain, again.

“Why doesn't he just tell them?” Some of you might have asked. Well, it made no difference to him. Even if he told them the information they wanted, he would still be a dead man. He was already unwanted in this world and he did not want to be a traitor to the idea he fought all this time. Even if he had to die, he would prefer to breathe his last breath in dignity.

**

Ridant entered his apartment in hasty steps. His trembling hand held the necklace tightly while his eyes looked for his mother. She was in her room, sitting near the window with a book on her table. He only stared at her for a moment.

Since he met the stranger at the Thames river bank, he could not get the necklace off his mind. He was too curious to know about its history. He wanted to know why Mahika gave him the same necklace as Birju. He really thought there was something about it that could not be explained with one sentence. There was a story that he did not know, something that his parents had been hiding from him for a long time.

“Ridant? You're back,” Mallika said while closing the book she was reading.

Seeing the smile on his mother's face, Ridant suddenly smiled too. He walked inside then kneeled before her. The woman looked so much better than a few weeks ago.

“Mom, there is something I want to ask and I need you to answer it truthfully.”

The question struck Mallika. Her stable heart beat suddenly stopped for a few seconds before rapidly beating again. Her eyes stared at Ridant's eyes which were full of curiosity. She began to wonder what it was.

“Someone gave me this,” Ridant opened his fistball hand, uncovering the necklace he received from the stranger. Mallika examined it carefully. She remembered it but some parts of her memories had faded. She remembered it was a part of something important, but failed to remember what it meant for her son.

“Is it true that Mahika aunty sent this for my first birthday present? That you rejected it and got it sent back to her?”

“I remember,” Mallika said while still examining the necklace. “I remember the day this gift arrived for you. But I don't remember why I rejected it.”