Sense & Sensibilities

It ends (with him)

There were 5 men, as much as he could see. They would keep a guard, stare at him, then kept up their walking. Sometimes they will talk on phone, whispering too low for him to hear anything.

Arjun didn't know which day it was but he was damn hungry. Thirsty too. His hands and feet had gotten numb being tied for so long. He dozes off in that uncomfortable curling position when his body simply gives up, and it just makes the aching worse. And he thought he had slept in worst positions before- Ravi lodge stiff thin mattress seems like a piece of cake now.

He was waiting, kept his head occupied with thoughts of revenge and murder, but it was too exhausting so he thought random things. About his colleagues – would he even see them? Arjun was cent percent sure this whole situation was going to end up in him being dead. There was no other option, no other way. He will die, he didn't know if he will die here being tortured, or on the way to hospital as his colleagues find him. He will traumatize them further.

Then he remembered a certain someone, and suddenly didn't want to die anymore.

Back to situation at present, he didn't know what was this wait for. And he knew they were waiting – police search for him? Counting on him dying slowly by the way of rotting? Some other persisting issue? Cause sikandar is right here. He's here too, there are men who can kill him. He didn't know why he's even alive, what they are waiting for?

So he waits and tries to understand why. And comes up with nothing. This waiting game, he realises, is once again a game of sikandar. A game he had started to play years ago, kept on running and now he is forced to come back.

Or maybe he always intended to come back like this. To end it in this manner.

On day whatever – he has stopped counting- sikandar comes. Or this is the man who's sikandar, he presumes. If he's going to die, might as well confirm this before his soul leaves this body. What a sad thing to think, wherever his rage vanished? He could kill for a bottle of water now.

On cue, a man forced water down his throat, and he drank it pathetically. Such a weakling he is, he thought and felt disgusted at himself. Satisfied, but disgusted, as he kept panting like a dog, looking up at the man sitting in front of him on a chair.

"I never knew I had made such a damage." The man had answered, a quiet awe in his voice. "I had no idea you existed."

Arjun was insulted a bit at that. But then, of course someone like him isn't the centre of universe to a criminal who probably have killed and maimed hundred of people in his lifetime.

The man let out a laugh, looking at the men around them, "Can you believe this? He's strong, isn't he? Survived 4 days." Ok, there, he got the count. "Lets see if he sur-

Arjun didn't see it coming. A knife going in and out of his midrift in a flash, he didn't even know what hit him for a couple of seconds as his ears buzzed. A gasp left him, and he looked down- blood flew like river from the wound.

He was actually dying right now.

"It's not the same knife by the way, or maybe it is." He shrugged, leaning close to Arjun. He moved back in disgust, not wanting his touch. "Let me see.... Ah, there it is. Boys, have a look at it. Nice curving, isn't it."

He had cut through the bandage and now proudly showing off the scar to his minions.

"I don't even remember doing this."

"You don't?" Arjun seethed.

"No." there was another laugh. "But I can see how it must have kept you up all night. Tell me, ACP, since how many years you have been plotting my murder? Must have seen any dead bodies and thought me in those, didn't you?"

There was a voice in his head – This man standing in front of him is loving the power. He destroyed his life, and he don't even remember it apparently. He always had an upper hand, the power in this twisted dynamic, and it's only helping him to torment Arjun further.

"I didn't remember you." The man frowned at that. "Didn't remember your face."

"Is it?" the smirk, the laughter had vanished. Small victory, Arjun mused. "Even I didn't, . . . . .but but . . . Would you care for a story? It might interest you."

As if he had a choice, Arjun glared at him.

"So there was a man living in the coast of sea. His life was going nicely – he had work, people respected him, he was earning comfortably. He had it all. One day, an annoying, pestering neighbour moved in. First the neighbour made noise, then he threw stones. Then he dented a car. One day, he burnt down a house. Destroyed everything – money, people, respect, all gone. The neighborhood laughed at the man, so he decided to take back the respect the neighbour has to go, of course."

"So, one day, the neighbour wasn't at home. It was tracked, of course – when he's going in and out of house. So the man takes his people with him, and press the bell. A beautiful woman comes out – neighbours wife. She is hesitant, but invites them in. She turns to get some water, then the people attacks. Not much strength is required to tape a woman's mouth, force her in a chair and tie her up, is it? She screams, of course, but none will come. The screams will die in the house with her. The men takes turn to play with her- a knife poke there, cigarette burn here. Thrash on the head with the butt of gun. A hit on her knees. The more she screamed, the better it made the men happy. It went on for a long time, ACP. Then, they remembered, silly men that they were. They were supposed to play with the man, not the wife. So they end it." He paused, "you know how that ends, ACP?"

Tears pooled in his eyes, but Arjun said nothing.

"A knife, of course. Same knife as this, I guess." He gestured the bloodstained knife at that. " first, it was her delicate wrists. Then her chest. Then her back, then some places I don't even remember, my boys did that all. Then we dialled your number – you had to come, finally. She screamed her lungs out in that call, probably hoped someone will come. Stupid, foolish hope. You aren't hoping, are you? Don't be foolish like your wife. Then I . . . Yes, I remember that. So I held the knife like this, and nicked her on throat. A clean sweep. I was always handy with knife, how Swift it is. You know the sound that makes when blood comes out of throat, like . . . " he tried to give sound affect, but Arjun had heard enough. He wanted to vomit, but could only curl on himself and shook violently.

"Boys, you clean this up. Won't take much time, look at him." Sikandar tried to get up. "So ACP. Adios. This is the end."

Nope.

"No last wish?" Arjun wheezed.

"I thought how your wife died tale was your last wish. No? Ok, tell me, what do you want? I can give you a quick death- bullet is a bit Messier but you will be instantly relieved."

His head was too close, and all Arjun wanted was to rip it off. That would have to wait, as he hit it with extreme force with his head, knocking both of them on ground. The men rushed towards them, but on cue, bullets flew around them, forcing them to scattter away to take shield.

The fcking cavalry is here.

Sikandar had realised the same, trying to get away from Arjun but there was no way- he has been waiting for this moment. Dreamt of it every second. His ropes were half torn, legs still tied but he made a grab for sikandar. Pounced on him, twisted his limbs, knocked off the knife from his fingers. Punched kicked hit him uncaring of the bullets flying away. Hit his head so hard on the concrete ground – he didn't count. After a while the man under his stopped moving, dark red blood seeping under his head, and Arjun moved away slowly. It's done. He's dead.

He's dead.

This is over.

And he's still alive.