Chandni's Navel - "Tangled Darkness"

Instinctive Choices

Tears stream down Manu's face as he remains consumed by anguish, unable to shake the horrifying image of what those individuals did to Chandni's navel. Sensing his distress, Chandni gently reaches out to him.

"Manu.... it's alright. We'll deal with it... but dwelling on it right now won't help us"

Manu sniffles, his voice choked with guilt, "I can't help but blame myself for what happened to you.... and your... your navel... those bastardsssss...."

Chandni places a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Manuuu... Manu... listen to me... This wasn't your fault.... You couldn't have predicted their actions.... I think I have found a way to handle it... but right now.... we need to focus on your healing... and also... my navel is fine... and my navel will always be yours no matter what..." Chandni moves the pallu of her saree, showing her navel to him, "Look.... it's still here... isn't it still as attractive as you always found it... Look... Look..." and she gives him a smile.

Manu looked into Chandni's eyes, her words comforted him slightly, "You're right, Chandni.... I need to let go of this guilt and trust that we'll overcome this together... and your navel is mine... only mine...." his words slithered due to the pain.

Manu was badly injured from the merciless blows Cosmo delivered, struggling to keep his eyes open, eventually the exhaustion took over, and he drifted into a deep sleep. Tears finally stopped flowing from his eyes, reflecting the deep emotions and pain he carried within was paused for the moment.

Seeing Manu's battered body, bruises and wounds covering his skin, serving as painful reminders of the violence he had endured. Chandni knew, despite all his physical pain and his emotional anguish, the problem was only temporarily resolved. Cosmo and Jumbo will keep on showing up till they retrieve the money for their boss.

Chandni picks up the phone and calls Jagan, explaining to him the entire situation, Jagan rushes over immediately, Chandni opens the door for him as she points towards the bedroom, "He has finally fallen asleep... but I know him... he is going to feel bad about what happened..... And I am worried he is going to do something stupid and get hurt again.... "

"Relax Chandni... Relax.... you have to stay calm ... I will try to do whatever I can to help you....." he notices Chandni's navel and belly, "Did they really... I mean...."

"I had no choice... I was ready to do whatever possible to save Manu... I will sacrifice my navel to anyone if it is about saving Manu..." Chandni takes a pause. "They are blaming Manu for the money that was stolen... and since they could not find the real thief... they are now making Manu responsible to return the money... and.. and they are coming for their first installment next month... 2 lakhs in cash..."

"Next month???... 2 lakhs??... Chandni you have managed to make some money by finding suitors for your navel.... But for this kind of money... you know... your navel... I mean... " Jagan anxiously rubs his hands, as he could not say the words.

"Jagan.... I know what you are indicating... I... I am ready... my navel is ready... Just find suitors who are willing to spend slightly more money... if possible..." Chandni looks into Jagan's eyes, "... I...will... I will make sure you also get what you want...."

Jagan felt a gush of joy within him, but he maintained his composure, "No Chandni... No... I look at you as a friend... You can worry about me in the end... Let's first try to find a solution for this problem.... And alongside help you with your own financial troubles... We have a huge task in front of us...." Jagan gets up, "Lots of work to be done... Let me go... find Balveer... Chandni... We.. I mean you... You are sure about submitting your navel to anyone... I mean do you have any reservations at all???.. Balveer's friends are not exactly rich guys and they are not exactly made of great character... if I give him permission.. He will bring some of them... I think we can make 15 - 20 thousand at least... what do you say?"

"I have no choice... Just let me know when you have someone over at your flat... I will show up with an open mind..." Chandni says it with a straight face but manages to put up a mild smile.

Jagan was walking back to his flat, his phone rings, a number he does not recognize shows on the caller id, answering the phone, "Hello... Who is this...?"

"Hi... Hello... is this the phone number of.. I... I got this number from a lady..." says the person on the other end.

"Who gave you this number...?.... And first tell me who you are....?"

"Sir... I am Nassar.... I work at a restaurant... and this very beautiful woman... she was here with her husband the other day..... She.. gave me this number for..." the man takes a pause, "I have proof... I have her paper napkin on which she wrote the number...."

Jagan trying to understand who the person was, it struck him how Chandni and Manu were going on a couple's date to a restaurant, when he ran into them as they were leaving.

Jagan asks the man to describe the woman, and the description he got was very similar to that of Chandni. He asked the man to hang up and wait for his call. Not entirely sure he called Chandni right away, "Chandni... did you give my number to someone at any restaurant?.... Some guy... Nassar... called me..."

Chandni thinks for a moment, "Nassar? I have no idea who that is.... Ohhh.. noo... wait... I think the other night when I was out with Manu.... I may have passed on your number to this employee of the restaurant... who was continuously staring at my belly... at the time I felt he was a potential suitor... I had a full glass of wine and maybe I wasn't thinking properly.... You can ignore it... not sure what I was thinking at that moment... and he is not going to be able to spend a lot of money anyway... just ignore him.... As it is, we have new problems to deal with..."

"Chandni... hold on... I think it's worth it... you want me to find out and see if he can spend more than 5k?.... I know it's not a lot but right now with the issues you are facing... every penny counts.... I am sorry... but.. but.. your need for money is.... I mean you are in real money trouble.... So just allow me to check it out...." Jagan insists.

"I guess so... I picked him that night... even if it was the wine talking... I chose him... I may have seen something in him... you are right... worth a try... my money problems are too big to let go of any opportunity...." Chandni hangs up with a deep breath, hoping her complex situation does not get more tangled.

Jagan on the phone, "Hello... Nassar... I am Jagan.. The number you dialed a few minutes ago... Do you have time to talk... but not over the phone... can we meet in person...?"