Chandni's Navel - "Tangled Darkness"

The Rough Draft

Manu slowly walked out of the bedroom, his eyes barely open due to heavy bruising from the beating he took. Knowing he wouldn't be able to go to work in his current condition, he called his manager and made up an excuse to stay home for a few days.

Chandni saw him trying to get a glass of water and rushed over, "Manuuu.... hold on... Let me get that for you...."

Manu held up his hand stopping Chandni, ".... Haven't you done enough for me already? How much more do you want to do? I'm already ashamed of myself.... You have suffered enough.... Your navel... those bastards..." without completing the full sentence, he screams in agony.

Chandni took Manu's hand and led him back to the bedroom, "I'm fine....." she said in a very calm tone, "You think my navel is that feeble?.... To save you, if my navel has to go through a thousand Cosmos and Jumbos... it will ... "

Manu looked at her in surprise, "You're not angry with me?" he asked.

"Of course not.... You are my husband.... We protect each other.... And I love you... And I'm not going to let a few thugs hurt you... and.. if my navel can make them happy.... then they can have my navel.... If it means they will leave you alone... "

Manu hugged her tightly, "Please don't say that...." he takes a mild pause, "But... Thank you... I don't know what I would do without you...." He slowly stroked her navel with his forehand, rubbing it in a loving manner. He told Chandni how sorry he was and apologized for everything, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Chandni very slowly moves Manu's hand that was resting on her belly, picks up the phone and calls Jagan to find out if he had any new update.

Jagan picks up Chandni's call and rushes over to her apartment. As soon as Chandni opened the door, he looked in the direction of Manu, "Is he....."

"Just fell asleep again... He is very disturbed... Thankfully the painkillers have kept him sleeping all night...."

Jagan walks over to the bedroom, "Let me close the door... I have something very important to tell you...." He pulls the chair next to Chandni, "First let me tell you about that fellow from the restaurant...."

Chandni interrupts, "Ohh that waiter that I gave your number..?"

"Yes him... Nassar..." Jagan lowers his voice, quickly glancing towards the bedroom in which Manu was resting to make sure he is not awake, "I met Nassar late last night after his shift ended.... He is the head waiter there. Believe it or not he can manage 5k... I haven't confirmed anything with him yet... since I wanted to talk to you first.... So?... what do you think...?"

Chandni closed her eyes, took a deep breath and thought about it, "Let's bring in this guy...?"

"I have already discussed the matter with him and what to expect..." Jagan trying to force the words out, "Your... Your navel will be ready?.. I mean.. After what Cosmo did... "

"I am fine... My navel is fine... And Cosmo is no different than anyone else... I handled you, Balveer and Cosmo.. All of you.. Didn't I? I am ready..." Chandni shook her head in dismay pointing out her other concern, "I still have to take care of Jumbo," she said. "And on top of raising 2 lakhs.... I have to worry about paying the bills too.... Now that Manu will be home for a few days, his income for the month is also going to drop."

Jagan tries to console Chandni. But, she knew that it was not going to be easy.

Jagan leaned in again, "I also have to tell you about Balveer's friends," he said. "If you remember, I told you about them.... They're not rich, not by a long shot..... They're all like him, always looking for quick schemes to get rich... instead of focusing on work... But...but combined, we can probably pull in at least 20k from them."

"Combined....? ... That is a bit vague.... How many of them are we talking about....?" Chandni exclaimed with a concerned face as she held her gorgeous belly.

Jagan chuckled, "It's not dozens, I promise.... Maybe four or five people. Each will contribute a different amount, but the total could be up to 20k..." He paused, looking at Chandni with concern. "I know this is a lot to handle," he said. "But the situation is quite dangerous.... Look at Manu's condition.... your financial needs..... I... I'm not just your neighbor.. I'm also your friend. I only want to look out for you. Believe me."

Chandni glared at Jagan with a concerned look as she asked him, "Are you sure you can keep track of all the people you're adding to the list... and the amount of money they can contribute?... to be honest... I am already losing track of what we have planned so far..."

Jagan nodded, "I'll make sure everything is in order... Just trust me...."

Chandni sighed, "If we don't raise the money.... they're going to hurt Manu... and one way or the other... I am dumping it all on you it seems.... I am not sure if I should thank you or should I say sorry...."

Jagan playfully smacked Chandni's hand, "You're embarrassing me..." he said, "It has been my pleasure to be at your service...."

Chandni gets up giving Jagan a smile and walks over to the writing desk and pulls open the drawer. She took out the folded chit and checked the number on it. "This is Jumbo's number," she said. "I promised him 30 minutes with my navel making a deal... in which he and Cosmo will leave Manu alone.... I am not sure even how many times I will have to oblige them with my navel..." Making a face, she said, "I should call him today so I can get that first round out of the way... or they're going to start hurting Manu...."

Jagan's eyes widened. "You can't do that... It's too dangerous."

Chandni shook her head. "I don't have a choice," she said. "This is the only way to save Manu."

Jagan grabbed Chandni's hand as she was about to dial the number Jumbo had given her. Chandni looked at him, surprised by his sudden possessiveness. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm trying to save you from yourself...." Jagan said, "That guy is trouble.... You saw what he and Cosmo did to Manu...."

"I can handle myself..." Chandni said. "And besides... I don't have a choice... I have to call him."

They continued to argue, their voices getting louder and louder. Just then, Manu walked out of the room. He looked at them, confused.

"What are you two up to?" he asked.

Jagan quickly let go of Chandni's hand. But, she dropped the chit she was holding, which had Jumbo's number on it. Manu picked it up, "Whose number is this?" he asked.

"It's nobody's...." Chandni said, "Uhh.. Uh.. Just the wrong number...." Manu looked at Chandni, "And you keep track of all the wrong numbers by writing them on a piece of paper.... ??... Does my forehead have stupid written on it? ... What are you hiding... I clearly saw you two almost cut each other's throats just a minute ago... What is going on...?

Chandni sighed, "Fine..." she said. "It's.... It's Jumbo's number...." Manu getting furious, "What? Why do you have their contact number... Why are you calling them...? What is happening?" She gave Manu a detailed account of the events that had transpired with Cosmo and Jumbo, and how Jagan had come to her aid after he had been knocked unconscious by Cosmo's punches. Manu could not hear another word, "Stop.. Just stop it... I am so worthless... How can I willingly let my wife submit her navel to those thugs... thugs who are planning to hurt me... or even kill me...?? I am the world's most useless husband..."