On the Run

Chapter 6: Bargaining Chip

10 pm, UB towers, Bangalore.

"I think the police have finally called off the search! Phew!" I sighed in relief.

I looked at Nandini and she gave no reaction whatsoever. In fact, I realized she hadn't said a word in the last twenty minutes. It had been nearly twenty-five minutes since I had been waiting for the police to leave, keeping watch from the balcony of the tenth floor. However, I was so busy talking to Cabir over the phone that I didn't notice her odd behaviour until now.

"Nandini...Helloo...Nandini?" I attempted to bring her out of her trance.

It seemed to have no effect on her. I didn't have time for this!

"Nandini!!"I screamed and shook her by the shoulders. This seemed to do the trick. She snapped out of her daydream and looked at me with sad eyes.

"You're a criminal? A murderer?" she said it so softly it seemed as if she doubted her own words.

I was taken aback by her words. "Where did you hear that?" I snapped.

Suddenly I observed her expression change from sadness to disgust. There was a new found hardness in her eyes as she spat-"On the news!! You killed your own father? What kind of a heartless human being does that?! And then, you kidnap me when I've done nothing to you! Stay away from me! People like you should be rotting in prison!!"

I took a second to fully absorb the weight of her words. I felt disappointed and hurt. She believed that I had killed my own father? She just heard the news and decided that I was guilty, in her mind, without even thinking that there could be two sides to the story! I knew she didn't have a good impression of me, now that I had abducted her, but how could she believe that I was a murderer? Whatever happened before the police arrived, did I just imagine it all? I thought we had a connection...that deep down somewhere she would trust that I wasn't a killer! But I was so wrong! She was just like everyone else!

Manik, control your feelings! Or else you'll never fulfil your mission! I thought to myself.

"Shut up!" I finally screamed at her. "Whether, I am a murderer or not, is none of your concern! Think whatever you want to think! I don't care!" With this I took her by the arm and pulled her into the elevator with me. She started protesting immediately but I was too annoyed and exhausted to care. Finally, when we reached the basement, I dragged her to the relatively secluded place where my car was parked.

Just as I was about to shove her in the car, she screamed and said "Where are you taking me? I'm not going anywhere with a criminal like you!!"

I made her sit in the front seat and replied, irritated,"Mujhe bhi tumhe kidnap karne ka koi shauk nahin hain!!It's just that I need you to extract something from the Singhanias! Otherwise I wouldn't be tolerating you for even a second!"

She seemed utterly confused. My mistake! I ended up saying more than I should have! I immediately started the car and drove out of the building, as soon as I had taken my seat.

"What do you mean you need to extract something from the Singhanias? And why do you need me for that?" she asked.

"Are you or are you not Madhyam Singhania's fiancée?" I asked rather loudly. It was so irritating to drive and be interrogated at the same time. I had to do something to shut her up!

"Yes... but... I'm not..." She said unsure of herself.

"Since you are his fiancée, you must be valuable to the Singhania family! They have something I need! I'm going to use you to get what I need! Only when I've acquired it, will I let you go! Make no mistake, Miss Murthy, you are nothing but a bargaining chip to me! And don't you dare try escaping! Trust me you'll regret it! Get this in your thick head!" I explained harshly revealing as little as I could.