Hadh...Out of Limit

Chapter 27: Shiza - The bandit Queen?

Arpita began telling her the whole story, everything about Shera. "The biggest name here after Shera is Mahua. She is the only one that has control over Shera. No one has seen Shera, how he looks, what he does. All we have ever seen is, his pack and Mahua", said Arpita

"Mahua? His mother?", asked Shiza

"Supposedly, No one knows for sure. Mahua is a very big name here, but no one takes it. She is evil and heartless. All fear this name, everyone around here; even Tahir Sir. No one will ever take names, or speak of your husband's whereabouts", replied Arpita

"You know?", questioned Shiza with shock in her voice

"Yes, all of us do", said she, then added, "The whole district knows that Mahua has abducted a rich businessman from Allahabad". Arpita looked at Shiza and said, "I know where he is. I will take you there".

Arpita could see through the braveness of Shiza and could clearly see the fear in her eyes, "Don't worry, you will get him back. Don't fear anything, you have taken this gun, use it wisely", said she then added with a certain passion, "Shoot anyone who comes in the way"

Shiza was a little astonished at this statement. She glanced up at Arpita, who was all fired up. Shiza couldn't help but question, "You don't fear them?".

To this Arpita smiled, "I DO"

"Then you know the consequences, why are you helping me save my Husband?", asked Shiza

"Because I couldn't save mine", replied Arpita with tears in her eyes.

Shiza just stared at her blankly. "Mahua shot him, right in front of my eyes. I couldn't do anything. He was the chief inspector here before Tahir sir", she grabbed the wheel tighter and added, "I went from door to door, for help, cried for months. Begged with my own department for help, but no one did. No one spoke against Mahua, No one. After a long struggle for justice, I was tired and gave up. Mohan never got Justice. I know he won't forgive me, for not trying enough", said she then looked at Shiza and added, "I don't want this happening to you. I know what the burden feels like, what the guilt feels like, I don't want you to feel that", she then paused and added, " I know this step of yours is stupid, impulsive and careless. Anything can happen there. They all are monsters, especially Shera, but I am helping you. Because I know what it feels like to be a helpless women, doing nothing. Asking for help from door to door and getting nothing"

Shiza just looked blankly at Arpita, as she drove the jeep. Shiza blocked her thoughts after what Arpita told Shiza about her husband. She could not even think about this. The mere seconds of this thought, sent chills across Shiza's spine. She was trying to hide her tears that were flowing constantly. She grasped the Gun tighter, as if trying to remind herself, what she was about to do. She did not know anything about where she was going. She had only seen dacoits in movies, she had an idea that they are in large groups, but they would certainly not be like movies, no heroes, no change of heart will happen there. They will be ruthless, heartless and Evil, like Arpita had told. They shot her husband right in front of her eyes.

'May be because he was a cop?', Shiza thought to herself trying to attribute their behaviour. "Zuhaan is a business man, they won't harm him. Maybe they want money?", she questioned

"Shiza you are right by your logic. But these are not gangsters or local goons, you never know what their true intentions are", replied Arpita. She was, in a way, very rudely straight forward. She did not want to give any positive hopes that may later turn out null. Unexpected happiness is always a blessing, but unexpected grief, intolerable. This moment felt weird to Shiza. She was getting restless, all the memories of Zuhaan, flashed in front of her eyes. The wired part was, the bad moments, also seemed well now. She closed her eyes, and her tears but free to flow. She was feeling each moment. The first hug, the first talk, the way Zuhaan talks in metaphors when he says something good. Shiza couldn't help but cry, she couldn't imagine anything happening to Zuhaan. Her heart was pounding out of her chest, she was palpitating and fear was the most common feeling of every organ of her body.