Don 3: Heart's Desire

Chapter 48

'The plan is very simple. Simple yet efficient. Malik trusts you. He won't suspect a thing. He's well aware of what a toll this whole thing has taken on you. He knows you've been struggling for the past years. The fact that I supposedly took you hostage in Paris only aids the plan. That is, unless you told him you came along willingly'

Roma blinked at him a few times. He was speaking so cursively and coldly in his signature Donish manner that it made it difficult to focus 'I still wouldn't say willingly. But no, I never denied that you took me hostage. Actually he kept repeating that I was in shock and that I needed a break'

'Excellent. You've been seeing a shrink, a certain Ms Juhi'

'How do you... nevermind'

Don smirked 'What you don't know is that not only I know of your psychiatric sessions, but that actually Malik arranged for them. He's probably informed about your condition regularly'

'...Kya?'

'That's right'

'I can't believe this'

'Malik never trusted you. He wanted to know you weren't secretly plotting with me or something. He's very condescending and suspicious, Roma. He's been kind to you, but for a reason'

'Baas!' Roma whispered, her voice cracking '...I can't believe this!'

'It's natural for a detective to be like this, Roma. You can't blame the guy, really' Don chuckled but then cleared his voice when he saw how deeply disturbed Roma was

'This is bad... so bad... God' Roma placed her head in her palms 'When I called Juhi to cancel my appointment I told her I was back at the office'

Don's expression turned very sour. He got off his chair and lit another cigar as he did so 'When was this exactly?'

'When you gave me my phone back'

Don ran his hand through his hair as he exhaled the smoke furiously

'Did I screw everything up?' Roma asked nervously

After a long pause Don said 'Don't worry. Slight change of plan'

She looked at him questioningly as he sat back at the table opposite of her

'But you'll have to go back at the office for a while'

'Oh God...' she placed her head back into her palms

'It's too risky otherwise'

She sighed and after a long pause of her side, she finally asked 'Phir kya?'

'After we make sure he's not on to us... which will also include your going to the shrink and complaining about how you can't cope with the whole situation anymore ... you'll hand in your resignation to Malik, personally'

Roma looked at him intensely. It made sense and all, but how was that going to free themselves, she wondered.

'He'll sign it on the spot, after you'll impress him into thinking that you simply cannot go on working for the Interpol, under any circumstances. And I know you can be pretty convincing' he raised his eyebrow 'But along with your resignation he'll also sign... let's say a couple of legal documents... that attest the fact that I am free of any legal charges'

Roma's eyes widened 'What?!'

Don grinned and exhaled the smoke joyfully 'Simple yet efficient, as promised'

'But... but... Malik saab will get into a lot of trouble because of this!'

Don shrugged 'Mujhe kya? I warned him times and times before, darling, but he never listened... Don ko pakadna mushkil nahin, namumkin hai!' he finished with a serious look on his face

Roma immediately began crying and Don put out his cigar and again came and crutched next to her 'Sweetheart, what is the matter?'

'What's the matter!?' she whispered between her tears 'This man has always been there for me'

'He was using you, Roma! Wake up, darling!'

'No, no!' she shook her head and got off her chair then headed towards the window 'This is wrong!'

'Ok, then' he said coldly 'Don't do it. Let's just elope and hold our breaths hoping that the Interpol will never find us. Is this the kind of life you want? On the run every single day? 'Cause I'm sure as hell sick of it!'

Roma looked back at him with teary eyes. Her heart was breaking. What he was asking of her was huge.

'Why do you care about the old man so much? He's been keeping things from you this all time, using you, exploiting you even knowing fully well what your condition was' Roma kept shaking her head in denial throughout his speech 'You're forgetting something. Nothing will happen to him unless he finds out about the documents. If he never confronts us, he'll never know. The minute someone will try and arrest me he'll know. He won't know how it happened. He won't know how I got worldwide immunity'

'It'll have his signature on it!'

'That's why it'll be in his best interest to halt all searches. I'll deal with him and assure him that if he tries anything stupid he'll end up suffering'

Roma looked away again. It was all just too unbearable to think of

'He won't ever know it was you, Roma'

'That's not the point!'

'I think it is. Nothing will happen to him unless he really asks for it. Trust me, I've had it all figured out' he said as he approached her and hugged her from behind 'Relax, sweetheart. I knew it'd be difficult for you. But you need to realize that some compromises have to be made. There's no harm done if he keeps away. I'll make sure he understands that very clearly'

'He won't keep away... Yours is the only case he hasn't solved'

'Well nobody's perfect' Don chuckled 'Come on now, loosen up sweetheart. I hate to see you like this'

Roma turned to face him and tried to smile but failed miserably 'I'll get my mind around it. It's too new and shocking now'

Don kissed her temple and tightened his arms around her 'That's more like it. It'll all be over soon. We just have to be really careful'

'What's the matter?' Don mumbled and pulled on her arm gently trying to get her back next to him as she sat on the edge of the bed

'Kuch nahin...'

Don turned on the side lamp and slid to face her 'You've been crying'

She looked away 'No, I'm just tired...'

'Roma' he said more seriously 'Don't lie to me, please'

'Ok... I'm sorry... I just need some time to figure things out'

'Matlab?'

'I mean clear my head... of course I'll go through with the plan. But I need to make my peace with it'

'I told you nobody's going to get hurt as long as Malik drops it. Sweetheart you need to understand that I could have done this very differently and much more affectively had it not been for you. You're helping him, really. What I originally had in mind involved much more suffering of his part, believe me'

Roma closed her eyes shut and tried to chase those thoughts away

'So really, think about it. I'm choosing the most peaceful way here. He's a smart man. He'll make sure nobody finds out and all 3 of us will be clear'

Roma took in a deep breath

'I'll bring you some water' Don said and he got out of bed. As she looked at him leave she knew in her heart that she belonged next to him, for better or for worse. She knew she had to do this and, after all, she wasn't harminganyone. But some compromises had to be made, as he had put it.

When he came back with her glass of water he smiled sweetly at her and she couldn't help but smile back 'That's more like it, my sweet kitten' he caressed her check and handed her the glass

She drank it up and switched off the lights, then cuddled next to him feeling safe in his arms, slowly drifting away.