Whims and wishes

Middle of Nowhere

"Hey, can you drop me in town if you are going that way"

The girl just noticed him but now look more annoyed. Then glanced at the old man standing near the door of the old house.

Don exepected the old man to resist but his expression was fixed. It was somewhere between anger and "do whatever you want"

Then his lips moved.
" You owe me money" With this words he turned around and went inside.

No wonder the women left this guy, Don turned to the car.

" Okay, I can drop you in town. But please dont try talking"

People who usually met him think he dont even have a tongue and here someone was taking him to be a chatterbox.
Car was a safe bet. Walking around in this parts of country with a bag, he will stand out like a sore thumb which wont do much good.

               *          *            *

Vishva leaned on the lamp post and watched the people moving like ants across the street with bowed heads.  Most of them were going home from their work. Everything in the street looks warm and dusty. 

In his police uniform he stood out like a bollywood hero on his latest movie poster. Most of the girls in the town had a big crush on him. But last year his reputation changed from the chocolate boy to the town terror when he trashed and burned an autowala(autodriver) for
not giving space for his cruiser bike.

Unlike his dad Balakrishna he was not so cunning but have inherited his temper and ironfist.

"The people of this town are little people who would have lived this same life somewhere if not here. Somebody will make use of them if not us, if they step out of line show them the line".

His family have made and ruled this town and one day it will be him and his brothers ruling them.

Then he saw a strange sight. A man wearing a jeans and tshirt was walking from the corner.

Vishwa slowly walked towards him.
The man was carrying a bag as well. A tourist in this town is a rare sight.  The two auto walas were glancing back and forth between the stranger and vishwa.
They were as confused as he was. Halfway across the street he came side by side with the stranger.
" Excuse me officer, is there any hotel here where i can stay"

Vishwa studied the stranger.
The traveller was a bit taller than him. Even when the loose tshirt covered his phyisique he could see his strong hands and scars on his elbow.

"Its hard actually, in these parts" Now his focus was on the bag which he noticed was a travel bag.

"There is a hotel at that end. Get some food and get back to this bank, I will be here"
He pointed to the steel door facing the street. The stranger looked at the board read that read "Krishna and Sons finance".

Vishva had a quality that none of the krishnas could boast of. He read and observed a lot which was one reason he passed a government exam and another reason he deducted that the new man was in some kind of bad trouble.

When life gives you an opportunity knock its teeth off. He kick started his cruiser bike and took a U turn and rode back to his house. The sound of the engine lingered in the sir for few seconds.
He have to make a few phone calls to nearest police stations.

                  *          *             *

Don felt that his windpipe was getting dry and could crack at any moment. When he reached the hotel it was crowded.
He ordered a chai and vada. He looked at the strangeness of the street. The crowd in front of the tea shop appeared sweaty and dull. Much of the elder people were expressionless or too tired to show any emotion while the young people were chatting like they didnt notice the gloomy vibe.

Around 15 minutes later he was back in front of the bank. He checked his jeans pocket and found a one rupee coin. Don was not a fan of randomness. On the opposite side of the road there was a small phone booth. There was a young man sitting next to it on a broken chair that holds the shape thanks to the bunch of knotted ropes. 

He dropped the coin in the phone and dialed sinhanias office. It rang twice and there was a coarse voice at the other end
" Hello, Sinhanias Office"

"Hey, can I talk to Ashishji"

"Sorry sir, he is on a buisiness trip. Can you call us back later or state the buisiness if it is urgent.

" No its urgent, can I talk to khalid bhai or rajivji"

There was exchange of few words at the other end and a familiar voice spoke.

"Who is this? "
" Don"

" Oh its Rajiv, see things are not going smooth here"

" What do you think is happening here. Am in the middle of fucking nowhere with a bag of drugs that may worth lacks. Tell me what am I supposed to do here"

"Get back somehow, can you do that" Rajivs words were firm and emotionless.

Somewhere something was wrong. This was unlike the Rajiv bhai he knew who mostly kept his cool.

Don took a deep breath, then asked

"What happened? ".

" Saheb had a heart attack, its serious"

"What... "
Shocking news are common in his field of duty but this was something he never saw coming
Ashish Sinhania was a person who was always there and was expected to be there for eternity.

"This deal is between you and saheb. His sons cant know about this, I cant do much now. Come to the office here and meet me Or khalid bhai. Dont try contacting through phone"

The line went dead with a beep.
He looked out to the bank and saw the officer staring and smiling at him.

His smile could have been uplifting if not for that dead glass look in his eyes.

.

.

To be continued: