The whole day passed in sorrow for Chaits & for Alisha trying to console him… Alisha woke up to the delightful sound of chirping birds & looked at the mist of the morning in the jungle – took a deep breath of fresh air felt fresh…
She realized how beautiful the nature was around her. Then she remembered how Chaits had been crying the whole day & quickly dashed across to his room & knocked gently. The door was open & not bolted. She peeped in & saw Chaits sleeping. His cheeks smeared with tears that had overflowed.
She sat next to him caressing his forehead with care & concern. She hoped that Chaits would get over his sorrow quickly.
Chaits had a very uneasy sleep – Priti & his friends had haunted him in dreams asking him – nay nagging him for justice. He felt comfortable as Alisha’s hand caressed his forehead & passed off into a deep sleep.
This time no dreams haunted him…
He woke up around noon feeling fresh… in a moment everything that happened in the past whizzed around & realized how comfortable his sleep was after Alisha soothed him in the morning. He entered the main hall, he saw Alisha intently watching her news channel on TV.
“Thank you – Alisha” said Chaits gratefully, “without you – I’ll be lost” & sat next to her. She put off the TV & put an arm around him to acknowledge his appreciation – thankful that he’d overcome his grief that engulfed him when they’d entered L7. She got the teapot that she’d kept above the fireplace to keep the tea hot & served it to Chaits.
“I’ve to inform Mr Patel & Inspector Sharma that I’m here…” said Chaits & got up, “Would you like me to order food now?”
Alisha nodded & he left and he returned in about 30 minutes “Inspector Sharma is planning to start the manhunt for Vicky & his gang – day after tomorrow. He’s roped in a regiment of State Reserve Police to assist him. They’d start off from a point about 200kms south & approach us from there… he’s asked me to keep a strict vigil on this side & report If I see any strange movement of people.”
“Fantastic!” said Alisha excitedly & got up, “I need to go to Sundernagar”
“Now?” asked Chaits…
“Yes – now” said Alisha, “I thought a lot about the jungles & decided that we’d need help. Vicky’s got the local tribal folks on his side & uses them as his resources. So to camouflage our real motive – I asked my crew members – my friends who helped us escape from Delhi to join us here… they’d be arriving at Sundernagar by today evening & would join us in our search operation here… for the Tribals – it’d be a TV channel getting a documentary made on their life – behind the scenes – we hunt for Vicky…”
She looked intently at Chaits & saw his bewildered expression – then all of sudden – he smiled, “You’ll never give up – and that’s real creative – just like a fiction book or a movie – I hope – this will work.”
Alisha’s heart started beating faster as she saw smile on Chaits – this was the first time – he’d smiled – he’d been serious – he’d been glum – he’d been angry – but first time since he’d heard the news of Priti’s death – he had a genuine smile on him – and that smile made Alisha’s knees go weak.
She smiled back at him, “It’s better to be in a company when exploring unknown dangerous locations”… and Chaits agreed…
Alisha drove off into Sundernagar to meet & get her crew to Jungle Homes – she was to return next day morning, Chaits had expressed his desire to be alone at Jungle Homes for a day & Alisha yielded.
As soon as Alisha drove off to Sundernagar, Chaits got up & put the gun & holster on his shoulder wore a jacket over the holster so that it was hidden. He wanted to stride into the jungles – alone. He didn’t want to risk Alisha’s life & wanted to get a feel of jungles & be comfortable before venturing into it with Alisha….
He first strolled across the perimeter of the Jungle Homes to check the fencing & any possible openings to Jungle Homes apart from the main gate. There seemed to be no openings & the fence was barbed the entire perimeter.
Then he kicked his bike & told the reception that he’s going out to refuel his bike.
He was sure Alisha would call as soon as she reached Sundernagar & he didn’t want her to worry. He came on to the main highway & sure enough saw the fuel pump about a kilometre away on the Mumbai road.
After filling a full tank – he drove on the highway and crossing over to the Goa road. He was scanning the perimeter of the jungle that he had to walk through in his hunt for Vicky…
He would have travelled around 70 odd kilometres when he stopped at a local tea stall. He stuck a conversation with a local person & tried getting as much info about the jungle as he could…
The local person owning the dhaba told him many things that he wanted to remember… The jungle around had wild animals like wild boars, hares, snakes – of which cobra was most feared – he also related stories about green coloured poisonous snakes that rested on top of the trees & had a habit of biting heads of unknowing animals & people alike – then he mentioned a fort about 20 kms south which was more famous for migratory birds & hosted a small temple where local Tribals led a sacrificial rites on No moon’s day.
Chaits couldn’t resist himself. He left his bike parked at the Dhaba & walked on foot toward the jungle. The dhaba was placed atop a hill & from the ledge Chaits could only see dense forest around. Satisfied that he could locate the hill from a distance – he walked into the forest. He carefully watched all low branches for the green coloured snake supposed to bite the head…
He found a sturdy stick like branch that lay on the ground & picked it up to fend away any creatures that’d cross his path… He carefully trod the jungle for about an hour. The silence of jungle seemed to get on his nerves. Even the flutter of birds that flew from one branch to other at a distance seemed very loud.
He heard some scraping noise on the ground ahead of him & stopped in his track, barely breathing – trying to find the direction of the sound. He had been walking straight & knew the direction back as he watched the compass on his wrist watch steadily pointing the North…
He stealthily tip-toed toward the scraping noise – he stopped dead on his track trying to regain his breath & pacify & soothe his taught up nerves – he looked at a 5 feet long cobra slithering away in the jungle. He let out a sigh of relief as the cobra disappeared…
He looked at the compass & back tracked to the place where he had heard the scraping noise who he thought was created by the cobra & started treading ahead with more caution & stealth.
He’d have walked into the jungle for another 15-20 minutes when suddenly he heard a loud bang & saw the bark of the tree next to him ripped off… It took him a long moment amid the flutter of birds around to realise that someone had fired a bullet at him. Instinctively he fell on the ground & rolled off to his left even as he heard more bangs & bullets ripping the trees & the ground…
Chaits hid behind the tree got out his revolver. His eyes were scanning all the vacant places between the trees. His ears all craned up to listen to any noise that could herald the advance of person or people who were shooting bullets at him…
He realized Alisha’s wisdom to have a better chance – you got to have a company around. He moved swiftly from one tree to other as more bangs told him that bullets were still coming his way…
He slowly got used to understand the direction of the bangs that fired bullets at him. He knew that he was ill equipped – he had only 8 bullets that his revolver could manage & he didn’t know how many were firing at him…
He thought for a moment & decided that he’ll use his gun to scare them into hiding & make his way toward them & then use his basic strength & fight them with his bare hands “That’s so stupid of you” he realized and said to himself & decided that best course of action was to get out of the situation – alive – and live to fight another day…
He looked at his compass to confirm which direction he needed to take to return back to the dhaba…
He swiftly moved out from the tree he was hiding behind & shot a bullet toward in the direction of the bangs. He heard a faint cry of agony as he realized his bullet must have hit its target – one of his attackers. He started quickly back tracking even as the bangs stopped. He knew that his attackers were stunned – they wouldn’t have expected Chaits to carry a gun…
Chaits ran zigzag avoiding the trees as they loomed up ahead in his path. He did hear some more bangs & found bullets missing him by yards. Clearly his zigzag running was causing confusion in the minds of his attackers & they weren’t able to aim properly… After a short sprint – Chaits again took cover behind a tree breathing hard & trying to listen to any noise of steps running behind him. He realized that Alisha did make sense – Jungles are different from cities because we’re not accustomed to jungles…
After a minute’s pause, he again made a dash toward the dhaba & heard the bangs again. He quickly hid behind another tree & swiftly shot another bullet toward the bangs.
He ran again as the bangs stopped for few moments. He knew they were following him – how he wished for an open space where he’d be able to see them & their position clearly…
This running continued for few minutes… he had exhausted 5 bullets in bargain & knew that the dhaba was just another kilometre away… he was about to make another dash when he heard bangs coming his way again… he muttered softly under his breath & braced himself to peep out & fire another bullet…
Hardly had he peeped out when he heard few more bangs – this time the bangs came from opposite side… fortunately they missed him with yards & he heard another cry as one, of his attackers got hit by the stray bullet coming from the other side…
Chaits realized that he was now trapped from two sides… the only way left for him was either side – he couldn’t run toward the attackers nor could he make a run toward the dhaba – he checked his compass & ran toward right as it would take him to the main road near the dhaba… he must have sprinted about 20-30 yards when the noise of bangs resumed.
He tried to concentrate to understand the direction of the bangs through his heavy breath… He realized that the bangs were against each other & they continued… It dawned upon him that some unknown gunman was actually helping him by shooting at his attackers – he heard another cry of agony as one more of his attacker got hit…
Soon – it seemed that the tables turned… his attackers seemed to be on the run… He shot another bullet toward the retreating attackers & heard another cry as his bullet found its target wounding another attacker… this was followed by a volley of bangs that seemed to be located toward his right… he stealthily made his way toward the gunman who had come to his aid…
He looked at an unknown person who had his back toward him in a position to fire away if the attackers regrouped or attacked again… He took a stealthy step toward the gunman who suddenly turned around & pointed his gun at Chaits…
“Careful – young man” he spoke in a thick raspy voice “you don’t seem to be one of them.”
Chaits looked at a man who measured around 5’7” in height, had a slender build… he seemed to be around same age as himself – he had an ugly scar running on his neck, starting just below his left ear going down toward his chest – his eyes seemed familiar to Chaits… he had a shabbily growing beard on him & looked as if he’d not shaved for about a month…
“Even you don’t seem to be one of them – anyways – thanks for saving my life” said Chaits…
“Fuck your thanks” he said angrily, “I’d laid a trap for them & they’d have been dead by now”…
Chaits was taken aback by his fury which made him realize that attackers must have mistaken him to be this person’s aide…
“How should I know that you’d led a trap for them? I’d just entered to see how a jungle actually looks like” said Chaits indignantly…
The gunman gave a smug smile & menacing laugh in his coarse, raspy voice “Do you take me for a fool? No person in his right mind will enter a jungle with a loaded pistol – tell me to believe it if it seems phoney – next bullet from my gun will kill you…”
Chaits related his story about his friends burnt alive at Jungle Homes & told him that he was there to get them alive & hand them over to law for legal proceedings…
The gunman laughed recklessly again, “Do you think after what you just experienced that it’s going to be easy to get to them in the first place – forget getting hold of them alive?”
“I know – it’s difficult – but I’ll do it – I don’t want any other group of friends, anywhere else facing the same fate as my friends – anyways – what about you? Who are you & why are you gunning for them?” asked Chaits.
The gunman sobered a bit after hearing Chaits’ story and said, “Let’s first start walking toward the main road before they regroup & attack again” and they started walking as the gunman told his story…
“I’m Mickey… Capt. Mickey D’Souza. I look a bit scary now – but I was a very handsome looking officer in the army. One day I got orders from my command & I proceeded to Kargil with my company – It was a hard battle that we fought for our motherland with the enemy…” here, he paused, looked lost in his memories of the battle…
“One of those bastards threw grenades at us – I could see my men blown off I fired at them from a close range & killed the bastards who blew away my valiant soldiers – but the last one threw a grenade at me before being killed by my bullets & I can only remember that one exploding in my face…”
Chaits was thrilled to listen to a battle reality from a soldier & was engrossed in listening to his story…
“When I recovered – I found myself lying in a military hospital – my face was totally destroyed in the grenade attack & the doctors had worked very hard to give my face a human shape. The scar that you see from my neck… basically, are stiches which are supposed to be removed in another 2 weeks – then my face would look much better than now…
Chaits looked at him & nodded though he didn’t understand how that’d make a difference – the only thing that’d change was the scar like stiches that would vanish.
“I was thus recuperating in the hospital when I read a letter from my family who owned a small individually built home at Nala Sopara near Mumbai… it was on the outskirts… the locality was growing fast – it still is…. One of major builders in that area wanted to develop a huge scheme & was acquiring land to do so… my house was located in that plan… he had already acquired the land around my home by promising a decent flat to the owners who gave up their land for the project… they approached my father with the same plan – the plan was good – however my father wanted to discuss with me once before conceding… due to this sudden insurgency – I got orders to move to the battle fields – the builder seemed desperate to complete his project so he hired the underworld services to threaten my family – THEY KILLED MY FAMILY IN COLD BLOOD… A soldier who fought a hard battle so that people here can be safe, secure & get their dream projects completed without any fear of external enemy – they killed his family in cold blood for a small piece of land…” Chaits could feel his rage as Capt. Mickey shivered in his ire…
“My father, my mother, my two brothers & my sister-in-law they were all killed. I lay numb in the hospital for about 2 days. They had removed the bandage on my face – I couldn’t recognise myself imagine you waking up one day & losing all the people you call as your family and with a face that’s not your own…”
“I can understand how you feel…” said Chaits experiencing his agony, “my friends who died at Jungle Homes were my family”
“You only would understand a part of it” said Capt. Mickey, “not only had I lost my family – I’d lost my identity – the face I looked at in the mirror – didn’t belong to me so nobody except the people at the hospital knew how Capt. Mickey looked – I was sad but my soldier instincts were strong & Nothing’s Sweeter Than – Revenge…”
Chaits could see unfathomable hatred in Captain’s eyes…
“I absconded – instead of my name in the list of honour – my name now features in the list of deserters – when I surrender to my command – I’ll be court-martialled – but I’m ready for that… The military police are looking for me & I’ve to hide from them as well…”
Chaits had a question mark on his face “as well?” but he didn’t interrupt…
“I couldn’t see the sight when I reached my home at Nala Sopara – I contacted my friend – he couldn’t recognize me & I had to tell him my story for him to believe me… you see my vocal chords are affected – I cannot shout – I can only speak in this low voice if I shout – I’ll lose my voice forever… then I started staying with him & snooped around for guns… finally found the guns I needed with the bullets – a person sold them to me illegally. I thought that the person who supplied me with guns would be associated with the murder of my family one day I invited him for a drink & purchase more bullets… I managed to get him drunk & he told me all he knew about the murders… the builder had approached the Kingpin to help acquire the land of my family – the Kingpin then asked Vicky to threaten my family away & sign the agreement with the builder… on that fatal day it seems Vicky was drunk beyond control & when my father opted to complain in police – he lost his head & attacked my house & murdered everyone… now I’m going to kill him…”
Chaits kept a re-assuring hand on Captain’s shoulder & said, “I want to find him – as well”
“There’s a difference” said Capt. “I’d like to work with you together, we’ll demolish his criminal structure in the jungle – but – it’s only till here that our goals are remain same – once we get him – I kill him & you want him alive – now that’s going to be difficult – at that time – our ways part”
Chaits looked at the Capt. decided he’d not argue with him at the moment but eventually convince him to capture Vicky alive & hand him over to the police… “Ok” he said in agreement…
“Another thing – young man” said Capt. Mickey, “remember who we’re up against you’re too trusty – how did you know I wasn’t associated with Vicky? Never trust anyone when you’re on such a dangerous mission – it could be fatal…”
Chaits just nodded soon they reached the tea stall, Chaits & Capt. had tea and snacks – the physical activity had made them feel hungry. Unknown to Capt. Mickey, Chaits clicked his photo from using Alisha’s hidden camera “Never Trust Anyone” these words echoed in Chaits’ mind as he pondered on Capt.’s story….
He kicked his bike & returned to Jungle Homes without any further episode, refuelling his bike on the way…
Once back, he called Inspector Sharma & related the incident along with Capt.’s story & asked if he could get more bullets – Inspector Sharma confirmed that he’d arrange to send a pack of 1000 bullets to Jungle Homes & asked Chaits to take care…
Then he called Alisha to find how she was doing deciding that he’ll relate the incidence to her next day when she arrives at Jungle Homes…
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