Sajjan wanted to travel out. He knew he hardly had few days left at Dheemapur to complete the mission for which he had travelled there. He also wanted to search out the ‘bad uncle’ who tried to kidnap little Leela. He was now very attached to the little girl and wanted to ensure her safety when he was ready to travel out of Dheemapur. He couldn’t leave Leela in the state of shock she was in. She was sleeping soundly again, the wounds on her arms and her back had almost healed.
‘Could she be putting an act of being in shock?’ he wondered, ‘I think I saw an expression of surprise on her face, just like Amar, when I spoke the threatening words about killing the bastard who tried kidnapping little Leela in a most brutal way. Everyone believes that I’m a saint and such words from me are unexpected.’ He looked at sleeping frame of Leela and started to wonder again, ‘Somehow I want to believe her to be genuine – yet – she has been leaving a scope for me to doubt her – she many times, doesn’t seem to be what she is and seems to be pretending. If she isn’t what she is – that means – my mission here is in jeopardy.’
He spent the entire afternoon explaining Amar about the development work he would need to continue once Sajjan moves out of Dheemapur. He saw smoke emanating out of the chimney of the outhouse even as the evening set the sun. He quickly made his way to the outhouse and saw Leela mechanically preparing the evening meal – still expressionless.
He informed Amar that Leela seemed to be feeling much better now. Her wounds had almost healed and she was able to move around and do household chores normally. Yet she seemed to be lost and silent.
After the meal he held her hand gently and softly proposed her to go out on a walk to the machan with him. She absently nodded her consent and followed him. He now was almost sure that she was putting an act of being in shock and was thinking of ways he could blow this act of hers away. He remembered that whenever he had mentioned Rajasaab or his men or Rana, she had been uncomfortable. He thought of talking about them to see if she reacts. Once they settled on the machan, he told her about his meeting with Rajasaab and how he had promised to help him out with development plan at Gadhchiroli. He then broke the news about how Rana’s men had been found murdered and Rajasaab had asked him if he had a hand in killing those men. He looked away in despair. She had shown no reaction to his narrative.
“Four down – One more to go.” she absentmindedly murmured and quickly bit her lip. He was quick to notice her expression turning from the shocked one to a hatred one and then back to the shocked one. Then he realized that she had murmured in fluent English. Adivasis do not speak in that language. They are not taught this language. Yet, here was an adivasi girl, sitting beside him, who had spoken in fluent English.
“Who are you?” he asked her in a stern voice grabbing her wrist even as she realized her act of being shocked was blown. She quickly twisted her wrist and freed herself. She quickly descended the machan. He couldn’t let her get away – his mission could be in danger. He jumped from the machan not waiting and grabbed her from behind even as she started to run away. She quickly bent over and lifted him over her back throwing him off about a couple of yards away and started to run. She was surprised at the quickness with which Sajjan recovered and blocked her way.
“So – you are a judo expert as well.” he said a bit wary and watchful of her moves. She lashed out at him and he avoided quickly following with a kick at her legs. She lost her balance and fell down. He took advantage of her fall and leapt on her, grabbing her and putting a painful body lock on her.
“Let me go” she almost screamed out in pain and he tightened the body lock on her.
“Either you talk – or –”, he said in a menacing tone, “Bear more pain. The choice is yours. I don’t want to hurt you. If you leave me no choice, I got to hurt you till you speak.”
“Okay. Okay.” she gasped out in pain, “I’ll talk.”
“Be sure that you speak only the truth – one word of untruth and you will know that I’m not a saint.”
“I’ll speak only the truth. Leave me.” she gasped, the pain unbearable now. He tightened the body lock further and held the lock for a couple of minutes so that her limbs were numb and ensured she would be unable to make any quick moves.
‘I cannot jeopardise my mission’ he thought, ‘If she is dangerous for my mission, I’ll have to kill her though I’ve grown fond of her. That’s the only option.’
He slowly released the body lock and sat next to her. She looked at him, her eyes full of tears. His steady gaze was merciless.
“Go on. And I want – only the truth.”
She nodded affirmative, tears in her eyes, numbness and pain in her body, wondering how could a saint like Sajjan know self-defence tactics so well and could use the tricks so effectively. One look at his fixed gaze told her that there was no escape.
“I’ve always told you the truth.” she said in a low voice, “The truth was in tits and bits. That’s the reason you couldn’t guess that I am an educated girl. I can speak English and I know tactics of self-defence.” she winced as he grabbed and twisted her arm, “Please don’t hurt me anymore. I’m speaking to you and speaking only the truth. Please give me a chance to explain and tell you the complete truth.”
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- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/