In my Devil's Arms

The next few days passed in speculation.

Zoya was worried about her younger brpther.

" Ibrahim may I have a word", she said.

Ibrahim was sitting with Numaan.

" Speak up Zoya", he said.

" I think Zaid is regressing back", she said.

" Any visible signs", said Numaan.

" He locks himself a lot and looks scared. Rest just instinct", she said.

" You have a strong instinct", said Ibrahim. Now he was worried.

" Money . Start checking any missing finances", said Numaan. " Your father is not good with that".

" I was thinking of an independent audit", said Ibrahim.

" I know the man", said Numaan.

He dialled a number.

" Hello Vinod I need help", he said.

A week later

" Mr. Qureshi", said Vinod to Ibrahim. There are strong loopholes in finances. A large sum is regularly deposited in this account from your company".

He gave an account.

" Look at these cheques. Are those your signatures", he asked.

Ibrahim looked at cheque serial numbers and tallied it with a list.

" No", he said . " I keep a record of serial numbers of cheques I sign".

" Clever", said Vinod. " So these are forgeries".

" Yes", replied Ibrahim.

" Classic Zaid", said Numaan. " Thanks Vinod".

" My secretary will settle your dues", said Ibrahim.

" Thank you Mr. Qureshi", said Vinod and left.

Numaan and Ibrahim cornered Zaid along with his father.

" Where is the money"?

" You don't get it", said Zaid. " I have to do this . Or they would kill me". I need to go".

" The only place you are going is rehabilitation center", said Numaan.

Amongst his protest he was send there.

Two days later the tragic news came....

It was middle of the night. Vicky had made sweet love to Riya. They were sleeping together in each other's arms when telephone rang.

" Who is calling at this time", said Vicky.

He looked at wall clock. It was 2A.M.

He picked the call.

" Hello. Vikram Oberoi".

" Vicky. Its Numaan. Please come to city hospital man. I need you", he said. " Can you bring Riya"?

" Numaan", asked Vicky. " What happened "?

" Zaid is no more. He committed suicide. Zoya.. I .. please come", said Numaan.

" On my way". Vikram was out of bed in seconds. He woke Riya up.

And called Alok.

" Mr. Oberoi", said Alok. " What's the matter"?

Vikram explained. Then said,

" Keep your brother safe. Those men are torturing them. And can please Laxmi come with us"?

" Of course". Alok too was out of bed.

" Hell Vishnu. What a mess you have put yourself into", he muttered.

He called his father.

" Baba, lock Vishnu and keep an eye on him. I am coming. I will explain everything".

Within an hour most of them were at hospital. Vikram,Gaurav, Manav Vinod, Sumeet and Alok. Salman and Aasma rushed from Pune.

Both the girls were wailing over their brother's body.

" Mourn man. Cry", said Numaan to Ibrahim.

" Cry Ibby. Zaid left us".

His brother's death made him emotionless along with burden of responsibilities.

"Mourn Ibby", said Salman.

Finally Ibrahim broke down.

" Zaid", he wailed. " You should have come to me".

" We tried to help", Salman said later. " The boy was beyond help"

" How did he snap", asked Sumeet.

" We tried to force him to rehabilitation center", said Salman.

" Shit man", said Vinod.

A sense of trepidition and desperation came over Alok.

Vishnu He Thought...

The girls supported Zoya. Salman's mother supported Aasma whereas Numaan was with Ibrahim.

" Where is your uncle", asked Manav to Salman.

" He suffered a heartattack. Remains critical", said Salman.

" Damn", said Vicky.

Zaid was buried the next day. Postmortem said he hanged himself.

A sense of doom spread over.

Alok was uneasy. He knew something was going to happen. A bad omen. An unpleasant incident. A ruin of somekind.

Tragedies always line up...

" I feel doom rushing over in our house", he said to Laxmi.

" Alok ssshhh", she hugged him. " You worry too much. Just relax.".

She kissed him. He kissed back. He was desperate. To let out all the uneasiness he felt. Laxmi understood. She welcomed him. She removed her t shirt giving him a tantalising view of her body. And winked.

" Brat", chuckled Alok as he caught her.

She removed his coat and shirt. And then the pants.she let go of her slacks too.

" Lets move to bed", he said picking her up.

" I can't wait".

She giggled.

In their explosive love making all his tensions evaporated.

But tragedy was waiting around the corner.

Riya and Laxmi were at Alok's parents house. Aunty was showing them some old collections.

" Alok's father loves to collect a lot of old things", she said. " Look this horshoe. Its from a battle. This anklet is of a famous princess".

Riya asked a lot of questions.

" Well she loves old things too", said Laxmi to Mrs. Pundit.

It was then she saw the wooden box.

" What's inside this", said Riya.

" I don't know", said the old lady honestly.

At that time her husband came in living room.

" Nothing some old trinkets", he said. He took the box from her hands and kept it away.

" Do you have a key", Riya asked.

" Lying around somewhere", he said. " Didn't see it for a long time".

"YOU ARE A LIAR OLD MAN", boomed a voice.

They all looked up.

Vishnu stood there with a creepy smile on his face. In his hands was a revolver.

" Vishnu", said his parents.

" Ohh no need for your drama", he said.

" Hand me over the box and I shall spare you".

" I knew you were evil", said Laxmi.

" Of course dear sis-in-law. You are a nosy one", he fired on her.

" Aahhh", she cried.

" Laxmi", Riya said.

But Vishnu took her hostage.

" I'll splatter her brains out. Hand me over the box", he said. " I have killed before. I killed Zaid".

" You", said her mother.

" He was a coward", said Vishnu.

Mr. Pundit opened the box. There was a broken sword inside.

" See its just trash", he said. " A broken sword".

Vishnu's eyes twinkled .

"That's what my boss wants", he said.

" Your boss", said Riya softly. " Who is he"?

" Ohhh Riya I so love you. I am doing this for us baby. For us to be rich and happy", said Vishnu.

" Really you think about me", she slowly inched forward.

" Yeah always", he said. " One day I will kill your husband too", he replied.

She clenched her teeth.

" I like you too", she said. She was very close now.

" Really", Vishnu wavered.

Riya kicked him straight in face as Laxmi hit the hand with gun.

Mr. Sharma picked it.

" Maa call Alok", said Laxmi.

" I am calling police".

" You all don't get it. I need that", said Vishnu.

" Stay where you are", said his father.

" Riya I..", suddenly he caught her but she was ready. The earth shook and her body glowed like fire.

" Aaah you", he said.

" Only Vicky touches me", she said.

As they waited Vishnu suddenly started running to kitchen. Before anyone could react he grabbed a knife. He hid from Riya. She had magic he understood.

" Vishnu don't do this", said his mother.

But he snatched the box jumping on his father.

" Stop you abomination", cried Mr. Pundit.

He fired but missed. Vishnu kicked him.

As he got the gun Vishnu shot his father.

Alok had rushed to his house as his father called. Salman and Vicky were with him.

THEY HEARD A GUNSHOT ON THE DOORSTEP.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah", a heart wrenching screeech followed.

They all rushed in. The scene inside was pitiful.

Mr. Pundit was dead. A clean bullethole was in his head. His mother had collapsed and passed out. Laxmi was sitting over her frozen with shock. Riya stood in her place quietly. Tears flew from her eyes.

" Maaa, Laxmi", cried Alok.

Laxmi ran in his arms.

" Alok..this.baba..maa...Vishnu", was all she could say before she collapsed too. Her arm was bloody.

" Nooooo", Alok was a defeated man.

Blood killed blood as evil won.