Modern Art College, Mumbai
1P.M.
Aditi Rajput walked out of her final class for the day and breathed a sigh of relief.
" I am glad I am done for the day", she said." My professor is a devil. He finds mistakes in anything I make. The light is not clear, the shadows are wrong, be bold and finally you don't know anything about art".
" I am so sorry ", said Monty her classmate. " Professor Sen is a bit partial to boys".
" Hump", snorted AdiAditi. "This way I am never going to graduate. Maybe I should change majors. Try some hand at acting".
" I can introduce you to our theatre group. You know K. Kaul. He directs the play", he said.
" I know him. That's so cool. He is hot", she said.
" His boyfriend is more hot", replied Monty.
Aditi shrugged.
" Cute ones always play the other side", she sighed. " I wish I get a hot boyfriend too".
Soon she started attending groups and getting smaller roles in play.
One such day
" Holy Moly you are the only daughter of business f*cking man Kedar Rajput", said Tripti.
" Why did you never said a word about it", asked Meeta.
" Though my dad supports my art interests he wants it all hush hush.. Well he wants me to have my own identity.", she said.
" That's great", said Rakesh. " I rarely witness men so firm on women rights".
" I am lucky", she said.
" You bet you are girl", said Tripti.
" Don't tell anyone", she said.
But after that day something changed.
Her professors praised her. Miraculously her roles in play improved.
Rakesh begrudgingly said to her one day,
" You have a natural talent for acting".
Kash just scoffed and left.
" Whatever ", he said like a Diva.
But Aditi also changed a lot after that. She became bold with her dress choices, feminist movement gripped her, socialist values changed the girl into an angry youth. She took part in a lot of street plays. She stayed late at college and for plays and made many boyfriends.
One afternoon
Aditi was dressing up after her afternoon tyrst with her lover.
" My dad is a hypocrite ", she said.
" Why", asked her lover.
" He pretends to be all this modern but has arranged a marriage for me with his business associate", she said.
" This is it for us Diva", said her lover sadly.
Aditi looked at him with tears in her eyes.
" No darling I can't leave you. I love you", she said.
" Then let's elope and get married ", he said.
" Ohh darling", she said.
" But I have no money ", he said.
" I do my love. Loads. I'll take everything and we will elope", she said.
" Good", said the man. " I will wait for you".
She said her goodbyes and left.
And immediately her lover's persona changed.
INTO THE REAL ONE
ONE THAT OF A PREDATOR.
He dialled a number.
" Hello", said a voice.
" We got money ", he said.
" You really know how to get it Ronjon", said the voice.
" I know I am the best", he replied.
Meanwhile
Aditi returned to her house in pretty low spirits. She bathed and donned a night suit. She was about to sleep when she sensed it.
A presence in her house. She walked cautiously though she was freaked out.
Suddenly a man grabbed her from behind. She was ready. She easily tackled him to the ground.
" You feline creature. My back hurts owww".
The girl laughed.
" Eagle! Can't say I didn't expect you. Want a drink? "
" Get me up first", said Viru.
She helped him.
" Hello dream girl", said Eagle. " What do we have"?
She was no Aditi Rajput. She was a soldier on duty.
Earlier
" Banerjee is a bug", said Guru. " We need a honey trap".
" We have our man Banerjee", said the girl smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
" Proof", asked Viru.
She showed the paintings, bank accounts and few e-mail mails and chats.
" Jaibait helped", she said.
" I see you have more", he said as she handed him a nail
" Got caught in my scarf", she smirked.
" Brilliant ", said Viru. " What now miss? Are you free"?
" I guess I am", she batted her eyes.
Viru pulled her in his arms as his lips found hers.
The Honey Trap worked.
The hunt was complete.
Now
Jeet was hurrying towards his office. Chanchal's teary face haunted him. He found out from Usman she confided in Rash. He will tackle that later.
Guru greeted him as soon as he entered the office.
" Where is Eagle", he asked.
" Incoming", said Viru as he entered the office.
" What do we have", asked Jeet.
" Ronjon Banerjee ", said Viru. " A. K. A Rakesh Das".
" He ran away from Kolkata faking his death", said Guru. " Then came to Mumbai with a new name. Pattern is same. A penniless talented artist. Theatre. Poisoning minds of young boys and girls ".
" Girls sir. Trapping them with love and eloping. Probably eliminating them or if she escapes blackmailing her to silence and easy money", said Viru.
" Thought of himself as a great actor huh", grunted Jeet.
" Except our Kitty outsmarted him. Hacked his chats and mails too and got us a dna. Perfect match", said Viru proudly.
The men cheered.
" Brilliant ", said Jeet. " Arrest him. Any accomplises",?
" A few numbers we are trailing ", said Viru.
" Then no one must know of his arrest", said Jeet.
" Very well sir", said Guru.
" I want more hustle. Deepak is coming out with this new policy", Jeet said.
Guru grimaced.
" Rash showed me. Why does he need to be so straightforward? Calling bull to hit him. Even Rash is rattled. And she is as thick skin as they come".
" Heaven save me", said Viru. " You make me face her again and I quit. "
Jeet laughed.
" No promises", smiled Jeet. On a serious note he said,
" Deepak is not going to back off. That one is a Daredevil. We must be alert".
" Yes sir", both the men replied in unision.
Later that evening a police team quietly arrested Rakesh Das while he was on his way to a hideout. His theatre group was informed he went back to his village. The money route of red forces were cut. For now the threat over his leader and city was gone.
He quietly headed home. Rash would be another interesting challenge.
" Oh my Queen. I so need you", he mumbled to himself.