Take a chance on me, p.30
Take a Chance on Me, page 30
“Lina, you don’t need to be afraid. You did a brave thing by coming forward. So why don’t you tell me exactly what you saw?” Veejay asked.
Lina described in detail the entire incident. How she was standing by her window and was about to go back in, when she saw Keya park her car on the opposite side of the street. Keya’s car, the BMW X6, was what attracted her interest in the first place. She was admiring both the beautiful woman and the car she was driving when she saw, out of nowhere two goons come out from behind Keya and then one of them put his arm around Keya’s waist and before she could even move they had covered her nose and mouth with a cloth. Keya had lost consciousness and they had bundled her up and put her in a white van and had sped off. The entire incident happened so quickly that she didn’t have time to note the car number, she told them regretfully.
Sameer saw Kabier react very badly to the incident. His face contorted in fury when he heard that the goons had put their hands on Keya. Sameer put his hand on Kabier’s arm, holding him tight. Kabier looked at him and Sameer silently shook his head. Any rash reaction was not going to get them closer to Keya.
Veejay next questioned Munir thoroughly. He didn’t get into all the details as Sameer had already briefed him on his way here. But he did ask some pointed questions.
“OK Munir, I know Trisha is not at her place as I had that checked out after I got the address from Sameer. Is there any other place that you know she could possibly have access to? Some place that she could keep Keya without any worry or fear of being caught, by snooping neighbors or something like that.”
“I am not sure. She doesn’t have any family that I have heard of. But, it could be possible…” Munir shook his head and continued, “My farm house is on the outskirts of the city. She has the keys to that. She may have taken Keya there. There is no one there, no servants, no neighbors around, nobody.”
“Give me the address,” Veejay said.
Veejay then related the address to someone over his cell and said, “I have sent Trisha’s picture to the police in the area near the farm house and asked them to check for a white van near the farm house. Let’s see what that comes up with. In the meanwhile, I want each of you who know Trisha to describe her to me.”
So turn by turn he questioned Munir, Janak and Kabier about her.
“Keya had told me once that Trisha was dangerous. That she was always wary of her. But I just brushed it aside. I guess her female instincts were bang on target where Trisha was concerned. I wish I had listened to her,” Kabier lamented, as he also detailed to his friend how Trisha was involved in stealing information from the company and passing it on to their competitors.
Even Raashi and Sheena told Veejay what little they knew of Trisha and what they had seen of her on the yacht. Raashi also described how both Keya and she had seen Trisha stage her fall on the yacht in order to get Kabier’s attention.
Listening to all of them, Veejay finally said, “I think she is obsessed with getting everything that Keya has. First it was the job position and now it’s Kabier. What may have started out as plain rivalry has become a desperate obsession for Trisha.”
Veejay picked up his ringing cell, he moved to the side to talk. When he finished he came back to the waiting group. “I have some news. The local police have confirmed that a white van of a similar description to what Lina has given, was seen in the driveway of Munir’s farm house. Also a fuel pump worker in the area had filled gas for Trisha in her car a while back. So I guess Keya is at the farm house.”
“Oh thank God!” Sheena said.
“Kabier, it’s not over yet. We don’t know for sure whether Keya is alive or not. But…”
“No Veejay! She is alive. I know it,” Kabier said.
“In any case we don’t have time to waste at all. We have to get this over with immediately. But I can’t just barge in there with my people. That may make her panic and do something drastic. Instead, I think the key here is the element of surprise. From what I understand, Trisha wants you. So she’ll be shocked when you show up at her door. That will give my people enough time to assemble and disarm any goons lurking in the shadows. I’ll be right behind you, so you’ll be safe. But you will have to be the first person to go inside. Are you okay with this?” Veejay asked him.
“I’ll do anything,” Kabier replied.
“But you have to be calm Kabier, for both your sake and for Keya. One mistake and it will all be over. You need to buy us time when you are in there.”
Kabier nodded, understanding the implications.
“So let’s go. There is a chopper waiting for us at the airbase close by and the rest of the task force has already been dispatched. We will assemble a mile away from the farm house.”
“I am coming,” Sameer said.
“Me too,” Rishi added.
“I am coming too,” Raashi said softly.
All the men turned to look at her. Sheena pulled Raashi towards her. “Raashi it’s too dangerous, you can’t go there.”
“No Sheena. I want to be there to see that she is alright. Don’t you see it’s my fault? If I was early today then she’d be here and all this wouldn’t be happening. Kabier I am coming with you guys.”
Kabier looked at her adamant face and then turned to Sameer, “Some help please,” he whispered.
Sameer stepped forward in the direction of Raashi while Veejay, Rishi and Kabier left the office quietly.
“Raashi, you can’t come with us, Sheena’s right. It is dangerous,” Sameer said gently.
Raashi shook her head and was about to say something when Sameer interrupted. “No, Raashi. Please don’t be difficult about this. I have enough to worry with Kabier going in alone. Don’t add to it by insisting on coming along. Please go with Sheena to Kabier’s house. I promise I’ll get Keya back with me when I return.”
Reluctantly Raashi agreed. “Okay. You take care. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Chapter 34
It had become pretty dark in the room. Keya had just about gotten accustomed to seeing in the dark, when the door opened and the lights were switched on. Blinded temporarily she stumbled as she tried to sit up. A voice caught her attention, “Well, well, well, the princess is finally awake.”
Keya recognized the voice even though her eyes were still adjusting to the brightness.
“Trisha, I don’t believe this. ‘You’ had me abducted?” Keya blinked as she tried to focus on Trisha’s face through the bright light. She had been left alone for a long time and she had no clue as to how much time had passed since she had been brought here.
“Why would you do this?”
“Oh come on Keya! Do you seriously think that I would let you marry Kabier? He is mine, you know, I want him and I always get what I want. And, you Keya, were proving to be a thorn in my side,” Trisha said scathingly.
“What is your problem with me Trisha? Why do you dislike me so much?”
“You have had everything so easy in life; the job, the promotion and now Kabier. I, on the other hand have had to struggle to get every little thing.”
“That’s not true. You know nothing about me or my past?”
Trisha looked at her contemptuously and spat out at her. “Do you know how difficult it has been for me growing up? My father died when I was young and my mother was a teacher in my school. We barely scraped through our life. I lived on the grudging charity handed out by relatives, for years; even wearing their hand me downs. And then, when I was eighteen and didn’t have fees for college, I had to sleep with a married cousin of mine, for four years whenever he demanded, just so that he would pay my college fees. Do you even realize how humiliating that was? To be so thoroughly used.” Trisha’s eyes were filled with hate.
“And then I joined Sehgal Systems, thanks to Kabier’s reference and for the first time I got something easily, without any struggle. I thought I would work hard and reach the top, which I did. But then you came along. Initially I thought you were like me, from a middle class background, working hard to make it in life. I really liked you then Keya. But then, suddenly everything changed. Janak Sehgal took a special interest in training you himself. He never did that for anyone, ever. But you were special. He preferred you over everyone. I tried hard to get him to notice me, but he had eyes only for you. And then two years back you were awarded the position that I so desperately wanted, had worked so hard for. And to make things worse, you inherited all that money too.”
Keya looked at her shocked. How did she know?
“I know what you’re dying to ask Keya. I know because I spied on you and eavesdropped on your conversations with Janak Sehgal as often as I could. One afternoon during lunch, the two of you were sitting on a table close by, I heard him discuss your inheritance with you. That’s when I realized that it’s just not a fair world. You had everything, the position, the power and now, even the money. I had to get even with you. So I started spreading rumors about you and Janak. Though no one took them seriously, at least people took a second look when they saw you two together. And I had a better plan. I seduced that fool Munir Chenoy into sleeping with me. He was so easy. I got him addicted to drugs and he became my puppet.”
“My God, it was you! You were the one selling the company secrets.”
“Of course, my dear. Who else could be that ingenious? I let it be known that I was having an affair with the top boss and that’s how I knew the rates. I didn’t even need to give them any names. You were the only woman who had access to that information. If ever there was an enquiry it would all point, very conveniently, towards you. But luck favored you again and my plan did not work,” Trisha said making a face.
“But it worked out fine for me anyways. I made a lot of money selling the Sehgal quotation prices whenever I possibly could. And just like that, I became a princess like you.
Everything seemed to be going fine till Kabier returned to India. I had always wanted him, even in school. And surprise, surprise, he didn’t like you. That was a first for me; someone not liking you. I was so happy. I gave him subtle hints about the rumors going around regarding Janak and you, especially after he saw you two and Janak embracing in Janak’s office. That sight, the look on Kabier’s face was priceless. I was sure at that point of time, that since his hatred for you went so deep he would find some way to get rid of you. But again that didn’t happen. You have been so lucky all the time Keya. No matter how I tried to get rid of you, I just couldn’t. I had my own agenda with Kabier. The night his grandfather fell sick, I had it all planned. I had mixed Ecstasy in his drink and after that, seducing him would have been so easy. But you got in my way again. You called him just as he was about to take a sip and he left me there at the bar, without even a word. Do you know how embarrassing it was for me? Do you?” Trisha shouted.
She was crazy, Keya thought. Why had she never noticed this violent streak in her earlier?
“Trisha, Janak was sick. I had to call Kabier,” Keya said gently. But Trisha ignored her.
“You are too smart. Way smarter than I ever gave you credit for, Keya. You set out to entrap Kabier Sehgal and stupid male that he is; he fell for you all the way. Initially I thought it was just a passing fancy and I waited for him to get bored of you. But then I saw how you told me to “Lay off” where he was concerned. I knew then, that I had to take some action soon. I foolishly believed that you wouldn’t use your body to distract him, to sleep with him just to take your relationship ahead with him. But you did, didn’t you? I saw it. I saw you together in the boardroom. And your plan worked, he proposed to you and you thought you could marry him. That’s not happening. You HEAR ME?” Trisha yelled.
“Trisha, I love him. It wasn’t a plan. I fell in love with him; just like he is in love with me,” Keya tried to make her see reason.
“Love!” Trisha cringed. “There is no such thing as love. And everyone knows Kabier Sehgal doesn’t do love. Everyone knows that.”
“You’re wrong Trisha. He does love me. That’s why we’re getting married.”
“You were getting married. Wake up Keya. You’re not going anywhere from here.”
“What do you plan to do to me? Isn’t this for ransom?” Keya asked, scared now.
Trisha laughed loudly, her laughter resonating around Keya.
“Kabier you need to take off your shirt and wear this first,” Veejay held out a bullet proof vest in the van which was now just a few kilometers away from Munir’s farm house.
Kabier looked at the bullet proof vest in Veejay’s hands and did as he asked. When he was done Veejay pinned a small microphone, the size of a button on his shirt pocket.
“With this, we’ll be able to hear everything when you are inside. And Kabier, no sudden moves, no reactions; okay?”
“Okay,” said Kabier.
“Please take care out there,” Sameer said.
“I will,” Kabier said confidently.
“Ready?” Veejay asked.
“Yes, let’s do this.” Kabier was raring to get to Keya.
“Ransom?” Trisha said, cringing. “Why would I need ransom money, when I can have the whole Sehgal bank balance? Still naïve as ever Keya!”
Keya didn’t understand what she was saying.
“You see Keya, once I get you out of the way, after a sufficient period of mourning, Kabier will recover and then automatically I step into the picture. And I know how to charm him. So you see; I win in the end. He will be mine. All that I need to do is to get rid of you.”
“Trisha you need help. This is not normal. Get me out of here and I can help you.”
“Shut up Keya!” Trisha said. “Let me concentrate. Hmmm… I think the easiest way to kill you will be a drug overdose. But that’s too quick. No suffering. I could shoot you…” Trisha said trailing off as she pulled out a gun from her pocket and waved it in front of Keya’s frightened face.
“But again, that’s too easy. So I think I will hand you over to the goons, waiting outside, to do as they please. After they are done with you, you’ll hate yourself every time you look in the mirror.”
Before Keya could respond there was a loud noise like a door bell ringing. Then there were footsteps outside the door. Trisha stood up suddenly and left the room. Keya heard some muffled voices and then one of the biggest, ugliest men she had ever seen came into the room and pulled her up roughly and covered her mouth with his large hand. Fear ripped through her like a knife. What was happening outside and what was going to happen to her now, she wondered.
“Kabier!” Trisha said opening the door.
“Hi Trisha,” Kabier said.
“Uh! Hi! You…Here…How?” Trisha said confused now.
“Nice place you have here. Is it yours?” Kabier asked walking deeper into the one floor villa. He stopped in front of a pair of wide glass doors that opened to a garden.
“Yes. No. I mean, it’s a friend’s,” Trisha replied.
“We have her. She is totally surprised,” Veejay said looking through a pair of night vision binoculars. Sameer and Rishi watched from a distance through similar eye pieces.
“So, you come here often?” Kabier asked politely.
Trisha recovered from her shock more quickly than Kabier expected and said, “What do you want Kabier?”
“Come now Trisha, why so curt? Is that the way you greet an old friend?”
“Why are you really here?” she asked angrily.
Kabier looked at her, his expression changed from casual to serious.
“I want Keya back,” he told her in simple words.
“What makes you think she’s with me?” Trisha replied dispassionately.
“Why Trisha? Why did you do this? I thought you were my friend. You know I want to marry her, then how could you do this to her, to me?”
He came forward, a step closer to her and Trisha reached in her pocket and removed a small revolver.
“Stay where you are, Kabier or …”
“Oh hell! She has a weapon. Veejay you have to get in there right now,” Sameer whispered.
“Hang on, we need to see Keya first. Need to know she is in there with her.”
Kabier was stunned. No wonder Veejay had him prepared with a life-saving vest. But this was going nowhere. He had to know if Keya was here in this house or not.
He took a step back and put his hands up and said, “Fine. I’ll do whatever you say. Just tell me where Keya is.”
Trisha laughed. Kabier saw her and realized that she really was mentally sick.
“You know it didn’t have to be this way. I was going to win you back. I would have convinced you to marry me and now you have ruined everything by coming here.”
“Trisha, I just need to see Keya once and then I’ll do as you say. Whatever you want,” Kabier pleaded.
Anger flashed in her eyes momentarily and then still pointing the gun at him, she dialed a number from her cell and whispered something into it.
Kabier heard a door open and he turned to see a large man dragging an unwilling Keya outside. Her hands and feet were both tied. Another goon came towards him and stood behind Trisha.
Keya saw Kabier outside and her eyes full of relief sparkled with pure joy. He had come for her. In the next instant she saw Trisha pointing a gun at Kabier and she froze. The big man who was dragging her, picked her up like a rag doll and flung her across to Kabier.
Kabier caught her as she fell and hauled her straight into his arms. He hugged her tight for a moment, relieved that she was alive.
“Are you alright?” he whispered.
Keya nodded in return.
“Look at you two,” Trisha said.
Hearing her voice, Kabier put Keya behind him, using his body as a shield to protect her.
“I really didn’t think that you had it in you to fall in love Kabier; that too with her of all people! Well, it’s over now. I am going to end it. It’s sad that it has to be this way Kabier, we could have been great together. And Keya, if I can’t have him, neither will you.” Saying this, Trisha fired the gun. A fraction of a second later the door blast open and Veejay and his men entered the room. They immediately got hold of the two big men who was standing inside, watching the show.
