Team Name: The Scribe Tribe

Chapter 21 - Closing In

Read the previous part here



“Come on man, she’s just a kid. 9 years old. You understand what you are asking me to do? It is impossible. I can’t do that.”  Cyrus was almost screaming into his mobile when Aryan walked into the bar. He was promptly on time, was dressed up in casuals and looked like he wanted to get this whole thing done soon.

“That’s why I told you to take Aryan’s help. He’s a good one.” Jeremy’s voice was cold, straight and piercing through his ears. It was his final word as he disconnected the call.

“What has Aryan got to do with this and how had he got stuck up with Jeremy” he questioned aloud, as Aryan walked towards him and sat opposite him.

They had their drinks silently when Aryan told Cyrus what he had to do. Cyrus felt as if Aryan had known this plan all along. Aryan wasn’t playing a victim, he was rather an insider, going by how eager he seemed while discussing the plan. As Aryan was discussing the course of action, once they get hold of Roohi, Cyrus felt himself tripping. May be it was the drink, which he had one too many, but certainly it was the diabolical nature of the idea, and its impact on the psyche of the kid. Cyrus suddenly felt protective of Roohi. She was a good kid, this wasn’t her fault.

Cyrus knew he was being used but he could not dare to go against Jeremy. He was not a man to be messed with, certainly not one to owe money or favors to. He could pull a lot of strings to make Cyrus’ life miserable if he rebels. He has to play this safe.

***

Shekhar sat in front of Mr Bhalla at his office, feeling the ground beneath him shaking. He was reading the corrections suggested by the editorial team. His manuscript was badly tampered with, all he could see were red marks, strike-offs, entire chapters missing, new ones added of badly written tasteless sex scenes, characters dumbed down to insult the intelligence of readers. He hated the book. It did not have his soul, or any, in it. He was holding the cover art for the book that would eventually be published. They changed his title too. It was too much for him to take.

“Mr Bhalla. I want to thank you for your interest in publishing my book, but unfortunately I’m not willing to change it according to your whims and fancies. You were obviously looking for something that I could never write, and I don’t want my name to be associated with the book you are about to publish.” Shekhar’s voice trailed off. He could not speak any more.

Mr Bhalla suppressed what seemed like a chuckle. “Mr Dutta. There is no point in talking to me like that. I’m doing you a personal favor on behest of your wife Tara, who had contacts. I loathe your work with as much passion as you do mine. It’s not like you are goddamn Shakespeare. So take it or leave it. No. There won’t be any leaving this. It will be published, coz I don’t want to meet my boss again in an uncomfortable situation. I’m going ahead and publishing this book and you will be a published author. That’s all everyone wants. Isn’t that what you want too?”

Shekhar could not believe what he was hearing. All these days, he thought his book had literary merit and that was why he was invited. Looking back, it all seemed unreal. The first meeting with Bhalla, how quickly they worked on his book, how eager they were to publish it. Everything was a calculated plan to show him what a failure he really is.

He left the room, an angry and bitter man again.

***

“Bhalla has done his bit. Now it’s your turn.” Aryan announced, his voice assuming a theatrical flourish.  They were back at Aryan’s apartment, looking through the window where they saw Roohi on a swing all alone by herself.

“Why are you doing this to me, the Duttas, what have you got against them?” Cyrus asked him in a hope to talk something out of him.

“This is a game buddy, everyone has their parts to play. No one knows more than what he should. I don’t know what Jeremy gets out of all this, but I know one thing for sure. He could make me a career in films, something which it would take more than a lifetime for me to make without him.”

“What about Roohi? This is going to devastate her. Do you even realize what you are asking me to do?” Cyrus wailed.


“If I were you, I would not be asking any more questions. I’m gonna go and get Roohi now.” Aryan walked out from the room towards Roohi.

 ***
Shekhar stormed into his apartment where he found Tara sitting cross-legged in their hall, flipping through channels on their television. A sharp surge of anger rose from within.

“So you are just like everyone else after all, considering me to be a failure. A good for nothing moron. Why didn’t you just say it the day I decided to stop earning? Did you get the kicks out of all my miseries? Why did you become so considerate all of a sudden? My struggle got to you? You got bored of this game?”

Every one of his questions was loud and violent. Tara looked at him, perplexed at his sudden outburst.

“Don’t try to give that look to me. I know it all. Your Bhalla was better. Or probably poor. He could not play this game long enough. He gave you away.

Tara’s face lost its color. A hint of a tear started to well up in her eyes. She brushed it away with her left hand, rose from the sofa and looked straight into Shekhar’s eyes.

“I did it for you dear. I can’t bear your frustration. I wanted to help.”

“You could have told me the truth Tara. What you thought of me. That would have been nice.”

“I always thought of you highly Sheku.”

“Well, that’s a blatant lie.”

“You were going nowhere with your work. It started affecting us, as a family.”

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” Shekhar looked away, averting her gaze.

“You don’t have to be a self-pitying dick about this whole thing Sheku. I wanted a happy family. I was only trying my best to help and ….”

Shekhar cut her short. “I’d be damned if I took your “help”. I like our family to work too, but unfortunately I have self-respect. Too bad for us aint it?”

“You are not making this easy for me Shekhar.” Tara raised her voice. It was trembling with the effort.  

“Talk to me about it.” Shekhar was equally curt.


The television shut itself down, and all the lights went off after a power outage. Shekhar and Tara stood in darkness each to their own thoughts. The first word that they uttered after a minute of silence was “Roohi”.

                                                                                                 Read the next chapter here

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