Team Name: The Scribe Tribe

Chapter 26 - Crime and Punishment

Read the previous part here



The three got out of the van, relieved that they don’t have to sit next to each other anymore. Cyrus looked aloof wanting the ordeal to be over soon. If they decide to punish him or jail him, he could take it easily, he just can’t wait. Jeremy had his characteristic swagger, though his smile was no longer menacing. It was like a façade, he always had to put up, while Aryan was busy examining something on his shoes. His eyes were full of tears, some moments ago, wailing at Cyrus and asking to help him. Cyrus was not interested in knowing his story or how he got stitched up by Jeremy. He wanted some peace, but Aryan didn’t give him any and narrated about all his unfortunate meetings with Jeremy. He looks oddly composed when he got out of the van, his handsome features, for a change, didn’t come to his rescue. The police van left them, as if it discarded them as wastes.


Cyrus’ thoughts were disturbed by a car which vroomed past them, stopping at a distance. His dad got out of it, taking him by surprise. He was accompanied by a serious looking person holding an iPad and a duffle bag in his hands. Cyrus walked towards his father, meeting his eyes all through. They didn’t speak to each other for a long time as Aryan looked at them, confusion written all over his face.

“We are getting you out of here Cyrus. Mr Sharma, our lawyer will handle this. Get in the car.” His dad ordered. Cyrus didn’t speak a word and followed him. 

Aryan ran towards him and grabbed him by his tee shirt. Cyrus struggled to break away from him.

“You got to help me brother. Don’t leave me here with this man. You are the only one I have now.” Aryan pleaded with tears finding their way back in to his eyes. “Like Clockwork” Cyrus thought.

“Stop this act man. This isn’t a fucking audition.” Cyrus pushed him away, but he could not avert his gaze from Aryan’s tearful eyes. The man lost it.

“Whoa…brother. We were in this together. Don’t forget it. Now you bring in an influential fucking father into this and run away scot-free. You make me the bad guy. I’m the sucker in all of this. What a fucking asshole you made of me. Bravo brother!!!” 

Aryan lost it, and was screaming at the top of his voice, clapping violently at Cyrus’ retreating back. His abuse didn’t bother Cyrus a bit. The dramatics was the last straw he was clutching at. He could understand Aryan, even empathize with him. But could he help him? How could he help him?

The car moved away from Aryan as he saw Cyrus and his father talking to each other. He was truly doomed now. “What will I get? 5 years?” were his thoughts when the car stopped and Cyrus came out from it. Aryan ran towards him like a mad man.

“I can’t promise anything. Get in and shut up for God’s sake.” Aryan hugged him tightly.

“I owe you one brother.” 

Jeremy stood still as this scenario played out, fiddling with his mobile. He could not understand why he was brought here. He should have been in a Police Station, where it would be easy for him to maneuver. This drama, he couldn’t comprehend. 

Tara appeared from a distance making Jeremy flinch. She started walking towards him, her steps confident and slow, her eyes withholding tears and her teeth gritting at the effort to stay calm. She should not lose the opportunity to make a statement. 

Jeremy tossed his head back carelessly. Tara’s hair fell into her eyes, obscuring her vision. She pushed it back and disciplined it in a ponytail, looking at Jeremy without missing a moment. She wanted all of it in. She wanted to face him for once. She wanted to tell him that he can’t destroy her. She was not to be messed with again. She was thankful to him, in a strange way. He rekindled her faith in her family. He saved her from burnout. Whatever motives he had, the last few days meant a lot to her. She wanted to apologize to Jeremy for some unknown reasons, it was more of an apology to herself, but she could not forget what Jeremy has tried to do to Roohi. Her anger is essential for her to confront him. She should thank him and forget him. She should remember the lessons. 

Her feet brought her closer to Jeremy even as her thoughts towards him didn’t turn into a definitive emotion. She was still unsure what she felt of him.

“You still look beautiful, Tara and I won’t apologize.” Jeremy was the first to break the silence. 

“You were important then, and you are important now Jeremy. But for entirely different reasons.” She could not bring herself to add anything more. Her voice seemed hollow, but it rang true.

Jeremy understood why she didn’t file a case against him. It was her way of saying that she forgave him, or it was an admission that she was equally guilty at how things have turned the way they did. 

She traced her steps back, now at a brisk pace wanting to leave the place and the moment as fast as she could. Jeremy expected a backlash, a rebuttal, some drama, tears, even beating from Tara’s fragile hands. Her reaction confused him. It was almost as if she was talking to him, about him, as a thing of the past. He felt he was no longer important to her life, yet she called him just that. There was nothing he could do about it, though he wasn’t sure if he would try something again. His desire to destroy her started to get weak which he hated. It was as if he lost a sense of purpose in his mundane existence. He hated Tara for doing this to him. He has to live with it forever. How could she punish him like this?


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