Revenge is divine

Chapter 3

The young man lighted a candle and affixed on the floor in between them so that they could see each other's face.

"I haven't done anything. Then why do you want to kill me?" Ouseph tried to calm his voice. His voice was obviously wavering; his tone had the shakiness of a non-rhythmic musical instrument. His gaze fixed on his captor's face, onto the black glasses to be precise.

"Are you sure you haven't done anything." The masked man gently pressed the blade onto his cheek. He knew that the cunning fox wouldn't admit anything that easily and he never expected that. He needs some motivation to tell the truth and his captor needs some entertainment. The naked metal is the true choice.

"Please take that knife off me. I told you I haven't done anything. Believe me."

The knife was still moving, now riding down his neck. Ouseph felt the blade dangerously strolling over his skin just missing the cuts or maybe making a marginal line. Small drops may appear soon, he thought.

"I don't want to die soon. I wish to live for eighty years. I want to be the Chief Minister of the state before I leave the earth."

"So does most of the ministers." He rode the blade onto the chest.

"Yes." He nodded. "But are they doing anything for it? No, right? I have the craving for the chair, I have the restlessness and I won't get tired until I get what I wanted." Ouseph felt a new wave of energy surrounding him. No matter what he wants the chair. "All these years in politics I learned to play my cards. In the coming elections I will become the supremo of this state and I promise you, you will get whatever you wanted."

"You are a very motivated man, calculating and cunning. Do you really think you can lure me?"

"I play my part. You will get your revenge by killing me. But is that enough? Just a moment of satisfaction, eh? Or unending wealth till the end of your days, luxurious life at some of the exotic locations in the world. Which one sounds good?"

"Better revenge than feeling sorry for the missing opportunity." He was sure what he wanted. "The unending wealth which you are promising will surely be mine." He chuckled. "I will get it from you."

"Not if I am free. Just forget this revenge and killing part. I haven't done anything to attract anyone vengeance upon me."

"Don't be so sure. Think of the sins you have committed in the past."

"How many times I told you I haven't done anything. I am an idol in state politics."

"You are so damn sure."

"Affirmative." Ouseph's voice cracked. "I have a clean political image." I have kept it that way. I have kept my friends close and my enemies closer. No one ever complained.

A low grin was the reply. "I know. But what about the one thousand and fifty crores deposited in the banks of Switzerland? BCGE, right? What about the one hundred acres of land in Tamil Nadu? What about the five different plots in Idukki district? What about the network of five star hotels across Kerala?"

BCGE, Banque cantonale de Genève was one of the oldest banks in Switzerland which was founded in the 1860s. It had an asset worth of more than 25 billion US dollars. The bank provides savings accounts, mortgages, wealth management services, public authorities financing and management.

The air was getting cooler now. Light breeze blew through the open air above them. The deserted rooftop of the building echoed with the killer's words.

Ouseph's eyes glistened with dread. How the hell did he know about all these? Very few knew his property details but no one knew about his tie up with Swiss bank save two and those two would never betray him. Even though most of his properties were in benami names (in Urdu that word means no name) this guy has accounted for everything. "I don't know what you are talking about?" Ouseph mumbled, fear and helplessness coursing through his blood. Did Thomas betray me? Or is it...?

"Felix Williams." The man whispered.

Ouseph felt his body numb. He knows my secret name in BCGE. How did he have it? He didn't know and he never will. Only three people in the world knew about Felix Williams.

"You are a serious politician who very well knows how to do business in politics. Twenty years in state politics and you amassed a fortune. And you claim to be clean."

"They are all false allegations, you are mistaken. I don't know any banks in Switzerland, nor do I have any land in Tamil Nadu. I admit I recently bought a land in Munnar but I have no idea about everything else you are accusing me of. Who is Felix Williams?" Ouseph tried to defend himself but this situation was anew for him. He never has been threatened by anyone with a blade on his throat. All his wit and crookedness has disappeared from him. He couldn't find a way to get out of the situation.

"I am impressed; you are still playing games at the moment of your death. Acting ignorant won't save you." His tone changed, from soft to harsh, terrorizing the old man.

"Are you a journalist? Is this your new way of extracting news?" Rage was filling inside him yet Ouseph asked in an eerie serenity. I should have been attending a business conference in United States. You have ruined billions worth business deal. Fifteen hundred crores! This was my greatest deal.

"I am not a journalist." He removed his aviators and slowly took the helmet off his head. "I am Shivdas."

Ouseph recognized the eyes; he knew the person crouched in front of him thirsty for his blood. His unveiled face instigated more shock than fear in Ouseph. Still he needed an answer. You were so close to me and yet you betrayed me. Why? Then he realized the man was someone else. He said he doesn't need money yet he knows all his financial details. How? Thomas would have told everything. He finally came into a conclusion.

"What do you really want? Why are you doing this?" He demanded.

"I already told you. Revenge, I want revenge."

"Revenge for what? What did I do to you?"

"Okay, I will tell you a story. I am not sure if it would be interesting or boring but you should hear it."

Ouseph was eager to hear it. Once he heard his body was trembling with fear. He was unvoiced. He was kind of paralyzed.

"You killed my father. Why did you do that?"

"Someone has fooled you. I didn't kill your father. Why should I? I barely knew him. I am a peaceful politician." Tears ran down through his cheeks. He could see his dreams and aspirations melting down like an ice mountain. "Why... why would I do that? I swear you I didn't knew your father." Ouseph looked down to avoid eye contact.

The candle flame flickered between them.

"How can you lie staring into the face of death?" The blade rode down through his thighs cutting his pants and the skin under it. He flinched in pain and out of sudden reflex he pulled his leg.

"Now it is my turn to ask, why did you do that?"

"I... I...didn't do that." His voice choked. "Trust me, I have nothing to do with your father's death. Who told you all these lies?"

"Then who did?"

Ouseph still had an option. Betray his best friend as he had betrayed him. Let the blame rest upon Thomas for eternity. He was now sure that Thomas would already been under his custody as he hasn't heard anything from him for almost ten hours prior to his departure. Thomas must have told his name when they have tortured him. Or did that fool spit it out after getting drunk?

"Who all were involved? I need names and I will set you free."

Ouseph somehow doubted that. He was reluctant to say. But when the sharp metal drew a straight line on his torso he couldn't hold his silence. "Thomas knows everything."

Shivdas stuffed the rag again into the mouth. The sharp metal dug deep into the minister's thighs. He winced in pain. His screams only echoed in his mouth.

The cloth was removed.

"Any last words? Any final confessions?" His voice was grim.

"Don't kill me. I will give you the whole one thousand crores in my account." That was Ouseph's last hope.

"Wrong wish. You could have asked for a smooth and painless death. You see I am not god to give you life, I am only an executioner." He let out a malevolent laugh.

Revenge is divine. The young man mumbled as he put the cloth again inside Ouseph's mouth and the blade in his hand artfully sketched over the body for some deep cuts and some shallow scratches. Thick red fluid oozed out.

The hunt is on. He whispered as he descended the building. It was past midnight.

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To be continued.....

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