Revenge of Love

“Welcome to India your home, Ms. Hira” The attendant said the words with a faint smile to the 21 years old young woman that couldn’t return his smile and just nodded, took her passport and walked towards the airport’s Gate, thinking of those simple words, “welcome home”, this beautiful sunset and the friendly faces should be Hira’s home that she was away from for 11 years, she should feel welcomed and safe but she doesn’t feel but the fear of what is waiting for her outside the gate “ teern, teeern” Hira stopped in her place hearing her mobile’s ringtone, she opened her bag, and seeing the caller, she answered quickly and smiled nervously Hira in Spanish: sweetheart, Good to hear your voice (Then she moved the phone away from her ear) Hira in Spanish: sweetheart, Mateo, please listen to me I know you are angry and you have the right to, but like I said...(then she moved the phone away from her ear again) Mateo, my uncle is sick, I had to fly to see him (then she closed her eyes and frowned) even if he is not my real uncle Mateo, he is the man who raised me, don’t speak about him like that (then her eyes widened) NO, no Mateo of course I don’t want to leave you, I just ... I made a mistake, I am sorry (then she smiled) listen, listen, I promise you I will go see him then return on the first flight to Madrid (then she smiled wider) me too, bye And she ended the call, then she stood in front of the gate for a moment, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath then took her first step outside and she felt the warm weather caressing her skin, she took another deep breath then exhales it with a faint smile and opened her eyes, looked at the streets and the people for a moment then signaled to a taxi Hira: TAXI But instead of the taxi a black car Parked in front of her and the driver got out of the car The driver: Ms. Hira Garcia Hira: yes? Who are you? The driver smiled: I am a messenger from your uncle, my name is Jagdev, you don’t know me but I know you, I have watched over you those past 2 years, and happy to finally have the permission to talk to you Hira: me too, Are we going to see uncle? Jagdev: No, you are not going to see him today, but he is okay and he has a message for you, please get into the car Hira looked at the car as Jagdev opened the back door for her, but before she enters an old woman came towards her with fake neck chains in her hand The old woman: would you like to buy from me a neck chain, young MS? I have golden ones and silver ones and I have eyeliner for your wide brown eyes, it’s exactly like the expensive one and I have hairbands so your silky long hair won’t bother you in this warm weather, would you like to see them? Jagdev frowned: No, go away The old woman: please, I really need the money (then she looked at Hira) you are wearing like the tourists and this short black dress looks very expensive so you probably can buy the original eyeliner and don’t need mine but the neck chains are magical, you won’t find them elsewhere Hira smiled: okay, I will buy this one with the red rose The old woman smiled: good choice, the red rose brings love to your heart and the silver neck chain bring kindness and light in your life, wear it and you will see its magic Hira smiled half a smile in disbelief of the neck chain’s promises, but she took it anyway and gave the old woman a banknote of 10 euro, the woman’s smile vanished and looked at Hira confused Hira smiled: this is good money, be happy The woman smiled widely: thank you, thank you Hira smiled widely as the woman walked away happily, she looked at the neck chain with faint smile and was about to wear it but Jagdev held her hand harshly and she looked at him shocked Jagdev: Ms. Hira, your uncle will be very angry at you, if he knew that you believe in luck and such superstitions Hira: I don’t, it was just an act of kindness Jagdev frowned: you are not allowed to be kind to anyone Hira, kindness is weakness, have you forgotten what your uncle taught you? Hira looked down: no (and she put the necklace in her coat’s pocket) I am sorry Jagdev: please get in to the car, in the way to the hotel; you will hear your uncle’s message Hira nodded, entered the car and sat on the back chair, he shut the door and she looked beside and there was a laptop on the back chair Jagdev: don’t open the laptop yet and don’t ask any questions Hira looked at him with worried surprised eyes as he drove the car, she squeezed on her hand nervously trying to calm herself for half an hour of driving, till he said ... Jagdev: now open the laptop and play the soundtrack Hira opened the Laptop and there was a paused sound track, she played it Uncle: welcome back, Hira my daughter, and congratulation for being accepted in the best medical university in Spain I am so proud, it’s sad that I won’t allow you to return to Spain again Hira’s eyes widened: what? (And she paused the soundtrack) Jagdev: LISTEN (Hira looked at him with widened eyes then played the soundtrack again) Uncle: I am not sick like I told you, I just didn’t want you to try to run away from your destiny, Hira; I want you to remember the pain your family suffered because as I see you are living your life and forgot about it The car suddenly parked and Hira looked in front of her and her eyes widened in shock and crowded with tears seeing where they parked... Hira: No, no Uncle: what you now seeing and your eyes maybe forgot, is your mother’s burned factory, where he and your mother were burned alive 11 years ago, remember Hira? Hira sobbed: yes Uncle: have you forgotten their screams Hira? Hira covered her ears and sobbed Uncle: have you forgotten who did this to them? Who made you an orphan at age of 10? Hira: ADARSH SINGH KHATRI “she screamed it as tears flow on her cheeks Uncle: Adarsh Singh Khatri, and time has come for you to take revenge for your loved ones’ pain and make Adarsh and the Singh Khatri suffer Hira breathed heavily as tears flow under her frown and her hand squeezed on the laptop Uncle: Jagdev will give you a phone to call me from it only at a case of emergency and I will call you after you calm down, to tell you the plan Jagdev held the phone and presented it to Hira and Hira looked at him with teary eyes, frown and breathing heavily in anger, then she got out of the parked car and fall on her knees in front of the burned building, gasping for breath as tears blurring her eyes. Jagdev got out of the car, walked towards her and put his hand on her shoulder; she looked at him with a frown as he presented for her the phone Jagdev: it had to be this way, Hira; take the phone and return back to the car, I will drive you to the hotel Hira took the phone and put it in her coat’s pocket Hira: you can go; I will go to the hotel myself when I am ready Jagdev: as you wish And he walked back to the car, and drove away and Hira looked at the burned factory as tears flow on her cheeks Hira: Papa, Mama; I didn’t forget (then she said angrily) I will take your right from the Singh Khatri; I will make them suffer, every... single ...one of them. Suddenly bright head lights of a car hurt her eyes and the car stopped just before it hits her!! She gasped and as a reaction stood and looked at the car with half open teary eyes as the driver of the car got out while the engine and the lights still on, he stood in front of her but the headlights just showed him as a dark shape of a tall man Hira: who are you? And what are you doing here? You almost hit me He didn’t answer and just walked towards the burned factory; Hira rushed behind him and held his hand... Hira frowned: I am asking a question answer me, who are you? This is a Private property She stood in front of him and her breath was taken when her eyes met his widened blue teary eyes, she looked at his teary face confused and feeling a sense of helplessness, he said in a barely audible tone The young man: Sanjay Hira looked at him and was shocked even more to notice that he is wearing a pajama and his feet are bare! Sanjay in low tone: I am sorry And he took his hand from hers and rushed to inside the factory and Hira stood shocked for few minutes, not only for seeing the young man’s condition but also for the feelings of sadness and worry that took over heart seeing him! she pressed her hands on her chest then entered the factory, her mind ignored the black walls and the ashes around her as she ascended the stairs, her eyes looking for Sanjay but not seeing him, till she heard a noise on the roof; she ran faster upstairs and entered through the roof’s door and the minute she entered, she covered her lips by both her hands to hold the scream that came out of her lips seeing Sanjay standing on the rooftop ledge, and it seemed he is about to Jump Hira: Sanjay Sanjay looked at her with teary eyes and she shook her head and walked towards him very slowly Hira: don’t do this to yourself, please (then her eyes crowded with tears) don’t do this to the people who love you Sanjay frowned and looked back forward, closed his eyes and spread his arms and moved closer to the edge Hira: NO (He looked at her again, and her eyes were pleading to him) Hira: why do you want to kill yourself, why? Please talk to me, please, I will hear you and won’t judge you Sanjay looked at her tears for a moment then said in low choked with tears tone Sanjay: I...I can’t take the pain anymore Hira smiled as tears flow on her cheeks: then we have something in common, Sanjay, if that is the case then maybe you should take me beside you Sanjay looked at her sadly and her smile widened, tears streamed more on her face and she walked towards him Hira: except that I am sure you have people that loves you and care for you and will miss you (Then she shook her head) I have no one, as a matter of fact if I jumped I will be with the people I love Sanjay looked at her sadly then stepped back from the ledge and walked towards her Sanjay: don’t cry And he innocently wiped her tears with the side of his finger; she looked at his eyes and lost in their kind look for a moment, then smiled and took out of her pocket a pack of tissues and offered him one “SANJAY MY SON” The sound came from behind Hira, she turned and it was for a middle age woman with dyed black hair, blue eyes and a bit over weight, she pulled Sanjay to her arms and kissed him all over his face. Hira smiled faintly seeing Sanjay getting love from who must be his mother but Sanjay seemed to Hira that he is not seeing this love; and it was true he wasn’t seeing but her and his eyes didn’t leave hers for even a second “SANJAY” Sanjay frowned faintly as a thin middle age man with a fancy black suit and grey hair entered and took Sanjay from his mother’s arms to his but Sanjay’s frown didn’t vanish and kept his eyes fixed on Hira The man frowned: why are you doing this to us son? (Then he looked at Sanjay’s mother) the new nurse should be fired, Marie Marie frowned: I will fire her, don’t worry (then she looked at Hira) you saved my son? Hira smiled and Marie looked at Sanjay and saw him looking at Hira The man smiled: you saved my son, I don’t know how to thank you, you are an angel Hira smiled: it’s okay, anyone in my place would have done the same The man smiled: if you ever need anything I will be happy to give it to you, this is my card And he got out of his wallet a card, Hira smiled faintly The man: I am Adarsh Singh Khatri Hira’s eyes widened and even her breath froze in her lungs, she looked at Sanjay with widened eyes then at Adarsh who was still hugging him and holding for her the card, and when she didn’t take it, he chuckled faintly and put it on her coat’s pocket Hira numbly: Singh Khatri? Adarsh smiled: yes please give me a call if you need something, and know you didn’t save Sanjay’s life only, you saved mine too Hira stared at him for a moment then covered her lips and ran down the stairs, Adarsh looked at her confused, and Sanjay got out of his father’s hug and took a step forward but this step was on the flower neck chain that must fall from Hira’s pocket, he picked it up and looked at it Few minutes later Hira gasped for breath as she walked out of the factory, then she ran a distance and couldn’t hold the urge to vomit any longer, she vomited and sobbed, then she held the phone that was given to her by Jagdev and pressed on the only saved contact “Uncle” Hira: Uncle, I did a horrible thing...I saved his son’s life, he wanted to jump off the factory’s rooftop and I saved him, I saved a Singh Khatri’s life, I am sorry Uncle: calm down, Hira; this mistake can be fixed. All you have to do is to drive him to the ledge again and this time let him jump Hira’s eyes widened: what? Uncle: this is the pain Adarsh deserves for his crime, this is the pain he can’t bear, Sanjay is his youngest son, his life and since Sanjay listened to you, then you gained his trust and can hurt him enough to drive him back to the ledge, I will give you the chance to enter his life but be careful to love the boy or even have sympathy for him, Hira Hira strictly: don’t worry uncle... And she looked towards the factory as the Singh Khatri getting out of it and Sanjay looked towards her and she put her hand on her chest seeing his smile to her Hira strictly: I would never love Sanjay Singh Khatri