Revenge of Love

The countdown

(Hira, Hira wake up, you have to see this, wake up)

Hira tried to open her eyes but couldn’t, she didn’t sleep since she got off plane, nothing seems more interesting now than her pillow

Hira in Spanish: Mateo, Sweetheart; I need to sleep 

Sanjay: what? I don’t understand!!!!! And who is Mateo?!!

Hira opened her eyes wide and saw Sanjay’s eyes looking at her with faint frown and a lot of questions

Hira: Sanjay? What is going on? (Then she sat straight) is everything okay? Do you need something?

Sanjay smiled widely: yes come with me, you need to see this

And he held her hand and walked with her in fast steps towards the main balcony and she struggled to follow.

Hira: wait, Sanjay, wait, I can’t walk I am still sleepy, I didn’t even wear my shoes the balcony must be really muddy from the rain and...

She didn’t continue the sentence as he literally swept her off her feet and carried her over his strong arms, and she felt her chest tickling and her cheeks getting warm

Sanjay: close your eyes

Hira closed her eyes without asking but felt the cold chill when they entered the balcony

Sanjay: look towards your right then open your eyes

Hira turned her head to the right and opened her eyes, and felt breath taken seeing the field of yellow flowers in front of her eyes, that was crowned with the most beautiful Rainbow she have ever seen

Hira: wow, I never saw something as beautiful

Sanjay smiled and slowly put her over a chair and Hira kept her eyes fixed over the view but smelled the aroma of a cup of fresh mint tea that Sanjay soon put between her hands, Hira looked at him and seeing his smiling blue eyes, she felt her face grows hot again so she looked at the cup

Hira: thank you, have you slept well?

Sanjay smiled: No, not really, thinking that this beautiful day will end when we wake up and return to the mansion, made me feel that I don’t want to waste another moment in sleep and I am glad I didn’t

Hira frowned faintly and took another sip of tea and Sanjay took another

Sanjay: Hira, I feel you know about me a lot and I know about you nothing, I mean you saw me in my worst

Hira: if you are talking about seeing you in the street in your pajamas and barefoot, yes I misjudged you at first, I thought you are not in a normal state of mind, but knowing your siblings I am glad I run away with my skin not just my pajamas

Sanjay: I want to know about you more, can I?

Hira’s smile vanished: But I said everything in my resume 

Sanjay smiled: no, I don’t want to know about nurse Hira, I want to know you, your life, your dreams, your family...

Hira frowned faintly as he continued...

Sanjay: what you like and what you don’t like, things like that, and you can ask me anything you want too

Hira frowned: okay, ask first

Sanjay: okay, I know about you that you frown when you are nervous

Hira’s frown vanished: I am not nervous, ask

Sanjay: how old are you?

Hira: I am 21

Sanjay: okay, and you finished school and went to nursing school for sure, do you like being a nurse?

Hira smiled: its fine, but I wished to be a doctor, I even took the test...but it’s fine

Sanjay smiled: you would have been an amazing doctor; I am sure even if you failed the test

Hira shook her head: I passed the test but my uncle...the man raised me after my parents passed away refused...so...here I am

Sanjay’s smile vanished: why?

Hira: I don’t know, but I trust it’s for my own good 

Sanjay: how your parents passed away?

Hira frowned: I don’t like to talk about that, I am done with the tea and I think you are done asking

And she was about to stand but he held her hand and said

Sanjay smiled: no, wait tell me about the happiest moment in your life

Hira: the happiest moment? Why?

Sanjay smiled: I want to share it with you

Hira sighed and sat back and took a sip of tea then she smiled

Hira: the happiest, I guess When uncle called me on my 21 birthday and told me he wants to see me, I didn’t see him for even once in my life, he always took care of me from distance, we always talk in the phone but he never was able to come to see me, I stupidly thought once that he doesn’t want to see me, so you can imagine my happiness when he called and said that he wants to see me

Sanjay smiled faintly: this can’t be your happiest, your happiest must be when you saw him

Hira: no because I didn’t see him yet (then she looked down) you see he is angry with me because I should have done something for my family but I didn’t, he thought I forgot about them, but he gave me a second chance to do it and when it’s done, I will get to see him and be a part of his family (then she frowned faintly) the problem is that it’s very difficult to do

Sanjay: what is it? Can I help?

Hira looked at him for a moment and then she shook her head and looked down

Hira: No (then she smiled faintly) so I can ask you anything and you will be truthful with me

Sanjay: yes

Hira: okay, tell me about your happiest moment too?

Sanjay smiled looking down then he looked at her with wide smile

Sanjay: I can’t believe you are asking that

Hira swallowed and looked down feeling her cheeks getting warm again

Hira: I ...I mean before...this moment

Sanjay: oh I was 13...

Hira smiled and looked at his wide smile

Sanjay: Jude gave me driving lessons and I learned how to drive but my parents of course didn’t agree to buy me a car, I was so young to drive, so I stole my mother’s keys and took her car and drove it to Nelly’s house

Hira’s smile vanished: Nelly?!! (Then she smiled back) Who is Nelly?! Your girl friend

Sanjay’s smile lessened then he chuckled nervously and Hira tried to keep the smile on her lips although she felt strangely angry

Sanjay: it was a long time ago; anyway after two streets, my mother found me and brought me back home from my ear, I got severely punished from my father but I was happy, I couldn’t wait to steal the car again

Hira chuckled: you were a trouble maker, wow, I am surprised (then she shook her head) you know what? No I am not

Sanjay chuckled and nodded faintly, Hira smile lessened looking at him then she said after a moment of silence

Hira: we don’t have to return to the mansion

And she took a sip of tea, hiding her face from Sanjay’s surprised frown

Sanjay: what?!!

Hira took a deep breath then she put the cup of tea on the small table

Hira: you don’t belong with them Sanjay, you are different, you are kind and good (then she shook her head) and I don’t think I have to tell you what they are

Sanjay looked at her sadly then he held her hand, it gave her a shiver but she held it

Sanjay: Hira, I know it was a hard night for you and I am sorry this happened but I have to return to my family

Hira took her hand from Sanjay’s hand and frowned

Hira: what family? These people are not a family, they are just horrible people that hid you and chained you

Sanjay frowned: no

Hira frowned: are you scared we will be found and get punished by your family for running away? Don’t worry, no one will find us, we will...

Sanjay: no (then he looked at Hira) I want to return, Hira

Hira: why?!!!! If you want to return then why we ran away in the first place, why didn’t we just wake the mansion?!!

Sanjay: because I think I broke Jude’s shoulder and you wounded Viola’s face, which are injuries that can’t be hidden

Hira: oh, so you ran scared of punishment (Then she leaned forward) and you think we won’t get punished if we returned now?!!

Sanjay: we would have never got Punished, Hira; I was chained and my family will believe your story instantly as it’s not the first time Jude does this to me, he is the one that will get punished and Viola too (then he shook his head) and I could have not allowed this to happen to them, and that is why we ran away

Hira: I don’t understand!!!

Sanjay: we ran away to give my family something to worry about other than Viola and Jude’s injury, and I am sure we gave Jude some time to come up with a story, now we can return

Hira frowned and stood and he stood as well...

Hira: so you manipulated me to protect your horrible siblings?!!! What about me, I will lose my job for sure, don’t you care for that (then she smiled sarcastically) you are really son of Adarsh Singh Khatri and I am so stupid that I trusted you

Sanjay shook his head: Hira, you won’t lose your job, I will come up with a good excuse (then he held her shoulder) I told you before I care for you

Hira’s frown lessened and looked at his hand and he took it away shyly, she took a deep breath

Hira: fine, you care for me and will save my job; what about you?!!! Why you want to return to a life of pain and imprisonment, Sanjay; why you want to return to the people who drove you to the ledge, you don’t deserve this life

Sanjay looked down with faint frown and said in low tone

Sanjay: yes I do

Hira angrily: why? Why are you doing this to yourself, what can a thirteen years old boy do so horrible that....?

Sanjay’s eyes suddenly widened and he covered his ears and walked in fast steps out of the balcony

Hira: Sanjay? Sanjay I am sorry

Sanjay: I need to be alone

“ Knock, Knock”

Hira stopped and looked at the apartment’s door after the hearing Knocking but Sanjay took the direction towards the door as if the knocking made him notice the exit

Hira: Sanjay where are you going?

Sanjay: I need to walk, I will return

And he opened the door of the apartment and ran out

Hira: SANJAY

And she was about to run behind him only to stop seeing a box with the name *HIRA* written on its top in front of the apartment’s door

Meanwhile

The security: no one was there too, Sir; forgive me

Adarsh looked down then looked at Marie and shook his head, so Marie sobbed and Eve patted on her shoulder with teary eyes, then looked at Viola and Jude who were looking down in shame

Marie: my son, my innocent sweet son (then she looked at Adarsh) I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU ADARSH, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THIS SNAKE HIRA INTO HIS LIFE, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU (then she pushed Eve’s hand from her shoulder) take your hand off me

Adarsh frowned and shook his head

Adarsh: Marie, we still don’t know...

Marie: SHE TOOK OFF THE CHAINS AND STOLE THE MEMORY CARD FROM THE CAMERA WHAT MORE YOU WANT TO KNOW (then she looked at him with pleading eyes) I want my Sanjay back Adarsh, please call the police, don’t care for the family’s name, bring your son back

And she walked towards him with teary eyes and bowed to hold his legs

Marie: I beg you

Adarsh: MARIE NO

And he hugged her and she cried on his chest, he kissed her head and her hand  

Adarsh: we will call the police, and our son will sleep tonight on his bed, I am sorry dear, I am so sorry

Viola with teary eyes: yes papa, do anything....

Marie got out of Adarsh suddenly and walked towards the three siblings

Marie: don’t act like as if you care for me and my son, I am sure one of you or YOU THREE, DID SOMETHING TO MY BOY TO MAKE HIM HATE LIFE (Then she stood and walked towards Jude and his sisters who stood by his side) he was just a thirteen years old, what did you do to him? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!!!

Eve with teary eyes: we love Sanjay, ma; he is our little brother

Marie: DON’T CALL ME MA (Then she frowned) it’s not an honor to be in the place of your SINNER MOTHER 

Adarsh: MARIE CALM DOWN

Marie looked at Adarsh and he looked down with a frown and swallowed, as Eve covered her lips and ran away sobbing and Adarsh looked at her sadly then frowned back to Marie as Jude and Viola looked at each other shocked

Jude frowned: how dare you call our late mother a sinner?!!!

Adarsh: JUDE, behave

Marie: ask your older sister

Adarsh: MARIE ENOUGH (then he looked at Jude and Viola) both of you, go to your rooms

Viola frowned: but papa why are you letting her...

Adarsh: GO

Jude walked away with Viola and Adarsh frowned to Marie...

Adarsh in low tone: how can you say that in front of my children, Marie?

Marie angrily: are you sure they are even your children, who cheat once, can cheat three times you know

Adarsh’s eyes widened, tensioned and gritted on his teeth in anger and Marie swallowed, looked down

Marie: I am sorry (then she put her hand on Adarsh’s arm) I am sorry I didn’t mean that, I am just so worried on Sanjay, I am not ...I am not thinking clearly

Adarsh sighed and nodded faintly...

Adarsh: I will go to the police station and explain everything about Sanjay’s condition to the officer

Marie’s phone rang with a message, Marie opened it and her eyes widened reading it

Marie: wait

Meanwhile

Hira opened the box and inside there was a mobile phone and a timer, she looked confused at the timer as it was counting down from two hours , then she looked at the phone, opened the contacts and there was only one number saved with the name “ uncle”, Hira smiled and hugged the phone, but then her eyes widened remembering Sanjay’s condition, so she put the timer and the phone back in the box and the box in the dinner table and then ran to her the room, wore her shoes and grabbed the apartment keys then ran out of the apartment and down the stairs, and reaching to the street, she looked at the field but seeing the wire fence, she gave it her back

Hira: SANJAY (then she looked around) SANJAY WHERE ARE YOU?

Sanjay in low tone: Hira, I am here

Hira looked behind her on the green field with wire fence

Hira: SANJAY?!!

A man got out from a small house in the field and looked at Hira with scary frown

The man: GO AWAY, THIS IS MY LAND, DON’T PICK MY FLOWERS OR I WILL BEAT YOU

Hira frowned: I am just looking for....

The man: NOTHING FOR YOU HERE, GO AWAY

Hira frowned, turned to walk away and the man entered back his house, she was about to walkaway but a hand held her leg and she screamed and looked down and saw Sanjay lying between the roses, with wide smile and in his hand a small puppy

Sanjay in low tone: shush, he was caught between the wires, the poor thing was screaming and the man was ignoring him completely, can you see if he is injured much

Hira: are you okay? I was so worried

Sanjay: I am fine (then he smiled) come in for a moment, it’s beautiful here, you are going to feel better

Hira: but....

Sanjay parted for her the wired and she took a moment before passing between it and then they leaned beside each other between the flower, Hira smiled and turned her head to smell one and her long hair covered Sanjay’s face, he smiled faintly feeling the silky locks tickling his face, they stayed like this for several minutes then she turned looking at him as he played with the puppy for god knows how long, before she break the silence

Hira: don’t do this to me again  

She hit him lightly on the chest but the puppy suddenly barked with high pitched barks on her and Sanjay sat straight and Hira did the same, both looked at the house as Sanjay calmed down the dog

Sanjay: shush, shush Insanju shush

Hira frowned: you called the dog “Insanju”?!! 

The man got out of the house and screamed

The man: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU STOLE MY FLOWERS

And he ran towards them, Hira screamed and froze in her place but Sanjay pulled her up, put the dog in her hand, and parted the fence for her again

Sanjay: Get out, hurry

Hira looked at him with widened eyes and got out quickly, ran to the building hiding beside it, and waited for Sanjay for minutes, trying to look at him in the field but couldn’t see him

Hira: SANJAY, SANJAY

A hand pulled her to inside the building and she screamed, but Sanjay covered her lips

Sanjay: it’s me, it’s me; there is a back door for the building

Hira looked at his hand with widened eyes and Sanjay took his hand off her lips, Hira looked at him for a moment then she chuckled and he chuckled too

Hira: the crazy man thinks we will go through this to steal flowers from his field!!

Sanjay smiled: I did steal a flower from his field

Hira looked at his hand but not seeing any flower in his hand she smiled shyly and hugged the dog to her chest as they ascended the stairs

Hira: I will do first aid to Insanju but he probably will need to go to the vet, then we have to find a good Animal shelter for him, I feel bad to leave him to the street again

Sanjay shook his head: no, we are going to keep it and I will take good care of him

Hira smiled half a smile: it’s a stray dog; you will take to Singh Khatri’s mansion a stray dog!!

Sanjay smiled: yes, what is so strange in this?!!!

Hira smiled as they reached the apartment and she opened the door

Hira: not strange on you, you are that kind

And they entered the apartment and Hira put Insanju the dog on the table and Sanjay closed the door but then his eyes fall on the box on the table

Sanjay: what is this?

Hira smiled: a gift from my uncle

Sanjay held the timer and looked at it with faint frown

Sanjay: what is the countdown for?

Hira smiled raised the dog leg and it yelped and Sanjay looked at it with worry

Hira: it’s not my countdown, its uncle’s probably he is going to call me at the end of it, he likes to do this sort of things for fun (then put the puppy’s leg down) it’s a scratch don’t worry, I will heal it

Sanjay smiled: thank you (then he looked at the timer) your uncle will call after 35 minutes, are you excited

Hira smiled: yes very, anyway I will take Insanju to the bathroom, heal his wound and clean him a little, you go get yourself ready for leaving to the mansion

Sanjay: are you okay with that? With us leaving to the mansion

Hira smiled: yes...I guess... you are right, they must be really worried for you and you are worried for them too I am sure... (Then she looked down) Sanjay I was being unkind and hurt your feelings, I am sorry

Sanjay walked to her and held her hand and shook his head

Sanjay: Hira, it’s been long time since I felt the kindness of the people around me, I wasn’t denied kindness as matter fact perhaps I am given much more kindness than my siblings, from my Mother and Eve whom I love so much, but I couldn’t feel it warming my heart, I remained cold and chained to life (then he smiled) till I met you and felt the kindness from your heart

Hira bowed her head down but he put his finger under her chin and raised it back to look at her eyes

Sanjay: so please don’t call yourself unkind or think that you are hurting me or anyone; I would never feel pain from you even if you tried

Hira swallowed then she smiled and nodded...

Hira: thank you, I will go heal Insanju

Sanjay nodded and entered his room and Hira entered the bathroom and after 10 minutes she put the dog on the floor and it ran around the table and barked couple of high pitched barks

Hira chuckled: I will find for you something to eat (then she looked toward the room) SANJAY DO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT? SANJAY

And she entered the room, only to find Sanjay sleeping on the couch, she smiled and covered him with light blanket, the dog entered the room and barked and Hira eyes widened and made a shush gesture but luckily Sanjay was sleeping deeply, she carried the puppy and went with it out and closed the door

Hira: Insanju, you are really a bad boy, now be a good boy and wait for me to get you water and food

And she entered the kitchen; prepared some cooked vegetables and deep plate of water, and put them on the floor and the dog ran towards them and munched on the food

Hira smiled: oh you poor thing

And she caressed the dog fur for a minute before hearing her phone ringing, she ran out of the kitchen towards the box and her eyes fell on the timer and almost 15 minutes were left in the count down

Hira smiled and answered the call

Hira: uncle, I am so happy you called me, I couldn’t wait for...

Uncle: Hira, I am very disappointed at you, you have brought to me and to your family a great shame

Hira’s smile vanished and swallowed: why?

Uncle: the fact that you are asking disappoints me further, it means you don’t realize your mistake, Hira you entered the Singh Khatri’s mansion to bring your father’s right and end Sanjay’s life but what you did is that you saved him and not once, you have forgotten your parents’ right, you have forgotten your revenge and became one of them, one of who killed Alejandro  

Hira’s eyes crowded with tears and shook her head...

Hira: uncle, I didn’t forget, and I know that my father was like a brother to you and you feel a great pain, it just Sanjay is different than his family, he is kind and good, he doesn’t deserve to pay for our pain, it’s his father’s crime not...

Uncle: HIRA, EVERYONE SHOULD PAY FOR ALEJANDRO’S PAIN, EVERYONE

Hira looked down and tears flowed over her cheeks...

Hira: I can’t do this, I am sorry

Uncle: Hira watch the Video I will send to you now, end the call

Hira ended the call and a video was sent to her, she watched it and was shocked to see the incident of Viola and Jude is recorded, and see Sanjay breaking Jude’s shoulder and herself hitting Viola with Hanger, then she and Sanjay running away

“ TERN, TERN”

The phone rang again and Hira answered it shocked

Hira: we were being recorded

Uncle: Sanjay’s mother left a camera in Sanjay’s room; I was able to have the recording

Hira: How? (Then her eyes widened) is there someone else in the mansion working with us?

Uncle: not just working with us, this someone is with Vengeance and great hatred for Sanjay and his father so I don’t have to tell you if you didn’t help Sanjay to take his own life, this someone will and I am sure it would be as painful as possible, as for you Hira I think it’s only fair to expose you to the Singh Khatri and let you carry the full responsibility of Sanjay’s death in front of them

Hira covered her lips and her eyes widened in terror but managed to say in low tone

Hira: who is it? Who wants to hurt Sanjay?

Uncle: Hira, you will return to the mansion and use this Video to blackmail Viola and Jude to leave you alone and not try to do something that can make our plan go wrong again as for you, I am sad to tell you that you are not forgiven for saving Sanjay and that I am going to punish you and it’s going to be a severe punishment

Hira’s eyes widened: punish me?!!

Uncle: the countdown is for your punishment to start and I believe what is left on your punishment is 5 minutes

Hira’s eyes widened further looking at the timer that counting down 4 minutes 59 seconds

Hira: u...uncle, what are you going to do to me? I am so scared

Uncle: you should be Hira, you should be.