Rash looked at the picture that Chi Chi drew. A road flanked by shops on either side . IT WAS NIGHT TIME.. She drew lamp post on.. Rash looked at the positions of stones.... Then her bloodied friend. She counted dragon's men.. Four including him.. But Chi Chi has drawn someone else...
She called Zeeshu.
" Rash wassup", he asked.
" I am working ", she replied. " And I need your help".
" Shoot", he said.
" When Chi Chi suffered that attack how many people were there on your side fighting assasins"?
" Four including dragon", said Zeeshu.
" Describe what happened to me", said Rash. " Try not leaving anything".
Zeeshu knew the lioness was on a hunt.
AND KNOWING RASH SHE WILL GRAB HER PREY BY THE NECK.
The night before
" We can't let her Jeet", he has said. " It's dangerous. She.. "
" Don't you dare call her helpless Zeeshu or I'll have your head on platter", hissed Jeet.
" So you will throw her to wolves", Guru was angry.
" When a lioness hunts it's the wolf who should be afraid", said Jeet proudly.
" Jeet you assh*le", said Guru. " One scratch on her body and I shall strangle you to death".
" Hmmm the good lawyer in love", smirked Jeet. " So if you are that concerned about her then I have a plan".
" A plan", Zeeshu raised his brows..
Present
" Are you in dreams or are you scr*wing someone as we talk", screamed Rash.
" Ohh no just zoned out", he said.
" Probably your binge drinking fest ended with your brain immersed in whiskey ", she retorted. " Now get it out of there and try to remember alcoholic moron".
" Okay okay. So dragon calls me and says he is attacked. He put Chanchal inside the bulletproof car and walks out as bait. Usman his driver and bodyguard is with him. When I reach the shootout has begun. Megha comes later and we kill all... But no. Someone was alive", said Zeeshu.
" Now think very carefully ", said Rash.
" Close your eyes if you want. From where or which side like direction did that bullet come"?
Zeeshu closed his eyes and remains silent... Then suddenly he opens them. Rash was waiting.
" Right in front of me maybe an angle of 10 degree if I am the base", said his military mind.
Rash was looking at the photograph.
EUREKA..
" Thanks Zeeshu", she said as she cut the call.
Morning 7:30 A. M
Aashiyana
Guru was having breakfast with Ranjeet and Rashmi.
" Your bodyguard is at my office ", he said to Rash. " There was some important work at night. He slept there and is getting ready as we talk".
" I don't want to burden him too much. If he needs rest.. ", she was saying.
" He is an ex commando. He can tackle working for long hours", brushed offJeet.
" He was supposed to be here by 8", he said in a stern tone to Guru. " If this is how he works I should be thinking to replace him. "
" You are being too hard pest", said Rash.
" He is human. And why can't you give me someone who is easy to communicate ", she said as she bit into her cheese cucumber and lettuce sandwich.
" Sorry he is the best in his field and I don't go for second best when it comes to you", said Jeet.
" Plus it's best you rant and he keeps his mouth shut", said Guru staring at Jeet angrily. " Rash is it necessary to take this risk"
" I am a journalist. My job is risky", she brushed him off.
" But for a girl", Guru was saying.
Jeet smirked.
" You are dead", he whispered to Guru.
" WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU EXTINCT MAMMOTH ", screamed Rash.
" I suggest you take it in the garden", said Jeet. " I have just replaced the furniture after you burned it".
Rash was now holding a fruit knife. Ignoring Jeet she placed in on Guru's neck.
" Do I look weak to you", she sneered.
" I suggest give it a little cut", said Jeet calmly drinking his coffee.
" SHUT UP YOU BUG", she screamed. " OR I'LL SLIT YOUR THROAT FOR GIVING ME THAT HOT HUNK WITH WHOM I CAN'T COMMUNICATE ".
Jeet wisely shut up.
" Now you listen you extinct mesozoic animal", she squared on Guru. " I am as dangerous as those criminals put together. Probably more than them. If he is the King", she pointed to Jeet ;" Then here Right here you PRIMITIVE F*CKER stands his queen. My dad raised a LIONESS ", she repeated Mr. Sharma's words.
" And when a lioness hunts", said Jeet firmly " It's the other animals beneath her that scurry away for life".
He proudly put an arm around his wife and lovingly pecked her lips.
" Put them to ground my queen", he said. " All the best".
Her lips curved into a smile.
Sed*ctively she whispered in his ears.
" If I am successful you get the ride of your life".
" Bang on", he smooched her.
They were breathless as they separated a couple of minutes later.
" Walia you wimp come", ordered Jeet.
Rash refused to acknowledge him as she started collecting her things. Ranjeet and Guru left.
Her bodyguard was half an hour late. He was really apologetic.
"Sorry", he signed looking gloomy.
Rash sighed. Jeet probably scolded him.
" It's okay. Come", she signed.
Rash asked him to drive and Bhaskar did.
First stop was the same market. It was early morning and the market was closed. Rash made a deep study and marked a few shops. Jeet was observing her quietly. She has forgotten about him.
" I need to meet the other two ", Rash was telling someone on the call.
Zeeshan mused Jeet. He quietly messaged him to refuse any access to dragon's security.
" Damn", she said on the call. " Okay fine".
Next she went to a house.
" Where is she", thought Jeet.
" Act as my husband ", signed Rash to Bhaskar
Jeet was perplexed. Meanwhile Rash transformed herself into a trophy wife and Jeet into an army officer of high grade.
" Umm hello we didn't recognize you", said the lady who opened the house
" Ohh aunty I am Natasha ", she drawled in a western accent.
" Ohh yeah", said the woman. " Natty love"
They air kissed. " My hubby Retired colonel Bhaskar Joshi", she said.
She explained an accident left him mute and his honourable retirement.
" I am glad he took on his family business. Hotels", drawled Natty. " Army frightens me".
" I can understand dear ", said the woman.
Over the talks Rash cleverly raised the subject of Singhanias.
Now Jeet was all ears.
" That poor younger Kappor girl. She is a mouse", said the socialte. " Now Sheetal was a match for SS. But the way she conducted that foolish assassination attempt. Moron".
Jeet could only agree.
" You knew her mother right", said Rash.
" She left India I guess".
" Yeah she is in UK", said Mrs Soopawala as Jeet got the name.
" Are you in contact", asked Rash.
" Heavens no. My husband has business here. We don't want to die at the hands of SS. "
" Hmm he is dangerous ", said Rash.
" Of course Natty. But then we all knew that", she said. " Even Sheetal".
" So what happened in the wedding ?How was Sheetal's dress? My mom said it had real golden thread in it" gossiped Rash.
" Hann it was. Money was spent like water. The top class caterers you know Mithalal's. There booking you have to get an year ago. Some top Bollywood designers designed that dress. Gita fabrics they had the cloth. And Rosemary's were the Florist".
" The florist closed the business ", I heard said Rash. " Did dragon suspect him".
" He suspected everyone Even the guests", said Mrs Soopawala. " Every business catering to wedding were closed. Revathi house once a top resort is closed down. His security took over"
Rash was confused. AND WHY ALL THIS CAUTION NOW? What good will it bring? How with his level of paranoia he never researched Sheetal?
" What are you thinking dear", asked the socialte
" About those jewels she wore", said Rash.
" I heard they were expensive. None of her photographs came in the media. I bet they were unique. I would love to have some made like them. His business is doing good", she pointed to her husband.
" Yeah even our mobiles were confiscated by the dragon. But I think she probably pawned off Or sold the jewellery to facilitate her escape.
Jeet knew this. They tried to search for the sold jewellery but came up with nothing.
Rash chatted happily for some more time before bidding a goodbye.
After that Rash collected the names of top jewllers before she went to Kash's house.
" She sold it way before", she told to Kash as her bodyguard waited outside.
" You sure", he said.
" Yes that witch planned everything in advance. " Kash I need to talk to that dress designer and jewellery designer".
" But I don't know who.. ", he was saying.
" Here is a hint. They are probably out of work. That man can hold a grudge. He made every business related to his first wedding extinct".
" And still that vixen escaped ", mused Kash. " How"?
" Kapoors are mafias Kash. And her mother's family had Russian ties."
" But dragon does know this. And he won't spare her".
" She is of no importance except for the fact that she will be dead but look at this. Someone always knows where to attack. Two asssasins and right on the mark each time. In both cases he could have been killed. And Kash there will be a third time. I don't know when but it will be".
" So what do we do", asked Kash.
" Well you sneak off Chi Chi. While I hunt him", said the fearless Lioness.
As Zeeshu picked up her call she said.
" I WANT TO MEET THE DRAGON ".
" Not a wise idea", retorted Zeeshu.
" But then Zeeshu", smiled Rash. " Bravery borders on foolishness."
Time to payback her dues.
The lioness hunts the dragon.....