Lone Avenge

It was a damp August morning and Annette argued with Fergus over his profession. All she wanted him to start off an enterprise, but he preferred to serve and wanted to avenge of Tai Luang’s death. He didn’t welcome her idea of starting a new enterprise being firm on his decision. She was angry and the rage took over her. All-encompassing, all-overwhelming, she stood beside a table and threw a punch at polished brass cube, she threw it as hard as she could, and it fell straight down, hitting the ground below with a clang and bent badly by a side. Fergus gave Annette a plain look and left slamming the door so hard that the name plate fell off from one side. The whole drama was witnessed by Ryan & Marianne, who waited for him in the corridor.

While driving Marianne gently asked “Why don’t you think about her ideas once”? “May be...” He interrupted “Marianne! It’s a matter of honor pride and more than that; avenging Luang’s death”. “Tai was my best friend and a great colleague as you folks are and so was his family”. “Did you’ll forget how brutally his wife and daughter were murdered?” “I’ll clean this case by getting this yellow fever out of United States and then will think of Annette’s proposal”. Ryan replied “Oh! That’s fine but you must consider quickly for Annette’s sake” Fergus smiled and replied “Chill people, It aint a real dirty job being an Assassin”. Marianne smirked “Oh! Really?” Fergus replied “Take control of your own destiny and release the warrior within, kill one to save a thousand and earn a million. That’s what the assassins do. Coz what matters is the Money you get after killing a criminal!”

 They drove towards the FBI office located at the Northwest 2nd Avenue. All the evidence against Yamakawa was gathered. Only thing left was to keep a close eye on Ayaka Yamakawa; the “Capo Bastone” of Yamakawa clan and Kaemon Matsui; Consigliere to the Yamakawas. Somehow these yellow japs were fortunate enough to get away from the radars of Drug Enforcement Agency. They smartly ran the whole business of illegal drugs and diamonds worth millions under the banner of being traders and importers of gold artifacts.  

It was early August and someone had tipped off anonymously that the next deal is about to be cracked by Kaemon soon. It was just before Sakito Yamakawa along with his enforcers & hit men planned to arrive in the United States. After accessing to the relevant information Fergus planned an itinerary for welcoming this yellow jap in his own style. Furtively the team patrolled the whole area of Yazuka Bahn; a club where most of the japs frequented. Nestled in the Mid Lane of NW 183rd Street, this joint was favored by most of the Asian and Latin American anti social elements. Kaemon planned to meet his clients and organized a meet for the next day at Yazuka Bahn. Fergus and his team mates had already done a thorough surveillance of the lane and planned an action game well in advance. While the whole process was on Ryan questioned Fergus “Don’t you think that we are just eliminating them instead of acquiring more evidence along with the CIA” Fergus answered “It doesn’t matter whether the evidence with CIA is enough to get these japs in a death row or not.  Most of the times when raids were conducted suspect blurted out Yamakawa’s name. So then at any cost, we must get these Japs dead, as it would be disgraceful to watch these decades’ old enemies of the Pearl Harbor laundering in the prisons of States”.

August, 19th it was a rainy night, pouring cats and dogs.       Miami shoreline appeared wild with an enraged sea th the wave hitting the shores. Ryan had positioned himself in a building opposite to the Yazuka Bahn. He was heavily armored with a FN Minimi SPW - Special Purpose Weapon and a M240 B; a heavy machine gun that gets one down in a fraction of a second. Marianne with two other combatants in the adjoining building was ready to blaze off the japs with M60E3 machine guns each and Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle; which is still in service ripping off the Iraqis in the war. Ryan transmitted a message to Fergus stating “Japs flipping off and having a smoke” in plain language it meant Kaemon is driving towards the venue but has halted unusually to take a look around. Fergus replied “Either game will be over or grave shall be dug” which meant “you take care of the place, and I’ll get the target (Kaemon) killed on the road or get him killed at the venue”.

On switching the ignition on the Dodge Challenger roared with an ultimate burn out on the US Highway 95. Every moment message was transmitted informing Fergus about Kaemon’s locations. Fergus drove straight into the superhighway at 80 mph zooming past the vehicles and the wide headlights of other cars kept getting smaller to smallest. The chase had begun to hunt down Kaemon. The speedometer constantly increased from 80 mph to 100 and zooming to 120mph. The SRT  HEMI V8 engine roared with much more power and sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in lest than 5 seconds benchmarking 100mph within 17 seconds. By the end of 18th seconds the car tore apart the wind giving a yardstick of 140 mph and the serotonin levels shot up in hot pursuit.

Fergus sped up driving from Route 95 and turned the sedan almost 180’ at an entry point of NW 103rd St with a loud screech. Nothing could stop him even for the bins those came in his way were dashed off flinging waste in the air at a height. When he cornered the car to turn in the E 49th Street which led to the Mid Lane of NW 183rd Street, few of Kaemon’s muggers nearby began firing abruptly. He stopped the car and reversed until it reached at a length and switched off the ignition. As these muggers slowly moved towards the sedan, he started the car ramming all of them who came across and the muscle machine mercilessly crushed them like mashed potatoes. As he reached the entry point Marianne transmitted a message “The cats are around. Relax" which meant “Before you go on a killing spree. Just be careful as the whole area is being covered by SWAT team.” He called her and questioned “Marianne! Who invited them here? Are they playing Tom & Jerry” to which she replied “Fergus, Kaemon has got a sufficient amount of drugs and ammunition consignment transferred in the club? Hence you can play the game. The SWAT is here to covers us”

Fergus hung up leaving the car behind a Hummer of SWAT team and sneaked into the lane. Just to avoid much of casualties, he transmitted a message to Ryan & Marianne to rip off all the suspects since could run out of Yazuka Bahn. While entering the bar a firm hand held him by the collar. Fergus quickly held the man by the wrist, twisting it until he heard a crack and gashed off the assailant’s throat with a knife. While slipping ahead a yellow butler stopped him. Turning back with a blank look Fergus instantaneously head butted the butler’s nose. Holding the butler by his neck he then knocked him on his nose. Shoving his head into a dustbin he banged a heavy aluminum beer gallon on the lid cracking butler’s skull. While the blood oozed out of the bin, he sensed someone was approaching towards. Quickly entering inside the switch room he turned off the electricity. There was a complete chaos. Ryan & Marianne had begun their game outside gunning down the criminals and setting a blood carpet for those who counter attacked.

Bending down Fergus peeped through a key hole. There were two gunmen who were approaching towards the meter room and were alarmed to see the corpse of a butler.  Hiding behind the door he stood still holding a rod like object that he found.  He held it high and left the door slightly open. As one of them peeped in, he kicked the door locking the man’s head in between and hit the object on his neck. There was a sudden thud as if something had fallen off. Fergus lit the lighter and learnt that what he had held was a Katana sword that sliced off the head of that gunman. It was such a perfect kill that the man leaned still in between with blood dripping down like engine oil leaking out of a hose.

Before the other guy realized Fergus held this dead piece of meat as a human shield and started shooting until his bullets tripped into gunman’s forehead. He then switched on the electricity and moved towards the door of a bar, with the sound of his steps bullets poured onto the door converting it into a grill. There was a sub machine gun lying near a corpse fallen at the door. Swiftly lifting it up Fergus barged into firing at and got down 3 hoodlums of Kaemon. Understanding the situation Kaemon ran and hid inside a suite room. Fergus followed him exchanging few rounds until Kaemon seemed to be disappeared. He then took cover behind a pillar and hit upon a crate of a dry ice. Putting the ice in a tin he threw it towards Kaemon.  Mistaking it as a gas bomb Kaemon leaned down to pick it and rounds of 9 mm bullets made their way into his right arm.

Losing not a millisecond Fergus jumped, kicking harder over Kaemon’s solar plexus and gifting a massive side kick almost breaking his jaws. Kaemon held the wall and supported himself as the gun fell off his numb fingers and clattered to the floor. He still managed to stand bending a bit. Gasping in pain he spoke in a breathless tone “if you were in Japan, you would have been dead”; Fergus replied “You aint in Japan so you’re surely dead”. He shoved a gun in his mouth and fired split opening the other end. Kaemon kneeled downwards before crumpling onto the carpet in a floundering heap and then, finally, went completely still. Ryan rushed in and held Fergus’s arm that profusely bled as a bullet had brushed across while assaulting. Ryan said “Fergus, the game is over!! Marianne won getting around 30 japs down”. Marianne followed in with a team of SWAT and asked Fergus suspiciously “Are you alright?” but looking at his arm, she yelled “Call the doc”. While he said “Chill, just gave Kaemon a bit of Sushi treat”.

That night Fergus didn’t bother to go home as the next day he had to get his targets in order to get the game completely over. Fagging off a cigarette Fergus asked Ryan and Marianne to be prepared for the next day. Considering what had happened last ight at Yazuka Bahn, they didn’t rule out the contingency of an assault, hence took the precautions dictated by the NYPD Scuba intelligence and SWAT Team. Sakito Yamakawa had changed his plans and called for a meeting in his warehouse itself at 2401 SW 31st Pl, Coleridge Beach. The ware house was once again covered by SWAT and Special Enforcement Team. The chiefs of both the teams had positioned their troops in a way that no criminal would evade away from bullets.

Fergus reached the place from where the teams kept a close eye on Yanakawa’s hitmen. Stealthily driving towards the rear exit of warehouse, he transmitted a message to open fire. Marianne had already positioned herself with two combatants on top of the warehouse. He then drove the hummer as fast as he could and rammed into the rear exit of warehouse killing Yamakawa’s enforcers down his vehicle. SWAT and Special Enforcement Agency began their action and were mercilessly gunning down Yamakawa’s dogs outside. Machineguns fired from fortified emplacements on warehouse through multiple points. There was a complete chaos of heavy guns and Squad Automatic Marking Guns. A security cordon made up of NVG-equipped troops manning squad automatic weapons barred a gang of Yamakawa by entering the warehouse. Most of Yamakawa’s gunmen were dead and couples of combatants of SWAT and SEA were severely injured too.  Amidst the lines of fire Fergus made it to the meeting room where Sakito Yamakawa and his 3 trusted enforcers were holed up. Marianne reached to the 1st level gunning all possible criminals and in the process one of her combatants was severely injured. She made the injured combatant lie at a place and asked the other one to get him out of the warehouse.  Abruptly firing at the meeting room she provoked Yamakawa’s men to fire back, which probably can make them run out of their ammunition. One of the men jumped out, but she got her target, blazing up him down to death. Fergus asked her to cover herself behind an adjoining pillar aside the meeting room door. Slightly, the door opened and one of Sakito’s aides’ came out, leaving no time Fergus jumped crashing the glass pane, gunning down Sakito’s last hitman and the other one who stood at the door was taken by a sniper’s bullet.

Sakito quickly held a sword trying to attack Fergus. Gently sloping over the couch Fergus leaped towards a sword stand making it fall on the ground. He then held a Katana Sword and the sport of fencing began. To every attack of Sakito, Fergus assaulted him badly. At a point Fergus lost control and fell on his back. Sakito tried to plunge the sword in Fergus’s face but the kick on Sakito’s knee was so hard that he sank down into half crouches, gasping in pain. As Fergus was getting up Sakito got a pistol from his boots and fired at him. Fergus's shoulder was injured but he instantly moved the sword upwards slicing Sakito’s gun held a hand apart which flung in the air. He howled in pain and sat back heavily breathing and said “You don’t know what can be the consequences, you will have to pay for” to which when Fergus replied “I don’t care for consequences but yes! Your limbs will pay for that” and sliced off another hand splashing motor oil onto Sakito’s face. He lied down yelling like a terrorized inmate of Nazi's prisons. Fergus angrily questioned him “do you know Tai Luang, his wife and his innocent daughter?”, “Do you remember how your men beheaded the family after gunning down Tai?” There was no answer but yell of pain. Fergus knew there was no point in questioning. He squeezed the sword in his neck pulling downwards till it found its way out. Losing the balance he fell on the table; meanwhile he saw Ayaka Sakito’s daughter running towards her father’s corpse. He somehow managed to turn, and before he could assault her, she came over and squeezed a gun below his chin. As she was about to pull the trigger, Fergus squeezed the sword in her throat and at the same moment bullet made its way through his chin making a blackout. By that time cops had arrived outside with more combatants and Medical assistance was provided on a high priority to the officers who were injured. Fergus too was airlifted and shifted to the Jackson Memorial Hospital where his condition was declared quite critical.

A white flashlight struck his retina forcing Fergus to close his eyes. Suddenly, a nurse looked at him with a surprise and briskly moved out calling a team doctor.  One of the doctors approached him and whispered in his ears “Do you know? You have been lying here past 20 years.” and laughed, gently assisting him to get up. Fergus remembered everything until Ayaka shot him. Doctors told him that he had been lying down here in the coma for the past two years.  Surgeons who operated stated that it was a miracle that he survived and came off the coma too. Fergus learned that he was shot below the chin and the bullet passed through getting stuck at Sphenoid bone. A doctor stated that in such a case the patient either dies or is in a comatose state for the rest of life. They had conducted an operation to get off the bullet which longed for 7 hours and saved his life, by then he had drifted in the coma. He realized that he had been in this critical care room of the Hospital for past 2 years being a living dead.

It was sunny morning, the sun kissed skyscrapers and glass buildings shined marvelously converting the town into a lustrous chunk of metal and glass compositions. The pages of the calendar fluttered stating August 2009. It was an exact two year before when Fergus was on a death ride post gunning down Sakito Yamakawa and his men. The next day a nurse came in smiling and whispered “Someone one has come to see you”. Though he didn’t expect anyone to visit him but someone expected him to be in a better state. The door slowly opened and Marianne appeared along with Ryan. They came closer and stood, he could see the joy in Ryan’s gentle smile and an overwhelmed Marianne with sparkling eyes. She greeted him with a pat “Happy Birthday, Good to see you back. Mr. Assassin” and he reciprocated back at them with a smile. A doctor entered in with a nurse stating that Fergus was doing fine and could go home too. As he was moving out of the hospital a surgeon identified him and greeted stating “Good Luck, Mr. Carter. It’s a commencement of your new life today, All the best to you and for your future endeavors”.  Walking past the lobby with Marianne and Ryan, once again the bustling life of Miami and the movement of traffic held his attention until they drove towards North Miami Beach, Miami – Dade. Watching the city’s existence were a new experience but curiosity aroused about a hollow life that waited to greet him at Browns Apartments.

Fergus insisted Ryan & Marianne to make a move as he wanted to go home on his own. He got in the lift and went on upstairs. When he reached, he learnt few things were changed on the 9th floor. The neighbor’s name wasn’t the same. The mischievous kid disappeared who always pressed other’s door bell and his name was written on the main door instead of the name plate. Warily inserting the keys, he opened the door. He found the house was in a state that he left it on a damp morning of August. It was so intact the newspaper that fluttered as the breeze swirled around dated back to August 19th 2007. The dented brass cube lied at the same spot as it lied two years before but surprisingly the name plate lied on the coffee table near the balcony. He noticed that there lied a note since a year which read “I am heading to George’s house as things have reached beyond to deal with. If at all you wish to help me, please sign the papers kept besides, Annette”.  A file lied beside the note; he opened it and learned the fact that they were divorce papers. Fergus called on Annette’s cell phone, but she didn’t answer the call. It was 4:30 in the evening. He was sipping a coffee with a smoke the mobile phone rang with Annette’s name flashing over it. He instantly answered the call but there was no surprise or warmth of care in her voice anymore, but an unexpected exclamation, as if she had accepted Fergus’s death and didn’t anticipate him to be alive.  She stated that she would be coming over by 6:00 PM to take the file and probably to spend a bit of her time.

Multiple hues had colored and shaded the Miami skies adoring it with tequila sunset on the horizon. Cool breeze flirted around the curtains playing in an out. Fergus lighted another one and stood watching the sun kissed horizons with stars shimmering from the east. The door bell rang and it was Annette at the door. She was still the same, blonde hair, deep blue eyes except the fact she had put on a bit. She silently entered in looking at him or rather thinking about the chances of his survival. He offered her a coffee, but she denied and instead asked for the file which she had mentioned in her note.  He brought over the file and asked her “Are sure about it? or.” Before He completed his sentence, she interrupted saying “I need to go by my decisions Fergus. And I don’t think I need to give it a second thought”. To which he replied “Well! Since you’ve planned for it; So I wish you all the best. Have a wonderful future ahead” He opened the file signed wherever needed and handed over it to her. She briskly took it giving a quick glance and closed the file. As he stood and strolled towards the balcony she rose and said “Fergus, I am leaving. Goodbye” he turned back and wished her. It was the last time their eyes met as strangers, and she left closing the door slowly as if one turns over the page after a chapter is over.

Fergus stood all alone overlooking the shoreline and the waves dashing against the jetty. Everything seemed to be over or rather a new chapter of life began of being on his own, precisely alone.

Flashback

The sunny morning of November had signaled the arrival of winter and the warm sunrays had brightened the gallery with the wind swirling around the wind chimes. The flowers bloomed and the blue sky spread like an expanse of artist’s creations.

Weekend had set in and the honking of the horns by the highway had increased than usual, but it didn’t bother Shane much, who was lazing on the couch engrossed in reading a sms that he had received. After a while, he got up, proceeded towards the kitchen and got a black coffee ready for himself. He slowly sipped the coffee while glancing through the bank statement and switched off the television system. As the clock struck 9:00 he closed the file, leaned forward towards the music system and the living room was turned into a lounge saloon with serene tunes of Buddha Bar being played in the background.

Though his father had asked him to clean the lower shelf of the wardrobe prior leaving for Bay Avenue for the weekend, he was too lazy to wake up and get the work done. Engrossed in reading a novel, making notes and enjoying the music he almost spent an hour. However, soon realized about the task he was assigned and the cell phone rang. It was his cousin at the other end enquiring about the night plan and the time when he is planning to leave; he answered quickly and hung up. Like a responsible officer, this dude got up marching towards the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. Swiftly, he began emptying the lower shelf and while the cleaning process was on, a small grey bag fell of with a thud. Wondering about the contents in it; he lifted it up with curiosity as there was a clinking sound as if it was filled with some plastic moulds.

He slowly began unzipping the bag and upon opening it, he learnt that it was his Mom’s nebulizer machine. The sight of that machine itself took him back in the time when days rose darker and nights spent restless. He sat silently as if death’s coldness had gripped him and was drifting him away in phase which he and his father had passed through. He could hear heavy breathing of his mom, he could see her eyes; those wondered what would be her son’s fate without her and soliciting for a peaceful end. The strong whiff of Savlon & Tesco was once gain felt, cracking of a medicine pack being opened and clinking sound of syringe bottles and a screeching sound of stretchers had crowded over him. The sunny morning seemed cloudy, he felt the vision going blurred and once again the sound of nebulizer motor drowned the mild lounge music. And finally a long continuous beep was followed when the human system crashes down, with cardiogram machine signals for emptying the bed and just the body is moved.

Suddenly, Shane opened his dampened eyes, quickly arranged the shelf clearing the mess and closed the wardrobe in order to leave. He got ready and hurriedly sprinkled water on his face. The sunrays now had gone brighter, the leaves swayed along with the breeze and the music went on. He ensured everything was at its place, switched off the music system, took the backpack and moved out locking the door. Riding over the highway to Bay Avenue he observed a change, it seemed like a new day with sun-drenched brightness all around but silence just about had signaled that a storm had passed away.

Heroes of the Old Glory

Massive C-17 Globemaster III; a large military transport aircraft took off with a company of the US Special Operations Forces. The aircraft was armed with 75th Ranger Regiment troopers, a dozen of the elite Delta Force operators and ammunitions for a lil’ bang in Najaf region of Iraq.

Watching over the tequila skies of Fort Benning, Georgia, the humongous army base and Roosevelt's Little White House, Wagner stood alone besides the window.

Sergeant John Wagner; a war hero of Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom headed the company of troopers. As the warm brittle sunrays pierced through circular glass shield of the aircraft Sgt. removed a Lucky Strike and tried to strike it, but this time he aint lucky. An in-flight commissioned medical officer of US Medical Corps offered the light and begun the conversation.


Doctor: Good after noon Sgt. Where are you posted?

Sgt: Good after noon Doctor. In the regions of Najaf..one of the most terror infected territories. You never know whether you will return back alive or not.

Doctor: Hmm….yes. I have heard a lot about it. Had served there last year now being a master of Osteopathic Medicine, as Medical Corps for the Red Cross I am posted at Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic on Camp Liberty at Karbalah.

Sgt: Oh..Well! I know the camp; one of our officer as well as “Farowk Hameed”; a terror group recruiter and motivator was taken to the Camp when both of them were severely injured in an ambush.

Doctor: I know; I believe he was later handed over to the joint investigation company of Delta Force & Marine Corps. It was alleged that while interrogating he was inhumanely treated and probably died in the custody too, if I am not mistaken?

Sgt: Oh! So the world knows the lie. I understand Doctor that your profession allows you to use knife to heal people, irrespective of their cast creed on the basis of humanity. But we use it to kill the enemies of the nation irrespective of their nationality

Doctor: You are right Sergeant, but once a (Prisoner Of War) POW; must be treated as a POW not as a slave to play with.

Sgt: No one played with him Doctor! Only the interrogations were stern. In fact while interrogating he tried to attack as well and that’s when he was executed in that skirmish.

Doctor: May be. But the humanitarian commission claimed that it was a homicide of POW by the investigation authority after gaining all the information from him.

Sgt: Oh. Their highness! The humanitarian commission! It’s easier said than done Doctor! Where was this savior when sons and daughters of our country were brutally killed in the warfare by the terrorists while defending the nation? Where was this commission when innumerable innocent lives were lost in the 9/11 attacks?

Doctor: I agree but our values and cultures always commands on treating every individual equally and not deprive anyone of life and liberty. Do not sideline Constitution's Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) , which prohibits cruel and degrading treatment to a captivated criminal or a convict.

Sgt: True Doctor. I agree too. Have any other nation who sponsor cross border terror or the terrorist who claim to be righteous fighters have treated any one equally? Have you forgotten the Daniel Pearl case? And the murderer of the innocent journalist was just granted a Death Penalty for such an atrocious crime.

Doctor: If you say so, should we too be the same as there are trying to be? Are we supposed to ape what they have done? Then where do I see the difference between a human and being beast. (Smiles) I know you are bound by your profession and so do I. You have to kill and I must heal.

Sgt: (Laughs) Ah Doctor…you can win over with this point but explain me why is it said “Everything is fair in love and war”? Am aint here to claim what is right and what’s not? But I pledge that I shall guard the pride and honor of my nation come what may. An enemy or threat to my nation must and will be dealt with stern execution.

Doctor: (Smiles) all the best Sergeant! I wish that the Old Glory of our Fathers flies high in pride and honor. Win the war and get our heroes back home. Hope that mission succeeds and our credibility isn't questioned. Be careful out there

Sgt: Surely Doctor. The credibility of a soldier lies not in the number of war or medals he has won, but precision loaded with callousness while searching and terminating the enemies and their associations.


Both the men of honor bid a good bye to each other and left towards their respective sections. Shortly the deep blue backdrop was replaced with reddish and dusty surroundings, dotted with ruined houses and domes of Iraq. Soon the massive military transport aircraft landed over the runway at the Delta Force Base Camp Area 65 in Western Najaf.

Assassin

I walked towards the cab and a well-dressed gentleman got out of, paid the amount and left. I hired the same, few papers lied on the seat. I thought it was his and tried to call him. Even the cabdriver went to seek, but he vanished in the darkness of night. The cab driver asked me the destination and drove towards the Bay Avenue. I got busy reading those two papers that read…

“Life was never certain. It is a routine to wake in the wee hours, being an assassin. Getting up, dressing as an office executive, go to a place as directed by the contract and execute for whom you’re hired for. And when there were no clients days pass in comatose hours staring at horizons from a secluded place. No one know who you are what you do, but in the world of criminals, you are in separate class known as “Hit man,” “Assassins,” or “Executioner.” ; a white collared criminals who charge an enormous amount for killing people. So was I. This chapter had no beginning, it all started like any other day.

Life had no complains working as a media executive in MNC at Cancun, Mexico. Like any office executive the daily routine went and weekends flew with her at the bowling alley. Though the time was short we lived to the fullest. We both loved the life we led, only thought worried us was to buy a house and move in. She had to stay with some of her relative and I had hired a flat with a colleague of mine. Owning a property was a tough task to accomplish, but we had dreamt of it and planned to fulfill. In years time she was assigned for a project in Florida and she planned to leave. We both had no idea about the time we will have to be separated, but she was expected back soon. For some time we did have a much words but later both grew busy in our life. Daily calls and sms shifted to a week and then to fortnight. Thing weren’t fine between us, there was kind of troubled feelings felt at both the end. Distance grew more, and finally we had to face the harsh reality of separation, but now it was for permanency. The distressed soul had to dip itself or divulge in peace so I used to drive to Ryan’s Shack most of the weekends after work. Once I went there, I parked the car in the parking area and proceeded towards the entrance as I walked ahead, heard rounds of bullet being fired. I tried to learn the scenario but before anything could get registered in my mind, a guy in tuxedo suit ran towards and pointed the gun right on my forehead. He took me as a hostage and cops were helpless and let him go, but I was reluctant. Like it’s said a wounded lion or indignant heart are more ferocious, similarly in a fit of rage I held his wrist firmly, twisted, and shot the entire round in his forehead. Within an hours time the scene was over, but I never knew that this was just a trailer of my future. He lied lifeless on the ground followed by dead silence and the cop came to the rescue. The legal procedure started off, the deceased was henchman of a Thai drug mafia. I was clueless about whom I shot, only thing I said was I did the act in self-defense. I was set free in a short while and the criminal whom I shot dead was in the crime list of the México City police. My interview with journo flashed on local news channel and shot me to fame, which cost my job. In a months time I found myself jobless and only thing I received were threatening calls. I brought this to the notice of the cops but they too were helpless, because they dared to scratch the big mafias and they had it. Left with no option, had to shift my base somewhere else. I sold the house which I had bought day before our separation, to the landlord and closed all the accounts and left for Los Angeles. Only a fortnight was passed when I was issued a visa for 5 year to be in United States of America for touring purpose. Thankfully the immigration authorities were not aware of the situation and city police captain issued a letter giving a clean chit. The drug mafia racket was so wide spread that Mexican government had to take a decisions on a serious levels. But till the country would save its citizen, I was sure that my tomb stone would have definitely been laid. A constant doubt always came that I might be monitored by the mafia’s henchmen”


A year passed and things aren’t fine. The mafia knew where I was and tried to execute but to his to misfortune I had executed his men. The ambush was set and every time I was saved, some of his men were caught. The secrets of the drug dealer network were revealed out. The gang was way confused on my survival. Captain received my information from his friend who was city police captain of Mexico. The S.W.A.T Dept. Captain, who then planned to clean off this criminal dirt, furtively contacted me
unofficially or rather illegally with my assistance. No one knew that I was informally backed by the S.W.A.T. Dept. captain, I agreed to help them in erasing these anti-social element that were wanted in innumerous cases and trial would just save them. Till date I worked unofficially for the law enforcement team, every time when the criminals are seen in the city I get call from an unknown number. My task is set, attend the meetings execute them and return to a different place every time. The money I get is part of the criminal’s deal that I bust off. I would say that I am a certified Assassin as I worked without an endorsement for the law enforcement. Every morning is a new day and every night is uncertain. Today I am an assassin; may be the purpose is right in an unlawful way but no one knows there may be an assassin in the making by some mafias who might assign him to execute me. I have no regrets of executing, because those who were executed were criminals. Only regret is that I didn’t desire to live a life of a hero of the dark. I will be observing the meeting tonight as the Thai drug mafia himself is present at the venue to save his skin in the business network in Mexico. No clue that bullet might hit me or kill the mafia, but for sure I’ll shoot him to fame before I am shot. Coz I need to give him a payback”

As I finished reading the short write up of that assassin, all of sudden the car stopped and to my surprise I reached home soon than ever. I quietly folded them kept in pocket and paid the cabbie; the cabbie left with and I felt an urge to read the tomorrows news daily depicting an unknown hero’s deed through the death of anti-social elements eliminations.

An Evening at The Airport

She lifted her luggage and placed it on the front seat of the land cruiser. Seated in the rear seat, she was unusually quiet. May be she wasn’t feeling fine or didn’t want to leave. Silence marked its presence all through the way, even at the noisiest place – the airport. I could only glance through the mirror while driving. She was completely lost in her own thoughts staring away at the detours. I was aware of her silence and the storm that whirled inside her. Though she had cited the reason why she didn’t intend to visit Delhi, except for business, I assumed the said reason for her emotional mess too.

When we reached the parking lot of the airport, she just smiled and lifted her bag before I could. While strolling towards the terminal, she asked me a couple of questions about my entrance tests… may be she just wanted to evade her thoughts and keep her cool. I was answering her questions normally as if unaware of her distress. Though she was trying to show that she was fine, a feeling of deep sadness inside her could be easily sensed. May be she needed a shoulder to lean and release the stress. I felt tremendously bad for her and wished that I could hug her and tell her “I am there for you”. Since we had been friends only for a month, I didn’t want to interfere much, so I remained still. But I really wanted to hug her and say “I care for you and I am worried about you, come soon”. I was unaware that I would be one of her dearest after that evening at the airport.

It’s so strange that you give a person so much importance even when you are still an option in that person’s life, and hardly focus on the fact that there is some one else waiting for us. The need is to just turn around and look. I do remember those sleepless nights and the smoke-filled corner of the Mochas café at Churchgate that consumed my year 2006 when I was a graduate in Ad. Thanks to the split with Naomi, just stress and smoke filled in that year. As it is rightly said “Time is the best healer and counselor’, so it proved to be. Naomi was my past and I had to start my life on a new page. During the same time I met her through a social site and we soon became good pals.

Even though she was in her 30’s, she was much more beautiful and elegant than a ramp model. The only thing missing was a smile and a handsome guy accompanying her. She walked towards the airline office and got her ticket confirmed. I was watching the crowd walking and strolling inside the terminal and at the entry doors. She returned with two cups of hot coffee and offered me one; I thanked her and smiled. She smiled back, sipping the coffee and gazing blankly at the departure indicator. She didn’t even realize that she had already finished the coffee until I offered to throw her empty cup. She smiled, so innocently, just like an angel, and I felt that even a coffee cup could fill with love for her. There was a kind of dampness in her eyes when she smiled. I wondered why all the good and beautiful people had to smile in pain. I felt that God had been unjust to her. There was a storm whirling inside her which disturbed her more as she headed towards the departure. It was now time for her to go through the security checking and board the flight. Before she could go in, I said, “Take care and don’t strain much. In case you do feel low just give me a call”. She smiled and said, “yes” in a choked voice. Her voice made me even tenser. With a heavy heart I left, but as I walked a few steps away, she called me on my cell phone. I rushed towards the gate.

She was waiting outside the door. I was tense and asked her “You were supposed to be on the flight. Why did you come out”? She looked at me with an expression saying she didn’t want to leave me and go away. She hugged me, at the same time weeping and thanking me for being with her. I hugged her, wiping her tears and admitting my love for her. She looked at me and asked me why I had taken such a long time to say so. I was falling short of words so I just hugged her tight. I felt as if a soothing medicine was being poured on our wounded hearts. She held my arm and walked alongside me towards the parking lot. We smiled at each other. The bag is placed at the rear seat and now she is with me in the navigator’s seat.

Slayer In My Heart

There’s a slayer in my heart
Tearing me softly apart
Life seem to be a pain now
Death appears skies above

Angel of death rings the knell
Devils’ busy, to get me in hell
I can’t stay alive any longer
striving for deaths’ gone harder.

Memories crowd over
staring like an evil spirit
pushing inside a dagger
of pain when fallen over grit

I lie now wounded by fate
Over the bed of anguish,
Where life goes harsh
Getting pound of flesh
Ripping apart my heart

Fallen over the grave
Passes of the day and
Gazing up in the sky
Hours of nights fly away

Injured by destiny
The warrior waits
In a sheer pain
Longing to embrace death

Let me kiss you

Let me kiss you one more time
Let me hold you one more time
Before we leave away
Lets be together for some more time

I wanna be yours forever
can’t see you sad ever.
Wish I could be with you
to love and wipe ya tears

Let me kiss you one more time
Let me hold you one more time
Before we leave away
Lets be together for some more time

Hours that we spent together
And those precious moments
That never fades with weather
Are worth than a treasure

Let me kiss you one more time
Let me hold you one more time
Before we leave away
Lets be together for some more time

Distance may keep us far
but I shall be with you
no matter how hard
Nothing except death

can take us apart.