Editor: Read Chapter XXIX here.
Inside the chawl, everything looked exactly as it always did when Ravi walked in that night.
‘Ravi is back!’ the cry went out as someone noticed him, though it was after dark and most of the residents were indoors watching TV or engaged in other domestic tasks. A number of neighbours rushed out on hearing the news and Ravi found himself assailed from all sides before he could get to his kholi.
‘How was your All India Tour?’
‘When will Avinash return?’
‘You’ve come empty handed. Where are your bags?’
‘Swapna is very glum and no one knows why.’
‘Your mother is dying to see you.’
‘Swapna, Ravi is here,’ someone shouted for Swapna’s benefit.
Ravi finally made it to his kholi on the second floor where he fell into his mother’s arms.
‘It’s been so very long! I missed you so much,’ the old lady sobbed, causing Ravi to break out in tears.
‘But why are you crying my son? Didn’t you have a good time?’
Ravi was too shaken up to provide a coherent reply. ‘What have you been up to? You look so tired and worn out. Swapna has also been keeping to herself for the past two weeks, as if she is very sad. Where is Avinash? Has he returned?’
‘Not yet Ma. He will take another week to return.’ Ravi wanted to tell his mother that they had to leave the kholi. The police would be looking for him and that if they ever caught him, he would find it difficult to escape the hangman’s noose and if at all he did, he would be looking at a very long prison sentence for all the things he had done, but decided that all of it could wait till the morning.
‘Do you want to talk to Swapna before you have dinner?’
‘Yes, I need to. I will be back soon,’ he said.
It was a great shock to Swapna when news of Ravi’s arrival wafted up to her from her neighbours. Once she recovered, she knew that he would come to her kholi. She opened the door even before Ravi could knock. ‘I thought you were dead. That’s what Tarun told me. That all of you were killed. I am so glad that…’
‘I escaped.’
‘Did my father escape too?’ A momentary hope rose in Swapna’s eyes, though she knew it could not be.
‘No, I think he is dead. I mean, I am pretty sure he is dead.’ The momentary hope in Swapna’s eyes flickered and died.
‘When did Tarun tell you that all of us were killed?’
‘The same day when Daddy died.’
‘And you told no one?’
‘No, he told me to keep it to myself. But how did you escape? You promised to look after Daddy!’ Swapna seemed to hold it against him for staying alive after her father died.
‘Swapna, Comrade Tarun isn’t what he claims to be.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Listen, the day of the attack, I ran away just before the attack commenced and I think I saved myself.’
‘You ran away?’
‘Yes, and after that I discussed everything with Holambe. Holambe thinks that Tarun is up to no good.’
‘Holambe?’
‘You remember Holambe? He used to attend our meetings before Comrade Avinash expelled him for…. something.’
‘Yes, I remember very well. He was expelled for misappropriation. You mean you not only deserted, but you’ve also told Holambe everything?’ Swapna shouted as her eyes clouded with tears and rage. Ravi was worried that a nosy neighbour might be listening from outside. He tiptoed to the door and peeped out through the keyhole and came back satisfied.
‘Listen, you have to leave. You are not safe here. Let’s go away.’
‘Why should I go away? I am going to marry Comrade Tarun!’ Swapna’s teary eyes waited to see how Ravi would react.
‘Tarun isn’t what he claims to be. He is no comrade. You should come with me and not go with him.’
‘Get lost Ravi!’
‘Swapna, please listen to me. I love you.’
‘Sorry Ravi, Tarun has promised to marry me and I love him.’
‘Swapna, fine, you don’t have to marry me, but please come away with me. We need to hide somewhere.’
‘And why should I hide? I haven’t done anything wrong.’ Ravi heard footsteps outside. Sure enough, a neighbour gently opened the door. ‘Is everything alright? Is Avinash alright?’ he asked.
‘Yes, everything is alright. Avinash is fine. He will be back soon.’
‘Swapna, I have a new phone. Here let me give you a call. I remember your number by heart. It’s the only number other than my own that I remember.’
Swapna did not respond, but nevertheless Ravi called her number and disconnected after a couple of rings.
‘Good night, Swapna.’
When Ravi got back to his kholi his dinner was waiting. As he sat down to eat he said, ‘Ma, I will leave early tomorrow and I will be gone for about a week.’
His mother sighed and said, ‘I wish I knew what you were up to. What’s the world coming to?’
Ravi gobbled up his food and as soon as he was done, he went to a quiet corner and called Holambe. ‘I spoke to her. She is in love with Tarun.’
‘We always knew that, didn’t we?’ Holambe said in exasperation. ‘What else did she say?’
‘She knows about her father’s death. Tarun told her immediately. He has also promised to marry her.’
‘He would obviously. Now you must leave that place immediately. Come to Dadar. Opesh can put you up for a few days.’
‘I’ll come tomorrow.’
‘For heaven’s sake, you can be sure that the bitch will call him now and tell him about your visit. He is bound to try and kill you. Remember, you know too much.’
‘Okay, I’ll come to Dadar tonight.’
Ravi’s mother was waiting for him to finish his call. ‘Will you leave early morning? What time? Will you have some breakfast before you go?’
‘Sorry Ma, but I need to leave now.’ Ravi’s mother started tearing up and Ravi patted her arm in a vain attempt to console her. Then, without any further ado, he turned around and walked out of the kholi.
Featured Image (Cover): Nisha Joseph
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