The Devil's Love

Chapter Three

Rehaan walked into the gym and stood across from Sidharth who was hitting a punching bag. He held the back of the punching sack. “Why are you torturing yourself?” He asked, as his best friend huffed and grunted with every punch he threw.

“I’m not doing anything.” Sidharth grunted. “Didn’t think you would be here with me.”

“You’re my best friend, Shukla. You’re messed up.” Rehaan said flatly. “To be fair, so is your wife.” 

Sidharth stepped away from the punching bag. “What?”

“She’s missing her earlier life. She is missing work.” Rehaan explained. “I tried to ask her why she hasn’t continued her job but she went around the question.” 

Sidharth sighed. “I didn't want this, Ray. Usse uske hi ghar mein qaidi bana ke nahi rakhna chaahta hoon mai.” 

“Iss waqt uska yahan, apne ghar mein qaidi banke rehna better hai. At least till I can figure out a way to convince her not to push the issue of her brother and her father lying to her.” Rehaan said quietly. “Tera woh saala sudharne ke koi asaar nahi dikha raha hai.” 

“What do you mean?” Sidharth asked, surprised.

“You promised to pay Zafar off on his behalf, got him out and everything. But, you know that's not a solution. Paise ki latt asaani se nahi choot-ti hai bhai. Na Zafar ki chootegi, na Tarun ki. Tarun ek pange se nikla hai, teri wajah se.. aage bhi woh humaari protection ko for granted le sakta hai. Jaahan tak mai uss ladke ko jaanta hoon, woh phir koi bada gamble khelega aur iss baar uske paas uski behen nahi hai, na zafar se sauda karne ke liye, aur na tujhse.” Rehaan said firmly. 

***

Three months ago

“Bhai..” Rehaan entered the room without knocking, only to be met with Sidharth's gun trained at his chest. Rehaan held his hands up in surrender. “News hai. Gun neeche kar saale.”

Sidharth frowned. “Tera koi screw dheela toh nahi hai na Rehaan? Abhi goli maar deta tha mai tujhe!” He scoffed. “2 dinn se pata hai mujhe ki kucch plan ho raha hai Bombay mein.” 

“Tu consignment ki baat kar raha hai?” Rehan asked curiously. “Eurasia border ke diamonds ki?”

Sidharth nodded. 

“Consignment nahi aayegi. Dealer rogue ho gaya hai. Saala explosives bhej raha hai idhar, base udane ke liye. South Africa ke kisi gaon mein apni jaan bachaata phir raha hai. Tu uska stress lena band kar. Tere ghar aakey tujhe utha ke le jaye utni himmat nahi hai kisi mein ab tak.” Rehaan assured him. 

Sidharth groaned. “Tu kyon haafta-daudta aaya hai phir?” 

“It's about your queen..” 

“Shehnaaz? Kya hua usko?” Sidharth stood up from his chair and walked over to him in three quick strides. 

“Woh theek hai. Abhi ke liye. I have confirmed news from one of our sources, uska bhai Firoz aur Zafar ke saath koi badi drug deal mein involved hai.” Rehaan explained. “Uske offices aur ghar ke kaagaz dono Zafar ke control mein hai aur Tarun Gill zafar se chupke Firoz se deal kar raha hai.” 

“What?” Sidharth exclaimed. “Tu sure hai na. Shehnaaz ka bhai hai woh. Meri Naaz iss sab mai involved nahi ho sakti.”

“Teri Naaz involved nahi hai. Connection sirf Tarun ka hai aur Tarun ke father politically connected hain toh shaayad unko bhi kuch hadd tak malum ho.” Rehaan clarified. 

“Ek second.. Tarun's father?” 

“Tarun cousin hai Shehnaaz ka but she doesn't have any other brothers so he's the only one in the picture. Jo bhi hai uske father, bade papa aur Tarun hi hain.” Rehaan explained.