Devil Reloaded

Part 6

Megha fall on her knees. A frantic female voice chanting Maha Mritunjaya Mantra boomed in her ears.  She tightly closed her ears with her hands. Tears escaped from her eyes. Again a feeling of emptiness swallowed up.  But suddenly she felt a hand covered her mouth, before understanding anything, she felt herself dragged. Her mobile fall down from her hand. She struggled to get out of the hold. She noticed five men surrounded her. All their faces are covered with clothes. She kicked the man who is standing in front of her . At the same time, she felt a pain on her neck. A needle pricked there & darkness engulfed her.

A chill ran through the spins of Vikram of not finding Megha in the temple. He looked here & there. He dialed Megha's number from his Mobile, but found it unreachable. A Yagya was going on in front of the idol of Durga Maa, the priests were chanting the hymns & placing offerings on holy fire. Smoke covered the whole temple. Many people sat closing their eyes. Droplets of sweats covered Vikram's forehead. He rushed outside the temple & got collided with someone. He saw Kali there.

Vikram ( Frantically)- Where is Megha?

Kali looked confused.

Vikram( fiercely)- That girl who was with me. Your eyes were constantly on us. Right?? Now, tell me where is she? & if anything bad happens with her, I will not leave anyone here.

Kali- I saw her climbing down the stairs of temple.

Vikram- She was going outside!! Why the hell didn't you stop her?? You know naa, it is dangerous to go outside.

Kali- I thought you were outside. That's why, she is also leaving.

Vikram frustratedly ran his fingers through his hairs.

Kali- Search her in the cave.

Vikram( surprised)- where??

Kali- Don't waste your time. Go there. I am giving you direction. It's a cave inside jungle( Vikram noticed fear in her eyes.)

Kali told him the direction & silently left from the temple.

A man placed unconscious Megha on a stone altar. He took out a small knife & cut her palm.

Vikram was walking inside the jungle as per the direction given by Kali. The wrist watch he is wearing which has GPS & advanced navigation system, helping him to sense the direction in the jungle. On the way, he found Megha's mobile & sandels.  He carefully looked at the place. He can clearly see the marks of struggle. Suddenly a Syringe caught his attention.  He took the syringe & mobile with him & now he started running.  He can see a cave in front of him. Without wasting a second, he ran towards the cave. He took out his Service Revolver. He felt tensed & he can feel his palms are sweating & his legs are shaking. He took a deep breath & walked inside cautiously. There was so much silence that he can hear his own heart-beat. He was startled to see a fierce looking monster idol made up of stone & located Megha in front of the idol. He rushed towards her & felt relieved to check her pulse. He tried to wake her up & noticed the cut on her palm & the blood. He bites his lips to control his anger. He used the fireman lift technique , placed unconscious Megha on his shoulder & started running. Outside, he heard some footsteps & a man's voice, "Stop Him, he is running away with the sacrifice". Vikram fired a bullet in air from his Service Revolver & left the place in hurry. He has to save Megha at any cost. No one can stop him now.

Suddenly, Vikram got unbalanced & fall. Somehow, he managed to save Megha who is on his shoulder but hurt his knees. Shocked Vikram looked here & there. "What is it?? Did I feel the earth shook??" He again got up & started taking steps. 

Doctors are checking unconscious Megha in hospital & Vikram pacing outside the cabin. He is biting his nails & the constable Ramesh looking at him. The doctor came out & told that because of some heavy sedatives drugs, she is not coming in sense. She will be fine till morning. A nurse bandaged the wounds of Vikram. After that, he got up & instructed Ramesh to post a constable outside the cabin for Megha's protection. He came out from the hospital & sat in his car & ordered Ramesh to drive to his Office.

Ramesh is strangely looking at Vikram who is sitting in his cabin & lost in some deep thought. He took out the syringe & carefully started examine.

Vikram- Ramesh, send this to Forensic & tell them to examine it urgently. I want report soon.

He put the syringe in Evidence bag & gave to Ramesh, who saluted Vikram & left the cabin.

After Ramesh left,  Vikram leaned on his chair. Ground shook! What the stupid thing I am thinking! He slapped his forehead. "I am hallucinating things. Definitely, I got toppled on some stone & fall down. I was in hurry. That's why I failed to notice the stone." He tried to convince himself but a part of him remained unsatisfied with the logic.