Fear...grips hard

'Those Americans..always running away when something happens..either to their embassy or back home...fools, can't live in the real world....and think of themselves as some environmental saviours...bull****',Vladimir thought to himself.He had a hunch that she would not go to the embassy.She had a plan,he had read it in her face that was fraught with fear, but belonged to someone who hadn't yet given up her cause.He decided to take a chance by going to the airport.He could almost see her boarding a flight and he felt truly scared of his employer for the first time in his life.

He had failed a couple of times before, but those victims were locals, he could mend what he missed, get the boss to bribe his way out, but, he felt like he was totally losing the plot here.If  he lost the girl, he could lose his life or worse , his boss would torcher him for the rest of his sorry life.Rebecca was intelligent.Vladimir knew that just a video on the internet or a letter to the editor in a popular publication could cause them great discomfort.

Meanwhile Danny was on his way to the airport, his mind a jumble of thoughts.He was going through all the places he thought they could escape to, at the same time, he was scared for Rebecca, was not sure she could handle this.He did not want her to get hurt and even thought of convincing her to let go of it all.Then he realised that the headstrong girl would just go off on her own and he didn't want that to happen.

'She is intelligent but a little naive', he thought and smiled..and wondered why he did....

Survival

Time passed real slow.It seemed like forever before she saw the airport.She asked the taxi to drop her off to the arrival gate.She paid the driver and got out of the cab.

Rebecca looked around for a payphone.It was getting cold.Her ankle was beginning to feel stiff.She saw airport security near the gate.They directed her to a payphone.She dialed Danny...silently praying that he would pick up.

"Hello..Danny?, its Rebecca..."
Danny didn't let her finish..."Are you safe, you were not there when I came by in the afternoon.Are you okay?Where are you?"

Pushing back tears, she narrated the whole story to him.Danny was stunned but composed.

"Go home, that is the only place that is safe for you.."
"but, what about you and I cannot go home.I will be putting my family in danger, Danny.Azov will not let you live.He will hound you till he finds you, alive or dead..That way he wins and we can never bring him down."

"Then Rebecca, what do u suggest we do, give up our work or run for our lives so Azov can flourish and millions of innocents die.."

"No Danny, I am not saying that, we need to lay low for a while,we need to live if we are to finish what we have started, maybe go out of the country but not home or anywhere in America...we need to go where no one will ever think we went.I am at the airport.See me there in 30 mins.Take ur passport, cash, some clothes ..don't withdraw from the bank or use the ATM...I am waiting at the Arrival lounge."

Danny was silent at the other end, after a few seconds , he replied, "Ok...I will be there."

She looked around, went to the Airline counter and booked two tickets for Paris.Both of them had an American passport.So, going around Europe would be easy. She would have to go there and then with the help of her friends, plan her next step.She had to do it fast.

Meanwhile, Vladimir was beginning to get scared.Fear that Rebecca had got away was eating him up.His men had searched the length and breadth of the shantytown with no luck.He had thought of all the places Rebecca would go to, the university, her Professor's office, research lab, the police station...
Just then something struck him...he shouted out orders to his men to get his car.He got in ..

."В аэропорт, быстро"  (To the airport..fast...")

His huge black off-roader swerved dangerously in the small space.He was on his way.

The Journey....

Meanwhile, safe in the confines of the taxi, Rebecca took in a deep breath.She leaned against the seat and putting her head back she closed her eyes. For a moment, her mind went blank.It was as if nothing had happened and she was back home with her family sitting around the dinner table smiling and having a good time with her parents.She felt warm and comforted.She could feel the aroma of hot chocolate waft through the kitchen and her father decorating the tree...here away from home, she just felt cold, felt emotionless.

"Are you okay?"

"Miss, are u okay?"....Rebecca opened her eyes.It was the cabbie.

"Yes, I am fine, just had a long day."

Looking out of the window, she saw the city was rushing by.It was almost 6 o' clock and outside it was dark.She prayed that she could get to the airport unnoticed. Taking out a kerchief from her purse, she wiped her face clean, tied her hair back in a tight ponytail and sprayed on her favourite cologne.It made her feel better.She hoped it would hide all that had transpired with her since morning and would help her blend in the crowd.

"You are American, aren't u?, the cabbie asked...Rebecca did her best to smile..."Going back?"

Rebecca realised she had no luggage with her, so she said she came to pick up her friend from the airport.The airport was still 15 minutes away.She began to plan in her head what she would tell Danny.She had to hatch her escape plan and that included him.Sooner or later Vladimir would catch up with him too.If her research papers were found, Danny would automatically be next on Vladimir's hit list.She could not let that happen.

A plan was beginning to take shape in her mind and she was sure she could convince him to escape......

The Search...

Rushing out of the area, Rebecca came to a shanty town.There were makeshift homes made of asbestos sheets, a few trailers parked in the narrow alleyways and homeless people puffing smokes in the morning.They seemed to notice her at first but clearly showed a lack of interest.She needed a payphone and some money to get away.First, she took her cellphone out of her bag, took out the sim card, batteries and threw them in a drain. Next she threw the phone in a garbage can.She looked around for a payphone in the little shops that dotted an alley of the shanty town.Finally, after a long time of searching she found one.She took out her wallet and found some coins.She remembered Danny's number.He was a toxicologist from Ukraine who was freelancing in Russia.She dialed his number, got his machine.
There were sounds of men running behind her...Rebecca kept the phone down and went deeper inside the alley.The children playing outside their huts stopped to look.She tried to go as fast as she could, but her foot slowed her down.After plodding for fifteen minutes through narrow alleyways, she finally came to a side street.The traffic hadn't started yet.She saw a taxi and hauled it down.
'Take me to the airport' , she told the driver.Settling herself in the back,Rebecca opened her wallet.She did not have much money left and using her credit card or ATM was not an option.She decided she would try to call Danny from the airport and alert him too.She probably would have to take the train or the bus and go hiding in the countryside , she thought, but no concrete plans were yet forming in her clouded, tired mind.
Meanwhile, Vladimir was fuming.The girl had indeed gotten away.His phone rang.The call that he dreaded but knew was unavoidable...it had finally come.
"How are we?"...a commanding voice said on the other side.It was Maya, Azov's personal assistant. She sounded angry, just like Vladimir imagined Mr. Azov to be right now.
"We will find her, she won't be gone for long, we will trace her, just give me a few hours", she kept the phone aside for a while and said something.Vladimir knew who it was.He hoped for a favourable reaction.
Maya came back on the line, "You have three hours.Finish the job".He heard the phone bang on the other side.
He looked around. The place was a sea of huts with people who had not seen a decent meal in ages.It was full of narrow lanes and dark corners.She could be anywhere.This was going to be difficult than he earlier thought......

On the run...2

She landed with a mild thud, which she hoped the men had not heard.Her ankle had sprained.Looking up she thought she saw someone peeking from the terrace.A chill ran down her spine, she slid slowly under the ledge, hoping they would not see her.She opened her little handbag and took a much needed swig of water . It was cold, but she could feel the beads of sweat trickle down her brow.She tried to stand by taking the support of the wall.She had to be out of here real quick.If she just found the right way out, she could easily make her way out unnoticed out of this abandoned industrial complex that was her home for about three weeks since the unfortunate discovery.

The men on the terrace were frustrated and angry.Their leader Vladimir, a former KGB agent now working for Azov Enterprises as a security head, was fuming.The girl had escaped from right under his nose.On getting the tip from one of his field operatives, he had set out to find Rebecca with five of his best men. She had to be terminated if he wanted to keep his reputation and his job.Mr. Azov was a generous employer and equally vicious as well.
The heir of a small mining and oil business, he had turned around the company and made it into a billion dollar business empire with interests from Siberia to Alaska and some newly acquired interests in the Australian iron ore business.One of the biggest employers in the remotest places of the country, politicians had made millions by ignoring what he wanted them to.

All this would change if that young stubborn exchange student from America decided to have her way.

On the run

Rebecca ran onto the terrace.She saw the maze of pipes.The people following her were closeby. She could here the light thumps of the footsteps on the concrete stairs.She hurried her pace running through the pipes,avoiding hurdles and jumping and ducking under the water tanks.She turned to see how close they had come.Just then her foot got stuck in some metal knob and she lost her balance landing on her hands .Gathering herself quickly, she hid behind a wall.She checked her forehead for any cuts.There were none, but she was sure to have bruised her cheek or her forehead with the impact.

It had been three months since she had been on the run.Getting to know the secrets of the evil Society was not exactly her plan, but while researching for her college project she just happened to stumble on them.The problem was when 'they' realised that she knew.She peeped a little, saw two men with guns drawn out, looking under the tanks.A third man was instructing someone on his walkie talkie.Rebecca had to leave the building before they surrounded all the exits.Their black coats and leather gloves reminded her of the dead Kings from Lord of the Rings.Only here no ring held the power nor was there any Gandalf to save her.She was on her own.

The men were approaching fast.She had to think quick.Looking around, she saw an old metal ladder, it went right down to the landing on the building's first floor.Hauling herself over the edge, she planted her left foot on the top step.With a prayer on her lips, wishing that her little rusted saviour wouldn't give away or creak she settled her right leg on it and began her descent.She dared not look below.The men were directly above from where she was climbing down.She realised that she had to hurry.Sliding down the last five six steps, she balanced herself on the landing.

Rebecca looked around, the ladder taking her down was broken.She had no option but to jump.It was cold.She was already hurt....

Simple :

All of us think that life isn't easy..but I think we are the only ones who make it complicated.We always want what we do not get, we always want what someone else has...the grass is always greener on the other side.

If we just put in our best and be satisfied with what we get, life would be much happier..
But then again, is it possible..!!!

hazaaron Khvaahishen aisii ki har Khvaaish pe dam nikale bahut nikale mere armaaN lekin phir bhii kam nikale.... :)

Silent Prayer

I was happily working in office...just wen I heard people buzz near the reception area....
There had been blasts in the city..I was so worried...had to keep my cool.

I called up my family to see if they were okay.Luckily cellphone networks co-operated....
I am glad to be alive.These things make us realise that we may b dere , alive dis minute..but God knows where next and how... :(
I have a silent prayer for God..

Death is certain,but let that not be,
When I am discovering, life with glee,
The cold embrace,the dreadful gaze,
Just the thought leaves me in a mortifying haze...


I want to see summers,spring and rain,
Life's bounties,even the pain,
The beauty,the beast,the dark, the light,
Its too early to pass into the night.

God bless..be safe...

M back...and lovin it..!!

Hey friends,its so good to be back....have been missing all of u ....


Yesterday I wasn't feeling too good...had to sleep thru the day...a few good lines came to my mind...


Layin in my bed , drinking lovely wine,
Feelin' happy, heady and fine....
Just realised....maybe..maybe...
You were never really mine...


(ok..now close ur eyes and imagine Mariah Carey singing those lines...simply wonderful...innit!!)