"Yes, I know...and you have to reason with the kidnappers on that. The two ladies need to be driven back to safety if you are held back,"

"Yes, you are right, but the thing is that both ladies are expert drivers themselves,"

"But the kidnappers don't know that," their car now stopped and everyone got out except Makhan and approached the black car. Ravi, who had stepped out of the car, shook hands with the commissioner.

"I hope we have lost our trailers,"

"Hope so,"

"Ok, then let's not waste our time. It's a long way to go before we reach Ghatti," Ravi suggested.

"Ok, then Bandu, ok Ravi," Commissioner Seth greeted Sakhi too and watched Bandu and Ravi get into the car and drive away in another direction until they were out of sight.

"Inform the team that the mission has begun," he told Masan, who promptly made a series of calls on his mobile. They did not return the way they came but went in the opposite direction the other vehicle had gone.

Bandu after seating himself beside Ravi, greeted Sakhi, who looked sullen and tensed. He felt bad at her distress, which was inevitably caused by him and the research, that her father was involved in.

"So why does this person want to keep you in return for Nayantara?" it was Ravi who seem to break the silence between them, "Since Sakhi here isn't too curious, presuming she has some idea about it through her research, I surely am wanting to know,"

"You are right in assuming that she knows something, but not everything. So I will tell you both my past and why I wanted to keep it hidden all these years," Bandu said and began to recall his nightmare once again, and reliving it hurt him to the core. Both of them listened with silence and in the end when he stopped he could hear Sakhi's sniffles and see Ravi's face growing hard trying to hold his emotions. None of them spoke. Their silence seemed to speak a lot of words of consolation that were now of no use to him.

"Thank you, for sharing your grief, Bandu. I don't know what else to say except that I am proud that I could associate with a person like you of immense courage, honesty, and kind person. Good always wins in the end, this I have learned and so I know, you will be delivered justice and I will always be there for you in your battle,"

"Thank you, Ravi," Bandu said, but couldn't say much as words would not come out.

They were already halfway to their destination. Bandu offered to drive, since, Ravi was one hour behind the wheel, but he declined it saying he knew the route better. Bandu had never come to a landscape that was dusty and barren with spots of green here and there. There were no trees in sight only bushes which were drying in the heat. The wind began to blow up the dust in the air and they had to stop and close the windows of the car and cover their head and face. Sakhi broke into a fit of cough as the dust irritated her throat. A sip of water from the bottle eased her irritation.

A peculiar feeling began to creep up his chest and he began to get flashes of his past in bits and pieces. Looking at the surroundings he imagined himself walking through that place and he began to lean forward in order to get a better glimpse of the landscape that they were passing.

"What is it, Bandu?" Ravi asked noticing his curiosity, "What do you recall?"

"I think ahead now we will come across a house or cabin sort of structure if it still stands,"

No such structure emerged and Bandu felt bad at misleading his colleague.

There right ahead I see one ruin of a house you say. Look!" Ravi pointed out. Bandu was happy that he had after all not mistaken. That would mean that they were nearing Ghatti. Ravi stopped the vehicle as they neared the structure. Bandu got out of the car and approached the ruined place. He couldn't envision much of the house as it previously looked but appeared the same. Nothing was there to remember about the place, except the fact that they had once taken shelter in it for the night. Bandu returned back and their journey resumed.

"Where are you supposed to leave us?" Bandu asked Ravi, who was referring to his compass at that moment.

"I think half an hour more to go," he replied.

"You know Ravi, this route is the second when I came through from Ghatti,"

"Are you telling me that you came to Ghatti through another route?"

"Yes, there is one another way,"

"Do you remember it, though,"

"No, that's the problem, I don't remember any of it whole. It's in bits and pieces in my memory,"

"That's all right, Bandu, we will go as planned,"

After some time there came a check post on the road and a car stood parked beside that.

"Ok, I have reached my destination, I have to get down here,"

"Here!" Sakhi exclaimed, "Where do we have to get down then. I really wished that you were with us Ravi," she said.

"There is actually no need for me to come, Bandu will take care of things,"

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I know Bandu can take care of us, but since you know the place, it would ensure that we are going in the right direction," she said embarrassed when she realized her statement was taken in the wrong context and it might have hurt Bandu's feelings.

No, Sakhi, I too share your thoughts," setting her at ease and both he and Ravi got out of the car. Sakhi too joined them to stretch her legs a bit. The wind was blowing hot air around them threatening to blow off their head gears. They held it down with their hands.

"I think you both better get inside," Ravi advised them.

"You too, Ravi," Bandu said making a move to open the door of the car for Sakhi, but she had already got moving around the car to seat herself in front. Both men exchanged glances, and then Bandu took charge of the driver's seat, shutting out the dust and heat. He dusted himself and glanced over to his companion beside him, who was doing the same. An instantaneous smile came upon his lips and he immediately averted his eyes to the road and met Ravi's schoolmaster's stare and shaking his head, then hurried towards his transport and watched them pass him by.