After the long cold agony stricken night in Calcutta, the daybreak had brought a little glimmer of warmth. And, bathed in that warmth of hope, Anirudh Roy Chowdhury got down from the pulley rickshaw infront of the guarded large iron gate, sheathing the red bricked two storey police banglow.

"I want to meet the officer." He demanded at the gate, and the newly posted Indian guard with a rusty shotgun looked at him disinterestedly.

"Why?" He asked in a bihari accent, and Anirudh stretched his eyes past him, trying to look through the iron grills.

"It's of personal nature. Tell him his friend from school has come to see him." He spoke politely, and the guard eyed him from head to toe once. Anirudh looked messy, inebriated, yet his magestic features stood out significantly.

"He's sleeping. He's wounded." The guard replied.

"Fine. I'll wait." Anirudh folded his arms and replied plainly, giving him clear indications about his resolved intention.

And, realising the futility of his denial, the guard finally made an irritated tsk sound and walked inside to inform his master.

"My friend from school, is it?"
In no time, came a sarcastic chuckle from afar, stressing on the word friend, and looking up Anirudh saw Paul Davidson on the first floor balcony of the banglow, his body sheathed in a shawl, yet the darkened bruise on his cheekbone was prominent enough to make Anirudh frown at once.
"Come inside... Friend", he beckoned him with a ironical curve on his lips, and the guard hurried outside, holding the gate open for the attendee to enter.

Anirudh smiled politely at him and walked inside.

"So?" Paul Davidson was clearly straining to climb down the stairs that led directly to the modest open drawing area, and Anirudh stood infront, with a questioning gaze.
"So what brings the mighty Barrister back to this 'cramped suffocating prison'? Isn't that how you described this place to my senior?"
He raised an eyebrow at him, and Anirudh saw the sharp cut right above his temple.

"I need some answers Paul." His voice was calm, a sharp contrast of the hurricane of questions that were swirling inside his mind.

"And why might I answer you again?" Paul staggered and stood right infront of him, proud and tall, and his eyes narrowed down at Anirudh's sleepless face.
"Infact... Why might I welcome you in? After what you did to me? That long nasty letter from my commanding officer that I had kept you quarantined here against your wish!" He huffed the words and looked away.
"You know what it costed me?"

"I don't." Anirudh responded with the same calmness, his compassionate eyes exploring the wounds on Paul's face, and Paul looked up at him with questions.

"Why are you here?" He asked, and Anirudh raised his hand and placed it on his left shoulder gently.

"I'm here to see my old friend, the one whom I once trusted, the one whom I had spent many summers of my life... And, right now I'm in need of my friend."

The words made Paul frown, his expression mellowed a little and Anirudh let out a soft exhale and moved a few steps away, the steps that clearly showed how he dragged himself unsteadily.

"Have you been drinking?" Paul asked, but Anirudh just smirked at his question, throwing one at him in return.

"Do you have bourbon?"

"Just Scotch!" Paul replied, his voice too had seamed down to a softer tone of concern, as he too followed Anirudh towards the small liquor celler by the wall.

"Scotch would do." Anirudh chuckled, and with gentle swiftness he brought down two glasses, half filling them with the golden intoxicant at once.
Paul was looking at the glasses, and then at the man standing infront, the faint dark circles under his eyes, the hint of stubble on his chiseled jawline and his slightly messy hair gave clear indications of his troubled state.

"Is everything good?" Paul asked, taking the glass from him, as he saw with widened eyes how Anirudh clanked his glass with his, without invitation and poured the entire of his share of content down the throat at once.

"Hey... Hey mate... Slow down..."
Paul had almost pulled the glass away from his lips, and for a moment they weren't their present selves but the old dear pals that they used to be.

Anirudh had poured himself another peg, a rather large one, and slowly they both staggered back, settling down on the couch behind, Paul struggling with his wounded leg and Anirudh almost sinking his weight into its softness.

"How are you hurt?" Anirudh stretched his spine and held his head backward in the cushioned rest, and Paul let out a soft chuckle.

"Who is asking? The Barrister or my friend?"

"Friend." Came a prompt reply, and Paul moved the grey shawl from his shoulder and revealed the patched up bullet wound on his body.

"What happened?" Anirudh's eyes widened and Paul pulled the shawl back and picked the glass up, taking short sips from it.

"Satiya-keeth Sen happened!"
He sighed deeply, "and you know what the worst part is?"
He looked at Anirudh with a defeated forlorn expression and Anirudh lifted his head and sat upright.
"The worst part is I know that bloody Krantikari never misses his shot!"

"He gave you life!"
Anirudh murmured plainly, emptying his glass and Paul leaned forward to fill both their glasses, hoping to drown his sorrows in it.

"How can I come to terms with this Ani? I'm hunting him and he shot me on my shoulder... A point blank shot! That bloody bastard gave me my life in charity!" He sighed again, "his face was covered, he wore a turban on his head, but... but I saw his eyes Ani... They... They looked so unreal!"

"Like?" Anirudh felt a unsettling chill down his spine. Even in his state of absolute intoxication he was conscious enough to protect the identity of the sacrosanct.

"Like... like I can't explain mate... But even though it was pitch dark in the night, I'd never forget those eyes! Those unnatural eyes! Why did he let me live?" Paul's voice had a crack, and Anirudh couldn't fathom at that moment if it was due to awe or insult.

"What eyes? What color?" Anirudh murmured awkwardly.

"I can't explain the features Anirudh... It was dead dark... But it's the way those eyes were staring back at me, so close... so deep... Fearless!" Paul gasped at his own words, recalling the moments, and his eyes had automatically shut in recollection. "Why did he let me live?"

"May be he saw the real you."
Anirudh sighed, and closed his eyes as well. He leaned back on the couch, a little relieved at the knowledge of how Satya had managed to keep up his ruse with efficiency this time too.

"What do you mean?" Paul frowned.

"I don't know Paul. This job, whatever you're doing... This is not you... This is forced on you... And you still have a chance! May be he wanted to give you that chance."

"Why? He is a fugitive, and I'm bound by my duty... I'm not gonna give him a chance if it comes to that!"
Paul kept his glass noisily on the wooden table and let out a sharp exhale.
"It's bothering me... Why?" Why would he do this?"

"Because he is a good human." Anirudh blurted out, and Paul smiled at him meaningfully

"So... you do know him?"

"I wish I did!"
Anirudh smiled back, a pure untainted one, and it made Paul sink his head back on the sofa once again.

No one spoke. The painful silence made both of them count a few thoughtful minutes, sipping their drinks in quietude, before Anirudh finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Do you remember our brotherhood pact Paul? Back in school."

"I do. Why?" Paul murmured softly.

"Do you remember what I did when you and Danielle... " He paused to choose his words. "When you needed me."

"Yes. I do. I can never forget that Ani."

"Then why did you do this to me Paul? Why didnt you tell me? I thought we are friends, dearest friends... atleast we were a year back!" Anirudh's words were restless, and aided by the influence of the golden liquor, he felt more dramatic than usual.

"Tell you what?"
Paul narrowed his gaze at him quizzically.

"About Candice!"

Another draught of silence prevailed, as Anirudh's expectant orbs met Paul's thoughtful gaze. They both stared vacantly at each other, lost in their own minds, as very slowly Paul cleared his throat and started to speak.

"I... I never had any ill intention."

"But you did speak, rather threatened me to open your mouth to my wife about her existence just a couple of nights ago, didn't you?" Anirudh raised his voice a bit.
"You knew Candice was here? In Calcutta, and she still harbours those old negative sentiments?"

"I did know..." Paul's words were more of a defiant murmur. "I knew she married Lord McKenzie a few months back, but it was only after coming to Calcutta that I came to know about his posting. I just met her twice Ani... Trust me!"

Anirudh chuckled roughly at his reply.
"Wow! Did she enquire about me?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"I just told her about Bondita, and your brother... It was just a casual conversation Ani... Nothing serious."

"Really?"
Anirudh sighed distastefully at his words.

"Yes. Really... I infact told her how much Bondita means to you, and that you both are really happy... And, and inseparable!"

"And? What did she reply?"

"Nothing!" Paul shook his head sideways.
"Really nothing... Trust me... She didn't even speak about you..." Paul sounded thoughtful.
"Infact... Infact she was asking about your younger brother, and how old he is and rather irreverent things... And then I left."

"That's a lot of information to give to someone who had tried to defame me in the past, and even stole from me! And I thought we were friends."

"We are Anirudh! And I'd never do anything or say anything that would..."

Anirudh didn't let him complete.
The tired mind, the rush of adrenaline along with the overdose of alcohol in his blood had aided in an un-characteristics restless in him, and Anirudh only half realised how impulsive, jilted, his words would have sounded to his sober senses.

"Although I saw no such reason as to why I should worry, as there had never been anything unusual that I've experienced involving Candice, apart from repulsion, yet I couldn't help but think why you, of all people, would suddenly mention Candice to me that night."

"I... I wanted to... Well, I wanted to scare you..." Paul let out a dry laugh, rather awkwardly, and Anirudh kept staring back at him.

"Scare me? By spilling about my so called scandalous past to my innocent baby wife, is it? Then guess what friend, you have successfully succeeded in your failed attempts!"
Anirudh pressed on the words friend, and it made Paul lower his gaze at once.

"As in?"

"As in Candice spoke to Bondita at the governor's party last night, and filled her mind with baseless stories about a past that ever wasn't true..."

"And Bondita believes her?"
Paul widened his eyes, and Anirudh shrugged his shoulders and exhaled out.

"No matter how much she thinks she has grown up, but Bondita is still a little child Paul... and, we've had a troubled past..." Anirudh pressed his head with his fingers and spoke slowly.
"There was a time I had no choice but to send her away, and she probably still suffers from that rejection anxiety! The insecurities of our initial unrequited marital relationship is still buried deep in her..." Anirudh rubbed his face with his palm. "You know it all Paul, don't you?"

"Yes. But you've suffered too Ani... I'm a witness how you used to pin for her, how you used to..."

Paul murmured. However, pumped with emotion and intoxication, Anirudh spoke up again, without letting him complete.

"Bondita is a baby... It will take time, and I'm doing all I could to... to get her out of this anxiety, this feeling of insecurities... but then again, all that happened in Dehradun... It only made things worse for her."

"She's isn't a baby Anirudh!" Paul objected mildly. "May be... Just may be, if you stop treating her as one, she'd probably learn to trust this relationship more!"
Paul remarked, and Anirudh looked at his face blankly for a moment, before shaking his head vigorously in denial.

"She's a baby Paul! How can you not see that? Didn't I tell you in London these same words?"

"That was years ago? She's a grown up woman now mate, what's wrong with you?"
Paul spoke up, and it formed creases of worry on Anirudh's forehead at once.
Paul let out a sigh and leaned forward.
"Treat her as your same, tell her about Candice... Tell her what she did to you! The lies, the fraud, the stealing... Everything! May be she'll understand, may be she'll surprise you with her maturity!"

"You think so?"

"Yes Ani... And about the insecurities, aren't you too insecure to lose her? Isn't it how love is suppose to be? I still am hopeful that Danny would come back to me, and I'm utterly, evilly insecure that she's with someone else."

Paul's hand was on Anirudh's, and both the men sat in silence, their minds clouded with the thoughts of the ladies whom they love.

"May be you're right Paul... But our insecurities, it's probably a little deeper than just that." He sighed.
"And although I know it's our battle to fight these deep-rooted emotions, but today I have come here to ask for a help from you my friend." Anirudh looked at Paul's eyes, and there was a tiny glint of emotion that glistened in his dark orbs.

"Anything." Paul let out a soft sigh.
"I remember what you did for me when Danielle and I were..."
He looked away, and Anirudh leaned forward, squeezing his palm gently with his hands.
"Do you want me to speak to Bondita and tell her that there is nothing..."

"No! Absolutely not!" Anirudh blurted out, not letting him complete. "If my wife is to trust anyone's words, that would be only me, and not anyone else in this damn world..." He fisted on the table and shook his head sideways.
"As I said, this emotional battle is ours, and only ours to fight... I would never let her bank on anyone else for support... Never... I love her, I... I'm the only one for her and..."
Anirudh spoke aimlessly, proclaiming his claim on his love, and it made Paul smirk in tease.

"Mate calm down... No one is stealing your Baby from you... now just tell me what do you want me to do?" He smiled, and Anirudh smiled back like an embarrassed child.

"I... I want you to help me with something which you do best."

"That is?" Paul raised an eyebrow at him quizzically.

"Digging!"

A subtle smirk played on Anirudh's eyes, and it's contagious reflection radiated to Paul's lips as well.

"So you want an upper hand on her! I see."

"Not really... I want Everything, every information about her, who all she met in England, their details, and about her marriage too."

"Her husband is powerful!"

"I know Paul, and that makes it even more fun."
Anirudh placed the glass back at the table and got up, his head feeling lighter than before, his gaze hazy and his legs unsteady.

"So you want to blackmail her?"

"No!" Anirudh almost screamed.
"That's what cowards do! I want to confront her, and want her to admit the truth and apologize to my wife for hurting her."

"And that would solve the issue?"
Paul too stood up, pressing on the handle of the wooden sofa to battle the sharp pain on his leg.

"No! The issue is for us to solve, just Bondita and I... I don't need anyone's assistance or interference in our matters." Anirudh chuckled and then took in a lung full of air before looking straight into the officer's eye.
"I'm just an over protective, over possessive husband who wants to avenge his wife's insult in the most civic way possible." He paused and smiled.
"Candice has insulted Bondita, and I want her to pay for it."

"So it's love?" Paul too was smiling, as he now placed his hand on Anirudh's shoulder gently, and he too wrapped his arm around Paul in return, the duo shoulder hugging each other, just like old times.

"It's love, and it's more..." Anirudh sighed, and prepared to leave.
"No one messes with my Bondita, Paul. No one!"
He smirked, and fingers brushed his unkempt hair, making the officer smile... for the first time in the last two days. Suddenly, just suddenly, everything he had done in the past two days, chasing fugitives in a foreign country, killing men whom he didn't even know, his job, the uniform, everything seemed meaningless, just full of futile 'honour', as somehow this brief morning encounter with his old pal filled him with a real sense of warmth and fulfillment after a long, long time.

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