Not First Love (6 page)

She gave him a call.  It went on ringing and Jan was going to disconnect when Ron picked it up. He spoke in a sleepy voice. It was weekend and planned to sleep a few hours more. Jan asked why he didn’t call last night. Ron came home late and was too tired to call. He told her he wished she was by his side now. He promised to call her later.

Jan heard a knock on the door and Arthur comes in with the breakfast. Jan took it and placed it on the table.

“Did you have breakfast?” she asked him.

“Not yet.”

“Why don’t you bring it up here? We can eat together. Only if you want to.”

“Okay,” Arthur said and came back with his food. Jan took a chair and he took the other one. They ate silently.

“You were going to tell me about yourself,” Jan reminded Arthur.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” she replied again.

“Why should I tell you everything?”Arthur played with her.

“Because you trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone Jan.”

“Whatever. Just tell me. Start with what you do, apart from guarding me.”

Arthur looked into her eyes and said, “I am a vigilante.”

He waited for her response.

Jan took a minute to sink it in. “That’s awesome. So exciting.”

Jan was jumping with surprise. “I knew there was something different about you.”

Arthur was amused, he didn’t expect such a reaction from her.

“So what do you fight, bad guys at dark alleys? Like Batman?”

“Not exactly. Although I would if I found the need to fight bad guys in dark alleys. “

“So what exactly do you fight?”

“You wouldn’t want to know.”

“I am all ears.”

Arthur leaned towards Jan and looking into her beautiful eyes, he said, “Things like Bloodsuckers.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. My father was in the army. But he had some ‘experiences’ and left the service. He found out that the real enemy is not only the one who we think they are.  Not only people, but things beyond people. They influence people, influence events. The more war happens, humans will always lose and the ones in the shadows will always get stronger. I have been hunting and killing things since I was a teenager.”

Jan was surprised for a second. But the way Arthur looked at her, she knew it was the truth.

“Arthur, I have heard of some of the Nazis dealing with the occult. Is it something like that?”

“Yes, very similar.”

“I left college to help my Dad.” he continued. “We travelled across the country and came to meet other vigilantes like us. I learnt how to strike and to kill. I had to be stronger and fitter. But more than that, I had to keep my emotions in control. Survival depends a lot in being grounded and centred in oneself. If you are centred you are alert, you senses are tuned in. No matter how bad the situation is or powerful the enemy, keep the breath right, my Dad would teach me. He also advised me to meditate. 

A Bloodsucker is just one thing but there are other things more scary. Very few people know what we do, mostly the ones whose lives we have saved. When you told me about your encounter, I was surprised. Only few people live to tell the story of meeting a Bloodsucker. And Zilo had seen twice, I cannot believe his luck.”

“Twice? When was the second time?”

“With you it was the second time. “

“You mean he had encountered one before?”

“Yes, he did.” Arthur remembers his every fight well.  “It was when I was still in college with him. Zilo liked tennis and played at the club but he didn’t find many tennis players to practice with him in college. He hates football but all his friends were playing that.

My father had told me to keep playing different sports, it was good for the mind and body to be in shape. So I had joined him in the practice. Zilo and I would often spend the evening to night in the tennis court at college. There would be no one around except the two of us.

One evening it had started to rain heavily. We ran to a shelter and waited for the rain to stop. It was getting darker by the moment and the rain was getting stronger. We would certainly get drenched if we tried to reach his car. The parking was across the grounds, you remember?”

Jan nodded.

“We sat down on the ground and waited for the rain to stop. It was getting a bit cold too. I don’t remember when I had dozed off. I remember waking up to a scream. Zilo was screaming.

I saw Zilo’s terrified face. I didn’t see anything what Zilo was scared off. But then I saw the silhouette of the Bloodsucker. I had seen it in drawings but it was totally different to see one in real. You cannot depict its abominability in a sketch.  It was coming for Zilo, and in panic Zilo started to run from the shelter out into the rain. I called him back but it was of no use. The Bloodsucker took a leap and flew after him. By that time, I was used to carrying my weapons wherever I went. I took the knife out and went after it.

I wouldn’t have located Zilo in the dark and rain hadn’t it been for his screams. I saw Zilo fallen on the ground and the Bloodsucker pushing him down. He was screaming for his life. This was the best chance I had. I came from the back and using all the strength I could muster, thrust the knife hard into its back. It growled and a blackish blood started to flow out of the wound. The knife had hit its heart, if it had one.

I helped Zilo get up and get away from the creature howling in pain. It struggled but its time had come. As it collapsed, within a minute its body started to ‘rapidly decompose.’ Whatever was left of it got washed off and nothing was left except a darker mark on the ground.

Although I left college within a few months, Zilo had always stayed in touch. He gives me odd jobs and good payment when I am not out there killing. It’s a great help though.”

“Arthur, you are the coolest and bravest person I have ever met.”

He couldn’t believe it. It was one of the nicest things Arthur had ever heard from anyone about his work. People have been shocked, scared and have disbelieved him. But Jan didn’t. She was going to believe everything he said to her. When people put their trust on him, he would start to feel a responsibility towards them. It came naturally to him.

“Arthur tell me more.”Jan nudged him.

“There are many things which we think exist only in legends or fairy tales. But the truth is, every tale has truth in it. You may not know how to see it or what to see but with study and guidance you can. There are things like monsters that know how to come into our dimension. It takes years of mental as well as physical training to face these things and look eye to eye. Common people are not aware. If you look at the lists of missing people, you will see a large number that has disappeared so mysteriously that it is just not logical. It even baffles the authorities but no one speaks it aloud.”

“I have so many questions to ask you. Do you fight alone?”

“There are others like me all over this country and many around the world. But I do fight alone most of the time.”

“Your family knows of it? They are okay with it?”

“My father introduced me to this world. My mother divorced him for that. I don’t blame her. I learned from that and decided not to get into relationships.”

“I am sorry.”

“Don’t be. It suits me. No strings attached.”

“That’s why you don’t give for emotions with a woman?”

“Yes.”

“I am sorry Arthur, I judged you without knowing the facts. You are a very good man. It’s an honour to meet someone like you.”

Arthur started to laugh. Jan was making a god out of him.

“I mean every word I say.”

Arthur looked at her. She did mean every word. He looked at her face.

She didn’t have any make-up at all. She was her natural self. She looked pretty, Patrick had said and he was right about this woman he thought.  

Jan’s phone made a clicking sound. She picked it and saw that a message that come from Ron. She read it and her face lighted up. She looked at Arthur excitedly.

“It’s a message from Ron. He says he has the money arranged almost all of it. He will pay to Zilo very soon and get me out of here.” Jan was ecstatic.

Arthur got up from the chair and said dryly, “That’s great. Congratulations. You should to pack your things then.” Arthur turned to leave.

“Arthur ,just a second.” She came closer to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You are a true hero.”

Arthur left without a word.

*****

Arthur heard a car drive in. He looked outside. It was Zilo’s Porsche.

He opened the door and went out. One of his bouncer-bodyguards opened the door and Zilo stepped out.

“Did Ron pay you already?” he asked Zilo.

“Ron, he paid me? I am looking at this loan as a bad investment already.”

“Don’t just yet. Ron had told Jan he is getting her out very soon.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it Arthur. But that is a ray of hope if one would say. This gives a better reason for the party.”

“What party?”

“Tonight. I have arranged a party here tonight.”

“You can’t!”

“Come on Arthur. You both have been sitting like Robinson Crusoes for more than two weeks now. Jan couldn’t go to the party so I brought the party to her. There will be some hot girls from town. You don’t have to do anything. Just relax and let me arrange everything. Let us go to Jan and give her the news.” Arthur reluctantly followed him.

In the tower room, Jan looked at Arthur and then at Zilo. Zilo loved parties and there was no use arguing with him to change his mind. He probably would have sent the invitations out by now. At last she said, “But I don’t have anything to wear.”

“I knew you wouldn’t have.” He glanced outside the door, Greg was waiting with a big brown leather bound box. He motioned him to come in. Greg came and placed it on the floor and left.

“You remember the dress store I own right? I have asked the girls there to pick the nicest clothes for you. I think you will get something wearable for the party.”

“You don’t miss a thing, do you Zilo?” Jan said. She was surprised but then she wasn’t. It was so Zilo.

“Now we should leave you. Arthur and I have things to discuss. See you tonight.”

*****

Jan was moved by Zilo’s generosity but she wished he didn’t. He had already done a lot for them. She had opened the box and looked inside. Each dress was pretty and expensive.

She took out a black gown with a slit and put the box away gently. She would pay Zilo for this after she is out of here. She can’t tell Ron about it, he would be furious that she is at a party without him. She thought of calling him up and inviting but that wouldn’t look nice. It was Zilo’s party and she was his guest. If he wanted to invite Ron, he would have. That made it complicated.

She couldn’t tell Ron about the party, he would tell her not to go.  But it would be hard on Zilo, he had made so many arrangements for her. She couldn’t decide what to do.

She wanted to ask Arthur what she should do when he would come up. When Arthur came, he said he was too busy to talk to her now. She felt he was in a bad mood.

Arthur was in a bad mood. Since the time he heard Jan would be leaving soon.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling of anger and sadness coming together. He avoided looking at the screen. He realized that he was getting attached to her. He couldn’t let it happen. Jan was happy with Ron. They might have a happy life together. He had no right to judge Ron. He had no right to love Jan. He can’t even promise a place to live in. Arthur had spent the last seven years sleeping in motels, in his car or with women. Women whose names he didn’t remember. Women with whom he would stay for two to three nights and move on.

He is not a hero, certainly not Jan’s.

He should let Jan believe that Ron is her true love. She will have something to believe and live for. Not everybody has that. Arthur focussed on his breath and centred himself. It is imperative to have Jan out of his mind. He tried to think about the party that night and the girls Zilo had promised.

Jan had a bad feeling about the party. It was evening already and she could hear the sound of the motors in the driveway. Although she was up here, she could hear the music that was starting to get played. This made her nervous. What if Ron calls and gets to hear the music? Should she tell him then?  

There was knocking at the door but no one came in. She got up and opened it. Arthur was standing outside. He was wearing blackish blue jeans and a jeans t-shirt. Two buttons from the top were open.

“People are getting here Jan. Are you ready yet?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Anyway the party has started, Zilo wanted you to know.” Arthur walked away. 

Jan stood there looking at Arthur going away. He was so cold to her.

Jan wasn’t sure if it was just the bad mood or did she do anything to offend him. She thought about the day. They were talking, laughing and eating together. He was fine till then. Was it the kiss she gave on his cheek when she called him a hero? Yes it must be so. Jan didn’t expect Arthur to react this way because of this, but nothing else had happened that could have offended him. She decided that she will go down and apologize to him.