The Dust Will Never Settle (28 page)

India was leaving nothing to chance. From Kashmir to the borders in Punjab and Rajasthan, the army had swamped every possible infiltration point into India. The Indian Navy had more ships and boats along the coastline than there were fish in the waters. The air space over Delhi was closed and even scheduled commercial flights were being shepherded by the Indian Air Force. Paramilitary forces had barricaded every road and dirt track into the National Capital Region. The Delhi Police had borrowed every available cop from neighbouring states and had swept the streets clean of criminals. New tenants in every residential colony were being visited by a beat constable and their credentials verified.

As Mohite had succinctly put it to Ravinder, ‘The NCR is locked down tight, boss. Tight as a virgin’s cunt.’

Ravinder had winced. A city the size and shape of Delhi could
never
be locked down completely. And the fact that the danger may already have penetrated the fort was a possibility he could no longer ignore.

Coupled with this were the unprecedented rains that had not only flooded most roads, slowing traffic to an abysmal crawl, they had also brought about an outbreak of dengue and conjunctivitis, which had laid low many of his cops. Everything that could, had started going wrong.

By the time the surveillance team was deployed outside the Gill house, Ruby was back home. Despite the run of bad luck, her day had been productive. She had not only finalized her attack plan, but also briefed Ontong and Boucher, and mated them up with their vans and rocket launchers.

Both had baulked when she told them what she expected them to do. But their objections faded when she pointed out that with Mark and Gerber out of the running, she would double their payout. Greed gobbled up all their doubts.

With that settled, Ruby returned home, satisfied that things were back on track. Her new, abbreviated plan was as good as it could get in the altered circumstances.

When Ravinder reached home, Ruby was sitting with Jasmine on the lawn. The two were chatting merrily. Jasmine, in the thick of her final semester exams, appeared to be sharing her excitement and stress with her sister. Ravinder could hear Jasmine narrating an incident about the moot court she was in at college. Ruby burst into laughter.

Everything looked so normal. Looking at her, Ravinder found it hard to believe that she could be the one targeting the Summit.

‘What are my lovely girls up to?’ He concealed his troubled thoughts with a warm smile as he walked up to them.

They both got up and hugged him. If there was anything on Ruby’s mind, she hid it well.

Am I being paranoid? Just because Rehana and her brother Yusuf were crusaders for the Palestinian cause, is it fair to tar her with the same brush? Could I be overlooking some other, more real threat?

‘I want to take Ruby shopping,’ Jasmine’s voice intruded. ‘She wants to pick up some Indian clothes before she leaves.’

‘Leaves?’ Ravinder was surprised. ‘Where are you going, Ruby?’

‘Home.’ Ruby’s reply was tentative, as though she was not really sure what that word meant any more. ‘I can’t stay here forever.’ She laughed, sounding a little embarrassed.

‘Oh!’ Ravinder was stunned. Already worried about her possible involvement in the threat to the Summit, this latest news added to his emotional turmoil.

‘But before shopping we are planning to catch a movie,’ Jasmine’s voice tugged at Ravinder. ‘Would you please have your office book the movie tickets?’

‘Which movie?’ Ravinder was only half-listening. He could feel Ruby’s gaze on him. She looked… confused? Expectant? He wasn’t sure. He sensed that she was waiting for him to say something to her. But what?

‘Would you please?’ Jasmine asked again.

‘Sure.’ Ravinder nodded, glad to be able to focus on something practical. This emotional rollercoaster was getting too much for him to handle. He was exhausted.

‘Thanks, daddy! You’re a sweetheart! We were thinking of watching
Sex and the City
– the new one. If you could book it at the Select City mall, we can shop there after the movie.’

‘I will take care of it, princess. You can use my car too.’

‘But we’ll be out late. I don’t think we’ll be back before nine or ten.’

‘No problem. I’ll tell my office to send another car if I need it, but I don’t think I’ll be stepping out now. From tomorrow I’ll be staying at the hotel for the next few days.’

‘You won’t be coming home at all?’ Jasmine asked. ‘No. Not until this event is over. I need to see that things go smoothly.’

‘I am also going to be tied up at college for the next three days, moot court in the mornings and then we’re all planning to go for the various cultural events that are being held.’

‘And you, Ruby? What are your plans?’

‘Nothing special.’ She looked strangely subdued. ‘Just catch up on some more sightseeing… maybe another movie.’

‘Why don’t you go with Jasmine for the cultural events? A lot of Bollywood stars are here for the Games.’

‘Maybe I will. Let’s see.’

‘That’ll be fun.’ Jasmine smiled. ‘Come, Ruby, let’s get ready.’ She took Ruby’s arm and pulled her away.

‘Okay, girls. Have fun.’

He gave them a hug each and watched them walk away. Once they were out of earshot, he called his office and asked his assistant to book two tickets for the girls and two more for the surveillance team a couple of rows behind. Then he briefed the surveillance team.

Ravinder climbed the stairs to his room, feeling confused, as though he had missed something back there, but happy that Ruby would be under close watch till late at night. Abruptly an insidious thought angled in. Would Jasmine be okay? If Ruby had indeed turned rogue she could be dangerous
…

Something in his heart refused to believe that Ruby would harm Jasmine. But he could not push away a niggling doubt.

Ruby felt hurt and puzzled. In light of Ravinder’s guarded behaviour since that eventful lunch with Chance, she had expected…

Expected what? Is it only my guilty conscience at work?

Willing herself to focus on Jasmine, Ruby got engrossed in their conversation again, but deep inside she was far away, hurting and no longer sure if she was on the right path.

He could have asked me to stay… But he didn’t. If he had offered just once…
She felt like crying.
Am I being fair?

As they drove off, Ruby picked up on the surveillance car almost instantly.

So he was having her followed. She started to feel betrayed again. On second thoughts, perhaps this was normal procedure for the ATTF chief ’s family. Maybe it was just a security team.

These conflicting thoughts thrummed in her ears as she tuned out Jasmine’s chatter and leaned deeper into her mind.

He didn’t even ask me to stay.
The painful thought nagged her again.

Minutes later her resolve was firm again. The hate was back. The avenger knew she could not falter.

Her eyes went to her wristwatch. Barely twenty hours left now. Soon the delegates would be in place.

The time to kill was rushing towards her.

Tuning into what Jasmine was saying, Ruby threw herself back into the game she was playing – she was being forced to play.

He did not even want to me stay… what kind of father is he? Mom was right all along.

When Ravinder entered the bedroom he could tell that Simran was worried. Several times in the past few days she had tried to talk to him, but he’d pulled away, not knowing how much to share with her. Now he knew his silence was not helping her, or the situation.

He closed the door and sat beside her. Slowly he started sharing his story with her… and his fears.

When he finished, the house was silent. Neither realized that the sun had set and darkness had crept in.

‘I know how you must be feeling.’ The affection in Simran’s voice reached out to him through the darkness. He realized that there were depths to her which he had not yet fathomed, despite their years together.

Have I really given my everything to this marriage? Or have I let Rehana’s memories come between us?
He was consumed by guilt.

‘This must be so difficult for you.’ Simran reached out and cupped his face in her hands. Her hands came away wet. ‘Don’t worry. I know you well, Ravinder. I know you will always do the right thing. Just trust your instincts.’

Ravinder felt an ache in his heart. He realized how deeply he cared for her, despite the bickering and nagging. He reached out and held her close. They kissed, a deep, long kiss as though they had been apart for a long time. Slowly, but with a tingling sense of urgency, they rediscovered each other.

They lay together in an embrace for a long time – content, a shield of love surrounding them.

But suddenly reality dawned on them.

‘Do you think it is safe for Jasmine to have gone out with her?’

Ravinder shivered as Simran voiced the same fear he felt. He did not know. Worse, he did not know how to tell Simran that.

They heard the front door open and the sounds of young girls in animated conversation floated up. The clattering of feet followed as Ruby and Jasmine came up the stairs.

‘The next time they go out I will also go with them,’ Simran said as they heard the girls go into Ruby’s room.

‘I was thinking of asking Jasmine to take Ruby to the opening ceremony of the Games,’ Ravinder mused out loud. He looked at Simran, as if for her approval. ‘There is nothing anyone can do to anyone there. It will be safe.’

‘But I will still go with them.’

Silence returned. A short while ago it had been warm and full of love. Now it was cold and forbidding.