Caged - 10

The lanes were dark and the intentions of the man walking through the streets were equally dark. His steps were steady and so was his pace. His own shadow followed him, almost like a crusader which guarded his clandestine. For long he had endured, suffered for nothing at her hands. But tonight was going to be his night. He was going to settle all scores tonight.

He jumped over the compound wall with buoyancy. Sahil knew that the security of the building was minimal. They would know nothing. Sahil marched inside the building and took the stairs. He stopped once he reached the last floor and saw her office.

And like he had guessed, she was the alone in the office. The peon would be hanging out with the security people at the gate.

He saw Tania working in her cabin and his lips rose from one end. It looked as if only half of his face was smiling; only half of him was happy. And half of him was not pleased. On seeing her, all the images rushed back to his mind. He was beleaguered, agonized and tormented. He was calm till now, but now as he settled his eyes on her, the ripples of anger had started to gather momentum. And it was just the beginning, beginning which would eventually lead to an end. An end which would finally cool the blazing fire that was burning his self respect, his decorum and his dignity.

The S-factor was well awake now. Awake in its true form, roaring and kicking, screaming for vengeance.

"Looking for me?" Sahil asked Tania flashing his trademark one sided smug, as she rummaged through the drawers looking for something.

"Sa...Sahil?" she looked at him with a confused expression and fumbled with her words. "What are you doing here?"

Sahil chuckled. It was a slight chuckle that shattered the tranquil, sanctified hush of the night and announced the arrival of the slayer.

"What do you want?" Tania asked as she budged unnervingly in her chair.

Another grin was flashed for her. Sahil titled his head slightly and looked at her. His brilliant green eyes were no longer pleasant; instead Tania saw revulsion in them. His jaws seemed to be hardening.

"You..." he whispered raucously.

A strange expression flashed on Tania's face. Whether it was terror or it was disgust, Sahil didn't know. Actually, he didn't even want to make an attempt. He was enjoying watching her plight. And he was sure he wanted to enjoy more and he knew the code of that deed.

He got up and started to walk towards her. Slowly, just like a wolf does, only to jump on the quarry so ferociously that it can never flee from the prickly, razor-sharp claws.

"Get out from here Sahil!! I am telling you...get out..." Tania said hysterically, moving back and knocking down every single little thing that came in her path.

Another throaty laugh. "I am a fool Tania? You will pay for whatever you did with me...."

Tania quickened her steps but regrettably a wall stopped her. She clogged and looked around frantically.

"Sahil, we can talk...please...don't even think of hurting me. I can explain...and what are you talking about? I did nothing to you..." she said, crying now.

And before she could even battle her eyelid, Sahil had pinned her against the wall. His face was inches away from his and the hatred was more profound in his eyes now.

"So the beast is caged now..." Sahil growled in a voice so low and cold, that it left Tania gasping out of pure fright. She couldn't answer; she just stared at him almost begging with her eyes.

"Let's refresh your memory a little..." he said.

He caught hold of her hair and pulled her hair wildly. Tania shrieked and clung on to his arms. And a taut slap shook her after that. With a nauseating thud, she fell down on the ground. Her sight blackened for a while and she groaned in pain. And before she could even stabilize herself, he pulled her hair again.

"Does this remind you of something?" Sahil asked her as she shook her roughly.

She could barely understand what was happening with her now. She just swayed on her spot, trying to decipher things while Sahil assaulted her. Her situation was just like Sahil's a few months ago.

"Or this?" Sahil's voice sounded strangely close. Too close for comfort.

She winced in pain when Sahil proceeded to bite her ear. He bit her ear in a similar fashion where his ear was bitten. His strong arms kept Tania in place and he bit her ear till he drew out blood from her it.

Tania cried. Her sobs echoing the room. "Leave me...go away..."

Sahil scooped her in his arms and in a calm voice said. "Never..."

Tania tried to escape. She revolted in his arms, but he was too strong for him. He grip was so strong that she felt like an insignificant pet dog trapped in his master's arms.

"Please...listen to me..." Tania pleaded as she tried to punch him.

And all her pleas fell on the deaf ear. She was defenseless, powerless and unprotected. Sahil was the one she had fallen for. Right from the first time she had seen him, she had harbored feelings for him. Ananya had met him at some street racing competition and had brought him along with her at home. And that was how he had stepped into their world. Literally. He was awfully unforgiving. That quality about him stood out. Tania knew it all too well, and she knew somewhere deep inside her that she was not going to make it. That night was going to be her last night.

She opened her eyes to stare straight into his face. And it was the face of the death.

Sahil's mind was raging. Meeting her had brought back those bitter memories of the days when he was in pain, hunger and suffered silently at the cruel hands of his tormentor enduring all the gut-twisting, devastating horror. And dare he remember that voice. It was the most horrendous thing that he had ever stumbled upon in his entire life. He didn't even had the guts to hear it again, even when its owner was in front of him.

"I hate you Tania. For everything." Sahil said coolly, without even flinching for a second. His voice was wintry, impassive and vindictive. He pressed the button of the lift and Tania looked at him, horrified.

She screamed and kicked him. He squeezed her hands and stood there like a rock.

Seconds later, he opened the wooden door and turned to look at Tania. He brought her face closer to his and hissed, "This is your chastisement..."

"Sahil, NO!! What are you doing?" she beseeched, screamed and did whatever she could do. But he didn't recoil. He never would.

And he pushed her inside the cavity and gently closed the door shut. He stood there in front of the lift, his ears thirsty for hearing her screams. He heard a thud which signaled that Tania had fallen on the lift. He could see the lift coming up and he waited with bathed breath.

And finally the moment came when the lift crushed her and deafening screams lingered in the air, just for a few seconds though before they died down. Just like her. A woman full of life was now reduced to a mere dead ball of flesh and battered bones.

Sahil had won. After a long time. At last. The beast had been cornered and caged.