Destiny - Last part

Note: Please Read the 3 parts that havealready been posted before reading this one
PART - 4

"And now, we welcome Deepak on the stage", cried the host.

Deep walked on the ramp with four beautiful models accompanying him. He was in his favorite black attire. The audience burst into enormous cheers as he walked. Whistles and claps followed the thunderous applause. But as he walked, he felt his nose paining. The pain was getting unbearable.

"Deep! Wake up", screamed Shyam shaking him vigorously. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at Shyam.

"Our project manager called me and asked us to come to office before eight today. The code we have delivered on Friday has crashed. We are under fire. Come fast", said Shyam exhibiting tremendous anxiety.

Deep was confused. He rubbed his eyes and put his fingers on his nose that was bandaged.

"What are you thinking? Come fast. We have to hurry up", said Shyam pulling him away from bed.

"I have to take my bath", he groaned.

"There is no time Deep. We are already late. Just wash your face and come"

In a couple of minutes, they were out.

"Are we going to office by bike?" asked Deep as Shyam zipped across the road.

"Switch off your mobile phone Deep. Somebody might trace us"

Deep followed his friend's instructions.

"Why are you looking tensed Shyam? What happened?"

Shyam was silent. After some time, he stopped his bike at the corner of the road. There were on a deserted highway. He took out a newspaper from his bike pouch and showed it to Deep.

"An unidentified man was found murdered in the toilet of Bangalore express. Police are investigating the details of the deceased……………." Deep's hands and legs started trembling as he read the news.

Sunday

Shekhar stopped the car a few yards ahead of Vikas at the beach.

"It would be better if you give this money to him", said Pooja.

"He already hates me. If I give this money, it will add to more suspicion. Just go bravely, hand him the money, warn him and come back as early as possible", he advised her.

Pooja stepped out of the car and went to Vikas. She gave him money.

"Click….click", went the photographs on Shekhar's mobile. Everything was perfect as he had planned.

He dropped her home and went to his house where he parked his car. He caught an auto and reached the railway station.

Two weeks ago, he had called Vikas over phone. He knew that Vikas was struggling financially.

He lured Vikas to blackmail Pooja and demand fifty thousand rupees from her. Vikas had agreed to it. The plan worked out well. Shyam grew suspicious on Pooja. The photos showing Pooja handing money to Vikas would further confirm his suspicion.

But……..But Vikas had cheated him. He had demanded a lakh and got away with it.

After a brief search, he found Vikas walking towards the train. He followed him.

It took a while for him to notice that Shyam was also in the station. He was surprised. He did not expect that Shyam would follow Vikas and talk to him. He hid behind a pillar and observed them.

After Shyam left the restroom, he quickly barged into it and closed the door behind.

Monday

Shyam sat on a short milestone and knelt down put both his hands on his head.

"You idiot. Did you assault him yesterday?" Deep asked Shyam furiously.

"No!" Shyam shook his head.

"Then…."

Shyam was silent.

"It now appears that we have murdered him because we have been there", said Deep growing more nervous.

"Do you think the police will stick posters carrying our photos throughout the city?", asked Deep.

"I don't think so", said Shyam.

"The bandage on my nose will prove that we fought yesterday. Even the police would have found some blood drops at the spot. What shall we do now?" he asked trembling. Shyam was silent.

“Shyam! Listen to me. We will surrender to the police and tell them everything. That’s the only way we can avoid punishment”

Sunday

"Did you tell him everything?" Shekhar asked Vikas furiously.

"He threatened me that he would snatch this money. So I had to tell him the truth"

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him about how you and Pooja cheated me during our training", Vikas said angrily.

"Did you tell him about our plan?"

"No! I told him that I came here to blackmail her after I received her wedding card"

"Good!”, he smiled but changed his expression in a moment.

“Now tell me. You said you needed only fifty thousand. Why did you ask her for lakh? Give back fifty thousand" groaned Shekhar.

"You first answer my question. Why did you ask me to blackmail Pooja? What do you gain by that?"

"That's none of your business", he replied angrily.

"No! You will not get the fifty thousand back until you tell me the truth"

"Shekhar! Give back my money. Else the consequences would be fatal"

"Your money! Is it not Pooja's money? The truth is slowly coming from your mouth. Shekhar, tell me the truth. I will give back your share and leave home"

"Because I love Pooja. I want her to be mine", said Shekhar.

Vikas was shocked.

"Then, weren't you having an affair with Pooja?", he asked.

Shekhar was silent. "Come on. Speak out if you want back your money. The train will leave in another ten minutes"

"Pooja never loved me. She treated me as a friend, only a friend", yelled Shekhar.

"I have known her for several years. I wanted to propose her. But I was afraid that if she said 'No', I might lose her. I cannot afford to lose her. I wanted her. I wanted her friendship. I wanted her to be with me forever".

Vikas was dumbfounded.

Shekhar continued. "When I was onsite, you grew close to her. She kept telling me about you. I was supposed to stay onsite for 12 months. But I cut short my trip to 3 months and came back. Do you know how much money I lost because of you?" he said pointing his finger towards Vikas.

"I then started getting closer to her. My intention was to make her avoid you. She often visited her aunt who lived at the outskirts of the city where we underwent training. I lied to her that even my relatives lived nearby and used as a good reason to drive her in my car. The 'accident' and 'sister suffering from cancer' were all deliberate lies. That day she was crying and telling me that you were suspecting her. She was unable to bear that pain.

When I saw you coming towards us, I immediately held both her hands and moved closer to her in the process of consoling her. I knew that you were watching us from another angle.

I knew what would be running in your mind then”, he smiled wickedly.

“Many, many such small things contributed to my success and separated both of you. Finally, you suspected an innocent girl and parted ways with her"

Vikas was terribly aggravated.

"Why are you getting angry on me? It was your mistake Vikas. If you have truly loved her and trusted her, you wouldn't have doubted her sincerity"

"You scoundrel. If Pooja knows this…."

"Stop…Stop…Do you think Pooja will believe you anymore. Past is past. Now give back my money. I have to go now"

Vikas was unable to unable to control his anger. "I will kill you", saying he pounced on Shekhar. Both of them fought in the restroom like mad animals. In the process, Shekhar pulled a steel pipe ferociously and smashed it on Vika's head. The horn sounded. The train started moving slowly.

Monday

“Don’t be foolish. Do you think the police will believe us?”, said Shyam. “We have to prove that we are innocent. Come with me”, saying he started his bike.

“Who do you think must have murdered Vikas?”, asked Deep

“Who else, Shekhar…”, he replied

“How are we going to prove that?”, he asked.

“We have to search for some evidence in his house. First we will try to convince Pooja. Then we will ask her to give Shekhar’s address”

Deep was unable to come to terms with his friend. He knew that it would be a herculean task to reveal the truth from Shekhar.

"You idiot. I was happily sitting in his drawing room and watching television on that fateful evening when you dragged me to the station. Now you made me accused in a murder case", muttered Deep as they travelled.

“You idiot. Don’t shout. Some passer-by might overhear us”, grumbled Shyam.

He stopped the bike a few meters ahead of Pooja’s house.

“You wait here and keep a watch. I will talk to Pooja and come”, said Shyam as he walked cautiously towards Pooja’s house.

Many thoughts started flowing in Deep’s mind.

“What if somebody murder’s Pooja after Shyam comes out of the house like it happened in the train?”, he thought.

Suddenly Shyam came running towards him.

“What happened?”, asked Deep fearfully.

“She is getting inside an auto and going somewhere. We have to follow her”

Shyam and Deep followed the auto. The auto halted at near an apartment. A large gathering surrounded the building.

Sunday

Vikas fell down triggered by the sudden blow on his head. Shekhar dropped the rod appalled. He had killed Vikas. His dream of marrying Pooja has come to an end.

No! He had not murdered Vikas. It should be Shyam. Shyam had noticed Vikas blackmailing Pooja several times. He followed Vikas here. After knowing the truth, Shyam got into a fit of rage and killed him. The entire world would believe it. Even Pooja!

He was proud of his achievement and smiled to himself. This was something he hadn’t anticipated.

He quickly held the rod with his kerchief and washed it with water to clear his fingerprints. He snaffled the money from Vikas and put it into his pocket. He then pulled the bolt of the door. It was struck. He was unable to open the door. The speed of the train gradually increased. He made a slight turn at Vikas.

Vikas lay dead. Was he really dead?

Shekhar struggled to open the door of the restroom. Had somebody bolted it from outside? No! That door would not have a bolt outside.

He used all his force and eventually the door opened. He took a huge gasp of breath.

There was a sound, a sound of metals clinging.

Suddenly a deafening blow fell on his head. He eyes rolled as he turned back. Vikas stood there carrying the wash basin in his hands. One more blow, Shekhar lay dead on the floor. Vikas looked at him.

"This should be the fate of all those who cheat in the name of friendship"

Monday

Shekhar's body was carried to his home after the post mortem was conducted. Pooja wept bitterly at the loss of her best friend. Shyam and Deep joined her.

"Shyam! Shekhar went to warn Vikas against disturbing me in my life again. But Vikas had grudge over him. So he killed him", she said.

“It was all because of me…….because of me”, she broke down putting her hands on her face. Shyam consoled her.

Vikas surrendered to the police and was admitted in the government hospital for treatment. Shyam and Deep met him at the hospital. His face was severely bandaged. Vikas explained them the happenings in the train. He paused for a few seconds and held Shyam's hand.

"Don't reveal these to Pooja", he said. "I knew how much she trusted Shekhar. If you tell her the truth, she cannot bear it. It will be a big blow to her. Pooja is very sensitive girl.”

“Shyam! Let her think that I murdered him because of past enmity. Let her hate me for the rest of her life. It is good for her as well as her future."

"What about you?", asked Shyam. He felt pity for Vikas.

"If I die, everything will be well and good. If I survive, I will have to face the law", said Vikas. Tears flowed from his eyes.

If only, he hadn’t suspected her. If only, he hadn’t parted away from her.

The story later………..

Vikas was acquitted on the basis of self-defense. Whether he had married or not is not known?

Deep’s girlfriend dumped him because he spent most of his time watching fashion channel than with her.

Shyam and Pooja were married to each other and lived happily ever after.

Whenever Pooja remembered Shekhar, she wept and Shyam consoled her.

“If he would have been alive…….”, she often told him.

“I would have been in jail”, he mumbled to himself.

------------------THE END------------------------

Disclaimer: All events and characters in this story are fictitious. If it resembles any real-life incident or any person, either living or dead I am not responsible for that :-):-):-) .