Real than Reality!!

One more competition, one more submission. A story from the great one. Check it out!

She was screaming like a whore and begging for more as I pushed her further. She took my breath away and I felt divine. She gave me the kick at 260 km/hr.

Yamaha R1, the bike of the millennium, the babe of my dreams, was rocking to my tunes. With 180 horses under its hood, it was down to man and machine. It took me 6 months to tame the wild cat and now its purrs to my wishes. Given my background, she helps me vanish into thin air.

It was 31^st December, 1999, the last day of the millennium. With the Y2K problem solved, people were on the streets celebrating the dawn of a new millennium. The festive mood had set in and I was no exception. I had all the reasons to celebrate too. A job well finished and two huge projects in my hand fetching me 7 figure income per gig.

Living life on the fast lane, describing myself in six words. The road had been chosen to test the new nitro boosters bound to take you over 320 km/hr. I took one last look at the long road, deserted and straight. One kick and she roared with energy. A little twist of the wrist and speedometer read 220. I looked at the red button, press me for ecstasy. I did. It was instantaneous, my eyes could not register anything more than 10 meters and I thought I would fly away.

The rush was more than I could expect, the kick was more than I had anticipated. I was on top of the world. And I felt the winds howling at me, loud enough to be a truck horn.

Then I saw, a sight I can never forget. Two bright eyes, as bright as the sun, staring right into my eyes. Headlights of a lorry. My legs hit the brakes. I could feel the tarmac tearing my skin. She ejected me out and headed toward her doom. The last thing I remember were the sparks hitting my face.

I heard voices, he is lucky to have escaped with just a broken hand. My eyes opened. It took me a minute to realise where I was. How did I reach the hospital? Where is my babe? What happened? Who is responsible…and a million more questions racing through my mind. It was like telepathy. A nurse with white apron and glass of water in her hand made me swallow a huge tablet. You are the St. Marks missionary hospital. It’s not everyday that a person gets to spend the last day of the millennium in a hospital ward. I saw the digital clock hung opposite to me. It read 7:30 pm 31^st December 1999. That’s when I understood the situation. Don’t worry about your bike sir, it’s at the parking lot and I think it is still in running condition. You can check it as soon as you get discharged.

It was 9 in the night by the time I got discharged. A plaster on my left hand and a wallet lighter by Rs.1500. I reached the parking lot surprised to see her still in one piece. She is still in working condition. I responded to the voice and turned around to see a gorgeous looking gal, probably in her mid 20s. I found you on the highway and rode you and your bike down here. She had survived the crash really well. I thanked her for the trouble she took. Can I ask you for one last favour? I asked. Depends on the favour she said. I took a deep breath and asked can you drop me home, as you see I am not in a condition to ride. I kept a helpless expression on my face. No problem. I actually live 2 streets away from yours. Don’t look like that; I had checked your driving license. My attempt to hide my disbelief had failed.

She parked my bike in the parking lot and dropped me home. She bid farewell and promised to drop by next morning to check up on me. This was like a dream. One moment I am crashing my bike and next I have a gorgeous looking lady dropping me home and promising to check up on me. What else could I ask for?

Who am I? A question even my parents would have trouble answering. I am a 25 year old handsome lad from Hyderabad, wanting to make a mark for myself. An engineer from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras; trained in designing modern warfare for the country. But I wanted more. I was not satisfied with the designing part. Joined the CBI as an analyst but went on to join the HRT (Hostage Rescue Team), Gold medallists form the CTC (Commando Training Centre). To put it simple, I am an assassin for the Indian Government. My original records have been erased and I do not have an identity of my own. I change my identity according to my job. I was Ramakrishna 1week back, the sniper who killed the sandalwood brigand Verappan. A job well executed. I always thought the government should have brought us in before but the state governments thought otherwise. I am now, Rahul Bhat, and my next target is Abdul Waghre, chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Kashmir.

The dawn of the new millennium was great and I hoped I would find a lovely girl to settle with. The bell rang. Wish you a many happy returns of the day and wonderful New Year!! It was the gorgeous girl who dropped me yesterday. It was not a dream after all! How do you know it’s my birthday? I think I gave the disbelief look again. Your driving license can say loads about you. Can I come in? That is when I realised we were still standing at the door. Sure. Please do. Can I get you a cup of coffee? She made her self comfortable on my couch. I will have one spoon of sugar. I passed the information to kanta, my maid servant. I am sorry, in all the confusion I even forgot to ask your name and your particulars. Meanwhile, kanta got the coffee and served. I am Maya. I work for Infosys. I had shifted here from Mumbai about 3 weeks back. A great lover of bikes and I admire your bike. There are not many of those in the country, enjoyed riding it yesterday. A smile found its way on to my face, the pride of owning a Yamaha R1. What do you do for a living? She asked. I had practiced the answer over a thousand times, part of the training given before you change your identity. I work as a section manager in Intel soft. She sure is talkative. I got to know more about her and she got to know more about Rahul Bhat.

January 26^th, 2000. 50 years of Republic India. We attended the parade at the red fort. We became very close to each other. I spent a lot of time with her. All the time I was feeling guilty that she is under a false impression of who I was. I actually liked her a lot and I think she is the one I have been waiting for 25 years of my life. But, my profession does not allow me to disclose my real identity to anyone unless the person has security clearance. I could kill my self for this, but then I had others to kill first. The day set for the mission was 16^th January. But due to my hand, it was postponed to 13 February. My hand was alright by now. And I started my training.

The whole day I spent at the training centre under the pretext of working for Intel soft. In the evenings, Maya and I would get together and have dinner. The D-date was closing near so was I toward Maya. I had decided that this is the girl I would spend my entire life with. This is the girl I would share all my joys & sorrows.

Meanwhile, the training had become intense. I was briefed about the details of Abdul Waghre, his allies and mates. I had to know in and out about him so as to make the perfect plan. The best part of this job was that I was allowed to call the shots. I planned the entire setup and execute it. I work alone.

The time I spent with Maya got reduced and she was not pleased with it. I gave a pretext of audit and up coming budget adjustments at work. She understood my situation, though not the actual one, but adjusted accordingly. This attitude of hers had sealed all my decisions. I am going to propose to her and get married to her. I set the apt date for this. February 14, Valentines Day. Moreover, I would have finished my mission by then and the next one was due only in November 2000.

The protocol required me to leave for Kashmir by February 12. I told Maya that I have a meeting in Ajmear and would be back by 14^th. She didn’t seem very pleased but nevertheless she agreed. Man, I love her really a lot. We decide to meet on 12^th evening at 5:30 in the deserted gardens of Shah Alam. I was looking forward for this. Thought of showing her a trailer of what was in store for her on the 14^th. I had to control myself because I wanted the proposal to be on a special day. I had to remind myself show her only the trailer and not the entire movie!!

I reached on dot at 5:30 on the evening of February 12^th. I had just spoken to my mission director on my mobile. The parameters for my mission were set. I was going to leave by 10:30 in the night and do my job at 3:45 pm the next day when Abdul Waghre is addressing a rally. But, at that moment, none of these were in my mind. All I knew was that I was going to see the girl of my dreams.

I heard a coarse voice.

Funny, how small people like you think they can kill Abdul Waghre.

A chill ran through my spine. I turned around to see Abdul Waghre standing right in front of
me. I had no clue. No body had trained me to handle this type of situation.

It’s easy to kill me but you can’t kill the name Abdul Waghre. Why doesn’t your government understand this? Why can’t you let the Kashmiri decide their own fate? Why does your government always poke its big nose into our affairs? Answer me.

My throat was dry. I was still recovering from the shock of meeting the person whom I was supposed to kill the next day. I knew I was surrounded and with no gun in my hand I had as much chance of surviving as finding a needle in a hay stack. I knew this was my end and I was staring straight into the eyes of death. Nothing new but still this might be the last time I would do that.

A final plan struck me. I acted cool. Put my hands into my pocket and shouted back.

You can’t get away with this. I have backup waiting in the car outside. If I don’t go back within 5 minutes they would come in search of me. And then your game would end.

Meanwhile, I pressed the dial button twice knowing that it would call the last dialled number which was of my mission director. I just hoped he picked up the phone and heard the conversation I was having. But a million questions were running in my mind. How did he find me? How did he know? How did… I was still wondering when I heard a familiar voice.

It is true that love does make people go blind.

I did not have words to say. It was a shock I had never anticipated. I just couldn’t take it anymore. How could I be so stupid?

Never doubted your dear Maya, did you?

Do you want to have the pleasure of killing him, Maya?

I know people die in love, but I guess I can see it right now. Say your last prayers, if you have any…

BANG!!!

It was pain beyond imagination, emotional more than physical. The scene changed. I saw a white wall. Is this heaven? I saw a lady in a white apron. Is she an angel? She had a glass of water in her hand. You need to lie down. You are the St. Marks missionary hospital. It’s not everyday that a person gets to spend the last day of the millennium in a hospital ward. I looked around and saw the digital clock hung opposite to me. It read 7:30 pm 31^st December 1999.

Was this all just a dream?

The catch of the competition was that it sould end with "was this all just a dream?" and so did my story. Thank you for reaching till here!!