The Dust Will Never Settle (13 page)

Ruby felt confusion, hurt and resentment building up. She fought them; damned if she would allow herself to cry over a father who did not even care whether she was alive or dead.

Did he?
Her mind was playing tag with her again, as it often did when she was upset.
Did he really not care?

She gave up trying to sleep. She
needed
to talk to someone. Scrabbling through her bag, she retrieved the ticket stub with Chance’s number.

She hoped Chance would be happy to hear from her.

The phone at the other end began to ring.

Chance had just entered the bathroom and unzipped when the phone began to ring. He called out to Jennifer, who had joined him for a nightcap after another exhausting day of sightseeing. ‘Could you get that, please?’

‘Sure,’ Jennifer called out, reaching for the phone.

‘Hullo.’ Ruby had heard it only once before, but she immediately recognized the nasal twang. ‘Hullo,’ Jennifer said again.

Ruby almost spoke. She would have, but her eye fell on her wristwatch. It was past midnight.

Chance has moved on
.

She cut the call and returned to her lonely, restless vigil by the window.

He has left me too.

Tears pricked at her eyes. With an effort she pushed them away.

‘So, what’s new? Men do that all the time
,’
Ruby said out loud, as though she needed to hear it to believe it. Her father had done that to her mother. Chance was no different.

Then she cried and cried, till she could cry no more.

She felt angry with Rehana. Why had she always avoided talking about her father, about what had happened between them?

Ruby remembered asking her often when she was young, ‘Where is daddy? How come he never comes home… or goes to my school, like other fathers?’

‘How do I explain to you, my darling? You’re too young to understand.’

But Ruby was always old enough to know that her father was not there for her. She remembered the nights she had cried herself to sleep, as she longed for her father to hold her and protect her. The pain had been so intense, so hurtful, that she had tried to stop thinking about him.

That pain now returned. Even after all these years, it was still sharp. Perhaps sharper, since it had been ignored and suppressed so long.

And now you have left me too, mom.

As Ruby hit the end of her tether, Rehana reached out from beyond and pulled her out of the abyss.

‘Did I not always tell you, my child?’ Ruby heard the constant rejoinder echo in her head. ‘Chance will never understand. Just as your father never did. No one will… our cause is our own… that is the way it has always been. Nothing will ever get better, not unless we fight for it.
They
will not allow it to.’ She would thumb towards Chance’s photo on Ruby’s bedside table. ‘Men like him. They are the ones who killed our family… who have been killing our people all these years. It was these bloody Brits who started it all. If not for their support, the Jews would never have had the guts. I am telling you, Chance will use you and dump you… just as your father did to me. Remember that.’

The words seemed prophetic now.

A clap of thunder boomed out. Lightning lacerated the sky, intermittently lighting up the road outside.

Just do it!
The Nike advertisement tugged at her. And just like that, it all became clear to Ruby.

I will show you… all of you…
The transition from confused woman to committed freedom-fighter was swift.

Large drops of rain began to hammer on the windowpanes. The drumming sound eventually dulled her into a deep sleep.

‘Why didn’t you tell me, sir?’ Mohite asked, peeved.

‘About what, Mohite?’ Though it was past midnight, Ravinder spoke patiently.

‘About the Israeli commando team that has reached Delhi and is now on its way to Amritsar.’

‘Who told you?’ Ravinder asked, even though he already knew.

‘I had gone to meet Thakur sahib and he mentioned it.’

‘You didn’t need to know, Govind.’ Ravinder hardened his tone, just enough to let Mohite know who was in charge.

‘Foreign agents are running around all over our country with guns and I don’t need to know? Thakur sahib thought it fit to let me know.’

‘Then from now on, I suggest you ask him to keep you informed!’ Ravinder slammed down the phone.

Day Five

D
awn was lighting up the horizon when Ruby woke up. The rain had stopped but the sky was overcast. A stubborn sun struggled to make its presence felt.

Her eyes strayed to her wristwatch.

Five days left for the Summit.

Suddenly she was bursting with energy, as though the night’s rain had washed away her confusions. She thrust herself out of bed. She knew what she needed to do.

The foul aftertaste of last night’s conversation with Mohite was still in his mouth when Ravinder heard his mobile ring. He was in no mood to talk with that arsehole again… not first thing in the morning, at least. He checked the calling number. It was an unknown.

‘Good morning, Mr Gill.’ It was Ido Peled. ‘We have heard from one of our sources in Pakistan that Saeed Anwar is going to be at a safehouse near Lahore. Our director asked me to let you know that we would like to send our team in now.’

‘Be my guest, Ido. I’ll put out the word.’ Ravinder suddenly felt lighter. ‘And all the best.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Peled rang off.

I hope they get the bastard… dead or alive… one less problem for us to deal with.
The phone rang again. This time he picked it up eagerly.

The conversation with Sanjeev Nanda was brief. Ravinder knew that if Nanda said they needed to meet, it was important.

‘Delhi Gymkhana,’ he told the driver as he settled into the official Scorpio SUV. The red light whirled as the car inched through traffic. Ravinder was not too fond of it. He winced as the driver blew the horn long and loud. Despite this, the drive took about thirty minutes.

‘Whatever he has to offer, it better be good,’ Ravinder muttered as he entered the club.

Nanda was at the corner table in the Gymkhana bar where they usually met. Ravinder had to smile as he took in Nanda’s snazzy Armani suit, the gold Rolex and his diamond embedded tie clip.
He has definitely changed,
Ravinder reflected.
Who says crime doesn’t pay?

He remembered the first time they had met.

Ravinder was in Narcotics. All of five weeks in the department, totally green behind the ears, but full of energy. Nanda was the first croak he had ever turned.

They nabbed a Nigerian drug peddler with two kilos of cocaine but Ravinder decided to take a gamble and let him go. In the subsequent weeks, the Nigerian led them to ten others selling the stuff. Eager to take down the kingpins, Ravinder had them all put under surveillance. They led him to Sanjeev Nanda, who was caught with enough coke to lock him up for a very, very long time. Ravinder then took another risk. His intuition told him that Nanda was not the big man and that he was weasel enough to shop the main guy to save his own hide.

‘You will not peddle again,’ Ravinder warned as they cut the deal. ‘If I ever come to know that you are, all bets are off.’

‘Never, sir.’ Nanda had crossed his heart theatrically. ‘I swear on my mother’s soul.’

Nanda’s patently false sincerity made Ravinder sorry for his mother’s soul.

‘What else do you have to offer?’

‘You tell me, sir,’ Nanda said smugly, assuming the cop was expecting a bribe.

‘I want you to keep your eyes open and an ear to the ground,’ Ravinder said, surprising him. A clean cop was a rarity. And honesty was certainly not a career enhancing attribute, not in this profession. ‘Whenever you come across something big, I want to know.’

Nanda felt uncertain. If the others ever found out that he was a snitch, he would have a short life and a most unpleasant end.

Ravinder sensed his fear. ‘This will remain strictly between you and me. No one else needs to know… ever.’ Nanda looked a little calmer. ‘And you will be paid. I will ensure that.’

That had sealed the deal. And so, every now and then, Nanda called Ravinder. Every meeting had proved to be worthwhile for both. Nanda enhanced his riches and Ravinder acquired the reputation of a ferocious crime-buster.

‘You are looking well, sir.’ Nanda stood up and offered his hand.

‘Not as well as you, my friend. Certainly not as well as you.’ Throwing a quick look around, Ravinder sat down opposite him. ‘So, what do you have for me today?’

‘Straight to business as usual, sir. You haven’t changed a bit. A cup of tea or coffee first?’

‘Not today, Sanjeev. Tell me… what’s up?’ Ravinder’s face was sombre as he listened to Nanda’s narrative. And his excitement escalated.
Could this be the big attack that Jennifer had mentioned
?

‘There are two of them?’ he said finally.

‘Yes, sir. Mark, the Irish guy who got in touch with me, and then the second one he went and met with right after that – a woman, I think, but I cannot be sure. The car windows had dark film on them.’

‘Anything else you can tell me? Which car she was in, the registration number?’

‘Sorry, sir.’ Nanda gave a sheepish smile. ‘I was too far away, but it was a cream-coloured Toyota Innova.’

Ravinder couldn’t mask his disappointment. There were thousands of those in Delhi.

‘This guy, Mark? What’s his full name? Where is he staying?’

‘I don’t know, sir.’ Another sheepish smile. ‘I’ve dealt with him just once before… a while ago… it was a small, cash-and-carry deal… so…’ He shrugged.

‘But you’re sure that’s his real name?’

‘Well…’ Nanda pulled a dubious moue. ‘Not really. But that’s what he called himself when we met.’

‘When are you handing over the guns?’

‘Day after. Wednesday.’

‘Where?’

‘He said he’d call me.’

‘You have the number he calls you from?’

‘I did check on that. He used a public phone both times.’

‘The same one?’

‘No. Different both times – from different parts of the city.’

Ravinder nodded, disappointed but not surprised. It had been a long shot. ‘Fine. Call me as soon as he gets in touch with you.’

Nanda hesitated. ‘Sir, I am going to make the delivery personally… I hope your people will be careful when they…’ He trailed off.

‘Don’t worry. I will oversee the assignment myself.’

Ravinder was feeling elated, yet a trifle anxious as he headed back to his office. This could be the break he had been hoping for. He only wished he could be sure what their target was – the Games or the Summit?

Oh, well.
Ravinder shrugged. Even this was heaven sent. He knew that Thakur, keen to show the PM he was doing well at his new assignment, would be thrilled when they caught the terrorists. He called Mohite and brought him up to speed.

‘Could this be what that CIA woman Jennifer was talking about? She said the Lashkar had hired British mercs to strike Delhi.’

‘They may well be the same… though she said British and this Mark guy is Irish.’

‘Yeah, yeah. British, Irish, what’s the difference? These firangis are all the same.’

‘Never mind, Govind.’ Ravinder sighed.

‘This is fantastic!’ Mohite was excited. ‘Thakur sahib will be very pleased.’

‘Yes, but keep this under your hat for now. Let’s only talk to him about it once we nab them.’

‘I agree. Like a surprise gift.’

‘Yeah, like a surprise gift.’ Ravinder tried to contain his sarcasm. ‘Have a team on standby from tomorrow night. They should be ready to move at short notice. I will go with them. And you will accompany me.’

He got out of the car as it halted outside his office. The sun had vanished again. The sky was the colour of concrete. Growls of thunder were making their presence felt.

‘There is someone here to meet you, sir,’ Gyan said sheepishly as he waited for Ravinder at his office door. ‘I tried to tell her that she could not meet you without an appointment, but she insisted. She said she is…’

‘Who is it?’ Ravinder frowned as he pushed open the door. Then he came to a dead stop.

‘Oh my God!
Ruby
.’ The stunned whisper was a half-question. ‘You look just like your mother.’

‘Yes, father, that is what everyone says.’

There was a tense silence as the two strangers stood looking at each other.

‘You used to call me daddy… always.’ Ravinder’s voice was a strangled whisper.

‘I know. And you called me princess. But then you left us.’ Ruby couldn’t conceal her bitterness.

Her words stabbed him like a hot knife.

He took a step towards Ruby; he was aching to embrace her. ‘No! I didn’t.’ He halted, uncertain.

‘All these years…’ Her voice shook. ‘I waited for you to come looking.’ She could feel tears begin to build. The crafty, focused fighter who had planned this visit was furious for displaying the slightest hint of emotion.

Reining in her tears, she began again. ‘Every morning I would wake up and hope you would come back. Every day, I would come out from school and hope to see you there. Every night I used to pray…’ She started to cry.

‘Ruby, I did look for you, but…’ Ravinder could not go on, nor could he stem the tears that had begun to trickle down. He realized that Gyan was still standing behind him and wanted him gone. Without turning, he said, ‘Gyan, get us some tea.’

He walked up to Ruby, but instead of embracing her as he was aching to do, he took her by the arm and said, ‘Come… please sit down.’

Ruby felt a rush of emotion. Despite all her planning, the warrior and the woman, both had been blown off their feet.

Her eyes fell on two mahogany photo frames placed on Ravinder’s desk. One photo had Ravinder posing next to a regal looking woman, a pretty teenage girl between them. The one on the right caught Ruby’s attention.

A little girl in a pink frock was standing on a chair, smiling, a huge three-tier cake with a princess on top placed in front of her. The princess too was in a pink frock.

It was the same photo she had forced her mother to have enlarged. And the only one Ruby had ever hung on her bedroom wall.

Ravinder followed her glance. ‘That was on your third birthday,’ he said softly.

‘I know. I remember. That was the last one all three of us spent together.’ She looked away. ‘Then you left. Just two weeks before my fourth…’ Her voice broke.

‘No, princess, I did not leave.’ Ravinder’s voice choked. ‘I don’t know what your mother told you, but it was not I who left.’

‘No one told me anything. And today you can say anything you want, there is no one left to tell the other side of the story.’

‘Ruby, you must believe…’ Ravinder broke off when he realized what Ruby had said. ‘What? What did you say?’ He paused, suddenly afraid. ‘Where is Rehana?’

‘She is not with us any more.’

‘W-what happened?’ He could barely speak. ‘Does it matter?’

‘Yes, it does!’ Ravinder was shocked, but he could see how terribly she was hurting. He wanted to hold her tight… the way he had done when she was small. ‘Ruby, I really, really loved her.’

His words struck Ruby like hammer blows. That wasn’t what Rehana had told her.

‘Rehana meant the world to me,’ he repeated.

Just then Gyan entered with a tray. They sat in silence as he poured the tea and placed a plate of biscuits between them. The aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the room. Ravinder waited for him to leave.

‘I hunted everywhere for both of you when Rehana left, but…’ The phone rang. Ravinder felt a surge of irritation, and then remembered they were in his office. He gave Ruby an apologetic look and took the call.