Sunday, April 22, 2007

Chapter Twenty

Shiva started yelling, asking Shweta to flee the place. She was caught in a quagmire of confusion; whether to flee or help Shiva. He wanted her to run. Her confusion cost a few precious seconds. Finally, she decided to run but it was too late by then. The large man was just a few feet away from her. Before she could stride a couple of paces, he was on to her and lifted her on to his shoulder. Shiva was trying with all his might to wriggle out of the thugs’ grip. He twisted his face and bit one of the man’s fingers. He bit so hard it almost fell off! He let out a cry and withdrew his grip letting Shiva’s upper torso to become free. In a single motion, Shiva sat upright, took the bike’s key from the keyhole and jabbed it into the other man’s throat! He croaked loudly and fell to the ground. Blood sprayed out of his wound! The key had hit some vein!

With both men down, Shiva got up and charged towards the man taking away his love. The man turned around hearing the sounds and saw Shiva charging towards him. Shiva gathered all his power and delivered a punch square on the man’s nose. He caught Shiva’s fist with ease and dropped Shweta down. She was now in the other man’s custody. The ‘muscle’ man twisted Shiva’s hand. Notwithstanding the pain, he bent down and let a scream! With his other hand, the huge man hit Shiva’s elbow. Shiva let out a blood-curdling shout!

Shweta stood watching as it all happened. Her love had come to rescue her. But he was now going to feel the pain. She saw the large man lift his left arm. She hoped and prayed he would release Shiva. But her prayers were short lived. He brought down his hand with such might, when it hit Shiva’s elbow she heard a nasty crack! It was followed by a cry of death! Shiva’s forearm fell loose and was sticking to his arm only with the help of flesh and skin. He fell to the ground…

The large man kicked Shiva on his face. Shweta screamed. She was crying. Shiva lay motionless. The guy who was stabbed with the key was still struggling on the ground and the other guy who was bitten by Shiva stood watching the action that unfolded in front of him.

Shiva turned around. His face was a mess with blood splattered all over! He coughed. His vision was blinded by his own blood. He lifted his right hand to wipe it off. It wouldn’t respond… He stood up with the help of his other hand and started to walk about randomly. He was feeling dizzy. Shweta screamed harder. He started walking towards the man who had incapacitated him. Shweta realized Shiva was struggling and would lose consciousness any moment. She kept yelling his name over and over again. As he neared the large man, she saw Shiva trying to lift his leg. But he lost his balance and fell down again. His eyes began to close slowly.

She mustered all her strength and freed one of her hand. Clenching her fist with her thumb extended, she poked it into her captor’s eye at her back. He shrieked and fell back! His eye was gone for good.

She started to run towards Shiva. The large man shouted a few obscenities and kicked her hard in her chest as she approached him. It connected inch perfect on her solar plexus and she was thrown against the car’s door, knocking the wind out of her. She lay with her mouth open. She saw whatever happened but couldn’t speak.

Shiva who had watched it all helplessly staggered to his feet and stood yet again. She heard him scream like a mad man. He started running towards the beast that had kicked his love. She wanted to shout out for him to watch his back. But only air escaped from her mouth. She moved her hand and pointed in his direction. But that wouldn’t help. The log slammed hard on the back of his neck. She closed her eyes. Shiva fell down again. He was out cold.

He experienced no pain after he entered the void, the darkness…

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