“Bombs and Pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas.”

~ Shaheed Bhagat Singh

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Dave was asleep when Gayatri entered the infirmary. He was holding the blanket tightly onto him, curled up into a fetus position. His lips were parted slightly and his light snores were the only entity that filled the silence. And for the very first time Gayatri Joshi admitted that Dr. Dave Harrison was extremely cute.

She settled on the nearby bed, careful to not make any sound but Dave was a light sleeper and even the lightest of the movements were enough to wake him up.

He was startled as he opened his eyes.

"Shh..." She whispered. "It's alright. Sleep."

But sleep was long gone from his eyes because he couldn't believe that she was actually there. He blinked his eyes continuously to make sure it was not just a dream.

"Gayatree," He said weakly. "You.. You are here."

"Yes, I'm here." She replied with a soft smile adorning her face. "You can sleep now."

"But." He started to protest but she picked herself up from the bed, moving closer to him and stopped him by putting her hand over his mouth. "It's alright." She said softly. "We'll talk tomorrow."

Dave nodded obediently like a small child. The medicines were taking a toll on him, leaving him extremely tired. But sleep was not an easy job for him, knowing that she was right there, by his side and he had no idea of what was going through her mind.

"You won't leave, will you?" He opened his eyes looking at her hopefully.

Keeping her lips in a thin line she took a place on the edge of his bed, just beside him. This vulnerable shade of Dave right in front of her was breaking her heart. And she leaned in, planting her lips over his forehead in the most delicate way.

It was a show of affection. It was a promise. A reassurance.

"Never." She said, lingering close to him for a little bit.

He closed his eyes contently, the soft touch of her lips was pure magic and it dissolved all his pain. And out of nowhere, she started to sing. A sweet Bihari lullaby filled the walls of the sleeping infirmary. And her voice as sweet as a nightingale left a smile on his face as he fell asleep. Each time Gayatri Joshi crossed his path, he had always wondered why his heart yearned for her and his heart answered him that she was too identifiable to only one person in his life. Whom he missed the most… His Mother.

After long ten years Dave Harrison slept with a happiness filling his heart. This was bliss.

But when he woke up the next day, she was gone.

-------------------

Gayatri Joshi was feeling awkward and contented at the same time. Finally, he was back all hale and hearty after complete rest of two days and resumed his classes. She could feel his continuous, piercing gaze on her during the entire period; but she was reluctant enough not to look at him. Nervously fidgeting with the pallu of her saree she looked down preferring to hide her face.

'He is safe.' And that was what mattered the most. Whatever happened yesterday was unfortunate and what she did was astounding to herself.

Dave was in search of an opportunity to talk to her, to thank her for her kind gesture towards him. But his eyes were unable to meet hers... She didn't let them in fact. And he knew the reason. She was ignoring him. Again! But he wouldn't give in. The sound of the bell notified that their class had come to an end.

He could talk to her. Finally!

"Gaya-aa-tree." As she was making a way out of class, his voice rang and she halted on her steps. Closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. 'I can do it.' A voice inside of her said and she let her eyes meet him.

Dave took a few steady steps and stood in front of her. A few worry lines ceased into his forehead, looking at her stern face.

"Gaya-aa-tree, can I have a moment with you? I wanted to..." His voice trailed off as Gayatri interrupted him. "We shouldn't, Doctor Harrison."

'We'll talk tomorrow.' He remembered each word she said the day before. Her soft whispers, her lips against his skin, her eyes that spoke only the words of heart. He had been in peace. And his Gayatree brought that peace. "But you said we would talk, Gaya-aa-tree. Besides, I wanted to thank you for..." But she didn’t let him complete this time.

"It isn't needed. And, I did the exact thing I would have done with any other, Doctor Harrison." Her words stung him.

A muscle worked spasmodically in his throat, realizing she was refusing whatsoever happened between them. She hadn't voiced out but her face said it well. The harsh truth was thrown onto his face and it slapped, digging its nasty little nails right into his heart.

Gayatri stood there, absorbing him shocked. Her lower lip began to quiver... This time she had gone so far, hurting him.

It was time she should leave. And she did. She whirled around, marching on her foot.

'She would have done the same with any other of them.' Her words sank into him. The fact, 'It meant nothing to her.' And something inside him broke at that moment. A ray of hope, he thought she brought to him was actually the dark shadows of denial. He felt suffocated and hurt.

-------------------

‘It had to stop, right?’ Prof. Roy couldn’t risk his own plans anymore now. From what Gayatri was telling him and what he himself felt so far made it hard to deny the fact that, yes, someone or something was surely out there. Lurking. Waiting.

‘Should I confront him?’ A thought knocked at Prof. Roy's mind and he tried to give it reasons within.

It actually didn't matter at all as he was already walking towards the left wing, going for the Outhouse. Their base, or what used to be theirs. It had been three months since the massacre but the memories still lived in Prof. Roy's mind.

How he started the organization to help the Revolutionaries! How he wanted to fight back so badly! How they were on the edge of a breakthrough for the formula! How…?!

'If it helps to find out who the traitor is then I don't have anything to hold back.’ Prof. Roy thought to himself as he stood at the door of the outhouse. It was, of course, a cold night hour when he decided to do something against his own belief.

Ghosts? Souls? Paranormal? Should a man of science believe such things? But that was exactly what was on his mind at the moment.

He opened the door and entered the building, unsure of his actions, unsecure of the outcome.

All looked the same. The corridor, where they used to have walks while having discussions and arguments, was still familiar to him. Only burned down and abandoned this time.

Walking further Prof. Roy was getting suffocated looking at those ash covered burned walls. Their work, their lives, their ambitions, all those who gave away their last breaths for their ultimate goal. Was all of that in vain? 'I can't let that happen.' Prof. Roy made up his mind as he stood against the last door in the corridor.

The main lab, the place where everything went down. The Red door was charred but still tempting him to push it open once again.

Taking a deep breath and clearing his mind, Prof. Roy pushed the door with all his might and walked in. It was all deserted in there. Tables were broken, burned. The floor was covered with ashes and blood. Dried blood of his fallen comrades. The roof was broken down too, leaving the night air to enter that place just to make it feel more and more abandoned. No one was breathing in that room except for him at the moment, but that didn’t mean he was alone.

Prof. Roy knew that too, something was emerging, something was about to happen and Iqbal didn't disappoint him. The dark room began to sink in its surroundings, the air became still, there was silence all over the place where one could only hear a heavy breath and the rapidly increasing heartbeat of the great Prof. Roy himself.

It occurred alright. Prof. Roy couldn't believe, or more like he didn't want to. From the walls, dust started twirling, he was able to feel this weird vibrations all around his body. They were goosebumps of a whole different level. Suddenly, a hand emerged out of nowhere taking a solid shape, and this was where Prof. Roy even stopped breathing for a moment.

In that one moment of his life, Prof. Roy prayed, asked God if there was any out there. 'Was all of this really happening?' And as he jerked back with a little push he started breathing again. If he could, he would have tried to calm his own heart too. Why? Because in front of him, the physical embodiment of Iqbal was taking its final shape.

‘It is HIM.’ He thought to himself as he looked upon that damaged but familiar face. Prof. Roy had to confront him. He had to. Clenching his fists he stood his ground as Iqbal just looked dead at him.

A minute went by in this silence. Or was it an hour? Prof. Roy could never tell the difference as he felt an eternity had passed looking into those dead eyes.

"Iq... Iqbal?!" Prof. Roy called out with a rather trembling voice.

"Didn't you identify me in this state, when we met last time? Huh, Roy? Or did you forget again?" A rather dry whisper hit Prof. Roy's ear as his eyes were glued onto what was in front of him.

Last time? So it wasn't an illusion, that day, in the morgue. It was him.

As Roy drifted into his thoughts, another whisper came to his ears.

"It was easy right? To forget me? To forget us? Your comrades? Your countrymen, right? It must have been easy for you." A hint of anger was there in that whisper that Prof. Roy knew so well.

"Iqbal? What are you talking about? I can give my life for my country and for my comrades too." Prof. Roy was afraid? Yes, but that never meant the Patriot in him could stand such mockery.

"Yes, you can give your life." The sentence echoed in the room as the figure in front of Roy took a step, followed by another. In a blink he was pushed against the wall and Iqbal's hand, that unreal thing, was on his throat, slightly choking the life out of him.

"But you didn't, or you forgot to, just like you forgot to be in the Lab that day, huh? Am I right, you traitor? So much for your pride." The pressure increased on the throat of Prof. Roy as he struggled. His eyes were looking back into those dead ones. Even facing death, Prof. Roy knew he had to fight back. He had to.

"Wh... why... did you sell us out... Iqbal?" A struggling Prof. Roy managed to spit those words out before his eyes started to go black.

‘Sell out?’ Those words struck the existence of Iqbal Tyabji. He couldn't even go to afterlife because of his agony and the man he found responsible was blaming him? The nerves he had Iqbal reflected.

"Trying to act all mighty and all." Prof. Roy called out as his body dropped to ground. Coughing he tried to compose himself. "What have you done so far? Wasted our entire research and work for mere greed? All of our comrades meant nothing to you right? And even after death you came back to haunt me and an innocent child." For that one instance Prof. Roy forgot that Iqbal was dead and came at him because all of this was pent up in his head ever since that day… that day when he saw Iqbal roaming around the house of General Hamill.

"Everyone was here. Everyone died. I died with them too. And you Roy… only you weren't here even when you were supposed to. I tried saving everyone. I did. There, right there where you are standing, I saw Manik taking his last breath. Here, in this corner, I witnessed the life running out of Pandit and Ramanand. I couldn't save them. How could I? I was stuck in that corner. Burned throughout. A beam had fallen on my legs. Crushing them. You know what was worse, Roy? Not all the pain in the hell. No! I was alive. Alive when everyone else was dying. Alive to see them die. Alive but so helpless. Dead but not quite as I later found out… It wasn't you Roy, I know you could never betray us." Iqbal wrapped us his rant as he looked back at Prof. Roy standing tall.

"I saw you working day in and day out for the cause. I know your efforts and it could never be you. But the thing that pulled me into this painful existence again is… Him. Who the hell is he? Who is the traitor Roy?!" Iqbal's roar was heard around the room as Prof. Roy who was thinking Iqbal was the traitor, ended up being wrong.

"I thought it was you. Honestly, for a fraction of time, I did." Roy said picking himself up from the ground. "Guess I was wrong too."

"Me? Why?" A rather confused Iqbal asked back wondering about his afterlife as a ghost.

"I saw you. I saw you there. There and around. At his headquarter. General Charles Hamill’s." Roy replied with a cold and guilty glance.

‘Hamill.’ Just at the mention of that single name, the being of Iqbal started to boil up in pent up pure rage and despise. "I had my intel in his staff. I was there to know the operations he was planning with a heads up. So, that was the reason you were avoiding me all that time?" He said leaning against the wall.

"I'm sorry Iqbal. I really am." Prof. Roy said walking up to him "I'm sorry for being not here and sorry for this." He said standing right behind the presence of Iqbal.

"You need to find that traitor Roy. You have to." Iqbal turned and faced him with a pleading face. "But first save the formula." Iqbal told him with a sigh.

"You saved the formula? Seriously? Where is it?" The hope Prof. Roy had lost all that time ago surfaced all at once.

"Behind that locker. I tried my best to save it. All I could." Iqbal pointed to a corner with some debris covering it.

Roy moved there and noticed the blood stained floor and it wasn’t too hard for him to realize. 'He died here, right here. Saving the formula.'

Reaching ahead of him, Prof. Roy cleared the debris and turned the lock. But to his surprise it was already open. Broken. Looking inside, it was empty too.

"Iqbal, it's not here." Prof. Roy called out looking back.

‘They took it. Find it and beware of the traitor.’

That was all written on the wall with ash as the dust around the room settled and it all fell dead silent. Again!

But Prof. Roy knew what he had to do. And to plan out his further ventures, he stood up and left the place.

-------------------

Later on that day, Gayatri found herself fighting with her own thoughts, while doing her home work in the classroom. A lot many things were going on in her head. Dave wasn't the only one claiming her mind but Prof. Roy Sahab, too.

'Why would he do that?' 'Was there anything he was hiding from her and others?' 'What made him lie to her?'

'Was this some kind of threat for her and her county?' 'Would it hurt her people?'

A very primitive sense of fear coursed through her thinking of it. She couldn't let it happen. Never! She would do everything, break every bound to save her country, her people.

Inhaling some air, she let her features relax. Rushing things and panicking would do no help. She needed to think and do whatever was in her hands.

While trying to concentrate on her work, her eyes fell on her bag and the book. Her conscience took her back to him, 'this book', he gave her yesterday. Recalling his shocked and hurt face made her almost cry. Tears ranged so close to the surface that her eyes burned. She tried to swallow the enormous lump that suddenly popped up in her throat. She had always wanted this book and after getting rejected by Prof. Chauhan for the book, her yearning for the same increased multiple folds. But accepting it from Dave would only mean giving him hope… false hope.

And with all the chaos her life was in, she didn’t want to get him involved and she exactly knew what she had to do.  

‘Dear Ms. Gayatri Joshi,

This is a small token of my gratitude. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. – DH’

He had written on a small piece of paper attached with the book and it wasn’t hard enough for her to realize who this ‘DH’ was. And thus deciding, she wrote a reply on the back of the same paper.

Holding the book, she drew it close to her, with the thought of returning it back. She had to. And she did. The book found its place back on Dave Harrison's desk.

-------------------

To say the truth, Dave was growing tired, chasing after Gayatri Joshi. It was exciting but at the same time exhausting. Every time he thought he was taking a step closer to her, she pushed him back, letting him feel the pain in his heart. But there was no stop, he couldn't stop, he never stopped because he loved her, so dearly, so tenderly. His heart had accepted the pain and denied to give up. But that was far easier said than done.

Because, today, something was moved inside him. The pain seemed to be unbearable, a gush of flooded emotions had passed his body, when he found the book on his desk. The same book he had seen her gazing longingly at in the shop. The same book he had bought escaping her notice and gifted her secretly.

‘Dear Doctor Harrison,

Thank you so much for your kindness and concern. But I can’t accept any kind of favor, even if it’s from you. Thank you once again. – Gayatri’

Was this all that it was for her? A favor? It was time to give up? Wasn't it? He should!

Taking a moment to collect himself, he had put the book in the drawer, the key was turned and it was locked. Just like his feelings.

Dave Harrison was finally giving up on Gayatri Joshi.

-------------------

Three days had passed ever since Prof. Roy started avoiding Gayatri. Dave was also doing the same. What was going on? Gayatri was clueless but still kept her daily schedule intact. She was disturbed but was still trying to keep her focus. Waking up, going to class, eating, thinking about what Iqbal meant and ending up in library before falling asleep.

Day in and day out and another day passed just like that. She finished her breakfast, got ready for the class and hoped to steal a glance at Dave as it was his lecture but as fate would have it, he didn't show up. As always she ended up in library for her Cholera research again. Buried under a pile of books she started to pen down results from her previous work.

One line, one page.

It moved so fast yet time felt to her was passing at a super slow pace.

She looked up from the books at the exact same moment maybe as Dave just entered the library. She rose her head in his direction but Dave swooped towards a bookshelf and completely disappeared from her sight in the blink of an eye!

What was wrong? What was this all about? It was getting kind of frustrating and she knew the reason. Somewhere or the other, it was her fault. And someone else’s too.

Think of the devil and her nose sniffed the all too familiar scent of nicotine, Cigar. It was him. Again.

She decided, it was time to do something, she had to do something, something to calm her mind of all the tornadoes she was dealing with.

Standing up, without caring about anything, she grabbed her things and went straight for the exit.

The outhouse.

The abandoned area sure looked creepy at this time of the day but she was looking for a way out of her own demons so nothing could scare her now. What was left to be afraid of anyway?

So she walked on.

-------------------  

Dave was growing tired, with all his avoidance at Gayatri Joshi. It was kind of dunce for a man of his stature and at the same time mentally exhausting too. Every time he thought he was taking a step forward, she pushed him and broke his heart. But he never stopped because he still loved her just the same with those broken pieces, or maybe even more.

But the message and the return of the precious gift which he fondly brought for her, proved it to him that she was hiding something from him. The coldness and bitterness with which she said those words that day in classroom before that, it didn't seem to reach her eyes. There was something bothering her because of which she was pushing him more and more away.

And that was why he decided to confront her for once and for all. Though he ignored her presence in the library a few moments back, but from behind one of the bookshelves, he could see her sneaking out of the library. Without thinking twice, he decided to follow her. Maybe he could finally find out what she was hiding!

Dave was growing more and more confused as she was moving towards the other end of the college. He had to be extremely careful as she was looking back to see if anyone was following her, once in a while.

And then he realized that she was going towards the left wing of the college, which was supposed to be haunted. Though he didn’t believe in any of those stupidity but her security was his foremost concern. Was she playing a stunt? To prove that there was no ghost there or any such thing!

But those thoughts of his vanished as he watched her move out, and towards the outhouse. Though he didn't believe in any of the ghost theory, he knew perfectly well that the outhouse was not one of the safest place in those premises and he was not just going to let her go there like that.

“Gayatree.” He called out getting into an audible distance and she stopped on her tracks. She was already halfway there and Dave decided to close the space between them. When she turned around to face him, she was panic-stricken and scared. "What are you doing here?" She yelled with desperation filled in her voice.

"Go back." She scowled.

"I will. But if you agree to come with me." He said firmly.

She shook her head. She covered the gap between them in two strides and her helpless expressions were quite easily visible. "You have to go back." She uttered again.

“Not without you.” He was determined.

And it suddenly hit him. Just like it did a couple of times before and this time as he looked at Gayatri's face, he knew she could feel it too. She looked extremely worried but the next moment he watched as her face gets masked with determination.

And before could understand what was going on, Gayatri Joshi had touched his lips with hers!

Her arms were thrown around him holding him as her lips moved against his in sheer desperation. But before he could get shocked, his reflexes worked and he kissed her back with all that he had. Their lips moved in a beautiful rhythm as they got lost in each other.

No, she didn't taste vanilla or strawberry any such thing. It was purely HER. Gayatri, his Gayatree – Immensely beautiful and his only fantasy. To be true, it wasn’t that he had not dreamt of hers, he had done it quite a few times in past few days. The cute blabbering lips he would have loved to shut up every time she spoke of going away from him, but this was just intoxicating. Her initiation was something he never thought would happen.

And now that it happened, it shook him insanely. It was like living an entire life in this moment.

But then all of a sudden she pulled away and whispered against his lips…

"I'm sorry."

And something hit the back of his head. A strong stone maybe and he could feel little blood flowing out of it. His hand automatically moved there and he held his head in his hands. Pain!! His legs gave up and he fell on his knees. But when he looked up at Gayatri she saw her looking at him with an indecipherable expression in her face. And she let the stone fall from her hand. Tears gushed out from those beautiful eyes and she murmured it again. “I am sorry, Dave. But I don’t want you to get hurt any more than this.”

Intolerable pain.

And just before his eyes closed, he saw her running. Running towards the outhouse, leaving him there lying on the corridor trying to stop her.

And he blacked out. It was minutes later that he woke up, and when he did, he heard an ear piercing scream which left the hairs on his nape to stand up.

Because the voice was more than familiar to him.

It was Gayatri's scream. And it was coming from the outhouse.

-------------------

Eyes closed, her hands twirled around the bed sheets as she started to come back in the moment. She shot open her eyes to catch the glimpse of the now familiar infirmary ward. The window was open and it seemed like noon out there.

She slowly sat on the bed and rubbed her eyes out of the slumber as all that happened to her came crashing back.

She was in outhouse, in that pitch darkness when Iqbal appeared in front of her. Before she could say anything he came close rushing in an instant and placed his hand on her forehead. It was like she had lived his life, lived through his life. Everything he knew, everything he been through, everything he felt. Gayatri felt that all in that moment. She had gained the memories of Iqbal as it seemed. All that, of course, came with the pain and agony he had. Screaming out in suffering Gayatri fainted on the floor and that was all she could recall.

Prof. Roy Sahab, a name rang in her head like a pent up spring. Avoiding the pain she stood up and composed herself as she marched out of there.

Walking at a fast pace through the corridors of the college, she didn't care to look around but a certain someone was following her out of her knowledge.

Stepping into the professor’s cabin she saw Prof. Roy facing the window with a book in hand.

“How could you do this? How could you betray your own people? Your own motherland?” She spoke up to him without any hesitation and Prof. Roy sighed heavily. “You went there again. Didn’t you?” He said without turning around but still Gayatri could notice the hint of his breaking heart in his voice.

“But…” She began.

“Trust me, Gayatri. I would never do that. I could never betray my nation. My own colleagues. They were my brothers. I could never do that.” And Gayatri could notice nothing but honesty in his words.

“I lied everyone about Theodore because I wanted to find out who betrayed us. I wanted to find proofs from that outhouse. I had to and I couldn’t afford anyone entering that place anymore.” He explained further and Gayatri believed.

"Professor, I was there last night. I am sorry but I needed answers, too." Gayatri started whatever came into her mind straight away.

"He told you, am I right?" Roy asked with a cold tone without bothering turning.

"He showed me all… everything." Gayatri replied after a short pause. "We need to get that formula anyhow. We need to do something!" An anxious child was sure high for her own good.

"Tell me, my dear. Do you know anything about General Charles Hamill? " Roy spoke up turning his head around, slightly looking back now.

"That so called tyrant of Kolkata? Yeah, I've heard about him." Gayatri replied with a face and it struck her, the Formula was in his possession. But was there nothing they could do right now?

"I can't retrieve that on my own. My face is too known around and I have a reputation with rebels." Roy said turning around and  facing her.

"It breaks my heart too, child, but for now. We can do nothing. Hamill is just too dangerous for you & me to handle." Roy sighed  taking a seat.

"Are we giving up on everything people gave their life for?" Gayatri busted out. "There must be some way we can do something. I don't care about the traitor that much but the formula is what we need to retrieve."

"Ask about a way?" Doctor Dave Harrison walked in the cabin with silent feet like that of a cat, interrupting Gayatri.

Prof. Roy and Gayatri were sure caught in surprise by him.

“Oh, Doctor Harrison! What do we owe to have the the honor of having you here?" Roy tried to cover up the fiasco they just made. If anyhow Dave informed the police about this, they were done for. He didn't care about himself but knowingly or unknowingly he had certainly allowed Gayatri to be dragged in all the mess that he held himself responsible for.

"Don't worry Professor, I heard everything and knowing the situation at hand, I would like to help." Dave said looking straight at the old professor. "Only if you allow me." He said turning and looking at Gayatri.

Still frozen in her steps, Gayatri looked at the person in front of her. ‘Was he seriously ready to risk his reputation nonetheless his own life for her cause?' She thought. A dumbstruck Gayatri looked at Prof. Roy with a clear ambition in her eyes now.

-------------------  

A man of Status, Doctor Dave Harrison, should not believe in Supernatural. Right? But after all that had happened, it was getting hard and harder to not believe the things going around him.

First the image of a shivering unconscious Gayatri in the infirmary was enough to haunt him but now, that he himself felt that, that thing to himself, he had to believe.

That evening, on the stairs, all he remembered was that scent of Cigar and everything turned out black afterwards. Still feeling that weird pressure on his chest, waking up in the infirmary, first thing he did was ask Gayatri about it, she nervously denied the knowledge. ‘Wasn't that expected?’ Dave thought to himself.

The recovery period provided Dave the time he needed to look back at the past events. Everything going on around him or as he came to realize, around her was not normal. Knowing Gayatri's stubborn nature, he knew she wouldn’t let him in so easily to help, nor would she ask in the first place.

So, in a situation like this, no matter how crazy it sounded, but Doctor Dave Harrison decided to spy, yeah, not your typical spying but to go and be around her… the one he loved and the one he cared for more than himself, to know what was going on.

After all, just like a certain someone, he needed answers too.

Avoiding her at the forefront and following her from the shadows was not easy, not at all but Dave was doing everything he could to just be a part of what was Gayatri going through. Something inside him told him he had to.

Following her, from hostel to college and college to library was not a hard task, it was avoiding her glances that took toll on our beloved Doctor Harrison.

It all was worth it, right? As it brought him at that cabin. Where he came to know that, not only his love but a respected person like Prof. Roy was also caught up in such mess.

What could he do in this situation, he himself was thinking when Prof. Roy mentioned the name 'General Hamill'.

Speak of the devil and that single name rang thousand of warnings in his head. At the end, what he was considering to be a supernatural phenomenon was all a game of chess, against the rival king, of course. In which he, too, was a pawn by now.

He stepped in, without considering the consequences because in that cabin, in that moment, Doctor Dave Harrison knew, pawn or not, the ‘Knight’ in him couldn’t let his ‘Queen’ fight this one alone.

And, from that moment on, Dave surely decided on calling Gayatri his Queen. Because that’s what she was… ‘His Beloved Queen.’

-------------------

“The fight for freedom is a long battle and it comes with a heavy cost. For the city of Kolkata, the Rebels did what they thought was supposed to be done, but only God knows if they hoped for such grim consequences that were coming their way. It was like a chain reaction that changed not only the political face of Kolkata but the resistance was deeply affected too. The year was 1880, the governing authorities of Kolkata increased the taxes by 10% after a heavy rain season. The city was damaged, so were the surrounding crop fields but did they care for such things?

A name was blamed for this decision, this new rule.” Professor Roy paused for a while as the duo looked at him with eager eyes.

“General Carter Higgins, the new authority of the city. It was his signature that turned that hell mayhem into the law. People of the said provinces and suburbs of course protested. The Rebels, oh those mighty fighters, they did what was called for so long. The Law was signed in the late October of 1880 and the protest lasted till The January of the next year. Closing their ears, the government easily suppressed the motion in due time.

The storm took place in February of 1881 when during his routine visit to the Court of the Company, General Carter Higgins was shot dead in his carriage by the rebels. With a hole in his chest, Higgins took his last breaths on the street of the mighty city. Later on, the rebels responsible were caught by the police. A 19 year old, hot headed Ravindra Jha & his associate, his younger brother, a 17 years old Mangalveer Jha. Yeah, both had no regrets and faced the consequences face on. But what came after was never expected.”  The hint of pride that Prof. Roy’s voice held was not missed by Dave and Gayatri.

Both glanced at each other once.

“Upon the Death of General Higgins, in his place, the company sent General Charles Hamill. Now to know who ‘the undead’ Hamill was, he was transferred from the African region controlled by the company. The term undead was associated with him because there were 6 assassin attempts on him in just a span of two years. He was mortally injured in 4 of them. Every single time, he managed to survive, and every single time he came back, he brought hordes of death over the rebels. As a suppressor he was known around the globe for his cruel region against any resistance alliance. Africa was the region where he spill blood like a morning water bath for his garden and now the Empire had turned that monster to the coast of India.

The Undead landed on the bounds of Kolkata sooner than later. Took the charge of the commanding authority and started doing what he was best known for. Massacre it was. Resist the authority, resist his authority anyhow and you will either end up in jail or in a coffin.

First, he banned the production and use of Firearms and Gun powder for anyone but armed forces. He started with the search and ceased the plan soon after, capturing a great amount of Rebels and bystanders to execute. Then he announced the curfews and patrol at nights. He went on and on with his ways. The people of Kolkata soon found out, they had a tyrant for a ruler now.” Prof. Roy said in a disgusted voice. Oh, how he hated this man!

“Acting up just after tacking charge, he signed more than one hundred execution orders. The years passed on and the streets of Kolkata slowly gave out every ounce of blood they could spare. There were now very few who chose to fight against the undead himself as everyone soon knew, General Hamill had implanted informers and moles all around the city. Hiding and fleeing, fighting and dying, the rebels still didn't lose hope as nothing could scare off their lust for freedom. Hamill abandoned the Ministry and military headquarters as a base of operation and chose to build his own Villa into the Headquarters of his reign. Nothing and no one could stop him!” Prof. Roy stood up and walked near the window gazing over the college grounds. Dave was astonished, so much and he was just immersed in his own studies to acknowledge anything.

“Villa it was!” Prof. Roy brought him out of trance.

“The Alexander compound was that place. Built around 1860 in the outskirts of the city, the Compound used to be a Royal Palace, with a Victorian touch to it. Magnificent pillars supporting the mesmerizing white columns of white soulful marble. A grand wooden gate to enter into the Luxor - there the villa had the view of the city associated with a garden, which was now turned into a parade ground.

The main entrance was a giant gate, guarded by armed enforcers of the undead. And Hamill himself would stroll the city once a month when he decided to leave the villa for some air. Every document and meetings were held there and the authorities could be seen coming to and fro, in and around the property.

In about three years, General Hamill had made his own Castle and ordered his own words as law around the known suppressed lives. There were some who were afraid to fight now and few were, who weren't afraid. And we DECIDED TO FIGHT AND FACE THE FATE. ANYTHING FOR MOTHERLAND.” Prof. Roy’s voice boomed. It was low but determinant.

Turning around at the two mute audiences, he sighed.

“Do you remember the blast at the outhouse few months back?” Roy addressed Dave to which he nodded.

“Doctor Tyabji and my friends were killed by General Hamill.” He said coldly.

Dave was shocked. He always knew there was an incidence beneath the façade they lead of Theodor Hector  haunts. And today he was confronting it.

“We were betrayed, someone had tampered the work. The ammunition we were working upon in the hideout could not have a successful launch and everything turned into ashes. And the formula of the basic component, specially designed by pouring all our knowledge over years, it’s misplaced.”  He lead out another sad sigh.

“Who had the audacity to betray?” Dave’s anger rose.

“Iqbal… At least I thought so.” Roy said.

“How do you know he is not?” Dave gritted his teeth.

“He told me himself.” He said in a calm voice.

Dave was at sheer loss of words. A chill passed through his spine. “You… But he...” his throat was drying up. “Believe in his existence, Doctor Harrison. He is there watching upon us.” Gayatri intervened. Dave somehow nodded and glanced around. His conscious self screamed that someone was truly watching them. It was scary but he had to be bold, for her.

“Then who is the traitor?” Gayatri asked with inquisitiveness. Anger bubbled inside her thinking of the treacherous person. “We don’t know. We just couldn’t figure out the mole.” Roy answered drowning in deep worries. Who could it be then? Iqbal was equally in dark about it.

“So the formula is with Hamill?” Gayatri asked again to which Roy nodded. The name General Hamill was ringing through the air like an ill disease.

"What kind of man is he?" Gayatri asked. "The type you should beware of." Dave said slightly holding his hand upon Gayatri’s and to his surprise a thoughtful Gayatri didn't resist.

"I can do it on my own, Professor. No need to risk any lives." Suddenly, Dave interposed and shocked both. “You!” Gayatri was surprised and Roy was slightly stunned.  He had his own trains of worries.

“You? I mean how? You are well known to the authorities too." Roy pointed his concern. "Well Professor, they know me with my Lab coat and formals on. Without the,  I can easily blend in with the troops, I guess." Dave replied as he was slowly getting determined.

"We can't risk such things Doctor Harrison. If he finds out, you would be as good as dead with the mark of treason." Roy said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"The thing in our favor is, Hamill has never visited our college or medical facility. You may have a reputation to avoid him professor but I'm quite in the dark outside the college premises. The local police can identify me but General and his guards won't. Not so easily that is." Dave shot the first idea came into his mind at Roy.

"So basically you want to go there in disguise? Dressed as?" Roy said leaning onto his desk with a frown.

"A Navy officer to meet him regarding some Harbor issues. I’m sure it can work." Dave said from his experiences with the authority. Gayatri couldn’t help but smile at his ideas. This man just wooed her heart. So sorted and intelligent he was.

"I'm coming too." She spoke up. "You'll need help." She said looking at Dave. "N..." Dave wanted to deny her inclusion but looking into her fierce eyes he knew she wouldn’t accept it so easily. "What will you join me as?" Dave shot a question, thinking she would back off.

"If you are an esteemed Navy officer, then surely you need a personal assistant to escort you." Gayatri replied without changing her facial expressions.

"You should not risk such task Gayatri, it's too dangerous. I can't allow this. You are here to study, find a cure of this increasing fatality. Don’t get involved in this.” A worried Prof. Roy called out. "Professor, my COUNTRY needs me!!” She replied in a calm voice.

“Someone had to do something, I won't matter in the greater picture, but if I could do as much as a little help to the cause, I would be grateful. Please don't stop me." Gayatri said with a sparkle in her eyes. The same sparkle Doctor Harrison was falling in love with again and again.

"Won't you need ‘Intel from the Inside’ first?" Roy asked Dave as it was indeed an unknown territory to infiltrate.

"I have someone who can help." Dave caught up and replied with a smirk. Looking at Gayatri he mouthed her a ‘Get Ready’.

And like that the fight which was awaiting their fate, started….

-------------------

One! Two! Three!

With each step he took, Dave’s heartbeat sped up as he paced to and fro in the living room of his house. To avoid any further unforeseen tragedies, he had brought Gayatri to his house. They couldn’t afford to be seen by anyone… and by anyone it meant ANYONE!

Dressed in crisp black uniform, he could be easily passed for any British Navy officer. Prof. Roy had done his work of getting them the appropriate dresses perfectly and now all that was left was his wait for his assistant… His Indian, Personal Assistant, a Christian lady.

With his uniform cap still in his hand, his pacing inside the room sped up as his anxiousness heightened. It was taking her too long! And just when he was about to lose his control and go out to check what was wrong, he heard the click of her heels. He turned around and everything stopped for him at the very moment his eyes feel on Gayatri… or rather he should say his Personal Assistant for a while.

When the uniform cap fell from his hand landing down near his feet, he didn’t know himself. Because all he could see was an ethereal beauty in front of his eyes. Dressed in white shirt and long ankle length black skirt she looked so different, yet she looked so much alike the girl he had fallen in love with. She was still his Gayatree who became conscious and uncomfortable whenever she had to wear anything other than her usual sarees. She was still his Gayatree who made his heart skip a beat every time she frowned with her ever smiling eyes.

But still she had no idea that no matter what she was the most beautiful lady to him!

Gayatri, who apparently seemed like struggling with her new attire, stretching the sides of her skirt all irritated, remained totally unaware of Dave’s admiring gaze. And when her head rose up and her eyes met his’ all she could notice was the love he had for her… the unconditional, the irrevocable love.

‘She was doing wrong to him.’ She knew it pretty well but still she was fighting hard with these budding feelings inside her heart.

Stumbling in her steps, she moved forward towards him noticing the still abandoned cap near his feet. “Doctor Harrison, your cap!” She frowned on receiving no amount of satisfactory response from him.

“Dave?”

No response!

“Brahmadev ji?”

Still no response!

“Kamadev ji?”

And yet again there was no response!

Gayatri’s frown deepened and she decided to do the honors herself. Picking up the cap she placed it up on his head herself and that was when Dave’s trance got broken and he sucked in a deep breath on finding her so close to him. Their bodies merely inches apart.

Her black orbs met with his yet again shiny hazel ones and they knew ‘magic’ had happened again. But their special moment soon came to an end as Gayatri stumbled back, all thanks to her two inches high heels.

“Dave!” His name instantly left her lips and within moments she was secured in the embrace of his arms. This moment he didn’t hesitate. This moment he didn’t hold back. This was their moment and he knew it all too well. With his arms wrapped around her waist, he pulled her closer and even before Gayatri could realize, Dave leaned down and had his lips pressed against her cheek in a momentary kiss. But as soon as it came, it was gone.

“Will you marry me, Miss Martha Gomez?” Where the first half of his sentence made her heart skip a beat, the other part made her frown.

“Who’s Martha? My name is Gayatri. Remember? Gaya-aa-tree!” She busted out and no matter what she couldn’t hide the hint of jealousy in her words. Dave chuckled.

Nerve of this man! First he went on proposing every second girl and now he had the audacity to chuckle at her face! Gayatri struggled in his arms but he seemed nowhere in the mood to let her go.

“Oh! Um… Martha is Commander Arthur Williams’ personal assistant.”

“And who’s that?” She scowled at him which appeared nothing less than adorable to him, reminding him all over again why had he fallen in love with her! She was endearing and fierce at the same time and she herself didn’t know how special she was to him.

“That’s me.” Dave replied cheekily and Gayatri rolled her eyes making no further attempt to free herself from his arms. She, now, stood there calmly as if this was where she belonged to.

“Is this a time to joke, Dave?” She asked and Dave smiled.

“Let me introduce myself to you again, My Lady.” He said with a bow of courtesy letting her go. “I am Commander Arthur Williams and you, My Lovely Lady, are my personal assistant, Ms. Martha Gomez.”

And that was when realization dawned upon Gayatri. He had proposed to her. AGAIN. But this time denying him seemed pretty harder than ever before and she wasn’t very sure how long she would be able to deny his proposals.

“Aren’t we getting late.” That was all she could say and Dave took a sigh of relief. At least, this time she hadn’t denied him outright.

Linking up their arms together, they were out on the most important journey on which not only their lives depended but also of their entire Nation’s.

-------------------

Suited up and ready to roll Dave got the help he needed from his dear old friend Advocate Sinha. He acquired the information he needed about the mansion. The security checks, the loopholes. Luckily the chef at the Villa was a patient Dave had cured for free a few months back and having a deal with him through Prof. Roy, he had agreed to help them once inside.

Gayatri who was seated beside him in the motor car that was assigned to them, was ogling on Dave. Well, he actually looked cute as well as remarkably handsome, those hard strict façade of expressions didn’t suit him at all. He was her ‘Brahmadev’, soft-spoken and good hearted. She chuckled at her own thoughts.

Coughing once she gained his attention.

"Oh... Yeah, Gayatree, you know the plan right?" Dave asked her like for the sixth time.

"Ji Brahmdev ji, I'll get down of the carriage, moved towards the front entrance and hand him over the Document of Urgency you gave me. Hum jana hayee humra ke kaa kare ke baa (I know what I have to do)…" Gayatri in her typical manner shot back at him. “Fierce tigress.” He mumbled earning another glare and she looked away.

Trying to suppress his smile, Dave looked ahead as they approached the Den Of the Devil.

Noon it was, the sun was hiding behind some dark clouds, the air was breezing by with a soft touch. The marching ground in the front lawn was first to catch Dave's attention. He looked upon what seemed like a troop of policeman commencing their daily routine. Marching from left to right, the discipline they showed in their footwork was rather good.

Where Dave was busy admiring the Soldiers upon the approach, Gayatri was awestruck by the Huge Building in front of her. The structure in front of her deserved the word 'majestic' by every mean.

Both of these trails were broken when they arrived at the entrance point.

It was time for the action, Gayatri took the lead and stepped down from the vehicle elegantly and in a military fashion with a straight posture, she approached the guards at the gate. Dave looked from behind as Gayatri gave them the document and talked a little with them upon turning around and glancing over at them.

The driver pulled the carriage ahead as Gayatri waited and hopped on as the troops opened the gate. Going in, even Dave was able to make out of the heavy heartbeats of the women beside him. Gently putting his palm over hers, he whispered, "Don't worry, I'm here." He smiled which she faintly returned.

Gayatri didn't know how to react but before approaching the stairs to the gate she calmed down as her heartbeats became normal, she pulled her hand back and looked ahead. Dave was able to notice a blush on her face this time.

Both got off the vehicle and looked at the mansion before taking their first steps. Gayatri went in first with Dave few steps behind her, walking firmly as a Navy officer he was dressed as. As Gayatri gave the document to the troop at the main door, Dave approached them too.

Seeing him, the troop saluted him which Dave responded as he prepared to. His heart was also drumming fiercely. They couldn’t afford a single mistake.

"General is occupied with weapons inspection and a meeting after that, he may be able to attend you in or about 2 hours. Is that alright sir?" The troop asked looking at Dave with a look of respect.

"We may wait." Dave replied with a stoic expression and the troop nodded.

"Wait for me in the carriage." Dave ordered Gayatri as she nodded and went down the stairs. If she had to, she would admit, Dave's strict voice was dull to hear, but as long as it worked.

The plan was in motion, Gayatri went into the carriage as it pulled behind the Villa and Doctor Dave Harrison, or Commander Arthur Williams, was walking into the lair of General Undead Hamill, head on and from the front door too. Dressed as a naval officer nonetheless. She fisted her palms as Dave disappeared from her view. She couldn’t fail her motherland. They had to find the formula and get the incomplete work done.

But what they didn’t know was that the shock awaiting them in the next few hours would change their lives forever and ever…

What was the future holding for these two? An encounter of fate maybe?

Written by just_a_crazy_writer for the group story writing contest being hosted by freakswithus.

We hope you enjoyed reading it. Do leave your feedbacks and comments down here. That would really mean a lot to all of us.

See you all on 30th with the last chapter of the story. Till then, stay blessed and happy reading.

With loads of love,
Team ARDUOUS SCRIBBLERS