Ram.

I jumped down from my jeep and approached the commotion at the market fixating my eyes on one person. Veera's brother, Sekar.

"We came here first, Please you're interrupting our business," Sekar said in a calm tone.

"Ey! What are we here for then? Plucking flowers? We are here to do business too, this is our spot for the last four years--" The large man began shouting.

"Oi!" I pushed him aside and stood at the center of the commotion. Sekar's expression changed as soon as he saw me. He turned to the other side. Sekar's allies didn't look too happy seeing me too.

"What's the problem?" I asked.

"Who are you---" He started but one of his men whispered something in his ear. "Police ah?" He asked him and he nodded. The guy straightened his posture and smiled.

"Sir, I'm Mani, I have a shop in the town," He said. "Sir, this is my spot, I always set up my shop here during market days but this bastard--"

"Ey don't call me a bastard and all, I'm not the one barking in the middle of the street," Sekar interrupted. "Sir whoever comes here first takes the spot, I came here first,"

"Ey!" Mani came a step closer to hit Sekar but I pushed him back.

"I'm here you're trying to hit him ah?" I said. "Is this your father's land?" I asked. Mani looked embarrassed.

"Prabhu?" I called out. He popped up behind me. "Arrest these fellows and file them under public nuisance," I said. Prabhu nodded.

"Oi! Police! Do you know who my uncle is?" He started.

"MLA only no?" I said. He nodded. "How long would it take for me to put him behind bars for all the illegal activities he's doing? Do you think I do not know about the gold smuggling case?"

With that Mani zipped his mouth up. Prabhu called in some constables to arrest them.

"You don't know who you are messing with," Mani said as he was being handcuffed.

"I know exactly with whom I'm messing with," I said as he was being dragged away by the cops. The area cleared after a few seconds and the people returned to their spots.

"Thanks," Sekar said unwillingly.

"Just doing my duty," I said. He nodded and turned away. What should I tell him? I need him on my side. Think Ram, think...I need him to trap Veera.

"I'm sorry," I said hesitantly. He stopped midway and turned towards me.

"What we did was wrong too sir, y-you just did your job," He said. His voice filled with pain.

"I shouldn't have gone that far too..." I said faking my sadness.

He just nodded and stood there for a minute. His wife emerged from inside the shop in search of her husband.

"Sekar!" She called out. She had a cute baby girl in her hand.

"Haan," He turned back. "I'll be there one minute," He told his wife, and she went back in.

"Cute kid," I said. He smiled at my compliment. "Sekar...I want your..," I ran my hands through my beard and finally spat out the words. "I need your help,"

He looked fazed at my request. "What can I do for you, Sir?" He asked.

"Just...come to my office in the evening," I said. "We'll talk there," I said. He hesitated. I understand his hesitation. There is a lot of bad blood among us. "Don't worry, I'm a changed man, I promise," I emphasized the word promise.

He nodded. "Okay sir," he said and went inside confused.

A smile crept on my face. These people are very easy to manipulate. But me asking him, Veera's brother for help left a bitter taste in my mouth.

It's all for a reason I convinced myself. It's to kill Veera.

***
We reached the camp after eating lunch at the nearby hotel. Prabhu left me to make some arrangements about the waterfall situation. I took some time to rest my eyes. I was feeling sleepy, but no matter how hard I try I couldn't. Her face and her laugh are etched in my eyes. Whenever I close my eyes. She's in my heart. Mocking me with her killer smile.

"I'll get you, Pavi," I assured the illusion in my mind.

"Ram!" Shankar burst open the door. "Ram!" He almost slid down the floor.

"What?" I got up and held him straight. 

He waved a newspaper in front of me. I snatched it from his and opened it.

'SP Ram's wife abducted, Veera's revenge' The headlines read.

"Look at the photo," He panted. I looked down and what I saw made me fucking furious. There he was, standing tall and proud about abducting my wife. Along with him were his no-life goons, I knew most of them. I've arrested them with my own hands. They were all smiling and laughing.

Then there she was, My ethereal beauty. Scared out of her mind, with bruises and wounds here and there. I threw the paper on the wall beside me and sat down, clenching my hair.

"Tha-that Veera! Ughhh!" I grunted punching the mattress. I hit the back of my head on the wall. I don't know what they did to my wife. Did they lay their hands on her? The thought of that almost made me pick up my gun and shoot myself. But I stopped for only one reason. To kill Veera.

"He's playing mind games with me," I shouted. "Just-just wait and watch what I'm going to do with his brother," He pulled back my hair. "I'll make him regret his fucking existence,"

"Ram, calm down," Shankar said.

"Just wait and watch," I said.

"Sir," An officer entered the room. "Two old people are demanding to meet you," He said, his voice was followed by an old man shouting.

I knew exactly who he was, my in-laws. I stood up and straightened my clothes.

He barged in pushing the officer away, his wife followed him, struggling to match his pace. 

"What is all this!?" He screamed at me.

"Hey! I told you to wait outside," The officer shouted.

"It's okay," I said and gestured for him to leave. Shankar looked at me with a 'should I do something look'. I shook my head.

"I gave you my daughter's hand trusting you that you would protect her," He shouted. I tried to calm him down but he wouldn't let me talk.

"You said you would keep her in the palm of your hands and protect her, is this how you do it!" He threw the newspaper at my face.

"Where is my daughter?" My mother-in-law asked me with teary eyes, She got hold of my collar and shook me. "I want to see her now!" She cried out.

"Look--" I started but they kept cutting me off.

"We were right, being scared about marrying off our daughter to a police officer, But we did, just because SHE insisted that you'll take good care of her! But look where it bought us now!" He screamed in my face.

"Uncle--"

"Answer us!" My mother-in-law interrupted me. I sighed. "She's our only daughter, we can't bear to lose her," She cried in my arms.

"Aunty..."

"Police officer it seems, can't even keep his wife safe," He spat. "You're accountable for her life, if something happens to her, I won't tolerate it, You WILL be held accountable," He said. "Don't stand like a tree! Tell us an answer! You---"

"HEY! WHAT? HOW WILL I ANSWER IF YOU KEEP INTERRUPTING ME!?" I shouted at them. She jerked back. There is a limit to my patience, I won't accept being accused left right, and center like this without them listening to me.

"Ram..." Shankar said bringing me back to my senses.

I took in a deep breath and calmed down. "See, I'm standing here patiently, listening to you guys just because you're Pavi's parents," I gritted my teeth. "You know, I love her more than anything in this world, still you guys are accusing me, I'm doing everything in my power to find her, it's not like I'm sitting on my ass doing nothing," I said.

"Look, I'll find her in two days, if not you can stand in a circle and shout at me, now GET OUT!" I said pointing towards the door.

"Two days, then you'll see my other face," He threatened me. He took his wife's hand and left. I went to my table and lit up my cigarette and smoked away my frustration.

"You could've handed it more sensibly," Shankar said. I gave him an angry-side-eye-glance. He looked at the floor and said nothing. I sat on the bed and dusted off the newspaper.

I looked at Veera as I took in a puff. Just because of this guy, these people are bad-mouthing me. In a few days, this paper will have Veera's death as the headline. I swear.

I burned Veera's face with the cigarette's cherry. Then Mano. Then his goons. I'll kill them all one by one by one. Until none of them are left.