Flirting can be Dangerous! (IV, Last and Concluding Part)

Part IV

With Vipin training a gun on them, Radha tried to be brave.

“You can’t get away with this,” Radha spoke up. “You will leave a witness behind.”

“You think I am stupid like your boss. I will kill you first. I would leave a very interesting set up. It would seem that he tried to rape you and you killed him in the process. Then killed yourself unable to face the world.”

“You don’t stand a chance,” Shyam insisted.

“Your reputation can come in handy and this…” Vipin continued with a sinister grin, “This is your revolver.”

“What did I do to deserve this, Vipin? We are brothers,” Shyam found it disgusting.

“May be. But you were everybody’s favourite. You were the best child, Arora family could bear. You actually stole the show from me. Besides, I want the money. Now, no more talk. Let’s get busy,” and he aimed the gun directly at Radha.

Suddenly, a shot rang and the gun fell from Vipin’s disabled hand.

Inspector Sinha entered the office with 2 constables. It later transpired that he had seen the blue Toyota almost run down the couple and had followed them to the office. And he had not believed the silly story that Shyam had made up.

After the officer left with the prisoner, Radha said, “My work is done. You are free, Sir.”

“Yes. Thank you. Let us go to the magistrate’s office and get married, now.”

“I suppose you don’t know that you should give one month’s notice before that. And anyways you need not stick to the promise, you know,” and she threw the torn pieces of the stamp-paper into the dust bin.

“Don’t you forget something?” Shyam asked, “Today’s newspapers have the news splashed on them about our involvement in the case. Even the TV channels are not far behind. I would have no doubt as to who gave the story to the media. Only Vipin can do it. If I don’t marry you now, nobody good probably will.”

“I don’t intend to stay in Mumbai, anyways.”

“Well! It is your decision. But, before you go I want to tell you 3 things. Asha had called me up in the morning to know your whereabouts and told me everything about you. Secondly, I may have promised marriage to many girls, but I don’t buy mangalsutras for all of them at short notice,” he said holding a diamond-studded gold mangalsutra in front of him. “Thirdly, I have been in love with you since you walked into my cabin for an interview. You had no experience, but I taught you how to handle everything. I always asked you to order flowers for those girls, to spark off your jealousy. But, I was not successful. Or was I not?”

“But…”

“If you think those girls will be a problem later. Be sure that flirts don’t seriously commit themselves. I know you deserve a better husband than me. Anyways, I have made an offer, will you accept it?”

“You have always made me listen to you. Same is the case, now. Is there anything else I can do about it?” She picked up the mangalsutra, he offered and hooked it around her neck and continued, “You will have to look for a new secretary, now.”