My omega seamaster 3110 beeped as I looked on. It was 3:00 a.m.
My eyes were hurting, my body needed rest and most of all my mind needed to forget everything.
I pressed my eyes harder in order to get some sleep. As I closed my eyes I tried to recollect memories the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the trip to The Alps and of course Jane my wife and our last conversation.
I was packing my last bag which contained all the required documents.
"Please Sean”, Jane said in a sad tone.
"It's alright we have discussed this”, I replied turning to her.
"You are doing absolutely fine here, we don't need that extra package, forget it Sean, we are just fine"
"It's not about the money Jane" "you know me, it’s once in a lifetime opportunity, they are sending the best guy available at THE TIMES for this assignment and that's me, you should be proud of me”, I assured her.
"I am proud of you but please that place is not safe, I have read about it”, she instantaneously answered.
"Don't worry the local authority will be at full help plus the police support will be 24 hours."
"Why can't you just listen to me" she broke into tears "Is your assignment more important than me, please don't Sean please”, she hugged me and started sobbing.
I cupped her face in my palms.
"I have to go Jane it's important, I have committed" "And I want you to prepare a long vacation list so that when I come back, we immediately fly to places with you like this”, saying this I lifted her in my arms and swung her. She smiled at last and I left.
My watch beeped again. It was 4:00a.m.
I touched the semicircular roof over my head as if touching her face.
I raised my head to notice it was still raining by the sound of gushing water but nothing was visible as it was dark outside.
"Get some more sleep, it’s impossible to move in these conditions”, said Comrade K adding some twigs to the fire with one hand while resting his other on AK-56.
It was hard to believe I was lying down in this hollow cemented pipe about 4 feet in diameter in a forest somewhere in Jharkhand for about 40 hours now and that too with a naxalite sitting next to me. why didn't I listened to Jane was the only question in my mind.
By every passing minute I was getting weak not only physically but mentally. In order to divert my mind I started thinking something else. I closely looked at Comrade K.There were some strange things about this man. He didn't spoke much. He never walked, ate or behaved like others in his team. In fact this was the first time he spoke to me but the most surprising thing was his name Comrade'K' just 'K'.
There were twists in my stomach due to hunger and now even water was limited around 300 ml. I crawled to the other end and tried to sneak out my head from the outlet of the pipe, came back wore my shoes and decided to go out in search of some food.
"That's not a good idea.”, said Comrade K.
I turned back to look. He was still in the same position adding twigs to the fire.
"I don't need suggestions”, I hurled back at him.
"These conditions are ideal for snakes.”, he always spoke in the same pitch.
"I said I didn't need suggestions”, I almost shouted at him.
"Yes you don't need suggestions you are intelligent people from intelligent countries”, for the first time he uttered the words in a sarcastic tone.
"Yes we are, and not like you’ll. You people exploit your country, exploit the villagers, abduct a journalist who came all this way leaving behind his family to do some good to your people and you talk about country, it doesn't suits you.”, I was not finished yet.
"And you…you don't even have a name, may be your parents were in hurry...huh buddy”, at this last line he gave me a stare, the fire reflected on his face and his eyes were clearly burning.
"Enough! Shut your mouth and sleep”, he said grinding his teeth.
"Why just because you have a gun, I should shut my mouth. I do not deserve this place, I do not deserve these conditions and I do not deserve an ignorant, lowbrow like you...Do you think I deserve this life?",I shouted on his face.
"I am not sure about yours but I don’t deserve this life", he yelled back at me.
"I wasn't born with this thing”, raised the AK-56.
"I am not an ignorant I am a qualified person probably more than you and I…I never exploited anyone, just let the rain get over and then Get Lost”, I was shocked whom I was talking to and with infinite questions in my mind I turned away from him.
"Just remember one thing never ever talk about my parents again”, he said pointing his index finger towards me and gently shook his head.
"And the name is Kabir."
