Flames OF Paradise - Season 1 - Episode 27

7 years ago

Flames OF Paradise - Season 1 - Episode 27

Time had come for Snigdha to exorcise the dark memories and presence of Vikas from her life, or rather her mind and soul. Snigdha cleared her throat and started.
‘I met Vikas while I was in the Film Institute getting trained as a cinematographer. He was a fellow classmate pursuing Film Direction Course. Talented, dynamic, driven to excel in this field and bloody sure of himself. Initially, I was not interested in his brash and bold methods of wooing me, but guess destiny had a different future stored for me. While working on our diploma projects together, one thing led to another and I bowed down to his overtures and accepted his proposal. He seemed very convincing in his expression of love. Like a leaf blowing in the wind, I got pulled towards him. In no time, we were labelled as a couple on the campus. I was not surprised because being a possessive man, Vikas made it clear to everyone that I was his property. That was the first warning signal in our relationship… that I ignored. Soon, more bouts of erratic possessiveness followed and then followed, his frustrated behaviour towards me when after passing out from the Institute, there was no taker for his talent and skill. As months passed, and as each one of us got big or small projects, not always as per our liking, but enough to serve as an opening in the highly competitive field of television and films, Vikas was still the one on the loose end. Frustration made him a maniac.’ Snigdha stopped, her voice getting caught on the word, ending in a whisper. Roshan’s fingers gripped her hand soft and firm, giving her strength. She took a deep breath before starting again, willing herself to finish the bitter tale of her nightmarish past,
‘Within one year of our passing out, our relationship went down the drain. Each day was hell for me. On one hand, I tried my best to understand his angst and frustration; on the other hand, I cringed with fear and hatred from him, every time he… abused me mentally, psychologically… and sometimes physically.’
‘He hit you?’ A menacing note had entered Roshan’s voice.
‘Yes. I was so scared and cornered because of being torn in two opposite directions of love which was dying fast and hatred for the man who I had considered my friend and confidant. He became so cruel day by day that, one day I ran. Ran so fast, that I had to go in a hideout for six months with my elder sister who helped me come out of my depressive phase. Very few people know my plight. When I returned from my hideout and healing phase, I was a new and fresh person, having gained my self-esteem and passion to fight back. I have no idea where Vikas is, but sometimes I still get those horrible nightmares, especially in the darker phase of my life.’

‘Like now. When you are hanging between danger and uncertainty. When without any fault of yours you have been subjected to so much agony and discomfort.’ His voice was raw.
‘Even you are suffering Roshan.
‘The terrorists are after me… ’ Before she could complete her sentence, blackness enveloped her and she crumbled into the ground in a heap as she fainted.

As she opened her heavy eyes, she felt as if she had been drugged, with her head hurting. She tried to sit, eyes snapping open at once, but immediately groaned with agony when her head started throbbing. As her vision cleared, she saw that a concerned, friendly Sardar was peering at her, sitting beside her, sprinkling water on her face.
‘O Ji. Tussi thik toh ho?’ The man asked in Punjabi whether she was fine or not.
Snigdha was fully alert now. She sat up carefully and looked around before saying urgently,
‘Sardar Ji, please take me to the police or army picket right away. I was kidnapped by Al Faran group and my friend is still there. I must save him as soon as possible.’ Snigdha said in Hindi.
‘Kya baat kar rahe ho jee? Aap chalo mere sath. Mei Srinagar ja raha hoon. Sab think ho jayega. Tussi chinta mat karo jee.’ The Sardar asked her to come to Srinagar with him and assured her that everything would be fine.
Within one hour, Snigdha reached Srinagar, which meant that the terrorists had hidden her quite close to the capital city. Once she reached the police headquarters, things moved very fast. Although her team had left, Snigdha was put under tight security, in a comfortable guesthouse where not even the press was allowed to meet her. Snigdha went through some gruelling sessions with the police where she told them about the location of the camps, the descriptions of her captors and about Roshan. The police commissioner knew about Roshan and went into immediate action by forming a team of highly efficient commandos for a combing operation in the forest area described by Snigdha. She was pleasantly surprised to see the quick action taken by the forces and the police. Within a few hours her brother Sumit landed in Srinagar to take her back to Delhi. Feeling refreshed after a long hot bath in days, Snigdha sat wrapped in a blanket.

Sumit handed her a cup of hot broth.
‘You are looking thin Sidhi! Ma would not be very pleased to see this.’ Sumit observed in his trademark funny style.
‘Bhaiya! I have come out of the most terrible time of my life! Mom must be scared to death. If at all she will be upset it will be to tell me, ‘I told you so!’
‘Oh Yes! Never the one to let go of a chance like that! But then we never listen to her anyways.’ Sumit said smiling broadly.
‘I know, I was stubborn enough not to listen to her. But I can’t avoid challenges. This is my work. How would I know that someone out there is planning to kidnap me?’
‘True! That’s why, I’ve chosen a sedate, boring field like management. A good take home salary. A big plush house. No liabilities. No risk. All pleasure!’
‘Lucky you!’ Snigdha smiled at him. But in her heart of heart she knew that, in his own way her brother too had that reckless spirit. To lead his life on his own terms, without bothering about what the world thinks. Probably, that’s why he appeared so normal even after knowing that she had just returned from facing death itself! He wanted her to be normal, to feel relaxed and not panic. She was grateful for her brother’s light and humorous bantering.
‘Come on, now it’s time for us to get going! The more you will stay here, the more the security and media people will hound you. The only place where you will be absolutely safe is Delhi. So we are going to stay there for a couple of days before going to Pachmari.’