Daniel
I felt like someone wiped the land off my feet as I processed Anjali's words in my brain, I didn't expect
that bastard Marcello to be that fast. I am away from the house and even Karan must have been left by
now to attend his meeting.
I wanted to call Karan for help, but I can't take risk of hearing no at this time, he ain't gonna help and
will tell me to get out of his house too, Oh, God! Where I stuck myself into. Whatever can happen;
Good, bad, or worse but there's no backing off.
I immediately took the cab and went to the hotel where Anjali is staying to somehow at least help to get
Esha out from here.
As soon as I reached the hotel, the first thing I noticed was tight security, men in black suits were
standing out at the entrance, talking to someone over Walkie-Talkie.
I inhaled a deep calm breath and started to count my steps inside, I calmed my posture as much as I
can, and without taking their glance at me, It was almost successful before a guy who looked like a
manager stopped me.
"I am so sorry, Sir, we can't allow you to go inside unless you've booked a room here or wanna book
one, " He spoke in a typical Indian accent.
Shit! Do I need to buy a room to reach Anjali?!
It looks like I got no other option at the moment, "Yes, I wanna book one for a night, " I said, he nodded,
guiding me to the reception.
That manager said something to the receptionist in their language which was not Hindi for sure before
she turned towards me, "Your Id proof, Sir, " She said.
I put my hand in my jeans to take out my wallet only to know that I left it in my suitcase which at
Karan's home, "I am sorry, but I guess I lost my wallet somewhere which had my all Id proofs, " I faked
an excuse, trying to control the sweats which were forming on my head.
"Then, we are sorry, Mister, we can't let you stay here unless you arrange your Id proof, " That
Manager said.
Don't be panic, Daniel!
"Alright, if you don't mind can I wait in the waiting area till I call my friend for help?"
The manager looked at me in deep thought before nodding, "Sure, there's a waiting area, "
I shake my head in okay and made my way to sit over to the couch of the hotel waiting area, till I came
up with a plan. I noticed that the manager was just glancing over me every few seconds, so I took out
my phone and acted like I am talking to someone to avoid his doubtful gaze on me.
After he went somewhere and the receptionist got busy with other guests, I slowly paced up from my
place and putting my head down, looking at the floor, I instantly wandered off to the elevator.
I sighed in relief when I successfully reached Anjali's floor, I was about to knock on her door when I
saw some security guards nearby. I changed my route, faking an act as I came to the wrong floor.
She was right about Marcello has put his men to keep an eye on her.
I heard those guards talking to each other and then they left off, as I quickly went back, knocking on the
door, "Who's there?" She questions in fear.
"It's me, Daniel, " I said as she opened the door in no time, pulling me inside.
"Daniel, I am glad you came, " She says in relief.
You were right, Marcello's men are everywhere I somehow managed to escape from their eyes, " I told
her, noticing her face showing fear.
"Now, what?" She asks.
"I don't know but I will take Esha with me till I go and bring some help for you, "
"But where will you take Esha and whose help can you bring? Karan was our only hope, " She spoke,
pointing out how helpless we are here without his help.
"Don't worry, we'll manage somehow-" we got interrupted by a hard knock on the door, and the voice
followed by it just scared the shit out of her.
"Darling...I am here, care to open the door?"
"It's him, " She utters, scared as fuck. I run over to the balcony to see if there is any way I can go out. I
saw the pipe going down near the railing from where I can go down easily and thankfully even if I fell
from here at least I have a chance of surviving.
"Open the door!" His voice was clearly showing how impatient he was getting.
"What now?!"
"Where is Esha?" I asked.
"In the room, " She replies, baffled, "What are you doing?"
"I am taking her out from here, " I ushered towards the room, bringing Esha in my arms, she looked,
confused but didn't ask me anything as I offered her a warm smile.
"Are you out of your mind?!" She asks, yelling silently so the devil who is standing out can't hear us.
"I got no options, " I said, turning to the baby girl in my arms, "Just hold me tightly, okay?" She nodded,
not understanding my words, she wrapped her mini hands around my neck.
"It's dangerous, Daniel, you will hurt her!" She angers me.
"Shut up! Do you think the man outside is safe for her? And will keep her protected?!"
"But-"
"Just go, and answer the door before he gets more doubt. Esha is safe with me, " I assured her.
Nodding in comprehension, she rushed towards the door as I immediately stood like a monkey on a
pipe, "Uncle Daniel, are we playing a game?" Esha asked, smiling innocently yet curious.
"Shh, " I Shushed her first, not wanting Marcello and his men to hear us, " Yes, sort of, just don't slip
your grip off me and we will be considered as winners, "
She smiled, brightly with a simple nod.
I slowly climbed down the pipe, handling my balance, I was just below the balcony when I heard the
footsteps echo above me, smelling the horrible smoke of a cigar in the process, "Ain't it's an amazing
view, Anjali?" He asked, "I asked something!", " Good", "Now tell me where's my little angel?"
I wasn't able to hear Anjali's voice but I could clearly listen to Marcello's as he was just above me, he
asked about Esha, my urge to take her away from here increased. But I don't want my wrong step to
lead both of us to heaven.
Slowly, Slowly as I was getting near the ground my heart was pacing up to my mouth, "Uncle Dan, I am
feeling the sweat in my palms, " She says, making me more anxious, Even, my hand was full of sweat
and my grip was loosening from the pipe, I don't need to see the redness around my hand to know the
pain.
"We are almost done, " I told her, mistakenly stumbling my feet in the air instead of a pipe as I felt my
back hit the ground with a loud thump, rendering a whine coming out from my mouth, and since Esha
was on top of me, she was safe.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"What's that?!" I heard Marcello asking loudly, looking down at us, only to meet with mine, finding Esha
in my hands, I found him fumning in anger.
I instanly stood up, resisting the pain which was threatening me to feel at the wrong time.
"Maybe, let's go, " I said, steadying my speed up of running, seeing a taxi coming in front of me.
"Esha, I don't think I can come with up, "
"Means,"
"Means, you have to go alone,"
"Where?"
I signaled the taxi driver to pull over, he stopped the car in front of us, "Yes?" he asks, noticing me with
concern.
"Kahi jana hain aapko?" He asked me in Hindi, (Do you wish to go somewhere?)
"Well can you take this little girl safely to Suryavanshi palace?" I asked, not getting what he said to me.
"Maaf kijiye?" (Sorry, what?)
Dang! This is the last thing I wanted to happen, I am not understanding his language and he is not
understanding mine.
"Can-You-take-her-to-SuryaVanshi-Palace?" I repeated the words slowly for him to get.
"Suryavanshi palace?" He enacted as he got.
"Yes, Suryavanshi palace, take her there safely, "He nodded, starting the car.
I turned towards Esha, "When you will reach there and anyone asked who you are, just say, I want to
meet a man named, Karan, Uncle Daniel sent you, tell him to come to this hotel, don't be scared, be
brave, okay?"
"Alright, but what about you, Uncle Daniel?" Esha asked, feared, I cupped her cheeks.
"Don't worry, Angel, I am going back to save your mama, we'll be alright, " I assured her, kissing her
temple, I sat her down on the back seat of the taxi, Indicating the drive to take her. She looked at me
through the car's window until I got out of her sight.
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