Day was bright. Streets were busy and people were enjoying the pleasant weather. And the same were doing little boys and girls of Virgin Mary school in the playground. They were playing basketball. Their shouts could be heard even from outside the gate of the playground. Near the fence a man was standing. He was constantly staring at a little girl. After sometime the girl too happened to notice this. She, for a moment hesitated and then slowly reached near the fence. The man didn’t react. The girl, after reaching close to him started to talk-

                                           “ Who are you ?”

The man didn’t answer and continued to look at her. On repeating the question he began- “ Well, I was just passing by and I saw you. You made me remember of my daughter. She looks just like you.”

                                           “ Your daughter ? where is she ?”-asked the girl in her innocent voice.

                                           “ Well, she does not live with me dear. That is because her mother does not want it. She does not want me to stay with my daughter. Is it right ?”

                                           “ No.”-answered the girl very confidently, “ But why is it so ? Did you do something wrong ?”

                                          “ Well, not exactly dear but…..”- the man hesitated for a while, “ actually she doesn’t like me………..she was…………well I think that you are too young to understand this.”

                                          “ If you haven’t done anything serious then why would she restrict you to meet her ?”- said the girl.

                                          “ Oh really ? But how can you say that ?”

                                          “ Well you see I can read faces and ……………I have read you.”- said the girl very confidently.

                                          “ Well, that’s nice………..very nice.”- said the man.

                                          “ I wish I could help you but what can I do ?”- and the girl started thinking something. Before the man could react to this she added- “ Hey, I have got an idea. Why don’t you take me with you.”

                                         “ With me ?”- said the man in a confused state- “ I mean why do you want to go with me ?”

                                         “ I will talk to your wife and ask her to let you meet your daughter. I am sure that she will change her views. Try it.”

                                        “ Well,…..O.K Come with me.”- and by the permission of the principal of Virgin Mary school he took her along with him,….where nobody knew.

                                                                 And somewhere else the whole police station was hearing loud cries of a woman.

                                       “ He took away my daughter,……..he took away my daughter. Inspector, are you listening ? Do something.”

                                      “ Relax ma’am,”- said the inspector, “ Don’t worry about your daughter. We are searching according to the facial description you gave to us. But meanwhile, I got to ask some questions from you. If you don’t mind.”

                                     “sure.”-  said the lady while wiping her tears off her cheeks.

                                     “ Good that you stopped crying. Now tell me who according to you can be behind this ? I mean is there any family hostility ?”

                                     “ Well this is something personal.”- said the lady with a little hesitation.

                                     “ Well, you see, I have no intention to poke my nose in your personal matters. But to remind you, your daughter has been kidnapped and I guess it is that personal matter that caused it. Am I right ma’am ?”

                                    “ Oh yes,’- with a deep sigh she said, “ O.K. , I tell you. It’s none else but the person I once called darling. It’s my,…..”- a little later, “ husband.”

                                                           And somewhere else a girl found herself in a shack. Along with her there was nobody but a man- “ Hey, where have you brought me? As far as I know you were to take me to your home.”

                                   “ Definitely dear, but right after sometime. I got to finish some work over here. By that time you wait for me . Don’t go anywhere.”- and the man left the shack leaving the girl there.

                                  “ He was not worth to live with me. Our marriage was a kind of fraud. His real intentions were to capture my father’s property. Besides he is a psycho. But he won so confidence of my father in such a way that he, without asking me confirmed our wedding. Later on when the truth was out, my father brought him into a litigation in which he was proved guilty and was ordered to leave the city and was warned to never try to meet either me or my daughter. He has returned and this is the way he has chosen to avenge himself.”

                                 “ Well, if this is the matter then we assure you that this time he won’t be able to commit anything wrong. Believe me. The city law will not spare him. But first we will have to refer the F.I.R file in which this case was registered when you took him to court of law.”

The file was checked and the case was found. Now the point was proved. Police force set on his search. And apart from that a man was sitting in a pub and talking to another man sitting before him- “ So, have you brought the money ?”

                                “ I am sorry but Simon refused to lend you money anymore. You are already in debt.”

                                “ But I have an urgent need for money. I need money to take my daughter out of this city,……….away from her mother.”

                                “ Still you have not forgiven her for what she did to you.”

                                “ No,”- at this the man blew up. He couldn’t control his anger, “ she is and will always be unforgiven for me.”

                                “ Well, that’s your personal matter. But if you want to get money then there is only one way.”

                                “ Oh really, and what’s that ?”- asked the man.

                                “ Well, you will have to do a small work of Simon.”- with that he handed over a package to that man, “ All you have to do is to carry it to Mexico. There a person named Austin who will meet you. All you have to do is to give this to him and your money problem is solved. What do you say ?”

The man hesitated for a while and then accepted the offer. He didn’t have any choice. And the girl was crying when the man who had left him there returned-  “ Darling, what happened ?” He slowly moved ahead but was stopped in between by the cry of the girl-

                                “ Don’t come any close. You lied to me. You said that you were taking me to your wife but you brought me here. Secondly you left me here all alone. Are you going to do something wrong to me ?”

                                “ Honey, I am sorry. I can never hurt you. Trust me.”

                                “ Alright, now tell me that for how long would I have to stay here ?”- asked the girl while wiping her tears off her cheeks.

                                “ Not for long, I will soon take you to my wife.”

And somewhere else…………………

                                “ I don’t know who was he. But she told that he was her uncle and she knew him very well.”

                                “ Had he ever come to school before ?”

                                “ No, I didn’t know him. I had seen him for the first time.”

                                “ Then how did you allow him to take away Celine along with him ? What sort of principal are you miss. ?”

                                “ Hey, this time it becomes essential for me to remind you that this is my school and not your investigation office. And I only let her go when she said that she knew him.”

                                “ She is just eight years old. And now the child is in danger. What would you say now ?”

                                          Before the principal could defend herself of this unexpected attack Celine’s mother influenced the talk- “ Will two of you stop fighting now ? My child is in danger. It is not important whose fault was it. We should now decide what next to do.”

                                “ Don’t worry ma’am. We have set up our men on search. They are roaming around in civil dresses in each and every corner of the city.”

                                          All of a sudden there started a beep sound on the wireless machine. Inspector rushed to the machine and established a connection with the other person. His name was Alfred-

                               “ Alfred Roberto reporting sir. Over.”

                               “ Yes Alfred, what’s the news ?”

                               “ Well, I think we got him. He is seen at #640 M- Street, Morning Glory Circle. On a lonely street there is a shack where he has kept the girl. Till now we haven’t taken any move lest he could have weapon.”

                               “ You are right. Listen carefully, just keep an eye on him and keep informing me about his every action. I am reaching there. If he leaves the place then chase him and inform me immediately. Over and out.”

On the other hand……………………

                                 “ Well, it seems to be quite late. We must leave this place as soon as possible. What do you think dear ?”

                                 “ Well,.. if you really want to know my views then listen,”- the girl was very angry, “ I think that the most false thing I did in my life is to trust you.”

                                 “ Your view will change when you know the truth.”

                                 “ Why are you doing this with me ?”- the girl started crying. The man slowly kept his hand over her shoulder-

                                 “ You don’t know that I am doing the best thing for you. I don’t want you to experience the same thing that happened with me. I am saving you.”

                                 “ Saving me…..? Saving me from whom ?”- asked the girl. She was a bit confused about this.

                                 “ Your mom. I am saving you from your mom. Because she doesn’t want me to meet you. And…………,..and I can’t live without you.”

                                 “ What do you mean to say that she doesn’t want you to meet me ? Why would she allow you to meet me ? What’s this about ?”

                                 “ Well,”- replied the man with a deep breath, “ I didn’t want you to know it. But now it has become essential to tell you. Listen sweetheart, I,……… I am your,………”- before he could go on a sound came from behind-

                                 “ Well, well, well,…enough of your dramas. Now leave the girl.”

        The man turned back and found whole police force standing there. The force was being led by sub-inspector Alfred Roberto. The man was arrested, the girl was sent to her mother and the file was closed. It was all over, but not for inspector Arnold. He was still smelling a sense of foul play, “ I don’t know but I think that the decision taken was one sided. And I got to find it.”

And a guard came to warden, “ Sir, inspector Arnold of New York Crime Branch has come. He wants to talk to you urgently.”

                                 “ Let him come.”- with this the guard went out and after a couple of minutes Arnold entered inside the room.

                                 “ Welcome Arnold, long time, no see. What can I do for you ?”

                                 “ Kevin, it’s not the friendship that has brought me here today. The matter is something else.”

                                 “ Tell me.”

                                 “ Kevin, you know that recently a person has been brought to your jail as a criminal. His name is Jacob.”

                                 “ Jacob……?”- Kevin thought for a while, “ Oh yes, I know. And I have also heard that he is here because of you. You have solved this case. Right ?”

                                 “ Right,……..but I am not satisfied with it. I think that there is something wrong with this case and…….,and that somewhere I have been unfair.”

                                 “ Oh come on, he had kidnapped a girl. That’s something serious.”

                                 “ Yes, but on the other hand if you see then she is his daughter too and he being a father has right to meet her.”

                                 “ But there might have been something which compelled her wife to take this decision. And the case registration is a strong proof of this.”

                                 “ I know, and that’s why I want to meet that man. I want to clear some doubts. I have some questions which only he can answer.”

                                 “ O.K., no worry. I take you there.”

                                                           Soon Arnold was sitting in the visitors’ room and talking to Jacob- “ So, why have you come here now ?”

                                 “ Well, I am a police inspector and my duty is to enforce law and order in the city. But on the other hand I am also responsible to defend the innocent people. I think this time my decision has failed me. Tell me the whole thing. I promise to serve you proper justice.”

                                 “ Well, it is of no use anymore. Let me be here. I have lost my daughter and without her nothing is there for me in the outer world.”

                                 “ Tell me your stand. I promise that I will bring your daughter back to you.”

                                 “ Well,…I don’t know . But I can’t resist myself from what you have said. O.K., I will tell you the whole thing.”- Jacob began, “ My life was not always like this. I too had a nice family,…..an ever-loving wife and a beautiful daughter- that’s Celine. My life was like heaven but it was cursed :

 

“ No, absolutely not Jacob. It is not possible. Your mom and dad can’t live with us. Just call them and say no.”

“ Try to understand Julia, till now they were living separately but now the circumstances are different. Doctor has said that mom is serious and if she would live with us then she would be properly taken care of. She definitely will not want to come here but we should think about her.”

“ I don’t know but if she is coming then I am going to my mom’s house.”

“ But honey, think about Celine. She is only five years old. Child at this stage needs both mom and dad.”

“ I don’t want to listen even a single word about this. Decide quickly.”

“ O.K., you may go but Celine will not. She stays with me.”

“ I see how you take her away from me. Now this matter will go to court.”

                                          

                                               A tear appeared in Jacob’s eyes, “ She sued me in the court and alleged me that I married her just for her property. She, supported by her rich parents, made every authority quiet. I was proved guilty and punished. My parents couldn’t bear this. My mom succumbed to heart failure while my dad committed suicide. My life became hell but the only one hope that was still there and for which I dared to stay alive was, my daughter- Celine.”

                                 “ And you will get it Jacob.”- said Arnold, “ From now on, consider me a friend. I promise you that you will get the justice of your share.”

                                      Celine was playing with her friends next day in the school. All of a sudden she was called by a man from behind the fence. She first hesitated but then recognized the person. She came close to the fence, “ Hey, if I am not mistaken you are the policeman who helped me getting back to my mom.”

                                 “ Exactly, but there is something which I got to tell you.”

                                 “ Sure, tell me.”

                                 “ Not like this. You will have to come with me.”

Celine started thinking something.

                                 “ You think that I too….?”

                                 “ Oh no, I trust you.”

                                 “ Good, then let’s go. I have already met your principal and she has permitted you to go with me. Come dear.”- and they both were gone.

                                        Next day a lady was found crying in the police station, “ He has done it again. He has taken away my daughter again.”

                                 “ Relax ma’am, this time it can’t be him. Because he was arrested that day and he is still there.”- said inspector Arnold.

                                 “ What do you mean by this ? Who else would do it ?”

                                 “ That is what we have to search. You just register your F.I.R with us. Rest we will handle. By the way, have you talked to principal of her school ?”

                                 “ Yes, she says that this time it happened outside the school and thus she is not responsible for that.”

                                 “ She is right. Tell me, how does she come from school everyday ?”

                                 “ Well, we have our personal car which I send everyday to receive her after school.”

                                 “ You mean that you have got a driver who receives her. Right ?”

                                 “ Exactly, but I have not understood what you are willing to say.”

                                 “ That is exactly what I am willing to say. That driver. He too can do this. Don’t you think ?”

                                               The lady thought for a while and then asked- “ But why would he do so ?”

                                 “ What a silly question ! You are rich, you have a daughter and you don’t have a husband.”

                                 “ If that’s so then I will not forgive him. I go back to home right now and find out the truth.”- the lady would have gone till now if Arnold would not stop him, “ Hey, wait. What sort of mother are you ? You yourself are putting your child in trouble. Have you forgot that she is still in his trap ? Moreover we don’t have any solid proof of his crime. If you would ask him right now then your daughter might bear the cost and you too.”

                                 “ Me too ?”- asked the lady. Till this time the sad and distressed expression on her face had been replaced by very curious and thoughtful posture.

                                 “ Of course, you are without husband. You are all alone. He can do the worse that you could think. You just go home quietly and don’t discuss the matter with anyone. I come with whole of the police squad. Then we will take your driver on an interrogation. Now you go.”

                                               After she was gone, Arnold went to a cabin where Jacob was waiting for him.

                                 “ Did you do it ?”- asked Jacob.

                                 “ Yes, she has gone. Now it’s our time to start some action.”

Julia returned back to home. She didn’t say anything to the driver and started waiting for Arnold to come with his force. One hour passed. It was 9 ‘o’ clock. All of a sudden the phone bell rang. Julia attended the call. It was inspector Arnold- “ Ma’am, I have called to inform you that I might be delayed. An emergency has occurred.”

                                 “ What’s that officer ?”- asked Julia.

                                 “ Well, I am sorry to say that your ex-husband has committed suicide in jail.”

                                 “ What ? I beg your pardon ?”

                                 “ He was not in his senses. Before we could notice that, he had already pulled out a Metal wire off the bench and rolled it around his neck.”

                                 “ Oh, no.”- Julia was sounding panic.

                                 “ Well, I can understand that. But don’t worry, I am going to be at your home as soon as possible. Take care.”- and he disconnected.

                                          Julia felt a sense of danger. She slowly came out of her room. There was silence all over. She thought that all was well and she went back to her room to sleep. It was about eleven at night when Julia was sitting on her bed with the support of her back against the wall and reading a novel. Her sleep was gone. Julia was now trying to distract herself from all this. But nobody knew what was so scaring about it. All of a sudden a loud cry full of grief diverted her. That was the cry of her driver. She slowly got up of her bed and moved towards the door of her room. She slightly opened the door and peeped out. The same moment she happened to witness something that scared her completely. The body of her driver, wounded seriously was lying on the floor and the whole floor was getting red of his blood slowly and slowly. That was enough to scare Julia. She cried horribly and tried to run out of the house. But the house was locked from outside, “ I was right.”- murmured she, “ He is back. He is back from the hell. Now he will avenge himself. He will kill me for what I did to him.”

                                               All of a sudden the door opened and a figure stepped inside. The person was not clearly visible since it was dark. But when you are in trouble, everything looks like a hope and you assume it to be favorable to you, “ Well, inspector Arnold, you are right on time. Look, someone has murdered my driver.”

                                 “ I know and I also know whose turn is next.”- the sound was familiar to Julia but still she didn’t want to accept it.

                                 “ Who is it ? Who is it ? Just show me your face.”- she asked. Her voice was shivering.

The person closed the door. Julia ran towards the switch board and pressed the button to turn on the lights. The moment lights were on Julia was thrilled to see the person who was standing before her.

                                 “ J..J…….,Jacob ? You ? But you…you can’t be here. You are dead.”

                                 “ For everyone else but you. For you I am alive till the time you are dead.”

                                 “ That can’t be possible. You are nothing but a part of my silly hallucinations. Yes, that’s it.”

                                 “ Alright Julia, be prepared for your ultimate nightmare.”- the person started to advance towards her. Julia ran upstairs. The person followed her.

                                              It was now midnight. The full moon was shining brightly in the sky that was covered with clouds. Julia was extremely frightened. All of a sudden there was a knock at the door, “ Stay there for the rest of your life,”- shouted Julia, “ But I am not going to open the door.”

                                 “ But ma’am, I got to go back to my home. It’s midnight.”

                                             With this sound Julia came to realize something. That was the sound of her driver. She was amazed. She slowly opened the door and peeped outside. It was really her driver.

                                 “ You ? But a minute before I saw your body lying in the living room.”

                                 “ Ma’am, you might have mistaken. Have you forgot that you had sent me to the garage for the servicing of the car. I just returned a couple of minutes ago.”

                                 “ Hey, don’t lie to me. I was here. How did you get in ?”

                                 “ Ma’am, that’s what I want to ask you. Why did you leave the door opened at night ? It could have been dangerous.”

                                 “ What ? ……Aaaaaa,….. well, O.K., you may go home.”- the driver went away and Julia closed the door. She came back to her room and started thinking, “ What is happening ? I think I am getting mad with it.”

                                          All of a sudden again there was a knock on the door. Julia was in so panic state that she couldn’t move at once. But when there was a knock for thrice, she slowly got up of her bed and moved towards the door. After reaching near the door she first tried to look out through the key hole. But nothing was visible. There was fog all over. Then she slowly opened the door. Nobody was there. She looked here and there and then closed the door. When she turned, she found that there was someone sitting on the couch of her living room. She was sweating out of fear by this time and tried to run out of the house but the door didn’t open. It was now locked from outside. She slowly reached near the person and asked, “ Who are you and what are you doing here ?” In response to this the person stood up and turned to Julia. That was the limit of Julia’s fear when she saw Jacob standing before him. She tried to run but Jacob seized her right arm. She cried out of fear-

                                 “ Leave me,….please leave me. I beg your pardon.”

                                 “ Beg my pardon ? Can your apology bring back my parents to me ? No, it can’t. You are unforgiven.”

                                 “ Please leave me. I accept that because of me your parents died. I also accept that because of me you had to stay away from Celine,…..and because of me you were punished for a false blame.”- Julia was panicking.

All of a sudden a sound came, “ Julia, at last you are trapped in our plan.”

                                          Julia looked back. The door opened and inspector Arnold entered inside the house. On his right hand was Julia’s driver while on the left was her daughter Celine. Julia ran towards Celine to embrace her but Celine shouted before that- “ Don’t touch me. I don’t have any relation with you.”

                                 “ Honey, I am your………..”

                                 “ Wait ! You are the one because of whom my dad couldn’t meet me for such a long time.”

                                 “ Honey, I apologize.”- Julia was crying.

                                 “ I am sorry but you are too late for apologies. I am going with dad.”- said Celine. Then she turned to Jacob, “ Come on dad, let’s go.”

                                          Both Jacob and Celine went away. After that Arnold came near Julia, “ See, that’s what happens with people like you. What you sown, you harvested. Now come with me. It’s time for you to go.”

                                 “ Yes, you are right. It’s time for me to go.”- before Arnold could understand anything Julia, in a fraction of second, fished into Arnold’s revolver jacket and took out the revolver. Arnold till now had guessed intentions of Julia-

                                 “ Hey, stop.”- but before that Julia had shot herself in head. Her body fell on the floor making it red by blood stains.

                                          Two days later Celine was playing with her friends in the playground of Virgin Mary school and two people were watching her-

                                 “ She is happy now.”

                                 “ I didn’t tell her about Julia’s death. Her mind is too young and delicate to  understand and bear this.”

                                 “ You did right. She is fine now. Don’t tell her anything. Let her live well. She is happy with you.”                           

                                 “ It was not possible without your help officer.”

                                 “ That was my duty. Julia’s message which I recorded that night proved her guilty and you innocent. The case is closed now…..for good.”

                                 “ Yes, the case is closed now.”- and then both of them stayed there, standing behind the fence, looking at little Celine playing and enjoying.