Mainak Dhar - Heroes R Us

'Why?'

'Because…because I wondered if there was anything between us, if you were interested in me? The way we were getting to know each other, I thought there was something special between us, and under other circumstances, I would never have brought this up. But with Pankaj coming back into my life, I wanted to be sure.'

Arnab's world stopped for a moment. Here was a woman he found really attractive, someone he would have loved to be with, virtually telling him she was interested in him. He realized just how tough it would have been for Mishti to put her feelings out there like this.

And then he stopped himself.

What kind of life would he offer her? How would he ever share his secret? How would he explain to her that every night he would leave her to risk his life? Or could he leave it all for Mishti?

He closed his eyes for a second. There was nobody to help him. This was his choice to make. He could be with Mishti, be happier than he had ever imagined, than he deserved to be, and give up the life he had been leading for the last few months. Then he sighed as he realized that he couldn't. Could he turn a blind eye when he saw some goons molesting a girl or robbing someone? Could he just forget what Upadhyay and his men were doing? Could he live with himself knowing that people were getting hurt and killed in crimes he could stop, just so he could be happy? He realized that he couldn't. Perhaps it was his destiny, or perhaps his curse, but he would have to fulfil it.

He looked at Mishti, and said with a forced smile.

'Mishti, there's nothing like that. I'm actually already engaged to a girl back in Kolkata.'

Mishti turned red, 'Oh God, I feel like an idiot. I'm so sorry, Arnab. Forget everything I said.'

Not knowing who else to unburden his heart to, Arnab went straight to Khan's place, and told him everything that had happened. For his part, Khan said very little, content with just sitting next to Arnab and letting him vent. When Arnab had finished, Khan spoke in a soft tone.

'Arnab, nobody else can tell you what to do in a matter like this. You need to make the choice that feels right. But there is perhaps only one thing I would ask you to consider. Perhaps you were not meant to be together; perhaps she would never have been able to accept the life you lead. But perhaps you should have given her that choice.'

Later that night, back in his apartment, Arnab buried his face in his pillow and cried himself to sleep-for even superheroes can suffer the pain of a broken heart.

The next day was New Year's Eve, and Arnab had a celebration of sorts in mind. He installed his stolen SIM card into his phone and sent a single message to Upadhyay.

'I lived. Now we meet again. Same place, same time, tonight-GA.'

He knew it was a risky thing to do. So far he had not made a single call or sent a message using the SIM card he used to receive messages meant for the Guardian Angel. Sending a message was advertising where he was, and he knew that Upadhyay could use that to trace where the message had originated. But he rationalized that it would only give Upadhyay a broad area to search, which would not really help him hunt down one person, and a librarian at a college was hardly going to be the prime suspect. As Arnab prepared himself mentally for the night, he tried to keep all other thoughts from his mind. For the most part, he succeeded. For the most part, since his mind did wander back to Mishti. That made him even angrier, and he tried to channel all his fury at Upadhyay and his men. Before leaving, he visited Khan and told him all about how he had first discovered his powers. It was a terrible burden to place on the old man, but Arnab wanted someone to know his story in case he did not come back. Khan listened silently, and as Arnab left, all he said was,

'Don't fight angry. Angry men make mistakes. And remember to use the darkness.'

Those words stayed with Arnab as he reached Mathura Road. It was dark now, but he had not yet changed. He quietly walked around the area, using his night vision to scan his surroundings from behind a tree. Upadhyay was standing just ten feet away, holding his revolver in his hand, standing partly concealed behind a parked police car. As he scanned the area, he could see five constables in the open, rifles in hand, and he could see two more hiding behind parked cars on either side of the road. He was glad he had listened to Khan's advice and not come raging into the ambush that had been set for him. As he walked out of the area, he put on his sweatshirt and gloves and sat down quietly near the base of a flyover, hidden in the darkness, watching. The policemen kept scanning the roads, watching for his arrival, but in the darkness, there was no way they could see that he was but a few feet away, hidden in the shadows. In contrast, he was able to see their every move, and see through the trap they had laid for him. They had the advantage of numbers, but he had the advantage of total surprise, and he had time on his side. So he just sat there, watching the men who had planned to kill him. After thirty minutes, he could see Upadhyay begin to get impatient, spitting on the ground and checking his watch. Several of the constables were also stirring, wondering whether they were just wasting their time instead of celebrating the New Year.

As one of the constables lying in ambush yawned, Arnab made his move.

He sprinted at the man, grabbing his neck in a vice like grip from behind, putting just enough pressure that the man passed out. Khan would have been proud to see how well his student his learnt some of the new moves he had taught. Upadhyay and the others saw nothing, but felt a sudden gust, which they must have thought was just the wind blowing. Again Arnab waited. The second constable on the other side of the road stretched, putting his rifle on the floor for a second. Arnab picked up a rock from the roadside and hurled it with all his strength at the car the constable was standing behind. With Arnab's strength behind it, the rock hit the car with an impact that might have been more appropriate had it been struck by a rocket. It rocked back, its windows shattering and sending the constable behind it scrambling for cover as he was showered with shards of glass. Cut and bleeding, he lay moaning on the ground. Upadhyay and his men whirled around to see what had happened, unable to see much in the darkness. And then Arnab moved again. He cut through the five constables like a scythe, catching them from behind, and in a matter of seconds, all five were lying unconscious on the ground.

That left just Upadhyay.

Upadhyay tried to bring his revolver up but Arnab grabbed his wrist and took the gun from him, flinging it to the side of the road. Upadhyay faced Arnab with a smile on his face, but Arnab could see the policeman's hands were shaking slightly.

'So you survived. Fucking ghost.'

As Upadhyay spoke, his voice quavered a bit, and Arnab thought he could see fear in his eyes. Arnab said nothing, but just began to slowly walk around the DCP.

'What do you want?' Upadhyay was now screaming at him. Arnab said nothing.

'Do you want revenge for what I did to you?' demanded Upadhyay.

Then Arnab spoke for the first time that evening.

'No, I want justice for those you've killed.'

Upadhyay looked at him for a moment and then sniggered.

'Fool. If you wanted to kill me, it would be simpler. There is no justice to be had here, not for some dead nobodies.'

His words made Arnab's blood boil, but he remembered Khan's words. Don't act in anger.

'I want you to confess to what you did and face the consequences. Unlike you, I am not a killer, which is why you and your men are still alive.'

Upadhyay took out a cigarette from his pocket, and as he brought it up to his mouth, it slipped to the ground. When he bent down to pick it up, he plucked a hidden pistol from an ankle holster and brought it up, firing at Arnab. Arnab had been watching his every move, and as he saw Upadhyay raise the gun and fire, he stepped out of the way of the bullet. Upadhyay looked at him with disbelief, and was about to pull the trigger again, when Arnab rushed at him, grabbing his hand and forcing it back so hard, he heard the bones snap. Upadhyay screamed in agony and fell to the ground, his right arm dangling at his side like that of a doll that has suffered at the hands of an angry child.