Tiger's point of view...My trembling fingers hovered over the keyboard as I clicked through those photographs. There were more, almost disfigured with stains on them. When the forensic expert examined them carefully he confirmed that those stains were blood. What happened there?Why did those photographs contain blood stains?And especially, why was I bothered by those photos?It was all confusing and whenever I try to think about that, my head throbs in pain.Each one of them seemed to tell a story of happier times, of a family that had once been whole, but I have no idea what might have happened to them.But what disturbed me the most were not the stains but the place where those stains were, on the faces of those people in the photo, dark, dried splotches of blood that also marred the edges of some of the photographs. It looked as if someone had deliberately tried to hide their faces. Why the hell would someone do it?They were like haunting reminders of something unspeakable th
Ria's point of view...I trudged back as I couldn't believe my eyes. The adrenaline coursing through my veins began to ebb away as that huge figure before me chuckled, his voice deep and resonant. His rugged features softened as he raised his hands in a placating gesture, still not making any sudden moves.I know him, I have seen him in the mansion. He was the one who worked for Alex, always tailing me. Wherever I go, hospital, shopping, and home, he has been following me all these days. He freaked me every time with his not-so-friendly look.But how did he find me here?Is Alex here too?"Stay right there, one more step towards and I will make sure to shoot you" I warned."Whoa, easy ma'am," he said with a wry smile. "I didn't mean to startle you. Not My namesake. I work for a boss, I mean your husband not for him, he sent me here to watch your back."What...!Husband...!Is he talking about Tiger? Or Alex?I never married Alex, and he became my husband!"Listen to me, ma'am, let me p
Ria's point of view... "Who is this, Tiger?" I asked him immediately, as that screen captured my attention. I don't know about the rest in that photograph but that woman holding the hand of a kid looked so much familiar to me.I have seen her somewhere, recently.But where...!Tiger pulled himself back hesitatingly, his voice quivered a little with a mixture of emotion and disbelief. "This was what I wanted to show you" he began holding my hand and made me sit on his lap, unwilling to let me slide, not even an inch.Though a little uncomfortable, I don't have a choice in this matter. I took a deep breath and sat on his lap silently. But it was fine once his hand curled around me, annoyingly comfortable. "You won't believe where I found these" he added, I just gave him a questioning look,"In those cryptic files, Alex's files, which you dug out of him" he whispered, I felt a jerk when I heard him, as if I was afraid that even the walls had ears. Yes, I did it but that was the most
"He might be after something so big," I guessed, I know it was not something small that he would risk everything to claim himself as Michael's son. But no matter where I began, my investigation stopped midway. I couldn't speculate the relation of those images to his plan. As I was busy dealing with my thoughts, Ria stared at the computer screen and mumbled she had seen the woman in the photograph somewhere. "What did you say?" I shrieked which nearly trembled her."I...I was...!" she stuttered in shock. I grabbed her arms and made her sit back on my lap.Calming myself a little bit, I caressed her cheeks. I scared her."It's okay, honey," I began but this time I managed to keep my voice a little low. She had been through a lot lately and I never meant to add to her concern. I know she couldn't have seen any of them in the pictures because these pictures were from the time I was four or five years and at that time she wouldn't have been born.But, indeed, she isn't some casual girl,
Tiger's point of view...Ria hugged me as if she meant to give me the support I may need but looking at her devastated state, she needed it even more. I prepared myself for anything I was going to listen to, surely it wasn't going to be some good thing anyway. She slowly began in a mild tone,"She..." I clenched my fingers on her back, she added, "She Don't have more time left" I exhaled that warm air out of my lungs, which had been stuck in all this while. This wasn't something I didn't expect, I know that Mom's situation was critical. But still, I felt a strong pain in my chest, as if something was sucked out of me.As I closed my eyes to get myself back, Ria cupped my face."Listen to me Tiger," she continued, "I had been looking after her all these days but I doubted that her condition was getting worse, so when I got her samples that day, I got it checked further."I braced myself up. I can't just get carried away by the grief. I still have many bigger things to achieve. "What
"I can't believe it, I can't believe Thomas Brown died a simple death" "How could this happen, Mike? How could you let this happen?" Tiger yelled at Mike because it was his responsibility to keep Thomas struggling every second of his life. They arranged everything that is known to be hell on earth just to keep him alive but in a world more horrible than hell.But in less than a year, why the hell did Tiger get the report that Thomas is dead?"No sir, listen to me," Mike was startled, it had been a long time since he had seen his boss getting so much angry. From the moment Roa came into his life, Tiger had changed. His bitterness subsided and his terrifying anger was held blocked but today Mike saw it again.Tiger's eyes were terrifying even a strong man like Mike was trembling at the sight. Ria was puzzled at the sudden change in attitude. All she could do was stare at them bluntly."Sir, please calm down, there is more to it" Mike tried to speak up but Tiger being pissed off alread
Author's point of view...Tiger grabbed Mike's collar desperately, it wasn't a small matter, but his wife was missing. At this crucial point, losing Ria can create havoc. And somewhere or the other he doubted that this may be connected to Alex which made him even more anxious. The well-built planning and all those schemes can be destroyed in just a fraction of a second."Who...!" he screamed in anger, "Who called her, Mike?"Mike was startled but he also understood what his boss was going through. Deep inside he was concerned about the fact that how his boss would react when he heard about the name he was going to take.Gulping down the lump, Mike finally mustered all his strength and spoke out,"Sir, the number from which Ria ma'am got the last call was from the mansion, Michael Sir's office" Tiger's mind swirled and his forehead creased. It was impossible. The clench on the collar loosened, and Tiger stumbled a few steps backward. From the moment he rescued Ria, only a few knew
Ria's point of view... Tiger and Mike started talking about something serious and I stood there gaping at them with my eyes shooting from Tiger to Mike. I swear I don't understand a bit of it. I usually don't understand what they say. It's more like some alien language to me. It wasn't so long before the Tiger finally realized that I was getting bored and asked me to go out and take a rest. I strode out of that room straight to the little kitchen to grab something to eat when my phone buzzed in my pocket. It's strange...! It was the first time from the moment that I got out of that house when I got a call. Flashing on my screen was a hidden number which raised my suspicion. Before lifting it I made my way back to Tiger. I know my number was new and known to very few people that could be counted on fingers and those people are present in this place. Then who could it be? As I was standing outside Tiger's room, I heard him talking seriously. Not talking, he was actually shouting