"The Elevator to Realms" Act 7 Angel
The Elevator to Realms: Angel
Kriti
“I took a deep breath and then proceeded to ring Aaryan’s doorbell. I was quite nervous. I pulled out the pen drive from my right pocket and gave it one last look. Hoping this would work. He opened the door and invited me inside. He was a little confused about my visit, but I had it all planned inside my mind. I knew what I had to say. I told him that I came for a proper closure of our relationship and that I would never ever tell anyone anything about our relationship. He went into his kitchen saying he would get us some water.
‘Kriti. It’s now or never. Insert the USB in his router.’
Said Vaibhav through the tiny com inside my ear…”
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I had my lunch and noticed the wall clock. It said 2'o clock. I called up Pooja and Kajol in a conference to talk for a while.
“Pooja? Yaar, I’m so scared. This will go right na?” I said.
“Don’t you worry. Everything will be fine.”
“Isn’t this wrong? Like, invading someone’s privacy?”, I asked.
“Abe bhai tu pagal wagal hai kya?! Tere privacy ka kya? Bakwaas band kar aur chupchap jaake pendrive daalke aa.”, exclaimed Kajol.
“Kriti, Kajol sahi keh rhi. Kabhi to apne baare me sochle yaar! Go and do it. Vaibhav abhi ghar me hi hoga, he has to go to his cousin’s wedding today evening so you better get it from him”, said Pooja.
After talking for a while, I got up let out a sigh, and said to myself. Let’s do it. In no time, I got ready and went to Vaibhav’s home. While I was driving my scooty, several different thoughts prevailed. Will I even be able to do this correctly? What if Aaryan finds out.
“Hey Vaibhav! All set to go?!”, I greeted Vaibhav as he opened the door.
“Kriti come on in! Yes, just some chores, and I’ll be good to go.”, he said. I wondered if in any way I might be causing any problems.
“Vaibhav, all of this is okay, right? I hope I’m not disturbing you…”
After listening to this, he chugged and said, “Aye! It’s nothing. Sit. Kya chalega. Chai ya coffee?”
I said anything would be fine. He then made me sit on his bed.
I looked all around his room. Damn. His room was full of all sorts of geeky stuff! Electronics, soldering irons, laptops, modems, antennas, and whatnot! Out of curiosity, I asked him.
“Wow. So this is your room. You got so many gadgets, didn’t you? Karte kya ho ye sab cheezo ka?”
“Oh! Those. Well, these are the stuff that keeps me going. Whenever I can’t sleep”, Vaibhav smirks while saying these. I never thought he was such a nerdy boy.
“I listen to people chattering over walkie-talkies… pilots from airplanes talking to Air traffic control and stuff like that.” He said. I was shocked. He really knows what he’s doing. He got up and made us some coffee and got us some biscuits. He asked me for the pen drive. He started typing out codes rapidly on his desktop computer. And then, he put the drive inside the computer.
“Only a matter of time!” said Vaibhav, he clapped and joined his hands and smiled. He came back, grabbed a chair, and sat in front of me.
“Seems impossible na?”, I said.
“What’s impossible?”, he replied.
“The person whom you’ve loved with all you have turns his back on you and starts blackmailing.”
Vaibhav lets out a sigh and says, “Look. People are just people. You cannot define them, or define their actions. They do whatever they want and like. You were in an abusive relationship and you did the best thing. You moved away… whatever we are going to do, is for the greater good. Even if it sounds wrong or even if it involves invading his privacy. It will be for the good. Trust me. Okay?”
I must say. The way he reassured me about the situation, calmed me down. He really has multiple qualities. Damn. Pooja must be so lucky to have a boyfriend like him. I smiled after listening to him. He smiled back. His computer beeped and he got up.
“Here.” He extended his palm to reach my empty coffee mug. He placed the mugs back and sat on his computer chair. He pulled out the drive and opened his drawer. He was looking for something.
“Kya dhund rahe ho?”, I asked curiously. He turned back and came towards me. He showed me something. “What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s a tiny Bluetooth com. It would fit inside your ear and no one could even notice it. I will be connected and we can communicate easily. Place it inside your ear securely.” He said while giving me the headset. I tried to place it but was unsuccessful. I tried it multiple times but I couldn’t. He was standing right there. Suddenly, he said, “Let me help you.” I returned the headset. I swiped and tucked my hair around my ear slowly, and then, he came closer…
“This shouldn't be … so tough…”, he said.
I had my eyes closed. I tried my best not to open them. He was close enough, that I could smell his perfume. No. This is wrong. He is already committed, I shouldn’t be noticing things like this. He is just a friend, and he is helping me out that’s all. Damn. Why is this taking too long? At this moment, a part of me wanted to keep my eyes closed. Another, wanted me to slowly open my eyes just for a bit. The fight between winning it and losing it intensified. The help and care he has in his heart is eternal.
Honestly, I have never experienced this kind of care and hospitality from someone to whom I don't even talk much. Plus, the abusive relationship I was in before. I lost it. I couldn’t resist, and I’m damn sure he might’ve noticed my already plummeting breathing. I opened my eyes and looked at his neck then his jawline… and then at his lips. Slowly, I parted my lips. I just don’t know why. Why is this even happening to me?
“Done! You’re good to go. Just don’t panic, I’ll be in touch. Okay?” he said calmly.
I nodded and then gulped. I collected my senses and controlled my breathing.
“Thanks a … lot Vaibhav, this really … really means… a lot”, I said.
“Mention not. Now go ahead. You can do this.”
I smiled and then got up, and shook hands with Vaibhav. Before I went off, I wished him a great and happy journey. This was the time. I called up Aaryan and went to meet him at his home…
I pressed the doorbell.
“Kriti? Can you hear me? If he is right in front of you, just cough once.”
He was already standing in front of me.
“Ahem!! Um.. hi”
“Hi. Kriti.”
“Aaryan, I am here just for … a proper closure. The things we went through, I just needed a little discussion.” I said. He invited me in, and I sat on his couch.
“Just talk normally. And remember. Don’t touch your ear.” Said Vaibhav through the earpiece.
“Look. Kriti… I will be straightforward this time. The things I had told you before about the… pictures. I won’t do anything. You trust me right?”
Of course, I don’t trust this bastard. He is definitely bluffing as far as I know him. I really wanted to hit him hard on his face.
“I don’t know. I always get scared whenever I think of it. My whole life would be ruined. I have to do something for my parents and my family. They need me. Please I beg you. Get rid of those pictures.” I said.
“Okay.” He said and suddenly he came close and held my shoulder tight. “I said that I have already DELETED THEM! You came here all the way to tell me what to do?!! What’s going on?” he screamed. I shrieked. I almost lost control and was so scared.
“What a scumbag…” I heard Vaibhav. “I’m here. Take a deep breath and let’s kick his ass together. Ask him for some water. Go.”
“I need .. some water. Please… don’t scream… I trust you. Okay.”, he then banged his hands over my chair and quickly went to his kitchen.
“It’s now or never! Put the USB Drive into his router.” said, Vaibhav.
I took a few deep breaths and got up. I pulled out the drive from my pocket and ran towards his router which was placed just behind his TV. I searched for the USB port all around and found one. In no time, I inserted the drive into the router.
“I placed it, Vaibhav, the USB is attached to his router.”, I whispered.
“Okay, I am getting a connection. Wait until the router reboots. You would see all the LEDs blink one or two times all at once. Tell me once it happens.”
..
..
..
“Yes! Yes they did. Now what should I do?”
“Pull the USB out keep it with yourself and sit back on your place. I got a connection from his router now.”
“Okay. Okay… I’ll go back.”, I pulled out the USB drive and came back to my place. My heart was already racing. I couldn’t wait to know what was going to happen next. I could clearly hear the clicking of the keyboard keys from Vaibhav’s end. The situation intensified. I hope Aaryan didn't see me doing that. Or else I am done for.
“Is his phone visible?” he asked.
“Yes. He has left it here.” I replied.
“Ahan. Sit back, and watch the magic.” In a few seconds, I saw his cell phone screen turned on. It seemed like it was glitching out and then it got unlocked! A console opened and several codes seemed to jitter all around his phone's screen. At last, it restarted. He came back with water and tea.
“It is done.” Said Vaibhav.
A wave of happiness went through me. I sighed with relief.
But…
“Why did my mobile restart on its own… that’s strange!” Said Aaryan.
“Okay. Get out of there. I’m calling you up and you pretend that you have to go now because your dad has called you home” Said Vaibhav. In no time, I got a call from an Unknown number. I picked it up instantly and said, “Hey Dad, yes… yes… okay, I’ll be back soon. I’m on my way okay?”, I hung the call and stood up to get back.
“Maybe, we can talk later. Goodbye Aaryan.”
“Yes yes. What a stupid phone!”, he said. Still trying to figure out what happened to his phone.
Instead of going back to my home, I went to meet Vaibhav. As soon as I reached his place, he was putting his luggage into his car. His father was also there.
“Namaste Uncle…” I said.
“Namaste Kriti beta… kaise ho?”
“Main theek hu. Unclejee Vaibhav se baat karni hai.”, he heard this and came to meet me.
“Yes, Kriti?! Batao kaise aana hua?”, he said as if he was trying to hide everything he did from his father.
“Did it work? It did work, right? Tell me please?”, I asked.
“Yes. I programmed a custom firmware for his router which would direct all the internet traffic from his home to me. Even from his Android phone or any device he connects to his WiFi. Now, yaha kyu aaye ho?! Papa hai mere yaha. He would start asking me what we did just now!” He whispered. I let out a big smile and hugged him as tightly as I could… everything seemed so much okay!
“Thank you so much Vaibhav. You don’t even know how much you’ve helped me… thank you once again.” I said in the hug and parted away. “Okay, Take care. And once again happy journey.”
“Haanji. Bye, madam.” He said sarcastically. I giggled. And then, noticed his father standing at a distance. With both of his hands over his waist and looking towards Vaibhav suspiciously.
“Um. Chlo bye.”
Goddamnit! I made this awkward. I should go. I started my scooty and went away.
While on the way, I thought to myself.
..
..
Yes. Angels do exist…
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