The run of the Phoenix

Escape

2012-03-04T22:23:00.000+05:30

The taxi wheeled into the departure area, Danny spotted Rebecca at the Aeroflot counter and was happy to see that she was safe.He got out of the taxi and called out to her.Rebecca seemed relieved to see him.She grabbed his arm and both of them went into the terminal.Danny was dying to ask her all the questions he had, but he had to wait.They found a quiet corner of the waiting area and sat down.He got up to get coffee for her, but she stopped him, 'we need to stick together', he sat back down.

"What are you up to Rebecca? Can we pull this off?We are normal people , not action heroes, to go against Azov is foolish.Even if this comes out, there is a good chance that the company will get away with this and we will be left to die in of their many chemical dumps.I am talking sense, all this seems easy, but its not, Azov has links, we are just researchers."

"Danny, I am doing, this, with or without you, but I can't leave you to die here in Russia, if you do not want to come with me and join me, I need you to go somewhere safe...."

"I didn't mean that," Danny retorted.
"Well, we should just catch the flight, its been a long and hard day, lets talk when we are a little level headed."

Danny agreed.

They boarded the flight, they were going to Bologna, Italy.Danny loved Italy, he always wanted to go, but never thought that he would have to go there to hide for his life.Rebecca looked tired, she looked scared but determined to go ahead.Their flight was boarding, they decided to check in.They had got good seats, they could see the city lights beneath, blurring farther and farther away.
In the next seat, Rebecca was thinking hard , thinking of a plan to uncover those ugly b*****ds and teach them a lesson.Things had become more personal than she liked and she had to exact her revenge.

Fear...grips hard

2011-12-05T23:55:00.000+05:30

'Those Americans..always running away when something happens..either to their embassy or back home...fools, can't live in the real world....and think of themselves as some environmental saviours...bull****',Vladimir thought to himself.He had a hunch that she would not go to the embassy.She had a plan,he had read it in her face that was fraught with fear, but belonged to someone who hadn't yet given up her cause.He decided to take a chance by going to the airport.He could almost see her boarding a flight and he felt truly scared of his employer for the first time in his life.

He had failed a couple of times before, but those victims were locals, he could mend what he missed, get the boss to bribe his way out, but, he felt like he was totally losing the plot here.If he lost the girl, he could lose his life or worse , his boss would torcher him for the rest of his sorry life.Rebecca was intelligent.Vladimir knew that just a video on the internet or a letter to the editor in a popular publication could cause them great discomfort.

Meanwhile Danny was on his way to the airport, his mind a jumble of thoughts.He was going through all the places he thought they could escape to, at the same time, he was scared for Rebecca, was not sure she could handle this.He did not want her to get hurt and even thought of convincing her to let go of it all.Then he realised that the headstrong girl would just go off on her own and he didn't want that to happen.

'She is intelligent but a little naive', he thought and smiled..and wondered why he did....

Survival

2011-10-28T14:38:00.004+05:30

Time passed real slow.It seemed like forever before she saw the airport.She asked the taxi to drop her off to the arrival gate.She paid the driver and got out of the cab.

Rebecca looked around for a payphone.It was getting cold.Her ankle was beginning to feel stiff.She saw airport security near the gate.They directed her to a payphone.She dialed Danny...silently praying that he would pick up.

"Hello..Danny?, its Rebecca..."
Danny didn't let her finish..."Are you safe, you were not there when I came by in the afternoon.Are you okay?Where are you?"

Pushing back tears, she narrated the whole story to him.Danny was stunned but composed.

"Go home, that is the only place that is safe for you.."
"but, what about you and I cannot go home.I will be putting my family in danger, Danny.Azov will not let you live.He will hound you till he finds you, alive or dead..That way he wins and we can never bring him down."

"Then Rebecca, what do u suggest we do, give up our work or run for our lives so Azov can flourish and millions of innocents die.."

"No Danny, I am not saying that, we need to lay low for a while,we need to live if we are to finish what we have started, maybe go out of the country but not home or anywhere in America...we need to go where no one will ever think we went.I am at the airport.See me there in 30 mins.Take ur passport, cash, some clothes ..don't withdraw from the bank or use the ATM...I am waiting at the Arrival lounge."

Danny was silent at the other end, after a few seconds , he replied, "Ok...I will be there."

She looked around, went to the Airline counter and booked two tickets for Paris.Both of them had an American passport.So, going around Europe would be easy. She would have to go there and then with the help of her friends, plan her next step.She had to do it fast.

Meanwhile, Vladimir was beginning to get scared.Fear that Rebecca had got away was eating him up.His men had searched the length and breadth of the shantytown with no luck.He had thought of all the places Rebecca would go to, the university, her Professor's office, research lab, the police station...
Just then something struck him...he shouted out orders to his men to get his car.He got in ..

."В аэропорт, быстро" (To the airport..fast...")

His huge black off-roader swerved dangerously in the small space.He was on his way.

The Journey....

2011-09-01T14:48:00.001+05:30

Meanwhile, safe in the confines of the taxi, Rebecca took in a deep breath.She leaned against the seat and putting her head back she closed her eyes. For a moment, her mind went blank.It was as if nothing had happened and she was back home with her family sitting around the dinner table smiling and having a good time with her parents.She felt warm and comforted.She could feel the aroma of hot chocolate waft through the kitchen and her father decorating the tree...here away from home, she just felt cold, felt emotionless.

"Are you okay?"

"Miss, are u okay?"....Rebecca opened her eyes.It was the cabbie.

"Yes, I am fine, just had a long day."

Looking out of the window, she saw the city was rushing by.It was almost 6 o' clock and outside it was dark.She prayed that she could get to the airport unnoticed. Taking out a kerchief from her purse, she wiped her face clean, tied her hair back in a tight ponytail and sprayed on her favourite cologne.It made her feel better.She hoped it would hide all that had transpired with her since morning and would help her blend in the crowd.

"You are American, aren't u?, the cabbie asked...Rebecca did her best to smile..."Going back?"

Rebecca realised she had no luggage with her, so she said she came to pick up her friend from the airport.The airport was still 15 minutes away.She began to plan in her head what she would tell Danny.She had to hatch her escape plan and that included him.Sooner or later Vladimir would catch up with him too.If her research papers were found, Danny would automatically be next on Vladimir's hit list.She could not let that happen.

A plan was beginning to take shape in her mind and she was sure she could convince him to escape......

The Search...

2011-08-22T20:50:00.000+05:30

Rushing out of the area, Rebecca came to a shanty town.There were makeshift homes made of asbestos sheets, a few trailers parked in the narrow alleyways and homeless people puffing smokes in the morning.They seemed to notice her at first but clearly showed a lack of interest.She needed a payphone and some money to get away.First, she took her cellphone out of her bag, took out the sim card, batteries and threw them in a drain. Next she threw the phone in a garbage can.She looked around for a payphone in the little shops that dotted an alley of the shanty town.Finally, after a long time of searching she found one.She took out her wallet and found some coins.She remembered Danny's number.He was a toxicologist from Ukraine who was freelancing in Russia.She dialed his number, got his machine.
There were sounds of men running behind her...Rebecca kept the phone down and went deeper inside the alley.The children playing outside their huts stopped to look.She tried to go as fast as she could, but her foot slowed her down.After plodding for fifteen minutes through narrow alleyways, she finally came to a side street.The traffic hadn't started yet.She saw a taxi and hauled it down.
'Take me to the airport' , she told the driver.Settling herself in the back,Rebecca opened her wallet.She did not have much money left and using her credit card or ATM was not an option.She decided she would try to call Danny from the airport and alert him too.She probably would have to take the train or the bus and go hiding in the countryside , she thought, but no concrete plans were yet forming in her clouded, tired mind.
Meanwhile, Vladimir was fuming.The girl had indeed gotten away.His phone rang.The call that he dreaded but knew was unavoidable...it had finally come.
"How are we?"...a commanding voice said on the other side.It was Maya, Azov's personal assistant. She sounded angry, just like Vladimir imagined Mr. Azov to be right now.
"We will find her, she won't be gone for long, we will trace her, just give me a few hours", she kept the phone aside for a while and said something.Vladimir knew who it was.He hoped for a favourable reaction.
Maya came back on the line, "You have three hours.Finish the job".He heard the phone bang on the other side.
He looked around. The place was a sea of huts with people who had not seen a decent meal in ages.It was full of narrow lanes and dark corners.She could be anywhere.This was going to be difficult than he earlier thought......

On the run...2

2011-08-15T00:11:00.002+05:30

She landed with a mild thud, which she hoped the men had not heard.Her ankle had sprained.Looking up she thought she saw someone peeking from the terrace.A chill ran down her spine, she slid slowly under the ledge, hoping they would not see her.She opened her little handbag and took a much needed swig of water . It was cold, but she could feel the beads of sweat trickle down her brow.She tried to stand by taking the support of the wall.She had to be out of here real quick.If she just found the right way out, she could easily make her way out unnoticed out of this abandoned industrial complex that was her home for about three weeks since the unfortunate discovery.

The men on the terrace were frustrated and angry.Their leader Vladimir, a former KGB agent now working for Azov Enterprises as a security head, was fuming.The girl had escaped from right under his nose.On getting the tip from one of his field operatives, he had set out to find Rebecca with five of his best men. She had to be terminated if he wanted to keep his reputation and his job.Mr. Azov was a generous employer and equally vicious as well.
The heir of a small mining and oil business, he had turned around the company and made it into a billion dollar business empire with interests from Siberia to Alaska and some newly acquired interests in the Australian iron ore business.One of the biggest employers in the remotest places of the country, politicians had made millions by ignoring what he wanted them to.

All this would change if that young stubborn exchange student from America decided to have her way.

On the run

2011-08-13T18:34:00.001+05:30

Rebecca ran onto the terrace.She saw the maze of pipes.The people following her were closeby. She could here the light thumps of the footsteps on the concrete stairs.She hurried her pace running through the pipes,avoiding hurdles and jumping and ducking under the water tanks.She turned to see how close they had come.Just then her foot got stuck in some metal knob and she lost her balance landing on her hands .Gathering herself quickly, she hid behind a wall.She checked her forehead for any cuts.There were none, but she was sure to have bruised her cheek or her forehead with the impact.

It had been three months since she had been on the run.Getting to know the secrets of the evil Society was not exactly her plan, but while researching for her college project she just happened to stumble on them.The problem was when 'they' realised that she knew.She peeped a little, saw two men with guns drawn out, looking under the tanks.A third man was instructing someone on his walkie talkie.Rebecca had to leave the building before they surrounded all the exits.Their black coats and leather gloves reminded her of the dead Kings from Lord of the Rings.Only here no ring held the power nor was there any Gandalf to save her.She was on her own.

The men were approaching fast.She had to think quick.Looking around, she saw an old metal ladder, it went right down to the landing on the building's first floor.Hauling herself over the edge, she planted her left foot on the top step.With a prayer on her lips, wishing that her little rusted saviour wouldn't give away or creak she settled her right leg on it and began her descent.She dared not look below.The men were directly above from where she was climbing down.She realised that she had to hurry.Sliding down the last five six steps, she balanced herself on the landing.

Rebecca looked around, the ladder taking her down was broken.She had no option but to jump.It was cold.She was already hurt....

Simple :

2011-07-23T22:28:00.000+05:30

All of us think that life isn't easy..but I think we are the only ones who make it complicated.We always want what we do not get, we always want what someone else has...the grass is always greener on the other side.

If we just put in our best and be satisfied with what we get, life would be much happier..
But then again, is it possible..!!!

hazaaron Khvaahishen aisii ki har Khvaaish pe dam nikale
bahut nikale mere armaaN lekin phir bhii kam nikale.... :)

Silent Prayer

2011-07-13T23:24:00.000+05:30

I was happily working in office...just wen I heard people buzz near the reception area....
There had been blasts in the city..I was so worried...had to keep my cool.

I called up my family to see if they were okay.Luckily cellphone networks co-operated....
I am glad to be alive.These things make us realise that we may b dere , alive dis minute..but God knows where next and how... :(
I have a silent prayer for God..

Death is certain,but let that not be,
When I am discovering, life with glee,
The cold embrace,the dreadful gaze,
Just the thought leaves me in a mortifying haze...

I want to see summers,spring and rain,
Life's bounties,even the pain,
The beauty,the beast,the dark, the light,
Its too early to pass into the night.

God bless..be safe...

M back...and lovin it..!!

2011-07-11T23:11:00.000+05:30

Hey friends,its so good to be back....have been missing all of u ....

Yesterday I wasn't feeling too good...had to sleep thru the day...a few good lines came to my mind...

Layin in my bed , drinking lovely wine,
Feelin' happy, heady and fine....
Just realised....maybe..maybe...
You were never really mine...

(ok..now close ur eyes and imagine Mariah Carey singing those lines...simply wonderful...innit!!)

19.Evils continued...

2010-08-15T09:18:00.002+05:30

Happy Independence Day folks...the most important day of our life happened when most of us weren't even born..but that does not reduce its importance.So as we all celebrate Independence Day let us also learn to respect it..

The three evils of our life give us a lot to think about...but in life when we think of freedom , independence..its also about emotional freedom as much as it is about political freedom.
It happens a lot that we never gain emotional freedom...

Our mind and thoughts and feelings are controlled by others ...that is by how others make us feel.

Take my case for example...hmm...I must not let any "stranger"!! control how I feel...well..nobody should....

Each one of us has a beautiful mind and an intelligent brain..we shud think and feel ourselves...there will be many others who will want to make us feel bad..but our heart and head are all ours so we shud atleast try to control our own feelings and not give someone else the reins of the chariot..
So folks..here's to emotional freedom..lets fight for it.!!!!

18.The 3 evils ;)

2010-08-10T22:30:00.005+05:30

The other day I kept thinking about destiny , coincidences and our willpower.It went like this...
1. I do not know what destiny has in store for me..I never will and maybe I should not..coz dats how life works.If we probably know our destiny we would be lazy wimps who do not struggle or work for anything in life.

2. The coincidences dat happen wid me..abt ..ahem..u know...well how do i know what they mean..They are one of life's greatest mysteries.There is a chance dat they might just be happening and also there is a good enough possibility that these instances are trying to tell me something...I do not know..But its really sweet when they happen..feels like God is dere wid me..

3. Now..about willpower..there is a thing about this dat separates it from the above 2..dat it is solely in our control.Faith can move mountains so if we have faith in ourselves I am sure we can bring about a positive change in our destinies...hmmm..bored kya already..well just wanted to share these thoughts...

But for our day to day lives..i believe dat a simple smile works wonders..it not only makes us happy but makes others smile too :)

17.Studies and destinies

2010-08-06T15:05:00.002+05:30

I had a lot of pending work to be done , a lot of backlog.So, I spread out all my books on the bed...closed my eyes and picked out one...it turned out to be the one from the class I attended with him..well, I silently cursed myself...as if despite me keeping my eyes closed destiny was telling me not to let go...

it was as if.. the choice wasnt mine..but the choice had been made...haha...and I thought that I was the creator of my own destiny...

So I decided to play another game..I closed my eyes again..closed the book and opened it...and no prizes for guessing which page opened...yeah..the one from those first days..I just started laughing... "is bimari ki to koi dawa hi nahi thi.." it was as if I cud run but cud not escape or hide...

I had just heard about..'kanoon ke lambe haath'..but even my emotions had hands that controlled even my surroundings..haha...

16.Back home

2010-07-27T20:04:00.005+05:30

After what seemed like a fun but long day in office , I was on my way home.The traffic seemed dense again , time went by pretty slow , I opened my book and began reading it in the bus...It seemed like the most interesting thing happening right now!!

On the station I met an old friend , she complimented my dress and said it was looking great...well..the irony of it all..!! I smiled at her and went my way.

Reached home...literally dropped my bag on the floor..sat in my chair and just took in a deep breath.It dawned on me that I was maybe a fool...looking for satisfaction from a mirage..from an idea which may just be the opposite of reality..too much philosophy na??!!... :)

I decided to at least try to put the past behind...like I cud!!..well.no harm in trying!!...had my dinner and opened my books to finally do something constructive...

15.Withdrawal Symptoms

2010-07-23T21:07:00.004+05:30

It was over , the excitement , the nervousness , the sense of anticipation and Iwasn't exactly glad that it was..!! Yeah..I sound like a loser..do I??!!Well, it was fun though...almost like a child waiting for an ice-cream and then realising dat the store isnt open today..hmm

I went back to my workstation , did my work, my concentration levels were amazing.I was glad that it happened the way it did...any other way and it would have been just too good to be true and I wudnt have believed it either and pinched myself to death realising it...haha

After work ,all of us decided to visit an ice-cream parlour and i had this most amazing chocolate sundae..I had a really nice time...we hung out,had loads of fun..just roamed about for some time..
the good mood was back again thanx to the chocolate and..I had my ice-cream after all..!!

14.Milke bhi hum na mile....

2010-07-20T20:19:00.003+05:30

Finally , it was D-day.I woke up..full of hope..was unnecessarily smiling all thru the morning.Cudnt concentrate on tea or breakfast..was totally khalayon mein...

Got ready for work , wore my fave dress.Edged my way thru crowds , but somehow it was different today..didnt mind the crowds , the traffic didnt bug me..the commute didnt bother me...it went smoothly.

Reached office on time..cudnt wait to meet..'u know who'. Just then my senior walked in . I was suddenly out from my trance.An excruciating hour later we were to go see the bosses.Those new people were also expected dere...I almost heard my heart beat in my throat...

Stepped into the office where they sat..spotted the newcomers...the person in question!!!..had his back towards me.We were going to be introduced to them...My senior called out his name...

He turned....my heart almost did a back flip..and my thoughts went 'What!!..it cant be.who is dis....it cant be..the world seemed to disappear' With utmost effort I stood my ground..met them , all of them..my brain didn't register a single thing....

It was him but not him...it was somebody named 'u know who' but not 'u know who'.....

13.Office on my mind?!!

2010-07-17T21:54:00.003+05:30

Reached office a little late , bad traffic as usual.Had dozed off in the bus listening to some soothing tunes...was ready to take on the work.

Opened for the day , saw developments from yesterday.Went to see my seniors after the morning session.There was a buzz in the office about new people joining..everybody was excited.Of course .. I mean..seniors are happy when new juniors join na..We kept on debating on who must've taken their interview , how will they be et al...

Back to my station..made a few calls to my colleagues ....my senior made a sudden appearence..
She came and told me ..this new guy from out of towm is joining office..his name is...hold ur wits..."u know who" !!!
What the h**k I thought to myself....

I was too shocked to even react.I asked her again..who exactly is joining office??!! I was just stunned..sort of frozen..she said that he will join tomorrow and we will meet him...I just cudnt believe it..wow!! , I thought.
Just could not wait for tomorrow...was flying..felt like I was high or something :) ...

12.Visions and Illusions

2010-07-15T10:12:00.005+05:30

Was travelling by bus the other day , 9 in the morning, the bus was totally packed..the AC was whizzing at the loudest decibel possible, looking out of the window observing..life....Just then like a flash of lightning something hit me unexpectedly..(is it a plane ..is it a bird..no its....superman..hehe)

I thought I saw someone there, saw 'u know who'..or I thought so.It was already late for office.Total dilemma..shud I get off and see or shud I just let go...is this God's gift or just an illusion.Tried to get a better view ..almost got up from my place..was totally restless , and unsure of what to do next..hell..never been like dis before!!

So, I reasoned it out with myself...maybe its him..maybe its not !!
If I get off either i see him and say what..Hi , how r u...during rush hour...in the morning??that wud've been so stupid!!

And if I get off and dont meet him or if its not him , then , first of all make a complete fool of myself going after who cud be an axe murderer.. ;) and..get fired in office for getting late .

So it was a lose-lose situation..haha..common sense prevailed ...I plugged in the MP3 , closed my eyes and drifted off to the neverland of 'what cud have been'..haha

11.Broken Hopes

2010-07-13T23:43:00.003+05:30

Things happen, things dont
they hurt me,you, they wont
'tis a war, 'tis a crime
'tis a sound divine

Listen to it , before its too late
Before u give up , and surrender to hate
before u wither, before the world ends
make an effort , isnt it human to mend?

10.Troublemaker

2010-07-12T21:21:00.005+05:30

What do u do wid a person u like..but s/he always falls short of your expectations?That is..they sometime surprise you wid attention and care but other times they are just too curt widout any reason.

It is very difficult to go on forgiving someone forever , but the distance makes you give them the benefit of doubt for every stupid and unbecoming behaviour of theirs.

But u cant help but wonder if it is something else or a very apparent character flaw....

Then the best policy is to bide your time till something happens that takes you to either forgiveness or doom.

9.Musings

2010-07-10T14:46:00.004+05:30

Well, coming back to my story...I sort of tried to avoid any contact with him.But something or the other kept on happening that used to take me back to the starting point.

Despite everything , I cannot get over the notion that he seems a really good person.Somehow I cannot get over that feeling that he is genuine.I mean wen someone has hurt me so much...how can he be nice??
Maybe i am just unbelievably stupid...haha!!!

8.Ray of hope

2010-07-09T21:18:00.004+05:30

A ray of hope on a cloudy noon

Here comes the sunshine,like a yellow bloom

Cheering us like a warm smile

Saving us from the frowns of gloom

7.Past Imperfect??

2010-07-09T11:06:00.003+05:30

Sometimes when we think about what we did in the past, how we acted and also reacted, we may find ourselves at fault and blame us for our misery.We have to realise that what we did in the past was the best thing we could have done in those circumstances,instead of blaming ourselves for it now.

As it is, what is done is done , we must learn to respect our past decisions and move on , as well as learn from any mistakes that we feel we committed.

Just playing the blame game does not help us!!

6.The Perfect Dream

2010-07-07T21:46:00.004+05:30

My thoughts strayed , going where they believed even an iota of happiness existed.
I thought of what the ideal situation could have been...like rewinding and playing as you like it...Here's how I pictured it....

First day of college,Iwalk into class.The day goes well,I meet my old friends...catch up with them and also make new ones...

Then next day, I hear "the voice"(mentioned as tV henceforth ;) ).Ifind out who he is.I look at him and he smiles back....yeah...on that day itself..haha..
Well, on the third day tV comes to my desk to ask if he can also sit there.....then I will say that the place is already taken....wishful thinking...Then tV will beg me to adjust and well, I just might..you know :).

Well then , we become friends...get to know each other ...and well leave the rest to fate..let me not get ahead of myself!!

5.Feelings

2010-07-06T20:13:00.005+05:30

Thinking about such stuff really hurt...It is pretty natural that it hurt.Still I thought I should be in better control of my emotions.I had to keep it to myself all the time.I mean , whom could I tell beside a few select friends , right??! I mean others would surely take me to be some kind of psycho...being so sad for nothing(i call it nothing as it really wasnt anything if u come to think of it,practically ;( ) and all.

This seemed to touch something in me that had not stirred before.It was a reaction which was letting my emotions fly out of control.It was weird because usually I am pretty much in control of what I feel.Well,well, there is always a first time,right?!!

So I went through the notions of God's injustice, unfairness and all.This sort of set me thinking , God can not be unfair,can he??Well if he was fair why did I not feel so?What was going wrong?Was I out of tune with the ways of the world or was it just what everybody goes through?Whatever it was ,it was very difficult and unbelievably tough.

Like they say,it hurt so much..it actually physically hurt.