Bootstrapped - I

He couldn’t make sense of whatever was happening. It was the most bizarre afternoon of his life until now. His mind was hazy, he couldn’t seem to stitch the afternoon’s proceedings into one single logical and plausible piece. Everything was so surreal. He was battling the feeling of déjà vu that has been hitting him all afternoon. He was back to the place where it all started is the only thing he remembered.  Completely lost in his thoughts, he dropped his wallet while keeping it back in his pocket. While he bent to pick it up, he caught someone watching him on the other side of the road. He just couldn’t believe what he saw and then..

Their eyes met....

                                                         *****

The heavenly smell of the Biriyani as he approached Paradise restaurant took him to a trip down memory lane. He quite literally grew up with this place; he has seen it when it was a small two storied building back when he was a kid, to what it has become now – a fancy four storied eatery with each floor catering to the various strata’s of society. He knew where his place was – the ground floor cafe. He grabbed a seat besides an old man having his Irani Chai and Osmania biscuits and ordered a plate of his favorite mutton Biriyani. He had always thought of it, if ever he had an option of choosing his last meal, it would be the mutton Biriyani from Paradise.

It was a month back that he got this job. This hit was huge. He usually never does high profile killings. He always knew it would do a world of good to his reputation as a Hitman, but the perils associated with a high profile hit was just not worth it. He will have to be underground for at least 6 months, get a new identity in a new suburb, start a new lease of life all over. Although, the money is too good, but he detested being away from his kids and wife for long stretches. But not this time, he couldn’t keep the secret about his profession with her any longer, and she left with the kids to his in-laws. He tried hard to woo her back, but she was adamant about not raising her two kids with a Hitman as their father, but that didn’t mean he had no responsibilities. A man always provides for his family. He does it even if he’s not accepted or appreciated. He had to make sure he secured their future.

He was offered 4 crores for the job; his 100% hit rate coupled with the fact that it was a high profile killing gave him an upper hand in the negotiation. He didn’t know who ordered the hit, but he was pretty sure his handler got a huge cut as well. If anything happened to him he ordered his handler to make sure his children and wife got all the money. His Biriyani arrived, he quickly dug into the succulent pieces of meat which were buried under the aromatic, spice infused layer of long grained Basmati rice. When eaten together, it released a range of flavours that was impossible for any taste buds of the existing human race to detest. He relished his last meal. His last meal surely wouldn’t make for a renowned painting; the pathos associated would be similar.

As he got out, he wondered how the nation and particularly the state would be in shock tomorrow if he succeeds today. He never liked the attention on himself, but this was inevitable. He just hoped, he wasn’t around to enjoy the attention. He let out a gratifying burp, and just as he was scouting for an auto to ferry him to the venue where pretty soon history shall be created, he saw something bizarre; a man, a look-alike with exact physical features like him bending down to pick up something and then..

Their eyes met...

(To be continued..)