I, Sharmi, Diamond Ep-32

32. Me

Siddharth's words created a kind of tremor within us. It was a plan for a big robbery. He explained in a very ordinary way, without any nervousness, how each action should be done and how to face problems if they arise. As he spoke, I noticed Sharmi looking back and forth between him and me. I looked at her; her eyes were full of fear. Noticing both of our gazes, Siddharth commanded, "Please concentrate." Both of us started paying attention to him. The moment he finished speaking, I said, "Why should we do all this?"

"I didn't ask you to do it, did I? Sharmi is the one who made you sit here. I don't mind if you're out of this heist. Sharmi, okay, you tell me, who will help you with this?"

"Why the hell should I work for you, Siddharth, for a theft I didn't commit?"

"Good question. Why the hell should you work? Good question," he repeated again and again, and then suddenly slapped Sharmi hard on the cheek. Sharmi didn't expect it and collapsed. Again, Siddharth raised his hand to strike, but I jumped and stopped him. The force of his raised hand landed on my back. Enduring the pain, I pushed him away. Aingaran, misunderstanding my block as an attack, pounced on me. I moved aside to avoid him, and in his rush, he fell on Siddharth. Both of them, caught off guard, crashed into the wall very hard. To protect Sharmi from them, I picked her up and tried to enter the next room. The other three men Aingaran had brought heard the noise and came inside. Before they could understand what was happening, they looked at me, Sharmi, the fallen Aingaran, and Siddharth once, and on their own decided we were the villains. They slammed against the door just as I was about to close it. Unexpectedly, Sharmi and I leaned against the door, and as one of them leaned on us, Sharmi's foot slipped, and her head hit the cot, causing her to scream. Vairam, who was outside, heard her scream and came inside, not knowing who to push away or who to save. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Stop it! Oh, stop it!" His shout made everyone in the room freeze for a moment. In that one moment, the chaos that had just occurred flashed through everyone's minds like movie flashbacks, each understanding it in their own way. "You bastard, is that my man you're hitting?" Aingaran roared. Holding Sharmi, who had blood flowing from her head and was writhing in pain, I yelled back, "Hey, are you crazy? I came to stop Siddharth, but you came like a cow and fell on him, and now you're saying I came to hit him? Siddharth, did I come to hit you?" My voice was even louder, and suddenly, there was silence.

"Stupid... stupid... no one came here to fight. Vairam, bring some ice. Sharmi has a head injury. It's bleeding. Go. Aingaran, please be calm. Siddharth, sit down, let's talk. You were the first one to raise your hand," I continued to command. Everyone listened to me. Vairam wrapped a cloth around the ice and placed it on Sharmi's head. Sharmi was completely shaken.

"Siddharth, she really didn't take it. At a time when I don't know how to prove this to you, why would she do the robbery you're talking about?"

"Okay, don't do it. I'll do what I need to do. You think only you'll get caught if you complain? Now, if I don't answer for the missing diamond, my life is at risk. Instead, being involved in some other case is better for me too. What, am I just a participant here? You guys are the gang leaders. We'll line up and testify about drugs, sex, abuse, manhandling, attempted murder. What, friends, won't you say so?" he looked at the people around him. Everyone nodded in agreement. The newcomers weren't even there when the plan was being discussed, but they nodded anyway.

"This is unfair. What proof do you have that I brought it?" Siddharth looked angrily at Sharmi.

"Hmm... you bastard, look at her asking questions? Aingaran, you saw yesterday, didn't you?" he asked, looking at Aingaran. He nodded.

"What else would your man say?" he glared at me too.

"Then who would you believe if they told you? It's our stuff that's missing. As far as we're concerned, whether she admits it or not, Sharmi is the thief. Because there's a track record, isn't there? There's a saying, 'A thief who steals for many days will get caught one day.' It's like that," he chuckled. I was annoyed by his joke about the longtime thief.

"Are you angry that this guy is making a 'longtime thief' statement? I'm not a thief. I'm an executioner. A leader," he laughed even more.

"Okay, I'll do it. But isn't what you're asking me to steal worth more than what you're saying I brought?"

"Hmm... good question. I will get you 10 percent. Okay? Big money. At least we can live happily for two years without any financial worries?" he laughed again. "Why are you looking at me like that about two years? A dancing leg... oh..." he kept laughing without finishing. Everyone laughed. Only Vairam looked at us with pity.

"You will help me, won't you?" Sharmi asked, looking at me. There was determination in her voice.