I Sharmi, Diamond Ep-35

35. Me

Things started happening rapidly, just as Siddharth had said. Even though we were staying at the ECR road house, we met daily at the lobby of a star hotel. He lectured us on what needed to be done and how. He had analysed the plans and the potential problems with great precision. He gave believable answers to all our questions. At one point, as we listened to him, both Sharmi and I started to feel as if all of this was quite ordinary.

It seemed that even the initial nervousness Sharmi had was completely gone. She listened to everything very enthusiastically. The intense desire to settle down in a big way through this one robbery was evident in her words and eyes, which worried me. She had lost herself for money. Why should I cooperate with someone ready to do anything to make some money? Was what I felt for her love? Based on what? Physical attraction? Or something deeper? If it were physical, we had both been exposed to the extreme in that regard. If it were deeper, I had to admit it. Even though I kept wondering what to call the relationship that had developed between us in the past few months, I enjoyed being with her. When Sharmi said "I love you" after waking up, it even felt a little exciting. But this wasn't the time for love.

I woke up the one who had asked with a pitiful face, "You don't love me," and hurried her up, saying, "Come on, let's go." Something was preventing me from saying that I loved her too. It seemed it might be the lack of complete trust I still had in her.

I took a trip to Palladium in Velachery and picked up two sets of high-quality clothing. Two sets of linen shirts and pants, casual footwear – I spent almost a lakh rupees. Similarly, Sharmi went on a separate shopping spree for designer wear and platinum jewellery.

"Do you know how to drive a car?"

"Hmm."

"Then go to the place I'll tell you about tomorrow and pick up a car. It's my friend's car. It's a big place. The car you'll be borrowing is a high-end Jaguar. Kerala registration. The owner's name and other details are on this paper. Memorise it. This car doesn't belong to them anymore; they sold it a week ago. The name hasn't been transferred yet. For two days, you're Jaguar Raja."

In the next few hours, I started roaming Chennai in the high-end Jaguar. Sharmi, seeing the car, became excited and joyful. Siddharth had said under no circumstances should I let her into the car. As far as this issue was concerned, I was a stranger and she was a stranger. So, he only allowed her to look at the car from a distance.

"Leave it. I'll buy one for myself, just for me," she said, laughing and hugging me. 'Just for me' – why should I help her? Even now, nothing is completely lost. Even though it seemed that if I told her to take care of her own problem and leave, her life would go on with a new encounter every day, every night, as long as she had the means, I said, "You buy it, darling."

Tomorrow morning was "D-Day." Sharmi and I were both a little nervous. She lay beside me, embracing me. "If we get caught, will you bail me out and save me?"

"Don't talk negatively."

"It's not for that reason. Just in case something like that happens. I trust only you. Can I trust you?" As she said this, Sharmi released herself from my embrace. Her face showed no change as she said, "If there's no trust, then forget it. I'll take care of my own problems."I didn't expect her to say it so abruptly. "No, Sharmi..." I trailed off. "Don't say anything, Rajan. Are you scared that we've gotten involved in someone else's problem, and now we're just letting it go because we got close? That's not wrong. Because neither of us is a good person. We lack moral values for the sake of money and comfort. "To even think that there should be trust between us is a luxury." I don't know if you like me or not, but I like you. The time I spend with you is happy and gives me confidence. The moment you fight for me, I even feel like I could die then and there. Look, I've been lying next to you for so long. I felt so safe. I love you. Even if you say you don't want to do this, if I get caught in your place because you asked someone else to do it... I would definitely trust that you would save me from the outside. Because I love you," she said, hugging me tightly and kissing me. It felt like an electric shock.