END OF THE ROAD

The man wearing a leather jacket and cap walked into the gas station with a container and said “My car ran out of gas and I’ve parked it nearby. Give me 10 liters.” The bill was printed, paid for and the man left the gas station carrying the gas. He walked to his car when a man seated inside opened the door and stowed the container in the rear seat. The car started and moved.

The man who brought the petrol said “Harry, it is cold. Switch the heater on.”

That done the man driving said “Pat it is now past 10.30. It will be more than 4 hours before we reach toll booth H20. And it has started raining. I hope we don’t face problems like tire blowout.”

“Harry, you’re a rash driver. I hope you’ll drive carefully.”

“Sobraj should join us at H 20 between 2-30 and 3. We’ve plenty of time.”

“Let us listen to the radio:”

“Goldstar jewelry store was robbed 2 days ago by 2 burglars. They were armed with guns and decamped with jewelry and gold bars. Though the CCTV was on the faces of the burglars could not be identified due to the masks and caps they wore. Police only know that one of the burglars was very tall and walked with a stoop. One of the sales girls said he groped her briefly. The two burglars had an accomplice who drove a car enabling them to escape. Police believe the jewel thieves could have fled overland to Nepal en route to somewhere abroad. The search is on.”

Harry said with a laugh “Sobraj is always after women. We must caution him for the future.”

Harry found that traffic wasn’t heavy on the highway. He said “Pat it is pouring. Despite two wipers working and road lights I’m having difficulty seeing the road clearly.”

“We’re lucky these highways are one way. Drive carefully.”

After an hour the road was becoming impossible to negotiate and they halted. Harry said “That is a nullah with water passing over the depression on the road. We can’t pass till the road is clear.”:

Right at this time a police jeep came and stopped near them. A cop wearing a rain coat got down and said “I’m police Inspector Brunton. I suppose you’re waiting for the nullah to subside.”

Harry said “Yes. They should’ve constructed a bridge here. I suppose you’re also waiting for the same reason.”

“No no. Mine is a 4 wheel drive and can easily negotiate this flow. I’ve stopped to help you if that is possible. If we pass ignoring you, the politicians will find fault with us. Open the door so that I can write down details about you.”

Pat opened the rear door and the cop all wet climbed in. He asked “Your name?

 Phone number? Answers were given.

Cop: That looks like it is an overseas number.

“Right. I was confused. I had been to Dubai and remembered that number.  I’ll give you the correct number.”

“Your car registration number?”

That was also given. The cop said “Thank you for your cooperation.” The jeep disappeared.

Harry said “Look at our luck: Police coming after us!”

Pat said “The rain seems to have lessened but the nullah is still overflowing.”

They waited some more and when the nullah was fordable Harry drove the car through it and proceeded.

Pat said “Harry I don’t know if Sobraj could reach H 20 in time.”

“May be it isn’t raining there. Let me call him and find out.”

  ”No don’t. The police will be monitoring all calls.”

Harry was going at breakneck speed. Pat said “Harry slow down.The last thing we want is to get into an accident. The police have already contacted us informally.”

After going some distance the car stopped for fuel. Harry said “I wonder where you got this car. It’s a gas guzzler. The spare container of gas is useful.” Harry parked and Pat poured the fuel from the container. But the car wouldn’t start. Just as Harry was about to study the engine with his torch the car started, Harry drove at high speed and after a while Harry said “We’re nearing H 20.”

It was 2-30 AM when they sighted toll booth H 20.

Harry asked “Pat shall I pay the fee and go through? Sobraj is to meet us after we cross H 20.”

“No hurry. Let us wait. You can park.”

They parked and what did they see? The police jeep going past and halting at H 20!

Harry said “We’re out of luck. See the police jeep halted there. May be we should’ve paid the toll and crossed before that jeep arrived. Sobraj is tall and we should catch sight of him if he is anywhere nearby.”

There was a knock on the window and Harry whispered “It could be Sobraj.”

Wrong! It was a cop. The same cop Brunton who had spoken to them at the nullah.

Brunton asked “We met at the nullah. What’re you doing parked here? Waiting for someone?”

Harry said “We had a little starting trouble and were wondering if we could investigate the engine under the lights of H 20.”

The cop said “There are good cops and bad ones. You’re lucky you’ve met a good one. I’ve a rope and can pull you to start. Let me get it. I’ve your number and will call you when I’m ready.”

Harry whispered “We’re in trouble. If he phones he won’t be contacting me. Also I thought I saw a tall man in the distance. It should be Sobraj. Let us quickly pay the toll fee and take off.”

He started the car and went to H 20. The cop who was standing there said “Car OK now?”

Harry nodded and paid the toll fee. One of the staff was standing outside watching. The moment the gate was opened Harry drove through and stopped. The toll staff said to the cop “These two fellows have picked up another and are gone.”

Brunton jumped into the jeep and with siren blaring followed Harry’s car which was going at top speed. Traffic was sparse in the small hours of the morning. The cop couldn’t keep up and fired his gun to warn.

Harry asked “Pat shall I return the fire?”

“No don’t. Turn into some small side street.”

Harry braked hard and took a turn into a side street. The cop again fired a shot and followed. Harry’s car found a truck blocking his way and plunged into it. Police came in a few minutes and opened the damaged car. Harry was dead. Pat was wounded but Sobraj was unhurt.

Inspector Brunton gave his report. In summary it was: “Harry and Pat were waiting for Sobraj an ex-jailbird after burglary at Goldstar showroom. I followed them and have recovered the loot from Sobraj’s bag. It would be the end of the road for Sobraj.” Brunton was rewarded for his having caught the jewel thieves.

END