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"The walls that have been created between me and her, I need to break them by cajoling her, coxing her and punishing her!!"
GOD of a man
“Survive the darkest hour, for every hour after that shall be lighter.”
Chapter Thirty Six: The Saturday
Dated: 17th April, 2427
Very few people are born lucky not to know the taste of struggles, before they enjoy the sweetness of success. In fact it’s the bitterness of these hindrances, glitches and opposition that make the sweetness of success honey and sugar. Hardships are the tests that make you strong and worthy of your success. Shortcuts and cheating can lead you only so far and besides, the shortcuts either run through dangerous wildernesses or vault on weak poles. To enjoy the comfort of success, you need to walk every mile of the road that leads to your goal, however winding it may be. Wilderness of the shortcuts can waylay the strongest of the strong for who knows what lurks in those wildernesses. To succeed and gain strength while succeeding, you need to climb every step of the ladder that leads to the top. Pole vaulting the height will leave you as weak as you always were, making you vulnerable to every push of the crowd at the top. Besides the pole may never last the jump.
Robin tricked everyone to succeed. He manipulated the situation to cheat two innocent hearts so as to bribe his pet. But all his dirty tricks and manipulations have left him vulnerable to be destroyed in one single hit of fate.
On the other hand, Steve underwent every hardship with a smile, making him a stronger man to survive his ordeal. One stroke of luck and not only will he get back everything that belongs to him, but much more, and forever.
When power backs someone, morality is generally the first causality, and success at any cost becomes the motivation. Daniel finally stooped to the level only a man corrupted by power can. But then, just because his fate is encrypted in the complex lines of his own hands, does not necessarily means he also controls it.
As Daniel raised his foot to stomp hard on Andy’s hands clinging to the raft for his life, something suddenly distracted Andy’s attention as he looked away. Daniel however failed to notice the change in surroundings and went ahead. But before his foot could come anyway near Andy’s hands, a strong tug at the raft imbalanced him and he almost fell out of the raft himself.
“Natalie! Save me!” Andy yelled out to an impatient and concerned Natalie who had witnessed everything from the deck of the LCM along with Shiva.
“What the hell?” Daniel almost whispered to himself.
“Grab this rope Andy,” Shiva yelled out as he tossed a rope into the sea, right next to Andy.
After a couple of uncomfortable grabs Andy finally managed to lay a hand on the rope and immediately grabbed it with both. As Daniel got up again, Andy pulled away towards the LCM. Shive pulled the rope from the other end and in no time Andy was pulled up on to the deck of the LCM, beaten and exhausted but much relieved.
“Oh you are safe! You are safe!” Natalie immediately embraced him and showered him with kisses.
“Thankyou so much Shiva, thankyou so much,” Andy nearly collapsed on to the floor due to weakness, but Shiva grabbed him and supported him back on to his feet.
“Is he alright?” Larry came rushing out of the wheel house.
“Yes he’s fine,” Shiva replied.
“Where is that scoundrel Daniel?” Larry roared. And they all looked towards the raft and saw Daniel still standing there, not knowing what to do.
“What happened between you two guys?” Larry turned around and asked Andy.
“He tried to kill me!” Andy replied.
“He tried to kill you! Why?” Larry asked.
“He’s jealous of me because of Natalie and tried to eliminate me out of his way,” Andy replied.
“That is ridiculous,” Shiva exclaimed.
“But how did you guys know?” Andy asked.
“Natalie woke up and noticed Daniel missing. She immediately came out and saw him looking for you,” Shiva replied, “Possibly her sixth sense alerted her of the clear and imminent danger. She alerted me and Larry and here we are, rescuing you.”
“We were shouting at the top of our voices but you two were not listening,” Natalie broke down and collapsed into Andy’s arms.
“Perhaps the strong diagonal wind and the noise of this boat drowned our sounds,” Larry tried to find a possible explanation.
“But wait a minute,” Shiva interrupted the merry reunion of the two hearts, “What are you doing here?”
“I,” Andy was left speechless for a moment. He finally got the courage to say, “I love her!”
“That we know!” Shiva quipped, “But you still haven’t answered my question.” And both Larry and Shiva burst out laughing.
As Andy stared at the two, blushing, Natalie put her hand on his cheek and pulled his face towards her. She looked deep into his eyes, smiled and asked, “What did you just say?”
Andy smiled and blushed some more before saying, “I love you Nats!”
Natalie smiled and hugged him saying, “I love you too you idiot! What took you so long?”
Larry and Shiva watched the two young love birds as they reminisced their own youth. Everybody almost forgot about Daniel and what he had just attempted to do until the sound of the motorboat finally caught their attention. Everybody stood in silence and let Daniel climb back on to the deck. Daniel climbed up the deck, his head held down.
“I am making a Citizen’s Arrest,” Larry immediately said, “You will be given ample opportunity to explain your conduct. You may or may not say anything before that.”
“We’ll need to tie him up just to make sure he won’t get adventurous again,” Shive added, “I’ll get the rope.”
“But,” Daniel wanted to say something but didn’t have any words to. Shiva brought out two ropes from inside and Daniel’s hands and feet were tied together.
“Can’t you please forgive me and let me go this time?” Daniel asked.
“Forgive you?” Larry roared, “You just tied to kill a fellow human being in cold blood!” Do you realize how serious your crime is?”
“He is beyond any reproach Larry,” Andy quipped, “He and Robin have both crossed the bounds of morality.”
“What do you mean?” Shiva said.
“You both know what I mean,” Andy exclaimed, “Were you not there when he and Robin so shamelessly blamed Steve for Nakata’s kid? You didn’t believe me then!”
Both Larry and Shiva’s heads fell down in shame. Larry finally said, “But you believe in GOD!”
“Yes I do!” Andy replied firmly, “And so do Steve and Clara!”
“And so do I,” Natalie interrupted.
“What?” Andy was surprised, “I mean how? I mean when?”
“Steve just came in my dream and said to me, ‘your Andy’s in trouble and you are sleeping?’ That’s how I got up and found Daniel looking for you viciously,” Natalie replied, “Something makes me feel, someone was watching over us.”
“Look, you two have gone crazy,” Larry quipped.
“Ok! I don’t believe in GOD!” Andy immediately said, “Now will you believe in anything I say?”
Andy’s statement took Larry by surprise as he barely muttered, “I don’t know!”
“You don’t believe me just because I believe in GOD, isn’t it?” Andy asked.
“Yes!” Larry replied with small hesitation.
“How do you know I believe in GOD?” Andy asked.
“You yourself said so,” Larry answered.
“So if I were to say that I don’t believe in GOD, will it not set everything right?” Andy asked.
“But that would be a lie,” Shiva tried to defend Larry.
“So you agree that I am telling the truth when I say I believe in GOD?” Andy asked.
“We have no reason not to,” Larry replied.
“Then why don’t you believe me when I say Steve is innocent and Clara did bear Nakata’s child?” Andy asked with his hands on his hips.
Shiva and Larry were left speechless.
“Ask him now,” Andy said pointing at Daniel who was lying on the ground.
They both looked at each other and finally Shiva asked Daniel, “Look, you’ve done what you have, but if you want to escape swear punishment you need to tell us the truth.”
Daniel looked at Andy and Natalie.
Natalie finally knelt down besides him, put her hand on his face and said, “Speak the truth Daniel and I will forgive you for trying to kill my life.”
Daniel looked around at everyone as they stood silent besides him, looking at him in anticipation. Daniel finally broke down. After much thought he finally said, “I want to confess!”
As Daniel exposed the details of the conspiracy bit by bit, everybody stood there in horror and disbelief. Finally when Daniel finished Larry could take it no more and yelled at his face, “How could you people kill your own wives and kids, you murderers?”
“Hold yourself together Larry,” Shiva tried to calm him down.
“I want to kill this man right now,” Larry roared.
“He will be awarded due punishment, but not by us,” Shiva reasoned with him, “He will be punished by the people of Hatsu Saisho against whom he has sinned.”
“But you said if I confess my punishment will decrease in severity,” Daniel pleaded.
“Yes but that was for trying to kill Andy and ruining Steve’s life, not for conspiring to kill your own wife and kid along with three other innocent people,” Shiva yelled at him.
“What do we do now?” Andy asked.
“We need to heed back to Adelaide shores,” Larry stated, “We can’t let that great man Steve suffer anymore, and allow that cheat Robin to continue fooling innocent people.”
And everybody present, agreed.
Miles behind them, at Adelaide shores, Robin was busy getting married to his wife’s kid sister Kina.
“Do you take President Mr Robin Sutherland as you lawfully wedded husband?” Jake Nicholson asked Kina as Robin and the rest looked up at her in anticipation.
“I,” Kina was about to say yes when a loud cheer reverberated in the atmosphere. Everybody turned around and saw the blessed solitary raft touch the Adelaide beach, Rajon and Omar lifting oars above their heads and screaming out loud in joy, and the two kids jumping up and down. Rosalyn, Lisa and Alexia hugged each other and cried.
“Rose,” Kina immediately gave out a loud yell and forgetting her wedding completely rushed towards the raft and towards her sister who disembarked the raft first and helped the kids get off it.
“Rose,” Kina shouted again as she ran as fast as she could, her joy being barely contained inside her.
“Kina,” Rosalyn immediately forgot her fatigue and sufferings and rushed to Kina. The two sisters met in the middle as they hugged each other. The two kids ran towards the crowd shouting “Papa! Papa!” Suzie saw Robin and immediately rushed to him and grabbed his legs, “Papa, I missed you! Why did you leave us? Please don’t ever leave us again!” Jaden however couldn’t find his father Daniel in the crowd and kept asking, “Where’s my papa? Where’s my papa?”
Steve picked him up and said, “Your papa will be back here soon!”
“What are you doing here?” Robin asked Steve.
“You’ll know! You’ll know!” Steve glared at him and walked towards his wife Demetria, “Hold him for a moment!” He handed over Jaden to Demetria who looked at him, not knowing what to say. But Steve just gave her a blank hard stare and walked away towards Rosalyn and Kina who had been surrounded by Aika and others.
“How are you my friend?” Rajon asked Steve as he stepped out of the crowd and shook Steve’s hand and embraced him.
“In a very bad shape but something tells me, it’s all going to fall back into the right place now,” Steve said.
“Trust me, it will,” Rajon said, “Because GOD is great. HE takes care of those who don’t forget HIM or HIS people.”
“Rajon’s right brother! GOD is the greatest saviour of all time,” Omar said as he extended his hand for a handshake and then hugged Steve.
“My love, I am so glad to see you alive,” Robin finally woke up to the situation and rushed towards Rosalyn to hug her.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” Rosalyn’s anger shook the sky out of place.
Robin was taken aback as he struggled to say a word, “What?”
“Stay away from me you cheat, murderer,” Rosalyn burst out.
“What are you saying my love?” Robin fumbled.
“She is saying the truth,” Lisa burst out as well and started to cry as she hugged Rosalyn, “You heartless scoundrels, you nearly killed us! And for what fault?”
“I don’t understand what are you two saying?” Robin tried to act innocent.
“You tried to kill us so that you could be with my sister,” Rosalyn cried out.
“What?” Kina was shocked. For the first time the reality dawned on her. The man she was about to get married to had cheated her and tried to kill her sister. And the worst was she was in love with him now. “We were just about to get married,” tears rolled down Kina’s eyes as she hid her face in her hands.
“You were getting married to him?” Rosalyn was shocked.
“I fell in his trap,” Kina said.
“That ridiculous,” Robin said, “I am innocent! I didn’t know you were alive. Kina gave all the comfort to my paining heart.”
“Stop lying!” Rosalyn yelled as she stepped forward and slapped Robin, “You lied when you told everyone that it was your idea to bring wood to Hatsu Saisho, when it was Steve’s idea!”
“That’s a lie,” Robin knew instantly his game was over.
“My husband told me the same,” Lisa instantly came forward in Rosalyn’s defence, “He also told me that it wasn’t Steve who forced you to leave but you people who forced him to stay with late Nakata’s wife Clara.”
“What? Nakata married Clara before dying?” Taio Bayer who was standing in the crowd summed up the entire mob’s surprise.
Clara, who was also present amongst the crowd, gave out a loud cry as she collapsed on her knees, Katsuo held tightly to her bosoms. She started to cry inconsolably.
“Hold yourself together Clara,” Steve said as he tried to comfort Clara.
“What do you mean? Don’t you people know this?” Lisa was surprised at Taio Bayer’s reaction, “And why is Clara crying like this?”
“We are sorry Steve?” was all Taio said.
“What’s happening over here? I don’t understand,” Lisa looked at Rosalyn, confused at everybody’s reaction as everybody gathered around Clara and Steve and began apologizing.
“We’ve let you down Steve! Please forgive us,” Jake Nicholson said.
“Is this really my grandson? My Nakata’s child?” Aika’s eyes brimmed as she waded through the crowd and made her way to Clara. She knelt down facing Clara and stroked Katsuo’s head with her hand.
“It is my Nakata’s partying gift to all of us,” Clara struggled to speak, “Look at his eyes! Don’t you see your Nakata in every bit of him?”
Aika took Katsuo in her hands and looked closely at him for the first time, “How could I be so blind? How could I not see my Nakata?” And Aika broke down.
“Can I see him mother?” a crying Ono came forward to have a look at Katsuo. “He looks every bit like my brother, my Nakata,” and Ono broke down as well.
“Steve,” Demetria’s voice attracted everybody’s attention, “Will you ever be able to forgive me?” And she broke down into Steve’s arms who embraced her tightly.
“I was never angry with you,” Steve said as he cried like a child, “I just wanted you to believe me! I just wanted your love! I just wanted you!”
And everybody’s eyes filled up at this blissful reunion of hearts.
“Wait a minute! Where’s that cheat husband of mine?” Lisa asked everyone.
“He’s been dispatched to Hatsu Saisho to fetch more people along with Larry, Shiva and your sister Natalie,” Taio Bayer replied.
“My sister Natalie is with him?” Lisa immediately got concerned.
“Unfortunately yes,” Taio replied, “Robin made us all believe she was needed for the journey which we now realize was a trick meant to give Daniel a chance to hook up with her.”
“How could you people do this to such an innocent girl?” Lisa immediately got concerned, “Oh my GOD! My sister is in danger!” Lisa began to cry.
“Don’t worry Lisa,” Taio tried to comfort her, “We all have reason to believe that Andy hid himself on one of the rafts and went along with them.”
“Andy?” Lisa was surprised.
“Yes Lisa,” Jake replied, “We all know Lisa and Andy love each other, and besides Larry and Shiva are there along with Natalie. You don’t need to worry.”
“Andy is with her,” Steve finally spoke, “I hid him on the raft the night before they left. Natalie is aware of his presence.”
“Thankyou Steve, your words have given me belief that my sister is safe,” Lisa replied, “I know Andy. He’s a good bloke. He’ll definitely keep my sister happy and give her all the love she needs.”
“I’m sure he will,” Steve nodded in agreement.
“By the way, where has that scoundrel Robin escaped?” Rosalyn brought Robin’s absence to everyone’s notice.
“Where is Robin?” Taio Bayer said, “Everybody look for him.”
“You won’t have to go far,” Robin’s voice caught everybody’s attention as he walked right through the crowd, Steve’s gun in his hand and aimed straight at Steve’s head.
“If I am going to loose everything, I may as well kill you,” Robin said as he looked into Steve’s eyes, intense hatred simmering inside.
“If you were born to your own father, do it,” Steve said to him.
“Please don’t kill my husband,” Demetria cried and tried to come in between Steve and the gun.
“You stay out of this Demetria,” Steve pushed her away, “I can take care of him very well.”
“Please don’t do this,” Rosalyn cried out too.
“Who will stop me?” Robin asked.
“If it’s not my time to go, then GOD will!” Steve replied with faith.
“Is that so? Your GOD is more powerful than this gun?” Robin asked.
“Why don’t you just try and test it for yourself?” Steve asked in reply.
“No Steve don’t dare him, please,” Demetria pleaded.
“Too late,” Robin said and pressed the trigger.
The gun refused to go.
“What the hell?” Robin was surprised and pushed the trigger a few times again. But the gun just won’t go.
That was all the time Steve needed as he took a big step towards Robin, grabbed the barrel of the gun in one hand, and punched Robin with the other. “You need to load it first,” Steve said as a deflated Robin found himself on the ground, bleeding from his nose and one tooth short. Immediately Taio, Jake and a few other men grabbed him and pinned him to the ground. Robin struggled but to no avail.
“A man can run but only as far as his grave,” Steve bent over and said in the face of Robin.
“Steve,” Demetria hugged him again, “Don’t you ever do this again.”
“You are married to a Lion love,” Steve said as he kissed her on her forehead, “And I Lion is not scared of dogs.”
Everybody erupted in joy and lifted Steve on their shoulders.
“Thank GOD it’s all ended well,” Clara exclaimed as Aika rocked her grandson.
“What has GOD got to do with it? What has HE done? I didn’t see any GOD sorting out our problems,” Ono questioned Clara’s faith, “If HE was the one doing all the work, why didn’t anyone see HIM?”
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