On the deserted road: 15th July Friday: 10:40 am:
Two jeeps were rushing on the road like a flower breaking wind. Although Alex was careful about Nina's comfort and trying hard to balance between speed and time, Micky was in his true wild self. The banter that took place some time back and fuel issues made him quite annoyed and the accelerator had to bear his pique. After some time, it seemed quite difficult for Alex to match up with Micky's speed. Gradually, his jeep was fading from Alex's sight. Nina was observing Alex's dilemma and said,
"Alex, call Micky and tell him to wait for us. It's only 10:45. What is the need to be so reckless? We are almost near to the petrol pump. Does he want to create another problem for us? The speed he is driving at, I am sure he is going to ram someone."
She sounded irritated. Alex was going to say something but Cody interrupted him and said,"
Nina, you better know that Micky doesn't listen to anybody except you. So, won't it be better if you call him and say whatever you want? I am sure he can't defy you."
Nina glanced at Cody and bent down her head. She knew very well that if she calls him right now the situation would be more complicated. It would be like adding fuel to fire. On the other hand, she was hell worried about Micky and others' safety. In this quandary, she mumbled,
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"Because he is Micky. The famous and reckless rockstar. Sometimes stubbornness takes advice from him. Ha..ha..ha."
Cody lightly laughed and said but immediately stopped to get a nudge from Natalia's elbow. She rolled her eyes at him and asked him to stop as she noticed Nina's discomfort and anxiety.
"Cody, can you be serious for a god damn moment? It's not funny. Micky is really doing wrong. And Nina is not going to call him instead, you will call him and ask him to slow down his speed."
Natalia said sternly.
"Yeah, Cody, call him. Tell him that we are coming, so wait for us."
Alex suggested.
"Okay, as you wish."
Cody said and immediately tapped the keypad button.
...............................................
In the petrol pump on the highway: 15th July Friday: 11:10 am:
Micky was looking agog. They reached the petrol pump almost 20 minutes back. He just got the call from Cody and since then, was waiting for them irritatingly. Other people were also roaming around just to pass the time. It was already late and ironically, they had to cover the entire distance again. Suddenly Maya shouted,
"Look they are here at last."
Everybody noticed Alex’s yellow-black jeep was approaching."
"Hurry up, let him fill the tank and let's start. Come on! Get in."
Micky instructed all. Within a minute, Alex's jeep whizzed to the fuel dispenser but all of a sudden, another Gypsy blocked its road and screeched in front of it. Fortunately, Alex managed to clutch the brake; otherwise, both the cars might get damaged. It was an old black Gypsy with lots of dents and patchy paint. All glasses are black-tinted so, it was not visible how many people were inside. All the 9 adventurers were so scandalised that they forgot to react immediately. The diver seat window glass of the Gypsy rolled down and a stout hand holding a 2000 rs note came out.
"Full the tank."
A hoarse voice instructed. Meanwhile, Mr haughty Micky got off his jeep and with a blink of an eye, approached the Gypsy and pulled the driver seat door to open it. Nina obviously anticipated the consequences and rushed to Micky to pull him back, however, it was late already. Micky grabbed the collar of the diver and mercilessly pulled him outside. It was a guy of around 24-25 yrs with a well-built body, 5ft 10inch height, fair complexion, sharp features with hawk eyes. He was wearing cobalt blue jeans and a leather jacket. His white t-shirt collar was now in Micky's iron grip.
"Hey! you, didn't you see there is a queue? The jeep behind you was before you. Why did you break the line?"
Micky screamed in pique. Needless to say, all the other members of FAN 5 and Fusion 4 already encircled the rancorous duo. Surprisingly the diver guy didn't retaliate instead he placed his cold eyes on Micky and said in a raspy voice,
"I never stand in a queue. If your jeep was behind me that means it should be behind me."
Micky jerked his collar a bit and replied in the same cold voice,
"Then start learning to stay in a queue. Because I break that person's bones who breaks the line."
The guy still didn't react the way it was expected. He again said rather murmured,
“Even I love to break bones. It will be fun. Wanna try?"
It was enough for Micky's patience and he sucker-punched him.
"MICKY"
Nina screamed. She gaped in alarm and dashed towards Micky because she very well knew how the situation is slipping away from their grip and only she can control it by pacifying Micky's anger. Simultaneously all the doors of the Gypsy were already open and 6 - 7 sturdy guys came out. It was evident that a nasty quarrel might be going to take place. By sensing the exigency of the situation, all FAN 5 and Fusion 4 members came forward. The guy, who was punched by Micky stepped back a bit because of the intensity of the knock. A blood spot was getting visible on the corner of his lips. He touched his wound with the right thumb, wiped the blood and looked at it for a second. His hawk eyes were glaring with a warning but a devilish sly grin was still lingering on his lips. Nina pulled Micky by his arm and yelped in fright,
"Micky, Stop it. Are you crazy? Come down. It's ok. We can go to another petrol pump. It's not so important. Let's go."
She was continuously trying to conciliate Micky along with pulling him backwards. However, her petite frame was not enough to stop his extensive torso.
"Hey! Man, not bad. I am impressed. You have strength. But unfortunately, this little pretty doll has more grey matter in her head than you. You should have controlled yourself. You made a mistake. A great mistake."
The hawk-eyed guy uttered the last line in a spine-chilling tone.
"You bloody....."
Micky howled and again tried to come forward but this time got stopped by Alex and Cody.
"Come, Micky, let's go. No need to do all this."
Peter tried to pacify the angry wolf. On the other side, the hawk-eyed guy slowly got in the Gypsy and sat on the driver seat like before. All the other people of the Gypsy, who were standing there without any reaction until then, got in the car too. With a blink of an eye, it disappeared from their sight.
...........................................
On the highway: 15th July Friday: 11: 50 am:
Two jeeps were running one after another. No one was in a mood to discuss the matter what took place before some time. But as usual, Cody being Cody broke the silence by his unavoidable joke.
"Micky, didn't you notice, that guy gave a compliment to your girlfriend?"
This time Cody, Natalia and Nina were in Micky's jeep because Nina didn't want to take any further risk and surprisingly Micky was also driving at a moderate speed without any argument. It is truly said ' Love is complicated.' Micky gave a death glare to Cody but as usual, it was not enough to stop him. He continued,
"Actually, he complimented her twice. Once he called her 'pretty doll' and secondly, he said she is more intelligent than you."
Cody saw Micky from the corner of his eyes to gauge the reaction. However, a strange sound immediately broke this light teasing atmosphere. Something ricocheted off the back of the jeep. Everybody was startled for a while when Alex shouted from his jeep,
"Micky, they are firing. Take a turn and enter the jungle."
Blink of a second, Micky veered to the left side and shouted,
"Bend down. Hold tight. It will be a bumpy ride."
Both the jeeps followed the narrow path which was not clearly visible amidst the dense forest. Till then, both the jeeps resisted a couple of bullet shots. Both Micky and Alex were driving frantically. In fact, they didn't have any other better option. The uneven earthy trail was taking a gut-wrenching troll on everybody. After almost half an hour horrifying ride, they reached a dead-end. They were now encircled by almost impenetrable greenwood.
"Now where?"
Micky said in a hoarse voice.