76 Chapter 76

He saw Vivek yelling at Mala, threatening her. Ankur flew into a rage, flapping his arms and shrieking, trying to get Vivek to leave his mother alone. Vivek drew his hand back, preparing to slap Ankur to make him shut up. He didn't need his shouting adding to his anger.

Mala yanked Ankur out of the path of Vivek's hand and held him tight to her body. "You leave him out of this," she said.

"Keep him out of my sight," he gnarled.

Mala hurriedly ushered Ankur in his bedroom. But Ankur resisted. He wanted to see Vivek and touch him. He wanted to know what was wrong and to protect Mala from him. As Mala led him to his bedroom, he pulled his hand out of her grip ran toward Vivek. He started shouting and flapping again, trying to tell Vivek to leave his mom alone. Mala wished Vivek had come just an hour earlier, before the help had left for the day. Then she would have witnesses to protect her.

Vivek couldn't take it any longer. He hit Ankur on his shoulder. The force knocked Ankur onto the sofa. It all happened so quickly that Mala couldn't control the situation.

She ran towards Ankur to again pull him to the bedroom where his music would calm him, but as soon as she got Ankur to his feet, he pulled away from her.

Mala looked from Ankur to Vivek and froze. Vivek pointed a gun directly at Ankur's head. Mala's heart beat so fast it felt like it was about to explode in her chest.

Ankur wasn't even aware of the danger he was in. He just kept standing there, protecting Mala from someone who had been rude to her.

Ankur would do anything to protect Mala. She understood this well and knew she had to get Ankur back into his room immediately.

"Vivek, please don't do this," she begged. "Please don't do anything to Ankur. He doesn't even understand what's going on. He's just here because we're shouting. I will just lock him in his bedroom and he'll start listening to the music. He will calm down. Please Vivek."

Vivek didn't respond. At first, Mala wasn't even sure if he heard her. He just kept his gun pointed directly at Ankur. But, after awhile, he said, "Okay. But hurry up!"

Mala walked towards Ankur's room, talking to him the whole way. "Come on, my little darling. Mama has lots of good things for you in your room. There's music and chocolate. You like music and chocolate, right?"

Ankur looked at Mala, then at Vivek, then back to Mala and reluctantly followed her into his room. As she tried to leave, he grabbed her hand and pointed at the empty seat next to him. He didn't care about music or chocolate. He just wanted his mom.

Mala kissed Ankur's forehead and said, "I will always be there for you Ankur." Tears rolled out of her eyes, knowing how the situation might end. "Be a good boy always. I love you."

She let go of his hand and left the room, closing the door behind her. She quietly locked the door and wrapped her fingers around the keys.

Vivek walked toward her, pointing the gun at her chest. The sounds of Ankur shouting in his room filled the air.

"Mala, on the count of ten you are going to get the documents and give them to me. Otherwise I'm going to make you watch me shoot your son. Then I'll shoot you."

"Vivek, I already told you I don't know anything about these documents Raj never talks with me about his projects."

"Shut up! Stop lying to me!" He pressed the gun on her forehead.