AND DEATH BECOMES HIS.

"What, according to you Mr. Pandev, is the worst way to end life...physical death or the fear of it?"

Goran Pandev furrowed his brows. The aftertaste of the last sip of Bloody Mary was still lingering in his mouth. The party around him was in full swing. The usual boring gentlemen, high-ranking officials and pompous dastards flanked on every side. When asked aside by this certain toothbrush-moustached someone, Pandev expected a political debate of some sort, an unequivocal monologue really, where he was expected to nod and agree every view pressed upon him, owing to his young age. But this question was unusual, in fact, particularly interesting.

"Oh I don't know, Mr. Voronin. The notion of Death has seldom entered my mind or conversation. It's nonsensical to discuss it as a concept although I do respect the sobriety of.."

Andriy smiled lopsidedly.

"That exactly is the flaw in this generation. They live as though they would never die and die as though they had never lived..." he proclaimed in impressive, ringing tones at the same time smoothing the front of his frock-coat, which crinkled crisply. "You people claim to live life on the edge don't you?But just imagine Mr. Pandev- you are traveling in a trekker at breakneck speed at the height of a cliff; a sudden rush of blood and you loose control..your vehicle takes a tumble and off you go down the cliff...well,just for the sake of assumption; the point is then- when would you die? The instant the jeep is in the air...or a few seconds later, when it crashes into the ocean? Think about it."

"I definitely will. But I think it all comes down to the...err... situation. It's almost impossible to know for sure , not in the least while sipping wine in a gathering." The latter replied, his eyes distracted by something Andriy's act had momentarily revealed from the folds of his coat.

"I-I must be leaving." Andriy said eventually, his eyes following Pandev's, whose pair, for a moment seemed to flicker with something he dreaded.





Goran Pandev was racing against time. In swift strokes of his square-toed boots, his lanky,jittery figure bowled across the garage, across the heavy elevator and the many cars, fearing his quarry might be out of reach. His victim had left the party too early to not be a suspect. A few meters away from him, Andriy Voronin was almost getting into his car, when in a blur of steel and muscle, his car door was yanked shut and the old man's neck struggled in a half-nelson. His engorging pupils gave him away.

"I knew it." Pandev muttered through gritted teeth.

But Andriy wasn't to give up so soon. State security was in his hands. He either had to save the documents or die trying. With a well-practised kick, he nearly freed himself from the latter's grip. But this was momentary triumph. A scuffle ensued and Pandev's brawn got the better of him. He unearthed from the depths of his trousers, a length of heavy manacle like chains and knocked his victim straight in the head. Andriy felt himself falling down an endless dark tunnel which unfortunately didn't have light at it's end..




He opened his eyes and stared straight ahead. A gangling man's frame loomed into view, every line on his face malignant. With plunging horror he realized that he had been tied in a standing spread-eagled position by his wrists and ankles, his feet levitating a feet from the ground, in a small place which resembled a cupboard. In a swift, fluid movement, Pandev plunged into his frock coat and dug out the documents. The papers, that were more important than his job or family, that had taken entire sleepless nights to construct and then safeguard, that had needed months of planning to sneak across three continents..were now in the possession of a person he was sure would do no good to them.

"Thank you, Mr. Voronin." Was his glib retort, the smirk hanging shamelessly on the face which had so often being inexplicably passive. "You see it was entirely unnecessary to degrade you to such a demeaning position...tut tut..." he tilted his head slightly, "but you see, I really couldn't consummate something so unceremoniously...with a knockout."

Andriy was at loss of words, perspiring heavily.

"Now you decide," Pandev said, his eyes flickering upwards for a moment, "what way you would want to die..."

He then punched his fist hard at the wall next to him, at a part which Andriy couldn't see. The ceiling shuddered to life. Trembling in anticipation, Andriy tried to fathom what he was being subjected to...moments later, realization finally dawned on him- he had actually been tied to the cave-in beneath the elevator. The monster in question was three stories above, descending slowly, immaculately, almost in a bored,routine,insignificant manner; not aware of the act it would be committing in seconds.

"Release me...please!!" Malcolm shrieked,frightened nearly to death; spitting vomit out of the way.

With a sadistic leer, Pandev pocketed the papers safely into his breast pocket and stalked into the shadows.




back to my favored arena,this be my modest tribute to one Mr.AC :) this is a damacha on the face of one of my friends who claimed that basu ain't be able to go beyond romantic bullshit.hihi
n yes,bullshit is not correct too :D have a real long holiday up ahead..looking forward to some wonderful time with friends n...n yeah, if you people are absolutely flabbergasted in this heat, I'll recommend you to go see Shaurya or Khuda ke liye...excellent movies,both of them-would surely be a refreshing break.