Free Bollywood Nightmare by Victoria Blisse Page A

to escape with me, I mean, do you want to stay with me when we get out?”
    “Sure, I’d like that,” he said, “but I have to get back to Mom before they get to her, need to move her, keep her safe.”
    “I have an idea about that,” I nodded, “but we better see if we can get out of here first, then I’ll tell you the plan. Can we pick up a top for me too, I mean, I’m a little exposed right now.”
    “As much as I enjoy seeing your breasts, janemaan, I’ll get you one of my tops to cover you up.”
     
    * * * *
     
    It was a little bit of a surprise to both of us when the bottom of my amulet fitted perfectly in the indent in the door and we could walk out into the world as free people once again.
    “We need to ring my dad,” I commented while we jogged down the tatty back alley, “if he can get us some air tickets you and your mum can come to Mumbai with us, you’ll be safe there.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Seriously.” I nodded. He kissed me then with passion and relief and laughed heartily. “There’s a phone box over there, I wonder if I can work out how to reverse the charges?”
    It didn’t turn out to be too difficult, which was the complete opposite of the conversation I had with my dad. He was initially relieved to hear my voice, after being informed that I had gone missing a day after I had arrived in America but then when I told him what I wanted his usual grumpiness kicked in.
    “So let me get this straight, you want me to buy plane tickets for you, your kind of kidnapper and his mother? Oh and sort out some passports for them as well and such other stuff, are you really asking me this?”
    “Yes, I am, but you can do it, you’ve got Johnny, it’ll be a breeze—”
    “No, that’s not the problem—well—no, what I’m having trouble with is you wanting to bring your jailer and his mum home with you?”
    “I know, Dad, I know it sounds crazy but can you do this for me? Aseem was a prisoner himself and he’s the one who’s got me out of that warehouse and away from those brutes and Dad, they were going to torture me, they threatened me…” My voice broke then as I remembered the ordeal and realised how far away from home I was. I wanted Dad to be there beside me, to protect me and tell me it was all going to be alright.
    “Okay, I’ll get it sorted. Make your way to the airport, to Mumbai Airlines and I’ll get a flight for you.”
    “Thanks, Dad, I love you.”
    “I love you too, Farishta , keep safe now, okay?”
    “I will, Dad, I will.” I put the phone down. “We have to get to the airport,” I said to Aseem, “Dad’s going to sort everything out for us.”
    “Okay, well, first we need to get to Mum’s. I wonder if we could hail a cab and pay when we get there?”
    “Maybe we won’t have to,” I chirped as I spied a familiar car and a familiar face across the road. “Curtis, I need your help.” I pulled open the passenger side door and hopped in.
    “Where’s the scary dude? He went in to rescue you?”
    “Who?”
    “Some tall guy with an attitude and a red face, he threatened to…well, he told me to wait here for him, where is he?”
    “You mean Johnny, tall, dark and annoying Johnny?”
    “Yes, that sounds like him.”
    “He’s now back there, in that warehouse, trying to rescue me, right?”
    “Right.” Curtis nodded.
    “Fuck.” I shook my head. I didn’t have time to think about what Johnny was doing in the US or why Curtis would know where to bring Johnny to find me. I had to go and rescue the big stupid Djinn before he got himself into real trouble.
    “I’m so sorry, Aseem, but I’m going to have to go back in there. Someone I know, someone I care about is trying to rescue me and I have a feeling he’s going to be the one who needs saving now.”
    “Okay, come on then,” Aseem shrugged, “we better go rescue your man.”
    “Oh, no, he’s not my man.” I shook my head violently then looked back at Curtis. “Stay there, Curtis, don’t