by Sana Shetty
“Huh?”
“This,” he said removing a slip of paper from his pocket and smoothened it on the table in front of her. She stared at it. It looked like an order form though a crude one. Handwritten. She tried to read it but it looked like they were names of chemicals and she was lost.
Puzzled she looked at him, “what the hell is this?”
“They are order forms for some sort of medicines. There are a lot of these signed by Pankaj. And they are made out in the name of Tarun and a Venkatesh Raut.”
“Raut???…,” Misha frowned, trying to remember where she had heard that name before.
“You know who that is?”
“I am not sure, but the name is very familiar.”
“What was my brother ordering these medicines for? I don’t get it.”
“Hmm. Do you think he was sick?”
Vedant shook his head. “No I don’t think so. You should see the amount of forms that are there. It’s like they were ordering it in tons.”
They fell silent for some time each lost in their own thoughts.
“Did Jay ever mention anything about my brother working on the ruins? I mean, was my brother doing something there?”
The sudden question surprised Misha. “No, Jay never said anything about it. But then again, he hardly discussed anything that went on in the hotel with me. I got the impression he was helping Tarun with something important. Yeah, so maybe they were trying to do something in there.”
“Hmm…” Vedant absently made imaginary patterns on the table with his forefinger, as he turned over what she had said in his mind.
“Why did you ask? Did you see anything?” she prompted him.
“No.., well…maybe.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. It is just that when I was there before, it looked like someone was using the ruins. And then today, I was almost sure I saw someone in there.”
“And?”
“And nothing, I did not venture to find out as I wanted to avoid running into anyone there. Also…,” he paused as if unsure of his next words.
“Ved, what is it? You can tell me anything you know,” Misha said watching him.
“What did Raunak tell you about Namita?”
She was surprised again as he jumped from one topic to another. “Just that she was an out-of- work photojournalist, who did pieces on lesser known tourist places.” She said cautiously, “Why do you ask?”
“I am not saying they are lying or anything but…” He again dug into his pocket and slid something in front of her. “I found this.”
It was an old photograph. She stared at it as she realised, she was looking at the smiling face of a younger Namita. In the photograph, she had longer hair and she was beaming into the face of another guy. The guy was looking at her adoringly, grinning from ear to ear. He had his arms around her and behind them, stood Raunak, also grinning widely, as if they had just shared a joke. But that was not the surprise. Here Namita was in a police uniform from the academy; in fact all three of them were in uniform. What the hell! Namita was a police officer.
Raunak had told her, he knew Namita from his college days but he had missed telling her that she was from his police academy. He had deliberately hidden the fact that she was a police officer. Why? Was she undercover? And what was she doing here that Raunak couldn’t talk about? That is why she had Jay’s book and was trying to decipher the message. She was working with Raunak on the same case. It also meant there was more to what had happened to Jay than they were ready to tell her.
“She is a police officer,” Vedant was watching her. “What is she doing here? Why not tell us? After all we are all trying to find the same answers. What else are they not telling us?”
As he continued to talk, Misha thought about the gun in Namita’s room. She had wondered why she needed a gun. She should have guessed then.
“That is why she has that gun,” she said.
“Gun??”
Misha told him about the gun in Namita’s room and how she was recounting Pankaj’s visit to someone on the phone. She also told him about Jay’s book in her room and how she was trying to figure out what Jay had marked in it.
“Maybe she is under cover?” she reasoned. “Maybe she is investigating Jay’s death.”
Vedant nodded, “Maybe. But why not tell us? And more importantly, how is Tarun connected to it? How did this picture, obviously taken during their academy days, turn up in Tarun’s room? It was inside the locker in his wardrobe, as if he had deliberately hidden it.”
“Why would Tarun do that?”
Vedant shook his head, helplessly. He looked tired and drawn. “I don’t know anything anymore. Why was Tarun ordering medical drugs? That is if they are medicines. And what did he know about Namita? Obviously Raunak and Namita know something about all this. Maybe, we could just talk to Namita. If we let her know we found this, maybe she will talk to us. Tell us more about what really is going on. And now that Raunak is out of the picture for some time at least, she will be all alone. She will need us just as much as we need her.”
“But where is she?” Misha suddenly remembered, she had not seen her since they had come to the hospital together.
“Let’s go find her. Maybe she is at the house,” Ved picked up the picture and the sheet of paper and thrust it back into his pocket.
“You go ahead. You look as if you need some sleep.”
“So do you.”
“I will wait for Raunak’s mom to get here and then head back. Somehow, I can’t get myself to leave him alone for too long, even though there are policemen around.” She said apprehensively.
“Hey, he will be okay. Don’t worry.” He stood up to leave and then turned back to look at her again.
“Misha…I…um…I…I’m sorry.”
She sighed. Even though he did not say it, she knew he was apologising for all that had happened a long time ago. It did not matter anymore. She was just glad they had got back to being friends.
She smiled at him, tiredly, “It’s alright. I am not mad at you, anymore. I know you had your reasons.”
He gave her a long look before he said, a little sadly, “I did hurt you, though. And I want you to know that it was never intentional. I would never hurt you, ever.”
“Vedant, I forgave you a long time ago. I agree I was hurt and angry at first. It was just that when I returned this time, I found Jay very desperate and he talked a lot about you. It was as if he was waiting for you to return. He even made sure that secret tunnel was kept open. I didn’t know what it was all about and it was very heart breaking to see him like that after all these years. And then suddenly…suddenly he was gone and you came back. It was…it was…” she stopped, overcome.
He leaned over and put his hands over hers. “Please…please believe me. I did not know he was trying to contact me. When I left, we had promised each other, we would not keep in touch and I couldn’t…” he suddenly clammed up, as if realising he had said too much.
Misha squeezed his hand. “Couldn’t what, Ved? You can tell me,” she pleaded. “Jay is dead, Ved. Any promise you made to him…”
But he withdrew his hands from hers abruptly, looking at her with regret, “That is the very reason I cannot say anything, Misha. I cannot do that to him. I wish I could tell you but…. I need to go. I will see you at home.” He turned quickly and was gone.
Misha stood there looking after him, a little disappointed. For the umpteenth time wondering, what had happened that night.
₪ ₪ ₪
Chapter 10
When she reached home late that morning, Namita was nowhere to be found. Her bed did not look slept in either. She peeped into Jay’s room and found Vedant fast asleep on the bed. Tiredly, she showered and decided to get something to eat before she went to bed. As she walked into the kitchen she was surprised to find Namita there, preparing breakfast.
“Hi, I did not hear you come in.” she greeted her.
“I came in when you were in the shower. You should se
riously consider locking that door, you know. Come sit down, have some breakfast. You must be tired after the long night” Namita said.
“Yeah, I am tired and hungry.”
“So how is he? Did you see him?”
“No, they haven’t let us see him but the doctors say he is going to be okay.”
“He is going to be okay,” Namita assured her, pushing a plate of rice pancakes in front of her.
“So where did you disappear to?” Misha asked as she took a mouthful of the pancakes.
“Just here and there.”
Misha watched her as she poured herself a cup of tea. She wondered if she should tell Namita, she knew about her true identity. Instead, she asked, “Did you hear about Pankaj’s suicide?”
She saw Namita tense. Carefully, she put down her tea cup before she answered, “So you heard about it too. I …hmm…heard it in the village.”
“You were in the village?”
“Yes, I needed some things…”
“Namita, for god’s sake, I know,” Misha said a little angrily.
Namita looked surprised and a little confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you are not a journalist.” She snapped.
Namita did not answer her but she did not deny it either but gave her a long look.
When she refused to say anything, Misha continued, “I know that you are a cop. Why did you and Raunak to lie to me? ”
“We had to protect you,” she said simply. “The more you know, the more you will be in danger. I think by now you may have guessed what type of people we are dealing with. Besides, I was…am under cover. Isn’t that what under cover means?” she asked ruefully.
“Under cover? Why? What is going on in Tamara that you needed to be undercover for it? What are you working on, Namita? Is it something to do with Jay’s death? Is that why Raunak got shot?”
“Misha…Just slow down, okay? I told you, you don’t need to know anything as yet. Raunak will kill me if I tell you. You must have a little more patience,” her calmness irked Misha.
“What do you mean I don’t need to know? Jay was my brother and I have a right to know what is going on. I poured my heart out to you when you first came here and all this while you knew a lot more. You knew he was murdered and yet you said nothing to Ved or me.” She said angrily.
“Misha, I know how you feel, believe me. Please, no one can know.”
“Ved knows,” Misha said a little peevishly, still angry at her and Raunak.
“Ved?”
“Yes, he is the one who told me.”
Namita stared at her, “How did he find out?”
“He went back to his house, yesterday after…well after he had that argument with Raunak. He went through Tarun’s room and found a photograph of you in Tarun’s locker.”
“A photograph of me in Tarun’s locker?” she frowned. “Why would Tarun have a photograph of me in his locker?”
They fell silent for some time and then finally, Namita asked, “Did he say anything else? Did you talk to him?”
“About what?”
“About what happened eight years ago and why he left town?”
Why were she and Raunak so obsessed with why Vedant left town eight years ago? Weren’t they just talking about Jay?
“I did,” Misha snapped. “But he refuses to talk about that. It looks like everyone has a secret here,” she said bitterly. “Why is it so important to know what happened eight years ago?” she gave one look at Namita’s face and said, wryly, “Yeah…yeah....Right…need to know only.”
“Misha,” she sighed, looking at her pleadingly. “Just give me some time and I will tell you everything.”
“Raunak said the same thing yesterday and now…” Misha fought back tears.
She pushed the food around in her plate, not looking at Namita.
“Will you please eat that food? You need it.” Namita scolded, as if she was five years old. When Misha did not respond, she put up her hands and said, “You will have to trust us.”
“Us? Who are you talking about? Raunak is in the hospital.”
“I know. I…I…wish I could tell you everything but…” she looked away and after a moment’s silence said, “As of now, I need to know who to trust, Misha. It looks like everyone is working against us. It is as if the enemy knows our every move.” She paused and then asked, “Misha, can you…can we trust Ved?”
The question took Misha by surprise and she looked up at her. “What do you mean? Of course, we can trust him,” she said, vehemently defending him. “I have known him all my life. I know, we have had our differences and all, but I would trust him with my life. Where did this come from?”
“I don’t know. I told you, I need to know whom to trust. Besides, he is keeping a lot from us.” She sighed, running a hand over her eyes. She looked tired too.
“You look like hell,” Misha said involuntarily.
“Yeah, thanks,” she threw her a wry smile.
“No really, I mean you need rest.”
“Can’t. I need to attend to something first. But you go catch some sleep. I promise we will talk when I return, okay?” she said picking up her sling bag.
Misha waited at the foot of the stairs leading to the temple. She watched Jay, as he came towards her smiling and waving, half running. He looked good and happy. She could hear his familiar laughter. But as he came nearer, she could see the blood on his shirt. Still, he showed no signs of pain and continued to smile, unaware of the blood spilling from his guts. Misha screamed his name but he did not hear her. It was a while before she realised, he was not looking and smiling at her but at Vedant, who was standing behind her on the steps. She was invisible to the both of them. She turned around to look at Vedant and was shocked to see him bleeding too. She screamed and tried to go towards him and realised somebody had hold of her and was shaking her hard, calling out her name. She fought desperately, trying to free herself calling out to Vedant and Jay.
“Misha wake up! You are having a nightmare!” She opened her eyes with a jerk and stared into Vedant’s face. He was shaking her, trying to get her to wake up. Her panic ebbed as she realised she had been dreaming. Throwing her arms around him she sobbed in relief.
“Sssh…hh! It’s okay! It’s alright! Just a bad dream!” he soothed. He held her till she had calmed down. Gently, she untangled herself from his arms, feeling a little embarrassed.
“I am sorry. Did I wake you?” she wondered why she was whispering.
“No. I was on my way down, when I heard you screaming out to Jay and me,” he said. She looked at him then. He looked more rested and had changed into one of Jay’s t-shirt and jeans over which he wore a jacket. They had always been physically similar and were quite used to dressing up in each other clothes. The thought brought a lump to her throat.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked softly.
She shook her head. “What time is it?” She asked instead.
“It is around three in the afternoon,” he gave her a tentative smile. “Hungry? I am ravenous.”
“Yes,” she returned his smile and saw his expression change. He immediately stood up and moved away as if he wanted to put some distance between them.
She remembered Namita’s words ‘he is still in love with you.’ Raunak too had said something like that and suddenly she felt guilty for having judged him so harshly. True, he was the one who had vanished from her life but perhaps he had his reasons and she was beginning to believe it had something to do with Jay.
Involuntarily, she said, “I am sorry Ved.”
He whirled around in surprise. “What? Why…?”
One look at her face and he knew why she was apologising.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to say sorry?” he asked with half a smile.
“No, it is just that I am sorry that we have met again like this. And I really do love Raunak.”
“I know and I am glad you chose him. Believe me, I am not trying to sound self-effacing or a
nything like that but you couldn’t have chosen better.” He looked back at her wistfully. “I know what I have lost and maybe if I hadn’t gone away…” he shrugged. On an impulse, she step forward and gave him a hug.
He hugged her back and then she felt him tense. She took a step back and looked up at his face and he put his hand over her mouth and whispered, “Ssshh.... listen! Somebody is in the house.”
She craned her ears and froze. There was a creak of the stairs as if someone was stepping on it carefully, trying to be as silent as possible. Vedant let her go and looked around trying to find something he could use as a weapon but there was nothing in her room. They heard the creak of a door. The intruder was in Jay’s room next door! She could hear the soft tread of shoes as they moved around and the click of a…gun? She looked back at Ved in panic. He put a finger to his lips and stepped behind the door, pulling her with him. They waited not daring to breathe, watching the open door. In a few minutes, they could see the muzzle of a gun poking in through the open door. The intruder was moving cautiously.
Vedant waited till he was almost on the threshold and then in a sudden movement slammed the door hard, into him. The gun flew out of the guy’s hands clattering loudly and he screamed in pain.
The man recovered quickly though, lunging for the gun, but Misha stepped forward and kicked it out of his reach. And at the same time, Vedant pounced on him pinning him to the floor and soon they were grappling with each other. The man was well built and strong and soon he had Vedant in a vice like grip, pinning him to the floor. Misha could see Vedant desperately clawing at his hands, struggling to breathe. Desperately, she ripped out the table lamp from its socket and brought it down on the man’s head. But the man anticipated her move and ducked. Still, she caught him on the side of his head with a hard blow and the man howled out in pain, cursing violently.
It gave Vedant enough leverage to break free of his stranglehold. He pried the intruder’s fingers digging into his throat and pushed him to the floor. But the intruder lashed out with his fist, catching Vedant squarely on his jaw and sending him crashing into the chair. The intruder was quick on his feet and was out of the room before either of them could catch a breath. Vedant ran after him but the intruder was out the front door in a flash. He ran out into the porch, towards the gate and banged right into Namita who was just walking in. Caught unawares, Namita lost her balance and fell backwards. The man cursed again and continued running. Vedant reached the gate and stopped to help Namita to her feet, before he continued chasing the guy.