Disguised Intentions

by Manasi Joshi

  “Yeah, it’s there in the bag at the backseat of the car. Take it.” He replied.

  Ishani was relieved there were no more questions from Kabir about Ayaan. She wondered why he looked so tense when he asked that question. Perhaps he did feel something more for her than a friend. She really didn’t have the strength to think about it at the moment though. With Priya missing, she couldn’t really allow herself to think of anything else.

  “Here we are Ishani. Welcome to the Basu house.” said Kabir as they entered through a huge gate.

  He parked the car and they got out of it. The bungalow was huge, with a very nice garden. Ishani wondered how much such a huge bungalow cost. She loved the look of the bungalow except that it was painted a dark shade of grey. It gave a gloomy feel to it somehow.

  “Come on in. Stop gaping open-mouthed at my house. ” said Kabir grinning.

  “Nice bungalow. I never thought such bungalows still exist in Mumbai. Considering it is situated in the heart of Mumbai, it must cost quite a fortune!” replied Ishani.

  “Yeah, I guess” said Kabir shrugging his shoulders. “You should come to Kolkata once. The bungalow there is much better than this one. You can meet my mother too. She’s my world. I miss her here in Mumbai.” He replied.

  “Oh! I would love to come there sometime and meet Mrs Basu too. By the way, why is this bungalow is painted grey? It looks sort of gloomy.” said Ishani as they walked towards the door of the bungalow.

  “Well I told you my Dad acts strange at times. He painted it grey five years back just out of a whim. I was in Kolkata then. Like I said, the bungalow there is better. Come, let’s go in.” replied Kabir.

  “Hmm…” said Ishani.

  They entered the house. Like she had expected, a horde of servants came at their service once they entered. Someone took Ishani’s bag; someone asked if her shoes needed any cleaning. Ishani tried her best not to laugh. She found it comical that the servants were fussing over things which she never bothered about.

  “Do sit Ishani. Feel at home. I’ll just freshen up and come. Chotu, call Papa. Tell him his employee Miss Kirloskar has come and she’s waiting to speak to him.” said Kabir as he climbed a staircase leaving Ishani alone in the drawing room.

  Ishani wondered how Mr Basu would react after he came to know all of this. She just hoped he wouldn’t take too much stress. She was always fond of the man.

  Ishani was served a lot of food while she waited. Plates full of samosas, roshogullas, and other Bengali sweets which she had never seen or heard of before were kept in front of her. She was nibbling nervously on a roshogulla when both son and father entered the room together.

  “Ishani, my dear! What brings you here?” exclaimed Mr Basu.

  “Hello Sir, actually I wanted to speak something important.” began Ishani. She looked at Kabir expectantly. She felt it was best if Kabir would speak to his father.

  “Well, dad, the thing is….” He began and narrated the entire incident to an intently listening Mr Basu.

  After almost twenty minutes of narrating everything, Mr Basu spoke

  “This is very sad. I cannot understand who would do such a mean thing to you Ishani. From my side, I will not fire you. No question of it. It’s very sad.” He said, in deep thought, shaking his head.

  “Mr Basu, don’t be worried. I will surely find out a way. Kabir insisted I tell you all of this, so I came over. I wouldn’t have even bothered you with this otherwise. “ said Ishani.

  Kabir glared at her. She gave him the ‘sorry-but-i-spoke-the-truth’ kind of smile.

  “Of course, you better not fire her Dad. You should know what creeps you employ in your company and what they do to innocent hardworking employees like Ishani and Priya.” said Kabir suddenly snapping at his father. “Plus, you want me to join business and work with creeps like these. So much for you calling politics dirty. Look at your own company first. Filthy creeps out there. I love to work for my country, when will you understand? It is all I have ever dreamed of. Serving the nation “ he almost shouted.

  Ishani now understood why Kabir had insisted on telling Mr Basu all of this. He wanted to prove to his father how wrong he was in pushing Kabir into business instead of politics. The egos of the father and son were at clash here.

  “Kabir, you are my son and you should go internationally and expand my business there. Anyway, now is not the time to speak about this. Miss Kirloskar is worried. You help her find her friend. You keep boasting about your political contacts. Why don’t you use them and help her find her friend? “ snapped back Mr Basu.

  Ishani had never seen Mr Basu like this. The sweet look of a good hearted middle aged man had gone. It was replaced by a different look. His eyes bulged out, his nostrils flared and his mouth was a thin hard line. Ishani suddenly felt a bit intimidated by him now.

  “Of course I will help her. You needn’t even say it. I am out of here. Ishani I am waiting for you in the car.” said Kabir not looking at either of them and storming out the house.

  “Sorry Ishani, my dear. My son is a little hot headed. You take care and call me if you need anything. You don’t look very well. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. Are your dreams troubling you again?” asked Mr Basu turning to Ishani. His smiling face had returned.

  “No sir, not the dreams this time. It’s obvious I can’t sleep soundly because I keep thinking of the current situation and of course, Sir, I understand, Kabir is a bit impulsive I guess. Thank you for your valuable time. You take care of your health sir.” said Ishani as politely as she could.

  “Good day. “ He nodded at her and climbed the stairs, back into his study.

  CHAPTER 16: TERROR STRIKES

  Kabir was waiting for Ishani in the car. Ishani looked at him as she entered the car. He looked sullen and not in a mood to speak.

  “I am dropping you home. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He said to her not even looking at her.

  “Okay.” replied Ishani. She thought it was best to leave him alone since he looked so sullen.

  They reached Ishani’s apartment in silence. Kabir drove away without speaking a word to Ishani.

  Ishani was about to enter the elevator when she got a call from Raghav. “Yes Raghav.” Said, answering the phone.

  “Ishani, listen, meet me at near the office right now. Have some news” said Raghav.

  “I am on my way.” said Ishani without asking anything further.

  They met at a parking place near the C.T.I building.

  “What’s it Raghav? What is Natasha up to?” asked an impatient Ishani as soon as she met him.

  “Well I shadowed her secretly today. I have paid two peons one male and one female to shadow her everywhere too. Told them I was interested in her.” said Raghav winking.

  Ishani laughed. “Okay, go ahead.”

  “Since morning, I felt we were wasting our time by trying to see what Natasha is after. I partly still feel the same, but somehow I feel her friend or boyfriend or whoever he is of hers, Sahil surely knows something. “said Raghav.

  “What makes you think like that?” asked Ishani.

  “Sahil and my phone is the same model. I accidently picked up his phone instead of mine when we were both in the washroom today. His phone beeped and I could see a message which read- ‘You better shut your mouth about what you know or you will be kidnapped just like Miss Shah’ The particular model of phone has a facility of reading the message even without opening it, you can see the message in the notification bar on top; that’s how I could read it. I didn’t open the message because he would have come to know someone has opened it. I just placed his phone back and took mine and left before he was out of the restroom. “Said Raghav

  “Oh! That’s something now! This is surprising!” exclaimed Ishani. “Did you check the number from which he had got the message?” she added

  “Yes. It was written ‘anonymous’ really couldn’t get the number. Besides I was too numbed to unexpectedly read the message to think of anythin
g else.” said Raghav.

  “Of course Raghav, I understand. Besides, there is no use of getting any number. Whoever it is, they are too smart. They would keep changing numbers and discarding the old ones.” replied Ishani.

  “Yes,right. The thing is, I was thinking, why don’t we confront Sahil directly about this?” asked Raghav. “I mean, if he is being threatened, he would be surely relieved to know tell us about it.”

  “I don’t really know Raghav. You may be right, but what if he panics and informs our dear Mr. Blackmailer or if Mr. Blackmailer comes to know, wouldn’t Sahil be in danger too?” asked Ishani.

  “Yeah, well that could happen too. What should we do Ishani?” said a thoughtful Raghav.

  They both were silent for some time. A number of thoughts were running through Ishani’s mind. How on earth did Sahil know something about this? Why was he being threatened too? Did Natasha know? Was she involved in this?

  “Are you sure Natasha isn’t involved in this Raghav? What if it was a text from her to Sahil?” asked Ishani.

  “I am not sure if she is involved or not Ishani. You think she would threaten her own boyfriend?” laughed Raghav. “I don’t think the text was from her. The guys practically hang out together all the time. They seem to be in love. If she had to threaten him, she would do it in private and not in a text. I mean you, me and Priya, we never need to text important things, do we? We would just speak it face to face and sort it out, wouldn’t we?” he added.

  “You have a point. You are right. Let’s keep Natasha out of this right now.” said Ishani. “I am beginning to think; we should just go with your plan and ask Sahil straightaway. I can’t think of anything else. Let’s confront him.” She added.

  “Yeah well I can’t think of anything else either. Let’s check where Sahil is and ask him straightway. Call him and check where he is. Tell him we want to meet him regarding something important. Let’s see what happens.” said Raghav.

  “Yes” said Ishani, dialling Sahil’s number on her phone. Ishani called Sahil twice. He didn’t answer. She called him for the third time. He finally picked up the phone.

  “Hey Ishani, What’s up? Anything important? How are you? All good?” asked Sahil. Ishani gauged his tone. He sounded too enthusiastic. Usually he taunted her or took a jab at her whenever she called because they were never friends.

  “Hello Sahil. Where are you? I wanted to meet you. I needed to speak something important. Can we meet as soon as possible?” asked Ishani.

  “Actually I am stuck up with something right now. I wanted to speak something important too. Will call you myself in sometime. “ said Sahil. He sounded worried.

  “Are you okay Sahil?” asked Ishani.

  “I am fine. Will speak later. Bye.” he said and cut the call.

  Ishani narrated the conversation to a curious Raghav.

  “Good. At least he didn’t shy away from speaking. Perhaps he had made up his mind to share it with us anyway. “said Raghav.

  “Yes. Let’s not coerce him now. Let’s give him some time to get back to us.“ said Ishani.

  “True. If he doesn’t get back to us, we barge in his house and I slap him and confront him “replied Raghav grimly. “ Let’s eat something. My stomach is growling.”

  Ishani narrated the morning’s event with Kabir and his father as they ate the famous Mumbai Vada pav with tea at a nearby tapri. Raghav was at first furious and worried about the dead cat incident, and then later laughed when he heard the fight between the father and son.

  “This is good. Eating Vada Pav after ages!” said Ishani.

  “Yeah, me too. It’s one of the best things I love about Mumbai. “Raghav said.

  Ishani nodded.

  “Ishani, is Kabir interested in you? Why is he so keen on helping you?” asked Raghav

  Ishani’s face turned crimson. She was a bit embarrassed. “I don’t know Raghav. Maybe he is. I think the most important reason for him supporting me is to prove his father how filthy business is and how he is much better off with his political career.”

  “Right.” said Raghav “Well should we barge in Sahil’s house? We’ll wait for him to arrive if he hasn’t. I can’t wait here. I’m getting restless.”

  “Yes I’m getting restless too. Let’s go.” said Ishani.

  Just as they were about to leave Ishani’s phone rang, as if on cue. It was Sahil. Ishani picked up the call. Even before she could say hello, Sahil spoke. “Ishani, come fast. I am at my house. I think my life is in danger. I want to speak to you before he kills me.” He cut the phone.

  Ishani trembled and dropped the phone. A concerned Raghav picked up her phone and put an arm around her shoulder. She narrated the conversation to him. His face whitened.

  “Let’s go. I don’t want anything to happen to Sahil. However he is, I am sure he wants to help and he is innocently dragged into all of this.” said Raghav.

  Ishani merely nodded, unable to speak.

  They hired a taxi straight to Sahil’s house. Both were silent during the travel.

  Ishani just hoped Sahil was alright. She knew Sahil and she had never been in good terms because of Natasha. Nevertheless, it would be awful if anything happened to him.

  They entered Sahil’s building. Ishani was feeling uneasy and she didn’t know why. She hoped Sahil had something valuable to tell them.

  They rang Sahil’s doorbell. There was no answer.

  “Try calling him.” Said a worried Raghav after Sahil didn’t answer the doorbell fourth time.

  Ishani called thrice. “He’s not picking up.” said Ishani.

  “We’ll have to break the door then.” said Raghav grimly.

  He pushed the door. To his surprise, it opened quite easily. So it wasn’t locked from the inside.

  It was dark. “Maybe he’s not at home?” wondered Ishani.

  “He told you he is. Let’s switch on the lights. If he’s not, we’ll wait for him.” said Raghav.

  They both entered Sahil’s living room. Ishani’s stomach curled. Her gut feeling told her something was wrong. Raghav found the switchboard and switched on the light.

  As soon as the lights were on, Ishani let out an ear splitting scream. The terror had struck again. This time, instead of a cat, a man lay dead.

  Sahil lay on the floor, spread-eagled and eyes wide open. There was blood oozing from his throat. He was dead.

  CHAPTER 17: AN INNOCENT DEATH

  Raghav slumped on the floor blank and numb. Ishani trembled. They both were still for some moments after which Raghav spoke calmly.

  “Let’s call the police. It’s high time we spoke to them. We can’t handle this alone now.” Said Raghav

  Ishani closed her eyes for a split second, thinking what else they could do.

  “Yes, call them.” She replied.

  Just as Raghav was speaking on the phone to the police, explaining them what happened, Natasha entered the apartment.

  “Hey Sahil, what happened you asked me to come?” he barged in the house, speaking; before she could continue speaking she stopped dead in her tracks. She saw a dead Sahil on the floor, an anxious Raghav speaking on the phone and a weary Ishani looking at her without speaking. She understood it all.

  “Sahil! Sahil” she shrieked and sobbed and ran to touch Sahil on the floor. Ishani caught her in time.

  “Don’t touch him Natasha; the police are on their way. Your fingerprints will interfere in the investigation.” said Ishani in a pained voice.

  Natasha looked at Ishani and said nothing but didn’t touch Sahil. She just stood there silently, without saying a word, tears streaming down her face.

  Ishani felt sorry for Natasha. How much ever she disliked her, she never wanted Natasha to be dragged in all of this.

  Ishani hesitated for a second, and then put a hand on Natasha’s shoulder.

  To Ishani’s surprise, Natasha hugged her tight and started sobbing loudly.

  “He’s, he’s dead Ishani. He was everything to me. I loved him
. We were going to get married soon. What will I do without him? I don’t want to live. If he’s gone, I don’t have anything to live for.” she said sobbing.

  Ishani let her cry. She just continued to pat Natasha’s shoulder as she cried. She knew she couldn’t say anything at this moment to console Natasha. She could understand her grief. Ishani herself felt tears in her eyes as she felt Natasha’s pain.

  Raghav looked at both of them saying nothing. He put a hand on Natasha’s shoulder.

  Just then, the police entered.

  Raghav went over to them and was in a conversation with them. After fifteen minutes, Inspector Rahul Pawar came to them and spoke.

  “We are sorry for your loss Miss Natasha, but we would like to ask both a few questions. We need to carry on with the investigation.” said Inspector Pawar

  “Yes of course. Please go ahead.” Said Natasha wiping away her tears and moved away.

  “First of all Miss Kirloskar, why didn’t you inform the police about the the threatening and blackmailing calls you were getting? And also about the dead cat?” the inspector glared at Ishani.

  Ishani squirmed in her place.

  “Well actually inspector, whoever he is, he threatened me to not inform you or else he would harm Priya he said. I was scared he shouldn’t harm Priya. So I refrained from informing you. I apologize for that, Sir.” said Ishani.

  “I get that Miss Kirloskar. This is a very common strategy of all criminals though. You should understand this. Obviously he would tell you not to inform us and blackmail you of harming Priya. This is what they all do. You should be smart enough to inform us even then.” He said angrily.

  “I know. I just did what I could without thinking so much. I am sorry.” said a flustered Ishani.

  “Well, let that be now. Anyway this criminal is fearless of the police. He killed Mr Sahil Sinha , he obviously knows the police will be on his trail from now on. He is confident we won’t be able to reach him.” snorted Inspector Pawar.