by P. G. Van
“I am not surprised, Nick. The trust fund is not a small amount, and the assets bring in more revenue every year. I think it’s a pretty sweet deal,” he said and added in a teasing tone, “Nick, you just inherited a boat load of money, thanks to Ms. Nick.”
Nick shook his head and said in a grim tone, “We need to stop Reetu, and we need to keep Sameera and Nethra safe.”
“What does she need from Nate, Nick?” I asked concerned.
“She wants your DNA Sameera, but if she can’t get to you, I know she will find a way to get it,” Nick said in a calm voice.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Are you guys ready for this?” I said beaming at my parents and grandparents on a video call with Nate sitting next to me on the couch. Nick and I had Srini and Nate over for dinner on Wednesday night and wanted to share Mitch’s findings with everyone. I was a mess the previous day with an information overload and took a lot to process all the findings but the one thing that kept bugging was why RajaRam Vaasi left his family.
“Meera, you look very excited,” my grandma noted and asked, “Nethra, do you know what Meera is going to tell us?”
“I don’t Nani. All she told me was that it was important,” Nate whined.
“Thatha, have you heard about the family name, Vaasireddy?” I asked my grandpa.
My grandpa shook his head and said in a soft voice, “Seems very similar to our family name.”
“It’s just not similar, that is our original family name,” I cried out and everyone looked at me as if I had lost it.
I smiled and said with excitement, “RajaRam Vaasi’s real or full name is Raja Vaasireddy Ramachandra Naidu, and he is the founder of Sameera Nayana Vaasireddy – Foundation for Women.”
“Wait. What?” Nate asked in surprise and asked, “Isn’t Sameera Nayana the reason you and I have our names?”
“Yes, that is Thatha’s aunt’s name. Right Thatha?” I asked looking at my grandpa’s dumbfounded expression.
“Are you saying we are all part of a bigger family that we didn’t know existed?” my grandpa asked in a low voice.
“Yes, and we have already met an extended family member even before we knew all about this family,” I said looking at Nate.
“Who is it Meera?” Nate asked impatiently.
“Do you remember the baby Sameera that we met at the temple?” I asked and added when they nodded, “Her mom is part of the Vaasireddy family and is the head of the operations for the foundation.”
“The little baby’s mom is our relative?” Nate squealed in surprise.
“Thatha, I am sure you have cousins that can tell you more about your grandfather,” I said smiling at him.
“Do you know why he left my dad and my aunt, Sameera?” my grandpa asked in a stern voice.
“Thatha, we are working on finding out why, but it is very clear that he loved his family, and I am sure he had a compelling reason,” I said in an attempt to calm him down.
“Meera, I need to know what was more important than his family, and it looks like he did abandon them for a better life and left his family to struggle,” my grandpa said visibly angry and added, “I know what my father and aunt went through as teenagers with no parents.”
“Thatha, please don’t be angry. I promise to find out why he had to leave his family and what he did after he left his family,” I said smiling at him.
“Have you talked to the family? Do they know we exist,” Nate asked curiously.
“They knew he had a family and they have been protecting a trust fund that has been created for his descendants,” I said and added, “The descendant with the chain that he gave to his son is the sole heir of the trust fund.”
“What?” Nate asked and added in a teasing tone, “Your waist chain that is no longer yours?”
“Yes, I know. What was I thinking when I gave it to Nick,” I said giggling and added, “Now he won’t give it back.”
“Meera, it was never yours to begin with,” my grandpa said and added, “That chain was made by the Bhatia family and now it’s back to where it belongs.”
“Okay, that’s too deep for me,” Nate said shaking her head.
“Ma and Dad, you guys don’t have any questions?” I asked surprised as they just kept looking at us without talking.
“We are just shocked at the coincidence with baby Sameera, Meera,” my mom said in a soft voice.
“I know, that’s the best part,” I said with excitement.
Nate and I chatted with our parents and grandparents for a few minutes and hung up assuring my grandpa that we would find out why his dad and aunt were abandoned.
Nate and I joined Nick and Srini in the roof garden after we were done with the video call.
“So, how did your grandparents take the news?” Nick asked putting his arm around my waist as I sat on the armrest of his chair.
“He was upset that his dad and aunt were abandoned but seemed happy to find out we have family elsewhere,” I said softly.
“It’s too much to process. You should check in with them in a few days to see how they are doing,” Nick suggested.
“Srini and Nethra, I need you guys to be extremely careful for the next few weeks while we figure out a way to clean up another mess,” Nick said in a soft tone looking at Nate and Srini.
“What mess?” Nate asked curiously.
Nick and I narrated the entire Reetu episode to Nate and Srini and watched their jaw drop when we mentioned that Reetu had made multiple schemes to get the chain to pass off as a descendant of RajaRam Vaasi to inherit the trust fund.
I told them about her plan for Sam borrow the chain for the wedding, and how she disappeared from the wedding calling Nick, leaving him voice mails asking him to meet her alone on that day in hopes of snatching the chain from him. I told them about the attempted snatch when Nick and I were at breakfast the day after the wedding.
“So, Reetu is still on the prowl to get DNA proof that she is related to the family so you need to be very careful,” Nick said in a firm voice.
“I had my doubts about her behavior, but I would have never guessed that she was behind all this,” Nate said looking shocked to the core.
“Nate, now you know why she was so interested in talking about RajaRam and Jasleen,” I said shaking my head.
“I also know why she wanted to always talk about you every time I met her,” Nate grumbled.
“Wow, Reetu has been busy with her homework,” Nick said in a grim voice.
“Why haven’t you guys pressed charges against her for the incident on Sunday morning?” Srini asked his voice firm.
“We have nothing against her, just her cousin and we didn’t want her to know that we know she is behind the attempt,” Nick said and added, “I am waiting for her to do something stupid, and then Sam will figure out all the charges he wants to press against her.”
“Nate, just be careful for the next few weeks until Mitch and team figure out what Reetu is up to,” I said looking at Nate and added, “Mitch checked her phone records, and we are pretty sure she was the mastermind behind the carjackers’ episode also.”
“What?” Nate asked stunned. I narrated the attempted attack on Nick in the parking lot, and I could tell Nate was scared.
“Nate…” my voice trailed off as Nate looked me and asked “Meera, when did this carjacker thing happen?”
I looked at Nick and winked, “She is on to something.”
“Meera, when?” Nate asked impatiently.
“Almost two months ago, it was around my birthday. Right Nick?” I asked looking at him.
He nodded looking at Nate. She was clearly taken back.
“Nate,” I said putting my palm on her shoulder and Nate looked at me in silence for a few seconds.
His voice was soft but firm, “I can tell you for sure that she was behind the other attack on Nick.”
“Nate, how do you…?” I stopped mid-sentence when I saw Nate shake her head like she was trying to piece things t
ogether.
“Meera, do you remember what I told you the day after your birthday party?” Nate asked and added when I nodded, “Reetu was in the study yelling at the top of her voice on the phone. She kept saying, ‘He is here. You have the wrong car,’ and I am pretty sure she was talking to those thugs.”
It was my turn to be shocked and I swallowed the lump that had formed and asked Nick, “Was it on that day that you had Mitch drive around the city to mislead the carjackers?”
Nick nodded and did not say anything.
“Nate, promise me that you will be extra careful,” I pleaded.
“I will. Srini will be my bodyguard,” Nate said putting her arms around Srini.
“Barely, a bodyguard. I think Meera is better at protecting people.” Srini said winking at me and added, “She saved a baby from being kidnapped and then Nick and all she had to do was splash her drink on the guy’s face.”
“I agree,” Nick said shaking his head and added, “I just could not get her to get up and leave the patio when those two guys showed up.”
I laughed running my fingers on his beard and said, “How could I?”
“That’s true, one thing about Meera is she can be annoyingly protective,” Nate said smiling at me, and added, “I can get her to beat the crap out of Srini at a tear drop.”
“You know I won’t do that Srini, I will have Nick do that for me,” I said laughing.
“It’s been so long since we hung out. We should go out together,” Nate said looking at Nick and me and asked in an excited tone, “Why don’t you guys join us for a ‘dine-in-the-dark experience’ on Friday?”
I laughed and said, “Nate, you know I love to look at my food and drool all over it before I taste it.”
“Yes and Nick, thank you for getting us into that restaurant on a Friday night,” Nate said smiling at him.
“You are welcome, Nethra. I hope you guys like it,” Nick said casually.
“You should join us if Meera changes her mind about dining in the dark,” Srini said looking at Nick as they got up to leave.
“I have a salon appointment on Friday to get cleaned up. You guys have fun,” Nick said looking at me with the familiar wicked look on his face.
“Yeah, I am surprised she let you hang on to your new look for this long,” Nate said giggling as she stepped into the elevator.
“Hey, it was her idea that I hang on to this look until Friday,” Nick called out to Nate and pulled me into his arms as soon as the elevator doors closed and asked, “Isn’t that right baby?”
“Yes,” I said my voice shaky as I melted in his arms when I felt his lips blaze along the length of my neck.
“You have been on fire lately and it is so hot. I can’t stop thinking about you even when I am at work,” Nick mumbled against my neck, and I caught my breath as I felt strong thrills running down my body.
“I have no choice when you look so sexy with your facial hair,” I teased gritting my teeth in sheer pleasure.
*****
I heard a faint beep and then a few more at a distance. I woke up with Nick’s warm body against my back and his arm draped over my waist protectively. I slowly turned to look at his face and smiled, as I ran my fingertip on his beard. It was Saturday morning and my attempt number two to shave Nick was a complete failure. I avoided getting into the shower with him, but he managed to get us into bed and made a huge mess with the shaving cream. I slowly inched away from him smiling to myself and went to look for my phone.
I checked my phone and it was a few minutes after six, and I had a few messages from Nate.
Nate: Meera, I need to talk to you.
Nate: I am so pissed off at Srini, I can’t stand him anymore
Nate: Are you awake?
I shook my head and smiled at how much of a drama queen Nate could be and called her and she immediately ended the call.
Nate: Can’t talk Meera…phone is dying…Can you come meet me?
Me: Ok, I will see you at home in forty-five minutes….I just rolled out bed…
Nate: I am not at home…I was so pissed I came out for coffee by myself
Me: What? You sound ridiculous Nate
Nate: I need you to hear me out before you take sides...
Me: Where are you?
Nate: I am at your favorite coffee shop in Venice Beach
Me: You drove all the way to Half Moon Bay? I will see you soon. Starting in a few minutes.
Nate: Ok. I am at the back of the coffee shop talking to the owner.
I rolled my eyes and wondered what could have caused such a huge conflict when they were fine when I talked to them before their dine-in-the-dark experience.
Ten minutes later, I walked into the garage and got into the Mercedes SUV that Nick had gifted me for my birthday. I was glad to finally take the car out all by myself and realized Nick was right about me needing a car for myself even if I didn’t need it for commuting. I pulled out into the main driveway and was on the beautiful Highway 280 in no time. I drove on the highway enjoying the smooth ride and the beautiful view of the hills and the fog on the hills.
A cold shiver ran through my spine when I recollected the experience on the patio the last time Nick and I were enjoying a similar view. I shook that memory away and focused on my driving, but a weird feeling in my stomach kept nagging me.
I grabbed my phone and called Srini.
“Meera, are you okay?” Srini asked sounding concerned as soon as he answered my phone.
“Srini, I am fine. What happened last night? Why is Nate upset with you?” I asked in an annoyed tone.
“She is?” he asked in surprise and added, “I wonder how she is sleeping so peacefully and let me sleep peacefully.”
“Wait, Nate is at home?” I asked surprised and growled, “Why the crap did she ask me to meet her at the coffee shop in Venice Beach?”
“Meera, something is wrong. Don’t go anywhere,” Srini warned.
“Srini, she texted me this morning asking me to meet her,” I said completely confused and asked, “Where is her phone?”
I heard patiently as Srini woke up Nate and asked her about her phone, and she said she had it on the dresser.
“Meera, where are you?” Srini asked and I could tell he was freaking out.
“Srini, I am on my way to the coffee shop, but I am going to turn back and go home,” I said as I took the exit to go back home.
“Do not stop for anything or anybody and do not get out of the car. Is that clear Meera?” Srini commanded like a loving brother.
“Srini, it doesn’t make sense. Can I talk to Nate?” I asked unable to process what was going on.
“Meera, what’s going on?” Nate asked and I was in a way relieved to hear her concerned voice.
“Are you okay, Nate?” I asked as I merged back on to the highway.
Before Nate could respond, Srini was back on the phone, his voice tensed, “Meera, how many cars do you see on the road, and tell me where you are exactly and stay on the phone until you get home.”
‘Ok, Srini, I will, and I just merged onto 280 headed south a mile from the Half Moon Bay exit. I see a dozen cars on the road, and I need you to stop worrying,” I said looking in my rear view mirror.
“Do you have the security car following you?” Srini asked in a firm voice.
I winced internally at his question and fear started to build up inside me and said, “I don’t know Srini. As far as I know, my new car is not part of the security coverage.”
Srini swore under his breath and said, “Meera, drive carefully and get back home as soon as possible,” Srini commanded and added, “Do not hang up the phone.”
“Srini, please don’t….,” my words were lost in a loud shriek when I realized that the minivan that was in the lane next to mine suddenly moved in front of me within a couple of feet. I heard all kinds of warnings go off on the dashboard of the SUV. I attempted to slam on the brakes and felt that the vehicle was doing that already and on impulse, I steered to
the far left to avoid running into the minivan. I went onto the shoulder and the next second the front of the car brushed against the yellow safety bins on the highway. There was sand on the windshield that splashed from the bins as the vehicle sailed down the grassy trench that separated the north and south bound lanes of the beautiful highway.
The car came to a halt against a tree, and I heard Srini’s voice again, “Meera, what happened?”
“Srini, some stupid idiot decided to cut in front of me, and I almost ran into them,” I said shaking my head as I saw the minivan pull over to the shoulder next to the concrete wall that completely covered the trench from the highway.
“Meera, are you okay?” Srini asked his voice shaky.
‘Yes, Srini. My car just rolled off of the highway into this ditch between the north and southbound lanes,” I said taking in a deep breath and added, “I don’t think any of the cars can see my car as I am rolled pretty far down the trench.”
“Stay put, do not get out of the car,” he said and called out to Nate, “Nethra, call 911 and tell them there is a car rolled over into the trench between the north and south bound lanes. White Mercedes SUV,” I heard Srini’s crackling voice as he gave Nate the instructions and wondered if I was losing cellphone signal.
“Srini, I need a tow truck and not a cop car,” I said loudly to make sure he could hear me.
I looked up towards the highway, and my heart stopped and my mouth went dry as sweat broke out all over my body.
“Srini, call Nick, Reetu is here,” I yelled into the phone and saw in horror that my call was disconnected. I saw Reetu approach my car coolly with her hands behind her.
I froze as Reetu came up to the driver’s side window and said, “Meera, I just need to talk to you.”
“Is that why you almost ran into my car?” I snarled at her looking at her through the glass window.
“Sam was never right for me and you know what I did was best for him too,” she defended herself, and it was at that point that I remembered that Reetu had no idea that we knew about her grand plan. I just needed to keep her talking until the police arrived. I hoped Srini heard what I said before my call got disconnected.