Bala made more effort to keep the smile. Akhila perked up and looked out of her cubicle, ‘Gopi!’ she called out. Bala felt his body become alert. He craned his neck to look in the direction Akhila had called. A young boy in a white uniform walked towards them. Bala turned to face Akhila, hiding his face from Gopi. Was the man standing behind him the clue to finding Geetha? Was he a friend of Raj, or an enemy?
‘Hey!’ the sharp voice broke his train of thoughts.‘Tea or coffee? I am asking you for the third time.’
‘No thanks!’
‘Oh come on. Shall I order some juice from outside?’
‘Oh no thanks really. I am good.’
‘I insist.’
‘Milk then.’
‘Milk?’ a genuine smile appeared on Akhila’s face. ‘Just plain milk?’
‘Yes, just plain milk.’ Bala could hear Gopi giggling behind him.
‘Gopi,’ Akhila said, ‘one plain milk and one strong coffee.’
‘Okay madam.’ Gopi left.
‘So what car does your dad have?’ Akhila asked.
‘It’s a Toyota Innova.’
‘Nice. Which year model?’
‘2015,’ said Bala, faking expressions of thoughtfulness, ‘or 2014.’
‘Honey, we need to know those details. Do you have the RC copy?’
‘I am sorry I don’t have. This is my first time. I just wanted to find out how to go about it. I can come back with the RC copy. What else would you need?’
‘Sweetheart, don't worry. It’s good that you have come directly to figure out things by yourself. Get the RC copy and the previous insurance policy. We’ll see if there’s any no-claim-bonus. And if the previous insurance has expired already, we may have to do an inspection of the car.’
‘Oh!' said Bala who did not make sense of anything she said. He wanted to get out and discuss with Raj their course of action.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll see to it that things happen smoothly,’ said Akhila, ‘Ah! Here come the coffee and the milk.’ Gopi walked into the cubicle with a tray. Bala looked at him carefully. Gopi placed the two cups along with saucers on the table and left.
‘Please have your milk,’ Akhila said teasingly. She sipped her coffee and asked, ‘What’s your name?’
‘Bala.’
‘Sweet name.’
Bala forced a smile and quickly finished his milk. Akhila kept watching him and was startled when a hoarse voice called her name. She placed the coffee on the table and stood up, ‘Good morning sir.’ Bala too, stood up involuntarily and looked behind him. A man in his early thirties was sipping from a cup and holding a sheet in his hands. He looked up from the paper and asked, ‘So, what is happening?’
‘This is a customer sir,’ she said, ‘He’s here to enquire about insurance for a Toyota Innova.’ Without as much as a glance at Bala, the man said, ‘That is fine but I think we agreed to engage walk-in customers at the reception itself.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she said, ‘I am sorry. We’re almost done sir. I’ll see to it that it doesn't happen again.’ The man nodded and went away craning into the paper.
‘He might hit something if he doesn't watch his step,’ said Bala in a whisper. ‘I hope he does.’ Akhila’s smile was wicked.
‘Thank you so much. I will come back with the RC and insurance copy.’
‘Sure please do,’ she said, picked a card from her desk and offered it to Bala, ‘Here’s my card. Tomorrow is a Sunday but we will be working. Please come tomorrow.’
‘Why do you work on a Sunday?’
‘Month-end. We usually work unofficially. Give me a call.’
‘Sure I will,’ said Bala, pocketing the card.
‘Now!’
‘Sorry?’ Bala heard it right the first time.
‘Give me a call now from your number now.’
Bala fished his phone out of his pocket and helplessly dialled the number the woman recited. She disconnected Bala’s call and saved his number. Bala couldn’t wait to tell Viki.
***
‘The phone number is not a big deal,’ said Viki, sitting opposite Bala in a small restaurant near the premises of TITGIC, ‘we can dispose of the SIM card any time.’
‘There was a man there. Probably that lady’s boss. Apparently she had violated some rules by letting me inside.’
‘Okay. Any clue about Raj?’
‘Nothing,’ said Bala. He suddenly bent low and whispered, ‘turn around slowly. That guy in the white uniform is Gopi.’
Viki stole glances at Gopi who was still at the billing counter. A waiter handed over a parcel to Gopi. ‘Two chicken fried rice.’
When Gopi turned to leave, Viki read the name on his uniform PMS.
‘PMS?’ asked Bala. ‘Google it! Google it!’ Bala was quick to perform the search.
‘It’s something else.’ Bala handed the phone to Viki. After spending a couple of minutes on the phone, Viki returned it to Bala ‘That explains a lot of things.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like why our teachers behaved differently at times.’ This got Bala thinking.
‘Now, focus here. Let’s meet this guy after office hours and talk to him.’
‘I have a feeling we should follow him for some more time.’
‘How will that help?’
‘Raj either bought the SIM card in Gopi’s name or borrowed Gopi’s SIM card. Which means he trusted Gopi. It is possible that Gopi knows his whereabouts. Maybe Gopi helped Raj elope with that other girl.’
‘All right! We’ll see where he goes after work’ .
The duo spent the next few hours loitering in the neighbourhood of the TITGIC office premises.
‘Viki!’ Bala stared at him his phone.
‘What?’
‘That lady has sent me friend request on Facebook. How did she find me?’
‘Is your phone number visible on FB? People can find you with your phone number if the setting is on.’
‘I didn’t know that. What do I do now?’
‘I think you should accept it.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes, we might stumble on something about Raj,’ said Viki, ‘just a thought.’
A few minutes later, Thank you for accepting my request sweetheart <3
***
Six thirty. Bala’s watch read when people started flocking out of the office in groups. The outflow remained constant till about seven.
‘He might be the last to leave,’ said Viki, ‘after cleaning up.’
‘Let him take his time,’ said Bala, carefully assessing every person that walked out of the premises. He spotted Akhila and showed Viki. He also saw the man he had in the morning, the one Akhila had apologised to, for letting him in. He didn't bother to identify the man to Vicky.
At quarter to eight, Gopi walked out. He wore a brown shirt, khakhi pants and a pair of chappals. Viki and Bala followed him maintaining a distance from him. Gopi walked into a street the duo had wandered into after lunch. Gopi quickly entered a building. Viki and Bala watched.
‘We don’t know which floor he went to’ said Viki.
‘Go up the building,’ said Bala, ‘he hasn't seen you.’
Viki hurried up the stairs that Gopi took. He saw a number of closed shops on the first floor. Lights were on in one shop on the second floor. He carefully treaded towards that shop. He heard noise behind him and stood still. Gopi walked down the stairs and behind him was another man. They did not notice Viki. He was in the dark. He then walked up the stairs to find one downed shutter. Above it, was a board. Kumari Marketing. There were no other shops on the floor. He climbed another floor and reached the terrace, which was empty.
‘They’re in the tea shop over there,’Bala pointed when Viki was back. They saw Gopi and the other man sipping tea.
‘Which floor?’ asked Bala.
‘Second.’
A few minutes later, the short bald man patted Gopi on h
is shoulder and entered the building. Gopi began walking further.
‘We need to be careful around here,’ said Bala, as they crossed the tea shop, ‘they didn’t pay for the tea.’
‘Regulars!’ Viki did not miss the thick bandages on the shopkeeper’s face.
Gopi had entered an area that seemed to house small industries. Viki and Bala stopped behind a parked truck that provided them the necessary cover. Gopi walked up to a gate. A khakhi clad guard greeted him and went inside a small cabin. In a minute, the guard returned wearing a light coloured shirt. Gopi went inside the cabin and returned wearing a khakhi shirt.
‘Same shirt?’
‘Not necessarily,’ said Viki, ‘they may leave uniforms here for convenience.’
‘So he works at night.’
‘I wonder when he sleeps,’ mused Viki, looking around, ‘I think that’s the end.’
‘We still don't know where he lives,’ said Bala, ‘he might go home early in the morning.’
‘We’ll see tomorrow.’ They left.
On their way back, Bala received a message on Facebook. Good night young man.
‘What should I do?’ asked Bala.
‘Say good night. What’s the harm?’
B : Good night madam.
A : Dinner dear?
B : Yes done madam. You?
A : Preparing. It’s so terrible to cook for oneself.
B : Nobody else at home?
A : No, I live alone.
B : Family in some other place?
A : Nah. No family.
B : Okay madam. Good night.
A : Gonna sleep so early sweetheart?
B : Yes madam. Good night.
A : Call me Akhila. No madam and all.
B : Okay madam. Good night.
A : Good night honey <3 Come tomorrow.
***
Innocence. Akhila smiled. Turning the stove off, she turned around and was startled.
‘How do you sneak up without a sound?’ she asked and touched his bare chest.
‘Is it the boy?’ he asked, placing his hand on her jaw.
‘Yes.’ Akhila stepped close and kissed his lips lightly.
‘Do you like him?’ He cupped her bosom with the other hand.
‘He reminds me of you.’ Her hands roamed over his torso. ‘Remember the first day we met?’
‘I would not be me if I forget that moment. I was in twelfth grade and you joined as a teacher, a clever teacher.’
‘Clever?’ Akhila bit his shoulder.
‘Yes.’ He squeezed. ‘You waited till I turned eighteen to even kiss me.’
‘Obviously.’ Her breathing was rapid. ‘I would have ended up in prison otherwise.’
***
Gopi sat on a stool under a lamp, close to the large gate. He wrapped himself in a shawl. He looked at the watch on his wrist. A gift from Ajay anna. The van will arrive in two hours and then he had an hour’s work. He could leave for home by three. He didn’t really like doing it but the money was good. ‘I trust you,’ Ajay Anna had said.
He kept an alarm in his mobile handset at eleven forty-five and slept sitting on the stool, leaning against the wall. He was woken at eleven thirty by the noise of an approaching vehicle. He looked at his watch. The van was early. Grunting, he walked upto the driver of the vehicle.
‘Chips with tamarind pickle and Rasagulla,’ the driver said. Gopi smiled. He had been repeating it in his mind since Ajay Anna told him in the evening. He had gone to sleep only after memorising the password. He didn’t know that he was smiling at the driver for the last time. He opened the gate, let the van in, locked the gate on the inside and got into the van. He could go home thirty minutes early.
Day 6
Viki and Bala arrived at five the next morning. Gopi was gone. They waited for a while in vain. ‘We should stay tonight,’ said Viki, ‘we need to know where he goes.’
They loitered around to kill time.At nine, Facebook messenger beeped on Bala’s phone.
A : Good morning dear :)
B : Good morning.
A : Breakfast?
Do women of all ages talk the same crap?
‘Ignore her,’ said Viki, disinterested.
A : When are you coming, sweetheart?
A : Honey, what’s wrong?
A : I am calling you now. Pick the call.
Just as she placed the phone to her ear, the Regional Head entered her cubicle silently.
She was startled and immediately disconnected the call.
‘Something to do with the boy?’ the Regional Head asked gravely.
‘Don’t keep asking about him sweetheart. I won’t do anything without telling you and stop sneaking up on me like this. It irks me.’
The Regional Head went away without another word.
***
It was a terrifying minute following the knock on the door. A pot bellied man wearing only a while dhoti opened the door. The big red Thilak was fresh.
‘Who are you?’
‘Sir, I am Ambareesh.I need to talk to you about something serious.’
The man eyed Amba suspiciously.
‘Sir, you don't have to throw me out. I won’t come inside in the first place. Please listen to me for two minutes.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Sir, your daughter Gee…’ before Amba could finish, the man sprang forward, caught Amba by the collar and pulled him inside the house in now swift motion.
‘A terrified Amba began pleading, ‘Sir…sir…sir…I only came to give you news.’
The bloodshot eyes were testimony to the man’s fury. ‘She is not my daughter,’ he shouted. The sound brought a lady running to the hall.
‘Sir, she did not run away. She escaped from that school and tried to come home only.’
‘You fool, I know what is happening.’ The woman stood without uttering a word.
‘That bastard ran away with some other girl. Now this bitch wants me to take her back?’
‘Sir…no sir,’ Amba had no words, ‘she needs your help.’
‘Tell her she is lucky she is alive after doing all these,’ the man said. Amba heard the woman wailing.
‘If she still goes around calling herself my daughter, I will kill her. And if I see you again, I will kill you with my own hands’
‘Sir…sorry sir, I will go.’ Amba moved towards the door.
‘I am so ashamed of that thief. Tell that thief I will kill her. Get lost now.’
Amba wanted to try one more time. But the next thing the man said shocked Amba. He opened the door and ran like a lunatic. A ragpicker standing in the corner of the street smiled when a phone dropped to the ground and the owner kept running without looking back.
***
Jainika walked into the investigation arena in jeans and a sleeveless top that afternoon. The office boy was already at work.
‘How many?’ The boy was startled by her question. ‘Forty,’ he said and admired her from head to toe. Jainika was too shocked by the number he had mentioned to notice his ogling. She gathered herself and asked, ‘How many more left to check?’
‘Hundred more.’ The boy went back to work.
She went over to the large table where the forty files lay. She opened the first file and flipped to the page containing the voter’s ID. 1625
‘Good job!’ The boy grinned. She placed her laptops next to the files and began drafting e-mails. She knew the bank wouldn't respond on a Sunday. She however sent the mails with the subject, Important & Urgent - Data required.
She had an impulse to mention the phrase ‘suspected fraud’ but didn’t.
‘Madam!’ She turned to him. ‘One more.’
***
By seven in the evening, the duo were outside the premises waiting for Gopi.
‘There he comes,’ They tailed him giving him a lead of a hundred metres. Gopi performed the same ritual. He climbed up the same building and came down
for tea with the same man. He then walked to the secluded area. The duo followed him patiently. They had come prepared to wait the whole night.
They hid behind a vehicle in pitch dark and watched. A few vehicles passed by. The last one was at about ten.
***
Geetha was awed by the talents people had. She was watching videos on a YouTube channel called People are awesome. The doorbell rang. Amba had asked her to be ready. ‘We’ll be leaving at 3 sharp,’ he had said. While walking towards the door, she looked at the clock on the wall. Five-fifteen.
Opening the door, she began, ’Is this your thre…?' she paused and asked, ‘ What happened to you? you look so flustered.’
‘Nothing.’ He stepped in.
‘Okay. Fine. Tell me when you feel like.’ She went back to the computer.
Amba watched her sit and play the video. He tried to hold his outburst but his efforts were in vain.
‘What kind of a family is yours?’ he shouted. With a confused look on her face, she stood up, ‘My family?’
‘Yes! Your father is saying he will kill you.’ Geetha’s face turned red. ‘What kind of a father is he?’ Her nostrils flared, chest heaved and eyes moistened. Amba looked like a man possessed.
‘He’s saying he will kill me also. Won’t he think for a moment?’ Tears dropped from Amba’s eyes.
‘I told him his daughter needs help and all he could do was to threaten me.’
‘Why did…’ Geetha started but chocked. She bent down and began to cry.
‘Geetha,’ Amba said through his tears, ‘I am going to break a promise.’ Geetha looked up at him.
‘I know you hold one thing against Raj. That he didn’t turn up to meet your parents.’
Geetha’s face turned hard. He has told everyone.
‘He didn’t turn up because…’ Amba sobbed.
‘Tell me. He didn’t turn up because?’
‘Because he was beaten. Beaten like a dog.’
‘What?’ Geetha gritted her teeth. ‘By whom?’
‘Your family’ said Amba.
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