Even though I had gotten closer to Riya recently, I never discussed her family with her. Her parents got divorced when she was very young and she had been brought up largely by her grandparents. I could see now that all that cheerfulness was just a cover up to hide all the pain she had been through. This aunt probably meant the world to her. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
‘Would you like a glass of Rioja?’ I was so absorbed in my surroundings that I never noticed her coming up to me and it almost made me leap with fright as she practically whispered in my ear. I was a little taken aback by her tone because one minute she was the picture of serenity and the next she was, how should I put it? Weird.
‘Yes, please.’ Suddenly she had my full attention. I looked at her more carefully and noticed that there was something very off and strange about Aryana. I was almost getting spooked out sitting in her apartment. I wondered why in the world Riya wanted me to connect with her. It looked like it wasn’t as simple as delivering a package.
We both sat down in awkward silence. Then she excused herself and went inside the bedroom. I was getting slightly uneasy just sitting there. But maybe I was just overreacting.
‘You know, Riya and I are not actually related. We just met a couple of times in Delhi.’
This was weird. Why would Riya make me go through all this effort to go see someone who she had only met a couple of times?
‘I know what you are thinking.’
Was she a mind reader or was I just very transparent?
‘I can tell by looking at you that things are not going the way you want them to—you are searching for inner peace but your inner voice isn’t letting you get that peace.’
I looked at her for a few seconds slightly confused.
‘I am a clairvoyant and I get visions. It’s God-gifted, I don’t know how it happens.’
This was getting freaky and I was annoyed with Riya for not being honest with me. I grabbed my bag, not realizing that the cat had been sitting right next to it. He purred so loudly that I jumped in fright.
‘Relax, Tara. Riya was very worried about you and if she had told you the real reason she wanted you to see me, you would have never come. That’s why she had to lie.’
‘You say I should relax? Riya is conspiring with you and tricking me into coming to see you and I had no idea about it. What kind of a sick joke is this? I do not need to be analysed by psychics or shrinks.’ Because of my exasperation, my voice was getting shrill. ‘Inner or inside voices—whatever do you mean? Do you think I am crazy or something? I am totally in control of my senses.’
‘I can tell you are upset and justifiably so, but please hear me out.’
I got up and made my way to the front door, ignoring her pleas.
‘Please wait,’ she said.
I ignored her and continued to make my way to the foyer.
Then she said something that made me pause.
‘Be careful.’ And then she dropped to her knees and closed her eyes. I was transfixed. I couldn’t budge. She called out to me and gestured for me to kneel with her. It was so unnerving because her eyes were closed but I still felt her eyes on me.
I just looked at her and then left abruptly, slamming the door behind me.
Aryana looked as Tara left her apartment. Then she pulled out a cell phone.
‘Hello. Yes, she was here. She didn’t stay but I think it worked.’ Aryana smiled.
34
I WAS SO mad with Riya. How dare she make my personal life public, knowing very well I hated drawing any attention to myself? It was now getting dark and chilly. I could see there were no cabs around and in my anger I never realized from which direction I had walked in. After walking for a bit I could tell I had reached a dodgy neighbourhood. I held on to my bag tightly and turned, then kept walking in the opposite direction. I almost cried with relief when I saw a subway station. I bought a metro card. The train came, I got on, and took an empty chair, which happened to be in the last car, and just when the doors were about to close, Aryana got on the train. I was now trapped with a crazy woman. This was an express train and it would be a couple of minutes before we reached the next stop and I would be stuck with this lunatic till then.
Before she could say anything, I went off.
‘See I came and looked you up because my friend needed me to give you something, but I didn’t come to be analysed.’
‘I understand that. I am just here trying to help you out.’
‘But you do understand I don’t need your help?’
‘I know but I need to talk to you.’
I saw her looking at me pleadingly but I was too mad to give in right now.
‘Take your time, Tara, but remember I am always here to talk to you.’
At the next station Aryana got off. I was relieved. What a weird woman to be following me on the train. As I sat on the train, I noticed I was the only person sitting in the compartment. Then I noticed someone else. There is a small area between the trains that connects them. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority categorically prohibits people from going from one compartment to another, especially when the train is moving. I noticed there was somebody standing there wearing a sweatshirt with a hoodie covering his face so I couldn’t tell who it was. For a minute, I regretted Aryana not being in the compartment with me. Nervously I stood up, continuing to keep an eye on the person. All the events of Delhi rushed back to me. I felt like I was going to have a seizure.
To my utter relief, just then the train entered a station and I quickly got off. I looked back to see if somebody was following me. Nobody was. I heaved a sigh of relief.
I got back to my apartment. I could hear the water trickling in the shower. I remembered turning it off when I left. I tiptoed to the kitchen and grabbed a spatula like it would protect me and made my way to the bathroom. The shower curtain was closed. I inched closer and closer, and pulled at the curtain. There was nothing there. I turned the shower off. I went back to the kitchen, turned on the kettle to make some chamomile tea, and went into the bedroom and to pull out an outfit.
That’s when I knew somebody had been there. I could smell perfume and it was mine but I hadn’t worn any today. I had an intercom in my apartment that connected me to the lobby downstairs. My heart had started palpitating. I needed to calm down.
‘Hello. I am calling from apartment 14 C. Did someone enter my apartment today?’
‘No, Ma’am, not that I can think of. Let me look at my log book just to make sure.’ Then after a pause she added, ‘I don’t see anything here.’
‘Okay, thank you.’
The perfume was more prominent on the bed linen. It was driving me nuts. When I had moved into this service apartment, I had been told that there were no washing machines or dryers in the apartment. I decided to peel off the sheets, duvet cover and pillow cases but then I couldn’t find any detergent or a laundry card. I rounded it all up in a ball and threw it on the ground and started stamping on it angrily. I just had to get rid of it. I couldn’t stand the sight of the linen with the smell, a reminder of a part of my life I wanted to forget.
I went to the garbage room and leaned over into the garbage receptacle. It was nothing but a shoot leading to God knew what. I leaned over to throw out the linens. I felt like I became stuck at the moment—something, or rather someone, was pushing me into the receptacle. I tried to push back but the force was way too strong. I started screaming. Then suddenly I was released. I turned back and saw an elderly lady looking at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
‘You all right, honey?’
‘Yes. Was there anybody here?’
‘No, I didn’t see anyone. I came to throw garbage out and found it strange that a person would spend so much time leaning over. So I tried pulling you out but you resisted and started screaming! Are you okay?’
‘Yes,’ I stammered out.
35
AS SOON AS I entered the apartment, I sat down on the floor, holding myself tightly. I
started crying and just couldn’t stop. At some point, I made it to bed. I tossed and turned all night long. I knew I wouldn’t get much sleep. Maybe a walk would do me some good and help clear my head out.
More than ten years ago, people would have thought I was crazy to be walking alone in Manhattan but now it was pretty safe. I wore my pjs, slipped into a pair of furry Uggs, wore my trench even though it wasn’t very cold and tied a scarf around my next to protect my throat. This part of Manhattan, being close to the water, got very windy. I made my way downstairs and started walking. I didn’t know for how long I had been walking but I could feel myself calming down. I had inadvertently entered the Wall Street area and crossed Harry’s.
I continued walking along one of the deserted lanes. During the day this part of town bustled with activity. At night it was a ghost town. Maybe going out for a walk at this time of the night wasn’t such a bright idea. I didn’t know what made me turn around but I got this feeling somebody was behind me. I looked back but there was nobody there. I decided to continue walking but then again, I heard a rustle behind me. I started walking slowly at first and then faster until I crossed a store window. I could see someone wearing a dark trench coat on the other side of the street. I started walking faster.
Stupidly, in my preoccupation, I never noticed how far I had walked. I increased my pace and he increased his, then I started running. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice a jagged stone and I tripped over it. I shut my eyes and prayed to God to save me. This was a nightmare. This could not be happening to me. I opened my eyes and saw the man wearing a trench looking at me strangely. I tried getting up but couldn’t move. Before I could shout for help, he pulled out my scarf and held it out towards me.
‘Ma’am, you dropped this back there. I tried calling out to you.’
‘Oh thank you,’ I said apologetically. He probably thought I was some kind of looney.
I knew he wanted to offer to help but I felt awkward, so to ease the awkwardness I quickly stood up.
I thanked him and made my way back to the apartment.
In the same apartment building a couple of floors above, way past midnight when he was sure everybody was sleeping and the pool was closed, he made his way to the club house. Tonight was the time to celebrate. He was getting very close to his goal and he was happy. With that happy thought he dived into the cold water.
36
I WOKE UP in the morning. I was relieved that I had managed to get some sleep considering the night’s events. I instinctively reached out for my laptop to check my email. To my surprise, Mr Kapoor had sent me an email stating that the meeting would begin later this afternoon, around 2 p.m., because one of the people we had to meet was not available until then. Just as well, I thought, I was sleep deprived anyway.
So I lay back in bed and decided to laze around for a bit. When I was much younger, I would crave excitement and now my life had become a bit too exciting for me to handle. There was a book shop in the Lower East Side, the Corner Book Store, which I made a point to visit every time I was in town. Maybe today was a good day to pay the bookstore a visit.
Just then my phone rang. It was Sailesh.
‘Hello?’
‘Tara!’
‘Yes?’ Oh God, I had completely forgotten about Sailesh.
‘Tara! I need to see you.’
‘Sailesh, we will be meeting this afternoon.’
‘I know but I need to see you before we meet the others.’
I could sense the urgency in his voice.
‘Ok. I was going to head to the Lower East Side. There’s a cool brunch place called Café Orlin where I would like to go. You think you can make it there by 11?’
‘Yes.’
‘Okay, see you then.’
I hung up. I wondered why Sailesh had this sudden desire to see me. It must be something to do with Project Emerald . . .
I got out of bed. There was a coffee maker in the apartment even though I preferred a cup of tea in the morning. I turned it on, popped in a K-cup, and took out some skimmed milk, and heated it in the micro. While the coffee was being prepared, I walked over to my suitcase and pulled out a pair of black pants and an off-white shirt. That should do it. I stepped into the shower, got out, got dressed quickly, had my coffee, and was off.
I needed to call Riya and give her a piece of my mind, but that could wait for the time being.
I reached the restaurant and the aromatic smell of pancakes and maple syrup guided me in. Sailesh was already there, sitting right in the back. I reassured myself that this would be short and painless. Besides, the food would more than make up for the company.
‘Hi, Sailesh.’
‘Hi.’
I was a little taken aback when I saw him up close. Instead of his usual cockiness, he had that fidgety energy and looked pretty unkempt. It very unlike the immaculate Sailesh I knew and saw every day.
A cheerful waitress came in and took our orders.
I couldn’t get my mind off the pancakes so I ordered them. There was something about comfort food that always pepped me up. Sailesh ordered Eggs Benedict and a glass of Mimosa for both of us.
‘Tara, you must be careful.’
‘Why?’ My thoughts were interrupted.
‘I know what happened last night.’
‘What do you mean, you know what happened last night?’ I held my hands tightly together.
‘I was at South Street Seaport heading back after drinks and I thought I saw someone like you. So I called out to you but you were walking very fast.’
‘Point being?’ I knew I sounded a little rude but it was a cover up for the pit in my stomach.
‘Tara, I can bet on anything you were being followed.’
I stared steadily at him not sure if he was serious.
When he saw the disbelief on my face, he knew I did not believe him.
‘If you don’t believe me, wasn’t there someone who returned your scarf to you last night?’
Oh my, he was indeed telling the truth.
‘Okay, Sailesh. What if I was to believe what you were saying?’ Somehow I knew that he was telling the truth. Why was I still trying to challenge him? So I decided I didn’t really have a choice. I might as well play along with him.
‘Did you get a chance to see what he looks like?’
‘No, I couldn’t see him at all. All I could see was that he would have gotten to you if it wasn’t for the stranger who returned your scarf to you.’
‘Sailesh, if you knew all this, why didn’t you come up to me then?’
‘Tara, coming up to you would have made this guy suspicious. Besides, I wanted to be sure of what he was up to so when I knew you were in safe hands when that stranger approached you, I decided to follow this man around.’
‘And you know where he went?’ My heart was in my mouth now.
‘To some place on the Upper West Side. I saw him entering a townhouse.’
I sat there completely stunned. Then it struck me the guy was very smart. He probably knew Sailesh had been following him around so he led him to Aryana’s house. Then Sailesh would come back and let me know. I, on the other hand, would know I wasn’t free of him. I decided I would keep all this to myself but made a mental note to call and meet Aryana again just to check if she had anything to share with me. Or was he reminding me that he knew exactly where I was going?
‘I appreciate your warning me, but why should I believe you?’
‘What option do you have?’
I just looked down at the untouched pancakes. Suddenly, my appetite had vanished. I looked at him and I knew what I needed to do was to get away.
‘Sailesh, please excuse me but I really need to get going.’
‘You haven’t touched your food!’
‘I know.’
‘Take care, Tara.’
Just before I turned to leave, I looked at Sailesh. ‘Thank you,’ I said.
Sailesh looked at his plate, then at Tara’s untouched delicious pancakes, and
decided he might as well have both to celebrate his victory. He hadn’t lied to Tara, only conveniently stretched the truth. He had been returning to his hotel when he saw her walking in a crazed way. He decided to follow her just for fun and spook her out. The only part that didn’t quite fit into all this was the other person following her. Out of curiosity, he wanted to follow that cokehead to see where he was heading. But then again this world was full of the strangest and weirdest people. Maybe he was just some homeless guy who was high. Right now he was happy with what he had managed to achieve. He needed to edge Tara out of Project Emerald and he was succeeding. Now nobody would stand in the way of him and his success. He had worked way too hard to get where he was. Best of all, he hadn’t had to work that hard for it, it was like everything had fallen into his lap.
37
I RUSHED OUT of the restaurant. One thing was clear: my mind wasn’t playing games—there was someone who had been following me. But why? I thought I had left all that behind me in India. But I knew whoever this person was, he was dangerous and he was out to get me and would not leave me alone until he did.
Just then I was passing the Corner Book Shop. I really did want to buy a good book. It would help divert my mind. I went inside and was greeted by a heavily tattooed guy. I smiled at him and started browsing through the books. ‘Café Del Mar’ played in the background. I felt there was someone behind me: it was the tattooed shop owner.
‘Wow. That’s a great looking lighter you have. It’s a serpent, right?’
I hadn’t noticed it but I had unconsciously pulled out the lighter from my bag and was playing around with it between my fingers.
I look at him quizzically and without saying a word, I handed it over to him.
‘Those eyes are that of a mamba.’
S.t.a.l.k.e.d. Page 9
