Team : Maximus Dramaticus
Paresh
opened his eyes with feeble cries of pain in his temple, which was unbearable,
saw bright reflection and felt that his wrong deeds had made his way to death.
The
beeps of the medical instrument was only to be heard and he lay in the bed
helpless with no one beside him and thought, “I am now reviled by the person to
whom I helped to lead, Ahh! Damn you come in front you coward”.
His
evil soul was constantly pricking him saying , “Prof Paresh you are a criminal; Yes! a
dirty mind. See you are my slave now, nobody is with you Paresh, just no one;Ha..ha
ha”. Paresh screamed in despair and went unconscious.
**********************************
Lallan nervously calls
from his hideout, “Work accomplished and no proof left. Yes! I am very sure
about that, no doubt”, where on other side of call there was a sigh of relief.
**********************************
Cyrus
was tensed and worried for Jennifer and her unanswered calls made him even
jittery. Past days were so unpredictable thought Cyrus and decided to visit
Jennifer in wee hours. Chill breeze of January made Cyrus shiver; he zipped his
jacket, put on the hood and started walking towards Jennifer’s hotel that was
few miles away.
A
lot of thoughts ran through his keen mind uncountable questions rose in past
few days made him analyze each person from depth, but somehow he connected all
events with Shekhar. He always kept his list of to do things with him. Forensic
report details shocked him and was desperate to share it with Tara, as she was
the one Cyrus trusted most.
He
was so indulged in his thoughts that he couldn't realize that he already
reached the hotel. He quickly crumpled the paper and reached out at the
doorbell.
**********************************
Jennifer who was so
engrossed in blog that after reading each post she told to herself “Cyrus is
quite different person than I know”. Laying back she clicked on the post titled
“Purity of love…”, but soon her laptop went off due to low battery.
“Little break from Chupa
Rustam Cyrus” smiled Jennifer and started looking for charger in her bag,
plugging charger she now felt the hunger, which was diminished in surfing the
blog.
Taking the menu in hand,
deciding what she could order at midnight, doorbell rang. Being over cautious
from past event (kidnapping) Jennifer peeped in to key hole and saw Cyrus
standing rubbing his palms, trying to keep himself warm. Jennifer opened the door saying “Oho! The man
with versatile talent is right here”.
Cyrus for a moment stared
at Jenny, who was looking gorgeous in magenta Puma jacket and black lowers, and
could not resist complementing, said “Jenny you are looking like a lotus in a
pond”.
“Thank you Cy, come on in,
I am about to order snacks, will you have it” Jennifer asked looking at menu.
“First you answer me, Why
you did not pick my calls”, Cyrus authortively questioned.
“Oh Cy, wait for a
moment”, Jenny calmed him and ordered sandwiches and coffee at reception.
Cyrus who was waiting for
her answer stood impatiently thinking what made Jenny so busy and looked around
for a chair to sit.
“So Mr.Writer, I was busy
reading a blog” Jennifer turned to Cyrus after keeping the receiver down.
Jenny calling him writer,
Cyrus was sure that she has found his blog said “Oh, that! It is just few words
here and there”
“Only words, and what
about pictures”, quizzed Jenny.
“Which pictures are you
talking about”? Cyrus tried answer confidently; praying that Jenny would have
not read all the posts.
“These one, Look. And how
come you have my childhood images” Jenny called Cyrus to take a look at his
laptop.
“So you don’t remember
Jenny, when and where it was taken”, quickly asked Cyrus.
“No. I don’t”, Jenny
answered trying to recollect.
“See here in left, it’s
me. It was taken in Ladhak, where our fathers were posted for a year, and we
resided in same colony” Cyrus revealed
Jenny amazingly looked at
the child in picture and at Cyrus, again and again and said, “You have changed
a lot Cyrus Daruwala how chubby you were then and now so lean”.
**********************************
Tara completed reading few
documents turned to see Roohi unhappily siting with her paintbrush in hand and
gazing at her painting.
“Roohi you didn’t sleep
yet, it’s late. C’mon keep your painting stuff aside and lie down” Tara said
her while keeping all files in order.
“Mamma, why are we not in
Mumbai” Roohi muttered
“What are you saying dear,
be little louder”, tiredly Tara responded.
Roohi started crying
saying “I want to go back to my home, where everyone was so happy, where I was
not scolded for playing hide and seek. Let’s go Mamma”.
Soothing her Tara replied
“We shall very soon go Roohi, once the puzzle is solved, we shall leave”.
“Which puzzle you are
solving mamma, I am good at puzzles too, May I help you”, innocent Roohi
thought of helping her perplexed mother.
“Thank you my little
princess, Mamma shall solve it”, keeping Roohi’s painting kit aside and
unfolding the quilt Tara assured Roohi “Soon we will be flying for home, but
first go to sleep”.
Thinking now a
professional shall solve this mysterious puzzle, Tara dialed a number, and the screen
flashed “Dialing Painting Sir Aryan”.
As the phone was ringing
on other side, Tara mused “How she was glad to meet an honest officer in one of
her outdoor assignments, who was brave at heart and extremely intelligent Aryan
Ahuja, who was now residing as a neighbor. Very few knew he was under cover
cop, and Tara was one of them, due to professional commitments she never even
whispered to anyone.
After many rings Tara
heard, “Hello Ms Tara” from the other end of call.
**********************************
@AuraOfthoughts