"I spy you!" - 16

“This is the girl I was talking about. This is the mobile phone. Track the number and trace the caller” said Padmanabha to a young man who was in the laboratory which was on the eighth floor of the intelligence office and left from there.

Vasupradha wondered why she was not introduced properly to the young man. He was a good looking man, little on the plumper side but soon Vasupradha realized that the man was muscular. May be by using the gym. She could see that the man was almost the same age as her.

“First let me introduce myself. My name is Durjaya. I belong to the State of... “ he started in English and then shrugged his shoulders and said, “What the... I am an Indian!” he grinned and extended his right hand.

“I am Vasupradha... and I belong to India!” she laughed, shaking his hand. She felt he had a very firm grip.

“I like your laugh!” He declared unabashedly. Vasupradha blushed and suddenly realized that she has to retaliate in the beginning itself so that he would not take advantage of her.

“Hey you look quite young. My year of birth is ... what’s yours?” she asked as a matter of fact.

He told.

“What month?” she asked excitedly since the year of birth matched. He told the month.

“What date?” she asked again more excitedly since they were born in the same year and month.

When he told the date, she was very happy.

“Ahha, now you are my younger brother! You are younger to me by a day!” she exclaimed and patted him on the back.

“Oh older sister! Since we have already established our relationship, can we concentrate on what have to do?” he asked dramatically.

Vasupradha smiled and then became very serious. She had a photographic memory. She was a very fast learner. She understood how Durjaya opened the mobile and connected the SIM Card to an equipment in the lab.

He then pressed a few keys on the computer and a number of multi colored lists appeared on the computer screen. He then searched the list and triangulated on a particular number based on the timing at which the fake ID woman had received the call from the kidnapper.

He then opened another computer and opened the relevant software and fed the telephone number in that computer. There, as if by magic, the address of the caller appeared.

He jotted down the address on a Post –It and handed over to her.

“Go to the Facilities and collect your phone and call me on this number” he said and recited a mobile number. When she repeated it without any pause, there was a look of admiration on his face.

"I spy you!" - 15

Vasupradha recognized one person as the Deputy Head Padmanabha. She had a shock when she saw the second person. It was this man who tripped over Vasupradha’s extended foot and fell forward.

The man glared at both Vasupradha and the fake ID carrying woman.

“Bhanu, this lady seems to have stirred a hornet’s nest” said Padmanabha and turned towards Vasupradha and told, “First job, very impressive!” his eyes twinkled.

Vasupradha went red with happiness and embarrassment.

The other man said, “Boss, this lady came to my office and said she is from other State’s capital. She was asked by a man to meet this other man in the room and be friendly with him.

“How friendly?” asked Bhanu and looked at the man’s red face and said, “Ok, tell about the man who asked to take this up”

She was contacted over her mobile and she was asked to go to a photo studio and collect the fake ID. She was given instruction by mail that she has to meet the man in the room. She did what she was told to because her son was already been kidnapped. She was threatened that the boy would be killed if gone to police.

She was just asked to snatch the briefcase which is now with Vasupradha. Taking the cue, Vasupradha handed over the briefcase to Bhanu.

Bhanu looked at the other man asked, “What is in that?”

He said that it contained some drawings and designs of the latest telecom equipment which is being installed by the Air Force.

Bhanu became visibly alert and told Padmanabha, “Please try to trace the number of the kidnapper in her phone and ask Vasupradha to check for the leak. Let her find out who the person is and why the drawings are required and to which country he is trying to sell”

Padmanabha took Vasupradha with him. The other man was asked to stay back for further discussion. The security came and took away the other woman with them.

Vasupradha went behind Padmanabha very excited.

“How do I know what to do Sir?” she asked. She found that she was breathing heavily.

She was finding it difficult to breathe normally because she was overcome with excitement.

The job is getting interesting day by day.

Oh, I am becoming a real spy at last! She thought happily.

"I spy you!" - 14

She seriously asked him, “What do you see when a person enters the office?”

He was confused with her question, but still replied, “The photo ID”

“So, you will let anyone who carries an ID?” she asked seriously.

Then she explained, “Mr. Security officer, it is not the ID you have to see. It is the person who has to be scrutinized. You have to choose such a team who can literally remember all the employees of the office”

He could not see the relevance of her talk. That she could understand.

“Look, I joined yesterday. I have an ID card.” She called the woman and asked for her ID. She hesitantly gave it.

“Please check both of these” she told and dialed her boss Bhanu’s number.

It did not take long time for the clever security officer to see that the ID of the other woman was a fake.

“Sir, please speak with my boss” said Vasupradha and gave the receiver to him. His face went from white to red to deep red. He mumbled “Sorry, won’t happen again” and put the phone down.

Now both of the women went up to the 10^th floor.

Bhanu was alone in the room. A lot of papers were strewn on her table.

“Young woman, can you explain?” Bhanu asked. Vasupradha felt funny to see that Bhanu was looking at her directly while her glasses were on placed on a lower place on her nose.

She started explaining whatever she did. She was accurate, brief and clear.

“Now madam! Can you tell me what were you doing in my office? That too with a fake ID?” she asked the other woman sternly.

The lady broke down and started narrating her part of the story. She was asked by an unknown person to go and stay for two days in this office. For doing that, she was provided the fake photo ID by that man. He had also kidnapped her son and held him captive to get a work done from her.

“What work?” asked Bhanu.

“I befriended a person on the same floor. I was asked to steal a brief case from him and hand over to the kidnapper. Once he received the briefcase he had promised to release my son” she could not speak further and broke down on the sofa.

Bhanu was still contemplating what to do next when there was an urgent knock on the door and two people rushed in. 

"I spy you!" - 13

She just thought for a flash of a second and rushed towards him and stretched her leg in front of his running feet.

He fell forward and the pistol went with a bang. She acted fast and held his hands behind him. As she had no handcuffs with her, she took the gun and ran from there.

She reached the woman who had stopped by hearing the gunshot and was trembling like a dry leaf.

She now took her hand and ran to the main road. She hailed a cab which came at that moment and pulled the woman into it too.

Vasupradha now took command of the situation. She asked the cab driver to drop them in front of a mid-sized hotel in a suburb.

Ensuring that there was no one who was following them, she entered the lobby of the hotel and went to the restaurant.

When they were sitting face to face, she asked the woman, “Now tell me what spying are you carrying out in our office”

The woman’s face became as white as the egg shell.

“Me? A spy? Who told you?” she asked with rounded eyes.

Vasupradha patted her right hand and smiled. Then started her narrative.

“You came inside the office. You took a room in the office. You went out suspiciously. You called someone and asked for your son. You went to the outskirts of the city. I followed you. You suddenly came out with a brief case and a man pursued behind you with a gun. The rest of the story you watched”

The woman sighed. She never told her name. It was not important felt Vasupradha.

She told why she has come and what her problem was. When she spoke about her entry to Intelligence office Vasupradha’s mouth was agape.

She took the woman with her to the Intelligence office.  Vasupradha assured her that she won’t be tried under any espionage law. But she has to pay the price for getting into the office under a fake ID.

It was getting about 6 pm and most of the officials had left. She could see lights in her boss’s room on the 10^th floor.

She went to the security room and found the security chief and beckoned to him.

He asked their IDs. Both produced their photo cards.

He said “you may proceed”.

Vasupradha asked the woman to sit there and called the security chief aside. 

"I spy you!" - 12

The other person must have asked her where she is staying.

“No, I can’t tell where I am staying. I don’t want you to bring your goons to thrash me!” she burst into tears and put the money in the tray placed by the waiter which had the bill.

She left in a hurry and stood outside the Mall to catch a cab. By the time Vasupradha rushed to reach her, she had taken a cab and vanished from there.

Vasupradha felt very bad. She had made a mess of it. Oh, what would Ms. Bhanu say? She thought with dismay.

She took back a taxi to reach her home. She was alone in the house. Actually she was alone in the world. Her parents had died long ago in a train accident. She had come up in life in a hard way. She wanted to become a spy and here she was.

But she was unable to catch the ‘spy’ mentioned by the boss which was making her feel very uncomfortable.

She had to something to catch her, that too red-handed.

Next day she was ready when the lady went out of the Intelligence Office building and took a cab. She hired the next cab in the queue and followed her.

The woman went to the outskirts of the city and stopped the cab. She got down, paid the driver. The cab went off.

The lady walked towards a very old building. Vasupradha got out of her cab a little further and started running towards the way the woman in the front took.

By the time she went nearer to the building, she saw the woman in question coming out of the building in a rush and running towards the main road. She had a brief case in her right hand.

A man was pursuing her with a pistol in the hand. 

Vasupradha was wondering what should be her next step!

"I spy you!" - 11

Taking that signal as her dismissal, Vasupradha came out of the room and sat on a sofa which had been placed there for people waiting to meet Ms.Bhanu.

She looked at the photo keenly. She was not able to make out whether it was a male or a female! The person was wearing a pair of pants and a white shirt. The face was covered with huge pair dark glasses. The photo must have been taken while the person entered the building. The harsh sunlight had thrown dark shadows on the face.

She started thinking about how to even catch the person. While she scrutinized the photo, she suddenly realized how she can do it! There as a date and time stamp on the photo!!

She went down the steps thinking deeply. She did not realize that she had gone down 10 flights of steps to reach the ground floor.

She went out and met the head of security. The man was about 45 and looked trim every inch. Is he as good as he looks? She thought and showed him the photo.

“Yes madam, I only took the liberty of sending the snap to the boss” he said.

“I want to meet this person” said Vasupradha.

“Well, you just missed her!” the security chief said.

Oh, then it is a she! Thought Vasupradha and asked which side she took.

She followed the security chief’s directions and found that the lady in question was walking towards the big Mall nearby.

Vasupradha followed her. She took all precaution to avoid making the lady in the front suspicious.

She actually need not have worried. The woman in the front was unaware of anyone following her!

She went into a photo studio. She stayed there for 20 minutes. Vasupradha hid behind a pillar nearby and watched the entrance. Finally she came out and went into a beauty parlor. Another hour was spent. Then she entered a food court and had a burger and a coke.

Vasupradha went and sat next to her table with her back to the back of the suspect. The suspect dialed a number over her mobile and started speaking to someone in a strange language. After listening for a minute Vasupradha could make out the language. It was a language she had learnt for the heck of it. She never knew that the learning of the language is being very useful now!

The lady in question was pleading with someone to send her son back. She could not make out the recipient’s relation with this lady. She was saying that she would anything to have her son back. 

"I spy you!" - 10

She had a tough time in even finding her boss’s chamber. The organization had a funny way of working. There were many rooms. None of them had any names or designations of the officials who may be occupying the room.

She had wandered like a mad girl to reach to the boss’s chamber. She finally espied an old person who was dressed in white pants and coat. He was carrying two coffees on a tray. She got emboldened to ask him about her boss’s chamber.

“Madam Bhanu’s chamber, which is it please?” she asked him. She was now on the 9^th floor of the building.

The old man peered at the young woman who asked him the Head’s chamber. She was about 5’9’’ tall and had a good structure. The face was very attractive without being called a classic beauty. If someone sees her eyes they would fall for them. They were the most clear black colored eyes. In fact, the white color was less than the black in her eyes giving her a permanent amazed look.

“Your first job?” he asked the girl. She did not flinch to reply him. Vasupradha had been brought up well. She treated everyone equal. She did not demean people based on their dress, caste or creed.

“Yes Chacha!” she told and smiled. The old man fell for her smile. He asked her to go to the 10^th floor which is the topmost floor in the building.

She had thanked him and entered the only big room there. She was sure that Ms. Bhanu, the Head of the Intelligence Office would be inside that room and there she was!

She was with her Deputy Mr. Padmanabha. Bhanu was about 55 year old and looking trim for her age. She had worn a neatly starched green colored cotton sari. She had a boy haircut neatly trimmed. Mr. Padmanabha was about 50 years. He was thin and reed like. The most redeeming features which caught Vasupradha’s attention were his square wide black framed glasses, receding hairline and a thick almost white brush moustache.

After talking about being coming in at a very appropriate moment, test for her etc., Bhanu had told, “We have a suspicion that one of our colleagues is a mole and we want you to spy on that person and find out the truth”

Naturally Vasupradha was thrilled. She had read so many novels and general books on Spies and their espionage operation even since she had started reading books. She was an avid watcher of the espionage movies. The Second World War had given way for too many books and movies on Germany, USSR and Allies, etc. The CIA of the United States of America and its covert operations.... oh... she was waiting to become a spy and now she has landed in this job after going through the required tests and passing out in flying colors. Of course, she had to get some top official’s recommendation too.

“Tell me Madam Bhanu! What should I do?” asked Vasupradha. She could not keep the excitement out of her voice.

“Call me boss. No need to Madam me or Bhanu me. Is that understood?” there was steel in Bhanu’s voice.

Vasupradha dumbly nodded.

Padmanabha pushed a photo on to the table towards Vasupradha. “This is a photo taken by our security camera of the person. We do not know where this person sits or works. Please ensure you keep a watch on this person for the next three days and give us a report of your findings” he said and turned towards Bhanu.

"I spy you!" - 9

She made the decision to call the expert whom she wanted to meet. She remembered the number even after so many years.

Vasupradha had a photographic memory. To take a cue from Pushpahaasa’s comment, she had an elephantine memory.

‘I hope he remembers me!’ thought Vasupradha when she took her phone to dial the number of Swayambhu. He was a scientist in the Intelligence Office.

“Hello stranger!” the laughter in the voice was heard over the phone from the Nation’s capital to the State Capital.

Vasupradha felt relieved. She thought she has been totally forgotten by most people in her office. People who knew her as just a colleague had forgotten her. But people who knew her as Vasupradha did remember her. Swayambhu was one of them.

“Can you come on a secure line?” she asked cautiously.

“Vasupradha! Are you in any sort of trouble?” the concern in his voice was genuine.

“Please come on a secure line and call me!” she disconnected the phone.

She did not have to wait for long. Swayambhu came on the line and asked, “Now tell me!”

Vasupradha knew this tone of his voice. He was all ears to know what she was going to say.

She started talking. The talk was about 3 minutes. It was accurate, brief and clear.

“Ok, let me call you later. You be aware that it may be after another 12 hours also. Is that okay with you?” he asked.

As she had no other choice, she said yes and the line went dead.

It is a long wait thought Vasupradha................

She remembered her first day in the Intelligence Office. She had come to meet the head of the organization after finishing her formalities.

She knocked the door of her Chief’s office and went in and introduced herself.

The Head was talking to the Deputy Head in very serious tones. The moment they saw her, they looked at each other and smiled.

The Head said, “Welcome Vasupradha! You could not have chosen a better time to join. We are giving you a test assignment. Of course, by this, you could hone your skills”

She eagerly awaited her boss’s next words.

The Head said “We have a suspicion that one of our colleagues is a mole and we want you to spy on that person and find out the truth”

Vasupradha felt a thrill run through her body!

"I spy you!" - 8

But the next moment Amruta said, “I have known you too well Vasoo! I can understand that you don’t want to talk anything about this time’s trip. That is why you are saying like that”. It was as if she was declaring taking her own decision about what Vasupradha has done.

Vasupradha felt defeated. She said, “I have been asked to meet someone in the Capital. So, I am on my way”

“Oh, is that so? Go ahead” Amruta said and added, “That hateful Durjaya is here! I had to be polite to him, you know, in your absence!” she could feel the disgust in Amrutha’s voice about Durjaya, a colleague of  Vasupradha.

Vasupradha liked Durjaya. She could not understand why Amruta hates him. In fact, Amruta would pointedly ignore him or leave Vasupradha’s house whenever Durjaya used to visit her.

Vasupradha was seeing a younger brother in Durjaya. She did not tell him or Amruta about her feelings. But she was very happy whenever Durjaya visited her.

He was still an active officer in the Intelligence office. Many a times Vasupradha was getting updated about the office affairs only by Durjaya.

But even he was kept dark about Vasupradha’s son. She was very clear about that. She did not want anyone to know about her son’s existence. Even when she had to be in the company of Pushpahaasa, he had been told that she has a son of about 6 years. She had kept him with a very trusted old woman who had taken care of him like her own grandson.

She disconnected the phone to concentrate on the present problem despite the grumblings of Amruta.

She was seriously contemplating now whether she should go further to the Nation’s capital. Will it help? It is the heart of the Intelligence Office. She is prone to be recognized in the Nation’s capital. What other options she has? Can she get the person whom she is going to meet to come here?

Why not? She could take that chance. During her tenure of 10 years with the Intelligence Office she had picked up quite a few friendships apart from Amruta and Durjaya.

She felt that she should try her luck to get the person here. But the person has to bring a good number of equipment here to take care of her son.  Is it worth the risk?

She was literally tearing her hair taking into consideration all the options.

The youth on the bed started moving. She immediately became alert and rushed to him and did what she had to do to calm him down.

By seeing his condition, she felt that she has to get him treated under the vigilance of the person whom she is supposed to meet in the Nation’s Capital.

Her other worry was Pushpahaasa. He won’t keep quiet. She felt that his sudden appearance is not a coincidence. Especially when he made mentioned that ‘when time comes, I shall let you know’. That was a clear indication of ‘I will meet with you again’.

"I spy you!" - 7

She was ready to leave by 5 am.  She was sitting in the car. The youth was back in the backseat.

She might not have even slept. She had sent word for Upendra through one of the servants when she heard his footsteps.

As she was very alert, she peered through the window and found that it was the servant.

Upendra came to her door at 4.30 am and knocked the door. With the help of the servants the car was pushed up the gradient. The radiator was checked for availability of water.

She paid him and thanked him for his hospitality. She was looking behind for Pushpahaasa’s presence. He was not there. If he was there, he must have been well hidden watching her leaving.

Her sole aim was to pursue her journey. So, her judgment was more than clouded as far as Pushahaasa was concerned. In her hurry to leave the place, she forgot to ask Upendra about Pushpahaasa’s presence. But she also knew that Pushpahaasa would have told a like to Upendra too. But still she should have known. But then it was too late!

She stopped once for breakfast. She did not get down the car. She asked to be served in the car. She reached the capital of the State without any untoward incident by 11.45 am.

She checked into a hotel. The youth was put in a wheelchair and shifted to the hotel room.

She called the flight office and booked two tickets for an early morning flight to the Nation’s Capital. Now it was the time to wait and watch.

Just when she was hoping that she is fine and things will go smoothly, her mobile rang. When she recognized the caller, she tried to ignore. But it did not stop ringing till she took the call.

“Hello Vasoo! Where are you? I believe you are out of station? I am stuck here in my place. Please let me know how to come and meet with you.”

It was Amruta a close friend of Vasupradha.  She had met her during her secret stay in a small city. Any other time would have been good to talk to Amruta. She was staying in the opposite house of Vasupradha. Vasupradha became close to her. Amruta had gone out of station. Vasupradha did not know where she had gone. Some times Amruta was secretive. Vasupradha dismissed her absence as some clandestine affair of hers since Amruta did not give any clue about details of her marriage!

‘Amruta is a good woman and she adores me’ thought Vasupradha.

“Ammu! Please! please...!! ask questions one by one. I can’t answer so many questions together. I am on my way to meet a close friend. I will call you once I finish my job” Vasupradha told in as mild a tone as possible.

“Ok ok, but what did you do about your son?” Amruta asked.

“What? Sorry, I can’t hear you. Some signal problem” replied Vasupradha evidently not liking to reply the question.

"I spy you!" - 6

Was it ten years since he went away from her life? Not to return again? His company of six months was enough for a lifetime, thought Vasupradha.

Those were the days she was scot-free. She wanted to take a holiday permanently from her job. Yes, Pushpahaasa had promised her a great life ahead. Promised her? No, there was no promise from his side, her conscience told her. She presumed that the life with him would be permanent. She had quit her job, though her boss was not happy with her decision.

After all, she was the best in her job. Come to think of it, Vasupradha did well whatever she did. May be it is her way of life. So, it was very easy to slip into the role of a lover. And Pushpahaasa! My God, he was a great lover! Physically, emotionally and mentally she had become the slave of his attraction, behavior and character. He was totally against her being so submissive.

He had seen her as fast as a cheetah, eyesight as sharp as an eagle ... etc. In fact, he was teasing her always.

“Vasupradha! Each one of your character has been made by God by taking the best character of each of the animal and bird” he used to hold her from the back, nuzzle her neck and whisper like this.

She was pushing him away and used to say, “That means I am an animal for you, you beast!”

He was laughing his head off and was trying to catch her again. She would intentionally get caught in his arms. She loved his strong arms and always wanted to be in them as long as possible.

“Do you know? You are lovely as it is! But when you are angry you look lovelier!” his hands would roam on her body and she used to become hot by desire.

She shook her head and came out of her reverie.

She has to be very careful! She has to again deal with a dangerous spy.

By thinking like this, she became totally alert. She was remembering that once upon a time, she was also a spy, a very good one at that!

"I spy you!" - 5

The dachshund ran behind him barking happily.

She could not eat any more. She got up and washed her hand in the wash basis which was just outside the dining area. Rain drops started falling on her. She did not bother.

Upendra, who was a silent witness for the whole scene signaled to his assistant who came there with a glass tumbler filled with milk to go behind her.

Vasupradha walked back to her cottage. The food consumed did not give her any relief. It rather aggravated her feelings.

Why this man should meet her here? If it is a coincidence, why? If not, how come he is here before me?

The estate personnel showed torch light in front of Vasupradha so that she could easily walk on the flat stones embedded in the earth.

When they reached the door of her cottage, she took the tumbler and thanked him. While he was just moving away from her she very casually asked, “That Sahib, since when he is here?”

She expected anything but his reaction. The torch fell down from his hand. He was trying to retrieve the torch. The light from the torch was swaying on the ground from side to side. The moment he had his hand on the torch he vanished from there.

Vasupradha came inside her cottage thinking deeply. Why such a reaction? Is the complete estate staff under some sort of duress? If so, who is threatening them? Pushpahaasa? It sounded little far-fetched.

She forgot every other thing once she went near the bed. The power had not got restored. So there was a feebly burning lamp in one corner. She shook the youth on the bed and made him sit. He did not open his eyes. He opened his mouth. She made him drink the milk little by little. She wiped his mouth with a small towel lying next to the pillow and slowly lowered his head on to the pillow.

She badly wanted a bath. But the weather did not allow her to take a cold bath. She just wiped clean her face, hands and legs and came to the bed. The youth had slept in a haphazard manner. She did not have space to sleep on the double bed. She thought she could shift the cot a little away from the window. But she could not! When she found out why, a small smile came on to her lips. There was no wooden or metal cot. It was a square stage-like construction. May be this was to avoid insects and reptiles to hide under the bed.

She had already seen a wooden chair. She put her pillow to the back of the chair, stretched her legs on the edge of the bed and slept in that uncomfortable position.

The sleep eluded her despite the weariness of the weather, driving hard in the rain and the tension of traveling looking on her shoulder almost every minute.

Pushpahaasa’s face loomed large in front of her closed eyes.

"I spy you!" - 4

The rains continued. Funnily there were no thunders or lightning. It was like music to the ears. The wick in the lanterns which were placed next to him started slowly shaking. She could see his shadow grown and the head of the shadow was on the roof shaking.

“So you remember my name at least!” teased Pushpahaasa with a smile in his voice. It was the manliest voice Vasupradha had ever heard. The body was matching with the voice then. He was very handsome. It was easy to get cheated by him. He was looking the most trustworthy person. Even with his lean frame now, he looked the same trustworthy. She had trusted him to the core the last time she was with him and it had left her with a wound enough to last for a lifetime. She had then felt that it was the last of him she had seen.

But the fate laughed at her ignorance. It had hell bent on putting them together again.

“Come on Pushpahaasa! How can I forget you? As far as you, no one who comes across you can forget you?” she said eating a piece of Chapati along with Bhindi curry and continued, “Let me get this straight. Why are you here?” she asked him looking at him directly.

Pushpahaasa matched her stare and said, “For the same reason as yours I am sure”

“Where is your son?” She taunted him.

“My son? Are you joking? Don’t you remember about ou... my son?” the slip of the tongue was deliberate.

“That is why I asked. I am taking my son to the hospital. He is not well.” Her voice had become very dull.

“What is wrong with him?” Pushpahaasa asked. There was a glass of brown colored drink. She supposed that he was drinking liquor.

“I don’t know. He is very dull, almost dead to the world” seeing Pushpahaasa’s expression, “No, no, he is not in coma. He is not ready to move. I am unable to wake him. The local doctors could not do anything. So taking him to the city” she inhaled heavily and concentrated on her eating chapatti and bhindi curry.

There was a sound in the corner. The owner Upendra had come to check how they are faring. The dachshund came behind him and snuggled under Vasupradha’s feet.

The dog’s body heat was very soothing for the underneath of Vasupradha’s feet.

“Now! Tell me the truth! Why are you here?” She reiterated her sentence.

Pushpahaasa got up and started roaming in the dining hall area. He was looking everywhere except at her. He just said, “When it’s the right time, you will understand” and walked away from there into the rains towards the other end.

"I spy you!" - 3

She smiled inwardly and said, “Can I have a glass of milk? I will take it after my dinner”

“Ok madam. My man will be outside and bring you to the dining hall” he said and lifted his hat as a mark of respect and left from there.

The solar energy saved in the morning had given its power to an incandescent lamp. It was looking like a kerosene lamp. Single phasing must have happened. So, the light was not very bright.

She freshened up keeping an eye on the youth on the bed. She felt a lot better bodily. Now, a little food would help her to regain the whole strength to continue her journey and mission.

It was a treacherous mission she was undertaking. Not that she wanted to. Actually it was highly uncharacteristic of her to take up such a mission. But she was cornered to take it up.

The man from the estate was waiting for her outside. She stepped on to the path made by placing 3X2 feet flat stones.

Something brushed past her feet and she jumped out of her skin! All the cells in her body got stiff to be ready to attack the attacker.

She was quite relieved when she saw that it was a dachshund dog which was all black.

The narrow path between some canna plants brought her to a big open quadrangle with a tiled roof on the top. There was a lantern in two corners. The rain’s pitter patter was accompanied by the Malaysian bamboo set which was swaying with the breeze and making musical sounds.

She espied a shadowy figure standing in a corner and taking food from the utensils which were placed at one corner of the verandah.

She became alert! Is she already encountering some enemies? She shook her head. No, it is not possible. No one knows that she is here.

She approached the dinner corner and took a plate. The shadowy figure and gone and sat in front of one of the tables spread there.

After taking the food which looked tasty even in that dull light she turned to sit on the table.

“Hello Vasupradha!” said the all too familiar voice.

She swiftly turned towards the voice.

The man whom she had ‘known’ ten years ago for a short period of 6 months and whom she thought is gone forever has just found her! Or did she find him?

She could only say, “Hello Pushpahaasa!”

She wondered whether this is a pure coincidence or ....?

"I spy you!" - 2

She heard a noise and found that there were two or three men who came running now. One had a hat on his head and other two a gunny bag each.

The man in the hat had an umbrella in his hand which he offered it to her. She indicated towards the backseat. There was a youth of about 16 sleeping.

The two people with gunny bag on their heads opened both the backdoors of the car and maneuvered to take the youth out of the car and ran towards the cottages which could be seen with the torch light the man in the hat was showing.

She followed them and reached the cottage. She was very wet. But she had to see the condition of the youth.

The two men had deftly placed a plastic sheet on the bed and made the youth sleep on it. Taking the cue from the men, she opened an airbag and took a dry set of clothes and handed over to them. The men changed clothes of the youth and slowly lowered him on to the other side of the bed and removed the plastic sheet.

When the two men went out of the cottage, they were wondering what is wrong with the boy and why did he not open his eyes even when they changed his clothes?

She could have answered that question. But she had too many things on her mind to think of this trivial information.

There was something familiar about the way the rescuer ran. It triggered an old memory in her mind. But as said earlier she had too many things to take care immediately.

She had to stop in this place since she was helpless.

The man in the hat came inside and introduced himself. “I am Upendra. Please let me know when you are ready so that I could arrange for dinner”

She was overwhelmed with relief. She wanted some food to recoup her strength.

“Thank you Mr. Upendra,  you are...” she stopped in the middle though she was sure that this man was the owner of the estate.

“I am the caretaker madam...” he smiled and said, “Ever since my father handed over the entire 800 acres of Coffee estate as legacy”

She just let it pass and said, “I will be out for dinner within 20 minutes. Would you be able to share your torch please?”

“Of course madam! This is for you” he said and took out another torch from his shorts packet and handed over to her.

“How about something for your son?” he said while surveying her. She was on the wrong side of 40s and the boy looks 16, so it must be her son.

She thought... my son!

"I spy you!" - 1

She looked shockingly at the man who sat in front of her. He was looking a shadow of his earlier self. How could anyone look so bad? That too in a span of just ten years?  Whom she thought had left her forever!

She asked him the same question. He smiled with a tinge of naughtiness and replied, “Time has taken its toll”

She had to grudgingly agree. Yes, time played a very crucial role in bringing them together, separating them cruelly and bringing them again under strange circumstances and at a much unknown place.

He was the last person she thought she will see at that place.

The darkness fell all of a sudden and it started raining very heavily. She was driving a car. She had no choice but to stop. She could not open the windows as she had a sick youth in the car. But due to the heavy rains the front glass became very hazy and she could not go any further.

She decided to take shelter somewhere nearby coffee estate and start the next day morning before the break of the dawn. It was imperative that she goes away from that place before anyone traces her path and tracks her.

And she had the sick boy!

She felt that the distance of the hill roads are longer than on flat and straight roads. Each kilometer takes more time to cover.

After what seemed like a long time, the car’s headlight picked up an arch. She peered at the top of the arch. It said Jannat. Oh, a good name for an estate! She thought.

She got down the car and ran to the gates and pushed them open. She was totally wet in those few seconds. She returned to the car, started it, went inside the compound, stopped it and ran back to close the gate when it happened!

The car was not in its place where she had left. It had started rolling downwards since there was a down gradient. She gasped and ran towards the car to stop it. But the down gradient was quite steep. She was contemplating what could be the next step when suddenly a dark figure from nowhere ran towards the car, overtook it and pushed a big log to slow the car speed. The next moment the figure jumped inside the car by opening the driver’s seat. The car which was pushing the log now stopped.

She ran near the car now. The figure came out. She could make out that it was a man. She wanted to thank him. But he was gone!

Musings

When I decided to write the story of cancer patients it was not a new decision. I was contemplating of writing about the fatal disease from a very long time. In fact more than 3650 days!

On one hand, I wanted to write. On the other hand, I was not ready to give any solution for the problem because I am not qualified to give!

So, I decided to take a via media path. Why not bring out awareness and if possible, a few preventive measures too?

I have seen people who have literally ‘dumped’ their parents in front of an old age home. Actually it is good in a way. The children are good. They could have left somewhere at the end of the world where they won’t be taken care.

I have seen parents, heard about parents, who went out of their children’s lives/houses, since they had contacted the never curable disease.

With this background I decided to write. I wanted the blog to be small and readable in a very few minutes. The other idea was to keep an element of suspense every day so that the readers should at least feel like continuing the next day.

I am not sure how much I have been successful. But at least two of my readers have said that it is gripping and melancholic. A rare combination! I had read my favorite Author Mr. Yandamoori Veerendranath’s racy novel about a girl who has cancer – Prarthana. Ever since then I was wondering whether I would be able to write about cancer and still create an element of suspense throughout the novel.

There were other points raised by one of my readers. I usually keep attractive names for the characters. In this book, there are only names throughout the book. Nammu and Dammu. All other characters have their names as their professions. I wanted to be the narrator, but I felt a young man would fit the bill. Hence the first person narration.

I have to be pardoned because this is a novel I wrote after 10 long years! 

What's her mistake ? - 50

I typed out the whole story using a computer and took a print out. My first readers were Dammu and Nammu Aunty.

Dammu liked the part where I had written about Nammu Aunty’s plight. Nammu Aunty said, “You have written Dammu’s story in such a narrative that it reads like a suspense story. Sonny, please write more stories”. She phoned her daughter who was in the USA. Nammu Aunty happily told me that her daughter was on the road to recovery. She had even promised to come when she can really make it.

I was curious to know what Nammu Aunty’s reaction was about what I had written about her sons and daughter. She did not say anything. Does that mean she has agreed about my views on her sons and their callous behavior?

I made the mistake of giving the story to one of my friends who was very inquisitive. He finished reading in one sitting and returned the script to me and said, “You should give this to magazine for serialization and then you should bring this out as a book”. My happiness got blown up like a balloon by his encouraging words. But his next words were as if someone took a pin and pierced the balloon!

“You have written somewhere that Dammu told you why she wanted Nammu Aunty in her house and to be part of her family. But you have not given explanation for that anywhere. Please tell me - what did she say to you?”

I got really cheesed off. I glared at him for a moment and said, “Why are you asking? The readers are intelligent. They will definitely guess what Dammu said” and suddenly smiled and patted his back.

Let me finish here.... I have to rush to the balcony.... I  have to catch my favorite scene.... Dammu and Nammu Aunty going for a walk.

I want to capture that scene in my heart everyday as long as possible... as long as it happens......

-0-0-0-

What's her Mistake ? - 49

“Dammu! Look at this passage about Vedanta! The author talks about how to use Vedanta for gaining materialistic wealth!” Nammu Aunty was telling on top of her voice.

I was just entering the house after completion of my work that day. Yes, Nammu Aunty’s voice was back in full swing! She had slowly recovered and became quite strong!

Dammu came in from inside. She was looking little thin. Have the cancerous cells started spreading again? I wondered.

Life is full of surprises. Nammu Aunty who looked almost about to leave this world had become better. Dammu who was very strong had started to look weak!

When she settled next to Nammu Aunty, Dammu said, “Do you know what I think Nammu? We may not go to hell when we die”

“What? Why this revelation now?” smilingly Nammu Aunty asked.

“It is very simple. The torturous tests we have undergone are no lesser painful than the punishments in hell” laughed Dammu.

Nammu Aunty just smiled and told in a very serious tone, “Dammu! I will say like this. The karmas what you mentioned the other day, praarabdha, Aagami and Sanchita – all these would be totally turned to ash if we keep doing good deeds and do not even think of harming others. To extend what you said, may be God wants us to undergo all possible tortures on the body and maybe HE will decide that enough of births for these two cancer stricken ladies and take us into his abode”

Dammu was silent for quite some time when she heard these words. Then as if to lighten the mood of the environment, she got up and held Nammu Aunty’s hands and made her get up and started a slow dance and said, “Wow! That would be nice. We can stay together forever. And of course! I hope that this killer cancer would not follow us to heaven!” and laughed. Nammu Aunty laughed with her. Seeing these two nice ladies laugh, I also started laughing........

Well, what else is there? The story is over.  Did you not observe the dots after the last word in the above paragraph? It means the story went on forever.

I keep watching them in the morning. Both of them dress up according to the season and go for a walk.

Sometimes I go with them for shopping. They take me when they go to the movies. They insist that I spend time with them on my non-working days. The education cum fun for the kids of Jaaji village was happening on Saturdays and Sundays once a month. Even Dammu started taking classes. She was very popular for her comical stories and anecdotes. But as usual, Nammu .. Amma ... Nammamma was doted by the kids.

I really do not mind spending time with them. Two ladies who are having their face towards life even though they know that they may vanish from this world any day. That seemed to be the last thing on their minds.

What's her Mistake ? - 48

“Go fast!” Dammu was urging her car driver. She was not sitting relaxed on her seat. She was leaning forward.

She looked at me and said, “Young man! Hope you have the full address of the place”

I said “Yes”. The place was outside the city limits on the other side. 

We must have reached there in record time!

The moment car stopped it was a race between me and Dammu to reach the destination first. We were so much eager to meet our favorite person.

There was a big Neon Sign on the outside of the building. Dayaalaya. A temple of compassion!

The building was built on a vast site. There was a big quadrangle on which there was lawn. People of various ages were there. Some were sitting. Some others were walking.

There.... sitting alone... eagerly looking at the gate, awaiting our arrival .... was Nammu Aunty!

The heavy bodied Dammu overtook me and reached Nammu Aunty!

I remembered Dammu’s words which she had uttered when I asked her why did she want Nammu Aunty to be a part of her life.

Nammu Aunty could hardly speak. It was a whisper.

“What did happen Nammu? How did you end up here?” Dammu asked with tears coming out of her eyes continuously.

At that point we were aware of a lady who was standing behind Nammu Aunty.

I am combining the narrative of that lady who happened to be the warden of the institution, a cleaning woman who found Nammu Aunty.

It was somewhere at about 9 pm when the cleaning woman of Dayaalaya found a heap of clothes in front of the gate. Generally she would not go out at that time of the night. She had to meet her daughter outside the city. As she was an inmate she was returning to the institution. Lucky Nammu Aunty! That’s how she was found and survived!

“Ours institution is the last resort for cancer patients. When people come to know that the patient cannot be cured of cancer and when they are not required by their family, but need a place to stay till their death, this is the place. Many rich people have contributed for the building construction and maintenance. Your sister must have been brought here by one of your relatives. Does she have children?” the warden asked.

We did not reply by looking at a signal by Nammu Aunty who pleaded not to tell.

“She had no money on her. She had lost consciousness. We brought her in and kept her under strict medication. The moment she woke up she whispered your number and we dialed it and you are here” she said.

We thanked her profusely and left from there. Nammu Aunty was feeling happy and relieved.

We reached the car which was outside the compound. Nammu Aunty and Dammu got into the car. I was about the get into the car when someone called me.

I could not see who it was due to little darkness in that area. I excused myself and went near the place from where I heard the voice.

It was a youth who had a small store with biscuits, chocolates etc.

He said that he had left the store to relieve himself near the compound of Dayaalaya.

He heard some noise near the gate. Since he was in darkness no one saw him. He had seen the thin lady who just now entered the car was dragged out of the car and dumped in front of the gate. The car vanished almost immediately. He thought it was a dead body and got too scared to report.

Today when he saw Nammu Aunty alive and kicking he felt like telling me. I thanked him and sped to the car. But did not feel like telling this to Dammu . I am sure Nammu Aunty knew who dumped her in front of Dayaalaya.

But my blood boiled!