"I spy you!" - 71

She was facing this dilemma during two times. One – when she was with him, two – when she was not with him!

The truth hit her like a big bag of ice falling on her head. She is not a hypocrite as far as Pushpahaasa is concerned. She was always liking him... liking...? no, she was loving him. She was ready to do anything for him. She could not think ill of him. Was that the reason that she did not believe when Amruta took his name as her attacker?

Whatever he did, was it acceptable to her? She did not dare to reply her mind. The heart had decided to go with him.

“Please!” she told in a protesting voice when she saw him getting ready to sleep.

“What?” he asked. Did she heard a hint of laughter in his voice? She could not fathom.

“That... I don’t like” she pointed to him. He looked at himself with surprise.

“What..? what you don’t like?” he asked with such an innocent voice that she felt her ears, cheeks burning hot.

“Please wear some more clothes while we ‘live’ together!” she gave emphasis to the word ‘live’.

He laughed loudly. It must have been heard by the people in the opposite side. He had stripped down to his shorts. He was topless. His sinew muscles had her heart racing. But the worst part was when he came near and held her from behind.

She tried to struggle and suddenly stood still since he bent to put his mouth to her ear and said, “I can see 2 shadows. Probably they are spying on us. We have to continue this charade for their sake”

She blushed very naturally, because his hot breath was tickling her ear and the nape of her neck.

Only after he ensured that no one was watching, he let her go.

This continued for about... how many days?... gosh, 6 months, she thought on that particular day.

She was not sure how Amruta was doing?

She had called once from a public booth.

“Oh Vasoo, where are you? I miss you a lot!” Amruta mentioned in a whining voice.

“What baby you got?” Vasu asked.

“Oh Vasoo, have you lost track of time or what? I am about to deliver. May be within a week. I wish you were here during the delivery of the baby” said Amruta in a sad voice.

I must have really lost track of the time. She and Pushpahaasa acted as a very much married couple for the sake of the onlookers who could be spying on them.

But the sense of time had left Vasupradha. If Amruta was pining for her, it is better to go. But the job is not yet over. I wish I could go away thought Vasupradha without knowing that her wish was about to be fulfilled. But the circumstance.... it was not a very pleasant one.

"I spy you!" - 70

Vasupradha looked at Pushpahaasa immediately. She wanted to know how he reacts when he confronts such a situation. After all, we have to learn something from our known persons.

His face was expressionless. But he was alert, which she could see.

“Why do you think so Adhokshaja... Gadaadhara?” he addressed both the young men.

The way the people of the two houses behaved did raise suspicion.

“They are too normal.... You know what I mean... it is never like a regular house where there will be bickering, talking back etc., Here everything goes too smoothly. It is almost as if they don’t want anyone to even check them. The other day Gadaadhara went to ask for a glass of milk since the milk at home had gone bad....” said Adhokshaja.

Gadaadhara took over from there. “The house has only men. I have not seen them going out of the house at any time.”

“How did you check that?” enquired Pushpahaasa immediately. Gadaadhara said that when he went there to ask for milk, they did not allow him inside. He was even gently pushed back when he tried to step in.

“If they have no problem, then what is the wrong in going into their house?” asked Adhokshaja.

“Some people are very private. So they don’t allow outsiders” Vasupradha tried to justify.

“No madam” said Adhokshaja and turned to Gadaadhara and told him, “Tell about what you got a glimpse of”.

“Oh yes, probably they did not expect me. When they saw me in the door, they carried something inside in a jiffy. Somehow it gave me an impression that it is an electronic device”

“What type of device?” asked Vasupradha.

“Lot of wires hanging around it...” Gadaadhara told in a hush-hush tone. “Is it a bomb?” asked with his eyes wide open.

“Hello, don’t you see movies?” teased Pushpahaasa. His voice had become milder observed Vasupradha. “We don’t know what it is with your description, but let me check” said Pushpahaasa getting up. So the youth got up.

“Will you tell the police yourself?” asked Adhokshaja. Pushpahaasa just nodded his head and opened the door and looked on both sides. “No one is here. You may leave. Don’t tell anyone. If you see something, please tell me!”

The command in his voice made those two young men to agree, thought Vasupradha.

Once they went off, Pushpahaasa closed the door, turned to Vasupradha and said, “Our job starts. We need to act. I am sure they would be observing us” and he walked near to her and held her from behind. Vasupradha’s heart stopped for a moment and started beating fast!

Oh God! Why am I feeling uncomfortable? Was it not the same I was always craving for?

"I spy you!" - 69

Now Vasupradha observed them. They were a pair of very young men. Might have been about 19 year old. Tall and well built. One was with a moustache and a day or two’s beard. The other was clean shaven and good looking. Vasupradha thought both of them were good looking and handsome in their own way.

“Now, can you tell me the meaning of your sudden barging in?” asked Pushpahaasa in a very severe tone. Even Vasupradha found that she shivered at the sharpness of his voice.

The boys (Yes, somehow Vasupradha felt that they looked like two boys who had lost their way and got stranded there!) looked as if they have been hit by a sharp arrow. She felt sad that both of them looked as if they were about to cry. Only thing was that they did not cry. Within a second or two they started looking defiant.

“I asked you who are you and what are you doing here?” asked Pushpahaasa with the same rough tone but there was a little softness in the voice now.

“My name is Adhokshaja” said the young man with moustache,  “And his name is Gadaadhara”.

“So, can you please give me the reason for your sudden appearance in our home?” repeated Pushpahaasa stressing each word.

Both of them looked at the windows. Vasupradha felt that they were trying to see whether their pursuers are still behind them.

It looked Adhokshaja was the talkative of the two. He mentioned that they are from a northern state and they have come here to try for a job.

“What job?” asked immediately Pushpahaasa.

“Medical representatives” said Adhokshja.

“What job your friend would do if he does not even open his mouth” told Pushpahaasa with sarcasm.

The other boy Gadaadhara looked as if he has been shot at. He opened his mouth to tell something. But Adhokshaja touched him on his thigh and motioned him to keep quiet.

“So, what’s the reason? Are you the only one who knows to talk tactfully? Is that why you are asking him to be silent?” Pushpahaasa threw barbed questions.

“No uncle, nothing like that” Adhokshaja opened his mouth. He had a very pleasant voice.

“I will tell uncle” said Gadaadhara.          

The two could tell a queer story. They lived in the outhouse. They felt that the house in front of theirs and the next house were having some people who were not at all friendly. They were always trying to spook these two boys.

Pushpahaasa was a little skeptical in the beginning. But his face grew serious as the boys narrated their experiences.

“We have a doubt that the people in the two houses do not have good intentions uncle. Looks like they are up to some nefarious activities” said Gadaadhara with his eyes wide open.

"I spy you!" - 68

She wanted to tease him. “What is etc.,?" she asked. Her voice was out of breath. The man of her dreams is actually touching her, being intimate with her. Even a little earlier on this day, she wouldn’t have dreamt about it.

“I will wash the utensils. I will wash my clothes. May be you help me in keeping the place clean and of course, I hope you can wash your clothes!” there was a smile in her voice.

The arms were still on her shoulders. Her heart beat was so fast that she hoped against hope that it won’t be heard by him.

Suddenly he separated from her and stepped away and kept a distance of 2 feet between them. She became very disappointed and angry. Disappointed that he was no longer touching her and angry on herself for having the feeling of disappointment.

What is happening to her? Why can’t she consider him as another colleague, say like Durjaya. Her lovelorn heart slapped her mind saying that even to compare the two is a sin. She considered Durjaya as a young brother. But she could not think of doing like that with Pushpahaasa.

Zaalim mohabbat bhi kya chaal chal gayi.... the treacherous love has played such a move in her life’s chess game... really very sad state of affairs.

She did not hear any of the words he uttered till they reached the house.  Her mind was admonishing her heart for this hopeless situation. She has to be strong, she thought.

Once they neared the house, he suddenly came nearer to her and put his long, strong arm very lovingly on her shoulders and pulled her towards him. Her heart went for a toss. What is happening? Why this sudden change of moods?

Then she realized and felt dismayed. He was playing his part of ‘husband’ to the core. They are in front of their ‘house’. In case if there were prying eyes, they would be hoodwinked with this intimacy.

He opened the lock holding her little tightly at her waist. She felt searing heat where his hand touched her. It was almost that he left his hand impression there. But the moment the house was closed from inside he stepped away from her.

She was confused, but then she remembered that he was married. So, naturally he did not want to take advantage when they were alone. Actually she was supposed to appreciate his action and thank him, instead she was feeling cheated!

She did not know what she would have uttered, if there was no sound on the door. It was a loud bang on the door, as if they were very keen and in a hurry to get inside.

Vasupradha became very alert. She looked out for Pushpahaasa. He too was looking at the door very cautiously. He signaled her to open the door. She went soundlessly and opened the door. Two people rushed in as if someone is pursuing them!

Both of them were stopped by the stretched hand of Pushpahaasa. Both of them stopped as if hit against a rock.

Pushpahaasa pushed them and brought them to two single sofas and made them sit.

"I spy you!" - 67

“Hey! What happened? Let me in!” said a man’s voice... manly voice which she immediately recognized.

This man! He has the power to make my life go topsy-turvy! All my sharpness seems to vanish when this man is in my vicinity! Vasupradha thought. But he just barged in and closed the door as if someone was following him.

She was still in the dazed condition due to the nightmare and his sudden and unexpected return. She was surprised to see him carrying two suitcases.

It was at that moment it dawned to her that ‘he’ was going to be her ‘partner’!

Her heart stopped for a moment and started beating fast! It is a sort of dream come true! If she puts two and two together, he and she have to work as a team... as husband and wife... a charade for the sake of onlookers! Even if it is not a real one, the drama itself is acceptable.... ooh! Pushpahaasa all for myself!

‘So, you are going to carryout ‘all’ the duties of a wife?’ teased her inner voice. She could not reply. She can’t do whatever she is supposed to do! it is a make believe drama. So, she need not surrender herself to him.

But... but... she thought, there is only one bedroom! What is the sleeping arrangement? It was as if she was doing a double role of a good girl and a bad girl. Good one wanted him to stay away from her physically. The bad girl wanted to spend each moment staying as near to him as possible.

He solved the issue very simply. He selected the Diwan at one corner of the hall to sleep. Only his clothes were kept along with hers.

“No one should suspect that we are play acting!” he started saying and stopped. He did a methodical search for the presence any bug. Though he looked satisfied, he suddenly took her arm and led her to the bathroom. She was shaking with fear, apprehension and thrill.

But she need not have worried. He was more interested in talking to her some basic rules. He turned on the shower and the tap in the sink. Above those to noises he said, “I will sleep in the hall! The window curtains would be drawn tightly and no one would suspect that we are sleeping separately. But once you get up, I will go and sleep on the bed in the room”

She understood and was barely able to nod. Her whole self was gone somewhere! Such a proximity with the loved one, especially when least expected!

They locked the house and walked hand in hand towards a restaurant. Vasupradha badly wanted to pinch herself to know whether it is for real or not. But she knew that he was playing his role. They had sumptuous food in the restaurant. She observed that he did not make small talk. Was there a hesitation in him? May be! She could not get any more impression than that.

They came out of the restaurant and walked towards home. He stopped and turned towards her, put his long and strong arms over her shoulders and said, “If you don’t know cooking, I shall prepare. You can help me in doing jobs like cutting the vegetables etc.,”

"I spy you!" - 66

He nodded his head when she gave him the address. She was eager to know what his job was in this town. She was hoping again and again, is he going to be my partner? Would not be a dream-come-true for me if it is so?

She made all sorts of promises to the God. If Pushpahaasa became her partner for this assignment, she would enjoy every moment as if it would never happen again. She would allow him to do whatever he wanted to do with her.

‘This is very unjust thinking Vasupradha!’ her alter ego shouted. This can’t happen! You can’t be a doormat for someone else. You have your own life and self-esteem.

They caught an auto. When he told the address to the auto driver, she marveled at the deepness of his voice. So manly! How come God has given every beautiful thing to this one man!

The auto reached the destination. It was a single bedroom house. She went into the kitchen. She found everything available. She prepared tea and poured it in two glasses and collected a packet of biscuits she had found there and came to the hall.

He was sitting there on a chair. He was going through his mails using his iPhone.

She came and handed over a cup of tea. He absent mindedly drank it.

She sat in a chair next to his and sipped her tea. She also nibbled the biscuit. Her mind was in questioning her. Who is going to be her partner? Was she going to be there with that person (whoever it is) for a very long time? This man... has he come to drop me or has he some other hidden agenda to stay here? She did her minimum duty of a host by offering him tea and biscuits.

The time dragged.

He got up suddenly and said, “Please lock the door!” and went out closing the door. She slowly walked to the door and bolted it from inside. Now is the wait for the other person whoever it was.

Pushpahaasa went off as if his role is over, as if he has done is duty of reaching her safely to her destination. This is not fair! Her heart cried. But the man, her heart stealer was gone!

She went back to her chair and stretched her legs. She adjusted her backrest pillow to give some support to the back of her head and closed her eyes. She was thinking whether this was what she wanted in her life. Traveling to some strange place, ‘live’ with a stranger, risk the life in many ways.... she dozed off. She had no inkling of time. May be the bus travel had zapped her energy.

She was in deep sleep. She saw Pushpahaasa in her dream. Dream?.... no, it was a nightmare!

She was going on top of the hill alone. She suddenly slips and rolls down the hill. She grabs a branch of a tree and hangs on to her dear life. She was shouting for help. She saw Amruta coming from somewhere and throwing her belt to Vasupradha. Belt? Why it is not a dupatta?.... No! it was not Amruta, it was Pushpahaasa!

She got up with a start. Sweat was pouring out of forehead and back of her head. She became aware of a knock on the door. She got up unsteadily and opened the door.

It was dark and there was no light in front of the house. She could not make out who was standing at the door.  She tried to close the door and the person outside had put one foot inside!

"I spy you!" - 65

“Are you planning to stay in this jungle?” Pushpahaasa asked with a tinge of laughter in his voice. Vasupradha hurriedly got into the bus. Pushpahaasa walked in and Vasupradha followed him. The driver applied brakes suddenly and Vasupradha swayed and was about to fall down. But a pair of steel arms which she knew too well steadied her. She had no choice but to fall on his chest. She felt heavenly. But the next moment she found to her dismay that the other passenger in her double bed is Pushpahaasa himself!

He seemed to have understood her plight and let her sleep on the window side and he slept on the aisle side. She could not trust herself to be restraint in front of him. The tension in her was quite crackling. She was hoping against hope that she would not put her arm round his neck or on his chest!

Thankfully Purshpahaasa sorted out that problem in a simple way. He placed their luggage  between them. She could not even see him in total except for his face. The small light ray from the space between the two curtains was falling on his most good looking face. She must have fallen asleep only for a few minutes.

She heard him calling her name. The name sounded so sexy in his voice. ‘Hey Vasupradha! You are obsessed with him. That is why whatever he does sounds good for you. Oh, poor girl!’ teased her conscience.

She got up and sat now. The bus which had slowed down, now completely stopped.

Both of them got down the bus as the other passengers did. But it seemed their journey was not yet over. They were asked to wait for another bus which would take them to the destination city. After what seemed an eternity, the replacement bus came. They again went into the bus. As it was daylight no one went to sleep. Both Pushpahaasa and Vasupradha sat on the bed with their backs to the partition between the beds and legs stretched.

‘Why this man is coming with me? That too he joined somewhere in the midway. What is happening?’ she thought and stole a glance towards him. He was lost to the world. Must have been quite some time since he slept deeply. A smile danced on Vasupradha’s lips. He was getting cramped because he was quite tall for the stretch of the bed. She felt blood rush through her body. Oh God! This man is too good looking. Why is he coming in my life again? I was hoping that I would never see him again.  Whenever I see him I get the idea of having him for myself forever!

She was so muddled with her thinking that she lost the track of time. Again it was Pushpahaasa who woke her up.

“Did you I wake you up from your sweet dreams?” he asked in a very mild tone which almost caressed her.

She shook her head so wildly that she got hit by the rod which was behind their head.

He immediately pulled her towards him gently and rubbed the portion where she hit her head. Oh God, please don’t give me these things temporarily and pull them out from me! Her crazy mind was praying.

He stopped rubbing only after getting her assurance that nothing was wrong with her head.

She now wanted to know whether he knew the address she wanted to go. She was wondering who is going to be her mate in this charade? What was the result they are looking for?

"I spy you!" - 64

Sleeping in the A/c sleeper bus was a new experience to Vasupradha. She entered the bus and found that the bus had about 3 to 4 beds in two rows. One side double beds and on the other side one side single beds. Oh, there were both upper and lower berths.

Oh God! Which is my seat...? She thought as she entered inside. The booking was done by the office. To her horror she found that she was booked in the aisle side seat of a double bed!

Whose idea is that? She thought furiously and went to the driver to change the seating. But the driver asked her to go to the ticket booking office which was a little far away.

“Please come back fast! We are leaving almost immediately!” requested the driver. She walked fast towards the ticking office. The signals made her wait before she could cross the road. The booking clerk raised his hand showing helplessness.

“Sorry! No alternative” he said. Vasupradha asked him about her ‘bedmate’. The clerk told that he has no clue about the other passenger. He also suggested that once the person comes, she can change the ‘bed’ if the other person agrees.

So, they don’t even know whether the other person is a male or a female? But she had no time to think since frantic calls came saying that the bus is just waiting for Vasupradha to get in.

The bus moved and Vasupradha thankfully flopped on to the bed. Though her bed was on the aisle side, she decided to stay on the other bed since she had the support of the side of the bus was duplicating as ‘wall’ for her.

The bus sped on for some distance. Vasupradha’s eyes closed to drift into sleep though the mind was alert about her strange partner who did not show up even after 2 hours of travel. She suddenly woke up. She did not know what made her start like this. She could not sleep anymore.

She got out of her bed without knocking anyone and came to the door which separated the passengers from the driver. She opened it and came out. The driver was sitting at the steering wheel and driving the bus with full concentration.

She sat on the seat which was near the door and stared outside. The bus was surging forward putting back many trees. The big glass in front of her reminded her of a big movie screen. The fine dust particles were picked up by the high beams of the headlights of the bus.

The picture looked fascinating to Vasupradha and she was totally lost in it when it happened.

The driver had to stop the bus suddenly when a man came in front of the bus. Vasupradha who was watching the road from quite some time, could not understand why, of all the people, Pushpahaasa should be the one who was stopping the bus!

Yes, it was her dream man! He had forced the bus to stop. The driver who was already cursing Pushpahaasa under his breath now started making loud noises. But when Pushpahaasa came nearby his abuses came to a standstill as if a cat had bitten his tongue.

His right hand raised to salute Pushpahaasa. Vasupradha got down from the bus to give space to Pushpahaasa to get into the bus. He got in and looked at her. 

"I spy you!" - 63

“Hello, Elder sister! Waiting for me?” asked Durjaya. He was on a scooter and alone. She just smiled at him and sat behind him. She did not trust herself to speak civilly because Pushpahaasa ignored her!

They reached office in silence. She went to her seat and checked for any specific mails. Surprise of surprises! There was a postal mail from Amruta!

Vasurpradha felt guilty that she was not able to tell Amruta about what she actually did. So, the letters were routed in a painful way!! A post box number in a post office which was far from the office; from there a staff’s job was to collect the letters and dump it in another post office which was half way to the office. From there to a third post box address. From there it was reaching her. So, the date of the letter was quite old.

Amruta had written about the renovations she had to carry out in both her house and Vasupradha’s! The rains created havoc by seeping into the houses. Once the rains subsided, she had carried out the repairs and she happily had closed her letter saying that, ‘next time you come, it won’t have any water seepage and I will ask the routine question – when am I seeing you next?’

Vasupradha did not have any reply for Amruta’s last question. What can she say? The projects were getting heavier and heavier.

As she had heard and read in some books, the persons who work well would get more and more assignments. By her luck or by her sheer hard work, she was getting good name every time she was assigned a covert job. As she was coming out every time with flying colors, she was given tougher jobs.

Of course, this time she did not know yet whether she had done a good job. She felt that her recent trip was a fiasco. She was lucky to come out of it alive.

She went to meet her boss Mr. Padmanabha. Strangely he was very detached. He greeted her as if she was in the office every day and not gone out at all. There was no mention of what happened to her etc.,

She started to say, “Sir, I came back from the trip....” and she was rudely interrupted by a lift of his left hand. “I am sure I can read your report” he said and looked at her hand and continued, “Ah, I can see that you have put your report in a file. Please leave it and carry on”

Vasupradha felt as if she was being pushed away. She swallowed two times and started to leave the room. Generally, her next assignment would be decided when she comes back.

May be there are no assignments immediately she thought and moved to open the door.

It was at that moment Mr. Padmanabha said, “I almost forgot, you have to leave tonight by bus to an interior city in the middle of the country. You would be briefed about your role when you reach there. Check your mail and note down the address where you have to go” and got immersed in a file.

Durjaya filled in some details. “Elder sister! You have to go out of station” he said and she nodded as she knew about it. “This time it is quite special. You will do as the other colleague says. That colleague will meet with you when you reach the destination”

Oh God! Must be very dreary job, she thought, not knowing that she was very far from the truth!

"I spy you!" - 62

She stopped probing him and rested her head on her seat and went to sleep. Her mind was in turmoil. Has she done any mistake? She did not think so. She was sent by the office with their eyes open. Probably they did not expect her to stay alive. But someone must have rescued me, she thought. Otherwise, she would have been still under the vigilance of the grey eyed woman!

Who rescued her? Is it Pushpahaasa? Nowadays Pushpahaasa had entered her blood as a virus and she was shivering from his presence. Why would he rescue her? He probably did not even know that she was here, in another corner of the world. Police must have got the wind of the gang of the grey eyed woman and apprehended all of them. They must have found me losing blood and took me to the hospital.

The flight reached its destination. Durjaya broke his stony silence and asked, “Elder Sister! Do you want to drop home or you can take care of yourself?”

Vasupradha smiled. “You found your tongue at last! Ok, you can drop me, even though I can take care of myself” she said.

They reached her home and she did not invite him inside. She could see the disappointment in his eyes. But then, he was the one who was ready to see her off from the airport itself. He should not feel bad, she thought stubbornly and went inside her house and closed the door immediately.

Home at last! She thought happily and spread herself on her bed. The moment she was alone, her thoughts started towards Pushpahaasa! What would he think when he comes to know that she had a close call with death!

‘Hey Vasupradha! What are you trying to prove? Are you thinking that the compassion your experience generates would result in love?’ Her conscience teased her.

Vasupradha suddenly became red in the face and stopped thinking about Pushpahaasa. Sleep eluded her.

Next day morning she left for office at the usual time. The traffic was very heavy and she could not get an auto for quite some time.

At that moment she espied someone just by looking at whom her heartbeat used to become topsy-turvy.

Pushpahaasa!

She could see him on a swanky bike coming at a sedate speed towards her. She was sure that she can get a drop to the office since the bike was traveling on the road which was leading to the office.

But she was in for a surprise when Pushpahaasa suddenly zipped past her without even looking at her. She was disappointed and then angry since she was sure that he had seen her and knowingly avoided her!

But without actually knowing about what could be the reason for his ignoring of her appearance so nearby, she was trying to think of the explicit words she would hurl at him in case she meets with him again.

There was another surprise stored in for her. She was hailed by a person whom she knew so well!

"I spy you!" - 61

A small sound made her wake her up suddenly. She could not move immediately. Was she being held captive? It was the first thought which came into the head of Vasupradha.

She remembered the grey eyed lady and a shiver ran through her. Generally bold Vasupradha was shaken completely by the cruelty of that woman.

Why am I not on the metal chair in the cellar? Looks like a hospital. Am I in a hospital? She started the series of questions in her mind. After few minutes there was a movement nearby and she saw a green dressed lady coming in. Is this a hospital? She tried to see the surroundings and decided that it was a hospital.

But how did she come to the hospital? Many of the scenes went like a movie in front of her mind’s eye. She shuddered when she thought of the grey eyed lady. She remembered that the grey eyed lady stabbing her in the stomach. The incidents after that were very vague. Was she free? Or was she being treated by the same villains because she was losing her consciousness?

When the woman in the green dress neared her, she feebly smiled at her. She broadly smiled back. She took the intercom phone and called someone in a strange language. The next moment a white coated woman walked in. A doctor! She was all smiles. She could speak in English and told Vasupradha that she was happy that Vasupradha is awake.

She got the details of her stay in the hospital when she probed a little more.

She was brought in by a stranger at the nick of the moment. Vasupradha should be thankful to that man for bringing her at the proper time, the lady doctor said. She searched around for the man. The doctor understood her gaze and smiled.

She said, “He is gone. You told two things in your delirious condition. One is a name – something which sounded like Push...pa....” Vasupradha blushed with embarrassment. The doctor did not seem to observe that. She continued, “The second was a telephone number of your country. We called the number and gave your description. Someone is coming to pick you up. You are quite fine now. Must be 4 weeks since you are here” she smiled, patted Vasupradha’s arm and left the room.

She did not wait for a long time. The door of her hospital room opened and in walked Durjaya. The last person she expected, she thought.

Anyway, she was deliriously happy to see him. She shook his hand and held it for quite some time. Durjaya was all smiles, though Vasupradha could see the look of anxiety in his eyes.

“Hey, come on! I am fine” she said, as if to cheer him up.

They left the hospital in the afternoon under the local police escort and reached the airport. Surprisingly there was not much of a talk from Durjaya. The talking parrot had become dumb!

She tried to cajole him to speak during their long flight back to their country. But Durjaya was totally silent. Vasupradha tried all tricks and failed.

She became exasperated and asked, “Are you under some oath that you will not talk to me?” and found him nodding his head giving a positive sign!

"I spy you!" - 60

But what she did not anticipate was the stabbing pain in her stomach. Overcome by some spurt of anger, the grey eyed lady stabbed the dagger into Vasupradha’s stomach.

Vasupradha fought to be awake, but the blood loss was quite high. She was only half aware of what was happening. She heard the grey eyed lady shouting for the two men to come in. Vasupradha heard the running footsteps.

Did she hear three sets of footsteps? She opened her eyes and tried to see who came in. she could not see properly. Surely there was a third man?

She heard a shout of rage from the grey eyed lady. Almost like a trapped animal’s noise.

Vasupradha wanted to open her eyes and see what is happening. She was slowly losing consciousness since quite a good amount of blood had gone out of her body.

She felt someone coming to her and removing the chains. She felt she is being freed. Who is doing it and how? She was unable to fathom.

A pair of steel gripped arms lifted her bodily and carried her in a hurry.

She felt she was being placed in a vehicle. She regained some consciousness when she heard a wailing siren. Is she being carried in an ambulance?

If it is so, is it because she was dying? Or has she been rescued? She was not able to understand.

She saw an arm coming near her face and placing a mask on her face. Must be Oxygen mask?

They can’t think of killing her. She is a valuable asset. She could give them a lot of information. Is that why she has been carried and placed in an ambulance?

But the arms... were they not familiar? The ones which carried her from her captivity? Even at this situation, her discrimination chided her. You are crazy about that man Pushpahaasa. That is why you feel that you were carried by him. Don’t be silly Vasupradha! You are in some foreign city with enemies. You can’t think that he is coming to rescue you. Oh poor Vasupradha! Please come to your senses!

She became vaguely aware of being lifted from the ambulance and put on a stretcher.

She was able to see some moving lights, heard some hazy voices, and some movement. Somebody was saying to her, “Stay with me! Hello,. Don’t go to sleep, stay with me!!”

She struggled to see who was talking and trying to keep her awake. But she could not keep her eyes open. But the voice was good enough for her to fight the unconsciousness.

She was little more awake when she was pushed through the operation theater door. She could remember the red light on the door.

She was shifted to the operating table. Oh, there are heavy flood lights, ooh, they are hurting my eyes. Is there heat also being transmitted by the lights? She could not properly tell.

Another 2 minutes, she was aware that she was surrounded by masked people.

That was the last thing she remembered vaguely before she fell into unconsciousness.

"I spy you!" - 59

“So, did this lady utter any secrets to you?” she asked and laughed in a shrieking manner. The noise reverberated in the small cellar room.

Vasupradha now started feeling little uncomfortable. The men, she thought, she could handle. This lady looks very cruel and she could harm me!

Her words were true. Without any warning, the lady moved her whip in the air and Vasupradha felt pain searing through her arm. She smothered her cry of pain just in time. But the effect of pain was collection of a little amount of tears in her eyes. This was seen by the grey eyed lady.

“Ahha, this doll moves and cries. That mean it can talk. Let me make it talk. Give me some room” she said harshly. The two men, obviously reporting to this lady, left the room without a word. “Close the door! And I am warning you. There should not be any reaction from you people if you hear any screams coming out of this room. Of course, not from me... this lovely doll, I mean” she said and moved her hand caressingly on Vasupradha’s cheek.

Vasupradha remembered the cat and mouse game she had witnessed one day. The cat waited patiently in a corner and suddenly had pounced on a small mouse.

It did not kill the mouse immediately. The cat brought the mouse and put it on the ground and pushed it here and there using its front paws. The mouse, by fear or by design, looked dead. The cat was happily looking at the mouse. After some time the mouse moved a little; the cat hit the mouse on its head using its paw but without the claws. The mouse again played dead. This went on for some time. The mouse got emboldened and tried to escape. May be by that time, the cat was bored to play; it suddenly hit the mouse on its head using its claw. The next moment it carried the mouse in its mouth and vanished to a corner and ate the mouse.

Now the grey eyed woman is the cat, so I should play the mouse. I should play dead. But I should not make the mistake of escaping. Probably I should be able to borrow some time. Then I should think of escaping.

More importantly I should find out, why are they holding me here? I am a small fry. How come they were aware that I was here? Many questions started bothering Vasupradha that she forgot for a moment that she is being questioned by the grey eyed lady.

She suddenly opened her eyes with horror when she found cold metal touching her left cheek. The grey eyed lady was holding a 4 inch wide, 1 foot long dagger. The cruelty in her eyes was noted by the lightness of her eyes. My God! What do I tell her? She is bound to hurt me now!

The grey eyed woman looked like an expert in doing such tortures. She now moved the dagger’s sharp edge to Vasupradha’s neck and pressed a little. The pain was very much. Vasupradha saw a drop of blood on the edge of the dagger when her attacker removed the dagger from her neck.

Now my time is over. But now I have to say whatever she knew. She felt a sort of tightness in her chest. Oh God! How any of the spies caught by enemies must have felt! It is a nightmare, I hope it ends soon.

“What girl? Thinking of how to die fast? Without saying anything?” guffawed the grey eyed lady. Oh God, this lady even reads minds! Thought Vasupradha.

She thought of all her associates till now.  And of course, finally she thought of Pushpahaasa! He will never come to know that I love him! I would be dead and gone. But I won’t reveal anything!

"I spy you!" - 58

Vasupradha’s first reaction was to struggle to escape. But she was held with hands which had an iron grip. She fought for the first few minutes and then stopped. Her head had been covered with a black hood which stopped her from seeing her kidnappers. After about 2 minutes a sweet smell engulfed her nose. She fell unconscious and her body became inert.

When she woke up she found herself sitting in a metal chair which was quite rusty. Her hands were tied to a chain which hung from the low level ceiling. She looked at herself to check whether she has been molested physically. Her captors did not seem to have interest in her body or taking any carnal pleasures from her.

‘This is at least a small mercy’ thought Vasupradha and surveyed the place. It was lighted very dimly. It took her some time to get adjusted to the light. Then she earnestly looked around to see whether she can escape from this dratted place.

‘Who are these men? And what do they want from me?’ was the next thinking which crossed her groggy mind. It took her some more time to come out of the grogginess of the sweet smelling thing which she had inhaled. ‘Ah! I must have been given the chloroform’ she thought.

The room was small. The low ceiling gave her an idea that she might be in a cellar. The only solid material was the metal chair she was held captive. Otherwise the room was bare. At about 8 feet away she could see a door, which was obviously locked from outside. Her wrists were paining due to the tightness of the chain. She tried to move in her chair and her movement was restricted to a minimum.

She looked at the floor on which the chair was tied. She was horrified to when she saw that the ‘floor’ was made of sheet metal. That too rusted. Her horror suddenly gave way to some hope. Wait a minute! Can this be used for my escape? She started thinking furiously.

As if to cut her train of thoughts and to put a spanner in her thinking works, the door at the other end opened suddenly and two people walked in.

She keenly observed them. One was about 40, swarthy and dark and the other was about 25, tall, lean and surprisingly soft face. She wondered whether she could use him as a tool to escape this trap. But she was keener to know why she has been captured.

Both came near her and as per the order of the senior, the junior removed her chain and she thankfully rotated her wrists to allow circulation of blood. She had been back on the chair. After a few minutes of movement of hands she sat quietly and looked at both of them.

“Don’t you ever try to escape. You will be immediately killed using this!” and waved a revolver at her face which suddenly seemed to have appeared in the senior’s hand.

She had no intention of escaping especially when the two captors were with her. But she was not ready to divulge any information, if she can help it.

She kept quiet and continued watching them. They seemed to be waiting for someone to come. Her guess turned into reality when she heard the door open again and in walked a woman.

She was very stylish in her dressing and when she came near Vasupradha could see a very light greyish pair of eyes. It was almost as if her eyesight was blank. She had a whip in her hand. 

"I spy you!" - 57

“Oh, it is job pressure! I have a colleague who is a close friend of mine; she went out with one of our colleagues and ...” she lowered her voice and said, “She did not take any precaution. She is too close to me and I have been told by her how it feels like”

Amruta just opened her mouth and closed two – three times, as if her theft has been discovered!

It was now Vasu’s turn to probe. “Hey, I remember now! You exclaimed ‘are you also pregnant?’ Now tell me who is the man?” she asked putting her hands on Amruta’s shoulder now.

Amruta just put her head down as if by shame and kept quiet.

That means she doesn’t want to tell who sired her child! ‘I have to keep an eye on her’ thought Vasu even though even now she did not know why she felt that she should keep an eye on Amruta. Is the feeling that she saved her from a horrible fall so strong that it is masking her judgment about Amruta?

When the date of arrival of baby was discussed with Amruta, she mentioned a date. Vasu immediately exclaimed, “It can’t be true! My friend’s is actually almost the same day, may be one day earlier or later” She was hell bent on being on the side of Amruta when her baby’s delivery takes place.

Amruta expressed her satisfaction for visiting Vasu. “But how come you were here today?” asked Vasu.

Amruta just smiled and said, “I shall tell you in the due course of time”. She went off happily to her hometown.

Why did she come here? Was it so secretive that she dodged the question? Were the two questions revolving round Vasu when she left for the airport the next day evening.

She had now donned the role of Suparna who has to roam around in a Western country as a tourist.

She landed without any problem. She had made slight changes in her appearance.

Someone who was close to her could have recognized her as Vasupradha. Otherwise, she was quite a non-entity, actually a tourist visiting the famous historical capital city of a nation. She had worn dark glasses. A vanity bag was hanging from her left shoulder. In her right hand she had some brochures having details of the buildings. She was moving in a group of tourists feeling quite safe. In her mind she was thinking ‘why I have been asked to come here? What are they checking? Suppose I get into some problem, is there anyone to even know my existence?’

She suddenly became aware that a pair of eyes is piercing her back. This knack she had developed ever since she came on board of Intelligence office.

She still felt comfortable moving with the group of tourists. After a few minutes the lady tourist who was all this time with her and chatting continuously said, “I feel queasy. Can you call my husband who is standing at the other end of the road please?” and pointed out to a man there.

Vasupradha nodded and left to the corner of the road where a man was standing. What she did not see was the two men approaching her. They came suddenly and dragged her into a van which came there out of the blue. She was pushed inside the van and it sped from that place.

"I spy you!" - 56

The next day also she had some free time since her flight was on the third day evening. So it left her almost 40 hours for herself before she had to go to the airport.

When she was sitting quiet drinking milk in the house, she suddenly remembered Amruta.

Oh, I was too busy not to talk to her; she cursed herself and called her.

Amruta, as usual, was very enthusiastic to take her call. “Oh Vasoo, you found some time to call me! You don’t worry. I am fine”

“I wish I could see you. I am going out of ... station” she corrected her sentence in the last moment. She was about to tell out of country, which may not be advisable to tell anyone outside the office, when she is sworn to secrecy not to tell her own colleagues.

“I also feel like seeing you Vasoo. But there is a problem. Are you in office?” Amruta asked.

Puzzled by her question Vasu replied, “I am at home”

“Then thank God, I am very thirsty and I want water. Can you get a glass of cold water please?” Amruta asked.

Vasu found this sentence very funny. What is this lady saying? Water from me?

Before she could think more, there was a calling bell sound outside her door.

“Someone has come. Please hold, I will call you” Vasu said and put the phone down, though Amruta was saying something over phone.

She could not believe her eyes when she found that she was staring at Amruta who was smiling at her. She had to hold the frame of the door to avoid falling on the ground.

It was Amruta who rushed in and got a glass of water from the fridge and gave it to Vasu.

Vasu was stunned. She even knows where my fridge is!

“Sorry! I gave a shock! I was in this city and I had anyway decided to come to your house. But coming to your office? Well, I do not like to disturb anyone in their office” Amruta said matter of fact.

Vasu was observing her keenly. Is the stomach a little swollen? It looked as if it is enlarging.

As far as she knew Amruta was not married. She did not want to make Amruta feel guilty. After all, without her help she would not have bought the house. Come to think of it, she would be dead person if she had not helped Vasu in coming up the slippery hill. She wanted to make Amruta happy too.

She said, “Sorry, just the first few months, it is difficult. There will be morning sickness”

Now Amruta looked shocked. “What? Are you also pregnant? Oh, who is your husband?” asked Amruta shaking Vasu.

Vasu did a quick thinking. Now she had to tell a story, just to make Amruta feel good.

"I spy you!" - 55

“You did better than what I expected!” exclaimed Mr. Padmanabha when Vasupradha went to meet him.

The switchover of the pen was never known to the young guy. He must be feeling happy that I made a promise, thought Vasupradha with a wry smile on her lips.

She had gone home and rested. She felt very uncomfortable for hugging that man. But the embrace was because of duty. She had to convince him that she is in league with him and at the same time she was to steal the camera-pen.  She did this part of the drama perfectly.

That is why she was standing in front of her boss and getting a high praise from him.

She did not have the heart to tell him that she did not expect such a callous attitude from him. But she accepted his praise and of course, the next assignment.

This was getting more and more dangerous. This time she was to pose as a tourist and go to a western country. She was just to know whether she is being observed by anyone and whether she could be a target.

“Young lady! Remember! The moment you sense danger, you should rush to the nearest airport and come back here!”

She nodded and left. The false passport and the Visa papers were expected the third day. She had a day for her private work.

She chose the name Suparna. Somehow the name appealed to her. Durjaya teased her. “Now let me see, Vasu, Mukta, Chakri and now Suparna! Wow, you have a love for good names!”

Vasupradha just smiled. Her principle was simple. If I am masquerading as someone, let me do it completely, starting from the name.

The day went lazily. Whenever her mind was idle, it would turn to be a devil’s workshop. The devil referred here is Pushpahaasa! What is he doing now? Where is he? It is quite some time since she had seen him.

She had understood that he was a dangerous spy. The enemy countries feared him. He was known as Simhaswapna, or simply SS, the man who could even make people jump like a ferocious lion in their dreams.

Very casually Vasupradha had asked Durjaya the whereabouts of Pushpahaasa. But still, being a clever person, Durjaya looked at her keenly and said in very calm tone, “You are treading on a dangerous path elder sister! Please ....” he did not complete the sentence. Vasupradha, who was becoming sharper and sharper with every case she handled, could easily catch the warning hidden in Durjaya’s words.

But her defiant heart told her, ‘Just because I can’t go near a married man, it doesn’t mean that I should not talk about him, think about him. He is very attractive and I am a healthy bodied, healthy minded woman. I can think of him, what if I will never get him for myself!’

This dilemma was always making Vasupradha go weak in her knees. Oh God! why pick on me?