"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?