"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?

"I spy you!" - 54

What did he want from me? Does he suspect that I am a woman? Wondered Vasupradha. But she dismissed the idea when she found that the conversation between them was quite damaging to the country!

On the sly, the younger man went on clicking photos using a very small pen. Chakri had seen such a pen with Durjaya.

She started wondering how to retrieve the pen. The tour was of one day. They were to go back to their country taking the late night flight. Chakri’s job was to drop them back at the airport. She wondered why such people need to be allowed to come into our country. These people would bring harm to our country, she thought. Her blood boiled even by thinking about it.

The conversation was anyway very interesting. Some important names were dropped. She found that some of them were from her office. They were ready to sell some secrets of the country for a few wads of notes. What is happening in this country? She sadly thought.

The older man still tried to catch her off guard by calling her name loudly. She could easily avoid reacting since Chakri was not her real name!

When they went for lunch in one of the most posh hotels (of course, her office footed the bill!) she took the pretext of having her lunch in the car. She went to the booth and called Mr. Padmanabha. She reeled off the names of her colleagues who could be ready to sell some important documents to the delegates.

She went back to her driver’s seat after her lunch.

The two people came out and started making a few calls. But none of them returned the calls. They showed surprise by looking at each other. Chakri knew what had happened. The secret service police had apprehended the suspects. The delegates did not got any satisfactory replies to the calls they made. They showed dissatisfaction in their face which Chakri’s mind registered.

The evening started becoming night. The younger man had a lone moment with Chakri when the senior went to the rest room. The younger man put his hands on Chakri and touched her in inappropriate places. Chakri was very uncomfortable. Has this young fellow discovered that she is a she and not he?

But after a few moments the truth stuck her! This young man was thinking she was a young man and making amorous advances! Though she felt scandalized first, then she realized that nowadays it is legalized in many countries. Even in this country, the public have become more open about their sexual preferences.

Was this the reason Mr. Padmanabha wanted me to take the role of a male driver? She looks like a youth who is yet to get his moustache on his face! Though she felt shocked and annoyed with Mr. Padmanabha, she decided to use the information to her advantage.

She had seen the pen which was being used by the young man to take photos. She had spoken to the office and had got a duplicate of the same.

When the time came to say goodbye to them, she became bold. She waited for the senior person to go into the airport and beckoned the younger man with a knowing look. He came near Chakri eagerly. She hugged him and whispered, “Let us meet next time leisurely!” and saw the pleasure on the youth’s face. While in the embrace she switched the camera pen with the duplicate!

"I spy you!" - 53

Yes, she was dressed to the core. A white uniform with a cap. She had pushed all her hair inside the cap.

The flight came on time and two men came out. She did not like the look of them. But she was to do her duty.

They came near her and said, “Chakri?”

She was looking at them enquiringly and touched the names on the placard and looked at them as if she wanted to know whether they are the persons.

The older man who had a cunning look on his face suddenly realized that this driver is dumb. The other visitor was very young and was looking at Chakri as if ‘he’ could be a good friend.

“Yes, we want to go to the hotel and get refreshed” said the senior.

Chakri gave those two people names just for ease of recognizing. Senior and junior.  She nodded her head and opened the door for the senior. He settled down. She closed the door and went to the other side only to see that the junior had sat inside in the front seat.

Chakri was uncomfortable. She did not want anyone to sit closely to her and then start scrutinizing. This may lead to suspicion.

She looked at the senior and made sign as if ‘he wanted the junior to sit next to the senior’.

The senior laughed and called the junior to come to the backseat.

Not till the junior went to the backside of the car and settled beside the senior that she heaved a sigh of relief.

The car was maneuvered to reach the hotel. She had practiced the driving just to get the feel back. She found that she could drive like as if it is her second nature.

The moment they settled in the car, they started talking. “How do we discuss in the room sir? They might have kept bugs” referring to the hidden microphone which could be in the hotel room” asked the junior.

The senior shushed him. This action Chakri could see. But she kept quiet as if she did not care.

The senior suddenly called in a loud voice, “Chakri!”. She did not move. She knew she is supposed to be deaf also.

He tried one or two more tricks. But Chakri held to her grounds. The management had taken care of all these things. The delegates generally took a cab from a government sponsored cab company. So, Mr. Padmanabha had got all the ‘details’ of Chakri ‘inserted’ in the database of the cab company. Even if someone wanted to cross check, the details were ‘genuine’ enough!

The older man started talking about taking photographs of some important monuments and people. The young man seemed to be little preoccupied. Chakri was startled when she observed the younger man was looking at her with a peculiar look on his face!

"I spy you!" - 52

It was a hectic 5 months for Vasupradha once she returned to the office. After the holiday and the purchase of the house she felt very invigorated. She should repay the money to Amruta which she had loaned for buying the house, she decided. She accumulated all her reserves and sent the money electronically to Amruta’s Bank account.

After the holiday, Vasupradha’s  first assignment was a little peculiar one.

Mr. Padmanabha had summoned her to his office. He came straight to the point. “Look Vasupradha, I remember your dressing up as Charlie Chaplin. I simply adored your sense of camouflage”

Vasupradha was overcome with happiness. Her boss is praising her! His next words made her wonder whether she would be able to carry it out!

“There is a covert job you have to take up. There are two delegates coming from the enemy turned friend country. They are being hosted by our office. They are to be taken round the city for visiting historical monuments. I am planning to send you as the driver of the car. I know that you know driving!” said Mr. Padmanabha.

“Ok sir, but any dress code for the driver?” asked Vasupradha being a little perturbed.

“Make you look like a young man who is yet to get a moustache” he said and laughed as it he has narrated a joke.

Vasupradha looked at him as if she could not believe her ears, whether she heard it right.

Now Mr. Padmanabha became serious and said, “Look my dear girl. You have a knack. You have the innocent look on the face. Added to that you are to act as a young man who cannot talk or hear. You can follow instructions if given by action. They asked how come the police have given license to you. I have told that you are highly skilled and have a very sharp pair of eyes”

May be this is a setup to get information from them, she thought, which actually was true. Mr. Padmanabha’s next words confirmed it.

“Since you are not able to hear or talk, they would be free talking. If you have to, please record it using this small mp3 player” he said and pushed very small equipment. “But it is risky, remember!”

But Vasupradha had a photographic memory. She was confident that she could catch every phrase of theirs.

The duty was from next day morning in the airport.

Mr. Padmanabha warned her as she was leaving. “They may check your capability” he said secretively and drew a file nearer to him.

Vasupradha went out and met Durjaya. She was trying to say something to him. But he shushed her. It was as if telling her that ‘It is your hell. And you have to undergo yourself’

She reached the airport well within time. She had a placard with their names. She surveyed herself in the rearview mirror. She was startled to see a very innocent looking young man in the mirror!

"I spy you!" - 51

Why should she offer me money? She did not seem to have so much money when she met in the mountain city in the North. But how come now she has so much?

Amruta must have read the question on her face. “Oh, Vasoo! My grandfather who was very rich died recently and left me all his money. So, I have no worry as far as money’s availability is concerned” she laughingly said.

Buying of the houses happened very fast. Amruta seemed to have liquid cash. The days when the houses were brought were very hectic. Vasu wanted sit with Amruta and check for the amount of money she was to give back to Amruta.

But everything came to a standstill since Vasu got an urgent call from Mr. Padmanabha’s office.

“Don’t worry! I will take care of the house. I shall even ensure that the interiors are done as per your taste! I am going to stay here. I need a lot of rest” she said mysteriously.

Vasu packed her things and got ready to leave.

She still felt that she was missing some detail. But she could not place her finger on the matter.

She shrugged her shoulders and locked her home’s door. Then she went to Amruta’s place. The door was ajar. Vasu stepped inside the house.

She could not find Amruta anywhere in the house. She was left wondering what happened to Amruta.

She came to the backdoor. To her surprise, even the back door was ajar. Vasu came out of the back door of the house and went some distance in the backyard.

There were trees, variety of them. The vegetation was quite thick. She went some more distance. She looked at her watch. The cab which she had ordered over phone must have been on its way.

But the absence of Amruta left her flabbergasted. She was determined to meet Amruta and handover her house keys.

When she did not find any sign of Amruta nearby, she decided to return to Amruta’s house, write a note and leave her house keys and depart to the Railway station.

It was then she heard a fierce whisper coming somewhere behind the  big banyan tree.

She was afraid that someone will hear her, she wanted to make her point clear to the person who was listening to her.

“You can’t let me down now in this situation. Where was your discrimination when you had fun playing with me? Now you are saying to remove? Not possible. If I don’t see you in another 3 days, I know what to do. You will regret whichever action I take!” she was saying in a low tone but very fiercely.

Vasu need not be a genius to guess the situation Amruta was in. Amruta was pregnant! She was threatening the reason for the pregnancy. Why did she not tell me? Wondered Vasu. A secret affair! Amruta is a mysterious woman, Vasu could not help wondering!!