"I spy you!" - 75

It had started as any other day.  She had become the most sought after teacher in Bhavishya. Kids were attracted by her way of treating them. Vasu Teacher was her name in the school.

She was eager to get Vaasu into the school. He had just started walking. He was speaking 2 letter words. Amma, atthe etc.,

“He is too small to come to your school Vasoo!” Amruta used to laugh when Vasu showed interest to take him to school. She had grown very fond of him.

That day Vaasu was making a lot of fuss and Amruta was exasperated. She suggested Vasu to carry him to the school. The boy suddenly became quiet and came with Vasu as if he could not stay at home.

Vasu was surprised with this because generally the boy was fond his mother.

Vasu took Vaasu along with her to the school.

While passing the main road, she came across a big car. By chance she saw who the driver was. She could not believe her eyes. It can’t be true! She had seen him falling on the ground in front of her eyes.

How come he is alive and kicking?

By instinct she hid herself from his stare. It was good to hide from him, she thought, not actually knowing why.

The car zipped past towards her house. Is it going to her home? She thought for a moment and the next moment all the color must have drained from her face. He is going to meet Amruta, his wife, the mother of his child!

She thought of going back. But she had to go to Bhavishya that day at any cost since the assistant whom she had employed was not coming that day and she had to be in school.

She prayed that there won’t be any problem for Amruta. She reached her school, put Vaasu down and made a call to Amruta. But to her dismay Amruta’s phone was switched off.

For obvious reasons, thought Vasu. Is SahishNu harming her? Has he come back to take revenge on her?

She remembered vividly the scene when he had fallen in her house. Wait a minute! Did she see him die?

No! She was informed by Amruta that his body has been disposed off.

Does that mean that Amruta was telling a lie? If so, did she make a mistake in disbelieving Pushpahaasa when he had made odd remarks about Amruta?

Her head started reeling with all these confusions.  Somehow Vasupradha was sure that she did not make a mistake about Amruta and she was also sure that Pushpahaasa was utterly wrong about his opinion on Amruta.

But when she just espied SahishNu, her thinking process started suspecting Amruta. Who is the liar?  Was Amruta a liar? Or Pushpahaasa was right about Amruta? What was the truth?

"I spy you!" - 74

She had no time to think of it further since she was nearing the library. There was an old lady of about 50+ standing outside.

She smiled at Vasupradha and said “Vasu?”

Vasu was surprised for a second and then smiled and said, “Amruta has given my complete description, I suppose?”

“Of course! She did full justice to your description, please come” she smilingly said and got two chairs placed in front of the library.

“Let us enjoy the sunlight. Few days are left” said the librarian.  “My name is Savitha” she introduced herself. She held Vasupradha’s hand for a moment and sat on the chair.

“Few days are left for what Madam?” asked Vasupradha, settling in the chair opposite.

“My retirement” Savitha smiled. Then in a serious tone said, “I need someone to take care of my kids” Looking at the surprised expression of Vasupradha, she laughed and said, “I have a small school of very small children. They are so small to join even LKG. I want to take care of them, tend them to make them the best citizens of this country” the last sentence was uttered with a lot of seriousness.

“Tell me Madam. I was getting bored. Probably your proposition interests me” Vasupradha said smilingly.

“Yes! Amruta is right!! This smile is what I was looking for!” said Savitha, leaned forward and patted Vasupradha on her shoulder.

The next part of the discussion was the paraphernalia. Once she understood what things she had to carry out, Vasupradha took leave and went home.

Amruta was feeding Vaasu. “So, Vasoo, how did you like Savitha madam? Did you accept her offer?” the eagerness was very high in Amruta’s voice.

Vasu just nodded and smiled.

Another day passed. Vasupradha prepared some charts and made some dolls out of paper, wire etc., and left to meet Savitha.

Savitha approved all the things brought by Vasupradha and took her to a small building which was in a valley. It was a very lovely building. There was a good amount of protection round the building.

Vasupradha fell in love with the kids too. They were both naughty and intelligent. After getting assured that the kids are in safe hands, Savitha left. There was a temporary staff who had come from a foreign country showed all the things Vasupradha was to carry out and left.

Vasupradha’s life fell into a pattern. She was very eager to reach the school which was called ‘Bhavishya’. The kids also welcomed her with open arms. She had no time to think of anything, anybody, yes, even Pushpahaasa.

The time flew. Each year new kids joined and the grown up kids left ‘Bhavishya’ smarter. Everything was smoothly going on until that day out of the blue SahishNu appeared there!

"I spy you!" - 73

“Hey Vasoo! You are here only physically. What’s wrong with you? You are like a zombie since you came back” Amruta was shaking Vasu.

Vasu came out of her reverie. She was like this ever since she came back from Pushpahaasa’s clutches. Clutches? What are you thinking Vasupradha? Are you crazy? When did he hold  you in his clutches? It is you who was obsessed with him!... scolded her conscience.

She did not dare to reply to it. Come to think of it, it is already 6 months since she came back. Good thing she came back on time! Amruta was almost ready to deliver when she came to her home.

Home! Yes, she felt at peace at least by the lovely environment. She had just contacted Durjaya, who came running when he heard where she was. They talked for almost a day. This must have made Amruta very annoyed. She showed it in her action that she did not like Durjaya. Oh, she doesn’t like anyone else talking to me, thought Vasu.

Not even once the mention of Pushpahaasa was done. Vasupradha was very clear. Durjaya was welcome, only if he keeps her place as a secret.

Her resignation was accepted. She stapled the pages of her life spent with Pushpahaasa. No one should know what exactly transpired between them. It was something which she cherished. She did not want to share with anyone. She knew that it won’t last beyond the mission. She had saved some of her self-esteem by cutting short the stay with him.

Amruta had given birth to a boy. A lovely boy! Vasu took care of the kid and mother to the fullest extent. She felt so happy to be back. The boy became 6 months old. Amruta called her son as Vaasu, as a tribute to her friend Vasu.

Durjaya stayed for a day and left. Though Vasupradha felt bad about his departure, Amruta seemed to rejoice it.

“He is a good person Amruta!” Vasu told her about Durjaya. Amruta did not seem to care about his good virtues. As far as she was concerned he was hogging all the time of Vasu whenever he was in contact with her.

Durjaya had told about Mr. Padmanabha. He seemed to have missed his able assistant Vasupradha. He was appreciating her it seemed.

Vasupradha had just smiled. The time was moving quite fast.

“I am bored. What do I do?” asked Vasu.

Amruta who was feeding her child said, “Why don’t you go to the library which is nearby?”

Vasu thought that it was a good idea. She walked the distance. The weather was very pleasant. She remembered the day when she was about to fall off a cliff and how Amruta saved her. Her heart filled with gratitude towards Amruta. She is a very good woman, thought Vasu.

She suddenly remembered. But why did she give the description of Pushpahaasa as her attacker?

"I spy you!" - 72

She was in a pensive mood that day. She decided to go to Amruta. Well, job is not life. There is life beyond job. When that is so, why struggle? If some drama was to take place, it has taken place. So, the people who were supposed to believe that they are a much married happy couple, they would have definitely believed by now.

“Hey, what is the matter?” asked Pushpahaasa coming from behind and put his steely arms around her neck. His strong chin was resting on Vasupradha’s head. His breath was surrounding Vasupradha’s head. Vasupradha felt hot.

She immediately looked around to see whether someone was observing from the windows. Generally the love scenes were ‘enacted’ whenever they were sure that somebody was watching them on the sly.

“Why? can’t I hold you or touch you when no one would be watching?” whispered Pushpahaasa in her ear. She became very hot in the face. She gently pushed him and got up.

“I want to go. I have some urgent work” she said.

“What is so urgent? We are about to close our mission. Let us carry out till the end” he said and tried to pull her to him.

But she was somehow in a very different mood. Amruta’s words were ringing in her ears. She was pregnant. She was craving to see her. But this job had chained her to this place.

“Where are you going?” he asked little high handedly.

This raised her anger. I may love him, but he has not bought me! She thought and said, “My friend is not well. I need to go”

“Oh, boyfriend or girlfriend?” he asked. But his tone was not liked by Vasupradha.

“Does it matter to you?” she asked stiffly and tried to walk away. He caught her in his arms.

“Are you referring to Amruta?” he asked casually. She pushed him away and looked at him with angered eyes and said, “Are you spying on me? Did I spy on you any day?”

He laughed. It sounded as if he was mocking her.

“That lady is no good. Don’t contact her. You will find yourself in trouble” he said in a warning tone.

That was the last straw!

“Look Mr....! I may not be a great judge of characters like some people. But I know Amruta well. I am sure you are wrong about her” she said emphatically and sat on a chair biting her nails.

“I hope you don’t end up in any problem” he muttered and asked her, “Are you leaving now? I can drop you to the railway station”

That was the moment she decided that she won’t see him again. She had to keep her self esteem to some extent at least. “I am leaving. And I am not coming back. You are a senior. I will hand over my resignation to you” she said and packed her things fast and left alone slamming the door. 

"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.