Chapter 7

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]

Chapter Seven


I might just have hundred thousand problems... Why the world should know?

she gave me that despising look once again when I refused to go inside. I was just standing outside the temple, just near the staircase. She asked me once again if I am going inside or not. I refused again. Suddenly she made me feel like if I'd not go the world will just stop moving. I didn't care. So she left me alone.

I remembered the days I used to come since 2nd grade with a pink Barbie doll with that little misconception of god will fulfil your every wish. So why not my wish of a truck full orange sugar candy? Now at 9th grade I am capable enough to understand that not every wish is granted in front of the god. Or total concept of the god is wrong.

He never made my dad look at me with a pride in his eyes, not that I did anything to deserve that but still I belonged him. I am his daughter. How could he not accept that. It's not my fault if I am born with two X chromosomes!!! The god. He never made mom sleep with the peace on her face that she craved each and every day, knowing that her husband would be somewhere away from us forgetting our existence? The god. He never send my father to the parents day meeting, and mom who was too ashamed to go there alone? There are more to it I cannot even list.

Now sitting at his door step I refused to go there. Because I have literally nothing in my mind to ask or anything he should fulfil. And for a moment I'd question his existence. So I waited there for mom to come back. Its last day of my holiday here. Next day I am going back to hostel. Mom loves this place. She believes in God. She want me believe in her god too. But I couldn't pull myself to do so. The last time I came here and bent my knees to pray nothing came into my mind. I had nothing to ask for. I had nothing to pray for. Not that I had everything that human life desire but I was just fed up. Fed up of crying here again and again. That day I decided, I won't come here again.

Later at a distance there was this boy coming with his mom and dad. I recognized him. He was my neighbour. His dad my dads friend. He used to be my best friend. I used to pull his hair. His curly noodles like hair. And he'd pull my Barbie's hair. I hadn't seen him since the day mom dad decided to send me to hostel. I never said him goodbye either. But that happened for good. I am meeting him again. He looked at me.

That stupid took enough time to realize that I was the girl used to stay at his neighbourhood and he used to play with me. Next moment he was jumping from the stairs and in other moment I was crushed under his tight hug. I was wrong. He does remember me. He asked me the same that everyone my previous school friends asked, where did i vanish. Why didn't i tell him. And I told him everything.

The last question he asked as why I didn't go inside. I looked behind into the temple. Mom was coming out and her eyes landed on his mom. Its gossip time. So I dragged him away towards the little temple park.

'why didn't you go inside? You could have just ask for a tank full of milkshake eh'?

'you know I never got truck full of orange candy . That's why... There is nobody I 's ask anything. I dumped my wish list'!

'you think people go there just because they want something '?

' stop it okay. You are telling as if you didn't put you gadgets list there'!!

'well final marks will decide if I'd get them or not. Not the god Rii'!!

'so you believe in work, then why here'?

'for faith'!!

'faith'??

'it doesn't matter Rii, if god exist or not. The concept is a general idea, sometimes you are forced to believe and sometimes you willingly do believe on the particular one inside the temple, don't you here people say that the god is everywhere? But still people come here, I also come here. Others cant justify it. I can do'.

'how '?

'you have a problem in life. Is he the reason of the problem? Is the god is the reason of the problem? No! Then why would he should give the solution. And when your problems didn't get solved you believe that the god does not exist. Now tell me how fair is that. The matter is about who you consider as your god Rii. You can't always expect everything go in your favour, people do and they face disappointment later. Like you. God is above of everything. Above caste, above religion, above people and not a person'.

' then who do you think your god is. How do you see him'?

'faith, my faith is my god. Be true to your faith and find a purpose to sustain or the purpose of your existence. Rest other will look like surprises and miracles to you. I feel like god is a power of supremacy , a power that will help us find our purpose. To work for the purpose. But here people are begging for anything but for this purpose'!

'you are taking spiritual classes seriously in school '! I said and he laughed. I thought he had google in his mind.

'you will someday think about it'!!

'sure and I will tell you'! I said and waved at him. Mom called us. She is inviting them for dinner and I waited for another lecture round of Shree. But he only cried for chocolate milkshake that night which I had to make. He was the one who supported me with my every troubles. Most of my days I'd spend in his house. He wouldn't say a word when I'd cry wetting his shirt. He said he 'll join IT school after twelfth and i was clueless what I'd do. We did our eleventh and twelfth together in the boarding school. Next time I directly met him in ETF and sort of broke his laptop. He mourned over it but it was fine.




He was true. I'd think about those words one day. And today I did. I did last six years ago too. I could understand the astounding look on his face. But what made him angry? Anshu? Because he is now giving him death glares? And what did Liza said? She got her type? Shree? You are so dead Shree.

'umm Dr. D' Cruz, I think Shree needs your help, right Shree'!

'umm yeah if you will just give me the soft copy data'! Said Shree , his expressions not so pleasing. Liza silently followed Shree inside his chamber.

'I want to see the crime scene ', Anshu said looking at both Rathod sir and Arjun Sir.

'before that you need to see something else '! I said. He need to see what we got. The weapons. He said he was in a mission. He might just know something.

'umm, where is that box'? I asked Chotu. He said its in the shooting range of ETF underground. Experts are observing them.

'a box'?

'yeah. Lets go' !

We both followed Rathod sir and Aisha towards the shooting range. When I first entered this office I never knew there anything underground. It was very cleverly constructed secured from the outside. It has a armoury, generally for practice and back up purpose, a large practice open are and closed chamber too. The other side to the left there was a gymnasium, not big enough but medium. Looked like my heaven. Who wouldn't just love to practice here? The box we found was kept on a table with two specialist checking the guns marking and writing the model information.

'woah, you got this from the warehouse '?

'Yes last week when we got some clues about Bhadra which lead me here in Mumbai, I guess they are planning something...' , I couldn't handle another attack right after what happened last month is Hyderabad. Other than that Mumbai had always been a target. War over religion is the last thing India would ever want.

'what do you think '? I asked looking both at Anshu and Rathod sir. He must be thinking the same. He wont keep calm in extreme situations like this where the national security is considered. I had seen this before. Many times. I don't know why I looked at Arjun sir. May be to witness a different expression. Back then he'd be furious just only by hearing about any potential threat. Because with each threat he'd relate the suspect with the culprit of his wife. But today his face is anything but furious. He was silently observing and listening and calculating. His face had a different gleam that I'd never seen.

'oh my god! These are...', miss Kapoor looked at those machine guns agape. I haven't seen her this shocked in this twenty four hours ' for mass assault'! Even she guessed it right. They are again planning something which is a threat to our national security.

' these are imported, even though AK 47 is very popular and effective AR 15 isn't much less', Miss Kapoor said inspecting those rifles. No wonder Bhadra was caught with these.

'these aren't for killing! Samples may be...', Kapoor said again and told us to check the cartridge. And she was true. The rifle has capacity of 5-100 round but cartridge is telling different story.

'you might be just right miss Kapoor, but terrorists like Bhadra aren't into smuggling, I can assure you that, may be they will plan something after the sample testing ', Anshu said and he wasn't wrong either.

'then whoever there is with Bhadra will try to find out what happened to him and weapons, all we need is a little time to trap them', Rathod sir said.

'and we can figure that out only by solving Dr. Raos case', Arjun sir said concluding. I was thinking the sane. If Bhadra was here roaming around with a jackpot of weapons, who's his boss. He wasn't experienced enough to even handle such smuggling. And that whoever is his boss might be related with the Doctors murder case.

'before that we need to identify those who died in the warehouse and their criminal records'! I said and started walking towards upstairs. Anshu was giving me looks only.

'you are not going with us'? He asked.

'later, I need to talk to Miss Kapoor ', I said and she started following me upstairs leaving behind the three men. I need to ask her about these weapons. If she was sure these weapons were just samples, I highly doubt there will be an original consignment.

'fine we'll wait'! Anshu said. He cannot go without me. It would be just weird without me. He doesn't know Arjun sir or Rathod sir but he very much knew I had worked here, and everything. He cannot play friendly with them. Anshuman Kashyap is a practical person and sure as hell he could teach people how to live just with only exception he cannot apply the teaching to himself like the other two people he is standing beside. And that's the only reason why he could not get along with them. Because they are alike in some ways and too much unlike in other too many ways.

When I was in ETF I always tried to present myself as a strong person but I failed to. Because each time I had to face the mirror of weakness. Each time one will taunt me that I was weak. But Anshuman Kashyap isn't like that. He is that one person with whom you can be weak with and that still wouldn't matter. Its him who told me that its okay to be weak, because you can't always be strong enough for yourself or for others but you can be with them. Presence is all what mattered. Then why cant he just understand that single truth that she needs him. She might not be strong but its okay according to him. She isn't weak either. All she want from him is his presence.

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I talked to Aisha and in this matter we need Chotu's help. We checked the list of people died in the warehouse and their background. And according to Aisha some of them would definitely be the dealers or say smugglers. We handed the list to Chotu so that he could gather information. All I want to know is what is their big plan.

Shree came with Liza and thanks heaven he wasn't angry. But he looked more cold. Am I enough reason. Liza was more silent than before. Did he tell her anything? About me? But I couldn't stop thinking about these two. They are looking more serious now. Nobody will believe that she was the girl who irritated him with all her will power and he was the guy whose stories about her never ended with a lovely expression. They have hacked each others heart for sure.

'we sent the profiling report, all we need is a reply from NIA'! Said Shree not looking at me. I wanted him to look at me. I wanted to say sorry. For ditching him everytime. For not telling him before I vanished everytime.

'wait one hour or two they will, I will call them and tell them to make it soon', I said. And he looked at me. I was pleading him with my eyes. Right at the moment Sakshi Anand came inside pulling Liza away from the room for which I am thankful to her and I walked towards Shree. But he seemed to predict my intentions. He instead started walking away from me.

'Shree '!!! I called his name and he stopped, there was complete disinterested look on his face as if I'VE stopped him just to waste his time. Well that's true that I am planning on wasting his time, still he needs to hear me. Not an explanation of what I did or why! Because there was no excuse for what I did to him. But he needs to hear it. That I am sorry and I was sorry.

'what? I am busy...'! He said arrogantly. Do I look like I really care?

'I.. I just want to talk to you'!

'why? To wish me happy friendship day? Or you have got silly captions to post in my timeline? If that's the case I am really not interested'! Okay. I got it. This wouldn't be easy. But he did say it! This boy don't have any social life anymore???

'no! Not for that...'! I said. I didn't have any answer to his question too. And suddenly I cant say that I am sorry please forgive me too. Its difficult. Difficult to convince him.

'whatever ! I don't have time for your anything'! He said rudely. And he just don't know how cute he looked with that frown on his face.

'yeah! Whatever Shree, you will listen to me', I moved more closer and held his hand more like dragging him towards the technical chamber. And he was just giving this weird expressions as if i have never held his hand. Again, do I look like i really care?

'what are you doing Riya Mukharjee? Everything isn't going to happen the way you want. What do you think you can just leave whenever you want and come back thinking we'll welcome you'? I needed to listen whatever he says. I owe him that much. Its like if you are telling your best friend a ghost story and he believed you owe him that much to at least listen to whatever ghostly or no ghostly stories he is going to tell next.

'i know Shree and I am glad you still remember my full name and I can't put the universe in perfect alignment but sure I can try to handle some individuals of my surrounding'! He stared at me and I kept walking towards his chamber. To make it worse   others had to come back at the same time? The whole team was shocked well except Chotu and Arjun sir and both had a goofy look on their faces.

'Riya stop it, everyone's looking! Don't create a scene here'! He said with gritted teeth. I slowly leaned into his ears and whispered sweet little threats that he had to behave nice. All I had to say is , ' if you don't want your girlfriend having second thoughts about you, be quiet and please shree just listen to me once '!

'fine'! I saw Chotu smiling wide while Sakshi and Aisha were frowning. One more discovery. He just admitted he have a girlfriend.'but after the day is off'! That would be great. At least we wont have audience to notice us fighting like cats. After that I let him go and he was relived. He is more friendly with the other two woman of the team. With Liza I don't mind. But the feeling of your bestie getting close to other people is hard to digest, even though I wasn't fair towards my friend.

Anshu and Rathod sir were already heading towards the exit. I need to rush. Or else I'd have to go with HIM. I looked at him. He was not following Anshu or Rathod sir. He was unmoving, rooted to the spot he was before. Is he waiting for me? This cant be true. After being this arrogant and rude to him he still is expecting something from me? Not so great!!! While I started going towards the exit, Chotu had to pull me aside and for what ? To appreciate me for the show I created? ' see Chotu, I need to rush! You and Aisha better work on the list and yeah I'd call you once I'd free'! I look at Aisha and she nods. When I look back to find Arjun sir, he was not there. Argh!

In the SUV Rathod sir was in driving seat and Anshu was in passenger seat, that's leaves both of me and Arjun sir together back seat! Without wasting much time I climbed inside, keeping much distance from him. And its equally weird to see him in the back seat. He is just not the kind of person to sit on the back seat. Well he isn't the kind of person to eavesdrop in peoples personal matters. He wasn't the kind of person who would keep calm and quite while discussing a terrorist attack . He wasn't either a person who would bring coke for a girl or would let any other girl hold his hand. He is just not the he or I just don't know the person he is now. We are acting neutral. Like electrons without charge!!!

My phone beeped. Odd timing but I cannot ignore my sweetheart. 'Hey sweetheart, you know you are again disturbing your angel', I said and I could hear her chuckle. She thinks its her birth rites to disturb us during case. I could see Anshu smiling through the rear view as well. There is no other reason why she'd call me at this time other than to tell me what happened in school or who stole her tiffin, who took extra bite of her Swiss rolls or how hungry she'd been or what experiments she did on her teachers. She feels it's just too important to tell us all the things she did, she enjoyed, she cherished. Because she wants us get involved with her activities. She didn't want us to forget her existence. And that's the only reason why I cant ignore her. I had no one tell what happened in my school. There were but they didn't care. I had no one to tell that I couldn't tie my shoe lace until shree became my best friend.

'well surprise surprise! Wanna talk to daddy'? She is going to be super excited. She had become very dull since Anshu left for mission or whatever the hell was his intentions. All these days he'd never speak to her. And she'd wait. She'd wait hoping he'd call. This time he didn't and I can't forgive Anshu for doing that to her. Now he'd have to talk to her. I saw him glaring at me through the rear view mirror. I silently handed him the phone. He talked. His face showing thousand expressions and his inside would be flooding with thousands of emotions. Its not easy. Not easy to hurt someone intentionally. Then how could he do that.

And How did HE do that to me? I couldn't help but look at his side. Awkwardly enough he was staring into me too. Don't make eye contact Rii!!! My mind would scream and I'd look away. But I didn't. I instead looked into his eyes more deeply. To find the only thing, the only reason, his only undoing. Why did he hurt me that much? I have heard it many a times, that people only hurt you because they love you! I cant see how far that is true. They don't realise, with their each heart piercing word, each hatred look and each single devastating action is slowly killing the feelings that's once blossomed in the heart and mind of the other individual. I looked into his eyes as if scanning his retina with lasers and he looked away. He never loved you Riya Mukharjee. Never. Then what rites he had to hurt you? Suddenly I became more angry and then I noticed something else too. As if he is insecure. defeated. Disappointed. Devastated. Exactly like the situation after a disastrous storm. And I asked myself. Am I fighting with him?

'you should have thought twice before telling her I am here... With you ', I heard Anshu say, his voice rigid. 'and you should have thought twice before leaving her'!

'can we just have this discussion later'?? He said. Great . He ain't gonna entertain his curious audience. Sure as hell I won't have any such conversation with him the next time in from of these people. 'well you started it'! I sighed and closed my eyes leaning onto the back seat. I don't know to what extent I managed to convince Anshu but it wouldn't be easy convincing him fully. For that he needs extra time and well overthinking works for him.

After some minutes we reached Dr. Raos clinic. It was sealed with ETF tags and looked like all the CSI work is over. But still how can I comment without seeing the crime scene? There was nothing in the patient list. I briefed about this case to Anshu like Aisha did.

'you guys checked his bank account statements'? Anshu asked to which Rathod sir replied that they did. And it was normal. No heavy amount of money transactions other than clinical requirements. The receptionist and the ward boys were called. I wanted to know about the other doctors who visits the clinic routinely. As well as about the patients.

'Can you give nd me the list of your last imported stocks and please the patients list too the last two weeks'! I asked the receptionist. 'just some minutes ma'am , but I couldn't do it without accessing the computer'! Of course she couldn't use it because every darned thing in this clinic was sealed. I looked at Rathod sir asking his permission. He is the chief here and he allowed.

I waited for her to give me the much needed information while Anshu and Arjun Sir started inspecting the crime scene again. Rathod sir stood beside me. 'here it is ma'am '! The receptionist handed me the list.

'you keep the records of objects used in each surgery of the patients '?

'yes ma'am '!

'show me'! I compared both the record. Exactly two weeks back, 2 bottles of blood of AB- was ordered very urgently for an emergency transfusion. Its weird. There was no patient reported with heavy blood loss or severe injury other than that the purchase of large amount of broad spectrum antibiotics was telling different story.

'see this, don't you think there is something missing '? I asked Rathod sir. He observed the records carefully.

'the AB- blood cannot ever be wasted , not when it was very urgently ordered'! I said.

'you are right! There is no patient with AB- blood group listed here'! Yes, that is what exactly I wanted him to see. We have a clue. Now its clear that there was a injured person whose name was not entered here but who was very specifically treated here.

So this is updated! Hope ya like it!

Its boring though!

Thanks a Lott for your previous replies dearies. Means a Lot to me.

Take care.

Bye