Chapter 236- The Diary
Shekhar was frustrated. He had just been back from Lucknow after an assignment and as he opened his bag it was not his. Shekhar was not sure how he could do it. He had been always careful about his bag as it always contained some data. Cameras, his press identity card were inside the bag. Only solace for him at this point was there was no sensitive data in the lost bag as he had gone to cover impact of Maryadha or Bandhan. So whatever there was in it, it was something that doesn't create issue in anyone's hand. But still he needed his bag. Also he had to return the bag he has got to the rightful owner. He began to rummage the bag for clues.
It was obvious it was a girl's bag. Salwar suits, mostly plain, under garments, some cosmetics, one diary were the contents of the bag. Shekhar decided to check the diary as nothing else could give the identity of the owner.
He opened the diary and in the first page it was written " Nimisha Purohit" but no address and there was the photo of a girl in salwar suit with big rimmed glasses on the side of the diary. Shekhar looked at the girl. She looked plain, there was nothing special about her. No one will give her a second glance. She looked someone in her early twenties
Shekhar scratched his head. He didn't like reading anyone's private diaries without reason. But then he felt to get any information about this girl he felt he will have to read the diary. He flipped the pages. It started Mar 28 a year back. As he went on reading the pages of the diary he was shocked. In front of him was a coup. He had to find Nimisha Purohit or rather the world has to know Nimisha Purohit's story.
Then his telephone rang. He went and picked it up.
" Hello am I speaking to Shekhar Srivastava" a girl's voice asked.
" Yes Shekhar here, who is speaking " he asked.
" Nimisha Purohit, Sir your bag ended up with me. I have given it with the Railway Police. You can collect it from there"
Before Shekhar could ask any more question , the call was cut. From diary Shekhar had understood Nimisha is a girl who is on the run and doesn't want to come out. She might have got his number from his visiting card. She might not be wanting this bag of hers as she cannot risk herself being seen.
One thing Shekhar knew now. Diary was authentic. The girl was on the run. It was the perfect time to attack Aravind Setia. He had to call his editor.
Maya smiled in her kitchen. She knew she has hit the bulls eye with the phone call. Shekhar Srivastava will be itching now to bring the contents of Nimisha Purohit's diary on the small screen.
Gayatri sat in her room. When she had gone to give dinner to Tauji she had felt she should speak her mind to him. Though Dinakar was her uncle for Gayatri he was like her father. As for both her parents she was a burden. It was Dinakar who had insisted on sending her to school. It was Dinakar who paid her fees and had also ensured her marriage is not fixed before she was eighteen. Next summer Gayatri knee she will be turning eighteen and she had no clue what kind of match her father will bring. She hoped her Tauji will ensure she is married to a good man, not as second or third wife of some old man which her parents were capable of doing and her brothers didn't care much.
But what was bothering Gayatri now was not her marriage. But an incident that happened almost one and a half years back. Many times she had wanted to speak to Tauji about it. But she didn't know what will be its outcome. There was no proof to her feelings. And what she saw cannot directly establish the crime. So far no one knew Gayatri has seen it. If something goes wrong her father might even sell her to some brothel. Gayatri knew her father was capable of that if that action meant his survival. She opened her diary. She had noted down everything in her life in that diary, except the happenings of Apr 4th last year. She took a deep breath and started writing her day's experience in the diary. Maybe Mata Gowri will show her a way to tell the truth. Till then it was better to be quiet.
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