ACP Pardyuman of CID listens to Raj and Armaan's story and nods grimly.
Raj: Sir, police CJ ke khilaaf koi action nahin le sakti jab tak hum koi saboot na laye….lekin hamare paas koi saboot nahin hai…..sirf Neha ki gawaahi hai, aur wo….. (his voice falters a bit, and Armaan touches his arm to comfort him)
ACP: Hmm…….toh sabse pehla kaam toh Neha ko dhoondna hai…..tum logon ko koi shaq hai, ki usse kisne kidnap kiya hai…ya kahaan rakha hai?
They shake their heads disconsolately. Then Armaan bursts out, "Sir , mujhe ek aadmi par shaq hai….uska naam Parvatlal hai….aur mujhe lagta hai ki wo CJ ka aadmi hai..!"
ACP: Yeh tum kaise keh sakte ho?
Raj looks at Armaan and shakes his head again. But Armaan persists, "Kyunki yeh dono murders Nainital se connected hai….pehla murder Nainital mein hua….aur doosra murder, Nainital ke ek hotel owner ka hua…..CJ ka Nainital mein aana-jaana tha….aur Parvatlal bhi wahin ka rehne wala hai…."
The ACP looks bemused. "Mr. Suri, Nainital ki population laakhon mein hai….kay wahaan ke saare log iss case se taaluk rakhte honge?"
Armu: (impatiently) Lekin mere paas shaq karne ki wajah hai…..
He proceeds to tell ACP all that he knows about Parvatlal's unscrupulous activites, his involvement in the Anuj Shastri case, his intriguing reappearance in Mumbai, and finally, the encounter that afternoon in the ice-cream parlour. At the end of his tale, the ACP looks slightly more amenable to the suggestion that Uncchi Cheez may indeed be involved. He assures him that he and his officers will carry out intensive investigation; in the meantime, Jassi and the rest of the Suri family, as well as the Oberois, should be extra careful. Also, if they can find any clue about either of the murders, it would help them tremendously.
They walk out into the street, not looking very encouraged. It is morning already and they are nowhere close to finding Neha. Raj is sick with anxiety. Armaan observes his stricken face with concern. He suggests that they go to Oberoi Industries to warn G Kaka and Meera of the latest development, in case CJ is indeed behind all this.
At the Suris's house:
Jassi is telling Ila, Angel and Meghna the entire story right from Neha's past to the recent clues they have uncovered. When she finishes, Angel gasps, "That means….we are in for some serious trouble?"
Meghna: (frowning at her) No, Angel…..situation zaroor tense hai, lekin I'm sure hame jaldi hi koi clue milega…..don't get worked up!
Ila: I hope Armaan aur Raj theek ho…Jassi, tumne Armaan ka phone try kiya?
Jassi: (sulkily) Nahin!
Clearly, she is very annoyed over the way they left without taking her on the search. Ila tries both their numbers but one is out of range and the other is busy. As Angel and Meghna move out, Ila stays behind and tries to pacify her, "Jassi beta……try to understand…..iss waqt kuch bhi ho sakta hai…..Armaan sirf tumhe protect karna chahta hai….taaki tumhe koi nuksaan na pahunche….Ashish aur Vedika safe rahe….."
Jassi: (tears peeping from her eyes) Aur Armaan ki safety, mamma? Agar kahin un logon ke Armaan aur Raj ko kuch…..
Ila hugs her tight and admonishes her, crying herself, "Nahin! Armaan ko kuch nahin hoga……he'll be all right….he'll be all right!"
Jassi: I can't live without Armaan, mamma……Babaji please unhe jaldi waapas bhej do!
Angel takes Vedika to her room. Meghna stops in her tracks, struck by a thought. Her face purses up in determination. She moves softly to her room, where she takes out her aboriginal prayer tools and sets them carefully. Then she switches off the lights and focusses on something with her eyes half-closed.
Tomorrow: A little headway
Health and Fitness
Anupamaa
