CHAPTER 12
NEIL POV
I was astounded by the no. of people at the positions that were being threatened.
Surprisingly the gang had thought thoroughly this network and has set their pawns in business to make delivery of shipments and transfer money efficiently and intelligently without detection.
However, I wasn't at top of my class and is an IPS officer for no show. Any person with mind could see pattern in loss of the companies or the branches.
Their imbalance in production and production and sales department.
I was feeling remorse for the people blackmailed. The protection of family is on top propriety and no way to escape the situation, hanging on constant edge of knife.
Thinking, what would have I done? Surely protect Avni or my children but that latter thought was a figment of my imagination and would stay just in imaginations not reality.
My reality was far away from the imagination and imagining afar future is foolish of me now.
A cute chubby kid with sparkling eyes of Avni's and round face. Always smiling a smile just like Avni in my arms. Same innocence as Avni and intelligence as mine.
However, my dreams were daydreams, which never come true.
Seriously people I need a new hobby to spend time rather daydreaming, it doesn't give me hope rather sap it for me.
Concentrating at the matters in hands the person ahead us was not giving a single detail about the sudden reason of drop in business just as every other person when we took interviews from them as in cover of being govt. welfare officials doing a report on pharms co.'s.
Moreover, it was frustrating and it was our fifth company interviewing and had three more of short falling branches based in Mumbai to be interviewed.
It was two in noon till now, still no success in digging up a person that could be a source to us not just to the gang.
However, there was only one company left on the list.
"DD what's the next and last company on the list?" I asked not remembering the name.
"Sir ji a company name SAGE but it is not based here but has main branch of India here." Replied DD fiddling with the pages.
"Sage is it same as SAGE co. of Shekhar uncle? It is based in New York and has a branch here."
"Yes sir. Its owner was Shekhar Rajput but the current owner is not mentioned anywhere. Could it be the same?"
"His daughter is now the current owner. He was killed in that recent attack. Dad was friend with him. He told me about some problem it was facing in here in company."
"Oh. Toh ye bhi iss blackmail scheme me shaamil he, toh ye toh company pe bahut impact karega plus uncle ji death."
"Woh toh he. Loss ho sakta he negative publicity se. As almost as high profile is case for us but has great impact, same for them just negative."
"Sir we can make this company involvement very low profile or secret and can handle it."
Thinking it through, the idea was not bad and quite good for our plan.
"Great DD. Listen we will keep this company involvement to us and off case and then we can manipulate it way more better without outside interference."
"Thank you sir ji woh na sab aap ke sath rah rah kar ideas aa te rahte he."
"Chalo phir tum ye team professional ki waaps department bej do aur dismiss ka order de dena."
"Phir hum Sage ke branch office chalte he and wahan se mere apartment aaj ke scenarios discuss karne." I said to DD walking towards my car.
"Ji. Sir ji. Aap wait karo car me. Maine abhi aya." He replied turning around.
"Sir ji. Yahi building show kar rahi he GPS me unke office ke address pe."DD said looking frowning at the screen.
"Its on sixth floor of the building, sir."
"Lets go and see. What we find here." I signed walking toward the entrance of the building.
Taking the lift we approached their office. The whole floor was theirs and was well organized and was separated by a wall of glass from reception. People were busing doing their work and in our far corner space was a canteen space with few people eating and chatting.
We approached the front desk, there was an employee and surprisingly a kid about two years old playing games at the system computer.
"Who can I help you sir?" she asked politely taking my appearance in formals.
"We are from govt. and are here on making an report on the pharm co.'s in Mumbai and their performance. We would like to meet the head of the branch and head of productions."
"Sure let me ring them a call." She replied already on the phone ringing someone.
"Wait a second, sir I think he is in a meeting. Let me try an another number." Frowning she replied.
"Hi, could please give me the computer for just a sec." she asked the child on computer.
"Aah. Sri I'm killing the zombie on this planet or they will attack us. Ha. You don't wanna die? Do you?" he replied exasperated palming his face.
I chuckled; god kids could be so dramatic and yet so innocent as hell.
"Sorry sir. Seems like he, here is saving the world for us today. You can sit in the waiting room for a minutes I will arrange the meeting for you." She said apologetically.
"No problem. Not want to die today. We will wait." I replied and I myself didn't want to see that kid sad. I don't know why but I didn't.
A few minutes just passed and here came in the same kid grinning. I suddenly felt happy seeing that child happy, it was like world was happy. Those dark brown eyes shone similarity and innocence, his face similar to someone I couldn't recognize, smiling his face all lit up.
"Hi Mister, Sri said that I tell you that u can come now." He said already jumping.
"Hey champ, did you save the world?" Standing up to follow him.
"I did save the world. There was so many zombies" said in voice of awe.
"Well if you saved the world can I ask your name?" I asked.
"Mai ajnabeeo ko apna naam nahi bata ta!" he said exactly same line as once Avni told me and ran ahead. I was dumbstruck and literally speechless, who could he?
Reaching the front desk, Sri the receptionist informed us, "You can meet the head of production in conference room 2 and head of branch will come there shortly, he is in meeting." Giving me and DD directions to the room, and turning to the boy.
"Hi, come on lets go on a walk to canteen." Holding his hand directing him towards the canteen.
"Nice kid." I complimented her; she opened to speak but was cut off by DD, and Ash as she was dragged away towards the Canteen.
"Sir, I found the room. Lets go." And I walked towards him.
Same question asked and same tactics applied but no answers. He was afraid of detection I could tell, his body language told me he was uncomfortable and nervous which was surely a benefit for us.
A loose nut was easier to crack rather than tough nut.
Then came the head of department after half an hour finishing his meeting, and he was totally a different case. He didn't spoke much and was observing the production head's reactions and mine interviewing.
Finally after a half hour more interviewing we got some false answers but true hope that production head would spill his beans if we pressured him more.
However, we were in cover and couldn't blow it, so we took our leave.
Exiting the office, I searched for that kid but he was not there anymore disappointed, I wanted to say goodbye. In addition, definitely ask his name.
Strange. Goodbye to strangers, well he became kind of luck to me now and I wanted to see him again. Weird, now a two and half was now my new obsession. GREAT.
SORRRY! for not making AvNeil meet,building up the situations so hold on they will meet soon.
CID
