“Worried?” the other two echoed.
“Can I have some
chai,
Jatin?” Mohnish settled down on a chair, realizing, too late, that Nidhi was curled up on it.
“Ouch!” he yelled. “Hey, what're you doing in this room?”
“She felt lonely sitting inside,” Sonia told him.
“She displays more dog features than cat features. She follows Boss everywhere.” Jatin chuckled, as he placed the
chai
pot on the hotplate.
“Good, at least you won't miss not having a dog here!” Mohnish retorted.
“So are you going to tell us what's worrying you?” Sonia turned from the computer to face Mohnish.
He nodded, accepting the cup from Jatin. “It's about this friend of mine. Her name is Rani. Actually her husband, Sanjay, is a college friend of mine, but over the years, Rani has also become a good friend. In fact, the three of us were together in college. Last night, a very strange thing happened. Sanjay and Rani live on Mulshi road, rather out of town. We're planning to organize a students' reunion next week and it was my duty to drop some names and addresses at Sanjay's place. I'd spoken to Rani and knew that Sanjay wouldn't be home, but I expected her to be there. After dropping you at your place, when I reached their house, it was locked. Rani wasn't there, so I thought I'd wait for her, since I'd gone that far. And then out of the blue, I saw Rani running for her life toward her house. I tried to stop her, but she began screaming and kicking. When I finally got her pacified, she told me that her car had broken down, so she'd had to walk. But someone began following her and she got the fright of her life. It was then that she told me that lately she's being stalked. Even during broad daylight.”
“Has she seen her stalker?” Sonia asked.
“No, but she senses him. And she's terrified. Because she doesn't know who he is, what he wants, and why he's stalking her.”
“I see . . .” Sonia looked thoughtful.
“Do you think you can meet her?” Mohnish asked. “I'm sure it would help her tremendously if another woman talks to her. She's quite a lonely woman actually; she doesn't have many friends.”
“What about her husband?”
“She confided in me last night that she and Sanjay are having problems. Which is quite surprising, since theirs was a love marriage.”
“Then of course I'll speak to her. Would you like to bring her here or—”
“I've been thinking about that. When I mentioned the police to her last night, she was most reluctant. Said she had no proof and that she didn't want to make a fool of herself. On the other hand, I don't think she should have a problem talking to you. Maybe I'll just give her a ring and ask her if you and I could drive over?”
“Do that,” Sonia agreed.
The afternoon was pleasant as Mohnish, Jatin, and Sonia drove along the winding Mulshi road. The sun wove golden trellis patterns on the pavements. The trees overhead formed kaleidoscopic figures as the leaves danced with the breeze.
“Not a very convenient place to live,” Sonia observed, as they left the main road and drove into a tree-lined road.
“Well, Rani feels the same, but Sanjay always wanted a place amidst nature. He refuses to budge from here. In fact, he went out of his way to build this bungalow.”
“What exactly does Sanjay do?”
“He's into business. Production of organic fertilizers. He's got a factory farther on down this road, so that he can commute to and fro easily. The rest of the time, he's moving around India, contacting customers and organizing sales deals. But it's tough for Rani. She's a housewife and she's got a few close friends, but they're all married. I drop in from time to time, but not very often.”
“Sounds like a lonely life to me. Doesn't she have any special interests? Perhaps a hobby?” Sonia queried.
“Not that I know of. One tends to be cut off, so far away from the city. Though she drives herself everywhere and attends an occasional party.”
“No children?”
“No, and maybe that's the real problem. If they had a kid or two, Rani wouldn't feel so alone.”
“You're quite concerned about her, aren't you?”
“To be really honest, yes, I am. I like Rani. She's a good girl. Always was. She came from a lower-class family, not very rich. But she was always so dignified. Quiet, but not self-effacing, if you know what I mean.”
Sonia studied Mohnish's face. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but do your feelings run deeper than normal here?” she persisted. She found herself waiting anxiously for his answer.
“Well, okay, I admit that I did have a crush on her, when we were studying together in college.”
“You mean
she's
the one you took to the disco?”
“Oh, you remember, I thought you were too intoxicated with music to remember a word that passed between us.” Mohnish grinned.
“Don't embarrass me!” Sonia blushed, as memory brought back a pleasant tingling sensation. She had thoroughly enjoyed herself last evening. So much so that she had let down her guard and rambled on unabashedly. It had been a relief to let go, but with Mohnish? Was that wise?
“Tell me about you and Rani,” she insisted before her thoughts trod in another direction. “Rani means ‘a queen'—does she still rule your heart?” she teased.
“Of course not! And there's nothing to tell about us. I dropped the idea the moment I realized that Sanjay and she were dating and were serious about each other. And that—before you allow your fertile brain to go any further—was ages ago! She's just a friend now. I don't have any special feeling for her anymore.”
“Good, because I don't believe in promoting extra-marital affairs,” Sonia said primly. She secretly expelled a sigh of relief, then wondered promptly why Mohnish's private life should be any concern of hers!
“That makes two of us.” Mohnish laughed. “Here we are.”
“What a lovely garden!” Sonia exclaimed, as Mohnish pulled the car alongside the bungalow. It was a sprawling cottage, surrounded by a huge garden. Mango and Banana trees looped around the house, interspersed with Guava and Chikkoo trees.
“Yes, this garden is Sanjay's very own personal creation. He's proud of it.”
They went in through the big iron gate. Steps led up to the white, double front doors, which opened as they approached. A tall, slim woman in her late twenties stood at the entrance. A pale pink sari was draped over an exquisite figure. Long jet-black hair fell like a silky curtain to her waist. The word
wow
triggered in Sonia's brain. Mohnish had forgotten to mention how beautiful his friend was.
“Hello!” the woman greeted them in a musical voice.
A beautiful voice to match the face, Sonia thought.
“Hi, Rani! Meet Sonia and Jatin,” Mohnish responded cheerfully.
They followed her into a cozy hall, furnished with plush sofas.
“I'm sorry Mohnish went to all this trouble.” Rani spoke in a lilting apologetic tone.
“Why should you be sorry?” Sonia asked her.
“Because I didn't wish him to entangle himself in my affairs,” Rani replied.
They sank onto a sofa and she sat facing them.
“Don't be silly, Rani. This is serious. Remember how frightened you were last night?” Mohnish reminded her.
Reluctantly, she nodded. “I guess you're right. Mohnish is a good friend,” she told Sonia. “A very old friend. He's the only one I trust.”
Sonia flashed a glance at Mohnish and raised an eyebrow. He flushed.
Sonia turned to Rani. “Can you tell me exactly what you've been experiencing?”
“For the last few weeks, I've had the strangest feeling that I'm being followed. Once in the market and then near the railway station. But they're usually crowded and safe places, so I didn't think much of it. But one evening on this same road, I was taking a walk and the skin on my arms prickled. I turned around and saw someone duck into the bushes. I called out, but no one responded. And then, last night, I was positive that someone was deliberately trying to scare me.”
“Interesting . . .” Sonia remarked, a thoughtful expression on her face. “And where is your husband?”
“Sanjay is out of town at the moment.”
“So you're all alone in this house when he's not here?”
“I ask the maid to stop overnight. It can get kind of scary—all alone on this road.”
“Rani, do you suspect anyone of doing this? Of trying to scare you?”
The other woman hesitated, then shook her head slowly.
“You don't know anyone who would like to play a prank on you?” Sonia persisted.
“I don't think anyone would even bother to put themselves to so much trouble for me!” The bitterness in Rani's voice was unmistakable.
Mohnish and Sonia exchanged glances.
Sonia asked, “How long is your husband scheduled to be away?”
“A couple of days.”
“And your maid is staying with you till then?”
“Yes, she agreed to.”
“Is there no place in the city that you can stay for a few days? At least until your husband returns?”
“My in-laws live in the city. But I don't see eye to eye with them.”
“In that case, all I can say is, be careful. Keep your door shut. And don't stay out late,” Sonia admonished. “And Rani, do you and Sanjay have your horoscopes made?”
“Horoscopes?” The other woman flashed Mohnish a surprised look. “Yes, we do.”
“Can you give them to me?”
“Sure, but why—”
“I'll explain later,” Mohnish interrupted hastily. “Just do as Sonia says.”
“Fine!” Rani shrugged.
Sonia was silent on the drive back home. Mohnish flashed her questioning glances but she didn't seem to notice them. The evening sun brushed the brown-green countryside with gold. A cool breeze skimmed over the bushes and trees, making them sway gracefully.
“What're you thinking, Boss?” Jatin could wait no longer.
“Rani . . . Didn't you find her too reluctant?”
“She seemed quite resigned to me—like she'd accepted what was happening to her as inevitable,” Mohnish remarked.
“Exactly. And she was most reluctant to discuss it. If I were scared to death about someone stalking me, I would immediately go for police protection. I wouldn't dillydally over issues of proof.”
“So what are you getting at?” Jatin asked.
“Nothing as yet. These are mere observations. I just thought that she was too calm. Mohnish's description of her had set a different picture before my eyes. I'd expected to find a terrified woman, ready to co-operate. Instead, I find a woman who doesn't want any help. Or should I say—a woman who
shows
that she doesn't need any help!”
“Maybe she knows more about her stalker than she's letting on,” Jatin said.
“Or there's a possibility that someone or something has frightened her so much that she doesn't wish to speak?” Mohnish suggested.
“You could be right. Fear plays a major role in loosening tongues or shutting mouths!” Sonia agreed. “You did take the horoscopes from her, didn't you, Jatin?”
“Yes, though she thought it most funny. If she only knew what avenues lie open when
you
go through them!”
“Why, Jatin! Spoken like a true friend!” Sonia smiled.
“I mean it. And I've decided that since I'm your assistant, it's also time to begin learning Astrology from you. After all, in your absence I can apply my knowledge and try some deductions.”
Sonia hid a smile. “Right,” she said, and winked at Mohnish.
An instrumental played in the background as Sonia shoved aside the clutter on her table and laid out the two horoscopes. She needed to see Mohnish's horoscope, too, she thought. After all, he was connected with Rani, one way or the other. The woman certainly was beautiful and it wasn't too difficult to fathom why Mohnish had fallen for her once upon a time. But, Sonia couldn't help wondering, did he still carry a torch for her? Unexpectedly, a shard of jealousy dug sharply into her and she was startled. Jealousy? What in heavens was happening to her? She and Mohnish were just friends! Okay, good friends. But that's all. What were a couple of outings for a guy who moved in high-power, ritzy media circles? Just that. A little bit of relaxation with a friend.
And that clinched the matter. She'd much rather work than subject herself to the meanderings of a fanciful mind!
With determination, she bent closely over Rani's and Sanjay's horoscopes. Immediately, the music beats seemed to drum a passage of clarity through her brain, turfing out unnecessary thought and helping her to concentrate on the star constellations. She ran her eye casually over the combinations. These two certainly had a very strong attraction for each other, but strong possibilities of divorce were also indicated. Or at least separation of some kind. Too bad. Sonia focused her attention on Rani's horoscope. Zodiac sign Gemini with Taurus as the ascendant. Good-looking surely. Also revealed a childhood fraught with hardships. And . . . Suddenly Sonia paused. Venus, Sun, and Mercury in the eighth house with Saturn and Mars aspecting them. What could it mean? What a strange horoscope, one of the rarest of its kind. Yes, it was absolutely clear. This wasn't just a childhood of hardships . . . it was something more. . . . And if she was right, it could mean that Rani was in terrible danger. . . . Sometimes the demons of the past overtook you and wreaked havoc with the present.