Chapter 17
She forced herself to calm down after the call . Goa was a big enough place and with lots of businesses looking for investments.
She searched Google and decided that L'Arome or similar sounding names were common for companies in food business ..There was a famous Paris Restaurant by the same name.
It was all coincidence . She told herself fiercely as she got busy preparing for the lunch . It was supposed to be a delectable spread consisting rice preparation , curries , Bread , Dal , prawns( which she allowed the Tais to prepare ) as she still was not very good at handling sea food) and salad all served on a Banana Frond.. For Dessert they were doing orange colored sweet rice.
She believed in being authentic and in the last few weeks her food had started tasting like the natives . Both Leela and Geeta Tai were very proud of her.
By the time the group left it was already 3:30 PM . She decided to take a quick walk to clear her mind completely .
She walked towards the lake and decided to sit on a rock nearby . An adorable elephant came in to take a dip in the lake and chew on some coconut palm branches . Mehak watched him fascinated He then filled his trunk with water and blew a full fledged gush towards her .
Whoa she squealed , and the giggled ...Do not behave like Shaurya Khanna...
And then she giggled some more ...thinking what would Shaurya's reaction be if he knew she called an elephant Shaurya Khanna.
Woh bechaara to lake mein hi kood jaayega ( he will probably jump in the lake ) she told herself and giggled some more ..and then suddenly her eye welled up. She broke down clutching her knees , resting her head on them .
A good cry made her feel better and she decided it was time again for making her connection to her old world., It required a lot of planning .
Shaurya walked in his apartment to notice Shankar whispering into his phone.
He was pretty sure that Shankar was having an extramarital affair . He had noticed him whispering into the phone quite a few times darting sneaky glances making sure that nobody was watching him.
He could not believe Shankar could do something like this . Had he not been so busy , he would have surely gotten to the bottom of it

Mehak was always very careful. She would always change her means of calling .Most often she tried using the websites/apps that would allow her to make calls directly to the cellphone without using a phone . However the Telecom department had a very low view of such apps and they kept banning them till a new one sprouted up.
Shankar Bhaiyya Sir kaise hai ( Shankar Bhaiyya How is sir?)... She asked after enquiring about the well being of Shankar and Manju
Madamji theek hai ..Bahut chup rehte hain ...jyaada gussa nahin karte ...ab jyaadatar yahin rehte hai ...Vasant Kunj kum hi jaate hai ..Auntieji kabhi kabhi aa jaat hai yahan ( he is ok..he has turned very quiet does not yell a lot ..he is here most of the time ..Does not go to VK often ..Auntieji comes here sometimes)
Khaana theek se khaate hai ..( is he eating well?)
Haan madam ..woh jo aap ne peechli baar salad bataya tha..woh shauk se khaate hai ..stuffed roti bhi ...( yes madam he loves the salad that you told about last time , he also likes the stuffed rotis)
Mujh se keh bhi rahe the main kahan se training le raha hoon ( he was asking me where I am getting trained these days) Shankar Bhaiyya laughed conspiratorially
Shaurya grimaced when he heard Shankar laughing in the phone. Enough is Enough . He was going to put an end to this , Poor Manju did not deserve this . Hell, No woman deserved this .
He strode purposefully towards Shankar and snatched the phone out of his hands .
Hello Kaun bol raha hai ? ( who is speaking?)..he asked in a stern tone
Mehak was confused for a second
Shankar Bhai... she started but zipped as she realized it was not Shankar Bhaiyya .it was HIM..
She disconnected immediately.
Shankar was shaking in his shoes ..
Shaurya could not believe his ears ...was it really her?? ...But why would she call Shankar.
She who did not even call her own family , he was pretty sure of that...
Who was it Shankar?? ..His stern and loud tone had brought even Manju out..
Shaurya turned to Manju ...do you know what your husband is up to these days ?
Are you having an extramarital affair Shankar .??
He was surprised to see that Manju;s face expressions did not change ..she did not looked shocked ..instead she was exchanging guilty glances with her husband
What is going on Shankar ..who was that ??
He looked at the call history on the phone and realized it was one of those masked calls.
Shankar I am asking you something ...speak up or you will lose your job... he was on the verge of losing his temper completely
Shankar Kept quiet .
Shankar ..he yelled again
Sssirr It was Mehak madam ...Manju stammered ..
Shankar looked at her with anger ..but she gestured her helplessness...
How long has this been going on??
Sir Ma'am calls up once a while and asks about your well being . Shankar finally broke his silence
What ..Shaurya was stunned ... his heart jumped in joy but the next moment his mind   took over Stupid Girl ..he fumed ...
He had worried about her .He had tried to find her , but she had simply left no trail ..that had strangely made him feel relieved . It meant she was safe . Her family seemed content which too pointed towards the same. If he could not find her that means so could not Mama.
He had not tried too hard , because he was aware Mama was tracking his every move. .For the moment he was content that she was safe ..somewhere .
Once he had hit the final nail in Mama's coffin , He was just a step or two away from it, he would go all out to search for her
That was true till today .She being the emotional fool was leaving a trail .Yes she was not using   an easily traceable phone number , but the IP address could still be traced by a real professional.
The only saving grace was that Shankar was not a very intuitive contact for her.
He had not thought about it .. Mama too would not ...
Shankar I want you to leave for your village now ..
Ssir I am ssorry ..but madam was really concerned about you ..
Yeah I know ..I am not firing you ..I am , he paused, not going to use this pent house for quite some time so this is the best time for you guys to go and visit your relatives and I would like you to visit all your relatives . Do not stay in one place for long and no need to call me for the next couple of months . Your salary will be credited as usual in your accounts. Come back after two months.
Both Shankar and Manju had worked with Shaurya long enough to know when a discussion was over.
They started moving out of the room..
Ek minute ...Shaurya stopped them ..They looked at him..
"Exactly what did she ask about me ?"..the smile on his face was something they had not seen in the past three months. Surely it must mean that all was well with the world.
Once Shankar and Manju had left , he moved to his room , and pulled out the drawer of his study table.
He opened the red velvet box and touched the ring inside reverentially .
Buss Laddoo thodi der aur ...buss thodi der ..I promise( Just a little bit more time ..just a little bit more )
Shaurya knew he had to speed up his plans now . This stupid girl could land in danger . She will run away from, hide from him , but reveal herself due to her concern for him.
He could not let her be exposed to danger . Not for a minute . She was too precious.
That brief contact disoriented her. It was as if someone was scratching the scabs that were just building over her wounds ...
She ran back from her cottage to the tourist reception area . She needed human contact else this sadness would swallow her .
She hoped Brian and Sandra were back . She needed to talk to them.
She saw the two receptionists who doubled up as the welcoming party sitting and chit chatting ..
Girls ..are Brian and Sandra back??
Yes they are .they have just gone to their cottage . is everything ok with you?
She did not wait to reply back before racing towards the living quarters of the Nazareths...
It was Sandra who answered her knocking . She was surprised to see a panting Mehak .
Mehak is everything Ok ,she asked concerned .
Yes it is ..I was just wondering how did your meeting go ...
Surely you did not come running just for that ..
Oh no ..I ...Mehak was at a loss for words
Why don't you come in ..and join us for some coffee..
Brian and I both need our evening cuppa
NNoo no thanks ..I was never a coffee drinker ,,
Oh come on then I will make you some tea..but definitely you can come in for 10 minutes.
Brian joined them as they settled in the living area with steaming cups.
Buzz the Nazareth's pet golden retriever..too joined the party ..and sprawled on the rug ,,near Mehak's feet
So Brian ..what did you think of our meeting today .. Sandra started the conversation
Umm..I think it went well.
Mr .Sahay seemed impressed
Mr Sahay ..? asked
Oh he is the CFO of this investing company .
Whhat is the name of this company ..Mehak asked nervously
L'Arome Holdings
Mehak's face paled ..
You know Mehak ..we might be able to sell the open air restaurant to them ...they seem to be willing to try new ideas
What about Mehak's boat house on the lake?? Asked Sandra ..
You know that too might be a possibility ..said Brian ..
We will have to see how much they want to invest . We have a lot of ideas to develop the farm but they all will require capital and .it might take some time as those guys ..I mean the investing company are themselves going thorugh some changes ..
Mr Sahay mentioned that their CEO was interested in visiting but he is caught up at the moment so this whole deal is being looked after by Mr Sahay
CEO ..
Yeah Shaurya Khanna ..I am sure you must have heard of him ..quite a celebrity ..Brian asked her
Sandra's eyes suddenly lit up ...Hey come on ..he was the judge in the cooking competition you had participated in ..ofcourse you know him.. and was not White Chillie's his restaurant ..where you were working..you could throw in a word for us ...
Mehak felt dozzy . Her carefully built life was suddenly going out of control..This was a night mare ...
She searched for the right words ..
I..I ..I .."we" did not part on the best of terms ...
What do you mean "we" ..Shaurya and You ?? Sandra was puzzled ..
"Nnoo I mean that I resigned in a hurry ..I did not serve notice ..I ..I may not be in his good books now"
Oh ..ok ..never mind.. said Sandra
Infact I think it is best that they never come to know I work here ..
Don't you think you are pushing this too far ? Brian objected unless there is more to it ...
No ..No ..I her face paled further ...
Sandra was quiet ...she was always the more perceptive one ...
She had in their initial days of getting to know each other , guessed quiet soon that Mehak was nursing a broken heart ...She had never pushed Mehak for the details ..but she had over their long chats gathered the gist ..which was usual ..Boy meets Girl...fall in love..one wants marriage ..other does not ...
"Brian...the dog needs a walk ..he is scratching the floor"
Brian looked at Buzz and then at Sandra in surprise
Buzz was doing no such thing ..He seemed pretty content ...He was as lazy as a tortoise and did not believe much in exercise ..
He would rather have the cat climb on his back than run or chase anything
Sandra gave Brian the eye .
"Oh yeah ..sure love..."
"Let us go for the walk sonny boy ...he told Buzz .".
Poor Buzz could not understand why was he being pulled away from his evening siesta to do some despicable exercise ...
After a great tug -o-war that Brian just managed to win ..they were both out of the door...
Ok ..darling ..now you tell me what is going on ..Sandra had changed places to sit next Mehak and held her hands
Mehak's tears fell on their clasped hands