Chapter 34

Sabari and Ananya looked at each other hearing the calling bell.

“Who could that be?”

“Not sure… I will let you stay here.. Let me go and check”

Sabari walked through the hall and unlocked the door. To his surprise, he saw his neighbor Venkat waiting. That gave him a slight relief for the time. But, Venkat looked a bit concerned.

“Hey Venkat… Come in…”

“Sorry Sabari.. Actually I’m heading to work. So, I don’t have enough time to come.. I came here to tell you something important”

“Ok.. Sure.. Go ahead”

“Ten minutes back, I saw someone in a bike in front of your gate. I casually peeped out through the window and saw him. As he was wearing a helmet, I couldn’t see his face clearly. He parked the bike, walked to the gate and dropped something into your letterbox. “

Sabari’s heart beat rose rapidly as he heard that. He clearly understood there is a new issue brewing up. However, he decided not to expose it to Venkat.

Sabari asked Venkat, “How was the guy?”

“He was tidy and was dressed in formals. To be specific, in light blue shirt and dark blue trousers”

Sabari threw a decorated smile to Venkat and replied, “No worries Venkat. He is my office technician. As per my instruction, he came to deliver one of the reports that I have asked for. I didn’t go to work today, and so this arrangement”

Venkat was relieved after Sabari’s response.

“Sorry man… I didn’t knew this… Hope I didn’t scare you..”

“No.. No.. Not at all.. Actually I was waiting for that report until now.. Why don’t you come in for a cup of coffee?”

“Oh… thanks for the offer… But I have leave to work.. I’m already late by ten minutes.. We will meet sometime later.. Bye.. “

“Bye Venkat”

Once Venkat walked out of the gate, Sabari shut the door. Ananya walked in at the same time.

“Why was Venkat here?”

Sabari narrated the incidents briefly and that made Ananya gloomy.

“Who is that guy?”

“No idea… He has put some crap inside the letter box”

“Why don’t you check what it is right away?”

“I will check that shortly. I’m waiting for Venkat to leave to work. At any cost, our actions shouldn’t reveal that we are nervous. Moreover, he was the one who called me to inform that you took the car in the midnight. If he happens to suspect our actions, he will start monitoring us. So we have to be very careful with him”

Tears rolled down from Ananya’s eyes.

“All I can say is, it is getting tougher for us”

“Come on Ananya… We need to be stronger in these hard times. Be strong… Let me go and check what the parcel is”

Sabari unlocked the entrance door and came out. He looked around to make sure that Venkat had left and walked via the portico towards the gate. His heartbeat increased as he reached the letter box. He unlocked the letter box and found a package.

Sabari unwrapped the package. It had a folded letter and a DVD. Sabari went ahead and unfolded the letter. It was a handwritten letter and he started to read.

“Dear Sabari,

I like to introduce myself. I’m Prasanna, a Software Professional working in a MNC. Though my Engineering degree got me into an MNC, I don’t like the typical way of life, earning a six-digit salary, marrying a gorgeous girl or buying an apartment on an EMI. My goal in my life is to become a director in the film industry. Satyajit Ray is my idol. I have written many scripts and met a number of producers for a chance. None of the producers were interested in my stories.

Being ignored, I decided to produce a short film myself and showcase my movie making skill. The movie I produced was based on a Bio-Technology subject. Before I take it to the bigger audience, I request you to have a look at the movie. You can find a DVD along with this letter. Please give your honest feedback.

Actually, I want to meet you in person and talk about this. But, I’m aware that you are a busy person and will not have time for an appointment. For the same reason, I’m dropping this package in your letter box. Request you to provide your feedback as an SMS or in WhatsApp in the below contact number.

Double Zero Triple Zero Double Zero Triple Zero”

Sabari started to sweat after reading the last line of the letter. By the time he read, Ananya came out looking for him.

Ananya asked, “What is it Sabari?”

Sabari gave the letter to Ananya and replied, “Read this”

Ananya read the letter and turned to Sabari.

“What is he trying to say? And he is mocking us giving the ‘zero’ contact number??”

“It is clear that the intention of the person who wrote this letter was to scare us. We have to check what is inside this DVD”

“Let us check that right away”

Ananya and Sabari swiftly went in. Sabari grabbed his personal laptop and played the DVD. A movie began to play with a voice in the background.

“The location in front of your eyes is an incomplete apartment building in the Taramani area. Can you see that? Fine… Now, you also can see a car entering the apartment premise with its head lights switched off.”

Sabari and Ananya looked at the Laptop screen keenly.

“Sabari??” and it was Ananya.

“hmm??”

“Is this our car?”

“Yup… No doubts at all..”