Chapter 38

Ananya was awestruck hearing to Abilash over phone. She imitated a shock in her voice.

“Are you serious Abilash? Isn’t she not back in hospital yet? She told me that she will be heading to the temple first before going to the hospital”

“That wasn’t what has happened”

“Oh…”

“She didn’t go to the temple… Instead she visited a priest in Velachery”

“A priest??”

“Ya… She told me that he is a priest and also an astrologer.. “

“Why did she visit him?”

“To check with him whether the situation is right to get married… and he has suggested doing some special puja and atonement before getting married… “

Ananya looked at Sabari with a weird reaction. At the same time, she switched on the speaker of the phone.

“But Abilash… Does she believe in those rituals and atonements?”

“Like I said before, that was a surprise for me too… She had informed you that she is visiting temple, but landed in the priest’s mutt in Velachery. Not just that. She told me that she is going to Kanchipuram to arrange those rituals for atonement and would meet me after two days in the hospital. I would definitely say that she has gone crazy. Why don’t you call her and advise?”

Ananya scratched her head reacting to Abilash.

“hmm.. Ya… will do Abilash…”

“Ananya!!! Your voice is too dull today… Why?”

“No.. I’m just feeling too tired due to lack of sleep.”

“I think myself and Vasu have troubled you a lot… “

“No.. Not at all… It is my pleasure to help you… I can’t wait to see you both as a couple”

“Thanks Ananya… As I requested, can you please call her”

“Will do.. “

“Bye now.. “

The call was disconnected. Ananya turned to Sabari..

“Sabari!!! Where is this heading? How can Vasu call Abilash? I could not believe that this is happening… I think someone might have called Abilash impersonating her voice..”

“May be…. And it was enough for Abilash to believe it.. “

“Ya… Who could that be?”

“At this point… I have to suspect Prasanna and his sister…”

“Hmm.. Let us wait to find out what we have for today evening”

 

Time – 5 PM

Sabari’s car entered Jawahar Nagar in the Perungudi suburb area. It was a newly laid road and some of the houses in the streets looked posh. He located the seventh main street and took a turn. In the next couple of minutes, he stopped in front a house.

The security looked at the car and walked to Sabari who was in the driver’s seat.

“Sir… Are you Mr. Sabari?”

“Yes…”

“Ok.... “

The security opened the wide and tall steel gate. Once the gate was opened, it led to a portico. Sabari drove through the driveway and parked the car near a black Volkswagen Jetta.

Ananya took note of those and turned to Sabari..

“Sabari!!!”

“uhm??”

“This guy Prasanna doesn’t seem to be a middle class guy as I guessed initially... But he has a great house in this posh area”

“Ya… I did notice.. And I wanted to tell you something… When I’m talk to him, I want you to stay silent and just listen to us. On the first hand, I like to know what his intentions are”

Ananya nodded her head.

Sabari’s phone rang and the display showed a weird anonymous number. He attended the call.

“Hello?”

“Welcome Sabari… You guys are punctual.” It was a voice of a female.

“Who is this?”

“We spoke in the morning…. Didn’t you recollect my voice… I’m Prasanna’s sister”

“Oh ok.. Is your brother home?”

“Oh ya.. He is waiting for you. The entrance door is unlocked. Once you enter through the door, you will come across a hall and in the left, there will be a staircase. Take the stairs to the first floor, there will be a room. Myself and my brother are waiting for you… “

“Ok”

As instructed, Sabari and Ananya walked through the entrance door. It led to a wide hall, well furnished with rich foam couches and a 50-inch wide screen LED television on a wooden frame. There was a huge hanging light in the center of the hall. There were wooden stairs to the left of the hall. Ananya and Sabari climbed through the teakwood stairs.

The stairs ended in the first floor and that led to a large visiting room. There were black leather couches in the center of the hall. A guy, who was dressed in a sleeveless t-shirt and khaki shorts was seated in a chair, in front of a table. His eyes were glued to a Mac book on the table.

Without taking his eyes off the Mac, he said, “Welcome Mr and Mrs. Sabari.. Have your seat”

Sabari and Ananya sat on the couch. The guy closed the Mac, turned towards Sabari and threw a smile.

“I don’t think we have met before. By the way, I’m Prasanna, the director of the short film that you watched earlier in the morning.”

Sabari raised his voice in anger.

“Listen Man… I don’t know what you and your sister are trying to do with me. If you call that as blackmail, don’t try it anymore. Tell me what you need from us”

Prasanna smiled at Sabari and tried to cool him.

“Sabari… Cool down… Don’t use harsh words like ‘Blackmail’. This is for sure not a blackmail. In other words, I can say that it is a kind of favor… “

 “What kind of favor?”

“We will park that topic for later… By the way, your boss Mr. Prathap was killed recently...Right?”

“Yes??”

“Are the crematorium and rituals over?”

“Ya.. Done..”

“Do you have any idea on who killed Prathap?”

“Nope “

“But I do…”

Sabari was shocked for a moment.

“Who?”

Prasanna look at him in silence for a few seconds and said, “Your MD, Sidharth”