Chapter 43

Sabari wondered what to answer Prasanna. Inspector Mahadev was standing a foot away from him, but he wasn’t watching Sabari. Mahadev was giving some instruction to one of the constables in the room. He walked away from the scene towards a window.

Sabari whispered, “Tell me Prasanna.. “

“I asked you whether you happened to talk to Sidharth”

“The situation is not favourable right now to talk about that”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t get you… If you are planning to goof up something, just think about your lovely wife for a moment”

“I’m conscious about that and don’t have any idea of cheating you. “

“Good boy”

“I will be there in an hour and will explain”

“Ok”

“I need to talk to Ananya”

“Sure… You can talk to her in person when you are at my residence”

 The call was disconnected abruptly. Sabari looked around and saw that Inspector Mahadev was still in a discussion with the constable.

Sabari walked to Mahadev and interrupted the conversation. “Excuse me Inspector”

Mahadev turned to Sabari.

“Yes Sabari..”

“Sorry… I have to leave now… Got a call from my wife.. She is not feeling good… I can come later if you need me here”

“Not a problem…. These formalities are longer and might end only by late night. I will call you in case I need anything from you”

“Sure… Thanks Inspector”

Sabari bid bye from Mahadev and hurried out of Sidharth’s residence. He was worried that things are getting out of his control as time passes. With his mind totally out of control, he got into his car and started to drive.

‘It should be Prasanna who might have killed Sidharth and Prathap’

‘Who the hell is he and what is his motive?’

‘How is he profitable if I drop the Bionic Project?’

The evening traffic slowed down his drive on the busy streets. It took more than an hour to reach Prasanna’s residence. He parked the car on the right side of the road and walked to the gate.

The moment he reached the gate, the security stopped him. Sabari was astonished, as the security was not the one whom he encountered during his visit with Ananya, a couple of hours back. He guessed that the security might have changed over for the shift timings.

The security asked Sabari, “Yes… How can I help?”

“I’m Sabari… I was here earlier at 5 PM along with my wife to meet Prasanna”

“Who is Prasanna?”

“Prasanna…. Lives here… I was under the impression that he owns this house”

“I think you landed in a wrong address. The one Mr. Shanthilal Jain owns this house”

Sabari was shocked.

“This house number is 69.. correct?”

“Yaa?”

“Myself and my wife Ananya were here at 5 PM. We met one gentleman named Prasanna in a room upstairs. After our meeting, I had to step out intermittently for a personal work. Now, I’m back and I have to meet them again. Let me do that right now”

The security swiftly walked in front of Sabari and stopped him from entering in.

“Excuse me once again…. I think you didn’t understand what I said earlier. This house is owned by an industrialist Shantilal Jain from Jaipur and doesn’t have anyone inside. He visits here once in two months and usually stay for a few days.”

Sabari was stunned and took a couple of steps back. He hovered over the house once again and concluded without doubts that it was the same house he visited a couple of hours back.

The security interrupted him again.

“Excuse me…”

“I’m sure this is the house that I visited. There was another security here”

“That is impossible. I’m the only security person here. “

The security opened the gate and pointed out an outhouse near the compound wall.

“That is where I stay”

Sabari’s confusion increased. He turned the security and said, “Can I have a look inside?”

“I’m sorry.. I cannot allow you in. This is a completely private residence and none is allowed in. This residential area is a bit complex and that might have led you here. You are in a wrong address.”

“Listen… I’m not that crazy enough to land in a wrong address. I’m very sure that this is the exact location where I was a couple of hours back. We met a person Prasanna. There was a black Volkswagen Jetta too parked inside.”

The security scratched his head in confusion and said, “So far, the Volkswagen Jetta is the only information that is right. The car is parked inside, but there is none inside. If you still doubt, we can have a look inside.”

The security switched on the portico lights and they walked towards the entrance door. He stopped once again and turned around to Sabari.

“Sir!!! If you were here before, can you narrate me what you saw when you entered in.”

“Once we entered in, there was a wide hall and a couple of brown coloured three seater couch. A 50 inch LED TV on a wooden frame. A huge hanging light in the center of the hall. Teak wood stairs on the left. “

For the first time, the security was astonished on Sabari’s narration.

“How do you know all these?”

“Come on man… I was here and that is what I’m trying to bloody prove you”

“I have the key with me and there is no way that you have entered in”

The security took a magnetic key from his trouser pocket and unlocked the door. He pushed the door open and they entered in. The lights were switched on.

“Again… Can you tell me the name of the person you saw here?”

“Prasanna”

“Where did you see him exactly?”

“In the first floor”

“Ok.. Let us check the first floor…”

The security walked up the stairs and Sabari followed.