Chapter 44

The Security while climbing on the stairs asked, “Sir!!! Can you tell me the exact time when you were here?”

“Between 5 and 5:15 PM”

There was slight change on security face and his Adam’s apple swayed as he swallowed the saliva. Once they reached the first floor, the security turned to Sabari.

“Sir!!! There could be a mishap. I suspect something might have happened during that time interval you mentioned. I’m… a bit… alcoholic…At any cost, I have to shower my liver with a nominal quantity of whiskey, to become normal. If I don’t, it would cause me nervousness and shivers. Like any day, today too, I had a whiskey at 4:30 PM. But, I believe it got me too intoxicated than the usual. I fell unconscious and when I woke up, it was 7 PM. Someone might have used the opportunity and entered the residence in that time interval. You and your wife might have visited at the same time.

Sabari was shocked hearing the security revelations.  He understood that he underestimated Prasanna and that he had executed his plan perfectly.

The security continued, “Let us check every room here”.

He switched the lights on. Sabari was able to recollect the hall where he was chatting with Prasanna. The couches and the interiors were exactly the same minus Prasanna and his Mac book.

Sabari said, “Here is where I was chatting”

“How many people where there in the room?”

“Just one… Prasanna…He said he is living here with his sister”

“Did you meet her?”

“No… she was not present during our discussion. But, she was the one who communicated and asked us to visit this address”

“This is getting serious… I think we have to call the cops sir”

“What?”

“Someone has drugged me. Once I fell unconscious, they had entered the house illegally and invited you here. It should be part of a huge conspiracy. We should report it to the cops without any delay”

“No.. Not now”

“Why sir?”

Sabari scrambled through his mind and found a reason. “I have some financial issues with the guy who did this”

“Why don’t you deal this in your residence or his? Why here?”

Sabari struggled to answer that question.

“Hm…. Ya.. I didn’t quite understand that point”

“Only if we report it to the cops, we will get to know the background”

“No please”

“I don’t know why you are scared. Are you folks part of any illegal activities?”

“No.. Not at all..”

“If not illegal, what do you call this as??”

“That is something personal… I will deal this issue appropriately”

“Sir.. The house owner Shantilal is a very stern person. If he comes to of all these happenings, it is tough to face him. He pays a hefty amount of twenty thousand Indian rupees as monthly salary. I might lose the only job if something goes wrong.”

“Don’t worry… I can handle this..”

“How?”

“This issue will not be leaked to the cops or your house owner”

“Whatever…. I cannot handle any kind of lockup treatment from cops..”

Just then, Sabari’s mobile phone rang. It was Inspector Mahadev. Sabari was perplexed to see Mahadev’s name. He waited for a couple of seconds and picked up the call.

“Hello?”

“Sabari?”

“Yes Inspector”

“Where are you?”

“uhmm... I reached home a while back sir… I’m planning to take my wife to doctor in a few minutes… Anything important inspector?”

“A small clarification”

“Yes please”

“I heard that you are supposed to leave to Bangkok in a couple of days”

Sabari was dazed at Inspector’s statement.

“How.. How did you know?”

“I just need an answer Mr. Sabari”

“You are right… Sidharth wanted me to travel”

“What is the purpose of travel?”

“Actually he informed the news of travel over the phone. I didn’t know the purpose.. He asked me to be prepared for travel”

“Didn’t you ask him the need for such a travel?”

“Hmm.. I did… He said he will let me know later.. But we didn’t get a chance to talk about it.. And then Sidharth was killed”

Inspector Mahadev giggled hearing Sabari’s statement.

“Inspector?? Is that some kind of joke?”

“Kind of… Just wondering how long you can lie me seamlessly”

“What do you mean?”

“Not just one… It’s a chain of lies”

“I cant understand”

“I can list it out… Number one – Your wife is sick, Number two – You said that you are in your home right now. But, right now I can locate you are a residence in Perungudi.”

Sabari was clueless.

“S.. sir… how…”

“It is quite easy Mr. Sabari… I’m waiting in front of the house where you are right now. You are currently with the security in the first floor. If you don’t believe me, you can peep out through the window to check”

Sabari saw a window at the corner of the hall and walked towards it. He opened one of the window door and looked outside. Inspector Mahadev was on his phone standing in front of his SUV.