Chapter 48

Sabari was taken aback after he heard the sarcastic comment from Prasanna over the phone. He moved the phone away from him, turned to Inspector Mahadev and whispered, “Sir… It’s Prasanna”

Mahadev signaled him to switch on the speaker of the phone and Sabari obliged. Sabari continued the conversation.

“I need to talk to Ananya right now”

“Sure… After answering my question… “

“What was your question again?”

“I asked why the hell are you roaming around with Inspector Mahadev without any concerns about your wife”

“I’m actually concerned. Whatever I did so far are for her. You demanded me to quit from the Bionic Project. I accepted your demand and went to meet SIdharth to convey my decision to quit. When I went to meet him, I got the tragic news of his murder. I was shocked and depressed wondering what was happening around me. With multiple questions in my mind, I returned to the place where Ananya and myself met you. And then came to know that you vacated the temporary place along with my wife. At the same time, Inspector Mahadev smelled me and follow me there. “

“Oh!!! Does that mean you confessed everything to him?”

“Do I have choice? If I don’t, I will be the one who will be suspected for the murders of Prathap and Sidharth.”

Prasanna giggled on the other side of the phone and continued.

“Sabari!!! That was a fantastic move" 

 “I don’t need your compliment. I did whatever you demanded me to. Prathap and Sidharth were killed as they experimented something in the past against all BioTechnology ethics and rules. I have warned them a bunch of times for which they didn’t heed to.  However, the Bionic Project that I was working is one that can transform lives of human kind. In spite of that, I quit for my wife. Now!!! I want Ananya back… “

“I will relieve her for sure… Before that, I still want you to do something for me… “

“What else should I do?”

“I will tell you soon... “

The call was disconnected. Sabari took a deep sigh. Mahadev who was listening to the conversation turned to Sabari.

“Who the hell is this guy?”

Sabari nodded his head in denial and replied, “No clue yet… But I suspect that he may be part of a small anonymous group.“

“Can u explain?”

“Sidharth owns the company ‘FutureBio’ in which I’m a research scholar. This organization does a number of Research and Development project other than the one that I’m working in. Most of the research work performed around the world, follows all the protocols, guidelines and rules. That also means, some does not. The BioTech companies around the world outsource such projects outside their country, as the rules are stringent in homeland.  These research projects are outsourced to companies in India for a hefty sum. FutureBio is one among those and the research are done based on unofficial contracts.”

Mahadev interrupted Sabari.

“Didn’t you object?”

“I did object it strongly… Numerous times… Prathap and SIdharth ignored me…sometimes they will convince me giving some story. The project that I have been working is as per the guidelines of World Health Organization. So, I was not concerned about the rest.”

 “Hmm… So, what is the role of Prasanna in this?”

“He could be a mediator for Sidharth and Prathap to perform such illegal research projects to International companies”

“If whatever you said were true, his issues are to be dealt with Sidharth and Prathap. Why should he abduct your wife?”

“I... Don’t have an answer for that yet”

“That’s ok Sabari… He is expecting something from you… If he calls you again to meet, don’t do it alone. Inform me and I will take care of the rest”

“Ok.. But…”

“But… what?”

“Prasanna doesn’t seem to be an ordinary fella.”

Mahadev smiled at him and replied, “He may be an intelligent guy but a human. A small mistake can fail him. I have seen a bunch of such people in my service. Don’t ponder about it. Nothing will happen to your wife until he gets that ‘something’ from you. Go home now and be in touch with me every hour.”

 “Ok Inspector”

Inspector Mahadev walked out of the hospital. Sabari was in a state of confusion for a while and decided to leave. He got into his car and it crawled through the streets because of the traffic.

As he drove his car, his thoughts went back to the bad decisions that he took along with Ananya, starting from disposal of Vasusharini’s dead body.

The car speeded up as it reached the highways. There was not much traffic on the streets. After few minutes of drive, he took a left. When he drove ahead, there were two constables waiting on the left. One of them signaled Sabari to stop the car.

Sabari stopped the car to his left. One of the constables, walked towards him to driver’s window. He had a breathe analyzer in his hand.

Sabari lowered the car window. The constable put the mouth of the breath analyzer into Sabari’s mouth and said, “Can you blow?”

When he did, the analyzer didn’t give any alert. The constable turned to Sabari and said, “Looks like you are drenched in alcohol”

“Constable…. You should be kidding… I’m aware that the analyzer will give beep when it is above the limit”

“The Breathe Analyser is sick today… But, we can smell the alcohol from you.. Can you get out of the car?”

Sabari’s mind got an alarm. He understood that the cops are not the real ones.