A Twist of Fate (Slow Updates)

1

Ananya pressed the clutch and moved the vehicle into the 3rd gear. The vehicle moved merrily along the Zirakpur-Parwanoo Expressway that had been recently opened as part of the 27.5 km long Himalayan Expressway connecting New Delhi to Shimla. The Expressway was picturesque with high quality road and fast paced traffic. However, Ananya's mind was neither on the scenery nor on the quantity of traffic. Her eyes were on the road but her mind was still assembling the events of the past few days, which had quite surprisingly, resulted in her driving through the lower Himalayas towards Shimla.

Ananya still couldn't believe she had agreed to do it. Her parents had been shocked to put it very mildly, a smile coming on her face as she remembered her father's outrageous exclamation. "What?" He had shouted, "You are going there ... ALL the way to Shimla to be somebody's baby sitter and cleaning maid? Are you out of your mind?"

Ananya had to admit, putting it this way stung but what could she say, she had agreed. Though why indeed did she, she had no idea! Maybe because she wanted a paid holiday up in the hills or maybe it was the photograph of the cute sweet children, a boy of 5 years and his sister of 8 years that just melted her heart or maybe simply because there was this mysterious thrill to it all.

A far cry from the 'cleaning maid' she was about to become as her father put it, she was a lawyer and working as an 'Associate' in a prominent Law Firm based at New Delhi. Four days ago, she was summoned by her boss, Mr. Bhushan, a shrew man with an analytical mind, an eminent orator and one of the senior members at the Bar in New Delhi.

"Come in Ananya..." He had said gesturing towards the chair and putting down the papers he was reading. He had looked at her over his spectacles and had given her a somber look that had immediately put Ananya on alert.

"Yes, sir..." Ananya had said with a feeling of uncertainty.

"I'll come straight to the point.... there is a task that needs to be done ... well, it one that requires somebody who's honest and kindhearted but also someone who can handle a crisis should the need arise..." He regarded her intently as he continued. "I have given the matter a lot of thought, however, my conclusion is that the person most suited for this job can be nobody but you!" He had paused for her.

"Me? What is it that needs to be done?" She had asked, instinctively feeling there was more to it than was apparent and had been unable to stop the goosebumps that had developed on her arms.

"For starters, it requires you to leave Delhi for a month's or maybe two month's time..." he shrugged as he tried to appear nonchalant but working with him for the last 1 and a half years she had known that he was a good lawyer who knew how to rightly put a point across and arresting her with his beady eyes she knew he was baiting her.

"Is the work related to our legal transactions?" She had asked unable to shrug the feeling that there's more to it.

"Yes, it's eminent for a case that's lined up for hearing in January..." He'd said.

"That's in two month's time..." She'd said as he nodded.

"Of course, I am being given to understand that this job will be executed by me in my official capacity..." She had looked at her boss intently, she had learnt things from him and she was a lawyer too.

He smiled one of his rare smiles. "Of course, it's in official capacity, you'll be paid your monthly salary and you'll continue work here as usual in January. Think about it, if you are ready to do it I'll tell you more but if you don't want to, you may refuse..." He had said dismissing the matter like it was of no importance.

Things had happened so fast that she had no time to actually sit down and think about the pros and cons of it. Yesterday, after thinking about it, she had told her Mr. Bhushan that she'll do it. It was a legal job, in official capacity, how bad could it be?