Trixy and The Crescent Of Rana

CHAPTER 24 : DUMB-BELL DOORS

The dumb-bell door gym certainly lived up to it's name. There were a pair of oddly shaped dumbbells painted on the big steel doors that stood haughtily open for them to pass. Inside was a peppy hall with a couple of men running on the treadmill, a few riding stationary bicycles in different sizes and frames, a few more trying awkward twists and bends on the mats in one corner and there was even one trying to climb a mini escalator, which Ezhil later came to know as the 'stair stepper'.

She had only learned recently that Fraudin had been running this gym, as a part timer, ever since his father passed away. His mother died giving birth to him and his father was determined to remain fiercely stringent until his last moment. He often quoted this building was the only memento his father had left him, apart from the daily exercise schedule. The gym actually had two other trainers who worked full time. Fraudin only owned the place and popped up now and then, whenever he was free, as a honorary trainer.

But she could see no dumbbells because apparently there existed an exclusive room for weight lifting alone, which was going to house their little impromptu conference that day. She could see the cabin now, behind the bicycles.

She was still struggling to wrap her mind around the freaking idea. Disclosing her past to Nancy and Vikasa was one thing but now the whole squad? Was Maahir crazy? But it was not like she contested the idea when he suggested it either. It did look like a safe, not so ridiculous, every Tuesday idea back then.

The door was in her line of sight now. It was closed, bare, simple and terrifying. She decided to concentrate on something else, like the big, big, really big, only big, men. Ugh. Gross. 'Men n muscles' would have been a more suited name for the gym. Do girls really find those attractive?

"Maahir, have you ever questioned Fraudin's sexuality?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, this place exudes off some serious JoJo vibes, if you know what I mean."

He sniggered, as his hands turned the door knob. "Perhaps it has something to do with the name."

Inside was the whole squad, except the Chief, waiting for them. Of course, they didn't invite Aravind either. It was an open secret he was the unspoken eyes, ears and limbs (God knows what else) for the Chief. Fraudin was at the corner, lifting dumbbells and chatting with Dan who was sagged comfortably on a duffel bag. There was a long black divan on which sat the other three. Dev and Shri seemed to be immersed in their own talk and Vikasa looked up as they entered, her eyes hovering in concern. She considered their move outright outlandish.

"Maahir, is this really a good idea?" whispered Ezhil into his ears, her doubts sinking in again.

"You are asking now?!" he whispered back, "Weren't you the one who said it might feel good if we can get over with the charade for once and all?"

"I said I might. But the Chief-"

"Dei!," shouted Dan from his seat, "Did you call us all here just to be whispering in your ears? If yes, I have better things to do."

"Yeah, like reading Make out tactics," muttered Vikasa.

"Hai, hai!" said Maahir, quite loudly, throwing his hands up, "Line up all of you and lend your ears. We have something to disclose to all of you."

Ezhil had had it quite rehearsed by now. She began to patter fast, stopping for breath only twice, making sure no one can ask questions and had enough trouble just to follow up. Everyone listened sincerely with rapt attention. As she finished, she believed everyone was equally taken aback. And to her surprise, Dan showed it the least and he seemed to be as cool with the fact she had been an illicit dealer as Nancy.

"That's all, huh?" he said, with his usual nonchalance, "That was a waste of time. For all I care, you could have been the devil in LA. You thought I ached to know what you guys did before you joined here?"

"I thought you would sure be pissed off if you later found out you were the only one who didn't know."

He opened his mouth to retort something but then stopped. "Point."

Dev and Shri too didn't look too struck with the news either. But Shri literally jumped when they were told the Chief didn't know about this and they were supposed to keep it a secret too.

"What?!" she cried, "How the hell are we supposed to do that? It's preposterous! You guys don't know how mad he can be. Dev, tell them! What do you think he'll do once he finds out that we didn't report to him? Because, believe me, he will one day find out, by all means."

"Calm down, Shri," Dev said, getting her down to sit, "Maahir, but she is right. I'm not kidding when I say lying to the Chief is the worst thing you can do."

"You don't have to lie. Even we didn't. Just withhold a part of the secret. Pretend you don't know. I suppose you can do that, right?"

Dev sighed. "Okay, but if there comes a time I'm forced to lie, I'll tell the Chief without hesitation."

"Fine by us," said Ezhil. Maahir would have liked to persuade more but she didn't want an argument there. Moreover, Shri did have a point. Now everyone else knows, leaving Chief out in the black might not be so good in the long run. They will have to let him know someday or other.

Fraudin was the only one who didn't seem to be so okay with the news. He was staring solemnly at them all the time but didn't talk about it. Like his partner, he too skipped to the main course quickly.

"But you guys didn't come here just to inform us that," said he, "Did you?"

"No," said Maahir, "We need a bit of help with our case which would not be so appropriate to ask for without letting you know the whole picture. You would have begun asking questions anyway."

Dev bore a thorough look of bemusement. "You let us all know that for a single case? You are as prim as one gets, Maahir. Ezhil might very well be the only thing you ever did, and will ever do, out of line."

"Er, Dev, he didn't do me exactly," defended Ezhil, flushing a little.

"Yeah, not yet," he said, chuckling, "Anyway what's this help you want?"

Maahir took a little time to ask. "You guys got any acquaintances who deal in Nila bazaar?"

The two words lifted the casual mood up by a few notches.

"Why?" asked Fraudin, trying hard to sound calm.

"One of our victims might have had something opulent in his possession that we believe he was trying to sell off in Nila bazaar. We would like to check if it really got any rate in the market."

Dev and Shri looked at each other before shaking their head unanimously indicating a definite 'no'.

"No, Maahir," said Fraudin, "No luck from our side either. We have never had anything to do with Nila bazaar."

They looked at Dan who suddenly seemed very chuffed with himself and was fighting back to hide that smug smirk of his. After everyone got to stare at him for a few seconds, he said, "I think I just know the person you need."

And that's how one of Maahir's worst nightmares came true – getting help from Dan.