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Chapter 13

I called Atharv Awasthy who received my phone in two rings. “Hello, Mr. Mishra. Any news about Ansh?”, he questioned as soon as he picked up the call.

“How much you know about Priya?” I asked back while I drove towards the restaurant owned by Raman Gupta.

“Sir, that girl was dating Ansh and after some time, they had a break up. It was everyday story of my brother. I told him to mend his ways but I was helpless.” Atharv lamented leaving me pissed. I felt that Atharv could have kept a check on his brother and stopped him from harassing a girl but unfortunately he did not do anything like that.

“If that girl is behind the disappearance of my brother, I will kill her with my bare hands", Atharv howled from the other side and I lost respect for Atharv Awasthy, the COO of Awasthy Enterprises.

“That girl was harassed by your brother", I shouted with equal intensity as I was boiling in anger. Taking a deep sigh, I narrated the deeds of Ansh Awasthy while his brother, Atharv Awasthy listened to me howling all the while.

“My brother cannot do this", Atharv shrieked from the other side but his trembling voice gave another answer. I could realize Atharv Awasthy knew his brother could harass someone and make his or her life hell. He was denying perhaps, to save the reputation of his family, I deduced.

My trance of thoughts was broken with Atharv shouting on the other side of the phone. He warned me, “Stop maligning the character of my brother. Find out his whereabouts soon or else I will make your life living hell.”

I suppressed my urge to laugh at this insane Awasthy family. One brother wanted to kill me while the other wanted to make my life hell while here I was, diligently doing my duties seeking justice for a dead spirit who was a stalker, a harasser and an abuser.

I asked, “Do you know about Raman Gupta?”, changing the topic.

“No", I heard from the other side. “Have you met Varun Gupta?” I asked getting worked up.

“Who is he?” Atharv asked in a sober tone.

“He, along with his brothers, own a Stone Crushing Plant in Mahipalpur”, I answered with hopes that Atharv would remember at least one of the four brothers but my hopes were shattered when Atharv shouted at me, “Why I would know them, Mr. Mishra?”

“Did Ansh know any of the Gupta brothers, namely, Raman, Varun, Prem and Shekhar?” I asked dreadfully.

“As far as I know about Ansh, he was neither friends nor foes with any of these”, Atharv confirmed and I developed a sudden urge to bang my head. I was baffled upon reaching a dead end once again.

Disconnecting the phone, I concentrated over the heavy traffic on the road and decided to meet these Gupta brothers with a hope that I would come out this mess of Ansh Awasthy soon. I wanted to confront the beheaded spirit of Ansh Awasthy about Gupta brothers and his attitude towards Priya but unfortunately the terrifying spirit had disappeared in thin air.

I developed a sudden urge to protect Priya as I was afraid of the terrifying spirit following and frightening the poor girl. I wondered even if she had strong willpower to stay alive after having an encounter with a headless ghost or not.

I parked my car at New Delhi Railway Station because driving in the narrow lanes of Paharganj amidst the traffic during evenings was indeed, next to impossible. As I walked into the narrow lanes of Paharganj amidst the cacophony of tourists and beggars on the roadside pavements, my head ached perhaps, the noise was adding to my worries.

With the possibility of meeting the murderers of Ansh Awasthy in the hustle-bustle of the chaotic streets of Paharganj, lingering in my mind, I was terribly afraid. Walking in the crowded streets sprawled in the dark alleys vigilantly with chaotic thoughts in my mind was indeed, a difficult task.

Closing my eyes in despair, I ignored the beggars who were asking for alms as I did not want to attract a mob of beggars around me.

While I passed through crumbling buildings on a crowded street, I felt a hand on my back pocket of my jeans. A sly smile crept on my lips, as I caught the rough hand and turned around to see the cunning owner of that hand. My heart wretched looking at a teenager who looked nothing more than fifteen or sixteen years of age.

The young boy glared at me after all, I had snatched the opportunity of him having meals or drugs after pickpocketing. When I glared back, he ran away while I deduced, he was perhaps, new to the Paharganj streets or else he would have invited his friends to attack me and rob me of my money.

A sardonic smile played on my lips as I realized the harsh reality of my nation. On the one hand, some families could provide with everything and fulfill all the desires of their kids while on the other hand, some kids were pushed into the darkness of poverty, drugs and crime to earn money.

After a tiresome walk on a humid evening, I reached the shady restaurant that had a red colored sign board glorifying ‘Gupta Restaurant’ in white LED letters. It was an old crumbling building that was mildly renovated to ensure money could be earned from that place.

I could see the hippie styled tourists sitting on the chairs and having their meals. The flamboyant menu, which was affixed on the walls of the restaurant, advertised the delectable Israeli food along with Indian cuisine.

My eyes roamed all over the ground floor occupied with tourists and budget travelers. I smirked looking at one of the tourists discreetly sipping beer in the corner and I deduced, Raman Gupta and his brothers were indeed, the people I was looking for.

The illegal alcohol, and drugs were nothing new in Paharganj. The network of the drug peddlers and illegal alcohol suppliers was apparently too strong to be busted after all, the corrupt police officers got their share of money every week. I walked inside and enquired from a young waiter who was apparently less than eighteen years of age, “Where would I find Raman Gupta?”

The young boy frowned looking at me and asked, “Who are you?”

“Ved Mishra", I answered. “I fixed an appointment with Gupta brothers", I muttered looking intensely at him.

“Okay, sir told me to escort you to the rooftop”, he spoke with an assuring glance while he asked another waiter to take me to the rooftop. I nodded and followed another young boy who was under-eighteen too.

😎😎😎

Word count: 1133

Hi everyone

This is my attempt to show the dark side of Delhi. ☹

Delhi, being the capital of India has two sides, an elite Lutyen's Delhi with luxury and desires, and a Delhi exists in labyrinth of alleys with all illegal crimes.

I will be back soon, till then, VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE 🥰

With immense love
♥️