The Enemy Within

Chapter 16

The next morning, the team is out on the bustling streets of Jaisalmer checking their data sheet for the proper addresses. They spot the first one almost instantly, with its loud banners and window displays of desert travel highlights.

The place is small and cramped, with people busy on phones and working on old-fashioned PCs. A receptionist is seated at the front desk and welcomes Tanya with a smile.

Tanya puts on her warmest smile, "Good morning, I would like to inquire about your desert safari tour on 1st March?"

"Yes madam, how can I help you?"

Tanya looks embarrassed and leans forward, "Well, my boss took the sunset safari and left his gold rimmed spectacles in the car. He asked me to get it back."

The receptionist looks at her skeptically, "Are you sure it was with this travel agency?"

"He forgot the name of the travel agency. He was with 3 other people in the Thar..."

The receptionist cuts her off in mid sentence, "Sorry ma'am, that would not be our group then. We only take tours of 6 or more as we have big vehicles."

Tanya apologises and leaves shaking her head. Rohan and team watch her exiting and strike one name of their list.

Sunny sighs, "Looks like this is going to be a long day..." and they consult the sheet before moving to the next agency.

Tanya goes in again under the guise of getting her boss's missing spectacles. This time she meets one of the sales reps; who looks at her appreciatively and is over-friendly. Tanya plays on his attentions and turns on the charm to extract information. He offers her a cup of tea and strikes up a conversation.

"Madam, we normally do group bookings only as it helps to offer the clients a cheaper cost and a better experience. I think you can check with this agency called Prime Travels just down the road. They are one of the few tour operators that cater to small groups or individual bookings. They also have a tie-up with a couple of desert camps and have their exclusive clientele."

Tanya thanks the man and leaves with a smile on her face to report back to then team.

Rohan looks at her impressed, "That was quite an impressive performance in there. You should consider a career as a field agent."

Tanya smiles and tosses her hair, "Well, let's see if I can now charm my way to some usable intel."

Jack checks the sheet and confirms that Prime Travels is one of the 8 tour operators in their shortlist.

The team moves on down the road and Tanya pushes open the door to Prime Travels, a plush agency, with well-dressed staff moving around. A snooty looking lady is at the front desk; who looks up with half a smile, "Good Morning, Madam."

Tanya smiles, "Morning. I need some help. You see, my boss was on your desert safari tour day before yesterday and he left a pair of gold-rimmed glasses in your Thar. I have come to collect it."

The woman smiles, taps some keys on her computer, "Lots of people forget things in our cars. The desert is so beautiful they forget about anything else."

She looks up from the screen, "Sorry madam, we have no record of any spectacles in the car on that day."

Tanya tries to press on, "Maybe your driver didn't report it?"

The woman looks annoyed, "Madam, Mr. Bakshi is our senior-most driver and a well-known man in this business. He would never do a thing like that."

Tanya tries to cover up hurriedly, "Oh no, no... I didn't mean that. Maybe one of your other travellers found it? Can I have their names?"

The lady now looks at her suspiciously, "We cannot give out confidential information like that. Can you tell me your boss' name please? Let me check if he was in our vehicle."

Tanya hesitates for a minute, wringing her watch as she blurts out, "Mr. Singhani!"

The woman taps some more keys and takes a long look at her screen, "Madam, there is no record of a Mr. Singhani on our tour that day. Are you sure... " She looks up to find Tanya gone.

Tanya gestures to the team as she exits and they all move out of the area quickly. They stop at a small restaurant and regroup.

Tanya looks at them excitedly, "I think we got our first big break, guys. They had a Thar out on a safari that day and the name of the driver is Mr. Bakshi. He is a senior driver and well known in the area."

Rohan smiles, "Good work Tanya, any idea how we can find him?"

Tanya shakes her head, "Well, that suspicious bitch said he is well known in these parts, so I guess we should ask around."

Just then a waitress comes up to take their order. All of them are starving and they place a big food order. Just as the waitress is about to leave, Rohan asks her innocently, "Excuse me, my cousin has recommended that we do a desert night safari when we are visiting here. She has strongly recommended that we do it only with a man named Mr. Bakshi. He is supposed to be a well-known safari driver and guide here. Do you know where we can find him?"

"Yes sir, everybody knows Mr. Bakshi. They say he knows the desert like the back of his hand. And he always has some crazy stories about the desert that all of us love to hear. He lives just two streets down from here, on the right, in the blue coloured cottage."

Rohan smiles at her, "Thank you so much for your help – it saved us a lot of trouble searching for him."

The waitress smiles at them and leaves. Tanya nudges Sunny who is sitting next to her; "Someone is really smooth when he wants to be."

Sunny laughs, "Tanya, you haven't seen anything yet. Rohan can charm information out from a dead person, if necessary."

Rohan grins, "Well, it's information we want. Time to pay a visit to Mr. Bakshi this evening after he finishes his safari."

"How do we approach him?"

Rohan looks at Sunny and grins, "I think we should do our good old journalist impersonations again. It never fails."

Both of them nod and laugh out loud.