BALI 100 KM (Book 1) ✔

Chapter 46

With the arrival of tea, their conversation was interrupted. After placing the cups on the table, when the man turned to leave, Bandu requested a glass of water. He acknowledged it and left the room. Seeing Samar resume his pacing Bandu spoke up.

"Please have your tea, Samar,"

The man returned with a glass of water in a while. Bandu drank the water in one go, spilling some on his kurta. Samar took his seat and picked up his cup of tea.

"Bandu, you can completely trust us in this mission. No one here considers you as a scapegoat," Samar began. "We are dealing with resourceful and influential people with various means to do their work," he pointed out, "You have to use tact to convince them of your innocence," he concluded.

"Do you think that they are going to buy words, Samar? Then you assume wrong. They will kill me there and then when they know that I have no documents with me," Bandu countered.

"The main idea here would be that you verbally keep them engaged until we reach to rescue you and Miss Sakhi," Samar explained.

"You seemed to have full confidence in my ability to keep up a conversation with a gun held to my head. For a person like me, fear would gag me up and reflect on my face," Bandu retorted.

"Tell me what choice do you have. If you refuse to go, Miss Sakhi's life would be at stake. We may not see her alive again. They will then pursue you for the documents since your refusal to meet them will have convinced them that you have it," Samar openly challenged Bandu.

Bandu sat in silence, brooding over what Samar said.

"Have your tea Bandu before it gets cold,"

The tea was warm but still soothed the chills in his bones. (They still have no idea who I am and how I am related to this case which only meant that Miss Sakhi had not revealed anything about me to anybody. Maybe she was not sure about my identity. Then I should help the authorities to get her back. Surely they will not let anything happen to me). Bandu thought as he sipped his tea.

"Samar, Comm. Seth did not mention the time,"

"I think it will be evening,"

"If so, then before leaving, I want to meet my family and tell them about this personally," Bandu said with conviction as he kept the empty cup on the table and got up, rattling the table.

"Ok, let me talk to Comm. Seth about it...," Samar began but was interrupted by a knock. A messenger with a summons for Samar stood at the door. Samar gave Bandu a nod of assurance and accompanied the man out, leaving Bandu alone in the room.

After Samar's departure, Bandu's thoughts came to accompany him, and there were many to keep him engaged. How was he to impart this news to his mother and sister? It was his family's future and safety that haunted him the most. They will surely try and dissuade him from going, fearing for his life. He had now started pacing the floor himself with a deep frown on his face. That was how Samar found him on his return.

"Bandu! Come Comm. Seth would like to have a word with you,"

Bandu stopped pacing to look at Samar and without a word followed him towards Comm. Seth's cabin. After a knock, Samar entered the room, saluted, and stood aside. Bandu stepped in beside him.

"Bandu, Samar has told me of your request,"

"That's right, sir,"

"Then you accept to help us get Miss Sakhi back,"

"Do I have any choice?"

"No, you don't. You can leave now with Samar and be back here by 6.30 pm,"

Once out on the payment, Samar directed Bandu to a waiting jeep with a driver already seated. Once seated, the jeep drove off towards Goriyon. They seldom talked during the journey. Samar had his gaze fixed ahead. His furrowed forehead was indicative of troubled thoughts. For Bandu, the headache left him devoid of any thinking. The jeep halted on the outskirts of the village, as it was not allowed further. Bandu was the first one to be out, but Samar remained seated.

"I will leave now, Bandu," He said

"Wait, aren't you coming home with me for lunch?"

"No, I have to submit a report to inspector Sarathi at the Goriyon police station and also update him about this mission,"

"Do I have to prepare myself? I mean, do I need to carry any weapons for self-defense?"

"There is no need for all that. I will explain the plan in detail with instructions before you leave. I will come for you around 4.30- 5 pm to pick you up,"

"Ok," Bandu said, nodding his head.

The jeep drove away, while Bandu stood there looking at it until it disappeared from his sight. He turned and walked ahead towards home with a heavy burden on his heart. How was he to impart the news about his departure to his mother? He envisioned a distraught mother's face and a devastated sister's tears. On the way, he met his friend Partho coming in the opposite direction.

"Bandu, mother told me about your sudden departure to Bali with Samar. Is there any problem with the case? Can I be of any help?" a concerned Partho began to shoot questions.

As Bandu was in a hurry to reach home, he evaded Partho's questions, "No Partho, nothing to worry...had just gone to meet Comm. Seth. You go on ahead. I will catch up with you later tomorrow. Just in a hurry to reach home and have lunch. Bye, see you," Bandu said and walked on ahead without waiting for a reply. Partho stood gaping at him, puzzled at his strange behavior.