Without Notice (Book 2)

#13

Shivraj and his secretary came out of the SUV along with Rastogi. A taxi arrived behind them which was carrying Shivraj's luggage inside. As the taxi driver opened the trunk, two hotel staffs came out and took out two luggage bags and a trolley bag from the trunk of the taxi.

Rastogi signed documents on the reception of the hotel. The receptionist handed over two keys to a staff who took them to the elevator. Shivraj and Ariana's room were on the third floor of the building.

Before leaving his room Rastogi told him,

" Mr. Patel, I'll come back at evening to pick you up for the party. "

Shivraj nodded his head. Rastogi shut the door and left. Shivraj lit his cigar and began to smoke while he poured some wine in a glass. He closed the bottle, picked up the glass and went near to the window of the room.

Vidyut used to work as a marketing executive at an electronic appliances' showroom by day. He received a call while he was talking to a customer. He went downstairs to the basement where there was a manager's cabin. He knocked the glass door of the cabin. The manager looked at him and nodded his head.

Vidyut opened the door and came inside.
Navika was too inside the cabin.

The manager told him, " Vidyut, she is officer Navika and she wants to talk to you in private. "

She said, " Thank you manager. "

The manager left the cabin.

Vidyut said, " How may I help you mam? "

" Aniruddh Katkar. Have you ever heard the name? "

He sighed and then shook his head.

" I don't think so if I have ever heard the name. "

" Think about it again. He might be a customer or someone you once met. "

" No. I am not able to recall the name. I am sorry. But why is it necessary? "

" Because Aniruddh has been murdered. "

" So? What I have to do with that? "

" Your contact number. He was called from your number before his murder took place. "

" That's not possible. I carry my phone with me always. "

" Are you sure? "

He nodded his head and gave her his phone. She accessed the contact history in his phone where he couldn't find Aniruddh's number.

She asked, " Where were you the night before yesterday? "

" I usually spend my time at gym at evening and then go to my home by night. "

" How many numbers do you carry? "

" I have only this one. I have been using this number for last few years. I haven't applied for any further sim card. "

" Okay. "

She gave him back his phone. She began to access her own.

" May I leave mam? "

She looked at him and nodded. As he left the cabin, she made a call to her contact Zareen.

She said, " Zareen, I am going to forward a number. Just tell me it's location of the night of the fifteenth of september from eight to twelve at night. "

" Fifteenth of September? "

" Yeah. Fifteen. "

" Okay. Will inform in an hour. "

She hung up the call.

A car pulled up by him. Ghosh was at the driver's seat. As he sat inside, Ghosh geared up and drove away the car.

Arjun asked, " Which restaurant are we going by the way? "

Ghosh huffed but didn't respond.

" Ghosh, I am asking something. We going for the lunch, right? "

Ghosh didn't reply.

" Why are you serious Ghosh? Are we going or not? What's wrong? "

Ghosh's phone rang. He picked up the call.

Ghosh answered, " Yep. He is here. "

He looked at Arjun and gave him the phone which made him a bit perplexed.

He spoke to the caller on phone.

" Hello. "

" Arjun Sinha. "

" Who's this? "

" Before you come to know about me, let me tell you that you shouldn't have done what you did to my brother. "

" Oh. I got it. Devendra Pandey. "

" You are literally a wise man. You impressed me. "

" What do you want? "

" Why don't we talk face to face? "

Ghosh pulled over his car by the green plains. Arjun looked at him who gestured him to get off the car.

" Sorry friend, he will my family if I don't. "

Arjun gave the phone back to him.

Ghosh said, " Keep it with you. "

Arjun came out of car. As Ghosh left him, he got the phone before his ears.

Arjun said, " I am out of the car. "

" Walk on. "

The call was hung up. Arjun began to walk ahead where an old compact van was parked at the roadside. A man on the passenger seat of the van looked at Arjun in the side mirror. He saw him coming closer to the van.

He dialled a number to Devendra who attended the call while he was watering his plants in the lawn.

The man said, " He is coming. "

" Get him online once he comes here. Where is the girl? "

" At the back. "

" Go on. "

" Yes sir. "

The man came out of the van and opened the back door of the van. Arjun came near to the van where Vidisha was sitting on the bench at the left corner and was handcuffed. He was stunned to see him.

He asked, " Why she is here? "

The man looked at him and moved his head as a gesture to get in. Arjun boarded the van and sat on the left bench. The man took out a tablet from his jacket.

He did a video call to Devendra Pandey who was sitting by a table in the lawn with his laptop in front of him on the table.

Devendra asked the man.

" Where is he? "

" Here. "

The man kept the tablet in front of Arjun on the bench.

Devendra sighed.

" I am seeing you first time Mr. Sinha. "

" I am seeing you too first time but this meeting might not go well as I see. "

" Well, it's not a meeting. Do you know the girl? Of course you should. She is your neighbour. Quite intelligent, brave and aspiring. But she should not have messed with my brother. "

" It was your brother's fault. You know it very well. "

" Yes. I know it was his fault. But he is my brother. He is my family. "

" Leave her. I will come to you, personally. "

" I am not even calling you to my home. You might don't know about who literally I am that's why you are talking to me like that. "

" I don't want to know either. "

" But I want you to know about me. And you will? "

Devendra turned off the video call. The man picked up the tablet, handcuffed him and locked the door from outside.