Silver Linings

Posing

The next day, after breakfast, Arnav and Akash were huddled together going through the details of some new projects that AR had going, Aman was also present via video call. Devyani, Anjali and Manorama sat in the other seating area, with the older two women doing most of the talking while Anjali was mostly preoccupied in her own thoughts.

Manorama just shrugged off her behaviour to be a result of fatigue, but Devyani knew the actual reason. When she had woken up in the morning she had been surprised to find Anjali asleep on her bed, upon questioning, Anjali had told her she had a frightening nightmare and was afraid to sleep alone. Devyani had asked Anjali to call up Shyam and ask him when he would be back, but Anjali just brushed it off saying she will be fine, he must be busy with his work, don't need to disturb him for something so frivolous.

But Devyani could see that Anjali was downplaying it, so she had decided that she will move into Anjali's room for the time being, as she didn't want Anjali having to use the stairs too much. Anjali hugged her grandmother with gratitude.. the real reason she didn't want to call Shyam - her husband - was because she was absolutely terrified. Even the mention of his name brought on the his voice from the dream and it scared her to no end. It was better that he wasn't here physically, she needed this time to figure out exactly what all this meant.

"Di" Arnav came and sat beside Anjali, while Akash stood on the side looking a little peeved "Di.. mujhe bank se phone aaya... aapke account mei kuch unusual activity hore hai.. do you have your cards with you?" (Di.. I got a call from the bank saying that there have been some unusual activity in your account..) Akash looked on with astonishment at how easily Arnav was bluffing, he looked around the hall at his family.. was no one really going to question why the bank would be calling Arnav if the issue was in Anjali's account. It made him happy that they just trusted Arnav so implicitly, but it also worried him, because this trusting nature is what got them in hot water in the first place.

The truth was, the PI had just given them the news that there have been a significant number of cash withdrawals from Anjali's account in the last 2 years, and almost all of them were in or around the court area. There has also been 2 significant withdrawals yesterday, and Arnav was very sure that Anjali had not gone anywhere. So their suspicion had been right.. Shyam had been swindling money out of Anjali's account.

"Meri purse mei honge Chote.. Mai leke aati hu" (They would be in my purse Chote.. Let me get it) She was about to stand up "Di.. I will get it.. just tell me where your purse is" Anjali looked at him sheepishly "Pata nahi chote... room mei kahin hogi" (I don't know Chote... it will be there somewhere in the room) Arnav shook his head with a barely audible "Unbelievable" Akash had chortled a laugh at the impish expression on Anjali's face and the absolute disbelief on Arnav's. He helped her stand up and the two of them walked to Anjali's room, and finally the three people in the hall let out the laughter they had been holding.

"Di.. maybe aapne kisiko diye honge..." (Di.. maybe you lent it to someone) Arnav said hoping that she would bring up Shyam's name on her own.. "Nai Chote.. meine kisiko bhi nai diye the.. I am sure" (No Chote.. I didn't give them to anyone..) She said worriedly while she kept digging into the big handbag she was holding in her hand as they walked back into the hall. "Kaa hua Chote?" (What happened Chote?) Devyani asked "Di ke cards nai milre" (We can't find Di's cards) Arnav said and gave a pointed look to Akash, who looked absolutely unimpressed.

"Hello Hi Bye Bye.. Anjali bitiya... tumne cardswa ko loooj kiye ho kaa" (Did you loose the cards?) Manorama cried out "Pata nai Maami" (I don't know Maami) Anjali was reduced to tears at this point, "Its okay Di.. don't worry, mai bank ko call karke account ko freeze kardunga" (I will call the bank and freeze your account) He placated her, he didn't want her to work herself up unnecessarily when he actually knew where her cards were, and Anjali nodded her head, giving her permission. He immediately called the bank, and did most of the talking, only when they needed to verify some details, did he hand over the phone to Anjali.