Valli's father stood outside a quaint restaurant. A non conspicuous one whose interiors might have seen better days. The caller who ever he was, had chosen this one for that very reason. Even if anyone saw him there no one could conclude anything for all he may have gone there could be for a chai or a misal.
Mr. Sambasivam at that moment was an embodiment of relief, excitement and anxiety all rolled into one. He was now a living example of Einstein's theory of relativity, While the past days passed in a jiffy, today every second seemed like a century.
He was before time and was conscious of the fact. He looked at his watch for the nth time, only ten minutes had passed. Oh No! He had to wait more :(
His phone beeped alerting him of a message, when he switched on, he could only stare at the screen for it read:
DON'T LOOK UP.
Please stop checking your watch every now and then. YOU ARE DRAWING ATTENTION
After blinking a couple of times and regaining his wits he decided that he would or rather had to look relaxed and definitely not draw attention. He knew just what to do. He walked up to the newspaper vendor and brought a copy of the afternoon edition. He strolled back to his earlier perch like he had all the time in the World. Not a single soul that saw him then could make out that all these relaxations was only an outer sheath. On the inside he was seething in anger. This caller, what did he think about himself? He was watching but didn't come out. Could he be trusted? What was his intention? Numerous questions along such lines swarmed his mind like bees to a bee hive . He also knew that was in a precarious position, one wrong move and he may not be able to get any news about his missing child. The station inspector was only ready to conclude that she left on her own accord and there was nothing sinister here. Oh! They seemed to have ready made answers like may be she eloped with someone, may be she wanted a thrill, maybe this, maybe that. This guy was going to lead him to his child and that thought alone cooled his temper.
He didn't stop near the restaurant but walked a furlong ahead seemingly aimless. He entered florist's boutique. He didn't go there to while way his time nor to buy the flowers and definitely not to relax himself. His daughter liked flowers. He went because she liked such floral arrangements.
The single beep signalled yet another message. Now what was this? Was looking at flowers too a way of drawing attention? Reprimanding himself not to think anything but positive he retrieved his phone to view the message...
Please take the right end corner table and sit facing the wall. I will be behind you. As I speak please don't betray any emotions. Order a tea or coffee or whatever and hold the paper in front of you. For the world you would be reading the paper while sipping your beverage not talking to me.
Thank you
Wondering what this was all about, her father spent some more time at florist's before proceeding to take the corner seat facing the wall. He heard a movement behind him. A rich and confident voice spoke
"Your daughter is safe but not out of danger. Her kidnappers may want to use the earliest available opportunity to kill her because her one statement indicting them could seal their fates. She is comatose now, they may want to see that she never wakes up. They may just remove some tubes 'accidentally' and that would be her last." Valli's father let out an inaudible gasp. The guy continued "We can avoid such accidents and help her heal faster if we take her to a safer environment." Valli's dad intervened excited "then let's do it." The faceless-nameless person replied "It's not easy. Do you think the police will let us do it? And here I doubt there may be some rats in the department too that may work hand in glove with the criminals". This time the gasp wasn't inaudible but loud enough for the people seated two tables away to hear which was followed by a vile curse in a lower decibel. Probably he had recovered his composure by then yet had to let off his steam.
Regaining his composure he asked "what do you want me to do?". The voice behind replied "to keep her safe we need to move her to new location. The police may want to keep her in their sight. This may hinder her survival. So we must take her away from police too"
This was all too confusing for Valli's dad. If The police found his daughter then why was he not informed. This person too was beating around the bush and this irritated the already distraught father. The voice took the exact moment to continue. "You have to withdraw your police complaint."
A/N
Who is talking about Valli? What is his intention? Let's wait and watch
Thank you for the support you friends have given me. Even the biggest of tree begins as a small seed, with right type of nurture it grows big. Likewise your support is helping and motivating to give my best.
You can also read my short stories collection Rang. Rang in Hindi means colour. While two stories have been published in that I am writing the third one "Thank you God".
I am also working on new Story based on Stockholm syndrome which see the light of day after the completion of Depth.
Thanks again for your support
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DEPTH
RomanceHe was betrayed. She doesn't know who she is. She is in the dark. He would move heaven and earth if needed to bring her light. Or is he her light? Every relation, every bond, every emotion has a depth. While some are shallow others are deep. The...
