The Circle of Life - Addicted Series - BOOK 4

1. The Call

On the other side of the globe, located in the suburbs of Brooklyn, seated in his Son's Junior high basketball game was Nikhil Vadera, or Nick as he was more commonly known. He was biting his nails as the game was spiraling down to a draw and the referee had just awarded a foul to the point guard, his son Druv, the fastest in the team.

"He didn't even touch him. COME ON!" Nick shouts at the referee who shakes his head disapprovingly. Not only did Druv play the most dangerous offense in the team but he was so enabled by his coach Dad which made referees very angry at times.

"Stay out the field, Nick or I will happily award another foul." The referee sends a murderous glare at Nick.

"You got to get the ball now Dee. Hustle up!" Nick shouts, ignoring the referee who was now looking at the front row of the audience benches fully occupied with Druv's family. They were the noisiest and they were all shouting like a bunch of wild hobos, cheering him up.

"Chill out Pops. I got this." Druv swirls and steals the ball from the other team with ease. He was standing beyond the three point line. He wipes the sweat on his forehead and looks at all five from the other team lining up to stop him.

He points his fingers at his eyes and at his Dadu and mouths a 'watch me' smirking, as he had challenged him to make a three point shot earlier.

Before anyone could believe what he was really aiming for, he slightly swoops to the left and nicely shoots the ball into the basket sending the whole front row in mad excitement. His team had won by three points.

***

"That was so COOOOL, Bhai!" Ari, his eight year old cousin comes running to him. Druv opens his hand in the air and little Ari had to jump up high to give him a high five. Followed by Ari were her parents, Ria Bua and Adi, his uncle Neal, Dadu and Dadi who all huddle up around Dee.

"What are you so sully about?" Druv's Mom, Jeanie asks Nick who was giving the referee a deathly glare.

"The racist son of a bitch. I am sure he has something against Dee. Look at his face. He is disappointed." Nick shakes his head.

"Can you relax? Your son just won the game for his team."

"Of course he did." Nick shrugs and walks to everybody.

"Howz that Dad?" Druv, who was clearly too happy his game asks.

"You need to work on you off hand and you really need to move your legs Dee. You were stalled four times by that Randy guy."

"Will you cut it out?" Everyone shouts at Nick.

"Fine!!!!!! Good job. I am proud of you." Nick concedes grudgingly, rolling his eyes.

"No wonder Mom divorced you Dad." Druv scoffs.

"Shut up, shameless." he looks at his phone. It was his secretary. He wondered why she was calling him. He had expressly told everyone not to disturb him.

"Yeah?" he answers.

"Sir, you have an important call. I think you should take it."

***

"NASA? You got to be kidding me. What can I do for you Sir"

"Mr.Vadera, we are calling about about Ms. D'Souza. Do you have a few minutes, Sir?"

"Lyana? D'Souza?" Nick asks confused.

"Yes, Sir."

"Yeah...yes. What about her?"

"Unfortunately, I am carrying bad news Sir. Ms. D'Souza was working on a top secret mission for us in collaboration with the defense department. I am sorry I cannot reveal more information on the specifics. But, at 900 hours, today morning, Australian time, Ms. D'Souza met with a fatal accident in the line of duty, Sir."

....

"Mr.Vadera?" The chief prompts when he doesn't hear anything back.

...

"Mr.Vadera?" He repeats but Nick couldn't find any words. His brain was swept away clean.

"Fatal?" Nick's voice creaks.

"I am so sorry Sir. She was one of our best. And her loss is deeply regretted by our whole department and the country."

"I...I.. She died?" his voice was on the verge of choking.

"Mr.Vadera, I know this is a difficult time to talk but, I do need you on a different matter. Ms. D'Souza left you as an emergency contact for her kids. Now, I understand that you may not be aware but as per the information she gave us, you are the father of her twins. I need your decision on whether you want their legal custody."

"Is..Is this some kind of a joke? Coz, I swear I will hunt you down and make you suffer you, whoever and wherever you are. Understand?" Nick screams into the phone, threateningly.

"Sir...this is not a joke. I can have someone from our New York center come and authenticate this information in person, if you so desire."

"I haven't seen her in almost nine years. I didn't know where she was. I didn't have any type of contact from her." He tells him hurriedly. "This cannot be true. This is a mistake."

"I wish I could help you with that Mr.Vadera. But, at this point, I have no further information. But, she has been working with us, here in Cranberra since the last nine years. If you are too overwhelmed, I can call you back in a few minutes Sir."

"Are they Okay?"

"The kids? Yes, Sir. I am waiting for a decision from you to decide on the next course of action."

"I will be there. Tell me where. Tell me how. And you better have your facts straight chief!"

"I will arrange your arrival here, Sir. I will send a chauffeur. Do you still live in Highland Park?"

"Yes."

"We will keep you posted, Sir. Once again, we offer our heartfelt condolences to you and your family."

Nick hangs up and looks at his family celebrating in the middle of the field. He couldn't move. His heart was pounding.

"Everything okay, Nick?" Ria, his twin sister comes and asks him.

"I got a call saying Lia died."

"WHAT?"

"This isn't true right? Ria, tell me this cannot be true." he looks at her as his face gets shadowed with his worst fears. "FUCK!" Nick holds his head.

****