DEPTH

Chapter 8

A very agitated Vikram picked up his phone on the almost last ring. "What?" He barked into the phone without even a 'Hello' as a prefix. There was laughter on the other end which was followed by a "Why do I get the feel that you may be now prancing about like a caged tiger?" Which was in a curious yet lighter vein.
"Vel, this is work related. An emotional person like you won't understand". Vikram thus closed off the subject because telling him that Valli's father has withdrawn the complaint will only open a can of worms. He would have had to explain why he kept finding her as a secret from her father.

Vel didn't take the jibe well and asked him to explain the same. Oh my! This was another can brimming with more worms. What was happening to him. Vikram looked at his surroundings silently seeking alibi to extradite himself from the situation. But Alas! Nothing seemed to provide any escape route. Little did he know that he had already opened a cart load of worms when he hid Valli's identity from Vel and her finding  from her parents. He had wanted to use her as a bait to capture the gang that was involved in kidnapping her and other girls. She was his missing clue.

Vikram was now sweating profusely in his air conditioned office. He had to divert the discussion if he needed his sanity. A change of topic was absolutely necessary. Just Then the flowers in the vase caught his attention. Vel was passionate about his landscaping. What better escape route than his passion? WOW! "How is your project going on? You usually visit the site before you start working even if you have done already did so during the tender proceesses" before Vikram could blabber further in this manner Vel continued "I am going away for a couple of days for a site visit for my company's new project. I may be an emotional fool but at least I not a duty oriented Robot like you".

Vel continued "while am gone I want you take care of her. Don't you dare bring your duty consciousness in here"

Vikram who was most of the time an atheist at that moment thanked his guardian angels or stars or whatever for saving him from openning his can of worms. "Don't you worry". He replied and finally breathed a sigh of relief which didn't go unnoticed by Vel who didn't show that he noticed it.

Meanwhile in Valli's home her older sister went ballistic on hearing that the police complaint had been withdrawn.

"What's wrong with you dad? How could you do this? "

Her mother looked expectantly at her husband who was silent and brooding. Shiva butted in demanding his dad to break his silence. Finally when Valli's dad spoke they were all stunned to silence. When he was finished their home was eerily silent. His mother who till now wore a shattered look now held a ray of hope. Devi however was skeptical. She wanted to know who this guy was? Why was he helping them? What was in for him? Shiva remained silent absorbing everything like a sponge.

********************
"Is it really you? "

"Yes me. I need a favour. In fact I am counting on you to help me...I"
He was cut short with "we would love to be of any use to you. You are after all our..."
" Let's not go into that. What I want is" And he explained what he wanted.
"Don't worry I shall call you when the job is done"
"Thank you" with that he cut the phone and called Valli's father "Sir, I have made the necessary phone calls. Will let you know when it's a success".

"Thank you! And wait! Devi wants to talk to you."

"Who's that? "

"My older daughter"

"Later on! I have to go now. See you soon".

***********
Vel was running late. But that didn't stop him from paying his Shri a visit. He didn't just peep in. He sat beside her, took her right hand in his right hand, he bent his head in such a way that his face especially his eyes and forehead were along with his right hand cradled her right hand. With his left hand, he stroked her cheeks and removed invisible specs of dust from her hair. He murmured sweet nothings, coaxing her to abandon her vegetative state and come live a zestful life with all zeal and splendour. He felt a slight movement as though she affirmed it by pressing her hand against his. But the beeping monitors betrayed no such signs of her recovery. It was as though nothing as such had happened. It was for a fraction of a second making Vel wonder if it had really happened or did he dream it. Even if it was a dream, it was a very wonderful one. And with that happy note Vel set for the site visit. Promising to return in a couple of days.

He in his happiness did not notice that an ambulance was parked at the wrong place. This was dangerously near to Shri's room.

Someone was out to get her...