Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 25

Four men were sited in the privacy of Arnav's home study with the expression of deepest concern on their faces. There were too many things to consider and too many unknown options to weight in.

Arnav tried to make himself comfortable on a recliner which was not an easy task considering a fresh wound to the side of his torso. Javed took this opportunity to take Arnav's seat at the table - it gave him an illusion of control that he unfortunately did not have. NK was seated on the floor, with his laptop on his laps - he was checking security cameras feed. Forth man in the room was Mr. Thompson, head of security company hired by Javed to deal with Shyam threat... and... well, let's just say he was not in the good position as he had to report on yet another mishap that resulted in today's shootings at Shantivan.

Akash entered the room quietly nodding his "hellos" to the people in the room. He brought some cold snacks on a tray - that was his secret mission he went out for. Now the meeting could proceed...

- Mr. Thompson, - Javed started, - I want to reassure you that we have no doubt about your highest competence in security issues. I have been told about by many trusted colleagues about your qualification. This is why I am not going to put a blame for today's events solely on your shoulders... I just want to know your opinion of how exactly Shyam manages to escape your men so expertly? Maybe he has people helping him?

Mr. Thompson was visibly relieved that this meeting was not organised on such a short notice for his disgrace dismiss. He cleared his throat and shook his head:

- I don't think so. We have been investigating Shyam's life, uncovered quite a lot actually - about his underworld connections, his gambling problems - but we'd also find out that he'd burnt all the bridges with his previous life once he escaped the prison. Shyam collected all the debts - very substantial amount of money I should add - and left into nowhere. And since then he seems to operate by himself.

Javed clarified:

- What about that car you were following when Shyam tried to run us down the road? It has to have been his accomplice?

Mt. Thompson nodded:

- Both yes and no - we did manage to get to that car, only to find out that Shyam has hired some people to drive around your main office as a bait. They didn't even know what they were into, they were told it was some kind of an elaborate prank - to be chased away from AR Design office.

He shook his grey head perplexedly:

- Next thing you know Shyam will hire his look-alikes to show up to Aarav's school.

Arnav grinded his teeth audibly:

- He's playing us!

- Yes, I'm afraid you are right - he's using you against you.

Akash did not completely understood the depth of this claim - he was the newest to this situation:

- Meaning what? What does he have on us?

Mr. Thomson shrugged:

- He knows you. Shyam knows every in and out to Shantivan, as far as I know he came and went even after he was banished from this house... He knows your family routines, poojas schedules, the route you take to the offices, your shopping preferences.

Akash still wasn't sure that such an omnipresent is possible:

- How can you be sure?

- Well, it's those photos NK took at the temple.

NK chimed in:

- What about them? I've studied them like a hundred times but I can't see anything unusual except for Shyam's evil ugly face!

NK hit his fist into the floor feeling utterly hopeless in this situation - they all felt this way...

Mr. Thompson explained:

- It's not about the photos per se, it's about the fact that there are so many of them, and his placement is very precise. You see, my team was there too, obviously, but they only managed to follow your overall position - the crowd was too great to follow you closely.

Detective sounded apologetically and Javed nodded for him to continue - there was no real danger for the ladies as him and NK were there too. Mr. Thompson said:

- I think, Shyam simply knew which stands Anjali-ji will go to get pooja offerings, where she'd go to buy some refreshments...

Men in the room almost held their breath and it got really quiet - and Mr. Thompson voiced their collective thought:

- Basically, he knows your family enough to predict your actions... While my teams have to follow you, he can easily ambush you based on your daily routines... or even create a diversion like that time with the car.

Javed stood up abruptly making his chair to roll backwards and hit the wall. He was angry, he was beyond angry!

- That bas***d knew I would make Anjali go with me in my car and he'd cut the brakes!

Akash sighed heavily when realization of the threat finally came to him in full:

- What should we do? What CAN we do?

Detective offered:

- Well... For starters, it would definitely help if we'd had less possible targets to cover... Because it's really tricky to follow so many people...

- Done, - Arnav shouted this almost frantically, - Nani-ji, Mami-ji and Aarav are going to Toronto first thing in the morning! Lavanya is going back to New York day after tomorrow...

- Really? So soon... - it was NK who interrupted. He looked kinda lost so Arnav asked him:

- Yes... Why?

- Oh... Nothing, just asking...

- NK...

NK interrupted again:

- Nannav, I'm staying, just so you know! Don't try to send me away!

Arnav smiled to this expression of loyalty:

- Never doubted you, NK.

- Me too, - added Akash, - don't try to get rid of me too.

- Wasn't planning on it, bhai, - Arnav knew that these were the dark times but couldn't help but feel his heart swelling with pride - his family was so united and blessed to have each other.

Javed broke the spell of unity with a snarky remark - sometimes he just had to be a dick:

- Well, no that we've all sang to the "Brotherhood of men" tune and pledged our allegiances can we...

- Oh, what a cute bachelor's party! Who's the groom if I may ask?

That was a voice none of them expected. At 3 o'clock in the morning. At their secret council.

But there she was - standing in the doorway to the study, beaming the widest smile and looking victorious... Khushi.