Sacrifice And Realisation (BOOK #1) ✔

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

"Someone has been threatening you for so many weeks not to let you to shut down the oil factory and you didn't even bother to ask me for help! What kind of a friend I would be if I can't help you, Shaurya," Vihaan chided him, walking along the bank of the Yamuna river at Agra.

Looking down at the reflection of the magnificent Taj Mahal into the Yamuna waters, Shaurya responded, "I thought the threats were normal business threats from our rivals who wouldn't allow us to shut down the factory here. The Taj Mahal is under the red alert zone of pollution from the nearby factories and we decided to go eco-friendly. We couldn't afford to continue running the factory here but it seems someone doesn't want us to take the honest way."

"What made you call me in a hurry?" Vihaan captured a quick glance of the Taj Mahal, which was on the other bank of the river.

"You must have known that I was visiting Delhi every now and then for the past few weeks due to my business. The factory manager Mr. Krunal Avasthi suffered from a major blockage in the lungs and choked to death last month. He was responsible for the new factory set up in Delhi after it was shifted from Agra, though the old one continues to run here. His post mortem reports say that poison was found in his lungs since he was exposed to poisonous gases." Shaurya expressed his grief and leaned against the fence beside the river.

Vihaan pressed Shaurya's shoulder in consolation. "It means it is a case of murder and you want it to be investigated. This is nothing that you need to hide from anybody closer to you, but yet you didn't allow me to inform anyone about this trip, especially to your sisters. Why is it so?"

"How can I allow my sisters and my family to get worried for me? Our manager is suspected to have been murdered and just on the night of the marriage of Vidya, I got a call from Mr. Avasthi's family telling me that they have received a new threat from some unknown person. Can you imagine that they threatened to kill me?" Shaurya shrieked, rubbing his palms together.

"Where does Mr. Krunal's family live?" Vihaan asked, concentrating on the severity of the case.

"His family lives at Connaught place in Delhi. He is survived by only his widowed wife and a daughter."

"How old was he? Can his family send you the number they received the threats from?" Vihaan enquired, bending over towards Shaurya.

"He was only forty-eight. I have already taken the number from them and coincidentally it's the same number I was receiving threats from. I'll just forward you now." Shaurya did accordingly and waited for Vihaan's answer.

After forwarding the number to the CBI control room for enquiry, Vihaan uttered, "I will let you know once I find more about the offender behind the threatening calls. So are we leaving for Indore now? I don't see why you fetched me here only for this. Do you have anything else?"

"You are right, I have a different reason. I need your help to shut down the factory here because I'm not able to do it all by myself. The caller informed Mr. Avasthi's family that he is going to kill all my factory workers here if I don't show up soon. He has plans ready to intoxicate the gas pipelines around the factory." Shaurya's face was fear-stricken.

"Since I'm here, you are not supposed to worry again. I'll visit the factory with you and do the necessities," Vihaan raised his voice, showing the confidence he possessed.

"I can't take the risk of taking you there and introducing you by your real identity. I doubt there are people within the factory who want to ruin my business," Shaurya said bulging his eyes.

"You can introduce me to be your best friend and a business partner. I'll see what I can do and I promise you'll be safe. Don't worry that much." Vihaan clapped Shaurya's shoulder lightly.