Paakhi

S I X

It being Ponchomi, the fifth day of Navratri which sort of marked the inception of Durga Pujo festivities, the pandal in Shantanu's apartment complex bustled with activity. Apart from two priests, and little children dressed up in new frilly frocks and sparkling shoes, he watched a number of women in brand new saris walking up to the pandal with contagious smiles on their faces. You could be the biggest atheist in the World, but this was a time of the year, every resident and visitor of this city managed to get engulfed into its festivities. Shantanu smiled to himself.

Today had been a fairly hectic day at work, but his day hadn't ended just yet.

In fact, if he was being honest, it had only begun.

Even as he stood in his balcony, taking in the colourful lights, the aroma of mouth-watering street food and Bengali music from the pandal before him, his mind raced with thoughts of his phone call with Nishant. The call had been both; fruitful and useless at the same time. Fruitful; because he now knew who to ask about Vandana's life and who to ask to keep an eye on her husband.

Useless, because the only lead Nishant could give was a doubtful, veiled allegation directed towards Mohit. Which again, was in no shape or form the sort of an evidence that confirmed Vandana was trying to escape her husband. All Shantanu had were theories, and at this point, he wasn't too sure if his theories were a cent percent unbiased for the man in question.

Shantanu walked back into the living room from the balcony and took a quick gulp of water to clear his parched throat.

"Tenth of September, I'm coming to Kolkata and I need to see you. Can I have your address?" Her words replayed themselves in his head.

How had Vandana known he was in Kolkata? How had she gotten his number?

"I have made up my mind about everything..." Shantanu bit his lip, this would mean her mental preparation for running away.

"...Please give me your address..." So whatever her source for finding his number and location was; didn't have his exact address.

Who and what could that source be? He wasn't in touch with anybody from school.

"I'll reach Kolkata at nine in the morning. How long will it take to get to your place from the Howrah Station?"

Wouldn't a flight be a safer escape route? More expensive yes, but definitely more full proof. What were her financial conditions?

Joint bank accounts with her husband? Would a transaction like that alert Mohit?

"She practically had no life outside of...of Mohit's world-" Nishant had been specific.

"Shaan, I'm pregnant. I'll be bringing my daughter along. Will that be okay?"

Shantanu paused, his mind reeling with a hundred thoughts suddenly. How had Vandana known that she would be having a daughter even before she gave birth to the child?

"I'm pregnant. I'll be bringing my daughter along." "A couple of months ago, right after Vandana found out she was pregnant, she suggested this gynaecologist for Shashi....the gynaec she...she does sex selective abortions and pre-natal sex determination of the foetus-"

Had that bastard forced her to get a pre-natal sex determination for their child? Was he forcing her into an abortion because of the baby girl?

***

Contrary to the reaction Aritro had expected, Shantanu seemed much too pre-occupied with the lady's belongings he'd brought with himself to his house to comment on Mili's presence. Or maybe he was just too well-mannered to make Mili uncomfortable. Either way, Aritro appreciated his decision to not comment or ask questions about their equation.