Kartik Khandelwal

I sat in the car again and angrily shut the door of the car. Radhika asked me, “What happened, Kartik? How did the meeting go?”

“Pretty bad,” I replied calmly as I turned the keys of the car and turned on the engine.

“Why? What happened there?” She worriedly asked.

“I-I got into a fight with them. They won’t help us now, and they may even try to add more obstacles in our path.”

“That’s bad, pal. I’ve personally never seen your anger, but when I rarely see it, something bad happens.”

“I walked in to subtract some of our problems, and added more,” I cited. “It would have been better if you were the leader and not me. You got leadership skills and even know how to tackle different situations.”

“I won’t say the same for myself, though. I mean, I didn’t even lead a group for some activity, forget leading an investigation team!”

“But, you’re capable. You can handle people and remain calm. I’ve seen it. The way you’re handling me is just fascinating.”

“No, I’m not handling you. It’s just your mood lifts up when we talk. It’s coincidental.”

“Maybe…” I said as I drove the car.

There was a silent of about a minute of clear driving. The cars, the rolling wheels going past through trees blowing faintly in the wind beside the running cars, surrounded by walking people--everything was so normal. I looked at that sun setting in front of me and said, “The sun is setting.”

“And who knows when it will rise again,” She completed my sentence.

“I… I have always imagined myself as the hero of this story. I think that it was me who played the most pivotal part in our whole plan. But, now that I think of it, Shekhar and you are better being the main leads. You… Everything is revolving around you two and I am doing nothing but following the orders, the plans of the game.”

“You’re not playing the main part, Kartik,” She looked at me. “No one is playing the main part. No one… It’s just a bunch of kids and their small plan to take on a big organization.” She turned her head towards the window and continued, “We were so unrealistic, right?”

“I just want Shekhar back. I want to spend some more time with my best friend. I want to pause this game for a minute, rest for a while, discuss with everyone again and then I’ll surely come back stronger.”

“In real life, there is no pause button, Kartik. I hope you learn that bitter truth soon. Now, all we need to focus is on how to catch and expose The Eye of Suicide.”

“Yes, and I guess I have a plan, actually.”

“Mind telling it to me?”

“I have heard that a terrorist group named Aatank-e-Khan is connected to The Eye of Suicide in some way. I want to send my spies there, if possible, and have some fresh-hand intelligence on TES.”

“But, we have no access to the spies.”

“Yes, and therefore, I’m gonna hire my own spies.”

“What do you mean? Do you know how to hire personal spies for such a dangerous mission?”

“No, not yet,” I shook my head.

“Kartik, no one will risk his life just for a personal mission. Stop dreaming, and wake up to reality.”

“If no one will, then I’ll go myself, Radhika,” I replied. “I’ll not risk my life, I promise. I will just get in there, befriend a worker or two and get some information about TES. Then, I’ll come back.”

“As I said before, stop dreaming and think logically. How will you even get the location of their secret base?!”

“Uh…”

“And there are tons of more things you need to take care of before even planning such crap!”

“Okay, okay, I know. So, we will think of some other plan.”

“Just don’t tell me you were not joking about that just now.”

“What? I sure was not joking.”

“Wha--”

“Okay, okay. I was joking. Can you breathe normally now?” She chuckled, and so did I. “Pfft! Haha!”

“Oh, man!” She rubbed her right eye and said, “It’s like I have not laughed since years!”

“I just hope we laugh endlessly like this one day--you, me, Shekhar, Prakash, Naina--all of us.”

“Yeah, I want those days back too. I just hope we get them soon.”

“Personally,” I tilted my head upwards and said, “I’d like someone to call just now and give an important tip to me.”

Suddenly, my phone started ringing in my pocket. I moved my hand inside the pocket and took it out slowly. I looked at the screen, and observed that it was an unknown number. I took up the call and put the phone on my ear. “Hello? Kartik Khandelwal speaking.”

“Do you want some help with The Suiciders’ case?”

“Who’re you, mister?” I suspiciously asked.

“Leave me, Mr. Khandelwal. If you need some help, you can just come visit me at Kahanapur.”

“Wait, hello?!” He hung up the phone before I could have said anything.

“Who was it?” Radhika asked.

“I-I don’t know, but he said he’d give me a tip. I-I don’t know anything else, but he said to-to come to a place named Kahanapur…”

“K-Kahanapur?” She asked. “Really? Did he just say Kahanapur?”

“Yes, why?” I asked. “Is there something important?”

“When I was at TES, there was a rumor with the words ‘Kahanapur’. I don’t know why, but I was never able to overhear the whole rumor. But, that name, Kahanapur, sat in my mind for entirely no reason.”

“Maybe we can get some good tip and gain some good leads against TES.”

“I just hope we will.”