•••

"Nethra.... Nethra.... wake up!" The voice disturbed my thoughts. I felt being shook. My eyes felt too heavy to open. The faint picture in front of me looked worried. I blinked slowly and tried getting up. "God! Nethra! You have fever!" She shrieked, as the back of her palm touched my neck and forehead. Aditi helped me sit up. "Why do you have to strain yourself this much, woman!!!?" Her voice was completely down, as she reached the drawer to check for the medicine.

I felt all bitter, I didn't care about having fever or being bed ridden. My worries were far from being worried about myself. My head throbbed with pain as I couldn't stop thinking about Dhruv. I slightly tilted my head, just to notice that it's night already.

"Aditi! For how many hours am I sleeping!?" I exclaimed but I didn't get any response. I turned back, just to find the room empty. "Aditi?!" I called her slowly, but couldn't raise my voice more.

I laid back on the bed, giving up to the lack of stamina in me. My heart ached as my eyes got stuck at the frame on the table. I slowly took it in my hands and caressed the picture.

I hugged the photo and closed my eyes tightly. I whimpered. I couldn't contain. I can't take in the reality. The present sucks. The past is my favourite place to be. I want some force to drive me back to day one, so that I can change everything!

I blinked and was surprised. "Yes Sir.... how do you know!" I exclaimed. "Come inside..." he said and went into his cabin. Still wondering, I followed him into the neatly organised room of the DCP. My hands kept sliding up and down the strap of my side bag. "Sit..." the voice stopped me from observing the room. I quickly opposite sat him.

"You still didn't say how you know me...." I dragged looking at me. "It was your senior who called me and asked me to not to take your case seriously..." he chuckled. "What!?" I shrieked. For heaven's sake why would he do that? If he can't do anything, why is he stopping me from doing something!?

"Yes... he said so.... but I can figure out with your face that's really serious." He smiled warmly. "Thank you for guessing it sir... you might be aware of the recent archaeologists' death sir...." I was stopped mid sentence. "The fire accident..." he questioned. "Not really sir... because we never carry anything that is prone to fire..." I paused. He looked at me intently.

I quickly pulled out a file and placed it in front of me. He dragged it towards him doubtfully and flipped through the pictures and papers. He looked at me expecting me to explain. "These pictures are from the Thiruvannamalai camp, sir...." I stated. He looked flabbergasted. "Which year?" He asked me, one eyebrow raised. I smiled carelessly. "Two weeks ago sir, where we had to report that the camp was useless, since these sculptures are missing..." I said hurtfully, chuckling bitterly. That was our blood and sweat involved in bringing these precious stuff to the world's vision.

"But how come?" He was puzzled. "It's one of my closest colleague who sent me this when they found out them. After two days the accident happened and she died. All the evidences has been erased in that fire. And I suppose that the sculptures are missing and didn't actually become the prey to the fire there." I replied. His eyes zoomed in shock. I exhaled deeply.

"My friend also said that they received some threat calls..." I dragged, my fingers fidgeting with the ends of my shirt. "Threat calls!" His voice showed how he slowly felt interesting. "Yeah... Threat calls to handover the sculptures...." I replied, my eyes fixed on him, "My doubts are on the anonymous group! They might abducted the findings... I guess..."

"How can we be sure? Any evidences?" He asked me. "About the threat... I don't have any... but similar incident has happened in our recent camp! Maybe if I get to talk to Mithra... we can gain some facts and evidences!" My eyes sparkled with hope. "Mithra?" He questioned. "My senior's daughter... she is also involved in the recent camp. She is injured too... I heard... maybe she'll be of some help!" I put out the possibilities.

"Are you free today?" He asked me out of the blue. "Sir!?" My voice raised dramatically in shock. "Are-You-Free-Today?" He split his sentence to make himself clear. Involuntarily yet hesitantly, I bobbed my head. "Then be ready in an hour... we are going to Vellore and enquiring Mithra about this... now excuse me..." he took his phone and went out of the cabin. I quickly turned and looked at him fixedly. I smiled in wonder and was wordless! I didn't know he would take me serious! God! This is a blessing!

"Nethra... now come on... get up... have some soup!" Aditi's slow voice once again asked me up. I opened my eyes with difficulty and once again she helped sit steadily. With no stamina to argue, I let her slowly feed me the soup she had. "You have any idea of how tensed I was!? You are sleeping since the time I went to restaurant in the morning!" She started ranting as she fed me. My mind didn't concentrate on anything.

"Nethra... Nates....you are not listening, are you?" Her voice once again disturbed my trance. "Sorry, what?" I looked at her with pressed lips. Her lips moved, but she couldn't say anything! She closed her eyes and calmed herself. She exhaled a large deal of air through her mouth and looked at me. "Remember that get together we were supposed to go together?" She asked me. My eyes furrowed as I strained my memory to recall and finally got it. "Yeah!" I nodded in agreement.

"See... You are sick and you're in need of rest. And unfortunately I must go... I can't be by your side... but I'll try to return back soon! Have this food and take your medicine and sleep! Okay?" She explained and asked me. I nodded. "I think so Arjun and Anirudh will return in any time... kindly ask them to have dinner outside... I'm very sorry to do this to your guest! But I'm helpless!" She said. And a brief silence took place.

"You'll be alright, right?" She asked me worriedly. I laughed weakly. "Don't worry about me! I'll be fine! Plus, I have some vibe that something may happen at the party... so be careful!" I warned her. Her eyes looked at me doubtfully. And the gut feeling got more stronger. I couldn't say, I felt something terrible is going to happen!

•••

Sorry we are late!

(All due to my stupid mind block

~Shubhiksha)

But now...

Signing off

~

~sadhubhai