As the train pulled away from the station, Ajmal turned to his friends, his expression serious.
"We have something to do."
Everyone looked at Ajmal with anticipation.
"You remember the last day of the Gajotsavam, when the elephant went into a rut? A young man calmed it down... I saw him here, on this platform, just now. He disappeared before I could get a good look at him. We need to find out who he is. His actions seem to be shrouded in secrecy."
"Is he the one we saw that day? I saw him recently too, Dada," Sanju said, stepping forward.
"Where? And did he see you?" Ajmal asked, eyes narrowing.
"There was no way he could have seen me. I spotted him near a bar. I watched him leave and get on his bike. A while later, Surya left the bar too."
"Surya?" Ajmal repeated, a frown forming on his face. "Something doesn't seem right."
"Exactly," Celine chimed in. "Are they acquaintances now?"
"And why didn't you tell us earlier?" Abid asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"We've all been worried about Shiva going to Delhi. I thought I'd bring it up afterward," Sanju explained.
Ajmal fell silent, deep in thought. "If they are acquaintances, as Sanju suspects..."
He picked up his phone and dialed Shivatmika's number, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Shiva... is there anyone else in your compartment? Okay. Just checking. Anyway, be careful. We'll call you later," Ajmal said before hanging up the phone. He turned to his friends, his expression serious.
"She's safe. So he must have come for something else. We need to determine if he's really Surya's friend or if it's just our suspicion. We need to gather all his details. Why did he come here? Who is he? And everything else."
"Okay, Dada," everyone responded in unison.
"As we watch Surya, we must also keep an eye on him," Ajmal continued, pausing to gauge his friends' reactions. "Now I wonder if someone else is after the treasure in Durgapuri. It's possible that the same person took down those two who were searching for it. Either way, it's better if we keep an eye on Muthimala. Two people can take turns watching each day."
Everyone nodded in agreement, their resolve firm.
*************
Satyanarayana Verma sat in his room in the bungalow late at night. His usually cheerful face was now swollen with worry, as if stung by a wasp. His wife, Ashadevi, finished her kitchen work and entered the room, noticing his unusual silence.
"What's the matter? Why are you so quiet?" she asked, looking at him with concern. Satyanarayana remained silent, staring blankly ahead.
"What happened? Is it because our daughter is gone?" Ashadevi asked again, sitting next to him on the bed and holding his hand.
"I do feel that pain, Asha... but that's not the issue."
"Then what is it? You can't tell me?" she pressed gently.
"Eh… no. It's some problems with the business."
It was then that Ashadevi remembered that the company's general manager, Balachandran, who always visited the bungalow, had not come today.
"I was about to ask why Balachandran didn't show up today," she said.
"Um..." Satyanarayana hummed in response, his worry deepening.
Satyanarayana Varma paced the room, his face tight with frustration. He finally turned to Asha Devi, who was seated calmly. "There was an auction today, a big business deal. Our company was supposed to get it, but we unexpectedly missed it," he said, his voice edged with disbelief.
Asha Devi looked up, her brow furrowed. "How did that happen? Was our proposal too high?"
Satyanarayana shook his head. "The amount wasn't the only issue. The other company presented a better proposal than the one we put forward. And it was a proposal that was most favorable to the company offering the deal."
"Didn't you say no one could make a better proposal for such a small amount?" Asha pressed, her tone incredulous.
"I thought so too. I was proud of that belief. But this..." He trailed off, shaking his head in frustration.
"And who took the business deal?" Asha asked, her voice calm yet probing.
"Who else... It was Minister Vasudevan's company. But a new young man came forward. His name is Akhil Viswanathan. I heard he's the one who prepared the proposal."
"The new guy? Who is he? Is he Vasudevan's new manager?" Asha's curiosity was piqued.
"Didn't I tell you? The company isn't in the name of Minister Vasudevan or his son. It's in the name of one of his friends, a Viswanatha Menon. I heard this Akhil Viswanathan is his son."
Asha looked at her husband with steady eyes. "It doesn't matter. Isn't it business? We can't always expect to win. Sometimes there may be setbacks like this. Don't think this setback is permanent."
Her words were a balm to Satyanarayana's agitated mind, her calm demeanor providing a much-needed perspective.
*************
The residence of Minister Vasudeva Menon was bustling with the energy of a late-night party. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, where guests mingled and laughter mingled with the soft clink of glasses. Amid the opulent surroundings, Minister Menon, his son Surya, and a circle of friends were gathered, enjoying the evening.
"But a failure like this for Satyanarayana Varma, I did not expect at all," Minister Menon remarked, his delight barely contained.
Surya, lounging comfortably on a plush armchair, grinned as he handed a bottle of whiskey to Akhil Viswanathan. "Even when I heard that you are Vishwanathan uncle's son, I didn't have such high expectations about Bro," he said playfully.
Akhil laughed, pushing the bottle back gently. "No, I don't drink."
Minister Menon, raising his glass, chimed in, "Hold one, Akhil my dear...we'll give it to our pleasure..."
Akhil shook his head, smiling. "No, uncle… I really don't drink."
Surya interjected, "If he doesn't want to, don't force him, father. When he came to the bar with me the other day, he didn't even bother to drink a drop, no matter how much I told him."
Minister Menon chuckled. "It's a wonder that Vishwanathan, who stands firm as a good palm even after five or six drinks, has a son who doesn't like to drink."
Akhil smiled again and explained, "My father drinks a lot, but my mother doesn't like him drinking too much. She often scolds him about it. I guess I became like this because of her insistence."
"Huh... in a way, it's better not to start drinking," Minister Menon mused.
Surya leaned forward, changing the subject. "And bro, I really like this job you gave to them. And I also need your help."
Akhil raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it, Surya?"
"I'll tell you that later," Surya replied with a cryptic smile.
"Okay," Akhil said, nodding. "I'm ready for any help."
Surya laughed, clearly pleased with the assurance. The night continued with stories, laughter, and the unspoken understanding that in the world of politics and power, alliances as valuable as the whiskey they were sipping.
**************
The next evening, Balachandran, the company manager, drove alone from the office to Satyanarayana Verma's bungalow. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape, but Balachandran's mind was preoccupied with the day's events.
A sudden, incessant honking from behind broke his thoughts. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw a motorbike. The rider's face was obscured by a helmet, but it was clear he had been following Balachandran for some time.
Who is this? Is he in a hurry? Balachandran wondered, pulling his car over to the side of the narrow road. The bike sped past and abruptly braked, stopping crosswise in front of his car.
It was a CBR 250. The rider dismounted, dressed in blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a brown jacket, and approached Balachandran's car.
A wave of unease washed over Balachandran. He opened the door and stepped out, his voice tinged with irritation. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The rider removed his helmet, revealing a young man with a thick white mustache, a clean-shaven face, and cropped hair. He smiled disarmingly at Balachandran.
"If you're in a rush, why block me on the road?" Balachandran snapped, his frustration growing.
"Don't worry, Balachandran sir. If I tell you my name, you might recognize it. I am Akhil. Akhil Viswanathan..."
The name rang a bell. Satyanarayana Verma had mentioned a young man named Akhil Viswanathan, who had competed in the company's auction for Minister Vasudeva Menon's firm.
"You... weren't you the other day..."
"Yes, I am the one you're thinking of, sir. But I am here for something else."
"What's the matter?" Balachandran asked, still perplexed.
Akhil Viswanathan smiled, a mysterious glint in his eye. "Om Shanti..."
****************
The Blue Dragons Music Band gathered at their regular rehearsal spot in the club. There was an event next week, and this was their first performance without Shivatmika since she left for Delhi. Her absence cast a somber mood over the group, but they were determined not to let it affect the program. Rehearsals had been intense over the past two days.
"Dude, call him again," Ajmal said to Manish, who was fumbling with his phone.
As Manish started dialing Robin's number, Robin walked into the club.
"Dada..." Robin called out, drawing everyone's attention.
"What's up, dear?" Ajmal asked, as the others turned to look at him.
"Isn't that the general manager of Shivatmika's dad's company, Uncle Balachandran..."
"Yeah, what about him?" Ajmal prompted.
"He had a little accident. He's in the city hospital now," Robin announced.
A hush fell over the room, the weight of the news sinking in as they processed the information.