In next few days Solly and Duleep trained Payal hard in an unspecified location. She learned quickly and with her heart.
After that Raj gave her an address.
" They are looking for employees. Get in. And be a shadow. Even when you are there no one should notice you. But you notice everything. And report back to Solly. I will have eyes on you. So don't double cross me", he said.
" I AM NOT A TRAITOR", she said. Then she saluted him. And left.
" Are you sure we can get something ", asked Parry.
" Yes Parry", said Raj. " Tracing footprints lost in time is difficult but not impossible ".
" Now we must all continue what we were doing", said Solly.
" Parry join Myra and Kenny. I am off to Mumbai again", said Raj.
" Okay".
Maddy handed him a legal paper.
" All the best", he said.
Raj arrived at Oberois.
" I need to thank you Veer for arranging this another room for her. That too in Mr. Oberoi's name ", he said to Veer.
" Never mind Raj I was young once", said Veer.
There were two interconnected rooms.Raj had sneaked Kenny in before. So Veer did not doubt him. But today Raj had different plans.
Meanwhile
" Aunty I came here for two days and now I have become a full time guest", said Kenny sheepishly.
" Kenny we enjoy you staying with us", said Sonia.
" Yeah look no one invites this monkey yet he is always here", said Myra pointing to Parry.
" Look aunty she called me monkey", complained Parry.
" Meenu he is a such a nice boy. He helped me decorate the garden. You behave", said Sonia.
" Its just his face. So irritating ", complained Myra.
" This place is beautiful ", said Kenny.
" Maybe I'll check that small collection of books in library.
" Sure", said Myra. " Maybe we will find something interesting. Baba was it hers".
" Most of it", said Manav. " I and Sonia added a few books though."
They started looking at various books.
"A sketch book", said Myra and opened it.
" Oh my God she was a dress designer too". Myra was really excited now.
" Not professional bit she loved to style others", said Sonia. " She and Zoya were Riya's wedding stylist. Shalini also help me choose my wedding dress".
" Wow these designs are next level. Maybe some of them can see light of the day in upcoming fashion week".
" You will do that for her", asked Manav.
" Yes baba and she will be credited for it", said Myra.
" I raised you well", said Manav emotionally.
THAT IS HOW A FATHER SHOULD BE VINOD JOSHI THOUGHT PARRY IN HIS MIND.
" I really look up to you sir", he said to Manav.
Manav just patted his back. He felt a bond with him. Like if he was somehow related to him. It was really strange.
Kenny finally got a book.
" Is time absolute"? Searching lost footprints
By Padmanabh Pundit
" Oh my God was this hers too or yours sir", said Parry.
" It was probably Riya's", said Sonia. " She often stayed here".
" I think so its hers", said Manav.
" Can I borrow it", asked Kenny. She wanted to know what Riya thought. Plus Raj was sure Riya knew about the weapon.
" Of course", said Manav.
Then they had evening tea and Parry left.
Meanwhile
The connecting room to Raj's opened and....
" Daddy nice to see you again", said Raj. Parry was with him.
" So tell me now where are we", asked Ramcharan.
" We sent a spy to the paradise resort where earlier dream bar existed. The owner sold it to someone else. Paradise is a high end resort. Owner bought nearby clubs and removed everything to build it", said Raj.
" And you still have doubts", asked Ramcharan.
" Lets see", said Raj.
" Then I shall check in. I am good at talking. In interrogation people lie. In casual talks truth comes out", said Ramcharan.
" Hmm good idea", said Raj.
" I have an information. Riya was reading and researching Padmanabh pundit. Kenny has that book now", said Parry.
" Okay lets see what she gets. Daddy invite Gaurav more without involving me. Let his daughters come. And casually introduce Kenny to Riya's place".
" EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING ", asked Ram.
" A clue, said Raj. " Vikram was the master planner. The culprit was on his heels. Yet he couldn't get anything. "
" How and why", asked Parry.
" Because Vikram knew cobra boss was close to him. So he knew how Vicky could hide things. But not Riya. Her brain had depths only Vikram could reach.So she should be the one hiding the clues about him. And she did it successfully."
" Do you think Vikram reached Joshi before his death", asked Parry.
" Not in person. No", said Raj
Aditya would have annhilated him. That was one vengeful spirit if he saw one.
" Now Joshi was related to Padmanabh ", thought Parry.
Raj dialled a number from his cell.
" Solly get me everything on Padmanabh Pundit by tomorrow. Every record that exist. If possible any deleted ones."
" Okay"
He cut the call.
" Daddy can you tell me about Vicky's friends, his interactions with other men. People he trusted and ones he did not", asked Raj.
" Vikram was an introvert. He had no friends to begin with. Gaurav and Vinod were friends of my real son who died. I urged Vicky to befriend them".
" So they didn't know about the switch", said Parry.
" Salman knew and Manav's brother in laws. Vicky told them when we first learned about the terrorists operating from that palace which he unknowingly removed."
Ramcharan told the entire story.
Raj smirked.
" So here is the place it actually started. RIYA'S HISTORICAL ADVENTURE. Fancy a trip Parry".
" Sure", said his friend. " I'll call Solly".
" No get Maddy", said Raj.
" Okay".
" Yeah daddy please continue ", said Raj.
" The two close friends Vicky made were Numaan and Alok", said Ram.
" That pompous assh*le", said Raj.
" Alok was not always like this. He was a fine young man. I am sure you know about the tragedy that happened with him. Vicky was his anchor. He is lost without him", said Ram. " But Raj ALOK SHASHTRI IS A GOOD MAN".
" Yeah that is what Maddy tries to convince me on. I am not yet sold", said Raj.
" Numaan uncle", said Parry.
Ramcharan laughed. He said,
" I loved that boy. Full of life. Vicky was very close to him. They just clicked. He lost a part of his heart with him. He himself left the Earth too soon".
" Guess God too likes good people", said Raj sighing.
" He was a good hacker. When he met me at school he told me that Vicky asked him to choose an apprentice. And he chose SOLLY".
" Wow", said Raj in an Eureka moment.
" DAMN THE MAN!". He really was the best. Eagle I salute you".
" What do you have", asked his father.
" Footprints are not lost in time daddy but hidden", said Raj
" Hidden", asked Parry.
" Vicky hid them very carefully for me to discover them because he cared", said Raj. " "He knew if Numaan was involved he would be hurt. Same with Alok. He send them all away. Be it Alok or Gaurav or Numaan. Joshi had escaped.So he planned a generation ahead. He prepared a generation which was not yet born for war. Solly, Maddy( I am sure), Kenny, Kiara, Ro and you Parry are bonus.
" Vikram knew Dr. Khurana though he never trusted him", said Ramcharan.
" Yes daddy he did not know whom to trust after Joshi's betrayal. So he got things under his control. You and Riya held everything. Riya was given task of hiding things and you managing until he was back and ready.
" And now I am ready", said Raj. " Bring it on Tamas".
Hidden footprints will now come to light.