Mohnish placed a hand over hers and squeezed it. “Don’t. Don’t rake up the old pain. You don’t have to say any more. I can imagine what a horrifying experience it must’ve been for you and your family.”
Tears coursed down Sonia’s cheeks. After a moment, she composed herself and wiped her face with a kerchief, embarrassed. “That’s why I have never wanted to celebrate my birthday. Though my parents loved me and went out of their way to make me feel special, a birthday meant that I was alive and he was gone! With each birthday, I can’t help but think of Sarang, even after all these years. If only he were alive… ”
“His loss is incalculable, I know. But it is actually just a lack of his physical presence on earth, don’t you think? Because he lives on in your mind. He’s kind of immortal. Why can’t you try to learn to surrender, to let go and live without that physical body? Accept that and Sarang’s memory will be a source of pleasure for you, not pain. It’s the only way to live, Sonia. Transposing bitter experiences into happy memories.” Mohnish spoke in a soft voice.
“You’re right. And I’ll try. It’s just that I wanted you to know and understand… ”
He nodded. “I understand. End of episode. Let’s enjoy our meal,” he said firmly, and she flashed him a wan, watery smile. She felt loads better.
Changing the subject, he asked casually, “Working on anything at the moment?”
“Not really,” Sonia replied, then told him of Vidya and her problems. “I hope to meet with her tomorrow. And perhaps her in-laws, too, not that it would help much.”
“Oh, you never know. Something good may just come out of it.”
“I truly hope so.” She paused, then added, “Mohnish - thank you.” The guileless, honest smile she gave him flooded him with a wave of yearning.
He trained the binoculars on the illuminated window of the room across the street. He had a view of a table with the table lamp on and a portion of the bed. Figures flitted in and out of his line of vision. But it was enough for him to gauge what was happening. They were arguing. He had never seen her so angry. Her Mother-in-law was pacing restlessly, gesturing animatedly, and showing her a soiled sari. She listened with folded arms but with an expression of mutiny on her face, and when she responded, it was with contempt written in her expression. This was like watching a film with no sound track at all. A silent film. Only, the two artists, in focus through the binoculars, wore genuinely angry expressions.
The argument seemed to go on for a while and then, suddenly, it was over. The two of them vanished from the scene. He moved his binoculars around, trying to locate the two figures. Then, a couple of minutes later a pair of hands appeared, from the right side of the binoculars, carrying a glass of milk. The glass was placed on the table. Then the hands departed. Minutes passed. No sign of life. Then the hands reappeared and something was dropped into the milk. The hands vanished and for a while there was no more activity. He waited patiently, curbing a sense of disbelief. What exactly was happening in her room?
Then suddenly she came into sight again, drew a chair, and settled down at the table. She moved the glass of milk to her right and began writing. He tried his best to catch her expressions, but her back was turned to him. It was obvious that she was crying. He could guess that much, from the manner in which she brushed her eyes repeatedly and the way her shoulders shook. Occasionally she turned around, and threw furtive looks, almost directly toward him. He shrank back instantly. Then shook his head. There was no way she could spot him, of course.
Half an hour later, she stood up, drank the milk, and turned off the light. He could see no more.
“Boss, call for you. I think it’s Renuka Gunaji,” Jatin informed.
It was eleven-thirty in the morning and Sonia had been awaiting her call. Renuka had promised her that she would phone, first thing Monday morning.
“I’ll take it,” she replied, placing Nidhi on the pillow. She lifted the receiver. “Hello?”
“Miss Samarth! Something really terrible has happened!” Renuka’s breathless gasp instantly caught Sonia’s attention.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“It’s Vidya… she’s dead!”
“What!”
“Last night… and the Police suspect murder!” the tearful voice explained.
An icy chill ran down Sonia’s spine. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yes… Can you… can you come down here? I am at Vidya’s house. It’s terrible… ” Renuka broke off into a sob.
“I’ll be there right away,” Sonia assured her. “Just give me the address.”
Jatin was standing at the door, a concerned expression on his face. “Anything wrong, Boss?”
“Everything’s wrong! Let’s go!”
Sonia drove as fast as she dared, manoeuvring the traffic on University Road, towards Parihar Chauk. Fifteen minutes later, she was at Vidya’s house. A Police car crossed them as she and Jatin drove into the parking of the building. Renuka was sitting on a bench in the parking but she rose hastily the moment she caught sight of the van.
“I’m so glad you could make it. I just had to talk to someone!” Renuka clasped Sonia’s hand. Her face was blotched with tearstains.
“Tell me everything. Where is Vidya now?”
“The police took her body away. Her husband was working a
