Pankaj shrugged and sat down beside her. Much to his annoyance, she looked a little uncomfortable.
“What are those?” He indicated some picture postcards in her lap.
“Oh, I found these in the village general store, placed on the bottom shelf. Aren’t they absolutely lovely? They give a perfect image of the Konkan seaside life! Jeetu has never been to the sea. He has never even seen the sea! Can you imagine that? So educated, so worldly-wise. And he hasn’t seen the sea! So I thought I’d buy these for him and give them to him whenever I meet him again. Or perhaps I shall post them. After all that he has done for me, supporting me through thick and thin, this is the least I can do,” she replied, with a pleased smile, studying the picture cards critically.
Jeetu again! What was wrong with this woman, Pankaj wondered in infuriation. Here he was, showing every inclination of interest towards her, and all she could think of was Jeetu! Blast that fellow. With an uncharacteristic display of impatience and anger, he snatched the cards from her lap and flung them aside.
“Sheetal, I’m in love with you. Marry me! Will you marry me?”
For a heart-stopping moment, she stared at him in an unfathomable manner. Then she asked haltingly, “Do you… really… mean that?”
“Of course I do! Can’t you see how crazy I am about you? You must marry me!” Pankaj clasped her hands between his.
“Oh Pankaj, I can’t believe this! I love you, too!” She seemed amazed and breathless.
“So you will…?”
“Oh yes, I will!” A look of relief flashed across her face, as she glanced at Tina. “I was worried about her.”
“I know. But Tina won’t mind. She adores you! And even if she didn’t, I want to marry you!”
“That’s not what I meant. But never mind! When shall we get married?”
“You mean you don’t need to consult your good friend Jeetu about it?” he mocked.
Sheetal blushed. “That’s not funny. And anyway, Jeetu would certainly approve,” she replied, primly.
“Not before he tears off my hair in frustration because I asked you first!” Pankaj laughed.
Sheetal looked shocked. “Jeetu is just a good friend. There’s not a romantic bone in his body.”
“That is most reassuring! Come on, let’s make plans. I want to get married tomorrow!”
Unnoticed by them, a figure was observing them minutely from within the house. Ganesh Pandit, Pankaj’s Secretary, looked satisfied. Things were shaping up exactly as he thought they would.
Sonia sat at her wooden table, a sheet of paper laid out before her. The rude words, printed in a beautiful font, on a laser printout, were ominous. “Cut the Astrology trash!” Who could’ve sent her this note? And why? Perhaps the “why” could be answered. Someone who obviously disapproved of her investigative techniques; someone narrow-minded, closed to the possibilities of the world, of sciences which went back over ages! Perhaps a Policeman who felt she was making a mockery of something as serious as crime?
A soft knock on the door preceded the arrival of Inspector Divekar.
“Hello, beti!”
“Think of the devil!” Sonia grinned.
“Lucky me!” the Inspector laughed and pulled out a chair. “What’s happening?”
Sonia pushed the slip of paper to him. “I thought it could be the act of a Policeman”
Inspector Divekar studied the note. “You could be right,” he conceded, frowning. “When did you get this?”
“Last month. There was another one before that. I’ve got it here somewhere.” She rummaged through her drawer and withdrew the first note she had received.
“ ‘Get lost with your Astrology,’ ” Divekar read aloud. “I don’t like the arrogant tone in these notes”
“I know what you mean.” Sonia nodded.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure whether I should take them seriously. It just could be someone trying to infuriate me”
“Or it could be someone with more serious intentions,” Inspector Divekar warned. “Look at it this way, you’re getting popular and successful - two surefire signs of making more enemies.”
“This person seems to be more like a critic than a lunatic or an enemy. And criticism for me is like the sea. And I am the ship in the sea of criticism. You not only need the sea to keep a ship afloat, but you also need high tide to move it forward. So the more criticism, the more buoyant and progressive my ship is. My philosophy is, never let the sea or the criticism enter the ship, or it will sink!”
“Oh yes, it’s good to philosophise occasionally. But not when the criticism could take harmful or life threatening forms!”
“Do you really think this person could be dangerous?”
“You never know. And that’s why I think it’s time for you to be armed.”
“Armed!” Sonia sounded genuinely surprised. “Uncle, I’m a peace-loving, God-fearing, animal-loving human being!”
“Who also happens to be a detective! So if you want to protect your peace-loving soul, you’d better start acting now!”
“Wow!” Jatin exclaimed. He had overheard the last bit of the conversation and his eyes were gleaming. “Do you mean a gun?”
“Pistol. I’ll get you a licence and teach you how to use it in an emergency,” Inspector Divekar told Sonia forcefully.
“Uncle, you’re beginning to scare me. How in heavens can I carry a pistol in my handbag?”
“You’ll learn if you really love yourself!” The Inspector chuckled and rose. “I must get going. But I’ll contact you soon.”
“I can’t believe it!” Jatin exclaimed as the door closed behind the Inspector’s back. His expression was incredulous. “You’re actually going to be a real detective!”
“Jatin, I am a real detective. Pistol or no pistol!” Sonia retorted, crossly. “Now get back to work.”
“Er… actually, Boss, Naina is here. I was wondering if I could take a long lunch break?”
“Sure! Go enjoy yourself.” Sonia smiled, hiding her relief. It would be good to have the Office all to herself. Jatin could be quite overpowering at times!
“Thank you, Boss, I’ll make it up to you!” Jatin flashed out of the room, leaving her to wonder what he meant by that!
After a
