Devika grinned, flashing a set of almost crooked white teeth. Sonia noticed that they gave her face an odd, childlike appeal. “I wouldn’t agree with him. It’s a charming room! Oh, you have a cat!” she exclaimed in surprise.
Sonia laughed. “My best friend, Nidhi. It’s time for her nap.”
Devika looked at Sonia with frank curiosity. “You’re an Investigator, aren’t you? I read the nameplate outside. But I’ve also heard about you. You solve cases with the help of Astrology. How very, very unique.”
Sonia smiled non-committally and changed the subject. “What exactly are you planning to do next door?”
“Oh, it’s going to be a boutique. I’m actually a designer and supply most of my clothes to Mumbai. Got a good market there, rich women willing to experiment and dare. Pune is more conservative in its approach. But I have to cater to all kinds of people. Also, weather-wise I prefer Pune. Couldn’t stand the hot sultry Mumbai climate, it was beginning to affect my health. So I thought it was time for a change of scene.”
“You must be very talented to do so well. Designing is a very challenging line of work.”
“It is, but it’s very upcoming in India. I just smartly cashed in on the changing trends!” Devika chuckled.
“When do you plan to open your boutique?”
“In another month or so. March, latest. But since I was here to oversee matters, I decided that we really had to get to know each other.”
“I’m so glad you did,” Sonia replied with a smile. “Will you have something? Tea? Or Coffee?”
“Oh no, I must run. I’ve got tons to do still! I’ll drop by the next time I’m in town.” Devika rose hastily, glancing at her watch.
They shook hands warmly and then Devika departed. Her perfume lingered pleasantly in the room. Sonia had liked her instantly. It wouldn’t be bad to have an intelligent and friendly neighbour for company.
Jatin strode in and glanced speculatively at his Boss. “Well? What do you think?”
Sonia turned to her table with a shrug. “No fear. I don’t think she’s going to tarnish Stellar Investigation’s image with her boutique. She seems quite sensible.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like the smell of her perfume.” Jatin looked doubtful.
“Jatin! I don’t think we have any more control over who takes up that Office than we have over her perfume. Which, by the way, was most acceptable to me!”
He shrugged. “Oh, all right, as long as she doesn’t keep popping into the Office like it’s some chitchat joint!”
He stomped moodlessly away, leaving Sonia perplexed. Really, Jatin was getting more and more moody day by day. Perhaps it was truly time for him to find a nice girl and settle down.
Sonia strode to the outer room and toward the Computer. Jatin was fiddling with the Television and she decided to check the mail. Within a minute, she had connected to the Net. Her in-box displayed six emails. Her parents had sent her a reminder of a dinner they had planned. Several friends had sent hellos and then she opened the last email and froze. the subject line read HELLO FROM THE MOON and the message was brief. “linking of me?” Sonia stared at the sender’s name - Varun Thakur. Her heart missed a beat. And then quickly anger surfaced. The Owl had actually sent her an email!
CHAPTER II
Open Secrets
It was a hot March day and the wind swept dry banyan leaves along the street.
He leaned against the tree, pretending to read a newspaper, which casually hid his face. Occasionally, he glanced up at the building across the road and especially at the windows of the apartment on the first floor. No sign. He glanced at his watch again. It was three in the afternoon and time for her to descend. At the thought of seeing her, he felt almost breathless. God, he had it bad. Even after such a long time!
Suddenly he straightened and ducked behind his newspaper. She had appeared at the foot of the building. Dressed in a grey, geometrical-patterned sari, she was rooting around in her handbag for something. Why did she dress in such unsuitable colours? he wondered. He remembered her as so different. She had loved warm colours and bright dresses, and despite her small frame had looked great in them. He almost couldn’t recognise her in these drab greys and browns she was sporting nowadays. In fact, he recognised nothing about her anymore.
She hailed an Auto, climbed into it, gave instructions to the Autowala.
He didn’t need to hear where she was going. He already knew. He had been following her for the last month and was aware of all her destinations. It was Saturday. She had to be going to Deccan. Where she would vanish into a white building for a couple of hours. What did she do in there? he asked himself, as he kicked his motorcycle to a start and swung his leg over it. Oh, he would find out one day, when she agreed to meet with him…
“This is about the hundredth time I’m asking you, Sonia! I simply don’t understand your hesitation. But I shall ask one last time.” Mohnish sounded strained. “Will you come for dinner with me, tomorrow night?”
Sonia cradled the receiver in her hand and was glad he couldn’t see the pleased smile which sprang spontaneously to her lips. Not only had he remembered her birthday, the 7th March, but he was also consistently persuading her with an invitation for dinner. She couldn’t help but experience a prickle of pleasurable anticipation. But an arrow of guilt stood on standby. Perhaps it was time to ignore it? Sonia wondered.
“All right,” she conceded, and instantly felt a rush of relief. As if she had just crossed a gaping chasm.
“Great! For a heartbreaking moment I thought you would have the audacity to refuse me again!” Mohnish remarked, his tone betraying his exasperation.
“Perhaps next time?” Sonia countered.
“Don’t you dare!” Mohnish laughed. “See you later, then.”
Sonia was still smiling as
