Pushing back unwanted thoughts, Sonia turned to Nidhi. She fluffed up the soft cushions and the cat immediately rolled to her mistress and held out her paw. Sonia adjusted Nidhi’s blue velvet collar and scratched her behind the ears.
“What next, honey bun?” she murmured, and Nidhi stared at her with curious sea-green eyes, almost as if she understood Sonia’s every word. “It’s two months since I had my last case! And I don’t like it. It’s time to do something about it, right?” Nidhi licked her hand with a rough tongue and Sonia grinned. “I know what you’re saying. Stop worrying - things will happen when they have to, right? I think I’ll take your advice, since there’s not much else I can do at the moment. Perhaps go for a walk? It’s closing time anyway.”
She gave the cat another cuddle, then stepped out into the outer Office.
“Jatin, I’m going for a walk. You can leave whenever you want to. I’ll lock up after I return,” she announced.
“Okay, I’ll leave as soon as I’m done with these emails,” Jatin agreed.
The brown Banyan leaves crunched underfoot as Sonia took her habitual stroll in the Agricultural College which was close to her office. The evening sky peeped between the Tamarind, Mango, and Banyan trees, which stood like sentries on either side of the road and clustered overhead to form a tunnel which opened into the big garden lawn and the majestic stone structure of the College. Arches curved along the full length of the ground floor. A huge white dome rose strong and sturdy on top of the College. The sun was sinking behind the hill ranges on the west, as Sonia took a breather on the velvet lawn. A flock of birds swooped in a curve across the dusky sky.
March had arrived with a vengeance, hot and dry, but mercifully the evenings were cool. The walkers, the couples and pensioners lounging on the lawn all appeared relaxed. Sonia wished she felt the same. She felt far from relaxed, feeling restless. The fact that she had no case had begun to worry her. Not that she hadn’t put the intermediate free time to good use. She had read good books, specially on Swami Vivekananda and his intellectual preaching; she had meditated, listened to good music, and even entertained some of her parents’ business friends. The lull in her usually busy schedule had been quite enjoyable. She had even started on a warm footing with Devika, who had inaugurated her boutique by the end of February. The steady stream of buyers created a lively atmosphere in the otherwise dull building. Not that Jatin agreed. His worst fears had been confirmed. He insisted that the boutique, with its clusters of giggling girls and pompous ladies haunting the shop, had robbed the dignity off the Stellar Investigations Office. All were either too young or too old for his bride-hunting project! And hence entirely useless in terms of peace or availability!
Nidhi had done her bit by playing with her Mistress and demanding constant attention. But Sonia knew that even Nidhi couldn’t do much about the concern that was beginning to gnaw at her. She sighed, rose, and dusted her jeans. She may as well return to the office, lock up, and go home, she decided. The sun had set, the afterglow a warm memory behind the clouds. She retraced her steps, deep in thought.
FC Road was a busy main street, specially in the evenings. The Police Parade Ground set the scene for a number of popular restaurants and cafes. Offices, quaint bookstores, and boutiques flanked either side of the road, which was dominated by the Fergusson College - a more than century-old sprawling icon of education. Stellar Investigations Office was opposite Vaishali Restaurant, the favorite joint of students and, in the evenings, families.
As she turned off the main road and into the Stellar Investigations building, she caught sight of Devika talking to another woman on the porch which separated their two Offices. Both women were deeply engrossed in a conversation. But Sonia wasn’t looking at them. She was staring in surprise at Nidhi, who was cuddled in Devika’s arms.
A prick of anxiety made her hasten forward.
“Oh, here she is!” Devika greeted warmly.
“What’s up? Has Nidhi been up to something?” Sonia couldn’t keep the apprehension from her voice.
Devika laughed, handing over the furry golden body to Sonia’s outstretched hands.
“Nothing serious actually. But if you count playing with my designer clothes hanging from the closets as naughty, then she has been quite naughty!”
“Oh no!” Sonia exclaimed. “I’m sorry, did she -”
“No, nothing’s spoilt, don’t worry,” Devika interrupted good- naturedly. “Nidhi’s been quite a good cat actually, considering how I’ve disrupted your peace. This is Renuka Gunaji, by the way. Renuka and I were discussing something and Nidhi chose that very moment to introduce herself. She jumped up and sat on Renukas lap and refused to leave!”
“Oh goodness,” Sonia said faintly. “I’m really sorry. She never does that to strangers. She’s awfully pampered, actually, but I’ve never seen her sit on somebody’s lap like that.”
“Don’t worry.” Renuka brushed off Sonia’s concern. A tall hefty girl in a blue-and-yellow-striped cotton Salwar Kameez - she seemed to be studying Sonia with a curious glint in her eyes. “I like cats, though she startled me, the way she jumped onto my lap.” A frown creased her forehead. “Actually, I’m quite glad we have met. I was sharing a very serious problem with Devika and we were just discussing whether I should approach you. I was in two minds because, you see, I didn’t
