I have a great family. My grandchildren are wonderful. They deserve the best. And I would like to return to them what I took from my family years ago: my love! Please help me. I trust you implicitly.
You will always remain in my heart,
Only yours,
Tara.
Sonia brushed away her tears, feeling tremendously disturbed. She gathered the letters and replaced them in the carved wooden box. An all-consuming love, one Tara had given up for her family. Time had run out and the sacrifice had lost its glory. Her own memories were precious to her, but soon they, too, would be dust bunnies, swept away for good. With a deep sadness in her heart, Sonia switched off the light and settled against her pillow for a restive night.
“You were right! We have to hand these letters over to the rightful owner,” Sonia told Devika.
Her friend looked relieved. “So you read them?”
The detective nodded. “Such soulful letters! So poignant. Why do women make so many sacrifices for their children?”
“Indian women are raised with the power of the sacrifice in their hearts.”
“True. It is rooted deep into their psyche,” Sonia agreed. “But your grandmother was a very strong woman. I can’t imagine giving up such a powerful attraction and genuine love! Motherhood must be a great force.”
“What do you plan to do now?”
“First I shall chart out Asit’s horoscope. There is enough information in the letters for me to chart one.”
“Oh good!”
“Do you know which engineering college your grandmother taught at?”
“Pune’s College of Engineering.”
“Since we don’t have a second name for this Asit, we shall have to dig into the college records and find out how many Asits studied there during those years and who graduated in that particular year. And after that will begin our Herculean task!”
“But you think you can do it, right?” Devika asked anxiously.
“I’m going to give it my best shot,” Sonia assured her. “Nothing would make me happier than seeing those wonderful letters reach the hands of the right person.”
“Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me!” Impulsively, the other girl clasped Sonia’s hands.
“I know that if my grandmother - who is the naughtiest old woman I have ever met - were ever to have fallen in love again, I would’ve moved heaven and earth to see her united with her new love. I think love is the most positive emotion and it must always be applauded and rewarded. However much it may seem ridiculous or misfit to the others.”
Devika nodded. Appreciation glowed in her eyes.
“And even though we cannot unite these two people now, we can at least unite their memories!” Sonia completed, with grim determination.
Devika stared at her. “You really understand being in love, don’t you? What it involves, what it means? Does that come from experience?”
“More a natural instinct, I would say.”
“A very diplomatic answer” Devika laughed. “Sonia, you’ve been a wonderful friend to me this past year and I would really like to thank you for it. I really appreciate whatever you’ve done for me. Thank you!”
“Hey, don’t you think it’s a little too soon for thank yous?” Sonia asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Right again! Well, see you later. Do let me know how you progress, okay?”
Sonia was still smiling long after Devika had left the room. She liked the woman. Warm-hearted and sincere. And Devika had been sporting about Nidhi, though the cat had almost ruined some of her designer clothes, and she always managed to drop by each morning for a brief chat. Sonia was glad that it was Devika who had rented the office and not some grouchy cat-hater.
She rang the buzzer of the intercom.
“Yes, Boss?”
“Ready for some work, Jatin?”
“Anytime!”
With a feeling of triumph Sonia stared down at the horoscope in her hand. Dawn, fifteenth August, 1947. Asit was in his fifties now. Here was the horoscope of the man who had touched Tara’s heart like no one else had. Despite being twenty years younger than her, he had loved her and appreciated her, pursued her till she had driven him away. Sonia felt a thrill of excitement. What a gift to be loved like that, eclipsing all logic, rules, and relationships. What a strong woman Tara must have been to have shoved aside the most rewarding emotion of her life for the sake of her children. It was no wonder that she had regrets towards the end. Poor Tara.
Sonia’s eyes swept over the natal chart of the mysterious Asit. Libra as the zodiac sign and Leo in the ascendant. Good-looking and attractive. Tall, dynamic, and intelligent. Determined, a person who knew his mind well. Stubborn and authoritative. Jupiter and the Sun in the tenth house with Taurus indicated a decent and basically a nice human being. Venus, Mars, and Mercury in the ninth house in Aries revealed that he would be talented. Mars in the ninth house signified very strongly that he would fall for a woman older than him. Sonia stared in fascination at the constellation, her attention thoroughly caught. How precise could a horoscope get! Mars in conjunction with Venus in the Moon’s seventh house and the Moon in conjunction with Harshal and Venus and Harshal in opposition - all the planets suggested a dramatic, even eccentric and unusual tale of love. Venus in the seventh house from the moon, clearly disclosed that the love of his life would be a beautiful woman. Which Tara undeniably was! But Saturn aspected Venus and Mars, rewarding Asit with a lifelong tension as far as the affair was concerned. Also Saturn in the twelfth house in a weak sign Cancer was the Lord of the seventh house, proving that marital peace and happiness were not in Asit’s destiny.
But despite everything, did he continue to love Tara? Sonia wondered. Suddenly she realised that this was no more just a question of hunting down Asit and handing him Tara’s letters. It had become a personal crusade now. She needed to discover
