Sonia thrust the letters back into the box along with the horoscope and hastened into the outer office. Jatin was wrapping a gift he had bought. But the moment he saw his Boss’s face, he paused.
“Found something?” he asked.
“I believe so. But I’ll know for sure in a minute. Jatin, you can do something in the meanwhile. Find out from the Mumbai phone directory if they have an Asit Rao listed.”
Jatin rose with alacrity and set to work, while Sonia settled once more at the Computer. Within minutes she was Googling the words Asit and photography, and within seconds several sites scrolled on the screen. She ran an eye over them. The last name was a website called Sitara.com. Sonia stared at it. A photographer’s site. Sitara. Could it be? Sitara - a combination of Asit and Tara - her heart began a tattoo of anticipation, as she clicked on the site. Images unfolded - portraits and photos of men, women, and children in varied landscapes, seasons, and situations, touched up electronically, some with special effects. And then she saw a particular photo. She clicked on it to enlarge it. It was a black-and-white image of a beautiful woman dancing at a party. Her face was turned to the camera and she was smiling. And instinctively Sonia knew. This was Tara!
The Mumbai seascape stretched into eternity. Standing near the monumental Gateway of India and staring up at its huge arches, with the sea breeze caressing her face, Sonia experienced a great wave of appreciation. The Gateway of India, with its four turrets and latticework carved in yellow basalt stone, was completed in 1924, built to commemorate the visit of Britain’s King George and Queen Mary. When the British rule ended, the last British ship had sailed from the Gateway. Steps led down it to awaiting boats which would either take tourists on a ride of the harbour or to the famous Elephanta caves ten kilometres away.
Evening fell, casting a golden glow over the lapping sea and the majestic monument. Pigeons fluttered, pecking at grains thrown by tourists. Opposite the Gateway rose the grand Taj Hotel, which afforded a splendid view of the Mumbai harbor. Hawkers sat along the pavement, selling gift articles and picture postcards. Sonia almost felt like a tourist. It was rarely that she came down to the southern part of Mumbai, the prettiest part of the city, with its Marine Drive fondly known as the Queen’s Necklace, royal Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the magnificent Gateway of India. It was also the perfect spot for her to meet with Asit.
She had researched his phone number and had called him up. To her great delight, he had agreed to meet her here. Sonia hadn’t said a word to Devika, wanting to ensure his credibility before she broke the news to her. She had driven down to Mumbai in the morning, visited her grandmother in Bandra, and then arrived at the Gateway, all set to interact with the man who had provoked so much passion in the lovely Tara and so much curiosity within her.
Artificial lights sprang up to illuminate the monument, and the sea lapped in folds of red and yellow. Sonia spotted a man, dressed in jeans and a loose black denim shirt, approaching her hesitantly. Asit, without doubt. Tall, dusky, and still handsome, despite the abundant grey in his thick hair. She straightened and raised an arm in recognition and he smiled.
“Sonia Samarth?” he asked in a deep voice.
“Asit Rao!” Sonia extended her hand. “I’m so glad to meet you!”
“And I’m glad to meet you! Did you say that you have something for me from Tara?” he asked without preamble.
“Why don’t we sit down?” She indicated a stone slab and he readily nodded.
“How do you know Tara? Are you related to her?” Asit seemed impatient to get down to details.
“Actually, no, but I’ve been hired to find you” Strangely, she had the uncanny impression that she had known this man all her life. Tara’s letters - so explicit, and expressive - were no doubt responsible for this familiarity. After reading them, Asit seemed more like a lost friend to her than a complete stranger.
“Find me?” He sounded genuinely surprised. “How is she, by the way? Doing well?”
Sonia looked at his eager face and realised, with a tug of her heart, that he didn’t know!
She took a deep breath, hating to be the one to break it to him. “Tara passed away last year”
He sucked in his breath sharply and instant horror replaced his complacent expression.
“I’m sorry if it came as a shock,” Sonia murmured.
He stared at her unseeingly, then his gaze shifted to the sea. A look of yearning and wretchedness crossed his face.
“I should have known. I’ve been feeling this hollow pit inside of me for months. I should’ve guessed that she was no more in this world!” Sudden tears began pouring down his cheeks and he brushed them away fiercely. “It’s over. The tale of lost love. She won!”
Sonia caught her breath at this display of raw emotions, wanting to comfort him but knowing it was pointless. Instead, she turned her face away towards the sea, allowing him his private moment of
