The Astral Alibi (35 page)

“No, but I wasn’t particularly careful either!” Sonia spoke irritably. “Oh, my poor Nidhi, where can she be? We’ve got to look for her!”

“Boss, if indeed the ghost has kidnapped Nidhi, he may leave another note for us. Because I think he’s trying to get across a message. I doubt if he intends to hurt the cat!” Jatin said, trying to think practically and logically.

Sonia stopped pacing. “You may be right. I shouldn’t let my panic jump out of control.” She took in a deep, steadying breath. “Nothing can happen to Nidhi. I have to believe that. That is not his intention. His intention is to get me to see a point—Stop using Astrology. Yes, there will be another note and we ought to wait for it. But only until tomorrow morning. Because if there’s no news of Nidhi by then, we are going to launch a massive search for her!”

It was when Sonia had locked up and had finally decided to retire for the night in frustration that she found the note. It was tucked under the windshield wiper of her van. Her heart did a somersault when she spotted it. She snatched it up immediately. The type was darker than the earlier notes, but the font was still the same. With shaking hands, she opened it and read the words:
If you wish to see your cat, meet me tomorrow—alone—at six a.m. at the Pataleshwar Caves.

Pataleshwar Caves! The ancient caves in the heart of the city, on the Jangli Maharaj Road. Forty pillars, cut into a massive rock, supported the caves. Pataleshwar—the name synonymous with the Lord of the under-world—Sonia had been asked to meet Nidhi’s kidnapper there! How apt…

Fury burst inside her, as she made her decision. Very well, she would go and confront him. For the sake of Nidhi, her trusted friend and pet. And she would end this matter once and for all!

Orange streaked the sky as Sonia parked the car on Jangli Maharaj Road and ascended the sloping stone slabs to the entrance. A huge Banyan tree loomed on her right as a light veil of mist blew with the wind. At the end of the steps, she paused and stared down at the huge excavation—an enormous rock pit. In the centre of the square stood the round
Nandi Mandap—
pavilion or shrine—with its sixteen pillars and umbrella-shaped roof. Inside the pavilion was the
Linga—
the symbol of the Lord Shiva and a
Nandi—
a bull. And beyond the
Mandap
rose eight stone-block pillars which stood like sentries guarding the deep caves which housed the temples, the chief among them being the Shiva Temple.

The entire Pataleshwar caves—a monolithic structure of the eighth century Rashtrakoota age—were dusted with an unearthly grey fog. A fluorescent heavenly light glimmered through it. The breeze rustled in the dried leaves of the Banyan trees and for an immeasurable moment, Sonia felt transferred in time—to a time when nothing existed beyond the peace of meditation. But she felt too disturbed to really appreciate the picturesque beauty of the centuries-old art. She had cut a cake at midnight, celebrating Christmas with her parents, and had prayed with all her heart for Nidhi’s safety. And after a sleepless, anxiety-ridden night, here she was, ready to face the worst.

Her hand automatically probed the pocket of her jeans, where the small bulge of her pistol was hidden by her bulky sweater. That gave her some reassurance. Slowly, she descended the passage down to the caves. Her shoes squeaked on the uneven stone floor and mist clung to the rough stone walls.

Two men were sitting in separate caves, their eyes closed, both lost in meditation. Sonia threw a searching glance over them, then, convinced that neither of them was the ghost, she moved to the other side of the
Mandap.
The caves were shrouded in mist and shadows and for a moment she wondered whether she should venture inside each one of them. But a glance at her watch told her that it was just six. She would wait a couple of minutes before she stepped inside the mysterious caves. She sat down on a flat rock, rubbing her arms to drive away the cold and wondering why she didn’t frequent this beautiful historical place.

Suddenly the meowing of a cat broke the eerie silence. Nidhi! Sonia stood up instantly, her hand ready on her pocket. The sound seemed to grow louder, as if approaching from within the caves. Like a ghostly apparition, a figure in a black overcoat emerged out of the Shiva temple, screened by the mist. He was carrying a cage, in which Nidhi was protesting loudly. A shiver ran down Sonia’s spine.

“Merry Christmas, Sonia!” Varun Thakur greeted cheerfully.

Sonia’s hand froze on her pistol. “You? What are you doing here? And why do you have Nidhi?”

“One question at a time, please.” He smiled charmingly. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

In the dawning light, his eyes were a deep blue-green and his thick highlighted hair bounced gold. He looked fresh and handsome and could easily be mistaken for a film star.

Regarding him with the utmost suspicion, Sonia reluctantly perched on the flat rock. He settled Nidhi’s cage beside her. Sonia immediately put in her hand to comfort the cat.

He took the seat on the other side and turned to study her frankly. “You look great!” he remarked.

“Did
you
leave that note for me under the wiper?” she asked bluntly, ignoring his compliment and the involuntary ripple of pleasure at his words. She had to focus on what was happening.

“Yes!”

“And it was
you
who kidnapped Nidhi?”

“Yes again!”

“And here I was going crazy with anxiety thinking some madcap had indeed kidnapped Nidhi. Why did you do it?”

“Because it was the only way to meet with you. Not only did you refuse to answer my emails, but you responded with threats! How do you think
I
would react to that?”

“Certainly not by kidnapping my cat!”

“Uh-uh. By taking
my cat
for a short visit to her original home, you mean,” he corrected.

“Get this straight into your head, Varun Thakur—or Owl, whatever you may wish to be called—Nidhi is no longer your cat! Don’t you ever touch her again—or by God, you don’t know what I’ll do to you!” Sonia retorted fiercely.

Varun looked at her with admiration, not in the least affected by her fury. “That is what I’ve always liked about you, Sonia—your fieriness, your commitment, your total obsession with the people and things you love and believe in. Your instinct to preserve and nourish—You are so much like me!”

“If I am obsessed with the people I love, I can also do anything—and I mean
absolutely anything—
to protect them!” Her eyes flashed.

“I know.” He pinioned her with a steady gaze. “Remember, I told you that with your acumen it won’t take you long to cross the line between the lawful and unlawful? You are teetering on the brink, Sonia. A little push and you will be on the other side!”

“Then be warned.
Stay away from Nidhi!
” Sonia rose and clutched the cage. “And now I’m taking my cat and leaving.”

Instantly his hand shot out and gripped hers. “Not until you’ve heard me out,” he replied. There was a sharp edge to his voice.

She flung his arm away and faced him, her face flushed and angry.

“Not until I’ve had a chance to thank you personally,” he added deliberately.

“Thank me?” She raised an eyebrow in inquiry.

“Yes. For helping me find the jewels that I’ve been looking for, for years!”

“What jewels? How did I help you?” Sonia’s anger was swiftly replaced by confusion.

“My grandmother’s letters! Tara is
my
grandmother, and Asit her beloved friend,” Varun responded mildly.

“You’re lying!” Sonia exclaimed, as she slumped onto the stone slab, even as a sinking feeling seemed to suck her into the earth.

“Much as I’d like to move heaven and earth to please you, even my criminal standards cannot permit me to lie to you about my own grandmother,” he remarked wryly. “I’ve waited months to contact Asit. Not only because I was keen on meeting my grandmother’s great love, but also to collect the family heirlooms she’d entrusted to his care years ago and that she’d told him to return after her death. Don’t you remember the last letter she wrote to him? She mentioned returning to her grandchildren what she took from the family. It was the jewels. And now thanks to you, my dearest Sonia, they are in the custody of the family again!”

Sonia stared at him, dumbstruck. “But Devika…”

“Is my colleague. She did a good job, keeping an eye on you for me for almost a year. And when you refused to have anything to do with me, she readily took up the problem and addressed it as hers. She’s such a sport!”

“Sport, my foot! She’s a cheat. All these months she’s been pretending to be my friend, but actually all she was doing was acting under your instructions!” Sonia scoffed with loathing.

“Credit her with some sense of decency. She most certainly liked you a lot and she was glad of your friendship. And, please, don’t bother to rush back to the office to confront her. Devika’s gone for good. You’ll never see her again. Her job is done.”

“You’re impossible!” Sonia said in disgust.

“Proudly so. And unique, just like you. We’ll make a good pair. Have you considered my proposal?” he reminded, a twinkle in his blue eyes.

“What proposal?” Sonia’s heart skittered involuntarily.

Inside the Shiva temple a Pandit began chanting prayers. Yellow bulbs gave an ochre luminance to the misty caves and a bell tinkled auspiciously. Other sounds began intruding into the silence of dawn—an
arati
in the nearby temple, the birds announcing the arrival of the sun.

“You can’t have forgotten my proposal—of permanent friendship, of marriage!” Varun quirked an eyebrow saucily.

“
Friendship!
Do you even know what that word means? Friendship means love, selflessness, sensitivity—not cheating people and stealing diamonds. It’s a virtue gifted to a very few in the world. You’d need to put aside your selfish motives and think of others for a change. I doubt if you are capable of that!” she remarked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Varun’s gaze bore into her eyes. “You’re right. Although I’m terribly hurt by your accusation.” He grimaced. Then he pursed his lips and cocked his head, studying Sonia minutely and unblinkingly. “A friend would understand a person’s innermost desire, her hurt and her pain. He would try to replace this pain by pleasure and peace, wouldn’t he? So let me begin by being your friend.” He leaned forward. “What if I tell you that I have some news of your brother that would relieve your pain forever!”

“My brother is dead,” Sonia whispered, in a freezing voice.

“So
you
think. I’m not so sure!”

Sonia’s heart was thudding so loudly and erratically that she was sure Varun could hear it. “Stop playing games with me!” she hissed.

“All right. Here it is straight: Accept my proposal of marriage and I’ll tell you everything I know about your brother!”

The meaning of his words imploded in her mind. Clutching Nidhi’s cage, Sonia rose, rage spearing through her, almost blinding her. “You’re a worse crook than I thought. I don’t ever wish to see you again!”

Varun laughed softly. “Easier said than done. This isn’t the last we’ll see of each other, my Glowworm. I’m ready to wait because patience
is
one of my virtues—few though my virtues may be. I’ll bide time till you come to your senses and see reason. Until then, goodbye!”

He blew her a flying kiss, turned with a swish of his overcoat, and strode away, quickly dissolving into the marigold tinged mist. Sonia stared after him, a cold hand clutching her heart. Had Varun been telling the truth? Did he indeed have some news of her brother? No, that was impossible! Her brother was dead and Varun Thakur was nothing but a cold-blooded liar!

“I’m such a gullible fool! He tricked me again!” Sonia exclaimed.

“You had no inkling that Devika was The Owl’s accomplice!” Mohnish pointed out in a pacifying tone.

“I
ought
to have. I’m an Investigator, for God’s sake!”

“A detective, but not a clairvoyant!” Mohnish shrugged as he tucked into a hearty breakfast of Upma. “Though it is intriguing how The Owl seems to be pursuing you so single-mindedly. What is it exactly that he wants?”

Jatin was watching his Boss, his face full of curiosity. Sonia averted her gaze.

“I don’t know! And I don’t care!”

The Christmas tree scintillated with the lit string of bulbs, glittering decorations, and the pretty gifts. But even as the three of them sat cross-legged on the Panchgani rug and ate their breakfast, Mohnish watched her over his plate uneasily. He felt indignant that The Owl could hurt Sonia as he had, but more disturbed that Sonia had slipped into a mood of remorse and anger, directed at herself. But this time it was also directed towards others.

“This is betrayal at its worst! Devika, who I thought was my friend—Just goes to show that charming looks and behaviour are no stranger to crime!” Sonia declared disgustedly.

“Now you know,” Jatin remarked with feeling, thinking, of course, of Naina. “The sting of deception…”

“It’s been such an eventful year, what with the ghost—who is still mysteriously in the shadows—our many cases, and now The Owl. Certainly not satisfactory in the least.” Sonia was thinking aloud. “So much backlog, so much still to do…”

“At least, I’m relieved, you’ve finally accepted Varun Thakur as The Owl. That’s an achievement in itself. Seeing the indisputable truth in its face,” Mohnish remarked.

Sonia turned a thoughtful eye on him. He had finished his Upma and was leaning against the wall, his legs stretched out comfortably before him.

She frowned. “Do I sound like I finally believe he is the noted international crook?”

“I certainly hope you do. Look, Nidhi is safe, and today’s Christmas. Why don’t we begin our celebrations?” Mohnish suggested, trying to change the mood.

“I’m going for the first present!” Jatin announced.

Nidhi meowed in agreement, jumping down from the window seat and rubbing herself against her Mistress’s legs. Sonia scooped her up, holding her to her cheek. To think that she had feared losing her beloved cat! The Owl, her chief adversary, would pay for every iota of his arrogance, and for every moment of anxiety he had thrust upon her. He had thoroughly disrupted the sense of accomplishment she had experienced after meeting Asit. Now all her efforts were tarnished with Varun’s tainted brush of crime. He may have his own warped justification for his actions, but her point of view was diametrically opposed to his. He was callous, brazenly mentioning her brother, trying to use him to emotionally blackmail her. There was no other explanation. The Owl was a shameless prankster! And to think that she had ever found herself drawn to him! Her attraction to him was an aberration, to be amended without delay. She firmly thrust the memory of the mesmerising, glittering gaze of blue eyes from her mind and concentrated on Nidhi.