It’s early morning around 4:30. The sky of the dawn is hued with the tangerine colour of the first Sunlight. Nandana puts the garland on the Ganesha idol and folds her hands in a Namaskar mudra while humming a Bhajan. Eventually, she arranged a small temple in the attic because she didn’t want to change the music room. It is the place where Aditya is literally has caged his childhood and a person is nothing without his salad days. However, he has to accept both good and bad memories of that period. In the last seven days, Nandana has tried to break the barrier which obstructs Aditya to enter the room. It is not that easy job and frequently he feels unwell and uneasy to face his nightmares but it’s a kind of reversed psychology. Sometimes we have to overcome the pain by touching the wound continuously and it is working. Now, Aditya at least can enter the room and touch the instruments unhesitantly. However, Nandana’s goal is to bring those sweet memories of his mother into his life and she knows only music can do it. She continues humming the song when lights the lamp, puts tilak on Ganesha’s forehead and lights the incense sticks. The early birds have started chirping outside to trumpet for the new day. She does the Aarti (a ritual of worship) and touches the Kumkum (vermillion) kept on the thali (plate) with her ring finger. She touches the kumkum between her brows and lightly trails her finger on the hair partition. Her marriage was deceitful but she can’t turn down the truth that the sindoor symbolises someone’s husband’s well-being. She can’t live with him but she can pray for his life. Nandana takes a deep sigh and closes her eyes to pray to her Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna. Her hands are pressed together in the Namaskar mudra.

“God, be with Aditya…forever when I won’t be with him.
He needs you to be protected and to be led in the right direction.

God, you know how much I love him.
If I did any good in life…please give those virtues to him.

If I pray to you with pure heart,
then bestow him with your blessing.

Protect him from all evils and darkness
Love him as you love me…”

She beseeches in her prayer. A single teardrop trickles down her left cheek. Unconditional love itself is the purest form of prayer.

.........................

“I was comfortably sleeping when something vibrates on the side table. I grope to touch it and find the mobile. Without opening my eyes, I answer the call. Some unknown person asks for Nandana. My sleep breaks completely. I observe that the phone on which I am talking is hers. Perhaps she kept here and forgot. I assure the person about my identity as her husband. I don’t know why I feel happy to brag about it. However, the following information stresses my every nerve in a second. I cut the call by saying that the information would be delivered to the right person. My mind is burning right now. Thankfully the person was on a call. Otherwise, my hands would have been on his collar. I sit squarely on the bed. Right now, I want Nanaina in front of me. But I don’t know where she is. My eyes fall on her mobile and I smash it on the ground. I press the intercom button and call Mahesh. Within a minute, he enters holding a tray of tea and biscuits. He knows I usually don’t wake up so early. Despite that, his extra care and anticipation ignite my wrath more. I ask about Nandana and he says that she is worshipping. It adds fuel to my fire. I so want to drag her here and ask about her lies. My anger bursts out into the cup. I hurl it towards Mahesh and due to human instinct, he tries to save himself. The cup smashes on the floor. His left hand gets some splashes of hot tea. With a suppressed wail, he jumps aside. I shout at him and ask him to leave at once. Mahesh bails out of the room. I need some fresh air to simmer down this burning sensation inside my mind. I storm out of the room and head to the main door. As we both are not allowed to go outside without a guard, a plain-dress police officer tries to halt me and gets a violent push of mine. I get in my car and speedily exit the bungalow premises. I don’t know where to go but I know I have to go.”

As Aditya’s car dissipates, a police cab starts following it within a minute. It is SP Bhosle’s instruction to not lose the surveillance on him or Nandana for a second. Aditya’s car enters a narrow path amidst the jungle.

...........................

“Madam, Sir is calling you. He looks very angry.”

Nandana’s trance break with Mahesh’s call. She turns and sees Mahesh standing on the threshold with a sheepish expression. It’s near around 5:30 in the morning. Aditya never wakes up so early. What happened to him today? Nandana nods in assurance and replies,

“You go…I am coming. Make tea for him. And use that Earl Grey tea packet. I am just coming.”

She lifts the prasad thali (sweet plate offered to God) and gets up. Mahesh is still standing over there, bending his head. His body posture is specifying his hesitance. Nandana comes out of the worship room.

“What happened? Go and make the tea.”

She again orders. Her forehead is lined with confusion. Mahesh meets her eyes for a fraction of a second and immediately stares down.

“I made and got it in his room but…but he threw it on me…”

Mahesh sounds timid and sad. Nandana watches his left hand has red patches. It must be burnt. Her jaw becomes hard.

“Okay, you go. I will make tea for him. And apply some Burnol to your hand. Take rest. I will make the lunch.”

She instructs and comes downstairs to head to Aditya’s room. The door is closed and no sound is coming from inside. She pushes the door and steps in. The first thing that makes her face hard is the floor of the room clustered with broken pieces of teacups, spilt tea and biscuits. She roams her eyes all over and finds her phone fallen on the ground too upside down. Carefully she passes the mess and bends to pick it up. It is clear that someone has smashed it on the floor and it is not very difficult to guess who is this someone. His anger not only punished Mahesh but the poor gadget too. She murmurs,

“Why, Aditya?”

She opens the bathroom door and then comes to the balcony in search of him. The place is as silent as a graveyard. Only then, Mahesh appears at the door.

“Madam, Sir left. The guard informed.”

In reply, Nandana only can utter,

“Left, Where?”

...........................

“It means that Manu Mathre is now the new promising face of their party. In that case, Mr Ayan, why should he keep on attacking Aditya? Apparently, he doesn’t have any motive. He only had a political rivalry with Mr Oberoi. Personally…ummmm I don’t think he has any animosity.”

SP Bhosle places his doubt. Ayan looks a bit clueless. Still, he tries to defend his words,

“Once Aditya Sir insulted him in a party meeting. Maybe for that…..”

Bhosle cuts his line and wobbles his head in disapproval,

“Can be but still, not a very strong motive. By the way, we have checked Manu Mathre’s call records. The record is clean and he was not even in the city when Aditya and Nandana Obeboi were attacked in court premises for the first time. No, Mr Ayan. I am not fully convinced. There is something which is not clear and I have to find it out.”

Ayan was about to say something when Bhosle’s mobile rings. He immediately picks it up. Ayan only can hear his side of the conversation.

“Yes, we are about to leave. WHAT? Why? You all are supposed to stop him. Okay, track him. He shouldn’t be alone for long. We are coming. Yes, make it fast.”

He cuts the call and looks at Ayan.

“Mr Ayan, Mr Aditya left his bungalow and went somewhere. Quick, we have to leave.”

He checks his revolver and both come out. As both of them sit in the police cab Ayan abruptly says,

“Sir, there is something which I forgot to tell you.”

Bhosle arches his brow while starting the engine.

“Aditya Sir recently has bought a house in Manhattan.”