Dearest Readers,

Last week was an extremely busy one and I couldn't manage to complete the chapter. The reason why I couldn't post it.

Hope you understand the holiday season isn't so much of a holiday season for everyone...

Anyways to everyone who celebrated... Belated wishes of Christmas..May God bless one and all...

Here's your long compensatory update.

Cheers.

Love Love ❤️
Srinidhi

✨
SHANKAR
✨

'I CAN'T Linda!!! I have had a meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning. I had to eat that junk sandwich  last night which I absolutely hate!!! You know the amount of flour it has!!! Danggg!!! I just....ughhhh
.
... Just Hate it!!! I haven't even hit my gym Linda!!! I didn't get time to go home to see my Shine and worse your darling little Miranda yet another time brings me coffee with sugar!!! I'm telling you she...she wants to kill me!!!' I yelled practically. I wanted that cold drink of a woman to hear me out!!!

Why can't just Linda stay!!! Ughhh!!!

While I heard a lady's voice other than Linda's on the other side saying 'Wooow...Drama Mama!!!' and I quickly asked 'Linda??? Who's that???' and then immediately I heard Linda say

'No one!!! Should be a cross connection!' And although I was suspicious, I had no strength to tolerate more. I continued typing the e-mail on my laptop.I was having a bad day already when Linda said

'Look Mr.Nayak!!! The woman wants to meet you. She has some useful inf-'

But I immediately said 'Linda!!! I don't want your candidates! They are incapable of-' but this time Linda cut me off with a frustrated tone saying

'For heaven's sake will you please keep your self-obsession aside and listen to me? This isn't about you!!! It's about Shine!!!' and the exact moment my fingers froze. I quickly took away my ear piece and held the phone directly to my ears and asked

'What is it?' and Linda said 'There is a girl whom I know. She works at a hospital and she's heard something about Shine and...'

'And???' I asked curiously although I knew who it could be but I needed the confirm and Linda added

'Lets talk tonight Shankar. Miranda will tell you the place and the time.' and she disconnected the call and my eyebrows narrowed when suddenly Miranda handed me a little chit and left from there.

This looked too secretive and suspicious and I simply noted the address.

✨

I blinked multiple times to see they had invited me to an extremely loud cafe. It was crowded and had a lot of people around. I wonder why did she want to meet me here. I hope this isn't some stupid prank. I silently went and sat on a table that looked empty. It was in a random corner and conjusted. Well atleast they could have booked a table in this...this...flea market of theirs!!!

Damn it!!!

However I sat there quietly and looked at my watch. The clock wasn't 8 yet. I was five minutes early but Linda and the woman whom I didn't even know wasn't seen anywhere. People stood in huge queues to get themselves the food they wanted. It seemed like a self serving place. Such a chaos!!!

I had to order something atleast for the sake of formality and I noticed fast food, coffee and drinks counter was flooding with people ready to kill each other. Salad counter didn't have many folks. Seems no one likes healthy food nowadays. Good for me!!!

I went and placed an order for a chicken ceaser salad which I definitely wasn't going to eat but even if I had to pretend I needed something on my table. Especially when the lady at the billing counter and people around me on different tables kept observing me without anything on my table. That's when Linda joined me. She was as usual dot on time. This was what I appreciated about her. One thing I learnt from mom, respecting time. Mom always told if you don't respect time, it wouldn't wait for you. Hence change!!!

The reason why I always tried to be punctual and hated those who never respected time.

Linda had already got herself an ice cream and I narrowed my eyebrows when she looked at me asking

'Oh come on Shankar!!! Everything was crowded!!!'

'Thats sugar overloaded Linda!!! You are a diabetic!!!' I disapproved of it when she rolled her eyes saying

'I didn't have a choice Shankar. It wasn't crowded. You see people avoid ice cream during winters!!!' she tried defending herself but knowing her sneaky love for sweets in any form I immediately held the spoon from her hand saying

'Then have this!!! Chicken salad!!! Healthy!!!' saying I pushed the bowl towards her when she rolled her eyes saying

'Come on Shankar now don't behave like Arthur!!! It's just a small-'

'Your HBA1C values were up there sky high Linda!!! You don't want me to call up Richard!!! So...uh uhhh' saying I held the bowl and shook my head when Linda huffed saying 'Fine!!! But I don't want the Ceaser salad!!! Infact this looks bad!!!' she said making a face when I quickly said

'I know right!!! To add on what kinda place is this? So tacky!!! So crowded!!! You know I was in a three-piece suit and I had to leave my blazers and my tie in my car to not stick out like a sore thumb in the crowd. Even then people are looking at me like an alien!!!' I said when Linda chuckled saying

'A whirt shirt without a single crease, neatly tied pony tail, that expensive designer watch, perfectly polished shoes...you are still too perfect for this place my boy!!!' she said and I narrowed my eyebrows asking 'I hope that's a compliment!!!' and she chuckled when we were interrupted by a lady who asked us how soon will we be done and I was annoyed. How could she just ask me that question. I was about answer her when Linda said

'Mam...we are still awaiting our friend who's waiting in the line for her burger and fries...I hope you understand. We'll take longer!!!' and the lady rolled her eyes and walked away.

So disrespectful!

When Linda said 'Relax Shankar. They are all folks who got free after their long day at work and want to just sit and have a relaxed meal. Don't get angry. She's genuinely looking tired. Try and adjust a little!!! This place has mostly the working class crowd!!!' she said and I looked at my watch again...it was 8:20 pm now. She was late and I hated waiting for someone. When Linda said

'She is usually never late. I don't know where is this girl. She is not even picking my phone call!!!' Linda said and we waited for a little more time and finally I stood up saying

'Linda!!! It's been 30 minutes and your person is nowhere. If not for Roshni I would never have tolerated this kinda attitude.' saying I sat down waiting for another half an hour. When there were no signs of the woman even after 9 pm I stood up saying

'Thats it Linda!!! This seems to be a terrible prank. Never had anyone ever made Shankar Nayak wait for so long. Not even the Burmese associates were so late the meeting we attended last summer!!! I am done Linda...I'm leaving!!!' saying I started walking away when Linda ran behind me saying

'Shankar this is not a prank. I know the girl personally. Infact... she...she stays at my place!!!' she said and I paused. Looking at her and taking a deep breath I asked 'Then why on earth are we meeting here? In this...this...this whatever place?' I asked when Linda said

'Because Anika insisted!!!' and I immediately raised an eyebrow asking 'Anika???' and that's when Linda said 'Anika!!! The girl who insisted upon meeting you personally!!!' and I rolled my eyes saying 'I am going Linda!!! Let's talk on phone!!!' saying I walked towards my car when I noticed a bunch of men laughing and surrounding a lady. They were passing lewd comments at her and surprisingly no one was bothered to help her. What is wrong with people nowadays? The girl looked so scared that she was hiding her face behind her palms.

I immediately touched one of the men's shoulder and the man sporting a lot of tattoos on his neck who seemed to be in his early 40's turned around and glanced at me saying

'Hey you!!! Back off!!!' and before I could say another word the man took a pocket knife and pointed it towards me while his other friends continued to laugh and that's when my eyes fell on the woman who was shaking like a leaf. That's when I noticed, she was wearing a loose top and pajamas.

Hold on!!! Indian???

And that's when I heard Linda say 'Anika!!!' and that's when I realised it was the girl who wanted to meet me. I noticed how another man threw a punch upon my face but I deflected and immediately grabbed his neck and smashed it against the window of my car. The glass was broken and the man collapsed causing ultimate chaos when two other men launched themselves at me and I immediately went for their throat and smashed their heads against each other.

The man with the knife tried to hurt me when I grabbed his hand and twisted it. I launched a strong punch on his jaw making him cry in pain when another one came towards me with a knife and I immediately kicked him in between his legs making him collapse immediately and I pushed this man's weight upon him and started kicking his butt making him beg and cry in pain. That's when suddenly the police arrived and the men were caught. I was an influential figure and a business tycoon who has been friends with the cops especially since I was fighting for my daughter's custody case against her birth mother and my ex girlfriend Camellia. All I had to do was call the higher officials at the department and that's what I did.

✨

'Here!!! Water!!! Slowly slowly' Linda offered the girl who was shivering and shaking after the incident. We were in my car. I usually don't let any random person climb my car or step into my property but everyone was looking at us at the cafe and I had no other go but to drive away from there. I slowly noticed the girl via the rear mirror. She was wearing a simple yellow and white Kurta Pajama with a woolen jacket which seemed not so fancy. Her long hair braided rested on her shoulder with a few stray hair brushing against her cheeks and neck. Absolutely no make up yet her skin was glowing.

Fair like ice, she had completely turned pink probably due to fear. Her lips were-'

'Shankarrrrr watch out!!!!' Linda yelled and I immediately noticed I was about to bang on to the footpath but I quickly got control over the steering wheel and an accident was avoided.

Freak!!!

I immediately parked the car and took a deep breath. I needed water too. I quickly looked around for the water bottle trying to find one when I noticed it in her hands. She understood and slowly passed the bottle to me. Although I would never like to share water, I really needed it right now. What if I wouldn't have been able to get control on my car back and....what about my Roshni??? Damn it!!!

I quickly pressed the bottle to my lips and gulped it down nonstop and was almost going to empty the bottle when my eyes finally met her light brown eyes. Under the bright street lights her eyes shined like a lost deer. So innocent yet so scared.

'Shankar leave a little for Anika!!! She is also scared!!!' Linda said and that's when I noticed I had only left a last sip there. I quickly stopped. Damn it. Get a hold Shankar. It's not like you have seen a girl for the first time but then I heard her voice

'Its...it's fine!!! I don't need!!! I....I'm fine!!!' she said softly. Her voice was breathy... feathery yet coated with a layer of fear. She was really scared after the incident and looking at the way she was dressed up I could say she was new here. I noticed how her jaws were shaking but then I suddenly realised, it was her choice of place

'Why on earth did we have to go to such a down market place. Men were half drunk there, owners didn't care and people completely-'

'Shankar...Stop yelling at her. She is new here!!!' Linda said when I rolled my eyes saying

'New here??? Then she should have just talked over the phone!!! What's this desperation of meeting me there? Thank god there was no media out there!!! How could you be so careless Linda?' I asked when I heard her voice again

'Mmmmm...Mmmm...Mr Nayak please!!! It's... it's not...not Linda's fault. I insisted a crow...crowdy place and this...this place is closer to the hospital I work but unfortunately I had to extend my duty today and I-'

'I didn't ask you for the reasons lady!!! My time is precious and I get it...you must have some crucial information about my ex girlfriend's evil plans. Trust me...she comes up with something so low once in every few months!!! And I get it...this must be a mind boggling money making scheme for needy people like you and why would you tell it to me on the phone call and miss the golden opportunity of earning some heavy cash. So tell me quickly how much do you want? And what is it cash or cheque?' I asked and suddenly the girl's fearful face turned into an angry one.

I could see there was slight moisture in her eyes when she said gulped saying
'Not everyone wants your money Sir!!! I understand how it would feel when you don't have your true loved ones around you and are surrounded by leeches who want to suck your blood. You may have had bad experience in the past, Believe me I have seen worst but that doesn't mean I stop trusting in human race. I felt your child's future is being manipulated by some greedy woman and I must inform you. Especially because Linda always praises for the great parent you are!!!

I just wanted to make sure your child is safe!! And I don't want your money, cash, cheque in return. Save your child from the clutches of evil if possible!!!' saying she opened her jute bag and pulled out a pen drive and a few photocopies of some reports and handed it over to me. I was shocked.

'The lady...Camellia and some doctors at my hospital are hellbent in manipulating your daughter's reports. They want to prove it in the court that you are causing mental hazards to her and aren't a good father. They are probably going to produce it in the court and planning to challenge the judgment. I don't know if this could help you but this has all the original reports vs the manipulated ones. Maybe this could help you save your daughter from those evil people!!!' she said and my lips parted.

I quickly opened my laptop and tried inserting the pen drive as I noticed all the reports and the fake ones that they had prepared to prove me a bad father. I gulped and looked at her when she added

'Please be careful when you deal with your lawyers especially from your office. There is someone in your office helping them. I didn't know who they were, so I insisted in meeting at this unpredictable, random crowdy place which was safe for the discussion.'

She was right. I have had experiences of people following me. There were cyber attacks planned to hack information from my laptop, after which I make sure to encrypt everything on my laptop but now looks like I need to find the rat in my office whoever is giving all my information to Camellia and above all I need to find a permanent solution to this problem called Camellia. I cannot keep fighting in the court of law, once in every few months. To add on Roshni is growing up and has already begun to ask a lot of questions.

Before I could say another word she got grabbed onto her jute bag saying 'Thank you but not everyone is behind your money Mr.Nayak. Thank you for saving me from those goons. I think I will manage from here on...I..I'll take a bus from here.' and before I could say another word she got down from the car saying 'I'll see you at home Linda' saying she crossed to road and I saw her walking towards the bus station. My eyes kept looking at her figure fading away as she kept walking away when I heard Linda say

'I wanted to bring her home but you don't like anyone unknown coming to your home. You don't visit others. I understand you have had trust issues in people but not everyone is evil like Camellia!!!

Anika isn't!!! She's different. Have a goodnight' saying Linda tried to get down from the car when I immediately said

'Linda... please stay!!! I can drop you home...It's...it's quite late!!!' when she smiled saying

'Thank you Shankar but I can't let Anika travel alone. She certainly is very strong but she needs me now. That... what happened there wasn't her choice Son!!! It is not her fault that she is beautiful or she is a woman or she is helpless in this unknown country. It's just that she has her own battles and she's fighting it. Just like you are fighting yours. I've got to go!!!' saying she got down from the car and followed the girl.

Guess I was too fast in judging someone this time!!!

I closed my eyes and suddenly her shiney light brown eyes flashed infront of my eyes and I immediately snapped out of it.

Damn it!!! What's wrong with me?

I shook my head and looked at the reports in my hand. I immediately dialled the one and only doctor I trusted personally when it came to Roshni....

Kevin Siddesh Pai.

My daughter's pediatrician and my best friend.

Looks like it's time to dirty our hands again hatching yet another plan against Camellia.