"Das?" said Bandu closing the cash register he was working on and was on his feet in an instant.

"Bandu...it's a surprise. I didn't recognize you at all," Das said as he scanned Bandu up and down, "You have shed your old clothes for a new one...eh. You are clean-shaven now and your hair...they are cropped. The all-new Bandu," he chuckled, "and a new shop too," he was grinning away.

Bandu failed to understand whether he was laughing at him or was genuinely surprised.

"Yes Das, how are you?" Bandu asked trying to divert his attention to another topic.

"I am the same old one Bandu, except for the fact that I got married just a few months back. I came to your shop in Goriyon to invite you for the wedding, but your shop was closed," he said having the grin forever stuck on his face.

Bandu disliked him for a strange unknown reason. It was like he was a bearer of a bad omen. That thought stuck in Bandu's mind since the Bali murder case. Of course, though no fault of his, Das managed to irritate Bandu, and also reminded him of Balwant.

"My congratulation to you Das for your wedded life," Bandu shook his hands and expressed his happiness, but at the same time felt sorry for the unfortunate girl who was married to him. He prayed that Das had mended his bad ways.

"What about you... you got married too?" he asked Bandu, chuckling to himself.

"Me...no... was busy with the case and this shifting to a new place took up a lot of my energy and time," Bandu answered him with some irritation creeping on to his demure.

"Where do you live Bandu?"

"I live nearby Das. You did not tell me how you happened to be here," Bandu reminded him of the purpose for which he entered the shop.

"Yes, thanks for reminding me Bandu. I wanted a parcel for my wife and do hurry the bus will be leaving soon," he mouthed looking down at his watch.

"Then make your choice," Bandu pointed towards the board hanging on the wall which displayed the menu along with the prices for half and full plates separately, for various dishes.

"Give me your best Bandu," he said finally after he failed to make a choice.

"Ok then...," Bandu nodded and turned around and called out for the order himself," Govind...get a chicken biryani parceled quickly,"

"Is your wife accompanying you?"

"Yes, she is on the bus. If I had known that this was your shop I would have got her to meet you. We are on our way to a relative's house. Will introduce her to you on the way back," he made a promise.

Govind brought the parcel and handed it over to Das, who paid for it and left.

Bandu let out a breath of relief. He did not want any of his old acquaintances to know where he was. Only Partho knew where he lived and he had requested his friend to keep it a secret. He was surprised that Das recognized him in his new makeover. That did disappoint him but brooding over it would not have given him any satisfaction either. That's where his work distracted him from all these unwanted thoughts.

He had a party order that afternoon, so settled down to get it ready. He left soon after with the food in a rickshaw to the venue. He was back by mid-afternoon and that was when Govind gave him the news.

"Bhaiya, there were two people here asking about you," Govind relayed.

"Asking about me?" Bandu repeated, "What were they asking?" he inquired as he heaved the empty vessel out from the rickshaw.

"They asked whether you were the same person who was connected with the Bali murder case. They even wanted to know where you lived,"

"What did you say?"

"I said I didn't know anything about you, which was the truth. I only confirmed your name to them," he said

"Did they introduce themselves and state the nature of their business with me,"

"Yes, they claimed that they were from the Municipal department and had come in regard for some non-payment of taxes,"

"Did they give their names so that I can contact them?"

"No, they didn't," Govind replied as Bandu after paying the fare came into the shop followed by Govind with the empty vessel.

Bandu did not stretch the matter for long and diverted his attention to other work. He reached a conclusion for Govind's sake that the men might be indeed from the government department, and let off Govind to do his work.

After Govind left his company, Bandu sat down at the counter to seriously think about the two people who visited the shop in his absence. His thoughts were on the line that if they were from the municipal department, they need not ask about his background and where he lived. They were surely on some other mission. He had to be careful from here on.

Govind and Sharan did not know much about Bandu's background and that had saved him for now. But he can't stop people from prying. His change of place and identity would not be able to hide him for long.

After lunch, everyone got down to prepare for another big engagement party in the evening. This time Bandu faced a problem of transportation. Being a big party they ended up with two vessels full of biryani.

"Sharan, today there are two big vessels that I have to carry. It will not fit in the rickshaw," Bandu kept his problem in front of them.

"Yes Bhaiya, that's true. What do we do now?" exclaimed Sharan.

"Maybe we can hire a three-wheeler carrier," suggested Govind.

"Yes, that's a good idea, but who will lend me a three-wheeler here?" Bandu pondered.

"Why don't you request the owner of the sweetmeat shop for his vehicle for today?" suggested Sharan.

"Hmm...his vehicle remains stationary most of the days. I can even pay him for hiring it. Let me ask him," Bandu agreed.

"What if he does not agree? He looks very pompous and does not appear very friendly. Have always seen him sitting and twirling away his big thick mustaches," chuckled Govind and both the others joined him.

"Don't go on appearances Govind. Let me talk to him,"

After Bandu completed preparing the order he went to pay his neighbor, Mr. Somnath Badri, a visit.

"Namaste, Badriji," Bandu greeted the elderly man at the counter of the sweetmeat shop respectfully.

"Namaste, Mr. Raghav," he greeted back twirling his mustache.

Bandu had an urge to laugh but controlled himself.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I came with a request for help,"

"What sort of help Mr. Raghav?"

"You can call me Bandu," he suggested, "You see Badriji, today I have huge order and I cannot transport it in a rickshaw. So I came to request you to let me use your 3 wheeler for transporting today's order,"

"Well...Mr. Raghav...Bandu...that is, you see I don't want to appear rude, but the thing is, I am against giving my things to others for the fear of it being misused and returned damaged. So I must decline your request. I am truly sorry," he said twirling his mustache repeatedly in uneasiness.

"I very much understand your reluctance Badriji and respect your decision. However I would like to add that I would not hire your vehicle for free," Bandu said. Hearing that Mr. Badri's uneasiness stopped and now he was all attention to Bandu's further words, "I would like to pay you a certain sum of money for the use of your property and promise to bring it back undamaged,"

"How much will you pay me?" Mr. Badri asked twirling his mustache in anticipation.

"You can decide that," Bandu replied, and Mr. Badri's fat round face lit up with a smile.

"Ok...ok...Bandu, I understand your problem and I feel the need to help you in your time of distress. But mind you take care of my vehicle," he said handing over the keys to Bandu.

Bandu was happy with his negotiations and came back and told them the news, at which they were happy.

"But he did not say how much he would charge you," Sharan reminded him.

"Yes I know, let him decide, it's better." Bandu agreed and replied.

"Later on you will have to buy a vehicle for transportation. You cannot depend on anybody for long," Govind said.

"Yes, Govind I was thinking of buying a second-hand vehicle. I will inquire in the market and will also take the advice of my friend Partho,"

The boys got to work as few customers appeared at the shop and Bandu sat behind the counter. After a few moments, his phone began to ring, and on retrieving it from his pocket, his lips curved into a smile at the number on the screen.

"Hello, Miss Sakhi,"

"Hello, Bandu, are you at the shop?"

"Yes, Miss Sakhi,"

"Bandu, I would like to meet you,"

"When Miss Sakhi?"

"How about today evening?"

"What time?"

"Around 5 pm. I will come home to meet mother and we can talk there,"

"Ok, Miss Sakhi 5 pm then," Bandu said, all while his smile grew with excitement and was present on his face even after the conversation ended.

"That was the most boring conversation I have ever heard," said a drawling voice breaking Bandu's bubble of excitement.