The Night And The Stars - A Journey Towards The Dark

Thanks dear
That idea suddenly popped up when I was composing that particular episode...

 

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback!!!
Very happy that you have noticed the thing about cake cutting.
It will be connected. We will know that in next few episodes
Thanks for reading the story

 

Episode: 29

"Yes I know Chaaru very well. And yes she is your friend Jaanu’s friend.

My family and Chaaru family were neighbours.....years back.... and both our dads were business partners as well.

After very few months, both had a heavy loss in their business and both blamed each other. Her father went a step ahead and filed a complaint against my father. Lots and lots of difficulties we faced. My father had been to Jail by then. I have never told this to anyone till now. I dnt want to tell you about the ugly flashback. That’s the reason I dnt confess all these days. In fact that girl Chaaru used to be a good playmate when we were neighbours.

But the moment my dad was in jail, we shifted out house and there was no contact with that family. When you started saying about Chaaru, at first I thought someone else. But when you continued saying each and everything about her life, I confirmed that it’s the same Chaaru.

I very badly want to tell my parents about this. But you were there with me and that’s why couldn’t tell them. The other day I dropped you in your house and at once called my parents to tell this news. They felt very bad but warned me not to interfere in this issue to avoid unwanted problems. Everyone knew that we are not in good terms with that family and if the girl from the family goes missing, my parents thought we might get into trouble. Policemen will very well dig old stories.... so we were afraid..."

Rathna’s eyes were wandering from here and there. “But you could have told me all this ?” she exclaimed.

“The first question you will ask is how I knew her”

“Then I need to tell everything about her family and my family. And then…..need to tell about jail and all…. I dnt want to tell anyone about my father been to jail and all. So…that’s the reason…Now everything is clear madam?” – Khaveer asked sharply

Rathna sighed in relief….

Lunch hour was over and Rathna walked towards her desk.

“Rathna…..Am very sorry in case if you and Khaveer had to fight….all because of me…” – Jaanu’s face was coated with guilt.

“I can handle that….need not worry. Anyway I came to know the truth…..”- Rathna said as she sat on the chair and depicted everything.

“Oh……” – Jaanu said holding her notepad.

Rathna took the notepad and Sandhya was walking towards them.

Rathna searched for that particular page and striked Khaveer’s name in the list.

Seeing her doing that, Sandhya striked Ram’s name and said “I know him well”.

Jaanu thought no use in this list……Its Zaheer who has done that…..

As she thought Zaheer passed by. He wanted to know if there is any new information regarding Chaaru.

Jaanu made a plan.

She wantedly raised her voice and said “Rathnaa…..Chaaru’s case is on high alert. The policemen are searching the kidnapper thoroughly and it seems they have got an important clue. They might arrest him anytime I guess”

“oh!!! Really..!?!!” – Rathna asked curiously

Zaheer heard this and his face was soaked with fear and anxiety. Jaanu scanned his face and started planning how to talk to him on this…

She saw Zaheer walking towards his manager room.

Jaanu went back to her seat and started analyzing. Chaaru has gone missing after diwali.

I couldn’t talk to her due to heavy work. Fine. Let me find who was in contact with her till diwali.

She pinged each and every college mate of hers and asked whether anyone contacted Chaaru before she went missing.

There was no positive response from anyone and everyone were busy with their works.

Finally there came a positive reply from a girl.

“Yeah Jaanvi! I spoke to her the day before diwali. She said she was walking to home from temple. I called her to invite for my brother’s wedding.” Was the text.

Jaanu read the text and thought “so.. she was fine till the day before diwali….no doubts…no chaos…everything was fine till that day…..”

“So what happened on Diwali……”.

She suddenly felt like checking the picture in Zaheer’s profile but doubted whether he would have deleted it.

She checked hoping to see the image but her mind warned her that for sure he would have deleted it.

And yes her mind was right. That picture was no more.

Jaanu sighed.

“Why shouldn’t I ask Zaheer directly? Anyway he is afraid of police….Why shouldn’t I threaten him?” her thoughts were wavering and she saw him coming out of the manager’s room.

Jaanu’s legs were shivering as she walked towards him.

“Shall I go back?”

“No. ask him” – her guts encouraged her.

“Za………Zahe……Zaheer…..I need to talk to you. Can you come to food court now?”- she asked gathering all her guts.

Again the same face….. coated with tension and fear was seen.