It was around 7 pm when Kathir' s business talk was over in Leela palace .
Since the clients had come from abroad , he had no other option rather than starting from Trichy immediately .
The meeting was successful but he clearly explained that it would be impossible for him to move out of India for atleast a few months .
With his works being perfect and upto their expectations they accepted to his terms and conditions _ that left him light hearted .
As usual ,he referred Pragya s consultancy for their art work and set himself free .
He had thought the work would be over only by the next day _ but now that the work was over soon than he had expected ,he chose to finish off some more pending work .
He drove to the Commissioner' s home and his friend ' s private dedective agency . The information he received was satisfactory .
There was nothing more to do in Chennai with the whole family stacked up at Trichy .
He carefully had avoided driving to their home at Chennai that was run with skeletal staff .
His flight back was booked the next day only ,
Somehow he felt restless and thought of leaving Chennai then itself .
With ease he disturbed his secretary in that wee hours of night and asked to re arrange his schedule and settled in the cafe at Leela palace itself .
The next flight to Trichy was around 12:20 am .
His secretary double confirmed with him as to whether to book it and then went ahead_
Thanking her wholeheartedly and apologizing for having disturbed her personal time ; he left for the airport leaving her in absolute shock !!
She had no idea of why her Boss acted too strange all of a sudden _not once in all these years of her service she had seen her thanking nor apologizing for such things !!!
It was always a Command for him when it came to get things done !!!
It was around 2: 00 am when Kathir' entered the premises of Rangan Palace .
Bathed in dim neon lights the Palace glittered as a single uncut diamond set amongst a sheet of sapphires in that pitch dark of night .
Without disturbing anyone he made it to their room and entered it using his key .
Once inside as usual his eyes swept along the sofa first for a second and then moved onto her bed .
But Lo !
He couldn't make out the curvy figurine nor the silent ebbing of her frame with each breath of hers .
With frowns appearing on his forehead he looked around .
Had she gone down to sleep along with Uma or her siblings ?
He hadn't informed her that he would be returning then itself .
That morning itself he had told her that he would be returning the next day only !!
So maybe she has gone to sleep along with ....
His eyes froze _
Was it she ?
Slumped down in the mattress just before the wash ?
Not wasting time he switched on the lights and neared her ,
Only to see her fainted and lying down pathetically in a small pool of blood !!
Kathir had never been shocked nor felt shattered like this ever before in his life _
