11:00 AM, 31st March, Mhatre Group Head Office, Mumbai
Shreekant was inside his cabin, going through the details of Disha, "Her date of birth is 1990, she can't be Anna's sister, she is, in fact, one year older than her. The mother's name mentioned here is Sarita Agarwal, but the father's name is missing in the column... Anyway, her mother is the one who can answer me, regarding the whereabouts of Anna's little sister. I need to meet her mother as soon as possible, I will message Amna the address of Disha's home. This is the proper time... Disha will be in the office, I can meet her mother without any problem"
He messaged Amna the address and rushed out of the cabin in haste to meet her.
11:08 AM, 31st March, Mhatre Group Head Office, Records Department, Mumbai
Disha walked up to the info desk at the records department, "Ravi, I need the details of last year research project at Udayvara village"
"Hey Disha, long time no see, very busy I guess... Please wait for a few minutes, I will check and give you "
"What to do Ravi, people in this office need everything perfectly and in time, not a second of mine is spared"
As he searched the details on the computer, he casually spoke, "Today Shreekant sir called, I got really tensed but then he said he needed your joining details, I think some good news is up for you... Perhaps a promotion, don't forget to treat me"
Disha widened her eyes and gaped her mouth, "Shreekant sir, asked for my joining details?"
"Yes... He did, and said it was very urgent"
She paused herself for a moment, "Why was he asking for my joining details? Was he trying to confirm my identity? Does he know my real reason for joining the company? But how can he know, I was extra careful? Then... perhaps, did he ask for the details, to confirm my mother's name? First Anna and now he... I can't trust anyone from the Mhatre family, they can do anything". She pressed her lips in tension with her hands trembling.
"Ravi, give me the details later, I have some urgent work" and she dashed towards Shreekant's cabin
She was breathing heavily when she finally reached there, "Hey, you are Shreekant sir's secretary right? Is he still in his cabin?" she asked a short lady wearing a black saree and blue-rimmed spectacles who sat just outside his cabin.
"No, he is not in his cabin... He went out in a hurry to someplace around 10 mins ago ." On hearing her answers she felt as if her worst fears had come true, beads of sweat gathered on her forehead, "I know where he might have gone, before he asks my mother anything, I must reach there and stop him... It will take around 25 mins from here to reach the office, he must have taken his car, traffic can delay him. If I go on my scooty, I may reach my home before him, please God, just once show me the magic of Mumbai traffic"
She dialed a number on her phone and ran hastily to the parking lot. Meanwhile, both Amna and Shreekant were on their way to reach the address.
11:45 AM, 31st March, Disha's house
Amna reached the place first to see no one around and called Shreekant, "Where are you? I have already reached the place"
"I am reaching in within 2 mins, just wait for me. I was stuck in traffic" He replied in a short breath, disconnecting the call immediately after replying.
She patiently waited for him to come. A few minutes later he finally reached and rushed out of his car towards her, "You didn't see anyone going out of the house?"
"No... But how can you be sure that her mother still lives with her?"
"I have heard a couple of times Disha talking to her mother and she has taken leaves many times from my father stating that she has to take her mother for a medical check-up"
"Then what are we waiting for, we are finally meeting Neelam," She told gleefully as her eyes gleamed with happiness.
They both walked towards the house and press the bell, with impatience and anxiousness taking a toll on their hearts and minds.
The door creaked open and they see a young woman in a frilled pink top and grey knee-length skirt standing in front of them, "Shreekant sir, What are you doing in my house... At this time of the day?"
"Disha, you are at home, Why are you not in the office?"
"Sir, I came to deliver some medicines for my mother, I was going to go back to the office in a few minutes" She tried to clarify but her hands and feet were still cold, she turned her face to the lady who stood beside Shreekant and asked, "Sir, who is she?"
Shreekant looked at Amna and muttered, "Ah... She is that restaurant reviewer, she was searching for a long-lost acquaintance of hers and that person happened to be your mother." Amna nodded in agreement with his lies giving a gentle smile.
"Oh... Sir and Madam, why are you standing outside, please come in." She gestured them to come inside and as they enter, she breathed a sigh of relief with a deep exhalation."
"Please be comfortable, do you want something? Tea... Coffee"
"No... Actually, she wanted to meet your mother, where is she?" He asked rolling his eyes around the house.
"My mother is inside, may I please know how do you know my mother?" She asked looking in the direction of Amna.
She gazed at Shreekant for a while and stammeringly replied, "Your mother was a journalist at Pandharpur right? I wanted to ask her about a family's whereabouts that she might have known as she worked there." On hearing her answers, Shreekant heaved a sigh of relief.
"Oh... Pandharpur, we shifted from there more than twenty years ago, that's the reason, many people don't even know that my mother stays in Mumbai, but you came searching at the right place, Anyways you can ask me whatever you want, my mother won't be any help to you people"
"What do you mean by she won't be of any help?" He asked confusingly looking at Disha
"The thing is, my mother has dementia, she doesn't even remember what happened today's morning" She tried to clarify them.
"Since when she has dementia?" Amna asked, gazing at her.
"I think around five, six years, she even has a hard time communicating with her own daughter and she definitely can't help you people, that's the reason she needs medical attention most of the time"
Both of them exchanged glances at each other hinting, that even finding Neelam was a total useless task. "It's okay... it's a long time, you must have been a child then, I think you may not be knowing anything." He exclaimed in a deep dejected undertone.
"We will take your leave, then, sorry for bothering you," Amna announced, getting up from her place and motioning Shreekant to get up as well.
As both of them walked towards the door, he suddenly turned his back around and tried to clarify again, "Did anyone came before us, inquiring about your mother?"
"No, Sir... no one came before you people" She replied sternly
Shreekant and Amna leave the place and walked towards their cars. "The last hope was Neelam, and she is also gone", he exclaimed with his head hung down hunching his shoulders.
"Now, there is no one to tell us about Anna's sister... Shreekant did you check on the possibility of Disha being Anna's sister?", Amna asked noticing the dispirited voice of Shreekant.
"I checked, she can't be Anna's sister... She is in fact a year older than Anna. I really don't know what to say anymore, so in the end, even Anna couldn't find her sister but I will not lose hope, I will try to find her, perhaps finding her will make Anna happy, I will fulfill the last work she was trying to do and also find the real reason of her death" He promised himself as he slammed his hand against the car door.
She placed her hand on his shoulder, "We have come this far, there is no looking back, if fate has brought us this close to Neelam, the same fate will bring all the truths to us, don't lose your composure, we will definitely succeed, now go back to your office and I will go back to the Outhouse, we will meet in the evening"
As both of them, departed in their respective cars, Disha saw them going and signed for someone to come near her. A lady in her mid-fifties, wearing a light yellow saree with hair tied in a neat bun came near her and whispered slowly, "Are they gone?"
"Yes, mom... Thank God I reached at the right time and managed everything once and for all, they will never try to contact you again"
"Was that guy, Anant's son, Shreekant? Who was the girl with him?", she tried to probe from her daughter.
"The guy was Shreekant Mhatre. He said that the girl was some guest, but I highly doubt him, her answers were not falling in place at all"
"I also think so, I exactly know why he came here... He is trying to find Anna's sister, but this time I won't make the same mistake as last time, telling Anna everything was completely wrong, you saw what happened to her finally?"
"Mom, I also think the same... We are partly responsible for what happened with her, especially it's because of me, If she had not seen me in that photo frame shop with your birthday collage of all the articles you wrote as Neelam, she would have never approached me and found about you." She exclaimed as hordes of guilt shined her bright face.
"No, Disha... I told her everything and because of that..." Her words trailed off as she recalled the moments.
"Mom, but you also warned her, it was her decision. About her death, it can't be a suicide." She claimed decisively holding her mother's shoulder tightly.
Sarita bounced her head up, "Do you think someone intentionally killed her? ... Who?"
"I don't know Mom, my first doubt was her husband only, after all, he is the son of Anant but I am not sure. It can be anyone from the Mhatre Family. But most importantly if Anant Mhatre had somehow known the truth about Anna, the chances of him being the one behind her untimely death is maximum"
"Exactly Disha, why did I say Anna everything? Why? Years back also made a huge mistake and now years later also, I did the same." A drop of tear rolled down her eyes which Disha wiped off lovingly, "Mom, we were the victims that time... But now the time has changed, I have my hands on Anant Mhatre's weakness, just some more time and he will be finished"
Sarita cleared her sore throat, "Weakness, what are you talking about?"
"I have all the company secrets of Anant Mhatre but apart from that we have two more things, first if we could prove his involvement in Anna's death and second the Ambodi case, where an unknown male skeleton twenty-five years old was found, I had never heard Mhatre so worried and tensed before, but that particular news made him so scared. I think he is involved in that case and I have also tipped off the officer-in-charge of the case with this information"
"Male Skeleton... 25 years old? Is that skeleton..." Sarita mumbled staring and hinted at her with bulging eyes and a frozen expression.
"Mom, are you saying that skeleton belongs to that missing person? In that case, he was not missing, he was murdered?" Disha glared her eyes asking the question with disturbing thoughts.
"I am not sure, Anant Mhatre can do anything, but the chances of the skeleton belonging to that person can be true in all probability, even the time frame matches... Twenty-five years" Disha looked on at her mother with puzzled eyes and said, "I have to find the truth, Mom"
"Whatever you are doing, do extremely carefully, you know what Mhatre does to his enemies". Disha nodded in agreement as her mind hovered about her next step.