« continued from Part - I
Leave Ishani?
Akshay was shocked beyond words. But by the time he found his voice back, the phone line was disconnected. He looked at the telephone sitting on the low table besides him. For a moment his eyes widened. Hastily he punched in his residential number.
Akshay held his breath while the phone rang. One, two, three, four, just when he thought he was going to scream, he heard a soft hello from the other side and for a while again his throat constricted.
Hello, the sweet sound again reached his ears and Akshay recovered. "Ishani, how are you?" he asked.
"I am fine. Why?" replied Ishani in a slightly puzzled voice. Akshay was one of those men who rarely called up home once they reached their workplace.
"Just felt like hearing your voice" Akshay tried to keep his voice normal. Ishani laughed. "And I am glad to hear your voice. I was getting lonesome sitting in this big, empty house all by myself."
"I will be home early today."
"Great."
Akshay put down the receiver and sat for a long time, deep in thoughts.
He didn't tell Ishani about that weird phone call. But after two days, immediately on his arrival in the office, his personal secretary Paul came to him with a plain white envelope. On it was written, Akshay Mehta. And it was marked 'Personal' in red ink.
Akshay tore open the envelope and took out a single slip of paper from inside. "If you don't leave Ishani, I would kill you." The message was neatly typed on it.
"Who brought this?" Akshay thundered.
Paul was taken aback by the boss' voice. "I am sorry sir; I don't know who brought it. It was just lying on my table when I came to office this morning."
"But usually you are the first one to arrive." Akshay looked at his young secretary.
"Right sir," Paul's shoulders straightened unconsciously. He was proud of his record. But then he added meekly, "Of course the security and cleaning guys come before me. Peons too."
"Okay," Akshay now said in a normal voice and Paul went back to his table.
This time Akshay reported the incident to his wife on reaching home. He was worried but Ishani just laughed the matter away saying that somebody was trying to tease him. "Don't get your blood pressure up. Are you taking the medicines after your lunch?" she asked trying to change the subject.
"Be careful," Akshay pleaded with her. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Don't worry," Ishani said and added lightly, "And don't think about leaving me."
"Never." Akshay replied firmly.
A week passed after this. And then one fine afternoon, Akshay's private line rang again. Same man with the same message. The caller failed to sound dangerous. It was clear to Akshay that the man was trying to change his voice. Perhaps he had covered his mouth with a handkerchief. And he sounded a bit nervous too. This time when Akshay shouted, "Who are you?" the caller spluttered and hung up. Angrily Akshay got up and marched out of his chamber. The tables outside were mostly empty. It was lunch time. Akshay's secretary Paul was at his desk, munching an apple and playing some silly game on his PC. Seeing the boss, he hastily got to his feet. "Sir"
"Come in" Akshay ordered and went back inside his chamber.
SIX WEEKS LATER......
Akshay was inconsolable. The police inspector, who was investigating the case and incidentally who happened to know Akshay well, worried that the old man may collapse and die of sheer grief.
One late night Ishani and Akshay were returning from a music concert. Just when their car reached the gate of their house, somebody fired at them. Ishani, who was sitting in the driving seat, died on the spot. Akshay was convinced that the bullet was meant for him. "The killer must have thought that as usual I must be driving, but that day I was a bit tired and Ishani insisted on driving us home. She died for me." Akshay cried and cried. The inspector promised to find the killer. He also asked Akshay to be extra careful now.
"What more can I lose now?" Akshay asked miserably.
"Your life," the Inspector replied sternly. Akshay had told him everything about the threatening calls and note delivered to his office. It was possible that the man, who must be very angry, now may decide to kill Akshay.
"I am not afraid anymore," Akshay told the inspector.
