NAAZHIGAI Part 7

The journey time was less than 3 hours. I had informed all, that we got Nithi back so they were all ready to welcome Nithi though it was 4 in the morning. They were so happy to see Nithi, Aunty had tears, and uncle had silent emotions. After all the welcoming there were friends, Maya, Prathi and Karthi. They all started chitchatting and updating whatever happened.

Prathi: Nithi, glad you are back, can’t hear Subhu’s laments for another day.

Subhu:  Ahem

Prathi: You'll never believe what happened to me today. I am sitting in my office...

Maya: Guess what ‘Task Squad’ just said?

Prathi: I'm in the middle of a story here.

Maya: Sorry, you finish.

Prathi: I'm sitting in my office, and guess who walks in.

Maya: I'm invited in two colleges as guest lecturer.

Prathi: Maya!!

Maya: Arey Yaar, You weren't finished?

Prathi: Yeah, do you think "Guess who walks into my office" is my story. The head of the magazine walked into my office.

Maya: If you're starting another story, at least let me finish mine.

Prathi: It's the same story.

Maya: It's really long.

Prathi: He just came in to tell me that he's so happy with my work......that he wants me to be the new Marketing manager.

Me: This is really the "best day of our lives."

Maya: Oh, hey! I’m getting a hike in my income

Prathi: I get to hire my own assistant.

We were so happy that we were back together and added to that Prathi and Maya were climbing their career ladder bit fast.

Nithi: Girls, you both are great, now whoever is gonna compete and give us the expensive treat, wins.

Both of them looked at each other and smiled.

Maya: Nithi, you are the one who is back from Mars or wherever you have been, you are gonna treat us tonight.

Vicks: Let’s block Nithi’s calendars tonight provided he is not lost again.

We laughed as we were getting ready for work. I was still not sure who took him, by now they would have known we took him. They dint get anything in return for taking him. What was the motive? 

Why dint they come looking for him again? What was he involved in? I had multiple thoughts flashing in my mind for which I dint have answers. Vicks and I couldn’t ask him more when he dint know anything more than us, we decided to protect him and follow on the leads that we got.

Prathi and I went to office. Prathi had to interview for her new assistant.

At Prathi’s cabin:

Prathi: You were at this job for five years, Natasha?

Natasha: Yes Mam.

Prathi: That's very impressive, Natasha. I just have one last question for you, How did I do? Was this okay?

Natasha: What Mam?

Prathi: I've never interviewed anyone. I've never had anyone work for me.

Natasha: Oh you were great Mam.

Prathi: Well, thank you so much for coming in. All right. We will notify you on the results and next steps.

Guy: Hello.

Prathi: Hi, yes, I'm sorry. The film directors building is next door.

Guy: I'm here about the assistant job.

Prathi: Really? Okay, well, then, all right. Well, just have a seat there. So, what's your name?

Guy: Abhay

Prathi: Go on.

Abhay: That's it. That's my whole name.

Prathi: That's your whole name. Okay, let's just have a look-see here.

Abhay: I haven't worked in an office before. I don't have much experience...

Prathi: What are you talking about? You got two years looking for job...two whole summers managing to work as an apprentice without pay which shows your keen interest to learn than to earn.

Abhay: It's lame, I know. But I'm a goal-oriented person, eager to learn...

Prathi: Just hold on a second, please. Hey, Subhu...

Cell phone chimes…

Me: Hi, sweetheart. you are in the next cabin right? What's with all the whispering?

Prathi: No, I just don't know, how do you decide who to hire? I have it down to two people. One has great references and a lot of experience. And then there's this guy...

Me: What about him?

Prathi:  He's so pretty I want to cry. I don't know what to do.

Me: Come on, you know what to do. You hire the first one. Don't hire assistants because they're handsome. Do it because they're qualified.

Prathi: I hear you. You make a lot of sense.  Okay, you're right. I'll hire Natasha tomorrow. Dumb, pretty, perfect-for-the-job, Natasha.I'll call you back

Prathi: Sorry to have kept you waiting, please submit your certificates and I shall call you, I mean inform you tomorrow on your results.

Abhay: Okay Mam, Nice Meeting you.

Meanwhile at Vicks home:

Vicks: Dai, See if this key strikes a bell.

Nithi: No Vicks, I don’t know what this key unlocks.

Vicks: You have lost your mobile, bike and memory. We are going to get all that back somehow

Nithi: Sure Vicks, I’m even more concerned in knowing the details. So how are we gonna do that?

Vicks: I have few ideas, if it works out for you we can take it forward. But whoever did this to you must be very powerful atleast to erase one’s memory for a part of his life. We don’t know what we are dealing with, the prints that we got in the house doesn’t match to the one in the database. Do you remember atleast debugging the circuit?

Nithi: No da, whoever did this has made me look so stupid. Please bear with me till we find out Vicks.

Vicks: Okay da, we will send an invite welcoming info from anyone who had seen you in those two days. We might get some leads. Meanwhile we can try for a psychiatric visit for hallucinating and triggering you inner memory. We have to find what that key means, lets brainstorm what it can be.

Nithi: A suitcase? A bag? A locker?

Vicks: A house? A cloak room safe? A safe deposit box?

Nithi: There are all possibilities it could be anything, can I get a mobile phone, I need to keep in touch with mom and dad to check if they are okay, can you arrange one Vicks?

Vicks: Yes Nithi, Shortly.

Nithi started to skim through all the letters, none of which were significant, insurance monthly reminders, promotions to book stores and wedding invite from his college friend. His inbox was filled with 189 mails. He read them all one by one, promotions for online sites, bill for his postpaid mobile, etc.

Vicks: Its evening Nithi. You have to get dressed up for dinner treat.

Nithi: I’m dressed already

Vicks: You and your dressing style, Really? White shirt for grey pants? Whatever..

We all gathered in a themed buffet restaurant. Nithi sat opposite to me, Prathi near me and all others around.

Nithi and I went for a refill on our main dish. Prathi whispered something in Maya’s ears.

Vicks: Maya darling, what’s going on?

Maya: I can't tell you. It's a secret.

Vicks: Secret? Friends aren't supposed to have secrets. We love and respect one another too much.

Maya: But still, no.

Vicks: We should tell each other everything. I don't have secrets from you.

Maya: Really? So tell me what happened to Nithi in college when that junior girl proposed to him?

Vicks: No, I can't do that.

Maya: I'll tell you what Prathi said.

Vicks: Okay. So Nithi was in the library as usual doing nothing. I was with him. I saw a girl peeping from outside the window. The girl was so cute and innocent

Prathi: Ahem…

Vicks: Ok Ok… Let’s skip that part. She all of a sudden came to our table. And called Nithi and said she loved him. And he said “I don’t think we can be even potential friends, now will you please excuse us”

Maya, Prathi: Awww…That’s pretty straight. No wonder why she cried.

Vicks: What was Prathi's secret?

Maya: She said Nithi has good dressing sense compared to you.

Vicks: What, his dressing sense???? And that's it? I gave up Nithi’s rejection story for that?

Maya: That's right. You lose, chump!      

Prathi hi-fied with Maya

Nithi all of a sudden came to us saying, I got a welcome mail from Bank Of India.

Maya: Welcoming you as what, the CEO of the bank? What’s so exciting?

Nithi: Hold on guys, welcome mail from Bank of India, Shriharikota

Maya, Me, Prathi, Vicks: What??

Nithi: Yes, a few minutes back the hotel manager welcomed me on our first reservation in their hotel when I remembered scrolling down the mail from BOI earlier, I ignored it thinking it was some promotion. Now I guess I must have been there and did something which might answer all our questions. Baaam…………That’s it

Me: Nithi, pretty much the right piece to set the puzzle right. Okay, Call the manager right away

Nithi: Sir, this is Nithin, I visited the bank a few days back. Is there any way I could open an account for my friends for 5 lakhs each?

Bank Manager: Hello Sir, Ya I remember, you were the one who wanted a locker in our bank. We value our customers and our customer service is the best in the country. Sure you can, our branch is open 24/7. You can also deposit in your nearby branches. Additionally, we also have BOI star personal loan scheme with minimum 10000 to maximum 2 lakhs.

Nithi: We will be more than interested Sir, thank you for your service.

Nithi: Guys, the guy is chanting some “Insurance is subject to market risk” story, but I’m sure we need to go to Sriharikota. The mission impossible is now possible!!!

To be continued…..