Maya: Nithi what did you decode?
Nithi: Excuse me Teacher Mam, if I had known that I wouldn’t be here now
Prathi: Let’s devise a plan before we meet Partha.
Vicks: Yes, but how? None of us are scientists, how would we be authorized to even enter the SDSC?
Nithi: Whose ID would take us in? Vicks and I are ruled out, Maya either, Krish………
Vicks: His entry is restricted too. I guess Prathi and Subhu can
Prathi: Ahem what are we? CNN, IBN? We can’t too.
Me: If we can’t go in, we will make him come out. We just need his number to contact him and bring him out
Prathi: But how do we get his number?
Krish: Pulling data of an SDSC scientist isn’t that easy, maybe we could but it may take days, We don’t have that much time in our plan, do we?
Vicks: Don’t worry, Nithi has a fan base around the globe remember?
I stared at Nithi; he gave his innocent puppy look saying No I didn’t do anything…
Vicks: There was a girl in the registration desk who was very friendly with him; if he talks with the girl he can get even the numbers of all the participants.
Nithi: I’m not doing it
Prathi: Vicks, if the success rate is cent percent we are making him do it.
I was like “what’s going on, Nithi say no say no say no” through my eyes
Nithi: For the good of whatever is going on, I’ll do it
He said that seeing my eyes and I nodded as if I was hypnotized. He got Partha’s number in less than 6 minutes. We tried contacting him but it was directed to voicemail. Nithi left a voicemail saying that “Partha, Post your interest for Vishesha Puja, you have been blessed with 7 Keerthanas Abhishekam at the Shivan Temple in Irukkam Island. The Archana commences by offering dhupa (arti stick) and dipa (lit the lamp) to the main deity, followed by reciting the divine names (108) of the Lord. While uttering each name of the Lord, one golden lotus is offered at the holy feet of the lord. On completion, Archana is offered to Lord Shiva. This is Nithi, the special puja co-ordinator. Do bring your SOUL AND SPIRIT for the divine moments. For more details contact 9949487758.
Maya: arey yaar, bhagvan ka naam par joot math bolo
Me: What’s happening???
Vicky: Nithi, How many fingers is this? Are you steady?
Prathi: Good move, Nithi. Hope he hears till the end of the message to know you are talking.
Vicks: Ok now, we’ll try calling him from different numbers to avoid getting him into trouble. Krish and I will look for his address, Maya you are really gonna arrange for a pooja to happen. Prathi and Subhu will take a look at the temple and its surroundings to avoid chaos. Nithi you learn to fix a better meeting place the next time
Me: Vicks, what if we don’t get to see him at all?
Prathi: I’ve already painted a picture on how he’s gonna be and I can’t give up without knowing if that’s right. I have never seen a good looking scientist in my life.
Me: Prathi! Really?
Prathi: Just kidding ra, let’s have hope. I know it’s serious cinema.
Krish: I guess I got a hit on his location. It’s few miles from here, guess we should start moving. Pack ur defense bags and Subhu we are waiting to see you girls in action
We took the jeep and were following the commands of the GPS navigation; all started laughing, as Nithi had customized the GPS voice to mine
Me: Okay fine, Nithi. Are you happy now?
Nithi: Only if you are Soops<3
We reached Partha’s place. He was playing with his daughter who was 5years old. He acted as if he couldn’t recognize Nithi. He asked us, how he might help. He was smart, but we were sure that he was trying to avoid us.
Nithi: Partha!
Partha: Yes sir, how may I help you?
Nithi: Don’t you remember me? Why are you acting weird? We’ve come to help
Partha: Sorry I can’t understand the context on what you are talking, by the way what’s your name please, and who are you?
Maya whispered to me: Now this guy forgot everything or what?
Me: Hush, Maya
Nithi: Sorry we are from Tamilnadu, guess we’d got the wrong guy!
Partha: Mention not, I guess I smell gas inside, give me a minute!
The baby girl was playing with the blue ball in the lawn and got attached to Prathi.
Prathi: What’s your name dear?
Baby girl: Anjali
Prathi: Where’s mom?
Anjali: A few days back, Mommy went out and didn’t come back.
Prathi: I’m so sorry dear, She will be back soon, wish to have some toys? Here’s a walkie talkie
Anjali: Daddy warned me yesterday I shouldn’t get anything from new people!
Partha: Sorry guys, it is evening and I have a pooja arranged in my name, I have to leave!
We stared at each other, it was obvious that there is something wrong with him, he is under serious trouble, we were able to guess that the bad guys took his wife away and has demanded for surrender. He was asking us to meet him in the temple as his house was bugged. We went to the temple as planned for a second meet. Krish stayed back to see the activity in his house.
We got into the car for the temple. The team discussed on how we are gonna execute the plan. Nithi made concentric circles in a paper around a dot. He said the dot was Partha and within the first circle he placed me, Prathi and Maya. In the second circle he placed himself and Vicks. In the last circle was Krish and outside the circles he said is our family. The plan was perfect the way he had thought about it. Obviously he is a creative head. I plugged in my head phones and was gazing through the car window, as it played
Kaathal Kondaen Kanavinai Valarthen
Kanmani Unai Naan Karuthinil Niraithen
Unakke Uyiraanen Ennaalum Enai Nee Maravaathey
Nee Illaamal Ethu Nimmathi
Neethaane En Sannithi
Kanne Kalaimaane Kanni Mayil Ena
Kandaen Unai Naane
Anthi Pagal Unnai Naan Paarkiraen
Aandavanai Ithaithaan Kaetkiraen
Raariraarø.. Oaraarirø..
Raariraarø.. Oaraarirø..
I dint recognize that I fell asleep as the song had some magic, besides there was weariness as we dint sleep for days together. I fell on Prathi’s shoulders. I woke up on the final brake at the temple.
Nithi: Do you need a bed Subhu?
Me: What?? Stop making fun Nithi!
We entered the temple; Anjali was dressed in a pretty white silk traditional gown. She prayed aloud asking God to bring her mum back. As per the plan, Maya organized the puja in a perfect way, Prathi and I were with her, in front of the diety and Vicks and Nithi were going around the navagrahas ‘n’ times while they also had an eye on us. Partha had his eyes closed and was deep in prayer; Anjali used this to her advantage and came to Prathi’s lap after they exchanged smiles.
We had mini walkie-talkie in our watch which was interconnected.
Nithi hissed: Subhu
Me: Haanji!!
Nithi: Watch for his fingers in his lap, he might be transmitting
Me: Transmitting what?
Maya shouted Arey Bhagvan! Wake up!
Prathi signaled to me, Codes!!
Me: Ohh Ok Ok..
Nithi taught me Signals and Systems in college. That was the one subject I hated and failed during my unit tests, though Nithi came to my rescue and helped me score a decent pass mark in the finals.
Maya noted down all that Partha was “transmitting”
To be continued……
