Five Faces - Part seven

Chapter - 7

Amit ran towards his car and started driving. He wanted to check the hotel CCTV but he knew he didn't have much time. So, he decided to do all the investigation later on. First, he had to save Tripti. He reached Shaanta Mills. There was pindrop silence there. He went near the main door. He could hear some feeble sound coming from inside.  He opened the door and went in. There was a huge textile mill inside. He heard the voice of someone's footsteps. He guessed the person was running towards his right. He went behind that sound but just then he heard Tripti's voice coming from his left.

"Help". she screamed. 

Amit ran towards her voice. He came out of the main hall. On the left there was an open lawn. Tripti was trying to climb the wall of that lawn.

"Tripti!" Amit said.

"Amit, catch that guy". Tripti said, pointing towards the trees behind the wall. Amit climbed the wall and started running. Tripti also climbed slowly and joined him. 

"There's no one here." Amit said. 

"He was there. I was chasing him but he ran away. He ran so fast, man. He should take part in the Olympics." Tripti said.

Amit looked at her shockingly. He hugged her and asked her "Is this a joke to you ? Idiot. How are you ? Are you fine ?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why do you sound worried?  Wait, you thought that they could harm me. Tripti broke the hug and looked at him. 

"You were kidnapped." Amit said.

"Yeah so what. I'm a police officer. Do you think they can harm me ? There were four goons. And I was alone. Still I fought them single handedly and beat them up so much that they had to run away. Also, I tried to chase them. But they are good runners I think." she said.

"You are unbelievable. Did you seriously beat four guys ? he asked.

"Yes. Why would they run otherwise ?" she cross questioned him.

Amit was highly impressed. 

"That's amazing. Let's go from here." Amit told her.

They sat in the car and left that place.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to the hotel." she asked.

"Police Station." he said. 

"Why ? " she asked.

"To find your kidnappers. You have seen them. Give the sketch to the police officer and they will catch them." he said

"No, I have not seen their faces as they were wearing face masks." she said.

"Oh! Still let's go and complain. We will also look in hotel CCTV. " he said

"No, Amit. We were just doing some investigation quietly but still they got to know about us. If we go to the police then also they will know. They are dangerous and powerful people. And also going to the police will mean telling the actual reason for our arrival in Mumbai. This could be risky for our mission. Also, if they are smart enough to wear a mask then they may also be smart enough to be careful of CCTV." she said.

"But how can we let them go ? What if they harm you again ? Let's do one thing. Leave this case on me. You go back to Kolkata." he said

"You are telling me to run away. Listen, if you want to drop this case then it is fine. But if you want to work on it then I will also work on it. "she said.

"Why don't you understand Tripti ? This may sound filmy but I want to tell you something seriously. You are such a good person. So, many people need you. You have to be safe to make this world a better place. Let me take the risk. I'm obsessed with solving cases. And even if I die no one will care." he said.

"Why don't you think that, Amit ? There are many people who care about you. Your mom, Amy, your boss, me and also those girls who message you everyday. " she said

"Let's not talk about mom. My boss, he only cares because I'm the best officer. Those girls are just bored with their life. They really don't care about me. Only Amy genuinely cares. And why do you care ?" he asked 

"I care about everyone. Every life is important, Amit. And see, you have solved your problem. Those girls and boss don't care so why would you risk your life to impress these people. Why do you want to solve this stupid case ? It is not your duty to solve international level cases. Just leave it. " she said 

"It is not about them or anyone else, Tripti. It is about me. I like doing this thing. I like solving difficult cases. But you are not obliged to accompany me. You can go to Kolkata." he said.

"No, I can't. Because if next time they kidnap you then who will save you ? You won't be able to fight four goons like me. I will have to come to save you." she said.

Amit laughed. "You always have to crack a joke, don't you ? " he said.

"No, I was not joking. I was serious. Only I can save you, Officer Amit Sharma." she said. 

"As you say, ma'am. he replied while still laughing.

"Let's go to Juhu Chaupati and eat Pav Bhaji. " she said. 

"Have you gone mad ? Let's go to our hotel. We are not here on a vacation ma'am." he said

"So, who said we can't eat at a good place while working. We are in Mumbai. And if we come to Mumbai and don't visit Juhu Chaupati then it's a crime. And I was kidnapped but safe now. So, you owe me a treat. You know everything. But you don't know how to enjoy life, Mr. Sharma. Let me teach you that. " she said

"Your jokes and life lectures. Will have to bear with them for some more days. Oh god!" he said while taking the car towards Juhu Chaupati. 

They ate food and took a walk by the beach. After so long Amit felt peace. He was always running. Always trying to find answers. This was new to him. He was grateful to Tripti for all the beautiful experiences he had after meeting her.

Next morning, they started working on the case again. Amit wanted some answers from her. But due to kidnapping it was all delayed.

"So, what did you find yesterday, Tripti ?" he asked.

"Nothing much. One of them said he didn't know any of them. Another said they all were friends. Just that. They don't know anything else." she said

Amit was confused on how to ask her what he wanted to ask since yesterday.

"And yeah one more thing. One of the names that he mentioned was of my ex-husband, Shantanu." she said 

Amit felt happy. He was glad that she didn't hide that from him.

"Sorry for not telling you earlier. I thought that Shantanu studying in the same university must be a mere coincidence as he was in a different course. But I found out yesterday that he knew these people who died. He could be a target too." she said 

"And still you wanted to drop the case. Don't you want to save him ?" he asked.

"I don't know. This case is not of my level. It is international. I'm not obliged to solve it. But if you want to then I'm ready to help." she said 

This was unusual. Tripti never said such things. But still somehow it made Amit happy. 

"Yes, I want to solve it. So, in which country your husband lives ? he asked.

"France." she said.

"Let me find where the other guy lives. And then we will find more details about both of them. We will find the one who will be a more likely to be the next target and then we will go and save him and catch the murderers." he said

"I think we should go to France first." she said.

"Just some time before, you were telling me you don't care and all. And now you want to go to France. Want to save your ex-husband, right ? he asked

"Nothing like that. Just a gut instinct." she said.

"Can you call him ? He may know many things about the case." he said

"No." she said

"Fine. Give me his number. I'll talk." he said

"No, he is not going to say anything, Amit. I was married to him but still he didn't tell me anything about his college life. Do you think he will tell you everything ? Also, I know him, once he decides to keep something to himself, no matter how hard you try you can never get it out of him. He was a good secret keeper." she said

"Fine. Let me find out about another guy, then we will think." he said

"I'm telling you, Amit. We should go to France. It is a gut feeling." she said

"Right now your heart is involved in this. It isn't any gut feeling. Relax, I'll make sure nothing happens to your husband. I have some friends in France. I'll make sure that he is safe." he said.

"I think we should not solve this case. Going to a different state was itself a challenge and now a different country. It is too risky." she said.

"I know. But I have done this before. I'll be fine. You don't have to get involved. It is fine." he said

"No, Iwas suggesting you to drop the case but if you are solving it then I'll be helping you." she said

"Why do you want me to leave this case ?" he asked.

"I don't know. This case doesn't look good. They are powerful people." she said.

"I love doing difficult things. Relax, we will catch them." he said.

"Fine." she said.

Amit went outside to call a man from Mumbai university. That day when he and Tripti were asking for information from the admin, two peons had come. He suspects any one of them - the admin or the two peons to be involved. The people behind the murders must have known about their investigation through any of these people. So, he decided to ask another man from the college only through a phone call. So, the criminals assume that Amit and Tripti are not searching anything anymore. 

"Hey, I want the current details of Arunesh Prabhu. " he asked.

"He is a CEO of an automobile company in the Netherlands." the man said.

"Give me more details." Amit said.

"He shifted to the Netherlands 6 years ago. He is earning well. He has a house and two cars. He lives in Amsterdam. He is married and his child is one year old." The man said.

"Also, he has given the opportunity to many students of our college in getting jobs there. Most of them are from his class. And one is from another department. His friend a computer engineer is working in his company. He handles the website of the company." The man said.

"What is the name of that friend ?" Amit asked as he knew that he had only one friend from computer department and it was Shantanu.

"Shantanu Mukherjee" the man replied.

"What ? Shantanu is in the Netherlands. But he was in France earlier." Amit said.

"No, you are mistaken. Shantanu was our student. We have all his information in his alumni profile. He was in Kolkata before and moved to the Netherlands two and a half years ago." The man said.

"Are you sure that he was never in France ?" Amit asked.

"Yes. He had lost his job and his friend gave him the job in the Netherlands so he went there. " The man said.

"Thank you. And please send me the name of their company." Amit said.

"If Shantanu was never in France then why did Tripti lie about him to Amit ?" he thought.

Why is Tripti lying ? Will Amit take Tripti in his mission further ? What awaits in Amsterdam ? Stay tuned to know more..