yama by kevin missal: 1-6 chapters

7/25/2019 YAMA by Kevin Missal: 1-6 Chapters

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YAMA

By Kevin Missal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A novel is never really the work of one person, even thouh that!s the i"pression

one ets when one sees the na"e of an author on the #over$ %ou #an even say that

&Kevin Missal' is a pseu(ony", for while )*" a "ere writer, there are a few

i"portant people who +elieve("otivate(supporte( this writer$

) woul( like to na"e so"e of those people$ ) shoul( start with "y father$ -e was

the +eliever$ -is na"e is Leslie O.it Missal$ ) was twelve when ) use( to #hurn up

what ) now think is utterly ar+ae for" of writin, an( ive it to hi", an( he

woul( rea( it an( #riti/ue it$ )t (i(n*t "ake sense then an( it won*t "ake sense

now, +ut those #riti#is"s were what lay "y foun(ation in writin$ -e +elieve( in

"e #onstantly, helpin "e in pro(u#in a +ook, listenin to i(eas an( pro"otin itwith "e$ )n short, without hi" ) woul(n*t +e here writin an a#knowle(e"ent for

a +ook an( ) woul( have +een stu(yin enineerin or "e(i#al perhaps$ Or "ay+e

as ) pro#lai" on so#ial "e(ia, +een .o+less$

The se#on( person is 0yotsna Missal, who*s "y "other$ Now she never was a

rea(er, +ut havin her rea( "y first +ook, a#tually felt it was /uite oo($ )t was a

+i pat on the +a#k for that fourteen year ol( ki($ An( her +iest #ontri+ution isperhaps the fa#t that she lets "e write or (o anythin ) want to$ An( hen#e, )

+e#a"e a writer$


2/21

The thir( person is so"eone new$ -er na"e is 1u#his"ita 2an(a$ 1he*s "y senior

in #ollee$ 1he*s the person who reviews "y initial #on#epts$ 1he has "otivate(

"e i""ensely to the point that ) #an*t +e rateful in wor(s, so ) a" rateful in

a#tions$ )*" a "a#hine who #hurns up i(eas every half an hour an( ) have an ure

to tell so"eone$ 1he*s there an( she always listens #arefully$ )*ll +e (a"ne( ifthere*s a (ay when she*ll say &) #an*t listen any"ore$' 3ut +e#ause she*s too sweet,

she will pro+a+ly never say it to "y fa#e$ 4iners #rosse(5

An( last +ut not the least, ) woul( like to thank Chetan 1oni an( the -alf 3ake(

3eans tea" for +elievin in "e, ivin this #ollee stu(ent a #han#e$ ) woul( like

to thank 3ook+akers, who e(ite( this +ook +eautifully$ ) woul( also like to thank

"y fa"ily, relatives an( frien(s fro" #ollee an( s#hool espe#ially Ken Ka"ei forhelpin "e in the pro"otion$ Gaan, Talween an( Tanwir for assistin in

pro"otions an( a lot of others$ %ou know who you are$ ) woul( like to thank "y

favorite writers$ Without the", ) woul(n*t have inspiration$

)n the en(, ) want to (e(i#ate this +ook to every aspirin writer out there who*s

s#ri++lin away on paes, tryin to "ake sense of wor(s$ )f ) #an "ake it, you #an

too$


3/21

Chapter One

The "an with horns stoo( in the sha(ow$

-is skin was of #har#oal, as if painte( with fiery re( eyes$ -e wore a hel"et, with

two antlers on ea#h en(, in the shape of a (evil #rown$

Daksh Galotia (i(n*t un(erstan( where he was$ )t see"e( like he was in a

(uneon of an un(erroun( #ave with his han(s tie( a#ross ea#h en( of the wall$

-e (i(n*t re"e"+er "ost of what happene( e6#ept the hue sla" on his hea( that

kno#ke( hi" out$

An( he reaine( #ons#iousness, he saw the "an with the horns an( he ha(n*t /uite

seen anythin like that even in his worst niht"ares$

The fiure was tall an( lanky with lon han(s an( thin finers fro" whi#h .utte(

serrate( nails$ -is #har#oal skin lea"e( aainst the linerin "oonliht that

foun( its way throuh a s"all win(ow "a(e of iron rills$

The walls ha( lon an( vivi( paintins of a fiure +ein sa#rifi#e( to the fire while

other (epi#te( people +ein tra"ple( +y a hue re( skinne( fiure$ All of it ha(

so"e sort of a #halk (rawin an( o( knows how "any walls were #overe( with

su#h art$

Daksh was in his full senses an( usin that a(vantae for hi"self, he pulle( the

ropes as /ui#kly an( stronly he #oul( +ut in vain$ The ropes were tie( tihtly to

the walls an( to the roun(, leavin hi" with no #hoi#e +ut to look straiht at the

fiure$

&Why are you (oin this to "e7' -e #rie($

The "an with horns (i(n*t respon($ 8ather, he .ust (an#e( his finers in "i( air,while runtin un(er his heavy +reath$

&) have lots of "oney$ Take it$ )t*s all yours$ 0ust take it$' 1tinin tears swelle(

(own his #heeks$ -e was a "an an( it was har( for hi" to #ry, +ut here, stu#k with

helplessness in front of a sha(owy, silent fiure "a(e hi" reali9e a+out all the

thins he ha( (one wron in his life$


4/21

)"aes flashe( in front of hi" of his #ri"es, the ol( people an( the houses$ -e was

a realtor an( the owner of "any houses in Guraon that he ave out to ol(ies,

espe#ially the ones a+ove seventy who ha( +een (isowne( +y their proeny$ -e

woul( let the" rent the flat for a s"all pri#e, lettin the" take the +ait without

puttin the" throuh the #onfusion of paperwork an( after one year, he woul( skyro#ket the pri#es, #ausin the" to fu"+le aroun( with their purses an( +ank

a##ounts$ After +e#o"in #o"forta+le in their new, furnishe( apart"ents, they ha(

no #hoi#e +ut to aree to the new pri#es$ -e (i( it +e#ause they were weak an(

easy to "anipulate$ -e earne( a livin out of these ol( people thouh it ave hi"

+a( (rea"s at niht$ -e woul( often "ean(er throuh the valleys of his

#ons#ien#e, tryin to fin( so"e "orality in what he (i($

-e was re"in(e( of all those thins as he now stare( at the #halk (rawins aroun(

hi":the one where a (evil like shape was +urnin a "an in a #aul(ron, an(

another where a noose is hun aroun( the "an, tie( to a +ran#h over a +onfire$

They were all #reate( with (ifferent #oloure( #halks an( the #ri"son #olour in all

the (rawins was rather (ark an( ri"$

Its blood.

The horror sei9e( his #hest as if so"eone ha( pun#ture( a hole insi(e hi", plune(

a +la(e into it an( #ut the e(es to reveal a apin hole$

&2;lease$' -e #oul( feel the tri#klin of his sweat an( tears, &)


5/21

noose that he #arrie( with hi"$ -e also ha(a staff, yet this "an, who #lai"e( he

was a o(, ha( not one weapon on hi"$

But he doesnt need them.

&Where


6/21

Chapter Two

) have not hear( anythin as stupi( as the na"e; Tapasva Gan(hi$

-e*s "y psy#hiatrist, a "an with a +ony skull an( a shave( hea($ ) (on*t know

what he writes on the pa( in his han(, leanin +a#k in his #hair$ ) often won(er

what these psy#hiatrists write$ Do they "ake (oo(les while they listen to our

whines an( #o"plaints all (ay lon7

3ut, )*" .ust (istra#tin "yself$ -e ha( aske( "e a /uestion$

&%es, ) (rea",' ) respon($

-e looks up$ -e (oesn*t look weary fro" "y usual #o"plaints$ ) #o"e to hi"every fifteen (ays, so"eti"es even ten or five, when ) a" (eeply trou+le( thouh

we en( up talkin "ore a+out "y parents an( "y ar"y life$ )t*s the niht"ares$ )

woul( say they are "e"ories "anifestin into even reality so"eti"es an( ) see

the" up #lose in front of "e, tou#hin "e$

&What (o you (rea" a+out7'

&A+out "y ar"y (ays,' ) reply, swallowin a lu"p$ A" ) now afrai( to open up

a+out "y past even thouh ) have (one it /uite a few ti"es +efore7

&What (o you think a+out (urin those ar"y (ays7'

) slu"p in "y #hair with "y finers #riss#rossin over "y trousers of "y (ark

open #ollare( suit$ &%ou know what ) think a+out, (o#tor$'

&Tell "e aain$' -e*s at the opposite en( of the roo", +ehin( his (esk$ )t*s not like

in the "ovies where a patient has a #o"fy sofa or a narrow +e(, where he #an lie

(own an( talk a+out thins$ )n real worl(, it*s an ar"e( #hair in a lit up roo" with

walls #overe( with the a#hieve"ents of Dr$ Tapasva Gan(hi$

&) was a 3la#k Cat Co""an(o on pro+ation an( statione( in 1rinaar (urin the

nineties$'

&-ow "any years7'


7/21

&4our,' ) say$

-e s#ri++les$

&What (i( you e6perien#e there7'

&3loo(, war, "ilitants, insuren#y,' ) reply, wipin "y forehea($ )t*s not hot$ There

is an AC +ut it*s not affe#tin "e$

&Di( you kill anyone out there7'

) roll "y eyes$ &What kin( of /uestion is that7'

Tapasva (i(n*t fi(et$ -is e6pressions are nor"al as he pla#es the pa( (own on the

ta+le$ &)t*s an i"portant =kin( of /uestion*$'

&) (i( kill, for your knowle(e$ ) kille( four people$'

&What ha( happene(7'

) #lose "y eyes$ What really happene(7 ) was #alle( Ka+ir +a#k then$ )t was

i"portant to el with the Kash"iris, so we ha( to #hoose na"es a##or(in to their

#ulture$ ) ha( a un in "y han( an( a pistol aainst "y thihs$ Three of the

"ilitants (ie( at the sa"e (ay +ut the fourth one ran away$ -e sprinte( to a s"all

#a+in where ) followe( hi" with an AK;>?$ ) shot his le first an( while he

strule( to et up, ) sear#he( the #a+in for +o"+s of any sort or any weapons, +ut

the #a+in was e"pty e6#ept for a wo"an an( a (auhter$ They were, perhaps, his

fa"ily an( they hi( in the #orner, whi"perin an( #lut#hin ea#h other$

) (i( what ) ha( to (o$ ) (rae( hi" outsi(e, pullin the #ollars of his thi#k .a#ket

an( "akin sure that we were out of the fa"ily*s siht$ ) threw hi" (own on the

snow ai"in "y un over his hea($ -e was tellin "e he wasn*t a "ilitant +ut )

knew he was$ ) ha( seen hi" in the fiel(s$ ) (i( what ) ha( to (o, rear(less of his

fa"ily$ ) shot hi" throuh his hea( an( a #ri"son pool for"e( over the thi#k snow$) talke( on the ra(io set, or(erin other #o"ra(es to #o"e to "y #oor(inates to

pi#k up the +o(y an( /uestion the fa"ily$ As ) waite( there with the (ea( +o(y, "y

eyes were (rawn to the frihtene( wife an( (auhter, who stoo( aainst the (oor,

so++in for their loss$

&Do you (rea" a+out that (eath7'


8/21

&) have +een (rea"in of the" lately$'

&Why (i(n*t you (rea" a+out the" earlier7'

) sih$ &) (on*t know$ ) uess, at that ti"e +ein a #o""an(o an( livin the life of

#o""an(o ha( "a(e "e so prone to (eaths that the i(ea of killin so"eone (i(n*t

trou+le$ ) (i(n*t #are$ ) woul( o +a#k, (rink so"e +oo9e, .oke with otherfaujis

an( +e (one for the (ay$ 3ut to(ay, when ) see "y han(s, ) see +loo( on the"$'

&Now, you are ettin all aitate($ Are the "e"ories #o"in +a#k to you7'

) frown$ &That*s what ) sai(, (i(n*t )7' ) tap "y finers on the (esk$ &What (o )

have7'

-e raises his +rows$ &What7'

) s#off "o#kinly$ &) "ust have so"ethin, riht, so"e "ental pro+le"@ so"ethin

like post trau"ati# stress, et#7'

&Tell "e a+out your fa"ily$'

) lean +a#k, as "y finers o nu"+ an( ) feel this (ryness over "y lips all of a

su((en$ ) (on*t like this uy$ ) never (i($ An( yet ) #o"e +a#k to hi"$ ) think his

way of askin /uestions have hooke( "e$ -is pre(atory eyes have ra++e( hol( of

"y soul an( now he .ust twirls it aroun( like a +allerina$

&%ou*ve never aske( "e this /uestion,'

&Well,' he says, &) ask you now$'

&Why7'

&3e#ause ) feel your pro+le"s "ust +e oriinatin fro" your #urrent personal life

as well$'

&%ou "ean "y personal life is trierin all those "e"ories7' ) shift uneasily,

rea(y to a+use the shit out of hi", as he #al"ly tra#es his finer a#ross his forehea(

in a thouhtful posture, ra++in "y attention$

&We #an only know if you tell "e$'

&) have a wife$ ) have a (auhter an( ) have a son$'


9/21

&%ou are allowe( to +e "ore spe#ifi#, Mr$ 8a.poot$'

) fli#k "y tonue aroun( the inner flesh of "y #heek, feelin the rawness, as )

prepare "yself to tell hi" a+out the people )*" suppose( to feel happy with$ &)

have a wife$ -er na"e is 8utvi 8a.poot$ 1he is a housewife$ An( she suffers fro"s#hi9ophrenia$'

&)s she on "e(i#ation7'

&Mostly sleepin pills, 1#hi9open$'

&When you are not there, who takes #are of her7'

&The "ai(, Meena$'

&-ow "any ti"es (oes she have an episo(e in a week7'

&-er episo(es rane fro" three to si6 (ays$'

&What (o you when she has her episo(e7'

&) ive her the sleepin pills$'

&What (oes she think of7'

&Death,' ) answer$ &1he hears (eath, she says$'

&Do you +elieve her7'

) flare "y nostrils, sinallin "y relu#tan#e to respon($ -e #ontinues his /uestions$

&What a+out your (auhter7'

&1he*s fan#y$ We are oin this week to fi6 her "arriae with the uy she likes$'

&Do you like her #hoi#e7'

) frown an( shru$ )t*s the sa"e thin that ) ha( +een (oin for /uite so"e ti"e(urin this interroation$ &) fin( hi" unsettlin +ut if he hurts "y (auhter, )*ll

"ake sure )*ll (an#e over his +ones an( +loo($'

-e sihe($

&%ou love your (auhter7'


10/21

&) love "y entire fa"ily$'

&What is her na"e7'

&Tara$'

&That*s a ni#e na"e,' he s"iles$

This is the first ti"e )*ve seen hi" s"ilin$

&What a+out your son7'

&1aran:well he*s$$$ uh, he*s a ni#e uy$ -e*s in his first year of #ollee$ -e*s not

into (rus$ )*" oo( at fin(in stuff$ -e*s not even peer pressure(, an( he is oo(

at stu(ies an( stuff$ '

&3ut you have so"e sort of pro+le" with hi"7'

) purse "y lips$ Tapasva is (a"n oo( at rea(in e6pressions, ) see$ &-e +ullies$'

&Who7'

&Everyone$'

&An( have you talke( a+out it to hi"7'

&%es$ -e says it*s har"less$ 3ut ) (on*t know what he*s (oin, you know, inreality$'

Tapasva no(s$

&What a+out your .o+7 We talke( a+out it in the last session,' he +eins to open up

his (iary, leather +oun( with a "etalli# strap to +in( it, as he oes throuh his

.ottins$ When he finally fin(s it, he taps it twi#e with a hint of triu"phant s"ile

#overin his fa#e$ &%ou were workin for your frien(, Gaan, riht7'

&%eah, he was afauji too$ -e owns the thin$'

&An( you were workin in an investiative an( se#urity aen#y #alle( 2anthers,'

&)t*s a +i fir"$ )*" .ust one of the "any senior e"ployees he has, who look after

e6#lusive #ases$'


11/21

&What (oes 2anthers spe#iali9e in7'

&We are the +est twenty four hour servi#e at a oo( #ost$ We "ostly serve

#o"panies an( help the" in i(entity proofin, "issin persons, you know ; the

usual$ We also provi(e the" with our uar(s an( e/uip"ents su#h as #a"eras an("i#s$ )t*s a +i #o"pany an( )*" .ust a s"all part of it$'

&Do you serve privately7'

&Only hih profiles ones$ The ri#h, you know, while the lower investiators serve

the less #ostly ones,'

&Do you et to have a(ventures7' A thin rin #o"es up$ ) "ust +e havin a lu#ky

(ay$

) lauh$ ) like( "y .o+ an( ) like( to talk a+out it$ 4irst of all, Gaan Tufir was a

oo( frien( of "ine, so ) ha( no hefty #hair"an issues$ Then, ) ot a (e#ent pay

an( so"e tantali9in #ases su#h as (ivor#es an( loyalty tests an( fifty per#ent as

profit sharin$ What was there to not like7

&Co"in +a#k to your ar"y (ays


12/21

&) (on*t (ou+t that$'

) et to "y feet with a .erk, &Then, what are you i"plyin here7'

&) +elieve that you su+#ons#iously think that you have kille( an inno#ent an( that

is why you have niht"ares$'

) #len#h "y teeth$ &-ow "u#h (o ) have to pay you7' ) suppress all the filthy

-in(i a+uses that ) want to +lurt out at hi", pay hi" his fifteen hun(re( rupees an(

+e on "y way$

) stor" out of the s"all roo", whi#h was in the +ase"ent of his +i +unalow in

New 8a.in(er Naar$ -e was the +est, they sai( an( that he was ri#h enouh to

"ake others pay to say that he was the +est$ ) as#en( the stairs, lea(in "yself out$

) sit in "y Chevrolet Cru9e an( (rive away

) look into the rear view "irror an( saw a +ear(e( "an wearin a #ap with +loo(

splattere( over his .a#ket, s"ilin at "e as he "a(e hi"self #o"forta+le in the

+a#k seat$


13/21

Chapter Three

When ) rea#he( ho"e, the first thin ) saw was that ) ha( ot a letter$

) never et letters$ We live in a worl( of te#hnoloy an( letters are the last thin )

e6pe#t, so ) inore( it, tossin it into "y file (rawer of "y offi#e$ My offi#e was in

"y apart"ent, .ust +e#ause for the sake of "y wife, 8utvi, so that ) #oul( take #are

of her an( "y work at the sa"e ti"e$ While "y son "ostly stays out till seven

+e#ause of his #ollee an( his #ivil e6a" tuitions, "y (auhter also has work in

her ta6ation fir", so ) et ti"e alone with "y #lient thouh ) intera#te( with "ost

of "y #lients over the phone$ The others, ) woul( intera#t over e;"ails, et#$ Gaan

(i(n*t "in( "e workin fro" ho"e +e#ause he was intereste( in results only an(

till su#h ti"e ) ot hi" the results, he (i(n*t #are where ) worke( fro"$

) see "y nephew, ar(haan, playin #rosswor(s in the Delhi Ti"es with his les

over his (esk$ -e wasn*t really part of 2anthers$ -e was .ust an intern, if you #all

(o9in aroun( an( "akin paper airplanes internin$ -e was in the thir( year of 1t$

1tephen*s #ollee, son of "y sister an( a #o"plete +rat$ 3ut ) ha( to ive hi" the

.o+ +e#ause he was (a"n intellient, knowle(ea+le an( also +e#ause he was "y

nephew$ -e ha(n*t helpe( "e in any #ase "anually as "ost of the" .ust nee(e(

#li#kin few nu"+ers an( na"es over the #o"puter$ Te#hnoloy ha( in(ee( helpe(in investiatin a lot of thins$

) s#ol( hi" for not +ein "ore professional as he hurrie(ly #orre#ts his posture,

keepin the paper on his (esk that*s opposite to "ine$ ) then o to 8utvi*s roo" to

#he#k on her$ 1he*s snorin an( )*" happy that she is well$ When you have a

person who suffers fro" au(itory s#hi9ophrenia episo(es, sleep is the +est

"e(i#ine as it #al"s (own the nerves an( one wakes up fresh$

) o +a#k to the offi#e that is +asi#ally a +i store roo"$ )t has +ooks on shelves

an( portraits of "y ran(father an( reat ran(father on the wall, two (esks, four

#hairs, two #o"puters, an( a laptop, "ar+le tiles on the floor an( a hih #eilin an(

even a "oney plant in the #orner$

&What*s up7'


14/21

&There*s a #lient #o"in over$'

&Why (i(n*t you .ust han(le it over the phone7'

ar(haan .uts out his #oni#al .aw as he says, &) trie( to +ut she insiste( on "eetin

you in person$ 1he sai( that she knows Gaan personally an( that he has

re#o""en(e( you$'

Da"n these private #ases that #o"e alon wantin to "eet an( talk$ ) (i(n*t have

ti"e$ Well, honestly, ) (i( have ti"e +ut ) #hose to spen( it over "ulti;national

#o"pany (eals over se#urity "anae"ents, theft investiation, #re(it worthiness,

asset verifi#ation or even leal servi#es$ This ives you "ore "oney, power an(

#onta#ts$ 3ut so"ehow, Gaan +elieves )*" oo( for private #ases, helpin

(ivor#ees fin(in #lai" over their hus+an(*s "oney an( what not$

&What (i( you (o the entire (ay7'

&-a#ke(,' he rins$ Oh yes, an( he*s a +rilliant ethi#al ha#ker, thouh he ot

#auht on#e +y the Delhi 2oli#e an( ha( to +e +aile($ After that, his parents ha(

restri#te( Wi4i at his house$

&What (i( you ha#k7' ) o an( sit +ehin( "y (esk as ) look throuh the fol(ers of

the #ases that ) ha( yet to e6a"ine$ ) often et #ases to review an( "ake sure who

ets pro"otions an( who (oes not$

&An e6pensive a"e for free,' he rins$

) shru "y shoul(ers as ) look away fro" the files an( s/uare "y eyes to free9e

with his$ &Who was the wo"an who #alle(7'

&A hot shot,' he says as he oes throuh his yellow pae pa(, &1o"e popular

realtor*s wife,'

&2opular realtor7'

&Oh yeah, Daksh Galotia,'


15/21

Chapter 4our

Mrs$ Galotia #o"es into the livin roo" an( looks aroun( as if s#annin the roo"

for any er"s or (irt$ 1he frowns at the siht of "y "ai(, Meena who has +u#k

teeth an( wears "ulti#oloure( saree in #ontrast to Mrs$ Galotia whose saree is all

ivory an( #rystal$ 1he walks over to the #ou#h an( as she pla#es her +i +otto"

over it, s/uee9in the leather, she or(ers Meena to fet#h her lass of water$ 1he

s"ells of e6/uisite perfu"e an( wears her e6pensive Dol#he an( Ga+ana sha(es$

3ut ) #oul( see fro" the #orner of her eyes that she (i( this not out of style, +ut to

a#tually hi(e her (ark eye;+as$ The wo"an ha(n*t slept for "any (ays$

ar(haan is leanin aainst the wall with a (iary in his han($ -e always #arries

one, no "atter how te#h savvy he is, an( (oes not rely on his phone that swit#hes

off whenever it wants$ 2erhaps, he takes that ha+it fro" his "other, who use( to

"ake s"all notes when she was s"all$

Mrs$ Galotia li""ers in her #lothes, the "akeup, an( the perfe#tly +rai(e( hair$

Anyone #oul( easily #hara#teri9e her as the &ameer khandan ki bahu or the &ri#h

+ri(e'$

&) a", uh, ) a" )ravan 8a.poot an( this is "y se#retary, ar(haan 1ippy,' ) say an(

noti#e ar(haan frownin at +ein intro(u#e( as a se#retary

1he (oesn*t even lan#e at ar(haan$ -er lipsti#k, so re( an( thi#k, lea"s in the

liht of "y roo" an( a few stran(s of her hair fall over her fat fa#e$ 1he wasn*t

pretty, +ut she was tryin to +e$

1he waits for a while, starin at the walls, +efore she speaks, &Can ) s"oke7'

) woul(n*t have allowe( her, +ut she (oesn*t wait for "y approval an( pulls out a

pa#k of "inte( #iarettes fro" her Bara +a$ 1he lihts one up, an( says, &) tol(

"y 2A to wait in the #ar$' ) (on*t know why she tol( "e that, +ut the la(y ha( a

2A7 Go($ ) suppose you #an you tell your assistant to wait out as well$'


16/21

&Don*t worry, he works on "y #ases$ -e*s a#tually the te#h +ehin( it$'

&) (on*t (ou+t his #o"peten#e, +ut ) feel atta#ke( +y his presen#e$'

1he knew how to say thins$ ) ha( no #hoi#e then +ut to wave hi" away$ -e shrus

an( leaves for the store roo", +ut ) know he woul( +e eaves(roppin$

&Can we talk now7'

&) have +een tol( you are oo( at a(ultery an( loyalty #ases$'

That*s what ) et "ostly$ ) a" oo( at everythin:patent #he#kin, followin

aroun( an( stuff, pre an( post e"ploy"ent proofin$ 3ut ) et the (a"n

relationships$

&Do you want "e to #he#k if your hus+an( is #heatin you7'

1he pulls her #iarette fro" her "outh an( puts it in the ashtray on the ta+le that*s

riht in front of her an( says, &What "akes you think he*s #heatin "e7'

&%ou have (ark #ir#les un(er your eyes$ %ou are worrie($ An( you aske( "e a+out

a(ultery, so you know ; loi#$' A #lever s"ile sprea(s over "y fa#e$

&) aske( you +e#ause ) want to know how oo( you are at solvin "issin person

#ases7'

) s/uee9e "y eyes, narrowin the" in pu99le"ent$ ) (i(n*t (o a lot of "issin

person@ in fa#t, ) solely assiste( rather than o full on investiatin$ &What (o you

"ean7'

&My hus+an( is "issin, Mr$ 8a.poot, an( ) want you to fin( hi"$'


17/21

Chapter 4ive

&1in#e when7'

&)t*s +een three (ays,' she spills the ash over the ta+le$ Mrs$ Galotia #learly is not

a #lean person, no "atter how e6ternally she portrays she is$ &-e (oesn*t o out$

-e*s a realtor$ -e stays in the #ountry@ rather he stays in the #ity e6#ept for parties

he oes for$'

&Are you sure he*s "issin7'

&-e (i(n*t take his phones$ -is 2A has no i(ea of his wherea+outs an( his #lients

are waitin for hi" to revert$ An( he never "akes the" wait$'

&What (o the poli#e say7'

&) haven*t approa#he( the",' she starkly respon(s$

&Why7'

&3e#ause he tol( "e so,'

&Daksh tol( you not to approa#h poli#e when he*s "issin7'

& This #onversation ha( taken pla#e a lon ti"e +a#k$ ) take seriously whatever he

says$ -e sai( that if ever he went off the ra(ar, it*ll +e +e#ause his rivals or ene"ies

have taken hi" in an( he (i(n*t want the poli#e to pull se#rets out of his +a$'

) ar#h "y +rows as ) ask the (iffi#ult /uestion$ &Was he (oin illeal stuff7'

&-e "a(e sure his tenants (i(n*t sin a (o#u"ent, so, you #an say, it*s sort of

illeal$'

&3ut why woul( they o into a house where they (on*t have to sin a (o#u"ent7'

&3e#ause they are (esperate an( the houses are #heap an( too +eautiful for the" to

+other a+out the for"alities$ After one year, he ives the" the (o#u"ent with

in#rease( pri#es an( they (on*t really have a #hoi#e +ut sin it an( ive hi" the

"oney$'


18/21

That was a #lever ta#ti# of "akin "oney$ An( a ruthless way too$ The fear that the

poli#e will fin( hi" takin a(vantae of su#h people #oul( for#e hi" to shut (own

his +usiness an( sen( hi" to .ail$ Ah, ) see$ This was the reason she (i(n*t want

ar(haan to +e in the roo"$ 1he (i(n*t want the little +usiness loopholes to +e

known to "any people$ ) ha( an investiator;#lient #onfi(entiality an( ar(haan+ein an intern, (i(n*t$ -e #oul( sprea( whatever he wante( to$

&1o, ) (e#i(e( to #o"e to a private aen#y$'

&) see$'

&%our rates have +een (e#i(e( +y Gaan$' 1he pulls out a white par#el out of her

+a an( keeps it on the ta+le, riht ne6t to the ash$ &This is pre;e"ptive$ The other

half, )*ll ive when )*ll et "y hus+an($'

&Do you know where ) #an fin( hi", any uesses7' ) raise +rows$ &Do you know

anythin of his rivals or anythin that you "iht think ives "e a oo( lea(7'

&) wasn*t "u#h into his +usiness$'

) fli#k "y tonue aainst the inner #heek, as ) thouhtfully "use for another

option$ &) woul( like to #he#k his files$ %ou #an ive the" to "e in a har( (rive or

so"ethin$ ) nee( a person who knew hi" really well, professionally ) "ean$'

&)*ll sen( over 2ritika to you,'

&2ritika7'

&-is 2A,' she says with a frown$ Clearly, she (i(n*t like her$ &1he*ll +rin over

whatever you nee($ )*ll ive her the a((ress an( your nu"+er$ 1he*ll "eet you

soon as she*s "u#h "ore worrie( for hi" than "e an( she woul( want to start this

as soon as possi+le$' 1he says a#i(ly an( then ets to her feet$

1he walks out of the roo" without sayin a wor( +ut leavin the ash an( the"oney +ehin( her$


19/21

Chapter 1i6

&1he*s a +it#h,' ar(haan says as he enters the roo" with his (iary #linin aainst

his liht +lue, rolle( up shirt$

&Min( your lanuae,' ) snap at hi"$

-e sihs$ &What (i( she want7'

) tell hi" everythin rear(less of the #onfi(entiality #on#ern$ ) #oul(n*t hi(e it

fro" ar(haan as ) wante( his help in this$ &) want you to fin( everythin that you

#oul( on this Daksh Galotia uy$ ) want no stone unturne($ Cool7'

&1ure, +oss,' he rins$ &%ou "ean ) have to ha#k, riht7'

-e knew what ) wante( fro" hi", +ut ) (i(n*t want to say it to hi"$ ) .ust shru

an( leave the roo" to enter "y offi#e to o throuh fol(ers an( sit #o"forta+ly on

"y #hair, while ) think a+out what ne6t to (o$ ar(haan works on his laptop,

pressin +uttons, a((in a key+oar(, a har( (rive, so"e pen (rives, a CD an( what

not$ After a while of flippin aroun(, he says;

&Ol( people aren*t happy with hi"$'

&What (o you "ean7' ) walk up to hi" while he shifts his laptop to show "e a

news arti#le whi#h feature( an ol( #ouple ivin an interview a+out their latest flat

huntin e6perien#e an( how they "et Daksh Galotia, who s#rewe( the" up$ &-e

atta#ks the ol($'

&The easiest,' he says, &There are seventy five per#ent househol(s where rannies

an( ran(pas are ki#ke( out of their houses$ They are (esperate$ They et these

ho"es$ They (on*t #are a+out the paperwork an( +a"5 That*s how he earns$'

&What is it7'

&3urie( news,' he respon(s, &Our uy, apparently, has #onta#t in the print$'

&-e*s influential,' ) no($ &)t "ust +e one of his #usto"er*s youn +a+ies takin

revene$ Does he (o so"ethin else other than .ust this7 ) "ean, he #an*t earn all

of his in#o"e with .ust this, riht7'


20/21

-e presses aroun( +uttons an( stuff an( finally #o"es up with an e;"aa9ine hate

pie#e on Daksh$ After rea(in it a little, ar(haan says, &-e sells faulty ho"es too$

)t*s not always that he plays aroun( with ol(ies$ -e shows the youn #row(

+eautiful setups an( when they sin the paper, they et to see the reality:the

leakae, the ele#tri#ity pro+le"s, the #ra#ks on the tile that was hi((en +y the#arpet, all sort of thin$ An( they have a three year tenan#y whi#h "eans they #an*t

o +a#k on an( #an*t sue hi" +e#ause he has a"a9in lawyers$ 3asi#ally, he sells

+a( houses that are worth nothin +ut he sells it at a"a9in pri#es with a little

tou#h up$'

&-ow "any flats (oes he own in totality7'

&Only in Guraon, the risin ones$'

&-e "ust +e havin a lot of ene"ies$'

&%es,' ar(han pushes his spe#s up$ &An( "any of the" woul( want to have a

pie#e of hi",'

) run "y finers throuh "y #rew #ut$ ) never really ha( lon hair +e#ause if ) (i(,

"y +al( spots +e#o"e visi+le as "y hair is wavy an( reasy in te6ture when it

rows$ ) even have a +ear(, stu++le to +e pre#ise, with a pro"inent "ousta#he$

4a#ial hair has always +een so"ethin that )*ve like($

&Any news on a person stan(in aainst hi" or so"ethin or a fa"ily suin hi"7'

-e #li#ks a few +uttons an( shakes his hea($ &Nup$'

Whoever "ust +e havin hi" "ust have a ru(e or so"ethin$ ) o to "y offi#e

after ) or(er ar(haan to sen( all the infor"ation over to "e$ ) et it on "y "ail,

whi#h ) open an( rea( thorouhly$ To write the keywor(s, ) +ein sear#hin for a

pen, only to open (rawers to fin( one riht ne6t to the "ail ) ot in the "ornin$

) open the letter an( o throuh it +ut there is nothin written in it e6#ept a few

wor(s$

Find the hell to his sin and the sin to his hell.


21/21

Time: 24 hours.

Name: aksh !al"otia.

yama by kevin missal: 1-6 chapters

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