Chapter 4

It was the India Pakistan final of the Asia cup. India were chasing 263 in 50 overs, and were at 195/5 in 43 overs. A thrilling match indeed where India had to score 68 off 42 balls with 5 wickets in hand. Hari and Meera were at the CCD in Nungambakkam, and there was more cricket than romance that evening. As they were watching it, Neelakanta Brahmachari came into CCD, and ordered a tea. Seeing him, Hari got up to greet him, and he joined the two at their table. They were talking when Hari told Neelakanta Brahmachari about John Fleming. Neelakanta Brahmachari was furious with Hari for have got a private detective to work without his permission. Flaring up, he mixed some whiskey into the tea and had a sip. He then told Hari he wanted to meet John. He told Chappli to come directly to the hotel where John was put up.

Hari asked Meera to return home and left for John's room with Neelakanta. On reaching the place, they were in for a shock. Chappli was there, and John was lying dead. He had been holed in by a knife, or a dagger. Hari suspected this to be the work of the person who killed his mother. He immediately asked Neelakanta for the list of killers. Neelakanta told him that the list was in his office and he could get it for him there.

On reaching the office, Neelakanta and Hari found the whole police station in flames. Someone is following us, or atleast observing us, Hari felt. So did the other two.

The next day, Hari was going by train to his office. There was an attempt on him, by two robust guys. They beat him up badly, so badly that he had to be hospitalised immediately. The two lads were arrested immediately. The police were sure that these people were part of the gang involving Hari's mother's murder.

A case was filed on them in court, but out of the blue there came a lawyer who came for them. He introduced himself as Karan Krishnan, or K.K as the whole court knew him. K.K was a lawyer of international repute, who was a master of law, be it Indian law, Australian law, American law, and English law. Everyone there knew that if K.K came arguing for a case, there was no way he would lose. The two guys smiled at each other, in a manner they were expecting his arrival. Hari was devastated and started sweating. K.K produced some evidence to show they weren't even involved in the beating up of Hari, forget killing his mother.

After they were freed, they were taken to a dark godown by K.K, a place which knew no light. There they were asked who they were. The two guys replied saying they were Keshav and Ramesh respectively, from the local slums in Mylapore. They wanted to know why they were saved. The man, who they thought was the head of the gang, came upto him and told, "Because enemies to a common person, are friends. And so the two of you are my friends." Then Keshav asked him if they were enemies to Hari. They replied in the affirmative, and then the leader of the gang, whose face was in the dark all the while, stepped out into light and said, "My boss has a score to settle. And so the family is going to experience the torture of the first order!!" Keshav and Ramesh now recognised him as the big tycoon Dr. Narayan Paranjape. They were shocked and wondered who would boss over a person as big as him. They were offered to work for him, and with a gleeful smile on their faces, they nodded.