1 Chapter 1 Being Caught
Erica
I wasn't a fast walker. It was difficult for us to keep behind him.
His prompt steps were not giving us a chance to meet his momentum.
"We must have taken our bicycles with us." A tardy voice interrupted my thoughts.
"And then we must have been caught in 5....No in just 3 seconds too." I sighed while tightening my grip on the black scarf that was covering my face.
"Like people have started recognizing the cloth clans now." My inner voice mocked me.
Just then I noticed that mere a mention of 'being caught' and Lauren stumbled upon her steps.
"Careful Lauren" I chuckled while turning around to spot him again and started dragging her in the same direction.
"Handicraft market? Are you sure we are following the correct man?" She asked me frustratedly.
"Hundred cents sure," I said while assuring her.
15 minutes later
"Now I am sure, he is not the correct one. He is still standing there like he wants to buy something." Lauren whispered.
"He is pretending, I think he is waiting for someone," I replied in a slow tone.
How could I be mistaken in recognizing the man, or I would say Mr. Smith to whom I had seen almost every day in my house, with my father? Not a chance.
I didn't know when to think about any possibility of doubt.
I ran my hand through a shell bowl absent-mindedly, letting the trinkets slide through my fingers.
Mostly they weren't cut or polished but still, they were sparkling so alike in my life; asymmetrical, unnatural but beautiful and shiny.
"Do you like it? Are you going to buy them?" A Little and hopeful voice washed away my thoughts.
I looked down at the owner of the voice, he looked pale and small, eyes so young, full of an unknown restlessness.
Maybe he was about nine or ten years but those eyes sustained for too much what they had seen.
"You know these shells will bring you good luck." He said while pointing to the one I was touching earlier.
I smiled at his innocence and said, " So I should welcome all my luck. Pack them."
He gave me a jolted smile and chirped like a bird.
"How are you gonna pay for this?" Lauren asked me worriedly.
" I told you to keep an eye on him so keep doing that." I pointed her towards the man we were following.
Next, I searched for the corner of my scarf in which I had knotted some coins before moving out of the house. I took five out of them and gave it to the little gentleman.
Yes, why should I call him a 'child' if he was doing the duty of a gentleman?
"Thank you. Come back again." He said while handing over the bag of shells.
I wanted to ask him, did he go to school or not. But before that Lauren almost shouted while showing me that someone was handing over an envelope to Mr. Smith, I knew that.
The way he was holding and hiding the envelope was correctly showing the worth of information it was holding.
" Move fast." We both pronounced together.
5 minutes later
I stopped suddenly. Mr. Smith got four long strides ahead before he realized that someone was following him.
We had paused and hid behind a car. Just then a quick realization hit me, the car seemed so out of place.
(Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadsters)
This was not the first time I had arrived here, but this was the first time I had seen that car there.
I once again looked at the amazing machinery placed in front of us. I had seen it somewhere but where? I kept asking myself.
"Do you know where we are standing? We are digging our graves." Lauren said worriedly.
She was right, we were standing in front of the Industrial License & Registration office. If anything got out of the way, I didn't know about Lauren but I would regret this step the rest of my life.
"We can't back off now. Not after reaching here. Do we?" I finally spoke.
Now at that point, my heart was only having one thought and there was only one want. Despite all that happened and despite all that was going to happen.
I slowly started making my way towards the office room in which I had seen him entered.
"Where are you going?" Lauren asked.
"You just wait for me here, I will be back," I said and moved.
In the office
The time I reached the office, I decided not to show but to gather the information.
Yes, who would ever believe that just to get one step closer to my dream. I would spy on my dad's man. I would have never done this, only if he was not involved in the charade of humanity.
Just then a sharp and authoritative voice knocked me down.
" I don't know how but I want this factory license," He said.
"I am already telling you, it is not possible for me until he gives you the permission," Mr. Thomson said.
Yes, I knew Mr.Thomson since I was 13 and came here numerous times. He was the one who taught me and Daniel, my elder brother along with Lauren.
"Who is he to give me any permission?", the same man said again.
"He is the one on whose directions these days politics revolve around" Mr. Thomson replied silently.
I thought I already knew the person about whom he was talking about? But who was this another man arguing there?
I hadn't dared to watch them but restrict myself to their voices.
"Haha...politics, this is not what I expected from a wise man like you. It's about business Mr. Thomson, business" The same voice came again.
" Business is not about setting up any industries but to be a successful businessman you must have to take the country's economic and political structure together." Mr. Thomson replied.
That's why I always liked Mr. Thomson a lot, his every piece of advice had so much wisdom but I couldn't trust this arrogant man. Not only wise but he didn't deserve any advice.
A minute later, I heard some shuffling of chairs. I knew they were standing up.
But where's Mr. Smith gone if he was not here. I was about to go back to Lauren when I heard the faint sound of their last conversation.
"You can decide the time to make an appointment with him," Mr. Thomson said.
" Mr. Thomson, appointment but that man doesn't worth my time." He chuckled.
I wanted to stop, and see who was this man? But at last, I reached the point that he didn't even worth my time.
I was hiding behind the door, waiting for them to walk out. But I stopped again in the same voice.
"And yes, Mr. Thomson, nobody knows I am back, pls keep this a secret unless I decide to show up to everyone " He spoke before moving out.
I was about to see his face but he turned around. The only thing I had seen was his brown blazer and cream pants.
Just for a moment, something inside me wanted to see his face and gave him a piece of mind. But NO!
I started making my way out, with disappointment that Mr. Smith slipped from our vision.
I was sighing when I saw him standing in the corridor with the same envelope.
I felt a drop of sweat covering my forehead beneath the scarf. I had almost forgotten about the scarf that was covering my whole face except my eyes.
I saw the same man's back, the one in Mr. Thomson's office, the same man with a brown blazer, I had seen a few minutes back.
"This is what you have asked for." Mr. Smith said to him while handing over the envelope.
"They aren't aware who has knocked their lives. Do they? " He gave a wicked grin.
"I have done this for you. Betrayed my 5 years long bread and butter.." Mr. Smith stopped.
How unworthy people were around my dad? But I couldn't blame it, it's the karma that was hitting him back.
" Don't. Don't run behind the bush, come to the point" The man said in an angry tone.
"If you can increase my payment, it would be great" Mr. Smith finally spoke.
"Come to my office later in the evening. Remember don't ever think to backstab me." He replied, taking away the envelope.
But what did it have? I was about to move. But the time I turned around.
I saw behind the glare of the glass window, I could see the same man and he wasn't moving.
He was around 5'9' with his shoulders hunched. I blinked to make sure it was real.
I had started walking past it to see whether or not he was moving along or I was just being paranoid.
But only if there was any ground left to walk away.
To Be Continued.....
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1. Introducing three more major characters of this book,
Lauren
Mr. Smith
Mr. Thomson
What do you think about them?
2. So, our female protagonist has been on the mission since the very start.
3. Who is the secret man in Mr.Thomson's office? Any guesses?
4., Unlike my previous book RR, it seems our male protagonist is not on good terms with our heroine's dad? Or is he?
5. Now at what mystery envelope, this story has started? Guess it.
Waiting to hear back from each one of you, good or bad but please do share your words. They are motivated.
Share. Comment. Vote.
Next time
With love
Purva Narang
(Your Writer)
