On the first floor of the balcony one dusky girl having thin physique, sharp feature with big eyes is sitting on the chair. Resting her hands on the railing, is watching the beautiful sunset with the gloomy face. She looks sad as just few minutes before her aunt scolds her for not preparing the tea up to the mark. With full of worries in her eyes, she floats into the past life where she was happy with her parents.

She is a daughter of Punjabi boy Angad Kapoor and mallu girl (Malayali girl) Madhvi. Their love marriage was not much appreciated by Angad’s family. But still somehow the Punjabi family managed to accept the mallu girl. The couple lived in Mumbai and after two years of marriage, they were blessed with the baby girl. Both wanted to keep some motivational name of their daughter. So, they decided to keep “Ikantika” – “Someone born with singular focus in life”.

They were all happy in their life. Once Ikantika finished her 12^th exam, her parents decided to visit Kapurthala, their hometown via road journey. They asked Ikantika to join them but somehow, she never felt closed affinity to paternal side, so she denied joining them and stayed at her best friend Ishita’s house. Her parents did not force her as they knew if she came also, she would not let them live there for more days and they need to return in one or two days. After 10 days stay, when her parents were returning to Mumbai, they met the road accident.

Ikantika came to know that her parents were hospitalised and were in critical stage. She got panic and asked Ishita’s father to do the favour of booking the flight to Amritsar which is the nearest airport from her place. Late noon she reached Amritsar and in another 4 and half hours she reached the hospital. Her parents were still in ICU, and no one was allowed to meet them. She was there in hospital till 10:00 PM with a hope that she would be able to talk to her parents. But as it did not happen, her uncle (father’s sister’s husband) requested her, “Dear, now you go home, take rest as you must be tired with the journey and with fresh hope and prayers come tomorrow early morning. If at all, I get any signs, that your parents can communicate soon, I will give you a call at any point of time. So, please, I am requesting you, for now, go home and relax.”

She still waited for another 15 minutes, then finally left the hospital with her father’s friend. She entered the house, and everyone pampered and supported her in this crucial time. She had dinner and went to the room to sleep. She was finding it very difficult to sleep, so she went to check whether her aunty was awake as uncle was in hospital. She was just about to reach the room, when she heard few people laughing in her aunt’s room. She was surprised, “In such situation where everyone is worried, how can someone even smile. But here people are giggling and enjoying the night. How??”. She slowly went closer to room and heard “Good that Madhvi is serious, I never liked her. Just was tolerating her because of Angad. I have a strong feeling that Angad will survive, and I will pray that Madhvi shouldn’t”. Then, she heard, a bunch of laughter. She was totally shaken with this.

The people in the room were just bitching about her mother. She was neither in a mood to listen all those chatters nor to go and blast on them for talking such rubbish and unwanted things. Putting her face downward she slowly went to her room and lay down. She was not able to sleep at all. One side her parents were in ICU, other side she came to knew that no one liked her mother, and they were praying that she should die. She was fully shocked, for at least 10-15 minutes she didn’t even blink her eyes. She sat on the bed, pulled her dupatta from the neck and inserted so much portion of dupatta in the mouth, that if at all she tried to shout, no voice would go outside the room. Once this was done, with full energy she screamed, and tears started rolling from her eyes. The whole night the only friend that was with her was the tear, loneliness and fear.

Next morning, her grandma entered her room to wake her up. She saw Ikantika was sitting on a chair with head rested on the table. She went and said, “Beti, Ikantika, get up and freshen up. Have breakfast and then let’s go to hospital. Today I will also join you as I am not getting any good feeling since morning. So, want to assure that both my children are in good state”. Listening this, Ikantika turned towards her grandma, her eyes were fully swollen, lips were dried, cheeks had the dry marks of her tears, hair was scattered and frizzy. As soon as she looked at her grandma, she held her tight and started crying. Looking at her condition even her grandma’s heart felt sad, and they both cried for about half an hour.

She got ready, had milk as her grandma didn’t allow her to go with empty stomach. They reached hospital and were just enquiring everything from the doctor that suddenly the nurse came almost with short of breath and asked doctor to visit both of her parents. She and grandma both got tensed. Both were praying for them. After one hour doctor arrived and said sorry for their loss. Ikantika was crushed with this news. She neither cried, nor screamed or shouted on this. She was completely blank face, and her grandma was crying loudly holding her.

After that day she was at Kapurthala on her garndma’s request till she finished graduation. She never revealed to her what she heard, and she was neither the playful Ikantika that she used to be. She is now introvert, calm and stiff person who hardly talks and gave any expression to anything.

She finished her law staying there.”Ikantika, Ikantika… can you hear me or have you turn deaf”. With these words she comes in the present world and replies” Yes aunty, I am here. Tell me what I need to do.” Her aunt asks her to prepare the dinner for the whole family as she is not feeling well. Ikantika nods yes and finishes all the work that is listed by her aunt for the night and goes to bed. She is just thinking what to do next as she has completed the graduation, that she sees one message from her school best friend asking whether she can visit Mumbai to celebrate her graduation. After very long time one small smile sits in her face.

Next day she takes the permission from her grandma and ask her uncle to book the ticket to Mumbai. She tells him not to book the return ticket as she will be searching job there itself.

She thinks that once she arrives in Mumbai, they will chatter about the days they were not together, and she will tell everything to Ishita. But as soon as they meet, Ishita starts complaining about her boyfriend and the way he cheated her. She is only interested to tell her tragedy. She never shown any interest to know what’s happening with Ikantika. So even Ikantika does not utter anything in front of her. In the evening Ishita takes her to the bar, as she wants to drink. Ikantika accompanies her.

After placing the order when they both are chit chatting about the place, one guy comes with the glass and says, “Sorry ladies, but can I interfere to say sorry to my beautiful girlfriend?”. When Isihita see him, she is in cloud nine and stands up to give him the tight hug saying “Definitely yes!! Meet my all-time bestie “Ikantika”. Ikantika thinks, “Just before few minutes, she was complaining about him and now without any question she just accepted him ..Strange!!.Complicated love story…!! Anyway…” In this crowded place, even though Ikantika is not alone, she feels the loneliness and leaves the couple asking them to enjoy their time.

She goes and stand near the bartender where she is observing how beautifully the glasses and bottles are arranged. In sometime one whitish lady having hourglass figure comes there wearing high pointed golden heels, tight blue jeans and loose white embroidered shirt. She glances over the whole bar and at last she stares Ikantika. She goes near Ikantika and tells her that today the drink is on her. She holds her hand and pulls her to one table and ask her to sit. The alcohol order that she has placed comes and she starts drinking.

Once that lady is in drunken state, she starts to recite her story in front of Ikantika.She says,” I know, you must be wondering why a stranger is offering me a drink and why should I sit with her... why? Why?? Let me tell you, I come from a very rich family, you know very very rich family... hmm… my husband is a big businessman… you know big man…. And if you believe, then I am his beautiful wife…or I am supposed to be his beautiful wife” She starts laughing, later followed by tears in her eyes, in stumbling voice she continues “but you know from last few weeks I am having a feeling that he doesn’t loves me and he has an affair outside.” She breaks badly and in the same tone continues, “I was so honest to him, I never ditched him... I did what he likes, and I ignored what he doesn’t, even though I liked it the most. Are you getting it?? I ignored... I let go things what I liked the most. After so much compromise also if I am not loved and whatever is there between us, if it’s just a fake feeling then how should I feel? Tell me…I feel so cheated. What is he searching in other ladies that I don’t ...” she pauses for a while, “I am not a bad person then why he is so unthankful to me…?? Does he really don’t like me? What is he searching in other ladies that I don’t have...? Can you tell me?? Tell me please!!! I beg you... Please!!! Please!! Answer me! Please!!! I need an answer. Please help me...” With these words even Ikantika’s heart melts down and she for the first-time cries in front of one stranger and later reveals her story to her.

Three hours passed liked this, they exchange their feelings. Ikantika, “Do you want me to drop you?? Do you remember your address??”. Lady, “Ha ha!! Thanks for the lift... I don’t remember my address, but my driver does” she laughs, “I can drop you as you must be knowing where you want to go.” Both exchanges smile and Ikantika accepts her offer. On the way the lady speaks, “Keep my card!!! Call me whenever you want to talk to me. This is the first time that someone accompanied me in crying and have shared their feelings. And this is the first time I am offering a lift to someone in such a pretty good condition.” She laughs for a while and continues, “Yeah!! But whenever you call me just remind me where we met and obviously tell me that I have provided you the lift”. Ikantika reaches the flat at around 1:00 PM. Today her heart was feeling as light as feather as every buried unwanted moment was vomited in front of that stranger. She feels relaxed and easily fell asleep.

The next morning when Ikantika is sipping her tea, she thinks about that lady, “Everyone in this world should know if he/she is getting cheated, disrespected or disliked by the people whom they love, trust and respect to the core. My mother till the last breath respected each family member of my father’s side without knowing how rude they were to her.” She desperately wants to do something for her. But what and how, that she is still figuring out. She takes the card given by her to know her name. Her name is Mrs.Smriti Bajaj, the wife of famous Mr Shaiv.Bajaj, the icon of the business industry.

The day passes and next day also she keeps on thinking how she can help Smriti to solve her issue. “Since yesterday I am watching, you are continuously worried about something, what happened Iku??Can I help you??” Ishita raise concern for her. “Hey nothing, on that night I met one girl who was very upset due to one issue in her life, just her thought is not getting over my head” Ikantika replies. “That’s fine Iku, might be you got very emotional about her. Don’t think too much or if you really want to help her, find out if at all she has any issue. If yes, then whether that issue is a real one or just an imaginary story build by her. Don’t drain yourself for the sake of others” Ishita advice and leaves the room to meet her boyfriend.

Ikantika’s eyes gets broad, and she says,” Yes!!That’s what I need, find out what’s the truth is! Basically, I need to go behind her husband to know whether he really has an affair or not, so that the truth comes out and Smriti can take the right decision of her life”. She smiles and raising one eyebrow murmurs, “Does that mean I need to do the job of detective for her? Or can I hire one?” with sad face,” No I can’t, I don’t have the money. But why I am thinking about the money, Smriti can pay the money for this. So shall I search some good detectives in the city?” with question in her face, “she should have done that..not?? O Ikantika!!!! You think too much!!!”. After a while, “If smriti agrees to what I say, it’s better I do this detective job so that I can get some money for my expenditure and Smriti can get the truth. Also, in my childhood I always had the fantasy for the life of the detective. Let me try to live this once!” After so many days she was feeling excited to do something. She was happy, free and relaxed.

Ikantika starts thinking how to plan all these and what to tell Smriti. Then she calls Smriti and reminds her who she is. She tells “Smriti, I want to help you, so I spoke to one of my friends who is a detective, and she is ready to find out the truth of your husband. If you are willing to help with all the data and money, she required, to find the truth, she will be happy to help you.” Smirti, “Really!! Thanks, dear! I always thought to approach the detective but as my husband is a big businessman, he himself must be having some contacts with the detectives so I was wondering if he comes to know how he will feel and react to it. But wait!! What if your friend also knows him?? No no!!! wait wait not needed…!!! If he comes to know, our relation will be in trouble...If my doubt turns wrong. So please hold on...!!!” Ikantika stops her, “Hold on!!Take a deep breathe dear... No need to panic... She doesn’t know your husband, nor she will be revealing anything to him about you... so Just chill!!”

Smriti, “Is it?? What’s her name?? what’s her agency name?? are they good??”

Ikantika thinks, “I never thought about the agent’s name and name of the detective agency. What should I keep? Hmm... Smriti... it means memory... memory... Chetna...? yes!! Let’s keep the agent’s name as Chetna. And what about the name of the agency. Detective... mm... how about Guptchar??? yes... let’s name the agency as Guptchar…”

After thinking she answers, “Her name is Chetna. The agency name is Guptchar. Yes!! She is Guptchar’s Chetna. About work, you will come to know, as and when they will start and progress. Same about the fees as well.”

Smriti, “Thanks Ikantika, I will be always grateful to you”

Ikantika, “No need!! I will be always happy to help you” and both ends the call.

Ikantika thinks, “How to start with this? And what kind of plan I should make to get success? “She looks at the sky through the window. “Mom and Dad, I hope I am doing the right thing, as after so many days I am feeling so much excited, free and relaxed. Please always have your blessings with me” After brainstorming for hours she finalise that she should start with getting the details of Mr.Shaiv Bajaj, like at what time he leaves for the office, where he goes apart from the office.. in short…she should get his schedule. She makes the call to Smriti and ask her to meet at the nearby café at 4:00 PM.

Ikantika reaches 15 min early in the café so that she can find the place where they can sit and talk privately. Finally, she finds one corner seat which is aloof from others so that no one can listen what they are talking or discussing. Smriti arrives on time and they both have their seat. Ikantika, “Thanks for turning up. Need few details to start the investigation and so I was asked to meet you.”

Smriti, “No issue dear, sure you can. But let me know, will you be the always point of contact??”

Ikantika answers “Yes!! As far as they don’t approach you directly.”

Smirti” Fine!! Let me know what details you want”

Ikantika, “Tell me whatever schedule you know about your husband, like at what time he goes to office and when he comes back, where else he goes etc.”

Smriti, “hmm... He gets up early by 6:00 AM, by 6:45 he will go for a walk. Infact, we both go for a walk together. After that he comes and get ready for office. Once breakfast is done, he will leave for the office around 8:00 AM to 8:15 AM. This is what he does now a days. About coming back…” after few seconds pause “It’s not really fixed now a days. Sometimes he comes at 2:00 AM, sometimes he never comes at all and ask the servants to bring his official clothes to office...”

Ikantika, “What did you meant when you told that’s what he does now a days?? And are you sure he changes his clothes in office and not somewhere else??”

Smriti, “Previously after breakfast, he used to spend around 30-40 minutes with me and then only he used to go to office. But slowly things changed and now he hardly bothers to talk to me. And I am not sure where he changes his clothes. Several times I tried to ask the servants about the place, but each one said they went to office to handover the suit. Not sure whether they are telling the truth or they are hiding the truth”.

Ikantika, “Do you have card of your husband? Is there any way that I can go and visit his office once? And also, from now whenever he asks the servant to bring his clothes to office, you immediately drop me a message or call me...”

Smriti,” I have the card, I will give it you” saying this she gives the card to Ikantika and continues “I have to find out how you can enter his office without any suspicion. Please give me some time I will let you know by evening if I find any way. Also, from now if I feel any changes in his schedule or behaviour, I will let you know. Thanks once again”.

They finish their coffee and returns home.

Next day, Ikantika gets ready wearing a decent salwar kameez so that she doesn’t comes in anyone’s notice. She hires one car and drive herself till Smriti’s bungalow’s and waits for Shaiv to come out. After 15 mins, one message pops up in her mobile “Shaiv just left from home”.

She starts her cars engine and once he is in limelight, she starts following her safely. At one route he gets diverted and instead of heading towards office he took some another route. Ikantika while wondering where he is moving to, quickly texts Smriti, “Is he heading to office?”

Within three seconds the reply comes “Y”.

She keeps following him. After driving for almost an hour through the highway, he stops at one resort. She gives her car for valley parking and follows him. But in between the receptionist catches her and ask, “Excuse me mam!! Do you have a booking??”.

She replies, “No, but I will surely make one if I like the place… I will just have a visit and come back to you.”

“Sure madam!!Do you need some guide with you? “

“Not now”, she replies and starts walking.

Her eyes could only follow him where he took one right turn. As soon as she took the right turn, she sees that Shaiv is with some young girl who is wearing a dress with deep neck endorsed by the golden necklace. She tries to go near them so that she can listen to what they are talking, but by the time she moves ahead, they head towards one room.

She calls Smriti and ask her to book the room in Resort “Limelight”. She further asks, “if possible, book the room at first floor near to room no 106”. Smriti questions, “Why?”

“You only need to know the end result, once I will get any confirmation about anything I will let you know. Till then don’t question, just do whatever I say... And listen, book the resort room on “Chetna’s name”

Smriti quickly books the room and forward her the booking confirmation.

Ikantika keeps waiting outside Sahiv’s room, thinking when they will come out or how she should go inside. In this time, the young girl comes out and makes a call.

“Do you really think, he has any information about the deal? I mean, it’s almost the month and till now he has not uttered single word about it”

After listening the call about for 5 minutes the young lady answers, “Ok... I will do as you say, I will assure him that I love him to the core. But I really doubt that he knows anything”

The young lady makes another call and ask the person to send the coffee to her room.

Ikantika thinks, “It’s not merely the love story… or external affair, it’s something else…” Closing her eyes she bites her lower lip in worry and continues thinking “Anyway he has cheated Smriti, so he is getting punished this way. But poor Smriti, her doubt has turned into reality.” She sighs.

She is just going to enter her room, that she hears a loud noise from room 106.

Male voice, “Sanah, I told you several times, that I feel guilty for cheating my wife, I really love my wife and I want to get rid of you... but you never leave me... what exactly you want from me... Please tell... I can’t handle this anymore… I have mentally broken... Please free me from your emotions and relations... Please ... That night was curse which I don’t remember, for which I am paying till now. I beg you to free me from your matter... Please…” and he starts crying.

Ikantika, “What is this? What happened one night which he is referring to be curse??And Shaiv doesn’t like that girl?? Then why is he with her?? Why can’t he just ignore her and live his personal willing life? Is it like she is blackmailing him? Or his mind somewhere wants the company of this young girl?? Uff so many questions... Need to find out what is going on...”.

When Ikantika is entangled in all such questions, she quickly sends the photo of that girl to few of her spy contact to get the details of her. She cleverly had taken this pic while she caught them on the right turn after entrance. Meanwhile she tries to find that girl on social media with the name that Shaiv called her but no luck, so many results for a single search that it was too difficult to find the correct one. She must wait to get some reply from her contacts.

By next day afternoon she gets the message from one of her contacts “Good Morning Mam!! She is one of the valuable assets of the powerful “Jaggu don” of Mumbai.”

She quickly calls him. “You are telling me that she belongs to underworld?? “

Her contact, “Yes”

Ikantika, “And did you get the information like, usually when they will use her?”

Her contact, “Yes”

Ikantika, “When?”

Her contact, “Whenever some good contract related to their smuggling gets effected by some noble man’s good deed, they will plot her to dig the entire plan so that they can swiftly overtake it and achieves win in their business.”

Ikantika, “So here, the good man is Shaiv?”

Her contact, “Yes, he is the good man here and he can’t be free until they get to know his plan.”

Ikantika, “But what is the contract they are looking for?”

Her contact, “That information is still unknown, I will message or contact you as soon as I will reach there.”

Ikantika, “ Shaina... is that the girl’s name?”

Her contact, “She keeps on changing her name. No one knows her real name”.

Ikantika, “Ok!! Keep searching and try to find more information about her.” With this she ends the call.

All the queries were running in her head. She thinks to just walk around and then come back to room. She just locks the door and sees that the young lady is going somewhere. She follows her. To her surprise she exits via the back gate of the resort. Somehow even Ikantika manages to exit from back gate. Ikantika starts looking for her and finally her eyes catch the lady at some distance talking with one man who looks like body builder. Ikantika moves little towards them hiding behind the bushes and tries to click the photo of that man. After 3-4 attempt she finally captures one decent picture. She is still observing them when she realises that the young lady is pulling out the gun from her purse and from distance it looks like she is warning him. But after few seconds she herself gets afraid and put the gun back in her purse. After 15 minutes of conversation between them the lady enters the resort via back gate.

Looking to this sight Ikantika thinks, “I thought it is simple extra marital affair case and it will be very straight forward, so I thought of finding the truth... But now as the layers are getting removed, it seems to be trapped extra marital affair, if the affair exists at all, planned by some underworld guys. I feel there is great risk involved in it…If I need to find the whole truth, I need to risk my life... Or I can simply tell Smriti that your husband was having extra marital affair but it’s not his will. He loves you… Or shall I just leave it saying... he is having an affair and let they find out what to do next…Or shall I tell everything to Smriti and let her solve her issue… uff!!..” she closes her eyes, “I don’t know what to do!!... “

She was slowly walking with all these questions juggling in her mind that she gets a message on her mobile. She looks and the message is from Smirti.

 “You know my husband has left the home yesterday morning, and since then he has not come back. Can you ask and tell me where is he? And did the agent find out whether he has an affair?”

Meanwhile she sends the photo of the body builder to her contacts, for which she gets quick reply, “He is one of the important men of “Kalia Don” the rival of “Jaggu don.”

She is full tensed; she again thinks whether to unveil this issue or shall she just get eloped somewhere for some time till Smriti forgets her. But if she gives up, she can’t really be happy the rest of her life, as this will always haunt her that she left someone in middle after showing the ray of hope. In full tension, Ikantika sits on the rock in front of which one board is hanging “Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about”.

Will Ikantika solve this case as detective? Or will she leave this? Will Smriti ever come to know what’s happening with her husband? In what deal is Shiav trapped?

To know the answers of all these queries, please wait till the next part comes out. Till then, “Happy Reading!!”