Everyone looked at Riddhi in confusion. He blinked a few times, gulped and then finally said, "I told you a thousand times I am studying people here. The people I know since childhood, and now seeing them with my educated mind, making a report. How differently a lay man sees a person than a psychologist. Why don't you ask Minu? She is helping me typing the reports."

Minerva shook vigorously her head in agreement.

"Don't drag my wife into it." Dhritiman burst out.

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden reaction.

What's wrong with him? Why is he acting like that? "Dhriti, what's wrong? I typed that report; I know he really has been working hard for his research. And moreover he is adult enough to meet a girlfriend during his time here. If that is the case. Why are you making an issue of it?" Minerva questioned her husband in defence of her brother-in-law who was more like a dear friend.

Dhritiman narrowed his eyes. Why she has to jump into his brother's defence always?

"I would be so happy if that would be the case Minu." He gritted his teeth.

"Uff! Will you people please cut this nonsense and say what is this all about? Where does Riddhi go?" Mrs. Gupta finally spoke.

Mr. Gupta, who was laying sat up straight. Now comes the interesting part. With that tone from their mother, finally they will speak up.

"Why don't you ask your younger son, Ma?"

Minerva felt like knocking her husband's head. What's up with him? My god, he has a flare of drama! I should have known!

Mrs. Gupta crossed her arms and stared angrily at her sons.

"He goes to the Iyers. The blue house."

Everyone other than Minerva grasped.

Minerva looked at the parents and Dhriti, they were looking angrily at Riddhi. And Riddhi looked here and there guiltily.

Everyone seemed so silent and lost.

"Can anyone please explain?" Minerva finally lost it after a few minutes.

"Why don't you explain Riddhi?" Dhritiman mocked. Riddhi shrugged as if he didn't care.

"Why Riddhi?" Mr. Gupta finally broke his silence. Their mother was still silently withering in anger. "After everything how could you?"

Now, Minerva got genuinely confused. Father hardly spoke like this. Once they had all grown up, she had always seen 'uncle' very cool and calm, not taking much interest what these brothers were doing unless there was something utterly serious. Rather he looked rather amused when 'aunty' used to scold the grown up boys. So, what happened now? Why is going to this 'Iyer's' house is so bad?

But right now asking anyone would lead her nowhere. And thinking and making any conclusions would confuse her even more. But she had to do something. She had to! That is how her brain is hardwired or even softwared. If that is even a word. So, taking the charge of the situation as her habit is, she started,

"Riddhi, could you at least tell me why do you go this house? And if you go, when do you work for your research. For I know you work on it. I have helped you thrice typing the report."

Riddhi sighed, "I will only say I am doing my work. I go to that house within my professional capacity."

"And what work do you have there? That you forgot everything? That how they insulted ma, and every other lady that day?" Dhriti barked.

"I am sorry dada. I am bound by my professional ethics. I can't say you or anyone about it. And yes, I didn't forget. But that insult wasn't directed towards our ma personally. It wasn't even an insult if you observe it properly." Riddhi's voice and toned was never like before. Where was that happy cheery boy? Right now, Riddhi sounded just like Dhriti when he speaks with his office on phone. That tone devoid of any feeling.

"Your family is above those professional ethics."

"NO"

Minerva felt like stuck in the middle of a strange game where everyone knew the rules and other players expect for her. What's so wrong Riddhi had done? She stared from one family member to another. And then she burst out.

"Will anyone tell me anything?"

Everyone came out from their trance and looked at her. But she looked straight at her husband. Resting her hands on her waist she questioned her husband, "Will you?"

"I will tell you." Mr. Gupta spoke. Minerva smiled at looking. Throwing a 'this is not over' look at her husband she sat with parents-in-laws.

Mr. Gupta started,

"So, around 5-6 years back this family came here. They are definitely Tamil, but only by surname. Their features were too sharp and colour too fair to be Indian. Their daughter , I guess. Yes, that must be the daughter of the family even has such vivid blue eyes, that you can notice from far."

"That's their daughter?" Dhriti asked scrunching his nose.

"I guess so." He replied.

"Baba you don't know for sure?" Minerva asked surprised.

"That's the problem my dear. They are living here for around six years, and no one knows exactly who they are, how many members they are, even what do they do. They don't mix up with anyone. Initially at least the man, he is about 55-56.. he used to go to the market for groceries and stuffs, but since this online thing came, they have even stopped that. They hardly come out. No one even knows what do they do for living. Even if you are into a business from home, atleast once in a while you will have be out. Only time they are out is when they dry clothes on the terrace, and surprisingly the whole family is at the terrace then. Sometimes a guy comes stays for few days and then leaves. That is their only relation with the outer world."

"You know about drying clothes? Really?"

"Neighbour dear. When there is such a mysterious family, people are bound to be curious."

"So what is this insulting ma?"

"Well, that's your mother's fault. If you ask me." Mr. Gupta replied with a confidence.

"And everything is my fault right?" Mrs. Gupta who was quiet till now finally spoke. Her eyes accusing her husband. But he didn't deter.

"Of course." Then again looking at Minerva, he continued, "Well, a couple of months later, I mean from the time they arrived, there was a wedding in our neighbourhood. Your ma's women's club member's daughter's wedding. They were invited too. We all expected that once invited they would surely come. That's what good manners says. But again, they didn't show up. Even they were not very welcoming when the host family had gone to invite them. As usual our curiosity increased. And then comes in your mother. It is always said curiosity killed the cat! She went with her friends to invite the lady of the house to their kitty party."

"What curiosity? We went to make them a part of us."

"Oh no you didn't. Don't take me for a fool my dear. Even the Iyers knew what you and your kitty friends were upto. You went there for some gossip. To get some news. We all are curious about them, but you and your friends took it a bit too far. They understood your intensions, and showed you the exit."

Minerva's jaw dropped. Ma, and fishing for gossip? She looked at her. Mrs. Gupta's face turned crimson.

"Ma, seriously?" Dhritiman was also shocked.

Riddhiman chuckled.

"And that was the last time they were welcomed in this little community."

Now that things were getting into place, Minerva started remembering things vaguely. "Is this the family, ma told me on phone about? You all went to the police stating your suspicion, and the police and they found nothing suspicious. Instead told you all to leave them alone?"

"yeah." Mr. Gupta sighed.

"But that was around four years ago." Minerva protested. "They still don't come out?"

"yes!" and then the father looked at his younger son, though he kept speaking to Minerva. "Which is why we don't understand why does Riddhi have to go there? And why lying to us?"

Minerva looked at Riddhi, "Now even I am curious."

Riddhi shook his head, "Not with this gossip queen here." He pointed at his mother. "Also, my professional ethics says.."

"I promise to keep quiet." Mrs. Gupta jumped. Gone was her anger and everything, the gossip inside her was that bad.

"No ma."

"God promise."

All the men in the room looked at her with smirks.

"I really do. Really. Please please tell me. My fault or not, they did insult me. You owe me this much Riddhi. After all, I was always there for you. Took you to all my parties when no other moms took their kids. That's where you got this interest in psychology.."

"Oh you drama queen!"

Minerva was looking at different mother-in-law. Now she knows, where did Dhriti get this flare of drama from. She was sure, Ma would not keep her promise and gossip about it. And so did everyone else.

"No ma."

"Riddhiman Gupta."

"Okay.. but know one thing every clearly mother. If one word goes out, your younger son will be jail. I have signed a contract of secrecy, before I started to work with them."

"what?" Everyone looked at Riddhi with horror.

"Yes. So I can say, with minimum information."

"Are you mad?" Dhriti barked at his brother.

"It was matter of sum of money, I couldn't refuse."

"And since when do you need to work like this for money?" It was their father.

"I am thirty. I have stopped taking money from you long time ago. You should figure out."

"I thought you were on stipends."

Riddhi plain smirked.

"oh we are digressing. Riddhi please." Mrs. Gupta cried.

"Very well ma.. But remember, one slip from you I will land up in jail."

"I promise. Not even Hira." With the words like son and jail in one sentence, she did sincere now.

"Okay.." Clearing his throat he began,

"Well, they are from Carolina, USA. Which one, I won't say." He paused looking at others. Everyone nodded.

"One member from the family got involved in a terrible scandal, and they had to leave the country. They were third generation Indian. In fact they are American now, living with a Visa here. Which Visa, even I don't know. They have high end sources. Who keep renewing for them. Mr. Iyer's grandfather shifted there, just after the first world war. And had settled there. Married a white lady. Yes, Mr. Iyer's grandmother was white, thus you see such features in them. Though she was the only white in family. Rest all married to Indians settled there. Mr. Iyer, his father, his uncles, everyone. Anyway, that scandal was terribly terrible. So terrible that they had to leave the country.I know all about it, but you will not. This house they leased from someone from Mrs.Iyer's side. And now, not being able to live in their homeland, yes, that country in their homeland now; someone in the house has gone into depression and tried to attempt suicide. That's where I come in. Taking sessions with this person."

Everyone was staring at him as if he was some storyteller.

"then?"

"Now the person is getting fine. What? Stoplooking at me like that. That's all you get to know"

N.B: Hello all... So how is this chapter?  Did I live upto your expectations? Please do tell me your views. The story has been dragging for a while. The change of scenario is needed. and  will come soon. So? Please do drop your views in the comment section. I am all ears. Also vote for this chapter.

Coming to the persona; request I made in the last chapter. Thank you my dears for supporting  me. It means a world to me. 

Thank you

All my love <3