Misha tried her best to concentrate and listen to what her English professor was explaining, but it was an effort just to keep her eyes open. To keep herself awake and distract from the boredom of an uninteresting class, she opened her notepad again, and slowly withdrew the postcard, for the umpteenth time.

The postcard had a cute picture of Snoopy dressed as Sherlock Holmes, that she happened to notice and pick up from the pot plant in front of Victor's apartment. But it was the neatly printed, emoji filled short note attached at the back, which kept her in a good mood on that otherwise dismal day.

To,

Ms Snoopy 🧐

Hope you won't miss me too much while I am away.

But if you ever feel like you can't live without talking to me,

feel free to call me anytime.

You know where I am >> just a phone call away. 😉

Yours truly

Mr Holmes 😎🕵️‍♂️

Xxxx-xx-xxxx

That arrogant prick and his bloody cheek!! Misha cursed him one more time, before hastily pushing the postcard back inside the notepad as the class was over. She was glad to get out of the class and go home. Today was the last day of college, before the term holidays started. But unlike other students who were busy discussing which movie to go to, she rushed off home, as she and her Nani had an early evening train to catch.

====

Victor paced back and forth restlessly in the departure lounge, as he waited for the boarding announcement of his flight to Mumbai. That emotional outburst with Nanda Sir, so closely followed by the heated conversation with Ashwin left him disturbed, even though he wasn't willing to admit it.

Just like he would never admit to his aviophobia and how the very thought of strapped to a seat in an metal box, thousands of feet up in the air scares him shit, every time, even after all these years of air travel. He had learnt new methods to overcome this fear, and thankfully, over the years, he had developed tolerance to stay in his seat quietly during the flight, but still suffered from extreme anxiety, especially during take-off and landing.

Soon, he sat down in the plane and managed to survive another terrorising few minutes as the plane took off, by filling his mind with any diversion that would take his mind off his current position. And he thought of Anosha Malik, who was the best person to understand him outside his job as an agent, and who taught him coping methods to overcome his fears. Gradually, his mind relaxed. Once the take-off finished and seatbelt sign was off, he rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his sweaty face. Just as always, he followed Anu's advice and did few minutes of deep breath exercises and listened to soothing music, which helped calm his thudding heart, and once he felt normal, he returned to his seat with an impassive face. A girl with an overtly made up face was in the next seat, and Victor smiled inwardly at her inept attempts of feigning disinterest towards him. He ignored her completely and spent the rest of his flight going through his plan thoroughly, making sure he had all the bases covered, every check and counter checks that were necessary, to meet Sharath Nair in disguise or find out what he was up to.

As the plane began its descent to land at Mumbai Airport, Victor's face became so flushed that the girl in the next seat gave up all the pretence and asked worriedly "Are you okay? You look terrible! Here, hold my hand." She wound his hand into hers, ignoring Victor's protests.

The moment plane landed, he offered a curt thanks to the girl, and was off the airplane the moment he could, without even looking back. He took a taxi to Trombay, near Cheetah camp which was one of the hotbed drug dens of Mumbai, renowned for selling cheap drugs like MD as well as more popular and expensive drugs like Heroin and Cocaine.

As he looked through the taxi window, Victor wondered why Cheetah Camp isn't officially called a slum, as he could see so many people living there in poverty, but more than the poverty, the fact that it has as many drug addicts as a high end part of Mumbai, disturbed him deeply. The taxi ride was way too long and irritating, thanks to the frequent traffic jams and he was glad to get out of the taxi, and bought a few bananas from a street vendor, outside the modest lodge he had booked earlier.

He left his luggage in the tiny and somewhat dirty room, except his backpack which had all the essentials he needed. The room had a small bed, barely enough for his tall frame at one end, and a rickety chair and table at the other. A ceiling fan whirring loudly, trying its best disperse the stale smell of the room. The washroom was tiny but thankfully clean and Victor freshened quickly. After finishing a few bananas in one go, he made his way to a local hospital, and catching the staff off guard, went straight to a washroom inside and changed into his new disguise, this time with a henna dyed beard as well as hair, and covered it with a skull cap. With a little bit of makeup, his eyes filled again with Surma and his attire changed into a traditional kurta and pyjama, he made sure he looked every bit like a middle aged man of Muslim faith. After checking the lobby that there wasn't anyone who would notice his exit, he walked leisurely to the nearby café, where he had arranged to meet his Mumbai contact Amit Khatre. The hotel and this café were ideally placed, as he wanted to keep a 24 hours vigil on one of Sharath's men, who lived nearby.

As he sipped the strong Irani Chai, his normal phone buzzed and his face lit up as he answered the call.

"Oy!! How dare you ignore me like that at the Airport?" Boomed the voice on the phone and Victor was glad for once that he was holding the phone away from his ears, as part of his mannerisms with the new disguise. He moved to the privacy of a small by-lane, amused that he managed to annoy the normally soft spoken Ms Anosha Malik.

"Hello to you too." He said pointedly.

"Haha very funny. First you ignore me, even when I was calling you so loudly that half the crowd at the airport stared at me, and now you expect me to be civil to you?? What was it? Why were you running away like a bat out of a cave? Oh... Were you freaked out during the landing on the plane? I completely forgot. So sorry dear! You know, I was so excited to see you after such a long time that I got really upset and forgot all about your phobia. And you know me, I hate drawing people's attention, so I got quite annoyed. I didn't hear anything from you for so long, but your sister told me that you came back to Delhi months ago. So much for promising to keep in touch. I don't even know why I am calling and speaking to you right now." Anosha paused and continued in a softer tone, "Anyway, it is not about me, but you. Tell me this. Are you doing the exercises I asked you to do, to manage your flying phobia? I thought you would be in much better state by now, after all this time. How come you felt so anxious all of a sudden, that you blanked out the whole airport? Hello... are you there? Why are you not speaking?"

Victor Sighed.

"My dear FM Radio, I would, if only you let me. Tell me this, for someone who is so shy and reserved with everyone else, how do you manage to talk nonstop with me and give me lectures all the time? Why this special love, only for me? I am sorry I didn't notice you at the airport, but to be frank, I just wanted to get the hell out of there. The girl next to me was giving me way too much attention, and watching me freak out during the landing, held my hand so firmly, which freaked me out even more. I am managing my flights quite fine, thanks to you and your tips, so please don't worry. The last few days haven't been exactly smooth. I know you are dying to become a doctor, but stop treating me like guinea pig patient all the time. I am fine, absolutely fine." Victor said with extra cheerfulness.

"Oy.... For someone so keen to criticise me for being too talkative, what was that speech for? Who is Mr. Talkfest now? Huh!!"Anosha demanded, but after few seconds broke into a soft chuckle, and Victor joined her.

Victor could hear announcements in the background on the phone and asked her

"Where are you now? Are you are still in the Airport?"

"I am at the airport but at Delhi. It's a long story. And I have time to kill, so you better let me explain. Okay?"

"I always love these situations where I am left with no choice but asked to feel like the most privileged person on earth. Go on." Victor said as he leaned against the wall of the adjacent compound, his eyes busy scanning the road again for Amit.

"Hey, no need to sound so sarcastic, that too with someone you haven't met for almost a year. And you wonder why no one talks to you, let alone a girl like me." Pat came Anosha's reply.

"Anosha, this is so unfair!! You know why I haven't met you. I was on a job. But I do keep in touch with you over phone, just like I do with my family. But I still get blamed for everything. And madam, for your kind information, I do talk with lot of people, including girls, and most girls love to talk with me. If it wasn't for my instinct to steer my boat away towards safe waters, I would have..." Victor's phone beeped with a notification of a message but he continued to speak. "For instance, just last night, I told this girl who seemed to have a knack of following me for no reason, that you are my girlfriend."

"Oh really! So there's actually a girl, a real girl ... I mean, apart from me, who wants to talk to you and be friendly with you. I really want to see this girl."

"Guess what, she too wants to meet you. She wouldn't believe that you exist either."

"Oh no, you misunderstand me Victor! I want to study her for medical reasons. I mean... she must have sustained some kind of brain hemorrhage or has some psychotic issues to come to this stage to be interested in you..." Victor's face remained grim as he heard Anosha's loud laughter over the phone.

"I know you are a brilliant student and going to rock the medical world with your genius, but it is quite harmful to do a self-diagnosis like this and attribute all your symptoms to some unknown innocent girl!"

"Victor, how dare you? I am going to soo kill you when we meet again. Hmm! She is an innocent girl now, is she? I am so jealous. Who the hell is she? Tell me everything!" Anosha demanded. Victor's phone buzzed again and this time he read the message and understood who it was from.

"I tell you nothing... I don't have time for all this, and if I remember correctly, you were the one who was supposed to tell me a long story because you have time to kill. I got to go now." Victor was about to hang up but stopped as he heard the pleading voice of Anosha again.

"Mr Secretive...Sorry! I get it. I won't ask you anything. Happy now? Why do you agents have to behave as if you are still on your job, even with loved ones and close friends? Why this bloody secrecy?" Anosha whispered.

"Agents... how many do you know?" Victor mocked her.

"Well, you and that Mini's husband Ashwin. Mrinalini, well everyone calls her Mini, is my Bhabhi's cousin and I went to her wedding in their home town near Mumbai. Well we didn't know at that time who Ashwin was, but later we came to know. I don't know Mini too well but Shreya Bhabhi told me that she is a lovely girl. Works in an NGO... Don't remember the name." Anosha paused.

"Ashwin, the lucky bastard! He gets everything that doesn't deserve, that too on a platter. To call that guy an agent is an insult to the term and to our profession. So please do me a favour and don't compare me with him. Okay?" Victor sneered.

"Oh dear, here we go again. I know you think that you are the best agent in the world, blah blah blah. Right now, I am in so much distress but you have no sympathy for me. All I you care about is your job and your whatnot."

"Anu, are you okay? What happened? Do you want me to come to Delhi?" Victor stood up, with all his senses alert once again.

"Uff no dear. Sorry I am giving you all wrong messages. First, calm down. I know you too well. You are probably all worked up now. Just relax and listen to me, okay. Nothing bad happened, my bag got exchanged with someone else's bag at the airport. Luggage mix up. But I am just a bit worried because it had all my important certificates, documents including the interview papers for the hospital. But again, as I said, don't worry. The lady whose bag got mixed up with mine, she called me straight away, as she found my number on my resume and she is on her way. That's all. I love that bag too, that Made in Tuscany Tote bag that you got for me from US"

"You lost that bag?" Victor made sure he sounded indignant enough.

"I am sorry." Anosha replied in a small tone.

"Don't be stupid Anu. It is just a bag. I am glad that you are getting it back anyway. But, tell me this first. Why this sudden shift to Delhi? Why not look for a placement in a hospital in Mumbai? Is it... is it because of Arif and your Bhabhi?" Victor asked hesitantly.

"Yes. Their divorce finally came through few months ago. Arif Bhai took up the offer as a research scholar in the West Virginia University and he flew to US just a few days ago. Shreya Bhabhi... Bhabhi has gone back to live with her parents. Arif and Bhabhi... they fought so bitterly about that stupid apartment in the end, that they have completely forgotten how much they struggled together to save a deposit for it. Now...now they just sold it and split the money."

"And I bet Arif took every single penny with him instead of helping you to settle in Delhi first." Victor spat.

"No... I know you always think the worst of my brother, but he isn't so bad, you know. He did give me some money and so did Bhabhi, even though I told her not to." Anosha sounded too choked up, and Victor wished he was there with her right now.

"Where are you staying in Delhi? When is this interview and where? Which hospital?" Victor asked impatiently.

"Hey... slow down. I am good. I am going to a friend's place first, but she found me a place in a PG Accommodation type hostel exclusively for working women. I am not going to jinx myself by telling you all the details, first let me get the job. They promised that the interns will get some help in getting accommodation nearby."

"Anosha, please listen to me. My apartment is lying vacant right now. Please go there straight from the airport and settle down. Stay as long as you need to. I am not sure how long I will be held up here. I am sorry I haven't been in regular touch, but if I knew what was going on... I am so sorry. I should have been more responsible." Victor said.

"You are too sweet Victor. What is all this talk of responsibility? Oh yeah I forgot. I am your girlfriend right!"

Before Victor could respond, Anosha said... "Victor wait I think she is here." Victor could hear muffled voices and guessed that Anosha was holding her hand over the phone.

"Victor I will talk to you later, bye."

"Anosha, listen!! Please go to my apartment. I will tell my watchman. He has got a spare key." Victor almost shouted impatiently.

He could hear Anosha saying excuse me to someone and then "Thank you Victor, I will take up your offer definitely if I don't like that PG Hostel, okay? First, let me get selected for the hospital placement, and then we will talk. But I will definitely call you tomorrow or later and then we can continue this talk. What do you say?"

"Sure. Just remember. Don't have any doubts in your mind. I know how shy and sensitive you are in these matters, that's why I am being so insistent. Hang on...Why don't you go and stay with my family otherwise?" Victor almost smacked his head as he wondered why he hadn't suggested this before.

"Victor will you stop it now...I have to go, bye." Anosha chuckled and Victor too ended the call with a soft smile. He checked the message on his phone and controlled his urge to reply, as he hurried back to the Café.

Within a few minutes, he noticed his contact Amit Mathre approach the café, carefully looking at the shops around him, as if he was trying to locate something. Carrying a slouch bag, and dressed in worn out Khadi Kurta with faded jeans, Amit looked every bit like a social worker in the local community centre. Victor went out and lit a cigarette and stood next to him and asked casually, "Are you looking for the Electrical shop? They have closed it down recently."

"Ye..ss. But I thought it will be kept open till the end of this month. Damn!" Amit looked relieved to recognise Victor's disguise and the code words. But he still looked quite nervous and intimidated by Victor.

"Let's see if I can suggest you some other shop. Let's have some tea first."

Victor ordered more tea and snacks as they settled down in a corner table at the back. As it was past the rush hour time, hardly anyone were there inside the café. Victor observed Amit all the while without seeming to. One thing he had learnt, over many years, was to how to make people talk to him. Some people revealed more when they are nervous, in fear, while someone else had to be cajoled and made comfortable. Victor could guess shrewdly that Amit would clam up, unless he spoke in a soft and gentle manner and he could also see that Amit was in awe of him, adding the much needed boost to his ego, after his recent encounters with some uncooperative girls.

"I can't tell you how thankful I am, for all your help. I don't know this area or the people around here. And I hope my appearance is not too distracting." He said sheepishly.

"Not at all, what a great disguise? For the life of me I wouldn't have recognised you. You must teach me where you get these makeup and accessories." Amit sat back in the chair in a relaxed manner.

Victor smiled and caressed his beard. "Sure Amit, but it is not all about disguises you know. It's the whole package. Everything you say and do should serve a purpose. I may behave in a rough and ruthless manner with someone or like a smooth flirty Casanova with someone else. I chose this elderly man's disguise so that I could present myself as a distressed father whose son had become a drug addict, and chat up with the Mullah at the mosque nearby. Sometimes they are keener to talk to a suffering father rather than a young social worker. You assess the situation and adapt to it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it might not. But you have to give your 100% to it, and as part of that, can you remember to address me as Khan Sahib, whenever you meet me here?"

"Of course, Khan Sahib." Amit smiled and pulled out a small file from his bag.

"I got all the information you wanted. As I explained to you before, Sharath Nair has a huge network of peddlers, informers and carriers in Mumbai and Goa and even south states. He micromanages the whole business and hardly delegates anything except for a few trusted men. And these two guys..." Amit showed photos on his phone, "Satish and Daniel are like second in charge there. And Daniel pushes a lot of his drugs in this area and Gurgaon area. He comes here randomly if there is a major deal or someone is not paying up."

"Thanks Amit. Look, I got nothing else to do but keep an eye out for him now. Why don't we both take turns in stalking these guys? I want to follow him or any member of Sharath's gang and find out everything about that guy's business. Where does Satish live? Do you have any idea?"

"Satish looks after the high end market sir, South Mumbai. He lives in Bandra with his old Mum and from what I know of him so far, he is a cruel bastard, just like Sharath."

A scrawny boy, barely into his teens, served them at the table as he balanced an array of cups and snacks and went onto the next table. Victor felt the same rage as ever. That kid needed to be in school instead of working in a café! He pulled his mind out to concentrate back on what they were discussing.

"Why don't we split it this way, I look after Daniel and you can check on Satish? Or if you prefer the other way round, that's fine by me. I can manage to get inside some clubs and look out for Satish and even Sharath."

Amit looked relieved. "Thank you Sir, I prefer working here, as I know this area and the operators here very well by now. I worked on a case few months ago and have lot of contacts. If I see Daniel in the area, I will text you immediately."

He pulled out another sheet of paper. "These are the regular suppliers for Daniel in this area but Sharath and Satish, I am not so sure. But these guys," Amit pointed to names on the paper and lowered his voice, "They are all major players and I understand they supply to a lot of people, including Sharath. Their business generally runs in the range of hundreds of crores of rupees."

Victor pocketed the papers in his kurta pocket and thanked Amit.

"Let's have the tea before it gets too cold." Victor urged Amit to eat more, his own appetite lost as he looked at the surroundings. He was sitting in a dingy café, in a poor locality in Mumbai, infested with drug addicts, and peddlers pushing their supplies to the nearby wealthy suburbs. Is there any end to this menace? Whatever he had set out to do, would it even make a difference? Victor rubbed his eyes tiredly and tried his best to snap out of his sudden mood swing.

What's wrong with him? Why this sudden negativity? He was out here to destroy the likes of Sharath Nair and DJ, who wrecked the life of his dear friend Jishu and many such innocent people. He shook his head and smiled back at Amit, who was observing him with a worried face.

More customers began to enter the Café now.

"Let's meet again after two days. Unless something urgent comes up."

Amit rose and wished him loudly on his way out, "Allah hafiz, Khan Sahib."

"Khuda Hafiz Beta" Victor greeted back as he reached the Café owner with a smiling face and paid the bill.

A thunder rumbled in the distance followed by a lightning as he walked with his backpack towards the mosque. He offered prayers with his fellow brothers and wished everyone courteously. He introduced himself to the local Maulvi and praised the serenity and the discipline of the worshippers. After further small talk, he took his leave and went back to the hospital, where he got rid of his attire in the washroom, before reaching his lodge.

He decided to spend next few hours in his room, as he knew that any kind of activity he was keen to follow would happen much later in the night. He requested the lodge owner to recommend him to a nice, traditional restaurant nearby and after he reached his room, called one such restaurant to deliver his dinner.

Lying down on his thin bare bed, he opened his phone and read the two messages from Misha.

The first one said

Mr Holmes! I wanted to remind you that you have neglected to water your pot

plants, AGAIN. These tasks need to bedelegated to the apartment maintenance

staff before you go out of station.

And the second

What? Too busy to even reply to a text? 🤨🤨

He began to reply to the text.

I knew you I could leave my plants in

 your capable hands, Ms Snoopy 😍😊

He waited ten minutes but still there was no reply. The noise from the street was too annoying and the room felt too stuffy. Feeling impatient, he texted again.

Yes, I was busy talking to my girlfriend

when u texted me, sorry but not sorry.😉

After another agonising wait, his phone beeped again. It began to rain outside and the flimsy curtains began to flap against the windows.

M: Well, you are wrong, I am out of

 town too. So, can't take care of your

 plants. Good luck! 🙄😏

He texted back immediately

V: Out of town? What for?

 M : Term Holidays.

Victor's face broke into a smile. He took a deep breath as the cool breeze from the window filled the room.

 V:  Seriously? Holidays from what? 😂🤣

  Have you been working hard all along?

People are so slack nowadays!

 Well I am glad.   You should be free

 and feeling relaxed now.😊

M: Actually, no. Our Sir was so impressed with my

last essay, that he asked me write an extra

essay on the same subject in the holidays.

Isn't it great? 🤗🤩So, I will be busy with that. 😉

After reading her text, Victor paused. There was a knock on the door and another teenage boy delivered his dinner of Tandoori Chicken and Roti. He paid him and sat back on chair, and placed his dinner on the table next to it.

V:   Hmm... if I were you, I would tell ur 

Sir to get a life and leave his students 

alone. These essays are not worthy 

to waste your time on. But it looks

 like you are too happy to follow 

his advice. Good luck Ms Snoopy n

Goodnight from me. Unlike some 

people I got to do some real work. 

Yours truly, Mr Holmes

He pressed send and tossed the phone away, feeling annoyed with himself. The phone buzzed again and he picked it up, against his will.

M: Thanks for your wishes and 

goodnight. If you need me, I am always 

there for you. unlike your fictional

 girlfriend 😂😜 Don't dream 

too much about me, okay? 🤗😉

Yours obediently, Ms Snoopy. 🐶😇

^========================================^

Sorry everyone for such a late update but I was busy in writing and rewriting, trust me.

And I have finally managed to write something that satisfied me and  I hope it will satisfy you too.

How do you like the new character Anosha? 😉

Also this is for your and my reference. all the characters in Intelligence Bureau . But we  will only see some of them.

Just a few days ago, I found this article which is disturbingly close to the fiction in this story.

I am actually not sure what to say, on one hand I am glad I am writing about a subject so relevant in our country, but on the other hand so disturbed at these events. 

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/durg-racket-busted-delhi-mumbai-drug-lord-afghanistan-heroin-1574054-2019-07-26

As always, your feedback and response gives me that extra motivation to keep going. 

Please, don't be shy and comment.

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