So, his name is Dhananjay aka DJ, and he is based in Delhi!! Victor was glad he had some solid information to go on with, and the way Jishu's eyes were filled with fear, just by the mere mention of that guy's name, DJ must be a highly dangerous man, and he would have to make all his inquiries discreetly and tread with extreme caution.

His mind was swarming with ideas and methods on how to proceed, as he drove to the Delhi University South Campus. He parked his car, as usual illegally, in the spots reserved for staff and professors using an old security swipe card he obtained ages ago, through some unauthorised means. As he walked towards the library, his eyes scanned the girls and their outfits. Compared to all the girls out here, that girl Misha was dressed quite conservatively! Now why the hell was he thinking of that girl? She sure is a menace, never to be meddled with again, he chided himself. Misha the Menace, right!

It was quite late by the time he returned back to his car, and as he drove back home, he made sure to stop at his favourite corner restaurant, which was a few streets from his apartment block. Ashraf Hassan, the owner of that restaurant was also one of Victor's old informers, and was quite used to his unorthodox methods and penchant for secrecy. Victor covered his hair in a black knitted cap and wore big thick glasses which totally obscured his eyes and covered half of his cheeks. The rest of his face was covered with the artificial thick beard. Within a moment, Victor's body language changed and his predator like prowl matched the changed aggressive appearance. He walked lazily and entered the restaurant kitchen from the backdoor and proceeded towards a small anteroom, which served as Ashraf's office.

"Hey!! Stop stop stop! Who are you? Restaurant entrance is that way." Raju, one of the new waiters, tried his best to stall him, as his tiny frame struggled to carry two plates of Dinner in one hand and a water jug in another.

Victor stilled for moment, and turned his towering frame to face Raju, as he drew his hands slowly to his pockets. Raju didn't know what to do. Something about Victor made him uneasy and he became wary of upsetting such aggressive and terrifying man, but Raju was equally anxious of his boss Ashraf's reaction, if such an unruly stranger was allowed to enter his office.

Victor ignored Raju and continued his stroll. Before Raju cried out for help, his boss intervened.

"Hahaha! Raju... don't worry. He is quite an old friend of mine. Go and look after the customers." As Ashraf's chuckle filled words reached him, Raju quickly walked away with a relief, and made sure not to look back at Victor.

"Jasoos Sahib! (Mr Spy) Why do you frighten my boys every time you come here? Now I will have to cook up some new story about you to this guy. I am running out of story ideas." Ashraf complained as he approached Victor and shook hands with him.

"Why do you hire new people all the time, I thought most of your guys knew me by now." Victor replied sulkily, as he removed his glasses.

"Oh! So, it's my fault now!" Ashraf sighed. "Why do I even bother to argue with you? Do you want your usual order or want to try something new?"

"The Usual Ashraf Bhai, it's been a long time since I tasted the food here and I am craving for it. Don't worry, I am on leave now. So, I will come again and taste all new dishes." Victor promised.

"Salim!!! Make the extra special Tandoori Chicken, Dum Biryani and Butter Naan for our Sahib, okay?" Ashraf shouted, so that his chef in the noisy kitchen could hear him. Salim nodded and waved his hand at Victor.

"I never knew that you took time off too Victor Sahib, but I am so glad you will be around, at least for few days. Otherwise you are like that Solar or Lunar Eclipse which comes after many years and vanishes in minutes."

"Can't you find something nicer to compare me with?" Victor asked with mock disappointment and Ashraf began to chortle.

"Anyway, Ashraf Bhai, what's going on?"

Ashraf's face became grim. "Hmm... things are getting murkier Sahib. I am not sure who I can and can't trust anymore. I keep my ears and eyes open but make sure to keep my nose out, because I don't want to get into trouble. All the players have changed around here, but who actually runs the show, I have no idea. Black market is flourishing with illegal weapons, and drugs. Students are used as mules to carry drugs, either knowingly or unknowingly and it's a different person, different group every time. The method used to transport these drugs keeps changing too. Either the Police are equally ignorant or keeping a blind eye, and guess what? The students are getting plenty of supply of all their favourite drugs, and once they are hooked, there is no stopping them. I keep hearing many horrible stories and all I can do is pray that none of my kids ever fall for those evil things." Ashraf raised his hands towards sky.

"Hmm... I understand. Don't worry, your sons are good kids, I have seen them and talked to them, and they are past those vulnerable teenage years, which either make or break a person." Victor's assurance brought a smile on Ashraf's wrinkled face. Victor inched closer to Ashraf. "The person I am going to ask you about is highly dangerous, so don't go nosing around, if you don't know what you are doing okay? Have you ever heard of the name DJ or Dhananjay?"

"Hmmm.... No. He must be either a big fish or someone highly secretive, if I haven't heard about him in my circles. But don't worry Sahib. I will find out."

Victor opened his mouth as if to warn him but Ashraf cut him off. "I know you Sahib, if you are saying that this person is dangerous, then I understand. I will be very very careful, trust me. Why do you want to know about this guy? I almost forgot. Didn't you tell me just now that you are on leave? Why do you get involved in all these dangerous things? Arrey Sahib, please take my advice and settle down. Go to your hometown, ask your Mother to find you a nice girl and get married happily."

"Haven't you heard Ashraf Bhai? The words happy and married don't go together?" Victor raised his eyebrows with a smirk and Ashraf narrowed his eyes. Before Ashraf would lecture him further, Victor continued, "Why do you want to waste your energy on me,  when know me so well. Let's talk business Okay? Now, tell me this. Have you come across any Malayali guy who might be a small player or dealing with weapons?"

"Are you talking about Sharath Nair?" Ashraf asked nervously.

"I don't know his name. From whatever little I have heard about him, he seems to be a nasty piece of shit who has got a quick temper and abuses women. He might know this DJ guy directly or knows someone who is close to DJ, that's all."

"Nasty piece of shit is the correct description of Sharath Nair. He is based in Mumbai, and from there he supplies drugs to anyone and anywhere. He was very powerful before, but has become a small player now. Every evil business there is, Sharath Nair had a hand in it, be it Girls, drugs, Illegal liquor, and recently I heard that he had begun smuggling guns from abroad too. Let's hope your guy is NOT him. Trust me Sahib, you don't want to go against that guy. But give me some time, and I will find out everything I can and contact you in our usual manner."

Victor thanked him and paid for his food, in spite of fervent protests from Ashraf, and got rid of his glasses and beard as he drove home.

***
Elegant Towers, Moti Bagh.
9PM :

As he parked his car, the evening shift watchman approached Victor and handed over his apartment keys.

"The plumber you called was here, and fixed the leaking hot water pipe. But he came quite late in the afternoon Sir and the morning shift guy explained this to me before the handover."

Victor took the keys and thanked him as he desperately tried to remember his name. He knew him from before. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard the watchman clear his voice nervously.

"What's the matter? Did something happen? Don't worry, just tell me." Victor tried his best to sound as soft as possible.

"Well, nothing happened as such. Those two girls Misha and Sam, they are friends sir, they live on the same floor as you. As I was waiting to get the plumber to fix the pipes, they came back from college just then and asked me all sorts of questions about you and in spite of my protests, peeked inside your apartment. They are sweet girls, just a bit curious like most girls are. I hope you don't mind. I made sure they didn't touch anything."

As the watchman explained in his apologetic tone, Victor had to fight hard not to roll his eyes. Misha the Menace! It was time to teach her a sound lesson, so she knows what happens if she messes up with someone like him. He remembered the watchman's name, finally. He replied in a sweet tone,

"It's ok Ranjit, it wasn't your fault. And if you say they are nice girls, I believe you. Let them have their fun. Good night!"

"Good night Sir!" As the watchman walked back to his cabin, Victor deliberately took his time to pull out the mail in his mailbox, and checked it as he walked up the stairs, all the while perfectly aware that a pair of soft eyes were watching him from the front room window of Misha's apartment.

He never kept anything related to his work in the apartment, so he wasn't really fussed what the girls "peeked" through. As he entered the alcove in front of his apartment, he checked his pot plants lovingly and adjusted them back to their position. Two of them looked out of place, as if they were too delicate for the outside weather and needed more water, so he carried them inside. He turned on the T V and sat in the lounge opposite . As he spread the mouth-watering food from Ashraf's restaurant on the coffee table, his eyes fell on a piece of a paper peeking under it.

He pulled it out to find couple of papers stapled together, which had a neatly written essay by Misha on Joseph Conrad's classic "The heart of Darkness". As an English Honours graduate, he knew it was part of curriculum for all English Literature students. He read the 4 page essay as he enjoyed his sumptuous dinner. Once he finished, he cleaned up everything, and carefully stored the leftovers in the fridge. Then he called Mrs Menon, enquired after her health and was glad to know that Jishu was in a better mood in the evening. Later Victor called Kapil Verma, one of his old colleagues who works as a desk Analyst under J P Nanda at  IB Headquarters. As he asked a few questions, and had a general chitchat to catch up on his colleagues and what was happening at the office headquarters. Victor tried his best to get a feel of Nanda Sir's mood, and whether he would be welcome at the office if he cut short his leave. From Kapil's conversation, it was clear that Nanda Sir had advised all the staff about Victor's leave, and Victor was forced to admit defeat.

Later he attended to his two pot plants, watered them and placed one each in the living room and his bedroom.

Close to Midnight:

Luckily for Victor, there was a power outage that night.

He tucked Misha's essay papers and a few tools in his pockets.  It was a full moon day and Victor didn't have to use his torch to cross the corridor as he made his way to the stairs. To climb onto the balcony of Misha's apartment using the pipes adjacent to the stairs landing wasn't too tough for Victor, although he had to use a tool or two to open the bedroom door. Once he went inside, he observed her sleeping form, as the curtains in the open window blew to the soft wind, letting the bright moon light fill the room.

Clad in a white sleeveless top and shorts, with her tousled hair covering her evenly raising and falling chest, Victor had to admit that Misha indeed looked like a nymph. The only sounds that could be heard were the gentle rustle of the curtains against the wind, and the soft snore coming from the next bedroom, probably her grandmother's. She looked peaceful in her sleep, in fact too calm and perfect. Well, good for him. He checked the room. It was tastefully decorated with matching furniture in white and silver, which gleamed against the moon light. He turned on the smart torch light he brought and stealthily went through all drawers and desks, wardrobe, bookshelf and checked underneath the mattress as gently as he could. After making sure that she hadn't taken anything from his apartment and hid it in her bedroom, he placed the essay among the rest of the papers on her desk.

But his eyes froze on the small magnetic whiteboard hung against the corner wall which had various sticky notes, vinyl pop magnetic key rings, and few photos of hers with friends. In the middle was his photo and with a hat and cigar drawn around it and had the caption Mr Holmes! This girl!!! Fuming, he turned around to look at her but she was now sleeping sideways, her left arm and leg straddling a long pillow. He pulled the photo off the whiteboard and stuffed it in his pocket and as his sour mood continued, he swept off all the magnetic figurines and other photos as well. But his own penchant for neatness and order forced him to rearrange everything back, exactly how it was before, except his prized photo. He even cleaned some of the hanging magnetic figurines thoroughly and once everything was arranged to his satisfaction, he turned around.

Time to teach Misha the Menace a lesson!

He stepped softly towards her bed but hesitated for a moment. He never touched or even went near a woman without her consent, but this girl had forced him to do some extreme things in the short time he had known her. And, she already had a very low opinion of him, so what has he got to lose?

He went around the bed and lied sideways on it, facing her, the thick and long pillow now separating the two of them.

He gently pulled the pillow away and her hands began to grope for the missing warmth.

"Hi Misha! Your name is Misha, isn't it?" He said in a loud voice and was glad to see her wake up with a startle. Before she could scream her head off, he clasped his hand around her mouth again, warning her "Shsh... I am just here for the catchup you wanted to have." An involuntary shiver ran through her body, and her worried eyes looked at the door of her bedroom leading towards the living room. Victor's gaze followed hers and using the momentary lapse, she pushed his hand away and quickly sat up.

"How dare you come into my bedroom like this? How did you manage come inside actually? Wrong question. Why are you here? Go away, right now, before my Naani comes. She is a very light sleeper." Her aggression turned into panic straightaway.

He sat down and crossed his legs, occupying what felt like two thirds of the bed.

"Look who is talking! You entered my home without my permission, took my photo without my knowledge or consent, mucked around with my things."

A tiny gasp escaped from her and Victor smirked.

"Even if that watchman hadn't told me, I would have found out. So, I thought I must repay the courtesy. It's only fair, right?" Her face flustered at his angry gaze.

"I am sorry about the photo!" her whisper was barely audible.

"What did you say? I didn't hear that!" he asked loudly again.

"Shush!! Please don't..." She whispered again, the plea in her voice unmistakable this time.

"Okay... I consider myself a thorough gentleman in general when it comes to... mm leave it. Let's do this my way. You wanted to have a nice long chat with me. So, here I am, in your bed, whether you like it or not. If you don't want me to create a scene here, just answer all my questions."

Her panic ridden eyes glanced briefly at the door and back to him again and she nodded her head in agreement.

"Speak up Sweetheart! I can't see your pretty face." He turned on the torch and placed it in such a way on the pillow that its beam fell on their faces.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Yeah. I understand how much secrecy is important to you, so I will speak in whispers too. So, your Grandma... I mean your Naani in the next room, she has no clue what mischiefs you do in real life, isn't it?"

She stilled for a moment and then gave a curt nod, and then as if she remembered his previous warning, replied "Yes!"

"Hmm... So, you stay in this big bad city, because your father sent you all the way here to study. He must be really very ambitious for you and trusts you enough, that you can manage on your own to finish your studies and achieve good results, am I right?" He bent forward and asked her with narrowed eyes.

She could feel the suppressed anger from him, up so close. She took her time, as if to gather some courage and replied in a firmer tone "My father didn't send me. It was my choice."

"If not your father, then it must be your mother, godfather or uncle. I know someone must have encouraged and sent you, and they must be really proud that you are fulfilling their wishes." He tried to smile.

"Both my parents are dead." As tonelessly as she tried to say it, Victor could still see the flicker of pain in those soft eyes, which was gone again in a flash.

"I am sorry!" He felt a pang in his heart, for her loss and moved away from her, even when he was tempted to hold her hand, just for a moment.

Concentrate! Remember why you are here!

He quickly recovered and continued. "But parents and family don't have to be blood related you know. We can consider someone to be our father figure or a loving mother if they treat us with equal care and love. I am sure you have someone like that too, like a relative, neighbour or one of your professors in school or college before?"

"Yes, I do have someone like that." She couldn't but agree with what he said and smiled reluctantly.

"Great! I too have a father like figure at my office, who becomes overbearing sometimes but I just grin and bear it, purely out of respect for his age and seniority. But I can't tolerate it if he crosses his limit either. So, you can understand how cross I am now, to see someone like you poke into my life. As neighbours, we must give each other space, maintain respect and trust each other, right?"
Victor hoped she understood what he was trying to convey without sounding too harsh.

"Like you, I have great respect for my elders too, because I know that they have nothing but my welfare and happiness in their heart. My Naani might be old but she is fiercely protective of me. And I don't mind that one bit. In fact, I love the fact that someone cares so much about me that they go out of their way to look after me. But I understand what you are saying and..." Misha stopped talking, as the power came back on. The room was filled with the soft light from the night lamp and cool air from the Aircon made her already tense body shiver. In all the panic and darkness, she forgot how she was dressed. Nervously, she wrapped a blanket around her and stood up, away from Victor and her bed.

"Please leave now, before my Naani comes. I like my fun and friends but my studies are most important and I can't let anything or anyone interrupt my pursuit. As you said, my family and well-wishers expect me to score good results. And I must try every possible way to achieve them."

"Oh really?" Victor mocked and was happy to see how flushed her face had become. He closed the gap between them in quick strides and stopped, his body just a few inches away from hers.

"Good night sweet heart! Don't think or dream too much about me. And Good luck with your studies!" He chuckled loudly and went back to the balcony, closing the door behind him.

After he reached his apartment, Victor changed into Shorts and removed his T shirt. His nocturnal activities left him feeling too hot. As he turned on the night lamp, he looked at the pot plant on the side table fondly and smiled. Whoever said "a little bit of green inside the house elevates your mood" was so correct.

As an agent, sleep was a luxury to him. He had always trained his body and mind to fall asleep or stay active as per the demands of his job, where he had to keep night surveillance and later sleep in unfamiliar places and odd hours, whenever time would permit. And that night was no different. With in a few minutes, he fell asleep.

^==============================^ 

A quick update this time, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

As always, your comments and feedback make my day and I look forward to read them.

Love

Sesi