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                                                                        CHAPTER – 5

Pranav was super happy, as Pratiksha has first time talked about her, without any hesitation. He took it in a positive way, but didn’t approach her, after that. He got involved in his project work.

But Pratiksha, was thinking about how Pranav was reading her mind, and felt a light heart after coming out of room. She too got busy with her work. Meanwhile, Pranav called Santosh and told about the incident.

He added “Hey ask your friend to ask that Shanthi Aunty about Pratiksha. She may know anything about Pratiksha. But ask her to get information just like that, without any doubt! Ok, Bye for now.”

Another 2 days of full hectic work passed by, and it was time for Pranav and Santosh to go to Pratiksha’s ashram!

On Saturday morning they started their journey towards Sai Guru Ashram and while driving the car, Pranav asked “Did you get any information from your friend da?” Santosh replied back “No da!! That Shanthi aunty knows her for past 3-4 months only…. She has spoken to her very less number of times.

Whatever we know only, Shanthi aunty also knows!” Pranav released a deep breath “Ok da, let’s see here what happens”

After travelling for 5 long hours, they reachedCuddalore, and started to search for the ashram’s address. Soon, they found the address and went inside the ashram and asked for the manager there.

They met a man aged in his fifties, and he introduced himself as, Ganesan. He asked them “In what can a help you?”

Pranav asked him, “We want some information about a person who was staying here 6 years back.”

Ganesan told “This ashram was started by my father, I grew up here, so if you give me any details I will certainly help you”

Pranav started to say about Pratiksha, and asked information about her. Initially Ganesan was hesitant to indulge any details, about her, but as Pranav showed his visiting card and said that he wanted to marry her, so only he needed details.

Ganesan told “Ok I don’t remember any girl with name Pratiksha, but I will check with my computer’ data, and get back to you. Come with me”

Pranav and Santosh went inside Ganesan’s room, and Ganesan opened his computer and started to search for Pratiksha’s name. But Pratiksha’s name was nowhere to be found!!!

Pranav and Santosh were too shocked but they thought he might have searched wrongly, and they to searched for her details. But every search went in vain…..

Pranav and Santosh were confused to the core, and looked at Ganesan’s face, puzzled. Ganesan said “I used to remember most of the children name here.

We used to send good academic performers to Chennai branch, but Pratiksha’s name is not there in that list too. As you said Pratiksha is a clever student, I wouldn’t forgot her name. But, I will check with other staffs also. If you want come with me.”

Other old staffs also, repeated the same things said by Ganesan. Now Pranav was in complete shock, but he didn’t know what to do further….

He thanked Ganesan for his support, and told that “I will go to Chennai ashram tomorrow and enquire there in person. Thanks once again”. Saying this he came out and went near his car.

Santosh told “Hey we shall ask the ashram’s Chennai branch now itself, in phone na? Why wait till tomorrow?”

Pranav replied back “No da. Something inside me says that, this is going to be big issue! So, we will go and check by ourselves, as we did here”

They started to travel towards Chennai, and Pranav’s mind was full of thoughts!!

He told to himself “This girl is eating my mind like anything”

After reaching Chennai late night, Santosh told he will come tomorrow at 9.00 AM and they can go to ashram.

As Pranav spent a sleepless night that day, Pratiksha without knowing that this much incidents are happening based on her, was sleeping peacefully, with Shanthi aunty in her home….

Next day, Pranav and Santosh started to ashram in Pranav’s car. Pranav was very silent, for some time. Santosh asked him, “Why are you so silent? We will get some good news here buddy, so don’t worry”.

Pranav gave him a sarcastic look and told “I don’t hope so da… But let’s see what happens…  If she talks to me, properly there is no problem, but she is not ready to have a friendly chat also with me… What to do?”

Hearing this, Santosh had a naughty smile on his face and told “You should be probably happy that your lover is not talking much… Many boys are suffering because their lover or GF used to talk non-stop. But you are lucky man!!”

Pranav laughed and started to beat him. Santosh told “Hey stop beating me, ashram came idiot”

They both entered inside and enquired about who is the manager of the ashram, to a middle-aged woman. She told “Oh, you both are Pranav and Santosh right? Ganesan told me yesterday, about both of you. By the way, am Shankunthala, manager of this ashram…. Please come in!”

They entered Shankunthala’s room and Shankunthala asked “May I know, who is Pranav?”

Pranav told “Am Pranav Kumar, and he is my cousin and close friend Santosh”

Shankunthala continued “Ok Pranav, I will let you know, whatever I know about Pratiksha. First of all, Pratiksha came to ashram only when she was 15 years old. She didn’t grow up in Cuddalore ashram.

6 years back, one early morning, when I opened the main gate of this ashram, Pratiksha was standing outside the gate. She requested me to allow her to stay in the ashram. I brought her in, and asked her details.

She told me that she will not tell anything about her, but as I persisted, she told that she will leave the place immediately, if I asked her details.

 I found her in very piteous condition, so allowed her to stay in ashram. I thought after some days, I can get some information from her, but she was very tight-lipped about her, not only to me, to everyone in the ashram, till the day she left ashram.

The only thing, she asked me was to make her study. She told that she was a good academic student. So, I tried hard, and managed to get a seat in a school here, without any certificates of hers.

After that she studied by scholarship amount and few help from NGOs. Now she stays in KK Nagar. She visits us, once in every 15 days. That’s all I knew about her“

Pranav was shocked, as Pratiksha has lied, not only to him but everyone!! He asked Shankunthala “Did she have any close friends of her age? But why did she lie that she grew up in Cuddalore ashram?” desperately.

Shankunthala replied back “She didn’t have any close friends, as she spent most of her leisure time, with kids or painting!! She used to love kids a lot… And to answer your second question, I think so, she didn’t want her past to be known to anyone in office too. So she lied to you.”

Santosh interrogated “When did she leave ashram?” Shankunthalatold “She left 3-4 months back… While she was studying final year itself, she got a BPO job offer.

As per rules, after graduation in UG, no one can stay in ashram thereafter. So, she accepted that offer, and went to that job for 3 months.

As she had health issues going for night shift, she searched for new job and got placed in your company. These details I got when she visited ashram.”

Pranav and Santosh thanked Shankunthala and came back to a nearby park, to discuss things. Pranav’s head was aching like anything, as he didn’t sleep well also last night!! At that time, Santosh’s mobile rang, and it was from Reshma. He put the phone on speaker and asked her why she called.

Reshma told, “Hey now I got a call, from an unknown number. A man spoke to me, saying that, he was the one, who kept that, bouquet and greeting on the car, last Sunday.

I asked him, who he is, for which he told if I want to meet him, I have to come to Phoenix mall’s food court at 11.00 AM. I tried calling him back, but the phone is switched off. Am afraid to go alone, can you both come with me?”

Santosh and Pranav didn’t think for a moment also and said “Yes, we will be there in front of your home in 10 minutes”. As said, they reached there on time and picked up Reshma in their car.

While on the way to mall, Santosh told what all they have heard about Pratiksha. Even Reshma was shocked to hear all news about Pratiksha.

When they reached the mall’s food courtReshma got a call, saying to come near KFC counter and he has wore a white shirt and blue jeans. When they looked from distance, they could not see his face, but when they went near him and sat in his table, Pranav was very surprised, as the person was none other than Nikil!!!!!

 

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