Five Faces - Part Eight

The chase begins

Amit went into Tripti's room. She was writing something in her notebook when Amit came. She kept it aside and looked at him.

"What happened ?" she asked.

"Arunesh Prabhu is in the Netherlands," Amit said to see if there is any change in Tripti's expression. There was none.

"Okay. So now, what do we do ?" she asked.

"Well, Shantanu is also there," Amit said 

"What Shantanu is in the Netherlands ?" she asked shockingly.

Her expressions looked genuine.

"Yes. He is," he said.

"He didn't tell me that he has shifted," she said.

"Well, because he didn't. He has lived in the Netherlands from the beginning. He was never in France." Amit said suspiciously.

"What? But then why did he lie to me ?" she said to herself.

"I don't know. I have the same question. Why would he lie to you about where he is going to live ?" he asked.

"I don't understand," she said and looked at Amit.

"Wait, you are not doubting me, right ?" she asked.

"No, I'm just asking," Amit said.

"I don't know a thing about this Amit. And I'm not trying to save him. He was my past. I don't hate him but I don't love him either." she said.

Amit realised that he had gone too far. He said "Fine. Leave all this. So, this is good news for us. Both of them are at the same place. Now, we can save both of them and can also catch the culprit. Isn't that amazing ?" he asked.

"Yeah. But how will we go to the Netherlands? Going there and doing all this is a difficult task." she asked 

"I'm not worried about that. I have my sources there. Also, my boss will help me in going there. Do you have any plan ?" he asked

"My boss won't allow me. In fact, he will make sure there isn't any way I can go there," she said

"What if I talk to him? I'm good at convincing," he said.

"No, Amit," she said

Amit took her phone from her hand and dialled the number of her senior. Tripti tried to stop him but Amit signalled her to not say anything. He kept phone on speaker. 

"Hello." the officer said.

"Hello, sir. I'm officer Amit Sharma from London. I just met your officer Tripti in Mumbai. She is smart and brave. We have an international police meeting program next week. Can I take officer Tripti for that program ?" he asked.

Tripti kept a hand on her head. She knew the excuse was stupid. She signalled him to cut the call but Amit didn't listen to her.

"I have not heard about the kind of program that you are talking about, officer. And also if some kind of program is happening, I don't think Tripti will be the right option. Don't trust her because of her social work and good speaking ability. She is a dangerous person. Don't you know what people call her in Kolkata ?" the officer said.

Amit looked at Tripti. She sat down holding her head. 

"No, sir. She looks fine to me. And I don't know what people call her in Kolkata. Please tell me about that." Amit asked 

"Encounter queen. That's what they call her there. She has killed many criminals even before their crime was proved. She doesn't have any control on her anger sometimes. She is brilliant and courageous but also short-tempered and dangerous. So, we have to be careful with her. Please don't take her to any international conference or program. If you want I can suggest other officers." the officer said.

"Umm…I will let you know about that later officer. Thank you. " Amit said and cut the call.

Amit sat with her. She looked up. She had tears in her eyes.

"What should I believe? The person that I've been seeing for so many days or the thing that I've heard now. " Amit asked.

"Both are true. Yes, I've killed criminals. But not when there was no evidence against them. I killed them when I was sure about their crime but it was not provable in court. I have only killed 2-3 people till now and that too because they had committed heinous crimes and we did not have proof also the statements given to police are not admissible in court. How can I let go of someone who has done a dangerous crime and has committed it in front of me ?" she asked.

"But you can't go against the law, Tripti," he said.

"Why do we have laws? To maintain peace and order, right? And if these dangerous criminals roam around freely then how can there be any peace and order? They will think that they can do anything they want and will get away with it just because of some loopholes in the system. I won't let that happen. One of them was a rapist who raped a little girl, another a murderer who killed a poor labourer who was the sole earning member of his family and another one was a murderer who killed a doctor. Don't you think these criminals deserved punishment ?" she asked.

Amit did not have any answer. He always believed in laws and rules. But what Tripti had said somehow felt true to his heart. 

"Maybe you are right, Tripti. But the mission for which we want to go cannot have someone who is aggressive. If you do anything like that there, then we will be in big trouble." Amit said

"I know. And I promise you, Amit, I won't do anything which will get you in trouble. Please give me some ideas by which I can come." she said.

Amit was not sure. But somehow he didn't find the courage to say no to her. Amit was straightforward and would always say whatever he felt no matter if it hurts someone or not. But today he didn't have that courage. He didn't know why. 

"We have only one option. Tell Shantanu to call you there. Only then you can go there without any cross-questioning from anyone." Amit said although he didn't like that idea.

"Don't we have any other option ?" she asked.

"I don't think we have," he said.

"But what should I tell him? Why do I want to talk to him after two years ?" she asked.

"I don't know that. You think of something," he said.

She took her phone and went towards the balcony.

"Can't you talk here ?" he asked

"No," she said and went.

Tripti came back after 15 mins. He has agreed. I can go on a visitor's visa to meet him. 

"What did you tell him?" he asked.

"Nothing. It is something very urgent. Can't express on call. Please let me come and explain to you over there. He didn't agree at first. But after a lot of persuasions he finally agreed. And yeah it was my mistake. He said he was going to France but then his friend offered him a job in the Netherlands so he never went to France. It was my mistake that I forgot that. I'm sorry." she said.

"Fine." Amit said. 

The next day, Tripti told her officer to allow her to go and meet her ex-husband. She got the leave. Amit easily got permission. They left for the Netherlands in a few days. No officer should get to know about them. So, they took different seats, travelled in different cabs, reached the same hotel and pretended to meet each other coincidentally in front of the receptionist. They acted as if they were meeting after a long time and wanted to book the same suite so that they could have some friendly conversations after a long time.

After getting into their suite, Amit took out equipment like a hidden camera, mic and recorder from his bag.

"How did you get all this here ?" Tripti asked.

"I told you, we have sources here. He gave me this on my way to this hotel. Wherever we are in the world, our sources provide us with all the necessary things." he said.

"Do you have your sources in India, too ?" she asked.

"Yes, but I can't tell you about them," he replied.

"Get freshen up. And then go to Shantanu's house. I will be connected to you through this Bluetooth. Also, carry a hidden camera in your shirt button so that we can get information about him." he said.

Tripti did not say anything. 

Amit looked at her. "I know you must be thinking that we are using him as bait. But that's not true. I assure you nothing will happen to him." he said 

"What should I tell him ?" she asked

"Well, you will know it better. You know him well. So, please find something." he said

Tripti was irritated now. "Fine. I have an idea. I will act as if I want to reconcile with him but I'm embarrassed about it." she said

"That's not a good idea. I don't think he will buy into that after two years," he said

"He will. I know him. No matter how he was, one thing I know is that he was a one-woman man. Once he realizes that his wife has left everything for him, he will be happy from inside even if he doesn't show that initially." she said

Amit didn't like the idea but they didn't have any other option. "Fine," he said

Tripti called Shantanu and got ready. Amit noticed that she had applied makeup. 

"You look different," he said

"Yeah. I've tried the look that I had when we were married," she said

Amit passed on the camera to her.

"I don't know how to fix it ?" she said looking at it.

"What kind of police officer are you ?" he said and started helping her.

"I've not done many sting operations like you, officer Sharma," she said.

He gave her a look but didn't say anything. She looked beautiful with kajal in her eyes and lip gloss. He kept himself busy fitting in the hidden camera.

Tripti looked at him.

"I'm not going to tell him that he is on a hit list of a murderer," she said looking at Amit.

Amit looked up.

"I want to save him but that doesn't mean that I'm going to deceive you. I will never forget my duty," she said looking at the camera.

"No, you are getting it wrong, Tripti. I'm not giving you this camera and mic because I have doubts about you. It is for your safety. What if the criminal is there in the home? What if they recognise you? What if they try to harm you just the way they tried in Mumbai? I know you are strong enough to protect yourself but it is still my duty to make sure you are safe. You go in a cab and I'll be right behind you in a car that my friend has given to me. Any problem and I'll be there in a minute." he said

Tripti smiled. She wore Bluetooth. She left the hotel and Amit followed her. She reached Shantanu's home. She pressed the bell. 

A girl opened the door. 

"Yes, ma'am," she said.

"I'm here to meet Shantanu," she said.

"Yes, ma'am. Please come in." the girl said. She took her to the living room.

She called Shantanu to come downstairs. Amit told Tripti to ask her who she is through Bluetooth. 

"Who are you ?" asked Tripti.

"I'm Saanya. I'm working as a maid here. I'll get water for you" she said and went into the kitchen.

"Oh my god. Maybe the criminal is already in the house. They are always two steps ahead of us. Please be careful Tripti. If anything feels wrong, give me a signal. I'll be in." Amit said. 

What will happen now ? Is Saanya the real murderer? Has she recognised Tripti? Will Tripti stay safe ? Will Amit and Tripti catch the murderers ? Stay tune to know more….