Chapter 7

He was lying dead in front of me. In blood of a ghastly red. I was shocked. Another twist to my tale. Why did someone have to kill someone who was trying to kill my beloved? I was in a huge fix. Where would I search for my Avantika? What would I do about her?? Where was Shreyas? I had to address a lot of questions now. The lives of so many people was hugely dependent on how I acted at this juncture. I had to do something sensible and at the same time do something radical to save the most dearest people of my life, at the same time. Suddenly, as I was thinking, I stumbled upon a silver pen. It had an archiac A carved on it. It was placed on the doctor's worktable. How did it get here? I remembered this pen. Memories came gushing back.

It was class 11. The date was the 11th of April. It was a normal spring day by all standards, but was in a way special to me. It was Avantika's birthday. That morning when she entered her car, she had a surprise visitor waiting for her in it. Yeah, it was yours truly!! I had bribed her parents into it. As she entered, I wished her a happy birthday that had her off her feet. Then, I took out the most fashionable gift I'd ever presented someone for their birthday. It was a silver pen. She realized it was a pen as she unwrapped the gift covers, but she had a pleasant surprise when it was done. The pen was in silver, and was a delight to the Shakespearen fan. It had an archiac A inscribed on the front and on the back. It had her in pearls of smiles. I cherished each and every of those pearls and they made me feel so good. 

As I remembered that incident, it made me feel Avantika must have just been here, else the pen couldn't have got here. Shit! They got her out right from under my nose. She must be somewhere nearby, I needed to find her immediately. 

I rushed out of the house to find a vehicle. There was the doctor's Harley Davison. I rushed in, got the keys and started. As I got out of the house, I found Ramesh uncle crossing the road. I asked him to get on to the vehicle to help me search. He immediately joined me. 

As I went searching on the roads, Ramesh uncle asked me to try to trace the place from where the call had come last night. I felt like a fool. I had not done this for such a long time. I traced the call down to Taramani. We immediately set off. 

We moved into insti and out of it through the short cuts involved. Straight out we were through the Taramani gate. Now, we went searching for the Chakrapani Street in Thiruvanmiyur, and finally traced down the Gentleman House. It ought to be named the Goondaman House, I thought. I rushed in, searching for my Avantika. There were people all around, but I did manage to sneak in through an open window. There laid Avantika and Shreyas, unconscious. I sprinked some water on them, and slowly they regained consciousness. I signalled a thumbs up through the window to Ramesh uncle. He signalled back, and we made for our way out. I opened the door to go out, when a body turned the other way said 'You CAN'T Escape!!'

'Who the hell are you!!'

The person turned, giving me the shock of my life. It was absolutely possible, but definitely not expected!!