Shishir's POV.

I looked at Richard as he walked in. "Since you are here, can I assume there has been some progress?" I ask him with any preamble.

Last few days I have been completely into finding details about what happened with Suvi and why. I have checked with Richard from time to time about Ben's whereabouts. His actions have been pretty routine and not suspicious at all.

Ben is being careful that much is evident but we are digging beyond the superficial level and have his every action secretly monitored.

"If it can be called progress, then I guess we have." Richard said frowning slightly.

"What is it?" I ask sitting down and beckoned him to take a seat.

"Do sharks hibernate?" he asked me.

I gave him a long look before standing up "Call me when you want to talk sensibly." I muttered and I started moving towards the door.

"Then give me a sensible case to work on if you are looking for sensible talks." He retorted making me stop on my track.

"Your point is?" I asked my eyes narrowing.

"Ben got a call on his phone. Just a sentence spoken before the line was disconnected." Richard said returning my look.

Somehow I knew that one sentence would be another gibberish like the last one 'Ben's comb has fallen into river Thames.'

I continued to look at Richard till he said. "Sexy Shark has come out of hibernation."

I almost groaned as I heard this. "Are sharks sexy?" Richard asked sounding confused.

"From this whole thing all you want to know is whether sharks are sexy or they hibernate?" I asked irritated.

Richard shrugged his shoulder and looked away. I drew in my breath in impatience. What was wrong with him? He is highly competent and professional normally.

"Did you trace the phone number that the call came from?" I spelt it out for him at last.

"Of course! That is why I am here." He said and felt silent again.

"Richard!" I said close to losing my temper. "Why are you not following up on the number?"

"I am doing just that." He responded. He got up and walked till he was standing right in front of me. "Your office's landline number."

I looked at him stupefied. "Someone from this office called Ben with that gibberish?"

He nodded.

"So basically we have reached a dead end?" I asked him softly.

"Seemingly. At least for now. We have to dig deeper and mabe change our strategy." Richard said.

"Right." I said not knowing how else to respond.

"I will keep you informed Shishir. Don't worry. We will sort this soon." Richard said heading towards the door of my office.

"Thanks mate." I said tonelessly.

Just then his mobile rand and he answered it. I heard him say 'Thanks' into the phone before he turned to face me.

"Ben called our office to give another Bulletin board message. Just three words added to this one- 'Inform Silly Willy.'"

"Sexy Shark has come out of hibernation. Inform Silly Willy?" I repeated. "That is the message?"

Richard nodded and went out of the room after waving a mock salute at me.

I ran a hand in my hair feeling totally stumped. I hate this feeling of utter confusion.

But why is there so much secrecy in this? I repeat the three messages in my mind trying to decode them somehow.

'Ben's comb has fallen into river Thames.'

'Sexy Shark has come out of hibernation.'

'Sexy Shark has come out of hibernation. Inform Silly Willy.'

I end up feeling angrier at my helplessness to make any sense out of them.

Suddenly I remembered Suvi. Oh hell I was about to chase her when Richard had come in. Where is she? She did not come back in after that.

I looked t my watch and realised that was more than half an hour ago. I dialed her number and it rings.'

I sigh w/hen she does not answer and redial. This time it is answered at the first ring "Hello. Shishir?"

My 'hello' stays stuck in my throat as I hear a male voice answer Suvi's phone!

I stared at my mobile for a second in shock.

"Hello? Hello? Hello Hello? Are you there? Shishir?" the voice continued.

"Who is this?" I ask.

"Oh you are there. I thought the line had disconnected." The voice said sounding pleased.

"Who is this?" I repeated just as I heard the door of my office open.

"Me me. It's me." continued the voice, sounding close. I turned – and closed my eyes in my attempt to stop my temper from rising.

"It is me- Rahul." Continued the jack ass, still talking into the phone.

I disconnected the phone and looked at him trying my best not to shake him up.

"Suvarna forgot her phone with me." He said smiling at me broadly and- of course talking into the phone.

I fisted my palm tightly at his words. "Hello?" he said when I did not answer.

"I AM STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU BUFOON YOU DON'T NEED THE PHONE." I erupted.

"Oh yes! You are right." He said and laughed as though I had just cracked the biggest joke in front of him.

"Why was Suvi with you?" I asked taking a step away from him to ensure I actually don't shake him.

"I bumped into her sometime back." He said looking at her phone in his hand as he continued to smile.

I did not trust myself to respond so just stretched my hand and asked for her mobile.

"No no. Don't worry Shishir." He said.

What does he mean by that? I frowned at him in confusion.

"I will return it to her myself. It will give me an excuse to go and meet her." He said with a wink.

It had to be miracle for him that right then Danny entered the room.

"Give." I managed to say with an effort.

Danny looked at me. "Heading home already?"

I nodded and snatched the phone from Rahul's hand who did not look too happy about giving the phone to me.

"You know, I had guessed correctly it was you calling." He said suddenly brightening up.

I ignored him as I said "See you tomorrow." to Danny and stepped out.

Suddenly remembering what he had just said a doubt crept into my mind. What did he mean by 'guessed correctly' it was me? Caller ID would have told him.

I checked her screen. Locked, naturally.

I took out my phone and dialled her number and almost did a double take at the name that flashed on her screen.

'Cucumber Mafia calling.' With a high crescendo drumbeat for caller tone.

Cucumber Mafia? Where does she even get such weird ideas I thought trying not to smile.

***

I walk into my apartment and see Paresh gorging in on multiple delicacies spread in front of him.

I raise my eyebrow "What are you getting bribed for now?"

"Fees bhaiya." He said but I could see the look of alarm cross his face.

"Out with it." I said looking at him.

"I refused. I really did." He said looking ready to sprint away.

"I am sure. Now tell me what I am asking." I say sitting down in front of him.

"Aditya sent a message he wants to meet me." Suvi said coming and standing next to me.

"Sent a message?" I asked looking from one to the other. The duo exchanged a look.

"Okay, what have you two been upto now?" I asked with a sigh. These two joining hands and more dangerously joining  brains could not have any sensible outcome. This I knew from experience.

"I bought mint stuffed chocolate cupcake that you love Shishir."

"Bhaiya try these tacos. They are amazing."

"I know you love them Shishir. They even have a cherry on top."

"Hey my one did not have cherry- um – oh. Er-how about something to drink along with it bhaiya? Juice?"

"Mehrotra you are back?" I turned my head to look at the third voice. I saw Charles step out of the storeroom.

I nodded at him, instinctively knowing the duo has something to confess that involves Charles, who had taken the day off today.

"I will be on my way now. Once again thank you Paresh-" He said making me turn to a very alarmed looking Paresh.

"-for arranging the permission for me to meet Aditya." Charles completed as he headed out.

"He had every right to meet the man who mislead his siblings."

"Um – yeah- he mislead everyone."

"Shishir you cannot be angry on this."

"Bhaiya, Aditya has been exploiting a lot of people."

"Shishir-"

"I agree." I said looking at the babbling two.

"You agree?" Suvi asked looking shocked.

"With us?"Pushkar piped in looking equally shocked.

I nodded. "Yes. Of course. Charles has every right to take any action against the man who almost ruined his siblings life. But why did you two not tell me before?" I asked wondering why Charles did not come to me.

"We did not know you will agree." Suvi answered immediately.

I sighed in defeat then remembered what she had said. "He wants to meet you? Why?"

Suvarna's POV.

I looked at Shishir and shrugged. "I have no clue." I tell him honestly. I had myself been very surprised when Charles had conveyed this message to me.

"You know, he actually apologised to Charles for landing Ricky into trouble." I told Shishir.

"Must be another trick to manipulate Charles from taking any legal action against him." Shishir said shaking his head.

"You think so?" I asked.

"Has to be." Paresh said quietly.

I reached out and squeezed his hand. He is still very angry that Aditya had used him too by pretending to be his friend.

"I will meet him." I said making up my mind.

"No." came the echo of response as both of them answered at the same time.

"I want to know why he wants to meet me." I protested.

Just then his phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello."

"Another one?" I saw him frown as he got up to move out of the room.

"Once again a bulletin board message from Ben?" He said. Moving out of the room.

"Who is Ben?" I asked Pushkar.

"The owner of the first house bhaiya lived in when he came to London." Paresh answered.

First house! That is the address I had sent all my letters to. I know Shishir is trying to find out why he never received them. He has not mentioned anything to me but I know he is trying to find details.

I followed Shishir outside and heard him talk into the phone his tone irritated "This is getting crazier than ever!"

He listened to whatever the caller was saying and said. "Yes. I do understand all this is in some sort of code. But 'Willy is not silly. Getting Billy.' Sounds more like a rhyme than coded message."

"Yes Richard. We will need to find out who is helping Ben." Shishir said before hanging up.

I went and hugged him from behind. He turned around in surprise "Suvi?"

"You are trying to figure out about the letters aren't you?" I asked him.

I saw his features harden "I have to." He said as he pulled me closer.

I nodded in agreement. "But what is about this message? Willy- silly-Whatever are they?" I asked.

Shishir sighed and told me about the messages that Ben had been receiving and sending.

"They really do sound crazy and senseless." I agreed. "But who in your office could be involved?"

"I have no clue. Neither does it make sense why a bunch of simple letters are being treated with so much secrecy." Shishir responded shaking his head

"Speaking about crazy messages-" Shishir said and I saw him pulling out my mobile from his pocket. "What have you put my name as in your contact list?"

I giggled at his expression. "It does suit you though." I said taking my phone from him. "But where did you find my phone? I thought I had lost it."

"With Rahul." Came the sullen response.

"Oh" said. I must have forgotten to take it back when he was holding it for me while I was filling a glass of water to drink.

I had rushed out with Paresh when he had said Charles was on his way to the apartment.

I looked at Shishir "Serves you right for saving my number as 'Brutus.'" I told him defiantly.

"That was before." He was quick to respond.

"And now?" I challenged.

"Dial my number." He said softly.

I did narrowing my eyes at him. He turned his mobile screen towards me as it started ringing.

"Meri Zindagi calling.' Flashed on the screen. .My life. Is that what I am to him?

&&&

Some more crazy messages! Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter.

Do vote and comment.

Love from me to you.:)

No pre cap for the next one, Spoiler Chapter 47: Suvi insists on meeting Aditya and –er- a certain Mafia threatens to kidnap her. LOL