Previous Part- Episode 10
“You are not getting me. I don’t need any personal details of the account; I just need to know about the transactions made, since last 25 years”
“Mr. Oberoi, YOU are not getting ME” the voice coming from the receiver was an elderly one. It’s been almost 10 minutes he was speaking to Shivay and making him understand, slowly and evidently his age was taking over his patience. Exasperated, he explained again slowly.
“Sir, what I am saying is, the thing you are asking for, is exactly what can’t be given. I can’t give you the account’s transaction details. I CAN NOT. Rather, the personal details which you are not so interested in, it seems, is something exactly I CAN give you. That’s all. Only the details of the account beholder, that too because he’s a dead man now and supposedly won’t mind giving away his address and phone no.”
Shivay was no bank employee, he had no patience mantra. Frustrated, he hanged up.
“What the hell! Why can’t they give me such simple information? Do they think I, Shivay Singh Oberoi , will be after a dead man’s money? Do I look like a Gold digger? And who are they making such a fuss about security of their accounts? Swiss Bank?”
“It’s Okay Shivay, calm down”
Shivay was so high with rage that he didn’t even notice Anika standing right behind him.
He dared to smile back at her. “No Anika, it’s not okay. If we don’t get the bank details, we won’t know where exactly Gauri and Mallika are. Or Asavari… or whatever her name is. This is the only hopeful lead we have, and this bank… this bank is not at all co-operating. Only if they knew the seriousness…”
Shivay was rambling in half audible manner.
Anika kept an assuring hand on his chest.
“It’s okay Shivay. It’s obvious; the bank won’t give away their account details to an absolute stranger and…”
“Do I look like an absolute stranger Anika?”
Of course; one shouldn’t be calling Shivay Singh Oberoi a stranger.
“I did not mean that Shivay. What I meant is, you are no family to Mr. Kapoor, no one even close to him, why will they give you his transaction details?”
Shivay looked up at his wife for a few blank moments and picked up his phone again.
“Send me a copy of his personal details”
Exactly after 3 hours, Shivay had a file in his hand with Mr. Kapoor’s details. He noted down the address it read.
Within half an hour to that, ShivOmRu and Anika had hit the road in a car to Mr. Kapoor’s mansion.
When they reached, they realized, it was no mansion. It was a simple house, well maintained.
A lady in simple salwar suit opened the door for them. Right behind her was a small boy playing with toys. Looking at four unfamiliar faces she tried to give them a welcoming smile.
“Yes? Who are you looking for?”
“Is this Mr. Kapoor’s house?” Anika asked warmly
“Yes, and you all are?”
“May we know who you are to Mr. Kapoor exactly?”Anika took the lead.
“I am his daughter-in-law, but why?” she had started frowning by then.
Four of the Oberois looked at each other in surprise. Daughter-in-law? That would mean Mr. Kapoor and Asavari had a son, only if Mr. Kapoor hadn’t married again after Asavari left.
Anika gave words to their unanimous thought “It means… it means you are… Asavari Kapoor’s daughter-in…”
“Asavari maa?” the lady spoke up in shock.
They all exchanged glances standing there in the doorway.
The lady’s frowned deepened now. “WHO are you? How do you know Asavari maa?”
Before Anika could say anything more, Om spoke up “Can we please get inside and talk? I think it’ll take some time to explain everything”
“Who is it Renu?” an aged man appeared from the back.
Renu turned towards him to reply “Papa they are…” she stopped midway. Renu had no idea who they were “The Oberois”, Om helped.
Renu smiled at him and looked back at the old man “Yes, the Oberois and…” she hesitated “… and they were asking about Asavari ma”
The shock in his face was much more than that of Renu’s.
“Aa..a..sa..vari… Asavari”
He spelled it like he had absolutely forgotten how to say that name.
“It’s been years since I heard that name the last time.” A smile played on his lips.
Rudra leaned a bit closer to Renu and asked “Who is he?”
Renu looked at him confused and spoke in an obvious tone “Mr. Kapoor”
It was Rudra’s turn to be confused. “Mr. Kapoor? But Mr. Kapoor is dead!”
She frowned a little and then smiled at him “Come in”
When the Oberois stepped in, Mr. Kapoor was still lost in his thoughts mumbling something. Only word that could be made out at times was ‘Asavari’. For a moment Rudra felt, either they have done some mental damage to him by taking Asavari’s name in front of him or else he was already out of his mind.
Renu had sent her son to the next room when they all got seated.
Looking at Rudra she started explaining “You were right, Mr. Kapoor is no more. The one you are talking about is Vivek Kapoor, and this is his brother, Rana Kapoor, MY father-in-law”
Oberois looked at each other and grinned. How stupid they have been, being the Oberois they must have already known how many Mr. Kapoor could there be in a family.
“Do you know where she is right now?” Shivay was all business here.
“She would’ve stayed with us here if we knew where she is” the old man snapped at him with such a hold and seriousness, that nobody would’ve believed that this same man was talking all gibberish, moments back. He continued, “She left us years back, and after that my brother… Wait… why am I discussing my family with you all? First tell me who are you kids exactly? I mean I know who Oberois are, but what do you have to do with my Bhaiyya- Bhabi?”
The Oberois looked at each other… they had a story to narrate.
Kapoors listened to them intently without interrupting. After they were done, everybody looked at Rana Kapoor expectantly, including Renu. It was evident she wanted to help them.
Mr. Kapoor sat silently for a few moments and then looked up straight into Shivay’s eyes “Fine. I’ll arrange all the bank details you need but there’s a condition.” Shivay waited for him to continue “Promise me, you’ll find Asavari Bhabi”
Shivay looked at Anika for confidence and then kept an assuring hand on the old man’s hand. “We will”