The Astral Alibi (32 page)

I shall live the rest of my life with our wonderful memories.

God bless you,

Tara.

A feeling of sadness swept over Sonia. So much agonising over what is right and wrong, what is approved and not. This letter revealed the internal strife of a woman at war with her own feelings and with the trappings of societal behaviour. So much love had burned within her. A love that could have resuscitated and flourished, had the answering call of love been accepted. With a sigh, Sonia picked up another letter. The ink was darker blue and the paper fresher than the others.

Pune, 1990

Dear Asit,

You will be surprised to receive this letter. It’s been ages, hasn’t it? Almost a decade since we last
spoke or communicated! I hope you’re doing fine. Are you married? Do you have kids? Are you just as handsome as ever? Are you doing well in your career? How’s the photography going?

So much time has passed. The memories seem to be fading too fast to hold on to. But I haven’t forgotten anything at all. I do remember you every dawn on 15th August—your birthday. Born on Independence Day—what a great year to be born in and what a great person you are. But I have missed you so much and sometimes the pain of missing was so strong, it left me aching for you!

I still remember those parties thrown by your friend and the way we danced all night. I remember every detail of those precious moments of the years spent with you, and I thank God for them. As I sit at my window, watching the world race by, my kids all grown and gone on their own paths, doing so well that they have no time to look back, and my grandchildren flourishing—well, I think of you, I think of me—old and haggard, and I wonder if it was worth it. Giving it all up. Our love. Should I have listened to you? Wouldn’t it have been better now? I would have still had you, to talk to, to share my thoughts with, my emotions and pain. A shoulder to lean on, to feel less lonely. I don’t even know where to post this letter to you. I’d like to meet you and have a tête à tête with you—for old times’ sake.

I wonder if I can without allowing my feelings for you to scare you!

All my love,

Tara.

Sonia’s eyes were moist as she picked up the last letter. It was past midnight, but she felt wide awake. Poor Tara. Lonely, filled with regrets and doubt.

Pune, 2002

Dear Asit,

This may be my last letter to you. I don’t feel too well. I’m seventy-seven, but feel as if I’m a hundred. I still don’t have your address, and perhaps now it’s too late. I can barely hold a pen in my hand. Arthritis is very painful. I wonder what you would think of me today? A lonely old woman, I guess…

But I will complete this letter. I don’t know what you feel towards me anymore, but I will say this. I always loved you, despite the differences. Though I shall cherish every memory till my last moment, I can’t help wishing that it had been very different for us….

I have a great family. My grandchildren are wonderful. They deserve the best. And I would like to return to them what I took from my family years ago: my love! Please help me. I trust you implicitly.

You will always remain in my heart,

Only yours,

Tara.

Sonia brushed away her tears, feeling tremendously disturbed. She gathered the letters and replaced them in the carved wooden box. An all-consuming love, one Tara had given up for her family. Time had run out and the sacrifice had lost its glory. Her own memories were precious to her, but soon they, too, would be dust bunnies, swept away for good…. With a deep sadness in her heart, Sonia switched off the light and settled against her pillow for a restive night.

“You were right! We have to hand these letters over to the rightful owner,” Sonia told Devika.

Her friend looked relieved. “So you read them?”

The detective nodded. “Such soulful letters! So poignant. Why do women make so many sacrifices for their children?”

“Indian women are raised with the power of the sacrifice in their hearts.”

“True. It is rooted deep into their psyche,” Sonia agreed. “But your grandmother was a very strong woman. I can’t imagine giving up such a powerful attraction and genuine love! Motherhood must be a great force.”

“What do you plan to do now?”

“First I shall chart out Asit’s horoscope. There is enough information in the letters for me to chart one.”

“Oh good!”

“Do you know which engineering college your grandmother taught at?”

“Pune’s College of Engineering.”

“Since we don’t have a second name for this Asit, we shall have to dig into the college records and find out how many Asits studied there during those years and who graduated in that particular year. And after that will begin our Herculean task!”

“But you think you can do it, right?” Devika asked anxiously.

“I’m going to give it my best shot,” Sonia assured her. “Nothing would make me happier than seeing those wonderful letters reach the hands of the right person.”

“Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me!” Impulsively, the other girl clasped Sonia’s hands.

“I know that if my grandmother—who is the naughtiest old woman I have ever met—were ever to have fallen in love again, I would’ve moved heaven and earth to see her united with her new love. I think love is the most positive emotion and it must always be applauded and rewarded. However much it may seem ridiculous or misfit to others.”

Devika nodded. Appreciation glowed in her eyes.

“And even though we cannot unite these two people now, we can at least unite their memories!” Sonia completed, with grim determination.

Devika stared at her. “You really understand being in love, don’t you? What it involves, what it means? Does that come from experience?”

“More a natural instinct, I would say!”

“A very diplomatic answer!” Devika laughed. “Sonia, you’ve been a wonderful friend to me this past year and I would really like to thank you for it. I really appreciate whatever you’ve done for me! Thank you!”

“Hey, don’t you think it’s a little too soon for thank yous?” Sonia asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“Right again! Well, see you later. Do let me know how you progress, okay?”

Sonia was still smiling long after Devika had left the room. She liked the woman. Warm-hearted and sincere. And Devika had been sporting about Nidhi, though the cat had almost ruined some of her designer clothes, and she always managed to drop by each morning for a brief chat. Sonia was glad that it was Devika who had rented the office and not some grouchy cat-hater.

She rang the buzzer of the intercom.

“Yes, Boss?”

“Ready for some work, Jatin?”

“Anytime!”

With a feeling of triumph Sonia stared down at the horoscope in her hand. Dawn, fifteenth August, 1947. Asit was in his fifties now. Here was the horoscope of the man who had touched Tara’s heart like no one else had. Despite being twenty-two years younger than her, he had loved her and appreciated her, pursued her till she had driven him away. Sonia felt a thrill of excitement. What a gift to be loved like that, eclipsing all logic, rules, and relationships. What a strong woman Tara must have been to have shoved aside the most rewarding emotion of her life for the sake of her children. It was no wonder that she had regrets towards the end. Poor Tara.

Sonia’s eyes swept over the natal chart of the mysterious Asit. Libra as the zodiac sign and Leo in the ascendant. Good-looking and attractive. Tall, dynamic, and intelligent. Determined, a person who knew his mind well. Stubborn and authoritative. Jupiter and the Sun in the tenth house with Taurus indicated a decent and basically nice human being. Venus, Mars, and Mercury in the ninth house in Aries revealed that he would be talented. Mars in the ninth house signified very strongly that he would fall for a woman older than him. Sonia stared in fascination at the constellation, her attention thoroughly caught. How precise could a horoscope get! Mars in conjunction with Venus in the Moon’s seventh house and the Moon in conjunction with Harshal and Venus and Harshal in opposition—all the planets suggested a dramatic, even eccentric and unusual tale of love. Venus in the seventh house from the Moon, clearly disclosed that the love of his life would be a beautiful woman. Which Tara undeniably was! But Saturn aspected Venus and Mars, rewarding Asit with a lifelong tension as far as the affair was concerned. Also Saturn in the twelfth house in a weak sign Cancer was the Lord of the seventh house, proving that marital peace and happiness were not in Asit’s destiny.

But despite everything, did he continue to love Tara? Sonia wondered. Suddenly she realised that this was no more just a question of hunting down Asit and handing him Tara’s letters. It had become a personal crusade now. She needed to discover what he felt for Tara. Where had his passion for an older woman landed him? Was he happy doing what he was? Satisfied with the way his life had turned out? And most important, was he still in love with Tara? Or had he moved on, proving that love was an overrated emotion and that like everything else in this world, it changed? Sonia had to find out. If years could alter love.

She was surprised at the intense interest she felt in this case. An inner voice seemed to be goading her to find the answers to some of life’s most important questions. Did
real love
exist?

The door swung open and Jatin strode in. Sonia glanced at his face and knew from his smug smile that he had news.

“Successful?” she asked.

“Hundred percent!” He beamed. “Name: Asit Rao. Year of Passing: 1970. Resident of Mumbai, born on 15th August 1947. Graduated with distinction as a Mechanical Engineer. Later returned as a Chief Guest to the college. The present principal happened to be his classmate and was most forthcoming with information. Though he had no idea where Asit is at the moment, the principal knew that Asit had stayed as a paying guest with their professor Tara Karnik. That he was a brilliant student and a ranker. Also very good-looking. He had all the girls swooning over him.”

“Fantastic work, Jatin! We have a good base to work from now. With a horoscope and the information you dug up, finding Asit Rao should not be too much of a trouble!”

“Does that mean I can leave you to it?” her assistant asked, a little self-importantly.

“Of course you can!”

“Good, because I have a lot of work to do. I have to prepare for my ghost watch tonight. Bring my hockey stick, keep a thermos of
chai
ready, a blanket. Then there’s the Christmas tree to decorate and gifts to buy—we
are
going to celebrate Christmas this year at the office, aren’t we?”

“Of course we are!”

“Great. I’m off home to do the needful. You needn’t lock up, I’ll be back in half an hour.”

“Right!” Sonia swallowed the word
Boss,
which sprang humorously to her lips. She realised that she decidedly preferred a pompous, bumbling Jatin to a sad, depressed one!

“What a wasted night!” Jatin yawned. “I’m off to bed, Boss! Hope you’ll manage the office till I return this afternoon. I really need to catch some sleep.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be working on the computer anyway.” Sonia turned back to the computer.

“And don’t feed Nidhi, She’s had a gala time keeping me awake. Demanding constant attention and food! I think I’ve overfed her!”

Nidhi was curled up in a tight ball, scarcely looking up as Jatin spoke.

“We’re both tired! Not a soul disturbed us! What a shame!” he grumbled.

“Don’t lose hope. Maybe tomorrow night you’ll have luck,” Sonia consoled.

“Or maybe tonight
we’ll
have luck!” Mohnish interrupted, sauntering inside with a wide grin.

“That is more likely!” Jatin grinned cheekily and, before his Boss could comment, hastily quit the office.

Sonia turned to Mohnish with a stern eye. He looked fresh and handsome in a lemon-yellow shirt. “You’ll give him ideas with these innuendos of yours!”

“Good, because that’s exactly what I plan to do!”

“Why?” She frowned.

“Need I answer that? You’re a special person, Sonia Samarth. I care a lot about you.” Mohnish shrugged.

“But there’s nothing between us!” Sonia switched on the computer.

“Are you sure there’s nothing between us?” he asked deliberately, leaning towards her. His quiet tone stilled her fingers and she glanced up swiftly.

His deep brown gaze was trained on her, with an intensity which seemed to cut through her indifference.

“I…you’re my good friend.” Her mouth was suddenly dry.

“Sure, but a delicate, flimsy boundary protects friendship from crossing over to love. Are you positive that that fragile boundary hasn’t played an illusionary trick on us, in keeping those emotions in check? That we haven’t already unconsciously crossed the boundary?”

“Good morning, everybody!” Devika breezed in, greeting them cheerily.

Sonia blushed and bent hastily over the computer to dust off an invisible speck. The other woman paused awkwardly.

“Am I interrupting anything?” she asked cautiously.

“Actually, yes—” Mohnish began as Sonia remarked simultaneously, “Of course not!”

Devika glanced from one to the other. “Make up your mind. Yes or no?”

“No!” Sonia exclaimed. “Come along and I’ll brief you on the developments!”

Mohnish watched, amused, as the detective updated Devika. Sonia certainly looked especially pretty when she blushed. Dressed in a cotton red-and-black Salwar Kameez, with the red shawl thrown casually over her shoulders, her silky hair swinging, and her expressive eyes on Devika, Mohnish was aware of the extreme attraction he felt for her. But she was so frustratingly guarded, thwarting his advances at every step. All her defences sprang up at the slightest hint of something intimate! He had to do
something
to loosen her guard. He had to make her see that there was something worth exploring between the two of them, if only she would give them a chance!