[sarit11]

Chapter 28

---

I hurriedly started my Swift and followed the Baleno. ‘The Square’ was two hours away thanks to the heavy traffic. It had a dance program scheduled at nine. The place was too crowded, and at the jam-packed parking lot, I lost them. By the time I parked my car and reached the entrance, they had disappeared. I had however spotted his car in the parking lot already and it meant they were not completely lost.

I was then stopped at the entrance.
“Couples only for the event, sir. “ The men at the gate said.
I said my girlfriend was late for an hour so I thought I would warm up with some light drink. But it didn't help.
"You can wait at the outer lobby, sir. Drinks are available there." They said.

I wasn't ready to walk away leaving my wife with her lover or friend. I roamed around until I saw a lonely girl. I approached her.
“Hello there, do you wanna go in?”
I had never done such things in the past and I hardly expected it would work. But it did. The third girl I hit responded positively.
“Do I know you?”
“We’ll get to know.”
I said and she smiled lightly.

The late moment entry cost me eleven thousand bucks. I wondered if they are offering a suite to lay my new friend. She was very young and she wore a black dress that I couldn’t find a name for. It ended right at her knees, and beyond it was impressive looking shiny legs.

I wondered how come she ended up alone there.
However, once we were inside, I quickly turned my attention away from her. I scanned the whole crowd. Couples, everywhere. Tables, designed at no specific order or space or size. Everything seemed like in a mess yet something fresh. I looked for my targets.

"I'm Shilpa."
I heard my friend say. I was late to turn my eyes to her.
"Uh. I'm Krish."
"What are you looking at?"
She looked at I was looking.
"Look Shilpa I'm so glad you came with me. I am on a dirty secret job in here and I need some room to work. You're free to watch the program and have all the fun you want. We'll see again if we're destined to."
She looked surprised and I thought she looked cute that way.
"Are you a detective?"
I was so happy to hear that, and I had an instant liking for her.
"Don't make an issue with it. Excuse me."
I whispered and walked away.

I walked around, mostly through the darkest areas of the place. I didn't want Meera to see me before I did. Well, I could not see them at all, and I was left in frustration. Like a true detective, I considered the alternative possibilities.
The outer lobby! I suddenly remembered.
What if they had gone there and then moved on to some other places?

Other places! I thought about his car. It was parked in a corner, a dark corner in the parking lot. He could take her to the car and have all the fun he wanted.
I prayed that Meera showed some willpower like Ananya had said. She must resist.
He could also drive her to other places. His places, possibly.
I cursed my decision not to check in the lobby.
By the time dance program was about to begin, I had made up my mind to leave the Square.
Then decided that I would watch the beginning of the program. Everybody would settle down for that, and I could have a better chance to search for them.

The program began very soon, on a slightly elevated platform, where I had earlier noticed a music band playing some western tracks. People gathered around it, well, in half circle actually, in available tables, benches and steps or whatsoever.
I scanned through the audience from the rear corner and suddenly I recognised a red jacket.
Meera! I almost screamed.

Indeed, she was sitting with a man.