Addicted - BOOK 1

27-ii

I was driving home. It has been a very taxing day. I had got in touch with Mr.Burn's son-in-law to offer my condolences and more importantly to see if I can pick up some hints of what is brewing in his head. I could not get the conversation out of my head.

"I am sorry Peter. He was a really great man - he meant a lot to me."

"Thanks Virat. That's very nice of you. I am sure you meant a lot to him too - specially your wife. I hope you got the message from our lawyers. Everything is going to her tomorrow."

"Well, I called to find out when his funeral is but you seem pretty preoccupied worrying about tomorrow Peter."

"I heard you were in a major accident. I didn't think you could make it here; since you know - you are temporarily handicapped. Did your hand break or leg or is it your spine? I am sure you wouldn't dare stepping into this house again." He laughed.

"Unfortunately, although I almost died, I am in the pink of my health right now. If I were you, I would be more concerned about your own health. Weird thing - my chopped crashed in the exact same way as your wife's and your father-in-law's. You will be delighted to know that we did some research and found that all the three engines were tampered with in the exact same way - some coincidence huh? My security advisor just forwarded all this information to the FBI - just so you know - they have also gathered finger prints of some of your technicians on all three sites - matched perfectly. I suggest you get our own helicopter on stand-by - You never know when you might need to flee the country, to save your ass."

"I heavily underestimated you Vadhera. You are mistaken about one thing though - all three accidents aren't all exactly the same - there is an important difference - my wife died, my father-in-law became an invalid but you - you slipped away."

"Yes. How about thaaat?" I smirked.

"Thaaat is pretty lucky. I think the stars are in your favor. But, you know what they say about stars.." 

"Yes, I do - they never favor motherf**king bas***ds like you. Listen, you asshole - if you don't back off from me and my family, I am going to f**king kill you and your loser girl-friend."

"hahaahahaaha..Scared? Vadhera?"

"Oh yeah, I am very scared - about what I am capable of doing to you right now.YOU WILL DIE AND YOU WILL NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT HIT YOU!!"

                                                                        ~~~

"Momma, papa is home." Nikki screams and hugs my legs. Hmm. This is a first.

"Hey bud." I lift him up and he hugs me. "Missed your old man?"

"Ah-ha"

"Virat? You okay? You never called." Manvi comes to me worried.

"I am ok." I tell her. I look into her eyes and she looks away.

"Nikki, let papa relax. Go play with spiderman." She tells him.

"Alright. I'll go." He walks away, shaking his head, as if he is dealing with all the problems in the world. I smile at him walking away with his small cricket bat. When I saw him for the first time, he had the same bat in his hand. It idly occurs to me that I have never seen him play football. I have never been with him on any of his birthdays.

"Virat?" Manvi brings me back out of my thoughts.

"Hi!" I mumble and walk into the kitchen where Swetha was sitting at the dining table reading something. She smiles at me sweetly and I smile back. What would have happened to Manvi if it was not for Swetha?