Harini called and talked with Nirmal Akash.
"Have you heard it? Karthi is missing. A police officer came and enquired about the same. What do you think might have happened? ”
Her anxiety hurted him.
"I do not know. That police officer came here also and enquired about him. I too was shocked to hear that. I do not understand what has happened. The police officer tol me not to discuss about this case in public. Once media knows about the missing case, it will be a big hindrance for the investigation.”
"From the moment I came to know about Karthi is missing, I am not able to concentrate on anything.”
She went on to say something in such a way that she could not engage herself wholeheartedly in any work. But nothing fell on his ears. The words she uttered were all acid eroding his heart. She ended the conversation with the satisfaction of having poured out all of her mental anguish to a good close friend. But in his mind dissatisfaction rose and pressed like a mountain.
Born and raised in affluence, he was raised by his father ParthaSarathy without any shortcomings from an early age. He is very much attached to his only son. Made him study at the Ooty Convent. He was a bright student with sharp mind and topped every exam in the school. At school there will be competition for second place between his friends. Fellow students believed that coming first was not possible as long as Nirmal Akash was there. The teachers held him in high esteem. At home his parents were proud. He lived as a symbol of total success. He was very selective in mingling with his fellow students. Only those who scored high in the exams and were high in money and status were allowed in his circle of friends. He had set many standards in his circle of friends. Some received only smiles, with other he had only small conversations, and he shared intimacy only with a selected few.
He did not even think of the Selvarangan family as equal to his family. Both of his parents were graduates. Selvarangan and Gnanam did not complete their school studies. Before coming to politics, Selvarangan was heard wandering around the city without any proper job. He also heard the man to say it openly without shame.
But it seemed to him that Karthi’s knowledge was on par with him as he knew that Karthi would always be the first student in every exam. And you can talk with Karthi about anything. He will understand anything quickly. So to some extent he had decided at an early age that Karthi was his true equal. So when he visited Chennai on holidays he will go to Karthi's house. Will play with him.
But in one corner of the mind ‘Whatever may be Karthi is studying at a local school. I am studying at Ooty Convent.' He was arrogant about that fact. He also thought that if Karthi came to study at Ooty Convent he would be able to retain the second place only. ParthaSarathy had sometimes tried to persuade his friend Selvarangann to get admission for Karthi in the Ooty Convent. He was of the opinion that the absence from home would be somewhat lessened for the son if his friends joined him at school.
But Gnanam put an end to the talk by asserting, "I will not leave my child at all."
It was only at the college that Nirmal Akash realized that he had underestimated Karthi's knowledge. Karthi has a habit. He would talk about anything from the same level of knowledge that his friends were at. He was adamant that his speech should not make others that he is superior to them. Hence, he was So he was behaved the same way with Nirmal Akash as he did with others.
It was while studying with him in college that Nirmal Akash realized this fact. Accustomed from being the topper in every exams so far, he was always pushed to the second place after coming to IIT. Even though he is a very good student and brilliant, he faded in front of Karthi. Some professors and fellow students who celebrated Karthi as a genius forgot to notice Nirmal Akash’s knowledge. Many knew Nirmal Akash as Karthi's friend in some places. Nirmal Akash could not bear it. But it was hard and had to endure everything.
His father, who was almost in the mood for him, could not bear to see his son come in second. Even though he did not say it aloud, he was able to feel his shock within a few months of joining his college. His mother died while he was still in college. It was in the case of Harini that he felt overwhelmed by all the trials and turbulence that came one after the other.
Within a week of his acquaintance, he felt Harini is the beautiful, intelligent, brave woman, energetic and vibrant woman, the woman who was able to make her place lively and happy. So much so that she is not equal to him in status. She was wearing glasses. That, too, was not his favorite. But his heart never minded all that.
Initially she befriended him. It was only later that Karthi came into the circle of friends. But after Karthi came she started getting closer to him. Karthi is the one who avoids getting close even though he is well behaved with everyone. He, too, broke his habit and started getting closer to Harini. This intimacy grew before his eyes as if trident was piercing his heart.
Nirmal Akash is a good friend as far as Harini is concerned. She kept him in that position. She did not in any way minimize talking and behaving with him. But it was clear to Nirmal Akash that Karthi was holding numero uno position in her mind. He was in no hurry to call it love. But on the occasions when Harini was with Karthi, the intimacy that flowed through the visual exchanges between them without words struck that it was love. It didn’t even hurt him to finish second in everything else. Truly Karthi was a genius. Nirmal Akash had a hard time in understanding and recognizing it. But the heart didn’t want to lose moon of his life.
The intimacy between Karthi and Harini suddenly erupted as it healed his heartache. Both did not say what the reason was. But the visual exchanges have stopped. The two began to behave as normal friends again. This time it was Karthi who was miraculously pushed behind Nirmal Akash. Nirmal Akash was overjoyed that fate had begun to work in his favor.
Harini did not give up Karthi's old place to Nirmal Akashh. However, he was at the forefront of the acquaintances. He was convinced that one day he would make her fall in love with him. He was waiting for that one golden day to come.
Now when Harini heared about Karthi's disappearance and showed her tension and sadness, his love was questioned again. Nirmal Akash closed his eyes and thought for a long time. Everything was confusing.
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The KCGTRAC director was sitting in his Pune office staring at the information sent by the young scientist and female scientist Uma Nayak. Although he pretended not to care about what they said about the snake-bitten hired killer, he was aware of the danger that the research case had now become the murder case. The power class is dangerous. When certain things become problematic they will seek scapegoat instead of reparation. He did not want to be that scapegoat. So he decided that it was safe to tell the situation in New Delhi and called immediately.
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Senthilnathan had gone to that mountain before dark. He explored the mountain until dark. A small temple on the top of the hill, some larger rocks, trees growing in arid climates, and some bushes. He was searching for any traces related to Karthi. Nothing related was available.
He stayed there even after dark. That night gave meaning to pitch dark. Does this mountain have any news tonight? The wind was high at night. The storm came with a strange sound. It seemed that ordinary people could be frightened by this supernatural sound. The old ghost stories that were told around this mountain seemed to be centered around this sound.
From the top of the mountain he quietly stared at the stars in the sky and began to look down. In the distance the city lights shone like diamonds. There were not many lights on the road from the city to this hill. Some of the lights that were on were not lit except for a couple.
Suddenly a car coming from a distance was coming towards the hill on that road which caught his attention. He was alert.