#17

Chloe and Sarika followed the woman through a passage behind the bakery to the kitchen. There were three bakers in the kitchen including a male one. Valerie was decorating a white cake. The owner called her.

" Valerie. "

Valerie lifted up her head and looked at them.

" They want to have a word with you. "

She left the cake and removed her gloves and apron as well. Sarika asked the other two bakers to leave the kitchen.

" Would you please excuse us? It would be grateful for us if you co-operate with us. "

The bakers came out of kitchen along with the owner. Sarika shut the door and stepped towards Valerie.

Valerie said, " I didn't do anything now. "

Chloe said, " We are here to enquire about Gosef. "

" We are no longer together. "

" I know, but you are the only one who can get us to him. "

" What he has done now? Listen, I have stopped peddling drugs for him so I don't want to be part of this situation. "

Sarika said, " This is not about drugs, Valerie. "

Valerie's face displayed an array of confusion.

She said, " What he has gone into now? "

Chloe said, " He has sold a military weapon to a terrorist. "

Valerie exclaimed, " What? "

Sarika said, " We need your help. "

Valerie sighed.

" Well, the matter is too sensitive, I have to think about it. "

Chloe looked at Sarika. Sarika pulled out a bundle of cash from under her jacket and kept it before her on the kitchen slab. Chloe kept the dorsal side of her hand before her mouth and pressed her lips in order to control her smile. She cleared her throat.

A number of board of directors, executive directors, members and employees of Blackstone Oil Corporation were gathered inside a memorial hall in order to pay tribute to Mr. Naushar Mehta. A large framed photograph of Mr. Mehta was mounted on the wall behind the stage. Sofia (in her early thirties) was standing before the wooden mic podium.

" I would like to invite our new chairman, Mr. Yusuf Rehman to speak a word to pay homage to Mr. Naushar Mehta. "

She got off the mic. Yusuf, who was standing behind on the stage, came forward before the podium. Before he spoke, he turned to the wall where Naushar's photograph was mounted. He turned ahead and faced the people before him. Tevray Morrisson, who was standing among the crowd with Auric nodded his head. Yusuf cleared his throat.

" Excuse me. Well (caught the podium slab with both of his hands), as we all know why we are gathered here. Mr. Mehta's demise is a day of misfortune for all of us. We all should pray for his soul to rest in peace. Everything is not in our control. There are events that happen which are out of her hands. Mr. Mehta's death was one of such events. I knew him for a long time. He was a great personality. The position he achieved in his career was an inspiration for all of us. He has left a legacy by making Blackstone as one the most popular oil supplier corporation in the world. As the new chairman of this corporation, I can assure that I'll carry on the legacy what Mr. Mehta has left behind him. For the peace of his soul I would request everyone of you to mourn for two minutes. "

The people in the hall kept silence to pay homage to Mr. Mehta. Rubina was standing among the crowd in the hall with a cap on her head.

Vihaan drove his car to the premises of a community centre. He came out with a flower bouquet in his hand and handed over the key to a valet. He climbed the front stairs of the hall and headed towards the entrance. The boards were placed in a queue throughout the passage from the entrance door to the hall. The boards were decorated with different font designs, colours and flowers. One of the board had a romantic photograph of Shreya and her husband Hitesh as they were celebrating their seventh marriage anniversary. At the end of the passage he met Prateek Verma who was there with his two more fellows to attend the invitees. He stopped at him and shook hands with him.

Prateek said, " I didn't seem that you would come even after the invitation. "

" I haven't forgot to follow the orders of my seniors. "

Prateek chuckled and pat on his shoulders.

" Come on. "

Vihaan entered the hall with Prateek. A number of invitees were gathered inside the community centre who were having indistinct chatters in different circles. Some of them were having drinks while having the conversation. Hitesh (in his late thirties) was too having conversation with his colleagues in a circle. He was carrying a glass of wine in his right hand. He was called by his father in law, Prateek. He turned around and came to him.

Prateek said, " Here is my boy. Hitesh, he is Major Vihaan Bakshi. Vihaan, meet my charming son in law Lieutenant Colonel Hitesh Verma. "

Vihaan said, " Congratulations, Mr. Verma. This is for you. "

He gave him the bouquet.

" Oh, thank you. "

He smelled the flowers.

" It's Jasmine. Shreya loves the fragrance of Jasmine. She would be delighted with the bouquet. "

Prateek said, " You guys continue your conversation. I'll see the guest. "

" Sure, dad. "

Prateek left them to attend the other invitees.

Hitesh said, " I have heard a lot about you from your batchmates from the 'F-1 REGIMENT'. "

" You met them? "

" I got the chance to spend a few hours with the Frontiers thanks to your commander who is currently my father in law. "

Vihaan chuckled.

Hitesh asked, " Why don't we talk further under the open air? "

" Why not? "

They were walking upstairs together.

Hitesh said, " Shreya once told me that you were close friends once. "

" Mr. Verma had invited the batch on Shreya's birthday party. That's how we met and came to know each other. "

" Great. "

The valet was standing outside the community centre. A bald headed Khurshid (in his early forties) came to him. He stretched his palm towards him. The valet kept Vihaan's car key on his palm. Khurshid kept the key in his pocket and left.