The Cosmic Clues (36 page)

Sonia hesitated. It wasn't an odd request. People often came to her asking her to match horoscopes. And she had always refused. But just this time, an unbending of strict rules for a good cause . . .

“Well, okay, but this truly would be a special case,” she warned, her smile softening her words.

“Good! I knew you would help.” He sounded relieved. “The function is scheduled for the New Year eve and I was going to suggest that we meet once before that, if it's convenient for you, of course. At my office, preferably, so that we can discuss the game and the horoscopes.”

Judging by the drift of the conversation, Sonia had the distinct feeling that she was being relieved of major decisions. Very smoothly and quite intelligently. But, amazingly, she didn't mind.

“And lastly . . .”

She sat back, smiling. “I should've guessed that wasn't the end of it.”

“It's not, because now I've come to the most important part of my visit. I need you to find something for me.”

Sonia leaned forward, her interest quickened. At last, some real business?

“Some months ago a friend of mine left some valuables for safekeeping in my custody. He was going abroad, and since he lived alone, he did not wish to risk leaving them in his house.”

“Why didn't he opt for the bank?”

Varun flashed another smile. “He . . . didn't want to . . . for obvious reasons, like tax hassles, I guess. Anyway, a while ago, my house was broken into and his valuables were stolen from my safe.”

“What else was stolen?”

“Surprisingly, nothing else.”

“Were there other . . . valuables in your safe?”

Varun nodded. “That's what really struck me as odd, but I was too panicky to think about my stuff when
his
was stolen.”

“Did you go to the police?”

“No, of course not. No one was supposed to know that the valuables were with me—how could I call in the police and expose . . . my friend? It would've been a breach of trust.”

Sonia stared contemplatively at Varun. What a strange story. And one with conspicuous and glaring gaps. She had an uncanny feeling that he was intentionally omitting details. What had he edited out?

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

Varun's green eyes held an anticipatory glint. “I've heard that you can solve almost anything with the help of horoscopes. Perhaps you can help me? Help me locate these valuables? I'm quite desperate, because my friend is scheduled to return in a couple of days and I'm at a loss how to face him!”

His earnestness was charming. But the gaps in his story continued to trouble her. Should she or shouldn't she?

“What exactly were these valuables?” she asked finally.

Varun hesitated, then looked at her candidly. “Diamonds.”

Sonia just about managed not to gasp.
Diamonds?
“I think you ought to go to the police,” she stated flatly.

Varun was silent for a minute. Then he said in a quiet, dignified voice, “Miss Samarth, would you believe me if I said that I have more faith in you than the police? Somehow I have this gut feeling that you're just the right person for me!”

His words startled Sonia, and involuntarily she blushed. Hastily bending to slap away an imaginary mosquito, she steadied herself. What was wrong with her? Here was a client—a handsome one—and she was reading all the wrong meanings into his sentences! Was it time for her to find a good decent boy and settle down?

“Mr. Thakur, I'm not so sure I wish to take up your case. I honestly feel that the police would be better equipped to handle it than I. But even so, I wouldn't be able to really assist you with accurate directions to the diamonds. And there's a huge possibility that I wouldn't be able to help you at all!”

“Now you're being modest.” He flashed his teeth. “I trust you explicitly to handle this problem, and let me assure you that even if you take all week to make up your mind, you shall still remain my first and last choice. I refuse to go to anyone else.” His voice was dispassionate and implicit but the sharp edge to his words brooked no further argument.

He stood up abruptly. “I'll give you a call on your mobile, around four. And please remember—you being a Chief Guest has no bearing, whatsoever, on your decision about my friend's valuables.”

It was only after he'd left that Sonia realized that she had neither his contact number nor address. And that no one, except her parents, Jeevan uncle, Jatin, and Mohnish, had her mobile number. She sat rooted to her seat, nonplussed.

“But, Boss, a case is a case,” Jatin argued.

“I know, but it's my moral duty to check out if he's genuine and that I'm not supporting some shady activity.”

“He sounds like an influential guy, working for a good cause. Could prove to be useful in providing us with more clients later,” Jatin reasoned.

Sonia had to accept his logic.

A vision of a person playing a card game known as Rammi rose before her eyes. She was the observer, watching a player with thirteen cards in his hand. From her side, it appeared as if the player were selecting random cards from the lot in hand and replacing them arbitrarily with the other cards in his hand. But from his side, the player was actually arranging the thirteen cards in sequential orders of color and number. Different viewpoints? Different motives?

Now, why had that thought crossed her mind? Who was the player? As usual, the workings of her mind stumped her. Her brain spoke a language of its own, dredging out answers from the unfathomable subconscious and unveiling them for her to read. But regrettably, they were often unintelligible truths to her, since she was almost always incapable of deciphering the code.

Sonia sighed.

What an unpredictable day it was! First, the man she thought was spying on her house, then Mohnish's cryptic written words, then the bouquet with its enigmatic message. And now Varun, with his peculiar requests. Were these incidents an overture to something? She grimaced. She ought to take a look at her own horoscope. Why not? she thought. With a laugh, she flicked open her handbag and extracted her horoscope. Their family Astrologer had marked out her horoscope in full detail. She enjoyed studying it from time to time and analyzing the way her life was progressing. Zodiac sign Sagittarius with Pisces on the ascendant. Progress on the career front was indicated. Some fantastic opportunities were about to fall straight into her lap, she realized. Lots of money. Oh good, she needed that. Some more dimensions to her career. Her eyes flew over the twelve houses and suddenly halted. How had she missed this? Jupiter was favorably aspecting her seventh house along with Venus. A time to fall in love? Now, in the midst of her burgeoning business? Her eyes narrowed. It was a strange period on the personal front. Uranus was going to provide some startling interactions with the opposite sex—on a personal level as well as in her professional life. Sonia shut the booklet. Excitement spiraled through her. She couldn't wait to see what was going to happen!

Varun sat across the table, looking quite handsome in a navy blue shirt and cream trousers. True to his word, he'd called around four and Sonia had agreed to meet him. His sea-green eyes reflected the colour of the shirt and a gleam of triumph shone in their depths. Sonia ignored his gaze. She was already too finely tuned to his presence to appreciate the color of his eyes and his overwhelming physical appearance.

“Mr. Thakur—”

“Please, I insist on being called Varun,” he cut in.

“Okay, Varun. You've made some remarkable requests, all of which are totally at odds with my customary schedule. I don't quite know why, but I've accepted most of them.”

“Thank you,” he replied gravely.

“I'm also not very certain that you've been completely honest with me, regarding the diamond business. Have you?” She searched his face.

He dropped his eyes. “Unfortunately, I can't be very expressly clear about it,” he admitted.

“Which is most irregular. Precisely the reason why I need to state that it's mandatory that no shady business be involved in it. If there is, I refuse to help,” she stated bluntly.

“Sonia, rest assured. My problem is personal and entirely aboveboard. I promise to explain it all to you, once the diamonds are found.”

Jatin popped his head in through the door before she could reply. “Boss, do you need me?”

“No thanks, Jatin. But we'd like some
chai.
”

Jatin's eyes gleamed.
Chai,
as usual, meant business.

“Have you brought your horoscope?” she asked her new client.

Varun slipped a sheet of paper across the table. Sonia ran her eye over it. Zodiac sign Leo with Sagittarius as the ascendant. The star combinations indicated a dynamic, successful, powerful person. Cultured, talented, and disciplined. Stubborn, famous, and . . . and—yes—shrewd and cunning. Saturn in the fourth house aspected the Sun in the first house.

Varun's gaze was glued on her, intent and concentrated. And yet, in a flash, a bland expression replaced the intense one and Sonia almost wondered if she'd imagined it.

“Are you very famous?” she asked him. “Your horoscope indicates world fame after the age of thirty.” She cast about in her brain, hoping his name would ring a bell, but no memory seemed to tinkle.

“In my own field and in my own small way,” he replied.

“Are you a person who would go to any lengths to achieve his goal, however negative? There are some cruel shades to your character—”

“Why are you asking me these questions?” he interrupted harshly. “You're supposed to help pinpoint the location of those diamonds!”

“You're obviously sensitive to some issues,” Sonia answered evenly. “But it's my policy to confirm that the horoscope is correct. Often the birth date and time are wrong. It is always wise to double-check with the character of the person or the incidents in his life.”

“Well, this
is
my horoscope and I can vouch for its accuracy. Now can we get on with it?”

Sonia bristled. “Look Varun, either we do it my way or we don't do it at all!”

Immediately, his stance changed and he smiled contritely. “I'm sorry. It's just that I'm so tense. Half the time I'd been worrying whether you'd say yes . . . and now somehow with all this dissection of my horoscope, I'm worried that . . .”

“That I might disclose some skeletons in your cupboard?”

“Right.” He shrugged, then smiled.

Sonia opened a file and withdrew a blank sheet of paper. On the sheet, she drew the rectangle with the twelve empty houses of a horoscope. Varun observed her with a great deal of interest.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm making another horoscope, which I call a ‘questionoscope.' It's a horoscope based on your query. Now rephrase your question exactly the way you want to.”

“Will I find the diamonds and where will they be?” Varun replied instantly, curiosity stamped all over his face.

She opened the current almanac and filled the houses with the star signs and planets. Pisces as the Moon sign with Cancer on the ascendant. Sun, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter in the first house with Cancer. She plotted out all the planetary positions in Revati Nakshatra—Revati star constellation.

“Based on your question, I've formed a horoscope which shall give us some, if not all, the answers,” Sonia explained.

Jatin arrived with the
chai.
He placed two cups on the table, threw a glance at the horoscope, and immediately switched on the music system. The husky, euphonious notes of a
ghazal
singer flowed in the background. Very quietly, Jatin receded from the room.

Varun watched the entire action with frank interest. Sonia's head was bent, a finger twirling a lock of hair. Totally engrossed in the square before her and the planetary positions which were speaking to her in a different language. At length, she glanced up. There was a puzzled expression on her face.

“I don't understand,” she said finally.

“What is it? Am I going to find the diamonds or not?” Varun asked nervously.

“Yes. Moon, in Pisces, is a planet of the mind and Jupiter aspects it favorably. So your desire will be fulfilled. You are going to find the valuables, within twenty-four hours.”

“Thank God! Where are they?” Relief washed over his anxious face.

“I can't tell you the exact location, of course. But I can say this much: since the horoscope was charted in Revati star constellation and the Lord of the sixth house—Mars—is in the first house, we can safely assume that the valuables are to your east. And—this is what I don't understand—the four planets in your first house indicate that the gems are very close to where you are!”

Varun looked startled. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. It's amazing and, as far as I know, quite impossible, but that's what this horoscope indicates. Your diamonds are very close to where you're sitting at this very moment.”

“Do you mean in this office?”

“In the office, maybe in the street to your east, I don't know. You'll have to look.”

They stared at each other, incomprehension on their faces.

“That's all I can tell you. But in twenty-four hours, you'll be back here to inform me that you found them!” Sonia concluded.