There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Maya Angelou
next>
Day 1. | Oct 1, 2022 | Train
The modern electric engine was magnificent. Green and caring for the planet. As it pulled into the platform at Liverpool’s Broad Green station, it was a sprint-gun signal to the pigeons perched on the roof. Off they flew dotting the autumn sky. Nick jumped off the wrought iron bench exclaiming, “It’s the train, daddy!” My six-year-old was a bundle of boundless joy.
Spring, summer, autumn or winter. It was our little dad-son ritual – a trip to train station every Sunday afternoon. On each trip and every delightful leap of Nick’s, I would jog my memory of over three decades.
A quaint train station in India, coal locomotive chugging with that distinct whooshing sound, wooden bench, coolies and snack sellers racing to earn their livelihood. I wouldn’t bat an eyelid to hold my grandpa’s aging hands and be at awe watching the Train. That was our little ritual as well. It was an experience. It was pristine joy. A memory that my psyche was trained to recall.
Life is indeed like a train. I suppose we can’t train to run that train. Yet it’s these subtle experiences that train us to relish the todays and cherish the yesterdays.
<prev next>
Day 2. | Oct 2, 2022 | Smoke
As I walked back from the train station with Nick, I couldn’t resist but yield to the visuals playing in my head. Vintage locomotive had an aura of intrigue. It looked impeccable on an artist’s canvas. Cascading clouds of smoke billowing out of the chimney of the engine, towering high into the skies. I thought it was the smoke that added the x-factor to both – to the grandeur of a locomotive chugging and to the painted visual of a train.
It was an easy twenty-minute walk back to the house, and there couldn’t be a better season than autumn to embark on one. Liverpool was dotted with industrial and brick chimneys of yore. Smoke thrusting out of these chimneys lay testament to industrial evolution and where we were and what we were today. Sighting one such archaic brick chimney, I thought smoke was an interesting phenomenon.
While dense with grays in its natural physical form, smoke may bear fifty shades of gray philosophically, which sets the tone for myriad moods, energies and vibes. Coming from the exhaust of a muscle car showed sheer quest for power. Coming from a kitchen chimney realized the aroma of an Amish dinner. Coming from a tragic fire incident set a somber tone. Coming from a bonfire with guitars strumming would signal nothing but joy. That coming from a ritual amid Vedic hymns signified healing and positive energy.
As my memory-jog wound down, Nick and I walked straight into a hearty welcome at our neighbor’s. A subtle smoke carried the tantalizing aroma of fresh corn on Alice’s grill.
<prev next>
Day 3. | Oct 3, 2022 | Ethereal
Alice’s was a cozy one-story brick house that was made cozier by her subtle intricate choices. It was still fresh in my memory what lay at our doorstep ten years ago. A Bolney Pinot Noir tucked in the basket along with a box of shortbread cookies, and a thoughtful handwritten note – “Welcome to your new home and to our neighborhood, Alice.”
Grilling corn over a glass of wine and a book was her perfect Sunday. Seeing Nick, I knew she would raid her pantry to find that missing box of chocolate chip cookies. Nick, seeing the cookies, would automatically offer her help with any chore. Yet Alice had her own persuasive way of having Nick finish the corn before he could even touch the cookies. I reckon it was some sort of win-win duel between them. There were neighbors, there were people, and then there was Alice. She was miles apart.
I was keenly observing Nick when Alice interjected with a quip, “Enjoy these times with Nick. Trust me, once they grow those wings, they will be airborne. And, that plane never lands home again.” Alice’s only son – Liam – was a banker in London. He came-by every Christmas, without fail, to see her. Ironically, until then, he always remained a stranger.
There was some celestial quality in Alice. A fine human being, kindhearted and endearing to nearly everyone she met in life. As Alice bid us goodbye at the porch gate and turned her wheelchair around, I couldn’t help reflecting and it did hit me very hard. How tragic that a passionate nursing career of years was abruptly cut short by a diagnosis of MS. Life is indeed uncertain and can be unfair!
<prev next>
Day 4. | Oct 4, 2022 | Flutter
Nick was fascinated with nature and animals. He had a particular affinity to feed. I found that rather interesting. Be it at the petting zoo or animal safari, a trip without a feeding endeavor would disinterest him. He enjoyed watering the plants and playfully getting wet during course.
It was only a stone-throw walk from Alice’s and a pair of butterflies caught his attention. As they hovered over him, he tried to catch them. But as we all know nature prevails. I thought the entire pursuit was a classic Kodak moment. I wouldn’t say he gave up but he paused his efforts and posed a startling question.
“Daddy, can we buy butterfly food from the store next time?”
“Sure, we can. Can I ask you why you want to buy food for the butterfly?”
“So, the butterfly can come to me. Remember Daddy, at the petting zoo?”
“Hmm yeah. What at the petting zoo Nick?”
“At the petting zoo, the lamb and pony…they come to me when I have their food in my hand.”
I chuckled with astonishment written all over my face. Kids always had a way to catch you off-guard. For a split second I ventured into few random thoughts. How I wished we all remained kids. A world with just and only kids. Can we fathom one?
As soon as Nick and I engaged in our little fist-bump ritual, my phone buzzed, and I chose to ignore. It then buzzed again, and again. Something cued me that perhaps I should pick up and I did.
“Mr. Jay Anand?” said a baritone voice on the other end.
“This is he.”
“Chief Evans from Liverpool Police Department.”
My heart fluttered amid a gush of racy thoughts.
<prev next>
Day 5. | Oct 5, 2022 | Guard
It took me exactly thirty minutes to situate Nick at Alice’s as Aara worked weekend evenings. Alice was a godsend more often than not. There was a sense of urgency, and I couldn’t even text Aara.
A cloud of thoughts dawned on me as I drove through the semi-busy streets. That call from Chief Evans was constantly playing in my head. It was an absolutely unexpected solicitation, I must say. All through the few minutes I was on phone, I reckon a form of natural instinct left me with a myriad of emotions – skeptical, pensive, even guarded. If I were in trouble, the police would have paid me a visit instead of a phone call. Why would Chief Evans have me come to Broadgreen Hospital? I was trying to drive as fast as possible, yet it was time that was vehemently going slow.
Being a fairly big hospital, it was a bit unusual to not find a parking spot close-by on a Sunday evening. As I jetted past the parking area into the lobby, I realized I left my phone in the car. Aara might try to reach out to me if she knew Nick was at Alice’s.
“Which way is Accident and Trauma center?” I asked, catching my breath.
“Go straight past that way and turn right. You’ll see signs.” said the lady at front-desk.
“Thank you. Oh wait, actually I’m here to see Chief Evans. The police chief you know…” I blurted inadvertently
“Mr. Jay Anand, are you? Yes, sir. He is waiting for you. Please go right ahead.”
I tried to squash any random thoughts stemming in my mind as I sprinted through the hallway.
“Oh. Hello Mr. Jay Anand. I’m sorry I have to make this really quick as I need to head back to the station,” said the same unforgettable baritone voice hurriedly.
“Lance Morgan. I’m sorry to break this to you, Lance was in a car wreck and severely injured. However, it didn’t seem like an accident after we saw what we found on the other deceased driver! “
I was shocked, aghast and truly gutted. I had to excuse myself to process the news. Lance was my friend, partner, philosopher and mentor for life. Chief’s concluding remark sent a chill up my spine. Why did the other driver have a photograph of me? More importantly, who was he?
<prev next>
Day 6. | Oct 6, 2022 | Shiver
“I’m sorry sir. We couldn’t save him. Lance passed away on the table!”
How ironical! A paradigm shift from visuals of fifty shades of gray in smoke earlier in the afternoon to now. This seemed like fifty streaks of a single solid black. For a fleeting moment, it did feel I was isolated, stranded and barely in survival mode akin to Tom Hanks’ Chris Noland in Cast Away. A surreal feeling with no definitive relief in sight. The eerie silence stretching yards of corridor space on both sides didn’t help either.
While Cast Away’s Chris Noland was surrounded by nothing but water. Here I was desperately trying to look for a few drops of aqua to help me crawl back to sanity.
I was sucked deep into an abyss and its gravity trying to process the news. Little did I realize that I was actually cut off from the world. I didn’t have my phone on me. That was the time I profoundly needed one. To connect with civilization. To talk to people. More importantly, to hear Aara’s and Nick’s voice.
I was literally scampering down the hallway and over to the lobby when I heard a familiar voice in a pensive tone at the front-desk.
“Aara!!!”
“Oh my god, what are you doing here”
“Jay. Oh my god…where had you been!” exclaimed Aara panting.
“Aara, are you alright?” I whispered into her ears. I could feel her trembling and shivers all through the bear hug. Her chronic anxiety problems were evidently manifesting.
“Jay, I would have called you a hundred times. Chief Evans had called me…and”
“What! Police Chief Evans?” I reacted instantly with a sense of shock and surprise.
“Yes, He told me you were here. I think he was trying to call you too after he met with you.”
“Aara…it’s about Lance. He was killed in a car wreck. I’ll fill you in. Let’s go first check on Nick. I left him hurriedly at Alice’s.”
“Oh uh…You didn’t drive here, did you Aara?”
“No..but there’s something important I ought to tell you. It is what Chief Evans told me.”
“Let’s go..we’ll talk in the car.” I abruptly cut her off.
It was just minutes after we were zipping out of Broadgreen Hospital that what I heard from Aara sent a second spell of chill up my spine.
There was yet another incident. Another car-wreck. The victim was an Israeli immigrant that resembled Aara. The other driver that was absconding had Aara’s photo with a handwritten post-it note bearing the name – Aara Freund Anand.
<prev next>
Day 7. | Oct 7, 2022 | Elm
Aara was beautiful. Her story was fascinating. She was the only child of two immigrants – Israeli father and Indian mother. She was born and raised in Warwickshire. So, a Midlands girl with deep acumen in a trinity of cultures – English, Jewish and Hindu. She often narrated her parents’ story, their struggles and their bonding and companionship all through it.
There was one aspect that often drew my attention to the core. How they carried through the tradition of picnicking under a rarest of rare Wych Elm tree near Nuneaton. A tradition that I believe started off as a weekend endeavor by her father during their romancing days. One that they chose to continue even after Aara was born and through all her school years.
Aara would always sport a sheepish smile every time she read a poem of her father’s that she persuaded him to share with her. Many were his personal poems penned exclusively for Diya, Aara’s mom.
It was under the Wych Elm.
we spent best of our times,
one we’ll cherish ages to come.
Greenery and woods around,
pristine blue skies above,
and a firm footing called ground.
God brought us both from east.
If we trace the arc of our paths,
it’s the ovate shape,
of Wych Elm’s leaves.
Under the same Wych Elm tree,
we will spend more best times
our little angel Aara, you and me.
<prev next>
Day 8. | Oct 8, 2022 | Liturgy
Born to a Christian father and Hindu mother, I was raised in a dual-faith family. Faith was the cornerstone. It was food for our psyche and sanity. Given what transpired in the last few hours, perhaps it was pivotal to resort to it now more than any time before.
Between Aara, Nick and I, we were an intersection of multiple faiths trying to converge on a singular source of positive energy. I can vouch that practicing and instilling three religions coequally was indeed a tall order in hindsight. However, we tried to practice a level of praying that was agnostic of any religion or its traditions.
One such was our nightly huddle holding hands in a close circle and answering four simple yet important questions. It was our own ritual. One that had a liturgical significance in our vast little world. We couldn’t wait to reunite with Nick and engage in our prayer.
What are two things I did well today?
What is one thing I would do differently tomorrow?
Who did you help or show kindness today?
For whom would you like to pray tonight?
<prev next>
Day 9. | Oct 9, 2022 | Crane
Alice’s concerned look spoke volumes with an inherent hope that all was well at our ends. Little did she know about the tsunami that had swept us. Acting on a hunch my mind raced to a thought that perhaps a bigger tsunami was just ahead.
It was heartening to realize that Nick’s sweet smile running to hug us neutralized all our commotion. Next moment my conscious mind registered that we were engrossed in our nightly prayer and huddle. I bet our answers – Aara’s and mine – for each of the four questions were uttered in mind-voices, but Nick’s endearing responses were a blessing.
One good thing is I did well today – I asked Daddy to get butterfly food at the store. And second one is, I gave Mommy a tighter hug than yesterday.
I will try different way to catch the butterfly.
I helped auntie Alice with arranging her books.
Uncle Steve’s puppy. Get well soon Max.
Tucking Nick into bed and blowing that Goodnight kiss was always the best part of my day any day. As I crawled into bed is when I began to reflect upon the evening, the proceedings, the down and further downs. What a roller-coaster ride!
I was quite assertive of one thing. Come what may, we ought to be like a crane to navigate through what may be ahead. Towering with a vantage point, strong, unwavering and need an uncanny ability to handle just anything.
As I tried to settle into sleep, my phone screen turned off with the alarm set to 4:45 AM.
<prev next>
Day 10. | Oct 10, 2022 | Sight
In the ring versus rise sprint, I beat the wakeup alarm by several minutes. More often than not it was the other way around before. I didn’t have to slit the blinds; it was still pitch dark. Was that a sign to what lays ahead? I vehemently dismissed the thought as soon as it raised its creepy head.
Nothing but a tall glass of cold water would have reigned in some much-needed sanity and calm. A few stretches did wonder as well. After a moderately intense cardio workout, I felt invincible and on top of the world, and more importantly on top of myself. That vantage point of a crane played in my head.
There were two pressing things that were hovering in my mind. I chose to focus on the first one first – Lance Morgan. A gem of a gentleman with no parents, and no family for himself. His parents had perished in an air crash when he was barely out of graduate school in the US. He had moved back to Britain and single-handedly built several businesses from the ground-up, turning his life around one page at a time. I scrambled through my laptop to pull out the contact of his principal personal and business attorney and fired an email requesting an appointment.
Secondly, I was a bit clueless how to proceed with the revelations we learnt from Chief Evans. Where should we focus our energies? Should we chase the clues and leads that may come enroute to the crux of the problem and discover the what’s and why’s? or Should I play defensive – focus on staying put and crafting a sound security, and safety net? How I wish Lance was alive – he was always my sounding board. It dawned on me that if he were alive, we wouldn’t have had the problem that we were staring into!
The screen on my phone switched from a nightly warm to blue and beaming a 6:15AM in the backdrop. I rolled the dangling spindle counterclockwise and quietly rolled back the blinds to a perfect horizontal letting in the zestful sunlight in its infancy. That sight of the impeccable crack of dawn was breathtaking. To me, it infused nothing but peace and joy. And it always drew me to a sense that all was and will be well.
<prev next>
Day 11. | Oct 11, 2022 | Starlit
“You are confirmed for a 9:30AM appointment at Baxter, Cummins & Jaffrey. Please ask for Mr. Azban Jaffrey at the front desk. You may park at the basement parking garage and validate the ticket at front desk. We look forward to seeing you.”
Azban was Lance’s principal attorney, confidante and golf buddy. I don’t know but I had a barrage of mixed feelings. There was just enough time for a hot shower and quick breakfast. There was just no time for anything else. I chose to indulge in thoughts and musings on the Uber drive to downtown Liverpool.
It was a towering shiny glass building in downtown Liverpool. Baxter, Cummin & Jaffrey was a sprawling law firm occupying the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth floors. This was the first time ever I walked into their office. I was welcome by a contemporary, unconventional and atypical law firm ambiance.
I was escorted to a swanky corner office overlooking the river Mersey. The minimalist décor caught my attention as I took seat awaiting my host. I just couldn’t take my eyes out of the two giant paintings on the wall. I reckon I had to correct my perception as I walked closer. They were giant photographs of starlit skies. One of thousands of stars peppered across a sprawling dark sky. The other was of popular northern lights. Astrophotography enthusiast, I suppose?
Only when I finally settled into the chair that I managed to gaze at the oversize Celestron telescope in the corner with its lens seemingly talking to the pristine blue Liverpool sky. Astronomy hobbyist, I reckon.
“Astronomy, Astrophotography, Astrophysics. Just anything with prefix Astro. Except, not a fan of Houston Astros.” said a coarse voice in a belligerent tone.
“Azban Jaffrey. Pleasure meeting you.” he said with a restrained smile as we shook hands.
“So sorry about Lance. It was such a tragic news!” Azban grieved in rapid succession.
I barely had room to acknowledge let alone speak.
“So, first things first. We have a ton of work and next steps. I’ll fill you in as quickly as I can. So umm…we are looking at a wealth of 983 million…British pounds, to be shored up with succession.”
I was stupefied.
What was even my role in this endeavor? More importantly, why was I even hearing this unasked and unsolicited?
<prev next>
Day 12. | Oct 12, 2022 | Dwell
“Angel, can you please run the salon today? I…umm, need to take the day off. Have to take care of few things.” texted Alyona crawling out of bed.
Alyona Ivanova ran an upscale salon in the affluent Chelsea area of West London. Born in the bygone Soviet Union, Alyona immigrated to England with her foster parents. They ran a small bakery in East London while she was in school.
“Yes, 10:30. I’ll see you at the coffee shop.” Alyona texted back to Steph.
She always liked her coffee black with just a dash of honey. Steph, her closest friend, from old East London days fancied a latte.
“You know Steph. My dad was never home. Yes, foster dad!”
“He was smitten by the English pubs and fancied the poker tables until he rubbed the wrong side of Russian mafia in London. Perhaps karma got better of him. From then on it was just my mom and me amid a world of sharks.”
“My Mom, Maria. She was an angel. I utterly miss her.” whispered Alyona sadly.
“I know it’s all in the past, and I know what you will say.” said Alyona hurriedly before Steph could hurl that stock reply.
“That’s not why I asked to meet up.”
Steph reflected a puzzled look on her face.
“Did you catch in the news? About a Lance Morgan in Liverpool?”
“Multi-millionaire, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was killed in a car accident.”
Before Steph could gather her thoughts, Alyona pulled a photo from her phone and stuck it in front of Steph’s face. A six-year-old selfie of Lance and Alyona at a bar in New York City.
<prev next>
Day 13. | Oct 13, 2022 | Trail
“It was at a happy hour after a golfing event that I chanced upon to attend as well.” said Alyona with a sense of insistence.
Steph’s mind was racing with pressing follow-up questions, yet she exercised restraint. Did Alyona know who he was at the time of taking the selfie? More importantly, why did she keep the picture intact for six-plus years?
**********
My head was clouded with a ton of questions. I was slipping into an introspective rabbit hole when Azban’s coarse voice interjected.
“Jay, here you go. One of the two things that I needed to immediately act on per Lance’s last Will.” remarked Azban handing me an envelope.
I stared at it while many unanswered questions were pounding my head.
“I’m the executor of Lance’s Will and Estate as well.” Azban continued in a cautious voice. There was a sudden shift in his tone. One from confidence to authority.
“So, Mr. Anand. Lance’s Will states that you must open the envelope and read the letter aloud in the executor’s presence. That is, umm..in my presence. We can knock this off fairly quickly, can’t we?.” beckoned Azban without giving me much space to ponder.
The letter was succinct and neatly handwritten and signed by Lance himself. It said I must collect the key and address to a bank locker from Mr. Azban Jaffrey after I successfully take Aichmis Analytics public. Aichmis Analytics was our company, Lance’s baby and brainchild, and my vision. IPO was easily at least six months away!
“Mr. Jaffrey. Umm..You mentioned two things. What’s the second one?” I probed.
“Here you go.” Azban shot back sliding a piece of paper and an exquisite pen.
“Lance gave you the general power of attorney. Could you please sign here?”
<prev next>
Day 14. | Oct 14, 2022 | Dream
Aysar scampered out of the café with two glasses of wine in hand, briskly walking to the bench outdoors overlooking river Mersey. Aara was seated staring at the water while the cool late-afternoon breeze left shoulder length hair disheveled.
“Aysar, do you even get the gravity of the situation? Lance is no more. A stranger is no more, and they found a picture of mine in the possessions the other driver left behind.”
“Relax Aaara. Reciting the facts isn’t going to help one bit. You know, I wish Azban, my brother was in Scotland Yard instead of being a bigshot attorney. I could have used his strengths to crack this quickly.”
“Seriously, you are the cop here, Aysar.”
“Cop, yes. But I’m at the lowest end of the food chain within the police system.”
“Can you please do something…just anything, please!”
“Let me see what I can do. I won’t promise but I will make some calls to my friends.”
****
Aara woke up perspiring and totally shaken. Was it a dream, a hallucination or a nightmare in the day? It was indeed a deep afternoon slumber that she had slipped into. It had been 4 years since Aysar lost a long-drawn batter to cancer.
A glance at the clock perched on the chest of drawers realized her sense of time – 4:30 PM.
“Oh my God! I have to be at work in an hour.” she scrambled out of bed checking her phone.
8 missed calls from Jay, and a solitary text.
I’m taking Nick to the park. Hope you rest up and have a great day at work.
<prev next>
Day 15. | Oct 15, 2022 | Betray
The time at the park with Nick was just what was needed in the middle of all chaos. How I wish I could go back to my childhood and just stayed there! “A total time-freeze eh?” echoed my Canadian alter ego.
I couldn’t be happier seeing Nick sway in the swing, feeling joyous and no stresses whatsoever. To him – to them – that realm of play, fun and joy is the full world. It was the slide that always won his heart.
I would often probe him “why so”, expecting a shift in his perception. However, it was unwavering yet a measured response. That he found excitement in the hard work climbing up and happiness sliding down. Was he echoing the ups and downs of life? Perhaps so, and if yes, I was hopeful he might ride out life’s nuances better than me.
Tucking Nick in bed, I realized perhaps I missed something at the front door. When I rushed back down the hallway, it was lying all alone, by the edge of the door and wall, camouflaged a bit under the doormat.
It was a small envelope. In there was a crisp piece of white paper neatly tri-folded, bearing a message printed from a computer and personally signed off in hand as – “Savior”. What was in “PS” foot note was more chilling.
Crown is betrayed,
Fate is twisted.
Loss is costly.
-Savior
PS: more to come.
<prev next>
Day 16. | Oct 16, 2022 | Crown
What should I do with the note?
Who should be the go-to person – Chief Evans or Attorney Azban?
Like always pressing questions plagued my head without any clarity. I chose to not call Aara and bother her at work. I thought I could fill her in tomorrow.
Just then a soft callout echoed over the hallway.
“Daddy, can you come tell me a story?”
Visibly Nick hadn’t slept and was tossing and turning in bed. Probing him what story might he fancy; he couldn’t have answered any quicker.
“Daddy, umm…tell me a King story. Does he always wear a crown?”
I was genuinely flabbergasted. What a bizarre coincidence. There was Crown in the note. Now a Crown figured in my real life.
Brushing aside the thought as it may be just a freak chance, I narrated within the usual realms that’s been a norm.
“Long long ago, there lived a King, a queen and a prince….”
I reckon there is some magic in that customary phrase. Nick was in Lalaland in a jiffy.
<prev next>
Day 17. | Oct 17, 2022 | Twisted
I texted a picture of the anonymous note to Chief Evans. His response was prompt and immediate – “Thank you. Meet me tomorrow 9a in my office.”
*********
Steph was early for dinner at their favorite steakhouse. She just couldn’t wait to dig deeper into the unfinished coffee-shop conversation earlier in the morning. It was rather unusual that Alyona was late by twenty minutes. And when she did arrive, she seemed as concerned as she was in the morning.
“I have only an hour. Did you place the dinner order?” Alyona exclaimed as she rushed in. There wasn’t an ounce of apology for showing up late.
Steph hadn’t even glanced at the menu when her mind was so preoccupied. When she tried to indulge in the menu, Alyona interjected with a nudge.
“It is not about my picture with Lance. Umm..it’s the other pictures.”
“What do you mean other…what other pictures?” Steph’s eyebrows could raise any higher.
“I took few pictures of Lance cozying up with her.”
Her? Who, her? Menu was the last thing Steph wanted to be pouring over.
“Sofia!” Alyona uttered in a skeptical tone.
“I wonder if her, or any those pictures have anything to do with what happened to Lance.”
Wait. Sofia who?
“I knew her from my East London days. Umm..Sofia, the elite socialite, the master psychic reader.”
<prev next>
Day 18. | Oct 18, 2022 | Costly
“Mom, do you really need this big vase?” Liam asked inquisitively.
“Yes, of course. That is my favorite piece of décor. I had bought it with my first paycheck. So, yes you might want to knock out that question in your mind Liam. Sorry, I’m not throwing it away!” came an authoritative response from Alice.
“So, Liam. You haven’t told me the big why. Why are you having me move out of here?”
“It is not ringing any sense in my head. I’d be OK even if you had me move in with you in London. Or somewhere close by. But Edinburgh?” Alice asked with a puzzling look on her face.
“That’s further up north, colder, and more importantly costlier. Now what? You will show-up once in two Christmases than what it is now?”
Liam was undeterred with the barrage of questions.
“I just don’t like this place, this house, the people here Mom.”
Just then the doorbell rang.
“Who’s it!” screamed Liam walking over and looking through quarter window.
“Jay, your neighbor.”
“Oh sorry, Mom isn’t at home. She has gone to pay a visit to her doc.”
<prev next>
Day 19. | Oct 19, 2022 | Poem
It was few days since the anonymous note showed up at the door and since I had relayed it to Chief Evans.
Is no news good news? My heart wanted to believe but my mind was vehemently denying.
Just then Aara handed me an envelope and urged me to open immediately.
Crown is betrayed,
Fate is twisted.
Loss is costly.
Change is eternal,
So is moth like ivy?
Knowledge is treasure,
Its secret is buried.
First is a beginning, and
in between,
the book ain’t creeping.
When life twirls
You will rediscover.
Waves wash ashore,
And eulogy will be read.
-Savior
PS: Nothing more. Nothing less.
I could do nothing but stare at it. Same font. Same style. Same handwritten sign-off.
A picture of this note went to the same person as well. Chief Evans!
<prev next>
Day 20. | Oct 20, 2022 | Ivy
Tucked into the third shelf of the rack in the living room was our favorite house plant. Aara and I had gone shopping and we both instantly liked it. So that’s the shortest backstory to why it was adorning our home. Between then now it had grown, cascading beautifully off the cane planter. Aara still thought we should hang it up anchored to the ceiling and let it breathe in a bit more. At times our likes and dislikes crisscrossed and contradicted.
Over weekend mornings, that Aara wasn’t working, it was customary for us to be chilling in the living with our morning cuppa. Two things got started at by us during that routine. While I would lock eyes with the television, there was Aara engrossed in a book or admiring the ivies.
Only this time she fired an uncanny comment.
“Jay, you know ivies signify invasiveness and a sense of eternal. Don’t you?”
“Do you think our life now is like the ivies?”
I almost choked. I reckon the analytical mind in me was racing to piece together the discrete events that unfolded, Aara’s comment and the anonymous note.
What am I missing here?
<prev next>
Day 21. | Oct 21, 2022 | Moth
I’m a big fan of overcast skies, some heavy downpour tapering down to drizzles, wet grass and streets, hot chocolate and favorite thriller show on TV or a compelling read in print. While all of the aforementioned were checked for now, I couldn’t get my mind to focus on TV or a book. It was squarely anchored onto the current roller-coaster events in our life.
Nick was trying to focus on the butterfly shuttling between the window and plant in our front yard. I was poring over a trove of information – Lance’s earlier entrepreneurial pursuits, their success stories, his prior connections. I thought 983 million GBP was a truckload of money.
Just then my phone buzzed. A text message from Azban, Lance’s attorney.
“Are you available to talk now? It’s urgent.”
I called him back immediately. It was that same coarse assertive voice. I can never forget.
“Hey Jay. How’s it going. So real quick, I won’t take much time.
Umm Did Lance have houses in New York City and France?”
“No, he didn’t as far as I know. He would always stay at the Ritz Carlton in New York whenever he went across the pond. Why are you asking?” I couldn’t control my inquisitiveness.
“Oh well, I found out he had cashed a penthouse in NYC and a villa in southern France via an account that was indirectly connected to Aichmis Anlaytics.”
“Also, hey one more question. Are you familiar with a Sofia that he may have known. Maybe a third-party consultant doing work for Aichmis?”
“No!! I’m directly aware of all people that have ever worked or work now for Aichmis.”
“Tell you what. In the last four or umm, maybe five years. I could be wrong. There has been a consistent transfer of 1 Million GBP every year to a Swiss account in the name of a Sofia. I hate to say this, but I don’t have the surname.”
“And, here’s the most bizarre part. The penthouse in NYC and the villa in France – both are in the name of a Sofia as well. However, I’m not sure if both are the same person!”
After I hung up, I walked over to Nick and needed some fresh air and mind. Nick pointed me to the butterfly. It was actually a moth that could morph.
<prev next>
Day 22. | Oct 22, 2022 | Treasure
“So, what made you reckon the pictures you took of Lance and Sofia would be related to Lance’s fate.” Steph probed Alyona.
“Umm..I think I ought to tell you this.”
“Between then – that is when I took those pictures in New York- and now, Sofia has amassed two penthouses in New York City, a sprawling villa each in Italy and France, drives a swanky Bentley and doesn’t fly anything but First Class.”
“Socialites actually spend more money than make. What they actually make is power and connections. Also, psychic reading isn’t lucrative as well.” Steph was carefully validating.
“Bingo. She doesn’t have to. Guess who had the money. Lance, it is! Highly successful serial entrepreneur and multi-millionaire.”
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Steph’s mind was absolutely in sync with Alyona’s.
“Yes. Here’s the interesting part. Couple years ago, maybe three or four years, I don’t remember. After an extended happy hour of maybe what six or seven Tequila shots, Sofia confided in me.”
“That she had a quick get-rich plan and the trump card for the plan are the photos I shared with her from that Golfing event in New York City.”
He’s a big cash cow, babes. Alyona could never forget those exact words that Sofia had uttered under influence.
<prev next>
Day 23. | Oct 23, 2022 | Between
After being at the crux of a barrage of events and facts, learning and unlearning of people, I was left with a level of certainty.
Something ain’t right.
Something is grossly amiss.
To abandon this certainty would leave me with a skeptical paradox that can be genuinely depressing. The feeling of being squarely caught in between several loose ends with no definitive closure was hurting me and us.
The fact that there may be something lurking inside that bank locker after I took Aichmis public was constantly playing in my mind as well.
I don’t like to wade through this whirlpool of betweenness.
But I don’t have a choice. Do I?
<prev next>
Day 24. | Oct 24, 2022 | Elder
Alice’s belongings were all packed. Her house was sold within a day. We would miss her as a neighbor and her unwavering zest to grill and host us on Sundays. It was Nick that would miss her more. She had an uncanny knack of spreading those grandmotherly wings over Nick.
In the back of my mind, I still wondered why she would move to Edinburgh while Liam is further down south in London. However, I had to be content with the fact that life changes, priorities shift, people move yet life moves too, although often times in different direction. And so do we.
I glanced at Nick and told myself unassumingly – Nick, please remain a kid, will you?
<prev next>
Day 25. | Oct 25, 2022 | Book
It was easily thirty minutes past the sun set over the horizon across a gorgeous autumn sky. As I finished watering the plants, I flicked the porch light on my way back in. Automating those lights had been long pending. I couldn’t see it happening in the next several months.
The glass of aromatic Cabernet was barely touched as it stood like a citadel on the side-table. That told me Aara is either meditating on some deep thoughts or engrossed in an engaging read.
It took me a jiffy to realize it was the latter.
“Aara, what’s so interesting in the book?” I quizzed.
Several seconds ticked by with no ounce of response. I wasn’t surprised.
“Aara!?” I reiterated.
“Oh, hey sorry. I was buried into this book.”
“Evidently. So, what’s keeping you so occupied?”
“Such a riveting thriller this is shaping up to be. More so a whydunit than a whodunit.”
“Perfect Aara. You know, you read so much of thriller genre, and I reckon you have that bent of mind. Why don’t you try to crack the case that we are embroiled in?”
“Jay, you aren’t kidding me, are you?”
“No, I’m not. I’m dead serious you know. “
“Honey, listen. Once my head, eyes and brains are out of the realms of a book, that part of my mind automatically switches off. I’m then just a one-half breadwinner and homemaker. Nothing more, and nothing less.”
The conviction in her words, and in her tone meant there wasn’t a further argument there.
I was refilling my Macallan single malt when I heard the distinct buzz of my phone. It was that of a text message.
“Jay, Chief Evans here. We might have a solid lead. Can you please come by my office tomorrow. 9AM sharp please. Thank you.”
<prev next>
Day 26. | Oct 26, 2022 | Creeping
It was a rustic brick and mortar building that could do with better upkeeping. The sky was bright azure, it was warm day yet it was my mind that was overcast and gloomy walking in to meet with the Chief.
The floor was sparsely crowded for the time of the day. Jennifer, Chief’s secretary escorted me into his office and closed the door behind her. At the top of the hour, the door opened, and Chief Evans walked in at a brisk pace.
I was in awe of his commanding aura and majestic presence. It does resonate in the room.
“Oh Hi, Jay. Thanks for coming.” Chief shook hands firmly.
“Please take your seat. I’m going to keep this short and quick. I have to rush for a press conference in few minutes.”
“So, we did find and umm arrest the second driver, Andrej. And umm..matter of time before he cooperates. A biker from the notorious London Czech biker gang you might have heard of. More importantly, the reason I called you in – Azban had reached out to me, and we are working with him as well. Do you know of a Sofia at Aichmis?”
“No Chief. I’m afraid not. That’s exactly what I had told Azban as well.”
“I know. I know. But here I’m going to ask you. Are you sure?” Chief Evans pressed with conviction.
“We found out of a Sofia. Sofia Garrett, that worked on a shadow payroll as a consultant. Ring a bell?” He slipped a piece of paper. Sofia Garrett printed in bold, with a picture and details.
“Oh, yes, yes. I’m sorry. Invariably it had slipped out of mind.” I begged to be corrected.
“Sofia worked for us on a NDA project as a consultant. She was fresh out of college and a brilliant analyst. So yes, I stand corrected, and uh..I apologize for the confusion.” I reiterated hoping this doesn’t lead me to trouble.
“It’s alright Jay. Tell you what, we may be running some check on her. In the meantime, please stay safe and watch your back. We are not adequately staffed to give you and your family protection. However, I’ll have someone check-in on you twice a day until we solve this.”
“Alright, I have to head out. Jennifer will escort you out. Thanks again.”
I bid a skeptical bye to Jennifer and walked out in a much worse mind-situation.
Should I be worried? Would I be in trouble for lying or worse…perjury?
<prev next>
Day 27. | Oct 27, 2022 | Twirl
The top-floor penthouse in central London was exquisite. Sprawling and decorated with a chic flair. Liam was in the balcony on a slightly overcast mid-morning. He was pacing the length of the rectangle while engaged in an animated phone conversation. The oversized cigar was lit but in idle mode between his fingers. After probably five more full-length walks, he put off the cigar with some angst and barged inside shutting the glass door behind him.
“Morons, bloody morons. These lieutenants employed by the oligarch billionaires are nothing but crooks.” Liam’s tone and tempo continued from his phone conversation.
“They want all the money in one week. All of the goddamn 50 million GBP.”
“You can buy some more time. Can’t you? What we have been working on will take more time.” she instantly responded.
“No, no more time can they afford to give us. I was on phone with Rick for an hour, persuading, begging, whatever I could do.”
“Do what you can, alright. And hey…I need your car for rest of the day. Going to try taking two of clients out and see if there’s an avenue there.”
“Keys are on the counter. DO NOT speed and park only in a garage and corner spots only. DO NOT valet.”
“Jesus..so many conditions! I ought to get my own exotic beast.” Liam consoled himself.
Spinning the Bentley out of the garage, Liam was drawn to several things at the same time.
The fragrance reminded him of her studio.
The oversized hand pendant was dangling and twirling under the mirror.
The keyfob had a distinct keychain with a solitary letter glittering in all gold – “S”
<prev next>
Day 28. | Oct 28, 2022 | Rediscover
One week later. Tuesday morning.
I was driving Nick to his school when my phone rang.
“Hey Chief Evans. Can I call you back in fifteen please?”
“Hey, listen, can you come to my office as soon as possible. Thanks Jay. I’ll see you then.” he rushed through before hanging up.
Within two minutes of dropping Nick, I sprinted back to my car while texting Aara with a heads-up. She was as concerned as I was and strongly echoed a thought of not leaving Nick at school.
Jennifer waved at me, but I didn’t’ want to wait for her to escort me to Chief’s office. The door was half open and Chief Evans waved at me to just walk right in.
“Hey Chief, is everything alright?”
“Walk with me Jay.” He picked up his phone, a piece of paper and walked around his desk leading the way through corridor. About a hundred yards away, we paused and stood by a room with a rectangular glass window.
“So, Jay.. I know it’s been about a week since we spoke. We wanted to gather solid facts before we brought you over. Be assured, it has been cracked and we have the perpetrators. “
My heart was racing!
“Andrej, as we expected, eventually talked and we managed to plot together a path to the big fish.”
“Sofia Nikitina and her partner. We have supporting evidence and Andrej’s testimony. Sofia is a popular socialite and psychic reader.” Chief Evans pointed to the glass window as he gave the chilling update.
Behind the glass window was Sofia, visibly distraught, talking to a policewoman.
I had mixed feelings.
“Chief, but why did they do it? Do we have a motive?”
“Long story short. Money. That was the motive. Sofia and Lance seem to go back few years. She knew of Lance’s worth to the penny. I ran it by attorney Azban who was shocked as well.”
“So, Jay. This is now behind us. Hope you and your family can now have some peace.”
“No, Chief. Peace, maybe. But closure, NO! Why would they have photos of me and Aara. It still puzzles me.”
I was literally engaged in a cold stare at Chief Evans, when the door opened, and the policewoman walked out. As Chief Evans started talking to her, I glanced through the glass window one more time.
Liam!!! There he was, seated next to Sofia, in handcuffs. That same deadpan, emotionless face.
There were none other than three people in my thoughts – Alice, Aara, and Nick – in that order.
<prev next>
Day 29. | Oct 29, 2022 | Fortnight
Four months later.
It was finally the day of reckoning. Standing in the lobby of London Stock Exchange, I could finally feel the gravity of it all. Aichmis Analytics was going public, yet Lance was gone forever.
I had only two things in mind. Ring the bell at LSE and dash to where I needed to go. I had delegated everything else for the day to Nisha, my assistant.
“Jay, your ride is ready outside. As soon as you ring the bell, please head out through the staircase and take the rear exit. I have every other nuance covered.” Nisha whispered into my ears.
“And hey, good luck Jay.” She was unaware where I was headed to and what I was up to.
My mind was so clouded that I couldn’t even register the iconic bell ring.
Within a few seconds, I was in the backseat of the chauffeured Audi zipping through streets of London. Azban was patiently waiting curbside at the front entrance of Ritz Carlton. It was not even fifteen minutes and we arrived at the bank. Azban slipped me a little pouch that felt silky with a key inside.
Next thing I remembered was the strong rectangular steel door open and a box slide out. A solo sealed envelope with my name handwritten on it by Lance.
“Congratulations, Jay. We have come a very long way. You have made it happen. Aichmis and its people owe it to you. You are now the proud owner of 50% of my entire wealth. Obviously, I’m not around to tell you what that amounts to. Azban will have the amount transferred to your bank account in a fortnight.
Forever love to Aara and Nick.
Cheers.
– Lance”
I turned and handed the letter to Azban.
“Umm…about 450 million GBP, Jay!”
There was an unexplainable numb feeling.
I called Chief Evans as a matter of courtesy to fill him in.
“There you go, Jay. You have the answer to your closure question and why they had your pictures. And…”
“Greed…seems to be the bigger motive. It’s chilling to learn to what extent Sofia had made inroads into Lance’s space, mind, and psyche. Take care, Jay. My regards to your family.”
<prev next>
Day 30. | Oct 30, 2022 | Wave
Aara and I took the day off after dropping Nick at school. I guess we wanted some “us” time along lines of Aara’s childhood Elm tree outings.
It felt weird to go the seashore in winter. I was always fascinated by the sea, the water, the vastness, the openness.
We just sat in the car for a while, windows rolled down and sipping on hot chocolate. Just like how she would at the ivies, Aara was staring right through the windshield and into an abundance of chilling dark-blue ocean water.
“You see the waves, Jay?” Aara said softly without turning and looking at me.
“Yeah, I do.”
“They wash ashore. Then recede and then come back, more often than not, bigger, stronger and fiercer.”
I nodded sipping the hot choc.
“The five-liner note of Lance from the bank locker you have inherited..is like a wave that’s hundred times bigger than what had been hitting us last several months” Aara turned looking straight into my eyes.
“You think a tsunami has hit our life?” I quizzed her.
“Jay, can I ask you something?
“Ask away, Aara. This is our “us” time now that everything is behind us and hopefully we have better days ahead.”
“I’m afraid not…Jay!” Aara said with a certain conviction.
“In the grand scheme of things…taking Aichmis to IPO, the perpetrators being nabbed, the massive inheritance. You haven’t forgotten something, have you Jay? The anonymous notes!”
A mirror would have shown me a bewildered expression on my poker face.
“Savior is none other than Sofia. Sofia Nikitina! Every ounce of tone in those anonymous notes, every word of it speaks volumes about the mind of someone adept at psychic reading”
“She did write it, Jay. But…I bet she did not hand-deliver it. It’s much below her to be that pigeon.”
“That means…whoever slipped it under the door is very much out there roaming free. Them and their pals out there, living freely.”
“You know what’s bothering me more, Jay? They know who we are, where we live, and more importantly what we have inherited!”
I was awestruck seeing Aara’s penchant for thriller genre unfolding right in front of my eyes. Chilling and one layer at a time. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I would never bet against Aara’s intuition and her instincts.
<prev
Day 31. | Oct 31, 2022 | Eulogy
Sixteen years later.
The mood was somber at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Nick was looking dapper in a black suit sporting a black tie. I wish he had dressed up rather for a happy occasion.
We were her family. Alice’s ever-smiling picture, adorned by a beautiful frame, sat in the corner of the table. There were some flowers on either side.
Alice had often told me – “Jay – Aara, Nick and you are my only family away from home.”
Nick wrote the eulogy all by himself. He was very close to Alice. A deep sort of attachment I would say. The news of her passing hurt him the most. After he delivered the poignant eulogy, my eyes were moist and I had a lump in my throat.
Nick left a handwritten note by Alice’s picture:
People arrive.
Experiences happen,
when people meet.
Relationships thrive.
Memories persevere,
when people disappear.
How I wish you were
with us tomorrow.
We will miss you.
We will always love you, Alice.
And yes, I still finish my corn,
before relishing the cookies.
– Nick
Just as Nick left the note, she tapped his shoulder gently and then held his hand tight. As they walked towards the exit, Nick and Chloe looked the perfect couple. Aara and I couldn’t be happier to see them engaged tomorrow and the wedding within a year.
“That was so heavy in my heart. Just need few to freshen up. I’ll use the washroom and see you in the car.” Nick handed the car keys to Chloe.
Chloe eased into the driver’s seat, powering the car up and laid her hands on the cold leather trimmed steering wheel. The fingers closed and grip tightened. She cranked the heat and pulled her little wallet from the clutch bag. Looking at her parents’ picture she slipped into retrospection.
Mom, I was 7 years of age when Dad left us forever. How often you had told me that you could only walk up to front of the house to slide it in. But here we are, many years later. I’m going to walk right into their house, their home and their hearts. What is up for grabs is much more than Dad and you may have envisioned back then. What goes around…comes around. I will see you in a week’s time.
Chloe saw Nick walking to the car. She tucked the picture back into the wallet.
Next to Chloe’s mother – Milana’s – picture was her dad’s, Andrej posing on his favorite motorcycle.
***** END *****