A Chance Encounter

 

Ayna looked at the invitation propped on the living room table. It was positioned to catch her attention and hopefully provoke her to act.

“Ma I’m not attending. I won’t react favorably even if it is the first thing I see in the morning.”

“How long are you going to mourn that your wedding was called off because the groom had a fatal accident.”

“On these occasions people don’t take kindly to my presence.”

The arguments would have continued but for the entrance of Ayna’s best friend Vinny.

“Promises are meant to be kept and remember what you told Rani. Let’s have a look at your wardrobe. Why don’t we look at your wedding trousseau and choose an outfit before it becomes dated or you outgrow it.”

Ayna laughed, “You know how to outwit Ma and smart enough to remind me of a promise made long ago.”

“I have my own agenda. You know Manish’s buddy Jiten will be there and he is interested in you. Give yourself a chance before you find yourself on the shelf. And you hadn’t even met the man you were going to marry. It was all on the computer and none of us were comfortable with the process.”

“Yes, it was hurried and all the expenses and prep were futile as he was seriously injured and then vanished without a trace. I got a short message from his family about the accident and after that just silence. I haven’t been able to deal with the trauma and the guilt of putting my family through this drama.”

“Attend the engagement party. It is going to be huge because the wedding is going to be only family. There will be guys that are interested in girls like you, there will be dancing and music and you will be one of the many having a great time.”

.

 

Ayna was pleased with her reflection but she still hesitated to enter a room filled with familiar faces. Vinny’s gentle push and the general spirit of gaiety helped her find her feet and she moved effortlessly in the crowd, carried by the music and the bonhomie around her. She greeted old acquaintances and even met Jiten and had a quick short chat. After all she couldn’t afford to disappoint Vinny who knew when Ayna needed to be propelled in to action.

A breath of fresh air became absolutely necessary in a room packed with high energy. Ayna made her way out of the gyrating dancers, the noise had gone up a few decibels and the pulsating music was becoming a bit tiring. She managed to find her way to the verandah that led to the garden. A brief breather would work wonders to restore her energy.

The verandah was dark and only caught the lights spilling out from the main rooms. Ayna looked around for a chair and found a few stacked in a far corner. In the dark, she misjudged her step and stumbled. A man’s hand stretched out to steady her and she realized she wasn’t alone.

A voice penetrated the dark, “I hope you haven’t hurt yourself.”

The man’s presence was unexpected but she hid her nervousness, “Thank you. I’m afraid I didn’t see you.”

The man carried on making small talk and put her at ease. No names were exchanged and Ayna asked, “You must know the town and the family.”

“I didn’t live here but spent a few childhood holidays. We went for picnics to the old fort near the river.”

The old fort was a conversation spinner until they were interrupted by Vinny’s phone ringing insistently. “I’ve been looking for you. We are going to raise a toast to the couple. Please hurry up.”

Anya stopped speaking midway, “Must go now and I’m sure you will join me.”

“Please carry on as an old injury has slowed me down and it takes me time to stand up and start walking. I will be on my way.”

 Ayna hurried back to where everyone had gathered. The party was drawing to a close and Ayna was caught up in saying good byes and agreeing to future meetings.

It was only as Ayna drove back with Vinny and Manish that she remembered briefly about the stranger.

Manish teased her, “My friend Jiten is totally impressed and wants to meet you soon.”

Vinny laughed, “Amazing that you were so much in demand after your long absence at social meets.  I noticed you were missing for a long time?  Who was the lucky man?”

“It sounds foolish now but the conversation flowed seamlessly and it didn’t occur to me that names weren’t exchanged. It was like strangers you meet at the railway station or airport, travelling in different directions and saying hello. I didn’t think I had sat out for a long time.”

Work pressures pushed back memories of meeting with the nameless stranger. Ayna was surprised when an envelope was hand delivered. It contained an invitation that read:

We met at the engagement party and parted without even exchanging names. It took me some time to find you out and to ask if we can take this a step forward.

Would you care to join me for dinner at The Electra on 13th December at 8 pm?

Regards

Ramesh

Ayna read the letter several times and debated whether she should respond to the letter. Not only did she not know his name but in the darkness she had barely made out his features. It was almost like a blind date but she was familiar with the restaurant and decided to be impulsive.

Remembering a past practice from her teenage years, Ayna had informed Vinny the details of her dinner date. Their rule was to inform if the situation looked dodgy and before matters got out of hand.

Ayna had barely time to look around and was greeted by a smartly dressed man who introduced himself, “I am Ramesh and am glad you decided to accept my invitation. “

He led her to a table for two and which faced the entrance to the room. After some casual conversation Ramesh looked intently at Ayna. His hands were on the table almost asking to be held, “I’ve something to confess. I met your fiancée briefly, before he had the accident…”

Ayna stared; slack jawed unable to utter a word, her eyes filled up with tears.  “Did you know him?”

He touched her trembling hands, “No. We had both stopped for a break at a wayside tea shop and exchanged pleasantries. He was happy and excited and said that he was getting married shortly to a girl from Sonepore.

I started a little later and was delayed by the news that the road was blocked because of a collision between a truck and a car. It was your fiancée’s car and I helped some of the bystanders to extricate him from the mangled remains.”

“How did you know that I was the bride?”

“I had come to the party along with my friend who works for an event planning company. You had briefly turned your face towards me when I overheard one of the invitees point at you and mention in detail about the accident.

 You walked in while I was waiting for my friend to be free. By the time I had gathered courage to speak about that terrible incident, you were gone.

 I’ve wanted to meet you since that night.”

The conversation had taken an unexpected turn when the phone vibrated in her bag and made her uncomfortable. Instinctively she withdrew her hand and looked at the message on her phone. It was from Vinny and read DON’T MOVE. JITEN COMING. Confused she looked up to see that three men had appeared from nowhere and encircled Ramesh who aimed a glass of water in her direction. Instinctively she dodged and the contents sloshed her before it hit the wall and broke.

Involuntarily Anya screamed, covered her face and started to sob while a few waiters and diners led by the restaurant manager crowded around. Embarrassed and scared, Anya started to cry loudly and before she could make herself understood heard a male voice taking charge of the mess.

It was Jiten and he was able to calm Ayna. In a few minutes he had extricated her from the pandemonium and led her out.

As he started the car he asked, “Where and how did you meet this man? Did you know anything about him?”

“I met him at Rani’s party and it ended there. I didn’t know his name. A few weeks later he sent me an invitation for dinner and it was signed Ramesh. I thought ….”

“Sorry to interrupt but he uses several aliases and is a clever cyber-criminal. You could have landed in deep trouble.”

“At the restaurant he provided me with information that sounded authentic and I found no reason to be suspicious.”

Jiten listened carefully to Ayna’s account and then said, “Men like Ramesh are wily and smart. Witnesses have confirmed that he was present at the site of the accident. Luck was on his side as he noticed Arun’s phone in the debris and pocketed it. He had accessed information from the phone that provided him with personal data. I doubt that he heard anything at the party. His reasons for attending the party are unknown. Maybe he had come along with his friend and had nothing planned.”

 Ayna regained her composure, “How did Vinny know you were at the Electra?”

“This evening I visited Vinny who mentioned that you were dining at the Electra with a mysterious date.  I told her that I would be also going there and she laughed and asked me to report about your date.”

Ayna looked intently, “You appeared at the exact moment and it was too much of a coincidence.”

“I work for a cybersecurity company that provides services to banks, financial institutions, credit card companies and others. Mr. Ramesh is the master mind behind a group of criminal hackers. We have been chasing him unsuccessfully.

The hotel uses our services and informed us that Mr. Ramesh had used fraudulent credit cards and hadn’t checked out. We often work with the cyber police department and they were told that Mr. Ramesh would be dining at the restaurant.

My curiosity to identify Ramesh had brought me to the restaurant. I was worried to see you in his company and called Vinny who warned you and alerted me.”

Ayna sat silently; her voice choked as she tried to make sense of the evening’s events. She wondered why Ramesh had wanted to meet her.

Jiten was in no hurry and waited until he guessed that Ayna was had composed herself. He spoke gently, “Today’s incident was unreal and I don’t know why Ramesh planned this dinner. Trust is in a way spontaneous and Ramesh had given you no reason to disbelieve him. I don’t think he wanted to harm you.”

Ayna shivered and her voice trembled, “He aimed the glass at me. I could have been hurt.”

“He acted on the spur of the moment, most probably to distract the police and escape.”

A smile quivered on Ayna’s lips, “You have been the knight in shining armor. Could I return the favor by asking you out for dinner?”

“Tonight let me have the honor and I’ll take a rain check for another evening.”

 

Ayna rang up Vinny, “My dinner date has changed. Don’t worry until further notice.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.