Venom: Part 9
'She is here!' Raina literally screamed in shock.
'Yes, and he is her next victim.' Meera inferred.
'But why him now?'
'We'll get to know once we talk it out to him'
***
Areem remembered her day last spent with them; her real family. She was going on a holiday to the woods with her parents and elder sister. Her sister was often protective and careful about her. She loved Areem more than anyone. Spoilt her by feeding with knowledge. Areem was a prodigy child. Who ever saw her was taken by awe and amusement. Anybody would've been surprised to see a five year old having knowledge of a fifteen year old. Her parent's were renowned scientists and everybody knew Areem was next in line. One would feel that her elder sister wasn't special. However, for Areem, her sister was the most special person. Losing her was her biggest fear. When Da-ul first brought her, she trained herself in such a way that she forgot all that she loved, at least the dead. She refused to succumb to any kind of pain.
But now, after nearly two decades; she saw her. It wasn't delusion or was it? No, it couldn't be. Venom's eyes were not faking it. It was indeed her sister. How could it be possible, though? Da-ul told her that everyone died. Was he lying? It won't be the first time in twenty years. Areem's life was a profit and loss statement for Da-ul. He trained her as a weapon. Crushed her humanity and made a monster out of it.
The benefit of doubt crushed when she hacked the receptionist's laptop and checked for visiting entries.
And there was it; Meera Ray, Intelligence Bureau, Areem's sister.
***
'I thought Research and Analysis wing was far off the IB's reach' said Dr Narayan irritatedly, certainly he wasn't pleased to see Raina and Meera that too at his research station.
'It still is. Actually this is an unofficial visit' Meera spoke, Dr Narayan raised his eyebrow, like the conversation had just come to an end.
'This means you have no plausible reason to come here'
'That's not true!' Raina defended.
'We're here to inform you that your life might be in danger'
Dr Narayan faked a chuckle, his eyes were questioning and face disappointed.
'And why would anyone want to kill me?' he asked.
'For the same reason they killed Dr Ivan' Meera tone was serious. She hadn't come to Chennai to see the scientist laugh at her. Dr Narayan's expression changed; it was grim. He wasn't aware that Dr Ivan was dead.
'That's why he won't return my calls' he murmured.
'What?'
'When did this all happen?'
'About two months back'
By the look of Dr Narayan, it seemed as if all his laughter died at once. Strange, he didn't react to the news as ghastly as Raina imagined. It rather seemed that he was expecting it.
'When you said this was unofficial, how "unofficial" do you exactly mean?'
'Well, we are chasing an assassin and terrorist. Some of the dots led to you, and we are certain you're the target now'
'Miss Ray, if it's been two months since Ivan got murdered, I think I would've been dead by now' he was still in no mood to accept that he was in grave danger.
'Dr Narayan, I am expecting you'll be dead within two days tops' Raina unabashedly added. The scientist gave her an incredulous look.
'What my associate is trying to say that she's already here to kill you. Probably planning how to do it'
'She?'
'Yeah, she goes by the infamous Venom' Raina spoke.
'Dr Narayan, what I don't understand is the reason why you are being targeted. Is there anything you and Ivan were up to against the laws?' Meera asked.
'I think I will allow myself not to trust you, Miss Ray' he continued 'For all I know you could be with those who want to kill me'
'You can have your benefit of doubt, Doctor. I'm just an official doing my duties for the nation's sake'
It seemed that the genius wasn't convinced. He didn't say anything and Meera thought it was their sign of exit. Meera signalled Raina to move but she wanted to talk to the genius alone. She was his number one fan and had numerous theories as well to share.
'Can I have five minutes, please!' she begged Meera. Meera gave her an odd look, mix of approval and suspicion.
'Ten tops'. Raina hugged Meera and went straight up to him.
'I was hoping you'd left' Dr Narayan said in an uninviting tone.
'Well, sorry about her. She's doing her job, I on the other hand to speak about your research work'
'Really? What all do you know about my research?'
'Everything. Ever since the last science convention, I read all your articles on Nuclear. I loved the Catalyst Theory'
'You have read my Catalyst Theory' he looked impressed by Raina.
'Yes, and the supplement theories based on it'
'Wow! I've never heard a woman speak about it, least have such vigour for it'
'I'm no ordinary woman' she spoke in a humorous tone.
And Raina's effortless knowledge and charm worked. She engaged Dr Naryan for quite some long time. She didn't realise and it was already thirty minutes of chatting.
'You definitely seem better than your partner. She doesn't look like the one who has interest in all this' Dr Narayan commented.
'Oh! She knows nothing'
'Well, I think I can show it to you'
'What?' she asked, bewildered.
'I know why she left you. I know she will come after what Ivan and I were preparing'
'But that wasn't the motive' Raina frowned.
'I'm sure it wasn't. Meet me at this address tomorrow' he said while scribbling few sentences.
'So you were preparing something'
'Of course, he was a genius and so was I. Our thoughts collided and we invented what we thought could change the world'
'It sounds promising'
'It is indeed'
***
'Got it!' Raina cheered.
'What?' Meera asked.
'You're a smart ass chick, you know. He gave me the location of his "promising work"'
'He did?' Meera said in disbelief. Raina frowned, as if all this wasn't a charade she had known of.
'Why are you so shocked?'
'That's because he easily fooled you but not me'
'What do you mean?'
'Miss, Dr Sai Narayan isn't really as naive as you think. The way he looked at me when I questioned him, he is clearly hiding something big'
'But he is ready to disclose it'
'Raina, you would be a fool to believe that. He would definitely not give away something as big as his breakthrough research to just mere officials who don't even have official business with him'
Raina was disappointed. She really believed that she had engaged him in an interesting conversation. But Meera was right. Nobody could let go of their lifetime's knowledge to anyone.
'What do we now?' she asked. Meera gave her a sly smile.
'We track him of course'
(Concludes in the next and final part)
'Yes, and he is her next victim.' Meera inferred.
'But why him now?'
'We'll get to know once we talk it out to him'
***
Areem remembered her day last spent with them; her real family. She was going on a holiday to the woods with her parents and elder sister. Her sister was often protective and careful about her. She loved Areem more than anyone. Spoilt her by feeding with knowledge. Areem was a prodigy child. Who ever saw her was taken by awe and amusement. Anybody would've been surprised to see a five year old having knowledge of a fifteen year old. Her parent's were renowned scientists and everybody knew Areem was next in line. One would feel that her elder sister wasn't special. However, for Areem, her sister was the most special person. Losing her was her biggest fear. When Da-ul first brought her, she trained herself in such a way that she forgot all that she loved, at least the dead. She refused to succumb to any kind of pain.
But now, after nearly two decades; she saw her. It wasn't delusion or was it? No, it couldn't be. Venom's eyes were not faking it. It was indeed her sister. How could it be possible, though? Da-ul told her that everyone died. Was he lying? It won't be the first time in twenty years. Areem's life was a profit and loss statement for Da-ul. He trained her as a weapon. Crushed her humanity and made a monster out of it.
The benefit of doubt crushed when she hacked the receptionist's laptop and checked for visiting entries.
And there was it; Meera Ray, Intelligence Bureau, Areem's sister.
***
'I thought Research and Analysis wing was far off the IB's reach' said Dr Narayan irritatedly, certainly he wasn't pleased to see Raina and Meera that too at his research station.
'It still is. Actually this is an unofficial visit' Meera spoke, Dr Narayan raised his eyebrow, like the conversation had just come to an end.
'This means you have no plausible reason to come here'
'That's not true!' Raina defended.
'We're here to inform you that your life might be in danger'
Dr Narayan faked a chuckle, his eyes were questioning and face disappointed.
'And why would anyone want to kill me?' he asked.
'For the same reason they killed Dr Ivan' Meera tone was serious. She hadn't come to Chennai to see the scientist laugh at her. Dr Narayan's expression changed; it was grim. He wasn't aware that Dr Ivan was dead.
'That's why he won't return my calls' he murmured.
'What?'
'When did this all happen?'
'About two months back'
By the look of Dr Narayan, it seemed as if all his laughter died at once. Strange, he didn't react to the news as ghastly as Raina imagined. It rather seemed that he was expecting it.
'When you said this was unofficial, how "unofficial" do you exactly mean?'
'Well, we are chasing an assassin and terrorist. Some of the dots led to you, and we are certain you're the target now'
'Miss Ray, if it's been two months since Ivan got murdered, I think I would've been dead by now' he was still in no mood to accept that he was in grave danger.
'Dr Narayan, I am expecting you'll be dead within two days tops' Raina unabashedly added. The scientist gave her an incredulous look.
'What my associate is trying to say that she's already here to kill you. Probably planning how to do it'
'She?'
'Yeah, she goes by the infamous Venom' Raina spoke.
'Dr Narayan, what I don't understand is the reason why you are being targeted. Is there anything you and Ivan were up to against the laws?' Meera asked.
'I think I will allow myself not to trust you, Miss Ray' he continued 'For all I know you could be with those who want to kill me'
'You can have your benefit of doubt, Doctor. I'm just an official doing my duties for the nation's sake'
It seemed that the genius wasn't convinced. He didn't say anything and Meera thought it was their sign of exit. Meera signalled Raina to move but she wanted to talk to the genius alone. She was his number one fan and had numerous theories as well to share.
'Can I have five minutes, please!' she begged Meera. Meera gave her an odd look, mix of approval and suspicion.
'Ten tops'. Raina hugged Meera and went straight up to him.
'I was hoping you'd left' Dr Narayan said in an uninviting tone.
'Well, sorry about her. She's doing her job, I on the other hand to speak about your research work'
'Really? What all do you know about my research?'
'Everything. Ever since the last science convention, I read all your articles on Nuclear. I loved the Catalyst Theory'
'You have read my Catalyst Theory' he looked impressed by Raina.
'Yes, and the supplement theories based on it'
'Wow! I've never heard a woman speak about it, least have such vigour for it'
'I'm no ordinary woman' she spoke in a humorous tone.
And Raina's effortless knowledge and charm worked. She engaged Dr Naryan for quite some long time. She didn't realise and it was already thirty minutes of chatting.
'You definitely seem better than your partner. She doesn't look like the one who has interest in all this' Dr Narayan commented.
'Oh! She knows nothing'
'Well, I think I can show it to you'
'What?' she asked, bewildered.
'I know why she left you. I know she will come after what Ivan and I were preparing'
'But that wasn't the motive' Raina frowned.
'I'm sure it wasn't. Meet me at this address tomorrow' he said while scribbling few sentences.
'So you were preparing something'
'Of course, he was a genius and so was I. Our thoughts collided and we invented what we thought could change the world'
'It sounds promising''It is indeed'
***
'Got it!' Raina cheered.
'What?' Meera asked.
'You're a smart ass chick, you know. He gave me the location of his "promising work"'
'He did?' Meera said in disbelief. Raina frowned, as if all this wasn't a charade she had known of.
'Why are you so shocked?'
'That's because he easily fooled you but not me'
'What do you mean?'
'Miss, Dr Sai Narayan isn't really as naive as you think. The way he looked at me when I questioned him, he is clearly hiding something big'
'But he is ready to disclose it'
'Raina, you would be a fool to believe that. He would definitely not give away something as big as his breakthrough research to just mere officials who don't even have official business with him'
Raina was disappointed. She really believed that she had engaged him in an interesting conversation. But Meera was right. Nobody could let go of their lifetime's knowledge to anyone.
'What do we now?' she asked. Meera gave her a sly smile.
'We track him of course'
(Concludes in the next and final part)
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