Thulasi was completely lost in her own thoughts while coming back to her boutique. Somewhere in-between her thoughts, she also managed to catch a share auto and sat next to a lady in late forty's or early fifty's. The elderly lady gave a friendly smile. Though Thulasi was not in a mood for any chit chat, she replied back with a pleasant smile.
"What happened? Are you not well? Your smile doesn't seem to reach your eyes??"
Thulasi was surprised by the elder's sharpness.
"Oh yes... a small issue at office..." She somehow managed to reply.
"Don't carry office worries with you... See there are so many things in the world to enjoy..."
Thulasi just nodded and that ended the conversation.
After reaching her boutique, Thulasi described all the happenings to her friend Uma. Uma was also angered by the new demand. The friends discussed about the matter for a while and then finally Thulasi decided to stop it and start with their work...
"Oh yes Thulasi, I forgot... you have Kanmani's number right? We need to get some chamiki work done urgently..."
"Oh.. I have her number... It's in my wallet..."
Saying so, Thulasi, took her handbag the one that she had thrown carelessly after reaching the boutique few minutes back. While opening her bag for taking the wallet, another large hand bag on the table caught her attention... She remembered seeing that in the auto... Surprised, she took the bag and opened it and she was totally amazed by what she saw there... The bag was full of rupees...
"Uma... come and see this..."
Surprised by her tone, Uma kept the cloth she was working on and came near Thulasi. Seeing the contents of the bag that Thulasi was holding, Uma was also surprised...
"Probably Thulasi, god wants to help you very fast... May be this money is just for you to come out of this issue..."
"No No Uma... We shouldn't even think that way... An elderly lady was sitting next to me in the auto... I guess I took her bag by mistake... We need to return it fast..." said Thulasi and started checking the bag for address.
"You shouldn't be this good always Thulasi..."
Thulasi just gave a dry smile and took out the small address card.
"See Uma this address is in Anna Nagar... We need to return this bag fast... Can you also come with me? We will go and return it?"
Since Uma know about Thulasi, she accepted immediately. Uma called Hema, their assistant and asked her to take care of the bouquet.
Finding the address was not a big deal for them. It was a big, beautiful bungalow. Both the friends admired the bungalow's beauty!
"Thulasi, I think even if you have kept back this bag with you, it wouldn't have mattered much..." said Uma.
Thulasi just smiled and pressed the door bell. Almost immediately, a lady looking like a maid opened the door. Thulasi told her that they want to meet someone in the house for an urgent matter. The lady asked them to sit in a sofa in what looked like a reception and went inside.
They both sat in that comfortable sofa and waited for someone to arrive. First they could hear a knock and then noise of a door opening... and then the maid explaining politely that someone is waiting in the reception... Then they could hear some unclear speech...
"We should go to the police at once..." said a male voice.
"When we don't know what happened, its' not fair..." said a female voice.
Thulasi and Uma shared an understanding glance and smiled! After a few seconds, they could hear couple of fast paced footsteps. And in another few seconds, Dinakar emerged out from the inner room...
Thulasi was shocked to see him there! But Dinakar didn't seem to be very surprised by what he saw...
"So, now it's your turn to come and catch a big fish? Don't you girls have any sense at all? Are you not ashamed of yourself? Is money so important to you all..."
He kept shouting at Thulasi, while Uma watched in total astonishment.
Meanwhile the elderly lady whom Thulasi met in the auto came to the reception and scolded, Dinakar.
"Stop it Dinu! What’s this nonsense? You can't speak like that to someone whom you don't even know..."
Dinakar stopped his scolding’s hearing those words, but again turned back to Thulasi and gave her the same contempt look...
To be continued...