The Other Side Read online

  ‘Welcome my friend, long time, welcome to India Harvey,’ said Sahil as he hugged Harvey.

  ‘Yeah dude, finally landed in India and we meet after long, it’s so pleasant here and nice change from Los Angeles, and am craving to tuck in into some authentic Indian food,’ said Harvey.

  ‘Yes of course, come let me take you for some finger-licking dal and roti today,’ said Sahil.

  They went off to the Peshawari restaurant at ITC Grand Maratha hotel near the international airport. He ordered Peshawari’s special Dal Bukhara and tandoori roti along with a glass of buttermilk.

  ‘Wow, this places looks awesome, all ancient style ambience. It feels so warm here,’ said Harvey as he kept looking around the restaurant. The décor of this restaurant reflects the rugged nature of the Northwest Frontier. The waiter came with the food. An earthen bowl full of Dal Bukhara along with tandoori roti and sliced onions sprinkled with Indian spices. Harvey looked around for a spoon but found none on the table.

  ‘The tradition at the Peshawari is to enjoy the meal with your fingers ... Sir, but if you are not comfortable, then I can arrange for a spoon for you,’ said the waiter. He had observed the hitch on Harvey’s face.

  ‘No, it’s okay, let me follow some traditions today,’ said Harvey looking at the waiter. He tied the apron over the neck and keenly observed the way Sahil used his fingers to tear the roti, dip it in the dal and pop it into his mouth. And for the first time in his life, Harvey tasted dal with his fingers.

  ‘It’s heavenly, Sahil. I have never had such yummy dal,’ said Harvey. After tasting it once, he couldn’t resist himself, and within a short time, he had finished the whole serving. They ordered a second bowl of dal, and while they were relishing their meal, there was complete silence between the two, even when they had so much to talk. After finishing the dal, Harvey literally licked his fingers. This bite, straight after deplaning, was worth it.

  ‘Oh my God Sahil, my stomach is so full with the food topped up with buttermilk,’ said Harvey in a dreamy voice. He was tired with the flight and long journey, and such heavy food made him feel sleepy.

  ‘It’s okay Harvey, you take rest and go to sleep, it is almost 10 p.m. I will meet you tomorrow by 10 a.m. in the hotel’s lounge area,’ said Sahil as he dropped off Harvey at Hotel Novotel in Juhu and left for his home.

  Next day morning, Harvey got up early to meet Sahil at the lounge of the hotel. He didn’t have many days to spend in India. He wanted to rush to Los Angeles. The past few days, his phone had been constantly ringing for help to find the blackmailer. As soon as Sahil saw Harvey, he took him to the restaurant for the breakfast and some briefing on Harvey’s investigation.

  ‘So tell me, Harvey, what brings you here to Mumbai?’ asked Sahil.

  ‘You might have heard about the website scam in the US and Canada. The website is about having extramarital affairs. It had promised to keep the user’s details a secret and also delete their data in case they wanted to delete their account. For that service, they had charged $19 from each user and made millions annually. But whatever they promised was fake, all their data and users personal data has been recovered by the hackers. And they are blackmailing the company that they will leak all the details if they don’t delete the website permanently. Moreover, the hackers have started blackmailing and threatening the users personally as well,’ said Harvey as he sipped his coffee.

  ‘Seriously, what a big hack man, so it would be a nightmare time for all the married men there in the US ... but Harvey what gets you here in India? I think your hackers might be in the US itself,’ said Sahil.

  Harvey launched into a detailed explanation.

  ‘One of my friends is the victim of this scam, he got emails from a blackmailer. But the pattern of what other victims were targeted was different, and by what pattern he is blackmailed is very different. First, he got a mail, threatening to expose his details of the scam in social media and to his wife, then the blackmailer sent him another email and called him to Las Vegas and lose a decided amount of money in the casino and to a specific person. Details about the blackmailer were given in the mail. According to that, he reached the casino and lost more than the decided amount to a girl who resembled the one described in the email. Now that girl took all the money and befriended my friend, but said she had no clue about any emails or whatsoever. That girl is Indian, named Kavya Mehta. She came to the US for a vacation; my friend was rather enamoured of his opponent at the cards table and does not suspect her at all. Moreover, she kept in touch with my friend. She is married to a guy named Kabir Mehta. Recently my friend got another email saying that it’s the last warning and that he had to deposit a certain amount of money in a given bank. It was a bank located in India. My friend does not suspect Kavya, but I do. And I haven’t told him that I am here to verify her details. It is of course possible that there is no link between Kavya and the account and the scam.’

  ‘That’s strange. But Harvey, even I feel that you might be behind the wrong person. Since you mentioned that she is married and moreover your friend and that girl are in touch, then why would she blackmail him after giving her exact details and a contact number? Only a fool would stay in touch in this case,’ said Sahil.

  ‘I know, but that’s the case if the details which she has given are true. What, if she might be faking everything and is just manipulating my friend,’ said Harvey.

  ‘Hmm, true. We can work on that little doubt and clear your suspicion. Give me the details of Kavya, I will try to figure it out where exactly she stays and we can check on everything,’ said Sahil.

  ‘By the way Sahil, I really liked the idea of jet spray in the bathroom. At first, I didn’t know the technique and spread the water everywhere, but then as I got proper control of it, trust me, it was so good. So better than tissue paper. Tissue paper can be rather rough on the ass. I think US people should implement this, it’s hygienic I feel,’ said Harvey.

  ‘Ha ha, got it, so now you know why it was a pain for me in London without the jet spray, and you guys used to tease me a lot,’ said Sahil as he laughed over Harvey’s relaxed face after using the washroom.

  They both left for a round in Juhu; Sahil wanted to visit Juhu’s police station to verify the details Harvey had given.

  Chapter 21

  ‘Good morning Saheb, Tukaram Saheb hai kya?’ (Is Tukaram Sir there?) asked Sahil to the constable who was on sight. Sahil knew at least one constable in each of the important police stations. They often helped him with the inside news on police cases.

  ‘Naahi aahe, tumhi kaun? Ti yenaar evening chi dutyvar,’ (Not there, who are you? He will come for his evening duty) said another constable.

  ‘Mi Sahil, press madhitun, ti yenar tar sanga tyala me aale hote,’ (I am Sahil, from the press. When he comes, do inform him that I had come) said Sahil. Without certain known people, Sahil could not get any information just like that. So they had no option but to wait for constable Tukaram.

  ‘Sahil, I also need to verify with the bank details of this account number,’ said Harvey. They knew they were short of time but there was not much they could do.

  ‘Without help from the police we cannot decode the bank details of the account holder, Harvey; still ... let us try,’ said Sahil.

  ‘Okay, so show me Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow till then,’ said Harvey in a very excited tone. He was fond of the ‘Big B’ and to see the superstar (at least where he lived) when he visited India was always on his wish list. Sahil saw Harvey’s excited mood.

  ‘Oh yes Harvey, let us do some Mumbai darshan till then, you never know when you can get lucky and spot the Big B,’ said Sahil. To kill time till evening, Sahil took Harvey out for lunch, where he made him have some spicy Indian food. The meal session ended with Harvey literally in tears over the spicy meal. Sahil took him for a drive through Mumbai, to see Antilia, Mukesh Ambani’s building via Worli sea link. They saw the iconic hotel Ambassador and Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Colaba. And Mumbai’s favo
urite queen’s necklace and Chowpatty. They went by Mannat, Shah Rukh Khan’s bungalow in Bandra along with Salman Khan’s residence building. And of course, the Big B’s bungalow, Jalsa. In the evening they were back at the Juhu police station to meet constable Tukaram.

  ‘Kasa aahet Saab?’ (How are you, Sir?) asked Sahil as he entered the police station and saw Tukaram.

  ‘Arre Sahil Bhai, khup divsa nantar, kay ghost aahe?’ (Brother Sahil, after so many days, what’s the matter?) asked Tukaram as he saw Sahil along with Harvey. He observed Harvey in a very cynical way from top to bottom. Tukaram took them both to an isolated corner table where they could sit and discuss without anyone hearing about it.

  Sahil introduced Harvey to constable Tukaram and briefed him about the matter. He told him about the website and the scam which had taken place. He also spoke about Harvey’s friend being the victim and about Kavya Mehta – how that friend had had met her and about an email from the blackmailer with an account number of Indian bank. Tukaram heard everything very keenly and in a little disbelief. He was expecting stories about drugs, rape, a hit and run case or murder. He had never heard of something like this.

  ‘Kay ghost aahe? Asa pan website hote?’ (What are you saying? Websites like these exist?) asked Tukaram in a ghastly tone.

  ‘Haan Sir, asa pan hote aajkal,’ (Yes Sir, this also happens now-a-days),’ said Sahil.

  After hearing them out, constable Tukaram asked for a days’ time to check on Kavya Mehta. Digging out the bank details from that account number was not in Tukaram’s hand though he said he would try. Tukaram had to start from scratch. In the name of information, he only had a name in hand, Kavya Mehta. Along with his colleague, he made a preliminary search on the internet especially social media sites to see if he could get any other information. Then he went into old fashioned police work. He dug up a police database of people living in Juhu, with the surname Mehta, but could not get anyone with the name Kavya Mehta. Tukaram, along with another constable, would go on roundup every night at late hours. He decided to visit each and every lane of Juhu to see if could find a clue. He went and checked every lane and inquired about the Mehta family living anywhere in the nearby societies. Apparently, many Mehtas were staying in the area of Juhu, but none with the name Kavya or Kabir Mehta. He called Sahil and told him about it. Even Sahil had started checking out on social media but in vain. There were no accounts of Kavya and Kabir Mehta. Harvey’s suspicion about Kavya grew as there was no information about them anywhere. There was a full chance that she might have given a wrong identity to Sam.

  ‘Harvey, don’t be upset. It is quite possible that her name is indeed Kavya Mehta but does not have accounts on social media. We will find a way to track her,’ said Sahil to pacify Harvey’s mind for time being.

  ‘Yea, there is a possibility, but if not then I think we will have to take official police help to investigate about the matter further, this might lead to creating a direct suspicion and inquiry on Kavya Mehta. But then, I will have to speak to my friend before I go ahead with this,’ said Harvey.

  ‘Hey Harvey, you said your friend is in touch with her. So, there is a chance if we get her mobile number, we could trace her,’ said Sahil excitingly.

  ‘Oh yes, how this didn’t strike me before, we can check her mobile number on Truecaller and check if it’s registered with the same name or not ... but the problem is how do I get the number from my friend? He does not know that I am in India to verify Kavya’s antecedents; he is totally against this idea,’ said Harvey.

  ‘Hmm, we need to ask for the number indirectly then, give him some random story then, that you wanted to know about some place in India, so you need to talk to her,’ said Sahil.

  ‘I think I will have to cook up something,’ said Harvey.

  They had been out through the day and decided to catch up on some sleep; the next day promised to be a long one too. Since it was late, Sahil slept in the hotel.

  Sahil got up early, much before Harvey, as he had to go home for a shower. He had a daily habit of reading the newspapers as soon as he gets up. He ran through the morning papers in the hotel itself, while Harvey was still sleeping. He flipped certain pages, and after a while, something struck him. He went through the paper in detail again. There was an article on Kavya Mehta, with a photo of hers. Without reading the full article, he just went inside the room where Harvey was sleeping and woke him up.

  ‘Dude, see there’s an article in the paper about the girl named Kavya Mehta, along with a photo. Is she the same Kavya Mehta?’ asked Sahil in a very excited tone. Harvey was still half asleep when Sahil shouted out the news loudly.

  ‘See, I told you right, my suspicion was right, read the news, it might be related to the scam. After all, so much money she has got from my friend,’ said Harvey. Without even checking out the photo and the news.

  ‘No Harvey, it’s nothing about the scam, it’s about a public interest lawsuit she has filed,’ said Sahil and went near Harvey to show him the photo.

  ‘Yes, she is the one ... she is the same Kavya Mehta,’ declared Harvey in a very excited tone. They both kept the newspaper in the middle and read the article about Kavya together.

  ‘No, I don’t think she can do things which you are suspecting her of, Harvey,’ said Sahil.

  Chapter 22

  The article had helped Sahil to trace Kavya’s whereabouts. The journalist who had interviewed Kavya was Sahil’s friend. Sahil asked for Kavya’s number and address. He didn’t get the number but was able to get her address. And with Tukaram’s help, he was able to get Kabir Mehta’s number.

  Whatever information Kavya had given to Sam and Harvey was absolutely right. Kavya and Kabir stayed in Juhu. And Kavya was undergoing treatment for MDR-TB.

  ‘So just because of the PIL which she has filed for the battle of TB, you think she cannot be the suspect?’ Harvey asked Sahil who was busy with his phone. Sahil was now figuring out about that account number which Harvey had got. Sahil had given up on suspecting Kavya Mehta after reading that article.

  ‘Yes Harvey, you know how the system is in India, right? For the last two days you have been complaining about people spitting and spreading dirt in public and then there is no one to take the fine or take action against them. You know how much diseases spread just because of all this. And that Kavya is fighting against the system for the betterment of the environment and public health. That’s a big thing, you know. She is a responsible civilian who wants to help her country and is thinking about the good for others. Do you really think that a girl like her would be involved in a website scam which destroys family, trust, ... definitely not Harvey,’ explained Sahil.

  ‘Yes, you have a point. But then something does not feel right. What about that account number? Is that possible that we verify if it has any link with Kavya or Kabir Mehta?’ asked Harvey hesitantly. He knew that now Sahil would not back up his suspicions regarding Kavya. After the article, Kavya had become a star for Sahil.

  ‘One more day to crack the details about that account number Harvey. You know legally it’s not possible to get access to such information. I am using various sources who work with the bank and can help to get the details. I know that only after verifying the details you will stop suspecting Kavya,’ said Sahil ironically.

  Tukaram too was thinking just like Sahil. He came over to the Novotel, Harvey’s hotel, to give more information about Kavya Mehta’s PIL.

  ‘Sahil Bhai, this girl has done complete research on TB and its state in India and have rightly chosen the authority to blame on for spitting in public. She is so smart, a few days back she had visited Juhu police station, and with some special permission, she got all the CCTV footage near signals, railway stations and other crowded public places. She has also verified and certified from various departments stating that the video is not manipulated or fabricated and that it is completely genuine. So, she has filed a PIL on the authorities who are responsible for the implementation of the ban on spitting in M
umbai,’ informed Tukaram.

  ‘Hmm, what a thought! No wonder that she is in the news. She has pressed the right nerve of the system. I hope things work in her favour. So what else you know about Kavya and Kabir?’ asked Sahil.

  ‘And that she goes to Hinduja hospital for her treatment under Dr Zarir Udwadia. And Kavya and Kabir belong to a reputed family with no criminal or other records. All clean. I am sure that Harvey Bhai is suspecting the wrong person,’ Tukaram said to Sahil and Harvey. As they were discussing Kavya’s work, Sahil got a call from his friend who had interviewed Kavya.

  ‘Hey Sahil, am sorry I was busy that day and was not able to give you much information about Kavya Mehta. So tell me what happened and what you wanted to know about her?’ asked Sahil’s friend.

  Sahil didn’t want to reveal anything about Harvey’s suspicion as the matter was now very delicate. Kavya was in the news for such a good cause. He didn’t want to spoil her image without any proof.

  ‘I just wanted to know about her fight against TB, if she knows anyone who can help TB patients. I liked your article and I have a friend who has TB, so I just asked generally,’ said Sahil.

  ‘Kavya had got TB first time in 2012 and had undergone treatment for six months under a local doctor. Six months and a full course of medicine later her x-rays showed that she was infection free and thus she stopped her medication. But still after four years, she got detected with TB, and this time it was multi drug-resistant TB (MDR- TB). It was a cause for serious concern. She is now under two years of medications and six months on injection. This time round she is being treated by a specialist. After consulting her new doctor, she realized where all she had lacked the last time and the reasons for her relapse. And thus, she wants to create awareness about the whole system of TB,’ said Sahil’s friend.