The Theory of Zero

police about the accident or did any complaint? I actually did noting as it was just some drunk driver.

  But she insisted me to report as when she was recalling the incident, she remembered that the driver might have steered his car towards me intentionally. I asked her what exactly had she remembered? She told me that the car was driving properly but suddenly it came towards me and when she dragged me out of the way, the car turned the other way to balance and drove away. According to Sunaina, if the car driver really had lost his control then it would hit the road. But it drove away. I was really surprised to see her memory on the minute details and her observation power. Within that short point of time she remembered all that happened. Ravi came with sandwich and coffee. He also thanked Sunaina for saving my life. After a little bit of chatting, Sunaina left and Ravi started to annoy me with lots of questions about her. My mind was filled with suspicions. I dressed in a hurry and left home to meet Tamble Sir.

  Tamble Sir as usual gave me a broad smile whenever I came to visit at his office. He was excited to know if I found anything related to our case. At first I asked Tamble Sir to give me a quick info on the car. I gave Sir the license plate number of the car which Sunaina gave me. Tamble sir saw my face and guessed that something was serious so he went to the technical department to get the registration details of the car. After 40 minutes Tamble Sir came back with a serious face and asked me that from where I got this licence plate number? I told him about my suspicions from the Reporter & Arjun’s connection to the last night incident. Tamble Sir turned very serious and told me to stop investigating right now. If he had any idea of such danger, he would have never given me this case to investigate. He was very upset and worried for me for putting me in danger. He told me that he would do official investigation from now on. So I should not involve myself anymore in this case now. But I assured him that nothing was dangerous. It was a random incident. Sunaina might have imagined. I was sure that Tamble Sir would find that the car driver was drunk last night. Tamble Sir was silent for a moment and told me that the car doesn’t exist. It was a fake license plate number. If Sunaina was right then it was me who’s in trouble right now. So Tamble Sir ordered me to stop any further involvement in the case. I tried to convince him but he was determined. I came back home. I was upset. I was checking my email and saw Sunaina had send me an email. It was a report of from Godhra communal riot which happened few years back in GUJARAT state. Full India was upside down due to the incident but I could not understand that why she send me this old news report pic. But then I noticed a burning car picture on that report and it had same number of the car which attacked me. There was another Email where she wrote “I was curious and tried to search on the internet with a vague hope. But when I found this report I knew you are into something dangerous unknowingly or willingly. I prefer to be strictly professional from now on. As it’s not my business. Don’t misunderstand me, Sir.”

  Sunaina was right. If there was any problem then she should stay away from all these things happening with me right now. I was a bit upset too because of Tamble Sir’s order to stay away from getting involved in this case.

  Next morning I felt fresh and motivated. Though I thought of avoiding the investigation but the two things made me to be more determined. First, I never ran away from a situation because of danger & second, if I was really attacked by a fake licensed car, then I was close to the truth. So I decided to investigate and find the truth on my own. I drove to the dead reporter’s residence. My theory was right. His roommate told me that the last few days before his death, he was talking with someone named Arjun but he wasn’t able to give me any more useful information. It was clear now that the Reporter and Arjun were connected and both died the same day when they were supposed to meet. Both of them died from different types of accident. Nothing suspicious if observed individually but when connected then it’s highly suspicious. But what and who killed them? According to Arjun’s mother he was talking with the reporter on his coaching center’s illegitimate compassing process for jobs. Most of the compassing or job recruitment processes of this country were corrupted. It was not new and it was impossible that both of them were murdered in such highly planned way due to such recruitment scam. Still before I came to any conclusion, I went to the coaching centre. I lied to them about admitting my brother and got some institutional information.

  Back home at night I was checking the recruitment chart of the previous recruited students. All scored over 90%. That means Arjun’s claim might not be the true. If so then both, Reporter & Arjun’s investigation was meaningless. I was confused again. Back to ZERO.

  It was always great to start a day with hot & tasty “Jalebi”. It was one my favourite desert since childhood. Today Ravi made my day with this “Jalebi” and his special cream coffee. Suddenly doorbell rang and Mr Sudhir was on the door. I welcomed and asked him his purpose of visit.

  Mr.Sudhir surprised me when he told me that he had come to say sorry because it was his paranoia after his nephew’s death and so now there was no need to waste time in any investigation. He informed the same to Tamble Sir but still he felt that he should inform me personally. I told him there was nothing to be sorry for.

  Ravi was very happy to find that finally my involvement was over but what disturbed me were that Mr.Sudhir’s sudden change and his body language. He was still confused and more scared. Though he was trying to carry a fake smile but Why? What scared him so much?

  Tamble Sir called me and told me that he had to go to another city for an investigation and informed me about Mr.Sudhir.

  I went to meet with the family of Vishnu & Rishi. They both had lost their lives in accidents few weeks before Arjun died and they also used to study in the same coaching centre. Rishi was from a well to do family. His brother told me that it was unfortunate for the family. Rishi recently got job in a big multinational company and everyone was happy but it was his destiny that he lost his brother. I asked about Rishi’s result and if he was talking with any reporter? His brother remembered nothing such but promised to inform me if he would find anything. Then I went to meet Vishnu’s family. But according to their neighbour, they sold their home 6 months ago. After a bit more searching, finally I got their address. They were living in a small apartment. Vishnu’s dad was very upset. So I couldn’t ask him much but something happened and they had to sell their home. Though he did not tell me the reason. According to him everything was fine as Vishnu got a very good job. But before his accident he was in touch with a reporter for their coaching centre’s promotional advertisement on successful recruitment.

  Before I came back home, I went to the coaching centre again. I was waiting to meet the director and saw Sunaina. She was surprised to see me too.

  Director’s assistant: Sir, please submit your brother’s details to our front desk. Director Sir is waiting for you.

  I – Oh No! I am sorry. I will bring the details next time but i want to talk with Director sir for few further quires.

  I looked at Sunaina and asked her, “Can I borrow your umbrella“. Sunaina looked back at me curiously. She gave me her umbrella and left silently. I was talking with the director. I asked him few more questions like I wanted to be more secure about the Institute before clearing admission of my brother.

  When Director was assuring me with all good and successful results, I was texting Sunaina that “Don’t wait in front of my car, meet me at the Café at the end of the main road after 30 minutes.”

  I reached the café in time. I returned the umbrella to Sunaina.

  Sunaina – “What is happening?”

  I – “What were you doing there?”

  We both spoke at the same time. Then we smiled. I told the whole story in short. Sunaina was listening seriously. She asked me, “Why I borrowed her umbrella?”

  I – “I think I am being followed. A grey Toyota is following me since this morning. I do not want to put you in any danger, so I took your umbrella to hide and walked. I know you are sharp
and curious girl. You would definitely wait there to ask me about my visit here. So I sent the SMS to meet me here.”

  Sunaina’s cousin brother was studying there. There was some bank clearance problem so Sunaina went to submit an application. But listing all my theory on the conspiracy and murder she became worried for her brother. She wanted to know my next step and told me that I should inform all these things to the police. I told her that I would inform Tamble Sir once he came back. I need to verify about the reporter now. If he was the same person who was doing the promotional campaign then it would be easy to connect. Sunaina’s brother might help me in this. She asked me to email the reporter’s photo.

  I was really very tired. Ravi was in the market so I sat on the couch, turned on the TV and received a notification SMS on my phone that my email was signed in just now. I tried to open it from my phone but it didn’t work. Then I tried to sign in from my laptop but still it wasn’t working, after about 20 minutes later I was able to sign in. My email was just hacked. Well I changed my email security setting and sent the reporter’s picture to Sunaina. I was going through the Coaching centre's details again. I