Secrets Hidden In Time (Time #1)

04 | The First Trouble in Paradise

"Ma'am, I am sorry again for interfering, but just for security reasons, since you are a bureaucratic official, can you please tell me the reason for the booking?" The receptionist did try to look apologetic.

"Just a reunion with college friends." She said, looking directly into the receptionist's eyes.

"Alright, Madam, a private dining room has been booked under the specified name. One of our support staff members from here shall escort you to the designated room." She turned around a bit and called for someone, "Subodh, please escort ma'am to Jamavar, private dining room no. 11B."

"Sure, Ma'am." A young lad of around twenty-four in the managerial staff uniform turned from the reception lady and smiled at her, "Ma'am, please." He made a gesture with his right hand to follow him.

Hinduja faintly smiled back and nodded.

Now that she noticed, men in black formals were standing not only in front of the hotel entrance but also inside the hotel at every corner. As she followed the man in charge of escorting her to the dining room, the number of men in black only increased—the same kind that she had seen on the day of her marriage, outside the courtroom.

Two minutes later, they were entering into a corridor from the main dining area of the Jamavar restaurant. In the far corner, there were only two doors. The one on the right side had a number plate with 11B written on it, while the one on the left had 11A on it. And right in front of 11A stood Karim, Mahadevan's head bodyguard and close confidante. Opposite to him was a woman also dressed in black attire. Both of them still hadn't noticed her or the staff member.

She observed the woman from top to bottom, her eyes glinting with something unknown and mysterious.

"There you go, ma'am; that's the private dining room no. 11B, the room that you have booked." He pointed at the door on the right side of the corridor. "I shall take my leave from here. Enjoy the joyous evening!"

She waited a bit for the staff member to go back. She then looked up discreetly to examine the juncture where the ceiling met the walls. There were two CCTV cameras—one was at the start of the corridor where she was erect on her feet; the second CCTV camera was in the middle of the corridor on the ceiling around three meters away from where she was standing. The far end of the corridor where Karim and the woman were standing was a blind spot, maybe, to maintain the privacy of the elites of the society who entered the two rooms there.

As Subodh left the corridor, she started walking deeper into the corridor.

Sensing her presence, Karim's eyes darted towards her. She gestured at him with her eyes to not come towards her. Walking straight for six more meters, she crossed the visibility range of the second CCTV camera and then started wending her way towards the room on the left side—11A, where Karim was standing.

"Good evening, Madam." The man's deep voice resonated in the long corridor while the woman bowed.

"Good evening, Karim Bhai." Returning the same gesture, she nodded at the woman.

"Both the Sahibs and their friends are waiting for you, madam."

"Sahibs?" She was confused.

"From 'Sahibs,' I mean, Sahib's younger twin brother, madam—Aridaman Dogra." Karim replied.

"Okay."

He chivalrously pushed open the door of room 11A for her.

She could hear faint voices and a few deep chuckles as she adjusted her black blazer that she had worn over a pale grey handloom saree.

Smiling at Karim, she entered the room.

A sudden silence engulfed the private dining room as its current occupants stilled in their conversation. The room, which she now knew wasn't exactly a dining room, surprisingly had an open-air setting with a comfortable-looking rectangular seating arrangement decorated regally.