“Sa-Sahil.The book I am representing...”Words fail me.
“What about the book?”Sahil shifts and peers from the front.“They are not dropping you, are they?Are the sales not good?”
I shake my head, not wanting to utter the words, but they deserve to know.The words scrape through my dry throat.“Aditya is the author.He set this up.He has been faking all this.Playing us like a flute.”
Kenny hits the brakes hard.The car screeches to a halt.They both stare at me slack-jawed.
“Aditya lied to all of us.”Each syllable ricochets off the silence inside the car, crashing onto my chest and battering my heart into a million pieces.
Chapter 25
Truth never hides
ADITYA
“They are here,” I shout.Sahil's updates on their route stopped about an hour ago.He did not answer my call either, so I rang Jimmy.The guys went radio silent.At first, the ghosting seemed like a prank, but the nerves got the better of me, running worst-case scenarios.Did they run out of petrol?Did they have an accident?I did not have so many nails to chew, so I woke the house up.Kiron grumbled as they dialled Sahil's number.Thank God, Sahil picked up.What a welcome relief it was to find they were safe and on their way.
Hurrying down the steps, I crash into Jimmy and hold him tight, sniffing him to fill my lungs to wipe away the hour of anxious waiting.“I missed you.”But his hands do not match the tightness of mine.I look up.“What's wrong?”
Jimmy's eyes are lost in a painful daze.
“Guys, did something happen on the way?”I turn to Sahil and Kenny.
Sahil studies his shoes while Kenny's eyes mirror Jimmy's pain.Taking a few steps with dread and a pounding heart, I reach out to Jimmy, but he snaps his hand out of my reach.
“Will any one of you speak?You are scaring the hell out of me.”I study the three of them.
Still, no response.Jimmy shakes his head in disgust.Kenny stands by Sahil, joining him in examining the gravel path.
“Kiron, Brian, Sudhanshu, something is wrong.”My voice breaks as I call the rest of them.The net door creaks, followed by the crunch of shoes on the wooden steps, announcing their arrival.
“Why do you look as if someone died?”Kiron shares my apprehension.They come and stand beside me.
Jimmy hands me his phone.I read the email, scrolling down.Blood drains away from my body.I stumble, but Kiron catches me.“Aditya, what’s wrong?Why do you seem to have seen a ghost?”I hand them the phone and look at Jimmy.The tears in his eyes shatter my world.
“Jimmy, I can—”
