Chapter 02 - Accomodation

After 7hours of long drive we reached kamalapur and our destination is 4.5km away. Convoluted consequense covered the entire journey with meteoric trepidation with loads of questions. We were in search for the source of the question which occurred immediately since last midnight. Sharing the occurrence with police was the superior option we had but to abscond from uunforeseen consequences blocked our minds. We were only thinking of running away and outreach the destination to find out the cause for all unexpected.

Even after continuous attempts we were unable to connect with Mr. Adyapak, his cell phone remind switch off.

Pastoral region often filled with corn fields, sugar cane farms, paddy and banana gave hint about destination we were in urge to reach. It precisely took 15minutes to reach hampi and we stationed car opposite to reputed lodge of the place. There were many people standing in que to get accommodation in the lodge. I thought of checking in other nearby lodges.

Charming new receptionist Archana waved her hands welcomeing us smiling pleasantly, "How can I help you?" Her eyeliner looked to be little dark against her cat eyes.

"How about you help me by getting me a room in your fabulous hotel" I asked

"I am very sorry to say you that we don't have any room vacant for next three days. Please do arrange your accommodation other place sir. Hope you can understand" receptionist showed her helplessness.

"It's okay. Thank you. If you can guide us about few nearby lodges it would be helpful for us to accommodate ourselves comfortably" Sachin said pointing thin fair beautiful receptionist.

"Well, I apologize. As Prime minister is visiting day after tomorrow all the rooms are booked, it's difficult for you guys to find out accommodation. If you agree I have a deal" said the receptionist.

"Deal? What kind?" Sachin asked

"Well, will give you accommodation in a room upstairs of my home for whatever days you want. But, you need to pay double the rate of hotel accommodation. If the deal is okay, please let me know. Or else it's better to go back to your native."

I looked at Sachin glaring and smiled each other by understanding the business mind of young receptionist. Sachin agreed for the expensive conditions of the receptionist.

Thrifty idiot agreed for expensive stay, I told myself.

"Please don't think otherwise. This is the only way where I can earn little money, and all others do the same in tourist place is what I believe. Moreover, as the prime minister is visiting to inaugurate the construction of 92 meter tall Lord Hanuman statue people from all across the state have booked rooms in advance. And also as he is personally inspecting cleanliness of this historical Hampi town, people from many places have come voluntarily to join their hands to clean the city and to showcase the same to rest of the world"

It was just 5minutes walk from a lodge; residence is in the middle of serial antique kind of houses. Wooden stairs from the external lobby connected to first floor. As we stepped the wooden stairs one by one, crispy sound produced from the stairs gave clue about the age of the structure.

Definitely this room is going to be the house of Eskimos - small and uncomfortable. It looks like we have to spend horrible days partnering bed bugs. Sachin murmured. Once we stepped inside the room his assumptions found to be wrong because Room was cosy with AC and a sit out, normal flooring of vitrified tiles. From the balcony, anyone could enjoy the sunrise and sunset like nowhere else with a wines and view of serene river.

"I know you liked the place Mr. Arjun dev, isn't it?" receptionist said.

How could a strange woman recognize me? That too in the city where I might have visited twice or thrice in my life time I and Sachin glared at each other's eyes deep for a while.

"Wait a second" I paused and continued suspiciously "you know me? How do you know my name?"

"You are my favorite author, I have read your book 'Breathing symbols'" she replied with convivial smile "I admire you for the deepest of deepest knowledge you have on ancient symbols and techniques. Our mentor and teacher used to teach us referring your book. Many in this city are very familiar with your name; it doesn't take much time to identify your face Mr Arjun"

"You are popular across the city now." Sachin pulled my legs.

"Obviously" I paused winking my eyes, I noticed girl using the words mentor and a teacher, Adyapak was also a teacher, who took free classes to teach and to spread our glorious history "Do you know Mr. Adyapak? He was Curator at hampi museum. He is also a well-known socialist. We are here to collect much information of this historical place as a research for my next book. And we choose Mr Adyapak would be right person to interview" I lied.

"Yes of course Mr. Arjun. He is a right person with extraordinary knowledge. I have learnt Sanskrit under his guidance. But, unfortunately he disappeared from this place 2 months ago. No clue about him. If you have to meet that personal then I prefer you meet Mr.Ratnakar an only beloved friend of Mr. Adyapak, you might get some information about him"

"Disappear doesn't mean kidnap, I believe. Is that it?"

"I apologize. I don't have any information about it. He suddenly got disappeared and no one has seen him since long in this city. Hope Mr. Ratnakar might help you in this regard"

"Thanks for the information. Will surly contact you if we need any help, but can you please brief me how come Ratnakar is connected to Adyapak." I asked her suspicious because I have never heard the name Ratnakar since from the day I got closely associated with Adyapak.

"They are childhood friends and grand daughter of Mr. Adyapak grew up under the care of Mr. Ratnakar after her parent's death in an accident. Basically Ratnakar is a classical singer who gave concerts during all important occasions which held in Hampi and Mr. Adyapak used to organize those. In fact, it is not wrong if I say Swapna, grand daughter of Mr. Adyapak is the successor of Mr. Ratnakar."

"Where can I meet Mr.Ratnakar?" Interrupted her in the middle, as I was not curious to know his personal life, what I wanted is just Mr.Adyapak.

"Virupaksha temple, he uses to open the door of girbha griha as he is declared as chairman of Virupaksha temple since the disappearance of his beloved friend Mr. Adyapak"

The word disappear slapped again and again, was it not Adyapak who shared a message saying to start immediate? if not who else is he? If it's not Hampi then from where did he call?

She left waving her hands saying "Good bye, take rest. You seem to be tired, your eyes says you have not slept whole night. Will take you to Mr. Ratnakar once you woke up from sleep"

Its 10AM.

From where did Mr.Adyapak called me overnight and asked for help, "Start immediately; things are complex here" about which place he specifically mentioned when he used the word "here", was it not Hampi? Calculations begin within me.

"Are you in search of Mr. Adyapak? Is Mr. Adyapak is the reason for last night incident at our flat? Who are they? And how are you related to him?" It was not difficult to judge that Sachin is implacable at the movement and was in urge to know the true purpose of coming to Hampi. What else I can respond to his doubts when I myself have no idea about what's going around.

"I hope you trust me and never ask anything about it again. These are confidential and don't want you guys to involve in it" I paused for a while, and continued "Well, you are absolutely right; I am here on orders of Mr. Adyapak. I can't tell you more than this. Hopefully, you will understand everything in few days."

"Wait, you said Orders...? Are you working for Mr Adyapak?"

Starring at Sachin, I showed my aggressiveness with broad opened eyes "You are not supposed to question me and I don't think that I should answer your quarries. Now, you are just a companion of mine only if I need any help or else I offer you a ticket of evening bus. Go back and stay at home town." I paused, went close to him and said "look, these things are very confidential; people came to kill me last night. Unfortunately you were with me last night and had no option other than taking you with me. I dont need you any more, you can go back" I tried to circumscribe the conversation.

"I am your cousin, I know you since a kid and you were never such a rude guy. What is making you to behave so? What is so confidential which you can't share with me right now" Sachin shouted with ascending voice "Being your cousin, I have all the rights to know. You should tell me" he goaded on me.

"I can't abrogate" I screamed rising my voice, I acted impervious towards him and moved inside washroom. Bathing was just an act of quick escape from Sachin's counter attack.

He might have crestfallen because of my unusual inarticulate peevish behaviour.