Chapter 21
Zara and Karan had fun that day. Apart from doing some sleuthing and tracking some evidence, they enjoyed their time in and taking pictures around Piazza Maggiore. On the other hand, Theseus, Steven, and Sam followed them like a couple of Bludgers that tails around Harry Potter on his first Quidditch match. Zara and Karan were just taking pictures around San Petronio when Karan suddenly stared at someone and his eyes went wide looking at Zara.
"What?," asked Zara.
"That's Lorenzo Moretti," whispers Karan.
"The cousin," said Zara as she slowly turned around and pretended to look at the ancient building behind her.
She glanced around and her eyes caught Theseus who were sitting outside a restaurant reading a newspaper. Sensing that he was being watched, his eyes looked up and caught Zara's eyes. She made a signal with her eyes darting them to Lorenzo while Karan texted Steven about who they just saw. Theseus who were now watching Lorenzo made to stand up but stop halfway and sat back down as Lorenzo walked in the direction to the restaurant with two of his men and sat three tables across Theseus.
"Well now, this is interesting," said Theseus quietly to himself.
He made eye contact with Zara and nodded at her giving her signal for the next move. She glanced at Karan and gave him a kiss on the cheek, making Theseus's eyes went wide and glared at Karan as both of them walked towards the restaurant. They took a table behind Lorenzo and started holding hands like a newly married couple. Moments later, Sam and Steven walked towards the restaurant and took another table outside the restaurant two tables away from Zara and Karan.
"Ham doosron ko behtar batate hain," said Karan in Hindi. (We better tell the others)
Both of them decide to change their nationalities of their character at the last minute.
"Haan.. Main Dylan bataane ja raha hoon," replied Zara as she took out her phone to text her brother. (Yeah.. I'm going to tell Dylan).
They had their lunch in that restaurant and as they listened to Lorenzo's conversation, they got to enjoy Tortellini and Lasagna, and the taste of Tigelle. After nearly two hours where Lorenzo just had drinks with the two men while they talk while Karan and Zara eat and listen, Theseus on the other hand had a few cups of coffee and had solved a Sudoku game in the newspaper, while Sam and Steven enjoyed having a Pizza on their table while they pretended to have a conversation about cars, Lorenzo finally stood up while one of the men paid the bill.
"Ve ja rahe hain," said Karan. (They're leaving).
"Aur isalie ham hain," replied Zara as she called the waiter to pay the bill. (And so are we)
Theseus gave the eye signal to Sam and Steven to follow the pretended married couple and Sam flipped him off signaling that they don't take orders from Balthazar, but both Sam and Steven followed Zara and Karan in a great distance. They followed them around Basilica di San Petronio until Lorenzo and his men turned left to one of the buildings and knocked three times. The door opened and the three of them walked in.
"Khair, mujhe lagata hai ki yah unake thikaanon mein se ek hai," said Zara as she took a selfie with Karan. (Well, I guess this is one of their bases)
"Are haan.. hum unhe batana hoga," said Karan, "Kya aapako lagata hai, doosaron ne apane any thikaanon par nazar rakhee hai?,". (We should tell them. Do you think the others have tracked their other bases?)
"Mujhe aasha hai," replied Zara as she posed for another picture. (I hope so)
"Mujhe lagata hai ki hamaare paas din ke lie paryaapt hai, chalo mukhyaalay vaapas jaen," said Karan. (I think we have enough for the day, let's go back to the headquarters)
"Ya ho sakata hai ki ham apanee teen chhaayaen vaapas mukhyaalay bhej saken aur ham Bologna ka aanand le saken," said Zara, wiggling her eyebrows. (Or maybe we could just sent our three shadows back to the headquarters and we can enjoy Bologna)
"Achchha vichaar hai, mera pyaar," replied Karan, wiggled back. (Good idea, my love)
They sent a signal to Steven that the spying is over so the three of them could go back to the INTERPOL's headquarters.
"Aap logon ka kya?," asked Steven. (What about you guys?)
"Ham darshaneey sthalon kee yaatra kar rahe hain aur sabhee ke lie raat ka khaana khareed rahe hain," replied Karan. (We're going sightseeing and buy dinner for everyone)
"Kaaphee achchha lagata hai lekin ham Balthazar ko apane saath nahin le ja rahe hain taaki aap logon ko usase nipatana pade," said Sam. (Sounds good enough but we're not taking Balthazar with us so you guys have to deal with him)
"Well fuck..," muttered Zara.
"Theek hai, ham use sambhal sakta hain," said Karan, putting an arm around Zara's shoulder. (Fine, we can handle him)
They spent the day touring Bologna followed by scowling Theseus that day and there were times when Karan just deliberately tried to make Theseus jealous and it worked, since Theseus was trying so hard not to kill him.
"My God, vah aapake saath pyaar mein hai," said Karan when they finally stop at a restaurant for dinner. (He is so in love with you)
"Jo mujhe sabase jyaada daraata hai," replied Zara as they took a table and sat down. (Which scares me the most)
"Tumhen pata hai ki vah tumhen chot nahin ja raha hai, hai na?," asked Karan. (You know he's not going to hurt you, right?)
"Yeah.. Lekin vah aap sabhee ko aahat karane vaala hai," replied Zara, signalling the waiter. (But he's going to hurt all of you)
"Nah.. I don't think so," replied Karan, "Vah aapase itana pyaar karata hai ki vah aapako dukhee karane kee koshish nahin karega,". (He's so in love with you that he won't try to make you miserable)
They had a Green Lasagna with Mortadella, and had a taste of Cotoletta Petroniana and Raviole di San Giuseppe. They even ordered take away for their family and more desserts for all of them. Karan called the waiter for the bill to pay.
"Everything has been paid, sir," said the waiter.
"Everything? Even all the takeaway?," asked Karan.
"Yes, sir," smiled the waiter.
But Zara's eyes went to the gentleman who was sitting two tables behind Karan.
"You're welcome," Theseus mouthed at her and grinned.
"Asshole," Zara mouthed back.
"Balthazar paid for our dinner?," asked Karan.
"Haan," replied Zara. (Yes)
"Good, I'm going to thank him," grinned Karan evilly.
Karan called their fake taxi while Zara arranged their takeaways to be put inside the taxi. As the fake taxi arrived, the waiter helped Zara put the takeaways inside while Karan walked towards Theseus.
"Thanks for paying our date, mate," Karan winked at Theseus and walked back towards the taxi before Theseus could throw something at him.
They were halfway going back to the headquarters when Zara realized something.
"Hey Karan, if Sam and Steven took a car back earlier and we're using this car, how the hell will Theseus get back to Venice?," asked Zara.
Both of them looked at each other before suddenly breaking into laughter in the taxi.
"Damn, we're so evil," laughed Karan, "He paid for our food and we left him,".
"I'm going to apologize to him tomorrow then," said Zara, "I'll just tell him that we figured out that he had a backup transport,".
They arrived in Venice and took a boat back to Murano where everyone had finally done with their mission and waited for both of them to return. When they arrived at the mansion with food, everyone cheered and opened the takeaways to enjoy their dinner.
"We had loads to tell you," said Sienna.
"So are we," replied Zara.
"You have no idea what Matt and I stumble into," said Miranda as she sat down next to Zara with her dinner.
They start sharing all the information with the rest of the family that night and call it a day after that, going to sleep after a tiring day out.