4: The Dream

The hour hand of the wall clock was nearing one a.m. Karthik and Siri drifted off to sleep, lying on their backs, a silent space between them.

Karthik's sleep was restless. He was plunged into a disturbing dream: a wine bottle was hurled at his father. Trying to avoid it, his father slipped and fell from a great height, his scream echoing with Karthik's name.

"Dad!" Karthik jolted awake, his cry startling Siri.

"What happened, Karthik?" she asked, her voice filled with fright.

Karthik was sweating and breathing heavily. Gasping, he said, "Someone threw a bottle at Dad."

His words filled Siri with dread.

Dad was trying to escape the bottle and fell...

"A bottle? Karthik, who? Who threw the bottle?" Siri asked urgently.

"I don't know," he replied, his eyes darting around the room. "It wasn't clear in the dream."

Siri gasped. She pulled Karthik close, cradling his head in her lap. Gently, she stroked his hair.

"Your love for Uncle is immense and the police's words have clearly taken root. It was just a dream," she reassured him, her voice trembling slightly. "Uncle died accidentally. Don't think about it. Just relax."

Her comforting words lulled Karthik back to sleep. A few moments later, Siri also fell asleep, her head leaning against the wall.

The first rays of dawn streamed through the window, touching Siri's cheek. She had held Karthik in her lap all night. The light finally woke her.

As she became fully aware, she looked at Karthik, still asleep. Memories of their conversation from the previous night returned. Her face was troubled as she drifted into thought.

After some time, she gently moved Karthik off her lap and onto the bed. She picked up her phone and left the room. She dialed a number.

"Rishi, I need your help," she said.

Without another word, she listened to Rishi's response. She seemed reassured by the call.

"Order, sir?" the waiter asked.

"Two coffees. One sugarless," Rishi replied.

Karthik sat opposite Rishi in the coffee shop, cigarette smoke swirling around him. Rishi looked at Karthik with concern.

"I know how much you loved your dad," Rishi began, "but you have to accept that he's gone."

Karthik glanced at him.

"Siri has no family, no one but you in the world," Rishi continued. "If you keep hurting yourself like this, it affects her too. I strongly advise you to take a break."

Karthik stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the table and looked at Rishi.

"I think someone killed my father," he said.

Rishi was stunned.

"The questions the SI asked... they make me feel like Dad's death wasn't an accident," Karthik explained.

The waiter arrived with their coffees.

"Put the sugarless one here," Rishi said, gesturing to the table. He placed the sweetened coffee in front of Karthik.

"Thanks, man," Rishi said to the waiter.

"You're welcome, sir," the waiter replied and left.

"Any suspects?" Rishi asked, picking up his coffee.

Karthik shook his head and took a sip of his coffee.

"Hey," Rishi said, "those cops are just trying to mess with you. They can twist an accident into a murder and a murder into an accident. They're playing mind games, probably hoping for a bribe. Don't fall for it."

Karthik looked at Rishi seriously.

"Stop looking at me like that and listen," Rishi said. "Siri is scared to see you so unbalanced. If not for yourself, then for her. Please, go away for a few days and clear your head."

Karthik seemed to be considering Rishi's words.