9: The Help

Two weeks had passed since Siri's conviction. Karthik remained trapped in his grief, his spirit broken.

The doorbell rang.

A servant answered the door. Sam stood outside.

"Is Karthik in?"

"Yes, sir. He's in his room. And you are?"

"I'm Sam, Karthik's friend."

"Please come in, sir."

The servant led Sam to Karthik's room and left.

Sam opened the door. The room was thick with smoke. He coughed repeatedly, struggling to breathe. He stepped forward, calling his friend's name.

"Karthik? Are you there?"

Empty beer bottles crunched under his feet as he made his way through the dimly lit room.

As the smoke began to clear, Sam saw Karthik slumped unconscious on a chair, a smoldering joint between his fingers.

Sam tried to wake him with a few gentle pushes, but it was no use. He spotted a water bottle, opened it, and sprinkled water on Karthik's face. Karthik stirred, but remained drowsy.

"Karthik!" Sam tried to rouse him.

Karthik forced his eyes open and looked at his visitor.

"Sam? When did you get here? Have a seat."

Karthik gestured to a chair. Sam sat down.

"Sorry about the room," Karthik mumbled.

"It's okay. I understand. But I think it's time for you to pull yourself together."

"Is that all?" Karthik tried to deflect the conversation.

Sam persisted. "I don't know if this is a good time to ask, but I'm desperate. I need your help."

"It's okay, Sam. Tell me. Is there anything I can do?"

"I need some money, Karthik. I've asked everyone I know, but no one can help."

"How much?"

"Ten lakhs."

"I'll get it to you by evening."

Sam looked relieved.

"Thanks a lot, man. You're a lifesaver. Even in this state, you're always there for your friends. You helped Rishi earlier, and now me. You're a great guy."

Suddenly, Karthik snapped out of his daze.

"Come again. You said I helped Rishi?"

"Yeah. You gave him ten lakhs last week, right?"

"Who told you that?"

"Rishi himself."

"Didn't you help him?"

Karthik got up, lit a cigarette, and paced the room.

"I remember now. I gave him the money. All these drugs are messing with my memory."

Sam nodded in agreement.

"Sam, can I ask why you and Rishi each needed ten lakhs? Rishi mentioned it, but I don't remember the details."

"Actually, before your father's death, Rishi and I lost twenty lakhs gambling. We couldn't repay it, and we were given a deadline of one month."

Karthik's mind raced. He wondered why Rishi would lie about such a large sum of money.

"Karthik, is there anything I can do?" Sam asked.

"No. I get it. You can go. I'll send the money."

"Okay! Thanks! See you."

Sam left.

Karthik lit another cigarette, his thoughts focused on Rishi. He remembered the officer's words about Rishi calling his father after Karthik left the pub. 

Maybe Dad helped Rishi. But even then, why would Rishi lie to me? What could be the reason?

After some time, Karthik picked up his phone and called the accountant from his father's office.

"Hello, sir," the accountant answered.

"I need the login details for my father's personal bank account."

"I'll send them to you in two minutes, sir."

"Thanks."

The accountant sent the details promptly. Karthik logged into his father's account. He downloaded the bank statement for the last month and checked for transactions between his father and Rishi.

There was a transaction of seven lakhs from his father to Rishi a week before his father's death. Seeing such a large sum transferred to his best friend, Karthik was shocked. He downloaded all the transaction data between his father and Rishi.

Every month, there was a transfer of at least five lakhs from his father to Rishi, and Karthik had been unaware of these transactions.

Why was Dad paying Rishi every month? Why did they both keep it a secret from me? Karthik questioned himself.