Aunt Milana's phone was void of signals to call her husband. ''Annoying husband! Where are you hiding?'' Once, she was the wife of a rich businessman. Her husband owned a small-scale pharma industry. Enger worked with him part-time, and often he came home to assist her husband with work. Aunt Milana looked down on Enger, and sometimes she made him work on household activities. Six years later, Enger built his company. He crushed her husband and made her his servant for household activities. ''A snake is always a snake.''
Raising the mobile high to the sky, Aunt Milana aimlessly took a stroll in the garden. All of a sudden, she heard the faint voices of Enger, talking about herb rosemary and Leena. A gossip queen she was, Aunt Milana quickly hid behind the bushes to listen to the conversation.
''The doctor I contacted informed that if rosemary is inhaled continuously for a week, it's harmful to pregnant women. The maid added a strong dose of rosemary essential oil into the humidifier.. I told her to continue for ten days from today without fail.'' Steven explained.
''Did Leena find suspicious?'' Enger asked, rolling the cigarette on his fingers.
''No.''
''Good. You may leave.'' Enger threw the cigarette butt on the ground and snubbed it with his shoe. He plucked a handful of basil leaves from the garden and chewed them to let the cigarette smell wear off in his mouth. He then went back inside the house.
Fingers pressed against her mouth, aunt Milana gaped in fear. ''The sweet girl is pregnant, and this monster is hellbent on killing the unborn child?''
Does she know that she is pregnant? Of course, yes. She didnot let anyone cook her food. Aunt Milana remembered Leena avoiding foods that are harmful during pregnancy.
Momentarily, aunt Milana sprinted inside the house to Leena's bedroom.
A humidifier was on the bedside table, and Leena lay on the bed, sleeping with a serene look on her face. ''Poor child. My heart goes for you.''
Lifting the humidifier, aunt Milana went into the bathroom and emptied it. She thoroughly rinsed it and then filled it with normal water. ''Psychopath! You want to kill a fetus inside the womb! Let me see if you can do it under my eyes.'' Aunt Milana wished Leena's husband would come to take her back.
.....
A day passed in a blink of an eye. As Leena woke up, she saw Aunt Milana coming out of the bathroom, a humidifier in her hand.
''Morning.'' Aunt Milana smiled. ''You woke up?''
''You cleaned that again?'' Amusingly, Leena asked. ''You did it yesterday.''
''Ah! Yes. I love to keep things clean.'' Aunt Milana smiled. ''Get ready. You need to eat food in time.''
Leena nodded.
She got a fresh, cooked breakfast and went to the living room to pass the time. Evil god must be dancing in her head. To her annoyance, Enger was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper. He glanced up, sensing a presence. ''Hey, Leena. Good morning.'' His eyes lit up.
Leena gave a fake smile to him.
''You woke up late today.''
''It's getting bored here.'' She said. ''So why not take rest.''
''I can make myself free today. How about you play chess with me? or caroms?'' Enger suggested.
''I only play games on the computer.'' She shrugged nonchalantly. A second later, she cautiously asked. ''Can you lend me your laptop if you don't mind?''
Enger found Leena's face full of innocence, but he was scared, for Leena is not an ordinary girl—a hacking wizard. A computer is a weapon in her hands. With a flick of her finger, she will control the world. In no time, a message will straight away land in Devin's inbox. Is this her master plan? Before his thoughts went haywire, Leena spoke.
''You don't want to give!'' She concluded. ''Fine, I will go, and_''
''Wait, Leena,'' Enger called, stopping her tracks. ''List the games you want to play. I will download them and bring the laptop.''
A hacker is only a wizard with the internet around, Enger reasoned.
That was the biggest mistake you made, Leena concluded.
On the first and second days, Leena did nothing except playing the games. To her disgust, Enger was around her premises. On the third day, as usual, she was playing a game when suddenly, the system blinked before a blank screen appeared.
Is it my brother-in-law? Leena looked past Enger and typed a message on the popup screen. [Code Dingleberry]
She received the reply [Code Banana]
'Yes! It's him.' She squealed.
''You changed a lot, Leena,'' Enger stated.
''In what way?'' Without lifting her head, she questioned Enger. Meanwhile, her fingers worked on typing the text to Adney. [Where are you]
''Two days it has been since you freaked out at me. You even talked sweetly.'' Enger said.
It's because I want you to believe me, dunderhead. Leena spoke in her mind. ''Is it?'' Was her question to him.
Leena stared at the screen again when she got reply. [Galifrazian: In Ferry boat along with Kurt bro. I am at a distance where I found the system by the acoustic emissions from the capacitors of the house you are living. We are very near to you]
''Leena, can you forgive me for bringing you here without your consent?'' Enger's voice came out as a whisper. He still feels guilty about it, but will Leena come willingly if he asks?
Not bothered to respond to his question, she texted Adney. [I will take you under my wings when I come back]
At the other end, Adney's face flushed red. He still couldn't believe his darling was his sister-in-law. Kurt tried to peek into the system, but at the last second, Adney glared and clutched the laptop to his chest. It's a secret between Elysian and Galifrazian.
[Galifrazian: Brother is coming to fetch you. What help do you need me, darling?]
[Find Enger's bank account] After texting Adney, Leena turned to Enger. ''I like the cover of your mobile. Can I have a look at it? I promise I don't know your password.''
Enger chuckled. ''It's fine. I am just scared that you will leave me. To answer your first question, yes, the cover is beautiful. It's custom-made.'' Enger handed the mobile to Leena.
At the other end, in the ferry boat, Adney's eyes went wide in horror as he saw the reply. Find Enger's bank account? He knows where Leena is heading. Is she for real?
[I will give you fifty percent share. Hack it] Leena coaxed Andy.
Definitely, Leena lured him. Adney didnot need a second to decide. Two minutes later, he sent a message to Leena. [Galifrazian: Can't hack. It's satellite password]
[Then click on forgot password]
''Oh lord! Is she not scared a bit?'' Adney gulped in fear.
''Who are you talking about?'' Kurt butted in the middle.
''N_o one.'' Adney got up and moved to a different place. He clicked on forgot password, and it directed him to a page with security questions.
[When you were young, what did you want to become]
[Speed up. We have only forty-five seconds to answer the question, darling]
Graffiti. The very first thought occurred, but Leena didnot want to take the chances.''Did you have any other aspirations other than becoming a scientist when you were young?'' She asked Enger.
[Speed up. Only thirty seconds left] Adney texted.
''Hmmm..Graffiti. But Graffiti artists don't make much money. So, I left the idea.'' Enger said. ''Why do you ask?''
''Just wanted to know more about you.'' She smiled.
Enger's heart fluttered, watching her smile. How he wished to wake up everyday to her smile.
[First question success]Adney texted the second question. [What's your favorite book]
''Do you read books?'' Leena directed a question to Enger.
''Rarely,'' Enger answered. ''But Stephan King's IT book I read it a lot..I don't remember the count. Do you?"
''I have lots.''
With second question successful, the last question appeared on the screen. Both didnot need Enger for the third question. It was the name of your first crush. Adney himself answered it.
As Leena held Enger's mobile, the moment the transaction was complete, it blinked with an incoming call and text. A victorious smile spread across her face. Shutting down the laptop, she handed the mobile to Enger. ''I am sleepy. I will take a nap for a while.''
''Okay." He watched the retreatiing figure, shaking his head.''Silly girl. She is so innocent.''
When Enger saw the notifications on his mobile, he unlocked it. The color drained out of his face as he saw the text message and a call. In time, Steven came running towards him. ''Sir, did you look at the news? Our company is all over the news."