The Dust Will Never Settle by Deva Mukul

Author:Deva, Mukul [Deva, Mukul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Published: 2013-01-15T18:30:00+00:00

Ruby was soaked in sweat when she jolted awake. Drawing a deep breath, she reached for the water on her bedside table. The jug was empty. She got up and went down to the kitchen with the empty jug in her hand.

Barring trickles of light from the windows, the house was dark and silent, though she could hear the faint rustle of security guards moving near the gate. Then she heard the clang of metal against metal… perhaps the guard’s rifle butt had collided with the gate. It was followed by a murmur of voices.

Her eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light and she finally located the refrigerator in one corner of the kitchen. She pulled out a bottle of water and refilled the jug.

On her way back to the room, she noticed a flicker of light coming from the room across the living room. The dim light emanating from the room cast eerie shadows on the wall. Ruby felt as if someone was hiding there, watching her. Her grip on the jug tightened; the filled jug was heavy, it would make a potent weapon.

Could it be an intruder?

‘Ever since we moved here and he was put in charge of the ATTF, there have been several threats,’ Jasmine’s warning echoed in her ears.

She considered raising an alarm.

‘Who is it?’ she called softly. There was no response. Hefting the jug, Ruby ghost-footed forward, ensuring she was clear of the door as she circled to bring the inner room into view.

The culprit was a laptop. It lay open on the study table, facing away from the door. The light from the screensaver flickered, casting scary shadows on the wall.

Ruby was not sure why she went up to it. Possibly only to close it and put it in sleep mode. But when she touched it, the screen came to life and displayed Ravinder’s inbox. Ruby hesitated only briefly before she put down the jug and leaned forward to read his e-mails.

The first mail was from a Govind Mohite. It confirmed that Mr Thakur, the home minister, had been informed about the LeT financier identified by the Mossad agent named Ido Peled. It went on to say that the financier – Rizwan Khan – had been placed under surveillance to enable ATTF to identify everyone who came to meet him, including the British woman terrorist they had been warned about.

Ruby’s blood ran cold. Rizwan Khan was one of the two names Pasha had given her. He was the one she had meant to call earlier that day.

Ruby drew a deep breath. For a moment she wondered if Pasha knew that the Mossad was on to his financier. Then a second realization – a British woman… So they knew a hit was coming.

She had just clicked open the next mail when the clapping patter of slippers hit her ears – someone was coming down the stairs. Swiftly shutting the lid of the laptop, she snatched up the jug and returned to the living room. She was halfway there when she saw Ravinder with a pistol in his right hand, level, ready for action.

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