The Beginning (4)

Benjy picks up the phone singing away in his pocket. He takes the call and for a minute can only listen to the furious stream of rant coming from the other end.

A terse "Vicky!" stuns the caller in mid-rant. “If Abaeze wants you and Denziel off the plane to Nigeria, please listen to him. Abaeze knows his territory better and Djavon can blend in better than Denziel. We would listen to you if we were in Rio, wouldn’t we? So you can wait in Johannesburg or go to Cairo. You are in a better position to decide that.”

“We will stay here for a day – no leads but just a couple of niggles. I will call again tonight. Djavon will call you once they reach.” And the line goes dead.

Benjy pockets the cell and looks up at Shashi who asks, “Abaeze? You think he will still be able to help on his own soil?”

That was the question, wasn’t it. Abaeze may want to help but he will need the help of his family to get any requisite information. It has been years since they have had any direct relations with the Yoruba clan. They would like to believe the clan is wholly on their side, at least Abaeze’s father is. But unless the whole clan cooperated, this trip could at best be a goose chase and at worst, an open-eyed disaster.

“Vicky will call tonight. Ryan needs to stay back. And so do you. Jasmine and Janet are safe here with the kids. I have called in the siblings – I expect them here by tomorrow noon. Sharon and Jeevi have been informed – so they will watch out. And Jeevi will look in on Sharon before flying back. Nigeria is a good bet but that’s for Abaeze and Djavon to handle. I think as usual, Vicky’s niggle could turn into a hunch. Knowing Vicky, Shahbaaz will await them in Cairo. I will fly out to Cairo, Shashi. And Pa needs to know all this. That would…”

“Clarity of thought indeed, Benjy. Everyone scattered all over the place. And alone. And bring in Pa into this too why don’t you? This is what they want. Whoever has done this wants us to scatter. We are weakest like this. They shouldn’t be travelling. Jeez! The familiar is the safest place right now! You of all people should know this!”

The unexpected outburst has startled the younger twin into a silence which gradually turns into silent seething.

“God, Shashi! Don’t you see? Even if you had asked them to stay back, they will come here. We are scattered if everyone stayed where they are. This will keep us together.”

“You and Vicky at two opposite ends of a continent is a damn good way of keeping together!”

“But we will meet in three days!”

A snort of disgust from the older twin and Benjy flies into the defensive. “How else will we look for them?”

“I will go.”

“Not happening!”

“What do you want me to do staying here…? They will look at me and…” He walks towards the window and slumps against it.

“They will still see you, Shashi.” The words only garner a shake of the head and that patented snort.

Of them all, Benjy can understand the way his thoughts are running wild. Benjy remembers his moment of complacency and the consequences that arose of that moment. “Slip ups happen.” His voice is kind but firm enough to get through. “I need to be out there with Vicky. If Nigeria is right, we will have to rethink. But if Vicky is right, then we will have to begin from Cairo.”

The shoulders slump further.
He is a man who has prided himself on being the eldest of the Quartet, even if he is only older by mere minutes. He has looked out for them ever since they were six years old and his smaller sized twin had been in tears after being bullied by the neighbourhood 8-year-olds. In the long term, it had resulted in the boys being submitted to everlasting sarcastic barbs from the scathing Vicky and a devastating shrug off from the popular Jasmine. But that day, the three boys were subjected to split lips, puffed up eyes and week-long bruises from Shashi. Of course, it had not cut him any slack from his parents and had earned him a good beating from his father for not taking the matter to a grown-up and for physically hurting the boys. But it had been worth it. It brought him undying loyalty from his siblings and blatant hero worship from his brother.

Over the years, there have been several such instances. Not because Benjy couldn’t stand up for himself but rather because he liked to let big brother watch his back. And there have been rather interesting times when Benjy has insisted on answering a slight towards Shashi. Benjy serves his revenge cold – one among many similarities that he shares with Vicky. Vicky, who is all fire to Jasmine’s ice – even in this situation, he can spare a chuckle for his exasperatingly enigmatic family.

In an enlightening moment, he realises that for Benjy and Vicky, this is payback time. The thought strangely relaxes him. He trusts them and they always know the road they walk down. That’s all that matters right now.